SONG LIST(For those that play the recommended music with the fanfic)
-Temple of Time [Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild OST]
-"Ha ha! Yes, it will take some getting used to!" [Fire Emblem Awakening OST
DISCLAIMER: HELLSING IS OWNED BY KOUTA HIRANO. I DO NOT ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.
FIRE EMBLEM IS OWNED BY NINTENDO. I DON'T OWN IT'S CHARACTERS EITHER.
ITALICS=THOUGHTS, WRITING, AND SOUNDS
BOLD= DATES, PLACES, ECT.
BOLD ITALICS=WRITER
Ylisstol, Ylisse - Royal Palace
October 21, Age 2609 (5:30 P.M.)
After the war council meeting, Walter marched straight to his quarters. He gave no one any time, he just wanted to lie down and relax. Though he did well to hide it, the teenaged butler was fatigued beyond belief. His legs felt like they were on the cusp of breaking under his weight, and his arms ached with a dull pain.
Warm bath, bed... warm bath, bed... he mentally chanted as he stalked the halls of the palace.
Upon reaching his room, he was pleased to see that everything was exactly how he'd left it. Wandering over to his desk, he noted the thin blanket of dust that spread across its dark surface; a sure sign that no one had entered since he'd left with the Shepherds for the eastern palace. What had supposed to be a simple escort mission turned into an ever spiraling downward disaster. Thankfully, there was still a chance to course correct.
Moving away from the desk, he made for the door to his bathroom when he passed by his mirror. Glancing over, he flinched. The man in the mirror—the boy that looked back at him with aged eyes—was unrecognizable. Swallowing, he stood before the reflection...
...his reflection.
His pale and clammy complexion, and the dark circles around his sunken eyes, made him look like a corpse. His mop of black hair looked greasy, and unkempt. His face was rounded—his sharp features lost in his adolescence—and his body lanky from a lack of food and exercise.
This boy wasn't him... was he?
Walter sneered at the reflection. He turned the mirror around, and faced it towards the wall. He needed no reminders of what he'd become. Wordlessly, he entered the bathroom and filled his tub with hot water.
Discarding the clothing he was given by the Plegian resistance, he breathed a relaxed sigh as he entered the tub. Eased of his burdens for the time being, the butler lie back and let himself soak in the heat. Dipping his head back into the water, he stared at the ceiling whilst submerging his hair.
Peace and quiet, nothing to worry about for the time being.
The water was hot, swirls of hot steam billowing around the butler as he lay back in the tub. The heat licked away at his filth caked skin—blood, and dirt falling away and dissolving. Walter took a bar of soap, which smelled of spices, and rubbed it against himself; whatever was too stubborn to be removed with water alone crumbling from the soap.
Walter eyed the water, a mixture of blacks, reds, and soap bubbles. He had been incredibly filthy...
Walter sneered as he silently returned to longing in the hot water; a bit of blood and dirt had never harmed him...
After a long bath, Walter exited the bathroom—towel wrapped around his waist. Making his way to his closet, he looked through the clothing he had at the moment. Not surprising—though still mildly irritating—none of his clothes would fit him.
"I'm not wearing that abomination..." Walter grumbled, referring to the Plegian garb.
Turning in the direction of his wardrobe, he was briefly taken aback when he noticed the neatly folded set of clothes that were sitting on his bed. Brows furrowed, the curious teen went over to inspect the garments. It was a simple set of black pants, and a white dress shirt. A pair of black work boots sat at the foot of his bed. Much to Walter's pleasure, they all happened to be his size.
Putting on a pair of briefs, he slipped into the pants before moving to put on the shirt. Upon unfolding the shirt, a small note fell out. Humming, the teen picked the note up. A small smile formed as he read.
I know you dislike the clothing you were given by Mustafa and Erin—personally, so do I. I asked father if he could find something more suited to you; done under the assumption that none of your regular clothes would fit you anymore. Seeing as how you were in the bath, I just saw fit to leave these here for you.
Lucina
Walter folded the note neatly as he buttoned up the shirt, before sliding it into his breast pocket. It was just like the girl to have the foresight to realize he'd be needing some temporary clothing until he picked up his made to order outfit tomorrow. Yet another thing he owed the bluenette maiden.
Why don't you tell her the truth?
Walter hummed, shaking his head. She didn't need anymore burdens added to her shoulders; his imminent demise could remain a secret for the time being. Anything to keep these next few days from turning bittersweet...
Leaning back, the butler stared at his ceiling whilst lying on his bed. He didn't feel so tired anymore...
"Work to be done..." he muttered to himself. Sitting up, he stuffed his feet into the pair of black work boots, and tied the laces tightly.
Leaving his room, his first instinct was to go down into the gardens. Knowing a certain prince, he was bound to be sulking by himself. Chrom was probably in need of some council at the moment, and Walter was more than willing to provide.
Entering the garden, he noted the sky was turning a dull shade of orange; sunset upon them. Quietly, Walter stepped out onto the man made path, and into nature. The garden was more of a small forest surrounded by palace walls; a small slice of nature within a massive quartz palace. No place in the castle was more peaceful than the garden, and that made it the perfect place for one to ponder themselves.
"What's wrong, Chrom?"
Walter stopped in his tracks. Eyebrows raised, the butler crouched down into the bushes and peered towards the source of the voice. As he predicted, Chrom was sitting down on a lone stone bench at the center of the garden. However—to Walter's brief surprise—he was not alone. Sitting beside him was Sumia.
"I mean, aren't you happy?" the hazel-haired Pegasus knight had a small smile on her face. "Walter's back: the rest of the Shepherds will be ecstatic to hear the news."
"I know..." Chrom raised a hand to his face. Sumia sighed, at the sight.
"So what's got you so down?" she asked quietly, hand on his shoulder. The prince breathed heavily as he lowered his hand.
"It just doesn't... feel right..." he looked down. "Walter's... different..."
Walter found himself leaning closer, interest piqued. Different? It was true, he was younger: Though the teenaged butler knew that Chrom meant something else entirely.
Sumia's brows furrowed.
"Good different, or bad different?" she asked.
"It's not that simple, Sumia..." the blue-haired prince replied. "I can't tell you if it's good or bad, it just feels off. It's almost like he's a complete stranger."
"Is that why you voted against his plan?" Sumia inquired.
"Yeah..." Chrom replied honestly. "I know he's still Walter, but something within me just doubted him... as if I couldn't trust him anymore..."
Trust... Walter relented. It always came back to trust...
He'd only just forgiven himself for his sins, but the scar was still present. He didn't need anyone tearing the wound back open. With a dejected sigh, Walter backed away—leaving the two by themselves. Chrom didn't need him, he didn't even know if he could trust him anymore.
It's all because of this cursed power within me... Walter grit his teeth as he looked down at the seal on the back of his hand. He wanted to run a cleaver through his wrist, and be rid of the hand—at the very least he'd not have to see the damnable thing anymore. He was tempted to just grab a sword and do just that; there was no reason for him not to.
Calm down, Walter... the butler breathed. There's no benefit to slashing through my arm, I'd only be doing myself harm for the sake of nothing...
Closing his eyes, he took in the ambiance around him. The leaves rustling in the wind, the insects buzzing around him, the stream of water flowing through the garden. The shallow stream in particular seemed to call to him. He couldn't recall if he'd ever followed it to its source; never had a reason to, he supposed. Perhaps he himself could use some more time to himself...
Following the shallow stream, he found himself wandering further and further from the center of the garden—where Chrom and Sumia were—and closer to the edge. Walter never really spent much time in the garden in general; he was always too busy. As such, he didn't exactly know where the stream led—so he was naturally curious. Perhaps he was the first to think about doing so.
(Play song ~ Temple of Time [Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild OST])No...
Walter's mouth opened slightly as he came to the source of the small stream. Pouring through the garden—quite possibly being the source of water for the entire garden—it was fed by a beautiful pond. The water was so clear that he the butler could see the bottom, and the area around the pond was surrounded by dense foliage. It was beautiful, one of the most serene sights he'd ever seen...
...though it was over shadowed by one thing.
Sitting quietly at the water's edge was Lucina. She had removed her tunic—leaving her in the skin tight elbow length undershirt—and her boots were removed; her pants rolled up as her bare feet were dipped into the pond. Her hair was down, as usual; though her tiara was missing, causing her hair to hang more messily. She bore a serene expression, eyes staring at the center of the water.
