Sorry this chapter took a bit longer than it should have. I was on a seriously roll with two of my other fanfics and I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted for this chapter other than Severa's grieving. I also went to an anime convention in early June and I wasn't able to get any work done with any of my fanfics because I was having too much fun. Not to mention that I wanted to finish my 6-week summer semester at my university before typing this chapter. Anyway, I hope the wait was worth it! Enjoy!
It was a gloomy, rainy morning where the Shepherds were due to the recent passing of their fellow friend and comrade Cordelia. Severa in particular seemed to be the most distraught of anyone. A group of Yllissean soldiers came by, surrounded a casket containing Cordelia's body, picked the casket up and were ready to march away. Everyone else in the Shepherds were all lined up in several rows with Chrom and Robin standing in front of the casket and facing the other Shepherds.
"Shepherds, we are gathered here today to mourn for the loss of Cordelia." Chrom said to everyone. "I often heard magnificent tales of her from Phila before the Mad King struck her down. A genius, a prodigy and a valued ally; all of her pegasus knight sisters who gave their lives during the war with Plegia named her."
Robin then stepped forward. "Cordelia… was much more than that. She was our friend…" Robin then turned to Sumia. "A sister…" He then turned to Severa. "And a mother. None of us will ever forget her, but in order to keep that memory alive we need to survive this war and live out the rest of our lives for her sake."
At this point, Severa noticed something unusual about Robin; tears were running down his face.
"I-I'm sorry." Robin said, wiping the tears from his face. "I need a moment."
"You've said enough, Robin." Chrom said as he placed his hand on Robin's shoulder before turning to the rest of the Shepherds. "Would anyone else like to speak?"
As Robin walked away, he noticed that Severa was looking at him. The expression he gave her was saying 'I'm sorry' in the most depressing way possible.
Elsewhere in the crowd, Rei'qu saw the brief exchange between Robin and Severa.
*Severa…* Rei'qu thought. *I should be the one apologizing…*
After Cordelia's casket was sent on its way back to Ylisse, Rei'qu approached Morgan.
"Morgan, may I have a word with you?" Rei'qu asked.
"I was actually one my way to see Dad and Severa to help cheer them up." Morgan answered. "They both seem to be really down about Cordelia."
"… Go see Father first." Rei'qu said. "I'll go talk with Severa."
"Are you sure?" Morgan asked.
"Uh… Your cheery disposition and the fact that you're his daughter would be more progressive in cheering him up."
Morgan just looked at Rei'qu for a moment. "… Okay."
Morgan skipped away and left Rei'qu alone. Rei'qu turned around and walked toward Severa's tent.
Back in his tent, Robin was simply sitting at his desk with his head down and several empty bottles of liquor.
"Daaad!" Morgan happily entered the tent. "Guess who's… Father, are you okay?"
"I'm… I'm just a little tipsy is all." Robin replied.
"Come on, Father, you've got to cheer up." Morgan said.
"I tried booze for the first time to try and fix it… Didn't work at all. Morgan… do you think it's my fault that Cordelia died?"
"Of course not." Morgan answered as she took a seat by her father. "If anyone's to blame, it's the Risen that killed her."
"But if only I had known about Severa leaving camp sooner, then we could've saved her in time. On top of that… I didn't have the same feelings for her that she had for me. In Severa's timeline, she said that we were inseparable. But since I don't feel that way about her there's a whole lot of guilt piled right in front of me. I'm supposed to be the tactician of this army; the one who makes sure EVERY soldier makes it home ALIVE. Do you know how hard it was for me to inform the families of the pegasus knights that their loved ones died on my watch? It was just as hard on me as it was for them. Seeing all that pain and sorrow made something snap inside me and I worked my ass off to make sure that nobody else died because of me."
"That's exactly what I admire about you! You come up with these plans because you care about every soldier, regardless of how bland or invisible they are!"
"Um… Are you talking about me?" Kellam asked, just standing in the middle of the tent.
"You strive to be a great tactician because you value the lives of your allies more than anything!" Morgan continued.
"Guess you still don't notice me…" Kellam said as he walked out completely unnoticed by anyone.
"Dad, don't let Cordelia's death make you weaker." Morgan said. "Let it make you stronger, wiser and more willing to protect those who are still alive!"
"… You know what, Morgan?" Robin asked. "You're right. The grief and shock had caused me to forget one of the most important rules in life: Mistakes happen so you can learn from them and make the right choices in the future. Thanks, Morgan." Robin ruffled up Morgan's hair a bit. "You're going to make me proud someday. I just know it."
"Aheheheh!" Morgan laughed.
Meanwhile in Severa's tent, Severa was in her cot and crying her eyes out while curled up.
"Why… why did I have to lose you again?" Severa sobbed. "Worst of all… it's my fault you died this time… Your death is on my shoulders…"
"Actually…"
Severa sat up on her cot to see Rei'qu standing at the entrance of her tent.
