Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @breeachuu! I hope you like it! ;D
Summary: Through her countless years, Nidra watched marriages begin and end... Chrom and Robin’s ceremony struck her heart as deeply as one she had witnessed as a child, and now the manakete wonders if she’ll ever find a love for herself...
Commission info HERE and HERE!
The war against Plegia took precious people from Nidra. Their bonds had barely just begun forming and were abruptly cut.
And yet, all that time she spent with the Shepherds gave her back in equal measure. She felt truly at home amongst that ragtag group of humans and shapeshifters, as much as she felt only once during her long, long years.
The friends she had made back when she was young, the bond she watched grow and bear fruit... It so very much resembled the one Chrom and Robin shared.
This time, however, the manakete was older, wiser and had a more active role in the ceremony. She had been personally invited to attend as a friend of Ylisse and its new rulers, her heart a mix of emotions she never truly felt before.
Happiness. Grief. Melancholy.
Her human friends taught her how to deal with all the different kinds of emotions -- they were a very emotional kind, after all. And Nidra had much to learn, and a great amount of time to put it to practice.
She watched her precious friends confirm their love in front of the whole kingdom; the kiss they shared under flushed cheeks and uncertain hands... It would be etched into Nidra's heart for the eternity to come.
Her eyes burned with tears, the overflowing joy radiating around her from every side.
And yet, her heart also felt heavy.
She looked down to her chest, clutching it with one hand, blinking so as to shoo away the tears.
Nidra was used to that feeling: loneliness.
Fleeting as the human life span was, she knew that it would be only a matter of time until she said good-bye to her precious, precious friends. She wanted to treasure that moment fully, to give them her best regards with everything she had; but how could she, when the memories of thousands of years of solitude hanged over her shoulders?
Tears streamed down her face as she hugged the bride during the party, congratulating her friend from the bottom of her heart. "Truly treasure this moment, Robin. Live your life to its fullest and do not regret loving and being loved." She squeezed the hands of the now Queen, receiving a warm hug in response.
"Thank you so much, Nidra. For everything."
Nidra bit her lower lip, once again being washed over by loneliness. She needed some time to think, but it wouldn't be appropriate to leave during the ceremony, and frankly, telling Robin about it would do no good, either.
After the day was over and the happy couple retired to their quarters, Nidra transformed and left.
Flying always made wonders to clear her mind -- the sky was the only thing that remained the same no matter how many ages passed. It brought her comfort and much-needed companionship.
She simply closed her eyes and flew, enjoying the cold night’s breeze flow through her scales, followed by the blinding sunlight guiding her wings.
Nidra flew as high and as far as she could go, taking all the new sensations in.
Chrom and Robin. Frederick and Lissa. All of them shared different stories that intertwined into love; into the creation of new family bonds.
Nidra watched these stories unfold and couldn't be happier for her dear friends.
"Oh... I understand now." She spoke for the first time in three days, finally reaching an answer to her silent questions. "It is as I thought, and yet not... How complex the heart is!" She smiled bitterly, as much as she could in her dragon form, and took an U-turn back to Ylisse.
She had found her answer.
It took her another three days to fly back, her thoughts clear but her heart clouded. Robin welcomed her on the evening of the sixth day of her absence, holding both of her hands. "Nidra! Where have you been? I was about to mobilize the Shepherds to look for you outside Ylisse..."
From the balcony she had landed onto as she transformed back to her human form, Nidra rubbed her thumb over Robin's hand.
The manakete then looked up to the darkening sky, the first star shyly shining over the dark orange.
"It is a lonely one, this endless life of mine." She said with a bittersweet smile, leaning on the balcony. Robin followed, her eyebrows flickering with emotion. "It is alright, Robin, do not feel responsible for following your own path towards happiness."
Surprised but not fazed by her friend's perceptive skills, Robin looked down, pressing her lips into a thin line. "I... can lend you an ear, if you want to talk more about it. I can't say I even begin to understand how it is to be almost immortal, so..."
Nidra looked up at the sky, breathing in deeply. "Your marriage reminded me of another joyful occasion I have been part of, so many ages ago." She smiled softly, the rose-colored memory a fond one inside her heart. "The Prince and Princess had fought for opposing kingdoms despite having loved each other from childhood... And still managed to hold such memorable and loving ceremony. Theirs was a love as pure as the one you share with Chrom."
The mention of her husband made Robin smile and follow Nidra's gaze to the sky -- it was now of dark blue, splattered with the stars’ lights. "I'm... glad you see us that way. I just wish to build a happy and peaceful future with him from now on."
"So did they. Yours is a rightful path." Nidra replied, her smile slowly disappearing. "And yet, still alone I remain."
"Oh!" Robin gasped, not knowing how to react. "Um, I, uh..." She looked around, then remembered the question Miriel had asked Nidra so many months ago. "What are the manakete's mating-"
"Hah! Robin!" Nidra snorted, shooing the depressing mood away. "It was hard enough to shake Miriel away from me with these questions, et tu, now?"
The Queen laughed, "haha, sorry. But I'm half-serious, you see." She lifted her finger, as though she were a teacher giving out advice to her student. "I can help you find a good husband! I don't know many male manaketes, uh, I actually don't know any, but I know plenty of humans!"
Nidra never lost her smile. "So you want to play matchmaker?"
"Um, I'm sure we can find you some good-"
"I shall humour you, friend. What did you have in mind?" The manakete chuckled.
"Really?" The Queen beamed, quickly taking her friend's hand. "Let's go to my study so we can sit and talk this over!"
Nidra let herself be led, the warm feeling finally taking over her chest.
She didn't feel the creeping loneliness that had always made itself present whenever she was enjoying a joyful moment.
No matter how happy she had been, it would always linger at the back of her heart, ever reminding her of her ultimate fate.
And yet, it was nowhere to be found now.
Not for the prospect of finding a husband, no. But for simply enjoying a little girl's time with a close friend who wanted nothing more than what was best for her.
In truth, ROBIN was the one humoring Nidra.
"Okay, so, from the Shepherds? We got Frederick- no wait..." Robin started, sitting down by a table at her study, inviting Nidra to sit beside her.
The manakete complied. "Indeed. Surely he will ask Lissa in the upcoming weeks? I tire of waiting for them to move in accordance to their hearts."
"Hah, yeah. Maybe we can get the ball rolling? I keep telling him to just GO, but he won't listen."
"Surely we should." Nidra nodded solemnly.
"Okay, so Frederick is out... What about Gaius? He's not the most righteous one, but he'll at least care for you- oh, wait."
Once again did Nidra snort. "He married Tharja not too long after we returned from Plegia."
Robin face-palmed, remembering how Tharja asked her to be the best-lady if they ever had a proper ceremony. "Alright, then. Gregor? He's wise and, uh, closer to you in age than anyone here."
"..." Nidra waited for the clicking moment, the corners of her lips already curving up.
"Oh, wait." Robin sighed. "Panne."
"Indeed." Nidra snorted. "Surely she can build her race back with him."
"This isn't going well, is it?" The Queen sighed. "What about Libra? I'm sure he'd treasure you- oh."
Nidra bobbed her head to the sides. "Even if he hadn't married Maribelle, I do not think I'd feel comfortable with him. He offered me a prayer in more than one occasion, see."
"Pfft. Did he ask you to deliver it to Naga?" Robin tried not to laugh, leaning her back on the chair.
"Actually, yes."
"No way! Oh, gods, I was just joking!"
"He was quite serious, so I did send it to Her. She rarely replies, however, so he was simply content with my intention."
