A warm welcome to my adaptation of the Fire Emblem: Awakening story, 'A means to an end'. This story will include most of the canon plot and conversations from the original story, but some major key events will be modified in order to keep this story unique!
This is a Chrom x Robin story and is currently rated T for descriptions of violence and gore/blood. Will be raising the ratings as per required later on.
"xxxxxx" refers to speech. Italics refers to thoughts.
It is my first time attempting to write fan fiction or even any sorts of novel whatsoever. So please do bear with me as I progress along this small project of mine. I'm open to comments, reviews, criticism. If you have any suggestions/ideas you feel like suggesting, feel free to go ahead. I will try to include it into the story when possible and I credit you for it!
Now I shall leave you to the enjoy the story. Read, review, fav, follow!
Mobili signing off. 10/05/16
Three pairs of feet were scrambling across corridors, littered with bloodied bodies and debris. The inferno that engulfed the castle sent waves of excruciating heat with the wind. Robin was groggily grasping onto her mother's hand and was being flanked by her older brother. She was rudely awakened by the sound of her mother barging into her room and hurriedly dragged out. Slightly unstable on her feet as she slowly fought off her sleepiness, she noticed the tense expression her family was bearing. She felt uncomfortable amongst the scorching heat and the occasional blood-curdling screams.
Looking around in fear and curiosity, Robin did not know what to make out of the sight before her. She was mature enough, albeit young, to comprehend the violence before her, but could only silently pray that none of the bodies belonged to someone she knew. She noticed a group of black-robed people emerging from the corridor in front, followed by simultaneous flashes of orange and yellow lights.
"Mother, what's going—" Robin was interrupted mid-speech when her mother pulled her into a spinning embrace and crouched low onto the ground. A deafening cacophony of explosions boomed all around Robin, causing her to cover her ears and shriek in fear and pain. Even though her Mother protected her, she could still feel the heat and impulse from the explosions. The next thing Robin knew was that she was being helped back onto her feet. Her mother took off the black and golden robe that was always on her and bundled them up into Robin's hands.
"This is my gift to you Robin. Now, run along with your brother." Robin's mother lightly urged her towards the young man accompanying them. She then gave the man a silent nod, which was reciprocated. Robin was carried up to a height that almost doubled hers and the man hastily retreated down the path they came from.
"Brother, no! We can't leave mother behind! Ask mother to run with us!" Robin protested after realizing what her mother and brother's silent agreement was about. Lightly flailing her arms at her brother to further demonstrate her point. She watched as her mother smiled sadly towards them and regrettably turned around, before engaging their aggressors in a contest of magic.
"That's not possible. If she came with us, there won't be anything stopping the Grimleals from attacking us from behind." The brother explained to his sister, knowing full well that their Mother will most likely be overwhelmed by their aggressors. "I'm sorry, Robin." He pulled Robin closer towards his body and increased his pace, hoping to put as much distance away from the ongoing fight behind him.
"Mother… *sob* Mother…" Robin whimpered softly as her brother turned the corner and her mother disappeared from her sight. Trying her best to stifle her tears and tightly embraced onto the inheritance her mother left behind. The siblings soon emerged into an open gallery that oversaw the central courtyard, but was unfortunately detected by a platoon of soldiers across the corridor, donned in iron armour and armed to the teeth with swords and bows.
"Ylisseans! Not good, I need to lose them." Robin heard her brother muttering to himself silently. The archers immediately moved into formation, a straight line perpendicular against the siblings' direction of travel.
"Men! For Ylisse! For Naga! Death to the heretics!" A booming war cry resounded across the gallery and the archers released a shower of arrows towards them. The siblings could only react after hearing the sudden snap of bowstrings, Robin felt her brother make a hastened right turn and sprinting towards a jump. She could only tense her body as she anticipated the two-storey descend into the courtyard.
All Robin felt next was that she was sent rolling onto the ground, separated from her brother. She struggled to get back onto her feet and desperately searched for him and found the man a few paces away from her, sprawled on the ground and struggling to recover as well. But to her horror, she spotted the archers from before gathering onto the ledge above, bows drawn and ready.
