Interlude - Castle

With our task in Ferox completed, we return to Ylisstol. Some of the group is hungover, but Stahl and Lissa keep everyone from puking too much of their guts. The trip back is quiet, and even a little cheery. Blondie is back to his full spirits before long, and the group works on integrating the standoffish Lon'qu with a friendliness that startled him.

Something bad is going to happen. I know it.

When we returned to Ylisstol, everyone went straight to the castle. Frederick expertly led everyone else off to guest rooms within the castle itself, while Chrom led Lissa, Robin, and me towards an open room with numerous windows letting sunshine in, various rugs of differing colors, a bookcases lining the walls, and a desk in the center of it all.

Emmeryn and Fea… Phila were waiting for us there, Emmeryn sitting at the desk while Phila stood at her side. Both looked up when we walked in, and smiled when they saw who it was.

"Welcome home," Emmeryn murmured, standing and moving around the desk to hug both Lissa and Chrom. At this point, it became clear that this was her study, and it made so much sense that the study of the Exalt would be so open and… borderline pretentious. "I trust you were successful? Your message only said that you were coming home soon."

"Sorry, Emm, I feared it being intercepted," Chrom replied. He pulled away and smiled warmly at her. Lissa continued to hold onto her for a second more before popping back, while Robin and I hung awkwardly behind them. "But we were. Ferox will aid us."

"Wonderful!" She clapped her hands together, smiling brightly. "I knew sending you was the right choice."

"Well, I got lucky." Chrom snagged my hand and dragged me forward. "Kestrel here was a huge help, thanks to knowing the culture."

"Truly?" Emmeryn stepped forward and actually hugged me. "Thank you too, Kestrel."

"I-it really wasn't nothing," I stammered, startled by the unexpected hug. Then I realized what I said. "I mean; it really was nothing. It wasn't anything. I…"

"What my sister means to say is that we are simply grateful that we could aid Chrom," Robin helpfully 'translated'. He smiled charmingly as Emmeryn released me from the hug. "After all, you have given us a home, and a job, despite our questionable backgrounds." His right hand twitched, and I knew he was thinking of the Brand. "We are… very grateful. I have amnesia, but my sister makes it clear that we have not had very kind pasts. To have people willing to be kind is… rare."

"Well, you'll always have a home here, with us!" Lissa chirped. She grinned and both Emmeryn and Chrom nodded. Hell, even Phila nodded, with a small smile. "You're Shepherds now! We stand together and all those cheesy motivational things Chrom says!"

"I do not say anything like that," Chrom retorted. Emmeryn started giggling, while Robin and I snickered. "I do-!"

"Your grace!" The doors slammed open and a woman wearing red and silver pegasus knight armor strode forward, quickly kneeling to Emmeryn and Chrom. "A-and my lord, I did not expect to see you," she murmured, bowing her head. Her red hair was incredibly long, easily falling to the floor. "My apologies for interrupting, but I bring grave news."

"Cordelia, easy," Emmeryn murmured. Her face was stoically kind, and it was obvious she was back to being the Exalt. "Lift your head. What has happened?"

"I'm sorry, Your Grace." This Cordelia raised her head slightly, and glanced over at Chrom before focusing quickly on Emmeryn. "Plegian soldiers have been sighted inside our southwest border, and captured Duke Themis's daughter after attacking a village there."

"Themis?!" Lissa yelped. Her eyes went wide and her knees actually buckled. Robin caught her before she fell. "That's Maribelle!" She turned to Chrom, who looked grim. "Chrom, please, we have to do something!"

"Easy, Lissa," Emmeryn murmured. Only the slightest tremble in her hand betrayed her surprise. "Cordelia, was there more to this?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Cordelia replied. She bowed her head again. "King Gangrel claims that Maribelle invaded his land, and demands reparations to this insult."

"And he no doubts has the backing of his people since they'll easily believe in a sudden attack on their lands," I murmured, more for Robin's benefit than anyone else's. He was the only one without much of a clue of what was going on. "The previous war started with a sudden attack in that area, if I recall the rumors correctly."

