Hello everyone! We now come… to Breakneck Pass!
Severa: Oh! That means Mommy is going to be a bigger part of the story now right?
7: Yep! Today Cordelia joins the main cast of Shepherds for good!
Lucina: It'll be good to see Aunt Cordy again after not seeing her for a while.
Severa: Yeah! Not to mention the story they gave me will start to match up too!
7: *mutters* We'll see about that
Severa: Huh? 7 did you say something?
7: Nothing, nothing!
Severa: No, I'm pretty sure you said something!
7:Um… YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE! *Drives away in the Edelweiss*
Severa: HEY NO FAIR! YOU CAN'T USE THE TANK! *Gives chase in the Shamrock*
Lucina: …Why are the Valkyria Chronicle props here? That fic is still in the idea phase.
Lucina: Anyway… let's join Cordelia on the border, the day before the Shepherds reach Breakneck Pass.
Devastation (Comfort)
-Northwestern Ylisse- Fort Firald
It was a quiet evening. Fires crackled in their braziers and the wind rustled the trees as Pegasus Knights patrolled the walls of the fort.
One knight in particular sighed.
Why are we here? I still don't understand why we were given orders to move from the border.
In truth, she did understand. Firald was one of two vital forts that watched over the northwestern region of Ylisse with its sister, Fort Daud. They needed all the forces they could to hold the forts rather than have them ground to dust when Plegia rolled down the mountains.
It was just too convenient. After all, her unit had been the first to arrive at Fort Firald. By almost two days, in fact.
Only Phila could give such orders, but this feels like something – or someone – else.
Cordelia sighed to the cool air, idly checking a rack of javelins. Her mind conjured the idea that Robin could have been behind the order but she dismissed it just as quickly. Robin was the tactician for the Shepherds alone; he'd have to be granted access to the War Room to do anything.
I wouldn't put it past him to try and convince Phila though. He may have used his tactical acumen to convince her, but Phila's smarter than that.
Cordelia sighed again and moved along the wall. Better to turn her thoughts elsewhere for now.
It's funny. I have a fight with him then go straight off to war. Then, the moment that dispatch comes in, all the harassment stops.
She almost snorted. It looked like war and the possibility of her saving their skins made the Pegasus Knights best friends. In fact, she'd had more than a few of her former tormentors try and ask how she was doing.
Oh, she was polite about it, like always. But, that didn't stop her from attacking the training dummies in the fort with renewed zeal.
"Cordelia!"
She nearly jumped out her skin. She spun on her heel and snapped an instinctive salute, "Ma'am!"
Her captain-Isara- shook her head. "At ease."
Cordelia put down her salute but stood at the ready. Isara sighed. "When I said at ease, I meant you can relax, Cordelia. This isn't me giving orders; I just want to talk with you."
Cordelia relaxed slowly, not sure what this was about. "Talk to me? What about?"
Isara sighed again. "You're not in trouble, if that's what you're asking. I just… wanted to explain a tradition we have. Something you haven't learned yet."
Cordelia's eyes widened. "Something I haven't learned? I thought I'd learned all the traditions and expectations."
Isara smiled, melancholy coloring her eyes. "Well… not quite. You remember when we had about fifty recruits in your class?"
Cordelia hummed. "I… believe so."
Isara gestured to the grounds below. "How many have you seen since?"
Cordelia's eyes narrowed. "I'd say six or seven. Why?"
Isara's eyes twinkled a bit. "Well, there's a reason for that. A reason I'm sure you're familiar with."
Cordelia stared at her captain for a moment, but couldn't see what she meant. "I'm not sure the reason is familiar to me. I've been nothing but dutiful and I will carry out that duty to the letter, so I swore."
Isara's eyes saddened. "I see. We're lucky to have someone so driven among us, but I guess I'll just tell you."
Isara took a deep breath. "The reason you don't see most of the recruits is because they left, dropped out. The tradition I mentioned earlier is basically a mental exam, where we put the recruits through a hazing process to see if they can withstand the pressure."
Cordelia's eyes widened, but Isara continued. "The idea is that our patrols are long and generally miserable. To add to that, we don't have good food or enough space for everyone for long periods of time. As you might imagine, tempers tend to flare."
She pinched her nose. "However, the idea and rule is that only a few veterans act as the hazers while the other knights help form a support system until the recruits either drop out or make it through the first few patrols. After that, the hazing is supposed to stop."
Cordelia growled. "Well, that's news to me. I've been through at least six patrols counting this one."
