Hello all! I suppose it's time to formally introduce myself!
Arujira! I've lurked this site for many many years now, but I've finally decided to bite the bullet and publish something of my own for the first time. To be honest, for the longest time I've written whatever has come to mind, but never posted anything because I've always felt like anything I write is never up to my standards. Anyways, I'm a bit older now and as a university student I've been writing so much more whenever I have free time.
So... what better way to start than with one of my favorite series?
I absolutely adore the Fire Emblem series; it holds a very special place in my heart. It was a series that I've grown up with. Yes, I've been following this series since I played Binding Blade so so many years ago. Of course I've played every single game in the series, feel free to strike up a convo about any game in the series. Three Houses hit for me because it came at an especially difficult time of my life so I've naturally gravitated to many of the characters in that story.
Speaking of story, let me talk about this one right here.
I've always had a slight bias towards the Blue Lions, seeing as they were the first house I played through and they have the characters I sympathize the most with; and of course, I have a slight bias towards the anime-mom herself, Mercedes. As much as people like to dunk on her post-TS design, I absolutely love it and would die for her ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This story is my attempt to contextualize her backstory, involving her nameless mother and of course her much talked-about brother Emile. If you've played the game then you're likely aware of his identity but I'll say no more! In addition to my interpretation of her backstory, I've also decided to incorporate certain other elements from the game's lore. Consider this story my AU of the original game! I've had this story conceptualized in my head for the longest time; in truth, depending on how I'm feeling after the end of this tale I've been debating turning it into a full-fledged story, rather than the few chapters this will span.
So yes, this story will be my own spin on the backstory of Mercedes and a certain other character we meet in the game. It's a given with stories like these, but be aware that there will likely be spoilers from the rest of the game. Consider this your warning if you haven't played the game yet!
Well, that's enough of that. I hope you all enjoy!
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Guess I should say this lol, but I do not own Fire Emblem or any of these characters.
Part I - Innocence
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I. The Moon's Light
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"…cedes…"
The young girl drifted in and out of a peaceful sleep. A woman's voice invaded her dreams and threatened to wake her.
"…ercedes."
She chose to ignore the voice. Perhaps her dreams would treat her better than her real life would.
"…Mercedes!"
The girl woke to the sight of her quaint room in the Bartels' manor, the soft light of the moon cascading down her curtains.
On an ordinary night, she would typically find comfort in the sight of her mother.
However, the hurried look on her face and the travelling bags she was carrying told a different story.
"…M-Mother? What's happen-"
"The carriage is outside and waiting, Mercedes." The young mother took hold of her daughter's hand and pulled her out of bed.
Mercedes struggled to comprehend the current situation as she watched her mother begin to stuff her daughter's clothing into one of the bags.
"This is our one and only opportunity to leave, Mercedes! There is no time left. We must go, before the Baron discovers us."
The young girl continued to watch her mother frantically pack their belongings. She knew that her mother had her reservations about her stepfather, but…?
Mercedes held her head tight, as she attempted to keep her emotions in check.
"I-I don't know what's happening Mother, why?"
"Please Mercedes, only take what's necessary. We will be travelling for a few days before we reach the Kingdom capital, and we'll need as many supplies as we-"
Her mother slowed as she noticed the tears rolling down Mercedes' cheeks.
"I-It's just happening so fast, mother; I-I don't know why w-we have to do this-"
Mercedes' mother slowed again as she knelt down to her daughter's level. She gripped her cheeks and began to wipe away her tears.
At that moment, her own tears began to trickle down her face.
"You are the light of my life, Mercedes. You and Emile, both. You are the ones that I love the most in this world, above everything else."
She held her daughter close to her as she spoke, wishing that her words would go through to her.
"I'll do everything in my power to ensure you a better life than mine. Which is why…"
She stood back up, a determined look on her face.
"A life away from that horrid man will be the life that I will ensure to you, my child. Now come, we have little time."
