So this is a continuation to 'Beneath the Starry Sky'. However, this story will primarily focus on Tharja and Robin's support conversations C-A.
- Disclaimer: Fire Emblem characters do not belong to me.
- Notice: May contain spoilers. Original characters may be added. Storyline may deviate from original video game. Contains fantasy violence, mild language, alcohol reference, and suggested themes.
"Now get to your stations, King Gangrel demands it!" The Plegian captain yelled to the dark mages and warriors as Tharja collected her book.
"Who does he think he is?" She muttered to herself as she walked along with her assigned group. If there was anything she hated the most, it was taking orders. Her feet carried her to the fort as the sun scorched down.
"Watch it!" A Plegian berserker yelled at her as he brushed past Tharja abruptly.
She lowered her head as her eyes darted at the man. With a wave of her hand and a few words she cast a hex on him. He suddenly felt light headed and collapsed. To avoid any suspicions, she left the area.
"Oy! What happened?" The Plegian captain yelled as he spotted the man on the ground. "Somebody, wake em' up!" He yelled in frustration.
When Tharja was at a safe distance she looked back as the warriors huddled. "Serves you right..." She muttered to herself and wandered away to the next fort.
Robin and Chrom crouched behind a sandy hill. They could make out the castle walls, he was sure that Emmeryn was there. "So we all know what to do?" The tactician turned back to address the other Shepherds. They all nodded in agreement.
Virion stepped forward squinting his eyes at the castle's walls. He could faintly make out two archers standing guard. His eyes widened as a shot was aimed for Chrom's head.
"Watch out!" He yelled, Robin quickly noticed and pushed the Ylissean lord aside. The arrow pierced the side of his abdomen, nearly missing any vital organs. He still doubled over and winced at the pain, it had penetrated deeply as he mustered the strength to pull it out. "Gaaah!" Robin fell to the ground as the blood seeped through his cloak.
Virion skillfully countered the attack as he took an arrow and shot the archer. However, the other man fled back into the castle. Since he was out of sight, he withdrew his bow as Lissa and Maribelle ran to Robin's aid.
Chrom rushed to his side as well. "Robin, are you ok?" He held the blonde tactician in his arms.
He felt sick, as if the energy had been drained from him. That was no ordinary arrow, it was stained with something else.
"Here, let us help." Lissa and Maribelle knelt to his side as they removed his dark cloak. His shirt was stained in red from his wound. They held their staffs and mended the cut. Unfortunately, their magic didn't seem to be working. Blood continued to spill out as their staffs glowed, but to no avail.
"Why isn't it working?" Lissa cried out as she looked at Chrom then Robin for an answer. Maribelle sat with the same expression as well.
"Excuse me," Miriel made her way to the front and asked Lissa to step aside as she knelt beside Robin. "Hmm..." She examined it in deep thought as her hand adjusted her spectacles.
Robin's head was spinning, his thoughts were jumbled as his vision started to blur slightly.
"He's been poisoned." Miriel concluded as Chrom looked at Robin.
"Then what do we do?" He asked the mage.
"I'm afraid none of us are familiar with the type of poison the Plegians use." She narrowed her eyes at the sick tactician. "So that removes the possibility of finding an antidote."
Chrom grit his teeth, he just couldn't allow Robin to die here and now.
The tactician moved his hand weakly to the concerned Ylissean lord. "..Chrom..." He took a deep breath. "Proceed..as...planned." The poison coursed through his veins. "Save...Emmeryn.." He managed a weak grin as if to assure the boy.
"But I-" Chrom lowered his head.
"He's right." Miriel cut him off, they were wasting precious time. "Emmeryn is our first priority, besides..." She slowly stood up. "There may be a chance to save him."
Lissa, Maribelle, and Chrom looked up at the crimson haired mage. "It's possible that other Plegian soldiers will use the same poison, others may have an antidote." She crossed her arms and looked above, they would be expecting an attack soon.