Isara pinched her nose harder. "That's the reason I'm here. I can't speak for the others, but they went well beyond the simple hazing. First, everyone was part of it, even the sergeants. Second, they continued the hazing into training itself, which is forbidden. Third, they shunted tasks off to you, also forbidden. Fourth and final, they've been doing everything they can to spread false rumors."
Cordelia's eyes widened further with every listed crime. Sure, she knew about it, but she thought the officers just didn't care. "…Why tell me this now? We're at war; this could have been addressed at a much better time!"
Isara grimaced. "And that fault lies with me and me alone. I was willfully blind to what was happening and I refuse to excuse that negligence."
She bowed. "You have my sincerest apologies. I know it's likely too little too late, but I hope we can start afresh."
Cordelia stared at Isara before sighing. "As much as I'd like to tell you no, I'm not that kind of person. I'll try at least, but I'll need to hear apologies from everyone before I start forgiving them."
Isara smiled. "At least you're willing. That right there, in my eyes, makes you the future of these knights. You'll go far Cordelia, especially if you can forgive such trespass born of simple jealousy."
Cordelia saluted again and Isara left. She didn't show it, but Isara's words had lifted a massive weight from her shoulders.
And placed an even heavier one in its place.
It's relieving beyond words to hear they don't hate me. Jealousy had crossed my mind, but I hadn't thought it would be the reason behind all of it. But, now Captain Isara's told me I just may be the future of the knights! She was even willing to apologize to me in person…
She nodded, turning back to face the forest below.
I can't let her down! I will do everything I possibly can to reach those expectations, no matter what I must do; I will be the model knight!
Cordelia smiled, but turned around at a horn's bellow. Dinner time by the looks of it.
She took one more look at the forest before turning and leaving, waving to her replacement as she went, and just missing a man in a fur coat stumbling out of the brush.
-Dining Hall-
She entered the hall to the chatter of the knights. She didn't know many of them, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to get something to eat and get back to work.
Taking her place in line, she noticed her unit sitting at the end of one of the tables. They all had their eyes trained on her, but Cordelia did her best to ignore them.
If they wanted to apologize, they needed to come to her.
She grabbed her food and sat at a lonely table near the back. Normally, she'd eat with the others out of obligation, but not today.
It didn't take long before she heard chairs scrape around her table and her unit sat down. Silence stretched for a few strained moments before Captain Isara coughed.
"Girls, we've talked about this. Now, say what you need to say and let's move past this, ok?"
Silence stretched for a little longer before the others started apologizing. As Cordelia had thought, the big motivator for the abuse was sheer jealousy. Most of them were jealous of most of what she had, her looks and skill being the most envied, but they admitted to one thing universally.
They wanted to break her down, throw her in the mud and revel in it. Every time she brushed it off or answered politely only made them seethe more and it had taken Captain Isara a verbal and physical thrashing to kill their green eyes.
Cordelia simply stared at them. "I… don't know what to say."
One of them sighed. "Well, I'd be surprised if you forgave us. I know I wouldn't."
Another chimed in. "Personally, I'd just send us all to twenty lashes. If that didn't teach us, we don't deserve to be here."
There were nods all around, but Cordelia sighed. "No, I don't think that's necessary. I've struggled with jealousy when I was younger, so I know how it feels."
One of them chuckled. "Oh, let me guess, Sumia?"
Cordelia stared in surprise at the speaker until they started shifting uncomfortably. She answered slowly, "Yes, it was. As I said, I know how it feels, but that time in my life is over. If she can forgive me for being jealous, then I can forgive you."
She was met with smiles, many of them bowed to her. She heard a few sniffles too, but they only made her smile wider.
Finally, they could do this right. She'd be able to prove to Robin that her duty could reap great things. And she could apologize to him as well. He was just worried after all, but hopefully this could assuage his concerns.
The dream was alive for all of five minutes before an emergency horn blared through the hall.
The doors to the hall slammed open, a wounded knight stumbling inside. "Plegians! They're at the gates!"
The hall exploded into action, soldiers and knights running about trying to find weapons and armor alike. Cordelia, still armored from her rounds, dashed for the stables.
She cursed as she burst into the castle grounds. Plegians were everywhere and their wyverns had control of the skies. The Ylissean soldiers were putting up a hell of a fight, but they'd been caught napping.
