No, you're not dreaming. It's not a miracle either, although it seems like it (even to me!). Kiri-Ryu has actually UPDATED! gasp
Well, it's been close to two years, what can I say? Well, I suppose I can start with "Sorry". I really just lost inspiration to write. A lot of things have happened, and I just wasn't able to write anything. Oh, and I really had no idea what I wanted to do with this chapter either. A number of times rewriting the same thing over and over again just drained me. So, I let it go, and I regret that, since I do love this story.
So, I suppose you want to know what's happened to me. (Or not... feel free to skip to the story.) Well, I've finished school, and find that I miss writing essays. (Oh how ironic, hehe) I've started playing World of Warcraft, and that takes up a lot of my free time. Um, I've moved out of my parent's house and I am now sharing a house with my older brother. A few moths ago we bought a Kitten and I love her with the entirety of my heart. I also have a job, but it's pretty crappy. I've suffered from a little depression but I'm pretty much over it.
As for this chapter, well, I got the idea for it around 4 hours ago, and I couldn't stop writing. It's not as long as some of my other chapters, but I've only just gotten into writing again. I might revisit it later, depending on how I feel and of course how you guys feel. Oh, I currently don't have a spell checker, and though I've proof read it, there still might be some errors.
(Heh, of course probably none of my old readers are going to see this.)
Disclaimer: You know, I probably don't have to write this... Oh well, I don't own the rights to Fire Emblem or anything related to it.
A Fire Emblem fanfic by Kiri-Ryu
Chapter Ten: A Chance Meeting
(Rei)
Perhaps my hasty journey towards Bern was not such a good idea.
For the past month, I had traveled towards the border of Bern, occasionally finding employment as a guard for traveling caravans, but mostly on foot. But as I now look up at the towering mountains separating Bern from Lycia, I begin to think that rushing towards my fate might not have been a wise idea. I had stocked up on food and other supplies at the last town I had visited, but I had only bought enough to just make it to the next town, which lay over the mountain range and into Bern territory.
I would not have been too worried if the passes though the spine of mountains were still clear, however the xenophobic emperor of Bern decided to destroy most of them, with the few remaining constantly patrolled by a platoon of Wyvern Knights and ground soldiers. I dare not risk exposing myself to them so soon, I doubt a traveler proficient in Dark Magic would receive a warm welcome.
And yet... as I look towards the jagged mountains before me, I cannot help but think that my thirst for power will lead me to a cold, lonely and gruesome death.
I shoulder my backpack, full of preserved food along, some firewood and, of course, my Flux tome and research notes. I look up once again at the mountains before me, take in a deep breath, and start my long trek towards my destiny.
I know not how long I have been walking for. My hands and feet are numb from the harsh, bitterly cold wind that screams at me. I can barely remember the world that was full of light and warmth... Was that real? Does the sun actually exist, and is there something other than wind and snow? Or was is just a delusion conjured from a mind driven insane by this endless world of snow, wind and jagged mountain rocks. I can't even remember why I'm traveling though this hell, only that I must do it.
I take another step, one that seems to take an eternity. I cannot feel it hit the ground, my feet lost feeling a long time ago. I suck in a deep breath, trying to draw live saving air into my lungs. Each time I breathe in, it seems I'm getting less and less air. My head swims, nothing makes sense anymore. Perhaps I should just stop? I'm so tired, and sleep seems so warm, so comforting.
No.
I must go on, I have to keep going. To stop would kill me. I lift my leg again, and eons pass as I take another step.
Sheets of snow buffet me, blinding me with white. I wave my hand in front of my face, but the snow and ice just dance away, only to come back to torment me again. Blasted snow, it torments me, teases me, sucks away my life and laughs at each stumble. Before me eyes, the tormenting snow gains shape, form, shifting into a miniature wyvern-No, a dragon! Hundreds of the creatures swarm around me on wings made of snow, laughing at me, dancing around me, biting at my hands, legs and my head. I roar at them, swipe at them, attack them with my magic. But they always evade my attacks, laughing all the while, mocking me and ripping at my face and fingers.
