A Hero of Ice and Shadow

by Lynerx

A deep retelling of my experience playing through FE12. Though not completely canon, it follows the FE12 plot. Glacia leaves her grandfather's cabin to become an Altean knight. Little does she know, fate is about to guide her on a grand adventure to save the world and discover her past. (First 2 chapters were when the fic was a joke, 3 onwards gets more serious)

16. Chapter 13

Author's Note: I've sworn against using these, but I'll make an exception for this one. It's almost been an entire year since I last updated this fanfiction and I wanted to explain. I began writing this right after publishing Chapter 12, but after a while, I lost the spark for writing. I'm still not sure why. Every writing session felt like a drag and I wasn't really into it anymore. Recently, I decided to write an off-shoot piece for fun (it will be published some time far in the future) and I found that spark again. Determined not to let one year pass without a chapter upload, I fit in time to write whenever I could in my busy university life. To all returning readers, thank you for being patient.

-Much love, Glacia

Chapter 13 – Liberation

The newly set-up campsite was bustling with activity as soldiers prepared for battle. I sat at my desk, awaiting the scout's return with the battlefield's layout, slowly sharpening the edges of my blade.

"So we're back in Grust once again," Jagen's rough voice filled the tent as he entered.

"Indeed we are." I said, stopping my work to turn towards him, "It's about time we liberated Grust from their tyrannical leader."

"It is also time he paid his dues." Jagen added, referencing my last encounter with Lang. I nodded in agreement.

"Our first encounters with Lang's troops have been suspiciously light," I commented, referring to the recent scuffle at the shore, "His most elite knights must be stationed near his keep."

"It is most likely so." Jagen sighed, "In our upcoming battle, we must pierce the protective veil of knights around his keep. Only then can we assemble an attack on the keep itself."

"Right." I said, placing my blade on the desk.

"I'll see you at War Council then?" Jagen asked. I responded with a silent nod before he disappeared from the tent's entrance. I stood up for a quick stretch before leaving my tent for a calming walk through the camp. The sun had barely risen and, after passing by hundreds of soldiers, I encountered a familiar face.

"Greetings, Arran." I said as Arran looked up from his clipboard.

"Glacia, what brings you here?"

"I never got the chance to ask you: what did you think of your Second in Command position?"

"It was a new experience, to say the least." He admitted, making one last mark before setting his clipboard down on a nearby crate.

"Would you consider making it your permanent position?"

"Consider it, possibly. Wouldn't Jagen be a better fit for this position?" His question was punctuated with a small series of coughs, "I am unfortunately plagued by an endless sickness…"

"Despite that, your experience makes you a perfect fit." I explained, "Your defensive strategy back in Macedon was more than I could have asked for. Plus, I believe Jagen has too many years behind him to handle himself well enough on the battlefield. I won't hold it against you if you decline the offer."

"No, I'll accept the position." He said with a smile, "Perhaps this is my opportunity to make a name of myself."

"Ah, thank you."

"It's my pleasure," Arran took his clipboard from the crate, "Please, excuse me. I must finish taking inventory of the convoy." I stepped back to allow him to pass me and head towards the awaiting wagons. I watched him go through the multitudes of crates for a few minutes before I continued my walk. Soon, I came across a tent with its entrance tied open. I looked inside and found Wrys tending to a soldier's wound. He had just finished up when I walked into the tent. The soldier swiftly departed after thanking Wrys for his work.

"Ah, Glacia. It's been a good while since we last conversed proper."

"Indeed it has." I said, taking a seat on the bed the soldier had occupied.

"Last I saw you, you were wrought with worry. The time before that, even worse. I pray the times have been kind to you recently."

"Fate has been unkind to us all, recently." I admitted, alluding to the fall of Altea, "I hope for a brighter future..."

"As do I."

"How does it feel, being back on the battlefield?"

"I wish it didn't have to come down to this, but I am happy to assist in Prince Marth's efforts." Wrys paused to stare at the bright outdoors, "This land is once again thrust into war…"

"I wish I knew the reason behind it."

"Perhaps it will be too late once we learn of it." He shifted his gaze back to me with a slight smile, "Not much reason to worry about that now."

"Right." I agreed, "I believe it's about time I got going. The scouts may return at any moment." He gave me a silent nod and a wave as I left the tent and returned to the bright outdoors. I continued walking through the camp, determined to circle around and make it back to the council tent. I soon entered the convoy's corner of the camp where military presence was almost nonexistent. The merchants worked tirelessly to keep their wares safe and armory workers continuously maintained the weapons on their shelves. Their wagons sat idly by, awaiting departure. I noticed an unusual amount of movement in one of the tents and I went to investigate. As I neared the tent, I heard the sound of very young voices bickering back and forth. I slowly pulled the tent flaps open to see Yumina and Yubello engaged in a passionate debate. They were both dressed in pure white outfits. Yubello still donned the blue shawl he had during our first encounter. They instantly stopped their conversation as they noticed my presence, fixating their gazes onto me.

"Ah, Prince Yubello, Princess Yumina. I apologize for interrupting-" I quickly started.

"No, come in." Yumina said, motioning towards her, "Maybe you can talk some sense into my brother." I took slow steps into the tent. The siblings were sitting on beds on opposite sides of the tent. Yubello was staring at the tent wall, occasionally sniffling. "Yubello, look, I found someone can snap you out of it." Yubello remained motionless for a minute before taking a quick glance at me.

"Ah, you're… Glacia." Yubello said in-between sniffles, fixing his gaze onto the blanket draped on his bed.

"Prince, are you alright?" I asked. He remained unresponsive as he shuddered, "Did something happen during-"

"N-no, that isn't it," He replied after a long moment of silence, "I just… I get scared when I think of battle. I… I've never been in a battle before." He paused to take a deep breath before continuing, "I'm scared of battle… a-and of… dying."

"You're not alone," I gently said as I sat down on the edge of his bed and turned towards him, "I'm sure everyone here shares your fear. You have us to protect you, too."

"I know… but that doesn't make it any less scary." He countered, "How are you so strong, knowing you could… die at any moment?"

"Well… I have to stay strong for Prince Marth's sake. I cannot afford to hesitate when it comes to defending him." I said, reflecting on my position, "Maybe, if you fought to protect something dear to you, you won't be as afraid of battle as you fight for them."

"Something… dear to me..?"

"Yeah." I confirmed, "How about Princess Yumina?"

"I'd fight to… protect my sister?" He thought out loud.

"You would protect me, right?" Yumina suddenly chimed in.

"I- Of course I would." Yubello answered, "I don't want anything bad to happen to you…" He seemed to have a sudden revelation, "I-I'll… I'll fight for you, Yumina." His shuddering steadily decreased before disappearing altogether. He turned to face his sister. "Yeah, I'll protect you as much as I can!" His fear and confusion quickly changed to determination. "I can't stand to think about you getting hurt or even…" His voice trailed off as he got lost in his imagination.

"We're going to be heading into battle again soon," I reminded, "How are you feeling about it?"

"I… I'm not going to let Yumina down." He responded with newly found courage, "I'm not going to let you down either."

"I'm glad to hear that." I smiled. Before anything else could be said, the sound of thundering hooves could be heard as the scouts rushed back to the camp, "Excuse me, I must go." As I reached the entrance, Yumina's voice stopped me, "Hey, uh… thanks, for helping my brother."

"My pleasure." I said before promptly exiting the tent. I retraced my steps in order to return to my tent and, in the process, the War Council tent. Jagen was waiting at the entrance of the council tent with multiple rolled-up parchments in his hands. The scouts gave him a strong nod before running off to join the rest of the army in preparations. Without a word, Jagen handed the parchments to me as I went into the tent and began to plan the army's next move. The biggest parchment contained the map of the surroundings and the current battlefield. An extra parchment detailed a large weapon that was located at the keep's entrance, shoddily drawn as if it were observed from a large distance. It was a ballista, armed with large, powerful javelins, capable of piercing through a horse in an instant. It seemed larger and more capable than the ballista that I encountered in Macedon. The coarse sketch of the machine filled me with dread as the high stakes of war became more apparent in my mind.

I shook myself of the feelings and redirected my attention to forming our battle strategy. With the innocent civilians in mind, my attacks spread across the land. The sound of ruffling tent flaps stopped my train of thought as I looked up.

"Castor. What brings you here?" I asked, putting the charcoal back onto the table, "Has something happened?"

"Oh, no, not at all," Castor quickly replied as the flaps closed behind him, "I suppose I just wanted to introduce myself proper."

"Ah, there's no need to be so formal with me." I responded.

"Are you certain?"

"I am. I'm free to chat, if you'd like." I offered, picking up the charcoal again.

"That's a relief," His body relaxed and he joined me at the table, "I was afraid I made a horrible first impression."

