For the backlog of Fire Emblem fanfics. I was digging my "wonderful treasure-trove of forgotten fan fiction", which is my cupboard, and found this. It's 8 months old.
I like the story of Renaud and Lucius' father. So here's a poem in Renaud's point-of-view. Enjoy, once again.
Repentance
Guilt.
I am a guilty man.
There is a stain in my soul
Though years old, it remains.
-
It might seem like I am the one who wounded him
That night, when I killed his father
I thought, it was for revenge, nothing more than that
And so I drew the blood I had so long sought.
-
It felt like success to me at first, when I finally killed him
Until I turned to look at his son
The young boy—
Eyes wide,
So full of fear,
Not knowing what was happening, why it was happening
As his whole life was torn into two—
-
And the stake of guilt was driven deep into my heart.
-
What have I done?!
-
I destroyed that boy's life, when it had hardly begun.
His father, his dearest friend and protector, gone.
If I had controlled my impulse, everything would be different.
Was it really right, to seek and take my revenge?
-
Will everything be alright
Will he be able to live, seeing what he saw?
-
I tried to forget.
I chose the path to Saint Elimine,
Took the cloaks of a monk
In hope that my wounds would be healed,
In hope that I could atone for my sin.
-
Still, the guilt clings to me
A stain that is still as dark as ever.
Whenever I hear the church's teachings of forgiveness,
All I can do is remember my lack of it.
-
I have seen the boy—he is a man now.
He lives as if no misfortune has befallen him.
How is it that he can forgive me so easily?
Why would he show mercy, when I rendered none to his father?
-
Everyday, my burden grows heavier,
And I know that his forgiveness is all it will take
To wash all my guilt away,
To save me from despair,
To heal all my wounds.
-
But I am not worthy of his forgiveness.
Even so, I will pray for him,
Pray that he can continue to live
Despite the sadness I wrought on him.
-
That is all the forgiveness I need.
The ending, the ending! I think it could have been more poignant, but…I couldn't really think something better up.