Chapter 24

In the days following Emmeryn's death, the shepherds, now back in Ferox planning their next move, carried a depressed aura about them. Chrom and Lissa hardly exited their rooms in the Feroxi castle, and neither was willing to accept any visitors. While Nathan gave them their time to grieve, he knew they had to strike back at Gangrel while the iron was still hot. On his way to find the two, he saw Sumia, who had tripped and dropped the books she was carrying on the ground.

"Need some help?" The tactician called out, kneeling beside the brown haired Pegasus knight and picking up a book for her. Sumia smiled up at the man.

"Thanks, Nathan," She answered, as she took the book back from him. Nathan looked over her stack of books, examining the spines and reading the titles.

"See any you like? You can borrow it if there's one you want to read…" Sumia urged.

Nathan pulled a book from the pile. "This one looks interesting…" He mused, before quickly stuffing it inside his cloak. "Anyways, where were you headed?"

Sumia nodded to the staircase next to them. "I was planning on visiting Chrom…as long as he lets me in, that is. He hasn't exactly been too accepting of anyone seeing him right now. But it's understandable, given the situation…how about you?"

The tactician motioned for them to begin walking up the staircase, as he informed Sumia of his plans.

"Well, I was going to try to talk to both Lissa AND Chrom, but looks like I'll just have to talk to Lissa," he mused. "I'm sure having you around will 'cheer up' Chrom, if you know what I mean…" He said with a playful wink.

Sumia blushed a deep red. "N-no, it's nothing like that! We're just friends!" The Pegasus knight insisted.

"Right, sorry, I forgot. The two of you are around each other so often, and you're always baking pies for him, you seem like an old married couple!" The tactician joked.

Nathan made a mental note to talk to Chrom about his proposal later, that he apparently was still putting off.

"Anyways, I'll see you later, Sumi. Good luck with Chrom!" Nathan called, as the two reached the top of the stairs, parting ways.

Nathan made his way to Lissa's room, and slowly pushed open the door, sticking his head in. "Lissa, I just wanted to-" He began, before a frog being thrown in his face cut him off.

"G-GO AWAY!" Lissa stammered, hiding behind her bed.

As Nathan pulled the frog off his face, he watched it vanish in a puff of smoke.

"I'm really regretting teaching you that summoning spell…" The tactician complained. He made his way into the room and around the bed to see Lissa, sitting on the stone cold floor. Her eyes were weary and red from crying. He frowned at the princess. It broke his heart to see her looking so sad. Without saying anything, he put his arms on her hips and lifted her onto the bed.

"There isn't anything I can say to cheer you up, unfortunately…" He muttered, before kicking off his shoes and lying down next to the princess.

"All I can do right now is be a shoulder for you to cry on." The man concluded, wrapping Lissa in his arms, who began to sob again, as Nathan stroked her back.

I've been on a roll as of late, and the ideas for this story are coming like crazy at the moment! Expect more chapters soon! -Nate