Author's Notes: Fire Emblem belongs to Nintendo.

Fire Emblem:

Blazing Sword of Justice

Chapter 7: Heading for the Border

"Are you sure you want to come with us, Mr. Dorcas?" Lyn had asked the burly man on the morning after the bandit attack. It was early, but she was busy gathering up the materials used to help the wounded during the night. "Our journey is fraught with danger from bandits and...my...granduncle's people."

"I am sure," Replied the stalwart axe man as he hammered a board over a hole in the wall in the inn. "I have to go somewhere to earn money...I did it wrong the first time by trusting the Ganelon bandits." He turned to Lyn, dropping his hammer on the table with a loud 'thunk'. "You and your companions saved my wife's and my lives last night. I wish to repay the debt by protecting yours, Lyn. If you think I'll be of use to you in your fight, I would gladly come."

Lyn smiled kindly at Dorcas. "Of course you'll be welcome! We'll be able to pay you...but what about your wife?"

"Ah..." Dorcas scratched the side of his face with one of his big fingers. "My friend, Bartre, will help her. He's offered to look after her while I am gone. I can trust him."

"Then it seems we've reached an accord, Dorcas!" Both Dorcas and Lyn turned to look at the stairs to see Wil stepping down, a cheery smile to his face. He patted Dorcas warmly on the shoulder and grinned up at him. "Welcome to Lyndis' Legion!"

Faren smiled a little as she laid her head against the rail at the head of the stairs. She still felt tired and faint from yesterday, wearing a sleeveless nightgown underneath long green robes that she had drawn close to her body. She had been listening in on most of Lyn and Dorcas' conversation along with Wil, who couldn't stand not being a part of it. It sounds like we've picked up another warrior on this strange journey, she thought. She sighed and stretched before padding back tiredly to her room. ...we barely have enough money to gather supplies. If we paid Dorcas, we really need to pay Wil and Florina as well...possibly Kent and Sain too.

"Ah, my head hurts too much to think on this right now..." She murmured, opening the door to her room. She glanced over at Florina who was slipping on one of her long dark blue boots. She smiled hesitantly at Faren, nervously reaching up to clasp a lock of her hair. "Um...do you need help, Faren?" She asked timidly, obviously summoning a lot of courage to talk to the tactician.

Faren shook her head and smiled tiredly at Florina. "No...I still feel bad..." She slowly walked over to her bed and sat down on it with a sigh. "I feel sick when I walk...I didn't think I inhaled so much smoke from last night..." She put her hand to her head.

Florina hesitated for a moment before standing up and sitting beside Faren. "Um...Faren...?"

"Yes, Florina..?"

"I...I...wanted to...to thank you...," Florina stuttered out, gripping her hands tightly. "To thank you...for saving Huey. Wil told us it was you that did it after you fainted...You...you were so...brave..."

Faren smiled a little and chuckled. "Well, I have a soft spot for horses...maybe that's why Renegade has stuck with me for so long even after--" Faren suddenly stopped talking, realizing what she was about to say. Florina looked at her curiously, but seemed to be too timid to ask more. Faren rubbed her head. "Ah...maybe I am complaining too much...we can't waste a day..."

"Um...actually.." Florina began, a small smile creeping to her face. "Lyn and I...talked this morning before you woke up...um...she wants...to stay a day to help the villagers...and to give you time...to...to recuperate. So...so we're staying here for a day..."

Faren looked at Florina for a moment then smiled back at her with a friendly smile. "I see. That's Lyn, all right...thinking of others before herself. I'll definitely use this day to rest then..." She scooted back close to her pillow as Florina stood up and walked back over to her own bed to slip on her other boot. As she tied the lace at the boot's top, she glanced back over at Faren through her light purple hair. Faren had slipped off her green robes, leaving her in sleeveless nightgown. A peculiar tattoo was on her right shoulder, two black swirls connecting together in a triangular shape. Faren rolled over, thus ending Florina's curious stare at the tattoo.

Her faced flushed as she stood up, smoothing her white dress. It is an odd tattoo, Florina thought. But it's rude to stare as well. I better go and leave Faren to rest. Florina walked over to the door and opened it. Stepping out into the cool hallway, she could hear Lyn and Wil's voices along with a few others she didn't recognize downstairs. She called back to Faren before closing the door.

"Um...Faren...if...if you need anything...just...just let us know...okay?"

"...okay...thank you, Florina."

"Alas! Am I not blessed with Lady Faren's presence today? What a shame, that our noble and beauteous tactician is suffering from the ills of breathing in too much smoke!" Sain mournfully moaned as he, Kent, and Wil were rebuilding the stable that had gotten burned down last night. They had managed to build the skeleton frame of the stable, Kent adding reinforcements to it. Sain was on the roof, hammering boards together and being his boastful, womanizing self.