She cursed again when she saw the stable, punching a Plegian soldier away in the process. The stables were aflame, the screeches of horses clear among the screams and yells of battle. She ran for the stables, grabbing a discarded javelin from the ground and pinning a Plegian to the wall in one smooth motion.
She slammed the door in, grabbing an emergency axe next to the door. "Theresa! I'm here girl, just hold on!"
A neigh greeted her from further in, but she smashed the locks on every stall she ran by, the horses and pegasi thundering out and away from the fire. She found Theresa in one of the last stalls, bucking wildly as fire danced in her hay.
"Hold on!" She shouted, smashing the lock. Theresa shot out and Cordelia barely grabbed her saddle before Theresa took to the air and smashed through the weak ceiling.
Cordelia pulled herself up into the saddle, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw a lance and some javelins still in the bindings. She looked down and felt her heart sink.
The fort was lost; there was no way around it. Torches stretched far into the forest and the sky was black with wyvern wings. As she watched, soldiers and knights alike were struck down, the Plegians only interested in Ylissean blood.
"Cordelia!"
That was Captain Isara! Cordelia shot toward the sound of her voice, relief flooding her when she found her unit and captain alive.
"Cordelia, flee! Tell the Exalt; warn them that the forces are far greater than we feared!"
Cordelia's relief was swiftly replaced with denial. "No, Captain! My place is here with you! It's my duty to defend this fort and stand by your side!"
Isara growled, impaling a Plegian that tried to ambush her. "Don't make me give you an order! The fort is lost and you're the only one able to fly. Flee, and live to fight again!"
Cordelia didn't move. She couldn't. They'd just made up and promised to start over again, she couldn't abandon them!
Isara snarled. "Cordelia de Grevis I order you to warn the Exalt, now!"
Cordelia felt her need to stay and duty to follow orders reach a roiling pitch. What convinced her, though, was a brief flash of purple rising from a fire ball to the south.
She started crying. "Yes… yes ma'am. I… I understand."
Isara smiled. "Good. Ok girls, cover her retreat! Don't let one of those damn wyverns give chase!"
Her unit gave a collective cheer and they thundered up the walls. Cordelia took to the sky and kept her eyes glued to the horizon. She knew that wyverns had started giving chase, but screeches of pain told her that her unit kept their promise.
Against her better judgment, she glanced back. Just in time to see Captain Isara blasted off the wall by a Plegian mage.
Her heart screamed in agony. Isara had been the one that was always kind to her, even during the hazing. She may not have done all she could or should have done, but she still cared.
And now, she's gone. All because of me. If I had stayed, maybe we could have strategized; maybe we could have gotten the pegasi together and run for it. Damn it, I should have stayed!
In a repressed part of her mind, she knew that doing so would have done nothing. They would have all died either way and her true reason for leaving would have died too.
It did little to comfort the wounds on her heart, even the kind face of a friend unable to do anything.
Everything was drowned in sorrow and self-loathing as she fled into the night, her wails of pain lost to the wind.
-Robin, Breakneck Pass-
They weren't kidding when they called it Breakneck Pass.
There were sheer cliffs to the left and a deep ravine to their right, making even the most sure footed of the Shepherds feel somewhat nervous as they walked.
Robin though, wondered on how they got here. After the assassination attempt, Chrom, Phila, Lissa, and Frederick had banded together to convince Emmeryn to go to the Exalt's summer palace. It was the first Robin had heard of it, but he couldn't argue with the idea.
But, it wasn't the thought of relocating the royal family that bothered him. Nay, he applauded it. Rather, he didn't understand why the jittery old man in green priest robes and spectacles was accompanying them.
He knew the man was known as the Hierarch, Chrom told him as much, but he was very shifty eyed. Like he was waiting for something to arrive and didn't want others to know.
He sidled up to Chrom. "Hey, Chrom? Can you tell me more about the Hierarch?"
Chrom glanced at Robin, but shrugged. "Sure. Well, his name's Jason Felds, the old Duke of Felds. He's been Emmeryn's political advisor since she took the throne and he's helped her though a lot of things, particularly after our father … well …"
Robin hummed. "Do we know where he was a couple days ago? Call me paranoid."
Chrom eyed him. "Ok, paranoid, he was talking with Emmeryn the day of the attack if that's what you're asking. But, he was in his room when we checked."
Robin narrowed his eyes as they broke from the trees. "When did you have time to check?"
Chrom glanced at him. "We checked after the attack and the guards that survived told us he was in his room after his meeting with Emm ended."
Now Robin was frowning. "How many guards told you this?"
