We were prepared for an entire force of soldiers. Rosanne wasn't supposed to have many of them; Walhart's Empire may've had one million soldiers if Say'ri was to be believed, but they were spread out across the continent, and the biggest concentrations were around the capitol of Valm itself and the two fronts our own army set up. That's why we were confident with such a small force on our side. We had better troops than Valm or Rosanne did. Sure, we would've been slaughtered if we took on the entire city of Wyval on without a subversive plan, but since that was in the works, I didn't feel too nervous.
Not until the Risen showed up. Not until the sorcerer Deadlord arrived. Not since the Risen and what remained of the Rosannean soldiers we encountered began working together. Not until the bodies of the Rosanneans we killed began rising from the ground with purple skin and red eyes.
It was like we were back on Carrion Isle again. The Risen swarmed, but something was different. They weren't blindly charging. No, they were surrounding us, waiting for stragglers and then picking them off. The few living Rosanneans on their side followed the purple monsters silently. I couldn't get a read on them.
"Robin!" I shouted as my sword cleaved through a Risen's mid-section. Sol shined a brilliant gold color as it sprayed black blood onto the grass below. "We need Tiki!"
Robin was dealing with an attack from both sides. Fulmen's purple lightning was a lifesaver for him; the magic was so powerful that it could turn things to ash. As evidenced when a bolt from Fulmen completely disintegrated a Risen in its tracks. The only part of it left was its feet, which quickly evaporated into nothingness.
"I know!" Robin shouted back, his back to me. "But if any of us leave, the Risen might overwhelm!"
"You-!" I snarled as a Risen tried to jab under my pauldrons. I flipped it over my shoulder, and stomped on its face several times until I heard a satisfying crack and squelch. "Don't worry about us, goddamnit! If we get Tiki out here we could end this within minutes! I don't give a fuck if we reveal our trump card; it'll be useless if we're all butchered!"
"Alright! Alright, fine!" Robin exclaimed, gritting his teeth as his blade clashed with one of the few living Rosanneans. "Do not die, Alexander, Henry! I'll be back, hopefully with a dragon!"
I hesitated for a moment, looking into the fog. The Deadlord that had arrived was still out there, somewhere. He was hanging back, I knew. Waiting for a moment to strike. He had powerful dark magic on his side, and if Robin was caught unaware and I wasn't there to help or protect him…
Shaking my head, I mumbled: "Don't worry, we'll keep your seat all nice and warm!" I replied, blocking a blow to my head with my shield.
"Right!" Fulmen exploded in purple light, electrifying the Rosannean he was crossing blades with dark magic-infused lightning. "I'll be back! I expect both of you to be here when I return!"
"Maybe not me!" Henry cackled menacingly as his magic lit up a Risen like a Christmas Tree. "If I do, just look for a path of corpses and blood splatters! Nyahahaha!"
"Quit waffling and get going already, you fuck!" I shouted, my lips curling as my shield was thwacked again. "You've said you'll be going three times now!"
Robin said nothing, instead opting to take my advice and making his way back through our formation to find the three-thousand-year-old human-shaped lizard we had lying around.
I used to be bad at battles of attrition. My stamina, while not horrible, would eventually give out, leaving me open to attacks or mistakes, like during the battle at Carrion Isle. With Sol in hand, though, that wasn't a problem. Whenever I felt myself growing tired, I'd end up cutting an enemy Rosannean or a Risen down and, suddenly, I'd feel as right as rain. Small nicks I'd gain during combat would close. I remembered this ability. Named after my weapon, if I remember correctly. Or was it the other way around?
What mattered, was that I was still going strong despite the long battle.
Henry, too, was showing very little sign of slowing down. The little white-haired fucker must've had a Nosferatu or something. Sucking the life out of living targets and giving it to himself. I'd say something about how it was disgusting or unethical, but not only were we in a war where the enemy likely wouldn't show the same courtesy, but also because having him at my side zapping fools was a welcome boon. Had the Risen left any bodies, we'd be up to our calves in corpses.
Even with us fighting alongside our men on the front lines, inspiring them as best as we could, they were still slowly being picked off. Their bodies lying lifeless on the blood-soaked ground hurt more than a sword to the gut.
The sound of steel against steel, the familiar sound of battles and of clanking armor, was maddening.
"Robin…. Tiki…" I growled, Sol pointed at a charging Risen with an axe. "Where the fuck are you?"
"Maybe he got blasted by that Deadlord!" Henry chimed in helpfully, unholy light practically bursting from his fingers. "I know the look in that crazy dastard's eye; he's out for blood, and by Grima's six eyes, I don't think he'll be leaving without some!"
