CONVERGENCE
Support A: Faith
—
"Father Libra, is something troubling you?"
"Ah?!" The fair-haired monk looked up and laughed gently, "I suppose I am not being a very good watch if you have startled me so Lucina."
Lucina smiled. Father Libra was always so kind. "I was shooed away from the kitchen by mother, so I decided to see if I could help out anywhere else. Do you mind company?"
Libra nodded serenely, as if inviting her to walk by his side as they continued to patrol the perimeters of their camp for the night. Lucina walked quietly by his side. Although they did not particularly speak much to each other, Lucina felt Libra was the sort of man one could walk comfortably next to in silence without the need to speak. For a while they walked in companionable silence, then Libra slowed and said:
"Lucina, actually, there is something that is on my mind. Could I trouble you?"
"Of course, Father."
Libra said "You see, it's Gerome. He worries me… that boy keeps to himself, in his personality and on the battlefield. I try to watch over him, and I pray to Naga to keep him safe, but lately he stays away from me on and off the battlefield. I cannot match Minerva in distance and speed. He says… that I'm not… He isn't keen to see me as his father, " His head hung slightly and his voice lowered as if speaking to himself, "I cannot help but feel… guilty. There is a darkness in that boy… and I wonder… if I in the future… if his darkness did not come from me, somehow."
"Of course not, Father Libra." Lucina interrupted firmly, "But don't you see? Gerome's distance from you is to protect himself emotionally… and you, physically. He cannot help but see his father in you, despite what he says. He doesn't want to see you die like…" Lucina shook her head, "Anyway, Gerome is a sharp and capable warrior. He keeps his eyes out for archers and mages, and he has not much trouble with anything else."
Libra did not look too much relieved, so Lucina continued, "In the battle to come, I shall be sure to fly close to him. As you know, I am trying to learn a new skill right now as a Dark Flier." Lucina inwardly grimaced at her slow progress. She was proficient with a lance now, but still hopeless with magic.
"He does seem to… not mind you as much as some in the group, that boy." Libra said with a small smile, "Were you two friends when you were young?"
Lucina nodded, "We were all friends. Gerome… wasn't always like as he was now. Cynthia would tell you all about how shy he could be." They resumed their patrol, "You were a good father to Gerome. He loved you and Cherche a lot. Sometimes you both would visit father in Ylisstol, and there was no mistaking the glow of love around you three."
Libra seemed a little relieved, "I am glad… that it would seem I was not a… neglectful parent. But…" as if determined to find fault with himself, "there are other ways, perhaps, that Gerome's darkness comes from me." He rubbed his neck subconsciously, Lucina noted curiously.
"I don't know what you could be implying, Father Libra… you are so full of kindness and compassion. I can't even imagine your meaning."
Libra smiled at Lucina, his expression seemed suddenly shadowed with a weariness, "There is a darkness is me too. I pray to Naga to be rid of it… in truth it is why I turned to faith in the first place. If I have tainted my own son… how can I even begin to apologize to Cherche…" He closed his eyes in pain.
Lucina stopped, "Father Libra, faith in the gods are good. But… please also have faith in yourself. I have faith in you. The you that you… clearly are. We all have our burdens and darknesses… but, please- we can and must surmount them."
Libra nodded his head once after a few moments, "You are right Lucina. Thank you for your faith in me. We will surmount the darkness within and without ourselves, each one of us, with the gods help. May Naga bless us all."
Lucina smiled and they continued the rest of their patrol in peace.
—~~~-
"Prince Chrom!" Cordelia cried, swooping near the blue-haired man who fell on one knee, using Falchion to support himself.
"Gyah… hah…" Chrom breathed heavily, sweat and blood freely sliding down his skin. He was a warrior, and he had decimated a small vanguard himself, yet now that he had done so… he finally realized two silver arrows had pierced his left leg. He turned to the voice, "Cordelia," he said, his feral expression receded to a strained smile.
"C-captain," the dark flier stifled her sob, "F-forgive me captain, I should have been here sooner."
"No harm done, I'm still safe and sound, aren't I?" He looked down at his leg, "Actually, can you take me to a healer? I-"
Cordelia wordlessly helped the pr- no, he was Exalt now- back onto Edgar. He placed his hands modestly around her to keep himself secure as they took off. Cordelia felt his head slump against her back… now… where did she last see Maribelle? She had flew passed Lissa along the way, so Maribelle could not have been far…
Something broke her searching gaze, a loud cry from a familiar voice: "Gerome!"
Lucina was flying to aid the wyvern knight, and she couldn't see the arrow-
There was no time to give warning, or even to think. Cordelia felt a sudden rush of wind that seemed to revitalize her, and she veered Edgar between Lucina and the arrow.
There was a sharp pain in her side, and a sudden weightlessness.
She didn't hear her name being called by her prince.
=======~~~~~—-
Lucina groaned as she woke.
