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Severa looked up at the pitch-black ceiling of her tent. She rolled over to her side and pulled the covers in. The cold winter breeze flapped through her tent which caused her to shiver.
“Maybe I should’ve told them…” she whispered to herself as she curled inward in an attempt to stay warm.
Severa shook her head. No, it was a bad idea. She was already messing with the past enough by simply being here. She didn’t need to mess it up any more than she needed to. Still, it would be nice…
She shut her eyes as a freezing cold wind swept through her tent. Gods, it was cold.
Severa sighed. She should at least try to get some sleep.
———
Severa sat next to two tombstones with a rather dead look on her face. The cold winter breeze caused her to shut her eyes and shiver. For a moment, she looked up at the dark, swirling sky covered in pitch-black clouds and then back down at the graves.
“Mommy, daddy….” She quietly said, “I turned 15 today…not like you care…”
She stayed silent as the cold winter breeze brushed through her snow-white hair. For the next several minutes, she simply sat there with her arms tucked under her legs in the freezing winter cold.
“Happy birthday, Severa!”
She recalled her father’s voice as he patted her head. Severa dug her face into her knees to try and wipe away the tears in her eyes. It was cold. There were no birthday celebrations, no cake, nothing. All there was was the cold, unending loneliness that this day kept reminding her of.
———
Severa yawned as she walked out of her tent the next morning. She wiped her nose as the cold air stung her skin.
She would be 18 years old today. Not like it mattered. That’s right….it was just a regular day…like any other….
Severa made her way to the mess tent and got her breakfast rations. It was the usual slop. A bowl of oatmeal, some rolls, and coffee. They really needed to do something about the army’s budget. Her father normally handled all of the shepherd’s finances.
She took a sip of her coffee.
“Good morning, Severa!”
Speaking of….
She turned to see her father sit next to her.
“Good morning, Daddy!” Her lips suddenly perked up into a bright smile as she quickly wrapped her arms around him. She dug her face into his warm coat like she was a kid again.
It felt nostalgic to do especially on a day like this. He was often so busy back then but he and mother would still make the time for her on her birthday. She would run up to him and hug him just like this as he walked through the door. It was a reflexive action.
“Okay, Severa, what brought this on?”
“N-Nothing!” She quickly pulled away and blushed, “I-I’m just happy to see you, is all…” She said as she fiddled with her hair.
“Well, I’m happy to see you too, I guess,” he said, “but we saw each other yesterday.”
“I-I know!” She continued to fiddle with her hair a bit more. Gods, she can’t believe she just did that.
Severa took a moment to look away and take a bite of her oatmeal. Her face was still red from the embarrassment of what she had just involuntarily done. Crap! She needed to do something so that he didn’t catch on! Severa took a few more bites as she thought to herself.
“Uhh, Severa, sweetie?” He asked, “Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine! Gawds!” She shot back up and took another sip of coffee.
“All right, I was just asking.”
“You’re so insensitive, Daddy,” she said as she slammed the mug back on the table, “If I say I’m happy to see you! Then I’m happy to see you! Okay!”
“All right, but you’re usually not this affectionate unless you want something.”
Well, that wasn’t exactly untrue….
“WHAT?! I can’t believe you! Daddy!” She scowled at him, “Do you not love me?! Is that it?!”
“What?! No! Nothing like that!” He waved his hands in defense, “I love you plenty!”
She narrowed her eyes. “Do you really?”
“What’s with the skepticism today?” He took a sip of his coffee, “Yes, I really do love you, sweetie.”
“Then prove it!!” She slammed her hand on the table.
“How?!”
“Take me shopping again! I’ll only believe you if you buy me something nice!”
Her father pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “Severa…you remember what I said the other day, right?”
She remembered, but today was special. It's not like she wanted to tell him or anything, but….
“Yeah, I know…” she grumbled, “If I want something, I have to work for it….”
“Correct,” he nodded, “and I’m not budging on that no matter how much you try to guilt trip me.”
