Robin and Grima - Sand and Blood

Mikoto watched silently as Robin jolted off her throne as if he were struck by Byakuya's lightning itself. With a rapid exchange of words with his wife who stood a few steps beneath him, Robin nodded to himself confidently and turned back to the throne. He saw something he didn't expect to see, but from the looks of things, he was daring to see it again.

"Mother, what is Byakuya showing him?"

"Hush, my son. That is what I am trying to find out."

It was uneventful, for the most part, as Robin lay against the backrest, eyes shut as if warding off nightmares.

It was typical for strange behavior when seated on the throne of Hoshido, Mikoto recalled. The few that had done so in her lifetime exhibited erratic movements or fearful terrors on their initial touch with the seat. It would lessen over time, when it didn't scramble the brain of the one on the throne.

Robin's first round had him recite some odd 'synopsis' for Takumi, promptly after getting shot by him. The second had him blurting random names, places, events. Typical, if not foreign.

And then Robin said the name of her daughter.

The moment he mentioned Kamui, Mikoto knew her suspicions were at least valid. But who was this Nohrian, who claimed to know her daughter? And what was his claim, that Kamui would unite Hoshido and Nohr and usher in an era of peace?

And why would Kamui... kill her?

It made perfect sense though, Mikoto realized. Her dreams had shown her this story countless times. A daughter's blade in her mother's gut. As poetic as that may have seemed, it made no sense.

Unless of course, she was missing a part of the story.

Where was Kamui now?

"I'm... in Hoshido," Robin breathed to himself, still not fully comprehending his whereabouts in relation to Corrin's memories. Unlike the princess, Robin had no idea how Corrin's childhood or recent adventures were before he had rescued her from Hoshido and Nohr's wrath. But Queen Mikoto was still alive... which meant that...

"What has the throne shown you, Prince of Nohr?" Robin turned to look upon the Hoshidans below, and he gulped at some of the familiar faces that were, in the real world, his allies and friends.

Frowning with pursed lips, he looked back onto the seat of Hosihdo's Queen with fear.

"Not enough," he replied, gesturing to the ruler of Dawn. She understood his implication and nodded again.

"Do what you must, Nohrian Prince."

Robin, very aware that he was not a prince nor a Nohrian, as far as he was concerned, sat back down for a third time, waiting for Grima's voice to guide him. Instead, what he got was an overwhelming barrage of images, visions... memories.

The life that was taken away from him.


Robin stood in a circular room, dark and stone-walled, with a dusty stone floor. As there was nothing but torchlight illuminating the interior, he had no idea whether it was day or night. On closer inspection, the flames seemed to be moving at an unnaturally slow pace. It was if...

"Do pardon my powers for a moment; I can't stop time completely, but this is about as slow as I can make it."

"Where... when is this place?" Robin asked.

"The time, Robin, is near midnight," Grima announced, breaking Robin's immersion with the room as he manifested next to the tactician.

"W-what?"

"Give or take a few minor details, your childhood, as you have well-forgotten, is, er... was... quite uniform to mine."

"Am I... looking at it?"

"I told you I'd show you things you needed to see right? While it is technically my fault you lost these memories in the first place, I'm trying my best to restore the important details. Here. Pay close attention, and analyze everything that comes off as at least somewhat familiar."

With that, Grima seemed to make time flow to a normal pace and the two watched as three figures entered the room through a stairwell. One, a woman, was clutching a bundle that was restless underneath her breast, so Robin guessed that it was a baby or something like that. Another, a man, darker skinned with a sinister glare, lead the way. His hands were empty, but the way his fingers twitched had Robin suspect that he knew a fair share of magic. The last man, hooded, had Robin believe that this was himself. At least, the way the cloak was set up, that could very well had been him.

"Validar, you have quite the nerve bringing that woman in here," the Robin doppelganger started, clearly displeased. As far as voices went, he sounded nothing like Robin, so perhaps the cloak was just a coincidence. Validar, whom Robin assumed was the darker one, nodded in agreement.

"She insisted on staying with the babe till the very end. She knows the consequences." The woman, who Robin just noticed was quaking in fear, clutched the bundle tight in her arms even as she stepped forward.

"Brave," the Robin lookalike began, even if offhandedly. "Your courage, loyalty, whatever it is you may call it, is certainly noteworthy. But you knew the consequences of stepping into the sanctum without the blessing you needed, and now you will pay. Though... I suppose a merciful swift death is in order for your role in all this, Nifrit."

"I face my sentence, knowing that I have done Grima's will," the woman, whom Robin assumed was 'Nifrit,' stated boldly.

"Indeed you have. And thus, your reward shall be in full," the Robin lookalike sighed, drawing a long jagged sword slowly and admiring its serrated edge for an instant, before plunging it repeatedly into Nifrit's heart.

"Nngh... I die... knowing I... did... r..." Nifrit groaned, trying her best not to let her cries of pain be heard. Even as she fell with a thud onto the hard floor, the babe in her arms remained tight against her still body, soundless.

"And... now the maiden's blood flows like a river beneath my feet. A pity," the Robin mimic claimed, his smile very faint but still apparent on his hooded face.

Prying the baby out of Nifrit's arms, Validar examined the baby to see if it was injured. The hooded man didn't bother waiting and took the baby for himself, narrating all the while.

"It isn't hurt, aside from the mother's blood splattered on his face. If it's going to be the vessel for Grima, I doubt a few drops onto the floor will even faze it."

"I see the truth in that, hierarch." Validar admitted, giving the baby to said 'Hierarch.'

With that, Grima reappeared and time seemed to halt again. Robin looked around, still processing everything but keeping his questions to himself.

"Well?" Grima asked, no expression on his face aside from curiosity.

"That mark, on Nifrit's hand... It was the same as mine. The mark of the Grimleal," Robin figured.

"Right. Nifrit, Myself rest her soul, was a loyal, loving, and obscenely naive woman. Though... as a mother? She wasn't exactly the most ideal to us." Robin looked up in disbelief. That dead woman... was his mother?

"N-no..."

"I know what you're thinking, Robin. I've thought those thoughts ever since I learned that truth atop my throne. And now you're thinking, who's that baby that the hierarch and Validar just let roll on the floor after killing its Mommy?"

"Me..."

"Piece together a synopsis yet?"

"T-they... wanted you to be the vessel for Grima." And as Robin looked at himself, he saw just how hauntingly similar he was to the Grima across from him. "And... that makes me of the same loom as you."

"I had plenty of chances to run away," Grima sighed, looking at Validar with a sense of hatred. "But I never did. So as we grew up, we were versed in the arts of war as well as the history of Grima and his Grimleal. Before long, we were established as prodigies. 'Robin, Plegian tactician in training, holy vessel for Grima.' And damn, I enjoyed that worship. Didn't take long after that for darkness to corrupt me. He had me before I even realized it was him."

"That makes me... the very person we're trying to kill," Robin realized, paling in his thoughts, "I'm the one that's pivotal in resurrecting the Fell Dragon." Grima shook his head at the thought, pointing at Robin slowly.

"You... you're different. Out of all the iterations of Robin's I've watched over my eternal lifetime, none of them have resisted the Fell Dragon's call before."

"Your what? And what 'Iteration' are you talking about?"

"Ah, you'd understand if you were in my shoes. See, as the Fell Dragon, we live as Naga's dissonance. Everything she stands for, we try to dispel. At least... that was the case, until my human soul overpowered the darkness inside."

"You mean yourself?"

"Precisely. But that was way too late to reverse much of the damage done. Countless worlds have fallen to darkness. But over time, Naga began to see victory again. Not because she grew any stronger, but because the darkness was receding."

"Huh?"

"Ah, to be a mortal with such finite understanding," Grima sighed, trying to piece together his thoughts into simple words. "In this universe, there are countless, infinite worlds where a multitude of choices have or haven't been made. Many of them are similar. For example, nearly every Robin began his story by being picked up from a field by our lovable Prince of Ylisse."

"Chrom..."

"But sometimes, things didn't go according to Naga's plans. Or mine, now that I think about it. Sometimes, Lucina kills you. Sometimes, Chrom kills you. Sometimes, we kill Lucina and Chrom, and so on and so forth."

"Why would I do that?"

"You wouldn't understand, because you were never corrupted," Grima explained. "In the last iteration, the one where this Lucina is from, along with most of the future kids, this Robin was fully controlled by darkness. He had Chrom believe he was an ally all the way up to the final battle, where Validar awoke the devil inside... Then, Robin killed Chrom on the altar of their sworn enemy," Grima stuttered, still shaking his head.

