Part 3—Return
Chapter 1
Ephraim had many thoughts in his mind as he looked at his sister and his new brother-in-law. Before Eirika had returned, Ephraim only worried about her, but now that she was back, the strongest feeling in him was anger. Eirika had stolen the Sacred Stone and misused it to revive Lyon; she had disobeyed the divine orders of the priests. She had betrayed her brother and all of Renais. Ephraim looked again at his sister and let out a loud sigh.
"I suppose silence will not do anything for us," he said. "Eirika, you stole the Sacred Stone against the priests' orders and used its power to revive Lyon. Your thoughts will not determine your fate; the instant we realized the Stone was gone, you were stripped of your title. You hold no higher a position than an ordinary peasant. Still, I find it hard to pass sentence on you, my sister. Lyon himself has committed no crimes, so he will not suffer any punishment. I find it difficult to decide what I should do."
"Let her go," Tana and Lyon said at the same time. "She returned the Stone," Tana continued, "and her actions did not harm anyone. You would have done the same for me. Besides, you can see for yourself how happy they are."
"That is true, but a crime like this cannot go unpunished, no matter how much I want it to. I will need to discuss this matter with the Royal Advisory. Rest assured, Eirika, you will live; I will not sentence you to death."
"Your Majesty, wait," Lyon said. "I have come to ask something of you. Eirika tells me Grado is suffering."
"It is too late to do anything about that, Lyon. The country will collapse into anarchy before too long. The people will not accept help from me, the one who used their taxes to rebuild Renais."
"Would they accept help from me? Had that war never started, I would be the emperor now. As the rightful ruler, I feel duty-bound to help them."
"You gave in to the Demon King. Would they accept you knowing that?"
"I apologize for saying this, but I believe they would gladly accept my rule over your neglect."
Ephraim said nothing as he thought about that. Lyon had filled Ephraim with guilt at neglecting Grado. However, would he be any better? "This will also be discussed with the Advisory," he said. "You both may stay in the castle until I have decided what is to be done. Please leave me."
Eirika and Lyon left. Tana followed them out. "Please forgive Ephraim," she said. "Ever since the riot in Bethroen broke out, he's been in a deep depression. It was very difficult for him to bear."
"What happened there?" Eirika asked.
"A battalion of Renais knights was almost completely slaughtered. Seth, Forde, Kyle, and Amelia are all dead. Franz, the sole survivor, resigned shortly after he brought the report to Ephraim. Ephraim feels like a failure for letting that happen. He took full responsibility for the deaths and personally visited the families of the fallen with sympathy gifts. When he visited Amelia's family in Grado, a group of assassins ambushed him and almost killed him. His eyes were opened to Grado's suffering when that happened. He will probably keep ruling, though. He wants to restore Grado and his name."
"But since Grado will not accept his help or apologies, nothing can be done," Lyon said.
"He annexed Grado out of a sense of duty and failed her utterly. I haven't seen him smile at all since the ambush in Grado. When we learned you two were married and returning, I thought he would be happy. Even then, he was depressed. I feel powerless; he's in the deepest depression I've ever seen and I can't get him out of it… He's even been avoiding me…" She started to cry.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lyon said. "Yours is not the torture I faced under the Demon King, but it's probably just as terrible. I'll see what I can do to bring him back to normal. If the weight of Grado's pain is off his shoulders, he'll feel better, I know it. That was not the original reason I wanted to take back the throne, but it is a good reason nonetheless."
"Lyon, thank you… I don't know if Ephraim… will allow you to take the throne… but… I want you to… just… to bring him out of… his depression. I beg your leave…" Tana went back after Ephraim.
"I treated him like a monster the last time I had had a full conversation with him…" Eirika said, tears also forming in her eyes. "Lyon, you must take the throne. I don't want him to be like this forever."
"Neither do I," Lyon said. "When you told me about his neglect, I judged him too quickly. He made a mistake, and now the consequences are making him alienate everyone he cares about. I thought I had lost a good friend when I heard of the poverty in Grado, but I see now that I was too quick and too harsh. He has my utmost sympathy."
Six days later, Eirika and Lyon were called to the throne room for a private audience with Ephraim. He still had the same look of guilt on his face from the day Franz told him of the riot. Even though Ephraim was Eirika's brother, she still feared what might happen to her as punishment. She held onto Lyon's hand through the entire audience.
"Eirika," Ephraim started, "I have decided to let you go, free of punishment, but the church of Renais was not so lenient…" He hesitated before continuing. "You have been excommunicated."
