The tournament arena erupted into controlled chaos as both sides engaged. The Shepherds moved with practiced coordination, their newest members fitting into their strategy as if they'd trained together for years.
"RADIANT LANCE!" Odyn called out, his magic crystallizing into weapons of pure light that provided covering fire for Frederick's cavalry charge. The opposing swordmaster was forced to break position, creating an opening that Vaike and Khanna immediately exploited.
"Your form is weak!" Khanna declared, her axe meeting her opponent's blade with overwhelming force. The swordmaster's eyes widened as he was driven back step by step, clearly unprepared for such raw power from what he'd assumed was a relatively slight opponent.
The dark mage attempted to take advantage of the chaos, dark magic gathering at their fingertips - only to find their spell interrupted by Roy's precision lightning strikes. "Not today," he said with a grin, electricity crackling around him like a living thing.
At the center of it all, Chrom and Marth circled each other, identical swords gleaming in the arena light.
"Where did you learn to wield that blade?" Chrom demanded, their weapons meeting in a shower of sparks. "It shouldn't be possible!"
Marth parried with familiar grace. "I told you - my father taught me. Everything I know came from him."
Something in those words caught Sarai's attention. She moved forward, placing a hand on Chrom's shoulder. "Let me take this one," she said softly.
"Sarai, I-"
"Trust me," she met his eyes. "Some battles need to be fought for reasons beyond victory."
Chrom studied her face for a moment, then nodded slowly. "The others could use my help with that swordmaster anyway." He turned to join the main battle, but not before adding, "Be careful."
"Now who's worrying about whom?" she called after him with a slight smile.
As Sarai turned to face Marth, she noticed something telling - the masked swordsman had tensed up in a way that hadn't happened while facing Chrom. There was nervousness there, perhaps even... recognition?
"Shall we dance?" Sarai asked, her blade igniting with its characteristic crimson flames. But her tone was gentler than usual, almost... understanding.
Marth's response was to attack, but the strike lacked the confidence shown against Chrom. Sarai parried easily, noting how her opponent's style shifted subtly - less like Chrom's now, more... defensive.
"You know," Sarai said conversationally as they exchanged blows, "it's interesting how some traits pass down through families. Fighting styles, for instance." She pressed forward with a combination that forced Marth to respond instinctively. "Or the way someone carries themselves when they're trying to hide something."
Marth faltered slightly, and Sarai saw it - a flash of blue beneath the mask, a familiar determination in those briefly visible features.
Around them, the battle continued to rage. Chrom had joined Khanna and Vaike in pressing the swordmaster, while Odyn and Roy coordinated their attacks to keep the dark mage off balance. Lissa and Maribelle provided support from the rear, their healing magic ready when needed.
But here in their own pocket of the battlefield, Sarai and Marth's duel had become something more intimate - less a tournament battle and more a conversation through combat. Each strike posed a question, each parry offered an answer neither could speak aloud.
"You don't have to carry this burden alone," Sarai said quietly, their blades locked together. "There are those who would understand... who might even be able to help."
"I..." Marth's voice wavered for the first time since they'd met. "I can't. The future I'm trying to prevent-"
"Can be changed through trust as much as through secrecy," Sarai finished, her eyes full of meaning. "But I understand why you've chosen this path... Lucina."
The name was spoken so softly that even Marth barely heard it, but its effect was immediate - a barely perceptible flinch, a moment of shock that created just enough of an opening for Sarai to end their duel with a decisive strike that sent Falchion's twin clattering to the ground.
As Marth yielded, Sarai offered a hand up with a warm smile. "Your secret is safe with me... for now. But remember - you're not the only one fighting to protect those you love."
Around them, the tournament's outcome had been decided. The Shepherds stood victorious, having proven themselves worthy champions for the East-Khan. But as Marth retrieved their sword and stepped back, exchanging one last meaningful look with Sarai, it was clear that this battle had decided far more than just political power in Regna Ferox.
The tournament arena erupted into controlled chaos as both sides engaged. The Shepherds moved with practiced coordination, their newest members fitting into their strategy as if they'd trained together for years.
"RADIANT LANCE!" Odyn called out, his magic crystallizing into weapons of pure light that provided covering fire for Frederick's cavalry charge. The opposing swordmaster was forced to break position, creating an opening that Vaike and Khanna immediately exploited.
"Your form is weak!" Khanna declared, her axe meeting her opponent's blade with overwhelming force. The swordmaster's eyes widened as he was driven back step by step, clearly unprepared for such raw power from what he'd assumed was a relatively slight opponent.
