Of Wyverns and Brands

Chapter 15

We had fled for almost an hour before we finally had stopped to rest. Now in Gallia proper, we are much more likely to meet laguz than Daein men. I know there won't be any more battles, of course. Well, except on the off chance that those soldiers we sent away tried to catch us. Let's stay positive, though, and say they won't.

Finally able to rest, I drop to the ground next to Midnight, exhausted. My legs are throbbing from the run, but the exertion was placated by the fact that our running was finally over.

"So this is Gallia? We made it, right?" Mist asks, getting a tired nod from her brother. Having been on her pony, she was in much better condition than most of us. "We're finally safe."

"This is all due to your valiant efforts," Elincia says as she dismounts. "Thank you, everyone." I inwardly snicker as I imagine her using 'my Lord everyone' instead. I wouldn't put it past her, either.

Ike didn't looked pleased at all, though, as he didn't respond.

"My Lord Ike?"

"…Princess Elincia. I'm afraid we're going to have to part ways here," Ike suddenly says, looking rather determined.

Elincia gave him a confused look. "But what do you mean?"

"We're going back to aid our companions." At his words, the rest of the mercenaries begin to nod, all agreeing. "So I want you to continue on to the royal palace. I'll be sending Mist, Rolf, and Drake with you as an escort." What?

Mist voiced my protest for me. "What? No, Ike. I'm staying with you!"

"No, Mist," Ike says, that strange aura of authority starting to show once more. "We need to do it this way so that everyone gets out of here alive. We'll be punching through the Daein forces to meet up with Father again, so we can't have non-combatants with us. I promise that I'll bring Father back alive."

"Fine," Mist murmurs, giving in.

"What about Drake?" Soren asks, surprising me. Did he really want me along? "Should we really leave him with the princess alone?" So much for that thought.

Ike shakes his head in response. "This is personal, and Drake's charge is with the princess." Well, I guess I did do that whole pledge thing instead of joining the mercenaries. "He'll be able to lend her support if needed, and he's already proved which side he's on." Okay, my pride is restored. Ike believes in me! Yay!

To the side, Rolf hugs Oscar while on the verge of tears. "Don't get killed out there."

"We won't," Oscar promises.

Then Boyd decides to mess up the touching scene. "Knock it off, you cry babies. You're like a couple of old women. Nothing bad is gonna happen. Not while I'm here." Say that again while facing the Black Knight later and then I'll give you props.

"Go ahead and get going. And be careful!" Ike says, beginning to head back the way we came.

As they leave, I head over to the other three, my breathing almost back to normal. I just hope nothing goes astray while they're out there.

"O Ashera, please grant them your blessing and keep them safe," Elincia murmurs, worry etched on her face.

O Yune, let the plot protection keep them and let not your evil sister turn us to stone. That's what we need to pray. Forget Ashera.

We continue on down the path, though it's not as much a path as it is a well-worn trail. Since laguz don't like tools and such, they probably don't have any actual roads here. It isn't hard to travel on, though, and easy enough to follow.

We had only be moving for about ten minutes, when Mist, who was taking her turn to walk, asks, "Can I ride Midnight?"

"She may not seem like it to you, but she's a really picky wyvern," I say, still guiding her on foot. "Plus, it's not very comfortable to ride her while she's walking." Very nausea inducing.

Of course, since I didn't say 'no' outright, Mist decides to approach Midnight anyway. And Midnight doesn't make a single protest as she struggles up into the saddle. Traitor. "See? She doesn't mind at all."

I sigh, even as Elincia and Rolf laugh. Well, as long as she's happy.

"You have a very noble wyvern, my Lord Drake," Elincia comments. "You raised her well."

"I didn't raise her, actually. Her old rider passed away, and I was first person she was willing to accept as a rider since." I don't mention all the trouble I went through, though, not with how easy Mist made it look.

"Animals have always been calm around Mist," Rolf says. "She even kept a squirrel for a while, once."

I look over to Mist, and she gives a sheepish grin. "I just like animals."

