*quick update: Damn horizontal lines always get taken out, and always where they're most necessary

Well, here it is. The result of seven days and three drafts of writers block. Good riddance, I say. Though I didn't want to leave this out. I saw potential for Frederick here, and this is one of my favorite deciding moments in Chrom and Robin's relationship.

Also, if you haven't read The Exalt's Letter from the drama CD (which apparently is a thing, as I recently found out) DO THAT NOW. Otherwise this isn't gonna make much sense.

Dry your tears, love. This is not goodbye.

The mountains of Western Ferox looked cold and barren. Snowcaps were all that could be seen resting on them, leaving them looming drearily in the distance to the east. However, the radiant orange of the sunset to the west lit up their precipices and turned the whole sky golden.

A beautiful display wasted on such a poor mood.

Frederick stood at the stone railings of the open hallways gazing out over the horizon. Two days had passed since they'd arrived; surely, they'd be heading out soon and making their way back to Plegia. The oddest feeling of total preparedness and utter hopelessness filled the knight's chest. He knew he was ready to avenge the Exalt's death. Though the first part of that sentence brought him adrenaline, the second brought only grief.

He thought carrying the letter Lady Emmeryn intended for her brother in the event of her death would be the biggest weight his shoulders would carry. Then he thought giving it to the prince after her demise would be the worst it would get. As it turned out, the worst feeling was sitting without that letter inside his armor in the wake the Exalt had left behind, knowing her life and all her wishes were now officially, truly over, delivered, and done.

The setting sun reminded him of Ylisstol, where the end of the day left with even more grace and beauty than in this cold and barren corner of the world. A fleeting memory passed through his mind, short but filled with detail: He was a boy of no more than fourteen. Somehow he found himself taken from his training to care for the youngest princess, a job which became more that of a warden than a caretaker. The sun was setting low, vibrantly scarlet, and young Lissa had managed to toddle off again, chasing after a butterfly which – in the light of the sun – appeared to be merely a flying, black shadow.

"Frederick, look! I caught one! I caught a butterfry!"

Before he could reply, a soft, endeared chuckle came from behind his shoulder. The Exalt stood beside him, a peaceful smile on her face which he would come to know well over the years. A scar was healing on her shoulder, leaving her right arm wrapped in bandages, and Frederick had heard her not hours earlier crying to her younger brother. But in spite of all that, looking at her sister jumping about in the grass, she looked to be more at peace than any man on earth.

Emmeryn relieved him of his duties with a hand on his shoulder before slipping off her shoes, leaving them on the white stone of the patio, and wading into the grass towards her sister in her bare feet.

Frederick had intended to return to his quarters with the other few knights-in-training with haste and perhaps even get some swordplay in before their evening meals were served. But when he slipped back through the glass doors into the castle, he caught a glimpse of the two princesses as he turned around to close the door behind him.

The two of them were aglow with the setting sun behind them. Emmeryn bent down and took her sister's hands in her own, gently easing them open and allowing a butterfly to crawl onto her finger. There it rested for only moment before taking flight and fluttering away. Lissa had her head gently taken into the hands of her older sister as a soft kiss was planted on her forehead.

It was a sight to put even the most violent of men at peace.

But now, there was no garden, no butterfly. Fourteen years had passed and the youngest princess was now a young woman hadn't smiled in two days. Her hands would never again be held by her sister, her forehead never again kissed by her lips. The last words she'd heard from the woman she most adored were a false promise: "Dry your tears, love. This is not goodbye."

Now all that was left was the sunset to remind the knight of what once was. To put such a feeling of bitter nostalgia in his stomach.

"Excuse me?"

Who was this meek voice who sought to disturb him from his reminiscing?

"You're Frederick, the royal knight, right?"

He slowly brought his head down and to his side where the new dancer, Olivia, stood at his side. With a deep, almost annoyed breath, he replied.

"Yes, I am."

Olivia spoke up even after he turned his head away, her voice quiet and timid. "I wanted to ask you a question about Lady Emmeryn. You knew her, right?"

Incoherent flashes of blonde hair and a smile from the Ylissean throne flashed through his mind. The ache in his heart renewed itself.

"Yes, I did," he answered, returning his gaze to the mountains. "Quite well."

"That must've been a blessing," commented Olivia with a weak smile. She took a single step closer towards Frederick, approaching the stone railing of the wrap-around balcony. "I-... Well, I- I suppose I just wanted to ask what she was like."

What she was like? Why did this woman want to know?

"I-I-If you don't mind my asking!" Olivia stuttered after the fact, drawing her arms even closer to her body as if to look smaller. "She did me a kindness once; I owe almost everything I have now to her. I suppose I just wanted to know who it was I've been thanking all this time. She- She seemed like... a wonderful person. B-But if it's painful for you to talk about then ple-!"

"She was always wise beyond her years," Frederick began. He never considered himself a man of emotion or eloquence with words, so to describe years worth of time with the Exalt was difficult. How could he put so many years, such a personality as Emmeryn had had into words?

