Chapter 1 A diplomatic mission
''The king summons you''
Morgan looked up from her tome. The voice belonged to her sister Severa, who stood cross armed at the door with an annoyed look. It was apparent that she had stood there for some time, Morgan had simply not noticed her coming in her room. Her inattention was not unusual, most of the time Morgan was too absorbed with her tomes to notice the world around her. But what was unusual was her father's sudden summons.
''Did he say why?''
Severa's expression changed to a scowl.
''No. The message just said that I'm to ensure that you came to the throne-room immediately''
Morgan sighed and closed her tome. She was just about to come to an interesting subject, but she knew better then to refuse the summons of one's liege father.
''Very well. Come with me''
Severa moved aside and allowed her sister to pass her, before following her out of the room. As soon as they came out to the hallway, Severa began to ask.
''Do you have any idea why our dear father would call for you?''
''None, but if I must guess it would probably be about the recent loss of the third army''
The third Plegian army. Commanded by one of her elder brothers -Crown Prince Kano. Their mission was to assault the Ylissean by the sea, while the main army kept the Ylisseans busy. However, a storm had ravaged most of the fleet, and the survivors was attacked as soon as they landed on the coast of Ylisse. Somehow the enemy has gotten word of their plans and was waiting for them at the coast. Turning the Plegians own plan against them. The Ylisseans had left a small rear-guard to keep the main Plegian army occupied before quickly turning around and attacked its flank. What was supposed to be a favourably end of a decades long conflict had turned into a disaster for the Plegian nation. Worse still, it was said that they also lost a precious family heirloom when Crown Prince Kano was killed: The black gem Sable.
''But it's strange why father would discuss such matters with me''
Severa snorted at her last comment.
''Why would that be strange? You're one of his favourites. Who else receive private tutoring from him other then our other idiot firstborn-brothers? Who else got a room in the royal wing of the castle? Maybe he intends to make you the next general after Kano''
Morgan smiled a bit from her sister's last comment. The young mage did not care for the loss of one of her brothers. She was never close to most of her half-siblings. Morgan cast a quick glance at Severa. The red head was one of the few exceptions of course. While they did not share the same mother, they did share the fact that they both got ostracized by their Plegian-born siblings.
Plegian…It was said that both her and Severa's mother was of Ylissean descent, and it showed: Morgan with her dark azure blue hair and Severa with her red hair. Both hair colours were practically non-existent in Plegia. How or why their father took two Ylissean women as concubines Morgan did not know. All she knew was that her mother was of noble descent, while Severa's was just a commoner. This placed Morgan higher in the pecking order despite Severa being older.
Not that it mattered anyway. Both of their mothers did not have any status or wealth in plegian high society that they knew of. None of them could even remember their mothers. They would never inherit anything except what they made for themselves. The best thing she could hope for was becoming some high functionary in the government, or in Severa's case: A royal guard. But a general? That would certainly be a step up.
The girls kept talking on various subjects before going quiet as they reached the throne room. The door to the throne was made of oak and decorated with complicated patterns of gold. It was guarded by two white haired royal guards, both clad in elaborate plated armour with motives of a six-eyed dragon of some kind. They were armed with ceremonial polearms as well as a blade and a dagger of exquisite design. It was said that members of the royal guard where distant blood-relatives to the Plegian royal line or common-born bastards. Being far removed from the lines of succession, they did not pose any threat for the main branch of the royal line and could relied on to have a certain interest in protecting the fortune of their family.
The guards where as statues, given barely any signs of life before Morgan and Severa approached the door. Their heads turned towards them in an unnerving simultaneous movement.
''Halt! Only the summoned may pass''
With it being clear whom they referred to; Morgan gave a quick almost apologetic nod to her half-sibling before moving on without her. One guard kept his eye on Severa, while the other moved to open the door for Morgan.
Unlike other nations, the throne room of the Plegian king was a lifeless and cold place. There was no sound of music, or presence of anyone other than the king himself. It was like walking into a graveyard at night. Two pillar columns led any visitors directly to the throne itself. They were lit by torches that illuminated the way with a purple sorcerous light. The throne was placed on a high platform at the end of the room. It was lit by two braziers at the bottom which illuminated the area just enough to see the king as he sat atop of his throne.
Morgan could feel an uncomfortable chill down her neck as she approached the throne. As she reached the steps of the platform, she lowered her head and bent her knee before announcing her presence.
''My king. How may I serve you?''
The Plegian King. Robin of the Grimleal royal bloodline allowed a few seconds to pass before answering his daughter.
''You're to serve as one of my diplomats for an oncoming peace talk with a delegation from Ylisse''
The king declared with a nonchalant voice. There was no exchange of pleasantries, nor acknowledgment of her presence. The king had stated his demands and his subjects had only to obey. As if talking to himself, the king continued to elaborate.
''The recent loss has been a major setback. While we still have enough men to defend our own borders. We now lack the means to make any substantial attack. What we need now is time…Time to rebuild our forces, time to correct this mistake''
Morgan lifted her head and looked up at her father. It was as she had guessed, but something seemed off. For such a major ''setback'' her father seems rather calm and collected. Nothing in his voice indicated any anger or grief over the loss of a good portion of the Plegian army and one of his sons. It seemed as if he considered the entire situation a mere inconvenience. Questions began to bubble up in the young mage's head: How where their supply lines? How did her father intent to rebuild the army? What was the reason for his collective demeanour?
