Chapter 6

Inside, the three spoke of their days like long lost friends catching up with each other. Glen spoke about Frelia and the good people who lived there, Cormag was about the village he had to go to, and Selena spoke about the book she was writing.

"It must've been lonely for you if you had to get to writing," Cormag said.

"No. Many of the maids kept me company and I did take little strolls with the village children. I wasn't lonely at all."

Glen looked around their little group and finally realized that someone was missing. "Where's Duessel?"

Selena remembered clearly where he had gone and explained, "Duessel went off to spend time with his family. But I think it was mostly to get away from the castle…"

Glen had known Duessel for years and Duessel was known for staying near the King's side at all times. Duessel was above all a loyal man. "Why would he want to get away from the castle? I know for one thing Duessel would never do such. He spends all his nights at his own house anyways."

Selena turned her vision down to the nice, see-through table made up of glass. Her face was gloomy as she spoke the next words solemnly, "Ever since Emperor Vigarde was cured of his sickness he's changed." Before Glen could ask how he changed, Selena continued speaking, "He no longer smiles and talks to us at dinner. Well…he practically never says anything at all…It's as if he's changed ever since this sickness came."

Cormag looked at his older brother and added in, "It's not only the emperor who's changed but also the young prince as well. Lyon doesn't really do anything anymore. I hardly even see him around anymore."

Selena then looked up and said quietly, "You don't think that they're still sick do you?"

"Or maybe," Glen said, "it's not this sickness that's been hurting them but maybe-"

The emperor came walking in at that moment with his son trailing right behind. The two took no notice to any of them. Both of their eyes were empty and possessed no pupils. It were as if they were just walking bodies.

Selena stood up and greeted them both with a, "Good morning Emperor Vigarde, Prince Lyon. You might have already noticed but General Glen has come back from his duty in Frelia."

The two stopped before entering the dinner room and then Lyon turned around and said, "That's great. My father is ready to perform a great act. One that might change Magvel's history. Please if you do not mind, come to the throne room with us." Lyon gave a little smile before leaving with his father.

Glen gave Lyon an uncomfortable stare. He didn't trust this "act" Vigarde was going to perform. When Selena was ready to go into the throne room, Glen got a hold of her wrist and whispered to her and Cormag, "You don't actually trust this, do you?"

"What are you talking about Glen? That's our emperor and his son you're talking about. We have to trust them." Selena explained.

"No one's telling you to trust them. Besides Selena, have you not noticed that it's Lyon who's acting as Vigarde's voice? You two were both right about how they have changed."

Selena snatched her wrist back and looked down at the ground. "Whether you like them or not, I…I have no choice but to stay by their side. If they're hurt then I have to help them. You know Vigarde's been a father to me and Lyon as a younger brother. I'm sorry for being so abrupt in this. I'll be going now." She left the two brothers in the room and headed into the throne room.

Cormag turned to look at Glen and let out a breath, "So brother, are you going to follow your love or yourself?"

"If I let Selena put herself in trouble I would be hurting myself too. Come on brother." The two took their leave and followed Selena.

Once in the room, they found Duessel and Selena looking at Prince Lyon who stood in front of the king. Selena turned around and let them stand beside her. Cormag stood next to Duessel and whispered, "I thought you were with your family."

Duessel grunted and replied grumpily, "Until I got an 'important' call from his majesty."

Lyon then began looking down upon the group and began speaking, "Now that we are all here, I would like to explain our next move." He stopped to see if anyone were to say anything and continued on, "Our next move is to invade and attack the neighboring kingdom, Renais."

Selena immediately yelled, "What? Prince Lyon how could you say such? Your dear friends live there! You have not one reason to hurt them-"

"Silence!" Instead of Lyon who said that, it was Selena's so-called "father." He had stood up and stared down at the young lady.

"E-Emperor…? I…"

Lyon held out his hand for silence and listened to what his father was whispering to him. After a few seconds, he said, "These words come from only the king himself and if you, Selena, do not approve of this plan then you are showing no loyalty to his majesty. And I hope you haven't forgotten the pleasure he has brought to your life."

