Chapter twelve! (fanfare)
Now, when we left off last time, I'm sure that you all remember that Stasik and Karoline-!
Reviewers: HURRY THE HELL UP!!!
(cowers)
Knowlee: I hope I didn't rush the last chapter too much... I wasn't really sure how to slow it down a lot, though... Thanks for your review! (gives cookie)
hpboy111: I'm glad that you like it so far. As for Alondite and Ragnell, I honestly wasn't sure if it was Zelgius' power or if it was the swords or anything like that, so thank you for informing me. I hope you continue to read! And thank you SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO much for telling me how to get Stefan!! (tackle hugs you and gives many cookies)
Chef Colette: Ah haaa another pairing idea...and the next chapter is closer than you think! Mwahahaha!!
Disclaimer: I am sorry to say that I own nothing of Fire Emblem...but could any of you...please share some rations...? (gotta love Ilyana)
XxXxXxX
Chapter 12
Mihara had been picking at the lock for so long, she didn't even know what time of the day it was. Late afternoon or early evening, she guessed, due to her eyes beginning to droop. The entire time, Karoline nor Stasik had gone below deck to make sure that the hawk was still in their small prison. Once or twice, Mihara could've sworn she almost had the lock open, but then she would move her dagger one wrong way and have to start all over. To her, it was quite frustrating. After the eighth time of moving the dagger wrong, she withdrew it, sheathed it, and sighed heavily, leaning back against the cell wall. She would just take a small break.
Mihara looked around for anything that may have fallen to the floor that she might've been able to use instead. Several harsh waves had smashed into the side of the small boat, causing violent pitching movements of the vessel, a few objects coming loose. Regrettably, the keys had flown farther away from her during the blows from the waves. She cursed. Nothing was in reach – even if she had used her knife to try and get something.
She inhaled deeply, then resumed working.
XxXxXxX
"Soren."
Without even flinching at Ike and Felicity's sudden appearance, Soren simply returned, "Ike."
"What's this about an attack in Altiaire?"
Soren turned to the two, setting aside his scrolls. "I've not gathered much information since then. It's been about two or three days since the attack, but something went down only a few hours ago. It had something to do with Tibarn's daughter."
"How reliable is your info?" Felicity demanded, sounding slightly bored.
Soren glared at her. "Reliable enough."
"Where do you get it?"
His eyes narrowed further. "That's none of your business."
Ike snapped, "Stop, you two. We don't have time for this. What's happened with his daughter?"
"Apparantly, the two that led the attack captured her. They're heading somewhere towards Begnion. Where, I don't know. They must be nearly there, though." Soren crossed his arms. "Planning on helping them?"
"Thinking about it, still. I decided to come and get some info, first." Ike ran a hand through his hair. "But I don't want to raise Mist's hopes on me returning so soon by a mere sighting of me."
Ike could've sworn that Soren had rolled his eyes, but the lighting was fading, so he couldn't have been sure. "Whatever you say," the tactician droaned. "So what are you going to do?"
Ike sighed, falling into thought, thinking about different ways he could handle the situation. Then, a light bulb went off. "Okay, this is what we'll do..."
XxXxXxX
"We should be getting near the shore now," Reyson called above the winds. "...Shouldn't we?"
"Yeah," Tibarn answered. "Which means they'll get there first. What we'll do is heading straight for land instead of following them. We can attack them once they're on dry land." He paused. "And once we see that Mihara is still safe."
"I do not believe they will harm her," Ulki said. "She's too valuable to them at the moment. She's guaranteeing their safety. They would've give that up."
"No doubt they're also expecting us to follow them," added Janaff.
"Which means we'll have to be extra careful." Tibarn flapped harder, pushing himself faster.
XxXxXxX
"Do not give them a ship," ordered the goddess within Sanaki.
But why?! They're my close friends!
The goddess could tell that Sanaki was about to disobey her. Her voice rumbled in the sixteen-year-old's head, "You will not give them a transport."
Sanaki ignored the voice, even though she knew she would more than likely regret it later. "Of course you can have one. I'll allow my best captain to take you and the horse tribe to Altiaire."
Tormod and Muarim smiled with gratitude. They bowed before her. "Thank you, apostle," they said in unison.
"Of course."
Sanaki watched their retreating figures. She could tell the goddess was angry. But she didn't care – at the moment. She was aiding her friends where they needed help. She would do that much with or without the approval of the goddess. Suddenly, the goddess's spirit lifted. The apostle could practical feel a smile. "Very good, apostle. That was a test. I needed to see if you had the defiance in you."
