Chapter 7

The Feroxi Way

The Longfort loomed in front of the Shepherd's. A massive, grey, stone wall that stretched east and west as far as Robin could see. Even the snowdrifts, which looked like hills compared to the him and the other Shepherd's, looked small in comparison to the massive fortress. An enormous gate, crisscrossed by iron bars, blocked the rest of the road from the Shepherd's. But what was strange to the tactician was how quiet it was.

"For a fortress, it seems-"

"Abandoned?" Chrom finished for him.

Robin frowned, "Yeah." He shifted in the snow, "I don't like it."

He glanced over at Ben. The man's face was like stone. He could not read anything from it. But he knew Ben was thinking the same thing. His eyes were focused on the top of the wall. Robin's eyes widened. Ben's hand was slowly reaching for his rapier.

"There's going to be trouble." Robin muttered.

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't know." Robin replied, "I just do."

Chrom grimaced, "Well. There hasn't been trouble yet. I am curious as to why no one has… I don't know, shouted at us yet?"

"Maybe we should knock?" Stahl suggested.

Chrom furrowed his brow, "Can't hurt." Before he moved up to the gate he glanced over at Frederick. The Knight stood uneasily beside his horse. His hand kneading the grip of his lance. Eyes scanning the top of the wall much the same way as Ben. "Are you sure they got your message?"

Frederick nodded. His eyes never left the top of the wall. Lissa crept back behind the large knight. Her own anxiety over the sudden silence starting to surface. Chrom sighed.

"Guess I'll have to."

He took one step toward the gate. Then he jumped in the air as Ben's voice rang out through the air.

"Is anybody home!?"

The other Shepherd's whipped their gazes over to the swordsman. Eyes wide and jaws hanging open.

"That's the loudest I've ever heard him talk." Lissa muttered.

"He can talk?" Stahl replied.

Chrom stared back at Ben. He was about to ask if the man was crazy when he heard the sound of armor clanking loudly in the air. Chrom spun back around to face the Longfort. His eyes widened. Appearing at the top of the wall were at least two dozen soldiers. All of them armed to the teeth with lances, axes, and bows. Each one of them heavily armored and grim faced. Then a woman wearing heavy armor and carrying a massive, steel shield and lance, marched to the edge of the wall.

"Who goes there!?" She shouted, her voice powerful and clear despite the howling, cold wind.

Chrom took a breath. The woman's eyes pierced through the dark sky and buried into him. An intense stare that told him that he better answer her quickly and clearly.

"Prince Chrom, of Ylisse." He answered, "I am here to request an audience with your ruling Khan on behalf of Exalt Emmeryn."

"LIES!" The blonde haired woman barked.

"Huh?"

"You dare question milord?" Frederick growled.

"I dare to question the word of a brigand!" The woman at the top of the wall snarled.

"Brigand?" Lissa gasped.

"But I am Prince Chrom of Ylisse."

"Yeah, and I'm the queen of Valm." The woman dismissed, "I have had brigands approach my wall, all of them claiming to be Prince Chrom of Ylisse. All of them are dead. What can you say that can make me possibly believe that you are truly Prince Chrom?"

"I-"

"The answer, brigand, is nothing." The woman sharply interrupted, "You will meet the same fate as the others."

"I'm telling you I am Prince-"

"If you are indeed Prince Chrom then prove it." The woman growled. She gripped the spear at her side and pointed it down at the Shepherd's, "The Feroxi way. Lancers!"

Chrom's eyes widened. As he saw hidden soldiers appear on the battlements. The Feroxi were aware that they were here the entire time. They had just been waiting.

The lancers all threw their spears down at the Ylissean Prince. Chrom stared stunned. There was no time to move. Nowhere to move. All he could hope for now was that they would all somehow miss. But judging from how close the spears were getting, that hope was slim. He braced himself for excruciating pain and squeezed his eyes shut. Behind him, he heard the Shepherds cry out in alarm. He could hear Frederick barking orders as he spurred his war horse forward. Sully and Stahl were screaming as they charged the wall.

He felt both heat and static in the air as Miriel and Robin charged up spells. Above them all, he heard Lissa utter a shrill, terrified scream. None of them would be fast enough.

Wings beat loudly in his ears. A slender hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him hard off of his feet and onto the back of a horse. The wind rushed by him, howling in his ears. The air nearly froze him as he raced through it. But Chrom ignored the cold. His eyes cracked open just enough to see long brown hair with small wing shaped ornaments in front of him.

"You alright, Captain?" Sumia asked as she yanked on the reins of her pegasus.

