Invisible Ties Chapter 8: Skirmish

The whole way Chrom was looking to Chloey asking numerous questions about the events that had transpired the previous night. Even Frederic asked her…so many people wanted to ask her about it and yet…Chloey had nothing to answer them with. She remained as confused by the entire thing as the rest of the shepherds were, if not more so than they. She was reeling at the thought that the man could even be her father and while they were travelling to the east palace of Ylisse, Chloey was sure that there was fun to be had once they arrived as she had to talk to her husband. Something very important was going on and she knew it was for the best to tell him.

Sickness plagued the tactician who was working on her healing abilities (although she felt better with a sword) and the other shepherds asking about what the man had said. Chloey however kept to herself and worked non-stop to make strategies to help protect the shepherds. She was of course perfectly fine with what needed to be done and it distracted her from thinking about what Validar had said about Emmeryn. It made Chloey's blood boil to think that the man was so presumptuous about the young woman. She wasn't alone, Chrom was never too far from her in the tent and he spent most of his time trying to get the small woman to talk about what happened, with little success. It was clear that Chloey hadn't wanted to think about the man at all. However it wasn't just Validar that she was thinking over…it was also her main focus on potential strategies to keep Emmeryn safe as well as Chrom and the others. Chloey had warned Chrom that her tactician duties would be coming first to those of her wifely ones. While he knew that; it still irked him in a small way as he'd wanted Chloey to himself. However Chrom soon found that as promised Chloey did let him have her full undivided attention at night and that soothed any jealousy that had yet to rear its ugly head over how close the other men of the shepherds were trying to get to Chrom's wife during the day while she was seemingly oblivious to their charms.

Chrom had been sitting down in their bedroll when he heard a soft but well known sound. If he were deaf he wouldn't have heard the soft sobbing. However he knew that it was his wife and that had him worried,

"Chloey," he said softly, trying to hold her in his arms, "It's alright Chloey; I'm here if you need me…"

He was suddenly aware of her clinging to him, "I don't know what upsets me more, the fact that I can't tell if the man that attempted to kill Emmeryn was telling me the truth when he said he was my father or the fact that he got under my skin and threatened to hurt Emm. I…I just can't stand to think what would have happened if he really killed her…" Tears ran down Chloey's cheeks as she thought about just how close they had come to losing Emmeryn. As well as not even knowing what was going to happen. She was truly grateful to Marth for giving them the warning that Emm was in danger. All the more pleased that she was now alive and safe.

Chrom paused, unsure of what to do. He heard his wife sigh to herself and he spoke, "You are yourself before you are anyone's daughter Chloey. It won't change my love for you either,"

"You're right Chrom…" she sighed resting her head into Chrom's chest and enjoying the soothing sound that was his steady heartbeat. It was a sound that slowly got the small woman relaxing. She was able to use the sound to distract her from the ill feeling that wanted to make her throw up what little lunch she'd been able to eat earlier that day. It was as she was fighting the feeling of sickness that there was the rather loud clank of amour. Frederic appeared in the entrance of the tent, looking as stern as ever. Chloey noticed that he seemed to be pretending to be alright seeing her so close to Chrom. She closed her eyes and tried to shake off the ill feeling by focusing on Chrom's heartbeat. Frederic spoke in an odd tone. One that caught Chloey's attention; the man was hiding something and she knew it,

"Milord," the knight said carefully, with a little disapproving glance towards the shepherds' tactician seeing her head pressed against Chrom's chest as it was, although he noticed that it was clear that she was not as well as she was trying to lead them all to believe, "The others are anxious for you and Chloey," he forced the name out through his teeth, "to join us for dinner,"

He was surprised when Chloey spoke quietly, "I was…thinking it would be better if I just rested tonight…I'd just put a damper on everyone's night," Frederic frowned. The dinner was Sumia and Lissa's idea, a nice meal to share among the shepherds and help lift the spirit of a seemingly depressed tactician. That Chloey was suggesting that she should sit out…he still didn't trust her, even if she was their tactician. He noticed that her face was rather pale. Chrom however decided to go with the knight and the pair left Chloey alone in the tent. She heaved a sigh. How in the seven hells am I going to tell Chrom without the others finding out…it's too soon to tell them anyway…

She blinked when light suddenly filled the tent, "Kellam?" Chloey asked cautiously, and sure enough the pole jumped as Chloey could make him out in the outer rim of light,

