ASLEEP

Chapter Thirteen – Breaking Wings

This is probably the worst thing that could happen to me right now. Actually, no, scratch that, Lucien isn't involved so there's that at least. Still, the situation is pretty bad. We're tired, sore, hot and caught by surprise.

Not to mention, didn't Cherche's supports mention that the Wyvern's could breathe fire now? Man, that would suck. I really hope I'm remembering it wrong.

OH GOD I DIDN'T

If there is a god, it hates me. I'm glad I managed to dive down in time, the first swoop over would have incinerated me, broken shield or not. Damn, I hope it didn't get anyone else – buh?

One of the wyvern's and its rider smashed down next to me, arrows sticking out of its neck. The rider was dead on impact. I stagger up to my feet, and turn to see what just happened.

Virion stood on top of the supply cart, drawing and firing arrows at quite frankly ludicrous speed. I guess he wasn't all just talk then – archest of archers, indeed. Still, Virion's kill seemed to give Chrom the time he needed.

"Rally! Protect the Exalt! Robin, we need a plan and we need it now!"

I could feel myself rise to my feet with a grin. Okay, we are officially back in the game as of right now. Alright, time to cause some serious damage – oh, crap, I don't have ranged weapons. Do I have to wait for them to charge me?

This sucks.

Ricken and Miriel stepped forwards, gusts of wind slashing through the wings of approaching wyvern's and forcing some of them to land further down the mountain. Chrom ran through the plateau, rallying us footsloggers to form a defensive line. I ended up lodged in between Donnel and Vaike of all people.

"So." I smirk and draw my sword, checking it for damage. "Last to ten buys the others a drink?"

"Ah'm a little young ta be drinking" Donnel said, gripping his lance.

"And yet here you are, about to be charged by angry axemen." I shrug. "I'm pretty sure Chrom would let it slide. Besides, you'll be buying, not drinking."

Vaike let out a bark. "Ha! I like the sound of free drinks!"

Yup, this seems to be a thing I've started now. I manage to make out Robin's voice despite the roars of both wyverns and flames.

"At twenty paces, cavalry, counter-charge and disengage! Archers and Mages, focus on keeping their air support away from our healers! Lissa, Maribelle, Anna, get ready to help the cavalry when they come back! Ground troops, charge as soon as the cavalry disengage! Ready?"

Seems like a fairly straightforward plan for once. We let out a roar of approval as the enemy reached the thirty-pace mark.

We stepped to the side and allowed the cavaliers, headed up by Frederick, to break through our lines and smash into the enemy. On the charge, they must have hit a decent number of them. A few slashes with their swords and they managed to disengage, leaving the dismounted Wyvern Riders disorganized and confused. Chrom chopped forwards with Falchion just as the three of them thundered back. I think something hit Stahl. I'll have to check on him later – OH GOD THEY'RE ONLY FIVE PACES AWAY CONCENTRATE.

Naturally, the first one is met with my sword to his surprised face. Oh, shit, there's brains everywhere. Damn, that's nasty. Ugh, I am never cutting someone's skull in half again. Fine, you'll just have to live with a shield bash off the edge of this cliff second man – was that the Wilhelm scream?
What the hell? People actually make that noise?

DAMN! Okay, no time to ponder, Cameron, that guy almost took your head off. Let's just – okay, I guess we could just stab him. Okay, brief respite. Hey, there's Vaike.

"Hey, Vaike! Three already!"

Vaike turns and grins, tossing one of them off the cliff with his free hand without even breaking a sweat. "I'm on twelve! Sucks to be you!"

My wallet can't take this abuse, not with Anna as a potential significant other. Donnel fell back next to me, panting.
"Ah'm only on two."

My wallet doesn't have to take this abuse! Awesome! This news gives me strength!

Holy crap, it actually gave me strength. I just piled through those guys right now. Suckers! Not sure if I actually killed any of them, but it was awesome while it lasted. Well, then.

Wings, flapping wings, here comes another one – oh, crap! Did I almost kill Cordelia?

"Captain Chrom! There are more coming from behind!"

I forgot about them. Oh dear lord.