Selena broke out in tears and was ready to run off until she felt someone hold onto her hand, refusing to let her leave. The next thing she knew, she was being pulled into the comfort of someone's arms.

Lyon, though, continued his crude speech that he said his father organized and he was to only say it.

Duessel looked over at the weeping lady and whispered to Glen, "Glen, get her out of here and keep her comforted. I'll stay here with Cormag and listen to his speech."

"Thanks General…" Glen looked down at Selena and said, "Come on Selena. I'll be with you." He guided her out of the room and into her bedroom.

He let her sit down on her bed and sat beside her, letting her lean her head on his shoulder while he stroked her. After some time, she was finished crying and tried to clean her face that was now all wet from her tears. Glen still thought she was still beautiful even with tears running about. "Selena, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry Glen…I'm so sorry for being such a big burden…I should've listened to you…"

He lifted her chin so she was looking at him then he kissed her on the lips. Selena was stunned at the sudden kiss but managed to put her arms around him. When they pulled apart, Selena's face was now blushing red.

"If you ever need help Selena, I promise I'll be there for you. And please, do not say that you are a burden like that." He held her head in his chest and patted her trying to get her comforted. "Everything will be okay Selena…" At least I hope so…

Lyon had watched two of the Imperial Three walk out and then stared at the remaining. "I hope you aren't going to be as disloyal as those two." The two stared at each other and then back up at the prince who was continuing his father's speech. "My father says that we are going to attack Renais for his own personal reasons that I cannot say. We have already told our army of this attack and we expect it to start either tomorrow or the day after."

Cormag clenched his fist and then yelled back at the prince, "And you're going to just let it happen? What about your friends Eirika and Ephraim? They were your only friends when you had none. Have all of the Father's teachings fall upon deaf ears?"

"Cormag, calm down." Duessel warned the young man.

"Thank you General Duessel. Now Cormag please do not remind me of those two. Besides you don't know how they've mistreated me."

"I've only heard of the prince of Frelia mistreat you but even you managed to get over it. Why not attack Frelia?"

Lyon laughed then said hysterically to his father, "Cormag has given me a grand idea Father. After the fall of Renais, may we take down the kingdom of Frelia?"

The two didn't hear a response but then Cormag angrily replied back, "If you dare try to take down Frelia or Renais I swear on my own life I'll-"

"You'll what? Kill me? Hah! I hardly believe you'll do such. But then again you are much like your brother so I won't be surprised if you try. Maybe during my sleep or maybe you'll poison my dinner. Who knows?"

Duessel had to stand up for his friend so calmly replied, "Please prince, I don't think he'll try to do such. Please stop saying such things."

Lyon glared down at him, "General if I were you I wouldn't be trying to disagree with me. I know where your wife lives and I know how dear she is to you. I can't forget about those darling daughters you have either."

After angering Obsidian, Lyon dismissed the two to go off to their own business. Duessel and Cormag walked beside each other, each having a temper. "Now what Duessel? What are we going to do now?"

The old soldier was silent until they reached the front door, "What choice do I have? No matter how much the emperor and his son change, I still promised to be loyal to them. And if Lyon has lost his mind, my wife and children…"

"I understand General. You're heading home now, aren't you?"

"Yes. Let's just hope that they regain their senses before they release the army on Renais."

Cormag nodded and bade good-bye to his friend. Once the door closed he began pondering, Why has Vigarde chosen Renais as his target? Personal reasons? Even so, Vigarde is known to settle things through words rather than conquest. Maybe revenge? Why am I even trying? He's going to release the army and then we'll see his reason even though I would prefer not knowing than hurting Renais.

Cormag let out a breath and went to find his brother. He knew already that he'd be in Selena's room rather than his own because of the pictures Glen had that were lying on his desk.

He softly knocked and asked, "Can I come in brother?"