“But daddy…” her twintails reflexively wilted with her sunken heart, “today’s…”
She said that almost involuntarily. She didn’t want to mess with the past more than necessary, but even if she had to guilt trip him, she still wanted to spend the day with him. She wanted him to spoil her today like he used to…
“No buts,” he shook his head, “I don’t care what today is. I’m not budging on this.”
I don’t care what today is!
Severa felt her heart basically splatter across the ground at those words. For a moment, she looked to the floor. He didn’t know, and she knew that. Still, that didn’t make it hurt any less. Severa grabbed her tray of food and stood up.
“Fine…” she said without thinking, “I….I guess you really don’t love me after all…”
There was weight behind those words this time. Severa shut her eyes as a few tears managed to drip out before storming off.
“Wait, Severa!” Her father said, “Maybe I was a bit too harsh….”
———
“And that’s what she said,” Robin finished explaining and leaned back in his chair.
“That certainly sounds rough,” Chrom said.
“Yeah, I just don’t know what’s going on with her….” He leaned forward and rested his chin on his palm, “having a daughter is difficult.”
“I’ll say,” Chrom sighed, “I’m not exactly used to being a father yet.” He sat down in a nearby chair. “It still feels so strange.”
“I mean at least Lucina has already been born,” Robin chuckled, “we haven’t even had Severa yet.”
“Do you have any ideas on when?” Chrom asked.
“No, I haven’t the slightest idea and Severa, herself, doesn’t seem eager to give us any hints,” Robin crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought, “not any sort of time frame let alone a…..”
Robin stopped himself as the realization was slowly beginning to dawn on him.
“THAT’S what she was upset about!” He facepalmed, “Gods, why didn’t I put that together sooner?! AH! I feel so stupid!”
“What?!” Chrom nearly dropped the papers in his hands, “did you figure out what she was upset about?”
“It was so obvious!” Robin slammed his hands on the table and shot out of his chair.
“What was obvious?”
“And I said some rather insensitive stuff,” he muttered to himself. “Gods, I’m so stupid!”
“Well, whatever it is there’s no point in beating yourself up over it,” Chrom walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You’re right,” Robin took a deep breath, “I guess the best thing to do is to act!” He looked at Chrom, “And you can help me with that, right?”
“Of course, anything for a friend.”
“Great, come on!” He ran out of the tent, “I gotta go find Gaius!”
“Robin, wait!” Chrom chased after him, “why do we need to find Gaius?!”
———
Severa sighed as she took a bite of cake. Gods, what was she doing?! She was sitting here alone in this cafe while everyone around her was chatting and having fun. It was her birthday! She should be celebrating and the center of attention. But here she was alone.
“Maybe I should’ve just told him….” Severa mumbled to herself as she took another bite. At least the cake here was good.
Severa shook her head. No, she had to keep her distance from them as much as possible. Still….
I….I guess you really don’t love me after all…
Those words wrapped themselves around her throat as she stopped. She didn’t mean to say that. It was like a reflex. She said it without thinking. However, perhaps it was better that she did. If there was one thing she told herself since coming to the past, it was that she shouldn’t get attached. They weren’t her real parents anyway. Once her past self is born, that’d be that.
She took another bite of cake. Maybe that’s why she didn’t want to tell him….
“We all love you, Severa, so…
“Happy birthday!”
Those words tugged at Severa’s ears as she looked over to see a bunch of people gathered around a single table. Everyone at the cafe started clapping as the staff placed a cake with a single candle in front of a little girl.
“Go on, make a wish,” a man who looked to be her father said.
The little girl nodded and blew out the candle. Everyone clapped and cheered for her. After a moment, it all calmed down, and everyone went back to their business. However, Severa still glanced over at them.
“Happy birthday, princess,” her father patted her on the head.
“Stop it, papa!” She smiled as his hand ruffled through her hair.
“Sorry, but you just look so cute in that new jacket,” he smiled.
“You really think so?” Her eyes seemed to light up.
Her father nodded, “of course you do sweetie, now hurry and finish your cake so we can show mommy your new present.”
“Right!” The girl nodded before she started to shovel cake into her mouth.
“Not so fast, you don’t wanna choke.”