The dark mage attempted to take advantage of the chaos, dark magic gathering at their fingertips - only to find their spell interrupted by Roy's precision lightning strikes. "Not today," he said with a grin, electricity crackling around him like a living thing.
At the center of it all, Chrom and Marth circled each other, identical swords gleaming in the arena light.
"Where did you learn to wield that blade?" Chrom demanded, their weapons meeting in a shower of sparks. "It shouldn't be possible!"
Marth parried with familiar grace. "I told you - my father taught me. Everything I know came from him."
Something in those words caught Sarai's attention. She moved forward, placing a hand on Chrom's shoulder. "Let me take this one," she said softly.
"Sarai, I-"
"Trust me," she met his eyes. "Some battles need to be fought for reasons beyond victory."
Chrom studied her face for a moment, then nodded slowly. "The others could use my help with that swordmaster anyway." He turned to join the main battle, but not before adding, "Be careful."
"Now who's worrying about whom?" she called after him with a slight smile.
As Sarai turned to face Marth, she noticed something telling - the masked swordsman had tensed up in a way that hadn't happened while facing Chrom. There was nervousness there, perhaps even... recognition?
"Shall we dance?" Sarai asked, her blade igniting with its characteristic crimson flames. But her tone was gentler than usual, almost... understanding.
Marth's response was to attack, but the strike lacked the confidence shown against Chrom. Sarai parried easily, noting how her opponent's style shifted subtly - less like Chrom's now, more... defensive.
"You know," Sarai said conversationally as they exchanged blows, "it's interesting how some traits pass down through families. Fighting styles, for instance." She pressed forward with a combination that forced Marth to respond instinctively. "Or the way someone carries themselves when they're trying to hide something."
Marth faltered slightly, and Sarai saw it - a flash of blue beneath the mask, a familiar determination in those briefly visible features.
Around them, the battle continued to rage. Chrom had joined Khanna and Vaike in pressing the swordmaster, while Odyn and Roy coordinated their attacks to keep the dark mage off balance. Lissa and Maribelle provided support from the rear, their healing magic ready when needed.
But here in their own pocket of the battlefield, Sarai and Marth's duel had become something more intimate - less a tournament battle and more a conversation through combat. Each strike posed a question, each parry offered an answer neither could speak aloud.
"You don't have to carry this burden alone," Sarai said quietly, their blades locked together. "There are those who would understand... who might even be able to help."
"I..." Marth's voice wavered for the first time since they'd met. "I can't. The future I'm trying to prevent-"
"Can be changed through trust as much as through secrecy," Sarai finished, her eyes full of meaning. "But I understand why you've chosen this path... Lucina."
The name was spoken so softly that even Marth barely heard it, but its effect was immediate - a barely perceptible flinch, a moment of shock that created just enough of an opening for Sarai to end their duel with a decisive strike that sent Falchion's twin clattering to the ground.
As Marth yielded, Sarai offered a hand up with a warm smile. "Your secret is safe with me... for now. But remember - you're not the only one fighting to protect those you love."
Around them, the tournament's outcome had been decided. The Shepherds stood victorious, having proven themselves worthy champions for the East-Khan. But as Marth retrieved their sword and stepped back, exchanging one last meaningful look with Sarai, it was clear that this battle had decided far more than just political power in Regna Ferox.
Sarai stood at one of the fortress windows, watching the spot where "Marth" had disappeared into the swirling snow after their duel. Her words still echoed in her mind: "Dark Elven blood recognizes its own kin. I don't know why you choose to hide it, but I will keep your secret for the time being."
The look on Marth's - no, Lucina's - face in that moment had been telling. Shock, recognition, and perhaps a hint of relief, all carefully masked beneath that stoic facade. But you couldn't hide such things from someone who understood the weight of carrying secrets.
"Deep thoughts?" Odyn's voice pulled her from her reverie.
"Just... processing our victory," she replied carefully. The urge to share what she'd learned with her siblings was strong - they'd always shared everything. But a promise was a promise, and something told her that Lucina's secret needed to remain just that... for now.
"Ha! Oho! Now that's what I call a battle!" The booming voice of Khan Basilio filled the great hall as he approached the victorious Shepherds. Despite his recent loss of power, the West-Khan's grin was genuine as he clapped Chrom on the shoulder hard enough to make the prince stumble. "You've got some real warriors in your ranks, boy!"
"Thank you, Khan Basilio," Chrom responded diplomatically, trying not to wince. "Your champions fought admirably as well."
