Disclaimer: English is my native Language. Nintendo is a Japanese company. Therefore, logically, I cannot own Fire Emblem.

Author's Note: My goal is to finish the Nergal arc by the end of 2009. That will not mean finishing this fic. There will still be the Kalaius subplot to wrap up.

Author's Note #2: I just noticed the chapter title sounds like the name of a band...hmm....that would be very amusing....*cackles*

Note #3: Brimstone is actually another name for the very real substance sulfur, and not a mythical substance. Therefore, it exists on Elibe.

The Fourth Tale

By Enilas

Chapter 33: Durandul and the Dragons

"We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves."
- Tom Robbins When ancient weapons and modern morons are in the same place, expect that nothing will go according to plan. -Enilas (Me)

The seals, it turned out, according to Athos, kept the ancient weapons the 8 generals had used locked away, not to be used except in the direst of circumstances. First Athos had helped them acquire the axe known as Armands, wielded by the Berserker Durbans. They had been guarded by the spirits of warriors loyal to that great warrior, and they had had to be faced and put to rest first. Hector found the weapon one that called to him, and it was attuned to him in a way similar to the Mani Katti. Then he took them to a hitherto unknown valley deep within the mountains that covered the Lycian-Bernese border. Athos had taken Armands into safekeeping though, until the final battle – it was an immensely powerful weapon, and should only be used when absolutely necessary.

They now faced a cavern entrance, the stench of brimstone assaulting their nostrils.

"The flames from deep beneath the ground of mundane rock and dirt aid and hinder the spirits of Roland's soldiers in their charge to protect Durandul." Athos explained. "Eliwood. The blade Durandul is for you to wield, and you may take only two to help you in this fight...but you must fight the final guardian by yourself. And you, son of Hartmut, must stay here. While those who are not children of Roland may enter, children of another of the Generals may not enter- and neither may I enter. The Blazing Sword was the mightiest of our eight weapons, and guarded the most. Choose your companions carefully."

Eliwood considered his words.

In the two days since the capture of Ninian by Eliwood, the redheaded noble had become even more determined to bring down Nergal, burning with a cold flame made of pure unadulterated hatred. It would not stop until the death of Nergal, all of them knew. Eliwood had lost much at the hands of this madman, and he would not let this monster take any more from him.

"Hector, will you come with me to retrieve Durandul?" He asked his old friend.

"You don't need to ask. Of course I will." Hector replied. "My axe will make short work of these spirits."

Eliwood turned to Lyn. "Will you come?"

"I will." She replied simply.

A few minutes passed as they readied themselves. Eliwood prayed silently, Hector spoke quietly with Florina, and Lyn with Alkeni.

"Lyn...just...be careful in there." Alkeni said slowly, afraid for her, afraid for the one he loved.

"I'll be fine Alkeni." She replied. And then after one final embrace and brief kiss, she parted from the tactician and joined Hector and Eliwood in entering the cave.

"How long is this going to take?" Kaila asked irritably. "Standing around doing nothing is not my forte."

"Doing anything that does not involve killing or inflicting pain is not your forte Kaila." Alkeni quipped.

"You wound me!" The dark-haired psychopath replied, clutching her hand to her chest in clearly falsified hurt. "You keep this up, and I'll think you don't like me."

Alkeni didn't deign to respond. Instead he went back to watching the cave entrance.

They had been in their for approaching an hour...and suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps on the stone floor of the cave, and then three people stepping out. Lyn, Eliwood and Hector, a few minor injuries and a good deal worse for the wear, but none of them had sustained any serious damage.

In Eliwood's hand was a broadsword, the blade massive, easily twice as long as he was tall, and two handspans wide. But he seemed to be carrying it with no difficulty, despite the obvious weight and unwieldy nature of the blade.

"Is that-" Matthew began.

"Yes...it is Durandul, the Blazing sword, wielded by Roland during the scouring." Athos answered.

Eliwood approached Athos, intending to impart the sword to him for safekeeping, like with Armands...but nothing goes according to plan where ancient weapons are involved. As he approached the Archsage, they heard a screeching cry ring out in the skies above their heads. It reminded them of the angry call of the dragon back at the Dragon's Gate. Durandul began to glow, and the hand the held it seemed to move of its own free will. They saw a dragon, much like the one they had seen the beginnings of on Valor. But its scales were white, and they felt a rush of cold air, not fiery heat, coming towards them. Its eyes glowed red. It was flying down towards them, and then, Durandul acted. It swung up, cutting the dragon across its chest.

It let out a terrible cry of agony as light-blue ichor flowed from the wound. It fell to ground in front of them....and then the body shrank. And Shrank. It lost its draconic shape, and looked more and more like a human. And then they recognized the form.

Eliwood dropped the blade nervelessly from his hands, falling to his knees in shock and pain and anguish at the sight of the body before him, blood, red now, pouring from the wound, pooling around it.

It was Ninian. He had killed Ninian. He had killed the one he loved.

A/N: And yes, its a short chapter. But I've developed a liking for cliffhangers/annoying endings in recent weeks, so I decided to indulge. Next chapter should be up....in a little under a week.