This could be troublesome. Cordelia just flew off, probably to find and warn Phila as well. Just as the promised enemy reinforcements arrived, Phila and her Pegasus knights slammed into them and began their deadly dance in the sky.

A few more minutes raged on and wow these guys are just not on our level are they?

The thing is, deprived of their mounts thanks to Robin's strategy of disrupting the air to make it too dangerous to fly, they are pretty much reduced to mediocre foot soldiers. Sort of like how Sumia is a goddess while riding her Pegasus, but as soon as she tries to fight on foot she's tripping over everything. This is actually almost boring.

"We've got them on the run!" Chrom proclaimed, waving Falchion in the sky. "Push them back!"

Robin ran up to us, panting. "Phila's air troops are winning in the sky as well. We shouldn't have to fight for much longer."

He glanced up to the sky, his eyes widened, and he spun to Chrom with a panicked look on his face. "Chrom! Drop your sword, turn to the left by two paces, and hold out your arms!"

It says a lot about Chrom's trust in his tactician at this point that he obeyed instantly, even as he raised an eyebrow curiously. "Robin, is this the time to -"

Cordelia fell into his arms with a shriek, Chrom catching her perfectly. Chrom blinked as he realized what Robin had asked him to do. He gently let go of the stuttering Cordelia – wow, she must be having a seizure or something after that episode – and grinned at us. "Okay, Robin, I caught her-"

There was a sickening crunch as Cordelia's pegasus landed on top of him. Wince in sympathy, jeez...that had to hurt.

Wait, wasn't this what happened to Hector back in Rekka no Ken? Huh, guess history – is it history? How many of the games were brought into continuity in this one and how many were still Alternate Universes again? - has a way of repeating itself. Chrom staggered to his feet as the surprisingly uninjured pegasus managed to get off him. Robin groaned and facepalmed. "Cameron, could you take him up to the healers? He may have broken something."

Chrom didn't protest. It wasn't like he was really needed here anymore, what was left of this fight could have been solo'd by a half-decent Lon'qu if he was here. I guess Vaike and Donnel will have to do.

"Sure thing." I grin. Exemption from stupid bet that I was probably going to loose! "I was getting fed up with loosing money."

"Shouldn't have gotten together with Anna, then." There will come a time when you are with somebody, hopefully Lucina, Robin. I will not forget this day.

Do you understand me, Robin? I will ruin you for this.

We staggered back up to the healers, Cordelia trying to apologize for what happened despite her little problem of not really having the ability to use language around Chrom. It sounds like everything's winding down perfectly. No casualties for us, hopefully Phila's troops haven't taken any either.

You know, one of these days someone is going to die and it'll suck. Especially if it's me, that would really suck. Actually it might be better than anyone else because at least then I wouldn't have to grieve.

Crap, they would. Well they would anyway and why the hell am I thinking this to myself? Think about something else, damn.

We finally stagger into the healing tent, where Lissa and Mariabelle whisk Chrom and Cordelia away. Lon'qu is standing awkwardly in a corner talking to oh my god Emmeryn is trying to talk to him this is hilarious.

"I would like to thank you for protecting my sister." Emmeryn said calmly. "She means the world to me."

Lon'qu was sweating bullets at this point and stared pleadingly at me. Payback's a bitch, asshole.

"...it's nothing." He muttered. Wow, I could practically hear his mental screams. I almost feel sorry for him, but he attempted to redirect Lissa's fangirl mode towards me so he can suck it up.

Emmeryn smiled serenly. "You are placing yourself in danger for another's sake, despite your fears. It is something to be commended."

Okay, fine, I'll save you, jeez. "Yo, Lon'qu!"

The stoic face was replaced by sheer glee for a second.

"Yes?"
"I'm going to go and check the border of the camp, make sure no-one got through. You coming?"

Lon'qu nodded furiously, almost running towards me. Emmeryn actually chuckled.

"You are committed to your duty...and your friends."

Well. "Yeah, I guess I am at that."

We leave the tent and start wandering around. The rest of the shepherds were trudging back up, all looking pretty battered but all of them were there. In the sky, Phila and her troops swooped down to greet us all.