"Speaking of champions," Lissa piped up, looking around, "where did Marth go?"
"Bah, that one comes and goes like the wind," Basilio waved dismissively. "Though I'd love to know where they learned to fight like that..."
Sarai caught Flavia's knowing smirk as the newly-reinstated Khan approached. "What matters is that I'm back in power, which means Regna Ferox can grant Ylisse the alliance you seek." Her expression turned more serious. "And from what I hear of Plegia's recent movements, it's not a moment too soon."
"Then our mission here is accomplished," Frederick stated, though his ever-vigilant expression suggested he was already planning their next moves.
Khanna moved to stand beside Sarai at the window. "You learned something during that duel," she said quietly. It wasn't a question.
"Perhaps," Sarai answered with a slight smile. "But sometimes knowledge is like a seed - it needs time in darkness before it can grow into something meaningful."
"More cryptic wisdom?" Roy joined them, raising an eyebrow. "You're starting to sound like Mother."
The mention of their mother brought a moment of shared silence between the siblings, heavy with unspoken memories. In the background, they could hear Chrom and the Khans discussing military strategies and supply lines, but their thoughts were elsewhere.
"Whatever secrets our mysterious swordsman carries," Odyn said finally, "I trust your judgment on when - or if - they should be revealed."
Sarai nodded gratefully. The burden of knowing Lucina's identity - and the hints of Dark Elven heritage that apparently ran through the Ylissean royal line - was heavy enough. But knowing her siblings trusted her judgment made it easier to bear.
"Well then," Khan Flavia's voice rose above the general discussion, "shall we celebrate properly? In Regna Ferox, a tournament victory demands a feast!"
"And plenty of drinks!" Basilio added cheerfully. "Loss of power won't stop me from enjoying that tradition!"
As the group moved toward the feast hall, Chrom fell into step beside Sarai. "Thank you," he said simply. "Whatever happened in that duel... I could tell it was important."
"All duels are important," she replied with a mysterious smile. "They show us not just who we're fighting, but who we're fighting for."
Chrom gave her a curious look but didn't press further. Above them, the fortress torches cast dancing shadows on the walls, much like the secrets that continued to swirl around them - some revealed, others still waiting for their proper time to emerge into the light.
"Before you leave," Basilio's voice cut through the celebratory atmosphere, "I've got a little addition to your victory spoils. Lon'qu! Hailfire! Front and center!"
A stoic swordsman with Chon'sin features stepped forward, followed by a dark elf woman whose presence caused all four siblings to freeze in recognition. Her obsidian skin held a slight purple undertone characteristic of their homeland, and her silver-white hair was tied in an intricate warrior's braid common among the elite guards.
"Hail?" Sarai breathed, breaking into a rare, unguarded smile.
"By the ancient woods," Hailfire's stern expression cracked into a grin. "I thought I recognized those fighting styles. The troublemaking quartet, all grown up!"
"Troublemaking?" Chrom looked between them, amused. "There's a story here, I take it?"
"Oh, there are many stories," Hailfire laughed, clasping forearms with Odyn in a traditional warrior's greeting. "Like the time these four decided to 'borrow' training weapons from the guard barracks and-"
"Which we should definitely discuss LATER," Roy interrupted hastily, though he was grinning as he embraced their old friend.
Khanna stepped forward next, her usual serene demeanor brightened by genuine joy. "How did you end up here, of all places?"
"After everything that happened back home..." Hailfire's expression sobered slightly, "I needed a fresh start. Ended up in Regna Ferox where they care more about your fighting skills than your origins. Made quite a name for myself in Basilio's service."
"She's one of my best," Basilio confirmed proudly. "And Lon'qu here," he gestured to the quiet swordsman who had been watching the reunion with stoic patience, "is nearly unmatched with a blade. Consider them my contribution to your cause."
"Though I should warn you," Hailfire added with a smirk, "Lon'qu has a... slight issue with women being too close to him."
Lon'qu shifted uncomfortably as Lissa immediately perked up with curiosity.
"Both will serve you well," Basilio continued. "Though I suspect Hailfire has extra motivation now, reuniting with old friends and all."
"The Shepherds would be honored to have you both," Chrom said formally, then quirked an eyebrow at Sarai. "Though I expect a full recounting of these 'troublemaking' stories at some point."
"Don't you dare," Sarai warned Hailfire, but there was no heat in it - only the warmth of rekindled friendship.
"Oh, I dare," Hailfire grinned. "Someone has to keep you four humble. Remember the incident with the training dummy and the experimental fire spell?"
