Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn - 1-2

The Dawn Brigade was walking though an old roadway, so they had fewer chances to be spotted. For Edward, that meant a narrow road of dirt with lots of mosquito. But he knew that if he complained that to Leonardo, the only thing he would receive was a bad look and some grumblings of how annoying he was.

“Just a quick half-mark, and we'll be in Kisca.” Nolan was leading the group “I'd like to stock up there, but...”

“Begnion will be on the lookout for us.” Sothe completed “Let's steer clear of towns for now, unless we want more trouble.”

This time, Edward couldn’t keep quiet.

“Don't tell me... This means another night sleeping on the cold ground with nothing but bugs to keep us warm!”

As he predicted, Leonardo looked to him as he was a spoiled child, but the swordsman ignored him.

“Oh, Edward, it's not that bad! The forest is so beautiful and serene. I'd almost rather be out here. Right, Yune?” As Micaiah said that, the red and orange bird cheeped.

“Anyway, we’d have to pass though the city, so let’s stop here and wait until is darker, so we’ll have more chances of escaping without anyone notice.” Nolan analyzed the situation

“If we get closer of Kisca someone can see us.”

“I’ll go to Kisca to gather information.” Sothe was always gathering information “Alone I won’t have many chances of getting spotted. I’ll see also if I manage to get some food. Our stock is next to the end.”

Now Edward was getting motivated. Food was always his favorite subject.

“You all just stay here.” Sothe continued “It’s better to not risk.”

Saying that, he gave a glance to Micaiah and leaved though the road.

Moments later, the Dawn Brigade had installed though the trees, a little far from the road. They also had covered their tracks, although they let some signs for Sothe, so he could find them.

Nolan was skinning a small rabbit that Leonardo hunted, while the archer was making more arrows. Micaiah was sleeping, since she was still tired from saving Nico using the Sacrifice. As for Edward, he was seated on a rock, doing nothing and thinking how he could be useful.

“Hey, I’ll make some rounds there.” Edward stood up, deciding to make something “I’ll make sure no one will see me, don’t worry.” He added when saw that Leonardo was about to contest.

The blond boy sighted.

“Just be careful then. I don’t want to go rescue you.”

“Hey, don’t worry. I’m not a child, you know?”

The swordsman looked to Nolan, who conceded with his head, with a smile at his lips. Micaiah was still sleeping, and Edward thought that was better to leave her resting. He picked up his sword and put it in his belt. He also took a canteen, just in case something happened. Taking a last look at their camp, he leaved.

The forest was very calm, and Edward thought that the chances of someone appear there was pretty small. Still, he hated to feel useless, especially when everyone else was doing something. He wanted to train, but Nolan said that it wasn’t a good idea, as it would make so much noise, even with wooden swords.

Ended his small round, Edward stopped at a clearing and sat at a branch. He decided to not go back to the camp, as it had a few hours to the nightfall, but to stay there and think about their group.

The Dawn Brigade was not just a group, but a family for everyone. He remembered the day he found Micaiah. When the grandmother who took care of him had died protecting Edward from Begnion soldiers, he found himself lonely, only a child. He cried for three days in an alley at Nevassa, until the silver-haired girl found him. He remembered when a few weeks later Nolan joined the group after hearing rumors of the Silver-Haired Maiden. Two months later, Sothe reencountered with Micaiah, which made the girl much happier.

Then, a year later, they found Leonardo. Edward remembered when that golden-haired boy fainted in front of their door, all wounded and dirty. Micaiah healed and cleaned him, and when he woke up, he tried to escape, thinking he was captured by Begnion soldiers. Even when Micaiah explained everything, he kept silent and trusting no one, but still he kept close to the Brigade. Then, one day, Edward saved him from an arrow, shielding him with his own body. He woke up at their hiding, with Leonardo sleeping beside his bed. Micaiah told him that the boy had carried him to their home alone, and spent all the time next to him, without eating or sleeping.

Then he woke up, looked at Edward, smiled, relieved, and said “Thank you”. That was the first time he heard his voice. Since then, Leonardo always trained with a bow, saying that he would protect everyone from the archers by being one.

Although they’ve been together for a long time, Edward noticed that Leonardo never told about his time before the Dawn Brigade. Every time he asked, the blonde guy answered “It’s past now. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

He was still thinking about his best friend when he noticed something was wrong.

Edward weren’t the best swordsman in Daein. He was still far from that. Still, he wasn’t a bad one, and he had good instincts. And that same instincts were telling his that someone was watching him. He didn’t knew who was, neither if it wanted to harm him. Nor even how many was. He looked around, trying to appear relaxed. Then he saw a movement.

Fast as he was, he jumped into the person, unsheathing his sword. He stopped it at the neck of the person, without hurting him.

Not him. Her.

The girl had a short black hair, and dark brown eyes. She had a small stature, a staff in her hand, and was surprised, but not scared. Three more silhouettes appeared at the forest and revealed to be a black haired woman, a small girl with light-purple hair and a boy with a straight dark green hair and olive skin. All of them used long capes, as they tried to hide themselves. Edward didn’t thought they were dangerous, but he sent a signal to Micaiah anyway.

