A year after Roy and Lilina were married, Eliwood started finding it harder to get out of bed in the morning. Walking from one room to another was a challenge, and it hurt just to breathe more often than not.

The day the physician told him he had less than a year left to live, Eliwood accepted it with quiet dignity and wasted no time getting his affairs in order. He spent his days holed up in his chambers, working as much as his tired body would allow him to.

The months passed. Lilina grew heavy with child, and Eliwood's illness worsened. He prayed to Saint Elimine that he would live long enough to meet his grandchild, even as he coughed and shook with chills in the winter air.

One day in early spring, Lowen came to see him.

"My lord," he said, "if you have a moment, won't you come out to the gardens with me?" It was a beautiful day, Eliwood reasoned, and even if the fresh air would have no effect on him whatsoever it might be nice to spend the day outdoors. So he gratefully accompanied his old friend.

"Do you remember the day I was first knighted?" Lowen asked.

"I do, actually," Eliwood said with a tiny smile. "About a year before my father went missing."

"Indeed." Lowen sighed. "I was so young and inexperienced then, I never imagined years later I would become one of Pherae's most trusted retainers..."

"Time truly flies, doesn't it?" Eliwood coughed, leaning his back against a tree. His eyes grew heavy and he felt his heartbeat slowing. "Lowen, my grandchild will be born very soon."

"Two weeks." Lowen's face grew serious as he realized what was happening. "Lord Eliwood..."

"I'll never get to meet him. Or her." Eliwood's eyes began to close. "My only regret..." He fell silent, resting his head against Lowen's shoulder. Lowen sat perfectly still, holding Eliwood's hand until he felt it go limp.

"Rest well, my lord," he whispered, blinking back tears.