Author's Corner:

First time I heard someone call Limstella the "Ultimate morph." (Someone watches Gundam Seed too much lol.) And it was the first time I heard the term Hector's Hecklers… I could've sworn they called it Hector's Horde. Then again both sound sort of weird…

For the record (and for those who didn't read my profile) this will serve as a prequel to FE6 (which FE7 already was). FE7 is numbered after FE6 simply because FE7 was produced after FE6 came out. Certain elements in the games were tweaked and balanced, such as the number of weapons you can master and the number of supports you could have in one map. In FE6 you could master (attain the S-rank) in multiple weapons whereas this was impossible in FE7. In FE6, you could go through all ABC supports between 2 characters on one map if you let them stand close enough. (This is true, I had Roy and Lilina go through all 3 supports in the Durandal sidequest.) Another thing was that enemy reinforcements appeared at the end of your turn in FE6, so they would immediately attack on the ensuing enemy turn. (Tweaked in FE7 so we wouldn't get ambushed and lose a character all the time, lol.)

The Song of Roland was a medieval epic that sung of the last valiant stand of Roland (duh), a favored knight (or nephew, I don't recall now) of the mighty Charlemagne. Since Lycia's founder is also Roland, I chose to 'borrow' this title for the chapter. I do not own this title and I'll add more details about this epic at the end of the chapter.

Gasp, is this true? Can I possibly have updated ahead of my deadline?

Hammer of Terrascars – Chapter 23

Song of Roland

Inside the temple,

Cecilia and company ventured into the darkness, with Legault and Matthew leading with torches held high. They had not met a soul ever since dispatching Limstella before the ruins leading to Dragon's Gate. The caverns leading to the Dragon's Gate was deserted, without a single morph challenging the small party. Jaffar and Legault were able to locate every nook and canny that could've served as possible ambush locations. Having served here as a key lieutenant, Legault found it preposterous that security was so lax.

"It's simply too quiet," Legault muttered.

Cecilia agreed, "There should be at least some resistance. Surely Nergal didn't throw all his morphs at Mark's command!"

That didn't sit well with her comrades. "Let's hope now," Matthew replied, "Even Mark would have his hands full outnumbered ten to one."

"And the old man is late," Hector pointed out, "He currently holds the weapons we intend to use against Nergal. I sincerely doubt the weapons we carry presently can seriously harm Nergal."

"This is another test," Eliwood suddenly said, "Whether we can press on towards our goal without wavering."

Lyn frowned, "It's quite a troubling test, since we are literally abandoning our friends to the wolves in this manner."

Cecilia sighed, "As much as it vexes me, we cannot return to their aid. Our strength would be powerless against the number of morphs that stand between our friends and us."

"To put it bluntly," Guy said from his position next to Matthew, "It'd be suicide."

Cecilia nodded wearily, "So it remains for us to push on and slay Nergal, in hopes that with his death, the morphs would either die or pose no threat to our allies." Everyone heard the unspoken words: that's assuming they survive that long.

"Then we had better hurry," Eliwood said grimly.

"Stop," Jaffar said suddenly, putting a hand on Nino's shoulders.

Everyone looked at the Angel of Death, who ignored their looks of confusion.

"Show yourself," said the emotionless assassin.

Eight figures emerged from the shadowy doorways leading to the Dragon's Gate. Nino and Legault did not react to their pale skin, but both started when they recognized who the morphs were made in memory of.

"Father…" Nino said haltingly, "Lloyd, Linus…"

"What blasphemy is this?" Legault began swearing a blue streak, "Uhai, Ursula, Lloyd, Linus, and even Master Reed. Enough, you can close your eyes," he took a deep breath before unsheathing his sword, "I shall return you to your peaceful rest."

"How nice, the fiend presents appetizers before the main dish. Darin I recognize," Hector said, "Who the hell are the other two?"

"A fallen bishop named Kenneth and an inferior assassin named Jerme," Lyn answered, "Drake and I clashed with them during the retrieval of the Fire Emblem."

"It appears that Nergal is unwilling to receive our audience," Eliwood said darkly, "Then we shall arrive before him treading on the carcasses of these abominations."

