Wedding
This one is for all the hopeless romantics, for all the people who wear their hearts on their sleeves, and for anyone still searching for their psychotic prince.
:3
...
This was it. Today was the day she was to say "I do".
Robin had trouble sitting still. She was excited, and anxious, and scared, and a plethora of other things. Her heart hadn't stopped pounding since she woke up earlier that morning when she very suddenly remembered that today she was going to be wed. She felt like an absolute basket case, ready but not ready at the same time. She wrung her hands together nervously, hoping to high heaven that she would make it through the day without passing out from the numerous emotions flooding through her.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, Robin couldn't help but feel a little cheated by her appearance. Of course, she had no room to be picky. She was a soldier and she was at war. They all were. The fact that they were given a short reprieve from the constant fighting to allow for a last-minute wedding was a blessing in itself. After three days of planning and preparations, they had managed to scrape together the necessities to hold such a celebration, and for that she was grateful. Chrom had even given her a small allowance to spend on the event so that it would feel like a real wedding and she had used most of it to fund the food(good food, her fiancé had requested), and minor decorations. The little she had left over went towards something just for the two of them.
But as she looked her reflection over, she frowned at the disappointment that sprang up in her heart. They were at war and they were an ocean away from home. If they were back in Ylisse, then they could have a real wedding. One with tons of flowers, food to feed the guests four times over, real entertainment, decorations of the highest caliber, and she would be wearing a beautiful white dress. Not a clean pair of her every-day clothes.
She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. Of course she would be the one girl out of all the Shepherds to get married in this manner. She thought back to Chrom and Sumia's wedding two years prior. It had been wonderful from beginning to end. She remembered how gorgeous Sumia had looked in her dress and how happy the girl had been as she helped the bride down from her quarters and to the chapel. She always imagined that her own wedding would look and feel similar. Instead, she was pacing back and forth in her tent, worried that it wasn't enough, and not feeling like much of a bride at all.
A thought did cross her mind at one point; they could hold off on the wedding until their business in Valm was completed and were back in the safety of the capitol. The look of discontent on his face when she suggested that was enough to keep her from ever mentioning it again.
"But we're at war! Who knows how long it'll take for us to finish it! And what if we don't make it back to Ylisse? Like, what if I die? Or you die? Or we both die! We can't get married if we're dead! Or maybe we could..."
His argument, as disturbing as it was, helped to shine light on their unusual arrangement, and so, she agreed to marry him as soon as the chance arose. And she couldn't have been happier for it. She was going to marry the love of her life, her silly, little Henry. She just wished that their special day could be a tiny bit more glamorous.
"Knock, knock!"
Turning away from the mirror, she smiled warmly when Sumia lifted the tent flap, an equally warm smile on her face.
"Ooh, even in your normal clothes you still look beautiful!" the Pegasus Knight squealed.
"Heh, thanks. I suppose it's not so terrible. Would be nice to have a gown, though."
"But you don't need a gown! You're gorgeous as you are!"
Robin inclined her head back towards the mirror. Maybe... When she didn't say anything back, Sumia stepped forward, drawing the tacticians attention away from her frowning reflection.
"Honestly, I like you the way you are now. You look real, as you should be. Not like some made up noblewoman simply dressing to impress. Besides, you're among friends! And I know Henry will love you no matter what you're wearing!"
Robin chuckled. "I guess you're right, I suppose it really doesn't matter what I'm wearing."
"That's right! May I make a suggestion though?"
"Of course. What kind of suggestion?"
With a smile still on her face, Sumia went to unbuckle Robins belt and removed the leather piece as well as the skirt. She untucked her shirt to let it drape over the waistband of her breeches then motioned for her to slip off the cropped jacket that covered her shoulders.
"There! Sorry for that, I really do like your outfit. But this just looks more feminine if you want my opinion."
Leave it to the clumsy queen to brighten her day.
"No! I definitely agree! Why didn't I think of this before..."
Sumia waved a hand dismissively. "You have other things on your mind. Sometimes we just need an outsiders perspective."
"You're absolutely right, Sumia."
"I do have something else for you though."
"Oh, yeah? What is it?"
Sumia grinned mischievously, revealing the gift that Robin had failed to notice upon her arrival. "Ta-daa!"
She held up a flower crown, woven delicately together from tiny, white flowers and their green stems and leaves. It wasn't over-the-top, small and thin enough to rest lightly on her head but still noticeable. Sumia placed it carefully on Robins head, adjusting it slightly before drawing her hands through her long, platinum hair, fluffing it around her face to give it a more wavy appearance.
