Severa remembered the afternoon chill as she took her saddlebags off Moonlight. A single remaining stablehand helped and kindly offered to take them to the redhead's new quarters in the palace.
Arion was a kind lad, too young to fight in the army, but old enough that he could be left with the horses and pegasi. That he was trusted enough to manage the stables alone was a testament to the diligence with which he treated his work.
As he walked away, laden with the few personal belongings and clothes that Severa had deemed worthy to come with her, the swordswoman led Moonlight to her box.
"Thank you for staying with me," she whispered into the mare's ear.
Moonlight responded with a nuzzle, regarding her with those too wise eyes. It felt like the pegasus could sense her sadness. Like Moonlight was trying to say, "Even if they all leave, I will still be here."
It was probably just idle fancy.
She made her way to the Sunrise Entrance, searching for any of the soldiers on duty that she might know.
She was unsurprised to find only a single guard she didn't recognise remained. Sergeant Llewellyn was with the army no doubt, even though he had claimed that he was getting too old and slow for that work.
Still, she paused as she approached, waiting for the guard to see her before advancing.
"Ah!" he said with a start as he finally noticed his guest, starting again as he obviously recognised her, "Lady Luna, I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting!"
Even feeling as she did, Severa composed herself. "It's no trouble at all," she examined the crest on his collar, "Lance-Corporal…."
"Das, my Lady. Lance-corporal Das," he responded quickly. Too quickly. He was obviously nervous around her, even though they were nearly the same age.
"Well, Lance-Corporal, would you please let me in?" she inquired patiently.
"Oh, uhh, of course Lady Luna, however, I have been told to escort you directly to the Grand Reception, the princess wishes for an audience with you."
The swordswoman gave the young guard a flat look, suggesting that he might have led with that information earlier, before nodding her assent and following him into the castle.
Of course, Lucina wanted an audience with her. Of course, now that the princess needed help, she wanted Severa again.
She wished she could be done with all of it, all of them. She was still angry, but more upset at herself for feeling that way. It was pointless, they didn't deserve her emotion.
The pair wound through the castle's corridors absent many of the decorations that used to adorn the walls. Without as many servants to take care of them, the lion share had been put into storage for safekeeping, in the hopes that in the future they could once again be put proudly on display.
The redhead felt at peace with those cold, uncaring halls. She floated in the void of her mind; intrusive thoughts kept at bay by the bare stone walls.
The Grand Reception wasn't too far from the Sunrise entrance.
It was easy for someone unfamiliar with the castle to get lost in its winding halls, but Severa probably knew it better than the fresh-faced guard she had in front of her.
They emerged from a side entrance to a sight Severa hadn't quite expected to see.
Lucina had procured a high-backed chair and was sat at the base of the stairs leading up to the throne room. The landing just before the steps allowed her to be elevated slightly above the group of supplicants she had gathered. She was dressed immaculately, clad in a coat and breeches of deep blue, accentuated by a cape lined with a red that perfectly contrasted the colours of the royal family. Her tiara, cleaned to a mirror shine completed the regal look.
The effect was powerful. The Grand reception was beautiful and the size of the room lent weight to her authority. Another person might have seemed small, but Lucina had enough presence to fill the space. Combined with the height she had gained from the step and Lucina felt not just like the Princess of Ylisse, but its ruler.
It was offset however, by the simple case that she was not in the throne room. The blue haired princess was wise. She wanted to project her own authority whilst supporting her father's. "You stand in support of me," it seemed to say, "but I stand in service of someone even greater."
A shrewd move, one Severa wouldn't have thought the older girl capable of. Perhaps advice from the Exalt before he left? No, that didn't seem right. It felt more like a move that her own father would make.
The redhead bristled when she thought of him. Not just at him but the idea of Lucina holding herself above others.
The people gathered around Lucina were an interesting bunch as well. Some nobles simply watched the proceedings from the sidelines, but others, had formed a semicircle on chairs provided, with one person occupying the centre of that semicircle when they wished to speak to the princess. They represented nobles of higher rank, some very old men and women who hadn't been called to battle and a few youths whose parents had been called to the fighting and thus were doing their best to represent their House's interest.
But more remarkable were the three commoners who held the prime positions directly in Lucina's line of sight.
Zale Anura, the chief treasurer of Ylisse occupied the chair directly opposite the princess. Or at least, he would have, were he not stood, speaking directly to his employer.
A dark-skinned man with long black hair that wasn't typical for people in his work, he cut a surprisingly imposing figure with his severe look enhanced by the dark circles beneath his eyes.
The redhead regarded the treasurer as he leafed through a large binder filled with numbers. It was said that he was a Plegian by birth, unfortunate enough to move to Ylisse just as the first war had broken out. But his competence with the accounts and his firm understanding of numbers had taken him all the way to the royal palace.
The Exalted family had always been careful to promote for skill rather than perception and that policy had paid off in the form of wise investments that had seen the kingdom's coffers nearly double in size despite funding two wars.
It was said that a good treasurer was worth an army and a bad one, a noose, but Severa had once heard her father describe this man as being worth a country.
As the dark-haired accountant spoke about his projections, the swordswoman's gaze fell on the statuesque grey-haired woman to his left. Miriam Ferguson was the royal family's rock. The older lady had fought in the first Plegian war and the second, decorated as one of the best archers in Ylisse. By the Valm campaign she was already a grandmother and it had taken the insistence of not just her children but the Exalt himself to persuade her not to go to war.