Eirika did not say anything; she offered no response to the sentence.
"As for Grado, she is to remain under my rule. I am determined to restore Grado, whether or not the people will accept my help."
Lyon looked at Eirika. She nodded to him. "I see," he said to Ephraim. "I am sorry we could not come to an agreement, my friend. I am also determined to restore Grado. For that reason, Eirika and I are going to live there and aid in the country's restoration. We will not be representing you in doing so, though. We will lead an independent restoration of the empire and help the people restore the nation themselves. I apologize if our own restoration attempts conflict with yours. However, I think we will both agree that Grado must be saved. I beg your leave." The two walked out, still holding hands.
Chapter 2
Within two months, Eirika and Lyon had arrived in Grado. Feeling Bethroen needed the most aid, they settled there. The small port had been ravaged by a large earthquake mere weeks ago; only two ships were still afloat, the marketplace was mostly rubble, and the majority of the farms on the outskirts were incinerated by a fire caused by the release of an underground methane deposit. There was a large sinkhole where the methane explosion had occurred. Most of the citizens still living there lived in tents. There was little hope for them; they would not accept aid from Ephraim nor did they have the materials or the manpower to rebuild the town.
When Eirika and Lyon arrived in a large wagon pulled by ten oxen, a small procession of citizens began to build up near the wagon. At Lyon's insistence, Eirika stayed in the shadows, her face hid by a hood. The townspeople despised Ephraim, and Lyon feared they might harm Eirika if they identified her. Before a destroyed building that used to be the mayor's house, Lyon stopped the wagon. The people stopped behind him. There was utter silence as Lyon looked at ravaged town and took in the destruction. A single man, unofficial leader of the local vigilante group, spoke up.
"What's this, folks?" he asked. "Have you been turned to stone by this fellow?" He walked up to Lyon. The instant he noticed who it was, he staggered back. "Wh-what? How…? But you're…!"
"Who is in charge of this town?" Lyon asked. No one answered or stepped up. Even the vigilante leader was silent and motionless. "Is there no mayor? No unofficial leader?" Still no response. Lyon stepped down from the wagon's front. "My apologies. I did not introduce myself. I am Lyon Grado." The townspeople began muttering upon hearing the name. "You all know I died in the War of the Stones. However, I was revived. Eirika, former Queen of Renais and now my wife, stole the Fire Emblem and fled to Caer Pelyn, where I was brought back to life. Alongside Eirika, I desired to return once again to my beloved Grado. To see this once great port reduced to rubble and flotsam fills me with grief.
"I have been told of the neglect the empire has faced under Ephraim's annexation. He is guilt-ridden at the knowledge of the terrors that occurred here half a year ago. He suffers at the thought of his failure to aid you. He has alienated nearly everyone he knows. Even his beloved wife has been distanced from him. Ephraim has fallen into a depression deeper than your poverty. He wishes to aid you, yet you clearly feel it is too late for him to make amends.
"With that in mind, Eirika and I would like to help restore this town, if not the entire nation, not as representatives of the stressed king, but as citizens who desire to see Grado restored. If you will accept our aid, we will do everything in our power to make this port an example of the people's strong will. We will share all we possess with you who have suffered. At this time, when no hope in the king exists, we must focus not on our personal revival, but the reconstruction of all that Grado once was and will be again."
The vigilante who spoke up earlier was the first to act. He bowed from the waist, but was quickly stopped. "Do not bow, sir," he said to him. "I speak to you as an ordinary citizen. As long as Grado is impoverished, Eirika and I shall live among those who suffer to better understand and help them." Lyon raised his voice again to address the crowd. "Starving and suffering people of Bethroen, my wife and I have brought as much food as this wagon can carry. In honor of this town's prosperous future, I invite all of you to join us in dinner and celebration."
The townspeople swarmed the wagon as Lyon motioned for Eirika to come out. By the end of the day, Lyon and Eirika had set up a tent to sleep in near a burned field of crops. Half of the food was consumed by the villagers that night.
Chapter 3
A month later, the town was still mostly rubble and embers, but with a barely noticeable exception: many non-fruit-bearing trees in the small forest north of the town were gone; even the stumps were nowhere to be seen. Every last piece of wood the villagers could use had been used to build a fleet of small dories. Wild fruit and fish had become the mainstay of the village's diet. The few seeds that could be scavenged from the destroyed fields had been planted hastily. Healthy crops had sprouted in the ash-covered fields. Lyon and Eirika had become just as skinny as their fellows, but they were every bit as hardworking as the others.