Robin desperately scampered towards her brother in hopes to save him from their impending death. But before she could even reach him, snaps of bowstring resounded into the air and the rain of arrows soared towards them. Fearing for the worst, she reflexively tensed and closed her eyes and huddled on the ground. Thud thud thud, she could hear the arrows hitting the ground around her, each thud gave her hope that the next arrow would miss as well. As the hail of arrows subsided, Robin slowly relaxed and open her eyes, but what she saw sent her onto the verge of tears.
Her brother's face was right in front of hers, contorted into a pained smile. Arms and legs buckling and causing him to lean his weight on top of Robin, his head nestled into her neck. She could feel his laboured breath against her sweaty skin, his body's warmth slowly dissipating and the tremor of his body's shivering.
"Robin— *cough* I'm sorry…" Her brother groaned in between coughs, choking on his own blood. Robin felt her brother going limp within her embrace, she repeatedly called out to him in hopes that he would wake up and wished that what she was experiencing was simply a nightmare.
Shaking her head in denial and shivering in fear, Robin held onto her dear brother's body as tightly as possible. But the peace her brother so wholly deserved was rudely interrupted by a metallic greave that sent his body tumbling out of Robin's hands. She desperately tried to escape from the soldier, franticly crawling away to put as much distance possible between her and the madness. A brutal kick from under her and onto her stomach knocked the wind out of her, choking in pain and gasping for breath. A soldier rolled her onto her back using his feet and stomped on her stomach, pinning her onto the ground with no escape.
The soldier raised his sword, a sickening laughter of pure madness stretched across his face, Robin desperately tried to remove the metal greave that was pressing down painfully on her stomach. But her young body simply could not overpower the grown man before her.
"For Naga!" The soldier proclaimed his faith and brought down the blade, directly into the middle of her chest. All Robin saw was a moment of insanity, then followed by a flash of silver. Pain, despair and fear flooded her mind. She didn't like pain, she didn't like seeing her family die like that. She definitely felt like crying, but all she felt was a searing pain and her body growing heavy, as though she was sinking into the ocean.
"Foolish mortal." A distorted voice resonated in robin's mind. She opened her eyes in shock, but could see nothing but pitch black, she surveyed her surroundings, but failed to distinguish the source of the voice.
"Powerless and weak, your mother sacrificed herself for you and your brother defended you to the very end, and yet you are unable to escape even after their... wasted efforts." The voice mocked. It could feel the anger and irritation seething out of the little girl's pores and decided to push even further.
"You will grow up alone, only being protected and losing everyone around you. All because you are weak!"The voice boomed with arrogance, sending young Robin over the edge. She started crying, streams of tears pouring down her face.
"I just… want... *sob* all of these bad people to *sob* go away... '' Robin stuttered in between her sobs as tears began running down her face.
"Then it shall be done."The voice answered, robin glancing up to only find 6 glowing red eyes looking straight at her, before fading back into the darkness just as quickly. Robin felt a splitting headache and clutched onto her head in hopes it would relieve the pain, but to no avail.
"I am the wings of despair. I am the breath of ruin. I am the fell dragon, Grima. Now… My vessel, this is our vengeance…"The voice and the headache slowly faded away.
Robin opened her eyes, only to once again see the raging flames that was burning her home and the soldiers walking away from her, laughing in madness and commenting how the world could do with one less Plegian. Before she could even make sense of the conversation in her mind, her body stood up by itself, as though it was being controlled by something.
She watched her tiny hands pull out the steel blade that was plunged through her chest and simply stared at the blood dripping off the steel blade. An impulse, a bloodthirst, surged through her body and Robin could only twitch in fear at this unfamiliar sensation. Robin watched as 'she' gave the sword in her left hand a few practice swings, before crouching into a pouncing position and kicking off with an explosive dash towards one of the soldiers. A full body spin on her heels built enough momentum for a little girl to compensate for her lack of strength and thrusting the steel blade through the back of the nearest soldier.