"Don't worry about it." I said with a slight chuckle.

"So… you're the tactician, too?" He asked as he observed me marking up the map, "That's a mighty lot of responsibility you've been given."

"It's true, but it is of my own volition."

"Oh? May I ask why?"

"Well, back when I was a junior knight, I was able to work with a tactician who was… talented in strategy." I resisted the urge to relive the memories, "Unfortunately, she… left the army. With the strategies I was able to learn from observing her, I hope to help Prince Marth in her absence."

"Ah, that's a shame. Her departure that is."

"It is. I always have hope that I'll find her again." My eyes darted back and forth as I constructed the plan.

"I sure hope so, too." I reacted to Castor's comment with a somber grin. I continued to mark the map with thick lines and arrows as Castor observed them in silence. I reviewed the plan three times before I considered the plan to be complete. With the list, I peeked my head out of the tent flaps and handed it to Jagen who was still standing guard outside.

"Could you please gather these people and direct them here?" I asked as he looked over the lists.

"I can do that. Sit tight." He gave a sly grin before departing. I retreated back into the tent to study the plan I just laid out.

"Castor, it'd be best for you to meet with Arran for now."

"Right."

"When our armies meet at the rendezvous point, I'll see to it that you'll be under my command." I informed him before he reached the exit, "I'll go over the plan to seize the fortress when the time comes."

"Understood," He said with his hand on the tent flap, "See you on the battlefield." I gave him a nod and a wave as he disappeared from view. In the silence, I spent the time to go over theoretical situations in my mind. The sheer amount of soldiers that were present were enough to induce anxiety. The fact that Lang was the one pulling the strings worsened the feeling as I remembered his cold aggressiveness. Surely he'd be willing to send men to their deaths to secure himself on his throne, I thought. I mentally played out several worse-case scenarios and found myself at a loss when it came to minimizing casualties. Alone in the tent, I allowed myself to revisit memories of Katarina. Surely, if she were here, the possibilities of casualties would be lower, I thought as I handled the rough sketch of the advanced ballista, what would she do? I was unable to formulate an answer to my own question before the tent opened and familiar faces began to gather around the table. Marth greeted me with a smile and stood beside me. Jagen soon joined him and scanned the proposed plan before making an announcement.

"As you all know, we have been thrown into war against Archanea." The atmosphere in the tent almost instantly became more somber, "Before we return to reclaim our homeland, we will be going through Lang's occupation army. We cannot let Lang be, especially after his heinous crimes." As he ended his sentence, I caught him throwing a glance my way. He stepped back, signaling for me to begin.

"Right. Before I begin, I want to mention a few things. Along the path between our encampment and the fortress that will serve as our rendezvous point, there are two villages on opposite sides. Our main concern is that innocent civilians do not suffer any injuries or casualties as we drive the occupational soldiers out of the area." I looked down to refer to the parchment for the remainder of the meeting. "As for the main driving force, Ogma and Cord are to accompany Marth and me in a direct attack on the platoon stationed on the main path. After which, we are to continue our attack and strike at the guards of the big fort directly."

"A direct attack with Prince Marth in tow?" Ogma asked, "Are you certain that is wise?"

"I understand that it is a risky move, however I believe Prince Marth's involvement will take them by surprise, allowing an easier flanking maneuver. That being said, Princess Caeda will fly through the air and strike the same platoon from the right while Arran's platoon will work to attack them from their left. After finishing them off, both Princess Caeda and Arran's platoon will join Prince Marth's unit and make a direct attack on the fort. Bord, Catria, and Wrys will form their own unit and focus on liberating the small village to the north of the path. When inside the village, your goal is drive out the occupational forces while keeping the villagers safe. It would be impossible for me to plan your strategy on that small of a scale with so many variables, so I trust that you will be able to cooperate and make the right choices."

"Fair enough." Catria commented, "Are there any details about the village that may aid us?"

"The village is flanked by two fortresses with one in the northwest-most corner and one in the southeast-most corner." I replied while referencing the map, "They're well-manned. I'd suggest clearing them before moving past them."

"It will be challenging to keep everyone away from danger…" Bord muttered.

"If any injuries befall anyone, my services are ready at any time." Wrys added. I shifted the focus to the other side of the drawn pathway.

"On the other hand, Draug, Malicia, and Palla will form a second unit with the goal of liberating the southern village. Similarly, you will need to work together to reach your goal without my guidance." I pointed at the sketch.

"Are fortifications similar?" Palla asked.

"Yes, but there is only one fortress near the northeastern corner."

"…Yes… I can manage that." She said slowly after a moment of contemplation.

"For both units, once the villages are secure, immediately begin an attack on the main fortress. That does it for this part of the battle to free Grust. Any questions?"

"Will Arran be notified of his role?" Jagen asked as he stepped forward.

"Of course." I replied, "I will notify him as soon as this council is dismissed." He gave a satisfied nod before stepping back.

"The siege on the keep itself will be determined at the rendezvous point where we can get more information about what we're up against. If there are no further questions, council is dismissed. Get prepared and meet up here. I will see you then." I pointed at the section of the map that represented the section of forested pathway separating the camp from the battlefield. Many nods rippled across the crowd and everyone quickly left to gather their weaponry.

"Glacia," Marth said, grabbing my attention, "This environment… the atmosphere. It's tense, isn't it?"

"It's the overbearing dread that comes with war, milord." I said as we exited the tent behind Jagen.

"We've been plunged into another war." Worry was strewn across his face, "I wish it wasn't so…"

"I don't believe many would wish for war, but the few that do…" I ended my sentence with a disheartened sigh. We spent a moment observing the sight of a clamoring campground as soldiers equipped themselves for war.

"Sirius… is he-"

"He's been assigned to Arran's platoon."

"I pray he doesn't cause any trouble."

"I'm certain Arran can handle anything he may throw at him." I said with a sly smile. Marth let out a soft chuckle.

"I understand you have other responsibilities to attend to, so I won't keep you. See you on the battlefield." I nodded and watched him as he walked away. I soon departed as well and headed to the camp's training grounds where I suspect Arran would be addressing his troops. He was standing not too far away from the set up training dummies, pointing out key areas on a map of the battlefield, a copy of the original on which I had scribbled on. As I approached him, I could tell he was informing them of the points of danger rather than a plan. He instantly stopped his lecture when he noticed me.

"I assume you're here to tell us what we must do." He said as he turned to face me.

"You assume correctly." I confirmed, "However, I only have general instructions for your platoon. The remainder is up to you." He opened his map in front of me and I used my finger to trace his path of action. "Our main goal here is to drive out the occupational forces while keeping citizens safe. The remainder of the fight towards Olbern Keep will be detailed during our rendezvous at this fort." I pointed to the fortress at the end of the pathway.

"Alright. I can work with that." He looked out at his platoon, filled with both familiar and unfamiliar faces. I could feel Sirius's cold gaze, despite not being able to pick him out of the crowd. "Everyone get prepared and meet me out on the battlefield." His announcement was followed by a series of coughs. The crowd quickly dissolved, leaving Arran and me on our own. "Well, I'll be off now. I'll see you shortly." With a quick wave, he turned and left for the campground barracks. I left and walked to my tent to gather my equipment. I fastened my armor on myself and secured my sheath. My necklace was already dangling from my neck. Fearing it may be lost to bandits in the dead of night, I rarely removed it from its resting spot on my chest. I slid my pink-hilted sword in the sheath before departing for the stables.

Blazemane was waiting impatiently, anxiously tapping her hooves on the dusty ground. As I neared her, she slightly lifted herself on her hind legs, sending her mane flying. The stable's caretaker opened the gate and she galloped to me, stopping before me to nuzzle my shoulder. I gave her a few strokes on her chin before climbing onto her back. My extra weapons clattered as we began our walk to the battlefield. Blazemane seemed to understand the magnitude of the upcoming battle as she was more alert than usual, flinching whenever an unexpected bird flew away from our presence. As we trotted around camp, I ran my fingers through her dark brown mane. Her hooves moved from grass to dirt as we left the campground and started down the pathway towards the keep. A small amount of people had already begun to gather at the starting point when I arrived. Yumina was standing with Yubello, now filled with new confidence. Catria and Palla were on their pegasi, exchanging words as they looked at the villages in the distance.

"Glacia!" A voice called out to me. I turned to see Draug waving at me. His armor covered almost every inch of him and he slowly walked towards me as the thick plates of metal clattered against each other. The armor was thick, but it did not compare to the armor he had on during my days as a junior knight.

"Oh, Draug. How are you faring?" I asked, referring to his armor.

"I'm managing it." He replied, "The armor is intimidating, but I suppose I've gotten used to the weight."

"Is it new? I don't recognize it from my training days."