Shores of Valor, at the same time,

"We cannot hold another charge," Farina gasped as Priscilla pulled taut a strip of linen, "It's an amazing feat of skill and luck that we've prevailed for thus long."

The gallant little army had thrown back all comers for the better part of the afternoon. Five times the ravenous horde of morphs stormed against the iron will of the defenders, and five times the ferocity of the undead was thrown back with heavy loss. Yet every small victory was bought at a price. Isadora was unhorsed during the second attack, her faithful steed pierced by a stray javelin. Without Harken to protect her, she may have been hewn to pieces by the approaching enemy warriors. The valiant knight of Pherae was slashed by several cruel blows before the army could extricate the two from their predicament.

After a fierce and perilous dogfight in the skies, Heath and his detachment of fliers emerged victorious, albeit heavily hampered by injuries. All three pegasi were injured, with Huey nearly have a wing cut off by a lance. Farina and Fiora were both wounded to the point that continued battle was impossible. Grounded, the reserve force was largely spent.

"Priscilla, Renault," Mark said tiredly, "How is the situation on your respective ends?"

The tactician had partaken in the fighting as well. Though still severely inconvenienced by his injuries and scarcely able to stand on his feet, the ex-general had stabbed a lance into the ground before lashing himself to the weapon. Brandishing a footman's spear, Mark assisted in the defense of the right flank against the enemy cavalry.

The troubadour shook her head, "Terrible, Karla and Raven were never able to rest, and I fear Karla's injury may become infected. Wil lost two fingers on his left hand to a javelin that glanced off Wallace's armor. Canas was almost decapitated by a hand ax, but it only struck his right shoulder."

"Kent and Sain are still mounted?"

"No," Priscilla said, "Trying to spare the poor animals, they threw back the previous attack dismounted. Everyone's exhausted terribly."

"Same in the middle," Renault replied, "Both Lady Isadora and Sir Harken have been taken out of the fight. The other four have tried to hold the line, but the area distance is far too large to be held by limited numbers."

"And I can testify that the right flank will not hold much longer," Mark said, "A couple more punishing charges and the flank will falter completely."

"It appears that you are in quite the situation."

A teleportation rune appeared on the ground besides the wounded tactician and the trio of healers. Before an astounded Serra and Priscilla, the Archsage materialized with staff in hand and three weapons floating besides him. Athos gazed placidly at the rambunctious morph host arrayed against the wounded army before looking back at Mark.

The tactician smiled thinly, "I don't suppose you have any spare time to help us?"

Athos shook his head slowly, "I'm afraid not. The chosen ones have engaged in combat with Nergal's bodyguards. Should they reach him before I can bring the weapons…"

"They will be slaughtered," Mark finished, "Very well, take Nils and make haste!"

"The gods watch over you, Son of Roland," Athos answered gravely, "However, this much I can still do for you."

The Archsage raised his arms just as a herd of morphs began their fateful charge against the army's right flank. Waving his arms several times and chanting the words of an age old incantation, Athos' eyes blazed with power as he rained down destruction upon the charging horsemen. In a flash, the green fields were turned to ash by the might of Forblaze, the searing flame that none could match. In a moment's notice, the Archsage had largely reduced the enemy cavalry to meat pies, seriously lessening the threat to the beleaguered army.

Spells of such magnitude were not cast without some exhaustion to the summoner. Breathing deeply from the previous exertion, Athos turned towards Mark, "That is all I can assist you presently. If I tap into my reserves too quickly, I fear I will be unable to challenge Nergal at full strength."

"What you've done is more than enough as it is," Mark replied, "Fear not, we shall handle the rest."

The Archsage nodded and departed after collecting Nils.

"Now," Mark turned his attention back to the small group assembled around him that was gawking at Athos' magical display of power, "While the morphs are still reeling from that unexpected assault, we must begin our preparations before they strike at us again. They will be more wary and less densely packed after witnessing that attack, but they by all means will come again."

"The army is battered and scarcely able to continue the struggle," Marcus rasped out, "We cannot hold this position any longer."

"And we won't," Mark said evenly, "Prepare to retreat, we've lost this battle."

Everyone looked aghast. "Retreat?" Wallace asked, "We cannot retreat! If we were to abandon the field, the morphs will strike us immediately."