Not since he was a young man—actually truly young, not de-aged—had Walter felt his heart pound in his chest so hard from glancing at a woman. In fact... he couldn't actually recall that ever occurring. The teen couldn't help but stare. Lucina's milky tone seemed to glow as the moon began to rise—the orange glow of the sun fading beyond the horizon. Her long blue locks framed her gentle face, Walter finding the way they curled at their tips cute. The serene expression on her face—he just wanted to be able to ensure that the girl was able to live freely, just so he could see that expression everyday.
No... the butler shook his head. I best leave her be...
Quietly, Walter turned around and stepped away from the pond.
Crack!
Lucina's head practically snapped in his direction.
"Walter?"
"Shit..." Walter cursed under his breath. Turning back towards her, he looked to the bluenette with an awkward smile.
"Hello there..." he greeted. "I seem to have stumbled upon this pond..."
"Indeed..." Lucina replied slowly, equally uncomfortable. Walter chuckled sheepishly, hands held behind his back stiffly.
"Seeing as how you've already claimed this spot, I'll just be on my way..." Walter made to turn away again.
"No, It's fine—please... stay..."
Walter paused. Glancing back towards the princess, he saw a kind smile—bolstered by her hopeful midnight blue eyes. He closed his eyes, and sighed.
"How could I say no to that...?" the teen muttered quietly. Walter—against his better judgement—walked over to the princess' side, and sat down beside her.
"You don't mind?"
"Of course not." Lucina hummed, her eyes returning to the pond's center. "I've not sat here with a friend in many years. You being here has made this... perfect..."
"Perfect?" Walter asked, glancing to the ponds center as well.
Lucina closed her eyes, recalling her youth.
"When I was young—before Grima had risen—I'd always come here with my friends." she reminisced. "We'd spend hours playing around this very pond, pretending to be legendary heroes like from the storybooks. I remember spending time here during the summer, trying to stave off the heat." the bluenette let out a melancholy laugh.
"A childhood lost..." Walter muttered. "Live's aren't the only things lost at the 'end of the world'..."
"Indeed..." Lucuna lowered her head. "When Grima rose, the world didn't just end. Pestilence and other conflicts wiped out much of the population before Grima even made his move." Lucina's eyes narrowed, tired eyes still gazing upon the clear water. "The beast struck before we'd even had a chance to mourn..."
So much pain—such an indescribable amount—in the girl's eyes. She was a fraction of Walter's age, yet it was evident that she'd suffered many more times than him. The idea made the butler relent for a moment—while he was sulking about trust issues, she had lived through hell.
"Walter..."
The butler hummed as he glanced over to her.
"Yes?"
"Don't..." she muttered simply.
Walter raised a brow.
"Don't what?"
Lucina forced a tiny smile.
"Don't let yourself feel that your struggles are inferior to mine..."
Walter froze up briefly.
"How did you—"
"I could see it in your eyes, Walter..." Lucina interrupted. "Different face—younger man—but still you. You put others first, and that selflessness is one of the reasons I admire you."
"Is that so...?" Walter mumbled. "I'd not go as far as to call it selflessness; it's more of kindness born from a need to repent for my misdeeds. I'm not such a saint that my deeds are born from a genuine desire to do good."
"Perhaps you're right..." Lucina said softly. "...or perhaps you're not giving yourself enough credit. I think you're just trying to make yourself seem more terrible then you actually are. You've made your share of mistakes—you've told me that you once betrayed the people closest to you—but you seem to be doing your best to atone. Besides..." the girl lowered her head.
"You've been far better than I've been as of late..."
Walter frowned. How could he have been acting better than her? He's been admittedly problematic as of late; he wasn't going to argue otherwise.
"I don't think-"
"I have a duty to the world, to the people that were lost in my time..." Lucina interrupted, solemn in her declaration. "I was a symbol of hope in my time. To wield Falchion is to be more than of exalted blood. The hopes of the whole world rests on my shoulders... and yet..."
The girl lifted her bare feet out of the water, and tucked her slender legs into her chest. Curled into a ball, she rested her head on her knees; her arms wrapped around them.
"Instead of maintaining a single-minded focus on my duty, I've spent the whole of last month looking for..." she eyed the butler, who stared at the girl with knowing eyes. "...you."
"Is that a bad thing?" Walter asked. It sounded selfish, but he was genuinely curious; was she really supposed to keep such an inhuman level of focus in her 'goal'?
"For me it is. I've gone against everything I was told to follow—everything I told my allies to do." Lucina closed her eyes. "I was to remain detached from this place—from this time—and only involve myself in the matters that would preclude the rise of Grima. Yet, here I am sitting in the garden from my childhood, relaxing beside a man that I was going to sacrifice everything for the sake of saving. Gods... I'm such a failure..." Lucina lowered her head, burying her face further into her knees.
What madness was this? Walter stared at Lucina—his expression a mixture of confusion, pity, and sadness. She couldn't put herself first, at least that's what she thought. Seeing the woman that he'd come to respect, and... was adore the proper word? Yes, seeing the woman that he'd come to respect and adore so conflicted was heart-wrenching for the butler.
"It's okay to be human, Lucina." Walter said simply. "Even if it were a mistake to risk everything for a—I hope I've the right to call myself this—friend, you're doing exactly what you accused me of doing just a few seconds ago. You're focusing too much on the negative; of what others expect you to do. You're not some flawless all-powerful being, Lucina. You're a human-being with wants, fears, and needs."
Hovering his hand over to Lucina's, Walter lay his hand on top of hers and gripped it gently.
"You did what you wanted to do, and what you felt was right. No one can fault you for making the decision you made." Walter smiled kindly.
Lucina stared at him for a moment. His words hit her like a tank. Pondering them, curiosity took her as a question entered her mind.
"Would you have done what I did?"
Walter raised a brow.
"Beg your pardon?"
"If our positions were reversed, and I was the one captured and you were the one with the weight of the world on your shoulders, would you have saved me?" the princess clarified with melancholy curiosity. She believed she knew the answer, but...
"Yes." Walter replied quietly.
"Yes?" Lucina parroted, all the more confused. "In spite of the duties that you would have?"
"Yes." the butler repeated. "I don't need to even think about it; not for one second. Perhaps my recent attitude has made it less... evident, but I do care for you." Walter gave her hand a firm squeeze to accentuate himself.
"I..." Lucina began hesitantly.
Gods... Walter... Lucina stared at the butler. Part of her felt like he was lying—that he wouldn't actually sacrifice everything for her sake—but the look on his face, and the conviction in his voice, told her that he was being entirely honest.
He actually would put her before the world...
"Walter... I..." her voice got caught in her throat. "It's... selfish, but... hearing you say that makes me genuinely happy..." the corner of Lucina's mouth rose.
Walter chuckled, a smile gracing his face for the first time in awhile.
"And that is all I can ever hope to make you feel." Walter returned. It was 'cheesy', but it was the truth; he wanted to make her happy.
Closing his eyes, the butler wrapped his arm around the princess and brought her closer. Embraced, the bluenette relaxed into him—the butler doing the same with her. A warmth spread through Walter's body; an indescribable sensation that he wasn't at all familiar with. His heart pounded—his skin tingled—and he felt as if he had reached a state of nirvana. It was such a foreign feeling, but an entirely welcome one...
Lucina had let herself relax completely—lying limply against him. Her cold fair skin flushed as the heat from Walter permeated into her. She'd lie against others like this before—Owain, Cynthia, Inigo, and Gerome to name a few—but it felt different with Walter. The girl found herself snuggling closer—unintentionally nuzzling her cheek against his shoulder—not at all understanding why she was doing what she was...
"Walter? Marth?"
The duo bolted upright, eyes widened, as they turned towards the intruder. Much to their embarrassment, Chrom was staring at them with a cheeky grin plastered across his face. The two sheepishly scooted away from each other—albeit hesitantly.
"Chrom..." Walter pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "How long have you been there?"
"Just got here actually; thought I heard someone, so I went to investigate." the prince laughed as he approached the duo. "Don't worry, I couldn't make out what the two of you were talking about; although from how close you guys were, I can come to a conclusion..."
Walter rolled his eyes, not too bothered by what Chrom was thinking. Lucina on the other hand blanched at the thought of what her father was implying.
"Get a hold of that wild imagination of yours; Marth and I were simply speaking to one another like civilized folk." Walter stated simply, turning away from him.
