Chapter 10) Sleep
Quietly, taking our time, we put our little plan into motion. Lady Lachesis has heard terrible rumors of Mackily's lord, Clement, using a powerful Sleep staff to make it easier for his soldiers to collect 'taxes', among other things. While we're uncertain if they're true, it is enough to make us worry, especially since we did have proof that Mackily was harsh on its people, and that Clement seeks to acquire more 'beautiful staves'. Worse, Mackily was the safeguard castle between Noldion and Agusty, and it was becoming increasingly clear that we would have to march on Agusty itself to free Lord Eldigan.
Thus, Deirdre's ruse. If it works, Mackily is ours, without a drop of blood shed.
Messengers had been coming back and forth from Mackily for the past few days as Deirdre set up her little plan. I was thoroughly certain Sigurd was going to hurt us for this, but I had to admit we had things covered rather nicely.
"So, I need to stay here and help Finn?" Shanan asked, trailing after me as he helped me carry some medicines. He'd finally put his foot down and begged me to stop calling him by title, and I just couldn't say 'no' to his pout. "I'll make sure he stays just fine!"
"I'm sure you will," I replied, smiling down at him. "That's why I assigned that job to you." Finn was not quite recovered yet to join our backup team, to his displeasure. "He is well enough to walk, so you two can patrol the Noldion while we're gone."
"Leave it to us!" He grinned. "We'll keep everything safe for Grahnye, Ares, and Altenna! Promise!"
"You're the best, Shanan." I glanced up and noticed Chulainn walking down the hall. The look in his eyes told me he wanted to talk. "Shanan, actually, why don't you pass your burden to Chulainn and go ask Grahnye what tasks you can do for her?"
"Huh?" He frowned, but then he looked up at Chulainn, curious. Then, suddenly he grinned. "Oh, wait, I get it! Yeah!" He passed the medicines to Chulainn, laughing for some reason. "Have fun! Make sure to say goodbye before leaving!" And he dashed off, in a strangely good mood.
I watched him leave, startled. "I didn't expect so much cheer." I looked to Chulainn. "Do you have any idea?"
"Maybe one, but he's a little young to be that observant," Chulainn replied softly. But he simply shrugged off my curious face. "I wanted to check on the various groups. Do you really have to have only the four of you within?"
"We figured he'd let down his guard if a group of women showed up," I explained. He and I began walking down the hall, towards the infirmary. Deirdre had been ill this morning, so I'd wanted to give her another checkup. "There aren't a lot of women in the group, you know, that would be safe in a battle situation."
"Including you. You have no combat ability."
"A healer needs to be near, just in case." I had insisted on it, since so many things could go wrong. "I won over Aideen, so she's remaining with your group."
"Why?"
"Well, I agreed to the plan, and helped make it, so it follows that I see it through." I felt a little odd, and peered up at him worriedly. "Are… you mad?"
"...I'm frustrated." He sighed heavily, not quite looking at me. It made my heart hurt. "You are going to the heart of enemy territory, with three others, and you… don't fight. You don't really know how. If something happened…"
"Lady Lachesis will be bringing her live staff along."
"Then why can she not be the healer of the group?"
"Mostly? She'll be needed more as a fighter." We reached the door to the infirmary, but neither of us moved to head in. "But, really, I'll only be in danger if everything goes wrong, and in that case, you'll be there quickly enough." I smiled up at him. "Just move fast?"
"I swear; you are the only person I'd run to rescue." He opened the door and stepped through, leaving me to stare at that curious statement that made my face heat up. "Where does the medicine need to go?"
"J-just place them on the table." My voice was a little squeaky, and I ducked my head as I walked in and set my own little pile on the table. "Thank you."
"It's fine." His fingers brushed my cheek as they tucked some hair behind my ear, lingering a bit. I couldn't decide if I wanted to pin my hair back tighter or looser. "Don't do anything reckless."
"I'll do what I can." I shyly smiled at him, and he smiled back slightly before turning and walking away. I watched him a bit before fussing over the medicines, mostly to have an outlet for the nervous energy bubbling through me. I wasn't quite sure what else to do.
"Alicia!" Thankfully, Deirdre popped into the infirmary then, looking much better than she had earlier. "I passed Chulainn on the way," she explained, plopping down on one of the empty beds. Most of the injured had finally been allowed to move out of the infirmary and into their own beds. "Everything all right?"
