"Mother," Ophelia asks, skipping along beside the red haired woman. "Where are we going?"
"Ylisse," she answers, blunt as always.
"I hope that the stars shine as brightly in Ylisse as they do in Nohr." There's a pause, while Severa processes what her daughter just said. She's not in the mood today- it's going to be hard, what they're doing, and Ophelia and Owain's loud chattering has been annoying her ever since they left Lucina and Inigo in Ferox.
"They do, dearest Ophelia!" Owain exclaims. "The stars that shine bright over our home city are unmatched by any elsewhere!"
"Pray tell, from whence do you come from?" Ophelia questions, bobbing over her mother's shoulder.
"It's called Ylisstol. It's an old city, the capital of this country," Severa elaborates, trying her best to keep her temper.
"I've heard plenty of the historic city in books!" Ophelia says, excitement fully settling in. "It centres around a huge castle, and the royal family is one of the oldest in the world!"
"Indeed," Severa answers vaguely, crossing her arms across her chest.
"We'll take you to see all the sights, Ophelia. And then at night, the chosen few will watch the stars and gaze at the moon!"
"How charming!"
"Can you two please shut up for five minutes?" Severa snapped. "Gods, you're as annoying as each other. I don't doubt where Ophelia gets it from."
"Apologies, fair lady," Owain offered, before promptly closing his mouth.
They had moved far from the coast now, up into the peaks of the green hills Ylisse was famous for. Severa had spent a lot of time in her childhood here, training with her mother- who in all honesty, she would rather not think about. It wasn't that she didn't love Cordelia- no; her feelings for her mother were never in doubt. It was just that Cordelia didn't seem to care about her own daughter, or even her husband- the two banded together more than often, and once confronted the Pegasus Knight about her obsession with Chrom.
It wasn't even Cordelia that she missed. She had been alone in the past, and had gotten used to her lack of presence. It was in the future that she panicked, when somehow them changing the timeline had killed both of her parents before she even had a chance to meet them. All she had left of her mother was the ring she bestowed upon her before following her true beloved into battle for the last time. So really, Cordelia wasn't a big loss to her. And yes, she felt bad to admit it, but she really only felt resentment towards her mother.
No, she didn't miss Cordelia. But she did miss her father. She had inherited his hair colour, although after a fight they had when she was fifteen she dyed it red, claiming she loved her mother more. He told her he liked her hair like that, and consistently kept up the look since. She had also inherited his appetite, and missed their jaunts to all you can eat buffets, leaving Cordelia behind because she wouldn't be worth the money it cost to get in. Yes, she missed Stahl the most, although she wouldn't say that to anyone else.
Of course, he was the one that taught her to fight. While Cordelia had encouraged her from a young age to become a Pegasus Knight, Severa had picked up a sword instead of a lance, wanting to cut as many comparisons with her mother as she could. Stahl had trained her instead, teaching her how to ride a horse, how to wield a sword, how to use a shield. Of course, when the time came, she forged her own path, becoming a mercenary because she thought it'd be more useful to society. And because she knew how to ride a horse properly, she'd be fine to switch to being a knight if the notion so took her.
During the war in Nohr, Camilla had suggested she became a bow knight. While she had no training in the bow and arrow, Setsuna, a friendly yet clumsy archer, had shown her the ropes, while she had exceeded everyone's expectations in storming across the battlefield on the back of her horse, which she named Regan, as a jab to her mother and a reference to her favourite book. Each night as she brought her horse back to the stable, she remembered Stahl, and on occasion, ended up crying. She was alone out there, while her friends and family stayed in Windmire.
Now, she promised herself that she wouldn't do to Ophelia what Cordelia had done to her. Cordelia's last words to her were empty- that she fought to protect someone she cared for. Severa too fought for someone she cared for- her daughter, her husband, and her liege. Although now she had left Camilla many miles away, and her sword was sworn to those she was travelling with. She had no ulterior motive, no other man she was chasing after even though she knew his heart didn't belong to her. No, her heart fully belonged to Owain, and he knew that.
