AN: This was a request from a user on AO3. Again, if anyone was a prompt they want me to do or something they want me to work in somewhere feel free to say so!
Failure
Kris set down the tray he'd brought and poured out two cups of the inn's best tea, then sat down and waited silently as Marth slowly composed himself. The candle Kris had lit was almost a quarter gone when Marth finally began to speak, wiping at puffy red cheeks and swollen eyes still shining with moisture.
"I... I did not even see her fall," Marth said hoarsely. "The terrain was bad, we were greatly outnumbered... and... "
"Sire..." Kris reached out but hesitated, his hand hovering over Marth's shoulder. Hesitation was a death sentence in war and he'd pushed, shoved, and pulled Marth countless times in the midst of battle, etiquette paling in comparison to keeping the prince safe. But here he was not just Marth's guard; he was a retainer, a servant, and despite Marth's tendency to treat him as a confidant he simply didn't have the right to touch the prince so casually.
"I failed her," Marth bowed his head, tears running down his face again as he twisted a piece of thick red rope - rope that had until recently adorned Princess Caeda's spear - around in his hands. "She insisted on fighting at my side and I failed her."
I am the failure, not you. I failed the two of you by allowing us to be separated, by not being at your side. Kris swallowed his words - the prince would not hear them, and the last thing either of them needed right now was an argument on where to pin blame - and let his hand fall onto Marth's shoulder, where it remained long after the candle burned down to darkness.
Failure
The Dread Isle was a week behind them by the time Mark worked up the courage to find Eliwood during one of the lord's rare forays from the cargo hold where they'd stored his father's body. Eliwood glanced up with a faint twitch of his lips, barely comparable to his usual smile, as Mark approached.
"Do you need something?"
"No, I just..." Mark took a deep breath. "I wanted to apo-"
"Mark," Eliwood frowned. "You're the last person who needs to apologize. This... this wasn't your fault. None of us are to blame for what happened."
"I was overcautious during our approach," Mark said quietly. "I should have known the importance of speed after what happened to Leila. Instead I insisted we slow down."
"You were suspicious of Uhai's instructions. That the rest of us trusted him merely made you all the more cautious," Eliwood grabbed Mark's arm and squeezed. "I wholeheartedly wish things did not turn out this way, but it is more than obvious you took what you believed to be the best course of action."
"And allowed your father to die in the process," Mark winced as soon as the words left his mouth and rubbed a hand over his face. "Err. Sorry."
"There... there is no way of knowing if he'd live had we arrived sooner," Eliwood looked away for a moment. When he spoke again his voice was softer and shook almost imperceptibly. "You saw how weak he was. And I cannot imagine... how it would've felt had we successfully rescued him only to watch him die of illness on our journey home. But I do know there is no sense in imagining it, for that is not our reality."
Mark was quiet for a moment. "Shouldn't I be the one giving you reassurance, not the other way around?"
"Worry not, you do that often enough. It's only right I return the favor," Eliwood dropped his hand and sighed. "I'll admit I forget this more often than I should, but you are still young - younger than most of us. The role of a tactician is necessary... but hard. There will be times in the future when your resolve is tested, when you must weigh the lives of your friends against the success of your cause. Perhaps you've already had them, on this very campaign, and did not think to tell us. Out of pride, or because you did not want us to worry."
Mark flinched.
"The world is dark enough without dwelling on self-perceived failures," Eliwood's smile was slightly larger this time. "I do not blame you for what happened, Mark. But... I do understand what it is like, to look back on the past and think 'what if', so I hope you can forgive yourself."
Failure
He found Lucina by herself, staring at the wards Laurent had raised around the camp with a pensive expression. She looked at him and opened her mouth as he sat down, then sighed and turned away without saying anything.
Robin swallowed the words he wanted to say - telling Lucina, or indeed any of the future children, that everything would be alright was nothing but empty platitude considering what they'd gone through - and looked out towards the horizon, where he could dimly see Grima's shadow soaring through the sky.
"How are you holding up?"
Lucina's wince was a more than adequate answer. The princess glanced at him, guilt flickering across her face. "I have...always suspected. I never wanted you to know."
Robin blinked, nonplussed at the odd statement. "What?"
Lucina gestured vaguely at the sky. "I've always suspected you were related to Grima in some way. That is why I never told you much about the future, and anything I told Father would've undoubtedly made its way to your ears so I did not confide in him either. Looking back now, I... I was naive. I withheld vital information and hindered all of us due to a distrust based on rumors and speculation."
"Your instincts turned out to be true," Robin shuddered as he thought about the events of the past day. "I'm apparently Grima's vessel - that's as related to him as anyone can get. And I did kill Chrom in your timeline... Gods, almost killed him here too. Frankly, I'm surprised you don't hate me."
"Hate you?" Lucina made a choking sound that was half laugh and half sob. "I expected to. I cannot. Time and again I've seen your dedication to the Shepherds and your loyalty to my father. But still I convinced myself that it was all an act, a ruse. Even after it was clear your actions in my time were not your own, I hesitated. Now the world suffers the consequences of my failure to trust you."
"Lucina..."
"I know what you want to say. And... I do appreciate it," Lucina shook her head and stood, giving Robin a faltering smile. "I should go help with the inventory. If there are any questions you have, about the future or anything else, please don't hesitate to ask. I promise I'll answer to the best of my ability."
"... Thank you," Robin bowed his head. "I will not betray your trust. One way or another, I will find a way to end this - it is the least I can do."
