A Third Journey

by skywolf666

Endings give rise to beginnings, and coming home was only the start of something new for the silver-haired tactician and his family. The Grimleal War had come to an end, and he had returned to his wife and child safely, but the adventure hadn't ended with the battles. The father hunted for answers to his past, while the daughter searched for understanding for her mother. CxTxM. (M)

21. Reunions

Mountainous Village

Outskirts

Noon

Morgan paused as she came within distance of the secluded village, and she felt her heart skip a beat as she gazed out at the array of well-worn buildings and farmland. She had seen several such landscapes in the past handful of days as she slowly flew up the mountainside, but her instincts had continued to drive her higher with each small collection of homes that she passed. Trusting her intuition, Morgan hadn't stayed in any location for longer than a day before she was climbing again, and she was glad her stubbornness had been rewarded as she gazed at the hidden place that was the end of her journey.

The village she stood surveying had been on no map or in no tale that Anna had given her about the northern mountains, and a tiny smile curled at Morgan's lips as she mused on telling the redheaded trickster that her knowledge was out of date. She folded her arms about herself as she wondered what she was possibly looking for now that she had arrived. A cold wind blew through her cloak as she began her approach, and she remarked to herself with a little laugh as her mind wandered on the friends she had left behind in town five days ago, "A journey with no real goal in mind, just a destination... Laurent made it sound so poetic... He could have just called it what it is; a wild goose chase."

As her boots crunched snow underfoot, she was aware of her ears beginning to burn with embarrassment at the thought of the blond-haired mage. Though they had both became awkward during the dance, they had managed to fall into an easy rhythm once they had returned to the table. With Anna nearby and acting as something of a buffer, they had spent the rest of the evening talking and catching up with tales of their individual adventures.

Morgan still could barely believe how far he had travelled and what he had already learned since he had left Ylisstol. He seemed to pick up new knowledge no matter where he went, and when he had revealed his journals to her, Morgan had felt positively shamed in comparison. He had written over six different texts on as many subjects, and he had continued to shock her still further when he had admitted he was mulling over the idea of committing the army's adventures to paper on top of his own studies.

When both she and Anna endorsed the thought thoroughly, he had looked remarkably flattered, and had agreed then and there to do so. The rest of the night had passed in eager conversation about the better times they had spent in the midst of the war, with Laurent taking notes at odd intervals as he allowed the talk to inspire him further. When night had fallen and they had parted from the tavern to head to their respective inns, Laurent had surprised her by asking where she would be heading after finally leaving Valm behind her.

Answering him with the truth, that she would be heading back to Ylisstol and to her parents, had seemed to spark something in him. He'd avoided her eyes and remained silent for several minutes until they had to part at the fork in the street, and then he had promised her he would see her there in the spring. When she had only stared at him, dumbfounded, he had hastened to clarify that he would need to be in Ylisstol to obtain the necessary data for his research, but his blush had betrayed him, and set that odd fluttering in her stomach off again when he had hurried off with an embarrassed farewell and good luck.

'I'm kind of... excited. I want to see him again...' Morgan admitted with an inward giggle, and she rubbed self-consciously at her nose as Anna's devilish smile popped once more into her head. The merchant had teased her gleefully once Laurent had been gone, and the jests had only sharpened the realization that something strange had passed between her and the mage during their dance together. What it was, Morgan still wasn't sure, and Anna, surprisingly, hadn't become too mean in her jokes when she had seen her confusion. 'I guess I'll have to talk to Mother... I mean, he's been my friend for ages... Maybe she'll be able to explain why this suddenly happened...'

The din of a busy market broke through her thoughts, and Morgan shook her head to clear it as she glanced about curiously. Despite the weather and the snow, the streets were full of villagers buying and selling their wares, and though the population seemed much smaller than Morgan was used to after months of living in Ylisstol, she still couldn't hide a happy smile at being in the midst of such chaos again. 'Just like old times...'

Memories of her many times of dragging Lucina out of the castle to join her in roaming Ylisstol's streets flickered through her mind and widened her grin as she entered the crowd. Though the princess had always protested leaving her post, Morgan never bothered to listen to her arguments. She knew just as well as Lucina did that they needed the time away from their roles of waiting daughters, and they had come to cherish the hours they whiled away in the marketplace. They were pleasant moments in harder times, and Morgan knew for certain she had only made it through her father's disappearance because Lucina had been so willing in putting up with her desperation to find silly ways to fill the silence, and soothe her loneliness.

Her feet continued to carry her through the crowd at a slow and easy pace, and she followed their lead without thought, as she had since she had begun her trek through the mountain. Her instincts hadn't steered her wrong yet, and she had complete and utter faith that she would know when it was that she reached her destination. Her dreams had led her steadily northwards, and with a blind obedience that most would call foolish, Morgan was happy to follow the guidance. She was brimming with childish wonder that she hadn't allowed herself to feel since she had decided she would go on her pilgrimage, and it was a heady feeling that she had missed sorely during her travels. 'I wonder what it is that's waiting for me...?'

Losing herself once more in her imagination proved her undoing as she felt her shoulder hit squarely against another's, and she staggered back in surprise as she heard the stranger gasp in alarm as several small boxes scattered on the snowy path. Cursing her clumsiness, Morgan dropped immediately to her knees to begin gathering the fallen objects, apologizing profusely as she stacked them in her arms, "Oh gods, I am so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! I really hope I didn't break anything!"

"No, no, my dear, it's my own fault..." The woman replied through a flustered laugh, and Morgan looked up at the sound of the kindly voice to see that she had company on the ground as she picked up the rest of the parcels she hadn't caught. Her dark eyes were embarrassed but kind, and her open face showed she held not an ounce of blame as they stood and exchanged sheepish smiles at the accident. When she continued in that same gentle voice, Morgan found herself blushing with embarrassment at the concern she didn't much deserve for causing the problem in the first place, "I hope I haven't jarred your shoulder. I really should pay more attention to my surroundings."

