All right...here's a completely original chapter, showing how Eliwood is dealing with Ninian's death.
Jeanie: Connections to Defiance...well, the only problem with making those is that by now, Defiance has ended. I might put one in if I can think of one though...
The Story Master 125: Ninian isn't coming back yet...but she'll be back eventually. Read and see...
Sugary Teethrotter: Thanks for your review!
Inferno-Hero: Thanks for your review!
Morning Mist: It really isn't that much of a surprise that I can write from a girl's perspective...because, after all, I know exactly how Ninian acts. Now if it was a girl OC...then I'd have a problem .
FireEdge: You'll just have to wait and see ;)
FromBern: If you want to see how Eliwood goes on...read this chapter.
anonymousdemon: Thanks for your review!
Lord Cynic: Hey! I love your GS fics! Thanks for your review!
hyliansage: O.o That was long...but the revival is not this chapter. Read and see :)
AmbieChan: Wow...I didn't know my writing was that powerful...thanks.
Not Important1: I've never played FF7 so I can't comment on that...but I get what you mean. Thanks.
Chapter Seventeen
Always
"Ninian...why..."
If only I could answer him...
Ninian wasn't sure how it had happened...but moments after her vision had gone black, her vision had suddenly returned and she had found herself standing next to Eliwood...yet she could see her own body lying on the ground in front of him, lifeless.
"W-why did y-you h-have to leave m-me...why..."
She spoke, but Eliwood did not hear her. She placed a hand on his shoulder, but Eliwood did not feel her. She stood in front of him, but Eliwood did not see her.
Am I...only a spirit now?
She had heard stories about this before, when she was young...although she hadn't believed them at the time. The stories told of spirits of the deceased wandering the world...but the accounts varied. Some stories told of spirits haunting homes they had once owned...some told of spirits watching the living, wishing to be alive again...some told of spirits of evildoers that could kill a person in the night...
But while the accounts varied, they all held one concept in common...the reason that the spirits of the dead were able to inhabit the world of the living. All of the stories told that spirits of the deceased were only able to wander the world when there was some problem that a spirit needed to fix in the world of the living before he or she could pass into the afterlife.
But...what could that be? What can I do?
"I l-love you...N-Ninian...I-I'm s-so sorry...why..."
Eliwood can't even sense me...
It had been several hours since that fateful incident, and the sky was beginning to darken. Still, Eliwood continued to sob over Ninian's lifeless body, and Ninian had simply stayed with him.
All I can do is watch...
"Eliwood."
Athos's voice came from a distance away. Ninian turned to look at him, but Eliwood apparently did not notice him.
The Archsage stepped closer, walking to where Eliwood was crying over Ninian's body.
"Eliwood," he repeated.
Eliwood looked up, wiping his eyes. He was a mess...his face and eyes were red, and his hair was disheveled to the point where it looked like he had tried to tear it out.
"L-Lord Athos..." Eliwood responded.
Athos sighed heavily. "The others told me not to come, that you deserved some more time alone," he said. "Losing the one you love is the greatest pain in the world. But...you must move on."
Eliwood didn't reply.
"We have Durandal," Athos went on. "We must stop Nergal before he can call dragons into the world."
Eliwood remained silent. It almost looked to Ninian like he didn't even care about Nergal...
He stood up, looking despondently at Ninian's body once again. Suddenly, a wildly hopeful look appeared in his eyes, and he turned to the Archsage.
"Lord Athos," he said. "There is a way to bring her back, isn't there? Surely, you must know of one!"
Athos didn't reply, as if he knew, but did not want to tell Eliwood about it.
"There must be a way!" Eliwood went on, his voice rising. "Please, tell me!"
The Archsage sighed heavily again. "...Yes," he said after many moments. "There is a way. But—"
"What is it?!" Eliwood asked wildly, cutting Athos off. "I must know!"
Athos shook his head somberly. "I cannot tell you, as I do not know it myself."
