Chapter 4: Return To Ylisse
Robin awoke with a gasp, her legs tangling in the sheets as she kicked and fought against unseen waves.
'Stop-!' Her thoughts finally caught up to her, and settled over her mind the same way her body sank back into the mattress.
'A dream. It was only a dream.'
She shivered, sleep-blurred images ghosting at the edges of her thoughts. She'd been swimming for the surface again, pulling Chrom with her. But the sea ignored her struggles, intent on dragging them down. There'd been a roar of sound in her ears. When she dared to look behind her it was to see a horde of faces underwater. Black-scelera eyes stared up at her with a hungry look in their gaze. And a noise that sent shivers through the water, and made her body burn in spite of the water all around them.
'Only a dream.' She told herself again, and focused on steadying her breathing. The Shepherd creaked around her, easily riding the waves. The note she'd heard in the storm was long departed, and she could barely remember the sound of her dreams.
It seemed that their luck had held after all; as far as Robin knew, there were no more attacks once her face hit the pillow. Bewildering events or not... her mind didn't have a hope of staying awake and worrying over any of it, as tired as she was.
The creaking of a door pulled at her thoughts, as did a ray of light crashing across her eyes.
"Milady Robin? We're just off the coast of our destination... perhaps you might wish to see it firsthand." Frederick stood on the threshold, armor outlined against the dawn light. Chrom stood next to him, almost leaning into the room with curiosity.
"I think so," Robin mumbled out, sitting upright. The sheets fell around her, and she shivered for a moment with her skin exposed-
Outside, Chrom gave a sputtering noise when he saw her, and Robin dumbly stared down at her chest. Her bare chest. Frederick gave a hard cough, turning from the door and steering Chrom with him.
'Oh, right. Clothes. I should probably be wearing some.' There was a growing flush in her cheeks, her brain suggesting that this wasn't a good situation.
"Leaving you to it, then." Frederick cut in, clapping a hand over Chrom's eyes and steering the captain away. Two other people took his place; she could pick out Lissa and Sumia's outlines.
"Well then, it looks like we're going to be getting you dressed." After a few clumsy motions and almost ripped seams, Robin made her way into her clothes. Moments later, she stood at the prow, Sumia and Lissa on either side of her.
The morning sunlight winked off the waves. Ahead of them stood a cliff, and the dawn set the rocks alight with warm, rose-tinged colors. The land stretched tall and proud up from the sea, and on the edge of the cliffs grew a great, pale building.
"Is that... that's a castle isn't it?" Robin gaped up at it. The minarets and towers were so delicately carved, it was difficult to see how it perched on the cliffs.
"Indeed; ancestral home of the Exalts, and the Halidom of Ylisse!" Sumia sounded the world like she was reciting a passage from her favorite story. Beneath the castle a harbor town sprawled out.
"Well dear, it is true there's nothing equal to your first sight of the capital... but I do suggest you work on closing your mouth between now and when we make port. Doesn't do for the upper class to see a newcomer gaping like a fish." Said one of the crew, dressed in pinks that somehow kept their hues against the salt-soaked air.
"Right, I guess some more introductions are in order! Robin, this is Maribelle. Lucky for us she's apparently decided you're a friend instead of a base born stranger- Ow!" Lissa cut off. Robin glimpsed Maribelle taking her foot off Lissa's.
"If only all of us could be so conscientious of propriety, considering our stations." Robin blinked at Maribelle's words.
'Propriety? Why would Lissa need to worry about that?' But she couldn't dwell on Maribelle's statement for long. Her attention was drawn back to the harbor, sprawling in a great crescent from the town and the lattice work of docks.
"I don't think I've ever seen so many," she breathed out in wonder, staring at the forest of masts that grew from the waters. "I didn't even think there were this many ships in the ocean."
"Well, we do have quite the turn out for today I admit." Maribelle unfurled a parasol at her side, drawing it up so she wouldn't have to squint or shade her eyes to look out.