"The blame for your mother's death should not be placed on you." Rei'qu said. "Rather, place it on me."
Rei'qu looked up at Severa's face and could see that her eyes were all red and puffy from all the crying she did.
"If I had not told you of my origins and feigned amnesia, you wouldn't have run off, thus your mother wouldn't have given chase, thus she wouldn't have taken that blow from the Risen you encountered." Rei'qu said before handing Severa a Killing Edge and kneeling down. "Tis why I will permit you to strike me down in retribution."
Severa looked at the Killing Edge with wide eyes and then toward Rei'qu.
"What are you doing?" Severa questioned. "I can't just kill someone out of the blue like this!"
"I am willing to take full responsibility for your mother's death and if taking my life will help you feel better, then so be it." Rei'qu replied.
Rei'qu closed her eyes, waiting for Severa to bring down the blade. Severa looked at Rei'qu for several seconds, completely lost in her own thoughts and memories.
(Begin Flashback)
"N-no… I won't accept that!" Severa started shouting. "I'm Morgan's sister! Cordelia is our mother! I refuse to believe Dad would cheat on Mom like that!"
"From what I remember, he only ever had eyes for our mother." Rei'qu said.
"No!" Severa started to run away from the camp. "It's a lie! IT'S ALL A LIE!"
"Severa, wait!" Morgan went to chase after Severa.
(End Flashback)
Severa started to cry again and was almost ready to cut Rei'qu's head clean off.
*She's responsible for my pain!* Severa thought. *It's her fault! It's her fault! IT'S HER FAULT!* "RAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Severa was swinging the sword as hard and as fast as she could, but another blade came by and blocked the strike. She looked the person in the face to see that it was Say'ri.
"Severa, what is the meaning of this?!" Say'ri asked.
"If she's willing to let herself be killed just so my mother can rest in peace, then so be it!" Severa shouted.
"Would it, Severa?! Would it?!" Say'ri asked.
"But…" Rei'qu spoke up. "I was the one who drove Severa into the forest where she was attacked."
"Rei'qu, you're being too hard on yourself." Say'ri said. "It's not your fault, it's not Severa's fault, no one is at fault. Severa, please calm down. Your mother may be gone, but your comrades are always here for you. That includes Robin, Morgan, Rei'qu… and me."
Severa stopped pushing the sword and dropped it, her eyes starting to tear up again.
"Severa… Robin and I had our suspicions about your origins for quite some time now." Say'ri said. "However, during one of my conversations with him he told me something. He said that even if you didn't hail from this timeline, you are still his daughter and he will always love you as one."
Severa started to cry once more and Say'ri gave her a warm, motherly hug.
"There, there, child." Say'ri said in a calm and soothing voice. "Let it all out. Robin and I will always be here for you."
Rei'qu simply looked at the two and smiled. *You're exactly as I remember you… Mother.*
"Rei'qu…" Say'ri spoke as she turned her head toward Rei'qu. "Just because you feel responsible for someone else's life doesn't mean you should just throw your own away. I can tell you have a sense of dignity and honor, but you're way too hard on yourself."
"But-" Rei'qu was about to speak, but Say'ri gently placed her finger on her lip.
"And I think it's because of the statures of your parents that you have such high hopes for yourself." Say'ri said. "A stature… of a princess of Chon'sin."
"H… How did you know?" Rei'qu asked.
"The way you fight…" Say'ri answered. "And the way you speak, it very much reminds me of myself. Just… promise me you won't every do something like this again, okay… daughter?"
"… Yes, Mother." Rei'qu replied with a smile.
The next day in the command tent, Robin had met with Chrom, Say'ri and Flavia to discuss their next course of action.
"With Yen'fay out of the way and Tiki's powers reawakened, I think it's high time we head north and dethrone Walhart once and for all!" Robin said.
"Are you sure this is a wise move, Robin?" Flavia asked. "You might still be edgy after Cordelia's passing."
"I'm not letting it get to me." Robin said. "I've thought this through with a clear head and I think we can take him down. With Yen'fay defeated, the morale of Walhart's army must have lowered significantly, not to mention around half of his army has been snuffed out already."
"If you say it's a good idea, Robin, then I'm with you all the way." Chrom said.
"Aye, same here." Say'ri agreed.
"If even you two agree with this plan, then who am I to judge?" Flavia asked. "Just make sure you give it to Walhart good for what he did to the oaf!"
"Oh, we intend to." Robin said. "We very much intend to."
A/N: FIIIIIIIINAALLYYYYYY! I managed to get this damn thing done! I've just been caught up with school and my other fanfics that I haven't been able to properly write this! But I do hope you all enjoyed it! Next time is the fight outside Walhart's castle and the one after that will be when you finally get to see that man-lady Excellus get his just desserts for making Say'ri suffer so much! I know you've all been eager to see that guy get the short end of the stick that I'll make sure will impale very nicely and painfully.