Chapter 14: Assaulting the Border part 1 (Maribelle)

Upon his return to the capital the newly crowned Exalt took control of the situation. Advised by his tactician, Ursula, he sent his Shepherds north to free the border fortress keeping the Feroxi out. This would be the first time the Shepherds would sortie under the leadership of Sully.

Built to be impenetrable, the fortress was originally constructed to keep Ylisse safe during the reign of Exalt Agrippa the 5th. Ever since Ylisse's founding the nation was harassed by the wild men of the north. Eventually the northern tribes coalesced into a homogenous whole and came to be known as the Feroxi. Because the country of Regna Ferox is so cold for much of the year food can be very difficult to come by. In order to survive in their homeland the Feroxi launched raiding parties south to prey upon Ylissean villages for supplies. Enmity sprang up between the two nations and lasted for centuries. There were a few big wars pitting the combined might of the Feroxi tribes against the Ylissean army but for the most part the two nations' history is filled with smaller skirmishes over the location of the border. Adding fuel to this fire was the difference between the two cultures particularly when it came to religion.

The pagan Ferox worshipped the gods of nature and believed that those who fought and died valiantly on the battlefield would sit on the right hand of their deities. Rebuffing the missionaries of Naga they sacrilegiously ransacked the temples of Divine Dragon inciting rage within the pious Ylisseans. Ironically enough Ylisse's closest ally during this time was in fact Plegia who was also subject to brutal Feroxi pillaging. Working together Exalt Clermont the 5th and Plegian King Mateus constructed the border between Ylisse and Regna Ferox to protect their lands.

How ironic that the very thing supposed to protect them from their enemies now kept their allies from coming to their aid.

Azalam, Historian.

I'm surprised you still trust me," Ursula stated popping a juicy date in her mouth. She lounged on her bed in the Tower of Basil, her now permanent home.

"I don't," Chrom clarified "But Frederick does and I trust his judgment." It was amazing really; a month ago he would have been ogling her as she lay there on the bed with a thin vein of juice running from her lips. Now she just made his skin crawl.

Wiping her face with her finger she stuck it in her mouth and suckled on it. "I'm going to need a couple sheets of paper and a quill with ink." Before her gaze the battlefield wove into place, the high stone towers of the border fortress stood stalwart as white snowflakes floated down from the grey clouds above. Such a well fortified place would be difficult to overcome and it took several tries for her to figure out how to seize it flawlessly.

Once she had puzzled out victory she continued playing it back over and over again in her mind. She was proud of what she had come up with. "Alright, here's is what you have to do." She said taking a piece of parchment in her hand.

Jotting down the step by step directions Ursula tied it together with a ribbon and handed it to Chrom "Guaranteed victory."

He frowned "At what price?"

"A few bumps and bruises." his tactician replied coolly "The usual injuries. Stahl is going to take a nasty laceration to the arm but it won't be crippling."

Chrom glared at her "Any deaths?" he asked.

She shook her head "Nope, not this time around."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart," Ursula said slashing her nail across her breast.

Snorting Chrom left for his throne room. Frederick and the rest of the Hierarch counsel was waiting there with baited breath. Hungrily leafing through the document Hierarch Hector whistled lowly "Impressive but will it work?"

"Considering her record I have faith in this plan." Frederick commented "But we should take this with a grain of salt. Lady Ursula isn't exactly…fond of us."

"We're pressed for time as it is," Hierarch Lamont said "We need Ferox's assistance if we are to beat back Plegia."

"I'll go summon the Shepherds then." Frederick said rising from the table.

"Uh, may I go in your stead?" Chrom asked "I'd like to send them off personally."

Handing the strategy over to his Exalt Frederick patted him on the back. "I know it's hard not to be the one leading them."

"I trust in Sully." Chrom said "They'll be fine."

Exiting from the counsel room he wound his way around to the barracks. Sully was sitting in the main room with Miriel and Basilio. "Hey Chrom," she said gesturing to the Ferox man "Guess what? I just accepted out newest candidate."

