Chapter 58: The Humble Lady of Caelin

By SodiumChlouride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.

A/N: Sorry about the late post! I was busy with an exam I took online.


July 1st, 982.

Today is my first day writing in this account, and may I say it's quite the welcome relief in my troubled life. Everything's so hectic in my day-to-day, so I take great solace in being able to sit down and write my thoughts. Speaking of which, perhaps I should give you a name. What moniker should I assign to you? I'm baffled just thinking about it...

Hmm...

I think I'll name you Cecil. Nice to meet you! My name is Lyn! I think my last name is either Caelin or Lorca. I'm not exactly sure...

Anyway, much has happened over the past few weeks. Before I can start on that, I should probably tell you about everything that has happened. It'll take some time, so you'd better get yourself comfortable! Then again, I doubt you have anything else to do. You are just a journal...

...

So, I hope I still have your attention. Thankfully, all of my friends are safe and sound! Sain, Kent, Florina, and Wil. We escaped by the skin of our teeth, but I don't think it we'd be here if it weren't for the valiant efforts of my grandfather and the Caelic army. Fortunately, Eliwood's army was nearby to help us...

Oh! I'm sorry, I never told you about that. Yes, despite my insistence, my grandfather left himself behind with the last of the army so we'd have enough time to escape. I...fear for his life. The Lausian army were fierce and unrelenting during their short siege with us. I don't know what are Lord Darin's intentions, but I don't feel this well end well for my grandfather. He's...he's the only family I have left. We may come from differing cultures, but I care for him tremendously. I pray that I'll be able to see him again soon, lest my heart break again.

Speaking of broken body parts, I spoke to Matthew about Samuel's...condition. Given his mild seizure last night, I wondered if he could give me a full rundown on Sam's medical history. Although he seemed sympathetic to my plight, he didn't have the documents on his person. I convinced him to ask his employer if they can investigate the subject matter, but the results of which won't come for at least a month. Until then, I need to keep a close eye on this reckless tactician. His hair has since taken a deathly shade of white, and though he fancies himself a warrior, he fails to realize he's made of glass.

Oh Cecil, I'm so worried. About everything. I fear for my grandfather's life, the wellbeing of the kingdom, the safety of my friends, and the future of my dear Samuel. There are many obstacles between me and the future I desire...but I'll stay steadfast. I'll make sure to keep telling you more about what's to come.

Hehehe…Samuel lies sleeping here next to me. He's actually quite adorable here, especially under dawn's light. I think I'll go back to sleep too...

Until next time!

With Love, Lyn.


Morning...

It's a bright, late summer morning in the Land of Caelin. Clouds brush the sky with spotted blankets of white, and birds serenely glide through the sky. Wind peacefully breezes through the beautiful landscape, carrassing plain and forest alike with its cool embrace. A single green leaf dances through the air, jumping like a delicate ballerina until it lands on an idle notebook sitting beside an even idler sleeping couple.

They slept on the grass like peas in a pod. One held the other close to her chest, his white hair intertwined with her green. They gave light breathes in equal tempo, though neither expressed any sense of consciousness. Nearby, a red knight looks over them with a hint of jealousy in his eyes, but regardless, all he does is politely cough into his hand.

Kent said, "Ahem. Good morning."

"..."

The pair continue in their slumber, oblivious to their comrade's presence. Kent briefly shifts his gaze towards the unmasked Samuel, his face scarred from the explosion of his own creation. Other than that, he also carried a slight blemish from that old wound Rath gave him last year, and the sight brings back memories. Well...that's what would've happened if the two were still on class terms. Kent hated Samuel, mostly because of his role in felling dozens of his friends.

His blood briefly boils with anger, but then subsides when he remembers his duty. Still, one could never be too careful when dealing with these sort of men, and thus he kept his short dagger handy, albeit discreetly. Keeping his right hand free, he grabs the wanted tactician from his collar and shook him.

He said, "Hey! What is the meaning of this?!"

The volume of his voice compells both the fugitive and his liege awake. The former briefly looks around, more confused than a color-blind person looking at a stoplight for the first time, but it doesn't take long for him to recover his bearings...

