The Legion was only a day's ride from Egalar's Estate, to Castle Caelin. The General had insisted that the Legion spend the evening in his home, before they marched upon the castle the next day. Jace was finalizing plans for the assault on the castle with Kent, Lyn, and the two Generals.
"The northwest approach seems to be our best option." General Egalar said. "That's where Lundgren's forces are the thinnest."
"There's still bound to be heavy resistance." Kent said, his arms were crossed, and his fingers were drumming along his armored forearms. "Fighting Caelin soldiers… This is just wrong."
"I agree with you Kent." Jace said frowning.
"Perhaps they can be made see reason." Lyn said, and Jace knew she meant how Generals Wallace and Egalar had seen reason.
"We can only hope." Jace said sighing, and running a hand through his hair. "I would hate for all this to end in disaster when we are so close. Especially after all we have gone through to get to this point."
Lyn's hand found its way into his. Her fingers lightly contracted in reassurance around his own. "We will all get through this Jace." The swordswoman said this as an order, and in reassurance.
The dream came to him once more as Jace slept that night. Jace and that strong blue haired youth were once again in combat with that powerful dark mage. Spells flew from the mage's fingertips, exploding in midair when they collided with Jace's counterspells. Flux orbs shot rapid fire from Jace's outstretched hand, forcing the mage back into some sort of dark barrier. He was backed into a corner, an opportunity that the powerful blue haired man did not pass on. His powerful blade arced through the air, going in for the kill, yet was blocked by a defensive ward spell cast by the mage. The mage then blasted the powerful young man back with a blast of dark magic. He was sent flying past Jace, and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor a few feet from the tactician.
"Chrom!" Jace heard himself shout in worry.
"Look out!" The man named Chrom yelled, and pointed towards the powerful dark mage. Jace barely got out of the way of the mage's spell.
"Thoron!" Jace shouted, and his entire left arm crackled with magical energy. He pointed his index and middle fingers at the dark mage, and a small bright orb formed at the tips of the tacticians fingers a moment before a large spear-shaped lightning bolt shot from the orb. The bolt shot through the air, clearing the distance between Jace and the dark mage in the blink of an eye. It hit the mage in the lower abdomen, and pinned him to the powerful magical barrier which crackled violently when Jace's spell collided with it. This was it, this was the opening he had needed. Jace took that beautifully made sword in both hands, and ended the mage with a deep slash across his chest.
Things then shifted once again. He was upon that high point in the evening sky, locked in combat with that hooded figure. Their blades flashed and each time they met, rung in Jace's ears. The tactician lept back, but the hooded figure extended his arm to press the attack. Magical energy swirled about the figure, then horrible black spines longer than a Ballista bolt erupted from whatever surface they were on, and headed at breakneck speeds towards him.
"Bolganone!" Jace cried out in desperation. Several magical seals formed along whatever surface they were on, a moment later molten lava erupted from the seals, breaking all of those horrid black spines. The figure roared in frustration, and attempted that spell again. This time Jace was ready.
"Forblaze!" Jace roared, and his entire body was engulfed in magical energy. He extended both arms, directing the flow of energy at his foe. The lava from his previous Bolganone spell, that had cooled already was ignited and white hot once more. It was then a massive ball of flame fell upon the hooded figure, the lava from Jace's Bolganone spell shot at the figure, and adhered to the figure who was now shrieking in agony.
The flames cooled, and Jace could not believe what he had done. That was an immensely powerful spell that he had just performed. The figure had dropped to one knee, their face still hidden. Smoke was rising from this figure, and what skin he could see was blackened and horribly burned.
"This is it Jace." He heard Chrom say, as the blue haired man stepped up to his right. "I'm going to end this."
The tactician looked at Chrom, then to Lyn who had stepped up to Jace's left. In her hands were the Mani Katti, and the blade's twin. He then saw the bright red hair of Eliwood. The Phearan noble had that powerful broadsword in his hands, then the other blue haired young man with that over large battle axe. Jace looked at all of them in turn, once again feeling as if this would be the last time he would see any of them.