"Oh, yes, you look as radiant as ever now."
"Thank you, Sumia. Funny how a shift in wardrobe can make all the difference...and I love the crown." Robin stated happily.
"I'm soo glad!" Sumia literally bounced with joy. "I made it yesterday and I just couldn't wait to give it to you. I know you're not having the most conventional wedding but it's still a wedding all the same and every girl needs a flower crown on her wedding day!"
Robin smiled wider than ever before, the realization that she was indeed getting married hitting her like a ton of bricks.
"Sumia?"
"Yes, Robin?"
"I'm getting married!"
"I know!"
They clasped their hands and squealed together like schoolgirls, skipping in a circle on the spot.
"I will never understand girls."
They stopped immediately when Chrom entered the tent, chuckling to himself at the sight he encountered.
"Ha! I distinctly recall a certain prince doing precisely the same thing just before his wedding, so don't even!"
"You promised to keep that a secret, Robin. Remind me why I keep you around again?"
"Because you would literally die without me."
He thought for a moment. "Touché."
"You're damn right, touché." She giggled, feeling much happier now that she no longer had to prepare on her own.
"Is everything ready? Everyone in place?" Sumia asked her husband, not letting go of Robins hands.
"On our end, yes. Frederick is gathering the Shepherds and taking them down to the lake as we speak. I sent Henry ahead. You should really hurry up, he's getting antsy."
Robin rolled her eyes and giggled. "Tell me something new. He's always antsy. But I think I'm all ready here."
Chrom beamed. "Good. Shall we then?"
He offered each girl an arm, Sumia taking his right and Robin taking his left, as they exited the tent, stepping in the direction of the lake.
"Wait! Robin, your bouquet! Tell me where it is, I'll go back and get it!" cried Sumia suddenly.
They stopped their walk as Robin remembered that she didn't have one.
"Oh, Gods, I forgot to get one!"
"Um, is it really that important? Because everyone is waiting..." questioned Chrom slowly, still stuck between the two girls.
"YES!" they both interrupted him in unison.
"No bride is complete without her bouquet!" Sumia snapped.
Chrom merely raised an eyebrow.
"Ugh, what am I going to do?! Where am I going to find a bouquet at the last minute?!"
"Don't worry, I have an idea! Come on!"
Sumia grabbed Robin by the hand and ran in the opposite direction that they should have been going. Chrom stood dumbstruck for a moment before taking off after them, following the two girl to the outer limits of camp where wide, open fields rolled along for miles.
Reaching the fields, they ventured through the grass till they came upon all sorts of wild flowers that grew untamed there. Robin had to keep herself from jumping for joy at the sight of so many beautiful and different flowers. Bending low, she began to pluck a few that caught her eye.
"Here, add these." Sumia handed her a bundle of flowers with their stems still in tact. She did just that.
"I don't think I've ever seen so many flowers growing in one spot." said Chrom, looking all around himself. "Not even in the castle gardens..."
"Don't be foolish, dear. The gardens have tons more flowers than this dinky little field. None quite as exotic, though."
"There," Robin stood up straight, a full bouquet of the most beautiful wildflowers held tightly in her hands. "I think I have enough. What do you think?"
"I think it's wonderful!"
Robin grinned and turned to Chrom. "What do you think, Chrom?"
Instead of saying anything, he doubled over to pick a few flowers himself, moving to her once he did, and then gently placed them amongst the bouquet. "Much better now."
With the sunniest smile she could muster, she brought the bundle of flowers to her nose, breathing in the fresh, fragrant scent they produced, feeling giddier than ever.
"Finished? Because everyone is waiting... I really don't want to think about what Henry will do if you stand him up." The prince shuddered lightly at the unpleasant thought.
"Eep! You're so right, Chrom! We need to hurry!"
Bounding through the grass, the three of them hurried back to camp, elation buzzing in the atmosphere around them, which did little to soothe her nervous heart. For someone who could face battle without so much as batting an eyelash, the simple act of marriage felt like the scariest thing she would ever do. Scary, and wonderful, and important.
Finally approaching the edge of camp that bordered the lake(their chosen venue for the ceremony), the three friends stopped to gather themselves. Robin took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm.
"This is it!" sang Sumia, acting more excited than anyone else.
Robin nodded, a nervous smile imitating her nervous heart. "So it is."
"You two wait here, I'll go let everyone know that we're ready to begin."
With a flutter of her skirt, Sumia was off to the lake, leaving the two old friends standing in silence for an emotionally charged moment.
"Chrom?"
"Yes, Robin?"
