Madelyn's Choice

By Becki

© Fire Emblem

Characters and ideas copyrighted to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems

Chapter Eight: Dark Foresight

Wallace stood uncomfortably before the Marquess' door. There was many reasons to feel some angst, the best reason being that Lord Hausen was unexpectedly furious that morning. Wallace was summoned just after noon with orders of haste from the lord.

Finally he was admitted inside. The door was closed gently behind him by a frightened servant, leaving Wallace to gape at a messy room. It seemed as though a child throwing a tantrum had been by. Lord Hausen sat like a statue by the tall window, his face like cold stone. Wallace tensed beneath his armor and came forward.

"My lord?" He said, fearful of anything that may happen. The Lord turned and looked at him with cold eyes. He did not let cheerful conversation lead the way, and immediately rose to the point.

"My daughter had left Caelin last night." He said, voice hard. Wallace was taken aback, for this could mean many things. But by this situation, he felt it safe to assume that she had left without permission..

"My lord?" Wallace said, his shock present in his tone.

"Bring her back." He said with no pity or empathy, turning away. "Scouts say horsemen were riding northeast."

"But--"

"I don't care if you have to drag her back. It is an order, Sir Wallace."

"Lord Hassar, your face is so white.." The nomad turned to look at Kasha, the morning sun glaring in his eyes. Madelyn was asleep, as were the horses. The night before was arduous and demanded a fast pace. The two on their flight from Caelin had met with Kasha in Khathalet, ready with supplies. He was greatly surprised to see the Lady, but said nothing of that matter. Madelyn had not said much, but she had begged Hassar to take her away from the home she knew, to escape the ill fate she was to be forced to accept.

And the night was torturous. Hassar was reminded suddenly and unexpectedly that old woman's fortune. That he would meet someone in Caelin's walls, that if he chose the path with this person, not only his future but theirs would be greatly influenced.. and by the way she had presented it, it would be in a negative way.

During the night, his sleep was invaded by nightmares. The dark clouds over the plains, yelling and screaming. Of a stream that flowed crimson through the grass. Was this.. truly the right path?

"It's.. It's nothing, Kasha. We'll.. be leaving soon." Hassar said, unable to tell what plagued him. It must have been the first time he had ever lied, but he was far too concerned to care.

Madelyn was leaning against a tree, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her face was pale and fatigued, lashes drawn over her eyes. Tousled brown strands of hair wove around her face like webs, curling in an unruly fashion due to travel. She was not used to the hard pace and the quick travel.

As Kasha began loading the saddlebags and rousing the two horses, Hassar sat down a good distance away, his back to her. He looked north, his face hard to interpret. The mountains looked so far away. But not quite so inviting. On the other side of the range would be home, where they could be free. Madelyn had said, her greatest desire was such freedom. But would she.. accept it even if it meant death?

Yes, he was certain that if she went, there would be death. The dreams during the night, the old woman's augury. It proved it all. By this time, he doubted that she was not missed. Caelin must have been on its heels, seeking the noblewoman.

Hands found their way around his neck, arms crossing in an embrace. Madelyn leaned on his back, and he hardly moved.

"What plagues you so?" She said softly, her voice hushed with weariness.

"It is.. not too late." Hassar said, his words loose. "You.. should return home.." She was quiet, but she did not withdraw or make sudden actions. He knew she must have been surprised at his statement, but she didn't know what would happen if she did come..

"What makes you say thus?" She was a smart girl. She knew there must have been a reason for why had chosen to say this. Hassar looked towards the pale orange sky, and her arms tightened.

"Your home had always been Caelin." He said as mildly as possible. "The plains would be no place for you."

"My.. heart is set. Even if you were going to Valor, I would be by your side." She spoke, her forehead on his shoulder.

"...." He could find no words.

"You, who dared to speak to me when many were afraid. You who taught me when I knew so little. This is the only wish of a woman who has had everything."

"Even if your family disowns you? When your title is stripped and all friends you once knew abandoned? Even if.." The fortune teller's words still rang clear in his mind. It was unthinkable. How could this have happened? It could have been avoided altogether.

