The Hurt Reality (Fire Emblem: Awakening Story)

This Is The Betrayal

Maelys's POV.

The fortress in which Validar was located was a high defensive keep fortified to keep intruders out.

That's exactly what I felt like when we marched up the stairs and followed the soldier in to the room we would be meeting him in. I knew it was wise for me to plan an escape route, the way the passing guards glowered at Chrom and I as we walked was sign enough that they would attack within seconds if commanded.

Not to mention the countless hidden assassins hidden in conpicious places. I saw them out of the corner of my eye, behind well placed furniture and decor. They were prepared for a struggle, this did not bode well for us.

"Chrom," I whisper, he stands right next to me, just as I advised him to. He understands the warning tone in my voice.

"Trouble..?"

I nod, cutting my eyes to the shadows in the room. I calculated at least 5 different men armed and ready for a fight in each of the darker areas, not counting the ones waiting out in the hallways of the castle.

"Then we have our answer." Chrom replies, and I take a sigh, but cut it halfway as the man who claims to be my father strides in with his second in command.

"Well met, milord." The woman, Aversa says too kindly. There's a fishy emotion written all over her face, she's done well to hide it, I was sure that the other's could not see it, but I was just wired to notice every possible thing I could.

Validar speaks next in greeting, "Welcome, prince Chrom!" his smile is eerie.

I hope my doppelganger does not make an appearance today. I could tell I would have enough trouble with these two. I needed to help Chrom get the last gemstone and out of here alive so the apocalyptic future would not come into fruition.

"I was told you had something you wished to give me," Chrom gets straight to the point, the twisted look that graces Validar's face tells me this was not going over smoothly. I almost elbow the exalt in the ribs, to remind him that we have to choose our words carefully but the Plegian ruler is quick to speak.

"My my! No time for courtesy, milord? Such impatience... Do you really want it that badly? This concerns me." He takes a pause, and I grow even more wary of the situation. "The Gemstones and the Fire Emblem can be...treacherous artifacts. A fact Plegia and the Grimleal sadly know all too well.." 

To my surprise, Lucina starts to speak instead of letting us handle it. Chrom let her come along, as this was as much her battle as his. I insisted that Morgan stay behind and ready the troops at my signal, if it was so needed. "Sadly? You speak ill of when the first exalt used them against the fell dragon?"

"Yes, intruder!"

Uh oh..

Lucina repeats the word as a question, and I quickly grasp the tome inside of my pocket, stroking it to calm myself down. Don't make the first move, I say to myself. Just see if maybe it will play down..

"You are not supposed to be here! You must be destroyed!" The crazed man shouts, pointing at the princess. Her hand goes to her sword, and Chrom intervenes as Exalt and father. "You wouldn't dare," he grounds out, protectively standing in front of his daughter.

The ruler goes in a frenzy, "Give me the Fire Emblem! Give it to me!"

"You mad scoundrel!" Lucina shouts, "This is a declaration of war!"

"I will repeat this once more, give me the Emblem, now!"

I share an disappointed glance with Chrom before he replies, ever so calmly. "Never."