The Sacred Stones Retelling

Disclaimer: Well…as long as the fans like it, I'm okay. Full steam ahead!

A/N: All right, then. Let's keep this fic going!

Chapter Three: A Little Bit Of Trouble
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Despite the extra company, Ephraim's group rode on well, following the trail they had marked. They spied many of Grado's troops marching through the land onto Renais, but the group wasn't too worried. They knew Renais would be all right. They spent a week riding nonstop from Ide to Serafew, and decided to take a break there.

"Of course, we can't actually stay inside Serafew, in case Grado soldiers are there," said Ephraim as he set up his tent. "And it's too early for us to reveal ourselves to Grado. We need to strike before they notice us."

"Don't worry, Prince, we understand," said Forde. He looked through the supplies. "Oh…uh…"

"What's wrong?" asked Ephraim.

"We have only 4 tents," said Forde. "There isn't one for Myrrh…"

"That is all right," said Myrrh. "I don't mind sleeping outside… I could fly up to the treetops, I probably wouldn't be noticed. These trees are thick with leaves."

"No, no…We need to think of something else," said Kyle. "Camping out so near enemy territory is dangerous enough as it is. What of one of Grado's wyvern riders happen to fly by and spot you?"

"But there aren't enough tents…"

"I got it!" said Forde, snapping his fingers. "One of us will share a tent. No sense in making a lady sleep outside, you know."

"That's very good, Forde," said Ephraim with a smirk. "Then you can let Myrrh have your tent."

"Wha…? Wait, wait, I was thinking more you or Kyle!" said Forde hurriedly.

"It's just like you said, Forde," said Kyle, taking Forde's tent supplies to set up a tent for Myrrh. "We can't let a lady stay outside."

"Don't treat me like a delicate flower," said Myrrh, feeling a little indignant, but the others didn't hear her. She sighed. I often forget that they still see me as a little girl, instead of a dragon. I guess I chose the wrong form for others to take me seriously with…

"Come on, I can't stay outside either," protested Forde. "I'm not a nature-loving kinda guy. I NEED cover over my head."

"Why not share with Ephraim?" suggested Myrrh. "I think you two are pretty good friends. Or maybe you and Kyle. Or Orson."

"Hey…Where is he, anyway?" Ephraim looked around. "He finished setting up his tent, but then disappeared."

"Yeah…you're right," said Kyle. "Where could Sir Orson have gone?"

Meanwhile, in a temple close to Grado Keep…

"There is a great evil within Grado Keep," said MacGregor, the head priest of the temple. "Everyone must be warned…"

"Father MacGregor, what do you plan to do?" asked one cleric. "You heard the emperor's warning. If we try to warn anyone of what they don't know, it will be considered high treason!"

"And the sentence for treason is execution, Father!" said another priest. "Please…"

"Would you allow all of Magvel to succumb to evil?" challenged MacGregor. "Allow all light to vanish, for the sake of a devil's game?"

"It would be best to wait for the right moment to strike," said the cleric. "You know this, Father MacGregor. Please don't throw your life away just yet."

MacGregor sighed. "I must speak with the emperor again. He must listen to reason! Don't go anywhere, any of you. Wait here for me."

"You're going out again…? But…You mustn't go!" another cleric pushed her way past the others and grabbed MacGregors arm. "You can't go!"

"Sister Natasha…" MacGregor looked down at her. "I understand your concerns, but try to understand. This is my calling."

"I beseech you, Father!" said Natasha, looking close to tears. "You're the only true father I have ever known, both as a mentor and a parent! I couldn't bare it if I lost you…"

"Sister Natasha, don't tell Father what to do," said the cleric. "It is his calling after all. We all know he'll do what he's called to do."

"Hey, don't be so hard on her," said the priest, gently pulling Natasha away from MacGregor. "We all are worried for his safety…"

"No, don't go…" said Natasha faintly.

MacGregor bowed his head. "I am sorry, my child…but I must go." With that, he turned and left.