"Dance!" Robin twisted the sword within the wound and pulled the blade towards the right, drawing a crimson arc of ichor as it emerged from side of the soldier, leaving him precariously severed. The other soldiers scrambled into position to surround Robin when they noticed her ambush. But before they could even manage a counterattack at the sudden emergency, Robin swung her right hand in a wide arc in front of her.
"Bleed for me!" Dozens of pitch black needles protruded from the ground and impaled the soldiers, sparking off a multitude of shocking and horrifying screams into air. Some were promptly finished off as their critical organs were destroyed, but the rest were dying slowly through the multiple fatal pierces all over their body.
The needles receded back into the ground, dropping all of the bloodied soldiers onto the ground with a heavy thud. Echoes of explosions and war resounded all around the castle, but it was only making her feel worse right now.
"No— what's— Nngh...Aaaughh..." A crimson red tint began to flood into her vision, she could feel a disgusting yet addictive sensation that pulsed through her entire body, causing her to thirst for more violence and blood. Robin desperately tried to restrain herself against the bloodthirst that wrecked her body and mind. The voice chuckled quietly within the depths of her mind.
"Hush, Robin. My turn." The voice quietly whispered to her, and all she could do was succumb to the voice in her head.
A young girl then stood among the bloodbath, pink flames igniting her left hand and a black needle grasped by the right. A pair of glowing crimson eyes surveyed her surroundings as she licked her lips in anticipation. Grima picked up the black and gold cloak that laid on the ground. Wearing the oversized coat 'her' mother left behind and chuckled at the excess fabric that drooped on the ground.
"So many preys, so little time." Grima mused as she traversed into the raging inferno.
Green plains as far as the eye could see, with the occasional lush trees and tall grass dotting the plains. A comfortable wind blew past the travelling party of three, accompanied by an armoured horse that grazed lazily on the abundant grass. Chrom stood atop a small hill to survey the surroundings, while enjoying the warm breeze that blessed them with a relaxing moment to cool off from the afternoon sun.
"Nice weather, isn't it?" Chrom exhaled as he did some light stretching to stave off the lethargy from hiking all afternoon.
"Milord. 'Twould be good to rest under the shade." Frederick approached Chrom after securing his horse's reins onto a nearby tree, where Lissa was taking cover from the sun and hydrating herself from a leather water pouch.
"It's alright. Just let me search if there are any bandits in the area and we can be—" Considering how they were nearly at the edge of the Halidom's borders, Chrom was certain he would observe signs of bandit activity, but what he went beyond his expectations. At the same time, Frederick turned his attention and examined the same point of interest that has captured his lord's attention.
Lissa, noticing that Chrom and Frederick was suddenly on alert, quickly kept her water pouch and approached the two men atop the hill. "What's happening?" Lissa asked as she scaled the small hill and planted herself beside Chrom.
"Is that…?" Lissa gasped and tugged lightly on Chrom's arm. The trio observed a black figure sitting underneath a lone tree, with the tree trunk supporting the back and its head leaning to one side. Patches of red stained the grass around the tree. Chrom and Lissa cautiously approached the figure with Frederick watching them intently from behind.
As they approached the figure, trails of blood that hid among the tall grass revealed itself, signifying that the figure was bleeding while heading towards the tree. Chrom and Frederick immediately tensed up and drew their weapons, while Lissa prepared her Heal staff on one hand and a satchel of Vulnerary in the other.
"Lissa, get ready but stay behind me." Chrom ordered and Lissa quickly positioned herself behind his back, but popping her head out from the side so that she can see upfront as well.
They were now standing before the black figure, but the sight before them was so gruesome that Chrom could imagine Lissa cringing a little from behind him. The figure was apparently a body, donning an oversized black and gold trimmed cloak. Arrows punctured the figure, save its head and torso, and burn marks that scorched any exposed skin that wasn't protected by any fabric.
"Milord, it could be a trap." Frederick warned, silver lance in hand and preparing to stab the figure if it had the slightest intention of harming the party.