Still, she had demanded that she continue to serve her country and had been incredibly grateful to take up position as Castellan, managing Ylisse castle to a level of efficiency never before seen. Some had considered her appointment an odd choice, with a few senior servants privately complaining that she didn't have the experience. But they soon found themselves in their place as Miriam set the castle running with military efficiency. Severa had once asked the elderly woman how she managed to always have rooms available for their lessons, but she'd simply laughed, saying that managing a castle was far easier than wrangling nine excited grandchildren.
If Miriam was the Exalted family's rock, then the man seated to her right was their anchor. Silas Alune, the mayor of Ylisstol felt like an oasis of calm. Where Zale was intense and Miriam rigid, he felt placid, a man in control of himself and those around him. He ran a hand through his salt and pepper beard as he watched the treasurer speak, his deep brown hair seemingly defying the age that weighed on him.
As one of the few elected representatives in Ylisse, Silas knew more about the life of a common person than almost anyone in the room. Born to an innkeeper, he'd leveraged the popularity of the tavern he'd inherited into a campaign that had captured, if not the hearts of the people of Ylisstol, at least their minds. A promise that their concerns would be brought to the Royal Family with the gravity that they deserved had been fulfilled and the trust he had gained had resulted in many victories under his belt.
His relationship with the Exalted family was good, marked by some heated discussions when there was an issue he truly believed in. But the Exalt and Queen Olivia had the sense to know that when Silas dug his heels in, he needed to be heard and Silas himself was smart enough to know that such action should only be exercised with great care.
Together, the three represented possibly the most powerful commoners in Ylisse. Each had it within their power to bring the Exalt to his knees and each with years of service proving their loyalty. Lucina was wise to meet with them publicly even if she was only taking power for the interim. Their counsel would be vital for cementing her rule and their warnings would herald tremendously important issues that might escape the nobility.
But despite how wise the decision was, it rankled.
Lucina had had the audacity to summon, her, Severa of House Luna to this makeshift court and she was still consulting with others instead of welcoming an honoured guest. Someone the princess claimed was her closest friend.
Pointedly she took a position in the front row as was her right, giving the blue haired girl a hard look. Nobody had even thought to announce her, as if just because she had been a teacher, she was no longer the heir to the most prominent noble house in the kingdom.
Severa had never been one to care about her rank, her name. But it infuriated her to be treated so badly. The moment her mother had flown away, the moment Lucina had summoned her, she had become more than Severa, teacher at Ylisse castle. She'd gained the station of the Lady of House Luna and disrespect shown to that station was disrespect not just to her, but to every person sworn into her service.
Pointing the insult out in public would hurt more than it helped. Zale, Miriam and Silas could cause her unending problems if she angered them and undermining Lucina so early on would only end up hurting Ylisse.
Instead, she sat and watched, stewing in her anger.
Summoned and ignored, with a smile from the blue-haired princess as if nothing was wrong.
It took nearly an hour for all the reports to be heard in detail. The older girl didn't have many questions, but those that she did ask prompted long explanations. An inquiry of Silas about the mood of the public in Ylisstol resulted in a deep explanation of the different factions at play among the civilians in the city.
But eventually they withdrew and the princess dismissed her makeshift court. Most of the nobles didn't retire far, moving to the tables in the reception to mull over what little they might have gleaned from Lucina.
They would look on now interest as the princess finally took the time to approach the Lady of House Luna. Was there a rift between the two because it took so long for them to talk? But they were such good friends? Perhaps the princess wanted to show that she wouldn't let old relationships carry extra weight?
Or perhaps the princess simply took Severa for granted.
"Lady Luna," Severa looked up calmly as she found the princess looking down at her. That smile still filled her vision, the comforting confidence still made her throat dry. Lucina's golden tiara perfectly offsetting the deep blues of her hair.
The redhead stood wordlessly, afraid of what she might say as the light lilac perfume wafted over her.
"Let's take a walk to the Exalt's office, we can talk on the way there and hopefully your things will be settled in by the time we're finished," the princess ventured, prompting a nod from Severa who waited for the older girl to lead the way.
The swordswoman didn't know the exact location of the Royal offices. They were sequestered somewhere in the Exalt's quarters. But the route was direct enough that she didn't have a great deal of difficulty maintain her sense of place.
"I'll need you to keep teaching classes Sev," Lucina started. "You'll be the only one, everyone else will have duties elsewhere, but we need the others to be able to defend themselves and truly need them to understand tactics."
"Why don't you have Morgan do it? She's better," the redhead replied tersely.
"She's not here," the princess replied quickly, she'd probably anticipated the question. "She went with your father and the army, I don't know if she'll be back, besides, we don't need geniuses; we need commanders who can fight with a small unit of soldiers and know what to do." Lucina paused, "I can't imagine father losing, especially if he's with Uncle Robin. But they both seemed worried and if the worst does happen, I don't intend for any of us to be easy meat."
"Is that all you need of me then?" Severa asked, tone never shifting.
"I should hope not!" the Lucina replied cheerfully. "What is a princess without her knight after all?"
"That's all I am to you, isn't it?"
Lucina halted, "My knight?"
"Your knight," Severa replied with the revulsion she felt for that word.
"But, I thought you.."
"You don't think about me," the younger swordswoman interrupted. "I'm just a tool to you."
Shock, then hurt, perhaps anger all crossed the princess's face, "No, Sev, that's not."
