Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem, or any of its related property, which all belongs to Nintendo/Intelligent Systems/whoever actually owns it. I'm not going to pretend to know who or what owns it, I just know that it's not me.
So, this is my first attempt at writing... well, anything, really. This story is going to be focused on the relationship between Robin and Kjelle over the course of a modified version of Fire Emblem Awakening's story, both of which will hopefully interest you enough that you decide to keep reading. Please, message me if there are any errors at any point in this story, or leave a comment so that I can address whatever concerns you have.
I would also like to mention right now that I don't really have any idea what I'm doing on this site, since this is the first (second maybe?) time I'm even looking at the non-mobile version. I don't know what my formatting should look like, or if I'm doing any of this properly, so please tell me if I've messed anything up.
Chapter 1
Spears of lighting faded out of existence as Robin ceased his magical attack, Chrom's broken body lying unmoving on the ground before his feet. The last of the spears dissipated in a magnificent rainbow of colour, though it appeared as grey as ever to the only two onlookers remaining.
Robin raised his hand anew and cast another burst of magic at the fallen form, Chrom's corpse evaporating into nothingness as a purple-tinted flame consumed him, an ethereal light from his remains wafting toward Robin in followup. Above all else, all of the fear and hatred that had plagued him for so long, Robin was now delighting in his kill - in having the sheer power to kill. He basked in the power to destroy, and to decide anything and everything. Power over others.
Another unique but same him, the true Grima of a future past forgotten, stood across from him with an unceremoniously dropped jaw. Their wide eyes darted rapidly between the spot where Chrom's corpse had been impaled only seconds ago, to Robin, and back repeatedly.
Grima-Robin's mouth bobbed open and shut several times before they were able to properly form words, their voice as high pitched and shrill as their complete and utter shock entailed. "What the fu-!?"
Rays of early morning sunlight filtered into Ylisstol castle, dimly illuminating the grand palace's halls. A skeleton crew of knights stood in vigil at various locations, periodically scanning their surroundings or following a predetermined route through the castle as they awaited their relief. Many of the Shepherds who had fought in the Plegian war one year prior had taken up residence in the castle, and the early risers among them slowly began to filter out of their rooms, making their way to the kitchens for a small breakfast before heading off for Frederick's daily training regimen at the barracks.
A shaft of light snuck through a gap in the heavy blue curtains that lined every window of Ylisstol's grandmaster study, falling upon the face of a sleeping figure slumped over the arm of their chair. Robin shifted slightly in his sleep, his unconscious mind trying its best to keep the man in his rest for a few moments longer. Soon, the unmistakable scent of parchment and ink filled the tactician's senses, rousing him from his slumber and reminding him that he had fallen asleep before leaving his workspace. Again.
Groaning, Robin rose from his chair and stretched. He stifled a yawn as he began working any muscle that felt sore, then clapped his hands down on the edge of his desk and stared at the missive he had begun writing the night before. Blinking twice, he tried to remember where his line of thought had been leading him when had fallen asleep. He reached for the quill that had rolled toward the edge of his desk, using it to jot down a few more sentences before he rolled the paper up and shoved it roughly into one of his coat pockets.
Dozens of bookcases lined every wall of the study, and Robin considered pulling a tome from one of the shelves before he recollected his wandering thoughts and remembered the vast number of weapons and occasional potions he concealed in the gold, black, and purple cloth folds of his cloak. He stretched his back a final time, then slid past the side of his desk toward the room's unnecessarily grandiose door. Opening it, he squinted as he stepped into the noticeably brighter hallway.
The grandmaster study, as with Robin's room and all the Shepherd's living quarters, opened into an elevated hall that held a view of the castle's central garden, with a guardrail and several pillars preventing any drunken Gregors from falling over the one-story height. This garden, in turn, held several arches that connected to the barrack's open-air training grounds, as well as several pathways which fed into various other points of interest, most of which lined the exterior of the castle. The gardens, grounds, and their interconnected paths had been a remnant of Emmeryn's rule, designed to ease the burden of the castle staff and bring a shred of beauty to the otherwise bland stonework.
Robin frowned. Of course, none of that really helped when she was nearly assassinated. The pathways had been a nightmare to plan strategies around, and Robin had actually made a request to block them off entirely after Chrom was crowned Exalt. Chrom immediately denied this request, of course; he had vowed to preserve as much of his late sister's legacy as he possibly could.
The tactician sighed inaudibly as he ran a hand through his snow-white hair. That statement alone had led to an irrationally long monologue on Chrom's part, detailing the castle's defenses and, as always, somehow ending with a powerful statement about fate and the power of bonds. Now, not even the Vaike-est of Shepherds would even dream of damaging the gardens or their passageways.
"Heya, Robin!" a too-loud-for-this-time-of-morning voice suddenly shouted out.
Robin winced, then broke into a smile as he recognized the caller. "Hey, Vaike." Well, think of the devil… "What's up?"
Vaike ran up to Robin, stopping a little too close for the other man's comfort. "Frederick said you'd need a wakeup call, and I thought that I may as well drop by, so here I am!" he grinned. He also began to raise his eyebrows in such a way that left Robin slightly uncomfortable, but the grandmaster tried his best to ignore that part, knowing how common of a feeling it was around the other Shepherd.
Robin stepped back slightly before speaking. "Um… thanks, I guess? At least it's nice to think that Frederick may actually care about my wellness for once." Robin smiled, even though it was obviously hollow.
"Heh, the ol' teddy bear probably just wants you out of his hair sooner!" Vaike laughed, with Robin soon letting out his own low laugh before breaking into another yawn. The pair stood in silence for a moment, Vaike sizing up Robin's appearance as the other Shepherd massaged his throat.
"Pleasant dreams?" Vaike asked in an unusually melodic tone of voice, his eyes still scanning his friend.
"Actually, yeah." Robin replied truthfully, the moments he had experienced having faded fully before he had awoken. "I can't for the life of me remember what it was, though." he followed up as truthfully as before.