"Tell me something I don't know!" I shouted back.
"Risen are actually really cool guys once you get to know 'em!"
That made me do a double-take. "What?" This nearly caused me to get beheaded as something descended from the sky. An ungodly roar came from the sky beast as it fell to the ground, causing the very earth itself to shake. I looked up, noticing I'd just barely missed the head of a steel axe.
In front of me stood a very angry wyvern, and on top of that, its rider, clad in plate armor, and a beaked helmet.
"How ya doin'?" I asked airily.
The wyvern rider's response was to attempt to swing his axe at me again, followed by his mount snapping its jaws at me. The fucker actually got a hold on my shield and tore it off my arm, almost snapping my forearm cleanly in half. Thankfully, that didn't happen, and I only found myself forced back a couple steps.
Unfortunately, this left me with a dilemma; there were no weak points that I could see in the wyvern's natural armor, or regular armor for that matter. Whatever wasn't covered in metal was protected by hard-as-rock scales. No way was Sol going to slash or stab through it.
"Henry!" I shouted the dark mage's name. "Cover me!"
"Aw, I gotta hit that cute li'l wyvern with magic? Well, you're the boss! Let's see if it'll bleed any!" Came the high-pitched reply.
Ignoring Henry's creepy bloodlust for just a moment, I recklessly charged the Wyvern Rider. The beastly steed raised its head high and spread out is wings, making itself look much, much bigger as it let out a screech. It didn't have long, however, before a blast of dark-infused fire smacked it across the face. A roar of pure agony erupted from the wyvern's mouth as it recoiled, living its rider open to my attack.
Despite being smacked in the face with pure dark magic, the head of the wyvern whipped around to try and take my left arm off. Knowing it wouldn't do much damage, I slashed Sol just as it opened its massive mouth. The wyvern screamed again as Sol seemingly glowed with excitement. Grunting, I lunged upward, getting my iron hand lodged into the rider's plate armor and pulling him down. It took a couple of tugs, and the fucker was struggling all the while, but in the end, I snagged him off and he fell to the ground in a heap, groaning as he attempted to get on his feet. I hooked Sol around his neck and repeatedly slammed his head into the ground, hearing the clank of his helmet against the ground as Henry blasted the wyvern, sending it reeling again.
It all made a hellish scene. The fog that covered everything in unnatural pale darkness, the screams and shouts and clashes of steel and sparks lighting up occasionally. The screams of the wyvern were like an unholy cherry on top of our carnage cake.
And soon, they were drowned out by a very different noise. One still familiar yet terrifying all the same. It was a sound I heard many times, during the Plegian War and during Khadein. There was truly no way to really describe it. The best I could come up with would be power. It sounded like electricity, like fire, like divinity being released.
The sound of a dragon emerging from its slumber. Tiki.
I felt rather than saw her at first. The beating of feathered wings upon the wind echoed in my rib cage. When I, and those still with me, looked up, I was certain all our jaws dropped to the floor.
She could be seen even through the fog that surrounded us, a beacon of light through the darkness. Her feathered wings kept her massive body aloft for just a few moments before her head snapped in our direction. Her eyes were like spotlights, like the eyes of a primordial god.
She's coming this way…!
I barely had time to react before she was upon us. A Wyvern Rider attempted to strike her, futilely, only to be batted aside and falling out of the sky by one of her legs. When she slammed to the ground, it was almost like the fog itself physically recoiled. As if it was living.
Tiki wasted no time.
In just a few seconds, several Risen and a few Rosanneans found themselves being thrown around like ragdolls by the Divine Dragon. Her giant limbs played with a few them, like a cat torturing its prey. Her feathered wings easily weathered whatever was thrown at them. My mind was a complete blank as I watched her.
A surviving Rosannean soldier, either through fear or sheer fucking will, attempted to hit her with his axe. The weapon bounced off her light-colored scales, as if he had hit her with a weapon made out of cardboard. The man barely had time to contemplate where his life went wrong before Tiki's maw descended on him. The squelching of flesh and crunching of bone echoed hollowly in my eardrums as Tiki devoured the poor bastard.
I realized I still had Sol around the Wyvern Rider below me. Looking down and noticing the fucker wasn't moving, I got off him and rejoined the fight. The few living Rosanneans were routed, falling back into the fog as best as they could. The Risen, however, were not nearly so sensible. I took another glance at Tiki just in time to see white, holy flames billow forth from her mouth, turning whatever Risen it touched into ash.