"Oh, no. It's actually quite old. The armor I use to train junior knights isn't practical for real battles. It's far too heavy."

"Oh, that's a good point. I'd reckon to guess your current suit of armor was from the previous war."

"It is. It's been repaired more times than I can count, but it's always been dependable."

"How are you feeling, by the way? About the war."

"I'm against the idea of it all, but I don't think we have much choice do we?"

"Unfortunately, we don't…"

"All we can do now is stand our ground and deflect whatever they may throw our way." We turned our heads as more and more people arrived and divided themselves based on whose command they were under. "Looks like we're almost ready. We should meet with the rest of our division."

"Yeah. You go on ahead." I said and he nodded before leaving me. I gave Blazemane a few moments to calm down as I softly stroked her neck. She still seemed anxious by the time both divisions of the army arrived. I couldn't afford to stand around any longer so I walked towards my division. Marth was standing before everyone with the glittering hilt of a steel sword by his side. Blazemane stopped by his side, slightly surprising him.

"Oh, Glacia. Looks like we're all here." Marth said, "I've assigned ten additional soldiers to both of the two units that were to liberate the villages."

"Understood. Shall we commence the invasion?" I asked as the chatting crowd slowed their conversations to a halt, allowing a blanket of silence to envelope the field. Everyone's eyes were on Marth and me. Marth seemed to hesitate for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"Yeah." He turned back to the silent crowd and announced, "Everyone, get in position." The crowd shuffled into place with each subunit of the army sectioned off depending on their orders. Catria's unit awaited the signal on the east most section of the pathway while Palla's unit waited on the west most portion. They both seemed ready to storm the villages. Cord, Marth, Ogma, and I took our position at the head of the pack.

"On your signal, milord." I said with my eyes fixed on the enemy platoon as they formed their collective position. Their swords were raised as they prepared to repel our attack.

"Loyal knights of Altea." Marth's voice seemed to be amplified by the tense atmosphere. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it upwards, "Charge!" With a roar, the platoons sprinted towards the awaiting occupational army. Marth ran alongside Cord and Ogma as I took the lead. Blazemane's hooves thundered to the rhythm of my pounding heart. Catria and Palla's units deviated from the path as planned. Caeda flew above our heads as she ducked and weaved through the air. Arran's platoon soon peeled away from us, preparing for the flanking maneuver. The cavaliers began their charge as I neared them. They split into two in an attempt to attack Marth. Blazemane screeched to a halt, confusing the cavaliers. Cord, Marth, and Ogma were able to up with me, but my decision allowed the swordsmen to make their move.

They made a reckless charge with their swords in the air. I grabbed the steel lance from my saddle and held it as firmly as I could. "Continue with the original plan. I'll make quick work of the cavaliers." I said.

"On your own? You certain?" Ogma asked with a hint of doubt.

"As certain as I will ever be." I said before sprinting off with a quick snap of Blazemane's reins. As I rode off, I could hear the aftermath of Cord's axe as it made contact with multiple swords. The cavaliers turned their steeds around and charged with their lances pointed towards me. There were about five of them, but I wasn't able to accurately count them as I was focused on survival. The boldest of the bunch approached me with reckless abandon and our lances clashed an inch away from my face. I pushed against his power with all my strength, narrowly escaping his grasp when Blazemane spooked his horse with a sudden kick of her hind legs. Two more cavaliers immediately attacked as soon as I got away. I swung my lance through the air with enough force to disarm one of them, but my lance got caught on the second one. His strength was easier to combat and, within seconds, I threw his lance to the ground and dealt a fatal blow to his neck. His horse ran away in a panicked hurry as another two cavaliers took his place.

Several more cavaliers fell in a fashion similar to the last one. The disarmed cavalier seemed to have disappeared after losing his weapon, but I kept my guard up regardless. The boldest cavalier came in for another round, his lance striking mine on its shaft. I struggled against him with both hands. As soon as I repelled his attack, his lance went in for another strike and a prong got caught on the few inches of the blunt end of my lance. I was in a precarious position, but before he broke through, a sudden force knocked him down. I repositioned my lance in my hands before looking up to see Arran sprinting past me. The cavalier's horse panicked as it lost its rider and ran to find shelter.

"Why are you back here?" Arran asked as he commanded his horse to stop next to me.

"Sudden change of plans." I briefly answered. We looked into the distance and watched the chaotic battle consume the dirt path.

"Well, you best get back on it then." He said. I nodded in response and we sprinted away from each other. Blazemane and I dashed through the plain, towards the chaos. From a distance, I could see the results of the maneuver. The opposing army had lost a significant number of men, but they seem to have been able to react to the attacks as the front doesn't seem to be advancing. As I joined the fray, a swordsman slammed his sword down on Cord's axe, sending sparks as the metal clashed. I dashed in and slammed my lance into the swordsman's chest, ending his assault on Cord.

"Ah, Glacia. Good to see you back in the fight." He said as he swung his axe, hitting an unsuspecting swordsman in the shoulder. The force of the swing sent him flying. Wings flapped above as Caeda searched for another opportunity to swoop in for a strike. A scream made my head snap towards the sound. A swordsman fell at the hands of Ogma as he and Marth ran up to me.

"Any other sudden changes?" Ogma asked, out of breath.

"I might have another one up my sleeve." I said before I turned Blazemane around. "Maintain the front." I rode out until I was several yards away. I reached down to brush dirt off of Blazemane's shoulder with my hand. She kicked up the dry dirt with her hooves as she gently shook her head. I gave her reins a light whip and she began her sprint towards the crowd. Against the force of the wind, I positioned my lance low with the tip slightly outwards. Blazemane rode right past Marth and straight into the sea of swords. My lance made a hard impact with an armored chest, piercing the metal chest plate. I withstood the force of several bodies before I ultimately had to let the lance go, thrusting it into the surrounding crowd and disrupting its order. Blazemane continued to slam through the crowd, either knocking them down or running them over with her powerful hooves. We made a quick turnaround as soon as we completely cut through. I unsheathed my blade and faced the thinning crowd. My attack through the swordsmen allowed Arran's forces to put more pressure on them. As some of the swordsmen fought to stand their ground, others scrambled to find an escape route as chaos ensued.

A small number of them used the chaos to mask their retreat towards the villages. Blazemane shook her head and nodded towards the retreating soldiers. I gave her reins a light whip and she started to gallop towards them; her hoof beats were masked by the sound of clashing metal. I rode up from behind and I struck one of them on the back of the neck. His sudden yell alerted the men before him. Panicked, they turned around and brandished their swords at me. Blazemane responded to their threats by jumping at them, shaking the ground as she landed. They barely flinched at the tremors, standing their ground with unshakable determination in their eyes. Their determination to not fail their general is unbelievable, I thought, are they blind to Lang's transgressions?

The swordsman closest to me ended the standoff, running in with his sword ready to swing. Blazemane lifted herself onto her hind legs, avoiding the incoming attack and knocking the swordsman down with the force of her body. The remaining swordsmen left their former plan of escape to attack me instead. Blazemane galloped towards them and my sword made contact with another body as I ran past them. I turned around to start another attack, but stopped myself when Caeda swooped down and eliminated the rest of them with an elegant grace. Her pegasus hovered close to the ground as her lance swirled through the air, almost weightlessly. Once the last one fell, her pegasus landed and folded its wings. It looked at me with patient, blue eyes.

"Princess Caeda!" I shouted, meeting up with her.

"Glacia, let's get moving." She said as our allies began to gather around us. Marth ran up to me as Arran's platoon marched ahead of us.

"Right. To the fortress everyone!" I exclaimed. In an instant, everyone started their trek to the fortress at a quick pace. I reformed my unit by meeting with Cord, Marth, and Ogma as I followed behind everyone else. As we followed the path, I spotted Catria and Palla's units making their move towards the forts. I went at a trot's pace to ensure Marth doesn't fall behind and out of my protective reach.

The fortress slowly came into view and I noticed that it was well guarded by archers and armored knights. Our pegasus knights peeled away at the sight of the archers. The armored knights held large, heavy shields and began to create a mobile fortress with them, only leaving holes in the structure for protruding lances. Once we were within range, the archers released a volley of arrows into the air. Horses whinnied as they sidestepped away from the falling arrows. There was an occasional grunt as some of the arrows made contact with their target. The armored knights mobilized as we neared them and foot soldiers emerged from behind the shields and positioned themselves ahead of the knights. The shields scraped against each other, making a jarring noise that reverberated through the air. In between the scraping noises, the sound of hooves echoed in the distance. I looked over my shoulder to see a group of cavaliers and swordsmen emerge from the nearby forest. A pincer attack, I thought. I grabbed the attention of those who were closest to me.

"Cavaliers!" My exclamation caused the people around me to turn around.

