Chapter 2:

Robin blinked down at the charts he had spent the better part of a week producing, unsure what nonsense he had just served as a front row witness to. Sighing with an ungodly cocktail of emotions on his mind he reflected on what had surely only been the past half an hour at most.

It had started innocuously enough, once he explained the calculations to Cordelia and what they meant the commander became engrossed in his work, only asking for clarification in two places.

"Why did you have Robin do all that work Cordy? You seem smart enough to do it yourself." The Queen of Ylisse and mutual dear friend Sumia had asked.

"It's not a matter of calculations Sumia, it's a matter of impartiality. I told my knights that their work was going to be evaluated by an outside observer for the Knight of the Season and that the winner would be awarded a brand-new Brave Lance. Since I monitor them every day, I would not count as impartial. Robin also set up the magical triggers to accumulate more data than a pair of eyes can alone" Cordelia replied to Sumia before turning her attention to the Shepherd's tactician turned statistician.

"So based on your calculations it's Cynthia who deserves this award Robin?"

"If that's who Subject Name: Bolganone is, then yes she had the highest score based on what you were looking for with those triggers. Her blocking ability with the lance is her most impressive trait."

"I'll go get her then." Cordelia then left her desk to go disrupt the end of practice.

"When she gets here, I'll have a surprise for her too Cordelia!" Sumia cheerfully added.

Robin didn't like the tone of Sumia's voice but rather than comment on it or ask what the Queen could possibly be planning he gathered his charts and began sorting through them based on which magic trigger they were associated with. He had just finished the blocking and one on one dueling charts when both Cordelia and the younger princess of Ylisse walked in the door. Though she had been working with her Pegasus all day in the warm Ylissean sun she still glowed with exuberance seemingly ready to burst into a song about enjoying life. Unfortunately for the tactician that wasn't the only thing threatening to spill over. Despite the bandages Robin knew she put on, Cynthia's breastplate was still struggling to contain her 'assets'. Rather than potentially get caught being lecherous, Robin instead looked up at Cynthia's face which resulted in locking eyes with the young lady he had just been ogling. Rather than blink or attempt to appear the least bit bashful she accepted the attention and began looking Robin over, making the tactician shift quietly in his chair. The joy that buzzed around the rest of her was present in her coffee-colored eyes which made Robin want to stare at them, drinking in the warmth all day, damn the consequences with Cordelia and Sumia once they figured out. At least that's what he was thinking before a flash of fear and pain sliced through Cynthia beautiful eyes and contact between his and hers was lost as she turned to face her mother.

It had been a perfect set up. The Commander had called to Cynthia immediately after she had finished corralling her Pegasus and neither she or her fellow knights had any doubts as to why. She had won one of her hearts desires, and having Robin there in the office waiting for her had been an unexpected but wholly welcome surprise, it would streamline things. Her mother was there too. She gazed at Robin, what should she address him as? My love? Lover? Dear Robin? Beloved? So many choices with which to make this her crowning moment, that was until her mother spoke.

"I am so proud of you Cynthia, between this and your upcoming wedding to Brady this will be one of the best weeks of your life."

It was as though somebody had hurled a Valflame into a flock of twittering songbirds, agony replaced ecstasy. Though nobody else could see it, Cynthia felt as though all the blood in her body was gushing through the hole her mother had unknowingly ripped in her heart.

"I am to marry Brady next week?" Cynthia queried whirling to face her mother, dropping the Brave Lance that only moments ago she was proudly examining.

"Yes dear, Sir Frederick and Maribelle's son. It'll be a royal wedding for you, aren't you excited?" Sumia questioned in turn, slightly confused about her daughter's lack of a smile at the news and the deadened tone of voice. Robin felt his stomach clench, he had known Cynthia wouldn't react well as soon as Lucina had told him about this. He didn't expect to have to watch a confirmation of the hypothesis.

"So that's it then…father is still struggling on the royal council, so you need to marry one of us off, and since I am second born I get to be the boar offered to the dragon?" Cynthia responded with an iciness that Robin had never heard once before. Judging by the look of discomfort of both Cordelia and Sumia's faces, this was new for them too.