"No Chrom." He said. "I'm going to end this." Before Chrom or the others could object, Jace started forwards towards the hooded figure. They were still smoking from the powerful Forblaze spell, as they stood and drew the same beautifully made blade Jace had. As before when Jace had this dream, a hot rush of anger surge through him, as though this figure had no right to hold that beautiful weapon in their hands. The figure swung down, at the same moment Jace swung his blade up. The figure's blade arced through the air, and the hooded person followed the weapon's arc. Jace plunged his own blade through the figure's heart, and with a horrible screech, the figure vanished.
"It's over…" Jace said smiling in relief, dropping his own blade and dropping to one knee as he began to fade. "Everyone's safe…."
"Jace!" Lyn's pained voice had reached his ears. Although fading, Jace felt Lyn wrap her arms around his shoulders. He knew from her tone of voice she was crying. "You didn't have to do that…"
Jace turned his head, smiling softly the tactician raised a flickering hand. With a tremendous amount of effort on his part, Jace was able to wipe away the swordswoman's tears. "Please Lyn, don't cry. You're too beautiful for tears…"
And with that, Jace faded from Lyn's arms, from the world, and faded from all existence.
Jace's eyes snapped open. He sat upright in the bed he had taken in General Egalar's Estate. This time, his dream had been so vivid. "Naga's grace…" Jace whispered, breathing heavily to calm himself. "Calm down Jace. It was just a dream…"
At that point, the door to the small room knocked. Seconds later, Lyn entered. "Jace you sluggabed wake-" The swordswoman's voice was lost in her throat, when she saw the tactician. She rushed over to his side, worry in her eyes and voice. "Jace what's happened!? Did you have that dream again?"
Jace nodded once, and took a deep calming breath. "It was so much clearer than last time."
Lyn gently but firmly gripped Jace's upper arms. "Listen to me Jace, this dream of yours is just that. I will not allow you to fade. Jace you are far too important to me." Lyn's face was less than inch from the tacticians. Her green eyes shining with protective intensity as she stared into Jace's deep crimson eyes.
An hour later, the Legion was in full march accompanied by General Elgar and his men. They were heading straight for Castle Caelin. Jace and Lyn rode at the front of the formation, next to them on either side were Kent and Sain, and on either side of them were Generals Egalar and Wallace. The large castle had just come into view, when their formation came to a stop.
In front of them, were dozens of soldiers all armed to the teeth with the crest of Caelin on the front of their chestplates. One of the soldiers who had barred the Legion's path stepped forwards. He held a broadsword in one hand and a shield in the other. "Generals Wallace and Egalar, I beg you to surrender. Our forces far outnumber your own, and I do not wish to come to blows with you." Jace noticed the man's sword arm shake, as he addressed the two men.
Wallace laughed, an entirely mirthless laugh. "I would love to see you try that Captain."
The Captain spoke once more, a slight waver in his voice this time. "I'm under orders from Lundgren to kill anyone aligned with the pretender to the Caelin throne."
Wallace gave a bark of laughter. "Hah! Pretender? Take a good look at this so-called 'pretender' Captain."
The man stared at Lyndis for the longest time. Jace saw the wheels turning in the man's head, and the tactician knew the Caelin Captain had just made the connection when the man's eyes widened. "In the name of Elmine… Lundgren you lying bastard!"
"Knew we'd get there in the end." Egalar said crossing his arms.
"Men, weapons down." The Captain ordered, and as one every man under this man's command lowered their weapons. "Our enemy are not the one's in front of us. No our enemy is back at the Castle! Men about face!"
Jace and Lyn shared a smile. Lyn's hope that the soldiers guarding the castle would see reason had proved true. They were now being taken to the castle by a large honour guard, who stopped at the gates when one last obstacle barred them from Lord Hausen.