"You remind me of Lady Emma," Elincia tells Mist. "She loves taking care of the palace's animals."

"Do you guys have a lot of them?"

"Horses, hunting dogs, and a few pegasi."

"You guys had pegasus?" Mist asks, growing excited.

For the next hour, we walked along the path as the two girls talked about pegasus. It was a little interesting, but other than flying, they seemed rather similar to horses. Well, okay, flying was a big deal, but still.

The conversation came to an abrupt end when we suddenly found ourselves surrounded. One moment, everything was peaceful and clear, the next, more than twenty large tigers and cats were around us. Okay, laguz were much more formidable looking in real life. Rolf immediately tried to pull something out of the horse's saddlebags, but then realized it was way too late to try to do something now.

A large blue cat started to pad toward us as we huddled closer together. The cat began to glow a soft golden light, and in a few moments had transformed into a humanoid shape, revealing none other than Ranulf.

To be honest, the one thing on my mind right now is where in the world did his clothes come from?

"It seems we've found a few lost sheep in our forest. Mind telling us why you're so far out here?" Ranulf asks, completely relaxed and at ease.

Elincia steps forward. "My Lord…" She hesitates for a moment, probably realizing she doesn't know his name. "I am Lady Elincia Ridell Crimea, first daughter of Lord Ramon Crimea, late King of Crimea. I have come to request of your king sanctuary from those that would seek my life."

"Daughter of the King of Crimea? It is known that he was childless."

Elincia hesitates again, but her voice grows stronger as she continues. "I was hidden away to prevent any blood feuds from my uncle who was already named heir. However, I was told that my identity would be revealed to all other nations upon a calamity happening. King Caineghis knows of me personally, and can testify to my identity."

Ranulf studies her for a moment before his grin grows even wider. "To be honest, we thought you might come here when news came of Crimea's fall. Of course, we thought you would come with a personal guard of knights. These are some odd companions you've picked up." As he said 'odd', I notice he pointedly looks my way. Oh yeah, I'm Branded. I keep forgetting that. "We will be happy to escort you to the capital, my Lady."

Elincia shakes her head as her face takes on a worried look. "I am afraid that I must beg for your assistance, first, my Lord Ranulf. While these fine people have been escorting me, several others helped as well, but were left near the river to ensure my safety. I ask that you please lend assistance to these good people and save them."

"And how can I refuse a request like that?" Ranulf asks. "To be honest, that was our first objective in coming out here. We were sent to patrol the border with all the fighting happening in Crimea. If those Daein soldiers think that they can charge right onto our land, they won't think again. Let's move, warriors!"

With a wave of his hand, Ranulf sends the whole group dashing off back the way we came to rescue the mercenaries.

-o-

After they rescued the mercenaries along with Mia, the laguz led us to that old fort further in Gallia. Since there were so many of us, Ranulf had to get permission for us to come with the princess. The others all took the moment to rest and recover from our flight.

My thoughts were somewhere else entirely, of course. I had moved off to be by myself and think, so now I'm on the roof of the fortress, sitting against Midnight's side.

It wasn't until we had regrouped that it had dawned on me just how close it was. Greil's death. It had felt like I had plenty of time to prepare, but now I have very little time left to decide. What do I do? Do I let Greil die and keep the plot intact? Do I save Greil and risk derailing it all and possibly making the liberation fail?

I feel like I'm tittering on a cliff, choosing whether to jump or step back. The more I thought on it, the more confused I got. But really, Greil is meant to die here. Should I mess with that just to…what? What would I even accomplish with that? I mean, I like Greil, and I don't necessarily want him to die, but is that really a reason to mess with history?

The sun would be setting soon, but the scene didn't feel peaceful. Maybe it's my thought, or that I know what is about to happen, but the air seems…tense; charged; chaotic. This feeling of suspense is keeping me on edge.

My stomach growls, but I'm not in the mood to go eat with everyone down in the fort. I don't know if I want to be around Greil right now, either.

"There you are!"

Jumping at the sudden voice, I look past Midnight to see Mist coming up the stairs onto the roof. She has a plate of food with her. I've officially become the antisocial one of the bunch. Maybe I should get paid to eat with them like Volke.