However, she settled with just one for now:
''My king, what makes you certain that the Yliesseans would even consider talks of peace?''
The king moved his head as if perplexed by her question, before he gave a small chuckle. He then rose from his throne and began to descend the stairs. As the light illuminated more his features, one could get a clearer picture of his appearance. Despite being in his late fifties, the Plegian king looked like a man in his twenties, yet his eyes revealed a being who had a lifetime of experience. He wore Plegian clothes of elegant design and quality as expected of a man of his station, and a golden diamond imbued circlet signifying his place in the hierarchy.
As the king stood before Morgan, he made a gesture that she may rise, and spoke with a voice that almost seemed affectionate.
''Rise my child, and I'll tell you why I know that the Ylisseans Exalt will accept my terms''
Morgan rose and looked her father in the eye. She was a bit disturbed by this sudden change of demeanour.
''Years ago, when this conflict started, I won a great battle that saw the capture of the (then) heir of Ylisse. She was a defiant little thing, but I managed to subdue her soon enough. At first, I tried to ransom her for a few concessions. I threatened with defilement and torture of my prisoner if my demands where not meet, yet the Exalt refused''
Her father paused and smiled, as if he was especially fond of the next part of the story.
''So, I carried out my threat. I forced myself upon the Exalt's daughter repeatedly with the intent of making her with child. She tried to fight me off at every turn, she should have been grateful that I didn't just hang her and be done with it. I sent proof of the deed to her father in order to provoke a reaction. The Exalt flew in a rage and in his rage sent an ill prepared rescue team of his best soldiers led by his guard-captain''
Morgan began to feel uncomfortable. This was not something she wanted to hear about, but she had little choice in this matter.
''I anticipated this and prepared an ambush. I killed them all, except the guard-captain. She was pretty and strong, so I dragged her to my bed as well. A few days later I had filled her with my child. You know this child well; she is after all your little red-haired bodyguard''
Her father began to laugh at this last statement. It was a cruel and short laugh of someone who enjoyed the manipulation and torment of others. However as soon as he stopped laughing and continued his tale.
''Yet my seed wouldn't take hold in the Ylissean princess. It is said that the royal line of Ylisse enjoy the protection of Naga herself''
His features contorted to something akin to disgust at the mention of their rival nations deity.
''To remedy this; I left the war-effort in the hands of my generals and took the girl back to our capital: The heart of Grimas power. There at the temple of the dragon of destruction, I raped her again. And this time my efforts was rewarded''
Her father then looked at her with a strange expression before without warning grabbed her head with both of his hands and moved their heads close to each other. Morgan nearly flinched away at this sudden move, but quickly forced herself to stand still. Her father had never held her or given her any physical contact as far as she could remember. The way he looked at her; It was as a man who admired his own reflection.
''Did you ever wonder why you posses a place in my court despite not being one of my first-borns? Why I even bother with tutoring you in matters of state and strategy? It's because you're a potential heir to the throne Ylisse. And if nothing else, you're living proof of one of my greatest victories over those worms. You have my eyes, but your other facial features are your mother's through and through. Ah yes if the Exalt ever laid eyes on you, he would know you to be kin and reminder of his failure''
The king then let his grip on his daughter go. He turned around and proceeded to go back to his throne. Morgan's felt as if her world has been moved on its head. She felt sick and angry, whatever it was because of the revelation of her heritage, or by her father's deeds she could not be certain. She quickly composed herself however – All this could wait to be processed later. At this point her father had returned sitting on his throne with his head resting on one hand.
''And now to my original point. The Ylissean Exalt will accept this peace as I'll be offering his daughter back, unlike before I'll only ask for peace, and this he can hardly refuse even without this boon. My spies tell me that the people of Ylisse have been driven to the brink of exhaustion, their state coffers are nearly empty. They cannot stomach another decade of war''
Something still didn't make sense for Morgan. The offer was quite generous and Plegia would receive nothing but a mutual peace in return.
''My king, how about Sable? Our heirloom that was lost with the failure of Prince Kano?''
At this the king laughed.
''Let them keep that pretty stone! It's nothing without the others and the time will come when we'll take it back''
Morgan dared to ask one last question.
''But your majesty, why me? Won't my presence enrage the delegation, let alone the Exalt? Given the circumstances of my birth?''
The king seemed unconcerned.
''If so then it would still be to my advantage; The Ylisseans will then be fighting a war in our own home soil, which we're the masters. And an enraged Exalt is more prone to make mistakes at the battlefield, won't you agree?''
Her liege father didn't wait for a response before continuing.
''I repeat; You'll serve as one of my representatives in these peace talks. Your participation is not necessary, only your presence. Your brother Validar will see to the negotiations. Do this and I'll grant you the authority to rebuild our army when you return. You'll soon come of age. One day when we have regained our strength, you'll lead this army, and tear down that pathetic excuse of a kingdom, and rule in my name. Now go''
With the audience over. Morgan turned around and proceeded to walk out of the throne room. Her mind conflicted with the revelation of her origin and excitement of the prospect of finally being granted real power and authority. As she disappeared from his view. The king smiled, knowing that he had just set events into motion that would topple kingdoms and set the awakening of an ancient power that has been dormant for far too long.
Thank you for reading my story. This is my first attempt to write something, so I hope that you found it enjoyable for now.
I don't own anything related to the fire emblem series, and I'm mostly writing this for my own enjoyment as well as effort to improve my English.
I would be grateful for any feedback on how I could improve my writing.