For a moment, Severa simply watched the two. Her heart felt cold as she looked down at her half-eaten cake with no candle.
Severa shook her head. No! She didn’t want that. Just because she turned 18 today, it didn’t make it any different from any other day. Yeah…
She took a sip of her tea.
“You know, if you wanted to get some tea, you could’ve just said so.”
Severa nearly spat out her tea as she saw Inigo standing over her table.
“Geez, leave me alone,” she placed her tea cup down and took a bite of cake.
“And why would I leave a cute girl alone to sulk on her birthday?” He sat down across from her.
“Can’t believe you remembered.”
“Of course I remember,” Inigo looked almost offended, “what kind of guy do you take me for?”
Severa glared at him, “do you really want me to answer that?”
“Fair enough,” he said with a nervous laugh, “anyway, here happy birthday,” he reached down and presented her with a big bouquet of red and white roses.
Severa blushed. She looked at the roses and then at his bright, warm smile.
“Y-You idiot!” She grabbed the roses and held them in her arms, “It’s not like I’m happy or anything….b-but thanks….”
“You’re welcome, Severa,” he smiled, “now come on, there’s something I gotta show you.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her chair.
“H-Hey! What are you doing?!”
“You’ll see…” he winked.
“Th-That doesn’t help!” She shouted at him, “Now let me go!!”
———
“INIGO! I SWEAR IF YOU DON’T PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT, I’M GONNA…”
“Would you calm down!” Inigo said, “I only picked you up because you kept trying to get away from me.”
“BECAUSE I DON’T TRUST YOU! YOU PERVERT!”
“Seriously, what kind of guy do you take me for?”
“The pervert kind!” She shouted.
“Well, fine here,” he stopped and placed her on her feet.
“Geez, I can walk by myself,” Severa dusted herself off, “and where exactly were you touching me just now?!” She glared at him.
Inigo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, “I-In my defense, there aren’t many other areas to grab you.”
Severa rolled her eyes, “riiight, anyway why did you take me to the mess tent?” She looked behind her to see the big white tent. “I’m not doing anything gross with you! Got it!” She glared at him again.
“Wasn’t expecting to,” he smiled, “now come on there’s something in here I wanna show you.”
She watched Inigo walk inside the tent.
“Ugh, fine,” she rolled her eyes once more and followed him.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEVERA!”
Severa stumbled back and flopped into the snow outside as her heart nearly gave out.
“What the hell is happening here?” She asked as her heart began to slow down.
She looked around the tent and saw half the army sitting around the table with a big strawberry cake in the center. It had a few candles on it that were already lit. Streamers and all sorts of decorations were strung all around the tent.
“It’s your birthday, isn’t it?” Inigo reached down and pulled her back up to her feet. “So your father decided to throw a bit of a party,” he handed her roses back.
“B-But how did….” She looked at her dad, who was walking up to her.
“I figured it out,” he smiled, “I’m not stupid, Severa and understanding your enemy is key if you wanna be a great tactician.”
“Yeah…” she tried to look away from him.
She should’ve known he would figure it out on his own.
“Although Lucina and Inigo did help confirm my suspicions.”
She glared at Inigo, “Why did you tell him!”
“B-Because what else was I supposed to do?!”
Severa narrowed her eyes, “fine! I’ll forgive you just this once! But don’t think it’s because I’m happy you remembered my birthday or anything!”
“Understood,” he smiled.
Robin narrowed his eyes at Inigo as well, “I heard you two yelling outside…”
“I brought her here like you asked!” He tried to avoid eye contact as he sheepishly pulled at his collar. “I didn’t do anything, I swear!”
“Anyway,” he looked back at Severa, “happy birthday, sweetheart,” he pat her on the head and said with a smile, “I’m sorry about what I said earlier.”
Severa blushed as she felt his warm hand on her head. She immediately wrapped her arms around him. It was a reflexive action that she didn’t think about. It felt warm and comforting to hear him say those words again.
“It’s okay, daddy,” she smiled, “thank you for this.”
“Anytime, sweetie,” he hugged her. “Now, let’s go get some cake.”
“Yeah,” she nodded.