Frederick heard his daughter sobbing softly inside her tent. Cynthia was in there with Severa, trying to calm her down and giving her words of encouragement. "Severa, can I come in?" he asked.

Cynthia and Severa went out of the tiny tent. Cynthia squeezed Severa's arm and left her alone with her father.

"I'm sorry," Frederick said. "I'm sorry I'm not a better father to you. I should've sided with you when you had a fight with Inigo. I am so used to seeing you being harsh to everyone, that I thought you were the one who provoked him into a fight. I did not take your feelings into consideration. Please accept my apologies."

Severa wiped her tears and cleared her throat. "Only if you will get me a new dress," she said.

"No honey, no more bribes. I want us to have a proper conversation this time," Frederick said. "Care to tell me how you got into a fight? I will listen to everything."

Severa's mouth drew into a thin line. "You never really cared for what I say," she said. "You never really cared for anyone other than the royal family."

He cringed at how Stahl was right about Severa's hatred for the royal family. Severa was wrong on one account however. "I do care about you, you're my daughter!"

"If you do, then why did you always leave me at home alone to go with Chrom?" she asked. "Why is his family so important? Is my existence so offensive that you had to abandon me?"

He was taken aback at her bombardment of questions. "I cannot answer for my future self's actions Severa. The only thing I can say is I am not THAT father. The father that you have in front of you right now, is the one who is willing to mend the grievances my other self made."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Will you listen to my ramblings no matter how inane? Can you handle that?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Will you be there for my birthdays?"

"Of course, I will be there."

"My wedding?"

"It's too early for that," Frederick frowned.

"I suppose so…" she said.

"Could you tell me now why you got in a fight? Stahl said that you were hurting and I want to understand why." Frederick said.

"H-he knew I was hurting?" the corners of her mouth curled a bit.

"Yes. He thought it was because I chose Inigo's side over yours."

Severa shook her head. "He's wrong. He's very wrong! Stop talking to Stahl, he's stupid and I hate him."

"I can't do that, he's my lieutenant. And why do you hate him? What has he done?"

"I-it's not like I wanted to bring him up, you're the one who did. Gawds! Look, I just don't want to talk about him because he's wrong! Okay, maybe he's partially right, but he's still wrong! I'm not hurting because you took Inigo's side. I'm hurting because… because…"

"Because?"

"Dad this is so awkward!"

"Try me. I have heard more inane things from the other Shepherds."

"I think I'll just tell mom. No, I'll just tell Cynthia again."

"Severa, it's okay. The more that you keep your feelings inside you, the more that it will hurt you."

"Dads and daughters don't talk about this kind of thing!"

Another point went to Stahl. He said that she was going to run away from it as much as possible. "We are an unconventional family and I told you that I will listen to your ramblings no matter how inane."

Severa threw her hands in the air. "Fine! I-I'm in love with someone, I always have been… but he doesn't love me back, and he never will. Inigo pointed that out to me so I punched him," Severa said. "That's the reason. Now what will you do? Give me more chores?"

Frederick snickered. It grew into a full laugh that filled the entire camp.

"I knew it! Go away! I'm disowning you. I don't know you, and you are not my father!" Severa shouted.

"No, no, I just find it funny. I will not punish you for defending your love. That's what I have been doing ever since I understood how to love," Frederick said. "Deep down you are a hopeless romantic. You really are mine and Cordelia's daughter."

He sat on the ground and motioned for her to sit beside him.

Severa harrumphed. "Is this going to be a long talk?" she asked her father.

"Yes. What I am about to tell you might not be something that you wanted to hear, but I assure you that it is relevant. Let me tell you something about Emmeryn. She was my first love. I have spent my life dedicated to her family because I was deeply in love with her, and she with me. When you love someone, you fight for them, you take care of them, you put them first. I have defended Emmeryn from would-be assassins, I defended her honor. I took care of her family and took care of Ylisse with her. I put my personal aspirations aside because her needs came first.