"Yes, it's true," Chrom growled. He tried to clench his fist, but ended up just squeezing my hand painfully. He was still holding it. "Ah, sorry…"

"It's fine. Just keep your temper." I did tug my hand out from his, though, and he looked very guilty over the thought. "He wants you to get mad."

"She's right, Chrom," Emmeryn agreed. She gave me a small smile before turning to Chrom. Cordelia kept her head bowed, but I had this strange feeling she was also staring at me through her bangs. It was likely my paranoia speaking, though. "We must keep your wits about us."

"We should just put a sword in his gut and be done with it!" Chrom snapped. Lissa instantly squeaked and hid in Robin's coat. Emmeryn actually winced, though she quickly tried to hide it. I knew Chrom saw both, though, because I saw the pain in his eyes that he masked with ease. "The Mad King has been provoking war with each step despite the great devastation the last one inflicted on his own country! He won't stop until he drags the whole continent to hell with him!"

"I understand your feelings, Chrom. Truly I do." She made to touch his arm, but he pulled away subtly. Her hand hesitated before falling back to her side. "But if we give him the war he wants, then we will lose, no matter what the outcome." She closed her eyes and nodded. "We cannot make that same mistake. I will offer parley."

There was a brief, very brief, bit of silence, and then there was cacophony. Even Robin was protesting the madness of the suggestion, and I just hung back, wondering what was going to happen. The noise just built and built as everyone tried to be heard. Chrom and Phila were the loudest, Robin's voice was the strongest, Cordelia lifted her head to voice something about the pride of the pegasus knights, Lissa began crying again...

Finally, though, Emmeryn brought both of her hands up in a very clear 'enough' gesture, and the whole room silenced. "So, we either march to war or leave Maribelle to die?" she asked softly. When no one answered, she slowly shook her head. "No, I will not accept such a binary choice. I will at least try the third option."

"...Of course, Your Grace," Phila murmured. She knelt to Emmeryn. "But please, allow me to arrange a squadron or two of pegasus knights to accompany you."

"Of course."

"Thank you." She stood and walked over to touch Cordelia's shoulder. "Come, we must prepare." Cordelia stood as well, and bowed, before following Phila out the door. A stony silence fell as the door clicked shut, with no one really knowing what to do or say.

"I'm going too," Chrom whispered. His eyes were dark. "Someone has to save you from your good intentions."

"Chrom…" Emmeryn began. She reached out for him, but he took a subtle step back. "Chrom, I-"

"I know. But still, based on your previous efforts, I do not feel as if King Gangrel is someone who you can reason with. Someone needs to protect you, in case I am right."

"...I know. Thank you." Emmeryn smiled sweetly, and Chrom relaxed slightly. "Your strength has always helped me, Chrom."

"And I'll be there too!" Lissa declared. She jumped up and snagged both of her siblings by the arm, knocking them a little off balance so that she could hug them. "I'll be there for both of you, and Maribelle too!"

There was a bit of laughter, and a bit of teasing, and Robin and I hung back as the siblings chatted. His eyes were narrowed, though, thinking of strategies, and my eyes closed because I knew how this would end. I knew how Plegia viewed Emmeryn's peacefulness. They saw her as a hypocrite who only cared about her own people. They saw her as a paragon of self-righteousness, who did nothing to help those her father harmed.

No matter how this ended, it would lead to war. Gangrel had the perfect excuse, using Maribelle as a scapegoat. Poor girl.

The next few hours were spent frantically preparing to march out tomorrow. The Shepherds were particularly enthused-grim in their preparations, since Maribelle was a Shepherd too. I spent most of the time packing for myself and Robin, cooking for the group to make sure no one forgot to eat, shooing away a little boy who wore an oversized hat like Miriel, and double-checking everyone's weapons were ready. Once that was all over, I decided to go look for Chrom for our nightly sparring sessions, and promptly got lost in the far too big castle.

"This is not my night," I grumbled, walking through the halls. The castle was pretty, but I'd long since stopped admiring the prettiness since I'd been wandering for at least an hour now. "Ugh… why have I not even run into a helpful maid yet?"

