[][Andrew][]
I'd managed to not faint at the end of the battle this time, but, technically speaking, only my battle had ended. Maybe I'd find a way to faint or get knocked out when we beat the Plegian army. That particular line of thought brought a wobbly smirk to my lips, and brought up a very important question.
Once I'd finished my story, Robin hadn't had much to say (what was there to say? "Go see a healer"?) aside from a few apologetic words and a thank-you to Cordelia. Shortly after, Robin had returned to planning the battle with Basilio and Phila, which was much more important.
Tiki stepped back, flexing her fingers experimentally as she inspected my wounds. Her tunic and leggings- red and brown respectively- were both in impeccable condition, discounting the light blood spatter. "I advise that you go to the healers as soon as possible, Andrew. I was only able to 'patch you up', as they say."
Glancing down at my chest, now marked up with several pinkish lines across my bare skin, I nodded. "Makes sense. Say, uh, did you change after you left the field, or are you just that good at fighting?" I murmured, hoping not to distract Robin, Basilio, and Phila. "Or do your clothes repair themselves? Look, I don't know, you're magic."
Arching an eyebrow, Tiki tilted her head and smiled, replying in the same low tone. "It is good to see your temperament emerged unscathed, Andrew. I was merely lucky enough to escape injury."
"Fair enough," I shrugged, wincing as I pulled... something. Many things, realistically. "So I'll head to Maribelle now, assuming I'm good to stand?"
Stepping forward again, Tiki knelt down and prodded my legs. "Hm," she hummed, slowly rising to inspect my midsection, "Yes, you should be fine. I would advise against running, though."
Wincing under her touch- sharp fingernails poking sore muscles and recent injuries- I still couldn't help but smirk. "Libra told me the same thing, wouldn't you know it," I chuckled, "And, hey, doctor's orders. I didn't run at all today."
"What was that, Andrew?"
I jumped in my seat, biting back a curse as fresh skin was pulled taut. Looking towards the source of the voice, I settled on Robin. She didn't quite meet my eyes, still alternating between the maps and the many arrow slits.
A long, awkward pause followed, filled with the muffled clamour of war and the shuffling of papers.
"Oh, uh, right," I said hastily, rubbing the back of my head, "Didn't mean to talk that loud, I guess? Nothing important. Libra asked me to not do any running for a bit, and... well, I didn't, so I have that going for me. Heh."
I got a little chuckle from Basilio, but on the whole my humor fell on deaf ears. Tiki didn't count, she was already in on the joke.
Once again, silence.
Coughing awkwardly, I continued, "So this whole..." I gestured broadly towards what I assumed was a window behind me. "Plegian battle thing. What's that about? Do we know?"
Tiki tilted her head to the right (well, to my left). Accordingly, I looked over my shoulder and then moved my hand further left. Basilio stroked his chin. "Well, we couldn't just let em in the front door, eh?"
Phila rolled her eyes, drumming her fingers on the table. "Please. The fact of the matter is that we don't know who the enemy commander is. It was easy to rule out King Gangrel and General Mustafa, but determining the commander's identity by subtraction would take days we don't have."
"Whoever they are," Robin grumbled, "They're giving me a headache. Wyverns are a pain to deal with- especially coordinated in squadrons of four, mobile and not large enough to focus fire on without..."
Tiki frowned slightly as Robin continued on, shifting her stance away from the tactician. It was pretty funny watching a three-thousand year old dragon zone out. I threw her a metaphorical bone anyways, clearing my throat and collecting my thoughts out loud. "So the problem," I started, "Is-"
"Damn them," Robin interrupted, hands clasped behind her back as she peered out a window, "Why would they change their formation like that? We've already shown them our eastern flank is more than capable of... oh, sorry Andrew. You there! Tell the second company captain to assist fifth and sixth. Wait, no, we shifted fourth to the center... tell the first company captain to split off twenty archers to go reinforce fifth and sixth. What were you saying, Andrew?"
"What was I saying?" I mused, stroking my chin (and realizing it was time for a shave). I hadn't had much of an idea before Robin scattered my thoughts to the four winds, so I did my best to piece it all together from scratch. When I realized everyone's eyes were on me, I flushed slightly. "Carry on, sorry. I forgot. It was important though!"
Snorting, Basilio turned physically to face me. "I'm all ears, take your time. These two," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, "Are the ones running the show today. Somehow made war more complicated than running a country, ha!"
Phila opened her mouth, only to shut it again as irritation faded from her features. Looked like these two had a history of some sort, the kind I'd love to hear about. But, you know, not my business.