A test of defiance?! Why on earth would you do something like that?!
"I needed to see if you could follow your own path and make your own decisions still. You passed, naturally. You were correct in aiding your friends."
I see... Umm...thank you...I guess.
"Indeed."
As Tormod and Muarim joined Shoen, Keenan, Aislyn, and the others, they reported, "We have a ship. Now we just need to make our way to the port."
Keenan snorted disapprovingly. "How far is this port?"
"With a new road they built, it only takes about a half hour. We'll be in the port and on our way in no time," assured Tormod.
This seemed to cheer up Keenan slightly. However, he still gruffly ordered, "Very well. Let's move out."
As he walked ahead of his tribe and the three outsiders, Tormod leaned in towards Aislyn. "Is he always...like this?"
Aislyn seemed confused. "Like what?"
"Angry and strict all the time."
"Oh. No, not usually. He's actually quite playful and teasing – just not around people who aren't of the tribe." Aislyn smirked at Tormod's shocked expression. He stared after the Horse Lord.
"...I seriously cannot picture that..." he muttered.
"Nor I," Muarim agreed. "However, I believe stranger things have happened."
"Like?"
"Young one, I think you can think of something as well as I," Muarim replied quickly, walking after the horses.
Tormod snickered. "That's what I thought!"
Shoen blinked. "So...nothing stranger has happened than Lord Keenan being playful?"
The fire mage stumbled in his walking before staring at Shoen. Then, with a pitied pat on the hawk's back, he sighed. "You need a bit of help."
Suddenly, the gentle Shoen's eyes hardened. "What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.
"Umm...no, I was- I was just kidding." Tormod quickened his pace. Hmm...that was a bit strange. He sounded a bit like... No, nevermind...
XxXxXxX
Lorazieh stared at the strange bronze medallion sitting on the altar. He gently sang galdrar, wishing he could calm down whatever strange spirit that resided in it. The red flame flickered, but did not diminish nor grow larger. Laurel stood at his side. "What is it?"
"Something that the goddess, Yune, entrusted with my children and I," answered Lorazieh. "I believe that it is similar to what happened with Lehran's Medallion and the goddess, Yune. Lady Laurel, may I ask you something?"
"Of course." Laurel turned her blue eyes towards the Heron King, feeling his slight fear swimming in the air.
"...Can you see the red flame?"
Laurel's eyes drifted back towards the medallion. With hesitation, she nodded. "I can."
Lorazieh's gentle eyes became worried. "Have you always been able to see it?"
"No."
"Then things are worse than I feared. I must hope that my children return soon to aid me with their galdrar."
Laurel offered, "I know songs - of my tribe, of course. However, they are quite similar. Maybe I can help you with whatever is wrong with this... I can sense that it is evil."
"I suppose we can try it. Thank you, Lady Laurel."
"No thanks are needed, Lord Lorazieh."
The two stood in silence for a moment before singing softly, hoping to extinguish the red flame that burned around the medallion.
XxXxXxX
Ike and Felicity stood silently on the beach along the Begnion coast. Felicity watched their backs as Ike's eyes squinted towards the distance, waiting on the vessel to arrive. Felicity suddenly reported, "Off in the distance, I can hear many voices. I can smell lots of laguz heading our way."
"Then, I suppose we need to make this quick. I can see the boat now." Ike drew Ragnell and Alondite. "Ready?"
Felicity slunk into her otter form. "Always."
The two swords began glowing. In an instant, Ike and Felicity vanished.
XxXxXxX
Mihara suddenly heard voices growing louder as Stasik and Karoline began walking below deck. Mihara growled a low curse – she had just about opened the lock! Not wanting to be discovered, though, she withdrew her knife. She sheathed it and sat on the wooden floor, leaning against the wall, putting on a calm face.
Stasik and Karoline then appeared before her. Stasik leaned over and grabbed the keys from the floor. He approached the cell before opening the locked door. Mihara wanted to groan – she had been so close to opening it and escaping. She pushed herself up, keeping her back against the wall. "What now?" she grumbled.
"Well, we're not ten minutes away from the shore. I suppose you could say that you've outlived your purpose," Stasik said with a face contorted with insane joy.
Oh, damn. Without any hesitation, Mihara's hand shot down to her dagger. She grasped it fiercely and sliced at Stasik. He was slightly startled by this action, but as quickly as he dodged, his hand shot towards the hawk's wrists. He wrenched the knife from Mihara's hands. She repeated the curse in her head, only with much more emphasis. Stupid move, she scolded herself. Very, very stupid...
