A Song of Conquest and Birthright

Written By

El Jaguar

Chapter One

Songs I listened to while writing:

2 Phones - Kevin Gates

In the Well - Mree

Simple and Clean (Cover) - Mree

Snow - Karliene

Summary:

In a land where darkness rules the west and light shines ever bright in the east, war is on the horizon. A great dragon is returning, and in the lands in the Kingdom of Nohr, sinister and supernatural forces are at work to bring ruin to all. At the center of this conflict is Prince Noctis of Nohr, the second son of the reigning monarch and loved by his siblings…

"Time to wake up, my prince."

Stirring awake at the sound of Flora's monotonous voice, Noctis opened his eyes. He was met by the sight of the blue-haired ward standing over his bedside with a very small smile with her icy blue eyes. The Second Prince of Nohr blinked once, then twice before he found another maid hovering over him, who was cheerful and offered him a warm smile. Flora's younger sister Felicia was as chirpy as a child ready to go outside and play.

"Hey wake up, Prince Noctis! Up and at 'em now!" Felicia insisted.

Noctis sat up and released a yawn as he stretched out his arms and shoulders. He pushed strands of his onyx hair aside and looked out the glass window to the abysmal black sky which hovered over the castle of Nightfort, a northern citadel that served as the seat of Lord Gunter and had been where he had been fostered since childhood. The skies of Nohr seemed to never change, always dark as night and sullen with little to any sunlight piercing through the veil of darkness. As his blankets fell, the crisp morning wind that breezed within seemed to hint the end of summer.

Turning his eyes away, Noctis looked to his left. Flora and Felicia stood ever waiting, with the butler Jakob behind Flora carrying a silver platter covered in food and drink that the young prince would break fast with. "Why are you waking me?" Noctis groaned. "It is not even morning yet."

"Rest assured, Prince Noctis, it is indeed morning." Lord Gunter's voice was coarse and matched his stern features. The Lord of the Nightfort approached the door of Noctis's bedchamber dressed in the finery of a Nohr noble, but with pieces of dark gray armor that bordered black and a sash over his torso that marked him as a Marshal of Nohr. He was old yet stood tall and strong, with neatly combed gray hair and a diagonal scar that stretched from over his right eye across his lips and ending on the left side of his chin. Noctis had asked about the scar unwisely in his youth, but Lord Gunter had given him an answer all the same.

A wound from a Hoshidan samurai, from Nohr's last campaign across the Bottomless Canyon into the lands of the east. Whoever had done it had to have been a remarkable warrior, Noctis had once thought. But Gunter had smiled and said that the one who did it lived no longer.

"Not to me," Noctis said, stifling down another yawn.

"Obviously." Lord Gunter drawled. "But enough of that. Get off your bed, dress and get yourself fed. You've practice today."

"I have already taken the liberty of preparing your clothes and armor, Your Highness," Jakob added. "And, er… I had the smith pound out the dents as well." Felicia and Flora shared an amused giggle, one that Noctis didn't care. He wasn't ready to go out to the yard again and train with Lord Gunter's knights, not so soon after the last training session.

"I'm still not awake yet," Noctis pointed out.

"We can remedy that." Flora nodded to Felicia, and Noctis felt his face for pale. The two leaned down to him, cupped his cheek with their dominate hands and with a whispered incantation Noctis felt a sudden chill, his skin becoming as cold as ice

Noctis immediately pulled himself away from their cold touch. "AH! Alright, I'm up! By the Dusk Dragon, I'm awake!"

"That is how we treat lazy slugs in Akull," said Flora with a satisfying look in her eye.

"Calling me a slug now, Flora?" Noctis glared at her with as much intensity as he could muster getting off his bed.

"Only when you move like one, Your Highness."

"That is no way to speak to a prince of Nohr, you know."

"Then start acting like one." Lord Gunter interjected. "Now get out of bed and eat. I'll see you in the courtyard dressed and readied as a prince should be."

Noctis's closed his eyes and released a sigh. "Trust me, I know."

