The Grandmaster's Caring Shadow

Alex wiped his brow of the unpleasant sweat that had formed as he landed the final blow on a Risen Fighter, pulling his sword from the ground and looking about. The town was saved and everyone was still breathing from the encounter, Alex letting a sigh slip out of his mouth as he went about and assessed the force that he brought with so that they can easily learn how to fight the Risen if the Shepherds were unable for any reason, approaching the first group consisting of five cavaliers, doing their best to reign in the horses. "How was the bout against a undead foe?" Whether the Risen were undead or magical constructs had long plagued his mind as they had appeared like vanished enemies given new-found life, but were summoned by Aversa at Emm's martyr act.

"A bit unsettling, sir, I never thought that Plegia would employ such monsters."

"And yet, these creatures continue to roam, master less and show the same ferocity to a number of Plegia settlements." He had received information that refugees had found homage among the churches of Naga as the Risen had struck their homes with what little aid able instead devoted to protecting the more important people and taking them to the capital. He waved the group to resume their duties and headed for the next groups. They too were unsettled by the Risen, but they had learned quickly that with the mindless nature, there was little worry of them giving too big of a chase and were more needed to dodge the blows that came and heal according to the situation. After he finished up with one of the mercenary groups who wanted some understanding in fighting the Risen, Alex soon found the small following of Shepherds that came with that consisting of Gregor, Lon'qu, Lissa, Donnel, and Tharja, talking in the meeting tent and noticing him come in. "I take it the battle went perfectly well?"

"Gregor excellent, his blade crushed many alongside allies." The titan among them flexed a single arm with a hardy laugh.

Lon'qu glanced at the two female there, keeping the distance as he reply with a slum tone"...It was a good point of training..."

"I wish it wasn't so terrible to fight them." Lissa sighed as she heaved over the table, sharing a small smile with Donnel.

"I reckon so!" The farmhand said as he smiled with resolve, a ring apparent on his hand which did catch Alex's attention.

"......" Tharja spoke not a word and Lissa noticed it, but it was merely to listen to what goes down as their task may not be complete.

"Good, now I understand that we have been out in the countryside for several days, serving a dual purpose of teaching any new squads of how to fight, especially against the Risen and ensure that we can keep the Risen numbers to a minimal."

"Easily said than done." Lon'qu walked to Alex's side and gestured to the north point of the map. "A scout had spotted an opened Reeking Box in this location and it is slowly drawing Risen into the border." Alex rubbed his jaw as the others gathered to see the location. "Until we can close the box or it wears out, it will continue its plague."

"Alright, then you, Gregor, and Donnel will take a small force to strike, make sure that you take your vulneraries with you as Lissa tends to the wounded here, so that we can..." Alex paused and stumbled a bit back, a hand steadying him as the others nearly rushed to aid. "Sorry, I have just been burning the oil to ensure our success."

"Perhaps Gregor can offer remedy for lack of sleep."

"No, I better return back so that I can ensure that we can easily deal with these threats later on." Alex quickly took his leave as the others watched him go, wanting to help, but unsure how to as Alex was stubborn when admitting that he was just human, not some sacred god, and needed to rest like any other.

"I think it is best we go through with his plan, we can't postpone it with the Risen roaming about." Lon'qu was certain to do it, but he caught a glare from Lissa that told him that if the tactician was out, who would ensure that all is well. "He needs to rest, we can't change that."

"No, but..." The blonde-haired princess sighed as she took her stave in hand. "Fine, but expect me to help in putting him down for rest if he comes to rant a strategy!" She took off and Donnel, not wishing to leave Lissa go alone for a bit longer, followed suit with his Iron Sword, having traded his Villager garbs for a Mercenary's. Lon'qu left as well to train before heading out, leaving Gregor alone there. No one had actually noticed that when Alex had left, Tharja followed him out.


Alex was glad to be out of there, he couldn't let the others notice that he had been wearing himself out for their safety, especially Tharja. After the events of the mess hall, the soldiers had started to believe that the monster they saw was part of some strange plot against Chrom who was informed by Alex that it was just Kellam, helping him out of a messy situation. With that day behind him, he redoubled his efforts for something that could take his mind and, sure enough, Regna Ferox had noticed a influx of Risen along the borders and, with Chrom taken in with national and familial matters, Alex had decided to teach the new recruits of how to fight the Risen as to be better prepared, but when the small following of Shepherds came at Chrom's request, Alex could just feel his life flash by. Luckily, it was a better aid than hindrance as they had cleared a mass number of Risen horde and sustained minor injures with the help of both items and staves. Gregor was still able to lift everyone's spirits with his knowledge and experience as some of the soldiers found Lon'qu to be quite a skilled fighter and teacher. Alex had suspected that Donnel and Lissa were married for a time and now he had noticed that secreted rings that they were hiding. As for Tharja, she had changed for him in Ylisse, but over the course of three months, she had changed back to being the terrifying dark mage that the Shepherds knew and the stalker of him.

