[X] Take a moment to get the men out of the cold. It would cost you precious seconds, seconds that you need to use to watch and direct the flow of battle. You would be putting your friends at risk, and something could happen that you could stop. But while you might be able to save many out there, you can save two right here.
Steel clashes against steel just outside your window, but you're not looking down on the roaring battlefield. Instead, you pick up one of the men by the arm and gently carry him through the open door to the waiting barrels. He's shivering with the cold and you can barely see his breath against the almost arctic temperatures, but at least he's alive. You take him through the doors and gently set him down against the barrels. The second you know he's secure, you're heading back into the control room to get the other man. Like the last man, you carefully pick him up, throw him over your shoulder and carry him through the door. You set him up next to his friend. You make sure that they're close enough to share body heat and see your work pay off almost instantly. Their breathing starts to slow and their shivering, while not stopping completely, is starting to become unnoticeable. Smiling under your mask, you head back into the room and let out your own shivering breath as you rub your hands together.
Once the feeling returns to your fingers, you close the steel door. Lucky for you, there's a latch on the door that the men had forgotten to use. You slide the latch down, and the door locks shut as the steel comes together. You take your hand off the cold metal and wince as the frost bites into your skin. 'Thank the Outsider that Dunwall was never this cold', you think.
"AAHG!!"
Your head snaps around to the source of the scream. You sprint across the control room before you can even think of the dangers outside. But the scream takes priority over your personal safety. Because it was Chrom who was screaming.
You get to the edge of the control room and peer over the controls to look over the battlefield. The courtyard is littered with fallen, groaning soldiers, but no corpses and not a single Shephard from what you can see. Actually, that last observation is incorrect.
Chrom has his sword on the ground as he desperately fights to keep himself up, but the arrow in his knee was making that simple feat difficult. You scan the battlefield, and see an Archer atop one of the watchtowers.
You would have seen him if you had been paying attention.
Swallowing down the disappointment building in your chest, you brandish your crossbow and fire two bolts at the archer. The first hits his foot, causing him to lower his bow before he had the chance to attack someone else. The next hits him in the shoulder, stopping him from firing another shot. It might prove deadly if he isn't treated, but that thought isn't at the forefront of your mind at the moment.
What matters is Chrom's safety. Looking down, the other Shepherds have the same idea as Sumia, Vaike, Stahl and the librarian form a circle around him while Robin and Virion rush the commander. The second Robin is in range she opens fire with one huge ball of lightning after another, while Virion aims his arrows at any and all weak points in her armor.
The commander puts her shield up to protect herself, but the combination of magic and steel breaks through her guard so fast she shouldn't have bothered to defend in the first place. Her shield shatters like glass and throws her off balance. She regains her footing, but not fast enough to stop Robin from putting her sword next to her neck.
The commander looks surprised, but she smirks and bows her head in defeat.
"Surrender!" She orders "These people are who they say they are!"
The remaining soldiers of Farox immediately drop their weapons and bow their heads in defeat. This place is big on honor, it seems. Robin lets out a deep sigh before she looks to the sky, like she knew you were there all along. She waves, and you wave back.
The happy moment doesn't last however. Robin's eyes light up as she remembers Chrom. Her head snaps back to the prince, who's currently getting help from Lissa and Sumia. Robin takes a step forward, but stop when she remembers you. She points up to you and mouths 'Stay there.'
You wave a hand in acknowledgement as the amnesiac runs to Chrom. She and Sumia help Chrom to his feet and with the help of the commander and a few other soldiers, lead Chrom inside the fort. You want to help, but you have your orders, and considering what's happened in the last few days, you feel that disobeying orders is the last thing you should do right now. You do, however, bend them a little so you don't have to stay in the cold. You make your way out of the room, and hear one of the unconscious men in the barrels groan .
You eye the man, and then the barrel he's in. You have to wait here till someone gets you, and this room isn't exactly a huge improvement on the control room. You're shivering, and the men are probably on the verge of frostbite. Rubbing your hands together to keep the feeling in your fingers, you start working on making this waiting a little less uncomfortable.
***
It take you a bit, but after taking the men out of the barrels and using said containers for fuel, you and your unwilling companions were sat up next to a roaring fire atop the tower. Because of the smoke, you had to open the door to the outside to be able to breath fresh air. It allowed a little snow to float in, but the fire is warm and helps dull the aches and pains of the day. Glancing to the soldiers, you're delighted to see that they've regained their skin tone and they no longer shivering because of the cold. They'll be fine.