A dark wave of magic shot forward from the fog, striking Tiki across the face and causing her to snarl. I shivered just at the sound of it, and it wasn't even directed at me. Tiki flapped her wings once, and the fog was gone.
Around us stood the remaining Risen, and the Deadlord at the center of them. Even if I couldn't see the dastard's face, I could feel him staring at us with utter contempt.
"Hmph," The Deadlord sighed dismissively. "The child of Naga graces us with her presence. My son is as resourceful as ever, if he is able to recruit one such as you into his ranks."
"Call me 'child of Naga' again and I will eat you," Tiki's flanged voice came from the draconic body, like an echo. Her mouth didn't move. "For now, though, I think I will just set you on fire. Risen meat makes me sick unless I cook it first."
"I think not. Lord Grima needs me, and my death here has not been ordained by him. But first, a parting gift!" The Deadlord's hand was quick as another bolt of pure darkness, much larger than any I had ever seen him cast flowed from his hand like a raging river. "Here my name well, servants of Naga! I am Deadlord Fauder, Grima's right hand! Your torment has only just begun!"
Tiki roared as she responded with a gout of flame so intense I felt it from my fair distance away. Light and dark clashed against each other, causing an explosion so violent I was knocked off my feet.
Whatever was left of the mist dispersed, revealing a clear blue sky above and the rapidly increasing inferno, caused by Tiki, blazing through the trees. Where the Deadlord and the remainder of his minions once stood, only dust and echoes remained.
In the end, the forest fire started by Tiki forced us to move further into Rosanne, on the same path we'd been traveling on before we were so rudely ambushed. We weren't even able to recover the bodies of the men that fell there, ours or otherwise. I didn't blame Tiki for that; for one, she was a fucking dragon, and secondly, she was the only reason why we weren't resurrected carcasses.
The thing that was most concerning to me, however, was that Cherche, Cordelia, and Gerome were nowhere to be seen.
We elected to regroup in a clearing to the southeast.
"Knight-Captain," Virion called once we were there, his bow around his back and blood splattered against his nice clothes still. "What are our losses? Robin has given me a rough estimate, but you knew our number better than he did."
At least he was right about that. I'd been talking with the men, doing headcounts and making sure they weren't going to bolt at the first sign of trouble again. They were in surprisingly good spirits, all things considered. I couldn't tell if that was because the Voice of Naga was on our side or for some other reason. In any case, it did not make my news any better.
"A hundred confirmed dead," I replied, my voice a raspy hiss. "Dozens more missing. All our fliers are still unaccounted for."
"Gods." Virion massaged his temples. "Robin has the foresight to prepare for an ambush, but I do not blame him for this- this is not a disaster, but it is uncomfortably close to one, yes. Not even a mind as brilliant as Robin's or mine could see this. To think the new duke would stoop so low as to ally himself with Grima…"
"A decision born of desperation," I supplied, my arm crossed as I looked up at the blue sky. The setting sun cast hues of orange and yellow across the world, illuminating our activities. "I'm not Robin, but the writing is on the wall, here. Maybe the new duke wants to break off from Walhart by any means necessary. We'd still need to come down here and take him out, so I guess we're nailing two birds with one stone."
"Yes, I did think of that," Virion replied, his voice sounding a touch aggravated. "This new duke would have been appointed by Walhart himself when he… when he conquered my beloved Rosanne. And yet this monstrous alliance… this cowardice…!"
I shrugged. "I'm surprised you don't agree with him."
Virion's blue gaze lingered on me, his expression slowly turning into something ugly. "You may mock me, Alexander. You may jab at me and call me a craven all you like. I will accept all of it. But do not, for an instant, think that I would allow the citizens of my country, of my world, to turn themselves over to the clutches of the Fell Dragon. Everything I have done, I have done to preserve Rosanne, so that she may one day become as glorious as I remember her being. If I am a coward, Alexander, then you are a hypocrite. You say I should have fought to the last man? Were you in my position, I shudder to think what would have become of Rosanne. It would no longer be a duchy, but a graveyard. And their blood would be on your hands."
I recoiled as if he'd just slapped me across the face. I tried to say something back, tried to find the right words that would cut as deeply into him as he had done to me. But I found nothing. My tongue was frozen in my mouth, and no words came of it.
I never found the right words. Thankfully, the tension between us was finally cut when we heard the flapping of wings, both feathered and leathery. I looked to the skies to see a mix of wyverns and pegasi circling us in the sky. Three, in particular, must have seen us among the rest of our army, as they landed right by us. I recognized them instantly; two Minervas and one Aurora.
The three riders disembarked and made their way to us.
