Chapter 38 Siege

Hello everyone, thanks for coming back to read my story. I started my second Tibarn fanfiction so I will be dividing my time between both.

Anyway there were a whole lot of problems with this chapter. I posted the wrong one, then the paragraphs disappeared then it got deleted. Uhg. So if you think you've read this chapter already, but you read it on the 31st of March, you're wrong. This is the revised, and edited version. I hope this works. I'm sorry if you had to suffer through the last one.

"So this is Nevassa." Yakuzo said as he took in the imposing Daein keep before him. Its towering iron gates were left wide open as they creaked when the cold winds jostled them. "I expected it to be a bit more…guarded." He observed with a frown.

It was not. Daein's capital was silent as winter. No soldiers were there to greet the mercenaries and the Begnion army. The curtain walls were not lined with the scarlet army nor were the bastion armed with ballista or archers. From the outside the castle seemed completely dead. It was hard to believe that the mad king, with all of the horror stories that followed him, would be so poorly protected.

"It's like they're just asking to be invaded." He said as he looked to Ikyna for a response.

Her eyes were thin sleepy slits that tiredly sat over her mouth as it yawned. The archer was looking surprisingly lax compared to her usual eagerness.

Yakuzo could guess the reason, and it irked him. He crossed his arms tightly and spoke, "You look tired." The cat began casually, but when she didn't respond he spoke again, annoyance obvious in his tone, "Were you up all night with the prince?"

His words were both a question and an accusation. Ikyna shivered in the light snow fall and sighed at the remark, sending her frosted breath out in a rush. She could feel the feral eyes burrowing into the side of her neck. "What's that supposed to mean?" was her curt response; she could no longer maintain a civil temperament after having the same discussion, she knew she was about to have, for the fifth time. Her sleeping arrangements from the previous night had been a source of rather a lot of gossip among the people of the camp.

"I mean," Yakuzo said with a scowl, equally irritated by the sudden spread of rumors, "did the prince keep you up too long last night?"

Ikyna's blue eyes shot a glare icier than the frigid morning. She spoke tightly through clinched teeth, "I wish that subject would be dropped already. Haven't plenty of people been laughing at my expense already?"

"Perhaps you should use a little more discretion when spending time with the prince." He snapped bitterly. Angry at her for spending the night with the prince and at his own jealousy that he felt.

"I didn't spend the night with him." she grumbled bitterly.

"You seem upset," he continued to nettle her, bent on throwing all his frustrations at Ikyna, "Did your evening turn out less romantic than you wanted?"

Ikyna pursed her lips together with one last attempt to hold in her bubbling anger. She was irked, tired, and overly stressed. One or two of those feelings alone would be enough chip away at her patience; but she was contending with all three.

"Listen, I'll tell you exactly what I told everyone else. We fell asleep…" a skeptical eyebrow was raised at Ikyna. She ignored it and kept speaking, "on accident; and then Janaff and Ulki found us and woke us up."

"Were you disappointed?" he nipped coarsely.

Ikyna blew out a long sigh that shook with her barely restrained anger, "No, I wasn't disappointed. If Janaff and Ulki hadn't found us, we'd probably have froze. Contrary to everyone's belief, there's nothing romantic about freezing to death." She turned sharply to face him, plumes of frosty air billowing from her flared nostrils, "What's it matter to you anyway? We've got our biggest battle ahead of us, and you're worried about my sleeping habits?"

Yakuzo's golden irises flickered slightly and he opened his mouth to speak but shut it when he could think of nothing to say as a retort. He knew he was being ridiculous; and that what happened between her and the prince wasn't anything that should bother him so much. It did, however. The hairs on his neck stood at tensely and alert when he thought of Ikyna bundled in the white bird's arms. Reyson had been the one to comfort Ikyna when she was grieving when all Yakuzo could do was watch her walk by him.

That's probably what hurt his pride the most. He was aware that it didn't make since for anyone to think that something more happened between the bird and archer the night prior. It was obvious that the two had made a mutual mistake; but that didn't ease Yakuzo when he thought that Ikyna found comfort from the prince, yet he could offer her no such thing.

Ikyna groaned in exasperation and flipped her neat braid off of her shoulder, "Never mind." She said in defeat and walked away, too aggravated from the questioning to continue the conversation any further. Yakuzo watched her walk away again, stuck with that same useless feeling as before, alone, cold and annoyed in the snow.

Ikyna was grumbling to herself bitterly as she kicked a snow covered rock in her path. It scuttled through the mixture of ice and dirt until it knocked against a brown leather boot. Ike glanced down slowly, realized what had happened, then returned to reading a parchment that was rattling restlessly in the wind.

His sister made brooding strides up to him; her arms folded tightly over her chest and a bothered scowl was worn like a mask on her face. "Ikyna." He began cautiously.

"If you say anything about where I was sleeping last night, I will punch you." She gruffly interrupted.

Ike paused and frowned as he handed the parchment back to a patiently waiting Begnion soldier. With a nod, the general sent the knight quickly off to relay information to his Begnion companions. "I wasn't going to say anything about that."

Ikyna looked up at him suspiciously, waiting for him to say more. Her brother brought a hand to his chin thoughtfully, "Though you should avoid staying out so late at night. It's too cold to sleep away from a fire."

The female twin's muscles relaxed when she realized her brother would pursue the subject no further; she shrugged, "Titania already lectured me on that. I'll be more careful." She said with no luster.

"Why are you so upset about last night? If nothing happened you don't have to be so defensive." Ike advised in an attempt to steady her mood.

There was a brief softening in Ikyna's expression. Her harshly set jaw relaxed and her lips drew in with a cleansing sigh. "I just don't know why everyone is so concerned and keeps bugging me about last night. If I say nothing happened, then nothing happened."

Ike looked at his sister understandingly; he could see why Ikyna's patience was so thinly worn. The commander didn't know what happened the night prior but it had led to some ridiculous gossip, as if the heron and his sister were part of some royal court scandal.

"I suppose everyone is a little nervous about the fight today. Maybe they need something to distract themselves." He watched her passively as he finished his sentence. There wasn't much more that he could offer her. Ike didn't agree with the wild fire like spread of baseless rumors, but he wasn't going to hound everyone in the camp to stop.

At the very least, his men and the rest of the army seemed more at ease with something to keep their minds occupied that had nothing to do with the mad king or his army. "What about you Ike? Do you need something to take your mind off of our next battle?"

Ike shook his head and sent his green ribbon flicking from side-to-side, "I can't form any grand strategies like Soren, the least I can do is give my full attention to this next battle."

Ikyna agreed with her brother's reasoning. She looked up toward the gray and cloudy sky and made a thoughtful murmuring sound, "This is the last battle, right?"

Her brother questioned her with a raised eyebrow and followed her gaze toward the sky as if it held an answer to both of their questions. "It should be; once Ashnard is gone, the rest of the Daein army should crumble without their king."

"Then what will we do?" Ikyna asked airily, "What do we do once this war is over?"

The commander scowled in thought. He hadn't really thought of what he and his men would do after the war. The original plan wasn't to even join a war against Daein. First they were just to be simple mercenaries, then they were charged with delivering the princess, but the sudden invasion of Daein had completely diverted the mercenary's original course.

Instead of the simple task of body guards that would involve little more than payment in exchange for safe delivery, now Ike had the inkling that he would be involved in some very bothersome politics at the end the war. Finally, after enough time had passed for a few weak beams of sunlight to dance down from the clouds, Ike spoke, "I guess we'll head back to Crimea, start rebuilding the city."

"And the black knight?"

There was a vengeful darkness that clouded Ike's cerulean eyes; with his jaw tight he answered, "We'll find him and end him. I swear on our father's grave, I won't rest until he pays for what he did."

When Ikyna did not acknowledge Ike's strong words he glanced at her. She was watching him, a curious, contemplating expression on her face. He noticed the edge and anger he had was missing from her. "What?" he finally asked after waiting for her to speak.

She kept silent for another long breath, still studying the hard lines creasing Ike's face. "I've just never seen you so intense about something the way you are about the black knight."

"He murdered our father." He defended.

"I know; but don't let your hatred blind your judgement Ike. You've let that happen once before and you could have been killed."

Ike knew exactly what time Ikyna was referring to without much difficulty. The day on the docks of Crimea when he last saw the murderous knight. He definitely was not using his best judgement at that moment. All he could see was his rage that drove his feet to the man clad in armor the color of midnight.

When Ikyna noticed her brother's eye's glazing over with his thoughts she cleared her throat, "Listen Ike; the reason you make such a good commander is because you don't let your emotions cloud your thinking. You can think straight because you're so level headed. Don't let that knight take that away from you."

With a low sigh that scattered frosted breath into the wind Ike nodded in agreement. The black knight was not an opponent he could afford to lose any focus with. All the training in Tellius wouldn't do him any good if he let his anger blur his judgement.

"Yes I'll keep that in mind; but for now, we should just focus on the fight for today."

"Good idea." Ikyna said as she gave her muscles a stretch, freeing them from their sleepy trance. They were still stiff from the cold and tired from her lack of sleep; but Ikyna couldn't afford the luxury of relaxed muscles. She groaned as her bones creaked and snapped into place, "I'm ready when you give the word commander."

"That's good to hear because I'll have you going in with the first wave. Do you think you can make nice with Yakuzo so I can send you together?"

Ikyna folded her arms indignantly, "What makes you think I have to make nice?"

"Because you were grumpy just a few minutes ago and only three people can make you that moody. Myself, Soren, and Yakuzo." His lips pressed in a thin line before he spoke, "I know I didn't upset you."

Ikyna interrupted her brother, "What makes you think it's not Soren?" With a disgruntled breath blown through her nose she began again in a grumbling tone, "He's been in a worse mood than I have been since we got to Daein."

"That's true; but Soren isn't watching you with sad pitiful kitten eyes." Ike flicked his head in Yakuzo's direction, his dark hair following the motion, and smirked.

Ikyna reluctantly turned to look at the feline; her brother was right. Yakuzo was indeed watching her with wide pitiful golden eyes, full like a rising sun, and his ears were pressed against his skull. When she met his gaze his ears fell like scarlet petals and his tail went still in anxious anticipation of her mood.

"My goodness." Ikyna said as she blew an exasperated raspberry through her lips. "If he's going to get his feelings hurt so badly, I wonder why he starts the fights in the first place."

Ike's response was nothing more than a friendly shove in Yakuzo's direction telling her to amend whatever silly quarrel the Laguz and archer had found themselves in that time. Ikyna followed her brother's prodding and went and stood in front of the Laguz, her hands placed on her hips as she looked up at the cat. Despite his short stature, Yakuzo was still at least two inches taller than Ikyna,. Yakuzo gazed at her suspiciously, trying to gauge what her next move would be.

Ike could see, but not hear, her saying something with a small cheeky grin. Yakuzo's ears flattened sheepishly and he turned away as the peaks of his cheeks stained magenta. His archer companion grabbed his cheek quickly and pulled his face to meet hers. There was brief moment of discomfort as Yakuzo squirmed, though only half-heartedly, then returned her pointed stare. His chest expanded with a long exhalation and her finally offered Ikyna a tiny compromising lip curl.

The fight seemingly over, Ike turned away from them to search for the rest of his mercenaries. Soren was walking his direction and, to Ike's surprise, he was accompanied by Aeyori. Her wintery hair was falling over her shoulders and covering her face as she focused on a book held tightly in her hands. Soren was speaking quickly, Ike could not make out the words because they were too far away, as he pointed repeatedly at the pages in Aeyori's book. Whatever the raven-haired mage was saying, Aeyori was absorbing it like a towel; she nodded fervently as she shuffled after Soren, never taking her eyes off of wherever Soren's finger was pointing.

Soon the two magic users had stopped in front Ike, no longer talking, having apparently finished their important conversation. "Commander." Soren addressed tonelessly.

"Soren." Ike answered back with a question in his tone. He glanced from one mage to the other, suspicious of what had possibly transpired between the two of them. Soren bordered on the line of rudeness and hostility with Aeyori.