"I see..." Chrom lowered his head in shame. He knew that Walter had been pretty hurt by what had occurred in the war council chamber. Sumia chewed him out just a minute ago for his attitude towards the plan that Walter made...
"Can you think of a better plan, Chrom?" Sumia looked at him with judging eyes. Chrom let out a sigh.
"No..." he muttered.
"Then you should apologize Walter, then."
Chrom had taken the hazel-haired woman's words to heart, and immediately set out to find Walter. It was fairly opportune that he had found the butler so soon.
"I'm sorry..." Chrom sighed. "I know that you've made the best plan that you could, and that you'd never do anything that would put anyone at risk unless it was necessary..." He paused. Walter sat quietly, not looking at the prince, but still listening.
"I realize that I didn't exactly treat you with respect back there; that I should've trusted in your judgement." Chrom continued. "We're in a tough spot, and like always you've come up with a plan to get us out of it. We were scrambling around in a panic—without any idea what to do—yet you came in and had everything already figured out..." the young man buried his face in his hands.
"We've all been—me, my sisters, and the Khans—pathetic..."
Walter exhaled weightily as he craned his head slightly to Lucina. The girl had a look of sympathy in her. She seemed to want Walter to say something.
"Perhaps..." the butler began. "...you've been a tad bit pathetic..." Walter chuckled quietly.
"Still..."
Chrom lifted his head, and gave Walter a look of confusion.
"We're in the midst of war." the butler continued. "A force not united is not a force at all, but a weak wall to be knocked down and trampled over. We cannot afford to be hung up on such trifle matters..." Walter turned his head towards Chrom.
"Right now, I need your trust now more than ever. Look past my appearance, and trust in me like you've done in the past." the butler shot the prince a pleading smile.
He was right—they needed to unite or they would face annihilation. Sacrifices had to be made, and risks had to be taken. They—him, Emmeryn, and the Khans—had been playing too carefully. Lives would be lost no matter what route they took, but Walter was the only one that knew how to truly minimize them.
"It's as you say..." Chrom sighed. "We're in the midst of war, and we need to be united as one. We need to be willing to risk life and limb for victory—or face the destruction of all that we hold dear."
The prince frowned, but a smirk graced his face. Holding hand out for the butler to grip, Chrom faced the butler with a determined look.
"Lead us to victory, Walter." Chrom grinned.
Walter looked between his outstretched hand and his face. Meeting his grin with his own, Walter chuckled as he took hold of the prince's hand, and gripped it tightly; prince and servant reunited.
"Just give me my orders, sir." Walter smiled.
Watching the duo, Lucina was awash with joy. Yes, she was certain of it; with those two side-by-side, victory was assured. With a jovial hum, the princess dipped her toes back into the clear pond, and thought of the future ahead. Looking at the center of the pond, a sereness took her as the clear waters were illuminated in the dark night; illuminated by the pale light of the moon.
(Song ends here)Ylisstol, Ylisse - Royal Palace
October 22, Age 2609 (4:05 A.M.)
"Ugh..."
Walter groaned as he slowly exited his slumber. Turning over, the butler's eyes fluttered open—sight adjusting to the darkness of his room. With a strained grumble, the butler reached over to his bedside end table and searched for his tinderbox. Gripping the fire starter, the butler lit a candle; using that candle to light several others.
With his room somewhat illuminated, Walter opened up the end table drawers and reached for his fob watch. Reading the time to himself, the butler—though lazy to do so—left the covers of his warm bed, and sat at its edge. Rolling his shoulders, raising his arms over his head, and twisting his neck—a tension releasing pop emitting with every minute movement—he stood up. Wordlessly, Walter slipped on his pants and shirt before sliding into a pair of black work boots.
Fully dressed, the butler grabbed one of the candles from his end table, and blew out the others. Holding it in his hand, Walter carefully made his way to the door. Pushing the door open a crack, he was satisfied to see the hall was lit up with torches. Blowing out the candle, he put it away before exiting his room; closing his door behind him.
As he suspected, he was the only up at this ungodly hour. The halls were empty, and not a single sound could be heard throughout the palace. Only the light tap of his heels clacking against the floor was audible.
With a yawn, Walter knew very well that there was only one way to start his morning off. It was a concession he'd missed partaking in as a prisoner, and was glad to finally indulge in. Wandering down the halls, Walter was craving a warm cup of tea. He slowly maneuvered through the palace—leaving the upper floors for the ground one—until eventually he came upon the kitchen...
...whose door was open a crack—light leaking out like a beacon.
Walter raised a brow. Treading lightly, the teen approached the door like a cautious child sneaking around their home at night. Pushing the door open carefully, poking his head through with curiosity.
"Oh, good morning, Walter."
The butler sighed—small smile on his face—as he was greeted. Of course... who else would be up at such an early hour?
Lucina stood at the center of the kitchen—wearing a simple dark blue tank top, and black short shorts; simple sleep wear in other words. Her hair was messy—indicating she'd just recently woken up—and she bore slightly tired expression. The teenaged butler felt the urge to let his eyes wander across the girl, but stopped himself from doing so. Indeed, he wasn't quite used to seeing Lucina out of battle attire.
"I'm surprised you're up." Walter commented as he entered the kitchen.
"Well..." Lucina crossed her arms girlishly, and looked away. "...I didn't sleep well last night."
"Oh?" Walter looked at her concernedly. "Is there something wrong with the room you were granted last night?"
As with the last time Lucina had stayed at the palace, she was given a guest suite by Emmeryn and Chrom for the duration of her stay. It was a lavish room setup to accomadate visiting nobles—far superior to his own room in honesty. How on earth could Lucina have trouble sleeping with such concessions?
"Never mind that..." Lucina deflected, a smile forming in her face as she gestured towards the stove; a steaming kettle sitting atop. "Would you like some tea?"
"Oh, yes please..." Walter swooned.
Several minutes later, the duo were sitting comfortably in the sitting room of the Palace, cups of tea in hand. Taking a sip of the warm liquid, Walter felt his body relax—tension in his muscles being released. Oh how he missed this...
Glancing over to Lucina—who sat in the chair beside him—he noted her content, yet troubled, expression. She seemed to be contemplating something; something which he had not even the slightest hint was.
"You doing okay, Luce?" he asked. The girl raised her head, smiled, and nodded.
"I'm doing alright." Lucina hummed. She was silent for a moment before realizing what Walter had called her.
"D-did you just call me 'Luce'?" she questioned.
"Huh..." Walter furrowed his brow in confusion. "I guess I did... what of it?"
"I..." Lucina giggled, grinning like a child. "I've not been called that in a long time. I suppose I missed it."
Walter smiled as he sipped his tea. Hearing Lucina laugh was music to his ears.
"Then shall I start calling you "Luce" in private?" the butler asked.
"Yes." the princesses' eyes lit up. "I'd like that very much."
Spending the next few minutes in silence, the duo slowly sipped their tea—enjoying the solitude. It was odd that they could even share such a quiet moment. Ylisse was in the middle of a war where they were the only thing standing between Gangrel and absolute destruction. Yet here they were enjoying a calming cup of tea in the Royal Palace as if nothing was wrong with the world.
Walter himself was unperturbed by the thought of war—the fact that many many miles away Ylissean soldiers were defending their borders from countless undead not concerning at all. He supposed that he was used to it—wanton death and destruction—having lived through the Depression, World War Two, and countless other miniature conflicts as a Hellsing agent. What little humanity he had left was reserved for the very few people close to him; which, at this point, amounted to only Lucina and Chrom. He wasn't certain that the Shepherds would readily accept him as he was, and his current emotional fragility wasn't doing him any favors.
What could he do to counteract it though? He was a senior citizen with a teenaged body, which was rapidly deteriorating due to a botched vampire transformation; a transformation that was barely contained by a poorly constructed seal that fed on his stamina. He was a barely functioning science experiment, that had anywhere between two to three weeks left of his life. Of course his emotions were as uncontrollable as a bipolar, feral, schizophrenic; who wouldn't be if they were in his shoes?
Still, he had to at least put up a facade of humanity. He had to at least act like he wasn't a ticking time bomb—both in terms of his limited lifespan, and volatile emotions. He had to do this; if not for the sake of hiding his dwindling sanity, then for Lucina's sake.
