Chapter Seventeen: A Gift of Flowers

Victory turned out to be a great deal more troublesome than I ever would've imagined. With Walhart and his men gone, someone needed to govern the cities and towns of the Valmese continent. The southern regions around Chon'sin still had the dynasts to administer them, but much of the north's infrastructure had been erased completely during Walhart's conquest.

The people were grateful to their liberators, but that proved to be a source of conflict as well. No one seemed willing to take the word of anyone less than Chrom himself, and many of those who put themselves forward appeared determined to gain favor by playing toady. It was sickening. I don't know how my father managed to deal with them without losing his temper. Some of the more politically inclined Shepherds were assisting him behind the scenes, an area where I once again showed my own deficiencies. What politics could be played in a dead world?

At least my shortcoming was shared by Destin, who seemed utterly unsuited to dealing with conniving nobles. He'd tried to help my father with the negotiations, but had quit in frustration rather quickly. I was almost happy to finally find something he couldn't do.

Our mutual uselessness put us both as loose ends, which ended up meaning that we spent quite a bit of the two weeks we were stuck in Valm together. Since we had plenty of time, we resumed our lessons. I was learning more quickly now, and even helped Destin to reorganize our forces now that the Valm campaign was over. We had to account for casualties and changes amongst the units, so that we could be certain we'd deploy them correctly.

My resolve to hold the man at arm's length until I sorted out my own feelings was in tatters. I still had no idea what to do about it.

With Vert having been liberated from Walhart's treasury and returned to the Fire Emblem, only Sable was missing. Frederick travelled back ahead of the rest of us with a small escort, intending to begin a search for the missing Gemstone in Ylisse. We had no information on it, but it had to be found nonetheless.

When we finally did begin the march back to Valm Harbor, it was long after I'd expected us to be gone. My father seemed afraid that some dignitary would chase after us to seek his opinion on one matter or another, and he pushed us hard the first day before settling into a more ordinary pace. It was a strange feeling, heading back the way we'd come with less than half of what we'd originally marched with. The war had been short and intense, a horrific bloodbath that was suddenly over.

I wondered if I was the only one who felt like the ghosts of those who'd died were staring over our shoulders. Perhaps most of them were used to war, but I wasn't. Those who'd died in my time died for nothing. It didn't change the tragedy of their deaths, but I wondered if they would be satisfied knowing that we'd won.

My father decided to stop at the Mila Tree on our way back to the sea, intending to speak with Lady Tiki. Perhaps, I thought, he intended to consult with her on the matter of Sable's location. The Voice had said she didn't know where it was the last time we'd spoken to her, but she'd been drowsy and not entirely lucid at that time.

No one was eager to make the trip up the gigantic tree a second time, so in the end the only three people who did were my father, Destin, and me. The tactician would never leave Chrom to make such a journey on his own, even in friendly territory. I suspect he thought a potential Risen ambush lurked around any corner, and he may have been right.

My own motivations were uncomplicated; I knew full well that the hardest part of my task of changing the future was yet to come. I wanted to spend one more peaceful day with the two men I loved most before I had to face it. The old me might've called it foolish, because I was letting my guard down and allowing my feelings to take precedence over my duty. But the present me was more convinced than ever that such feelings could only make me stronger, and that coldly valuing my appointed task over my friends would help no one - myself least of all.

Climbing the Mila Tree was just as taxing as I remembered it, though in a way it seemed easier. Perhaps it was because it was only three of us rather than the entirety of the Shepherds, and we were doing so while relatively fresh rather than immediately after a battle. Destin and Chrom joked with each other the entire way up, like old friends do. I myself had little to add, though they deliberately made sure to include me in their conversation.

How could I feel unease when these two were around? When others had described my father to me in my own world, I had sometimes wondered about the sort of charisma that could lead a disparate group of people to follow one to the far end of the world. Certainly, I'd never been the kind of leader whom others would give their lives for. But I'd seen it constantly since joining the Shepherds. It was Chrom and Destin leading them that gave them the courage to fight ever onwards, to never give up no matter the odds.

More and more lately I found myself relying on that strength. I, too, found the will to push forward because of them. As long as they both lived, I was certain that we could win, that we could change the future.

As we neared the top, I shook myself out of my thoughts and paid more attention to what was around me. I quickly became aware that Destin was looking at me more than was normal. A strange expression was on his face, not one I'd seen before from him; if I didn't know better, I'd have said he was frustrated. Was he trying to tell me something? I hadn't forgotten my own feelings, but what could I do?

I was still wondering when we reached the top. The Voice was outside the small shrine we had found her sleeping in on our previous visit. She was kneeling in the grass, apparently meditating, but she rose at our approach.

"Welcome back, children of the hero's bloodline," she greeted us. "I had hoped matters would allow us to speak again."