"Hey, you feeling alright? Need a bite to eat?"
Lucina forced her eyes open, her vision bleary, "S-Stahl?"
"That's my name," came the cheerful reply, "You won't believe how worried Kjelle was, she was just here moments ago… heck, I don't think she's ever been that worried even for me and I'm supposed to be her father. Well, I guess worried wouldn't be the absolutely correct word: more like astounded. It's like that girl thinks you could never get hurt or something. Does she expects me to get wounded? Ahaha, ah man, I am not quite sure how to-"
"How's… Gerome?" Lucina interrupted with a wince. Truthfully, she missed most of what Stahl said, but his tone of comforting babble did not escape her. She looked at her sword arm. It was bandaged but… yes, she could still flex her fingers. It will heal. She gave a small sigh of relief.
"He's fine," Stahl said, more gently now, "He was here just a while ago, with Kjelle. Now they're off training, no doubt. Those kids… they just can't express themselves with words that well. But then again… you're like that too."
Lucina and Stahl shared a small smile. "So, did you realize that you were hurling yourself in front of a bolt of lightning or did you just incidentally fly by the area?"
"Gerome was in danger, there wasn't time to think. Besides, I have a higher resilience to magic than Gerome and Minerva. Although I should apologize to mother for harming Caeda. She is alright, isn't she?"
"A dark pegasus's hide is nearly completely resilient to magic. You, on the other hand… you should just be glad that Maribelle was nearby; your wound should heal nicely with another few healing sessions. That, and Cordelia of course, for flying straight into that arrow. For pegasus fliers you both are sure terrible with your flying control." Stahl's joking words came out darker and more concerned than he had wanted and he closed his lips.
"Cordelia flew into an arrow? What?" Lucina said.
"Yes, it would have hit you almost definitely otherwise, since you were already distracted by flying headlong into another danger."
"Oh gods, I should apologize," Lucina said, getting up.
"No, I don't think you should do that now," Stahl said, stopping her, "I've been mandated by all the healers in our army to get you to rest. But… it's strange."
"What is?"
"You don't remember what happened…? You saw Cordelia falling like thirty feet from the ground. And then…" Stahl hesitated, "You don't remember? You were… well, you were quite fearsome. You really are just like your father when you're angry huh?"
"What…" Lucina looked at her hands, no, she couldn't remember anything. She just remembered that she was really worried about Gerome, and then she was urging Caeda, her pegasus (it was her mother's actually, but Sumia had decided to learn skills as a knight when she heard her daughter wanted to learn to be a pegasus knight), as fast as possible…
"I guess you don't remember huh?" Stahl was looking quite intently at her, "Well, you… just dispatched the enemies. And each time you fell one, there was a rush of wind that seemed to revitalized you. You were quite fearsome, and you basically… slaughtered the enemies. And then you collapsed."
"I… did?" Lucina said, uncertainly. It was hard to believe. She didn't remember… did she…? Cries and screams of the enemies dying… but she's heard that countless times throughout this war. But… wait, what did Stahl say?!
"Cordelia fell from the sky?" Her face grew white, this time Stahl had to force her down in her bed.
"Stop it! She's probably not awake yet!" Stahl said, there was a hint of anger in his voice.
"Not awake?" Lucina repeated, but then, "I still should see her."
"No," Stahl exhaled, "Don't be stubborn on this Lucina, please. I have orders from Chrom and all the healers to keep you abed and rested."
Lucina clenched her teeth, and after a long moment retreated into a sitting position on her bed again.
"Are you angry at me, for being so incompetent and getting Cordelia hurt?" Lucina said, after they sat in silence for a while.
Stahl said nothing for a long time, and then, "Yes, a little." He gave a small amused huff, "Petty of me, I know, but… I guess… I just wanted to displace my own anger on you. I… should have been nearby. I should have been there for her."
"You care a lot for Cordelia," Lucina said softly, and then a suspicion creeped up and she widen her eyes, "Do you, that is, well… love her?"
Stahl laughed sheepishly. "Well that was blunt," he paused, then, "I do. Or, I did? I am not really sure, actually."
"Oh, it's just… I never thought… because I knew Kjelle…" Lucina didn't quite know what to say. But now that she thought about it… that night, months ago in the music parlour… she had walked in onto something important, she knew. But even now, "I… I don't know what to think. It's just strange to me, I guess. Sorry Stahl."
The knight smiled, "I don't really know what to think either. I admire Sully, sure, that girl is as strong as the Bull. But… I never thought… I don't really know what to make of Kjelle either." He paused "Maybe I just have a thing for red-haired woman?" he said jokingly.
Lucina still said nothing. Stahl looked kindly at the girl. She was a serious one, no doubt, and there was a weight that pressed on her, which reminded him of Cordelia…
"Cordelia… has a thing for that blue hair, huh?" Stahl said softly, to himself.