"What?!" Eliwood nearly screamed. "What do you mean, you don't know?!"
Athos looked down at Ninian's lifeless body. "Even I have no experience in the ways of necromancy," he explained. "Only an archdruid such as Bramimond has the means to tap into the dead."
"Then...then you can get him, can't you?" Eliwood pleaded. "Can't you?!"
Athos shook his head. "Even if I were to do so, he would not honor your request," he explained somberly.
"Why not?!" Eliwood demanded.
Athos looked again at Ninian's body. "To bring back lost loved ones...that is what everyone wants." He looked up, back at Eliwood. "I apologize...but what reason is there that you should be the only one who is able to do so?"
"I...I..." Eliwood stammered, before trailing off and looking at the ground.
"Bramimond would only revive someone if there was a great need for that person in the world," Athos went on. "And he would do so without request."
"No!" Eliwood shouted, his eyes welling with tears. "He has to bring Ninian back! He has to!"
Athos sighed again. "Eliwood," he said sadly. "I know you are grieving the loss of the girl you loved. But you have to understand—"
"What's there to understand?!" Eliwood screamed, tears streaming down his face now. He gripped the Archsage's shoulders tightly, almost shaking him out of rage.
"Don't you see?!" he screamed. "I NEED HER!"
He abruptly let go of Athos and collapsed on the ground, sobbing.
"She w-was the only girl I-I ever loved...and I killed her!"
Ninian wanted to burst into tears...but she could not...apparently spirits couldn't cry.
"Eliwood," Athos said. "Do not blame yourself. Durandal was created to combat dragons, and it merely was fulfilling its purpose. If you are to blame someone..." He paused. "Blame me."
Eliwood looked up. "W-what?"
"I helped create Durandal, and the other legendary weapons," he explained sadly. "And if I had known that awakening the blazing blade would lead to this...I never would have told you to find it." He sighed. "I am truly sorry, Eliwood. The son of Roland should never be wounded by the very weapon he wields."
Eliwood slowly got to his feet, wiping his eyes.
"But this will not cause Nergal to slow his efforts to bring dragons into the world," Athos went on. "Eliwood...you and the others must defeat him." He looked down at Ninian's body. "Nergal brought Ninian to this world to call other dragons. Please, you must defeat Nergal...for her sake, and for the world's."
Eliwood was silent for a moment, then nodded resolutely. "I...I will," he said shakily. "For Ninian...for her sake, I will defeat him!"
Ninian knew he couldn't see her...but she beamed with pride and happiness. Eliwood still loved her, even knowing she was a half-dragon, but...
...but now she was beyond his reach...
As if Eliwood could sense Ninian's thoughts, he suddenly said, "But...there is one thing I must ask of you."
"What is it?" Athos asked.
"I...I know there is no way to bring Ninian back, but..." he paused, almost embarrassed by his request. "I...I once heard tales of...people talking to their lost loved ones in a dream." He sighed. "Do you...do you think it is possible?"
"I have heard such tales myself," Athos replied. "I am not certain, but it sounds very possible. However..." He paused. "However, it does not seem as though there is a way of making it occur. I suppose it is the departed one's decision..."
Eliwood nodded. "I see..."
Meanwhile, Ninian's heart leapt. Maybe she could still talk to Eliwood...
Eliwood knelt down beside Ninian's body, holding her lifeless hand in his.
"I...I have one other request," he said, blinking to hold back his tears. "Please...is there a way to make sure her body does not...I-I want to wait to bury her in Pherae...after this i-is over..."
Athos nodded. "This much, I can do for you," he said. He raised his staff, and a greenish aura surrounded Ninian's body before disappearing.
"Nature will not affect her body now," he explained. "She will stay like this forever."
Eliwood sniffed, trying his hardest not to cry. "Do...do the o-others know..."
The Archsage sighed heavily. "They do," he replied. "The daughter of Barigan took it very hard...I sense she and Ninian were good friends."
It took a moment for Ninian to realize that he was talking about Florina.
