Final chapter! I'd like to thank the readers for following to this step. Without further ado, let's jump in!
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Chapter 20: A Beacon of Light Shines Through the Darkness
"Bramimond!" called Athos, Nils and the lords simultaneously.
"Why have you pulled Ninian from her grave?" Eliwood asked him, only to see Bramimond lift up his hand, signalling him to be quiet.
"Preparations... took time," he told Athos. "Alright everyone, place your hands on my back, I require all of your strength. We will gather the legendary power here!" Without hesitation, the lords, Nils did as they were told while Athos held back the dragons as best he could. Placing Ninian's body onto the floor, Bramimond started drawing power from everyone and put his hands onto Ninian's torso.
Sparks crackled around his hand, creating a gravity-like effect where everyone was pulled towards him. "Bring her back..." he called. "Let the dragon girl's soul be restored!" As he finished speaking, he let out a "ha!" and transferred all of their accumulated energy in her body. At once, Ninian took in a huge gulp of breath, eyes bursting open as if defibrilated, and then slowly regaining her normal breathing rhythm.
"Ninian!" gasped Eliwood and Nils in happiness and amazement as Ninian was brought back to life. They were about to rush forward and greet her when Bramimond raised his hand, signalling them to stay back and not interfere.
"Where am I?" asked Ninian. Helping her up, Bramimond got straight to the point.
"Girl with the exalted blood of dragons, use that power to appease them," he ordered her using her own tone. Ninian looked at him in disbelief. Here she was, just raised from the dead, and he expected her use her power?
"Impossible," she whispered. "Use my power in this world, it can't be done." Bramimond paid her no heed.
"No," he assured her kindly just as she did to everyone else. "Do you not feel it? Do you not feel your power returning?" Ninian paused. She indeed felt power beyond words flowing through her. It was her old power as an ice dragon, but how did you she get it back?
"Yes," she nodded. "Yes, I do. Okay, I will try."
Turning around and facing the dragons, Ninian closed her eyes and focussed her power. Her arms and legs stretched and her torso expanded, quickly turning back into her ice dragon form. With a loud roar, she breathed out a blizzard at the fire dragons. Seeing the impending danger, the fire dragons attempted to defend themselves by breathing fire back at the wall of ice. However, Ninian was a priestess of the Dragon Shrine in charge of overlooking the Dragon's Gate, one of the more powerful dragons, she was completely out of the fire dragons' league. The blizzard ripped cleanly through the dragons' hides, freezing them from inside out. Two of them could not take the cold, and was frozen to death. The third struggled to survive. Having expended all of her energy, Ninian reverted back to human form.
"That's enough, children of flame," she called to the dragons remorsefully. "This is not your fault... I'm sorry." With all her energy burnt up, she collapsed to the ground in a thud.
Watching everything flash past him with his mouth gaping open, Eliwood suddenly saw Ninian fall to the ground and faint. For all this time he had missed her, he finally saw her again, and sincerely hoped that she was not brought back to life only to die again. He and Nils both ran towards her at the same time, but Nils reached her first. Placing his finger in front of her nose, Nils felt a rush of relief.
"It's okay," he said happily. "She's only fainted. Thank goodness, Ninian..." Eliwood smiled, but that smile was quickly wiped off his face when he heard a roar coming from in front of them. The third dragon which was not immediately killed by Ninian was standing up again, having recovered its energy. Furious at being hurt like that it charged at the lords.
"One dragon still remains," Bramimond noted. "Leave the girl to me, I will tend to her." Grabbing Ninian and draping her across his shoulder, he disappeared. Athos, who was spent trying to distract the dragons while Bramimond performed his revival ritual, sat on the ground and could not move.
"Chosen ones!" he called. "You must stop the final dragon and save us all!"