Chrom blinked some snow from his eyes, "Su-Sumia?"

She smirked back at him, "First time on a pegasus? It probably could have come under better circumstances huh?"

Chrom stared at her, spellbound. He had never seen her like this before. She was normally so timid and quiet. But now, she was a picture of pure confidence. The reins of her pegasus rested in her grip while she deftly flew high in the sky. Her long brown hair flowed gracefully behind her. Her one free hand gripped a lance. Chrom could not help but feel his stomach flip a little bit at the sight. Was Sumia always this gifted of a flier?

He felt her knees shift in front of him. The Pegasus banked right and swooped over the Longfort. Feroxi soldiers raced atop the walls. Chrom could see more lancers aiming their spears. But they were hesitant to throw them. Sumia was moving too fast.

"Better hold on tight Captain. This is going to be a sharp turn." Sumia said, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the wind in Chrom's ears.

"What do you mean hold on TIGHT!"

The Pegasus barreled into a sharp dive. A small yelp left Chrom's lips before he wrapped his arms around Sumia. The girl in front of him blushed for the briefest of moments before guiding the pegasus towards the other shepherds on the ground. Just as they reached the ground, Chrom heard spears whistle over their heads.

"That was…" Chrom gasped as he struggled to catch his breath. His eyes were still fixed on Sumia.

"Close. I know." Sumia bowed her head, "It shouldn't have been but I could not go any faster and-"

Chrom brushed some loose hair from her forehead, "You were amazing."

Sumia's breath got stuck in her throat. As she struggled to form a reply, Frederick charged over and spun his horse to guard the pair. Robin and Ben were racing beside him. The tactician proving to be surprisingly fast when the need arose. Lissa sprinted just behind them with the other shepherds.

"Chrom!" Robin shouted.

"Are you injured, milord?" Frederick asked.

"Thanks to Sumia, no." Chrom breathed.

Sumia looked over at Frederick and saw the night give her a small nod. An enormous measure of approval from the stoic man. The other shepherd's gathered near Chrom. Stahl and Sully used their mounts to shield the Prince and Princess. Vaike was laughing to himself as he brandished his axe. Miriel and Virion watched the walls, eyeing the Feroxi soldiers and making sure that no more spears were going to come flying at them all.

Chrom cleared his throat, "So diplomacy didn't work."

"And I assume the Feroxi way is battle?" Ben asked.

Chrom drew Falchion and pointed it at the gate, "Robin how-"

"There are two mechanisms up on the walls that control the gate." Robin answered, "Sumia could probably ferry one of us up there. But they will make sure she won't do it again. Whoever goes up there has to be fast enough to trigger both mechanisms and skilled enough to hold off the enemy until help arrives."

Both Robin and Chrom's eyes drifted towards Ben. They looked at each other, grinned, then nodded.

"I guess we get so see how strong the silent type really is." Chrom said with a grin.

Their grins disappeared as Ben gave Sumia's pegasus an apprehensive glance.

"I don't like flying." Robin heard the man mutter under his breath.

To both Chrom and Robin's surprise, Sumia grabbed Ben by the hood of his cloak and yanked him up onto the pegasus. The man sat backwards on the beast as Sumia snapped the reins.

"Time to get over that fear." She said.

"Wait a moment!" Ben shouted as they both soared into the air towards the Longfort.

Ben grit his teeth. His heart pounded in his chest. He had always hated flying. It was not meant for people. Flying was for droids! Especially when it came to flying in combat. And while he could stomach his own anxiety about it all when sitting in a cockpit, flying in the open air on an animal he was not familiar with was enough to stoke some fear in him.

In a panic he reached out to grab the closest secure handhold.

The pegasus uttered a loud whine as his hand squeezed it's tail.

"Watch what you're grabbing!" Sumia hollered over the wind, "She doesn't like that."

"She needs to be less temperamental!" Ben shouted back.

To his surprise, Sumia let out a laugh before forcing her mount into a sharp dive towards the wall. Ben shift in his seat so that he was now facing the same way as Sumia. He sucked in a sharp breath as the stone walls of the Longfort hurtled towards them.

Why does she now remind me of Anakin!?

"Brace yourself. I'm going to slow down so you can dismount. Get ready for a sharp jerk." Sumia shouted.

Ben gulped, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened his eyes. He grit his teeth and drew his rapier.

"Don't slow down." He said.

"Huh?"

"If you slow down, they will shoot you out of the sky." Ben said, "Just get me close enough, I'll do the rest."

"Are you insane!" Sumia shouted.

"Apparently." Ben muttered before rising to his feet on the Pegasus's back.

