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iamdarkness · 1 month

Text

Nexus

Lif x Summoner, Lif x reader / Implied platonic Alfonse x Summoner, Alfonse x reader.

NSFW from first sentence.

Lif and the summoner find each other thanks to an unlikely person and Lif's questionable decisions.

Also a look into Embla's hidden night life and secrets. Set before and after the siege to Veronica's castle in book 5.

May do a second part. I know I should be working on the other ones but I swear I had this one sitting there for like a year and I was debating whether to post it of not. Hope you like it.

Nexus

-Say my name! Say it!- The husky voice says on the woman’s ears. He is taking her from behind. It comes muffled by the white and gold embroidered hood that covers all of her head and most of the face. She can hardly hear it over her own moans too. His trusts are relentless and rhythmic, his length reaching deeper than anyone she had ever been with. Between moans she manages to breath and utter the name he desperately wanted to hear.

-Alfonse! Alfonse! Ahh!!

-NO! Not Alfonse! Say it!

Not confused by the request, the woman remembers the other times he had done this to her. She switches to his other name.

-Lif! Oh God Lif! I… please!!- She pleads even though there is no god she believes in. This is what he wants and so she will deliver.

A few more rough trusts on his part and she reaches her limit. When he feels her release, he takes his final trust then she feels him withdraw. After a short moment he kisses the top of her hooded head. She stays unmoving and knowing full well why he does not kiss her instead.

- _______….My ______. My dear summoner.- She hears him come in his hand like all the other times he has done this. She does not dare to look back at his ruby red eyes. She feels drained of all energy after such a energetic session, but she stays put. A moment later she feels him lean on her back and rest his head on hers. She hears him whisper something and can make out some words he repeats like a prayer.

-Soon my love….I will return you to me. Soon…- He sighs, a sigh she knows he does not need and remembering it, makes her shiver. This must have brought him back to reality, because he raises himself from the bed and she hears him start to dress up.

-Take it off.- His monotone voice reach her still hazy mind. She knows what he meant and she complies. She starts taking off the hooded coat and turning a little so she can do it faster and catches a glimpse of him standing near the door.

-Turn around. I don’t want to see your face. -He says in a rough voice. Such a different tone that some moments ago. She takes the garment off. She was wearing a night gown underneath without underwear.

-I…You can come inside me…I am ready for this…I assure y…

-Do I not pay you enough for your silence?

-Yes… I just wanted to serve you better.

-Then keep quiet. I will be back next month…here.- He lets some gold coins fall on her bed. She does not turn around but takes the coins. It is much more than she would do in a month by herself. He takes the coat and folds it neatly to place it inside a travel bag. Done this, he opens the door and leaves without a further word.

The woman starts crying. She is not sure why her heart feels so heavy. The first time he had come to her, he had scared her, but she needed the money. He had made requests and offered a lot of money for it. The following times he had learned a lot about him even if he did not talked to her. He was dead and had been brought back to life it was obvious, but he looked like he had been a very handsome man in life. He was a great lover too. Sometimes he was gentle and loving and sometimes he was rough but not in a bad way.

He loved that woman and she knew who that woman was. She was the summoner of the Askran Kingdom. She wondered then if this warrior was one of the fallen heroes the Summoner used in the war. Her lover perhaps. If that was so, then…it meant he loved her when he was alive and his love endured after death.

And then she understood her feelings. She was sad. Not only for him, who had died loving someone and was probably afraid to bee seen the way he was, but for his summoner as well. Did she even know he still walked the living world? Does she love him back? Did she grieve his death?….Then there was Her… She was here in the Emblian South city of Renar ; a whore not by choice, living this sad life. If only someone would love her the way this man did his Summoner…even if he was dead…

=NO!….Do not even think about this…this is just a job…Soon we will be able to leave the city and my sister will never have to suffer what I have. We will have a house of our own and some cows…And this will be in the past and forgotten… I will forget him…just like he will forget me….but…what about the Summoner?…=

[line break]

It was almost dawn when she heard the silent footfalls of Lif’s booted feet. Her scarlet eyes did not move from her target. The Emblian Castle so much like her own home stood right in front of her. She stood on the roof of the tallest building in the South City. He was late, but she would not say anything. It was not that she feared his anger. He seldom was cross at her. She knew it was all a facade to keep others at bay and enemies afraid anyway. Besides, he new she disapproved of his monthly escapades. They not only were risky and a waste of time but she considered them … how would she word it? Oh yeah…cheating.

For all the indifference he voiced so loudly against the Summoner, she knew how he felt. He could deny it all he wanted, but he had stolen that jacket from the castle the last time he had entered it to spy on that Summoner…. err The Order of Heroes or so he had said. So if he loved that Summoner so much why visit not only other women but a common whore, only because she had the same height and constitution of the Summoner. Thrasir had never fallen in love, but she knew that if her lover where to do this kind of action she would surely dismember them…and then brake up with them.

- Any news from Zacharias? - He asks avoiding her eyes. She looks sideways at him and does not answer.-Let it go Veronica. - He says tiredly. He had enough with his own disgust and self hatred to be judged by her as well.

-He has not returned yet, but…Loki was telling Veronica there are rumors of war from another realm. The target may be Askr, but she said to be ready just in case. It is just as we were told. We should ask Thorr for more information. - She said as neither of them trusted Loki. Not that they trusted Thorr to begin with but at least the Goddess did not lie for fun.

-Mmm. It may be wise. It also may be a good chance to find out more about the Alfather and his plan. Come, let us go to the base. - Their base being an abandoned country home the Askran Royal Family did not use any more. It was too close to the border and had been partly destroyed. They used the hidden bunker in the basement.

[line break]

- Please help my sister.- Had been Bruno’s plea and it would be answered.

[line break]

-Reginn! Take the left side and let Dagr take the right! Takumi shoot the sniper in the clock tower please! It’s attacking the Emblian front lines! Take Claude with you and scan the other tall buildings! BE CAREFUL! Guinevere back Zelgius up! Micaiah tell the wyvern riders to take each an archer not mounted, to the roofs, when the ninjas give the go ahead. Naesala and Henry… you know what to do.

Naesala looked down to his best friend Henry and lifted him off the ground. Henry gave one of his little laughs. They were in charge of the aerial attack.

Bruno watched you give orders to the heroes behind his golden mask with a small smile, but you knew that deep down; he was very anxious for his sister. He knew she could handle herself, but against Nidavellir, she was untested and so he was afraid. Now that he had his friends by his side; it was an easier burden to carry, and he wished he could count on you to help him on his quest, but the war started by the bad blood of Embla and his fear of harming you all was enough to dispelled those wishes from his mind. Now he was waiting for your instruction on when to strike.

-King Dimitri, Ike lead the front lines. Savior Dimitri, Alm And King Marth will be following with their squads. Bruno Sharena and Alfonse, be ready to go when they make way. Kaze and Saizo will be waiting for you to make your way into the palace unseen.

-You will stay? -Asks Bruno.

-It is better I stay and lead the heroes with Commander Anna.

- I would feel better if you were to come with us. I do not belittle your heroes’ abilities to guard you but… You have been kidnapped before.- Said Bruno with furrowed brows.

-It was all Alfonse’s idea. Besides (M) Byleth, F Dimitri and Grima are here to protect me…just…take care of each others.- Bruno looked at Alfonse and the younger man averted his eyes, blushing a little.

-Alfonse… a word if I may.- Says Bruno. They both retreat a little way away and even though you can’t hear what they are saying you knew what Alfonse was telling him. He was afraid of getting you hurt after being kidnapped and then sent by Commander Anna on a solo mission to fight for days without his consent. Of course you preferred to go with him, but you also did not want to worry him. You knew who would win the argument. Alfonse was stubborn once he made up his mind. Alfonse had also expressed his mistrust of Bruno’s sanity. He was not afraid for himself or Sharena but he could not trust him with you and did not want you to be near him for longer than necessary. He held his friend dearly, but what was happening to him was of great concern to him and he need to take action just in case of him being overpowered by his blood.

-I still do not agree. -Says Bruno looking sideways at his friend, while coming back after a while. - But I trust your judgment. It has been right previous times. - Alfonse’s little scowl dissipated at this remark. Bruno did not know you would be their back up.

- Be careful Summoner. - Was all Bruno said and turned to get ready to leave. Alfonse turned to you and gave you a small smile you returned and winked at him, which made him blush.

- You too guys. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!

-Well now I am concerned.- Says Fjorm smiling, with a pink tint to her pale cheeks.

- Wow thanks. Any way, it’s great you are here. Fjorm I am a little concerned for Reginn. She looks…not her usual and well, I don’t blame her for it; but I am afraid she may have an accident or something. I don’t think she is focused.

-I will keep an eye on her if you wish.

- Eir can take you and if Reginn asks just tell her you are back up.- Fjorm nodded and turned to search for Eir.- And Fjorm…have I mentioned how great you are and how grateful I am you are with us? Because You are and I am.- She turns beet red at that.

-Umm…I could hear it more often.- She says bashfully. That woman loves you and ever since Alfonse had had to accept the arranged marriage to his third cousin, she has not left your side. Alfonse does not like it but he can not say much about it.

Kagero lands soundlessly behind you from Beruka’s wyvern and as usual she scares you a bit when she starts talking.

-Summoner. The others give it a “clear”. Kaze and Saizo are waiting for the Prince’s group. - Says Kagero. You thank her and signal Alfonse for them to leave.- Kaze wanted to stay with you and is a bit annoyed he had to stay.

-We’ll see him in a bit anyway.- You tell her while seeing Alfonse retreating back, his white cape being swallowed by the darkness of the night. You offer her a smile after his image is lost. -Come. Let us check how things are going.- You take your spyglass from your coat and take a look at the front lines. They are approaching the castle and while the Order attack the invading army on all fronts and surround them, Prince Alfonse and his team reach the inside by a “secret” entrance, Bruno had told you about. It was actually an old supply entrance no longer used that Bruno used to come and go whenever he came in secret to keep an eye on his sister. It had been sealed and he was the only one who could open it.

-Look at Norne go. She is always so reliable and enthusiastic. Ike is falling behind…I wonder what’s the hold up.- Kagero takes the offered spyglass.

It took you less than half an hour to follow Alfonse. You left the heroes to Anna who was aided by Micaiah and Robin’s capable hands. Soren would have been there too but he had joined Ike in the front lines when he noticed Ike had fallen into a standstill. The advance had flowed as expected after that.

You were half way to rendezvous with Alfonse, making your way to the secret entrance when you hear a a woman half shouting angrily and half crying.

-NO! Don’t you dare touch my sister! She’s just a child! Take my money but leave her alone!!

There were shouting of men as well. Most of them were curses.

You look around a nearby corner despite Fallen Dimitri’s warning of not getting involved and see a woman of about twenty years of age fighting off five Nidavellirian soldiers intent on taking a small girl of about 6 years of age. This enraged you to no end and turning to tell F Dimitri the number of enemies; he nodded that it was not a problem and Kagero takes to the roof of the building to take them from behind or warn you about others. You look around the corner and aim your shot at the nearest soldier. He falls in a flash of light. Confused the rest of the soldiers look around only to be met with a shadow so fast and strong they never even made a sound of alarm.

When you get there you find the woman kicking one of the soldiers even though he’s already out cold…or dead…most probably dead given the wide gaping hole you could now see in his stomach, done by Dimitri’s lance. The rest of the men were in the same shape, even the one you had stunned. Dimitri was looking at the young woman with an arched eyebrow.

-Hey hey! Calm down you are safe now. Did they hurt you?- You ask the woman and her angry face turn towards you about to respond and her eyes widen in surprise. She looks you over and says in a whisper. -_______….- You were surprised by her recognition, since you had really never been to Embla, so this meant she was a member of the army or something.

-You know me? Have we met in battle?- You ask.

-No…I mean…I have just heard about you.- Her red face is still visible even with the low light of the fires set to some buildings or the random torch or lamp on the ransacked street. This place looked like the bad side of town to be honest. -Thank you so much for saving us!

-We need to keep moving.- Says Kagero landing soundlessly behind the woman and child.

-Wait! You are going to enter the castle?- Ask the woman.

-Yes but we came to help, so don’t worry. We are not trying to invade or anything.- You say.

- We should invade them now that they are weak. It would end this stupid war.- Says F Dimitri gruffly.

The woman gave a small smile at that but did not comment.

- Are you taking the back alleys to get to the secret entrance?- She asks again and you nod surprised at her knowledge. She bites her lower lip nervously weighting her next move.

-I guess it is not so secret if you know about it.- Says Dimitri with a searching look on his eyes.Then asks. -Do you work at the palace?

-I have gone and I know things. I know of a faster and safer way to get there. I owe you my life and most importantly, I owe you Vera’s life. She is my dear sister. I need to repay you. Would you trust me to take you to that entrance?

Confident that the your guard were with you and your skills were not too shabby either, You turn to them and agree to follow her. Grima and M Byleth already waiting for you.

The woman who introduced herself as Zorine and asked you to call her Zoe, took you to a building down the street, apparently she had been working there when the attack started and had come to her small rented room to look for her sister as soon as she could go outside. They had waited for the people to flee and were going to a safe spot by the time they were spotted by the enemy soldiers.

The building was a three story tavern that looked like it was a bit rundown on purpose, because when Zoe opened the door you were met with quite a different building. It looked too fancy to be a regular tavern for this side of town. Zoe looked uncomfortable and red.

- Are you a bar maid?- Asks Byleth blankly but polite.

-I thought I smelled something. It stinks of coupling… and vice…- Said Grima in a low voice and wrinkling his nose. Zoe’s face was scarlet eyeing her little sister.

- My sister is a healer for the people who gets hurt in the tavern! Not a maid!- Said the little girl.- Zoe! You said I should never come here!

==Oh Fiddlesticks! Is she a sex worker?==

- Hey Miss Vera. How would you like for my friend Prince Dimitri to carry you while we are inside the tavern and that way you will be safe. Maybe hide your face in his furry cape and that way you will not be scared.- You turn to Dimitri and he is a little stiff but understood your reasons. The girl looks at Dimitri and widens her eyes. You do not blame her, Dimitri is very tall and intimidating. Not a moment later her eyes shine with wonder and she smiles and agrees to it. When he has her safely in his arms she giggles at the fluffiness of the fur cloak. Dimitri reddens. Zoe now sure of her sister’s safety proceeds to show you to the basement of the establishment. While explaining in a low voice so as to hear if there is someone hiding that should not be here.

- This place is a “tavern” for high ranking members of the empire and so they made a tunnel from the castle to the establishment. It is said the late King had a lover here that he wanted no one to know about, but the truth is that the tunnel is very old and has been here probably for centuries. The tunnel connects some other places like the High Temple of Embla and it goes all the way to the mountains and others to the South.

- Ironic but not unexpected.- She looks puzzled at your comment and little laugh. - The temple…Well it connects the most important places right? If the rich people are at any of these places there is always a way to escape safely…but it being a church and a bro…a tavern is a little ironic, but we know rich people’s priorities…at least in my world it is that way. No offence to anyone.

-We don’t have those in Faergus. At least no tunnels from the castle to a tavern that I know of…but we do not need them. There are enough…healers in the castle…- Dimitri says gruffly

- Let us check if it is unlocked. The patrons of the tavern and the owner left through it, but I do not know if they locked it. There is another key in the Owner’s rooms.- The trapdoor to the tunnel was blocked as if someone had hastily piled the most rubbish they could find on top of it. It took you all less than three minutes to unblock and the trapdoor was luckily unlocked. When you get into the tunnel you think the woman and child will get away but she does not.

-You do not know the city like I do and even less the tunnel. I had to come down here to lead costumers away safely or to serve in the castle and since the tunnel forks out you may get lost. I will lead you. The tunnel goes all the way to the entrance prince Bruno may be using to get to the castle. His is the old servant entrance on the East side. I heard they closed it when the war started. Currently only one of the servant entrances remain open… and the tunnel. There is of course another way that leads directly into the castle if you need me to lead you there as well.

-I think that the entrance would be better. We already have a plan on where we will meet. Also I would not like you to be in danger because of us. - You look at her and she is looking at her sister. The girl apparently was so exhausted by what the situation that had fallen asleep on Dimitri’s arms.

- We still need to remain in the city. I need to repay someone, the money I owe them…I can not leave without paying the debt.

-Is that why you are working as a….healer?-

-I do not do it for fun!- She retorts a little too loud and it is amplified by the tunnel’s acoustics. She turns to her sister again, but the girls is soundly asleep.- …I… I apologize…

-No no! Don’t apologize. Also I understood your position from the beginning but I was curious about the reason. You are very young. I’m sorry if I offended you. I have to say I truly respect the workers. Not many people understand the real weight they bear and the extent of the service they provide to society in general but mostly to other women and children.

-What do you mean?- Asks Dimitri.

-You see at court they may do it for free to gain power and other selfish reasons but it is not the same with workers like her who are not here by choice. Some like her are extortioned and others kidnapped. Whatever the reason and situations, they keep people’s lowest of instincts in check. Many of them die because of them and…well…it is in a way a protection for many… it is … a complicated situation.

- You understand! All the people I know look down on us, like we are the vilest and dirtiest of beings.

-I bet you the first ones to judge are the clients.- You comment.

- Yes!… Not all of them, but most of them. There is one client…- She pauses unsure of what to say next.- He is…a little rough around the edges, but he is…he seeks companionship…

-He is in love with you? -you ask.

-No! He is is in love with someone else, but I think he thinks it is a lost cause or a forbidden love…he loves her so much…and I understand why…-She says quietly.-It is thanks to him I have the money to pay off our debt.

-Is that the money you were offering the soldiers? - Asks Byleth.

-Yes.

-Well if he is such a great person he could have just given you the money…You know what…never mind… I am not going to judge any one here…Why do you even have a debt to pay?- You ask.

-My father owned a lot of land close to the border, but when the fire giant came, he burned the villages and lands. We lost all the cattle and the other animals. He had already asked a Lord friend of his for a loan and hoped to sell the cattle to pay him.- She takes a moment to point to the right direction when you come to a fork in the tunnel. The light from your crystal lanterns give off a ghostly blue light that makes her look sick.- When he learned we had lost everything in the fire but the lands, his friend came to seize the lands in payment and wanted even more, so he tried to make my father give him my hand. After some talks, the friend gave him more time, but then the war and the drought prevented us from paying up the debt. Finally last year my father’s friend came and demanded his money and my hand. He took everything we owned and ran us off of our lands and house. My father was not only heartbroken, but also furious. He tried to duel him like a good gentleman does, but his friend killed him before the duel was to take place. He kidnapped me and my sister and when we managed to escape…he sold us to the owner of the tavern. I had until the end of this year to pay off my debt or my sister would join me as a ….healer.

-Son of a bitch! Seriously? Can you tell me the names of those ass…er…really horrible men…-You end the tirade when you see her blinking face starting at you like you had suddenly sprout horns.- They kind of deserve it don’t they though?I mean, I only do it when I am really angry…sorry…- You hear Grima snicker at the back.

-The Prince is not going to like it. - Grima chimes is.

-He is not going to know is he? I got candy! Oh here have some for you and your sister when she wakes up and please forget I cursed. It is very natural do do it where I come from, but being part of the Order, it is a big “No”.

The Woman takes the candy with a surprised face and then gave you a look that you could not interpret, but it looked between bewilderment and endearment.

- I have never met anyone like you Summoner. Thank you. Umm why do you carry candy around to a battlefield?

- For energy bursts and….the truth is because I like to treat the kids in the Order and some of the heroes who like them a lot. Some like cheese or fish but I can’t carry those around.- You hear Byleth and Dimitri laugh silently.- But seriously, tell me more about those creeps. You think we can do something, without repercussions to you?

The talk lasted until you arrived at the tunnel’s exit. Zoe gave you instructions on where to go. She was going to stay inside the tunnel by the entrance to wait out the battle. Dimitri left them his cloak to keep Vera warm and Kagero was instructed to stay with the two. She wholeheartedly agreed to it. Before you took off you noticed Zoe was trying to say something and looked nervous.

- Summoner…there is something you should know…no, don’t worry it is nothing to do with this battle…it is something very important you need to know, but I can’t tell you around them. I know I am not important enough for you to take the time to hear me out, but please it is not about me. It is about you and someone you may know. It is the reason I know who you are. Can you meet me after this?

-Can you not tell me now though?

-I am afraid it would be too long of an explanation and you need to hear all of it.

-Ok. We will return because Dimitri can’t live without his cloak anyway.

-Please be careful Summoner! And thank you!

-We will!

When you leave and before she closes the trapdoor to the tunnel Kagero can hear her whisper and it intrigues her.

-There is someone who would suffer a lot if harm came to you…I do not think he could take loosing you…again.

You joined Alfonse and Bruno even before the time marked and you told Alfonse how helping out the two girls had ended with you finding a safer and faster way. Alfonse was worried at first but seemed to be very happy you were safe. He was very conflicted by the past situations. He did not want you to participate in battles anymore than necessary, but could not function well if he could not keep an eye on you or was far from you. Your kidnapping had left a scar unwilling to heal and he wondered what would happen if something more final would befall you…would he be able to get past it? Would he end up turning into someone like Lif? Of course it would not be entirely that way. It had taken the trauma of losing every loved one Alfonse had held dear, but also his entire Kingdom dying as well; to turn him into Lif. Nothing could compare to that pain when you had abandonment issues in the first place and Alfonse had more than enough of those.

The plans went better than expected. Your group came inside first and you were able to get to where Princess Veronica and her ward were keeping the rest of the court safe. She was seemingly not as happy to see you all as much as she was to see her brother alive and well, but it was understandable, even a little funny. Soon enough Reginn, her group and Fjorm came to your side to fight as well. As in per the plan Ike and Marth had opened a way for her to get inside.

When the battle was over it was almost dawn. It had taken almost ten hours to run them off the palace and the battle had gone well into midday for them to leave the city in a call of retreat.

When everything was done Reginn collapsed. She had a high fever caused by the stress and how hard she had driven her mental and physical limits. Princess Veronica had begrudgingly allowed you all to stay in the palace until Reginn got better with a sour expression, until you reminded her of how she got to spend more time with her brother. She had indeed proceeded to go talk to her brother and try to take him away from your group. You felt a little bad for Alfonse, who would have wanted to spend time with his old friend, but it was understandable that the time he had should be spend with his sister. Who knows how long he had been away from home this time.

Finally after resting a bit and eating a hasty breakfast; F Dimitri had come to let you know he was going back for his cloak and wanted to know if you were going to meet up with the woman. You took some food with you and followed Dimitri.

Alfonse not wanting to let you out of his sight on enemy territory followed behind with Savior King Dimitri Byleth and Grima. Together you all had explained to him how everything had taken place in all detail, since last night you had only told him the basics and did not want Bruno to know you had knowledge of the secret tunnel. He had been a little worried when you told him about how you all had gone to help the two girls, but agreed that it had been a blessing as well. He was more than angry when you explained her situation and and reasons for them. He had already planed on giving the woman something for helping you out, but listening to your story he backtracked and decided to give the two girls a bag of gold, so that when they left the city they could have a place to stay. He also came with the idea that they should come with them to Askr in case someone found out they had lead them through the secret tunnel and incarcerated them for treason.

-I wonder what she wants to talk to you about. She said it was about you and someone you know?- Asked Alfonse pensively.

-Yes and I thought right away about Bruno. I mean who else can she know that I know except him and Princess Veronica…or Loki…

-Loki…That is troublesome. I was surprised she was not at Veronica’s side.

-Yeah! I mean, I don’t understand why Veronica still lets her be around in the first place! I would never trust her after all the crap she has done…but I guess that if I don’t trust her and she wants to hang around; I would probably want to keep her on close watch as well…

-Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

-By that logic, she should give us our own room at the palace…oh wait…- You say laughing. Alfonse laughs quietly as well. He has gotten used to your silly jokes and strange sense of humor.

Finally you get to the place where Kagero is waiting for you. The battle had been close to the place but no one had found the tunnel.

As soon as Vera saw you; she ran to meet you hugging Dimitri’s fury cloak. She hugged you and thanked you for the candy and then went to give Dimitri his cloak, except she ran into S K Dimitri first. He looked down to her a little startled.

-That’s the wrong Dimitri!- You called out to her smiling- We have four of them!- You tell Zoe who came to stand by your side.- All of them different age, but just as wonderful in every way.- Vera looked around the man and spotted F Dimitri behind and ran to him.

-That is my Prince! Here I took great care of your cape your highness! -And after he took his cloak she hugged him. This made both Dimitri blush.

-Hey Alfonse. This is Lady Zorine who so graciously helped us last night. Zoe this is Prince Alfonse of Askr.- Zoe bristled at the name. Her face blanched and looked like she had seen a ghost when his smiling face turned to you and then to her. His bright deep blue eyes looked at you warmly and when he looked at Zoe; she felt like the ground would come to meet her at any moment. She felt sick. It was HIS face. but different. And that name…how could she forget that name. She knew the prince of Askr was named Alfonse but she had never seen him or even knew how he looked like. What did all of this mean? She was so confused.

-Whoa there. Are you all right? You look like you have seen a ghost!- You ask Zoe. She lowered her face and avoided looking at Alfonse. - I know he looks a little stern but he is a great guy! Alfonse I think you scared her!- You say jokingly but holding Zoe’s arm in case she needed support. You figured it may be because she had not eaten well and the excitement of the day had exhausted her. Alfonse blushed.

-Summoner!- He said flustered, but Zoe could still feel those intelligent eyes watching her. It was like he was trying to find something inside her.

-Oh here, I got you some food and drinks. I bet you are hungry. You may feel better after you eat something.- Byleth then took a satchel he was holding in his back and started taking out food from it.- It may be better if you eat something. I am no healer but I can see what I can do if you are not feeling well.- Said Byleth standing by Zoe’s side with an apple in his hand.

-I…thank you Professor I think I will have a drink and the apple. I am just a little tired…and I have just been hiding. How thoughtless of me. You must be exhausted after such a long fight and here you are worrying about me and my sister.- She can’t help but cry about that.- You really are and angel Summoner ______…and your heroes..

- Prince Alfonse can attest to it being the other way around when it comes to me.

-She does get in trouble quite a lot.-Alfonse says jokingly because he understands you are trying to cheer her up. He smiles warmly but keen eyes analyse the woman.

-I got kidnapped two weeks ago. Gave them all a scare.- You say laughing and Alfonse pulls a face.- It was not my fault tho. I swear!

-What? Who kidnapped you?- She panicked. Had it been HIM? Had she been helping some sick kidnapper’s fantasy?

-Prince Ótr. The brother of the guy that came to attack you and a creepy lady that looks like a possessed doll.-You giggle. Alfonse gives you another look.- Sorry. I am sleep deprived and I find everything funny right now; but I almost crapped my pants at the time.- Zoe can’t help but smile at the statement and she can see the effect you have on Alfonse when you turn to his furrowed face and mouth “Sorry” while taking his hand. His face changes to one of deep fondness and devotion. He loves you, just as much as HIM. And by the look on your face, she knew you loved him just as much…she was having second thoughts about telling you about Lif.

==…What if it is important? What if something happens to her and you could have saved her? I need to tell her.==

You let her eat something and after that Alfonse who is very intrigued by what she has said she knows speaks first.

-Miss Zorine. I thank you for keeping my Summoner and my men safe.- She listened to his words, that sounded in that instant so much like HIS. The way HE said “My Summoner” like there was nothing more precious in the world.- I have heard of your plight and I want to contribute to your cause. Here. I hope this is enough for you to get a place to stay while you journey out of the city.-He hands her the bag of gold. Zoe looks at it and you motion for her to take it.

- I could not…I did not do it for money.

-I know, still I would like you to have it. Do it for your sister. I am sure _____ wants you two to be safe. In fact. We are journeying back to Askr in some days and some of our people will be leaving every day. If for some reason you feel you are not safe in Embla, you can come with us to Askr and take one of the houses that have been vacated by our losses of war. There are many of those throughout the land.