"I uh…thought you could use some light," the knight blushed and Chloey chuckled,

"Thank you," she smiled and leant back into the bedroll. She noticed that Kellam wasn't as noticed by the other shepherds, but she found the knight to be good company, and he in turn saw her as a good friend. After all she (apart from Panne) was the only shepherd that could actually see him. He found that most of the time that he spoke with her it was usually because she was formulating a strategy and would tell him the safest places to be in a battle. He rarely spent time around her seeing that everyone else took up her time, but it still pleased him to have someone easily see him. It made him feel like he was there. He noticed that she was clearly absorbed in the book she was writing in, what appeared to be a series of dates, although he felt that he shouldn't pry,

"You're welcome," he said before leaving the tent, he heard her say,

"Good night Kellam, rest well," and he headed to the dinner gathering. He had a strange feeling that Chloey wasn't going to get the rest that she was hoping for…especially if Lissa had her way.

Frederic frowned as he and Chrom arrived to the mess tent. The other shepherds all made various noises of disappointment at Chloey's choice to rest and Lissa fussed the loudest,

"Well then carry her here Chrom, we can't have dinner without her!" and Chrom sighed. Frederic looked over the notes that Chloey had given him earlier that day and his frown deepened. He noticed that she clearly suggested that he pair up with Sumia. Surely she hadn't noticed the antics that happened between Sumia and him. Or gods forbid catch the conversation between the two about the escaped horse where Sumia had apologised profusely even as Frederic had told her she'd already fixed the problem by getting the horse back into the temporary paddock that they used for travel. Or he thought bitterly the now missing tent that Sumia had accidently burned down. Chrom hadn't noticed any of these things; yet it seemed that little got past Chloey when she was focusing on what was going on. He realised that she'd often told Stahl to keep alongside Sully in battles as well and the pair were (dare the knight think it) a good match for each other. They easily covered the others' weakness…and it was then that he realised what Chloey had been doing all along. She was up to something…although what he didn't know.

Chrom soon bought the protesting Chloey to the mess tent in his arms and Lissa placed a rather large helping of food (mixed with some well-seasoned bear meat) towards Chloey. It was a Sumia recipe that she hoped Chloey would like. The small woman sighed and said, "I'm not going to get out of this tonight am I?"

"There's no way you're getting out of it!" Lissa proclaimed happily. Emmeryn sighed as she came in. To her practiced eye Chloey didn't look like she was well. The Exalt sighed,

"Lissa, could you give Chloey a smaller serving," Emmeryn said coming to Chloey's rescue on one hand, yet annoying her in the same token, "She is not feeling her best and it isn't because of a lack of food,"

Chrom took the serving as Sumia came with a more manageable serving of food. She sighed and resolved to talk to Chrom later that night. He would have to know, of course before she told anyone else what was making her sick.

After what was a long night where the rest of the shepherds were trying to cheer Chloey up; she decided enough was enough and insisted that she needed to rest. Whether or not it was her slightly pale face, or that she was uncharacteristically upset, she didn't know. Chrom carried the tired tactician to their tent and heard her sigh, "Chloey," he began, somehow seeing her this unwell had him worried; she sighed in response,

"Chrom," She replied sounding tired, "There's something that I need to tell you…and it would be best if we didn't mention it to the others yet. I don't want to give them a false sense of hope,"

"Hmm?" he tensed slightly and realised that she was fully serious, "Chloey…?"

She knew that tone so well. Chrom was worried and she was hoping to allay his fears. A small smile crossed her features and Chrom saw it in the lantern light of their tent.

"I have reason enough to think I could be with child," she said softly. Chrom felt a strange feeling in his chest and he didn't quite have the words to describe it. It was only when he managed to kiss his wife that he finally recognised it. He was hopeful and excited.

Chrom woke to the familiar sound of Chloey's steady breathing as the first light of the morning lit the tent. He carefully got up and decided to let her sleep. Frederic appeared and Chrom stretched as he greeted the day. He was worried for his wife, and had made Chloey promise that she would hold back from the front of battle, "Please stay with Lissa," Chrom had pleaded, "Help her tend to the wounded,"

"But Chrom," Chloey had protested,

"Please, at least while there is the chance you might be…" and Chrom found himself truly hoping that she was. She had agreed, rather reluctantly on the condition that she could see what was going on from a safe distance to keep everyone alive.

