A/N: Shorter Chapter this go round. Not really much to say here beyond thank you for all of the Follows and Favorites, they mean a great deal to me.
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Robin wanted her memories back, plain and simple. She was past the stage of agonizing over what she couldn't remember and what she had been like before she'd awoken in the field that changed her life. She figured that was remarkable progress in a short span of time, but she hadn't felt the need to bring that up. Instead she had to suffer through bouts of nostalgia from random things, memories stirring beneath the surface then fading moments before they became clear. It hurt, but the more she tried to force herself to remember the harder the memories were to grasp. It didn't help that she'd been told that only dark mages and practitioners of heretical arts dealt with memory related magics, both of which were obviously against the teachings of Naga.
Naga. That name made her blood boil and she couldn't tell why. She hadn't mentioned that to Chrom or the others because she could tell that would have caused her a great deal of trouble in Ylisse, where Naga was the most prominent deity worshipped. Curiously, her disdain did not extend to Chrom or Emmeryn, despite both bearing Naga's mark, or even the Falchion, it was pointed solely at Naga. She tried to not think about that when she could help it, she had much bigger things to deal with like being a tactician and getting back into some semblance of shape.
Chrom, bless his kind soul, had to have been off his rocker to entrust her with the wellbeing of nearly a dozen people. Sure, she could predict what another person was planning and make a counter plan to that before it unfolded, but that was really all she was good at. Apparently Chrom saw more in her than that and so did Frederick, though the latter was much more begrudging in saying so. Rather than listen to her when she said that her performance with the bandits and the newly christened Risen had been a fluke, she found herself carrying eight heavy leather bound books up two flights of stairs to a room that was supposed to be her office. Chrom had offered his assistance, but Frederick intervened, stating that they had a very important meeting to attend and that she needed the exercise. Robin hadn't known how much she could hate that word.
One long and exhausting trip later and Robin had arrived at her office. It was fairly spacious, with enough room for five bookcases as tall as her and twice as wide, a large red wood desk and accompanying chair, a decent sized bed and nightstand, a wardrobe and a large , it had belonged to the previous Ylissean tactician, but he'd up and vanished twelve years ago after a mysterious fire engulfed the room and burned all of his belongings to ash. The room had since been repaired and furnished, but the scent of burning scented wood and ink faintly lingered in the air.
Robin managed to set the books down on the desk and flopped onto the bed, thoroughly tired and ready to retire for the day. The bed was perhaps the softest thing she'd slept on ever; even her uncooperative memories agreed there. She'd all but drifted off when she heard a knock on the door.
"Robin? It's me Lissa," called a familiar voice from behind the door. The amnesiac briefly considered pretending to be asleep until the princess left, but thought the better of it. For one, it would have been unnecessarily rude to the girl who'd done her best to talk to her and befriend her. More importantly though, she didn't want to slight her: Lissa was a princess and a capable healer, two sorts of people a reasonable person wouldn't want to anger. While she was certain that Lissa wasn't the vengeful or grudge bearing type, she didn't want to risk it. Thus, with a muffled groan, Robin rose from the bed and opened the door.
As expected Lissa was outside, eyes practically glowing with giddy excitement... Actually, her eyes were glowing. She wore a new dress nearly identical to the one she'd worn while they were travelling, but there was no cage support for this one. She also still had on the coat Nicola had given her, though now it looked smaller and fit her frame much better as it seemed to tighten around her waist then expand outwards further down. Peculiar.
"Is something the matter," the tactician asked, trying her best to not look as tired as she felt. Evidently she failed because Lissa brought a hand to her forehead then hummed in a pensive manner.
"I was going to show you down to the barracks to meet the other Shepherds, but you look out of it and feel warmer than usual," Lissa replied. Ah, right, that was supposed to happen. Robin really didn't want to leave the office, not when there was a comfy bed nearby, but she had agreed to meet them soon.
"I can make one more trip," Robin said, managing to force a smile. She was going to fall over and not move once she arrived, but she could make a single trip.
"Are you sure? We can always introduce you to them tomorrow," Lissa began, only to frown. "Actually, I think Maribelle was going to be heading back home and Sumia has drills tomorrow. Oh, and Ricken has classes..."
"Today will do then," Robin breathed as the princess gave her a sheepish look. "The sooner the better."
