ToOH: I haven't decided on that yet, actually. I'll keep an open mind ^^

Riku Uzumaki: Compared to the one in game, yes, I'd say you're right ^^ I'm glad you make the conjecture :D

ilovefonandalaude: Yes, he will, but as for when he'll appear I can't say for sure.

Aversa waited patiently for the Ylissean party. They should be here any minute now. She wondered how they would react when they saw her liege; if they had any wisdom in them, they would fear for Grima's might.

Finally, the guests she had been expecting entered, escorted by a footman. Aversa took a step forward and gave a polite bow. "Greetings, Prince Chrom. Plegia welcomes you."

Her eyes darted momentarily to the woman accompanying the Exalted Prince. Aversa offered her a courteous smile, but nothing more, although she was aware of this woman's current status now as an Ylissean royalty.

"Aversa," Chrom gasped. "So… do you serve the new king now?"

"Yes, I do," she said with a hint of pride in her voice. "It seems that fate has designs for me yet."

"They say he worships Grima…"

Aversa turned to face the ever-so-faithful general. His over-fealty to his liege and his faith to Naga almost disgusted her, as if she didn't do it herself. Her fingers were itching to shoot a Fire spell on him—his bulky, metal armor would make do as the substitute of frying pan—but she had to stay on course.

"Why, yes, of course he is Grimleal," she tried to appear to be kindly and understanding to him. "My liege often said it was his faith that got him through after Gangrel's passing… it was a hard time, but he kept order where there might have been chaos…"

She could see that he didn't completely believe her. His face twitched as if someone placed hot metal rod on his skin (that was a tempting thought for her, to be honest). Aversa felt that she might puke if she looked at him any longer so decided to face Chrom again. He had the most redeemable look among his party, anyway. "We had meant to arrange an official visit to Ylisstol, but—"

She noticed that Chrom's expression changed and turned around. "Ah, here's my lord now."

Aversa stepped aside to give room for Validar. Her eyes kept watching the prince and Roxanne—so far, nothing changed. However, she was sure that it wouldn't be for long.

"An honor to finally meet you, Your Serene Grace," Validar smiled courteously. "I am Validar, the king regnant of Plegia."

"The honor is mine, good king," Chrom calmly said. A moment later, his brows furrowed together. "Is it possible we've met before…?"

There was it: that look of horror—that's what she's been waiting for. Aversa took a deep breath, trying to contain her excitement. She was sure that Validar was the same, too.

"Oh ho, I'm quite certain I'd remember any encounter with Ylissean royalty."

Chrom leaned slightly towards Roxanne, whispering something to her. "And you must be Roxanne, the Princess Consort."

Roxanne jerked slightly when she heard the mention of her name. "You know of me, sire?"

"Of course!" Validar grinned. "The whole world knows of Ylisse's Princess Consort and master tactician. Surely, even I can see the blend between beauty and wisdom in you…"

"You honor me too much…"

Her eyes darted towards Chrom and they continued where they left off earlier. She couldn't make out what they were saying from she stood, but she was sure that they were talking about her lord. Those looks on their faces were priceless—good for target practice for javelin throwing, she supposed.

"My, the negotiations haven't even begun and already so much whispering."

Chrom and Roxanne quickly parted and the prince bowed slightly. "My apologies, King Validar. We meant no disrespect."

"Then, let us get to it."

That was her cue. Aversa took a small step forward. "Plegia can offer no soldier, but will provide eight hundred warships and two hundreds transports," she told them. "In addition, we would be very pleased to fund the campaign against Valm."

"That's… surprisingly generous of you, milord."

Aversa smiled. Of course… she thought inwardly.

"I trust this is a suffice proof of our commitment to the cause?"

"Of course it will," Chrom replied. "Thank you, King Validar."

"The honor it ours, Your Serene Grace. I look forward to building a strong bond between our nations."

"As do I," Chrom nodded. "Then, if there's nothing else, we have to leave for Port Ferox immediately."

"Ah, so soon? We have one more introduction to make."

"…and who would that be?"

"A hierophant, the highest of her order in Plegia."

The mentioned personage entered the room. She faced Roxanne. "The heart still sleeps, but the blood flows through it. And the blood is strong…"

Aversa loved Roxanne's confused look—served her right. "I beg your pardon, are you talking to me, milady?" she asked.

"Good hierophant, I would ask you lower your cowl. In Ylisse, that is the expected courtesy of one in the presence of royalty."

"…You are a long way from Ylisse, but very well."

The hierophant removed her cowl as asked. Aversa watched their expressions closely. She grinned when she saw colors being drained from their faces.

Roxanne stepped out from her tent, wearing her grandmaster coat over her dark flier armor to deal with the chilling and dry Plegian night breeze. Her head hurt badly that she couldn't sleep.

Besides, how could that be?

Of course, she had heard about doppelgänger, but she wouldn't expect to find one here, in such time, in Plegia from any other place in the world. And there was Aversa and Validar's smirk that bothered her mind… what was their purpose of doing this? Immediately after the hierophant showed her face, they simply brushed them off.