Eliwood, Hector and Lyn immediately went into battle formation. The dragon did not hesitate and breathed out a river of fire at the lords. Rolling to dodge the flame, Eliwood and Hector approached the dragon slowly while Lyn, being the fastest, distracted the dragon. She sprinted around the dragon and moved forward, piercing its hide with the Sol Katti. Feeling a minor tickle on its side, the dragon raised its claws to strike Lyn down, only to miss as she leapt back out of the way. Sensing that the girl was of no threat to it, the dragon bared down at Eliwood and Hector. At this time, the two male lords had already approached within a metre of it. Slashing down with Durandal while Hector did the same with Armads, Eliwood slashed open its hide, eliciting a deafening roar from the beast. Furious with being struck by the two Divine Weapons, the dragon swept its claw around and knocked the two lords off their feet. As soon as they landed, the dragon delivered another hot blast of fire at them. 'We are screwed,' thought Hector, as he closed eyes and prepared for the worst.
Suddenly another blast of fire was fired at them, but in the opposite direction to the dragon's. Standing behind them, Athos had launched his most powerful attack to block the dragon's fire breath.
"Are you both alright?" he called. Eliwood and Hector did not have time to answer as the dragon's claw came down on them again, forcing them to retreat.
With the fight against Nergal, Eliwood had nothing to lose. Whether he lived or he died, it made no difference to him, as long as he hindered Nergal's plan to release dragons back into the world. However, now that Ninian was brought back to life, he was determined to live long enough to see and speak to her once more. 'Even if I have to die after that, I can die without regrets,' he thought. Released of all pain, suffering and negative emotions, his heart uplifted greatly, and the Blazing Sword reacted accordingly. Sensing Eliwood's positive spirit, the Durandal released its full power. Lifting the sword up, Eliwood brought it down in one long strike, shooting blue fire at the dragon, hitting the dragon in the eye. Roaring loudly, the dragon answered by swinging its tail at Eliwood, who was ready and cut off the tail. Bellowing in agony, the dragon breathed fire at the young lord, who quickly jumped out of the way. Seeing this welcome distraction, Hector rushed forward and struck the dragon on its hind legs, causing it to fall over. Blazing Sword in hand, Eliwood rushed forward to finish it off, slitting its throat. Letting out a final roar, the dragon exploded, sending out flames in all directions.
"Get back!" called Athos as he rushed forward and cast up a barrier to shield them from the flames.
As Nils watched the flames dissipate from the dragon, he felt all of his worries dissipate along with them. He had never felt any release like it.
"Lord Eliwood!" he called as he rushed forward. There would be no way to ever express his gratitude. Everything was a product of their weakness, and now, everything was finally resolved. He had never felt any release like it.
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" called Eliwood. Everything finally over, he collapsed to the ground in relief and mirth.
"Well done, brave successor of Roland," congratulated Athos. "It's finally over, everything is..." Without being able to finish, he suddenly doubled over and spat out a huge gulp of blood.
"Lord Athos?" called the lords and Nils in horror. Athos, on the other hand, merely smiled in acceptance.
"Haha," he laughed. "Looks like I have exhausted all of my strength." Turning to Bramimond, who had just reappeared, he whispered: "I'll die before you, my friend."
Nodding in acknowledgement, he replied: "I may follow you soon, for now, I will sleep again", and disappeared, returning to the Shrine of Seals. As soon as Bramimond disappeared, Athos could not stand any longer and fell to the ground.
"Lord Athos!" called Eliwood. Raising his hand, Athos signalled him to not worry.
"Eliwood, Hector, Lyn, I have lived a long time, but now, I am done," he whispered with a shrug. "Do not grieve for me, soon, I will be with long-lost friends. I have no regrets. Now, my friends, let me leave you a parting gift. As I lay dying, I see many things, I see the future." Smiling, he let himself drift through his visions. After about a minute of probing the future, the smile disappeared in a flash.
"Oh, why?" he moaned sadly. "Why is this not now? Neither Bramimond nor I... will be here... to help a land in need..." Shocked by his despair, the lords figured that it must have been something pretty horrible.