Lundgren was standing at the castle gates. He had a set of plate armor as thick and heavy as Wallace's. A lance as thick as a small oak tree was held in his armored right hand, and there was a look of pure ice cold venom on his aged face. "Traitors all of you." He spat. "But you're too late. In a few moments, my damned brother will be dead, and I will be Marquess."
"Not if I have any say in this manner." Jace snarled. He had dismounted Brego, and drew his blade. He had no idea what had possessed him to do this. Lundgren gave a roaring laugh as he thrust his lance towards the tactician. Jace jumped to the side, as he brought his blade up to attempt to parry the thick weapon. Jace's eyes widened in horrified shock, when his blade shattered into dozens of tiny pieces.
Thinking fast, not wanting to be impaled on that wicked spear of Lundgren's, Jace threw what remained of his blade at Lundgren with all his might. It lodged into the small space of Lundgren's giant shoulder pauldron. The man roared in pain, and dropped his lance to attempt to remove what was left of Jace's weapon. The tactician then began to gather massive amounts of energy in his hands. He needed a spell powerful enough to penetrate Lundgren's armor, and he had seen just the one in his dream the evening previous.
"Jace what in all seven circles of hell are you doing!?" Cyrus demanded, fear etched onto his face.
"Ending this brother." Jace snarled through his concentration. His left arm began to crackle with magical energy the same way it had in his dream.
"You aren't ready to use that spell!" Cyrus said running up to his younger brother. "Remember what mother said!? If you use a spell before you are ready, it could kill you!"
"This won't kill me, but recovery is going to be a son of a bitch." Jace growled, as he pointed his two fingers of his left hand at Lundgren, who was still attempting to take Jace's blade out of his shoulder pauldron.
"Thoron!" Jace yelled, and the spell worked the same way it had in his dream. His left arm crackled with magical energy, a small orb formed at Jace's two extended fingertips lingering only momentarily before the spear shaped lightning bolt shot from the orb. The bolt shot through the air, hit Lundgren in the chest squarely in the chest. It pierced the thick armor as easily as a hot knife through butter, the force of the spell was so powerful it lifted Lundgren off of his feet, and the man landed in a crumpled heap. A neat hole a foot wide in his chest and back.
"And there I go." Jace said in an exhausted joking tone. Feeling completely drained, and knowing it was going to happen a split second before it did, Jace collapsed to the ground. Or rather he would have if Lyn had not caught him in her arms.
The tactician's eyes opened to an area that was not familiar to him. He very slowly sat up in what was a very comfortable bed. Jace sighed, and ran a hand through his dark blond hair. "Well now I know I can do that." He said in a laughing voice.
Something then caught his attention. A mass of green hair now resting upon his lap. Lyn was kneeling by his bedside fast asleep. Jace smiled softly, and ran a hand through her hair surprised at how soft her hair was. This action made the swordswoman stir, and a moment later she smiled up at him.
"About time you woke up you sluggabed." She said, getting to her feet and throwing her arms around him.
"Lyn… I'm finding it very difficult to breathe…" Jace said gasping for air from the force of Lyn's embrace.
"I'm sorry." She loosened her grip, yet continued to hold onto the tactician. "Between my grandfather, and you I was so worried."
"Oh, Lord Hausen! Were we able to save him?"
Lyn nodded. "Yes, thanks to Sera grandfather is well on his way to recovery."
"Thank Naga." Jace sighed in relief.
"He'd like to see you once you are able to walk." Lyn replied, to which with some difficulty, as Lyn still had her arms around him. Jace swung his legs off the bed he had been placed in, and rose to his feet.
Grabbing his coat from where it had been neatly folded at the foot of his bed, and followed Lyn to Castle Caelin's throne room. Lord Hausen upon the modest throne propped up by pillows. He was flanked at either side by Kent, Sain, Wallace, and Egalar. There were a line of soldiers all standing at even spaces leading up to the throne. Upon their arrival, they all stood at attention.
