Interlude - Family
The Verdane Campaign is finally over. With Sigurd's aid, Prince Jamke managed to negotiate a peace treaty with Grannvale again, citing that it was his brothers, not his father, who broke the previous treaty, and that they conspired to kill his father. It's a lie, of course, but if we spread that dark magic had been involved, panic would rise and innocent people might be burnt at the stake for 'being of the Loptyrian Cult'. Luckily, everyone bought the lie, and King Azmur happily accepted Prince Jamke's wish to reconcile, though he did insist that Sigurd remain the lord of Evans Castle as a safeguard. Prince Jamke more than willingly accepted, since the people of Evans, and of Verdane, loved Sigurd, and were positively enthused that Sigurd was taking a Verdanite woman, Deidre, as his wife.
I didn't see the last bits of negotiations. Sigurd learned that Azel and I had tentatively planned to visit Velthomer and he sent us out ahead of the madness, insisting that he could come up with a story should anyone actually bother to ask. Thus, I visit Velthomer for the very first time. Azel is practically bouncing with excitement, and his cheer is contagious. I can only pray the visit will be as happy as he thinks, and I hope.
"So, this is Velthomer…" I whispered as Azel and I rode into the castle and dismounted. Servants swirled about, happily greeting him and taking his horse. I pulled my cloak tighter around me and checked that my hood was up as they crowded closer to coo over Azel. "Loud…"
"Sorry, I guess everyone was worried!" Azel laughed. He waved and smiled at the servants. "Can you tell Lord Brother that I've returned? I'd like to meet him as soon as possible."
"We wouldn't be able to keep him back if we tried!" one of the servants instantly replied with a bright smile. "Lord Arvis has been fretting fiercely since you left, Lord Azel! Next time, actually tell him goodbye!"
"I-I tried, but we fought!" Azel defended. He then sighed, whimpering a little. "Oh man…"
"Go and face the music, little lord."
"I don't want to!" Still, Azel smiled. "Oh well. Thanks for taking care of everything as usual!" Azel waved as he made his way through the crowd. I skirted the edges of it to join him at the door, both amused by how loved Azel was and panicky over just how many people there were. Arvis had once told me he had less servants than was typical for a Grannvale Duke, and there were just far too many. I'd pull my hair out in frustration at having so many people swarming me.
Inside, Azel led me quickly and easily down some of the somewhat hidden paths to head for a very specific room. "Knowing Arvis, he's in his study," he explained as we walked. He grew more and more nervous as we went and, before long, we stopped outside a door carved with the 'Fire Emblem', the House Crest of Velthomer. "This always intimidates me. The carving."
"It's suppose to," I whispered. I studied it closely, noting this one was a simpler design that the one on the flag. "It symbolizes justice, and is a promise that criminals will be punished." That was why most captured Loptyrians were burned, in fact.
"I'd think justice would be more welcoming." He sighed. "Can't put this off forever…" He hesitated a bit more before knocking on the door. "Stay here, so that I can surprise him?"
"Go on." I felt nervous as he opened the door and ducked to the side as he left the door open.
"Azel!" Arvis, however, sounded very happy. I cautiously peeked around the corner and saw him stepping around his desk to hug Azel and fussed over him. A woman was also in the room, laughing softly at the scene. "I'm glad to see you've returned," he continued. His eyes glinted mischievously. "How is Aideen?"
"She's fine, and yes, I know, my feelings are unrequited," Azel deadpanned. He sulked. "Mean."
"You left with barely a word, and sent no letters. I'm allowed to be a bit mean." He smiled softly. "I'm glad you have returned to me, safe and sound."
"And stronger!"
"Is that so? Then you can prove that in your lessons later today."
"Seriously?!" Azel groaned, and the woman laughed. "Aida, save me!"
"I'm sure she wants to see how much stronger you have become too." Arvis laughed as Azel groaned again. "Well, shall we-"
"Actually, hang on." Azel smiled suddenly. "Just to confirm. It's just you two here, right?"
"...Yes?" Arvis glanced back at the woman, and the two shared a very confused look. "Why?"
"You sure? Super sure?"
"Azel, why are you acting so weirdly suddenly?" Arvis crossed his arms and frowned. "Is there a secret message from Sigurd or something?" Azel didn't answer, just glanced back at me. "His report mentioned nothing unusual."