Chrom was starting to frown too. "Now that I think about it… just…one."
He whispered the last word and Robin turned to the Shepherds, lungs roaring.
"It's a trap! Get the Exalt out of here!"
His warning was nearly too late. War cries screamed from the mountains as wyverns descended like hellish messengers, footmen jumping from the bushes further up the road. But, the Plegians stopped short and a wyvern that was larger than the others flapped forward.
The rider was a fit man with a scraggly head of hair and similar beard, his visage sneering at them from his perch. "Hail, Ylisseans! We know your wench of a leader is with you. Hand her over to us and you'll walk away alive!"
Chrom growled, but the Hierarch rushed forward. It was rather impressive for a man that needed a cane to walk, but the Shepherds only caught snippets of the conversation.
"Orders…protection…"
"I have… man… traitorous bacon!"
Whatever was said next was lost to the wind. All the Shepherds knew was that an axe was raised; blood painted the earth, and a body fell into the ravine.
And so ends the life of Jason Felds, I hardly knew him. But, this raises concerns of traitors in the palace. We'll need to do a thorough house cleaning when we get back.
His musings ceased as the Shepherds charged. Robin hung back, if only because he had a hunch these weren't all the Plegians.
Besides, the Shepherds had the fight well in hand. They kept Ricken and Virion in the back while the others spread out and started laying in to the Plegians. In fact, it looked like the Plegians were panicking.
They weren't expecting to run into a physically superior force. There are still mistakes, Lissa took a hit just now, but we have the speed to make up for it. At least for now.
He jumped from his thoughts and the ground when a screech reached him. A wyvern slammed into the earth and an axe met Robin's armor. It lived up to its name and the blow scratched away while Robin felt a quick push rather than searing pain.
Grinning at the flummoxed rider, Robin drove his blade into the wyvern's neck and blasted the rider into the ravine with a dose of thunder.
I need to thank Miriel for giving me that book on wyvern anatomy. Mercurius is beyond good at cutting things, but the less I have to tangle with these things the better.
Another screech sounded and Robin found three wyverns diving at him.
Me and my big mouth.
He pulled Mercurius to his side, ready for the fight to come, when a spear of ice skewered one of the wyverns. A dark blur shot back toward the main fight and Robin smiled.
Thank you, Sumia. You get first pick of the library when we get to the palace.
He leapt forward as the rider's landed, dodging under an axe and a wyvern's maw. Landing next to one, he clambered up its side and jammed Mercurius through the rider's neck before stabbing the lizard. As it flopped to the earth, a blast of fire singed his side, pain lancing from the site. The other wyvern's smoking grin told him everything.
"You'll pay for that with your hide!"
Robin jumped off the cooling corpse and charged again, lightning gathering in his palm. The rider was smart enough to take to the air, but Robin had a counter for that.
"Himmeljagd"
The lightning in his hand coalesced into a snarling wolf, the construct shot into the air. The rider was good though, twisting and whirling away from the electric hound. Soon enough, Robin's real plan came to fruition.
"Thoron!"
The beam of lightning ripped through the air and pierced rider and mount alike, their bodies falling to the ground where the wolf vaporized them.
Ok, a tad overkill. Only use when you have a really tricky opponent.
Robin sighed. It looked like the Shepherds had stalled in their attack, the wyverns taking to the mountain ridges. Most of the foot soldiers were taken care of...
...make that all of them. Vaike had just crushed the last one's skull with that giant anchor he called an axe.
But, that still left them with a swarm of wyverns and the Plegian captain. Sure, Virion and Ricken could clean them out given time; Robin just had a sinking feeling they didn't have that time. Not if they wanted to get Emmeryn to safety.
He saw another wyvern fall from the sky, followed by two more.
What I wouldn't give to have one more Pegasus Knight. Sumia's lance work is spot on, but her ability to use ice along with Virion and Ricken's specialties make this much easier.
He blanched as the sound of wings echoed down the valley. He was right, there were more Plegians.
And he alone had to keep them from stabbing the Shepherds in the back.
Damn it! Why didn't I keep Miriel with me? Or Stahl at the very least? I don't have enough firepower to take down a whole platoon!
Robin sighed and turned toward the ravine, waiting for the inevitable wave of black to scream around the mountain and descend. Except, there was no wave of black. All he saw was a single white figure with a streak of red behind it, the sound of wings growing closer the longer he watched.
