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Protecting a Sword	By : The13thStranger Category: +A through F > Fire Emblem (all) > Fire Emblem (all) Views: 4478 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I swear I own nothing of Fire Emblem, and make no money at all with it.

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When she awoke in the holy woman’s arms, she tried with all the mental fortitude she thought she had not to love Natasha.

She failed.

“Please don’t close off your soul again.” Ah. She was awake too.

“…I won’t.” She honestly didn’t think she could. She could still feel it, throbbing throughout her entire body. Cramming it back the way she had been seemed impossible.

…it was also seeming more and more worth the trouble by the minute.

Natasha hummed softly in amusement, hugging the swordswoman closer. And time passed, Marisa completely unsure of what to say. So she said the first thing that came to her mind, and continued from there.

“My father married a woman from Grado. She died when I was born.

“He taught me to fight. And he taught me that my soul was a bothersome thing that would attract attention. Something that would distract me. He taught me the discipline needed to overturn pain, and then taught me how to harden my mind and reign in my soul. He made me a sword, and honed me like a blade.

“One day, he said there was nothing else he could teach me. The only way I could better myself was to go out into the world and better myself against the warriors in it. Gerik tested me, and hired me even when he beat me. He told me my skill was rare. I met a woman, Tethys, and her little brother, Ewan, in the band, and they became my friends.

“One day, chief sent me out to work a contract, but there was a misunderstanding. I worked for Grado. As the fighting started, I was found by Ewan and told that my contract wasn’t valid. He was under protection of the Frelian army, so I joined the fight on their side.

“I caught sight of a foolish cleric being attacked by Baal, creatures I had only ever seen in story books. Her knight was injured. I came to her defense, and I died. I awoke, and was saved by the cleric I had helped, and I was cruel to her in ways I didn’t understand…”

“I forgive you.”

“…I am a sword. I was never meant to feel this way.”

“I will not let you live that way.”

“… Do I… belong to you now?”

“If you like. I will belong to you as well.” Marisa could live with that, she decided. Muddling through whatever she had become a part of would be strange, but it didn’t sound unpleasant. How quickly she discarded her father’s teachings…

“…Your life story was rather short.”

“Nothing worth mentioning happened that I didn’t say and that you didn’t already know.”

“Really? Nothing else?”

“…Your knight tried to draw his sword on me after I upset you.”

“Franz did?” Marisa filed that name away for later. If they were friends, she would probably be hearing from him often.

“He was stopped before he could by another man. His superior I guess. Then the attack started, and I was left for dead by the soldiers. The gargoyles came.”

“I felt your distress. Your soul was not entirely closed to me. I came to save you.”

“The other time, with the sleep staff…”

“Then too. I was angry. It was also the first time I had ever killed a man.” Gerik had mentioned it was different for the church. It probably meant more then.

“…We should get going. The army might move on soon.”

“Ah, yes.” Natasha agreed, finally releasing Marisa and getting out of bed. Marisa watched her as she checked her satchel, grabbed her staff…

She didn’t want to be a lovestruck twit, but the bond was making it hard.

“Are you coming? Your injuries should be healed.”

“They are. I’m coming.”

--

Walking back into camp was difficult. Natasha was quick to assure her friends that no, she was not in fact dead, or injured, she was better then fine really.

Gerik and dammit he told Tethys everything, they were both looking at the happy Natasha and back to her and making the obvious connections and dammit dammit dammit she would not acknowledge the ‘I told you so’ on Gerik’s face and the ‘I will extract all of the information I want from you’ on Tethys’ face and she would not act like a child that had gotten herself caught doing something embarrassing.

She ignored them. Very pointedly.

“Hey, Marisa! Is this your wife?” Oh goddess dammit Ewan.

“Ah! You must be Ewan.” Natasha said, smiling down at him.

“Oh, she told you about me?”

“She has not told me much. But she did not mention any other children she knew.”

“Well if she told you about me, then it’s only right I tell you all about her.” Tethys I am going to kill your brother-

“Oh, it will have to wait for later. The commanders must be informed we are still alive.”

“Ah. Well I’ll leave you to your honeymoon then.”

“I never said she was my wife-“

“You never said she wasn’t. Tethys’ll wanna know, so I should be going too. Nice one by the way! She’s real pretty!” Ewan ran off, laughing, while Marisa tried to kill him with her eyes. She failed. Why couldn’t she succeed at anything lately?