"Sorry for snapping," she mumbles to him, latching onto his arm as they approach the capital. She rests her head against his shoulder, and he wraps an arm around her.
"No worries, my love. I understand that you're stressed about this whole situation."
"Are you not nervous about seeing your family?"
"Of course. But your situation is more awkward than mine."
He kisses the top of her head, and she turns her head away sharply to hide her blush. He laughs loudly, understanding this gesture that has truly been a part of their relationship for the longest time. His laugh attracts Ophelia's attention, and Severa detaches herself from him before she can turn around and see them. She turns quickly, the young mage, and Severa swears that in that moment, Ophelia's eyes glimmered just like the way Cordelia's used to.
Ylisstol is quiet, strangely, and Severa feels almost like a pariah wandering the streets. It isn't empty, by any standard, but she notices the crumbling buildings on the outskirts of the city. Across the street, one of the buildings is charred, black wooden beams on the edge of collapse. She doesn't point out this to Ophelia, since she and Owain were singing the cities praises mere hours ago. The mage doesn't notice, however, and skips along, ignoring her immediate surroundings in favour of gazing at the castle that's dead ahead of them. The sun is setting directly behind the palace, casting the whole city in its warm orange glow.
"Where are we staying?" Owain asks quietly, and Severa shrugs.
"We can hardly stay at your place, can we?" She says with a laugh, and he shakes his head. "There's the place dad used to live in, near the palace grounds, but I'm sure it was sold on after..." she trails off, glancing at the ground.
"After what?" Ophelia questions, falling into step beside her mother.
"After the war. There was a war here a while back. But I'm sure you've read all about that in your history books."
"Oh, yes! I didn't know that was recent, though."
"Ten or so years ago, the chosen one descended to the earth to take up arms in the war. And that's when your mother and I married too! Two fighters on the battle field, side by side, hearts entwined in love! Ah, my sword hand trembles just thinking about it!" He exclaims, before catching his mistake. Unfortunately for him, Ophelia too noticed his slip of the tongue.
"Sword hand, father?" She says, her voice squeaking.
"I mean..."
"So you're not truly a mage?" She whimpers, her eyes welling up with tears. "You were a swordsmaster this whole time? Like Shiro, and Ryoma?"
"Ophelia I-"
"The chosen heroine has been betrayed," she wails dramatically, placing a hand on her forehead.
"Come, child," Severa says, copying her daughter's dramatic way of speaking. "Let's make haste for my father's home."
She marches ahead, Ophelia tucked under her arm, and Owain trailing behind her.
The house itself is slightly crumbled, and when Severa peers though the window, she can see most of the inside is covered with dust. Still, it shouldn't take them long to get the layer of dust off, should they actually make it inside the house. She knocks, just in case, but it doesn't look as though anyone has been living there, at least not since her father was alive. She knows where he left the spare key- he told her once, back in her own timeline, and she assumed that this timeline's Stahl would put it in the same place. And sure enough, under a small, insignificant rock at the back of the garden is the key, rusted, but still in working condition.
Neither Ophelia nor Owain has spoken a word since his slip, neither to her nor to each other. As she turns the key in the lock she hears Ophelia gasp, and pivots to smile at her, welcoming her daughter into the house she spent so much time in as a child. A lot of details are exactly as she remembers. The phone still sits on a table at the bottom of the stairs, a notepad set beside it. Stahl's coat hangs on the coat peg by the door, and Severa's eyes fill with tears at the sight. It wasn't usual for him to ever wear the coat, since he usually was covered in armour, but it was reserved for formal occasions.
She ventures a little further into the house, heading for the kitchen, where she could hear a noise. Ophelia holds her tome close to her chest, ready to strike at any moment. When Severa enters the kitchen though, she lets out a sigh, at the open window, and the cat curled up on the windowsill. She recognises it as one of the cats her father used to entice to the house to feed, and attempts to call out to it.
