I don't own Fire Emblem
Chapter 19 The Darkest Knight Part 1
(The Darkest Night)
A dull roar rolled through the Gebal Gallian castle; but not the cry of animal or laguz, it was the sleeping rumble of snoring. Boyd and Gatrie lay, dead to the world, sleeping soundly; to lazy, drunk, and full of food to even bother to make it to a room to sleep. The ground and even the table were proving to be effective beds for both men.
Ikyna walked through the darkened castle, scowling at the fowl noise, covering her ears with both hands, and shaking her head. "It sounds like we are being attacked by a wild animal." She complained as she passed the loudly slumbering men.
She spotted her father gazing out a front window, his eyes cast at the moon, focused, unblinking.
His posture was imposing and his back that was turned to her made him appear unapproachable. Ikyna couldn't imagine what had her father so distracted all day; or perhaps not all day, just since that evening. "Pops." She whispered as she touched his arm.
He flinched and turned to her, glaring darkly in her direction. His cold eyes made her jump back and her hand retracted.
"I'm sorry sprouts, I didn't see you there." He said apologetically.
"No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have snuck up on you."
Greil grinned and placed a hand on his daughter's cheek, "When did you get good enough to sneak up on your father?"
"Since when did you start spacing out so much that I could?"
Her father kept smiling silently as he moved his thumb to stroke her forehead. Once again a blank gaze frosting over his eyes.
"Did it happen after you saw that dark knight?" She asked the one question that was eating away at her since she saw that imposing Knight earlier.
Greil's hand froze, he stopped his attentions on his daughter as his forehead wrinkled. No longer was he staring absently, instead he looked almost angry.
"Pops?"
"Don't worry about that knight." His tone was harsh and dangerous and his hands shifted to a strong grip on her arm. Ikyna cringed at her father's bruising hold, "That hurts pops." She squeaked.
The commander released his daughter, shocked by his own brutality. He saw his daughter's face mixed with confusion and fear. With a heavy sigh he gently rubbed her arm, a feeling of guilt settling on him as he tried to soothe his daughter.
"I'm sorry sprouts." He whispered as he averted his gaze.
Ikyna's heart sank at her father's almost inaudible words. He returned his hand to her head and dragged his hands through her hair, his expression that of pain and even sadness. "What's wrong pops?" she asked as the worry within her caused her voice to crack.
"Sprouts." What his bereft response.
"Honestly you've been so strange today, I don't know…I don't…" Ikyna shook her head as she fumbled with her words, trying desperately to calm her growing emotions.
Greil let his hand stop on his daughter's shoulder, "I know, I haven't been myself lately. I don't mean to worry you."
"But pops today…"
"Listen," Greil quickly cut his daughter off, "A lot happened today I almost lost you and your brother."
Ikyna nodded as she thought back to earlier that day when the Daeins surrounded them at the fort. It was like staring death in the face she remembered.
"I've just been thinking that I can't afford to lose you two or Mist." His voice, that was normally strong, was trailing off weakly.
"You've been thinking about that all day?"
Greil shook his head yes, "If nothing else comes from this war." He began, "You three must live."
As he spoke, the words came out as an urgent plea, "Survive this war no matter what; understand?"
He held her chin and tilted it up to his eyes. Ikyna wanted to drill him with questions. They were shooting into her head with each passing second. Everything her father was saying and doing just filled her with uncertainty.
"We will."
"Promise me you'll take care of Ike as well; he'll need you."
Why did his words sound like a farewell? Why was he looking at her so woefully? None of the situation made since to Ikyna as she focused on her father's odd expression. No longer was he the confident man she knew, instead, his normal undaunted attitude was withering behind doubt. Yet, why did he seem so unsure?
"I will." She found her voice beginning to fail but finally answered her father. Her father smiled at her, showing an emotion very contrary to the distress she felt.
Greil saw it, that familiar face Ikyna wore, so much like her mother. Elena often had the same expression when she was fighting the urge to scold him or advise him to not do something rash. Though he used to greatly enjoy the mild bickering with his late wife, this time, he hoped his daughter would let him be.
"You should get some rest." He advised.
Ikyna still watched her father with her round blue eyes, tightening her lips and resisting the urge to keep asking what was wrong. "What about you though?"
"I think I'll get some air and clear my head."
Once again Ikyna bit her tongue and forced a weak smile, "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."
She meant for the last sentence to be a statement, however it came out as a question. Something within her was making Ikyna question if she really would see him tomorrow. There was no way to shake the feeling that even he wasn't sure he'd see her tomorrow.
Greil nodded before leaning down to give his daughter a kiss on the forehead, "Yes, goodnight my little sprout."
A lump found its way into her throat making it difficult to swallow and her chest felt swollen. Suddenly she felt like reaching out for him and pulling him back. She couldn't understand the dreadful sensation that she had to call him and ask him to stay. However, before she could open her mouth, Greil was already gone, swallowed by the night. Ikyna slumped and retreated to her room.
When she reached her room Mia, Aeyori and Mist were already there, chattering very loudly for so late at night.
