"Halt! Who goes there?!" A blonde woman in heavy plate leaned over the edge of the Longfort and glared death at the approaching Shepards, more importantly she glared at Chrom.
"In the name of House Ylisse, I seek audience with the khans!" Chrom made his statement as clear as he could and did his best to prevent the chill from causing his voice to tremble.
"Not another step, my bold lad! I've lancers at the ready!" The woman raised a hand and several knights appeared with javelins prepared and ready to loose.
"Hold, milady! We are not your enemy! Exalt Emmeryn herself sent us to discuss matters of mutual interest." Fredrick could see the situation was beginning to spiral and quickly tried to regain control.
"My only interest is keeping you out of Regna Ferox, brigand!" The woman spat out the word brigand as though she was cursing.
"B-brigand? Now see here…" Fredrick genuinely seemed to be thrown off balance by the statement. "How dare you! You are in the presence of Prince Chrom, the exalt's own blood!" Fredrick sounded genuinely infuriated and Corrin could draw comparisons between him and Jakob again.
"Ha! Yes, indeed—and I'm the queen of Valm! You do realize impersonating royalty is a capital offense, yes? Mmm... Then perhaps we should settle this the Feroxi way. You claim to be the prince Ylisse? Then prove it on the battlefield!" The woman seemed a little too happy that negotiations had broken down.
"Rgh... Emmeryn won't like this at all... Please, good lady! If you'd just listen…" Chrom stepped forwards before Fredrick could react the woman raised her arm.
"I've heard quite enough! Attack!" Her arm fell as it did the Javelins launched towards Chrom.
As the Javelins flew Corrin leapt forwards her Dragonstone glowing within seconds her large grey hide and black wings covered him, as they connected and ripped her wing leather she cried in agony before launching a large crystalline ball of magic towards the ramparts which caused the knights and their captain to fall back, as she breathed heavily Chrom looked up to her "Corrin?" before he could react Corrin's voice sounded distortedly "don't… stand there… run" Chrom did as he was told however he stopped instantly and turned to head back towards Corrin however as he did something swept him up and took him to the skies "Sumia?"
"Better hold on tight, Captain. Could get bumpy." As Sumia said that the tone of her voice assured Chrom that they weren't abandoning Corrin they were simply repositioning.
"Uh...right." Chrom looked around uncertainly.
"You'll be fine." Sumia smiled over her shoulder at Chrom who nodded.
"Sumia!" Chrom glared death at the Feroxi on the walls and drew Falchion.
"Right!" Sumia turned the Pegasus into a steep dive and landed Chrom next to the rest of the Shepards, with his feet back on solid ground Chrom looked around for Corrin and he was relieved to see her relatively unharmed although he quickly spotted the crimson staining her silver hair.
"Corrin! Are you okay?" Chrom rushed over to her and without thinking moved her hair aside and checked her shoulders, he moved her cloak aside and looked closely he grimaced as he saw crimson running down her bicep as she tried to stand up however she had clearly used up a lot of her strength while transforming "Maybe you should sit this one out"
"Ha… I'm fine… just give me a moment" Corrin struggled to catch her breath after a moment she stood and grimaced "I could do with a healing stave" she smiled at Chrom as she spoke attempting to lay his concern to rest.
"Lissa!" Chrom never took his eyes off of Corrin's wounds as the Shepards took up their positions and Lissa made her way over to begin healing Corrin, once he was sure Corrin was on the mend Chrom took up his position among the Shepards as he did he noticed that Robin had a look of sheer rage on her face her eyes never leaving the Feroxi defences.
Kill them…I'll kill them for what they've done… Robin bit down on her lip causing a small trickle of blood to run down her chin as she attempted to shake the burning hatred that threatened to consume her very being, as she fought it she could feel violet flames licking at her fingers once she realized them she snuffed them by clenching her hand tightly.
Out of the corner of his eye Chrom watched Robin carefully and once the Shepards began moving towards the Feroxi infantry Chrom came up with a plan of his own "Robin, could you stay back and protect Lissa and Corrin, we should be fine for a while just join the battle when you're ready" he felt more at ease as Robin nodded and took up a defensive position in front Lissa and Corrin.
As Chrom made his way to the left gate he ran into something… "Why do I feel like I'm being watched...?"
"Um, sir? ...Sir! Right here, sir!" a voice spoke from the snow around him as it did Chrom looked around and took a few cautionary steps backwards.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Chrom kept his voice strong although his heart was filled with fear was this some ghost or spectre or…
"I'm standing in plain sight, sir. Right he—" Chrom leapt backwards and placed his hand on his chest "BWAAAH! Oh! I-is that you, Kellam? When did you arrive?" Chrom sighed heavily and looked (roughly) where Kellam was.