When a merchants' caravan passed through the town, they were stopped by a band of villagers.
"Please let us through," said the leader of the caravan. Lyon came forward from the group.
"We would like to purchase your goods," he said. "This town is rebuilding, and we are willing to spend every last piece of gold we have to see that happen." The crowd nodded and murmured in agreement.
"How much could this place possibly have? When I passed through four months ago, this place was a pile of rubble. It still is nothing more than a cemetery."
"Together, we have plenty of money. In addition, we will trade for what we need if we must." A few other villagers had noticed the caravan and joined the crowd.
"Really? Well, let's see it, then."
Lyon turned to the crowd. "Go find everyone you can and tell them to bring all their gold. We're buying everything of use to us from these people." The villagers did not think at all; they ran into the cluster of tents, huts, and still-standing houses and aroused the horde. Eirika, who had been tending the crops with her neighbors, put down her pail of water and came running with everyone else. The merchants came out of their wagons and began unloading their supplies. The leader looked happily at the pile of gold that was quickly growing at his feet.
"Sir, perhaps you should introduce yourself," Lyon said to the leader. "There is bound to be a commotion."
"Of course," he said. "I'm Perm, the leader; I deal with managing the money. The black-haired man behind me is Galitz; he deals food of all sorts. Nyasa's the green-haired woman; she deals with livestock. Yaoundé is the small woman behind her; she deals tools, weapons, magic tomes, and staves. Finally, the skinny man next to her is Dakar; he's got basic materials like wood."
"Well," started Eirika, "we could use plenty of wood; that forest will be gone before long at the rate we're using it."
"There's also the issue of ships," added a man next to her. "We could use that wood to build schooners for fishing."
"What about houses?" begged a woman. "Those should surely come before ships."
"Does it matter? It's wood. We'll probably buy enough for both."
The townspeople continued bargaining with the merchants until they had spent all their money. The merchants left with no wood left except that which they used for their wagons, no animals except those used to pull their wagons, and had completely depleted their tools and crop seeds. The townspeople were broke, but they had nothing but smiles on their faces as they went to work on rebuilding.
Chapter 4
Within six months, the port of Bethroen was revived. The two fishing schooners that were built, the Vigarde and the Fado, went on regular trips across the small sea on Grado's west coast, giving their catches for free to other starving cities. Upon learning that Eirika was pregnant, Lyon did double the normal amount of work in the fields, his and Eirika's. The town had prospered. Even the knights that were greeted in other towns with threats and curses were treated well. However, in the joy of the town's revival, the people had forgotten that they were still citizens of Renais. The tax collectors presented an unwelcome reminder when they arrived.
"What do you mean?" one of them asked. "This is the most successful city in the territory. How can you have no money for taxes?"
"We have no money," a man said. "We spent it all on supplies to rebuild this town. We gave all our extra food away to other cities that hadn't recovered. You can search this entire town, but I'm confident you won't find one piece of gold."
"Are you trying to hold back your taxes? It's your duty as citizens to pay for Grado's restoration."
"We did all this ourselves. The only time you government officials came here was to stop a riot or collect taxes. We received no help, not even after the earthquake. Lyon and Eirika are the only reason this town's not still a cluster of tents and huts amid piles of rubble."
"Do you realize what you're saying? This borders on sedition!"
"I'm just speaking the—"
"Peace," Lyon said, cutting in. "We've no need to anger them." Then, to the collector, "We have no gold, sir, but we do have crops and fish. If we sold them for money, we would be able to pay our taxes, but too many people elsewhere need the food but lack the money for it. Go visit any town on this sea; they'll tell you about the food they received from us for no gold at all."
"Who would you be?" asked the collector.
"Lyon Grado. I led this town's restoration. When a merchant caravan came through six months ago, we spent all our gold on wood, crop seeds, livestock, draft animals, and building materials. We have had no need for gold; in a time like this, it is more important to help our fellow citizens than to make money. If you still insist on collecting taxes, we can give you that value in food. If you will not accept food as taxes, then we are all under arrest."
The collector thought for a moment about that. "We're going to visit those other towns on the sea. If you did indeed do what you said, then we won't demand taxes this year. If not, you will all be forbidden to leave here except to trade until the debt is paid off. Until we return, none of you are allowed to leave except to trade." Then, to his comrades, "Let's go."
