No Longer Alone


Any lags in update times will be blamed on Etrian Odyssey, which is the DS game of the half-year, and a pretty good contender for DS GOTY, too.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Ephraim stared at Franz with the sort of unreadable expression that made you want to curl up into a tiny little ball and roll away. This stare continued for several very long seconds, stretching into several very long minutes.

Apparently Ephraim was well aware of the disconcerting effect his gaze had on his subordinates, for he trained it upon Franz for a very long period of time. However, despite the discomfort the young knight was feeling, a sense of duty to his prevented him from backing down or lowering his gaze.

After stretching the tension-filled silence for just a bit longer , Franz sighed.

"Sire?"

Ephraim broke off the stare and wheeled around to look back over the camp. "Franz," he began in a conversational tone. "Remember how, back when our company was returning from Renvall, I said something to the effect of how I wouldn't be surprised if you started trying to recruit enemy soldiers to our side?"

"…Yes, sir."

"I lied." Ephraim said briefly. Sighing, he turned back to face Franz. "You expect me to accept a deserter from the Grado Imperial Army, who could be, for all I know, a spy or assassin, let her fight alongside us, place the same trust in her as I would one of our trained soldiers, and all of this based entirely on your word that she is to be trusted?"

Franz kept his steady countenance. "Yes, sir. I do."

Ephraim's eyes narrowed. "She's betrayed one army already. What makes her any less likely to betray another one?"

Franz heard the sharp intake of air from behind him; almost by instinct he half-turned to regard Amelia, who had cringed at Ephraim's caustic remark.

Suppressing the urge to sigh, he turned back to face Ephraim. "Milord, please…"

Ephraim glanced at Amelia, realizing perhaps for the first time how hurtful his remark must have sounded. He sighed again and shook his head. "Franz, come with me. We'll talk in private."

He turned and took two steps away before halting. Then, he turned and looked at his guards. "Forde, you come along too. We might need a third party on this."


Once they had reached a secluded spot in the woods, Ephraim whirled around dramatically.

"Alright, so I gave you permission to spend time with Amelia. Noting that that permission does not cover, implicitly or otherwise, you being given allowance to remove her from her quarters and take her into the forest – and don't glare at your brother. If I relied on him to be my eyes and ears on the ground, I'd never get anything done."

"Gee, thanks, your majesty.'

"It's my job to know what goes on in the rank and file – let's just leave it at that." Ephraim continued. "Like I said, leaving that aside, what's gotten into your head that you're actually asking someone like her to be allowed into the Frelian Army?"

Franz sighed. "Well, milord, it's like this…"


"I don't think – but – but what –" He shook his head. "Amelia, are you sure you know what you're asking?"

She nodded. "I do."

"But…" Blowing out a breath of air, Franz gazed into Amelia's eyes. "Amelia, I don't… I don't think there's any way I can convince them to let you join us."

She frowned, obviously displeased with his answer. "Why not? You let Natasha join?"

"Well, back when she joined up with us, it was Princess Eirika who was leading the group. She was a lot more… open to offers of aid, especially since we were really understaffed. Lord Ephraim is a lot more… straight-laced."

"I still don't see any difference."

"W-well, for one thing, when we first met Natasha, she was being hunted down by Grado soldiers. That made it a lot easier for us to trust her. Whereas when I first met you, you were trying to… well…" He left his sentence unfinished.

She gave a shaky smile. "Yeah, I guess attempting to kill one of Renais' best couldn't have gone down very well."

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Franz remarked coyly. Then his expression became more serious. "Amelia, let me say something."

"Hm?"

The cavalier hesitated, drew in a deep breath and looked at her with a smile. "I'd love to have you to travel with me, Amelia. You're a great friend, you're smart, I like talking with you…" He paused. "However… I wouldn't want you to be a soldier."

Amelia's tiny smile vanished. "But why?"

Franz hung his head. "Amelia, this may sound hurtful… but you know as well as I do that you can't fight. If you're on the battlefield, the enemies you face… they're not likely to give any quarter. I mean, if you'd fought some other soldier instead of me… you might not even be here now."

"But I can train myself! I- I can become stronger and-"

"In Renais, a soldier must complete a minimum of three years of basic military training before he or she is ever allowed onto the frontlines. Is it the same in Grado?"