-That is a lot of money. ..-She looks to her sister. She is ashamed to accept it, but she knows she would do whatever it takes for her sister to be safe. She looks at you.- I need to talk to you and if after that, you still feel like I deserve the money. I will take it and maybe the offer too…

== …but not alongside you… I will not be able to look you in the eyes after that…==

With furrowed brows and worry painting his face, Alfonse watched as you made your way to a place far enough not to be heard but close enough to still be safe. He felt dread pool in the pit of his stomach and waited with trepidation for whatever sign of distress you may give. He felt that whatever that woman was about to tell you, was not exactly good and it involved him as well. The way she had looked at him with recognition and fear. He wondered if it was just that the people of Embla generally thought him some horrible person. After all they were enemies. Still he had not met with that show of fear from other people in Embla, and this woman looked like they had met and was afraid of him in particular. He would understand if the woman was a soldier and they had come close in battle, but she was a prostitute. There was no way for them to know each other. Another point was that she also was way too familiar with you. Also like she knew you personally. So what did this mean?

==If only I had thought of bringing Beruka.==

Now that you were away from the rest Zoe looked restlessly around as if trying hard for a way to start. She looked at Alfonse and then asked.

-Summoner. It is not my place, but it is relevant to what I am about to tell you. Are you and the Prince…sweethearts?

You sigh a little asking yourself why this was relevant and remembering the reason why you two could not be together answered.

-No. He is dear to me and…but we can not…

-I see…I do not know yet why this may matter but…I must thank you for coming back to talk to me Summoner. I thought about what I was going to tell you and how to do so, for a long time last night and I do not see an easy way to do it. So I will ask you a question instead. Do you know…is one of your heroes called Lif? - As expected, your eyes full of emotion widen at the name. Your relaxed posture changes and with this change comes the prince’s as well. With a quick side glance to where the Prince is standing near the other heroes she sees his posture now even more tense than when you had left. She noticed he was waiting for bad news but now he looked like he was worried about you.

-Lif? Yes…how? How do you know about him? Have you seen him? Is he well?

-Please my Lady. Listen to me. I will explain how I know of him, but you need to listen to all of it before asking questions or leaving. I swear I will tell you everything and in…detail if you wish it. It all started almost nine months ago. I was very new to the tavern and I was tasked to accompany one of the other women to the entrance to the palace. By now I was familiar with the destination of the tunnel. I was told to leave her and then go get her in the morning…she…was new to this as well and had never gone to the palace. When I was coming back by myself I noticed a light coming from the distant South side of the tunnel. It was the main branch that passes by the tavern and I had to go that same way. The light looked blue and as soon as I got near it, it disappeared, but not the glowing red ones. The red lights were smaller but I saw them perfectly when I covered my lamp. The tunnel is relatively safe since it was made for the upper class , no thieves or ruffians know about it so I thought it had been a client. I had never met a client in the tunnel but I had no idea other people may use it for other reasons, so I called out to him and told him if he needed help getting to the tavern. In no way did I wanted to have a client, but if the owner knew I did not help a client I would be fined and I did not need to pile more debt on my back. He got closer and he was covered from head to toe with a black traveling cloak and the only thing visible were his eyes. He…put a mean looking sword on my throat and asked me who I was and what I was doing in the tunnel. His voice was deep and chilly and I got so scared I thought I was going to faint. I managed to tell him who I was and where I was working. It never crossed my mind that it may be a spy or or something.

- “There is an entrance to a brothel here? I don’t believe you. It is not on the map.”- his eyes narrowed while he spat that at me.

-”It is a little way up from here . I passed it trying to help you to it…You…you did not come for the…service?”- And now I was scared.

-”NO!”- He said almost offended and taking a step back.

-”Oh…please do not kill me. I do not have money on me. I was only told to take a worker to the palace secret entrance!”

-”I don’t want your money.”- He said angrily- “You said you know where this tunnel leads? I will let you go if you help me get around. This map is incomplete and I need it to be accurate.”

-”I yes of course! I will…I can tell the matron I have a client and I will be back. Otherwise they will punish me and fine me…I don’t mind the punishment but…I just …I can’t owe her more…

-”You are a …you work in the brothel then?” I nodded at him. I was so ashamed for some reason after he had the care not to call me a whore…it may seem like a small blessing but it means the world to me you see.” I will pay you what you make in a night for you to help me.When we are done, I will be sure your matron will not punish you.”

-I agreed to this and we took off without reporting back. You see, they don’t care if we do not come back. They will not look for us, but when we do come back, it meas we were not killed and then we need to be punished for loosing them money. I showed him the way to the palace and on the way where the tunnel branched I told him where the different ways led. I asked him if he had no need to write it down but he shock his head.

-”I will remember it.” He said very confident of his memory. It took a long time to walk all the way to the palace and to some of the branches he was interested in. Like the Scholar’s Library. That one was a strange one. I was surprised when he actually asked me if I had ever gone inside it. I replied that I was was not allowed to go inside. I felt like a fool when he said I could enter through the tunnel’s entrance…He stayed there looking at the entrance for a long while. Who knows what he was thinking.. although now that I know you, I understand him a little and he was probably thinking of you.- She paused for a bit then sighted.

-Do you like reading Summoner? Did you spend a lot of time with him reading?-Zoe asks you and you nod yes. Because now you too are remembering the time spent together reading and drinking tea in the library. His favorite place in the palace. She keeps going.

-I was so distracted by this I slipped on a small slimy puddle of water when I shifted my feet and almost broke my head on a stone. He was very fast and held me by the arm.

“Careful ______. Don’t hurt yourself…” It was the first time he called me by that name…by your name. His tone was… so different as well as his voice and when I looked at him questioning myself what was happening I saw him. I had noticed his crimson eyes were not like those some Emblan families have. His were …so bright they seemed to glow, but now that he was close to me and he had let go of his cloak that was covering him entirely, I could see his body. That is when I learned he was not of this world. His eyes widened when he saw my face and saw me looking at him. He let go of me and almost shoved me away…but he took his sword out again and pointed it at me.

”You will tell no one or you die!”

”I will tell no one I swear to you! Please I have a small sister I need to protect!”-I told him. Pleading for my safety. This seemed to do the trick. He lowered his weapon and told me still angry not to look at him again. So I avoided looking at him from then on. -Summoner I do not know how he looked like when you knew him but he…he

-Lif is dead. He was one of the army of the dead . I know how he looks.

-So you knew he was dead…

-It is complicated. I know him from when he was alive and then I saw him dead, I did not recognized him…I lost my memories of him…he disappeared after and I have been looking for him for a long time…wondering if he was still around or if he was lost to me for ever.- You tell her. She nodded and kept going.

-When we entered the establishment he came in with me and gave me my money. He then asked me to tell him where the matron was so he would be sure I was not to be punished. I did what he told me and went home. I suppose he did talk to the matron. She did not punish me and she looked like she had been threatened. She looked at me strangely after that. Then a week after, the matron came to me and told me that I needed to be ready that night. I was going to have a special guest…- Zoe lowered her face in shame.-Summoner…did you two love each other?- Zoe asks.

-Yes…once, long ago…in another life…we were…we made a promise. We had a ceremony with one of the priests of the Divine Dragon Askr in one of the villages we were visiting…but it was never made official.

-Summoner…. I did not know …I was scared and not even scared of him…just scared to have my sister pulled into the work and she merely a child of six! I was told to bathe and be prepared. They gave me the best room and was told that one night every month I would have this guest. No one else was to touch me. He paid enough for the month… The whole month.-She takes a pause when she hears you crying. - Please I am so sorry! Please do not go, you need to hear the rest. I swear on my sister…she is my only treasure …that you…please do not think badly of him…You…you have nothing to fear. I swear!- You nod for her to go on and turn around to motion for the others to stay back. They had rushed to you when they heard you crying. Alfonse looked livid and even more worried than before, but he held back. She sighs and goes on.- When I enter the room he is already there. I was scared but he told me that I can say no to him if I want to. He says he will pay a lot and I just needed to do what he asks of me. One of those things is…he does not wish to see my face, nor hear my voice. He said I was the right height and skin color…I did not know what he meant. He gave me something from a satchel he had and it was a white coat embellished with gold trimmings. He said to wear it, with the hood on and to not speak at all. I found out later he had stolen it from your castle.- She pause while you weep. Her face is downcast, unable to meet yours.

-He did not want me Summoner. He wanted you…from the first time. He never saw my face after. I wore the coat he lent me every time. I talked when he wanted and said what he wanted..the way he wanted…and what he wanted was for you to tell him that you loved him… He loves you so deeply…He loves you still…after death. I am nothing to him, he comes because I barely look like you in the dark…

You start crying harder and hold on to her. It was not her fault and you can’t be angry at him for seeking companionship. She is surprised by this and for a second does not know what to do. She had gotten used to people being repulsed by her, that she had forgotten how it felt to be treated like a human being by other people besides her sister. Zoe started crying too. She had her own reason and seeing you like this had made her let go of the negative feelings that she had been holding back for so long.

-Summoner…He is…not …he is not like the other clients. They only look for pleasure and to fulfil their sick fantasies. They mistreat us and harm us. He only looks for your love and this saved me and my sister. It is thanks to him I have enough money to pay off my debt…but Summoner. There is something else.- You look up to her face.- He also goes by Alfonse…-She looks at the Prince and then back to you. -I know he looks different but his voice when he talks to you is so much like…

-Alfonse…- You look back at him and motion for him to come.

-Are you going to tell him?

-It is …important to him as well.

Alfonse comes walking fast and his confused face looks to you and Zoe questioningly. He can’t figure out why Zoe would know something about you that would make you cry except that Zoe may know someone important to you from the World of steel and… There was a knot in his stomach…

==Did she tell _____ something that may want to make her go back home? What if she wants to leave…Oh Askr no…I could not live without her please!==

- Alfonse…Zoe met Lif in the tunnel.- Alfonse who was looking almost green, widened his eyes at the name. If Zoe had been looking at him she would have noticed the change. It was as if a great weight had been lifted off of him. He still looked worried but it was not the same. Lif…Lif he could deal with…even if it meant…

-Lif! What was he doing? Is he spying on Embla now?

-She doesn’t know. She says he had an old map and he paid her to show him around the tunnel and where it all led. If Thrasir had been with him I would suspect they were maybe spying on Veronica.- Zoe noticed Alfonse was thinking about it. Trying to

figure things out.

-He has been here with another woman he calls Veronica.- Zoe says and is surprised by the both of you turning to look at her so fast.- she is like him, but she does not glow….she …she calls him Alfonse too.- Alfonse stiffens and you look worriedly at him.

-When was this?- He asks when he recovers.

-Three months after the first visit. I wanted to know what he was doing. I followed him after… you know…He met up with her.- Alfonse widens his eyes. This tells him all he needs to hear to understand why you ere crying, the way she would not look at him in the eyes. He reddens and pinches the bridge of his nose.

==First visit?…Great…he’s been consorting with a prostitute of Embla…how low can he get? Although, this may be a blessing in disguise…No. Do not lose focus. I can not make her stay by my side…not the way I need her to be…I can’t deny her happiness just because it is not I making her happy…Even if it kills me inside…The Kingdom is above everything…even me.==

-Alfonse?

- It was probably Veronica who told him about the tunnel…Although…I wonder if Zacharias know about it? Maybe he does not trust us with the knowledge.- Alfonse brows furrow even harder. It pains him to learn his friend do not fully trust him.

-Maybe he doesn’t know about it. Remember he was exiled and well…he spend a lot of time with you in the Order. Even Princess Veronica may not know about it yet.

-You may be right. I may be reading too much into it. Still…if he…they are spying on Embla then they may be spying on us.

- They are.- You say.- He even got into the castle unseen. He has one of my coats.

-What? Why?- He turns to Zoe not wanting to meet her eyes but finding her looking down in shame.- How do you know about it?

-Memento. He uses it on her Alfonse.- He gave you a questioning look. As intelligent as this man was he was sometimes too innocent for his own good.

-Why would he dress her up as a Summoner? It’s not like she can use the sacred weapon.

-Sex Alfonse. He uses it for sex.- You say quietly in his ear.There really was no other way to say it. - He pretends she is…me.- Zoe glances up at him incredulously. Alfonse covers his red face with his hands and turns around. He just wants to go home and lay down to sleep for a week strait and forget about Lif and whatever he has been doing since he disappeared. And why did he not stay dead? He knew what would follow… and he did not like the prospect.

- Great. Just when I thought this could not get more embarrassing. Do you know anything of what they do here?- He asks with a pinched expression.- Besides…

- No. The day I followed them I stopped because I was scared they would notice me and I was very cold. I had only my nightgown on and…but I heard them saying something about her brother. I think she wants to see him. She was scolding him for wasting her time she could spend looking for her brother and he answered that she could just go by herself and let him do what he wanted. He said “ Veronica you are not a baby. You can go by your self without me holding your hand.” -Zoe shifted uneasy.

-Whoa! I’m surprised he still had his…erm… Still ballsy as ever…-You giggle. Alfonse rubs at his face.

- Well she told him “ Who wants to touch your hand? Who knows what you touched with it. If I was the Summoner I would never let you touch me. ”

-Oh…that was worst than a blow to the groin for sure.

-Can we focus on what is important here?- Asks Alfonse impatiently.- Is there something else we need to know?

-Only that he comes tomorrow night and I will not be here anymore if I can help it. I promised him I would not talk and …I am afraid he may retaliate if he knows I told you. I would have took this to my grave but you saved me and my sister and he …you needed to know. I owe you everything. I was concerned your safety Summoner___.- Alfonse is looking at you pleadingly almost asking you to let it go, but he knows he can’t ask this of you and he turns his face away, anger and pain visible in his eyes. Zoe feels conflicted, seeing the pain in both of you and the way Alfonse was behaving it reminded her of Lif once again.

-Are they related?- Zoe asks to no one in articular. Alfonse looks at her alarmed and then to you. You held his gaze a moment and said.

- It is up to you.

-No…you do not owe me an explanation. I was just wondering aloud. It’s just…he is called Alfonse as well and you …pardon my boldness Your Highness, but you look alike and the way you reacted just now and your voice…Also the way you are talking about that woman Veronica as if she was related to Princess Veronica.

Alfonse sighs.-This time no matter what happens and for your own good…You must keep your silence and your thoughts to your self. This situation may get you and your sister killed. Remember that by helping us you are already in trouble. If someone knows about it, they may charge you with treason. This is why we are going to help you get away before someone knows about this. Also for this reason. We will tell you the truth. You too deserve to know. I will tell you sou you know who you are dealing with. Lif…may not show you mercy if if he thinks you are a danger to his plans or desires.- Says Alfonse sternly.Alfonse did not say this lightly. He knew that as much as he wanted to deny it, he was not much unlike Lif. In fact. The thought had flashed in his head that, had he met Zoe first, this situation would not be happening and HIS Summoner would not be thinking of….- Three years ago the Goddess of death Hel came to invade the world of the living. Do you remember?

-Yes. Her army attacked close to the border and we were very scared.

-Lif was one of the the two generals. The other is Thrasir as she wants to be called. They chose the names of the first king and first Queen of Askr and Embla.

-Wait…you are saying this is the same person? I have heard so many tales about him!They say he was ruthless in battle and that he was not afraid of anyone! They say he could kill a whole battalion by himself! At first people thought they were on our side because it was said he wanted to kill …well…you two.The Prince and the Summoner of Askr…but then they attacked us and…It can not be the same man…They say he was a demon.- Zoe says. Her voice trembles as she shakes visibly with fear.

-Perhaps that is what he became for a time…- Said Alfonse.- His real name is Alfonse. Prince Alfonse of Askr.- Zoe gasped.-Thrasir is Princess Veronica of Embla. They both hail from another world that would have been our future. In his world Hel came and attacked and… every person…every living thing died. His world is empty. To bring his people back, Hel told him to bring her the lives of another world like his, so he went back in time to a world in the past where he was still human, to help her kill us. We were able to convince him to help us destroy Hel instead. He did.

-He is the reason we are standing here alive and still talking. He sacrificed himself and his world…- You tell her so that she does not think so horribly of him.

-So…there are two of Your Highness and two Princess Veronicas?- Asks Zoe and then she looks at you.- Are there two of you too?

-No. I died in his world and I was summoned by the sacred weapon to Askr again or…It is complicated. You can say I returned to the body of my earlier self. He does not know this because I lost my memory and I did not know it at the time either. I wanted to tell him the truth but I did not know if he had gone back to the world of the dead this time for real or…he may be looking for a way to bring back our people. It is difficult to explain…it gives me a headache every time I think about it.

-You died for him and for his people…that is why he keeps on saying he will come for you soon. He is looking for a way to save you them? But he does not know you are alive! And he tried to kill you.

-Good times…No. If he had wanted to kill me he would have. He had like three chances and did not do it.

-He…would not have been able to. No matter how twisted he may have become by his pain…He would not hurt you or Sharena.

-How about you, Your Highness? Would he harm you?

-He hates me…- Alfonse said turning his face away. That is all Zoe need to hear to understand.- We need to leave. We have been here in the open too long. It may be dangerous to you and your sister.

After that Zoe took the gold offered and took her sister with her. About to say her farewells. You on the other hand had another idea. Alfonse knew this and although he said nothing about this he left the site followed by S K Dimitri with a sour expression. Kagero offered to guard Zoe and Vera. It was a lot of money she was carrying and you told Zoe your plan.

Preparations were made and Zoe was going to leave the city the morning after with a group of Askr soldiers and other people. F Dimitri had asked to leave with her and the child he wanted to protect. You let him go and sent other heroes home so that it would not look suspicious for the two of them to be around the two girls.

~*~

A barn owl cried in the night and perched on the rail of the balcony of a dark and half ruined manor house. Moments later a hand reaches for the owl and takes a note it bears on its leg. Blue light floods the owl’s vision and irritated by it, it turns its face away into the night, but waits patiently for sign of another mission.

Lif looks at the note and without turning his head say.

- Nidavellir is at Veronica’s South City Castle. Alfonse has come to help Veronica. Bruno is with them.

-We were told not to intervene.

-Will you pass up the chance then? I have business in the city any way. With all the chaos no one will notice us.

There was no answer from Thrasir, only her retreating footsteps echoing in the empty room.

==Business...You only want to see her don’t you?== The voice in his head chimed in in a very good imitation of Thrasir’s own voice and tone. He growled, but inside he knew and hope twisted his stomach in knots.

==She will be there…she will be there! ….and so will Alfonse…==

The pair of red eyes glow brighter and the ghostly breath comes out in venomous vapors. The Owl takes flight scared.

~*~

After a long nap,(well as long as a Summoner of Askr is permitted to nap with everything going on in a war that is)you get up not wanting to wake up Sharena who had fallen asleep in the same bed as you. You think Alfonse is afraid of your safety and had asked Sharena to stay with you. If he did not trusted his friend, he trusted Princess Veronica even less. You go look out of the window. It looks down to the imperial city. It looked somber and dark after such an invasion.

Night had just fallen and the dying light of the sun bathed in purple and reds the sky in the west, but your eyes were set to the South where home lay. You were thinking of everything Zoe had told you and trying to make the best plan to get to talk to Lif and may be convince him to accept your help.

Wise people say that sometimes the best proof of love you can give someone is to leave and never come back and you were willing to do that if he told you to, but he did not know all the truth. If after knowing the truth he still wanted you to leave, it would break your heart, but you were willing to do so.

On the Eastern side of the protruding balcony where the shadows are deeper a figure hides from your view. It waits for the perfect moment and as you lean on balcony’s railing; your face between your hands. The assassin moves to strike and a hand comes to his mouth from over his head where a wide ledge is located. The assassin tries to fight off the attack but another strong hand comes to grab his throat and start squeezing until he starts feeling lightheaded and his vision blurs. It felt to him like an eternity but it has taken seconds for his vision to turn to black and his limbs to loosen and drop the knife he was about to throw. It falls among the hydrangeas and camellias under the balcony. The shadow above the ledge carries the unconscious man up to the the ledge to better get a grip. He will extract information from him and that is the only reason the assassin is still alive. Skillfully a pair of gauntleted hands tie the assassin up and gag him with his own clothes. He is about to be carried off when the shadow hears you humming a melody you would often hum when working. He scans his surroundings with his intelligent red eyes and then after making sure the assassin is not going anywhere and there is no one to spy on him, he moves down to the spot the assassin has vacated.

You were so close to him, just like the times he has gotten inside the Askran castle and yet just like those times he was unable to touch you.

- My Alfonse…where are you? When will I see you again?- You emit a sigh and his heart breaks a little more at that. He feels the sting of jealousy crawl up his chest and anger at himself for seeking you out and…

==Wait…Is Alfonse not here with her? Why?==

Your humming stops again as the sound of footsteps grow louder.

- Oh hey Alfonse. Sharena is still sleeping. I did not want to wake her up.

- I was told the servants will be bringing you food in a while. Let her sleep meanwhile.- He says as he joins you outside.- You were thinking about him.- It is not a question. You hum in response and change the subject.

-Have you been able to talk to Zacharias?- Alfonse stares at you and gives a sigh.

-...No. Princess Veronica is not too keen on letting him out of her sight…_______ he is not going to listen to you and he is dangerous.

Lif is surprised by the conversation. Who was the person you were thinking about? Who were you talking about ?

== Could it be Zacharias. Is she trying to help him in his quest? Why? Could she be…No…it can not be…=

Unconsciously he got closer as he tried to process and make out the pieces of information.

- Alfonse we talked about this. I have been wanting to help him for years and you agreed at some point. What changed?

== I got engaged to a woman I despise and I am afraid to loose you for ever…== Thought Alfonse.

-I…I am afraid. I thought I was over this when I got engaged. It has been a year and …it feels the same as it felt the day I signed the treaty.

==What?! He..== Lif’s mind was reeling.

- It only got worse when Ótr kidnapped you.

==WHAT!? That bastard will pay for this! I stay away for a while and this happens?! What are you doing Alfonse?==

- I am worried all the time and angry and you are not making this easy ________. I know I should not be telling you this, I know it is not my place to ask you to stay…but I can’t…

- Alfonse I will try to be more careful. I swear I do not want to burden you. I know you got enough problems. That is why I am here, to help you, not to add to them, but do not ask me not to seek him out at least once. I swore I would help you until the end of the war and I will. I will not leave. I swear it still… I need to make things right with him. I have tried to help you but we both tried to undo the engagement and we couldn’t. That woman really wants to be queen and unless we find a treasure bigger than her fortune we can’t do much about it…and then there is the other matter. Let me do this please. He deserves it.

-And so do you. He is your husband after all.- The word made his mouth taste bitter.- I apologize for being so selfish…You have sacrificed everything for us and to help us and I only want more out of you…-Alfonse sighs.- Do it. I will instruct the men to do what you need and keep you safe. But rem…- His words were cut off by the sound of someone coming inside the room.

-______. I got your food and Sharena’s.- Came Fjorm’s sweet voice. You get inside to greet her and Lif is left looking at Alfonse’s sour expression. He did not miss the whispered “Sometimes I hate that woman.”

==Husband…just when I thought Alfonse was not a threat…Grrr…Alfonse ! Who did you let her marry!?…”He is dangerous”…could it be Zacharias? Dimitri… NO!…Let her do what she wants…What do I care…she is not my ______. She never was…== He thought this as if he did not care, but inside the remainder of his heart was breaking. Who was he fooling?

He looked to the assassin. He was angry and someone would pay for it.

That night the matron of the “tavern” disappeared when she was coming back into the city. A low ranking Nobleman was found dead after he ran into a couple of shadows while coming back into the city as well. They blamed robbers at first, but he still had his money on him and he had bleed to death while trying to escape whoever was chasing him. The wound was on his lower abdomen. His penis and testicles were cut off.

~*~

The next morning, Zoe was not able to leave the city. She could not find neither the brothel’s matron not the nobleman she owed money to. The other workers who had been with her when she had left the city, had said she had just gone to pee and never came back. Then when she went to pay her debt, she learned the man had been assassinated and was told how he had died. Kagero was with her and was able to communicate, what had happened, to you.

You leave the castle to visit the soldiers and heroes who did not want to stay at the castle. Some of them were gathering info all around the city while they were here. You took F Dimitri, Marth, Beruka, M Byleth to where Kagero had left Zoe and Vera. When you find her she is a little afraid about what had happened, but offered to help you with your plan.

You take off to the part of the city where the brothel is located, but it is sealed off. With a small distraction you all were able to sneak in unseen. When you get there the place is obviously deserted. Zoe went to prepare the room you will stay in and meanwhile you tell your heroes the truth. Who you were and who Lif was to you. It was difficult but you manage to explain.

- Is this why it was so easy for Alfonse to accept the engagement with that horrible…with Lady Braam?-Asks Marth.

-No. We tried everything, to get him off of it without upsetting the treaty, before he told you about it. It wasn’t easy at all. Even without me in the picture, it is not easy to sign your life away to a loveless marriage.- Marth nodded to this.

- I don’t see why his mother would want her as a queen.-F Dimitri mutters.- She is clearly filth.- He finishes with disgust. Even in the bad mental state Dimitri had never said anything offending to any lady that was not his worst enemy so hearing talking this way about Lady Braam spoke volumes of the type of person she was.

-We will come up with something to help him out. You’ll see. If not just for him…for the good of Askr.

-If a marriage is “Until death do us part”. Does this not mean you are not married any more?- Leave it to Byleth to be direct and a little tactless but practical.

-I suppose in a way, but I still feel as if I am still married to him, and he needs to know the whole truth.

-That is so romantic…and sad…- Says Marth with his left hand on his heart.

-How do you know he will be here? In this place?- Asks Dimitri looking around angrily and a little jealous.

-Zoe met him in the tunnel when he was sneaking inside the city and she helped him map it out. She told him her story and he wanted to help her and her sister. She has seen him sneak in other nights too. Every month actually.

-So he was the one who assassinated the matron and that nobleman last night?

-We believe so.

-Mmm…- was all F Dimitri said. You got the feeling he did not entirely believe you.

-Does she know what he comes to do besides…visit?- Asks Byleth. You know he does not buy the whole story. Marth looks embarrassed.

-Not really. We believe Thrasir just wants to know about her brother. She is going to be really happy to see him tonight.

-Oh so Thrasir comes as well?- Says Marth sending the others a look that was a little chastising.

After a while Zoe walks you up to the room after you have given the heroes their instructions. Some of them would stay in the first floor guarding the two entrances and trying to be out of sight but giving you plenty of privacy. They will take turns as guards while the rest go to rest with Zoe and Vera. Beruka would be guarding the tunnel entrance, just to be sure no one else but him enters.

- Thank you for not telling them about me… -You smile at her.- I readied the room and cleaned it. It has not been used in a while so do not worry about…um… things. The room is sound proof for privacy. The sheets and blankets are new. I got them from the matron’s stores. Er…just in case… I…I apologize for being so forward but…he is your husband after all. I hope everything turns out right.

-God I wish it too. I miss him.

-How long has it been, since you were together?

- Last time I saw him was more than three years ago, when I still didn’t remember anything about him… More than six years for me since we were together…for him…who knows how long he has been alone with only Thrasir to keep him company. I always wondered if they were…together. I have been so jealous all this time.

-I do not think so Summoner. If they had been together I do not think he would have…come here and she would have reacted differently as well. Well I better get going. I bet Lady Kagero must be tired of dealing with us by now. I will bring the heroes some food and then hide in one of the other houses just in case. Good luck Summoner!

She leaves and you walk around the room looking at things. There are perfumed oils that smell very strong and kind of cheap, and bottles that look like wine. There are some things in the drawers that look like massage oils and ==Ugh! Are those toys???!!…Ugh I better not touch anything just in case…==

You sit on the bed, back to the door and ponder if you should have worn something better. The dark brown cloak you are wearing hides your garments. You are wearing only what other may call body armor and boots. A belt that houses a sword and a satchel with some items inside. You take off the belt and sword, then the satchel and open it to take out a small notebook where you have written some notes and ideas of what to do about different problems the heroes are facing. Time passes until you hear footsteps coming up the stairs and then approaching the door.

~*~

Lif went up the tunnel to the castle. He needed to see you again, at least one more time, before he stopped hurting himself this way. He needed to know who his precious Summoner had married.

==No! She is not my Summoner…she is just…Then why are you going to see her then…why do you want to know who it was she married and see how easy you can get rid of him… To see how it feels to break every bone in his body.==.

At the angry thought his hands made a fist, his eyes shone a bright red and he imagined all the ways he could get rid of a body without you ever finding out it had been him. He was also making a list of the probable heroes and friends that could be the offending recipient of…who was he fooling. If it was Zacharias, he was unsure if he could ever hurt his friend and he would never hurt Thrasir this way. Besides, Zacharias was a good man at the core.