Chrom ignored the warning and proceeded to uncover the hood of the figure. Chrom silently held his breath as Lissa gasped in shock at the revelation of a young girl. Pale creamy skin adorned her features. Snow white hair, tied in two pigtails that barely touched her shoulders, blood and soot dirtied her features. She's barely Lissa's age I assume, whatever happened to her... Chrom contemplated for a moment, before laying the girl onto the ground and signalling Lissa to assist him.
"At least her heart is still beating" Chrom evaluated, as he held two fingers on the side of the girl's neck. He started to remove the arrows from the girl's body, inadvertently causing the wounds to reopen. "Lissa, help me remove her robe and it would be great if you could help in the healing."
"On it!" Lissa replied without even turning to face Chrom and began to remove the robe from the unconscious girl, but was met with difficulty as the robe's design was clearly different from those she had worn before. "Chrom! Help me with her sleeves."
Chrom lifted the girl's back and hands up, while Lissa managed to remove the cloak from underneath her. Exposing the body within the cloak, the girl was dressed in a simple white tunic and khaki slacks, both stained with patches of red, but the most eye-catching thing was the black long gloves that reached her elbows and a pair of thick silver shackles that latched onto her wrists, with the connecting chain severed in half. The girl was barefooted, but had a similar pair of shackles on her ankles.
Lissa gave her Heal staff a few waves before the crystal perched at the top gave off a pale green glow. The wounds and burns started to patch itself together and all that remained of them were pinkish patches of newly regenerated skin.
"What do you think happened to her?" Lissa questioned Chrom, as she gave the young girl a final inspection for any leftover wounds that she could have missed. Bemusement crept onto her face as she tried to remove the gloves, but it was as though the gloves were part of the girl's skin.
"I doubt it was bandits. They… tend to favour abducting girls of such age and appearances." Chrom grimaced, implying the notion that the young girl would have served different 'purposes', had the bandits claimed her.
"Perhaps Plegian, milord? Black and gold designs are exclusive to Plegian nobility." Frederick warned, as he held up the tattered cloak and examined the colour and patterns on it. Some of the symbols weaved onto the cloak left Frederick unsettled about the owner.
"That doesn't matter. She's been hurt and she needs rest at the nearest town." Chrom retorted. "I'm not about to abandon someone in the open fields, much less a young girl."
"But milord, she could be part of an ambush, an enemy. She could be the bait meant to divert your attention." Frederick warily stated.
"She could be a resident of a nearby village, or a refugee." Chrom retorted, adamant about at least bringing the unconscious girl to somewhere safe.
"Chrom… we have to do SOMETHING" Lissa pleaded. Frederick frowned as the siblings ignored his warnings about a potential threat.
"What do you propose we do?" Chrom asked, knowing full well Lissa would not be able to suggest a suitable solution for the dilemma before them.
"I— I dunno… Ah!" Lissa panicked at the sudden question Chrom presented, but her response was cut short as she noticed the young girl staring straight back at her. Lissa gulped quietly as she appraised the beautiful pair of eyes, the girl's left eye was of a bright golden while the right was crimson. Chrom turned his attention back onto the young girl and heaved a sigh of relief.
"I see you are awake now." Chrom stated. The young girl shifted her attention onto him. Chrom was slightly taken aback at the lustrous and heterochromatic pair of eyes, which looked straight into his, as though staring into his soul.
"Hey there!" Lissa cooed gently, slightly bending downwards with her hands on her knees, she gently smiled at the young girl in hopes that she would not be startled at their presence.
"There are better places to take a nap then on the ground, you know?" Chrom joked and Lissa nodded in agreement. "Give me your hand." Chrom held out his hand and the girl gingerly placed her hand within his. He secured his grip and pulled her up. Such small hands and she's also slightly shorter then Lissa. Chrom quietly commented to himself asthe girl stood up slowly with his assistance, but her knees buckled slightly and she stumbled into Chrom, ending up in a hug as she clutched onto him for support.
