Frelian Princess

Tatiana sighs. It had been a hard battle, and even though she herself was exhausted, she still had work to do. So many had been injured in the last battle, the tent was almost overflowing with patients, with wounds ranging from burns to other cuts from melee weapons.

She adjusts her skirts, tidying up her workspace. Then, she paced around the tent, checking in on those who were either sleeping or unconscious and quietly talking with those who were awake.

The flap to the tent flutters open as she was checking the dressing on a soldier’s wound. She turns her head.

Tana leaned into Eirika’s embrace, finding the small motions of Eirika’s hand on her cheek calming to the point where she could think more clearly, and while she was still choked up, she seemed to have no more tears to shed for the time being. Still Tana could not suppress her furrowed brow at Eirika’s resolute statement–it wasn’t troubling that she said such a thing in of itself, but that she clearly meant it–and that the implications left Tana feeling strangely guilty. She chose to brush it aside for the time being–where the emotion applied, she wasn’t quite sure herself, and it was far past the point where she felt it mattered.

“Eirika, I…” Tana started, gingerly cupping Eirika’s hand, and meeting her friend’s gaze, “If it’s not to much trouble, I’d like… I’d like to meet him myself.” She held her gaze, trying to read the other’s reaction. Of course, Eirika promised they’d all meet in due time, but… 

“…Soon, I mean. I swear I wont tell a soul about… about him, but…” Tana trailed off trying to gauge if she’d asked too much. 

Tana touched her hand and Eirika’s shoulders fell at once. She hadn’t even realized how tense she’d been until then. Tana’s request was more than fair, but…

“Ephraim and Lyon won’t much like that,” she admitted. “They’re so nervous.” 

Her eyes turned steely and she brushed her thumb again against Tana’s cheekbone. 

“But if that is what you want, you shall have it. Anything you need, to reassure you.” 

Her face softened as she finally smiled. 

“It... it is, thank you,” Tana replied with a forced smile, and meeting Eirika’s gaze. She was still uneasy: for Eirika’s relationships with her newly-restored friend and her brother, and if this might strain them; for how the meeting with Lyon might go, that Tana’s biases might sabotage any chance of getting along, that though she’d heard stories of the good times then and now from Erika and Ephraim themselves, she’d never personally known the (former?) prince of Grado well herself (he was never sociable, even way back then, before everything had gone to hell) and would never get this; that everything would be right with Lyon, Tana would even come to adore him herself, but that something horrible would happen, and ruin everything again.

Eirika’s invitation, however, went a long way towards at least steadying Tana’s frayed nerves, even in spite of the absolution of what was to come within it. Because for the time being, any uncertain future by her childhood friends’ sides was infinitely better than languishing in loneliness in a too-empty castle, deemed unhelpful in spite of everything she’d done, and left in ignorance at the rapidly changing world.

Tobin looks up at her, surprised. They hardly know each other, and yet…

He can feel a weight lifted from his shoulders.

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As Eirika spoke, Tana fought back the urge to start sobbing all over again, especially when the other woman’s voice started wavering.

“Oh, Eirika, I… I’m so sorry,” Tana reiterated, finally turning to face her friend again, clutching at the front of her dress. She was still mad, of course she was still mad, but Eirika trusted her, told her. The very least Tana could do was try to empathize with her dearest friend; it was clear that Lyon’s return left Eirika deeply conflicted.

“I… I can’t even begin to imagine how… how hard it must have been on you two,” Tana started, taking a shaky breath to steady her nerves as she began trudging to Eirika, “I’m so, so sorry. It wasn’t my pkace to…” Just being reminded of those horrible rumors of the twins’ characters was enough to make her blood boil, and thinking how, even now, Ephraim was still in some far away place in constant danger, in spite everything they’d done.

Tana knelt down before Eirika so as to not look down on her as she spoke (which was barely possible–Eirika was tall enough to be nearly eye-level with Tana when the latter was standing), reaching up in hope of holding her hands.

“I still don’t… don’t understand. But I want you and Ephraim both to be happy. To finally rest. I want the both of you to be safe. And Eirika you’ve… you’ve always been sensible. I just hope you’re right about this…” Tana began sniffling as she tried to fight back sobs, and struggling through them, continued with a shake of her head, “please promise me… promise me there’s been no cause for alarm since he… Lyon… came back. Please…” A small part of Tana hated herself for being so hurtful with her words, and still demanding Eirika comfort her.

“Oh, Tana.” 

Eirika gave her hands at once, sinking to join Tana on the ground. She only pulled away so she could set a palm to Tana’s cheek, stroking with her thumb, ready to wipe away any tears that fell. It broke her heart to distress her dearest friend like this – Tana was always sensible too, in her own way. She could see the situation for what it was; not clouded with anger like Innes surely would, or with love and guilt like Ephraim did. Like Eirika knew she herself did. 

“I can promise you that. Please don’t worry on that front. At first…I was suspicious. Much moreso than Ephraim. But I looked, and I looked, and…the demon really is gone.” 

She locked her eyes on Tana, hoping she could see how sincere she was. 

“If I thought my brother – and you and Innes – were in any danger…I swear to you, I would kill him myself, this time.” 

The very thought ached, and she winced against it. 

“Eirika, I...” Tana started, gingerly cupping Eirika’s hand, and meeting her friend’s gaze, “If it’s not to much trouble, I’d like... I’d like to meet him myself.” She held her gaze, trying to read the other’s reaction. Of course, Eirika promised they’d all meet in due time, but...