"He's just fussing," I explained, smiling at her. I walked over and started giving her a once over, taking my time. "He's worried."
"I don't blame him. Besides, he's always fussing over you." She grinned, her eyes dancing. "Just you, though."
"You don't see him fuss over Shanan in that case. He's always making time for lessons." I frowned a bit as I noticed something a little odd. I couldn't even place what it was, so I snagged my staff and followed that feeling. "He's quiet about his worries, and everything."
"But not with you~" She giggled. "It's cute. I love it."
"Well, I'm glad you're having fun with it?" I almost asked more about her thought, but my staff's healing energy focused on a single point, and with the little other things I couldn't even name, my mind came up with a 'diagnosis' instantly, and it was one that floored me. "...Deirdre?" I bent down to look her in the face. "Have you been feeling odd lately? I don't mean just this morning, either."
"I… suppose a little?" She frowned, tilting her head as she thought. "I've found that certain smells make me nauseous. That's what got me this morning, I think. My breasts have been a bit sore too, but nothing that wasn't unusual before a period. Well, maybe a little more, but still…" She shrugged. "Perhaps a little more tired? It didn't seem enough to slow me down, or anything, so…"
"One more thing." I gave her my most serious look. "Have you missed a period? A moonday?"
"Um…" She frowned a little again. "Now that you mention it, I suppose I am a bit overdue. But with everything going on, I didn't think anything of it."
"..." I sighed, heavily, head dropping. "You're pregnant."
"Huh?" She sounded squeaky. "I'm… what?"
"Pregnant. I think you're pregnant. You've a baby growing in your womb. Congratulations, you're going to be a mother." I gave her a wry smile. "Which I have now found out right before a mission."
"Oh!" Her eyes widened. "I promise to be extra careful!"
"I'm still worried that the stress will…" I sighed again. "Oh, but this won't work properly without you, and dang it, I know you'll stress either way." I paused, thinking quickly. "We'll move Chulainn's group closer to react more easily."
"Yes."
"And you're not going to participate in any fighting we might have unless you're directly threatened. I'll tell Lady Ayra and Lady Lachesis so that they know to prioritize defending you."
"All right." She hummed a little in thought, and nodded. "I've a thought. May I stand up?"
"Yes." I stepped back so that she had the room, and to my surprise, she walked over to where her Silence rested in the corner. We stored it here, so that there was no chance of the messenger accidentally seeing it. "What is it?"
"I want to test something." She took Silence and, for some reason, held it out to me. "Here."
"...Okay?" Slowly, I took Silence from her, and it buzzed in my hands. "What the-?!"
"I thought it might like you. I do, after all." She smiled sweetly. "Okay, stay extra close. If I get too nauseous or nervous, you can use this instead of me."
"...Okay." I sighed, not quite liking this. "But after this, no more battles for you. I mean it."
"Okay!" She beamed, looking very pleased, and I just smiled, unable to help it. It was hard not to smile around her. "Let's get Ayra and Lachesis. The messenger will be here soon."
The messenger did arrive, barely giving us enough time to tell Lady Ayra, Lady Lachesis, and Chulainn the slight changes to the plan. I wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse, since it meant they had no time to be angry, and we proceeded to go through with the plan with barely any pausing.
The trip to Mackily was in comfort, a day's ride in a carriage, with the rest of our group less than half a day behind us, hiding in the shadows of the path. Deirdre spent most of it sleeping, using my shoulder as a pillow, while Lady Ayra spent it tense, and growing tenser. Lady Lachesis used the time to trick me into calling her without title, and to whisper on how she couldn't wait for the baby to be born, so that Ares could meet them.
When we arrived in Mackily, we were escorted directly to the castle, where we were allowed to freshen up a little, and where Lady Ayra and Lachesis were instructed to tie their swords in their sheathes, for safety reasons. After a bit of time, long enough to make us wonder if he had really bought the ruse, Lord Clement of Mackily allowed us to come speak to him.
"My, my, I had not realized Lord Sigurd had won such a beautiful bride," Lord Clement murmured. He sat on his throne, a little bit above everyone, and he smiled slowly as Deirdre curtseyed. "He's quite lucky."