"And when you love someone, truly love someone, you don't threaten them. You don't punish them. Because if you do, it's not real and you are kidding yourself, so you have to let them go. Stahl may have deserved that slap on the face for being with Panne, but if you really love him, then do not hate him."

Severa put her hands to her mouth, "You knew about my feelings for him?!"

"I told you, I care about you so of course I knew."

Severa sobbed into her hands. "I love him. It wouldn't work out in our time but here, it's different. I - I thought I had it… And it hurt when I realized that I didn't. I was so wrong! Wanna know what else sucks? A few days ago, he said he wanted to move on from his ex. He said he found someone who can help him. I even encouraged him, thinking that it was me he was talking about. But it was Panne…"

"Well, you do not choose the ones that you love. In the time that I saw the two of you together, I saw your feelings for each other grow. I may not have initially approved of him, but I saw with my own eyes how much he loved you. I don't think he's aware that he loves you too. He may not say it, but his actions spoke for him. He stood against me to fight for you, he always took care of you, and even if there were things that he wanted to do for himself, you were always his priority. Stahl admitting it is a different matter though. And of course, there is Panne."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"I feel so wrong. Everything inside me feels so wrong. It feels like he played with my heart, but I have no right to complain because we were never together. It hurts so much… I hate him because he chose Panne over me, but I want him to be happy with her. I hate how he makes me feel this way. I hate that I still love him."

He put his hand on her shoulder. "You do understand that this is complicated, right? And complicated irks me."

"Yes. It is very complicated."

"He is my lieutenant and he is your mother's student."

"That's very awkward, I know."

"Frankly Severa, you could do better."

"Yes, but dad… With everything that I've been through, I think I deserve somebody normal," she answered. "And there's nothing wrong with normal!"

Frederick sighed. "I have to tell you how I feel about this. No matter which perspective you look at, you actually have no right to fight for him other than your love for him. He is Panne's and if you pull them apart, you will come out as the villain, and Panne the victim. It will be a long and difficult road for the two of you. If you get together with him, your relationship will be looked at with scorn. I do not want you to endure criticism because of him. Is he worth it Severa?"

The look of steely determination appeared in her eyes, "he is worth hell!"

"Furthermore, as he is my lieutenant, and if gods forbid something bad happens to him, I wouldn't know how to tell you. I wouldn't even know how to face you. And I cannot endure to see you experiencing any more pain. Is he worth it?"

"Dad, I know of his self-sacrificing bent and how he puts others before himself. I know how he would die for your sake and I know that if that happens, it's not your fault. And even if he is stupid like that, he is still worth it."

Frederick patted his daughter's head. "You are a very determined person. Whatever it is that you decide to do, I will support you. In the meantime, I'll try my damndest not to kill him whatever the outcome is, just be ready for the consequences. The rest is up to you, honey. Will you fight Panne for him or will you let him go?"

Stahl and Panne were inseparable. Anyone who saw them together thought that they will get married in a week. He sat beside her during mealtimes and gave her meals that he made especially for her. She supported him in battle and defended him from attackers. During the march to Fort Steiger, Panne was always seen riding with Stahl.

When things quieted down a bit, Stahl bought a basket of cherries with whipped cream and other fruits that bunnies can eat, while they said puns of his name and riding jokes possibly during mating.

It drove Severa insane!

She spied on them in one of their dates in the nearby town. They were at the Town Square where lovers usually met and public displays of affection were normally ignored. The townspeople looked at them funny. How could someone engage in such activities with somebody like her? But they walked away and ignored them after a quick glance. It was after all, none of their business, just Severa's.

She hid in one of the alleys that had a nice vantage point of where the couple was.

"Stahl, have I told you taguel females fancy men like you?" Severa heard Panne say.

"Me? You're the real find! I never met anyone so smart and beautiful," he gushed. Stahl put a cherry between his teeth and Panne kissed him to get it.

Severa developed a sickening disgust to cherries that day. She saw Panne glance at her and smile coyly. 'She knows I'm watching!' she closed her fist and gritted her teeth.

