Chapter 1: The Engagement
A petulant cry echoed across the courtyard, bringing everyone to a standstill. Robin turned, spellbook still in hand, as she saw Chrom standing over Gangrel, his falchion sliding out of the despot's gut with a sickening squelch. The deranged king fell to his knees, cackling nonsense. "It's not going to end this way. It can't! He promised me!" His arm clutched around his stomach and he lurched forward, an unsteady arm the only thing keeping him off the ground. As the Mad King's eyes glazed over, Chrom gazed down at him, pity crossing his gaze. He glanced out at the field, watching the will to fight abandon Gangrel's knights as they watched their king labor for breath.
Frederick pulled his horse around behind his liege, scanning the battlefield for any signs of malcontent when the Prince began to speak, "Your king is fallen and with it, I hope his legacy of violence can end here. If you lay down your arms, you are free to leave. I do not wish for any further bloodshed."
There was a pause, a moment where each soldier tensed, anticipating the act that would draw them all back into the fray. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, their weapons gripped a little tighter as they clenched their jaws. Then, a dark chuckle permeated the grounds as if coming from the air itself. "Can I hex them first," Tharja said more than asked, the daylight doing nothing to dispel the dark aura emanating from her.
Gangrel's knights left the battlefield quickly after that.
As the last warriors left, Robin looked at Chrom and he glanced up. A genuine and weary smile passed between them, and Robin felt her heart grow lighter for it. They had done it! Against all the odds, despite all the hardships, they had ended Gangrel's reign of tyranny.
And they were still alive.
The Shepherds milled around now, starting the unsavory post-battle routine. Arrows were retrieved, bodies moved from the clearing as Libra went to consult the local church about burial rites, excess armor and weapons pilfered and traded. Robin was in the middle of glancing through some discarded tomes when she felt more than saw the approaching prince. She turned to him, her eyes quickly brushing over him for wounds before meeting his gaze with a soft smile. "You did it," she said proudly.
Chrom smiled back at her and her heart fluttered, stealing her breath more effectively than a hundred battles. "No, we won, Robin. I couldn't have done any of this without you." He stepped a little closer and laid his hand on her shoulder, drawing her minutely closer. "Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for… for everything." His expression softened as his hand slid down her arm, resting just above her elbow.
Robin's eyes widened and she felt her neck warm from the blush that was surely tingeing her cheeks. "Chrom…?"
"Milord?"
Both Robin and Chrom turned to see the great knight trotting towards them, his jaw drawn perhaps a bit tighter than usual. He spared Robin only a glance, jumping to Chrom's hand on her before focusing on Chrom properly. A conversation passed wordlessly between them and Chrom seemed to take a deliberate breath. He turned back to Robin, patting her arm with a touch of his endearing awkwardness. "Good job today," he said, his expression quirking in a way Robin didn't recognize. She parroted the compliment back to him as she watched him walk away, taking in the renewed straightness of his shoulders and very slightly hurried gait as he made his way towards the Pegasus riders. Nerves? Resolve? Some mixture of the two? What had suddenly come over Chrom?
She glanced back at Frederick whose gaze was firmly pinned on her as she turned her scrutiny to him. She knew he didn't trust her. She couldn't really blame him. One thing she and Frederick could agree on was that Chrom was entirely too trusting, and knowing Frederick was watching out for him comforted her in some strange way, even as she knew she fell under his suspicion. It was with that suspicion he stared at her now, holding her eyes before he shifted his focus behind her. She followed his stare to find Chrom speaking with Sumia, motioning towards an area of the field that had not been touched by battle. She started at something he must have said, then tripped in the direction he had indicated, turning pink when Chrom followed closely behind her.
Robin's gaze flicked back to Frederick, noting the resolute flicker in his hawk-like eyes before his form relaxed for just a moment until he realized she was looking. Instantly, his posture straightened again and he nodded tersely to the tactician as he nudged his horse away.
Robin spared one last look at the meandering duo before returning her focus to the clean up. Her stomach strangled itself knots as it came to a conclusion before she had consciously conjured it.
For once, she hoped she was wrong.
That night there was a celebration in their camp.
Ale had been purchased wholesale and was flowing freely amongst the convoy as a huge cauldron of stew bubbled away on the fire. Vaike was enthralling a group with an embellished tale of the battle earlier, Virion was sitting next to Maribelle, murmuring something to her with lidded eyes that she was trying very hard to ignore, and people kept walking into Kellam, whether it was because of the drink or because of him, no one really seemed to know. Sully was trying to match Gregor in ales, and Nowi, Ricken and Donnel were chittering away about who knows what. The air was festive, and everyone was smiling. After all, they had just won the war with Plegia!
And Chrom and Sumia had gotten engaged.