Glen was surprised to hear a knock but recognized that it was his brother's voice, "Come in."

Cormag saw his Glen comforting Selena and sat down on her chair, looking away from them. He couldn't help but to look at the book lying in front of him. He didn't touch so as to show respect but it was opened to a page which he just had to read.

While he was reading, Selena pulled herself from Glen's arms and whispered so as not to let Cormag hear, "Glen, if the next few days are going to be horrible can I go with you to a place far from Grado? Maybe to a new continent or even a new world?"

Glen smiled down at her beautiful tender face and whispered, "Of course. How else can I keep my promise then?"

"Thank you so much…" She felt herself in another passionate kiss but this one was unfortunately disturbed by Cormag who accidentally turned to look at the two.

Immediately he turned back around after saying, "Sorry."

They pulled apart with blush marks growing on both their cheeks. Glen soon managed to shake off his embarrassment and asked, "Cormag, did you find anything out about Vigarde's plan?"

"Yeah. He, well Lyon, says he's going to release the army on Renais tomorrow or the day after. Then Lyon wants to take down Frelia after."

Glen stood up and looked out the window, "Even if they did go for Frelia, I'm sure Grado's forces wouldn't make it since they're now aware of them. And plus our army must've gotten weaker."

Selena went to stand beside him and whispered, "We could always try to stop the army from attacking…"

Glen shook his head, Even if we did, they wouldn't listen. They follow only the emperor…And if Vigarde found out what we tried to do, I'm positive he would hurt us but mostly Selena.

Cormag heard footsteps and not long after did the other two begin to hear. They kept a close eye on the door making sure no one was going to enter. The footsteps stopped and then the doorknob began turning.

Lyon then opened the door and collapsed on the floor. "Lyon!" Selena ran to her prince's body and turned him over, placing her middle and forefinger on his neck, searching for a pulse. She sighed out of relief after finding it. "Glen, Cormag can one of you guys get Lyon to my bed?"

"I will, "Glen volunteered. He put the prince over his shoulder and on the bed. "What do you think happened Selena?"

"I'm not sure…" She looked down at Lyon's delicate face and saw how peaceful it was, not like how she saw it today. It was as if Lyon was no longer him during that whole meeting. Selena sat at his bedside and stroked his cheek thinking the whole while, My dear sweet "brother" was it really you I saw there?

Cormag looked down at the prince himself and felt what Selena felt. This was definitely the Lyon he knew. "Hey Selena, do you think Lyon just caught sick with his father, I mean they were always together during Vigarde's sickness."

"Probably…But I still think something more than just a sickness is lurking around here." Lyon slowly opened his eyes and they were his eyes. Those gentle, sweet eyes revealed.

"Lady Selena, where am I?"

"You're with me my b- I mean prince…" She wrapped her arms around him and he was so confused.

"What happened, General Glen?"

Glen smiled and replied, "You passed out before us. Don't worry."

Lyon then quickly pulled away from Selena's arms and wanted to say something desperately, "Glen the S…" He heard a sharp piercing ring go through his mind. Prince don't forget…Don't forget what you're putting on the line.

"Lyon, what is it?" Selena asked gently.

"N-nothing…I just have a headache…" The prince ran past then left. Once he left, they heard horses neighing and footsteps running.

The three looked outside and saw Grado's army heading out. They held their spears, swords, axes and whatever else they had in their hands and they were getting to Renais. On a balcony that overlooked the army was Vigarde. He stood there looking down upon his army without any emotion on his face.

"Vigarde…" Selena ran out of the room and to the balcony where her "father" stood. "Call them back Vigarde."

He turned around and asked, "You're disobeying me, my daughter?"

She gasped and then managed to reply back, "I'm not your daughter…"

With a reply like that, her face was whipped with the back of his hand. He turned back around and continued speaking, "If you say you are not my daughter, return back to where you belong."