The conversation reached a lull, punctuated at times by Phila and Robin debating maneuvers that flew right over my head.
Tiki had found herself a chair at some point, watching everyone with heavy eyes. Sticking one arm back and bending the other, she let out a tired groan and stifled a yawn. "Aaah. I believe I saw you start thinking when the enemy commander was brought up," Tiki prompted softly, "Perhaps you had some ideas? It is not Grima, that much I can assure you... nor is it a Deadlord."
Robin coughed, wiping her brow. "That's... reassuring, I think? Andrew, is there anything you know that might help us here?"
Blinking owlishly, I nodded. Right! Information. "So the challenge is, uh, I had no idea this was going to happen. No knowledge of it. If I did I would've said so earlier, when, you know," halting for a second, I did my best to quell the ache in my chest. It didn't quite work. "You kicked me out. Anyways, it's something my interference has caused, or wasn't important enough to the stories to be mentioned. I'd ask L- Marth if she knows anything useful."
Pausing to draw breath, I offered everyone a weak smile. "But that wasn't where I meant to go with this. Why not just ask Tharja? She's Plegian and former Grimleal, I think. She might know something."
Phila drummed her fingers on the table, looking towards Robin. "I believe it is pronounced Thar-ya, not Thar-Ja, but I concur with Andrew's suggestion. Should we send for her, Robin?"
Robin sighed, biting her lip as she looked towards the stairs. "She was here, hiding behind the crates, but I think you scared her off, Lady Tiki. Let's kill two, maybe three birds with one stone here- Lady Tiki, you're looking ready to sleep, and Andrew needs to get to the healers. Tharja should be back here in no time... unfortunately for me."
Oh, so Tharja really did stalk Robin constantly. Now that I had met most of the Shepherds, and they were people rather than names on a screen, that stalking seemed more creepy than amusing.
"Might I add," Phila edged in, scanning me critically, "That Andrew is strictly a non-combatant as of earlier today. I would prefer if he was kept out of harm's way, especially if I am to poach him for administrative duties after the war."
"Hey! You gave him the boot, didn't you?" Basilio jeered, grin forming on his face, "He seems like he could shape up to be a fine mage or swordsman. Not a Feroxi fighter, nah, but still worth his weight I reckon. I think I should get first call on poaching this one, ha!"
I wasn't sure to be relieved, amused, or bitter that both of them wanted me around. I decided on relieved and amused, because I didn't really have space in my heart right now for more bitterness. "Do I get a choice in this?" I joked, smiling thinly as I pushed myself out of my chair, "Well, I'll think on it. Not sure what I'll do from here. Maybe join an acting troupe, go back to where I'm useful."
But now wasn't the time for self-deprecation. Coughing into my fist, I continued, "Anyways. I'll head to the healers now. I can keep Tiki awake while she finds a proper bed."
Tilting her head languidly, Tiki chuckled. "A bed sounds... ah... quite nice. Exhaustion arrives swiftly for my kind, forgive me." Shaking her head vigorously- long strands of green hair escaping from her ponytail- she stood up and stretched her arms. When she resumed speaking, I could barely hear the exhaustion. "Excellent! Andrew, let us away from here. I find tactics to be much too complicated for my tastes."
I stifled a laugh, standing up carefully. "Hey, Robin worked hard on those tactics, Tiki. Oh, and uh, good luck with the battle, everyone?"
"Luck would be nice," Robin grumbled, "Thanks, Andrew. Stay safe."
Tiki prodded me on the arm, gesturing towards the stairs. "Shall we?" she hummed, one hand pushing stray locks of hair from her eyes, "You looked quite confused by the talk in here as well. We should escape while we can!"
I couldn't help but laugh at that one. Putting on my best dramatic airs, I replied, "Indeed, milady. Let us away!"
Getting kicked out of the Shepherds hurt, and it would continue to hurt for a very long time. I knew that. And yet...
It wasn't the end I'd been afraid of.
[][][][][][][][]
"Could you pass the honey, dear? I fear the lemongrass was steeped for too long, and the edge is quite a bit stronger than I expected."
Drawing in the scent of mint and lemongrass from my own teacup, I let out a long sigh. Tension had long ago slipped from my muscles, but the ache in my heart throbbed without falter. Reaching over, I picked up the small glass jar of honey and handed it to Maribelle. "Of course, Maribelle. Are you still not speaking to me?"
