Rigged from the Start

Chapter 68

Right Where I Need to Be

Three days passed. Three days of agonized waiting. If I had to suffer through it alone, I would have gone insane from the worry.

But, I wasn't alone. When most of the bodies and debris had been cleared from the Longfort, the Shepherds all huddled together in the barracks to grieve, then to celebrate, then to prepare for what might lie ahead. Through it all, they figured out ways to keep each other's spirits up. After all, I wasn't the only one fretting over a wounded friend.

Maribelle was a ball of anxiety, like me. While Donnel was not in as grievous a condition as Severa, he was still relegated to a cot in the Longfort infirmary. She visited him every day. Whenever she returned to the barracks, she had a small smile on her lips. Lissa did a good job cheering her up, and several other Shepherds contributed, including Vaike. Also, Maribelle worried endlessly about Lissa. I would not be surprised if she sprouted some gray hairs, but Naga forbid if I ever commented on that.

Then there was Tharja. She was a recluse in the barracks; always tucked away in the darkest corner of the room, busying herself with whatever foul concoctions brewed in her enigmatic mind. She spoke to no one, despite the others trying to involve her in the day-to-day proceedings of the barracks. But, occasionally, she went to the infirmary to visit Henry; the one person that understood her in this place. Well… to say Henry understood anyone might be a bit of a reach, but he was a dark mage, like her. They thought on similar wavelengths, so they understood each other's quirks. Perhaps she found some comfort in that.

Finally, Sully, Stahl, and Kellam would all visit Frederick during the day as the knight made his recovery in the infirmary. They were his disciples in the Shepherds, for lack of a better term. He trained them, worked closely with them, and forged them into the soldiers they were today. That made all four of them close friends, even if Frederick "still had a stick up his ass", according to Sully.

As for me, I did not visit Severa. It's not that I didn't want to- I would have loved nothing more than to be by her bedside. Libra and Exalt Emmeryn made it clear that Severa's condition was fragile. They expected her to recover, but they did not want anything unexpected jeopardizing their prediction.

So, I waited in the barracks and finished up my recovery from my torturous days in the Grimleal's dungeons. As of right now, I'm able to walk without a cane. Progress!

But, my body still ached on occasion. That meant more vulneraries, which also meant I had to eat something for those vulneraries to settle. They were like Tylenol in that regard, except better for headaches and worse for bellyaches.

That's where I was when Emmeryn visited the barracks for the first time since the battle. Specifically, I was sitting at the small, round table in the kitchen area of the common room, about midway through chowing down on a ham sandwich whipped up by Stahl- who is a marvelous chef. I still don't know how he managed to make mayonnaise taste so good.

What spices does he use?

Stahl stiffened when he spotted Emmeryn enter the mostly empty barracks. By mostly empty, I mean only Stahl and I were in there. After all, it was Stahl's turn to cook for the day, and he took that job seriously. So seriously that he put off all his daily training in order to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert for every single Shepherd. That meant he provided decent company for my still limited self.

"Hello, your majesty," Stahl said, bowing his head.

Emmeryn gave him a graceful smile. "Stahl, you are one of Chrom's Shepherds, which means you are practically family."

"Doesn't matter," Stahl replied with a small shake of his head. He returned his attention to the heads of lettuce he was busy chopping. "If Sir Frederick caught me not referring to you correctly, he'd make my morning routine a living hell."

"He doesn't already?" I remarked as I took a bite of my sandwich. "Good to see you, Emmeryn."

"You as well, Samwise. I'm happy to see you're recovering, as well as eating."

"We all badgered him enough about it," Stahl remarked, causing me to roll my eyes. "What?" He waved his chef's knife at me. "You're skin and bones and you know it."

"If I wanted to be nagged, I'd say something uncouth in front of Maribelle."

A light chuckle came from Emmeryn while Stahl shook his head and snickered. "It is also good to see you in decent spirits," Emmeryn continued. "How close are you to finishing your lunch, Samwise?"

"According to Frederick," Stahl said before I could even open my mouth, "he needs to eat at least one more sandwich for lunch. Why?"

"I think I can speak for myself," I remarked with a frown. I scarfed down a couple of bites from my sandwich, chewed, and swallowed. "Why do you ask, your majesty?"

"Oh, no reason." A rare flash of mischief flickered in Emmeryn's serene gaze, reminding me all too much of her younger sister. Perhaps, if she hadn't been forced to grow up so fast as the Exalt, Emmeryn would have been as much of a gremlin as Lissa. "I just assumed you'd want to speak with Severa."

I froze right as I was about to take another bite from my sandwich.

"But," Emmeryn continued, "if you must eat another sandwich then I suppose I can-"

I was already out of my chair and flying to the door before she could finish speaking. Stahl called after me, but I ignored him. Food could wait.

I flew across the training yard towards the Longfort's infirmary, where the Shepherd's wounded resided. If Libra saw me sprinting, he'd have a few choice words for me. After all, I may be able to walk around under my own power again, but that did not mean I was back to full strength. Did that stop me though? Absolutely not.