Robin followed the motion of the parasol, only to pause when her eyes found the sky. Overhead was a pale v of white creatures.
'Sea birds?' Robin wondered for a moment. They seemed a bit large for it... and then came a sound that made her jump. A shrill noise that sounded somewhere between a cry and a laugh.
"What's-!? I've never heard a bird like that!"
"You've never seen a pegasus? Not even once?" Sumia blinked, trying to digest the notion. "You... well, we need to fix that right away!"
She glanced to Maribelle, who unfolded a spy glass with a sigh. "You know I promised I'd return this to Virion as quickly as possible. But Sumia looks convinced this is a noble cause."
Robin blinked through the glass. The telescope focused on a pale creature, a head and long curved neck arched in a way that echoed a breaking wave. Four feet ending in hooves pawed at the air as if it could run through clouds. But it was the long, gull-esque wings that did most of the work of holding the beast aloft and letting it skim through the sky.
"That is a pegasus." Sumia said, pride filling her voice. "Ylisse's pride and joy, Naga's gift that let us cross sky and sea in the first place. They're the perfect bridge between land and sky and-"
Sumia hesitated, ducking her head with a flustered noise.
"Sorry, I'm getting a little..."
"I believe the term is 'gushing.'" Maribelle finished for her, a wry note in her voice. "Quite alright, however."
She reached out and put a gloved hand on the spyglass, tugging it and Robin away from the pegasus. Instead the spyglass halted on the harbor and the ships.
"Ah yes, the ships." Maribelle noted her fascination. She guided the glass over some of the more prominent vessels.
"That galleon belongs to the Claves; they had to sail the furthest north to make it in time." She motioned to a ship trimmed with blue, and dressed in great square sails that made the Shepherd look like a toy. "The carrack is from my own region, Themis. Closer to the capital, and... ah, I see the merchants have arrived on time with their own treasure ships. How they manage to shift so many goods in such a short time is a secret they've never been willing to part with, enigmatic as they are."
Robin blinked over the turtle shaped vessels, trimmed in scarlet and gold. She glimpsed a few crew women swarming over one of them, and Robin swore they all wore the same red hair.
"...I fear that we're looking quite late in comparison," Maribelle continued on. "But I suppose they can make allowances, considering our own mission. At the very least, they shan't need to create any space for us on the public docks."
When Maribelle paused for breath, Robin had room to ask a question. "These ships, they belong to important people?" A word teased her thoughts and tongue, begging to be tested out. "To... nobility?"
"Did I not make that clear or were you simply not paying attention? I can't say I appreciate either being the case."
"It's just that... for ships belonging to people of such wealth and means, why are they like that? Why do they carry so many scars?" Maribelle paused at that, the Shepherd drawing close enough to make those clues clear. The gleaming paint was torn away in chunks to show raw wood. Many of the sails were being sewn or replaced altogether.
"...Astute of you." Maribelle admitted. "But as for why, that's what we were out to discover in the first place. Because the ships you see aren't just scarred. They're also survivors, from whatever is out there, consuming fleets. Everyone returns with different stories, if they return at all. Sometimes night storms pounce, and the ships vanish in the dark… though if anyone can discover WHY that is, it's one of Chrom's line."
Before Robin could ask what she meant, the Shepherd's bowsprit swung away from the teeming docks. Instead they angled towards the cliffside castle, looming above and a little beyond the town.
"What do you-?" Robin's question faded, when she saw the roots of the cliff vanish into a splashing and white flecked sea. The ocean tossed up great fountains of water where it struck the rocks circling the cliff face, their mist mingling with a few odd streams falling down the mainland cliff.
Those great spires of rock seemed to be arranged in a circle, designed to block the worst of the waves. The Shepherd sailed into the lee of the stones, and skated a section of water as gentle as glass.
In that quiet stretch she picked out a small cavern of a harbor. Just enough for a single ship to dock; it gave the impression of isolation, and absolute privacy... and Chrom steered them into the cove with nary a care for how restricted the space seemed to be.