Lucina heard him though, and looked up, her face pink, "Pardon me?"
Stahl raised an eyebrow. He may not look like it, but he was actually quite perceptive of people's feelings almost intuitively. The princess's pink face… did she not know? Was it… surprise? But did people blush in surprise? All he could manage out as "Er…"
Lucina was looking quite intensely at him. He swallowed.
"Well… I think… it's time that Maribelle or Lissa got in here." He stood up, suddenly stern, "Now you stay in bed."
Lucina waited until his footsteps faded and slipped out of her own tent.
-~~~~~—-
Panne heard and smell the princess before she came in and greeted her.
"Good evening to you too, Lucina."
The fact she was not calling her 'human' was already a sign of respect or affection she had for the warrior princess.
"How… is she?" Lucina said, coming closer to the cot.
"Alive," Panne said with her hand in her friend's. Edgar had told her what happened more or less. Foolish human, when I said take care of your pegasus, I meant to take care of yourself too, not take arrows instead of him.
As if she heard Panne's thoughts, Cordelia moaned and mumbled a little. Incoherent, even to Panne's ears. She was sweating again. Panne moved to clean her friend's forehead and neck.
"Er, Panne, what are you doing?" Lucina said, alarmed.
"She's sweating. I'm licking away her sweat. Otherwise she'll get a cold."
"I- uh, don't think… Um, why don't you let me do it?"
"Hmph. Humans." But Panne backed off to her seat and continued to hold Cordelia's hand.
Lucina walked over to the other side of the bed, with the handy basin of water and towel already there. There was a small bottle of elixir, Lucina grimaced a little— if they had to use precious resources such as elixirs… and she was still like this… she wrung the towel dry and gently patted Cordelia's forehead.
"So… even elixirs aren't working? How long has she been unconscious?"
"Maribelle and Lissa said she's not drinking it properly. They're afraid there's some head damage." Panne's hand tightened, staring at Cordelia's heavily bandaged head, "It has been two days."
If she couldn't drink the elixir, then… why was most of it gone? And how about basic necessities, like water?
Panne shook her head, "Some gets in, most doesn't."
"What? But…" Three days. Generally, people who can't eat or drink lasts about three days, max. And Cordelia was wounded. Lucina bit her lower lip, this was all her fault.
Suddenly Panne was sniffing the air and she got up and-
"What are you doing?" Lucina said, alarmed as Panne began undressing Cordelia.
"She has urinated. Effectively speaking, I need to change that human's diapers. I'll wash the under-cloth, but you'll have to clean her. If you don't, she might get an infection."
Panne didn't wait for a reply as she left the tent, with Lucina's mouth opening and closing in a wordless protest.
"What does she mean, clean you?" Lucina said softly, frustrated and embarrassed at the same time. Suddenly, how Panne 'cleaned' people popped into Lucina's mind, "Did she ever clean you before?" Lucina asked, heat rising to her face.
Cordelia had no reply, only some laboured breathing. Lucina's eyes trailed down Cordelia's loose tunic and now bare legs. She swallowed, and then propped Cordelia's back against her chest, wringing the towel she had used previously.
…
Clean her. Right. Otherwise she might get an infection.
Her face was getting hotter. Why? But the more aware she was of the heat on her face, the more her fingers trembled.
This is ridiculous. Cordelia was a woman, goodness's sakes. It couldn't have been that strange to help clean a fellow female comrade, even in her more private areas. So there! Lucina slapped the towel unceremoniously in the area of red hair between Cordelia's legs.
Cordelia moaned.
"S-Sorry!" Lucina said quickly, before remembering her words fell on deaf ears. She stiffened her trembling lips. This was no time to be a child. She rinsed the towel and then placed the towel, this time much more gently, between Cordelia's legs. A few quick wipes— it wasn't that hard.
It was only when that was done Lucina realized that Cordelia was… wet. Her entire body was wet— no, damp. Sweaty.
Lucina's eyes widen, was something wrong? "Cordelia? Cordelia?!"
"Hhh…" Cordelia's eyes tightened, but did not open. She started to shudder.
It only took a moment for Lucina to take off Cordelia's tunic and begin to clean her upper body.
"Ah…!"
Lucina froze. That was definitely not her own voice.
Cordelia's head moved a little, trying to turn to see in whose arm she was, naked as she was. But her neck only agreed to move so by a fraction before a jolt of pain stopped her.
"Who…?"
Lucina felt the heat rise to her cheeks again, to be found in such a strange position… "You were-" Lucina felt dizzy, was it because of her embarrassment? "Sweating…"
Lucina fell unconscious onto Cordelia's shoulder.
She woke a little while later, still on Cordelia's shoulder.
"Princess? Ah, sorry, I mean, Lucina? Is that you?"
"Y-yes." There were a million thoughts that suddenly surfaced, "Sorry. You must have been alarmed."