Frederick sat on a bench outside of the infirmary, the bandages wrapped around his chest causing his doublet to look a bit tight. When he saw me, his brow furrowed.

"Have you eaten two sandwiches, Sam-"

"I'll make you eat two sandwiches!" I barked as I burst through the infirmary door, startling Maribelle as she was about to exit.

"Samwise Baggins!" Maribelle cried, raising her parasol in a threatening manner. "Why, if it was not poor decorum to do harm within this space I would-"

"Yeah, yeah, nag me later."

An aghast sound shot from Maribelle as I brushed by her. I heard her sputter out a few sharp words before huffing and slamming the door as she left. It did not bother me as I continued my hurried march towards the back of the infirmary, passing by a slumbering Donnel, and Henry, who was busy feeding Bill.

My steps ground to a halt as I reached the last cot on the right. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Severa sitting up, resting against a mound of pillows as she looked out the nearby window. Fresh bandages were wrapped tight around her chest and forehead. Her right arm sat in a sling while her right leg was elevated by another pillow. Seeing her wrapped in so much cloth made my throat tighten, forcing me to clear it.

Her head turned, and she gave me an exhausted look. Before I could do or say anything, a tired smile curled on her lips. "It's about time you showed up."

Quiet chuckles spilled from my lips as I felt my eyes water a bit. After taking a breath, I grabbed a nearby stool and pulled it over to her beside. Once I sat down, I swallowed hard and met her gaze.

"How are you feeling?"

Severa snorted. "Probably about as well as I look."

Sitting closer to her caused me to notice the slowly healing cuts, gashes, and bruises on her face. Dark rings were around her eyes, contrasting starkly with her pale skin. A ribbon of pale flesh sat on her lower lip, showing where her split lip healed. Seeing those caused my smile to waver.

"Don't you start that crap," Severa said, making me draw back, surprised. "I don't need pity or worry, Sam."

I exhaled. "Well, pity I can understand, but I sure as hell am going to worry about you. Someone's got to, right?"

Severa let out a weary sigh. "You worry too much and you'll get sick, y'know."

"Speaking from experience?" I chuckled, mostly joking with her. I never took Severa for a worrier. If something bothered her, she took action rather than sitting down and thinking of worst-case scenarios like me.

So, imagine my shock when she bobbed her head from side to side.

"Before I blacked out on top of the wall, yeah," She mumbled. I could see her trying to pull on her fingers, only to stop herself before she could tug on her broken arm. Her eyes flicked down to her blanket-covered lap as her lips thinned. "That tower exploded… and I was awake for a little bit after I fell." She sniffed. "You want to know something funny, Sam?"

I shifted in my seat. "I'm not sure how funny getting blown sky high is, but go ahead."

Severa snorted and rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean." Her gaze fell on me once again. "I was scared. Terrified, probably. Being up on that wall, unable to move, was the most helpless I've felt since… since we lost Morgan in the future. It made me worried, and it made me angry; because I wouldn't be able to do something if those Plegians broke through and got to the rear lines." My eyes widened as her voice dropped to a whisper. "I wouldn't have been able to do anything if they got to you."

Those whispered words were some of the loudest I've ever heard. They made my cheeks flush as warmth flooded my chest. An awkward smile cracked my lips as I shifted in my seat, not exactly sure how to respond.

"Well, I would've given them a hell of a fight if they reached me."

Severa barked out a laugh, which descended into sharp wheezes as weak coughs hit her. She doubled over, making me shoot up from my stool and hesitantly massage her back.

"Gawds," She wheezed, a couple more weak laughs spilling from her lips. "That hurt." I moved to take my hand away only for her to reach out and snatch my wrist. "Not that part though. That feels good."

My hand froze against her back. "How many concoctions do they have you on?"

A few more quiet snickers came from Severa, making her wince. "A lot."

"Sounds about right," I remarked as I kept rubbing her back. Her eyes closed as her breathing evened out again. "They probably work better than Tylenol though."

"Tylenol?" Severa mumbled.

"Think of a weak vulnerary only in the shape of a very small, dissolvable tablet," I explained. "Great for headaches."

"Where was that when we were on the road to the ice fields?" I stopped rubbing her back, causing her to open her eyes and flick her gaze over her shoulder. "That was a joke."

"Oh, I know, I'm just amazed that you came up with that one on your own."

"Sh-shut up," Severa replied, even as she gave me a lopsided smile. "I'm completely capable of making good jokes."

"Mhmm."

"I am!" Severa defended.

I snickered. Severa twisted to look at me, only for her to hiss as pain flooded her. My laughter came to an abrupt stop as I pressed my hand between her shoulder blades.

"Hey, take it easy," I reminded her.

"I hate taking it easy," She grumbled, shoulders hunching a little. "Do you know how long I'm going to be stuck here? Libra and Exalt Emmeryn won't tell me."

I shrugged. "It's up to them, and you're going to stay in bed until they say you can get out."

"Like you followed those rules so well," Severa scoffed.

"Hey, I was bored," I replied with a small grin. My hand fell from her back as she leaned back into her pillows.

"And what if I get bored?" Severa countered.

"You won't," I replied while retaking my seat on the wooden stool beside her bed.