Samuel said, "K-Kent? What's going on — oh no. My mask's off, isn't it?"

Kent stares him down and tightens his grip. He found it odd that he didn't attempt to escape his grasp, but questions were best left when the accused was already behind bars.

He said, "Your luck's run out. I don't know what you were doing with the princess, but you will be under our custody from now on. You'll answer to the crimes you've committed. I hope you find the executioner n—"

Suddenly, a voice shocks him out of his monologue. It came from Lyn, her posture hunched over from morning tiredness. She said, "Kent. Please let him down this instant."

Kent nearly gasps under his breath, but doesn't drop the smaller man. Instead, he questions his liege on the motives behind her order, a direct violation of the Knight's Code he'd sworn to many years ago.

I will not question the orders of my liege. The crown is the nation, and to defy it is abject to treason.

He asked, "But why? He's a wanted murderer and a criminal. Please, allow me to lock him up so he may answer to his crimes."

Lyn shakes her head and rises from her position to grab onto Samuel's hands. She lightly tugs against his white robe and as expected she doesn't find any resistance. Kent lets go and Samuel's feet meet with the ground for the first time this morning.

Holding his hand over his heart, Samuel backs away cautiously. Conversely, Lyn puts herself between the two men, wary of any further confrontation between the two.

She said, "Kent. I will need you to forget you ever saw this."

Kent grips the blade on his waist tightly, and the tension in the air thickens. He briefly contemplates his next move in silence, though both Kent and Lyn understood what this was to be. Given his role as a knight, there was only one thing to do.

Kent sighs and turns his back on both liege and fugitive. He said, "Very well, your wish is my command. I implore you two to return to the camp immediately as we are deliberating on the war plan. It is vital that both of you are present."

He maintained silence as he walked away. Meanwhile, Lyn and Samuel look on with striking shock in what just occurred, though the latter felt an ever increasing sense of unease with his bare face. He frantically searches the area for his mask...

He said, "Where is it? My mask — where is it? By Elimine — I am so screwed..."

"Oh!"

He finds its white ceramic body protruding from the dirt, the way it got there being unknown. Even so, Samuel his shrugged his shoulders and pulls it out of the ground content with having it under his possession again. Lyn says nothing as he reattached it to his face.

He said, "Sorry, I just feel so anxious when I don't on my face in broad daylight. I feel so naked without it..."

He glances over at Lyn, who somberly watched her beloved nearby. Solemn thoughts fills her mind, which slowly but surely enveloped her heart. Samuel notices this and sought to put her mind at ease any way he could.

He said, "Lyn...are you all right? I...Kent...he..."

At one point in the distance past, Samuel used to possess a witty and precise tongue. This came from a lifetime having to come up to blows with his politically minded twin brother, who laid down a barrage of rhetoric any time the two sat down for evening dinner. However, months of devastating brain injuries had reduced him to a mildly more bumbling version of his former self. Thinking about it brought sadness to Lyn's heart, hence the somber look about her eyes.

In her perspective, Lyn held partial responsibility for making him this way. Had Samuel never met her or if he'd rejected the promise they'd made over a year before, he'd be living a much safer life away from the violent squabbles of nobility. Samuel would be much happier in that life, a life far away from the one Lyn's leading.

Clearing her throat, she elected to downplay the issue. She said, "Pay his earlier words no mind. He doesn't understand the story of you or Azazel, and I…"

"…"

Lyn goes silent and searches her mind for words. She couldn't figure out what to say to Samuel. In truth, a part of her felt just as angry as the man who lifted Sam up from his collar, and it was difficult for her to speak from a position of empathy. This originated from the conflict based from her culture, which didn't approve of this behavior towards enemies as stated in the Laws of Sacae…

The Laws of Sacae. They're a collection of strict rules that every Sacaen man and women follow. Most are rather trivial and meant for day-to-day life, like tenet thirteen:

Horses will be allowed to graze the land as they see fit, just as the spirits intended.

However, other laws pertain to much more serious subject matter. This includes several pertaining to war, one of which specifically applies to Lyn and Samuel's situation.