Mercedes saw the look in her mother's eyes; she knew that look all too well. It was the look of the mother who loved her and her brother with all her heart.
"…Okay, mother. Let's go."
She wiped away her tears and steeled her face, grabbing the bag containing her belongings.
She took a few sets of clothes that she believed would last her the days her mother believed they would be on the road.
Alongside the sets of clothes, she also packed various cloaks and veils; one for her mother, and two for her and Emile. They would have to conceal their identities as they traveled through the Kingdom; her stepfather would likely hire mercenaries to track them down, so they would need to travel as discretely as possible.
Mercedes looked at the various books littered around her room. She nearly teared up at the fact she would need to go without them; the things that had kept her happy for much of her life. She would forever treasure the memories associated with reading those tales of knights, magicians, and queens.
The moon's light laid to rest on her dresser. The glint of metal tore her attention away from her bag.
On the dresser laid two golden pins. Each one bore the sigil of the late House Martritz, her mother's former house.
Mercedes looked back to see her mother continue packing away her belongings.
She picked up the pins and held them in her hands.
They were among the last pieces of House Martritz's existence in Fódlan.
She pinned one of them close to her chest. It would be safest there, she believed. The other one fell into her pocket.
"Come, Mercedes. The carriage is outside." Her mother took her by the hand and began to lead her through the dark and quiet manor.
Mercedes' mother held her finger up to her mouth as she shushed her daughter. They moved with great care as they crept past the Baron's quarters.
It would be in their best interest to keep the Baron asleep, Mercedes thought.
The mother and daughter reached the bottom of the manor's great staircase as the young one's stomach dropped.
"M-Mother?! W-What about Emile? Where is he?"
"Do not worry, Mercedes. I will return for him once I get you and our belongings to the carriage."
Mercedes looked at her mother and nodded her head.
Lady von Martritz had chosen the perfect night to enact her escape plan. Not only had many of the guards taken the night off, but the famed Blade Breaker's band of mercenaries had been in town and easily contacted.
While their services were not cheap, she had used the money from Baron Bartels' coffers, so the cost was of no concern.
Even without the cost being a concern, Jeralt Eisner had luckily taken sympathy to the mother's plight.
Lady von Martritz peeked through the crack of the front door, making sure that the guards were taken care of.
As planned, the guards keeping watch that night had been knocked out swiftly, the burly men of Jeralt's mercenary band standing over them and keeping an eye out for the family.
Mercedes was taken through the doors of the manor leaving it behind for good, she hoped.
Her mother led her to the group of men standing watch. As she began to speak with them, Mercedes drifted off as she watched the Bartels' men laying on the ground, unconscious.
The sigil of House Bartels adorned their armor.
Mercedes had come to associate that sigil with the pain she had felt during her life here.
She would not miss it.
Mercedes drifted back in as two new figures entered her field of vision.
A tall, gruff man with tousled blonde hair. He bore a worn scar on his left cheek. He stood above her, imposing and menacing, yet with an air of comfort around him.
A young boy with teal hair stood next to him. He wore what looked to be a smaller, darker version of his father's armor. His hand rested on the blade to his side. He seemed rather young to be a mercenary. In fact, he seemed a smidge younger than her.
The boy's face held no fear or hesitation. Actually, to Mercedes it held what looked like no emotion at all.
At the time, she didn't find it odd. It came with the line of work, she thought.
The man knelt down to meet Mercedes. His face was far warmer than she had expected.
"Hey there, miss. Name's Jeralt. This here's my boy, Byleth."
His son simply nodded his head, before continuing his watch.
Jeralt let one of his hands rest on her shoulder. He noticed the dried streaks of tears on the girl's face.
"Seems you've done your share of crying for the night. Don't let my men here scare you. We're here to get you kids and your mom out of here."
Mercedes looked up to meet Jeralt's eyes. She nodded her head.
Two more men appeared behind Jeralt.