"How do you know that?"

I shrugged. "Am I not entertaining?"

Severa blinked. A light, pink blush rushed over her face, then a sly smirk formed on her lips. "Well…"

"Oh you love my stories and songs and you know it!"

Severa snorted out a quiet laugh. "Not wrong, I guess." Her fingers tapped her blankets as she gave me an expectant look.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm waiting to not be bored, Samuel."

I leaned back a little on my stool, chuckling as she cracked a tired smile. Severa sank further into her pillows, eyes half-lidded as her exhaustion manifested more. She wouldn't be awake for an entire story, and I wouldn't start one she couldn't pay attention to for long. That would be like starting a new Netflix series right before the other person watching passed out. It wouldn't be right.

So, a good song would have to do. Of course, an old song my parents loved to listen to came to mind. A good, relaxing little diddy that always managed to make all my worries and stress go away.

"So, there's a bard, if you want to call him that, in my world named Jimmy Buffet. And he loved to sing about a place called Margaritaville."

By the time I finished singing the tune, she was fast asleep.

The next day, I went through my current, morning routine. I woke up, dressed, ate a hearty breakfast prepared by whoever was in charge of cooking for the barracks that day. Today Gregor claimed the role of chef, and he made a savory breakfast stew?

Yeah, I chose not to question it. Regardless of whether stew could be considered a breakfast or not, it still tasted good, so I wolfed it down. The warm broth ensured I had a cozy, warm wake-up, and that I was comfortable when I stepped out into the Feroxi cold. Then, I made my way to the infirmary, which I had added to my morning routine.

Once again, Frederick sat on a bench outside, as if he was waiting for me to come to the infirmary.

"Samwise," He said with a curt nod.

"Frederick," I replied with a nod of my own.

I grabbed the doorknob. Before I could walk in, Frederick spoke again.

"I hope you're prepared for when I am recovered."

"Oh?" I remarked, not sure what he meant at first. Then, it dawned on me, and all the color drained from my face. "Oh…"

Frederick nodded. "Your physical condition is utterly shameful, Samwise, and it was that way when you first entered our ranks. If you are going to remain a member of the Shepherds then you will maintain your physical health." He reached for a rolled-up parchment beside him and held it out to me. "I have already prepared a regimen for you. Read it over, do what you can as well as what Libra will allow you to do."

I eyed the parchment, then plucked it from his fingers. "Uh… thanks?"

"You are most welcome."

I opened the door.

"And do not forget to eat lunch," Frederick said right as I stepped into the infirmary.

I did not reply. I barely managed to keep my annoyed grumbles under my breath. The last thing I needed was for him to overhear my creative cursing about his mothering. Somehow, he was worse now than in the future. And, in the future, there was actually a world-threatening enemy trying to kill all of us.

I must've been grumbling when I reached Severa's bedside because she gave me an amused smirk as I took my seat by her bedside. Her eyes darted to the parchment I had tucked under my arm.

"Ah," She nodded. "I was wondering when Frederick was finally going to get to you."

I arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean by finally?"

Severa smirked. "You and I both know you've allowed yourself to waste away for too long."

"Waste away?" I replied.

"Sam," Severa sighed. "Gawds, when you first arrived you were probably twenty or thirty pounds heavier." My eyes widened as she spoke. "And you were already thin as a reed then. So, as irritating as Frederick's harping can be, listen to it. He's only trying to help."

I let out a long exhale. "Fine," I relented. "But only if you agree to do the same when it's your turn to endure his Fanatical Fitness Program." Severa opened her mouth to argue, but I quickly raised a hand. "Ah, ah, no arguing. You're going to need the help more than me."

Severa snorted. "Yeah, right."

"No, really," I pressed. "Back in my world it's called physical therapy, and it's used whenever someone has a severe injury and is trying to recover. I'm sorta doing it now, and you're going to have to do the same. So, if I can't argue about it, then you can't either."

Severa pursed her lips, drew in a deep breath, and pouted. "Gawds, why do you have to be right."

"Because it's fun," I smirked.

"Fair," Severa glanced out her window. "What was for breakfast? More importantly: who cooked?"

"Gregor, and he cooked breakfast stew."

Severa's nose wrinkled as she returned her gaze to me. "Breakfast stew?"

"It was actually pretty good, even though I have no clue what exactly was in it. Pretty sure the meat might've been venison."

"Better than goat," Severa remarked.

"Goat?" A third voice cut in.

Severa stiffened and her smile evaporated. I tilted my head, puzzled by her sudden change of demeanor. Who in the world could cause her to suddenly-

Oh, it's Cordelia.

I twisted in my chair and spotted the Pegasus Knight standing awkwardly behind me. She didn't have her usual armor on, instead opting for a red and white tunic and brown pants with a leather belt cinched around her waist. Her boots were caked with mud, likely due to working in the Pegasi stables. Weariness adorned her face, but that was how all the Shepherds looked in the wake of the Longfort Siege. Despite our victory, there was still much work to do.

"Can I help you, Cordelia?" I asked while Severa kept her gaze in her lap, trying her best to hide her frown.