"It's quite alright, dear." Maribelle assured her, and Sumia laid a hand at Robin's wrist. Her fingers had tightened into a nervous fist without her realizing it. "I can assure you, we have due reason to dock here."
"Yeah, I doubt Emmeryn is going to get upset by US using it!" Lissa chimed in with a giggle, like she was privy to some joke Robin could only guess at. The Shepherd reached the dock, the lip of the cave entrance drawing half the brig into shade. Streams of water trickled down around them, making a soft mist that obscured the entrance.
Once they were still, the crew threw out ropes and set to work drawing her completely in. Frederick's voice echoed off the cave walls as he gave out instructions.
Robin found herself shuffled to the side, her feet and hands still clumsy and unused to ship work. She tried not to feel too awkward about that, or look too out of place… but she did so with mixed results.
-o-o-o-
Chrom frowned; Robin looked lost, the way she stayed off to the side.
'And she still doesn't know who she is. She's adrift in more ways than one.' He found himself walking up to her, clearing his throat to get her attention.
"Robin... we're going to be expected up in the castle soon. You see the Exalt… Ah, that is, the ruler of this kingdom. At any rate, she sent us out to sea for a specific task, and we'll want to report on it. You played a role in our return journey, and..."
"You want me to speak? In front of royalty?" Her eyebrows fought between raising or scrunching together. She couldn't seem to decide whether she was nervous by that prospect, terrified, or interested.
"Or act as witness to the events. And I want to introduce you to Emmeryn, at the very least." Interest won out over nerves, judging by the shaky nod she gave.
But when the time came to move off the brig, she still winced from the steps she took. Each one sent shudders through her legs, drawing Chrom's attention. He found himself walking beside her, just in case her limbs gave out completely. On a particularly bad step, her hand shot out to his arm, to help steady her balance. She gave a tiny gasp, even as her steps grew more sure.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean-"
"It's nothing; I'd rather be helping than standing by, doing nothing." She must have heard the way he echoed her words, from the way she smiled. But at least it kept her close, and she didn't protest when he put a hand on hers and lead the way. Together they moved up the steps of the cavern, on the long climb to the palace.
-o-o-o-
The stairs let up eventually, which Robin's aching feet were grateful for. If it wasn't for Chrom she would have collapsed halfway up.
"I'm going to guess that I've never climbed stairs before, judging by my feet." She grumbled, stepping through a stone archway that separated the twisting passage from the actual castle.
She forgot the needles digging into the bottoms of her feet, when she saw what waited. The castle opened up before her, a long open-air terrace of a passage lined with thin columns keeping the ceiling up. Wisps of gossamer curtains drifted on the ocean breeze, the cloth floating through arches that stared out on the sea.
"Is there actual castle here, between all those arches and windows?" She managed. Chrom gave a quick laugh, while Frederick merely arched an eyebrow at her.
"Milady, this is simply the barracks. I assure you, the actual castle is yet to come..." She caught amusement in the knight's tone. As though he was looking forward to seeing her reaction, almost as much as Chrom.
The other Shepherds fanned out. A few continued walking. Others rested where benches had been set out, finally able to take their leave. But Sumia continued on with them, giving Robin a sympathetic look.
"Don't worry; I was shocked the first time I arrived, too. I doubt Frederick would admit this aloud, but I think he enjoys showing off." Frederick gave a harrumph at that, but didn't dignify the statement with any eye contact.
Their path took them through hallways curving with the same grace of an arched wave. Each one carved with impressions of sea life into the stone columns and passageways. The patterns gleamed brighter with each step, which took them out of the mist and into the sunlight. Mosaics of green and blue glass decorated the walls and windows.
A low murmur of voices grew in Robin's ears, as they left the barracks behind. She strained her ears, trying to pick out words as they followed slow curving passages that traced ever skyward. First the mumble was soft as the distant breaking waves, but turned to near thunder as castle walls closed around them.
