Chapter 9: Beginning of an end

                                    

                                          
Lucina's POV 
                          
Themis.  The first battle of the war.  Hundreds of casualties; all Ylissean.  It left our army in tatters.  We were spread thin, but we had no more soldiers.  I refused to make the same mistake as my grandfather: to have a draft.  Our only option was to ask for soldiers from Renga Ferox.
                          
When the news of Themis came, all I thought about was Brady and his family.  They were close friends of ours, so we were hurting.  It wasn't clear yet if any of them died or were captured.  
                          
A few days had past before I heard anymore news.  
                          
A knock echoed in my quiet room.  The door creaked open and a familiar face peeked through.  "Brady!"  I got up from my chair and hugged him.  A tear rolled my cheek.  I realized from our embrace with a smile.  "Oh, Brady! I was so worried."
                          
"Aw," Brady replied, "you were worried about little old me.  You know I'm tougher than that."  I laughed, and he did to.  It was like old times again, when there was no war and I wasn't dealing with Exalt duties.  Back when we were best friends because our aunt and mother were best friends.  
                          
"It's just... after I heard what happened in Themis, I was so worried.  I just happy to see your face."
                          
"Speaking of Themis, how bad is it, there?"
                          
"Hundreds of deaths.  It was practically burned to the ground.  We would have to rebuild the whole city.  A small team is working to identify bodies, but it's hard when you have the Plegian right next to you.  It seems like most of the people that died were apart of the army, which reduced our numbers."
                          
"Wow... that's terrible.  Any news about..."  Brady was interrupted by the door opening and Aelfaerd walking in solemnly.  
                          
"Hello, Aelfaerd.  What do you have to say?"  Aelfaerd closed the door and walked closer to us.  
                          
"I have a report from Themis," he started.  "It's about one person they identified.  Lady Maribelle is dead."  I looked at Brady; his face, filled with shock and heartbreak.  Then, he started sobbing.  I could hear him say underneath his breath, "I'll kill Lady A." 
                          
For the next week, he looked himself in the room he was using, which happened to be Morgan's room.  He didn't eat anything.  Ricken wasn't much better, but at least he ate his food.  
                          
I wanted to help Brady or at least talk to him, but I didn't know what to say.  My father died when I was young, so I don't remember how I felt then.  My mother left at the same time.  The only thing that I could relate to it was the leaving of Morgan and Alex for Plegia.  
                          
I sighed and knocked on Brady's door.  "Brady? It's me Lucina.  I wanted to know if you wanted to talk."  I wanted to question him about Lady A, and the day before I had received a letter about the commander of the Plegian army.  I wanted to read it with Brady.
                          
The door opened and a red-eyed Brady was revealed.  His hair and clothes were a mess.  He sniffled.  "What do you want, Lucina?  I don't want to talk."  His voice was hoarse.  
                          
"Like I said, I'm here to talk, for my benefit and yours.  May I come in?"  He hesitated but then stepped out of the way.  I walked in to Morgan's room.  Though the bed was not made and Brady's stuff was piled in a corner, Morgan's room was the same as he left it.  
                          
Brady sat down on the bed and I joined him.  We remained silent for what seemed like forever.  "Brady..." I broke the silence, "who is Lady A?  I heard you say her name."  He inhaled sharply and clenched his fist. 
                          
"She is the one that lead the Plegian army that day.  I didn't see her, though.  I was captured for a short while, and my captor told me about her.  She is apparently half Plegian and half Ylissean, but I don't know if that is true since he also withheld his own name as well as hers.  Meaning that they are hiding something.  Also, Lady A believes that is the one to bring Ylisse and Plegia together."