Cordelia blinked. "O-oh, I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt anything. It's just that Prince Chrom asked me to fetch you. Frederick said you were in here."

"Oh, so now you're his messenger girl," Severa muttered out loud, probably on accident. Her eyes shot wide when she realized she said it.

"I'm sorry?" Cordelia replied, confused and a tad offended.

"N-nothing!" Severa snapped, causing Cordelia to jerk back.

"Um…" Cordelia's red eyes flicked to me. "Should I come back for you later or-"

"No," Severa answered for me. Her cheeks were red both due to anger and embarrassment. She gestured at me. "Go already. It's obviously important."

I grimaced, then leaned closer to her. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Fine," Severa grumbled. "I'll be here."

Without another word, I rose and walked with Cordelia to the infirmary door. As we reached the door, Tharja walked in. The dark mage ground to a halt when she saw us.

"Hi, Tharja," I remarked, not even batting an eye at her appearance. Cordelia visibly bristled.

Tharja's dark eyes flicked between me and Cordelia. "Good morning."

And with that curt, cold greeting, she strode past us towards Henry's cot. As soon as I heard mad cackling, I knew that maniac was awake. That was more than enough motivation for me and Cordelia to make a hasty exit out of the infirmary.

Once we were a good distance away from the infirmary, Cordelia glanced at me.

"How is Severa feeling?"

"Hm?" I replied. "Oh, she's doing alright."

"That's good," Cordelia nodded. "I meant to come see her earlier, but…"

"But?"

"Is she always so abrasive?"

I snorted at that. "Don't take it personally, Cordelia. Severa is not the most trusting person. She takes a long time to warm up to anyone. Hell, it took me several months before she even started having normal conversations with me."

Cordelia opened her mouth in understanding. "I wonder why that is."

I knew why, especially when it came to the Pegasus Knight guiding me towards Prince Chrom's tent. Severa had some harsh opinions regarding her mother and her relationship with her in the future. It was not my place to ask about them, though, and Severa never cared to elaborate beyond one thing: never compare her to her mother. I abided by that rule ever since.

So, instead of telling all that to Cordelia, I shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

Cordelia tilted her head. "She hasn't told you either? Strange. You two are so close."

"Just because people are close doesn't mean they don't keep things from each other," I replied, cringing on the inside as I spoke. There was a fair bit of irony in that statement, considering I was just as guilty of keeping secrets from Severa.

Cordelia frowned. "That seems like a fragile foundation of trust to me. But, it is not my place to judge. Maybe I'll try talking to her some other time, when she is not so exhausted from everything."

I nodded. "That'd probably be a good idea."

But why are you so interested in speaking to her all of a sudden?

When we reached Chrom's tent, I heard voices already coming from within. Surprisingly, Exalt Emmeryn's gentle voice was not among them. The two I could hear the easiest though were Lucina and Owain. My brow furrowed. What were they doing here?

I followed Cordelia into the tent. Like all royal tents I have encountered, it was a pretty nice space. A fur rug covered the grassy floor, and nice pieces of furniture, including a mirror and a wardrobe, sat against one wall. The bed was sectioned off by a wooden screen. I could see the sheets spread haphazardly around it.

A round table sat in the middle of the space. Robin and Chrom stood shoulder to shoulder as they looked down at maps spread out on it. Lucina, Owain, Nah, and Morgan were on the other side of the table. While both Lucina and Nah looked unreadable as ever, Owain and Morgan flashed me big grins.

"Samwise!" Owain cried with a wide grin. "Good to see you again. How is Severa doing?"

"Yeah, how is she?" Morgan pressed, a bit more worried than Owain.

I nodded. "She's getting better. You should visit her."

"And we shall," Owain nodded. "But, Lu-Marth," He quickly corrected, earning a puzzled look from Cordelia and Chrom, as well as a stern glance from Lucina. Owain cleared his throat. "Heh, Marth says we have some pressing matters to attend to."

"Like what? And, how does it involve me?" I asked.

Robin's eyes flicked to Chrom. Chrom coughed in his hand before he looked at me.

"How much of a threat is Grima at this moment?"

I blinked. "Grima?" I glanced at Lucina. She nodded at me, telling me to continue. I drew in a deep breath. "Well, enough to watch out for. Why do you ask?"

"Marth just got through explaining your situation," Chrom said, making my eyes widen. Lucina told him stuff? What stuff!? "If it wasn't for your timely intervention in this war with Gangrel, I would've waved off your time travel talk as pure nonsense."

"I wouldn't have," Robin chirped, a triumphant smirk on his lips. "I somewhat guessed it actually," He turned to Cordelia as she moved to stand beside him. "My theory is slowly being proven."

Cordelia gave me a withering look, but Robin did not seem to notice. He was too chuffed with being right to be brought down by a stern glare and a frown.

I drew in a long breath and pressed my hands against the tabletop, leaning against it as I kept my attention on Lucina. "You told him all that, huh?"