"Cherche!" Virion called happily. "Lovely Cherche, I thought for a moment that the enemy had taken you! I apologize; I should have known Gerome would have kept you safe."
"Why, Virion, do you doubt that it could have been the other way around?" Cherche asked, her smile dangerous. I saw Gerome shiver in his ebony armor, for just a second. "Shall I remind you how capable I am?"
Virion gave a fond smile. "Ah, my apologies again, Cherche. No need to remind me of how strong you are. I was merely… that is to say…"
I looked away from the family next to me and focused on the redhead approaching me.
"Cordy," I breathed out, relief flooding my tone. "Thank God you're okay. I thought- Where'd you all go?"
"I-I don't know," Cordelia replied, unsure, wiping her brow. "We were fighting the enemy wyvern riders when that fog rolled in. They were no match for us; even Severa was able to take several of them down, and she's but a novice, but it didn't seem like beating us was their goal. It was as if they were attempting to lure us away from something- Gods, they were…!"
"That doesn't matter now," I said, embracing her. "I'm just glad you and Sev are alright."
Cordelia returned my embrace, wrapping her arms around my midsection and squeezing. I needed that. Just a little affirmation to keep me grounded.
After a moment, we parted. Cordelia looked around. "Where are Robin and Lady Tiki?"
"Where do you think the forest-fire came from?" I gestured to the pillars of smoke coming from the north. "Tiki turned into a dragon and batted those fuckers away, easily. I just wish she did so sooner. We… Well, even before you came back, our casualties were high." I turned to Virion. "What do we do now?"
Virion finished talking to Gerome and Cherche and looked back to me. "We do the only thing we can do, Sir Alexander. We finish regrouping and follow our original plan. We can resupply and perhaps recruit on our way towards Wyval to the southeast."
"Virion, did you not hear me when I told you how many soldiers died!?" I asked loudly. "I was already skeptical about your plan, but now that we've lost nearly a hundred men! How can we even hope to take those bastards down?"
"Alexander," Robin's voice broke out through the evening air. "Calm down. I don't think we'll be able to follow Virion's plan either, but that doesn't mean you should start shouting. Tiki is sleeping, you know."
I whipped around to see Robin approach us, his cloak slightly billowing in the refreshing wind. "Tiki's asleep?"
"Indeed," Robin nodded, smiling. "Apparently turning into a dragon is exhausting. Who knew?"
"But she'll wake up, right?"
"Of course, Alex. Peace," Robin assuaged. "She won't be returning to a centuries-long slumber. She assured me of such before she passed out. In any case, there's something more important to discuss."
"I concur, noble tactician," Virion spoke up, standing tall. "Why do you suppose we cannot continue with our original plan? Surely, even though the enemy knows we are here, we can still follow it. I doubt they know of the secret passage into the castle I spoke to you about."
Robin shook his head. "That's precisely it, Virion; they know we're coming. If Grima really is allied with the new duke of Rosanne, then the Deadlord we encountered will have already told him, or will tell him, of our arrival. No doubt there will be resistance for every step we take into deeper Rosannean territory. It would be a grueling struggle; one I do not think we could get out of unscathed." Robin looked down. "I would hope to avoid further casualties for the time being."
Virion frowned, hard lines stretching across his face. "Indeed, noble tactician. Forgive me; my blood still boils from the last attack. I realize that such an action would be reckless indeed."
Cherche gasped. "My lord, are you feeling unwell? Have you truly just apologized for an error on your part?"
Virion chuckled good-naturedly, his frown disappearing once he looked upon the rose-haired wyvern rider. "Dearest Cherche, you wound me! Is it really so odd that I would apologize?"
"Yes," Gerome answered, his arms crossed and mask hiding his expression.
"A-aha! S-such choice words, my friends!"
"There is another reason, of course," Robin said, hands behind his back. "We cannot move."
I raised a brow. "What? Why not?"
"Because we are surrounded on all sides by archers," Robin replied easily. "I saw them flitting about the trees. They're clumsy, at least, Tiki said so. Before she went to sleep."
"Robin," Cordelia hissed, lance at the ready in almost an instant. "What have you done!?"
"If they wanted us dead, they would have done so already," Robin said, his reply unnaturally stiff. "Say'ri told me about other branches of the Resistance, one for each country. That was who you were hoping to find and help bolster our forces, weren't you, Duke Virion?"
Virion looked at Robin appraisingly before a small smile broke out across his face. "Impressive, Robin. It seems your skills as a social manipulator back in your home country have not gone to waste, hmm?"