Tribesman lost in battle must be avenged with their equivalent in blood. Should a tribe be wiped out, the survivors must fight to exact revenge. Even if it comes down to the last man.

This is the Avenger's Law, its namesake derived from all the vengeful souls that would commit guerrilla attacks against the like of the Kutolah, Djute, Ostrogs, and the Lorca themselves. This made larger tribes reluctant to annihilate and assimilate smaller tribes, as the hassle immediately following the war's end would be more draining and disruptive than the war itself. This applied to Lyn and Samuel in several ways, though only one took great importance.

In the eyes of Sacaen Law, Samuel was a combatant working with an enemy army during the Lorcan Massacre. This meant people like Lyn had to avenge the deaths of her kin to equivalence, with the casualties of her people numbering in the hundreds. Since Samuel had eliminated the Taliver Bandits months before, that meant only one person of the enemy remained. That person being the white-haired tactician himself.

The Law bounds Lyn to kill Samuel, regardless of who did the killing or her personal objections. If she were to break this obligation, that would mean ostracization by every Sacaen on the planet, along with exile from her beloved plains. This left Lyn in quite the bind, as she now had to choose between her beloved or her homeland…

But she already promised to throw her lot with Samuel. He had done much for her, going as far to put himself both physically and psychologically on the line to achieve her past goals. His selflessness struck a chord inside the young nomad's heart, and perhaps this was the part of the reason she was so stricken by him. She must commit to the promise she made last night, even it means making some difficult decisions.

Clearing her throat, her green eyes meet with his pair of lighter green and brown. They share a moment of repose, before Lyn finally breaks the silence.

Apologizing for her earlier misstep, she said, "My apologies. I…hesitated a bit there. Mmph, before we go…can I ask a personal favor from you?"

Samuel nods, "Of course. Anything."

Lyn said, "You must refrain from fighting in this next battle. I know you're still recovering from that major concussion several days back, and I want you to steer clear from injury for several more days."

Samuel balked, "What? No! The army needs me! You remember the last time we had a battle without an observing tactician!"

Lyn thinks back on the fate of General Wallace, and ponders about a similar thing happening to someone held dear, like her best friend Florina. She couldn't even bear to think about how she'd fare if an archer shot her out of the sky because of some tactical error, but she couldn't allow herself to risk Samuel's wellbeing again. Situations like these require compromise…

She reaches over and grabs Samuel's hand, momentarily stunning him with fluster. Seeing an opportunity, she made her opinion known.

She said, "But what would we be if we were to lose you? Please, take a moment to consider your long-term health. I don't — we'd be in for a disaster if the symptoms of your physical trauma worsened. Relegate yourself to the reserve and allow mobile riders like Florina to deliver your orders."

Samuel considers her proposition. This was a similar proposition agreed to earlier during the battle to protect the trader Merlinus, though with more restrictive elements to it. He'll be stuck to the reserve as opposed to riding with a bodyguard, and although he may not agree with this arrangement, Samuel didn't feel like he could say no to Lyn's concerns. He nods his head in agreement, and all was well.

Lyn said, "Excellent, so I think that should be everything. Shall we make our way back to camp?"

Again, Lyn's just delaying the inevitable conversation she'd have to share with Samuel, but at this point she didn't have the willingness to have it. Neither did Samuel, and both were just content to push it back further at a more amicably time. Perhaps a period where the threat of the Lausian army didn't loom over their heads.

So, both walked back to camp in stride. They carried a certain optimism for the future, but also a weariness to what it may entail. Only time will tell.


Later…

After about an hour of making it back to camp and scrapping together an impromptu lunch consisting of jerky coupled with hardtack, Lyn and Samuel found themselves in the army's command center. The command center is a large circular tent at the center of the army's defense perimeter, being a makeshift structure that emphasized practicality over comfortability. This meant that no sort of air conditioning existed within the canvas walls, forming an isolating cover that kept heat in. The entire place felt like a giant pouch of cotton trapped inside a pillow cover, hence why army affectionately named this place the "Oven".