"That was ONE TIME," Roy protested while Odyn tried to stifle a laugh.
As the siblings fell into easy banter with their old friend, the other Shepherds watched with interest. It was the most relaxed they'd seen the mysterious quartet since they'd joined their ranks.
"It's nice," Sumia said softly to Chrom, "seeing this side of them."
"Indeed," he agreed, watching as Sarai playfully shoved Hailfire after a particularly embarrassing revelation. "Though I suspect there's still much we don't know about their past."
"Their past is their own," Lon'qu spoke up unexpectedly, his first words since being introduced. "What matters is the strength they bring to your cause now."
Lissa tried to edge closer to the stoic swordsman, only for him to take two quick steps back. "Woman! Stay back!"
"Oh, this is going to be fun," Hailfire commented, watching the interaction with amusement. She turned back to her old friends. "So, what trouble have you four gotten into without me around to keep you in line?"
The siblings exchanged loaded glances that didn't go unnoticed by their perceptive friend. Some things, it seemed, hadn't changed - they still had their secrets. But having an old ally join their ranks brought a sense of comfort none of them had realized they'd been missing.
The feast hall had quieted as most of the Shepherds retired for the night, leaving the dark elf companions to speak more freely of matters from home. They gathered around a corner table, voices low and serious despite the victory celebrations still echoing from other parts of the fortress.
"They're alive?" Khanna's usually composed voice trembled slightly. "Our parents... they survived?"
Hailfire nodded, taking a slow drink from her mead. "Baron confirmed it in his last message from Chon'sin. They managed to escape when the Valm Empire struck." Her expression darkened. "Berethon and Hyuuan led the defense that bought time for many of our people to flee. Lady Lailah and Lord Raptaryn helped coordinate the evacuation."
"Mother and Father..." Sarai gripped her cup tightly. "We thought... when the palace fell..."
"They're stronger than that," Hailfire assured her. "Your mother's magic and your father's blade carved a path through the imperial forces. And Khanna, your parents' combined tactical genius helped save countless lives that day."
Odyn leaned forward. "And the others? Xander, Valvahdern, Saibyrh?"
"Scattered, but safe. Xander and Valvahdern are gathering allies in secret. Saibyrh's been coordinating between different refugee groups." Hailfire's eyes gleamed with purpose. "They're all waiting, watching for the right moment to strike back at the Conqueror."
"The Conqueror," Roy spat the title like a curse. "Walhart may style himself as some great unifier, but he's nothing but a tyrant who destroyed our kingdom."
"Patience, little brother," Odyn counseled, though his own expression was hard. "Our time will come."
"That's why I'm glad I found you here," Hailfire said. "The others will come when they can. Baron's already making connections in Chon'sin that could prove valuable. When the time comes to face Walhart..."
"The children of Albanar will answer," Khanna finished solemnly. "Our kingdom may have fallen, but its people endure."
"And now we have new allies," Sarai added, glancing toward the door where Chrom had last been seen. "The Shepherds are good people. Their strength could prove crucial when we finally move against Valm."
"Speaking of the Shepherds," Hailfire's expression turned knowing, "I noticed how you look at their prince, Sarai. Some things never change - you always did have a weakness for noble hearts."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sarai muttered, but a faint purple tinge colored her cheeks - the dark elf equivalent of a blush.
"Just like old times," Roy grinned. "Remember when she had that crush on Captain Darius of the Royal Guard?"
"If you value your continued ability to speak, little brother, you'll stop right there," Sarai threatened, though there was no real menace in it.
Hailfire's expression softened as she looked at her childhood friends. "It's good to see that despite everything, despite all we've lost... you're still you. Still fighting, still hoping, still teasing each other like when we were young."
"Some bonds can't be broken," Odyn said quietly. "Not by distance, not by time, not even by the fall of a kingdom."
"And some oaths can't be forgotten," Khanna added. "The Conqueror will learn that soon enough."
They raised their cups in a silent toast - to survival, to reunion, to future vengeance. Outside the fortress walls, the Feroxi winds howled like the ghosts of their fallen kingdom, but here, in this moment, the children of Albanar had found a measure of peace in knowing they were not alone in their quest for justice.
The campfire crackled softly as the Shepherds made their way back to Ylisstol, the flames casting dancing shadows across troubled faces. What had started as a casual conversation about their victory in Ferox had turned into something far more profound when Odyn finally decided it was time for truth.
"We haven't been entirely forthcoming about who we are," he began, his violet eyes reflecting the firelight. "Though recent events have made it clear that you deserve to know."