Vaike flicked his eyes back up to meet Robin's equally curious and tired gaze. "So… you get laid last night, or what?"
Robin blinked. "W-What!?" he eventually sputtered out.
"I mean, you're wearing the same stuff as yesterday and you look pretty wiped out." Vaike was still grinning, and was now nodding as if to confirm his own statement. "And, seriously, there must have been a pretty damn good reason for you to miss your own going-away party. So, what's she like? You gonna introduce her to us? ...It wasn't Tharja, was it?"
"What are you even saying? Wait… was there actually a party yesterday?" Robin scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion. He had received a letter from Chrom a while ago, informing him of a party, but Robin had dismissed it as a test of dedication. Of course Chrom wouldn't do that… Why would I even consider that Chrom, of all people, would do something like that?
"Oh, I get it, you must've got some ladies as a 'special gift' from Chrom, huh?" Vaike was grinning even harder now, if such a thing was even possible, and somehow managed to ignore Robin's narrowed gaze. "Well, there's no shame in having your first time go like that, especially considering if it was with the blessing of an Exalt!" he laughed, before taking on a surprisingly somber tone. "And… yeah. There was a party yesterday. Everyone got together to wish the three of you a good journey, but things died down pretty fast when you didn't show, Lon'qu refused to drink or mingle, and Virion left with a barmaid in about five minutes."
"Huh…" Robin rubbed his chin with the palm of his hand, straining his mind in an attempt to avoid the earlier unsettling part of Vaike's statement. "Seriously, five minutes? That's gotta be a personal best for him."
Vaike's smile immediately returned. "Ha! Well, it didn't really go much further, considering that Libra had to carry the big baby to a guest room." The smile faded again. "So, ah… you were working last night?"
Robin grimaced. "Yeah. Sorry, I really should've made an appearance, things just... got a bit out of hand."
"Yeah, man, no need to worry. We get it." Vaike was being sincere; of that Robin held no doubt. Still, the uncharacteristically calm way in which the usually loud Shepherd spoke pulled at something inside of him. "At least you aren't wasted on the big day, right?"
"Yeah…" Robin sighed. "Hey Vaike? I still have to hit the baths, could you deliver this to Chrom and get him to read it over? I'll meet him in the roundtable room as soon as I can." Robin pulled the missive from one of his pockets and held it out for Vaike.
Vaike took the paper from Robin's hand in a manner the grandmaster considered almost too eager. "Sure, I'll pass it along. Not a problem."
"Thanks." Robin and Vaike turned in opposite directions, heading for the baths and Chrom's bedchamber, respectively. Robin paused for a moment before pirouetting around to face Vaike's shrinking backside. "Be careful with this one!" he shouted to the retreating figure.
"Yeah, yeah! It'll be fine! It's like a two-minute walk!" Vaike yelled back.
Chrom squinted, trying his best to read the barely-legible text on Robin's missive. It's hard enough to read his writing normally, the Exalt thought to himself, now he has to tear it up and run it through a stream as well?
The ex-prince leaned back in his seat at the roundtable, setting the text down as he took a break from his analyzation. He looked around his surroundings, searching for some kind of answer on the walls and ceiling that would somehow aid his attempts at interpretation. It was a surprisingly gaudy room; Emmeryn had removed the throne that was once the focus of the entire space and had replaced it with a roundtable early in her rule, but left the elegant carvings and gilded paint that coated every orifice after learning that removal would be in no way cost-effective. The dark brown table itself was simple, but utterly massive - it needed to house any amount of nobles or civilians who sought an audience with their royalty, after all.
Chrom sighed, glancing back to the document as his wife began her attempt to skim over it. "Sumia? Who did you say delivered this again?"
Sumia looked up from her work as she tapped the side of her chin in an attempt to remember. "...It was Miriel, I think? She said she found it outside the barracks, impaled to a wall and completely drenched."
Chrom rubbed his temples with his right hand. "What do you think the odds are that Vaike was supposed to bring this to us, damaged something Sully-related as she was training, and got into a fight?"
"Pretty high, in all honesty." she pursed her lips. "Although, I don't think Sully would stab the missive if she recognized what it was. The cut was also clean and avoided hitting any text, so maybe Cordelia?"
"I don't know, doesn't that seem a bit aggressive for her?" Chrom pulled the text back to him, being careful not to tear it any more than it already was. "...Maybe it was Frederick, angered by Vaike's… uh, Vaikeness?"
"It was Frederick, milord." Kellam informed. Chrom jumped in his seat, then immediately coughed and attempted to act as though he had known of Kellam's presence the entire time. "And I was the one who brought it to you, milady. Not Miriel." Kellam stated for Sumia, fading back into his apparent state of non-existence.
"Ah, right, of course." Chrom muttered in an attempt to calm his nerves from the man's sudden appearance. "Thank you, Kellam. You are dismissed."
"I think he left already, dear." Sumia enunciated slowly, reaching out to hold her husband's shoulder and finding an odd amount of humour in the man's confusion.
Kellam turned around from his spot under the exit door frame, weighed his options of either telling the king and queen of his presence or just leaving, thought better of it, and left. He passed Robin in the hallway and considered saying his goodbyes then and there, but the grandmaster was still towelling off his face and would likely only be startled by anything Kellam would do. So, the armoured knight began his trek back to the training grounds.
Robin hung the towel he was using around his neck and knocked on the door in front of him. Receiving confirmation from inside, he pushed the door open and greeted the two royals within before taking his seat on Chrom's unoccupied side.
"Robin, do you mind going over what you wrote here quickly?" Chrom asked as he gestured to the paper in front of him, relieved to finally have a proper interpreter with him.
Robin's eyes followed Chrom's hand, his face visibly falling when he noticed the parchment's condition. "Sure thing," he breathed out, distaste evident in his voice.
He paused for a long moment, collecting his bearings, then continued. "Essentially, it's a request for a status report from many of the more troublesome regions of Ylisse and Plegia. Shepherds are to be given missions in Plegia if there are any major issues and their new leader consents, and the best recruits from Ylisse are to be sent to Ylisstol to train under Frederick and whichever Shepherds are on standby. It's my attempt at keeping security here in the castle up, and hopefully making a friend of an old enemy."
