NinjaOverlord: Okay, so I'm here again to bring you the next scene of this tale. Expect me to update about once a week.

To all my reviewers, THANK YOU! It's nice to know that I can put something out in the universe and it will at least be noticed. And to Kami-Elf: IT'S MY EFFING STORY AND I'LL WRITE IT AS I SEE FIT!

Kami-Elf: I was just trying to be helpful….

NinjaOverlord: ONCE IS HELP! TWICE IS OKAY! THREE TIMES I'LL PUT UP WITH! BUT MORE THAN THAT IS JUST PLAIN ANNOYING! CUT IT OUT!

Kami-Elf: Yeah, yeah….-stoically ignores the rant and stares into space-

Linku: O.O…..scary……

NinjaOverlord: -breathing heavily-…okay….Again, please review. I own neither Fire Emblem nor Hamlet.

Act1 Scene 2

The King Darin, his Queen Louise, and Prince Raven enter the throne room of Elsinore, followed by Marcus and Harken, Lloyd and his father Canas, and various lords and attendants. All wear bright and cheerful colors but Raven, who is clad in black, the traditional mourning color. The King and Queen stand before their thrones as the young prince stands to the side, partly hidden in the shadow of the massive seats, and stares at the ground beneath him. The King begins to speak.

"Though the grief my dear brother's recent death still is strong for my new son Raven, and it would be best if all of Etruria could mourn with him; now, however, with the preparations of war made by our neighboring nation, is not the time to be caught in the throes of Grief. To aid in this endeavor I and my new Queen, my once sister-in-law, did hasten our wedding and mix funeral dirge with songs of marriage."

"Thus," he continues, "We have readied ourselves against this looming threat sooner than this conqueror-to-be, Hector, could have anticipated. Further, I am sending you, Harken and Marcus, to the warmonger's Uncle, who as of yet still rules Bern. As he is often ill and bed-ridden, he is as of yet ignorant of young Hector's actions; you are to inform him of his nephew doings and beseech his help in halting the dangerous plans. May St. Elimine protect you on your journey."

Harken and Marcus answer as one: "All duty and honor to you, our King."

They depart, and the King addresses Lloyd.

"What is it, young one, that you do desire to speak of?" he asks.

"Sire," Lloyd replies, "I ask to be allowed to return to Lycia. Though I came willingly for your coronation, I confess that now that it has been successfully completed my thoughts return again to that land."

"Do you have your father's consent?" inquires the King. "What says Canas?"

"My King," he answers, "though at first I was loathe to allow my only son to depart from me, he has convinced me to allow him to do so. I entreat you to grant him your permission."

The King smiles and says. "With my permission and blessing, you may go, Lloyd. Fare you well on your journey."

Lloyd and his father leave, and the King now turns to Raven, saying, "But now, my nephew and recent son-"

"More than kin, though less than kind," mutters Raven as he steps from the shadows beneath the throne.

"How is it that the clouds of grief still haunt you?" continues the King.

"Not so my Lord," replies Raven. "My sky of my mind is clear."

"Good Raven," says the Queen, "cast of the colors of mourning you wear, and look down to the earth, as if towards your father's grave, no more. You know that all that lives must die, following the natural order to eternity."

"Yes, madam," says Raven. "it is natural and common."

"If it is, why then do you hold to this death so particularly?"

"Mother, it is not alone my shadowy cloak, nor my clothes of black, nor my down-turned gaze, nor my darkened expression that make up the resemblance of grief, but all these together. These are the only actions I can take to show the world the workings of my heart."

"It speaks well of you, Raven," the king says, "to go so long in such a manner. But, you know, your father lost his father, and his lost his father, and so on to the origins of Man. All of them served the required time of sorrow, and more perhaps, but none did allow it to extend to the point of foolishness. Such is unmanly grief, my Prince. Further, it is an offense against heaven, to declare such defiance to its wishes. Though you do desire to return to your school in Ostia, it is my wish that you remain here, with your mother and new King, under their eye and in their comfort."

"I pray thee, Raven," says the Queen, "to remain with us and not return to Ostia."

Raven looks upon his mother and new father for a moment, and then, to his mother, says, "I shall in all things do my best to obey you, madam."

"Why," says the King, beaming at Raven, "that is a loving and fair reply. Come away now, my Queen, let us leave the young Prince to rejoice in his decision."

They leave, followed by the rest save for Raven, who remains next to the thrones until all have departed, and then begins to pace among the columns ranging throughout the room.