"What do you see?" asked Lyn.
Athos opened his eyes. "An evil star... rises in Bern," he explained. "All of Elibe will once again be washed in blood." Eliwood, Hector and Lyn looked at each other fearfully, not knowing what to do. "But do not fear," Athos continued. "Once again, Lycia brings hope. Children of fire... everything..." Unable to continue, Athos' hand dropped to the ground and stopped breathing as he died. Seeing the old man finally lay to rest, the three lords could not help but feel sad, but knew it was inevitable. Grateful to the wise old one's help, Eliwood closed Athos' eyes for him.
"Lord Athos," he whispered. "Even at the end, he was concerned for us..." Hector and Lyn also knelt down in respect and sadness for the Archsage.
"Look," pointed Lyn. "Lord Athos, it's almost as if he's smiling..." Nils also went up to pay his respects. Here was the man that helped them through their adventure, without ever wanting anything back from them. Without him, who knows where they would be?
"This world will once again be enveloped in darkness," said a voice from behind them sadly. "But at the end, a saving light shall rise..." The hairs at the back of Eliwoods neck stood up at once as he turned around. He knew that voice only too well. It was Ninian, the one whom he had thought of and missed horribly for the past few weeks. Was it real or was it a dream? Was he hallucinating from his own grief, or she really standing in front him? He moved towards her slowly, as if only just waking up, and put his hand on her cheek, trying to confirm to himself that she was not just an illusion. Feeling her soft yet solid skin over the wild pulsing of his heart, he could not hide his excitement any longer and embraced her tightly. There was truly no bliss in return without the pain of farewell, from tragedy came triumph, one cannot know the taste of true sweetness without going through bitterness.
"Ninian," he breathed happily. "I'm... I'm... I don't know what to say. I don't know how to express how glad I am to see you here. I can't believe you're back. How I've missed you! Would you forgive me?" What seemed like an eternity in his arms, Ninian wished this moment could last forever. However, she knew it just could not last and tears began running down her cheeks.
Seeing her crying, Eliwood broke the embrace and looked into her tear-filled eyes. "What's the matter?" he asked kindly. "You are not happy to see me? You can't forgive me can you?" He was of course, referring to his unintentional attack on her when she was an ice dragon. However, Ninian shook her head, and looked away.
"No, it's not that, Lord Eliwood," she sobbed. "It is my fault, everything is. I only wish we could be together forever, but it's just impossible..." Eliwood stared at her in shock.
"Why?" he asked with confusion. "Are you afraid of this world and its people?" Again, Ninian shook her head.
"I have to go home," she told him truthfully, words which nearly punched out Eliwood's heart. "I'm the cause of all of this. It was my weakness that invited this tragedy. Here on Elibe, we were nurtured for ages in our land of birth. Even after humans invaded and drove us out, not a day has passed that I did not miss it. Memories of my mother and father, of my home, I yearned to see it again. Those children, the fire dragons, they were just like me. We knew it was forbidden, yet we answered Nergal's called and opened the gate. We did not intend to stay long at all, just to see our home one last time, but Nergal captured us and it led to this."
Eliwood hated it when Ninian would blame herself like this. He wanted to tear his heart in two every time he watched her do it. Since when was it her fault? If humans did not drive out the dragons, would they have come to this point? If humans did not force Nergal down the dark path, how would Nergal have the heart to do what he did to his children?
"Ninian," he said gently. "Stop blaming yourself. You know I hate it when you do that. We humans took control of the continent as if it was our right. We never considered who or what we drove away. Ninian, Nils, the blame of this is never yours alone, in fact, it was circumstance that drove you to this. While we can claim ignorance, we still bear some responsibility." Although Nils and Ninian knew Eliwood was one the kindest humans they had ever known, they did not expect to hear what he just said from any human.
"Lord Eliwood, do you truly believe that?" asked Nils.