Lyon smiled at the victory he had gained. He had defeated Ephraim's representatives. He had taken his time rebuilding Bethroen, but he had overcome the most difficult part. From Bethroen, he would lead the restoration of Grado. Ephraim had said he would give rule of Grado over once she was restored. At this point, Lyon seemed a likely candidate if he did not alienate Ephraim in the process of restoring his home.
"We've got much more work to do," he said to the man the tax collector had spoken to. "Bethroen is restored, but the rest of Grado still groans with hunger and disease. It's time we share our prosperity. When the Vigarde returns from her fishing, we're taking volunteers to Taizel to help rebuild there. We've also got the inland regions to help."
"A wonderful idea," the man said. "I'll go to Taizel to help."
"Do you mean that? I thought you might decide to stay in Bethroen and help yourself."
"Lyon, you wound me. You said yourself that it's more important to help others in a time like this. I've got relatives elsewhere in Grado; I want to save them."
"I'm sorry I offended you. Thank you for doing this."
The man headed off while Lyon went to see how Eirika was doing. He had not seen her since morning. When he entered their house, she was lying in bed, not tired, just relaxing.
"How are you?" Lyon asked, sitting down on the side of the bed.
"I'm fine," she said. "I get tired too quickly if I walk around. I hope the extra work hasn't been too demanding."
"It takes a lot of energy out of me, but I'm glad I have that work; for the first time in my life, I'm in good shape. I think I might even be stronger than Ephraim now. At the very least, I have more stamina. Besides, I couldn't bring myself to ask you to work in this condition. I might as well ask you to work when you're sick and bedridden."
"Thank you… We're both facing difficulties now, but it's worth it in the end."
"I'll admit… I'm worried," Lyon said. "Both your mother and mine died in childbirth. I don't want it to be the same with you. Being forced away from you again… It's painful just thinking about it."
"I won't die. Our parents never had the chance to see all that we did. I want to see our own children succeed. Dying when they are born is unthinkable for both of us."
They were silent for a few minutes until Lyon changed the subject.
"The tax collectors came today," he said. "When we told them none of us had any money, they didn't believe me."
"I would imagine not," Eirika said with a laugh. "Bethroen's in better shape than any other city in Grado. It would make sense for us to have piles of gold."
"None of us are allowed to leave Bethroen except to trade until the collectors return. I told them why we had no money and told them to visit any town we visited for proof. They didn't seem to believe me, but they left anyway. It feels good to win. That moment left me feeling strong, both physically and mentally."
"It's because you are, especially mentally. Had Ephraim and you switched positions, he would have gathered up everyone and stormed the castle. You, though, are kind enough to take your time and defeat Ephraim peacefully. I'm in awe. When you take the throne, Grado will be healed."
"As I said before, you were always there, encouraging me to succeed. Thoughts of you kept me determined. And soon, there will be two people to give me determination: you and our child." Lyon kissed Eirika. "I must be getting back to work. I've had a small rest, and now I'm ready to head back." He walked out the door.
Chapter 5
Five months had passed since the collectors left Bethroen. Eirika had given birth to twin girls, Josefina and Anna. They were two months old by the time Lyon and Eirika had been in Grado for a year. The tax collectors had returned to Bethroen and allowed the people to not pay their taxes. Taizel now had a schooner and had restored its docks. As for Bethroen, people had begun moving to the prospering city or just engaging in trade there. People from smaller towns would purchase supplies for their home towns and leave to help restore them. Bethroen had become a symbol of Grado's restoration. Lyon was considered a hero.
A battalion of Renais knights rode into the town, guarding a coach with the royal crest on it. The people looked upon the king's coach and guards with hatred, but said nothing and went on doing business. When the coach stopped in front of Lyon, he glanced over and walked to the door to greet who he knew had to be Ephraim. A guard opened the door, letting Ephraim out. Tana followed.
"Lyon," Ephraim said, greeting the unofficial mayor.
"It is a pleasure to have you visit this town, Your Majesty," Lyon responded, bowing from the waist. "Is there anything we may do for you?"
Ephraim looked at the restored buildings and the schooner at the docks unloading a number of fish. "Sandomierz wasn't lying; this town really is restored. When he told me about the lavender-haired man who challenged his orders, I thought you might be leading a resistance movement here."
"No blows were exchanged. The collectors left without so much as a shove. Surely you know me better than to expect violence from me. You must have noticed the glares you received from the villagers. I apologize for their distrust."
