Last night dream perplexed the young mage. As it made her feel warm and joyful. It felt out of place. Unfamiliar. Disorientating.
The young mage tried to quickly dismiss those emotions. Yet a fire was lit, and the bluenette felt a need to talk or at least learn more about her previously unknown mother. It was as if someone had lifted a vail from her eyes, she could not recall the last time she felt such a need to do something.
And so, Morgan decided that she would spend the day finding her mother.
It was not that she hadn't tried it before, but previous inquires had only yielded her indifferent shrugs or some vague statements. Now she had clearer picture: Her mother was a Ylissean princess and prisoner of war. Naturally she would most likely be somewhere in the dungeons or some holding cell for nobles. By asking the right questions, Morgan soon learned that a Ylissean noble was held in a separate wing of the castle – A lonely tower with only one entrance guarded by men from the royal guard.
The king had his valued prisoner guarded well, as Morgan quickly realized that no amount of persuasion or sneaking around could give her access to the tower. No one except the king himself and some caretakers was allowed to visit their royal prisoner.
Defeated, the prying mage decided to retreat and bid her time. Rationalizing that if she could not meet her mother now, she would surely do so when they depart for the border. For the Ylissean princess was after all their main bargain chip for the peace.
And so, the days went.
The Plegian Royal Castle was lit with activity as servants ran around in order to complete the necessary preparations for the long journey to the border. Guards where carefully selected for the trip with six royal guards and twenty regular soldiers being chosen for the mission – a force that was large enough to deter any local bandits from getting any ideas.
However, Morgan had little to do with the preparations, and any effort to get involved was as usual rebuffed by Validar.
Instead, Morgan devoted the days to study Ylissean history and customs in the hopes of learning something about her mother. And if nothing else learn something useful for her coming diplomatic role.
The library of the castle could be said to be one of the world's greatest repositories of knowledge. It was a grandiose area of the castle that was three floors high, around 130 yards in length and 90 yards wide. Scribes and scholars filled the area, overseeing the maintenance of the vast collection of tomes and scrolls. Morgan didn't need their assistance, as she knew the library like the back of her hand. The mage has always been fond of literature, and quickly found and borrowed a selection of tomes that account for the Halidom of Ylisse.
The Halidom of Ylisse was in many ways the antithesis of Plegia. While the Halidom was green and lush, Plegia was a desert with little vegetation. While the Halidom got their wealth from farming their lands, Plegia got theirs from mining precious metals from the ground.
Both nations were founded just a few years after each other, and like squabbling siblings had been at war for much of their history. Their age-old conflict sprang from a dispute between two opposing deities: Grima and Naga.
Both deities were often depicted as dragons, mythological creatures with a great resemblance to the more common wyverns. Unlike wyverns, dragons were said to be four-legged and capable of breathing fire of such intensity that it was said it could melt steel and stone in seconds. There were disputes on their precise appearance however, as none could reliably claim to have seen a dragon for centuries. Some sources claim that they were the size of wyverns, others claim that the dragons of old where of such size that they could blot out the sun in their flight.
Whatever their appearance, all could agree that dragons were creatures of great power. Grima was often called by the uninitiated as the God of Destruction, but by the people of Plegia, he was also known as the God of Rebirth. For while it was true that he desired the destruction of the world, it was argued in the ancient texts that he also desired to rebuild it and make it better than before, a paradise for his chosen people.
Naga was the direct opposite. She was known as the Goddess of Preservation. And her followers in turn believed in the preservation of the world, to maintain and protect the status quo.
While Morgan was never much interested in religious matters, she did find it as a solid foundation for understanding another culture. The followers of Naga could often be described as being hesitant to resort to violence in adherence to Naga's teachings of respecting life.
Indeed, throughout the history of the Halidom of Ylisse, it was rare that they ever initiated a war or made any plans of conquest. If provoked to a conflict, they would take great care of preserving their forces. Most of their army was centred around heavily armoured infantry, supported by a well-developed core of mages specialized in the healing arts, and a well-trained corps of Pegasus Knights. This suggested an army whose modus operandi centred around conserving its strength and outlasting the opposition, before capitalizing on any openings with their swift Pegasus Knights.