Natasha bit his lip, and shook her head hopelessly. There is nothing I can do now… But there must! I cannot allow Father MacGregor to do this alone… she turned around to face the priest. "I'm sorry for my outburst," she said. "I'll…be in my room if you need me."

"Very well, Sister Natasha," said the priest. "Go rest now, Sister."

"I will…thank you." Natasha walked to her room, and looked out her window. "Oh…it's those mages again," she said watching some of the court mages gather round. "I wonder what they're doing…"

One of the mages, a druid, came out from the castle gates, and waved the mages over. They all nodded and hurried inside.

"Oh…! What's going on…?" Natasha leaned out the window a little to try and see better. "Those must be the court mages…"

The druid watched them all go in, and stopped suddenly, looking up at Natasha curiously, as if he had felt her staring.

"Ah…" Natasha backed out of the window. "Wow, they're really scary… I wonder what they could be possibly be planning? Haven't they caused enough trouble already…?"

With the druid…

The druid Natasha had been watching continued to stare at the window. …who was that? he thought. Probably one of those clerics. Those girls aren't very friendly with us mages, are they?

"Master Knoll!" called one of the mages. "Come on already!"

"…right. I'm coming," said Knoll, and he hurried inside the castle. We can't possibly tap into more than we have now… thought Knoll as he went down the hall. What could Lyon be thinking…?

"Knoll, and all my researchers," said a voice.

Knoll looked towards the front of the room, and there stood the Imperial Prince Lyon. "Prince Lyon, we're present," said a mage. "What would you have us do?"

Lyon looked down for a moment, as though he forgot what he was going to say. Then he suddenly looked up. "There is a traitor among us."

"A traitor?" repeated Knoll. "Who is this traitor?"

"I won't speak the traitor's name now," said Lyon, looking at every mage. "But after today's research…I will know…" his gazed rested on Knoll, who couldn't help but feel a slight bite of apprehension.

All the mages took their places around the table and began reading and taking notes on some ancient scrolls for tapping into dark magic. Knoll could feel Lyon sometimes glancing at him, but he tried to ignore it. Maybe it's nothing… he thought to himself. Lyon hasn't been acting like himself since he acquired that Dark Stone… Maybe it's…nothing…

A few minutes later, however, a guard hurried into the room. "Prince Lyon! Prince Lyon!"

Lyon looked up from the scroll he was reading. "What is it? You better have a god reason for barging in here like this…"

"F-forgive me, my lord," stammered the guard, "but… Father Macgregor has arrived at the palace gates, demanding that he see you at once."

Knoll looked between the guard and Lyon again. Lyon's manner has changed again… I don't blame that guard for being frightened…

"Father MacGregor? Again?" Lyon sighed wearily. "What does he want this time?"

"Nothing I know, my lord… He just said to tell you that your…your 'villainy' has to stop."

"My villainy?" repeated Lyon. "Who is he to judge what I do?"

"No-one, Prince Lyon. Shall I send him away?" asked the guard.

"Yes, please do…urgh…!" Lyon winced suddenly and clenched a fist. "Ah…"

"Prince Lyon?" asked the guard. "Are you…okay?"

Lyon didn't answer; instead, he put a hand to his face, breathing a bit heavily. "A-About Father MacGregor…"

"Are you all right, Lyon?" asked Knoll, standing up. "Do you need the healer…?"

Lyon sighed and lowered his hand. "I…I am fine…" he looked up at Knoll. "I'll go see Father MacGregor now… Knoll, make sure they continue researching. No slacking off."

"Of course, Lyon…" Knoll watched Lyon and the guard walk out. For a moment there…it--it was as if his expression has changed… For a moment, I didn't see Lyon's face… Knoll looked down again. Maybe…it is nothing…

He was about to sit down and continue researching when another guard came in. "Master Knoll!" called the guard. "Where is Prince Lyon?"

"He just left, to go speak with Father Macgregor," said Knoll. "Why?"