"I deserve it, Lyon. I have done nothing to help Grado and misused their taxes to rebuild Renais. They have every right to despise me. I would that they would accept my help, but it appears they may not even need it now. You would seem fit to be governor of the sea region, Lyon. I would be more than willing to grant you that position."
"I thank you for the offer, but I feel I must decline. If I were to serve you, the people might view me as simply an extension of your power. I am satisfied helping this country on my own. If I am to be a ruler again, it will be for Grado and not Renais. I apologize if my words offend you, for I have no intent for them to do so."
Ephraim let the words sink into his mind. Tana then raised an issue Ephraim had completely forgotten.
"How is Eirika?" she asked.
"She is in wonderful health," Lyon said. "We have been blessed with twins, Josefina and Anna. They were both asleep when I last saw them."
"May we see them?"
"If His Majesty has the time."
"We can see them," Ephraim said. "In fact, let us spend a day here. It is nice to see a part of Grado that is not stricken with poverty."
"Excellent," Lyon said. "It would be an honor to have Your Majesty stay here. However, there is something you must keep in mind. As is the case in Caer Pelyn, nobility has become a mere concept. Here, I am considered a leader, but not superior. Please do not act surprised by your treatment not as royalty, but as guests. I hope the townspeople can put aside their past grievances and treat you with as much kindness as they treat their fellows."
Lyon led Ephraim and Tana inside their small house. It had a large bookcase occupying one wall, an armchair next to it where Eirika was seated reading a book, a wooden double bed, a crib with the twins fast asleep in it, a table with six chairs, a small kitchen, and a few cabinets. Ephraim had not expected his own sister to be living in such a small house, but he quickly wiped the surprised look off of his face. Tana walked over to the crib and looked at the twins. She quickly had an "Aren't they cute?" look on her face. Eirika hadn't noticed her brother or Tana.
"You're starting to become like Lyon," Ephraim said to Eirika. She looked up from her book and smiled. "You didn't even notice us coming in."
"It's good to see you, Brother," she said, closing the book and putting it away. "Are you surprised?" she asked, noticing Ephraim looking for a nonexistent door to another room. "I know you didn't expect us to live in a small house like this, but we're just fine."
"Are you sure? It must be hard living in a place so small when you're used to living in a gigantic castle."
"I lived in a slightly smaller house in Caer Pelyn. I'm used to it. Besides, many of the people in Grado live in even smaller houses, if not tents or wagons."
Ephraim winced at the indirect mention of his failure.
"That's why we're here to help Grado," Lyon said. "If it means living in a small house as a peasant, then it is barely worthy of being called a cost. You can keep living in the castle; I have nothing against it."
"The people won't accept your help," he continued, "but I'll make your motives clear. No one would have wanted Grado to suffer. If the people think about it, they will realize you want to help them just as much as anyone else. If they keep that in mind, they will welcome any aid you bring them."
"Thank you, Lyon," Ephraim said with a smile. "It's good to know that at least one person in this country trusts me. I'll start pushing some new policies through the Council when we return to Renais. It's time I start doing what I promised."
Tana ran over to Ephraim when she noticed his smile and hugged him. "You smiled!" she exclaimed. "I haven't seen you do that since the riot!" Ephraim couldn't say anything in response; Tana was too busy kissing him.
"I hope all this restoration hasn't made you forget Eirika," Ephraim said after Tana released his lips. She was still hugging him.
"Your Majesty, you wound me!" Lyon said, directing his gaze at Eirika. "Do you seriously think I would neglect the lady responsible for my revival? Without her encouragement, I could have abandoned my efforts to restore Grado. Peasant or queen, I love Eirika. The instant I learned Eirika was pregnant with Anna and Josefina, I insisted that she let me do her work in the fields as well as mine. When it became difficult for her to get out of bed, I cooked all our meals." Lyon then added with a laugh, "I think we're both glad that time is over."
Eirika laughed as well. She looked out the window and noticed the clouds turning purple, indicating it would be dark before long. "Speaking of meals," she said, "I think it's time we had ours. Will you join us? I promise you I'm a much better cook than Lyon is."
"I would be willing," Ephraim said. "I recall once between battles, Tana and I went on a picnic that she said you had helped to prepare. If I recall correctly, it was delicious."
"Well, thank you." Eirika walked to the cabinets to get out the ingredients and set to work on dinner.
After dinner, Ephraim and Tana went to an inn to spend the night. Lyon and Eirika were left very pleased to witness Ephraim's change of heart.