"He's simply trying to be dramatic," I explained, taking this as my 'cue'. Hesitantly, I stepped inside the room and smiled slightly as Arvis froze, and the woman looked very, very confused. "Hello, Lord Brother. I'm sorry to come by with no warning." I ducked my head, fearing that he'd be mad. "Azel thought it would be fun and-"
"Alicia!" Arvis raced over and gathered me up in a warm hug, laughing. "Well, this is the best surprise," he declared, stepping back and peering at me. "You're thinner. Are you alright? Are those bandages?"
"I am well, yes." I laughed a little, shaking my head. "You're worse than a mother hen, and that comes from a healer."
"Yes, well…" Arvis coughed awkwardly before realizing something and turned to the still very confused woman. "Aida, I'm sorry. This is Alicia."
"Oh, is she?" the woman replied. She smiled softly and actually bowed to me. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Lady Alicia. I am Aida. I've heard much about you." She straightened, and laughed a little. "How long are you staying?"
"I'm not here for long, as I've some charges at Evans Castle, among other duties," I explained. I tried not to wince at how disappointed Arvis look. "However, I am able to stay the month?"
"Then I shall clear Arvis's schedule for the month."
"Oh, there's no need to…"
"Nonsense. He works too much anyway. A month's break will be good for him, and I promise to not force back anything urgent." She laughed and turned to Azel. "And you, little lord, are going to help me." She snagged Azel by the arm and tugged him out of the room, with Azel flailing about. "Have a good break." She shut the door behind him, and a strange little silence followed.
"I can see why you like her," I finally said. I turned back to Arvis and smiled. "So, were you surprised?"
"Extremely," Arvis laughed. He leaned against his desk, shaking his head. "Completely and utterly."
"Oh, good. It's rare I get to see you surprised."
"It's rare that I am surprised." He hesitated and then gave me a wry smile. "Can you really only stay a month?"
"Yes, I'm sorry." I shook my head. "I have my charges and… well, Sigurd is getting married."
"Sigurd?" Arvis actually coughed on a yelp. "Well, that's a surprise. Are you officiating?"
"Oh, no, I'm not qualified for that." I shook my head. "I'm the Maid of Honor."
"So, his fiance is a good friend of yours?"
"It's not… quite that." I crossed my arms, hesitating on how to answer. "She was… an outcast in her village, so she didn't have friends there, and out of the people in the army, I am the one she is closest to." I closed my eyes as I remembered how Deidre had shyly asked me. She had been so hesitant, like she was certain I'd refuse. I'd found myself agreeing before she had even finished, and had nearly been suffocated by her happy hug. "I do feel a certain kinship with her, though."
"You do?"
"Yes. I know what it's like to be abandoned, and only tolerated." I smiled slightly as he winced. "I was a bit luckier, though. I had you."
"I suppose." He looked sad before shaking his head and purposely putting on a smile. "When is the wedding?"
"It's in a few months." I gave him a curious look. "Do you want to attend?"
"Want, yes. Can, sadly no." He sighed heavily. "A shame. It would've been nice to have met the woman who managed to catch Sigurd of all people."
"That is a shame. I've told Deidre about you, and she's looking forward to meeting you." I laughed a bit. "Maybe when things calm down?"
"Yes, that sounds wonderful." He smiled. "Tomorrow, help me figure out wedding gifts for them. I want them to be extra special since I cannot attend myself."
"Sigurd will be delighted that you even wanted to." I hesitated a bit before deciding to voice a request I had. "If we're making plans for visits, though, might we visit our father's grave?"
"Our… father?" As always, the effect of that man on Arvis was instantaneous. He bristled, but kept his voice perfectly calm. "Why would you want to visit that man?"
"To give my thanks, of course." I smiled sweetly at him in hopes of calming him down. "After all, he's the reason why I have two wonderful brothers."
"...I swear the only good thing he ever gave me was you and Azel. He even took Mother away, ultimately." He sighed, shaking his head as he slowly relaxed. "Fine. We'll visit him at some point, but not today. Today is a happy day." He became thoughtful suddenly. "Would you like to visit your mother as well?"
"Her?" I did my best to not stiffen at the reminder of her. "Why do you even know where she's buried?"
"Because she was my mother's best friend, and is the mother of my darling little sister, why else?" Arvis smiled slightly, sadly. "She was always protecting Mother, and me."