They had announced it as soon as they had gotten back to camp, and even now, hours later, they were surrounded by people alternately offering their congratulations and ribbing the soon-to-be Exalt and queen into embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Robin was on the other side of the fire, nursing her ale carefully as she observed the revelry around her. A dark bubble was floating inside her, contained but central and oh so fragile.
Chrom would be marrying Sumia.
For all her smarts she should have known how this would end up. Her crush on a prince could never have been reciprocated, if not only because she was such an unknown. She still hadn't recovered her memory, and as Frederick's watchful eyes reminded her, she still wasn't entirely trusted. And Sumia would be a good match for Chrom. She was head over heels for him, sometimes literally, and her noble stature and quiet strength would serve her well as queen.
If she ever developed a backbone.
Robin batted that thought down before it could fully surface. Sumia was a sweet girl. Nervous and clumsy, perhaps, but she'd proven herself in battle as had everyone else in the convoy. And if she made Chrom happy, well, then she was happy for them. Or rather… she would be. In time.
She felt someone sit next to her and tilted her head to see Libra settling down to her right. He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Are you enjoying the celebration?" he asked lightly, his voice barely lifting above the raucous atmosphere.
Robin returned his smile and glanced back out at her comrades as they ate and drank and laughed freely for the first time since their journey began. "It's nice to see everyone so lively," she demurred. Her eyes traced back to him. "How about you? Have you had the stew yet? They went all out with it today. Even put vegetables in it."
"Oh ho," Libra chuckled, a spark of mirth reaching his eyes before they closed, his whole demeanor relaxing with the conversation, "all out indeed. Naga has truly shined upon us this day." From anyone else, that might have come off as sarcasm, but Libra meant every word. Robin nodded in acknowledgement, not missing that he too had deflected, but deciding not to press further. She took another sip of her drink, the warmth comforting as it flowed through her.
The two sat in amiable silence, the tension that had been evident in both of them seeming to fade as they did. After a time, Libra's gaze landed on Robin, his eyes flitting over her briefly before she noticed. She turned to him with a questioning brow, and Libra seemed to falter for a moment. "Robin," he started, "pardon my intrusion, but you seem to be-"
"Hey Bubbles!"
A loud voice and a heavy thump to her left jolted Robin violently. She screeched, so panicked by the sudden assault that she jumped nearly into Libra's lap, barely holding onto her ale as Libra's hands shot out to steady her. Now mortified at her reaction, and with half the convoy staring at her, she flushed brightly and twitched out of Libra's hold, glancing at him apologetically before turning a resigned glare at the newcomer.
The red-headed thief smirked at the reaction he'd caused, looking entirely unapologetic about the situation. Robin settled herself back down in her spot, tamping down the color in her cheeks. "Hi Gaius," she said with a sigh.
"Bubbles, I need your help," he started immediately, leaning towards her and resting his arm on her shoulder conspiratorially. "See, so there were these honey rolls, right? We bought them at the last town over. And so I came back in after the battle because, you know, we won, and I was gonna celebrate with a honey roll! But I get to the tent and that jerk," he thumbed over at Lon'qu, eyes narrowed as he leaned in closer, "is taking the last one. So, I politely asked if I could have it, and he wouldn't let me. So now I need you to help plan my revenge. For the honey rolls."
Robin sat, stupefied, for a moment, scrutinizing the thief's face for any sign that he wasn't entirely serious. Finding none, she glanced over at Lon'qu leaning reclusively against the trees, fleetingly glanced to Chrom across the clearing, then downed the rest of her ale.
Libra muttered something about being needing to pray for them before excusing himself. Robin grimaced but nodded in parting. When she turned back, her mug was filled again and Gaius stared at her from atop her shoulder, looking as innocent as he could manage. She sighed, a wry smile flickering at the corners of her mouth. She took another swig from her mug, then met Gaius's gaze, eyes gleaming with the potential for mischief.
"Okay, let's see what you got."
Lon'qu hovered near the edge of the clearing they had camped in, watching the revelry with disinterest. He was, of course, satisfied with their victory, but he didn't care much for the other events people were celebrating. The marriage of Yllise's princeling was of no consequence to him. Now that they had been victorious, he could return to Regna Ferrox. While the battles had been a satisfying challenge for him, he was content to be heading home.
His attention piqued when he spotted movement to his right. Glancing over, he saw their waif of a tactician approaching him, a slight waver in her walk. He grimaced, leaning further back against the tree he was propped against as if to brace himself. He and the tactician had a...strange relationship. Somehow he felt less nervous around her than with most females. Probably because it had been replaced with annoyance and a trickle of respect. After all, she had been his de facto commander since he joined their troop, and though it had surprised him at first, she had utilized him well. It was something he appreciated.
When she wasn't throwing fucking acorns at him.
He shifted uncomfortably when she stopped a foot away from him, tottering back and forth on her feet beside him. She didn't say anything, just...hovered expectantly. He nodded, not quite looking at her as he addressed her. "Robin."
The myrmidon's eyes flicked over to her and instantly his shoulders tensed, his face heating up and taking on a dark pink flush. The tactician was staring up at him, a fetching blush painted across her cheeks. She was smiling at him, a slight twinkle in her amber eyes that made his stomach flip.
"Hey," she responded warmly, apparently oblivious to the effect she was having on him. She sidled closer and Lon'qu felt his skin prickle. He looked away, trying to forget the proximity of the woman next to him. "I just saw you over here alone and thought you could use some company. This is a celebration, after all."
Lon'qu's face remained consciously passive, though his cheeks and neck were still stained red. "Your sentiment is appreciated, but not necessary," he muttered.
A chuckle reached his ears and his coloring intensified. Gods, why was she still here? He had half a mind to tell her off, but before he could open his mouth to form the words, he felt a hand tentatively touch his shoulder.
He glared at her with wide eyes and recoiled a bit when he realized she was right in front of him, only inches away. His heart thudded heavily in his chest and he could feel his face burning. What was she doing? Why was she coming closer? He felt her hand trail down his arm, fingering the fur that lined his sleeves with a sly smile. At the same time, her other hand found the fur at his collar and stroked it, brushing across his chest as she did. Her touch was light, but it sent warmth all throughout his being and somehow the gleam in her eyes ignited both fear and something thrilling at the same time.
A strangled grunt escaped him and Robin's eyes suddenly filled with hesitance, but before she could withdraw, Lon'qu's own hand shot out, gripping her arm and firmly pulling her back in place.
Robin had expected a number of different scenarios, but she hadn't expected the hungry, searing heat in Lon'qu's gaze when her eyes met his. The flush on her face reflected his own, her eyes wide as everything around them seemed to fade away. Her right hand was now splayed across his chest while her left was clutching his sleeve and she could feel the latent power in his body. She'd seen his strength and agility in action, but now, being so close and enraptured by it, it made her warm in a way she hadn't experienced before.
She heard his breath hitch and he tugged her infinitesimally closer. The line of his mouth tightened and her eyes flickered down to it before returning to his dark brown gaze. He seemed to notice the motion because he reddened further, his grip on her tightening as he leaned ever-so-slightly towards her.
"What are you doing?"
Robin and Lon'qu sprang apart like opposite poles, and Robin's face became pallid in complete disregard to the flush it had just a moment ago. "Oh, h-hi Tharja!" she exclaimed with a forced perkiness as she faced the dark mage, whose eyes were dangerously shaded by her bangs as she clutched a dark tome in front of her. "I, um… we were just-"
Lon'qu puffed out an irate breath and whipped around to leave, muttering to himself something that was indecipherable. Robin turned and almost called for him, but immediately thought better of it and faced Tharja again. "We were having a disagreement," she decided finally, clasping her hands behind her back. "Did you need me for something?" Robin tilted her head in false curiosity, hoping she wouldn't ask any more probing questions.
At having Robin's full attention, Tharja blushed beet red, lowering her head such that she was effectively staring at the tactician's feet. She started mumbling to herself, her voice getting deeper and darker with an occasional cackle interspersed. Robin took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then released it slowly. Nothing happened.
"Well, if you need anything, let me know," she replied with an internal wince. She was...mildly disturbed by Tharja. The mage was more effective than almost any other magic user in her retinue, but she seemed...possessed of something. And weirdly fixated on her.
When Tharja didn't respond directly, Robin promptly got the hell out of dodge.
She didn't even bother to find Gaius, she simply grabbed another ale and drank. That was a sobering experience to say the least. She wasn't drunk enough for this.
"Whoa there, Bubbles. Did it go that badly?"
Robin shot a glare at the red-haired thief from over her shoulder. "Remind me never to do favors for you again," she sniped.
Gaius's eyebrows shot up, a half-cocked grin crawling across his face. "Well, hopefully he's as off his game as you are."
"Your concern is truly touching," Robin deadpanned as she walked back towards her spot by the fire.
Gaius followed her like a puppy. "Oh come on Bubbles, don't be mad!" She sat down forcefully, her drink barely staying within the cup. "You should be glad that most of the fighting is over, because I won't be able to look him in the eye for weeks," she hissed, but her ire was simmering down. Gaius sidled beside her, lopsided smile still spread across his lips. "You know," he murmured softly to her after a few moments, "You're kinda cute when you're angry."
He barely avoided the mug thrown by a blushing Robin, cackling all the way.
As the night waged on and the fire began to wane, the company trickled towards their tents, the buzz of victory and booze ensuring a restful night. A skeleton crew maintained the watch, and that was part of the reason Robin was still sitting by the fire. She was playing with an idea that had occurred to her earlier that night. If she could conjure elements through spells, could she control elements that already existed around her? Presently she was holding her hand out to the fire, trying to draw the flickering flames towards her palm. So far she thought she'd seen one or two flames bend unnaturally towards her, but if they had, they had flickered back too quickly for her to say for sure.