Shadows appear in the background, faceless things that point at me in accusation. They open their mouths and moan with the wind, revealing bright red mouths that drip onto the snow like rubies, or blood. I cannot stand their gazes anymore, I try to lash out at them, sending a ball of darkness spiraling towards them. They absorb it, growing larger with its power. Their wail, becomes louder, I can almost hear words in it. I scream at them to stop, but they just get louder again.
I clasp my hands over my ears and flail around. The ice dragons filter away from my thrashing, but return to tear away at my flesh. I gaze down at the blanket of snow below me, only to see faces rise out of the snow, forming. They are the faces of bandits, nameless people on the streets, even Father is among them. Their lifeless eyes gaze at me in contempt. I turn around, trying to escape their gaze, only to see the face of Lugh. Unlike the others, I see only pity in his eyes. I scowl, I don't need his pity! Who does he think I am? A babe that cannot defend himself? I feel my rage well up inside me and I use it to fuel my Magic. A cloud of dark energy forms around my right hand, crackling with fury. I swipe at his face, trying to eradicate it, to destroy his pity. My balance suddenly fails me as I lean forward to attack him.
I fall.
The snow explodes around my face. It's so cold that it rends at my face, perhaps I landed on a swarm of dragons? And yet... It feels so warm and comfortable, like a pillow so soft that my face simply melts into it. Darkness swarms around the edge of my vision, and I can barely keep my eyes open. Slowly, my eyelids close, and my breathing slows until it seems just a whisper. I feel warm hands wrap a blanket around me, a blanket that is chillingly cold... No, it's as warm as the fireplace where I was dozing before. A faint kiss is planted upon the back of my head, and a voice whispers for me, her angel, to sleep peacefully.
Darkness envelops me, and I fall into a deep slumber.
The smell of cooked beef wafts though my nostrils, rousing me to wakefulness. I open my eyes slowly, and look around. Rough stone walls of a cave greet me, the red and yellow flickering of a fire illuminate it, giving it an ethereal feeling. Memories hit me: never ending snow and wind, and something more. Faces perhaps... Dragons? Did I see dragons in these mountains? Bah, impossible. My memory of these mountains and my days in them are patchy at best, they were probably delusions.
I try to stand up, only to have my feet suddenly burst into unexpected pain. I cried out, and fell down. My head bumped into a soft, hairy object, which snorted.
"Hey! You finally awake"
I looked up to find a strange face looking down at me, concerned but at the same time slightly amused.
"No," I reply to him. "I'm still in a deep sleep, running away from flesh eating tulips"
"Hey, no need to be sarcastic, just asking that's all." The strange man snorted, then disappeared from my field of vision. I turned my head, trying to see where he went, only to look into a wall of short brown fur. I touch it curiously, causing it to snort again. I look to see a horse's head swivel around to look at me. I sigh, cursing my foolishness. I try to stand again, but the pain in my feet returns and I am forced to sit back down again.
"I wouldn't try that if I was you friend" Said the man from behind me. "Your feet are pretty badly hurt. I tried all I could, but bandages and vulneraries can do only so much"
"What happened to me?" I asked him.
"Dunno really." He replied. I heard a sloshing sound, and the aroma of beef and cooked vegetables once again invaded my senses. My stomach rumbled and I realized for the first time how hungry I was.
"I found you half buried in the snow a couple of days ago, almost frozen to death. I've been carrying you through the mountains... Well, technically my horse Firebolt was doing that, but anyway I've been nursing you to health since. You're actually quite lucky, you almost lost your feet to frostbite. But my superior skills managed to save them. They'll still be sore for a few days though"
He sounded cocky, sure of himself, but I suppose that he had the right to, if he was telling the truth. A bowl was suddenly pushed into my hands, filled to the brim with a thick beef and vegetable stew. I wolfed it down with the tenaciousness of a starving man.
