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Sir Gwendolyn had sent Ogier and one of her students to the outskirts of Ostia to meet Lilina. When Ogier spotted Lilina cresting the hill with her own pair of escorts, both of whom were unfamiliar and dressed in otherworldly garb, it took all he had to stop himself from galloping his horse over to her side immediately.
He held his breath as Lilina waved at him, a sunshine grin spread over her face.
"Sir Ogier!" she hailed. As she hurried her own horse towards him, he dismounted and sank into a bow. Gwendolyn's student followed suit, more unsteadily.
"Lady Lilina, if I may speak freely," Ogier said, not waiting for Lilina's horse to come to a complete stop, "Sir Gwendolyn nearly sent out a task force when we didn't hear back from you."
"I'm so sorry," Lilina apologised. She climbed down and wrapped her arms around him. "Have your travels been impeded? Don't let me keep you."
Ogier reciprocated gingerly, his fingers ghosting over the rips and stains in her cape. "Not at all. I'm here for you and Gwendolyn, until things settle down a little."
"Ostia is calm?"
"The people are confused, but they haven't forgotten that they are Ostians. Life continues."
"Anything better than Bern's siege is good enough, I guess," Lilina sighed. She withdrew, straightened her riding shirt, and turned her attention to the budding soldier at Ogier's side. "One of Wendy's students!"
"Milady," the recruit bowed again, curly lavender hair obscuring their face, but Lilina clasped their shoulder and held out a hand. The recruit took it, eyes wide.
"I'd be honoured to see the rest of you once I find my bearings," Lilina said.
"Likewise, milady."
On a bolder look, Ogier noticed the gloom hidden behind Lilina's eyes.
"Oh!" The sunshine renewed and she gestured to the two people in her company. "Let me introduce you to Fox and Falco. They escorted me from the Crossroads."
Ogier laid eyes on the two people—animals?—atop their own horses. The fox gave him a slight nod while the pheasant merely looked at him at an angle.
He rubbed his eyes.
"L-lady Lilina," he stammered, "I must consult you once we get back."
She grinned ruefully. "I fear I'll be rather popular for the foreseeable future."
*.*.*.*.*
The familiar clatter of armour that greeted Lilina was a balm to her spirit.
"Lady Lilina has arrived," Gwendolyn boomed. "Get to work!"
The words evaporated off Lilina's tongue as the square was suddenly flooded in a flurry of servants and soldiers. The gates to Castle Ostia opened, and Ogier led Lilina and her entourage through.
Gwendolyn awaited her at the base of the castle steps. Her mouth was in a thin line.
Lilina leapt from her horse, tattered cape flying, and catapulted herself into Gwendolyn's arms.
"Watch the armour, milady—"
"It's good to be home, Wendy," Lilina sniffed against Gwendolyn's neck. She was oblivious to some of the servants who had stopped to stare at the head of the state. Gwendolyn glared at them, scaring them back to work (and to ponder their own romantic exploits later).
"Please hurry to the infirmary at once—"
"Wendy," Lilina whined. She held her tongue for a second, before clasping Gwendolyn's hand and pulling her towards the requested destination. "You can relax, now. I'm here."
Gwendolyn rolled her shoulders and looked straight ahead. "I'm glad."
"I'm sorry. I missed you."
"Me, too," Gwendolyn whispered.
*.*.*.*.*
Ogier sensed a familiar wave of confusion radiate off the recruit at his side. He tore his eyes away from the escorts' alien garb and cleared his throat.
"Please make yourselves at home," he said, gesturing to the guest's quarters. "We owe you much."
"It's nothing," Fox replied , waving a paw in the air diplomatically. "We're just glad to keep things running smoothly."
"We can't stay," Falco reminded him. "We've got to get back to our job."
"Falco, please—"
"Do what you must," said Ogier, knowing much about the mobility required of a mercenary. "Don't let us keep you."
Fox fixed him with a striking green gaze, making his mutual commitment known. "Our job isn't done until Lilina is safe and well."
"Of course. By your leave, I must get back to the students."
He left the animals by the bannered door, the recruit on his heels.
"T-thank you, Sir Ogier," said the recruit. "I was having a little trouble keeping up."
"You did well," he said gently. "It's what I would expect from one of Gwendolyn's students."
