Severa spent the whole night tossing and turning on her bedroll, the echoing notes of Inigo's voice still resonating in her head. If she had heard the singing from a stranger or an organized performer, she would be thinking about that lovely song the whole night in bliss. The fact that it was emitted from Inigo's mouth, of all people, meant that she was certainly thinking about it, but her thoughts were more conflicted.

How long had she known Inigo? Her mother, Cordelia, was a Pegasus Knight for the Kingdom of Ylisse, and a personal protector for the Ylissean Royal Family. Her father, Gregor, was a travelling mercenary, who settled down for Cordelia's sake when he saw her eternal devotion to Ylisse, or more specifically, its Exalt, Chrom. As Inigo was a prince, Chrom and Olivia's second child and only son, surely they had spent much time together over the years.

All the fighting, all the flirting, the inane conversations with Owain and Gerome, all the playful bickering with Lucina; years and years through think and thin she fought by his side. But, in all that time, she never once knew how well he could sing. The thought of his (objectively) handsome face being paired with such an (objectively) pleasing voice sent a strange feeling down her spine. Yet, as she turned once again to face the ceiling of her tent, she scowled at a much different feeling playing in her head.

What did she actually know about the man she fought so long alongside? She knew he was a flirt; that much was public knowledge. She knew he was not the leader Lucina was (not that anyone else could be), but was a more than capable swordsman in times of need. She knew that in serious matters, pertaining to their perpetual fight against the rise of Grima, he would never abandon them, and would face any army or dangerous foe to keep his family and friends safe. He was a noble, if heavily flawed, figure in that way.

Yet, what did he enjoy besides chasing skirt? What did he think about when he lay awake at night as she did now? What did he think of this; of the time travel, the fighting, the marching? Frankly, what did he think of her? Did he think of her? Was she anything to him besides a partner on the battlefield or a potential female to take to bed?

These questions wracked her mind as she turned to the side again. She was getting ahead of herself. Perhaps she was overthinking this entirely. So what if he could sing? It did not change anything about him as a person. She had better things to think about than that little...little...thing! She closed her eyes with determination. She was not going to think about him for the rest of the night, she was going to get some sleep.

...

"Is something wrong, Severa?" Lucina said, looking her up and down. "You look as though you have something on your mind."

Severa continued to look down at the weapon she was sharpening. She and Lucina were alone in the weapons storehouse, making sure the reserve weaponry was up to snuff to handle the battle that was sure to come soon. "I'm fine," she said.

Lucina lifted the Falcion to her un-branded eye to examine its edge: Sharp enough to slice a hair in two: lengthwise. She nodded in approval before placing the magical weapon back within its sheath. "Did you enjoy the water in the cave systems last night?" she said, "I know you ended up going last in the female group."

Why? Why bring that up? "Yeah, it was nice," she said.

"That's good to know. Some of the Shepherds complain at going so late in the order, but my brother for some reason actually prefers it."

Severa narrowed her eyes, still looking at a somewhat rusty spear. Hopefully, Lucina thought she was just examining it. "Why do you suppose that is?" Severa said.

"I'm not really sure. He always was one to stray off on his own. Even as a child, when he was not with me, or Owain, or one of our parents," that last word dipped slightly in her voice, "he was off by himself."

"Did you ever wonder what he did in all that time?" she asked. Did Lucina even know he could sing?

"Of course; he's my younger brother after all." Lucina straightened up, as she always did when she talked of responsibility. "I tried to keep an eye on him to keep him out of danger. However, most of the time he was in the storage room playing with an old piano that Frederick refused to either throw away or get refurbished."

"A piano?" Severa asked. "I didn't know he played."

"Of course, we both were taught some simple songs. It was part of the etiquette classes mother insisted on us taking. Piano, violin, a simple waltz, table manners." In a rare moment of humor she pulled her arm to her chest in a dignified pose, and put on a voice of dignified grace. "The essential skills of royalty to survive in the higher part of the world."

