Outtake Thirty-Six: Shattered Love

Game: Awakening
Spoilers: Paralogue: A Hard Miracle
Summary: Frederick once held a great, though forbidden, love for the Exalt Emmeryn. With Emmeryn's return, Frederick longs to remind her of the love they shared.
Note: This is a pairing I've slowly come to love, and it kind of makes sense, since Frederick seems to be the oldest of the Shepherds. Besides, there's a lot of drama...heheh. Sorry, but Emmeryn's not going to bashing any heads with a staff during this...

Enjoy!

Days before the battle with Grima, Frederick's heart was still hurting. He would never show his inner despair. He would remain the stoic right-hand man to Chrom. At night, however, he let the stern façade fall.

The Exalt Emmeryn was dead, and it was his fault.

True, it had been over two years since her death, but the pain was still there. He was a knight, sworn to protect the royal family of Ylisse. But he had failed, and Emmeryn had paid the price. It wasn't just his sense of duty that had been hurt. His heart had been shattered.

No one had known of the love that Frederick and Emmeryn had shared. But it was there. The two had spent so much time in each other's company that they had come to form a bond deeper than ruler and loyal bodyguard. Frederick and Emmeryn had actually courted for a few months until the exalt had received life-changing news. He remembered the day like it was yesterday.

He had just gotten off duty, and Emmeryn had promised to meet him in a secluded courtyard of the palace where no one, not even her siblings would think to look for them. It was better than her chambers, mostly because Chrom and Lissa were known to burst into the rooms unannounced. Emmeryn had met him in the garden that day, though her face held sadness. Frederick inquired after her expression, and she avoided answering him, instead insisting that they take a walk. For moments on end, they were silent. Then, Emmeryn had spoken up, taking her beloved's hands. "I had a meeting with the council today," she had said, a tone of sorrow lacing her voice. "They brought up marriage." Frederick had held his breath, almost knowing what she was going to say.

"They wish me to marry royalty, preferably from Plegia."

"Not that Mad King Gangrel!"

"No, thankfully not him. I managed to talk them out of it."

"What will happen to us, then, Emm?"

"I am afraid we can no longer be together. You may be of nobility of Ylisse, but they will not accept that. I posed the question to them. Ylisse is unstable internationally, and there would be a better chance of peace if I were to marry a foreigner."

Frederick had looked down, fighting back tears. "Emm…milady, please there must be something. You are the exalt. Who says you should listen to the council? Who makes them right?"

"They are right, in a sense, about the international politics and the instability. I must do what is best for my people." Her voice had hitched and Frederick looked up to see tears in her own eyes. "I am so sorry. You will always have a place in my heart." She had given him one final kiss, standing on her toes to reach him properly. The kiss had lasted for a minute, then Emmeryn had pulled away, slipping from her beloved's embrace and leaving the garden.

Now, as they traveled the continent, wary of Grima and his servants, Frederick couldn't help but feel at a loss. Almost all the members of the Shepherd had married by this point, and their children from the future had added to the motley army, even marrying among themselves. He thought he was on par with Nykolai, the Grandmaster of the army and another stubborn bachelor, until the man had married Chrom's daughter from the future, Lucina.

Frederick stoked the fire in front of him, absently thinking on the battle they had fought earlier that day. They had come upon a town that had been molested by Gimleal. The servants of the fell dragon had been capturing maidens from the village and sacrificing them to Grima, just like out of the storybooks Frederick had read as a kid.

There they had found Emmeryn, against all hope and imagination. She was alive, and for a moment, Frederick's aching heart healed, only to be shattered once more when they discovered Emmeryn's mind was shattered when she had fallen more than two years ago. Still, she had come along with them, as if fate was taunting Frederick, dangling love just out of reach. Emmeryn wouldn't remember him, nor their love. She barely remembered that she once ruled a kingdom.

"Oh, Freddy Bear!"

Frederick looked and saw Lissa and Ricken standing next to him, a grin on Lissa's face. "Milady, can I please ask you not to address me as such?"

"Aw, you really need to lighten up. Anyway, my brother wanted to talk to you. Not sure about what, but he said he had an important matter to discuss. He's in the strategy tent."

