Outtake Twenty-Eight: Nightmares

Game: Awakening
Spoilers: None, really.
Summary: She's haunted by her past decisions, and is afraid of what the future could hold. But Silver's got her husband, who will never let her down.
Note: I saw this one comic where the F!Avatar was having nightmares about Grima after the game, waking up Chrom in the process. I borrowed that idea and ran with it. So, shout out to the comic's author (I think she's tactician-kilala on Tumblr).

Enjoy!


The faces jeered at her, shouting curses and insults.

"Grimleal scum!"

"You've no place here!"

"Enemy of Ylisse!"

Silver backed up, but found herself surrounded on all sides by those she thought were her friends. "Why would I betray you?" she asked. "I'm your friend!"

The shouting was made anew. "You're no friend!"

"You're an enemy!"

Silver tried to protest. "No, I-"

She was met with weapons and shouts. Even her own daughter had drawn her sword and was willing to kill her. Beyond the crowd of angry warriors, she saw her father, pointing and laughing.

Suddenly it was too much. How dare her father laugh? He would pay. She looked around the Shepherds and felt anger course through her. They would all pay. With a shout, she spread her arms, and her form changed into that of the fell dragon. With one blast of her breath, she roasted Validar, then turned on her supposed friends, roaring her fury. She lunged-

-and sat up with a shout, glancing around the dark room in the Ylisse palace. Chrom, who had been sleeping beside her, woke, startled. "What?! What is it?!" he asked, sleep lacing his voice.

Silver panted. "Nothing, Chrom. I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine."

Silver stood, and wrapped a cloak about her shoulders. She turned to her husband, who was pushing himself to a sitting position. "I'm going to get some fresh air. I'll be back."

Chrom nodded sleepily, but his gaze remained concerned as he watched her leave the room.

Silver walked along the moonlit hall, trying not to focus on her dream. As she did, she noticed a faint light coming from her older son's room. The door was open and she peered in. A candle flickered softly on the nightstand, and Silver could see Morgan and his little brother – who happened to be his younger self – cuddled up on the bed, both hidden under the blankets so that the top of their heads were the only things showing. Nah was cuddled up on Mogan's other side, curled against her husband's side. Little Morgan must have had nightmares as well and sought the comfort of his brother.

Smiling at the sight, she shut the door to a crack and moved on, finally arriving at a balcony that overlooked the innermost courtyard in the palace. She moved to the railing and leaned up against it, sighing. She hated dreams, and she had been plagued with them since she had been found by Chrom eight years ago. They weren't so frequent these days, but it when she did have nightmares, they were always about what could happen if Grima got loose.

She sometimes wished she hadn't let Chrom land the final blow on the fell dragon, putting the monster to sleep for centuries. The dragon would eventually return, but for now, Silver worried about her dreams and herself. The fell dragon lived on through her. Who was she, the exalt's wife, to let such a creature live? She should have taken the opportunity when it had arisen.

She stood there, staring at the stars, for some time before she felt hands on her shoulders. She turned suddenly, but saw it was only Chrom. "Are you coming back to bed?" he asked.

"Soon."

Her husband wrapped his arms around her. "You're shivering. Come inside, love. You need to rest."

"I can't rest. I fear the monsters in my head."

"I shall fight them off, love."

"They lurk evermore, until the day I die."

"Then I shall be your hero for the rest of my life."

Silver sighed. "Chrom, why did you not let me land the final blow?"

Chrom sighed. "We've been through this. I couldn't live without you. You're my whole life. Besides, our children, both grown and not, need their mother. I couldn't let our little Lucy live without her mother, and Little Morgan wouldn't even be born. Don't tell me you're unhappy with how your life is."

"I could never be unhappy, love."

"Then come. Come on back to bed."

Chrom guided his wife back to their room. They cuddled up on the bed, and all was silent until there was a gentle knock on the door. "Come in," Chrom called softly. The door opened to admit the two Lucinas, the younger of the two crying softly.

"She wanted you, Mother," the older Lucina said as Silver sat up to accept her five-year-old daughter.

"Thanks, Lucina," Silver said. Lucina nodded and left the room.

"Mama, I had a bad dream," Lucy said. "Can I sleep with you and Daddy?"

"Of course. You don't mind, do you, Chrom?"

"Not one bit. Come here you." He gathered his daughter in his arms and the trio settled down once more. Soon Lucy was asleep, curled up against her father's side. Silver laid on her back, staring at the ceiling and trying not to fall asleep. Her dreams scared her, and she didn't want to return to them. She sighed softly.

"You're still awake?" Chrom's voice was soft and sleepy, floating out into the darkness.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Silver sighed again. "I'm scared."

She heard her husband sit up. "Of what? Your dreams?"

"…Yes."

It's was Chrom's turn to sigh. "They're just dreams," he tried to reason. "They can't hurt you."

"But they represent truth. Grima is still a possibility because I'm alive. The mark on my hand is proof enough of that."

"Stop right there, love. You've proved yourself over and over again. You are not going to cause Grima's return, okay? Yeah, he may come back, but not because of you."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know you." He leaned over, careful not to wake their daughter, and kissed his wife. "Your nightmares don't make up who you are, nor does your parentage, or your destiny. It's the time you were given here and what you do with it that makes you you. Don't let this fear of becoming Grima affect you, because it won't happen."

"You're sure?"

"Very."

After a moment of silence, Silver spoke up. "I guess you're right." She yawned.

"Do you think you can sleep now?"

Silver nodded. "Yeah." She rolled over onto her side as Chrom laid back down. Between them, Lucy stirred and cuddled close to her mother. Silver smiled and closed her eyes, only to drift off to sleep. She dreamed of a handsome knight in shining armor, fighting off dark monsters with an ancient sword, his blue eyes – matching his hair – sparkling as he offered his hand to her.


Author's note: Thanks to the guest reviewer who deserves a huge hug for their review on the last chapter. You made me feel all happy!


Published 10/6/2013