"Really?" Chrom said raising his eyebrows "Are you sure? Won't being a Shepherd interfere with your ambassador duties?"

"Better that then sitting around useless." Basilio grunted "I was always better at cracking skulls then making nice with stuffy beaurucrats."

"You and me both," Chrom agreed "Here's the strategy from Ursula." He gave it to Sully who handed it over to Miriel.

"Are we really going to trust her?" Sully asking the question on everyone's minds.

"Frederick is confident this will work." Chrom said before his tone darkened "But be careful out there regardless. I don't want anyone coming home in a casket."

Before they left Chrom pulled Sully to one side "How are you feeling?"

"Nervous," Sully admitted rubbing the back of her head.

"That's not too bad." Chrom laughed "I think I puked the first time I was going to lead us into battle."

Sully laughed "I wish I could have seen that."

Placing both hands on Sully's shoulder Chrom looked at her "Be careful ok?"

"I'm more worried about you," Sully said "If you tossed your cookies before you led us I'd hate to see the state you'll be in now that you have to lead the army."

Chrom sighed "I'm already feeling a bit queasy."

"Ah buck up big guy," Sully snickered "Here, hold onto Bloodscream for me." Unhooking her sword from her side she gave it to Chrom. "I've never lost a battle with her at my side."

"I remember when you named her back when we were kids." Chrom said trying hard to stop his mouth from curling upwards "I still have that scar."

"Don't laugh!" Sully huffed smacking him in the arm "She's no Falchion so think of her as a good luck charm instead."

"Alright then." Chrom said gratefully as he tied the sword to his side "I'm feeling better already."

"Good," she commented nodding her head "Make sure to save a piece of Gangrel for me, ok?"

Before she could hop onto her horse Chrom pulled her in for a hug "Don't die and watch after Lissa for me."

"I will," she promised.

The Shepherds headed for the garrison as fast as they could. Lucky for them there were no enemies to bar their path. By using the main road they were able to make great time. Soon the top of the border walls could be seen in the horizon. As they approached Sully took the time to address an issue that had been bugging her. Ducking inside one of the caravans they had taken with them she located Virion sitting stiffly on a stack of potatoes.

"Can I do anything for you mon Captain?" he asked with a ghost of that roguish smile. He looked bad, wilted almost. His usual flamboyancy was gone and it had been replaced by a mincing attitude. Since they had come back from Plegia he had been hiding in his room and avoiding any social interactions. On one hand Sully wanted to smack him so hard for doing that to Emmeryn but on the other she couldn't reconcile the his actions with his personality.

"Just checking up on people," Sully lied as she sat on a crate across from him "Nervous?"

Virion gave a weak laugh "Nervous? This Virion? What force on this earth could send the archest of archers running away in terror?"

"I seem to remember you hauling ass pretty quickly after Frederick and the others managed to restrain Chrom." It was a low blow.

Sucking in a breath like if he had been physically pained Virion nodded "Och, you have me there mon Captain but in my defense the stars themselves quavered at Prince Chrom's rage. Tis a story for the bards."

"What are the bards going to say about Virion killing the Exalt?" Sully asked fighting like hell to keep her tone completely neutral.

Virion ducked his head but he knew what they would say "Alas every great epic has the hero tricked by a guileless snake. Marco de La Pan was betrayed by the courtesan Rosa. Juan Xavier was misinformed by the wolf of the Black Woods. The glorious Medeus was corrupted by Grima." He sat back up his smile wide and painful "And the archest of archers, Virion the Mighty, lost his honor to cruelest Ursula."

It was then Sully knew, deep within her heart of hearts, that she had to forgive Virion. It sucked hard.

"I forgive you."

The foreigner looked up sharply "Pardon?"

