It's that time of the month again! This one is perhaps a little slower than last month's, but I do like the flashback section and the ending here, so I hope you do too. LOADS of stuff has happened since my last upload. I realised I'm not asexual (a little late to the party *cough*half a decade*wheeze*), dropped Latin as an A-level and finally got the ugly UCAS beast beaten (*confetti, party whistles etc.*) and beat the elite four, alongside other, more personal stuff. Anyway, enjoy the read and please review, thanks.

Chapter 3: Foreseer

Gerome could see the royal palace below as Minerva carried him over the city. He ordered her to set down at a clear space in the middle of the central road, which stretched from the main gate to the palace. A small crowd formed to watch the wyvern land, but most went about their business. Once he had dismounted, some people tried to ask questions about Minerva and wyverns in general, but he ignored them, much to their chagrin.

He sent Minerva away, allowing her time to hunt and sleep if she needed. Once the beast had flown away, he made his way along the corridor of shops and inns to the Azure Wyvern, the inn they had agreed to meet at. He entered the inn and ordered the cheapest drink he could see; they couldn't kick him out so long as he was drinking something.

Looking around, he could see that he was the first to arrive. He paid for the water and took it to a table close to the entrance. He sat, sipped his drink on occasion, and waited.

Cherche wrenched the axe from the skull of the latest dead member of the Grimleal. Looking around, she saw that only Risen remained, and more than she and the few soldiers left could handle without further backup.

'Minerva! Gerome, now!'

The wyvern turned and took flight to their home. The Ylissean soldiers looked in horror as their greatest asset abandoned them.

'What are you doing!?'

'Saving my son!'

'If that wyvern leaves, we're all dead!'

'We're dead anyway.' A tear streaked down her face at the memory of her husband's dying face mere hours ago.

'We need to hold them off until reinforcements arrive and that's not going to happen without that wyvern!'

'Reinforcements aren't coming. It's the same everywhere else reinforcements could come from. Our only hope is to retreat to Ylisstol and pray to the gods that it's still safe there.'

'We can't leave! You aren't the only family that lives here!'

'What did you think I was doing for an hour before joining the fight? Everyone here has spent the last hour packing their essentials and gathering at the town centre.'

The soldier grimaced as he stabbed the first of the wave of Risen. 'Bah! Fine! Everyone, retreat! To the town centre! We hold them off there and buy time for civilians to leave!'

He recognised the roar outside the house. He'd been told to stay inside until someone returned and Minerva definitely counted as someone. The ten-year-old boy ran to the front door and flung it open to the sight of the blue reptile keeping a watchful eye on the street.

'Minerva! Where are mum and dad?'

She let out a short cry and took off, grabbing the child in her talons, before flying straight to the town centre.

'Everyone who's ready, go! Go! We can't keep them occupied much longer!'

Several of the carts and horses began to leave, but some were still being loaded with belongings and people. A few of the women found their husbands among the soldiers and tried convincing them to go with them. Some of the injured and inexperienced listened, climbing into the carts or onto horses' backs.

'What are you all doing!? We-'

Cherche interrupted the commanding officer. 'Let them leave. With or without them, we are doomed. It's better for more to get away while it is still possible.'

A roar signalled Minerva's arrival, dropping Gerome next to his mother before landing by her. Cherche knelt down and held her son by the shoulders.

'Gerome, sweetie, you have to get on the Larsons' cart. You're getting out of here and going to Ylisstol, okay?'

'Where's dad?'

Cherche failed to hold back her tears and nearly set Gerome off as well.

'Mum…?'

'I'm sorry. I… I'm so sorry.' She embraced her child, sobbing into his shoulder. 'You've got to go. I promise I'll see you soon.'

'Mum…I…'

Mrs Larson came over from her cart.

'Go with Mrs Larson, Gerome.' She scooped the boy into her arms and handed him to the larger woman, who carried him to the cart and sat him in the back next to her own children before climbing in afterwards.

'Let's go, Jerry!'

Mr Larson in the front started the horses on their journey to Ylisstol, but as they began to pick up speed, Gerome got up from his seat and jumped out of the back. Mrs Larson started telling her husband to stop, but the smell of oncoming Risen had frightened the horses beyond turning back, so there was no choice but to abandon the little boy as he ran back to his mother.