"Marth, behind me!" Ogma shouted above the hoof beats and lifted his sword. Cord had already run off to engage a swordsman in combat, bringing his axe down on the lifting blade. I readied myself by Ogma's side as the cavaliers made a mad dash towards Marth. My steel blade slipped out of its sheath as Blazemane began her dash towards the attackers. The cavaliers lifted their lances and shifted their attention towards me. My outstretched sword cut through the air as I ran headfirst into the cavaliers. They concentrated their attack to a point with all their lances pointed towards me. I've passed the point of no return, I thought, but there's far too many of them. I kept my blade outstretched, but kept the tip pointed slightly downward. The tips of their lances were mere inches away from me when Blazemane jumped into the air with a powerful kick. The sharp tips made shallow scratches on my armor as I barely scraped past them. As Blazemane's hooves returned to the grasses below, my sword successfully made contact with a cavalier's chest, piercing the metal chest plate. The cavalier's horse frantically left the scene, leaving its rider on the ground. I had no moment to spare as I pulled on the reins for a hairpin turn. The cavaliers failed to stop in time, colliding with each other like runaway wagons rolling down a steep hill. The collision sent one of the knights flying out of their saddle while the others struggled to maintain control of their mounts.

During their clamor to recover, I ran in for another strike, slamming my blade into an unfortunate person's back. Unable to maintain their balance any longer, they also fell to the ground. Also recognizing the opportunity, Ogma jumped into action as his blade dug deep into metal armor as its wearer exclaimed in pain. Marth had not wasted any time either as he swiftly knocked a horse down on its side and its rider along with it. Cord had finished off the final swordsman before running towards us. "Y'all ain't hurt from that kerfuffle, were ya?" He said in-between his breaths.

"We're fine." Ogma gruffly replied, "Let's get moving." Without another word, we ran to the chaotic crowd of clashing swords, swinging axes, and stalwart shields. Arrows landed around me as Blazemane sprinted past enemies and allies alike. I aimed to strike at the shielded heart of the enemy army. A random soldier jumped out at me in an attempt to stop me, but was quickly knocked to the ground by Blazemane's solid chest. I gave my sword a few swings through the air before I struck it against a shield with all my might. A loud clang rang out, but my strike had barely done any real damage. A single scratch was left as evidence of my attack. I was suddenly overcome with a feeling of familiarity. As I turned Blazemane around for another attempt, I remembered my old days of training, specifically the day my platoon and I battled Draug and his dense armor. I pulled back on the reins and Blazemane stopped with a sharp whinny. I was far enough from the battle to take some time to think about the situation.

From the outside, the formation was practically impenetrable, much like Draug's training armor. I remembered that there were weak points in the suit of armor such as joints and areas where two plates of metal met. However, the formation lacked such weaknesses. If one were to attempt an offensive maneuver targeting the small gaps in the shields, the possibility of success would be minimal. As the battle raged on, I knew I was pressed for time. Unable to think of a better solution, I decided to go for the only approach I could see. I firmed my grasp on my sword's handle before Blazemane galloped back into the fray. As the shields came closer, my mind flashed back to my mock battle with Draug. The weak points were not the only avenues I used to gain an advantage. In a split second, before their lances could strike us, Blazemane leaped into the air. Her hooves landed heavily on the shields that wobbled under her weight as the knights below tried to maintain their positions. The archers quickly shifted their aim to me. A volley of arrows were released on me as Blazemane gingerly jumped from shield to shield to avoid them to the best of her ability. I felt the arrowheads bounce off of my armor and whizz by me. Underneath us, the formation was quickly losing balance as Blazemane's strong kicks disrupted the order.

Finally, Blazemane's hooves met with the solid ground behind the enemy formation. The sound of disordered knights was loud behind me while I focused on the archers. Their volley of arrows was relentless. It felt impossible to approach them, but every moment I wasted avoiding arrows burnt away more of Blazemane's finite stamina. Staying mounted makes me a bigger target, I thought as another arrow narrowly missed my shoulder. In a sudden movement, I launched myself off of Blazemane's back and rolled to my feet. With my sword pointed forward, I ran towards the formation of archers who still had their focus on Blazemane. A swift slash was more than enough to take down the first few archers before the remainder noticed my presence. They readied their bows in a flash, but close combat proved to be their downfall. Their poor accuracy allowed me to easily slip through their ranks, disposing of them in a flash.

The ground seemed to shake underneath me as the sound of heavy metal rang out from behind me. Without thinking, I dove forward as a heavy axe slammed into the ground behind me. My sword slipped from my grasp as I landed on the rough grass. I spun myself around and found myself face to face with my attacker. The dirt crumbled and fell from the axe's head as it was removed from the earth. "And where do you think you're going?" His grin had an eerie confidence. It was unmistakable that he was the commanding general of the opposing army. His visage was completely covered by a helmet, save for his mouth and chin. Thick armor covered his every limb. Before I could get myself back on my feet, he swung his axe. The heavy weapon brought a slight breeze with it as it missed me by an inch. It was not long before the axe was brought down against me once again. The most I could do was crawl backwards as the axe came dangerously close. This continued for a few more swings. A wave of dread washed over me as I felt the solid body of a large rock impede my slow retreat. I swayed to my right in a futile attempt to dodge the attack. As I closed my eyes, I could hear the sound of flapping wings and metal clashing with each other. I quickly opened my eyes to find Caeda standing in front of me in a power struggle with the general.

My eyes darted back and forth as I searched for my sword in the grass. A small glimmer attracted my attention. I pulled myself back onto my feet and ran to get it. The general noticed me and overpowered Caeda with a strong push before running towards me. His axe was already swinging before I was in its range. I grabbed my sword and turned to meet him. The weight of the axe added onto the power of his swing, almost knocking me off my feet. The struggle between us ended abruptly as Caeda struck with a powerful jab. His posture seemed to crumple under the strength of the attack and the head of his axe slid from my sword's blade. As he attempted to regain his balance, Caeda struck again with fatal results. Her pegasus swiftly returned to her side, planting its hooves into the grass to stop itself. It was not long before Blazemane came galloping up to my side. I greeted her with a few strokes of her neck. The chaos behind us died down as the general's army was defeated. "You're not injured, are you?" Caeda quickly asked after watching our approaching allies for a moment. Her eyes seemed to quickly scan me with slight panic as the tension of my close call began to dissipate from the atmosphere.

"I'm perfectly fine, thanks to you." I replied gratefully.

"Oh, thank goodness." Her expression relaxed, "I was so worried he-" Loud flapping interrupted her as Catria and Palla landed by us.

"Glacia, Princess Caeda." Catria greeted us with her usual serious tone, "…It's over. Shouldn't we get to the fort?"

"Ah, yes." I replied, "You should get going. I'll rendezvous with Marth." Caeda silently nodded in response. We climbed onto our trusted mounts and went on our ways. Avoiding the mess of broken bodies and weapons, Blazemane trotted at a leisurely pace towards Marth.

"Glacia, are you unhurt?" He asked as I got closer. I nodded in response. "Good. Let's head into the fort. Pray there will be something of assistance for the next battle." Marth led us to the fort in silence, presumably in respect for those who had laid their lives on the line for their kingdom and lost. It was not long before the fort's thick walls were looming above me.

The interior was eerily dark and silent. Light filtered through the tall, rectangular holes in the walls that served as windows. A few large lanterns were visible from the gaping entrance. As soldiers filed into the fort and began to light the lanterns, the fort became less menacing. The warm glow of the lanterns revealed the many armaments that were left behind as well as what looked like a strategizing table, littered with crinkled maps and broken quills. The hallways were expansive, allowing the horses and pegasi to wander the fort at their leisure. I had intended to leave Blazemane to socialize with the pegasi and other horses, but she seemed to be more interested in following me around. "I'll leave you to your duties." Marth said as he stopped beside me, "The resources seem to be scarce in terms of information. I believe you can piece something together."

"I'll call for you once I do, my liege." I said with a small bow as soldiers continued to file into the fort around us, "You can count on me." He left with a smile and disappeared among the soldiers.

I immediately went to the large strategy table in the middle of the fort and shuffled through the maps. The faded ink seemed to outline local areas around the fort as well as the area around Lang's fortress. I spread the map of the area around the fortress out across the table and took a good long look at it. Blazemane joined me as she lightly nudged me with her head. The most notable trait of the area was the large cove that was surrounded by mountains. Within a section of the mountainous area resided a small village. A small river fed the cove with fresh water from the north. A small island occupied with forts stood between our current position and Lang's. A small marketplace seems to have been established near Lang's fortress as well. "Always on the job, aren't you?" Arran said in a lowered voice as he pulled up a dilapidated chair. It creaked and cracked as he sat down.

"We haven't a moment to waste." I replied without removing my eyes from the map.