“Charming boy. Shall we?”

There had to be some way to silence him. Forever. Without killing him, that would make Gerik angry. Tethys too, she supposed.

“Marisa?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. Let’s go.” Some day soon, Ewan would pay.

--

It was when the sun had set, and camp had been set up again, that Marisa had noticed that she hadn’t been absent from Natasha’s side at all. Not even when Franz had popped up to see Natasha. He had spent his time obviously making an effort not to ask any questions as to why they were suddenly joined at the hip, and Marisa appreciated that. It was a quality that more people should have had.

He also seemed willing to forget the episode earlier that almost ended in a duel in the middle of camp. She appreciated that too. Franz was alright enough, she supposed.

It was after he left that Natasha had said she was going to bed.

“Ok.” Marisa had said, and had fallen into step behind her. Her own tent was set up, in it’s usual spot in relation to the normal camp formation, in entirely the other direction. Natasha knew this, but didn’t question anything until they were standing in front of the cleric’s own tent.

“…Would you like to come in?” Natasha invited. Marisa nodded, and followed her.

She undressed and put her sword by the bedroll for easy access in case of another attack. She didn’t want to ask if it was alright to sleep here. Whenever she tried, her vocal cords would seize up, her face would burn, and she’d feel like leaving and killing Ewan.

Natasha would say yes anyway, so asking was pointless.

She lay down and tried not to think about what she’d have to deal with in the morning because Tethys was probably finished planning her plan of attack by now, and Gerik would be watching so she couldn’t threaten anybody…

The blanket shifted as Natasha got into bed, and an arm pulled her in so the cleric was pressed up behind her.

“Relax.” Natasha said, and Marisa noticed that she had tensed up without noticing. And as she calmed her nerves, she wondered just what had her so rattled. This technically wasn’t her first time sharing her bed.

Although the only other time was when her soul exploded. Perhaps that time didn’t count since she wasn’t in the right state of mind.

So this was her first time sharing her bed, sort of, and she couldn’t figure out why she cared, Natasha was harmless and-

“Relax.” She repeated, gently, coaxing her to stop walling herself off. She hadn’t even realised she was trying to do it, how had Natasha even noticed? If she could feel that, what else could she-

“Marisa, are you quite alright?” The cleric asked, genuinely concerned.

“Y-yeah…”

“…Did you want to go back to your tent?”

“No.” No, she didn’t. She didn’t feel like running away, even if she was plagued with erratic thoughts and worrying about nothing at all.

“If you… want to take this more slowly, I do not mind.”

“… I want to be here.” Marisa said slowly, as if convincing herself. Perhaps she was.

“Good… I want you to be here too.”

“…Oh…” That was good, she supposed.

Marisa’s breathing slowed, and she found herself enjoying the embrace. Yes, she did want to be here.

…this wouldn’t be a half bad way to spend every night, actually.

“Goodnight.”

“Mm.” The swordswoman replied.

--

Marisa had barely left the tent the next morning, and she already had a good reason to declare the day ruined.

“Well good morning! Was your tent reassigned? I had no idea how Ewan knew you’d be here.” Yes. Yes she did. Damn Tethys and her games.

“Oh, hello. I do not believe we have met.”

“No, I don’t believe we have. I’m Tethys. Marisa’s best friend.” Not at this rate she wasn’t. She knew that look on her face. She dreaded it. She was circling her next meal like a vulture.

“My name is Natasha.”

“Splendid name it is. Tell me… is this your tent?”

“Yes.” Natasha had no idea what she was doing.

“I see.” And mysteriously, Tethys dropped the matter entirely. What was she planning...?

“…Marisa has mentioned you, actually. I believe you have a brother?”

“Ah, yes I do. He and Gerik are actually waiting in the mess hall. I came to get Marisa for breakfast. Would you join us?” No. No. Tethys and Ewan both would be intolerable.

“That would be lovely.” Oh, the Goddess should just take her now and be done with it.

--

“Oh hey, Gerik, that’s the woman I told you about!”

“Marisa’s ‘wife’ you said?”

“Yeah!”

“She is a pretty one.”

“I know, right? Hey! Tethys! Was I right?”

“You were, Ewan.” Tethys replied, sitting down next to her brother.

“Awesome. So, Natasha, you slept with Marisa last night?” Oh goddess, please, smite the foolish boy.