"I-I assure you Brady is a fine young gentleman, you've known him nearly all your life both future and present. He plays the violin really well and I know you like that when your first child is on the way."

Robin looked up at Cordelia and they shared a silent grimace.

"Am I nothing but a strumpet to sell off to you!" Cynthia roared so loudly that Cordelia flinched, thankful her office was soundproofed. Sumia meanwhile sat dumbfounded at her daughter's anger.

"ANSWER ME MOTHER! Am I but a harlot to be pimped out for the Ylissean government's amusement! Was I only born to be a mare, sold off and bred!". By now the joy that threatened to escape her had been extinguished by tears and the melody of her movement replaced by tremors of rage. The Brave Lance pinged off the floor with each violent shake of Cynthia's feet.

Sumia continued to sit there as though Cynthia had bashed her on the head with a Shockstick while her daughter with angry tears boiling over onto her soft cheeks roared.

"I HATE YOU!"

Cynthia ran from the office as hard and fast as her legs could carry her, not stopping even after she hit something or someone with a thud, simply bouncing off mid sprint and continuing. No, no, no! This was all wrong, and she had to escape it.

Robin sighed to himself, done with his recollection quietly as the two older women re-entered the office, Cordelia quick to pick up the Brave Lance so the queen could not trip over it. For what felt like a decade to the perturbed tactician nobody spoke before Sumia finally broached what she and Cordelia had discussed in the hallway.

"So…Robin…we have it on good sources that you own a substantive amount of wedding planning books."

"You heard half correctly, Morgan owns a substantive amount of wedding books which she acquired from Libra when he was raising money for the Plegian orphanage."

"So that's where they all went." Cordelia remarked with a smirk.

"You can have them back if you want Cordelia." Robin offered dryly to which the Pegasus commander nodded no.

"Do you think Libra could help Cynthia accept this marriage Cordelia?" Sumia wondered hopefully.

"Sumia, I love you dearly and I understand your plight but can we leave my husband out of this for now?" Cordelia grumbled, pinching her nose. She had never been more glad her crush on Chrom had subsided than now, though she knew this was a really spiteful thing to have cross her mind.

"Are my ears burning or have you all been making reference to me?" Libra inquired as he opened the door to Cordelia's office pecking his wife on the cheek before handing her and Sumia a Vulnerary each for stress. A wordless glance at between Cordelia and Libra confirmed Severa had asked him to swing by.

Even now Robin noted, more than three years after their marriage it was apparent that Cordelia still loved Libra as passionately as on their wedding day. He could only hope to have a marriage like that, one full of compassion and mutual trust. One that would satisfy Morgan's longing for a mother figure she could remember. One that wouldn't lose him his best friend, job, and head in that order.

"Robin, would you like this last Vulnerary? I sensed a fracas and figure that we cannot have the Grandmaster Tactician down and out with a headache." Libra offered.

Robin shook his head no but gave Libra a look indicating that after this little tea party was done, he wished to see the monk in his own office to which Libra nodded in confirmation. Out of all the Shepherds, including Chrom, the War Monk was his closest confidant with personal issues and Naga knew he needed some advice.

"Hun, I finally figured out what happened to the wedding books we couldn't find last night when Severa told me about the wedding. You accidentally sold them for the orphanage fundraiser, but it's okay I forgive you and I know there in good hands." Cordelia kissed her mate's hand as he sat down with her, further exuding the cuteness that Robin desperately wanted in his own life.

"Whose capable hands are they in Cordy?" Libra responded, not wishing to make either Sumia or Robin uncomfortable with further kissing despite his impulse to do so.

"Morgan bought them." Robin answered, adjusting his sleeves.

"I didn't think you or her were engaged Robin.", the monk's eyes momentarily narrowed with curiosity as he spoke, but running his hands through his long blonde hair concealed this from the two women who were mesmerized by its shine even if they would never admit it.

"That's correct Libra, she just…really wants a mother an I have no desire to go looking for one at the moment." Robin sighed. Libra knew what strain his marital status put on his relationship with his daughter but because his wife and the Queen of Ylisse were present he chose not to ask further questions.

