Fire Emblem: Ship Fics

1: Comfort's Call (Tibarn/Reyson) (Angst)

WARNINGS: Mentions of blood, major character death.

"Tibarn, please. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

Reyson stood unyielding, wings poised for flight as he coughed into his palm, a streak of blood and a single petal staining his hand. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the skies as dark as the blue cornflowers that Sharena had planted yesterday. It was only after Tibarn finished helping her with the blooms that he noticed Reyson was missing. He had searched for countless hours, not even stopping to rest before a man said that a Heron had passed through the village, heading for the meadow where the shepherds tended their flocks.

"Listen to me, everyone is wondering where you went. Come back with me, okay?" Tibarn tried coaxing him, stepping forward slowly, hand extended toward Reyson, who recoiled at the movement. "We've all been worried sick.

"I said please, Tibarn. Do I really have to say it again?"

Reyson's eyes glistened with tears.

"I'm broken, Tibarn. That doesn't mean I need to be fixed."

Reyson coughed again, a wracking cough that brought him to his knees as his body heaved, bringing up petals and leaves spattered with blood. His wings seized and jerked, stilling only when Tibarn encased Reyson in his own wings, holding Reyson securely as the Heron struggled to breathe.

When all that could be heard was the quiet patter of rain and Reyson's rasping breaths, Tibarn spoke, moving to cradle Reyson's severely weakened body.

"If you're not going to come back," he began, "then tell me why."

Reyson picked up a single flower, examining it with a childlike wonder. A white orchid rested in the palm of his trembling hand, before he let it fall to the damp earth once more.

"Why? Tibarn," Reyson nearly chuckled before another weak cough brought up petals, purple and white, and red with blood. "It's because of you."

Tibarn's breathing was labored now, quick and shallow as Reyson fought to speak, bringing his hand up to caress Tibarn's cheek.

"I forgive you, Tibarn."

Then Reyson's hand dropped, and all was still.

Purple Hyacinth...I'm sorry.

A choked cry wrenched itself from Tibarn's throat, tears quickly rising and filling his eyes before spilling over and flooding his vision, mingling with the rain as they fell to the ground.

"Why...why him? Why now?"

Tibarn's voice shook, piercing the silence as a spear might lodge itself in the Hawk's breast, which Tibarn might even have regarded as a solace as his tears flowed freely once again.

Hours passed, and Tibarn remained in the field, holding Reyson's body, and crooning a soft lullaby that he had heard Reyson sing once, the melody rising and falling until he had left, lest Reyson notice him watching.

Oh, the Spring it is a coming,
And the trees are sweetly blooming,
And the wild mountain thyme blooms along the purple heather.
Will ye go, laddie, go? And we will all go together,
To pick wild mountain thyme all along the purple heather,
Will ye go, laddie, go?

I shall build my love a bower over by yon crystal fountain,
And in it I shall pile all the treasures of the mountain.
Will ye go, laddie, go? And we will all go together,
To pick wild mountain thyme all along the purple heather,
Will ye go, laddie, go?

Well if my true love will not go, I shall surely find another,
Who'll pick wild mountain thyme all along the purple heather;
Will ye go, laddie, go? And we will all go together,
To pick wild mountain thyme all along the purple heather,
Will ye go, laddie, go?

Days later, Tibarn returned to the place he now called Heron's Meadow with Leanne, to sing the song that Reyson had so often dedicated to their fallen.

That day, many swore that the angels themselves sang.

A/N: The song lyrics used are from an old Welsh lullaby, Wild Mountain Thyme.