That night, a great celebration was held at the camp. While the food could be considered simple and plain, there were an abundance of it, and the wine were of a fine quality. A great fire had been lit in the middle of the camp were Owain had found the opportunity to practice his singing voice (to the drunken crowd's delight). Severa for her part seemed to enjoy her fiancé's performance while the intoxicated crowd tried to sing along. Morgan meanwhile was content with slipping away to a more secluded part of the camp despite officially being the star of the event.
The bluenette had noticed that both her grandfather and Tiki had excused themselves early from the festivities. No doubt to catch up and talk about recent events (Tiki had been slumbering for a few decades). Morgan sighted and looked up into the sky while occasionally sipping from her flagon of wine. She was sitting alone on a lonely rock surrounded with grass. Unlike the first time she had set her sight on Mount Prism, she felt at ease and a newfound appreciation of the serene view.
''It's beautiful is it not?''
Morgan turned around and saw Tiki standing alone in the green sea that surrounded the bluenette's little rocky island. The manakete had her hands behind her back and looked gently at the younger woman.
''Hope that you don't mind that I join you. Your grandfather has told me everything about recent event and…who your father is…''
Mentally the bluenette groaned.
This again…
''Yes, a real bastard of a father.''
Surprisingly Tiki didn't seem to agree. For a split-second Morgan could detect a small twitch of disapproval before the Voice's changed her expression for something more neutral. The was an awkward pause before the Manakete replied.
''I must say I was shocked to hear how events has unfolded…And I find it hard to believe all of it to be true especially regarding your father Robin…''
Again, the Voice paused before quickly clarifying her previous remark, cleared her throat before continuing.
''Forgive me, it's not that I wish to defend his actions. It's just…That I was shocked to learn of all the evils he committed since my slumber. I knew him, Lady Morgan. I even counted him amongst my friends. He was a good man.''
Morgan stared at Tiki as if she had just claimed that pigs could fly. The manakete quickly caught on the bluenette's disbelief.
''I…It's not something that I would just say lightly. He really was a good man; I like to think that I have a good judgement when it comes to people. I have rarely seen a mortal as wise and caring as your father...''
Again, the manakete stopped herself as she saw Morgan's continued doubtful expression.
''(ahem)…Sorry, it's just hard for me to accept it. He reminded me so much of an old friend of mine. I even once accidently called him Mar-Mar.''
The Voice was clearly not the best when it came to social interactions, as things were beginning to go in circles. Morgan did not know who this ''Mar-Mar'' was nor did she speculate much about it. For her these descriptions did not describe her father at all.
''If so, then the man that raised me is another person entirely. He's cold and aloof, and he never showed any inkling of caring. Why should he? I was the runt in his long line of bastards. He probably had me just to spite my grandfather.''
The Manakete looked at Morgan with a serious expression.
''Again, I must express my disbelief. Your grandfather and Robin were very close. I have not witnessed such a genuine bond since…''
Flashes of her mother's sickly appearance came before the younger woman. If there ever was any good in her father, he would not have mistreated her so. The manakete's insistence on defending that man began to annoy Morgan, and she did not wish to continue this conversation.
''If you would excuse me your holiness, I have grown very tired, and the wine have made it worse. I think I'll retire for tonight.''
Morgan rose and prepared to leave but stopped at what Tiki said next.
''You look like him…''
The bluenette froze.
This was a first.
People were always quick to note her similar appearance to her mother, but no one has ever noted that she looked like her father. Morgan could feel herself growing angry at the remark.
''I'm NOTHING like that man.''
Tiki was adamant with her observation.
''You're…We manaketes of the divine tribe don't just rely on our eyes, but our other senses as well. You have an aura that is nearly identical to your father. It's a very familiar warm glow that few people possess.''
Morgan took great offence at the notion. As far as she was concerned her father had betrayed her grandfather's trust. Any tales of his admirable nature might just be a mask that he wore during his time in Ylisse. He was a snake that only cared about his own pleasures and would cast anything aside if he felt he had no more use of it.
Just like he abandoned her all those years ago.
''I fail to see how this is relevant.''
The manakete looked at her strangely.
''I have lived for thousands of years and I'm rarely wrong with such observations, and I believe that the man you call father is an entirely different being then the man I knew as Robin. Keep that in mind if you ever confront him.''
It was a strange way of answering Morgan's question. Was it a warning or was this just the Manakete's clumsy attempt to comfort her? Morgan was not sure but didn't get the opportunity to ask for clarification as they were suddenly interrupted by a Pegasus rider. The knight landed her steed with great urgency, practically landing atop of Morgan if she had been a few feet closer.
''Princess Morgan! Princess Morgan! An urgent message from the castle! It's your honoured mother Lucina. She suddenly fell very ill and the healers fear that she won't have long. The queen has commanded that your grandsire should be informed immediately.''
Morgan wasted no time, with a quick nod towards the Voice, she quickly excused herself and went to find her grandfather. As soon as he had heard the message, he declared that he and Morgan would fly from the camp at first light by pegasus horses. They would only rest whenever they needed to change mounts at the various taverns along the road and whenever it grew to dark to fly any further.
