Chapter 28

Nathan slowly opened his eyes the next morning, looking around the small tent he found himself in. He felt something on his chest and heard some familiar snoring, looking down to see Lissa sprawled out on top of him, still snoozing away. He looked nearby, seeing Lon'qu sleeping, slightly blushing despite his eyes being closed, with Maribelle wrapped up in his arms.

The four had made their way out of Ferox and into Plegia, still being behind on catching up to Chrom and the shepherds. Nathan estimated that they were at least a few hours' travel behind them, so the group decided to stop for the night and continue moving the next day. They were traveling extremely light, bringing only a tent and their weapons along with a borrowed caravan from the Ferox castle, pulled by Maribelle's horse. He hoped that they could catch up with Chrom and the others before their fight with Gangrel began, or at least in time to enter the battle.

Nathan grinned down at the still snoring Lissa, running his hand through her hair, which was out of its signature pigtails for the night.

"Time to get up, Liss," The tactician whispered to her.

The princess smiled widely as she looked up at the man, opening her eyes. "…Is it?" She yawned. "I slept like a log last night!"

Nathan chuckled slightly. "I could tell, you seemed pretty tired from yesterday." He replied.

"Are we heading out?" Lon'qu muttered groggily, sliding Maribelle off of him gently and sitting up, still nursing his chest wound, rubbing it slightly. Nathan nodded. The swordsman reached over and shook Maribelle awake.

"Up. We are about to leave." He muttered to the troubadour, who glared at him.

"We're going to have to work on your wake up skills too, apparently…" She grumbled. Nathan and Lissa laughed as they got up out of their shared bedroll to get dressed and ready for the day ahead.

Once they had made their way back into their caravan they directed themselves towards the border wastes where Gangrel's army waited. Lissa and Maribelle were in deep conversation with each other, as Nathan turned to Lon'qu.

"…I'd assume you know that you're in no shape to fight Gangrel," the tactician told to the man.

Lon'qu snorted in reply. "And I'd assume you know that I'll be fighting anyways," He retorted.

Nathan laughed, with Lon'qu bearing his signature small grin of approval. "Fair enough. There's no way I'm letting you onto the front lines though."

The tactician then peeked his head out of the front of the caravan, thinking he had heard something. He looked off into the distance, seeing a large cloud of dust being kicked up, and the familiar sound of steel clashing amongst battle cries.

He turned back around to see Lissa, Maribelle, and Lon'qu all right behind him, also peering up ahead.

"I think this is our stop," The tactician joked sarcastically, flipping open his robes and pulling out his arcfire tome. The others moved to prepare their things.

As the group arrived at the battlefield, they left their caravan to travel on foot, with Maribelle riding her horse. As they closed in, Nathan could make out some things about the grounds ahead, spotting a group of forts on the side of the battlefield, cut off from the action by a small creek. Squinting at the area, he was able to make out some Plegian soldiers making their way out of the forts to ambush the shepherds. He turned to Lon'qu, who was staring in the same direction, and mockingly held his hand out towards the forts.

"After you, sir." He joked.

Lon'qu drew his blade and the two rushed off ahead.

Left behind, Lissa turned to Maribelle.

"We're definitely going to be going on lots of double dates." She told the troubadour, who laughed from atop her horse.

"Weren't we going to be already?" She joked, offering Lissa a hand to get on the back of her steed, which she accepted.

"Yeah, that's true…but more than just the ones we plan out, I think." The princess mused. The two shared a laugh before Maribelle urged her horse to speed up in order for them to catch up to the others.

Once the bandits in the forts had been disposed of, the group made their way across the small bridge over the creek, running into Libra, healing a badly wounded Frederick. A gaping wound was spread on the right side of his chest, and his left leg was covered in burns and scrapes. Lissa and Maribelle quickly jumped off their horse to help.

"How bad is it? Nathan asked, his voice wavering slightly. He felt as though he may not want to know. Libra shook his head.

"Not good. Even if he survives, I doubt he'll be able to fight again…" The monk commented grimly.

Nathan cursed loudly. "If only we had arrived earlier…" He hissed in frustration. Libra shook his head.

"There is no time to dwell on past deeds, Nathan," The long haired man decreed. "You are here now, and Chrom needs his tactician. Go."

Nathan turned to Lon'qu, who nodded his head slightly towards the action in the battlefield, where Chrom could be seen locked in a fierce duel with some Plegian soldiers.