The recruit blushed, once again hiding their face behind their hair.
Ogier wondered if anyone had ever told them that they looked like Lilina's Aunt[1] Florina, but he felt he was standing on the precipice of a world to which he did not belong.
*.*.*.*.*
"Is there any risk that the threat might breach the portal?"
Lilina exhaled and collapsed onto her bed, staring straight up. Her head was spinning after the council meeting following her medical check-up. Usually the meetings weren't so overwhelming, but these had been extraordinary circumstances. Ongoing circumstances. Scarcely believable events had unfolded in a foreign world and she shouldn't have expected the chaos to not follow her home.
The white ceiling, orange in the light of the sunset, began to crawl.
She turned away. She decided that she wanted the bedposts returned and the velvet curtains back. The open air didn't feel so safe, anymore.
The doors clicked.
"Lilina," Gwendolyn said, closing the door behind her. She'd shed most of her armour, with only her greaves remaining strapped to her legs.
Lilina sat up and smiled.
"It's nice to hear my name," she said. "Is everything alright?"
Gwendolyn stopped at the edge of the bed and raised her eyebrows.
"It's about me, huh?" Lilina murmured. "I should be fine." Her eyes glimmered. "Especially with you around."
Gwendolyn failed to hold back a snort. Lilina patted the mattress beside her. Gwendolyn took a seat, gingerly.
"I'm glad we can be like this," Lilina said, shuffling over to press her body against Gwendolyn's. "A little more open with each other, I mean, even after the whole spirit situation. Don't worry too much, okay? We can get through this."
"Forgive me if I fall back into bad habits," Gwendolyn muttered.
Lilina brushed Gwendolyn's hair out of her eyes and guided their gazes together, keeping Gwendolyn's cheek cupped in her hand. "You had none. I couldn't help myself. I just wanted a friend."
"And look where that got us."
Gwendolyn suddenly twisted her neck and pecked Lilina's cheek. Lilina giggled and nestled her head against Gwendolyn's chest, breathing her in.
"Don't make yourself uncomfortable," Lilina said.
"I'm not. It's just that... showing affection like this is still new to me."
Lilina hummed and clasped Gwendolyn's shoulder. "Me too, because I haven't had a girlfriend before."
"I'm glad you didn't give up on me."
"I'm glad I didn't drive you away."
Lilina pulled on her gently and lowered them both to lie against the soft sheets. Her smile faltered.
"I have to go back."
Gwendolyn's eyebrows fell, as she expected.
"And Roy needs me. It's a hard time, right now."
"How long? And you didn't want to bring this up to the council straight away?"
"They had enough to worry about, today. It took all I had for them to not send in the entire army."
"I know that feeling. I'm still worried."
"It's a weird situation, I know... It's not your typical military assignment. That's why I need Ostia to remain Ostia. The Crossroads would unravel both worlds. It's not the place for our force.
"But maybe..."
Gwendolyn started. Lilina shook her head.
"The Elibean armies won't make it through the portal without my permission," she emphasised. "We don't need another war, not one that would threaten our very identities. We scarcely know ourselves after the last one. We nearly rescinded our humanity."
"And what about you?" Gwendolyn implored.
"I know who I am. And I know that Roy is like a brother to me. That's why I have to go back, make sure he gets home." Lilina sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Gwendolyn reached a hand around Lilina's neck and stroked the back of her head, running her fingers through the dark hair. Lilina curled into her arms.
"Ostia must participate in the recovery effort," Lilina said. "I will go as Ostia, as Roy's friend, and as a friend to his friends. If I may have your blessing?"
Gwendolyn blinked. It was like the world had dropped out from beneath her feet.
"That is something new to me," she said, slowly. She shut her eyes tight, sorting out her thoughts. "...To bless the envoy to another country, let alone world, is a position I could have never have imagined."
"I'm sorry to thrust it on you all of a sudden," Lilina lamented. "It's not my position—"
"Don't apologise. You expand my world every day, and I'm glad to receive it." Gwendolyn leaned in and pressed her lips to Lilina's forehead.
"Wendy..."
"I trust you," Gwendolyn murmured against Lilina's cheek. "I commit myself to your vision, now and forever. You will make Ostia proud. I know I am."