"When you need someone, you need your precious knight, you're there, waiting for me. When you need my help you summon me with all haste. But you don't care. You leave me aside the moment there's anything more important. When you're sad and you need someone to comfort you, there I am, your knight in shining armour. But the moment you're happy again you forget everything I did for you and dump me out of your room like the trash that you think I am!" The torrent escaped her mouth, closely guarded fears streaming from her in moments.
"Sev that's not fair," the older girl began.
Severa knew it wasn't fair. She knew that hurting Lucina wouldn't make her feel better.
"You don't know what's fair!" Severa yelled, "You grew up with parents who loved you! You never had to endure what I did!" Severa could feel the tears welling in her eyes.
She didn't want to hurt Lucina. But she needed her princess to know.
"My father tortured me for years! Years! So I could be the perfect guard for you."
All she'd ever wanted was to be the perfect guard for Lucina.
"My mother beat me black and blue because all she ever wanted was for you to be her daughter. She tried to make me the perfect bride so she'd have the daughter she really loved!"
All she'd ever needed was to be the perfect bride for Lucina.
"All I've ever been is a tool, a tool for them, a tool for you."
That's all she was good for.
"My parents left me because they love you more than me!"
How could they not?
"I hate you!"
I love you.
"I never want to speak to you again!"
Speaking to you hurts too much.
Lucina stared at her, stunned.
Severa knew they were words she couldn't take back.
She turned.
She was running.
She couldn't bear for the princess to look at her.
The month that passed was among the most peaceful in Severa's life.
Her teaching wasn't the best. There could have been more structure with her tactics and her swordplay instruction was too one dimensional without Lucina's input.
However, her students were talented and attentive. The war had sharpened them. They were keen to learn all they could, some because they were upset that they hadn't been called with the main force, Kjelle had been particularly frustrated about that; others because they worried about the future. What if the army didn't return? What if they did and replacements were needed?
In a way the swordswoman admired the decision that the Exalt had made. All these youths were clever and would likely have served better than most regular soldiers in a pinch. Given the threat, nobody would have questioned them being in the army.
But Severa knew enough of the Exalt, from the interest he had taken in the classes to the private word or two he had shared with her as a teacher, to understand that he saw these young men and women as the future of Ylisse.
The army went to war so that they would live in a world where they could learn and grow, a world where they could take what they had learned and make wars a thing of the past.
She hated her parents for their devotion to him. But deep down she knew why he inspired such loyalty.
She saw that in Lucina each day.
They hadn't spoken, what little needed to be communicated was always sent via the servants. Lucina ruled, taking the excellent advice from her counsellors and interfered minimally in Severa's teaching. Miriam Ferguson had always liked the princess but it seemed that Silas Alune was quite taken with Lucina's concern about the commonfolk and her name rang out favourably across most of the capital.
Severa never commented on the state of the kingdom and simply put in requests for materials or space as required.
The trust between them remained unbroken. Their feelings weren't as important as Ylisse.
In some ways, it hurt less than being the princess' friend.
The redhead observed practice as she swung a sword, her students preferred to work swords in the morning, the exercise waking them up for a more sedate afternoon.
Her teaching style had changed significantly. As the only instructor left, she needed to incorporate her own training alongside examining for issues.
It was a difficult task, alleviated somewhat by the young men and women frequently rotating who stood at the front of the group.
Noire's skill with a sword was improving, Severa could tell that her sister wasn't simply mimicking what she saw but knew each step that came next as they worked the forms, flowing easily from one to the next.
The dark-haired girl had arrived at the palace atop a shaggy horse that looked like it would have been more at home pulling a cart than with a rider on top. The archer hadn't spoken about how she had parted ways with her mother, but the burn on her left arm had indicated that more than just harsh words had been exchanged.
Noire was her last relative. The only one she would speak to; or would speak to her. Knowing her younger sister was with her was a comfort.
This time the Severa had made sure not to let Noire go ignored, no matter how upset the redhead might have been.
Together they had spoken deep into the evenings and by day they had begun to piece together what they knew into an understanding of Ignis that was more than just functional.
The archer's confidence seemed to improve with every day away from her mother. She had been the one to suggest that they try to keep ignis to small bursts so that it was harder for their emotions to run wild.
It was difficult. Ignis was emotional by its nature; allowing yourself to feel even for a moment could take you into a torrent that was near impossible to break out of. But together they had made progress.
It was difficult, but it made the power within her feel just a bit less scary and that was worth the effort.
Well, that and the confident smile her sister gave her now as she easily glided into Adder in the Grass.
"Good, that's good work from the front row. You're all swinging in time," Severa was aware that they were entering the last form, "And halt." Pointing her blade at them, the teacher gestured towards the back, "Front row go to the back, everyone else move forwards. You're all doing well; we'll go through one more cycle and then review."
As her pupils shuffled Severa steadied her own breathing, centering herself. Perfection here was important, she was the only guide they had left.
A figure walking towards them caught her ear, then her eye as she turned to her right.
Her class had halted, initially copying their teacher, but then because of shock.
The snowy haired girl approached with a nervous smile that didn't quite extend to her eyes. Clad in robes of a deep purple, contrasting a white tunic her gait spoke of trepidation mixed with a little excitement as small steps seemed to make her bob up and down.
"Morgan?"
Her youngest sister looked to the floor, anywhere to avoid Severa's stunned gaze.
"Hi Sev."
"Class is dismissed, take the next hour free," the redhead said absentmindedly. "MOVE!" she shouted when none of them stepped an inch. The sounds of dozens of adolescents scurrying away filled ears that were deaf to them.
"I thought you had gone with Robin," she ventured hesitantly before turning. "Noire if you take another step, I will have your hide." The shy girl froze, caught in her retreat. "Come here." Her sister had a right to this conversation.