"Men, take the bags and get them onto the carriage."
"Yes, Captain!"
The mercenaries took the family's belongings and began taking them to the carriage that waited beyond the gates.
"You two, escort Lady von Martritz back to the manor. There's one more who's still inside."
"Thank you, Jeralt." The woman bowed before the mercenary.
Lady von Martritz turned to Mercedes.
"Go with them Mercedes. I'll be back soon my child." She turned around and began to make her way back to the manor, the two mercenaries leading her.
She turned back one more time and gave her a smile.
"And behave!"
Mercedes smiled. Even in such a dire situation, her mother still had time to make a joke.
Jeralt turned to his son.
"Boy. Get Miss Martritz here to the carriage. As soon as her mother and brother are on, we're getting out of here."
"…Okay, father."
Mercedes continued to stare down at the ground. Byleth began to walk towards her but was stopped again by his father.
"…Keep her company for now, will you? She'll be more comfortable around someone her age."
Jeralt patted his son on the shoulder.
"I know that making friends isn't your strong suit but do your best; you can do that for me, can't you?"
"…Of course, father."
"Good lad."
Mercedes heard their brief conversation but none of it seemed to register to her as she continued to stare off into the distance.
The boy took hold of her hand. She looked up and met him in the eye.
"Come on, let's get you on."
"…Okay."
Byleth led Mercedes through the dark night and past the gates of the Bartels manor; the aforementioned carriage waited just past the gate, alongside about half a dozen horses that were meant for the other mercenaries who had joined them.
The driver waited at the head of the carriage, his form enveloped by a dark cloak. The two men who had carried their bags were also sat in wait atop their horses, waiting for their captain's word.
Upon the pair reaching the carriage, Byleth picked up Mercedes with incredible ease.
Mercedes gasped at the sudden contact with the boy; she buried her face into the crook of his neck to hide the embarrassment that was painted on her face.
In a single motion, Byleth leapt onto the carriage with minimal force, as if he were floating.
Once they were situated, he put the girl down onto one of the seats. Without anything to hide herself in, the blush that was present on her face was out in full force.
In the cool air of the night, Mercedes shivered lightly. Lightly enough for Byleth to take notice, however.
He took off his own cloak and handed it to the girl.
"…You're cold. Take it, please."
Mercedes looked him in the eye. She hesitated at first, but eventually accepted his offer.
"Thank you. You're very kind but… won't you be cold as well?"
Byleth shook his head.
"…I'll be fine. I'm used to it. But you might not be."
"…Thank you, then."
He took his seat next to the girl and began waiting for his father's return.
The minutes passed by without a word between the two.
The moon continued to travel across the sky. Eventually, the moon laid to rest on Mercedes herself. The glint of gold reflected off her chest and into Byleth's vision.
He turned to look at the source of the light and was met with a golden pin the girl was wearing. He did not recognize the sigil it bore, however he found a certain beauty in its simplicity.
"That piece you're wearing…"
Byleth broke the silence. Mercedes woke from her daze and turned to meet him.
"Hmm? Yes? What about it?"
"It's pretty."
The blush returned to Mercedes' face.
"O-Oh. T-Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The silence between the two returned before Mercedes broke it once again.
"At first, I was s-scared of you and your dad. But now that I know what you're here for… I-I'm so grateful that you're here now."
Byleth's expression never changed.
"We're just doing our thing. It's our job."
Mercedes hoped to get some sort of emotion out of the boy.
"You know, you remind me a lot of my brother."
"Hmm? How so?"
"You're quiet, and you don't seem like you talk too much. But… I get an air of comfort around you. I don't know how to explain it."
Byleth shifted in his seat slightly and sighed a little under his breath. Mercedes' expression dropped slightly.
"I-I'm sorry. We just met, right? So-"
"It's okay."
Mercedes looked up and her eyes widened slightly.
"Huh?"
