Chapter Five
Our way back home was uplifting. All the Shepherds seemed to be in good spirits, knowing we had the support of the Feroxi against Plegia. I was able to converse with all my comrades, except a fellow who stated he was with us the whole time. Kel was his name? Once we broke the good news to Exalt Emmeryn, we were hit hard with sad news by Captain Phila, "Your Grace! M-milord! Forgive me, but I bring alarming news! Plegian soldiers have been sighted inside our southwest border! They attacked a village in Themis and abducted the duke's daughter." Maribelle. Those dastards took her. "There's more: King Gangrel of Plegia claims Lady Maribelle invaded his country. He demands we pay reparations for this 'insult.'"
"And we're to believe a dastard like the Mad King of Plegia?" exclaimed Chrom.
"Peace, Chrom. We must keep our wits about us," radiated Emmeryn. She couldn't reason with her brother.
"We should put a sword in his gut and be done with it! The Mad King has been trying to provoke war with Ylisse at every step! He won't stop until he drags this whole continent to hell with him!"
"I agree with the prince, Your Grace. We must demonstrate to Plegia that such actions have consequences," argued Phila.
"I understand your feelings, Chrom. Truly I do. But if we give him the war he wants, then we lose, no matter what the outcome. Our last conflict nearly ruined the halidom. It left Ylisseans homeless and starving. We cannot repeat that mistake. I will offer parley with King Gangrel."
No, we can't let this happen. Knowing future events, I wanted to change the outcome, her outcome, but I didn't know where to start.
"I can't–" I couldn't start a sentence. My mind went blank. I need more time to ponder on a solution, so I disengaged from the conversation.
"So either we choose to march to war or leave Lady Maribelle to die? No. I will not accept that," said her Majesty.
"Forgive me, Your Grace," apologized Phila, "I spoke out of turn. I know you will stand always by your own principles. Pray, allow the pegasus knights to accompany you, though." Lissa quickly volunteered to go as well. She and Maribelle were like best friends so her concerned made a lot of sense.
"As you wish. Thank you all. Your strength will be mine," said Lady Emmeryn as she dismissed the group.
Well, off to another place already. It's not like I need rest or anything.
After two days of walking, we made it to the Themis region. We added another Shepherd, a young mage named Ricken. Chrom was reluctant at first, but Ricken showed off his magic abilities that were notable enough to convince the exalt. The surrounding landscape wasn't much to look it. Less greenery and more dust. Unlucky villagers made their home here. Being so close to Plegia, I wanted to get in and out fast.
The Mad King and his puppet were waiting for us, "What's this, then? The exalt herself, in all her radiance? I fear I must shield my eyes! Bwa ha ha ha!" If he wasn't such a looney character, I might have laughed.
"King Gangrel, I've come for the truth of this unfortunate incident between us," bowed the Ylissean ruler.
"The truth? I can give you the truth," snickered a dark mage woman standing next to Gangrel, "You may call me Aversa. This girl crossed the Plegian border without our consent. And what's more...She wounded the brave Plegian soldiers who sought only to escort her safely home."
Maribelle, unharmed yet unchained in her language, was fuming, "LIES! You speak nothing but lies, hag! Did they not teach the meaning of the word 'truth' in wretched-crone school?!"
"You see? No manners at all. Such a nasty little bird simply had to be caged," scowled the dark mage, growing more impatient.
More insults were thrown around on both sides before King Gangrel offered a "solution", "Perhaps we can arrange a trade? You give me the Fire Emblem, and I return Mari Contrary here in one piece."
"You would ask for Ylisse's royal treasure? But why?" questioned Emmeryn.
"Because I know the legend! The Fire Emblem is the key to having all one's wishes realized. I have desired it for years. YEARS!...Yet my birthday comes and goes each year, and nothing from Ylisse."
"The Emblem's power is meant for a single purpose, King Gangrel: to save the world and its people at their hour of most desperate need. Would you claim a more noble wish?"
"I want what every Plegian wants—a grisly end for every last Ylissean! What could be more noble than that? Surely you have not forgotten what the last exalt did to my people? Your father named us heathens! His 'crusade' across Plegia butchered countless of my subjects and my kin!"
