"…make sure that you set proper watches every night. Keep good track of your provisions, but don't let yourselves go hungry either. The money we're providing should be enough to re-supply whenever you need to, as long as it doesn't get wasted. Speaking of which, don't let Inigo anywhere near the money. He'd just spend it on stupid stuff. And—"

"At least pause to breathe, Miss Severa," said Paula quietly, amusement evident in her voice. "You don't need to worry about us so much." Renee nodded in agreement.

Severa sighed. "I can't help it. This is your first real mission, after all…"

Paula smoothed back her unruly hair. "I suppose that you're right about that."

The trio were in the pegasus stables—Paula and Renee saddling their mounts and adjusting their equipment while Severa paced the corridor offering advice. A part of Severa's mind knew that she was overreacting, but she was grateful that her subordinates were humoring her.

Planning the mission had been a considerable effort, and one that required an hours-long meeting. In addition to Inigo and Brady, Laurent had insisted that they take a group from the Shepherds to support them. Lucina pointed out that, given the winter weather, they would have difficulty sending messages back over the mountains, should they require help—so members of the pegasus knights had to be selected as well.

Cynthia had settled on Paula and Renee without a moment's hesitation: having grown up near the Plegian border, they would be most familiar with the terrain. From the Shepherds, Kjelle had sent the Plegian mage Chandra and her reluctant partner Jun'yi, as well as Ivan, who had displayed a talent for juggling that would be a welcome addition to Inigo and Brady's "performances."

The date for their departure had been set for one week after the conclusion of the festival, and now it was finally upon them.

Severa took one last opportunity to fuss over her subordinates as they began leading their pegasi out to the courtyard. "Make sure that you clean and repair your tack every night, especially once it's winter. The cold and wet will make it a lot more brittle."

"Of course," said Paula.

"And the same goes for your water-skins. Don't over-fill them when the cold hits, or they might burst. If you're not around water but there's snow on the ground, you can pack it into them and wear them under your clothes to melt it."

"Is there anything else, mother?" said Paula, hiding a smile.

"Just…" Severa shook her head. "Be careful out there. Come back safe."

"We will." To Severa's surprise, it was Renee who spoke this time. "You've trained us well, Miss Severa. As long as we stick to what you told us, we'll be just fine."

"Renee…" Severa didn't think she'd ever heard the younger knight string so many words together at the same time. It was oddly touching. "Thank you."

They emerged into the courtyard to find the group from the Shepherds already waiting, clustered around a brightly-painted cart proclaiming itself to be the conveyance of "The Magnificent Azure Players' Troupe." Inigo leaned against it, dressed in blue clothing significantly more flamboyant than his usual attire. He was obviously enjoying his role as impresario, even if he had yet to truly begin. Brady, on the other hand, was his usual dour self, hunched over in the coachman's seat with his habitual faint scowl.

The other Shepherds were scattered around the courtyard in small groups, making last-second checks of their gear or simply chatting with each other. Lucina and Cynthia were near the gate, with the three leaders of the Shepherds—Owain, Kjelle, and Laurent—standing close by. Apart from them, the courtyard was empty.

Cynthia, seeing Severa entering, waved her over with a grin. "There you are! I was wondering if you were going to show up."

"Just giving some parting advice to our young soldiers," said Severa.

Kjelle smirked. "You're barely older than they are."

"It doesn't feel like it," Severa retorted. "Besides, I'm just telling them things that I wish I'd known, back when I went to Plegia."

Laurent made a noise of what might have been amusement. "Their circumstances are, thankfully, rather less dire."

"It looks like everyone is here now," said Lucina. "Owain, could you please get their attention? I'd like to say a few words to see them off."

Owain gave her a shallow bow. "Of course, noble cousin." He cleared his throat, then bellowed "Hearken, faithful allies! The Exalt wishes to gift you with words to fortify your minds and hearts upon the long journey ahead!"

Silence fell in the courtyard as the eyes of the Shepherds turned first to Owain, then expectantly to Lucina. Severa saw a slight blush come to the Exalt's face and wondered if it might have been better for Kjelle to do the introduction. At least she was less flowery.

Raising her voice so that it would carry to everyone in the courtyard, Lucina spoke. "The path to peace is long and difficult, but I pray that the worst is behind us. We have restored our beloved Ylisse—now, it is time we turned to the rest of the world. I have faith that, with your steadfast determination, we can take back what was lost to our world. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your service. Go forth, knowing that all our hearts go with you."

While brief, Severa thought Lucina's speech was quite effective. The Shepherds carried themselves a little straighter after hearing it, honored by the responsibility that their ruler had entrusted to them. Inigo bowed deeply, teeth flashing in a smile.