"As did I," Chrom replied. "With Walhart defeated and his empire shattered, all our focus must now fall on the threat of the Grimleal and their master. It seemed prudent to discuss matters with you, Lady Tiki, before returning to Ylisse. Are you fully awake now?"

"Certainly. I've been communing with the Mila Tree and the Divine Dragon since last we met. This world has changed since I fell asleep. I'm afraid I still don't know where the other Gemstones might be."

In response, Chrom hefted the Emblem up so that the Voice could look at it. He had fixed Vert into its socket, where it shone gently in the light alongside the other three.

"Oh... you have Gules and Vert. Then all that remains is to locate Sable so that the Awakening ritual can be performed."

"Yes, but we have no idea where to look," Chrom said. "You're certain you don't know where it might have gone?"

I turned and wandered away, content to leave them to their discussion. If something important was learned, one of them would certainly inform me of it later. It might be that I would never see this paragon of natural beauty again in my life, and I wanted to savor the view while I still could.

Even here at the top, the tree was so massive that I lost sight of the others. I walked a ways out onto one of the colossal branches, trailing my fingers across leaves and plants as I passed them. It was so easy to simply lose myself in the almost mystic serenity of this place. Birdsongs called out from amid the branches. It was mesmerizing.

For a minute, I forgot all the burdens I was carrying. I forgot about the war and Grima and my father and stood there listening to the sounds of nature. How I wished I could've done this in my own world.

Exhaling a deep breath, I found my thoughts clearer than they had been for some time. What better moment to think things through than now? And the first thing I had to deal with was...

The scuff of a boot against wood awakened me out of my trance, and I turned to find Destin only a few steps behind me. His hands were hidden behind his back, and he looked uncharacteristically nervous. I might've thought something was wrong, but I was far past the point where I could've been suspicious of him. It would be like suspecting myself.

"Lucina," he greeted me.

"Are they done already?" I asked. It would've seemed a waste to come all the way up here only for a few minutes of conversation. Not that I minded terribly, but my sore feet surely did.

Destin shook his head. "Lady Tiki still seems a tad uneasy in my presence, so I thought it best to take myself elsewhere."

"I see." I wished I knew why it was that the Voice was so unsettled by him. It might've explained a great deal for me.

"I, ah, picked these for you," he blurted suddenly, pulling a selection of flowers from behind his back. They were all clearly flowers that grew on the Mila Tree, their vibrant colors unmatched anywhere else.

I had taken every opportunity to admire such flowers on our journey up, but somehow I'd thought that it would be wrong for me to pick them; like it would be violating the pristine beauty of the Mila Tree. But since it had already been done for me, I couldn't really find a reason to complain. I took them from his hands carefully, deeply breathing in their fragrance. Then, a sudden idea seized me. I took a beautiful red one from the bundle and gently slid it into my hair, tucking the stem underneath my gold band. Then I turned back to Destin and smiled shyly, feeling rather self-conscious.

He was staring at me intently, as though seeing me for the first time. It was extremely satisfying.

"So, what's the occasion?" I asked.

"Well, ah, nothing really," he said, no longer meeting my eyes. "I just thought you could use some cheering up. I'll do whatever I can to help a dear friend like you."

"Oh, right," I replied. Why was I so disappointed? I didn't really think... did I?

"Well, I'm... not being entirely honest, with you or myself." His hands clenched tightly, though he was still looking away. "You're very special to me, Lucina, and not because you're Chrom's daughter or because you might help us avert the fate that befell your world. We've spent a lot of time together recently, and I think I've finally figured out why you're so different. It's because I suddenly can't think of my life without you, because... I love you."

Whatever I'd been expecting to hear, it wasn't that. It took a long moment for the words to even register. I blushed about as red as the flower I was wearing. I opened my mouth to say something, but my thoughts were such a jumble that nothing came out.

Destin winced slightly at my reaction. "I know I probably shouldn't have said that. You're Chrom's daughter and from another world. But still... I can't change my feelings, nor can I deny them. I can't look at you as you are now and not express myself." He gave a sad smile.

I gathered myself. Regardless of what I'd thought before, I couldn't just listen to him pour his heart out to me without responding. "You're in my heart as well, just... I never dreamed I would hear you say that. It's hard for me to believe that this is actually happening. It all seems so... surreal." I was babbling and I knew it, but neither of us was particularly coherent.

He stepped forward. "Well... I've always heard that actions speak louder than words." His arms wrapped around my waist, and before I could even register what was happening he leaned in and kissed me.

It was my first, and I was unprepared; still, my arms managed to find their own way around his shoulders. I stopped thinking, just closed my eyes. For as long as our lips met, the rest of the world ceased to exist. It wasn't until we broke apart again that I realized that we weren't alone. My father and Tiki were standing a ways behind us, watching us intently. The Voice had a nostalgic smile on her face, but my father's expression was unreadable.