"You're royalty," Robin said quietly, the tactician's keen mind having already pieced together clues from their fighting styles and bearing. "Aren't you?"
Sarai nodded slowly. "We are... or were. Children of the Albanar Kingdom, a realm of dark elves far across the sea."
"Prince Odyn, Princess Sarai, and Prince Roy," Khanna gestured to each of her companions. "Children of King Berethon and Queen Hyuuan. And I am their cousin, Princess Khanna, daughter of Lady Lailah and Lord Raptaryn."
A heavy silence fell over the camp. Frederick's normally suspicious expression had given way to one of understanding - he recognized the weight of duty they carried.
"Your kingdom," Sumia's voice was gentle, "what happened?"
"Walhart happened," Roy's hands clenched. "The self-styled Conqueror decided our independence didn't fit his vision of a unified continent."
"Our people had lived in peace for generations," Odyn continued, his voice steady despite the pain in his eyes. "We kept to ourselves, traded fairly with our neighbors, maintained our ancient traditions. But Walhart's armies came without warning or provocation."
"The Valmese Empire's technological advantages proved... overwhelming," Sarai added, unconsciously moving closer to Chrom as she spoke. "Our magic and martial skills weren't enough against their sheer numbers and war machines."
Chrom reached out, hesitating for just a moment before placing his hand over Sarai's. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Would you have treated us differently if we had?" she asked, meeting his gaze. "We didn't want pity or deference. We wanted to prove ourselves as warriors, as allies... as friends."
"Besides," Khanna added softly, "sometimes it's easier to bear a burden when you can pretend, just for a while, that you're someone else. Someone unburdened by a fallen crown."
"That's why you're so skilled in combat," Robin realized. "You were trained from birth not just as warriors, but as royal defenders of your realm."
"Fat lot of good it did us in the end," Roy muttered, but Lissa reached out to touch his arm.
"Hey, you survived. You found allies. That counts for something, right?"
"More than something," Odyn agreed. "Finding the Shepherds... it gave us purpose again. A chance to do more than just survive."
Sumia had been watching them with tears in her eyes. "Your people - did many escape?"
"Some," Sarai nodded. "Including our parents, thank the ancient woods. They lead what remains of our people in hiding, waiting for the right moment to reclaim what was lost."
"Then Ylisse stands with you," Chrom declared, his voice carrying the weight of his own royal authority. "When the time comes to face this Conqueror, you won't fight alone."
"Chrom," Sarai started, but he squeezed her hand.
"No. You've fought for my kingdom, bled for my people. Did you think we wouldn't do the same for you?"
The other Shepherds nodded in agreement, and something shifted in the air - a deepening of bonds, a strengthening of trust.
"Well," Vaike broke the heavy moment with his characteristic bluntness, "this explains why you lot always acted so proper-like. Teach just thought you were stuck up!"
The tension broke as laughter rippled through the group, though the weight of the revelation lingered. As the night wore on, the conversations turned to lighter topics, but something had fundamentally changed. The Shepherds no longer saw just four skilled warriors - they saw exiled royalty who had lost everything yet continued to fight, to hope, to protect others despite their own wounds.
And perhaps most significantly, they saw friends who had finally trusted them enough to share their full truth.
The moon hung high over Ylisstol castle, its light casting long shadows through the courtyard columns. Sarai found herself wandering the castle grounds, her feet carrying her almost unconsciously toward the training yard where she knew she'd find Chrom. Sure enough, there he was, though for once Falchion remained sheathed at his side.
"Can't sleep?" he asked as she approached, his voice gentle with understanding.
"Is it that obvious?" She attempted a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I thought I'd grown better at masking my unease."
"Perhaps I've just grown better at reading you."
The simple observation made her heart flutter in a way that had nothing to do with her troubled thoughts about their conversation the previous night. She joined him at the stone railing overlooking the castle gardens, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.
"Does it get easier?" she asked suddenly. "Carrying the weight of a crown - or in my case, a fallen one?"
Chrom was quiet for a moment, considering. "I don't think it gets easier. But you learn to carry it better, especially when you don't carry it alone."
"Is that why you're out here instead of resting?"
"Actually, I was hoping you might come by." The admission was soft, sincere. "After last night's revelations... I wanted to make sure you were alright."
Something in his voice, in the genuine concern behind his words, made Sarai turn to face him. The moonlight caught his features just so, and suddenly all her carefully maintained control began to crumble.
