As Ashton walked through Fhirdiad at Seiros' side, he stared at the ruin that it had become. While it had been wrecked when he first visited the city over two years prior, it had still looked like a city. That was no longer the case; entire buildings had been reduced to rubble, and the roads were cluttered with debris and weeds. He saw people reaching and looking to the streets from the ruins, staring at Seiros and her soldiers as they moved towards the palace at the center of the city.
"It's weird being back here again," Ashton murmured, his head turning to and fro as the original citizens of Fhirdiad made their presence known, nearly clogging the streets just for a glimpse at Seiros.
"It will be rebuilt. Macuil will see to that," Seiros said, her eyes staring firmly ahead.
"Are you sure about that?" Ashton asked, a deep frown sinking into his face. "He has not made it a secret that he does not like people. Remember what I told you? About how he confronted me about our meetings?"
"And I made it clear that I did it of my own volition, and that it is not his place to poke his nose into my affairs, just as I said I would," Seiros replied, the only show of emotion she had being a slightly thinning of her lips. "I know that he does not think highly of your kind, Ashton. Take comfort in knowing that he will not let it govern his decision making."
Ashton nodded. "As you say, then."
Almost like a congregation, what was left of the people of Fhirdiad followed behind them. Ashton felt his limbs tingling just looking at them, feeling as if they would surge forward and tear him apart if he took his eyes off them completely for more than an instant. His warhammer was slung across his back, ready to be pulled out at any time if something went wrong. He doubted he'd need to use it; Seiros didn't look worried at all, and she had just fought what had looked like an ancient Roman demigod.
She really is a war goddess.
Before long, they made it to the palace. Ashton didn't much like the look of it; his blood felt cold looking up at the tattered citadel, his hands curling into fists instinctively as he remembered the last time he had been there.
Wordlessly, he followed Seiros up to the raised platform that led to the massive doors that served as its front entrance. She did not go inside, though. Instead, she turned around, and looked upon the crowd of emaciated people that had gathered around her. Ashton hadn't noticed it earlier, but many of them looked like skin and bones.
"People of Fhirdiad," Seiros shouted, raising her arms. Her voice boomed across the crowd of people. "You are saved! The Goddess has not forgotten you! Your prayers have been answered!"
A quiet mumbling rolled through the crowd, and Ashton could not tell what it meant. He felt incredibly out of place, standing next to Seiros as she delivered her speech. How she was able to think of one on the spot, he would never know.
"But I can feel your doubt," Seiros continued, quieter than before as she lowered her arms and walked to the side. "Two years you have suffered under the reign of Nemesis and his Elites, two years did it seem like you were abandoned, alone, and without the comfort that our Goddess provides. I understand your worries, your doubts, and they are not without validity. In difficult times, even the most faithful of us can feel said faith waver. It is only human of you to think these things."
Ashton saw Seiros' hand laid on the railing that lined the raised platform, and could see it shaking slightly. If he hadn't looked at it intently, he wouldn't have even noticed that it was at all.
"Know this, however – while you may forget the Goddess in your darkest moments, the Goddess never forgets you. She knows of your suffering, of the indignities dealt to you by Nemesis, and she has sent her loyal servants to avail you of this torment. And we will not stop here. We will not waver or fall. We will ensure that this tragedy never happens again. Nemesis and his Elites will never stand within this city's walls again! One day, I promise you, Nemesis will be brought before the Goddess and be sundered! Never again will your children be taken! Never again will your mothers be slaughtered!"
The crowd was becoming louder, and Ashton could tell they were liking what they were hearing. Many fell to the ground with their hands clasped together. Others stood up and cheered as Seiros finished.
"This, I promise to you, loyal followers of Sothis!" Seiros exclaimed, holding her arms out and looking to the sky. "Know that on the day the Goddess returns to our land, that all who walk the blessed path shall be saved!"
With her final declaration, the crowd exploded in a cacophony of praise and prayers. Ashton had to admit, Seiros was a good orator. Not just anyone could work up a half-starved crowd like that. Even if a part of him still wasn't entirely sure about the Church of Seiros, he couldn't deny the effect it had on the people of Fódlan.
Seiros took a step back, turning to Ashton once she was out of sight of the crowd.
