This was written for the soldiers who fought in the wars for our freedom. To both the ones who died in duty, and to those who returned to their loved ones.
It was raining. Very appropriate, Franz notice. He stood in a graveyard, feeling rather isolated from everyone around him. Eirika was crying heavily, hiding her face in her brother's chest, who was looking sorrowfully at the freshly dug grave. Everyone who had fought with them had come back for this funeral. He looked at all the familiar faces, feeling the hurt inside him as he realized the one face he wanted to see most was not in sight. He would never be in sight again.
Natasha was crying, being held by Joshua. They had been married not long before the general's death. A few people were crying, but most just had their heads bowed in respectful silence.
The ceremony was long, outlining the general's deeds. Noting how he had died in the honour of Princess Eirika and King Ephraim. Franz noticed with bitterness that they described him as an honourable warrior, who had served the country well. They did not say that it was a pity he had to die, they said it was an honour. The ceremony was superficial, not telling the people who the general was, just what he was.
A loud sob came from beside him, and he looked over to see Neimi so overcome with tears she could not stand anymore. She had fallen to her knees, and Colm was standing beside her, holding her, looking close to tears himself.
The priest said his final words, and slowly, the people began to filter away, the last people to do so the thirty-two who had been in the war with the Princess and King. With the general.
He swallowed deeply as even they began to leave.
"Franz," he heard someone say after many more hours. He was sure that it was long past midnight.
Franz looked up to see Ephriam and Eirika as the only two people besides him left at the grave.
"You should head inside. It is getting cold out," Eirika sobbed. She wasn't crying any more. Her tears had all been fallen.
"I will in a moment," Franz said, turning back to the grave.
Eirika and Ephraim looked at each other.
"Franz, we will be heading back to the castle. Make sure you get in before you catch a cold," Ephraim said, and he and Eirika began to walk away.
Franz watched them, giving a start as Eirika stumbled and fell. Ephraim caught her, and then carried her back to the castle.
He sighed and fell to his knees in front of the grave, finally allowing himself to cry.
The general had fought through the war, survived the war, only to be felled by a poison-tipped blade carried by an assassin who had wanted the Princesses head. He had killed the assassin, but died soon after.
Franz hiccupped. Seth had thought of everyone, but the princess the most. He had never said so out loud, but Franz was sure this was true. He knew what it was like to be in love and to have no chance of having those feelings returned, so he picked up on it rather quickly.
He sobbed loudly, clutching his heart.
Lest we forget.