Those sure as hell aren't Plegian reinforcements. But, I feel like I know them…
The figure grew a little clearer and Robin finally made out some details. A Pegasus, grimy and worn from long travel. Red, unkempt hair and what looked like battered armor to match.
…Damn it, why was she here?
A voice called to his right. "By the gods, is that Cordelia?"
Robin growled. "Nice of you to join us Phila. And yes, I believe it is. If you can name me one other person with hair like that, I'll eat my coat."
Phila glared at him. "I'll have you know my unit and myself have been fighting off Plegians that appeared from the trees. But, only one other person has hair like that, and you're staring at her daughter."
Robin grunted. "I happen to like how my coat tastes. Wave her down, we need to finish this."
Phila shook her head. "She's been riding for days by the looks of it. Anything I try isn't going to pierce that haze. You have lightning magic, use it."
She turned and dashed back into the forest, leaving Robin snarling.
"Fine then, but if I end up with a lance in my gut, at least I'll be able to talk to Cordelia about taking breaks."
He didn't quite fancy that idea, but desperate times. Sighing, he glanced back to the battle to see a number of the Shepherds nursing injuries. The remaining Plegians had gotten clever and started dropping boulders on their heads.
Damn it. Alright, here goes nothing!
Gathering magic once more, Robin pulled Mjolnir from his coat. The tome glowed gold and he slowly pulled a bolt of lightning from the pages. Once free, he reared back and sent the spear flying, the electricity crackling through the air. It had barely gone ten feet past the ravine before it exploded in a shower of sparks.
The brief flash blinded Robin, but his vision returned to see a lance closing in on his arm and a woman's horrified face gazing at him.
He sighed.
Lissa, I'll need that staff of yours again.
Then his arm erupted in fire.
-Cordelia-
She could barely see.
Her tears had long dried on the wind, but her vision was nearly dark from the dust that caked her. She'd ridden for what felt like an eternity, but the arrival and disappearance of light told her she'd been going for three days.
She'd turned away from Ylisstol after the first day. A contingent of Plegians had broken from the army marching below the clouds she hid in, many of them fliers. To break so early from an assault told her someone important, likely the Exalt, had left the capital.
That meant she had to head for Breakneck Pass, quickly.
She cursed as she flew. All the knights knew about the Summer Palace, but she never thought she'd have to fly there, especially so high up where dust was her worst enemy. Then again, she thought she'd been ready for the fighting.
Her gut rolled as the images of slaughter rolled by her eyes again. She'd vomited once before, but that had only drawn Plegians. She'd kept it down since.
Now though, Theresa was tired and so was she. It took all her strength to even keep her eyes open, let alone hold her lance as they pulled around another mountain.
A burst of light and the crackle of electricity sent Cordelia's adrenaline surging once more. She could just barely make out a dark figure with what she believed was a tome.
Plegian Mage!
Her mind snarled at the thought. One of his ilk had killed Captain Isara and now…
…Now it was time for payback.
She pulled on Theresa's reins and dived at the dark figure, lance steady in her grip. His own spell had blinded him.
She smirked and aimed at the man's arm, wanting to remove the damn tome before she killed him. Yet, something felt off, deep in the back of her mind.
It was feeble before her rage, but it convinced her that removing some of the dust in her eyes would make targeting easier. She had enough time to clear her vision, color blooming back to life, when she finally saw her target.
Purple hair, iridescent pools for eyes, a snazzy set of armor underneath a familiar cloak.
It was Robin.
Her mind ground to a halt, face morphing in horror as she realized she couldn't stop. Her lance trembled in her hand, but her years of training betrayed every plea to stop.
Red bloomed in the air, her momentum pushing Robin to the ground with her lance sticking clean through his arm. His scream of pain made her mind start up again, her voice thick with worry.
"Robin! Gods, I'm so sorry, I thought you were a Plegian mage, oh gods there's blood everywhere, I, I ,I"
She started panting fast. A rational part of her said she was having a panic attack, but the rest of her was far more worried about her groaning friend.
A sharp pain bloomed on her cheek. "Calm down, Cordelia! A healer is on their way. Now, report! What are you doing here, what happened to Fort Firald?!"
The cool voice of command helped pull her from the raging seas of panic. "C-commander Phila?"
Phila's gaze was soft and stern in equal measure. "He'll be alright. Now please, report."
Cordelia sucked in a lungful of air before launching into a tirade. She spilled everything her guts held; from the arrival at Fort Firald to the final moment when Captain Isara fell to her death.