"A cleric just broke into the castle," said the guard. "She came this way. We're trying to find her!"

"And why does this concern Lyon?" asked Knoll.

"She was looking for Father MacGregor."

Knoll looked at the guard in surprise. "Are…Are you sure?"

"Yes! She slipped right past me, but I heard crashing, and saw a flash of white. It must have been a cleric."

"…" Knoll shook his head. "There is no need for Lyon to be troubled over something like this. I'll go find her. She can't be far from here."

"Yes, Master Knoll. I'll inform the guards." With that, he turned and left.

Knoll sighed and said the other mages, "Stay here and continue researching. I'm sure I won't be long."

"All right, then, we'll wait here," said a mage.

Knoll walked out of the hall and looked around. If I was a cleric searching for Father MacGregor…what route would I take…? he started walking down the hall when he heard a horrific scream. "…! W-What was that…?" he hurried along as fast as he could, turned the corner, and came to a halt.

"F-Father MacGregor!!" cried Natasha. "Oh--Oh, no!!"

"You--you're that cleric…" said Knoll quietly.

Lyon stood before MacGregor's dead body, facing away from Knoll and Natasha. "How could you!?" cried Natasha. "He was trying to warn you of the dangers the Dark Stone possessed! Why? Why did you kill him?!"

"He knew too much…and he was trying to interfere…" said Lyon in a voice that certainly wasn't his own. "And who are you to say such things to me, cleric? You're a traitor, just like your precious Father MacGregor…"

"He is no traitor! You are!" Natasha shook her head in despair. "How could you go against everything Grado stood for?! You are not Prince Lyon! Who are you?!"

"Heh heh… You're right, I'm not Prince Lyon…" Lyon turned around slowly to face Natasha and Knoll. "Maybe you know who I am…"

Knoll gasped out loud as Natasha took a few steps back. "W-What happened to you, Lyon…? What…?"

"You must be stopped…" said Natasha quietly. "I…" she backed up a little more, then tuned around and ran out as quickly as she could.

"…" Knoll stepped out of the way to avoid being bowled over by Natasha, but that was a wrong move on his part. I just…let her go…

"Knoll, were you in on this?" asked the evil-looking Lyon. "You let her walk right past you. And after all these trust Lyon put into you…"

"Lyon, ma-maybe she was right!" Knoll turned around. "You certainly aren't Lyon. He would never kill anyone, especially not Father MacGregor. What--" Knoll trailed off.

"You finally catch on, do you?" asked evil-Lyon. He walked up to Knoll. "You know what we do to traitors of Grado, don't you?"

"B-But you're not Lyon…" Knoll took an involuntary step back. "You're…"

"Knoll, Knoll, be not afraid of me," said evil-Lyon with an evil little smile. "After all, you are Lyon's friend, are you not?" he put a hand on Knoll's cheek. "I would never dream of hurting Lyon's friend…not entirely…"

"Get away from me… Don't talk like…" Knoll backed up, and bumped against the wall. "I--I…"

"Oh… Don't worry, that cleric has plenty of time to get away… For now, I can enjoy my time with you," said evil-Lyon. "A prison cell is the best place to throw any traitor, isn't it?"

Later on that evening, with Ephraim and co…

"Sir Orson?" asked Ephraim in surprise. "Where were you all this time?"

"I was scouting the roads ahead…" said Orson quietly. "Grado territory is not safe for us to be traveling in, so I thought it best to find a safe road before we carry on."

"Surely no without Prince Ephraim's orders!" exclaimed Kyle.

"Calm down, Kyle, that was a good idea," said Forde, poking at the ground with a twig with a bored sigh. "At least he's doing something useful."

"Something useful? He could have ruined the whole mission!" exclaimed Kyle. "I'm not aiming to impugn the name of Sir Orson, I'm just amazed at his lack of care in his choosing to scout the road!"