However, the current Exalt named Chrom was (unlike his predecessors) know as a great and aggressive warrior king. Much of his reign had been beset with wars and conflict, and he had won them all thanks to his martial prowess.
Morgan eagerly read anything she could related to her would be grandfather. Surely, he would be the best lead for Morgan to learn more about the other side of her family.
Unlike the King of Plegia, the Exalt had only two known children. Two daughters named Lucina and Cynthia. Princess Lucina was however the only living heir, as her younger sister had been killed a few years earlier during a skirmish against Plegia.
Morgan felt indifferent about her would-be aunt's death. Afterall, she had never known her. She did however find it interesting that she apparently came from a line of accomplished warriors. If so, then she had inherited little of their martial strength. She was barely a competent swordfighter.
To the bluenette's disappointment, the tomes gave little further information about her mother other than her name and former station in Ylisse. Instead, much of the current texts focused on the current Exalt and his accomplishments. The most notable being his war against the continent of Valm. It was a war that resulted in one of the few alliances between Plegia and the Halidom of Ylisse, as they tried to combat an invading outside force.
Details of Plegia's involvement of this campaign was surprisingly sparse, as there were only mentions of Plegia supplying ships, gold and a few specialists for the war effort. However, the books went in great detail on the military tactics of Ylisse. A subject that Morgan found exciting as military tactics and history have always been a great passion for the young mage. And the times her father would spend teaching her about its principles was one of the few ''fond'' memories she had with him.
As Morgan finished reading the last tomes, she sat back and gathered her thoughts. It was no wonder that her father had seemed so confident that the Ylisseans would accept their offer of peace despite currently having the military advantage. They were too passive to dare to move into the deserts of Plegia and their Exalt, while being a great warrior, was now an old and most likely a tired man. In addition, Plegia held the only living heir of the current Exalted bloodline (Although the Exalt did have a younger sister named Lissa).
Before calling it a day. Morgan skimmed through her gathered collection of borrowed books one final time. As she went through them, she noticed something curious.
Nearly all the tomes concerning the recent history of Ylisse was authored by her father.
On the day of departure, Morgan stood outside in the castle courtyard as servants loaded her baggage into her carriage. Her two ''bodyguards'' stood by the carriage and oversaw the loading as well. Or it would be more correct to say that Severa was overseeing it, as Noire was busy being terrified by her mother.
Lady Tharja was in the process of covering her daughter in all kinds of amulets and spells. From what Morgan could eavesdrop there where an amulet against mind-control, a spell for cold, a tracking curse etc... Despite Lady Tharja usual cold deposition, she could at times be surprisingly protective of her only daughter, or it could all be an excuse for the dark mage to try some of her new magical inventions.
Either way Morgan knew better then to pry too much into the older mage's business.
''Careful you idiots! That baggage is worth more than your yearly salary! If anything breaks, I'll shove my foot so far in your arse that I'll be able to use you as bloody loafers!''
Ah Severa, one could quickly hear that she had grown up in the barracks with the common soldiers. Her language could be harsh and vulgar, but behind that tough façade hid a caring and loving girl. Morgan had known her for as long as she could remember and considered her and Noire her only real siblings. Despite Noire lack of participation, Severa saw to it that everything was placed in its proper place in the carriage with great efficiency and order. Granted most of their baggage was hers anyway (the red-head was a notorious hoarder), but the bluenette nevertheless appreciated the red-head's dedication to the task.
Being an official dignitary for the coming armistice, Morgan had been pleased to learn that she was granted her own personal carriage, while Noire and Severa were granted horses. The privacy was welcome as the thought of sharing space with Validar for three weeks was abominable. A sentiment her half-brother clearly shared as he was the one who arranged it.
Speaking of that glorified prostitute, the young tactician in-training thought that it would be wise to at least confer with her brother about the last details of the journey as well as pry some information about her mother. Leaving her sisters to their own devices, Morgan soon found her detested half-brother at the castle gate, where his own carriage was being prepared. The young mage made her presence known.
''I trust everything is going well dear brother''
Validar turned around with an annoyed scowl. He hated it whenever she addressed him by their family relation, especially in public. Morgan did not care, she just loved to irk him whenever the opportunity presented itself.
''What do you want?''