Robin smirked back. "It's a risky strategy, although considering your track record in our games, I thought it appropriate. Incredibly risky, in fact. These archers in the trees could simply be envoys of that Deadlord and the new duke, here to observe our movements and eliminate us at the right moment."
"Perhaps so," Virion conceded, looking to Cherche and Gerome. "But I would like to believe the former is the truth. Even without me, the people of Rosanne would not completely fold. They would fight from the shadows, wherever they could. Say'ri confirmed as much to me."
"Uh," I dumbly added. "What the hell just happened? There are archers in the trees or some shit?" I looked to the treeline nearby, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. "Cordy are you- Can you make any sense of this?"
"I wish that I couldn't," Cordelia sighed, putting her spear away. "But it makes some amount of sense."
"This is something I'm too stupid to understand, huh?"
"Now, I wouldn't say that," Cordelia replied, her red eyes scanning me up and down. "Well, you're handsome at least."
"I feel like I should be insulted."
"What say we go greet our guests then, hmm?" Virion suggested, jostling his bow. "If they are true Rosanneans, they will know the face of their rightful sovereign duke."
"Indeed, they will. Your face is hard to miss, my lord," Cherche agreed.
"Aha! Again with that biting wit, my dear Cherche."
With Gerome staying behind to look after the twin Minervas, and after Cordelia quickly left Aurora off with the appropriate people, we made our way to the treeline. Virion, Cherche, Robin, Cordelia, and myself. My right arm wouldn't stop twitching, I was so nervous, Despite Robin and Virion's suspicions about the supposed archers circling our camp, I was still on edge. I believed them, of course; Robin was my liege and had kept me alive thus far, and Virion, while I hadn't personally liked him for a while, I knew he was smart. Not as smart as Robin, obviously, but close enough.
The yellow and golden rays gave way to darker shades of red and the occasional ethereal blue from the rising moon. It was like we were walking into a painting.
We didn't enter the treeline, instead opting to wait just next to it. I looked up to the trees themselves, still seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Standing there for a few moments, listening to the sound or rustling leaves in the wind, I turned to Virion and Robin, who stood side by side.
"You sure you weren't just hallucinating, Robin?" I asked, semi-seriously.
"Just give them a few moments, Alex," Robin replied. "Call it a 'hunch'. They will be here any second."
I looked to Cordelia with a perplexed expression. She merely gave me a small smile and shrugged. Shaking my head and sighing, I went back to waiting.
It wasn't long after that, when the remainder of red was purged from the sky, that I heard the sound of a bow being strung. My left hand instantly went to Sol at my side, only to be interrupted by Cordelia slamming a hand into my shoulder. I looked at her wildly only to see her gesturing to the trees. Staring up, I saw the form of a raggedy archer. Not a Risen, thank the Lord. He wore tattered cloth and piecemeal armor, but was otherwise a regular person.
Before long, we were surrounded, bows at the ready to skewer us from all sides. I cursed in my head; were Robin and Virion wrong? Had we just given ourselves to the Rosanneans on a silver platter?
"Duke Virion, my lord," a gruff, but still feminine voice called. I looked to see a form emerging from the brush. A woman, by the looks of her. Short, but I knew from Say'ri to never underestimate someone based on height. She breached the treeline and revealed herself in the pale light. She wore somewhat rusty armor that was clearly very ornate at one point, with dark brown under armor/gambeson. Short black hair with a white headband completed the look. She didn't quite look like she was from Rosanne, but the only other country I knew about that she looked like she could be from was Chon'sin, and while she bore a startling resemblance to Say'ri, she didn't quite match either. In the end, I shuffled the thought to the back of my mind; it wasn't important. "You have returned."
Virion's eyes widened but only briefly. "Vivien. My old friend!" Virion exclaimed, tone approaching happiness. "You're… Why, had I known you would come to personally greet me, I would have made myself far more presentable!"
The female warrior known as Vivien let out a light chuckle. "Had I known you were returning, I would have polished my armor. Alas, when you are constantly on the run from the Empire's dogs, with no way to return to home base, well, that leaves precious little time for much."
"Ah, indeed," Virion nodded. "Tell me, old friend. What has happened to Rosanne while I was away? We were ambushed on my old hunting trail while en route to retake our capitol."
"We folded easily, milord, and the raping of Rosanne's fields began," Vivien spat bitterly, her pale face twisting in disgust. "Just like that, all of our hard work went to feed the Conqueror's armies, with little left for the common man, let alone what remained of the nobility. He appointed a new 'duke' to oversee the duchy in his absence. He's… he's your nephew, milord."