Flora and Felicia left with Lord Gunter. Jakob remained, laying out his food and drink while Noctis pissed in his chamberpot. There was no point in bathing, not when he had to train. The baths would come later to soothe the aches his body would soon have. Jakob had already prepared his basin with warm water; he quickly washed his face and hands, stepped back into his bedchamber, and saw that Jakob had also gone ahead and readied his clothes and armor for him, neatly arrayed on the stand. With a glance to his bed, he saw Jakob folding his blankets and preparing them to be washed. Donning his clothes and armor, Noctis broke his fast with scrambled quail eggs, roasted ham and freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Are you excited, my prince?" Jakob asked.

Noctis regarded him as he swallowed the last of his eggs. "For what, Jakob? Another day of spars in the yard?"

"For Prince Xander's arrival, of course."

Noctis's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. "Xander is coming here? Today?!"

Jakob nodded, tilting his head at Noctis with a confused look in his eye. "Yes. I thought I informed you three days ago. Your royal siblings are coming for a visit. They should be here soon."

He hadn't been told. Or rather, Noctis recalled having been told by Jakob once about someone coming to visit but had been too tired and sore to care what his friend was saying at the time. He should have paid more attention. Quickly devouring his meal, Noctis quickly walked out of his chambers and walked down the tower's granite stone steps. As he stepped out the doors and into the castle proper, two Nohrian men clad in black iron armor and helms, and armed with black iron spears dipped their heads as he passed. Alfred and Wes as he knew them. He knew the names of every guard in Lord Gunter's retinue and the names of most servants as well. Noctis had been fostered at the Nightfort for most of his life as Lord Gunter's ward and knew every nook and cranny of his caretaker's seat as well as the back of his own hand. He barely recalled any of his childhood before the Nightfort, of the capital of Windmire or his royal father's seat of Castle Krakenburg, but it did not bother him.

His siblings had often come to visit him at the Nightfort. His brothers Xander and Leon, and his sisters Camilla and Elise made it feel like he had never left and Noctis never felt lonely, even when they had to return to King Garon's court. In their absence, Noctis had Jakob and Lord Gunter's other wards, Flora and Felicia, the daughters of Lord Kilma of Akull, and Jakob as well.

As he stepped into the reception hall, he found Lord Gunter standing with Flora and Felicia, with four Nohrian knights sworn to the Nightfort dressed in polished black steel and carrying Lord Gunter's standard. "Why didn't you tell me my siblings were coming?" Noctis found himself asking.

Lord Gunter turned away from Flora to regard him. "I instructed Jakob to tell you. Did he not?"

"No he did it is just..." Noctis sighed. "Why didn't you tell me, my lord?"

"Must I tell you everything myself, my prince?" Lord Gunter shook his head before Noctis could respond. "No, I do not. You are my ward yes, but I still have responsibilities as Lord of the Nightfort and a Marshal of Nohr."

"Yes, lord." Noctis dipped his head. "Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive, Prince Noctis," Gunter smiled briefly. "Now come with me to the courtyard. We shall be receiving your siblings there."

The visitors rode through the castle gates in a river of black and royal purple and polished steel, fifty strong, a cadre of knights and sworn swords. Over their heads half a dozen purple banners whipped back and forth in the wind, emblazoned with the dusk dragon of Nohr.

Noctis knew many of the sworn swords. Riding at the head was Laslow, a handsome young man with a smile that made many unsuspecting maids swoon. Next to him carrying the royal standard of Nohr was Peri, who had been Prince Xander's squire and hailed from a respected house in the capital. Then rode forth Crown Prince Xander of the Royal House of Duskfyre, heir to King Garon the First of his Name. Xander rode his mighty destrier and appeared as taciturn and noble as ever.

"Lord Gunter!" Prince Xander greeted.

Gunter dipped his head respectfully, as did all the knights and guards of the Nightfort. "It is an honor to have you visit the Nightfort, sire."

"Nonsense," Prince Xander said as he dismounted. "The Nightfort is just as much home to me as Castle Krakenburg."

"I trust your journey here went well."

Xander nodded. "Its always a well journey to the north, my lord." He turned to Noctis then and smiled as he approached, grabbing him by the forearm and bringing him in for a quick hug. "Tis good to see you once again, little prince."

Noctis' face shamefully flushed in embarrassment. "Brother, please…"

"You've grown taller since last we met," Xander said as he allowed Noctis to pull away. "Your skill with your blade grew as well, I hope."

"Of course!" Noctis said with pride. "I have not dallied since last you came to the Nightfort."