But for once, when he saw her face in his mind, when he thought of all the years they'd grown up together, he felt words and he felt emotion, and he felt someone deserved to know what he knew about her. Someone had to hear about the time she nursed a baby mouse from the kitchens to health alone, the time she'd attempted to cut a young Chrom's hair on her own, knocked an expensive statue over and fallen into a nearby pond while attempting to teach Lissa wind magic, healed a village full of sick peasants and spent the next week recovering from her own exhaustion. If someone else knew, those memories would be sure to live on... Emmeryn would be sure to live on.

Though he stood straight, tall, and still and his face remained calm, he was very glad to have someone to listen and to share the burden of keeping these memories alive.

"Though she could have the demeanor of a child when she so wished! There were days -..."

"Chrom?" The purple sleeve of her robe slid down her arm and exposed her to the cold air as she felt her knuckles rap on the heavy wooden door. "It's Robin. Can I come in?"

She heard no answer. Her stomach sank at imagining what was awaiting her inside. Most likely, the prince was either depressed, crying, or angry with her.

She slowly pushed the ornate metal handle of the door down, giving him time to turn her away if she was unwanted. Still, no calling came from the door's other side, so she entered.

"Chrom?"

The windows still stood wide open, letting in the evening light as the room became bathed in a dim glow turned somber by the gray stone walls.

The prince stood near his bed, his shoulders tense and a piece of paper gripped in his hands and held before him. "Good evening," he greeted her shortly, not looking up from the words he was staring at intently on the page.

"Good evening," replied Robin. Gently, she closed the door behind her and cautiously entered the room. She wasn't quite sure where to begin; she hadn't spoken with Chrom since arriving two days ago. If she were being honest, she wasn't sure why she'd come to his room now in the first place. She didn't take him the type to need comforting like his younger sister, even if both of them were putting on brave faces. There was always the upcoming battle strategies to run by him...

She had of course been doing everything in her power to make up for for her failures in Plegia: Inventory, supervising the healing tent, planning interim training regimens, caring for the Pegasi... She took on everything, comforting the Shepherds included. Everything to make herself feel she was still needed. Or perhaps to fix the mess she'd made so she could attempt to move on. The only thing she felt still needed fixing was Chrom, and she hadn't known just how to face him. He wasn't even looking at her now.

"I just came to discuss a few things... And to check on you."

Chrom nodded slowly, remaining absorbed in the paper in his hands a moment longer. His head raised up afterwards, lowering his arm at the same time. He looked Robin in the eyes with an unreadable expression. "It's been a few days since we've spoken, hasn't it?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," the tactician apologized. Having his attention, she felt more comfortable approaching him on the other side of the room. "I've been... busy."

"Hm."

Why did he seem so forlorn? Just what had he been reading?

"Is everything alright?" Robin asked, her eyes wandering to the sheet of paper pinched between the prince's fingers.

"Frederick gave me this letter earlier today," he replied, holding the letter up to look at it once more. "...It's from Emm."

"Lady Emmeryn?" Robin's eyes widened as her stomach clenched. A will? A letter from beyond the grave? How painful it must be for him to read... She held out her hand gently, opening her palm to ask if she may read it as well. "May I?"

She found the letter silently handed over to her. Hearing its slight crinkle between her fingers, she looked over the delicate script and began to read aloud.

"Chrom. If you are reading this letter…"

"I was wrong...," Chrom concluded in a whisper as Robin finished reading. He had ended up sitting on the bed with his head in his hands as Robin paced the room. "The whole time I thought I was protecting her, when she was protecting me."

"Of course she was," Robin answered, her eyes still lost in the letter. "She loved you."

"And I loved her, like I told you before: she was a mother to me." Chrom thought back to the night before their march to the Plegian capital and the conversation he'd had there with Robin. "To know she loved me as a child... It must seem daft but it's a rather small comfort to know."

"It's not daft," Robin whispered. She didn't think so for an instant. Quite the contrary, in fact, as a feeling of relief was beginning to grow in her chest. Just to hear someone speak the word 'comfort' was one in itself.

"But I think I understand now. I understand why she did what she did." Chrom rose from the bed and paced over to Robin, taking the sheet of paper back from her and gently pinching it between his fingers. "It wasn't just out of necessity or because I was weak or incapable, but rather out of love. I want to do the same for this world."

"Chrom..."

"I want to give my all to protect this world and love it as Emm did. It's my duty as an Ylissean royal." A look of somber determination crossed the prince's face. His blue eyes stayed locked on the signature on the letter, his sister's name. That signature was the last seal on her wishes, her legacy, and that legacy was now Chrom's to carry on. "Soon, we'll be on our way to defeat Gangrel, and I swear it, Robin, I'll not let him destroy our peace any further. I'll protect the world I love and the people I love as well. Just as Emm would've."

To hear him speak so hopefully... Just two days ago, he'd been almost in tears in her arms, wondering if he was truly worthy of his sister's ideals. Now here he was, renewed and ready to live them out as his own. Was he truly growing better? Was he truly not angry with her? Shouldn't he have been?