"Butterscotch!" She calls, and the cat meows violently before bolting out the window. She follows it with her eyes as it jumps the fence. Sighing yet again, she drops down to the cupboard below the sink, looking into its depths for cleaning products. Upon lifting out a handful of dusters and sponges, she dives back in for bleach and buckets. She thrusts the window open even further, then leans on the table, her face serious.
"We're going to clean this place," she says simply. "I want to stay here for a while. And I won't stay in a place covered in dust. I'll clean upstairs, and you two tackle down here. The kitchen needs all the work surfaces done with antibacterial spray, and the tiles need bleaching. You should mop in the living room too, and make sure you get the furniture looking good. And you!" she says, leaning close to Owain. "Explain to her."
She finishes her lecture on this note, and marches out, a bucket in one hand and three dusters in the other.
Once the bathroom was cleaned until it was sparkling, Severa ventures into her parent's old room, slowly stepping through the dust in the carpet. She opens the window, throwing the fresh breeze into the room. With a wet cloth in one hand, she wipes the initial layer of dust off the mirror, looking at her sad appearance in the reflection. She moves on quickly, taking the blankets from the bed and shaking them out the window to get the dust off them. Grabbing the brush she had abandoned outside, she brushes the carpet until the dirt on it was piled up in one corner.
The wardrobe is another problem. She opens the door to see a clear split- one the left were Stahl's clothes, and on the right were Cordelia's. She can't imagine they lived together for that long, considering that she heard Stahl died in the battle against Gangrel. There are four breastplates on his side, with knitted jumpers and suit trousers and boots along the bottom. On her side there is only one set of armour, with her arm pieces and gloves sitting on a shelf. There's also an evening dress, grey and mildly sparkly. Severa collapses onto the bed, holding the dress in her arms. Tears fall from her eyes, sticking on her eyelashes and dropping onto the dress, staining the satin.
"Father says we're done-" Ophelia says, pausing as soon as she gets to the doorway. Severa leaps up, wiping the tears from her eyes. She turns from Ophelia, hiding her shame from the younger girl. "Mother? I'm sorry."
"No, Ophelia, it's not your fault," she laughs sadly, straightening out the dress.
"I'm sure this place holds a lot of memories for you," she says softly, sitting on the bed. Severa sits beside her, staring at her knees. It is unusual for a mother to be comforted by her daughter- at least, that wasn't her experience. "But mother, I didn't notice any bedrooms fit for a chosen one such as yourself."
"Did your father tell you where we came from?" Severa asks tentatively.
"The celestial future," Ophelia nods.
"Uh, yes. Well... in this timeline, no Severa was born. While in the timeline I came from they both lived for a long time- they'd both be alive today- but in this timeline, they're both dead."
"Stars above!" Ophelia exclaims.
"Judging by the amount of clothes here, I'm not even sure they were married long. This was mother's wedding dress."
"It's beautiful," she breathes, reaching out instinctively to feel it. "It reflects the stars itself. I'm sure my grandmother was breathtaking in this."
"I'd like you to have it," Severa says, placing the dress into her hands.
"I can't possibly take this wondrous gift."
"Who else will wear it after it's been here gathering dust for many years? Sumia I'm sure has no knowledge of this place, never mind what's in it. Otherwise this dress would be with her, either in her wardrobe or in mother's grave."
"If it will honour her, then I accept."
"You'll look beautiful, Ophelia."
"I can't believe I upset her so much," Owain mumbles into a glass of wine.
"To be fair, she did overreact. She's a talented mage on her own- and of course, you didn't follow either of your parent's paths."
"She'll be excited when she meets father, then," he says. She notices that his speech is normal now, his odd way of speaking gone with the alcohol he's consuming.
"I hadn't thought of that," Severa smiles. "And I'm sure she'll love Lissa too."
"Are you taking her tomorrow to..."
"Yes. And... I'd rather you didn't come."
"What?" He almost yells, offended.
"I feel it's something I want to do myself. And if someone in the palace recognises you, it'd take the surprise of all of us turning up together away."