"I will give you today," she said. She knew Panne heard it because she winked at Severa.

A few Risen occasionally attacked the Shepherds. They can be easily taken care of and Robin was smug enough to send only four Shepherds at a time to beat the undead until they're nothing but purple smoke.

Severa and Cynthia volunteered in most of the fights. The two of them cleared numerous battlefields and they were deemed as heroes. Cynthia has never been so happy to be actually called one. Severa on the other hand, didn't care for the accolades. She turned in her mercenary garb for more armor protection, a bigger shield and learned how to wield an axe.

Frederick taught her the basics and in time she developed her own way of using the weapon. She was wounded in one of their sparring sessions and her father sent her to the medical tent to get her wound healed. The moment she entered the tent, her eyes and Stahl's locked, which made the paladin smile warmly. Ignoring him, she crossed her arms and made her way to Lissa to have herself healed. "Just use a kneader, it's just a minor scratch."

Stahl's smile faded. He stopped making his potions, took some medicinal items with him, and sat on the chair beside her. "Heya Lissa. You don't have to use a kneader. I can handle this," he said.

"If you're sure," Lissa said. Stahl nodded. Lissa left to have a chat with Maribelle.

Stahl took off her bloody glove, "better be careful in sparring with Frederick. He is really good at going through your defenses and resistance. It's amazing that you only took this wound, you really are something." He took off the rest of her destroyed arm guard to reveal a scar that ran down her forearm. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to pose a problem in the future if he didn't take care of it. "Do you have other wounds?"

She shot him a look of disdain. "It's none of your business, stupid. You don't care anyway." She hasn't talked to him for a month and this was the first thing that she said to him.

Her words were more hurtful now than they were before. He normally let her abusive nature pass because he knew that they were only skin deep. But now they ran deep and they permeated through her words. He felt burned. "I care," the paladin said.

Stahl held her wrist so he could take a better look at her wound. He accidentally felt her pulse and it was beating fast. He stole a glance at her face and Severa quickly looked away. He cleaned the wound on her arm and for every wince that she made, he held her still.

Severa rolled her eyes as Stahl applied a vulnerary on her wound and wrapped it with bandages. "There. It will be better in an hour. Be careful next time. I don't like seeing you hurt."

She turned her head to look at him and he held her gaze. Her eyes were full of sorrow, her brows were full of hate, and he wished that he could replace them with something else. "I mean it," he said.

Severa's normally indignant face turned a little ecstatic. It made him smile seeing her like that. "I was waiting for you to change your expression into something a little nicer," Stahl chuckled. "You do have a nice smile."

The girl slapped his arm. "I'm not smiling because I'm happy. I'm smiling because you're done fixing me up and I can finally go back to practice," she said.

"Wait for an hour, then you can do whatever you want," he said. "So um, you let me treat your wound and you talked to me. I take it that I won't get the cold shoulder from you again?"

"Why does it matter that I talk to you?" She blushed.

"It matters," he said. "I want everybody to be happy, and you talking to me only means that you don't hate me anymore." He looked for traces of contempt on her face, and waited for the immediate backlash. There was none. "Does that mean that we're friends again?"

Severa walked out of the medical tent without saying a word.

Stahl couldn't let her leave without an answer. He followed her outside and saw her head deep into the woods, away from the rest of the camp.

"Severa?" he asked. She turned around to face him.

"I-I wanted some time alone," she said. Her face was red and she pouted.

"And here we are alone," he answered. "There were too many people in the tent for us to have a proper conversation, I guess."

"I still want to be alone," she said sullenly. "But you are so persistent, it's not like I have a choice."

He had so many questions for her and he didn't want to delay any longer. "How did I hurt you, Severa?"

Severa raised her eyebrows as he bridged the distance between them.

"Can you please tell me how? I can't rest easy until I know. I understand that you hate me, but I must've done something to have caused your anger. What did I do?" his hand went to where his heart was, as if he was holding it to protect it.