"I did," Lucina replied, carefully. To my surprise, she wasn't trying to mask her voice anymore. Then again, she was wounded during the battle as well. Not severely, but enough for any good cleric to notice she wasn't a man. That revelation probably circled through the Shepherds fast. "Since you were in Plegia for an extended period of time, interacting with the Grimleal, Prince Chrom wanted to know how much of a threat Grima presented at this time."

I grimaced. This conversation could go a myriad of different ways, most of them unpleasant. I did not plan on withholding the truth from the Shepherds any longer, but I also knew it was not my place to tell them about Robin and his supposed destiny. Severa made it clear that that was for her to reveal in her own time.

Besides, who the vessel was didn't matter anymore. Grima was already here. That alone would be more than enough to spur some sort of action.

"He's already here," I said.

"What!?" Owain exclaimed, all of the color draining from his face.

An audible gasp came from both Morgan and Nah, while Lucina's face dropped into a scowl. The Princess's fists curled into tight balls by her sides as my words sank in. Chrom looked concerned, his fingers tapping the tabletop as he mulled over my revelation. Cordelia… tugged on her fingers, much in the way Severa would whenever she got nervous. And Robin looked hardly fazed.

"Where?" Chrom asked.

"Plegia. He's among the Grimleal." I answered.

"How?" Lucina growled. "He's a damned dragon, so how is he-"

"He has a human form," I interrupted. "And, this is not the Grima you think it is, Marth." It was time for the bombshell that would leave everyone silent. "This is the Grima we know very well. He followed us." As expected, stunned silence. I continued. "In order to get through the portal, he had to downsize, for lack of a better term."

The silence from the others, specifically the Shepherds who time-traveled with me, was defeaning. It stayed quiet for a few moments as the intelligence I had sunk in.

"How did we not know this?" Lucina finally managed to croak, her fists trembling at her sides. Her throat bobbed. "How do you know this?"

I let out a long exhale. "Who do you think did the torturing?"

Everyone's eyes widened. They were staring at me like I had grown a second head. I cleared my throat, ignored their gawking, and glanced at Chrom.

"What do you plan on doing?"

It was a question for him and Lucina. But, I knew that Chrom was the true power player at that moment. This wasn't Lucina's timeline, and this wasn't even my world. Anything of consequence would happen due to his orders. That same realization was probably why Lucina did not look offended when I addressed him with my question.

A heavy sigh left Chrom. "I would love to march our army right to Doluna and deal with him there, but-"

"But?" Lucina leaned over the table. "There can't be a 'but'; not when it comes to Grima."

"Emmeryn is determined to make peace with Plegia. She is already in negotiations with the remnants of the Plegian military, along with Mustafa," Chrom muttered, bowing his head as he spoke. I could tell he did not agree with the decision, but it was not his to make.

"We could tell Emmeryn what's going on," Cordelia proposed.

"We could," Robin cut in. "But, if Grima is in Doluna, then we have to think very carefully on how to proceed. If he has managed to remain hidden for this long, then he is displaying a level of cunning that we could not have accounted for. That concerns me." He rubbed his chin as he stared at Doluna on the map. "For that matter, this battle did not help our army's strength. The Grimleal did a number on us, especially the Pegasus Knights, who we will need if we're going to engage in a protracted siege of Doluna." Robin shook his head. "We have neither the manpower nor the strength of arms to invade Plegia right now."

"Damn it!" Lucina hissed, drawing surprised looks from Chrom, Robin, and Cordelia. When she noticed them staring at her, she quickly collected herself. "Grima's cocooned himself in Doluna, then?"

I nodded. "That about sums it up. Even if he's not in his dragon form, he's still frighteningly powerful."

"That further confirms my worries," Robin mumbled, brow furrowed as he took a step back from the table. He hummed to himself. "Grima would not have revealed himself to you, Samwise, unless he wanted you to know he was here. He had to have known there was a chance you would escape his clutches."

"Maybe he's that stupid?" Cordelia proposed, her voice rising with uncertainty.

"Doubtful," Robin sighed.

"Not just doubtful. Dead wrong," I added on. "You're correct in your assessment, Robin. Grima is cunning."

"Then he may be trying to goad us into invading when we do not have the advantage," Robin surmised.

"How would we not have the advantage?" Owain wondered.

"The Grimleal did not attack the walls directly throughout the entire battle. They simply lobbed spells from long range," Robin pointed out. "That means they did not suffer significant losses. So, while the most formidable section of their military is intact, ours is not."

"Not to mention we'd have to cross the desert while being harassed by the enemy," Morgan said, leaning over the table to scrutinize the maps. "I doubt the locals would like us marching through their land."

"Good observation," Robin nodded. "Add in long, thin supply lines, and you're looking at a doomed siege from the start. Invading Plegia, right now, is not feasible."

Lucina's frown deepened as she folded her arms. "So, what do you plan on doing?"

Chrom puffed out a breath, raking a hand through his blue hair as he stared hard at the maps. He gave his head a small shake as he cupped his chin, displeased by the situation. "There's not much we can do. Emmeryn is attempting to broker a peace deal, which means our hands are tied. Robin?"

Robin gave all of us a grim nod. "We're stuck. The best thing we can do, right now, is prepare for what may come next. The good news is, if Emmeryn does manage to broker a peace deal, we will have time to recover."