Cordelia managed a small laugh, "A little, yes. But… before you fainted, you said I was sweating right? I can sort of see why you did what you did. Thank you."
"Ah… so, you knew it was me by my voice?"
"Well, you sounded a little indistinct, really… but, your hair…"
It was then that Lucina realized that some of her hair had fell over Cordelia's shoulder when she had fainted.
"Oh, sorry," Lucina pulled her hair back.
"It's not a problem at all, pr- Lucina… How is Captain Chrom?"
"Huh? Father's fine, I think… truth is, I didn't wake up that much earlier than you."
"Cordelia… has a thing for blue hair, huh?"
"My hair… is the same shade as father's…" Lucina murmured to herself, eyes wide.
What had Stahl meant by that?
"L-Lucina? I'm… a little cold. Do you think you can dress me?"
"Ah!" Cordelia was still propped up against her. Lucina let her down gently and grabbed the tunic she had discarded earlier. She tried in vain to find a lower garment, and then settled for covering Cordelia's legs with a blanket before sitting down on the side chair.
She was flushed, but at least dry. Lucina couldn't help but smile in relief, "I'm glad you're alright."
Cordelia seemed to redden even more, "Y-your concern touches me, mil- Lucina."
Lucina's smile widened, "You still have problem addressing me just as Lucina?"
"Only a little." Cordelia admitted.
Lucina grinned and Cordelia said, "But it's nothing to impede my duties."
Lucina couldn't tell if that was a retort or an earnest protest, she laughed a little, but then her smile faded, "What happened for you to end up like so? I heard it was because of… me."
"Please don't worry about that, princess." Cordelia urged, too quickly, she coughed a little.
Gods, she hadn't drank properly in two days! Lucina thought with horror at her own carelessness, she hastily poured a small glass of elixir for Cordelia.
"Elixir…" Cordelia grimaced, and turned her head the fraction away that she could.
Lucina grinned, she knew how elixirs could go down the throat. Most warriors only suffered it in the heat of battle— its healing abilities were unmatched. Still, to see Cordelia being petulant was a rare sight indeed.
"Come now," Lucina heard herself coaxing.
"No, I'll… heal naturally." Cordelia coughed again, this time verging on a hack. She looked up guiltily at Lucina, "Please?"
Wide-eyed Cordelia, Lucina found herself unable to resist, she felt her face warming, and hoped she wasn't reddening as well.
"Alright then," Lucina poured a glass of water with a few drops of elixir, "here."
Cordelia eyed the contaminated water for a few moments before relenting with a sigh, her hands twitched but that was it.
"Th-thank you," Cordelia said as Lucina moved to prop her up like earlier: leaning against Lucina's chest.
Cordelia drank, slowly. Her body still felt woozy and unfamiliar. "Please, Lucina, you can find someone else to tend to me…"
"Calling me Lucina but treating me still like a princess… wasn't what I wanted."
"S-sorry," Something about Lucina's voice made Cordelia's chest hurt.
"Don't say sorry…!"
"I… Thank you, Lucina. For tending to me."
Without thinking about it, Lucina placed her arms around Cordelia. Cordelia felt her heart thump.
Actually, I guess… I am acting like a spoilt princess. Everyone else treats me as well as I can ask for… Upon further reflection, Lucina paused, realizing she didn't ask how other people to treat her in a certain way. Only Cordelia… Why? That was unfair to Cordelia.
"I guess… the one who should be sorry, is me."
Cordelia started, were those tears she heard in Lucina's voice?
"No- why-"
"Sorry," Lucina said shakily before helping Cordelia drink her water again. Then she placed the glass down and moved back to her seat. "Panne should be coming back soon. Thank you for saving me."
Cordelia was quiet for a moment, "Are you sure it was me? To tell the truth, I don't even remember that well. I remember… I had placed the captain on Edgar, and was trying to look for a healer…"
"Then I suppose I should thank you for father's sake," Lucina said, then it clicked, "Cordelia… do you… love my father… as more than a liege?"
The stunned silence and wide eyes that greeted Lucina was all that she needed.
So that was what Stahl meant, Lucina thought. She felt something like jealousy, which was strange for she knew her parents' love was strong. But emotions defied logic, this she knew. All she could manage out was, "I see."
"No!" Cordelia said, "I did, perhaps, have had improper affections… an infatuation of a silly girl on a prince. I no longer feel that way I think. No, I'm… I'm… pretty sure. Please," Cordelia's hand twitched again. She willed it to move, it had to move, and it moved but only enough for their pinky fingers to touch, "I love Sumia. I would never do anything to hurt her. You have to trust me."
But Lucina wasn't worried. She was bothered. She placed her hands over Cordelia's, "I trust you."
Cordelia gave a sigh of relief. She didn't say anything, but Lucina's hand gave her warmth and goosebumps at the same time. She nearly protested when Lucina pulled back.