She hesitated, unsure of exactly how she should word her thoughts before deciding to just let it out. Chrom knew her better than anyone, sometimes even better than Henry. He of all people would understand.
"I'm scared."
He looked at her from the corner of his eye, offering a comforting smile and his left arm once again.
"I know. I was too."
"I'm not making a mistake?"
"You never make mistakes."
"Don't say that. I'm only human after all."
"You're smart enough to know what you're doing. Trust yourself."
"But what of this is a mistake! What if this doesn't work out like I'm hoping it will?..."
Removing his arm from hers, he draped it across her neck to squeeze her shoulder, a friendly gesture to calm her down.
"Robin, you're overthinking this. I know it's frightening now. I felt the same way, remember? You had to slap me to get me to come to my senses. Twice."
She smirked at the long-forgotten memory.
"But I promise that once it's over, you'll be glad you did."
"Yeah..." She trailed off, knowing deep down that he was completely right and that this was what she wanted.
"If it makes you to feel any better, Henry didn't appear nervous at all. A ball of pure happiness if I ever saw one, hehe."
"He's always happy."
"Not like this. I may not be the one marrying him but even I can tell the difference."
She could feel the edge in her stomach slowly ebbing, not disappearing, but becoming a little more tolerable.
"You're right, Chrom. Thanks."
"You're like a sister to me, Robin, as much as Lissa or Emm and I care about you. You'll be fine."
For the third time that day, he offered her his arm but she didn't take it. Instead she shoved her bouquet of wildflowers into his hands, telling him to hold them for her while she doubled over to pull off her boots.
"I'm not wearing boots to my wedding." She stated, finality in her voice.
Chrom chuckled. "Barefoot, huh?"
"Yep."
"I like it. Makes you look like a girl for once."
She punched him on the arm but still shared a laugh with him, a callback to the days when he first realized that she was in fact, a girl. Oh, so long ago.
She took up his still waiting arm once she was settled, taking the bouquet from him and breathing deeply one more time.
"Here comes Sumia. I think it's time." He said, a small amount of apprehension lacing his own voice.
The Pegasus Knight hurried her way over to them, jabbering on about how everyone was waiting and that is was time for them to go.
"No boots? How bohemian! I love it!" She declared, giving Robin the one over before turning back around to lead them out of camp and down the trail towards the waiting crowd.
Robin could feel her stomach doing flips as she walked down the trail, Chroms arm held tightly in her hand as the scene came into view. Everyone shifted their attention to her, most of them quiet and smiling, a few applauding her, and Gaius and Vaike whooping and whistling, cheering her on. She giggled quietly at the amount of love and affection she held for her friends. And then there was Henry. He was in place at the front of the crowd with Libra, the lake shining brightly behind him and the biggest smile on his face she had ever seen him wear. He was dressed in his every-day clothes just like her, but they were pressed and much cleaner than usual. A gentle breeze picked up, billowing his dark cloak around him, giving him an air of mystery and she blushed lightly when she thought that he looked oh, so handsome.
He twitched momentarily, as if he were going to abandon his spot next to Libra, to close the distance between them but remained where he stood. She mouthed "Hi" to him as she made her way down the aisle, Chrom at her side to give her away. He did the same.
After what felt like an eternity of walking down the aisle, she finally stood in front of him. Chrom released her hand then patted her shoulder, reiterating that she would most definitely be alright. She silently thanked him with a smile, tears threatening to spill when her best friend returned the sentiment.
"Oh, Gods, no! Don't cry now!" She thought, panicking a little when she felt her eyes glisten over. "Don't be such a sap!" She shook her head to clear her mind. When she opened her eyes again, Henry was in front of her.
"You look very pretty." He said quietly to her when Libra began his sermon, preaching to their fellow Shepherds about the importance of loving one another and remaining loyal to the very end.
She reached for his hands, holding them gently, her heart ready to burst when he cracked his eyelids to gaze at her with silver eyes.
"Thank you." She replied softly, her apprehension slowly melting away.
He would squeeze her hands every couple of minutes, particularly when Libra would refer to them, silently reminding her that this was definitely happening and she would squeeze his back, letting him know that she wasn't going anywhere.
Only moments into the sermon, Libra acknowledged them, willing them to take their chosen rings to give to each other. As Robin stuck her hand into her pocket to retrieve the ring she picked out for her new husband, Henry suddenly interrupted Libra.
"Can I say something first?"
Libra smiled kindly. "Of course."
Henry cleared his throat, taking her free hand into one of his. "Robin, you mean everything to me. And I do anything for you."