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Grace." He turned to the others, his new cape swirling in a suitably dramatic fashion. "All right, people, let's get this show on the road!" He paused expectantly, waiting for a laugh that never came. "You know, because this is a—"

"Ah, shuttup and get on the cart, ya ninny," said Brady. He nodded to Lucina. "Appreciate your words, Lucina. We'll do our best to make ya proud out there."

"I have no doubt that you will."

Owain folded his arms, expression stern. "Come back soon, and in one piece. It wouldn't do to have my star dancer and violinist out of commission before we've done more than a single run of plays."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Owain," said Inigo, sighing. "Don't you go breaking anything while we're gone, either."

Amidst good-natured joshing, the "Magnificent Azure Players" made their way out through the front gate and down the long road from the castle. Severa, standing by the gate, watched them go until they were out of sight, her heart heavy. She had watched her father and mother ride this same path, years ago, with comrades who would never return.

She prayed that this time would be different.

For the rest of the day, she put those thoughts from her mind, busying herself around the training grounds and the castle. As usual, she remained on the field long after the rest of her knight-sisters had finished, and bathed alone before heading to dinner.

A lively babble of conversation reached her ears long before Severa set foot in the mess hall. She paid it little heed: it was normal for the recruits to be boisterous in the absence of their superiors, and with the Shepherds visiting, there was no shortage of things to talk about.

The moment she heard her own name spoken, however, she stopped dead, pausing in the hallway outside to listen.

"Oh, please," said Zoe, disbelief plain in her tone. "As if Severa would do that."

"But it's true!" insisted Susannah. "I saw her earlier that day, in the marketplace—I know exactly what she looked like. And she was definitely—"

"I still don't believe it."

"I swear—"

"Well, I believe her," said Lily.

"Thank you."

"You really think the sub-commander could loosen up enough to go on a date?"

Severa blinked. Is that what they're talking about?

"Why not?" She was sure that Lily would be making some expressive gesture at this point. "She's human, just like the rest of us. She has a right to enjoy her days off."

"So wh-what did he look like?" Ellen sounded surprisingly eager.

"I didn't get the greatest look," Susanna confessed. "He was wearing a mask. But he must be incredibly handsome, to have caught her eye."

"Yeah, she's not the type to tolerate imperfections…" Zoe drawled.

There was the sound of wood rapping skin, and a muffled yelp from Zoe. "She would not be so hard on you if your training met her standards," said Teresa sternly.

"Take it easy…"

"If a spoon is enough to hurt you, you definitely need to train harder," Lily laughed.

"I…" There was a lull in the conversation as Ellen spoke up, and an expectant silence.

"What is it?"

"I'd really like to meet him. Miss Severa's b-boyfriend, that is."

"Really, now?" Susannah sounded curious. "Why's that?"

"Well, you said that she seemed to be enjoying herself. Smiling, and laughing. And if he's a person who can make her that happy… well, that's g-good, isn't it?"

"It certainly is." Teresa cleared her throat. "But I believe it would be for the best if we did not pester her about it. If she wishes us to know, she will tell us in good time."

Though most of the indistinct responses that followed sounded disappointed, they all seemed to have accepted the older soldier's advice, and the conversation moved to other matters.

Severa stood in the hallway for a long minute, weighing what they had said. At last, she turned on her heel and headed back down the hallway.

She had lost her appetite.

Severa walked the grounds of the castle aimlessly for some time before finally finding herself on the west wall, above the gate. Before her, the setting sun cast long rays over Ylisstol, washing the city in its fading light. Somewhere out there, she knew, the small group dispatched to Plegia was setting up camp for the first night of their long journey.

When it was Laurent, Gerome, and me, we didn't even dare to carry tents. We had our bedrolls, and the hope that we'd be able to find somewhere dry and safe enough to snatch a few hours of sleep before continuing on our way. I remember being so tired, I felt like I couldn't even put one foot in front of the other. Only the thought of Lucina kept me going: that she was waiting for me, depending on me, that when I returned I would tell her…

She felt a bitter laugh welling up inside her and quelled it. Look how that turned out. Mere moments after I returned, I was throwing myself into battle against Grima itself. In the end, not even our power was enough. We had to depend on a miracle. And I… I never told her. Maybe I never will.

The excited speculation of the mess hall returned to her, and she gripped the merlon in front of her hard, feeling the rough, sun-warmed stone beneath her fingers. They all seemed so happy for me… all for the idea of a simple romance, built on a complete misunderstanding. We were two friends, that's all—two friends visiting the festival together, not two lovers. But at the same time…

But at the same time, that's what I wish it had been.

"Watching the sunset?" The diffident question jarred Severa out of her reverie, and she turned to see Laurent a short distance away, leaning against one of the merlons.

