Hector

He chuckles to himself as he sits in an empty room, resting against his 'death bed', a wall because he's too stubborn to just lay down. He's known this day would come. He's known that something like this would happen. He's known for twenty years that he would never die in his bed, that he'd leave everyone behind. Like his brother, though at least his death is going to be quicker. Bleeding out is much quicker than dying of consumption.

Still, having Zephiel be his killer? The person he saved years ago? And it being because of the trick Lyn taught him? Life sure did love its ironies. Is it an irony? He's never paid much attention in lesson, so he could be wrong. Eliwood would know. He wishes his best friend was here. He wishes…

He's got a lot of wishes, surprisingly. He hadn't thought he would. Knowing that he would die in battle, he'd done his best to live his life to the fullest. And what a blessed life it had been. Married to a wonderful woman, father of an adorable daughter. Friends all across the continent that he adored and that adored him. True, his duties led him to not spend nearly as much time with them as he would've liked, but even then, he'd had a lot.

He hears sounds of battle and tries to stand up. Who would be fighting now? Roy? Was it Roy? Had Oswin not made it? Gods, he hopes that's not the case. Oswin, his guard, had protested vehemently at leaving him, but he had insisted. Roy, thank everything holy, had been delayed and not here when Bern struck. Roy should be safe. Eliwood had already lost so much, and this war is going to take more. Worse, he knows he's going to put such a heavy burden on… everyone. Too many had died, and there are few alive he still trusts.

He collapses again, coughing up blood. He looks to the wall and sees the blood splat of where he had been resting, and the smears that show how far he made it. Not far, and he'd barely gotten his legs under him. It really is his time. He can practically hear the thunder of Armads, rumbling in the distance. He swears he hears Durban apologizing on the wind. The wind, the wind… Lyn always talked of hearing the dead on the wind. Would she hear him, after he had passed? Would Lilina? Would Irene? Would Sue? He half hopes, because then, he can pretend he still can help them.

Footsteps and the door crashes open. He blinks slowly, not sure he's really seeing what he's seeing. He thinks he sees Roy and Irene. He wonders why Irene is here. Irene should be in the Plains with her family. It's the Sky Festival soon. He knows because Lyn always gets a wistful look on her face when it comes around, because it was her favorite. He promised her they'd visit the Plains together. The first promise he ever breaks…

He wishes he could've seen her again. Just one more time. Just one more 'I love you'. He wishes he could've seen Lilina again. Just one more time. Just one more 'I am proud of you'. He wishes he could've seen Eliwood again. Just one more time. Just one more 'Eliwood, stop being so serious'. He wishes he could've seen Katri again. Just one more time. Just one more 'Gods, will you ever stop teasing?'. He wishes he could've seen… so many people. Matthew, Serra… so many. So, so many...

But he gets to see Roy and Irene at the end. He can be content with that. He knows now why Elbert had been so calm while dying. Because, just like him, Elbert died while looking at his hope. There are worst deaths. He'll take this one. He's known it's been coming for a while anyway.

Author's notes: So, welcome to a little side story I've been thinking about for a while. Updates will be whenever I feel like it, in between my other works. After all, House Hanover is completed. But I might make more like this, just to fill in some gaps in the story. Feel free to make suggestions. I'll take them into consideration.

This one, however, focuses on deaths, so it's a rather sad story (another reason why updates will be whenever I feel like it). Specifically, it focuses on the deaths of the three 'wolves' of A Tactician's Testimony: Hector, Rath, and Katri. So, uh… welcome?

Next Chapter - Rath