This is the culmination of several plot ideas spiralling into a single story. I wanted to explore Robin and Lucina's relationship a bit deeper to begin with, particularly right before his sacrifice. But then I thought that scenario would affect more than just Robin, Lucina and Morgan, and that stumped me for a while. Rewind back before the fight, and that would effectively be Robin's last opportunity to converse properly with his friends. So, after a little bit of plot twisting and some mulling over a plate of mince pies, I wrote this little narrative. I guess it's a little "toe-in-the-water" thing for me in the world of fanfictions, since I've never done anything like this before!
Still, let's give it a shot.
The mood was sombre at the Shepherd's camp. Just yesterday, they had routed Aversa's final attempts at stalling them from reaching Origin Peak. Grima had awoken, and was making his way to the island mountain. The Shepherds would be anxiously waiting for the signal by their commander, killing time by sparring or talking amongst themselves in the mess tent. All the while, Robin's strategy had been finalised, and had been approved by the war council earlier this morning. The Grandmaster was pulling out all the stops to making sure his doppelgänger was not only defeated, but dead. His determination was only matched by his wife, Lucina, but even she and Chrom were surprised at how far he was willing to go.
Routinely, Robin made his way into the armoury tent for what would be his last supply check this side of his life. He was confident in the words that Naga spoke, that the bonds he forged with Chrom, Lucina, his daughter Morgan, and all the Shepherds would bring him back. From where, he did not know. But he knew that nothing was going to stop him from seeing them again.
As he was muttering to himself while he checked the medicine box, packed to the brim with salves and tonics, Lucina opened the tent flap. "Robin…" she called to him wistfully.
He looked away from the box and gazed longingly and lovingly at his wife. He knew he wouldn't understand the grief she would go through if he were to sacrifice himself. But he also could not forgive himself if he squandered an opportunity to finally kill Grima once and for all.
"I'm sorry you had to hear my outburst at the war council this morning, Luci." he finally said. "I know you of all people have heard and seen enough people dying in sacrifice for others."
"Yet, you still insist on going ahead with this ludicrous plan?" She replied whilst fighting back tears.
Hearing her voice crack slightly, Robin closed the gap between them and held her in a tight hug. "Only because I married the woman that fought through the calamitous future she came from. No-one should have to live through that. Not now, not ever."
"I… I understand Robin… but do you have any idea of how much I will miss you?" she cried in his shoulder.
It would have been easy to remain silent to that question, but Lucina didn't deserve that.
"…No. No I won't." he replied truthfully. "Because I don't know the grief of losing someone I care so deeply for. But I'm afraid as well. Afraid of the pain it will bring, of the pain I will bring onto you and Morgan." He paused. "But when I'm back, we'll start a new life together, and have a family, and I'll be there every step of the way. …I promise." They shared a brief, tender kiss.
"I need to make sure my strategy for Grima is completely watertight, so I need to continue my work." Robin said solemnly. "But I also want to spend every moment I have with you, Luci. So, could you stay with me while I do the supply check?"
Lucina looked up at Robin through teary eyes, and simply nodded.
With an arm around Lucina's waist, Robin headed towards the weapons rack. Silver swords, axes, lances, bows and other assorted weapons rested against the wooden frames, all in immaculate condition. He had spent a lot of the war chest on new weapons after recovering the Fire Emblem from his deceased father; a testament to his determination and to the safety of his friends. While Robin was counting the tomes ready for use, Lucina wandered to two identical and large, heavy chests. They were locked.
"What do you store in these chests, my dear?" Lucina asked curiously.
"Oh those? Weapons with a bit more history than the ones we use day-to-day. Their age makes them a bit more fragile than I'd wish." Robin was still checking the dark tomes when a thought came to him.
"Although, now you mention it," he said turning to the Great Lady, "I reckon it would soon be a fitting tribute to let them see one last clash." Robin drew a large, wrought iron key from the myriad of pockets in his coat, and unlocked the chests.
Lucina gazed inside them both with respect for what she saw. Inside were ancient tomes and weaponry, including the Regalia, all with their own distinct story. They had all seen more bloodshed and battle than she had. Each rested on top of rails to secure them properly when they were marching.
"We collected them amongst our travels and campaigns. Some of them fairly recently, actually." Robin was referring to the ones the Deadlords had tried to use against the Shepherds. Any doubt about their power was swiftly cast aside after the battle.
"I had thought about which of these weapons would suit each Shepherd, but I had never found a battle scenario suitable enough to use them. So I assumed they would remain in these chests until you all returned to Ylisstol. I must have been too exhausted to think about them when I drafted my strategy against Grima." he finished.
Lucina picked out Mercurius from the chest, and unsheathed it. "Even after all this time, it's still an incredible weapon," she marvelled. She had heard stories that it was the personal weapon (among others) of Prince Marth, all the way back when he took on the Shadow Dragon. After a few practice swings and a shake of her head, she sheathed it back into its scabbard, and returned it to the chest.
"But it could never replace the blade at my side," looking down at her Parallel Falchion. It's weight was a a reassuring comfort, and a constant reminder of her father.
"I wouldn't expect it to, either." Robin agreed, smiling. "You have a beautiful blade at your side, that means far too much sentimentally to you." He paused. "I've decided. We'll use the weapons we have in these chests in our last fight."
Lucina looked at Robin, stunned. "You're going to use these symbolic artefacts against the Fell Dragon himself!?"
"I told you earlier; I'm sparing no resource for this fight. And they are weapons before they are artefacts. Otherwise, they'd be locked up in the castle vault, never to see daylight again." Robin responded calmly.
"And besides," he whispered, taking her hand, "It would be nice to leave my friends a parting gift…"
Feeling deflated, Lucina let her husband's argument slide, knowing that Chrom might have a second opinion on this. Robin would hear that from the Exalt later though.
"I don't need to play quartermaster anymore. There are more than enough weapons in here to equip everyone." Robin looked into her royal blue eyes. "Shall we get everyone kitted out?"
"I'm staying with you through-out this." Lucina retorted.
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
And there we have it. Comments and criticisms are always welcome. I'm pretty sure I have some more ideas I could put to use later on. I'd better pen them down quickly...
What do I put here? See you around? Thanks for reading? I'm no good at this stuff, so perhaps I'll just sign off this work with a single character.
_
R