Eliwood had always been a man of his word. "Of course I do," he replied. "If my father were here, he would say exactly the same thing. Let's work together and think about the future. If the entire continent were made a place where dragons and humans could live together like the hidden village that Lord Athos spoke of, Arcadia..." Touched by his words, Ninian let out a fresh burst of warm tears. Putting her hand to his mouth, she smiled lovingly, but clearly without happiness whatsoever.
"What a wonderful world that would be," she sighed. "But that's something that won't happen for a long, long time. So we cannot stay here. The Dragon's Gate is still open, if it remains so, other dragons will certainly pass through. Before that happens, we must return to our world. We must regain our power and seal it from that side."
Eliwood knew it was useless to argue, yet watching Ninian pass through the Dragon's Gate, never to return, was something he could not do.
"Are you saying we'll never see each other again?" he cried despairingly. "That can't be! If you must go, then so will I!" Eyes open in shock but touched by Eliwood's affection, Ninian could only throw herself into his bosom and wept uncontrollably.
"Lord Eliwood," she sobbed. "I have truly been blessed to have had the chance to meet you. I really wish it wasn't our cruel fate to be like this." Looking up into his eyes, she pointed to the cut to her neck she received from Durandal.
"I would rather take a thousand slashes to the throat from your sword rather than return to our world, but I just cannot. Being dead was far better than having to face this burden. But this is something I must do, I know you can never forgive me for doing so, and I will never forgive myself either." Getting up, she signalled for Nils.
"Come, Nils, let us go. We must return to our world," she told him. Turning around, she faced Eliwood for the last time.
"Please don't forget me, Lord Eliwood," she sniffed. "I know I will never forget you, a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years, for as I as live, I will never forget your affection and kindness. May there be more people like you in this world."
"Ninian!" called Eliwood in despair. He could not tell when he felt worse, the time he killed her with Durandal or the moment he was currently in. When he killed Ninian, he was so upset that he could not eat for days, but now, watching her leave him while alive and well, obviously in great sadness herself, blew his heart to smithereens. Everything he had done for the world, every act of kindness that he had ever done had led him to this moment, this is how the world had repaid him. Letting out an anguished scream, he pulled Durandal from the ground and slashed it down toward the far wall in frustration, ripping a deep gush in it, deep enough so the light from the outside seeped in from it. Hector and Lyn gasped in shock and fear of the power of the Blazing Sword. He held his head in his hands in disappointment and hopelessness.
Watching from the side and seeing the reluctance and affection between Eliwood and Ninian, Nils could not help but feel sadness and a twinge of regret. After all, he had vowed to pay back Eliwood in any way he could after all he had done for them. Tapping his sister on the shoulder, he motioned for her to come to the side.
"Ninian, could you come over to the side for a moment? I need to tell you something," he requested. Ninian did as she was asked.
"What is it?"
Nils held his sister's hand tightly. "Ninian, the air of this world has changed so much from what we knew," he said. "No matter how much time passes, our strength will never return. If we stay here, we won't survive long."
Ninian looked puzzled. "What are you saying?" she questioned. Why did he just tell her that? It made absolutely no sense. They were returning to their world, why would they care if they cannot live long on Elibe? Or was he suggesting something else? Stepping towards the Dragon's Gate, Nils could only sigh in melancholy.
"But even knowing that your life will be short, you truly wish to remain here, don't you? There is not a single person in this room that thinks otherwise," he commented. "I understand, Ninian. Stay here with Lord Eliwood and be happy. I could never live with myself if you had to live thousands of years of regret." Turning to Eliwood, he bowed his head in respect and gratitude.
"Lord Eliwood, thank you, for everything. Ninian... my sister, please cherish her with all your heart. I know she will be happy with you."
Ninian gasped. "Nils!" she called. "You... are you..." She could not believe what she had just heard. She had been together with Nils for her entire life, never apart, now he was suddenly willingly to give her up. Looking at Nils, then at Eliwood, she did not know which one she would miss more.