The town centre was overrun. Barely any soldiers remained, fighting unknowable hordes of Risen. Minerva was spreading flames and clawing at the enemy, but she had already acquired various axe and lance wounds around her legs. The last few defenders retreated into the alleyway the carts had left by. Now only Minerva, Cherche and one soldier remained.

'Mum!'

Cherche turned in horror at her child.

'Gerome, what are you doing?!' She turned back in time to behead a Risen and see the last soldier die as the black fog cleared. 'Run!'

She sprinted over to Gerome and picked him up as she passed.

'Minerva!'

The wyvern roasted the nearest Risen before landing. Cherche hoisted Gerome onto Minerva's back as she ejected fire again. A Risen mage sent its own fire in retaliation, exploding in the wyvern's face. She roared and turned away from the blast.

As she did, the sound of steel slicing flesh hit her and Gerome's ears.

'Mum!'

Cherche looked down at the lance through her stomach, blood spurting profusely from it. She looked up again, crying.

'I love you. Remember that.'

Minerva screeched in pain as Gerome ran again to his mother. The next jet of fire burned for much longer than normal. Minerva then swiped her tail at the Risen, slamming several into a burning building. She hopped up and began flapping her wings. Collecting each person in one clawed foot, she breathed fire again and left in the same direction as the carts had.

'Mum!' Gerome barely managed to get the word out through his tears. In her haste, Minerva had given Gerome a light cut across the stomach, but he didn't care. For the entire journey, he could only look at his bleeding mother lying limp in Minerva's other foot. He didn't see the burning wreckage of the entire village's convoy, beset by as many Risen as the town itself.

Minerva's wounds forced her to land in the forest between Southtown and Ylisstol. After setting her mistress and Gerome down, she landed and limped across to the pair. Gerome was crying into his mother's chest, desperately listening for a heartbeat. Minerva nudged the woman's corpse and let out a pained cry, as desperate as the little boy to see her return to life.

After one more cry, this time in mourning, she lay down, her injured legs no longer able to support her, covering the bleeding mother and weeping son with a large, warm wing.

Lucina and Laurent ran the last few feet to the inn. They had seen Cynthia, Owain and Brady land, Brady naturally complaining about how bad pegasus rides were for his back, and were trying to intercept them before they entered the Azure Wyvern.

'Cynthia!'

The younger princess turned and let the half-open door swing shut.

'Lucy!' she shouted as she hugged her sister.

'Hey, Luce, L…' Owain had been about to go on a spiel concerning the lack of heroes' ability to die, but Laurent's new age surprised him. 'Gods, you're old!'

'Unfortunately, my premature exit from our temporal position had unintended repercussions: namely, my materialisation three years previous to the majority of you.'

'Damn, Laurie. I hope you been doin' somethin' useful for three years.' Brady frowned at the mage.

Laurent ignored the sudden new nickname. 'Naturally, I made progressions in my magical abilities.'

The door to the inn opened and Gerome appeared in the doorway. 'I see you've arrived. I'd expected at least someone to already be here.'

'Gerome!' Lucina hugged her friend, much to his surprise, but she soon released him. 'Sorry, but it's good to see you.'

'Where's that bloody monster o' yours?'

'Minerva is hunting, Brady. It's well known they target the weakest of their prey, so you may wish to get inside before she spots you.'

'Probably wouldn't be the worst o' me problems.' he grumbled as he hobbled inside.

The others followed and recounted their stories, Owain naturally making the most absorbing storyteller.

'And yet they fought on, taking revenge for their brave comrade into their own hands. Had my sword hand not craved their blood, they may almost have been a match for us. Alas, they lasted not five minutes and we departed the forest grounds. Upon our emergence from the trees, we found ourselves in a quaint little village. It soon became apparent that our battle was one that had turned the tide of an on-going torment of the village people at the hands of a mysterious bandit named Chrom.

'It turned out this imposter had taken the name of my uncle in order to force people to perform his bidding and we had killed the self-same man not half an hour before. We were heralded as heroes of the town and a feast was held in our honour.'

'By which 'e means they gave us a free meal an' bed for the night. Not that I'm complainin', but 'e tends to overinflate this stuff.'

'Not complaining? That's a first.' Gerome commented snidely.

'Let Owain finish, Brady. I like the way he tells it.' Cynthia requested.