"Wait..." Robin realized, thinking back to Lucina's story. "Robin killed himself in her timeline."

"After he killed Chrom," Grima concluded. "You couldn't live with the grief of betrayal, watching your best friend who you just murdered's daughter cry in your lap."

"Chrom was killed by his closest ally..." Robin began, not believing his own fate.

"So yes. That Robin, like so many Robins' before, was consumed by my darkness and doomed not only Ylisse, but their world."

"And you couldn't do anything about it?" Robin wondered, not liking Grima's passiveness to that situation.

"Not for a while," Grima replied, knowing where Robin was going. "When Lucina and her friends came through the portal, I, meaning my human self, knew that you were different from all the other Robins."

"How so?"

"Corrin," Grima said simply.

"What?"

"Somehow, her being here is counteracting Validar's influence over you. He couldn't control you if he tried. Which makes you immune to Grima's control. Wanna know why?"

"Why?"

"Because whatever blood that's flowing through her veins is a helluva lot stronger than whatever we can muster. Like it or not, she's stronger than you by leaps and bounds. She just doesn't know it. Either that, or she hasn't tapped into it yet."

"It's because of her connection to her world's dragons, isn't it?"

"Yes... and no. While it is true that Ana- her world's dragon's blood has empowered her to an amazing extent, there is something that not even I can comprehend that will put a halt to the bad guy upstairs' plans. Something that will prevent you from killing Chrom and therefore, keep Grima at check."

"That's why we brought them, to help," Robin reasoned, liking how his plan was turning out even without hindsight-

"She's not here to help. She's here to kill Grima. And that means killing you."

"W-what?"

"She's going to kill you Robin. Your chest is going to have a Yatogami protruding out of its front while you cough and choke on your own blood."

"What makes you think that?"

"I saw it, Robin. The only reason Chrom doesn't die, is because you will. And that's something I cannot let happen. I can't let Naga down. Not to mention you."


"Well, here we are, the Shepherd's garrison," Lissa piped, catching Maribelle out of the corner of her eye as she ran off. "Do make yourself at home!"

Corrin smiled as she was greeted by the Ylissean Shepherds, as few as they were at the moment. However, 'Marth' stuck by her side, silent and passive until Chrom decided to make an announcement.

"Hey, squirt! Where's Chrom? I bet he had a rough time out there without ol' Teach and his trusty axe! And who's these two people?"

"It's who are, you degenerate ape," Maribelle scoffed, clearly annoyed at the culturally unrefined man.

"Same tomatoes," Vaike scoffed. "My question still stands. Now who's gonna tell Teach the answer?"

"Well, Sir Vaike," Corrin laughed, a light smile on her face, "My name is Corrin. This here is my friend, Marth. And I believe the phrase is 'Tomatoes, Tomatos."

"A pleasure, I'm sure," Vaike waved off, leaning past Corrin to spy on Marth, looking at the mask in confusion before shrugging. "It's cool, I guess. And wait, how'd ya know my real name?"

Sumia interrupted, butting in between Vaike and Corrin and looked at Lissa fearfully. Her hands were shaking and Corrin could make out what seemed to be flower petals scattered around her boots.

"Is Captain Chrom all right?" she asked.

"Ah, don't mind her," Vaike scoffed, "She's been in and out of it all day during training ever since we heard of your guys' scuffle by South Town. I'm pretty sure she'd get more bruises and scrapes with a blindfold than worrying over her crush-"

"Agh! He's our captain and our prince! Why shouldn't I worry-"

"Oh, for real now," Vaike interrupted, leaving Sumia flustered, "Who really are you two strangers?"

"No one's stranger than you, Vaike," Lissa replied, "But allow me to introduce Corrin! She just joined the Shepherds, along with Marth here. Chrom's made her the Shepherd's tactician! You should see all the tricks she can pull out of her sleeve!" Vaike nodded in pleasant surprise, flashing a quick grin at Corrin before glancing daringly at the young blonde princess.

"Oh yeah? Can she do this?" With that, he belched loudly, much to Corrin's and Maribelle's initial disgust. However, the latter merely stormed off while the former just giggled lightly, shaking her head.