Next he called the female mage's name. She glanced up, her face darkening from surprise and embarrassment, then she apologized. "I'm sorry I was distracted." She closed the mysterious book and brought a finger up to twist a lock of her snowy hair.

"What were you looking at?"

At Ike's question Aeyori's face brightened with excitement. She held the silver book up to the commander's eyes with a grin as wide as a child who'd just received a surprise from their parent. "Look, it's a new tome. A shine tome. Soren found it for me."

"Soren?" he questioned with a sideways glance at his old friend. Soren was scowling at Aeyori before he looked back at Ike, "Don't misunderstand what I did. If she's going to cling to you like a leech, she at least needs to be well equipped." He snapped.

Ike opened his mouth to remind the mage of his desperate need to use tact but Aeyori was smiling in the corner of his eye. Seemingly unoffended by Soren's harsh words, she held her new tome to her chest like it was a treasure. The commander smiled softly as her reached for Aeyori. He ruffled her glossy hair affectionately, glad to see light in her eyes when only the night earlier there had been the shadows of apprehension instead.

Soren frowned disapprovingly but Ike ignored the obvious displeasure because Soren said nothing else unkind. There would still be a long way to go before Aeyori and Soren got along, very long, but Ike figured that finding the tome was as close to the extension of the figurative olive branch as they would get for then. "That's good to hear." He finally said in his deep voice.

"We're ready when you are commander." It was Titania who spoke next after stopping in front of Ike.

She was guiding her mare by its reigns as it nipped fitfully at Titania's scarlet braid. She brought an armored hand up to the horse's snout, brushing its white coat to sooth the animal who was no doubt feeding of the tense energy of the camp.

"All of the Begnion army is organized under Tanith and ready to move out at your command. So, what are your orders for the mercenaries?"

There was a serious edge to the paladin's voice that sent a reminder to Ike that he couldn't forget where he was or the situation they were in that day. Reluctantly he lifted his hand from Aeyori's head and returned Titania's gaze with a determined one of his own. He could see from the way her green eyes were focused that she was waiting for her commander to take charge and send the army and mercenaries into this last fight.

He took a deep breath and straightened his back; letting his newly found confidence show. Titania responded by softening her expression, impressed with Ike's strong stature and alertness. "That's fine, we'll keep Begnion on standby for now." He squinted as he looked at the barren looking castle, "At least until we know what's happening in there."

"Indeed, it's been very quiet since we arrived. I'm sure Daein is expecting us; yet their gates are wide open and no one is manning their walls."

"It's no doubt a trap." Soren added.

Ike nodded in agreement and put a hand to his chin in thought. He then turned to his tactician, "What are your thoughts Soren?"

Soren's expression was flat and impossible to read when he spoke, "Well we don't know the layout of the inside of the castle, nor do we know who or what is waiting for us beyond those gates. We're going in blind basically; in fact the only thing was can be almost certain of is that this IS a trap."

He looked almost apologetically at his commander, "I'm afraid that, with this little information, I can't formulate much of a plan."

Ike pinched the bridge of his nose, warding off the last of the early morning's tiredness. "But even if it's a trap, that doesn't mean was can just leave. We have to keep moving forward and finish this fight."

"Of course." Titania said as she nodded her head vigorously in agreement. "Shall I tell the rest of the men to be ready to charge?"

"Yes. And Soren," Ike began, and the mage watched him stoically, "When we get in there I'll need you to be formulating a plan as we go. Can you do that?"

Soren's back straightened, "I will do all I can to help you Ike."

"Good." With one more glance between the men standing before him he nodded, "Let's move out. Have the men ready to go in thirty minutes."

"Yes commander!" The paladin and wind mage said in unison. Immediately after, they dispersed quickly, each going to separate parts of the gathering of soldier and mercenary. The word was spread quickly, action was soon to be taken, and the formation of the men showed this change. Weapons clattered as they were gathered together and the grunts of soldiers and animals alike rumbled through the snowy field.

"Are you ready Aeyori?" Ike asked, not taking his eyes off of the bustle of the army.

Aeyori didn't respond with much more than a rattled breath. It caught Ike's attention. From the corner of his eye he saw her crimson irises flickering as she looked at the ominous stone castle. The former joy and excitement was fading as quickly as the last strings of night were replaced with morning.

He reached with his hand to stroke her cheek gently with his knuckles. She shuddered as she flinched. "I'm sorry." Ike apologized.

Aeyori quickly shook her head and looked sheepishly at the young commander. "Just a moment ago you were so excited about your new book. Now look at you." He spoke softly, like coaxing an injured animal, "You're shaking. What changed?"

Aeyori felt a pang of guilt. When she'd woken up that morning she had promised herself that she wouldn't make Ike worry. She wouldn't let any of her old nightmares outweigh the battle before her. But already it seemed that she couldn't do that.

Soren had gotten her a new tome; an interesting and necessary distraction, but the moment she took a good look at the Daein keep, while Ike was talking with Soren and Titania, her good motives disappeared like snow melting on warm skin.

The sinister stone towers before her jarred a slew of unwanted memories. Aeyori knew the deeper she went into Daein, the closer they would be to Thorne. And though she was glad they could finally meet Ashnard and end the long war, she was terrified that the sooner their fight there was over, the sooner she would have to face that man. The monster who haunted and tormented her was one fight away from her.

She swallowed deeply and closed her eyes, trying to shut out her fear, but there was little success. "I'll be okay commander." She said distantly, desperate to convince herself but knowing that was close to impossible.

Ike hesitated, taken back by the coldness in her voice, knowing that it wasn't directed at him but it hurt nevertheless. "I'll protect you." He finally managed to utter those words.

They were barely comforting, and he knew it, but he could offer no more when he knew so little of what she was dealing with at the time. She was silent, still rattling like the last leaf on a tree in fall, "You believe me, right? That I'll keep you safe no matter what?"

Aeyori turned stiffly and smiled weakly but said nothing in response. "Aeyori?" He coaxed.

"Commander, we're ready to enter the keep." Titania interrupted.

Ike would have lingered longer at Aeyori's side, but he couldn't delay their charge any longer. At least he could keep watch Aeyori, that was the only reasoning that put him a little at ease. There was still the twinge of worry, because he couldn't place the unnerving feeling he had in his gut about the possible trap before him, or Aeyori's secrets. But as long as she was close by him, Ike was confident he could protect her from anything.

"Ikyna, Yakuzo, Tormod, Maurim, and Stefan." At Ike's call the five mercenaries assembled quickly before him. Their faces set in hard and determined lines, ready to face whatever hid beyond the gates. "You'll be the first wave." He commanded as he switched seamlessly into his authoritative personality. He became the assured young man with absolute trust in his ability to lead the men and woman under his command.

When the first wave of mercenaries agreed to their task Ike began assigning the rest of the mercenaries to their tasks. From defending, to scouting, to unlocking doors, every man was prepared and ready to face what they anticipated to be their last fight in the war.

Ike turned from his determined men, their focused expressions and eager weapons, and unsheathed his sword with a hiss. He pointed it to the iron gates, "Forward!"

The first five were quick on the command. Before Ike could gesture for the second wave to charge, Ikyna and the rest of her group had disappeared into the stone mouth. Ike sliced his hand through the air and sent the next wave charging. It was a defensive group, Boyd, Gatrie, Brom, and Nephenee.

Ike and his group were next to follow. Shinon, Rolf, Soren, and Aeyori. Aeyori was at Ike's side, opposite of the other mage, and keeping up well enough as they passed the snow and their shoes hit cobbled stone. Whatever misgivings Aeyori had before she was putting them aside, thankfully. They both needed their full attention on staying alive, that way they could confront their demons together later.

Footsteps echoed down the tight corridor, their sounds mixed with the heavy breathing of the mercenaries. Ike had his regal sword over his shoulder, its heaviness no longer bothered his accustomed muscles, as he ran with purpose. There was no sign of the enemy even as he and his group turned the tight corners.

Ike would have assumed that Ikyna and her group had been more effective than he expected, but there were no bodies on the ground either. He could hardly tell if a fight had started at all. There was no need to wonder for long; Shinon and Rolf had been running in front of him and the mages, but they stopped their charge abruptly.

Ike had to turn to his side to stop himself from running into Shinon's quiver. He clinched his teeth to stifle a groan as Shinon turned sharply and shushed him with a scowl. Ike frowned in return and looked past the archer. He saw Ikyna crouched against the wall and leaning tightly towards the corner. She was almost glued to the stone that was chipped and worn; her sharp eyes were trained towards the turn. "What's the problem?" Ike asked feeling an unease setting into his gut as he tried to catch his breath.

"There's a mage just around this corner." Ikyna answered back as she strained to peek around the stone edge without being seen.

Ike looked puzzled, mages had never posed much of a problem before. He couldn't understand why the army charge was halted because of a few magic users. They could be cut down easily. Yakuzo saw the question in the commander's eyes, "Fire mage." He added with a disgusted look, "If Maurim and I go out there, we'll be toast."

The green tiger and cat exchanged uncomfortable glances as they imagined their fur being clipped by torrid flames. "It shouldn't be that hard to dodge, right?" Ike asked as he assumed the same crouching position beside his sister.

Ikyna shook her head, "The hallway is too narrow. If a mage uses any tomes down that hallway, we'll be roasted alive."

"Perhaps we should find another route." Ike suggested as he stood. He turned to look for another entry, though he was almost positive that he didn't pass any the first time he ran by. Before her could backtrack his steps he heard someone calling for him in a panic, "Commander! Commander!" A Begnion soldier was running towards the stalled group of mercenaries.

The commander raised a questioning eyebrow at the frantic soldier. "The gates have been shut sir!"

"What?" Ike asked and the others around him turned and looked at the soldier in red with equal confusion.

He panted and bent with his hands on his thighs but managed to cough out his sentence, "When the last of the…soldiers made it through the gate…it…closed behind us…We tried…to open it…but it's sealed tight! We're trapped in here!"

There was a desperate and frantic quality to the soldier's speech. His eyes were darting rapidly in fear as he began to wring his hands around his spear. "Calm down." Ike commanded, "This isn't the time for you to lose your head."

The young man in scarlet armor closed his lips tightly before biting it; he could not contain his terror entirely but he had enough sense to keep his mouth closed after Ike's firm command.

Ike grumbled at the change in events. It seemed that Soren had been correct with his assumption. They had walked into a trap but there wasn't anything that Ike could do to change that fact. He spotted Soren a few feet away and he motioned crisply for the mage to come to his side.

"What do you need Ike?" Soren asked dutifully.

"What do we do here Soren?" Ike said with an expression that showed his unwavering trust in the mage.

Soren paused as he thought. He looked at each of the members gathered around him and visualized the reinforcements that would soon be coming around the other corner, effectively bottle necking their escape route. Though, it didn't' seem like there was an escape route any longer.

Soren cursed himself for underestimating the Daeins. He expected them to only have a half thought out plan that would be more of an irritation than an actual problem. Their exit was sealed off and at the other end of their charge was a mage waiting to send a fiery torrent to scorch them to ash. And the hallways were so thin that there wouldn't be much maneuvering that they could manage. The layout of the keep was perfect for Daein to outlast a siege.

The young man with dark long hair ran his pale hands down his face as he racked his brain. Finally he came up with an idea; though he didn't particularly like how thrown together it had to be. But it was a desperate time.

"I have a plan." He said finally. The group gathered around him, filled with anticipation. "Though, this plan is going to require a lot from two particular people. Brom and Gatrie."

Brom's eyelids fluttered quickly in surprise as he pointed to himself in disbelief. Gatrie snorted haughtily, not at all surprised that he would be charged with a crucial task. Soren spoke over the knights very different reactions and then pointed to the opening in the hallway, "The moment we step over there the fire mage will attack. We can't send the beast laguz through because they are susceptible to fire. Anyway, even sending a Beorc is a high risk. But, fortunately mages aren't capable of firing successive shots without having to reread the incantation; so once they fire the first blast we'll have a small window of time to send one or two people down the hall to clear the path."

"But how do we do that?" Ike said.

