As the Shepherds were en route to meet up with Plegia's new king Validar, the Queen's body felt heavier by the second. She did her very best to catch up but to no avail. Her breaths became quicker as she struggled for air. Eventually, she ended up at the back of the trail along with the man driving the convoy. The rest of her team mates were too busy discussing with each other about the recent events that they did not even notice her away from her husband's side. He, too, did not even know that his precious wife has been dragging her feet. Her amor felt far too heavy for her own body to bear. She had childbirth to blame. The Exalt was too busy working out their future course of action with Frederick. Robin felt a small pang on her chest.

How could her own husband forget about her?

"Aaaah!" Robin tripped on a small hole on the ground and fell flat on her face. She remember Sumia in that moment and felt embarrassed for herself. As much as she adored the Pegasus Knight, she did not want to be seen as fragile and delicate now that she is back on the battlefield. "This armor is surely difficult." she sighed out condescendingly. The Grandmaster thought about calling out to Chrom, but what would they think of her if she did? Has becoming a Queen made her soft? She did not want to think about it. The sun was about to set and her spirits felt as though it would go down any second.

"Milady." A calm voice called out to her.

"L-Lon'qu?! I-I'm sorry." Robin turned her head to find the Swordsmaster eagerly reaching out his hand. For a brief moment, Robin studied his palm and noticed how calloused and big they were. A second later, she imagined holding his hand. Her small palm enclosed in his. It was a fantasy but at some point, she reveled in it for a second. She felt her face turn red that immediately, she looked away from him. N-No! Why am I acting like such a adolescent girl in meeting her crush? Stop it, Robin! You are a married woman with a child nonetheless! I must try not to lose my composure. "P-please go on ahead." the Queen lowered her head.

"... I'll carry you." Lon'qu seemed cold and indifferent.

Robin gulped quickly and looked the other way. The rest of the Shepherds were trailing farther. Even her eyes could no longer spot Chrom. "N-No... It's fine. I-I-I-I-I... B-But it's... You have a w-wife... I-I thought you didn't like women and...!" she blurted out, almost regretting everything immediately. "Please forget everything I just said. I have not had a good night's sleep since I stepped out of the castle." It was all a truth, she fell asleep easier in the battlefield for she was far too tired to even dream on most nights.

You stupid girl, Robin!

"Think nothing of it." Lon'qu kneeled in front of her like a knight and eagerly offered his broad back without a shred of doubt. Even he, himself, felt a bit disgruntled at what he had just done. To him, his actions were somehow automatic. As though if the situation ever arose once more, he would do the same. But only to Robin and of course, Olivia. "I am merely duty bound."

Why is he so calm?

Does he really not have any feelings for me?

Could I have been mistaken?

For a while, they did not speak a word. No one else seemed to know their deed. Was everyone truly that busy that they will not even spare a second to turn back? Robin decided to finally break the silence once and for all. Not because it felt awkward but she wanted to hear his voice directed towards her. For such a long time, she replayed his words again and again inside her pretty little mind. "I wanted to ask you this." she paused and considered her words. There was a slight hesitation in her chest. Should she say something? The Queen knew that once she started to speak, she will not be able to restrain herself. "Please don't think horribly me of this, but..."

"..."

"I needed to hear this from you." she said, coming off arrogantly, and grasped tighter on Lon'qu's back.

Her actions left the man completely flustered. Lon'qu could feel her chest pressed onto his back and a blush formed on the man's face. "W-what?"

"Are you happy?" Robin asked flatly. She did not deem her actions to be inappropriate. It was all to her innocence that she could not be fazed from her brazen actions. "Lon'qu, are you happy?" she repeated once more.

"It does not mean anything to me."

"... I, I... need to know. So please don't avoid my question." the Queen began to feel teary-eyed. She had kept certain feelings buried deep inside her chest for a long time. They were finally being let loose on the surface. The weight felt like a monster slowly gnawing at her insides. "That day in the fields, you avoid me, too. Don't do it again." Robin's voice sounded petulant and childish. "Do you love me...?"

"..."

"No... You're doing it again..." She felt ignored. A large frown appeared on her face.

"I am not." Lon'qu responded hastily.

"Then stop shooting me down and answer me directly!" Robin fought hard with her words. She wanted answers and she needed them now. "Do you love me?!"

The Swordsmaster looked down. "Robin..."

"Who do you think you are? You're breaking me apart!" Her words came out far too strongly even for the harshest of men.

"I-I did not mean to."

"You and me, we're both cowards!" Robin cried onto his back. She began to hit him with all her might. And, no, she did not hold back. She punched him with all her strength. In her mind, she pretended that he was an enemy and fought him with all she's got. Lon'qu took each of her blows without any anger on the woman. There was nothing that could make her stop from pouring out her feelings for she had kept them bottled up for years. Even still, he loved her far too much for his own good. "I hate you!"

I'm sorry, Robin.

A moment later, Chrom found Lon'qu carrying Robin. The woman had finally calmed down and was merely sobbing silently. "Lon'qu! Robin?! Is Milady alright?!" Chrom took his beloved wife from Lon'qu's back and held her tightly. "Why are you crying, Robin? Does something hurt?"

At first, Robin merely sobbed and said nothing. Lon'qu watched in pain. He was frozen on his place. "I-It's nothing. I was just tired." the Grandmaster brushed the tears of her face but they kept pouring down. Slowly, she calmed down. "Please don't mind me."

"It's okay. I'm here." Chrom looked genuinely concerned. "Forgive me for letting you out of my sight, My Love."

Chrom held onto Robin's hand as they both walked back in front of the trail. Robin merely looked down, not bothering to turn and look at the Swordsmaster.

Lon'qu, however, stayed still.

Forgive me, Robin. I love you still. But if back then, I could not reach you, what more now that you are Queen?

(Author's Note: Well... it's there.)