Chrom knit his eyebrows at the possibility. Lissa looked down at the tactician who already had his eyes closed. "Robin!" She bent down to shake the boy who was unconscious. Maribelle watched the Ylissean princess call out his name, she'd never felt so helpless.
"Maribelle, take him with your horse." Chrom demanded. The girls moved aside as he picked the boy off the ground. "We attack now!" He rallied the others as Fredrick helped him set Robin onto the troubadour's horse.
"So captain, let me be certain that I understand your report." Aversa stood by King Gangrel as she twirled her hand in the air. "Not only did you NOT confirm that the Ylissean party carries the Fire Emblem, but you weren't able to estimate how many were with Prince Chrom?"
"Y-Yes milady!" The archer straightened his posture before the Plegian woman. "The air was thick with sand - it was nearly impossible to ascertain their number."
"Perhaps if you had gotten closer, Captain." Aversa moved closer to the soldier, she snaked her hand into his brown hair and pressed her body close to his. His heart raced, he had never been close to the woman. "Let me show you." She whispered into his ear seductively. He swallowed hard as a sharp pain emanated from his abdomen. He looked down at his body while his mouth dropped as he gazed at Aversa, the wicked Plegian had pierced him with a dagger.
"Huargh!" He dropped on his knees before falling on the ground. The carpet stained with a pool of fresh blood.
She smiled at his corpse before facing King Gangrel. He didn't seem amused by her actions. "Do try not to kill all the soldiers, my dear. We'll need a few for the welcoming party."
He moved past her before the castle's entrance. "The Ylisseans will be here soon - Chrom and the emblem among them." He held his chest as a devious smiled formed on his face. "The bleeding heart prince would never put good sense before his sister."
"And when they arrive?" Aversa cleaned her blade.
"It will be a massacre worthy of their legendary father!" He broke into laughter as the room echoed with his voice.
Fredrick, Chrom and Vaike stormed the front as they cleared a path for the others. The sand made it difficult for them to march forward. Yet, they did their best to press on. Robin was set on Maribelle's horse as she sat in back of him. She hoped he would be ok, they needed to find an antidote as soon as possible. "Robin..." She mumbled quietly before coming to a halt.
The Shepherds looked up to spot exalt Emmeryn atop a cliff with one soldier standing guard over her. King Gangrel made his way to center stage as he spoke aloud. "Good people! Warriors of Plegia! Welcome, one and all!" He raised his arms into the air. "Your anticipation electrifies the air! We all remember the crimes of Ylisse..." He swatted his right hand before him. "Would you have their witch queen answer for them? Here? Today? NOW?" He gestured to Emmeryn from above. "We WILL have justice!" He roared in delight. "Executioner!" The Plegian king clapped his hands. "If you would be so kind..."
"Flavia!" Chrom yelled out.
"I've got him!" The Feroxi woman yelled as she threw an axe at the man beside Emmeryn. He stammered back before falling off to his demise.
The exalt looked below her, it was Chrom and his reinforcements.
"Everyone, now!" The Ylissean lord yelled as they charged forward.
Gangrel grit his teeth in frustration. "My plan is ruined!" He slammed a fist across the air. "Men! Kill him, kill his sister, kill his troops and anyone else you find!" He pointed a finger towards the Ylissean group. "Kill them all!"
The soldiers roared in reply as all hell broke loose.
There was the sound of muffled voices as Robin lay unconscious. Blood still seeped from his wound, if this continued any longer he would go into shock. "You there, Gaius, any luck with that antidote?"
The ginger haired thief looted every fallen soldier, none carried any with them. "Sorry to disappoint, Twinkles." He replied as more soldiers marched towards the Shepherds.
"Exalt Emmeryn!" Someone yelled from a distance, there was the swing of an axe as the warrior walked over to Chrom and his Shepherds.
"You there!" The Ylissean lord ran to the axe wielder. "Why do you fight alone?"
"Good heavens! You're Prince Chrom, brother to the Grace of the Exalt!"