Chapter 6
Five years later, Lyon, Eirika, Anna, and Josefina were in Grado Keep. Many were gathered in and around the keep to witness the end of Renais's annexation. Ephraim was there as well, as was the archbishop of the church of Grado. The capital was a glorious sight to behold. The ravaged buildings that were at one point the symbol of Ephraim's neglect were merely an awful memory. The people still did not fully trust Ephraim, but they still accepted his aid and his apologies. Ephraim, as he promised, was to give rule of Grado to someone else. Predictably, that person was Lyon. Ephraim stepped out of the Keep onto the balcony. The crowd became silent.
"People of Grado," he started, "there are no words that can properly express my apologies for the pain you have endured under my rule. It is with the utmost satisfaction that I look upon the capital restored. The memories of my mistakes will likely haunt all of us. However, with the nation revived, it is with much relief that I relinquish rule of Grado. Once Grado has a standing army again, my knights will leave Grado. Do not think, though, that I will be ruling indirectly. As long as my knights are in Grado, they will take orders from the emperor and not me.
"So, people of Grado, I now turn over your nation's rule to Lyon Grado. I apologize again for the suffering I have put you through." Ephraim stepped back as Lyon, wearing red robes and Grado's Helmet, stepped forward holding Garm and Gleipnir, as was the tradition in Grado.
"Long live Emperor Lyon the First!" exclaimed the archbishop.
"Live and prosper, Emperor Lyon!" responded the crowd.
"Glory to His Majesty the Emperor!" yelled the bishops and nobles.
The crowd cheered Lyon's coronation until Lyon raised his hand, holding Garm, to speak.
"People of my beloved Grado," he started, "I am honored to receive the throne today. It is mainly through your efforts to rebuild that I am here, gazing upon a shining capital. Grado has both suffered and prospered under the reign of King Ephraim. I am determined to see only the latter under my own rule. I swear by the Sacred Stone that I will lead Grado in peace and prosperity.
"It is not right, though, for me to claim sole responsibility for all that has blessed and will bless this land. I came to this land alongside my beloved wife, Eirika." Lyon turned to Eirika, Anna, and Josefina. "Please join me, all of you," he said to them. He turned back to the crowd as his family came out onto the balcony. "It is only through Eirika's encouragement and reassurance, and the desire to raise my two daughters in a nation where they can live and prosper, that I persevered and led us all to success. It was mainly you, the people, who trusted me, who accepted me, who worked hard and carried the weight of the wounded empire on your backs to the point that she could walk again, who revived this great nation. It is from the bottom of my heart that I thank you all for trusting me and restoring Grado. As an act of gratitude to you, people of Grado, I invite all of you, from the high bishops to the blind beggars, to join us in feast and celebration."
"Glory to Emperor Lyon!" the people shouted as they entered the keep. The celebration lasted until sunset.
That night, after Anna and Josefina were asleep, Lyon and Eirika went for a walk in one of the gardens. Lyon looked at the old magnolia tree he had been under so many times when he was younger.
"This garden is where we first met," he said. "It seems like ages now." He and Eirika sat down under the tree, close together. The memory surfaced.
Eirika followed Ephraim into the garden where she saw Lyon, waiting under the tree. Upon noticing them, he got up.
"Oh, are you…" he started. He instantly felt his shyness take effect. "I'm… My name is Lyon." Ephraim's eyes opened slightly wider. "Uh-huh. That's me… The son of the emperor. You're Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika from Renais, aren't you?" Ephraim and Eirika nodded in confirmation. "I heard you were coming, and I've been waiting here all day. I've always wanted… I don't have any friends my own age… So, Prince Ephraim… Princess Eirika… What do you say? From now on, let's be friends…"
The memory faded. Eirika had drawn closer, into his arms.
"I had no idea how important you would be to me," Lyon said.
"Me, too," Eirika said. "You did it. You took the throne from Ephraim without spilling a drop of blood."
"I couldn't have done it without you. Had you not revived me, I would still be in the Stone with the Demon King and Grado might have rebelled violently. I have you to thank for so much."
"Lyon… Even though your revival has brought about so much, I was not thinking of politics or Grado when I stole the Stone and fled to Caer Pelyn. I was only thinking about us, and what could have been."
"That was all I thought about when I felt the presence of your soul. However, it is no longer what could have been, but what is. I have always loved you, Eirika, and I always will." Lyon looked at the lady he loved and leaned over and kissed her.