"Robin? Are you okay?"

Without realizing it, Robin had let her eyes well up with tears. What emotion they stood for, she didn't know. In any case, she hurriedly brushed the tip of her cloak sleeves at her eyes, wiping away the tears.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just... I'm so relieved to see you're alright." She had walked into this room expecting to fulfill her promise to pick Chrom up when he was down. At the very least, she was expecting bitterness. For the entirety of the past two days, she'd done nothing but try to make up for her failures, and now... he was alright? "I hated to think you were so discouraged and upset. I hated knowing..."

With every word, she could feel her chest shaking. She wasn't so overwhelmed as to let herself cry in front of him, but it was enough a wave of emotion to set her voice shaking.

"I hated knowing I was partially responsible. I wanted to help, and I tried to! But nothing felt like enough." Where was this flood of words coming from? Had she been holding this much back this whole time? "Gods, you lost your sister because of me, and I just couldn't stand-"

"Robin," Chrom gently attempted to pause her.

"-seeing you so putting the blame on yourself when it should've been on m-"

"Robin! You've already done more than enough." Chrom raised his voice to stop her hurried rambling, looking her with a calm sternness right in her eyes. "I hate to see you exhausting yourself atoning for a mistake you weren't responsible for."

"I was responsible, don't you understand, Chrom?" Robin retorted, her voice growing into a shout. Her face grew angry and miserable. "This was my job! It was my duty to keep us all safe, and I let everyone down! How can-... Even when I promised to help you fight for Emmeryn's ideals, I don't see how I can! How can I lead us in the days to come when I'm... when I've already failed the whole army?"

Chrom took a step closer as Robin pointed her gaze away with bitterness. In contrast to her anger, he kept his voice low and soothing.

"I failed in my duties as well, as a commander and a prince. But I'll tell you what you told me two days ago," he began. He thought back to Robin's face, covered in dirt and tears as her brown eyes bore into his with concern and determination. He thought about the words that gave him the courage to stand back up again and face the Shepherds and what was still giving him hope that they would emerge from the war victorious. It was time to give some of her kindness back. "If you aren't worthy, you'll work at it until you are. And if you fall, I'll be there to help pull you up.

"Robin when we got to Ferox I felt like the least worthy man in the world of a band of such brave soldiers as all of you, who had all fought so hard and stood by my side. I was sure I would lose everything, and I wasn't sure I even cared." Chrom thought back to the feeling of utter misery in his chest that day, as though his whole world was collapsing around him. And then one pillar, solid and ready to hold him up, appeared in front of him and put a hand on his arm. "Until you came to me. You promised to stand by my side, and now I promise to stand by yours. "

Robin found her eyes leave the floor to meet Chrom's. A frown was still on her lips and a disbelieving look in her eyes, as though she knew what words were coming but wasn't ready to accept them.

"Robin, I don't care if you lose one battle or a thousand! I wouldn't care if you decided to put down your sword and form an entertainment duet with Olivia!" said Chrom, humor entering his voice for the first time in too long. "I keep you here for more than your tactics. You're more to all of us than just the tactician; you're a dear friend. And I realized when you spoke to me that as long as I have you by my side... I won't falter again. Like you said, we'll lift one another up, and together we can live up to Emm's legacy. I'm sure of it."

"Chrom..." Robin couldn't find the words to reply. What had she done to deserve such a wonderful person in her life? How had she been blessed enough to have been delivered to someone who was willing to consider her as he did, as a dear friend and someone to be depended on no matter what? Was she truly worthy of that?

"We won't give up on 'loving the world', will we? On loving the people in it?" He, for one knew he wouldn't. Emmeryn was right: He would surely love the world, because the people he loved were in it. The people who swore to stay by his side. The people who could lift him up when he was at his lowest point. The people who he needed, who brought out the best in him.

Or perhaps the better term was 'person'.

"What do you say, friend?" Chrom held out a black-gloved hand to Robin, a gentle smile pushing his soft cheeks upwards towards his earnest eyes. "Are you still willing to help me? Will you help me lead the Shepherds to victory one more time?"

He really was going to stand by her. This thought came as a comfort to both of them. They needed one another, now more than ever.

Robin found a smile tug at the corners of her lips. As she looked into Chrom's eyes, sincerity and... something else she couldn't read looked back at her. It looked like the sweetest mixture of trust, concern, comfort and – the one thing that finally set Robin at ease to see – hope.

She reached her own hand out, resting it in his palm and feeling it grasped tightly by his fingers. She let her own smile grow and answered in confident honesty:

"It would be an honor."

Because there isn't *clap* enough *clap* Frederick/ *clap* Olivia *clap* Fan- *clap* fiction.

Also because I've never seen that letter mentioned in any other fanfic... It's a good letter! I hope to use more drama cd canon stuff later. ᶫᵘᶜᶦᶰᵃ'ˢ ᵗᶦᵃʳᵃ ᵍᶦᶠᵗ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᴹᵒᵗʰᵉʳ