2. Adding To The Party

After Naruto's rather impressive demonstration, the insides of Fort Mulan were quickly secured. The group was quick in freeing the prisoners Grado had taken among the surviving Frelian soldiers, including a very unexpected one.

As soon as she was out of her prison cell, Princess Tana bowed a little to Gilliam and said "Sir Gilliam…I'm sorry, I never meant to cause you such trouble."

Gilliam gave a dismissive wave as he said "It was no trouble. I live to serve Princess."

"Tana!" Eirika called as she rapidly came towards the two after she had seen her from down the corridor where she had been helping a Frelian soldier that had a rather worrying looking cut on his forehead.

"Eirika?! Is that really you?" Tana asked in surprise even as she accepted the hard hug her friend gave her when the bluenette all but rammed her with how fast she darted over.

"Tana, what are you doing so far from Castle Felia?" Eirika asked as she ended her hug and looked into Tana's eyes in confusion.

Tana frowned as she said "I heard that Renais had fallen, and I was so worried…But I'm glad to see that you're safe…Wait! Where is Ephraim? Is he well?"

Eirika looked downcast as she said "I wish I knew."

Tana adopted the same look as she said "You haven't heard from him? Oh, I hope he's not been harmed."

"If my teammate was sent to look after him like I was for Princess Eirika then I don't think you have much to worry about. She is the student of one of the best medic-nin around after all." Naruto said as he came closer to the two."

"I see, that's a relief." Tana said with a smile before she slightly frowned and said "I'm sorry to be rude, but who are you? It's just that you have an accent I've never heard before and used a term that I am not familiar with."

"Naruto Uzumaki, at your service." Naruto said giving an overelaborate bow causing the two princesses to giggle despite themselves. Coming up from his bow, Naruto continued "I'm what's called a shinobi, and I was hired to keep Princess Eirika safe on her travels."

"I see." Tana said assuming that it was King Fado who did the hiring before shaking her head and said "Come, Eirika, we must go to Castle Frelia. My lord father must be told of your escape and continued good health."

Eirika gave an accepting nod and once all of the soldiers were tended to and back at their posts, the small party containing two princesses, two Renaisian knights, a Frelian knight and a Shinobi made for Castle Frelia.

Scene Change: Frelia Castle's Throne Room

Eirika's group was quickly shown to the throne room, and Naruto had seen sheer relief on the face of everyone they passed once they laid eyes on their princess. King Hayden himself looked like he lost two tons of weight from his shoulders and his eyes considerably brightened with relief at the sight of her.

"Oh Tana…I'm grateful to see that you're safe and home again! You've no idea how I worried when I heard you were under attack at Border Mulan. You are not to leave again without my permission. Do you understand?" The king asked, though the way he said it made it clear he expected nothing but an affirmative from his daughter.

Tana though seemed perfectly fine with not giving that affirmative as she smiled 'innocently' and said "Don't be mad, Father. Look, I come bearing good news. Eirika! Come out now!"

Eirika and her group stepped into the throne room and walked over to the throne. Once in front everyone, including Naruto (He HAD matured from his irrespective twelve-year-old self after all), bowed for a moment before rising as Eirika said "King Hayden, I am pleased to see you again, even in these sad times."

Hayden's eyes lit up a little more as he said "Ah, Eirika! It does my heart good to see you safe."

"Thank you. I was able to escape the castle before Renais fell. But I'm not sure if my father…" Eirika said before trailing off sadly.

Hayden frowned as he said "Yes. I…have received word of your father."

Eirika looked up with hopeful eyes as she asked "Your Highness? Please tell me. Is my father well?"

Hayden looked down as he said "…My friend King Fado…did not survive the fall of Renais Castle."

Eirika gasped and seemed to sink on herself as she said "No, it cannot be…"

"Rest assured, Grado will be punished for its cowardly act. This is Frelia's promise. Eirika, please stay here and rest. I cannot imagine how exhausted you must be." Hayden said, taking in Eirika's tired looking form for a second time with compassion in his eyes. Naruto let out a soft hum from the back but didn't say anything.

When Eirika didn't say anything, Seth stepped forward and asked "King Hayden. You know of Prince Ephraim's disappearance, do you not?"

Hayden gave a hum of acknowledgement as he said "Yes, we hear the prince and his men hound Grado at every turn. It's said that he's led his forces into the empire itself. Reports suggest he's crossed the border and now fights in Renvall."

