Fire Emblem - Awakening: March Prompts

Children

Sometime after the Endgame. Sumia.

"Cynthia! Be careful with your sister!"

My three-year-old daughter looked back at me, hefting the small toddler in her arms. "I will, Mom!" With that, she traveled further into the gardens until she found a good enough spot for her and Isabella to play.

I sighed, smoothing out my skirt and placing my elbow on the glass table, cheek resting in my hand. "Gods, those girls really keep me on my toes."

My mother sat across me, eyes twinkling with amusement as she lifted her teacup. "Sumia, darling, with your clumsiness, you're barely on your toes at all."

My nerves abated somewhat when my girls finally sat down among the flowers and grass. "And my klutzy nature carries on in Cynthia. I'm terrified that she'll trip and hurt little Bella!"

"She's a careful girl, Sumia. And I mean no harm, but we also watch you carefully when you carry the children."

Every few months, my husband and I made sure to visit my family home. Since he was Captain of the Royal Guard and I was the Royal Pegasus Caretaker, our jobs kept us from traveling often. However, since I came from a noble family, my parents came to Ylisstol from time to time for work and visits. But, I wanted to spend the Summer Solstice at the place I grew up; and allow my children to enjoy the festivities that take place in the duchy.

Frederick was currently out hunting with my father and younger brother, so that left my mother and me to watch over my two daughters. Neither Papa or Amir were particularly avid (or good) hunters, but they tried their best. I couldn't stop giggling at the image of my impossibly so patient husband pointing out easy hunting tips while the others try creating small-talk. Oh, how Papa loved small-talk: Frederick's greatest weakness.

I ignored Mama's words and kept my attention on my daughters. Isabella was no older than seven months and just started crawling and was also at that stage where she absolutely needed to look at and get into anything she sees. I've told Cynthia to keep her in an arms reach whenever she watched her, but I couldn't get over all of the anxiety of her getting hurt. I prayed to Naga that she wouldn't inherit my clumsiness and instead have Frederick's composure.

"They really do look so much like you," Mama sighed, sipping her tea.

I nodded slightly, reaching for my own cup. "I think Cynthia looks like me build and face wise, but her hair and eyes are all Frederick. Heck, it even looks the same when they wake up in the morning!"

Mama smiled. "She's still very young, but you can see a lot of her in you. I know she had dark hair the first few months of her life, but you can see it lightening. And who knows what her eyes will turn out to be."

"Yeah, I wonder..." I could already see so much of Frederick in Bella. Her nose, her smile, and they even have the same groan of tiredness!

"So, are you planning on giving those two another sibling any time soon?" Mama asked, eyebrows raised in mischief.

I felt my face flush. "Mom!"

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" she laughed. "No need to get so worked up, my dear!"

I rolled my eyes. "You're so weird, sometimes," I groaned. "Not soon, per se. I want Bella to be at least a year old before we start trying again." 

Cynthia was diligently weaving a flower crown out of white daisies for herself, one already topping Bella's small head. Although she was a curious baby, my youngest opted to sit close to her sister, playing with some fabric she tore off of her play-dress. I'll have to get that fixed when we go inside.

"Do you think you'll bare a son someday?" Mama asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure," I replied. "I'm perfectly content with whatever Naga blesses us with and if that's only daughters, then so be it. I know Frederick seems the same way." Still, I couldn't help but feel warmth at the thought of having a precious little boy in our family, his older sisters endlessly doting and eager to protect him from everything. I know I was the same way when my little brother was born.

"Can Cynthia's future-self give you two insight of that?"

I shook my head. "No, Lord Chrom and Lady Anna were the only couple of that future to have more than one child. I don't know why many of the children of the future were only children, but that's just how it is," I said. "Obviously, that's changing now."

"Well, at least everyone is safe. That's all that matters." Mom smiled, setting down her cup of lukewarm tea.

Indeed. Still, I find it odd that a lot of the future children were only children. Maybe danger was always present during that timeline? Gods, I don't even want to think about it. What matters now is that we're all safe from that. We've made sure of it. And now, we can make our family as large as we want. Our fate is ours to write.

*****
Whoosh. Yeah, I always imagined the Shepherds would have more than one child in the main timeline. That's pretty much it. XD Thank you so much for reading and look forward to reading more!

Next Prompt: March 22nd - "Soothing"