A/N: Hello and welcome everyone, to my new fanfic: Fugitives of Royal Blood. Yeah, I know I should be updating and finishing my other fanfics, but I just needed to post this one. Anyways, this is my version of Radiant Dawn Part 2: Of Countries and Kings. Lots of the dialog from this first chapter was directly quoted from the game, so I must give credit to for the game scripts. Umm... as for spoilers, since I quoted the game, this chapter may have spoilers... Oh, and this may become Elincia/Geoffrey, but we'll have to wait and see. Well, that's all I really have to say, so... on with the fic!

Fugitives of Royal Blood

A Fire Emblem Fanfiction

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Summary: What if the Greil Mercenaries never came to save Lucia at her execution? What if Elincia chose her retainer's life over the fate of her country? Well, then Duke Ludveck would be seated on the throne and the country of Crimea would be thrown into turmoil. Our queen and her retainers would be banished from what they thought was home, and the only way to get their country back, is to put everything–and everyone–on the line.

Chapter One

Elincia took a deep breath as she looked down upon the crowd from atop Castle Crimea; she had finally made her decision. "Rebel soldier! Hear me!" Her voice rang clear over the crowd, all eyes turning toward her. "Ludveck of Felirae, having conspired against the nation, will stand trial. As the queen and ruler of Crimea, I refuse to negotiate with those bent on destroying it."

A wave of silence fell among the crowd down below. No one was expecting this choice from their queen; even Geoffrey was taken aback at her choice.

"...So you're going to let this girl die?"

A smirk began to show on Lucia's face. "Hah!" she said under her breath.

"Sister..."

"I will be strong Lucia..."

Geoffrey turned to Elincia with an objection to be said. He hated seeing his sister in situations like this. "Your Highness, please... Lucia-" He cut himself off when he saw the clenched fist that rest at her side.

"Your Highness!" the rebel army announced. "Your trusted friend will now die. Let this burn forever in your memory!"

The young general turned his glance towards his sister, a sorrowful expression showing through his usual serious look. "I know Lucia would willingly die for her country; and that is the very thing that she's going to do," he mumbled to himself. "But how she can continue to hold her head up high, shows me that she isn't doing this with shame, but with pride."

Elincia found herself staring, completely captured by his words. But somehow, these words made her realize she didn't want this to happen.

"People of Crimea..." started Lucia, still holding onto her prominence.

The queen automatically turned her attention to the scene down below: Lucia, saying her final words, the rebel solders, ready to execute her, and the villagers demanding her release. She stood, unsure of what action to take. She swore to herself that she wouldn't turn back on her word, no matter what. But now that the time has come, everything seemed unclear.

"Geoffrey..." she said, a look of pity cloaked on her face.

"Behold, a true queen!"

"Is this right? ...Did I make the right decision?"

"Your queen!"

"I can't say anything to your resolve, for in the end, it's all up to you," Geoffrey replied, uncertain of what to say to his distraught queen.

"Long live Queen Elincia!" Lucia exclaimed, closing her eyes one last time.

Elincia was baffled, torn between two things which were more than very important to her. She wasn't sure on what to chose, which path to take. Her county, or her retainer; she didn't want to have to put one over the other, but she knew she would have to.

However, it didn't matter anymore; they already had Lucia hanging from the gallows. It was a painful sight to watch, but the pain they had, was nothing compared to what Lucia was suffering.

She couldn't breathe. Her lungs were burning as if they were on fire. Darkness slowly clouded her mind, and all other thoughts seemed to disappear. But through it all, she could still faintly hear the voice of her queen.

"Please..." she begged. "I must ask you to reconsider." Her sight became blurry as the tears started building up in her eyes.

"Us? Reconsider? Or are you saying that you are willing to release Duke Ludveck and abdicate you seat on the throne?"

There was a long pause of silence where Elincia could hear nothing more than her own heartbeat. "...Ye...y-yes" she finally stammered, adding a nod to give assurance.

Two soldiers gave each other a look. " Well, I trust you'll be able to keep you word..." He gave a nod to his companion, ordering him to cut the rope which had Lucia hung only seconds before. The girl's unconscious body fell back onto the ground and villagers soon crowded around.

"...Even if she no longer holds her life," he said, taking a look back at her, " The throne will belong to Duke–no, King Ludveck."

The sound of "King Ludveck" sent a chill down their spines. Elincia turned to look at Geoffrey, giving him a concerned look. He let out a sigh and said, "Well, it's too late to turn back now..."

A/N: ...This didn't turn out as great as I wanted it to, but I guess it's okay. Well, leave a review and it'll make me smile (well, that depends on what the reveiw says but... oh well...). It's nice to see what my readers think, you know? Well, until next time D

-Nami-san625