Why is she glaring at me? Eh, doesn't matter. I'll keep moving.

We moved around the camp in total silence. I guess he isn't talkative even with guys, is he. Ah, well, can't complain there. The silence is good. We completed the rounds and returned to the center of the camp, where Virion was being carried around on Stahl's shoulders.

"Man of the hour! Archest of archers!" He proclaimed, standing tall. Stahl rolled his eyes at me and started to smirk. "Now, now, my ladies, do not fall over yourselves in your hurry! I shall-"

Stahl kicked his horse into a gallop, and Virion fell off the cavalier with a shriek.
"Hey, archest of archers" I grin, helping him up. "How'd the victory lap go?"

"You wound me, good sir." He grumbled. "Wound me deeply."

"I'm sure I do. Come on, we'll probably be getting debriefed soon-ish."

The bruised and dirtied noble fell behind me, grumbling about his crushed pride. We wandered into the healing tent just as Cordelia was finishing her story.

"...they were my family...oh, gods..."

Right. Yes. That needs to be adressed before PTSD develops to an extreme. Hopefully I'll be able to talk to her, or someone else will beat me to it.

"Monsters." Chrom snarled. Wow, you are coming off as a lot angrier than you do in-game, are you okay pal? Phila sighed and began talking to them in hushed tones. Robin nodded, a dark look on his face.

"I thought so." I overheard. Wait, why did he just glance at me?

Oh, crap, they think I'm a traitor. Wonderful. Emmeryn just took a step forward and told Phila off – or at least, I think that's what she did – and Phila backed down, scowling a little. Well, I guess that means I've got the Exalt on my side for now. It'll all blow over when Phila dies oh for fuck's sake Cameron.

That's the kind of thought that Light Yagami uses to justify his actions in Death Note, you are not a lunatic with a god complex. Robin's done with the conversation, and turns to us – then Emmeryn speaks up.

"I'll return to Ylisstol."

And all hell breaks loose again. For crying out loud, can we all just agree on something for once? Is that too much to ask?

You know, I'm getting a little fed up with this. Should I – is it really appropriate for me to – could someone please – sod it.

"SHUT UP!"

Well, now I've got everyone looking at me. Robin sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Here we go again..."

Oh shut the hell up you snarky bastard. "Could we maybe hear her logic before diving at each other's throats like angry hellhounds? Thank you!"

I am so done with this army. Emmeryn blinked and smiled.

"Thank you. The people will need their leader if Plegia is already within our borders."

Robin raised a hand. "Okay, problems with this argument. I can find three. Permission to state them?"

Emmeryn nodded. "Go ahead."

"Okay, One: There could be more wyvern riders in the countryside."

"I shall have Phila's troops accompanying me."

"Two: If you get killed or captured the morale will drop far more than your presence will raise it."

"If I am not present, Plegia may be less willing to negotiate and will randomly attack peasants occupying Ylisstol."

Robin nodded grudgingly, conceding the points. "Okay, fine. Three: We don't know who the traitor that leaked our position is."

This was met by quiet muttering in the crowd. Phila's glaring at me again. Son of a bitch, she really does think I'm the traitor. Isn't it the Heirarch?

Emmeryn smiled.

"Well, even if I remain with you they will know in that case."

Robin opened and closed his mouth for a few seconds, narrowed his eyes, and sighed. "Fine. I guess you're right."

Did Robin the Genius just lose an argument? Holy crap, so that's why Emmeryn makes a good Exalt. She's smart.

Chrom and Lissa started protesting on a personal basis, but to be honest I'm really not interested in that. I'm just going to wander off over here and...wait.

We're going to have to walk back down the mountain now. Dammit.

A/N: I'll have another one out for the weekend to make up for this one's length. Also, you should all go and read Deliverance by Lex of Light. I hate Robin/Tharja (Okay, mostly just Tharja) but he's rapidly redeeming her in my eyes and it's a really fun read.

After this week, if updates slow down it's because I'll be busy with production assignments for Scriptwriting and Video Workshop. The pro of being a Cinema student is no exams, so once May hits I'll be able to update like a lunatic again.