Head lowered towards the empty teacup in his hand, he eyed the bluenette. Like when she was relaxing in the castle garden, she bore a serene expression. Though he knew something was bothering the princess—something had to have kept her up last night—he didn't wish to press the issue just yet. Not when she seemed so at peace; not when she seemed to be enjoying one of the very few moments of calm granted to her throughout her life.
She can't know... Walter mentally reaffirmed his vow. She can't know that my death is near... I don't want to bring that pain upon her so soon...
Glancing downward, he stared at the sealing sigil. It beckoned to him—called out to him. It seemed to just be begging to be released, for the dark power to be utilized...
...for him to become a monster.
No... Walter chided himself. I won't ever become a monster again...
He eyed Lucina once more.
Not even for her...
Ylisstol, Ylisse - Shepherds' Garrison
October 22, Age 2609 (7:57 A.M.)
"You okay, Walter?" Chrom asked as both he and Walter stood outside the Shepherds Garrison.
After picking up his clothing from Mr. Timody—which was a near recreation of his outfit as an agent of Millenium—Walter met Chrom in front of the Shepherds' Garrison. The blue-haired prince had suggested that the butler make his presence known to the other Shepherds, and that it would be beneficial.
"Yes, why? Are you?" the butler questioned. Chrom shrugged.
"I dunno, I guess I'm still not used to seeing you like..." the prince paused for a moment. "...this." Chrom finished, referring to Walter's teenaged body.
"Believe me, I'm not used to this either..." the teenager scoffed. "I very much doubt that everyone will be so readily accepting of me; de-aging is hardly a concept that warrants anything but skepticism."
"You think so?" Chrom raised a brow. "Weren't you getting on my case yesterday for not putting my trust in you? Y'know you're doing the same thing but with the Shepherds: your comrades." he smirked knowingly.
"I suppose that's true..." Walter sighed. "Care to enter first?" he gestured towards the door.
Chrom shot Walter a knowing grin, which made the butler highly suspicious, but the butler chose to ignore for now. He watched as Chrom opened the door slowly—it creaking loudly as it was swung open. Chrom stepped inside first, followed by Walter. Upon entering, the teenaged butler's jaw became slack.
(Play song ~ "Ha ha! Yes, it will take some getting used to!" [Fire Emblem Awakening OST])
"Hey, what took you so long, Walts?" Lissa greeted him with a wide grin.
"Damn, you really DID become a teenager…"
"Indeed, a rather effeminate one at that." Sully and Virion added respectively.
"Heh, Ol' Teach was worried sick about you, y'know!" Vaike boisterously stated.
"Remarkable, I'd had my doubts over the voracity of the claims that you were not only alive, but younger, but confirming your state of being makes me feel pleasant." Miriel said, probably as close to a declaration of relief as she could get.
"You said it… still, seeing you young is surreal…" Stahl commented.
"Hey, you can still see me, right Walter?" Kellam waved his hands above his head, and was delighted when Walter nodded towards him—acknowledging that he still did see him.
"It's good to see you again…" Lon'qu greeted, and he even seemed slightly less abrasive than usual.
"It seems your oversimplified attire has survived, along with you. Really, I must gift you with some clothing suitable to one of your stature." Maribelle huffed, though Walter was thankful to her for considering him in her own unique way.
"Dang… I was kinda hoping that YOU'D be the youngest Shepherd now… I'm kidding, y'know; I'm glad your back, sir!" Rickey was grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Hey Bubbles, did you bring back some Plegian sweets? Kinda have a craving for something nostalgic." Gaius piped up, of course prioritizing candy.
"You never cease to amaze me, especially for a manspawn." Panne complimented, the corner of her mouth upturned into a smirk.
"I'm glad to see you're alright, sir!" Cordelia greeted him professionally, although Walter could see she was resisting the urge to embrace him.
"So this kids that old guy that helped save me from those weird old guys?" Nowi's eyes were alight with curiosity.
"Oy, looks like Walter was not kidding when he told Gregor that he was getting younger, not older!" Gregor let out a hearty laugh.
"So you're the Walter Dornez that saved her excellency—Exalt Emmeryn—from Plegia? It is a great honor to meet you; I am Libra." a man with long golden locks—making him like VERY bishounen—and wearing war monk attire introduced himself.
Walter stared dumbly at the Shepherds. Everyone was here—grinning—to welcome him back. It was so surreal that he was almost convinced that he was dreaming. It was…
...heartwarming, to say the least.
"T-thank you…" Walter stuttered.
"Why're you thanking us?"
Walter looked past the crowd to see Sumia wandering in; she had a loving smile on her face.
"Did you really think we wouldn't welcome you back?" Sumia asked rhetorically. "Walter, we all owe you our lives."
"She's right." Chrom finally spoke up, walking over and standing at the front—facing towards Walter. "You staying behind, and holding back Gangrel, saved us all. I don't think any of us would be alive if you hadn't done that."
"There's more to it than that, y'know…" Lissa joined her brother. "You're the one that always tells us where to go, who to fight, what to avoid; we've been kind of lost without you, Walts."
"Indeed, your leadership is what's kept us all alive, Walter." Frederick came into the room, entering from behind Walter. "Forgive me for distrusting you yesterday, I had briefly forgotten all that you'd done for us all."
"Do you see now, Walter?" Chrom asked. "No matter what you are—no matter what you look like—it doesn't change the fact that you've saved us all countless times in the past. We all owe you or lives, and that's not even the reason we're all glad that you're back."
"R-really…?" Walter laughed. "And pray tell, what is the real reason?"
Chrom smirked as he looked over to Sumia.
"Because you're our friend…"
Walter froze. It was such a simple statement, but it rattled him to his core. He was their friend? That was… it was…
… there were no words that could describe how Walter felt.
He'd been accepted back with open arms. For a brief second, he forgot about all of his problems; the fact that he was dying, the fact that he only had a week left to live. If he dropped dead there, he'd have died a very happy man.
"Are you just gonna stand there, or are you going to join us!?" Vaike hollered. "Get over here so Ol' Teach can properly greet ya!"
"Hey, you ain't the only one that wants to talk to him y'know!" Sully growled.
"Please, don't be angry, Dearest Sully…" Virion placed a hand on her shoulder, and held her back.
"Hah, looks like Sully and Vaike are about to go at it again…" Ricken laughed.
"How uncouth…" Maribelle harrumphed, nose upturned. "Here we are trying to greet Walter like proper friends ought to, and you all are on the verge of brawling."
"Heh, something's never change, Twinkles…" Gaius commented as he sucked on a lollipop.
"You got that right…" Stahl scratched the back of his head as he and the others watched as Sully and Vaike began to trade fisticuffs—Virion attempting to pull Sully away in vain.
Walter watched the chaos unfold quietly, not budging from his spot. The butler who had gone through hell and back simply smiled. Yes, things truly were back to normal…
...he was exactly where he needed to be.
As he stepped into the fray—effortlessly breaking Sully and Vaike up—Walter failed to notice the pair of dark eyes watching him from the corner. Dark eyes that belonged to a fair-skinned woman with black hair styled into a hime cut…
(Song ends here)Ylisstol, Ylisse
October 22, Age 2609 (5:30 P.M.)
After the chaos at the Shepherds' Garrison, Walter left to go about his day. The butler had several errands that he absolutely needed finished before the final assault on Plegia. Firstly, he contacted his usual supplier of material ingots and ore. Requesting a large shipment of silver; the butler made sure to preface it with a statement that it would all be needed within two days, with subsequent smaller shipments being delivered throughout the week. Afterwards, he sent out a notice to just about every blacksmith in the region. It was a summons for every capable blacksmith to report to the capital in three days time—those that arrived would be paid well; courtesy of Ylisse's war chest.
Following sending out those requests, Walter made his way to the Church of the Divine Dragon: Naga. Speaking with the leaders, the butler made the strangest request that had ever been made in the history of the church; move the sacred fire at the church's altar to the palace for a short period of time so that weapons can be forged in it's holy flame. Naturally, he was met with resistance. Still, a quick statement that he'd received written permission from Exalt Emmeryn—at the very least he would tomorrow morning—quickly placed the church's fears to rest. The sacred fire would be used to the benefit of the whole Halidom, and Walter assured them of that
Overall, his day was rather tame…
...sans for the woman that had been stalking him the entire time.
The stranger had thought that he hadn't noticed, but that was far from the truth; he noticed her the moment he left the Shepherds' Garrison. She had been present at the garrison when he was welcomed back, but she was the only one that hadn't spoken for it's duration. As such, Walter chose not to even acknowledge her…
...at least until she blocked his path.