"I see. Well, Vaike is also out, despite being single. Sorry, Vaike." Robin snorted, then sighed. "This isn't going well at all! I'm going to have to check the rank-and-file soldiers now. I'm not stopping until we can find you a suitable husband-"
"Posh, Robin. It is fine." Nidra chuckled, holding her friend's hand so she couldn't get up and check the soldiers' documents. "Simply spending time with you and the others is enough for now. Forgive me for troubling you, but thank you for caring so much about me."
Robin's shoulders sagged. "Aw, it's no trouble at all! I'm sure I can find you a good man." I did matchmake a WYVERN, and that was a beast. Nidra at least has a human form! "But if you'd rather talk, I'll always lend you an ear."
"Thank you, dear friend. I did so enjoy our conversation just now, so why not continue it with another purpose in mind?"
Robin tilted her head to the side. "What purpose?"
"How do you think their children will look like? And yours as well, for that matter?" Nidra smirked, the smile growing as Robin's face reddened.
"I- childr- mine? N-Nidra!"
"Haha! It is part of life, friend! Come now, let me hear your thoughts on the matter..."
Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @breeachuu! Happy Father’s Day! (shh it’s still father’s day somewhere)
Summary: After settling down in Ylisse, Cressida and Owain live their lives leisurely while getting along with their neighbors and friends. Once Cressida starts feeling unwell, Owain thinks he cursed her, when in truth, someone very special was on her way...
Commission info HERE and HERE!
After the initial surprise of Owain and the others' sudden return, slowly did the former companions adjust to a new everyday life in Ylisse.
It was the first time for Owain to live in a peaceful world. His life one filled with fighting, death and survival, he knew he wouldn't be able to abandon the way of the sword in exchange for a truly uneventful life. Which is why he decided to follow in his father's footsteps -- not to be a knight, no, but to help maintain order in the capital as part of the city's guard. He served directly under Frederick, though it was a chore of its own for him to be granted the job in first place.
Lissa wanted to keep him around at the castle, but Owain didn't want to steal the place of little Owi; he knew that this era's Owain would grow up without knowing war and he would need his mother more than anything.
Besides, it would be the first time he'd been living for himself -- and for his wife, Cressida. The prospect of forming a new life, such a distant dream in the past, made his blood boil in excitement.
After much discussion, Frederick, Cressida and Owain managed to convince Lissa to let him live outside the castle, and Chrom was kind enough to arrange for a home at the heart of the capitol (after being pestered day and night by his sister, no less). The house was small and simple, but its coziness always left both Owain's and Cressida's heart a puddle of warmth.
Their own home.
"Let's treat it well," Cressida whispered once, seeing how much work they'd need to go through to make it a livable place. She welcomed it with open hands.
They cleaned the back and front yards, pulled the weeds, showered it with pesticide, plastered the walls, fixed small front gate (one could even jump over it or even over the outer walls for that matter, but everything was so cute they couldn't get rid of it), gave it a thorough paint-over all the while doing small jobs for the old folks living nearby. Soon they had a network of old ladies and gentlemen willing to help them build their dream home: old carpenters would build them chairs, tables or stools to thank them for the service; old seamstresses sewed curtains, bed and table sheets. One of them even gave Cressida a scarf, thinking she would be cold during the winter season (she always used it to go outside, despite barely needing it. Everything was so new, warm and wonderful she couldn't even believe it was her own life).
Slowly but surely did their dream home came to be as Owain fit like a glove for his new job. Since he was well-known in the neighborhood, the friendly elderly people would give him apples and lunch or ask for his colleagues to fetch him so they could send him on errands.
"Owain Dark, in service of the people!" He would always reply to a call, entertaining children and adults alike. They would clap and ask him to do more of his demonstrations and Cressida knew how much he loved the attention.
Truly, his homeworld was the best for them.
After a while, however, Owain couldn't help but want to go back to tapping into his own magical power. Back in Nohr, he would craft potions and do seemingly random rituals to cure fevers or boost their allies' stamina or strength. He knew he still had the aptitude to do so in Ylisse, so after they were done renovating the house, he suggested they planted herbs and sold potions.
Cressida raised an eyebrow. "I already am tending to the back garden with the vegetables we trade around the city. If you tell me how to tend to the herbs, I don't see why not to keep an herb garden at the front yard."
"MIGHTY CRESSIDA!" He beamed, hugging her breath away. "I thought you'd refuse! Thank Naga, haha! I'll ask around for the seeds tomorrow!"
"Ask around?" Cressida coughed, being almost strangled by her husband's strong grip.
He let go without realizing what he was doing, looking up in thought. "Yeah. I'm sure Henry, Tharja, Ricken or Miriel keep one herb garden or two. I'll send Henry and Tharja a bird if I can't find what I need from Miriel or Ricken."
The bow knight smiled softly, enjoying how truly happy her husband had been after they came to Ylisse. She caressed his cheek, making him look at her, bashful. "Remember to ask how to tend to the herbs, too. Almost everything here is different from Nohr or Valla. The care these plants need will of course differ."
"Fear not, Mighty Cressida, for this cursed hand has a green finger in it!" He raised his index, a playful yet proud smile growing over his lips.
"Hah, alright, then." She snickered, nudging her nose on his neck, making him ticklish. "I'll be in your care then, Cursed Green Finger."
"Hey, it's my cursed hand with a green finger in it!" He grumbled with a smile, lifting her head so they could share a kiss.
Ah, truly, life couldn't get any better!
The herb garden was an absolute success, especially around their elderly neighbors. They all needed herbs for colds, back pains or a good tea leaf in general, so they would stop by even more often than before.
Owain also started messing around with potions again -- he managed to invent a hair-growing potion (mentioning how one of his friends with a receding hairline would probably need it someday) and took lessons with Severa's father, Stahl about how to make healing concoctions.
Always a diligent student, Cressida picked it all up rather quickly. Soon she, too, was into potion making. They would often mix the ingredients after Owain came back from his day job, happily talking about the recent events.
A few months passed, turning such meetings part of their daily routine. It was truly pleasant to simply sit back and relax with their beloved while making soothing mixtures.
"What's that you're brewing there, Owain?" Cressida gave her husband the stinky eye one day, looking over his shoulder to the small caldron he mixed a lot of somethings in. The goo inside was purple.
"'Tis a new mixture for stomach ache! Drink this and you'll NEVER have pains in your insides again!"
"... Yeah, 'cause you'll be dead." She coughed, covering her nose. "This smells terri-ughh..." Feeling increasingly nauseated, Cressida scooted away from her husband. "T-take this away, please-"
"C-Cressida! What's wrong? You're pale-" panicking, Owain turned from his goo to his wife.
The bow knight felt her vision spiralling as her insides turned around. The more she breathed, despite covering her nose with her hand, the worse she felt -- curse that disgusting smell! She quickly got up, her uncertain and shaky feet taking her to the latrines.
"Cressida-"
"Get-ugh, get rid of that!" She yelled after throwing up, exhausted from the effort.
"R-right away!" He took the cauldron and dumped the contents inside an old pot, sealing it right after, intent on burying it at the yard.
Breathing heavily, Cressida sat down and weakly watched as he headed outside. "What're you gonna do with this, dummy? You'll poison our soil! Throw it away somewhere instead." She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, resting her head over one arm. "Ugh, I feel terrible."
"I-I'm sorry, Cressida-- I didn't even use a vomit-inducing herb and yet-"
"Urlp- don't talk about that, I'm getting sick again." She curled up over the chair, holding her stomach with her free hand. "Enough potion making for today, take me to bed." She breathed out, too tired to get up and go back to their room.