Robin closed his eyes before speaking again. "Of course, I realize that Plegia may not be open to any Shepherd operations, and people may not be keen on guarding a castle that was invaded and lost over half its garrison, but hey, I figure it's worth a shot." His voice was calm but cold, as if he expected his plans to fail before they were even put into action and didn't want to get attached to them.
"Ah, right." the Exalt nodded. "I asked you to draw this up a few weeks ago, before you were to leave. Thanks for getting it to me."
"Not a problem." Robin lied. In actuality, he had spent an absurd amount of time cross referencing laws to ensure that the Plegian government wouldn't shut the entire plan down without a second thought before writing the first draft, and he had then needed to ensure that Ylisse was left protected without the full force of the Shepherds. He hadn't even been able to address Ferox, a move that was certain to earn him disfavour with the Khans, though his standing with them was absurdly positive. "Just don't let this stuff take up too much of your time, alright?"
Chrom smiled. "Of course. If you could rewrite a copy of this before you depart, I'll sign it and pass copies along to whoever is necessary. Thank you, Robin." Unlike the grandmaster, Chrom's voice was warm and inviting; he obviously believed in the plan's ability to succeed.
Of course he does, this is Chrom! Robin berated himself. He's never been anything but supportive of you; why would you ever doubt his assistance?
Robin opened his eyes again, keeping them trained on the missive. "Sure, Chrom. I'll drop by again in about an hour or two."
"So, Robin, are you ready for your vacation?" the queen asked, preventing him from rising out of his chair for a little while longer.
"It's not every day that a grandmaster goes on a sightseeing trip." Chrom added on. "I'm glad you're taking it, though. You always seem to push yourself further than I would like. A vacation will treat you well." The Exalt moved to clap his hand on Robin's shoulder.
Robin reflexively shied away from his friend, causing Chrom to frown slightly as he lowered his hand back onto the table. He looked at the wall across from him, his gaze unfocused as he thought of what he should say next.
"I hope so." Robin interjected, breaking Chrom out of his reverie. "Things have gotten fairly calm recently, and I guess I just need some time to wind down, too."
The 'vacation' - or rather extended escort mission, as its name would properly be - had been planned months in advance, after Virion had requested a convoy and several Shepherds to accompany him to Port Ferox. Supposedly, the archer was awaiting something of critical import in the city, although he refused to divulge what. He had actually plied for the aid of every Shepherd, Chrom included, but that request hadn't even passed Frederick or Robin, let alone the hordes of nobles that always required Chrom's aid in some matter or another.
Eventually, an agreement was reached: Virion would be accompanied by Robin and Lon'qu, the latter of which would act as a personal bodyguard and guide for Virion during his stay. Robin would settle whatever business Chrom was needed for, then would spend some time in the Feroxi cities and countryside as he awaited more information from the port, which he would either handle himself or relay back to Chrom.
Robin reached out for the missive, carefully attempting to lift it with both of his hands. I really shouldn't stay away for too long, though. The nation needed its grandmaster, after all, just as it needed its king and queen. Maybe I shouldn't even go…
Chrom reached out to hold the tactician's wrist. Robin blinked, only now realizing that his hands had been shaking up to that point. "...I guess I really do need some rest, huh?" he asked sardonically. "Sorry, I'll get out of your hair. See you guys later."
"I'll be at the barracks if you need me, Robin. Please… enjoy this time to yourself. I wish I could go with you, but…" Chrom released his friend's arm as he trailed off.
"It's not a problem, Chrom. I think I'll enjoy having a few memories unique to myself, but I could never pass up on time with any of you." Robin gave a weak smile, glancing back to Chrom. He immediately regretted it, though, as the Exalt's sincere expression gave rise to a well of fear Robin had been actively avoiding since his first day of memory.
Chrom's very face brought Robin back into his nightmares, visions of dying Shepherds dancing in the recesses of his mind. Failed strategies, future and past, leading to a horrific downfall. Flashes of crimson in places Robin knew he had never seen before, the finest soldiers of Ylisse falling in droves to an unknown foe. Then, the crimson shifted to purple, and what few friends Robin had left fell.
Then, it was just the two of them, Robin and Chrom, facing a single enemy. The shadow of a person melted away, and Robin felt a sense of ease wash over him as the nightmare version of Chrom looked back, smiling. After all of the loss, all of the failures, all of Robin's own weakness getting the better of him… everything would somehow turn out okay.
The memory of a near-forgotten dream twisted once more, becoming oddly familiar yet still unknowable, and now Robin felt dread permeate every shred of his being. He didn't know what was happening, but he knew that he had failed, that Chrom had been wrong to believe in him, that Robin had lost in every way imaginable. Just as the final dregs of his memory faded, Robin's ears were filled with a haunting sobbing that caused his real-world variant to shudder.
Worst of all, even accounting for the numerous unseen deaths he somehow simply knew occurred, was the perverse sense of joy mingled into the sorrow that had accompanied it all.
Robin rose from his seat, hastily maneuvering to the door and leaving his friends in peace. If not contact, then hopefully distance and time would be able to break him from the nightmare's hold. I promise you, Chrom, I won't be a liability. I won't fail you. Robin thought as he began the walk back to his study. I won't allow any of the Shepherds to fall. I just… need to get over whatever this is.
Sumia cocked her head to the side as she watched the tactician practically flee from the room. Several moments later, she turned to face her husband. "Did he seem… I dunno, out of sorts to you?"
Chrom shook his head. "No, or at least, I hope not. You know him; he's always been serious and dedicated to his work." The Exalt leaned back into his seat as he rubbed his chin, pensive. "He's probably just weary but doesn't want to push his work on anyone else."
"...He'll be alright, Sumia, I guarantee it." Chrom added after a moment, speaking as much to himself as his wife.
"But what if this is something he can't handle?" Sumia questioned, unwilling to relent. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she leaned further in toward Chrom, whispering. "What if it's a matter of the heart, and he doesn't know how to deal with it?"