Wil rolled his eyes, trying to focus on the door he was putting together than Sain's words. Kent sighed as he leaned against the wall of the stable, taking a quick, well-deserved break. "Sain, you lout..." He said tiredly. "Can't you take this work seriously and leave women out of your brain for at least today?"

Sain's head appeared from the roof, upside down to Kent and Wil with his hair dangling. Wil glanced up at him with a handful of nails sticking out of his mouth.

"Now, Kent, if I were to forget women, I might forget myself and then you would lose your most trusted compatriot!"

Wil turned back to the door he was hammering, thinking If only that could happen...

Kent put a hand to his face. "Sain, will you at least not talk about women?"

"Why, surely my dear Kent, do you not fancy women? I would never have guessed that my bosom friend would be that way!"

"What?! I do not turn that way, Sain, you lout!"

"Ah...that's right...that's because you fancy the lady Lyndis, do you not?"

Wil looked up at Kent, seeing a faint blush to his cheeks. He glanced up at Sain, taking the rest of the nails out of his mouth so he could speak. "So what if Kent has a thing for Lady Lyndis? She is quite striking.."

Sain grinned at Wil, his head swaying to an invisible tune inside the green knight's head. "But we all know who our dear archer is enamored with, do we not?" Wil glared back at Sain. "Oh really...?"

"Oh yes, dear master of the flying sticks! The wonderful, ever cheerful Faren is the one that stolen your heart! Tell me, has thou stolen a kiss from her yet?"

Wil stared at Sain. "N-N-No, I haven't an idea what you're talking about!" He turned his back to Sain's face. "We really need to finish this stable, Sain. Get back up there on the roof before you fall!"

The last word barely escaped Wil's mouth before a shocked gasp escaped from Sain's mouth as his grip suddenly loosened, sending his sliding off the roof and onto the rocky ground with a loud crash. Kent quickly rushed to his friend's side, who's moaning was so dramatic caused Kent to slap him on the head. Wil smirked, feeling satisfied as he went back to his work.

The room was dark, save for six candles that littered the room in a circle, each in a golden stand that stood about four feet high. With their glow, one could make out in the darkness large bookshelves of magical and scientific tomes that lined the walls. A desk was situated in the far wall between two candles. Their glow dispensed over the surface of the red oak wood, a large book mounted on it. A small girl, looking no older than fifteen sat at the desk, her brown hair smoothed back against her head where it wouldn't get in her way.

Her hazel eyes scanned the book before resting on a picture of a dragon. Staring at it for what seemed like ages, she was jolted back to her senses as a decrepit hand was placed on her shoulder roughly, his arm covered in a dark blue robe.

"Tell me, child..." The man whispered. "Are these tomes helpful to you in your studying of military advice?"

She thought carefully before answering. "Yes, master."

"Good. I will need someone of your lineage to lead my army and creations for my plan to be most efficient. Keep studying, girl."

"...my only wish is to please you, master."

Emerging from the inn in a long sleeved blue tunic and tan pants, her arms crossed in front of her, she stepped out into the street. It was lonely at this time with no one else around. She sighed, wishing Lyn had been out there to talk with. Sitting on the steps of the inn, she glanced to the right and smiled as she saw the horses tied up in their temporary place. She could see Renegade's outline among the horses and she felt slightly comforted.

"What are you doing out here this early, Faren?"

Faren jumped a little and glanced up to see Lyn standing behind her. She was already dressed in her usual Lorca blue dress, the Mani Katti sheathed at her belt. The emerald hair girl sat down beside Faren and smiled a kind smile at her. "Are you feeling better?"

Faren echoed her smile, nodding. "Yes! That day's rest was just what I needed!"

"Ha ha! Good. I missed you." She looked off toward where the rising sun was beginning to peek over the rooftops. "We need to get moving today...," Lyn said softly. "For my grandfather..."

"Yup. And I take it Dorcas is still coming along?"

"You know already?"

Faren smiled. "I overheard with Wil when you two were talking. I think an axe wielder would be good to have."

"Me too...though I kinda promised him we'd pay him."

"I heard that too!" Faren chuckled. "We'll find some way to pay everybody, Lyn, don't worry." Fingering her rubied bracelet as she spoke, she knew that they actually had a lot to worry about. Perhaps an opportunity to get money would present itself on the way to Araphen, the first town in Lycia.