Seeing his sister's reluctance, Nils could only step forward and embrace her for the last time. "I'm going alone," he told her. "I want to live a long time, I don't have your curiosity. Don't cry, Ninian. Even if we're apart, if we never see each other again, nothing, nothing in time and space will ever break our bond." Breaking the embrace, he could not stop a few drops of tears dropping from his eyes.
"But I know what's important, sister," he continued. "Live as long and as happy as you can, after a thousand years, it's time you got it. It's the least thing I can do to thank Lord Eliwood for both of our lives."
Grateful to Nils' willingness to part with his sister, Eliwood could only drop to his knees in front of the boy and bow to him with genuine appreciation.
"Thank you Nils," he thanked wholeheartedly. "I will never forget what you have done for us." How could he? Without the boy's selflessness, he would not have known how to live with himself for quite a long time.
Nils quickly helped him up. "No, Lord Eliwood," he said. "Thank you. Thank you for saving my sister and I, and for giving us hope for the future." Waving goodbye, Nils stepped into the Dragon's Gate, never to return. After about half a minute, the light flowing from the gate disappeared as he closed it from the other side.
o0o
As Eliwood, Lyn, Hector and Ninian watched Nils cross the barrier back to his own world, they could only feel sad and reluctant. However, the relief that everything is over hit them at last.
"Come on, Ninian," called Eliwood. "Let's go home. I promise you'll be happy." Ninian nodded. She was finally home, and even though Nils had to leave her to allow her to stay, ultimately, she felt satisfied and complete. She was finally with someone she loved, in her rightful home, Elibe. Making their way back down from the Dragon's Gate, the lords saw Nino and Jaffar treating Rath and Renault's injuries, while Farina sat on the side, looking rather annoyed. Seeing Hector come down, she walked straight up to him and punched him in the arm.
"What was that for?" asked Hector angrily. Pouching her lips, she grabbed his ear and pulled it tightly.
"You left me and went after the action, didn't you?" she scolded him playfully then she started slapping him over and over again. "You could have at least woke me up so I can help, how dare you, how dare you, how dare you!" Turning around and seeing Ninian next to Eliwood, Farina's jaw dropped.
"Is she a ghost?" she asked Hector.
"Of course not," replied Hector. "She killed the dragons for us, why don't you go and thank her?" Happily, Farina greeted Ninian with reverance.
"Please do not wasting your effort with niceties, Miss Farina," Ninian replied. "I'm just a girl trying to make her way around the world, that is all."
While the lords were fighting the dragon, Nino and Jaffar carried Erk and Legault's bodies out to camp to be buried along with the rest of the dead. After they treated Rath and Renault to the point where they could walk again, everyone made their way back out of the Dragon's Gate.
It was the dawning of a new day, a new beginning for them all. Seeing Eliwood, Hector and Lyn walk out of the Dragon's Gate triumphantly, everyone in the camp cheered, all tragedies of the past few months seemed to wash away with laughter. Even with the number of dead and wounded, they could not help but feel relieved and triumphant. Victory, it seemed, freed them all.
o0o
Fifteen years had passed since the Battle of Dread Isle. During that time, Eliwood succeeded his father as the Marquess of Pherae, while Hector did likewise in Ostia. Lyn returned to Sacae with Rath and bore him a daughter named Sue. She left Caelin in Ostia's protection. Wil and Rebecca returned to Pherae, where they married and give birth to a son named Wolt. Dart also returned with Rebecca and Wil back to their village in Pherae. Bartre, who originally only saw Karla as a rival, turned the rivalry into love instead. They lived together on the Western Isles for about ten years until Karla fell ill and passed away. Bartre and his daugher, Fir, roamed around the Western Isles, fighting injustice and slavery. After meeting with Karla after the battle against Nergal, Karel finally repented his past crimes and retired to Bern, where he did many heroic deeds, earning him the title of "Sword Saint". Pent and Louise returned to Etruria to live a peaceful life. Pent resigned as the Mage General, which caused quite a lot of controversy, but in the end all he wanted to do was live together with Louise, who gave birth to two children named Klein and Clarine. Lucius opened an orphanage in Araphen, another Lycian nation, while Raven helped him out from time to time. Raven himself lived on as a mercernary. Merlinus opened a store in Ostia, but closed down later to serve Eliwood as his Chief Advisor.
