An extremely self-indulgent work I wrote for shits and giggles, though ironically, I'm actually fairly proud of this. Completely unrelated to Challenging Fate, I just used this to take a break from that story whenever I felt I needed to. Explaining all the choices I made in an author's note would take waaayyy too long, so if you've got questions, ask in the comments. I'd be happy to answer them. Without further adieu, please Enjoy.
ACT 1
A New World
Emmeryn yawned and leaned into her mother's side, absently watching the man currently talking to her father, Exalt Nero, in the audience chamber, but not truly paying attention. Instead, she was daydreaming about her magic lessons. The healing arts and practical applications of magic were far more interesting than the man petitioning for more farmland or something. Alas, apparently, it was absolutely imperative for a seven-year-old princess to learn the ins and outs of ruling as early as possible.
She realized she had been daydreaming for too long when her barely-a-year old brother Chrom yanked on her hair, snapping her out of her thoughts, and she noticed the man being led out of the room. Emmeryn sat up and blinked to at least pretend to be paying attention as the next audience began.
To Emmeryn's surprise, a woman wearing a large cloak that looked Plegian in origin was ushered into the room under a guarded escort. Intrigued, Emmeryn watched as the woman knelt before her father.
"Rise, Plegian," the Exalt spoke with a sneer. "What business does one of your kind have in Ylisse?"
The woman rose, took a deep breath, and spoke in fluent Ylissean.
"Oh, Exalted one, I am not here today because of something I require. Rather, I came here because I believe that I have something that you would find useful."
Nero laughed. "And what might that be?"
"Information, milord," the woman replied. "I have information on the Grimleal you so despise. Information on their whereabouts, rituals, everything."
Emmeryn watched as her father leaned forward in his seat, a strange look on his face. "How on earth did you come across such information?"
The woman swallowed. "Originally, I was a simple farm girl living on the outskirts of Plegia. One day, the Grimleal appeared in my village, and the next thing I knew, I was being taken away from my family. I suppose something about me was desirable because I was trained in magic and tactics and promptly wed to the Grimleal's leader, Validar."
Emmeryn watched with rapt attention as the woman told her story, describing her treatment at the hands of the Grimleal, and felt her heart go out to the woman in empathy for all she had been through.
The woman paused her story and reached into her cloak, causing the guards to tense, only to simply open it, revealing two infants, no older than Chrom, swaddled and held close to her chest by a sling.
"All I wish for milord," she continued, "is a place where the children I was made to bear can grow safely. When I learned that my little ones were to undergo some dark ritual, I knew I had to flee with them for fear of their lives."
Emmeryn looked back at her father as he tapped his chin and thought about the woman's offer. He smiled wryly.
"Very well, Plegian. You have yourself a deal. I will grant you and your children sanctuary in return for your information on the inner workings of the Grimleal and Plegian politics. Now, I would know the name of my new military advisor?"
The woman smiled, relieved. "You are most generous, your grace. My name is Morgana, and my children are Robin and Reflet."