"I'm glad that Tharja's acting like her old self again." He started to sway like something was off, was the ground suppose to be getting blurry? "A-although... I feel... Urk!" His head pounded like a drum as his body started to seize up, losing feeling as the blurriness increased into seeing three things. "Ch-chills up my spine... G-goose bumps... C-can't stop sh-sh-shivers..." As his vision started to black out, he tried to shake it off as Tharja came out of hiding.

"Alex? ...You all right?" Tharja moved closer to the Grandmaster, a questioning look on her face. Getting closer to his fallen level, the sorceress noticed that his body started to stutter. "Alex, you're shaking like a leaf!" Her hand quickly hovered to his head and she nearly winched from the built-up heat that soon came to the surface. "And your forehead's on fire!" Tharja felt her entire being going into panic, but first needed to ease what was going on. "Okay, Tharja, think." Slowly, she breathed the worry out piece by piece as she tried to pick Alex up. "We need cold water and a spell to bring down the fever..." But try and try again, Tharja couldn't easily get Alex up further than dragging him across the ground, upsetting her greatly because every sec that she wastes dragging, the worse that Alex will get. She wanted to cast a hex to make it easier when a gruff voice called out.

"Oy, Tharja be needing aid?" Alex's body was lifted high and positioned on Gregor's shoulder as the hulking man smiled. "Was curious where you went, decided to come find you." Tharja kept silent as Gregor carried the Grandmaster to the infirmary tent, her bangs covering her eyes. "No worry, Gregor be making sure that tactician gets..."

"No!" Tharja surprised herself and Gregor with her sudden outburst, so she cleared her throat to make her point. "I-I want to nurse him to health, please."

"Oh?, Is dark one feeling scared of Gregor's skills?" Tharja shot a glare at the elderly mercenary as she had heard some rumors that placed Gregor to be too personal in a number of his skills, including wishing to sleep next to HER Alex to help cure a 'bite'. The mercenary simply laughed heartily as they entered and found a distant bed to set Alex in. "No troubles, Gregor likes Alex top notch when he gives orders." Leaving the pair behind, the mercenary headed out with a few parting words. "Keep him close, Alex fine man to have in life." Despite the hearty laugh, Tharja was not in the mood as she proceeded to work, grabbing a nearby towel and dipping it in a prepared basin of water, squeezing excess water out before placing it upon his forehead and using a hex to bring the fever further down, but at the rate it was, he would be resting for the night, but she didn't care as his health was more important than her desires.


As it turned out, the task was easily dealt with as the Box had died out, leaving the trio of Shepherds to crush the small force gathered there as isolated pockets could swiftly be destroyed by Feroxian fighter patrol. Tharja simply stayed there as she watched over Alex, wanting to be sure that he would be alright when he started to stir. "Nnnrgh..."

Tharja marked her chapter as she took some time to read in the absense. "Hello."

"Huh?" Alex was familar to Tharja's stalking habits, but taking him to the sick tent wouldn't be her style or liking. He sat up and looked around. "Wh-what happened?" He removed the towel, feeling much better than what he was walking on with. "Why am I lying here?"

"You lost consciousness and collapsed." She held the book close as she watched him, a worried look making its way to her. "It was because of the fever."

Alex stared at the sorceress for a bit before face palming himself as he recalled what had brought him low. "Yes, I-I've been feeling unwell for a while." He shook his head as he rested back down, noticing that his cloak was hanging on the rack a short distance away. "Probably been working too hard."

"I thought that you might accuse me of putting a curse on you..." Alex returned his gaze to Tharja who appeared to be shaking a tad, but not from the weather, under the belief that she would be the guilty and hated for it.

Alex quickly gripped Tharja's shoulders, surprising her into a blush. "I'd never assumed that!" He released as he only had a short span of energy at that time. "What kind of monster would curse their friend..."

Tharja took a moment to process the words and gave a uneasy chuckle at it. "...Oh. Right." She could feel the suspicion in the words if they were made by someone else, but did Alex not believe her and would hate her? "That would be crazy!" She wanted to act like it didn't matter at all to her, but he made her self-conscious. "Heh heh."

Alex resumed laying down as his eyes stayed on her. "Anyway, thank you so much for taking care of me."

Tharja bowed her head with her bangs hiding her eyes as she recalled their first conversation, it being a constant thorn to her as she was still hurt from the words, despite any reassurance. "Didn't you once say you wouldn't want me taking care of you?" The words stung, but she often told herself that Alex made it out to be a crime, something that he didn't want at all, love.

Alex knew where she was coming from and at the time, it was true that he didn't want it to be like he was merely something to stalk and watch over, but her devotion was very much for him. He ran a hand over his face to cover a smile that grace under the cover before he spoke again. "Clearly, I was mistaken."

Tharja wasn't too keen on the tactician's words as she was a difficult woman to convince. "You're just saying that because I helped you out."

"No, it's true!" Slumber started to fill his body as he spoke some more. "In fact, I wonder if you wouldn't mind...staying..." Sleep grew heavier as he took in a yawn, his eyes blinking out to sleep. "Just...just for a while."