The recruit shrugged. "Under ordinary circumstances? I wouldn't know. But only had about a month's worth of basic training and… well, here I am."

Franz closed his eyes. "Then you understand how big a risk you're taking."

"I do."

Franz nodded, and the smile returned to his face. "In that case, I can talk to Ephraim about letting you go with us a noncombatant. It'll be easier to convince-"

"No."

Franz's face fell. "Why not?"

Amelia kept her head low for a few moments, finally prompting Franz to speak again. "Amelia?"

Finally, she lifted her head, and Franz's eyes narrowed slightly. She appeared… different. He couldn't quite place it, but… Wait…

Resolve. When he had first met her, she had been scared and confused, unsure about her duty and tasks. Now, a steadfast determination was etched across her face, even in the reassuring smile she gave him.

"Franz… when I started out on my journey, I made a promise to myself… a vow." Her eyes grew more distant as she called up old memories. "My dream and my goal hasn't changed. I want to be a soldier, Franz." She gazed up at him. "The only difference is that, well, this time, I want to be fighting on your side."

"Amelia…" Franz sighed. Then he quirked a slight smile. "I'm not looking forward to tomorrow."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I'll probably be repeating this same conversation again." He paused and shrugged. "Except this time with Prince Ephraim."


"How astute." The leader of Renais said dryly. "He sighed and turned away. "Franz, I appreciate that Amelia is a friend of yours, and that naturally neither of you want to be parted from each other, especially in a time of war when so much is in flux. However!" He folded his arms. "As a leader, I have to look beyond that. There are myriad risks with accepting someone like Amelia into the Grado army. For all any of us know, she could be some assassin or spy assigned to-"

"What about Natasha?" Franz demanded – or said in a as-close-to-demanding-as-he-dared manner.

"A rather different situation with its own set of unique circumstances." Ephraim sighed. "Firstly, when you first met Sister Natasha, she was currently under threat by Grado soldiers – Grado soldiers who were unaware that there were Renaitians or Frelians in the nearby vicinity. Second, Natasha provided extremely valuable information regarding the Emperor Vigarde's motives and intentions behind the war – thus allowing us to trust her more easily. Third, independent sources – namely, Joshua – confirmed that they had indeed been hired with the intent of killing a Grad traitor – and he had the contract to prove it." Ephraim paused, took a deep breath, and continued. "Amelia possesses… none of these things in her favour. When we first met her, she was currently engaged in the process of trying to kill us – however shoddy a job she may have made of it. She has thus far provided nothing of any tangible use to any of us. And lastly, we've absolutely no proof whatsoever that she's not still with Grado – except her word, which of course must be held in suspicion. Do you see why I cannot, in good conscience, allow Amelia into the army?"

Franz was about to reply when he heard a soft cough, and saw Forde stepping up. "Excuse me, milord."

"What is it, Forde?"

"Well," Franz's elder brother smiled genially. "I just thought things were getting a bit heated, so I decided to step up to offer a slightly more… objective view on matters."

Franz could tell that the prince was rolling his eyes. "Very well, Forde. Go ahead."

"Ahem!" Forde stepped in between the young knight and the ruler of Renais. "The case against Dame Amelia joining is simple when summarized – there are simply too many unknown variables such as possible defections and whatnot."

"Correct."

"Well, let's clear some things up first." Forde coughed. "Prince Ephraim, are you telling me – in complete honesty – that you believe someone like Amelia to be capable of spying or assassination?"

"It's a good spy's job to not look like a competent spy."

"She can't even hold a lance properly."

"…"

"Defence rests." Forde said dryly. "Next point." He turned towards Franz. "Franz, knight of Renais. Of all of us you have been in contact with Dame Amelia for the longest period of time."

Franz frowned, uncertain as to where this was going. "Uh-huh." He said hesitantly.

"Good." Forde paused. "Would you vouch for her reliability and trustworthiness?"

"Yes, I would."

Ephraim coughed slightly. "Of course, you realize that your brother's proximity towards Amelia is one of the reasons why his word is suspect regardless?"

"Now, Price Ephraim!" Forde exclaimed. "Is that hardly fair? If we're not going to allow people who know Dame Amelia on a more intimate basis to vouch for her, then how are we to decided whether or not she is indeed trustworthy?"