"No, I have to insist that this mess is my doing. I was too busy daydreaming to pay attention to where I was going." Shaking her head as she argued, Morgan shifted the weight of the parcels in her arms as she wondered why such kindness made her feel so awkward. She knew full well she was to blame for the accident, and though she was glad to see she'd done no harm to the woman and her packages, she felt rather guilty being on the receiving end of an apology. "I haven't hurt you, have I?"

The question earned her a delighted peal of laughter, a warm and rather pleasant sound that made Morgan smile automatically in answer. Shaking her head, the woman lowered her cowl to reveal her long silver-white hair as she dismissed the concern she was being shown lightly, "I am made of sterner stuff than I would appear, even at my age, my dear. I appreciate the sentiment, but it's quite unnecessary. You've done me, and my belongings, no harm."

"I'm happy to hear that." Morgan laughed with her, and after a moment she handed back the parcels she had holding for the woman. She took them expertly, balancing them without really seeming to notice the weight of the things she had bought. Her dark eyes were dancing with mirth, and Morgan couldn't help but feel as if she had met a kindred spirit. She sensed nothing but warm emotions in the woman in front of her, and she took instantly to her as she continued cheerfully, "I would have offered to pay for anything I'd broken, but I'm glad I don't have to."

"And I'm glad as well, though probably for different reasons." The older woman replied without skipping a beat, and Morgan grinned broadly as she confirmed that she definitely had met someone she could easily get along with. Tilting her head, the dark-eyed woman looked her over with a curious smile, and she began without preamble as Morgan watched her politely, "I don't believe you are from this village, are you? I don't recognize you, which is quite an accomplishment considering how long I've been here. May I ask what brings you to such an isolated place like this?"

Remembering Anna's warnings about the privacy desired by most of the villages in the northern mountains, Morgan hesitated to answer truthfully. She hated to lie, but she didn't want to risk being branded an unwanted party in a place so isolated and out of the way. She knew she was meant to be there, her blood was humming loudly and happily in her veins to prove it, but she had no idea why, or what she was looking for.

Still, as she was being studied by the village woman, Morgan felt herself calm on instinct. She wasn't being asked out of suspicion but merely polite curiosity, and she knew she had nothing to fear by being completely honest with the stranger. Sidestepping a bit to the edge of the street lest she accidentally bar the path of the passing shoppers, Morgan answered her with an embarrassed smile, "I'm not entirely sure why I'm here, milady. I've been travelling for quite some time, and I felt the urge to come north rather than return home. I don't exactly know what's drawn me here, but... Well, I've never been one to deny my instincts."

The woman nodded as if she understood perfectly, but in her eyes there was a sharp sort of speculation that gave Morgan the impression that she actually did know exactly what was being talked about. Her smile never faltered either despite the raging curiosity in her face, and her voice was every bit as gentle and patient as before when she asked shrewdly, "A traveller, hmm? I thought I knew your accent. You hail from Ylisse, do you not?"

"Ylisstol is my home." Morgan answered honestly, though she winced a bit inwardly at the half-truth. She, like her father, had no true idea where she had been born, but also like Cail, Morgan knew without a doubt that Ylissean soil was where she was at home. With a bit of a strained smile as she knew her half-truth had been picked up on, she elaborated with a hint of sheepishness and absolutely no irony, "My lineage is a bit... Well, to put it politely, my lineage is rather chaotic. My mother's roots are here in Valm, which is why I'm on this continent... but my father has always called Ylisse his home, so it's mine, too."

"The place of your birth is inconsequential, so long as you know where your heart rests. At least, that has always been my belief." The silver-haired woman dismissed the concern with an honest smile, and Morgan felt comforted at once that she had been understood so easily. With a smallest wave of the hand she could manage while gripping her parcels, she gestured to the village about her as she explained in reply to Morgan's declaration, "Many who live here were born in other places of the world... but they have come here to find refuge and a new place to call their own. However, if I may be so bold, you've made quite the travel if you have come all the way from Ylisstol to here... Especially so for a lone young woman."

Surprised by the concern, Morgan glanced down at herself in confusion. She tried to look at herself through another's eyes as she wondered if she still looked so young and naive despite all she had lived through. She was acutely aware of the sword that was sheathed at her hip, hidden underneath her cloak so not to draw attention to the fact that she was armed, and she couldn't help but chuckle at the inward joke, "I've done quite a bit of travelling despite my age. I'm rather used to it... and I'm not one to frighten easily."

"That I can see as clearly as the sky above my head. A fellow wanderer can always spot others of the same kind." The woman agreed with a small nod, and Morgan blinked in surprise at the unexpected comment. As if noticing she had alarmed the young traveller, the dark-eyed villager couldn't quite suppress a chuckle as she informed her cheekily, "I, like many of my age in this village, was not born and raised amongst the mountains. You are surrounded by a large group of seasoned veterans in adventure, though many would never boast it. I, myself, was around your age when I began my own travels... Mind you, I did not wander the highways armed as you are."

Immediately flustered, Morgan adjusted her cloak to better hide her blade before she gave a furtive glance in all directions to ensure no one else had spotted it. The last thing she wanted was to frighten peaceful strangers into thinking she was some rogue out for coin. As rare as the misunderstanding could be, Morgan refused to run the risk of being chased from the village before she could complete her business. Stammering in abashed explanation, Morgan fiddled with her hair as she apologized clumsily, "I-I'm sorry, I... I just didn't want to run the risk of something... I'm really not here to start trouble or anything..."

"Peace, my dear. I know you a friendly sort. Even in such times, there is always danger about, so I cannot fault you for carrying a weapon." Laughing gently, she reached forward to give Morgan a soft and reassuring pat on her shoulder as she once again dismissed Morgan's apologies. Her dark eyes danced with good humour as Morgan quieted and rubbed sheepishly at her nose like a guilty child.

A flicker of surprise crossed her face suddenly, catching Morgan off guard as the woman stepped back and looked at her as if she was seeing her for the first time. Her eyes narrowed somewhat as she rested a finger on her cheek in obvious thought. She began slowly, almost as if she wasn't entirely sure she should be speaking, "Hmm... Pardon me, but I think I understand why I thought you were somewhat familiar when we began to talk. I wonder why I didn't think of it sooner when you mentioned being from Ylisse."