"You didn't come down to eat, so I brought some food up for you," Mist says, coming over to sit next to me. "Why are you up here?"

"Just thinking about some things. Thanks," I say, accepting the plate of food. And the food is back to a decent quality now that we're not on the run. Go Oscar!

Mist's gaze goes to the setting sun as she pulls her knees up to her chest. "About leaving?"

"Hmm?" I question around a bite of food. Leaving?

"Well…now that the princess has reached Gallia, your mission is done, right?" Ah, that's what she meant. Of course, I knew the mission wasn't over yet, but the rest of them thought it was. "What will you do now?"

I took a few moments to think about it, if only to distract myself for a moment. "Well, Daein and Crimea aren't options, so maybe I'll visit Begnion. Maybe settle in some small village and become a farmer." That would be ridiculous, but what else would there be to do here? It's not like I can get a desk job here.

"What about joining us?" Mist asks, growing excited. "I'm sure you'll fit in. Soren and Shinon are like that with everyone, so you don't have to worry about them." Too bad things won't work out that way.

"I don't think Greil trusts me much," I point out, thinking back on how I had messed that up pretty badly.

"But you proved that you weren't a bad guy. Big brother will vouch for you. I'm going to start fighting as well." Mist the Valkyrie, a death dealing cleric. In the game, I always loved her class. Now, that thought takes on a whole new meaning as I look at this little girl. That's just wrong.

"But aren't you a little young to be fighting?"

"I'm fifteen!" Mist exclaims. Okay, older than I thought, but still too young. "I'm not that young! Swordfighting runs in my blood!"

I sigh, not surprised at the indignant remark. I always thought I was more mature than normal at her age as well. "Ability isn't all there is to it, Mist. You don't know until you've finally killed someone, but…that…that experience is something you'll have to live with the rest of your life. It isn't something someone as young as you should face." Here I am worrying about changing the story, and now I'm trying to convince Mist not to fight.

My statement does seem to at least sober her some. "I just…I just want to help Father. And brother and everyone else. I'm worried that something might happen to them if I'm not there."

"I'm sure they'll be fine. They're fighters, after all," I say, almost choking on the lie. Man, this is putting me on a guilt trip right now.

"But I feel like something is going to happen. Something bad. Father wasn't himself today, either." So I'm not the only one who feels this strange tension in the air.

I don't know how to respond to her, though. Sitting there, all curled up, she looks so defenseless and weak. And that's when it finally hits me. I know what I need to do. I can still remember the day I lost my dad. I'm not going to let someone else have to go through that.

"Don't worry, Mist. I'll make sure nothing bad happens," I tell her. "I'll make sure I'm there to fix it if anything goes wrong, so stop worrying."

"How can you be so certain?"

Uh… "Because, I promise to protect them, and I never break my promises." I felt like slapping myself as I gave her a big smile. That sounds like I pulled it right out of a battle manga.

It does seem to make Mist feel better, however, so oh well. "Thanks, Drake. You're the best!" Giving me a quick hug, she heads off back into the fort, her mood restored.

Yep. Talking with Mist had helped me make up my mind. Who cares about staying on the tracks? My very presence here is proof that the story is different. So if the story wasn't going to stay the same, then I would make sure to make it a happy ending all around. I won't let someone die on my watch, not if I can help it. Not after Daren. I don't want to experience that ever again, nor do I wish for the others to have to. They weren't just characters, they were people.

Watch out, Tellius. Tonight, I will change history. Tomorrow, the world.

-o-

AN: A mid-week chapter! Anyway, getting a few reviews right off the bat last chapter made me eager to get this out (though new cipher cards tried to pull me away).

So, lots of foreshadowing for next chapter. But, in the midst of all that, I dropped one small hint of foreshadowing for a moment about five chapters ahead, and only the most well-learned Tellius fans will probably catch it. Can anyone guess it?

9/5/17: Retconning Mist's age to her correct one.

Update: Few corrections, etc.