"Very well, milady, I shall meet him at once."

"Great." Lissa grinned and grabbed her husband's hand, hurrying off while chattering excitedly to Ricken.

"Slow down, Lis!" Ricken protested. "You're going to pull my arm off!"

Frederick sighed and stood. He made his way to the strategy tent and found Chrom deep in a chess match with his daughter. Nykolai was sitting next to him, watching intently. As Chrom made a move, Nykolai made a noise, as if trying to warn his friend that the move was a bad one. Chrom scowled at him. "Sorry," the Grandmaster said. He looked up and saw Frederick. "Hey there, Freddy Bear."

Frederick sighed. "Did milady Lissa tell you to address me as such?"

"Nope. I came up with it. She copied me."

Scowling, Frederick took a seat and addressed Chrom. "You wanted to discuss something, milord?"

"Yes. Just let me finish this game."

Silence reigned in the tent until Lucina spoke up. "You seem out of sorts, Frederick. Something on your mind?"

"Alas, yes, milady, but it is trivial. Please, do not worry yourself."

Lucina studied him for a moment before returning her gaze to the chessboard, making a move. "Checkmate!" she exclaimed. Chrom slumped in defeat. "It looks like all those tactical lessons are paying off!" Lucina continued excitedly.

"Yet you still can't beat me, Luce," Nykolai said. He reached over and reset the board.

"I give up," Chrom said. "Have fun with your game." He turned to Frederick. "I wanted to ask you a favor."

Frederick nodded. "Of course, milord."

"You once guarded Lissa and me at the behest of Emmeryn. Now I must ask you to do the same. I want you to guard Emm, to make sure she's safe, to help her heal – if she can be healed – and aid her on the battlefield."

"Not that she needs it," Nykolai cut in, capturing one of Lucina's pieces. "Emmeryn's a powerful Sage, even if she doesn't realize it." Lucina made a move, and Nykolai instantly captured another one of her pieces, causing the future princess to mutter a curse.

"Anyway, Frederick, will you watch out for her?"

"Of course." The man suddenly felt hope fill him. If Emmeryn spent more time with him, would she remember her love for him? "Is that all, milord?"

"Yes."

Frederick nodded and excused himself. As he left the tent, he heard Nykolai say, "Checkmate."

"What?!" Lucina protested.

Frederick allowed himself a small chuckle and wandered through camp. He was considering returning to the fire, but he ran into someone. Emmeryn. "Forgive me, milady, I did not see you."

Emmeryn nodded. She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but she seemed to be at a loss. "...I know…you…"

"Frederick, milady."

Recognition flitted through her eyes. "Frederick…yes, I…I remember." She frowned, trying to fill in the gaps of her shattered mind. Seeing her so confused, so lost, brought tears to Frederick's eyes.

"Shall I escort you to your tent, milady?"

Emmeryn nodded and the two set off. They passed the mess tent where Gaius, Lon'qu, Vaike, and Gregor were playing a card game, with several others watching. A roar of laughter burst from the tent, causing Emmeryn to smile. She always seemed to be happy when she knew others were happy.

Finally, they reached her tent. Frederick held open the tent flap for her, and she thanked him, entering the canvas dwelling. "Goodnight, milady," Frederick said. He turned to leave.

"Emm…"

Frederick stopped, turning back to the woman he loved. She stood at the tent entrance, a look of sorrow and realization on her face.

"You…called me Emm…long ago."

"I did, Emm," Frederick replied, moving back closer to the former exalt.

"You...and I. We were in…in love?"

Frederick's heart skipped a beat. "…Yes." He bowed his head, his stoic façade falling from him like leaves from a tree in autumn. A single tear slipped down his face.

"Don't…cry, love."

Frederick looked up. Emmeryn moved closer and, standing on the tips of her toes, kissed him. It was quick, and nothing like the last kiss they had shared in the gardens of Ylisstol. When Emmeryn began to pull away, Frederick followed, kissing her back, one hand behind her head. Finally they parted, but only for Frederick to wrap his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I missed you, Emm," Frederick said softly.

"Missed you…my love."

Published 10/28/2013