"Right!"
Lissa led the tired amnesiac through the castle then across a courtyard and to a smaller building on the castle grounds. Like the castle it was made of finely cut stone, though it appeared far more worn and weathered than the main building. Numerous training dummies could be seen along the sides of the building, some larger or set higher up than others. Several clearly carved stone squares were a bit further out from the dummies, each clearly elevated half a foot from the ground. The inside of the building was lively as multiple ongoing conversations went on.
Robin recognized Sully and Virion among those present, both at different sides of the large common room talking with different people. Sully had an elbow resting on a table as she spoke with a shirtless sun tanned man with blonde hair and a green haired knight sitting next to several large empty plates. Virion spoke with a blonde haired woman dressed in what Robin assumed to be a noble's attire, though he appeared to have lost her interest with how she would occasionally glance around mid conversation Closer to the center of the room sat a red haired woman with bob cut hair wearing robes, a large hat and spectacles. At her side was a short youth with brown hair wearing a similar garb to her own, both appearing to be discussing the contents of the rather thick spellbooks they carried. Then there was-
Robin's eyes narrowed. She was certain someone else was in the room, but she couldn't see or hear them. Perhaps she could- No, that was another hazy thing that refused to be known. She decided not to focus on the unknown presence, but kept it in mind just in case.
"These are the Shepherds," Lissa explained over the chatter. "The shirtless oaf near Sully is Vaike and the knight with green hair is Stahl. In the middle of the room are Miriel and Ricken, though he's much more of a junior member of the Shepherds than a full member because of how young he is. And waaayyyy on the far side of the room near Virion is my best friend, Maribelle."
The woman in question looked up at that moment and when she saw Lissa her neutral expression split into a large smile. She was across the room in a moment, pulling the princess into a tight hug as she returned the smile.
"Lissa, my darling," the woman beamed, tightening her hug as Lissa giggled. The taller blonde woman then blinked, concern flashing across her face. "Were you hurt while you were out? Don't tell me those grey hairs I sprouted had a meaning..."
"I had a small accident, but I'm all better," Lissa replied as Maribelle released her embrace to get a better look over her.
"Small? Darling, you feel cold! Are you certain you're alright," the noble asked.
"Yup, right as rain," Lissa nodded. By now the other conversations in the room had stopped as everyone turned towards Lissa and Robin.
"Who's that next to you, princess," Vaike asked, gesturing towards Robin.
"Oh, this is the tactician Chrom chose to hire for us," Lissa explained then gestured for Robin to introduce herself.
"Hello, I'm Robin," the amnesiac greeted. She gave a slight bow only to internally hiss. This wasn't the right situation to bow in, but it was respectful. And demeaning. Why was it demeaning? She pushed the thought away as she continued. "I'm unsure why Chrom chose an amnesiac like myself as a tactician, but I'll do my very best."
"A most peculiar decision on the prince's behalf, but not his most outlandish one," the robed woman, Miriel, thought aloud. "Does your lack of memory impede your tactical prowess to any degree or are you unaffected by it in the slightest in that regard?"
It was a fancy way of asking her if she could do her job. In truth, Robin wasn't quite sure that she could. It was less a matter of confidence and more a matter of experience and familiarity with each member of the Shepherds, where she could think of multiple ways to utilize Virion and Sully but not for anyone else in the room aside from herself and Lissa.
"I believe so, though not immediately," Robin replied truthfully. "Once I see you in action I'll be able to come up with multiple strategies based on your combat prowess and personal ability, but it will take time."
"That is perfectly understandable and reasonable," Miriel nodded.
"I'll say," Sully pitched in. "She's got a real warrior's spirit and isn't afraid to show it."
"I concur with Lady Sully," Virion nodded. "She quickly caught onto our fighting capabilities and utilized us to the fullest extent we could in what should have been a losing battle. Her own abilities were nothing to scoff at either, what with her skillful combination of swordplay and masterful control of magic."
Robin fidgeted at the praise and the various sounds of interest from the Shepherds. She hadn't felt like she'd done particularly well on the martial side of things, not when Chrom and Marth had been her competition there. Then again, her only real points of reference were the bandits they'd routed and Chrom or Marth and there was a sea's length of distance between those two and the bandits. She definitely knew her way around a sword, but she couldn't properly gauge her skill with a sword at the present. Similarly, she wasn't sure how good of a mage she was when her only real point of reference were the mages along the bandits. Miriel didn't know that, however, and was giving her a look that was both intrigued and challenging. She'd need to nip that in the bud.