“Who are you?” Edward was tense, despite his analysis “What do you want? And how did you got here?”

“Calm down darling, one question at a time” The black-haired woman spoke “Let’s talk as civilized people, okay? How about you sheath your sword, hm?”

As Edward didn’t moved, the woman sighted.

“All right. Let’s introduce ourselves, then.” She showed their companions as she spoke “My name is Aimee, and I am a traveling merchant, as that girl there, Ilyana. The little girl that you almost killed there is Laura, a healer from whom we are in debt. The boy here didn’t spoke almost anything since we escaped.”

“Escaped?” Edward frowned “Escaped from where?”

“From a Begnion prison, of course! We were at our merchant caravan selling our products when the soldiers got us. Luckily they let the others go. Now we are looking for them.”

“You escaped from a Begnion prison?!” Edward was surprised “But… How?”

“Ah, yes, I forgot to introduce someone…”

Edward felt a sharp edge at his back. He cursed from being distracted by that woman and tried to not move, when a voice spoke at his back.

“Put down your sword and do not hurt her or else I’ll make you regret it.”

“Aran!” Laura spoke “Don’t threat him! He’s not a bad person! I can feel it…”

“A bad person or not, Laura, he’s with a sword at your neck! I’ll not allow it. Now… Put. Down. Your. Weapon.”

And that was the exact time when Micaiah, Nolan and Leonardo arrived at the clearing. Leonardo looked at Edward’s situation and prepared an arrow in a second. Nolan too, was prepared, but Micaiah felt the situation ad spoke.

“Nolan! Leonardo! Put down your weapons! They’re not bad persons. Edward, you too, or else the man who’s behind you will keep his promise.”

Edward had no idea if Micaiah listened to their conversation, but sheathed his sword anyway. Instantly, the pressure at his back reduced, and he could finally move.

“Well, well, finally a civilized person who can control the situation!” Aimee spoke “I did my best, darling, but I guess I’m not as good as you are. Come on people, let’s introduce ourselves!”

They observed as the merchant spoke with the girl, almost all tenses and ready to engage in battle at any time. When the black-haired woman gave a signal that it was all right, they relaxed. Then, Edward finally could take a look at the man who stood behind him. He was tall, and wearied Begnion soldier armor. He had a light green hair cut at a military style. No matter how the swordsman looked, he was a soldier from Begnion.

Having his opinion settled, he went to Micaiah’s side.

“Micaiah, are you sure it’s all right to trust them? The man there is a Begnion soldier, you know.” Edward whispered.

“Don’t worry Edward.” The girl whispered back “He was a Begnion soldier, not anymore. He’s a good person, don’t worry.”

Edward grumbled something about how he almost killed him and stood at the back of the group. Despite what Micaiah said, he decided to keep his guard on.

Leonardo went next to him and the he told his thoughts to the archer.

“Don’t worry too much Edward. If Micaiah said he was a nice guy, then he is. As you usually tell, it’s as simple as that.”

“I know, but…”

“Look, he was protecting the girl. Maybe she’s someone special to him.” He made a pause “Like Micaiah is to Sothe.”

“Or as you were to that girl at the market?” Edward smiled.

“Oh, that girl? No, she was only grateful because I saved her.”

“You sure?” His smile grew bigger.

The archer was serious.

“Yes, Edward, I’m sure. Because she told me that she was madly in love with my handsome swordsman friend.”

With that, Edward kept quiet, while his friend suddenly decided to look at the surrounding. The swordsman thought that maybe he was making fun of him, but with Leonardo, he was never sure. As precaution, he decided to keep quiet.

He observed as Micaiah spoke with everyone, as she leaded them back to their rest place. She was a true leader, there was no doubt. The people trusted her instinctually, and they followed their orders naturally. Edward wondered if existed anyone with a leadership like Micaiah’s.

When they arrived at the spot they would wait for nightfall, Sothe was already there. When he saw Micaiah he relaxed, getting tense again when he saw the soldier.

“Micaiah, what are you doing?! Who are they?!”

“Calm now, Sothe. They’re friends. Edward found them.” She said. “I trust them.”

Sothe looked preoccupied, but said nothing. Though, he went to the girl’s side, as she introduced everyone.

“Look Sothe, she’s Laura, and that’s Aran. The boy there is Kurth, and the girls there…”
“Are Aimee and Ilyana.” Sothe completed. “Hello.”

“Well, hello! I remember you. You've certainly grown up to be easy on the eyes! I believe I'm a little smitten.” Aimee smiled.

Micaiah got surprised.

“You two know each other?”

“Somewhat.” Sothe shrugged. “We crossed paths during the war. You’re looking for your merchant caravan?”

“Yes, we got separated from them. If you don’t mind, we’ll stick with you until we find them, all right?”

Sothe sighed.

“I guess we don’t have choice. I’m still on debt of you.” He looked at the dusk “We’ll spend the night here, then.” He looked at the rabbit Leonardo hunted. “And good thing I got more food.”