Suddenly, Cordelia didn't want Lucina to leave, "So," she started, hoping for any conversation which might prolong Lucina's stay, "How come you think it was me who came to your aid last battle?"
"Well, Stahl said so… but I…" Lucina thought back, yes, the memories were clearer now. Blood, she had slaughtered, and why? Because-
"You fell. I saw you fall."
"What?"
"I don't remember it clearly, only… I was… I was tired, after I moved to protect Gerome. There was a gust of wind that seemed to revitalize me though, and then… I… dispatched some of the enemies… I don't remember anymore after that."
Cordelia sat, thoughtful, "A gust of wind, you say?"
Lucina nodded. Cordelia frowned in thought, "I think… I… had something similar thing happen to me. I was looking for Maribelle… and… then I saw an archer, I think. I think… you were in danger, you couldn't see him, so I- wait, how's Edgar?!"
"He's fine," Panne's voice interrupted from the opening of the tent. She walked over, "You foolish human!" Her voice was a half slap-in-the-face, half sob of relief.
"P-Panne…"
The taguel took a deep breath, then another, then, "I'm glad you're awake," she said in her usual tone.
Cordelia laughed a little, "I'm glad you forgave me fast enough."
"Rabbits are fast creatures, haven't you heard?" Panne said, her tone still relatively flat, but her eyes were sparkling.
Lucina was envious and fascinated by their display of friendship.
"Edgar's fine?" Cordelia sounded as worried for her pegasus as she would her own child.
"Yes. He told me you jumped off him, taking the arrow yourself. You stupid human. It wasn't even the arrow wound in the end that hurt you as much as the fall. Do all humans have dustbunnies for brains? And here I was thinking you had a modicum of intelligence." Panne shook her head.
"Hey, hey. I thought you forgave me?"
"I forgive you for making me-and Edgar- worried. That doesn't make what you did any less stupid."
"Jeez," Cordelia said with a weary smile. Panne's lips twitched into her own smile and then she eyed Cordelia's body, up-down quickly, before looking at Lucina, "So you cleaned her, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Cleaned me…?"
"You were sweating and urinating; someone had to clean you."
"W-What?! U-urin-" Cordelia's face reddened.
"Humans who hop off flying pegasi mid-air have no say in their caretaking," Panne said strictly. Cordelia shut her mouth and kept her gaze away from Lucina. "What is with you humans anyway? We're all women, and there is nothing to be ashamed of our bodies, is there? You both stink of embarrassment."
Automatically, Cordelia and Lucina looked at each other before quickly looking away again, aware of each other's reddened cheeks.
"S-sorry for imposing that on you, princess."
Lucina shook her head, "It wasn't… don't worry about it."
Panne suddenly looked curiously at the two of them, then shook her head. She just didn't understand humans sometimes, "Well, I am going to tell Edgar you just woke up. Then I'm going to sleep. Haven't done much of that since you fell. I guess I'll leave Lucina here to take care of you."
Once again, the taguel moved before anyone could reply.
Cordelia tsk-ed. "You should be getting rest of your own, princess. Please return to your own tent."
"Do you… feel uneasy with me here?"
"No," Cordelia lied. Yet, it wasn't the same sort of unease as it was in the beginning, somehow. "It's just… you should rest. I am fine now."
"I want to stay here," Lucina found herself blurting. She bit her lips, uncertain. It seemed to be a thing whenever she interacted with Cordelia. Lucina wasn't sure if her words or actions were truly more embarrassing than usual, or just Cordelia's presence made everything seem awkward and embarrassing. Why?
The correct action would be to insist the princess to go back. She was imposing on the princess, again. Yet… yet, Cordelia didn't want the princess to go. Despite Panne's accidental, and frankly, rather embarrassing revelation, "If you… truly don't mind… then I guess…" Cordelia trailed off.
Lucina smiled, "Thank you."
Cordelia squirmed and grew hot under the earnestness in the princess's smile. Why is she thanking me? It should be the other way around.
As if she could hear Cordelia's thoughts, Lucina fumbled, "I mean… you did shield an arrow meant for me… by foolishly hopping off your pegasus, as Panne would say."
Cordelia laughed, "You do me too much honour, princess. Truth be told… perhaps it was not the strategic thing to do. After all, you're a veritable army of your own. You may have been able to handle it yourself."
Lucina blinked, "Pardon?"
"You're a frightful warrior, princess, and now, perhaps even more so." She looked up to the ceiling, "Phila once told me… how Galeforce is supposed to feel like. I daresay… perhaps… both of us have attained that skill. The rush of wind beneath non-existent wings… I feel connected to Edgar more than ever. His superior vitality is shared. Do you… feel Caeda? Can you… almost as if… can you hear her?
Lucina closed her eyes, then opened them uncertainly, "I… I can feel…"
They shared a smile. Then suddenly:
"Did I… ever have a child?"