"We stand no chance of reaching Fargus if that occurs," Sain said.

"You will," Mark said tiredly, "The majority of the injured and support units are to retreat steadily while a rearguard buys them the time to escape."

"The rearguard will be slaughtered," Renault pointed out, "It is suicide to stand so outnumbered in this location."

"I know quite well the rearguard will perish," Mark replied, "That's why I am going to lead them."

"What?" Everyone shouted.

"I have never sent a soldier where I dared not tread myself," the tactician replied steely, "And I'm not about to change that. I will not order anyone to doom themselves with me, but anyone who wishes to sell their lives dearly to pay for their comrades' escape is more than welcome to stand with me."

"Is there no other way?" Oswin asked dismally.

Mark shook his head, "There is no other way to save the majority of this gallant war band. With the sacrifice of the minority, the bulk of the army may make it to the Davros to await the lords' return. Sir Marcus, you are to lead the evacuation."

Marcus tugged on his beard, "But Sir Mark, surely I…"

"I know you can fight," the tactician cut him off, "But your steed is tired and unable to support you much longer. As you are the more experienced war leader, you are to lead the evacuees."

Marcus wrestled with this order briefly before submitting, "As you wish."

"Now," Mark let his eyes drift over the assembled army around him, "What I ask of you is difficult, choosing death over life. Yet will anyone stand with me, till dusk lies overhead or the end of our lives?"

Heath was the first man forward, "That I will."

Priscilla moved to restrain the ex-knight of Bern, but the green-haired warrior waved her off with a sad smile, "Twice I have deserted my comrades, and I shall not do so a third time. You, Sir Mark, have found me worthy of honor and fellowship, and I shall honor that trust. My lance is yours, as is my life."

"This old bulldog with not die on a feathery bed of old age," Wallace growled, "As a general of Caelin, my only resting ground shall be upon the battlefield surrounded by the corpses of my enemies. I will stand by you till the end, Hammer of Terrascars."

"As will I," Kent said, much to Sain and Fiora's dismay.

"Kent?" Sain cried out, "What the devil do you think you're doing?"

"Protecting Caelin's future," Kent replied calmly, "Lady Lyndis is the heir and absolutely vital to Lord Hausen's health. In the name of honor and duty, I will stand my ground until her safe return. Sain, that injury has taken you out of the fight, and I will not suffer you to lose a leg for no reason!"

"No reason?" Sain asked, "My boon companion goes off to die and that's no reason?"

"Sir Kent…" Fiora began.

Kent grinned wryly, "With your steed injured, you cannot stay either, Dame Fiora. Besides, who else will finish that Code of Conduct I left in your tent?"

"I was not with Lord Uther when he perished," Oswin said quietly, "Nor am I with my current liege lord in his most desperate struggle. I cannot and will not face Lord Hector a defeated man. Guide my lance, Mark of Etruria!"

"Pherae will not second Ostia in this!" Lowen shouted, "I will remain and represent the knights of Pherae in battle."

"Lowen!" Marcus admonished, "This is no game! Do not simply do this out of pride or rivalry."

Amazingly, the green-haired knight shook his head rebelliously, something he had never done to his commander, "Nay, Sir Marcus, that is not the reason. All my life, I have dreamed of a name renowned and sung of across Elibe. Today is the day I embalm the tomb of so many good knights of Pherae with the eternal glory due to them. If I do not return, plant the wildflowers that spring across our homeland atop my grave."

Pain was etched upon the face of Pherae's Knight Commander, "It shall be done, Lowen."

"I will aid you as well," Hawkeye said calmly.

"Lord Hawkeye?" Pent asked while Louise gasped, "But why…?"

"Lord Athos has entered the dark confines of yonder gate to combat the demon inside," the Guardian of the Desert said, "As his servant, I shall fight to the last of my strength against his enemies. If naught is heard from me again, look after Igraine for me. She is ripe for the guardianship, though perhaps unskilled in the ways of the world."

"I promise you that it shall be done," Louise murmured as Pent shook his head in exasperation.

"I shall remain also," Renault said, "To remedy my sins, I shall repay my debts to a dead comrade in blood." His look of determination brooked no argument.