"You all right?" Chrom questioned while trying his best to hide his blush, while the girl stabilised herself and retreated a few steps shyly after realising that they were too close for comfort.
"...Yes" The girl muttered under her breath. Shrinking into herself and casting quick glances at the trio, silently examining them for their intentions and possibility of danger.
"Here's your cloak!" Lissa approached the girl cheerfully and handed her the cloak she removed earlier. The girl snatched the cloak off Lissa's hand and hastily dressed herself, before bolting behind the tree and peeking at Chrom from behind it.
Do I look so scary that she has to run away and hide behind a tree? Chrom questioned himself as he tried to comprehend the girl's actions. "Tell me, what's your name—" He was interrupted mid-speech as the girl retreated behind the tree again. Lissa was trying her best not to burst out laughing at her brother's attempts to converse with the girl.
Chrom glared at Lissa and she immediately straightened up. "Let me try." Lissa suggested and she slowly approached the girl behind the tree. Frederick frowned at the risks she was taking, but could only stand by and prepare his lance for any emergency. Chrom chuckled to himself as he noticed that the conversation comprised of a flurry of animated hand actions and laughter, most likely from Lissa, and soft responses, from the girl. He was relieved that at least Lissa could communicate with the girl.
Shortly after, Lissa vanished behind the tree and emerged with the girl in hand, with the latter struggling to keep up with Lissa's energetic strides. As they paused in front of Chrom, the girl tightened her grip onto Lissa's and stared at Chrom's shoes.
"Robin." Chrom nearly missed what the girl said and was interrupted before he could speak up. "Running away. Bad people." Chrom grimaced at the mention of 'bad people', the recent problem of bandits were enough trouble as it is, but a new group of troublemakers? He hoped Robin could reveal more details about them next time so that some form of action could be taken.
"Milord, I must emphasize caution. She could attract unwanted trouble." Frederick warned, watching Robin cautiously.
"We can't just leave her here, especially if men with potentially unsavoury intentions are hunting for her. What sort of Shepherds would we be then?" Chrom retorted. He fully understood the good intentions of his loyal knight, but abandoning someone left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Just the same, Milord. 'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock." Frederick emphasised on the potential danger the girl could invite.
"Right then—we'll take her back to town and sort this out there." Chrom announced. Frederick immediately went to retrieve his horse and prepare for the journey back.
"Where are we going?" Robin asked, squeezing Lissa's hand in worry.
"Don't worry, we are just going to bring you back to the nearest town." Lissa smiled and assured her. Robin nodded and let go of Lissa's hand, before walking beside Chrom as the party headed towards their destination.
"I suppose proper introductions are in order… My name is Chrom. The delicate one here is my little sister, Lissa." Chrom introduced.
"I am NOT delicate!" Lissa was fuming. "Ignore my brother, please. He can be a bit thick sometimes." Lissa faked a pout at towards Robin. "But you're in luck that the Shepherds found you. Brigands would've been trouble."
"Shepherds? Sheep? …In full armour?" Robin tilted her head in confusion.
"It's a dangerous job. Just ask Frederick the Wary." Chrom joked. Lissa smiled in amusement at the use of the nickname.
"A title I shall wear with pride. Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution. I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise." Frederick solemnly stated.
"Your name's Robin right? I don't think it's a common name in Ylisse" Lissa changed the topic, deciding to comment on the rarity of Robin's name.
"It must be foreign." Chrom added, considering her skin, hair and eye colours. "We can discuss it later. We're almost to town—"
"Chrom! The town!" Lissa interrupted, pointing towards the town's direction. Columns of smoke rising into the air, screaming and shouting could be heard even though they were quite a distance away.
"Damn it! The village is ablaze! No doubt it's those brigands… To arms, Shepherds!" Chrom ordered as he began running towards the village.
"What about her, milord?" Frederick asked as he mounted his armoured horse.
"Unless she's on fire as well, it can wait!" Chrom commanded and increased his pace.
"Aptly put, milord." Frederick helped Lissa onto the horse and began to chase after him.