"I said I forgive you," Stars, this was much more difficult than she thought but Sully kept going. "I am still pissed as hell that you killed Emmeryn. She meant so much to me." Her voice trembled a little as she thought about her childhood. "I grew up in the castle as a scullery maid. We would all play together, me, Chrom, Lissa, Emmeryn, Sumia, Stahl, and Maribelle. Frederick would look after us but Emmeryn would always be the mediator if there was a fight."

She laughed as tears flowed down her face "I remember this one time me and Chrom broke on of Maribelle's dolls. We had been playing knights and using the doll as the princess. Once we rescued her we began to fight over who got to live happily ever after with the princess. We yanked on that doll so hard it practically exploded into mess of cotton. You should have heard Maribelle yowling, she sounded like a dying cat."

"Well, I never!" the baroness huffed as she entered the tent "I may have had an inelegant cry but you snort like a stuck boar whenever you begin laugh too hard." As to prove her point Sully did indeed begin to snort as she guffawed.

Once she calmed down a hair the red knight fired back "You've always had a penchant for eavesdropping Maribelle, even back when we were kids."

"I never eavesdrop, I overhear." Maribelle corrected as she sat down on a crate next to Sully. "How can I help but listen when your voice carries a temple bell? As I recall correctly that wasn't the only toy of mine you broke. You couldn't go for two seconds without mangling things. And Emmeryn wouldn't do a thing about it. She'd just reprimand you and send you on your way."

"She understood me," Sully explained. "Emmeryn was the very first person I told about my dreams to be a knight. She didn't laugh like you guys did, she encouraged me."

"How was I supposed to know your destructive tendencies would blossom into a modicum of skill?" Maribelle replied in her defense. Her haughty tone faded as she reflected on a memory "She slapped me, back when I was a child. Emmeryn caught me eavesdropping on someone, I can't remember who. I was so mortified about being caught I said something cruel to her and she hit me. "Bringing her hand up the baroness rubbed her cheek "No one had ever struck me before, not even my nursemaid."

"You could have used a few more smacks." Sully commented "That tongue of yours could cut through steel."

"I would be the first to admit my cruelty as a child." Maribelle snapped "But I have matured thanks in large part to Emmeryn. She was never cowed by my tongue nor any other's after she ascended to the throne. I…I looked up to her. She was the paragon of the lady of the court I wanted to be." Maribelle was quiet for a moment as she brought her turbulent feelings under control. "I too wish to offer my forgiveness on one condition, how did that treacherous woman coerce you to heed her?"

"It is difficult to describe." Virion said leaning back. A frown settled on his face as he fought to verbalize his reasoning. "Much of it has to do with mon culture. The fact that Lady Ursula can see into the future so precisely was…" he struggled to put it in their language "Alluring? Trustworthy? It drew me to her. We of Rosanne, the country from which I hail, are always looking for the signs that foretell the future."

"Like red sky at night sailors delight, red sky in the morning sailors take warning?" Maribelle supplied trying to give an example.

Virion shook his head "Non, non, nothing so…concrete. The signs, they are more…freeform. When a woman seeks to get married she looks for a sign that the forces above favor their union. Seeing a doe and a buck drinking at a stream together when she takes a walk would be an auspicious sign."

"I thought everyone on the Valmese continent except the Chon'Sin worshipped Naga." Sully said "I remember Emm telling us that knowledge of the future came directly from Naga."

"Yes, my country has been worshipping Naga for centuries now." Virion explained "But we have kept this part of our culture along with the tenets of Naga. It is ingrained very deep in us."

"So that's why you put so much stock in what Ursula told you," Maribelle stated.

"Indeed," Virion said frowning "Our attitude toward the future is…how do you say it…fatalistic?" His tongue fought his lips as the foreign words curled out of his mouth. "The future shall be the future. When Ursula told me that the Exalt must die I was sad but what can I do? No man can change the future."

"That's baloney," Sully said dismissively "You don't know that until you've tried."

"Oh really?" Maribelle sniffed "And what are we doing right now. We've put complete stock in Ursula's Farsight because we believe if we follow her she'll lead us to victory. Is our mindset all that different from Virion's?"