"My brother…He fights on? Even Now?" Eirika asked, hope shining in her eyes.

Hayden nodded and said "Yes. My Pegasus knights bought this information at a great price. Even though Renais has fallen, he charges into the enemy's heart. He is truly Fado's son… What a valiant youth. I wish I knew whether he remains unharmed, but I do not."

Naruto chose this time to speak up as he said "Even if he was harmed, I doubt he is now." Seeing he had Hayden's attention on him, he continued "My teammate Sakura was sent to him at the same time I was sent to guard Princess Eirika and is one of the best healers my village has. It would greatly surprise me if Prince Ephraim's party has anything greater than a paper cut by now."

"Indeed?" King Hayden asked with slightly raised eyebrows before his attention was drawn to Eirika as she said "King Hayden, I thank you for your offer, but I cannot stay. I intend to ride to my brother's side with reinforcements."

Hayden frowned and said "I cannot allow it. I know how you feel, but this plan is suicide. I would be betraying Fado's memory if I allowed any harm to befall you. Stay here. Rest and mourn. Leave this war to the warriors."

Eirika matched his frown and countered "I know you mean well, Your Majesty. However, I have lost my father, and my twin brother is in possible peril, almost surely greatly outnumbered. My brother, he is a part of me… I cannot rest here in peace while he risks his life."

Hayden's frown grew more severe as he said "No. Renais has no more army. Grado's forces decimated it. I wish Frelia could provide you with support, with soldiers, but… My son, Innes, is on his way to meet the empire's forces. We cannot spare a single brigade. Your own retinue of knights cannot possibly face Grado alone. Are you so determined to go?"

It was Naruto who answered, not Eirika as his snort drew everyone's attention once more to the blond. Giving a chuckle that sent chills down everyone else's spines, the Jinchuuriki said "So you claim a lack of manpower is the reason you withhold your blessing? Well then, how's this for manpower?" He surged his chakra and there was a large smoke cloud behind him. When it cleared, there were a hundred more blonds in the throne room than there had been before causing everyone else to have wide eyes. Seth's eyes were the widest as he thought 'He can make that many copies of himself?! Good god, what crazy person tried to declare war on a group of people capable of that?'

After a moment to recollect herself, Eirika turned back to Hayden and said "I trust this will assuage your fears Your Highness?

Hayden sighed and said "…As resolute as your father, eh? Still, even with your newfound access to more men, it would not do for me to not contribute to your endeavor. Vanessa."

"Here, Your Highness!" a green haired Pegasus called as she stepped forward.

"Moulder." Hayden called and a brown haired and mustached monk stepped forward as he said "You called, my king?"

"Gilliam." The king called and the knight stepped forward to join the other two as he asked "Yes, sire?"

Hayden studied the three as he said "You are to accompany Princess Eirika of Renais into Grado territory. I expect each of you to provide aid and support for her brother." The three nodded while giving the knight's salute and Hayden looked at Eirika as he continued "These are some of my most trusted and stalwart vassals. They will, no doubt, prove themselves quite valuable on your journey. Remember, you are venturing behind enemy lines. You will need supplies. I will have a supply convoy readied to carry your weapons and provisions. It will remain at your side, no matter how far afield you venture."

Eirika looked surprised at the last part as she said "King Hayden, I… Thank you."

Hayden shook his head and said "No, save your thanks for your return… with your brother, Prince Ephraim."

"Yes, Your highness!" Eirika said with a smile.

As the group left the throne room Tana had a frown on her face as she said "Eirika, you don't really intend to go through with this, do you? I can't guess how you must feel, but it's just too dangerous. What would happen if you were captured by Grado's men?"

Eirika gave her a reassuring smile and put her hand on Tana's shoulder as she said "Thank you for your concern, Tana. But I have no choice. Don't you see, Tana? I have to go."

Tana's frown remained on her face though as she said "Eirika… Oh, why is this happening? What's gone wrong with the world?"

"Tana…" Eirika started but Tana had more to say as she continued "Why would Grado invade? Emperor Vigarde is a man of peace. His people adore him. And you and Ephraim are friends with Prince Lyon, are you not? What could be behind this madness? Why is this happening…"

Eirika sighed as she said "I have no answers for you, Tana. I don't want to believe it, but the reality is that we are at war. If I do nothing, I may lose my brother as well as my father. This is why I have to fight. It's the only answer I have."

Naruto remained silent although he cocked his head as he considered the two princesses to all of the other members of royalty he had protected before.

END