When he came to where the entrance to the brothel was he stopped. There was a candle burning at the entrance. He had assumed the woman had left the city, but by this sigh he thought she must be there thinking he would be coming. He thought for a minute whether he should go inside. He spied a note by the candle. It read “ Please come up.”He thought he should go and tell that woman she was free to go now and so he entered the brothel thinking that even if it was empty, he knew full well where the woman lived down the street.

He opened the door to find candles lit in a kind of pathway. Why was that woman here still waiting for him? Maybe she was afraid he would go out to seek her out at her house. He sighted. Sometimes being scary was very useful, but sometimes it was just annoying. He followed the path upstairs until he finally was outside the room. He opened the door to find candles burning. The room did not smell of perfume as much as other times. He took a small bag of coins from his belt and let it fall on the top of the drawer by the door. The figure in the bed did not move. She looked scared stiff. He sighted again. It was not like he ever hurt her and he had asked for her permission too. He closed the door behind him. Thinking she may need an explanation. She might have come to the conclusion that it had been him who had gotten rid of her two captors. He gave a step forward.

-The people that own you are gone. You are free to go. You don’t have to be scared any…- There was something odd about the situation. The figure moved her head to the side a little at his faltering. For all the gold he had given her for her silence, that woman would have said something by now,she always had something to say and that smell. The smell was not one of those awful perfumes the woman always had to use…it felt familiar…it was… he found himself unsheathing his sword, but oddly enough it felt like he was warding off a demon out to get his soul, instead of trying to attack it. - Who are you?! What are you doing here?

-Is this how you greet me now Alfonse?- You say to him and take off the hood of the cloak. You turn around to see him widen his eyes.

He takes a step back and comes into contact with the door he had closed. He is still holding his sword up to you but his other hand is searching for the doorknob.

-Summoner…What are you doing here? ==Of all the people who could find out I come here, it had to be you? I really am cursed!==

-I came looking for you. I need to tell you something important…are you going to hold that sword up at me all night?

-There is nothing to talk about Summoner.- He says, sheaths his sword and turns to leave.- You are a married woman Summoner. You shouldn’t go around looking for men in brothels, people may talk.- He says suddenly angry and jealous of this unknown husband of yours.

==The nerve!==

-Well a woman just might have to go into brothels if their husband is the one visiting it! I am looking for my husband Alfonse… I heard he comes here every month.

Lif turns around faster than he intended and looks angrily at you.-So you really married Zacharias? and he comes here every month? Do you not keep him satisfied enough Summoner? I took you for a more passionate woman, if not borderline perverted ==Marrying my best friend!==… but your marital problems are of no consequence to me. And don’t call me Alfonse.- He says angrily and steps closer to you.

==It has to be Zacharias! Who else would come here often…and to think he was my friend! How could they?==

-What?! First of all…What the FUCK!? …The Hell you mean Bruno? What does he have to do with this? I am looking for you Alfonse! If you let me talk then I would…

- I heard you talking to Alfonse last night. You were talking about his engagement and then about your wedding. He said Princess Veronica was not going to let him out of her sight and then he said he was dangerous and you said he was your husband…and stop calling me Alfonse.

- You were spying on me?…Alfonse...Lif.We were talking about you. Yes I started out talking about Bruno to change the subject, but he switched to you because he knew I was coming here to tell you the truth. Lif I am in no way married to Bruno. Next time you listen to someone else’s conversation get all the facts and stop assuming things.

-Why were you talking about me and what truth are you talking about?

-Lif. You disappeared after our fight with Hel and I thought you were gone… after a time I stated having these memories coming back to me and after talking to Alfonse we came to the conclusion that I had been summoned twice to Askr. Once for him but the first time for you. I have been looking for traces of you to tell you, but I could not find any traces of you until I found Zoe by mere luck. Umm…Lif? Are you listening?

Lif could not move. He was rooted to the spot. He stopped listening when you said you had been summoned to his Askr first.

==Is she? Why didn’t she tell me?…how?==

-You…You are my summoner…and you didn’t tell me…

-Umm, I just said I tried to find you to tell you but…

- Why? I have been looking for a way to save you! How could you leave me alone all this time? You promised! You promised you would never leave me!- He steps back again as if he is trying to leave.

- I know. This is why I came to see you as soon as I found out where you would be.

- It is because I look hideous isn’t it? You rather stay with him? It that it? You love him more don’t you? He is perfect! Your perfect prince!- He is pacing around the room now, his agitated breath coming out like poisonous miasma around him.

-Lif you were gone! How was I suppose to tell you who I was, if I didn’t even know you survived? Are you even listening to me? I love you I wanted to find you as soon as I knew you were here!

-You love me? You love me now that he is out of your reach? Now that he left you and is getting married?

-There has not been anything between us since I told him we were married!- You reach out to him and he pulls away.

-Don’t touch me!- His hand hits you on the chest when he turns around to leave and you stumble and hit yourself on the drawer by the door then fall to the floor.

-Ofhh.- He looks sideways at you and watches as you fall down. He tries to take your arm but misses it as you flail your arms in an effort to find something to hold on to. In an instant he is by your side kneeling on the floor.

-_______! Are you hurt? I did not mean for this to happen!- He says eyes wide in shock.

-Ow it hurts…I just landed on my butt…

-Your arm is bleeding. Really Summoner, getting hurt in a place like this! You will catch an infection! Or something worse…

-If I can manage to talk to you; it will be worth it.- He looks into your eyes as he helps you up and sits you on the bed. He sighs again and sits next to you.

-You really did tell Alfonse we were married?- He ask looking sideways at you while rummaging inside your satchel for something to cure you. He knows you always bring a first aid kit.

-Were? I told him we ARE still married…unless you don’t want me anymore.- He looks away at that.

-The cut isn’t deep. You should head out to the castle now. I am sure he will find a way to undo that engagement if you tell him you love him.- His ruby red eyes are avoiding looking at you.

- No. I am not going back until we talk.

-What is there to talk about? You are Askr’s summoner. You will only go back to him.

-Not to him. I am going back for the whole Kingdom. I made a promise , like I did you. I served you and our Kingdom until I died. I failed you and our people…I will not do so again.

-You didn’t fail anyone…It was all my fault. I should have done more research…I was so desperate…

- We were all desperate…but at the end you did the right thing. She is gone…we paid a high price but she is gone for good. Imagine how many worlds she would have ended before someone else stopped her… if any one ever did.

-My people should not have to pay the price for my mistakes.

- We all lost and you were really not wrong…it is the payment…and that type of payment is the kind that is hidden until the deal is done…Like a contract with the devil. I have been doing some research during my free time. I still can’t find the payment as a result of the rite. I also have been researching for ways to help you…- He looks you in the eyes now.

-Leave it to you to be working on your free time.

-Well. I don’t go to picnics or long walks in the garden anymore so I go to the library. Every day we have new heroes, many of them we never met before and they contribute to our knowledge. The library keeps on growing. I managed to summon some heroes back from the dead Lif. Including Lord Freyr, the god of dreams and fertility.

-You summoned Lord Freyr?… dead heroes…

- I do not want to raise our hopes but maybe one of these times …and I can try it on our pedestal, back in our Askr, to see if it works.

-Ours - He murmurs closing his eyes.-…But you need to save this Askr first.

-Yes and this war just stretches on like it is just pilling one on top of another. But we will try won’t we?

- Perhaps. ..You need to leave. Do not get yourself into so much trouble and much less for me. I can’t be there to save you all the time.

-Lif…You really don’t love me any more?- You ask him and he lowers his eyes.

==Is it Thrasir Alfonse? Have you left me for Thrasir?==

-Does it matter?

-Have you not been listening? I love you! Of course it matters to me.

- You don’t love me. I am not the man you loved once. He died the day you died…You have no idea what I have done for her…just look at what she turned me into…- He takes off his mask then and closes his eyes. He does not want to see the disgust in your face.- And if it were just my appearance…

- I can understand you do not like the way you look and have negative feeling about it, but you have to know I do not mind at all what you look like. - he opens his eyes then and you can see his feelings bared for a second.- Please my Alfonse, Do not shut me out because of this. Why do you always have to be so difficult? Sometimes I feel like I am always running around trying to get to you and you always run away from your feelings and from me.Just like when we met.- You caress his face. You feel the lips you can not see and touch the line that unites his flesh and his glowing body with your thumb and see him get closer to you. You meet him halfway.

The kiss was tentative and slow, like he was still waiting for you to shun him and push him away and when you tried to get closer and placed your arms around his neck, the noise he made was almost a whine of need. He deepens the kiss and circle your waist with one hand and cradle your head with his other.The need to be close to you is overwhelming and he wants to be as close to you as possible. You feel his tongue exploring inside you; drinking you up like lost man in a desert. Meanwhile you feel the same way, but with the added feeling of exploring this different body. You are fascinated by the smooth and soft feel of his skin. You though he would feel cold but there is a warmth to his body just like a regular body would feel. It was very inviting. You did not want to let go and yet you feel him retreat a little and bury his face in the crock of your neck and take a beep breath.

-I missed you. I have been so lost without you… no one to ground me…or guide me.

-I missed you too love…- You caress his head and card your fingers through his hair the way you used to when you spend the night together. His hair looked darker and almost colorless. His vibrant blue and gold faded to dark blue and silver, but the feel was the same. All of him was this way. He looked different but he felt the same. He raises his head and before he tries to leave, you take his lips and kiss him. He seems surprised, but complies and soon you are breathless against him again. You feel yourself being lowered to the bed, but all of a sudden he stops and let go.

- Not here. I will not let this place stain you and this moment.

- All is clean love. I made sure of this. No one has used the sheets and blankets. They are a gift.

-She told you…

- She felt she owed me her life and her sister’s. I am glad she did tell me. Do not be angry at her. She is also grateful to you and wants to see you happy. -He makes a face and turns away blushing.

- She did not have to tell you any details…

- She didn’t. …Well only about the coat…and my name.

- I am sorry I was….. unfaithful…would you ever forgive me?

-For all you knew I was dead. That wasn’t being unfaithful. You did not know who I was and you were thinking of me. Weren’t you?

- All the time.- He closes his eyes then ads.-I don’t deserve you or your kindness.

-You can still make it up to me.- You say and wink at him.

-You…are sure about this?

-Yes. Unless you do not want me…I suppose..

-I do…Gods I do. - He says and kisses you again.- I…missed….you…so …much…- He says between kisses. He lays you down and he half lays on top of you and watches you for a minute intensely.- I can not believe you are here with me.- He says quietly. He lowers himself and kisses you again while you circle him to reach his back.

His armor is full of cutting edges and pointy horns. He worries about it and so he raises himself to stand and take it all off. He starts with his fur cloak and gloves.All the while watching your reaction. You have seen his face and torso, but he was worried you would not find him attractive after seeing all of his body. He took off his armor, which surprisingly he could do by himself as if it was just placed on his body without fastening. He was left with only his boots, which he was taking off and pants. You get up to start taking off your clothes, while you hear his voice. You could only take off the boots.

-No. Let me. I want to do it.- He had dream of this for so long. Being with you again and fantasizing about it had been one of the things that had helped him keep the little sanity he had. He sighs out of nervousness. He used to be a very self conscious man when he was alive and his new form was so repulsive to him. How he wished he could have his old body back. He stands before you a second, unsure of what to do. He wanted to see your face but at the same time he did not. He stood looking down until he growled a little and berated himself for being a coward. He looked up to your face and caught you staring at him in fascination. Your lips parted in anticipation. It was enough for Lif to feel a heat inside him flare.

==She…likes me…Doesn’t she find me disgusting?=

-Sir…MY clothes will not be taking themselves off. -You say flirting, because knowing him; that pause he had taken, meant he is insecure and having second thoughts.

He gets closer to you and kisses you again. You can feel his hands working on your top clothes. You feel them being lifted and help him, by raising your arms for him to take them off. The brief pause in the kiss to get the top off ends with his mouth once again taking your lips. His arms reach behind you to undo the fastenings on your bra and then caress your back, before laying you down.

He let go of your lips to kiss your neck while his hand reached your breast. He hummed in pleasure at the softness of your skin and when you moaned and reached for his hair, he lowered his head to lick at your nipple. The gasp you emitted makes him smile and he looks up at you when he feels you kiss the top of his head. He meets your eyes and the ruby irises darken with desire. Holding your stare he plays with your nipple with his tongue while his hand reaches down to your pants. He unfastens them and reaches inside. Nimble fingers searching for the price he so desires.

At this point you have melted in his arms. There are no coherent words coming from your mouth but his name. His fingers play you like the strings of a guitar and your music is more precious to him than the any notes he could conjure with his violin.

-Does he touch you the way I do? Tell me. Has he made love to you?

-No…we have never…Lif …please! My Alfonse…My Lif!

How he had missed your voice calling his name. He thought he would have hated that you call him by his name, but now he knew, the Alfonse of this world had not touched you the way he has and he does not want you to call him Lif.

-Alfonse…Call me Alfonse.- He says in your ear.

-Alfonse! My Alfonse! My love!…I…I need …I Need…-He also could not wait any longer. He had waited for so long and the knowledge that it was you this time, not a mirage or a fantasy…it drove him insane to wait any longer. He rose to pull your pants and underwear off and once done, he opened your legs to position himself. He stayed there admiring your body a moment. The intensity of his stare made you blush. You were so vulnerable right now and he felt a wave or warmth to know that you still trusted him enough to let him see you this way. He took your left leg with his hand, to hold it up but he wanted so much to taste you as well.

He made up his mind and he lowered himself to plant a kiss on the inside of your thigh.He moved to your womanhood. Your smell had always turned him on, but your taste…he had never thought he would enjoy something so much. You tasted just as sweet as ever and he closed his eyes as he twirled his tongue over your clitoris. His eyes opened when he hears you moan loudly. It had been so long since he had done this, but the sweet sounds you were making told him he was doing things right.

It did not take long for his tongue to bring your release, It had been so long and the desire to have him was so strong. He smiled to himself as he saw you tremble with ecstasy by his hand and tongue alone. He climbed the bed and over your body until he was level with your face and buried his face in the crock of your neck to take a soft bite of the tender skin. He could not hold on for much longer but he wanted you to enjoy your self first. You turn your face to kiss his head and he gives you a grumble of satisfaction then he takes your lips and kisses you. It was a tender kiss that soon changed into a heated kiss. By this time you were ready to take him in.

He takes a second to look at your face as he slides himself inside you. When you move and moan with pleasure he smiles for a second and then closes his eyes in pleasure as well. You felt so right around him, so soft and warm. He moves slowly at first, taking in the feel and making it last. He opens his eyes to watch you in the same situation.

Your hands were holding on to his back and arched in ways that made him want to touch deeper inside you. He kisses you deeply to be closer to you. He can hear you moans partly silenced by his tongue and he grunts in return. It is slowly driving him insane and he wants more, much more. He moves faster and you adjust to his rhythm. You feel one of his hands cupping one of your breasts. Caressing the perked up nipple with his thumb. All the while he is not kissing you he is telling you sweet nothings in your ears.

You wrap you legs around him when you feel that sweet spot being bombarded with waves of pleasure once again. You hear him grunt in that sexy low voice of his.

-I love you Alfonse!

He lets go and shares that moment with you. Your words brought him the final push he needed to reach ecstasy.

Moments later he holds you in his arms.

-How I love you my _______ . How I have missed you and these moments…I feel like we are one soul that have been apart for too long and finally has come together again.

You hear him sigh deeply and his hold tightens. There is a slight tremor in his chest and after a moment you hear a strangled sob. You try to see what is wrong but his hand on your head keeps you from moving.

-I…I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to return to that loneliness…I …I can not take it! Not when I know you are here, near him and…

-Don’t leave. Stay with me.

-I can’t…

-Why?

-I made a deal…with the gods…with Thorr specifically.

-Why?

-She…came to us and said they could return our people if we helped them.

-Help them? With what?…wait…Alfonse?...Love how could you?

-I was not thinking strait… I have been so lost in the shadows…I thought it was a good option…and…I…I want to destroy the gods too. I need time and information on how to do it…

-That is a very dangerous game Alfonse.

-I know. I had nothing to lose at the time…or at least I did not know I had something to lose at the time. Come with me! Together we can do this!

-You are going to help them destroy my Askr and want me to help you? I gave them my word. To this people…including Sharena.

-No. Of course not…I… I don’t want him to die anymore…I have been so jealous of him, I was willing to do anything…

- I have been jealous of Thrasir.- You say. Lif looks at you and makes a face.

-Why? She is like a sister to me…a more exasperating sister.- He says under his breath. He sighs and hides his face in your hair and the crock of your neck.

-It would not work and the power of summoning is the least the gods need…I would never help them destroy another Askr.

-I know. I would never let them use your power either. I… just want you near me.

-Oh…You have been spying on me…you can still do it and well they don’t need to know what you do when you spy on me. I can give pieces of useless information that may sound interesting to them.

-And I can give you what I find out…

-Alfonse…I don’t like it…I don’t want to lose you again.

-Nor I you _______…Marry me again ______.

- Marry you…bejond death… Is there a way to marry souls without the Gods knowing?

-Marry our souls?- You feel him take your face in his hands and turn it upward for him to look at you.-Bind our souls …for all eternity…so we will be together even in death.Is that what you want?- He asks hopefully. His eyes shine like they have not shined since he was alive. His lips part and his breathing deepens.

-Yes. Do you?

-It is what I most desire…for you and I to be together always…no matter what…to belong to you and for you to belong to me.

- Then let’s find a way to do it.- You say smiling. You know he will find a way.

-I…I know how to do it…I never told you because…I never thought you wanted to bind yourself to me in such an intimate and final way.

- Why didn’t you say this before? It would have saved us a lot of time and problems and…God I love you Alfonse!- You give him a peck on the nose and then look at him again.- Let’s do it then.

-Let me just prepare the ritual.- This surprises you because you thought the ritual may require items not available to you at the moment; but you say nothing because you know Lif would take this as hesitation on your part.

He gets up and rummages for something inside his clothes that are scattered on the floor, while you sit on the bed looking at his magnificent body. He takes a deep breath and reaches for the dagger he carries in his belt and returns to sit by your side. He is unsure if the spell will work if he uses his hand so he cuts his cheek instead , where he still have regular skin. Blood comes out of the small cut. He takes your hand and cuts your palm until a little blood comes out. He puts your hand over his cheek and covers it with his own. He closes his eyes to relish in the warmth of your hand on his human flesh.

Slowly he starts to speak.There are some words in the beloved ancient tongue of his people that you can not make out. Then his eyes open. Lif’s eyes shine brighter than you have ever seen them shine before, when he next speaks.

- By the power given to me and you by Lord Askr, I give myself entirely to you. I give myself to you so my soul can bind to yours for all eternity. Do you give yourself to me completely so your soul can bind to mine?

-By the power given to me and you by Lord Askr, I give myself entirely to you as you are giving yourself entirely to me so that my soul can bind to yours.

-Let our souls bind to each other for eternity.- He says and kisses you.

There is a feeling of something being pulled away from your body and a sense of togetherness you have never felt even when at the height of ecstasy while making love to him. The pleasure was beyond carnal pleasure and so clean it felt holy. For a moment it was as if you did not know where you ended and he began and the feeling of closeness was so compelling you wanted to stay this way for ever.

The strength of the spell drained you both and you open your eyes to see his eyes shining a bright blue. You were not even aware of the moment you had closed you eyes since you could still see him. His eyes widen when he sees the same blue light shining in yours. The light fades and he knows the spell worked and Lord Askr has blessed the union. Perhaps it was foolish of him to still have faith in Askr, but his blessing had never left him and even if his Lord had not come to his aid in his darkest of times he understood every god had a different power and different use. Askr was the only God so far that had been good to his people and so he still held respect for him.

- I feels so happy Alfonse!- You say and it was true. You may even cry of happiness at this moment.

-So do I.- He gives a sigh of contentment and buries his face in the crock of your neck again and embraces you tightly. This man who is almost seven feet tall manages to make himself smaller by almost wrapping himself around you protectively. - Mmm…Mine…

There is almost a purr to his voice that makes you giggle a little. He is like a big cat that just wants to be petted and be given love. It is such a contrast to when you had first met. You think back to that time. Of course the hunger for touch had always been there but he had been hurt and so he was cautious and he was also shy so it had taken moths for his trust in you to grow enough to let you into his heart. Touching had not been his love language until he had learned from you and that is when he discovered he craved it. And now you were finally here with him; he was drinking in every touch and every word like the sands of the desert; taking them all inside himself and hiding them like a treasure.

Lif did not need to sleep but could do it if he so wanted. He did it when he felt his mind needed the rest but sleep would bring nightmares so he slept seldom. He did not sleep while he held you into sleep. It had taken you with a smile on your face and his name on your lips.

For some moments he would be afraid this happiness would have been only a dream and worse yet that this happiness would end in tragedy somehow and he would bury his face again in your hair until that fear would die down and he willed himself to not think those dark thoughts. Your warmth and your smell would reassure him and he would be content again.

-Who is Alfonse engaged to?- He asks suddenly out of the blue, a while after he felt you wake up.

-Your third cousin Elanor Braam.

-What would possessed him to agree to an arranged marriage with her? Of all my family…Unless we count cousin Damian…Still she is the worst kind of person.

-She knows about Sharena…and how you…handled the situation.- He knew the situation right away. Sharena being the friendly girls she was, had made friends with many nobles. Among them was a Baron’s third son, called Ambrose Von Becker, whom she came to idolize for his musical abilities. In his efforts to gain social status he had befriended the friendly girl. Knowing he had no chance in courting her, because of his status, he planned to lure her into running away with him. The plan was to make her think she was going to go on a trip with him and his sister as chaperone but planned on going the two of them by themselves. Luckily Sharena had confided her plans to Alfonse and Zacharias who was at the time still training Sharena. Together they both had made her see the truth. Zacharias told her he knew Almbrose’s sister was away on a trip to the far South as she had insisted on him accompanying her.

However the damage was already done since she had sent him letters making plans and alluding to secret meetings that although were innocent in nature, could be viewed as something entirely different. Ambrose had told no one yet but tried to blackmail Alfonse into making him help accept an arranged marriage or he would tell everyone that it had been her idea to run away and that their meetings were more than innocent. Alfonse who was still young and did not want his parents to know took matters into his owns hands. Together with the help of his best friend Zacharias and his retainer Erland, they arranged a hunt where Ambrose suffered a disastrous accident that killed him. Sharena was but 13 years of age and Ambrose 25. And now the most greedy and hateful of the courtesans had gotten hold of the few reminding letters to blackmail Alfonse herself.

-How?- You hear anger in his voice.

- One of the servants told her husband. The husband sold the information. Elanor went to your…to the Queen and blackmailed her into arranging the marriage or she would make the whole situation known.

-Does she have proof?

-The servant and her husband…they helped her get some of the letters Sharena sent Ambrose. In one of them she mentions…the meetings and…they found the woodsman who helped you set the trap that got Ambrose killed. She has him hidden somewhere…until they get married. Sharena doesn’t know. She thinks…her mother is doing it for her money.

-Do not worry about ti. I am sure there will be a way to help him.

-How can I not worry…- You start but he moves to hug you closer.

-Come here.- He says and kisses you.

Dawn came and with it the voice of one Prince Marth of Altea.

-Summoner. Dawn comes. We need to leave before sentinels come and we are wanted in the castle. Remember we leave at midday.

-Thank you your Highness. I will be down in…(sigh) ten minutes.

-You have to go…

-Mmm…five more minutes…

-I wish we had that luxury…Love…-He was so tempted to kidnap you away and keep you for himself and away from all dangers that awaited you. But he knew not only that you would not fall for such temptation, but that it was counterproductive to both your missions. So he settles for your accord on stolen moments every once in a while. It was a huge leap from being alone…well with Thrasir.

==Oh FUCK! Veronica!! She is going to kill …Well…Whatever...==

He gets up faster than he wanted to and started to dress up. You followed halfheartedly and grumbling a little.

It took you less than five minutes to dress and it took him even less time. Lif spent the rest of the time waiting for you to dress, looking out of the window. He made a point of not looking at you or he would lose his composure and pull you down on the bed once again. Once he heard you were making the bed and tiding up the place, he turned around and pulled you into a final kiss that lasted more than he thought he could without undressing you again.

Strangely enough he felt content and hopeful when he finally left and not the endless emptiness and hopelessness that always followed him. By the time he reached the door to the tunnel he even felt like smiling at a bewildered Dimitri. Not like the man could see his smile under the mask and light but he did so non the less.

Still he knew he could not say anything about his plans even to Thrasir so he tried to fake shame when he met with her.

-Do we have another ally in our plans to take down the gods?- Thrasir asked as soon as he got near and not even looking at him. Silence met her inquiry while taken aback by the question Lif had stayed silent.- I talked to Bruno. Alfonse helped me have a moment with him. I told him about the assassin. He told me about your meeting. Strange how he trusts me more than you.

-I just got here…

-Hmmp… You forgot to tell her about the assassination tempt I assume.

-Err…

-Of course…How she forgave you I don’t understand… You can tell her when we go back to Askr to “spy’ on them. And erase that stupid smile off your face. We don’t want Thorr to suspect anything.

-Yes…of course…how?…

- You even walk different. Also you stayed all night.

-Oh…

- Do us a favor.Do try to give off that miasma of doom and hopelessness you always carry with you.- There was a strange sound coming from her that Lif had never heard before. It sounded like a giggle but instead of making him smile he felt awkwardly creeped out.Talking to her brother for so long had done wonders for her. She felt so happy.- Come before we give our entire mission away.

-Veronica…Thank you…

-Shut up.- Veronica never took a compliment or a thanks right and an apology much less.

-Veronica…

-What do you want.

-Don’t giggle while I am present again…

-Umm….Now I know how to get your attention…

-Fuck…

[line break ]

It took time but eventually you could summon Bruno, Thrasir’s brother. The next time they came and found out Thrasir had smiled. The good part was that death had freed him from the curse too.

It was strange to see her smile. But it was also regarding. The more you talked to her the more you liked her.

[Line break]

The news came two weeks before the Winter festival. A tragedy for the royal family had occurred. The Crowned Prince’s fiance had died in a fire in which her Winter residence had burned down along with many of her servants.

There was no need for an investigation. A servant confessed to have killed and then burned down the Villa with her mistress, her husband and a couple of the servants inside. Her motives were never knows as she seemed to have lost her mind after and was never able to talk again.

She had been sentenced to death but Alfonse was merciful and decided to let her live the rest of her life in prison since she had been a servant in his own household when he was younger.

On the day of the Winter Festival Alfonse found a parcel with a bow waiting for him when he woke up. It contained the missing letters that almost cost him his freedom. A single note written in his own fancy script read:

“Watch them burn.”

And Alfonse did. Smiling at the dark joke Lif had written in the note; he threw the bundle of incriminating letters immediately into the fire in the chimney. At last they were free.

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sherbet-shark · 2 years

Text

The ghost of you

Mini Drabble

Author’s note: I’m trying my hand at writing for another fandom/ and the idea of making this blog a multifandom one is invading my mind asdjkl. Do not interact if you don’t want spoilers for this game. Fire Emblem Heroes. I can’t believe I’m being dragged back into the fandom AGAIN,,

Summary: Líf sees the ghost of you every time he every time sees the summoner of this Askr. You have the same face, mannerisms, and beautiful smile that would’ve made his heart skip a beat. If only…

Trigger Warnings: Character Death, FE: Heroes spoilers, War, Angst

Líf loathed admitting how similar you were to his summoner. After you summoned him to the Order’s side, all he could see was the ghost of you in them. Every little thing, the undead general saw you. Líf knew even though he was undoubtedly in an alternate universe where death won. It stabbed his heart with jealousy and malice towards every peaceful interaction you shared with him.

Stop looking at him like that. Stop asking how he was doing after every battle. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop trying to make his already dead heart beat with love for someone that was already gone…

Why did he have to suffer the horror of losing the love of his life, his family, and the war against Embla while the younger version of himself can revel in your affection, the constant victories, and his remaining family alive? Deep down, Líf knew that for your world to win. His world had to lose, but in that painful, horrific moment. A small piece of his sanity and heart died as his summoner drew their last breath by Eir’s dagger.