Blinking in confusion, Morgan wasn't sure of what to say to such unexpected words. She could tell the woman was just as nonplussed as she was, which only made her frown as she wondered how in the world a complete stranger could find her familiar. "Huh...? What do you mean? Familiar?"

"Yes, you see, this village welcomed two strangers from Ylisse a short time ago." Nodding to herself, the silver-white haired woman shifted her weight and turned a little bit to nod down the road towards the river that meandered its way along the village's edge. She explained for the rather bemused youth who followed her gaze, "A husband and wife, I believe. They've kept mostly to themselves since they arrived, but... You look quite like them, now that I think of it. Your hair is quite like the woman's, though she keeps hers long and bound, and the man wears a cloak that is rather similar to yours."

Morgan felt as if she had been punched in the stomach at the simple words, and her heart began to pound against her ribcage as excitement flooded her veins. The meaning of her dreams rang out loud and clear to her now, and a wide, delighted smile spread itself easily across her features. She wouldn't pretend she understood why her parents had come to such a place, but she had found them, and that was more than enough for her. Trying to keep her voice steady as she had no idea where they were and desperately needed the guidance and the certainty, she asked as she was filled with a nervous energy that demanded movement, "My parents are here? Do you have any idea where I can find them?"

"To my knowledge, they've been staying in the old healer's home. It faces the river, not too far from here, by the hill where the graveyard lies." The woman answered with a simple smile, and she turned somewhat to better emphasize which direction Morgan would have to take without her hands to help her point in the proper direction. She added somewhat apologetically as Morgan glanced over her shoulder towards the hill, "I cannot say for certain if they are there at the moment, but that is where they have been staying. I'm sure if the home is empty, you will not need to wait for very long for their return."

"Thank you so much." Morgan bowed her head in gratitude before her body took over and sent her off in the direction she had been pointed in. She made it five steps before she remembered her manners, and blushing furiously she turned about to see the woman standing where she had been left with an amused and fond smile on her face as if she had expected her reaction. Turning on her heel, Morgan folded her hands and performed an honest half-bow before she called out sheepishly, "Forgive me, milady, I didn't even say goodbye, and I never even asked you for your name."

"My name is Mariah, my child." Mariah responded with an affectionate smile, and her dark eyes glittered with a deep warmth that radiated throughout her thin frame. She nodded in acceptance of Morgan's bow as her arms were laden with packages, and she tilted her chin in the direction Morgan would be taking before continuing in that gentle tone that spoke of a loving heart and easy compassion, "I'm quite sure your parents will be as delighted to see you as you are to see them."

"I hope so, Mariah. Thank you very much, and I hope your day is great!" Morgan answered with a laugh, and she turned about after receiving the best of a wave the woman could manage with her hands busy. She made it ten steps this time before she heard Mariah calling out after her, and the words gave her great pause as a bolt of confusion cut through her glee and caught her up short.

"Fare you well, Morgan! May the gods keep watch over you!"

Turning on a dime as she realized she had never given Mariah her name, Morgan was stunned to find that the woman was gone in the crowds before she had the chance to say a word. Blinking in confusion as she scanned the mess of villagers wandering through the marketplace, Morgan frowned in wonder at how quickly the silver-white haired woman had managed to disappear. It was almost as if she had never been there at all, vanishing like mist in the winter breeze. 'How did she... know my name? What in the world was that about...?'

Against the puzzle Morgan felt an insistent tug in her stomach, and the yearning to see her parents' faces put her confusion second as she again thought of how close she was to them. Turning her back on the crowd, Morgan made a mental note to track down the strange woman once she had the time before she set off down the snow-covered road at a quick jog. She could spot the hill she had been told about, along with the small collection of homes that faced the river's edge, and she quickened her pace as her heart picked up speed inside of her chest with her eagerness. 'Mom... Dad...!'

Thanking her father for the natural speed that made her movements seem effortless, Morgan cleared the distance quickly as she approached the hillside. Headstones dotted the snow and vanished amongst the land, proving that she had been heading in the right direction as she noted the single house that was tucked away from the other half dozen buildings nearer to the river. A sprawling garden surrounded the smaller building, and the telltale scent of herbs mixed with flowers filled the air and made it pleasantly sweet despite the cold winter breeze.

However, Morgan was drawn up short again by the lone figure standing near the garden, and her heart caught wildly in her throat as she recognized the familiar form. She tried to call out, but her voice refused to leave her as her feet became heavy. A fierce surge of happiness weighed her down, and her eyes smarted as she thought of the lonely days she had spent wishing she was back home. Clearing her throat with great effort as she finally came closer, she heard rather than felt herself call above the soft whisper of the wind, "Mother."

Stiffening, Tiki turned about with a frown of confusion that immediately turned into a mask of surprise when she saw who had called for her. Her emerald eyes widened in amazed shock, and she blinked several times as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. Her voice was saturated with a baffled sort of pleasure as a slow but building smile curled at her lips, "Morgan...? Is that really...? Morgan!"

"Mother!" The sound of her name on her mother's lips broke the spell, and with a glad cry Morgan cleared the distance between them in a quick sprint. Her mother had barely enough time to open her arms before she flung herself happily into them, squeezing tight and laughing gladly as she buried her face in her fragrant hair. She felt Tiki's arms closing fiercely about her in a glad embrace, and her voice cracked as her gladness reached its peak, "Gods, I'm so happy to see you!"

"As am I." Tiki whispered against her neck as she hugged Morgan close, and her shock at seeing her daughter in the last place she had ever expected was quickly eclipsed by her delight in having her in her arms again. There would be time for explanations later, and Tiki couldn't think of any questions as she savoured the warmth she had been missing since she had let her child go on the journey she had needed to take by herself. Nuzzling gently, Tiki gave her a warm squeeze as she continued in a shaky murmur she couldn't quite steady, "I have no idea how you found us, but I'm delighted you have... I've missed you so much, my sweet..."

"I've missed you, too, Mom..." Morgan answered shakily, and she inhaled the comforting scent of honeysuckle to soothe her nerves as she caught the hitch in her mother's voice. Forcing back a sniffle so Tiki wouldn't know she was nearly crying with her pleasure to be back with her parents, she snuggled further into her mother's arms for a long moment to savour what she had been without on her travels. "So much..."