The sound of footsteps echos through the stone corridors of the tower. Soldiers were coming to pick you up. A part of you wants to shoot to your feet and run for cover so you aren't spotted. But you know they're only here because Robin told them you were here. So you take off your mask and wait.
A few seconds later a young captain finishes the long climb up the stairs.
"Corvo Attano?" he asks.
You nod and he continues, "Lady Robin requests your presence for the meeting with the Khan. Will you come with me?"
"I will," You say as you get to your feet, "So long as you get someone to take these men to a more comfortable place to rest."
He nods "Of course, take these men to the sickbay."
Two other soldiers rush past him ignoring you as they step around the fire to hoist the men over their shoulders. They stand at attention, waiting for something. The captain jerks his head down the stairs and you get the message. You start the trip down with the three Ferox soldiers behind you.
The climb down is infinitely less stressful than the climb up, but you make sure you're going fast enough so you don't delay the men carrying the unconscious soldiers. Once you get to the bottom of the stairs, the two head down the corridor while the captain wordlessly gestures in the other direction.
The walk down this hallway is just as lax as the walk down the stairs. Any soldiers that see you and the captain bow in respect to the higher ranking officer and allow the two of you to pass without problems. After a few turns, you find yourself in a huge throne room. It's almost identical to the throne room back in Dunwall: huge tapestries, open space for a party and a single throne. In the center of the open space, Lissa, Sumia and Robin were gathered around Chrom as they continue to work on his leg.
"The Khan will be with your shortly." The captain says.
You nod in acknowledgement and he leaves you with your fellow Shepherds. None of them have noticed you yet, their attention focused on healing and helping Chrom. Swallowing your fear, you step forward, "Are you alright?"
Lissa jumps and shouts in surprise. Similarly, Robin and Sumia flinch at your arrival. Chrom is the only one who doesn't react immediately, but the pain in his leg is probably what's keeping him from responding. He cracks an eye open and tries to smile at you, but his face contorts in pain once again.
Lissa's head snaps between you and Chrom. She purses her lips in thought, but decides that helping her brother is better than answering you at the moment.
"Chrom, sit down and don't move so I can heal you!" Lissa orders, voice uncharacteristically stern.
Grudgingly, the prince of Ylisse obeys his little sister and ends his efforts to stand. With the help of Sumia, he slowly sits down. Lissa carefully spreads his leg out, then she brings her staff out. She mutters something under her breath that you can't hear but a second later, her staff emits a warm glow and Chrom's pained expression softens.
Sumia sighs in relief and Robin gives her commander a playful smirk. The smirk only widens when she looks back at you "Glad you could make it."
"Well, a mission isn't done till you give the report to the commander, so I couldn't say no."
In any other situation, Robin might have laughed but her mood is ruined as her eyes go back to Chrom. You run to her side and kneel before Chrom. The prince chuckles at the act "Don't tell me… you're the reason the gates opened?"
You nod "I opened them on Robin's orders."
The prince glances up at Robin "You seriously told him to sneak into a fort? We're on a mission of diplomacy."
Robin waves the comment aside "Oh, no worries, it's not like anyone saw him."
You wince and Robin's smile fades "How many?"
"... Five." You admit.
Robin crosses her arms and gives you her best disappointed look.
"Five?"
"I knocked them all out." You say in your defense "They weren't going to raise any alarms."
"But they saw you?"
"They couldn't do anything once they did."
"But. They. Saw. You?"
"... Yes."
"Useless assassin, can't even sneak right." she says, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
You look up at her "Excuse me, who made whose victory possible?"
"Me." Robin says "I was the one who made you go into the fort, so all your successes are my successes."
"Then you share in my failures as well."
Robin looks at you flat faced "Can't you take a joke?"
"No."
That gets her to laugh, and to your surprise, Chrom, Lissa and Sumia join in.
"That's what I like to see! A good laugh after a well fought battle!"
The five of you slow your laughter to a stop as you turn and focus on the new voice. She is… well, you have to admit you were expecting someone bigger to be the Khan of a war hungry nation.
"The Khan I presume?" Robin asks.
The Faroxian nods "One of them, yes. I am the East Khan. My name is Flavia."
She looks down at Chrom "I apologize for the trouble at the gates, Prince Chrom. You and your men are welcome in Regna Ferox."