"Your mother was big on etiquette?" Severa asked, unable to suppress a chuckle. "Isn't that kind of weird. You know, given her background?"

"Father certainly never cared for the finer parts of etiquette, and Maribelle had quite a time teaching her from what I understand. I guess she wanted to make sure we learned like she did. From what I gather, some particularly...well, let's say 'traditional' nobles were not comfortable with my father's choice of wife. They thought she would spoil us somehow. Make us...unworthy of the throne in class and attitude."

Severa nodded in understanding, seeing a fiery glint in Lucina's branded eye. "So, she wanted to prove them wrong?"

"Maybe..." Lucina said. A period of silence came over them then, and Severa, already feeling like she was prying a bit, decided to keep the conversation going, at the very least to break the silence. "So," she began, "Inigo played on some old piano?"

Lucina shook her head briefly, letting some thoughts scatter as she looked down again upon another sword she was sharpening. "Yeah. He really liked music, and always wanted to learn to play more complex things than 'the Ylissean March.' Owain was always the better player, but Inigo would sit beside him, or practice alone in the storage area when Owain wasn't around."

A nostalgic grin flashed on Lucina's face as she stopped sharpening the sword, clearly lost in a memory. "I remember once coming to see them after hearing Owain playing after I was done with sword training. I walked in and saw Owain at the piano bench, as Inigo was on the floor writing notes on sheet music, talking about needing words to a new song he was trying to compose. I asked them to play what Inigo had written, but both of them seemed a bit shy to let me hear it. They told me it wasn't ready, and only the composer and the musician needed to hear a song before it was done. I believe Owain compared it to 'taking bread out of an oven before the crust was formed.'"

Severa took the information in. Inigo was an aspiring composer? And Owain was in on it with him? "Does he..." Severa said, pausing, "Does he still compose? Play piano? Sing?"

Lucina looked back at Severa slightly surprised, and Severa felt a small blush creep on her face. "He got more into dancing like our mother right before..." Now it was Lucina's turn to pause. "You know...I'm not sure if he even remembers how to play piano. I certainly don't. And, did you say sing?"

Severa crossed her arms, closing her eyes angrily, though the rage was internal for not having an adequate response to that question. "Well," Severa began, "You said he was asking for lyrics right? He must have planned on somebody singing it! No offense to your cousin, but I've heard Owain sing at the tavern, and its not a sight to behold."

Lucina could not suppress a laugh at that. "That is true. Owain can hardly hold a note, though I'm afraid I'm not much one to judge. Inigo though..." she put her hand to her chin, looking upward in thought. "I don't think I've ever heard him sing." She smiled more as she looked back to Severa. "Though, given my singing voice and Owain's, I can't imagine it would be too spectacular."

'Oh, you poor fool,' Severa thought. 'You don't even know.' "I think..." Severa knew it was stupid, but she just could not hold it back. "I think his voice would be nice."

Lucina was looking at her now. Severa knew she never complimented anyone. To give Inigo (Inigo of all people) a compliment on something she (as far as Lucina knew) had not even heard was profoundly out of character. Lucina placed the sword down, before turning to Severa seriously. 'Uh oh.'

"Severa," Lucina began, "Why are you asking so many questions about my brother?" Her voice was neutral, but Severa could not shake the clear implication of her words. "I was just making conversation!" Severa said, arms still crossed, attitude somewhat indignant.

"You have never cared so much about him before," Lucina said. "If I recall, you thought his flirting habits were frustrating. What could lead to this sudden change of interest?" Some might have said this rhetorically, or in a playful, teasing way. Lucina's tone was unreadable, which did not put Severa at ease.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Severa crossed her arms and closed her eyes.

"Severa," Lucina replied, "Are you falling for my brother?"

Severa had to open her eyes at that. To her dismay, Lucina's face was not playful or happy. It was as blank and serious as she was on the battlefield. A single bead of sweat appeared near Severa's hairline.

