Intermission 1: White Forces

The Longfort,
Regna Ferox

Robin ran forward as fast as he could without slipping on the ice. Snow crunched underneath his boot, as he held an Iron sword, ready to kill. The risen charged at him, swinging wildly. He rolled out of the way, pressing his back against the cold walls of the longfort for a moment. A slash from his blade was followed with a flash of magic from Miriel. The risenbarbarian dropped its weapon into the snow, before collapsing in a return to death. "Chrom, Sumia, move up and hold before the stairs!"

This battle was caught in the teeth, and he had plenty of questions for Raimi that he figured he knew the answer to, but would still ask afterward. The enemy was powerful and deadly. Not shy on the amount of hideously skilled foes. Especially for risen.

The roar of a wyvern filled the air as it descended from the sky, talons raking at Chrom, who couldn't quite avoid a strike. However, he was poised for a swift counter attack, and he got out of the beast's grasp by using a strike from Falchion. "We're not done yet!" he shouted, as he used the terrain to give himself a vantage point from which to launch a strike that plunged Falchion's blade into the wyvern and rider, felling it in a single decisive blow.

Frederick's horse charged by, with Vaike in tow and a risen shambled out of the white-covered treeline. Frederick's response was a thrown spear, which caught it and left it pinned to the ground. Vaike's howling battlecry of "It's Vaike time!" was heard over the rabble as he leaped into action, piledriving the risen with a deft blow from his axe.

Robin threw a glance at Lissa, it was decision time, and gods be damned, he needed to be in three places at once. Chrom had survived his encounter with the wyvern rider, but was wounded. The merchant was also in a dangerous position, with two axe-bearing risen barbarians moving towards her. He couldn't make a mistake here. "Chrom is key," he thought to himself but the terrified eyes of the merchant burned an image in his mind.

"No, I won't throw away a life just to protect Chrom." He muttered to himself- his next move had to be perfect, but what could he do? What pieces were on the board? A look of a pleasant surprise caught his face as his eyes scanned the battlefield, and he knew precisely what move to make. "Lon'qu! Sully! Protect Chrom! Form a wall of steel! Lissa, fall back to the stairwell, and use Rescue! Get the merchant back behind our lines. I'll hold here and ward these monsters back with Miriel!" Robin called firmly. The move had to be perfect. Even the slightest error in his tactics and he'd see a friend or an innocent he swore to protect fall.

His heart and body tensed as the plan fell into motion. The enemy moved in from the snow, the barbarian charged at him with a hammer in hand. His hands gripped his sword, preparing for the clash. Miriel readied her fire magic, and the fight broke out in front of them. He was the rearguard, and the rear was taking heat. The risen roared as it swung its hammer. Robin turned his sword to try block the hit, but there was no hope in stopping that much force. He felt the blow, and cried out, but wasn't down. He felt something snap, and figured it was a rib or two, which worried him, but the fight was more important now. He mustered what strength he could, turning his momentum that he had recaptured into a pair of blows that he had hoped, in vain, would kill the risen. The first was still alive, but all wasn't lost as the second approached, the first was wounded and on the ground.

The second risen charged in with a black and red axe with a keenly sharp edge. Robin was in pain, but he knew only one thing, avoid this one or die, and with him, all hope. The risen raised its axe, which seemed to glow golden amidst the gray skies. Robin turned and rotated his sword, tightening his grip. The Axe came around the blade, missing Robin's body as planned. He then turned the advantage, slicing off the Risen's exposed fingers, which caused the weapon to fall from his foe's now ruined hand.

He brought the blade up and rammed it into the Risen's gut. Another scorching blast of fire torched the risen, which roared. Before it could escape the fight, Robin, pulled back his blade and brought it across his chest. "CHECKMATE!" Robin shouted, as he brought the blade around and struck. The Risen burst in purple smoke, which stunk of death.

Robin coughed, as he regained his composure. The other Risen had gotten to its feet, but not for long, as he took a step back and pulled out his tome. He took a couple steps back and prepare an Elthunder spell, which put the Risen down in one thunderous snap of electricity. He looked back over his shoulder and took a couple steps back. Splotches of blood dripped down on to the snow, but he tied off the cut on his arm, and got his eyes onto the field below.

"Chrom, Frederick, front line. Bring Falchion to bear. Another Wyvern incoming!" He called out with a cough. A hard turn on the ball of his right foot and he saw another foe creeping out from the stairwell. He needed to evacuate the position, and quickly. The roar of the wyvern from below and an idea popped into his head as he got a solid view of the battle. "Kellam! I need Kellam!" Robin snapped his fingers as he looked for the the knight.