"At once, my lady." Owain bowed, still feeling guilty, and took his wife on his arms, placing her over the bed with the utmost care. "Do you want me to fetch you a potion-"
"Enough potions," Cressida snorted, regretting it immediately for it riled up her empty and sensitive stomach. "Just give me water... tomorrow." She snuggled on his chest, silently ordering him to stay with her.
Blushing, Owain obeyed. With a sway of his hand, he made a weak wind blow out their candles and snuggled to bed with his wife.
However, what they thought an inconsequential event happened again the morning after.
This time, Cressida woke up and quickly ran to the latrines, throwing up nothing but transparent liquid, since her stomach was empty.
Horrified, Owain ran to the outskirts of the city to throw the cursed pot awain, sparing it a prayer so it would get purified. As much he wanted to stay with her the whole day, Cressida didn't let him miss work because she was feeling light-headed.
Resting all day wasn't becoming of her, but in lieu of what she felt throughout the night, Cressida allowed herself to sleep in until after noon. It apparently did the trick, so she went back to working in the fields after eating.
Owain used his lunch break to run back home and check on his wife, but breathed in relief to see her up and about.
Would she stayed that way forever!
The next day, once again she threw up in the morning, feeling exceedingly tired hours after her stomach settled down. Desperate, Owain was set on calling a proper healer to not only revoke his potion making license but to cure his wife of whatever curse he had placed over her.
"I'm okay, Owain, really. My stomach's just a bit upset because I haven't thrown up in so long. Don't overreact, okay?" She assured him later that evening, preventing him from causing a scene. "I promise I'll wake up feeling better tomorrow."
"Still, I must call a heal- Mother! Mother will know for sure-"
"N-no!" Cressida stuttered. "No need to bother Lady Lissa for something as silly as an upset stomach, c'mon." She patted his arm, making him lie down beside her. "Please? I'm all better now, believe me."
Still worried, Owain said nothing, though his lips pouted adorably. Smiling, Cressida stole a peck at them before turning back to sleep, making him sag his shoulders with relief.
His worries did seem unfounded the following morning: Cressida woke up earlier than him, and full of energy. "What did I tell you?" She smirked, setting the table for breakfast.
"Take it easy today, Mighty Cressida." He said in a serious voice, holding her hand and taking the plate from it to place it on the table. "I can't bear to see you ill again."
Cressida felt her heart tighten with love. How adorable he was when he was worried! "I'll be fine, silly. But thanks for worrying." She reassured, once again stealing a peck from his lips. Owain gripped at the plate for a moment longer before turning back to help her with breakfast.
He begrudgingly left to work, wanting to stay a minute more with Cressida so as to watch over her. She managed to shoo him away, however, and went back to her business to tend to the fields.
Despite actually feeling better that morning, she knew that she wasn't in her usual shape -- doing the slightest of chores tired her out immensely. She managed to keep it together while Owain was there, but right after he was out of her sight, she kneeled on the ground so as to catch her breath.
"What's going on?" Dizzy, she held her head in an attempt to see more clearly. The scorching sun burned her back and arms, making her hyperventilate. "Owain, I'm sorry..." she breathed out, her consciousness fading away.
"Cressida!" She heard her name being called in the distance, as though she was behind a thick glass window.
Worried, Owain had ran back home to check on his wife, known for overworking herself. He caught the exact moment she fell on her knees and passed out, his heart stopping for a solid minute. "CRESSIDA!" He yelled atop of his lungs, quickly scooping her in his arms. Instead of running back home, he took her to the closest healer's clinic in their neighborhood. "P-please, save Cressida!" He asked desperately.
Alarmed, the old woman made Owain place his wife over an empty bed and examined her while asking all sorts of questions. "When did this start? Are you certain that it was the potion? Do you still have it? If so, bring it to me. Was there any other time she felt sick like this? Has she been irritable lately?"
So many random questions they threw Owain off of the loop. He had ran back to the outskirts to grab the cursed pot so the woman could analyze it and was out of breath as she came to a conclusion.
"This is really just stomach medicine. Apart from its foul smell, it's harmless." She concluded, giving the dirty pot back to him. "You said that she felt sick during the mornings, but was it only through this week? Haven't you noticed anything before it? Has she complained about getting bloated-"
"Ah, uh, yeah... I was making that potion because she said her stomach wasn't feeling well recently and that she was bloated for some reason." He replied absent-mindedly, his wide eyes focused on his sleeping wife.
"I can't tell this for certain without properly talking to her, but for now I'll simply tell you that she might be pregnant." The woman said with a faint smile. "Congratulations, Owain, my boy." She patted his shoulder.
"Congra-" He stuttered, his heart cold and his feet falling into a black hole under him. "Child- baby? Mine? Pregn- Cressida?" he mumbled incoherently, not knowing how to react.
He was ashamed to admit that the thought had never crossed his mind, or at least not that soon. He clenched his hands one on the other, his vision darkening around him.
Children? His? Could HE raise a child? After everything he had done to so many people in his life? He took the lives of hundreds all so he himself could keep living.
Look at him; his body was made for fighting -- and even after achieving the long-sought peace, he still chose to follow the way of the sword. His hands were great to take lives and end wars, not raise children.
He avoided spending too long beside his little brother in fears of hurting him or robbing him of his precious time with their mother. He loved being around children, yes, but having one of his own? That… that was a large step. Could he raise, care and lull a baby of his own? Him? With his clumsy hands and theatrical flairs?
He'd been told off over and over throughout his life about 'what a child' he was, or that he had to 'grow up'. Could a child raise another one? Could a child who'd killed many people raise a sinless child?
Owain didn't hear anything else the woman said, nor did he notice when time passed and night fell. The chill in the air made him get up to look at the moon which shone down on the window he was sitting by. "Can these hands even raise something without destroying it?" He whispered as he looked at his open palms under the moonlight.
"What're you talking about? You're so good at growing plants." Cressida breathed out, still a bit out of it. Blinking, she realized she wasn't on their bed. "Where's this?"
Owain felt reality crash down in his chest as his legs trembled and his shoulders fell with the pressure. "Y-you collapsed and..." He hiccuped, turning to her. She widened her eyes. Look at how much pain he had in his expression!
"Owain," Cressida opened her arms, urging him to snuggle on her chest. He choked a sob and sat by the bed, digging his head over her shoulder.
"T-they said that you're p-pregnant." He said under sobs, weakly wrapping his arms around her, mindful of her condition.
Cressida's mouth was left agape in shock. "Pregnant-" She stuttered, torn between being overjoyed and worried. The expression she saw on Owain's face a moment ago wasn't one of happiness, after all. "This is a big step, huh..."
Saying nothing, Owain nodded, sniffling by her chest. "How c-can I raise a child after going through so much death? Am I allowed this happiness?"
Cressida's heart twinged with pain and love. She took one of his hands to her stomach, giggling at how cold both of them were. "If you're unsure of how to feel about this, then why don't we go talk with Sir Frederick tomorrow and ask him how he first felt when he found out he was going to be a father? I'm sure he'll have the answers you're looking for; with him being a knight and all, he'll know what you're feeling."
Owain's breathing steadied for a moment; Cressida knew how highly he thought of his father, after all.
"Besides," she went on, raising her shoulder so he could look at her in the eyes. "I don't know about you, but I can't wait to meet our baby." She bit her lower lip, her heart a jumbled mess of feelings: anxiety, eagerness, fear, love, protectiveness... All for hearing a single sentence.
Pregnancy.