Somewhere in the crowd, someone honked loudly into a handkerchief. Only Maribelle carried a handkerchief. Henry continued, unfazed by the sound.
"And I swear, I'll love you with every ounce of my blood till I die..."
Robin gave a small laugh after he made his vows. They were sweet and full of love and soo him. Why didn't she think to right her own vows? She would have to make it up to him later, she promised herself.
Then, without further instruction, they exchanged rings. She slipped him a simple, silver band and he placed on her finger a ring most bizarre. She had to hold back another laugh when she examined it; skulls and snakes carved into the silver metal, giving it a rather sinister bearing.
"Oh, Henry..." She said quietly, feeling her lips curl into knowing grin.
"You like it? I picked it out special."
"I love it. It's very you."
They shared a silly smile before Libra declared them husband and wife, prompting them to seal their union once and for all. With the entirety of their troop as their witness, they leaned into each other, Robin tilting her head back and Henry bending his, watching each other closely before closing the distance altogether. The kiss was long and slow but chaste, perfect in every way.
They eventually broke apart, both of them red in the face when the crowd exploded with cheer, clapping and shouting and rushing forward to congratulate the new couple. He quickly pulled her into an embrace, draping his arms around her shoulders to keep from getting separated when just about every single one of their friends surrounded them, trapping them in a circle of bodies and well-wishes. Robin could barely hear herself laughing over their excitement and flung her own arms around her Henry, holding him tightly and never wanting to let go.
After receiving so many congratulatory handshakes and pats on the back, they all were ready to make their way back to the mess tent to enjoy the rest of the celebration when the call to arms was suddenly sounded. It was a sound they all knew too well and like a well-oiled machine, the Shepherds went flawlessly from party mode to let's-kick-some-ass mode. With everyone running to gather their weapons to ward off the impending threat of Risen, Chrom stepped forward to tell Robin and Henry to stay behind, it was their wedding day and they should relax while the others took care of the problem. Henry groaned. He hated being told to hold back, especially when a battle was in the works. Robin chuckled.
"Nonsense, Chrom. We're Shepherds just like everyone else. And just like everyone else, we'll see to it that the Risen are obliterated."
"Hehe, suit yourself." Chrom shrugged before unsheathing Falchion and running off to join the fray.
"You sure you don't want to sit this out? I don't mind, really!"
She placed a finger over his lips to hush him.
"Of course I'm sure. Now then, let's go slaughter some nasty Risen and win our first battle as husband and wife. What'd 'ya say?"
He grinned maliciously. "I say HELL YEAH!"
...
Still holding onto each other, they flopped down onto their bedroll in a heap of filthy clothes and childish giggles.
Lucky for them, the skirmish earlier didn't last too long. The hoard of ambling undead was greatly outnumbered by their forces and was swiftly destroyed within the hour. Despite the tremendous advantage they had in the form of numbers, both Robin and Henry managed to score a few kills before the fun died with the last Risen. Still riding high from the ceremony, they had made a game out of it, seeing who could kill more Risen. Three for her and five for him, although she maintained that his last two was a lucky shot; there was no way he'd be able to duplicate such a blow, especially since he was now aware of it, which caused him to boast even louder, accepting her challenge with pride for the next fight. She could only laugh harder.
With the threat handled, they headed back to camp, a celebration still underway. Upon entering the mess tent, Robin had been pleased to see that the kitchen staff had taken the liberty of setting everything up; the food sat on platters on multiple tables(a mix of her favorites and his), the limited amount of decorations she had purchased lined the inside of the tent as colorful streamers, balloons, and confetti. It wasn't much but Robin had decided to stop worrying about the little things when all that truly mattered was being with Henry as well as their friends. Chrom, Sumia and Henry had all shown her too much kindness that day for it to be taken lightly. So, with a flourish and a smile, she loudly invited everyone to enjoy themselves for once while she grabbed her husband by the arm and dragged him from table to table, trying every food item imaginable, and barking with laughter every time he spit it out.
The festivities went well into the evening. Everyone stuffed themselves to the gills, consuming much wine while dancing and singing, telling stories and generally enjoying the jubilant company. It may have been their wedding day but she was glad to see that her friends needed this just as much as she did.
As soon as the joyous occasion began to die down, Robin tugged Henry towards the exit, slipping out of the tent before anyone could notice their absence. They went back to her quarters where she had lived alone, no tentmate to disturb them, and where Henry now lived. While most of his belongings still sat in the tent he had shared with Ricken, he had brought his bedroll over first thing that morning, completely of his own accord.
And here they were, lying in bed, tangled in each other's arms as they recounted their day.