This gave Virion pause. I looked to the former duke, his face frozen in stunned silence and pale. "I am sorry, Vivien. I must have misheard you. It is almost as if you said that a member of my family would allow Rosanne to exist in such a state, to make deals with the six-eyed monstrosity across the water."
"You mean the red-eyed monsters that have bolstered his small army?" Vivien asked. "That was a recent development. I do not know what Dorion was thinking, milord; I cannot claim to know what goes on in his mind. I have heard tell, however, that a robed, er, man? I think? Has been sent to oversee Rosanne's further development into a 'subservient of the Empire'. Pah! The insults never end."
"This is…" I saw Virion swallow a lump. "This is dire news, Vivien. To think Rosanne would fall so far just from my leaving it…"
"I understand why you would do so, milord," Vivien began. "I've known you almost as long as Cherche has. Although I've never been able to… N-nevermind. You merely wanted Rosanne to live on. To survive this crisis. Unfortunately, most within the country do not see it that way."
"Indeed." Virion's eyes looked off to the distance, almost glassy in appearance.
"This information is helpful, certainly," Robin began before catching himself. "Ah, my apologies, I don't believe we've introduced ourselves. I am Robin of Ylisse, Grandmaster Tactician of Prince Chrom's army. The two by my side are Alexander, my knight, and Cordelia, Flight-Captain of Ylisse's Pegasus Knights."
I waved my iron hand while Cordelia bowed her head. "An honor to meet you, my lady."
"The honor is mine, Ylisseans," Vivien replied. "It seems Lord Virion's plan to find strong allies worked, hmm?"
"Well, we aren't dead yet. That has to count for something," I remarked dryly.
"Ha! So it does."
"Back to what I was about to say," Robin continued, "This information is helpful, but unfortunately, we're still in a tight spot. Scores of our men lie dead, and Tiki- Er, that is to say, the Voice of Naga, is currently asleep after saving our hides."
Vivien balked. "You have the Voice of Naga among your ranks!?"
I grumbled something unintelligible as Robin kept going. "We do indeed. To make a long story short, we could use help. Anything you could provide. Shelter, supplies."
"Say no more, Robin of Ylisse." Vivien waved. "The battle you fought drove off the dogs what were blocking my men and I from returning to our base. A fortress, deep into the mountains towards the west. Incredibly fortified, and well stocked, even in these trying times."
Virion's eyes lit up. "Ah, you mean Fort Mycen, do you not? You speak rightly, Vivien. Only, if I recall, the fortress is also nestled in a corner; there are very few pathways both in and out."
Vivien nodded. "I would be suspicious of it as well, milord, if not for the fact that the 'duke's' men have not found it yet. Nor has the worm from Walhart. We should be safe there, for the moment. Once we arrive, and you are rested, we can plot our next move."
I turned to Robin, my gaze dubious. I didn't doubt that they were on our side; I was just worried that they may unwittingly lead us into a trap. Or they were really good actors. Either way, Robin's expression was blank for several moments. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I appreciate the offer, Vivien," Robin said. "Do you mind if I have a talk with everyone else for a moment?"
"Not at all, tactician," Vivien responded, gesturing to her companions to double back into the forest. "You have all been through a great deal since coming here. Take all the time you need. We were not going to guide you to Fort Mycen until dawn either way. When you are ready, we will be here."
"I don't like it," I said instantly, once we were outside of earshot. "What little you guys talked about Fort Mycen, the place sounds like a deathtrap. A place for cornered rats."
"What other choice do we have?" Virion asked, his gaze lingering on the starry night sky. "Believe me, I know the risk such a fortification presents, Alexander. However, I do not believe Vivien would lead us astray. She has been a loyal retainer of House Virion since we were both children, just like my dear Cherche."
"How dear, I wonder?" Cherche openly wondered. "Although, Lord Virion is right. Much as I am loathed to admit it, we do not have very many options here. We either corner ourselves, or we die attempting to take Wyval. A shame, really. Minerva always wanted to look over the city."
"Alex is right," Cordelia said firmly, standing beside me. "I am not calling into question the truthfulness or loyalty of your retainer, Lord Virion, but this Fort Mycen - what if the enemy knows about it? What if they're just waiting for us to go? They certainly didn't have much trouble intercepting us on the Duke's Trail. What if this is all part of some far-reaching plan? Something about this doesn't seem right."
Before the bickering could continue, Robin exclaimed; "All of you, please! Calm down."
We all looked to the robed man, the moon's light shining over him and washing his form in blue. "I want you all to trust me when I say this: I believe we should go with them."