Pulling back slowly, almost grudgingly, Tiki ran her hand fondly through Morgan's hair as she took a good look at her child again. Morgan's smile was brilliant as she leaned back obediently, but even her cheer didn't distract Tiki from noticing the nearly healed cut that had marred her cheek. She took note of the wrapping that held her daughter's wrist in place as well, and her happiness was darkened by concern as she reached out to lightly touch the wound that was well on its way to disappearing on her child's face as she asked softly, "What happened? You're hurt."

"It's nothing that bad. I just got into a bit of a fight, that's all." Morgan shook her head at the concern, but from that telltale flash in her mother's eyes, she knew full well she wouldn't be allowed to dance about that particular topic for very long. Though she hadn't seen it up close before, Morgan was well aware that there was a reason she had never been seriously wounded in battle when she and her mother had fought side by side. A mother's love for their children was one of the fiercest thing in the world, and a manakete's love for their children was even more terrifying. Trying to placate Tiki before she could say anything as she didn't want to begin her story without her father present, Morgan promised with a laugh, "I'll tell you and Father all about it later... but first I want to know what you're doing here!"

"I could say the same." Tiki answered with a laugh of her own as she considered it was only fair that she and Cail learned the story together rather than separately. She glanced towards the hill where her husband had gone to visit the grave of his mother again before turning back to her daughter and motioning for her to sit on the steps with her. Morgan needed no second bidding, and she cuddled happily against her mother's side as Tiki began slowly, "Well... We left Ylisstol shortly after you did. Cail has been searching for answers to his past these past few months... and that search eventually led us here. This village... was where he grew up."

Blinking in surprise, Morgan looked about her surroundings with a fresh perspective at the idea of her father spending his youth in such an isolated place. She realized quickly it was the perfect location for a mother on the run with her son to hide in, and she nodded in understanding as she recalled the few tidbits of information Cail had about the life he'd led before he'd lost his memory. Leaning further against her mother's arm, she enjoyed the sensation of Tiki's fingers combing lovingly through her messy curls as she mused, "I see... Makes sense, if his mother was trying to hide him away from the Grimleal..."

Morgan paused in surprise as another thought came to her, and she looked up at her mother with hope in her voice and her eyes for her father's lost past. Though she knew better to put too much faith in something having happened for her amnesiac father, Morgan couldn't help but ask slowly, hopefully, "Has... being here jogged any memories for him? Has he remembered anything?"

"No... Nothing has returned for him." Tiki shook her head sadly, hating to dash her daughter's hopes just as much as Cail's had been cruelly scattered. Her husband's past remained sealed away beyond his grasp, and though he hadn't spoken of it, she could sense his fatalism that those lost memories would never return. Morgan's face fell, and the expression of disappointment hurt her heart as she reached automatically to hug her closely to her side in comfort.

Though the words felt paltry after revealing that her husband had no returned memories to celebrate, Tiki reminded herself that the journey hadn't ended with him completely empty-handed. Gesturing to the home they were seated outside, Tiki explained quietly for her curious daughter, "However, our trip here has not been a meaningless journey in any way. Cail has learned much of himself since arriving here... and even more still about his mother. Though she has passed away long before our arrival, she left behind a journal detailing much of her own life... Cail has read it through several times now. I'm sure you will find it to be quite interesting, too."

"Is that where Father is? Visiting her grave?" Morgan asked curiously, and Tiki nodded as she glanced automatically towards the hill when her daughter did the same. Morgan felt her heart give a sharp squeeze for what her father had lost, and she hated to imagine how much pain he had to be in to mourn for a mother he could not remember. The guilt he had to be feeling was impossible to consider, and she bit on her lower lip as she murmured softly, "Oh, Dad... That's just not fair..."

Morgan heard her mother sigh softly in agreement, and a little of the pain she had been feeling lessened as she understood her father hadn't been forced to suffer alone. She latched fiercely onto that thought to distract her from the sadness before turning to her mother and pointing out with a tentative smile, "But... I guess it could have been a lot worse. You were with him the entire time. That had to have helped."

The surprise she felt at her daughter's gentle reassurance quickly melted into fond warmth, and she allowed herself to return Morgan's confident smile. She hadn't been sure of herself time and time again during her stay in the painfully hallow village, but her daughter seemed to think her infallible. Touched by such unwavering faith, and having needed it more than she would ever let on, Tiki could only reach forward to gently caress the length of the fading wound on Morgan's cheek as she answered softly, "I certainly hope that it did, my sweet."

Laughing at her mother's reply, Morgan happily wound her arms about her shoulders and pulled her close for another warm hug. She would never much understand how her parents could manage to have so little confidence in themselves, but it didn't matter. She knew that the ties that bound her family together were unbreakable by any force that existed. Snuggling close into her mother's embrace, she followed that line of thought with a curious, "So... Grandmother left a journal? What was she like? What was her name? What about how she looks like? Do you know?"

Chuckling at her daughter's insatiable lust for knowledge, Tiki adjusted her arms about her as she tried to answer the barrage of questions in order, "Her name was Mariah... And she was a rather remarkable woman, just like her son. The life she lived was difficult, far more difficult than I could have ever imagined... but she never allowed herself to falter. She burned as brightly as the sun while she lived... and Cail resembles her greatly, in both personality and looks. From what I have heard, at any rate. There are unfortunately no pictures to tell by, but according to those who knew her, Cail is her mirror image in almost every way."

"Mariah?" Morgan repeated in surprise, and her eyes widened as the puzzle pieces she had been collecting in silence over the course of her journey came together with the softest of clicks. A strange warmth filled her heart as she wished she could gasp aloud in wonder, and she whispered inwardly with great surprise and pleasure, 'So it was you... The entire time, you were the one who was looking out for me...'

Sensing Morgan's surprise, Tiki frowned in confusion as she wondered if hearing her grandmother's name had possibly triggered something for her. The girl sitting still at her side was remarkably quiet as if she was digesting the new information, and wondering what was going through her child's mind made her ask gently, "Is the name familiar to you, Morgan?"