She had no room to push past him without getting stabbed by the knife. She growled in her throat. If only the cell wasn't so damn small! She could transform and totally kick their-
Karoline placed a hand on Stasik's shoulder. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Stasik demanded, not turning his gaze from Mihara.
"I thought I heard something on deck..."
"Go check it out. I'll be right there."
Karoline ran above deck. Mihara returned her focus to her predicament. Stasik slowly approached her, his body still blocking her only exit. Then, before she knew it, he had slashed at her with the knife. She had pushed herself off to the right, but the sharp object nicked her left arm. At first, she felt no pain. She had tried to put all pain calls on hold, but then Stasik leaned down and aimed for her legs. He had done one large slice, her right leg having a deep cut all the way across, but only about half as long on her left. Mihara then couldn't hold back a cry of pain. Stasik smirked. "I want to make you suffer. Just as your father made my younger sister and I suffer for so long over the death of our mother. If he knows you suffered, I know it'll drive him insane."
Mihara sunk to her knees, holding her wounds. She choked out, "You're a sick bastard...!"
"Sick bastard? You misunderstand me. I am a simple soldier out for revenge. My methods aren't any different than that of anyone else's." Stasik raised the knife again.
Mihara braced herself for another attack from him, but she heard a strangled sound come from him. She looked up with shock. His face was frozen with pain, his lips parted with surprise. His body fell limply backwards, Stasik landing on his side. Mihara saw a golden sword sticking out from Stasik's back, the son of Petrine's blood pooling around his lifeless body. The sword then lit up, pulling itself out of Stasik's body. It became a small orb of light and in the sword's place, a dog sat. Mihara looked at it with awe, the pain fading for a moment. The dog approached her with gentle eyes. It examined her wounds, Mihara not having any strength to draw away from it. The dog aimed its head upward and gave off a silent bark.
Footsteps walked down the stairs. Mihara raised her head, and despite the situation, gaped. There, now standing before her, was the hero of Tellius – Ike! His face was only slightly older, his eyes sharp and filled with wisdom. At the moment, he looked at her with slight worry. "Are you okay?"
Snapping Mihara out of her gaping, she swallowed a knot in her throat. The pain was beginning to flood over her. However, she knew she could be in worse shape. She nodded wordlessly. The dog moved out of the way and Ike kneeled down before Mihara. "Can you stand?"
Mihara tried. However, with the excrutiating pain shooting from her right leg, it buckled under her weight and she fell back to the floor. Ike, understanding, gently picked her up. "Just hold on," he warned.
Mihara nodded, wrapping her right arm around his neck. Ike stood slowly and carried Mihara above deck. Up on deck, hovering over Karoline's motionless body, was one of the otter tribe. Ike turned his gaze towards Karoline's body, then to Mihara. "You are Tibarn's daughter, right?"
"Y-yes..." she croaked.
"I understand why you may be confused by my request, but I must ask you not to mention to anyone but Tibarn himself that you've seen me. I still have things I must do."
Not quite understanding, Mihara nodded. Ike whistled, short and quick, and called, "Ragnell."
The golden dog went to his master's side. Mihara didn't have the energy to look at the dog – which was supposed to be a sword – with shock. Alondite, from Ike's back, shone, became an orb, and sat on Ike's other side, in the form of a large wolf. Suddenly, both gave off an intense light, engulfing Ike, Mihara, and the otter – Felicity.
When the light faded, Mihara saw that they were on the shore, the small boat that she had been on way off in the distance. She hissed with pain through her teeth as Ike set her down, trying to be gentle. Mihara didn't realize how quickly her blood was flowing – mostly from her leg – and staining the sand. Mihara wanted to protest when Ike ripped the ends of his cape and wrapped them around the cuts on her arm and legs, but she was too busy trying to keep her mind away from the pain. Felicity shifted back to her half-beorc form, leaning down to make sure that Ike was wrapping the strips of his cape tight enough. When Ike heard the small gasp of pain come from Mihara that she had tried to restrain, he gave her a symphathetic look. "I'm sorry. You've endured enough pain on my behalf. This is all my fault."
Your fault?! How in the world is it your fault?! Mihara wanted to scream, but couldn't. She saw Felicity giving him a scolded look at the back of his head.
Mihara's vision started swimming and she forced her eyes to stay open. She heard Ike speak more to her, but she couldn't understand the words.
"...Where's...Dad...?"
