Two years.
Tmp. Tmp. Tmp.
Two years had passed already.
Tmp. Tmp. Tmp.
“My lord?”
He looked up with a start at the voice sounding from the doorway to find his wife of nearly three years standing there, watching him curiously. Abashedly, he glanced down at the nearly blank parchment before him and sighed heavily. “Ninian… Have you been standing there long?”
She shook her head and walked into the room, shutting the door behind her. “No, I just arrived. You seemed lost in thought, my lord.”
His eyes fell back to the parchment and the lone word occupying the top—Hector—as he slowly set his quill down to rest after tapping against the desk. With a shake of his head, he looked back to his wife and shifted to stand. Closing the space between them, he reached out to cup her chin and drew her in for a quick kiss, then pulled back with a smile. “It’s simply… How do I write a letter to my brother after losing contact for two years? How do I-” He paused, then slowly let his hands slide down to gently touch the small swell on her belly. “How do I tell him that we’re expecting a child?”
A smile spread on her lips as she touched her hands to his shoulders. “I know Lord Hector has been busy with reestablishing Ostia and my lord has been occupied with leading the people of Pherae, but… he is, as you say, your brother. He should know.”
He nodded. “I agree fully. It’s just a matter of trying to write the letter.”
She slowly turned away and walked over to the window. “I wonder…”
His head cocked in curiosity as he moved to stand beside her, brushing the flimsy curtain away so they could look out at the green fields of Pherae. “What is it, Ninian?”
She looked up at him, traces of tears forming her eyes. “I wonder if Nils knows. Were I still a dragon, he would be able to sense the change in my body without a question. However, the air of this world has been draining my powers, bit by bit. I… I’m not much more than human now.”
He offered a weak smile of support as he pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. “I asked you to make a great sacrifice when you stayed here in this world, I know.”
“No, that isn’t quite right, my lord.” Her smile when she faced him was genuine as she reached up to twist her fingers through the longer strands of his hair. “I chose to stay so I could remain here with you. I knew my powers and ability to transform would fade, but, nevertheless, I made the choice to remain. My lord may have asked, but the decision was mine.”
He wondered… What was so different about the world now that made it so difficult for a dragon to live there? A thousand years ago, dragons lived long and healthy lives on this very continent. He couldn’t deny that a part of him was grateful that he would be able to grow old alongside Ninian, but another part was sad that her life had to be shorter than its potential span.
She didn’t seem to talk much about her life prior to returning at Nergal’s call, but had not wanted to say more than was necessary. He wanted to respect her wishes, but he was deathly curious of a dragon’s lifestyle, too. She had said enough to clarify that her life had been happy, albeit dull.
He wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer. “And not a single day passes that I’m ungrateful for that decision.”
Cause I promised Nini I would find it. And I did!
Fire Emblem Forever
Together We Ride!