"What are you doing!?"

"Getting ready to jump." Ben replied as he balanced himself of the beast's back. His swayed to and fro for a moment as a hard gust of wind caught him. But he was able to quickly right himself.

Blast it Anakin! How did you make this look so easy?

An arrow zipped by his head. Then one whizzed past his right side. The Feroxi had gotten over their own shock and were now taking aim at Sumia. Ben stared down at the wall and saw the first mechanism. Three Feroxi warriors with slender blades guarded it. A few dozen yards away, the blonde woman who was their commander, was shouting orders. Beckoning her archers and lancers to take down the pegasus rider and her passenger.

"Like I said, don't slow down."

Sumia shook her head in front of him, "You are-"

"Have fun with the others."

Ben jumped from the Pegasus's back. Sumia uttered a small cry. She was about to spin her pegasus around to try and catch Ben, but a flurry of arrows forced her to maneuver back up into the air.

"Ben!" She screamed as she shot up into the sky, out of range of the arrows.

She spun her pegasus around. She watched as Ben hit the walls feet first. The man's legs bent then her fell into a roll. Within seconds, he was inside the guards of the Feroxi soldiers tasked with protecting the first gate mechanism. Her mouth fell open as his rapier flashed among them. With speed that she did not think was possible, he felled the Feroxi soldiers. She saw him look in her direction and give her a small salute then pull on the first mechanism.

"You are insane." She muttered to herself.

"DID BEN JUST JUMP!?" Robin cried.

"Damn I knew he was crazy, but not that crazy." Sully muttered.

Chrom cursed under his breath, "Frederick, is there any way we can scale the walls?"

"Not unless you want to become the latest quiver for arrows, milord." Frederick replied.

"Damn it!" Chrom looked up at the Longfort. Ben was probably laying on top of it's walls right now. Legs broken. Unable to defend himself. And the blonde commander did not seem like the type to take prisoners. They had to get up there, fast.

"Robin, we're going to have to risk flying with Sumia a second time." He said.

He saw the tactician's jaw harden. The man did not like that plan one bit. Chrom could see why. The Feroxi were more than capable warriors. That was one of the biggest reasons why Emmeryn sent Chrom to form an alliance with them. If war did break out between Ylisse and Plegia, then Ylisse would have the greatest warriors on the continent at their backs. And those great warriors were not going to let Sumia get that close that easily a second time. He could see that the archers were not focusing on the shepherds anymore but were now focusing on Sumia.

She was skilled enough to return and pick up one of them. That much was certain. But Chrom was beginning to doubt if she would be able to fly through a cloud of arrows. No pegasus knight could get that lucky with those kinds of odds. Chrom grit his teeth. Robin was right. Sumia flying one of them up onto the wall was no longer an option.

"Virion!" Robin barked, "You, me, and Miriel need to make those archers back down. Force them into cover."

The tactician charged a thunder spell then lobbed the yellow lightning up onto the wall. Miriel followed with a small burst of fire. Virion shot arrow after arrow.

"Chrom!" Robin shouted, "Get to cover with the others, we need to regroup and-"

The gate shuddered and groaned. Chrom and Robin both heard Feroxi men cry out in pain. The gate shuddered again. The iron bars started to rise. The many gears and chains groaning out as they moved for the first time in many days. Chrom and Robin stared at the Longfort dumbstruck.

"He's alive." Chrom whispered.

"That crazy fool is the luckiest man I know." Robin muttered.

"What are you two waiting for!?" Sully cheered, "There's a fight to be had!"

With a loud cry, she spurred her horse towards the opening gate. Chrom grinned over at Robin before he twirled Falchion and raced after Sully.

The Feroxi were in a frenzy on top of the Longfort. As Robin passed beneath the gateway, he could hear steel clanging and clashing followed by muffled cries and dull thuds on the stone above him. Whatever Ben was doing up there, it was working. Even he could not have predicted how masterful of a swordsman the man apparently was.

The shepherd's surged up some stairs and up onto the top of the wall. Robin and Chrom reached the top first. The tactician casting one thunder spell after another as Chrom raced towards the second mechanism.

Ben was surrounded near it. But if one were to watch the fight, one would think that it did not seem to bother him at all. His swordsmanship was beyond masterful. It was like watching a master painter create a work of art. Robin had managed to catch a glimpse of his skill during the night south of Ylisstol and during the skirmish on the Northroad. But that appeared to be just a taste of what Ben was actually capable of.