"A matter of the heart… with Robin?" Chrom deadpanned. "I don't think we have to worry about that."
Sumia slapped her husband's chest, scowling. "Come on, it's possible! Practically everybody else has been pairing up; maybe he's lonely." She knew Chrom couldn't refute that truth, regardless of how dense he could be. Sully and Stahl, Ricken and Miriel, Gaius and Panne, she and Chrom - hell, even Frederick never seemed to be far from Cordelia! There was no way he could deny this…
Chrom squinted at her. "What do you mean, 'everybody else has been pairing up'?" Sumia blinked once, dumbfounded. "We as Shepherds are bound by the high moral standards and etiquette typical of a royal military outfit," Chrom continued, "and I know that such upstanding friends and warriors such as the Shepherds would not even dream of breaking the fraternisation protocols that are clearly outlined in each and every contract."
"Oh, sweetie…" Sumia took on a placating tone. "You don't think that people actually read those things, do you?"
Chrom recoiled, aghast. "Of course they do! The Shepherds are Ylisse's strongest and brightest, the absolute paragons of humanity; all of their actions reflect upon Ylisse, its people, and us as its leaders." Chrom nodded, having reassured himself. "It's impossible to even think that any of them could be so careless."
"Did you read yours?"
Chrom sat perfectly still for several seconds, expression unchanging. Eventually, he spoke up once more, but not before catching his wife's growing smirk out of the corner of his eye.
"Okay, so let's pretend for a moment that Robin is, hypothetically, lonely. What could we possibly do about it?"
Sumia beamed, jubilant once more. "We should absolutely set him up with someone!"
Chrom smiled, happy to forget his blunder. "How about Tharja, she was always… interested in him?" he grimaced, trying not to remember the days where he found her constantly stalking his amnesiac friend.
Sumia shook her head. "That's a no-go. Robin has always refused her, and we shouldn't completely force this." A smile crept onto her features. "Plus, rumor is that she's putting hexes on Virion whenever he tries to seduce someone. Those two could be a cute couple, right?"
The Exalt sighed, closing his eyes. "Just how many people are getting together now?" His eyes immediately shot open. "Wait, what do you mean 'whenever he tries to seduce someone'? Virion isn't the type of person to do such a thing, is he?"
How is it even possible to be so oblivious? Sumia, the decidedly wiser of the two, wondered. "Anyway, I think we may have to go beyond the Shepherds for this. Robin may very well have been one of the few people to actually read and adhere to his contract, and regardless, I think almost everyone in the Shepherds is paired up already."
"Almost everyone!?" Chrom practically shouted, his head in his hands.
"Naga above, you're actually blind, aren't you?" Sumia pondered aloud. "...But yes, I believe that any Shepherds that Robin may have any amount of interest in are already in relationships."
"So what are we to do? Just wander around the capital until we find someone eligible?" Chrom slowly removed his hands from his head, placing them instead on the table before him. "I do genuinely wish to help him, Sumia, but I really don't know how."
"Aww, that's actually kind of adorable." Sumia cooed. "Ooh, I can see it now: you and Robin, searching through the finest corners of the Halidom for the perfect bride, day in and day out. Until, finally, the two of you come across a beautiful scene on the rooftops of Ylisstol, the moon tracing its way up the dark night night sky, illuminating your faces. You lean in close to one another, the distance between you far too great..." She sighed, a blush beginning to dust her cheeks.
"Er, Sumia?" Chrom snapped her from her doldrums, brow thoroughly furrowed as he attempted to follow her train of thought. "Are you telling me to wingman in Robin's romantic life, or are you asking me to become his romantic life?"
"I, ah… y-yes?" She responded confusedly. "W-What were we talking about again?"
"Robin's love life" Chrom stated plainly, exasperated. "Maybe we're going about this wrong. After all, this could be the entire purpose behind the vacation." The king brought one hand to the side of his face as the other began a rhythmic tapping on the table. "Not to mention that he may not even care about love at all. I mean, the one time I ever heard him even mention marriage was when he asked if he was allowed to wed the troop reports Frederick and Cordelia began drawing up in tandem."
And Cordelia's already in a relationship… Sumia thought. Not to mention what she talked to me about in Plegia regarding Frederick, after Emmeryn… she shuddered, repressing those memories for another day.
"Don't worry, Chrom, I'll find his perfect match before he gets back." She flashed a genuine smile. "And if he does end up finding someone in Ferox, well, all the better for him, right?"
Her husband smiled back at her. "Alright, then. Would you like any help? I could always make time for something like this."
Sumia's eye twitched involuntarily as she considered what exactly Chrom's 'help' in her warpath of matchmaking would entail. "...I think I'll be fine, dear."
Robin shrugged his towel off of his shoulders and onto the corner of his desk before lazily walking behind the behemoth, sitting once more on the unbearably comfortable chair. He stretched his hands, settling down to rewrite a legible copy of his damaged work.
Approximately one hour later, the tactician rose from his seat, proudly hoisting the new and improved missive to momentarily rest at eye level. He smiled, unceremoniously shoving the parchment into a coat pocket as he wandered out of the study and toward the roundtable room.
Opening the door to the roundtable room, Robin removed the partially-folded partially-crumpled text from his pocket and threw it callously into the empty space beyond the door, barely pausing to check if it landed properly before closing the entryway and making for the dining hall. The single carriage of a convoy was set to leave soon, and Robin wanted to catch lunch before his departure. Breaking into a light jog, he swiftly arrived at the double doors that closed the mess hall off from the rest of the castle, the scent of a myriad of foods enveloping his senses as he pushed the doors open with both hands.
Robin closed his eyes and inhaled as the dining room's warm light fled into the rest of the castle, savouring the decadent variety of smells. Rather than the cacophony of noise he expected to hear from Shepherds and staff, though, Robin was met with a solitary voice.