Entering through the tent's large frontal flap, a wave of heat surges through them both. Although the temperature outside felt like a breezy seventy degrees Farenheit (21C), the inside scorched at about ninety degrees Farenheit (32C). Looking around, Samuel's gaze met with those of his two greatest critiques, those being Kent and Marcus. They stared him down in silent contempt, but bowed their heads lightly in respect to the princess at his side. Also in attendance were the two other lordlings, Oswain, and Matthew, who all nodded to acknowledge their presence.

Laying down some paperwork on a large table, Marcus invites the two to sit down with Eliwood and Hector. The two oblige and take a seat at opposite sides of one another, almost as if maintaining distance could hide the controversial slumber they shared earlier that day. Kent keeps his peace, though both liege and tactician wondered if he'd wagged his tongue…

He won't say anything. Lyn thought. His oath will keep him silent.

Meanwhile, Samuel is anything but optimistic.

I am so screwed.

Samuel does his best to avoid making eye contact with Kent and Marcus, though an oblivious Lyn rummages on her seat to make herself more comfortable. The contrast between the two is striking; for Samuel the tense room felt like an area harboring enemies, while for Lyn the opposite was true. Everybody here had an amicable relationship with her, including the man leading this meeting, Eliwood.

Eliwood cleared his throat and scanned the surrounding room. Figurines representing troops laid sprawled over an underlying map, their disjointed limbs contorted like toys.

He said, "Good morning, everyone. I hope you're all doing well. As you may know, we will be fighting the Lausian army this afternoon. We'll be discussing the battle plan, and although for most of you this is old news, I'm aware we've an old friend assisting us from beyond the grave. Samuel…it's nice to have you back."

Everyone's eyes drift towards Samuel, and the tall, tanned man shrinks behind his seat. Eliwood had intended the gesture as a goodwill display of acceptance, but it instead served as an unwanted invitation of attention. Samuel meekly eyes both Lyn and Eliwood for a brisk change of the subject, but quickly realizes he'd have to answer to the spotlight, whether he wanted to or not.

Standing up, he said, "I…thank you, Eliwood. Your kind w—"

"That's Lord Eliwood to you."

Samuel gulped as Marcus' words reach his ears. A brief flirtation with anger grips his heart, and for a second his timidness nearly breaks. However, this episode proved to be just that, a flirtation. Paralysis rules his body, and weakness reigns supreme…

"…"

Time stands still, and Lyn understood she had to work fast. She sends a glance of reassurance towards her anxious beloved, and he responds by retrieving a flask and downing its mysterious liquid down his throat. Recouping his bearings, he responds just in time to arouse any suspicion.

He said, "My apologies, Lord Eliwood. A misstep at my part."

Eliwood shook his head, "None taken here. Allow me to apologize for my subject's rudeness. You may refer to me as Eliwood if you wish."

An expression of astonishment washes over Marcus' face. Baffled, he said, "But Lord Eliwood! You cannot allow a simple commoner to refer to you so casually!"

Eliwood disagreed, "I don't wish to point out your hypocrisy, Marcus. You had little issue with his nomenclature before."

Marcus opens his mouth, but held his tongue. This unexpected authoritative side of Eliwood silenced the senior knight, and Samuel breathes a sigh of relief. Eliwood had wiped most of the heat from his person, inadvertently sending a message towards any other potential aggressors. That aggressor being Kent.

Lyn leans back on her seat, slightly stressed. She didn't expect this much tension so quickly, and hadn't thought Samuel may have some critics outside of the enemy. They should be fighting them, she reasoned. Not themselves.

Easing these rough seas is easier said than done. Tempers were already short, and coupling that with the horrible stuffiness of the venue, this formed the perfect cocktail for hostility. Even so, that didn't mean she wasn't going to try.

Breaking the silence, she said, "I think she should try to clear the air…"

Rolling his eyes, Hector scoffed, "Clear the air? How are we going to do that? Man, can we just get this meeting over with?! I want to break some skulls!"

Now sufficiently calmed from his potion, Samuel said, "We can't just go in there swords swingin'! I don't like your tone towards the princess either, Hector. I think you should apologize."