"...The same time as you. I've been with you all along. Er, I AM still a Shepherd, right? It's quite the honour, after all. I'd hate to lose it. Sometimes I…" As he spoke Kellam seemed to begin to fade once more.
"Of course, Kellam. Forgive me. You're just so...quiet, I completely… uh…Kellam?" Chrom squinted against the snow trying to spot the huge armoured form of Kellam once more.
"Uh… I'm here sir… It's quite all right, sir, quite all right. I've been told I'm easy to miss." Kellam did his best to make sure that Chrom could see him.
"At least the Feroxi didn't find you." Chrom relaxed and squinted to try and keep Kellam in his sights.
"I've been calling to you and waving my arms for several minutes... I don't think they've so much as glanced this way." Kellam seemed somewhat dejected as Chrom looked to his right.
"You almost sound disappointed." Chrom spoke to the air to Kellams's left completely oblivious to the knight's presence once more.
"Well, I just... I'm glad you finally saw me! Just try to keep an eye out from now on?" Kellam turned and soundlessly made his way to the small Feroxi force that had gathered to try and slow the prince down.
Before Chrom could follow he heard the sound of footsteps and swung around only to have Corrin leap away from him and bump into Robin who had been following closely behind "Oh… Corrin did Lissa say you could fight?"
"Uh…" Before Corrin could finish her sentence Robin spoke "No she most certainly did not" the tactician pouted and crossed her arms "Her exact words were for Corrin to head back to the convoy and rest but no… the big bad dragon had to charge after you" Corrin turned red as Robin spoke and quickly decided to change the topic "So… the gates are locked right? I'd guess that there's probably a key among the defenders"
Chrom nodded "that's a sound theory however, there doesn't seem to be an officer among them and if we consider the toll the battle will take on us…"
Corrin nodded "Well then I have a plan… I can climb in there and unlock the gates"
Chrom looked shocked "You can do that? Corrin I know your skilled but…" he trailed off as Corrin touched her tome after the light faded, she stood there in a light black attire that showed her form better than her regular plate she had knee high greaves and a pair of light black and gold bracers, around her thighs were belts of throwing weapons that Chrom didn't recognize, on her back sat a weapon he did know it was her Yato, on one shoulder sat a mask that reminded him of a foxes face and to top off the ensemble she wore a long black scarf that covered her lower face, Chrom and Robin were blown away by her change, the tactician recovered first "So you mentioned you walked a lot of paths which one is this?" Robin spoke while trying to keep her voice level and her eyes above Corrin's neckline, the dragon queen rolled her shoulders and smiled "It's an elite trained path from my second home of Hoshido, they are specialist infiltrators that eliminated mages, they trained as Ninja prior"
Robin nodded "So they operate like anti-mage assassins?" the tactician already seemed to be thinking of the potential uses for such a specialist "What are they called?"
"Dread Fighters" As Corrin spoke the name of her path a dark blue aura seemed to emanate from her that had small crystal fragments within it and caused both Chrom and Robin to flinch.
"Well…Corrin if you believe you can do this then go for it we'll head for the gate" Chrom turned his focus back to the battle and began pushing towards the gate with Robin by his side.
As he and Robin… alongside a quiet defender in the form of Kellam… engaged the Feroxi infantry Chrom noticed how well the two of them fought together it was strange whenever he struck low lightning would arc forward to make up for his lack of guard.
"It already feels as though you've been a Shepherd forever. It's funny how fighting alongside someone speeds friendships along... And the more we fight side by side, the more valuable those friendships become." Chrom looked to Robin as he spoke and the tactician begrudgingly nodded she realized that when Corrin was out of the equation Chrom wasn't so bad, he was charming in his own way which irritated her as it meant that Corrin was going to spend more time with him, this revelation annoyed her further as it meant the she… no… it wasn't the time to focus on that Chrom had left his guard open again…
While the two of them fought the Feroxi off, Corrin made her way up the wall of the Longfort as she did she grimaced between the pain in her shoulders from the javelins and the slippery ice constantly causing her to lose her grip and forcing her to correct with her kunai once she did she continued up and over the wall of the Longfort as she stood one of the lancers from earlier looked straight at her, before he could raise the alarm she threw a series of Sting type shuriken which quickly pierced the thick armour pate that the knight wore causing him to soundlessly fall to the floor, Corrin checked to make sure he was still alive before heading for the gate, once she arrived she deftly opened the lock and peered out only to be shocked by what she saw, a group of unconscious Feroxi lay at the feet of Chrom and Robin the two of them stood back to back and out of breath, both of them smiled as they saw her "Uh… gates open guys lets go" Corrin was still trying to process the scene as they made their way up to the Longfort.