"To be young and healthy," He sighed, "Reminds me of my squire days." He was interrupted by a sudden coughing fit. "Let me know of any assignment changes in our divisions. I'll be resting here." His face rested on his hand as he leaned on the table with one arm. His eyes were closed, but it was clear he hadn't fallen asleep. I continued to assess the geography of the future battlefield. Using a half-dried ink well and a dusty quill, I marked positions of advantage and disadvantage. Mountains that impeded advancement, bridges that forced our troops into a single point, and positions susceptible to ambush were among the marked areas.

My silent studying was interrupted by a soldier running down the stairs and into my vicinity. Blazemane was startled, but she remained calm. "Lady Glacia. We were unable to scout the surroundings of the fortress as the enemy is too concentrated. However, we were able to identify a good portion of their forces." He handed me a medium-sized parchment with one hand and held onto his telescope with the other. "We've marked them down on this rough map we created from our observations." As he left me to my devices, I took a look at his work. There was a very rough outline as well as a few descriptors of enemy patrols. Using the numerous landmarks, I placed marks for enemy presence on the faded map I had been studying. Using the minimal amount of information at my disposal, I slowly worked on an attack plan. As I dug deeper into the ink well, the ink began to flow from the quill smoother and smoother. Soon, lines snaked across the map as my plan took form. The clamorous sound of walking soldiers soon died down as they rested and a small crowd began to form around my table. I paid no attention to them as I was completely absorbed in the battle plan. I noted several avenues for attack, but each turn provided me with more potential methods of counter attacks. Several strategies were scribbled out and edited before a final version emerged.

Arran seemed to have completely dozed off during my planning. I gently nudged him awake. "I'm sorry to have to wake you-" I started.

"Don't worry. What do you have for me?"

"The new assignments. You'll remain in control of the bulk of the Altean army. Marth, Cord, and Ogma are to remain under my command. I'll be taking Bord, Castor, Linde, Matthis, Rody, Ryan, and Julian. The remainder will go under your command."

"Understood. I'll gather them and send them your way." Using the table as support, he slowly stood back up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What's my mode of attack?"

"A direct siege on the forts on this island here." I said, pointing to the forts in question, "Defend the position until my division is visible, coming from the opposite side."

"A pincer maneuver… OK." He nodded, "I'll see you on the battlefield, then." He left shortly after. I spent my time alone double and triple checking my strategy. A small crowd led by Marth softly shuffled into view. Eyes wandered over my work table and its plethora of unraveled, old parchments. They slowly gathered around it. Blazemane, although uncomfortable, remained beside me.

"Our information is extremely scarce. However, with what I was able to acquire, I laid out the basic framework for our approach." I said as their eyes scanned the old map. "The plan is extremely bare bones, so I trust you will be able to act on your own instincts." A few nods of agreement rippled through the crowd. "To start, we will travel as an entire unit north, across the river, and around the mountains. We will combine with Arran's division at the keep in a pincer maneuver. As usual, our archers Castor and Ryan will remain behind the battle front. Concerning our opponents, all we know is the keep is well guarded by a couple of ballistae, cavaliers, and armored knights. The first opponents we are up against consist of infantry as their post is not too far from this fort. I pray they are not preparing for our presence as we speak."

"You weren't joking when you said it was bare bones." Rody commented, "The lack of specificity… concerns me, but I will do as I am told."

"The battlefield is uncertain," Marth added as his concerned eyes darted across the map, "Anything can change. We must remain on our toes at all times."

"True." I said, "As such, I may be required to make drastic changes during the battle."

"Well, I hope we won't have to do much fighting…" Matthis muttered worriedly.

"I hope so as well." I said, "If there are no questions, then we should head back outside and engage the enemy." There was a silent pause before the crowd slowly dissipated. I grabbed Blazemane's reins and felt a soft hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Marth's worried expression.

"The thought of fighting enemies with such little information makes me uneasy." His hand slowly lifted, returning to his side. "I think it would be best if I remained closer to your side for this battle. At least, whenever I can." He said with a sigh.

"Of course." I cracked a slight smile, returning to the map, "But, please remember, I'm not the only one here tasked with protecting you." I paused as a sudden revelation revealed itself in my mind. I looked back into his eyes. "Somehow, I feel that it is not solely the lack of information that has you unsettled." He let out a soft laugh.

"It's like you can see right through me. You're right." He took a deep breath to steady himself, "Knowing General Lang is at the helm of it all… He doesn't care for the lives of those risking it all on the battlefield. It's more than likely he will sacrifice their lives to gain any sort of advantage…"

"It's a tragic truth," I agreed, "But once we finally reach that vile man, his reign will end." A coldness washed over me as I thought about him. "Let's join the others. There isn't a moment to waste." Marth silently agreed and we walked speedily through the now empty halls. Arran's division stood at the ready as we passed them to reach the head of my division. From where we were standing, I could see the aforementioned enemy troops as well as the fortresses in the distance. Arran rode up to me as I took my usual position on Blazemane's back.

"I'll be leading my men close to the shore." He said as he looked towards the shore in question, "I trust that you will engage with the small platoon before us before they can interfere."

"Affirmative." I said, shooting a look at my division as they readied themselves. We left each other's company to lead our troops into battle once again. I stood before my division with my sword in my hand and Marth close by. The enemy soldiers seemed oblivious to our presence. In one smooth motion, I lifted my sword to the sky and the battle resumed with Bord being the first to rush past me. The sound of thundering footsteps filled the atmosphere. Blazemane began her approach towards the bewildered enemies at a leisurely trot, allowing Marth to maintain a short distance between us. Soon, a rain of arrows from both sides began to fall. Rody rode ahead, attempting to strike at the archers, but each attempt was deflected by a couple of swordsmen. Soon, we were approached by a group of swordsmen. I gripped my blade's pink handle tightly before swinging it in a convex arch, catching one of the swordsmen in the center of his chest and slightly flinging him upward. Behind me, Marth parried several attacks before countering with a few swift strikes of his own.

Before our blades were able to cross with another's, one of the swordsmen shouted, "He's here! The prince!" Suddenly, the enemies' gaze became instantly transfixed on Marth. Those who were close by abandoned their current objectives and sprinted towards Marth. Those who were further away rushed to finish their current situation. As a result, their attacks became sloppier and Rody was able to break through the archers with Castor and Ryan's help. The swordsmen who were assisting the archers were downed fairly quickly as well.

I held fast to my sword as I jumped from Blazemane's saddle. With a basic command, she quietly fled the field of battle, galloping towards the distant shore. Marth and I stood back-to-back with our swords readied. The sheer amount of swordsmen was overwhelming, as if there was a reserve army hidden nearby. The first sword sliced through the air in front of me as its owner misjudged the distance. I retaliated with a strike of my own, landing a blow on a shoulder. The tense air was soon filled with the deafening sounds of metal striking metal as blades continuously crossed. As the minutes passed, Marth and I slowly got closer to each other until our backs were against each other. The crowd had thinned tremendously, but the onslaught continued. Above the many heads, I was able to spot Rody attempting to cut a path through to us while Matthis fought by his side.

A sudden jab of a sword caught Marth's attention and he deflected it, neglecting the incoming blade from the opposite side. My blade would have been unable to reach it in time, so I used my back to cover him. I felt the metal dig through my light armor and I let out a small whimper as I felt it dig into my back. I didn't linger on the pain, turning suddenly and landing a harsh slash on the attacker's neck. Just then, Linde burst through the enemy lines with a volley of fire. Using the fire as a distraction, Julian snuck behind a swordsman and delivered a fatal blow with his knife. Matthis came in soon after with his lance swinging. It was not long before the attacking army was laid to waste. I used the brief moment of peace to catch my breath and look towards the shoreline.

A large bridge connected the mainland with the small island that was nestled in the bay. The chaos of battle engulfed it as Arran's division aimed to claim it. The archers who were assigned to him were firing with almost unnatural speeds, but the two forces were at a stalemate. Contrasted against the light sand, Blazemane's figure could be seen slowly growing in size. Castor and Ryan ran up to me with loaded bows in hand. "Thank goodness you're okay!" Ryan blurted the moment he got close. "The moment we saw all those people come out of the forest, we feared for the worst." I gave him an appreciative nod before turning towards Marth. His gaze darted back and forth as he scanned the distance, clearly still shaken by the attack.

"My liege, are you alright?" I asked as he slowly lowered his sword.

"I- I believe so." Marth replied. His gaze slowly met with mine as it became clear that there would be no enemy reinforcements. "Let's continue, before any more show up."

"Of course," I agreed, "But I wish to make a quick adjustment before we move on." I glanced at the battle on the bridge. "Arran's platoon seems to be having difficulties and I think Ryan and Castor could help them turn the tide." Everyone turned their attention to the bridge as Blazemane trotted up to me, nudging my shoulder. I stroked her mane before I continued. "I hope you two don't mind."