"I'm afraid I can't, Vaike," Corrin admitted sheepishly, knowing full well that she could probably top that pathetic display of burping if Elise was around to goad her enough. Or Lissa, now that she thought about it.

"But she can turn into a dragon!" Lissa interjected, causing Corrin to meekly bow her head in diminutive grace.

"Err, yes, but that's no where near as impressive as burping-"

"You can what?!" Vaike announced, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, this, Teach has got to see."

Such an exposition was put on hold, when Chrom entered along with Frederick, scanning the small crowd for Corrin.

"Ah, there you are. Everybody! Gather around, I have orders and I want everyone here for this."

Maribelle came back promptly, still complaining about Vaike's mannerisms, along with a hulking yet silent mass of armor behind her. Kellam, she realized. Wait, was he there the whole time?

I still don't know the enigma of that man, after so many lifetimes of watching. At least, I think I was watching him. He tends to disappear at will, even from my eyes.

With all the Shepherds gathered, Chrom led Corrin and Marth up to an elevated position for all to see.

"Well, this is Princess Corrin," Chrom began, smiling at his new friend.

I never got this special treatment...

Quit your whining, Grima.

"P-princess?" Maribelle scoffed, not believing Corrin's title.

"Indeed I am," Corrin replied gently, having nothing to show for it except for Yato... which was useless with her sprained arm. "I am a Princess of Hoshido by birth, kidnapped by Nohrians and raised under their king as a Princess there. Technically speaking, I am a Princess for two different countries."

"That's quite something," Sumia gawked, before realizing something. "Hey, I read about that before! It's a story from some old... ah I forget."

"N-no... Wait," Corrin paused. "Tell me more?"

"It can wait," Chrom interrupted, gesturing back to the task on hand. "We are to make course to Regna Ferox, a political mission to seek aid against the invading Plegian army. We leave at dawn tomorrow, so be well prepared for the march."

"Wait, the Plegians are attacking Ylisse?" Vaike asked, trying his hardest to hide his eager grin.

"Yes they are," Chrom replied. "Corrin was pivotal in driving their forces out of Southtown."

"So she's joining us as a Shepherd?" Stahl wondered.

"Yes. She has a keen eye for strategy from what I can see. Perhaps she can wield our small numbers far more effectively than what I can do. I trust her, as should all of you."

Well, look at this. Stealing your boyfriend's job.

Ooh, do I get a tactician's cloak too? Robin's is so cuddly. I never did get to wear it though.

Don't bet on it. Besides, your armor is quite impressive in itself.

Thanks! Jakob and Flora and Felicia made it for me!

I don't care.

Oh...

"Anyway," Chrom resumed, "Time is of the essence so we won't get that many chances to resupply for the march. Pack warm and rest well. And Vaike?"

"Yes Chrom?"

"Try to remember your ax."

"Pff, The Vaike never forgets! He just doesn't always remember!"

"Well tomorrow isn't one of those times. And that accounts for everyone else too! Don't forget a thing!"

Simultaneous 'aye's and 'yes's rang out and Chrom nodded briskly before exiting the podium, not noticing Marth, whom he had completely forgotten about. The mysterious adventurer followed the prince and Corrin was left to hunt for Sumia. Having found her in her own room in the Shepherd barracks, she knocked before the Pegasus Knight greeted her.

"Ah, Corrin, was it? How can I help you?"

"Hello, Sumia," Corrin hesitated, not recalling whether Sumia had told her her name yet-

"How'd you know my name?" Ah, so she didn't.

Keep your stories consistent. Then again, you weren't lying to begin with, so that also works.

"I know a lot more than your name," Corrin attempted, realizing too late how creepy that sounded.

"Wait, what?" Sumia replied, reacting just as Corrin expected to such odd verbiage.

"I'm from another world," she mustered, which was deemed an even weaker response by the Pegasus Knight.

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." Corrin sighed and stood in the doorway, trying to look as downtrodden as possible.

"That story you mentioned... A Princess trapped between choosing between her homeland and her family. What is it called?"

"Oh that? It's an old folk tale I found at a book store once. As far as I know, I have the only copy! Doesn't mention Hoshido or Nohr though, or else it'd be highly searched for!"

"Why so?"

"Well, those countries were the home of so many tales and mythology! Imagine, stepping into a land where stories came from? Ah, that'd be something amazing! I bet Cordelia would love to join me if we-"

"Sumia?"

