Author's note : More than 3000 views... Just Wow. Thank you all once again for your faith in this story and your feedback.

pt1oef : Thank you very much for your appreciation. About your questions, I can already tell that the Firekeeper will not appear, she stayed behind in the Dark. For the rest, wait and see. If you are still interested, I think I may ask you to beta-read the next chapter. This one was already done when I saw your comment again, sorry.

NightmareKnight1 : Glad to see I am making you curious. I hope what is following will keep you interested.

Goldspark1 : It is a lot past seduction at this point, but for sure the king is hoping for something. What exactly ? You'll see ! About your little theory, I am sadly forced to crush it right there : I established the reason of her continous youth before, and she does not possess either of the Dark rings, because she never met Yuria. As for why, it will be explained later in the story. But I must say, I thought about that possibility when I made the first draws for the story.

Guest : Don't worry, I have no intention of letting this story end unfinished !

End of my prattle, enjoy the story !

The Fiery Queen of Norh: Part 7

The royal apartments have many advantages. They are well guarded, perfectly placed in the height of Krakenburg, and quite comfortable. But they had one attribute making them a better place than any for Lora: they were isolated. Once she retreated here at dusk, after handling the vast amount of complaint, scheme and politics from peasant and nobility respectively, no one would disturb her unless it was as serious as a rebellion or war. Not that they were any at the moment if Hoshido was not accounted for. The training grounds were another place where she could enjoy brief peace, but duty compelled her to the royal apartments. After all, she had royal children to oversee.

''You are the ocean gray waves, destined to seek life beyond the chore just out of reach. Yet the water ever change, flowing like time. The path is your to climb...''

Soothing, the pure voice of Azura filled the room like a warm balm upon her tension. Compared to her mother the little princess still lacked depth and intensity. But it was beautiful nonetheless. Yes, it was something that she could listen without ever tire of it. In retrospective, she never gave Arete's song the admiration they deserved, something always clouding the performances. Something she had a hard time not recognizing as envy.

Lora carefully directed the dancing footstep, working the little princess's coordination. She made her sing and dance with a long wooden stick in hand, aiming to prepare her for martial training while still letting her practice song and dance. And she was doing great. While lacking the bulk princess Camilla was growing, Azura already displayed a good nimbleness predestining her to light weapons. There was little chance for her to become a knight but as a dancer or duelist she was promising.

''... White as a-Oh!''

The blue haired kid fell on the floor, destabilized by her own wide movements and barely managed to keep her grip on the stick.

''This will be enough for now.'' Decided Lora. ''Princess Camilla and prince Xander should return from the wyvern stable soon, as well as prince Leo from the library. Until that, princess, reflect on what error made you fall today.''

''Yes, lady Lora... May I continue singing?'' Asked Azura, eyes down.

''Of course princess.''

As the child started to sing again, the arm master thought back to her latest problem, one that was giving her headache: the death of lord Kayn. The old earl died peacefully in his bed, a loss she regretted. He had been a straightforward ally in the council, a loyal servant of the crown that helped her immensely in managing the other councils members. And now, there was an open seat in the close circle of Garon, and everyone in the court was fighting for it. Unending compliments about her fighting prowess, asking her to take their eldest son or daughter as retainers, offer of lands and treasures, and so on. Some even tried frankness, making a display of their military accomplishment, influence and loyalty. For now, she had no idea who to chose, and was very tempted to push it away until Garon return...

She was worried. It have been more than a month. Even taking in account the time needed for the king of Hoshido to come to Nestra, the potential negotiation between both king... It was taking too much time. She had to do something. But what? Send a messenger? It would make it look like she needed the king's help and would undermine her authority. Ask the mages? She didn't trust Iago at all, and chances were that he would use it as a lever against her sooner or later. Worst of all, she did not possess anything among her various artifacts that could help. This world was... Stable, she had no other word. Unlike Lothric -or rather Lordran as it was the true name of the ancient land of the Fire- the fog between worlds was impenetrable, and time was unalterable. Her white and red stone soapstone still held power, the mages testified it, but had no effect. Same for her red orb. Lora was consequently unable to use them to find Garon in spirit form, using the convoluted time to meet him, help him if necessary, and then coming back like she never left.

She never fully understood the process even after the explanation of the Firekeeper, but back then it helped here in helping many people. And right now, without even that, she was starting to wonder if she couldn't simply take the whole army and lead it toward Cheve... Her train of thought was disrupted by a gentle tune. The melody eased mind and body together, as the princess was singing a song of conquest and fate... A sudden whine derailed the song. Lora opened her eyes and lunged at the princess kneeling on the ground, out of breath and crying in pain, her gleaming pendant slowly losing its light.

''It hurt... It hurt...Mother it hurt...''