"W-well, if you think they could use me skills, I don't have any complaints." Castor said, nervously avoiding eye contact.

"If you're certain of it, I have nothing against it." Ryan seemed to light up at the suggestion.

"Then it's settled." I said and they immediately took off for the bridge. As I turned around to continue our trek around the mountains, I noticed there were a few people missing. "Where did Ogma and his company go?"

"I think I saw them running into that forest over there." Linde said, pointing to the forest in question, "They said something about investigating the source. It was where all those soldiers came from, after all."

"I'm sure they're fine." Julian said assuredly, "They'll catch up with us later." I climbed onto Blazemane's back and traded my sword for a lance.

"I hope you're right." I positioned Blazemane as close to Marth as I could, "There seems to be far less resistance up ahead. However, it doesn't hurt to tread carefully." There was a silent agreement before we started moving again. It was not long before more enemies were spotted. A couple of thieves appeared as small spots in the distance. They seemed to be stuck in a heated conversation with one making sudden hand gestures while the other seemed to be unresponsive.

"What do ya think?" Julian asked as he caught up with me.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what should we do with those two?" His gaze was transfixed on them, "I used to be like that, unfortunately."

"Do you mean as a thief?" I asked, curious as to why he's repeating himself.

"No, I mean… I used to have a thieving buddy. I suppose seeing those two reminded me of him." The argumentative thief swiftly turned away from his partner and made a mad dash towards a small cottage. "Now we gotta do something."

"Yeah, I'll get the cottage. Make sure the other one doesn't do anything too hasty." I said before Blazemane kicked up the grass and broke into a sprint, leaving Marth in the others' care. The cottage door opened as I neared, possibly to investigate the sudden sound of hoofbeats. A young lady emerged timidly, clutching the wooden door hiding everything but her head behind it. The incoming thief noticed I had beaten him to his target and changed his trajectory, aiming to sneak behind the cottage instead. I attempted to intercept him, but he was able to nimbly slide underneath Blazemane as I stopped her. I heard a sharp sound as he thrust his knife into the window frame, ultimately forcing it open. Blazemane galloped towards the opened window and I threw myself into it, landing on top of the thief. We fell to the cottage's wooden floor and the young lady ran in to investigate. She screamed in fear and ran into a different room, slamming its door shut.

The thief freed himself from my weight and ran towards the room where the woman was hiding rather than out the front door. I wasted no time, picking myself up and grabbing my lance. The thief was forcefully lunging at the door when I swung my lance upward against his chest. He stumbled backwards for a moment before challenging me with his knife. His small blade was difficult to parry with my weighty lance. Every time his knife slipped behind my lance, I got another cut on my arm. I made up my mind and switched up my attack plan. He charged forward for another strike and I dodged the strike rather than attempting to parry it. As soon as his knife went past me, I struck back with my lance, stabbing him in the stomach and sending him backwards. I swung my lance and made contact with the side of his chest, noticeably knocking the wind out of him. I readied it for another strike as he struggled to regain his balance. He backed up slowly until he reached the front door, which he opened as quickly as he could and fled.

I lowered my lance and went to notify the woman. Not wanting to frighten her further, I gave the door a soft knock before speaking. "Uh, Miss..? Are you alright? The thief is gone." There was no response besides a soft shuffling. Knowing I had a battle to finish, I slowly left the cottage. As I passed through the front door, I could hear the sound of a door softly opening behind me. Blazemane had been circling around the building waiting for me to emerge, sprinting towards me when spotted me. I climbed on her back and swiftly made me return to Marth's side. I noticed a new face among them, standing close to Julian's side. He looked a bit young to be in thief attire. A thick leathery, orange vest covered a large portion of his black shirt. His shorts matched his vest and a large sack hung from his shoulder. His long blue hair was tied back in a ponytail. He instantly noticed me as I neared him. He seemed uneasy, moving closer to Julian.

"Hey, it took ya long enough!" Julian shouted as he waved at me, "Come meet my old buddy!" I assumed it was the one he spoke of earlier. Blazemane approached him at a relaxed trot, sniffing him while I dismounted. "Well don't just stand there." Julian nudged the young man, getting his attention.

"Greetings, I'm Rickard." He said with a refreshing confidence, "Since Chief here is fightin' on your behalf, I want to help out too."

"I'm Glacia, one of Marth's Royal Guard and… commander of this division of the Altean army."

"Pleasure meetin' you." He said, shaking my hand.

"Now that we're all acquainted, we should get going." Julian noted.

"C'mon Chief, not even a short introduction?" Rickard complained.

"Afterwards, Rickard! We're in the middle of a battle here."

"Well at least tell me what I'm doing." He glanced at me.

"Follow Julian's lead." I said as I mounted Blazemane again, not wanting to waste any more time. I gave the signal and we started moving forward. As we traversed the grassland, I could hear Julian and Rickard bickering behind me. The peace was interrupted once again when I noticed a scuffle in the distance. We hurried to the scene and noticed Ogma partaking in the battle. I was able to pick out Bord and Cord as well as another axe man who was fighting beside them. He was notably different, sporting blue hair in a similar style to Bord and Cord, including the headband. His outfit was also a blue hue, but was in a similar style to the axe wielders. They were completely preoccupied with their skirmish, trading strikes and blows with a band of thieves. I was relieved to see them in one piece, but I didn't hesitate to help them fight back. "Matthis, Rody! Help them out!" I shouted.

"Loud and clear!" Rody shouted back in response, charging ahead with Matthis close behind him. Taken by surprise, the band of thieves dissolved, abandoning their current battle to flee to the safety of the nearby forest. The blue haired axe man began to give chase, but stopped before he got far. Matthis was speaking to the unknown man when Marth and I approached them. Marth walked ahead of me, quickly striking up a conversation with the man.

"Barst, what are you doing out here?" Marth asked, causing him to scratch the back of his head.

"Well, I was plannin' to just live my life out here in peace as a typical woodcutter." He motioned behind him with his thumb, "I suppose now, with this war going on, I can't just kick back." He paused when I stopped by Marth's side, but almost instantly resumed, "That's why I've decided to fight for you once again."

"I'm sorry the circumstances didn't work out in your favor, but I am honored to have you fighting alongside us again." Marth looked at me before continuing, "This is Glacia, my Royal Guard and our commanding officer."

"Well met! I'm Barst!" He said with a big grin, "Let's get moving then, shall we?"

"Yeah, follow Ogma for now." I said. He nodded in response before joining Ogma as he walked towards the mountains. Marth and I followed after them, along with the rest of the division.

As we neared the mountains, groups of robed people could be spotted. Ogma slowed his pace until he was walking beside me. "Enemy mages up ahead. Their magic has a huge advantage when it comes to accuracy and range."

"Range…" I said out loud, remembering that I had sent Castor and Ryan to help Arran's division not too long ago, "Linde, perhaps we can use our own magic against theirs." I looked back towards Linde. She jogged up to my side.

"Magic users naturally have methods to counteract the power of spells." She hugged her tome tightly to her chest. There was a moment of silence before Linder suddenly perked up. "Of course!"

"What is it?" I asked, taken aback.

"We can use something they don't have. The element of speed!" She placed her hand on Blazemane's rump, startling her slightly. "I can ride with you and, while you're dealing damage with your lance, I can counter their magic attacks with my own."

"That is a clever idea," I admitted, "But it would be foolish to believe we would be able to do this alone."

"Of course. We can have everyone else take advantage of the distraction!" Linde seemed to be pleased with her own ideas, "The element of surprise with a hint of brashness!" Her pleased expression quickly left as she snapped back to reality, "This is assuming you'll allow me to ride with you." As I thought about it, the mages in the distance had noticed our presence and had begun an assault on our position.

"Climb on." I told her. She clambered onto Blazemane's back, startling her into a gallop. Rody instinctively rode after us, while Matthis stayed behind. Once Linde was comfortably seated, I turned around to signal for the rest of them to follow me. I heard the sound of an opening book behind me. I adjusted my grip on my lance, preparing for difficult combat. Rody was galloping beside me when the fireballs began to fly past us. Linde fired back with fireballs of her own, causing them to explode in mid-air.

"There's too many of them." I said, making a sharp turn to avoid an incoming fireball.