Smiling slightly to herself, Morgan shook her head as she sincerely hoped her mother wouldn't sense her dishonesty as Nah had so many times before. It felt too strange to repeat what she had just learned aloud yet, and she had a difficult time stifling her desire to laugh as she thought of the playful way her grandmother's spirit had shown herself to her in the village as she forced herself to lie, "N-No, unfortunately... It's just a really pretty name. Would it be all right if I went to pay my respects to her later?"

"Of course. There's no reason why it would not be all right." Tiki answered lightly, and Morgan chuckled as she conceded the foolishness of asking for permission. Lighting combing her fingers again through her daughter's unruly curls, she glanced up towards the hill as a sixth sense tickled through her body and warned her that soon they would not be alone. Morgan looked up in unison with her, her body tensing in preparation to spring free, and Tiki let her go with a soft laugh, "I believe your father is coming. He will be quite surprised to see you."

"I'd be put out if he wasn't." Morgan admitted with a laugh of her own, and her mother's delighted giggles only made the warmth inside of her chest grow. She tried to sit still as she followed her mother's gaze towards the winding path that led towards the graveyard, but she knew she was bouncing slightly in her eagerness all the same. She scolded herself for her lack of patience, especially after all she had been through in the past months, yet she just couldn't stop her feelings of excitement. 'I feel like I'm home again...!'

She was rewarded as she spotted her father rounding into view about the hill, and she promised herself for the rest of her life that she would never forget the look on his face as he spotted his wife and daughter sitting in wait for him. His dark eyes widened to the size of saucers, and his mouth popped open as he stared, uncomprehending at the two of them. She heard Tiki's fond laugh against her ear before she gave her the tiniest of pushes forward, and Morgan needed no second bidding to greet him.

As he had when she had thrown herself at him when he had arrived at Castle Ylisse, Cail managed to open his arms to catch her when she bounded to him. However, unlike that time, he wasn't as prepared and his daughter's enthusiastic tackle knocked him off balance. He laughed an oath as he staggered backwards and landed safely in a snowbank with Morgan still in his arms, and her giggles mingled with his as he lay breathless in the snow, "Morgan! I can safely say this is one hell of a surprise! What are you doing here?"

"It's a really long story." Morgan answered as she hugged her father close before pulling back to offer him a winning smile. He looked rather curious at the vague answer to his rather valid question, and she loosened her arms from around his waist as her hands began to smart from being buried in the snow. Flexing her fingers, she continued somewhat cheekily, "But it can wait until we get out of the snowbank and go somewhere warmer."

"You're the one who put us in the snowbank, you little imp!" Cail shot back with mock injury, and his daughter's boisterous laughter only egged him to redeem himself from the 'slight'. Picking up a handful of snow, Cail moved quickly to dump the frozen bundle under her collar, which immediately earned him a shocked and outraged squeal of protest. She wriggled off of him as she desperately tried to scoop the snow free, and he laughed hard at her as she gasped over the cold.

Narrowing her eyes at him, Morgan didn't hesitate to retaliate. She picked up a handful of her own snow and flung it unceremoniously at her father's face mid-chuckle. He toppled backwards again at the unexpected attack, but before he had a chance to rub the frozen powder from his face, Morgan pounced on him with a battle cry as she returned the favour of dumping snow down his collar, "This means war, Father!"

Cursing and laughing as he went down under Morgan's relentless assault, Cail spluttered as she dunked his head back into the snow with a quick push. She dodged his restraining hands once as she repeated the move, but with a quick jerk, Cail managed to capture her on the second try. Rolling over onto his side, he pinned his daughter beneath him as he paid her back by rubbing snow into her hair with an evil, "Going to war with your father? Quite a mistake! This is how it's done, kiddo!"

With snow working its way down her back, Morgan squealed in dismay as Cail refused to let up with his own plan of attack. Her hair and clothing were soaked, though she knew that she had done just as much damage as her father brushed another face-full of snow out of his eyes. They had bounded away from each other once they had managed to get extricate themselves from the other's grappling arms, now standing on opposite sides of the snowbank with a handful of hastily gathered snow as they faced off. Morgan could hear Tiki laughing at their antics from the porch, but she didn't dare look over her shoulder in case her father took advantage of her distraction.

Glaring at each other, both slouched into positions of fake relaxation as their bodies coiled to spring. Morgan's hand tightened about her freezing missile, ignoring the cold that was making her fingers ache as she readied herself to throw first and reignite the battle. She was willing to risk trying to be faster than he was even though all evidence told her it was a bad idea, and she was about to try and prove it before the tickle in her nose became a full-blown sneeze.

The melodramatic tension broke at the unexpected sound, and Cail raised his eyebrows as Morgan sneezed twice more in rapid succession. Relaxing his arm and the grip about his snowball, he offered with a lopsided grin as his daughter shivered underneath her thick cloak, "Shall we pause this battle and resume it at a later date? There's a story I think your mother and I need to hear, anyway. We can pick up where we left off later."

Morgan returned the smile sheepishly and dropped her snow as she accepted the stalemate. Drawing her arms to her chest, she turned back towards the porch where her mother was standing with a fondly exasperated smile on her face. Stifling a giggle at the expression she probably deserved, she and Cail walked together back to her. As Tiki shook her head with gentle indulgence, Morgan teased her playfully, "You should have joined in, Mother. We could have beaten Father pretty easily."

Feigning indignance at the suggestion, Cail mussed his daughter's hair roughly as they ventured inside. He didn't want to think about his wife taking their daughter's side rather than his, and he countered hotly as Morgan swatted at his hands, "I don't think so! Just because you two girls are dragons doesn't mean you can pair up against the human! Besides, what makes you think she would have paired up with you? She is my wife after all. Maybe we would have been beating you rather easily!"

Shrugging out of her wet cloak, Morgan shook her head and sent a fine spray of cold water at her father as he did the same beside her. She stuck out her tongue at him and traded a faux-glare his way as she argued back, fully enjoying the banter as she had missed it sorely, "Being girls or dragons has nothing to do with it, and I resent the implication! Besides, Mother wouldn't ever turn against me! Right, Mother?"