That was only the tip of the iceberg, as his Order’s Heroes dropped like flies. It made everyone anxious seeing their beloved Summoner dead by an ally’s hand. Soon after, everyone perished. The taste of defeat and death sat bitterly upon the dead man’s tongue as he held Sökkvabekkr. The metal file in his armored hand tightens as he sharpens his sword. To sheer away unwanted memories, clean away the dried blood of his enemies. To clean away the ghost of you, as his glowing red eyes stared into the blade. What would you say now seeing his damned soul like this?

#Líf x reader #Alfonse x reader #fire emblem heroes #fe heroes #fe Líf #sherbet writes #depending on how well received this is I might go multifandom #feh lif #Lif x reader #feh x reader

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marvelwitchergilmore · 11 months

Text

In Love

Summary: Clint Barton x Fe!Reader ~ Turns out, you’ve been keeping a massive secret from Clint despite being his friend and co-worker for the last six years.

Disclaimer: violence, swearing (I think), pining, life-or-death situations, kiss to keep cover, fluff, hand holding, angst, blood, torture, Clint does not have kids or a wife or has ever, 16+ themes (Criminal Minds kinda thing). MDNI - This is your warning - If you read on, you have agreed to read 16+ themes.

The moment you came home your first day in the field, you knew what was to come.

You never fell in love. Never even fell into ‘like’. But the moment you met him…it was game over. Your future self laughed at your younger self.

“I’m never gonna fall in love.” you would say. “I’m never gonna like a boy like that. I’m not going to want someone to come home to. I want my own space. I don’t want anyone by my side. I don’t need anyone but my dogs. They can keep me company when I’m old and grey.”

God, you wished you could be like that again. Despite knowing none of it would be true, you wished you still had those ideologies. That you would never fall in love. That you would never date or marry or want children and turn out to be a Sports Mom with a minivan filled with gear, orange slices and cases of water you got on sale from Costco.

But the moment you saw him…that ideology died. In fact, it burst into a ball of flames.

You had never had that feeling before. That kind of feeling that sent a tornado through your stomach, blood pumping around your body as if you’d just fought for your life in a cross country race and your heart doing somersaults against your lungs that knocked the air out of them.

But the moment you saw him…you had to scold yourself.

And you scolded yourself over and over and over and over again, for years.

Agent Clint Barton was first and foremost your teammate. You could only trust one another to the extent that the other did. Same with the rest of your team.

Without trust, there would be no foundation for anything.

And he trusted you. That much was clear.

Afterwards, you, Clint and the rest of your team became friends and before long, you were a unit. A family.

Each and every one of you knew the other like the back of your hands, except…Clint felt like he was missing something with you.

He knew you were keeping something from him. And sometimes it felt like the rest of the team were trying to keep your secret, too.

Though, you knew that the rest of the team didn’t know for certain about your feelings towards Clint. They knew you but when it came to your love life, you were the only one none of them could figure out. Your cards were kept firmly against your chest.

One evening, Willa (one of your teammates) spotted you in a small cafe getting a drink with a guy and when she saw you Monday morning, she instantly asked you about him. The whole team was there. Were you about to reveal that you have a secret boyfriend this whole time? Perhaps he was your husband and you had 4 kids and secretly owned a private school in Nebraska?

But, no.

“He was just a guy and we had a good time but I don’t think I’m gonna see him again.”

“Why not?” Clint asked you.

“Because the day after I saw him in the park with his girlfriend and their dog.”

“Ooh,”

“I’m sorry, honey.” Willa frowned.

“It’s okay.”

For the next couple of months, you went on more dates. Some were set up by Willa and Jerry (another teammate) and the rest by online sites. And, some were more successful than others but in the end, none of them gave you that feeling that you had when you first met Clint. That kind of feeling, the moment you dropped your bag and closed your front door had you nodding your head and accepting, “Yep, this is it.” as you realised, somehow, miraculously, you’d managed to have a loving crush on someone. But it wouldn’t matter, because he is your teammate.

And, after two years of trying to get rid of your feelings for him, or at least, trying to accept them and move on with your life, Clint sent your heart spirally and fell even harder when yourself, Willa, Jerry, Una and Clint were all sent on a mission together.

It was an extraction.

The host of the gala was a multi-millionaire and would be auctioning off his prized possessions in a secret auction. The gala was simply a front. After all, why would more than three dozen highly wealthy people all come to the same country for “a holiday”.

His prized possessions included a hard-drive that opened the buyer to a world of information surrounding offshore accounts that were used to help free-lance agents that still had ties to any and all government organisations.

Shield included.

Only, after the initial smooth sailing, things took a turn.

“It’s not here.”

From the other side of the bar, your eyes met with Clint’s and you spoke into your drink as you lifted it to your lips. “What do you mean it’s not there?”

“I mean it’s not here.” Jerry told you down comms. “The harddrive. It’s not in this room.”

“Then where could it- oh no.”

“Oh no? What oh no?” Clint asked.

Willa turned her back to the column. “It’s in his jacket.”

“What do you mean it’s in his jacket?”

“Ten O’clock.”

Low and behold, there the host stood, the silver USB stick in his hand, smiling as he waved it around three other potential buyers.

One of them went to touch it and the host pocketed it before he could, smiling before removing his jacket and handing it to his butler beside him who folded it up and began to walk away with it.

“Where’s he taking it?”

Willa lip-read what she could from the conversation.

“His bedroom.”

“His bedroom is heavily guarded.”

“You don’t say.”

“Guys, what are we going to do? We need that hard drive.” Jerry’s voice rang through.

“Someone needs to get his attention.” Willa replied.

“How?” you asked.

“I have an idea.”

Moments later, Clint was by your side.

“What are you-”

“Just trust me. You can punch me later.”

You placed your hand in Clint’s as he led you to the dance floor and suddenly you were very aware of your own skin. It was an odd feeling.

“Just do what I do. But backwards. And in heels.”

“Thanks, Fred. What exactly is your plan here?”

Clint’s eyes met yours. “He looks in your direction every 45 seconds. I’m going to give him an excuse to make his move.”

You yelped in shock as Clint pulled you flush against him, his hand flexing on your lower back.

“Just trust me?”

You caught the sincere look in his eyes and all you could do was nod.

It worked.

Just as Clint was moving you around the dance floor, your mind going elsewhere, there came a tap onto Clint’s shoulder.

“May I cut in?”

“Of course.”

Clint pressed a kiss to your cheek, quickly whispering in your ear. “Flirt. You look beautiful, by the way.”

You smiled and nodded as he walked away, letting your hands slip from his and into the host’s. And, after flirting for the length of a song, feeling his hands go lower down your back, your own hands stopping him, he finally walked you up the stairs and towards his bedroom.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got eyes on you.” Clint spoke down comms.

You looked over your shoulder as you climbed the grand staircase with the host’s hand at your back, and you saw Clint to the left of the dance floor, watching you carefully.

Once you found yourself with the host, alone, in his bedroom and the guards told to clear away and take their break for an hour or so, you made quick work in knocking him out, finding the jacket and removing the hard drive.

Only, once you left and met Clint outside the bedroom door, a new to duty guard came around the corner.

“Just follow me.” Clint took your hand in his as he pocketed the hard drive into his jacket.

You only got half-way walking down the hall when the guard, who had peaked in on the host, came back out and shouted for you both to stop.

Of course, you didn’t.

You both ran instead.

Then an alarm was pulled and every guard the host paid seemed to be after you and Clint.

“What are you going to do?” Willa asked as Clint pressed something into her hand as he ran past her and out of the door.

“We’ll meet you back at the safe house.” Clint told Willa. “Just take the hard drive and get it to Jerry. Una, tell me you’ve got the van ready.”

“Ready. I’ll meet Willa and Jerry at the extraction point.”

“Good.”

And for the next ten minutes, you and Clint were running through the streets and back alleyways of the town, running in separate directions for a while before bumping into each other down a side-ally.

Footsteps were coming closer and the sound of bullets were flying through the air.

“They don’t know what they’re aiming at.”

“But they’ll find us soon.”

“If we run out now, they’ll shoot at us.”

“So what do we do?”

“I don’t know.” you looked at him, breathless, before looking back down the alley.

Then it hit Clint.

“I have an idea but I need you to trust me. Like, really trust me.”

“Jesus Christ, Barton. Just get on with it.” you finally called out as he tried to prevent the inevitability of his plan - despite you not knowing what it was.

The footsteps were drawing closer and for a moment they stopped, a light flashed down the alleyway and voice talked before the running continued.

But none of that registered in the moment because your brain was short-circuiting since Clint’s bright idea was to kiss you.

His hands came to your face and he could feel your hands on his arms, ready to push him off and probably punch him. But you didn’t. And, rather than the kiss being stiff and awkward…it was unlike any other.

One of his hands still remained by the side of your face when the light shone down the path but his other came down your body, sending goosebumps in their wake, before he pulled you against him and he stepped closer pressing you between him and the wall.

Your own hands travelled up to his neck and pulled him closer but once the footsteps died away, the kiss slowly came to an end leaving you both breathless against one another.

“I think it worked.”

Clint nodded, swallowing hard, as he looked at you.

How had he never noticed the reflection of the stars in your eyes before?

“I think it did. Are you gonna punch me now?”

Clint watched as you paused for a moment.

“Not right now. But if they come back, I might.”

“We better go?”

You nodded. “We better go.”

You had to push yourself along because you knew, if you didn’t, you’d kiss him again and he’d simply kissed you to avoid getting caught, right? There would be no dire consequences after that kiss.

But all Clint could do was scold himself as you both made your way back to the safe house. How had he never noticed the stars in your eyes before? Or how, in the morning, the rays of the sun shone back just as bright? He also scolded himself from allowing himself to emotionally indulge in the kiss he shared with you. You are his teammate. And he knew himself.

He couldn’t let his heart get involved, or else there would be dire consequences.

Initially, things felt…awkward. But, after four years, it was just an old memory, right? And, yeah, sure, the memory would be revisited from time to time whether independently or shared…kinda. Mostly, this was when the team would have drinks one night and would be talking about love lives and first kisses and worst kisses.

“Alright, alright, alright. I’ll give you that one.” Una said, swirling her bottle of beer. “But kissing to avoid something, that can't work, can it?”

“It can.”

Your mouth spoke the words before your brain could stop you.

“And how would you know?”

You caught Clint’s smirk as he looked down to his beer.

“I just do.”

“Oh, really?”

“Come on, tell us!” Willa cried.

You shook your head with a suppressed laugh. “I’ve said too much.”

“No, come on!”

“Maybe some other time.”

“No fair.”

“Okay,” you smiled. “You tell us about what happened with Derek and your ‘worldly knowledge’ and I’ll tell you my story.”

Willa narrowed her eyes at you, playfully. “You play a clever game.”

You just sat back and smiled.

But despite all of this, four years on, neither you or Clint had seemingly changed. But he still felt like you were hiding something from him.

Except, he’d find out soon enough. And not in a way either of you hoped he would.

This time, you’d been called in on your day off.

“What’s going on?”

Clint turned around from the monitor and was at first taken aback from your clothing. Usually, you wore black pants and a black t-shirt to work or a work shirt or, if the situation called for it, sand coloured cargo trousers and a breathable t-shirt. Though, that was usually when having to attend a military base outside of cooler weather.

Instead, you wore a cosy jumper and dungarees that had paint splatter all over them, including your white pumps and small freckles of pain on the baby hairs that had escaped their cover of the hair bandanna.

Clint also spotted the remnants of nail polish in your cuticles and light paint on the side of your hands.

“We’ve just got- have you been decorating?”

You looked over yourself. “Oh, yeah. Felt like a change. Anyway, what’s going on?”

“We’ve just got wind of a hostage situation. We can’t make verbal contact with the abductor but they did send this out.”

It was a note.

And it was through that note that led you and Clint making an extraction which was initially successful until you did a final sweep afterwards only to be knocked out when you spotted a door had been left ajar and the lights turned off.

Clint, after not hearing your reply, came in after you.

And that was how you both ended up waking up inside some beat down old home that had probably been designed in the 40s.

His voice was hazy, but you heard Clint call your name. You also tried your best to take in a breath but was only met with a damp stench and the feeling of your lungs crushing you into shock.

“Take it easy, he hit you pretty hard.”

After a few minutes, you finally gained some normality in your lungs but the sting was still there.

“What happened?”

“After he went all sleeper agent on you, I came in and found you unconscious. I was trying to wake you when he stuck something in my neck.”

“I see you got the peaceful option.”

“Funny.”

“Where the hell are we?” you asked, trying your best to look around.

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard any cars so I’m gonna take a guess and say we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“Well, that narrows it down.”

“Did you see who took us?”

“No.”

“Would you like to?”

You and Clint snapped your heads to the open space in front of you both.

Out from the shadows appeared the guy who you had seen just before his gun came across your head and your body hit the ground.

The man walked from one side of the room, to the other, screwing in the light-bulbs beneath the lampshades causing both you and Clint to squint at the brightness. You’d both been submerged in darkness for quite some time.

“My name is Jack. I know, how original. It was actually my mother’s father’s name. Named after my grandfather, grand ol’ Jack. Lived till he was 92. Always said the best way to survive was to always tell the truth. That lies weighed on the soul. And to have a small shot of whiskey before going to bed. Said that was good for the heart since it quietened the mind.”

“Really touching story,” you cut him off. “But why are we here?”

“Don’t you get it?”

You and Clint looked at one another. Had you both missed a part of this conversation?

“I tried to save those people in the warehouse.” Jack told both of you as he straddled a chair. “People in this world need saving from themselves. People are dying younger than they ever did. And it’s because of all the lies. The lies they keep from their parents, and their children and themselves. It’s all crushing their soul. And I knew…” Jack smiled, wagging his finger. “I knew the moment I saw you down there that yours was being crushed the most.”

“Saw me?”

Jack stood from his chair. “I was in the corner office, on the top floor. It has an excellent view. Whoever has that office next will love it. The accents on the wall, ah magnificent.” Jack kissed his fingers before continuing. “But it gave me a good scope. I understand not everyone will…agree with my methods, per say.”

“No, because you took people hostage.” Clint pointed out.

“I was trying to save them! And I was finally getting through to them until those SWAT guys pulled out my team.”

“Again, because you had taken them hostage. And now you’ve taken us hostage.”

“This world needs saving!” Jack yelled. “It needs saving from the lies people tell and the secrets they all hide.”

“Alright!” you yelled out before calming your voice. “Alright. So…the world needs saving? Jack, do you really think you’re saving it…by killing people? The hold-up down on 9th? That was you, right? Those people you let go-”

“They let their souls free. They told the truth.”

“So, if we-” you looked at Clint before turning back to Jack. “If we tell you the truth, will you let us go?”

“Yes.”

For a moment, the feeling in the room got lighter. Maybe there was a way out after all.

“But you’ll only lie. No, you…your secrets are too big to just give up freely. You…you’re a take em’ to the grave kinda gal. So, no. I won’t let you go. Not until I know that it’s the truth.”

“How will you know?”

Clint regretted asking the question.

“Because she’ll be begging to tell me. You both will.”

Neither of you knew how much time had passed but the spots from the light were getting duller and bigger.

“No, no. You can not sleep yet. You haven’t freed your soul.”

“Why do we have to free our souls?” you asked, the taste of blood coming to your mouth. “What if I don’t want to be saved? You said it yourself. I’d rather take mine to the grave.”

“Oh, but you don’t. Not really.”

Jack had been circling you and Clint for a while, as if he were a hunter, teasing you - waiting for you to beg to be killed.

“No, I can see it in your eyes. The eyes never lie.”

Jack levelled himself though he wasn’t close enough to knock out. His hands gripped your thighs as he hummed, annoyance clear in his expression as he tried to figure out your secret.

“Perhaps you killed someone? No, that isn’t it. Maybe you ran away? Have a secret family? No, that’s not it either. The eyes never lie to me. What is it? What are you not telling me? What are you not telling yourself?”

Clint called your name and Jack saw the slightest change in you. So slight, in fact, even you didn’t feel it.

“It’s him. It had something to do with your team. No, teammate. It’s him and just him.”

Jack pushed against your thighs so he could stand up straight. Quickly, he made his way over to Clint and circled him.

“What is it? What is it about you, huh? What has her secret got to do with you? Let's see if we can find out.”

You heard the snap of a switchblade as it opened and the fight for Jack to steady Clint but before he could make the first cut or slice, you cried out.

“Stop! He doesn’t know! He- he doesn’t know. Please…just…just don’t hurt him. Please.”

Jack looked over to you and Clint’s name escaped your lips, both in pleading and question.

“Oh…oh, this runs so much deeper than just a secret.”

You lowered your head for a moment. The pounding in your heart was only made harder by your own silent cries telling you to not say anything else. But there was a chance you’d both die, so why not tell him? Right? Maybe it would save your lives? Or would it only give Jack more ammunition to use?

“Doesn’t it?”

“Please…don’t.”

Jack knelt in front of you and gently touched your cheek before moving his hand down and grasping under your jaw, forcing your head up.

“Tell me. Let me free your soul.”

Tears rolled down your cheeks, your heart crushing your lungs inside your chest.

“If you don’t tell me, I will only hurt him more. And you don’t want to hurt him. Tell me. Help me save both of you. Tell me. No, tell him.”

Jack moved your head, forcing you to look at Clint with tear stained cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Clint. I’m so sorry.”

Your name came from Clint’s voice, barely above a whisper.

“You can admit it,” Jack said your name. “You committed the most heinous act an agent such as yourself can do, didn’t you? You created a danger, not only for him, but yourself.”

Clint said your name again, trying to move his hands only to find them still shackled to his chair.

“You fell in love.”

You took in a breath, the beating feeling in your chest, turning into a stabbing feeling against your lungs. Your head remained down as you squoze your eyes shut, more tears escaping from your lids, down your lashes and onto your lap.

“Please…”

You didn’t even know if Jack could hear you, but you pleaded with him anyway.

“We need to hear you say it.”

You remained silent but then-

“Say it!”

Jack’s hand came to your face and pushed you to look at him.

“Say it! Say it!”

You continued to plead with him until he pushed you back further and you screamed out.

“I fell in love! I fell in love! Please! Stop! No! Please! I-I fell in love! I fell in love with him! Please! I-I fell in love with him. I’m in love with him!”

Jack stopped and waited a moment before pulling you back so all four legs of the chair were on the ground and he finally removed his hand from your face.

“And there it is.”

He was smiling. The look and sound of fear in your body had pushed him further but the defeated look on your face…that couldn’t be bought. That had to be created, by his hands.

Clint looked between Jack and you and he didn’t know what to be more worried about. What Jack could possibly do to you next, or the fact that even he knew you were telling the truth to Jack.

You were in love with him.

But he didn’t have long to sit and think about it because flashing lights suddenly came from behind the thick fabric that covered the broken windows, blocking out the light of the day and night.

“No! No!” Jack shouted. “I still need to save them!”

It all happened so quickly, Clint barely caught the fact that Willa had rushed inside, Una arresting Jack and detaining him. Willa rushed over to Clint as Jerry came over to you.

“How did you find us?” Clint asked Willa as Jerry came behind you and picked the locks of your handcuffs.

“Are you okay?”

Jerry knew it was a stupid question, even when you didn’t answer him.

“A dog walker called it in. Said they could hear someone yelling as if they were in pain. He also knew no one has lived in this house since 1982.”

As Willa picked Clint’s handcuffs, Jerry had managed to get you out of yours and without looking back, you darted for the door.

“Wait, wait,” Una called after you. “We need to wait for the medics.”

“Can you take me to the hospital?”

Una looked you over. She could see the clear look in your eyes. You didn’t want to stay here for another second.

“Don’t you want to wait for Clin-”

“Now?”

Una nodded, radioing into Willa who was standing behind Clint, letting Jerry finish unpicking the locks.

“Sure, I’ll call ahead.”

“Thank you, Willa.”

Hoping into the passenger seat, you shut the door as Una climbed into the driver’s seat and took off down the road and to the local hospital.

“What happened in there?” Una asked you as she flicked her eyes from the road to you and back again.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Even with your hand shaking, you pushed your fingers across your face to try and wipe away the tears.

By the time you arrived at the hospital, you were taken to a separate room where Una stayed in the waiting room, filling out your forms. Your hands were too shaky to even hold a pen and you could just about remember your own name.

The doctor ran multiple tests and pushed the small cuts together with closure slips.

“You’re all good but I’d like you to remain here for a couple hours, just in case there’s any change.”

You nodded and quietly thanked the doctor as she left.

There were patches of dirt on your hands, as well as blood and old tears where they washed away the stains.

After an hour, Una came in only to leave a few minutes later since she was called back to base to interrogate Jack. And, as she left, you slowly lowered yourself down on the hospital bed and, despite the noise in your head, you fell asleep.

A few hours later, a nurse came in and woke up.

“You can go home now, honey. We’re gonna need this bed.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” you tried to get up quickly but the nurse only laid a hand on your shoulder.

“It’s okay, honey. Take your time. I read your chart, you took quite the hit. Your friend is waiting for you in the waiting room to take you home.”

You nodded, swinging your legs over the side.

“Here. Take these for the headache.”

“Thank you.”

“No worries, honey.”

By the time you had grabbed your jacket and started walking down the hallway, you stalled when you saw who the nurse was talking about.

If you had the energy, you probably would have run in the opposite direction. But you didn’t. You were tired and if the nurse hadn’t woken you, you probably would have slept for the next 24 hours.

“Una was gonna come but I fought her for it.” Clint tried to smile but he could see your’s was just forced.

“Look, what happened-”

“Clint, please…I– I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to go home.”

“Okay.”

The drive back was silent and awkward and by the time he pulled up, you looked at him for as long as you could stomach (which wasn’t long) before opening up the door and thanking him.

And, the moment you pushed your key inside your door, you thought you were safe. That everything was finished for the day and you could deal with it tomorrow.

But Clint got out of the car and called your name.

“Wait!”

He took the porch steps two at a time and when he finally reached you, you forced yourself to look at him.

“I need to say something.”

“You don’t have to say anything, Clint.”

“But I want to.”

“Please…I’d…I just want to forget what happened today. Please…I can’t do it again.”

“I know you’re scared and watching what he was doing to you…I was scared, too. I am. I am scared.”

“Clint,” you could see the look in his eyes and you shook your head. “No. Don’t. Don’t say anything you’re gonna regret.”

“The only thing I regret is not telling you earlier.” Clint told you. “Then maybe none of this would have happened.”

“Clint-”

“I-”

“Please.”

Your hand flew to his chest and he stopped talking. “Please. Whatever you’re about to say…please wait. Wait for the right time.”

Finally, you looked at him and his hands came to the top of your arms, stroking downwards before holding you close.

“Please…just wait.”

“Okay.”

That was all he said before kissing your head and saying it again.

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

By the time you woke up in the morning, your mind had stilled and before it could get loud again, you started painting again. All of your furniture was covered and two out of the 6 walls you had planned to paint had been cleaned, stripped, sanded, coated and painted.

And, just as you started on the third, a knock came to your door.

“I just want to help.” Clint told you. “And, let’s be honest, last time you tried decorating this place on your own, you nearly knocked yourself out with paint cleaner.”

You, for the first time in the last 48 hours, smiled.

“You can take the kitchen. There should be some new cupboards to keep you company.”

“You’re finally changing them?” Clint asked, entering the kitchen, his tool belt around his hips.

“I am. Picked them out last week.”

“Thank god.” he said. “I hated the last ones.”

“Same.”

The rest of the day ran smoothly enough, despite what the last couple of days had revealed. Clint informed you that you and him both had the next two weeks off before either of you could go back into the field. He also helped fix the kitchen cabinets to the wall as well as install your new oven. You could have done it on your own, but having someone else there made it easier. Clint also helped you move around the heavier furniture and, when fixing the wiring to the lightbulb, he held the ladder steady under you so you wouldn’t fall.

And for the following two days, neither of you mentioned anything about what happened with Jack. It was like nothing had ever happened in the first place.

Until Clint decided he couldn’t wait anymore.

It was easier, before the kiss, to shut off his feelings for you; that worry, that concern, that joy that exceeded more than just the smile of friendship. But after, they became much more clear. He saw the stars in your eyes and the light in your smile. He was more than just amazed at your talents of being an agent. Of course, those who joined Shield all had similar talents, but there was just something more about you. More to be figured out, more to learn, more to be desired and most of all, more to be loved.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

Sure, he’d been called stubborn before but now he was impatient. He’d let time slip by for six years and in that time there had been moments where he wanted to call out from the top of buildings that his feelings for you were more than that of a friend, of a teammate. But he couldn’t.

There was always a mission or a job to be done or a date that got in the way. And now, there had been a raging lunatic that, if Willa and the rest of the team hadn’t landed when they did, could have killed you. He’d set your soul free, you’d been able to tell your secret. What was to stop him from not letting the rest of you go? What was stopping him from shooting you where you sat or using your life against his?

Nothing.

Because Clint couldn’t free himself. He couldn’t free himself from his chair or the shackles that kept him there. No matter how many times he called out your name or shouted for Jack to stop, he couldn’t free himself. He couldn’t get there. He couldn’t stop Jack from doing whatever he wanted to the women he fell in love with all those years ago.

But he could do something now.

So, as you stood beside him in the kitchen measuring out a plank of wood to fit on the wall above your stove, Clint looked at you and finally told you what he’d been wanting to tell you for years and what he was about to tell you two days ago before you begged him to wait, you not fully knowing whether he was going to reject you or tell you that he loved you.

“I’m in love with you.”

Whatever you had been saying about the plank of wood and how you needed to get some more sandpaper from Home Depot quickly came to a stop as you stumbled over your words and looked at him.

“What?”

“I’m in love with you.” Clint repeated.

“No, Clint. Don’t-”

“I’m not just saying it because of what happened.” Clint assured you. “I should have told you years ago but I kept making excuses. But, after what happened, I don’t want to be able to find an excuse. I nearly lost you because I didn’t tell you sooner. I’m not losing you again. I’m in love with you.”

You were stunned to say the least.

“I know, two days ago, you told me to wait. I was going to tell you when I got to the hospital but they told me you’d just fallen asleep. And then you told me to wait when I dropped you off and maybe I should, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to miss a chance to tell you again.”

Again, you were stunned into silence.

“I’m in love with you.”

“I’m dizzy.”

That was all you could say. All the information and realisation of every action made in the last six years all hit you at once.

Swiftly, Clint pulled out one of the bar stools and you sat down holding your head.

“You’re in love with me?”

“I’m in love with you.” Clint repeated.

“You’re in love…with me? Me? The woman sat in front of you? Me?”

“Yes. I am in love with you.”

“Have you inhaled paint cleaner?”

Clint chuckled and pulled out a chair himself, sitting with his knees locked into yours before he took your hands in his.

He stated your full name, “I am in love with you. And have been for the last six years.” Clint also stated your birthdate, star sign, address and badge number. “Does that clear it up?”

Your heart was beating in your chest so fast you thought it might actually explode.

“Clint, I…I need to know you’re not just saying this because of what happened.”

Clint gave a small nod. “I have an idea but I’m gonna need you to trust me. Like, really trust me.”

You nodded and a moment later, Clint’s hands had moved from yours to your face, cupping your cheeks before pulling you in for a kiss.

It was gentle and loving and unlike any other kiss you had experienced before. Other guys had taken what they wanted, forced the kind of kiss they wanted out of you. But not Clint.

Somehow, he conveyed every emotion he could into the kiss and you couldn’t help but feel your mind wander back to your first kiss, down the side alleyway. That felt real. You had to convince yourself it was fake but this, and that, was real.

It was all real.

For a moment, you felt Clint smile into the kiss as your hands gripped at the collar of his checked shirt to pull him closer. A smile which you returned.

“I’m in love with you.”

“I’m in love with you, too.”

Clint smiled and kissed you again, and again, and again.

Despite everything that had happened, and everything that you had previously thought, you had come to realise that maybe it wasn’t so bad to learn to love and accept love in return. And in the years that passed, despite the dangers the job put you both in, it was nice to come home and be greeted with a familiar face and a warm embrace and to have a family you could both call your own.

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cherry-flavoured-thot · 2 years

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Aww, could we get some poly! Lif and Thrasir headcanons? I'm attracted to them 🙊

haha about to hit you with a scenario instead-

Your laughter is contagious. Lif and Thrasir have both relented to that fact, accepting the way any tension either of them may have eases at the simple sound. However, Lif is able to get away with the possible effects of hearing your due to the fact that if a smile slips through because of it, the smile would be hard to spot.