"No games with semantics, Forde." Ephraim retorted smoothly. "Perhaps you've forgotten that the acceptance of Amelia lies not in the gray area of 'what if', but in the concrete grounds of proof that she is, indeed, a trustworthy character."

"Hm." Forde grinned. "Then it appears we are stuck at an impasse."

"Anything else to add?" Ephraim said in a manner that made it apparent he expected the answer was no.

"Yes, actually." Forde grinned. Franz spotted Ephraim barely reining in a sigh.

"Proceed."


Amelia settled down on the stump of an old tree, sneaking the occasional nervous glance at the direction in which Franz and the Renaitian Prince had vanished into the undergrowth. They'd been gone for a fair bit of time already, and Amelia couldn't help but wonder if things were going badly.

She bit her lip as she thought about Franz possibly being on the receiving end of the prince's tirade. She was resolved to join Franz and the Frelian Army, true, but she didn't want anyone to make trouble for anyone in the process too.

At least they had been kind enough to leave her out in the forest, free to do as she pleased. Not that she had much of an idea what to do, but it certainly beat being stuck in the room.

"Wow."

Amelia started. She'd been so caught up in her thoughts that she'd completely failed to notice someone walking up on her. Twisting around in her seat, she saw a pink-haired girl about her own age was walking up to her.

"It's beautiful!" The girl exclaimed.

Instinctively, Amelia glanced around herself, and not finding anything that she would rate as being particularly beautiful, gazed back at the girl with a confused look on her face.

The girl smiled. "Your armour, I mean. It's so… well, shiny! Not like the other soldiers."

Amelia frowned, perplexed. Armour? Prisoners weren't allowed to wear armour – and she definitely hadn't been wearing any. So where -? Then her gaze feel upon her hip, where her hipguard was curled tightly around her lower belly and thighs.

Of course. The guards had considered it more of a belt than anything and after ensuring that it hadn't contained anything of a dangerous or threatening nature, they had allowed her to keep it. The make had been unobtrusive enough that she hadn't much noticed it when she put it on in the mornings.

Still, there it was, and apparently the sunlight had caught it such that it gleamed in a rather inviting way to… um…

"T- thanks," Amelia said hesitantly. "Er… um…"

Sensing Amelia's hesitation, the other girl giggled. "I'm Neimi. Pleased to meet you."

"Oh," Amelia smiled in reply. Standing, she quickly saluted Neimi. "And my name is Amelia. It's nice to meet you, Miss Neimi."

Neimi blushed at this, a bashful smile appearing on her face. "Oh, please, I'm nobody important. It's just Neimi. And you needn't salute either."

"All right, then… Neimi." Amelia smiled. Neimi was apparently in possession of a rather cheery disposition, if nothing else.

"Anyway, your armour really looks great."

This time it was Amelia's turn to blush. "Ah, it's just… it's just a hipguard. No big deal."

"Yeah, but they remind me of the michew berries that grew near my hometown."

The recruit's eyes brightened. "Michew berries! I've eaten those before! They're really shiny and sweet, and there's just enough tart in the aftertaste!" She nodded as she remembered nights around her surrogate father's table, tucking into a freshly baked michew pie. "They're really good in pies, too!"

"Oh, I know! So they grow near your hometown, too? They're so tasty and yummy and-"

"Have you ever gone berrypicking for them? I always end up eating at least half the bundles before I get back." Amelia said with an embarrassed smile on her face.

"Ha ha, yup!" Neimi's easy laugh signified that she was no stranger to such matters. "You know, one time, when Colm – he's my friend – came back exhausted after being away the whole day, I gave him some of the michew pie I'd just baked, he took one bite, and then he forgot all his exhaustion!"

"Wow, you must be great at cooking!" Amelia said slightly enviously.

"It's nothing much, really – just a few skills my mom taught me." Neimi replied with an embarrassed chuckle. "Hey, if you'd like, I could teach you how to make those pies."

"Oh, would you?" Amelia practically squealed with excitement. "That's great!"

"Of course!" Neimi flashed a grin at her. "If we see any michew berries on our journey, we'll pick 'em, and then I can start teaching you."