"You…" the woman smirked darkly, black eyes locked on him like a predator eyeing their prey.
Finally getting a good look at the stranger, Walter was taken aback by her… provocative attire. She wore a skin tight bodysuit—transparent, but tinted like a stocking—that left nothing to the imagination. Every crease and curve of the woman's body was visible for everyone to save; though her sensitive parts were thankfully covered by a black brassier, and a knee length loincloth. Walter noted that her skin was unbelievably fair—almost a vampire's level of pale—which contrasted her dark eyes and long hair; her hair which was cut into a perfect hime style.
"May I help you?" he asked with a raised brow. The woman's grin seemed to widen slightly.
"What are you?" she giggled. Walter gave her confused stare.
"Well…" the butler smirked. "I'm Walter C. Dornez: retainer and butler to-"
"I know who you are, Walter Dornez!" the woman snapped at his snark. "I was asking you what you are." Walter chuckled.
"Well, I don't think it's proper to be inquiring about me when you haven't even introduced yourself." the teenaged butler scoffed. "Like most men, I find myself absolutely desperate to learn the name of a maiden such as yourself…" he sarcastically added. The stranger seemed to quietly simmer, but eventually regained her composure.
"Tharja." she introduced.
"Tharja?" Walter parroted. "Well, it's an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintan-"
"Enough snark, Dornez…" Tharja grumbled through grit teeth. "Answer my question: what are you?"
Walter raised a brow once more.
"I don't understand…" he muttered. Tharja, for all the trouble Walter was giving her, managed a knowing smile.
"I mean exactly that, Dornez…" she giggled.
"What kind of monster are you?"
Walter froze. All snark faded immediately as the grin was wiped off his face. The butler glared at the woman.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" he said dangerously.
"You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about." Tharja pressed. "Any mage that's even dabbled in the dark arts can sense it: that chilling darkness inside you. Just standing near you makes my spine tingle…" the woman let out a tiny moan, finger lifted to her lower lip teasingly.
Walter felt his blood boil. This woman could sense the power in him, and that made him wary. He'd been in the presence of many dark mages on the battlefield, so how in the hell did THIS one manage to sense it? Walter shuddered: perhaps that was just indicative of how much of it was leaking now that he was on death's door.
He couldn't weasel his way out of this one…
"Walk with me…" Walter growled. "I'll explain it to you…"
Tharja chuckled as she moved to his side, standing a bit too close in Walter's opinion.
"What is it that you sense?" he inquired.
"Something absolutely divine…" Tharja drawled, her obvious… love for the dark not lost on Walter. "Just looking at you sends chills down my spine…"
"Fascinating…" Walter rolled his eyes. He REALLY found the harpy's shameless flirtation to be annoying.
"Gangrel had the same aura, but it's stronger than yours." Tharja stated. This didn't surprise Walter.
"Not at all shocking—at least when you consider the fact that my vampirism is currently contained."
"Is that so…?" Tharja grinned. "What is this 'power' of yours, and why are you and Gangrel nearly the same?"
Walter sighed as continued his stride; Tharja keeping pace beside him. He really hated being compared that bastard of a king…
"Gangrel and I are nothing alike—don't compare me to him if you know what's good for you." Walter grumbled.
"Was that a threat?" Tharja laughed. "You'll have to do better than that if you're going to scare me…"
Walter resisted the urge to wring the harpy's neck. This unpleasant woman was trying his patience, and she was probably doing it on purpose too.
"If you want me to answer your question, you ought to start treating me with some respect." Walter hissed. "Don't forget whom you're speaking to; I am tactician to the Shepherds', and the Angel of De- I mean, Ylisse's Guardian Angel."
"Not exactly titles a plegian will care for…" Tharja muttered under her breath. "Just answer my questions, and I may leave you alone…"
She's doing this on purpose... Walter kept the woman in his peripheral vision, and could see her seductively swaying beside him; probably underhandedly attempting to entice him. I best answer her question, and distance myself from this... harpy...
"Vampirism is what ails both Gangrel and I; a cursed transformation that turns a person into nothing more than a bloodsucking demon." Walter began. "Also known as nosferatu and bloodsucker, vampires are born when a person of strong will willingly drinks the blood of another human. Of course there are other methods to becoming one, but those that take that route are known as 'Master Vampires'; this is mostly due to the fact that it is these 'masters' that are often responsible for creating other 'fledgling' vampires."
"So you've drank blood?" Tharja asked—her tone a mixture of intrigue, shock, and... aroused...
"No, I did not drink blood, nor was I turned by another." he replied evenly; best not give the strange woman any indication that she made him slightly uncomfortable. "I was turned into one—it was an experiment that was meant to turn me into the strongest vampire ever known to man. Before you ask, I became one of my own volition, but came to regret it fairly quickly." Walter lowered his eyes to the floor.
"What I gave up... it was not worth it..." he muttered.
"So what happened to this 'vampirism' of yours? You mentioned that yours is contained." Tharja inquired, getting the conversation back on track.
"Yes, it was contained, but by who is a mystery to me. The transformation was unstable, and was actually killing me, so someone managed to not only seal the vampirism, but completely revert me to how I was before I was turned: a sixty-nine year old man."
"Sixty-nine..." Tharja bit her tongue; the tip sticking out slightly. "My... you're looking quite cute for sixty-nine..."
"When I said it was sealed, I never it was sealed well..." Walter clicked his teeth. Lifting up his right hand, he flashed the sealing sigil to the woman. The fair-skinned woman's eyes—for the first time since their conversation began—grew serious.
"Oh... that is..." Tharja murmured as she stared at the seal that was containing Walter's power. "You're right, I don't even think n an amateur dark mage would make a seal as atrocious as that. It's leaking like a cracked glass with water in it..." Walter was impressed.
"You were able to tell that just from looking at it; at a glance even?" the butler raised his brows.
"Oh... do I FINALLY have your full attention?" Tharja asked dryly.
Walter lowered his hand, and looked away from the mage. He now understood WHY exactly she approached him, but...
"If I explain what's happening to me, could you do something about it?" Walter turned to her again.
Tharja hummed, and smiled—for once Walter felt it was somewhat genunine.
"You'll have to tell me and find out..." she said simply.
'Tell me, I'll see what I can do,' was what she was basically saying. The butler could bite the bullet... if something could be done, then he could live...
With a sigh, Walter reached into his pockets and pulled out his cigarettes, and metal lighter. Plopping one cigarette between his lips, he pocketed the package before lighting the cigarette. He put away the lighter, took a deep breath of the cancerous substance, and exhaled; a huge puff of smoke escaping from his lips.
"I'm de-aging..." Walter began, whiffs of smoke billowing from his mouth. "I already said the transformation was unstable, but I didn't mention how so. The vampirism was steadily aging me down—injuries accelerated the process—and breaking down my body."
"So you're de-aging because of this vampirism?" Tharja seemed to be taking mental notes on the subject. "So it's the power leaking from the seal that's causing this phenomenon..."
"Not exactly." Walter corrected, inhaling and exhaling more smoke. "The seal is feeding on my life essence—it's killing me in order to keep itself intact—but the vampirism is trying to heal me; one of the abilities of a vampire is the ability to regenerate from wounds dealt to them. Unfortunately for me, heavy injury equals de-aging."
"So you avoid taking damage, perhaps retire from battle?" Tharja suggested.
"That wouldn't stop it completely; again the seal is still killing me, so the vampirism is naturally attempting to 'fix' the damage." Walter sighed.
Tharja smirked whilst eliciting a dark chuckle—though this one sounded a little nervous.
"My... you ARE in a terrible situation." Tharja shook her head. Walter already knew this—of course. What he was most interested in was whether or not something could be done.
"I don't mind dying—it's fairly fitting that a man like me die to the power he once coveted—but I think most people would prefer it if I didn't kick the proverbial bucket." he quipped. "So tell me: can something be done?"
Tharja hummed. She seemed to be thinking very carefully. Walter could only imagine what odd experiments, tests, and calculations she was making—dark magic seemed more like a science than anything else. It was a gamble telling this stranger—even though she was apparently one of the Shepherds—but he was grasping at straws.
"I don't know..." Tharja said honestly. "I'll have to examine you more closely; I'll be able to give you a definitive answer afterwards."