"This is where Brom and Gatrie come in. They are heavily armored and have large shields. If they place themselves in that opening, they can take the brunt of the blast and sustain a minimum amount of damage." Soren paused as he saw concern and a little bit of fear in Brom's eyes, "Well, less damage than anyone else." He added as a qualifier.

"Then what do we do?" Ikyna said as she processed the plan.

"After that first shot, someone will need to sprint down that hallway and kill the mage before they fire again."

The commander's face fell in a frown, "Someone?"

Soren nodded, fully aware who that someone would probably be, but not desirous for that outcome. Ike knew as well because he looked stiffly to his left at his sister who had also guessed. She was agile and fast, and probably the most likely to make it to the end of the hallway as the plan dictated.

Ikyna titled her head with a smirk, "Gosh, don't be so serious everyone." She cracked her neck on each side and popped her knuckles before grabbing a knife in each hand. Her brother was watching her with controlled worry, he didn't have to say anything though, Ikyna already knew what he was thinking.

She managed to chuckle good-naturedly as she stood. "You guys look like I've already been roasted." She flippantly remarked.

"Ikyna." Ike scolded tightly, not enjoying her casual attitude.

"I know, I know." She said quickly to calm her brother. "So Brom, Gatrie, can I count on you?"

Brom's armor creaked as he rubbed the back of his head, "Well I reckon if'n its gonna help y'all then I'll do my best." His armored hands then went to nervously rubbing his thigh guards. They sang discordantly as metal scraped against metal. Ikyna smiled softly at the gentle farmer; pitying him for his situation.

Gatrie spoke next with a dramatic clearing of his throat, "There is no greater glory than going into battle at the side of a beautiful lady." He gushed. Ikyna rolled her eyes and kicked Gatrie's blue armor.

"Save that kind of talk for bar girls." She snapped, "It doesn't work on me." Gatrie smiled generously at her; equally happy with her contempt as he was with another woman's bashful giggles.

The three mercenaries readied themselves to charge the corner. Ikyna's hands clinched and relaxed on the grips of her knives as she tried to steady her grasp. It was difficult to do as her hands began to sweat with anxiety.

She blew out a tense breath and jumped nervously in place.

"Ikyna?" Soren called with a twinge of uncertainty that was unlike him. "Are you sure you want to go with this plan?"

The archer heard the doubt and she couldn't help but grin. "I trust you." She said softly; too softly for Soren to feel at ease. His plan, though the best he could think of at the moment, was throwing a very important person into harm's way. He'd never forgive himself if any more harm happened to Ikyna.

Again she forced herself to laugh as she looked at all the grim faces staring at her, "Stop looking at me like that. You're all making me nervous." She joked.

But her laughter died quickly because she knew the danger was real. Ikyna glanced at her once injured arm and felt her anxiety grow at the thought of experiencing another blow like that; or even worse. There was no guarantee that she would be as fortunate this time.

When she could no longer bear to look at the distraught faces she turned and gave Brom and Gatrie two quick pats against their shoulder guards. They nodded in unison and trudged to the turn, waiting for the signal. Ikyna went to follow but she felt a tug at her arm.

It was Yakuzo, watching her once again with his wide kitten eyes. Looking like he was trying to hide his panic but was failing miserably. Ikyna wanted to say something smart but nothing came to mind; she could only divert her gaze from his to soothe her unease. If she looked at Yakuzo any longer she was afraid she would lose her nerve.

The Laguz sensed the change in Ikyna's demeanor. He cursed under his breath and let her go reluctantly. "Ikyna." He called as the archer started to walk away; she glanced over her shoulder, "I'll be right behind you." He said firmly.

Her lips curled slightly as she gave him a thumbs up then took her position behind the two armored knights. "On your signal commander." Gatrie called as his hand gripped his shield tightly.

"Gatrie, Brom, stay low behind your shields and don't come up to soon or you won't be protected." Soren began, "And Ikyna, once the flames fade you'll have around fifteen seconds to make it to the end of the hall and kill that mage. Once they are out of the way we can send in reinforcements, but," Soren paused, not wanting to say his own ominous warning. "But you only get one shot."

Ikyna nodded grimly, completely aware of what was at stake. "Understood."

Soren said no more, there was nothing else to add to his instructions. His words couldn't help them fight. They had to rely on their skills not simply his words. He looked at Ike whose brow had furrowed deeper than usual. Ike focused on his sister, stiller than a statue, then swallowed hard. It was time to move forward, not a time to hesitate. "Move!" he commanded.

Brom and Gatrie charged into the opening, bodies crouched and shields raised high. Their armors were touching as they crammed themselves shoulder to shoulder in the narrow hallway, barely leaving enough room for them to move if necessary. Ikyna was right behind them, placing herself in the best position to attack when possible. She knelt on the ground, her knuckles rubbing against the stone and she held herself steady against her hammering nerves.

The response of the enemy was almost instant. An indistinct voice chanted, Ikyna tried to listen and find where the voice was coming from, but the voice was soon drowned out by a deafening roar. The space that Ikyna could see was engulfed with red and orange light and the smell of brimstone. Soon the air's temperature shot up and burned like the blaze of a hearth.

"Stay down!" Gatrie's warning was swallowed by the moan of hail pummeling his shield. They beat fiercely against steel protection and both knights groaned with strain as they struggled to stay upright against the onslaught of molten rain.

Ikyna had to force her eyes open, resisting the urge to huddle in panic at the evident danger knocking against the mercenary shields as ash and hot embers were rolling off of the armor and smoking at Brom's feet. She raised her head and saw the beads of sweat forming over the brows of both men as they pushed back against the invading meteors.

The archer shuddered, this was the first time she'd experience magic like that. A magic that turned a building into a natural disaster. "Get ready!" Gatrie grunted through his gritted teeth as the attack started to die down, signaling Ikyna to be ready. Soren's words were ringing in her head, "Fifteen seconds."

Blood danced quickly in her veins and her heart rang with nerves and adrenalin as the patter of burning stones weakened. She waited for one last stone to clank against the iron and Gatrie gave her the signal. He and Brom sank further to the ground, opening a bigger area for Ikyna to move through quickly.

She flipped over the knights and used her nerves to her advantage. They took over and focused her on her task. That of staying alive and finding that magic user before he could attack again.

1, 2.

The hallway was longer than Ikyna expected and down its length it started to broaden enough for a sword user and soldier armed with a javelin to occupy the area with no hindrance. But Ikyna wasn't looking at them, her focus was locked on the slim person with red and gold robes frantically turning pages in his tome.

3, 4, 5.

First to attack was the man with the sword. He moved swiftly to meet Ikyna, the edge of his sword curved menacingly, probably a killing edge.

6, 7.

He made a broad swing toward Ikyna's chest, crying out with effort as he did so. Ikyna dodged to the ground, racing past him, with a reverse grip on her left knife that allowed her to slice through the side of the man's stomach. Her blade glided easily past flesh as she kept running. She didn't bother to check on her work to see if the soldier was dead; there wasn't time to do that.

8, 9, 10.

The man with the javelin hadn't charged like his fellow Daein. He was waiting like a guard in front of the fire mage. He spun his javelin in front of himself with skill as it whistled through the air, impatient for the enemy's blood. With a grunt he heaved the projectile spear at Ikyna.

11, 12

It came faster than she expected and she had to dive to the side then roll to keep up her momentum. But the soldier wasn't done. Another javelin was in his grasp as Ikyna scrambled to focus her sights on the mage again. She could see him holding his tome steady, lips already moving to form the dangerous spell.

13.

But she was close, close enough to see the sweat on the mage's face. She quickly switched both of her knives for smaller, lighter ones, knowing that if she could get to the mage in time, she'd have to kill him from a distance. With not enough time to calculate risks, Ikyna ran straight at the man with the javelin.

He hesitated, waiting for her to change direction or attack him. By the time he realized she would do nothing more than run straight at him she was too close for him to put enough force on his throw. He threw his javelin with a weak groan and it sailed with much less power. Ikyna had no problems avoiding its deadly tip as she nearly collided with the soldier.

14

Heat collected in the air and the smell of sulfur started to fill the room as the attack began again. The soldier tensed, thinking Ikyna would stab him but she dropped to her knees, snapping her arms forward with the swiftness of a viper's strike.

The Daein was surprised and confused as he stood frozen with her arms at his side. Then there was a pained moan and a thud and the oppressive heat fizzled away with a soft hiss. The soldier snapped his neck around to see his fire comrade on his back with a knife in his forehead and the other in his neck. His red tome had fallen and was soaking up the blood of its dead owner.

"15!" Ikyna said in both triumph and relief. The Daein did not share her feelings. He made an enraged cry above her, a spear already reequipped in his hand and ready to pierce her. But he was too slow to complete his kill.

A roar that was just as angered, if not more so, than the enemy soldier's, sailed over Ikyna's head as a beast tackled her assailant to the ground. There was a cry of surprise that was immediately gobbled up by Yakuzo's fangs as they sank into the soft flesh of the enemy's throat.

When he lifted his maw he spat skin and blood from his mouth in disgust and growled once more at the corpse. "Thanks." Ikyna said as she stood, already unhooking two more knives from the loops on her shorts.

"Are you alright Ikyna?" Ike said as he caught up with the Laguz and Beorc. Ikyna nodded as she sized her brother up briefly. A frown marred her face when she spotted a fresh red stain on Ike's calf. The commander saw the question and concern in his twin's cerulean eyes, "It's someone else's blood." He spoke calmly.

His sister nodded slowly as understanding set in; she probably hadn't killed the man with the sword from earlier.

"Is everything okay?" she finally asked.

Soren and Aeyori ran up as Ike nodded. "Yes, the three of you were perfect. Brom was a little burned but Mist is taking care of him." Ike pointed over his shoulder with his thumb and Ikyna followed the direction where she saw her small sister waving her blue staff over Brom as he smiled bashfully.

"So now what?" Ikyna directed at Soren who was silently taking in the surroundings of the castle. The hall before them had widened but was still narrow in comparison to the overly spacious halls of the Begnion castles. It zigzagged all the way down like stairs and then curved, limiting the team's ability to see the full layout of the castle.

"They have us where they want us. Our movement is restricted by space and direction." He pointed to a corner up ahead of the group, "That's where the main force is waiting for us. They've made it so we can't sneak up on them." He grunted in irritation, "It's a rather well thought up plan to hold of an enemy's siege."

"Well it would be stupid to think this was going to be easy. " Ike said and slung his sword over his shoulder. He turned to the men starting to slowly trickle in past Brom and Gatrie. "The only place we can go is forward."

The small group around him nodded and turned their attention to the next curve of the hall. They'd made it past Daein's first trap but the rest of the battle was still to come. Ike made his way to the front of the group, his eyes shifted to a steely blue of determination as with one quick wave of his hand he kicked into a run and his men followed.

)(

Mist yelped as she heard the sound a walls crumbling against the heat of war. A Daein knight had been brutally slammed into the stone barrier by Jill's wyvern. It pinned the black armored man against rubble with its talons as Jill decapitated him.

The young girl with chestnut hair cringed and looked away from the grizzly sight. After fighting in so many battles, she still wasn't used to the carnage that came with war. Her hands shook against her mend staff as she tried to shove away the gory images from her mind.

Roars were heard in the distance and she could hear indistinct shouting on the other side of the wall that was protecting her and her injured allies. She didn't know who was screaming, but she prayed it wasn't one of her friends. But this fight had been dragging on for hours, and she'd seen more than one ally wounded severely, and even those who had died before her staff could save them.

Not one of the mercenaries though, and Mist was thankful for that. "Hurry it up Mist!" Boyd demanded over her as he tensely scanned the battlefield, axe clutched tightly in his battle ready palms.

"I know, I know." She retorted back with as much indignation as she could. It wasn't much though, she was too worried about healing Nephenee. The halberdier was clutching her abdomen as her teal cloths darkened with blood. A steel axe had managed to find its mark before the skilled spear woman could end the enemy's life.

The cut wasn't too deep but it was bleeding enough to make the country girl wheeze as she gasped for breath that she could not catch. "Just hold on." Mist said as she waved the aqua orb over the injury.