Thrasir has to try a slight bit harder to fight the way the corner of her lips threaten to turn upwards. “Surely it wasn’t that funny.” She reasons, more with herself than you, but when her attempt at reason only causes you to laugh harder as the memory replays in your head again, she’s lost.

“He just walked straight through the wall! How is that not funny?” You were referring to an incident in which one of the armoured heroes just walked straight through one of the castle walls, Anna and Alfonse were both horrified but you just laughed. “How do you even do that?”

“Maybe they couldn’t see out of their helmet.” If you couldn’t see Lif smile, you could hear it from the slight hint of playfulness in his tone. Thrasir, now considering his words becomes troubled.

“Wouldn’t you feel a wall? Especially if you were amongst the living?” Thrasir’s confusion only seems to make you laugh louder, not that either of them mind. Your laughter is contagious but very rarely do they contribute to the cause of it, the fact that this time they could makes both of their chests swell with a rare warmth.

#fire emblem #fire emblem heroes #fe #feh #lif #lif fe #lif feh #thrasir #thrasir fe #thrasir feh #fe x reader #feh x reader #my writing tag

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mecharlie-fox · 3 years

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FeH: Lif X Summoner/Reader "Save Yourself."

Based on the Book III chapter where Lif and Thrasir became puppets for Hel after their confrontation with Alfonse and co.

You were his Summoner. Unlike the other Summoner who hailed from the World of Steel, you were more experienced in the art of mastering heroes and the mysterious magic that surrounded the phenomenon. Blessed by the dragon god of creation, tasked into protecting the realms - you have served countless of worlds throughout different eras. You did not age, you did not question your tasks, you did not question destiny.

You made friends with your previous comrades, defeated tyrants and conquerors. You could argue that you have seen everything and have prepared for everything, as a summoner, as a hero, and as a tactician. You guided young Summoners and Heroes in other worlds whenever you had a chance - in a sense, you were a mentor, a comrade, and a friend. But when you found yourself in the World of Zineth, you thought that it was going to be the same cycle as it's always been.

You summoned heroes, you fought in battles, participated in this war as per request of your contractor... you eventually made new friends and comrades - but you never expected to fall in love.

For the first time in all of your lifetimes, you wanted a family. You wanted to marry. You wanted to leave this world of yours behind and start a new one with him.

But Death came and took him away from you. Hel couldn't touch you because your soul belonged to the divine dragon god of creation. To go against the dragon was asking for a conflict that she knew she could never win. You were told that you couldn't do anything about it. That you couldn't save them no matter what you did. But you couldn't forget, the guilty consciousness of failing them as a summoner, as a hero, and as a friend was swallowing you whole. Alfonse trusted and loved you, but you couldn't do anything but watch.

He believed you were dead just like the rest of them.

It broke your heart when you saw him in Hel's grasps wearing the black armor and those lifeless eyes of his. You saw it in his eyes as if you felt that you betrayed him by being alive. You served this other summoner as a hero and like other heroes, you can fight but the contract isn't the same when it comes to you. You were a summoner first, a Hero second.

When a Hero dies they can be revived by the summoner. But a summoner who dies was a different story. You were proficient in your magic and you were well versed with your knowledge of rites and runes.

You decided on your own punishment for abandoning the people you were supposed to protect as a summoner.

After Lif and Thrasir were defeated by Alfonse and his summoner, they've become nothing more but puppets without their souls. You didn't know why but you could feel their life somewhere within Hel's domain and began to think. The other summoner needed to reach Hel with the Breidablik you abandoned. They were insistent that since it was originally yours, you should kill Hel. But you declined and said: "I have my own part in this game. I will buy you time."

At first, they refused, not wanting to leave you behind. But they were young with so much ahead of them, they can have a future that you couldn't get because you were so dedicated to your summoner role. You wanted them to live. Prince Alfonse was hesitant to even agree. Eir didn't want to let you go a second time but you had no choice. You wanted to finish what you started, and proceeded to battle alone with a single sword.

Your destiny was right in front of you. You love Alfonse, you still do. And you wanted them to live no matter what. You didn't care about your future anymore - you had to make this work because you don't know what you'll do if it doesn't.

It was difficult facing both Alfonse and Veronica on your own, even when you were able to manage - you had one goal in mind. To live a life filled with regret, that's not living anymore. Your main focus was Lif, the Alfonse you love and still care for. You did your best to match his footwork and avoided his deathblows, dodging any attacks from Thrasir or Veronica who can kill you with her magic.

You were injured severely, they were about to leave you alone because Hel didn't need you dead. But you stubbornly stood up, Fólkvangr still in hand. "I have... nothing left to lose..." you mumbled under your breathe.

He was still in there. You know it. In silence, as you positioned yourself to attack, you prayed your message: "Alfonse. When you wake up things will be different again." The worlds will be different, everything will be different because you were willing to defy destiny for him. You were willing to defy your role for him. You were willing to sacrifice everything you had left for him.

You were relentless. Not giving him room to dodge, not giving him the space to breathe. Each blow was stronger than the last because you were giving more than what you were supposed to. Thrasir tried to stop you with her magic, but you nullified them with your own - runes always did outdid magic from other realms.

You had Thrasir where you wanted her, and you only need a little push for Lif to be where he should. Without any other choice, you forced yourself towards him - your blade against his - you could feel your soul being pulled out because of that cursed blade that Hel gave him. Forcibly, you had his sword fly away from his hand - knocking him off his feet and pressing Fólkvangr on the ground, just beside him.

You could feel Thrasir about to cast a spell, but you were too tired to do anything else and proceeded with your plan. "Save... yourself." You mumbled before his lifeless body pushed you away. It felt as if Hel saw the whole thing through his eyes.

Hel saw how you smirked.

When you landed on the ground, feeling every scrap of pain a human body could imagine - magic circles appeared below from where the two generals stood. You knew things would be different once it was all over. If you can't end Hel... then the other Summoner would. It is as it should be.

This was your choice, your punishment.

"...What... happened?" Thrasir turned to Lif who was puzzled himself. The last thing they both remembered was Alfonse and the other Summoner defeating them. And then what? "Alfonse...?"

Veronica called. The fallen Askran prince's gaze went to where Veronica was pointing - to see a body lying down on the ground. He knew those robes. "Y/n?" He couldn't believe it as he mumbled your name. "Y/n!" He called out again as he ran towards you and held you close.

But it was all done. There was nothing he could do. Your eyes were slightly open but he didn't need anyone else to tell him. You were already dead.

You were truly dead.

#feh #fire emblem heroes #fe heroes #lif #alfonse #fjorm #lif x summoner #summoner is reader #summoner can be your oc #alfonse x summoner #lif x reader #alfonse x reader #summoner was willing to sacrifice everything they had left for their prince

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summoner-asha · 3 years

Text

It is late and I don’t know where I was going with this but it’s my first post as a FEH blog here so here! It’s a horrible WIP but maybe I’ll visit it again and fix it up...Or something

You had no real reason to dislike Valentine’s Day back in your own world. Regardless though, you still hated it. A commercialized “holiday” was what you called it. And if there was any REAL reason you liked it at all was because it would pull out all the best chocolates for great deals. That was it. You’d buy yourself a heart or two of some high quality candies and call it that.

But here...here it was different. Entirely. And you didn’t know how to feel about it. Watching everyone go about the activities for the Day of Devotion was truly something else here in Askr. And it near took your breath away. It also made you a tad jealous. Watching couples like Alm and Celica , Sigurd and Deirdre. Hell, even Berkut was in high spirits with Rinea. Effortlessly going about his way showing off his Beloved and his prowess. Her giggles of pure happiness at him just being himself. To be honest it almost made you a tad sick.

These were innocent moments of love in these trying times of war. That was right, you guys were still in the midst of a war. And somehow they were all able to...melt into each other’s arms. Your [ e.c ] eyes would gloss over as Robin and Chrom strolled by you, hand in hand as Chrom gazed at an amazed and flustered Robin that held a bouquet of various , delicate flowers in his free hand. Your eyes would then be pulled down to a tome that had been forgotten in your lap. An absent gaze would flutter about the page of scribbles and crossed out images and words. Even now, you could still be found only thinking of the next best thing for the coming battles. Never a time to rest.

“You never rest, do you?” A rough yet soft voice would catch your attention. “No matter where you’re from...here...there.” There was a pinch of teasing begging those words.You had to squint your eyes just a bit as the gowns of white and the sun stung a bit. You’d not have to for long though , for he’d made his way under the tree and to your side. Blue bangs would cover his face more as he knelt to sit, the covering over his lower face shifting just enough for you to have glanced what was underneath. Ever so curious, you leaned just to get a better peak. But he knew this and leaned back so that the cloth would rest back into place. His eyes watched you. Ever so sad they were. And they’d catch you each time since Líf had come to your side.

The silence was getting awkward. But you’d hardly tell from how struck you were by his eyes. You could stare into them all day if you could. But a snap of the fingers brought you back. Your eyes blinking as your brain clicked back to reality. His question now registering through your ears and to your brain.

“There is always time for plotting. We’re still at war here.” You sighed with a beam at him. He was the last person you’d think would be on your case about something like this. What with him all ‘devoted’ out. You were still in your battle attire. You had to be on your toes. Even when everyone was sick in the head with love. At the back of your mind you had to admit it would be nice to be in that spot too…

Gods, the same in either world…

It annoyed him so much. You being like this. Even in his world it was the same. You staying up countless nights for the sake of others. Sacrificing time you could have spent relaxing when you needed it. Time that could have been spent relaxing...Together.

Staring at you now, his mind could only go back to all those times he could have just carried you off from your desk , or the fields , or the library and just took you and hid away from the daily ruckus with you for just a little….

Wait. Now he was the one that was staring. And now you were the one leaning in. You asked him a question but he heard nothing of it. But he was more clever than you. His brows furrowed slightly as a hand slowly reached up, gloved fingers hesitant at your bangs that covered the head band. Your eyes watched his hand. Unsure of what he was going to do. And at the back of your mind you hoped he’d do SOMETHING. He couldn’t be cold all the time.He couldn’t do it. His hand fell and he shifted his body to be facing forward so that he ,too, was looking out at the others.

Man he was just as awkward as your Alfonse…

Words crumbled between you two. It fell silent. And for some reason, your cheeks were gently flushed. But why? He didn’t do anything. He didn’t even answer your question. Why was he bothering with this festival? Why was he bothering with you right now? You didn’t even call him over. He was being weird.

Your eyes would linger back down to your tome. You could tell you weren’t going to be getting any ideas for a game plan. At least not right now. It was lazily closed shut and then set to your side. It was a nice and sunny day anyways. And Líf also seemed to be relaxed for a change.

You might as well take this moment while you could. And so you did. Slipping your cloak off your shoulders and allowing it to pool around you. Your body relaxed as your leaned on your palms. You stole a glimpse of Líf who seemed to also to just...be in the moment. Seeming to stare off into space after seeing you loose. It was a very nice feeling. It you felt you would do best to just keep that to yourself.

#feh #fire emblem heroes #x reader #fire emblem hereos x reader #lif x reader #fe lif #feh x reader #Drabble #I’m running on fumes #so I know this is not a great start #to this blog but I tried #probably too much caffeine #feed back welcome!#and my inbox is open too

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avisteliterature · 4 years

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Let the World Burn for All I Care | Líf x Reader

RATING: Teen ◇ GENRE: Hurt/ Comfort ◇ 686 words SUMMARY: Líf makes sure no one can see you in your moment of weakness. [If you enjoy my writing, consider supporting me by ordering a writing commission or donating via ko-fi!]

Líf comes from a future in which he's seen all the good and bad sides of you. He has seen you at your best, and he has seen you at your absolute worst. And so, that is why he stands guard outside your door to make sure that others don't bear witness to this side of the Summoner they've never seen before. ...Because he knows how much you hate this side of you.

"Let me through, Líf," Alfonse growls at his older counterpart, his hand on the tilt of his sword in a threatening manner. Even if the former General of the Dead is now a member of the Order, Alfonse will not hesitate to draw his weapon at an ally if they get in the way of ensuring your safety.

"..." Líf doesn't answer, finding it unnecessary. He too rests his hand upon the sword strapped to his waist, sharing the same resolve as the young Askran prince.

From behind him, loud sounds can be heard coming from within your room. Although the closed door muffles what could possibly be happening inside, the sounds that blled through the walls and cracks are enough to cause concern. Alfonse can hear dull thuds, almost as though things were being thrown around. He could have sworn he heard some shattering, the sound of things being broken, coming from inside the room as well, but that isn't what he's worried about.

He can hear you. Although it's barely audible, Alfonse can hear your frustrated shouts and cries. He doesn't know what happened, but he can't bear it. He needs to see you and check if you're okay. He needs and wants to comfort you if that's what you need, but Líf stands in the way.

"Leave," Líf orders him, eyes narrowed. "They do not wish for you to see them as they are right now."

"They need me," the prince argues.

"No. They need time alone. Let them have this. I will take full responsibility for whatever happens to them."

It doesn't look like Líf will be backing out of this, and Alfonse knows when he's outmatched. Although it's frustrating, he accepts defeat, his shoulders sagging. He opens his mouth to say something but decides against it in the end. He glares at the former general as though threatening to hold him through on his word before turning on his heel and leaving with a huff.

Líf watches him leave and brings his attention back to your room. It's all quiet now, he notes to himself. Have you calmed down now? Líf takes a deep breath before opening the door. The room is in complete disarray. The sheets and pillows have been thrown and abandoned on the floor. The hair has been pushed down to its side. The contents of the small work desk and bedside drawer have all been scattered around. Pieces of glass litter the room, an undeniable hazard for whoever enters the room.

And in the middle of that chaotic scene is none other than you, knelt beside your bed. Your body is slump against the mattress, your breathing coming out deep and even. It looks like you passed out after your meltdown, the fatigue finally catching up with you. Líf's eyes grow soft, his chest aching at the sight as he tenderly wipes away with the back of his fingers the fresh tears on your face.

Careful not to rouse you from your slumber, Líf lífts you up into the air before easing you back down onto your bed. He retrieves the pillows and sheets, placing them back in their appropriate places so that you can rest comfortably. He watches over you for a moment before proceeding to turn his attention towards the mess in the room.

Without being prompted, Líf begins to clean up the area. When you wake up, he wants you to be greeted with a decent room. You don't need to bear witness to the aftermath of what happened when you let your emotions get the better of you. You don't need any other reason to self-criticize more than you already do.

#Fire Emblem #Fire Emblem Heroes #FEH #Lif #Líf #Lif (Fire Emblem)#FE Lif #Lif x Reader #Líf x Reader #F: Fire Emblem #C: Lif (Fire Emblem)#R: Teen #G: Hurt/ Comfort #reader insert #fanfiction #avisteliterature

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theflowerbabyy · 5 years

Text

Líf x Summoner! Reader

Prompt: Summoner let’s Líf relax for once

The summoner goes outside and finds something very unexpected.

___

You had left the castle, for no reason actually. Today was a lovely day, the skies were painted with a wonderful baby blue and from what you could tell, there wasn’t a single cloud in sight.

You look around and inhale, taking in the fresh cool air and exhale. For a world that was at war it felt peaceful here in this small secluded area.

You pushed back your hood, your (h/c) hair bounced gently as you smiled. Sometimes you wished that you could have more relaxing days like this. Free from all your worries and troubles. Not having to stress about the predicaments of war.

As you stood, basking in the sun and letting your thoughts wander, there were heavy footsteps coming from behind that startled those wistful imaginations.

Turning your head, your eyes widen as you were met with someone that you would never expect to see here in Askr. You quickly stumbled back as a light gasp escaped it’s way out of your throat.

You were standing face to face with Líf, one of Hel’s greatest generals. Gripping your Breidablik, you weren’t sure what to do in this situation. You watched with quick and focused eyes as his body stood still.

Once his body was still he gripped his chest plate. And without saying a word he fell to the ground on his knees with a thud.

You pulled yourself closer to him, biting your lip, your eyebrows gently furrow into a knot of confusion as you study him. What had just happened? You leaned forward, but kept your hands close to you, as to not touch him. He was breathing.

A sigh left your lips and you kneeled down. Your arm now gently touching his shoulder as you brush some of his hair from out of eyes. They were closed, you took note of this and looked around to see if anyone was near. You quickly walked behind him and checked again for any nearby allies. And with all the strength you could muster up, you pulled him from his knees and pulled him over to a tree.

You gasped out and wheezed, laying his back against the tree trunk, you sat next to him for a moment to catch your breath. Your eyes closed as you gripped the ground below you. You weren’t very athletic and it showed.

Once you regained your composure and stood, you walked over in front of Líf again and kneeled. He had held onto his chest before he fell. Did someone hurt him there? Your hands moving to his chest as you inspected his armor. Sure enough, there was a slash mark that edged itself into his chest plate. He didn’t seem hurt though, the weapon had only cut against his armor and nothing else from what you saw. Why did he suddenly pass out?

A groan of discomfort made its way to your ears and you quickly pulled back from him and stood up, fumbling a bit as you inhaled sharply. Your hands clutched onto either side of your cloak tightly.

You watched as Líf mumbled to himself, rubbing his head and slowly pulling his it up only to find you standing a little ways in front of him. He seemed to realize the situation quickly and he stood up, only to fall on one of his knees again. He let out an agonizing cry of pain.

Taking a step back you chewed on your lip. What was wrong with him? You watched him inhale and exhale slowly as he put his head down. His chest heaved heavily with each breath he took. He was and looked exhausted.

You began to pick with the hem of your shirt as you stared at him. Not sure what to do, or what to say for that matter. The both of you stood in silence.

But that silence was quickly interrupted when Líf unsheathed his Sökkvabekkr. He let out some sort of animalistic growl as he pushed himself forward and swung at you.

“You!”

In a dazed panic you moved yourself away from his sword, tumbling a bit before pulling yourself back up from the ground. Your head turned to face him as he stumbled for a moment.

With shaky hands he gripped his sword, not facing you as he groaned again. Once he shook his head he turned around slowly and began to saunter his way over to you, the click of his boots easily heard as you took a step away from him.

Red, crimson like eyes bore into your (e/c) ones. They were full of hatred and despair. You could sympathize with those eyes, you thought as your back touched the skin of a tree, your hands shakily gripped the bark that was born onto it. Your breath hitched as you blinked.

Líf now stood in front of you, his hand gripped tightly to Sökkvabekkr. Without saying a word, he raised his sword.

“W-wait! Please!” Finally you spoke up, but your voice cracked as you gripped your eyes shut. Your hands dug deep into the bark now.

The male stopped for a moment, the tip of his blade touching the tree as he stood, waiting as you so delicately said.

(E/c) eyes slowly opened to the bright vivid glow of purple and blue. It almost burned being so close to that sword of his. Your body now trembling as you spoke again out of fear.

“I just want you to rest please!” You didn’t meant to say that, but yet you did. You almost smacked yourself for saying it too. But you continued nonetheless.

“Y...You’re hurt, yes? You passed out when I saw you...there’s a deep scratch on your armor—”

“Quiet you!” He barked, his voice was deep and threatening. “Rest?” He then spoke again, leaning in, his body hovered over yours. “I am dead, I do not rest, I kill, that is what I’m bound to.” He spoke coldly, you could hear him grip his sword tighter.

You shut your eyes again, only to look back up at him, your breath was rapid. “But you’re not in Hel right now,” you stared at him again thinking of things to say, “Please, no one has to know of this...you can just rest here…You look worn out...like I said you collapsed just a moment ago…”. What were you even saying? It wasn’t like this man was going to listen to you. He was long gone.

“(Y/n)...” Your heart skipped a beat when he spoke, causing you to jump. Your mouth gently hung open momentarily before you closed it.

That’s right. You reminded yourself. He knew you, this was the Alfonse that knew you, even if you didn’t know this one. The Alfonse of your Askr knew you well, you both called each other partners for heavens sake. He was your other half. You cared for him.

The sound of sword hitting the soft grass woke you up from your lost thoughts again. You flinched as it did and you looked back at Líf.

He unnervingly stared at you.

“You always did...care for my well being…(Y/n)...” He closed his eyes, unknowingly he wrapped his arms around you.

A small gasp uncontrollably burst from your mouth, it was a soft one, but still audible enough that he could hear it. Your cheeks that were once a (s/c) was now a light pink. You hadn’t felt this much contact in a while. It was strange.

You stood there engulfed in the warmth that radiated off of his chest and stomach. Your hands continued to tightly grip onto the trip and shook with fear. You blinked and looked up at him slightly. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be a peace.

He then lost his grip on your waist and slumped against you. It was almost like he was asleep—

He had passed out again.

Whatever had hurt him had been causing these things, the passing out and waking up, along with the pain he must have felt.

And then it hit you. You had been thinking it was from a sword slash because of the scratch on his armor. But these were the signs that someone used magic on him, strong magic. But who could have done it? Maybe a unit from your team had attacked him with magic. But this damage seemed recent. You didn’t think magic had lasting effects but what did you know? You came from a world that doesn’t even have magic. You weren’t quite sure how this stuff worked.

You were thankful you had this tree behind you, because if you didn’t. The both of you would be on the ground in what some would call a compromising situation. You shook your head as you gently pushed him forward, not letting him fall over. But letting the two of you have space.

Another sigh left your lips. It was strange how you ended up in such weird predicaments.

You decided it would be best to let him wake up, instead of trying to do anything for yourself, not bothering him would be the best option to not dying. But in reality you were actually just too afraid to move to do anything really.

But you were so close to him. It made your heart race, and you couldn’t lie to yourself. He was attractive. But he was also Alfonse. So of course he was attractive.

You shook your head at these thoughts. You shouldn’t be thinking those, you thought to yourself as your eyes wandered to look at him again.

He seemed to be waking up again as he began to mumble and move his arms back to the sides of the tree to hold himself up again. Effectively also trapping you again.

“I don’t like this…” he mumbled groggily and opened his eyes. He remembered what had happened and what he did. He glared at you harshly.

“Neither do I…” You spoke under your breath and stared at him. “Líf…” You bit your lip and waiting for him to fully wake up. He was silent but listening.

“Let me...take you back to the castle...there’s a back way we can go though and it’ll take us up to my quarters, please let me help you…” You must have sounded so stupid to him. But he continued to stay silent.

“Do what you must to rid me of this...pain...if anyone catches you, I will leave immediately.” Your eyes widen. He actually went through with it. You nodded quickly and watched as he took a step back and sheathed his sword back into its pouch. You could tell he was trying not to pass out again. But you quickly rushed to his side and held onto him.

Slowly but surely, the two of you made it to the back way and entered the castle quietly. The both of you, but mostly you, checked around and made it up to your room.

Once you were there you opened the door and let him in, quickly closing it and locking it, to make sure no one entered at random. You thought for a moment. Your actions felt wrong. Why did you feel the need to help him? He was technically your enemy. But deep inside you felt intrigued about it. You wanted to know more about this Alfonse.

You turned around and saw that he was already sitting on the bed. His Sökkvabekkr was put on a table so he wouldn’t hurt you. You smiled gently now, making your way over to him. “I thought at first only a sword had scratched you— and one did, but I didn’t realize you had been hit with magic as well…” You watched as he looked down and held a hand to his chest.

“You are correct…” He spoke quietly, his voice was low but still rough. “One of your allies had struck me and I quickly escaped from them only to end up finding myself in this Askr…” He closed his eyes and dropped his hand down to his side, he let out an exhausted sigh.

“Well I’m not too sure on how to mend magic wounds myself...I assume you need a healer to do that...and I’m not a healer.” Your furrowed your brows and crossed your arms. You sighed, “And you can’t drink a stamina potion…” Your eyes wander back to him. His hand is grasping the mask that concealed his mouth.

The both of them focus on his mask. She remembered he was dead. So even if he could drink the potion would it even work?

A small smile graced your lips. “Well, since you can’t do either of those things I suggest you rest either way. The pain will wear off soon and I have a guess the magic will as well.”

He nodded, “Magic doesn’t last forever...that pain too will go away…” He closed his eyes again and shifted.

You watched as he moved himself to lay on the bed, his head now resting on a pillow. Pulling up a chair next to him you sat down beside him to keep check.

One of his hands moved over to yours now, slowly clasping them together as he spoke. “I missed you (Y/n)...I missed you a lot…”.

#happy birthday yul #lif #fe líf #feh líf #lífsexual #this is bad lol #fire emblem heroes #fire emblem #writing #x reader #alfonse #feh alfonse

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fire-emblem-drabbles · 2 years

Text

Pairing: Yandere! Lif x reader

Prompt: “You have no idea how much I’ve been holding myself back for you.”

Description: Surely it wouldn’t be a mistake to grow close to Lif. Even if he admitted to some less than healthy feelings, that was okay as long as the two of you were willing to work though them, right? Isn’t that right, dear summoner?

Content Warning: yandere, unhealthy relationships, Sydney’s self indulgence, otherwise just two mentally ill idiots goading one another’s bad ideas, ask to tag

Rating: sfw

Word Count: 1831

Notes: Hi, not dead! Also, still loving Lif. I wanted to write something more unhinged... but ugh I love Lif so much I was like “wahhh the summoner could never hate him!!!” so. there’s that. so its kinda back and forth but hey, it’s something?

Edit: lmao I forgot to link it before but the prompt was taken from this list <3 thank u vanny my beloved

~*~

You never thought it would be a mistake to grow closer to the heroes in your charge. Even some of the more… villainous among them couldn’t act out on there less than friendly urges thanks to the magical contract used to summon them. Time and time again growing closer to heroes actually proved to be more than worth it, both on the battlefield and off it. Some were more open to it than others, of course, and who could blame them for that? It was a strange new world and you didn’t blame them for trying to find sanctuary in those that had came from their same world. Still, you tried your best to give everyone the time and attention they deserved. Some maybe more than others, even.

You never thought it would be so hard to get Lif to open up though. Perhaps that was ignorance on your part, thinking you knew Alfonse—knew him so well. Even being the same man, they had litteral worlds of difference experiences between them. Still, you wanted to know him better, wanted to help him even if he didn’t think he deserved it, if he fought against you at first; you really thought his warnings were just to try and push you away, to try and isolate himself more and continue trying to be a self fulfilling prophecy. It’s really a shame that you didn’t let that happen, that you had to wiggle and worm your way closer to him. Maybe if you had listened, this wouldn’t be happening. It’s really your fault, then.

At least, that’s what Lif keeps telling you.

Silly summoner, don’t you know? None of this would be happening if you kept your distance like he told you. Lif was only so strong a man, there was only so much he could do to stop himself. But there you went, foolishly wearing down his already thin will (at least, when it came to you). Certainly, it was only a matter of time until something like this happened but your actions certainly expedited the process.

“You have no idea how much I’ve been holding myself back for you.” His voice is a low whisper against the column of your neck. He inhales sharply after the words, the heavy breath that leaves past his mask after tickling you in not an entirely unpleasant way. Still, your hair stands on end, too afraid to speak as Lif pins you again the door of your own room. After another heavy moment, he speaks again. “I wanted to be content just to be near you… to watch as you lived your happy life from afar. But…” His voice draws to a small sigh. “I failed to consider how much you would try to involve me in your life.” You try to speak.

“I just wanted--” He cuts you off, voice a little louder than before.

“You didn’t listen to me.” Red eyes lock with yours, ink dark bangs ticking your skin as he presses his forehead to yours. “I should have known, though. You’re too sweet to stay away.” A bitter laugh leaves him, one that has you frowning despite the situation you found yourself in.

“Because I care.” Your voice is soft. You all the sudden find it difficult to meet his gaze, though there’s not much else you can look when he’s leaning over you so heavily. “I… didn’t want you thinking that I didn’t.” Its all you can say.

“Were you really that blind to it? How I held myself back from you?” He softens ever so lightly.

“I…” You frown softly. “I don’t think I could have guessed this from how you acted, no.”

“You always were so innocent.” His raises his free hand, armored fingers ever so gently tracing down your cheek. “I… didn’t want you to see this side of me. As Lif I’ve done horrible things but… I still never wanted you to know the terrible, jealous man I’ve become.” The hand that just caressed you so gently now clasps your hair in a tight grip. Not enough to hurt you, but just strong enough to give you the barest hint of the depths of his feelings. “Every day I fought the urge to keep you all to myself. I know I’m not the only one who needs you—wants you by their side.” Your feel the heat reach your cheeks. “But I know I’m the only one whose watched you die before, that’s failed to protect you.” His forehead is still pressed to yours, but clawed hands now grip your shoulders. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Lif…” It’s hard to find the right words to say. You struggle against the hard lump in your throat, trying your best to speaks. “I know I can’t changed what happened in your past… but I’m right here, right now. Whether you think you deserve me or not, I’m not going anywhere.” Hesitantly, you move to wrap your arms around his neck. You move slow, giving him ample time to move away from you but Lif is still, letting you encircle his neck in a soft hug.