Upon hearing his liege's name, Oswin too dipped his hat into the ring. He said, "I will not tolerate ill will towards Lord Hector! I think you sh—"

!

"HWUAAAAAAGH!"

Suddenly, Lyn erupts from her seat. She draws her sword and raises it above her head, exposing it for all to see. Everyone looks on with sheer terror in their eyes, especially so for a nearby tactician with white hair.

Samuel exclaimed, "By the Creator! Lyndis, what do you think you're doing?!"

"HWUAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

She swipes her sword directly at the ceiling, cutting a deep tear through the thick canvas. A (relatively) cool, brisk breeze rushes in through the opening, extinguishing every hothead from within the "Oven". Merlinus' scream echoes through the camp as the tent was one of his prized possessions.

He exclaimed, "NOOOOO! MY TENT! WHY?!"

Oblivious to that merchantman's pleas, Lyn sheathes her sword and sighs. She looks back at the others, and then at Samuel. Sufficiently pleased with herself, she says the few words that finally puts the meeting into session.

"Now that's out of the way, let's get this over with...shall we?"


Noon...

Samuel scruffs up his hair as he anxiously observes the army silently pack up the last remnants of the camp. The sun hangs high in the sky, and there wasn't a single cloud visible for miles. The surrounding forest dances and weaves with the wind, a peaceful contrast to the battle rapidly approaching.

On Sothis' good name. He thought. I told them I'm going to operate from the reserves, but why do I feel this unending pit in my gut?

Samuel silently thinks about the future, taking the time to further dwell on impromptu strategies should the need arise. He can't help but think some disaster looms over the horizon and refused to be content with the current state of things. The glistening gold eyes of his beloved still strikes at him from a distance, as with the unmarked grave of his best friend. Regrettably, he'd been refraining from speaking to him because of the trauma lingering in his mind. He wants to meet up with that introverted mage again, going as far to create some minor drama with him through Priscilla. But...so far every attempt to reach out has failed. Failure mostly occupies his mind nowadays...

!

"Lieutenant Kenan, can I speak to you?"

As if on cue, Erk appears from out of nowhere. Well, not really. In reality, he'd just come from eating breakfast, and wanted someone to talk to while he waited for the call to arms. [The call to arms is a bugle call that brought everyone into formation. Lowen is the bugler].

Unexpected but wanted, Samuel lightly nods his head. It's the best gesture he could muster at the moment, but Erk accepts it nonetheless.

Erk said, "Excellent! Now, I've been looking at you for some time. You have a close resemblance to someone I know. Tell me, what color hair do you have underneath that hood?"

"Uhh..."

Samuel bites his lip. Someway, somehow Erk got a tip off about his true identity. Perhaps somebody in the army was spreading around conspiracy theories, or this was just something Erk came to on his own. All told, Sam really really hoped it was the latter.

Looking around, Samuel realizes nobody was within an earshot. Figuring he had nothing to lose at this point by telling Erk the truth, he came clean...

He said, "Your suspicions are founded. My true identity is Samuel Castillo, it's a pleasure to finally meet with you, friend."


Later...

Lyn tightens her grip on her blade as she parries the sword of a Lausian knight. Sparks fly as the two pieces of metal meet at high velocity, burning the nomadic warrior's skin lightly. Although this served as a minor inconvenience, she understood the alternative was much worse.

All around her, friend and foe alike clashed in a battle of epic proportions. Marcus, Lowen, Kent, and Sain rode through the wooded prairie clashing their lances with the enemy calvary, their mouths expelling battle cries to motivate their own. Axes raised high, Dorcas and Bartre muscled through the enemy in tandem. A chaotic jungle of incantations filled the air as well, two-thirds of which coming from the clerics Priscilla and Serra. His eyes glowing purple, Erk stands alone bringing down hellfire on the Lausian army.

Also contributing were Wil, Rebecca, and Florina. The former two hugged the brush tightly, picking away at any soldier that transgressed too far into their range. Florina gracefully weaved through the sky like a free bird, taking on the role of reconnaissance and messenger for the tactician harbored in the back line…

"I will serve Lord Darin honorably!"