"Well hey there Ikyna!" Mia said cheerfully, "Whoa, you don't look so good."
She commented on Ikyna's depressed demeanor.
"Perhaps she is feeling sick from drinking." Aeyori suggested as Ikyna silently moped to the window and sat on the ledge. Ikyna gazed out, searching through the black for her father, not listening to any of the talking behind her.
Mia laughed as she plopped down on a bed, "Well if she drank even half as much as me she couldn't feel too good."
"I think that goes for anyone." Mist added as she brushed her hair in the corner.
"No way!" Mia began excitedly, "Those boys put away way more than me. Did you see that red-haired guy, what was his name." she tapped her chin as she crossed her legs, "Oh yeah Shinon. Where does that skinny guy put his alcohol?"
"Where do you put it?" Mist mused.
The violet-haired woman winked and put a finger to her lips as if to shush Mist, "A lady never drinks and tells." She responded coyly.
"Whatever."
Mia laughed again before falling back onto the bed; she kicked her legs into the bedding excitedly. "Man I'm really happy that I met you all. You guys are some amazing mercenaries."
"You think?" Mist said
Mia turned on her side to face Mist, purple eyes sparkled through the dark room, "Everyone is so strong and skilled. I can't wait to spar with everyone."
"Why would you want to do that?" Aeyori asked.
"To make myself stronger of course."
Aeyori tilted her head curiously, not understanding the excited young woman before her.
Suddenly thunder clapped loudly and a streak of crooked light flashed in the sky. Aeyori yelped and jumped behind her bed, shaking noticeably. Mia found the sight amusing and laughed loudly, "Are you afraid of lightning missy?"
Aeyori nodded, "Aren't you guys?"
Mist and Mia shook their heads. Once again Aeyori was confused by Mia and now Mist as well. Another jagged line lit the sky earning another yelp. She tried to hide her discomfort, but it wasn't easy to shake a fear that had been her companion since childhood.
"I don't really like it; I haven't since I was a kid." She confessed through her embarrassment.
"I guess lightning could be scary." Mist began as she watched a downpour begin. "But don't you think there are much scarier things?"
"Like what?" Aeyori squeaked.
"Like those sub…I mean laguz today. They were big and frightening just like Shinon said.
Mia scoffed, "There weren't that bad. Actually I'd like to have a match with one of them as well." She said eagerly.
Mist shook her head in disbelief then looked at Aeyori, "What do you think?"
The mage was still hiding and shaking but found her voice, "I think there are scarier things than that. That Petrine lady was very frightening; and that black knight."
Mia shot up suddenly with a clap of her hands, "You're right that knight was pretty creepy. He was all silent and staring at us." She put both hands on her legs, "Something very off about that guy."
"What do you think sis?" Mist called to her sister who'd been silent the entire conversation. Yet Mist's words fell on deaf ears as Ikyna's eyes were locked on a conversation outside her window. Ike and her father were calmly having a discussion at the front gate of the castle. She saw Greil put a hand on Ike's shoulder, then shove him lightly back towards the castle. Ike looked reluctant but turned as Greil headed deeper into the forest.
The uneasy feeling returned as Ikyna watched her father disappear a second time that night. She slowly stood but never took her eyes off the outside. Ike was pacing for a few moments but soon took off into a sprint after his father.
Lightening flashed again and lit up Ikyna's horrified face. She exhaled loudly as her heart sank with apprehension as its anchor.
"Sis?"
Ikyna didn't respond but backed away from the window, a voice screaming in her mind telling her to run. Without a word she raced from the room leaving her sister calling her name in confusion.
She didn't know why she was running or what that awful churning in her stomach was from, but she couldn't stop herself. Rain pelted her face the instant she left the fort, hitting and stinging her face and soaking her cloths through. Her feet, completely bare since she hadn't bother to waste time putting on shoes, pounded faster and faster like her chest that beat at an alarming rate as panic overtook her.
The storm was raging, hazing the forest with heavy drops that splattered where they hit. Where were they? Her mind screamed at her, begging her eyes to spot them, somewhere, anywhere.
"Oof!" Ikyna groaned as her foot struck a rock and she stumbled to the ground, a puddle beneath her splashed and soiled her clothes further. She coughed out the filthy water and weakly tried to stand. As she wiped her soaking face and brushed limp drenched hair from her eyes, she caught a glimpse of a figure stumbling slowly toward her.
She squinted through sheets of rain and darkness. A harsh gasp escaped her throat as she recognized the swaying form. "Ike?" she softly called through quivering lips.
With much effort she stood and slowly began hobbling to him, her knee ached where she struck it on an invisible stone when she fell. Soon her limp quickened into a jog, then a run, then an agonizing sprint as she recognized the lump hung over her brother's back.
An overwhelming burst of dread tightened around her heart like a metal chain. 'It couldn't be.' her mind shouted in denial. Yet her mouth could only utter one word, "Pops?...Pops!"
I know another short one but I'm breaking at into two sections. I'll have the next chapter out soon.