Nino and Jaffar, the last members of the Black Fang, had nowhere to go. As a sign of good will and gratitude, Eliwood invited them to live in Pherae near where the castle was. They enjoyed a quiet life there, where Nino gave birth to twin boys named Lugh and Ray. However, because of the assassination on Prince Zephiel, the kingdom of Bern issued bounties to hunt down Black Fang members. After a few years of happiness, Jaffar suddenly disappeared when bounty hunters came for him. Knowing that the bounty hunters would come for her as well, Nino left her children in Lucius' orphanage and went searching for Jaffar, hoping to find him. They were never heard of again.
Florina returned to Ilia, where she eventually became one of the greatest pegasus knights in the land, imparting her knowledge to young cadets. After Caelin was taken under Ostia's wing, Sain became a freelance knight who protected the civilians of the former Lycian nation. He was unable to drop his womanising ways, although he was so popular in the former Caelin that most women wanted to date him anyway. Matthew, Serra and Oswin continued their services to Hector, Matthew was put in charge of intelligence, while Oswin became a general for the Ostian Armour Knights. Lowen continued his service to House Pherae, as did Marcus and the married Harken and Isadora. Even though he was a veteran and age was catching up to him, Marcus was selected by Eliwood to be in charge of the entire Pheraen military, overseeing its activity, strategy, and training. Priscilla returned to her adopted parents in Caerleon, Etruria. Hawkeye returned to Nabata, where he eventually passed away from old age. He left the mantle of "defender of the desert" to his daughter, Igrene. Vaida returned to Bern, where she tried to aid Prince Zephiel in secret, but was eventually discovered and sentenced to imprisonment. No-one knows what happened to Renault.
Canas travelled around the world, but he returned to his home in Ilia. Unfortunately for the shaman, he was killed when he tried to calm a freezing Ilian blizzard using his magic, leaving behind a two year old son named Hugh.
It was a chilly autumn afternoon. Two people rode on a horse as it slowly trudged toward Castle Ostia, a red haired man and his son.
"We'll be at Castle Ostia in about half an hour," Eliwood told his son, who was looked no older than ten years old. "I haven't seen your Uncle Hector in fifteen years, I wonder how he's been?" The boy looked up at his father's remiscent form.
"Daddy, is Marquess Ostia really your best friend?" asked the boy. "How come we haven't met him sooner?"
Smiling at his son's inquisitiveness, Eliwood answered: "Roy, Lord Hector is a busy man. He's leads the entire Lycia Alliance. How does he have the time for such leisure activities? Besides, he isn't the type of person you would call a leader, anyway..."
This got Roy interested. "What do you mean by that, daddy?" he asked curiously. Laughing, Eliwood told his son everything about Hector, his personality, his likes and dislikes and so on.
"As you see," narrated Eliwood. "Lord Hector really doesn't like being a leader, he just likes to fool around and have fun. Although, the one thing I really admire him for is his ability to prioritise his feelings."
Raising his eyebrow, Roy was confused. "What does that mean, daddy?" he asked. Eliwood thought about it for a second, trying to determine what was the best way to explain it so a child could understand.
"He can hide his feelings if he thought they were bad for the group," he finally explained. "Once, when Lord Hector and I were fighting against a powerful enemy, news came in that his brother had passed away. He did not want to burden me and the rest of the group, therefore he pretended he knew nothing and everything was fine. I could never do that." Roy was amazed.
