Summary: Elincia, post-game; the past is paved with tears and the future with good intentions.
The Trail of Tears
It had taken a lot to get this far, Elincia reflected as she looked at her reflection. So much of it had been painful, and there were definitely times when she wondered if it was truly worth it. When that happened she tried her best to focus on all of the good that had happened. Father's dream has finally come true: there is peace on Tellius and Laguz and Beorc coexist. If only he were here to see it.
And that was the crux of it, the young queen knew. Her father and mother who had worked so hard for this peace in their lifetimes weren't there to enjoy it. Her uncle had been miraculously returned and was therefore able to appreciate it, but it still wasn't quite the same thing.
Then there was Greil, and his wife Elena, although Elincia had never met her. They had given their lives for the medallion, and the Heron Princess Lillia had died due to Ashnard's desire to release Yune.
All of those whom she now called friend had been through so many tough battles for the sake of a desperately wanted peace, and her own Crimea had almost been torn asunder by civil war, as had Begnion.
But if any of it were done differently, would they still have arrived at this peace? Were all of those sacrifices worth it? Since they had all wanted peace so badly, Elincia could only hope that the answer was yes, but deep down she worried that the dead felt differently.
Shoulders back, chin up, she told herself firmly. Straightening, she made sure that there was no sign of her inner turbulance on her face before walking out of the door and heading for the signing of a peace treaty that would hopefully stand the tests of time.
There was no more looking back; the future was far too precious to waste on what ifs and a little girl's tears.