Lucina's eyes widened, "Not… that I know of," she swallowed, "Why do you ask?"
Cordelia frowned thoughtfully, "It's only that I noticed you future children seemed to have inherited abilities. A natural adept, you can say. Even when we first meet you all, untempered by war… you are all… excellent. You all excel quickly, with natural skills which took us much experience to accumulate. It's as if… it's an inheritance. If I had a child… they would serve the army well, if they had a inherent adeptness to a skill as powerful as Galeforce. We could be of greater service to this-"
"Cordelia, stop!" Lucina placed her hand on top of Cordelia's, "You're not… this army needs dedication from its soldiers, yes, but don't speak of yourself as only some… biological asset. You're much more than that."
"I…" Cordelia blinked at the princess's tone of distress, "That's… I thank you. In… in any case, I am afraid I could not offer anything but myself, it seems-"
"Don't say that. Don't say that. You are enough." Lucina tightened her grip a little.
Cordelia's heart leapt, what- "Sorry, Lucina."
Lucina stared a little longer, then sighed but did not release her hand.
"Gods, Cordelia… have a little faith in yourself and your importance to this army."
"Yes m'am."
Lucina raised an eyebrow, "M'am? … Did you just not refer to us from the future as 'children'?"
Cordelia blushed, "Yes but you're different."
Lucina's other eyebrow raised as well, "What…?"
"I- I mean, you're the princess after all."
"Oh…"
A short awkward silence. Then Cordelia laughed, "Look at me, scolded so. Perhaps it's a good thing that I did not become a mother."
Lucina looked curiously at her. Cordelia continued, "Truth is, I… don't remember my mother very well. I had a wetnurse, as my brothers. My father I remember more of, and fondly. We were a merchant's family, you know." Cordelia gave a small embarrassed laugh, "Father insisted I learn to do things that the fashionable girls did… but then I- Oh look, I'm rambling. Sorry princess."
"No, please. I would like to hear more… if you wouldn't mind."
Cordelia hesitated, but continued, "So… I did. It… it wasn't until later I knew that father wanted me to marry higher than our class, and potentially move into the citadel. I had seen a few potential husbands, and one was chosen when… when our town was raided." Cordelia closed her eyes, "Towns are fragile things. Our family's fortune was plundered and it went downhill from that night onward. My family… was killed. I was saved only by none other than a younger Phila." Cordelia laughed a little, "She wasn't captain then. But I remembered, and I decided to move to Ylisstol. She had arranged for me to be taken care of by a neighbour but…"
"But… how about your betrothed's family?"
Cordelia shook her head, "As I said, princess, I was no longer of use to them. Our family's fortune was pillaged along with the rest."
Lucina tightened her grip on Cordelia's hand again. Cordelia smiled weakly, "It was a long time ago. Truth be told, I barely remember than man I was supposed to marry." She took a deep breath, and continued to recount with a small smile: "Phila wouldn't hear of me joining the Squad. I wouldn't hear of going away back to a life that renounced me. So I stayed, and she found me a job as a maid in Sumia's house. A house which can trace back its line to the noble house of Calys. And… you know your mother. As open to a street rat as a flower," Cordelia snorted good-naturedly, "Of course, I'm glad we became good friends. I showed up everyday to the Squad's training, even if just to watch. Eventually… Phila just slipped me in, I guess.
"A person like me… I wonder if I could even be a good mother."
"Don't say that… It doesn't sound like you. Wasn't it you who told mother that limits are self-imposed?"
"… You're right."
Lucina only looked at the other woman. Cordelia was not convinced, only compliant.
"You are… probably not alone in your worries. Father Libra told me his worries about Gerome. And I know father and mother feel uncertain sometimes how to deal with me and Cynthia." Lucina shook her head, "It is strange, perhaps, to think about being a parent of an adult… of us, who came from the future, shaped by darkness. Those of us from the future have faced a darkness, where memories of our parents are actually the light we strive for. That world is the reason we fight."
"Yet it would seem even in the future, I have not grown to be a woman who bear children."
"Or perhaps I simply did not have the fortune to know them."
Cordelia smiled wryly, "Maybe."
Another short silence, then:
"And you, princess? Have you ever thought of a family of your own?"
Lucina tilted her head to a side, "I had, and thank Naga, now again have my family."
"No, I mean… as a wife and mother."
"Oh," Lucina rubbed her chin, then shook her head, "No… truth be told, there were other things that preoccupied me."
Cordelia had to giggle, "Like the impending doom of our world?"
Lucina blushed and shrugged, "Yes… I- I suppose so. Indeed." She coughed a little.
Cordelia grinned, her heart light. If she could have moved to squeeze back the princess's hand, she would have. "I'm glad you're here, Lucina."
Lucina smiled, her face still tinged pink, "I'm… glad I'm here too."