"Come with me," she said, grasping Ashton's hand and pulling him alongside her. The contact wasn't unwelcome, but he wondered just what she planned to do.
With the same surprising strength she displayed back on the battlefield, she opened the doors into the castle practically with the flick of the wrist. The doors creaked open, revealing the same great hall he had been through when he went to save Cethleann with Roland.
I wonder how Roland is doing right now.
The two went inside, and the doors slammed behind them.
Ashton was a bit unnerved by how quiet it had become. Not even the cheers of the people outside could be heard within the hall. He and Seiros were well and truly alone.
"Speeches are tiresome," Seiros said, stepping forward and rolling her shoulders. "How it is that combat can be less stressful than giving the people hope, I will never know."
"Stage fright?" Ashton supplied, following her.
"Ah, I have not heard that term before. Another one of those things from your homeland?" Seiros asked, turning around with a smile on her face.
Ashton blinked at that, not knowing how to respond with her looking at him. Why was it so hard to breathe all of a sudden? And when did it get so warm?
"Uh, yeah. It means you have severe anxiety when talking to a group of people. I do not think that can be it, though. You're just exhausted, right? It's been a long day."
Seiros nodded, turning back around. "Indeed. And it will become longer still. I told Macuil and Cichol to meet me at the top of the tower, where we will discuss our next move."
"Fair enough," Ashton said, looking to the side. "Is there anywhere you want me? I mean, I know I'm not a soldier or anything. Not yet, at least. But I'm sure I could be of some use as a healer."
"You will be, but for now… I think I rather like the idea of having you near me, for the time being. If that is agreeable with you, of course," Seiros answered, and Ashton looked at her.
"I don't- I'm not saying no, but I'm surprised. Why would you…?"
"Is my mere desire for you not good enough?" she replied, her voice quieter than before, more fragile.
Damnit.
"Alright, guess it couldn't hurt if you asked," Ashton mumbled.
"Now you are acting like a child," Seiros said, laughing slightly. It was a nice sound, one Ashton didn't mind hearing. "Do not worry; I imagine they will not be here for some time. Truthfully, since they won't be, I would like to take the time to speak with you again."
"And no more hiding identities, huh?" Ashton chuckled.
Seiros stopped and turned to stare at him. "You knew who I was from the very beginning. You said so yourself."
"Yeah, but we always had to sidestep over that, didn't we?" Ashton replied, crossing his arms. "Now we don't need to talk in circles. I prefer to speak plainly."
"Hmm. So you do," Seiros hummed. "Come, follow me."
Ashton would never admit that the stairs leading up to the top of the tower winded him. They did, but he would never admit it to anyone that asked. Meanwhile, Seiros looked like she barely broke a sweat. There was something about her, Ashton remembered. Something implied by Macuil.
She might not be human.
Having already made peace with the idea that the woman he was following wasn't human, Ashton was still surprised by how little it bothered him. Though that did raise another question: if not a human, than what was she? What were the other Saints? Hera looked human enough, when he first saw her, but perhaps-
"We are here," Seiros said, opening the door into the top room of the tower, leading Ashton inside.
It was once a wonderfully decorated room, Ashton could see. However, those days were behind it; a broken table sat across the room, with several elegantly carved chairs nearby. Paintings along the wall had been torn through, scratched as if a beast had been through the room. The only thing that seemed to be unscathed was the window outside, which was opened and allowed the tattered blinds to wave in the wind.
Overall, not the best place to have a heart-to-heart, but Ashton didn't have the luxury of being picky.
"Finally," he wheezed out. "I thought we'd never make it."
"It was a nice stroll," Seiros commented.
"There were over a dozen sets of stairs leading to this place. Why would they need a place so high up?" Ashton asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down, allowing his aching legs to rest.
"You would need to ask the original builders of this place. Which is quite impossible, as this castle is well over a hundred years old, as I recall," Seiros answered, grabbing her own seat and sitting in front of Ashton. "Now then. We are alone now. Nothing we say will leave this room. No doubt you have many questions."
"You probably have a few for me, too, but I guess I'll start first," Ashton said, taking in a deep breath. "What do you think of me, Seiros?"