"Only sleeping in, no doubt." Riding his black warhorse was Third Prince Leon, who had grown taller since the last he visited. His hair was short and he wore armor much thinner than Xander's with a small royal purple collar fastened to the dark plates.

Noctis inwardly cringed. "N-Not at all, Leon. I haven't such a luxury as a ward to Lord Gunter."

Leon didn't look convinced. "Even when we stayed here, you'd find a way to avoid hard work. No doubt the fault rest with Camilla, as she is always dotting on you."

"I wouldn't say that, per say." Noctis took a glance to his collar and smirked. "By the way, Leon, you're collar is inside out again."

Leon's eyes widened. "A-Absurd! I was certain that I put it on properly before we departed!"

Xander let out a small laugh. "I was wondering when someone would say something about that."

"Brother!" Leon cried, his pale cheeks tinged red. He turned his backs to Noctis and Xander as he sorted out his collar, and his siblings laughed at his expense. No matter how much Leon grew, his antics would likely never change and that made Noctis smile. It felt good to have his siblings back.

"Where are Camilla and Elise?" Noctis asked.

"They'll be arriving later," said Xander. "His Majesty had bid Camilla go to Cheve before flying out to the Nightfort and little Elise went with her. They'll be here before long."

The mention of Cheve made Noctis frown. There were many rumors of discontent afoot in the bulwark city located in southern Nohr. Though home to three knightly orders sworn to defend Nohr, Noctis had overheard on some occasions from Gunter how his royal father was growing most 'displeased' with the Chevois and their rebellious ideas. Noctis wondered if Camilla and Elise were safe to be in a place that harbored thoughts of sedition against the crown, despite the protection guaranteed by her own company of wyvern knights. Xander must have felt his concerns and grasped his shoulder in his right hand.

"Worry not for Camilla, little prince. She is more than capable of taking care of herself."

Noctis nodded.

Xander turned to Gunter. "May we all be hosted in your hall and your horse master see to our mounts, my lord?"

Gunter dipped his head once more. "You needn't even ask, Prince Xander. The Nightfort shall always be welcoming to the royal family of the king." He pressed his fist to his chest. "Long may he reign."

"Long may he reign!" The knights and guards of the Nightfort and Prince Xander's own retinue bellowed as one. Xander and Leon, who finished working out his collar, returned the salute and cry with Noctis. He had heard it from Gunter every time, and every time it always felt forced. By then the others began to dismount and allow the stable boys and pages come and take the reins of their mounts, thus ending the greeting procedures and guest rights.

"So then, little prince..." Xander rested his hand on the pommel of Siegfried, their family's ancestral sword. "Care to show me what you can do?"

Despite his aching body, Noctis rose to the challenge, barely capable of containing his excitement.

"You'll not want to eat and rest after your journey, Prince Xander?" Gunter interjected, much to Noctis' ire.

Xander's eyes flickered to Gunter. "I'm well-rested, my lord. Besides, I'm quite eager to see how much the little prince has grown since last summer.

"You know he can't beat you, brother," Leon said, sending a smirk Noctis' way. "He's never been able to in any of your spars. Not once."

Noctis' eyes brimmed with determination. "Not this time, Leon. I don't intend to lose to Xander."

Xander smiled. "We shall see, little prince."

Author's Note: I couldn't help myself. This plot bunny would not stop bouncing in my mind as I played Conquest and later Birthright. As you can tell by my avatar and pen name, I am a huge fan of the ASOIAF series written by George R. R. Martin and I will not lie, this story will feature some influences that derive from it. This will feel like a whole new story to you all, but will feature the same abundance of characters that we've grown to love (or hate) from Fates. Names and territories may change, as well as the size and strength of the countries of Fates.

As you noticed, I made Gunter into a lord instead of an old knight, and he controls the Northern Fortress that the Avatar had been fostered in. I changed the name of it to the Nightfort since it was so damn dreary when we saw it introduced to us. Marshal of Nohr is something I just came up with, and it will bear importance. These are the first of many alterations I've made and they will not be the last.

If you do not like what you read, please feel free to let me know. But if you do like this and want to see me continue with it, please show your support and leave a comment for me to read. I value your opinion. In other words…

Review. Favorite. Follow.

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El Jaguar