"I don't like the emphasis you put on 'examine', and 'closely'." Walter shivered on the inside. "This isn't some elaborate ploy to get me alone in a room with you, right?"
"Oh, do you think so lowly if me?" Tharja giggled. "I WOULDN'T mind getting to know you just a bit better though; you're just the type of man a
I adore..."
"I'm probably the type of man that everyone adores." Walter bit back as he began to leave the strange dark mage. He wasn't going to entertain her longer than need be.
"Besides, I'm not so certain you're my type of woman." he quipped. He heard Tharja laughing behind him.
"Is that so?" she asked in a teasing tone. "Maybe you're only saying that because you already HAVE a woman in your life?"
Walter stopped briefly. He didn't say anything, nor did he look back. Eliciting one final puff of smoke, he dropped the cigarette on the floor, and stepped over it as he continued his stride. As he did, his thoughts went out to a certain blue-haired maiden.
Ylisstol, Ylisse - Shepherds' Garrison
October 22, Age 2609 (8:23 P.M.)
After spending all day out and about like the workaholic he was, Walter finally returned to the garrison to...
...take stock of all the current armaments. There truly was no rest for a butler like him.
He ended up receiving a firm tongue-lashing from Cordelia, whom told him to rest. The butler conceded to her demand—mostly due to the fact that he was certain that he could simply request for Cordelia to give a list of the armaments; the woman was studious enough to do the job for him. Walter elected to partake in a late dinner, mostly because he hadn't the time to eat earlier. Sitting by himself in the mess hall, Walter silently enjoyed his meal—chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes.
"Mr. Dornez?"
The teenaged butler looked over his shoulder to see a certain mud-haired, tinpot wearing, villager turned soldier.
"Donnel!" Walter grinned as he greeted the young man. The butler was quite fond of the young man that he had recruited into the Shepherds.
"It's good to see you, sir..." Donnel's smile was a small one. "I'm sorry didn' show up to welcome you back, sir..." Walter furrowed his brows. Yes, Donnel wasn't present at the garrison earlier when the other's greeted him.
"Oh, I didn't notice..." Walter said honestly. "It's okay, you weren't obligated to show."
"Yeah..." Donnel sighed.
There was something bothering the boy. It was obvious, and was making Walter slightly antsy.
"Is there something you wish to speak to me about?" Walter inquired. Donnel nodded slowly.
"Well, go ahead and sit down; I've plenty of time." Walter gestured over to sit either next to him, or across from him. The mud-haired boy elected to sit beside him.
Settling in his seat, Donnel shifted uncomfortably as he refused to glance at the butler.
"So..." Walter began. "What is it that's troubling you?"
"I..." Donnel began hesitantly. "I... I done something I ain't proud off, sir..."
Walter raised a brow as he took a bite from his chicken.
"Really?" Walter hummed after swallowing his food. "I very much doubt that you've done anything too bad..."
"No..." Donnel remained steadfast. "It's bad, sir..."
Walter watched the boy fidget in his seat. He really was troubled by... something; Walter had no idea what it was though.
"Okay..." Walter quickly finished his meal, and pushed his plate away to be washed later. "What is it that's troubling you?" Donnel took a deep breath.
"I killed a man..." he admitted. Walter tilted his head in confusion.
"Donnel..." the butler began. "There's no shame in that—we're in the middle of a war. I highly doubt there's a single person in the Shepherds—save for maybe Maribelle—that hasn't killed their fair share of enemies. Even Lissa has killed a few-"
"I understand that, sir." Donnel interrupted. "I know that everyone else is doin' their fair share of killin'. Yer right, Mr. Dornez, this is a war we're fightin' in, and there's plenty a death involved, my pa was a soldier too when he was my age..."
Walter was taken aback. The boy hardly ever—if not never—mentioned his father. He didn't blame him, Donnel's father was murdered in the very bandit raid that led the boy to being recruited into the Shepherds, but the idea that the boy was the son of a veteran was... it was something Walter couldn't have predicted.
"Your father was a soldier?" Walter asked quietly. Donnel nodded.
"Yeah, he served under the last Exalt..." Donnel elaborated. "He was part of the..." the boy hesitated.
"He was part of the..." Donnel wanted to retch. but held it back. "My pa was part of the last Exalt's 'crusade' on them people of Plegia..."
Walter stared at the boy. The butler was beginning to understand what exactly had the boy so troubled.
"After the war, I'm guessing your father retired to the countryside." Walter hypothesized.
"Yeah..." Donnel sighed. "I was born some one or two years afterwards; my ma and pa knew each other and was childhood friends..." the boy let out a halfhearted laugh.
"My ma would always tell me about how my pa was always 'different' after the war..." Donnel continued. "She said that he was so much more... energetic—said she was like me actually. Still, after he came back to marry her, he was still kind and considerate to others, but every now and then he'd done get this look in his eyes... looked like he was empty, like he wasn't... up in there, if you catch my meanin'."
"Yes..." Walter nodded solemnly. "Far many, war is a... haunting experience..." the butler looked away. He could say it was a haunting experience, but he'd never fully understand what that felt like; a dog of war he was—an Angel of Death.
"That's why my pa always told me that all life was sacred; that non-a-us people have the right to decide who lives, and who dies." Donnel continued. "That if I do take a life, it'll stay with me forever; and I won't be able to get them images outta my head... all them faces of the dead..."
"Is that what's troubling you?" Walter asked quietly, hand rising to Donnel's shoulder. To his surprise, Donnel shook his head solemnly.
"No, sir..." Donnel quivered. "That ain't it at all... thing is..." Donnel swallowed as Walter began to realize WHAT exactly it was that was bothering the boy.
"...I've done stopped caring about those I kill."
Walter's eyes widened. He lowered is hand from the boy's shoulder, and just stared at him. Was it shame he felt? Did he feel ashamed that he brought the boy into the Shepherds? No, that wasn't it...
Perhaps then, it was disgust? Yes, he was disgusted in the action's of the boy that he had recruited. No, of course not—that would be hypocritical. What kind of person would he be to condemn Donnel for something that he too was guilty of?
No... it was neither shame or disgust—not happiness or anger, either...
What Walter felt...
...was sadness...
...and pity.
Now he realized why he had so quickly recruited the boy into the Shepherds...
"You're like me..." Walter muttered. It was Donnel's turn to stare at Walter in confusion.
"Wha...? I don't think I'm like you, sir—meaning no offense, of course." the boy raised his hands defensively. "I mean, yer so much more 'fancy' and what not; not to mention how much stronger you are than-"
"That's not what I meant, Donnel..." Walter sighed, raising his hand to the boy's shoulder once more. "You and I are similar in that you've lost that bit of empathy that others have for those they've killed..." the butler gave Donnel's shoulder a tight squeeze.
"I lost my empathy for the dead a long time ago..." Walter admitted with shame. "I was much younger than you as well; probably just short of ten years old at the time—heavens it's been such a long time..."
Donnel made an 'o' with his mouth before letting out a halfhearted chuckle.
"Looks like I went to the person then..."
"Yeah..." Walter scoffed. "People like you and I are rare enough, and even rarer are the number that don't turn to the life of a cutthroat..." Donnel sighed.
"Does this... beggin' yer pardon sir... make us..." Donnel was in-between a whisper and a whimper.
"...monsters?"
Walter squeezed Donnel's shoulder just a bit. He thought about it for a second, thinking of his response. With a low hum, Walter shook his head.
"Not you..." Walter replied. "The actions of my past are what make me a 'monster', but killing for the sake of a just cause isn't among those..." the butler exhaled heavily.
It was in that moment that Walter made a solemn vow to himself. It was something he'd fulfill. Sure, his time was limited, but he didn't care. He'd use what little time he had left, and...
"Donnel..." Walter shot the boy a solemn, but determined expression. "You aren't a 'monster', and I'm going to make sure you never become one." Walter offered the confused Donnel a hand.
"Will you let me teach you? Will you become my apprentice—so that you may never make the same mistakes as I did?"
Donnel stared at him, shell shocked for a brief moment or two. Learning under Walter Dornez, was that something he'd be able to do? Was it something he wanted? The answer was so obvious...
"I'd be honored to be your student, Mr. Dornez." Donnel gripped the man's, turned teenager's, hand.
Walter smirked. Yes... after he and Gangrel die, there'd be no 'monsters' left in this world; Walter will make certain of that. Even then, he'd use this short period of time to set Donnel on the right path, so that he'd be able to defeat people like them; people that felt nothing for those they killed, and had no qualms with it.