"Grima will not give us time," Lucina growled. "He is a merciless monster who will not hesitate to annihilate us when given the chance."

"And he hasn't had the chance yet," Robin countered. "Which means we must take advantage of the lull by refortifying our army and our borders. Perhaps we can even convince some Plegians, through Mustafa, to keep close tabs on the Grimleal for us. That way, we won't be caught off guard."

"Oh, good idea!" Morgan chirped. A sharp glare from Lucina made her shrink a little. "B-but, maybe we should take advantage of the lull by striking him right away?"

Robin blinked, then glanced at Cordelia. "Did she not hear a single word I said earlier?"

"Robin, be nice," Cordelia chided.

"I'm not mute, right?"

"Robin," Chrom uttered a good-natured chuckle. He clapped his hand against Robin's shoulder. "You're tired. No need to take that out on Morgan."

A heavy breath left Robin's lips. "Right, right." He bowed his head to Morgan. "My apologies," He drew in a deep, calming breath. "Perhaps I am a bit tired."

"We can discuss this further with Emmeryn later. She needs to know," Chrom said. "In the meantime, what do you plan on doing, Marth?"

Marth's brow furrowed behind her mask. She leaned back on one hip, arms folded as she observed the maps. Her blue eyes darted to Valm.

"If we can't strike Doluna now, then I'm going to go get some help for when we do." She tapped the location of the Mila Tree in the center of the Valmese continent. "I know we'll find someone who can help us there."

I blinked. She wanted to go searching for Tiki in Valm? Now? I may not be the most well versed in the game's lore, and it might not even be accurate anymore given the new circumstances surrounding us, but I knew that was a bad idea. If I recalled the game correctly, right now was about the time Walhart the Conqueror was asserting complete dominion over Valm. That meant the continent was rife with bloodshed.

And Severa can't even get out of bed yet.

"Who will go with you?" Chrom asked Lucina. "I can ask the Shepherds if any would be willing to join you."

Lucina raised a hand. "That won't be necessary. Myself, Owain, Nah, Morgan, Samwise, and Severa will be more than able to handle whatever happens in Valm."

"No," I mumbled, ducking my head as Lucina whipped her gaze to me.

"No?" She parroted.

I drew in a deep breath. "Marth, Severa can't get out of bed, and I'm still recovering as well. Unless you are content to wait a few weeks, which I'm sure you're not, then we are not able to sail across an entire ocean and march through a completely foreign continent." I shook my head, pursing my lips before continuing. "We're going to have to stay here."

Lucina gave me a hard glare. I expected her to argue. I braced for it. But, no arguments came. Instead, she uttered a sigh and closed her eyes.

"Fair points, Samwise," She muttered, before turning her attention back to Chrom. "Do you mind if-"

"Not at all," Chrom said, flashing a friendly smile. "Samwise and Severa have more than earned a place among the Shepherds. We'll happily house them while you do whatever you have to do in Valm."

A small smile crept over my face. We had a place here, and it was safe. I wasn't exactly sure what to feel right now, but I definitely felt grateful and relieved. I wasn't sure how Severa would react to the news that we would not be joining Lucina on her voyage to Valm, but this was for the best. Hopefully, she would see it that way too.

We could both use a small break too.

"It's settled then," Lucina nodded. "Morgan, Owain, Nah, gather your things. We will leave for Port Ferox come morning."

"Of course, Marth," Owain nodded. "We shall follow our fearless leader to the ends of the earth if we must!"

Morgan snickered as she watched him, Nah, and Lucina marched out of the tent. She lingered behind for a moment, turning to me.

"Keep an eye on Severa for me," She gave me a mischievous smirk. "Oh, who am I kidding, you'll definitely keep an eye on my big sis."

Robin's head shot up from the maps on the table. "Big sis?" He tilted his head over to Cordelia, who looked equally baffled. How did they not know that Morgan and Severa were related? They must have not been paying attention.

Still, I couldn't focus on Robin and Cordelia's reaction right now. I was too busy trying to hide the scarlet blush shooting over my cheeks. A sheepish laugh left my lips.

"I'll look out for her, don't worry. You just focus on staying safe in Valm."

Morgan snorted. "That shouldn't be too difficult. After all, I've got my big brain, Nah's big magic, Owain's big personality, and Lu- Marth's- big sword. We'll be fine."

"Yeah, well, still be careful. Knowing our luck, things could go awry very easily."

"Luck schmuck," Morgan tittered. "I like to think I make my own, and it's usually pretty good," She tapped my arm. "Gotta go pack now. See you at supper, if you aren't with Sev, that is."

My brow furrowed as Morgan skipped by me, snickering as she left the tent. I remained confused as I followed her out, leaving Robin and Chrom to handle whatever military matters they needed to deal with.

What did Morgan mean by that?

I figured out what Morgan meant by her little tease after I enjoyed supper in the infirmary with Severa. It was a light meal compared to breakfast. Tomato soup with ham and cheese sandwiches and some fruit. Like breakfast, it was delicious and more than satisfying. Still, Frederick made sure I had two sandwiches instead of one.