They stopped before a green door set with gold. Chrom withdrew, Lissa trading spots with him at Robin's side. Sumia took her other arm, and Robin murmured a brief note of thanks. It almost got drowned out as the door spilled open. The voices inside washed over them.
Robin froze at crowd inside. It was a sea of faces, every one of them turned towards the crew.
Her own pale clothing looked out of place among so much finery. She was little more than a castaway, washed up on some resplendent beach.
A tightness settled in her stomach. With it came a vague feeling that she'd seen something like this somewhere before, been the focus of attention. All while her head screamed at her to hide-
Chrom stepped in front. He drew the attention of the eyes, and Robin found herself able to breathe. Now that she wasn't drowning under those stares, she could see colors from the ships repeating in their clothing. The blue of Claves, the orange of Themis. She even saw someone from the merchant vessels, hair pulled into a red ponytail and dressed in an expensive looking collection of red and gold velvet.
"I don't know how he does it, to be honest." Lissa muttered, watching Chrom stride into the audience chamber and demanding the attention of all. A curious weight had settled across his shoulders and fixed his expression to something serious.
Lissa guided Robin inside. The room took the form of another crescent, echoing the harbor stones. It was a half circle filled with rows of seats, and crowned with a curious arrangement of pillars. Those columns ringed the innermost part of the chamber. Chrom never paused to look at any of it.
"I-I couldn't imagine doing that." Robin said.
"He puts up with it, for Emmeryn's sake. He almost treats it like a battle to fight on her behalf." Lissa answered, taking a seat at the first row of seats. Maribelle took Robin's other side, as did Sumia, leaving her nestled among people she knew. Robin relaxed once she took her seat and risked a glance around.
The midmorning sun painted everything a soft blue-
Save for one person standing in the center of the room, remaining white and gold trimmed. There was something in the cut of his robes that brought to mind the sea birds circling the harbor, calling out to each other in high lonely voices.
Pale hands wreathed in long sleeves rested on a central podium. The stranger had an air of meditation to their features. If it wasn't for the slight masculinity to the voice, Robin would have mistaken the figure for an elegant woman.
"Blessed of Ylisse, Naga welcomes you back to her sanctuary." He intoned, solemn as a priest. Looking again, the place DID have the feeling of an open air chapel. A silence settled around the chamber at his words.
"So Libra is opening up the ceremonies again." Lissa commented.
"Cere-?" Robin started, only for Maribelle to cut them both off with a hush.
"And now, I greet Naga's anointed inheritor. Exalt Emmeryn." A new figure stepped through the doors. The sunlight picked out glints in her pale gold hair, making a mark on her forehead shimmer-
'That almost looks like Chrom's.' Robin blinked over it. But the newcomer didn't move like Chrom; he stalked forward, wading into a battlefield. SHE however, moved with a grace of someone well within her element. When her gaze swept the crowd and rested on Robin, she found herself sinking into a sense of peace.
"Thank you, Priest Libra." Emmeryn said, in a formal voice. "I accept the passing of authority, and wish for this meeting to begin."
She raised her hands out, resting them over Libra's on the podium in the center. Something glimmered like silver in her hand, pressed into the surface of the altar.
At her words, Libra raised his eyes to the circle of stonework ringing the meeting hall. A sigh, followed by a bubbling noise swept the room. For an instant Robin wondered if a brook had somehow found its way into the chamber. The sound drew her gaze to the columns and archway, to see a glimmer at the lip of the stone.
A curtain of blue rushed from the archway, splashing a few inches from Robin's feet. The puddles ran into a dip of stone carefully carved into the floor. The noise of water swallowed Robin's surprised squeak. The streams veiled the assembly and hushed excess sound. After it silenced the crowd, the water continued to fall, turning the audience chamber into an unending fountain. Through the shimmering curtain she made out Emmeryn. She turned to Chrom, and her voice easily carried past the sudden waterfall.