Hiding a smile as she reappeared from the room she had been sharing with her husband, Tiki handed Cail a change of clothes and a towel before delivering the same to Morgan from the pack she had fetched from the porch. Both husband and daughter however were watching her closely for an answer, and she shook her head as she fought hard to keep a straight face in the midst of their argument. She avoided both of their gazes as she directed them to a room each to change and dry before answering rather primly, "Oracles rarely take sides in conflict."

Cail burst out laughing at her taking a third option, and before she could say a word he pulled her close to deliver a quick peck to her lips. Morgan tried to pretend that she was put out, but she was giggling as well as she turned to the spare room and went to change. Tiki watched them both go with an affectionate laugh, and as the doors closed behind both of them, she relaxed with a contented sigh. 'How long has it been since I felt this sort of comfort...? It feels as if it's been an age...'

Tiki's hand drifted unconsciously to her midsection as she gazed at the door hiding her daughter from her sight, and she absentmindedly rubbed the spot that would soon swell with the telltale sign of the child growing within her womb. Morgan's arrival had disrupted her plan, and though she knew her child would be ecstatic to hear of her pregnancy... she felt hesitation in announcing her condition in front of both of them at the same time. Sighing at her fear but ceding to it nonetheless, Tiki murmured in a low whisper to her babe, "I will tell them soon, little one... Just... not yet. Forgive me... You've quite the coward for a mother, it seems..."

The sound of the door opening quickly reminded her to pretend nothing was happening, and she hurried to sit at the table before she could be questioned about what she had been doing. Cail came from their room first, patting lazily at his damp hair with the towel before he sat down next to her. His dark eyes were glittering with warmth as he ran a hand errantly through his messy curls, and his voice was light as he bumped his arm lightly to hers, "Gotta admit, I am extremely interested in this long story of hers. I have a feeling she's had a much more wild journey than we have."

"I suspect the same." Tiki agreed with a small nod, but she couldn't help the twisting feeling in her chest as she thought of that gash that had marred her cheek, or the wrist that was obviously working its way slowly from a splint. She hated the idea that her daughter had been hurt, that she hadn't been able to help her, and she bit on her lower lip as she murmured wearily, "I just wish... that she hadn't been injured..."

"She came back to us the same way she left us; smiling." Cail reminded her softly, and he was heartened to see his wife nod in acceptance as the logic of his words appealed to her. He reached out to gently tweak the tip of her ear, and she laughed as she swatted at his hand to dissuade him from repeating the ticklish act. His smile broadening somewhat as he saw her mood lifting, he leaned over to kiss her cheek in approval.

"Nice to see you two haven't changed even with the location." Morgan remarked from the spare room doorway as she watched her parents with an affectionate smile. Her mother shook her head but she was smiling as she leaned comfortably into Cail's side, and with a chuckle, Morgan joined them at the table as she ran her fingers errantly through her hair to better sort out the mess her tangled curls had made. She looked at their expectant faces for a moment before she rubbed sheepishly at her nose and mumbled, "So, er... I guess you want to know what I've been up to? Erm... Where do I start...?"

"The beginning is usually a good place to start." Cail supplied with a hint of amusement at his daughter's sudden awkwardness, and Tiki elbowed him reproachfully as Morgan blushed and ducked her head in embarrassment. Rubbing dramatically at his side as if she had sunk a dagger into him, Cail tried his best to look apologetic as he turned to his daughter and corrected himself, "Wherever you think it all really began, then."

Feeling a bit of her embarrassment lessening at the casual gentleness between her parents, Morgan leaned back comfortably as she cast about her mind for a good way to begin to present her story to them. She knew from their gazes that they had seen her injuries and were concerned over what she had been up to, and she hated to note the worry in their eyes for her. She hated to have made them fear for her safety, and she was well aware the story her journey had made wouldn't ease their minds whatsoever. "Hmm... Well, I guess... It'd start when I was getting close to the Plegian border..."

Tapping her foot errantly as she began slowly so not to gloss over any detail, Morgan told them of how she had begun to sense something was amiss the closer she came to leaving Ylissean soil. Though she had never dared to cross into Plegian land, it hadn't mattered as her pursuers followed her over the borders and towards Ferox. She lovingly noted how Severa and Owain had reacted when she had met them and told them of her problem, and was somewhat exasperated to see her parents were reacting in the same exact way. A quiet sort of anger had flared in Tiki's eyes, and Cail had stiffened with a hint of a scowl on his lips, but Morgan hurriedly continued on in hopes of soothing their tempers with her story.

She almost felt as if she was relating the tale of another as she described her voyage over the sea, and the happiness that had consumed her once she had touched down on Valmese soil and allowed herself to fly to the Mila Tree. Cail had chuckled knowingly, and Tiki had looked rather proud when Morgan had explained her feat in scaling the Tree's immense height on power alone. The expression warmed the youth from the inside-out, and her words came faster, more confidently as she recounted her meeting with Nah, and then Say'ri shortly after.

Morgan couldn't help but linger over her time in Chon'sin with a wistful sort of smile, and her heart ached as she again thought of the young orphans she had grown so fond of in the village. She knew without a doubt that her wings would once more take her there, though she knew this time when she returned she wouldn't be doing so alone. The promise she had made to Say'ri earned both of her parents' smiles, and she was glad to have the proof to back up her suspicions that both her mother and father would gladly join her on such a trip.

Her good mood however faltered as she spoke of the nightmares and headaches that had driven her from Chon'sin and towards the Divine Dragon Grounds. She didn't relish the memory of the curses' ill effects on her body, but she knew better than to downplay them for her parents as she told them of how the complaints had worsened the closer she had come to Naga's former home. Cail's expression had become painfully stoic, and Tiki's concerned frown broke her narrative, and she spoke quickly to reassure the worries she knew were clouding their thoughts, "But it wasn't because of Naga. She wasn't rejecting me. I have proof that she wasn't, so please stop looking like that. It... It was... a Grimleal sorceress."