"Chrom, I..." The words caught in her throat. Here was a prince who understood duty, who carried his own burdens with grace, who had accepted her and her siblings without hesitation or judgment. Who looked at her now not with pity for her lost kingdom, but with something far more dangerous to her heart.
She didn't plan it. Didn't think it through. For once in her life, the ever-controlled Princess Sarai acted purely on impulse. Her hand found his cheek, and before either of them could process what was happening, she pressed her lips to his in a kiss that tasted of moonlight and unspoken feelings.
For a moment, time seemed to stop. Chrom's surprise gave way to a gentle response, his hand moving to rest lightly at her waist. It was perfect, wonderful, and absolutely terrifying.
Reality crashed back like a bucket of cold water. Sarai jerked back, her eyes wide with the sudden realization of what she'd done. Her dark skin flushed a deep purple as the enormity of her actions hit her.
"I... I'm so sorry," she stammered, all royal poise forgotten. "I shouldn't have... I mean, I didn't mean to... Oh gods."
Before Chrom could form a response, she turned and fled, her usual grace abandoned in her haste to escape. Her footsteps echoed through the courtyard, leaving the Prince of Ylisse standing alone in the moonlight, one hand raised to his lips, expression caught between wonder and confusion.
"Well," he said to the empty air, "that was... unexpected."
In her chambers, Sarai buried her face in her pillows, mortification warring with the lingering warmth of the kiss. She, who had faced down armies without flinching, found herself utterly undone by one impulsive moment with the man who had somehow slipped past all her careful defenses.
"What have I done?" she whispered to herself, knowing sleep would be impossible now. But even as embarrassment flooded through her, she couldn't quite regret the feeling of his lips on hers, the gentleness of his response, the way he'd looked at her in that moment before reality intruded.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges - facing him across the breakfast table, maintaining her composure during training, dealing with the knowing looks she was sure to get from her siblings. But for now, in the privacy of her room, she allowed herself to touch her lips and remember the moment when duty and titles fell away, leaving just a man and a woman under the moonlight.
Dawn crept over Ylisstol with unusual cruelty, each ray of sunlight feeling like an accusation to Sarai's sleepless eyes. She had spent the remainder of the night alternating between pacing her chambers and lying motionless, replaying the moment in the courtyard with excruciating detail. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Chrom's expression in that final moment - that mixture of surprise and something else she dared not name.
The knock at her door made her jump, though she had been expecting it. "My lady?" It was Frederick, punctual as ever. "Your presence is requested for the morning war council."
"I'll be there shortly," she called back, proud that her voice remained steady. As Frederick's footsteps receded, she pressed her forehead against the cool stone wall. The war council. Of course. Because apparently the gods had decided that avoiding Chrom for a few days while she gathered her composure was not to be an option.
She dressed with mechanical precision, each layer of clothing feeling like armor against the coming encounter. The circlet of her fallen kingdom - the weight Chrom had spoken of last night - seemed heavier than usual as she placed it upon her brow.
The walk to the council chamber had never felt so long.
She was neither the first nor the last to arrive, which was something of a mercy. Odyn was already deep in discussion with Lissa about healing techniques, while Roy appeared to be arguing good-naturedly with Khanna about proper sword maintenance. Several other familiar faces dotted the room, but her eyes were drawn inexorably to the empty seat at the head of the table.
"You look terrible," Khanna whispered as Sarai took her place, and she didn't doubt it. "Rough night?"
Before she could formulate a response that wouldn't give everything away, the door opened again. Chrom entered, and Sarai suddenly found the map on the table fascinating. She could feel his presence though, like a physical weight in the air between them.
"Good morning, everyone," he began, and gods help her, his voice was exactly the same as it had been last night, warm and gentle and- "We've received reports of Risen activity to the north."
The meeting proceeded with crushing normalcy. Plans were made, strategies discussed, troops allocated. Sarai forced herself to participate, knowing her tactical input was needed, but each time she spoke, she could feel Chrom's eyes on her. Once, their gazes met accidentally across the table, and the jolt that went through her nearly made her lose her train of thought entirely.
It was only when the meeting concluded and people began to file out that panic set in again. Should she leave quickly? Linger? Try to speak with him? Before she could decide, Chrom's voice cut through her internal debate.
"Princess Sarai, a moment?"
Her siblings shot her curious looks as they left, Odyn's eyebrows raised in a way that suggested he wasn't nearly as oblivious to the situation as Sarai might have hoped. Soon, too soon, they were alone in the council chamber.
The silence stretched between them like a living thing. Sarai found herself standing at parade rest, as though preparing for battle. In a way, she supposed she was.