"I fear I must disagree, in that I am the lucky one, Lord Clement," Deirdre replied, clinging to her cloth covered Silence staff. I lingered directly at her side, mostly as moral support, while Lachesis and Lady Ayra hung a bit back. "Then again, perhaps he and I are both lucky?"
"Perhaps indeed." He sat back in his throne, and a staff clinked on the arms of it. That had to be his Sleep staff, kept in open view. "It's quite a pleasure to meet you."
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I'm grateful you allowed us an audience."
"I couldn't help but be curious, given everything." He looked concerned, but his eyes darted around. It only took a subtle look to see the soldiers edging closer. He agreed to this to make us hostages. I was certain of it. "I mean; you're the cause of our civil unrest, and yet…"
"Can you blame a wife for wanting her husband to come home?" Deirdre smiled sweetly, and the mood of the entire room lightened. "But, there is another reason…" She gestured to Lachesis, who stepped up. "Though, perhaps Lachesis can explain it better?"
"I can certainly try," Lachesis whispered. She took on a shy demeanor, nervous. "It's been a while, Lord Clement. I believe I was barely a child."
"That you were," Lord Clement replied. He actually chuckled. "It seems you inherited the same good looks as your brother, though."
"Thank you for the compliment, my lord." Lachesis blushed prettily, before becoming serious. "I am the one who called for Sigurd's aid. He only came at that request."
"Oh?"
"Yes." Lachesis nodded. "This is all a horrible misunderstanding. Heirhein attacked us, and…" Her voice cracked, and she shivered. Lady Ayra drew close and placed a comforting hand on her back, using the distraction to pull the cords on their swords. "They actually shot Ares. If not for Alicia, he would've died. A child, Lord Clement!" She looked up at him beseechingly. "I tried sending out word, but Elliot, gods burn him, intercepted all the ones I sent to you and Anphony! So, fearful for Ares's life, I sent word to Evans, and… they came to help. But Heirhein kept on attacking, so…"
"Ah, so that is what is going on." Lord Clement looked thoughtful, but his eyes were calculating. "So, a truce, you suggest? What is the plan from then?"
"Ideally, we will talk to King Chagall about my brother's charges and imprisonment. No word has reached us, so we're completely lost in all of this." Lachesis sniffed and ducked her head. "It's all so confusing…"
"I understand." He took on a mournful expression. "But, considering everything, if our king discovers this…"
"We do not mean for you to simply accept the offer on our word alone," Deirdre murmured. She held out her cloth covered staff, still smiling. "We've brought a gift."
"A gift, you say?" he asked. He looked intrigued. "Well, I have much of what I already want, so…"
"It's a beautiful staff." Deirdre's smile grew as Lord Clement stiffened. "As beautiful as your own, if I may be so bold?"
"Truly?" He gestured for her to come forward, eyes now glinting with greed. "Bring it here, so that I might properly see it."
"Of course." Deirdre walked forward slowly, with me following her. Lord Clement paid me no mind, nor did he pay attention to how Lachesis and Lady Ayra slowly shifted their stances, their hands 'just so happening' to be near the swords on their waists, and hiding how those swords were no longer bound.
Lord Clement paid none of us any mind at all, as Deirdre stopped just in front of him, and drew back the cloth, revealing the beautiful Silence staff. "Oh, my…" He grinned widely, like a child looking at a toy. He didn't notice how Deirdre was careful to set the cloth down, instead of just letting it fall. "It is not inferior to the one I have."
"I'm pleased you like it." Deirdre pulled it back slightly, shifting her hold on it nervously. We'd only get one shot at this. "It's quite rare."
"Is it?" His eyes sparkled. "What's it's name?"
"...Silence." The gem on Silence glowed, and a bit of light wrapped around it, before snaking out to strike Lord Clement straight in the throat. He tried to yell, but no sound came out. "Silence is this staff's name."
Both she and I ducked to the side then, as Lady Ayra and Lachesis charged. As the soldiers in the room yelled, and tried to attack, the two held their swords right at Lord Clement's neck in a clear warning. 'Come closer, and he will die.' None of them ever considered we'd take him hostage, and now, they paid for it.
"All of you stand down," Deirdre called. She took Sleep from Lord Clement easily, and held both staves in one hand. "I am a powerful mage, and these two are talented swordsmen." She pulled her tome from the cloth, revealing why she had set it down so gently, and stood again. "If you do not wish to see his head roll, or be reduced to dust by my magic, you will do as I say!"