As Alex fell asleep, Tharja took his left hand and held it, glad that he had accepted her as a friend. "Aw, how sweet." She crept closer and parted some hair out of the way. "He's sleeping." Certain that he was truly asleep and won't wake up, she knelt down and placed her elbows on the open section of bedding. "Sleeping and...helpless." She allowed herself a good chuckle as she moved a bit closer to get a lock of hair from her beloved as the thief Gaius was unwilling to get her a single lock, but what had happened next surprised her as Alex grabbed Tharja and pulled her into the bed, causing her to drop her ingredients pouch as he unconsciously pulled the sheet over both of them. After a moment, she tried to pull free as she only wanted the lock, not this close of bonding. 'How does he have such a strong grip and yet still possess a gentle touch for his tactics?' She tried again to get loose, but he instinctively gripped tighter and made her realize it was too soon to celebrate."

"Enjoy this moment, my lovely stalker, I only want to be content at this moment of rest so please, don't try to leave." His voice carried a tone of command and Tharja felt the need to obey, despite her personal wants of freedom to do more as he rested. "Thank you for your care, I am too stubborn for my own good at times."

"You could say that again." As she felt the grip loosen, she had the chance to leave, but decided otherwise as this was perfect, she could get the lock later as a hand rested with Alex's and the other rested on the pillow that they shared. 'He is playing this game to get me, but he won't get a reaction...well, I have already given a response when I used my 'normal' practice, but this...is nice.' She also took to sleeping as the shadows within the day hid them from sight.


"I reckon that they're fine." Donnel was used to Lissa and her cheerful persona and served as a helpful friend lover to the princess. "I think it is best that we leave them alone."

"Come on, everyone noticed Tharja being weird before and during the training and it falls to us to find out." Lissa was deciated on what was the problem and was determined to face any hex or curse to get to the truth. "We got to get the source answer before they get to shut in about it!" Gregor had passed word to the camp Shepherds that Tharja was aiding Alex and that he was suffering from a high fever during the stay. The only thing stopping Lissa from entering was Donnel as he played the leveled-head in the pair.

"If we did that, I can't do much if they plan to turn you into something crazy."

Lissa rolled a hand and smiled. "Please, Alex is a nice guy, he is not the type of guy to let harm fall upon his friends." Before Donnel could voice any more, Lissa turned with closed eyes and strode toward the entrance...

...Only to collide into something tough, causing her to fall to the ground as she rubbed her face, feeling the pain behind the impact. "Ow, why was there something in the entrance..."

"The same reason for someone to leave with a full recovery." The blonde princess looked up and lightly chuckled under her breath as Alex was standing tall over her. She was helped up onto her feet with the tactician's pull and started to dust herself off as Alex spoke. "I'm surprised that it took you so long to drop by for a slacker like me."

"Well, excuse me for being worried about you!" Lissa tried to look behind Alex, but the darkness inside the tent hid anyone else inside before turning back to Alex. "Gregor said that Tharja was here, helping you get better, she here?"

"She was, but after I had recovered, she said that she needed to find some ingredients around here." Lissa sighed greatly as Donnel guided her away. Silence filled the area before Alex spoke again. "It's clear, you can come out now." Emerging from behind Alex, Tharja took a place beside the tactician, indebted to him yet again and followed him as they took to walking about the camp. "We can't exactly leave this location quite yet, there may be more Risen spots that we are not yet informed of."

"Alex, I know." A blush was evident on Tharja's face as she was gleeful for both the cover and the 'shared' moment in the med bed. "I am still not over the fact that you had kept me in your arms while in that bed."

Alex laughed in a good nature. "You didn't seem to mind all that much when you started to settle in." Tharja blushed a little more with 'vapors' flowing out of her head as Alex continued with smile. "Besides, you are a very lovely woman who just likes a strange tactician that she had met a long time ago." Tharja slugged Alex's shoulder which hurt, but he just liked to be there for her nowadays. He looked at his trailing ally and noticed that she was shaking a bit. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, just..." She didn't finish as she was conscious of it herself, the cold was picking up and she was ill-prepared for it. "I should have brought a coat to protect against this accursed weather." She turned to Alex and saw that Alex pulled out a coat from the sachet that he had brought with and kept." W-what are you..."

"Making sure that you don't freeze." Helping Tharja put on the coat, the pair continued on as they resorted to more casual subjects. "By the way, when did Lissa and Donnel get engaged?, I don't recall any interaction between them before I left."

"That is because the far-Donnel had proposed to Lissa before they had arrived to your location four days ago." Tharja could smell the lovely scent of cinnamon that was too connected to Alex to be a coincidence, he loved the cinnamon rolls that he had first tasted in Ylisstol the first time he had arrived, a story that she learned a month after Gangrel's defeat. "I don't think that the Exalt will be all that pleased to learn of the arrangement."

"A secret huh..." Alex rubbed his chin as he pulled Tharja closer to elbow length. "Well, I guess that they will need to be on my nice side if they don't want Chrom on their tails so quickly!" Alex started to laugh and Tharja soon joined with a semi-angelic laugh in glee as Alex talked to her about so much, pleased that Alex had both allowed her to stay with him for a extended time in his castle room and that he was more than willing to be there for her. something that she came to realize was a simple step of romance for him and a honest one...