"You know me. I hate the world, and you're a part of it… so that means I hate you too," she answered. She turned around and was about to run away but he grabbed her hand.

"That's a lie," he said softly. "That is one big lie."

She pulled her hand away from him and put her hands on her hips, "how would you know that? I told you the frigging truth!"

"I-I know when you're lying. When you lie, your fists are clenched, and your eyes squint. I know that when you're happy, you pout but the corner of your lips are curled and it reminds me of a smiling cat. And when you're sad or thinking deep thoughts, your eyebrows furrow and you always look away. I know this because I'm always looking at your face." He cringed inwardly. 'Stahl, what are you saying? You sound like a stalker. Stop, or else your new nickname will be Stahlker. Please don't let that happen. '

Severa's cheeks reddened as she cringed. "What does it have to do with anything?"

"Your face tells me more than your words ever will, Severa. You have the most expressive face I have ever seen. Despite the hurtful things that you say or do, you are actually the most honest person I have ever met. Can you blame me if I'm always looking at you?" He gazed at her intensely as he pinned her to a tree.

'Stahl, what are you doing? Stop!'

Severa looked away from him, her brows furrowed and she tried to resist his grip. He was far stronger than she was, "Stahl, let me go."

"What did I do to cause your pain? How can I fix us?" Stahl lifted her chin up with his finger, pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "Please tell me…"

'Stahl, stop!'

She turned her head to minimize the physical contact between them. "Stahl… I have a lot of issues that I can't just tell you! There is nothing that you can do NOW that will fix this… this mess."

The paladin shook his head. "I'm afraid there is something to fix. Me. I have to fix me. And the only solution is for you to tell me why you hate me. I haven't slept at all because I can't get you off my mind! Gods Severa! I'm so stressed because I keep thinking of you!" Stahl blinked. 'What in seven hells did I just say?!'

"S-Stahl…"

He gripped her shoulders again, "please tell me why. I do not want you to hate me because it hurts. It really hurts. And I do not want to live the rest of my life wondering why I made you feel this way because I only wanted to make you happy."

'Staahhhhpppppp…'

Severa put her head on his chest and clutched his shirt. "You fool… You big stupid idiot!" she said. She lightly punched his shoulder. "Why can't you understand what I feel? You're always… always… you're always so stupid!"

He grabbed her wrist before she punches him again. "I don't know what you really feel! I can't understand unless you tell me because right now, the only thing I'm feeling from you is your evasiveness and your anger. You are one big well of emotions Severa, and every time I try to understand you, all I ever do is fall deeper… Just tell me why you hate me and I will do what it takes so that we can be friends again!"

She gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. Her face was red and she clearly held something back from him. "Look, if it means that you will stop getting stressed over this and stop bugging me, then I no longer hate you! I don't want to tell you why, I just don't hate you anymore. So there! Respect my silence over this matter Stahl, because I will not tell you why! You do not NEED to know the reason why. It's this or nothing!" Severa clenched her fists as she gazed into his eyes.

He calmed down and released her from his grip. Her silence about the matter was fine. What mattered was that they were speaking again. Stahl smiled sheepishly as he scratched his nose. "I-I will accept that… Are we friends again?"

"Yes. Now don't ask me why, I just feel like forgiving you."

He sighed. "Thank you, I guess… I'm so glad we can be friends again." He smiled warmly at her, she smiled shyly at him. The paladin could tell that she still had some resentment towards him, but he could deal with that. He felt his heart feel a little lighter.

He looked into her eyes and Stahl felt like he couldn't handle getting lost in them. He looked at her sun-dappled face and the falling leaves around them. He was glad at the smile that started to form on her lips and her eyes that were locked onto his. He didn't know how long they stood there while not saying anything. He had to break the silence because he was looking at her for too long. "I'm really glad that we're friends again. We haven't talked to each other for a month and I missed you a lot."

Severa looked at the ground, "You d-dummy… I… I m-missed you too."