PROMPT: “Sometimes, you’ll find it hard to keep going, but you’ll find a way. Trust me, it’ll be fine.”
She smiles, one so pure and of love that it sends a light, fluffy feeling to her surroundings, even in the darkness of the Nohrian backdrop. To each and every member of the army her siblings have accepted, she is able to extend the same outlook to them. Her siblings have told her to retain who she is, but she is no fool – no, she knows the war will make it difficult. It already has.
She wants it to end, her siblings fighting so much while she believes she can hardly do a gosh darned thing. Sure, she doesn’t like the idea of that young Hoshidian princess stealing Corrin’s attention, but she’ll take something so petty like that over bloodshed. Besides, she really does feel that… if the scenario could be different, then her and that Princess Sakura could be really good friends, maybe.
If only they could be friends, not enemies. She’s really sure Big Sis Corrin would love that too.
Her siblings… Elise breathes in, and once again brings sun to features - thinking about them smiling does this. Those older siblings of her mean the world to her, being without them… it’s really unthinkable, not after everything. To hold their hands, to go on adventures with them, to present them all with flowers to show her affection, all this is on her to-do list.
Then their words hit her:
“We’ll protect you, Elise.”
“But I don’t want you dying over it…” she whispers, clutching her stave close to her as she thinks of her siblings’ words, their vows. She… that’s the last thing she wants, and she can’t do a thing but wave her healing efforts around and hope. But hope doesn’t win wars, only bloody battles and needless loss of lives. As much of a light as she tries to be, as much as she tries to smile for them, all true and engrave with the adoration she harbors, what is it if they are not there?
What is she to do? Storm into Xander’s room, pouting as she grips his arms and attempts to pull him away from his desk - should she be selfish? No, he would be super angry, and that wouldn’t solve a thing! Making work harder for her important, big brother Xander won’t end the war, merely put them more at a disadvantage.
Elise holds her tongue, knowing that burdens of clashing swords and flying arrows crash upon the shoulders her older siblings far more than she feels she will ever understand. She wants them to put down their swords - for her - but there’s no convincing the father they no longer know, there’s no talking the opponents out of it.
She brings herself to a lean against as wall, her grip tight as she tries to quell these swirling thoughts. This isn’t the face she wants to show others; this isn’t her usual look, after all. To help others… she’s a light when she’s around other people; it’s so easy to put others first.
Yes, Elise would stand between a sword if it meant her family could live. Not that… Not that she would ever tell anyone that.
The sound of boots clicking upon the ground catch Elise’s attentions - that sort of sound in the step, so the holder noticed something about her, huh? She turns her head to see who’s approaching - Selena. The one that’s aware of her worries, her nightmares, all that’s piled up.
The red-haired mercenary seems to draw in a breath, shaking her head before crimson eyes really revel in their seriousness.
“Caught me..! I’m still… worried… about what I should do,” Elise laughs, before rubbing her eyes, making sure her stave is still close, “About what will happen, about if I can one-hundred-and-twenty percent keep this up! I’m…” She purposefully ends up sentence there, her gentleness never gone, that pure concern always radiating for the participants of the war.
Selena listens; it’s easy to. Elise notices that she really knows how to handle this sort of thing - she’s seen it with how she deals with Laslow, and Odin, and others, all in her own way.
“Sometimes, you’ll find it hard to keep going, but you’ll find a way. Trust me, it’ll be fine."
And Selena’s voice rests into her thoughts. Lately, she’s found herself relying more on the counsel of her elder sister’s retainer. She trusts Effie, her own retainer, with her every being, of course, but there’s something… curious about how Selena speaks. It’s as though she’s been in another situation, much like this.
It’s something Elise wants to know more about, but she… she can’t pry. Her elder sister advised against with with a, “Darling, Elise, beautiful flowers love to thorn up their secrets, now’s not the time to get pricked by one’s not in your garden.” Camilla is correct - if Selena wants to spill anything deeper about herself to one she hardly knows, then it will come.
“Selena…” the princess says, “It… It really is hard. I want this to end so, soooo much!” Her stave drops to the group, rolling a bit away, but she cares little at this moment. Her next move is simple. Elise presses her face against Selena’s chest, and wraps her arms around her - it’s an instinct, something she’s more used to doing with her siblings. She wants to be stronger - to guarantee everything will be okay and that they can really, truly go back to being something of a family once this is done. She wants them all to live, to breathe, to stand tall.
Find a way to keep going… It’ll be fine… Yes, there’s sincerity, knowledge, lining Selena’s words. She knows not her story, but she can feel her heart - and it’s there.
“I know I’ve said this before, but… Please, keep lending Big Sis Camilla your strength. I won’t forgive you at all if anything happens… to either one of you! I know it’s a big request, and war is very unpredictable, but I’ll make sure to have my stave ready as much as I can!”
In order for her to keep going, she promises herself to not entirely be just the baby of the family anymore. she’s a capable member of this army, of the Nohrian Royal Family, she can do this! She’ll hold her head up to the tippy-top and try her best to bring happiness into the bleakness that is this mess.
“You’re absolutely correct..! This war will end really soon if we keep working… It’ll be fine, because I’ll be protecting them too… We’ll all do our best to protect them… everyone… and…”
Right, this truly is it. No matter the hardships, the shaking, aching rockiness of uncertainty, of possibly tragedy, she can be a beacon. Hope alone can, perhaps, do nothing, but she is hopeful action. She will move with a spring in her step, with trust in her heart. Thank you, Selena. I really needed this. I really hope you… and Effie… and everyone else will keep being here for me, but not at the expense of their own lives. Nuh-uh! I will not accept that.
So, even if her tears aren’t dry, the vibrancy is back at full force, affection lain out before her by her movements, her jumps, her renewed energy.
“B-Big Sis Selena, I’m gonna do my best to watch your back too!”