XxXxXxX
"Okay, Janaff, Ulki, and Leanne, you three head along the southwestern part of the shore until you hit Goldoa's lands. Since we headed straight for land, we can't be positive on where they landed," Tibarn ordered. "Reyson and I will head up the opposite way. As soon as Skrimir and the others land – in about five minutes – they'll head along similar routes. Got it?"
They nodded silently, shifted into their full laguz forms, and took off. Tibarn and Reyson beat their wings fiercely, flying as quick as they could. Reyson suddenly stopped Tibarn. "Wait! What is that?"
Tibarn slowed down and turned to Reyson. He then looked out towards the sea, where Reyson was looking. There, in the distance, was the boat. Tibarn frowned. "They haven't landed yet? That doesn't make sense..."
The two withdrew back to their half forms before flying out towards the boat. As they got closer, the two friends could easily smell that scent that was riding on the wind – blood. Tibarn could feel rage boiling inside him as he jumped to conclusions of Stasik and Karoline harming his daughter.
They arrived at the boat, instantly seeing Karoline's body laying out on the deck, her fire tome feet away from her cold fingers. Reyson's eyes narrowed. "...Mihara did this?"
"I don't see the other guy," Tibarn said quickly. "And I don't smell her on this girl."
"Let's check below deck."
Tibarn went down first, and he saw Stasik, his back to them, covered in blood, and motionless. Reyson followed, examining all of the lower area. "I don't see her. She may have escaped."
"Wait..."
Tibarn approached Stasik cautiously. Once he saw that he truly was dead, he smelled the cell. "I can smell her scent in here. It's still very recent." His eyes turned downward. "...And her blood," he growled. "And-"
"...And what?"
"...No, it's nothing. I'm imagining things." Tibarn looked down and saw a familiar dagger laying on the floor beneath Stasik's hand – it was the one that he had given to his daughter. He carefully grabbed the handle and picked it up out of the blood. Then, he bit out, "Let's go. She may be at shore."
Without another word, Reyson followed Tibarn out and into the air again. Tibarn flew low and held the dagger out into the water, the still-wet blood washing away from it. They reached the shore quickly, their eyes scanning up and down the beach. Reyson, before saying anything, flew towards something fast. Then, once he landed, he called, "Tibarn!"
At once, the Hawk King flew to Reyson to see what he'd found. He bent down and saw a large stain on the sand from blood. He then saw two sets of footprints, leading up into the line of trees. Watching a whiff of the air, the two agreed: "There's someone nearby."
They walked off towards the forest. They followed the footprints and the drops of blood on the ground, having a feeling like they were getting close. There were no noises in the forest, as if the entire place was holding its breath. Then, the two heard voices. They were low, but they weren't far ahead.
One – a male voice – said, "Okay, Felicity. While she's out, we need to put some herbs on these cuts. We don't want them getting infected."
"Okay..." another voice – feminine – answered.
Tibarn quickly shifted before Reyson could hold back his friend and shot towards the voices. Reyson growled and dashed to where Tibarn had gone. Not fifteen seconds later, Reyson saw Tibarn with an obviously shocked look across his hawk face, even though his talons had been raised for an attack. Reyson spotted what Tibarn had been so shocked from. "...Ike?!"
Ike saw Reyson and gave a weak smile. "Hey, Reyson. You haven't changed at all."
At the same time as Reyson sputtered, "What are you doing here?", Tibarn shifted back and fell to the ground beside Felicity. "Mihara!"
Ike, with a slightly icy tone, said, "Tibarn, I know you're worried, but give her some room to apply a bit of medicine that'll hold her out until you get to Altiaire for treatment."
Tibarn glared at Ike, apparantly over the fact that he was still alive and on Tellius, but obeyed, moving back while Felicity focused on tending to her wounds. "Was she...conscious...when you found her?"
"Yeah, but barely." The icy tone vanished. "She was losing blood fast."
"Who killed those two?" Reyson inquired, walking closer.
"My companion and I. Luckily, I got to that man just before he got to...Mihara, was it? Yes, he was about to stab her once more. Her wounds are very fresh, and she didn't pass out but twenty minutes ago." Ike wiped his bloodied hands off on his torn and battered cape.
Tibarn's hands clenched into fists, ired at the thought. Still, he said, "Thank you, Ike."
A loud yowl from the beach cut off Ike's response. It was not powerful enough to be a lion, so it had to have been Ranulf. Reyson commented, "No doubt he found the blood stains."
"No doubt he'll follow our scents here," added Tibarn dryly.