"You know me?"
"Of course, all Ylissean clergy do." The blonde gave him a small smile. "I must thank the Gods for uniting us. Oh, heavenly fa-"
"Now may not be the best time for prayer..." Chrom struck a rampant soldier as he fell to the ground.
"Ah, too true. We came here as soon as word was given of the execution." He swung his axe to negate an attack. The two were conversing back to back as they fended off their attackers.
"There are...more of you?" The lord grit his teeth as he pushed off a Plegian berserker.
"Alas, there were. I lost many brave comrades along the way." The area was free of soldiers for now, they would come back with reinforcements soon. The blonde turned to Chrom. "Pray sire, allow me to serve you and your party."
"Your love for my sister is clear. "I would be honored to be joined by such a formidable woman of the cloth."
"Man, sire. Man of the cloth." The blonde war monk held his bloodied axe.
"You're a..." Chrom blushed, for a man he had a number of feminine qualities. "You're not a woman?"
"No, sire. Women are clerics, I am a priest." He gave a nervous smile.
"Oh, yes. Well I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply." Silence enveloped between the two. "Well this is rather awkward..."
"Oh it's alright, sire. You noticed your mistake quickly. It would have become much more awkward." He brushed off a stray strand of his hair. "...MUCH more..."
"Right, we'll leave it at that." Chrom spoke as he accompanied their new ally to the group.
"Who's that?" Lissa asked no one in particular as Chrom marched with what seemed like a blonde woman.
"He's a new ally, Libra, a priest." The Ylissean lord replied.
"Oh my.." Libra rushed to Maribelle as he noticed Robin's pale face. "What seems to be wrong with him?" He asked Maribelle.
"A poisoned arrow." She looked at the tactician's back. "Unfortunately, we are unable to do anything about it."
"Our magic won't work." Lissa approached Libra.
"I see..Well, take him down. I will mend his wounds." Libra asked several of the men to remove the boy off the horse.
"You know how to treat this poison?" Maribelle asked as she dropped from her steed.
"Yes, before my men and I journeyed here we did a bit of reading on Plegian warfare." He set the tactician on the ground as he held out a staff. His hand ran to the boy's neck, Robin's pulse was steadily decreasing. Libra chanted a few words before taking out a vial as the Shepherds watched the war monk carefully mended the wounds. Blood slowly returned to Robin's face.
Chrom sighed in relief, he would not be loosing his tactician today.
The war monk wiped his forehead. "He should be ok for now, although he is still recovering. It's best if he remains with you." Libra looked up at Maribelle who gave an obedient nod.
"We've got company." Lon' qu readied his sword as the reinforcements poured in.
Tharja looked ahead of her, she would be entering the battle soon. Two pegasus knights hovered over her and swiftly took down the archers on top of the fort. They quickly retreated before calling out to Chrom.
"The archers are down!" Cordelia yelled as the Shepherds marched onwards.
Tharja glanced at the enemy, there didn't seem to be a lot of them. One of the sorcerers beside her cast a fire spell headed towards one of the horses. It was aimed at the troubadour of the group. She watched carefully, eyeing the blonde boy who seemed to be unconscious with the rider.
As Maribelle rode forward, her horse bucked upwards as the flames contacted the ground before it. Robin fell off as her steed went rampant. It's hooves were close to stomping over his body so she steered it away from him. She eventually lost control and fell to the ground.
The dark mage approached the blonde boy once the flames had dissipitated. She looked over him as her foot turned him to his back. As expected, he was injured. Blood stained his garments as she bent down to look at his wound. By the looks of it, an archer had struck him. She looked around as his allies were scattered, the troubadour was unconscious a few feet away from the blonde boy.
Robin slowly opened his eyes, his vision remained blurry as he tried to focus. There was the light blue sky above and a face shadowing him. 'What?' His mind snapped as it revealed a Plegian dark mage.
She stared intently at him as a light blush dyed her cheeks, she was intrigued by this...Ylissean boy.
He started to get up when vertigo struck him and he fell back down. Was he going to die by this girl's hand? He was completely defenseless and lacked the energy to strike.
Tharja moved closer and knelt beside him. He was certainly afraid of her, she smiled deviously before stroking his blonde hair.
Maribelle propped herself on her elbows as she looked over to her left. Robin was on the ground with some unknown Plegian mage. She called out to him and held her staff to support her. "Robin!"
The dark mage noticed the troubadour and stared her down, she cast a small amount of wind magic to knock her off her feet. She returned her attention to the boy. 'So his name is Robin...' She mentally noted to herself. '...Interesting.'
The tactician observed the raven haired girl then looked back at troubadour, she didn't kill Maribelle. What exactly was she? His throat felt dry as he tried to speak. "You're..not the enemy..are you?"
"..." Her eyes glistened as she looked at Robin. "It depends..."
"You seem...reluctant to fight." Robin furrowed his eyebrows. None of the soldiers bothered to approach them, perhaps they were convinced that she was going to kill him.
"Death comes for all of us eventually." She looked to her right as he met her direction to a fallen Plegian's corpse.
"Why invite it early, fighting for a cause I don't believe in?"
"So...I should take that as a no, or..." He failed to continue his words when his voice became hoarse.
"Let's just say I'm keeping my options open." She looked away towards the Shepherds and the troubadour who started to get back on her feet. "I mean long live the king and all, but I'd like to keep living as well."
A miniscule surge of energy ran around the tactician's body as he sat upright.
"And I have a bit of a...rebellious streak, I'm afraid. A...dark side."
"Then...perhaps...you would rebel now and fight for our cause?" He meekly suggested. She honestly didn't look like a bad person.
Tharja quickly moved closer to his face as she examined every detail. She could hear his ragged breathing as he tried to remain calm before her. What was it about this boy that intrigued her so much? Was she infatuated by him? "What if..this is all just a ploy to plunge a dagger in your back?"
"Heh," Robin managed a weak grin. "I already need to watch my back, whether you're with us or not." He motioned to his mended flesh wound which was no longer bleeding.
"Well, that's odd..." She looked down at his shirt. "Usually when I bring up the backstabbing bit the discussion is over." Tharja spoke with amusement in her voice. "All right then," Her face was pressed close to his. "Consider me your new ally,...For now." She moved away as she stood up, dusting the sand off of her body stocking.
His mouth dropped when he noticed how gifted the girl was. Her physique was...perfect. The heat rose to his face when she turned to meet his eyes.
"Stay away from him you vile witch!" Maribelle threw a weak stone at her direction as it hit her on the cheek.
"Why you-" Tharja was about to cast a hex on the girl when Robin suddenly held her hand.
The tactician brought himself up as he slowly stood between the two girls. "She's not the enemy, Maribelle."
"What? Did you not see what she did to me earlier?!" She yelled at his face as he squinted. "Her friend knocked me off my horse and it nearly killed you!"
Robin scratched his blonde hair, he wasn't aware what exactly happened while he was unconscious. "But...she didn't kill anyone."
"She-" Maribelle stopped, he was right. The girl may have attacked her, but she was still alive. Her eyes darted the raven haired girl behind Robin.
He faced the dark mage. "You..never told me your name." He smiled at her.
"It's, Tharja." She replied as the blush returned to her face while she lowered her head.
"Robin, and this is Maribelle." He gestured to himself and the troubadour.
"Hmph" Maribelle turned around as Robin shook Tharja's hand. She left the two to retrieve her horse.
They watched her walk away as she reluctantly released his hand.
Chrom found Robin standing on the battlefield. He called out his name as archers lined up the castle walls ready to set fire onto the Shepherds.
"Come on!" Robin took her hand as they took shelter within the fort.
...To be continued
So if you enjoyed this chapter, remember to fave, follow and/or review. Updates should be pretty quick.
Thanks for reading