Everything froze for a brief moment, and then, one by one, the soldiers did as she said. I relaxed slightly, realizing the hardest bit was over. Chulainn and his group would be in before long to secure the castle, so, we'd be…
A little bit of movement was all the warning we had before an arrow flew straight for Deirdre. She yelped and ducked underneath, dropping the staves and her tome. As she did, the soldiers began picking up their weapons again, clearly deciding they could kill us before we could kill our hostage. So, thinking quickly, I snatched Sleep from the ground and brought it up, putting all the force of my magic, empowered by my Vala blood, and the staff buzzed in my hand as its crystal shone like a sun on a cloudless day. From that light, thousands of tiny little sparks flew throughout the room, and all those they touched dropped to the ground, fast asleep.
By the time the light faded, every enemy soldier in the room was unconscious. And we weren't dead. Even more surprisingly, I felt only a little drained, though I quickly noticed tiny cracks in the staff itself, and a slight cut on my palm, likely from the feedback. It couldn't do something like that often, and it was possible I'd damage my hand if I tried anyway, though I supposed that could be mitigated by switching hands. But that was a theory for another day.
"Send for Chulainn and his group," I suggested, smiling slightly at the other three. Lachesis's jaw had dropped, while Lady Ayra looked impressed. Deirdre beamed at me, perfectly pleased. "We need to get them tied up still, and since we have the castle, we can move some of the wounded here, yes?"
Well, that… ended up working after all. Perhaps miracles did happen.
"Good, you're still healing well," I whispered, tucking Finn into his bed. I had worried the trip over to Mackily would reopen his injuries, but they still held fast. "I'm glad." Of course, it had tired him out. He'd barely had time to stumble into the infirmary and collapse on a bed before passing out. He still slept peacefully.
"Is that normal?" Lachesis asked, looking worriedly at Finn. She bit her lip, wringing her hands. "I…"
"He used up his energy reserves, that's all." I straightened and smiled at her. "Are you up for keeping watch tonight?"
"Yep! I already slept anyway." She smiled warmly, and sat in the chair besides Finn, picking up a book from the table. "I'll be just fine."
"All right." I hesitated a bit at leaving them alone, but Lachesis was determined to continue healing Finn, and he was the only one who required someone to watch him. "Send for me if anything goes strange."
"I will!" She waved me goodbye, and settled into her chair, starting her book. I hesitated a bit more before leaving the infirmary, closing the door behind me. I felt almost restless. I couldn't believe it was a bloodless takeover. The worst wound had been my palm. I'd already checked over the captured Mackily soldiers in the dungeons, and all of my infirmary supplies were over full capacity, so I really had little to do. It made me feel… weird. I'd never… not had something to do, before.
I walked slowly through the halls, thinking a little bit on the recent events. We sent a message off to Sigurd, telling him that we had captured Mackily. I'd sent the Sleep staff for repairs, and claimed it as my own. I could make the best use of it, out of everyone in the army. Even now, hours later, the Mackily soldiers were only just beginning to stir away. That alone proved how valuable the staff would be in the infirmary. I could put the more injured to sleep, and maybe save on numbing herbs. Maybe, just maybe, I could deal with a little less screaming. So, it was mine. No one had fought me for it.
"There you are." Chulainn's voice startled me, and I whirled to see him walking down the hallway. "I went to the infirmary, and you weren't there," he half-teased. "I thought you lived there."
"No, I do technically have rooms outside the infirmary." I had them 'assigned' at each castle we stayed at. I just rarely used them, because I had to spend so much time in the infirmary. "Lachesis took over watching Finn, and there's no one else that needs me. No mending to be done at this hour, and I have no more room for medicine. It's a strange feeling, really."
"I'm sure Lord Sigurd's group will give you enough heartache later." He shrugged. "Where is your room?"
"It's… this way, I think." I pointed down the hall and, hesitantly, began walking towards it. "It's not far from the infirmary. People still need to be able to find me easily."
"Of course." He fell in step beside me, escorting me to my rooms without the slightest bit of hesitations. I almost wished there was, if only so that I knew I wasn't the only one feeling so… odd. "I can't believe how well it worked."
"I know. It's quite startling."
"Princess Ayra was singing your praises. How you saved it?"
"I just snagged the Sleep Staff. I'm sure Deirdre could do it before long." An odd feeling pooled in my stomach, almost like I'd somehow swallowed a rock and it sat there. It wasn't a nice feeling, and I couldn't think of why I felt that way. I could only see that the feeling came at the mention of he and Lady Ayra spending time together, which… really wasn't my business. "Azel looked almost put out that he didn't get to do anything."
"It was an odd feeling, just being able to waltz right in. King Jamke and I talked about how we expected traps. But, there aren't any." He smiled slightly at my curious look. "We checked."
"Of course you did." I giggled, unable to help it. "Ah, here. This is my room." I knew it because Deirdre always tied a little silver ribbon on the doorknob, to help people find it, including me. "I suppose I shall actually get some rest, for once." I turned to smile at him, reaching up to brush my hair behind my ear. I really did need to pin my hair better. "So, thank you for-"
"...Your hand." He took it gently, turning it so that he could better see the bandage Deirdre had wrapped around it. "I didn't notice you were injured." He sounded… sad about that. At least, that's what I thought it was, sadness and frustration, all at himself. "How did that happen?"
"It's minor." I made my smile reassuring. "It's a feedback thing, from using Sleep on so many people at once." Deirdre had confirmed that Silence actually did the same, and that she was so used to it that she didn't even think about it anymore. "Aideen checked it for me. It'll heal up in no time, even without a staff."
"I see…" His fingers lightly touched the bandage. "May I?"
"...You may." I held still as he unwrapped the bandage slowly, to look at the scabbing on my palm. It was a bit awkward, since I used my hands so much, but it would heal nicely. I already knew that. So, instead, my mind decided to focus on how gently he held my hands. His hands could grip a sword with ease, kill a person like breathing, but he was so careful, and not only with me. His hands were gentle as they ruffled Shanan's hair too, after a lesson.
He was such a gentle person, at his heart. It was almost heartbreaking he'd been thrown into such a hard life.
He studied my injury a bit before wrapping the bandage around my hand again. Then, to my surprised squeak, he actually kissed the palm of my hand, right on the bandage. I felt my face heat up with a blush, and it only darkened when I felt him smirk against my hand. "An old children's tale," he whispered softly, still holding my hand close. My face just went redder and redder. "Kiss the injury to make it better."
"That's a placebo effect," I retorted, stumbling a little over the words. I felt I had no control of my tongue, or really anything. "Nothing more."
"Maybe." He released my hand slowly, still smiling slightly. It grew when I tucked my hand against my chest protectively. "But does it feel better?"
"...You are a very mean person, aren't you?" I felt far more embarrassed and awkward than pained at the moment. "Nice, but mean."
"You have fun reactions." He actually grinned, and it was his boyish little grin. I adored seeing it, even if he was being horrible right now. "I'm off to patrol."
"Come to my room afterwards for a check-up." I glowered at him when his grin faded. "I mean it. I will hunt you down if you don't show."
"...All right." He smiled again, this time looking a little incredulous. But happy. He looked genuinely happy. "I will. Until then."
"Until then." I watched him walk off, resisting the urge to chase after him. I had no reason to, after all, and I just felt horribly awkward. Awkward, awkward, awkward. If only I had another word for the feeling, but that was all I knew.
That was it. I was writing Arvis about this. Maybe he could help me figure it out!
Records on Lex:
Axe knight, Neir Minor, 18 years old
Youngest son of Duke Langbalt, a kind and hotheaded young man, who is known as the rebel son of Dozel. Childhood friend of Azel, and Tailtiu.
His Holy Mark is on his upper right arm
Hits hard, and often gets the jump on enemies even when they ambush him. His fighting prowess has improved considerably thanks to the Brave Axe that he apparently got from a fairy.
Author's Notes: So, this scene is inspired by a similar scene from the Oosawa manga, though in the manga, Deirdre learns she's pregnant a lot earlier. There's technically another castle, and three more units to recruit, before this one, but since those ones are farther away, they're actually off-screen, since Alicia's not with them.
As a cleric, Alicia has a B in staves, the same rank as the Silence and Sleep staves. That's why she can use both. (FE4 didn't have weapon ranks that gradually increased with use; it was a flat rank dependant on class and holy blood.)
Next Chapter - Interlude, Mackily