Ninian hadn't even thought about her at all...
"Are you ready to return to camp?" Athos asked.
"I-I will come," Eliwood said. "B-but please...permit m-me one more moment alone..."
"As you wish," Athos replied, and walked back to camp.
With Athos gone, Eliwood let his tears fall freely now. He knelt down beside Ninian's body and picked her up, cradling her lifeless body in his arms.
"Ninian..." he said softly, smiling slightly through his tears. "This i-is what y-you would w-want, right?"
Ninian wished she could tell him yes...
He was silent for a few moments, then, slowly, he bent his head down and placed a small kiss on her cold lips.
"I-I will a-always love you..." he promised. "N-no matter w-what happens...always..."
And silently, Ninian promised the same thing.
"Ninian...why..."
Nils and Florina sat on a bed in the latter's tent, holding each other and crying.
Ninian watched them, feeling absolutely miserable. She had left them both behind...
Nils, her brother...with her gone, he had no relatives left. He was the only half-dragon in both this world and the dragon's realm...
And Florina, her best friend...they trusted each other so much...Ninian even trusted her with the secret of her identity. What would Florina do without her...
Standing there, watching the two of them sob silently, she knew that they would be able to move on...that they would become close to each other. Nils no longer had a big sister...and Florina had known his sister very well. Florina had lost her best friend...and Nils was there to be with her.
"I-I'll always remember you..." Florina sobbed. "A-Always..."
"Ninian...why..."
It was nighttime...but apparently spirits did not need to sleep, as Ninian did not feel any form of tiredness.
She was in Eliwood's tent, watching him as he slept. He was tossing lightly, and mumbling in his sleep.
And judging from what he was mumbling...Ninian could tell what he was dreaming about...
She had remembered Athos's words, but so far she had not found a way to talk to him. So now, she sat silently on his bed, stroking his face that could not feel her hand...soothing him with words that he could not hear...
I'll always love you...no matter what happens...always...
Eliwood's promise played through her head again as she sat beside him.
She so wished to talk to him...why could she not?
Why did fate have to be so cruel to her?
She stroked his hair sadly, fondly.
"I'll always love you," she said, duplicating Eliwood's promise. "No matter what happens...always..."
And to seal her promise, just as Eliwood had done, she bent down and placed a kiss upon his lips.
Then, without warning, everything went white.
"Ninian...why..."
When Ninian could see again, she found herself in what looked like a cemetery. In neat rows, gravestones covered the muddy earth beneath her feet.
It was raining, but she couldn't feel the drops hitting her.
"Why did you have to leave me..."
Eliwood's voice came from somewhere among the rows of graves.
She followed his voice through the rows until she found him leaning in front of a gravestone with a rose in front of it.
"Why..."
She looked at the gravestone...and almost gasped in surprise.
It had her name on it.
"Why couldn't you stay with me...we would have been so happy together..."
She walked over to him, speaking to him even though she knew he could not hear her...
"Eliwood...I'm so sorry..."
Suddenly, Eliwood's head snapped up, as if he had heard her words. He looked to his side, at her...
She looked at the ground sadly. She knew he couldn't see her...
"N-Ninian?"
Ninian looked up abruptly. He had said her name...he knew she was there...
"Oh my..." Eliwood gasped. "Ninian...is it really you?!"
She was silent for a moment, still shocked. Then she said, softly, "Lord Eliwood..."
"Ninian!" Eliwood exclaimed jubilantly. "You're alive! You're alive!"
He threw his arms around her, embracing her as tightly as he could.
Ninian could only return the embrace dumbly.
He held her for a few moments, then let go, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. "I can't believe it...I must be dreaming..."
Then Athos's words came back to her.
She was in his dream...
"Lord Eliwood..." she said, unsure of how to break the news to him. "I...I can't stay long..."
Eliwood stared at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
She looked away from him, not wanting to see his face when he found out. "What you are seeing...is only my spirit..."