He was a blur of motion. The steel rapier flashing in and out of the Feroxi guard like a viper's tongue. Circling around his body to form an impenetrable wall of metal that prevented any enemy blades from piercing it. Above all, Robin saw just how calm Ben was. He may have been surrounded. But he was not worried.

Robin's face paled a moment. The blonde commander was charging right at Ben. A lance leveled right at his back.

His mind raced. Ben was starting to weave between the Feroxi soldiers. If he launched a spell, there was a chance that it would hit him instead of the enemy. That was a chance Robin was not wanting to take.

A Feroxi warrior collapsed beside Robin. One of Virion's arrows jutted from his right shoulder. Robin took one look down at the soldier's weapon. A simple iron sword.

Time to see if I'm any good with a blade.

He snatched the blade from the Feroxi's grip and sprinted towards Ben. With a loud cry, Robin slammed into the blonde commander, knocking her off of her feet. He stumbled and tripped. Falling hard to the stony floor.

"Not smart." Robin groaned, "That was really not smart."

"More like idiotic."

Robin gasped and quickly rolled to his left. The commander's lance slammed into the ground where he had fallen. Sparks shot up from the tip of the lance as it skidded against the frozen stone.

He rolled and jumped to his feet just in time to sidestep a deadly thrust.

"Look." Robin gulped as the woman narrowed her eyes at him, "Is there any chance we can just talk this out."

"Shut up and fight!" She roared.

Robin jumped to the side, using his sword to parry her lance. The force of the blow made the bones in his arms shake. That heavy armor she was wearing wasn't just for show at all. She was that strong. Robin grit his teeth and gripped his sword in both hands. He parried another massive swing from the woman. The force behind the blow caused Robin to stumble backwards.

"What do you eat!?" Robin thought out loud.

The woman growled, shifted her grip, and swung her lance in a wide arc. Robin ducked beneath the attack.

"You Ylissean dogs never stand and fight!" The woman snarled, "Always just running."

"It's for a good reason!" Robin remarked, "I'm smaller than you!"

She swung her lance again. Robin's eyes widened as the spear tip grazed the top of his head. A loud yelp left his lungs as his foot caught a patch of ice. He fell hard onto the ground.

Not good! Robin thought as he saw the commander lunge at him. Ready to impale him on her lance.

It never got the chance.

Two blades caught the lance just inches away from Robin's body. One blade was Falchion, it's unique design easy to see. The other was a thin rapier that slide up the spears length before slashing into the Feroxi commanders hand.

The woman let out a pain filled howl. To Robin's amazement though, she did not lose her grip on her weapon. Instead, she used one hand to punch Ben away before swinging her spear hard at Chrom.

The Ylissean prince scampered back then engaged the commander again as Robin scrambled to his feet.

"So," Chrom snarled, "I never caught your name?"

"Does it matter to a dead man?" She snarled back.

Chrom shrugged, "I don't know. I was just trying to be polite."

Robin ducked as the woman swung her lance again. He then scrambled back and let out a heavy breath.

"Way to close." He breathed.

He felt a slight tingle up his spine. There was a strange sensation filling him. The sensation of being watched. He looked around. He could see Frederick and Sully dismantling several Feroxi warriors. Vaike was having the time of his life. Although Robin could see that he had already taken a blow to his shoulder. It was smeared dark red. Though the large man didn't seem to notice. Miriel and Virion were wreaking havoc on the Feroxi warriors. They had already sent the enemy archers into disarray and were now providing Stahl, Frederick, Sully, and the others with much needed support. Then there was Sumia, swooping down from the sky and lashing out with her own lance. Causing any Feroxi that had grouped together to scramble.

"Who's watching-"

"Watch out Robin!"

"GAH!"

An arrow zipped past Robin's head. The tactician fell to the ground. Chest heaving as he searched for both where the arrow came from and where that voice came from.

"Who?"

A wall of armor towered over him. Robin arched an eyebrow.

"Kellam?"

"Who else would it be?" The armored man asked as he extended a hand and helped Robin to his feet.

"I-um-" Robin scratched the back of his head, "I-"

"You didn't even notice I was in the battle?" Kellam sighed.

"No. I knew I just well… you just move so quietly."

"Don't worry." Kellam sighed, "You know I'm here now. So let me help you finish this."

"Right!" Robin nodded.

Ben shook his head as he lay on top of the Longfort. That Feroxi woman could really pack a punch. He could already feel a knot forming on the side of his head. He winced, then blinked the fog from his vision just in time to see another Feroxi soldier charging at him.

Ben scrambled to his feet, parried the soldier's spear, then drove his rapier into the man's thigh. Just as the soldier was about to scream out, Ben bashed him between the eyes, knocking him out.