"I appreciate your praise, Virion, but that was a rather desperate situation," Robin laughed tiredly. "Until I'm in much better shape, I'll be fighting rather sparingly. In addition I've no stamina beyond a few minutes without constant attention from a healer, so I'm more of a liability than an asset in that regard."
Apparently, that wasn't the correct thing to say based on the indignant look Maribelle was giving her. The amnesiac chose to ignore it as she found a place to sit near Sully and stopped moving. From there, the relative silence that had come over the group was replaced by the original bustle of conversations. The only difference now was that the conversations now included Robin and Lissa. Eventually Maribelle and Ricken had to leave, exiting the barracks at the same time a woman with long brunette hair entered. She wore armor, but it was far lighter and thinner than the armor Sully and Stahl wore, and carried in several sweet smelling foods with her. Lissa introduced the woman as Sumia and explained that the sweets she'd brought were pies.
Pies were delicious and, unfortunately, meant to be shared. That was a shame, she'd have eaten her fill of them given the chance.
Robin took to Sumia rather quickly, beyond the pies. She was kind, easily flustered and somewhat clumsy, but had a good heart. She was also apparently good with animals and reading people's fortunes with flowers. The brunette woman offered to read Robin's fortune when the amnesiac showed some skepticism, but the flowers withered once they were brought close to her. Strange.
Beyond that, Sumia read a great deal and offered Robin several books to read between the primers on tactics she'd been given. She accepted and found herself holding five decently sized books from a series known as Ribald Tales, which Sumia considered her favorite series. Aside from that, Sumia knew a fair amount of literature from various sources, though she admitted that most of the books she'd read were fictional. Robin didn't mind that, she was going to need a good balance of books for leisure and books for her newly acquired job or she imagined she'd go mad within a month. She also didn't mind how head over heels her new friend was for Chrom, quite literally.
Chrom and Frederick arrived at the barracks just before everyone seemed ready to turn in for the evening. The duo looked haggard and like they'd aged a week in the few hours it had been since Robin had seen either of them. Both looked annoyed, though Chrom made it more obvious with the scowl on his face. Frederick's annoyance was much harder to notice beyond a faint narrowness of his eyes. Regardless, the pair buried their emotions when they addressed the Shepherds.
"Shepherds, in a week's time we will be marching to Regna Ferox," Chrom stated, gaining the full attention of everyone in the room. "We will be going to request the aid of the Khan in pushing back the Plegia bandits staging attacks from across our border. As you know, we are a rather small group and we can't be everywhere there's trouble at once."
That garnered nods of approval and a general agreement from all present. Twelve people was a small number and couldn't really be split up without losing a great deal in efficiency and synergy.
"To that end, we need to bolster the number of trained warriors within the halidom and the Feroxi are second to none in that respect," the price continued. "This will be a hard trek, Regna Feroxi is still deep into its winter with no sign of it abating before the end of April. Frederick if you would."
"Certainly, milord." The retainer nodded. "It is imperative that you bring a set of warm travelling clothes and extra layers along with them. Feroxi winters are harsh and prone to blizzards. If you do not keep warm while travelling you place yourself and others at serious risk." The knight gave Vaike a pointed look and the tanned man smiled sheepishly in return. "I would also recommend stocking up on a personal flint and steel and set of travel rations. I will be preparing enough for all of us as well, but it is best to be prepared in the event that the weather stalls us or we lose part of our convoy."
A hand shot up at that. Miriel's.
"And if we are separated from the others due to the weather taking an uncharitable turn," she asked.
"We will be assigning groups while we travel," Frederick replied. "There will be two groups of three and one group of four, assuming Sir Virion chooses to accompany us. Otherwise we will have three groups of three and each will have a member capable of casting spells in the event that we are separated."
Robin nodded along. The mages would more or less act as beacons to the others as needed if they were separated by a blizzard. It was simple and effective, but risked attracting ne'er do wells using the weather as cover. That was a good thing to bring up.