That got me a bop on the head with a parasol. Maribelle huffed, putting her parasol back down and accepting the honey with perfect grace. "Not officially. I do not speak with fools who blatantly ignore my instructions, but it would be rude to reach over the table. I am a noble, dear; I cannot set a poor example for my fellows!"
Even dressed down as she was in the simpler brown hues of a healer's robe, I doubted anyone would accuse her of setting a poor example. Saving lives seemed like a good thing for a role model- a Shepherd. But I didn't say that. "Of course, Maribelle," I nodded sagely, eyes catching on a tiny metal spoon, "Oh. Looks like I forgot the spoon. Here you go."
"Thank you, dear." Maribelle took the spoon, scooping a tiny amount of honey into her tea. She then set it down and picked up her tea spoon, using that to stir it into the tea. I'd been keeping track of the spoons- so far I'd seen four or five ones used.
I'd used the same number of spoons, but based on her expressions, I'd used the wrong ones.
Still, it was a nice change of pace from being stabbed, or sitting in the war room.
"That might be my fault," I admitted, gesturing to the teapot, "I prefer sharper teas, and you had me watching the teapot while you went to the bathroom."
"The proper term," Maribelle corrected me, lips curved downwards as she took a sip of tea, "Is that I went to relieve myself, dear. Ahh. Yes, much better."
I hadn't managed to get her to talk back to me without correcting me, either. Taking a contemplative sip of my own tea, I put on my worst (best) french accent. "Fair enough. I am but a vulgar commoner, my lady- forgive me."
Raising a single, delicate eyebrow, Maribelle scoffed. And, of course, she said nothing. I could see her smiling, though, so I'd take it as a win.
...I'd needed this more than I'd like to admit. If I let my mind wander, I could almost mistake the murmur and clamor of healers on the other side of the door for rain. With no windows, and thus no sun to mark the passage of time, I could only count time in cups of tea. There was something indescribably soothing about it.
"I didn't know this room existed, by the way," I added, breaching the long silence carefully, "Is this where you take your breaks, usually?"
Maribelle took another sip of her tea.
"Right," I muttered, "Not talking to me."
"I was drinking my tea, you dunce," Maribelle said sharply, setting her teacup down with a clack, "I will devise a more clever reprimand at a later date, though I doubt you need it. Sorry, dear, for bringing it up, but being dismissed from the Shepherds was punishment enough."
I winced, putting a hand to my heart, but the relief of having someone to talk to more than counteracted that. "Thanks, Maribelle. Commander Phila... yeah, that kind of hurt. Not really sure where I'll go from here- Basilio said he might have someone train me, and," hesitating, I looked away. "Phila wanted to poach me for administrative stuff, apparently. I don't think I'll be taking her up on that."
A soft scowl crossed Maribelle's features, fading in a huff as she crossed her arms. "The gall of that woman! I've heard she'll be retiring after the war. Once things settle down, I plan to recommend Cordelia take her place. Why..." she paused, sipping her tea. "I think Commander Phila needs the rest. She served under Lady Emmeryn, bless her soul, and I think it's hitting her harder than the rest of us. Very close, those two."
Slowly digesting that information, I took a small scoop of honey and dumped it into my tea. Picking a spoon at random- the wrong one, based on Maribelle's frown- I stirred my tea gently and took a sip. "Ahh. Yeah, the honey helps a lot. More importantly, Maribelle, are you gossiping with me?"
"Ladies of true class do not gossip," Maribelle smiled, "But that does not stop me from hearing it happen around me, dear. My father's retainers are quite the talkative lot."
Right. Maribelle's father was the otherwise nameless Duke of Themis, who seemed pretty important for someone that never appeared in the game. If I remembered the supports well enough- which wasn't a guarantee, given it'd been years since I touched it- Maribelle had a pretty good relationship with him. This could be a good opportunity to learn something new about the world! "Your father," I paused, planning my words carefully, "I've never heard much about him. If it's not to personal, how's he doing?"
"It is quite personal," Maribelle said, pouring herself a new cup of tea, "Given you have told me next to nothing about yourself."
I didn't really want to think about people I'd probably never see again. "There's not much to tell," I said slowly, "I'm an actor, a decent singer, and I used to cook a lot back home."
Eyes twinkling oddly, Maribelle nodded. "And, from what I've heard, your arithmetic is excellent."
Oh, that. Flushing at the memory, I took a long sip of tea. "Um. Look, I didn't mean to argue with the carpenters, okay?"
"I would rather you meant it in the future, dear," Maribelle replied, hiding her smile behind a teacup, "I found it quite relaxing to watch, especially after having to lecture Gaius again."