"But what about—" Robin was only halfway through her sentence before the Shepherds rushed towards the village, leaving her behind. She was sure Chrom and Frederick knew their way around a fight, but what about Lissa? She was worried for the kind and bubbly girl that she had just met. But should she interfere with their business even though she was an outsider? Even though she's an outsider?
"Go. They won't make it without you." The familiar voice spurred her. She nodded to herself and finalised her decision. She begun channelling magic throughout her body to increase her speed and strength. She raised the hood back over her head and with a deep breath, started running towards the burning village.
"Gwahaha! Get to it, lads! Grab anything shiny, and put the rest to the torch! We gots an example to set for these Ylissean types! Ain't that right, lass?" Garrick bellowed as he ordered his men to pillage the town. He then faced a village maiden that was brought before him.
"S-stay away from me! Please! Someone! HEEEEEELP!" The maiden screamed as Garrick approached her with his axe in hand and licking his lips disgustingly.
"Chrom, we have to stop them!" Lissa shouted behind Frederick, as he directed the horse to stop shortly behind Chrom. Both men surveyed the village plaza that was before them and what they saw disturbed them greatly.
The main plaza was dotted with bandits pillaging for anything worth lining their pockets with and anything else went up in flames. On the eastern terrace, the villagers were being rounded up and surrounded by several armed bandits, some with axes and some with swords. To the north, what seems to be the leader of the bandits was harassing a village maiden and was accompanied by five other comrades.
Chrom estimated the number of bandits could total from about twenty to thirty of them, yet these numbers have not included possible reinforcements. The Shepherds only had the three of them at the moment and yet, out of the three, only two were able to fight head on with the enemy. They were severely outnumbered and the fact that the villagers could be possible hostages only complicated the situation even further.
"Don't worry—" Chrom tightened his grip on Falchion and steeled himself for a tough fight ahead. "After today, these bandits—" A horrified scream pierced the air attracted the Shepherds attention, only to see a bandit preparing to bring the axe down upon the village maiden sprawled beneath him. But before the Shepherds could even spring into action, a black-robed figure blitzed across the terrace and blocked the axe before it met its target. Two black robed figures in a day, great. Chrom mentally facepalmed himself.
"Argh!" Garrick groaned as the figure parried the axe away with a pitch black curved blade. The figure immediately grabbed the maiden and leapt off the terrace. It leapt into the air with an impressive jump, hugging the maiden with one hand and wielding the blade in another, heading towards where the villagers were being corralled at.
"Get him!" Garrick shouted in anger, ordering the other bandits cut down the person that had just rudely interrupted his fun. The bandits surrounding the villagers immediately drew their weapons, preparing to cut down the figure as soon as it lands.
The figure let go of the blade and swung his free hand in a horizontal arc before him. The black blade shattered into numerous shards and rained death onto the bandits below, at the same time destroying the connecting bridge towards the eastern terrace, immediately securing the safety of the villagers.
As the bandits gawked in horror at the carnage, Chrom and Frederick began picking off the distracted bandits. Garrick spotted the new faces that were cutting down his men one by one, he immediately rallied his comrades with a roar.
"Blast! The Shepherds! Men! Finish 'em off! We'll deal with blackie and the villagers later!" The bandits diverted their attention towards the Shepherds and cautiously approached them. Chrom saw the figure directing the villagers away from the plaza, bringing up the rear to protect the villagers from any potential ambush.
Even though the number of bandits have been decreased significantly, the shepherds were still outnumbered. Nine in the plaza, five across the bridge and their leader. Fifteen against three. Chrom silently went through the numbers in his head, thankful for the timely assistance that reduced the enemy's numbers by half.
A bandit's war cry roused Chrom out of his thoughts and he immediately countered the incoming axe with his Falchion, followed by a timely counterattack that severed the bandit's head off. A myrmidon approached Chrom from his blind spot and swung his sword towards Chrom, but was parried by Frederick's Silver lance. Chrom took the chance and cut down the myrmidon when it was still recovering from the parry.