“_____…” His voice speaking your name is the softest he’s spoken all night. Despite you moving to hug him first, he still moves his arms around your waist slowly, as if afraid in any moment you’ll disappear or pull away. You do no such thing, instead only hugging tighter again him, trying to convey what your words can’t say. There’s a long silent moment as he gently rests his head atop your own. You finally speak again, pulling away just enough so your voice isn’t muffled against his chest. You don’t miss the way his arms seize tighter against you for a moment.

“I can’t claim to understand what goes on inside your head but… I’ll be here, with open arms, to accept your feelings, no matter how strange you think they are.”

“They’re not pretty.” You can feel his heavy breath blow some stray hairs atop your head. “They can be dark… they scare me sometimes.” You don’t think you can recall a time Lif has ever been so open, so vulnerable with you. “Why do you try so hard for me?”

“Because I want to.” When you pull away this time, Lif lets you go, though his arms still rest on your waist. “I want to be a part of your life, good and bad, because I care.”

“But do you care about me like I care for you?” He holds your chin with one hand. His other gently places down his mask on your desk. You stare in awe for a moment at him, taking in the shape of his lips and the eerie glow of his skin.

“I,” It was hard to speak with the sudden pounding of your heart. Lif moved closer to you, face mere inches from your own.

“Do you love me like I do you? Would you accept these feelings of mine?” There’s little you can do to stop him from tilting your head one way. “Please…” His whispered plead is a ghost against your lips as you tremble in trepidation. You don’t stop him as he presses his lips to yours. Their softer then you ever would have guessed. You feel your eyes flutter shut the moment he pulls away. You hesitate to open them for a moment, too scared of what emotion you might see in his eyes. Why did he feel so dangerous all the sudden? You felt as if admitting your affection for him would seal your fate in some unforeseen way. As if for some reason now, you should heed his previous warnings. But where would that leave you, when here and now, Lif has done nothing but prove how much he trusts you and is willing to be vulnerable with you. Why deny him now? Opening your eyes, you respond to him.

“I do.” Your voice is a whisper, afraid to be heard. “Of course I love you.” The words feel as if they’re set in stone as you see a smile grace his lips. “I told you, I would accept your feelings no matter what.”

“I know,” His eyes soft as he looks at you. “Hearing you say it aloud though…” He closes his eyes a moment. “It’s nice. It… makes this a little easier.” Its your questioning look that causes him to let out a little chuckle. “I tried warning you _____… but now that I have you to myself, I don’t plan on sharing you.” His words, though kind of unsettling, cause you to let out a little giggle. Given the circumstances you can’t help but feel a little giddy, even.

“Now you’re just being silly.” You meet his face with a grin, though it falters when you see how serious his face is. “Lif…?”

“Why do you think I told you to stay away.” He holds you close again, careful of his armor. “I know I’m a selfish man. I want to hide you away from the world and keep your warmth all to myself.” Again, a thrill runs up your spine at his words. You know you should be alarmed but it’s so nice knowing how much he wants you. “There are many others who are as undeserving of your kindness as I am… I hate to think you treat them as you do me.”

“No,” You say quickly. “You’re the only one I’m so…” Your nose wrinkles as you try and think of the right way to say this. “You’re the only one who’s this special to me.”

“It makes me happy to hear that.” He squeezes you again. “You shouldn’t indulge me so much, lest I let my greed guide my darker thoughts.” There’s a dangerous glint in his eye. Though, you never much knew how to listen to him.

“That’s okay.” You smile. “I won’t let it get that far. I promise.” Again, he smiles, and you try to commit the look to memory.

“So you say, but look at you now.” Your eyes widen as you realize Lif (of all people!) is teasing you. “Don’t look so excited when I say these things…” He looks to the side all the sudden and you swear, you see color dust his cheeks. “You don’t know what is does to me.”

“Sometime in the future… I may not mind.” You really should keep your mouth shut sometimes but you can’t help the butterflies you feel as his eyes widen.

“_____…” He pulls you in suddenly for another kiss, this one much more impassioned than the last. As he pulls back from you, his face looks downright wicked. It causes you to pause for a moment, to truly take Lif in before you. “You really have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, do you?” Your left wondering what he means as you try and collect your thoughts. “There’s a reason I warned you.”

#yandere #yandere x reader #yandere lif x reader #lif x reader #fire emblem #fire emblem heroes #fe lif #hi its me down in the tags #if u see this my coms are open #hmu ;)

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iamdarkness · 4 months

Text

Iris

Chárter 5: Lost

The night after the funeral had been just like the previous nights. The kids had the same nightmares. Bel had wanted to give the kids dreamless sleep potions before they went to bed but Alfonse had asked if that would not give them away. Bel agreed with him. If they took the potion and did not dream; the enemies would know they were suspecting something was up. Alfonse had sworn to stay at the front and protect Sharena but especially Oly from being taken. He knew what would await him and could be prepared but he knew the youngest child would suffer too much if she saw her father the way he had. The nightmare passed and this time he knew what would happen and he was ready. At least he was not hurt this time when they awoke.

The next day Bel and Bertha who were closer to the kids were in a state of watchfulness around whoever came into contact with the kids. Bertha had gone to “help” around the kitchen when their food was cooked and monitored who prepared each of the foods and drinks. Bel watched the maids and hand maidens around the kids and everyone else from the household. Everything while still managing the reconstruction of the building since the architect and engineers and extra masons would arrive the next day. Adrien was too busy with managing the army but he still kept an eye on the men with the help of one Private Gudrum. Aleen was their ears around the household servants as well.

Through all of this Henriette was unable to help them. She managed the political side and the matters along with some aides that had arrived the same day. The ball room was slowly being emptied of patients. Those who could not be moved much were taken to a part of the castle used only for when they had official balls and had to entertain many guests. That rarely happened in recent years but the castle had been preserved and cared for, for its historical value and Henriette had ordered to make ready the rooms, to be converted into an infirmary.

Since the castle now had the bests of medical personnel, Gustav had asked to have anyone who was in critical condition be cared for in the castle. Being this the case, the city had transferred a big number of patients to the infirmary. Including those who had gotten sick after the aftermath of the attacks. Those had been sequestered in separate rooms. Luckily Lady klara (Gustav’s maternal aunt) had taken charge of the new infirmary. She was a kind and motherly lady who was the head of the Askr Ladies charities in the capital. She was also a very capable healer.

With all of the work, Bel and Adrien had to put off their departure; at least until all the officials were around to help Henriette do her job. They noticed that even thought there had been no official coronation, the people regarded the royal couple as King and Queen already.

-They are. When the King dies in battle and the heir is by his side the crown goes to him right there and then. They only need witnesses to confirm the King was killed by a foe and there was no foul play. I stand as witness. Not like anyone would even question Gustav’s integrity. Specially after what happened. It is official but the people still expect a crowning ceremony I am sure.

-Oh I see. I suppose we need to attend.

-It will be pushed back till Spring. There is still time to rest.- Adrien and Bel turned at the sound of hurried steps. A soldier came toward them in a hurry with a worried expression on his face.

- General Sir! My Lady! Her Majesty Has requested me to send you a message.- Since Alfonse had died. Adrien had been promoted to the highest rank in the army. General of the Army.The duo stood up from the garden bench they were sitting on to watch the kids play. Adrien bade the soldier continue talking.- Her Majesty asks to speak to Lady Andreas of an urgent matter. She is waiting in the library. If you would follow me.

Bel shared a look with Lord Andreas. Bel thought it meant she had found out something about the spies but she could not understand why it was only her being summoned. Adrien motioned for her to follow and gave her a reassuring nod and Bel went to follow the soldier.

Adrien looked at her retreating back. He was confident that Neither Henriette nor Gustav would tell Bel about her ties with the young prince so he was sure that was not the issue being talked about by Henriette. He looked back at the playing children and their guardians, where Feraht’s sharp eyes met his own.

Bell followed the soldier wondering why she needed to be escorted to a place she knew well but followed wondering what Henriette would tell her. They came to a place where the hall was crossed by another hallway. She immediately went to take the left turn towards the library while she noticed that the soldier was taking the left.

-Umm…The library is this way soldier.- Bel said thinking the soldier must not know his way around the castle.

-Oh… Maybe you should lead the way my Lady.- Said he. Bel continued walking with the soldier trailing her.

-Say. Are you from my husband’s regiment?- She asked curious.

-No Mam, but I knew him well. Great swordsman, cunning and smart…- Although his words sounded like praises to his memory they had a hint of something Bel could not make out at the moment. Then it clicked and she stopped walking.- …difficult to outsmart him. We would have never been able to approach you with him around…

Bel was turning around when she heard the sound of metal being drawn from a sheath. She wasted no time and started running down the hall. She had no weapon to defend herself.She entered one of the rooms to her left and found herself on a parlour adjacent to a bedroom. She locked the door just barely before the man reached the door and looked around to find something to protect herself with. It did not take her long to get a poker from the chimney. She heard loud banging on the door as if the man was throwing his shoulder against it. She ran to the window and opened it up and looked around to check that no one was outside as she could not be sure the man was alone in this. She was beginning to raise her leg to get out when she heard the shouting.

-Open! You whore of King…. -She was about to jump down to the flowerbed when she heard the man stop talking, give a loud yell and the banging stopped.

She sat motionless on the windowsill looking at the door. Under it there was a motionless shadow and another moving around. Then blood started to seep inside under the door. There was a gentle knock at the door and a a familiar voice came from the other side.

-My Lady are you alright?- It sounded like Feraht. Bel closed the window and ran to the door and opened it. Indeed it was the man himself standing outside over the body of the assassin. -Careful my lady. - He said offering up a hand to help her step around the body and the still flowing blood. She looked down to see the man’s throat split open and a mask of pain and surprise on the face.

- Did he hurt you?

- No I ran. I was about to escape through a wi…-She was cut short by a commotion all around. There were sounds of shouting and the alarm was sounding outside. -The Kids!

They both run to the central garden. Feraht with his longer legs almost left Bel behind but she motioned for him to keep going. They both arrive almost at the same time to find the kids crying or in shock around a very angry Adrien. He was hugging them protectively. There was something strange about the picture.

Bel noticed it first. Adrien was holding Alfonse close to his chest while he hugged the others with his other arm that held his sword. There were a big number of soldiers running around the place and other kept arriving. Aleen and Deana had a man submitted on the ground and an unconscious woman who was being tied up by some guards. On the floor nearby there were the bodies littering the ground. Most of them were soldiers and the rest civilians. Some of those were dressed with the uniforms of the household.

-Are you alright? What happened?- Bel went to take Oly and Sharena and hug them to her chest but Oly pointed at Alfonse who still looked like he was in shock. All the while more soldiers were coming to help.

-Mami!! They tried to take Alfonse!!- Oly said in tears and then hugged her mother tight.

-What? Alfonse! Why? Not them again!

-Brother!- Sharena said softly between sobs, but her plea was not heard by the stunned Alfonse.

-They tried to kidnap him…how about you daughter?

-They came for the both of them.- Said Feraht.- He would have killed her if he really had wanted to.

-Maybe it was a distraction.- Said Bel.

- It was, but he also wanted to take you.- Said Feraht.

-Alfonse! Brother!- Cried Sharena and made to reach for him. Alfonse came out of his thoughts and looked at her and smiled.

- I am fine Sharena. Do not worry.- He let go of Adrien and hugged his sister. Sharena clung to him and cried on his chest. Bel could see his eyes water.

-That’s it. Father we should leave. I would love to stay and get the spies but I will not put them in harms way purposefully.

-Nor should you daughter. We are done here. That woman there is the cook and that man is the stable hand. Those are our spies. We will be diligent with the questioning. If there are more of them we will catch them.- Said Adrien reigning in his anger, then turning to the soldiers he added; his voice like thunder and words cutting.- Take them in for questioning. They will talk one way or another.

As the soldiers carried the people on the ground the woman started to come around. The man was glaring at them all but when they passed the group he full on smirked and said.

-Death to the King and his whore!

Faster than anyone could see Adrien punched him on the face and knocked him out. The man slaked on the arms of the soldiers. The soldiers had mixed expressions. Some smiled at the punch and others looked embarrassed and would not meet their eyes.

Bel, Aleen, Bertha, Deana and the kids were shocked but Feraht who was still alert did not miss the poisonous look the woman gave Bel and then Gudrum who had been the most ferocious in his protection of Alfonse.

The castle was in an uproar for hours. Henriette left what she was doing to come and be with her kids for a while. She took them to see Gustav who was resting still after the strain of the funeral. He had been moved to his rooms adjacent to Henriette’s by a parlour.

It was late evening when the kids had finished their dinner and had retired to the next room to play with Aleen, Bertha and Deana while Gudrum kept close watch. Adrien and Bel were having tea and coffee with Henriette. Henriette had dismissed her attendants and only Feraht remained by their side by Bel’s instructions. She had come to rely on his quick thinking and intelligence.

-When you left daughter, I told Sergeant Guerrer to follow you at a distance. I did not like that only you had been summoned while we all were aware of the situation. I thought it was better to be on the safe side. - Started Adrien when he was asked by Bel to tell them how it all had happened.- He had gone a while when a spell hit me and Deana. She fell down as she had taken most of the hit. She reassured me she was fine and I went to help Bertha and Gertrude who were duelling with the mages. There was confusion since all of them were dressed either like soldiers or servants. Then the woman threw Bertha aside hit Gertrude square in the chest and aided by the man they closed in to where the children were huddled together by Privet Gudrum. The man went to try to kill the Privet and meanwhile the woman took Alfonse who was protecting the two girls.- Henriette who was listening intently smiled fondly at his bravery and her eyes watered but she did not cry.

- The woman asked if she should take the girl but the man said to take only the boy. I was kept away by a group of kidnappers and I heard that part only when Deana came to my aid and took over the situation on my side. Alfonse bit the man on the hand and it gave me the time I needed. I was able to get there and take Alfonse to safety.They had not expected for me to break away from the fight to save him. I struck her from behind on the head and was able to take Alfonse and the other Kids safely away.

-Of course they only wanted the male heir…Poor Alfonse. All of this situation is not good for the kids. And Gertrude! She needs a cleansing for sure that was really bad luck.- Bel said grimacing. Gertrude had been in the infirmary all this time recovering from a severe wound. This was the first time she had been able to come out of the infirmary and was just supposed to be resting in the garden. Now she was back in the infirmary. She looked up to the black haired man.- Feraht?

- Aleen and I went to talk to the servants and the soldiers. At the end we learned that only about seven of the attackers were identified as actual members of the staff and Army. They let the rest of the perpetrators inside the castle. - He reported.

-As anyone is able to enlist in the army, it is difficult to pinpoint the suspicious people and the investigation is ongoing; but the servants is a different matter. They report that the spies had been undercover for at least three years and those closer to the these spies gave us all the information they remember being told about them. Being as how the rest of the servants on the household are local people and member of families that have served the royal family for generations, they are a very close knit community. They have reported that the spies had been hired by the castle royal housekeeper and the butler. The Butler died in the initial attack, but we have the housekeeper held in custody for questioning. So far Aleen gave me a list of all the staff members hired by the two..- He gave the list to Henriette.

-I have with my Lady’s permission gathered them as well for questioning. All except one of them.- Feraht said pointing at a name on the list.

-Deana…

- How long has she been with you? How is it that she is such a high ranking member of the staff to be your lady in waiting? -Asked Adrien.

-She…she is…- Henriette gave Feraht a sidelong glance and thinking about it for a while she added after a long sigh.- My father… before he died sent her to me.She is…she is Gustav’s illegitimate sister. -There were gasps of shock at the news.- The King knew my father had found out she was the product of a…not very honorable act.- A grunt of distaste could be heard come from both Adrien and Feraht. Bel’s eyes watered with anger.- When he learned my father had taken her for protection the king did not take that kindly. She became my father’s apprentice when I married Gustav. Gustav does not know about this. I promised the king I would say nothing while he still lived… not to protect him, but to protect Gustav and Deana.

-She doesn’t know?

-She does…but knowing the king…she decided she does not want anything to do with him or the crown. She was like a sister to me when we were growing up. We pass her up as the daughter of our late butler. He had been a very reserved man whose wife my father knew could not bear children.

-So you trust her.

-With my life and my children.

-I will keep the secret your majesty. Upon my honor and my mother’s name.- Said Feraht with his right hand on his heart and bowed.

-I swear I will keep it as well.- Said Adrien.

-Damn…poor Deana. I can’t believe I would be able to despise him even more, but here we are. I will keep the secret.- Said Bel thinking of Deana. Then after a second she added.- Wait. That was the reason the king hated…did not like you or your father? Because you knew his dirty secrets?

-And yet that was also the reason I was able to interact with and finally marry Gustav. Gustav needed a scribe and my father offered my services to Gustav. We had known each other since childhood but now I had the chance to have a position as a royal scribe. I did not count on we …- Henriette blushed.- The King did not like me taking the job at first but my father knowing my skills and my desire to be able to do this research reminded him of his unique position and the king ended up agreeing.

-I’m going to need you to tell me how that all started later girl! It sounds so very romantic!.- Said Bel smiling and genuinely curious at seeing Henriette blush.- But I need to focus on the now.

- Yes of course.- Smiled Henriette.

- So we wait for the questioning and then we can leave for home father?

- Yes. Henriette we still agree with your kids being safer in our fortress right?

-Why yes! I still agree and so does Gustav. I will ask you to take Deana with you. I would feel better.

-Sure! She sure is a powerful mage and very caring. To be honest I was going to ask you if we could take her with us. They seem more calm when she is around.

-Well if there are no more issues to discuss, we better rest for the night. The kids have gone through a lot and are probably very tired.- Says Henriette sleepily herself. She has been so busy and worried, if it wasn’t for Adrien and Bel she would have collapsed long ago.

-Erm just one thing…the only thing I do not understand is… Why do they keep calling me “whore of the king”? Do they think Gustav and I ….- Bel adds making a movement with her hands to mean togetherness.- Sorry Henriette…I just… don’t want people to start talking, specially on your behalf. I mean if it was just the insult I wouldn’t care about it…but it’s like, they’re saying …something else.

Adrien and Henriette shared a look for a second and then avoided looking at Bel all together. Feraht saw this and his brows furrowed, but said nothing.

-I suppose it is because as a Summoner you are supposed to help the land alongside the King or whoever is leading the Kingdom.- Henriette said, then added.- but I understand your worry. I will make sure your name is not stained by these ruffians.

- So will I daughter. Their lives will be shorten in any case and they will not have much time to spread their poison.

-Thank you. Like I said…not for me. It is your honor and Gustav’s and you are now their leaders after all…and also Alfonse. I do not want anyone to think I have betrayed him in any way…

[line break]

The next day preparations were made for the trip. Henriette assigned the officials to oversee everything Bel was doing. They also took over some of her own tasks so she would be able to be there for the packing and have time to be with her kids.

Every day more officials and courtesans would arrive to the the town to help take over their work and in the courtesans case to “help” Henriette with her emotional state. The truth was they only were there for gossip as anyone would know.

Everyone by Gustav’s ordered, was to keep quiet about the important points of the situation. AS much as Gustav would have wanted the world to know of his father’s perfidious last moments. It was counterproductive for the people to lose faith in the crown right now. He also did not want his cousin’s name brought up every time it was talked about and for him to be dragged into those crazy theories. Bel was right. Without the people knowing the truth about who the heir of Líf was, and the Hel cult name calling Bel names, it was quite obvious the people would think there was something more between Bel and Gustav.

This they knew, would turn into problematic gossip for all of them, including his own fallen cousin.And gossip there was, even though Hel was never mentioned. Bel was cause of whispered talks among the servants and soldiers who had witnessed the attacks. Many of them were vile theories of her involvement with the newly crowned Gustav as stated by her. They wondered what part he had played in the General’s death. Some of course had seen the part the previous king had played, but they had kept quiet out of respect for Gustav who they knew was innocent and the fallen general. Of course these whispers were dismissed by the majority who had seen just how much both couples loved each other and the love between both cousins.

Thankfully when it came to the actual attacks, he did not know it,but the people themselves would see to it that the attacks would be buried in the obscurity of history. The people themselves decided in almost unison that talking about Hel would be bad luck to them. They did not dare even whisper her name or the incident itself.

Meanwhile Adrien made use of all of his arsenal to get the information out of the captives. This included a potion that had been banned for the danger it possessed. It was a truth serum that had at one point been of very common use, but had been banned due to the unrest it had caused among the common people. It was commonly known now as the Love Killing potion. The main use had been to prove spouse’s faithfulness.

At the end of the day he had the rest of the infiltrated cult members and mostly because they were trying to escape. Sadly the captives had no information about the high ranking members of the cult since they were not known even among themselves for their own protection. Adrien assumed they had enough power to be hidden in plain sight, and that they were members of high society of the Emblan Empire and even Askr.

With this troubling piece of knowledge in mind they went ahead and prepared for the departure.

[Line break]

The trip from the North City Djuprgat to Nibelheilm Fortress took about a week in leisure time. Adrien’s aim was to cut that time to three days time. The first day of the trek, the breaks were minimal and they were hurried and in constant vigilance. They were still in the vicinity of Djuprgat but still making good time. Bel was in a carriage with the kids and the two nannies Bertha and Deana. Outside riding on both flanks were Feraht and Aleen and heading the group was Lord Andreas himself.

-Come on Mom! Tell us a scary story!!

- Super scary!

- It’s midday! Scary stories are better at night.- Says Bel winking at Deana. Almost right away Alfonse’s voice chimed in.

- I would love to hear one of them now instead…If you don’t mind that is.- He says bashfully. Deana smiled.

-Fine! I give in…let me see…Have you ever imagined being inside a maze?... but not a maze in the gardens of the courtesans… I mean… A Maze that takes a whole Island? One made of stone walls so big not even a giant could see above and so smooth no one could get over.

-That is not scary Mom!

-It is if you get lost inside Oly. It could even be disastrous if no one goes to save you in time.- Says Alfonse.

-Oh but you would save us brother! I know it.

-What if I am inside with you and can not find my way around.

-Oh then It would be even less scary because you would find a way! I just know it!- Says Sharena and Oly agreed eagerly. Alfonse blushed.

- I would not feel alone at all or scared.- Pipes in Oly.

- Oh you wouldn’t feel alone at all…with the Minotaur lurking about….- Bel said ending the sentence with a mysterious voice.

-Minotaur?- Asks Alfonse with widened eyes. - What is that?

- It was a monster half man with the head of a bull that ate people, but if that is not scary enough for you I will tell you one that I heard once when I was like 8 years old.

- How is a monster with a bull’s head not scary?- Asked Deana. Bel smiled and shrugged.

- The one I an about to tell you is different.- There was a pause where she gathered her thoughts and then she started her tale. Her voice sounded mystic and ancient with a thick accent the children had only herd when Be was either too worried or angry.- Once long ago in the land of my ancestors there lived a beautiful girl. Some say she was the princess daughter of the leader of a small kingdom where now lies El Tepozteco. Her skin was smooth and dark like bronze. Her hair black like onyx, volcanic crystal of the Gods. Her voice sweet like the honey made from agaves. She smelled of happiness and flowers. In short she was said to be more beautiful that the pale moon. One day she went to bathe in the river as was the costume. 1)

-So she was pretty like you cousin Bel?- Asked Sharena.

-No Sharena. She was young so she would be more like Oly.- Said Alfonse offhandedly and not looking away. His attentions had piked as soon as Bel said it was a tale of her ancestors.

- Wow … Thanks Alfonse. You made me feel older than the moon …you can call me grandma if you wish.- Bel said mock hurt.

-I… My apologies cousin Bel!! I swear to you I did not meant it that way!

- Don’t worry Alfonse! I’m just kidding. Well… as I was saying…The girl was not only beautiful but she was good and innocent. She was bathing when the wind kicked up. It swirled around her and gave her chills. It behaved so strangely that she grew scared and a while later she went home. Time passes and the girl was not allowed be go outside. Months passed and people wondered if she was sick. Her parents had taken her away to a smaller villa they had in province.

-I think I know where this is going…- Said Bertha. Bel made a face and nodded.

-On the night of the full moon on the distant villa the beautiful princes was about to give birth to a child. Unmarried their parents had not believe her when she told them the wind had been the only one to touch her. They thought she had a lover and wanted to hide her from the people to hide their dishonor. But when the child was born not only was he unwanted by the grandparents he was fearful to look at! The people grew afraid, because now they could see that the child was definitely not human. He was too big and strong and his eyes shone brightly like stars. The parent waited and when the princess slept out of weariness the babe was stolen into the darkness of the night! All along the Dogs Xholoscuntles and the coyotes would howl and bark in fear.

-Why were they afraid?- Asked Sharena with widen eyes. Bel made a gesture for her to wait.

-The man took the babe and with the moon as his witness he put the babe on the anthill of the feared Chancharras Ants that are very big and bite horribly when threatened. They can strip a dead animal to the bone. As soon as the babe touched the ground he started crying and all the animals quietened. Everything was quiet and the man spooked, looked on as the babe cried and the ants would run away from him in fright.- There was a pause for dramatic effect.

-Long nails grew from his little hands and feet and angered, the babe raked at the dirt of the anthill. -Bel motioned with her own long nails scratching them all in turn. Alfonse flinched away from her touch. -His cries reached across the land and nature itself feared it. Even the moon that bathed the child went to hide behind thick clouds and the night deepened in shadows. The man was spooked and ran away.- Bel said and the children drew back in fear.

-The next day the man came back. He expected to find only bones remaining of the boy…but to his surprise, the boy was content. The ants had understood the reason for his cries. He was hungry and they had nurtured him with honey dew and food they had gathered and had stored. They were caring for the child and he was content. More afraid of the child, but fearing to loose his ‘Honor” among the people even more, the man took the child from the ants and placed him on an agave plant which look like aloe but are bigger and have longer thorns on the sides. The man hoped the child would be scratched by the thorny leaves and would be killed by the early Summer sun and carrion beasts.

-But mom…why would he want the baby dead?

-Oly…there are evil people who love power and money more than family. And the baby threatened his power.- Said Alfonse and he lowered his face. He had understood the situation from the beginning as expected. And by the looks of it…he had found a similarity with his grandfather. Bel was about to suggest another story but knowing the ending, she thought better of it. She felt sad for him. A child that young should never experience such troubles.

- But do not worry. The baby did not die. The agave plant sensing the child on top of her; made herself into a cradle and protected him from the rays of the sun and even feed him, her sweet honey. The honey is very nutritious and this made the baby stronger and happy.

-The next day the old man who tended to the agaves came to harvest the aguamiel honey and found the baby asleep cradled lovingly by the plant. The child was beautiful and strong for its two days of life and the talons were gone. Since the man had no children he was happy to have found the child and was sure he was a gift from the Gods so he took him home to his wife.

-The child grew up strong in body and spirit. A good man and very handsome, but sadly his mother passed away when he was a teen and then his father grew very weak. Worse still there was a giant living in the vicinity and he ate people that tried to get past him to go to the city. He knew he was strong enough to kill it but he dared not leave his sick father. When his father finally died he took a satchel and went to kill the giant. On the way he gathered obsidian crystals that were used back in the day as all sort of cutting utensils. When he got to meet the giant. The giant eat him whole!

-NO!- Said said Sharena pouting.

-Ah but all was not lost for he was still alive and inside the giant he took the obsidian crystals and cut him from the inside out until it was dead and he came out of a hole he cut…It was a tiny cut but he was able to come out because he turned into the wind.

-Mom was he as strong as Hercules?

-Yes mija and for the same reason! Hercules was the son of Zeus the Greek god and the child was the son of Ehecatl the god of Wind. His name was Tepoztecatl and he became the god of Pulque the wine made from the agave plant that had nurtured him as a baby and he could turn into wind as well.

-That sounds difficult to say Mami.

-Only at the beginning it sounds difficult but later when….What is going on!?- Bel exclaimed when she felt the carriage come to a stop without warning. Bel and Martha went to look out of their respective windows while Deana shushed the children and made to reassure them everything would be alright.