"What a day, huh?" She sighed contentedly as she snuggled her face into his neck, breathing in his scent. Even after a full day of battle and partying, he still smelled positively terrific. At least to her.
"Best day of my life! Marry you AND kill Risen?! It doesn't get any better than that, ahaha!"
She suddenly remembered the item she had bought with the last of her allowance, something just for them two.
"Wanna bet?" She whispered in an alluring voice.
Sitting up before he could answer, she crawled over him to get to her feet, an impish expression forming on her lips.
"Robin? Where're you going?"
She shushed him. "I have something for us. But you have to close your eyes and not peek, okay?"
"Oh! Okay!" He threw his arms behind his head and leaned back onto the bed, closing his eyes like Robin had said, his trademark smile still firmly in place. Sometimes his obedience was just too much.
With his attention successfully diverted, she set about gathering the item she bought two days before. She opened her trunk and lifted it out, holding it outstretched against the lamplight, feeling a tad embarrassed. She didn't have enough to afford a wedding gown but she did have enough for this. Robin had passed by it while in town and contemplated the garment before deciding that it was frivolous and she could put her money towards other things. But with Maribelles encouragement, she found herself going back for it. And now she felt her gut turn sideways at what she was about to do.
"Are your eyes still closed?"
"Mhm."
"Keep them that way. And, uh, don't laugh, alright?"
"Why? Is it funny?"
"It's not supposed to be..." She muttered slowly. "Well, it's now or never..." She thought the last part to herself.
She tried to be as quiet as possible as she stripped off her clothes, kicking them into a pile in the corner to be washed with the rest of her laundry, soon to be their laundry. Glancing nervously over at Henry to make sure he was making good on his promise to not peek(he was), she quickly threw the garment over her head and smoothed it down her body. She felt like a foolish, little girl in it but it did look nice on the mannequin and therefore it should look nice on her. As long as Henry thought so...
"Alright, you can open your eyes. But NO laughing."
He did just that(opened his eyes) and looked her way. "Whoa..."
Feeling more shy by the minute, she forced herself to stare at the spot above his head, wanting to see his reaction without actually making eye contact.
"Doo you liiike...it?" She asked nervously, her face suddenly feeling a little too warm.
"Haha, yeah, I like it! I've never seen you wear it though."
"It's new...and meant to be slept in. I bought it for you..."
"For me? But you look so much better in it than I would, ahaha."
She stamped her foot. "That's not what I meant! I bought it for me to wear...for you..."
"Aw, I know what you meant." He was sitting up now, facing her, a gentle smile looming on his face. "It does look good on you."
She crossed her legs and brought a finger to her mouth, hiding the demure smile from him. The butterflies in her stomach were back in full force when he rose from his position on the bedroll and moved towards her, stopping close enough so that their bodies just barely touched. She caught sight of them from her mirror. Him without his cloak and her in the nightie. It was made of a sheer, white fabric, the length ending around her hips and the collar dipping low and loose over her chest, the thin straps that held it up twisting over her shoulders. Frivolous, indeed. But if he liked it then how could she not possibly wear it?
He lifted a hand to one of the straps, rolling it between his fingers as he cocked his head to the side, grinning foxily. "Do you actually plan on sleeping in it? Because it looks kinda thin. I could keep you warm better than it could. And besides," In one fluid motion, he grabbed her around her shoulders, catching her thighs in his other arm and swept her clean off her feet. "It is our wedding night." He ended with a mischievous laugh.
Before she could object(not that she was going to), he carried her to their bed, placed her gently in the center, then proceeded to crouch over her. They watched each other for a moment, curious as to who would make the first move. When all she did was flutter her eyelashes teasingly at him, he crashed his mouth to hers, allowing himself to kiss her the way he had wanted to when they said their "I do's". Or so she assumed because she had wanted to do the same.
Pausing for the tiniest moment, he raised his face from hers, his cheeks flushed from desire, and waved a slender hand in the direction of the oil lamp, snuffing out the flame with magic. Once they were surrounded by the anonymity of darkness, he was on top of her yet again which Robin found quite agreeable.
"Hey, Robin?" came his muffled voice from her neck.
"Mmmyeah?..." she moaned, liking the feel of his lips on her sensitive skin.
"I love you."
Her eyes fluttered open and her heart began to race. He had never said that before. She wrapped her arms around him, willing him to rest his full weight on hers as she shifted her head sideways to bury her nose in his hair, a happy smile peeking out.
"I love you too, Henry..."
Oh, yes, why fret over the little things when the bigger picture was so much better.
...
Who knew Henry could be such a Casanova?;D