The Rant of the Chapter: If people reviewed more than once in this story, then I would have an incredibly large amount of reviews for thin fanfic. I mean it! This story has 14 reviews from 10 different people! (You're excused Sara Jaye, you've reviewed every chapter I've put up). I mean, could you at least post up a review with some constructive criticism or what you didn't like about the chapter or something! No flames though, they suck.
This chapter is a lot less depressing then the previous few. I'm hoping to drag it out of the sad and melancholy stage and into something a bit brighter.
Sara Jaye- You have a good point. Hector did have good life, and in the medieval days if you were over forty, you weren't doing too bad. But still... HECTOR! (Sob) Damnit, why do you have to die! Anyway... Thanks for sticking with the story. Since you're the only one who's reviewed for each chapter, YOU GET THE BIG BADGE OF FAITHFULNESS!
Lack Thereof- This has got to be the most unusual and amusing review I've gotten for this story. I'm glad you think that all the characters are, quote, "so freakin' in-character". I couldn't help but laugh at that... Thanks fo pointing out the mistake with Rei's chapter, I realise nowthat I did muck up with that. But I'm too lazy to change it now. So, I'll cover myself up by saying that he IS leaving for the little kids, but just hasn't realised it yet. Or that he is telling himself that he doesn't care about them when secretly, he does. There. Done. Fixed.
GunpowderWizard- Thanks for the support, and I'm hopping that we've gotten out of the depressing stuff. This chapter at least is a lot happier than the previous ones.
BOOM right back at ya.
Disclaimer- I do own Fire Emblem. Why? Because Julplath the magic talking Lamington told me so. But he lies often, so maybe I don't own it. I'll have to ask Yarmok the Dread Waffle of Doom, he'll tell me the truth.
The Saga of the Discarded
A Fire Emblem fanfic by Kiri-Ryu
Chapter Five: Traitors and Healers
Lugh
He rushed at me, axe held high over his head. I murmured the words of my spell and moved my arms and hands in the gestures required. There was a brief flash of light, and the bandit burned up in a pillar of flame. I turned around, looking to see if anyone else needed help, but the rest of the army was doing well. The group of bandits were decimated in a small amount of time. When we had killed all that had attacked us, Lance and Alan volunteered to scout and see if there were any more bandits. Roy gave his consent, and the two knights went off.
These bandit attacks were a regular occurrence. Because of the war, many people had to resort to robbery and crime to stay alive, as well as the regular bandits increasing their activity while the chaos of war was going on around them. They hindered our path and stole precious time that could have been spent traveling to Ostia, but it was good for us in a way. The attacks kept our senses and skills sharp, and it also helped to harden our emotions. I still did not like killing people, but I now knew that I had to. I felt regret, but I could ignore it until later.
'Lugh!' Roy's voice called me, distracting me from my thoughts. I wove quickly through the ranks, until I stood in front of our army's leader.
'Yes, Lord Roy?' I asked him, standing as straight as I could.
'I'd like to ask you a favour. I know that you're an excellent mage, and your work is greatly appreciated in the front lines. But I would like you to hang back and protect our merchant, Merlinus. With these bandit attacks become more common, I fear for his safety.' He looked into me with those blue eyes of his.
'Sure, I'll do it.' I was both glad and disappointed about my change of positions. I was glad for the reprieve, to where there was a chance where I did not have to char someone beyond recognition. But at the same time, I was not proving my worth to the group, just straggling beside the merchant, occasionally attacking enemies that got too close.
'That's good.' Roy smiled, nodding his approval. 'I'd introduce yourself to Merlinus now. I don't think you've properly met.' He turned, his attention drawn somewhere else. I stood still for a moment, before walking off to the merchant's wagon.
'What did Lord Roy want?' I turned to see Chad walking towards me. I waited patiently until he caught up.
'I'm to protect our merchant Merlinus.' I told him. 'It'll be good to get of the battlefield for a while. But I'll miss not being up there, helping out the others.'
'You've changed.' Chad noted. 'Then again, who doesn't when there's a war on? I think I might join you for a while. I'm not really of much use on the front line.'
I was glad for Chad's company. I think that if he wasn't in the army with me, I would not have been able to cope as well as I have. We moved through the ranks of the army until we reached the Merchant's wagon. It was simple, a bit tattered in places as if it had seen a lot of fights, as it most probably had. There was a man sitting at the front of the wagon. He was portly and balding with a large blue moustache. His appearance struck me as comical, and he certainly did not fit in with the battle-hardened warriors that comprised the rest of the army. I walked up calmly to him, a smile plastered on my face.