Outside everything was silent. Aleen stood on her horse griping her lance tight. When she noticed Bel was looking out she took one finger and made a gesture of keeping silence. Bel told the others to do so and went back to looking out of the window but then a loud boom was heard and shouting and the carriage rocked sideways and then a louder boom and it went flying to the side. It landed sideways with the door she was neared to upwards. A huge hole met her gaze and the door was gone.

Everyone inside were tossed around Bel turned her eyes to find Sharena and Oly crying and Alfonse holding them, with Bertha trying to get out of the wreckage. She made to stand and do the same and help her get the children to safety, while Deana made to get the three children together. Bel tried to look out of the hole but she assumed if they were being attacked the enemy would be waiting for them to come out of it. She made a notion for Bertha to try her side which was the ceiling of the carriage and handed her a knife to cut the fabric covering. The wood on the other side was in effect broken. Bertha went out first and was suddenly met with the helpful hand of one Feraht Guerrer who also helped the rest of the people inside.

Once outside Bel noticed there was pieces of wreckage arranged hastily around them and lights of spells coming from all around them.

- Ambush…- Said Feraht.- The scouts and decoy party failed to report and we were just preparing for the assault when it came. We had no time to prevent you.

-Any plan? Where’s father?

-Behind that fallen tree and wagon.- Bel looked towards the the place Feraht indicated. He says he wants to see if they can get them from behind. He sent a messenger to get help….there’s a hamlet nearby.

-I see. We are trapped from all sides. Let me help you.

-They are shooting to stunt.- Said Deana shooting spells toward the nearby treeline.

-They want to take us alive…again…-Bel said and sent a look down to Alfonse who was covering both Sharena and Oly. His brows knitted as he understood.

-Feraht…If they want Alfonse and I… do you think it would be better to split up from the girls? Would this keep them safe you think? I do not want to put Alfonse in danger so I can “ split up” and maybe bait them away. That way their forces would be cut in half for you to make your escape.

-I don’t like it… It does make sense but… it is risky.

- I know but if My presence is endangering the kids, I rather leave them with someone I trust and get the danger away. At leas some of it.

-I’m going with you !- Says Alfonse determinedly.

-NO Alfonse! Don’t leave us!- Cries Sharena. Oly is crying for her mother. Alfonse looked torn between whether to go or stay.

- Alfonse. It is better for you to stay with them. I’ll draw them away. - Bel said and then turned to Oly.- Homey listen I love you and I need you to be extra brave. I will take the bad men away from you so you all can be safe.

-Mami don’t leave me like Daddy did…

-I won’t. - Oly’s words broke her heart but she needed to take the danger away from them.- I will only circle around to the town honey. It is not far but the brave men will take care of the bad men.

- Then I will need to go too or they will stay because of me.- Alfonse told Bel with determination, then he looked down to the girls and added.

-We do not want to leave you but we must. Sharena…I need to leave for you two to be safe. We will be back as soon as we can. You will be safe.

- I will trust you brother…please come back.

-Alfonse? Protect my Mami please…Oly asks pouting a little.

-I will.

-We’ll protect each other. Feraht? Stay with them I will take Aleen with us.

-With all due respect Madam, You will need a mage to cover your escape. Leave Aleen to protect the girls. I will go with you.- Responded Bertha.

-OK. Thank you Bertha.

-We still need to tell your father my lady. He is not going to like it.- He turns to the man by his side who is holding up a shield to cover them. They both share a look and Gudrum finally speaks

-Do you want me to stay too Sir?- Feraht nods his head. Gudrum salutes him and turns to the children.- I will guard then with my life My lady!

- My lady…I know you want your daughter taken care of…but you are the one in danger along with the prince… I am going with you. I will not take a no for an answer.- Says Feraht gravely.

-Fine. Thank you. Tell my father while I take something from the carriage to play as a decoy for my daughter. In case they want to use her to get to me.

-Good idea My Lady.

Feraht proceeded to sign to Lord Andreas the plan. The Nibelean troops were able to communicate entirely with sighs after the Viscount had devised the language based on his wife’s recollection of the sign language used in her world.

As expected the Lord was not happy with the idea, but agreed that it was the best curse of action as of the moment. He was going to give them an opening so they would go. Feraht knew where the hamlet lay and would guide them and when the attackers chased the small group Lord Andreas will pursue them, while Deana and Gudrum would get to a safe place in the neighboring town that would serve as a rendezvous point.

At the sound of Lord Andreas shout to attack Feraht whistled for his horse as did Gudrum and some other soldiers. The horses came back. They had been spooked by the initial attack but as any other war horse they were trained to come back when called. The carriage horses on the other hand lay stunned on the ground. Their harness had torn when the carriage had turned over.

With the mages covering their escape Bel took hold of the doll passing as Oly and then Alfonse by the hand and the four of them got out of their hiding spot and on their horses. The rode away and were some distance off when they heard an explosion. Bel’s horses buckled and kicked at an oncoming attacker and as much as Bel tried to hold on she was thrown off the horse. She looked from the ground to see the horse kick at her attacker on the face and see the horse bolt away. She looked back to the chariot and saw it had been destroyed. She saw Gudrum take hold of Sharena and run for cover towards where Lord Andreas’ group was located. Deana did the same with Oly but was blocked and she had to run away towards the opposite side.

-Get the child!! She’s his blood!!

Bel started to run back but her fall had hurt her ankle and was unable to run fast.

-Cousin!! Take hold!!!- She heard Alfonse cry out to her and turned to see him riding back towards her.- He offered a hand for her to climb up the horse and as soon as she was on it he took off dodging the attackers and their spells towards where Deana had gone.

-Hold on Sharena!!! We are coming back!!- He cried when they were near Lord Andreas. Bel had taken the sacred gun and was shooting at the attackers while holding on to Alfonse’s waist

.-I can see them now!! There’s a group of attackers behind them!!- Said Alfonse.

-Get Them!!!

-On the horse!! It’s them!!

Bel heard the voices and saw as more men were closing in on them around the road, while some where following them on horse back. She aimed at the ones she could see. And heard as some of them fell by her shots and some by arrows. Feraht was closing in on them from behind.

Bel felt Alfonse spur the horse on to run faster but the men were now closer and he had to swerve to go around them. Bel kept on shooting while feeling Alfonse’s frustration at not being able to go faster.

-Shoot them!- He cried and Bel did.- To our right!!!

Bel shot at them as fast and as accurately as she could but just as they had a cleared way the horse keeled over and Alfonse was thrown forward and Bel to his side. Spells were shot at them and Bel could only cover Alfonse with her body where he had fallen unconscious. She looked over to Deana and saw her surrounded by attackers. Bel shot at them from behind and felled a couple.

She saw it almost in slow motion just as she felled her sixth man. One of them coming from her left shot at Deana and her tome fell down. She turned around and Bel could see now why she had stopped. Deana had been cornered at a cliff’s edge. Bel’s insides froze in fear at the thought.

-No…-She tried rising up and gather Alfonse but fell down pain shooting up from her right leg, so she kept on shooting from her position. She did no even noticed the figure run fast past her towards Deana who had opened a portal and was jumping inside, holding Oly to her breast, while a shower of spells followed and reached her from behind.

Feraht and Bertha had finally reached them and were shooting the men down but one of them reached Bertha and she fell on a heap by Bel’s side. The few men left jumped to cross the portal but the portal disappeared suddenly sending them down the cliff.

-NOT WHILE I AM ALIVE!!-They heard shouting and the attackers trying to flee.

Bel was shocked speechless. She tried to get up but again she could not put weight on her leg. Men were running around on foot and on horses pursuing the attackers.

- Mam…

-Alfonse??! Alfonse?- Bel turned to the child but he was till out cold. She felt for his pulse and his heart was still beating fine and he was breathing but there was a gash on the left side of his forehead. And he was bleeding from somewhere on his right leg.- He is hurt!! Feraht how is Bertha?

-She…Is unconscious…but fine. Madam…I think they …wounded Deana badly. Those were not stunning spells…No one could withstand so many of them either…

-Who closed the gate?

-It was someone with Baron Gulbrandsen. It was his men who came to our rescue us.-Was Feraht’s answer.

-I have come to aid you. I can carry him on my horse or you if you wish it. I come with the Baron’s men.

Bel and Feraht turned at the sound of the young voice. It was a teen of about 14 or 15 years of age but he was already tall and strong. His skin was a rich tan and his hair pale blond but what struck Bel the most was his bright and expressive dark magenta color eyes. He was getting down his white horse and carried a spear covered in blood.

-I would be grateful if you did. Just let me see if I can heal him a little. - Bel said with her hand on Alfonse’s cheek and trying to stop the bleeding on his forehead with her other one. She asked Feraht to lent her his tome to try and cure Alfonse but he looked like he needed more than what she knew of magic. At least his bleeding had stopped.

When the teen had Alfonse on his arms he heard a gasp and looked down to see the boy’s eyes half lidded and unfocused trying to watch him. They did not last long open before Alfonse was unconscious again, his face falling closer to the teen’s chest. The teen’s reaction was to tighten his hold protectively and lower his face to touch Alfonse’s forehead with his cheek to check for fever.

-He has a fever already.- Said Bel. She looked on the verge of tears as she was helped up by Feraht who was getting her on his horse. She looked reluctant to let the boy too far from her.

-We better take him back to site where they ambushed us.- Feraht said atop his horse and watching the a soldier carry Bertha ho a horse.

-And find out where Deana went. She may have told father she will do this in case of emergencies.

-No.We need to go back to the village. We have our camp there.- Said the teen getting on his horse. He had Alfonse sitting on the horse upright and holding him close to his chest with his right arm.- Lord Andreas will be sending the wounded there. We were sure to let him know.

-Thank you Umm… What is your name?- Bel said remembering she still did not know who he was.

-Bru…Zacharias. My name is Zacharias…- He said turning away from them and spurring his horse he took flight.

Notes:

A/N

1 The Story of Tepoztecatl starts off differently as the “Original” one because I do not know where the teacher read it from when I was in third grade. The story did gave me nightmares btw lol

2.I know we hear Alfonse say Zacharias and the siblings grew up together in canon but also we find out that he is the only one that has been close to Veronica and also is known in Emblan society and to be honest stuff doesn’t add up for their age so I figure he is already a teen who has been with his sister, but later arrived to Askr and to be friends with Alfonse and Sharena when they were still young, then he probably went back to Embla some 4 or 5 years later when he “ disappeared”. The Teen became a man and was later unrecognized by his friends.

#feh alfonse #feh #fire emblem heroes #fire emblem #alfonse #lif #fe heroes #feh lif #feh kiran #feh lif x summoner #feh alfonse x kiran #feh alfonse x reader #feh lif x reader

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avi-stella · 5 years

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Unfeeling Warmth | Líf x Reader

》 RATING: Teen | GENRE: Drama(?) | 334 words 》 SUMMARY: Death does not fear you. 》 A/N: Originally written as a Líf x OC ficlet to accompany this.

The General of the real of the dead holds Sökkvabekkr to your unflinching face, its sharp edge of the blade breaking the skin of your cheek. Blood forms from the wound before it drips down your cheek in small droplets. Asides from the uncomfortable grimace of pain, your face remains neutral, almost apathetic.

Líf stares down at you, and neither of you two speak for a moment. He should kill her, he thinks vaguely to himself. His "Queen" had ordered it, but for a reason unknown to him, he pauses. "...You."

A beat passes before he continues with a question, "Are you not afraid?"

"No," you breathe out. You almost didn't hesitate with your response. With a subtle movement, you tilt your head to the side, an action akin to that of a curious child. "...Should I be?"

"You will die," Líf answers. For a moment, he thinks that perhaps you do not realize the gravity of your situation. In truth, though, he doesn't know why he still hasn't taken your life yet.

"...And?"

Although Líf's expression remains unchanged, he does feel something akin to surprise as your nonchalant answer. You then take a few steps closer to him, and the man stops himself from taking a step back. To retreat now would be an embarrassment.

With an unchanging expression, you lift your hand up to his face, or rather, the small patch of skin of what's left of it. You stroke the mask upon his mouth, brushing aside dull strands of hair. It's... warm. You, who has such dead eyes but is still very much alive... feel warm. It is a feeling that the progenitor of Askr has long since forgotten.

When you are met with nothing but silence, you decide to speak once more. "So you're the first king of Askr that Alfonse has told me stories about. If you don’t mind me asking, if you are a king so highly praised in legends and history, then why are you in Hel?”

Thank you for reading! If you liked this work, you can help support me by liking/reblogging. You can also commission me or donate to my ko-fi(.com/avistella)! Masterlist

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villainousfe · 5 years

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Idk if it’s still open or not for the book 3 villains, but can I have some nsfw headcannons for Fir?

I read this wrong and fucked up but i was confused by "fir" aaa is fir a unit in book 3 ? Is there a fir? Im stupid i uninstalled feh because i got frustrated im sorry... But uhm. I did lif im sorry hhhh (mod hiro is a dummy and always read things wrong... Yell at me if i messed it up anon)

Oh my god i keep messing up im sorry

How have you guys been though? Good I hope.. 💕

#mod hiro #fe #fire emblem heroes #fe heroes #fire emblem #summoner #reader #feh #gender neutral reader #female reader #male reader #fe x reader #fe lif #feh lif #lif #fire emblem lif #smut

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pokemagines · 4 years

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mod touko’s way to organize herself and this blog! ask box is closed as of 7/9. enjoy the cursed stay!

index || rules || about

mod touko’s favorite works:

letting go. (n x reader) - pokemon bw / angst / ficlet

dimitri & sylvain + watching their s/o die - tw: death / fe:3h / angst! / hc + ficlet

breaking. (lif x reader) - fe:h / fluff/angst / ficlet

up next!:

klara + falling for her rival

fe himbos + getting hugs from touch-repulsed summoner

#cleared the inbox as well!!#mod touko speaks

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iamdarkness · 2 years

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So I heard this song on some Tiktok videos and I thought it fit my fic In Darkness Bound.Also I have been feeling a little left out by the disappearance of our Summoner in Feh.

Lyrics in Spanish and English .

En el altar de mi credo particular Nada, nadie me importa más Que la música de tus labios

Eres azúcar amargo Delirio y pecado Un cofre de sorpresas Llegas, me besas y

Eres azúcar amargo Un ángel, un diablo Maldito embustero

Como duele saver que te pierdo.

At the altar of my particular creed Nothing, (or) no one matters to me more, That the music of your lips

You are bitter sugar Delirium and sin Achest of surprises You come, you kiss me and

You are bitter sugar An angel, a devil

Damn liar.

How it hurts to know I am losing you.

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iamdarkness · 2 years

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In Darkness Bound

So I had a nightmare. Here have this horror fic.

It will be interactive. It will have a good ending and a bad ending depending on what you want to read. I am not even sure what warning to use except : Teens and up, Canonical character death and Horror. Enjoy.

Lif x F Summoner/ Lif x reader Alfonse x F Summoner /Alfonse x reader.

Caeda POV.

I am sure the other heroes have noticed it as well. The Summoner has been acting quite not herself. It is true that as someone who hails from a far different world than most of us, she tends to be strange, but this behavior is far too different from what we are used to. She thinks she is being subtle about it, but the sight of her nervous demeanor and the slumped over figure of her sleeping body in the most random of places is anything but subtle. At least not for me or for some of the more sensitive of us.

It has been so for the last week and every time someone finds her asleep on a garden bench or a training facility or even the kitchen, she comes up with some excuse like “ The night was so beautiful and quiet, I fell asleep.” or “ I was hungry and came to find a snack and fell asleep. “ . Yet I find it hard to believe that would be the case. Not that it did not happen before, because it had been a couple of times we have found them asleep on a garden bench or a library desk. “ Them” as in The Summoner and Prince Alfonse. Now it was just her.

After the third time I started paying more attention to her. She looked nervous around people if Alfonse was also around and seemed to relax when he was gone. Those were very few times too, because nowadays you could see the prince would not leave her side. It is true they were always very close and that was the reason everyone knew not to flirt with neither of the two. They looked like they truly belonged together, like they say about Marth and I. Lately however he does not leave her to train or work on the fields the way he used to. It is as if he had completely moved his schedule to fit hers and be the most amount of time together.

I have heard he had become very obsessive after the third year of war and I understand it. When you are about to lose someone dear and your own life the way he did when he was cursed by death herself, it is natural that you develop a deeper attachment and possessiveness towards those you love.

Indeed it was hard for me to just imagine that the man who had lost his head in anguish and anger over his beloved being taken by Prince Otr, would do what I thought he was doing to his beloved Summoner. Yet I myself had witness the green/purple bruises on her arm and her uneasiness to go back to sleep in her own chamber; where I knew by her confiding in me that they were lovers, that he slept in, every night.

I wondered then about Alfonse. I had personally seen him wandering the halls during my watch one night looking for his Summoner. I had seen her last entering the greenhouse garden, but when he asked about her I outright lied to him and said I had not seen her. The guard on duty did talk. It was his prince after all and probably thought nothing of this, but my contract is with the Summoner and she is my friend. So when the guard told him she was in the Greenhouse Garden, I hurried to alert her on another way. I was able to reach it faster than the prince, but by mere seconds and since he had just seen me I did not think it prudent to let him see me alerting her of his presence. I decided to hide and see what he would do.

I expected him to awaken her and ask her to go to sleep in her room. To be truthful I even expected him to be forceful towards her. I was then vexed by his figure quietly approaching her only to stop a short distance. He gave a sight and stayed looking at her sleeping form for a while. His face looked so sad and a little defeated. After some minutes he turned to leave, but looking sideways to where a statue stood in front of the bench in the shadows, he changed direction. He then sat on the floor next to it. He had perfect view of the bench, but was hidden enough by the shadows to not be seen if the summoner woke up.

I had to leave since I still had at leas half an hour of patrol duty, but as soon as I was able to come back I found them both in the same place. The Summoner sleeping still and Alfonse keeping watch.

That was five nights ago and since then I have been spying on them. I see the summoner falling asleep on purpose somewhere and him finding her out and staying with her. without her finding out. It would have been endearing to me if my mind was not full of doubt about him mistreating her.

Still I tried hard to remember a time he had been angry enough with her to be mean, and I could find none. Not that they never disagreed on something. The Summoner was friendly and very liberal for the Askr standards and their ideas mostly of friendship and entertainment were mostly the cause of their disagreements. Yet the most I had seen him do was close his eyes in a gesture that meant he was very annoyed and slowly but firmly explain why he disagreed and believed she was wrong. That one time it was not even the summoner being friendly with someone, it was the day The Summoner was explaining to him that Charlotte was indeed not a damsel in distress, since she could slice up a man with her giant axe, and that she was blatantly flirting with him and he was leading her on with his “charm”.

I remember I thought it was very cute that she was so jealous of Charlotte seeing as Alfonse was head over heels in love with her, and angry at the fact that Charlotte was after his money to begin with. She felt personally offended that she wanted only his money.

“ He is perfect and this …’hussy’ just wants his money ! Can you believe that!?”. Alfonse was trying to explain that he was not leading her on, but being polite because she was new to Askr and she was after all, choosing to lend them her strength.

“Well next time she calls you ‘Darling’ and wants to lend you her hand with stuff she should not be touching, I will take her eyes out with my fingernails and then send her home in a wooden box.” Alfonse closed his eyes again and sighted to regain his patience and composure, all the while pinching the bridge of his nose. I had to intervene after that and Charlotte was dissuaded from pursuing his money and actually kept her head and eyes. Alfonse still did not lose his patience and not even raised his voice at her.

I do not know what had changed between them but this was as resent as a week ago and I was determined to help my dear friend.

So tonight I went looking for her directly after dinner. I asked her if she could do me a favor and help me plan something for a romantic day with Marth. She agreed right away. I made sure Alfonse would be busy with Marth at the time. Bless this man. He is a wonderful person and a much better fiance. He did what I asked for, without question. Although he also is very close to the summoner and had already noticed their change.

Knowing I could not take her to her room, her study, office or the library; I asked her to walk with me to my room. Once in there, she sat on a chair by the hearth where a table was set to be used as a sort of parlour to entertain guests. All of the rooms in the castle were the same. Except the summoner’s and Alfonse’s who were joined by a parlor that served as a study as well.

I put the tea in the hot water and served it. She took her cup and smelled it before talking with a small smile that did not reach her sad eyes.

-So what do you have in mind Caeda?

-I just want to talk. - I made a pause. I was a little ashamed of lying to get her to come with me, but I could swallow my pride for her sake.

-Oh. I think we can make something simple, but at the same time romantic. I mean Marth is not the flashy kind of guy. I think a day of relaxation will be beneficial for the both of you. So my opinion is that a day of pampering in the Aether resort and then a play at the theater together. Laslow and Azura are playing a romantic musical this weekend! And for the finishing touches; how about a dinner in the rose garden? Unless you want a more secluded place of course. - Her words came out like a river overflowing and she sounded genuinely excited. I thought about it and it was an actually good idea. I think I was blushing like mad at the time.

- That sounds perfect ______. I think Marth will be very happy too. Thank you.

- Hey it is something small for what you actually deserve for doing so much for the order and Askr in general.

-______ it is still very nice of you.-She nodded and took a sip of her tea.

- I really want you to be happy.- She said smiling.

-_______ I did not bring you here only to talk about my petition.- She looked down at her cup, perhaps avoiding my eyes.- What is going on between you and Alfonse?

-What do you mean?

-We are friends. Please do not take me for a fool and think you can lie to me. I know it is not my place to make you tell me the truth, but I am worried he had been mistreating you.

-What?! No!…He would never… You know him. He is sweet and…caring.

-How about those bruises. How about you sleeping everywhere but your room to avoid him?

-I know how it sounds. It sounds like a victim trying to find excuses for her abusive partner…but the truth is that…no matter what he has become I know this for certain. He would never hurt me.

==What he has become? What does she mean?==.

- Then tell me what is wrong.

-I can’t.

-Why? Are you this afraid of him.

-He is not going to harm me…but I can’t tell you for your own good.- She paused and looked me dead in the eyes and that knowing look gave me chills. I knew what she meant. I had seen him angry enough when ______was threaten and taken hostage and when Fafnir had assaulted his mother. IT was not his anger that had sent shivers down my spine those times. It was the lack of fear and the cold determination to destroy his enemies that was scary to me.

For all the glory the title hero gave the warriors brought to Askr, it did not meant we were inhuman enough not to feel fear in battle. Even the strongest felt it and the ones that felt too confident not to feel fear were all fools. Alfonse was no fool. Still I had hear him threaten Gods and I have been told he has had defeated them as well. The only times I had seen fear in his eyes was when _____ was taken by Otr and we could not find their destination.

- Besides…you will not believe me.

-If it will help you in any way, tell me. I am bound by contract and I can swear on it to keep your secret. He will not know you told me. As for believing you…-I smiled them.- I am in another World talking to a woman that comes from yet another world where people fly on metal birds and talk to each other anywhere around that world with the help of a compacted metal book. All of this without magic…so try me.- She looked around, mostly at the window like she was thinking it over.

- You have to promise me then. On your honor and by the contract and most importantly the friendship that binds us, that you will not tell anyone.- I gave her my promise and she went on.- I know I have talked about this many times with you but, I feel I need to tell you again for context. I feel in love with Alfonse in a very short time after I came to live here. His sharp mind and intellect topped with his personality and good heart were enough for me to realize I had never met anyone as wonderful as him. You know how he is. Quiet but because his words are weighed and well thought of before coming out, unlike me. He was…so different to what I was used to. The way he played the violin so passionately just as the passion he puts into his fencing skills. And his shyness and innocence combined with his passion. How could I not love him. He was at his age more mature that all the adults I had met in my life. It must have been his childhood and his upbringing…the weight of his title and destiny.

- We became more than mere friends when I told him I was not going back “home”. He opened his hear more easily after that. By the time we fought Srtur there was no one I needed at my side to feel safe but him, and he took his task as my guard very seriously.

We became closer still after this. Surtr wanted to kill me personally and he was always there to protect me. We started dating after that. We were very happy just being together and since our rooms are connected it was easy to spend the time before bed reading together or listening to him playing…or just chatting. We even made our “promise” jewelry. We made a matching set of necklaces from a scale of his armor that was broken in a particularly difficult battle where he had been injured. I kept it and drove a hole through each of the halves so that when put together they formed the one scale. I have seen couples wearing those at home and I felt they were so corny…but ours were not the same…they did not have the same story.

By then he had told me he felt like we were soul mates and I could not agree more. I never felt this close to anyone. We were halves of a whole.

She made a pause and then proceeded.- Then Hel came. We were so scared. You know we always sleep together by the fire when we are on the go, or in the same tent with Anna and Sharena; but one night he knocked on my door and we slept together on my bed. Something sacred to him. We did nothing else but hold each other while sleep would not come.

The following nights were the same until things got serious and…we felt threaten enough to want to be together. As I have told you before…we promised each other to be married as soon as the war ended and became lovers.

She sighs in remembrance.- There was so much pressure on him. From the people, the army, the heroes and God! His father. It was a good thing you were not here yet to witness all the horrible things we had to endure.

You know how Embla helped us find a way to stop her. Sometimes I feel like my mind was so stressed out I can’t remember things correctly. I never told you, but I felt like… like we lived more horrible things that I can actually remember…We used to call it the Mandela effect in my world. It is when a big group of people remember history in a way that is different from the reality.

A man Named Nelson Mandela was in prison for his ideals and then he was elected president of the same country that had imprisoned him…except we all remember hearing he had died in prison. That is how I feel about the situation. He told me it was the effect of the ritual to kill Hel. I lost a lot of memories…we all did. Except Alfonse…

She takes another sip of her tea and the pause is longer this time. Her face was downwards and I was only aware of her crying when she started shaking.- All I know is that he found a way to defeat her. We all were so tired. I was told I slept for two days and he took to care of me. Caeda…I never told you because it is a delicate matter and I know it is way too graphic for you and your sensitivities.

At this point she had talked about only good things about her relationship and to be honest I did not see the problem in their relationship neither. I did not see even it going to a bad place by the devotion Alfonse always seems to show and if it was true that by her words he “ will never hurt” her. Then why was she crying so? What had turned so bad in their relationship for her to be even avoiding him so?

For a second the unbidden thought came to my mind that my friend had fallen out of love with Alfonse and had fallen in love with another. But I banished the thought, because she would have told me and even if she did not, I new her enough to noticed if she was in love with someone else and there was no sign of this.

The thought of them falling out of love game chills, because if their love that seemed to be destined and we all could see they were soul mates could fall out of love…what could we expect of a regular love? Would Marth fall out of love with me? Could I one day not love him? That was such a sad tragedy in my mind

These thought that invaded my mind in mere seconds gave pause to her story and coming back to reality I realize she was waiting for me to tell her she could or could not tell me about those things she would not usually tell me.

I nodded at her to go on. -______ you can tell me anything I will not judge you.

She nodded and went on.- When we became lovers, Alfonse was very innocent in a way and inexperienced. It is true he had read bout everything, but had not much experience with a woman beforehand. His personality and desire to be always better made up for whatever inexperience he had. He was in short, a great lover and a caring one at that…

I blushed at the thought. Marth and I had yet to reach that level of intimacy and I had always wondered about what kind of lover he would be.

- After Hel, he became …more passionate, a better lover if you can believe that. The night we were together again…how to explain?…Tell me Caeda. Do you remember that one time we were forced to ration the food at a campaign in the desert, because some of the food went bad? - I nodded.- The last two days we marched home, I discovered some of the heroes had given their share, as had I, for the younger and older soldiers and heroes. I remember Marth and you were among them.-I nodded again. It had been my idea and Marth offered me his share, but I told him to give it to young Leon. It was after all not the first time Marth and I were faced with such predicament in our own world.- Do you remember the first meal you had after those days of hunger?

-Of course! You said it yourself! It felt like heaven! I think I inhaled it.- I would have smiled at the memory thinking back at the time; if it wasn’t for the sadness I felt coming from my friend.

She nodded at me ,still crying.- Alfonse made love to me that way. As if he had waited a long time for that moment. He touched me in such a way…I have not have a night like that in my life. He was so passionate and loving and at the same time possessive and …He was so perfect. The nights that followed were about the same and have been since.- I felt my eyebrows knit at that, concentrating in every detail to see the meaning of all of this.