Eliwood's jubilant expression faded slowly. "You mean...you aren't..." He placed a hand to her cheek. "You're still...gone..."
She closed her eyes, feeling tears well up in them...even though she knew spirits couldn't cry.
"Then..." Eliwood asked softly, "then...how can I still talk to you?"
She shook her head. "I don't know..." she said.
The cemetery around them seemed to fade, to be replaced by white. Everything around them was white...they could see nothing around themselves but each other.
Eliwood brought his hand to his forehead. "I...I'm dreaming, aren't I..." he said, half to himself.
She nodded sadly. "But...I am here, now...and when you wake up, I'll still be near you, watching you..."
Eliwood shook his head vigorously. "But what good is that?!" he shouted both sadly and angrily. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "If I can't be with you..." he whispered, "I-I don't know how I can go on..."
"Lord Eliwood..." she whispered back, "I'll always be with you. Even if you can't see me...I'll be there...no matter what..."
"So?!" Eliwood demanded. "You're still not there for me...to hold..." he trailed off.
She brought her face closer to his. "Lord Eliwood..." she repeated. "You...you must go on. Please...this is what I want you to do. For me..."
Eliwood stared at her helplessly. "But...but I love you..." he whispered.
She gave him a sad smile. "And I love you too..." she whispered in return. "But...you don't have to forget me..."
Eliwood remained silent, still staring at her helplessly.
"Just remember..." she said wistfully. "Whenever you think of me...just remember that I'm by your side...always..."
Eliwood stared at her for a moment longer before nodding slowly.
"I..." he said. "I will. I'll go on...I will defeat Nergal. For you..."
She smiled at him.
"And remember...I love you." She began to move her face towards his. "Always."
Eliwood gave her a tiny smile. "And I love you too..."
Then their lips met, and Ninian's vision became white once again.
Ninian opened her eyes to find herself back in Eliwood's tent. She heard him mumble in his sleep.
"...Always..."
Jeanie: Connections to Defiance...well, the only problem with making those is that by now, Defiance has ended. I might put one in if I can think of one though...
The Story Master 125: Ninian isn't coming back yet...but she'll be back eventually. Read and see...
Sugary Teethrotter: Thanks for your review!
Inferno-Hero: Thanks for your review!
Morning Mist: It really isn't that much of a surprise that I can write from a girl's perspective...because, after all, I know exactly how Ninian acts. Now if it was a girl OC...then I'd have a problem .
FireEdge: You'll just have to wait and see ;)
FromBern: If you want to see how Eliwood goes on...read this chapter.
anonymousdemon: Thanks for your review!
Lord Cynic: Hey! I love your GS fics! Thanks for your review!
hyliansage: O.o That was long...but the revival is not this chapter. Read and see :)
AmbieChan: Wow...I didn't know my writing was that powerful...thanks.
Not Important1: I've never played FF7 so I can't comment on that...but I get what you mean. Thanks.
Always
"Ninian...why..."
If only I could answer him...
Ninian wasn't sure how it had happened...but moments after her vision had gone black, her vision had suddenly returned and she had found herself standing next to Eliwood...yet she could see her own body lying on the ground in front of him, lifeless.
"W-why did y-you h-have to leave m-me...why..."
She spoke, but Eliwood did not hear her. She placed a hand on his shoulder, but Eliwood did not feel her. She stood in front of him, but Eliwood did not see her.
Am I...only a spirit now?
She had heard stories about this before, when she was young...although she hadn't believed them at the time. The stories told of spirits of the deceased wandering the world...but the accounts varied. Some stories told of spirits haunting homes they had once owned...some told of spirits watching the living, wishing to be alive again...some told of spirits of evildoers that could kill a person in the night...
But while the accounts varied, they all held one concept in common...the reason that the spirits of the dead were able to inhabit the world of the living. All of the stories told that spirits of the deceased were only able to wander the world when there was some problem that a spirit needed to fix in the world of the living before he or she could pass into the afterlife.