Little bits of murmuring caught my ear right then, and I mentally cursed the gods for being so goddamned convenient now. I headed for them, ready to ask for help figuring out where the hell to go. But as I rounded the corner, I flattened myself back against the wall as I realized it was Emmeryn and Frederick. Then I paused and wondered why I was hiding from them and peered around again.

"I'm worried about Chrom, Frederick," Emmeryn was saying as she and he walked down the hall. She walked very closely to him, their hands almost touching. "He gets so angry…"

"Anger is a healthy emotion, my lady," Frederick gently chided. He smiled down at her. "You cannot blame his frustration that his dear older sister runs into danger."

"I suppose." She sighed, drooping slightly. "Still, I worry."

"Of course you do, my lady. You are his sister."

"Will he be happy? Can he be happy? I've burdened him with so much…" She stopped walking and turned to face Frederick. "He deals with both our father's legacy and my own. The people look to him as their future, and yet, he simply sees our father's shadow in everything he does."

"My lady…"

"And I've burdened him with… other things…" Her head dropped and she clasped her hands in front of her. "I've burdened you as well…"

"My lady…" Frederick looked down at her with sad eyes, yet a soft smile, and then took one of her hands gently in his. "My lady, my life's joy has been here, serving as a knight." He knelt down and gently kisses her hand. "Seeing you smile, seeing my lord grow into a proud and skilled leader, seeing Princess Lissa find her own path… I can think of no greater happiness."

"Frederick…" Emmeryn looked ready to cry, even as she smiled warmly. "Truly, I am grateful."

There might've been more, but someone snagged my arm and dragged me away. I nearly yelped, but then I realized it was Chrom who held me, and we quickly walked away from the two, down the halls. I remained silent as he continued dragging me, until finally I said, "Chrom?"

He stopped abruptly, so abruptly that I actually ran into him. Then, slowly, he turned to face me with dark, yet sad eyes. The expression dropped, though, when he realized he'd had me by the arm. "Ah, sorry," he mumbled, loosening his grip. He ran his fingers over my arm, laughing a little bitterly. "That's twice today."

"Oh, this one just confused me. It wasn't painful."

"I'm sorry about earlier. I… I forgot I had your hand and…"

"That's why you should watch your temper. You could hurt things you don't want to hurt." I took his hand and squeezed it gently. "It's a good lesson."

"Especially for me." His eyes darkened again. "Damn all of this, though."

"The situation is at a point where nothing can be resolved with simply words." I sighed. "I admire her dedication to her pacifism, though. But Plegia will not believe her unless she can speak to them directly. If she can, I'm certain they'd see her sincerity. But things are so tense between the countries, she won't get the chance…" I looked down at his hand, still holding it. "Plegia did not like how Emmeryn offered no help to them after ending the war. Gangrel is an embodiment of his people's wrath, driven mad by the pain."

"Mad dogs need to be put down."

"I agree. But you need a plan for explaining to the 'owners' why you put their dog down." I smiled at him and, slowly, he smiled back. "Think beyond being death's agent, Chrom. Unless you plan on him killing you at the same time, which you better not, you will have to help Emmeryn with restoring relations." I paused as I remembered the scene I'd just witnesses. "Hey, Chrom."

"Don't." His smile dropped and he shook his head, slowly pulling his hand out of mine. "Not a word. Not one word about them."

"Why…?" I almost asked the question, but I realized it quickly. The reason was because in order to mend her broken country, heal her bleeding people, Emmeryn had to put herself 'above' them. She had to act the part of the pure and wise leader, the maiden who leads Ylisse towards healing and redemption. All too often 'purity' was associated with celibacy and no romantic attachments. To keep up that role, she had to reject any romances, even if she wanted it. And it was hard to say that the people would understand, considering that she had spent the past fifteen years cultivating this image.

After all, the people loved the Emmeryn they saw. They loved Emmeryn the Exalt, not Emmeryn the girl. They didn't love the twenty-four, twenty-five year old woman who had been chained by her father's legacy since before she was ten years old. They didn't know her. If she chose to take someone as a lover, as a husband, she would take a gamble. They might be all right with it. But they might react badly to their pure and saintly Exalt showing she was actually human.