Selena wouldn't let herself show her tears to him again. "No…I'm not saying I'm not Vigarde's daughter but that I'm not your daughter. You're not Vigarde, are you?"

Vigarde gave no reply.

"Answer me!"

A sentry who stood behind Vigarde grabbed Selena by the shoulders and whispered into her ear, "I suggest you go back to where you were unless you want this knife slitting your throat." A knife that most knights kept in their doublets shined in front of her. She quickly broke free of his grasp and scampered off.

I've made up my mind Vigarde…If I am to be loyal to you then I will stay here and find out what's wrong whether I end up dying or not. Even if in the end you are to die then I promise I'll make that happen no matter how hard it is for me…

The next day came and just as expected, the war broke out. Countless lives were killed but mostly those of Renais. All the other nations grew aware of Grado and set up their army. It was said that the king of Renais had died but the princess of Renais managed to escape with her escort. Her twin brother was far from the castle when the attack came.

The king had once again called the Imperial Three and into the throne room. Selena showed only obedience to him unlike last time but that was because of the promise she made to herself yesterday. Also, there was no Lyon this time.

Vigarde stood up and said in his voice, "My Imperial Three, now that the war has begun, I have some new accomplices that you will be working with. Please enter."

A group of three began walking down the room. One appeared as a mercenary, another as a bishop, and the last was a wyvern rider.

The three stopped next to them and the mercenary examined them, "So these are who you want us to work with? You honestly couldn't have chosen a more horrible group."

"Caellach, quiet. I heard it is quite an honor to be working with the Imperial Three." The grotesque bishop said.

"How? There's a woman in there. Women bring down everything." The wyvern rider was eyeing Selena who was growing uncomfortable.

Caellach held up her chin and said, "Give her some credit. At least she's cute."

Glen immediately stepped between the mercenary and Selena. The wyvern rider looked at Glen and laughed, "How pathetic. A man who cares for a woman. Never knew such things could happen in war."

Glen growled, "Valter…"

The bishop raised an eyebrow, "Looks like he knows your name Valter."

Valter then smirked and said, "That is quite strange…"

"It's amazing how stupid you are Valter. You were a former member of Grado's army. Why Vigarde brought you back after you ran away is a question to me."

Vigarde then began speaking, "Now that you guys have gotten acquainted, I will start telling you your partners."

The Imperial Three looked at the other team and then back up at the emperor. "General Obsidian, you will be with Riev, the Blood Beryl."

Riev went up to Duessel and held out an old wrinkled hand, "Nice meeting you Obsidian."

Duessel didn't take the hand but whispered back to him, "It's a pleasure…"

"Selena Fluorspar, you're with Caellach, the Tiger Eye."

Caellach smirked and said, "You're too kind to let me have her." He turned his vision towards Selena and continued talking, "Ah…This will be fun…" Once again he tried to lay his hands on her but this time Glen made him keep his distance. "What a protective boyfriend she has. Hey buddy she's working with me."

Valter didn't bother with Caellach but said, "So I believe I'm with Glen also known as the Sunstone."

Vigarde nodded and then let them have their conversations.

"Now that I think about it Glen, I do remember you. You have a little brother."

Glen clenched his fist and Selena placed her hand over his whispering, "Don't Glen…"

"I'm sorry…"

"What's the matter? You aren't going to listen to a woman are you? If you want to punch me, do it Glen."

"Glen, don't," both Duessel and Selena said.

Glen let out one grunt and left. Selena looked at her "father" and felt so ashamed of him. How he can just get Glen so mad and not even care one bit? She ran after Glen and once they were in a hall, she said, "I'm so sorry Glen…If you want, I'll switch you partners…"

He placed her cheeks between his hands and said, "It wouldn't matter. I just want to go back to what seemed to be a long time ago where all of us were just a normal family…" Glen gently kissed her on the cheek and then let her in his arms.

Selena put her arms around him, thinking, All of us want to go back to that time Glen...But we also have a future we have to look forward to as well…Let's at least hope that's better than now…