'My thanks, cousin. Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes. After waking the morning after our feast, we asked the date and location and immediately made our way here. Cynthia's pegasus made a valiant effort in transporting us, flying for not one, not two, but three days straight.'

'Okay, now 'e's jus' makin' it up. It took one day to reach Plegia – not the nicest welcome there, I might add – and another 'alf day to here.'

'If you'd be so kind as to let me finish… well… I guess I'm finished.'

'Plegia? Where did you start off?' Lucina asked. She had taken her mask off, deciding it was too uncomfortable after walking for five hours in it.

'It was a little island off the south coast of Chon'sin.' Cynthia replied.

'Wow. I didn't think the Failsafe would throw us that far apart.'

'I landed in Wyvern Valley.'

'Wow. I bet that took a long time to get back.'

'It would have, if Minerva had let me set her free. She refused and flew back as I tried to leave.' He sounded annoyed at his mount, but his smile betrayed his true feelings.

'Aww, she loves you.' Lucina pointed an accusing finger at Gerome. 'And you love her too; don't pretend otherwise.'

Gerome grumbled as he took another sip of water.

'Heh. Gerome's got a girlfriend, 'as 'e?'

'Better than you've ever managed.'

'You sure that's better, buddy?'

Gerome glared at Brady, but before he could retaliate, the door swung open again.

'Alright, Noire? We're here now and it's barely past midday. I told you we didn't need to come so damn early.'

'Yes, but it's nice to have your company all the same, Severa.' Lucina piped up from her seat.

Severa whirled on the spot, homing in on Lucina's voice. 'Hey, Noire! The guys are here already!'

The archer walked through the door, feebly twisting her spare bowstring around her fingers. 'H-hi.' she whispered with a small smile.

Owain grabbed Brady's staff and used it to hook around a nearby table's leg and bring it closer to the current table.

'Hey, get off yer butt instead o' using me staff like some common hook!' Brady complained, taking it back.

The two girls brought some chairs over and joined the others.

'Anyone had enough of this place already as well?' Severa sneered.

'Most of us only just got here.'

'Well whoopee for you. We've been stuck here for months. We got the cheapest room at any inn we could find and still used up all our money in three days.'

'Gods, how have you been surviving?'

'We've been hunting deer just outside town for food and mainly sleeping near some bakery. The ovens kept it warmer than most other places.'

'Gods, I'm so sorry. I thought that money would last each of us for weeks at least.'

''Splains why ya smell like mouldy bread.'

'We never fully understood the concept of money in our time, so it was natural for monetary obstacles to present themselves.' Laurent said, ignoring Brady's comment.

Severa was not so lenient towards the priest, giving him a sharp smack on the head.

Lucina fished several small bags out of her pockets, each filled with gold coins. 'Here. Turns out the West Khan pays his champions well, even if they lose. I'd say we all need to freshen up a little.' She started dividing the money into equal shares, being mindful to include the four absentees. 'Meet back here in three hours?'

Four hours later, the same eight people were sat at the same tables, now plentifully refreshed and with satisfied stomachs. There was still no sign of the other four, though, and Lucina was beginning to worry once the sun began to set.

'We're losing time. We know the attempt begins as soon as the sun goes past the horizon.'

'Well, there are still eight of us. That's more than enough to hold off a few Plegians, even without your dad's help.' Severa allayed the princess' fears.

'We should move now to ensure our arrival is not too late.' Gerome spoke solemnly, but in a commanding tone.

Lucina clearly regretted the others' absence, but agreed. 'Fine. Come on, people.'

'Dammit, Inigo, your prancing about has already made us late. The sun's almost down.'

Inigo ran to catch up to Kjelle, heavily out of breath.

'It's your fault for jabbing my stomach every five minutes.'

'Damn. You didn't even try to turn that into some speech about your endless love for me; the message must be getting through to you.'

The two teenagers were almost at the cleft in the palace gardens' wall Lucina had told them about. They searched the brush around the location and found the spot hidden at the back of an overgrown rose bush.

'Aha! Over here, Inigo!' Kjelle shouted the man over as she pushed her way through and into the gardens, emerging from a maple grove on the other side.

'Seriously, why'd it have to be roses? Couldn't it be a less thorny plant?'

'Quit whining and push your way through.'

'Oh, it's all well and good for you, with your full metal armour. I'm in leather!'

'Use your damn shield, pipsqueak. Come on!'