"Would you however be willing to help matchmake between my daughter and Brady though?" Sumia asked Robin hopefully, missing the exasperated look on Cordelia's face.

"I can't promise anything Sumia, but I will speak to her later I'm sure." Robin offered.

"That would be wonderful, thank you. For now, I must relay the information to Chrom that this proposal has…started off rather terribly." With that Sumia hugged Cordelia and departed, presumably to go do a flower fortune about this wedding plan.

"I should get back to work too, Robin since you will see Cynthia later can you give her this Brave Lance. She really did earn it."

"Of course Cordelia, Libra might we have a word about you reacquiring those wedding books in my office?"

"In a moment, Robin. Cordy comes first."

Before the Commander could protest Robin nodded and left the two alone.

"Severa sent you, didn't she?"

"Of course, she did. She was in a real huff about this wedding when she first came to help me clean the pews off this morning because it's apparently upset Lucina."

"To be honest Libra, I don't think this is a good idea either." Cordelia replied before taking a large swig of Vulnerary.

"I am a little surprised you didn't try and talk the Queen out of it."

Cordelia turned uncomfortably to her husband.

"I think she knows this won't work but I also know how desperate she and Chrom are with the Royal Counselors at the moment. If they keep things stalled any longer, people are going to starve."

"And Chrom doesn't have his sister's knack for politicking."

Cordelia nodded sadly, before asking the question bugging her the most.

"You aren't actually going to get those books back to help this shambles are you?"

"You're very clever my love." Libra cooed, unable to fib to his wife, but also not willing to tell her everything he knew. Cordelia seemed to pick up on this as well.

"I promise I will tell you as soon as I can Cordy."

Cordelia kissed Libra's lips, craving the softness.

"I know you will, even though you can't tell me now, I have faith you are doing the right thing Libra."

Libra gave one last smooch to his wife and headed towards Robin's office, knowing that this was going to be rough water to sail, even with his wife's confidence in him to boost his morale. Once Libra had traversed to the interior of the Tactician's office Robin put a small Thoron in the outside door handle which made it glow ominously. It had been Morgan's idea to ensure people wouldn't barge in.

"Will you take the Vulnerary now Robin?"

"Not a chance Monsignor, try this with me instead". Robin pulled out two crystal glasses from a small cupboard in the corner of his office along with a bottle of amber liquid, shaped like a wyvern, the liquid magically dispensing from the beast's mouth.

"It's Rosanne Dragon Whiskey, aged in oak barrels smoked by the ancient Wyverns of that region. Cherche gives me a bottle every time she comes."

"I see, it's quite expensive then?" Libra asked as he sniffed the glass Robin had handed him before taking a small sip. Robin had taught him to like whiskey over the course of their many meetings, though he still wasn't sure he was supposed to drink because he was a Monk. He would ask Tiki at earliest opportunity.

"It smells like toffee, but it's got a nice maltiness to it when you sip it, I can understand the fondness. But you didn't ask me to your office just to drink whiskey. We've mentioned you have feelings of fondness for Cynthia before, but news of her impeding matrimony seems to have stricken a reaction from you."

Robin nodded "I feel as though I must tell somebody the whole story."

"I take it this is not something you wish to be gossiped about, and there are more details to share than you have previously with me."

"I knew I liked you for a reason Libra." Robin smiled as he took a sip of his drink, gathering his nerves for the arduous tale.

"Before you start telling me this new information Robin, I was under the impression you had been quite chummy for almost as long as she has been with the Shepherds."

"You are right Father."

Libra scowled at the honorific, but knew Robin meant no snark with it and asked a question he had been holding on to since Robin had first approached him in a cold sweat demanding a meeting.

"When did you cross the bridge from being friends to looking at her…differently. Before the fall of the Fell Dragon?"

"No, this started intensifying when I was asked to do that analysis work for Cordelia."

"So about six months ago, Robin?"

Libra needed to make sure he was gauging the situation correctly and for that to happen he needed information, even this bit which he already knew. Elsewhere in the Castle, Cynthia was spinning near identical yarns to her sister although unlike Robin, there was an element of anonymity to the Princess's tale. She wasn't ready to tell Lucina just how intense her feelings for Robin were, his name, or just how close they had become.

