Chapter Text
Meet me at the lagoon on the South Tip.
Jeralt is surprised when he receives the message from Sitri. It’s surprising to receive any message from her considering the circumstances. He knows better than anyone that all her messages are monitored and approved, though he supposes that this is an exception. On top of all that, they haven’t seen each other in months.
He feels guilty. It would have made sense to be happy, but he can’t help but feel confused. There’s some warmth, but he just can’t let those feelings take over either. This is all too suspicious.
‘It could be a trap,’ he considers. He could examine the message for a hidden meaning or for something more, but it’s risky to keep it around longer than needed. He burns it, making sure that every piece becomes ash before he disposes of it. Sitri isn’t the kind to lean into hidden meanings. He needs to meet her and that’s that. If it’s a trap, he would bring a weapon.
He just hopes it won’t come to that. He can’t even imagine what he would do if it was. Sitri won’t betray him like that, but he’s far from naive. He has to be prepared for whatever is to come.
Jeralt grabs his lance, but before he can leave his room, the sound of thunder roars from outside. Rain has been incessantly pounding against the shaky windows for hours now, but it seems as if the storm is not going to let up any time soon. Sitri must be desperate if she wants to meet in this weather.
The dirt paths outside have become unbearably muddy, but he decides to head down to the stables regardless. Taking his horse is the best way to get to his destination as fast as possible. He’s a skilled rider. He can deal with rain and mud, even if the conditions were rather severe.
The heavy cloak he dons does a well enough job of keeping water out of his face as he rides, but that doesn’t make the experience any less disorienting. He takes his horse as far as he can, but the path leading up to the lagoon is too rough to continue on horseback.
The lagoon is almost completely isolated save for a narrow and risky cliffside path, which is made only more dangerous from the stormy weather. It will be difficult if anyone were to try and follow him, which is why he and Sitri have so often chosen this as their meeting place whenever they wish to be alone together. He has a difficult time making his way to their secret place via land. Taking a boat is another potential option (Sitri has it easy in that regard), but that’s even riskier than the cliff considering the storm.
He finally escapes the torrential rain as he makes his way into the lagoon. The place itself is surrounded in high cliffs and shielded by an outcropping of rock overhead. Jeralt keeps as quiet as possible, listening for any out of place voices or sounds.
“...Jeralt?” The call of his name is weak, but he hears it. He rushes forward, making his way towards the source of the sound.
“Sitri!” His voice echoes about the cavern. He never admitted the hurt he felt when Sitri pushed him away all those months ago, but those feelings leave his heart as soon as he sees her.
Sitri has propped her back against one of the rocks jutting out of the shallow water. Her tail is submerged, but occasionally, and slowly, flicks above the surface. She doesn’t look anything like the cheerful, young woman she was months ago who would always cheerfully ask for flowers and bouquets. The woman in front of him now looks frail and weak as if she were about to crumble away to dust, yet she keeps her arms wrapped tightly around a small bundle with what Jeralt is sure was the last of her remaining strength.
Jeralt steps into the water, paying no mind to the way the water soaks his trousers since he was already completely soaked from the rain anyway.
Sitri raises her head to look at him. “Jeralt, my love. I missed you so much.”
At first, he isn’t sure what to say, but then his gaze turns to the bundle in Sitri’s arms. His eyes widen. “Is that…?”
Sitri musters a smile and nods. “She’s yours. Ours.”
Suddenly, Sitri’s distant behavior makes sense.
He takes a step closer, almost hesitantly, but he sits next to Sitri in the water. She passes him the baby– their daughter.
Jeralt is still coming to terms with what he’s seeing, even though he’s holding her in his arms. She seems to be asleep, but occasionally, she squirms in his grip.There are tufts of dark hair atop her head and, like her mother, she has a mermaid’s tail.
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” Sitri continues, wrapping her arm around his. He can barely feel the grip of her hand. “But I wanted to see you one last time.”
“I… I should have fought harder to see you,” Jeralt says. Both of them know what was to come next, but it’s too painful to clearly address.
“Don’t burden yourself with something that is my fault, my love.”
They sit in silence for a moment, relishing in this little moment they would have as a family.
“Can you promise me something?” Sitri asks, voice quiet. “I don’t want her to live the life I lived. I want her to be happy, free. Raise her well for the both of us, Jeralt.”
“I promise.”
He remains there for what feels like hours, even after Sitri dissolves into sea foam, leaving him alone with their precious daughter.
“I’ll protect you, kid. I promise.”
Jeralt has boarded this ship with his daughter by the time the High Priestess’s speech starts. It echoes out across the city, even reaching where they are in the bay.
“The vessel of our Goddess has passed.”
Jeralt imagines the reaction from the crowd. People are probably crying, screaming, but no one would feel the hurt of Sitri’s loss more than he.
“Before she left us, she gave birth to her successor, but before she could be indoctrinated into her new role, she was abducted by a traitor!”
Jeralt clenches his fist. He should have seen this coming, but it’s still sickening.
“All who harm the sacred race must be punished. This man will ruin the balance of our land and throw us into ruin! Turn yourself in now or be put to death!”
It’s like she knows that he’s listening, but if she truly knows, then he probably would have been arrested by now.
“I won’t break my promise.” He sighs and looks down at his daughter in the basket he’s carrying her in. “Let’s get away from here, Byleth.”