'Hey, are you Merlinus?' I asked him. The man turned to look at me... And his face went white.
'Oh no...' He said, eyes widening. 'The ghosts of the past have come to visit me!'
'Hm?' I was confused at his statement. 'I'm sorry, do you know me or something?'
'... No, I mistook you for someone else, someone I knew a long time ago...' His face regained some color. 'Still, you look... Never mind. So what do you want?'
'I'm Lugh, and I was told to guard the merchant.' I looked around at the back of the cart, looking at all the items that were stored there. 'Wow, there sure is a lot of stuff here...'
'Lugh... Lugh...' Merlinus mused, stroking his moustache. '... Didn't she have a son called Lugh? Oh no, it's the next generation! St. Emiline preserve me!'
At this point, Chad cracked up laughing. He had to lean on the side of the wagon to keep his balance. I looked at him, confused. I turned to Merlinus, then I too bust out in laughter. His face had gone white again, but it had also contorted into a weird shape, making his moustache stick out as if he had a blue porcupine on his face. He looked affronted at our merriment, but we couldn't have stopped if we tried.
Eventually, when our sides hurt from the laughter and we had settled ourselves down, we apologised to Merlinus. Still angry and shocked, the merchant sent us to the back of the wagon. We didn't complain, taking a seat at the back. We talked between ourselves, saying nothing in particular. It was as if the war wasn't happening, and we were just traveling with a group of friends. It would have been better if Rei had been with us, but it was no good pining after something you couldn't have.
I think it was at that time that I came to realise that this army was my new home. I had found a place to belong again.
We traveled without attack for three days, eventually arriving in Laus. The land was different to Araphen's. Araphen was a dry land, with greenery appearing only in spring; and summer too if we were lucky. Laus was lush and vibrant, the grass a deep shade of green and sparkling blue rivers flowing through the land. I felt at peace here, but I noticed that many people were tense. I ran up to Sir Marcus to ask why this was.
He swiveled around in his saddle to look at me, fixing his purple eyes on my aqua ones.
'Twenty ago, Laus turned traitor to the Alliance. That was when Lord Darin was Marquess. His son, Lord Erik, is no better and I suspect fowl play from him.' His armour clanked as he shifted his weight on his saddle.
'How could someone betray his own nation? Or, how could they side with Bern, who's armies slaughter innocents just for fun?' I asked the old paladin.
'Because power corrupts, Lugh. Bern has the most power, especially considering that her armies have taken over Ilia and Sacae. People such as Erik will either become afraid of that power, or they will want it for their own. People such as him have no sense of loyalty. I'd hate to say it, but perhaps it would have been better if Lord Eliwood had disposed of him when he had the chance...' He shook his head.
'Maybe...' I turned aside, looking forward. Suddenly there was a yell from up ahead. Sir Marcus quickly lifted his head, then spurred his horse forward. I waited for Merlinus's wagon, then I followed alongside it.
'What's happening?' Chad asked me.
'Don't know. I think that there's a fight up ahead.' I told him, before ducking into the back of the wagon. I grabbed my Fire spell book, then returned outside. I heard the sounds of battle ahead, and I resisted the urge to run ahead and join the fray. I had been assigned to protect our merchant, and that was what I was going to do. Chad stood beside me, his body tense and his dagger in his hand. Merlinus's wagon stopped, and we took opposite sides, myself on the left of the wagon and Chad on the right. We watched, and waited.
A mounted unit galloped towards us. I squinted my eyes, trying to see if it was one of our knights. Upon noticing the banner of Laus, I readied my fire spell. The familiar patterns of casting washed over me, and I began the incantations. There was a "fwoosh" sound, which was followed by both a yell and a whinny of pain. I felt sorry for the poor horse, it had done nothing wrong.
I looked around, trying to pick out the members of my army. From what I could see, we were out numbered, at least two-to-one. I knew that we could take it, but still...
'Hey, Lugh!' A voice called out. I turned to see Dieck, a sword-fighter belonging to our army. He was a tall man, criss-crossed with scars. His broadsword was in his hand, and he was running towards us.
'Dieck! What do you want!' I yelled over to him.
'There's been an injury! The healer requests some bandages and sheets!'
'All right! I'll go grab them and bring them over!' An injury? I wondered who was hurt. I moved to the back of the wagon and went to the item shelves, picking out some bandages, a few sheets and a vulnerary salve. These items in hand, I ran over to where Dieck was and let him lead me to where the injured person was.