Still...
...wouldn't it be great if he had just a bot more time?
Hah, unless Tharja figures out how to heal me with her dark magic, there's no way that would happen... Walter chuckled quietly. Yes, he was certain that there'd be no man or woman that would force him to unleash the vampirism sealed in him...
...
...
...
Oddly enough...
...
...
...
Walter's thoughts returned to that blue-haired maiden that he had been thinking of far more frequently as of late.
Ylisstol, Ylisse - Royal Palace
October 23, Age 2609 (12:30 A.M.)
Restless, Walter was restless...
Tossing and turning, the butler shut his eyes and attempted to drift off into sleep, but to no avail. No matter how long he shut his eyes, he could not sleep. His heartbeat seemed to pound like a drum—his chest thumping harshly—bolstering his insomnia.
Think, Walter... I can think myself to sleep... he thought. Yes, it was a common technique he utilized; converse with oneself for long enough, and drowsiness would begin to claim him.
What am I going to do tomorrow morning? Well, perhaps I'll see to it that the order of silver I was granted is immediately forged in the fire at the church; yes, that'll be first on my agenda. Secondly, I'll... run through some simulations for the... battle. Plan that out to the... uh... utmost detail... Walter yawned quietly as he continued.
May need to check in with Matthew... I'm going to need to send him- no, I mean have him send a message to the Plegian resistance. Going to need them to be ready to... Walter let out another yawn.
Slowly, but steadily his thoughts began to grow sluggish. The pauses between each word increased in time, and slowly his eyes began to become weary.
I'll... speak to Emmeryn... abou... about allowing Don- Donnel to live in the... palace as m... my apprentice... also... I... really must... "yawn" ask Lucina about her... night... tomorrow. Can't... be any worse than mine...
Walter turned over on his side and drifted into his slumber; sleep finally in reach.
Wait... didn't Lucina say she had trouble sleeping last night?
Walter's eyes blinked open, as his tranquility was shattered. Looking up towards the ceiling, he pondered if Lucina was indeed having a worse night than him. He also wondered why he was so bothered by it in the first place.
She's a grown woman, she can handle herself... he tried to convince himself. However...
Eh... it wouldn't hurt to check in on her, right?
Walter, against his body's desire, sat up and got out of bed. Wearing only a tank top and sweatpants—a pair of fluffy slippers keeping his feet warm—the butler stepped out of his room, and into the hall. Recalling the room Lucina was given for the duration of her stay, Walter drowsily lumbered down the hall. Unfortunately, Lucina's room was in the opposite wing of the palace.
Yawning all the way from one end of the castle to the other, Walter finally came to the incognito future princess' room. Drearily, Walter raised a hand to the door to knock, but stopped short. Eyebrow raised, the butler lowered his hand, and instead pressed his ear against the door. His eyes widened upon confirming what he was hearing.
"Sta- stay away..." Lucina's groans barely audible. "G-get off me..."
Without a second thought, Walter burst into the room. Lucina was lying in bed—eyes shut tight as she tossed in turned—sweat pouring down her distressed face.
She was having a nightmare, and a very bad one from what Walter could tell. Moving to her side, the butler scooped her into his arms, and held her in a loving embrace.
"G-get away!" Lucina screamed, eyes still shut. Walter held her closer—acting on pure instinct.
"It's okay, Lucina... I'm here..." he whispered in her ear.
"Monster! I said g- get away!" Lucina tossed more violently, deep in her vivid nightmare. Walter briefly relented upon being called "monster".
No, not you, you dolt! he mentally berated himself. With a sigh, Walter held her as close to him as he could.
"Please... calm down, Luce..." he said quietly, almost in a begging tone. "It's me: Walter."
The girl seemed to relax a bit, though she was still tense in his arms.
"Wal- Walter?" she murmured, shivering.
"Yes..." the butler replied softly. "I'm here..."
Like a spell being broken, Lucina's eyes fluttered open. She was still quivering in the butler's arms, but she was at least now awake. Walter—needing to confirm for himself—loosened his embrace, and looked her into the eyes. They were glassy, watering as she met his gaze.
"I..." Lucina shivered. "I can't..."
She wouldn't stop shaking in his arms. It was proof again that this girl was still just that: a girl. Even the strongest could be fell by nightmares, for what else but the mind knows all a person's fears?
"I know..." Walter slid an arm under her legs, and—supporting her back with the other—lifted her up bridal style.
Holding the petite girl close, the butler quietly made his way from her room to his. Lucina was practically curled up into a ball in his arms, and remained this way throughout the walk from one wing of the palace to the opposite. They kept quiet throughout the journey— neither exchanging a single word—until they eventually came to the butler's quarters.
Sliding the door open with his foot, Walter first carefully laid Lucina down on his bed before closing the door behind him. Room dimly illuminated by a candlelit lamp, Walter sat at the bedside while Lucina lay in the bed. The awkward silence persisted, and neither saw fit to break it. For what felt like minutes, Walter simply watched the princess lay inertly on his mattress; the bluenette not making eye contact.
"You had a nightmare..." Walter stated—breaking the silence. It wasn't a question. Lucina simply nodded, still refusing to look at him.
"What about?" the butler inquired. When the girl kept quiet, Walter let out a sigh.
"Please tell me... I want to..." he hesitated. "...I want to help.
The girl seemed to consider his offer for a moment. Lucina shifted uncomfortably on his bed as she thought about whether or not she should divilge what she dreamt about. It was... personal, to say the least.
"It was... the same nightmare that kept me up the night before..." Lucina began. "It- it started off normally... you were there, and we were..." the girl hesitated.
"We were what?" Walter pressed.
"We were relaxing under a tree... just as we did on the way back from Plegia..." Lucina replied meekly. She wasn't telling the truth... or perhaps she wasn't giving all the details? Still, at least she was answering. Walter scooted closer to her, and grasped her hand gently.
"And then?" he whispered. Lucina hesitated once more.
"Gangrel..." she shivered, choking up just from saying the bastard's name. "It all happened so fast... one moment you were there, the next..." Lucina's chest heaved as her breaths became more heavy.
I see... Walter got the picture. I assumed she'd gotten over the trauma of her encounter with Gangrel; evidently, I was wrong...
"You don't need to tell me what happened next, I get the picture." Walter assured. He placed his hand atop her's again. She shivered at his touch—her cold skin contrasted by his warm palm.
"Walter..." Lucina looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Don't leave me..."
Just as she did that night in the Plegian Desert, she asked him not to leave. Walter flinched. It was something he couldn't fulfill, and this pained him to no end. It was akin to a thick claymore being driven through him, and halving him in a brutal slash—split between telling her the truth, or lying to save the girl the pain of foresight. Staring into her dark-blue eyes—eyes that were as vibrant as the midnight outside—he felt his heart pounding in his chest.
Walter, was he willing to break Lucina's heart?
"As long as I live..." Walter finally replied, a small smile graced his face. Lucina relaxed, though her eyes still seemed to be pleading for something.
"Stay with me tonight?"
Walter flinched once more. He heard her correctly, right?
His gunmetal gray eyes stared at the princess lying on his bed—a mixture of shock and confusion visible in his dulled eyes. She was staring up at him with such desperation; as if she needed him beside her at this very moment. Once more, his heart was throbbing in his chest, and the longer he stared at her the stronger it became. Why? Why was this happening?
"If that's what you want." he managed to finally reply after what felt like ages.
Lucina smiled slightly, the corner of her lips upturned very minutely. Satisfaction—no, relief—is what Walter read from her expression. Silently, she scooted over to give Walter room to lie down with her. The bed was only slightly larger than the average twin sized mattress, so Lucina was practically at the edge.
Trepidation masked by his calm facade, Walter moved to lie beside the petite woman. Dousing the lamp at his bedside as he settled beside the princess, the duo found themselves face-to-face once more. The light from the moon shone through the window, illuminating the two—both staring into the other's eyes. In Lucina's eyes, Walter saw tranquility; the girl was eased by him being there. In Walter's eyes; Lucina saw...
...conflict. The man—turned teenager—was unsure about her being there.
"If you're uncomfortable I can move a bit further away..." Lucina suggested. Walter scoffed, smirking.
"You'll fall off the bed if you do that." he chuckled quietly. "Honestly... if you wanted to share a bed with me, we should've stayed in your room. At least then we'd have the pleasure of having a queen-sized mattress."