"I'll watch over them here. Get moving!" The swordsman sharply snapped at the man.

Nathan nodded solemnly. Lon'qu unsheathed his blade, passing it to Nathan. "You'll need a sword up there. Try not to break this one." He joked. Nathan grinned slightly, before pausing and giving the man a confused look.

"What are you going to use, then?" He asked.

Lon'qu pulled his bow off his back, waving it slightly.

"Oh, right. That's a thing." The tactician muttered. Lissa then gave Nathan a sharp look, snapping, "Shouldn't you be somewhere, Natie?"

Without another word, Nathan ran off towards Chrom. Lon'qu turned back to the princess, giving her a mischievous grin. Before he could say anything, Lissa glared at him too.

"We're on the battlefield, you morons, we have better things to do than joke around!" She yelled.

Lon'qu nodded, before turning around and frowning. "These people really are wearing off on me a bit too much…" The man muttered to himself, before pulling an arrow from his quiver and loading it up.

Chrom felt his muscles beginning to give as he parried yet another blow from a Plegian soldier. They had been caught off guard near the beginning of the battle, thanks to their lack of a tactician within their ranks, with Frederick being injured gruesomely from defending Chrom from a mage ambush. Most of the others had been forced to fall back, with only Chrom, Sumia, and a few others being left in the heat of the battle. Sweat was pouring from his brow as he swung his blade to protect Ricken from being struck down by a Plegian axe.

"Need some help?" A familiar voice called out, followed by a wall of fire consuming multiple Plegian soldiers. Chrom turned towards the voice, seeing Nathan standing nearby, sword drawn and arcfire tome in hand. The prince smiled in relief.

"Just in time." He panted. As he spoke, the Plegians appeared to retreat, all scurrying off to the sides of the battlefield as an incensed Gangrel made his way towards the two.

"You're not kidding," The tactician muttered in agreement, twirling his blade in anticipation, waiting for Gangrel to make a move. The Mad king drew his Levin sword, running towards the two, his army regrouping and charging again alongside their leader.

"This is the end! Shepherds, to arms!" Chrom cried out, as the remaining shepherds still able to fight, along with the masses of Ylissean and Feroxi soldiers, drew up their arms and ran forward to meet their opponents.

As the final stage of the battle began, Nathan lost sight of Chrom among the mass pandemonium, with the Prince clashing blades with Gangrel when he was last seen. Nathan looked frantically around the battlefield while striking down enemies with his blade and tome, trying to find the man. He spotted Sumia high above the combat, taking on a dragon rider. Nathan shot up a large ball of fire at the wyvern and it's rider, sending them plummeting to the ground in a ball of flame.

"SUMIA! GO HELP CHROM!" Nathan screamed, hoping his words would reach the Pegasus knight. She looked down at him for a second, trying to make out what he had said, before dashing off in another direction. Hoping that she was headed to help their exalt, Nathan began charging in the direction she headed, striking down any Plegians who got in his way.

Elsewhere, Chrom found himself locked in combat with Gangrel, sparks flying from their blades as they clashed. He could see the sneer on the Mad King's face with each swing of his Levin sword. Gangrel could feel Chrom's blows getting weaker and weaker each time their weapons clashed. The prince was wearing down.

One well placed slash from Gangrel's electrified blade, straight to Chrom's stomach, piercing his armour and cutting at his flesh, knocked the man to his knees, doubled over in pain. Gangrel raised his Levin sword in triumph, about to bring down a fierce blast of Lightning to finish the job.

Chrom looked up to the sky overhead. "So… this is how it ends." He muttered to himself. "Emmeryn…I'm sorry. I'll be with you soon. Nathan, Lissa, everyone…be safe."

"I'LL END THIS NOW!" A voice cried from the sky above. Gangrel and Chrom both turned to look, before Sumia and her Pegasus swooped down, Her lance impaling Gangrel swiftly through his side, ending him.

The entire battlefield sat in a complete silence, all turning towards the scene of Sumia, Chrom, and Gangrel.

"Damn it…all…" Gangrel coughed weakly, sputtering up blood before collapsing to the ground as Sumia withdrew her lance.

The Ylissean and Feroxi force erupted in cheers as they watched Gangrel fall to the ground. Sumia blushed as soldiers and others surrounded her and Chrom, congratulating them.

Finally, the war had ended.