"So you've said." But I didn't care. It didn't change that she had left me, thrown me away as soon as my Mark appeared. As soon as I became inconvenient, she had gotten rid of me. Perhaps she was trying to 'protect' me, but it didn't change she'd abandoned me. I wanted nothing to do with her. She had given me nothing but my life. My father had given me that, and my brothers. "No, I'd really rather not."
"If you're certain." He looked a little conflicted, and I knew it was because of how much he missed his own mother, even now. He had to believe that she had left to protect him, in order to not break down in tears over the abandonment. But I didn't have to believe anything about my own mother to remain any sort of stable. "Ah, but we should visit the gardens. I've told you about them, and the flowers I think you'd really love are in bloom."
"That does sound like fun." I smiled at how happy he became. "Let's do that, Lord Brother."
"This way, then." He snagged my hand and tugged me out of the room and down the hall, grinning like he was ten years old again.
That grin was one of the few unchanging things about him, and I associated him most with it. It always made me smile.
After going through the gardens, Arvis went to give Azel the threatened lesson. I decided to spend my time in the library, since descriptions of it were a way Arvis did try to convince me to come live with him in Velthomer. I discovered upon entering that, as per usual, Arvis was bad at describing things. It was far more impressive than he had told me.
I spent the rest of my morning, and a good part of the afternoon simply looking through the herbal encyclopedias, making notes for new herbs, or different uses for herbs I already knew. From there, I studied some history and looked into how previous healers had built their infirmaries for little campaigns. I even found some notes from the Holy War in the past, though sadly, I found very little on dark magic injuries.
A quiet bit of knocking caught my attention, and I looked up from my book to see Aida standing by one of the bookcases. "Oh, hello," I said, standing up. "Am I doing something wrong?"
"No, you're not," Aida reassured. She hesitated a bit before visibly steeling herself. "I might be presuming too much…" She gestured behind her, and a small boy with bright flame-red hair peered out from behind her legs. "But Arvis said he told you about him and…"
"Is this Cyas?" I asked. I smiled, unable to help it. "Oh, come here. I'm…"
"Auntie Alicia, right?" Cyas asked shyly. He grinned when I nodded. "Hiiiiiii~!" He bolted from Aida and tackled my legs. "Hi, hi, hi!"
"Hello!" I crouched down so that I could hug him. "I'm very glad to finally meet you." I pulled away slightly, and noticed that despite the hair and eye color, he bore very little physical resemblance to Arvis, and I was glad for it. It would make things easier if he continued to hide. "You're much more adorable that Arvis said. I should scold him for that."
"You're prettier than he said too." He actually pouted. "He's bad at describing things."
"Yes, he is." I ruffled his hair, and found myself reminded of Prince Shanan. I hoped he was okay… "Say, why don't you find a book you like and I'll read it to you?"
"Really?!" His face lit up with a bright smile. "Yay!" He bolted off, tripping a bit as he turned a corner far too fast.
I laughed as he disappeared, and turned to Aida with a smile. "Thank you for bringing him to meet me."
"Thank you for meeting with him," Aida replied. She looked very relieved. "I wasn't sure if you would want to."
"I am always up for meeting family." I bookmarked my place in my book and closed it. "What is the official story again? With Cyas, I mean."
"The official story is that he is an orphan I took in, and who Arvis insists on taking care of. Cyas himself already knows the truth. He's… incredibly smart for his age, and it's not just a mother's bias." She sighed and leaned against the bookcase. "He's already grasped that while Arvis is his father, he is not his 'daddy', so to speak."
"...He already understands that while he is blood related to Arvis, Arvis is not his father figure?" That seemed… a little complex for a child.
"It startled me too." She made a face. "He also adores, adores, looking at my tactical books, and he understands more than half, which he probably shouldn't." She sighed again. "Oh, he's already worrying me. And Arvis. Arvis does love him, after all, though not quite in a father-like way."
"Well, he was a bit… unplanned." I paused, mentally debating something before deciding to just go for it. "Might I ask why you did not force a miscarriage or is that too nosy?"
"Oh, did Arvis not tell you?" She sounded a bit surprised. "I thought he had."
"Arvis summarized it as 'your choice', which he respected, just as he respected how you refused marriage to 'make it right'."
"I highly respect Arvis, but I doubt he'd survive five minutes of my being married to him. We're friends, and we work well together, but there's a reason why we have separate workplaces, among other things." She made a face and I laughed. Arvis was organized when not working, but when he got into work, he tended to throw things all over the place. He wrote often on how it drove Aida up the wall. "The basic summary is… well, there's not a lot of research into safely aborting a child, even among the church. My father is a bishop, but all the safe remedies he knew… well, I'm allergic to some of the components, and he dared not try substitutes."