"That was indeed a good point, Robin," Frederick agreed, startling the silver haired woman. Had she said that aloud? Judging by the looks she was getting from around the room, she had. She flushed with embarrassment then shook it off. Why was she embarrassed? That was a real danger. Humans would look for any opportunity to push themselves ahead of others and some would resort to underhanded, detestable methods of doing so. They'd need to be... dealt with?
The amnesiac blinked. That was an odd train of thought, but it was probably her exhaustion making her irritable. Most peculiar. In the meantime, she'd need to discuss ways of identifying the Shepherds with magic if they were separated. Robin made a note to talk to Frederick about that on the following day.
A few more questions came up as Robin thought to herself, half paying attention until the Shepherds went their separate ways for the evening. Chrom, Frederick and Lissa remained mere moments later, while Robin remained in her seat. Remained was perhaps a strong word, her legs had firmly decided they weren't going to move once she'd sat down. Lissa appeared to take note of this and came to check on her.
"Robin, are you ready to go back to your room," the princess asked.
"I am."
"Then get up, I'll walk you back."
"About that..."
"What about- Oh." Lissa's eyes widened as she caught on. "When you said you could make a single trip I thought you meant here and back."
"Perhaps I should have clarified that." The tactician gave a tired smile as Lissa called over Frederick and Chrom. The princess gave the duo a quick summary of the situation, causing Chrom to laugh good naturedly while Frederick looked away.
"I may have been too hasty giving you those books to carry up on your lonesome," he managed as he helped her onto his back. "Just this once, I will walk you back to your room. In the future please take your limits into consideration and let others know if you need help. I'm near certain a servant would have helped you."
Right, she could have called for help. The fact that it had been called exercise made her think that she had to push herself, but that had been a mistake apparently. She would do better in the future.
The trip back to her office was mostly uneventful. Chrom complained about nobility being stubborn or unhelpful, but was otherwise jovial. Frederick was quiet, but Robin understood that he was a man of few words when he didn't feel the need to be. Lissa was also quiet, though it was easy to see that she was tired as well.
They'd just reached her door when something came to Robin. Had Nicola been found and, if so, why hadn't he been at the barracks with the other Shepherds.
"Nicola retired for the day to my knowledge," Chrom answered. "He was rather tired after meeting Emm and was taken to a guest room to rest for the day."
That made sense, but why hadn't he at least been brought up earlier? He was going to be a Shepherd, right? As it turned out, he wasn't. Chrom explained that he'd asked Nicola, but the offer had been turned down. That came as a surprise to both her and Lissa. Beyond the conflict with Frederick, he'd been rather amiable and willing to help out. It was Frederick who continued the explanation.
"His goal is rather important to him," Frederick stated, setting Robin on her bed after the door was opened. "As is closure. He is set on finding a way back to his home, if that's possible in the slightest. If not, I imagine he will need some time to fully accept his situation and come to terms with it."
"It seemed that way," Chrom nodded. "He did mention that he'd be willing to help out if we needed assistance and he was available, but him joining us is off the table for now."
Ah. That was... disheartening and lonely. Still, that was Nicola's burden to bear. If he needed help with it, Chrom would no doubt offer his aid because of how large his heart was. Could she say the same for herself? No, more than likely not at the present. She had other things to deal with, like becoming good as a tactician and getting her head to stop teasing her with memories. In that regard she understood him: he wanted to do something himself without putting a burden on others. The difference was that he wasn't a burden, while she was a liability as she was now. That would need to change.
The trio left Robin to her devices after collectively wishing her a good evening. As she laid back and stared at the night sky through her window, she decided that was a good idea. When she drifted off, she found herself back in a familiar dream.
The sky was crimson. Black clouds swirled ominously, obscuring a massive six-eyed being with burning red eyes. Tonight it watched her with pointed interest. The night before it had given her a forlorn look and the night before that it had roared at her, then chased her on great feather wings that blocked all light. Whatever this being was, it knew who she had been. She wanted to ask it who she had been and why she was here, but the words never came. Instead she stared at the being as it stared at her, heart hammering in her chest.
The being was not her friend or ally, it was terror given form. At the same time it was familiar in an almost familial manner. How strange. Robin pondered that until the dream world rumbled and shook violently. The creature roared, anguished, as the red sky crumbled to blue and the black clouds gave way to white clouds. She felt something in her chest pull as the shaking grew worse.