Journey? Amelia's face fell. Of course. Neimi was with the Frelian Army, after all.

Neimi frowned as she caught sight of the sudden change in Amelia's expression. "Amelia? What's wrong?"

Amelia jerked back. "Ah, nothing, nothing. I just, uh, forgot that I've got something to do." Having said so, she turned away, with the intent of heading into the forest.

"Aw…" She heard Neimi's disappointed groan. "Okay, Amelia! But you gotta promise to come and talk with me again sometime! It was really fun!"

Amelia turned back and smiled back at Neimi. "I had fun too. If I get the chance, I'll definitely come and talk to you again."

"Great! It's a deal!" Neimi said with a wide smile on her face. Thus saying, the pink-haired girl turned and headed back to the main camp.

Amelia smiled at her newfound friend's departure, turned around, and promptly got a face full of turquoise tunic.

And she staggered back, clutching a painful nose, Ephraim merely quirked an eyebrow – whether in amusement or anger, she couldn't readily tell.

Before anything else was said, she saw a vague blur out of the corner of her eyes, and Franz was there by her side. "You alright?"

"Yeah, yeah… fine." She sighed. Then she straightened out, trying to look at the Renaitian prince in the eye. It wasn't easy.

Ephraim regarded her evenly for just a moment longer than she was comfortable with, then nodded. "Recruit, come with me for a while."


Once they were relatively alone among the forest trees, the prince turned back to her. "I've heard Franz's reasons for why you should join us, I've heard Forde's reasons for why you should join us, but I think it's time I heard your reasons why you should join us – especially since this was apparently your idea, at least from what I understand."

Amelia stood at attention. "Understood, milord."

"And please don't mimic a pillar whenever you talk to me, it makes me uncomfortable." Ephraim continued.

Amelia deflated slightly at this, and shifted her stance into a more comfortable one.

"Sir, I joined the Grado army with the intent of becoming stronger – of being able to fight and protect my homeland, and those that I cared for."

"As have many soldiers over the years." Ephraim noted.

Amelia didn't respond to that. "However… I…" She sighed. "During the battle for Fort Rigwald, I couldn't… Everything changed."

"You were willing to surrender without compulsion towards an enemy knight." Ephraim said. "While I allow the possibility of Franz having some sort of charm about him that might have led to a weakening of resolve-"

"Wha- No! NO! It's not like that at all!" Amelia sputtered, feeling her face turning hot.

Ephraim pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "It was a joke, recruit. Nevermind, carry on."

"R – right, your, um, your majesty." She paused. "Your highness… milord? Um…"

"'Sire' will do fine." Ephraim sighed.

"Y – yes, sir." Amelia mumbled. "Anyway, I fought – well, I tried to fight Franz, and I lost. But he didn't act the way I thought… an enemy would act." She rubbed the wrist silently, a tiny smile of memory on her face.

"Later," she continued. "He visited me in my room, to try and cheer me up and make me feel better. He talked with, laughed at my jokes and told a few of his own, even though I was a prisoner." She closed her eyes. "I'm not sure when exactly I made the decision, but…" She nodded, determination in her eyes. "I realized… that Franz was the kind of soldier I wanted to become. Both strong… but kind and compassionate. Willing to look out for an enemy prisoner. It was… different, in Grado. We were taught to give no quarter, that our foe was evil and... well, not very nice." She coughed nervously. "And – and that's why. I want to be on the side Franz is fighting for because… because I believe it's the right side."

"…"

"…Sir Ephraim?"

"It's going to be a lot harder to decide which side is the right one as the war drags on." He finally replied, in so soft a voice that Amelia had to strain to hear. Straightening up, he looked at her. "And you will need to learn much from Franz, as he will need to learn from you."

"S – sir?" Amelia questioned, still unsure. Was he saying…

"Report to the throne room of Fort Rigwald at the passing of the fifth watch. That is all. Dismissed."

"Ah ! Tha – I mean, y- yes! Yes, sir!" Hastily saluting, she turned and departed.


Once Amelia was gone, Franz stepped out of his hiding spot. "Lord Ephraim."

"Franz, do you want to know why I asked you to observe this?"

"…I have some idea, milord."