"Oh, hi, Robin. You here for lunch?" The voice was calm and relaxed, its descriptors and circumstances allowing Robin to instantly place it as Stahl's, the most likely Shepherd to both arrive early and stay late at any meal.
"Uh, hey, Stahl. Am I early or…?" Robin trailed off, not wanting to consider that he could have missed both another meal and another social event.
Unfortunately for the grandmaster, Stahl shook his head. "Nope, you're a bit late. Sorry, I kinda cleaned up in here." the evergreen Shepherd smiled nonchalantly. "There's a care package for you in the kitchen, though. We aren't heartless, after all."
"Thanks!" Robin shouted out as he dashed to the connected kitchen, almost breaking down the door as he pushed his way in. He scanned the room, eyes soon falling upon a wicker basket full to bursting with baked goods and a few pieces of what remained from the day's meal. He ripped into the basket immediately, worshipping the remnants of feasts past and the golden-brown baked goods, barely even taking note of Stahl as the other man leaned against the now slightly damaged door frame.
Having consumed almost half of the basket's easily expirable items, Robin left the remainder to sit on the non-perishable packages of food that lay hidden lower in the container, instead turning to face Stahl.
"You had your fill?" the paladin asked, slightly before Robin had finished chewing the most recent pastry in the pack.
Robin merely nodded, spinning to grab a croissant and tossing it to Stahl as as a distraction while he processed the food. The rider gave an easy smile in gratitude, tearing into the gift before Robin even had a chance to swallow and startling the tactician.
Dusting crumbs off of his fingers, Stahl once more attempted to open a conversation. "I'm guessing that, when Frederick asked Vaike shortly after dawn to wake you, he didn't actually spend almost three hours 'discussing strategy' with you, huh?"
Robin shook his head, finally swallowing the last of the food he had begun consuming. He would have been angry or at least annoyed with Vaike, but he could barely process such emotions over his intense focus on the tastes lingering in his mouth.
Stahl bowed his head. "Didn't think so. And neither did the commander, apparently. He almost killed the poor guy."
Robin quirked his head at this, thoroughly not understanding Frederick's actions. "Doesn't Frederick… you know… hate me?" he finally managed to ask through bouts of savouring.
Stahl raised his head back up to meet Robin's gaze and shrugged. "Not as much as misconduct, I guess. And he doesn't hate you that much. He's even repped for you a few times when you missed training!"
Robin stared blankly at Stahl, who began to rub his shoulder and broke his lock on Robin's eyes.
"Okay, that may have been a lie." Stahl began smiling again regardless. "But seriously, your relationship with him could be worse! ...Probably?"
Robin rolled his eyes. "In all honesty, it couldn't get much more rough. I'm fine with it, though - at least it means he won't be blinded by his trust in me."
"Uh… right." Stahl muttered, wary of the tactician's choice of words and unusually grim tone. He then broke from his position in the doorway, maneuvering beside Robin to access a cupboard. "Hey, wasn't your group supposed to leave, like… a while ago?" he asked as he knelt down to search a cabinet.
Robin tensed before running a few quick calculations, attempting to update his concept of today's time frame. "Ah, crap, you're right! Sorry Stahl, I have to go!" he said as he bounded back into the dining hall.
"Wait, Robin!" Stahl called out, standing up. "Your food!"
"Right, right!" Robin turned and rushed back into the kitchen. "Thanks again, Stahl."
The paladin shrugged once more. "It was Lissa's idea, not mine. Thank her."
"Got it." Robin said, pausing momentarily to examine the basket. Seconds later, he turned back to Stahl. "Did Virion and Lon'qu not get one of these?" he probed, although he believed that the cavalier's knowledge about the baskets spoke to their most likely fates.
Stahl rotated away from Robin, although the grandmaster still managed to discern the splash of red on the other man's face.
"Um… no?" Stahl squeaked in a barely audible tone.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "What happened to 'not being heartless'?"
"I managed to spare one, though! That's a massive improvement over last time!" Stahl groaned out.
"Yeah, I suppose." Robin said quietly, beginning to move once more. "Thanks, Stahl."
Stahl nodded. "See you in a few months, bud."
Lon'qu tapped his foot impatiently against the damp cobblestone path, annoyed but unwilling to step out of the light rainfall. He crossed his arms, glancing to the hordes of Shepherds that stood, leaned, and sat under various sections of the castle's arches. Robin was running behind schedule, forcing Virion and himself to wait by their carriage as the vast majority of Shepherds sought respite in the castle's rear courtyard.
Ominous clouds loomed overhead, blanketing the sun and preventing any light other than a soft grey to touch the earth. The rain had begun only recently, and yet puddles were gradually forming as the ground rejected more and more water. Soon, anyone and anything in the open would be drenched - something Lon'qu would undoubtedly despise, yet obstinately refused to address.
The swordsman scanned the crowd once more, searching for Robin and another face in particular. Virion interrupted him, sighing loud enough for half the courtyard to hear in an attempt to draw their waning attention back to him.
"By the gods, how long does that man intend to draw this out?" The archer asked, incredulous that he was being made to wait. He sat in the carriage's open doorway, guarded from the falling rain. Attempting to lean out further, he recoiled and jolted back into his original position upon feeling the cold touch of water droplets on his hair.
"I'll tell you when he appears." Lon'qu stated, his voice even more flat and serious than normal. "However long that may take." he added tersely.
Chrom stepped forward from his bench, approaching the pair in the centre of the road. "Again, I take responsibility for this; it was I who asked Robin to wrap up some of his work earlier today. Had I-"
"Yes, yes, Chrom. We understood the first time." Virion interjected, purposefully excluding the other man's honorific. "Please, do not waste our time with needless repetition. We will await Robin's arrival; there is no reason to attempt to reinforce our convictions with your ceaseless prattle."
The Exalt glared at Virion before acquiescing, returning to the safety of his seat. The group sat there in silence for several minutes more, until Robin finally appeared out of a side entrance and ran to the carriage, covering his basket of food and two bags of personal belongings with the cloak he had removed from his shoulders, leaving him only in the unremarkable and unenchanted clothing he wore underneath.
