[October 17] [Fire Emblem] A Tragic Comedy (late)

[runiclore]

A Tragic Comedy
Author: Amber Michelle
Day/Theme: October 17 - listening to fear
Series: Fire Emblem 10
Character/Pairing: Micaiah
Rating: K
Words: 567

Notes: it's quick. I need to write things that aren't Begnion-centric - if I can think of anything else, that is. Inspired by that fanmix that was going around, specifically "The Howling."



.............................................


Trapped within the stone walls of Fort Nox, the rooms packed with armor, weapons, and soldiers, Micaiah couldn't find a moment of silence. She was given the commander's room at the top of the central tower, and Tauroneo kept vigil at the bottom of the staircase, calm as the snow drifting onto the rooftops through slivers of moonlight. He was the only one; even Sothe seethed with unease, unable to sit still when he tried and failed to forget who he was fighting and why. We could leave Daein, he said earlier. It isn't too late. If you tell the commander what's going on, he'll--

What - Commander Ike would do what? Neutralize the blood pact by the power of his presence at their dining table? Snap his fingers and wipe the senate from the face of the earth? They all wanted to, and yet even Begnion's empress ran from her own subordinates, their knives aimed at her back.

Micaiah too would kill the little empress if she had to. What was one life compared to thousands of innocent Daein citizens? What made this empress more valuable than they? What made her stomach drop when she saw the red mantle and violet hair clinging to her knight on that pegasus, what was it that chilled Micaiah's bones and stayed her hand when she could have ended this at the ravine with one well-aimed spell?

Why are we doing this? Why do we care about those Begnion dogs--

My brother-- has anyone seen my brother? I lost him at the ravine--

The Maiden won't betray us. She knows what she's doing--

We're running out of supplies--

They were running out of money, too. The harvest was bad, and winter was breathing down their necks. The stones were iced over every morning, and the snow never stopped, only melted by virtue of so many bodies in one place. Begion promised supplies, and yet they had nothing.

What is the king thinking?

Why won't she come down? Where is she--?

She wouldn't tell us to fight if there were no hope of victory--

The tower wasn't high enough to escape their voices. Micaiah curled under the covers of her cot, hugging her knees to her chest. Her room was dark, the window open. Torchlight seeped in beneath the door, and she watched snowflakes drift in and flutter to the floor like feathers, gathering beneath the sill, dusting her cloak where it was draped over the desk chair. They had yet to spot the enemy, but she saw their shapes in snow flurries every morning, and in the dark shapes of trees at the perimeter. They were coming.

Lady Micaiah will save us. She always has before.

She laughed. How could she not? Daein had made an art of the tragic comedy. They would laugh about this someday, and an opportunistic playwright would write the story, put it on stage - perhaps the staff officer, who survived the occupation by writing sketches to amuse Begnion soldiers, would pen it after this battle if he survived.

Or perhaps he would die, because she couldn't save him. She couldn't save any of them. Even if they won, they would lose.

Someday they would all find it funny, but Micaiah was laughing now - and she couldn't stop.

Comments

[misheard.livejournal.com]

...*shivers*

You absolutely captured the desperation and hopelessness of Micaiah in Part 3. I just... *shivers*

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I really want to see a Micaiah that isn't so angelic. She came off a bit crazier than I wanted, but that's not necessarily bad. :D

[lazulidragon.livejournal.com]

Well I'm well and truly scared now. Poor Micaiah.

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

I really wish they'd shown more of her perceptive heron qualities. Imagine being stuck in a fortress with a bunch of nervous soldiers - it couldn't have been peachy.

Anyway. :D

[searains.livejournal.com]

I love this characterization of Micaiah. It is so sad and terrible. And yes, during this part in the game I was thinking... "Micaiah, don't you know? Ike will solve your problem in a maximum of three days. Cause he's the hero." But back on topic. This is such a nice fic. <3

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really thought there should be some more dramatic angst in Micaiah, or at the very least acute paranoia around chapter three or so. If Ike were after me I'd be paranoid.

[searains.livejournal.com]

RD isn't that great at character development... there's a lot of holes in the characters that are only implied. I like that good fanfiction can kind of fill it in! I would be paranoid too, especially if I didn't view him as the "good guy".

[measuringlife.livejournal.com]

Oooh, a creepy take on a darker side of her personality...very good ♥

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

I-I didn't mean to twist your arm. ♥ But thank you. :D

[measuringlife.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I've been meaning to read it but try not to read when I'm too tired because sometimes I'll miss huge plot points.

WHich I uh, failed at. Whoops.

[runespoor7.livejournal.com]

Micaiah bound by the chains of commanding will never get old. :D It's lovely to see her struggling against hopelessness, and the inclusion of other characters, such as Tauroneo and the staff officer, makes it so real. *sucker for involving more than the main characters*

[runiclore.livejournal.com]

Call me crazy, but I'm not all that fond of the main characters in the Dawn Brigade. XD Tauroneo is the only one I like enough to give a talking part to, though he didn't get one here. I guess he's not technically part of the brigade, is he?

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. <3