Frelia's Finest


I'm Innes, Crown Prince of Frelia. I don't know who you are, and I'm sure I don't care, but this is the story of how I loved a woman and changed my mind.

Yes, I said I changed my mind. Stop looking at me like that.

The ineveitability of the thing came when my little sister Tana came swooping out of the sky on her pegasus into the small fortress I was defending with Gerik and Tethys, Eirika sitting on the back of Dancla - my sister's pegasus. Well, she didn't come literally out of the sky; I saw her as she came soaring through a mountain pass, land to pick up Eirika, etc., etc. I need to prune my story a bit. I was defending my position from a crowd of Carcinian dogs who decided they needed to kill me. I was trying to get a vital message to Jehanna.

So, I have an argument - she would call it a fight - with my sister. Eirika I must thank graciously, but after the battle, I'm consumed by the need to thank her, to repay her somehow. I could not stomach the thought of remaining in debt, and also she was a woman.

I offered to protect her, but by all rules of battle, I must stay behind her because I'm an archer and she's a swordfighter. My pride was hurt.

At the same time, she was very lovely, and I almost forgot my end of the bargain as I watched her fight. I was annoyed that she was still defending me, but I was also attracted to her grace and beauty together with her gentleness... although I think she was laughing at me whenever I talked about repaying her or about my pride.

But still, I gradually realized, there were times, times when she was not looking at me, when she looked so sad... not at all like the Eirika who had visited Tana every other month when they were younger. I wished, secretly, that I could make her happy again, but I figured it out. She was unhappy because of all the killing. Well, it's war. And if I suggested that she stay behind so as to be safe, in body and mind, she would lecture me about her duty and her heart.

We journeyed through Caer Pelyn, following the over-helpful child Ewan. I saved Eirika once or twice, once from falling and once from some gargoyles, picking them off with my powerful bow. In Hamill Canyon, a pegasus knight from Frelia came with news. Ephraim was being irresponsible with my army, as I had known he would. Well, Syrene was the commander-in-charge, and maybe she could temper his crazy, yet effective, strategies. And I found a friend in the swordmaster Joshua; I discovered an interest in coin-tossing and lost a lot of money before he confessed that he was cheating. No matter, I didn't mind. Josh was a good friend. He offered to pay me back, but I refused.

It was in Jehanna Hall that my feelings came to a head. I abruptly became conscious of what was going on when Eirika ran off to a side door with her knight Seth. I wondered if she was crazy, but then my eyes narrowed in suspicion. I suddenly realized I loved her, and I would have to hurry if I wanted to capture her heart. Then, I was busy plotting tactics for the indoor battle unfolding ahead of me. Tana, who had finally stopped fighting with me, flew at my side, protecting me from sword-users while I shot the magic users.

We fought through the palace, and somehow Eirika and I ended up alone in the throne room with a swordmaster of the enemy, who was armed with an annoying wind blade. Joshua couldn't stand fighting the man - his old teacher, apparently - and left. I killed the man and turned instantly to Eirika, pulling her into my arms. The time had come to tell her.

"Eirika, I must tell you, I quite love you."

She pushed me away, shocked beyond words. Her blue eyes were wide. "Prince Innes! ... This is no time for jokes..."

"This is not a joke. I'm quite serious, and just as surprised as you. Fighting at your side... I love you. I could not bear to see you in the arms of another." I held her so tightly she could not struggle.

"I - I'm sorry, Innes... I - I love someone else-" What!? Impossible! She was trembling feverishly, and her face was blushing crimson.

I tried one last time, turning on all the charm I could muster, bringing my head down so my lips were near hers. "But you could love me."

"No! Oh, I'm terribly sorry, Innes-" She had been physically weakening, and now she fainted into a dead weight.

I heard hooves and put her down, fanning her face with a hand as L'Arachel rode in. "Overheated," I grunted at her. The Princess of Rausten frowned, dismounted, and dashed water from her bottle on Eirika's face. Eirika came to, looking anxiously at me. I frowned and left in search of the Queen, the person whom we had actually come to find. As I strode through the corridors, I considered what she had just told me and came to one conclusion.