"Now that my own family has returned, we may discuss their findings. Brother, I pray you have good news…" Emmeryn trailed off, her eyes settling on-
On Chrom, Robin realized with a jolt.
'Wait… Brother!? He's her brother? Then that means-' A wide eyed stare was clear on Robin's face, causing Lissa to snicker. Maribelle answered by prodding her in the ribs.
"Ow, ow, sorry, sorry! I know I should have told you but... oh gods, you should've SEEN the look on your face Robin!" Lissa buried her face behind her hand, snickering again.
"So much for that promise of never pranking anyone ever again, I take it." Maribelle frowned at her.
"H-hey! I wouldn't say this is a prank. Just a... really long term and elaborate joke. You'd agree, right Robin? Robin?"
Robin was still staring at Chrom, and trying to remember Maribelle's advice of not gaping like a fish.
Chrom moved forward, ducking his head and letting the water sweep over him. Droplets bounced off him, wetting down his hair. At once Robin saw the second function of the shimmering curtain. It was an excellent way of cutting down interruptions or someone eager to draw focus towards themselves. Unless they were ready to get soaked.
Libra made a curious gesture; touching his index fingers and thumbs together in a sort of teardrop shape. It seemed to acknowledge Chrom's right to speak, as he raised his face.
"Two weeks prior, the Exalt tasked me with taking our new brig into the seas on patrol. Both to test her make and design, but also to see what we could uncover about these ill tides."
The crowd seemed pressed a little closer and collectively leaned forward. A flash of gold and velvet caught Robin's eye; the merchant representative seemed particularly interested.
"We found one of the storms, and I can vouch for how deadly they are. We had to battle through it, and it was only thanks to the efforts of the crew that we survived. I… I'm certain of the fact that there's nothing natural about these storms."
There was an intake of breath at that. Only the rush of water held murmurs at bay. The merchant stood upright and extended her hand, pushing it through the fountain. The splash drew Emmeryn's eye, and she nodded to Anna.
"Anna, of the merchant fleet, you have our permission and request to speak." Emmeryn recognized her. Anna retracted her arm and raised her voice, her words bouncing off stone and flow.
"Thank you, your Grace. I can tell you that the same troubles bother our fleet. For the last year our oceans and coasts have been plagued by storms. They seem to sweep in from nowhere, ravage the coast and any ships they find in their wake, and vanish just as quickly. All of those assembled have lost something to those storms; homes, ships, crew, friends... perhaps even family."
A stillness rippled out at the words.
"The waters grow chaotic and more hungry, as of late. Ylisstol is one of the few safe harbors, thanks to the protection of her Exalt, and the pegasus knights." A soft, admiring noise left Sumia's throat at that.
"And that's not all. Pirates have been spotted. They push the border of our territories, reaving and raiding wherever they think there's easy pickings."
"And I can back those claims up." Chrom answered. "Storms weren't the only thing we found. Just yesterday, we encountered buccaneers plying the waters near South Town. We were hard pressed to put their ship to flight... but there was worse. I NEED you all to understand, these storms are no natural phenomena. Neither are the things they dredge up."
Chrom told them about the wrecked vessel raised from the oceans. About the undead crew that manned her sails, and tried to reduce the Shepherd to the same state.
"Libra, what does the faith say of this?" Emmeryn asked at last.
"Only prayers to Naga. We're more convinced than ever, that these storms are fueled by magic. And we fear that perhaps... perhaps the balance between sea and tides is beginning to shift."
"…Magic," Robin whispered. That word pressed an odd buzzing into her ears. That sound only increased, the more she thought about the storm. The words of Emmeryn drowned out, and the rush of water became overpowering.
The audience hall faded out. But the sound and presence of water remained. She shut her eyes against the too bright gleam of sunlight. When she opened them, it was to a different sight and place.
