"Equivalent Exchange"

Characters: Nils, Tactician (Female)

"He was giving up something precious and returning to his own world. There was no reason why he should make that journey alone."

x-X-x

He should be excited; he was going home now!

Nils glanced over at where he had parted from his sister. Today was not at all what he had envisioned in the past. For so long he had looked forward to this, dreaming that he would walk through the portal hand in hand with Ninian, just as they had passed most of their forced sojourn in this world. Even when the signs had come indicating that her heart had changed, he'd secretly hoped that his dream would still come to pass.

It was not to be, however. Now she was wrapped in the loving embrace of her last devotion. Nils understood instinctively that there would never be time for another. When he had spoken to Ninian of such things, she had only nodded sadly. She had already known of such things before she had made her choice.

A flash of insight. 'I'll never get to meet my nephew.'

Tears had already been shed moments before in the privacy of his sister's embrace. He could smile now, knowing that at least she was happy.

When a hand gently grasped his, Nils nearly jumped in surprise. No one-- save Ninian-- had ever bothered to touch him. He turned to face the person keeping stride with him and could not see the face because of the cowl that hid it from view.

"Elice."

She shifted to regard him quizzically, the cowl shifting with the motion to show him her eyes. "Nils?"

He stops in his forward momentum and she halts beside him. She is taller and he has to look up to see her face. "Why are you holding on to me? I must return home and seal the portal before anyone else falls prey to mere curiosity."

Elice blinks twice before answering him with simple logic. "I'm coming with you."

Nils is tempted to laugh - one of the hated humans setting foot in a realm of dragons? But he settles for shaking his head, though he still holds her hand. Perhaps he is starved for such things in the little amount of time since he lost his sister. "A foolish notion, at best. What good would come of your passing into my world?"

Elice takes a deep breath and tries to laugh. It comes out strained, however, and her hand tightens on his own. "I've watched you, Nils. You may have come into this world from 'mere curiosity' as you put it, and been constrained to stay here through magical coercion, but you never wanted to leave without your sister." She is shaking now; it is subtle enough that he can feel it, even though it doesn't show through the cloak that she always wears. "You're leaving behind something precious to you and I know that I'm nothing compared to Ninian... but I thought that you might like to have something to take back with you in exchange."

He ponders her words for several moments, turning them this way and that to consider what the choices might entail. He is tempted to just take her up on the offer, to just pretend to be the child that he appears in this human guise and selfishly take the gift to use until she perishes. But he is not a child and no matter how much he might desire such a thing, he will not choose it recklessly.

"They will eat you if you come with me."

She is nodding now, the hood dipping as she does so. "I know."

Nils regards her solemnly. "They won't like you at all, even if they decide not to kill you."

She is shaking visibly now. "I know." Her voice is a whisper, barely reaching even his ears as he stands beside her.

"I'll be alright on my own."

Elice shakes her head violently and reaches up to pull down her cowl. Raven locks spill out of the confines of the material and grey eyes meet his own. "You shouldn't have to sacrifice everything to keep us happy."

She still hasn't let go of his hand.

Nils sighs and nods slightly. He can hear the faint sigh of relief that his new partner releases as they turn back towards the portal. She is still trembling as they near the gate and pause a second time in front of their destination.

"Are you afraid?"

She smiles. "Terrified."

Nils squeezes her hand and allows himself to smile. "Don't be - I'll protect you."

"I know you will."

Hand in hand they walk through the gateway, disappearing into tiny motes of light before the structure goes dark.

x-X-x

AN: Whee, another journey into fascinating realm that is fire emblem 7. Anyone inspired now? Not? Ah well...!

This version is Alternate Universe. Not that Nils doesn't deserve something for coming across to Elibe and surviving to go back home! It's just that he usually gets the booby prize - go home, lock the door, get all the punishment when your people find out what you did. He only gets to go home with Ninian if Eliwood doesn't pick her up as his girl in-game. No matter which way you slice it, the kid gets a raw deal. So here he gets a little bit of love, even if it is a little bit contrived. ^^

On a side note - to the reviewer who asked me about Armads... I have no clue. I've not played FE6 and know very little about it other than by a few random facts that I've picked up here and there, mostly common knowledge. My base for writing comes from FE7 and FE8, both of which I've completed several times and have handy for quick playthroughs if necessary. Armads might indeed be back on the island in 6, but I'd have to wonder why that would be. It maketh little sense to me, unless the powers that be try to keep cursed weapons sealed.

[Thanks go to Mark of the Asphodel for catching a mistake made by me. Alas, I'll have to find somewhere else to use that line!]