"Hmph." Ephraim smirked. "That's right. A knight of Renais can't be too foolish." He folded his arms. "Amelia is your friend, Franz. She will now also be a comrade on the battlefield – and I feel safe in telling you that she'll be one of the weaker links for a while yet."

"…I understand."

Ephraim turned away. "Whatever reservations I may have about letting her join our army, once she becomes part of it, it is my responsibility as leader of the army to ensure that she is safe." He sighed. "Amelia feels safer with you, Franz." He turned back to look the young knight in the eye. "Make sure that feeling is based in reality."

Franz nodded. "Understood, sir."


"If you don't know how to write your own name, just press your thumb onto the ink, and then press the thumb above the line, okay?" Franz whispered softly to her.

"Got it." Amelia replied.

They were both standing outside the throne room, waiting for the passing of the fifth watch. Franz was trying to reassure Amelia, and Amelia was trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach.

"You're signing on as a provisional recruit – the terms are usually easier off than for knights." Franz continued. "You'll be fine."

"Yeah, thanks."

"It's time." Forde said as he rounded the corner. "In you go, lass."

Swallowing hard and trying to appear more calm and collected than she felt (which wasn't saying much), she opened the doors to the chamber.

Ephriam glanced up from where he was currently poring over a oaken table that had an elaborate map spread out over it. "Punctuality." He noted. "A good trait."

Extending his hand to an aide, he motioned for a scroll to be handed to him. Unfurling it, he spread it out on the table. Amelia frowned as she stared at the incomprehensible mess of squiggles and lines. It was bad enough that she couldn't read, but did all nobles needed to write so stylized?

"Will you need the terms of be read out to you?" Ephraim asked kindly.

"Y – yes, please… sir."

The aide crossed over and picked up the scroll. "Henceforth, the lady Amelia is to be accepted into the Frelian Army, bearing the rank of Provisional Recruit, as is to be under the command of Prince Ephraim, Lord of Renais, and whomsoever he shall see fit to place above her in command.

"She is to paid a fee of twenty gold coins for every week of service to the Frelian army, and the crown of Renais. Henceforth, these are the duties to be carried out while in service to the Army of Frelia…" Amelia steadily tuned to the aide's rather crackly voice out as she tried to still the trembling inside her.

"Do you accept?"

"Wha- huh?" Amelia was abruptly brought back to reality by the sound of Ephraim's voice. "I – I'm sorry?"

"Do you accept the terms, Dame Amelia?"

She took a deep breath and nodded, confidence in her voice. "I do accept the terms, Lord Ephraim."

"Then step forward and seal the contract."

Spotting an inkwell, she stepped over and dipped her thumb in it. Then, taking it out, she pressed it against the parchment bearing the contract.

When she looked up again, Ephraim was smiling at her. "Welcome to the Frelian Army, recruit."

That night, as she lay down in her bed, she reflected that the room didn't seem quite so stifling anymore.


"We'll be leaving in an hour."

The soldier had stopped by her room to deliver the hasty message. Awakening, Amelia had quickly gotten herself dressed – and then paused as she caught sight of what had been lain by the doorway.

Her full set of armour, all polished to a gleaming shine. Walking over, she picked up the breastplate, feeling the familiar weight of it.

Slowly, with deliberate precision and care, she slipped the heavy pieces of metal over her body, feeling and testing her body's movement as each new piece was added.

Finally, she stood ready. It was still a bit heavier than she felt comfortable with, but hey, it was a small price to pay.

I don't think I ever dreamed that I could have ended up in this situation. Amelia thought to herself as she wore her gloves, feeling the thin black material stretch as she flexed and clenched her hands in fists.

But now that I'm here…

"Amelia?" She turned at the gentle voice behind her.

Franz stood in the doorway, smiling. It took her several seconds to note that he was carrying a long, thin instrument, wrapped in oilcloth.

"Here, this is yours." He said softly. Extending his arm, he handed the bundle to Amelia.

Slowly, deliberately, she shrugged off the wrapping, drawing out the gleaming silver lance from inside. As Franz watched, she stepped back, giving it an experimental twirl.

"You took good care of it."

Franz shrugged. "I promised."

I wouldn't give this up for the world.

"It's time to go."

She nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."


End Chapter
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