Seiros let out a chuckle. "What do I think of you, Ashton? Is it not obvious?"
Ashton shrugged. "I just do not want to come to conclusions, alright? You know what they say about assumptions: they make an 'ass' out of you and me."
"My, I have never heard a phrase like that. Even after all this time we have spoken and you still surprise me," Seiros said, smiling. Ashton made it a point to try and avoid her gaze; even when she being decidedly non threatening, it still felt like her gaze could pierce through steel.
"I'm full of surprises," Ashton replied. "But I'm being serious, here."
"Very well," Seiros said, sitting up and placing her hands in her lap. "You deserve an answer. The truth of the matter is, I… I do not know what I think of you."
"What was that about it being obvious?" Ashton interjected, tapping his thigh.
"Truthfully, that was me attempting to have you give me a reason," Seiros sighed, "I do not know how I feel about you. I do not know these feelings. I have not had them before, that I do know. They are not unpleasant – in fact, they are the main reason I sought out your counsel so many times."
"You've got an entire country and several Saints under you," Ashton whispered, clasping his hands together and holding them to his mouth. "You have an emperor under your command. I don't know a lot about Emperor Wilhelm but I know he's devout. You are an oracle, you've seen and spoken to the Goddess. What could someone like you want from someone like me?"
Seiros stared at Ashton for a few moments, all the while Ashton's heart thumped in his ears.
"Tell me, Ashton," Seiros began, "do you know what it is like, guiding a new country towards what you believe to be a better future?"
"Can't say I have, no." Ashton shook his head.
Seiros' lips thinned for a moment. "But you know now that is not the only reason I have sought to guide these people against Nemesis."
"You want revenge…" Ashton's eyes softened. "Nemesis killed your mother."
Seiros stood up. "He did. But not only my mother. No, he and his Elites saw to more slaughter than that. My people are nothing but bones, and the walls of our home are now red with the blood from their murder. I will not let them go unavenged. I cannot rest until these wrongs have been righted."
Ashton remained silent, looking down at his feet.
"I and the Saints are all that remain of our people, as far as I know. They were away when they slaughter began," Seiros continued, taking a deep breath. "I am the only true survivor of that attack."
"Bones…" Ashton murmured to himself before looking up to Seiros. "Those weapons the Elites use. That sword-"
Seiros nodded, a grim expression on her face. "You are intelligent and thoughtful, Ashton. It does not surprise me that you figured it out once I gave you the pieces."
"I guess it makes sense," Ashton said, his hands still clasped together. "I'm not… going to ask about anything else, alright? Not about that, at least. Not until you want me to ask."
Seiros let out a shuddering breath. "Thank you."
She sat back down, her hands in her lap as her as fell on Ashton once more.
"That is the reason why I am atop this country, this church. I have spoken to the Goddess, but that was long ago. Even then, this is for the good of all mankind, the good of all Fódlan. You have seen here today and two years before what damage Nemesis and his Elites can wrought if they are left alive. Wilhelm knows this, and every faithful citizen of Fódlan knows this. I cannot abandon this position, even if I wanted to. But… that leaves precious little time for personal relationships."
"I imagine," Ashton said, nodding. "That's why you went out of your way to talk to me, to seek my counsel, isn't it? You wanted someone to talk to. Someone who wasn't connected to your position as a Saint."
Seiros smiled. "And you continue to impress me, hm."
Ashton shook his head. "It's a story as old as time, really. We're not the first to do this, and I doubt we'll be the last."
Seiros hummed. "An astute, if cynical outlook on it."
"Still," Ashton continued, coughing into his fist. "We still, uh, haven't established where we stand on this. I asked you before we came here that I, erm, wouldn't mind getting to know you more. I do not want to make assumptions, like I said – but, I…"
It was Ashton's turn to stand up as he turned and walked over to the window overlooking the city of Fhirdiad. The setting sun was almost below the horizon, and the city was awash in an orange haze. Off in the distance, he could see the remnants of the battle he fought in. He could still imagine the feeling of his hammer striking flesh and metal, feeling the vibrations through the handle that made his arms feel tired and weak.