The knight comes at her again, this time packing more speed. This meant that parrying his attack again won't come as easily, and thus Lyn dug her heels into the earth. She'll dodge this time around.

Contorting her body, she leaps into the air just as the knight's lance skewered the air she previously inhabited. Lyn gazes down on her enemy and opens her eyes wide when she notices that the man had stopped dead in his tracks. The soldier proved a fool. He thought she'd disappeared.

Now's my chance!

She contorts her body again, this time turning her hips so she spun around like a top. She takes her blade and tears through the only part of the knight that didn't contain any armor…

"Arrrrgh!"

Her Mani Katti lobs the enemy's head off in one fell swoop, and it hits the ground in a ghastly display of violence. Lyn turns her head to avoid the sudden gush of blood spewing from his neck like a geyser, but cannot avoid most of the liquid splashing her shirt. The red crimson paints her outfit a distasteful shade of brown. Unused to this brutality, Lyn nearly gags.

Ugh, so is the horrors of war.

Lyn, like everyone else in the army, did not like war. She viewed it as a tragedy that harmed combatants and non-combatants alike, but she understood its unavoidable nature. Some people in this antiquated world of magic and chivalry did not have the word "peace" in their dictionary, meaning that sometimes people like Lyn had to speak to them in the only way they'd understand. Through blood and iron.

Landing back on the ground with her own two feet, she thinks on the man behind it all. Lord Darin. She didn't understand why a man like him would desire to attack Caelin, but imperialism itself rarely required a meaningful casus belil. Back in Sacae, wars only occurred when the larger nomadic tribes transgressed on each other's lands, making them inherently defensive (usually). However, in Lyn's eyes Darin simply wanted to acquire power for power's sake.

What an inherently short-sighted and heartless man.

If only she knew. Only a few souls in the army were aware of the grand conspiracy involving Nergal, though nobody could piece together the entire story. People like Matthew and Samuel were only aware of the sorcerer's influence over nation states, but neither could assume his dubious intentions. Only time and further investigation will reveal what's going on in that villain's mind.

But such thoughts raise the question on why Matthew and Samuel have neglected to tell the army's leadership about Nergal. The answer is simple, currently there was no reason to. To suggest some abstract person was pulling the strings from behind a curtain seemed ludicrous to the average man, and in the case of Samuel, doing so might instill some suspicion of insanity. As for Matthew, Uther swore him to secrecy so that Hector wouldn't bring trouble to a delicate home situation. Having one of the more hotheaded lords searching the countryside for the dark sorcerer might make Lycia seem weak to foreign entities, which must be avoided when discussing nations like Bern.

Bern is a militaristic nation directly east of Lycia. They boast the largest military in the world, a result of the countless wars waged by generations of kings to unify the nation from its initial fragmented state. They employ an opportunistic form of imperialism that acted on the slightest hint of weakness shown by their neighbors, and there were a few instances in history where Lycia fell victim to Bern's might. Although Bern hasn't attacked Lycia for over 200 years, Lycia's leaders forever feel mindful of their much larger neighbor.

"M'lady. Are you all right?"

Kent appears from a place outside of Lyn's initial cone of vision, his armor bent up from the recent scrimmaging with opposing knights. He takes one good look at Lyn's clothing before extracting a small cloth from his pocket…

He said, "Here, take my handkerchief. I think you need it more than me."

Appreciative of her knight's attention, she accepts his offer. She slowly wipes her face of all blood and sweat, cleaning it to a state acceptable to her. Both share smiles when Lyn realizes that the cloth no longer held any practical use.

Lyn said, "Oh, I'm sorry! I hope you don't mind."

Kent shook his head, "It doesn't mind me. I live to serve you, Lyndis."

The two take a moment to take in the surrounding air, a disheveled mess of iron, blood, equine, and mana. It smelled terrible to anybody but the most hardened of veterans, and neither Lyn nor Kent could wear that mantle. Lyn scrambles to find words to escape her mouth, but eventually something comes to her.

She said, "Kent, I noticed that you came here very quickly. Why is that?"

Kent replied, "I...saw you were in some trouble. I left as soon as I could."

Lyn frowns upon hearing those words. Something didn't sit right with her.