Jace bowed when reaching the throne, Lyn at his side. "Lord Hausen, it pleases me to find you well."
Lord Hausen smiled in a fatherly fashion. "I have you to thank for that. And for safely bringing my granddaughter here. I have very little to offer at the moment, as Lundgren was a tad greedy with Caelin's finances. Yet I believe I know a small way to repay you, although I doubt it will ever be enough. Please Jace, kneel."
Jace obeyed, dropping to one knee, and bowing his head as Lord Hausen rose from his throne. He was supported by Lyn, as he approached the kneeling tactician. Jace felt the tip of a small blade tap his left shoulder, then his left. "Upon my authority as Marquess of the territory of Caelin, you are now Sir Jace Ebonhart."
Jace rose and bowed to Lord Hausen once more. "Thank you My Lord."
"There is one more thing Sir Ebonhart." Lord Hausen said, as he sat upon his throne once more.
"Please Lord Hausen, you can simply address me as Jace." The tactician said, feeling a small wave of embarrassment wash over him.
"Very well Sir Jace." Lord Hausen said with a small wink, smiling at Jace's expression. Jace had not expected the Marquess to make that joke. "Lyn told me as you fought my brother, your sword was destroyed."
"It was indeed Lord Hausen, but it had an honourable final act in helping me end Lundgren." Jace replied.
"As I've heard." Lord Hausen replied. "If it pleases you, I would like to offer you a replacement from the Caelin armory."
"Grandfather." Lyn spoke up. "If I may, I can help with that."
Lord Hausen looked to his granddaughter, confusion etched on his face, before Lyn continued. "I brought my father's blade from my home in Sace. I was planning on using it as a spare weapon before I was chosen by the Mani Katti." Lyn then turned to Jace. "I'd like you to have it."
"Lyn I couldn't possibly-" Jace began before Lyn cut him off.
"I won't take 'no' for an answer Jace." Lyn smiled, before turning to Sain. "Do you have it?"
The green armored knight nodded smiling, and handed Lyn a blade in its scabbard. The swordswoman then strode over to her tactician and dearest friend, and placed the blade in his hands. Jace gasped in shock when he drew it from its scabbard. The Sacean blade was the very same beautifully made blade from his dreams.
"Lyn… Thank you." The tactician said breathlessly.
The sun was setting over the large mountains that lightly surrounded Castle Caelin. Jace stood atop one of the many guard towers of the castle, a light breeze ruffling his hair. Lyn stood next to him, her left hand in his right. It was no longer a gesture of reassurance, but one of affection.
"I suppose you'll be going to Bern." Lyn said, her tone saddened, and she couldn't bare to look at her dearest friend, the man whom over this journey she had fallen in love with.
Jace's fingers contracted around Lyn's, and he turned to face the swordswomen. "I've given thought to that Lyn. I've decided not to go. If … If you'll accept it, I would like to stay with you."
Lyn turned to face him, shock evident on her face. "Jace I don't know what to say. I would love that, but I don't plan on staying in Lycia."
"I never said anything about staying in Lycia." Jace replied. He was fighting to say something, and Lyn believed she knew what it was.
"Jace what are you saying exactly?" She asked. Although she had her high suspicians.
This was it. He may never get another opportunity. Jace looked the swordswoman in the eye. His deep crimson eyes gazing into Lyn's bright green ones. "I love you Lyndis."
She knew it, had known it since that night in Araphen. She knew he was going to confess before they marched upon General Egalar's estate. Yet she loved him as well, had fallen for him in Araphen, when they had spent the night together. Lyn threw her arms around her closest friend, her tactician, and her love. She pressed her lips to Jace's, and kissed him full on the mouth. "I love you too Jace."
Together, and in one another's embrace, the tactician and the swordswoman watched as the last of the sun's rays slipped over the top of the mountains.