Green Paladin: I don't own Fire Emblem. Oh poop.

I awoke to find myself in a room, in what looked like a small hut. 'But where am I? Plain white curtains, round circular windows. The odd weapon or two fixed to the walls. All the furniture looks very rough. Probably made by whoever owns this place. There isn't much of it, though. Everything looks like it could be packed up and taken away. Possibly a nomadic people. Hold on…' Glancing down, I saw a rug with a tribal pattern, with reds and white lines. 'That pattern's familiar… It's Sacaen! That's it, I'm in Sacae! I must have been rescued!'

Hearing a sound from outside the door, I saw someone enter, and I immediately focused my attention on who I assumed to be my savior. I was surprised to discover a young woman with long flowing green hair, mostly tied back in a ponytail that curled back down to her waist. She wore the blue robes of a Sacaen plainswoman, with two leather belts and a split down each side from her hips to the bottom of the robe at her ankles. 'Hmm. Obviously designed for mobility in combat. Looks damn good, too. Maybe for distracting opponents?' She possessed a warm, friendly face, and I was drawn to her vivid viridian eyes.

I tried to get up but had to sit down again, as I could feel my wounds bite at me, still not fully healed. The girl faced me and said with voice I could easily become accustomed to during my inevitable stay, "Are you awake?" I nodded, and she continued. "I found you unconscious on the plains. I am Lyn, of the Lorca Tribe. You're safe now. Who are you? Can you remember your name?"

I sat up slowly, and replied through the stinging, "My name's… Andur." I hissed as a huge sharp pain shot through me, finally convincing me that sitting up was inadvisable at this time. I collapsed back to a horizontal position, and was relieved to hear that I had been saved from death, as this was not the first time, and in my profession probably not the last.

"Your name is Andur? What an odd sounding name…" I was about to ask why but she interrupted my train of thought. "But pay me no mind. It is a good name," She said kindly. "I see by your attire that you are a traveller."

"Well, I seem not be in them at this time," I commented, looking down at my current clothing. "A robe?" It was blue like hers, but it had cream lines across the seams.

"Yes, it's a Lorca robe. I had to dress you in it, as when I found you your clothes were covered with blood and dirt. So I had to change your clothes before I could help you. Sorry."

"It's all right, I understand. I don't mind."

"You must understand that you can't keep the robe. This is only until your clothes are clean again." She sounded rather insistent. 'I wonder why…'

"I can't take what isn't mine. I'll gladly return it when you want me to."

She seemed satisfied at my reply, and proceeded to ask me more questions. "What brings you to the Sacae plains? Would you share your story with me?" As I was about to answer, I heard a distant shouting. Lyn seemed to have noticed as well. "What was that noise? I'll go see what's happening. Andur, wait here for me."

She went outside and returned shortly, running inside, looking frantically for something. "Oh no! Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern mountains!" My breathing halted, and I dreaded to think what they would do to this kind girl after they found out she helped me, assuming they were the same people that attacked me. "They must be planning on raiding the local villages. I… I have to stop them!" she cried. She looked outside, and then found what she was looking for, a sword underneath the windowsill. She started tying the scabbard to the larger of her two belts and it hung down across her right leg. "If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe in here, Andur!"

I could hear the trembling fear in her voice. I owe her. "No. You can't go alone." I rose from my bed, gathering my supplies, ignoring my wounds. "I'm coming with you."

She looked surprised, stopping momentarily, and asked, "What? You want to help? Well, can you use a weapon?"

Having finished with my pack, I slipped on my worn green cloak, and fastened the pack on my side securely. "I am trained with a sword, but in all honesty I am much better at battle tactics."

"Ah, I see… so you're a strategist by trade? An odd profession but… Very well. We'll go together!" I stepped outside with her into the glaring daylight, and saw, thankfully, it wasn't my pursuers. But I noticed it was an armed group across the rolling grassland. Lyn ran ahead as I thought, 'Oh dear. This may be more than I can handle.'

I strode forth, trying my hardest not show fear. In the distance Lyn turned to me and shouted, "Over here!" I ran to her, and she said, "If you want to help Andur, I could use your advice." She looked over her shoulder and I looked also, seeing a man with disproportionately large muscles and one other, less absurdly built man. I was sure that I could guide her to defeat them, as long as she had enough skill. "I'll protect you, so stay close to me." She tore off towards them, and I followed in her step. "I need to be closer to the enemy," she muttered. She stopped after a while, and whispered almost inaudibly, "Yes, this should be close enough." I was barely able to hear her, and I wondered how long she'd been alone, for her to start talking to herself. The huge man seemed to spot her, and sent his lackey towards us.