But...what could that be? What can I do?
"I l-love you...N-Ninian...I-I'm s-so sorry...why..."
Eliwood can't even sense me...
It had been several hours since that fateful incident, and the sky was beginning to darken. Still, Eliwood continued to sob over Ninian's lifeless body, and Ninian had simply stayed with him.
All I can do is watch...
"Eliwood."
Athos's voice came from a distance away. Ninian turned to look at him, but Eliwood apparently did not notice him.
The Archsage stepped closer, walking to where Eliwood was crying over Ninian's body.
"Eliwood," he repeated.
Eliwood looked up, wiping his eyes. He was a mess...his face and eyes were red, and his hair was disheveled to the point where it looked like he had tried to tear it out.
"L-Lord Athos..." Eliwood responded.
Athos sighed heavily. "The others told me not to come, that you deserved some more time alone," he said. "Losing the one you love is the greatest pain in the world. But...you must move on."
Eliwood didn't reply.
"We have Durandal," Athos went on. "We must stop Nergal before he can call dragons into the world."
Eliwood remained silent. It almost looked to Ninian like he didn't even care about Nergal...
He stood up, looking despondently at Ninian's body once again. Suddenly, a wildly hopeful look appeared in his eyes, and he turned to the Archsage.
"Lord Athos," he said. "There is a way to bring her back, isn't there? Surely, you must know of one!"
Athos didn't reply, as if he knew, but did not want to tell Eliwood about it.
"There must be a way!" Eliwood went on, his voice rising. "Please, tell me!"
The Archsage sighed heavily again. "...Yes," he said after many moments. "There is a way. But—"
"What is it?!" Eliwood asked wildly, cutting Athos off. "I must know!"
Athos shook his head somberly. "I cannot tell you, as I do not know it myself."
"What?!" Eliwood nearly screamed. "What do you mean, you don't know?!"
Athos looked down at Ninian's lifeless body. "Even I have no experience in the ways of necromancy," he explained. "Only an archdruid such as Bramimond has the means to tap into the dead."
"Then...then you can get him, can't you?" Eliwood pleaded. "Can't you?!"
Athos shook his head. "Even if I were to do so, he would not honor your request," he explained somberly.
"Why not?!" Eliwood demanded.
Athos looked again at Ninian's body. "To bring back lost loved ones...that is what everyone wants." He looked up, back at Eliwood. "I apologize...but what reason is there that you should be the only one who is able to do so?"
"I...I..." Eliwood stammered, before trailing off and looking at the ground.
"Bramimond would only revive someone if there was a great need for that person in the world," Athos went on. "And he would do so without request."
"No!" Eliwood shouted, his eyes welling with tears. "He has to bring Ninian back! He has to!"
Athos sighed again. "Eliwood," he said sadly. "I know you are grieving the loss of the girl you loved. But you have to understand—"
"What's there to understand?!" Eliwood screamed, tears streaming down his face now. He gripped the Archsage's shoulders tightly, almost shaking him out of rage.
"Don't you see?!" he screamed. "I NEED HER!"
He abruptly let go of Athos and collapsed on the ground, sobbing.
"She w-was the only girl I-I ever loved...and I killed her!"
Ninian wanted to burst into tears...but she could not...apparently spirits couldn't cry.
"Eliwood," Athos said. "Do not blame yourself. Durandal was created to combat dragons, and it merely was fulfilling its purpose. If you are to blame someone..." He paused. "Blame me."
Eliwood looked up. "W-what?"
"I helped create Durandal, and the other legendary weapons," he explained sadly. "And if I had known that awakening the blazing blade would lead to this...I never would have told you to find it." He sighed. "I am truly sorry, Eliwood. The son of Roland should never be wounded by the very weapon he wields."
Eliwood slowly got to his feet, wiping his eyes.
"But this will not cause Nergal to slow his efforts to bring dragons into the world," Athos went on. "Eliwood...you and the others must defeat him." He looked down at Ninian's body. "Nergal brought Ninian to this world to call other dragons. Please, you must defeat Nergal...for her sake, and for the world's."