It took all she had not to break then and there.
Phila sighed. "You did the right thing. Captain Isara rightly prized your youth and potential and thanks to you we know of the army behind us. A healer should be her-"
"I will heal Sir Robin."
Cordelia looked up to see the Exalt herself walking toward them. She wasn't sure if all that dust had damaged her vision, but it looked like the Exalt was glowing.
Phila frowned. "Are you sure, Your Grace? Lady Lissa or Lady Maribelle would serve just fine."
A groan broke the air. "I… appreciate that you care, Phila, but please don't talk like I'm not here."
Cordelia almost squeaked. "Oh gods, Robin! Are you ok, is the wound deep?"
Robin chuckled. "Well, let me think. There's a lance pinning my arm to the ground and I'm pretty sure your Pegasus broke my ribs."
His mirth vanished when she began to sob. "Hey, Cordelia, I was just trying to lighten the mood. It's not your fault, heck I was expecting it. You did what any of us would have done."
Cordelia sobbed again. "But… but I injured you! I charged in without thinking and hurt you! I… I never wanted to hurt my best friend!"
She started to turn away, but stopped when a warm hand cupped her cheek. "Hey, it's ok. I'll be just fine. Just seeing you alive is beyond anything I could have wished. We'll talk later, ok? For now, I believe our Exalt wishes me unconscious so she may work."
A swift bop on the head with a staff accomplished that mission, ending the pain he felt.
"Indeed. Lady Cordelia, would you join the Shepherds? They're having trouble with the Plegians on the cliffs."
Cordelia nodded slowly before mounting Theresa and taking to the air. Phila and Emmeryn watched her go, myriad emotions lingering in their eyes.
"To see such slaughter so soon… it will haunt her all her days."
Emmeryn sighed, placing a hand next to the lance. "Indeed it will. I can only pray she moves past it, but Phila, can you help me with this? I'd rather not put him back together with a lance in his arm."
Phila nodded and, on Emmeryn's signal, yanked the lance from the earth. Robin screamed, but Emmeryn's quick chant sent healing magic straight into the wound.
A few minutes later, he was breathing evenly and his wounds had been healed.
"Well, Sir Robin, I hope you can help our young friend with her troubles." Emmeryn whispered in his ear. "She'll need you most of all."
Phila frowned at Emmeryn, curious at the last message. "And why do you say that, Your Grace?"
Emmeryn merely chuckled. "Oh, Phila. I've attended enough balls to see what Cordelia feels."
She glanced at Robin's sleeping form. "She loves him. Her mind will likely not see it through the trauma, but her heart has been set on him for a long time."
Phila smirked. "Ah, so that's why Sumia and Lady Lissa introduced him a few months ago. I didn't think love could spring forth so quickly."
Emmeryn laughed. "Oh, I've seen lifelong romances spring from a single meeting. But, let's not ring the chapel bells just yet. We still have much to do."
-Robin-
When his vision finally returned, it was to the sight of concerned red eyes and white robes.
"Hey, Chrom! Robin's awake!"
That voice could only be Lissa and the white robes disappearing from his vision confirmed it. Blue hair and eyes swiftly replaced them. "So, to stop any attempts to jump up, we won with only moderate casualties. Mostly flesh wounds, but those rocks made it… well, rocky."
Robin laughed; he was just relieved his lungs weren't on fire. "Pun aside, that's good news."
He turned his head to the red eyes. "Hello, Cordelia. May I ask why you're staring at me so intently?"
Her gaze didn't waver. "To make sure you're ok."
Robin's ears were doubtlessly smoking, but Chrom coughed. "Cordelia, why don't you go rest? You've been flying for days."
Cordelia wanted to protest, desperately, but Robin agreed. "He's right. Cordelia, please rest. I know you want to do all you can, but everyone needs to sleep, even you."
He sat up slowly, but popped to his feet when nothing hurt. He gave Cordelia a look that she took as a 'we'll talk later' before he followed Chrom.
She watched him go before she started shaking. His touch and presence had done so much to stabilize her, but now that he was gone…
…There was no way to stop it. Her body demanded rest and even her legendary stubbornness wasn't enough.
She collapsed and surrendered to the nightmares.
-Robin-
Robin had been tasked with trying to convince Emmeryn to not return to the capital and get captured along the way.
Considering she was getting ready to leave, he'd failed spectacularly.
"Think for a moment, Emmeryn! You don't need to be some thrice damned martyr to help our people, you just need to live!"