Her tactically insane decision was just to get some time alone with her lover. Seth.

D***ed paladin. But even my ego knew better than to try again. It was lost. And I was angry.

We found the Queen, but she died in Joshua's arms. Josh was the Prince - now the King - of Jehanna! Now that was a surprise. I congratulated him and gave him the letter from my father, and then the palace went up in flames.

In the battle that followed, I watched Eirika. Then I gave up.

Ephraim returned, with the van of his army, which included a bunch of Gradonians. Fortunately, they were the Gradonians on our side - honourable Deussel and the like. He brought the rest of the army as well, although they didn't catch up until later, when we were all discussing what to do next. The ridiculous story Ephraim and Eirika and L'Arachel spun about a continental dark plot seemed to be true even when prodded.

After that, I went to talk to Syrene. "Well, how did it go?"

"Very well, milord. Prince Ephraim is an excellent tactician, almost as good as your lordship. We suffered few casualties."

"Yes... do you think Ephraim is insane?" I asked teasingly.

"No, sir," she said reprovingly. "We found the Sacred Twins of Grado, and we are in the process of merging both supplies and troops."

"Good work, Syrene." I walked away to get some sleep.

We liberated Renais, and reopened a safe passage from Frelia to Jehanna. Not that we would use it, but it was good for normal people. Actually, judging from Ephraim and Syrene's reports, Grado wouldn't be bothering us anyway. We found the Sacred Stone of Renais and took it to use against the Demon King.

We began heading to Rausten to collect the last Sacred Stone. We came to Narube River, an ugly brown river near the border of Jehanna. We met Lyon, demented possessed Prince of Grado, a.k.a. the Demon King. The Demon King had somehow taken him over. I hate dark magic. The Frelian army was torn to ribbons, and Syrene was the only one who could keep her unit in order.

Eirika was grieving more than ever, since Lyon was a good friend of hers, and Ephraim was mightily distracted too. D*** her lovely innocent face and her angelic temper! I felt for her so - very - much. She was the most perfect woman in the world; she shouldn't have to go through this.

I shook my head. I was a prince, I told myself. I was a prince. That was none of my concern... but I couldn't let it go.

After that battle, I recieved something I had sent to my father for about a week ago. Mentally I calculated the Sacred Twins in our possession. Ephraim had the Lance of Renais, Eirika had the Sword, and they were now on horseback; we also had the Twins of Jehanna, with a sword for Josh, and Grado. Now we had the Twins of Frelia. A fine bow for me, and a lance that we gave to Tana. I also had an idea for a new tactic. I approached Syrene as she was currying her pegasus..

"Hey."

She came to attention. "Milord?"

"At ease. I wanted to talk to you about a new maneuver."

"Yes, sir?"

"Would Glindara be adverse to taking me as well as you next battle?"

Syrene thought for a while, stroking her pegasus's mane, then looked at me and nodded.. "I don't see why not, milord." Then she asked the question that always secretly annoyed me: "Why did you choose me, milord?"

I smirked. Hot blood flushed my neck under my collar. "You're the most experienced of the pegasus knights. And having Tana and I in the same place like that would be much too distracting. We would get zero fighing done."

She blushed slightly and looked down momentarily. "Then I'll see you then."

We came to Mount Neleras in Darkling Woods, following Lyon's path. The place was a mess - lava everywhere. Then I heard Ephraim yell something about Gorgon eggs and immediately made my way to Syrene's side.

She smiled at me. "You're punctual, milord. Need a hand?" She extended her hand to me.

"Thank you, no." I swung myself up behind her. Glindara snorted, not pleased with the extra weight. She took off and flew with the same energy as I usually saw in her, though.

Nidhogg, the Bow of Frelia, was a joy to use. I drew the string back to my ear and sent arrow after arrow zinging into gorgons and mogalls. Syrene swooped down low to stab at eggs herself, occasionally throwing off my aim.

"I'm sorry, my lord!" she cried after the first time.

"No problem," I grunted, catching hold of her left shoulder to steady myself. "Syrene, this is war. It's impractical to apologize after every bump. I'm a soldier here. Don't waste your breath."

"Ah... yes, sir." The bow began to sing again.

