It was clear to everyone in the army that there was something strange about Morgan, everyone but Chrom of course.
Morgan looked nothing like the man, unlike Lucina who was almost a carbon copy. Worse yet, he didn't even look like his mother either. Sure, he had some features that reflected the tactician, her eyes were the most prominent, but his face, his hair, it wasn't hers. It only became more clear as months passed. More auburn hair grew, making him look more and more like Ricken every day.
But Robin never addressed this to anyone. Not even Lissa when she asked. She stayed firm in saying he was Chroms, even though no one believed it. No one would possibly question it to the two of them talking against the Exalt, or his wife, was a punishable offense.
Ricken couldn't drop the desire to wanting to be with his child though. He had tried to come up with a million different ways to get Robin and the kids away from Chrom, but so far nothing made sense. They would either get him killed, or get her punished. Then the children would be left with no one but Chrom to raise them, and that wasn't worth the risk. At least now they had Robin.
Within the time of Morgan being born, the war came to an end. The Plegians surrendered, no longer able to hold off the Ylissen army. It was a time of celebration, for everyone. The armies returned home, the Shepheards returned to the castle where they would continue to serve.
It was at a feast celebrating the end of the war that all hell broke loose.
Two large tables are set up in the dining room of the castle, enough space for all the Shepheards to sit together. Chrom sits at the head of one of the tables with Robin beside him, holding baby Morgan. He had been fussy for about a week, crying every time he's away from his mom. She of course doesn't mind doting on her son. Lucina is upstairs sleeping.
Ricken sits beside Gaius, not touching any of his food. Everyone in the army noticed a distinct change in the mage, mostly how he never talked to anyone. He never smiles anymore, never looks happy. He glances down the table at Robin, and then his eyes shift to Chrom right beside him. His rage builds up just seeing the Exalt.
"Don't do anything stupid," Gaius mutters under his breath for the millionth time. He knows Ricken won't listen, but still says the warning anyway.
Chrom stands and looks at the Shepheard's, the conversation stopping as he does. "I would like to congratulate all of you for the efforts you have put forth in this war. You have done the kingdom of Ylisse proud, and you have done yourselves proud."
The rest of the Shepheard's enjoy the sentiment, but Ricken rolls his eyes and sits back in his chair, taking a long sip of wine.
"Now, with the threat of the Plegians no longer a factor, I hope you will all stay loyal and continue to serve this kingdom. As Exalt I will continue to lead you into victory."
"You mean Robin will continue to lead us into victory?" Everyone looks at Ricken when he speaks. Perhaps emboldened by the wine, or by his own rage, Ricken makes sure his eyes lock with Chrom as he says it. "She is the reason we won the war."
Everyone then looks at Chrom. Robin pauses and then passes Morgan to Lissa, who whimpers as he's separated from her mother.
"My love played a key role in the war, she is a brilliant tactician," Chrom frowns.
Ricken rolls his eyes again. "Your love. I guess that isn't a complete lie. Love doesn't need to be reciprocated for you to use that word."
Robin swallows and stands. "Ricken, not like this, not now" she says and then turns to Chrom. "Just sit down, please."
The Exalt twitched in annoyance. "Do you have something to say to me, Ricken?"
"I do, and that's why I'm saying it," he stands and walks over to him at the front of the room, then looks at Robin. "I can't keep doing this Robin. I can't keep watching you with him knowing you're trapped."
"Trapped?" Chrom looks at Robin, "What is he talking about?" He asks. She doesn't respond however, still staring at Ricken. She knows he is risking everything to do this, and everything could go wrong. But in reality, he's doing everything she's too afraid to do.
"She never wanted to marry you Chrom!" Ricken snaps, feeling more powerful than before. Even though he doesn't have a single spell book, or a way to defend himself, he feels stronger than Chrom for once in his life. "She has been in love with me throughout your entire marriage!"
"You are lying!" The larger man snarls.
"I'm not! She was with me before you even married her! She was too afraid of what you'd to do her, to the army, so she's put up with you!" Ricken growls. "But she was in love with me! She still loves me! And I am sick of you holding the woman I love prisoner! Forcing her to marry you, tearing her away from her children!" He glances at Morgan who fusses in Lissa's arms. He'll risk everything but Morgan's life. "She doesn't love you, so she has spent half your marriage with me."