That was a bit of a long story. Rather than rambling on about it: Ferox had some carpenters come to help repair wagons and expand the stables for all the extra horses. We disagreed on how to build the stables, and they called me an idiot until they redid the numbers.
Speaking of Gaius, though, "Cordelia said she'd send him your way again. Turns out he didn't-"
Maribelle held up a finger, signalling for me to stop. "-pack his bandages, of course," she finished with a huff, "And this time, it might have been more lethal. Next time, I will send Lissa away during his visit so they can stop scheming."
Absently, I began to wonder what Owain would look like with orange hair. "Huh."
"Indeed," Maribelle sighed, looking towards the door, "Apologies, dear. I was curious about you, but if it digs up bad memories, we can save it for a better time. As for my father? He's banded together with the other Dukes to help push the Plegians out of Ylisse. Reynard- that's the Duke of Talys- has done a stellar job keeping my father off the front lines."
"I take it your father doesn't know this?" I smirked, relaxing slightly, "And Maribelle, it's fine. I should've just said so to begin with."
"He does not," Maribelle confirmed, moving on politely, "Duke Talys owes me a few favors, and I was more than willing to spend a few of them. He's been pointing my father towards helping the civilians, you see."
Maribelle was sharp, that much was obvious. Then again, almost all the Shepherds seemed to be pretty smart, in their own ways. "Good way to distract anyone, honestly," I shrugged, "Helping civilians seems like a nice thing to do. I mean, I'm a civilian, so I wouldn't mind."
That drew a scowl from Maribelle, and she responded with surprising vigor. "You are indeed a civilian, dear. And yet you were wounded in battle today- you weren't even supposed to be anywhere near the battle!"
Flinching away from the sudden intensity, I put my hands up. "Look, I didn't mean to be there, and I could've just run away. Sorry."
"No, you're fine, dear," Maribelle said, expression softening as she reached over to push my hands back down, "Given the circumstances I think you did quite well."
She slumped back into her seat, closing her eyes and tilting her head upwards. She took a long, slow breath before looking back at me. "The problem, Andrew, is that we secured the civilians in the back of the fort. You should have been there- someone should have been sent to search for you. I will be having words with whomever is responsible for this gaffe, I assure you."
I took a moment to think about it. "But it kind of is my fault, Maribelle. I'm the one who chose to fight, as I said. And, hey, I survived, so what's the worry, you know?"
I earned a bop on the head for that one. Maribelle shook her head, smiling faintly even as irritation radiated off of her. "The duty of the Shepherds is to protect the people of Ylisse, Andrew. Fighting Plegia is secondary, and nobody should forget that. It is on every Shepherd to remember our duty- the burden for this mistake falls on everyone."
"I..." I got her point, but I didn't really get why we should be blaming anyone. Just live and let live, right? That's how I'd gotten this far. And I couldn't lie to her- she'd played politics too long to fall for an ameteur thespian's lies. "I don't think we're going to get anywhere with this, and you're supposed to be resting, Maribelle. Can't we talk about something else?"
Maribelle let out a long sigh, hands clenched around her parasol. Slowly, she released her grip, laying the parasol down neatly in her lap. "It does me no good to seethe about things I cannot yet change. I trust you are no fool, though. After this battle, barring any strange circumstances, I think it would be best if you retired to the western capital of Regna Ferox. You'll be out of danger and, frankly, out of the way."
I'd spoken to Maribelle enough to not take her attitude personally, but her words still stung. I'd be leaving what little I knew behind because I just hadn't been up to snuff. Maybe if I'd trained with Boris back on the ship, this wouldn't have happened? Or maybe I'd have gotten myself killed on the front lines.
The Shepherds had been training their whole lives, no doubt; it would take years of work for me to measure up to them. Hopefully 'years' meant 'roughly two years', because that's what I had available.
Slipping out of my thoughts and back into reality, I offered Maribelle a resigned sigh and a nod. "I won't like it, but, well, what other choice do I have?"
Maribelle's thin smile was all the answer I needed.
We talked for a little while longer, but none of it really felt important. Soothing, maybe, but the weight in my heart remained. It wasn't long before Maribelle had to return to her duties, leaving me to drift off into fitful slumber, listening as soldiers cried out in pain on the other side of the door.
[][][][][][][][]
Did you miss me?
Wind howled, pounding through the empty corridors with sanguine glee. On its heels came heavy rain and rumbling thunder, punctuated by the stark and shadowy crackles of lightning.