Morgan did not protest at this reckless path for she too felt it urgent to return to the castle with great haste.
She barely had time to say goodbye to Severa and Owain.
They arrived in a castle marred with sorrows after a mere two-day ride from their camp up in the mountains.
Her grandmother greeted them at their arrival.
By her ruined appearance alone, it was clear that the situation was dire. Her grandmother had clearly spent the last few days crying her eyes out and spoke to her Exalted husband with an almost hysteric tone. He in turn quickly sought his daughter out together with his queen wife. Morgan for her part was denied access to her mother's chambers with the healer citing; how it was unwise to crowd the chambers.
And so, the young bluenette waited outside her mother's chambers, listening to the muffled voices of her grandfather and the vails of her grandmother. She could not understand how all of this had happened so quickly. Her mother seemed well enough a few weeks back when they first left for the mountain.
It felt like an eternity had passed before the door opened and her grandmother walked out. The queen cast a quick glance at Morgan. She seemed to want to tell the younger woman something, before deciding against it and walked down the hallway in a brisk pace. Her grandfather appeared out of the door shortly after with the healer.
He seemed to have aged at least ten years.
''She wants to see you and only you alone Morgan. Call us if you need anything.''
With a weary nod towards the door, her grandfather followed his wife down the hallway. The healer in turn bowed before the younger royal before heading in another direction, leaving Morgan alone.
She went in the room.
It smelled of death and decay. The healer had tried to mask the unpleasant smell by burning some of that blasted incense, but Morgan found that it did little difference.
Princess Lucina was laying in her bed. Her appearance had once again degraded to an almost skeletal appearance. At the sight of her mother, Morgan felt as if multiple heavy stones had been placed on her chest. Her mother spoke, the voice barely a whisper.
''M-Morgan?''
The bluenette quickly approached her mother's bed.
''Yes, mother I'm here. Dear Gods, you look like you haven't eaten for several days.''
Her mother smiled but it was clear that it was done with great difficulty.
''I'm sorry for worrying you my little butterfly. I just…it suddenly just became difficult keeping any food down. But how did it go? Did you speak with Tiki? Did the ceremony go well?''
Her mother was obviously trying to change the subject, but nevertheless Morgan decided to indulge her.
She told her about ceremony and how Naga herself had appeared before them, the older bluenette for her part listened intently at her daughter smiling at the end.
''Well…it seems that you had some eventful weeks that would surely come down into the history books. My little girl…blessed by Naga herself! I could not be happier for you.''
Lucina had to cough violently before being able to continue. Morgan instinctively grabbed her mother's hand.
''My little girl all grown up. Oh, how I'm blessed to have you…''
Morgan's mood grew dark at the last remark, her mother quickly caught on her darkening mood.
''You're! Don't let anyone ever say anything else. For all the pain I endured, I'm grateful for having you, and I'm grateful that he allowed me to raise you those early years even if he…he…''
Lucina began to shake. It was rare that her mother would ever mention her father.
Part of her knew that she should change subject, but she remembered Tiki's claims and her curiosity got the better of her.
''Was there ever any good in him?''
Her mother starred at her for a long time before giving an answer.
''I-I should hate him. I should despise him for what he has done…Yet there was a time that I once admired him. Did you know that he was my teacher for a time? I barely remember those times, so much has happened since t-then. I-I…''
Her mother began to sob before breaking down in tears. Morgan regretted her question and dared not press the issue further. She repeatedly apologized to her mother for bringing it up. The older bluenette began to ramble incoherently.
''Oh Morgan…I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for leaving you alone all those years. Oh…would that we had more time. I should have taken you away from there…I should never had let myself be captured…I…''
''Shh…But everything worked out mother, I'm here now and all is well. Sleep now and get some rest, I'll still be here tomorrow. Maybe we could train again? You know I could still use some training with using Falchion. It's much lighter for me now.''
This seemed to calm her mother down as she again began to smile.
''Yes, that would be nice...there is still some techniques that I could teach you…Maybe we could even arrange another trip to the market?''
Morgan gave her mother a confirming grin.
''I would love to mother. Now get some rest.''
Her mother's eyes slowly began to close.
''Yes, a good night sleep would do me good. I'm sorry for worrying you and father. I'm fine now. You can leave me dear. I think want to sleep now…''
Morgan did not leave her mother's side the entire night.
It was a good thing that she did not.
For her mother never woke up again.
Oh boy another nail in Grima's coffin! Things are now going fast, and I hope to finish this before the year is over.
And now on to questions and comments! I know that it might appear a bit random and sudden that I retcon Grima to be a ''brother'' to Naga, but I always found it weird how an (essentially) lab accident could rival the power of a being as ancient as Naga. I'm much fonder of the idea that they somehow are more closely related in a similar way as Duma and Mila from the game echoes.
As for questions of Morgan's abilities in relation to her father…Well I hope that I can write something that makes sense (but it might be a bit of a retcon on established lore-Not sure I'm going to write it and let you be the judge :P).
Again, thank you all for reading and commenting ^^