''Just making sure that you would not lead us down a cliff or camp of brigands, dear brother. It would be rather embarrassing if the Plegian delegation failed to show up as the result of poor planning of some priest high on incense''
Morgan knew Validar and had planned accordingly. Question his competence openly, he could then not resist telling her his plans in detail in order to show off.
And by Grima he fell for it-hook, line and sinker.
Telling his younger sister everything (although in a condescending tone) from where they would make camp to which road they would travel. Feigning concern for their security, Morgan began to ask question about how their guards would be posted and rotated.
''Again, the important assets would be protected by the royal guard, while the other soldiers would be distributed accordingly through the convoy. Two of the guard will be posted to me personally and four will see to the security of the prisoner''
Validar looked at Morgan with a malicious glance at the last sentence. The implications where clear, none of the royal guard had been posted for her protection. Morgan pretended to be oblivious to the insult, she had the opening she wanted.
''Surely you have other servants to see to our prisoner's needs''
At this Validar narrowed his eyes.
''Why would you care for the wellbeing of this Ylissean scum? She'll be kept alive that's all that matters''
Validar seemed to have grown suspicious of her inquire, Morgan knew she had to throw him off somehow. A logical excuse mixed with an insult from Severa's book of insults should do the trick.
''As a lady I would like to see to her wellbeing myself. I doubt that the Exalt would accept this truce if we simply hand him the corpse of his only heir. Or maybe you prefer to do this yourself? My, my brother, I didn't know that you preferred Ylissean women''
It seemed to work, as Validar features contorted to something signifying disgust, but before he could retort, Morgan heard a voice behind her. A voice that sent shivers down her spine.
''You'll do no such thing child''
Morgan turned around and saw her king-father behind her. Immediately she and Validar went on their knees and greeted their father. Ignoring them, the king continues to elaborate his statement.
''The prisoner is to remain isolated in her carriage. None shall interact with her before the exchange except for her caretakers, who will see to her needs as well''
The king stepped aside and nodded at the other end of the courtyard.
For the first time as far as she could remember, Morgan finally saw her mother.
The years of captivity had clearly been hard on the princess, as she appeared weak and gaunt. Her eyes that once shone with determination and strength, now appeared lifeless and dull.
Unable to walk, the Princess of Ylisse was transported by a wheelchair pushed by a white-haired maid and flanked by two female guards. Their high-born prisoner was not even chained in any way, as she had grown too feeble to offer any resistance.
She was a far cry of the image of a warrior princess.
Despite this, Morgan could see how her father has been correct with his comment on how she looked like her mother. They were indeed near spitting images of each other.
Morgan knew that she should feel disgust or at least indifference for her progenitor. Knowing that she was a scion of their rival nation, as well as seeing how pitiful an image the Ylissean princess made.
Yet she couldn't help but to feel sorry for the Ylissean, and again an unfamiliar warmth began to trump from her chest.
As if noticing the young mage's stare, the elder bluenette lifted her head and looked directly at Morgan. Mother and daughter eyes meet, and Morgan could swear that she saw a glint appear in the Ylissean's eyes. Before anything could happen, her father stood before her and Validar again. Obscuring their vision as the prisoner was led into her carriage.
Morgan could feel his eyes bore into her as if reading her thoughts. Feeling uncomfortable she quickly lowered her head and stared into the ground.
''Remember, your only concern is to see to it that this truce comes to fruition. If the Exalt demands further reparations-grant it, we have gold to spare. If he demands a limb, you'll offer to cut it yourselves''
It was a harsh way of formulating it. Their situation must have grown desperate since her last audience with her father.
''Validar, you shall be my voice in this meeting. I grant you the authority to act as you see fit as long as it accomplishes our goals''
''As you command sire''
''And Morgan, you're to act as Validar's second. Support him in every decision and offer him advice whenever it's needed''
As if Validar would ever listen to anything she would say, Morgan thought for herself. But she kept quiet and merely affirmed her father's command.
''As you wish my king''
That night Morgan once again dreamt about the white room and would continue to do so for much of the journey to the border.
Phew. This part took a awhile to write as I attempt to introduce a bit of worldbuilding before moving the story along. I hope that you found it enjoyable and if nothing else thank you for reading and commenting ^^