"...bi..." A garbled voice called from beyond the sky as the creature wailed and fled into what dark clouds it could find.
"Ro...n..." The voice echoed in her head, familiar and foreign at the same time. The shaking worsened then came to an abrupt halt.
"Robin," the voice called a third time, now clear. Her wine colored eyes snapped open to lock with Chrom's eyes.
"What's the matter," the groggy woman asked.
"Nicola's in the infirmary," the prince stated. Robin snapped awake at that. Something had happened while she was asleep? Of course it had. At least she'd gotten some rest in.
The people in the chamber had pensive looks when Chrom and Robin arrived on the scene. The bed where Nicola supposedly lay was curtained off, but a faint glow could be seen from behind it. Emmeryn was present, speaking with someone who appeared to be a high ranking clergyman based on their ornate attire. It was the most civil argument Robin had seen yet.
"Lady Exalt, this is not an affliction we are trained to deal with," the robed figure explained.
"I would think that an ailment affecting one's spirit would be an area of expertise, Hierarch," Emmeryn replied. "Is this not such a thing?"
"It is, but-"
"Then what is the issue? I believe you've seen ailments worse than this, but this is beyond your abilities? Must I offer my own-"
"T-that should be unnecessary Lady Exalt," the Hierarch stammered. "It's just that..."
"He bears a mark of unknown origin, I'm rather aware."
"I cannot in good faith heal this man or allow you to do so, Lady Exalt. He could be someone who opposes Naga's teachings or worse!"
"I see." Emmeryn's serene expression dimmed. "You are dismissed then, Hierarch."
"My lady?"
"Please, return to your home and rest for the evening if you've no work to finish at this hour," the Exalt stated. "I will not force you to do anything you would not be comfortable doing."
"B-but then, you will-"
"Go, Hierarch. Your wisdom has guided me for longer than I can remember, but I must make my own decisions in the end." There was a hint of steel in the ruler's voice. "This is one such choice."
"And if this is a mistake?"
"I will cross that bridge when I reach it." There was a finality in Emmeryn's tone that said the conversation was done. The Hierarch looked as if he wanted to say more, but thought better of it and left. He gave a faint nod to Chrom and Robin as he passed, one the prince chose to return.
"Emm, is he doing any better," Chrom asked.
"His temperature has ceased to rise, but other than that his condition remains the same," the Exalt sighed. "As you heard, our friend bears a mark on his body from which his affliction stems."
"Are we able to see him?"
"You may, but I do not believe it will do much good." Emmeryn gestured towards the curtains. Chrom took that as an invitation to part them, only to shy away from what he saw.
It was easy enough to see why the Hierarch wasn't comfortable dealing with the situation. There was light, bright and burning. It shone through Nicola's flesh, nearly translucent as he tossed and turned in pained silence. He appeared to be damp with sweat and had a rapidly thawing icy rag stuck to his forehead as he grimaced. He only wore his odd trousers, his tunic had been tossed into a corner. Dark blue tendrils snaked from his chest like veins, each one pulsing to its own beat, originating from a strange symbol that appeared to be branded upon his heart.
The symbol appeared to be a ring of spiraling rectangles. Within the ring was a second smaller ring much more jagged and fang-like in shape and in the center rested a much more jagged looking maw. The outer ring glowed the same blue as the tendrils while the inner ring and maw shone with the same bright light that could be seen through his skin.
"Emm, what is that," Chrom asked, shielding his eyes with one hand.
"I believe it is a brand or crest meant to denote his bloodline," the Exalt answered, stepping past the curtain. She placed a hand on Nicola's forehead and muttered something under her breath as the light from the man dimmed. Immediately the tendrils spread further, only to slow as a sea green glow enveloped the young man. "Unfortunately, I know no such mark and I do believe that it is attempting to kill him at the moment."
"No," Robin spoke, breaking her long silence. She knew what was happening to him, she'd seen it before and had experienced it herself in a hazy memory. "It isn't attempting to kill him, it's attempting to bond with him. He's rejecting it."
In a single stride she was at Nicola's other side, expression devoid of emotion. She placed a hand over the mark and felt it pulse in response. The tendrils frenzied as the sea green aura slowing them flickered.