A dark magic spell appeared in front of us - Shadowshot, I believe it is called - and, having no choice, and no time to react, we flew into it. Painful. I put my arms around Syrene's waist and concentrated on holding us on together. She was hunched low over Glindara's neck. I gritted my teeth.

With one last tug, we were through and clear. I breathed deep for a few moments before releasing Syrene. "Are you all right?" I asked, my baritone voice deeper than usual.

"Yes, milord," she replied somewhat breathlessly. "I take it that you are unharmed."

"Yes, yes."

We flew low for a while, dodging a stone spell that could have possibly been fatal. When we soared a bit higher, gargoyles surrounded us with those annoying crude spears of their. I snarled and began to shoot them. Syrene lunged for one with her lance and I hastily grabbed her shoulder again. We fought in silence for a while, concentrating on taking out the enemy. I liked this aerial test of skill.

And then, instantly after they were all dead, we flew into another shadowshot. Darnit.

This one was worse. I wrapped both arms firmly around the pegasus knight and held on tightly to keep hold of my sanity. By the shifting muscles in her stomach, I knew she screamed. I, too, flung my head back - it had been pressed into her armoured shoulder - and screamed as every nerve in my body felt like it simultaneously burst into flame and froze solid. With no sense of direction, I didn't realize that the two of us had fallen off the pegasus until the dark cloud cleared. I had stopped screaming, thankfully for my dignity, but my throat was raw now.

"Milord?" gasped Syrene.

"Yes, I'm here." With much effort, I pulled her so I was underneath - and closer to the ground. "There, I'll protect you now."

"Milord!" She wriggled around until she was facing me. "I must protest - I-"

"Look, Syrene, I'm sturdier than you are. We might both survive this way, hm? So stop protesting." Holding her close to me felt nice.

Then we hit the ground. My vision went black momentarily and I felt my legs snap as they hit the rocks first. I felt my quiver crunch under my side and Syrene's face smacked into my shoulder. I swore, and then remembered that Syrene was a noblewoman. "Sorry 'bout that."

"Not at all, milord. I understand the emotions of soldiers."

Seth doesn't swear, I thought. Never. The words are just foreign to him. Blast.

Disregarding the pain lancing through my legs and side, I lay there, recovering the breath that had been knocked out of me, slowly draining tension, and holding Syrene. She lay on top of me, her arms around my neck, trembling with relief.

Finally, she pushed herself up, looking me in the face with grass green hair straggling out of her headband into her eyes. "Milord! We... you..."

"Both legs broken, but that's nothing. You all right?" I queried gruffly.

She almost smiled. "I am unharmed." She sat up, then jumped for her lance as mogalls came at us through a gap in the rocks surrounding us. I shoved myself up onto my elbows, then into a sitting position. Syrene screamed at me, but I ignored her and grabbed my bow and an unbroken arrow. I popped a mogall and fell back onto my elbows - the problem of sitting up, aiming, and drawing the bow took a lot of effort, and it was the recoil knocked me over.

"Sir, you really should not be doing that!" the pegasus commander lectured me as she stabbed the last one.

"Don't worry, I won't. There aren't any left," I grumbled.

"I'll go for a he- No, if I do, then you'll be stuck on your own, vulnerable..." she mumbled to herself, in full knight mode. I glared at her.

"Just go, already!"

"No." She knelt next to me and grabbed my arm.

I protested. "Syrene - what are you - this is undignified!"

She slung me over her shoulder; she was stronger than she looked. "I'm taking you with me, sir. And you're sitting in front of me, this time."

"No, I am not," I argued vehemently, but I knew this argument was lost. She boosted me up and mounted behind me, taking off to search for a healer.

We found L'Arachel first, blasting gorgon eggs into scrambled messes on the landscape. She chattered away, sensible but ear-piercing chatter. If I had to marry a princess, then my options were empty. Eirika was taken, and L'Arachel was unbearable for any great length of time. Tolerable, even amusing for short periods, but long sessions...

Then Ephraim told everyone that the monsters were all dead. Well, how could he know?

L'Arachel told me it was the dragon girl Myrrh who told him. That I could understand. Drat my legs getting broken and leaving me out of the fight for precious seconds.

So, we went to Rausten, where I learned that Eirika had foolishly handed over the Sacred Stone to the Demon King just because he had used Lyon's appearance to beg for it, saying he could heal himself with it... The Demon King is perilous. She knew that. Poor girl, she must feel awful, first because her friend is unhelpable, and secondly because the Sacred Stone is now destroyed.

In Rausten, I called all the Frelians to my chambers for a private war-meeting. We had a fireplace, which was nice. It was rather cold in Rausten.

"So," I began, "where are we now in terms of assets?"

"We have all the Sacred Twins but Rausten's, and I feel sure that Pontifex Mansel with lend them to us, or at least to Princess L'Arachel," Gilliam reported.

"We have a Sacred Stone that still lies safe," continued Father Moulder.

"We have enough ordinary weapons for the troops to last through about ten battles," Syrene finished.

"It won't come to that," I said, settling into my armchair and stretching out my long legs in front of me. "We're closing in now."

Tana spread her arms dramatically. "The end is near!" she declaimed. I frowned at her, but then I had to smile.

"True. Now, let's formulate some sort of strategy that can stand up to anything."

"Eh?" Father Moulder shifted in his chair. "What kind of strategy is that? It's impossible."

"Not entirely. We," I paused for emphasis, "are Frelia's finest. If we even just come up with some slap-dash haphazard plan, we'll still win, I believe. On the other hand, the Demon King, through Prince Lyon, is very dangerous. If we, the best, still cannot win with a well thought out plan and the Sacred Twins and all, then we are clearly doomed."

"And the Stone," put in Vanessa quietly.

"Yes, and that. My point is that... You." I stabbed a finger at Father Moulder, who flinched. "You used to only heal people. Now, in just the last battle, I saw you experimenting with Divine. That's pretty high level light magic."

"And you." The commanding finger swivelled laconically to point at Gilliam. "Is it just me, or is your lance getting even faster and fiercer?"

"It is, milord."

"You two, especially you, Tana, have improved dramatically from before the war." I jabbed two fingers at the young pegasus knights. "You're much quicker and stronger. You, too, Syrene, although you're so experienced already it's not as noticable as it is in Tana." My little sister glowed. I hoped she wouldn't start bouncing; she was dreadfully distracting when she did that.

"So. We have a triangle attack, with either lances or swords. Let's use swords and use that on Cyclops. We have light magic; Father, you can use that on anything, but try to use it on mogalls and such. Gilliam, you should attack as many bonewalkers as possible."

"What about the Demon King?" asked Vanessa.

"Leave that to the Sacred Stone and the Twin wielders. As I read it, Ephraim and Eirika are going to carry the Sacred Stone, again, and let's pray nothing happens this time." Although they said nothing, I had the feeling that everyone was silently chiding me for being so unkind to the twins of Renais. "Nothing else can harm him. When we get there, Tana and I will advance with Vidofnir and Nidhogg, and everyone else can find cover somewhere. You can even start going home, since there's nothing else you can do."

I paused for thought. "If we fail, the Demon King will kill everyone, anyway, no matter where you are. If sacred weapons are the only ones that can harm him, then resistance will be useless. They will be destroyed along with us, and then there will be no hope ever again..."

"But that's a worst-case scenario," chirped Tana confidently.

"I'm glad you're so optimistic," I mock-growled. "Bed, now. Get some rest."

I stood and went out into the hall and heard distant shouting and the clatter of hooves. "Cancel that, get your weapons and let's get down there. There's fighting going on." I grabbed my quiver from beside the door and ran.

A few remnants of the Grado army, under the command of some evil 'bishop' named Riev, were making a disturbance. We dealt with them easily, and went to check on the Sacred Stone. L'Arachel made a humourous comment that made me smirk.

Returning to my room, I went out on the balcony, needing no rest for now. I'd fall into a bed at around midnight.

As I gazed out at Rausten's gardens, overlaid in moonlight, I became aware that Syrene was standing at the other end of the balcony.

"Good evening," I called. She turned towards me, and then came to stand beside me.

"Prince Innes, it's rather late."