A space in the field had been cleared out for the injured man, far away from the fighting. I recognised him as Lot, one of the axe-fighters that had been part of Dieck's mercenary company. He had a large gash across his chest, and his breathing was laboured. Crouching beside him was a priestess of Emiline. She was garbed in white, and her dress was cut to fit her shape. Her brown hair hung from under her habit, falling over her shoulders. He had a worried expression on her face, and she held a staff over Lot's body.
'Excuse me, sister.' I said, just loud enough to be heard. She jumped, then turned to face me. 'I got the bandages and sheets you asked for. I also got a vulnerary salve.'
'Oh, thank you.' She took the items from my hands, then proceeded to apply the salve to the gash on Lot's chest. It quickly scabbed over, then shrunk considerably. The priestess then touched the wound with her staff, and whispered a prayer to St Emiline. The wound shrunk even smaller, and Lot's breathing came easier. The priestess sighed in relief, then wrapped the bandages around the remains of the wound. With Dieck's and my assistance, we picked Lot up and placed him on the sheets.
'Once again, thank you.' The priestess turned to me, flicking a stray strand of hair from her face.
'It's okay.' I told her with a smile. 'Well then... I suppose I had better get going.' I picked up the remaining bandages then turned back to Merlinus's wagon.
'Wait!' She called out to me. I turned to face her again.
'Hm? Yes?' I looked at her quizzically.
'Are you an assistant to the merchant?' She asked me, clutching her staff close to her.
'Not all the time. I fight on the front line sometimes too.' I told her, smiling.
'What?' She sounded surprised. 'A child like you... In battle?'
'I may still be a kid, but I'm pretty good with my magic!' I said a little angrily. If people weren't judging me by my social status, they judged me by my age.
'No, I wasn't doubting your ability...' She downcast her eyes. 'It's just that... Children shouldn't be on the battlefield.'
'I'm only two years younger than Lord Roy 'though.'
'Lord Roy... Well, he has no choice. But that's not the case for you.' She looked up at me again.
'No, I'm no different. I have a reason to fight too.' Father, Rei, and the little ones. I fought for them, I had to. She, of course, did not know this, so my anger subdued a little.
'But...'
'Thanks for being concerned about me.' I smiled warmly at her, discarding my useless anger. It was better off directed at something else, not this priestess. 'But I'll be fine. Oh, I've left my post! I'm sorry, but I have to go. See you later sister!' I turned and ran towards Merlinus's wagon. I briefly wondered what the priestess's name was, but I set it to the back of my mind.
It was not important at the moment.
The battle went swiftly. Though we were outnumbered, and enemy reinforcements were called in, we had somehow managed to pull through and defeat them. Lord Erik had been killed, falling to the edge of Roy's blade. I saw regret in his eyes as he did it, but he knew it was necessary. From the stories of the nearby villages, Lord Erik was a cruel Marquess, raising his taxes up too high and generally maltreating the public. At least now, they were free of his tyranny. We were allowed to rest in Castle Laus for the night, and I was glad to have an actual bed to sleep upon.
I was lightly dozing when there was a rapping on my borrowed door.
'Who is it?' I asked, rubbing my eyes.
'Chad.' My friend's voice called out. The door swung open and he walked in. 'Got news for you.' He told me, leaning on a wall.
'Go on.' I sat up from my bed.
'We've got two new members to our Army. A mounted healer from Etruria called Clarine, and a swordsman form Sacae called Rutger.'
'That's good.' I sighed 'More members means a better chance of surviving.'
'We're going to be heading to Ostia using an old mountain pass. It's rarely traveled, so there's not much chance of attack. We'll be leaving early tomorrow morning.'
'Somehow, I don't think that it'll be that easy.' I sighed. 'It would be nice if it was, though.'
'Mm. Well, I'm going to head off. See you in the morrow Lugh.' He turned and started walking towards the door.
'Night Chad.' I responded, and I watched him leave. I sighed and laid back on my own bed, musing over the number of changes in my life. I briefly wondered what Rei was doing, but exhaustion fell upon me, dragging me down into the realms of sleep.
Lol, poor Merlinus. He can't get away, can he?
Also, is this the start of a romance between Lugh and Ellen? I'm not sure yet. I'm leaning that way, but if you guy's aren't too hot about it, I might let is go past. Comments and opinions are always welcome.
Chapter 6: Seeking Legends (Rei's POV)
R&R please!
(Oh, as a side note, can any of you guys think of a better description for the story? My current one kinda sucks.)