Chrom's plea was met with a cool smile. "Chrom, I've already explained this twice. with Fort Firald and other forts overrun, Plegia has a direct path to Ylisstol. If I'm not there, the people will panic and even more blood will be spilled without need."
Lissa was equally desperate to keep Emmeryn with them. "But Sis, what can you do?! The Plegians know where we are, you'll just get captured by those… pigs!"
Emmeryn's eyes sharpened. "Gangrel is mad, but even he has never stooped to such levels. He has a long standing law that anyone found raping a prisoner is to be executed. Considering how bloodthirsty his executioners are, it's strictly enforced."
Lissa shrunk away, fear stark on her face. "I…I know that…"
Emmeryn smiled again. "Worry not, Lissa. Even should I be captured, Gangrel wants me pristine. I will be unharmed as my darling siblings ride to the rescue."
Lissa started crying, but nodded her assent. Chrom though, was unconvinced. "And how do we know the Mad King won't simply kill you? Listen to reason where he will not!"
Emmeryn turned to him. "Chrom, he may wish to kill me, but he wants the Fire Emblem before all else. Only I know where it is hidden and he will keep me alive until he both knows where it is and can set up a suitable spectacle."
Chrom spat to the side. He wasn't able to deny that, cold as it made him feel.
"Chrom, you know that I cannot stay with you and I cannot leave the people. But, I know that you are capable and I will look forward to you bringing Feroxi aid."
Chrom nodded, struggling to hide his tears.
"Lissa, you are so brave. You went and learned magic just so you could do all you can. Please, help Chrom, help our people. Be the light that you've always been and darkness shall never win."
Lissa began bawling, charging into her sister's robes for one last hug.
Emmeryn wasn't done. She went to every single Shepherd and implored them to do all they could to end the war and bring peace back to the Halidom.
She even went into a small tent that had been set up for the wounded, emerging a few minutes later with a sparkle in her eyes. Then, she spoke to Robin.
"Sir Robin, please guide these people. I still don't know what's so special about you or what that mark on your hand truly means, but I know this. You are a good man, and you will go far alongside them."
Her next words were a whisper. "And please, take care of Cordelia."
Robin smiled. "I heard you the first time, Your Grace. I swear."
Emmeryn smiled one more time before walking toward Phila and mounting her Pegasus.
"Wait, Emm!" Chrom called. "Where is the Fire Emblem? If I can, I'll take it out of the country."
Emmeryn smiled. "Oh, Chrom. You already have it."
And she was gone.
As she rose into the air, she chuckled at the look on her brother's face.
He will be a good leader, I know it. I don't know what would have caused my dear nieces to come back in time and save me, but I hope Chrom, Lissa, and their friends can help in their quest.
She smirked as she cupped a necklace she kept hidden under her coat.
The blue gem a perfect match for the one hiding in Chrom's shield.
Shepherd Camp-Night
They'd run and rode with all their strength, but it still took until nightfall to reach the Longfort. The Feroxi guards, led by Raimi, insisted that the Shepherds remain and rest, but Chrom ignored them and ordered everyone forward.
Still, they couldn't deny their need to rest and it soon became apparent they needed to stop.
The mounts were the first to be cared for, the brave horses and pegasi completely exhausted. After that, meals and water were consumed in silence and everyone fell into the sweet embrace of sleep.
Except for two.
Robin wandered about the silent camp, slowly growing desperate. After he'd spoken to Emmeryn, Cordelia had more or less vanished. He knew that she'd passed out, Sumia told him as much, but he hadn't seen her since.
He'd tried the wagons to make sure she wasn't still sleeping, but she was nowhere to be found.
Hm… Maybe she's not necessarily in camp. Theresa's still there, so she hasn't flown off, but where could she be?
He decided after another lap through the camp to follow his other senses, as his eyes had found nothing. She was distressed and likely still felt the need to get away from others.
If I wanted to be alone and cry, where would I go?
He started to widen his circle, but soft sobs stopped him barely a quarter way through his third lap. Picking his way through the light snow, he found her curled up next to an iced over stream.
He sat next to her. "…Hey."
She didn't answer, head buried in her knees.
He sighed. "I…I heard about what happened."
His hand went to her knee, the gesture lost on her. "I'm sorry. For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry."
Another sob shook her pale body. Even her hair, normally so vibrant, was muted.
Robin sighed. "I'm… not sure what I can do here. I've never had to comfort anyone and I don't know what to say, or do, to not sound like an ass."