The snap wasn't as big as Robin was expecting. Barely anyone could see it if they weren't close enough, but she sees the look in his eyes change from anger to blank. The rest of the shepheard's look concerned, all on their feet and surrounding the two, willing to step in if needed. Morgan wails in Lissa's arms and Robin looks at her. "Bring Morgan upstairs, now."
Lissa doesn't question and quickly removes the crying baby from the room.
Chrom looks at Robin. "Is this true?" She still stays silent and he steps forward, grabbing her arm. "Is this true?!"
"Don't touch her!" Ricken snaps.
Chrom wastes no time pulling out his Falchion and pressing it against Ricken's throat. "Shut your mouth," he growls harshly. "Kneel before your Exalt."
Ricken continues to glare at him so Chrom presses the blade harder. "I refuse to kneel before a tyrant."
"A tyrant?" Chrom scoffed at the accusation. "Who has been the one leading us through the war? The war that just ended?"
"Robin," Ricken says, keeping his confidence. "You were so busy mourning Emmeryn's death-"
"Don't you dare speak her name!" Chrom snaps and removes Falchion, pushing Ricken to the ground, forcing him to kneel before him. He puts his blade on the back of his neck.
"You didn't care about your army! You sent thousands into battles unprepared because you couldn't pay attention, and you would've sent thousands more had it not been for Robin!"
Chrom's hand waivers at the accusation. "Ricken, for the crime of treason, I sentence you to death."
"No!" Robin shouts and runs forward, pulling on Chrom's arm. He doesn't move. "Please Chrom you can't kill him, you can't."
"Step back Robin!" Chrom still balances the cold metal on the back of Ricken's neck.
"Chrom please I will do anything!" She falls to her knees before him, shaking. "I will continue to be your wife, I won't question what you say. The Ylissen people will still see us and look up to us. Please just don't kill Ricken. I am begging you Chrom."
He looks at her with some pity, but also tears in his eyes. In his own way Chrom truly does love Robin. The tactician understood him, and he never saw her as afraid. He never would've imagined that she didn't want to be with him, never would've imagined that she would've been with Ricken.
But there's still a small light in his heart. He takes the blade off his neck and puts it away at his waist. "Ricken… For the crime of treason, my wife has chosen to take mercy. I sentence you to exile."
Ricken feels his heart pounding in his chest as he rises to his feet, looking at Robin. "You don't have to do this. You need to get away from this."
As Chrom's eyes are still fixed on Ricken, she looks at the mage she loves, mouthing the words "I can't lose you" as tears stream down her cheeks.
"You have ten minutes to leave this kingdom," Chrom growls.
Ricken swallows and nods, knowing at least he tried to free her. He walks past the rest of the Shepheard's with hot tears burning his eyes as he rushes out, knowing he has little chance exiled.
Everyone else disperses after that.
Chrom looks at Robin, the same intensity in his eyes that scared her so much before when he proposed. The unpredictable nature back. "You will remain my wife in the public eye. Come with me."
He grabs her arm and drags her up to their bedroom. He shuts the door and then paces through the room. She just stands there silent, hearing Morgan still crying in the other room, wishing so badly that she could go to comfort him, but knowing for now she is stuck with Chrom.
"Is what he said true?" Chrom finally asks after a few moments.
She nods. "Yes, it is true."
"You were in love with him this entire time?"
"Yes."
Chrom closes his eyes. "So you were afraid of me this entire time?"
She hesitates, but then nods again. "Yes… I was fulfilling my duty to this army."
He doesn't respond to that, but instead walks forward and grabs her hand, making her flinch away. Her eyes are still red from crying but she shows little emotion. "This is just a bump in the road Robin… We are still married. I still love you…"
She just stares blankly at him, unable to even process what he says. All she thinks about is Ricken, the danger he's in, how she will probably never see him again. But the cries of Morgan make everything worse. The child will soon probably be fatherless, at least of his biological father. He never even got to know him. "I need to go calm Morgan down…"
She goes to leave but he squeezes her hand. "Robin, please… Do you love me at all?"
She looks at him, having pure fury in her eyes. "No. I hate you."
She yanks her hands away and then starts to walk to the other room. She doesn't get that far before covering her mouth and breaking down, her entire body shaking.
All she can do is cry, and listen helplessly to Morgan's cries.