—
Lucina gasped as if she was suddenly plunged into cold water. She knew this place well. She shuddered, despite the acrid heat from the burning… everything and the stink of the risen. Automatically, her body moved to unsheathe Falchion and swung it behind the lumbering footsteps behind her. The risen fell with that familiar, inhuman growl.
Screams. Human screams. Soldiers in blue. Allies, but weak… they would slaughter the countless or be slaughtered. Her once beloved home, the castle, has long became a slaughterhouse. She was waiting for her friends to return with their hope, their last hope…
She could not fall. She cannot give in to despair. She must not.
"We can't let these things win! Now grab a sword and fight!" She yelled to her soldiers. Her loyal vassals… or maybe because the castle was the last stronghold anyway. Cold sweat and her body hot from battle, a usual combination.
Her breathing grew ragged. Would today be her last? … It was not the first time she had asked herself that. But she shoved that thought away. Anything other than focusing on this chaotic brawl would ensure a "yes" as the answer to that question. She could not die. She had to wait for her friends to return with their final hope in the form of tiny jewels.
She could not die, the fate of the world was literally on her shoulders. She had to bear Naga's fire. She had to pass the test. Then she had to defeat Grima. So, she must wait for her friends.
!
She had thought too much. A risen's blade gashed her arm. No more thinking. One mistake could tip the scale; one mistake can lead to five more, and each fatal. No mistakes. No mis-
A blast threw her off her feet. "Ahhhh!"
"SO ENDS THE HUMAN RACE."
Lucina could barely keep her breath from gasping. Where… where was that voice coming from? She leapt up, sword in hand.
"THE FUTURE IS BUILT UPON THE PAST… BUT YOUR KIND SHALL NEVER SEE IT!"
Such malice and inexplicable hatred, it cut to the bone, Lucina turned to the voice, now clearly originating from behind her.
And what greeted her was the first sign of despair. Red eyes, each one probably as big as her. There was a part of her that wanted to break down into laughter, an eyeball as big as her entire length… ehehehe… wasn't that funny. Wasn't that funny?!
No… no! She… must not give in to despair!
The red eyes observed her. They saw her. The real her. "YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER… ARE DEAD, TINY ONE."
Lucina gasped.
She had forgotten that. She had shoved so many things away. All the things that would drive her to despair. Her arms shuddered. Her entire body shivered, suddenly she felt small. Small… As small as she truly was. She was just… just… a human. Not even the size of one eyeball of the god she had to fight.
Laughter. That monstrous god (she's been told Grima was not a god. But was a human not as great as a god to an ant?) laughed.
"NOW I GIVE YOU PERMISSION… TO DIE!"
Lucina screamed. Falchion somehow was still in her grip, and she was in a hopeless stance. P… permission? Was she finally allowed to rest…? To give in to that despair that had, in truth, long ago swallowed her…?
"LUCINA!"
Lucina awoke with a start, finding herself panting and sweaty. She had fallen asleep.
"Oh thank goodness." Cordelia had managed to sit up. She had leaned over to the side. Her worried face were only a few inches away from Lucina, "You started to shudder and jerk… I kept calling you, but you wouldn't wake. I was so worried… and then that scream…"
Lucina swallowed, trying to calm her breathing down, hastily wiping her face and neck with her sleeve, "S-sorry… to have disturbed you… I… it was… a nightmare."
"Don't you give me that!" Cordelia said firmly, she winced as she moved slowly back, "Come here."
"H-huh?"
"I used to do with Sumia all the time. You're her daughter. Come here. Sit right there."
Lucina did as she was told, still in half a cold-sweat daze. Cordelia pulled Lucina's head gently into her bosom and began to stroke her hair. Sounds of reassurance came from her lips, the usual words of comfort, spoken in a soothing, almost hypnotic, tone.
Lucina found her hands holding on to some of the loose cloth at the back of Cordelia's tunic. Tears fell, they just came out, unstoppable, under that comforting voice. The owner of the voice did not seem to mind at all, so Lucina just let the tears come out. The more she allowed out, the more that seemed to flood out, finally given leave. Soon her shoulders were wracking, and her mouth was gasping between the tears and sniffling, her nose running.
A princess cries as messily as anyone else.
Finally, after an unrecorded time, the tears receded to sniffles and hiccups. A towel was offered to her. She took it and wiped her face and then pulled back.
"Sorry about your tunic," Lucina managed to say quietly.
Cordelia shook her head, "Now… won't you tell me the nightmare you had?"
Lucina stayed silent for a while, then, "A memory of the future that must be averted."
Cordelia gently placed her hand on top of Lucina's, staying quiet.
Lucina breathed in through her nostrils with closed eyes, willing the image to fade and her strength to return. "Grima… broke my will. In the end. It said it gave me permission to die. At that moment… I felt… relieved. I broke. I failed. It was the moment before I was sent back here, between Grima's maw."