"Y-yes? Sorry, I ramble a lot and-"

"It's okay," Corrin smiled, looking at another Ylissean whom she had never really gotten to know that well. "So do I."

No time like the present. Sumia isn't that bad.

"The story was... what was it called? Ah, Conquest and Fate, there we go. The Princess decided to side with her family, but paid the ultimate price in the end. Her homeland was nearly destroyed, and its government overthrown despite her best efforts to preserve it. Overcome by grief, the princess exiled herself and was never seen again."

"Oh," Corrin gulped, wondering whether that would have been her fate if she had sided with Nohr.

It would've been. Thank goodness Robin came when he did, or else you would be guilty of Hoshidan treason. A lot of people you knew would be dead.

"You're really from those kingdoms, aren't you," Sumia realized when she watched Corrin's expressions.

"I've seen my fair sure of Ylisse too," Corrin replied, smiling slightly at the memories. "I've seen you and Cordelia too, if you'd believe my story. You always did like stories, from what my brother tells me."

"Your brother?"

"His name is Takumi... In my world, you and him would read together when we weren't fighting or training. He didn't like to admit it, but he admired you a lot."

"What is this? I don't know a Takumi or a-"

"In my world, not this one," Corrin sighed. "This world isn't real."

What the hell was that?

"What do you mean, it's not real?"

"It feels like a dream," Corrin explained, knowing full well that she was indeed stuck in her own dream.

"Maybe for you. But for me? I'm enjoying every minute as a Shepherd! And being close to Chrom, but that's-"

"You enjoy stories a lot, Sumia."

"Yeah, I guess."

"You're the most avid reader in the Shepherds, bar none. I was hoping you would be willing to listen to my story."

"Hmm? Why me?"

"You're a good listener, from what Takumi tells me about you. And I'm willing to test that notion out myself, if you have the time."

"I'm all ears, Lady Corrin. How far-fetched could your story be?"


Robin stumbled off the throne, still slightly off balance from the onslaught of memories he had. But he was all the wiser, and he waited for Ryoma or Mikoto to make their move as he stayed near the top.

"Did you find anything out about my daughter?"

Is there any way to show them the truth?

Possibly. Sit on the throne with them in physical contact to you. But... that will make them realize the world they live in, and the world you do. It might truly screw with their heads, even if this is all an illusion to you.

Well, no harm in harming characters in my head then.

"I... you may not appreciate it," Robin replied. "If I sit on the throne, you two need to be in physical contact with me to see what I do. I can see the true essence of things, but through my perspective, you shall too."

Hesitantly, both Hoshidans met Robin on the throne as he sat down once more, this time his thoughts on the one person he missed so dearly.

I'll... stay back on this one.


"M-mother?!" Corrin gasped, leaping backwards and near slamming her head on the wall behind her. "Ow. And brother Ryoma! And... Robin!"

"You remember us," Mikoto gasped, admiring Corrin's grown self.

"S-sister," Ryoma breathed, looking at the princess. "W-where are we, anyway?"

"You're in my memories," Robin explained. "What you're seeing isn't really Corrin- err, Kamui. Well it is, but... not in real time. The fact that she recognizes you proves that this is after... she kills you."

"Agh, don't remind me," Corrin sighed, appearing crestfallen. "But how did you get in here? Wherever here is."

"Like I said, this is one of my recent memories," Robin continued. "I believe this is a few weeks after I met Kamui. We are in a land known as Valm. The local area would be my tent, part of a larger group in our army's camp."

"You met her? But... that doesn't explain-"

"I know how inconsistent my story is if you think me a Prince of Nohr. But I'm not. I don't know what this body has been doing for the last how many years old I am, but the life I've led, the one that the throne has shown me, is one far away from Nohr."

"So you're not a Nohrian?"

"No. I met your daughter when a few hours after your murder. She was cornered by both the Hoshidan army and the invading Nohrian army. She got them to cease hostilities after some convincing from our part, and then both armies helped us."

"That is incredibly far-fetched," Ryoma muttered.

"I know. But I'm sitting on the throne that reveals one's truth. I don't think it's possible to even tell a lie on this throne. You can believe whatever you want of my story, but that is all I can afford to show you. Kamui is safe, but I doubt you'll be seeing her again."