Morgan, to her credit waited until their half-sister was in earshot before continuing. "Father took me with the army. He wanted to teach me for as long as he could, show me how logistics worked and explain his preparation. He left on a mission with Uncle Chrom a week ago and sent me back with one of the scouts," the hesitance never left her voice. "I only arrived a little while ago and didn't know where to go but here."
"Why come here?" Severa replied coldly, folding her arms beneath her chest. "I didn't think there was anything you needed from me anymore."
"Sev, I.." the younger girl struggled. Lips moving for words she couldn't form.
"Well, if there's nothing for you, then move on. The princess can find a role for you somewhere I'm sure," Severa continued as if prompted by the silence. She looked into those dark eyes, eyes that had looked up to her for so long. That had cared about her. She had made peace with Morgan leaving. She didn't need her back. She didn't need any of them back.
"Sev," they turned to the source as Noire finally broke her silence. The dark-haired girl laid a comforting hand on her older sister's shoulder, "She came back." Back to us. Back to her family. Back to her home. "Isn't that enough?"
"We can make it through, together, I promise." Severa's own words.
"Together." Morgan had lied to her face.
"You weren't there Noire. You weren't there when she promised to stay with me and left. Left with a man that spent his own life lying to us," she growled.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Noire protested.
"Then ask her, ask her if it was a mistake."
Morgan looked bereft, eyes watering. "It's not like that Sev."
"Tell me you made a mistake, that you're sorry for leaving," Severa replied coldly.
"I.." The snowy haired girl tried to find something, anything to say and was left staring at the floor.
The oldest girl nodded. "I once had a younger sister who looks just like you. She left me and she's never coming back."
"Sev," her student croaked.
"That's Severa to you, or Lady Luna if you like. Now, your quarters will be in the noble wing of the castle, I'm sure you can find it. Once we reconvene, we'll be running through tactics, which I'm sure you'll be able to help with."
Her young pupil looked forlorn, trying to rub tears from her dark eyes.
"Well? Get going!" she shouted.
The feathery haired girl jumped, before taking her things and running away.
Which left Severa with her sister, who looked on with an obvious frown.
"Anything to say?" she asked, staring Noire down.
The dark-haired girl gave in first, looking away from the redhead, "No Sev," she replied despondently.
"Good, get yourself cleaned up and see that Morgan has settled in. She'll be important to Ylisse if directed properly," the knight replied, dismissing Noire.
Who knew what Robin had taught his daughter about Ignis after all?
Severa surveyed her village. Her visit in the late afternoon had caused a little bit of an uproar. Many of the villagers had thought that the entire Luna estate was abandoned and had simply been answering to instructions from Ylisstol.
She'd made time to assure them that they were still noticed and heard, but also that their expertise and effort were still needed.
It was a familiar conversation by now. With Morgan able to teach tactics in the afternoon, she had been free to observe those lessons. But new orders had come from the princess and her council indicating a change in priorities.
The army had been away for nearly two months now and it was becoming clear that the campaign was likely to be a protracted one. That gave rise to a few issues.
The first and most benign was simply that orders for food or supplies to be sent to Ylisstol might break down. Absent oversight any village might decide they would be better off trading elsewhere than with the capital and if enough did, then the army would soon find the carts of beans and wheat from Ylisstol drying up.
Soldiers fought on their stomach and an army without supply trains would soon find itself pillaging the countryside just to keep itself fed. Starving soldiers weren't likely to care about what happened to a Plegian farmer when they took his crops and it was the resentment of people who had starved after the first Plegian war that had led to the second.
The more important issue was just as simple. If people didn't think the army was coming back, how long would it be before someone thought that they might get away with theft? How long before a village decided that their neighbours could share more of their corn, or do with less of their gold?
Banditry had always been a problem in Ylisse, even in peacetime there had been constant flareups because of how difficult it was to patrol the entire country. Now, without care entire villages could fall to chaos without careful inspection.
So, Severa, in possession of one of the only flying mounts left in the stables had been tasked with taking nobles living in the capital to their domains each day and ensuring that the stability and strength of Ylisstol was on full display.
She enjoyed the task, to an extent. Many of the older lords and ladies made quite a fuss when they were escorted by a woman young enough to be their child or even grandchild in some cases. But she loved riding, she loved the feeling of the air on her face and most importantly she loved Moonlight, who stayed strong despite the tiring schedule, never once making a nuisance and happily enjoying a carrot each evening for her hard work.
Today was a stranger day than normal. She'd been sent to her own home; she'd had to check on villagers who had once dismissed her from school for the nuisance she was. It was strange looking back. Mrs. Rose had been wrong about many things, but how could she have been expected to keep up with a noble's daughter? How scared must she have been of punishing, really punishing someone who might end up with the power to execute her?
It was a sobering thought as the redhead had seen those faces again, all bowing and showing deference.
Of course, perhaps she wasn't the reason.
The grey-haired prince stood at her side stretched his arms into the air, casually observing the village with his redheaded companion.
Severa had intended to make the journey home alone, but moment he found out, Inigo had badgered her about joining until she'd given in and let him come along.
Initially, the villagers hadn't recognised him, but when someone had spotted the Mark of the Exalt in his left eye there had been an uproar that had taken the better part of an hour to calm. Men desperately trying to get him to try a sword or a shield that they'd crafted. Women screaming! Screaming at the sight of him! One had even tried to marry him on the spot! He was handsome, but that bordered on ridiculous.