Karel looked up, "My sword was forged to end lives. I have slain those who were once closest to me in madness, so let this madness be spent laying waste to my foes."

Karla paled, and not from her injury, "Brother…"

"You're not staying here," Karel said flatly, "Await my return to our home. You have my permission to bring your boyfriend with you."

Dart was shocked when his friend next to him raised his hand, "Geitz, are you crazy?"

Geitz shrugged, "Hell with it, I'm just bored. All this talking is tedious when I could just hit something. I joined up for that reason, didn't I?"

"Then I'm coming too!"

"Err…" Geitz scratched his head, "You do know what the captain will do if you come back harmed, right?"

Dart shuddered, "Damn, you're right… Don't you dare die on me, ya hear?"

Vaida growled impatiently, "Until you give me that damnable antidote, my life is in your hands. So let's get this over with, damn it!"

Mark sighed, "Call to arms and prepare to sortie."

The army saluted, several members staying to give their last passing remarks to their long-time tactician and comrade. Heath was stopped by a certain red-haired troubadour on his way to Hyperion.

Divining her purpose in a glance, Heath's grin belied his internal melancholy, "What is it, Priscilla?"

Tears threatening to spill from her eyes, Priscilla managed to choke out one word, "Why?"

Heath sighed, "Priscilla, you know very well that a wanted fugitive such as myself could never hope to stay with a princess of your standing. The hours we spent together were the happiest of my life, hours I will cherish to the end of my days. Besides," the wyvern knight grinned, "Who said I'm dying here? Who knows? One day after I cleared my name, I may drop by and pick you up."

Priscilla smiled through her tears, "I'll hold you to that promise, Heath."

Heath pressed a kiss to the brow of the astonished troubadour, "Go now, your brother awaits."

The hopeful Priscilla completely missed the despair written in the eyes of the wyvern knight. Ah, Priscilla, Heath thought as he watched her figure, little do you know this heart. Even if I wipe clean the slate of my crimes, a knight of little name could never aspire to marry one such as you. You would find far greater happiness with Erk, a man who could offer you fortune and station worthy of your title. Alas, my heart and eyes cannot bear to see you stand alongside another man. Forgive me for my selfishness and jealousy. To remove the obstacle I present to your future, I shall gladly sacrifice my misery on the altar of your happiness.

After the army began their slow retreat, there left a dozen warriors ready to sell their lives dearly to protect their comrades and loved ones.

"Look your last upon the setting sun," Mark intoned ominously, "For we shall not see it rise again."

Before the stairway leading to Dragon's Gate, another fierce struggle for life or death was about to begin. Sixteen champions, half human and half undead, were preparing for a desperate struggle for dominance. Hector had always lamented that he didn't have the opportunity to personally retire Marquis Darin. He was given that chance now. Nino and Cecilia squared off against Ursula and Kenneth respectively, none of them moving a muscle while concentrating on the imminent magical explosion. Matthew looked fit to devour Jerme alive; his eyes seemed to spit fire at the assassin standing before him. Unfortunately for the assassin, since Jerme had aspired to replace Jaffar, the undead bore an uncanny resemblance to the Angel of Death. Eliwood and Jaffar stood before Lloyd and Linus, naked steel in their hands. Lyn's Mani Katti stood ready to split in two a twisted version of Uhai. Lastly, Legault stood poised with blade ready before his one-time leader, Brendan Reed.

"Commander," Legault said at length, "Forgive this soldier's treachery one more time. I vow, by the oaths we swore the day the Black Fang was founded, I will restore you all to your disturbed rest."

At those words, the sixteen combatants exploded into battle.

Just as the fierce duels enveloped the grounds, a teleportation portal deposited Athos and Nils into the background. Uhai, who stood closest to the sudden arrivals, wavered briefly as to which foe he should attack first. Taking advantage of the morphs momentary distraction, Lyn closed the distance swiftly with Mani Katti in hand. Aware of her sudden approach, the morph lined his bow towards Lyn and fired. Deflecting the bolt, Lyn's left arm was jarred numb from the impact. Switching sword arms without pausing in her stride, Lyn was upon Uhai before a second arrow could be fired. A flash, a grunt of pain, and a morph's head lay on the ground.