'Fine.' He started pushing through as a thorn scratched him across the cheek. 'Ah! Ooh! I should pick a bouquet. That ought to get me somewhere.'

'You realise I can hear you, don't you?'

Kjelle impatiently grabbed his arm and pulled him past the roses. His already partially outstretched hand got some more scratches as he suddenly accelerated into the gardens.

'Ow!'

Kjelle was already moving in the direction of the courtyard the assassination would begin from.

'I trust this proof will suffice.' she heard in the distance.

'That's Lucina! Come on, whiney!'

'Well spoken, sir.'

Lucina had overheard Chrom's small speech about Emmeryn's kind-hearted nature and his feelings toward Gangrel and now she moved onto the scene.

'Marth…' Chrom said as he and his tactician turned towards her.

'Good evening to you.'

'How did you get in here?'

'The cleft in the castle wall, behind the maple grove.'

'There? But how would you…? Ugh.'

'You know the place, Chrom?' Robin interrupted.

'Yes. I bashed in part of the wall while training the Shepherds. It's only a small hole, and I'd thought I well concealed, but…'

Lucina almost gave in to a cheeky smile. 'Your secret is safe with me. I come here only to warn you.'

'Warn us?'

'The Exalt's life is in danger.'

Chrom was noticeably disturbed both by the message and the carrier's seemingly expert knowledge. 'What, Emmeryn? That's absurd. She's guarded at all hours.'

'So you've been told about my own friends' entrance to the castle?'

'What?'

'There are many ways to break into this palace, sir. Rest assured, my friends and I aim only to protect your sister's life.'

'This is preposterous! There's no way anyone could get in here without the guards being alerted.'

'Yes, I expected your reaction to be along those lines. So allow me to prove my good intentions.'

Lucina drew her blade, enticing Chrom to place a hand on his own.

'I'm about to save your life.' She turned slightly to the bushes behind her. 'From him.'

The assassin, knowing he had been discovered, decided to make a mad dash to perform his duty, bursting from the bushes. Lucina reacted with pinpoint timing and precision, turning perfectly on the spot to sweep a foot under the assassin's legs, tripping him up. She sliced her own blade down, slitting the brigand's throat.

'I trust this proof will suffice?'

Chrom looked in confusion at the dead assassin on the floor before him. '…Yeah.' he nodded.

A shout emerged from the nearby tree as a second man leapt from its branches, aiming to bring his sword to Lucina's head. She turned in surprise; she hadn't expected a second assassin. Bringing her own sword up to meet the attacker's, she was unbalanced and tripped over the sword of the first.

Falling to the ground, she could put up no defence as the sword tip slashed down her mask, gouging a small mark in her nose and releasing her long blue hair as the two metal plates hit the earth

An armoured knight sped into sight from around the building's corner, lance at the ready. Before Chrom could perform his own attack, she charged straight into the assassin, skewering him into the tree's trunk.

'Nice try, punk.'

Chrom and Robin both drew their swords and pointed them at the knight, Robin also summoning a fireball in his hand.

'Hold. She is a friend.' Lucina, now steady on her feet, ran to Kjelle, beaming. 'Kjelle! I didn't think you would make it!'

The friends embraced, Kjelle strongly patting Lucina's back. 'Come on, Luce; you should know they wouldn't be able to keep me away. Inigo's around somewhere. Wouldn't be surprised if he'd started chatting up a statue by now.'

Robin made a few confused hand gestures. 'Whoa. So many questions. You're a woman?'

'Yes, and quite the actress, too. Honestly I'm surprised you two didn't figure it out until just now.'

Lissa ran out of the building to her brother's side. 'I heard yelling. Is everything okay?'

'Yeah. Marth… saved us.'

Lissa's eyes found their way to the dead assassin. 'Ahh! Who the heck are they?! Are they…?'

'Assassin's intent on taking your brother's life. Don't worry, they didn't do any damage thanks to me and-'

Lucina covered Kjelle's mouth with her free hand, much to her confused displeasure. 'Marth.'

'Why?' Kjelle asked once she was allowed to speak again.

'Just in case, you know?'

'I did use your actual nickname two seconds ago.'

'Did you?' Chrom asked, thinking back.

'Oh, whatever.' Kjelle waved a hand dismissively.

Owain now emerged through the same exit as Lissa.

