A/N: Hiya! I got stuck in MM so here I am with this. Wow so many ellipses. I love this pairing but it's hard to write. :/ Thank you to everyone who faved/followed/reveiwed! I'm glad that my stories are entertaining someone at least~Don't be afraid to tell me if you have a request! (I know the feeling all too well.) God bless~

a kiss to send us off

MaMuxEmmeryn

If you truly love someone, fight for them.

The four of them sat in what was most undoubtedly the most painful silence Robin had ever endured in his life. Chrom sat backwards on a wooden chair, resting his forehead on his crossed arms most of the time. Lissa stood behind Robin, clinging to his arm, her fingers in her mouth to keep from crying, and stared blankly at the woman in front of them.

Robin didn't blame the girl. After all, he would be crying himself if they weren't present, and he would be crying himself to sleep again tonight.

"I..."

She was pained, he could tell. If not physically, then in every other way. Emmeryn knew she was supposed to know these people. She knew they had been important to her, at one time, and something deep inside her wanted so badly to remember. It had to be tearing her apart.

The look on her face told him as much. He began to walk forward. Behind him, Lissa gave a little gasp and let go of his sleeve. Emmeryn's clouded green eyes focused solely on him, as if he were coming to save her from her torment.

'I want to badly to save you, my lady. But I can't.'

Robin held a hand out to her, and she eyed for a long time before she realized what it was for. Shakily, she lifted her arm and placed her palm against his. The action triggered a memory from so many years ago.

"Robin, may I speak with you?"

"O-of course, my lady."

He balked, looking from her to Phila, but she waved him forward with a slight smile. "You may leave us, Phila. Thank you," she instructed.

After the knight had gone, Emmeryn turned to him, her face serious. Robin's eyes widened as the Exalt bowed her head to him. "I put my brother and sister's lives in your hands, tactician. I trust that you will not betray me."

"A bold move," he commented lamely.

"Yes, but one I feel is wise. There is nothing about you that tells me you won't do as Frederick fears, and I believe Chrom when he says you fought for us, and fought well."

"Then there is no reason for me to plead my case."

"No. I would ask you one question, however."

"Anything."

Emmeryn looked away from him, her eyes downcast. "Which is more worth saving, in your view: the life of one person, however important, or the lives of many?"

"It does not compare. The lives of many will always take precedece over one life. It may be a tragedy, but in the end...what is one loss in the face of thousands of others?"

"Then the answer is obvious."

He nodded. "It may be hard to accept, but that's the only answer. However, it does not mean I should allow things to come to that."

"Perhaps it will be unavoidable."

"Perhaps."

He offered her a hand, and she lay her palm over his. "I leave you with a kiss, my lady. You are a wise and beautiful Queen, your people are lucky to have you. And I am lucky to have met you," he said, smoothing a kiss over her knuckle.

She smiled, and her pale face didn't redden in the slightest. As Exalt she must have been used to such complements, but he thought it came more as a result of unwavering confidence.

"May Naga be with you on your journey, Robin. I will eagerly await your return."

"H..Hello.."

The Emmeryn he had fallen in love with and this broken Emmeryn before him were so different, he almost wished they had never found her again. It was awful, but he knew Chrom and Lissa felt the same.

"Lissa...Chrom...may I speak to her alone?"

Chrom all but jumped out of his chair, eager to flee the awful silence. Lissa followed after him, but slower, forcing her eyes off her sister.

"You...are..."

"Do you remember me, Emmeryn?"

"I..think..."

He kissed her knuckle, and saw her expression change. "tact..ician."

Robin couldn't stop himself. Tears began to flow from his eyes, and he fell to his knees, throwing his arms around her middle. "I failed you. I never should have told you all that about the lives of many. I want to take it back. You are more important than-"

"No," she gasped. "Do..n't change...for...me. I am...use...less.

"Don't say that! We all missed you so much! Even I...I loved-"

He broke off. Telling her so much at once would only overwhelm her. But she surprised him.

"You...loved...me?"

How did he answer that? Over the short time he had known her, it was true, he had come to love her. But she was Exalt. She could never love him back. Then she had died, and he'd given up. Was he even worthy of loving her anymore?

Emmeryn made a pained noise. "You..did. I-I am...sorry."

Robin pulled back and took her hand again, this time squeezing it between his palms. "I shouldn't have said anything. Don't worry about it. Focus on getting better."

She scowled, something he had never seen before. "I..won't..get..bet..ter. If...If you..loved..me, stay..with...me...now. I need...you."

The once radiant Queen now looked afraid. There was defeat in her eyes. It drew Robin to his resolve. She had once taken him in when he had nothing. She had raised him up and trusted him, and now was his chance to repay her.

"I will, Emmeryn. Through everything."

She smiled, and just a little bit of the cloud left her eyes. "T...thank...you."

It would be a long road, full of hurting and tears, but Robin was resigned to suffering it all with her. Because that's what you do for the people you love.