Jerme and Matthew were evenly matched. Where the assassin possessed greater strength and a more deadly blade, the thief made up for it with his overwhelming speed. Their blades flashed against one another with deadly accuracy, and each time their opponent avoided the fatal blow with scarcely a second to spare. What caused Jerme the most difficulty were arguably the twin blades that Matthew fought with. Throughout the battle, Matthew fought with only one sword. But early in the battle, the thief had attempted a daring back-handed slash with a knife that would've opened the assassin's throat from ear to ear had Jerme not ducked in time. Atypical of most assassins, Jerme had used only one blade in life, a practice that the morph copied in death. Unfortunately for the undead warrior, while this battle began fairly, it certainly did not end fairly. While his entire attention was focused on the thief before him, Jerme failed to notice a certain Caelin lady stealthily approach him from behind. Well, that is until he found a Mani Katti pierced through his throat.

Hector had Darin completely at his mercy. Circling around the cumbersome morph, Hector stood safely behind the armored morph and was hacking away with his ponderous ax. Armor plating went flying at the stiff blows. Darin tried to turn around and meet his foe face to face, but Hector continued to stay behind the helpless morph, splitting armor, flesh and bone in brutal blow and blow. With a resounding crack, Hector's ax smote straight through helm and head in one double-handed blow. Unfortunately for the Ostian lord, his stout ax shattered against the impact as well.

The magical duel flashed furiously in the background. Nino and Ursula stood neck-to-neck in their determined attempts to bring the other to earth. In life, both had served under Sonia, both had earnestly sought to win her affection, and both had been disappointed. Ursula benefited from the personal training Sonia had lavished on her, while Nino was gifted by her strong filial heritage as magic users. Cecilia and Kenneth, on the other hand, was quite another story.

Cecilia, as a native of the Etrurian nation founded upon the teachings of St. Elimine, was typical of her countrymen: they abhorred false priests. Over the thousand years since the founding of Etruria, the nation had produced more priests and bishops than the rest of Elibe combined. Etrurians prided themselves on being the most devout of St. Elimine's pupils, and thus naturally hated false priests with a vengeance. Magic, besides its strong emphasis on concentration and meditation, was subject to the emotions of its wielder. Anger and fury tended to empower the spell caster's abilities to cast more damaging spells, sacrificing precision and endurance in the long run. Cecilia, however, was not the prized pupil of two legendary Etrurian tactical commanders for no reason. In her subconscious mind, she realized that a long range battle in her current mental state would end in nothing but bitter defeat. Realizing this, Cecilia closed the distance until she and Kenneth were literally attacking one another at point-blank range. At melee distance, precision was no longer an issue, and battle would be resolved through force of will alone. The morph, not comprehending the danger until it was too late, fell before Cecilia's onslaught in a shower of scorching sparks.

Hearing someone fall behind her, Ursula was distracted enough to throw a glance behind her. Nino, understanding in a flash that her opponent was unwary and off-guard, poured her last efforts into one last furious push. By the time Ursula regained her composure it was too late, as the hungry flames of Elfire turned her charred remains to ashes.

It was a race to extinction on the other side. While Jaffar was superior to Linus in battle, Lloyd was unquestionable more than Eliwood could handle alone. Both sides knew that whoever fell first would yield the victory to the other side. The difference, perhaps, was the mentality that both sides portrayed. Eliwood, knowing that he could not match Lloyd as a swordsman, played the implacable defender. Never going on the offensive despite Lloyd's intentional mistakes and baiting weaknesses, Eliwood maintained his defensive procedure, wishing to drag out their duel until Jaffar finished off Linus and came to aid him. Linus, a pale reflexion of the hotheaded youth he was in life, scorned to hide behind a wall of defense, choosing instead to meet the Angel of Death blade for blade. Jaffar's face was nothing but an impenetrable mask of stoicism the moment he made his fatal plunge, digging both blades into his opponent's chest. Together, he and Eliwood then proceeded to bear Lloyd to the earth in a frenzy of blade work.

Throughout the pandemonium that raged all around them, Brendan and Legault did not move a muscle. Morphs made in the likeness of man perished beneath the victorious swords of the lords and their companions. Yet neither Brendan nor Legault made to aid their comrades in their respective struggles. When the last morph collapsed, Legault actually laughed aloud.