"Hey, everyone, I'm so sorry for being late, I-"
Whatever Robin had been about to say died in his throat as he, and every Shepherd in the area, - sans Sumia and Cordelia, who were nodding to one another - stared in astonishment at the sight before them.
Fixated solely on Robin's appearance, only a single Shepherd had noticed the concurrent arrival of a slender, pink figure from within the castle. As Olivia sped through the rain to reach the carriage, Lon'qu opened his arms to embrace her, an act which garnered the attention of a few of their friends.
The true shock came a moment later, as not only did the two successfully embrace, but the gynophobic swordsman followed the act up by willingly cupping her cheek in his hand and remaining pressed against her body. While public displays of affection were not unheard of from the Shepherd couples, next to no one was able to predict such a feat from those most shy and most terrified of women, respectively.
Sumia rubbed her husband's back as he propped his elbows up on his knees, then sank his head into his hands. Frustrated, Chrom pushed off of the bench and moved toward the carriage in order to give a final word to his friends.
"Alright, now that you're finally here, Robin, I believe we can-" Chrom stopped himself as he caught sight of Lon'qu leaning down to place a kiss on Olivia's exposed cheek. The Exalt turned away from the couple, staring stone faced at the small amount of horizon visible through the castle gates.
A moment later, he resumed speaking, although he didn't dare to look back at his friends. "...As I was saying, I believe we will all be able to say our goodbyes now, and then you three may depart."
Robin handed his food basket off to Virion and placed his cloak back over his shoulder, not bothering to protect himself from the steadily increasing rainfall. Then, he turned to face his ruler, accepting the proffered handshake and allowing himself to be pulled into a brief hug. He squeezed his eyes shut the entire time.
"I'll see you soon, friend." Chrom whispered during their embrace. The Exalt pushed himself back, smiling and patting the sides of his friend's arms. He eventually took notice of the other Shepherd's presences as they neared the carriage, and backed away to give the others their time.
"Have you guys already said your goodbyes?" Robin asked Virion passively, rotating his head to see the sniper.
Virion plucked a biscuit from the top of the care package and reached into the carriage to set the basket down in safety. Without turning to face the tactician he nodded, keeping his eyes focused instead on his snack.
"Several times over, in fact." he affirmed. "Please, for all that is good, make your pieces with them brief." Virion angled his head toward the clusters of other Shepherds, then retreated backward into the carriage.
Robin rubbed the back of his head, taking note of how damp his hair had become, and looked back over to the first of his approaching friends - Sumia. He gave a soft smile, succumbing to another hug as he mentally prepared himself for the next few moments of his life.
Sumia gave her parting words and stepped away, giving Lissa room. Robin slipped out of focus for the majority of his goodbyes, his attention too centralised on not trying to make any mistakes in front of such a large group. Instead, he tried to remember the general aspects of each encounter, ensuring no one was forgotten.
Two handshake-hugs, from Chrom and Gregor. Ricken also attempting to give his best attempt at a proper handshake, but not quite succeeding. A two-handed handshake from Panne.
Four hugs, from Sumia, Lissa, Cordelia, and Nowi, although the last of those was closer to a tackle than a hug. He barely remembered to thank Lissa for the care package.
Three sets of bows and nods, from Maribelle, Libra, and Miriel. From the corner of his eye, Robin also managed to catch a wave from Kellam, although the knight disappeared soon after.
A slap on the back from Vaike, and a furtive salute from Gaius. Each encounter included its own variation of generalised and generic parting words. That's almost everyone. Robin slowly returned to his full faculties, no longer concerned with blunders as more and more of the Shepherds left the premises.
There are… what, five more people left in the entirety of the Shepherds who aren't coming on this trip? Four not counting Stahl… Yeah, I'm almost in the clear! the tactician thought.
Seeing that there were no Shepherds immediately approaching him, Robin walked up to Lon'qu and Olivia, who were no longer embracing yet remained within arm's length of one another. The couple were giving their own personal farewells, taking no notice of their drenched clothes.
Robin paused, realizing that he was probably in a similar state as he slipped his coat back on. One of his miscellaneous enchantments would shield him from the rain, although his companions couldn't say the same of their clothing.
"-sh I could come with you, but apparently, this is a major mission. I didn't even know about it until you told me a few days ago." Olivia was speaking, her eyes still locked onto Lon'qu.
"I'm sure if I were to just speak with Robin or Virion, they would-" Lon'qu halted immediately upon sensing Robin's presence, quickly turning to face the tactician.
Robin held his hands out to his sides as he gave the most easygoing smile he could muster. "Sorry to eavesdrop, but there's no problem with her coming along." He faced Olivia. "We'd love to have you."
Olivia's face brightened, the forlorn look from seconds before already being erased entirely. "T-Truly? Oh, thank you, Robin!"
She took hold of Lon'qu's hand, guiding him to the carriage before breaking off to give her news to the few Shepherds remaining. As he passed Robin, Lon'qu gave the other man a concise smile and tipped his head in acknowledgement. Seconds later, Olivia dashed out of the courtyard to gather a few of her belongings, leaving the others to wait a short time longer.
Space and money shouldn't be a problem for her, Robin thought, considering that she'll probably stay close to Lon'qu and is still a Shepherd. He lowered his hands to his hips as he fell deeper into thought. Hopefully there won't be any major conflict; she wouldn't do well in a situation of intense combat with so few allied fighters. He internally shrugged. There's probably no need to even consider this, Virion was fine with having just one Shepherd as protection, despite his first attempt at getting everyone.
Sounds of harsh movement brought Robin's attention back to the opposite side of the courtyard, near to where he had emerged from a short time ago. His surroundings were still easily visible in spite of the midday rain, and a red pallette soon denoted the arrival of Sully.
"Hey, everyone!" she gasped out, bending down to catch her breath. "Sorry, I just ran around half the damn castle looking for Stahl, only to learn that he's already met with each of you." She heaved a few more times, quieting her ragged voice.