My eyes grew wide and I had to keep myself from snarling. "Robin, what-!?" I shook my head, massaging my temples. "Are you going to explain, or…?"
Robin avoided my gaze. "I think it would be prudent that I keep it to myself for now. At least, until I have had time to talk to Vivien alone."
"No, please, Robin. By all means!" Cordelia said, her voice carrying more than just a trace of venom. "What plan will you refuse to share with us, I wonder? Hmm. Truly, it is a mystery. Do you perhaps believe one of us is a turncoat?"
"Cordelia." I looked to her, my eyes pleading.
"Fine, you want to know what my plan is?" Robin replied angrily. "We are stuck between a rock and a hard place, Cordelia. There are very few options for us to take. We can leave Vivien's company at any time on our way to this Fort. It's either that, or we try our original plan. Which, might I add, will not work anymore without the support from the Resistance of this area. Need I explain more? Or would you rather I write out a full report while you are organizing our supplies? Oh, but that is not what you are speaking of, is it? No, perhaps you are worried that one of the enemy generals had a hand in the murder of the pegasus knights! In which case, I cannot say for certain. Maybe you should go ask them!?"
"Robin!" I shouted, marching up to him. "You've made your point, goddamnit! Stop right there!"
Robin blinked, probably noticing the red-faced Cordelia just behind me, as well as Virion and Cherche standing awkwardly to the side.
"I..." Robin closed his mouth and took another deep breath. "My a-apologies. I don't know what came over me."
"I think I know exactly what came over you, Robin," Cordelia hissed, her voice angrier than I ever remembered it being. "I am done with you."
Cordelia marched off towards the camp our soldiers were making.
I watched her leave, feeling as if ice had been poured into my veins. "You know, Robin, I think my wife hates your guts."
"Do you think? I had no clue," Robin replied, his voice tired as he rubbed his eyes. "Perhaps some bridges are too badly burned to be rebuilt. That was stupid of me."
"Er, if I may interrupt," Virion said. "I believe we have a course of action, do we not?"
Robin paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes. We leave with Vivien and her men come sunrise. We should help our own soldiers make camp before we all fall asleep on the ground."
Our convoy had a few wagons in it. Foods and supplies and shit. Luckily, they weren't harmed when the Rosanneans and the Risen attacked. It was also where, after almost thirty minutes of searching, I found Cordelia. I never was very good at searching for things, let alone people.
She was sitting on the end of it, the crates to her back. One hand covered her mouth while another arm was around her stomach. I didn't waste any time when I realized she was crying.
"Cordy," I called. She didn't jump. She barely moved. "Cordelia, are you alright?"
"No," She replied, wiping at her eyes. "No, Alex, I'm not. I'm really not."
I looked down, thinking. After a second, I pointed to the small spot next to her. "Mind if I sit there?"
Her lips were pursed, but in the end she scooted over a bit, offering me room. I sat down on her left, keeping my urge to wrap her up in my arms and never let her go for the moment.
"You're stressed out. I get it, Cordy," I began, taking a deep breath. "I'm not gonna sit here and try and justify Robin snapping at you like that. Things aren't, well, they aren't great."
"Gods, Alex, you think I don't know that?" Cordelia asked blearily. "I'm not upset about that. I should have kept my mouth shut. I acted like a child, Alex. Like a petulent child that cannot let a simple slight go. I had no right to say what I did. I've just had this rage burning in me every time I look at him and when he had the gall to try and say us not knowing his plan was prudent! And then my knight-sisters! The nerve!"
I winced. "No, yeah, that was a bit dumb on his part."
"I shouldn't let my emotions get the better of me like that," Cordelia continued. "Even if what he said was… There's been a lot I have needed to deal with. Severa's training, the other pegasus knights irritating me in a completely different way, and the-" Cordelia stopped herself. "Alex, this may sound awfully strange, but why did you propose to me? Why me?"
My eyes widened, and my chest grew cold like a jagged shard of ice was plunged through it. "What?"
"I am lucky to have you," Cordelia pressed on, clutching a hand to her chest. The same one that had the ring I gave to her. "Gods, I tell that to myself every day. You could have chosen anyone, Alex. Someone who is surer of themselves, more attractive. Anyone who isn't me. Why? Why did you choose me of all people?"
I turned completely, gently clutching her shoulder and forcing her to look me in the eye. "Cordelia, listen to me. Please, don't ever ask me that again. You brought me back from the brink on Whiteford, remember? Even if Robin wasn't there, you would have gone or figured out where I'd gone yourself. I was… I was this close, you know. This close to just hurling myself over those jagged cliffs once I found out the Outrealm Gate was destroyed, and that there was no going back. No going back home."
