Being honest with you guys, I absolutely love this story. It started as something of a lighthearted romance and became something far different after several revisions. And I want its legacy to continue on. I've had an ending in mind for a while. It was just a case of getting back to things again. So, after a few teaks, I can happily say we're back on track.
More than that, I also want to link this tale to another one I'm writing. A Fates story called A Night with Corrin.
Anyway, read on! I hope you enjoy!
Our Little Secret - Part X
Every attempt to corner Cordelia and confront her with the truth had (so far) failed. She always managed to find a way out of conversation and back to the side of Robin. She followed him around like some kind of lost puppy, and it was enough to make Severa feel sick - even sicker than she already felt with an unborn child in her belly. Between the morning sickness and rising, fiery frustration, the girl's patience was getting thinner and thinner with each passing week. Then there was Robin. He'd barely spoken to her in days, weeks even - Even as she carried his child, their child, inside her womb.
Events felt locked in time - even as Severa fought as hard as she could to change them.
"Cordelia and Sir Robin are to be wed."
Worse still, Severa had listened to gossip for days now. She'd heard the rumors going around camp, too. Servant girls and soldiers alike talked of marriage between Sir Robin and Miss Cordelia. And as much as Severa didn't want to believe it - proof came in the form of a ring upon the Pegasus Knight's finger. She'd paraded that fancy gemstone band from pillar to post, even worn it in the heat of battle against the Risen.
For all she'd tried, and for all she'd struggled to avert the future from coming to pass, Severa felt small and powerless.
Everything was playing out exactly as she'd feared.
Soon Robin would marry that pristine, perfect little harlot with her long red hair - and Severa's hopes and dreams would shatter like glass.
"Dammit all!" Severa screamed, her eyes narrowed hatefully against the mirror's reflection. She was sick and tired of being promised the world, only to end up tossed aside! "There's nothing I can do... at this rate the future's going to be lost."
"It was stupid of me," the girl admitted. "I believed it would be easy to come back and change things for the better- but... I've made a mess of things. This wasn't supposed to happen."
And that wasn't the worst part. Adrift amidst a chaotic flurry of emotion, she felt her heart beating for yet another - a foolish, dashing, would-be rogue. The sort that kept looking at her like she was the main course at a royal buffet.
"Inigo," Severa sighed. The way he'd caressed her stomach with such tender, fatherly warmth set her emotions alight. She kept thinking about him all the time, almost as much as foolish, unfaithful Robin. In his own suave, devilish way Olivia's son had gotten nearer and nearer to her affections as the days passed. "I-I need to see him again..."
Was it a good idea to walk into the lair of Ylisse's biggest romancer? No. But anything was better than sitting and stewing her in fury.
Inigo was exactly where Severa thought he'd be (after some careful searching) too. Out by the makeshift mess hall toward the edge of camp. A place where all the young lassies and hapless maidens wandered in the midst of their daily duties to the nobles.
Upon seeing Severa, Inigo's eyes lit up like he'd been presented a gift at Naga's yearly festival.
"Severa," he hurried over, quick to give her a small, welcoming hug. "What's wrong?" He asked teasingly, his smile set to kill. "The way you're scowling could kill a Risen."
Severa exhaled softly, snatching up Inigo's hand. She led the womanizer into the doorway of the (almost empty) mess hall. Away from prying ears and all-hearing ears. Whispers and tales spread quickly around this camp.
"I'm fed up," she frowned. "I know you've heard news - about Robin and Cordelia."
"Who hasn't? They're going to hold their ceremony once Walhart's forces finally fall. That's the word on the grapevine, at least. Have you spoken to Cordelia yet?"
Severa didn't know if she wanted to snarl with rage or cry like a small, broken doll. "No. The witch keeps slipping away from me. Why did I bother? Honestly Inigo... I've been foolish. What good has come of my efforts?" She asked glumly, resting a hand upon the ever-increasing bump of her tummy. "My back hurts. I'm hardly sleeping, and I'm swollen in places I didn't know could swell."
And yet, despite Severa's anger, Inigo smiled compassionately, "You look lovely to me. The example of all things womanly and gorgeous."
There it was again. That loving, fatherly expression as Inigo caressed her stomach.
"H-Hey," Severa's cheeks burned red-hot. "Did I say you could paw at my little one?"
Inigo chuckled, easing off. "Forgive me," he bowed, a man most painfully transparent in his intentions. "I merely wished that child were mine for a moment, Miss Severa."