''Guard!'' Shouted Lora, prompting the coming of one man from the antechamber's door. ''Bring in a healer NOW!''

''Yes general!'' Quickly replied the soldier who then stormed out the room.

She was dangerously cold. Poison? Curse? She brought the princess into a velvet chair of the room. In an instants a physician was here alongside three guards, and the blue haired child was immediately examined. The healer checked the pulse, the forehead, used his staff of healing, gave her a small drink whose scent was familiar to Lora. A painkiller. The painful whines were slowly replaced by a quiet, sleepy breath, and the physician finally spoke.

''Milady, I am quite certain the princess life is not in danger.''

''What was the source of her condition?''

''I cannot say yet but I have suspicions.'' Honestly said the healer. ''It does not appear to be a disease or poison as she reacted well to healing magic. Sometimes those symptoms are signs of a curse but I highly doubt it's the case here. At least an intentional one.''

''She did use magic.'' Confirmed Lora without explaining further.

''Then it is highly possible that she misused it and cast a benign curse on herself. It happen often to untrained mages who messes with tomes they should not have touched. Some rest should help her get better soon, as well as some painkiller should she still feel pain.''

''… A good thing. You shall be rewarded in time. Leave now.''

''As milady command.''

The physician bowed and left with the guards, as Lora stayed with the princess, looking at her worriedly. She reminded herself of what happened. Just before princess Azura fell over, she was singing just like her mother did on this day, when water have been flowing in the air... And the pendant shining on her chest. For some time she pondered about it until the child moved, batting eyelids.

''Mother... Mother...'' She mumbled until completely awakening. ''Lady Lora? What happened?... I remember falling, but it doesn't hurt.''

''You fell, yes, and need to rest. But first, I need an answer. What did you do?''

The imperative tone made the little girl tremble and stutter, her usual composed figure gone under the influence of the herbs and shock.

''I wa-was just sin-singing, lady Lora, a-and you looked so dep-pressed. I-I just wanted to help you-you and sang like mo-mo-mother told me-e-e.''

Tears flew from her bright yellow eyes and the princess sobbed, twisting Lora's heart like a knife. Uncertainly the arm master knelt, rising her in hand mid-air. She stopped the motion and removed the gauntlet before finally reaching the moist cheek of the princess.

''Don't cry. I am not mad at you. Don't cry.'' She said wiping the tears, almost a plea. ''Please little princess, don't cry.''

''I miiss m-mother.'' Sniffed Azura.

The princess sobs became heartfelt cry and she threw herself into Lora's arm. The arm master weakly embraced Azura, uncertainty plaguing her in front of the situation and her own confused feelings. She just knew a thing, that she wished for those cries to stop. Finally, the tears ended. She tried to break off the embrace but the little arms gripped even more, and she kept the princess close.

''I ju-ust wanted to help.'' Said Azura again, voice muffled in her chest.

''I know, little princess. I am not mad at you, but what you did was dangerous. Did your mother warned you about it?''

''I... I can't tell you.''

''Why?''

''I promised. Before she left. I can't tell anyone, I promised it.'' Insisted the blue haired girl, gripping even more.

''Fine.'' Relented Lora, feeling resolve in the broken voice. ''But do not do it again without telling me.''

''I promise.''

A minute of silence only troubled by their two breath. One steady, the other calming, slowly but surely.

''Little princess, open your eyes.''

The girl looked up, and saw something in the palm of the woman holding her closely. A ring, a golden ring not made of a singular band, but instead of two little joined by coiled golden decoration. She loosened her grip and moved aside to see it better under the torchlight.

''This ring belonged to a princess, just like you. It will keep you warm and strong as long as you wear it.''

''Really?'' But it is too big for me.''

''Then try to put it on.'' Answered the arm master like there was nothing wrong.

The child took the ring between her finger, fascinated by its beauty and by the pleasant warmth it produced. Curious, she tried it and discovered it was perfectly adjusted to her finger. Stunned, she looked again at the arm master finger, bigger than her, then to the ring again.

''Ohhh.''

''Always keep it with you.'' Said Lora as she gently closed the little hand with her own unarmored one. ''Understood?''

''Yes, lady Lora. Thank you...''

And as the ring of the sunlight princess released his warmth through the body of the tired princess, she fell asleep once again into Lora's arm.

When the messenger came crashing into the council session, he have been met with a heated debate, just one stop from of becoming a melee of words. The open seat in the council was becoming an infested wound on Lora's rule: applicants pressed the matter at all opportunity, using to the last bit of their influence to increase their chance of getting it over their competitors, to the point of slowing down every other matters at hand. However, when the message was delivered, it instantly swept everything in its path.

''King Sumeragi of Hoshido is dead. Our majesty Garon order the army of Nohr to join him at the Bottomless Canyon to invade Hoshido, under the command of general Lora.''

