Sara Jaye- Thanks, I was sort of worried about that. The entire Chad-Matthew thing seems to be the most delicate part of my fic. Thanks for the support too.
Lzn64- Glad you enjoyed it. I was a little worried with Rei since, well, it's a little hard to put him in character when you only have access to the fan-subbed versions and you're illiterate in Japanese. Still, I'm quite happy with the result. Oh, and with the Lucius paring thing... I was actually meant to edit that out before I posted the chapter up! (Sweatdrop) It's not actually Lucius/Raven, since I'm not a yaoi fan, but Lucius/Serra instead. I swear that I'm the only person that likes that pairing... Still, pay me no heed and take it how you wish.
Only two reviews... Better than none, I suppose. I really pity the authors out there that have seven or eight chapters posted, but not a review to their name. I should really be thankful for what I've got.
And now, to the fic, and the part we dread...
Disclaimer- HAH! I do own Fire Emblem! I purchased it from Games World for 50! Well, I purchased the game cartridge for 50... So I own the cartridge of Fire Emblem, but not the copyrights or any of the official stuff... Damn, foiled again.
Chapter Three: Bloodstained Garden
Lugh
We had all been shocked when Rei left. He had always spoke of leaving to train his magic, but we'd never thought that he'd actually do it. Chad had said bitterly that he expected Rei to desert them when the goings got tough, but I knew different.
He was, after all, my brother. If I didn't know him, then who did?
Whilst his leaving did mean one less mouth to feed, It also meant that there was one less able-bodied person to go out and work. So, in the end, his leaving didn't make life any easier.
For the next six months, Chad and I worked as hard as we could, picking up any stray jobs we could. Often, Chad had to resort to stealing from others. I didn't like it much, but if the little ones were to survive this, it was a necessary evil.
'Now then Lugh, I want these placed in alphabetical order. Perfect... Order. If there is one slip up, I will not hesitate to fire you.'
'Yes sir.' I half sigh to my employer. Everybody is the same around here. They think that just because I am an orphan, I cannot read or write. I take the books that were on the cart and carry them inside, to carefully stack them on the shelf in "Perfect... Order". Why is it that people assume things about others before they have met them? And in Araphen, in all places, which shares it's borders with both Sacae and Bern! I pause, and take a deep breath to calm myself down. I need to work, not to get angry over the injustices in the world. Silently, I continued to stack and sort the books.
'Hey have you heard the news?' A voice from outside floated into the shop.
'What?' Another responded.
'The Lycia Alliance Army is coming to Castle Araphan.'
'Why the hell are they coming here?'
'... Because Araphan shares the closest, non-mountainous border with Bern, idiot!' There was the sound of a hand slapping flesh. The voices disappeared into the distance. The army, I mused. It wasn't such a a bad idea. I was a fairly capable Mage, and the Marquess of Ostia, who happened to be the general of the Army, was an old friend of Fathers. I could join and hopefully get paid in advance. With the money I earned, Father may be able get the orphanage back on it's feet.
Almost immediately, I shook my head free of that thought. The Lycia Alliance Army probably already has much more powerful magic users than I, and if I left the orphanage, I would be leaving Chad and Father to take care of the little ones.
Just like Rei did.
'Hey, Lugh! Get your useless head out of the clouds and get back to work!' My employer yelled at me.
'S-sorry sir!' I stammered my apology, then grabbed another handful of books. I rushed and almost stacked them in the wrong order, but I corrected my error before my employer found out.
Perhaps Rei had it right...
I returned to the Orphanage at sundown. I had but two gold to show for my hard work. I hoped Chad had been able to do better.
As I neared the orphanage gates, I noticed a large black horse covered in heavy barding. It was nibbling on the dry grass just outside the gates. I curiously approached it, and it raised it's head to look me in the eyes. It then snorted disdainfully and went back to grazing. How could a horse sound disdainful?
I entered the orphanage to see Chad, face paled, trying to scrape up something edible from the garden.
'Hey Chad!' I called out and waved to him. He looked up at me, his expression not changing.
'Hello Lugh...' He said, as if distracted.
'What's wrong? Has something happened?' I suddenly felt worried. Had Father had another of his attacks? St Emiline, if he had then we might not be able to pull through...