Robin walked up to Sully, allowing her to regain her proper breathing pattern before gesturing to an alcove the two could speak in without being rained on. Sully remedied her posture, standing slightly smaller than the tactician at full height, glancing between him and the newly reappeared Olivia before she nodded and dipped into the safety of the alcove.
"She leaving too?" Sully asked, still sounding somewhat out of breath.
"Olivia?" Robin asked. Sully nodded, an action Robin copied in response.
Sully angled her head quizzically before speaking again. "She gonna be okay if you guys get into trouble at the port?" Robin opened his mouth, about to voice a similar concern before changing his stance, deciding to feign indignation at her doubt in him in an attempt to alleviate her fears. He was cut off, however, when Sully raised her hand to stop him.
"Ah, who am I kidding? She'll be fine, as long as you're with her." she pointed to Robin unnecessarily, her facial features decidedly happy as she attempted to dry her hair with her free hand.
Robin frowned. "You really shouldn't put that much trust in me. I'm not that good, and I wouldn't be anything without the rest of you." This time, the words he had planned were genuine.
"Enough of that." Sully rolled her eyes. "You almost single handedly guided our asses through the war of a lifetime, managing to keep all of the Shepherds alive. Every single one…" Her eyes lost their focus for an instant before snapping back onto Robin. "So you don't get to say that you aren't 'that good'."
"There are guaranteed to be better people, though." Robin scowled. "You know, soldiers who are stronger or commanders that are more capable. Just because they weren't in the Plegian army doesn't mean they don't exist."
Sully winced. "You can be a real downer sometimes, you know that?" Robin shrugged, causing Sully to shake her head. "Still, you've been a damn fine commander and one hell of a friend, too. I'll miss you, alright?"
"I'll miss you too, Sully." Robin echoed the sentiment. Sully lightly punched his arm in a sign of her friendship, then stepped out of her cover to walk with him back to the carriage.
Olivia had set her small package of belongings on the carriage floor, and was now speaking with Chrom and Sumia. Robin ignored the trio, waving back at Sully as he climbed into the carriage's driving seat. It had been agreed that Robin would guide the carriage through the Ylissean territories, thanks in no small part to the grandmaster's desire to learn the lay of the land, before transferring the reins to Lon'qu in Ferox.
Seating himself on the thoroughly wet wood, Robin gave silent praise once more to his enchanted cloak as he watched droplets roll harmlessly off of the dry fabric. Waiting for Olivia to finish her conversation, he leaned forward to pat the horses that would carry them all the way across the continent.
"Sir Robin." A deep voice called out, almost causing the man in question to jump.
"Frederick." Robin sat back up, turning sideways to meet the great knight.
Sure enough, Frederick stood next to Robin's seat, easily ignoring the rain that fell in exponentially increasing quantities. Instead, his features were as sharp and serious as ever.
"I hope you remember your promise, yes? I have not forgotten mine." Frederick said, expression almost unreadable.
"I remember, Frederick. Thanks." Robin confirmed, still attempting to read the knight's face.
He seems… tense? Robin thought after replying. No, that's not right, he's always tense. Maybe… tired? Stressed? The tactician scoffed internally. No, there's no reason for him to be stressed. He'll have an easier job now that I'm gone, since he won't be constantly monitoring me. Unless it's the fact that he can't moni-
"And do you realize the fine line you walk by taking this… 'vacation'?" Frederick cut off his line of thought, the disdain placed on the final word very poorly hidden.
Robin feigned a sense of merriment, something he found himself doing often in Frederick's near-omnipresence. "I know that you hate not being able to watch me, Frederick, but I'll be a nation away from any of your wards. I wouldn't be able to harm them if I tried."
"That is not what I was referring to, tactician." Frederick said sternly. Something about the way the knight commander had addressed him disturbed Robin - either Frederick was seriously annoyed, or he was defaulting to his wartime personality out of an inability to express himself.
Gods I hope he's annoyed. Robin silently mused. Otherwise, this is going to get really awkward…
The grandmaster's confused expression prompted Frederick to continue. "It is my understanding that lord Chrom and lady Lissa would not be benefited by your absence. They believe you to be a friend, a sentiment in which I believe they are not mistaken."
Robin blinked, his comprehension of the situation he found himself in rapidly decreasing. "What are you trying to say, Frederick?" He hadn't realised it, but his own voice had grown apprehensive. He saw where the conversation was headed, and he feared the outcome.
Frederick sighed, gathering his thoughts before recommencing. "Your absence may harm the psychological or emotional wellbeing of my superiors. Your death, even more so." His eyes grew hard, staring deep into Robin's own. "For that reason, I refuse to uphold my oath to you any further. You are free to do as you wish, and I know that you will not cause those you consider your friends harm."
Despite the warmth provided by his cloak, Robin began to freeze. The feeling crawled throughout his body, almost petrifying him. "What!?" he exclaimed, instantly thankful that the rain had grown so heavy that only Frederick would be able to hear anything he said.
Robin continued in a lower register. "Frederick, you swore on your honour that-"
"I swore on the lives of my lieges!" Frederick responded in turn. His voice was harsh, demanding silence from the world around him. "If you truly seek your own demise so readily, then you may fall by your own hand. However, I refuse to be party to it in any way." The knight spun on his heel, ending the conversation before the tactician could form any rebuttal.
Robin stared at the knight's retreating form, sheening armour and wet footsteps fading through the rain. The grandmaster's face slowly began to contort, the desire to call after the great knight rising with his rage. Frederick was a coward, a craven - too weak to do what was necessary, to save his royalty, his friends. Too weak to save Chrom. And now, more than ever, Chrom may actually be in danger, danger that Frederick could prevent if he weren't so… so…
'So' what? Robin contemplated. So trusting? He isn't weak, I've spent all of my known memories learning that friendship and unity make us strong, not just individual power. So why does that not sound right?
Robin slowly began to calm himself, still watching where Frederick was disappearing. Why does this feel so wrong? Why won't he… take responsibility…
Realisation struck Robin, and he leaned to rest the back of his head against the carriage's front wall. It's because it isn't his responsibility. It's mine; it's always been mine. I tried to pawn it off on him because I was weak, not him. I couldn't face what I really was… so I didn't. His eyes traced a path back to Frederick, the knight barely visible now through the rain.