"Robin, I don't think that you're-"
"Chrom stay silent," the tactician interrupted, voice clipped and without inflexion. "Emmeryn, place more power into your healing, a gentle approach is unhelpful here."
As Robin spoke, she felt the mark on her hand begin to glow. Ashen grey mist flowed from her palm, settling over the sea green glow that was Emmeryn's aura. A memory played back, empty of faces and figures she recognized, but she didn't need that. She needed the actions they were performing more than them.
A figure rested on an altar, crimson cracks spreading across their form as two robed figures stood over them. One held a ritual blade in hand and made to plunge the weapon into the one lying on the altar but the other stopped them with a gesture. Instead the figure placed a hand over the cracked figure's chest and incanted a phrase they knew by heart.
"By Blood arise and by Blood fall low..."
"...Robin?"
An aura of burning embers engulfed the chanting figure and the one on the altar. They touched the downed figure's forehead with their free hand and moved it to just below their neck. They spoke the second verse patiently.
"White as bone and black as stone, two halves fail to become one..."
"...in? Ar...o...y?"
With a gesture, the figure banished the aura and the cracks along the other. A burning brand remained over their heart as they spoke and the brand cooled. They completed a third verse and watched the figure lying on the altar awaken slowly.
"Separate in thought, separate in mind, in mirrored silence two hearts become one in time."
The memory ended with that. Robin felt a wave of lethargy strike her and nearly toppled over, but Chrom and Emmeryn were there to catch her. Nicola was no longer glowing and the mark he bore could no longer be seen, so whatever she had done had worked.
"Robin are you alright," Chrom asked, visibly concerned.
"I'm fine, I just need a moment," she nodded. "Did I do something strange?"
"You calmed Nicola's condition with an incantation I was unfamiliar with," Emmeryn said. "Did you remember something?"
"Sort of?" The tactician made a face. "I remembered something similar to what was affecting Nicola, but the details beyond that chant are hazy."
"I see," Emmeryn said, more to herself than to the others. "Chrom, could you give us a few moments? If you can, please fetch another healer to watch over Nicola for the rest of the evening."
"Got it," Chrom nodded as he gently set Robin down. "I shouldn't be long."
Once he was out of the room and had closed the door behind him, the Exalt addressed Robin once more. "I would refrain from using that incantation in a public space."
"Why?" The question came faster than Robin could register asking it.
"Because the coat you wear marks you as a member of the Grimleal, those who worship and commit atrocities in the name of the Fell Dragon, Grima." Robin felt her heart constrict at the name. "More than that, it appears that you bear the Brand of the Defile, the Fell Dragon's mark."
"They symbol on my left hand," Robin stated.
"Indeed," the Exalt nodded. "Chrom didn't recognize it and I imagine most of the Shepherds will not, but it would be in your best interest to over that mark so that you aren't attacked on sight by one of Naga's adherent who does recognize it. To them, you would be an enemy rather than a person bereft of memory."
"I thought that Ylisstol was supposed to be a peaceful place," Robin returned. Emmeryn offered a strained smile.
"Through a great deal of hard work on my part, it is," Emmeryn said. "Were we twelve years in the past, you and Nicola would have been killed on sight under my father's rule. Nicola, for his foreign nature and the possibility of being a Grimleal agent, you for your garb and the mark you have. Things have changed since then, but some things are never quite laid to rest. The rising tensions with Plegia has helped unearth the anti-Plegian sentiment that was buried after our strained peace with them formed and many people still believe that the Feroxi are nothing but barbarians. Ylisstol and Ylisse are peaceful now, but that is tentative and precarious. If tensions continue to mount, it will take more than a number of Feroxi warriors helping maintain peace at the border to assuage the fears and discontent of the people. I can only hope that they do not and work harder to ensure things do not grow worse."
That was a lot for Robin to take in. She managed to give a nod, but fell into contemplative silence shortly thereafter. She was going to be required to fix those problems if she remained in Chrom's employ. Emmeryn was very clearly overworked, to the point where it was a miracle that she hadn't suddenly fallen over. She'd been keeping Ylisse peaceful for twelve years, when she was maybe in her mid twenties at best? She was made of stern stuff then. Unfortunately, even the sturdiest material couldn't take infinite abuse. Why did that feel like something she knew from experience?