Eliwood was silent for a moment, then nodded resolutely. "I...I will," he said shakily. "For Ninian...for her sake, I will defeat him!"
Ninian knew he couldn't see her...but she beamed with pride and happiness. Eliwood still loved her, even knowing she was a half-dragon, but...
...but now she was beyond his reach...
As if Eliwood could sense Ninian's thoughts, he suddenly said, "But...there is one thing I must ask of you."
"What is it?" Athos asked.
"I...I know there is no way to bring Ninian back, but..." he paused, almost embarrassed by his request. "I...I once heard tales of...people talking to their lost loved ones in a dream." He sighed. "Do you...do you think it is possible?"
"I have heard such tales myself," Athos replied. "I am not certain, but it sounds very possible. However..." He paused. "However, it does not seem as though there is a way of making it occur. I suppose it is the departed one's decision..."
Eliwood nodded. "I see..."
Meanwhile, Ninian's heart leapt. Maybe she could still talk to Eliwood...
Eliwood knelt down beside Ninian's body, holding her lifeless hand in his.
"I...I have one other request," he said, blinking to hold back his tears. "Please...is there a way to make sure her body does not...I-I want to wait to bury her in Pherae...after this i-is over..."
Athos nodded. "This much, I can do for you," he said. He raised his staff, and a greenish aura surrounded Ninian's body before disappearing.
"Nature will not affect her body now," he explained. "She will stay like this forever."
Eliwood sniffed, trying his hardest not to cry. "Do...do the o-others know..."
The Archsage sighed heavily. "They do," he replied. "The daughter of Barigan took it very hard...I sense she and Ninian were good friends."
It took a moment for Ninian to realize that he was talking about Florina.
Ninian hadn't even thought about her at all...
"Are you ready to return to camp?" Athos asked.
"I-I will come," Eliwood said. "B-but please...permit m-me one more moment alone..."
"As you wish," Athos replied, and walked back to camp.
With Athos gone, Eliwood let his tears fall freely now. He knelt down beside Ninian's body and picked her up, cradling her lifeless body in his arms.
"Ninian..." he said softly, smiling slightly through his tears. "This i-is what y-you would w-want, right?"
Ninian wished she could tell him yes...
He was silent for a few moments, then, slowly, he bent his head down and placed a small kiss on her cold lips.
"I-I will a-always love you..." he promised. "N-no matter w-what happens...always..."
And silently, Ninian promised the same thing.
"Ninian...why..."
Nils and Florina sat on a bed in the latter's tent, holding each other and crying.
Ninian watched them, feeling absolutely miserable. She had left them both behind...
Nils, her brother...with her gone, he had no relatives left. He was the only half-dragon in both this world and the dragon's realm...
And Florina, her best friend...they trusted each other so much...Ninian even trusted her with the secret of her identity. What would Florina do without her...
Standing there, watching the two of them sob silently, she knew that they would be able to move on...that they would become close to each other. Nils no longer had a big sister...and Florina had known his sister very well. Florina had lost her best friend...and Nils was there to be with her.
"I-I'll always remember you..." Florina sobbed. "A-Always..."
"Ninian...why..."
It was nighttime...but apparently spirits did not need to sleep, as Ninian did not feel any form of tiredness.
She was in Eliwood's tent, watching him as he slept. He was tossing lightly, and mumbling in his sleep.
And judging from what he was mumbling...Ninian could tell what he was dreaming about...
She had remembered Athos's words, but so far she had not found a way to talk to him. So now, she sat silently on his bed, stroking his face that could not feel her hand...soothing him with words that he could not hear...
I'll always love you...no matter what happens...always...
Eliwood's promise played through her head again as she sat beside him.
She so wished to talk to him...why could she not?
Why did fate have to be so cruel to her?
She stroked his hair sadly, fondly.
