Brushing Pike's mane, Byleth tries his best not to think about a certain melon-haired mage.
Gráinne's ship had just returned to Fódlan that morning, meaning that there was lots for his father to do: supplies to get, routes to plan, coin needing to change hands, etc. Once everyone was back on dry land, Cornelia quickly left to attend to some private matters as well as look for any potential smaller mercenary groups to escort her.
For his part, Byleth inwardly hopes that she ultimately chooses his father's band. During the entire journey home, he had been practically glued to the young woman's hip, learning magic, playing various games, and all around spending time together.
Heck, he probably would have even shared a bed with her if only to stay near her intoxicatingly warm presence, but for better or worse, his own manners as well as his father's prevented him from doing so, though she had said she wouldn't have minded…
Scratching his head, the boy's blue eyes bore into the wooden wall as thoughts of flaming birds soaring from palms and warm hugs drifted into being.
A slight nudge against his chest pulls him back to the present as Pike unsubtly requests that he continue his ministrations. Acquiescing to the needy stallion's demands, Byleth turns his thoughts toward his planned training, deciding not to overly dwell on his newfound friend.
***
"Here you are, dearie," says a middle-aged woman as she places a steaming cup on the table in front of a youthful melon-haired maiden.
"Thank you, Madam Quinna, it smells wonderful."
The olive-skinned woman gives her a sharp look, "I thought I told you to not be so formal. You're practically my granddaughter after all."
The older lady lets out a huff of air as she turns back toward the cooking pot. "Just call me grandma or granny."
Then, in a voice so light Cornelia almost doesn't hear it, she adds, "That way it feels like a piece of her is still here with me."
The mage's eyes soften at those words, and she quickly rises from her seat, coming behind Quinna and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Let me help you, grandmother. I've been missing the kitchen."
The aging Brigidian looks her over with gentle brown eyes before reaching up and giving Cornelia's hand on her shoulder a light squeeze.
"Very well, lassie." Then a smirk slowly forms on her lips. "Let us see how you fare in my kitchen."
A little later, the two settle at the table to eat the product of their hard work. It's a local soup made from a fish that breeds in the area as well as several spices imported from Brigid.
"Well now, not bad… not bad at all," remarks Quinna as she takes her first sip of the broth.
Quietly following her example, Cornelia savors the taste, a small contented smile growing on her.
"It's quite soothing, I'll be dreaming about this taste for quite a while I suspect."
Enjoying their meal, the women make some light conversation before the question finally arises.
"So, how was your trip to my homeland? Did you achieve everything you set out to?"
The young lady lets out a light sigh as her aquamarine orbs rise to the ceiling, as if recalling something. After a moment, she lowers her gaze to match Quinna's and gives a somewhat sad smile.
"Yes, I scattered Mother Irna's ashes at Arrowhead Lake, just as we discussed."
Chuckling lightly, she continues, "It wasn't exactly easy to find, but the sight was quite worth it. I can see why she would have spent so much time there as a girl."
Placing down her wooden spoon, Quinna puts her hands together and closes her eyes, reliving some long-lost memory.
"Yes… it was her favorite location by far. I would always find her there in her free time, swimming through the waters. Those in our village would call her Lira's chosen the way her form could cut through the water. I suppose those words remained true when she came to be a mother of many here in Fódlan as well…"
Seeking to comfort the grieving mother, Cornelia reaches across the table to rest her hand atop the older woman's own.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more for her, Quinna."
Giving a gentle smile, the graying islander takes the young woman's fair hand and brings it to her lips in a light kiss.
"You did more than enough. She would often send letters home that would mention you and the others. I know how you always helped her, how you sought to care for her when the sickness came, and I know with all of my heart that she would be proud of the fine woman you're becoming."
Hearing those words, tears cannot begin to help but form in Cornelia's aquamarine eyes, prompting Quinna to rise and grab her in an embrace. Running her aging fingers through the girl's silky, long hair, the two share an intimate moment of loss and connection.
"There there, sweetheart, just let it out," she murmurs in Tuatha.
They stay like that for a while, neither eager to break the shared embrace, but eventually they separate and retake their seats.
Wiping the remnants of tears from her brown eyes, Quinna adopts a more relaxed tone and looks over at her granddaughter of sorts with a smile.
"Enough of that child, it's not good to dwell in your sorrow too long. Moving on… why is it that your visit ran so long anyway? I thought you only planned to be gone for two weeks, not over a month."
A groan escaped the young lady's lips as she heard the question, though inwardly she was happy about the shift to a more lighthearted topic.
"Well, as I was preparing to leave your former village I happened to run into a rather annoying man."
"Oh?" Quinna's eyes twinkled with mischief as she leaned forward. "Please go on dearie, tell me of this man so enchanted by my granddaughter that he managed to keep you there for a whole extra month. Don't tell me you found your husband already?"
"Hah, as if!" Cornelia snorts. "If you really must know, then I was relentlessly courted by none other than… Prince Lugaid."
"Lu-" The graying woman bursts into a fit of laughter, her thick braid swaying side to side as she shakes her head in amusement. "No wonder you were gone so long then. Spirits, I'm surprised you managed to come back at all. I hear he's quite charming when he wants to be."
"Hah, charming? Please, that man wouldn't know charming if Sothis herself dropped it on his head."