"About last night," they both began simultaneously, then stopped. A ghost of a smile touched Chrom's lips, and despite everything, Sarai felt an answering twitch at the corner of her mouth.
"Please," he gestured for her to continue.
"I..." she took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "I want to apologize for my behavior. It was improper and presumptuous, and I understand if you wish to-"
"I don't."
The simple interruption derailed her carefully prepared speech. "I... what?"
"I don't wish to forget it happened," Chrom said, taking a step closer. "Unless... unless you do?"
The vulnerability in his voice undid her. "No," she admitted softly. "I don't want to forget it either."
He was closer now, close enough that she could see the faint shadows under his eyes that suggested she hadn't been the only one to lose sleep. "Then perhaps," he said carefully, "we should talk about what happens next."
"Next?" The word came out barely above a whisper.
"Yes," and now his hand was reaching for hers, fingers intertwining with a gentleness that made her heart ache. "Because while last night may have been unexpected, Sarai, it wasn't unwelcome. Not at all."
The morning sun streaming through the windows caught his face just as the moonlight had the night before, and Sarai felt something within her settle into place. There would be complications, she knew. Questions of duty and station and timing. But for now, in this moment, she allowed herself to simply exist in the warmth of his gaze.
"So," she said, a smile finally breaking through her composure, "what happens next?"
This time, when he kissed her, neither of them pulled away.
Sarai looked up at Chrom briefly after the two separated with her hand on his chest.
"L-Listen C-Chrom could... you give me some time? Things are happening too fast and.. I need time to breathe.," Sarai asked.
Chrom smiled and nodded.
"Of course. Take as much time as you need, Princess Sarai.," Chrom replied.
Sarai thanked him as she then walked down the hallway and towards her chambers, giving the two time to process their own feelings and the spark that had ignited between them.
Time skip: Later...
[Previous content remains the same until the war council scene ends, then continues:]
Later that evening, a gentle knock at her chamber door startled Sarai from her thoughts. She hesitated, smoothing her tunic with suddenly nervous hands. When she finally opened the door, her heart nearly stopped at the sight of Sumia standing there, cheeks flushed and eyes bright with what could only be knowledge of what had transpired in the courtyard.
"May I come in?" Sumia asked softly.
Sarai stepped aside wordlessly, her usual composure deserting her. As she closed the door, she found herself unable to meet her friend's eyes. "You saw," she said. It wasn't a question.
"I did." Sumia's voice held no judgment, only a gentle understanding that made Sarai's chest ache. "I was returning from the pegasus stables when..." She trailed off, a small smile playing at her lips.
"Sumia, I..." Sarai began, then stopped, unsure how to continue. She knew of her friend's feelings for Chrom - everyone did, save perhaps Chrom himself. "I never meant to-"
"Don't." Sumia stepped forward, taking Sarai's hands in her own. "Don't apologize for following your heart. Especially not to me."
The simple acceptance in her voice made Sarai's eyes burn with unexpected tears. "But you... I know how you feel about him."
"And I know how he looks at you," Sumia replied, squeezing Sarai's hands. "How he's been looking at you for months now. I may be clumsy with my feet, but I'm not blind with my heart."
Sarai sank onto the edge of her bed, Sumia joining her. "I ran away," she confessed, the words tumbling out. "Like a coward. After I kissed him, I just... fled."
"That doesn't sound very much like the tactical genius I know," Sumia teased gently. "Though I suppose love has a way of making fools of us all."
"Love?" Sarai's voice cracked on the word. "I... I don't..."
"Don't you?" Sumia's smile was knowing, if a little sad. "I've seen how you look at him too, you know. When you think no one's watching. When you're planning strategies together, or sparring in the training yard, or even just sitting together at meals. Your eyes always find him first in any room."
The observation hit too close to home, and Sarai found herself unable to deny it. "It doesn't matter," she said instead. "I'm a princess without a kingdom, trying to reclaim what was lost. I can't afford to..."
"To be happy?" Sumia interrupted. "To let someone care for you? To care in return?" She shook her head. "If anything, that's exactly what you need. What you both need."
"But you-"
"Will be fine," Sumia assured her firmly. "My feelings... they're like the flower fortunes I cast. Nice to dream about, but not always meant to come true. What matters is that two people I care about deeply might have a chance at happiness. If you'll stop running from it, that is."
Sarai looked at her friend - truly looked at her - and saw the strength behind the gentleness, the wisdom behind the seeming naiveté. "When did you become so insightful?"