“Ewan! What kind of question is that to ask somebody from the church?”

“The same one you were asking me. I thought you wanted to know.”

“It’s a private matter Ewan.”

“That didn’t stop you from waltzing on over there to find out for yourself. You didn’t even bother checking Marisa’s tent.” This. This was good. As long as they were paying attention to each other, the meal could continue in peace, and she wouldn’t be forced to stab anybody at the table.

“That was different.”

“How?”

“I was tactful. I didn’t ju-“

“You didn’t just run over and borderline invade their privacy, just to finally push Marisa’s buttons and get her riled up now that you’ve figured out how.”

“…You’ll be grounded if you keep this up Ewan.”

“So!” He said, switching targets without missing a freaking beat. “Natasha! Just how did you get married anyway? Did one of the other priests running around do it?”

“Er, no… We’re bonded.” No, please Natasha, don’t fan the flames.

“Ooooh, so it’s like a deep and pure love beyond the sun and all of the stars then?”

“Um…”

“Hey, does that mean that last night you tied Marisa up and lit some can-“

“Ewan.” Tethys interrupted, with a dangerously arched eyebrow, “…have you been reading my books?”

“Of course I did. It was research material! You said it was important to know! How could I not try to expand my mind in an area I knew nothing about?”

“It’s important for adults. I didn’t think I’d have to make that clear.”

“Well it won’t be very long until I’m an adult. And my teacher says that knowledge is power, so I should learn now in case something unexpected pops up later.”

“Ewan.”

“And you said you were going to try and lend those books out to the newlyweds here, so I figured I should try and learn while I could!”

“You’re grounded.”

“From what? We’re a roaming army camp! There’s nothing here!”

“Then you’re grounded from going anywhere without me. I’ll make sure nothing unexpected happens.”

“Good morning Sister Natasha.” Oh, that knight had arrived.

“Good morning Franz.”

“Oh, hey, you’re a friend of Natasha?” Ewan shut up-

“Yes. And you are?”

“Ewan. Come on, have a seat! Since these two are married, we’re probably the closest thing to in-laws around. We should get to know each other.” No, that was the last thing that needed to happen-

“Oh, Natasha, I never did ask you how you met Marisa.” Franz seemed to be more then a little shocked that a cleric of the church had gotten married to somebody she had known for less then a week, and had sat down without saying anything as he tried to process the new information.

“Ah, it was… five days ago? Marisa had saved me and Franz from three Baal, and sustained heavy injuries against an elder. I had bonded myself to her in order to save her life.”

“Oh, that’s so romantic… Marisa, you should’ve told me about your ladyfriend sooner!”

“And then you got married after that? Geeze, Marisa must really like you, she’s never shown interest in like, anyone. Ever.”

“She must.” Tethys agreed, goddess damn her. “In fact, I’ve known her for years now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her show as much emotion as she is now.” Shut up shut up shut up-

“Really?” Natasha asked, glancing at a rapidly reddening Marisa. “I hadn’t known.”

“Well, no wonder she married you! Good goddess, it must have been love at first sight… Oh, look at how red she’s turning! Marisa, since when do you blush?” Damn her for making fun of something she didn’t understand, damn Ewan for starting the whole mess in the first place, damn the bond for forcing her to feel this way-

“Marisa?” Natasha asked as the attention fell of them momentarily while Ewan started telling a story to Franz.

“What.” Marisa snapped without meaning to, trying to stop and cover her emotions so they wouldn’t-

“Please do not close your soul to me.” Dammit!

“Sorry.” Marisa replied. When had she started? She didn’t even realise she was doing it, did it hurt Natasha at all? Is that why she noticed? Gerik said cutting it off would leave her cold, what did that mean?

“Marisa, calm down…” Natasha’s hand lightly pressed against the small of her back, trying to reassure her, and Marisa shivered as her soul jumped at the contact unexpectedly.

“Oh, Natasha, I actually did want to show a few books to yo-“ Oh hell no.

“Are you finished eating?” Marisa asked as she stood up.

“Oh, yes, but-“

“We should go.” And she proceeded to drag the cleric off, trying not to manhandle her in the process.

“Oh, it was nice meeting you Natasha!” Tethys took the spectacle in stride, as if she was expecting the whole thing. “We should talk again soon!”

--

“Marisa, what has gotten into you?”