The other gate fell not long after the trio began pushing towards the fort commander and once the rest of the Shepards, Sumia included, were in the Longfort's defenders fell Vaike also claimed a hammer from somewhere… no one questioned it but it sped up the taking if the Fort, eventually they came face to face with the Fort's commander who stepped forward "You may truly be the Prince of Ylisse but I shall not yield until I've been felled"
Chrom stepped forward and drew Falchion "May at least know your name if this is to be a duel"
"Ha! I never said it was to be a duel but if these are your terms and you must know my name is Rami" The now named Commander took two heavy steps forward followed by another knight "And this is my second Layna, I shall let you name you second and we shall use Feroxi rules"
"Ah… what are Feroxi rules?" Chrom suddenly seemed unsure as he readied himself by twirling Falchion.
Fredrick stepped forward "The Feroxi rules dictate that all participants must partake in the duel milord, so your second should be someone you trust and that you believe will protect you" the knight straightened up in his saddle as he spoke.
"Right… Corrin I know you've been through a lot but would you do me the honours of being my second" Chrom smiled gently as he looked into Corrin's crimson irises.
"Uh… if you're sure then I would be honoured" Corrin tried to keep herself stable but her legs threatened to buckle under his gaze.
Chrom nodded and as the two of them took up their positions across from Rami and Layna, the Feroxi and Shepards formed a makeshift ring for the four of them, Fredrick looked slightly offended but signalled to the Feroxi across from him to begin the knight responded and the four combatants engaged.
Rami closed the distance with Chrom swiftly, the prince barely had time deflect the javelin thrust and before he knew it he was on the defensive parrying strike after strike every counter attack he attempted clashed against her shield, Falchion left its scars upon the steel, Rami barely flinched instead she redoubled her assault effort pushing Chrom further back as he retreated he glanced over to Corrin who seemed to be easily dealing with the Rami's lieutenant.
Corrin easily parried Layna's strikes before hopping up and balancing on the spear as it pierced the ground that she had been standing on "Damn it will you just stand still already!" Layna's frustrations were mirrored in her follow up attacks which Corrin steadily avoided and parried as she did she noticed something that troubled her Why am I toying with her? I could end this quickly and help Chrom… instead I'm treating her like a plaything… I need to end this now! With her mind made up Corrin ducked low and sprinted forward, she slid between Layna's legs and struck the back of Layna's knee with her Kunai before tapping her tome and placing Yato at the Feroxi woman's throat "I…I yield…" Corrin launched a flaming shuriken towards Rami which distracted the Commander long enough for Chrom to turn the tide.
Chrom took advantage of Rami being distracted to strike her spear breaking it he then followed up by spinning around and placing Falchion against Rami's throat the blonde Feroxi woman glared death at Chrom… after a few moments though she smiled and laughed "Ha you truly have proven your no bandit your highness! Please accept my apologies" Chrom was taken aback by her sudden change in attitude "Uh… its fine, Rami was it? We just need to see the Khan"
"Oh was that all?" Rami seemed slightly disappointed but stood up and looked to Layna "Hold down the fort I'll be back by the end of the day" Layna nodded as Lissa patched up her knee.
The Shepards led by Rami made their way towards the west Khan's palace as they made their way through the halls of the Khans palace, Corrin and Robin noted how sparse the decoration was most of the halls had a simple shield and swords or the occasional spear, the Khan's throne room was filled with various trophies from large Feroxi animals to ancient looking suits of armour once they stood in the centre of the throne room Rami turned to face the group "Prince Chrom please wait here while I summon the Khan"
Once Rami left Corrin spoke "Amazing. Her whole demeanour changed."
"In Ferox, strength speaks louder than words. I should have known better than to overestimate the value of diplomacy here..." Fredrick looked around cautiously as he spoke as if concerned they were about to be ambushed.
"So the khan is away?" Corrin changed the topic not wanting to linger on the topic.
"Out training, I'd wager. The khans of Ferox prefer battle to politics. Or rather, battle IS their politics." Chrom smiled at Corrin as he spoke clearly not being too uncomfortable in this place.
"A warrior ruler, eh? I can picture him now… A giant of a man of unparalleled might, his broad chest covered in hair, Hehe..." Robin's eye's glazed over slightly as she spoke.
"Am I now? ...Please, do go on!" A deep female voice that caused Corrin to blush spoke from across the room, when Corrin and Robin looked over both women swooned slightly at the sight of the Khan, a strong woman with tan skin and light blonde hair in white armour with red tints with a long shield on her muscled arm and a beaten up iron sword walked in with a wide grin.