Nephenee's face tightened in pain and she groaned as the wounds stitched themselves together. Finally her pained features relaxed and she could breathe easier as most of her pain fled; all except the bruises that could be healed another time.

"Thank you kindly Mist." Nephenee said with a blush, still embarrassed to speak in front of others because of her accent.

"Not a problem." She said with a smile that was warm and tender, the exact opposite of the brutal battle raging around the corner.

"Alright let's go Mist." Boyd said impatiently, "We've got to keep moving."

Mist clicked her tongue at Boyd's rudeness but said nothing as she stood. The green haired warrior who Ike had assigned to protect her had her mare by the reigns to steady it as Mist mounted the brown animal. She adjusted herself on the saddle as she spoke, "You should be fighting ready now Nephenee, but if you need anything else, you can fall back behind Gatrie and Brom." She pointed to the slowly approaching caravan of soldiers. Gatrie and Brom were still faithfully acting as shields, though this time, they were guarding princess Elincia.

Nephenee nodded and gave a quick salute as Boyd and Mist took off. Boyd kept pace with the horse's canter despite the weight of his axe and heavy fur clothing. The young healer couldn't help but appreciate the warrior's athleticism. Boyd saw Mist staring at him, saw hidden approval in her sapphire eyes, then he groaned, blushed a little, then barked, "You sure took your time back there."

Mist shook herself out of her daydream and frowned. Embarrassed that she was caught staring and annoyed by Boyd's curt words. "You can't rush healing people." She snapped back tightly as the sounds of screaming and yelling became louder.

"Yeah but you don't need to spend all that time talking. We only have you as a healer on the front lines. Rhys is back with the princess. You can't be dilly dallying!"

"Dilly dallying!" She repeated furiously. Mist did not feel that she was wasting time in any form. She clicked her teeth at Boyd's comment and kicked her mare into a gallop as she saw a thin moat of water running past. The group had learned that the keep had several partitions of water that broke the layout into sections, making it harder to find a direct route to the main room.

The horse leapt over the water with a heavy snort and landed on the other side. Boyd was yelling angrily as he stopped at the water's edge. "Get back here Mist!" he complained.

Her young eyes twinkled smugly, "What do you mean Boyd? I can't go back; there's no time to dilly dally."

She didn't wait for him to respond but turned immediately, though not so fast that she couldn't have the satisfaction of seeing Boyd's gaping mouth when his own words were tossed back in his face. He'd have to take the long way around to catch up with her and she couldn't help but smile as she thought that it served him right for talking down to her.

Her small triumph was cut short as a mage ran in front of her. She tried to equip her sonic sword but the mage had already started his incantation. Fiery dark clouds formed over his head as he summoned a flaming storm. He swung his arm forward and sent the flames charging at his command.

The horse whinnied in panic and reared on its hind legs as heat reached them. Mist reflexively brought her arm up to shield her face but before she could a cool wind cut in front of her, crashing into the flaming torrent.

The two elemental forces clashed and roared angrily against one another. Emerald and molten orange spun in a deadly dance of flame and wind. Mist's scream was swallowed up and she was thrown off her horse and onto the ground. She coughed as her breath was knocked from her lungs but sat up quickly despite her bodies aching protest.

Her knees kicked and scraped against hard stone as she scrambled to get away from the heated tornado that had shot up to the ceiling. The flame was stronger clearly, but enough of the momentum had been taken from the elfire attack to stop it.

Finally the blazing spiral dissipated with a loud hiss. Mist turned to see Soren with his tome open, his hair still swaying from his magic. Next to him was Aeyori, her palm was raised and from it swirled an intense light that gathered and grew until it was a large sphere. Aeyori swung her hand down and with it sailed the light toward the enemy mage.

The orb split into smaller orbs that surrounded the mage then burst, engulfing the enemy in explosions of light that swallowed his cries of pain. He staggered weakly after the attack ended then fell down dead.

"Mist are you alright?" Ike was calling his sister's name.

She was dazed but fine as she stood with a wince then nodded. Ike's large hands went from her hair to her cheek to her shoulders, carefully inspecting his little sister. When he was confident she really was fine he gave a quick nod and drew back his hand.

"Aeyori, Soren, let's keep moving forward!" he commanded and the mages both nodded in return.

"Steady your horse." Ike said gruffly but with no menace.

Mist found her horse in a corner, raking its hooves nervously against the stone with is ears flattened against its skull. The healer whistled and the mare raised its head and ears at the familiar call. It hesitated briefly then trotted back to its master.

Mist caught the animal's long face in her hands as she stroked its nose soothingly. The mare nuzzled her master appreciatively as she snorted. "Where's Boyd?" her brother asked with a scowl.

As Mist was about to answer Boyd shouted her name bitterly. He was running up behind her, his axe slung over his back and a scowl as menacing as his weapon's edge. It seemed that he had finally caught up with her after her last escape.

"What are you doing Boyd?" Ike questioned as his friend huffed up to them.

Boyd practically snarled as he answered, "The little brat took off without me."

"I'm not a brat!" she retorted.

"Mist!" Ike spoke tightly, irritation evident. Mist and Boyd both winced and the younger sister dared to turn sheepishly toward her brother, who was acting very commander like.

"I assigned Boyd to protect you so you could move about freely on the battle field and heal our allies. Don't run off and put yourself and him in danger."

Mist dropped her gaze in embarrassment. She didn't like being scolded. Finally she gave a small weak nod, but never lifted her head to meet his authoritative scowl. "That's good enough." He said with a short sigh. Mist could practically hear him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Get on your horse and get moving." But that time his voice was softer as he found his control once again.

The youngest sibling heard her brother's tone soften. "Yes commander." She said and shot Boyd a somewhat apologetic look. He shrugged, never being one to hold a grudge for too long, and was at her side forming a stirrup with his hands to boost her onto the horse.

Just has she was settling into the saddle a familiar voice shouted. "Maurim! No!"

The group exchanged worried glances and turned towards the noise. Next Mist heard her sister's voice, "Mist! Where are you? We need you now!"

Mist looked at her brother who pointed towards Ikyna's distraught voice, "Don't stand around, go help them!" She nodded before sticking her hand out to Boyd. He looked at her palm in confusion then up at her.

An impatient eyebrow was raised when he saw her, "Come on, get up here. We have to hurry!" she pressed urgently. Boyd's lashes batted in surprise before he could focus. He grunted in agreement and climbed on the horse who gave little protest at having another rider.

Boyd's arms reached around Mist's waist and she yelped quietly as her back was pressed into his solid and warm chest. He muttered a quick apology, darkened around his cheeks, cursed, then grabbed the reins from Mist's hands. "Hold on." He said gruffly and snapped the leather straps, sending the mare into a gallop.

Ikyna's voice became more urgent as Mist and Boyd neared the source of the mercenary distress. They turned down the stair like corner, hopped over the moat of water and sped onward without hesitation. "There!" Mist shouted as she spotted her sister's cerulean braid.

Again Ikyna called for Mist but there was strain in her voice as she struggled against a Daein warrior with a steel axe and a thin soldier with an iron sword. The swordsman was not nearly as skilled as the axe wielder but Ikyna was barely managing to fend off both fighters.

Boyd pulled the horse's reigns, it snorted as it dug its hooves into the ground and stopped. Mist and Boyd leapt from the animal, overcome with desperate urgency as they could finally understand the situation completely. Yakuzo was kneeling and panting, no longer in his cat form, helplessly watching Ikyna battle two men.

Mist ran by him, caught his eye, but he shook his head and waved her forward. He was not the one who needed attention. Mist didn't hesitate to go on as she followed the Laguz's gesture to where the real problem was. Maurim's body was a limp mound of green fur under Tormod's weeping one.

Instinctively Mist pulled out her psychic staff as she ran. She waved it and sent a shower of blue light over both mercenaries, fearing that if she waited to act she would be too late. Tormod paused as the healing rays drifted over him like a soothing waterfall.

Mist slid to his side, searching the motionless tiger for wounds, then looking to the teary eyed Tormod. "Help him Mist. He's the only family I got." He cried as he gripped his red robe tightly.

"I'll try." She said but couldn't help glancing toward her sister who was being pushed back as the warrior and swordsman took turns slashing and stabbing at her. Mist started to stand, the need to save her sister overwhelming the problem in front of her, but a hand on her shoulder kept her seated.

"Don't worry, I've got her." Boyd said as he ran passed with a shout.

Mist trusted her guardian but she sent another psychic wave Ikyna's direction for good measure before focusing completely on Maurim. She had healed him, she was sure of that because he had no more scars on his body, but still he was not moving.

With a confused scowl she scanned the body slowly, taking in as much information as she could. She couldn't understand why he was still lying on the ground when he had no wounds to show.

"Is he dead?" Tormod asked with a hiccup.

The healer didn't answer right away. She put her hand on Maurim's flank and smiled in relief. Though it was slow, the tiger was breathing. "He's not dead." She assured the young fire mage whose eyes dilated is disbelief.

"He's not?" he wiped snot and tears alike from his face as he leaned closer to Mist.

She shook her head, "No, he's just sleeping. A priest probably used a staff on him." Mist concluded as she remembered some lessons that Rhys had taught her about the variations of magic and staffs.

"Can you help him?"

"Yes Tormod." She said gently as she stood and ran to her horse to fetch her restore staff. When she returned she held the emerald orb over the tiger. The green glow settled over the slumbering Laguz like a blanket, then gradually faded.

Tormod's breath was held in anxious anticipation. Finally the tiger stirred. He grumbled, moaned, stretched his legs and paws, until at last his green eyes fluttered open. Maurim looked sleepily at the fiery young boy before him then frowned lightly.

His rough cat tongue darted between his maw to clean the tears from the child's dirty face, "Why are you crying little one?" Tormod did not respond with anything more then another outburst of tears as he threw his arms around the tiger's neck in a desperate relieved hug.

Maurim continued to question his little one, having no recollection of falling asleep at all. Mist smiled, happy to have fixed the problem, and stood to find her sister. She turned in time to see Boyd finishing off the warrior with his bare hands; his fists beat the enemy fiercely into the unforgiving floor. No weapons, just sheer grit.

Ikyna was having similar success as she side stepped the soldier's lunge enough to miss attack but not so much that she was too far away to end his life as swiveled behind him, reaching her arms out to break his neck. The snap was loud and made Mist's stomach churn when she heard it, and then the man fell down; his body decorated the floor next to his fallen comrade.

Boyd stood, shook his bruised and bloodied knuckles out, before wiping them against his cloths. He searched for his discarded axe and lifted it from the ground, its sharp edge scrapped against the stone before he threw it across his shoulder.

Ikyna followed after, rubbed a sore spot on her arm, then glanced at Tormod and Maurim. The red head was still clinging to the tiger with all of his might. Boyd scoffed, "What a punk. Falling to pieces in the middle of a battle."

"He thought his best friend has died, Boyd." Ikyna said with a disapproving shake of her head.

"This is war. You can't stop fighting when you lose someone. I mean, he left you high and dry over there with those two soldiers." Boyd's point was valid and they both knew it. If Boyd hadn't shown up when he had, Ikyna could have been the one who was dead.

But she shrugged, "You shouldn't act like you would do any better in that situation. Imagine if that were, Oscar, Rolf, or Mist."

Boyd opened his mouth to protest but found that there was nothing he could say. Ikyna was right to bring out Boyd's own vulnerability; but he didn't like thinking of losing those people who were so important to him. He grumbled compliantly but said nothing else on the matter.

By this time Mist had caught up with them and Yakuzo was close behind her. He was looking at his feet guiltily, still upset that he was too tired to last long enough to protect her when Maurim had gone down during the fight.

Ikyna gave him a reassuring pat on the back when they met, "I'm fine." She assured him. His answering smile was weak but there none the less.

"Maurim and Tormod will be fine. He was just asleep." Mist began addressing the three mercenaries. "Probably a priest with a staff."

Ikyna nodded, "I saw him, but Yakuzo killed him right after he put Maurim to sleep I guess." She pumped her shoulders. She could only assume that the priest Yakuzo had mauled was responsible for the strange attack. After his death, no one else seemed to succumb to Maurim's ailment.