She knew her husband well -- he was overwhelmed by the sudden change and didn't know how to react, but she was sure he would come around to looking forward to it as much as, if not more than, her. They sealed their promise with a quiet kiss, both of them too anxious to fall asleep. Instead, they simply lied in each other's arms over that cramped infirmary bed, their thoughts of the future.
The next day, they left before reveille was announced at the castle for the recruits, intent on finding Frederick before the day properly started.
Owain stumbled upon his words, unsure of how to properly ask something so personal yet so important to him, as his father's child. He blushed deeply once Frederick finally understood what his son meant with the question and Cressida had to jump back for Frederick bear hugged his son immediately. "A child?! Haha! To think I would live to see the day my grandchild is born!" The knight laughed as his tears streamed down his face. "You're with child!" He beamed, quickly scooping Cressida into the hug, squeezing them to the bone-shattering point. "What joy!"
"F-father, c-can't breathe..."
"You'll kill me before your g-grandchild is born..." Cressida gasped, not understanding how Frederick could even HUG someone while wearing that much armor.
"Oh, forgive me." As though he hadn't been crying a second ago, he released them both from his grip, sniffling with pride. "Ah, Owain, my son! This feeling is almost the same as the one I felt the day I met you!"
Owain's head drooped to the side. "Met me? B-but Father, I was asking about when mother was pregn-"
"But don't you see, Son? I was already a father the day I met you! How proud I was to see that my son had grown up to be such a principled and strong young man! I hadn't experienced your conception nor your birthting, indeed, but can you deny that our bonds are just the same, if not stronger, than the ones I hold with your brother?" He patted Owain's shoulder as the younger man tried and failed to keep his tears in check. "You are my true son, Owain, and meeting you that day on the Sage's Hamlet... Seeing you fight so valiantly to protect the weak filled my heart with pride."
"F-father..."
"Being a parent can be tiring and taxing, yes, but it is so much more rewarding in turn! Just by thinking about that small baby fills your heart with strength! Every day do I train harder than the previous one just so I can keep both of you safe." The knight puffed his chest with pride. "You'll feel that with your whole being as you teach and watch your baby grow, I am certain of it."
Owain widened his eyes, the tears stopping. "The legend..." He whispered, making Cressida and Frederick both bend over to listen in. "The legend... WILL... LIVE ON!! UWOOOOOH!" He yelled to the sky above, starling wife and father both. "MIGHTY CRESSIDA!" He picked her up and lifted her towards the sky, as he did years ago when they came back home. "WE'LL BE THE ONES TO CONTINUE WITH THE LEGENDARY GENERATION I THOUGHT LOST ON ME! OUR BABY IS TRULY THE CHOSEN ONE!" He twirled her around, laughing as she covered her mouth with both hands so as not to be swept by his enthusiasm and scream as well.
"Let's raise he or she well, yes?" She managed to level her voice amidst all the twirling, prompting Owain to put her on the floor and wrap his arms around her shoulders.
"... Yes. Yes, let's make this baby happy with everything we have. We'll... learn together." He felt his eyes once again burn with tears.
"As it should be," Cressida herself couldn't hold back her emotion any longer, but a noise coming from behind caught their attention.
"Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait..." A voice said over and over like a chant. "WAITAMINUTE! YOU'RE PREGNANT?!" Lissa pointed from the door, little Owain in tow. She didn't wait for them to reply, however. "I'M... I'M GONNA BE A GRANDMOTHER? BUT I <JUST> GAVE BIRTH TO YOU!"
"Mom, I'm not a baby! I'm 5 already!" Little Owain puffed his chest, not understanding what was going on.
"SEE? A BABY!" She ignored when Owain commented that she hadn't given birth to him. "A BABY! HAVING ANOTHER BABY! FREDERICK!"
Smiling, the knight simply turned to his small and loud wife, taking her extended hand.
"I NEED TO MOVE IN WITH THEM!" Desperate, her eyes were spinning. "A baby having another baby!!"
"M-moooom!" Owain protested under his wife's loud laughter. Cressida could barely wait to meet her and Owain's child!
I also had no clue you liked Frederick/Lissa? That's so refreshing because it seems most Lissa pairings are her and Lon'qu. Which is fine! But it's nice seeing other pairings for her and Frederick (I kinda like Frederick/Sumia too, oops).
I shipped FredLissa from the COVER ART XD
(Kozaki posted his sketches for Awakening recently on his twitter)
And then when I saw their interactions I almost died cause I oh so love this knight/princess trope…
Hi, what are your head cannons of Lissa and Frederick? I never read about that pairing, it sounds amazing though :')
Hell yessss, I love them a lot! Get readyy
-> They’re at least 10 years apart so up until his feelings hit him like a SLAP ON THE FACE, Freddie never thought of Lissa as anything more than a princess he swore to protect;
-> It’s canon that he was Lissa’s first love so, having that^ in mind, 12-something Lissa getting FRUSTRATED by 20-something Freddie not understanding all the things she’s doing (getting embarrassed when he’s near, holding onto him when she’s afraid– even when she calls for him before she even thought of her brother! The AUDACITY!) and pranks him instead. The poor bear spent at least 2 years thinking his princess hated him because of all the things she did sdajlkjlads
-> Freddie and Robin become really close at around the Gangrel arc cause they both realize their feelings for Lissa and Chrom and feel unworthy of loving someone so above their stations… which makes Lissa think that the new tactician is wooing HER knight and that’s why she pranks Robin so much;
-> AND THIS IS WHY HE’S SO DISTANT DURING THEIR SUPPORTS, cause he’s trying to run away from his feelings – how could he even DARE to hope to spend more time with his princess– no, with YLISSE’S princess, she’s not his! How could he even think of such terrible, terrible thoughts? Lady Emmeryn would feel so betrayed, surely…
-> It’s only after Robin gets PREGNANT that she gets enough of seeing both of them tiptoeing around each other and she tells Chrom about Fred’s and Lissa’s feelings and he’s ECSTATIC. Fred only proposes to Lissa after Chrom gives his blessing to them
-> So after they’re together Lissa can finally go back to pranking without him fearing her hate towards him and she just cannot get ENOUGH of just yelling ‘OH MY NAGA, FREDERICK!’ behind him just so he can get his Knight Mode™ on and turn around to her height so she can sneak a kiss ;D
-> She acts basically like a cat trapped onto a tree, especially when they’re alone in their room/tent. Example: “Time to wake up” “Nnnnghhhhh *clings onto him*” “milady i can’t move *gets up*” *Lissa still clinging onto him while he walks around “ghhh stop movinggg”
-> She’s generaly a heavy sleeper and when he’s particularly busy he’ll pull her covers very hard – one time she twirled around and fell on her face. She spent an entire week without speaking with him while he deeply apologized and begged Chrom to kill him for hurting her (she was enjoying the attention too much to stop akdlkads)
-> BECAUSE she’s a heavy sleeper and Fred wakes up before dawn, he likes to watch as the sun makes its way inside their room and shines over her blond hair – he feels like he has all the sun for himself (which he actually believe he does – Lissa is such a bright light in his life; and has been for such a long time he literally cannot think of a life without her by his side) and more than once Lissa woke up with tiny braids around her hair because he can’t keep his hands to himself;
-> Usually he tries to sleep after her (esp because of his Butler Mode), but sometimes he conks out before her and while he’s asleep she likes to run her fingers through his jawline and eyebrows (she also like to accentuate his ahoge by twirling it around her index) and this is one of the times she gets really emotional about all they’ve been through – she remembers watching him nap when she was young but he was so far away… look at how far they’ve come now.
-> He spent at least the first married year calling her Lady Lissa and it drove her INSANE to the point of her covering her ears and going ‘lalalala I’m not listeninggg’ whenever he did that while they were alone. Sometimes it still slips out, but it’s getting rarer as the years pass by.
