Hi everyone and welcome to the sequel to You are the Sword at My Side! Both can be stand alone, if you've stumbled in here by accident, but here's a link to Ophelia's first story: s/9950959/1/You-are-the-Sword-at-My-Side

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Please enjoy!

Chapter 1

The news of Mad King Gangrel's demise spread over the continent, it seemed, mere moments after the Ylissean army had successfully destroyed his reign of terror. Chrom's army returned to Ylisse; tired and beaten down from the length of the war. However, a huge celebration of their victory met them in the capitol, effectively raising their energies. The Ylissean capitol feasted and celebrated for a whole week following the end of the war. Chrom and Lissa moved back into their home and many of their comrades-in-arms joined them. Ophelia joined Chrom at the capitol, ready to take on her role as his fiancée, but forever his tactician. The rest of the army went back to their homes to relish in the new peace they created. Nonetheless, this was only the beginning of new problems, of the more domestic type…

-Ophelia-

"Do you know how much money that week long feast cost Ylisse? Ugh! Whose plan was it to blow the rest of the money for the war effort on a party? Do you realize how hard it will be to replenish the capitol's bank account?" My questions got no reply.

"Chrom? Hey! Are you even listening?" I looked up quizzically from the accounting paper work. Chrom stood with his back to me and gazed meditatively out of the study's large window down into the capitol. I sighed; the crown exalt of Ylisse's mind had been elsewhere since his return to his home. I sympathized with Chrom; all the changes from the war must have suddenly become tangible and overwhelming. However, it was causing him to ignore his duty to his people. I had become his over-worked secretary. In the days following our return, I spearheaded the rehabilitation of the halidom. With Frederick's insight we had begun to piece Chrom and Lissa's country back together. Chrom had taken over the kingdom only a little over a month ago but I was already exhausted.

"Leading an army is so much easier."

I loudly cleared my throat. I rapped my fingers against the table, in what I thought, was an obnoxious way. Still Chrom ignored me and brooded by the window. With a groan, I rose to my feet. Stomping over the ornate tiled floor, I stopped behind him and rather roughly nudged his shoulder. Chrom gave a start and turned around quickly. Looking surprised to see me, he tried to regain his composure.

"Oh, hello Ophelia. How long have you been here?" Chrom asked, looking uncomfortable. My face flushed with anger. Chrom saw my expression and he shrunk back a bit, looking sheepish.

"I've been here for over an hour going over the economy! YOU let me into your study! You said you weren't busy but all you've been doing is staring out the window this whole time. You've been completely unresponsive." I said. Chrom took my scolding and his expression was one of sincere apology.

"I'm sorry. I regret my mind has been elsewhere. I am all ears now, if you'd be willing to start again. I really appreciate all you've done." Chrom said. My anger subsided and I nodded to the desk. Chrom joined me and I sat down. Shuffling through the papers, I picked up an interesting bill.

"So this is what we have to pay to the Pegasus knights' families for their losses," I said, flipping through the multi-page report written in Frederick's precise hand. I glanced up at the blue-haired exalt. He had a far off look in his eyes again and he gazed unseeingly at the hourglass on the desk.

"CHROM!" I shouted with a flourish of papers. Chrom jumped and knocked over the hourglass, spilling most of the ink wells on the desk. We hastened to clean up the mess and Chrom apologized again.

"Chrom what in the world has gotten into you? Is there something you need to tell me about?" I asked point blank, after the ink had been mopped off the tiled floor. Chrom rubbed the back of his head and mumbled a few monosyballic grunts of unease.

"Don't you trust me? I thought that you trusted me as your tactician, but can't you trust me as your fiancée and friend too?" I pleaded. I crossed my arms, and couldn't stop the frown from over taking my features. Chrom blanched.

"Of course I trust you! I- I've just been. Oh gods… How to say this..." Chrom brushed his hands through his hair.

"What's happened? If it's serious, I need to know now." I said, then hastily added, "I want to help- I want to ease your mind." I pulled his ink stained hand into mine and smile gently. Chrom stroked my hand with his thumb.