The castle immediately fell into frenetic preparations. Messengers on wyvern were send to the country and at all corner of the country, every lord and lady of Nohr rallying their troops, all of them hoping to get the lion's share of glory, land and wealth from the conquest. With an iron fist Lora organized the fastest march she could, requisitioning food and opening the granaries prepared for such opportunity. The royal children were left behind in Krakenburg, Xander taking the governing seat as a test of his leading skills. Lora sharpened her weapons. It will be the first prolonged war she fight in since the demon war, and nothing was as important as her weapon in those moments. Her armor was also a major cause of thinking. Hoshidian weapon were mostly light and quick, making her dancer armor less effective. The armor of the fearsome black knight of Gwyn covered every inch of her body and was a lot more effective in those case, in fact it have been the one she used in large battle most of the time. But... As the Bottomless Canyon was getting closer and closer, she found herself thinking about a particular set of armor. One she asked Andre to repair, polish, restore, and yet never wore. Was it the right moment? Was it right at all? In what seemed like a blink, the king's banner was on view.

''Send the order to set light camps. Everything must be in order when the bulk of the troops arrive.''

''Yes general!'' Said the riders close before splitting to convey the order as a royal guard approached.

''General, good to see you again. The king is in the command tent.''

The tent was big enough to tower above all the rest, especially in the faint eastern sunlight. It took mere minutes for her to reach it inside the buzzing activity of the camps and the guards saluted her as she walked into. The king was here alongside four guards, leaning over a large map. It was at this moment that it stroke Lora. The blond hairs fully turning gray. Wrinkles appearig around the eyes. Her lord was aging. Truly and irreversibly.

''My king.''

Garon rose his eyes from the map, his face softening as he looked upon his prized general. His gaze crossed along her face, briefly stopping at the long ornamented cape.

''Lora. You are liking my gift, I see. How are the children? And Ania?''

''Xander is slowly accustoming to Siegfried.'' Answered Lora, relieved to banish her previous thoughts with something else. ''Camilla is already petting baby wyverns, I don't think much time will pass until she take one as her future mount. Leo is reading books most of the time. Azura is getting better, and also pampered by Camilla at every occasion. Lady Ania is fine, if tired.''

''I see. I also received reports that you well managed the kingdom in my absence. Good work.''

''It was my duty... Even though I disliked a lot of it.'' She said, making the king's smile grow wider.

''You certainly did. I am almost surprised you didn't duel anyone to crush the opposition.''

''I was very tempted sometimes.'' Begrudgingly admitted Lora before deciding to set things up. ''Garon, what exactly happened in Cheve? Your messenger was not very specific.''

The mood immediately fell, all traces of playful attitude disappearing from the king as he seemed to age even more while telling about what happened.

''Sumeragi took more time to come than we thought, leaving me ample time to force an encounter in a rural town he passed by. I proposed him alliance, offers I carefully devised for so long... I proposed peace, I proposed an alliance, to share our long opposed culture. I even offered reparation! And that arrogant self-righteous bastard didn't even bother to listen. Saying that his country was perfectly self sufficient, that they had no reason to change their way of life, didn't care for anything outside their borders and that we could all die of hunger like beggars for what we did to his people for centuries!'

The king's hand clutched as he snarled those last words, the metal gauntlet leaving scars on the wood table. Before he said it Lora already grasped what happened, and kept silence to let Garon vent his anger.

''I told my men to open fire. They nailed him on the dirt with arrows until I slit his damnable throat myself, and made my men pursue his personal guards. Unfortunately at least one of their ninjas escaped, but there was a fortuitous taking.''

The king moved toward the pile of coat and fabric that made for a bed in campaign, oddly flanked by a guard. Lora then noted something. There was something there, no someone, and she followed Garon to see him kneel and remove the blanket... To reveal a child. A little girl with pale complexion and long white hair, and strangely two pointed ears, sleeping peacefully. Surprised, Lora studied her features, noting that she should be around the same age as Azura. She then saw something that connected the dots inside her head: the girl was wearing a rich hoshidian dress.

''A daughter of Sumeragi.''

''The middle daughter, according to our spies.'' Confirmed Garon. ''My mages keep her from awakening most of the time. She should prove herself useful.''

''Are you thinking of using her as hostage?'' Questioned Lora, kneeling as well to look at the child more closely.

''Maybe. And should the rest of the hoshidian royal family be wiped out, marrying her to Xander or Leo would give us control of the throne of Hoshido.''

A very probable scenario, she thought. The hoshidians warriors were extremely honor-bound and Lora have seen a lot of samurais suicide rather than letting themselves captured. For the royal family to follow that code was unfortunately more than likely after the death of the king.