If her own presence was enough to keep the villagers in line then his presence inspired them to greater heights. By the end of the day every person in that town was swearing up and down that they'd double, no triple the shipments to the castle and Severa had no doubt that each one of them would always remember the day that the Prince of Ylisse had come to visit.
In the next few days merchant caravans would travel from this village to the next telling tale of the day the prince visited. Commoners there would begin swearing up and down that they too had seen the prince until rumours of his presence infested the countryside.
The importance was clear. Even in times of war, the royal family cared about its people, no matter how far away they were.
Privately however, Severa had begun to realise that he had a more selfish motive.
"She'll forgive you; you know. Lucina knows what you went through, she'll forgive harsh words in a heartbeat." He came out of his stretch, "I know she misses speaking to you."
He'd been at this for almost the entire day now. Trying constantly to extol Lucina's virtues, clear to mention how quick forgiveness came to the princess, how much the blue haired girl had come to rely on her knight.
It was sickening. She didn't need to ask Lucina for forgiveness. She wasn't the one who had spent her life using others.
Lucina had used her, had depended on her, spoken to her about burdens she wanted nobody else to share. She'd been open and honest when she thought they needed to end their relationship and..
Severa stomped that voice down. An honest person could abuse a friend. It was worse in fact because they couldn't even understand what they'd done wrong.
She didn't want to reconcile because she didn't need Lucina and she didn't want Lucina to need her. And most importantly, she didn't want to find herself staring into those beautiful eyes and saying something she'd regret.
But despite her obvious disinterest the prince kept trying, needling away with comments about how the past was the past or that bygones were bygones.
The problem is he was so courteous and polite with her that she had trouble shutting him down. It felt wrong, even with that fake smile to not at least try to hear him out. That and she sometimes felt herself getting lost in his eyes, enjoying that idiotic grin.
"You can flirt with me again."
"And she," the prince faltered. "What?"
"You can flirt with me again," she repeated with more assurance.
"I uhh," her prince continued to squirm beneath her gaze, perfect.
"I thought you liked flirting with me Inigo? Or do you think I'm less beautiful now?" she frowned slightly as if taking offense.
"No, no, that's not it! You're as distressingly stunning as ever!" he recovered, "I just don't understand? I thought you hated it when I complimented you."
Severa gave the pretty prince a mysterious smile. "Perhaps I've decided that it wasn't that bad. Perhaps I've decided that you deserve a reward for being so loyal. Or perhaps it's just because I saw your smile and took a liking to it." She cocked her head slightly, "Cat got your tongue? You used to be so witty before."
"I," he took a breath, "I," another, "I think you look magnificent today Severa. When you took that lady who was trying to marry me and set her in her place my heart was aflutter." Here he was, "You looked so commanding, so in control. It was enough to make my knees weak."
This was nice, she thought as she absently responded to the torrent of compliments coming her way. He'd noticed her perfume, how her ribbons matched her riding gloves and how she'd landed without needing the reigns.
He was nice.
When he was with her, he wasn't a prince, he wasn't tied to duty the way Lucina was.
He was just a boy.
A boy who saw her.
Just her.
Perhaps that was enough.
Enough to shut down the little part of her that wanted to run back into Lucina's arms.
Maybe one day, she might not hear that little voice anymore.
She didn't know why she was here.
She suspected many of the people assembled didn't. The late afternoon light flowed through the high windows of the throne room, illuminating the throng that had gathered. Among them were many of the students in the castle, mostly the more advanced, the civilian leaders of Ylisse and a few of the grizzled military advisors who had stayed behind to ensure that Lucina had at least some support while she ruled.
The throne room was rarely this packed, only on state occasions like weddings or foreign diplomatic visits warranted such a display, but when the princess called, everyone knew to come running.
The girl in question hadn't kept her guests waiting, arriving promptly on the hour and taking a seat that had been set just below the Exalt's throne.
It was another step. Where before she had ruled in the Exalt's stead, now she seemed to be saying "I am not the Exalt; yet."
Severa had taken a place near the back of the crowd. She had been summoned not as Lady Luna but as a teacher. The rank that conferred from a military perspective was foggy at best so she'd opted not to step on toes.
The other students summoned were a mix between nobility and commoner, but broadly people who she had invested with some measure of responsibility. Kjelle, sat to Severa's left, had been assisting with physical training, Noire, to her right, with magical. Brady had been helping with scrapes, injuries and even talking out problems with stressed students when he found the time. Cynthia and Gerome had helped get some level of work with spears and axes back on the syllabus and Morgan had been teaching tactics with a flare that had even taken Severa by surprise. Her own notes on those lessons were extensive. Robin had taught his daughter much in their time alone.
They weren't the only people present from the classes. Inigo had a position to the left of his sister. Her prince shot her a wink from his position which she pointedly ignored. Perhaps allowing the grey-haired prince to flirt with her had been a mistake?
And that left Owain, sat near the front as his status as a royal afforded. Morgan had pointed out that for all his ridiculous names and stories, he had an excellent eye for weapon maintenance. He'd become the school's de facto quartermaster, inspecting the equipment after classes and ensuring that everything was in top shape. She hadn't expected that talent out of him. He was a mediocre swordsman, unlike his father and he didn't have the focus to take advantage of the tremendous capacity for magic that lay within him. If she could just find a way to get him to sit in one place without his head in the clouds, he would be a mage to rival even Morgan and Noire in power.