She said, "But I'm fine. Did you doubt my abilities?"

Slightly flustered, Kent shakes his head. He said, "Of course not! You know me better than that. It's just that...you never know what can happen on the battlefield. Take good care of yourself, Lady Lyndis. I will protect you, as it is my duty."

"Kent..."

Kent delivers a gentleman's bow. Lyn ponders about another thing that's been concerning her. It came regarding the other important man in her life. Although talking about this would've been preferable at any other time, Lyn desired to clear this issue as soon as possible, otherwise tempers may flare over at some inopportune time on the battlefield.

She said, "Kent, I understand that you have an issue with our tactician..."

Kent replied frankly, "You know of my quarrel with him. I do not approve of his continued presence in this army. If you require protection in any form, I can provide it in excess. I am a much stronger soldier than he can ever be."

"Kent!"

Lyn takes a step back, her mind taken aback by her knight's forwardness. She stands there unsure of what to say.

Eventually, she said, "Kent...I...I don't require protection like that. Tell me, the fate of your comrades aside, is there some other reason you don't like Samuel?"

"..."

"I have spoken."

Kent bows his head and vacates himself of Lyn's presence. He does so in silence, rejoining his nearby knights in scrimmaging the enemy calvary. Lyn looks on with her mind spinning, unsure of what to do about her knight's opinion. His opinion about Samuel...and her...

Closing her eyes, she tries to scrub away the sounds of war around her. First, she thinks about her grandfather waiting inside Castle Caelin, silently praying for his safety. Then, he thinks about her beloved Samuel, who was with the reserves several miles away...

Thank goodness you're safe. She thought. At the very least, your safety isn't something I will have to worry about.

She takes her blade and silently observes the sun's rays glisten off the sacred metal's edge. The distant reflection of Castle Caelin shined into her eyes, along with a speckle of green armor adorned by the enemy's commander. The men say his name is Bauker, one of the most trusted lieutenants to Lord Darin himself. The time will soon come when one of the army's champions will have to cross swords with him. Perhaps Lyn might have to fill this role herself…

!

She notices an archer hiding in the nearby brush; her gaze fixated on the skies. This archer desired to shoot down her close friend, Florina. Brandishing her sword again, she charges alone into the dense vegetation, determined to bring an end to this opportunistic foe…


Nearby…

Florina and Samuel observe the battlefield high in the sky. Samuel reads the enemy's movements closely, his eyes glued onto his pair of rusted binoculars. Meanwhile, Florina anxiously scans the air for any sign of arrows or magic. Both squirm in their seats against the unsteady flaps of Huey's wings, the animal sharing the weariness of his owner...

Florina said, "L-Lieutenant! Are you done yet? I r-really want to get out of the air…"

Keeping his eyes fixated on the enemy, he shakes his head. He said, "Not yet. Give me a few more minutes and I think I can figure these guys out. Right now they're showing a light calvary look with an emphasis on light infantry. Assuming no further reinforcements, we can— oh Florina, please guide Huey several yards west."

Slightly baffled by his request, Florina obliges and pulls her steed back. Huey flies several yards away from the battlefield, and several moments later an arrow whizzes through the air previously occupied by them. The sight spooks beast and man alike.

Florina shrieked, "EEEEEK! ARCHER! WE HAVE TO LEAVE!"

Maintaining his composure, Samuel disagreed, "You shouldn't worry. The arrow you just dodged came from an archer who pushed her luck. I can't see who exactly took her head off, but I think it was either Guy or Lyn."

Florina replied, "Guy? I thought he's with the reserve near Merlinus' tent?"

Florina's right. The reserve comprised of three men, Guy, Oswin, and Samuel. However, with Guy suffering through a stomach bug and Samuel midway through recovering from a major concussion, Oswin served as the only "real" bodyguard defending the army's supply lines, though both Samuel and Guy could assist should the situation require it...

Samuel said, "Oh yeah. Well, I suppose that explains that then..."

"..."

"Okay, we can go back now."

...