"Uh-oh! That bandit's spotted me! Let's close in and attack!" I leapt with a roar towards the bandit, drawing my sword in a sweeping motion. I barely missed the brute, and cursed inwardly, as I was now open to attack. Lyn, who was still behind me charged the bandit, and he raised his axe. As Lyn closed in he swung, and the axe dug into her left arm. She cried out in pain as it wedged in, and the scream spurred me to act. Jumping back into the fray I brutally stabbed the meathead through his side, and in response he dropped his weapon to clamp his hand over the wound.

As the axe fell, it ripped out of Lyn's left arm and blood issued forth, and she leapt back, causing great harm to herself; she looked as though she was steadfastly refusing to scream. My sight drew back to the man who was about to punch my teeth in. Quickly leaning back, the fist missed my face, but his other fist hit home in the groin. Gasping in sudden shock I doubled over onto the ground, and couldn't get up no matter how hard I willed my body to do so. I felt a hand grasp and tighten on my throat, and my lungs fought for air. I couldn't struggle against it, still too weak.

Though my diminishing sight I saw Lyn lunging into range with her sword, her other arm hanging limply. She slashed, and I saw the blade tearing open his leg. Blood fountained onto the grass, and the bandit screamed and fell, dropping my almost unconscious body. Lyn swung again, sending bandit's head flying, and I rolled away to dodge the bouncing cranium.

I remembered Lyn's wound and began fumbling in my pack for my medical supplies, desperately attempting to return to battle readiness. Grasping my shoulder with her good hand, Lyn panted with exhaustion, "Victory!" She looked to her left arm and looked back to me. "… But I've been injured. I have need of a vulnerary." She looked at Batta and his hut. "There's another bandit over by the ger in the west."

"Ger?" I asked, than mentally slapped myself for my idiocy.

Lyn said as though it was shocking, "You don't know what a ger is? It's a type of round hut. Many nomads live in huts like these." She tried to move her arm, and hissed as the pain took hold. "Hmm… I would do well to use this time to administer a little first aid. I'm carrying a couple of Vulneraries in my satchel. They should heal me up. Would you get one for me?" Wasting no time, I carefully opened it being careful not to cause extra pain for her as I searched. Retrieving one of the bottles, I emptied a portion of the salve onto her wound, and slowly, carefully rubbed it in. She sighed with relief, closing her eyes. The wound quickly vanished, the flesh knitting itself closed.

Opening her eyes after it completed it's task she spoke again, "Thank you Andur! Now, lets go get that brigand over by the ger!"

Sensing this was time for my advice, I began my job. "That guy over there seems a bit too large for his own good. Dodge his attacks, he'll get tired quickly." Lyn nodded, and we charged the last one. As we drew neared, the colossus cried out, "Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?"

I ran faster, but Lyn got to him first. She struck, slashing a tear in his chest. Batta swung his axe viciously, screaming a battle cry. Lyn barely deflected it. She strafed to the side, and muttered inaudibly, "Whew, he's tough… It all comes down to this next blow!" She shouted at me, "Andur, if I fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!"

I couldn't stay back any longer. 'Batta wouldn't kill her. I've heard of the bandits of this region. He'd…' I ran faster as Batta's back was turned, and just as I reached him I thrust my sword through his back, and saw it emerge out the other side. Lyn's face was splattered with gore that spurted from Batta's wound, and she followed my attack with a stab though the chest. We drew out our swords after making sure he was mortally wounded, and Batta collapsed. As the blood tricked out from beneath him, he weakly spluttered, "What? How… How did you…" I silenced him forever by forcing my sword through his skull.

The next morning came quickly, and I felt much better, as my spare Vulnerary had healed my arrow wounds. I opened my eyes to see Lyn walking by the door. 'I could get used to this every morning, but… no. I can't stay. I can't drag her into my life.' Next to the bed I saw the robe had been taken away, and replaced with my old clothes.

"Good morning Andur! Are you awake yet? That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you." She left the room, and returned with a tray of breakfast. I gazed upon the wonders that were there, and restrained myself from devouring it all at once. "I hope you like it." The selection of food was astounding. Sausages, Tomatoes, Bread, Eggs… 'Oh… I guess I should share it…'

"Would you mind having some?" I asked politely. "Sorry, but it's too much for just me." She smiled more than I'd seen her do so before, and returned with another plate. Scooping some of the food off mine onto hers, she dug in. I simply sat there, enjoying the fine cuisine before me, and then I saw that she'd paused for a moment.