"So where is everyone else?" Boyd asked, ready to refocus on the fight.

Yakuzo pointed to his left where there was a fork in the paths. "Titania, Oscar, Shinon and Rolf took that route a little while ago. Mia and Zihark are further up ahead on our route."

Boyd looked down the hall in front of the group, he could see bodies scattered down its cobbled length.

"Is the throne room down that way?"

"That's what we think." Ikyna said, not able to hide the tiredness and fatigue in her voice. It had been a long fight, hours of slow progress against strong enemies had worn down her weapons and spirit. But she hoped that it was just a little farther to Ashnard. If they were lucky, Oscar and his group had already reached it.

"Ikyna!"

The twin shot her head up as her voice was called from above. Brown and white feathers drizzled overhead as the hawks and heron descended. Janaff shifted with a screech as he landed and Ulki returned to his more Beorc form.

Reyson landed softly, almost soundlessly, on the stone. He was in his Beorc form as well as he approached the gathering of mercenaries. "Prince Reyson." She said as a mixture of excitement and embarrassment overcame her.

At first she couldn't decide what she felt until she caught Yakuzo's scowl of disapproval and her mortification took over immediately. As Reyson came closer, all she could remember was the way his fingers felt as they circled her tight forehead.

"I haven't seen you since last night." The words came out before she could reign them in and she blushed in horror.

Reyson's lips quirked in the slightest smirk as he savored the memory of cradling Ikyna as she slept. But he didn't linger on the thought for long as he watched Ikyna's face darken the longer he kept silent. Graciously he put her out of her misery.

"Yes, Janaff, Ulki, and I were in a much later wave of the attack than you were. By the time we entered the keep, you were long gone." He tilted his head and offered a smile of barely masked amusement as he watched the last flecks of scarlet recede from the twin's cheeks, "But I'm glad to see you're alright."

Then Yakuzo broke up the conversation, sick of the palpable flirtatious atmosphere between the bird and the Beorc. It was a war, for the goddess's sake, there was no time for his subtle glances and her sudden shyness.

"We need to keep moving." He demanded, possessively grabbing Ikyna's arms and pulling her away from the heron.

Ikyna made a weak protest, she was too tired to do much more, until Reyson called to her. "Wait, let me restore your energy." He offered.

"Beast Laguz aren't frail like you herons. I don't need your help." The cat was intentionally curt when he spoke. No effort was made to be civil and both hawk attendants tensed at his rough speech. They watched the beast Laguz carefully with barely veiled anger at his rudeness.

Reyson felt the change in the hawk's demeanor and he made a small gesture for them to settle down before another fight began. "I'm sure you are fine." Reyson began steadily, "But have you considered Ikyna might need what you don't? Beorc are stronger than herons, but they still lack stamina like yours Yakuzo."

The laguz looked shortly at Ikyna who looked mostly annoyed that the cat was dragging her against her will. But when he paused to really study her he could see her chest rising with labored breathing and bloodshot eyes that were clear signs of her tiredness.

He dropped her hand roughly, more mad at the heron who had spoken to him like a he was a child than with Ikyna. She frowned, rubbed her wrist that Yakuzo had clutched to tightly, and then turned to Reyson.

The prince was already flying towards her as he shifted into his elegant bird form. "Boyd and Mist, gather around as well." he urged and the Beorc crowded around him. Reyson flew until he was floating over their heads. They raised their eyes to watch him as he began to sing a melody now familiar to Ikyna.

Fatigue gave way to strength as the sweet melody coiled around the weary warriors like a golden stream. They smiled and moved their revitalized muscles in awe.

"That's amazing!" Boyd shouted boisterously, reveling in his sudden energy.

The complement warmed Reyson's heart. He was glad to be of some use in a battle even when he couldn't fight. He caught Ikyna's eye as she mouthed 'thank you' and he grinned, unable to control his gratified reaction. But at the same time Ikyna was thankful, Yakuzo just looked irked. "Are you sure you don't need any help?" he offered to appease the cat.

"No, I'm fine." He snapped.

Ikyna elbowed him and he glared at her before sighing, "Thank you though." He mumbled bitterly.

"Very well then." Reyson began, satisfied with the arrangement, "Shall we keep going?"

The group all nodded in agreement as Ulki flew over to them. His sharp hawk ears were alert to all the changes of the battle. His fellow hawk brother questioned what he was hearing, "I hear the rest of the group. It seems they are about to enter the throne room. Commander Ike appears to have met up with the Oscar's men and Mia's group."

"Then we should follow them quickly!" Reyson advised and took off without any further conversation.

The hawk attendants panicked and flew after the white bird. "Wait prince Reyson, don't fly off on your own like that. It's too dangerous!"

)(

Ike kicked the last remaining Daein soldier into a wall. He went to finish his job but Soren and Aeyori were quick to end the poor soul's life with each of their own tomes. The soldier was swallowed in wind and light before he perished.

When the man was dead Ike paused to catch his breath; he felt like he'd been at a dead sprint for hours, but that was just the wear of the long fight. The men around him seemed to be faring about the same, all looking tired, but with no major injuries.

It was surprising to see them looking so well considering how unexpected the course of the fight had been. But the men pulled together well and made his job easier. Ike didn't have to worry about much commanding when Soren was rattling of brilliant plans one after another and his mercenaries responded so well. Even Soren and Aeyori were getting along well enough. Although Soren was far from being kind, the two of them fighting together had worked out nicely and saved him a lot of hurt during the course of the fight.

The commander did have one major concern however. He still wondered what had happened with his sisters. Ikyna had shouted for help and Mist and Boyd had taken off in her direction. Ike tried to follow but had taken the wrong fork in the castle which lead him to Oscar and Titania's group of fighters.

Now that Ike's group was safe, at least for the time being while they regrouped, he was worried about his siblings. Fortunately he didn't have to wait long. Before he could even be cooled from his sweat he spotted Reyson flying fast toward him and behind, well behind the pair of frantic hawk attendants, Ikyna and Mist were coming.

"Big brother!" Mist called from her horse that she and Boyd were riding.

Ike waved to his sister, raised a queer eyebrow at Boyd, then turned to Ikyna. She didn't look hurt nor unhappy so Ike assumed whatever she needed Mist for had been resolved. "Is everything okay?"

Ikyna nodded as she looked over her shoulder at Tormod and Maurim bringing up the rear of the group, "Yeah, we are all fine."

"Good." He said, "Because the real fight begins once we turn that corner." He pointed toward a large opening down the hall. Ikyna could see light coming from what she imagined to be a large room and she noticed the trim of a red carpet runner.

"Is that the throne room?" she questioned.

"Yes. We've routed all the enemy soldiers, now all that's left that room."

"You mean Ashnard, right?"

Ike nodded gravely, gave his sister's shoulder a squeeze, then walked toward Oscar and Titania who were closest to the opening. "On my lead." He commanded and his men assembled quickly. They threw their tiredness away as Mist used the last of her psychic to heal the group, preparing them for the last battle.

Ike took his place in front, Soren at one side and Aeyori on the other. She'd handled herself well throughout the fight. Whatever she was dealing with, hadn't hampered her fighting. He knew he shouldn't ask but he couldn't resist showing his concern, "Are you ready?" he asked.

With lashes that fluttered over scarlet irises she looked to her commander. She saw his familiar scowl and the worry he was trying to hide. It was only a little longer that she had to last for him so she swallowed her anxieties. They would be there later on anyway. "Yes, I'm ready." She said resolutely.

Ike didn't ask any more questions. He turned away from her as if he was literally ripping his eyes away from the fear he could see her trying to swallow. He told himself that it was one more fight and then he'd have the talk with Aeyori he needed.

His sword was then raised to the ceiling, darkened from dry blood but still gleaming. "Forward!"

At his command the mercenaries broke out in a war cry and man, woman, and animal sprinted forward. They thought they were ready for what Ashnard would pit against them and they thought they had the confidence to face it; but they were wrong. Their cries were stopped in their throats when they turned into the throne room and saw what was waiting for them in front of the king's throne.

Silence fell except for gasps of surprise and confusion. Only Ike was able to speak through his shock, "A dragon? What is a Goldoan dragon doing here?" he said as both a question and a demand to the large pink lizard before him and his men.

Behind him he heard similar whispers in agreement. Bafflement and astonishment was the main focus of the tremors of discussion as they looked at the large Laguz planted firmly before their eyes like a winged century.

"It can't be." Aeyori gasped.

Ike turned to look at his mage, he was going to agree with her statement but when he saw her expression he froze. He expected to the same shock in her face as was on his and the mercenaries who were with him. But what he saw was much different.

Aeyori's eyes were widened, but not in simple shock, there was horror across her face. She gaped as she took steps back and her soft features screwed into an expression of mortification and something darker that Ike couldn't name.

And then her fists clinched and her red irises flashed like a strike of lightning; that was when Ike could name the emotion. It was anger and fury, and a fraction of contempt that painted themselves across her face.

Her drastic mood change startled Ike. He'd never seen a look like that from Aeyori. "Aeyori?" he questioned cautiously.

"Ike, commander of the mercenaries and Begnion army, I have been awaiting your arrival."

Ike turned sharply, though reluctantly from Aeyori, when the dragon's voice spoke his name. He wanted to question Aeyori but there was another pressing matter at hand. Ike faced the dragon, taking in the sight of the large Laguz and remembered the first time he had seen one. The size and strong presence of the Laguz was unlike any other he'd met. Tall like a giant with horns and spikes that coated her muscular body, the Goldoan stood proudly as her long tail swayed and scraped against the ground.

"You know who I am?" Ike questioned as he took a step forward slowly. His men went to follow and he halted them with a sharp wave of his hand.

"Indeed I do Commander Ike." The dragon said with unnerving politeness.

Ike didn't want to let the sudden surprise rattle him. He shook of his unease and stared the dragon straight in her indigo eyes. "Who are you? What is a Goldoan dragon doing in Daein?"

Ike thought he saw her smile, though it was hard to tell past curved spikes and teeth that adorned her mouth and jaw. "My name is Ena and I am here to end your participation in this war." She cordially explained.

The commander scowled and swept his hand through the air across his chest dismissively, "I don't want to fight you. I'm only hear for Ashnard. Bring him out so we can end this." His speech was rising with impatience. He and his men had been through too long of a fight to deal with people who wanted to stall.

Ena folded her clawed arms in front of her self, "Unfortunately that is not possible. Ashnard is not in Daein. He is in Crimean. I have been left behind to deal with the invaders." She titled her head, "Come mercenary general, let us fight so that I may finish this battle quickly."

Ike wanted to scoff, yell, and several other things but he settled for an exasperated glare. Not only had Ashnard wasted his time with all the traps in the castle, he hadn't bothered to even be there. Ike blew out an aggravated breath through his nose as he made one last attempt to persuade the dragon to let him and his men pass.

"Ena…"

"How can you be here!?" Aeyori interrupted loudly.

Ike turned sharply to look at the light mage; but not just him, all the other mercenaries gaped at her outburst. All were shocked by her uncharacteristic action. Aeyori was never one to speak out of turn, but when Ike looked at her he saw her lips were pulled back in a semi snarl and her fists were clenched angrily as she shook where she stood.

Yet what she had done was not as surprising as what she said, or perhaps, not what she said, but how she said. She wasn't just asking a simple question, she was demanding an explanation and accusing the dragon at the same time. But the accusation wasn't simply stirred by anger from Ashnard's deceit like how Ike felt; there was something deeply personal about the way she asked. Aeyori's inquiry was personally from her and directly for the Goldoan.

Ike could tell by the way Aeyori was watching Ena, and so could the dragon. Aeyori's striking eyes were locked on the pink dragon like a trained hunter. They didn't flicker or blink as she stared directly into Ena's animal eyes.

After a beat Ena could not return Aeyori's glower. She lowered her head and looked contrite as she spoke in a low voice, "I have my reasons." She said. And although all could hear, it was clear the last words were directed solely to Aeyori.

Ike looked between the enraged and sheepish women. It was like they were having a separate conversation all on their own. Ages seemed to pass as they were locked in their silent debate until Ena lifted her eyes. She hesitated, then set her scaled jaw in a determined line, "But regardless, I will not let you pass. Your fight ends here mercenaries."