The duo worked together flawlessly, dispatching careless bandits that attacked them from all directions, until they heard a shriek from behind them. A throwing axe flew past Chrom and barely inches away from Lissa's face. Chrom quickly intercepted the next throwing axe thrown towards Lissa, but was too late in discovering a mage launching a Fire spell towards her. Lissa froze in panic as she noticed the fireball approaching her too late and instinctively hid behind her Heal staff in hopes that it may block the incoming attack.
Chrom watched in horror as the fireball exploded before Lissa, mentally cursing himself for not paying more attention to her safety. As the flames dissipated, Chrom noticed that the black robed figure from before standing in front of Lissa, arms crossed to protect its face from the flames. Lissa was unharmed, but was so unsettled by the close shave that she collapsed onto the floor, losing control of her limbs.
As Chrom sighed in relief, the figure suddenly appeared beside him and shoved him aside. "Wha—" Chrom complained as he was pushed aside, only to see a throwing axe whirl past where he was previously standing.
"Here, sheepy sheepy! Come to the slaugh—!" Garrick mockingly laughed at Chrom, preparing to throw another axe him, but a black projectile shot through the air and shattered the throwing axe. The two bandits that flanked him on both sides immediately drew their weapons and prepared for combat. Garrick was boiling with rage, unwilling to believe that a simple raid could go so wrong.
"Chrom, partner up with Frederick and take on the chief. I will deal with the other two." A feminine voice ordered him. The figure didn't wait for his reply and immediately rushed forward and entered combat, pulling out another pitch black curved sword from within its cloak. Chrom and Frederick nodded to each other and proceeded to flank Garrick from the side.
"Damn Ylisseans!" Garrick rushed towards Chrom and swung his spare axe, but was intercepted by Frederick's shield. Frederick attempted a counter and his spear nicked Garrick's shoulder as he attempted a retreat. More and more cuts appeared on Garrick's body as he desperately tried to evade Frederick's ferocious attack and Chrom multiple attempts to land killing blow, but Garrick kept his Guard up against the both of them. A sudden pink-coloured blade of wind sliced Garrick's ear, causing him to be distracted and winced in pain. Frederick took the opportunity to bury his spear deep into Garrick's shoulder, causing him to scream in pain. "Bwaaargh!"
Chrom dived in quickly before he could recover and drove his blade through Garrick's chest. An incomprehensible groan escaped Garrick's mouth and Chrom pulled his blade out, turning his attention to the black robed figure. Noting that the figure was already facing him while two bloodied corpses laid unmoving by its feet and that the curved blade was nowhere to be seen.
"Remove your hood and identify yourself." Frederick threatened, silver lance poised to strike at any moment. Lissa, standing behind the great knight, observed the figure quietly. Déjà vu, that cloak, that voice and the height, wait a moment… Even before Chrom could complete his thoughts, the figure spoke up.
"You forgot me already?" The figure replied with a girly voice, betraying a tinge of amusement and promptly lowered her hood. Only to reveal a young girl with snow white hair, tied with two pigtails at the side. Lissa gasped in surprise and immediately went up to give Robin a tight hug. Chrom sheathed his sword and exhaled in exasperation.
"Well, that's the end of that." Robin deadpanned, leaving Chrom to wonder if it was directed to the bandits, or their momentary hostility towards her.
"Lucky for the town, we were close by. But holy wow, Robin! You were incredible! Swords and magic? And you seem experienced in combat!" Lissa exclaimed while hugging Robin in excitement.
"You're certainly no helpless victim that much is for sure." Chrom added, recalling how he found Robin in a total mess back in the plains.
"Indeed. Perhaps you might even be capable to explain your true purpose here in Ylisse?" Frederick questioned, his silver spear still poised and ready. Robin only stared silently at Frederick. Lissa could feel the tension in the air between them. Thankfully Chrom interjected and broke the tense atmosphere.
"She fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough." Chrom declared.
"And your mind, milord? Will you not heed its counsel as well? There are not much professions that require such combat proficiency." Frederick challenged.