Flashback One

Work was slow in September in Ylisse but despite that Cordelia, Commander of the Pegasus Knights was determined to work her troops extra hard so they would not be too slow on the perilous winter patrols against Brigands who loved to strike around the winter festivals for food, drink, and presents. The best performer as evaluated by an independent analyst would receive a brand-new Brave Lance and more than anything, Cynthia wanted to win that Lance.

"It's a weapon befitting a hero, but first I have to earn it!". The junior Princess of Ylisse saluted herself in the changing rooms as she prepared to mount for a day's drills with her faithful steed, Whirlaway. There was an extra pep in her step for reasons unrelated to competing for a world-class weapon too. After training she had made arraignments to meet with Robin to talk strategy. Cynthia giggled to herself thinking about it. At first recruitment by the Shepherds, she loved to charge headlong into battle without thinking, trying to kick as many enemy butts as possible. However, after a particularly harrowing battle in which Morgan saved her life twice the junior tactician suggested Cynthia spend some time learning how to attack more sensibly from her father Robin. Given that Cynthia had found Robin dashing since she had met him but never had a real chance to speak to him before, she agreed.

At first it was rather difficult because it felt like lessons at school again, particularly with Robin's fondness for using a chalkboard to illustrate formations while going on about exploiting space. Gradually the material began to stick and it became Cynthia's de facto job to save people from bad spots on the battlefield. This maturity led to Robin lavishing her with praise which made her heart thump with delight and fueled her fantasies in which she and him were not just student and teacher. Since they had defeated Grima and were no longer in a perilous state of warfare the strategy meetings had taken on a more relaxed tone which meant Cynthia's mind had time to wander to other things; like Robin who had proven himself to be every bit the hero Cynthia had hoped. She enjoyed watching him think and say something serious one minute, and then make a wry comment to Morgan the next. Her fanciful crushing had bloomed into full-blown infatuation, and she was going to tell him about it today. She giggled again before mounting her Pegasus and breezing through training.

When Cordelia finally blew the whistle to signal impending sunset Cynthia was much sorer and sweatier, but she was happy. After a quick shower she changed into a more comfortable and informal gown so she could go visit Robin and Morgan in relative comfort. She practically bounced on her way to the office, wondering how but feeling confident she could tell Robin her feelings today, and knocked on the door with such enthusiasm she may have busted the door had Robin been slower to answer.

"Hey Cynthia, how was training?"

"It was great Robin, I think I did really well. I'm sure that if training continues like this until spring, I'll get the lance that the commander promised to award!"

Robin couldn't help but smile when Cynthia was around, her big brown eyes shining with a convivial light to them, that he alternatively wanted to bottle up and keep for himself on sad days while understanding that such joy is meant to be shared.

"Where's Morgan?" Cynthia wondered, musing about whether Robin would let her brush his long purple hair while they waited for her and deciding it would probably be best to not say anything about a crush in front of Morgan just yet.

"She's out for the evening with Nah and Gerome." Robin responded, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Oh?"

"It's okay, she doesn't particularly want to be around me."

"Aw, but you and Morgan are so happy to be around each other most of the time, playing chess, practicing tomes, and solving all of Ylisse's problems."

"Except for one. She gets frustrated with me every so often because she doesn't remember her mother and she thinks I am not trying to help her. Today is one of those days."

"Well I could be her mother!" Cynthia blurted before she could restrain the impulse, visions of wrapped herself in Robin's lap tempting her subconscious, before she remembered she hadn't told him she had a crush yet. Motherhood was a bit farther down the road than that but she supposed even though it was unorthodox it would at least get the conversation started.

Robin blushed at the suggestion. "Cynthia I appreciate the offer but I think it goes beyond the simple stuff of having a female confidant."

"I know, she wants a mother." Cynthia repeated, more confidently as she closed the distance between her and the tactician and without fully explaining herself, which she realized in hindsight was very unheroic. She couldn't take the suspense, the golden opportunity Morgan had unknowingly presented her, and she kissed him on the lips, cornering him between the bookshelf, the wall and his desk. To her surprise Robin accepted the contact without pushing her away.