Icy droplets crashed through thin stone windows, shattering against my face as I searched blindly for the exit. The Duke hummed in my hand, clinging with the sticky warmth of fresh charcoal.
I thought you were gone.
The shadows chuckled wetly, squirming and writhing at the edges of my vision. I could feel sickly red eyes burning into my back- I didn't dare look.
I didn't need to. Footsteps, loud and final like nails in a coffin, rung out behind me. Thumping, slow, inevitable, and louder each time.
I wasn't the one that left.
All I could do was keep running, turning down twisting halls of a fortress, teetering on the cliffs of madness. An ocean, dark and ravenous, carried the bitter scent of brine and blood. And still, it came closer, ever closer.
Naga banished you, though. Why can't I just go back there?
The stone shifted beneath me, wobbling and wet. I fell to my knees, wincing as the Duke clattered to the ground beside me. Blood pooled at my fingers, dripping from somewhere above me.
Just close your eyes. Let me in.
It would be so easy...
No.
I couldn't push myself up, no matter how hard I tried. My legs were numb, trembling at the slightest movement.
So I looked up instead, towards the source of the blood.
You won't survive this.
My hands tightened, scraping harshly against the stone. I saw them now, the faces. Blood dripped from the wounds I had made- blood drawn by my sword. Bodies, pinned to the ceiling by an impossible force.
A crimson droplet splashed against my cheek.
It would be so easy to look away.
To give up.
To wait for someone else to save me.
They won't be coming.
I reached into my heart, searching for that impossible path; the path that led to Naga's realm.
And you won't be going. You're stuck here...
A scorched hand, colder than ice, slammed down onto my shoulder. I couldn't even manage a scream as fingers wrapped themselves around my throat, yanking me upwards-
Turn around.
-and releasing me. Breath, hot and wet, clung to the back of my neck. Did I dare?
Do I have a choice?
Laughter, like metal screeching against stone, tore at my thoughts.
Of course you don't. You already made your choice.
I turned around, eyes straining against the darkness. And then-
[][][][][][][][]
Thwack.
"Tharja, what are you doing?"
I shot up, hand twitching towards an incredibly sore cheek. My heart roared, loud enough to drown out the shouting as I watched Maribelle whack Tharja in the head with a parasol. "Ow?" I said, biting back a curse as I shook my head clear of sleep, "What just... what?"
Tharja waved dismissively at Maribelle, turning on a heel to face me. Her outfit was every bit as uncomfortable as I imagined, at least for me. A weird mix of gold and black fabric covering the important bits, with sheer, transparent fabric (also black) covering everything else. Long black hair, crowned with a strange golden headpiece, flowed over her shoulders like liquid as she glowered at me.
How was she handling this weather? It wasn't cold, per se, but it wasn't nearly warm enough for... that.
"Good. You're awake," she grunted, "Don't do that again. Maribelle, I'm going to sleep. Don't wake me."
And with that, Tharja strode over to a cot, settled herself, and fell asleep.
"Andrew, dear," Maribelle said, lips twitching as she zeroed in on me, "Do you have the slightest idea what just happened?"
"Um," I offered, looking at Maribelle, "I was having a pretty awful dream, and then Tharja slapped me. I think. Is there a mark on my cheek?"
"I- Yes," Maribelle nodded, fingers tightening over her parasol, "Hand-shaped. I will have words with her. I have no idea why the Prince brought her along, frankly."
Working my jaw, I frowned. "Well, she did the right thing. A little, um, abrasive, but I'm sure she meant well. Anyways, what time is it? What's going on?"
Maribelle gestured behind her, and I followed her hand. Healers scurrying about, applying ointments and waving staves around as soldiers trickled in. "The battle continues," she concluded tiredly, "And I fear there's more on the way."
My heart sank, anxiety knotting in my stomach. "More what?"
She then gestured in the other direction- towards the window.
Slowly standing up, I walked towards the window and peered outside. "Oh."
The sky was beautiful- aflame with the sun's last light, speckled with the brightest stars. A perfect backdrop with which to see another army as it crept over the horizon, growing subtly larger even as I watched.
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Author's Note:
Another short chapter, less late than the previous. Sorry about this- I'll be back on track now, my schedule is no longer out of whack. Next chapter, understandably, will be less short. More importantly, this marks me passing the 150k word mark! Awesome.
As always, let me know what you thought! Drop a review, PM me, or come by the discord: 9XG3U7a
Cheers,
Narwhal Lord