"Oh, that my skin would melt," he says despairingly, "and leave me as a puddle on the ground, free of all cares and worries! I wish that St. Elimine and the heavens had not set themselves against suicide. How flat and plain all the world seems now. Not two months dead is the King, who is so greater than the one who holds the crown now, as a bonfire is to a spark! Hardly a month, and yet my mother marries again, and to my father's brother, no less! My uncle, who is no more my father than I am to Roland. But hold, my tongue, I must not speak out so."

Lucius, Isadora, and Sain enter, and stand before Raven.

"Hail to your Lordship!" say Lucius, and bows with Sain and Isadora.

"I am glad to see you well, Lucius," says Raven.

"The same from me, my lord, to you," Lucius replies.

"Why have you come from the Ostian university?"

"I came to see your father's funeral."

Raven's expression darkens. "Do not mock me. You came more likely for my mother's wedding."

Lucius's face colors. "Indeed, sir, it followed soon after."

"Thrift, thrift, Lucius! The meats of the funeral were the same that graced the tables of the wedding. Oh that I had never seen that day! My father, I think I see my father."

The others jump.

"Where my lord?" asks Lucius anxiously.

"In my mind's eye."

"I saw him once. He was a goodly King."

Raven smiles. "That he was, truly."

Lucius glances nervously at Sain and Isadora, then looks to Raven. "I think I saw him yesternight."

Raven blinks and stares blankly at them. "Saw? Who?"

Horatio gulps and says, "My lord, the King your father."

"The King! My father!" Raven cries incredulously. "Explain this strange thing to me!"

"Two nights ago, Isadora and Sain saw, during the middle of their watch, a figure appear before them, dressed as your father was upon his burial. It did approach them, and when they did not speak –the fear was too great– it did vanish. They told me this, in utter secrecy, and did beseech them to join them in their watch the next night. This I did, and saw the same apparition appear."

"Where was this?" asks Raven.

"Upon the platform where we watched, my lord," replies Isadora.

"Did you not speak to it?"

"I did, my lord," answers Lucius, "but it did not answer. Once it looked as though it would speak, but then the cock did crow, and the vision fled."

"This is very strange."

"As I live, my lord, it is true. We did think it to be our duty to tell you of it."

"Indeed, Indeed. Do you have the watch again tonight?"

Isadora and Sain both answer: "Yea, my lord."

"He was dressed as my father was upon his burial?"

"Yea, my lord."

"What was his expression?"

"Sorrowed, I think, my lord; and most pale," replies Lucius.

"It fixed its eyes upon you?"

"Yes, my lord; it was most frightening."

"How long did it stay?"

"About a minute and a half, my lord."

"Nay, longer, longer!" claims Sain.

"Not when I was there," says Lucius, raising an eyebrow at Sain, whose face darkens.

Raven thinks for a moment, and, reaching a decision, declares: "I will watch with you tonight. Perhaps it will walk again."

"I expect it will," says Lucius, and shivers with dread expectation.

"If it assumes the shape of my father, I shall speak to it. Fare you well."

"Our duty to your honor," answer the others, bowing.

"And mine to you."

All but Raven exit.

"My father! What do you desire, that you should wander the earth after your death? All is not well. Still, my soul, and calm, until the hour which I may see him."

NinjaOverlord:…..wow….that's hard……

Linku: What?

NinjaOverlord: To try and keep the magnificence of the original writing while making it clear enough to be understood easily….it takes a lot out of you….

Kaimi-Elf: Oh, grow up.

Linku: -growling- Be nice!

Kami-Elf: Uh…..Sorry?

Linku: -glare-

NinjaOverlord: Anyway, I made a mistake in the first chapter. It was actually Sain who stays and Kent who goes. I fixed it though.

Linku: By the way, what in the name of all that's holy is a "dirge"?

NinjaOverlord: It's a slow, sad, song about death that is usually played at funerals.

Linku:….Oh.

Kami-Elf: Kinda ironic that you used the word "holy" –sniggers–

Linku: Grrr… -whacks Kami with bouken-

Kami-Elf: x-x –falls unconscious–

NinjaOverlord: By the way, the Marques (pronounced mar-key) system is only in Lycia because it's a confederation of loose, small sovereignties that work together (a Marques is a regional ruler much like a governor).

Linku:…what's your point?

NinjaOverlord: My point is….-turns to Kami- THIS! -begins to kick Kami severely- YOU! ARE! WRONG! AND! I! AM! RIGHT!

Linku: O.O….again, scary….