"I have never denied Ylisse's past wrongdoings. But I have sworn to never repeat those mistakes. Ours is now a realm of peace."
"Yours is now a haven of hypocrisy! Now give me the Fire Emblem!" screamed the mad king.
Few of the Plegian brigands ran toward Emmeryn, and Chrom only reacted to protect his sister exalt: he struck one of them through the heart. That caused everyone to stop and ponder what just transpired.
"Now that's a declaration of war if I've ever heard one...A big, messy war that will bleed you Ylisseans dry. Bwa ha ha!" And with that exclamation, the Ylissean-Plegia war began.
Well, so much for any more negotiations.
As Aversa ordered the rest of the brigands to kill Maribelle, a strong gust of wind blew from the east, freeing the blonde.
Ricken. He came to save Maribelle. The two embraced each other before realizing they were in the middle of the olive colored battlefield.
"Bwa ha ha! I have my war! Captain Orton! Remain here, and take down as many Ylisseans as you can. You can expect reinforcements from the forts as well. Now, do your best—at doing your worst! Bwa ha!" Gangrel ordered in another thirteen Plegians to attack our group of nine. We thought it was only eight total, but we forgot about Kellam as he made the first move forward.
"Chrom! Several forts around us. We can use them for defense. Make sure Ricken and Maribelle get them to safety," I yelled to my right.
I wasn't sure if he heard me because several roars came from the sky; wyvern riders. Thankfully, we had Virion already pulling back his bow, aiming to shoot them down. Sully and Vaike took down several together with lances and axes. Stahl held his own by himself with swords and lances. Fredrick teamed up with Lon'qu and surprisingly worked well in tandem. I stayed back for these 'reinforcements' that Captain Orton called in. After several rounds of blows, I came to learn my actions were a mistake. More barbarians and wyvern riders came in and overwhelmed us. We needed to get out fast, especially with a Plegian mage in the near distance. I thought we would all survive just fine, but I guess I got overconfident in the Shepherd's abilities. One of the barbarians came out of the north-central fort and landed a strike on Maribelle, leaving her soaked in blood on the dirt. Ricken cried out to defend Maribelle, but he too was struck down.
"Chrom! Get to Orton now and end this! Fredrick, go save the kids!"
Fredrick dashed and picked up the two and placed them on his horse and sped off to safety in the back. Chrom did a hi-jump backflip and landed in front of Orton. "I will only ask you give up your life!" glared the Plegian captain. The prince only responded with two slashes at Orton and finished off a third across the throat, ending his days. "This matters not. Soon war will be upon...your soil," said the dead man.
The dark clouds blocked the sun in the late afternoon. As if the weather wasn't depressing enough, the Shepherds eagerly waited outside the cleric tent as Lissa worked her magic to heal both Maribelle and Ricken. The hours went by and the tension was nerve-wrecking. Fredrick couldn't wait any longer and excused himself inside the tent.
"Will they make it?" asked the knight with a concerned look to the princess.
"I'm trying all I can and – well, I, I am not sure."
"I understand, milady. That's all I can ask of you, is your best. If Maribelle can hear us, may I spend some time alone with her? And Ricken, too, of course."
"Let me patch up few more wounds and you can take all the time you need." Another hour passed before Fredrick came out of the tent, trying to hide his tears. Lissa informed the group that Ricken had a fifty-fifty chance and Maribelle had…well, not as good odds.
"Something tells me that Naga will grant us good luck," said a sadden Stahl.
"I hope you are right, friend." Chrom showed little emotion as possible. He needed to be strong, for everyone.
"Forgive me, Emm. I acted rashly."
"It's all right, Chrom. King Gangrel is the one at fault here. You were only protecting me," comforted the high exalt. Fredrick, feeling better after some unpleasant thoughts, "The Mad King will be rallying his forces, if they have not mobilized already. I suggest we make haste back to Ylisstol and discuss our strategy."
"Of course, Frederick. It seems war is upon us. We must protect the Ylissean people at all costs."