Still chuckling, Quinna replies, "So you say, but yet he has how many wives? Four or was it five?"
Rolling her eyes, Cornelia corrects her. "Seven. He has seven wives, and he was very eager to make it eight. Mother above, he was like a starving animal; it was actually quite pathetic."
She shakes her head, "But, as royalty, I had to show deference to his station and humour him. Let me tell you, grandmother, I couldn't be more relieved to be home and away from that wayward prince of yours."
For roughly another hour, Cornelia and Quinna spoke and shared memories, their connection only growing stronger. Eventually, however, it was time for them to separate.
"Well then, grandmother, I fear I must be going now."
Rising from her seat, Quinna grabs Cornelia in a tight embrace, hand rubbing her back in a motherly motion. Pulling away, she places a hand on the young woman's cheek, examining her.
"Be well, child, thank you for everything you have done for me. My Lira would be beaming now to see you as you are."
They share another firm hug before Quinna reluctantly pulls away.
"Go on then, dearie, 'fore I decide to keep you here with me."
Curtsying with an endearing smile, Cornelia makes her farewell.
"May the mother watch over you, grandmother."
"And may the spirits do the same with you, child."
***
Walking down the main street of Mensa several hours later, Cornelia takes in the unique sights and smells of the coastal town, knowing that tomorrow morning she will be on the road toward a new endeavor. An endeavor that, to her, almost feels like destiny calling her name.
Fingers absentmindedly running through the shawl draped over her shoulders, Cornelia's thoughts drift toward a certain small boy she had recently become acquainted with.
Thinking about Byleth a small yet beautiful smile graces her lips. He's simply such an adorable child, and the way he tries to act mature only increases his charm in her eyes. She's genuinely enjoyed the past few days, the feelings and moments harkening back to her days at the orphanage. It's her weakness, she supposes, small children.
"Lady Cornelia."
Pulled out of her musings, the young woman turns to the side and can't help but blush. Standing there next to a merchant is Jeralt, Captain of the New Dawn Mercenaries.
"Ah… Si-Sir Jeralt. Good Morning."
Immediately, her hands rise to subtly play with her hair before she catches herself and lowers them, blush only intensifying all the while.
An amused grin plays on the man's features, one that causes an odd fluttering in her chest as he hands over a small pouch to the merchant before stepping into the road towards her.
"Walk with me, my lady?" he asks while gesturing forward.
"Certainly."
As the two begin a light stroll down the path, they inquire about one another's affairs since their early separation that morning.
"Yes, that was the last of the traders, I believe. We just needed some extra sacks of salt for our journey."
Tilting his head down at her, Cornelia can't help but admire the hard lines of his chiseled face, almost not hearing his next question. "And you, my lady, will you be travelling with us?"
Unconsciously, her lips form a small smirk of triumph as she crosses her arms. "Luckily for you, Sir, it seems I'll be gracing you with my presence after all."
Nodding, he replies, "That's good. I was hoping you'd join us."
Quickly, her head whips back up to look at him. "You were?"
"Yeah, well, it makes things a lot easier on my part, since I don't have to search for a new job. Plus, I know that Byleth will be glad to have you."
"I see…" she replies, unable to hide the slight disappointment in her voice.
Glancing at her, Jeralt softly sighs and shakes his head before coming to a stop. Confused, Cornelia similarly halts beside him and questioningly looks up at him.
Scratching his beard as if almost embarrassed, Jeralt peers down at her. "I was also hoping to continue our conversations; they seem to help clear my mind."
Taking a beat to process, Cornelia's cheeks swiftly turn crimson while she flashes her perfect white teeth in a radiant smile.
"Is that so? I, too, enjoy your company, Sir Jeralt. Hopefully, we don't grow bored of each other on our long journey."
Taking a few steps forward, the wind catches in her hair, sending waves of melon behind her. Slightly turning her head, she gives the seemingly frozen man a cheshire grin.
"Come along then. We ought to begin preparing for our departure."
For his part, the flaxen-eyed man silently admires the beautiful sight in front of him.
Then, lightly chuckling under his breath, he moves to join the young woman, but halts after a single step. Slowly, his grin morphs into its opposite, his eyes suddenly scanning the bustling market around them.
"Sir Jeralt, is something the matter?"
Still looking around, the former knight eventually turns back toward his female companion, letting himself relax once more.
"I had a bad feeling for a moment, but it seems to be nothing."
Her wrinkled brow eases then, as she tilts her head, smile blooming once more. "Well then, shall we be on our way?"
Grunting in affirmation, the two continue on their renewed stroll down the road, the scent of the sea tickling their noses and the chatter of a lovely market town closing around them.
-----
"Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!" lmao. What's up guys? I am not dead and I've been thinking about this story so I decided to write another chapter. No empty update promises but we'll see what happens.
This chapter was just setting up everyone's return to Fódlan as well as expanding on the reasons Cornelia was there in the first place. A shorter chapter but I didn't see a need to drag it out with unnecessary detail. Thanks, as always, for reading and enjoying my story. Hopefully I'll finish it before I die lol.
P.S. For those not aware, I upload this story on a variety of platforms such as Fanfiction, Archive of Our Own, Web Novel, Scribble Hub, Royal Road, and Wattpad. If you check out the Scribble Hub version there is a glossary tab that has images of all the main characters introduced so far, aka images for my OC characters if anyone is interested.