"Is this when mummy was still alive?" he asked. "Please tell me about mummy again."
Eliwood sighed when Roy asked this. His son would ask him to tell him stories about Ninian every day, it was starting to get tedious. After the battle against Nergal, Eliwood and Ninian lived happily in Castle Pherae and was married soon after Eliwood succeeded his late father as marquess. He took her around to see the Elibe and Ninian would reminisce about how she had known it and how much it has changed. After five years of living together, Ninian finally bore Eliwood a child and they named him Roy. However, just like Nils had predicted, Ninian did not have long to live on Elibe. Almost a year after she gave to Roy, her body simply could not take the environment on Elibe any longer and she passed away. Although sad at her passing, Eliwood had grown more mature after six years, and he had long prepared for the day that death had to part them.
"Don't be sad, my darling Eliwood," she told him on her deathbed. "These six years with you have brought a thousand times more happiness than the rest of my one thousand years of existence. Grieving would only make both of us sad. For the sake of our child and for everybody else, it is better that you renege your promise to me. I'll wait for you in the next world." And so, for the sake of Pherae and their child, Eliwood brought Roy up by himself. Even though Eliwood had arranged for Rebecca to be like a surrogate aunt to Roy, he still craved for the love from a mother and envied other children who had mothers. The only thing close was for Eliwood to tell him stories about Ninian every day. He did not tell his son anything about the Nergal affair or anything to do with Ninian being a dragon, he wanted his boy to grow up being an ordinary human, even though he would be the son of a noble.
'Well, when Lord Uther passed away, Ninian actually wasn't alive,' thought Eliwood. "Yes Roy," he sighed grudgingly, albeit slightly untruthfully. "I'll tell you more about your mother later, we're here." They had arrived at the gates of Castle Ostia. Delighted to see his friend visit him, Hector greeted Eliwood personally and led him into the castle.
"Eliwood, how are you?" he greeted as they embraced. Fifteen years had passed since they last met. Hector had grown the long blue beard that he had envisioned in his dreams. Eliwood returned the greeting while letting Roy play in the garden.
"Long time no see, Hector, I see you've grown into quite the marquess," he said. Annoyed at Eliwood for addressing him like this, he ignored the last bit of Eliwood's sentence.
"It's been fifteen years, hasn't it, the last time we met was at my brother's funeral. I'm sorry to hear about Ninian, but there is absolutely no way I can take a step out of Ostia these days." Eliwood waved his hand, signalling to Hector to not worry.
"Don't apologise," he brushed it off with a smile. "Ninian was happy. She preferred the peace and quiet, and a loud, noisy brute like you would have just spoiled everything." Laughing, Hector slapped Eliwood across the back.
"You little runt," he retorted. "You've changed so much."
"And you haven't changed a bit, apart from that beard you've dreamt about," Eliwood returned the sentiment. "It's been fifteen years, time sure flies right by. My father's disappearance, his death, the battle with Nergal and those fire dragons... the memories are so vivid it's as if it all happened yesterday." He seemed nostalgic.
Hector snorted. "Hmph, Nergal..." he started. "He was such a blackheart. I've had enough battles like that." Looking over Eliwood's shoulder, he saw Roy running around in the garden.
"Is that your son over there?" he asked Eliwood.
Eliwood nodded. "I've been waiting for a chance to introduce you to him, but I never got the chance. Roy!" he called. "Come over here and say hello to Marquess Ostia!" Roy answered his father's call and immediately came in to greet Hector.
Slightly bashful, he stuttered: "Ye-yes sir! P-please to meet you Lord Hector. My name is Roy." 'Just like Eliwood,' noted Hector with a smirk. 'Overly courteous'.
"Roy, is it? Nice to meet you lad," Hector returned the greeting. "Well, I guess I should introduce my daughter, then! Lilina, dad wants you to meet some people!" A young blue haired girl around the same age as Roy walked into the room. Seeing the visitors, Lilina held onto her father's leg and tried to hide from view. Hector pulled his leg back.