"I-It's okay if you feel that way. I feel… comfortable around you too. I don't know how to explain it either."
Mercedes smiled for the first time that night.
"Maybe it's okay like that."
She turned back towards the manor.
"As soon as mother returns, I'll have to introduce you to my brother. He'll like you."
Byleth looked at Mercedes again.
"…Okay. I-If you'd like."
Mercedes perked up a little bit.
"O-Oh! I just realized I haven't really introduced myself yet. I-I'm Mercedes. It's really nice to meet you."
"…I'm Byleth. It's nice to meet you too."
Mercedes giggled.
"I hope we can get to know each other bette-"
The two kids were interrupted by the sudden chime of the manor's bells. The lights inside shone bright through the windows.
Mercedes' heart dropped.
Byleth quickly stood and drew his blade.
"Stay here. Don't move."
Byleth hopped down from the carriage and attempted to run back towards the manor. He stopped when he met his father at the gates.
Jeralt threw his arm into the air. He began making hand signals that Mercedes did not recognize; in an instant, he began calling for his men.
"Bartels' backup guards are here. Get the horses ready because we're leaving. Now!"
"Father, where's Lady von Martritz?"
"Her and the rest of the men are right behind me. As soon as she's on board, we're getting the hell out of here."
Byleth nodded and ran past his father to meet Lady von Martritz.
Mercedes threw off the cloak and craned her head out of the carriage to look for her mother.
She met her mother's eyes as she ran past the manor's gates.
Mercedes' heart dropped even further when she couldn't find Emile's.
The girl leapt off of the carriage and began to run to her mother. Byleth's eyes widened as he saw the girl running away from the safety of their caravan.
"M-Mother! W-Where's Emile?!"
"M-Mercedes. We must go. Now."
Mercedes crashed into her mother's arms. She looked up and met her in the eyes.
"No! Not without my brother… not without Emile!"
Tears began to trickle down her mother's face once more. The same tears began to well up in Mercedes' eyes.
Mercedes moved her head to look past her mother and into the gates of the manor.
Her eyes widened as she met the gaze of her brother Emile, as he stood in the middle of the manor's entryway.
Mercedes began to cry out.
"E-Emile! Come on! Hurry!"
Emile stood with a sorrowful expression in the doorway. He didn't move an inch.
Byleth and Jeralt could both make out the forms of the Bartels' guards on the second floor of the manor; about two dozen of them, and they would soon make their way to the bottom floor and to the entryway.
Jeralt knelt down to meet the mother and daughter.
"We have to go. Bartels is going to catch on to what we're doing any second now."
Lady von Martritz nodded her head. She looked at her daughter.
"Mercedes. Listen to me."
"No! I'm not leaving without Emile! I-I can't leave him here!"
Mercedes broke free from her mother's grasp; her feet caught onto her nightrobe as she attempted to run to meet Emile.
She felt the grasp of Byleth's hand on hers; she turned around and looked the young mercenary in the eye.
"I-I'm really sorry, but… my father's right. We need to leave right now."
Mercedes stopped; her arm went limp as she watched her mother grab her other hand.
"I-I'm sorry, Mercedes… you'll understand someday. But for now…"
Jeralt picked up the young girl and held her over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry about this one, miss… but we gotta go!"
As Jeralt began to take Mercedes away, he looked back towards Byleth.
"Help the missus on!"
"Y-Yes, Father! But the other one? What about-"
"I'll explain later! Just go!"
Byleth helped Mercedes' mother up to her feet and made sure that she got onto the carriage, before making sure their own men were away from the manor. He then ran to join his father.
Mercedes began slamming her tiny fists down into Jeralt's back as he carried her away from the manor. Tears streamed freely down her face as she yelled out.
"No! Let me go! Take Emile! Please!"
Jeralt placed the girl back down onto her seat. Byleth quickly jumped back up onto the carriage and called out for his dad.
"Father! We're ready in here!"