Aeyori clicked her tongue, "So be it." She cursed and opened her tome to attack. Before Ike could caution her or say anything her light tome was circling Ena. The dragon let out a long heavy roar and she lowered her mouth and showed her dangerous rows of sharp teeth.

The light exploded and crackled all around and Ena bellowed in outrage as she fought against the enemy she could not catch. As the light started to fade Ena lifted her head to the ceiling as magenta flames began to collect around her jaw.

There was a high pitch whistling that started as the flames grew around the dragon's open maw. Ike cursed at the ugly turn events as he quickly shouted orders to his men; splitting them into smaller groups that could surround the oversized wyvern.

They scattered from before Ena as she let her long stream of fiery breath burst from her mouth. It billowed out as the last of the mercenaries jumped from its grasp. Stone was left scorched in the flames wake and walls crumbled against the extreme heat.

The mercenaries were stunned by the destruction left by one attack as they saw smoke rising from charred ground. But they were quick to regroup at Ike's urgin; he yelled for them to get their senses and start a group attack. There was no way they would be able to fight the dragon one on one.

Rolf and Shinon were fast after the command. They found the best vantage points and sent a storm of arrows charging at the dragon. She howled angrily at the arrows as they struck and snapped against her natural armor. There was little damage to show other than the fact that Ena was more irritated. She raised her head again to shoot more of her dragon's breath.

This time Maurim was there on the attack. He used the walls to bounce high enough to reach the dragon's neck. His claws caught the thick and long muscle and Ena shook as she let off a stream of fire without aiming.

It ripped through the ceiling sending chunks of crumbling stone plummeting down onto the mercenaries. They shouted and jumped out of the way of the falling rocks that crashed to the floor and sent dirt and dust exploding into the air.

Maurim was still hanging on as Ena roared defiantly. "Keep her occupied!" Tormod shouted with his tome open and ready for an attack. His incantation was ready when Ena unexpectedly jumped and came crashing down to the floor. The room shook with a force of her weight baring down on it and Tormod's spell missed as the stone floor cracked and shook, sending him falling to his butt.

The green tiger was also jostled from Ena's back. He fell with hiss but landed on his feet. Ena spun quickly and swung her tail to the ground where Maurim was standing. He jumped out of the reach of its spiked end just in time to avoid being impaled.

Next Ulki attacked. His talons dug into her back as Yakuzo charged her feet. Ulki managed to clip a few portions of skin from her back as he darted quickly past her. She was strong but not as fast the hawk and the feline clawing at her legs was not helping.

Ena stomped her feet viciously and sent Yakuzo scrambling as he weaved in between her large claws; barely avoiding being crushed. He escaped by running under her legs and behind her but Ena swiveled in time to catch Yakuzo with her tail.

The feline was batted into the wall with a loud crash and he slid down with a groan. Ikyna called his name in horror and Ulki screeched as he dove again. Ena was wise to the attack by that time as she opened her jaw and moved it in a figure eight motion as she sprayed her dragon's breath.

Magenta flames and smoke erupted through the room and its walls and floors shook against the attack. They quivered and cried as more parts of the castle started to give way. Ulki had to retreat but Ena tried to pursue him.

Before she could catch him in her jaw, Shinon and Rolf fired another round of arrows. Again they did little damaged to her scaled skin but they distracted her enough to let Ulki escape with no more than a few burns to his tail feathers.

Ike watched in horror and amazement at the strength of the dragon. He had never imagined that they would be as formidable as Ena. Even with all the members coordinating their attacks, Ena was more than holding her own against mercenaries.

"Ike, you're smothering me." Aeyori said below him

He quickly raised his chest, he had tackled the mage and covered her when Ena had tried to blast them, and looked at her quizzically. The fury that was once in her eyes was gone, she looked like her normal self again as if she hadn't just thoughtlessly engaged a dragon in a fight.

"What were you thinking!?" he questioned harshly, "Why would you attack when we hadn't thought of a plan." He stood slowly, flinched when her Jill's wyvern cry as it was swatted by Ena, then sighed. This was not the time to scolding anyone. He could do that when they survived, if they survived.

As it was Aeyori didn't look like she was going to answer. She looked as if she didn't even know why she acted the way she did. "Never mind." He groaned, "We'll finish this discussion later. Are you ready to finish what you started?" He said, letting one last stinging remark come through to remind her of her mistake.

Aeyori flinched but nodded.

"Good." He said, "Then let's go!"

The two mercenaries started to charge towards their friends; Ike with his sword out and Aeyori with her tome ready and open. The fight wasn't looking much better. Oscar and Titania's horses were only partially useful as they teetered between ready and afraid whenever Ena roared.

Ikyna was shouting at Mist to check on Yakuzo as she tossed knives at the dragon. The short blades seemed to be even less effective than the archer's arrows. But they were distracting Ena as she swiped at the sailing arrows and knives like she was in a swarm of bees.

But she wasn't occupied for long. Mist called back to Ikyna that Yakuzo was breathing and that she'd heal him and those words caught Ena's attention. She sensed the weak enemy and reared her head back to fire another shot.

Ike and Aeyori saw the murderous intent and the predatory eyes locked on the chestnut haired girl's position. The commander froze in horror as from Ena's mouth flooded the deadly flames.

"Oh no you don't." a new voice shouted. It Tauroneo who charged into the fray and ran into the dragon with his full armor and shield. Ike almost cheered when he saw his new ally already proving to be invaluable.

Ike had stumbled upon the knight dressed in elaborate pearl colored armor earlier during the fight. Tauroneo was a former comrade of Ike's father, and when he found out that Greil was dead he refused to fight against such a great soldier's children. Fortunately Ike was able to convince the bearded man to join his army.

It was thanks to that added member that Ena was being pushed off of her footing. Ena was heavy, but the surprise and Tauroneo's momentum pushed her over and made her molten blast sail diagonally across the room.

Ike should have rejoiced, he wanted to, but he realized his sister's life was far from safe. Ena's beam had missed burning Mist and Yakuzo but its new direction crushed a support beam of the throne room. Ike started running, Aeyori behind him, as blocks of stone and brick began to fall. Ike called his sister's name as she turned to him in fear. She reached for him as a chunk of ceiling collapsed on top of her.

"Mist!" Ike and Ikyna yelled, both twins sprinted to their younger sister's aid. Not knowing what they would find but knowing that had to rush to Mist's side.

"Mist where are you?" Ikyna cried desperately as she started pushing rubble out of the way. Angst and panic churned in her stomach like a swarm and Ikyna felt herself starting to cry. It couldn't be happening again, not now, not to her baby sister when she'd just lost her father. She turned and saw Ike, his normally calm face was etched with worry as he dug besides her.

"Mist where-"

"I'm over here! Help!"

"We're coming Mist!" the twins shouted in unison as they scrambled over fallen debris to find their sibling.

They spotted her on the other side, coughing as dust started to clear. Ikyna reached her first, grabbed her arms tightly, almost painfully, and Ike was next; frantically searching her small body. "Are you okay? Where do you hurt?" Ikyna asked.

"I'm fine." Mist insisted, tears of distress were starting to collect in her eyes, "Yakuzo pulled me out of the mess." She cried.

Ike started to stroke her brown hair and Ikyna shushed her, neitherr sibling paying attention to the struggles of mercenaries and dragon behind them. "Then why are you crying sweetie?" Ikyna cooed.

"Because…because Boyd is the one who pushed me out of the way first when the ceiling came down."

"Boyd?" Ike asked, he didn't remember seeing Boyd by his sister.

Mist nodded as her tears fell faster and she pointed to the pile of rubble and rocks, "He pushed me out of the way to save me but the rock hit him instead."

The siblings and Aeyori followed Mist's dirty shaking hand to the pile of rubble that could have been the healer's grave. The twins exchanged grim looks and stood slowly, "Stay here Mist." Ike commanded as he walked toward the pile, preparing for the worst.

Boyd was exactly where Mist had pointed. Ike knelt down by his friend and winced when he saw the deep gash on the warrior's forehead. It was steadily bleeding but Ike could see his friend's chest slowly rising.

"Is he dead?" Ikyna asked fearfully when she walked up behind her brother, Aeyori at her heels.

Ike shook his head, "No, he's alive but he'll need some treatment really quick. We have to move him and get him to Mist."

The mage and female twin nodded. Aeyori turned to follow the fallen boy's body and she gasped. "He's buried under the rocks I think."

Ike cursed and passed his hands roughly through his hair. "Come one, we have to get him out of here before the rest of this ceiling gives way." He crawled over to the clumps of stone burying Boyd, "Or worse-" Ike began but was unable to finish because worse began to happen.

"You guys look out!" Rolf screeched and turned the three mercenary's heads.

They watched as Ena clawed at the ground. Tauroneo and Jill had managed to pin the dragon to the floor but she was wrestling back with eagerness. A sudden burst of energy sent her wings flapping, blowing dust and ashes into the air in all directions. She roared as she struggled to stand against Jill's wyvern and Tauroneo's strength. But eventually she prevailed. Shooting her neck up, she threw Tauroneo and the green lizard off her neck as she started to charge toward Ike and his group again. With a roar filled with unmasked blood lust, Ena opened her jaw wide.

"Look out!" Maurim called as he rammed into the dragon's side with his head. Ena growled viciously as she lost her balance and crashed into the wall that no longer had a support beam. The room shook once more and creaked as the remaining sections of stone broke away and fell.

Ike Grabbed Ikyna and tucked her under his chest. Then he looked for Aeyori, called her name as he reached for her, but then time seemed to slow as his brain desperately tried to make since of what was happening. Aeyori stood up in front of him and sister and Boyd, not a lick of fear in her eyes. Ike heard himself call her name above the groan of the falling rocks and then his heart sank as she offered him a slow ghost of a smile. What she said next he could not hear, but he could read her lips as they formed the words, "Forgive me."

Then the larges stones crashed around them. They clanked and banged all around Ike as he covered and protected Ikyna as best he could. He was worried it wouldn't be enough, that his body wouldn't be able to keep Ikyna safe. Then he thought of Aeyori. Where she was, and why she hadn't come when he called her. It didn't matter much, as long as she was safe. Though from the sound of the hailing stones, I couldn't imagine that she was.

But then he realized that he wasn't being pelted. The ceiling was still falling, he could hear the banging around him, but he felt no pain.

Soon the rock showers stopped and Ike dared to open his eyes. When he did he saw his sister still curled up in his chest staring up at him with the same confusion he had. "What happened?" she croaked.

"I don't know." He said and slowly lifted his head only to find his view darkened and obstructed. "By the goddess!" he exclaimed as he fell back and his sister yelped right after his response. It took Ike a little while to understand what his eyes were seeing; but when he did, he still wasn't sure he believed it.

The covering over him was alive, large, and covered in scales. Warmth emanated from the body and then there was a low rumble as it moved. Ike and Ikyna were speechless as the creature lifted its body and uncurled itself from around them.

That was when Ike could really see what had happened as a silver dragon uncoiled itself and slowly stood as it stretched its wings and sent debris and rocks scattering in all directions. "Is that a dragon? And, did…did it just save us?" Ikyna stammered.

Ike nodded silently as he pieced together the puzzle. The reason why they hadn't been crushed was because the dragon's wings had protected them. "But who is that?" Ikyna managed to stutter as she scooched back on the floor.

The dragon's tail slid past the twins and then the Laguz stood as it shook its body vigorously; ash and dust rained off of its spiked back. Ike followed the thick plated tail up the back with two rows of spikes the stopped where they met the dragon's shoulders that were capped with hardened scales shaped almost like a knights shoulder guards.

From the dragons sleek back his eyes travelled down the dragon's front that was white, then past her arms with long protruding fin shaped spikes that started at the wrist and went to the elbows.

There was another low grumble, like a growl, and Ike raised his head to stare the dragon in its face. He paused, memorized the contours and edges of the Laguz, then made his way up to the eyes and froze. "Ike?" Ikyna questioned when she saw her brother stiffen.