"I'll always love you," she said, duplicating Eliwood's promise. "No matter what happens...always..."
And to seal her promise, just as Eliwood had done, she bent down and placed a kiss upon his lips.
Then, without warning, everything went white.
"Ninian...why..."
When Ninian could see again, she found herself in what looked like a cemetery. In neat rows, gravestones covered the muddy earth beneath her feet.
It was raining, but she couldn't feel the drops hitting her.
"Why did you have to leave me..."
Eliwood's voice came from somewhere among the rows of graves.
She followed his voice through the rows until she found him leaning in front of a gravestone with a rose in front of it.
"Why..."
She looked at the gravestone...and almost gasped in surprise.
It had her name on it.
"Why couldn't you stay with me...we would have been so happy together..."
She walked over to him, speaking to him even though she knew he could not hear her...
"Eliwood...I'm so sorry..."
Suddenly, Eliwood's head snapped up, as if he had heard her words. He looked to his side, at her...
She looked at the ground sadly. She knew he couldn't see her...
"N-Ninian?"
Ninian looked up abruptly. He had said her name...he knew she was there...
"Oh my..." Eliwood gasped. "Ninian...is it really you?!"
She was silent for a moment, still shocked. Then she said, softly, "Lord Eliwood..."
"Ninian!" Eliwood exclaimed jubilantly. "You're alive! You're alive!"
He threw his arms around her, embracing her as tightly as he could.
Ninian could only return the embrace dumbly.
He held her for a few moments, then let go, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. "I can't believe it...I must be dreaming..."
Then Athos's words came back to her.
She was in his dream...
"Lord Eliwood..." she said, unsure of how to break the news to him. "I...I can't stay long..."
Eliwood stared at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
She looked away from him, not wanting to see his face when he found out. "What you are seeing...is only my spirit..."
Eliwood's jubilant expression faded slowly. "You mean...you aren't..." He placed a hand to her cheek. "You're still...gone..."
She closed her eyes, feeling tears well up in them...even though she knew spirits couldn't cry.
"Then..." Eliwood asked softly, "then...how can I still talk to you?"
She shook her head. "I don't know..." she said.
The cemetery around them seemed to fade, to be replaced by white. Everything around them was white...they could see nothing around themselves but each other.
Eliwood brought his hand to his forehead. "I...I'm dreaming, aren't I..." he said, half to himself.
She nodded sadly. "But...I am here, now...and when you wake up, I'll still be near you, watching you..."
Eliwood shook his head vigorously. "But what good is that?!" he shouted both sadly and angrily. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "If I can't be with you..." he whispered, "I-I don't know how I can go on..."
"Lord Eliwood..." she whispered back, "I'll always be with you. Even if you can't see me...I'll be there...no matter what..."
"So?!" Eliwood demanded. "You're still not there for me...to hold..." he trailed off.
She brought her face closer to his. "Lord Eliwood..." she repeated. "You...you must go on. Please...this is what I want you to do. For me..."
Eliwood stared at her helplessly. "But...but I love you..." he whispered.
She gave him a sad smile. "And I love you too..." she whispered in return. "But...you don't have to forget me..."
Eliwood remained silent, still staring at her helplessly.
"Just remember..." she said wistfully. "Whenever you think of me...just remember that I'm by your side...always..."
Eliwood stared at her for a moment longer before nodding slowly.
"I..." he said. "I will. I'll go on...I will defeat Nergal. For you..."
She smiled at him.
"And remember...I love you." She began to move her face towards his. "Always."
Eliwood gave her a tiny smile. "And I love you too..."
Then their lips met, and Ninian's vision became white once again.
Ninian opened her eyes to find herself back in Eliwood's tent. She heard him mumble in his sleep.
"...Always..."
Wah...it's so sad! I really didn't like writing this chapter...
But...for those who are waiting for it...the next chapter is the revival...yay!
On a side note...anyone catch the Chrono Trigger reference in this chapter? :)
Please review!!!
-TheOneAndOnlyT