Chapter 11: The Letter
"Cordelia? How're you holding up?" A concerned Sumia asked from outside of the bedroom door who held her redhead friend, and, up until recently, Robin. The grieving family had taken the loss hard. Naga had smiled upon the army, they tried to remember, considering the Shepherds had only made it out of the final battle with few injuries, all that could be healed easily. The only exception was Robin's sacrifice; he had tried his best to justify his action, but it didn't stop his wife and daughter's grieving in his absence. It was a solemn celebration as everyone shared memories of Robin, but Cordelia had decided to remain silent, with no one questioning her choice. After half a year had passed, and the public event of Robin's memorial, Cordelia had hidden away in her room, not wanting to talk to anyone aside from her family. "Cordelia...please."
After a moment of silence, the door creaked open, and Sumia saw her friend for the first time in days. Her eyes were bloodshot, as she had been crying non-stop since the memorial. She left the door open and shambled back towards the bed and simply fell down on it, a piece of parchment lying down next to her. Cordelia picked it up and stared down at it, once again, as she had a countless number of times prior. A new stream of tears began falling, moistening the paper that she clutched so tightly. Sumia sat down next her and placed a consoling arm around her friend. Cordelia, after so long, couldn't contain it anymore, and broke down in the woman's arms, leaning heavily into her. They stayed like this for what seemed like hours, Cordelia eventually sat up and handed the letter over to Sumia saying, "I found this in… his desk. He wrote it before the fight."
Sumia looked from her friend to the letter and gingerly took it, attempting to read despite the tear stains:
My family,
At this point, the battle with Grima must have ended, and I hope with no casualties. But there's inevitably one cost; myself. If I had the chance to say it, I'm sorry for what I'm putting you all through. It was not the easiest choice. I questioned my decisions more times than I can remember.
To Morgan: You are a sweet child. You are so curious, always seeking the answers to the questions our world holds, and adventurous enough to go find them yourself. You are optimistic beyond what any of the Shepherds thought possible. If there is one thing I ask of you, it's to not lose that quality. I love you. To Severa; The first advice I want to pass along is that you are you, before anything else. Before you are our child, the child of the Shepherd's tactician, or of the genius pegasus commander, you are you. You are strong, capable, intelligent, all in your own amazing way. You have grown so much since I met you, and it fills me with pride I can not describe to know what an amazing woman, tactician, and warrior you've grown up to be. We had our arguments, but we grew because of it. To my dove: I woke up into a world with nothing but the clothes on my back. Chrom, Lissa, and Emmeryn gave me a all they could, but no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I still felt empty. Felt despair, that all I was good for was war, and that is not what I want to remember most. Then I met you. We got off to a rocky start, but getting to talk to you was the reason I woke up every day. Getting to spend at least a minute with you every day, made the day worthwhile. Getting to build up the courage to propose, to marry you, and to start a family with you were the best moments I can remember. Knowing how you filled my life with reason, it pains me to think this is how I pay you for it. I sacrifice my life, but you and the girls are left to endure the aftermath. Please know that I had many restless nights to arrive at this choice, even now, as I'm writing this at my desk while you sleep so soundly. Naga told us of the chance; that if I were to sacrifice myself, I could come back, and that is the choice I decided to make. I am sorry, and will understand the anger you will most likely have for me if I were to return. I love you, and I hope with all my being that this isn't our final goodbye.
Love, Your Snow Holly
Sumia folded up the letter as she finished reading and looked to Cordelia. Cordelia, after some time, spoke up, her voice raspy after taking the letter back. "That idiot. He better come back. I am not letting him off that easily."
Sumia said nothing else and hugged her friend even closer. They spent the day like this till the sun started to set. They only parted, after so many hours, due to the sound of a pounding feet down the hallway, followed by Severa and Morgan bursting into the room, both shouting, "MOM, MOM!"
They spotted Sumia in the room, and both quickly bowed, with Severa blurting out, "Hi, Aunt Sumia, sorry for the intrusion, but Mom! You will not believe who Uncle Chrom and Aunt Lissa found in a field."