"It's just… I've never been good at talking about this, so…" Chrom elaborated imprecisely. I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Chrom's grip tightened on my hand and he pulled me into his chest. He captured my lips with his. My shock wore off instantly and returned his spontaneous kiss. Chrom's arms wrapped possessively around my waist. I broke away for a breath and eyed Chrom questioningly.

"What's gotten into you, Chrom?" I asked, but my breath hitched. Chrom had begun placing electrifying kisses upon my neck. I shivered and curled my fingers into the back of his shirt. My will power shattered and I melted against Chrom's sturdy chest.

"What did you need to say?" I asked between fiery kisses. Chrom ignored my question again. In a moment, I had forgotten what I was asking about. Three sharp knocks interrupted our torrid embrace. I swiveled in Chrom's arms to see a soldier standing awkwardly by the study's door. I slid out of Chrom's arms.

"I'm sorry Exalt, but Sir Frederick has requested your presence immediately." The soldier explained, visibly uncomfortable. Chrom deflated, but nodded to the man.

"Tell Frederick I will be with him shortly." Chrom replied.

"Sir!" The soldier saluted and hurried away. I pulled at my ponytail and dared a glance at Chrom. He looked concerned again. I figured his kisses had been a means to distract me from his real problem.

"I've got to see Frederick." Chrom said disappointedly. He headed toward the door.

"We'll talk later," I insisted, my mind clear once again. Chrom turned with a sly look on his face.

"We will?"

"I mean really talk." I said sternly. Chrom laughed and then headed down the hall.

In Chrom's absence, I busied myself with work. I found a few letters that needed to be delivered to various Shepherd members. I left the sunny study and into the capitol's marble halls. I heard a giggly voice in an open door and Lissa appeared in the hall.

"Hello Ophelia! You're busy as always!" Lissa said cheerily.

"Hi Lissa, I think I have a letter for you from Maribelle. She must have sent it from her vacation home." I pulled a pearly envelope from the pile. Lissa cheered and forcibly peeled open the paper. She read over Maribelle's delicate handwriting. I started to leave Lissa to her letter, but stopped.

"Uh Lissa, have you noticed anything different about Chrom lately?" I asked. Lissa looked up from her letter.

"Hm..? Not really. He seems just the same to me. Nope nothing strange about Chrom!" Lissa replied with a grin and, what seemed to me, out of place laughter

"Oh. Well, I just thought he's been acting oddly." I folded my arms defensively. Now the other member of the Ylissean royalty was acting strangely.

"You must be imagining it! Gotta go!" Lissa cried and scurried down the halls. I shook my head.

This family was something indeed.

The next letter on my pile was for Sumia. This time of day she would be having tea with Cordelia in the gardens adjacent to the Pegasus stables.

The two Pegasus knights sat under a blooming arbor, chatting over steaming cups of tea. Cordelia noticed my approach and waved me over. Cordelia rose to greet me. Sumia followed suit, but fell down the steps leading up to the bench. I rushed over to help her up, but she shooed me away.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Sumia insisted. Cordelia and Sumia, with some difficulty, sat back down.

"I've got a letter for you, Sumia." I handed the clumsy knight her letter.

"I wonder who it's from…?" Sumia busied herself with her post.

"How have you been Ophelia? You've been keeping quite busy." Cordelia said.

"I've been just fine. Although, Chrom has been running me ragged…" I said, realizing how true my statement was. It was as if Chrom was keeping me busy to distract me from something else that was going on, "Cordelia, does Chrom seem strange to you?"

Cordelia's cheek blazed at the mention of Chrom. It was no secret that she was devoted to the Exalt and she was only starting to come to terms with our engagement. Nervously, Cordelia played with her long, red hair.

"Oh I don't think I could say whether or not Chrom's acting differently. You know him better than I. I wouldn't want to intrude." Cordelia replied fretfully. Then she let out a gasp and pointed toward the stables.

"Sumia! Look at that!" She grabbed Sumia's wrist and dragged her out from under the arbor. She pointed to some unspecified point in the distance, "Sorry Ophelia, we must be going!"

The knights ran off, leaving me more confused than when I had arrived

Thanks for reading!

I do not own Fire Emblem.