"What?" he asked. "Are you being shy? You don't have to be so nervous. This is your father's old friend and his son." Relaxing a little bit but still very shy, Lilina let go of her father's leg and quietly mumbled "Hello" while her face reddened like a tomato. Seeing the shy little girl greet him, Eliwood smiled kindly at her and returned the greeting.
"Hello, Lilina," he said courteously. He then wheeled steered Roy to the front. "This is Roy," he introduced. "He's about the same age as you." Seeing another child, Lilina was delighted. She rarely interacted with other children, since she spent most of her life in the castle.
"Nice to meet you," she greeted. Like Lilina, Roy did not get many chances to interact with other children. Apart from Rebecca and Wil's son Wolt, who became his milk brother, Roy had less contacts with other children of his age.
"Lilina, do you want to be friends?" he offered. "Let's go play outside." Smiling, Lilina agreed and the two of them set off at once.
"What a cute little child," noted Eliwood. "Good thing she took after Farina." Hector turned around to give him a sour look.
"What?" he stammered. "She looks just like me, doesn't she?"
Eliwood laughed. "You are a sarcastic one, Marquess Ostia!"
Hector returned the joke by retorting: "You're the one putting on airs, Marquess Pherae!" Fifteen years of separation was laughed off in just a few tens of seconds. Hector was actually quite formal as marquess, but with Eliwood around, he was finally able to relax.
"Farina does all the finance for me," he was telling Eliwood. "She's good with all that stuff. She could sweet-talk every noble she meets, and the Ostian coughers would expand just like that. Do remember what I did to recruit her?" Eliwood slammed his face into his palm.
"Of course I do, Hector," he chuckled. "You blew a 20,000 black hole in our funds. How could I forget that?" Hector and Farina got married soon after Hector became the marquess. They had a child before Lilina whom Hector named Uther, after his brother. However, that child died of tuberculosis before he turned three.
"By the way, Hector," Eliwood started talking again, but with a more serious tone. "I heard that the king of Bern died. It was fairly sudden, too."
Eliwood's main purpose to visit Hector was to discuss this very matter. Introducing Roy was lower priority. King Desmond was killed just a few days ago, and Bern was in disarray. Being the biggest military power in all of Elibe, Bern's sudden chaos had put the whole continent on guard. According to Hector's spies, there was actually an assassination attempt on Prince Zephiel, but somehow it was King Desmond who died.
"It's a really strange tale," mumbled Hector thoughtfully. "At first, I had heard that it was the prince who was killed, but then new information came out three days later saying it was actually the king who had died." Eliwood was extremely puzzled too.
"Do you remember Archsage Athos' prediction?" he asked. "Is something happening in Bern?" Looking at each other, they both hoped that it was not the case.
Suddenly, from the garden, Lilina called out: "Daddy, can I show Roy my pony?" Breaking out of his worried trance, Hector nodded.
"Of course, Lilina, be careful!" he told her. Delighted, Lilina dragged Roy to the stables with excitement.
Pensively, Eliwood and Hector sighed as they watched the two children rush off to play. 'Children are truly innocent to the world,' they thought. They had no idea of the kind of hardship that awaited them.
"For the sake of our children, I'll stop anything that may happen," declared Hector. "I'll sacrifice my life to make it so." Eliwood nodded in agreement.
"So will I, 'Once again, Lycia brings hope'," Eliwood recounted. "What if it turns out wrong? No, it must happen..." Staring at the sunset and the children in the garden, the two lords enjoyed the present while looking to the future.
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And that is the end! Hope you've enjoyed it and I'll thank you, the reader again, for following the story to the end and didn't give up on it. I don't know what I'm going to do after this, I've started on FE6, but I'm on the verge of flipping out, so don't expect anything for now. It's been a long time, and I'll see you next time!