Today was the day. You were going to do it. You’ve finally worked up enough courage to ask her out. You had tried to do everything from writing letters to leaving gifts, and yet you had always chickened out at the last minute. Eventually, you came to the conclusion that you would have to do it face to face. And so here you were, hiding behind a tree near the mess hall, waiting for your target love to pass by. You could only hope and pray for her to be alone when she appears. Your heart thrummed against your chest like a caged bird, desperately trying to break free.
‘It’s fine. This is fine. Calm down. When I see her I’m going to calmly step out from behind my tree and ask her to go on a walk with me. Or maybe not. Maybe I should just try again tomo- Fuck, there she is, fuckfuck oh Gods what do I do-’
“(Y/N)? What are you doing?” She said, an amused smile on her face. Gods you loved that smile.
“Oh, nothi- umm,” You slowly coaxed yourself away from your tree. “I was thinking, well, do... youwannagoonawalkwithme?” You stammered out, heat creeping up your face.
You cleared your throat. “Would you like to go on a walk with me? It’s such a nice day out, and it’d be a nice break from training and fighting all the time, and...” you trailed off, fidgeting with your hands. You no doubt resembled a ripe tomato. What a mess.
“Hmm, sure why not? Let’s not take too long though. or there won’t be food left!” She grinned. “Where to?”
Damn she’s cute. “Let’s go this way.” You turned down a shaded path, surrounded by tall trunks and rustling leaves. Eirika fell in step besides you. A pleasant breeze danced around the two of you, soothing your nerves ever so slightly. This was so lovely. You imagined reaching out and taking hold of her hand, feeling her soft skin underneath yours...
“Are you feeling alright? You’ve been rather quiet lately. Not to mention you were beet red earlier. Is something ailing you?” Eirika spoke up, her gentle voice pulling you out of your daydream. You looked over, seeing her beautiful eyes laced with concern.
“Ah, I’m ok. Thank you.” You said, looking away. No, you weren’t ok. How could you possibly be ok? You wanted so badly to confess your feelings, but the mere thought of it terrified you. What if she rejects you? You’d be left all alone, with nothing but an unrequited love and an empty heart...
Suddenly, she stopped. “I don’t believe that for a second. You haven’t been yourself lately. Please, If something is troubling you, you can tell me!” She pressed, not taking “I’m ok” for an answer.
You stopped next to her. “Well, it’s...” It was now or never. “Actually, yes, there is something that I have been meaning to tell you.” This was it. You were going to say it. The hot, uninvited redness was already returning to your face.
Her face softened ever so slightly. “So what is it?”
You barely managed to push the words out: “I.. I’ve fallen in love with someone. And I haven’t been able to work up the courage to tell them.” Why, oh why was this so difficult?
“In love? With whom... Oh.” Realization hit her like a truck. “Who have you fallen in love with?”
You chuckled weakly, avoiding her gaze at all costs. “I have a feeling you already know. But... You. I have fallen in love with you, Eirika.” There it was. you said it. Your face was definitely about ready to explode.
She burst out laughing. What? She was laughing? Huh? Ok... “That’s what it was? Aww, you’re too cute! Actually, I’ve known for about a week now.” Your head snapped up. She was looking at you with adoration in her eyes.
She knew. How did she know? “I... You... What?”
She grinned. “Your letters. Ephraim found two of them crumpled up on the floor, and felt it necessary to show them to me. You really do have a.. way with words.” She giggled.
You just stood there, utterly speechless. She read your letters? Shit. They must have fallen out of your pocket. Oh my Gods. She read those. Oh my Gods.
Now it was her turn to blush. “(Y/N), I have something to confess as well. I’ve felt the same way for... A while. Would you be willing to go out with me?”
Was she asking you out? Was this real? You stood there, dumbstruck.
“So, you... aren’t rejecting me? You’re serious?”
She laughed again, filling the air with the music of your voice. “Well, I’m serious if you are. (Y/N), I love yo-”
An arrow embedded itself into Eirika’s chest, just to the right of her sternum.
Her blood gushed out, staining her shirt. She sank to her knees, coughing more of that awful, sticky substance out onto the ground.
You whipped around, furiously searching for her assailant. There. The archer was already beginning to draw another arrow. In a blind rage, you drew your weapon and charged him down.
He aimed. You snarled and hurled your blade at him, watching it connect with his shoulder, hearing it hit with a satisfying crunch. Not bothering to watch him fall, you Immediately stumbled back to Eirika’s side. A pool of blood had begun to form beneath her. Oh Gods, why was there so much blood?
You dropped down next to her, desperately extending your hand. “Here, grab on, you need a healer!” She took it, wrapping her free arm around your neck with a labored gasp.
You begin back towards the Mess Hall, praying you would make it in time. You looked down at Eirika, her face twisted with pain. “Hang in there.” She closed her eyes and nodded. Seeing her beautiful features contorted with such suffering ripped your heart into pieces. You absolutely couldn’t lose her, not after you confessed to her like that! You just couldn’t!
You heard rustling behind you. You stopped and turned, your stomach dropping. The assassin stood in the path, with an arrow aimed directly at you. He wasn’t dead. How? You killed him, he’s supposed to be dead! How could you have been so careless?
Cursing profusely, you reached for your weapon and...
Last time you saw your weapon, it was wedged in the assassin's shoulder.
It buried itself into your chest with a sickening thud. Pain exploded throughout your torso, hot blood spilling out of you like a river. You heard Eirika screaming. No, you can’t die here, you WON’T DIE HERE!
You released your grip on Eirika, and hurtled towards the assassin once more, ripping the arrow out of your chest. He aimed again, firing another arrow, this one finding its place in your hip. You shrieked in pain, but refused to stop. you reached him and drove the arrow into him, ending his miserable existence for good. You gasped, the pain finally catching up with you. You collapsed and dragged yourself back to Eirika. She was bleeding out, losing time. She was dying. You tried to pull her up, to get her back to camp, but it was no use. You were growing dizzy, your vision darkening.
“(Y/N), I’m... so sorry... but it looks *cough* like I won’t be able to go out on that date with you...”
“I failed to kill him, I’m... So sorry....” Hot tears spilled down your face. “I’m so sorry...”
“I... love you...” The light faded from her eyes, her beautiful eyes...
You no longer had the energy to cry, all you could do was lay your head onto her chest and shake, until you as well succumbed to the pain and the darkness...