"But that's-" Sully paused in mid sentence to try and cobble together some kind of argument.

"Please, please," Virion said trying to calm them down "I have sinned. I know that with all my heart despite my belief in the signs. I will be careful around Lady Ursula from now on."

Stahl poked his head into the tent "Sully, we have a problem."

Miriel lowered her telescope from her face "I've rifled through the notes several times and Lady Ursula does not account for them." She pointed to a mixed group of wyverns and pegasus knights who were camped out on the very top of the wall.

"How can that be?" Sully said, clenching her fists "Ursula might be a slimy, underhanded, piece of shit but she's never been wrong before."

"Could this be a trap?" Ricken piped up "Chrom did lock her up after we got back. Ursula could have botched some details in order to kill us."

"Possible but unlikely," Miriel said placing her telescope back in her robes. "Given her behavior so far simply relying on the power of unaccounted reinforcements to kill us is unbelievably naïve. No, I'd imagine that if her aim is to annihilate us through battle her strategy would be more subtle."

"So, what? Her Farsight is flawed?" Sully growled.

"Possibly," Miriel concluded with a shrug of her shoulders "I any case our priority should rest on whether we should sortie or not. Even with the unexpected forces the main thrust of Ursula's strategy should be effective enough to garner us the win."

Everyone shifted uncomfortably. Like it or not their reluctant faith in Ursula made them fearful to deviate from her plan.

Steeling herself Sully slammed her hands on the table. "Who gives a fuck if Ursula is wrong or not. That doesn't change what needs to be done or who we are. We are the Shepherds, dammit. We've fought without Ursula dictating every little step before and we can do it this time too."

She snorted "We'll follow the outline of Ursula's plan but we're going to stick to the buddy system." Hastily she paired everyone together before turning to Miriel. "I'm shit at this strategy stuff so I need you to direct us."

"I'm no tactician." the mage warned, readjusting her glasses "But I shall endeavor to do my best. Our first priority should be to take out those fliers. Their mobility trumps ours, we lack the cover to endure multiple aerial assaults, and our own fliers are vastly outnumbered."

"How do you propose we do that?" Sully asked.

"I believe Ricken and I will be able to eliminate the wyvern riders with the proper spell." Miriel explained "Once their forces are pruned to solely pegasus knights Virion, along with Sumia and Cordelia, should be able to pick off the rest giving us dominion of the skies."

After organizing their forces into their appropriate positions Miriel instructed Sully and Stahl to bait the enemies. "I see no cavalry among them so the only ones with the mobility to chase you down would be the fliers." She explained gesturing to a map of the border fortress "Lead them here where Ricken and I shall activate our cantrips. Circle around then spearhead the attack on these forces here." She pointed to a large circle near the front of the gate. "In order to make it deeper inside to the lever system that keep the border shut we need to insure the enemy cannot lock us outside."

To her dismay Maribelle was paired up with Gregor. "Why you make with sour face?" Gregor asked in a jolly manner "Worry not, Gregor keep you safe."

Reaching over she plucked a pouch from his belt and examined the contents within. "Still stealing from the mess tent I see." Maribelle sniffed. She had already admonished him countless times for taking more than his fair share of food but her words just went in one ear and out the other.

"Stealing, oy is terrible word." The mercenary grimaced "Gregor is not stealing; Gregor is, uh…uh..."

"Stealing is stealing," Maribelle chided him giving back the pouch "This isn't mercenary work Gregor, you are a part of a team and must abide by our laws. Article 5 Section D pages eighty four through ninety five clearly state that…" She launched into one of her brutal tirades that Gregor weathered stoically.

Meanwhile the attack had begun. With their best war cry Sully and Stahl launched themselves from the woods they were using as cover. Charging towards the front line of the fortress they came within thrusting distance of the guards' spears before retreating full tilt back toward the forest.

"What are they doing?" the enemy commander asked himself as he viewed them through his own spy glass.

"Should we chase after them?" One of his subordinates asked ready to see some action.