When I finally finished my meal, I looked up at the man who had saved my life. He looked to be in his mid twenties, and was in good health. He had long purple hair, reaching to just below his shoulders, which was kept out of his eyes by a thin bandanna tied twice around his forehead. His eyes were the same colour as his hair, and they shined with arrogance and, strangely enough, mirth. He was garbed in a long green coat, with a black undershirt and grey-white pants. He was draped in gaudy jewelry: a long necklace around his neck, numerous rings on a few of his fingers and quite a number of bracelets. He also had a thick winter cloak around him, but I suspect he was only wearing it to keep the cold away.
"Was it good?" He asked me with a cocky smile. "If not, then you probably should have bought some better food along"
"You used up my food to make this?!" I growled at him.
"Hey now, no need to stab me with those daggers in your eyes!" He backed away, waving his hands at me in self defense. "You've still got plenty more in your backpack, and I used quite a bit of my supplies as well. Together, we have more than enough to make it over the mountain"
I glared at him for a while longer then snorted and turned my head away. I did not want to travel with someone else, but the state of my feet as well as my supplies made it impossible not to.
"More stew?" He asked me. Wordlessly I handed him my bowl, which he refilled. I ate slower this time, brooding over this turn of events.
"Where in the mountains are we?" I asked him between mouthfuls.
"Just a couple of days from the Bern side. We're actually following an old, forgotten pass, which is why I can take Firebolt through." He sat down across from me, a bowl in his hands and started eating.
"By the way," He spoke to me, his mouth half full. "What's your name? I'm Hugh by the way." He swallowed and grinned at me. "Perhaps you've heard of me, I'm a pretty famous mage around these parts"
I raised my eyebrow at this, if he was pretty famous then why was he using an old forgotten path? I suppose I shouldn't be making generalizations.
"Rei" I replied to him. "My name is Rei"
"Well, nice to finally meet you Rei." He offered me his hand, almost knocking his stew over in the process. I glared at the hand until he withdrew it. I suppose I should be grateful to him for saving my life, but there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. Hugh returned to eating his meal.
I finished the bowl and put it to the side. A weariness washed over me, and I stretched out my legs and yawned. I pillowed my head against the roan horse's flank and let sleep envelop me again.
For the next three days, I traveled on the back of Firebolt, Hugh's horse. I would have preferred to walk, but my feet were still tender and they hurt to walk on. In the afternoon of the third day, we emerged from the mountain range. Fields or green and yellow grass greeted us, with trees loosing their leaves to the bitter autumn wind. For the first time in a long while, I was overwhelmed by the sight before me. I had been in those snowy, jagged mountains for what seemed to be an eternity. Seeing something other than white and gray... well, it overwhelmed me.
We continued forward into Bern until sundown. Hugh set up a camp, cooked up a simple meal, then fell asleep fairly early in the morning. His company had been bearable... just. I waited until I could hear his snores, then I carefully stood up. My feet throbbed with pain, but I could now bear it. I hobbled over to the fire to warm myself, then I looked over at Hugh again. It was time to take my leave.
I hobbled over to Firebolt, then saddled him up. I untied Hugh's saddlebags though, I had no need of his junk. Curiosity got the better of me though, and I looked though them. For the most part it was pretty generic traveling gear. Flint and tinder, spare clothes, a sewing needle and thread just to name a few things. However, buried down at the bottom of one of the bags was something most unusual. A tome of dark magic.
Why would Hugh have this? He was clearly an Anima mage, I had seen him light campfires with a small fire spell. Well, whatever the reason, I silently placed it in my own backpack. He didn't need it, and it was clearly different from my own.
I mounted Firebolt and nudged him forward. We silently left the camp, heading roughly in an eat direction. With this horse, I would easily be able to make it to the capital in a week or two.
Soon, I would discover for myself the truth to Bern's dragons.
Rei! Hehe, I remember how much I miss writing about him.
I'm very sorry if I haven't gotten the characters personalities right, but I haven't played Fire Emblem in a long time. Because of this, it might be a while before the next chapter appears, I want to play a bit of FE6 again before I start. I have an idea of what I want to happen, but I want to make sure I get the characters right.
Chapter Eleven: A Home Shattered (Lugh's POV)
Hopefully it won't be too long in the making. Please Review if you enjoyed it :)