Ashton knew that a part of him had fully given up on ever going home. He somehow knew that if he ever saw it again, it would not be any time soon. And he had become too engrossed in the people and spirit of Fódlan to ever truly leave. He had made too many friends, too many enemies. To leave it all behind again would be maddening.
Yet, when he felt Seiros walk up behind him, he knew that there was also something else keeping him there.
It had happened so fast, that he didn't even really know when it began. When did he start liking her? Just a few months prior, he only knew her as Saint Seiros, head of the Church around which all of Adrestia was based. She was the head of a religion he hadn't even known existed until he came to Fódlan. It was all so surreal. Preposterous. If he read it in a book, he would've called the author out for making up something so contrived it broke his suspension of disbelief.
But then, there Ashton was. And when Seiros encircled her arms around his torso, hugging him, he did not fight back. He didn't deny the warmth that bloomed from his chest as he felt her hands against his chest, nor did he resist when she gently urged him to spin around and face her.
"I think I know what this feeling is now," Seiros said. She was almost as tall as she was, and she could stare him directly in the eyes. "And looking at you, I think you share it."
"Isn't this a little fast?" Ashton murmured. "We've only known each other for a few months, when you think about it."
"I know what the price is for waiting for the right time," Seiros said, reaching a hand up and cupping Ashton's cheek. Her touch was cool, but Ashton liked it. Maybe even more than like; he loved it. "After this, there will be no going back. Are you sure you want this as much as I do?"
It only took Ashton a moment to respond.
"I do."
It happened slowly at first. Ashton saw her move her head forward, and within a moment, he felt an indescribable softness against his lips. There was a coolness to them he could hardly fathom as his mind was overloaded. He needed to do something, though. Anything. And so, he moved his right hand up to her back and gently stroked it. A contented sigh left her lips before they finally parted.
Ashton was practically out of breath, and contrary to how calm and collected seemed just a moment before, she was almost as much of a mess as he was in that moment. Her cheeks were red, no doubt accentuated by her paleness. It only took Seiros a moment to recompose herself – a skill she probably had to learn pretty quickly in her 'divine prophet' career – and she laughed.
"You were not expecting that, hmm?" Seiros asked, causing Ashton to blink.
"Uh, no. Not at all," Ashton stammered out, letting out a laugh himself. "I mean, I am not complaining about it. That was… very nice."
"Ah, good to see that decision did not lead to calamity!" Seiros let out a breath, a hand against her chest as she breathed out. "I was almost worried for a moment. I never did give you an answer to your question from before, did I?"
"That you did not."
Seiros reached a hand up again, cupping his cheek again before tracing it down he side of his neck and resting against his shoulder.
"I think I would like that very much," Seiros finally answered.
Just at that moment, the doors into the room opened. Seiros practically leapt away from Ashton, her eyes laser-focused on the door as it opened with a creak. Ashton barely turned his head, his mind still winded by what had happened moments before.
"…Did I interrupt something? Why is he here?" Macuil said, his nose wrinkling up as he stared at Ashton. "Oh, now that's interesting… Ha, so, finally done playing your game, are you?"
"I do not know what you are referring to, and I do not care to know it," Seiros stated, her voice regaining its regal tone. "I take it, since you are here, that your sweep of the city is complete. Did you find anything of note?"
"Did I? Oh yes, did I find something of note. I think you will appreciate it," Macuil said, rapping his fingers against the door frame once before entering the room completely.
"Well, then? Quickly now. You and I both know I have little patience for your word games," Seiros said, and Ashton could hear her tapping her foot.
"Tell me, Seiros, what would you do, if I said that the son of one of the Elites has been captured?" Macuil stated succinctly.
It felt as if the temperature in the room dropped by five degrees, and Ashton missed the sense of warmth he had minutes prior.
"You…" Seiros growled, her voice low as all sound in the room fell away into silence.
"Ah, but that is not all," Macuil continued, "this son of Gloucester, as he calls himself – he has surrendered willingly. And what's more, he wishes to join our side."
That one caused Ashton to do a double take.
"Even the Easterling can see the incredulity of it," Macuil said, something resembling a cross between a laugh and cough coming from him. "So, would you like to wait for Cichol to arrive? Or do you want to see this aberration of nature for yourself?"