When she contrasted them, barely trained youths against the nobles, even the likes of Zale Anura, she felt out of place. But it became clear as she searched through the crowd that there weren't any warriors near even Inigo's level, let alone her own. Perhaps that was the expertise the princess was looking to draw on?
"I am sure many of you are wondering why I have gathered you," Lucina said, standing from her chair. She wasn't the tallest girl, but the princess seemed to loom from her raised position. "This morning we received a messenger from the army in Plegia. The Ylissean army is currently engaged with Plegia in the largest single engagement that we have seen since the before the first Plegian war."
There were gasps at that. When the Exalt's father had invaded Plegia, armies nearing a hundred thousand strong had clashed. If this battle was larger, it could last for days, weeks perhaps.
The princess waited for the chatter to die down before continuing, "The outcome is uncertain, whilst the forces are even Ylisse has the burden of attacking rather than defending. The battle, perhaps even this war rides on skill and luck."
Severa frowned even as the room burst into even more nervous conversation, Plegia should have struggled to field an army even half that size. That same itch, that nagging feeling that she was missing something bothered her.
"It is to this end that in the next few days I will call my war council. In the past months we have done what we can to spare our civilians the burdens of war, but should this battle go against us, I will not allow a Plegian army to take us unprepared. I call upon the assembled nobles here today to cease farming and bring all grain and food available to your keeps, or preferably Ylisstol if possible. Supply to the army will cease as any supplies that are sent now will arrive after they are required. All farmers, craftsmen and women in trades not directly related to war are to be conscripted into the Ylissean army until I judge the danger to have passed."
That decree prompted shouts of outrage from a few of the aristocrats. Given the extremity of the announcement, Severa had expected more, but it seemed that the severity of the situation had been absorbed by most attendants.
"Basic training for new recruits will be handled by nobles at their keeps and here in Ylisstol by Lina Azzinus," a wispy haired woman among the military advisors nodded as if expecting the assignment. "Kjelle Soiree," the cavalier sat straight in her seat, shocked at being mentioned in person, "is to assist."
"Candidates for officers will be formally trained here in the castle by Headmistress Severa Luna." Severa blinked, her role had a title now? Lucina had given her a promotion after spending months ignoring her?
As she looked around, nobody seemed too shocked by that statement, a couple of people whispered to one another, with glances thrown her way. It was reassuring, they recognised her authority even though she was so young.
Then again, she thought, glancing back to the blue haired girl imperiously giving commands, if youth had been a problem, then it was unlikely that they would be in attendance.
It seemed as if the princess had moved on from the general state of affairs to more specific commands. Half listening, Severa leaned over to Kjelle.
"If you need help planning, come by mine later and we can run through some work," she offered.
There was a spark of anger in Kjelle, that was expected. How dare Severa offer help unasked! But the short haired girl took a breath and nodded, "That would really help. I'm sure Commander Lina will take the lead but things will go better if I put my best foot forward." Her control of her emotions continued to improve; it was likely what had earned her this promotion.
"Good, I've got.."
The room shook.
Severa was on her feet, Kjelle at her side.
"Noire stay here, keep the others together," the redhead commanded.
She dashed to West exit, barging through the door and then sprinting up a staircase that wound up.
Kjelle easily followed, not questioning their direction, only keeping pace a stride behind Severa.
They burst out onto the Western battlements slowing to a halt next to one of the few remaining archers stationed there.
The sun that should have greeted them was absent. The horizon marred by thick roiling clouds, bolts of lightning ominously crissing and crossing through them. They bubbled and boiled over, crawling towards Ylisstol at a terrifying pace.
"There was a crash my Lady," the archer's tone was confused, "I swear, the sun was bright in the sky, there was a crash and by the time I looked up those clouds were," he paused as if evaluating them again, "are they getting closer?"
Severa knew in her bones what had happened.
"It's coming from Plegia," Kjelle spoke.
Her parents were dead.
What surprised her was how little she cared.
First came the rumours.
The weather spelled doom, nothing good would come of clouds holding lightning that never fell.
Then came a messenger, half dead from his journey.
The army had been routed.
Then came survivors, a bedraggled pegasus knight or a horseman who had made it back to Ylisse through bravery, skill and sheer luck.
On the cusp of victory, a blast had fired from the Dragon's Table; an explosion the likes of which had never been seen.
From the fires rose dark scales punctuated by blood red eyes. Writhing coils that eclipsed mountains wound around the Table.
Grima had entered their world.
The dead rose to do his bidding. Brave Ylissean soldiers murdered by Plegians they had just defeated.
The end had arrived.
Then, a month after the skies lost the sun came a single soldier bearing a sword.
Severa had continued to train her officers. She didn't know when Grima would attack, or what they could do to stop him, but she had her orders and they were enough to get through the day.
But she had insisted that she be informed if any messengers arrived. She was part of the war council but it would be all too easy to leave her forgotten in the training yard when important decisions were to be made.
The moment word of the soldier had got to them, she'd pulled Noire with her and set Gerome to continue the work. He was capable, trustworthy and she realistically didn't have many options left.
"Why are you taking me?" Noire began to question.
"Because if I ever can't come to these meetings, we need a representative there. You are the best option we have," she replied curtly.
"You know I'm not," her sister replied.
Severa nearly knocked down a servant in her rush, "None of this again Noire, you're smart and cap.."
"Morgan's better," Severa almost stopped at that reply but forced herself to keep going.
"Morgan can't be trusted Noire."
"Why?" Noire continued to pester.
"Because I say she can't!" the redhead had had enough, "Now let's get to the throne room, Lucina will receive the messenger there."