"Cynthia, I am way too old for you." Robin whispered, stunned. He'd always thought Cynthia was cute sure, but as his best friend's daughter he had always regarded her as way out of bounds. If she hadn't initiated this conversation with the subject of baby-making and immediately throwing personal space out the window he supposed later that his response would have been way more coherent.

"I am twenty-one, your what thirty? Besides you're a highly respected hero of the realm, and truth be told I think you'd make a very handsome husband." Cynthia countered before kissing him again, this time on the cheek.

"But you're the daughter of the Exalt Cynthia" he hissed, not taking steps to stop the contact. It had been so long since he had been with a woman. But this wasn't right, this was Chrom's daughter, and if someone walked in…

"So what?"

"I don't think Chrom would appreciate his tactician, courting his daughter."

"Daddy wouldn't care, he trusts you with my life on the battlefield surely he could trust you with me in a more intimate setting. It's not like I haven't been kind of obviously crushing on you"

Robin felt like he was drowning at Demon's Ingle. Not only had Cynthia cornered him and started kissing him, she had also admitted feelings for him, offered to marry him, and had tactically cornered him with her argument thus far except for one very important detail.

"It's against the law for me to marry you Cynthia!"

"Huh?" Cynthia was broken from her trace, which was excellent for Robin because her hand had gotten dangerous close to his trousers.

"As a second born royal child of Ylisse, you are bound to marry a suitor of noble blood by the Code of the Exalted Bloodline which was put into place after Marth…"

"So, it has nothing to do with you not wanting to date me and everything to do with an antiquated law." Cynthia huffed, her first kisses feeling wasted now.

"Cynthia…" Robin started, his confusion at what the hell was happening plastered to his face. He had enjoyed what she was doing, but regardless of how fond he was for her even Cynthia must have understood that a sudden proposition like this was jarring.

"No, it's okay Robin I understand, but will you make me a couple promises?" Cynthia asked with a half remorseful sound in her voice. She had rushed it, hust like she used to on the battlefield when she'd get stuck in the mud, but maybe she could still find a space and a slower way to tell him how much she liked him.

"What are they?"

"Can we still hang around each other…because I really do like spending time with you."

"Yes I can do that Cynthia," Robin replied his face less flush now, though his confusion was still evident.

Cynthia mentally congratulated herself on the first part of this gambit working, because in her definition kissing would totally be allowed when they were alone, and she hugged the tactician close the visions of snuggles again blooming. When they snuggled she would tell him everything.

"Thank you, um can we go flying sometime? We made plans to last week before I you know…kissed you."

"Sure we can, even though that happened I assure you nothing will change in our friendship." Robin offered, with a sincerity Cynthia normally found endearing. Today it was disappointing. Though she had been clumsier than a newborn horse, how much clearer could she have made it that she didn't want to be just friends?!

"Cool, I finally got my night flying permits approved and there were a couple places I wanted to go with you."

"Then it's a date." Robin said without thinking of how loaded that phrase would now be.

"Cool, I'll pick you up on Friday night then!" Cynthia snuck one last kiss in before bounding out of the room, chuckling at Robin's verbiage.

Robin lay awake long after he would have ordinarily that night. How long had Cynthia harbored those sorts of feelings for him? Why didn't he push her away when she started kissing him? Why had he enjoyed it so much? Just loneliness? Feeling her lips on his was more refreshing than a chilled beer, it had made his stomach do a flip, and even though he had been confused and trying to talk her down from it, he had done partly because of the chance somebody could have walked in.

"As well as to hopefully deny to yourself how right it felt" snickered a small, impish voice in his mind.

Robin grimaced, and rolled onto his back trying to put this stuff out of his head, but instead his mind's eye was back in his office with Cynthia. He was tousling her hair which smelled citrusy. He was about to go in for a kiss himself when he jerked out of the fantasy. He sighed, whether her feelings for him were real or a fleet of fancy she had certainly lodged herself in his brain.