As Byleth called out the order, he turned to the manor's entrance and met the boy he only knew as Emile in the eye.
He recognized the look in his face. It really did remind him of himself.
He ripped his eyes away before the same sorrow he saw would appear on his own face.
Jeralt looked back at the manor. The figures began spilling out of the doorway, their yells piercing the night. They began to spread out, looking for the intruders.
The angered growls of one Baron Bartels could be heard indoors. If he got involved now, things would get very messy. Very quickly.
Emile continued to stand there, still.
Jeralt looked ahead and called out to his men.
"We're good! Remember the route! Let's go!"
The neighing of horses conquered the night as galloping took over soon after. The caravan began to move quickly down the trail; Mercedes and her mother jumped as the carriage began to speed off, away from the manor.
"We've gotta make sure we've shaken 'em before we can slow down! Double time, people!"
Mercedes looked up and met the gaze of Emile one more time.
He continued to stand in the doorway, motionless. He reached his hand out.
Mercedes cried out for her brother one last time.
Her mother lay motionless in her seat, crying silent tears.
Byleth knelt down to meet Mercedes.
"I'm… sorry."
Mercedes cried quietly to herself as the caravan continued its escape.
After about an hour of travel without any signs of them being tracked down, the caravan slowed its pace. They would continue their journey through the night, as stopping would run the risk of them being noticed.
The carriage rocked slowly as it travelled down the path.
Lady von Martritz slept a troubled sleep, her expression going from fear to sadness and grief within seconds. Her tears had run out at this point, and not a sound escaped her lips. Not even a snore.
Byleth stayed awake as he kept watch from the back of the carriage. Periodically, he would turn around and look to see how the mother and daughter were dealing with the situation.
He knew nothing of how to comfort those who had lost, so he chose to stay quiet throughout the night.
Mercedes sat awake in her seat through the night, her own tears having dried out and stained her face. Her eyes had glazed over, and she stared off into the distance, at nothing in particular.
Once in a while, she would hold her hand out.
With a flick of her wrist, she projected a magical image above her right hand that would light the carriage in a dull, red glow.
Byleth would occasionally look over to see her doing this and, not knowing what to do, he would return to his watch.
Mercedes would then stare at the image she would create with her magic.
It was her Crest of Lamine.
The source of her family's problems.
She would stare at the crest for a few minutes at a time, then flick it away.
And every time she would, the tears would begin to flow once more.
That's that for the first chapter of this tale!
So yes, we get to see Mercedes and her as-of-yet unnamed mother in their escape from House Bartels. The tiny glimpses we get of this event in the game are fairly vague, and the few bits we do know of are from Mercedes' and Jeritza's support conversations. Hopefully you all have finally gotten the bigger picture of their escape. The little that we do learn of Baron Bartels in the game paint him in a not-so flattering light; his obsession with crest-bearing children is touched on in Jeritza's supports (again).
As for Mercedes' mother, we know very very little about her. So... I suppose I've decided to actually make her, at the very least, a bit of a character on her own. Mercedes must have learned to become such a caring person from someone, you know?
As for Emile, all we know of him in this context is that he chose to stay behind at House Bartels to protect his family; a sort of tragic sacrifice for him, considering what he becomes later on. Emile's decision will most definitely have an impact on Mercedes' and a certain other character in this story, so stay tuned to see what becomes of that.
Speaking of a certain other character...
Yes, this is where we get into the AU elements of this story! In this story, Byleth and Mercedes meet before his arrival at Garreg Mach, much much earlier than intended. Suffice to say, their childhood relationship will be the focus of this story. Don't worry; we'll be getting more development of their relationship before they (inevitably) part ways... for the time being, of course.
Speaking of their relationship, I can't get into any further details on it, so I'm hoping you guys will stick around to see where things go from here! As much as this first chapter was focused on Mercedes, this is a story that is equally focused on Byleth as well.
Well then, until next time!
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~Arujira