So far, he had managed not to personally kill any of the Feroxi soldiers. Seriously maim and possibly cripple for life, yes. But killed, no. After all, Chrom and the Exalt's goal was to forge an alliance with these people. And in Ben's mind, alliances weren't made by shedding the opposing side's blood.

He looked back over at Chrom. The prince was fighting admirably, but even Ben could see that he could not beat the Feroxi commander. While Chrom was faster and much more nimble, the confined space of the Longfort made it so that he could not use that to his advantage. If he did, he risked falling off of the wall. The commander knew this, so she used her superior strength to her advantage.

She bashed at Chrom's defenses with shield and spear. Backing the prince down until he was pinned against a Wall. Then, with brutal efficiency, she smacked Falchion downwards with her shield before rearing back with her spear. Ready to thrust it's sharp point through the Prince's heart.

Ben's eyes widened. He was not going to reach him in time. No one was. Without another thought, he reached for the Force and felt it's familiar presence. He took great care to disguise what he was doing as much as possible. He did not want to be found out yet. But he also did not want to see a man like Chrom get killed. For some reason, he had a feeling that horrible things would happen if that were to occur. It was as if the Force was telling him to make sure Chrom lived. While not as comforting as it once was to him, he still chose to trust the Force. With a flick of his wrist, he reached out and grasped the spear with the force. The spear jerked to the right, grazing the Prince's side instead of ending of his life.

The commander uttered a frustrated snarl. But that was all she could muster before being barreled over by a wall of steel. She crashed into a heap onto the stones beneath her. Ben smirked as he watched both Kellam and Robin level their weapon's at the Feroxi commander's throat.

"I think we win." Robin grinned.

The commander's eyes blazed with fury for the briefest of moments. But the touch of steel at her throat reminded her of the position she was in. She closed her eyes and sighed. Then all of the tension in her body released, and her arms went slack to her sides.

"Men, stand down!" She barked.

Ben stood amazed as every single Feroxi soldier ceased fighting at her words. Then he watched as Chrom walked away from the wall up to the beaten commander. With Falchion in one hand, he extended his free hand out to her. And to Ben's surprise, she gripped it.

Chrom hauled her to her feet.

"What you said was true then." Raimi breathed before rubbing a bruise the back of her head. She chuckled to herself, "Only Prince Chrom and his Shepherds could possibly put up a fight that good." She cleared her throat, "I apologize for my actions, my lord. Brigands from Plegia have been harassing the Longfort and the villages nearby for days now. I could not take any chances."

"You've been having that problem too huh?" Robin muttered as Ben walked up beside him.

With the skirmish now over, Ben was starting to feel the wear and tear it had taken on his body. The Feroxi were certainly warriors. They put up a fight that he had not had from a group of soldiers in quite some time. Not even some of the clones he had commanded were capable of such ferocity.

"You were within your right to protect your borders." Chrom nodded, "I just wish we could have negotiated in a much more civil manner."

"Pah!" The commander waved him off, "Civil is for fools with a hidden agenda. Real warriors negotiate with their fists and their steel."

Robin gulped beside Ben, "I hope that isn't the Khan's way of negotiating."

"You and me both." Ben winced as he rolled his right shoulder, "I'm going to be sore from this battle."

"Will you let us through now?" Chrom asked the commander.

The blonde woman nodded, "Yes. The way to Arena Ferox is open to you. In fact, I will guide you there myself." She extended an armored hand to Chrom, "My name is Raimi."

Chrom gripped her hand, "It is a pleasure."

Raimi gave him a stiff nod, "Now, we have no time to lose. I assume the Plegian's are causing trouble for your people as well. There must be a reason they seek to sow discord between our nations. I'm sure you and the Khan wish to discuss those reasons as soon as possible." She nodded at one of the few soldiers that were still standing, "Ready my horse. We leave immediately."

Chrom nodded, "Right."

As the pair marched away. Robin's shoulders sagged and he hung his head.

"What's wrong?" Ben asked.

Robin gave Ben a look of despair, "More marching."

And chapter! Holy crap! I am so sorry this one took so long you guys. I got stuck on it for a while there. That and my brain had the equivalent of a computer crash. I blue screened on writing for a few months there. Like I would open up my documents, sit down and just go blank every time I tried to write something. It is the most frustrating feeling on the planet! And while I finally got this chapter finished, I feel like I've still got a little writer's block stopping me. I'm going to take my time with the next chapter. Hopefully it won't be several months again, but I hope that by taking my time, I can deliver a high quality chapter for you guys. Anyways, let me know what you guys think. As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!