"Dear Gwendolyn..."
Lilina kissed her again.
"Thank you, Wendy..."
*.*.*.*.*
Two mornings after, the Lylatians waited at the bottom of castle's steps, swishing their tails impatiently.
"We should have time warp dates more often, Fox."
Fox narrowed his eyes at Falco. "Is that why you signed up for the job?"
"Hey, no one objected. But I didn't expect it to make you sick."
Fox bristled, cursing his physiological fragility.
"Sorry. But other than that, it looked like you had fun. Personally, I missed the showers, though."
"You really tore into the rice porridge, didn't you?"
"What can I say? I'm an animal of taste."
"You're lucky they made the effort. I heard they pulled out some regional dishes just for us."
"Bullshit. Are you calling me stuffy?"
Fox lurched forward and snapped his jaws at a crooked feather sticking out of the side Falco's head.
"Hands to yourself!" Falco held him back by the scruff of the neck.
"We're aliens, no one will understand what we're doing."
"They're coming."
"Bet you're disappointed."
"Shut up, McCloud."
Gwendolyn led Lilina down the steps, hand in hand. Ogier followed beside them with the recruit in tow.
"We were honoured to have you grace our presence yesterday, milady," the recruit said.
"I'm proud of you all," Lilina replied. "Be good to your mentors, okay? They know what they're doing."
Gwendolyn and Ogier swallowed their uncertainties as she smiled at them.
Lilina gave Ogier another hug. Then she turned to Gwendolyn and clasped her arms.
They gazed into each others' eyes for a long, silent moment. Then Lilina sank to her knees and placed her forehead to the back of Gwendolyn's hand.
Ogier's eyes widened slightly. Gwendolyn's jaw dropped.
"I know we did all the talking yesterday," Lilina said, "but I still owe you so much. I will give you no less than you deserve."
"Milady..." Gwendolyn whispered. Eventually, she tugged her arm gently, and Lilina rose to her feet. Ostia's Marchioness kissed Gwendolyn's hand, then leaned forward to bring their lips together. The world stopped for that long moment. It was bittersweet.
They pulled apart.
"Be safe," Lilina said before Gwendolyn could.
Gwendolyn settled for: "Look after Lord Roy."
Lilina nodded firmly, then pulled up her hood and turned to her horse.
"I'd better go before this becomes a pity party," Lilina said over her shoulder. While the recruit held the horse, Lilina hoisted herself up into the saddle and looked to Fox and Falco for confirmation.
"Ready, Falco?" Fox asked.
"Roger that," Falco responded. With a smirk he overheard the recruit ask Ogier, "Who's Roger?". They nudged their horses into motion and began a trot towards the gate.
Gwendolyn and Ogier returned Lilina's wave while the recruit bowed their head.
Lilina only turned away when they passed through the gates. She and the Lylatians travelled wordlessly through the bustling fortress of a city, until they reached the outer wall and emerged onto the open field.
"Where are we taking you?" Fox asked.
"I owe Marth some time," she said quietly. Even though she had helped free Marth from Galeem's thrall, she was still indebted for the time he had dedicated to Roy during the tournaments, and after the world's end.
"Careful you don't run yourself dry," Falco warned. He frowned when he suspected his advice came out wrong.
Lilina didn't seem offended.
"Thank you for looking out for me," she said. "If I can do anything in return—"
"I know we're mercenaries," Fox interrupted, eyes glinting with initiative, "but you don't have to worry about bookkeeping. There's too much going on for us to keep track of who is indebted to who."
"Do you agree, Falco?"
"There's a few good ideas knocking around in there," Falco remarked. Fox stuck his tongue out at him.
Lilina nodded, and turned inward. The situation was scarcely believable. She was working outside of Lycia's traditional jurisdiction. She hadn't even allowed herself time to visit Uncle Eliwood, electing merely to send a letter of apology. She hoped he knew that she was doing her best to look out for his son. She was lucky to have the Lylatians on her side.
She was lucky to have Gwendolyn and the others back home.
It wasn't fair—it was never fair—but they would all have to work hard to piece the junction of all worlds back together, keep their respective homes and friends at ease, and search for that silver lining. The souls they had left to the Crossroads could not wait.
The world of infernal Light could not wait.