Ike answered with a question of his own, "Aeyori?"

At his words Ikyna turned sharply to the dragon and only then was it that she saw the familiar scarlet eyes. The dragon nodded its head slowly, a low unhappy growl emanated from the throat. "But how-" Ike was cut off as Ena's roar ripped through their conversation and she threw the last of the mercenaries off of her.

She stood, tired from the battle, but still in better condition than the mercenaries who were cut and bruised and scattered across the room. Reyson was tending and healing the fighters the best that he could, but he was limited in his healing abilities.

Ena growled loudly as she heaved and drew Aeyori's attention. Even as the dragons stood apart Aeyori was obviously larger than the pink dragon. Ena opened her mouth and made two short screeching sounds. Aeyori's lip curled as she rippled from the long growl she let loose. Ena retreated a step and shied away from Aeyori briefly, too briefly. As if having a fight with herself, Ena shook her head vigorously before screeching loudly at Aeyori.

The silver Goldoan responded with terrifying roar as she began to flap her wings. They beat loudly, like twenty wyvern wings, and lifted her into the air. Ena stepped back again, and Ike could almost swear he saw regret in the indigo eyes.

If that was what Ike saw, it was too late. Aeyori straightened her wings and charged, crashing into Ena at full force and knocking her into Ashnard's throne. "Is that seriously Aeyori?" Ikyna shouted, her mouth open as she looked completely flabbergasted.

Ike shook himself out of his daze, trying hard to focus on what was making sense to him and what had to be done. Pondering over Aeyori being a dragon was not something that had to be done. He turned quickly back to Boyd who was starting to moan softly. That was good, it meant the warrior was still fighting to stay alive.

"Like, did you know this?" Ikyna continued even as he brother shoved her out of the way.

Ike tried to find leverage to move the rocks covering Boyd even as he was trying to block out the sound of the two dragons battling. Their growls and roars were distracting, among other things. Ikyna was still asking questions and being of no help. He understood that she was shocked, it wasn't like he didn't feel the same way, but he was ignoring the nagging questions that were buzzing around in his head. "Ikyna." He finally snapped after she asked him again if he knew about Aeyori's identity.

Ikyna shut her mouth quickly. "Listen, I don't know any more than you do, once we get out of here we can ask all the questions we like." He groaned as he tried to wedge his sword between a rock that was covering Boyd's leg, "But right now we need to focus on saving Boyd."

Ikyna was quick to agree, she looked once more at the heated battle between dragons and saw Aeyori driving Ena into a wall with her feet. Ikyna shook her head; she couldn't be distracted. She scurried over to her brother and began helping him push the rock.

Soon Mist and Yakuzo had joined them. Mist called to Boyd frantically, wedging herself under brother and hampering his progress. "Mist get back!" he ordered sharply.

The strain of pushing the rock took all of the warmth from his voice. Mist shuddered and backed away; looking at her brother mournfully. Ike sighed then said he was sorry, "Boyd is alive Mist, we just need to focus on getting him free. Can you hang back a little bit while we help him?" he asked in a much kinder manner.

The youngest sibling nodded, no longer hurt as her brother's voice returned to normal. Yakuzo had other things on his mind as he gaped at the destruction happening before him, as claws and tails ripped through stone. Ikyna saw an unwanted question being raised in the feline's mind, "Don't even think about asking what you're going to ask. Just help us get Boyd free." Yakuzo clicked his tongue but didn't protest anymore.

He took Ikyna's position and started pushing the stone as Ikyna got behind Boyd to try and pull him out from under the rock captive. He moaned in pain as Ike and Yakuzo groaned in exertion. It was a few more minutes of push and pull with Mist telling Boyd to hang on a little longer. Finally the warrior was free and Ikyna released him as her sister rushed to his side. Showing a very vulnerable part of herself as she cried, she lifted Boyd's head to her chest. "I'm so glad you're okay." She wailed as the young man continued to moan.

The warrior groaned something muffled under the healers oppressive hold on him. She drew back quickly, "What's wrong, how can I help?"

Boyd coughed weakly then glared at her, "Stop hugging me so tight. I can't breathe. The girly bow on your shirt is smothering me."

Mist's face turned a dark red and she frowned, "You jerk! I can't believe I was worried about you!" she said and then immediately dropped his head on the floor.

He moaned louder and instantly Mist felt guilty. Her arms were folded over her chest in a pout but she managed to glance his way and ask if he was alright. He rolled his eyes then struggled to sit up; Yakuzo was there to lend him a hand. "I'm fine." Boyd began with short moan, "But what is going on here?"

"You pushed Mist out of the way and were hit by some rocks." Ike began, "You have a pretty good gash on your forehead and some scrapes on your legs, but you'll be fine."

Boyd brought a hand slowly up to his head and brushed over the bloody sore absentmindedly, as if he was barely aware he had it, "That's not what I was asking about." He finally said as he stared passed the group in a shocked trance, "I mean what's happening over there?"

With his mouth gaping he pointed to the battle of dragons that was coming quickly to an end. Ike's eyes followed Boyd's fingers and his chest sank at what he saw. Aeyori was fine, she was going to be the clear victor, but there was something terribly wrong with the scene in front of him. The silver dragon had Ena on the ground, stomach against the unforgiving floor, and her foot was pressed firmly down on the pink dragon's throat.

Ena struggled beneath her captor's oppressive weight. She coughed and roared, and all the while her voice and movements became weaker. Aeyori was choking the dragon, slowly, cruelly, and Ike again thought he could see almost a smile on the fanged features of the Goldoan.

Yes, Aeyori had killed before, many men for his sake and that of the team, but what she was doing now was something more than trying to help. Aeyori's eyes were locked on Ena as her cries died down and her limbs went still. The silver Goldoan lowered her head and roared triumphantly in Ena's face once before silver light began to collect around her mouth.

Ike knew what the whistling that came next meant. Aeyori was going to use the dragon's breath, point blank on Ena; even after the dragon had lost the strength or will to fight. The commander jumped up, desperate to stop Aeyori before she did something they would all regret. He called her name repeatedly but she did not hear, or she was ignoring him.

The light around her jaw grew bigger and Ena looked up with helpless defeated indigo eyes. Ike started to run, trying to help, but knowing he probably wouldn't reach them in time. "Aeyori! Enough!" All in the room stopped at the new voice that spoke with absolute authority.

Even Aeyori paused, turned to the call, then closed her jaw with a disgruntled growl. It was Nasir standing at the throne room entrance. He stared Aeyori down fearlessly. "It is enough." He said firmly again, "Let her go."

The next sound that came from Aeyori's mouth could have been construed as a whimper as she dipped her head sheepishly and released Ena's neck. The pink Goldoan instantly took on her Beorc form as she came to her knees, hands grasping her red and bruised throat, and she gasped and coughed. Ena didn't look at Aeyori. Even as she rasped she made it a point to avoid the silver dragon's gaze.

Finally it was Aeyori's turn to shift. Her body was engulfed in a silver light and there she stood, thin and pale faced Aeyori once again. Not the sadistic killer dragon that had just been there. Her hands flew instantly to her mouth. They were scraped and cut around the knuckles and Aeyori jammed her nails into her mouth and began to chew them in nervous horror. Ike approached slowly, his hand out in front of him as he tried not to startle Aeyori. She looked like she was about to cry. "Aeyori." He called softly.

She turned to him, looking mortified and half crazed. Her eyes, dilated and flooding with tears, watched him in horror. "It's okay, calm down Aeyori." He tried to soothe her but it was to no avail.

Aeyori stepped back, let out a shuddered breath, and shook her head, "No, no. I…I…" she looked at Ike, then Ena, then Nasir. Her face became ghostly white and then she started to weep, "I'm sorry." She cried and pushed passed her commander as she fled the room.

Ike reached for her and started to chase her but someone grabbed his wrist. It was Soren, looking angry as a cat of prey, "Let me go." Ike insisted.

Soren refused with a shake of his head, "Considering you still have another dragon here to handle, perhaps you should think before you run off. I'm sure Aeyori will keep while you take care of things here first." Soren said Aeyori's voice with unveiled disdain.

Whatever issues he had with her before were greater now that he knew she was a Laguz. "I'll keep an eye on her." Janaff volunteered when he saw the commander's hesitation.

Ike still looked torn even as Janaff flew after the mage. Janaff would probably catch her, but he felt that if he didn't get to her soon he wouldn't be able to fix what was wrong. "Ike!" Ikyna called, with a raised eyebrow.

She gestured to Ena, "Just get finished here so you can go. Believe me, we all have a lot of questions." Ike cursed under his breath, but Ikyna was right.

Without delaying anymore he knelt in front of Ena who had gone from gasping to almost defiant looking. She glared at him, not a shred of remorse in her gaze. Ike ignored it, he would not be heckled by a girl's pride. "So, Ena-"

"If you are not going to kill me then let me pass." She interrupted rudely.

Ike paused, then sighed in exasperation, "I didn't even want to fight you. Prince Kurthnaga helped me and my men when we were stuck on a reef. I have no desire to fight anyone from Goldoa, I told you this. My problem is with Ashnard, not you."

"Well I fight with Ashnard." She said without a tremor in her voice, even though Ike could tell she was still in pain.

"But why?" he pleaded. Then her eyes misted sadly for a brief moment before she could catch her emotions. She hardened her jaw and glared, "It does not matter. I have to be with him!" she shouted and shoved Ike out of the way before running towards the throne room entrance.

Ike saw Nasir still standing at the end, "Catch her!" he said as he sprinted after Ena.

With hands stretched out, Ike could almost grasp the collar of her shirt, but suddenly his path was blocked when Nasir came between him and the retreating dragon. Before Ike could protest Nasir shoved him to the ground as he waved Ena along, "You must run! Hurry!" Ena paused then disappeared out of sight, and then the room was silent as all the mercenaries froze in confusion.

Ike was the same, he was looking at Nasir and struggling to understand what had happened. "Why would you do that?" he asked as the mercenaries began to circle Nasir. "Why, did you let her go Nasir?" he asked with more force. But Nasir's lips were closed tightly and his face was one of a man at peace with his decisions.

Soon Ike understood, "So it was you this whole time? The reason why Daein knew when we were coming and even the medallion? That was all you!" he said, still in disbelief. Nasir's silence confirmed Ike's suspicion, "But why? You were our friend."

At Nasir's refusal to respond again Ike clicked his tongue angrily and stood. He motioned sharply for his men, "Tie him up and keep him under watch. When he's ready to talk you can bring him to me."

Ike watched the Begnion soldiers secure Nasir's hands behind his back with rope. He made no attempt to hide his contempt before turning away from the stoic man. Next he called his sister who looked more confused than anything. She couldn't decide what to wrap her brain around; Nasir or Aeyori. She looked to her brother for an answer but decided against it when she saw the ghost of anger and irritation over his normally calm face. "Get the men together. Take care of the wounded and then head back to camp." He ordered.

"What about you?" she dared to ask.

Ike shrugged as he slowly began to leave the castle. "Ike, where are you going?" It was Soren who spoke this time.

Ike didn't look back, he wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone. "Are you going to find her? That traitor!" Soren demanded even as Ikyna hushed him venomously.

The commander stiffened and turned with a wild angry look, "Leave it alone Soren. I'm going to go find her and make sure she's okay."

"Why?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you." Ike's patience was running thin.

"Then I'm going with you." The mage insisted as he started to follow.

Ike groaned, "No, you're not. I don't need you to come." Then he paused and thought of a better way to phrase his sentence, "No, I don't want you to come."

"What you want doesn't matter when you have traitor on your hands."

"She isn't a traitor, Soren. If you remember she saved our lives."

Soren looked unimpressed, "So did Nasir. I think we've seen how much we can trust him, haven't we?"

Ike bit his lip, angry at Soren's words, but also at himself for believing them a little. Aeyori's secret was one he couldn't imagine and there were things going on in Goldoa that he couldn't account for. What if she really was lying like Nasir was? But he had settled in his mind that he would find the truth no matter what it was. "It doesn't matter. I'm going, and I'm going alone."

Soren went to protest, "And that's final." Ike ended curtly as he turned.

