Work Text:
Claud had seen it. He had.
He was soon to perish in Belhalla.
The doors of destiny had already opened before them. The bells were ringing even louder the closer they were to Belhalla—in less than two weeks the fated day will arrive.
He had knew soon his life would end under the flaming skies of Belhalla. And he had decided to walk towards death with dignity.
Yet he had allowed himself to be tied in affairs of the mortal heart. That, too, must have been fate.
The doomed fate of Jugdral, his doomed immortal soul and his doomed love. All of what was him would met the same end. He had accepted it as Bragi's revelation—it was meant to happen no matter what as their mortal hands weren't strong enough to swim against the currents of indomable destiny.
How foolish was he to hurt the one he loved even more than life itself with such pain. Yet he couldn't change what was meant to be.
Oh, Silvia, his poor Silvia! His sweet, cheerful wife who was about to suffer so greatly because of him!
Claud had known his fate and yet he had allowed himself to join his limited life with hers. Her carefree, lonely spirit had captivated his heart as he was nothing but a mere man.
Surely, it must have been Bragi's divine design that put her in his path.
Even more painful than having to leave her and their daughter was the nothingness of what he knew of beyond his death. The void of ignorance was the worst of tortures, not knowing what will be of her was tortuous to the point he couldn't sleep at night.
Bragi Tower had revealed the fate of Lord Sigurd's endeavors and his own, but hadn't revelead that of his wife who he had yet to met back then. He knew their army would be soon filled by corpses but some of them would endure—but not knowing if Silvia was among those was the worst of pains.
"...ther... Father... ugh, Claud, are you listening!" Oh, her voice, her lovely too joyful voice called him in irritation.
Claud raised his head to look at her in the dim lit room they shared on Phinora.
"Bah! It's so dark here, no wonder you're so gloomy these days!" She complained without a worry in the world as she opened the curtains. No matter how dire, she smiled—she always did.
Would she stay her cheerful, smiling self even when he was no longer there? Claud had to pray it was the case.
He prayed a lot, every day.
Oh, please, God Bragi have mercy on Silvia and Lene's fate!
Soon, the fiery dessert sun filled the room as Silvia struggled to pull the heavy curtains away—yet that light felt cold over his face.
Claud stood silently, his clothes ruffling as he slowly walked toward Silvia who puffed her chest as she had finished her labor. May she ever retain that zest for life even in the adversity to come.
His poor daughter who just learned to walk and had a whole life ahead he won't be part of. May his young daughter live on with dignity and strength for the hardships he had placed upon her despite her tender age.
"W-woah! What's so suddently...? Father Claud...?" Silvia's surprised yelp soon turned into a concerned question as Claud's arms wrapped her, his head hidden on the space between shoulder and neck.
Claud had always bear himself with the poise that House Edda's duke needed and was never hasty, not even his imminent death had shaken him so—yet now he was unable to keep his dignity any longer.
As his time slowly ran out, he hugged his wife tightly.
Even without any premonition, Silvia could feel at her core that this might be the last time she ever be in his arms again.
Oh, Bragi, please guard this woman he loved so dearly!