"That's true... and to be fair, I'm not sure I'll be in any state to get up in the morning." He downs the last of his wine, setting his glass on the table. Severa narrowed his eyes at him, and lifted the bottle, only to find it empty. Her glass, just the one, was sitting on the table, still largely untouched. She sighed at him, and he could only laugh sheepishly.
Severa wakes sharply the next morning, sun streaming through a tiny gap in the curtains. Owain is spread out over the whole bed, his mouth wide open and his arm thrown across her stomach. She smiles at him- it's been a long time since he's been so drunk that he's collapsed like this. She gently peels herself off him, placing a kiss on his nose as she escapes to dress herself. For old time's sake, she throws on an outfit very similar to the one she travelled back in time in. She ties her hair up in her usual pigtails, and heads downstairs to the kitchen.
Last night, Ophelia went out on her own into the town, and came back with food and the bottle of wine as an apology for her reaction. So now, Severa could have breakfast. Her stomach is queasy, though, so she has a cup of coffee. Ophelia wanders into the kitchen as Severa waits for the water to boil. She flops down on the kitchen chair, pulling a loaf of bread out of the grocery bag. She cuts slices for herself, and spreads jam on them, eating in silence. Severa makes her coffee, and sits down opposite her daughter.
"Are you almost ready to go?"
"Where are we going?" Ophelia says, taking a bite out of her bread.
"You'll see when we get there."
"Where's father this beautiful morning?"
"Hung-over, I imagine," Severa says, rolling her eyes with a laugh.
"Celestial heavens!"
"He wasn't coming anyway."
"Oh."
They sit in silence for a few minutes before Ophelia finishes her bread, and Severa sips the end of her coffee. They stand silently for a second, before Severa nods towards the door. She grabs her jacket from beside the door, and they leave, Severa leading the way to the castle. As soon as Ophelia realises where they're going, she latches onto her mother's arm in excitement, and Severa can't help but smile at her face lit up so brightly. However, as she takes a sharp left before she reaches the palace into a small alleyway, Ophelia's face drops.
"I thought the chosen heroine was getting to visit the palace," she said, her voice sad.
"Perhaps another day," Severa says, avoiding eye contact.
They walk into the small graveyard adjacent to the castle. Although mostly only royals are buried there, since the graves for fallen soldiers during the war are there, it is open to the public. The graveyard has a rota for who is on duty, and today as they enter, Severa smiles at Sumia, who almost does a double take. The two redheads wander around for a while, glancing at the gravestones until Severa locates the memorial from the war. It takes up the back wall, with individual plaques for those who died. The centrepiece is huge, and Severa stops in the middle. Her parent's names are beside each other, and she has to smile.
"This is my parent's grave," she manages to explain, and Ophelia's eyes widen. "Stahl... and Cordelia." Her finger traces over the name, written in gold on the stone.
"Gods," Ophelia whispers. "This is not what one expects to see. I knew they were dead- father told me a long time ago. But this was not the way I expected to see them. In my head, they are still alive."
"I'd like to think they're still alive, somewhere, in another timeline. And they're happy, and have a baby Severa, and maybe another child."
Ophelia kneels on the ground in front of Cordelia's plaque, reading the words written about the famous Pegasus Knight. She mumbles something that Severa can't hear, before moving onto Stahl's grave and going through the same kind of ritual. Then, she stands, and hums quietly to herself.
"What are you doing?" Severa asks, amused by the girl's actions.
"Celebrating their celestial lives on this earth," she replies simply.
"I hated my mother," Severa laughs, poking the headstone with her foot. "She was too preoccupied with the general- he's the exalt now- to care about me. I liked my father a whole lot more." She smiles fondly at his grave before deciding to tell Ophelia her greatest worry. "I want to be a better mother to you than she was to me."
"You are already the perfect mother to the chosen heroine, mother," Ophelia says, reaching up to wipe the tears from Severa's eyes that she didn't even know were there.
A/N: I wanted to make this abut Severa since it always bothered me in the game how quickly she forgave Cordelia. She wasn't a bad mother, but Severa holds a resentment for her and since she never got closure in my timeline with her dead, she's pretty bitter. I hope you enjoyed and please review if you did!