"Lucina… that… is entirely human. Anyone at all would have broken down before Grima's full wrath."
"Yes, and it's just that. Over and over again, I am reminded that I am just a human. Yet, it feels heavy. I can't… I can't deny it. The burden is onerous, my knowledge of what will yet come, unless by some miracle, at the rate we're going. Every time I work to avert fate, it turns back, favouring the cursed path," Lucina closed her eyes, "Or maybe it's me, my strength is not enough. I know… I know father tells me to have faith in our army's shared strength in trust, but I-! He… hasn't seen what I have seen! He wasn't the one who stood there, at the end."
She was shuddering, tears dripping between eyelids squeezed shut. Cordelia placed her free hand on the princess's shoulder. The princess suddenly looked so small and fragile. "I-… I-… hate that I can't truly believe in father's words! But I have seen my weakness, I have seen my end, the end, the beginning of the end of our race."
Cordelia pulled the princess into a hug again, "I understand, Lucina."
Lucina blinked, then tried to push away, "I see-"
"No," Cordelia held strong, "I… I mean, I don't claim to see what you have seen. And I know that believing in Chrom's words can be hard. His will of strength… is as strong as yours. His faith in us is strong. That is why we will give our lives for him. But… don't you see? You are our miracle. And the rest of your future companions, they are a miracle already. Forces stronger than us wish to destroy us… but there are forces stronger than us which hope for us to prevail as well. We are forewarned by you, and we will fight, again and again, chipping away little by little until the river of time flows to another course. A new course. No one can dig a new course on their own, but we need everyone's strength-"
"I know," Lucina squeezed her eyes shut, breathing becoming painful, she tried to push away again. Yet-!
Cordelia hugged tight, still hearing the unspoken doubt, "Make it personal. I'll keep you safe. Add one more bond from this army to yours. Please."
Silence, no struggle. Cordelia continued, "Princess… I can't say I will be a great asset to you alone. But faith is born from doubt. Without doubt, there is no faith. Doubt in our augury is a heavy burden, and it weighs down our blades." She tightened her hug a little more, "I don't doubt everyone has a portion of doubt about our ultimate fortune. But true victory was never achieved with certainty. Trust the individuals you have talked to, the flesh and blood that fight next to you. Trust me. Until we all truly drop down and die, you are not alone."
Lucina returned the hug tightly, silent for a long time.
—
Author's Notes:
Sorry for the long between time in updates. A recent review gave me the kick in the butt I needed to finish writing this. I should polish this, as usual… so feel free to drop in specific constructive criticisms in your review. In the meantime, enjoy!
I have received a few reviews which encouraged me the dialogue seemed like something that was in-character. For those who have said so, thank you.
The end is near. A heartfelt thanks for those who have commented that they never thought of this pairing, but found it intriguing. Haha, ever since I started, my favourite pairings has always been either the freaking mainstream one hinted by the anime/manga/games, which no one seems to care to encourage (Hullo Phoenix Wright) or the ones that seriously "no1currrrs" about (I remember in my youth I wrote a story of Shota — Kagome's younger brother— and this ghost girl cameo from this one early episode (before the series dragged out to a 10+ years colossus)… I think her name was Maya? from the anime Inuyasha. Ahahaha, well anyway.) If I have somehow spread the my latter uncommon interest to even one person, I count myself very blessed indeed.
A grateful thanks for those who have enjoyed the story. Truthfully, the more I wrote, the more I wanted to expand it into a full length story… I seem to have difficulty writing where lengths of time pass where I have no control over the characters' feelings and emotions. What a control freak…
Now onto some notes about this chapter for those who are interested. Since I have no idea about Cordelia's background, I just made it up. At first I was going to make her from a noble house, like Sully, Ricken, and Sumia (from what I gathered from Gaius and Sumia's support conversation). But then this other story came out from my fingertips instead and I decided to go with it. I think it's rather interesting to imagine that Cordelia's polite speech (which I think I exaggerate a little, but can be imaginable) may come from the fact that she may be from a middling class, rather than those who have assured nobility (I am looking pointedly at Chrom and Sully here). It could also explain her perfectionist attitude, her know-how in cleaning, sewing and other traditional housekeeping skills (does Sully, Chrom, Lissa, Maribelle, Sumia know how to housekeep or cook? Nawp. Sumia learns only after twenty-something tries to bake a freaking cake or whatever it was. I mean: What?) how easily rattled and surprisingly unconfident she could be of her self-worth (hello, Cordelia/MU supports).
Caeda and Calys is a reference to the first-gen FE game. Caeda being the woman who married Marth (the real one), and Calys her home.
I'm also pretty unsatisfied with generally how simple FE game politics are, they stick to their archetypes like mad, so I decided to paint a little less idyllic picture of Ylisse. Tsk. Too bad I couldn't expand it.
Well, that is that. Please leave a review and I'll see you again at the end. :)