"Hmph," Severa huffed, wrapping her arms around her waist, hugging her middle. "In your wildest dreams, maybe." Unfortunately, she couldn't keep her facade. Her frown fell away, overtaken by a tiny, fragile smile. "T-Thank you, though. F-For saying something so nice... but don't let it go to your head."
"Never in a million years," Inigo answered, holding out his hand for the lady. "Come now," he offered, giving a wink. "I can't stand seeing you so miserable. Shall we walk together, my dear friend?"
Severa snatched Inigo's hand into her own. "Thought you'd never ask. Fine! But I hope you have somewhere good in mind. I'm getting sick of being cooped up in camp like this."
"Oh come now, Severa," said Inigo, escorting Severa with an expression befitting a cat that'd been given his cream. "You can't be upset with the Priestesses for asking you to abstain from battle. You're with child..."
With child, Severa might've been, but that didn't stop her from feeling mighty bored. "It's okay for you," she scowled, flipping back her pigtails. "You're out there, crusading on the frontlines, helping Lucina and Prince Chrom..."
Together the pair walked for what seemed like an eternity. Severa had to stop several times on their journey. Her feet were anything but agreeable, and her backache was damn near eye-watering by the last leg. Finally, before the discomfort became too unbearable, the young lass found herself face to face with something... strange.
A huge swirling vortex, the kind akin to magic and legend, pulsed and crackled before her, held upon between two huge, pillar-like gates. The heat it gave off was almost dizzying, and its pure ethereal essence made the skin tingle.
Severa whistled, tightening her grip upon Inigo's hand. "Wow... That's pretty. What in the heck is it?"
"They call it the Otherworld Gate," Inigo answered. "Word has it that it leads to a whole other land, a place vastly different to this country of Valm, or even our fair Ylisse."
"A-Another world?" Severa almost choked. "R-Really? A place totally unbound by our rules?"
If that were true... then there was hope. Severa's mind raced at double-speed. A world without the Risen, maybe. A place where there was no Grima and perhaps, in her wildest dreams, she wasn't bound by the chains of fate.
Cordelia's daughter took a careful step closer to the unearthly portal - her whole body heated as she closed the gap. Her head swirled. Invigorated; hopeful, she reached out to touch.
"Careful," but no sooner than she did so, Inigo pulled her back. "We don't know what it does."
Severa sighed. "But think of the possibilities. A world without Grima - without Risen." She pulled her hand free of Inigo's. "Doesn't that sound fantastic to you? We could do what we want... be whoever we want - start whole new lives. I'm getting tired fighting an uphill struggle. Aren't you?"
Inigo stepped nearer, joining Severa. He eyed the portal with seriousness. He shook his head. Severa felt her wishes; her aspirations, sink like a stone in water, "No," replied Inigo. "Well... maybe- But... Darn..."
The young lad scratched his head. "Maybe it wasn't a good idea bringing you here, Severa."
There was something about the tone of Inigo's voice, and the way in which he gazed upon the Otherworld Gate. Severa knew hesitation well. Heck, she'd lived a life of hesitation until venturing into the days of the past.
"You're curious, aren't you?" She asked Inigo, giving him a teasing nudge. "C'mon... I know you're smarter than most in camp, braver, too. I bet you're interested to find out for yourself, aren't you?"
"Maybe," Inigo admitted, staring the Otherworld Gate head on. He stood tall and held his head high. "Okay... I'm curious. But- I'm not going alone... not without you."
Severa snapped up Inigo's hand, linking their fingers. She smiled at her friend, nodding her head. "Together then," she said with strength, and dedication. "I'm not saying we go running off for good. But we should at least look, right?"
"Right," Inigo agreed. "I'm always up for an adventure. And whatever we do," he continued, stony and serious. "Let's not use our real names. We don't know what awaits us beyond here - not man nor monster."
"In that case..." Severa hummed, tippy-tapping a finger against her hip. A name. She needed a name. "Selena... I'll go with Selena. It's close to my real name... but different."
"I like it. As for me... I'll go with Laslow. It sounds rather dashing."
Severa giggled. "There you go again, trying so hard to sound cool." She leaned nearer to Inigo, taken by the heat of the moment, happy for what must've been the first time in forever. Red faced, her heart pounding, she placed her lips against the young man's cheek.
And not a second later, she dragged up, his hand in hers, through the portal.
Whatever awaited, they'd face it together.
To be continued...
Another chapter comes to a close! I thought I'd work in a little bit of a twist here, to make things different. Did you like it? Would you like to see more in future? Feel free to leave some feedback and share your thoughts!
As always, keep on supporting Fire Emblem and I'll see you in the next chapter. Thanks again!