Don't own FE.
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He had never thought much about how things would go were something to happen to any of them. It had always just seemed like everything would get better, work itself out on its own.
But now he knew that all along, he had been lying to himself. Things had not gotten any better; in fact, they had just leapt off the edge of bad and got vaulting into terrible.
He knew it was his fault. He knew he had done it. He knew.
"Eliwood . . ."
He barely heard the voices of the others calling out to him. He could not hear the wind blowing, nor could he hear the sobs of the boy beside him.
What scared him the most was that he could no longer hear her breathing.
It was essential that she live on. Not because she was the best warrior in the army, nor because she was an asset to defeating Nergal. He didn't know why he needed her to keep living.
But he did, and that was all there was.
"Eliwood, come on. We need to go."
He ignored the voices. He couldn't let them distract him now. He needed to make absolutely sure that she was still breathing.
He leaned down, wishing nothing more than to hear her whisper his name. To see her eyelids flutter open. To feel her gentle breath against his cheek.
Durandal lay a few feet away in the grass, drenched in blood. Her blood.
He couldn't think about that. Didn't want to think about that.
But the blood that stained her pale dress and covered his own hands forced him to.
He whispered her name, vaguely hoping that it would rouse her from no more than a deep sleep.
Her eyes did not open, her expression did not change.
He tried again, louder. Still nothing.
Again.
He could not accept the idea that she would not answer him. It could not be more than unconsciousness. A mere faint.
And he looked at the blood on his hands and realized it was futile to keep thinking as he was.
He flung his arms around her, not caring how much blood he got on himself. He let out a choked cry, burying his face in her hair.
"Eliwood! Stop! Come on, we have to get to Ostia as soon as we can!"
Still he ignored the others and clung to her.
He could not begin to move. Not yet.
Right now, it was essential that he not let her go.