-> She got pregnant a little while after Grima was defeated, so little Owain was almost 2 when Robin came back
-> Speaking of, he’s the most energetic baby IN THE ENTIRE EXISTENCE, it’s as though he’s moved by sun AND moonlight; he refuses to sleep and only wants to playplayplayplayPLAY – it drives the poor princess insane, even if she does have a great amount of energy. Different from Chrom and Luci, Lissa welcomed the help of nursemaids or she’d die otherwise akçsdlçda
Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @breeachuu! Thank you for the patience as well! ;v;)b
Summary: Odin decides to take Cressida back to Ylisse with him, so they can finally meet his parents and get their blessings. They’ll also finally be able to take a very crucial step for their relationship...
Commission info HERE and HERE!
The last battle against Anankos left a bittersweet taste inside Odin's, Selena's and Laslow's mouths. They were overjoyed that they had finally fulfilled their promise with their friend, but they also knew what that meant: It was time to go back home.
Of course, going back was everything they wanted, however they all have made bonds with the people in this foreign world they had called home for over five years. Some of these bonds couldn't be broken, for they were bonds of love.
Odin was resolute about bringing Cressida back to Ylisse with him, as were Selena and Laslow to bringing their beloved Subaki and Hana, respectively. All six of them had meeting after meeting throughout the duration of the war so they would be able to leave as soon as everything was resolved.
The night before their appointed time to open the portal, Hana cried in Sakura's arms, refusing to leave without telling her liege and friend where she was going to go. At the same time, Subaki and Cressida released their mounts that had accompanied them for so long, whispering an apology.
Odin wrote an ode for his esteemed Lord while Selena spent an extra minute brushing Camilla's hair. Laslow gave Xander a short bow from afar, lifting his head with conviction.
They left in the middle of the night, walking back to the very same spot they had been transported to the first time Anankos brought them to Valla.
"I feel like we just stole something," Hana crossed her arms uncomfortably. After receiving Sakura's blessing, her spirits lifted considerably, so she was actually enjoying the adventurous mood.
"Memories, perhaps?" Subaki winked, "we are leaving them with only these, after all."
"Wow, talk about grim." Selena elbowed her husband.
Cressida squeezed Odin's hand the whole way, feeling more nervous with each step.
Of course, she wouldn't mind following her beloved wherever he went, but she WAS about to go to his homeland and meet his parents (or the next best thing). "Are you sure this is safe? You never used this... orb... before, right?" She looked at the small crystal orb Odin carried, two similar ones by Selena's and Laslow's hands.
He scratched his temple, "you wound me, milady! I am Odin Dark, the mage all will fear throughout the ages-"
"You mean 'Owain Dark'?" Cressida teased, making Odin choke.
"Uh, yeah, I meant that-" he blushed, secretly looking forward to being called his birth name without needing to hide it. "Anankos said that we just need to activate it and it'll take us to a one-way trip back home."
"So that's why you never went back," she commented, looking up, "because you wouldn't be able to return here."
"Indeed. But 'tis now a thing of the past! Now, we shall return to Ylisse, the blessed land purged from evil!"
Cressida pressed her lips so as not to grin. A new life, a place where no one knew her -- a place free from expectations and pressure. Cressida's heart felt lighter already!
"We're here." Laslow said from up ahead. "Are you all ready?"
The bow knight gulped, looking from Odin to the fallen building in front of them. He let go of her hand and took a step forward, lifting his orb so it would touch his friends'.
"O, POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY-"
"Enough of that!" Selena kicked his shin. "We don't have anything to say, just throw the thing on the ground already."
"B-But I had a speech all ready!" He hopped with one foot, massaging his shin.
"I feel quite nervous as well, dear Selena. Let us hear what Odin has to say, hmm? Maybe we'll feel better by watching him embarrass himself."
Selena bobbed her head to the sides, "yeah, that sounds good."
"Hey, I heard that!" Odin hopped back, putting his foot on the ground. "Oh, well, let us begin!" He gestured to the moon. "O, Power of the Almighty, open to us this Divine Passageway towards the Land of our Birth-"
Cressida snorted. She could pinpoint the words he was emphasizing, as though she could even see the capitalized letters in his speech.
"-May the light blessed upon us protect us in our triumphant return! May the curse laid upon us dissolve the very moment we step in familiar ground, MAY THIS POWER THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR HEROIC VEINS NEVER FADE! HIAARRGH!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, startling all but Cressida, who kinda expected that to happen, and vigorously threw his orb on the ground.
Surprised, Selena and Laslow quickly followed, throwing their orbs at nearby spots, the light that shone immediately blinding them all. Odin ran back to Cressida and took her by the hand. "Let's jump in just like before, quick!" He urged, not giving her a chance to reply as he pulled her.
"We're going in first!" She laughed, feeling not fear from diving into the unknown, but a thrill -- as long as she held her beloved's hand, she didn't have anything to fear.
Different from the portal to Valla, the light she jumped into didn't make her feel vertigo or pass out, no. It was a warm light, welcoming much like a mother's embrace. For some reason, Cressida felt the presence of an ancient being, much more powerful and kinder than Anankos had ever been. It somehow flew past her, like a memory soon to be forgotten.
"Whew, that was easier than the trip to Valla, right, Cressida?" The bow knight heard Odin -- no, Owain -- say before she opened her eyes.
"Yeah, it was smooth sailin-wait, why is your hair-" Midway to focusing back on her beloved, Cressida pointed at how the blonde melted from his hair, giving way to a dark brown color.
Owain gasped, "oh yeah!" He flinched, looking around. They were back at the Mila Tree, the place with the largest concentration of power in their world. He simply needed to look down to the submerged roots to look at his own reflection over the water. "I-it's back to normal, haha!"
"I married a bruneTTE?! Wha-" Cressida meant to tease, but Owain lifted and twirled her around, laughing the whole time.
"He's with me again! Father is!" He squeezed Cressida in his arms, miraculously not tripping on the overgrown roots. "Oh, I bet my Brand's back, too!" He put Cressida down and lifted his sleeve, showing not only his bare muscles but a foreign tattoo-like birthmark on his forearm. "YEAHHH!"
"That's the Brand of the Exalt you told me about?" Cressida chuckled, enjoying how happy Owain looked, slightly touching it.
"Indeed it it, Mighty Cressida! 'Tis the proof that this Od-OWAIN DARK WAS BORN!!! FROM THE LEGENDARY!! LISSA OF HOUSE YLISSE!!" He yelled on top of his lungs, excited.
"Ugh, the first thing I hear when I come back home is your yelling? Way to kill the mood, Owain." Severa blinked from her own portal, bringing Subaki by the hand. "Oh, your hair and clothes-"
Cressida blinked. "Yeah, you're dressed... differently than just a second ago."
Owain flinched, looking from his friend to his garments. "THE HOLY VESTMENTS OF THE ANCIENT SWORDMASTERS! BY THE GODS, THE CURSE UPON MY SWORD HAND IS BACK!!" He lifted his right hand upwards, gripping at it with his left hand. "The blade is the way I shall live! Ethereal or physical, 'tis with the power of the blade that I shall conquer this world!"
"Aww, I missed this uniform so much!" Severa ignored him, looking at how she wore her old Mercenary outfit, her own red hair melting back into her father's green. "Daddy," she sniffed, hugging her twintails with softness.
"Whoa! Where are we? Oh-ew, we're in a swamp?" Hana dove her leg inside the clear water, "wait, it's so clean. Where are we?"