"Did he not ask around?"
"He asked a few of his fellows, but they all wrinkled their noses or gave sermons on why Father shouldn't allow it." She laughed as I rolled my eyes. "You've dealt with that sort?"
"I had a patient die because she had an ectopic pregnancy, and the local church refused to perform the necessary surgery. She made it to our village, which does allow it, but the growing embryo ruptured the tubes and she bled out before I even knew what she was trying to come there for." I shuddered as I remembered that one. She'd been crying. "I had another try to prevent me from treating a woman suffering from preeclampsia because the only way I know how to cure that is by inducing delivery."
"Yes, I was tempted to punch many of them. It wasn't as if Arvis and I hadn't taken precautions. The precautions just didn't work." She sighed heavily. "Regardless, he didn't know, and researching turned up nothing. We determined it would be safer for my health, as it stood, to just carry the pregnancy to term instead of trying to do an… unsafe abortion." She shuddered. "A subordinate of mine had one of those. She nearly died from it, and I vowed to never go through with that."
"Yes, I can understand that." I smiled slightly. "Since you held onto your health, you gave birth to Cyas."
"Yes, though it was a near thing a few times. Pregnancy is rough on the body." She shook her head. "I had originally planned on giving him to the church, to my father's church to be specific. But then I remembered how Arvis once told me how you… had been safe, but unhappy. I didn't think that was fair to him, simply because he was a bit… inconvenient." She smiled wryly. "So, he's here. I'm ultimately quite happy with the decision, though those first few years were rough."
"I'm glad." I really was. I honestly was afraid that she regretted keeping him. Children could sense those things. "I'm also glad he's part of the family, crazy as it is. He's wonderful."
"I'm glad you think so. I must admit; I was worried how you'd react to him." She laughed a bit. "But that is enough doom and gloom. Did Arvis tell you how awkward his first meeting with Cyas was?"
"No, he didn't, and I asked numerous times." I grinned. "Will you oblige?"
"I feel it is my duty, Lady Alicia." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "It'll likely take Cyas a bit longer to pick out a book still, so how about some tea while I tell you about it?"
"Yes, that sounds lovely. Thank you."
After tea and reading Cyas a story, all of us joined a pleased Arvis and a tired Azel for a lighthearted dinner before Aida and Cyas left to go home for the day. Azel ended up going to bed soon after, something about 'evil brothers and gauntlets of training', leaving Arvis and I to read in his study.
"You should've gone easier on him," I chided. I set my book in my lap and gave him a playfully stern look from my chair by the window. "He did just get back."
"I would've if he'd stopped being stubborn," Arvis replied as he looked up from his reports. He laughed a bit. "He's gotten more iron in his will. That's a good thing, especially when you control fire."
"You still should've gone easier on him. I had rather hoped the three of us could read together."
"Tomorrow, then." He smiled, as if those two words were the best thing he'd ever said. "What do you want to do in the morning? We could head out to the fields."
"You mentioned a couple of groves. We can pick fruit, and have ourselves a little breakfast-brunch picnic?"
"That sounds like fun." He grinned. "Yes, we'll do that in the morning."
"It'll be fun." I smiled back, but then it faded as I remembered something. "Oh, yes, I almost forgot."
"Hmm?" He set the report down to look at me. "What is it?"
"Earlier, you suggested Azel's behavior was due to a secret message? It wasn't, but that's because Azel didn't know that Sigurd did have a message. I do."
"A message?" Arvis looked intrigued. "What is it? Why did he not mention it in his report?"
"The truth behind Verdane is that a dark mage, a member of the Loptyrian Cult, manipulated King Batur." I smiled bitterly as his expression blanked. "He feared triggering a rash of panic and condemning innocent people to die."
"I can definitely understand that." Something unreadable flitted over his face, but he simply shook his head. "I'll have to strengthen defenses. You're certain it was a dark mage?"
"Yes, and apparently, one who wished to bring back Loptyr." I frowned as another unreadable look flickered in his eyes. "Arvis?"
"Sorry, this is just… troubling." He sighed. "Do they have access to spells?"
"Oh, yes." I shuddered as I remembered that long range spell. "Do you know about any… lingering effects?"
"Lingering?"