- But he not only changed in that matter. When I awoke from Hel, I noticed he had moved all of his belongings to my room and the adjacent parlour. I felt it was very endearing that he wanted to spent all our free time together. I even saw him place some of his belongings on the way to the door to his room. It was understandable right? I noticed there were flowers every day and even saw some herbs hanging from the walls. He claimed they were gifts from some of the heroes that work on potions. Different but not out of this world. Still sometimes he made me self conscious with his new affinity with “bad odors”. Sometimes he would sniff the air and knit his brow in distaste and take some aromatic oils or burn incense.

She took a long look at her cup but did not drink.- I thought…well he is not used to sleeping or living in the same room as another person, maybe or…I don’t know. I know I am a little messy, but I did not think it was that bad considering people come every day to clean. ..and that is another thing. I did not noticed it at first but then I discovered he had in fact banned every cleaning person to enter his room. Yet he would always come and hug me and say how much he loved how I smelled, even after training. It was not my smell that bothered him but I could find no reason for him to be that way.

- I feel like an idiot now…Like Sharena I thought that he had changed due to…well trauma. We all changed in a way…I choose to believe he had as well… Time passes and beginning our fourth year of war we had “The Sleeping Sickness” right before I summoned you.

She looks at me then and I can see a hint of a smile.- As I have told you, we lost our memories of the dream for a while, but what I did not say was that, I remember when I woke up, I was so stressed out…so worried about Alfonse and when I saw him standing before me I could not explain why I was so worried and distressed and then relieved to see him. He was so happy to see me awake and when I said I did not remember my dream …. I could not help but notice a sort of relief crossing his face. I thought at the time he did remember and it had been an unpleasant memory. I though he was relieved I did not remember. The elves came to live at the castle then, but they seemed to think it was better for us not to remember and never helped me to regain those memories. Every time I asked, they would just avoid the conversation.

She pauses and I hear the most heart wrenching sob I had ever heard. She starts to cry harder still and tries to keep the sounds down and at the same time looks to the windows like expecting to see a ghost appear outside on the balcony.- Some weeks after we woke up…I had a fall and fainted…that was the day after I summoned you.

I remember the day. ______ had been so embarrassed that she had to call me to fight so soon after my arrival.

- I remember. The horse that was was carrying you got frighten for some reason and you fell down. Alfonse was able to break your fall. I have never see someone move so fast.

She nodded.- He was wearing a coat just like mine, because he was going to be my decoy…God I do not know who had that idea…the man is huge compared to me, but he would not let anyone else do it. Caeda. I did not hit my head that day. I fainted because, looking at Alfonse wearing my coat and laying on the ground made me remember that dream…the dream of the sickness.

-What did you remember?- I asked intrigued.

-The memories came so fast I was dizzy and fainted. In the dream we fought a goddess. I will tell you all the details if you want to but…the important part for this story is that I was not my self in my dream. I wasn’t even aware I was not my self in the dream. I was Alfonse. We were there for days and all that time I was convinced I was Alfonse… then I figured it out and Goddess Freya sent a person like a “ Summoner” to fight us. That was Alfonse and he was wearing my coat and he was on the ground lifeless…dead! How Freya mocked me…she said to me “ Do you want to know why you took that form? Because you can not take the reality that Prince Alfonse…your prince Alfonse is dead. He is dead in the waking world…you know it to be true, but you can’t accept it. The Alfather saw he had grown too powerful. Alfonse is dead.” The Alfonse in my dream was but a puppet to remind me of “ the truth”. We defeated the Goddess…and you want to know something? She offered me to stay in the world of dreams where Alfonse could be alive again…and Alfonse? He was never in the dream…he was really not in that dream Caeda! That made me suspicious but try as I may I could not find a trace of Loki impersonating him or someone with the same power. Even another Alfonse from another Askr would not have the same memories we shared. Right?

She gave another sob in her arm and seemed to be biting it to be quiet. I moved to prevent her to hurt herself but she stopped on her own to keep talking.- Days later he went on a mission with the heroes and I stayed on his order. He had already been gone for over two weeks. I remember something alerting me. I thought at the time there was a sound in the room, but I could hear nothing. Then an idea came to me. I decided to get inside his room and see if I could find something that would explain what was going on. - She closed her eyes.

-….GOD DID I FIND SOMETHING!…The smell came first…it was stale but still recognizable. There were so many herbs to keep the room from smelling bad, but the odour still remained in a small measure. It took me by surprise that it smelled this way, when Alfonse was such a tidy person. I followed it to the closed bathroom door and I opened it….I…I… I still do not know if…no…I needed to find it. It was the bathtub…it was covered in flowers…and not just any flowers….his favorite flowers…they were …all over his body…his hair…

-What…what do you mean? - I asked confused. This is not what I was expecting…not even close at all and I was not prepared for something like this and I could feel this was only the beginning.

-It was Alfonse…he was dead…he had been dead….for months!! He…his armor was broken everywhere…his hands….GOD HIS HANDS!- She was in hysterics now. She was trembling like a leaf, crying with despair so deep I could not describe, and I was there helplessly looking on at her. I felt lost like walking in a blizzard, with the chill of her words and unable to make out a single thought to comfort her.

-What? …but….I ….I don’t understand…- Those where the only words that came from my mind. I could not process anything else. It was so over saturated by feelings of sadness, anguish and confusion. She did not even register my whispered question.

- His hands…they were close to his chest holding the necklace I had made for him out of his armor with his right hand while his left held my own….he died…he died holding them…clutching at them….like…like…like….

She stopped talking and was crying in a full force holding herself in a tight embrace. Her feet came up and she balled up like a new born babe while her hands came to hide her face.

I closed my mouth that had opened on its own, perhaps to say something comforting but nothing seemed to come out again. I looked down to where her cup and saucer had been left on the table unceremoniously and about to fall off. It was funny that my basic instinct was to to move them out of the way, but doing this small gesture cleared my clouded mind enough that I stood and still stunned by the tale and thinking all of the time “ What if that was Marth! What would I do?”. Injuries of war and sickness I could take but this was out of my league to even understand and much less help alleviate. As if my mind was working of its own accord I walked over to my bed and took a shawl I had knitted in my free time,a small blanket as the air in the room had gotten as chill as winter, and a pillow. I left the shawl for me in a chair and covered _____ with the blanket while her hands tried to silence her loud sobs.

I went to the bathroom and took all the handkerchiefs I had and some hand towels as well. As I was doing this I looked at myself in the mirror and until then I noticed there were tears flowing down my face. I used one of the towels on my face and went back to the room. I placed the towels by her side and handed her the pillow and a towel. The soft touch of the towel brought her back to me and sniffing she took the pillow and placed it in her lap and then the towel and stated drying her face and wiping her nose.

-Thank you. -She said between sobs.-Sorry….- She said a little calmer now and referring to the towel she had used to clean her red nose. I waved at her doing exactly the same thing to mine.

-All this time Freya was telling the truth. My Alfonse was dead. I broke down in there….looking at his broken armor and his faded blue hair hanging from that mummified body. The scarce light from the closed windows should have made his golden tips glint with light,…but they were a faded silver on almost black hair… Still I could never mistake his form. I left the room…I wanted to take the pendants and shove them on Alfonse’s face and demand an explanation. I was so angry and at the same time scared. I knew I had done the tests to make sure it was not Loki and I knew we shared the same memories so what exactly was going on? Freya Knew it! She told me and I did not believe her and what was worst is that I never killed Freya but someone sure did and Alfonse…this Alfonse was never in the dream. That was not Alfonse it was just an illusion Freya had made. I now this now because I asked Peony days ago and she had no other option but to tell me the truth.

My friend was still crying profusely but now there was a glint of anger in her eyes and voice.- I told Anna I was sick and spent the day thinking on what to do when Alfonse came back from his mission with the heroes. I left the the room exactly the way it was just in case. His presence in that room …knowing he was there…I felt so sad…but at the same time it gave me strength for whatever was to come. I spend the rest of the day and night crying and thinking about everything I had lived with this “new Alfonse”. Trying hard to remember something of importance. I felt that those memories everyone had lost had something to do with this. I wanted to kill him! To torture him the the cruelest of ways ! The way my Alfonse was tortured knowing he was about to die and his last thought had been of ME!

She smiles bitterly.- The next day came and I had to pretend to be the same and go about my day. Yes I looked sick still and all…-She gave a bitter laugh.- They all thought I missed Alfonse… I mean yes I did …but they could not know…they never knew. I had three days and nights to think things over and watching what we had done together and the people of Askr who loved him not knowing who he was. I made my mind. I knew gilt would haunt me for the rest of my life but…what would we had done without him? He killed Hel. He killed Freya because I will not believe otherwise and I new it was going to be much more difficult to win the war without him and not even talking about the political turmoil it would start. It was a weakness we could not afford to have during a war! Everyone knows Commander Anna gives the orders but he is the real leader! He is the one with the plans and the people follow him.- It was true. We heroes followed and trusted his plans more than the Commander.

She sighs sadly and goes on.- The night before he came back I went back into his room and talked to him… to My Alfonse. I asked him to forgive me for not being with him when he died. I told him…that I loved him and swore to him I would take care of his home and I apologized for letting the other Alfonse take his place, but Askr needed him…I could not voice that I loved him as well because at the time I was so angry I hated him. I spent most of the night there…sitting on the floor by the door with only a small lamp to not be seen from outside. I swore to my self that I would do everything to appear normal, like nothing had happened; at least until I found out what had happened.

-The day came and I knew it was going to be very hard not to say something and even harder not to avoid him. Three days were very little time to “go back to normal”. I new he would want to be together at night and I thought I just could not do it…But when he came back…the way he looked at me.

-You cried…I remember…I thought…we all thought…- I said thinking back to that day.

-That I missed him…so did he… but you see…I did miss him and I hated my self for that. I hated myself for loving that person that had taken over my Alfonse. I made up an excuse and went to have a pajama party with the kids. He wanted to join in and I told him he needed rest. That night I had an idea because…if he was doing the best he could to save Askr and he was a good man like MY Alfonse and besides the corpse in his room, which I could not prove he had killed; I had nothing to think him a bad man…So…what if he had fought Hel alongside my Alfonse? What if my Alfonse with his dying breath had asked him to care for us? I wanted …no I needed to believe that he was without fault because someone evil would not have taken the care he did with a world that did not belong to him. He would not have taken the care for the body of a fallen rival that way and I wanted to believe that all the other Alfonse were as good as mine and would not do what I so horribly had thought him capable of…also…I missed him…how I missed him. I went back to him the next day.

-I … I did not meet the…other Alfonse, but I always thought this one was a good man. Up until I thought he was harming you…I always thought he was a good man.- I said. I thought about all the things she had said and of the last days and I could not help but ask in my head “What did you find out?” but I wanted her to tell me in her own time.

She nodded and resumed her tale.- I tried to have a “ normal” life and he was just as great as ever. There was no trace of him faking being someone else and I had more test done to see if he was not something else and he passed all of them.

She pauses to wipe more tears.- One day I came and the door to his room was blocked by a bookcase. I could not help but look at it questioningly. He looked at me and said “ I got another bookcase since we are always bringing so many books to study. This way we will not need to have them laying around. What do you think?” He asked me with that sweet shy smile he has when he does something and wants to know if he did it right. I told him it was a good idea. “aren’t you going to enter that room anymore? We could use it as storage.” He looked at the bookcase and bit his lower lip. “ I confess I did not think about that. I suppose I can ask the carpenter to put some means to slide it to the side. Would that be fine?”. I agreed to it and left it at that. I thought that day would not come. I thought that it was an empty promise to ease me into the idea; but some days later he himself installed the devise that would move it. “ Just let me know when you do need to store something inside. I am a little ashamed but, it must be very dusty in there and …I did not want to tell you, but I saw some rats and killed one of them. I do not want you to get hurt.”

She sighs.- Most of the time I forgot the room was in there and I could see now the wisdom of placing that bookcase there and even more, the placing of the moving mechanism. You see…It gave off the idea that he was not hiding something… that I could go inside as I pleased…but in truth the effect was to forget to even think of going in there. And it worked most of the time…but not all of it. I still went inside and so did he, because I could see his tracks on the otherwise dusty floor. He kept the bathroom clean though and the times I went I always found flowers in there with him.

-During these past two years I convinced myself that he was good and I would go and talk to my Alfonse about all the good we were doing and how the war was going. I know it sounds …strange….bizarre even, but I always felt good after talking to him. It washed away the insecurity and I felt what I had done was the best option.

-Considering what you say about political turmoil and the war I think you took the right decision. Especially after fighting the dwarves. I do not think we could have made it without his plans and his bravery.

She nodded.- After what happened with Otr...You have to understand that we had been together for two years and what I feel for him is so strong. It was already strong but it grew so much more. Remember when he saved me?… tell me something. Was he always present and leading you? Did he take patrols during the night it took for you to get here?

I thought about it for a moment and I remember something.- During the day he was always leading the heroes, but at night he never took patrol duty. I supposed we did not think much about it because we knew how worried and stressed out he was. How did you know?

-I thought so. You see I…saw something, but I did not relate one thing to another until days ago; but I will get to that later. I remember the way he held me when he came to rescue me. His face when he entered the building and saw me tied up and about to be killed…How not to love him? To me it was impossible not to fall in love with him once again… but his face when he learned that Eitri wanted to take my soul out was…I have not seen him so angry since Hel. Yet it was different too.It was a cold anger, filled with hate I had never seen mare his ever warm eyes before. When we were finally alone he took me in his arms and he made love to me again as if it had been months without seeing me. I understood the feeling I almost had a fate worse than death …- She scoffs and laughs bitterly.- Worse than death…He does not want to lose me…I never told you that mission I took alone after I was kidnapped ended in a very scary conflict between Anna and Alfonse. That was the reason they had come to us that night. They were supposed to wait for us to return, but Alfonse would not stay.

She looked at me then.- We did not want to tell you guys about the conflict. I did not even know about it, but I saw Anna so tense when they arrived. I asked Sharena and she would only say that Alfonse was livid when he heard Anna had sent me alone on a mission. I was so confused because I was in no way alone with the heroes and well I was not an incompetent or reckless leader. I know very well what I can and can not do. So I asked her to tell me how Alfonse had convinced Anna of coming to assist us. She said that when Alfonse found out I was gone which was like a day later, because Anna was …not ready to tell him until I was home safe, he was very angry. Caeda, knowing Alfonse and Sharena’s relationship you will understand that for Alfonse to show anger in front of Sharena he must have been livid indeed.

I nodded my ascent.- Well Sharena tells she went to talk to Anna as well because she also thought it had not been a prudent idea after what I had gone through. As soon as they reached the office door however Alfonse dismissed the guards outside and they must have been scared of him because they hurried away. Alfonse then turned to her and asked her to do him a favor to which she said yes. He told her to go and ask which heroes I had taken with me and make a list. Zelgius whom was coming out of the office and had not agreed on my going by myself either,told him he would assist her on the task. Now knowing Zelgius I am sure he knew the reason Alfonse was there and he was making sure to keep Sharena away. Zelgius is a good reader of character…he knew just looking at him what kind of conversation was about to take place.

-Did you ever find out what happened?

-Anna would not talk. I have to tell you that they have known each other far longer that I, but their relationship even thought it is one of friendship has to be kept a little more formal and professional as she is the Commander. You know Alfonse had never tried to pull his title over her commands and she listens to him, and lets him decide a lot of things mostly because we all know he is right. Whatever he had told her, had shaken her up enough to keep her quiet. Sharena did not know what it was but after less than half an hour Alfonse and Anna were already making preparations for the “rescue mission”.

She looked to the window for a second. -I would never have found out anything if it wasn’t for…someone with good ears and good judgment who was passing by.This person heard part of the conversation because they had gone to talk to Anna about some personal issue I would have help them with, had I been there myself.

They told me they heard Anna’s voice telling him firmly to not forget she was the Commander and he was a subordinate; to which Alfonse answered…and he even quoted him on it. “ Anna. I will not take command from you as of now, but do not forget who you are talking to. You know what I am. I may want to be under your command, but I do not have to and you know it. You are my friend, and I do not like to do this, and you know that too. Anna…don’t ever send my sister and much less MY Summoner on this kinds of missions without asking me first.”. The person told me it was not their intention to listen to them, but they were so stunned by Alfonse’s words and threatening tone, they could not move away. They say he sounded cold and even his voice had changed. They heard Anna gasp. “ Now. I will take a group with me to assist them. It is up to you if you want them to think it was your idea. I do not want them to stop respecting you. You are our Commander after all.”

- I can’t even picture him saying that to Anna…well to be honest…I do not know what to expect now. - I said in a small but honest voice.

-That was one of the two reasons I made up my mind about confronting him. My second one…-She sighs.- I had to understand what had happened. I could not longer keep quiet about it so I went to his room and took some flowers for my Alfonse. I heard him come inside the room and I came out to meet him at the door to the parlour. His eyes when he saw me coming out of the room. He looked scared. I was about to take my pendant with me but I did not want to take it from his had if it had been his last comfort. I closed the door and walked towards him. He said nothing…just kept looking at the closed door over my head.

“ I want to know the truth. Who are you? who killed him? Was…was it you?” His eyes got even bigger if you can believe that. He looked at me and after looking at the anger in my voice he looked bewildered at me.

“ How can you go about telling me you love me and hide this from me? I gave you enough time for you to tell me and you never did.”.

He looked angry at me now. “ You mean to tell me you knew all along about this and you said nothing? You thought I had killed Alfonse and still fucked me every night? Did you fantasized I was him all along?”. He asked in my ears. His words were so cruel…but I knew he was right. “ Did you lie to me every time you told me you loved me? Or did you actually fell in love with your dear Alfonse’s killer?…Oh Summoner…- He says angrily but a ghost of a smirk showing on his lips.-…You have the wrong question. The question is not who I am…The question is what am I?.” He was looking at me sideways while he paced around me in circles like a stalking predator. “ Do you want to know what I am? What she did to me?” His voice changed suddenly and as tall as he was he seemed to grow taller still. He stopped and facing the door said.

“ That, Summoner! That was the price I had to pay to save my people… to save Sharena and to save you…And that is not all it took…Look at me Summoner. Look at me ! Your dear prince is gone! I am Lif…look at what she did to me…”There was anger in his cold words but also hurt.

He took my arm and made me look at him because to tell you the truth I was speechless and I could not move. Hel had killed Alfonse but what did it all mean?.I still did not know what he meant. I did not even register his hand using more force than necessary. As soon as I looked at him…his whole body changed…How to describe it…The eyes were the first thing to notice…they were ruby red and there was a light in them like hell fire with dark circles under them. His hair was ….just as dark as the corpse in the bathtub and … and just like it, the golden tips had faded silver…I looked down and was met with…half his face down was …he looked like glowing blue crystal. He had been wearing a simple shirt and trousers because it was our day off and as he took it off….I could see his bones inside his glowing body. It was all so strange…

” What?..” I started but he cut me off.

“ I am your Alfonse. This is the price I had to pay to get you all back.” He said it now and looked away. There was no anger in his voice anymore only sadness.

“ I did not tell you because I was afraid of you leaving me. I know I am a monster… but …I…all this time …you knew I died and never did anything…you did nothing and stayed with the person you thought had killed me?” He asked and even thought there was not trace of disgust in his voice, only hurt, I felt dirty.

I felt disgusted about what I had done. “ At first… I thought you had killed him…but then I thought back to the time we had spent together and all the memories we shared…and I could not believe you would have done something like that. I have been so confused all this time, because You feel like him but then his corpse was there and I thought… I was so sad, but I had to think about everyone the way Alfonse would have and not just about my feelings so at first I did it for the good of Askr. We all need you and…and by this time I loved you. I did not know what was going on, but I knew there was some explanation and I knew I loved you. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“ You loved me…when did you find out?”

“ About three months after the sleeping sickness.”

“Oh…so you did not suspect anything beforehand?”

“ I thought you changed because of what you had gone through. After Hell we all changed in a way but… it affected you more…or at least that is what Sharena and I thought. Then I remember my dream and what Freya said to me …that You were dead…then I suspected something was going on.”

“ I see…no wonder I kept running into those anti Loki wards all the time.” He actually laughed at that and his laugh… it sounded so different, so deep and humorless.

“What do you feel for me now? Now that you know I am a monster because of her?” He asked not looking at me. He was facing his room and as he did so. Suddenly he was enveloped by a dark miasma that transformed into an black and purple armor that covered most of his body and half his face, but left part of his chest and abdomen exposed so that you could see his bones. Even Hell did not look as intimidating as he did now.

- So…all this time…all the time Alfonse has been your Alfonse and he was dead?- What to say in a a situation like this? All of this tale was so unexpected. I sat there, with eyes watering at the thought of the anguish both of them had gone through because of Hel and because they were afraid.

She nodded looking down.- I told him that I felt love for him. That I had fallen in love with him time and time again. He looked disbelieving at me.

He gave a big sigh and said “It was all my fault for being a coward and not tell you first…” anger had evaporated and his yes looked sad. “ you need time to think about what you feel and if you feel that you can not stay with me…I will understand…but Summoner…I love you still and I can not promise you I will leave you…I can’t.” He said this and entered his room and closed the door behind him.

-After this I left the room. I genuinely fell asleep in the garden the first night. I was thinking about all the loose ends I had and how all was tied together. I knew I needed to talk to Anna and I did. She said…she knew but had promised not to say anything and she, like me, had thought it was the best for the kingdom. She gave me a piece of advise too. She said:

“Now that you know who he is….you may want to watch how friendly you are with the heroes if you decide to stay with him.” That was the one reason I was nervous the first few days you see; but really…Alfonse may be possessive and jealous but I knew he would not harm the heroes because of me. At least if he was sure I loved him… and I do… Gods I do…I loved him like I always have and now, I love him even more…Caeda I… I have not been avoiding him because I am afraid of him…I am ashamed of thinking the worst of the man I love and have known to have a good heart. I am ashamed for not telling him sooner and avoid this situation…I am so ashamed of my self for all the over thinking and bad judgement I took thinking of him. I don’t even know how to ask for his forgiveness. I know he should have told me but …given the situation he is in…I understand.

- Is he really that hideous?

-Hideous? Him? No…on the contrary…he… is so beautiful. The problem is that he thinks he looks like a monster.- I looked at her and tried to understand what she meant when she described it and think…put myself in that situation, imagine my beloved Marth suffering so and looking the way she describes Alfonse. I knew the love I feel for him would permit me to see beauty where others may not. I know I would love him non the less. Still there was something in her narrative I was worried about but I could not put my finger on.

-My dear friend I do not know what to say…all of this is so much to understand… I am so sorry you had to go through all of that in silence…I want to say that…I am happy you found your Alfonse and have a chance to be with him even after all of this… but…at the same time I am so sad that you two had to suffer so.

-He has suffered more than I and that is why I need to ask him to forgive me.

-I do want to ask you to tell me something. Why did you asked about his patrol during the march to rescue you?

-Oh…The night before your arrival…the place was crawling with troops. They were guarding the perimeter for Otr. I was being held in a room in a second floor for whenever they needed me. They wanted me to “rest” my power. I was not tied up because they were confident I could not escape and much less without the sacred weapon. When they left me there I looked out the window to see a lot of those men walking around the place.Later at night, I do not remember why I had the feeling but I went and looked out of the window and I think I saw something. There was a blur of light among the trees and at the time I thought it was fire flies, but -She gave a small laugh.- it was a silly idea because I was high up and that light could not have been an insect with that size. I also came to me that I did not see the men walking around the place anymore. The next day Otr seemed very nervous and wanted to go and get more troops but Eitri called him a fool and a coward. I remember she said something like “ Do you want to suffer their same fate?”. I thought she meant the fate of the heroes she had called and were but shells without a soul. Then when I was rescued I heard some of the heroes comment on how they thought there were less troops than there were before when Otr had taken me, and it had been easier than they had thought.

- I remember Marth said the troops had either deflected or had gone to join Fafnir in Askr.- Then the idea suddenly came to me.- Oh! You think he went out every night to find the best way and that was why he did not patrol and why it was so easy for us to find the place without being found by the enemy patrols. He was the one that disposed of them! He really is smart.- She gasped and looked at me.

-The pits were full of fallen people…but did Reginn not say no one goes into that forest?- I nodded.- So that is where the troops went…

She smiled fondly probably by the idea of Alfonse doing all that for her and I did not judged her for that. I am sure Marth would brave whatever he could to save me as well and that was…well very romantic.

-_______? What was the other reason you finally talked to him? - I asked remembering her words.

-It has been almost three months since I was kidnapped right? -I nodded- I am pregnant.- That was all she said. There was a small smile on her face but her eyes had a glint of sadness.- I am so ashamed Caeda. When I found out my first thought was “ This baby should have been ours…My Alfonse…” in fact that was the reason I had gone in there the day I confronted him. I was telling My Alfonse the news…now…I do not know what to do. I have no words to tell him I am pregnant without him thinking…that I… am just going back to him, because I want a father for my child. I feel like a stupid teenager afraid of rejection…I love him..and he probably hates me… I’m a horrible person.

This outburst surprised me. She was unsure of herself after what happened I supposed but it was a silly fear since I was sure Alfonse loved her and would get over this misunderstanding. -_______ my friend… you have nothing to fear. I am sure he loves you. I am also sure he will be very happy to know he is going to become a father. I have seen him move his tasks to be near you all the time and he sleeps near you every time you fall asleep somewhere. He always leaves before you wake up or when he hears someone coming. I know because I have seen him.

She sniffles and looks at me.- Really? He does that?

-Yes. In fact I was afraid he was following you to prevent you to ask for help…I suppose I also thought very badly of him but…given situation I am afraid I can not ask for forgiveness. I sent Marth to distract him so we could talk.

-Oh my dear Alfonse.- She thought for a minute and smiled.- I am so sorry I worried you. I am sure it looked very bad and well it was bad but…not in the way you thought.

-Thankfully so. As long as he loves you and protects you even from himself everything will be alright. I think you two need to talk more deeply about this, but if you need time. I want you to know you are welcome to stay as long as you need.

-Thank you Caeda. I do need to talk to him. I need to clear all things up and besides…I miss him. He also needs to know he is going to be a father.

With this she got up to leave. She thanked me again for listening to her and helping her clear her mind and appease her worries. She apologized for ruining my night and my towels. I told her where Marth had said he would take Alfonse. By this time they would be over their talk and as smart as my Marth was I am sure Alfonse would have left and was somewhere near, looking for her. The talk had gone on for far longer than expected after all.

I was not wrong, to think he would be out there looking for her. I looked out of the window and saw Marth and Alfonse standing under my balcony. Marth had a very strange face. He looked sadly at me and smiled. I told _____ they were outside and she thanked me again and left still holding the towel I had lent her. Marth turned to Alfonse when I motioned that my friend was going down and Alfonse nodded his assent. Marth left him then after taking Alfonse’s hand in his in a gesture of friendship.

Alfonse looked up at me and smiled as well but his eyes were focused on the door where he knew my friend would be coming from. I felt Marth enter the room just as I saw _____ approaching Alfonse.

Alfonse looked expectantly at her, and after a second the tension that seemed to have been possessing him washed away with a small smile from her. He seemed to give a sigh of relief and very slowly opened his arms. Tentatively as to give her time to think about it. ____ stepped into his embrace and he closed his arms around her. His eyes closed and his face was one that portrayed the Pain/happiness of someone who had almost lost a loved one and had regain them. He gave a tender kiss to her head then separated to lead her inside. I felt a smile on my face and turned to find Marth doing the same. We went inside and looking back noticed they both had gone inside the building as well.

Marth looked intensely at me with a knowing look. He took me in his arms and said.-Marry me Caeda. Marry me here. I do not want to wait.

Something had changed in him and in myself. I could feel tears rolling down my face as I answered that I would.

That night I learned love can last even after dead and theirs had not only endured but had grown stronger. I could not say I wanted the same for me. I would not wish for such a thing on anyone, but I knew I would love Marth that way and I knew Marth did too. I also knew death could take us any time and I did not want to wait to be by his side in every aspect.

Today I also had learned Alfonse was not human and was not only a very intelligent man, but also very powerful; more even than I had first thought of . He was dangerous but he was also smart and had a lot of self control and being a prince he had to be tactful. There was no other place for my friend to be safer than at his side. I was happy for her. She loved him and I was sure they would get over this and be happy together. Especially now that their love was given life.

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