“Nothing.” Damn it all, she probably embarrassed Natasha back there, and god knew what Ewan was saying about their sudden departure, and then Tethys was gonna throw those books of hers at the cleric when she wasn’t looking and-

“Marisa, your soul-“

“Dammit. I’m not trying to-“

“Calm down Marisa-“

“I’m sorry. I am. I’m not doing it on purpose, I swear-“

“Come on.” Natasha said, taking Marisa by the hand and leading her towards what she guessed was the cleric’s tent.

She was ushered inside, and both fell to their knees on the bedroll as Natasha grasped her shoulders.

“Marisa, are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“You are lying.” Damn the bond, it was probably letting the cleric know everything she was trying to hide, how badly she was failing at-

“Please keep your sou-“

“Argh!” Natasha eyes widened in surprise at what was probably the loudest noise Marisa had ever made in her entire life. The swordswoman took a few slow breaths...

“I’m… I’m sorry, I really am. Is it bad? Am I hurting you?”

“No, you are not, but you shove me out when you try to close yourself off.”

“S-shove you out? What do you mean? What are you doing?”

“Just… just calm down Marisa. Please. You trust me?” She honestly didn’t know. The bond yelled yes, but it forced her to feel what it wanted and-

“I won’t hurt you Marisa. You know I won’t.” She did, but it was why she knew that she was having problems with.

“Now calm down. I’m the only one here. Don’t struggle with the bond, and let me help you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I am not angry at you. You are only now dealing with your soul after locking it away for so many years. Silencing it is a habit that you are learning to break. I do not expect it to happen overnight. Breathe.” She did, slowly and steadily as she could, trying to overcome the anxiety and frustration…

“…Will you let me in?” Let her in? Where?

“What do you mean…?”

“I am trying to feel you, but you are having trouble letting me in. You need to relax your guard.”

“Like… like this?”

“Yes… now relax…” Marisa kept her breathing even, and tried to keep her soul open. It was going fine until she felt something alien try to slip its way inside. On a reflex, she immediately threw her walls up again. She fell backwards, out of Natasha’s hands, clutching her chest, alarmed as she violently snapped back to reality.

“What the hell was that?”

“It was me Marisa. You must stop shoving me out like this…”

“Oh… dammit, sorry…” And as Marisa tried to open herself up again, Natasha sighed.

“Should we try something else?”

“Like what?”

“You should try to feel me.” It seemed extremely personal, what she said. Marisa felt like she had just been asked to strip the cleric naked.

“That’d… be ok?”

“You have always been welcome.” Natasha replied smiling. “Feel the bond. It should come naturally.”

She was right. It took some probing, but it didn’t take long for her to feel something that hadn’t been there before the bond. A drain, if she had to think of a word to describe it. And a faucet. Something that gave and took at the same time.

Tentatively, she explored the oddity. It wasn’t unlike dipping a hand into water, though it was somehow flowing in two directions. Hot and cold blended and mingled in a way she had never imagined.

“There we go … a little farther now…” Dimly, she was aware the healer had gathered Marisa into her arms, and was now holding her as she familiarised herself with the bond in a way she hadn’t known was possible.

And then, unexpectedly, she emerged.

“This is me, Marisa. Feel me. It is all for you…”

It felt as if they were back in that abandoned fort, on that bed. Marisa couldn’t recall ever feeling… secure like this. Before that incident, she hadn’t even known the feeling had existed, and now it mystified her.

She involuntarily made herself at home, nestling into the warm aura and feeling it envelop her like Natasha was embracing her now. And she could feel her soul being visited again as the cleric softly moved past the defences that were no longer there.

Marisa tried to embrace her in the same way, and must have been doing it right as she heard Natasha’s happy sigh. She slowly lowered them both to lie on the bedroll, pulling the swordswoman on top of her. It was almost as if she were being cradled…

“The wounded from the attack yesterday are still not ready to move. We will not be marching today, so we have all the time we need.” Natasha said idly.

“…oh…” Marisa replied, nuzzling her head into the crook of Natasha’s neck.

“Thank you for letting me in.”

“No problem…” She muttered, starting to feel the tug of sleep.

‘I love you’, might have barely been heard, but she was too far gone by that point to know for sure.

It would be the first afternoon nap that Marisa had ever taken, even if it was still technically morning. But then, there were a lot of firsts happening lately, so it probably wasn’t that unusual in the end.
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Protecting a Sword