Here we are, chapter 13. This is the end of act 1 of the story, and... I'm amazed at how far the story has come from the simple premise it originated as. Huge thanks to everyone who has stuck with it this far, especially to all of you who favorited, followed, or left reviews!
Also, there's an important notice regarding this story at the bottom of the chapter, before I get into the after-chapter notes.
Like wildfire spreading through dry grass, news of Ninian's miraculous recovery spread throughout the castle in the days that followed her and Eliwood's fateful conversation with Idunn. Even Idunn, who was still growing accustomed to life in the castle, didn't fail to notice the fact that there seemed to be more hustle and bustle within the castle than there had been in the previous weeks.
The unconfirmed rumor that Pherae's new healer had saved Ninian with her mystical arts was a popular one; and only remained unconfirmed because none of the servants had been bold enough to question her in person.
There were other popular rumors that she'd heard; and fortunately for Idunn none of the other gossip surrounding Ninian's recovery involved her.
Most of Pherae's citizens seemed to be devout members, or at the very least, believers in the church of Elimine, because a good many of the commonfolk, guards, and knights seemed to believe that Ninian's recovery was a divine miracle, a blessing straight from the Saint herself.
Idunn didn't have any particularly strong feelings on that rumor; despite ostensibly being an enemy of Elimine and her church, having the castle's attention diverted from her was better than being the center of everyone's attention. That, and didn't really think of herself as an enemy of Elimine or any of her comrades. Not anymore, at least. The Scouring had concluded nearly a thousand years ago, and Idunn had no desire to kindle embers best left cold.
Rumors of her involvement in Ninian's uptick in health aside, the cheery atmosphere within the walls of the castle was infectious. There must have been a smile on the face of every single person she passed in the halls!
At present, it seemed that the news of Ninian's recovery, minor as it was for now, was confined to the castle. Idunn could only imagine the shock that would spread across the province when their beloved marchioness was well enough to walk among them.
The sudden staccato sound of a hand knocking at her door drew Idunn's attention. The sound was forceful but measured, conveying a certain level of intensity but not urgency.
"You may come in," Idunn replied to whoever was on the other side of the door.
The knocking ceased immediately, and the door to her room swung open, revealing Pherae's aging former knight commander. The man was unarmored, wearing clean, white trousers and a doublet in the Pheraen royal family's signature deep blue.
"Sir Marcus? Is there something I can assist you with?"
The old veteran didn't say anything at first, standing still in her doorway with an unreadable expression on his face.
At last, after a silence that was starting to feel more uncomfortable than natural, he spoke.
"Is it true?"
"Is… what true?" Idunn could hazard a guess as to just what Marcus was asking about, though she felt it best to let the aging knight voice his own questions.
"You… You were responsible for healing Lady Ninian? You are the one who saved Ninian, aren't you?"
Idunn paused briefly, weighing the benefits of revealing the full scope of her involvement to the man.
"Yes, that was my doing." Idunn stated, deciding not to lie to the man's face when there was little reason for doing so. Marcus was a trustworthy man, someone she shouldn't feel the need to hide information from.
Marcus sagged as if a great weight had left his shoulders, but he caught himself before he could stumble.
"I… my lady, there are no words that can express my gratitude! You have been at Pherae a mere three weeks, and yet I already cannot- know, I do not want to imagine a world where you were not one of my comrades. Without you, I fear that I would have been forced to endure the heartbreak of helping my lord bury not just his wife, but his son as well."
"That's… very kind of you," Idunn swallowed nervously, scratching the back of her neck with one hand. She was fully aware of the magnitude of her actions but receiving such direct praise made her feel quite bashful.
"I… forgive me, my lady. I do not know if you were busy, or if I came at an inopportune time. Lord Eliwood and Lady Ninian did not exactly say what specifically what it was that you did to save Ninian's life, only that you had helped her with, well, with a problem she had long thought impossible to fix."
"Er… It's quite alright. Would you like to come in? It sounds as if you have more questions, and I do not believe my doorway is the proper place to ask them."
"Yes, of course. Though it's hardly proper for an old man like me to enter a young woman's private quarters-"
"I am inviting you in, and if being in my room troubles you so much, you don't need to stay for more than a few minutes."
"Very well. In that case, I thank you for your hospitality, Lady Idunn." Marcus stated after a moment's pause, bowing slightly to Idunn before crossing the threshold into her room.
"Thank you for allowing me to enter your quarters. There was something else I wanted to ask, and given the nature of the question, I feel it is something best asked behind closed doors."
It didn't take a master tactician to puzzle out what it was on Marcu's mind. Idunn waited politely for the man to continue speaking, and he did so after a moment's pause.
"The things I saw during my time at Lord Eliwood's side on that fateful journey… even had I been a younger man with my head in the clouds, I doubt I would've believed half of what happened had I not seen such things with my own eyes! Least of all… learning that the dragons of old were not all the bloodthirsty monsters some of us thought they were."
A twinge of discomfort crept into Idunn's mind, but she didn't voice it, and Marcus continued speaking.
"It… it's not my place to give you the entire tale of my lord's quest to save his father, I will leave that to Lord Eliwood. But… ah, blast it! An old man like me shouldn't be beating around the bush! Lady Ninian gave me the honor of sharing her greatest secret with me. I… I know that she is a dragon."
'It's as I thought… He knows. And not only does he know, but he's kept Ninian's secret for over a decade…" Idunn thought, reflecting on what she'd thought several days previously. Eliwood's and Ninian's relationships with their retainers was one built on trust and camaraderie, rather than blind loyalty or fear. Marcus had just openly admitted that Ninian had been comfortable revealing such an important secret to him; and while Idunn wasn't sure if the other senior members of Eliwood's retinue had been given the privilege of keeping such a valuable secret, she wouldn't have been surprised if they had.
"That being said, my lady… Are you… Are you like the marchioness? I know your magic is formidable, but in the dozen years that have passed since my lord brought his beloved wife home to Pherae, no human magic, be it dark, anima, or light, was ever able to save Lady Ninian."
'I suppose there's no point in denying it, especially not when doing so would serve me no benefit.'
"Yes, I am indeed a dragon like Ninian." One short sentence, and yet it carried so much weight to it. Of course, it went unsaid that Idunn wasn't a dragon exactly like Ninian, but then she herself was a unique existence even amongst the dragonkin.
A normal man might have shouted in alarm, gasped in shock, or recoiled in horror at being so close to one of the monsters that had threatened mankind.
But Marcus was no ordinary man; he was a true veteran; having served Pherae for some forty-odd years. During his long years of service, he'd seen things that would've made lesser men quake in their boots. It was likely a combination of the man's mental fortitude and his own past experiences that allowed him to accept the truth Idunn shared with him while barely changing his expression.
"You have my thanks for entrusting me with such information. I can't imagine that keeping such a secret was easy on your conscience."
He was more right than he knew; but Idunn's secrets ran deeper than she was comfortable sharing.
"If it troubles you, my lady, know that I have no intentions of sharing your secret with anyone else. I assume that, in your efforts the other day of providing salvation to Lady Ninian, the topic of your own true nature came up, and that both the lord and lady of Pherae know the truth about you. If you're wondering, other than myself, the only other of my lord's retainers who know the complete truth about Lady Ninian are Sir Lowen and Dame Rebecca. Lady Ninian intended on telling Sir Harken and Dame Isadora as well, but Harken turned her down, saying that regardless of her secrets, nothing would change the fact that she was the marchioness he had sworn to serve. Isadora opted to follow along with her husband, though as we are already speaking in private, between the two of us I'm quite certain that they both figured it out long ago."
There it was; definitive proof that Ninian had indeed shared her true identity with more people than just her husband. Idunn continued listening intently to Marcus's words.
"I cannot lie; having had the chance to witness Lady Ninian's full power was… as exhilarating as it was terrifying. It makes me glad that the ice dragons for the most part chose to flee from Elibe rather than join their brethren in the Scouring. If my ancestors had needed to face Ninian's people during those dark times, I am unsure of whether mankind would've prevailed."
'An… ice dragon? I… I feel both surprised, and not surprised at the same time. How strange.' The mental image certainly fit better than the thought of Ninian transforming into a hulking, fire-breathing monster like Jahn. Now that she thought about it… why on Elibe had the war dragons she'd created for Jahn and Zephiel been so… uniform? Surely there were more varieties she could have created beyond the fire-breathing folk that had served as Zephiel's ultimate enforcers.
Perhaps it was because in her faintest, most fragmented memories, it was because she could only recall ever fighting alongside fire dragons? Not that the war dragons were true fire dragons, but still…
'Mmm… I suppose it makes no difference in the end. The fire-breathing war dragons were more than enough to allow Zephiel to subjugate Elibe in the end…' Idunn hummed, pondering on the question. It wasn't one that needed answering, but nevertheless it did intrigue her.
The duo remained silence for another minute or so. It was a curious thing; a stillness not unlike the unbroken surface of a pond. Tranquil and calm, rather than foreboding and lonely.
That was when Idunn noticed something that she'd missed before.
The old knight's shoulders were shaking slightly.
"…Sir Marcus? Is something the matter?"
Marcus brushed a hand across his face, leaving no evidence that he had been anything less than calm a minute earlier.
"Forgive me, Lady Idunn. That was a rather shameful display just now. Even a knight as old as I should know not to let his emotions get the better of him. But… to answer your question; no, nothing is the matter. Quite the opposite, in fact. Seeing Lord Eliwood and Lady Ninian these last few days has been… I thought it unavoidable, but all the same I have prayed countless times in the last dozen years that some miracle might happen, that Lady Ninian would not meet such a cruel fate. And I know that I was hardly alone in praying for the marchioness's health."
"Sir Marcus, my intervention-"
"You don't have to consider your actions a miracle, my lady. Just know that everyone at Pherae is indebted to you, regardless of whether they understand your part in all this. Now, I… I must be getting back to my duties. Thank you for sparing the time to talk with a knight well past his prime."
And just like that, Marcus was gone; having pushed the door to her room open and departing before Idunn had a chance to say anything more.
It wasn't like she had any reason to keep him longer; it was he who had wished to speak with her, not the other way around. With her conversation partner having departed her chambers, Idunn thought over what to do. She didn't quite feel like resuming where she'd left off in the novel she had been engrossed in the past week, nor did she feel like remaining in the solace of her room, as quiet and calming as it was.
'Perhaps I could visit Roy and his family? It would be nice to speak with them more, Ninian especially, assuming she's feeling well enough to talk.' Idunn reasoned. Ninian was out of danger now, and the only thing that would inhibit her from speaking with Idunn was the fact that she had spent quite a lot of time asleep the last several days. Although unlike previously, where Ninian's health had declined to the point where the poor woman was so fatigued she could barely leave her bed, now the marchioness's deep sleep was helping her body recover.
Not only that, but something she'd overheard from the castle maids was that Ninian's appetite was recovering; previously she'd barely been able to stomach even small amounts of food.
'I suppose it's good news, hearing that Ninian's appetite is starting to return. Her body needs as much nutrition as possible to help her recover.' Of course, this wasn't really a disease that Ninian was recovering from, so Idunn wasn't too sure how many parallels there were in the recover process, or if the recovery process would be longer or shorter. Eliwood knew that he was to notify her immediately if Ninian was to show even the slightest sign of relapsing, but there had been no evidence in the last few days that Ninian's recovery would be anything other than a smooth one. The ice dragon had shown marked improvement in only a few days, and though she was still quite weak, she had been well enough to walk (with assistance) for a little while throughout the castle.
As Idunn left her room to wander through the halls, it was clear that a change had come over the castle. Pherae was far from being a dismal place, but there had been an air of worry pervading the castle in the last week, up until Ninian's miracle recovery. That lingering aura was gone now, replaced by good cheer. Every single person Idunn passed in the halls had a smile on their face…
The smiles of those she passed were infectious; and before Idunn realized it there was a smile on her own face as she walked along the stone halls.
Alas, despite her wishes, it seemed that Ninian was nowhere to be found.
'I suppose it's not something to be disappointed about; the important thing is that now I have the time to talk to her in the future.' Idunn thought to herself as she exited the castle's library. Despite it being one of Roy's favorite places to pass the time, there had been no sign of her little red-haired friend.
'Perhaps I shouldn't be so selfish; Roy is likely with his mother right now. I may not have a family of my own, but… I'd like to think that I would treasure them as much as Roy adores his parents.'
With nothing else to do, and with her not being willing to retire to her room so early in the day, Idunn continued to wander aimlessly about the castle. It was a stroke of pure luck that brought her to the offices on the ground floor, where several days prior she had bestowed upon Ninian the miracle the ice dragon had been desperately wishing for.
Just as it had been in her last time in this particular office, Idunn found it occupied. It wasn't the marchioness or her husband who were presently inside, however.
"Sir Merlinus?"
"Oh, Idunn! It's good to see you, young lady! Why, it's been several days since I last saw you! For someone who, as far as I know, still hasn't left the castle grounds, you sure do seem to be good at disappearing when you want to!"
"I-I'm sorry…" Oh dear, had people been looking for her the last few days?
"Oh, my apologies, that was a joke, good lady. And please, just saying 'Merlinus' will suffice. Or 'Mr. Merlinus' if you really want to be formal. I'm no knight, and I'm certainly no lord," the balding man chuckled.
"If you say so…"
"I do say so! Now, what brings you to my humble office? How can the castle's quartermaster assist you today?"
"I, er… I was just walking… I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going."
"Well, that's fine too!" Merlinus sure was a cheerful man; and even the normally reserved demon dragon found herself feeling more at ease in the short man's presence.
"I've been speaking to people from all over the castle, you know. Lowen, Marcus, and all the other knights. Lady Eleanora and the castle staff. And while it may not be common knowledge that it was by your hand our beloved marchioness's life was saved, most of us old timers know just who we have to thank."
"I…"
"I haven't spoken to you often, Miss Idunn. But I do know that you're a quiet person; someone who doesn't like being the center of attention. There's nothing wrong with that; and frankly I'm still in the dark about just what it was that you did to save Lady Ninian. I do know that the lord and lady of this castle are aware of whatever secret magic you worked to save Lady Ninian, and frankly, that is enough for me. If the lord I swore to serve respects whatever secrets you hold, then I shall as well. You needn't fear any prying eyes or ears from me."
That was… strangely moving. It took Idunn a moment's pause to find her voice.
"Thank you, Merlinus. That's very kind of you."
"Think nothing of it, good lady! It's all thanks to you that the former marchioness and I are working to put on a grand celebration in a week's time, rather than… well, having to arrange a funeral for the poor woman."
"A… celebration?"
"Yes indeed! Well… it may be a little more than exactly a week away. Lady Eleanora is closely watching her daughter-in-law; we'll be celebrating her recovery, and it would be quite remiss to host a celebration that the guest of honor is too weak to attend! But Lady Eleanora assures me that with the progress Lady Ninian has made in the last few days, she'll likely be ready to be out and about in public, if in a rather, ah, limited capacity, in just a week or two's time!"
"That sounds… lovely…" Idunn couldn't help but smile at the thought of everyone she knew- all of her friends smiling and laughing together… it sounded like a truly wonderful time!
"And you needn't worry about any attention being drawn to you, young lady! I daresay everyone in the castle will be too happy celebrating the simple fact that Lady Ninian is alive and well to bother questioning the why of the matter. Nobody around here would ever think about questioning a miracle!"
"…Thank you." Idunn didn't say it, but that was a relief. Eliwood and Ninian had accepted her, Marcus was aware of who she was, but…
They all only knew half the truth. Would they still look at her the same if they knew just what she really was?
No, as happy as she was to use her powers to save lives, Idunn still knew in her heart that she wasn't anywhere near ready to give her benefactors the full truth. Least of all including the details of how she had come to be at Pherae in the first place.
But those were thoughts for later. Not now. This was a happy time- something better and more pure than anything she had fought for, bled for, killed for while at Zephiel's side!
"That being said… I don't think any of us would be comfortable if we let you go unrewarded for your efforts. Lord Eliwood spoke to me yesterday; he said that you had been most humble regarding any potential rewards for your services… If it helps, we're all willing to do anything within our power to help you out, Miss Idunn."
Idunn's first instinct was to politely turn down Merlinus's offer, and she would have, had a sudden thought not struck her.
"Merlinus, you said you were a merchant?"
"Yes indeed! I spent nearly thirty years on the road as a traveling merchant before beginning my employment at Pherae! Is there something about my younger days that you wish to hear more about?"
"Well… I've always wondered what it would be like to travel."
"Ah, got a thirst for adventure? I can't blame you; in fact, I'd daresay it's only natural for the youthful to want to spread their wings and explore the world! If there's anything you'd like to know about the other nations of Elibe, I'd be happy to educate you in your spare time. If you're aiming to travel the world at some point, it would be helpful to understand more about each country before you go to visit them."
That… actually sounded quite pleasant to Idunn. And it certainly fit more with her own preferences than being awarded a sum of gold or jewels for saving Ninian's life. Being gifted with knowledge and opportunity rather than money certainly made her deeds feel more charitable than a paid service.
"You've… you've given me a lot to think about, Merlinus. Thank you for your time." Idunn made to leave, though Merlinus called out to her as she was just putting one foot through the doorway.
"I was happy to give it, Miss Idunn! Oh, and it likely goes without saying, but should you happen to speak to Lord Eliwood or Lady Ninian in the next few days, do keep the rumors of the celebration a secret. Lady Eleanora wants it to be a surprise for her family, and in a castle of so many people it's not easy to keep secrets."
Idunn smiled warmly.
"You won't have to worry about me sharing the secrets, Merlinus."
"Excellent! You have a good day, now." Merlinus stated, and Idunn closed the door behind her, leaving the quartermaster to his duties.
"You're certain that you've experienced no health issues this past week?"
"None at all. I've been sleeping a lot, but each morning I wake up, I feel more rested than the night before. It's not the fatigue that I was suffering from before you made me a new dragonstone; now it just feels like I'm finally able to sleep peacefully and get a good night's rest."
"I see. It's not like I was expecting to hear of any new, problematic developments, but I feel responsible for making sure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible. It's a relief to hear that you're already feeling better."
Another three days had passed since Idunn had last spoken to Marcus, and then Merlinus, regarding Ninian's wellbeing. Now here she was back in the marchioness's bedchambers, having come check on the marchioness's recovery process.
Ninian already looked visibly better; she was dressed in a rather plain but elegant cream-colored gown; wear meant for going out in public, rather than sleepwear. Further evidence that Ninian had been fortunately well enough the last few days to journey progressively further from her bedchambers. Her skin had lost its pallid hue and now looked to be a healthy pale. Her red eyes had brightened as well, the formerly dull orbs now gleaming like rubies.
"Regarding what I asked earlier, Ninian…"
"It's very kind of you to keep offering, Idunn, but I think it would be best if I didn't come to rely too much on your quintessence to sustain me, especially not now when I don't need to use it to sustain my life. Nils and I… we very rarely did such transferences ourselves, and even though you've told me that you have more than enough quintessence to share with me… I can't help but worry; I would hate to be a burden upon you."
Ninian wasn't a burden on her, but Idunn didn't feel the need to argue with the other dragon on this matter. With the danger gone, it was Ninian's choice on how best to recover.
"Think nothing of it. I'm just glad to know that your body and soul are adapting to your new dragonstone. I would be lying if I said I had any amount of experience at treating similar issues in the past." It wasn't a lie; Idunn had on occasion used healing magic on her war dragons (and Jahn as well) from time to time, as injuries during battle were commonplace… But this was a step into entirely uncharted territory, and Idunn was simply relieved that everything had gone smoothly.
"I'm glad to. I… after losing the dragonstone my brother and I shared so long ago, I didn't think that I would ever see one again, let alone hold one in my hands…" Ninian mused, turning the shimmering blue gem in her hands over.
"I… I still find it hard to believe, even though I'm holding the very evidence in my hands. Nils and I… we had some magical powers, and while mine were greater than his, doing something like this… it would've been nothing more than a wistful fantasy!"
Idunn wasn't sure what Ninian was referring to; evidently Ninian and her brother had been capable of more than just sharing their quintessence with each other.
"I… I hope that I am not prying too much when I say this, but… I find myself wondering what manner of dragonkin you are. You don't seem to have any ice dragon blood like myself, and… well, I heard that the fire dragons made up the majority of our brethren who fought against mankind in the Scouring, but if you'll pardon me for saying so, you don't exactly look like a fire dragon."
Idunn swallowed nervously, feeling the sudden chill of anxiety creeping down her spine. This was treading uncomfortably close to information that she still wasn't willing to be made public- or even shared in private, with Ninian.
"You would be correct. I am neither a fire dragon nor an ice dragon."
"I thought as much… Then… Oh, my apologies, Idunn. You look rather uncomfortable right now. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. I apologize if I came across as suspicious just now, it wasn't my intent!"
Fortunately for Idunn, Ninian's kind heart came to her rescue, and the matter was laid to rest, for the time being. Even so, Idunn was certain that even if Ninian didn't know that she was a divine dragon (or former divine dragon, in her case) it didn't change the fact that one could puzzle that out by simple guesswork.
Jahn had long lamented that the fire tribe had largely stood alone against the humans; though Idunn didn't honestly think it mattered all that much. The fire tribe had been by far the most numerous prior to the Scouring, with all other tribes of dragonkin making up only a fraction of the fire tribe's population. There had certainly been more ice dragons than divine dragons, as to the best of Idunn's fragmented memories there had never been more than a handful of her people on Elibe at any one point in time.
There had also been other, less well-known tribes, who like the ice dragons had numbered far less than the fire dragons. Idunn remembered these people had possessed mixed views on the human-dragon conflict rather than being particularly attached to one side or the other. These people: dragons of the earth and sea, had been far more powerful than the members of the fire tribe, though fortunately for the humans of old, those who had chosen to fight were few and far between. The majority of the sea dragons simply hadn't cared for conflict that was happening primarily on dry land, while the earth dragons… Idunn was actually grateful that there hadn't been enough of them to change the course of the war; if the divine dragons had held all the powers of the heavens in there bodies, then the earth dragons did the same for the soil, rock, and stone that made up the land.
"I… I'm sure that I will feel comfortable talking more about myself in the future, Ninian. But for now… that time has not come." Idunn spoke up after what was likely too long a pause. Now wasn't the time to get lost in her thoughts; Idunn knew she had to work on getting better at not drifting off into her own thoughts mid-conversation.
"It's not matter, Idunn. As I said, I won't pry if you aren't comfortable talking about such matters. Forgive me, I was simply curious. It has been… a long time since I was last able to talk to another dragon, longer still since I spoke to one who wasn't my brother. In all honesty, I never expected that I would ever speak with a pureblooded dragon."
"Pureblooded?"
Ninian recognized the confused look on Idunn's face, the cyan-haired woman's eyes widening as she realized her faux-pas.
"Oh, my apologies! I knew there was something I forgot to tell you. My brother and I… we may be ice dragons, but neither of us possess purely draconic blood. Our mother was one of the ice dragons, but… our father was a human."
Hearing that was a shock to Idunn, but not a world-altering one. Perhaps the metaphorical impact was lessoned because she already knew that Ninian's son was a partial dragon? Hearing that Ninian was in fact a half-dragon rather than a full dragon didn't honestly change anything. It did raise an entirely new question in Idunn's mind; she was certain that Ninian had been born prior to the Scouring, though she was still quite sure that the ice dragon was a good bit younger than she was, but… that meant that Ninian's parents- a dragon woman and a human man- had been lovers (possibly even married) during the same time that many of their kin had been fighting to the death!
That was a morbid thought, and probably not a line of thinking to pursue today. As much as Idunn wanted to know more, she didn't want to risk overloading Ninian with questions.
Although… there was something that she felt Ninian wouldn't mind her asking allowed right now.
"Then that means… Roy is still part dragon?"
"It does, yes." Ninian replied after a moment's pause, before continuing with a hesitant look on her face.
"I… I am unsure of what the future will hold for my son. Eliwood welcomed me here to Pherae, regardless of my lineage, and the people have been so kind to me… But as far as they know, I am simply a commoner of Ilia that the marquess fell in love with on his travels. They have accepted the truth they know, and welcomed me to their lands, but they don't know the full truth. And I… I worry for my son. Despite how wonderful life at Pherae has been for me, I do not believe that Elibe is ready to acknowledge the continued existence of my kin. Telling Roy the truth about me- about his own mother would not benefit anyone."
"I… would have to agree with you on that matter. Though if it eases your mind, I doubt anyone will ever suspect that Roy is anything less than a full-blooded human. From what I can tell from his quintessence, the draconic blood in him is diluted enough that he shouldn't be capable of transforming. He may have some latent magical abilities related to your own, but that is a guess, and nothing more."
"That does my heart good to hear. Though I can't help but think… will I be able to transform again? Earlier, before meeting you, it was something I never gave any thought to; it took every fiber of my being just to cling to existence, hoping each night for just one more day with my family…"
Idunn laid a comforting hand on Ninian's shoulder.
"You shouldn't worry about such things; that time is behind you. As to your question… I don't see why not? Though I think it goes without saying that a time where you have enough power to transform is still a very long way away."
"Mmm…" Ninian hummed thoughtfully at those words, a pensive look on her face.
"I… I think of her, sometimes. My mother, I mean. I barely remember her; her face, her voice, her laugh… just that she loved Nils and I very deeply… and that she cared about all of the people of Ilia; regardless of whether they were dragon or human. I… I like to think that she would be proud of the life I have led; that I have continued living according to what few teachings I remember her giving to Nils and I."
"Considering how the people of Pherae adore you, I think you've succeeded."
"Oh, thank you. That's very kind of you," Ninian giggled softly, a bright, clear noise like a set of chimes in the wind.
"I just wish I could remember her better… I don't know if it's because of all the years since I last saw her, or if something was lost when Nils and I crossed the Dragon's Gate, but… it feels like I've lost something I never should have lost!" Ninian lamented, eyes turning downcast. Fortunately, her lamentation didn't last long, and the young-looking woman's ruby eyes brightened once more.
"Oh, I'm sorry you had to see that, Idunn. For as much of my mother as I've forgotten, I know she wouldn't want me to wallow in sorrow like this. You know, I think it was her kind heart that attracted my father to her. Even back then, in the peaceful days before the Scouring, it wasn't common for a human and a dragon to fall in love with one another. I don't remember him all that well either. All I know is that after my mother's disappearance, he vanished in search of her. He… oh!"
"Is something the matter?"
"No, it's just… that strange feeling again; like I've forgotten something I shouldn't have…"
"If there's anything I can do to help…"
"Oh, nothing like that Idunn. Pay me no mind. I think… mmm…" Ninian's words were broken up by the yawn that left the cyan-haired woman's mouth.
"P-pardon me… it seems my energy has waned more than I thought it had. Though I'm quite grateful that I was able to spend more time out of bed today than yesterday… I find myself feeling torn between relieved that I am recovering at all, while on the other hand… I know this might sound selfish to say, but I wish I were recovering a bit faster," Ninian remarked. It wasn't quite a grumble- Ninian wasn't the sort of woman to grumble about anything, but Idunn could still clearly see that her fellow dragon was feeling a bit put-off by the fact that her recovery was a slow one, rather than some miraculous overnight transformation.
"I offered earlier; if you'd like I can-"
"As I said, you needn't trouble yourself with me anymore. I think it'd be best if I recovered under my own power from now on."
"If you say so… just know that I'll be around if you need me."
"Thank you… now, I-I think it'd be best if I took a nap before Eliwood returns to our chambers and finds me asleep in this chair."
That officially brought Idunn's visit with Ninian to an end; with Idunn leaving Ninian in peace so that the younger woman could continue to rest and recover.
Another week passed by in peace. After the oppressive tension of being at Zephiel's side for so long, followed by several frantic weeks of wracking her mind to first identify, and then treat Ninian's ailment, this was the first time Idunn had ever truly had to just relax without having anything to worry about.
She'd enjoyed more conversations with various ranking members of Pherae's court throughout the week; the knight commander Lowen and his wife Rebecca had stopped by to exchange pleasantries with her the previous day (and Lowen had also asked her what dishes and cuisine she preferred.) Idunn hadn't been able to give the knight (and master chef) much of an answer; in the past she'd simply eaten whatever was available; and here at Pherae… well, her view on food was still largely the same. If her hosts were offering her food, she'd gratefully accept it regardless of what it was.
She'd spent more time with Eleanora and Roy as well throughout the week. Idunn recalled one such conversation she'd shared with Eleanora which had given her some very valuable insight into the older-looking woman's mind.
"I was completely shocked, as one might expect, when my son and daughter-in-law broke the news to me all those years ago. I studied quite a bit of St Elimine's scripture in my youth you know; she always spoke on how the dragons were the enemy; that if they were to return all Elibe would burn… But… I wasn't afraid, strangely. When sweet Ninian told me the truth about what she was… I think the first thought that passed through my mind after my wits returned to me was 'how could such a sweet woman be one of those monsters of legend?' It's been a dozen years since Ninian became my daughter-in-law, and I haven't once regretted letting her become such a big part of my life."
'So, she knows the truth, just like Marcus. I shouldn't be surprised; Eliwood doesn't seem like the kind of man to keep such a secret from his own mother. That just leaves Roy as the only one of his family to not know the truth about his mother… and himself.' Idunn thought to herself, reminding herself that while it may have been a little mean to keep Roy in the dark, he was still a child, and that this most likely wasn't a permanent secret. Ninian would likely reveal the truth to Roy when she felt he was old enough to handle such knowledge.
Idunn also very deliberately brushed that one comment of Eleanora's aside, being painfully aware that she had seen firsthand what would happen to Elibe if the dragons returned.
That conversation with Eleanora; carried out as the two of them watched Roy zoom around one of the castle gardens like a red-haired blur of joy, came to an end with Eleanora whispering in her ear that Ninian's recovery continued to go smoothly, and that the marchioness grew more full of life with each passing day.
The grand celebration of the marchioness's return to good health would happen at the end of the week, and Idunn found herself looking forward to it. It was a pleasant change to have something to look forward to, for once.
With several days left to go before the big event, Idunn continued to immerse herself in her books, taking and returning novels from the castle's library as she worked her way through the many stories interned in Pherae's library. Her latest novel; the story of a farmer and his friends getting tangled up in an Emperor's web of lies and deception, had her riveted to every page!
'I… I hope everyone has a good time. I've never been to a celebration like this,' Idunn reflected as she trotted down the hallway from her room. It was time for the celebration Eleanora and Merlinus had planned, and Idunn could already hear the sounds of merriment coming from the great hall.
The sounds only grew louder as Idunn approached the largest room in the castle of Pherae. Pushing open the heavy double doors, Idunn entered to find that the great hall was already quite full of people. It seemed as if not just the highest-ranking members of Pherae's court-including the knight commander and his wife- but a great many of the castle's staff had been invited to the party as well!
Spying an open seat at one of the tables, Idunn sat down. Judging by the fact that so many people had already arrived, the celebratory feast would likely start quite soon. In fact, aside from Ninian and Eliwood, the only people Idunn could see weren't here were their son and Eleanora!
'Oh… I would guess that Eleanora is likely the one leading them all here.' Idunn reflected.
"Ooh! Miss Idunn! It's been SO LONG!" Idunn narrowly avoided jumping out of her seat in shock at the unexpectedly loud noise directly to her left.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I guess I got carried away. But it's so good to see you! It's only been a week or two, but it feels like AGES since I've last seen you! How have you been? Have you been well? Oh, I hope you have! All of my friends and I, it's been just wonderful! The harvest festival isn't for another month, so none of us were expecting any sort of celebrations to happen before then, but this! THIS! Celebrating the marchioness's good health… it's… a dream come true!" The maid gushed, sniffling a little bit at the end before drying her eyes with a handkerchief she'd taken from a pocket on her skirt.
"It's… Jenny, isn't it? I've been well, thank you for asking. I would ask how you've been, but… it sounds like you answered that question before I could ask it." Idunn remarked.
"Oh, I've been just marvelous! And the thought of such a grand time… no, even better, helping Mr. Merlinus and Lady Eleanora prepare everything has just made me anticipate the feast even more!"
Idunn understood where her friend was coming from; just looking at the spread of food adorning each table was enough to make her mouth water!
"O-oh my, what's all this?" And there was the guest of honor herself, covering her mouth in surprise as she looked around in wonder at what had to have been at least half the castle's population congregated in the great hall. Next to her, her husband was similarly surprised, though less vocal. His shock lasted barely a few moments before a large smile spread on his face.
"Oh… so this is why my mother was acting so secretive all weak. A marvelous plot indeed, mother."
"Oh, you! You're making it sound like I was scheming behind your backs about something nefarious," Eleanora huffed from her position behind her son and his wife, though the playful smile on her face conveyed that the irritation in her voice was entirely false.
At his grandmother's side was the young heir of Pherae himself, looking as if his birthday had come early. Roy was practically bouncing up and down in excitement, eyes shining with glee as he took in the sight of all his favorite people together in one place.
'Ninian looks much better than she did only a week ago,' Idunn reflected, her gaze moving from the woman's son to the woman herself. In fact, if she hadn't personally overseen the woman's recovery, Idunn wouldn't have known that the ice dragon had been on the verge of death only a short while ago!
'I know I said it would likely be a long time before she's back to her full power, but the fact that she's recovered this much in just a couple of weeks is… astonishing. I can't even begin to imagine just how strong her will to live must be,' Idunn marveled, watching the royal family take their seats at the same table Pherae's other chief advisors and knights were sitting at. Eliwood looked around, his eyes settling on her briefly, before moving on. Personally, Idunn was glad that the man didn't make a big showing about imploring her to come up and sit with the rest of Pherae's highest-ranked people. She was perfectly content to remain where she was… and more importantly, she had her eyes on several dishes within arm's reach- leaving the table she was at would've rid her of the opportunity of getting to taste them!
What followed was a night that would be etched into Idunn's memories as one of the happiest moments in her life. There were no grand speeches or any other stately gestures, just merriment shared by many people united in their mutual adoration for Ninian of Pherae. And in one corner of the room was Idunn herself, reveling in something that she had never felt before. It was like a warm, fuzzy feeling spreading in her chest- Idunn certainly knew that she had been solely responsible for saving the province's beloved marchioness; and though she felt pride in that, it wasn't a knew feeling. It was simply… sitting here amongst the castle's residents was the first time it was really resonated with her; that this was how many people's lives Ninian had touched.
Fortunately for Idunn and everyone else present, nobody had to wait long to tuck into the feast before them. As if silently acknowledging Lowen and the castle cooks' efforts, Eliwood kept his impromptu speech short, and within only a couple of minutes, everyone was tucking into the dinner that had been prepared.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Idunn, fueled by laughter and delicious food. Everyone in attendance was free to stay for as long- or as short as they liked. After an hour had passed, despite most of the food having been consumed by now, many of the servants had returned to their quarters. At Idunn's table, it was just her and her friend on the castle's serving staff left. Idunn was feeling pleasantly full and even better, was quite thankful she'd shown a bit more restraint than her human friend, who was slumped in her seat, groaning in distress.
"Oh… Sweet Saint Elimine… I'll burst if I eat another bite…"
"Do you… do you need me to help you back to the servants' quarters?"
"Ugh… That's kind of you, but I'll be fine. I just need to… rest for a bit…" Jenny groaned, not making any efforts to hoist herself out of her chair.
"Well, if you say so…"
"Oh, you don't need to look so concerned, Lady Idunn! It's just a stomachache! I guess I got a bit carried away… But I just couldn't help myself! It's a rare occasion when Sir Lowen and Mr. Merlinus combine their culinary efforts! And some of the ingredients that Mr. Merlinus used for those cakes he baked… Oh, I've never tasted anything so divine! I must be one of the luckiest girls in the world! To think that a girl from the countryside like me would get to eat chocolate like some highborn Etrurian noble! Ooh, I just hope this doesn't spoil things for the Harvest Festival! It's my favorite celebration of the entire year, but it's going to be hard to top a feast like this!"
"Breathe, Jenny. I'm not going anywhere."
"Sorry, sorry! I just can't help myself! When I get excited, it's like the words just won't stop flowing out of my mouth!"
Idunn smiled at her friend's exuberance. Despite her aching stomach, the maid looked nearly ready to leap out of her chair in excitement!
"I wonder if Lady Ninian will dance with Lord Eliwood at the festival? Ooh~ That would be so romantic, wouldn't it? And the marchioness… oh, you should've been here back before the marchioness got sick, her dances were beautiful! There was almost something magical about them! But now that she's feeling better…" Jenny paused here, sniffling slightly, before wiping at her eyes and resuming her tangent.
"Now that Lady Ninian is better, she'll finally get to dance with Lord Eliwood again! Oh, seeing them together like this just feels like a dream come true! You know, we all have it pretty lucky here at Pherae! Lord Eliwood is the kindest, most honorable man in all of Lycia, and he's the greatest knight in the league to boot! And Lady Ninian must be the most beautiful woman in all the land! When I first met the marquess and his wife, I thought they'd stepped right out of one of the fables my ma used to tell me when I was growing up!"
Unbidden, a yawn slipped from Idunn's lips before she could stop it, earning a soft giggle from Jenny.
"Oh my, I'd say all that food is finally having an effect on you! Your eyes are looking a little tired, Lady Idunn! Don't let me keep you here! I'm- oof- I'm afraid I'll probably be resting for a bit longer before I try to get back to the servants' quarters!"
As much as Idunn wanted to stay here, quietly, anonymously enjoying the merriment, her friend was right; she was feeling rather sleepy.
Gently standing up from her seat at the table, Idunn made her way to the great hall's exit. Before she left the chamber, she turned and looked back at the hall behind her.
Roy and his family were still present, though as it was their own great hall it was likely that they were expected to be among the last people present. Roy was sitting in Ninian's lap, sound asleep. Eliwood had one arm wrapped around his wife, a broad smile on his face, while Ninian laughed softly as her mother-in-law used a cloth napkin to wipe some crumbs off Roy's face.
Neither Ninian nor Eleanora were paying attention to her, but Eliwood locked eyes with her just before she passed through the doorway, and his smile changed. It was no less sincere than before, but now there was an expression of heartfelt gratitude on the man's face.
Idunn's lips quirked, a smaller smile forming on her face, before she turned and resumed walking, and the hubbub of the great hall slowly faded away behind her.
After that memorable night, life at Pherae was different for Idunn. The last vestiges of awkwardness, of feeling like she didn't fit in were gone. Pherea was her home now!
And feeling at home was helping Idunn finally break down the wall she'd built around herself! She wasn't the sort to leave the comforting shelter of the castle too often, but she was making an effort to go out into the town every now and then.
The days turned into weeks, and before Idunn knew it, nearly two more months had passed in tranquility. The Harvest Festival had been every bit as wonderful as her friend had made it out to be with practically the entire town turning up to join in on the festivities. It had been Idunn's first time in months seeing so many people congregated in a single area, and in addition to the townsfolk of Pherae showing up for the festivities, villagers from all over the countryside had come to take part in the festivities!
Idunn herself hadn't been bold enough to take part in any of the dancing, and she certainly hadn't been brave enough to join in with the people singing to their hearts' content, but watching so many people enjoying themselves had left a bright smile on her face.
That, and watching Ninian, who had looked positively radiant in her white gown dancing with her husband, a wide, joyful smile on her face, had been truly moving.
The festivities had come to an end eventually, though an air of peaceful pleasantness remained in the castle in the weeks that followed. That brought Idunn to where she was now; sitting in her favorite chair in the castle library with Roy at her side, enjoying another tale of heroism and adventure.
"Is something the matter, Roy? It looks like you have something on your mind." Idunn noted, setting the book down on her lap. There was a thoughtful frown on the small boy's face.
"Oh, it's nothing important, Miss Idunn. I was just thinking about Sir Lowen's cooking."
"His… cooking? What about it?" Idunn's brow raised in surprise at the unexpected comment.
"Oh, well he's such a good cook… and I love eating everything he makes, and so do mama and papa… but… oh, I don't know how to say this! Grandma told me it's not polite to talk to ladies about this kind of thing!"
"I assure you; you can tell me whatever is on your mind. I won't be offended, I promise." Idunn stated, now feeling deeply curious about whatever was troubling her young friend.