"No, I can smell a trap," the commander said "Send the Risen soldiers instead." A cabal of shamans behind him giggled breathily as they begun to chant a teleport spell.

"It didn't work," Sully commented as they looked back at the fortress from the safety of the woods.

"Was it too transparent?" Miriel asked herself. She didn't have long to reflect on her strategy, the wind was suddenly charged with magic. "Someone's casting."

"Is it an attack?" Sully said, alarmed.

"No, not an attack," Miriel commented as she judged the quality of the magic. It wasn't heavy and permanent like a Fire Spell or its ilk, more of a feathery, shiftless quality. "It's a teleport spell."

With a dizzying speed runes began to carve themselves into the ground not three yards away from the Shepherds' position. Miriel and Ricken tried to block them but they reacted far too late to be effective. Six troops of soldiers materialized into the no man's land between the fort and the woods. Their eyes glowed red and they moved with jerky but efficient movements.

"Risen!" Sully exclaimed in alarm "But how?"

None of them had any time to ponder that, with howls of blood lust the Risen charged them at the Shepherds in a loping predatory gait. "Quickly, form a protective line around the magic users," Sully screamed "Don't let them flank us."

Adapting to the situation as best they could the Shepherd fortified their position and took on the first wave. Thanks to Sully's quick thinking the mages had enough time to conjure a blazing wall at their rear protecting them from being surrounded. While Miriel and Ricken focused on the defensive Tharja was on the attack.

Beauty that drove the gods wild with envy,

Those who draw near

Shall fall into the abyss!

-Words of Endomayla the Enchantress

Her Mire spell corrupted the ground to the far right of the Shepherds turning the frosted earth into a soupy mush. Coaxing the roots from the earth Tharja used them to grab Risen before drowning them in the muck. Their combined efforts saved the Shepherds lives. Overcoming the first round of Risen Sully ordered them back into their original positions. Side by side the Shepherds clashed with the otherworldly monsters.

Observing the battle from afar the enemy commander smiled. "Send in the fliers."

Gregor smashed in the face of the Risen keeping care not inhale any of the black smog that leaked from the cracks of its face. In one last spasm the thing tried to cut off his head with a wild sword slash. Effortlessly parrying the blow Gregor jarred the sword from the monster's grasp then sent it sprawling with a knee shattering kick. One last stab to the back of the neck made it petrify for one second before disintegrating. Stepping out of the black mist Gregor took a deep breath of clean air. As he panted he heard the cry of a wyvern nearing their location.

"Shit."

Through the tree filtered sun light of the forest a large black shadow moved through the canopy making the Shepherds duck reflexively. Like vultures, the fliers lazily circled above the tree line confident their Risen allies below would be able to distract any mages or archers. Panic began to grip the Shepherds.

"Miriel, we need a plan!" Sully shouted as she knocked a Risen back from the vulnerable archer.

"I'm thinking!" the mage replied flipping through her spellbook "I just need a little time."

Out of the corner of her eye Maribelle spotted Gregor dashing off somewhere. 'What is that man doing?' she wondered as she finished healing the stab wound on Panne's shoulder. Torn between keeping formation and staying true to the buddy system Maribelle waffled for a bit before growling in aggravation.

With all their attention focused on the prey below them the fliers failed to notice the redhead mercenary as he made a break for the fortress. Gasping for breath Gregor lunged up at the wall, his fingers searching for some sort of crevice he could grab onto.

"That's not going to work," Someone snidely informed him.

Dropping down Gregor looked behind him "Oy Maribelle, this not safe. Go back to Shepherds."

"You can't climb the wall," she said ignoring his advice "the frost makes it too slippery. You have to make your own footholds if you want to scale it." An arrow embedded itself within the wall allowing the baroness to pull herself up off the ground "Like this."