But, back to what Morgan meant by her joke, I figured it out as I gently took Severa's empty bowl from her fingers. Fading, red light from the sunset filtered into the infirmary through the nearby window, making Severa's locks shimmer like rubies. A content expression sat on her face as she sat against her pillows; her small smile telling me that she enjoyed my company over dinner. Seeing that was enough to make my heart thump in my chest and my cheeks warm up.

That's when I realized Morgan insinuated that I liked Severa.

Not just liked, but like-liked- as juvenile as that might sound. Every time I was around Severa now, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Her laugh made me laugh. Her smile made me smile. And realizing this made me squirm in my seat because I did not know how to handle it.

"Are you alright, Sam?" Severa asked, jerking me from my thoughts as I still held her bowl. "You look a little sick."

"Huh, oh," I shook my head. "I'm fine, just thinking."

"About?"

Quick Sam. Think fast. This is a test, right? Riiiight?

"Uh, about Lucina and the others going to Valm."

Severa's face fell a little, and I resisted the urge to smack myself. I thought fast, but I thought dumb. It's amazing how I've managed to get this far while living in this world.

A heavy sigh left Severa's lips. "I'm sure they'll be fine. Lucina is plenty skilled enough to take care of them. Morgan's smart enough to make sure none of them do anything stupid."

I raised my brow. "You do realize we're talking about the same girl that dunked her head in freezing water in an attempt to jog her memories, right?"

Severa snorted. "She's smart where it counts, alright." Her smile wavered a little as she settled back into her pillows, one hand on her bandaged stomach. "Hopefully they won't be gone for long. I was getting used to being around her again. We didn't even fight. Do you know how long it has been since that happened?"

I shrugged. "Wasn't here." I set my empty soup bowl on top of our small pile of dishes on the infirmary floor.

"Oh, right," Severa blinked. "I almost forgot that you only showed up towards the end of things in the future." Her fingers drummed against the blanket covering her lap. "Yeah, me and Morgan… gawds, we were at each other's throats weren't we?"

I bobbed my head. "You two were a bit combative."

"No need to sugar coat it, Sam. Morgan was a little shit, and I was quite the bitch to her," Severa remarked, causing my brow to furrow. "You can disagree all you want, but that's the truth. I'm not going to hide from it. Just have to learn from it, which is damn hard."

I nodded. "Yeah, well, you have a second chance with her now. I'm sure you'll make things right."

"Doing my best. I'd still be trying if I wasn't bedridden right now," She grumbled. She flopped her head against her pillows, a frustrated huff shooting from her lips. "Gawds, why does Lucina have to go now?"

"Time is of the essence for her."

"It's important for us too, Sam," Severa reminded me.

"Yes," I agreed. "Time to recover is indeed very important for us." I folded my arms when Severa frowned. "You don't have to agree with me, but I think you know we both need an actual break."

Severa dipped her head as a long breath exhaled through her nose. "We can have a break when Grima is defeated."

"That's called peace, not a break," I countered. "Trust me, I'm looking forward to that too. But, if we don't learn to rest, we'll be too exhausted to fight Grima. We need our full strength. Besides, you're in no condition to voyage to Valm."

Severa glared at me. "Are you questioning my toughness?"

"No," I replied, my hands rubbing my thighs. "Your toughness goes without saying. But, your body says that your toughness doesn't matter. Besides, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a Maribelle tirade if we decided to go running across the ocean in our condition."

Severa looked less than convinced. Words were obviously not working, so I needed to try a different approach.

"Alright," I got to my feet and held out a hand. "C'mon."

Severa arched an eyebrow. "What?"

"Take my hand. You think you can do it, then walk with me." Hesitation filled Severa as she eyed my hand. I gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

A competitive spark hit her red eyes. She locked her gaze with mine, twitched her lips, and chuckled. "Don't you ever doubt me, Samuel Wheeler."

She reached out and gingerly took my hand, fingers interlocking with mine as she gave it a firm squeeze. My entire body felt warm as a result, and I couldn't help but smile a little. Then, I braced myself.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Just pull me out of this stupid bed already," Severa demanded.

"As you wish."

I gave her one sharp tug. At the same time, Severa used her other hand to help push herself to her feet. As soon as her bare feet touched the stone floor, her legs wobbled. Color drained from her face, and her eyes went wide as her breathing quickened. Her throat bobbed as she turned a sickly color from the sudden movement. But, she remained standing, which meant she hadn't given up yet. I did not expect her to.

"One easy step at a time," I whispered, still holding her hand as she squeezed tighter.

Severa sucked in a shallow breath. Some cold sweat beaded on her brow as she swallowed hard. I glanced down at her bare legs, checking to see if she was about to tip over.

"Eyes up here, Samwise," Severa chided. I turned red in the face as whipped my gaze up. She rolled her eyes. "I may be in my small clothes, but that doesn't mean you get to peek."

"I-I-I wasn't-" She started snickering, which made my shoulders sag. "Good one."

"Did you honestly think I cared?" Severa chuckled, a small amount of color returning to her cheeks as she readied to take her first step. "Naga, we shared a room in Plegia for how many months?"