They returned to the safety of the back line, and Samuel sent Florina away to deliver some messages to various parts of the army. Most of them spoke about certain maneuvers ideal for the situations they were in, but others came with a message of caution. It was something minor, but Samuel felt it necessary to bring it up...

The enemy's troop numbers are fighting for time. Is it possible reinforcements are on the way?

In hindsight, maybe Samuel just wrote that because he wanted to feel important from this metaphoric Fortress of Solitude. Watching everyone fight from a distance made him feel useless, even depressed. He wanted to contribute more to the cause of his friends and allies, and especially so towards protecting Lady Lyn. He wanted to be right there with her, fighting on the front lines, just like they used to in the good old days...

Sitting inside Merlinus' tent, he observes the old merchant peacefully buff his wares with a rag. The man reminds him of an old teacher who used to teach him English, but his name eludes him.

Taking his watch out, he waits patiently as the hour hand reaches the number three...and then rummages through his pocket to receive a small flask. The flask of the numbing potion.

The numbing potion is a potion that helped keep Samuel sane, and he had to take it in some form at least three times a day, once in the morning, afternoon, and night. The potion itself actually comprised of smaller, concentrated droplets that fed into a larger volume of liquid. Samuel could put these droplets into anything he saw fit, whether it be water, whiskey, or his favorite, green tea. Erk had mailed him a two years' supply of the potion back in Illia along with instructions, and although Samuel doesn't understand its manufacture, he trusted his friend well enough to not miss a single application of the potion. The sole exception nearly came this morning, when amid scrutiny he slyly took the potion to stave away his anxieties. Samuel didn't wish to toy with the door of insanity again, lest that experience in the initial timeline come to bear again...

A knot builds up around Samuel's gut. He didn't like thinking about that old timeline. He didn't like remembering about Lyn's golden eyes, or the frightening visit with death. Painful memories like those already kept him up at night, so why should he bother with them during the day? If he's lucky, perhaps one day he'll forget about it like he did with his mother's name...

Blast. Samuel thought. I really did forget her name...

Out of all the people he knew of in his old life, Samuel's mother was the only of which whose name he remembered. He recalled telling it to someone in the previous timeline, but unfortunately he neglected to do so in this one. It's a shame really, they were especially close, though not as much as he and his twin brother...

His twin brother was everything Samuel wasn't. Charming, outgoing, and extroverted. Samuel only had a meaningful friend group in high school because of his brother's efforts to integrate him into his life, and admittingly, he helped him out a lot throughout the years, even in college. Samuel sometimes wonders how his brother would have reacted if he had been transported to Elibe instead of him, but a part of him thinks he wouldn't have acted much differently. The two shared much in common, genes and all.

Eliwood reminds him of his twin brother. Whether it be his quick wit, polite mannerisms, or his solid moral compass...the relation is uncanny to him. Maybe that's why Samuel viewed Eliwood like a brother, though he doubted Eliwood felt the same way about him.

If only Samuel weren't so insecure about himself. In the past, he'd kept his anxiety down to a minimum, meaning Samuel only had to work through his natural introversion to connect with his peers. However, now things have changed. Samuel was gradually becoming a nervous wreck, with the potion Erk had given him the only thing slowing the progress down. Maybe he can gain something by asking Erk to make some alterations to his potion. Maybe...

!

Suddenly, Guy comes bursting through the tent's entrance. His red head resembles a cherry, though Samuel isn't sure if it's from running or his sickness. Unfortunately, the former is true.

He exclaimed, "Samuel! Knights! Four of them! We need your help!"

Samuel's suspicions were correct. Reinforcements did come to assist the enemy in foiling their efforts. However, their numbers were far too few to make much of a difference in the fighting, and could be dealt with easily with the reserves alone. Lyn likely will not appreciate Samuel's participation in this endeavor, but then again she doesn't have to know...

Samuel smiles as he stands up from his seat and retrieved his blade. Merlinus looks on with cautious curiosity, but doesn't stop his earlier task. Samuel responds by saying some words to rile up the spirits of his comrade.

He said, "Heh. Very well then. Let's bring him hell, shall we?"


A/N: Wow, I really missed the opportunity to name that false doctor "Dr. Death." Damnit!