"I could hint at you, too, but I won't bother. I'm not tired."

"I'm sorry, my lord. We just fought a battle, that's all."

"A pathetic battle."

"Right." She laughed a little, then shivered, though it wasn't cold.

"What's the matter? Are you worried about something?"

"I... I'm worried about my sister - about Vanessa. You are right; she has improved greatly. But still... I worry. As an older sister, it is my duty..." I said nothing, but I did move closer to her. Syrene was usually very confident. For her to open up like this was bizarre, but I liked it. Respect I demanded, but confidence was cool too. "I suppose I give my imagination too free reign when I think about what could go wrong..."

"Syrene! Syrene, that's not like you." I was startled into speaking. She sniffed a bit. I couldn't see her face, but I guessed she was crying. "Syrene..."

I laid my hand on hers, but, struck by the inadequecy of the gesture, pulled her close to me. She felt limp.

"Syrene, this is not the time to give up yet." I could feel my sky-blue tunic getting wet. "I promise, I swear, I will protect us all. You, your sister, Father Moulder, Tana... I will protect you. I guess I was too morbid earlier, describing the end of the world and all that. I'm sorry."

She jerked straight and pulled away, smearing tears out of her eyes. "I apologize, my lord. I was wrong to do that... please forgive me."

"That's a little more like you. Still, don't kill yourself."

"I will go to bed now, sir. See you in the morning."

"Good night, Syrene."

I turned back to resting my arms on the balcony railing, but my mind was no longer on the otherworldly colour of midnight flowers.

Why was it that I was falling for Syrene? I couldn't think of any reasonable explanation - or excuse - for my recent preferatory behavior. She was pretty, beautiful, even... but was I acting like Eirika?

Yes. I was as bad as Eirika, improperly fraternizing with one of my knights. The most senior knight, in both our cases, the Commanders of our countries.

What on earth was wrong with me. What was wrong with my head? The more I tried to dismiss her from my mind... the very act of realizing I loved her made me simply obsess more over her. Blahg.

I went to bed early, exhausted by my contemplation.

We marched the next day to the temple place where the Demon King was supposed to be hiding out, waiting to try to resurrect himself. I don't even remember the name of the place. Not important.

We finally killed that bishop for good, and I rode again with Syrene. She acted as though nothing had happened between us the night before, but I remembered. Today there were no death-defying accidents, which pleased me. She might reject me altogether if I behaved too forward.

We killed Lyon for good as well, causing Eirika more grief, but she seemed more determined now. She had steeled herself to his loss the night before, I guessed. She kissed him. I thought Seth was the one she loved? I was confused.

Then the Demon King materialized. We dashed to the back of the temple to witness this once-in-a-millenium event, and then sucked his soul into the Sacred Stone where it ought to be.

Nidhogg began to sing. All the Sacred Twin users attacked. I was proud of Tana: she fought like an avenging angel. My little sister. She was a powerful knight now.

A spell curled its way around all of us, bursting into bright light. I doubled up to conserve my heart, which was pounding slowly and painfully. Each beat took years and throbbed with agony. His magic was bitterly painful, but we survived, thanks to that little girl - Great Dragon Myrrh, who interrupted it. Then I could keep shooting.

I hoped the others were keeping back; I couldn't spare any attention for them. I just had to kill this giant monstrosity as quickly as possible, and then I could discharge my promise.

Ephraim's lance and Eirika's sword, Sigmund and Seiglinde, stabbed the demon, and he died.

So, we defeated the Demon King. Hooray! I think.

We trooped back outside wearily, and everyone started kissing. That Renaitian cavelier Forde swooped up Vanessa into his arms, so she was safe. L'Arachel was caressing Rennac, who didn't seem at all displeased - for once. Eirika was in Seth's arms, and I shot her a glare, though my arm was reaching out to Syrene, who was somehow beside me.

Both my arms went around her and held her close to me. She gasped, pushing away from me - just like Eirika! If she rejected me now... I couldn't have that.

"Sir-! My lord-! -" But her face was joyful. Tears appeared in her eyes, but she was smiling at me like the sun.

"Call me Innes," I murmured, content, and kissed her.


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