Emmeryn was a cautious person by nature. She wouldn't take that gamble.

"That's not fair," I whispered. I almost laughed at how child-like my voice were. "Of course, life isn't fair anyway. But it seems…" I bowed my head, barely checking the urge to punch something. "It seems especially unfair."

"...Yeah, it is," Chrom murmured. He had a dark and sad look when I glanced up. "My father continues to ruin our lives… even fifteen years after he's dead."

"What about you and Lissa?" I had… no real idea why I asked that. It just bubbled out.

"Well, Lissa's free to marry whoever she wants." He shifted awkwardly. "I… have no idea for me. The people do expect me to marry, though. I know that much. Emmeryn can't marry because of duty, and I have to marry for duty. Probably better to just marry someone I can befriend and not… I mean; the court is bad, and whoever my wife would be would face a lot of scrutiny and…"

"Right, right, no, that… makes sense. Being queen requires a lot of work and all." I fidgeted, not quite sure what to do. "Have you… thought about who?"

"Not really, no." He was mumbling now. "Well, a little… maybe."

"Like who?"

"Thought Sully, but Sully might just kill me. Sumia's too kind to survive long in the court. Maribelle is probably the most suitable in terms of political skill, but she's my sister's best friend and she works too hard already. She'll likely die from overwork before the year is up." His voice became quieter and quieter. "So, mostly just… that."

"I see." This felt awkward. I couldn't breath. "I… had been looking for you, for our typical sparring match. But perhaps we should just… skip out today, maybe? Since we'll be marching out tomorrow for a declaration of war."

"Y-yeah, probably." He sounded a little disappointed, and I squirmed, unable to help it. "But perhaps some… tea or… midnight snacks or…?"

"It's… probably better to just go to bed, Chrom… you must be exhausted." It really hurt to breath, and I didn't know why. I felt like crying, but there was no reason to cry. I just had no idea why…

"Ah, well, yes, but it's really relaxing being around you…" It was hard to make out his words, even though I was standing right in front of him. "Though, maybe you just… wait, hold on, that sounds like guilting…"

"N-No, it's fun being around you. Most of the time. Though, really, you're far too kind to someone like me." For the first time in a long while, I wished Mom was alive. Then I could talk to her about what the hell was going on with me. I had no idea. I didn't interact with people. It had just been Robin and me for most of my life, on the run from the Grimleal. Anyone I ever got close to often got killed by them. I didn't…

"Really? I often think I'm not being kind enough. Especially with how helpful you've been with… everything."

"No, I'm really not doing much." My hands started shaking. "I… really need to get to bed, at least."

"Oh, right, yeah." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Might I… escort you to your room? The Shepherds are staying in the castle tonight instead of the barracks like normal."

"Yeah, sure, that's fine."

The two of us walked in awkward silence all the way to the room labeled as 'mine'. We managed to bid each other farewell and goodnight with smiles, but as soon as I shut the door behind me, I collapsed, silently crying, for reasons I just really, really didn't understand.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Notes on Stahl:

Class - Cavalier; Reclass - Myrmidon, Archer

Once called 'Green' by Kestrel

The younger son of an apothecary, a commoner who rose through the ranks with ease despite his laid back demeanor. Bullied among the knights due to not being of noble heritage, but never bothered acknowledging them.

A decidedly average person with a larger than normal appetite. He always cleans his plate, and always goes for fourth and fifth helpings.

A… strangely genuinely kind person, who always wishes to help people to the point of self-sacrifice. Most just accept it, but many also question it, worried for his health.

Author's notes: (Chrom and Kestrel B support unlock! AKA two broken kids being oblivious because of their screwed up childhoods) In game, Phila is the one who brings the message about Maribelle's capture, but I used it instead to bring in a Cordelia cameo. As for the Emmeryn-Frederick thing… there's nothing really in game to suggest anything. I just threw it in for fun. Stahl being the son of an apothecary, and having an older brother, is revealed in his supports.

Next Chapter - The Exalt and the King