Virion and his paired partner, Tharja, trotted up to them. "It shall be tricky." Virion said as he examined the stones "But fear not, no construct of man will stop this Virion, milady." True to his word the archest of archers managed to sink several more arrows into the wall giving them a way to scale it. They dropped into the courtyard of the fortress; they were now behind enemy lines. Ducking behind a nearby shack Maribelle rounded on Gregor.

"Do you even have a plan?" She asked him in a huff.

"There, that is Gregor's plan," he said pointing up high. Built upon the fortress roof near the gate was a large manmade device Maribelle had never seen before.

"What is it?" she asked peering hard.

"A ballista!" Virion gasped "That wasn't there the last time we came here. They must have installed in when they took over."

"What's a ballista?" Maribelle asked.

Scoffing Tharja explained "It shoots really big arrows. Mostly used for taking out flying enemies. Are you seriously this daft?"

"Well excuse me for having never seen one!" Maribelle bit back "They don't have them in Ylisse."

"Ylisse has a large aerial division and while Plegia employs has a wyvern brigade they are not large enough to warrant pouring precious funds into building a ballista." Virion explained "They are expensive to craft but very useful in the right situation and I dare say this would be the right situation. I must declare Gregor, even my vaunted eaglelike eyes didn't see the ballista there."

"Gregor's eyes save him from many very bad scrapes. Very sharp." Gregor said giving a cocky grin " Gregor wants to use ballista to distract fliers long enough for friends to take door to fortress."

"Brilliant!" Virion exclaimed "No sane flier can ignore an active ballista."

"That's all well and good," Tharja pointed out "But how the hell are we going to get there. In case you lunkheads haven't noticed there are only four of us."

"Will be most difficult," Gregor agreed "But we stay low and sneaky to get up to ballista. Virion shoot fliers while Gregor and friends protect his position."

"And when were you going to explain your plan to us?" Maribelle asked "You ran off all by yourself without any back up."

"Gregor is good with the thinking on feet." the mercenary said "Would have found way."

Maribelle lectured him "I realize you old lone wolf mercenary instincts are hard to break but we're a team now and as a team we stick toget-" She was cut off by Virion who placed a hand over her mouth.

"I thought I heard something," a guard said as he came out of the guard shack "It sounded like a woman."

"Maybe the Ylisseans got past the door?"

They looked around but found nothing. "Are you sure it wasn't the wind or something?"

The guard pursed his lips "I could have sworn it was a woman."

"It's too cold to be standing around out here like idiots." one of the guards grouched "I never thought I'd say this but I miss the desert."

"You're not the only one."

Once they filed back inside the Shepherds climbed down from the roof of the shack. "Can we get going?" Tharja asked waspishly "Or do you want to stand around and jabber some more. Who knows, if we're lucky they might torture us for a bit instead of killing us right away."

"Tharja right," Gregor said "Let's go."

Since Virion had been the only one who had visited here previously they let him take the lead. Aside from the group of guard shacks on the ground level the only way forward was going up into the ramparts. A quick scout of the border gates confirmed that the majority of the enemy had conglomerated there just in case the Ylisseans broke through their lines. Still there were still patrolmen guarding the stairs leading up to the ballista and not much cover to hide from them.

Sneaking out of the ground level was easy but the first set of stairs was being guarded by a few axe fighters. Pressed up against the side of the stairs Maribelle tuned to Gregor "What should we do?"

Gesturing for them to stay there he made his way around the shacks to the one nearest to the steps. He gave a quick whistle alerting the guards.

"What was that?"

"Calm down, it could have been the wind. It's pretty noisy.

"That wasn't the wind ya idiot, there someone down there."

"Oh please, you're just being paranoid. In case you haven't noticed the enemy is outside the fortress."

"They could have gotten in."

"We would have heard them by now. Sit your ass down."

Grabbing his axe the fighter shook his head "I'm going to go see. Paranoia or not I need to stretch my limbs."

As he descended the stairs one of his companions reached over and checked his discarded hand "He had crap cards."