"What are you rambling about?" Corrin wondered, glancing between Robin and Mikoto.

"As much as I would like to indulge in these memories too," Robin sighed, "I have to work on getting back to you, in person."

"Heh. Well, it's good to know I'm such a major aspect of your memories!"

"You're a figment of my imagination," Robin realized, looking at the Corrin who wasn't really Corrin, but just thoughts in his head. "I'll see you soon."

"I know, Robin. Good luck. And Mother?"

Mikoto bolted up, still at odds with the ethereal sight of her daughter.

"Y-yes, my child?"

"I'll bring peace to Hoshido and Nohr. Just you wait. Your death... it won't be in vain."

"I... I'm glad," Mikoto replied softly, bowing graciously.

"Ryoma, I nearly forgot!" Corrin turned, smiling at her brother.

"Kamui, you've grown since I've last remembered you," Corrin waved it off and hugged both her family members before disappearing.

When Mikoto and Ryoma opened their eyes, Robin was next to them, having gotten off the Hoshidan throne.

"Does that prove anything?" Robin asked, not knowing what would happen now. His memories as a Nohrian prince were fading, no doubt in parallel with the curse that Iago had constructed upon him and Corrin. He reckoned by the time he was free of this dreamscape, he would forget entirely about his life in the Northern Fortress. A pity, he realized.

Don't worry. The insights you have here will stay. You'll appreciate your Nohrian allies a lot more once you get back. Perhaps you can start by taking Felicia to a nice date?

I'm sure Corrin won't mind.

Ah well. I'm sensing trouble, so I'm leaving the path to you. I know just as much as you do how Corrin's story went. Not to mention you've completely derailed it by now. We need a way for you to wake up and get back to Ylisse.

Right. What mention of trouble are we talking about.

Well, remember how Corrin was trapped between Hoshido and Nohr's finest armies?

Until we appeared that is.

That's not going to happen. But you're going to be in the middle nonetheless. You're going to need some help.

Like Azura?

Precisely. Look alive, here comes the messenger I sensed earlier.

On cue, a Hoshidan ran into the palace, bowing at Mikoto and Ryoma's feet at the bottom of the stairs, before gasping for air and taking off his helmet.

"My liege, Faceless have been sighted near the border village! Princesses Hinoka and Sakura are still in there!" Robin stepped in, taking charge even amidst the Hoshidan queen.

"Who are you, that you interrupt Queen Mikoto-"

"Prince Ryoma, I think we're needed by that border village. And you, messenger. Send word for Kaze of clan Saizo and Rinkah of the flame tribe to meet us by the stables as soon as possible. Even if they are injured, I'll need their help for this combat operation.

"W-what? Who are you?" The messenger squinted at Robin's face but didn't recognize him.

"Listen to him," Mikoto said after a short while. "He bears true."

"Right away then, milady." With that, the messenger ran out to find the two Robin had mentioned.

Robin looked down at Felicia before nodding confidently.

"You ready for another fight? They're Faceless this time. I can't believe Nohr would actually let them loose after such failed experiments."

"I'll keep you safe all the same, Lord Robin."

That's right, she doesn't know my true intentions yet.

Better to keep it that way. The less people that know, the better. Ryoma and Mikoto may be influential, but they're not gossipy.

So it shall be. Very well.

"You'll need to keep Princess Hinoka and Sakura safe too. C'mon, we must make haste if we're going to get to them in time!" With that, Robin ran down the stairs and paused, not knowing where to go. Ryoma was still at odds with having Robin join him, but from what he saw on the throne, this man had a lot more than what met the eyes.

"To the stables then. Mother, is there anything else?"

"Yes," Mikoto realized, looking at Robin. "Bring Azura with you. Whatever Robin was thinking, I felt it. Azura will be of most useful aid."

"Very well. She shall come too."

Alright. Now to bring her up to speed as well. Azura has crucial information, something you will need desperately, not only here, but in the real world.

Always figured she had something to say.

A woman knows when to keep her secrets, Robin.

Well, how important is Azura's information?

This may seem strange, but when you see her, whisper this phrase in her ear and she will soften up. Maybe even listen to you.

What, 'Take off your clothes and let's have passionate sex?'

Tempting, but no. Tell her:

'The Dragon of Silence will be so forevermore.'