A hand pressed gold into her palm, the sharp nails on the ends of the fingers scratching at her. The contact left red lines crisscrossing her palm and the flecks of purple on her skin.
That touch was never gentle.
The gold coins and medallion chains weighed heavy in her hand. They threatened to pull her arm down the same way the great ship was sinking into the ocean depths.
Agile shapes cut through the sea and flitted about the sinking wreck. Their motions were like sharks circling a wounded whale. They ensured that the ship went to the depths, with everything that they didn't want trapped in the wooden frame.
"See, child?" A voice hissed in her ear, smug with satisfaction. "Grima strikes them down, and we reap the rewards."
'Grima.' The word shuddered in her ears, seeping into her head in a terrible hum. 'Grima.' It was a name that sang with power. 'Grima, Grima, Grima.'
"Grima..." the word escaped her mouth. The ocean and sinking wreck snapped out of place, the audience chamber taking its place. And the name caused everyone to pause.
Robin blinked, chasing the last of that strange vision out of her sight.
Every pair of eyes within earshot watched her. She wondered why her skin didn't take on holes from where they rested on her. Under her borrowed gloves, the six eyed mark twitched and burned, and Robin slouched in her seat.
"I..." she hated the way her voice shook.
"I... I have a report of my own." Robin forced the words out. "I remember being in the sea, and seeing a ship sink beneath the weight of the storm." Never mind that in that vision, her mind hallucinated that she could breathe underwater. Everything was still tangled up, with what little she could remember.
"A survivor?" Emmeryn spoke up. "Chrom, may I ask for the identity of this young woman? And that she step forward?"
"E-Emm-? I mean Emmeryn! Exalt Emmeryn," Lissa piped up. "Sorry- I mean forgive me for speaking out of turn, but she's exhausted."
Emmeryn's eyes softened at Lissa's words… but she also narrowed her lips in a frown.
"For the sake of everyone here, I fear that I must insist. Please, step forward…?"
"R-Robin. My name is Robin." She answered, though her gaze stayed fixed on wet stones. Her heart sank, realizing how many steps she'd have to take. And with her feet still not feeling up to the task of walking.
'Ten steps. At the very least.' Robin swallowed a groan, her feet leaden. She doubted she could move more than three steps without her balance turning traitor… And she had no desire to collapse in front of so many eyes. 'This is what comes from not keeping your mouth shut.'
And yet she didn't want to refuse a request from the Exalt herself. Her knees wobbled when she tried to push herself up from the bench-
Chrom's shape shimmered behind the water. The curtain parted with a sigh, his arm reaching through, followed by his shoulders and head. His hair was soaked again, yet he didn't seem to mind. Instead he kept his hand stretched out to her, ignoring the surprised murmurs from the crowd.
When Robin took the offered hand, he guided her through and wrapped his cape around her. His arm squeezed around her shoulders to take most of her weight. Droplets splashed down on her- but not bringing the chill she was expecting. The two tails of her hairstyle plastered to her cheeks, but she still didn't shiver. It was a ceremony and baptism of sorts.
"Emmeryn… As she says, this is Robin." Chrom spoke for her. "We found her on our voyage and pulled her onboard. Though…" Chrom tapped his own head, showing her with a few droplets from his hair. "Her memory is on the faded side."
And what she did remember made precious little sense.
"I remember dark shapes circling a sinking ship." Robin offered.
"Could Plegia have trained raiders to swim in those currents and attack ships?" Came a voice. Frederick's, going by the wary tone.
"M-maybe?" Her head threatened to crack. "That… that name sounds familiar. That and… Grima."
A chill swept the audience at that. In the silence she heard Lissa give a sharp "no way," as she breathed in. Robin fought to stand straight. To not squirm under the impossible pressure of so many eyes turned towards her, scrutinizing her-
Her hand went to the chain at her neck, gripping the disk suspended from the links and trying to draw comfort from it. She swore it gave a soft pulse under her fingers, almost a heartbeat.