He's actually strong. He had a problem, so he faced it head on… he faced me head on. Meanwhile, I keep running from my issues… He began, for the first time in weeks, to actively search for Chrom's face. If the Exalt was still present, Robin was unable see him through the downpour. I'll become stronger, then. I'll face the nightmares and Chrom without hesitating. I'll help my friends in any way possible, and save them all from anything that could possibly harm them. I'll become the strength people rely on, not the other way around.
Looking back to Frederick, Robin smiled, not even noticing how the other man had stopped moving. And that can all start here, with this journey. I can help face every struggle with them, guiding and aiding them in the best way possible so they break through every obstacle together, and I can ensure that no one dies. That's the least I can do, right?
"Robin." It was Frederick again, voice measured and careful, breaking the tactician from his line of thought. "Know that I will never, through any direct action, harm my lieges. I will do all that I can to protect them, even if it means that a Shepherd must fall."
Frederick turned to face Robin, his silhouette barely visible at only a few metres away. "I refuse our promise because I know what you are, and what you are not. I refuse to humour such… baseless superstition." His expression remained as cold as his voice, but Robin was beginning to pick up on a light that hid just below the surface of both.
Robin was growing happier by the second, and began feeling the need to thank the other Shepherd, but allowed him to finish. "I hope that when you return, we may treat one another differently, without the weight of the promise over our heads. As… friends." Frederick concluded.
An alien warmth was spreading through Robin - or at least, alien when a result of the stoic knight commander. "Thank you, Frederick. If I may, I'd like to make a new promise with you."
Frederick said nothing, allowing the tactician to continue. "I promise you that while I'm away, I'll get stronger. Strong enough that I can do what's best for Chrom and the Shepherds, no matter what. And that I'll be a friend worth having."
Frederick stepped toward the carriage, holding his hand out for Robin to shake. "You already are, Robin. You have been for a long while."
Robin took the other hand in his own, holding it more than shaking it. After a moment, both Shepherds released their grasps, Frederick stepping away once more.
"May your 'vacation' find you well, Robin." Frederick smiled.
"Stay safe, Frederick." Robin waved, the two newly formed friends finally parting. After Frederick left, Robin found himself staring at his right hand. The hand that had both saved and ended so many lives. The hand that he had used to shake Frederick's, a man who Robin would have sworn absolutely hated him mere minutes ago.
The hand which bore the Mark of Grima.
Just as swiftly as the warmth had filled Robin's body, it died out, leaving him cold by comparison. A feeling he could only describe as 'grey' pressed in on him, rubbing itself into his skin and crawling through his veins until it became an integral part of him. Exactly as it had done many times before, ever since Robin had learned of the mark's meaning.
All of a sudden, the castle courtyard seemed dimmer, as if the rain itself had grown dark. Robin fixated solely on his hand, no longer even noticing the world around him as he lost himself to his thoughts. The Mark of Grima, the nightmares, his potential and past failures… it was once more too much to cope with, a sea of dark futures and losses that had haunted Robin every step of his life so far. And yet, somehow, he found it almost reassuring, as though it were a reminder that he truly was himself, in some twisted way.
It was several long moments before Robin remembered the sound of raindrops hitting stone and grass, and several more before he was able to see beyond his hand. He leaned back into the carriage's hardened wood once more, losing himself to the sound and sight of the rain. He waited longer than he needed to, hoping the grey would somehow leave him, although it never had in the past.
Eventually, Robin sighed, bringing his attention back to the patient horses before him and equally patient friends behind him, awaiting their departure within the carriage. Breaking himself out of his thoughts, Robin reached down for the reins at his feet.
He paused a moment before touching them, instead whipping around to his side to face one of the carriage doors. Reaching around the side of his seat, Robin slammed his hand repeatedly against the framework nearest the door handle.
"Hey, Lon'qu?" he called out, having to strain his voice to ensure that he would be heard.
A fraction of a second later, Lon'qu's head appeared through the opening door, under the carriage awning. The swordsman looked around, perplexed by the apparent lack of movement.
"What is it?" he asked gruffly. Actually, in a normal voice, as far as Lon'qu himself was concerned.
"I have no idea how to drive a carriage."
And that's the first chapter! I just copied this entire thing from docs and it's probably more messed up than I first thought possible formatting-wise, so yeah. Seriously, please tell me how to do this stuff, because I'm mostly lost. I don't even know if my spacing is correct anymore... Also, please feel free to give criticism on my content or writing style at any time. I am using this fic as a means of learning, after all, since I have some ideas I eventually want to make into an actual story.
Anyway, on to some other stuff that's relevant to the story content: It's a slow start, and an even slower buildup to the main events. Kjelle doesn't even appear until chapter 3, and the relationship building is slow, but hopefully it's moderately realistic and well made.
Updates should happen about every 20-30 days, but that's only a rough estimate, since I don't know how long each chapter will take to make. I'm actually a fair way into the story already, and as of 04-12-17 (when I made these notes, as well as my account; turns out there's a 12 hour waiting period for new user publishing I never considered) I'm partway through chapter 11, but much of what I have needs to be edited still, so the update schedule will probably stick close to what I said above. I'm trying for writing a chapter at least every 15 days, at an average of about 1k words per day, but again I don't know how long everything will take. If I ever don't update for a very long period of time, you can probably assume that I'm dead, since I have no intention of abandoning this story unexpectedly. In that case, I would appreciate it if someone were to at least give the story closure, because I've seen how horrible it is to come across an unfinished fic that hasn't updated in years.
Again, please message me if you spot any errors at all, especially in regards to continuity or characterisation. I'm trying to make this story fairly airtight, and while events like the absence of Donnel and Anna in the Shepherds and other differentiations from normal Awakening canon will become progressively more common, I want to make sure that everything still makes sense in the end. I hope you enjoyed the story so far!