'We, err... We have a visitor. A rather... Important one...' He turned back to the garden, and pulled out a mostly whole, but sadly small, turnip.
'Is that all?' I suddenly felt relief. 'Is it Lord Raymond? Or perhaps Sister Serra?' Either one would be a welcome relief.
'No, neither of them... Look, you'll just have to go inside.' He returned to his vegetable gathering. I shook my head, not remembering when Chad was this nervous. I turned and went into the orphanage.
The little ones were chattering away happily, speaking of "The large man that gave them all piggyback rides". Whoever this visitor was, he couldn't be all bad. I headed over towards Father's room, and I heard the voiced of Father and the mysterious newcomer.
'... You were right, he DOES look like him! Gods, if I hadn't seen the lad with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it!' The visitor's voice was deep and rumbling, and sounded stupefied.
'Yes, Lord Raven and I had thought the same thing... Will you let him know?' Father's voice was calm, but there was a slight waver, as there had been for many days now.
'Grah... I suppose I must, though he's not going to like it. I think I'll wait until Bern's finished their damned war first. Bloody hell, that man is always getting me in trouble, from the moment Uther first-'
'I'm back Father.' I chose this moment to disrupt the conversation. Father looked up at me, then smiled. The man he was talking with, turned to face me, then visibly jumped in surprise. He was a man of large build, and he wore a deep blue suit of full-plate armour. His face was covered in a large beard, which was almost the same shade of blue as his eyes.
'St Emiline! They pop up everywhere!' He exclaimed.
'Hello sir.' I nodded politely, then smiled at father. 'I wasn't able to get much, but it'll set us right for a few days at least.' I placed the two gold on his desk, then turned to face the newcomer. The surprise had not been wiped from him, but curiosity was also on his face, and he watched me with great interest.
'Humble too. Much like his mother.' He smiled underneath his great beard.
'You knew my mother?' I asked him, wonder evident in my voice. Father had told me some things about my real parents, but not enough to satisfy my curiosity. Plus, I suspect that he held information away from me.
'Aye, I did. Not well, I must admit. But we spoke occasionally, and she was always full of smiles, even when things seemed hopeless. And she was really the only one who truly accepted Jaffar. Oh, the rest of the army tolerated him, but he was still Jaffar. One to be feared as well as respected. Even I felt uncomfortable around that one.'
I listened to his tale with wide, curious eyes and soaked in all the information I could. He stopped abruptly, then smiled again.
'Just like his bloody mother. Trying to learn everything. Alas, I'm afraid I must go Father Lucius. The Army will not wait for me.' He stood up, then grabbed a huge axe that had been leaning beside the door. He then moved out, his long stride taking him out quickly. A minute after he left, I remembered that I did not tell him my name. It just seemed suddenly so important that I tell him it. I excused myself from Father's presence, then ran after the stranger, reaching him just as he was mounting his horse.
'Wait sir!' I called out. He stopped, then looked at me. 'My name is Lugh.' I said breathlessly.
'Lugh, eh?' He smiled. 'Well met Lugh. I am Hector.'
I swear that my heart stopped beating for a few seconds. Then, belatedly, I bowed my head. 'I'm sorry my lord! I shou-'
'Bloody hell!' He swore. 'I get enough of that "My Lord" crap when I'm at home! Listen, this was a casual visit, and I don't like being groveled at anyhow. Just Hector will be fine.'
'Right then Hector! 'Til we meet again!' I grinned widely, feeling admiration for the Marquess welling up inside me. He nodded his approval, then rode off.
That was the last time I saw Lord Hector alive.
It had been a week since Lord Hector's appearance at the orphanage. All of us were at the garden, tending to the few plants that had managed to cling to life. The garden from my childhood, which was a lush jungle of leaves and vines, was now just a tangle of dried roots and browned leaves. I was thinking that we should just dig the struggling plants up and plant in some fresh seeds. Father seemed to think that the plants could pull through, but it did not seem likely. We scavenged through the dried bushes for anything left that was edible. So far, we had found a potato, three tomatoes, one of them just a little too ripe, and a disfigured parsnip.