Robin forced herself to continue. "I think… whatever that is, it's responsible for sinking ships."
"No wonder her memory is shattered, if THAT'S what's driving the storms." Libra made a warding sign as he spoke. "Your Grace… based on the damages, I'd believe that Grima might be stirring. Though how to combat this… I'm unsure."
"What about Robin herself?" That was Virion. "Surely you won't be holding such a fair maiden in suspicion-?"
"I don't think we should, going by appearances at least." Libra answered. At Robin's confused blink, he continued.
"That thing at your neck," Libra nodded to it. "It seems to be made in Ylisse, going by the patterns and symbols. That seems to suggest some affiliation-"
"It was the only thing we found on her." Chrom insisted.
"Whatever the cause is, it's not something we can ignore!" A woman in white stepped forward, flanked by her own escorts. They dressed in the same cloth of the pegasus riders. Emmeryn nodded to the woman, signaling the attention to turn towards her. Which Robin was infinitely thankful for.
"Phila. I'm glad to see you were able to join us."
A brief smile showed on Emmeryn's features, as she motioned to Phila to speak. The rider didn't seem to mind the water flecking her armor, as she bowed low to Emmeryn… And kept her head bowed, seemingly hesitant to meet Emmeryn's eyes.
Her voice however, was clear.
"The point is, we can't dwell on shipwrecked survivors anymore. Our priority is stopping these storms."
"Continue, Phila. What have your riders seen?"
"It's not just a matter of 'seen' your Grace. Fewer of them come back on each journey. Something out there is swallowing them up. They tell me of maelstroms and waterspouts that swat pegasus knights from the sky... and I see the loss in their eyes. We've grown even fewer than before."
One of the riders dipped her head at that, her red hair still damp.
"And I have more reports. More speakers in this crowd that I can bring forward." The reports continued from different people. Some looking like they'd never set foot on a ship and merely relayed what their crews told them. Others that this was their first time in a palace, their words muted from the splendor.
'Well, I can understand that feeling.'
"Then it's been decided." Emmeryn dipped her head low as the last speaker finished. "We cannot ignore this, but neither can we stand against it as we are. Our numbers are too few... and so we must seek allies."
"Who would you chose milady, outside of our own islands and houses?" Phila asked.
"I wish to make a journey to Ferox, to beseech them for aid. They can certainly augment our fleet to help stand against these pirate raiders." A low murmur greeted her words, but no one moved or raised their voice to protest. "Phila, I request your squadron as an escort."
"But your Grace…My task is to patrol Ylisse. And to protect y-" Robin wondered at the way she faltered, though the pegasus rider gathered her dignity in record time. Faster than Robin had managed, at least. "Your domain. I wouldn't think to abandon that."
"Even if I desire an escort? I've no doubt you'd fulfill that mission as well." Phila hesitated at that, a strange look warring in her eyes.
"If… If those are your orders, then…" Phila trailed off, bowing her head.
"They are. If I'm leaving the borders, then I'd rather you come with me." Phila gave a small, agreeing hum. With that accomplished, Emmeryn turned her attention.
"Chrom," the young captain stood at attention once more. "You've held your own against all three of the threats facing us. I would ask that you might shoulder a little more, if you are willing; will you and your crew accept the burden, of defending our coastline, of accompanying me to Ferox as my personal guard... and at all times seeking a way to solve these calamities?"
"If you didn't order me, I'd probably take the bit between my teeth and go off on my own." Chrom gave her a quick grin. His bangs had shed enough water that they flopped into his face. He brushed them aside, fingers lingering on the blue in his hair. "I am Tide Touched after all, so why not me?"
"What does-?" Robin tried to say, but quieted when Chrom dropped his hand. His face had settled back into its formal mask, and he dipped into a low bow to Emmeryn. By virtue of resting against him, Robin mirrored the motion.
"I accept this task, and this mission. And I swear now, I'll find the answers behind these storms, and how to defeat them."