Validar…

Yes, she was sure that he was the man she met at the night of Emmeryn's attempted assassination—the man who claimed to know the truth about her. Could he be a doppelgänger, too? Yet, the feeling in her chest when she saw him was more than mere recognition. She couldn't pinpoint what was it, but surely, there was something.

Roxanne looked at her right hand and carefully removed her glove. Her mysterious tattoo glowed red against her hand. The six eyes were opened wide, as if glaring at her. Actually, there was something in her mother's diary about this tattoo of hers. She had written that it was an ancient symbol of Grima. There was something else after that, but her mother had crossed the line out until it was unintelligible.

She didn't want to believe it then, so she walked out from the inn to get some fresh air to clear her mind. That was when Chrom found her—and she thought she could bury that deep inside of her, with her memories with Chrom and the Shepherds.

However, with how things were going now…

Could it be…?

Roxanne quickly put her glove back on, swatting all those unpleasant thoughts.

"Roxanne… heed me…"

Roxanne held her breath and looked around. She was alone, or at least seemingly so. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"

"Heed my call, Roxanne…"

Suddenly, her head was bombarded with a new pain and her ears were filled with a loud buzz, as if a horde of bees were making their way into her. She fell to her knees, her hands on her ears in a vain attempt to reduce the noise. "W-what's this?!"

Roxanne was barely able to hold herself against the pain when she noticed someone else was there. She looked up and saw the man she wanted to see the least: Validar. His face was different from earlier, though, for he seemed to be more melancholic now.

Why…?

"Why do you close your heart to him, Roxanne?"

"V-Validar…?" she groaned.

"Have you truly forgotten?"

"Why are you here?! Get out or I'll raise the alarm!"

Validar laughed. "Such arrogance," he said. "You dare to use such a tone against your own father?"

Roxanne held her breath when she heard his last word: father. By now, she was sure that she had enough shock to last her for the next decade. Validar decided to exploit this momentum. "You are of my flesh, but of sacred blood. You are to serve a glorious purpose!"

"No way… get out!"

"Why, Roxanne?" Validar asked wistfully. "Your place is right next to me… with Grima. Not those followers of Naga!"

No. Nonono

"Roxanne!"

"Tch! Not that brat again—never mind, in time, you will see the truth…"

Roxanne closed her eyes, trying to find respite in darkness. Slowly, the pain and the buzzing noise lessened but not the weight of information that Validar had given her. She was his daughter.

She felt a warm touch on her shoulder and looked up. Chrom. Her husband. "Roxanne, are you alright?" His face was written with the word 'worry' all over it.

"Yeah…"

She was panting heavily. Chrom studied her face and immediately knew that she was lying. "Don't lie. What happened?"

Roxanne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Validar…" she paused, unsure of her decision. However, she knew it'd be much better if Chrom knew it from her than anybody else. "…he was here a moment ago. He said I was his daughter."

Chrom was understandably shocked by the revelation. "Are you sure?"

"I… well… I don't think he's lying," she finally admitted. "Loath am I to say this, but I do feel that… there was something more when I saw him."

"Then, the hierophant earlier… could it be that you are twins?"

Roxanne looked at Chrom. She was steeling herself for worse questions—or even declarations like "get out from my sight", as unlikely as it might seem. But she didn't expect Chrom to immediately accept her possible heritage like this.

Her thoughts must have shown in her face as Chrom pulled her into a gentle embrace and his hand caressed her hair. "I love you, Roxanne… no matter whom your father is."

Roxanne wrapped her arms around his shoulders and put her head on his chest. "I'm sorry, Chrom…" she murmured. "I'm so sorry…"

"For what?"

"The tattoo on my hand," she closed her eyes. "…It's a Plegian symbol. A symbol of Grima. I… I found out about it quite a while ago, in my mother's diary. Just before… you found me in that town," she held her breath. Her eyes were stung with tears that were in danger of bursting out. "I didn't want to believe it back then, but…"

She thought that it would be the final blow. She thought Chrom would push her away now that she revealed that secret. She had, in some sense, deceived him.

However, Chrom held her even tighter instead and kissed the crown of her head. "You finally figured that out, huh?"

Roxanne blinked in surprise and looked up at Chrom. He was gazing at her tenderly, with a hint of amusement in his smile. "…what?"

"Remember your old coat?" he asked. "It was sewn with Plegian symbols. I thought you might be a Plegian refugee or deserter. And then, there's that tattoo as well."

"You knew… ever since then?"

"I won't say I know. I just think that it is a possibility."

"But, still... you took me in?"

He nodded. "I couldn't leave you alone on that plain. Not when you don't even know your name," he smiled. "That's the best decision I've ever made in my life so far."

Roxanne threw herself into his arms once again and hugged him fiercely. She could hear him chuckling. "I'm glad you finally told me this."

"That should be my line…" she murmured.

Chrom helped her to stand. Just then, Frederick ran towards them, "Risen has encircled our camp!"

"But we've posted sentries!"

"They came in stealthily. This is unlike I've ever seen before… someone might in command of them."

"Validar…" Roxanne muttered under her breath.

"Raise the alarm," Chrom commanded. "We'll fight for our lives."