There was a clanking sound in the distance, and I raised my head to see what is was. A small group of people was heading towards us.
'Father,' I stood up, looking at him. 'Was anyone visiting today?'
'Not that I was aware of.' He too stood up, and looked at the group approaching. As they got closer, I noticed the banner of the kingdom of Bern, the wyvern holding a wickedly barbed spear.
'Children,' Father said slowly. 'I want you to go inside.'
'But-'
'I said go!' He snapped. The little ones looked briefly at him, then turned and fled into the orphanage. 'That includes you two as well.' He turned and looked at me and Chad.
'Father, at least let me stand by you!' I looked at him with imploring eyes.
'Me too. We may not be able to do much, but we want to be here.' Chad also spoke.
There was a deafening silence, then he sighed,
'Fine.' He shook his head. We turned to see the group heading steadily towards us.
The leader was mounted on a horse: a large, angry grey stallion. He looked at us disdainfully as he passed, then rode directly towards the garden. Father, with speed that surprised me, suddenly rushed to block his path.
'Please, good sir.' He spoke to the leader. 'This garden is all we have left to feed us. Could you not find another path?'
The man snorted, glaring down his nose at Father. I saw Chad tense up, his fists curling into balls. 'You call this a garden? Barely more than a dirt patch if you ask me. Move aside!' When Father did not move, he glared angrily. 'Fine then...' His voice went deadly cold. 'Men! Dispose of him!'
I watched, frozen to the spot as the first of the men approached Father. He raised his lance, preparing to strike. Father murmured a few words, then stretched out his hand. There was a brief flash of light, and the man yelped as his spear burst into flames. The commander glared hatefully at Father, then unsheathed his sword. Father looked levelly at him, then raised his hand once again. As he started murmuring the words of his lightning spell, a man behind him thrust forward with his spear.
It was if time had stopped. As the same time, I yelled out a warning to Father, Father unleashed his spell and the soldier's spear punctured through Father's back. There was a spray of blood, and father gasped in surprise and pain. The soldier let go of his spear then backed away. The commander, who's face was now badly burned on one side, snorted again, then waved his men forward. They marched uncaringly through the garden we had worked so hard to keep alive these few weeks, and past Father, who was shuddering in large, gasping breaths. Chad and I moved quickly towards him, Chad took hold of his shoulders and I took a look at the spear. I winced; it looked as if it had punctured his lung.
'Lugh, Chad,' He hoarsely spoke to us, his voice rasping. He coughed suddenly, spraying blood on the ground.
'Don't speak Father!' I spoke, worry in my voice. 'You'll only hurt yourself more!'
'Take... care of them' He spoke, his voice little more than a whisper. He then clenched his teeth and eyes against the pain, and died. We crouched there, stunned and alone. Then, very slowly, I removed the spear from Father's back and let it fall from my hands.
His blood stained the tattered remains of the garden.
It wasn't much of a grave, but it was the best we could do. More of a mound really. We all stood and paid our respects. I was still in shock, not believing that the man who had looked after me for most of my life had suddenly died, and in so much pain as well. Many of the little ones didn't understand, and just stood by the grave uncomprehendingly.
This was no place for the little ones. Only more of Bern's troops would pass by, and they may decide to slaughter us all.
Bern. The simple thought of the nation set my blood boiling. This was all their fault. If they hadn't started their stupid war, then we would not be half staved and Father would still be alive. Rei would still be here, and Chad would not have had to resort to stealing. No. I must not think of what things might have been like. This was reality, and I must deal with it.
The next morning, I set out for the capital of Araphen. I will tell them of what happened, and they will hopefully do something. I know not what they will do, but I hope that they shall act soon. Chad and I may be able to survive, but the little ones... I sighed and continued down the path, hoping for things to miraculously get better.
(Sniff) Poor Lucius... I wish it didn't end like that, but alas, that's how the game goes. Hector's next... Damnit! Why does he have to die! And in the third chapter too!
Anyway... I'm not to happy with this chapter. Lugh seems a little too quiet. I know that this is sort of a sad, angsty chapter, but still... The chapter's done and I can't think of any other way to rewrite it. You'll just have to live with it.
Chapter 4: Toy Knights (Chad's POV)
R&R Please!