The words were explosions in the suddenly very silent dining room, and Morgan winced as she saw the twin fires erupt in her parents' eyes. The anger she had seen before at their first suspicions seemed paltry now, and she both cherished the love that made them react so fiercely while wishing she hadn't been the cause of it. Lowering her eyes guiltily, Morgan rubbed self-consciously at her cheek as she explained softly, "I fought a pack of Risen, shortly after leaving Chon'sin... and I hurt my wrist and got my cheek cut open during the fight. It wasn't until after I left the Divine Dragon Grounds though that I met her face to face... and learned why she'd been stalking me since Plegia."

"Risen...?" Cail repeated with a mixture of hatred and surprise, and as Morgan had seen such a reaction from Anna before at the tavern, she knew exactly what was coming next when he exchanged a worried look with Tiki. He shook his head somewhat as he narrowed his gaze as he usually did when he was thinking deeply, and his voice was a low speculative mutter as he hit the points that Morgan had when she had dismissed Anna's concerns in the tavern not more than five days ago, "The summoning of Risen isn't completely exclusive to Grima's existence, our travels through the Outrealms have proven that... and that's leaving aside the fact that both Aversa and Henry trained themselves in the art of commanding those creatures. I hate to say it, but we really shouldn't be surprised that some of the more powerful sorcerers under Grima's influence can still use such dark magic even with the Fell Dragon being gone... Chrom and the Khans will have to be notified about this the second we return home."

"The Risen weren't even in the same league as the ones we were used to fighting." Morgan repeated the reassurances she had given to Anna, though she knew full well her parents would not be so easy to placate. They were right to be concerned considering their roles in protecting Ylisse and her people, but Morgan stressed her point and she tapped her wrist, "They were pretty weak in comparison to the hordes that used to wander about. I took out six on my own the first time, then there were eleven on the second, and they went down even easier than the first group. The only reason I got hurt was because I let my temper get the better of me... and I can promise you that the woman who was doing the summoning isn't a threat anymore."

Raising her eyebrows at the claim that held not a hint of arrogance underneath it, Tiki looked at her daughter curiously as she sensed the story behind such a promise. Cail looked just as interested as she felt as he gave his daughter his full attention, and Morgan fidgeted uncomfortably as she realized she would be forced to explain exactly what had happened when she had come to a head against the sorceress responsible for making her journey so damned hard.

"When I left the Divine Dragon Grounds, she was waiting for me along with some Risen. It turns out she had been following me the entire time because she... wanted my help in bringing Grima back." The words tasted foul on her tongue as she spoke them, and she watched with pain as horror flickered in Cail's eyes. He reached automatically for the hand that no longer bore Grima's Brand, and Tiki immediately placed her own hand over his in an instinctive reaction to his sudden emotional turmoil. Forcing herself to continue even though it was painful, Morgan explained, "She was convinced that with my help, they could do what Validar had and eventually create another suitable vessel like Father... and she tried to use my anger against me by casting hexes that made it look like Naga was rejecting me at every turn. She thought that she could use that to convince me to help her out... but unfortunately for her, she made several massive strategical errors."

"Naga's blood has diluted the Fellblood lineage irrevocably. There's no way possible for that to be bred away, no matter how many generations follow you." Tiki finished as she understood one of the points her daughter was referencing. Cail looked somewhat startled as the understanding came to him immediately after she began speaking, and with a comforting smile, Tiki squeezed his hand as she told him what he already knew, "Naga's blood flows thicker than that of the Fell Dragon... Unplanned as it was, your marriage into the Divine Dragon's bloodline has ruined any and all hopes the Grimleal could have had in renewing that horrible cycle that ensnared your mother... and your efforts in ending Grima once and for all has rendered the very idea moot in the first place. Horrible as it is that the Grimleal still cling to such beliefs... There's no fear in the Fell Dragon ever returning to this land."

Sighing shakily as the words reinforced the knowledge that he should have already digested into fact, Cail could only nod mutely as he intertwined his fingers with his wife's. She held on tightly to his hand as she sensed his need for her silent support, and Cail noted Morgan's concerned expression as she watched him. He felt a plume of pride in his chest as he connected the last of the dots his daughter had presented with her story, and he shook his head before he reached across the table with his free hand to touch her fingers, "And you knew all of that... and proceeded to tell her exactly how badly she'd miscalculated in her plans, eh?"

"Something like that." Morgan admitted with a sheepish laugh, and she rubbed at her nose as Anna's words about taking pride in her actions rang out in her ears again. Both Tiki and Cail were watching her with affectionately proud smiles, and she resisted the urge to flee from the table as a blush burned its way up her face to her ears. "She told me to turn my fangs against those who had diluted my blood... so I did exactly what she told me to do. Suffice to say, it worked better than I'd hoped. The Risen didn't stand a chance, and she'd surrendered before the last one was finished vanishing. I think I might have scared her a bit. I was pretty angry..."

Stifling a laugh at the words Morgan definitely hadn't lent proper credence to, Tiki tried her best to hide her smile at the very thought. She knew full well the terror a manakete could impose on mankind, and half-blooded as she was, Morgan had proven herself many times over to have fully embraced her inner dragon. Fighting hard to keep her voice placid rather than amused in order to give the situation the seriousness in deserved, "The words 'a bit' may be a bit of an understatement, Morgan. Especially if you were angry. Few humans have seen the fury of a manakete and lived to tell the tale."

"Speaking as one who has been on the receiving end of four very mad manaketes, I think I have a right to say that your mother is completely right. Having one dragon angry at you is one too many, and I certainly came away from my experience very much a changed man." Cail agreed with a sage nod, and he immediately scooted away from his wife as she turned to give him a gimlet stare for bringing up the way she had greeted him when he had awakened in the field a few short months ago. Waving his hands in a placating gesture, he hurriedly continued to Morgan in an effort to spare himself from any retribution he deserved, "So what exactly happened next after she surrendered?"

"I took her tome from her and she released the curses she had put on me... then I just sent her packing." Morgan explained with a slight shrug as she thought of the deadly dark magic text that was now making itself at home next to her own in her pack. She hadn't much wanted to deal with the badly humiliated sorceress, and after her anger had faded, she felt nothing but pity for the twisted individual who was so desperate for Grima's return. Her voice was softer, almost sad as she continued with a small shake of her head, "I didn't think it was right to do anything else. She was unarmed, bested, and robbed of hope... It felt cruel to do more to her, even if she had been planning such horrible things, you know? The Fell Dragon has done enough damage to the world... I didn't want to add onto it by being just as cruel as he was to my own enemies."