Suddenly, Severa shot up. "Fall for your brother?! What are you, daft?! What kind of harlot do you take me for?!" Her tone was filled with rage and indignation. "To even suggest that I would succumb to some cheap flirtations, that with a wink of his eye or a flip of his hair I would begging like a dog for a bone! It's insulting! I thought you were supposed to be the smart one?!" Severa huffed, her arms crossing again. "Clearly not if you would suggest such a foolish idea!"

Lucina sat still for a moment, and Severa briefly though she had played it up too much. Granted, she only said what was true, though her vitriolic delivery was more to prove a point. Lucina then stood up herself, her eyes betraying a small amount of guilt. "I apologize that my words have upset you," she said, "I had no intentions of implying you were susceptible to my brother's misguided charms. I meant no disrespect with my question, and I'm sorry that I asked it."

Severa looked for any hint of insincerity before mentally slapping herself when she remembered she was talking to Lucina. A woman whose only manipulating tactic was an inspiring speech before a battle. "It's fine," Severa said, "Just so long as were clear that I don't have feelings for your brother."

Lucina stood for a moment more, before letting out an audible sigh of relief, which struck Severa the wrong way. "That is good to know," Lucina said. She turned toward the rack where weapons remained to be polished, placing the sharpened sword down before pulling a small cutlass out and examining it. "I always knew that one day Inigo, for all his womanizing ways, would eventually find a woman he felt close enough to reveal to all of us, Though, the thought has always brought me some level of discomfort."

"Oh," Severa replied, "Why is that?"

"I'm sure you know that I made a promise to my father to always look after my little brother." Lucina turned toward Severa, the blade resting idly in her hands by her waist. "It's a promise I intend on keeping, both on and off the battlefield."

'Oh, so she's just looking out for her brother,' Severa thought. 'Its actually kind of sweet.'

"I'm sure that I do not need to explain to you how women can be from time to time," Lucina said.

"I'm sorry?" Severa replied.

"You know, the gossiping, the double dealing." Lucina turned away, replacing the cutlass for a slightly larger broadsword, whose side reflected to Severa a pair of determined blue eyes. "I've heard plenty of horror stories in noble circles. Of women with pretty eyes or pretty hair, willing to swoon off their feet when an eligible bachelor rolls around." Severa could see clenched teeth as Lucina angled the blade down. "Harlots willing to play a part, to fiddle with emotions and thoughts for a few free meals or some jewelry. Then, just as the man thinks he has found his soulmate, they break his heart just like that." Lucina's snapped her fingers to add emphasis. "Then disappear, leaving the man heartbroken and crestfallen."

Lucina rubbed her finger on the edge of the blade, evidently testing its sharpness. "I've seen my brother sad and disheartened when he is rejected on his rounds of flirting, and that is more than fine." She leveled the blade, extending her arm outward to make a slow swinging motion. "However, I know that if he ever found a true love that returned his feelings, only to find out latter that she was merely playing with him, he would be devastated."

Lucina extended her arm fully, staring down the length of the blade with one eye closed. "I promised to protect Inigo," she continued, "And whatever his objections, I fully intend on letting anyone that sweeps him off his feet know that their intentions had better be pure, and their heart had better be true." Lucina brought the blade up to her face, the edge nearly touching her nose as she stared down both broadsides of the blade. "Because I do not intend on seeing my brother heartbroken." Her voice took on a seriousness Severa, in all the time she had known Lucina, had never heard before. "And I do not forgive those who make me break a promise."

Apparently finding the broadsword satisfactory, she placed it on the rack, and turned to Severa, her face now relaxed with a partial grin. "Well, I think it's about time for the midday meal. Shall we get going?"

Severa stood still as a statue for a moment before saying, "Yes, yes we should!"

Lucina walked out first, and Severa followed, her face still expressing some shock, and her mind expressing a prayer to every god in existence to shed some mercy on the first girl that tried to make a move on Lucina's brother.