"Say Andur… I want to talk to you about something."

"What?" I listened intently, with a feeling that this may be very important.

"You have some experience in the ways of war, I can see. Would you allow me to travel with you?"

'She doesn't look old enough to ask this.' "Could you get permission from your parents?"

She replied, "What? You want me to get permission from my parents?" She looked away for a moment, and I couldn't see her face. "My mother and my father... died six months ago. My people --- the Lorca--- they don't... I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and... They killed so many people. The tribe was scattered. My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people. I am so young, and my tribe is old-fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman. No one would follow me."

She began to cry, and a feeling of sorrow in my heart raised its torturous head. I couldn't stand it. I rose up, and put my arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry," I said with utter sincerity. 'I hope that it wasn't… Oh no… It can't be…' I held back tears of my own as I realised the truth.

"I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long... No. No more. I will shed no more tears." She wiped the streaks of water from her face, and she walked to the window. She gazed out of it onto the plains and said, "Thank you. I'm better now."

She turned back to me, and said rather forcefully, "Andur, I want…" She stopped, and then started again, but in a calmer tone. "I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death! Yesterday's battle taught me something. I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Andur, tell me you'll train me, that you'll let me travel with you!"

I nodded quickly. I was very pleased with this turn of events. "Of course! I still owe you my life, Lyn." I thought inwardly, 'Maybe this will help me just as much as it will help you.'

A wide grin appeared on Lyn's face and she said excitedly, "You will? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, thank you!" My happiness grew at seeing her smile, but I was unsure why. "We'll be better off working together, I know it. You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior! We can do it! Right?"

"Sure! I'll get my things ready and let's go!" I instantly rushed to my pack and started to throw in my supplies.

I didn't rest easy that night. I tossed and turned, and imagined alternate scenarios of that last battle. With mine and… Lyn's deaths… I saw her sliced apart again, and I awoke with a start. I was in the tent, right where I should've been. 'Relax, it was a dream, it wasn't real…' I thought to myself. I looked to see if Lyn was all right. I was glad to see was sleeping soundly in her bedroll across the tent. Deciding not to wake her, I got up and walked outside. The moon was full, and was suddenly brought back to that night, with the life draining out of me as I saw this very sight. 'How long I had been unconscious before I awoke? How long was I lying there before I was found?' I wondered. Hearing a footstep behind me, wary of any more surprises I quickly turned and drew my sword. I saw Lyn standing a little shocked, as my blade's tip pointed to her neck. I quickly sheathed my sword and apologised quietly, "Sorry. I didn't expect you to be up."

She looked at me with a puzzled expression and asked, "What were you expecting?"

"I'm not sure. Wild animals, more bandits… I don't know."

She questioned somewhat playfully, "Is this what travel does to people?"

I laughed and replied in my least serious voice, "Oh yes, absolutely."

"But why are you out here anyway?"

My grin vanished, and I sat down on the grassy hillside, staring directly at the moonlight. After a few moments I looked down and slowly said, "I couldn't sleep."

Lyn showed a flash of concern. "Why?"

"I was troubled."

"Why?"

I looked her in the eye and said, "Those bandits."

"What, those ones two days ago?"

"Yes." I looked her in the eye and said gravely, "They wouldn't have hesitated to kill me, but they'd have done worse to you."

"What? Why-"

"Its obvious. You're a woman."

"Then, wha..." Then it dawned on her. "Oh."

"I couldn't let that happen. To anyone. Least of all the one who saved my life." I stood up; I looked again into the soothing globe above. "A few nights ago I thought this would be my last sight, you know. The moon."

She stood up and gazed at it as well. "It isn't a bad sight for your last."

"I suppose. But I'm glad it wasn't." I turned to look straight at her. "I came out here to look at it's light. I find it… relaxing. It gives me a chance to sort my mind out." I took a deep breath. "Thank you again." I paused for a moment. "I feel better now, having talked about it. I'll go back to the tent. Goodnight Lyn." As I clambered back into my bedroll, I hoped she wouldn't ever find out what I was else I was thinking about on the hillside.

Green Paladin: Oooh! What's up with Andur? You'll just have to wait!

Green Blackguard: But I wanna tell them now!

Green Paladin: You do that, and no Jaffa Cakes for a week!

Green Blackguard: Aw, nuts. You know I can't resist the delicious orangey bits… (sulks)

Green Paladin: Please review!