"Oh, well… it's just that… like I said, Sir Lowen's cooking is super yummy! But I think it might be too yummy… Mama's tummy has been getting bigger lately…"
"Oh? Were you saying something about me, Roy?"
Idunn suppressed a giggle at the way Roy nearly jumped out of his seat in fright, looking up to see the familiar form of Ninian approaching them. Idunn suspected that, from the friendly smile on the cyan-haired woman's face she hadn't heard what exactly Roy had said about her, only that she'd heard his voice.
"I was wondering where you had gotten off to! Roy, you know you're supposed to be practicing etiquette with your grandmother right now!" Ninian chided. Roy looked crestfallen.
"Aw… but Miss Idunn was just getting to the good part…"
"Oh, Roy… I hope my son wasn't giving you any trouble, Idunn."
"He hasn't been a bother at all; I always enjoy reading with him." Idunn replied, her eyes trailing up and down the marchioness's slender frame as Roy's earlier comment resonated in her mind.
Ninian's stomach was bigger, but not by much. If Idunn hadn't been looking for anything unusual in Ninian's appearance, she wouldn't have noticed the faint curvature of her belly, barely noticeable against the fabric of her pale blue dress.
Then, Idunn noticed that Ninian was staring at her, and she realized that she had been caught staring. Oops.
"Er… Roy, could you please go and attend your lessons with Eleanora? I… I have something important that I need to speak to Idunn about."
"But-"
"Please, Roy… Your grandmother might not say it every time she sees you, but she cherishes every minute she gets to spend with you. You are her only grandchild, after all."
"Okay…" Roy muttered, slinking off, though Idunn knew from experience that when the young heir was downhearted, he never remained that way for long. Something new, or someone new would grab his attention and then his spirits would soar; that was just how life for the soon-to-be eight year old was.
Once Roy had departed the library, Ninian let out a sigh and sat down next to the much taller woman. The smaller woman clearly had something on her mind, but was struggling to find the words. Curiuosly, rather than seeming nervous or apprehensive about something, Idunn noted that the marchioness actually looked… excited?
"I… er… I assume that you noticed that I looked a bit different?" Ninian remarked bashfully, placing one hand on her belly.
"…Yes. But you seem no less healthy than you have been the past few weeks, and as I said when you first received your new dragonstone, there shouldn't be any complications in your recovery process. Roy confided in me that he thought you had been indulging in Sir Lowen's cooking too much as of late." Idunn had a sudden sinking suspicion that she probably shouldn't have mentioned that, as Ninian's shoulders started shaking.
Though rather than looking put out, the marchioness just laughed softly.
"Oh, that son of mine! There's a reason Lady Eleanora is so insistent that he pays proper attention during his etiquette lessons! And no, if you had been wondering, Sir Lowen's cooking is not to blame for this;" Ninian laughed, gently rubbing her stomach.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I-I… that is, Eliwood and I, we've been blessed more than either of us ever thought possible. Before you arrived at Pherae, only a few months ago, we feared that I would not live to see Roy's eighth birthday. Now, not only have your actions ensured that my son won't have to grow up without his mother…" Ninian swallowed nervously, though the happiness didn't fade from her face. Reaching out, she gently took one of Idunn's hands in her own and placed it on her slightly enlarged belly.
Almost like a jolt of lightning running through her, Idunn's eyes widened in shock as she felt her sixth sense pick up something that she had missed earlier.
Small but in no way indistinguishable, there was a second essence within the bundle of light that was Ninian's quintessence. This was different from when Ninian's quintessence had been a mix of Idunn's and her own. No, rather than one mixed signature, there were two distinct signatures within Ninian- her own… and another entirely separate presence.
Oh.
Oh!
Ninian's smile widened into a radiant grin as Idunn's mouth fell open.
"Hee hee! I don't quite understand how that ability of yours works, but it looks like you figured it out! I wanted to thank you, Idunn. Because of you, I can stay with my family! Because of you… Eliwood and I…" Ninian remarked, cheeks turning pink, before mustering up the courage to continue on.
"That is to say… Eliwood and I… we're expecting another child! I'm going to have another baby!"
Even with her own abilities confirming the truth, nothing in the world could've prepared Idunn for it. Ninian might as well have delivered a blow to her head with an iron mace, for how flat-footed she'd been caught!
Life was funny like that. It seemed that, around the time Idunn would be celebrating her one-year anniversary for arriving at Pherae, the royal family would be welcoming their second child into the world!
This chapter marks the end of act 1 of the story, and will probably be the last update for a while. Don't be alarmed, this is a planned hiatus and not something that I'm doing out of the blue. I have a number of other story ideas that I've been wanting to write for a while that I've put off because I didn't want to have too many ongoing projects at the same time. I didn't want to drop this story in the middle of all the drama surrounding Ninian and Idunn, which is why I wanted to put off the hiatus until act 1 was concluded, so that at the very least all of you can read part 1 of the story in its entirety.
I do hope some of you stick around for my other projects when they are posted; one of those ideas I mentioned is another FE6 AU story, and I have a couple other Fire Emblem-related stories in mind.
Moving onto after-chapter thoughts...
I'm not very good at keeping this section brief, but here goes.
There's nothing in canon suggesting that there were any dragons beyond the Fire, Ice, and Divine dragons on Elibe. The addition of the Sea Dragons (technically canon to the series; they were supposed to be appear in FE3, but were cut from the game.) Earth Dragons also existed in my lore for the story; though they've long gone extinct by this point in time.
There is another rom hack reference in this chapter. It's a little on the vague side, so I'm not sure how many people will spot it.
For anyone who feels that the harvest festival (a canon event, it's referenced once or twice in FE7) was glossed over... it absolutely was. I'm going to be honest, I was running out of steam with this chapter and by that point I think I was already 8000 words into the chapter at least. That, and I don't think I would've done a good job having there be two big celebrations in the same chapter.