Cail smiled gently at the wisdom in his daughter's words, and the innocent compassion that had made her show mercy when many others wouldn't have thought to stay their hand. He reached across the table to touch the back of his daughter's hand, and his eyes glinted warmly as she looked up at him in surprise. His voice was quiet but strong as he told her sincerely, "I'm proud of you, kiddo. That was no small feat. You've really grown into your own."

Startled, Morgan shook her head to dismiss the compliment but she could also see a maternal look of pride on her mother's face, and that threw her completely off balance. She hadn't thought anything she had done was worthy of such a reaction, as she had simply done it rather than thought about anything. Rubbing awkwardly at her nose to hide the fact that her eyes were smarting, Morgan glanced down at her knees so she would have an excuse not to meet her parents' eyes as she mumbled halfheartedly, "It wasn't that impressive... I just beat off some Risen... It's not like I haven't done it a thousand times already..."

"By yourself in such condition?" Tiki asked with a raised eyebrow, and Morgan wilted unhappily under the astute question that broke apart her excuses. Laughing gently, Tiki mirrored her husband by taking the hand Cail had let go, and she gave it a warm squeeze as her daughter looked up at her in embarrassed pleasure. She scolded her lovingly, stressing the truth of her feelings as Morgan met her gaze and held it, "As much as I know the feeling of disliking what you think are undeserved compliments, you have fully earned every single one we have given you. If you will not accept our pride, then I hope you are able to at least take some of your own account for your deeds. There is no shame in that."

Sighing melodramatically even as her heart felt warm and her insecurities melted away, Morgan returned her mother's squeeze and relaxed into the hold. She felt a sense of pure comfort wrapping about her like a blanket, and she relished the warmth that her parents brought her. It had felt far too long since she had last seen them, and she promised herself mentally that she would not be leaving them for quite some time now that she had come back. "Oh all right... Seeing as you're now echoing what Anna said, I guess I have to at least try to do it..."

"Anna?"

"Oh yeah, I met her in town before coming here. We had dinner and talked together for awhile before I started travelling north. Which reminds me, Mother... I have some news that is going to make your day..."

AN:

-giggles- I seem to be on a roll lately, which is making me quite happy. School starts tomorrow, and I was very worried that I would be having issues focusing on my writing with that coming up, but lo and behold... I'm actually not doing too bad. Which is really a miracle, all things considered... So, I won't knock it, and will take full advantage of it!

Anyway, this chapter was somewhat hard to finish even though it was very easy to start, and I cannot tell you how happy I was that it came out almost exactly as I had imagined it. The scene at the very beginning, which I will not talk about very much for reader interpretation, is actually one of the very first scenes that I planned out when I began this story. For a very long time I've been working my way towards it, and I am extremely satisfied with the way it came out. It just... looks so perfect. -happy giggle-

So, depending on things, there are now only three chapters left, epilogue included. My average chapter length is around ten, and I don't feel comfortable stretching it more as the story winds to close, so I can pretty safely say that as long as things stay on track, this story will wrap up rather neatly. Well, as neatly as any story can actually wrap up, you know? There will always be plenty of strings to dangle after a fic closes up, which is really how a good story should end, in my opinion. Wrapping everything in a very clear and concise bow isn't really fun for a reader... at least, not for a reader like me. Having things to hope for and guess at is always fun, and that of course is what inspires fanfiction, right? -laughs-

That, of course, still leaves what's going on after this fic closes up. Again, oneshot collections is leading the pack of requested work, and that seems easy enough, but an FE:A rewrite is hot on its heels... Much to my terror. -embarrassed chuckle- Good god, doing a rewrite would be so much fun and so much damned work... I mean, ATJ was fairly linear as a story goes, and I still have been working on it since August. (Dear lord, since August?! How did I stretch out such a story over that long of a period of time?!) As most of you have likely noticed, and as all of my readers stretching across the fandom can tell you, I'm notorious for taking forever to write a multi-chaptered work. My attention span is very short... and I really don't want a possible rewrite of FE:A to stagnate and then eventually die as "A New World" and "Spawning Jealousy Chapter" has...

-claps hands- However, the poll hasn't been closed yet, and ATJ isn't finished, so I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm going to continue on working, and hopefully things will go as smoothly as they possibly can while I shuffle about all of my doings. I now, unfortunately, have a time limit on my Mass Effect marathon (I have until the end of April to finish the trilogy. That's six playthroughs, two for each game. Impossible? Yeah, it sounds like it.) which means I need to haul ass on it if I ever want to claim I've beaten it. I have, thankfully, beaten my female playthrough for ME, and am just wrapping up the male one now... But still, four playthroughs in one month is rather daunting to think about, even to a speed-gamer like me.

Mind you, I'd like to add that I love sidequesting, and I did almost every single one that I could manage in ME. (Plus, considering that game's love for making every damn thing count in the sequels, it's almost necessary.) But it does get time consuming when you have a time limit... I'm trying very hard to balance my writing with my gaming, but adding school into the mix means something is going to suffer... But I really want my Tali and Garrus... -giggles- I love them both so much...

-stretches and sighs- Anywho, it's nearly midnight and I have to be up in six and a half hours to get to my morning course. I need my sleep, even though my muse is kicking my ass and demanding I write. Why does that always happen when I need to sleep?! I swear to Naga, I think my muse just waits until something big is coming before she unleashes a wave of inspiration on me... and I feel horrible if I ignore it... Why?! WHY?! -sobs-

So, in short, things are going well, and I hope they continue to do so. Thank you as always for reading, and please drop a review below if you feel the need to do so. It isn't much longer now before the journey will be at its end, and then I'll have one final author's note to do for the story. I hope you guys can remain patient enough to stick around until that time. Have a great day, guys!

Mood: Optimistic.

Listening To: "Fantastic Baby" - Big Bang

~ Sky