Part I

"We just can't seem to stop picking up detritus, can we?" Maribelle asked, looking the newest Shepherd up and down like a prize pony.

Lissa gasped. "Maribelle!"

The troubadour flipped her hair off her shoulder petulantly. "Tch. It was bad enough having him around," she said, pointing at Vaike with her parasol. Vaike paid no attention; he was trying to belch his own name. "And then we picked up this gem," the parasol tip moved to point at Robin, who sighed. "But what, pray tell, is this?"

"M'name's Donny, ma'am. Short for Donnel. Your Majestyful here offered me a place in your group after savin' my hide down in the village. Pleased to meet you!" He stuck his hand out towards her.

She eyed the calloused hand like it was a large spider. "Yes, yes, pleasure, I'm sure."

Seconds ticked by and Donnel's hand dropped when he realized the woman had no intention of shaking it. His face flushed under his copper pot and he seemed to withdraw into himself a little. Robin stepped forward, breaking the tension. "Yes, this is our new recruit. He's going to be a fine addition to the Shepherds. You have a lot of potential, Donnel, and we're glad to have you!"

Wind returned to the former farmhand's sails and he grinned, causing his pot to slip down slightly over his left ear. "Thank ya kindly, Robin, sir."

Robin clapped him warmly on the shoulder, then turned and motioned to Chrom, who followed him towards the War Council tent. The rest of the Shepherds slowly dispersed as well. Maribelle tucked her parasol under her arm and proffered her elbow to Lissa. "Come, my pet. My, but you are muddy from that battle! I have tea brewing. I'll pour you a hot cup after you wash up." Lissa laughed and took her arm, resisting the urge to dab fresh mud on her best friend's perfectly scrubbed nose. "What in the…no, Vaike, I don't want you to try to burp my name…go take a bath or lift logs or something! I declare, what occupies the space in your skull? This way, Lissa, to fresher air."

Their voices faded, leaving Donnel alone to try and scrape dirt off of his own rough-spun tunic.

oOoOoOo

"We've spotted a large group of Risen heading towards a village just north of camp," Chrom called to the Shepherds, who were finishing preparations to march. "We're going to clear them out before continuing on the path Robin has plotted." He nodded to the tactician standing beside him. "Leave all the supplies behind except your weapons and vulneraries; we will come back to this campsite tonight." He sighed and lowered his voice. "Unless we're dead, that is."

Robin patted his shoulder. "That's the spirit! Pessimism—keep that up and you'll never be disappointed!" He tugged on his overcoat and tucked a tome under his arm, then cupped his hands around his mouth. "I'll be coming around to give you all battle orders! Don't leave until I've talked to you!"

Lissa was quavering as she strapped an extra Heal staff to her belt. "This must be a pretty big bunch of Risen if we need two healers…usually Robin only takes one of us."

"Not to worry, darling," Maribelle replied, tightening her mare's flank cinch. "I'll keep an eye on you." Not to mention Robin certainly will as well, she thought irritably.

As if summoned by her musings, the tactician approached the two from the other side of the horse. "Ah, here you two are. I've got your marching orders. Lissa, you're going to be sticking close to Chrom and I during this battle. Stahl and Sully will be covering your back, so don't worry about that." Lissa nodded, bobbing her pigtails. "As for you, Maribelle, you're—Vaike? What is it?"

He stopped, interrupted by the appearance of the burly fighter, who was gritting his teeth. "Say, Rob, have you seen an axe lying around here anywhere? I swear I just had it…"

"No, and if you haven't found it by the time we march I'm leaving you here." Robin replied. "Then when we get back I'm going to tie that axe to your head with rope. Maybe you'll stop losing it!"

Vaike narrowed his eyes, unsure whether or not Robin meant what he said. He decided not to chance it and hurried away to continue searching the ground. The tactician shook his head and turned back to the healers. "Anyway, Maribelle, you will be partnered with Donnel here from now on. He's your new project." He reached out and pulled the farm boy into view from where he had been hiding behind Maribelle's horse.

"What?" Maribelle protested, aghast. "Why me? I know nothing of training fighters."

"I've seen you giving tips on the battlefield and I know you read my books when I'm not looking. You'll do fine. Besides, you're the only one who can use Mend right now, and seeing as how this is only Donnel's second battle, he might be needing it." Donnel gulped, but Robin pushed him towards the troubadour. "I expect great things from this pair."

Maribelle opened her mouth to argue further, but Robin was already leading Lissa towards Chrom. She turned back to Donnel, who was shifting his weight nervously from one foot to the other. "I know it ain't no fun bein' stuck with me, but I'll sure do my best, Miss." He said earnestly, meeting her eyes.

"Too right you shall. We'll just…for heaven's sake, you're holding your spear the wrong way! How were you planning on defeating the enemy with the blunt end?"

Donnel flushed and flipped the spear around in his hands. "Shucks, I just thought I'd bop 'em on the head real good."

Maribelle slowly turned around and yelled at the tactician's back in a strangled sort of voice. "Did you hear that, Robin? He was going to 'bop 'em on the head real good'! Robin!"

"Sounds good, Donnel!" Robin hollered back, giving the farmhand a thumbs-up. "Good luck you two!"

Donnel waved back happily. "He sure is smart, ain't he?"

Ah, so that's it. This is Robin's revenge for me keeping him away from Lissa. I see now. Maribelle groaned in a decidedly unladylike manner and leaned her head against her horse's flank. "Pardon, Maribelle?" A voice spoke beside her and she pulled away to see Miriel glowering and holding an enormous axe. "Would you happen to know who left this weapon so carelessly in the meal tent? I would have words with them."

"That would be Vaike," Maribelle replied, pointing towards the bathing tents. "He went that way."

"Thank you." Miriel hoisted the axe up again and stomped away.

Maribelle watched her go, then turned back to Donnel. "Well, you're certainly not the least intelligent specimen in this army. That ought to cheer us both up. Come now, help me on my horse."

Unlike last time, she now took his extended hand and pressed it as she hoisted herself into the saddle. His hand was rough but warm. "You're shaking." she observed.

"Just some pre-battle jitters. I'm fine!" He said, though he looked anything but. "Don't you worry none. I'll protect you from them scary monsters."

Maribelle released his hand, skepticism written clearly on her face. "See that you do."