Originally posted: 5/9/2015
Ylisstol Castle Throne Room
Chrom
Chrom had hoped that upon returning to their capital he would finally get a chance to catch his breath.
The trip to and from Regna Ferox had only taken a short month but he felt like it was a year. Too much was happening at once; most of it connected to Robin.
Robin. Every time he thought of her he felt another wave of guilt. Why did he ever let her come in the first place? He should have known what would happen to her and done something to stop it. If only he'd stopped and thought of it for just a few seconds he would have seen that marching off to more battlefields was the last thing Robin needed. He could have done better, and nobody could convince him otherwise.
He reflected on this as he and Frederick approached his sister Emmeryn in the throne room. She walked to him as well; that's something he always liked about his sister, she was one of the few rulers who would leave her throne to meet people who came to talk to her and allow them to speak on even ground. Emmeryn always seemed to have all the answers; if she had been the one to make the decision, all this would have been solved by now.
"Chrom, it is good to see you again. You as well, Frederick. I trust you were successful?" She spoke in her gentle voice, barely above a whisper, that conveyed warmth and calm to all who heard it.
Chrom nodded, "The Feroxi will stand with us."
Emmeryn looked like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders, "That is relieving, however it appears we have yet another problem."
"What could have happened in a short month?" said Fredrick
"Just hours before you arrived, I received a message. Maribelle has been abducted by Plegia."
"But that's an act of war!" Of course Gangrel would make his move now
Emmeryn shook her head sorrowfully, "It must not come to that. Gangrel has made a request to parley, and I intend to meet with him to prevent hostilities."
"You realize that it's a trap!"
"The attempt must be made, Chrom." Yet another thing about his sister that inspired him and frustrated him; she would do anything for peace no matter the risk to herself.
"Then allow the Shepherds to accompany you, my lady," spoke Fredrick, "This matter smells foul."
"I had expected as much," said Emmeryn, "I would of course prefer any betrayal be dealt with bloodlessly. If your tactician is as capable as Fredrick's reports implied, I hope she shall be able to make such a way possible."
"Robin stays behind." Chrom spoke firmly to make sure it was clear there was no negotiating on the matter
Emmeryn appeared surprised, "Why? Has she done something wrong?"
"The fault is mine, sister. She was not ready for battle. You remember what we saw when delivering humanitarian aid after the last war...I'll just say it is worse during the actual battles."
Emmeryn nodded sympathetically, "If she requires anything, you need but ask."
"That was part of why I wanted to speak to you, actually," said Chrom, "Robin doesn't have a residence and I was hoping she could stay here in the castle, away from all the violence out there. She needs time to heal from what she's seen." And done.
Ylisstol Castle Training Grounds
Lon'qu
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
Lon'qu struggled to keep his breathing as regular as possible as he circled around the practice dummy, repeating the drills that he had been practicing for decades
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
Over and over. Practically useless in actual combat, this drill was the bare-bones of his sword style. Meant only to make the actions instinctive and make one accustomed to wielding a blade with speed and precision.
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
For the purpose of the drill, Lon'qu exhaled in the middle of each move and inhaled for the split second before the following. Retaining a constant rhythm was the end goal. Every large-scale battle was one of attrition, how long can one last against wave after wave of foes without tiring; and with war on the way, such drills were all the more essential.
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
The drill was therapeutic as well. In the beginning, only the four thoughts are necessary. After awhile, even those thoughts begin to drift into instinct and the body moves on its own, allowing one to lose themselves; no thoughts, no dreams, no memories. Peace, if only for a time. All distractions, from the past and present, cast aside as the blade moves. One could fool themselves into thinking that everything up till now had been nothing more than a bad dream.
A pleasant change from what his daily regiment had been on the road. The girl, barely a woman but close enough, seemed to have no intention of accepting their relationship as what it was; a killer and his charge. It had been a horrible idea to have him be a bodyguard in the first place, but it was not his place to question the orders of those who owned his sword. He would guard her, as best one such as he could
Luckily, the girl did not require the same protection inside her castle as she did on the road. Surrounded by walls and guards, Lon'qu was able to return to the regiment he followed ever since his exile. Swordplay was far less complicated, far less weighted than keeping watch over the girl that seemed only to serve as a reminder to his past failure.
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge. Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
"Feroxi."
A voice broke him from his blissful trance, reawakening him to the world around him. He looked from the corner of his eye at the cause, not even turning his head, to see the cause; Robin, the woman from before. Of course, he should have known that from how she addressed him; she was the only one who spoke to him with the contempt he was due. The fact that he did not notice immediately was damning. He allowed his mind to become muddled in his trance, this could not happen again.
"Speak, woman, and leave me be."
"...About what happened in the village..."
"Nothing happened," he replied, "Did no one tell you? The investigation was completely inconclusive. Leave the matter be."
"Chrom knows," said the woman, "Or rather, he knows of my part. I left you and Miriel out of my explanation."
"You told him?"