The rustle of a tent flap cut through her concentration and she dropped her hand, turning to face the sound, eyes focusing into the darkness. She waited for a moment, not seeing or hearing anything else, and was about to stand and investigate when a head of purple hair poked around the edge of one of the tents and indigo eyes met amber. "Oh, Chrom," Robin breathed in relief even as her stomach roiled anxiously. "What are you doing up? You should be in bed." She half-hoped her reminder would deter him, but it was short lived as the prince rounded the corner, rolling one of his shoulders as he approached the fire. "I couldn't sleep," he admitted sheepishly. He settled down next to her, leaning back on his hands as one leg stretched out in front of him.
Robin's emotions rattled ever more turbulently within her and she grasped frantically at her scattered thoughts in an attempt to conjure an appropriate response. She wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse when Chrom nullified her need to reply by speaking up again. "You seemed like you had fun tonight," he said softly, his warm, deep voice soothing something deep within Robin. "I'm glad. You deserve it."
The corner of Robin's mouth twitched up into a half smile at his praise even as her head shook denial. "If anyone deserved it, it was you, Chrom." She curled her toes into her boot, mentally steeling herself as she turned to face the prince, but the moment she met his gaze, her expression unconsciously softened and her smile became more genuine. "I didn't get the chance to say anything before, but congratulations on your engagement."
Chrom flushed a bit at the sentiment and glanced away, chuckling nervously. "Uh, thanks. It was… very sudden. For both of us." Something in his expression seemed amiss to Robin. Not regretful, but… unsure?
Robin bit her lip, her mind whirring through questions and responses. She wanted to ask about what made him doubt himself, but then again, it wasn't much her business, was it? And if it made him question his decision further, it wouldn't do him nor Sumia any good.
Robin settled for a smile, nudging his shoulder with her own. "She'll be a good queen. And she'll look after you. We can't have you getting too carried away with your Exaltly duties, can we?"
At her prodding, Chrom's eyes regained their warm surety and he cracked a grin. "No, I suppose not." His shoulders relaxed now, seeming as though a small weight had been lifted. She felt her heart grow lighter with it and the dark feeling that had permeated her since earlier that night settled. Her relationship with Chrom might change, but as long as she could help him in any way, she could be content.
Chrom shifted on the ground, his warm gaze meeting her's imploringly. "You'll be there too, right Robin?"
This time Robin couldn't stop the blush that tinged her cheeks, her eyes widening in surprise at the implied request. "Chrom…" she started as she tried to calm her now-racing heart, "I… I would be honored. If you have need of me, you only have to ask."
The smile Chrom shared with her was dazzling, his eyes sparkling with the reflections from the flames. She felt like she could stare at him forever and be content. "Good," he said warmly. "I… I was worried you might leave once we returned to the castle."
I could never leave you, Robin thought, but clamped down on that sentiment before she voiced it. Instead, she gave him a reassuring smile. "The Shepherds are like my family now. I don't think I could leave them if I tried."
The tension in Chrom's shoulders lessened further and he shifted slightly to accommodate it. "Well we're happy to have you. Once we're back in Ylisse, we'll have some sort of ceremony. To make it official."
Robin's eyes widened and she frantically waved her hands in front of her. "No, no," she implored. "You have enough that you'll be planning. There's no need to…" her hands came to a halt in front of her as she thought for a moment, "...make a big deal about it," she finished lamely.
Chrom stifled a laugh at her sudden animation. "If you truly do not want one, I will respect that, but I will warn you, I am quite insistent," he warned playfully.
Robin flashed a smirk at his humorous tone, mimicking Chrom's stance as she leaned back on her hands. "I'm well aware, Your Highness."
A violent chuckle escaped Robin when Chrom sputtered wordlessly at the address, and she knew then that yes, things between the two of them would be alright.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Shepherding Men! I posted this a little earlier than I had intended, because I actually would like to include you guys in the direction of the story somewhat. Since I'm going to be covering the two years between Gangrel and Lucina's appearance, I'm planning to cover that time lapse in a series of (likely fluffy) oneshots developing the relationships between F!Robin and the other characters. So, if you, like me, think that Stahl or Lon'qu or any other character is underrepresented in FE fanfiction, leave a oneshot idea in a review or a PM! If I use your idea, you'll even get story credit! The next chapter is mostly planned out and will be story based, but after that, we enter oneshot central!
Next update will likely take a few weeks, but if I get time, it might go up sooner. Also, if anyone is interested in betaing this, drop me a line. A second set of eyes never hurts.
In the meantime, keep on being awesome!