She crossed her arms, glaring. "Gods, could you try not to sneak up on me like that?"

"Forgive me. I had not realized that you were lost in thought, or I would have taken measures to alert you to my presence." Laurent adjusted his glasses, studying her face over their thin rims. "Are you well?"

"I'm fine," said Severa automatically. Laurent raised his eyebrows.

"Clearly you are not suffering from any physical malady, but I find it hard to believe that you are being entirely truthful with me—especially considering the troubled look on your face."

"You're beginning to annoy me."

"My apologies. I had not intended to offend." Laurent cleared his throat. "If it is anything I can help with—"

"It's nothing that anyone can help with, all right?" Severa closed her eyes, sighing in resignation. "It's my own fault, and there's nothing I can do to solve it."

Laurent looked at her, his face grave. At last he spoke. "This is about Lucina, is it not?"

There was no doubt in his question, only the sense of asking for permission. Severa felt as if her heart had constricted. "What do you mean?"

"You care for her."

"We all care for her, Laurent."

"But not as you do; not in the same way."

Her throat dry, Severa swallowed. "How long have you known?"

The lenses of Laurent's glasses flashed in the sunset, obscuring his eyes from her view. "I had an inkling of it, back in Plegia. When you stood before her in that final battle, there was no doubt left in my mind that you loved her."

"I only—"

"You offered your life for hers. Freely, and without hesitation. I can think of no expression of love more powerful." A faint smile came to his lips. "Though, of course, it was a reckless action and one that I hope you will not repeat."

"I…" Severa leaned forward against the merlon, cradling her head in her hands. "Who else knows? I hadn't thought that anyone…"

"Only Gerome and I, but you can trust our discretion."

"…oh, good," said Severa. It was the only thing she could think of to say.

"It would not be ours to reveal," said Laurent. He hesitated for a moment. "Severa, if I may…"

"What is it?"

"Why have you not told her?"

"Why do you think?"

Laurent clearly interpreted the question as rhetorical, and remained infuriatingly silent until Severa went on.

"Look, we lived through hell. You saw what Grima did to this world. The only thing that saved us—the only thing that even had the power to save us—was the Awakening, and the Exalted bloodline. And even then, it wasn't a final victory. All we could do was put Grima back to sleep, to postpone this hell-on-earth for awhile until our descendants have to deal with it. But without the Exalted bloodline? None of it would be possible."

She stepped away from the battlements, spreading her arms wide. "If the Exalted bloodline dies out, then so does our hope for the future. That's what our parents died trying to protect. And I… I can't let my own selfishness destroy that. I can't provide Lucina with an heir. I'm not fit to reign by her side. The most I can hope to do…" She felt a sob welling up in her throat and ruthlessly pushed it back down. "The most I can do is continue to serve her like this, and hope to find happiness in that."

For a long moment, Laurent looked at her, his face unreadable. After a moment, much to Severa's surprise, his shoulders sagged. "I am sorry."

"You are, huh? What for?"

"I will confess that I feel some guilt for not sharing in your cares." Laurent adjusted his glasses. "The fate of the world does not hinge on who I love, nor does Gerome bear the fate of a country on his shoulders…"

Severa blinked. "You… and Gerome?"

"It is hardly common knowledge, given that neither of us are particularly prone to displays of physical affection, but… yes. Though that makes me feel guilty as well, since secrecy is somewhat of a luxury as well." He rubbed at his forehead, sighing. "Forgive me. I should not be comparing myself to you—our circumstances could scarce be any more different."

"No, it's all right." Severa forced a smile to her face, and a self-deprecating note to her voice. "It's good to know that somebody has managed to make something of this."

Laurent's answering smile was weak, but at least it was genuine. "Thank you for that, at least."

"Anytime."

He began to leave, but at the top of the stairs he turned back to face Severa once again. "As a vassal of the Ylissean crown, I commend your dedication to your duty. It is one of your strongest qualities, and your conviction to hold to it no matter what your personal feelings is admirable. But as your friend…" A small, sad smile came to his face. "I wish it could be otherwise."

"…thank you." This time, there was no concealing the break in her voice.

"I will take my leave." Laurent gave her a shallow bow and descended the stairs.

Left alone, Severa leaned against the merlon once again. Unshed tears shone bright in her eyes, blinding her to the sunset.

She, too, wished it could be otherwise.

But she knew that unless she did something herself—unless she laid her heart bare, unless she broke the vow that she had sworn to herself in her heart—that nothing would change. And I can't do it. I'm too much of a coward for that.

Instead, she merely stood there, her mind consumed by a secret that no longer seemed a secret, as the light fled from the sky.