"Hold on, I have something…" She began flipping through the pages swiftly. I felt a strong magical presence on my back before a large pillar of light emerged from the ground underneath a group of mages, throwing them into the air. The powerful spell was able to distract them enough for me to plow through a couple of mages, striking a third with my lance. Rody circled around my back and intercepted another mage before a fireball could leave his tome. On my left, a mage was taken down by Ogma's sword and several more were slain by the Julian and Rickard duo. As the mages began to dissolve, cavaliers began to approach from the distance. Remembering the maneuver used against us earlier in the battle, I shifted my attention to the nearby forest for a moment. I was not able to spot any notable movement, but I caught a glimpse of several shadows and what seemed like golden blonde hair. I shook the thought from my mind as the sound of the cavaliers quickly grew closer. "Get me closer to them. I'll burn right through!" With a single whip of the reins, Blazemane threw herself into a powerful sprint.

As I neared one of the cavaliers, Linde threw a fireball at him, knocking him off his balance. A simple swing of my lance was all it took to take him down. I had just knocked another cavalier off of his mount, a stray fireball slammed into Blazemane's side. Its flames completely enveloped us. I closed my eyes and held tight to Blazemane's neck while Linde kept a tight hold around my stomach. I expected to feel the burn of the flames, but all I could feel was a cold wind which was amplified on my chest where my necklace's stone rested. When I opened my eyes again, the fire was gone, but we were still on a collision course with another cavalier. I acted as quickly as I could, but my lance passed over the enemy's head as I attempted an attack. Before I could turn around for another attempt, my lance met with another's as another cavalier charged in, taking advantage of my miss. I felt a powerful magic activate behind me and a bright flash of light came from behind. I broke away from the opposing lance and swung my lance back towards his shoulder, digging into his shoulder plate before Blazemane galloped away. The sounds of combat had intensified as the enemy's magic users dissipated. The enemy reinforcements were not as plentiful as they were before as we were able to quickly cut through their ranks with relative ease.

We pushed their forces back until we reached the bridge. The last remaining cavaliers made a hasty retreat across the bridge. Linde sighed with relief, "I guess that's all of them for now."

"I suppose so," I commented, watching the cavaliers' shadowy figures grow smaller in the distance, "There's a village just across this bridge. Perhaps they can help us with our journey South to the fortress." Matthis and Rody joined me at the bridge. Linde took this opportunity to dismount Blazemane, landing on the soft bankside of the river.

"Is- Is it over yet?" Matthis asked.

"I doubt it." Rody bluntly replied, to Matthis's dismay, "It seems it's only getting harder the further we go." Marth ran up to us, clearly out of breath.

"So, we've finally made it to the bridge." He said, looking across the swirling waters. The remainder of the team soon gathered behind him.

"This bridge would act as a good chokepoint." Julian commented, focused on the other end of the bridge, "We should tread warily."

"If that is their plan, I'd say we break through them with brute force." Barst added, "Ain't gonna do us much good to waste time retreatin'." Marth seemed uneasy with the idea.

"Either way, we'll have to cross this bridge." Rody stated.

"Then let's go." I said with a note of impatience. Barst, Bord, and Cord started crossing without hesitation with Ogma trailing behind them. Linde and Marth stayed close by my side. Matthis and Rody rode behind us while Julian and Rickard weaved in and out of our ranks, keeping their eyes on the horizon on the water. We crossed the long bridge in relative peace, keeping our guard up as we were surrounded by the sound of the flowing water and our own footsteps. As the last of us stepped onto the grass, the tension in the air seemed to quickly dissipate. The fortified walls of the village came into view, but, before we were able to start walking towards its gates, the sound of distant hoofbeats could be heard.

"Guess the peace was too good to be true." Linde sighed, opening her tome once again. I drew my lance in preparation. The incoming cavaliers were in a scissor formation with swordsmen following not too far behind them.

"Glacia-" Rody started as his horse took a few steps backwards.

"Stand your ground." I commanded, taking a defensive stance in front of Marth. Knowing their main target was Marth, we formed a physical wall between him and the enemies. Once our armies made contact, we were quickly surrounded. Their inexperience with combat was the most prominent factor of the battle. Their lances thrust at us with hesitation, often grazing past us and allowing a swift counter attack. As we expanded our defensive formation, holes began to form and Marth was soon involved in the chaos as well. My lance clanged against opposing lances as I used its strong shaft to repel incoming attacks. As I defended myself from a cavalier's sword, I noticed his focus shift away from me. I wasn't able to discern the reason before he forcefully abandoned our current clash. The sudden forceful push stunned me for a moment. It took me a few seconds to notice him striking at Marth with his sword.

Marth countered the cavalier's sword in time, but was a few seconds too late to counter the swordsman he was already fighting. His sword was knocked out of his hand by the incoming attack. Unable to fight back, he resorted to primarily evading the incoming attacks, each one cutting through the air only inches away. Blazemane made the sharpest turn she could manage and we rushed over just in time to intercept a thrust of the cavalier's lance, knocking it out of his hands from the force alone. Making a quick turnaround, Blazemane knocked the swordsman off his feet with a powerful tackle. The disarmed cavalier made a swift retreat, weaving in and out of allies and enemies alike. Marth kept close to my side after recovering his sword. My lance clashed with a couple more swords before the enemies were repelled. Those who kept further away from the frontline retreated into the horizon. I lowered my weapon and we continued our walk to the village.

As we approached the wooden gates, an elderly man could be seen standing at its base. He was waving at us and gesturing for us to come closer.

"Do you recognize him?" I asked Marth as everyone slowly came to a stop.

"I don't," He replied, hesitantly, "However, I wouldn't believe he means us harm."

"Do you mean to respond to him?"

"I do," He paused, "If you would accompany me."

"Of course," I turned towards Ogma, "Please, keep everyone under control for the moment. I'll be accompanying Marth to the village."

"Understood." He replied, turning to his closest allies and ensuring they understood my orders as well.

"Are you sure you'll be all right on your own?" Linde asked, running up to me.

"Very confident." I said with a smile. I left her shortly after with Marth by my side. The elderly man was ecstatic at our arrival.

"Oh, if it isn't Prince Marth!" He walked up to us as quickly as his legs could carry him, "Such a sight for sore eyes in dark times like these." He leaned heavily on his wooden cane, catching his breath. "How is my granddaughter Lena faring? I know she wouldn't miss an opportunity to assist you once again."

"I apologize, but she is not among us." Marth said slowly with a hint of regret. The disappointing news seemed to barely affect the elder.

"Ah, I see." He said, stroking his chin, "Would you still want this Hammerne staff?" He picked up the cane he had been leaning on, "If at least Lena's pupil, Malicia, were around, I'm sure she could use it."

"Are you certain you wouldn't want to hold onto it for her?"

"I've no use for a souvenir." He placed the staff in Marth's open hands, "Please, make good use of it. Mayhaps Lena will come to your company soon."

"I have faith that she will. Thank you."

"No, I should be thanking you, for once again taking your blade to those who wish evil upon us. I wish you safe travels, Prince Marth." He bowed down before waving us goodbye. We reciprocated the wave and started walking back. Marth gripped onto the staff with both hands.

"I fear that something awful could have happened to her." Marth thought out loud.

"I'm certain she's safe." I said in an attempt to reassure him, "If she was able to help you during the War of Shadows, I'm sure she can handle herself in the face of danger." The conversation fell silent for a moment.

"You're right." Marth's grip loosened, "Besides, there are more pressing things to be worrying about." He immediately went to Linde when we reunited with the team. He handed the staff off to her and she slid it into a loop on what looked like a miniature toolbelt around her waist. Without a word, we continued our march. Rody decided to take the lead as we trailed behind him at a relatively far distance. The mountains became taller and taller as we travelled, jagged peaks towered above us. Marth's pace suddenly picked up. I turned to ask, but he answered my question before I had the opportunity to ask. "I wish to have a word with Rody. It may be slightly embarrassing so I ask that you stay back and I'll return to you shortly."

"As you wish." I nodded and watched him slowly catch up with Rody. They were quickly engrossed in a conversation that was too quiet to hear from my position. Occasionally, Rody would rub his neck or look away momentarily. My eyes wandered away from them and I began to trace the mountaintops as they contrasted against the blue sky. As I examined their every nook and cranny, I thought I caught a glimpse of movement among the dark rocks. Blazemane trotted along with the others and I kept my eyes towards the peaks. Then, halfway down from the mountaintop, I spotted wide wings that almost blended into the rocks. My heart jumped when I realized their target. Without warning, I gave Blazemane's reins a strong whip, startling her into a gallop. "Marth!" I shouted as loud as I could and extended my hand. He left Rody without hesitation, grabbing onto me as firmly as he could and I helped him onto the saddle. Left stunned from the sudden outburst, Rody was unable to react in time and the speeding dragon's claws knocked him right out of his saddle.