I'd never thought there'd be a time when I wouldn't want to see him, but now was definitely one of those times. I didn't even know how to explain this to myself, let alone him. Would he be angry? Disappointed? A combination of nerves and the lingering feeling of the kiss swept through me, leaving me trembling.

"...I guess that means their conversation is over," Destin said lightly. He offered me his hand. "Shall we go, Lucina?"

I reached out and grabbed his hand, ducking my head slightly as we set out. How could I still be nervous about holding hands when we'd just kissed? Even thinking of it reminded me of the sensation and... I shook my head furiously, trying to regain some semblance of my wits.

If it'd been left up to me, I might never have pursued this. But he'd taken the first step, perhaps because he'd understood that. Now that we were already there, I couldn't find it in myself to doubt. I felt positively giddy, an excitement the likes of which I hadn't felt since I was just an infant. Surely something that brought me this much happiness couldn't be a mistake?

We arrived in front of my father and the Voice. For a moment, Chrom regarded us both with the same tight expression. Then a smile finally appeared. "It's about time," he said. "For both of you."

About time? What did he mean by that? He couldn't have possibly... "You knew?" I asked incredulously.

He scratched the back of his neck idly, looking a little uncomfortable. "Not just me. Everyone knew. By the time we reached Valm Castle, Anna was openly taking bets on just when you two were going to realize it. As usual, she won."

"B-bets!?" I stammered. I knew my companions, both new and old, enjoyed discussing other peoples' love lives, but this was going too far. Those strange looks they'd been giving me – was this why?

"Well, I'm mortified," Desiin said with a heavy sigh. "But that doesn't mean I regret anything."

"You'd better not. It's a bit late to be taking it back," Chrom warned him.

I desperately looked about for something to change the subject. "Umm... If we're going back down now, shouldn't we get started?" It was feeble, but I thought I might just burst if we had to talk about this any further.

"That would be wise," Tiki said. I was startled; I'd nearly forgotten that she was there. She cocked her head and looked at me with a fond smile. "Ah, youth."

"Will you be accompanying us, Lady Tiki?" I asked.

"Yes. I've taken in as much of the Divine Dragon's power as I can here. It's time I joined the fight, to help protect this world."

It reassured me greatly to hear that. To fight alongside Naga's Voice could only improve our chances. She was far older than any of us, with experience that none of us possessed. She'd not only fought evil dragons in the past, she and those with her had won those battles. I hoped I would have the chance to speak with her more, but for now I had other things occupying my mind.

"I can hardly believe you're taking this so well," Destin remarked to Chrom while we were on our way back down the tree. I could hardly believe it either.

"Well, I'll admit I wasn't terribly pleased about it when I first realized what was going on," my father replied. "I seem to recall that my first instinct was to string you up by your heels."

Destin winced. "So what changed your mind?"

"I married a wise woman," Chrom said. "There I was, pacing at night upset because of the idea of such a thing happening, when she finally ordered me to sit and calm down. She told me that I was being totally irrational, that this Lucina was a grown woman who could make her own choices. She also reminded me that we all trust you with our lives on a daily basis, so how could I possibly not trust your intentions towards her? Well, I had no response for any of that. Once I started thinking about it from her perspective, I realized that I was being an idiot about the whole thing."

He turned around and smiled at me, bringing us both up short. It was a real smile, full of parental affection, not something he'd manufactured for my benefit. "The important thing here is this: you're my daughter, Lucina, and thanks to my failings you grew up without a father in a hopeless world. Destin, you're my best friend, and you've never known a real family at all. If the two of you can find happiness together, then... it would be selfish, not to mention petty, to stand in the way of that."

"Father... thank you," I said sincerely.

"I'm glad you feel that way, Chrom," Destin said offhandedly. "I admit I spent at least one sleepless night worrying about how you'd react if you found out. Trying to explain it... that's one conversation I'm glad we don't have to have."

"Now don't misunderstand," Chrom continued, looking back at Destin purposefully. "You and I are going to have a chat about this. But we'll talk about it like reasonable adults."

"Of course," Destin agreed. "Reasonable." A sudden look of horror entered his eyes. "Wait, if everyone's been planning this, what's going to be waiting for us at the bottom? Spontanteous cheering? Fireworks? Perhaps a parade in our honor?"

My father shrugged. "Who can say? If you manage to avoid dying of embarassment, maybe it was meant to be." He quickened his pace, walking ahead of us while whistling to himself.

Destin and I exchanged a glance. He looked uncomfortable, as I'm sure I did, but there was something else there in his eyes. It was like I could see his feelings for me, everything laid bare. How could I have not noticed? We both mouthed 'I love you' at the same time.

It didn't seem to matter so much now what awaited us in the future. Whether it was Validar or Grima himself, somehow I knew it would work out as long as we were together.