I took a deep shuddering breath. "You and Severa are all that I have now. You're my family. I'm not sure I can ever express just how much that means to me, to have people to come back to. To have the woman I love and the daughter I cherish to be there when the fighting is over. You think you're lucky that you have me? Cordy, I count myself as the lucky one, and I mean that. You're a smart, strong, unstoppable goddess while I'm just a single guy with a magical sword. It's- Fuck it."
I wrapped her up in my arms. She responded in kind, only to remove herself from me so she could press her lips against mine. That warmth, that softness, I never wanted it to leave. I never wanted to leave it. All I wanted was to sit there for the rest of time with her in my arms.
We may have gotten a bit carried away, which led to her pushing me onto the floor of the wagon as she straddled my waist. She had her way with my lips for a time, her red hair creating a curtain. I wasn't sure how long we were like that, but eventually we parted. She laid her head on my chest, looking up at me with a smile. I didn't notice the tears, happy ones, streaming from her eyes, illuminated by the blue glow of the moon.
"And you call yourself the lucky one," Cordelia giggled, snuggling up closer to me. "How is it you're able to do this to me?"
"I have a gorgeous woman who I'm gonna marry soon cuddling me. How can I not be lucky?" I asked back.
"Mmm." Cordelia hummed back, getting up. Her expression soured. "Alex, love, I have been meaning to tell you something for some time, but I-I needed to make sure."
And here I was thinking we were gonna fall asleep here…
"Well, alright. It can't be any more stressful than the past day has been. Promise we'll get back to cuddling after though?" I chuckled, sitting up.
Cordelia gave me a small smile. "Of course. I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. It's just that, this is one of those things that I said was stressing me out earlier. I haven't told you because I wanted to wait and make sure, but I think that's just made it worse. For my mind, I mean."
I raised a brow. "Alright, now you got me interested. So, what is it?"
Cordelia held both her arms over her stomach protectively. Her lips thinned in nervousness. "Alex, I-I don't mean to scare you, but… I think I'm pregnant."
I blinked. Then I blinked again. No, she was still there, and I could still feel the sentence ringing in my ears. The longer I went without responding, the clearer Cordelia's nervousness showed; she wasn't looking me in the eye anymore, and she was more hugging her stomach than holding herself. I honestly didn't know how to respond. Nothing, not even my future child coming back from, well, the future, prepared me for that. I was drawing blanks all around, and the woman I loved was sitting there waiting for a response I didn't know how to make.
My heart refused to calm down. I had to say or do something, or I'd explode. Gently, I reached my hand out and cupped her cheek. "A-are you sure?"
Cordelia's smile was fragile, as if a single word could shatter it into a million pieces. She reached up and held my hand to her cheek, nuzzling into my palm softly. "It's been almost two months, Alex. And there hasn't been any… any blood. Nothing. I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't sure."
What a time to do it, huh, boy scout?
Through the confusion, a spark formed. A bright and warm one, right in my chest. Despite my growing worries, and despite a voice in my head saying this was the absolute worst time for something like this to happen, I smiled. "Cordelia, t-that's great!"
A visible wave of relief went through Cordelia. She sighed, holding a hand to her chest. "Hah, I know this is hardly the best time."
"Hey, look at me," I whispered, touching my forehead against hers. "This is a happy moment. I've always wanted to- Well, we had that talk on the ship, heh. Let's just savor the moment, for all it's worth."
We didn't need words beyond that. All we needed was each other.
This fic, as of the day before this chapter comes out, will be a year old. A whole entire fucking year. Anyone who regularly looks at my two accounts will notice that I've had a handful of longform fics that never got far past 100k words or above that at all, and they all ended within a few months, never a full fuckin' year.
I've gotta say, I've been having a shitty few weeks. I won't get into details because, frankly, this is not the place to post shit like it. Everyone comes here to escape, not engross themselves in my life. I also won't milk for sympathy. Just know that this story has helped me through some pretty rough times the past year, and I have no plans on discontinuing it before I complete it. We're around 1/3rd through Valm now, where most longform Awakening fics go to die. I promise you, this story will be completed. And when that day comes, I'll be both overjoyed and saddened. Happy that I finally completed something, but sad that it's over.
But until then, let's just enjoy Alex and Cordelia being absolute dorks with each other, yeah?
Thank you all for your follows, favorites, and reviews throughout the past year. Here's to Aberration's completion!
And, lastly, a link to our Discord: discord .gg/9XG3U7a
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day!
Edited on 3/27/21. Not a bad chapter, but not the best, either.