"He found out from a guardsmen that described me."
Lon'qu shook his head. Sloppy. "Why bring this to me?"
"Because something still doesn't add up to me. It has bothered me from the very beginning," the woman looked at him, calculating, trying to see something in his reaction, "Why did you act at all? Why not stay uninvolved?"
A question he had debated with himself many times before, and many times after. It would have been so easy to look away, to concentrate on his duties as he has always done. He tried not to concern himself with matters of justice; he was fit to judge no one. But that day...something made him think differently, if just for a moment, and he had not been able to forget it. Suddenly, every body was Ke'ri's; looking, judging, taunting. Inescapable. And before him he saw the bandits, to be set free, to get away without a scratch just as before. From there he had no choice.
But that was none of this woman's business. "It is of no concern to you. Leave me be."
The woman stepped closer. Too close! "I'm making it my concern."
Lon'qu retracted in fear, "Away from me!"
"Or what?" Her face right in front of his, and with a wall to his back, Lon'qu was completely defenseless against this onslaught, a fact that the woman knew very well! With no alternative, he would likely have done something very drastic, had not another woman, Miriel, stepped in. "If I may interject."
He didn't know where she had come from, and he didn't care as long as Robin retained a comfortable distance. "What is it, Miriel?"
"I believe we have unconcluded matters of import to deliberate," she spoke plainly, "Primarily being my involvement in your vigilante escapade. I assume you properly concealed how you attained your method?"
Robin nodded, "I stole it from your cabinet when you weren't there. You're faultless."
"Not ideal, but satisfactory," she then turned to Lon'qu, "I shall confess your involvement was supremely unexpected. It appears I made an error in my observations," she looked at him closely over her spectacles, "Perhaps this warrants further study."
"...Surely you have more important things to do with your time."
"If your only concern was your security, I would ask that we place this matter behind us," said Robin, speaking sense for the first time since this topic was opened, "It was a mistake in the first place and I rather we all put it from our minds."
"Understandable, but there is one last matter that I refuse to allow to pass from our deliberation."
"What matter is that?"
"Your promise, of course," Miriel grinned, "It seems, you were rather short-sighted in your threat."
Robin began to look very uncomfortable, "Explain, please..."
"When you threaten to withhold an object of value if not given cooperation, this does imply a promise to provide if cooperation is relinquished," said Miriel, "As such, I am here to make arrangements for a very thorough talk upon our return."
"Return? Return from where?"
"Ah, that does remind me of one final motive," she turned to Lon'qu once again, "Maribelle, a noble and magistrate in apprenticeship, has been captured by the Plegians. Exalt Emmeryn plans to parley."
"Surely she knows it's a trap!" Robin exclaimed
"Probable, but the Exalt does not seem to be including this variable as relevant in her outcome. Lon'qu, do be ready to depart soon."
"...Always."
Satisfied, Miriel turned to leave before Robin stopped her, "But if it's a trap I should be there!"
Miriel sighed, "I am afraid that is something you shall have to discuss with Chrom. I apologize, but it is outside my jurisdiction."
Miriel set out on her way, and Robin soon left after.
Finally, I am left in peace
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
Forearm. Backarm. Parry. Dodge.
Ylisstol Castle
Sully
Her new room was nice. All creature comforts were provided, all possible inconveniences brushed away. The bed was all made up and inviting with green sheets, a convenient chair with wheels on it (of Miriel's design) right next to it, as well as a nice little shiny bell in case the resident needed anything.
The softness of it all was a kick in the teeth. The room seemed specifically made to remind her of what she was: A cripple, a burden, broken beyond repair. Equipment used one too many times and sent to the back shed to be forgotten about. This was the room she would be spending the rest of her life in; but it wasn't her. Sully was rough earth and grime, not this softness and artificial comfort.
"I know it's not what you would have preferred, but it's the best we could do," Fredrick carried her into her new living quarters as one would carry a child off to bed, "It is difficult to find a room in a palace that isn't well kept."
"Hm," Sully grunted in response. More often then not she found she just lacked the will to pursue any real conversation with anyone that didn't descend into a shouting match; she cursed herself for letting herself be affected like this, but she just didn't know what else to do. Any time she tried to talk to someone it almost always ended in angry battles of the verbal sort for one reason or another with her temper being even shorter than it had been before.
Fredrick seemed completely unaffected by her half-assed response. She envied that; the way he carried himself, it seemed like he could take anything the world threw at him in stride, just letting the blows roll off him. It left her bitter when she thought of how she must look to him in her weak and helpless state. His best student reduced to less than a child.
"I hope you'll remember to express your regards to Miriel. It took some effort to design that rolling chair so quickly," he said, lying her down on the bed, "Stairs will be a problem, but other than that you should be able to roam the castle freely, including the courtyard." Of course Miriel went through all that effort for her. That's the kind of person Sully would have to be now, someone who would have to survive off of what other people did for her. Never making her own way, never fighting for what she wanted; never riding into battle with a lance in her hand.