"Ha, and to think I was getting cold feet at fighting my old commander," Legault chuckled, "Yes, the old Hurricane would've walked straight into the fires of hell rather than raise his sword against his commander and comrades. Yet here I am standing here debating whether its truly my commander in front of me."

"…" The morph made no reply, merely raising his ax.

"Aye, I would've faltered if ordered to strike down one of my closest friends," Legault continued, "That was what separated me from the Four Fangs, the true reason why I was always considered second to them in name and fame. But you are not Brendan Reed. The true Brendan Reed would've stopped at nothing to save his sons and precious friends, for he was a man who valued fellowship and comrades over everything else. You simply stood here, completely ignoring the deaths of your 'friends.' That is what separates the two of you, why you will be simply a morph while he was a true man."

The morph remained silent, though he shifted his ax before charging forward.

"If I was fighting against the true Brendan, I would never be able to raise my blade against him," Legault's eyes hardened, "But in his memory, I will your abominable carcass into pieces. Farewell!"

As the last word left Legault's lips, the thief dashed forward to meet the morph's charge. Brendan smote downwards with his powerful ax, watching emotionlessly as the blade rent through the fabric of the thief's cloak. Oddly, no blood or gored flesh remained in the confines of the cloth.

A small rustle sounded, and Legault dropped lightly to the ground half a dozen yards behind his one-time chief. Turning like a raging boar, Brendan stormed towards the Hurricane with his ax held in both hands. Legault merely turned around, gazed sorrowfully at the creature before snapping his fingers.

Blood suddenly dripped down the muscled torso as the morph collapsed in a heap before Legault's outstretched hands. The decapitated head rolled gruesomely on the ground for a few seconds before coming to a stop. Strangely, the head was smiling serenely, as if the dead had finally departed for afterlife.

"Rest in peace," Legault said as he closed the eyelids of his mentor and friend.

Athos moved forward with Nils to greet the victors, "Congratulations on your victory."

Hector nodded slightly, "There you are, old man. We could've had an easier time if you showed up sooner with the weapons."

"I could have done so, but what would it have proved?" Athos asked, "That you can only conquer armed with the millennia-old steel?"

"Perhaps it was another test of our worthiness," Eliwood replied, "Though time is of the essence here. I fear we have wasted too much time in dealing with Nergal's henchmen. Is it too late to stop him?"

"No," Athos answered, "The dragons have not been summoned. Should he attempt such folly, he does not have enough quintessence to control the beasts, which runs contrary to his wishes. He will want to eliminate the group attacking him for their quintessence."

"Which means us," Hector said grimly, "But he'll find that we are not easy prey."

"In the meantime," Athos waved his hands to bring the three weapons forward, "I've brought items to counter Nergal's might: Durandal for Eliwood, Armads for Hector and the Sol Katti for Lyndis. The Sol Katti is not quite as powerful as the others, but it in itself is still a blessed weapon. Use them wisely."

"What about you, Lord Athos?" Eliwood asked, "Forblaze did not harm Nergal too much when…"

"That is true," Athos agreed, "So I borrowed the Aureola tome of St. Elimine for this purpose."

"Wait," Lyn said suddenly, "You have Nils here, so that means you've visited Drake and the others…"

Athos and Nils exchanged a glance, "I have, and they are hard pressed to defend themselves. I fear they will not survive if Nergal is not dealt with in a timely manner."

"Then we don't have a moment to lose," Hector declared, "Let's go!"

After a fearsome battle in Spain, Charlemagne's army was returning home. Roland was designated as the rearguard with twenty thousand men. The Moors, or the Islamic armies they were fighting against, challenged Roland's rearguard to battle. Blowing his horn to summon reinforcements, Roland led his men into battle. Charlemagne did not return until Roland had blown his horn for the 3rd time and last time, for the valiant knight perished shortly after sounding the horn. Charlemagne's host decimated the enemy to avenge the fall of Roland.

I thank everyone for reading thus far and please excuse the liberties I took with the storyline. I saved Nergal's exchange for the next chapter, so I hope I see y'all then!