"Frederick, the Shepherds could use Robin's talents. Brigands and unruly neighbours, all looking to bloody our soil. Would you give up this chance to recruit such a capable comrade? Besides, I feel I can trust her, even though we just met." Chrom insisted and gave a Frederick a stare, discreetly ordering him to retract his lance.
"Th-thank you, Chrom." Robin blushed at the vote of confidence that Chrom just openly declared to everyone. Lissa giggled quietly at Robin's reaction, who could only attempt to lightly nudge Lissa in embarrassment.
"So how about it? Will you join us, Robin?" Chrom turned to face Robin with a smile
"S-Sure." Robin blushed as she saw the smile, only to elicit another fit of giggles from Lissa.
The villagers soon shuffled back into the plaza as soon as the sounds of battle died out. Chrom and Frederick assisted with conducting a search across the village to pick off any stragglers and rescue any survivors trapped in burning buildings or debris, while Robin and Lissa tended to the wounded. It was nearly sunset when the Shepherds gathered back at the plaza once they completed their respective duties in assisting the village cope with the fallout from the bandit raid.
"Did you notice, milord? The brigands spoke with a Plegian accent." Frederick stated his observations and Chrom frowned in worry at the implications of that statement.
"Done! We're back!" Lissa bounced towards them and plopped herself in front of Chrom, pulling Robin along by her hand as she still struggled to keep up to Lissa's upbeat pace. Chrom gave his sister's head a light pat and unintentionally gave Robin a pat as well, much to her surprise. Lissa giggled slightly as she saw Robin freezing up at the sudden contact.
"They send small bands into our territory. Is Plegia hoping to instigate a war?" Chrom returned to his conversation with Frederick and became serious again. Robin tensed at the mention of Plegia, but thankfully no one noticed.
"And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer! Totally innocent, and totally helpless!" Lissa added to Chrom's comment, jabbing the other end of her Heal staff into the ground angrily.
"They do have us, milady. Shepherds to protect the sheep." Frederick reminded her. "Do not be swept up in your anger. It will cloud your judgment." Chrom could only smile at his sister's kindness and empathy for those caught in the violence. Robin looked at the village around her and assessed the damage while waiting for the others to finish their conversation. An old villager approaching them caught all of their attention and they turned towards him.
"Milord, please! You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valour with a feast!" The old man presented his offer to the village's saviours, wishing to thank them for their service.
"A most generous offer, sir, and no doubt your hospitality would be grand... But I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol." Frederick smiled and apologised to the old man, before extending a slight bow in acknowledgement of his offer.
"Dark meat only for me, medium well and no salt in the soup. I simply—" Lissa merrily listed off her preferences in food before coming to a realisation at what Frederick just said. "Wait! What? We're not staying? But Frederick, it's nearly dark!"
"When night falls, we'll camp. Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and the like... I believe you mentioned you would be 'getting used to this'?" Frederick smiled and gave a soft chuckle after he responded to Lissa's complaints.
"Frederick? Sometimes I hate you." Lissa deadpanned and faced away from him, faking a tantrum.
Robin snickered at the banter between the Shepherds, finding Lissa's disappointed reaction quite amusing. Lissa made a pout towards Robin and pulled her into playful embrace, both giggled at the sudden skinship. "Frederick only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe." Lissa 'whispered' to Robin, making sure everyone could hear what she wanted to say.
"He enjoys watching people suffer." Chrom joked, deciding to play along with Lissa's antics.
"Really?" Robin asked as she turned towards Frederick, hands on her cheek as though she was screaming.
"*Ahem* You all do realise I AM still present?" Frederick twitched slightly as the people before him took amusement at his expense.
"We realise!" The siblings answered in synchrony. Robin just smiled at Frederick.
"Milord remains as amusing as ever. Now then, shall we be going?" Frederick replied with a straight-face, before turning around to prepare his horse.
"All right. Ready to go, Robin? To the capital!" Chrom declared and the Shepherds begun their journey back.
A/N: Will be rolling out the next chapter some time soon. But life and work happens. See you soon