'Oh, hey, Kjelle. We're ready. Just thought you'd like to know.'

'How come you get a fake name and we don't?'

Owain suddenly changed his tune. 'Yeah, why is that? I want a cool name too.'

'Who the heck are you?!' Chrom yelled, gesturing at Owain.

'Another friend.' Lucina clarified as Inigo came round the corner, holding ten to fifteen roses in his hand.

'Ah, my dear Kjelle. I took the liberty of picking these roses for a woman just as bittersweet.'

Lissa giggled lightly. 'Awww, that's sweet and funny.'

'Meanwhile, we were sorting out the real issue of Emmeryn's assassination.'

'About that…' Robin began.

Inigo had turned his attentions to Lissa. 'Than perhaps you might like this bouquet for yourself?' he said, handing the flowers to the blushing maiden.

'Dude! Not cool.' Owain called from the doorway, Kjelle and Lucina both hitting Inigo on the back of the head.

'Sorry. Force of habit.'

'At least you've gone off me. I had to put up with him for days.'

'About the assassination attempt, people!' Robin shouted.

As if waiting for the exact timing, an explosion went off at the moment Robin finished talking. Everyone looked to the apparent source at the other side of the castle grounds and ran into the building.

Noire was the first out of the tunnel. She hurried across the few metres to Emmeryn's bedchamber door and knocked on it as the others piled into the room.

Emmeryn opened the door, her expression confused, but serene as ever.

'E-exalt Emmeryn?' Noire said sheepishly.

Having been raised by two Plegian dark mages, Noire's heavy Plegian accent also found its way to Emmeryn's ears. 'Plegian? I didn't expect Gangrel to resort to an assassination attempt.'

'Y-you already know?'

'Is that not why you are here?'

'No no no no no! We're here, uh… we…' She panicked as she searched for her talisman before remembering it was still in Lucina's possession. 'I didn't ask for my talisman back!'

Gerome took over the conversation. 'My apologies, Exalt. We did not mean to alarm you. We are here in order to protect you from an assassination attempt that we believe is going to be executed tonight.'

'I'm going to tell Lucina and Chrom we're ready now.' Owain said as he began to run to the courtyard.

'Ah, you're with Chrom?'

'He does not know us, but we intend to work with him.'

'I believe you. What do you need of me?'

'You are so fast to place your trust in us?'

'If you were the assassins, I would already be dead, would I not?'

'That is true enough. Please, stay in your room. It is much easier for us to guard this room than risk having you move through the open.'

'I am learned with a staff. If any of you require healing, I would be more than happy-'

Brady held up his own staff. 'Don't you worry yer royal noggin 'bout that. I can take care of 'em.'

An explosion reverberated through the building, followed by the screams of injured soldiers.

'Stay in your room; we will protect you.' Gerome turned to the remaining children and a few soldiers who had made a beeline to defend Emmeryn's room. 'Severa, Noire: take the left route. Cynthia, Laurent: you are on the right. I will take centre aisle with Brady.' He looked at the priest. 'You should have the largest healing coverage there.'

The palace soldiers had begun surrounding the group before Emmeryn gave her blessing 'They are not your enemies. Work with them to defend this castle.'

Chrom returned with the others from the courtyard in tow. 'Sister! Pray, stay in your room. We will fight the assassins off.'

'Chrom, please do not risk your life unnecessarily. My life is not worth so many of yours.'

'Do not worry, Emmeryn; we will be fine.'

Gerome noted the new arrivals and took charge of their positions as Chrom ordered the royal guards into place. 'Inigo, help Cynthia and Laurent. Owain, to Severa and Noire. Marth and Kjelle come here.'

Lucina could see the guards already having trouble against the numerous cavalrymen and charged straight into the thick of battle to their aid, Kjelle right behind her.

There you have it. I hope you enjoyed the read and please let me know what you thought. If you don't mind, I'm going to shamelessly advertise my friend's awesomeness now. She does some really awesome fandom-related stuff on Etsy (unfortunately none for Fire Emblem), mainly jewellery of some form, and better yet, is willing to take certain requests as to what she makes. If you fancy a look-see, search 'Myseybeads' on Etsy.

I left ALL my story notes on a train a few days ago (DISASTER), but they're sending it all back in a few days' time, so productivity shouldn't take too bad a hit. See you all in December.

Have a nice day,

TRN