This still didn't distract Felicity from her work, even as Ranulf's paws hit the ground – almost silently. The cat warrior quickly arrived on the scene and looked back and forth between everyone in confusion. Obviously deciding that Ike could wait, he demanded as he shifted to his half form, "Is she okay?"
"She will be," Ike replied.
"Which brings me to my second question: What in the hell are you doing here, Ike?" Ranulf's tailed twitched.
"I decided to come and help. However, I didn't count on being seen by this many of you."
Suddenly, a bright light flashed, followed with a high-toned bell noise.
XxXxXxX
Yune flew as fast as she could. She had to make it. There was no time to waste. The small bird beat her wings fiercely. I have to make it to Serenes. I have already heard the bell. I may even be too late.
Yune frowned inwardly. No. I can't be too late. Bringing Tibarn's daughter back may have put the world back into perfect balance, but that simply triggered another event which may be extremely dangerous to the rest of us.
To everyone.
As long as Lorazieh can keep the medallion under control, we should be safe, but...I just have that feeling that something horrible has just happened.
XxXxXxX
Leanne's head snapped up. She, Janaff, and Ulki had joined up with Nailah, Volug, and Rafiel. Rafiel looked upward, towards the sky. Nailah turned to them. "What's wrong?"
Leanne turned to Rafiel with worry. Rafiel nodded. "Indeed, Leanne...I felt it, too." He turned to the Wolf Queen. "Lady Nailah, we must find Reyson. We need to get back to Serenes."
"To Serenes? Has something happened, Prince Rafiel?" Janaff inquired.
"I feel something is happening there. It's to do with the medallion that Zihark found. My father is struggling to keep it under control..." Rafiel closed his eyes. "I can tell."
"Very well." Though Nailah didn't much like the idea, she mumbled, "Get on. If this is urgent..."
"Ah, yes. I'm very sorry, milady." Rafiel climbed onto the large wolf's back, clinging to her fur. "I'm truly, very sorry."
"We should hurry," Ulki urged. "Leanne, Prince Rafiel, can you tell where Reyson is?"
Leanne nodded. "I feel him. We will find him quickly."
"Very well. Let's go."
XxXxXxX
"Lord Keenan...do you hear that?" Aislyn's ears twitched slightly towards the southwest.
At that, Keenan murmured, "So it wasn't just me."
"Should we check it out?"
Tormod jogged up to the two. "Hey, is something wrong?"
"We hear something. Two beorc approaching." Aislyn paused in her walking.
Muarim, beside Tormod, sniffed the air. "Yes. I can smell them. They are very bloodied, whoever they are."
Keenan glanced back towards his people, still walking forward, though some looked backwards, wondering if something was wrong. He looked towards Muarim and Tormod. "May I ask you to go and accompany Aislyn to check it out?"
Tormod shrugged. "I guess we can. Shoen, you come, too."
"Hn? Oh...okay."
The four walked away from the horse tribe, making their way away from them. They quickly found the beach, and off in the distance, two figures stumbling about, the two nothing but black spots – to even the laguz. Tormod squinted. "Do you see someone?"
"Yes...but it will be a little while before we can really see them," Aislyn said.
So the four kept walking. After a few more minutes, Shoen's face became slightly confused and angry. Muarim turned back towards him. "What's the matter, Shoen?"
"Their scent...is really familiar. I may know them, but...I can't think of who they might be. I just feel..." Shoen's eyes narrowed. "Incredibly angry."
Suddenly, Aislyn halted. Tormod blinked with confusion. "You know them, too?"
With no warning, Aislyn sudden shifted into her full form and charged towards the figures. The other two laguz shifted as well, Tormod jumping onto Muarim's back, and they chased after her. "What's wrong, Aislyn?!" called Shoen.
Aislyn then reared before the two people – one male and the other female. "You!" she roared. "You bastards! How in the hell did you get away?!"
"Who are they?" Muarim inquired.
"These two...they led the attack in Altiaire. The Hawk King sent them to the prisons," Aislyn spat.
Stasik looked up with a grin, half of his face dripping with blood. "Hey. Where's the little hawkie?"
"Say what?" Tormod growled.
"The little daughter."
"What in the hell are you talking about?!"
"Fine, then." Karoline held out a tome – a strange one that none of the four had seen before. "Now you see us, now you don't."
They then vanished.
XxXxXxX
Okay, I'm gonna keep this short:
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! (gets crazed look)
Please review! 0=-)
Pairing suggestions: Mihara x Ranulf (1) and Mihara x Reyson (1)
Please keep them coming!