Cowed, the dark-haired girl fell back in step as they burst into the throne room.
The messenger was all but dead on his feet. A voluminous hat made him to be a mage and he looked to be of age with them.
Held at his side however was the object that had grabbed the room's interesting.
Falchion.
Lucina stood before the throne.
Her eyes hadn't moved from that blade.
She didn't speak. She barely moved as she waited for all those who were expected to attend.
A door closed with a jarring bang as the last member of the council scrambled into the room.
"Laurent Loran," Severa knew that name, "report," commanded the princess.
"The army was about to win my princess. The Exalt and Lord Robin moved to confront the Plegian leader, Validar, at the Table. Then," Laurent paused, gulping in air in an effort to stabilise himself, "I am unsure of what happened. The Plegians all fell dead to the man. There was an explosion and by the time anyone had their senses about them, the same Plegians who had just died were alive and trying to tear us apart. I only escaped because my mother and father sacrificed themselves to get me clear. I," he took another breath, then another, "I left them."
"You did well to come here Laurent," Lucina interrupted, "You and your parents have the thanks of the nation for their sacrifice."
He seemed to calm ever so slightly at that, "I set up a camp near the battlefield and tried to pick up what stragglers I could before the Risen got to us. One soldier brought me this, I don't know how he got it," Laurent raised Falchion offering it to Lucina.
"What of my parents?" Lucina asked.
She had to know the answer.
"Qu.." Laurent stuttered, "Queen Olivia fell defending a retreat into a canyon my princess."
"And father?" the princess's voice was quiet.
"He fell at the Table. The man who gave this to me said it was by an attack to his back."
For anyone else, Lucina would have seemed made of stone, a perfect picture of a perfect princess.
The princess inhaled.
And in that breath Severa felt the princess take in the grief, the fear, the pain of her parent's death.
A single breath to mourn the loss of parents she loved.
A single breath to herself and not for Ylisse.
The princess exhaled.
She walked down the few steps to Laurent, deep blue cape ruffling with her movements. The slight tap of boots on the floor echoing through the room.
She stood, a step above the mage.
Her hand extended.
Fingers closed around the hilt.
Falchion began to glow, a light from its blade brightening with each second.
The light began to creep, down the hilt and along the Princess' hand.
It brightened still as it surrounded her arm.
The brilliant, blazing aura covered her body as she held Falchion aloft.
It hurt.
Light streamed through the ceiling, surrounding the princess.
It hurt.
It burned her.
Her eyes watered as she looked away.
It still burned her.
It hurt.
She was going to die.
Pain.
The light was going to kill her.
She was..
It stopped.
Cautiously, cautiously Severa looked to the Princess.
Noire did the same.
The rest of the room had already fallen to their knees, staring rapt at Lucina.
Quickly Severa tugged her sister to the floor.
The princess gazed over her subjects, lowering Falchion to her side.
"I am the Exalt."
The next hour had been chaos.
The Exalt, a slim pocket of order in the insanity that was the world.
Amidst the madness, Severa had managed to take Noire aside briefly.
"Are you okay?" she'd asked. "Your mother was almost certainly with my father and he was almost certainly with Uncle Chrom."
Noire had nodded, "It hasn't sunk in. Some part of me knows she's gone, but another feels terrified that she'll step through those doors any time now."
What had crossed her sister's face was a mix of fear, relief and sadness. "There's a part of me though, that's glad that she's gone, glad that she can't hurt me anymore." Her look had become haunted, "What kind of daughter is happy that her mother died Sev? How can you even look at me?"
It had taken a lot of consoling, telling Noire it was okay to feel how she did, to set the dark-haired girl straight.
"Noire," the redhead whispered, "please check on Morgan. She didn't have much love for mother but the news about father might break her."
Noire's expression suggested her unvoiced concern.
Wouldn't you be better?
Her parents had died when they walked out on her. How could she empathise with someone over the loss of Robin.
Instead, she focused, her students, no, her officers, would be needed. It might be the last chance she had to speak to them. Many would know by now that their loved ones weren't coming home. But whilst that grief was understandable, even important in some ways, it couldn't obstruct their purpose.
They were the last line of defense for Ylisse. Soon farmers who had never held a sword, boys too young to fight and women older than their grandparents would live or die by their actions.
Severa would ensure that they were the best possible actions.
It took some time, gathering them in the insanity that was the castle, but they were smart and disciplined, many had come to class on their own initiative.
Together they had worked the forms, the class wasn't intense, instead used as a way of allowing them to centre themselves. With sword in hand, stress, worries, the world melted away until the only things left were the blade and the dance.
The focus helped her as well. Even as she trained, she planned. She would need to split the students based on their talents so they could be assigned to divisions properly. Then she would need to ensure that the most promising students got Lucina's attention so they could become advisors or command more senior positions in the field.
She would need to speak to the Exalt for that to work. And that meant a report tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest.
The swordswoman began to feel the air close in around her. The castle walls began to feel higher. It would be okay. She could speak to the Exalt. It would be okay. She was just a subject speaking to her ruler. It would be okay. She refocused on the next form, making sure it was dead on. Then the next, the next. It would be okay.
The world slowly expanded. She could do this. She would be fine.
As the day had become evening Severa had dismissed her pupils.
But the teacher could see that some still needed her.
She took student after student aside, offering a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen.
Kjelle had been pure fury, refusing to believe her parents could die. Severa had endured that anger for her friend until the fires in the cavalier died and frustrated tears threatened to escape the short haired girl's iron composure.