"Yeah..." Lucina giggled. "Still, I don't mind giving you more room; it is your bed after all."
True to her word, she began to slide further away from him. However, before she could even put another inch of distance between the two of them, Walter suddenly draped his arm over her. Without warning, he slowly pulled her towards him. Just as when they hid beneath the ghoul corpses to hide from Plegian soldiers, just as when they lay beside each other in the Plegian Desert because they had only one blanket; the two were nuzzled close to one another.
Being inches—no, centimeters away from each other, the warmth of being so close to one another began to make them drowsy. It was an ecstasy that neither could recall ever feeling at any other point in their lives. It was... intoxicating, to say the least.
Eyelids growing heavy—barely being kept half open—Walter's mind grew sluggish. He couldn't keep track of his thoughts, and even the seconds passing him by became hard to keep track of. All he knew was that he was no longer thinking clearly, and that there was probably little to no chance he'd even recall these last few minutes of languid , in confusion that was his mind, there was a single thought in his echoing—he heard it with great clarity.
Maybe you're only saying that because you already HAVE a woman in your life?
Tharja's teasing last jab at him was on repeat in his sleep deprived mind. It was hammering at him, the only thought he could hear clearly, and not allowing him to sleep.
Maybe you're only saying that because you already HAVE a woman in your life?
With every repetition of the remark, Walter would find himself thinking about a certain blue-haired maiden...
...whom he was currently sharing a bed with.
Maybe you're only saying that because you already HAVE a woman in your life?
He stared into the midnight-blue eyes of said maiden—Lucina staring into his gray eyes in return. Her eyes, the Brand of the Exalt present in the left, were vibrant; his were a dull-gray in contrast.
Maybe you're only saying that because you already HAVE a woman in your life?
With every repetition, he began to slowly realize just how beautiful Lucina really was... and just how violently his heart was pumping in his chest.
Maybe you're only saying that because you already HAVE a woman in your life?
Pulling her in closer—an act which Lucina seemed to happily oblige—Walter held her against his chest. The girl seemed to nuzzle close to him, head resting against him; she could probably feel the thumping of his heart. The butler—the Angel of Death—affectionately leaned his head into her; being just millimeters shy of kissing her forehead. The thought that was repeating in his head had faded, though it was replaced by a new one...
As Walter closed his eyes, arms wrapped around the fair-skinned beauty that was Lucina, his final thought before drifting off to sleep remaining a secret...
It's best I keep this to myself...
Writer's notes
What was Walter thinking before he fell asleep, hmm? Would you be surprised to hear the fact that the chapter ended with both Walter and Lucina going one step further than just sleeping in the same bed? Maybe I'll elaborate later...
Anyway, you're probably wondering what took so long—after several weeks of consecutive chapters nonetheless. Well, I was honestly burned out if writing for a bit. Not to mention that I had no idea how I was going to write this chapter, because none of it was set in stone. However, I think the biggest contributing factor to why I had taken so much time off was because college classes started. I didn't have much time to finish this chapter, and I only had time recently because I was slightly ahead.
Funny thing, I had this chapter ready last week, but lost half the document in a stupid accident involving my computer, my IPad, and my phone. Long story short, and older version of the document overwrote the finished version, and I lost 5,000 words in one fell swoop. Needless to say, I was fairly pissed...
So, shall I regale you with the tales of what occurred "behind the keyboard"?!
Behind the keyboard
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Call back! - Throughout this chapter, there were multiple subtle call backs to previous chapters. Some were VERY subtle, so I don't expect any single person to find them all. Still, how many can you find, and what did they reference?
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I forgot a Shepherd or two... - When I was writing the Shepherds reunion scene, I actually forgot to write in one or two Shepherds... maybe even three or four. Either way, I quickly rectified that mistake. Still, it's slightly embarrassing that it happened in the first place.
Funnily enough, Kellam was among those that I forgot. Poor guy can't catch a break even on the other side of the fourth wall.
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Tharja and Walter - Here she is, the resident yandere of Fire Emblem Awakening! While writing their first scene together, I had a tab open so that I could look up synonyms for words like 'sexy', and 'arousing'; just funny tidbit. Tharja is probably one of the hardest characters for me to write, because I have NO idea how the hell I'm supposed to write someone like her... hopefully I did well for my first attempt.
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Donnel and Walter - Donnel is one of my favorite characters in Fire Emblem Awakening—Donnel is one of best bois—so I knew that I had to do something with his character. I was never a fan of how little characterization all the characters receive after their initial recruitment—the optional characters are guilty in particular. So, I decided to add some color to Donnel. Eitherway, I've got a pretty interesting arc planned for our favorite farm boy, and I hope y'all enjoy it!
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Lucina's nightmare - Originally, I was gonna go into detail on what exactly occurred in her nightmare. Ultimately, I thought it was best to leave it somewhat ambiguous; one of those things that's best left up to the reader's imagination.
What do you guys think happened in her dream?
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That's the last of the "behind the keyboard" stuff, so let's get onto the reviews for the last chapter!
Reviews
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Racol09 - No, thank you for reading this fanfic!
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Aergaia - Eh, I came to regret how I handled the Chrom and Walter reunion just a tiny bit... that's why I tried to make the actual reunion between Walter and the Shepherds a lot more heartwarming; a "welcome back, we missed you" sorta thing. Whether or not I was successful is... I just realized that I say that a lot, so lemme add some variation. It's debatable if I executed it well, but that's just my opinion of myself.
Lucina and Walter have the kind of relationship I think most people want; one where both parties are free to act completely out of 'character'. One goal of mine was to emphasize just how much the two of them rely on the other—although it's not been made fully clear what Walter relies on Lucina for, it should be a bit obvious what Lucina relies on Walter for. As you said, Walter makes her feel normal: he gives her a chance to feel normal. She doesn't have to be a leader around Walter—in part due to the fact that Walter takes the lead from her when the two are together—and that's relieves her of the pressure that she's felt ever since her father died and she was handed Falchion.
The only reason I could do the flashbacks was because I started building the relationship between Walter and Lucina from the moment the two first met. If you re-read every moment the two come into contact, one of the two places trust in the other in some way. The war council scene from last chapter was all about how everyone's trust in Walter was split, it only seemed natural that I emphasize just how trustworthy the man is by highlighting just how much Lucina—the person in that room who probably has the most reason to distrust him—trusts him.
Anyway, if I keep rambling in this response, I may accidentally give something away. Either way, thank you for the review, and I hope I can continue produce a good story for you—as well as everyone else—to read.
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kerrowe - Well, you got your answer: forge silver weapons in a 'divine' fire. Walter betting on the fact that it may imbue them with some amount of holy power, although it probably wouldn't be anywhere near as powerful as the Falchion.
As Chrom realized in this chapter, Walter's plan may have issues, but it's the best that they're gonna get. Still, there's an aspect of Walter's plan that hasn't been revealed yet, and has only been hinted at in a near throwaway line. Let's just say that it'll majorly turn the tide of the battle.
Well, Tharja has told Walter that she MIGHT be able to do something for him... no spoilers on what will happen, though...
Either way, I made my decision on when I'm ending the story, but I'm not going to announce it for awhile. Anyway, as always, your review is very much appreciated!
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Neema Amiry - Well, I very much hope that this chapter was awesome as well!
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pt1oef - I honestly don't think there's a single chapter that I don't have fun writing. Sure, some are more difficult than others, but it's all worth it at the end of the day; if only so I can entertain someone.
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mistersnx - Oh, well thank you! I try really hard to make it a good read, y'know!
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Holy crap, this chapter was long! I never thought I'd beat out "Not Alone", which was 13,041 words total. That was a chapter that combined stuff from a scrapped chapter too, so half of it wasn't even originally intended to be used! This chapter however is a behemoth on it's own! Crazy part is, I had more scenes planned!At 14,084 words, this chapter has firmly established itself as the longest chapter of the story. I've no doubt that it'll beat out eventually, but it'll hold the crown as 'longest chapter in the story' until then.
Anyway, I apoligize again for the wait, I really was burned out for awhile—college starting also threw a wrench into my progress. Still, I think I'll be able to finish this arc soon. Don't hold me to that though, because I might just get swamped with college work at some point in the near future. Either way, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I will see you next time!
Next time on Walter Dornez of the Emblem!
Unrequited Feelings
