Thanks Lemurian-Girl for correcting me.

Hey! Thanks for the reviews people! It was really helpful. I needed that encouragement. Now I'm continuing and I'm going to try to make it longer this time. I already have the ending in mind. I can't wait. Hope you like it!

By the way, I know Eirika's original name is Eirik, but I played around with it since Eirik sounded too much like a boy name.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem at all ok? So do not sue me!

The One That Was Not Expected

Seven years have passed since the first chapter.

It was the afternoon and the sun was as bright as ever. The sky was clear blue and no clouds were in sight. A perfect day for a very special event. Everyone in the city was excited and busy, hurrying to finish his or her task before night fell. People were running this way and that way. Between the hustle, the people managed to squeeze in a bit of chatter and gossip.

"I've heard that those royal twins are a marvelous sight. I simply cannot wait to meet them!" one lady exclaimed to a person nearby.

"Yes, and what an honor it will bestow on Renais. There will be TWO male heirs to the throne," the person replied to the lady.

"Two males? I heard that it was a male and a female twin," the lady insisted.

"No, every astronomer in the city predicted it would be two males. They cannot be wrong," replied the person.

Amidst all this afternoon hurry and talk, there sat a little boy at the age of seven on the swings in the royal garden. He was wearing a simple blue robe that reached his feet. His short fire red hair was blown into a mess by the wind. His eyes sparkled as one's eyes that were full of youth, untouched by the sufferings of this world. Mommy told me the king now has a boy and a girl born to him. I wonder if they will want to play with me. I hope they will want to be my friend.

Mariah walked up behind her son and smiled. He has grown a lot. Even without a fatherly influence. The king is very kind to us. I still remember. That day will always be an unforgettable memory.

A month after Seth's birth

It was like any other day. Mariah was taking a stroll around the castle while holding Seth in her arms. Like any mother that has ever lived, she loved him more than anything and would give her life for him. Unexpectedly, a guard came running up behind her, calling her name.

"Lady Mariah! The king would like to see you!" shouted the guard.

Curiously, Mariah followed the guard. Not knowing what to expect, Mariah wondered at why the king would want to see me. Maybe he has news of my husband. Mariah hoped he would come back soon. Sure, they have corresponded by writing, but that could never replace seeing him face to face. Finally, they had reached the Great Hall.

"The king is waiting for you inside my lady," the guard said courteously.

"Thank you," replied Mariah with equally as much courtesy

Mariah walked into the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a long hallway with soldiers on both sides. The right side of the hall had many windows looking out towards the people of Renais. The carpet was a deep, royal red. At the end of the hall stood a magnificent throne, which the king sat on, waiting patiently for her.

Mariah curtsied and said, "My king, you have summoned me?"

The king let out a great sigh and replied, "Yes Mariah, I have something to tell you. As you know, your husband, Saloman, is away training the new troops. However, an accident has happened. Saloman and his troops were training under a mountain and the mountain…collapsed. I am sorry, but there were no survivors."

Mariah gasped she did not know what to say. She was speechless. Her beloved husband…dead? No, it cannot be. He must have escaped somehow. Yes…he must have. I will not believe he's…dead.

"I know this must be hard for you to take. I understand what you are feeling. Saloman was my dearest and oldest friend. I thought of him as my brother," King Fado said.

Mariah kept searching for her voice, but only one word would come out, "No…".

King Fado stood up from his throne and slowly walked over to Mariah and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Mariah, you have to believe me," he said "do you want some time alone? We can talk more about the future after this has sunken in."

Mariah merely nodded and curtsied before she left the room.

"Saloman…" Mariah whispered to no one in particular.

It has been seven years, and that day still seems like it was yesterday. The king, how can I ever repay his kindness? He allowed Seth and I to remain in the castle and we received the utmost attention. All I am worried about is Seth. Right now, he is not old enough to fully understand what happened to his dad. He has never even met him. I guess I will have to tell him the truth one day when he is old enough.

Seth looked behind him and saw his mother.

"Mommy!" he cried as he jumped off the swings and ran towards his mom with arms open wide.

"Hello, sweetheart," Mariah replied to her son and kissed him softly on the forehead. "You ready for tonight?"

"Yep! I want to see the kids. I'm already wearing my best clothes, see?" Seth said excitedly.

Mariah smiled to herself and said, "Of course, you are looking very handsome today. I just have to wrap the presents."

"Oh! Let me help you wrap them mommy. You can rest."

"Why thank you Seth. You are such a good boy," Mariah said as she tightly hugged Seth. As soon as she put him back on his feet, Seth rushed back to their bedchamber and began wrapping the presents for the newborn babies. By the time Mariah got back, he was finished.

"Done! I am the fastest person in the world!" exclaimed Seth.

"Of course you are my darling. Now, what do you say we go visit the babies before everyone else?"

"Yay!"

As Mariah held Seth's hand as they walked towards the Great Hall, she smiled. Saloman, I miss you so dearly. You should be proud of your son. He's growing up just like you. A tear formed in her eye and rolled down her cheek. Quickly, Mariah wiped it away and looked at Seth, who was doing his best to contain his excitement. Now he will have some other kids to play with, then he will not be so lonely here at the castle. They were now just in front of the large doors leading to the Great Hall and a few minutes early.

The guards outside opened the doors for them and Mariah and Seth walked inside. The decorations were amazing. Blue and violet curtains were draped around the whole room. Many fine tables were placed in the hall with a newly lit candle on each table. King Fado and Queen Sapphire were both wearing the new outfits that they had made just for this occasion. Both the king and the queen looked up towards the new arrivals and smiled warmly.

"Good evening your Honor, good evening your Highness," Mariah said while curtseying to both of them. Seth then repeated after her mother, as he was taught to do.

"Good gracious Mariah, you know there's no need for these formalities when there isn't anyone else around. We're all old friends."

"Fado is right Mariah. You can just call us Fado and Sapphire."

"Thank you, but it would set a bad example to Seth here."

"Right, sorry, well you are welcome to ignore formalities when we are alone. Well, now that you are here, would you like to see our children?"

"I would be honored. Come Seth, let us go look at the babies."

As Seth walked up with his mom, his heart almost burst from excitement. He would finally have people to play with! The king and queen are such nice people. I hope their kids are as nice as them.

Seth looked into the two cradles and gasped. They were beautiful. Even though they were just a month old, something inside Seth told him that they were going to be great. Seth felt like their big brother and thought to himself, I will protect them with my life. I am older than them and I will keep them safe.

Mariah also marveled at the two infants. "So the astronomers were wrong after all?"

"Yes," replied the king. "I still cannot believe it. Every single astronomer of Renais thought it would be two boys, but it turned out to be a boy and a girl. I was going to name them Ephraim and Eirik. Now, their names will be Ephraim and Eirika. Eirika is something alright. The stars said it would be a boy, but they give me a girl. She is one special child. She was a child, that was not expected."

Eirika is special? My mommy always said I was special. Are we both special?

Phew, I am finally done. It turns out telus did disconnect our phone line, but then the connected it a few hours later :). So what do you think about this chapter? Please review!