"Figures," another one snorted "Johnson's been on fire the entire morning then suddenly when he has a bad hand he hears the enemy snooping around and skedaddles off"

"Ah well, guess he forfeits his winnings" one of the guards said redistributing the loot they had lost "Rules and all."

"When did we make that rule?"

"Just now."

The hapless guard cautiously strolled over to the shack Gregor was hiding behind axe raised and ready for anything. As he rounded the corridor Gregor jumped out knocking him unconscious with a blow to the back of his head with the hilt of his sword. After slitting his throat he hauled the body up and angled the dead guard's hand so that it could be seen by the guards. He then waved it.

"Look at that!" one of the guards said pointing "Johnson's found something."

"What is it?" another one called out but Johnson didn't answer. He just continued to wave at them urgently.

"Huh, I wonder what it is." Their curiosity got the best of them and all of them wandered over to the shack. Sneaking up behind their backs the Shepherds struck. Tharja pulled out the sacrificial dagger she had hidden in her sleeve plunging into her enemy's neck. Maribelle brained hers with her staff while Virion shot his in the back. The final guard turned around and took a blind swing at his attackers. Handily parrying the blow with her staff the baroness and the guard locked weapons.

"Give it up Goldilocks!" he sneered giving Maribelle a nose full of his rancid morning breath. Using his superior build he began to push her back. As her feet slid across the floor she found a groove in the stone hewn blocks and used it to pivot out of the way. His axe barely missed her side and smashed the ground forcing the guard to stumble a bit to keep his weapon in his hands. Gregor promptly stabbed him in the heart from behind.

"Is everyone alright?" Maribelle asked.

"Gregor is ok." the red head grunted as he wiped his bloody sword on the ground.

"I am well," Virion replied.

"Fine," Tharja mumbled as she yanked her dagger out of the man's neck and stored it back in her sleeve. Pity, if Grima was here Tharja would have butchered the corpse into a fragrant offering for her.

"Let's get while the good is going." Gregor said gesturing them forward "Only matter of time until enemy spots us."

The group ascended the stairs as quick as they could. They got up two more floors before they heard someone scream from below them "Hey, it's the Ylisseans. They've infiltrated us! They're on the wall." Archers began to line the walls ready to shoot at the Shepherds from their position higher on the wall.

"Shit" Gregor sighed as he rushed forward. Using his traction he scaled a higher floor setting his sights on the archers aiming at them. Nervously the Plegian archers looked back and forth between the crazy guy charging them and his three companions below them. Panicking one of the archers switched his target to Gregor. Carefully taking aim he pulled the bowstring taunt, he could see the veins on the mercenary's neck bulge as he sucked in deep breaths. Before he could fire something incredibly sharp punctured his own jugular. He gasped for breath but it was like inhaling air through swamp mud. The world swam before his eyes as his equilibrium gave out sending him pitching over the wall. His corpse impacted the floor where it was jumped over by the archest of archers already lining up his next shot.

Learning from his unlucky companion's mistake the second archer took aim at Virion. The foreigner ducked under the first shot then used his blow to block the second. The poor soul didn't get a chance to even draw a third arrow, he was stabbed in the chest by Gregor and tossed over the wall. Tharja didn't want to be left out so with a malicious grin on her face she began to chant.

O Angel

Deprived of light and wings

Let thy misery cage mine enemy

The Words of Aymia the Fallen

Her Flux attack sent a forest of black needles crawling up the wall to stab two more archers. The last one wasn't sure to fire, flee or piss himself. Indecisively switching between targets he settled for the blond haired girl who didn't look all that dangerous. Locking glares with her he drew back and fired. The arrow whistled through the air right at Mariebelle but instead of jumping to one side the baroness raised her staff allowing the deadly weapon to embed itself into her Mend. With a huff she tossed her staff at the archer knocking him off balance.

"Dammit!" he shouted as he fell off the wall. He landed on his head and blacked out; the Mend Staff fell beside him.

Maribelle paused for a second to pick it back up, she felt Gregor land behind her. "Not bad." he said with a wry grin.