"There was a divider," I reminded her.

"And you were ever the gentleman," She pointed out. "Now get ready. I'm about to prove you wrong."

"Go for it."

Severa refocused herself, swallowed hard, and raised her leg. She barely got her foot a couple of centimeters off the floor before she awkwardly placed it down, one step closer to me. A stunned, but triumphant, smile shot over her pale face. Confidence washed over her as she gave me a victorious look.

Before I could say or do anything, she tried to take another step. This time, her legs betrayed her. They gave out beneath her, her body finally having enough of the strain. With a yelp, she fell forward.

I managed to catch her. Severa clawed at me as she tried to keep herself upright, only for more of her strength to fail her as she started to slide down. As fast as I could, I reached down and scooped her up, surprising both of us with my sudden burst of strength.

At that moment, I froze. Severa was in my arms, and her face was redder than her hair. I swallowed hard. A lump sat in my throat as my heart hammered so hard I could feel it in my ears.

"Sam," Severa whispered, her voice fragile as I stayed rooted in place. "I um… I think I need to lie back down."

I blinked. "Oh, uh, r-right, um-"

The door to the infirmary opened as I moved to place Severa back on her cot. Footsteps rapidly approached us. Before I could set Severa down, Robin swept into our area.

"Oh!" Robin chirped. Severa's face turned bright red while I gaped at Robin like a fish out of water. "There you are, Samwise. I-" His rapid speech ground to a halt when he registered how me and Severa looked. His head tilted as he observed us. "I don't know if Libra or Emmeryn would approve of this course of action, you two. But, instincts are instincts and-"

"Sam, put me down now," Severa hissed.

"Don't have to tell me twice."

I plopped Severa back down on her cot. She winced but did not complain, instead opting to swiftly cocoon herself in her blankets once again. An embarrassed blush lingered on her cheeks as she looked back and forth between me and Robin.

"W-well?" She sniffed. "What?"

Robin furrowed his brow and gestured at both of us. "Were you two not-"

"No!" Me and Severa exclaimed.

Robin blinked. "Huh… strange. I could've sworn I heard Sumia describe a similar situation from one of her books." That only made Severa's blush darker. Robin shrugged. "I suppose it does not matter. Romance is very subjective, after all. Anyways, if you are not busy Samwise, I would like to speak with you."

"S-sure?"

"Don't worry, we won't be going far."

Robin waved for me to follow him. Sure enough, we didn't go far. In fact, we barely went anywhere. We went past the dividers around Severa's cot and into the next section of the infirmary with an empty cot. I gave Robin a puzzled look but chose not to question the tactical genius.

"Alright?" I question. "What is it?"

Robin nodded. "Right, I'll get right to the point," He cleared his throat. "Who are your parents?"

I blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Who are your parents?"

"Uh…"

"Do they happen to be someone nearby?" Robin asked. At the moment, my brain decided to completely shut down as I failed to compute what Robin said. "Perhaps, someone very close by? Shepherds without a flock, maybe? Or, at least not an ovine flock?"

I drew back, flustered. "O-Ovine?"

Robin sighed. "Must I be so direct? Fine, fine," He cleared his throat. "I'm going to run down the list. Nod if I get one right."

"Robin, how much sleep have you gotten recently?"

"Gaius," Robin said.

My head spun. "I have no fucking clue what you're-"

"Not that one, rats!" Robin rubbed his chin. "Next most likely would be Anna."

Now I stepped back. "What the hell are you going on about?"

Robin blinked. "Really? So Anna is not your mother in the future."

My jaw hung from its hinges. Beyond the room divider, I could hear Severa snickering.

Robin hummed. "I would've guessed both Gaius and Anna as your parents given how remarkably similar you are to them in combat and tendencies, but it appears I might be incorrect. The question is: who else fits the profile?"

"Robin…" I stepped towards him, brow furrowed. "Are you drunk?"

Robin did not answer me right away. It was as if he didn't register my question as he was too busy running through calculations in his mind. A light gasp left his lips.

"You're Marth's older brother!"

Severa howled from beyond the room divider. I gawked at Robin.

"No!" I exclaimed. I shook my head hard and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Robin, can you please inform me what the actual fuck you're doing right now?"

Robin blinked. "Oh? I thought it was obvious. I am testing a hypothesis I have regarding you and your companions. Mainly that you are all, in fact, children of the Shepherds from the future."

My mind screeched to a halt. Severa's laughter came to an abrupt stop as well. Did he already figure it all out? How!?

"Wh-what?" I croaked.

"Oh, quick question," Robin's eyes moved past me towards someone walking into the infirmary. I stole a nervous look over my shoulder and spotted Cordelia, who looked puzzled by me and Robin being in the infirmary. "Is Severa Cordelia's daughter?"

I don't think I ever heard Severa curse that loudly in my life.

And chapter! Finally, some calmer moments for the dynamic duo. These are gonna be some good ones too, I assure you. We're about to enter the game's two year timeskip (which may or may not be that long in this story. I've got some PLANS). It's gonna be fun! Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter. As always, I hope you all enjoyed it. Have a nice day!

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