Frederic suggested that they get moving. Chloey had just woken up and came out of the tent. She looked as tired as the night before, as if she'd not rested a wink of sleep. The knight frowned. He didn't know what to do. He suggested that she stay in the convoy only to have her snap that she needed to keep as fit as she could, and fell into step behind Chrom without another word. Chrom cast a worried eye over her and knew that it wasn't going to end well. Frederic had never had Chloey snap before and it was a slight shock. He followed the leading group of shepherds keeping pebbles out of the way all while casting concerned looks over the tactician, who seemed to be putting her anger into her walking. She barely kept up to Chrom's easy pace however; Frederic was worried about her condition now as it was clearly affecting her judgement as well as her overall health. He was going to say something to Chrom when he came to a stop. Lissa was the one who grumbled first; Frederic had expected a certain tactician to do the grumbling. In fact he was surprised when all Chloey said that that her legs felt like jelly and that Chrom's endurance "astounded" her. She seemed to be in a better mood. Frederic looked over at the hierarch that was with their group.

"Is something troubling you Hierarch?" Frederic asked the man at last after several seconds of observation. His response was reasonable enough, but something didn't sit right with Chloey,

"Chrom who is that man?" She asked softly,

"The hierarch? He's been a friend of House Ylisse for many years. He guided Emmeryn during the early years of her rule. Why do you ask?"

"There's something off about him…" Chloey said only to be cut off by a Plegian soldier who yelled,

"Time to die princey!" a small band of Plegians distracted them and Chloey frowned. She was more than ready the battle that she saw coming. She had to be as the tactician. The walk had taken off Chloey's edge and allowed her to focus.

They were fighting against the Plegians when suddenly a pegasus rider appeared crying out what Chloey heard was a warning. She noticed the red hair and sighed. It was going to be a long day.

"Prince Chrom! Captain Phila! Beware! Enemy reinforcements to the rear! They'll be upon us soon!"

"Is that…" the Pegasus Knight Captain said frowning to make out the shape that was moving rapidly towards them, "Gods, Cordelia!" she cried

"Cordelia?" Chloey responded surprised as she was forced to rest in the convoy. To her immense displeasure however she was willing to stay put for the time being and work her strategy from where she was seated. The others knew what she had suggested after they had focused on getting Emmeryn to safety. She gave the others fair warning about what she could see and Chrom as the others made sure that Emmeryn was safely out of harm's way. Chloey kept a tight eye on the Plegian formation. Cordelia was of course rather keen to stay near the convoy; however Chloey saw that there was danger from the skies. Cordelia looked at her darkly when she suggested that the pegasus knight take Gaius to take out any wyvern riders that could be lurking.

Once they had cleared the band of Plegians it was then that Cordelia was able to give Chrom and the convoy a more direct warning. Chloey watched and listened to the young woman. She winced as Cordelia described what had happened at the border. Chloey felt a cold chill down her spine at the news that Cordelia's Knight Sisters were killed by Gangrel. She didn't know why but the very idea made her feel sick. She listened to what the others said and was out of the conversation until Emmeryn decided to return to Ylisstol,

"Emm!" Chloey gasped in horror, "That isn't a sound tactic!" They all stared at her and she felt that it was true, "I would be willing to put my money on it being a trap!" Chloey didn't care what the others thought as she took Emmeryn's hands between hers. Face contorted as she struggled to tell Emmeryn what little she knew of Plegian tactics…or rather remembered. Emmeryn looked at Chloey and several seconds passed in which Chrom and Lissa both begged Emmeryn to stay with them. Suggesting that Chloey could very well be right, however Emmeryn's eyes didn't leave Chloey. The tactician was close to tears. Emmeryn sighed, the weight was on her own shoulders and she knew that she could trust Chrom's ability to keep the emblem safe, even if Chloey didn't like Emmeryn's final decision, the tactician would understand it…at least that was what Emmeryn was hoping. In such a short time Emmeryn found her sister in law to be a very gentle person. It was a shame that the Plegians couldn't put the past behind them.

Chloey watched as Emmeryn gave Chrom the fire emblem. A sinking cold feeling hit her gut and it wouldn't go away, "Emm," Chloey said weakly shaking. Lissa looked on and Emmeryn gave them her choice. She would return to Ylisstol without the fire emblem. Its home was now with Chrom; and it would remain until they reunited in Ylisstol. Chloey was shaking but Emmeryn told them to dry their tears. Chloey felt sicker than before as Emmeryn walked into the distance with Phila and several pegasus knights following. Chloey knew it was a bad idea. She just knew it.