"Thank you, and I apologize, but you understand if I don't stand to speak with you."
Flavia shakes her head "Arrow to the knee, not a good way to go, but there are many worse."
"Is it true that bandits posing as Ylissians have been ransacking your borders?" Robin asks.
"Yes, damn those Plegian dogs!" Flavia shouts in anger.
"We found documents proving as much on the corpse of one of their captains. Plegia must see some benefit from causing tension between our kingdoms."
"Why fight your enemy yourself when you can make someone else do it for you?" Robin asks, "As a human, it sickens me. But as a tactician, it does make sense."
"Then that is all we need to come together to beat Plegia!" Chrom says "East Khan, will you help us?"
Flavia grimaces "As much as I would love putting those bastards in their place..."
You and Robin blink and share a look. A leader of a country swears.
"I cannot provide any troops for Ylisse's cause."
Your eyes shoot open, and you hear Robin swear under her breath. You feel the glow from Lissa's staff lessen as her concentration wavers.
"Why can't you?" Robin asks.
"I lack the authority."
"But aren't you the Khan?" You reason, "You should be able to do something, right?"
"I said I'm ONE of the Khans" Flavia says "In Ferox, the east and west Khans hold a tournament every few years. Whoever wins gains total sovereignty of the kingdom. And that means they have final say in whatever alliances Ferox has."
"So there's no way we can receive aid, is there." Chrom says, utterly defeated.
"Well not when you give up like that! Lucky for you, the tournament is in a few days at the capitol. And would you look at that, I'm in need of a champion." Flavia says.
"If one of you were to win in East Ferox's name and give me total rule, I will give you every soldier willing to fight. Which is probably all of us."
"But would your people allow us to fight for them?" Robin asks "It seem a little strange to allow us to fight."
"Nope!" Flavia laughs, "On the contrary, we Khan's don't fight. Instead, we both choose a champion and have them represent us in the tournament. Otherwise we'd have a lot less unity and a lot more dead Khan's. We don't involve kin for the same reason."
"So we're expendable?"
"Yes, if you want to be depressing." Flavia admits. "But either way, it's your choice."
"There is no choice!" Chrom says, raising his voice, "My people are desperate, we need all the help we can get. I will gladly fight in your stead!"
"I like your attitude, Prince, but you're in no condition to fight. I don't care if your healer is Naga herself, that leg of yours isn't going to be useful for a long while." Flavia says.
"But there isn't anyone more capable than me for something like this."
"If you were in your best condition, I would agree with you." Robin admits.
"Chrom," Lissa whispers "I know you want to keep your promise to Eym, but I can't heal your leg in time."
"I have faith. You're an incredible healer, you'll find a way."
"Not in time!"
Sumia puts a hand on Chrom's shoulder "Chrom, we all know you just want the best for our people, but your injury-."
Chrom throws Sumia's arm off in frustration "It doesn't matter how injured I am!" he shouts, "Ylisse needs Ferox's soldiers and I-."
"I can do it." You say.
Every head turns to look at you. The Shepherds' expressions were varied, but the single emotion that could describe them all was surprise. Flavia is the only one who had some degree of control of themselves. If anything, she looks excited. Robin's eyes widen to the size of dish plates, Chrom and Lissa's jaws are on the floor, and Sumia has a kind smile. Chrom shakes his head out of the confusion that seemed to render everyone else silent "Corvo," he starts "Do you know what you're saying?"
"This won't be the first time I've dueled on behalf of a kingdom." You say with the most confident smile you can manage.
Chrom tries to smile, but worry and fear take over as he looks at your hand. You feel your teeth grit in frustration. You've had it with the Outsider's meddling, with this... World Breaker. The power is... intoxicating. You don't remember the moment after you unleashed it, but when you had the power in your hands you felt like a god. It was like all your problems could be solved with a single flick of your wrist, and anyone who tried to get in your way would be destroyed. But, you weren't that man. Those you kill deserve to be killed. You would never stain your hands with the blood of the innocent. So there is no way in the Void that you're going to let this stop you from fulfilling your promise.
"Two days!"
Everyone blinks in surprise at your outburst "What?" Chrom asks.
You run a hand through your raven hair "I know." You admit "I know that I haven't been the most… open person in the world."
"And the understatement of the year goes to!" Robin all but yells.