"Do you remember.. when we first met each other..?" She said, altering the subject.

"Hm."

"You said I had been different from others. You knew immediately my pain. Yet I have something that all the wealth and honor in Caelin cannot compare. Every word you spoke to me gave me encouragement and I hadn't day when I was not impatient to meet you. Please.. don't take that from me.."

"Lady Madelyn." Hassar said with sudden solidarity. "You.. don't know what I have seen. If you choose my path, there will be pain."

"Why..." Her voice was twisting with hurt. "Why are you trying to leave me?"

"You do not know of the outside world, what it can do, and how it leaves you so cold. Your love of life and gentle ways, just listening to your words.. It makes me wish that you would not be exposed to the world."

"You.. want to protect me from something?" Madelyn pulled back, looking away.

"Please understand." Hassar said gently. Madelyn paused, and came forward, sitting next to him. Her face was still pale and clammy.

"Each word pains you. You.."

"Lady-"

"No. Don't speak. Just listen. This is what I would gladly do. If we were riding towards death itself, be it so. Whatever you face, I will face. Your pain will be mine, your joys and sorrows I shall share. Don't leave me." She said it with the same fear as a child left alone in the dark.

"Then I will not." He said with no expression. "For I cannot."

They were at the skirts of Araphen by sunset. Madelyn refused to enter the city and said little about the subject. She was exhausted by the travels, and they stopped outside the town's walls to rest. Hassar ordered Kasha to stay with her and be weary of anything that should happen. Kasha had some gold and they were in dire need of supplies.

Hassar entered the gates with some ease, the nightmare still plain in his mind. He realized how much he appreciated her smile, how she was so willing to be with him. The town was far larger than Caelin, the people who walked by hurriedly and the thick crowds that swallowed him. It definitely had been a good idea in leaving his horse behind. He saw some Sacaen faces in the crowd, but with the town being close to the border, it was expected. Only a day before finally reaching Sacae. Madelyn would hold out, she was strong.

At the vender, he quickly purchased vulneries and an elixir. While the shopkeeper went to the backroom, he overheard two men's' conversation.

"Soldiers everywhere. It's a disgrace." The shorter one said, a pipe in his mouth as he leaned over the counter.

"Hm, since this morning they've been swarming the place. It seems they're looking for someone." The other said, looking out a window.

"A criminal? Hate to be in their place." The short one said, mildly interested.

"No, actually. I've been hearing some rumors that Knights of Caelin are scouring the area, soon to be arriving in Araphen. Some disputes with the Lord's family." Hassar tensed.

"The lords and their pride."

"Well, I hear that the runaway's the lady of the household."

"Eh? The lord's wife, I suspect?"

"Nah, she's been dead for years. The Marquess' daughter."

"Must be a beauty, haven't seen this much security since the former Marquess of Araphen passed away." The shorter removed the pipe from his mouth, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Well, it obviously didn't suit well with her father. Half of Caelin has been emptied, searching for her." At this moment the vender brought back the items Hassar had ordered.

"Thousand gold, sir." The man said. Hassar pressed ten gold pieces on the counter, nodding his thanks. Taking the items, he left the shop rather quickly.

And he did begin to notice the alarming number of soldiers. For some reason this also disturbed the Marquess of Araphen. He remembered suddenly upon first meeting Madelyn she was searching for Araphen's Marquess. It must have been more serious than he thought..

Slipping out of the gate, he headed for the grove of trees where Kasha and Madelyn waited.

Kasha welcomed him steadily, grooming his horse. Hassar grimaced.

"Where is Madelyn?" He asked sternly. Kasha looked about and pointed further down the row of trees.

"She went to get some water from the stream." He said, and Hassar frowned.

"From now until we reach Sacae, Kasha, I don't want her to leave your sight." With that order, he turned and went down through the trees to find her.

She was bent down at the stream's edge, her tied high. The light played against the translucent water and the shine of her hair as she heard him approach and turned.

"My lord, you've returned so soon." She said standing up too quickly. He caught her by the shoulders before she fell with dizziness.

