Salerika

"I am not going to judge you for how you think or act."

- Saleh to Eirika in Sacred Stones

Salerika is the het ship between Eirika and Saleh from the Fire Emblem fandom.

Canon
They first encountered each other while Eirika was on a journey to reconquer her invaded kingdom, and the then-unknown Saleh asked her and her bodyguard Seth if they'd seen a girl with indigo hair (Myrrh the dragon). He left when they said they hadn't.

Eirika encounters Salth again when she and her army are about the cross the Caer Pelyn mountain range en route to Jehanna. The man's student, Ewan, brings her to one of his master's cabin in the outskirts of the mountain and asks him to guide them since he knows more about the area. Eirika immediately recognized him from that day in Serafew, and she spends one night at Saleh's house to rest before the army marches.

He warns Eirika that the road is harsh, but does not stop her when she insists on going anyway. During the journey, they battle monsters and rescue Ewan, who was nearly attacked by them and hiding in a nearby house. When they finally arrived the secluded Village of Silence, they were welcomed by some villagers and his grandmother Dara. He prepares herbal tea for Eirika, who got dizzy from the mountain heights, and they leave after a few days to reach Jehanna.

During their time together, Eirika grows more familiar with him. He starts teaching Eirika the meditation technique he created, called Valega. In the middle of the journey, Eirika masters the technique, which helps Eirika to clear her own mind and renew her convictions. Saleh also notes that Eirika resembles the mythical hero Nada Kuya, whose legendary exploits he finds fascinating.

Eirika admires the wisdom and vast knowledge of the world that Saleh has, and finds his teachings and stories to be a source of comfort and inspiration on her adventures. She always holds him in high regard. Saleh, on the other hand, finds her very easy to talk to admires her courage, dignity, beauty and inner strenghth. He's very supportive of her and helps her without being overprotective.

Eirika eventually asks to visit Caer Pelyn after the war is over. Saleh affirms that she will be welcomed anytime. After the war ended, Eirika and Saleh returned to their respective homes. Eirika visited Caer Pelyn when she could. Over time, they visited each other more often until they she decided to move to his village and marry him, leaving Renais in the care of her brother, the new king Ephraim. They eventually have a daughter that resembles the legendary Nada Kuya.

Fanon
Saleh/Eirika fans praise the pairing for the fact that Saleh treats Eirika like a person, not a princess, and manages to be supportive of her without coddling her. This mindset comes dangerously close to putting down Eirika's other pairings as "bad" for her and suggesting they rob her of her agency, and there has been some friction with Seth/Eirika and Innes/Eirika fans. Thankfully, the ship has steered clear of the intense wars between other Eirika shippers.

One of the ship's most beloved aspects is that it's the only ending that mentions Eirika having a daughter, giving a sense of continuity. Therefore, fanart and fanfiction often explore their life after the war, either as parents or adapting to each other's cultures.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

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