"Unfortunately I will be away for the next week or so, but I'm sure you'll be able to get by," Fredrick seemed so optimistic, like she would be up and ready to go back to work after a bit of rest. Didn't he know a broken thing when he saw it? Right before he left, he turned to her and said "You'll get past this" and went on his way
Easy for him to say
Ylisstol Castle
Lissa
"This is way too familiar," Lissa said as she searched through the castle. Looking for Robin.
Emmeryn, Chrom, and the other Shepherds had left just hours ago. Lissa remembered her disappointment when Chrom said that she would be staying behind with Robin
"But what about Maribelle? I have to help rescue her!" She had pleaded with Chrom
"We have more than enough with us to undertake a diplomatic mission. I need you here for a special assignment."
"But what could possibly be more important than getting Maribelle back?" As if by destiny, Robin had passed by them at that exact moment. She barely acknowledged their presence as she walked past them and down the hall. A guard had tried talking to her, one of the many friends she made her first day in the castle, but all he met was an empty stare and a cold shoulder as she left the poor man confused.
"Fixing her." It was all he had to say, and after Lissa thought about it she reluctantly agreed it made a lot of sense for her to be the one to do it. They had been close before and during their trip to Regna Ferox; Robin had talked to her more than anyone other than Chrom. And Chrom couldn't be the one to stay because he was vital for the Shepherds.
That and the fact he was a complete and utter failure when it came to understanding women
And so there she was, searching the castle top to bottom for the person she had been charged to "fix" as if Robin was just a cracked shield that needed a little attention. When she did find Robin, it was in the library, and Lissa mentally slapped herself for not checking there first after the last time she disappeared. She currently sat at a table with her nose in some book that Lissa couldn't even tell what the title said. Naturally, Lissa approached her in the most awkward way possible and when she finally reached her gave the stupidest smile she could muster, "Uhh...hi, Robin!"
"Hello Lissa," she said politely, but distantly. Like someone at one of Emm's boring diplomatic meetings. Her eyes never leaving her book
"So...what are you reading?" Lissa tried to be cheerful but she had a heavy suspicion that her nervousness was shining through. Since they left the ruin that had once been a happy village Robin walked like she was carrying the whole army on her back. She barely slept and never talked to anybody. The sunken eyes hidden behind silvery locks and a dark cowl looked fairly intimidating as if to guarantee nobody trying to talk to her. If so it worked pretty effectively; Lissa needed someone to make it her job in order for her to try. Robin's overall demeanor scared her.
"It is one of Miriel's," Robin replied as she turned a page, "It's a description of global politics from an outsider's perspective. Apparently she wrote it during an expedition around the world," she turned another page. How fast can she read? "The world is far less...pretty than Chrom described it."
"Uhm...maybe you should take a break from that," that kind of book was the last thing Robin needed, "Why don't we...go do pranks!"
Robin sighed, "All our friends have gone on a mission that is very likely to kill them and you wish to pass the time doing pranks."
"And what are you doing?"
"Preparing for when Chrom allows me back into his service," she said while turning another page
"Do you even know why you were..well, kicked out isn't the word but...y'know, kept here?"
"A minor difference of ideals, nothing more. He'll get past it soon enough."
Well, there was never any doubt about that, but... "He left you behind because...Robin, you're just not the same anymore!"
She looked up at that, "Not the same? What do you mean by that?"
"Y'know, you're just...colder. You used to be fun but now..."
She looked back at her book, "Forgive me for being pragmatic. Not all of us can simply ignore problems with a laugh and a smile."
Lissa crossed her arms, "And what's wrong with smiling?"
"Nothing, until you begin to ignore working in favor of it."
This is working, you snooty little stick in the mud. "Well Chrom won't ever take you back if you're going to be acting like that."
"Don't be ridiculous, Lissa," said Robin, turning another page, "I am far too valuable a tactician to be tossed aside because of a difference of ideals. Chrom isn't stupid."
"Then you probably shouldn't talk about him like he is."
Robin looked up at her sharply, "I have never disrespected Chrom! I hold him in the highest regard."
"Well take his advice, then! Get your mind off the battlefield and, for Naga's sake, have some fun!"
"I would be of no use if I carried on like that!"
"Alright, that's it!" Lissa grabbed her by the arm and pulled Robin out her chair, "Let's go!"
"What the- let go of me! Lissa!" Robin shouted trying to knock her away, "Where are you taking me?"
"You and I are going to find something fun to do!"
"Wha- no! I refuse!"
"I don't care!"
A/N (5/9/2015): Wow, been a while since I've done one of these. Anyway, I'm stepping in to say that I'll be taking some time off to come up with new ideas. This part of the game is a stretch that I pretty much ignored in the planning stage and now I'm paying for it. I'll try not to take too long.
Edit (12/3/2015): Added the scenes of Lon'qu talking with Robin and Miriel, as well as the scene of Sully being taken to her new room