"Kyle, I'm sure Orson meant well," said Ephraim. "However, you're right about how dangerous and reckless it was." he turned to Orson. "Next time you plan a scouting party like that, let me know, okay?"

"Forgive me, Prince Ephraim, but your plan to storm Grado Empire was a reckless act in itself. I thought I would follow the routine." with a bow of his head, Orson went into his tent.

Ephraim raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Orson sure seems to be acting strange lately…"

"Myrrh, how are you holding up?" asked Kyle.

Myrrh stuck her head out of Forde's tent. "It is rather comfy inside… And such a soft pillow, too. I am very grateful to you, Forde."

"P'sh, it's nothing," scoffed Forde. "Because you're staying in my tent, I get the honor of staying with Ephraim in his tent."

"That is a great honor," said Ephraim. "Of course, if you'd rather sleep outside, that is fine with me…"

"No, no, I'll take Ephraim any day over smelly nature," said Forde, tossing the twig.

"Smelly nature?" repeated Myrrh indignantly. "Excuse me, but 'smelly nature' is what's protecting you now, providing cover so you three can get a good night's sleep. Have you any right to--?"

"Please, keep it down, I'm sorry!" said Forde. "Sorry."

"You ought to be, referring to Prince Ephraim so casually!" scolded Kyle. "It is not your place to address him so!"

"Kyle, it's all right," said Ephraim. "I don't see why I have to be regarded so formally. As far as I'm concerned, I'm just a passing mercenary, and you are with me, no?"

"That makes sense to me," said Forde.

"I'm sure it does," sighed Kyle. "Really, Prince Ephraim, it is not our place."

"Well, you're free to serve however you wish," said Ephraim, heading for his tent. "I could care less about regality, all that stuffed-up nonsense…"

Myrrh blinked, watched Ephraim enter his tent. "He's not a very willing prince, is he?"

"Eh, he gets like that sometimes," said Forde, standing up and stretching. "He's told us, and his father and sister King Fado and Princess Eirika, that he doesn't want to be king."

"I wish I knew why he felt that way," said Kyle, checking the sharpness of his sword and sheathing it. "Prince Ephraim will make a wonderful king someday."

"Yes, well…that's if Prince Ephraim chooses that path," said Forde. "After all, he and Lady Eirika are the same age. If he decides to renounce the throne, Lady Eirika will become queen."

Ephraim stopped with one hand on the tent flap. "Forde…you…"

"Ah… Oh, sorry, Prince!" laughed Forde.

"Forde, you out step yourself!" Kyle shook his head. "How did you ever become a Knight of Renais?"

"…" Ephraim looked back at Forde. "You know, Forde…"

"Hn? Yes, Prince Ephraim?" asked Forde.

Myrrh suddenly gasped and looked over her shoulder. "Ephraim, Forde! Riders are coming in from the east! I can hear heavy hoof steps!"

"What? You mean we're under attack?" asked Ephraim.

"The spies are somewhere this way!" called a voice.

"If you find them, leave them to me," said another voice.

"Blast… We have to get out of here!" called Ephraim. "Forde, Kyle, Orson, Let's hurry!"

"But what about the camp?" asked Myrrh as Kyle hurriedly put her on his horse. "We can't leave the supplies here!"

"We have no choice!" Ephraim hopped on behind Forde and called, "Orson! We have to ride now!"

"We're under attack?" Orson hurried out of the tent and looked past the trees. "It's a whole party of Grado's cavaliers and wyvern riders…"

"Oh, that's not gonna be good," said Forde. "It's best we ride now, before we get into any more trouble!"

"All right, then! Move out!" called Ephraim, and he and his party rode off as the pursuing party tore through their camp.
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After a million years, an update finally! Hah ha, my unhealthy obsession with DA has caused this… So, maybe, now that I've vacationed from DA for a while, I can get working on my fanfic again! This is marvelous, no?

XD Okay, not much fluffies today… but soon, we'll see a million more fluffies! That I promise! See ya later!