With the sun a few hours before hitting its noon position, Lyndis' Legion was on their way. Leaving the village was hard, as many of the people had begged them to stay and defend their village from bandit attacks. Lyn reassured them that they had nothing to fear, as most of the bandits were probably too afraid to approach the village, just in case the travelers were still there. Faren smiled from atop of Renegade as she remembered Dorcas' and Natalie's tearful goodbye. He had hugged the small woman so delicately; it seemed like such an odd sight for a giant man.

Kent rode beside Lyn, pointing out a place on the map. "Milady Lyndis, this is where we are heading...Araphen. There is a Marquess there that I am sure would be more than happy to help us. It is about two or three days to reach it from our current speed and position."

"Thank you, Kent." Lyn smiled gratefully at him, gently patting Rain's head. They were close to the Bern/Lycia border now, passing through a small forest that dotted the plains. Sain was busy trying to charm Florina, who looked ready to faint from all the attention he was giving her. Wil, who was riding with Sain, flicked Sain's ear every time he said something inappropriate to the Pegasus rider. Faren laughed, putting a hand over her mouth. Dorcas glanced back at the three from riding with Kent, a slight smile on his face as he watched Wil and Sain argue.

Lyn smiled at hearing Wil and Sain before looking at Kent. "So once we cross the border, we'll be safe from bandits, right? The Ganelon bandits seem to be everywhere we turn these days..."

Kent nodded. "We should be, Lady Lyndis. I doubt they will be willing to pursue us across the border. Lycia is more organized than Bern could be with guarding it's towns..."

"Oh, Lycia!" Sain's voice floated overhead. "It has been so long...we'll cross the border tomorrow and we'll dine on a feast of Lycia's finest foods!" He turned back to wink at Wil. "And the mistress of the inn at the crossing is said to be a beauty..."

Wil rolled his eyes but grinned. "If you're like this, perhaps we would have more peace sleeping on the ground than to hear your attempts at wooing a woman."

Sain huffed angrily, muttering something about Wil. Florina giggled quietly, looking at Faren. "I think...Wil has a point..."

Faren nodded in agreement. "He sure does...hey..." Faren narrowed her eyes as she looked straight ahead, seeing a group of people. A sudden flash of fire from the group made her gasp. "What's going on up ahead?!"

Kent and Lyn squinted their eyes before Lyn drew back with a gasp. "Bandits! And it looks like they're attacking a priestess and a young boy!"

"A priestess?" Sain rode up beside Kent, winking at him as he unsheathed his lance. "Then perhaps we should ride to their aid and maybe she'll bless our journey afterwards!" Digging a heel into his horses' side, Sain galloped ahead, Wil already notching an arrow to his bow behind him.

"EEK!! ERK!! HELP ME!!!" A distance away from Lyn and her group stood the priestess in question. Swinging around her healing stave threateningly, her pink pigtails shook violently as she tried to drive off the greasy man in front of her. Adorned in the white robes of St. Elimine with a long, fashionable purple scarf flowing behind her, she looked almost delicate, had it not been for her high-pitched voice.

A groan came from behind her as a ball of fire flew over her shoulder, landing squarely into the greasy bandit's chest that was nearing the priestess. He screamed as he was engulfed in flames.

"Serra..." A tired young boy's voice called out. Serra pouted and looked at Erk, the purple haired boy that was clutching a book that had a fire symbol on it. Keeping his crimson cloak around him, he looked even smaller than he really was. He ran a hand through his short hair to push the loose strands out of his dark eyes that glared at the priestess. "Serra...he said again. "I thought I told you we shouldn't have came this way!"

Serra still pouted at Erk, clutching her blue stave to her. "Erk! I am your employer and wherever I demand to go, we'll go! If I tell you to jump, you should ask me how high!"

"And off what..." Erk murmured. "I swear, you're NOT the frail Lycian priestess I agreed to escort to Ostia..."

"I am too! A frail noblewoman such as myself MUST be seen with an escort, Erk. And you're so...clean. You're perfect, even if you're boring as dirt."

"This is...so wrong..." Erk murmured sadly, turning his attention back to the group of thugs that were closing in on them. They all looked greasy and dirty, something Serra complained about almost immediately. Most of them wore just pants, some were fortunate enough to be wearing shirts. Tattered ones, but shirts none the less. He held a hand out protectively in front of Serra, who clasped his cloak tightly and practically screamed into his ear. "Get them, Erk! Flame them to ashes!"

"...no amount of money is worth this..." He grumbled before summoning an orange fireball in his hand.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay. I got a new kitten. He's solid black, save for a teeny white stripe on his belly. I lost the battle to name him Eliwood, but he seems to be adjusting to the name "Nils" just fine. :) He fell asleep on my desk while I was typing this.

I think I'm picking on Sain too much. But he's just so fun to do that too. See you guys next chapter.