From behind her, Inigo smiled, looking to his friends. They all nodded and looked up.
"We're home."
After the initial excitement, the group started to wonder HOW they would make the trip back to Ylisse. Regardless of route, it would take them at least one month, and that is if they hurried.
"Why don't we stop by the Wyvern Valley and ask Gerome to give us a ride?" Inigo suggested that same night as they settled a ways from the Mila Tree.
"Yeah, that is IF we manage not to turn into wyvern food while we look for him." Severa scoffed, carefully brushing her hair. "We're better off just taking the boat from Valm harbor, the same we did-" she lost her voice, a warm smile covering her face.
"The same way we did before." Owain finished, admiring the sword he thought lost so many years ago.
The Mila Tree was midway between Rosanne, Chon'sin and Valm harbor, so going out of their way to ask for aid from any of their old companions would only elongate their trip.
"If we go in marching speed, we can reach the harbor in four days." Inigo looked up to the starry sky, not realizing how much he'd missed it. He pointed to the direction they would follow.
"You guys don't need a map or anything?" Cressida commented, nudging Owain's arm.
The three friends smiled like the war veterans that they were. "Naw, we know the way by heart." He replied, looking up. "The stars are still the same, too."
"Much brighter than where we came from..." Severa lied down. Subaki and Hana thought that they meant Nohr, so they both nodded in accordance.
Cressida also concurred, but she remembered the tales of a broken future Owain so passionately told her about. She inadvertently took his hand, resting her head on his shoulder.
Needless to say, no one but Hana managed to sleep a wink that night. Severa and Subaki spent the whole time whispering to themselves as Inigo caressed his wife's hair, humming a song his mother had taught him in a future past.
Owain couldn't sit still, so he took Cressida for a walk under the premise of 'patrolling'.
"There really aren't any more risen, though." He said frantically, looking up at the blessed Mila Tree. Suddenly, he bowed to it. "Thank you for allowing us a safe passage, Almighty Naga."
Closing her eyes, Cressida remembered the strange presence she had felt while she crossed the portal, wondering if it had been the Divine Dragon from this world. She gave it a silent prayer, holding Owain's arm for support.
"You're antsy." She commented after a while of silence. "I've never seen you like this."
Owain blinked, his eyes shining with tears. As though the acknowledgement of his feelings was all that he needed to loosen himself. Instead of crying, however, he let out a goofy smile. "I'm just- I can't believe it! We're going back! I'm going to see Mother and Father again and- and tell them we fought as hard as we could to help a friend."
"Mhm," Cressida urged him to continue, caressing his cheek with one hand. He closed his eyes to enjoy her touch.
"I wonder if they'll be proud? ... Hah, Mother will probably kick my ass, though... Ugh, suddenly I'm not in a hurry to go back, after all."
"Hah!" Cressida sneered, "your Father is a knight, correct? I'm sure he will take your side, at least."
"Father..." Owain held his beloved's hand on his, remembering how his Father's words would always echo back in his heart whenever he felt unfit or weak. "I really do wanna come back, after all. I want to introduce the Mighty Cressida to them, too."
"Now I'M the one nervous," she wrapped her arms around his torso, resting her head over his chest. "I hope they'll like me."
"By the holy blood that goes through my veins, they will!" He squeezed her in his hug, taking her smell in. Ah, it really did relax him. "Mother is very friendly; I'll need to make sure she won't steal you from me!"
"My knight in shining armor!" Cressida laughed, pulling away just enough to look up to his eager eyes. "Thank you for bringing me with you, Owain. I honestly think that the place that's best for me is the one by your side, regardless of worlds."
"Mighty Cressida!" Owain gasped, stealing a kiss. "I make these words mine! I vow to make you happy for as long as we live, dear one." He whispered by her lips, their breaths intertwining.
"Good, good," the bow knight smooched her beloved, turning small kisses into a long and passionate one. "I can't wait to hear all about this world from the best storyteller I know."
That made his eyes perk up like a puppy's. "I shall not hold back, milady! Allow me to start henceforth!" He twirled her around, gesturing towards the great tree ahead. "The tale of betrayal, brotherly love, conquest and clean revenge!"
Smiling, the bow knight for the first felt like she was home, from the bottom of her heart. Home would be whenever Owain's arms were. "I'm listening."
They camped out for exactly four nights as Inigo had predicted. On the morning of the fifth day, they finally arrived at Valm Harbor, and the three friends couldn't be more surprised at how much it changed.
There were ylisseans, feroxi, plegians and valmese people working hand in hand at the ships and at the shops as well. A booth of ylissean food made quite a name for itself so far away from home.
The trio had kept their ylissean money safe and sound for almost six years, holding onto the hope that they would be able to spend it one day -- to think that the first thing they would do with that money was buy food tasting like home!
They didn't take much time sightsee -- they were in a hurry to go back, after all -- but the little they did, mesmerized Cressida, Hana and Subaki.
For some reason, that world was different than anything they've ever seen, and they've been at Valla! Somehow, its atmosphere was completely different. Even in Hoshido, a kingdom that's spread peace as its first policy, Hana and Subaki didn't feel the blissful energy that they felt here.
The stars shone more brightly than any sky they've had the pleasure to look upon, as well.
At the ship, when Cressida commented that to Owain, he placed one hand in front of his face. "That is indeed because the evil has been completely purged from this land! For half a decade, this place has been basking in the light of union and peace. By the sacrifice of a cursed yet holy maiden, this land's flourished." He pointed to the stars, to the Divine Dragon constelation. It had some kind of white milky line crossing all over it, in the shape of a dragon. "I wonder if Robin came back, though..." He whispered, making Cressida look back to him. "Lucina, Morgan and uncle Chrom deserve to have her back."
The bow knight patted her beloved's back. "We better hurry on back, hm? So we can find out firsthand."
They could've looked in notice boards or simply asked around, but for some reason, that didn't cross their minds. Owain nodded, resting his head on Cressida's shoulder.
Haha, sometimes he's like a puppy, but now he's a kitten, she thought humorously, leaning her head on his.
The cold sea breeze made her truly feel like she belonged, Owain's sneaky hand around her waist making her smirk grow. "Hmm?"
He squeezed her back, not lifting his head. "Just a little bit more and we'll be home. We'll be... alone." He coughed.
Immediately did the bow knight blush, clearing her throat. Married as they were, they never managed to actually consummate such vow back in Valla. Were it the war, the battles, the accidental walk-ins or the shared rooms; they could never be truly by themselves to be one with each other.
Cressida would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it -- that they would finally do it once they returned to Ylisse -- but talking about it made her much more impatient.
There were so many things to do still! They would need to go through this entire trip by ship, which could take from two to three weeks depending on the wind; rent a carriage to take them through Ferox all the way to Ylisse; meet Owain's parents and make a good impression on them... But sometimes she just wanted to run away with him to be inside his arms and share his warmth under the moonlight.
She bit her lip, nudging his head up with her shoulder. "Aren't we a bit too eager for this?" She chuckled. "We've waited this much and yet..."
Too embarrassed to look up, Owain snuggled on her neck a bit more, turning her to him. "I just... love you so much, Mighty Cressida. You know that, however..." He slowly raised his head, pressing their foreheads together. "I don't want us to hide anything from each other." He whispered before the impending kiss, their breaths intertwining.
Cressida opened her mouth to welcome him, closing her eyes to enjoy his caress to its fullest. It was essentially their first deep kiss since coming home, but they weren't thinking about that.
"Hide our bodies, you mean?" She teased, biting his lower lip with a smirk. He loudly cleared his throat, looking away.