"I'm right here." A voice responded.

"Figured, you blend into thin air." Robin smirked, "You're with me. Miriel, you're with Lissa."

"Right." Kellam responded as he walked forward, almost silently despite the heavy armor.

"Understood." Miriel added as a gust of snow blew past them that Robin wiped away from his face.

"Two are coming, and there's no time to heal." Robin grunted. "Will have to use a Vulnerary. Lissa needs cover Chrom and Sumia."

"CHROM! WE NEED TO CLEAR THE LONGFORT! Get to the main gate." Robin called as a pair of Risen myrmidons charged at him, swords drawn. His mind went white as he lost himself in a battle trance. "Reach the Front Gate with the Van, I'll take Rearguard." The battle was brutal, and he was only one false step from death, but it was going well enough.

Zhar Slaver Encampment,
Plegian Desert

"Oi, small one" the mercenary said, looking over at Morgan. "Gregor bring you food and drink." He said, walking up to her with a sack containing a waterskin and a couple fruit along with a piece of jerky.

Morgan looked up, lifting up her shackled arms to take hold of the sack before sitting back down in the corner of the sandy cage. She eyed Gregor carefully. In the couple weeks since her capture, she had learned that Gregor was trustworthy enough, unlike the rest of the men in the encampment. The mercenary sat down near her cage. "Tis bad day, they took other wee one. Er name is Nowi. But good thing still happen on bad day. Plegian Nobles wanting to buy wee one for terrible uses dead now, so small one don't need worry."

Morgan nodded and hungrily ate the small amount of food that Gregor had brought her.

"Also, Gregor locate where they keep your book... Tome of Naga?" Gregor said, with a long sigh. "Might be hard to get it back. Would need to kill lots of bad employers."

"...I want it back." Morgan said, almost pouting as she hungrily tore into the jerky with her teeth. "...It's precious to me... mother..."

"Oi, you never tell Gregor about your parents, eh, wee one?" Gregor said, as he began polishing his steel sword. "You were looking for them, yes?"

Morgan took a drink from the waterskin, and then nodded. "Yes. I want to find my father. I must see him again."

"And your mother?" Gregor asked, as he wiped down the blade and pulled a rounded whetstone with with notch carved in it out and continued his work at sharpening his sword.

"I... can't remember." Morgan said, sounding defeated. "I only remember getting the book from her. And a sword. She was a pretty lady with blue hair like mine... that's all I can remember." She gasped and clutched her head, letting out a slight groan. "And trying to remember her gives me a headache."

"Oi, that's not good, small one." Gregor said, as he continued sharpening his blade.

"I know my father well, he's got white hair, and is the greatest tactician to ever live. His name is Robin." Morgan said, "I want to be like him one day. But first I have to find him. I... got seperated from him when we were... err I don't remember what we were doing. I just woke up one day in the middle of the desert and was wandering around."

"Oi, poor small one, you must have been scared." Gregor shook his head.

"Then I found a village... and then these stupid guys captured me. Now I'm here." She shook her head and looked over at Gregor, "And now, I'll never..." she sniffed as tears welled up in her eyes. "Find... my father."

"Oi, wee one, don't cry. Gregor will make sure you find him. And your mother too." Gregor said, "They must be worried about you. Tis making old man's heart sad. Get you back your book and get you free and back to your family. Gregor promise."

Longfort

"Thank you!" The merchant cried, as she she wiped her face off.

"Not a problem. It's what the Shepherds do." Chrom responded.

Robin turned back to face the longfort. "Blast Raimi, your troops would've been better served to handle that..." He said, with a melancholy look on his face.

"Robin, we won, against some truly absurd odds there, and without any losses." Chrom said, placing his hand upon Robin's shoulder.

"I know, but even so, it makes the fight we carried out all the more regrettable." Robin said, looking over at the stairwell where Virion had been killed prior. "Not only was Virion killed, we wound up incapacitating the Feroxi troops, which left the fort woefully underprepared for the Risen attack." He said, noting that the Feroxi hadn't even taken to the field. "Anna would've been slaughtered were it not for us, and these Risen were nearly the end of our little journey."

"It only gets worse from here." A voice called from the trees, Robin managed to catch it, but the others hadn't been paying attention.

"I know, Robin, but still you shouldn't be hard on yourself. Your tactics won us against Marth, and against the Risen on multiple occasions." Chrom said, confidently. "You're a skilled Tactician, Robin. No one doubts that."