"We can't celebrate just yet." Maribelle replied pointing down the stairs. A mob of soldiers was heading towards them. All four of them hauled ass to the ballista which was guarded by only four mercenaries who were quickly dispatched. Placing one of the ridiculously large ballista bolts on the rack Virion began to prep the weapon.

"We have a problem mon amis," he said trying to swivel it "I cannot aim it, she will not turn." Looking over the gears he found the problem "It is the gears, they are frozen."

"Ah great." Tharja griped "We're going to die for nothing."

"We will not be giving up with the hope yet." Gregor growled. Moving towards the front of the ballista he hunched underneath it. With a mighty roar he forced the weapon up a few inches. "Which way? Give me the directions."

"Ah, ah, a little to the left" Virion instructed him peering down the weapon's sights. He used the multiple magnifying glasses to zero in on the flock of wyverns and pegasus knights. "A little more to the left, just a hair."

"We've got company!" Maribelle shouted. The mob of soldiers had caught up to them. It was a variety of fighter, myrmidon, and lancers; there were about thirty of them all in all.

"Don't tell me they intimidate you?" Tharja sniped drawing her tome "Feel free to go cower in the corner, princess."

"Of- of course they don't," Maribelle huffed as she crossed her arms "Anyway someone has to watch your back."

"Be aware I won't be watching yours, princess." Tharja hissed before beginning to chant. Thanks to the balcony the ballista was sitting on all thirty of the guards couldn't charge at the same time. Five of them ran forward weapons aloft. Parrying the first blow Maribelle knocked a fighter off the roof before sidestepping a lance thrust as she brained a fighter with her Mend. He staggered back and was pushed away by a myrmidon who tried to vivisect her. She ducked under his blow then kicked him in the nuts. As he howled in pain she grabbed him by the shoulder and tossed him towards a lancer knocking both of them off the wall. Pivoting on her foot she brought her staff up to block a dual strike from both a fighter and a myrmidon.

"Gotcha now." the fighter leered at her.

"Do you?" Releasing her Mend Staff the baroness jumped back letting a wave of rotten energy wash over them scouring the flesh from their sinew.

"Can't you cast any faster?" Maribelle shouted back at Tharja.

"Keep giving me lip and I might not even bother aiming next time." The shamaness sniffed before switching pages.

Meanwhile Gregor was roaring in effort as he pushed the nose of the ballista higher and higher. "A little more, a little more" Virion said as he zeroed in on the wyvern lord leading the flock. "Hang in there mon ami."

With the full weight of the weapon pressing down on his back Virion was sure that the mercenary would collapse at any second. But the redhead endured and soon the archest of archer had his target lined up. Backing off from the sights he grabbed the lever and tugged it. The weapon kicked as it shot sending Gregor face first onto the floor with a grunt of pain. Still Virion lived up to his reputation as archest of archers, from a distance all of them could hear the death shriek of the wyvern as it was shredded stem to stern by the ballista bolt.

Using the sights once again Virion whooped in victory at what he saw "They are panicking! We've done it."

Indeed the fliers had been caught by advantage of their confusion Sully ordered the Shepherds to charge forward out of the forest towards the gate. By the time the fliers had gotten their act together their enemy was on the move. Still it seemed like a suicide charge, they no longer had any cover to protect them. Enraged at the loss of their leader the second in command urged them onwards and fell into a trap. Sully had made sure the fliers would have to cross over the massive gram Miriel had carved earlier in order to catch up to them. As the Ylisseans charged the gate leading into the border fortress the gram went off behind them incinerating the fliers. Within seconds they had destroyed the boss keeping the gate shut and entered the border proper.

"They are in." Virion shouted drawing his bow.

"Thank Naga," Maribelle breathed before braining a lancer with several strikes from her Mend Staff.

"This isn't over yet, princess!" Tharja snarked. There were reinforcements climbing up the stairs towards them.

"Stay strong!" Gregor shouted as he cut down a myrmidon "Is all we can do, yes?"