"I, uh, yeah..." He said in a thin voice, the slight sway of the waves the only sound around them.
"Urghh... how can you guys be okay with this much swaying?" Hana stumbled around from a nearby door, coming out of the room to get some fresh air. "The seas in Hoshido were much more, urlp..." she leaned on the parapet, wondering what ELSE she had to do to feel better.
"Hana, my love!" Inigo ran out of the same door, carrying a glass of water.
Cressida and Owain exchanged glances before laughing. Indeed, they couldn't wait to be alone!
Since the accomodations in the ship were divided by gender, the only time they could spend together was while their waking hours. Owain took that opportunity to tell Cressida about their misadventures during both the war in the past as well as the one in their future past. How the first time he boarded a functioning boat was when he came back to Ylisse after his Mother and Uncle had found him doing heroic deeds in valmese land.
With Owain by her side, every day was a single new experience -- Cressida could never get enough of listening to his stories, though she barely reacted the way he wanted her to (with applauses and whistles, but by then he knew that she wasn't that kind of person).
They all had the same surprise once they arrived at Port Ferox: so much diversity and harmony! Since they would need to buckle up a bit while they crossed feroxi territory, they went to look for clothes (Subaki had to make sure his wife wouldn't splurge everything she had saved all those years).
With the little money they all had, it wouldn't be possible to buy a horse for each couple, so they indeed had to rent a carriage to take them back home.
Ferox was indeed cold, but Cressida felt it less than her outer-wordly counterparts since she was a born and raised nohrian. Soon the ice gave way to a lush of greenery, the familiar ylissean land making the trio's eyes sparkle with anticipation.
Owain squeezed Cressida's hand, the smile never leaving his face. Soon they would be home: the ylissean castle could already be seen in the distance.
"Ya'll arrived at a fine time, lads and lasses," the coachman hummed happily. "'S gonna be the princesses' birthday festival soon, so the realm's all ready for partyin'."
"Oh yeah, we never actually got the date," Severa mumbled, putting one hand over her mouth. "So it's Luci's birthday..."
"Is the castle going to be open to the public as usual, mister?" Inigo asked, wondering what they would need to do to get inside if the answer came out to be negative.
To their relief, it wasn't. "Aye, it is! They're lettin' everyone come inside the usual parts to check out how the preparations're goin'!"
The three friends looked at each other and nodded, their smiles harder and harder to hide. Cressida, however, bobbed her head to the side.
"Princess?" She mumbled. If she remembered correctly, that Lucina person was Owain's cousin.
And that her father, Chrom, Owain's uncle, was the ruler of that land. Which would make him... a prince?! She slapped her mouth in surprise. How dumb could she have been? She never made the connection of him being royalty!
So that meant that not only his father was a royal knight, his mother was a princess! "Oh, gods, I suddenly don't feel very well." She lowered her head, talking to herself. What 'no one to impress', what 'no superiors to feel nervous around'! A knight and a princess!
Feeling rather drained, but still following her beloved with a (strained) smile, Cressida didn't remember how they got off the carriage and started elbowing their way through the hustling city. The royal castle came closer and closer, as did Cressida's anxiety.
"Well, then, we'll separate here, friends." Inigo said as they crossed the gates. "Father and Mother will probably be at the eastern part of the castle, at the mage tower."
Severa nodded. "Yeah, and Mother's probably at the barracks, at the western tower."
Owain puffed his chest, looking straight ahead. Lissa should be at the royal wing, and Frederick wouldn't be much far, being the Kingsguard as he was.
The six of them dispersed temporarily, promising to meet again at the mess hall later that evening. Cressida missed her opportunity to ask for a time out, being led by Owain's hand towards the central staircase.
Squeezing her eyes, she opened her mouth to protest. "Wai-"
"OHMYNAGA, OWAIN?!?!" From their side, a loud shriek startled both of them, not one step into the staircase.
Cressida widened her eyes, looking to the blonde young woman who had called them: She seemed like she was just back from a walk with her young son, with whom she held hands. "It's you, isn't? My son!" She yelled, tackling Owain into the nearby wall. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS ONCE I'M DONE HUGGING YOU!" She sniffled, rubbing her head on his chest.
"Owowow, M-Mother, you're killing me-" he half laughed, half cried, his hands trembling, not knowing if he should hug her back or pull her away.
"I BETTER!" Lissa pulled away, hitting his torso and kicking his legs multiple times. "How dare you leave me without saying goodbye! I'm gonna ground you for LIFE!"
Cressida's nervousness somehow melted away by watching how alike Owain was to his mother, although she looked younger than both of them. A small hand tugging the bow knight's shirt made she look down.
Immediately did she cover her face in embarrassment -- she was looking at a miniature of her husband! He was so cute!
"Is he Big Brother Owain? T-The LEGENDARY OWAIN DARK? From the DOOOWN, SWORD HAND?!" The boy asked, getting more and more excited with each word, doing an extravagant pose to imitate his brother.
Owain's eyes gleamed, his demeanor perking up like a puppy's. "I SEE MY LEGEND'S SPREAD FAR--owowow Mother, my ear-ow!"
"You're not free from me yet, young man!" Lissa narrowed her eyes to him, then turned to her younger boy. "This moron is your legendary brother, Owi. Let's go back to show him to everyone!"
Having said that, Lissa started going up the stairs while pulling Owain by the ear. "Owowow, Mother! W-wait, Cressida!" He extended his hand, hopelessly trying to disentangle himself from his mother.
"Muh? Who-" Lissa turned back to the woman Owain had pointed to. "Is that- oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!" She let out a wolfish grin. "Are you Owain's...?"
"Oh, um, yes, ma'am. My name's Cressida-" she meant to bow, but Lissa went down the steps she had climbed, never letting go of Owain's ear, and took Cressida's hand with her free one.
"Psh, you can just call me Lissa! C'mon, I'll need you to tell me everything from where this idiot son of mine's been! Also how in the world you managed to fall in love with him, hah!"
Little Owain held Cressida's hand, trapping her between her newest family of a sort. She had never been so... warmly welcomed, if she could use such word. The bow knight smiled and nodded, following her younger mother-in-law up the stairs.
"C-Cressida! Tell her to release me!" Owain cried, his ear burning.
"I don't think I have the authority to tell her what to do, Owain." Cressida snorted, making Lissa guffaw loudly.
"HAH! I like her, already! We're gonna get along nicely, Cressida! C'mon, let's pick up the pace!"
"Moooommmm!" Owain complained, though with a wide smile on his face. Yes, home truly felt the best, after all.
Lissa made such a ruckus at the entrance that even Chrom and Robin heard it from all the way up to the royal wing. Frederick was the first one to arrive and bear hug his son, almost breaking the other bones Lissa managed to leave intact from her own hug. Owain cried a little in his father's arms, but managed to bounce back up the moment he met his cousins and their younger counterparts.
Soon the news of their friends being sighted at opposite sides of the castle made it feel like it was a holiday. People smiling and waving from the corridors as well as their younger counterparts jumping around, wanting to hear more of Owain's fun stories.
They all went to the mess hall to talk and share a true ylissean meal for the first time in six years, the air filled with happiness and welcoming.
At the first glance, Cressida felt intimidated by Owain's father, Frederick. He had the same aura as Xander, and that didn't bring many happy memories for the bow knight, however, the moment he set his eyes on his son and started crying, Cressida felt relieved. They all looked like wonderful people to be around of, and although she still had a spot of nervousness at the back of her heart, she truly felt that she would belong there, with time.