"How are you feeling?" He asked gently.

"I'm sorry to be such a burden. I'll be better with some rest.." She closed her eyes holding a flask of water. When she opened her eyes, she saw his troubled yet serious face. "What news do you have?"

"It seems Marquess Caelin is searching for you." His voice was calm.

"That.. was expected." She said sadly, standing up straight without his support.

"He has sent half of Caelin out looking for you, Madelyn." He saw her concerned face and touched her cheek. "We're a day away from our destination. Don not worry yourself. Just get some rest." She stood by and stared distantly towards the general direction of her former home. The sunset caused an orange glow on her dark hair as it was distorted by the wind.

"I must be in some twisted dream, a fantasy." She said slowly. "I never thought.." She bit her lip, bending her head down with her eyes screwed shut. Hassar felt himself in an awkward situation and waited silently.

Madelyn felt herself swell up inside with unneeded emotions. Dilemma and a sense of betrayal flooded her mind. She thought she could be strong, as strong as people thought her to be, but it was killing her. Flexing her fingers tight against her wrist, she hardly realized how cold her skin felt. And he was beside her, sharing her pain, she knew. He cared for her. She knew it. He wanted no pain on her..

She looked up at him, angry at how her vision was so blurred. Wiping her eyes and feeling the stinging effect left by unshed tears, she tried to remain calm.

"How.. could I do this..?" She said, unwittingly out loud. Years had she spent doing duty. The duty that was placed by birth, not choice. The cage of memories and guilt would stay if she continued this path. But she would never be happy standing by Marquess Araphen's side. Remembering as she spoke to her father, how she felt comparative to a prized breeding animal at the fair. Remembering how her step was so light and demeanor so carefree those times before her mother had passed away.

Her eyes threatened to spill with tears. Angrily she forced them at bay, feeling them sting stronger.

Suddenly she felt his arms around her. It was slow, so slow she almost didn't realize it until it happened. He seemed unsure, as if he had never touched a woman before.

This time she felt her well laid defenses shatter.

She placed her arms above his shoulders, and wept. It was hard to cry, but she felt that she had cried all tears that she had. She embraced the fact that she let herself break in front of him, that he was sharing her burden.

How could I have been so foolish? How could I have been so selfish in involving him? The voice within said. As if sensing her negative thoughts, Hassar's arms tightened, as if protecting a treasure.

"If only you could see it now." He said, voice comforting, almost reciting this to her. He whispered it in a reminiscing way. He was telling a tale. "Mother earth and her green splendor pouring her rich soul into the lands. Painting each strand of grass, each animal that would frolic in this sea of green. And Father Sky with his loving arms weaving clear blue thread into the sky and allowing the great eagle to soar among his clouds. Placing the sun in this tapestry to shine over the green, to give life.

"It was the blessed land, the both of them would say, surveying their artistry with great satisfaction. The children there would learn to love, learn to be strong and be good. They would share these stories and legends, they would enjoy each other's songs and presences. They would carry each other, laugh and cry. And the beloved lands would stay green and full of life."

If only you could see it now...

Her voice echoed back to him as he trailed off at the last sentence. He could see his sister in his mind's eye, her long hair trailing behind her as she ran, the younger brother who ran after her, unable to match her speed. Like a gazelle, innocent and naive, she would tell him tales through her gift with words. She would teach him and laugh with him, defend him when he wandered into trouble. She would ride with him as they grew, and sing softly during the night. She would wrap tender arms around him as he cried, and whispered to him. He was beside her while she was reclaimed by the earth, pale and sick. He was listening when she told him the tale of the creation of the plains. The tale of life and pictures, that she whispered as her eyes glistened with fore coming death. He was there to weep for her, and she was still there to comfort with her fading words.

He was no storyteller, not like his sister had been. Each word brought back another memory, another pang of guilt. And yet, he felt Madelyn's posture lighten as she listened and choked back her tears. The night's darkness shrouded them, the moon's light guided and shone.

The next morning when Kasha found them, Hassar was sleeping against a tree near the stream with Madelyn asleep in his arms.

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Becki