"Probably around the same time you became so oblivious to matters of the heart," Sumia laughed. "Now, shall we talk about how you're going to face him tomorrow? Because running away again isn't an option - I'll trip you myself if I have to."
Despite everything, Sarai found herself laughing too, the tension of the past day finally beginning to ease. As Sumia began plotting ways to help them find moments alone together, Sarai marveled at the strength of true friendship - how it could turn what might have been rivalry into support, potential bitterness into genuine joy for another's happiness.
"Thank you," she said suddenly, interrupting Sumia's increasingly elaborate plans. "For being... you."
Sumia's smile was radiant. "That's what friends are for. Now, about tomorrow's patrol schedules..."
As they talked late into the night, Sarai felt something settle in her heart. Whatever came next with Chrom, she knew she wouldn't have to face it alone. Sometimes, she realized, the greatest strength came not from bearing burdens alone, but from having friends willing to help carry them.
The morning sun streamed through the castle's stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the great hall where Chrom stood in deep discussion with Emmeryn. Their hushed voices carried an urgency that drew curious glances from passing servants, though none dared interrupt the royal siblings.
Odyn's tall form cut an imposing figure as he approached the hall's entrance, his dark elven features marked with concern. The eldest of Sarai's siblings had always been protective, and his sister's unusual absence this morning had not gone unnoticed.
"Has anyone seen Sarai?" he asked, his deep voice carrying across the hall. "She's never late for morning training."
Sumia, who had been arranging tactical maps nearby, looked up quickly - perhaps too quickly. "Oh! She's fine, Lord Odyn. She's just... processing some things from our recent missions."
Chrom's shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly at Sumia's words, though he kept his attention firmly on Emmeryn. Roy, who had been practicing forms with his blade in the corner, paused mid-swing and raised an eyebrow.
"Processing?" Roy's tone was skeptical. "That doesn't sound like our sister."
"Well, sometimes even the most composed people need time to..." Sumia began, but her explanation was cut short by the sound of running footsteps.
Phila burst into the hall, her normally immaculate appearance showing signs of hard riding. The pegasus knight's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention, particularly given her obvious distress.
"Your Grace!" She dropped to one knee before Emmeryn. "I bring urgent news from the border!"
Chrom turned from his sister, his hand instinctively moving to Falchion's hilt. "What's happened?"
"It's Lady Maribelle," Phila reported, rising. "She's been captured by Plegian brigands while traveling near the border. They're holding her hostage and making demands of the Halidom."
The news hit the room like a physical force. Lissa, who had just entered, let out a small gasp of horror. "Maribelle? No!"
"Those dastards," Roy growled, fully abandoning his practice now. Odyn's expression darkened dangerously, his concern for his sister temporarily overshadowed by this new crisis.
"Do we know their demands?" Chrom asked, his voice tight with controlled anger.
Before Phila could answer, new footsteps echoed in the hall. Sarai appeared in the doorway, her usual grace somewhat restored though shadows still lingered under her eyes. She took in the scene before her - Phila's urgent posture, Emmeryn's grave expression, Chrom's barely contained fury - and immediately straightened, all personal matters forgotten in the face of crisis.
"What's happened?" she asked, moving to take her place at the war table. If her eyes flickered briefly to Chrom before focusing on Phila, only Sumia seemed to notice.
As Phila repeated the news, Sarai's tactical mind was already working, analyzing possibilities and formulating strategies. This was familiar ground - the assessment of threats, the weighing of options. It was almost a relief to have a concrete problem to solve, rather than the nebulous complexity of her personal situation.
"We'll need to move quickly," she said, fingers tracing paths on the map before her. "But carefully. This has all the hallmarks of a trap."
"Trap or no trap, we can't abandon Maribelle," Chrom stated firmly, moving to stand beside her at the table. The proximity sent a jolt through her that she carefully suppressed.
"No," she agreed, keeping her voice steady. "We can't. But we can be smart about how we rescue her." She looked up at Emmeryn. "Your Grace, with your permission, I have a plan. But we'll need to act fast."
Emmeryn nodded gravely. "Proceed, Sarai. We trust your judgment in this."
As Sarai began outlining her strategy, she was acutely aware of Chrom's presence beside her, of Sumia's encouraging glance, of her brothers' watchful eyes. But now was not the time for personal matters. Maribelle's life hung in the balance, and the political ramifications of this crisis could be far-reaching.
The events of last night would have to wait. Right now, they had a friend to save.
To be continued in Chapter 5: Saving Maribelle