"I kinda want to put you in chains so you won't disappear again in the middle of the night," Lissa commented, guiding them through the immense corridors, "but I guess I'll just need to put guards on your door, huh?" She winked.
"M-mother, please," Owain stuttered, touching her shoulder. "I wouldn't run away with my wife the day after introducing her to you."
Playful, Lissa giggled. "I know, silly," she looked down for a moment, her face flickering with emotion. "I just don't wanna feel that way again. Don't you dare run off on me again, you hear? I still need to hear a lot more details from this random world you ended up in. Ah, no offense, Cressida."
"None taken, ma'am- ah, Lissa."
The princess nodded with pride. "She's an obedient girl, Owain! It still baffles me how you managed to score such a good catch."
"Mooommm...!" He whined, covering his face in embarrassment. Lissa laughed loudly, finally stopping in front of a door.
"Alright, here you go! Your room for now. Don't think I won't bring this door down first thing in the morning, 'cause I will, okay? You two better be awake and, well, composed by then." She snorted, enjoying how beet red both of them turned.
"Mother!!" Owain shrieked, quickly opening the door and shoving Cressida in. "We won't run away, promise!"
"Give Mother a hug," Lissa smiled, opening both arms as she put herself on her toes. Owain deflated, defeated.
"A-alright, Mother... Good night." He awkwardly patted her back as she raised one leg to squeeze his neck with everything she had.
"Take care of him, won't you, Cressida? I'm gonna rent him all day tomorrow."
"We'll be looking forward to it, Lissa." Cressida smiled softly, a bubbly warmth sprouting inside her chest.
"I don't wanna give more goodbyes. Can't I sleep here with you?" Lissa adorably tilted her head to the side, side-eyeing the large bed.
"Mother!" Owain cleared his throat, his face so red it almost gleamed.
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving. Good night, Son." She smooched his cheek, quickly closing the door so she wouldn't feel like staying another minute. "Welcome home," she whispered, leaning her back on the door, a content smile across her face.
Panting, Owain quickly locked the door, too embarrassed to look back to Cressida. "S-so, she's like that, yeah."
"You two are so alike, I can see why your Father chose to marry her." Cressida chuckled, looking around their new room: it was truly fit for a prince, complete with a large bed and two great windows with view to the garden.
The warm moonlight shone through the tempered glass, making the atmosphere a pleasant one to simply lie down and sleep, though that was the farthest thing in their minds at the moment.
The bow knight smirked, enjoying the silence, although she knew Owain was too nervous to even turn around to her. "We're finally alone, hm?" She teased, sitting on the bed and taking off her boots.
Owain's shoulders sagged, an awkward smile creeping up on his lips. "Hah, yeah. No Niles to open the door unannounced, though I can't guarantee Mother won't take that role..." he added the last part in a whisper, "no open dormitories or camping out with everyone..."
"No random people feeling seasick or trying to talk after ruining the mood," Cressida added, not being able to contain the laugh that grew in her throat. "Haha, we've been through so much, haven't we, Owain?" With her feet still on the floor, she lied down on the bed, finding it way more comfortable than what she was used to.
"I can't even believe we're still at the beginning of our lives," Owain finally relaxed, turning back to look at his wife. "And we've done so much already."
"But for now on, we'll do things for ourselves rather than for other people." Cressida added, turning on her side to watch Owain sit down and take off his boots.
"I... don't think I know how to do that." He confessed, glancing back to her with an embarrassed smile. "I fought for greater causes my whole life, I'm not sure I know how to stop."
"Honestly, I'm the same," Cressida walked on fours to him, wrapping both arms around his chest." But we can learn together."
Owain gulped, touching Cressida's hand with his own. It was adorably cold, as was his heart thumping loudly. "We will...." He breathed out, nervous.
Giggling, Cressida turned his head to face her, enjoying how adorably rosy it was. "Won't you kiss me like you did that night on the ship?"
"Oh, Mighty Cressida!" He breathed with difficulty, carefully cupping her face with both hands, placing a tender kiss on her lips.
"Mhm," Cressida closed her eyes to enjoy her beloved's taste, opening her mouth to allow his entry. Shy, his tongue took a moment to explore her mouth, their bodies rubbing against each other.
Cressida's hands impatiently went for his swordmaster garment, freeing him from layer over layer of clothes under giggles. "How many shirts are you wearing?" She laughed.
Owain gurgled a laugh under her lips, opening the last of his shirts to reveal his toned and scarred body. It looked so much manlier than it did back at Valla; perhaps because it was his own, raw body, without the guise of an ancient dragon's magic. Cressida had to lick her lips and gulp for her throat suddenly felt dry.
Slowly did she descend to the bed, Owain covering her face and lips with kisses while one hand tried to free her from her top. She managed to undo her own buttons, not bothering to get up and take off the shirt altogether. Simply showing her underwear amidst her open buttons made Owain feel his underpants getting tighter.
"Is this really happening?" He asked nervously, licking her neck as she touched his belt.
They both felt a jolt of electricity the moment their bare skins brushed against one another, finally free of their pants. "Ah, Mighty Cressida indeed. I cannot have enough of seeing your marvelous bod-mmph!"
She stole a kiss, pulling him from his ears. "Save the praise for when we're around other people." She whispered, "now it's the time to feel."
"Y-yes, ma'am," he licked her lip, biting it right after.
"You won't hurt me, Owain. You can touch me." She caressed his hair, guiding his hand to the middle of her legs.
She felt when his fingers twitched with hesitation, her own vulva pulsating in anticipation. The moment he inserted one finger into her, she gasped a surprised and pleased moan.
Owain widened his eyes, enjoying how fragile, sexy, demanding and wonderfully beautiful Cressida looked with just a single of his touches. Once again did he kiss her, exploring her inner thighs with one hand, using the other one to free his erection.
Moaning under his soft touches, Cressida rolled her eyes in pleasure, barely believing they were finally taking that step. "D-don't take too long, Owain... I can't wait any more than this." She begged, though in the same sounding as an order.
His eyes unfocused, Owain was inebriated by his beloved's voice, prodding his glans by her vaginal opening. Her pleased moan only made him insert it a step further, going in with ease due to her natural lubrication.
"It's so t-tight," he huffed, sliding it all inside.
"Gh-ahh... Don't stop..." Cressida huffed with pleasure, squeezing her eyes as she dug her nails on his back.
Obediently did Owain take it all out and thrusted back in, being spurred by Cressida's adorable voice.
Their minds fogged by lust, they lost themselves in one another, Owain's thrusts rhythmically going in and out of Cressida, her voice always begging for more and more. That moment felt as natural to them as it was to love each other. Their initial nervousness regarding finally being alone or wondering if they would be interrupted was lost amidst how well their bodies complemented each other; how right Owain felt inside of Cressida.
They were meant to love each other in that place, at that time -- at their rightful home, welcomed by the castle Owain helped save so long ago. "D-don't stop," Cressida bemoaned, her insides twitching with the approaching orgasm.
"C-Cressida!" Owain gasped, feeling how much tighter she had become, closing one eye in pleasure as he released himself inside of her. "Ah... hah..." He panted under her elongated moan, feeling how she squeezed herself around him.
"Oh, Owain-" Cressida panted, "I love you so much..." She confessed, never letting go of his neck, digging her face in his trapezium.
Owain felt his eyes burn with tears, truly feeling as though he had achieved the ultimate happiness. "I love you until the end of the world, Cressida." He huffed, never wanting to let go.
Their love was still so new, despite being sprinkled with so many adventures and overcoming. And yet, they couldn't wait to spend the rest of their days by each other's side, their hearts fulfilled and their bodies ready to get used to one another.
