Arrival in the Palace

Robin POV

Chrom helps me down from the wagon, or more like picks me up and carries me off the wagon, then deposits me on my feet. "Glad to finally be out of there, Miss?"

I nod, scribbling in my journal, Do I ever have to go in there again?

He laughs and rubs my shoulder, eliciting a light blush from me. "No, I don't think so. Can you wait a moment so I can get everyone set?" I nod, and he steps away from me, already addressing the Shepherds.

Lucina comes to stand next to me after a moment. "Are you happy to be here?" I nod, smiling slightly. "Good, I don't think he would be happy otherwise. You know… Father seems to be getting a soft spot for you." I blush slightly and tilt my head. "Well, he's been adamant about knowing how you are recovering, and has been spending a lot of his time caring for you."

I'm just a victim, he's just doing what any kind person would. I write out for her.

She shakes her head. "You don't see it yet, but it's fairly obvious to me, as his daughter. Give him a chance, at least?"

I'll give everyone a chance, but him above all. I owe him that much for all the time he's been spending with me. I close the journal as Chrom comes back over to us.

"Hello there. Ready to head in, finally?" I nod, and he offers me his arm, which I wrap my hand around slowly. "So, you're probably going to have to wait for a room to be prepared for you, so we can either see about begging something from the chefs, show you to the library, or visit our tactician. Which would you like to do?" I put up three fingers, indicating I want to see my mother. "Seeing the tactician it is. Onward!"

I smile as Lucina shakes her head and several Shepherds bust out in laughter at Chrom's antics. "Father, you're… gah, I haven't the heart to say anything on the matter."

"Really now, young lady? Would you like to finish that statement now or over a practice spar?" he murmurs across me to her.

She pales and steps away with a false smile. "I was just commenting on how much you are still like a child, yet you're the Exalt."

"Ah, do I hear Chrom and Lucina out there?" a voice asks, gentle and familiar.

They stop and we turn around to find a woman wearing a long coat similar to the one Father made me wear in the ceremony, but with far less designs and just a plain dark blue fabric. She wears a set of breeches and a lighter jacket underneath the overcoat, several belts wrapped around her waist and gloves on her hands. I can't see her face due to the hood drawn over her head, hiding her face in shadows.

"Lady Tactician, it's good to see you again. This is the person we found at the Table, and Validar is dead, you'll be pleased to hear." Lucina says in a level voice, eyes shining with respect.

The woman lowers her hood, and gasps at the same time I do. "Oh gods, you're alive!" she whispers, running up to me, putting a hand on my cheek.

I blink, looking into her dark green eyes, taking in her sharp features of high cheekbones and small nose, like my own. Her pitch black hair drapes in long waves over her shoulders, almost blending in with her coat.

I mouth the word, 'Mama?' too shocked to think of anything else.

She pulls me into a tight hug, and I feel tears begin dripping into my shoulder. "I never thought I would see you again." She whispers into my ear, bending down slightly to get to my level, being just a couple inches shorter than her and Chrom. I feel her turn in Chrom's direction. "Thank you so much, Your Majesty."

"It was the least we could do, Kiandra, as you've done so much for us already." He answers, a smile evident in his voice. "Look, I know you would like to just stay here awhile longer, but she needs a proper meal at the moment."

Mama nods and releases me. "Of course, let's see if the kitchen has lunch ready yet." I take Chrom's arm again, and watch Mama glance our way with an interest gleaming in her eyes. "So, how have you been getting along with everyone in the Shepherds?" she asks me after a moment.

I smile and shrug, gaining a sound of confusion from her. "She means that she's been getting along alright, but some she just can't deal with." Chrom clarifies for me, to which I give him a nod of thanks.

She frowns. "But… can't you talk, child?" I shrug and shake my head. "Chrom, can you please clarify what she's trying to say?"

"She's tried, but couldn't for some reason. Maybe it's a spell that binds her voice, or a result of what happened to her." He answers once more, as I look away from her, the smile vanishing from my face, holding his arm a bit tighter.

"But that's impossible. She always spoke as a child, even laughed before I tried getting her out of there. There were never any spells that could do that, nor any physical way to persuade her to silence." She sounds on the brink of tears.

Lucina sighs. "You didn't see all the wounds, or the scars she now bears, when we found her. It's possible something was done to force her silence, or a mental protection she's built up to prevent herself from talking."

Chrom clears his throat. "Um, Kiandra, did you ever name her? Validar never referred to her with an actual name, and she says she doesn't have one."

She shakes her head. "I was never allowed to give her a name, as she was to bear Grima's soon enough, but I always referred to her as my little bird."

Taking my arm away from Chrom, I pull out my notebook and scribble a note. Robin, I want that to be my name.

I turn the book to them, silencing the group of them. "Robin? That's a good name, but are you sure about that one?" I nod quickly as I shut it again, Chrom sighing as I do so. "Alright then, Robin. Let's continue to the mess hall."

Lucina POV

I frown as we enter the hall, remembering my mother's name was Robin. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I have a feeling the newly dubbed Robin is going to be my mother in a few short years. Now that I think of it, her mother was already the tactician, who had sent the Shepherds to save her daughter from the Awakening and to retrieve the Fire Emblem. Upon returning, she had chosen the name for herself, and then the rest was never shared with me. Everyone was hurt at mother's loss, and could hardly bear to talk about her, even up to their dying breaths as they lay dying on the battlefield.

Okay, calling it there. I was almost on the verge of posting this last night, since I had it done, and in thanks for all of the feedback I got just from chapter 2, but I decided to give it to you a day later, just to go over it one last time. I need to know though, should I give a background story for any particular character next, or should I save backgrounds for another time?

I do not own Fire Emblem Awakening.