"Take me to him. Now. Where is he being held?" Seiros demanded, stepping forward.
"In the dungeons below us," Macuil replied. "Very well, then. Follow me."
Ashton didn't know if he was supposed to be following Macuil and Seiros like a little lost lamb, but they did not object to his presence, and since he had nowhere else to go, he decided to stick with Seiros for as long as possible. It was definitely not because his hormones had been thrown out of balance. Definitely not.
They passed through familiar corridors until they reached an entrance into a long and dark tunnel. Ashton could visualize it so clearly, the last time he had been there. He could remember the terror he felt at feeling as if he was being watched. None of that was present anymore, but the feelings were still there.
The group was silent as they descended into the castle dungeons. Ashton could hear each individual footstep, each rustle of clothing and each clink of metal as they continued. He could recognize them as easily as his own heartbeat.
Thankfully, before his mind was allowed to wander for too long, they came upon the cell that held the son of Gloucester.
Ashton did not know what he expected when he gazed upon the man for the first time. From what he had heard of Gloucester, he was a powerful mage – or a mockery of a priest, whichever came first. All the Elites had something known about them, descriptions of them trickled in from the front when he was still at the priory, and yet he could never have imagined that the man in front of him was the son of a spindly mage.
Even when sitting down, he was almost up to Ashton's neck. A thick head of purple hair trailed down the sides of his face and down his back and shoulders. Muscles rippled underneath his skin like bridge cables, and when he saw the group, his placid expression never changed.
"Are you Seiros?" the son of Gloucester rumbled, standing up. He was over a head taller than Ashton.
"I am the one who will be asking questions, son of the Elites," Seiros replied sharply. "I have been told that you surrendered willingly, left all of your family behind, and have declared that you wish to join the Empire and the Church. Tell me, now, why would you do these things? Why have you become a turncoat?"
"My wish was to be left alive, my body intact, in exchange for all the information I have about Nemesis and his allies," the son of Gloucester said, standing up to his full height. Ashton had to resist the urge to take a step back.
"I will keep my word should you keep yours," Seiros replied.
"Unsurprising, but disappointing," Macuil commented, his arms crossed.
After a quick sidelong glare at her fellow Saint, Seiros continued, "We will not harm you. You have my word."
"I will hold you to that word," the prisoner replied, grasping the bars of his cell. "As for why I have betrayed my family… they are not my family. My father took my mother to bed and birthed me to fill Nemesis' requirements for an Elite. They are to have as many children as they can to be used as sub-generals in his army. I am merely the first."
Seiros tilted her head down, and Ashton could see a dangerous glint in her pale green eyes. "I see."
"I have barely seen my thirtieth winter, and yet I wager I have seen more battles across the world than many in your ranks," the son of Gloucester continued, clutching the bars so tightly he knuckles turned paper white. "I was a pawn, an asset, to be used and disposed of if I ever got it in my head that I could overthrow my father and take over his clan. I did not become truly disillusioned until I saw the horrors that were wrought upon this city."
"I saw two people fighting over a loaf of bread when we got here," Ashton suddenly said, laying his hand against the wall and holding himself up. "If you have seen so many battles, why was it this one that turned you against the Free Kingdom? I doubt there weren't these same atrocities elsewhere in the world, committed by you and yours."
"What can I say? I became… tired of it. The killing, the fighting. Do you want to know what Nemesis' ultimate plans are, Saint Seiros? What his goal is for Fódlan?"
"Death. Destruction. Horror. I have seen it all, son of Gloucester," Seiros replied, her voice low.
"Hmm. You are not wrong, but he wants more than that," the prisoner continued, "he wants a world without gods. A world without absolute power. A world without mercy. And he will stop at nothing until that dream is fulfilled. He travels lands beyond these, absorbing native peoples into his armies, and attacks others until he has amassed enough men to take this continent. He escaped this time, so I hear, but he will be back. He will not stop until you and your church are dead and gone."
At hearing of Nemesis' plans, Ashton could see Seiros' fists clench so hard he saw blood lightly trickling down them.
"We will stop him," Seiros stated. "We have the Goddess on our side, and her Will conquers all."