Inigo had appeared briefly and Severa had thought to speak to him, but he'd busied himself with the same task, lending himself to anyone who needed him.
He was too caring sometimes. It would have been okay for him to take a moment to himself, to mourn. But it wasn't his way. Those feelings would be buried under that false smile until they faded or killed him.
It was exhausting, listening to her wards cry, watching the prince push himself to the point of breaking.
Evening became night and soon Severa found herself exiting Cynthia's room well past midnight.
A yawn escaped her mouth.
She needed sleep.
She still owed Lucina her report.
She walked the short distance to the stairs leading to the Exalt's quarters.
A guard was on post at the base, half asleep, leaning against the wall.
"Lady Severa?" guardsman Brennick said in surprise, "The Exalt has already retired for the night."
This was stupid, she could easily report in the morning.
"She'll be expecting me Brennick."
With a nod he let her through and she began the climb.
She didn't know why she walked up those stairs. It wasn't that important.
But a part of her knew it was.
Slowly she came to the door, the wooden frame that she'd left in tears years ago.
She moved to knock.
She heard something from the inside.
Crying.
This wasn't her business; she didn't care, Lucina had hurt her.
The door opened with a click.
The Exalt was sat on her bed, puffy eyes still wet.
She composed herself in an instant.
"Ah Severa, I was wondering if you'd report toni.."
The knight's arms went around her princess.
"It's okay Lucy. I'm here."
"Sev, I'm fine, really, I'm.."
"You don't have to be perfect Lucy. Not for me."
"I'm fine, I'm."
"Tell me how much you miss them."
"I.."
Her hand reflexively began to stroke the deep blue hair she'd loved for so long.
Her princess started crying into her shoulder.
"I couldn't save them Sev. I couldn't protect them…"
"I know."
"Father promised he'd dance with me when he came home. Mum, she said she'd teach me before. She.. she…" the words faded as Lucy's tears began to flow.
"It's okay Lucy," the knight consoled, it was all she could do. Hug her princess close and stroke her hair.
The older girl let it all out, in dribs and drabs. Promises her parents had made, anger, bitterness at not being there. Grief that she'd never see her father's smile, hear her mother's laugh again.
Severa did nothing, just consoled and hugged. Dried tears and squeezed. Making her princess feel as safe and loved as she could.
Until what might have been minutes, what might have been hours later, the sobs began to slow, the tears began to dry.
Slowly the princess withdrew, keeping her arms around her knight but allowing herself to look at her companion.
Lucy's eyes were raw from crying, her lips cracking, mucus staining her face.
She was beautiful.
Severa found herself caught in that gaze, unable to look away.
She didn't know why Lucy did it.
Her princess angled her head ever so slightly upwards.
Severa looked into those eyes, mark echoing the soft candlelight.
Her princess leaned forwards, ever so slightly.
She did the same.
Their lips touched.
A kiss as incredible as the last. The one that had haunted her dreams.
Severa pushed her princess away softly, "Lucy, no. You're sad and I..."
The blue haired girl's gaze didn't waver, "Please?"
Reason left Severa.
The knight leapt into her princess' arms.
Lips smashed into each other as they raced to regain years lost.
Shirts were torn as they struggled for the feel of skin on skin.
Lips became hands, caressing, stroking.
Hands became tongues, searching, exploring.
Until they all became something simple.
A princess and her knight.
It was all they had ever needed to be.
Notes
LUCISEV GO!
I'm so sorry this took so long to write everyone. We're in the homish stretch now so a lot of ideas I've had rattling around in my head are making it onto the page. What this means is that I'm trying really hard to write off big ideas in a way that works without going completely insane over tweaking them.
The last segment took ages for me to feel like it was right. Even now I'm not really sure, I still think it could be better.
In any case, I know the tone of the chapter was a downer. It was very much meant to be, knowing the ending as I did, but hopefully all that pain was worth the ending!
I hope chapter 9 will be a little easier on me but I have a feeling I'll be apologising for lateness again.
Reviews
The Chosen Storyteller: I won't apologise for the story sometimes feeling quite dense. There's just a lot that I've thought about and I really want people to feel it. I'll leave your thoughts on how Cordelia and Robin really felt about each other up to speculation though! Reading it is part of the fun. As always thanks for the review. I love seeing what you think each time.
Guest 1: I always loved Severa because her insecurities made her feel so much more real than a lot of the characters in Fire Emblem. The way she acts just feels like a real person burdened as she was. So this story has always been about digging into that. In the game I don't think Cordelia did a lot to cause that burden and it is much more just the bleakness of the Future Past. But here I wanted it to feel more grounded. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!
Guest 2: I wrote Robin and Cordelia in this to be understandable but in my opinion, firmly wrong, in the way they raised Severa. I've tried very hard to always portray what they're doing unfavourably and I'm glad it comes through. Hopefully from this chapter you've seen a bit of the effect of Morgan leaving. I will say though, that Severa could have gone with her sister. She just chose to stay with her mother. The way you feel is absolutely legitimate and a feeling I want to convey but that subtlety is also there. Thanks so much for the review! Seeing quite so many for this chapter was a real boost while I was writing.
TheGiantRock: This is a really detailed comment so I'll apologise now and say I won't cover it all. I think that you're dead on with the idea that Severa needs introspection that she just hasn't been taught. She can evaluate others very well and even herself from a physical perspective but she's just not equipped to deal with her own emotions. As for Robin. I won't go into that much detail but I think he has these qualities in a fashion. He just has a blind spot. Thanks for reviewing again and for providing me with so much to think about!