"Save for myself." Robin shook his head. "I'm going to excuse myself."

"Very well." Chrom nodded as Robin turned and walked towards the trees.

With the others out of earshot, Robin turned and spotted the woman who had spoken earlier. "Lucina..." He said, as he saw her turn to face him. She drew Falchion in an instant. "Whoa!" He gasped, leaping back, as he saw her draw steel. "You know, it's not kind to draw a weapon upon someone whom is your ally."

"I'm... easily startled." She said shaking her head as she resheathed the weapon. "I couldn't be sure it was you," She paused. "Though I still wonder about you. What is your exact relation to the Exalted Prince?"

"I told you the other night," Robin shrugged. "I'm his tactician. And... his friend."

"I saw your tactics during the battle. You put him at risk." Lucina shook her head.

"Yet, you didn't aid." Robin raised his arms, poising his body in a "w" shape. "You're a capable fighter, Lucina. You surely shouldn't keep your distance if your goal is to protect the Prince."

"My goal is to prevent catastrophe, Robin." Lucina looked away, "Placing myself close could jeopardize my mission."

"How so?" Robin asked, "You'd be closer to your charge, better capable of protecting him as necessary, and you wouldn't run risk of starving or freezing to death for want of shelter."

"Robin, I.. cannot. I understand you mean well, but I cannot allow myself to intervene more than I need to." Lucina said, "I don't have time to exp-"

"If you say 'explain what you don't have time to explain', I'm going to be forced to slap you." Robin said, with a chuckle.

"What? You'd raise arms against me?" A visible scowl appeared on her face as her hand slid back to Falchion's hilt.

"No, that was a joke. I guess you're not one for humor." Robin shrugged. "I know your mission is everything to you. ...as is my own. I just wish I knew what I could do to help you, Lucina. If you can't join us, can't fight alongside us, there must be something I can do."

"You gave me enough gold to keep me a warm tent for several nights. That is more than enough," she shook her head and pointed to her rucksack.

"No, that was hold over, and reparations for setting you on fire. I saw your clothing, it was in tatters." Robin "I still feel bad about that. I don't ever want to hear you scream like that again."

"Yet you'd ask me to fight at your side." Lucina interjected.

"I would, and I'd keep you and the Prince safe," Robin countered, "It'd be much easier with such a capable of a fighter as yourself, especially since you seem to be in tune with the madness of the world."

"I know that madness far too well," Lucina said looking back. "But I still cannot join. But I can warn you this. The Risen you've faced, are but the start of a true nightmare. You must do all you can to ensure Prince Chrom's survival. As you've agreed, he is key. Without him, this world will fall into a darkness, a true hell on earth."

"I will do all I can." Robin said, noting Lucina's harsh tone.

"Will you?" Lucina moved her hand away from Falchion, and let it rest on her hip.

"I promise." Robin nodded.

"Somehow, I fear that may not be adequate." Lucina said solemnly. "You put Chrom in extreme danger during that battle with your plan."

"No, I made a calculated risk, and knew he'd be fine. He doesn't... we don't fight alone. And I can't just let someone die. I'm going to save all the lives that I can. His, those around him, even the random merchants. Every life I save is a person who gets to go home to their family at the end of the day. That's why I fight. To keep them safe." Robin said, his arms dropping and his right hand curling into a fist.

"Sometimes, sacrifices must be made," Lucina said, her voice solemn. "It is the charge of Royalty to be a Prince, a Princess, a leader, first, before a son, a daughter. Thusly, when thinking of them and their burden of leadership, you must be ready to let some lives be lost for such to be safe."

"No, Lucina, that's where I believe you are mistaken." Robin said, unclenching his fist. "A person is a person, a life is a life. Yes, roles are important, but I cannot allow myself to allow anyone whom we are sworn to protect to just... die, so that another would live. It's not right. And... a Prince before a Son? No. I find that to be incredibly disingenuous. That attitude will ruin a person."

"I... would say otherwise, but I will be watching you, Robin." Lucina said, as she turned away walking out into the blowing snow.

"Don't... forget about yourself, Lucina." Robin said, with the knowledge that his words are lost on the wind- they wouldn't reach her.

Author's Note: I actually ran through 2 Skirmishes before cutting into Paralogue 1. I only kept part of the Longfort Anna Defense. The Chrom in Danger part was me relying on a 31 HIT attack not landing. He had a 6% Dual Guard Rate on top of the some 80% chance of it missing (Thanks to 2RN, 31 HIT is 19.53%), so I'd call it fairly safe. Lucina... wouldn't because it's Chrom.