''Is she truly human? Her appearance and soul are strange.''

''The dragon blood have done stranger transformation to some of our ancestors, and it must be especially strong in this child, making her an even more valuable asset.'' Assumed the king before covering the child again. ''Let us leave this aside for now.''

''Yes, we do have much to plan.'' Agreed Lora as they came back to the map. ''Was there any movements in the hoshidian forts?''

''Their soldiers retreated, however they may have left traps...''

They went into the different matters that was waiting ahead, what they could already do before the majority of the troops came. The king was ready to use the dragon vein to widen some of the natural bridge between the two sides of the Bottomless Canyon, but until Lora came with the wyverns they couldn't scout efficiently the other side. A messenger was quickly sent with the orders to scout any hoshidian or ambush that could wait the army and to eliminate if necessary, using their new bows to out-range enemy archers and pegasus.

''You never told me in detail how much... Trouble, those bows gave you, did you?'' Teased Garon, making Lora groan as she remembered how many time she was killed by a single giant arrow. He chuckled before pointing the map. ''As soon as we enter Hoshido, we will have a massive advantage. There is only few forest and hills, the rest is plane fields that will massively favor our cavalry.''

''Yes. But there is still one major problem.'' Said the general as she tapped a circular line around the hoshidian capital, Castle Shirasagi. ''Can't you simply make the Wall fall apart?''

''I doubt it. Like the fortifications of Krakenburg, it must be permeated with the Dragon Vein's power. Our best best is the use of siege engines.''

''Building them would take much time. What about from the sea?''

''There are abrupt cliffs all around their coast. And our spies assured they can easily close their port.''

Focused on the map, Lora circled slowly around the outline with her finger. The Great wall of Suzanoh. A massive fortification circling the hoshidian capital, described as a wonder of architecture more than twenty meter high, said to be impenetrable even by the strongest army of the continent, the army in question being Nohr's. Apart from the Bottomless Canyon, it was the only true obstacle of their conquest. Until they submitted the royal family and the capital, the hoshidian people would continue to fight. And that was the principal issue of the whole oncoming conflict. On a regular battlefield Norh was peerless, their heavily armored soldiers trampling over their lighter equipped enemies with discipline and strength. But the Great Wall negated all of those advantages. It was the only true fortification of the country that could resist them, but it alone could transform the lightning fast victory they expected into a long, bloody campaign.

''I can infiltrate the Wall.''

''No, you won't.'' Immediately rejected Garon.

''I have done such things in the past.'' Argued Lora, already thinking of the losses a siege would bring.

The hand of Garon reached her own, firm yet gentle grip asking rather than demanding as their gaze met and locked into each other. There was something more than just the refusal of her request.

''And how many time did it worked?''

''How many time did you die trying?''

''Sometimes. But it could be the best option.''

''Even though I may die, I would bring you victory.''

Such words were meaningful only to them. How could anyone else understand? Only him knew. Only him knew who she was. What she have been. And what she did.

''We will overcome the Wall, even if it is with a long siege. There is no necessity for such a rash action whose consequences could be disastrous.''

''You may be captured or killed, and it would be for nothing. You can't come back like you used to.''

''I know. But for the sake of Nohr, I may have to seize the chance to end it once and for all.''

''I made peace with my own death long ago. If it is the way I have to serve, then I will.''

''To see you die would be a waste for Nohr, greater than the less of any soldier. You are my first general and advisor, arm master of the royal family. All those matter to the kingdom.''

''You are not a sacrificial pawn anymore. You are precious to me, to my children.''

''Your death is what must be avoided at all cost, my lord, and a siege will increase the risk tenfold. It is my sworn oath as your knight, and I will honor it regardless.''

''I won't bear the death of another liege. I won't let that happen, I won't see you die before me even if it mean my own end!''

The grip of Garon's hand tightened when she pronounced his title instead of his name.

''I know of your worry. But it is time to let it go, general.''

''There are still time left. Time for us to enjoy, to truly live before I go. Don't let the past devour you and make us part in pain.''

She was shaking, just lightly, but enough for him to feel it as they were, hand on hand, the shell of steel around her heart painfully cracking under the pressure of her emotions. She wanted to accept it. To just leave it all in the dark it belonged to. And her weakness made it so painful to see the love in his eyes, that promise of something she wished for so long.

''When this war will come at an end, I will ask it to you once again. Until then, do not throw yourself away.'' Concluded Garon.

Their hand and gaze pulled apart, duty coming once again first. But the last words of the kings stayed in Lora's mind. What may have been the greatest goal of the regency he gave her, just like lady Anïa said. His last question, lacing his expectations and every of her doubts.

''Will you accept to stand at my side as my queen?''

Thank you for reading. Please leave a review, it help and motivate at the same time !