"So I have heard, but you will need help," the son of Gloucester said. "Allow me to join you. To help you. I cannot say that I believe in your Goddess, but I can say that I want Nemesis and my father to fail just as much as you do. He and his kind are monsters, but I have been no better. Perhaps, with your people, I can find redemption."
Silence filled the empty hall. Macuil stared at Seiros, brow raised and waiting for her answer with anticipation. Ashton stood to her side, looking at the prisoner. It could've been a trap, and no doubt Seiros was weighing her options. They had repelled Nemesis once, but if what the son of Gloucester said was true, then it'd be only a matter of time before he came back, and they didn't know from what angle he would assault from.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of tense silence, Seiros spoke.
"Tell me your name, son of Gloucester," Seiros said.
The prisoner stopped for a moment, as if unused to the question, before finally answering.
"My name is Saladin," he intoned, "and from this moment forward, Saint Seiros, I am your man."
Ashton was not to stay in Fhirdiad for long, mostly because Seiros would not be staying, and he had been recruited into her retinue. What that meant, exactly, Ashton had no idea, but if it meant he could be closer to her more often, then so be it. The city of Fhirdiad itself would be handed over to Saint Macuil, as Seiros said, and he would oversee both the reconstruction and the guarding of Fódlan's northern border. Ashton doubted Nemesis would try to break into Fódlan again through that way, at least for a while, but it couldn't hurt to be careful.
They were on the road again within a few days. The first winds of fall were already howling across the Tailtean Plains, and winter would follow soon after, covering most of Fódlan in a blanket of snow. Ashton enjoyed the cool yet pleasant weather for all it was worth as he stood beside the carriages and carts that made up their convoy.
"You look as if you haven't a care in the world."
Ashton let out a chuckle at that voice. "Roland. Always good to see you."
The noble son trotted up to Ashton atop his horse, his black plate armor reflecting absorbing the light. If Ashton didn't know any better, he would say that his friend looked sinister in that getup.
"At least your mood has improved. I was getting rather sick of your dour attitude," Roland sniffed.
"It's what happens when you-" Ashton began without thinking before stopping himself. The cool winds made a shiver run up his spine. "Well, let's just say that I've had good cause to be happy these past few days."
Roland hummed. "There is something you are not telling me."
"Does riding atop your literal high horse grant you clairvoyance, Roland?"
"No, but it does allow me to see through half-truths."
"Fair enough. If you need to know…" Ashton ran a hand through his hair. "I met someone while we were in Fhirdiad."
"Indeed?" Roland hummed, eyes widening only a smidgen before he let out a chuckle. "I will not ask more than that, my friend. You are entitled to your privacy. But I do hope you introduce me to this lovely maiden that has ensnared you. I need to thank her for improving the atmosphere."
"How do you know it's not a fine young man?" Ashton asked with a raised brow.
"Well, then I will need to thank him."
"I am jesting-" Ashton shook his head. "I'm messing with you, Roland. It's a girl. And I think I'm head over heels for her. All in such a short amount of time, too. We're going out once we reach Enbarr."
"Ah, so she is with the army, then? Not a native of Fhirdiad?" Roland asked.
"It'd be a bit weird if it was, after what all those people went through."
Roland nodded. "It is good to see you finally finding something worth living for, at any rate. You deserve it after all this time."
"And how about you, huh?" Ashton said, poking Roland's horse with his elbow. "Find yourself any 'maidens' to woo?"
Roland let out another laugh. "Not quite yet, my friend. But one day! One day."
Ashton crossed his arms with a knowing smirk. "I'm looking forward to it."
Despite all that had transpired, Ashton felt like he was on cloud nine. He knew, realistically, that it was only a matter of time before war engulfed them all again, but until then, he would enjoy the feeling for all it was worth.
He didn't have forever, after all.
And another chapter. I hope I'm not taking this relationship too fast but, well, neither person in it seemed like the kinda person to just let it lie for a while as they stewed in their thoughts, pining, ya know? If that makes sense. I'm basically putting this part of the fic on fast forward because there is no way in hell I'm writing 13 years of history the same way I did the 2 year timeskip in Awakening. That's just too much.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter either way! I certainly enjoyed writing it.
Here's a link to our Discord server: discord .gg/9XG3U7a
See you guys next week!