You ignore her as best you can and focus solely on Chrom. You take a step forward, a gesture of pleading friendship. And while everyone else steps away, those two stood exactly where they were "I know you have a lot of questions for me. What my Mark is, who Anakis is," You glance at Robin, "Where I'm from."
Robin shifts where she stands, but she didn't even blink as you regarded her. You turn back to Chrom. "Chrom, I was nothing to you. I was just a strange guy in the middle of an open field with a strange girl."
"Hey!"
You hold up a finger to silence Robin "We'll talk about it later."
Robin purses her lips in a slight pout but she does keep her mouth shut.
"But even though I was a stranger, and not even an hour after meeting me, you asked me to join your Shepherds. Not a day later I'm attacked by a man bearing the same mask and powers and a similar fighting style. Anyone with half a sense for tactics would see that as more than a little bit suspicious."
Chrom looks away from you for a second to give Robin a wayward glance. Robin just nods, and he turns his attention back to you.
"But you?" You say pointing at him "You could have let a potential spy bleed out right there. But what did you do? You carried me back to your home, gave me treatment and defended me against an entire court of angry nobles."
Chrom's eyes widen "How did-?"
"Emmeryn told me."
Both Lissa and Chrom look to you in shock as you continue "So if you're willing to do all that for me, a man you only just met, I'm asking you. No, I begging you. To ignore the strange things that I've been involved in for another few days. I promise you, on the name of my former Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, I will give you victory and then I will tell you everything.."
The entire room goes silent, everyone from soldier to Khan taking in everything you said. You shut out everyone else and focus on Chrom, the one who had to make the choice. The prince of the nation ponders the thought for barely a second "Why?" he asks.
You remain utterly neutral in response of the question, there's no need to ask what, Chrom will explain when he feels he should speak again. So, you simply wait respectfully until Chrom continues "You're taking all these risks, willing to go any length to prove that you're on our side. If Frederick were here-."
"He'd tell you to stop doubting yourself and do what feels right." Lissa says.
"Then how do you feel about this, Lissa?" Chrom asks.
Instantly, Lissa shakes her head before gesturing at you with the wave of her hands "Corvo was willing to run into a burning building to get people out and he didn't bat an eye when Robin told him to solo an entire fort."
Her smile disappears "But… I won't lie. He still scares me a little."
Chrom nods, then turns his gaze to the others in the room "He was willing to help me upon our first meeting. And in return, he wanted nothing. Few men have such kindness." Sumia says.
Chrom looks around the room once again. Finally, he looks to you with most serious expression you've ever seen him wear.
"I don't mean to doubt your courage, you have my respect for just speaking up in the first place. But…" he pauses, searching for the right words "I've seen knights throw themselves into the fire for barely a reason, but you look ready to fight an army to make sure Ylisse gets what it needs. So before I say yes, I need to hear your reason."
Your break from his gaze to look at your blade. The same blade that saved an empire without taking an innocent life. The same blade that can't beat Anak, and the same blade that couldn't save her.
"I dishonored Jessamine in the most horrible way possible." You meet Chrom's gaze, "But I won't fail you the same way. I owe you a debt I cannot repay, I owe you my life. And I owe it to everyone to fix my mistakes."
Chrom nods, and turns to Flavia "Corvo Attano will fight on behalf of Ylisse."
The Khan shrugs "Fine by me."
Well that was quick.
"I'll have your Shepherds transferred to the capitol. Until it's time to leave, you all should rest up."
She points to you "And you, you have a big day ahead of you."
You nod and Flavia just smiles "Excellent. Have a good night, we have a long journey tomorrow, I want my future allies to look alive as they put their lives on the line!"
Before you can even question the Khan's enthusiasm, soldiers seem to appear out of the woodwork. They wordlessly help Chrom to his feet before deciding it would be faster to eliminate the middle man and just carry him out. Sumia and Lissa follow him and the soldiers out, but you and Robin just stand there watching. Flavia claps the two of you on the shoulder "I'll leave you two alone now."
And with that, she leaves you and Robin standing there, utterly dumbfounded of what just happened.
"I-I'll be in the library if you need me." She says.
Before you can respond, she's already walking away, leaving you alone in the throne room.
[] Follow Robin to the library.
[] Follow Chrom and company to the infirmary.
[] Try and find another Shepard.
-[]Who?
[] Just go straight to bed and rest for tomorrows duel.
AN: Guess whose back?!