"Yes…" I hesitated before pushing up my sleeve and pulling off my glove to show him the welts, still there even though it had been over a month. I winced as he gasped and lunged to my side, knocking down his chair as he crouched by me and gently took my arm. "I wasn't hit directly. This is from tending to those who were." I sighed. "I don't know what's wrong with them. There is rarely any pain, there is no itching, there's nothing. They're just… there."
"Rarely any pain?"
"Every few days, there is a lance of pain, but it passes quickly, and I've kept track of when, but the timing is random." I shook my head. "So, there must be something, but…"
"I see." He frowned as he looked over the welts closely. "Do you know the spell?"
"No, I don't. There weren't even notes to peer through for answers. All I know is that it was a long-ranged, dark magic attack that made the victims cough up black blood."
"That'll be enough for me to start some research. The Royal Libraries have quite the archive." His eyes saddened as he sat back on his heels. "If only I could heal. I've never managed to master that magic." He glanced up at me, suddenly thoughtful. "Father Claude is a trustworthy man, and is the best healer in Grannvale. He's also in the capital right now."
"...You're going to fret until I agree, right?" I almost laughed as he nodded. "Very well. I'll see him. Perhaps Blaggi will whisper something in his ear like the stories say."
"I think that's only at the Tower of Blaggi, in the northernmost part of Augustria." Still, he gave me a relieved smile. "I'll arrange a story if you do not wish for him to know, but…"
"...If you think he is trustworthy, Arvis, then you may." I sighed. "I know there are already rumors."
"Well, yes. I've neither been confirming nor denying them, much as I'd love to confirm them. I'm very proud of my little sister, after all." His smile warmed as he let go of my arm. "Now that I think about it. Didn't I once promise you apple cider around the fire or something?"
"...You did." It was when we first met. He'd bought me an apple cider drink during the local festival, and had promised that one day, we'd sit in his study, and chat about nothing while we drank as much apple cider as we wanted. "I'm surprised you remember." I also knew he changed the subject so that we didn't fall into our old little 'discussion' that neither of us won or lost.
"It's a promise to you." His tone implied the 'of course I did'. "I know this is only a visit, but why don't we do that?"
"Yes, that sounds like fun." I smiled, feeling almost giddy. It was just… nice. This was a good idea. "If only I didn't cause you so much trouble."
"...I'll work on making things easier for you." His eyes were perfectly serious. "So that you do not have to feel you must hide to protect me, and so that no one uses you. I promise. For you and Azel, I'll change the country, bit by bit."
"You must promise to not lose yourself to your work." I gave him a concerned look. "You know what they say. The path to hell is paved with good intentions."
"And he who fights monsters must take pains to ensure he does not become the monster himself." He nodded, but hesitated a bit. "If… something happens…"
"I will always love you, Lord Brother, though I might hit you if you go too far." I smiled as he looked a little relieved. "You will love me no matter what after all, yes?"
"Always. You and Azel are everything to me." His smile was warm and bright. "But enough of that. Let me get some cider from the kitchens and tell you of how some of my subordinates managed to botch a Meteor spell so spectacularly that he actually summoned a Tornado spell instead."
"...Wait, how is that even possible?!"
Author's notes: So, have Arvis and Aida interactions. Cyas, again, is a character from FE5, known as a genius tactician during that game, and is infamous for being a kindhearted individual… and someone many players happily want to murder since, thanks to game mechanics, his mere presence on the field boosts all enemies hit and avoid by 30%. He plays a part in why Chapter 17A and Chapter 22 are considering 'that one level' by many players. In the Jugdral series, the titular 'Fire Emblem' is mentioned briefly (very briefly) in the epilogue, as the House Crest of Velthomer. I believe the Jugdral games are the only main games in the series where the 'Fire Emblem' doesn't feature in the plot directly.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a developing embryo implants outside the uterus, most often in the fallopian tubes. Since the tube can't support the embryo, it can rupture the tubes, leading to internal bleeding (and, in fact, this is the leading cause of deaths during the first trimester of pregnancies). Preeclampsia is another pregnancy complication that is characterized by sudden high blood pressure, among other things. It typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy and the only real 'cure' for it is to delivery the baby, as otherwise, it can lead to serious complications for both the expectant mother and the baby (though, depending on when the condition comes up, it is possible still for a healthy-ish birth, but it has to be monitored very closely).
Next Chapter - Interlude, Meetings