I pulled on the reins, grinding Blazemane to a halt and turning her back towards Rody. She whinnied harshly in protest. In the distance, a couple more dracoknights were approaching us. Rody's horse was no where to be seen while Rody was in a precarious position, pinned underneath a dragon's claws. The dragon's jaws snapped inches away from his face. With Marth still holding on behind me, I rushed to his aid. I rode by and stabbed my lance into its nose. It reared its head and roared in pain, but its claws still dug into Rody's armor. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of the dragon's rider who wore an odd expression of surprise. In his brief moment of hesitation, a fireball struck his back. He pulled back on his reins, but his draconic mount was unfazed. I made a sharp turnaround in preparation for another strike. The dragon's tail swung away as a large axe cut deep into it. The attacks came one after the other and the dragon was too preoccupied with Rody to make any counter attacks. Its rider was completely helpless. The other two dracoknights dove downward to attempt to free their ally.

One landed near me, its scaly legs ripped grass out of the ground as it skidded to a halt. The wyvern's rider shouted at his bewildered friend, "You fool! You went after the wrong one!" In less than a second, his wyvern was sprinting towards me, its large feet thundering as they struck the ground. Blazemane automatically began to run out of the way, but the wyvern was practically breathing down our necks. I focused on guiding Blazemane, going around the first dracoknights and heading towards the third. The wyvern pursuing us gave out a shrill roar, alerting the one that was in front of us. It immediately left its current battle to give chase. A strong pull on the reins and Blazemane made a sharp turn. The sound of flapping wings reverberated from behind us as one of the wyverns took flight. It landed in front of us, impeding our escape. Their wings almost completely surrounded us as I spun around searching for a way out. They bared their teeth and their growls shook me to my core. "Looks like we've hit the jackpot." One of the riders gloated.

"Looks like she was mostly correct." The other responded. Multiple questions crossed my mind, but I ignored them, focusing solely on escaping in one piece. In the gap between the wyverns' wings, I noticed Julian slowly getting closer. He made some gestures at me that I understood to mean he was going in for a sneak attack. I need to keep attention on me or he'll be in trouble too, I thought to myself. I threw my lance into the dirt, burying almost half of it. I met one of the riders' eyes with a piercing gaze.

"What are you doing?" Marth whispered with extreme worry. In order to keep up the façade, I didn't respond.

"Huh, she didn't mention nothin' about this." Said the rider who had spoken first, "The opposite actually."

"Guess the pressure of inevitable death does that to people." The other rider said with a laugh, "Well, take your pick then. There's one for each of us." His wyvern lowered in preparation for a lunge. Its head almost immediately shot up and turned around. Within a second, Julian appeared behind the rider and both of them seemed to have tumbled behind the wyvern's shoulders. On the other wyvern, Rickard was in the rider's place, spurring the reptile into a panic. Rickard jumped off before it took to the skies. The other wyvern took a while to realize its rider was no longer with it, taking flight as well after the realization. Marth and I dismounted Blazemane. I went to reclaim my lance from the ground and Marth regrouped with the two thieves. I joined them with my lance in my hand and we walked back to rejoin the rest of the team. The dragon that had pinned Rody was no where in sight. The only evidence of the attack was the deep scratches that were left in Rody's armor. He was back on his horse, but was in terrible condition. I approached him as he tended to a scratch on his arm.

"Rody, thank goodness. I was afraid he-" I started.

"Yeah, honestly, I thought so too." He said with a small laugh, "Suppose I'm sturdier than I thought."

"Will you be alright to finish the battle with us?" I asked, eyeing his injuries.

"I'm still breathing, aren't I?" He lowered his injured arm after he finished bandaging it, "We're so close. Allow me to finish this with you."

"Of course, if you are confident in your condition…"

"Then I am as confident as ever." The natural calmness of his eyes returned.

"Let's get moving, then." I walked to the head of the pack at a trot's pace with Rody following behind. Marth joined me by my side as I gestured for the team to continue walking. The sounds of war became slightly louder with every step as we neared the keep. Soon, Arran's battle could be seen in the distance, numerous swordsmen stood on the bridge to protect the seized fortresses. A large contraption came into view. Suddenly, a piece of earth near me seemed to explode into the air. A large arrow protruded from the small crater, one that could only be fired from a large machine. That must be the ballista that was mentioned in the scout's information. "Everyone spread out!" I shouted. The dense group almost instantly expanded. Cavaliers appeared on the horizon and prepared to meet us with their swords and lances at the ready. Marth fell back to avoid the front of the battle. I left him in the care of Ogma and his company to lead the charge. Matthis and Rody rode by my side and a fireball soared through the air above us, striking the enemy cavaliers before any of us. The cavaliers responded with a charge of their own and we found our lances interlocked with several of their weapons. The battle on the bridge escalated and Arran's platoon broke through the enemy lines. I repelled a cavalier's attack and countered another. I heard a familiar voice echo through the air.

"Here I come! Luke, the paladin of dawn!" He exclaimed, striking down a cavalier in front of me. In the skies, the sound of wings filled the area. Occasionally, a white blur could be seen knocking a cavalier off of their saddle. Magic came from both sides, burning through the enemy forces until none remained. Throughout the battle, large javelins rained down from the sky. We approached the entrance of the keep and was met with the large contraption aimed at us. An army of swordsmen protected the machine's operator. Large javelins pierced through the air periodically as our armies made contact. A large stone shattered as it fell from the skies. I turned to see a different type of ballista that resembled a catapult. The rock shards caused blunt damage to those in its wake. I left the main objective to deal with the rock-thrower. Noticing my approach, he turned his attention to me, throwing large rocks in my direction. They shattered in front of me, bouncing off the ground and into Blazemane's legs. She didn't seem to mind as she didn't even attempt to dodge them.

Once I got close, he left his station mounted on the machine and wielded his bow. I threw him to the ground with a single swipe of my lance. The contraption next to me suddenly collapsed into itself as a large javelin fell on it. Another one soon fell close by. I sprinted back to the battle at the gate. It became clear that the ballista was aimed at me as javelins continued to fly past me. The army of swordsmen was on its last legs as they weakly attempted to keep our forces at bay. With a single charge, I weaved between my allies and broke through their defensive line, confronting the ballista's operator himself. "Oh, its you." The general said, almost disappointedly. His dark uniform almost reminded me of Sirius's.

"I don't believe we've met."

"Likewise. It's a shame, really." He unsheathed a thin sword. I readied my lance and Blazemane kicked up the dirt before making a powerful sprint towards him. We slid past each other as our weapons failed to clash. I turned Blazemane around for another attempt when I felt the burn of a cut on my leg. He readied for another attack from me, raising his sword to eye level. Blazemane kicked up the dirt once again and her hooves thundered on the ground for a moment before coming to a screeching stop. From behind the general, a volley of arrows struck his back. His sword fell to the ground before he fell himself. A bright orb fell out from his pocket and I went to pick it up. It had the same feel as the one I picked up in Macedon. Within the sphere, the sparkles seemed to be in a different pattern. I placed it in the same sack on Blazemane's saddle as the other one before returning to my position in front of the gates.

We gained a brief moment of respite as the chaos of war left the surroundings. Several soldiers walked up to the doors and attempted to open them to no avail. Marth came up to me as I watched them. "The sun is still high and the enemy is under siege." He thought out loud, "We should check on everyone before we head in."

"The question is whether or not we can get past the doors."

"Julian is on the job." Marth smiled slightly before walking to the ballista. At its base, Julian was hard at work, examining its internals. Curious, I went to his side.

"What are you trying to do?"

"I'm just tryin' to figure out how this thing works." He paused to pull another panel off, "This thing has enough power to burst through those doors, I'd bet."

"Any luck?"

"I'm, uh, getting there." His finger traced the pathway of the numerous gears.

"I'll leave you to it then." I said, leaving him to his devices. Everyone seemed to be taking the opportunity to rest their legs, sitting on the soft grasses. Luke and Rody were deep in a conversation, still on their steeds. I moved in close enough to be able to hear them, but not enough for them to notice me. "What happened out there!?" I heard Luke shout, "If I were there, this wouldn't have happened! I'm never caught off guard!" I smiled to myself as I listened in to the usual Luke and Rody banter. My moment was peace was interrupted after a few minutes when Caeda came up to me on her pegasus.

"Glacia, I think the ballista is almost ready. The scouts have already been dispatched." She paused to look back at the keep, "There aren't many ways they can have a good look inside the keep, but they'll do their best."

"I see." I said, thinking about having to continue fighting with the injuries I had sustained, "How will you, Catria, and Palla fight while indoors?"

"We'll have to leave our mounts outside, unfortunately." She rubbed her pegasus's neck as she spoke. There was a sudden commotion at the gates and the people who were resting began to gather at the gates. "Looks like they're about ready to begin."

"Yeah." I looked up at the keep's towering rooftops. Caeda walked to the gates first, leaving me to myself. General Lang, I thought as my heart raced. My mind filled with a powerful determination to end his reign as I approached the gates once again. My necklace has never felt so cold against my skin before.