Soren continued to call after him but Ike ignored it. He had many other problems to focus on at the moment, he didn't want to deal with Soren's issues. "Commander!"

Ike stopped, not because it was Soren, but because it was Nasir who called him. The commander turned slowly, irritation carved over his young forehead. "What?" he said icily, "Has your tongue finally loosened enough to speak?"

Nasir eyed the boy, not fazed by his anger, then spoke calmly "That child." He began slowly, "Be kind to that child."

Ike raised a questioning brow. The child? First he thought he meant Ena, but Nasir's pointed stare made him think otherwise, "You mean Aeyori?"

Nasir nodded slowly, "She has been through more than you can imagine. You must find a way to forgive her."

"After she betrayed us like you!" Soren interrupted bitterly. Ike ignored the outburst and Nasir didn't flinch. He spoke to Ike as if he were the only other person in the room. "She did not betray you. Though she had her secrets, the only one of mine that she kept was that I was a dragon."

Ike knew what Nasir was trying to say. He was advising him to not let his doubts take over. But it was hard to take advice from someone who had been lying the whole time they were together. Yet, is that what Aeyori was doing? Ike knew there were secrets she had, but as long as they weren't hurting anyone, he didn't have the right to demand her to say anything. "I'll keep that in mind." He said curtly and turned away.

)(

Ike followed Janaff's directions to Aeyori after making it back to camp. The little mage was standing and staring out next to a lone tree. Moonlight was draped over her and kissing her luminous skin and Ike felt all his misgiving disappearing when he saw her.

He couldn't believe that the girl he cared so much for could really be trying to hurt him and his men. Not after all they been through. But, he had a limited point of view. The feelings he had might not have been shared by her and she could have easily been willing to betray him for her countrymen. He cleared his throat quietly, but loud enough to turn Aeyori's head.

Her silver hair spun with her, catching moonshine as it twirled and icy breath blew out from her full lips as she gasped. Ike groaned because seeing her made him only want to pull her into his arms and forget that anything unpleasant had happened that day. But he couldn't, not as a commander and not as a man.

He called her name and stepped towards her, wanting to keep his tone unreadable but unable to hold back the tenderness he felt for her. She had been crying, Ike could tell as he saw her eyes looking more reflective than usual. "Ike." She whimpered. He shuddered, because his name on her lips wore away his will power and it took all of the commander's strength to keep to his goal. He had to find out what she really was doing. "You ran away." He stated the obvious and she nodded in shame. "So it looks like you're a dragon apparently." Aeyori cringed but said nothing to disagree.

"We were all pretty surprised. Is that your big secret? Do you have any more you haven't told me?" Her silence told him there was more to know and Ike sighed, "I suppose so." He answered his own question though he wasn't too surprised. Now that he knew the one secret, he couldn't believe that there wouldn't be more. Though that thought only made him worry more about what he could possibly uncover.

His stomach was churning as he tried to stay calm and get the answers he needed. But the more he probed the more anxious he became. "Soren was pretty upset with you, though that's not a surprise. He thinks we shouldn't trust you." He began casually, and Aeyori raised her head slightly, waiting for her commander's approval.

"Nasir didn't agree. He wanted me to be kind to you."

"Nasir?" she finally spoke and Ike had to close his eye to gain some control after hearing her fluttering voice again.

Then he nodded, "Yeah. Of course after that he was placed under custody."

"Custody?" Aeyori said in shock as she looked at Ike.

Ike wondered if she was acting and he tilted his head to study her, "Yeah. Ena started to flee. When I chased after her, Nasir got in my way and shoved me to the ground. He betrayed us. He's the one who took the medallion and was a Daein spy."

Aeyori's eyes widened at each new fact. Her disbelief was real as she began to stammer and shake her head, "But that can't be. Nasir wouldn't. He was our guide." She paused and let Ike's news roll around her head. But she couldn't make sense of what the commander was saying.

She looked up with a perplexed scowl, "Why did he…it doesn't make any since…how…Ike…What?" Aeyori stopped her rant when she saw the commander smiling warmly at her.

She didn't know that her own honest confusion had assured Ike that he could trust her and his relief was overwhelming to say the least. It seems despite all the lies Nasir had no doubt told him, what he had said about Aeyori not keeping Nasir's secrets was the truth. "What?" she asked again.

Ike lifted his hand slowly to her head and ran his fingers gently through her shimmering hair. "Nothing." He said with a content sigh and that only confused her more. "We can figure this all out tomorrow." He decided stressing over those details was something that he could pass on after the day he had. If Aeyori was safe and truthfully on his side, the rest were details that could wait.

"Wait!" Aeyori called, an eyebrow raised in confusion. "That's it? We're not going to talk about anything else?"

Ike groaned tiredly then shivered in the frigid air as a wind blew passed him, "We can talk tomorrow. Right now I'm cold and tired, and I just want to go to bed." He held his hand out to her, "Come on Aeyori."

She shook her head, "You don't have any more questions for me?"

Ike shrugged, "Sure, but they can wait."

Aeyori was astonished by Ike's casual attitude. Finally she blurted out what was really bothering her "But I'm a laguz!"

Ike sighed, uncaring, "As are a lot of people in my army."

"But I lied!" she insisted.

"You withheld information from me." He said as he slowly began to stroll her direction until he was standing close to feel her body warmth, "As I recall, I knew you had secrets, but I gave you permission to tell me when you were ready. I'm not sure this is how you planned to tell me, but it works out either way."

Aeyori still looked desperate, like she wanted or expected something more from the commander. She couldn't believe that was all he had come to talk about. That he really just wanted to fetch her and go to bed. "But you have to have more questions." She insisted again, almost to the point of tears because she was so frustrated, "There has to be more."

Ike sighed as the girl went into almost hysterics. He decided to comply. "Fine, but just one question." Aeyori stopped sniffling and looked at her commander; his deep blue eyes were dancing in the moonlight and his unruly hair was doing the same in a steady breeze. She waited for his question. "Why did you run away?" he asked after a beat.

"Huh?"

"When you transformed from a dragon, why did you run away from me?" Ike reiterated his question slower.

Aeyori paused and bit her lip. She was hoping for a different line of questioning, not one that could lead to such an embarrassing topic. But it was her own fault for forcing him to ask. They could both have been under sheets next to warm fires if she had let the subject drop. Finally she spoke, "I was afraid."

Ike hadn't expected that answer and his eyes widened in surprise, "Of what?"

"That you would hate me once you knew."

"You know I don't hate Laguz." Ike said as his shoulders dropped. It hurt to think that she could still be worried about such an unimportant detail.

"Yes I do, but that's not what I meant." She quickly amended. Ike waited silently for her to continue. She sighed, knowing there was no way to escape. "I felt like things were finally starting to change between us, and I was worried-"

"Wait us?" Ike interrupted softly as his heart began to race when he heard he mention an 'us'. He liked the way that sounded especially when she was talking about him and her.

Aeyori hadn't heard him, she was shaking as she spoke, flustered and embarrassed with each word she said, "With everything that's been going on, I thought finally I could tell you how I felt that maybe-"

"Wait how do you feel?" He pressed, the conversation was taking an unexpected turn, but he thought he would like the outcome, if she really was going to say what he hoped.

Aeyori was starting to cry. The day had worn her out to the point that she couldn't help herself "I mean when your father died, or the night in Begnion when you held me, or last night even-"

"Aeyori slow down."

"I wanted to tell you what it meant to me, but I was worried that once you found out I was a Laguz, things would change. Like all those moments we shared would mean nothing because I wasn't the girl you thought I was." She whimpered and tried to wipe her weeping eyes.

Ike's pulse was charged and he felt his heart pounding in his chest. He grabbed Aeyori's shoulders, rougher than he should have, but he was excited, there was something he needed to know. Aeyori froze and looked at the commander, her eyes wide and her cheeks red, "Aeyori, you are exactly the girl I thought you were. Even now that I know you're a Laguz."

Aeyori looked skeptical as she sniffled. Ike raised his brow, he saw the doubt in her eyes and he continued to press further, "So why would you be afraid I would change? Aeyori, how do you feel, about those times, about me, about us?" There was that word again, and Ike still liked it.

"What?" she said as her face burned brighter. Ike tilted his head, taking her embarrassment as almost a confession, "Do I really need to ask again?" he said with a smirk.

Aeyori dropped her gaze, "They were wonderful." Ike's eyes widened and he gasped at how quick her admission was, "I was happiest when I could be with you, because I…I really…like you Ike." She looked up at him as she shook, "Not just as my commander, but for the person you are. You're strong, and kind, and brave, and…" her face burned and her throat tightened as she struggled through her confession, "And you're handsome…I just, really like you." She finally managed to say.

Ike's grip on her shoulders increased as a rush of emotions hit him like none had ever before then, "I like you too Aeyori." He blurted before he could stop himself.

Aeyori looked shocked and Ike groaned at his own bluntness. He sounded like an eager little boy. "You do?" she asked skeptically.

"Of course I do Aeyori. Isn't it obvious?" He added softly as he released her arms and brought his hand to her cheek. The mage scowled softly, "It is not obvious!" she stammered.

"What do you mean?" Ike protested. "I said I wanted you by my side, and that I needed you."

"That's not obvious! How am I supposed to know, this is the first time you said you liked me so I was afraid I misunderstood you. That's why I ran away!"

"That's ridiculous. What else could it mean?"

Aeyori shrugged incredulously, "You're not the easiest person to read Ike. You're so passive, even when you're kind to me I can't tell what you're really thinking." She said.

Ike sighed good naturedly, that wasn't the first time he had heard someone say he was hard to read. "I'm sorry." He said and brought his face to her neck where his words mingled pleasantly against her skin. Ike inhaled the scent of herbs from her cloths and sighed as he let the reality of what Aeyori said sink in. He smiled against her soft neck and lifted his lips to her ear before kissing it softly.

She froze and made a questioning sound as she shivered while Ike nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "It must have been hard on you." And Aeyori could do little more than nod, hardly aware of what the question was, as Ike's breath skimmed over her collar bone while he moved to kiss her other ear.

"Ike?" her voice rattled in pleasure and sent a pleasing wave through Ike when he knew he was the cause.

Slowly Ike brought his hands up to cup her cheeks, staring straight into her expectant eyes, before he said, "Let me make it very clear to you, exactly how I feel." then he leaned forward to claim her lips.

The touch of his lips was gentle and only mildly insistent as he waited for her response. Aeyori was motionless and Ike feared she had fainted again; but then he felt her hands travel carefully up his chest where she lightly grasped his shirt, successfully pulling herself closer to him.

The commander laughed as she clumsily bumped into his mouth and yelped as her lip caught teeth accidentally. Her eagerness was both cute and refreshing.

Ike pulled back briefly, heard her make a questioning sound and saw her pleading eyes. It was enough to make him melt and an impossible face to resist. So he didn't. He dipped down once more, this time he sealed her lips completely with his and felt her sigh as she pressed her chest into his.

He could have stayed like that for a long time, enjoying the changing pressure of her mouth against his, but he resisted the urge as a cold wind blew. He tried to pull back but Aeyori had him tight against her as her hands wandered up to his neck and she parted her lips enough for him to taste the faint remnant of hinko berries.

His mouth teased hers briefly, nipping her bottom lip softly, until she gasped and then he pulled away. The smile he wore was broad and a little smug as he eyed her pouting lips that she glossed quickly over with her tongue. "That's funny." He began huskily.

Aeyori raised an eyebrow as Ike's thumb trailed down the side of her face tenderly, "I thought you were a silver dragon, but now you're all pink."

Aeyori knew he was teasing her but she pushed him lightly on his chest as she blushed harder but couldn't quite resist the urge to giggle. Ike liked the sound as he pulled her into his chest and let his breathing mingle with hers, "Oh well, I suppose this time the outcome was better than before."

"Before?" she questioned.

Ike laughed knowing full well that Aeyori didn't remember their first kiss. He rested his head on her hair and sighed contently, "No, it's nothing."

Okay, I know there's a lot more to know about Aeyori but that's in the next chapters. Gotta run!-PG