His hand squeezed her knee. "But, I'll gladly keep you company, if nothing else. I've said it already, but I'm so glad you're alive. I didn't want the last thing I said to you to be so spiteful."
He bowed his head. "I'm sorry for that too. I shouldn't have disparaged your sense of duty, especially when I know it's so important to-"
A sick laugh interrupted him. "Duty? All my duty has done is get my unit killed. Then, my failure to reach the Exalt sooner sent her to certain capture!"
She laughed again, the sound shrill and hysterical as her head turned to face Robin. "I've failed everyone! I failed Captain Isara, I failed my comrades, I failed the Exalt, I failed Prince Chrom, I failed Lady Lissa, I failed Sumia, and I failed you!"
Robin slapped her. He didn't want to, but she needed to snap out of it. "You haven't failed anyone! You warned the Exalt, as you were ordered. Emmeryn is as stubborn as her siblings and made up her mind the moment she heard the news."
He gripped her shoulders. "You haven't failed Chrom or Lissa either! Or Sumia! If anyone's failed them, it's me!"
He panted, staring into her surprised eyes. "If anyone's failed, it's the dukes that did nothing! If anyone's failed with what we had, it was me! You are innocent in all this Cordelia, not one drop of guilt lies with you."
She stared at him, not really comprehending his words.
Robin smiled at her. "I guess you're in your own little world, huh? Well, if that's the case…"
He unfastened his breast plate and opened his arms. "…Then I'm right here if you need a shoulder to cry on."
Cordelia stared at him for a long time, eyes slowly growing dull. At first, Robin was afraid she'd just curl up again, but she inched forward and leaned into him.
That was how he found himself rocking back and forth, whispering reassurances in her ear as she sobbed. He cradled her like he'd seen parents do with their children when they were scared, but this felt more… intimate.
He sighed when he felt the shaking cease and her breathing even out.
Finally asleep. Cordelia… I can't say I know what you're going through, but I'll do all in my power to help you. I swear it.
He picked her up slowly, careful to keep his hands only where they needed to go. He walked to camp at a snail's pace, not once jostling her as the moon shone on her peaceful visage.
He almost smiled. If he had any talent for painting, he'd want to capture that image forever. But, when he entered the camp, his eyes noticed something else.
I never thought about it, but Cordelia's face has a lot in common with Katarina's. I mean, she had some of my features so I thought she could be related to me, but why Cordelia's?
He shook his head. He could indulge his conspiracies later, right now, he needed to find Cordelia's tent.
It took him another few minutes, but he soon found the one Cordelia had been assigned. In retrospect, it was pretty easy since so many of the Shepherds put identifying marks on their own. Cordelia's was the only one that didn't have any.
He pulled the tarp aside and walked in, taking in the simple cot and stool that waited in the silence. He walked over to the cot and laid Cordelia down, careful of her armor. He wanted to take her out of the doubtlessly uncomfortable metal and leather, but he'd pushed his luck far enough tonight.
He didn't expect her to try and crawl back into his arms.
He grunted at the unexpected weight and nearly fell to the floor. Glancing at her face, he found her still asleep, but muttering something.
"…Don't go."
It was just a whisper, a whimper, but it steeled his nerve. He'd deal with the consequences when they arose, but his friend needed him. Damn social conventions, he was going to help, even if he had to stretch his amnesia as an excuse.
His mind set, he began to unfasten his own armor. He was delicate with it, even though he only had one hand. After he was in his normal clothes, he took a deep breath and began to help Cordelia out of her armor.
Well, help was a generous word. Rather, he was getting her out of the armor and leaving her in her dress and boots. The breastplate, all too appropriate a term, was a tad awkward to take off, but it met the ground like the rest.
Realizing how the armor strewn about could be taken, he organized them into two distinct piles, again, not an easy feat with one arm, before he was satisfied.
Now's the moment of truth. Come on, Robin, you're just trying to help. If she wants to kick your ass while sparring, so be it.
He took a deep breath before putting his arms around her again. She unconsciously shifted back into a tight curl, ear pressed to his chest. He sighed and laid them both onto the cot, his ears likely on fire.
I hope this isn't a regular thing. But, if it is, I need to see if she'll be comfortable with Sumia. That'll be better for both of us.
He sighed again before his own exhaustion and her steady breathing lulled him into a doze. Before he'd even contemplated how Lissa would take this, he was asleep.
He didn't know it, but Cordelia had pressed her head to his chest for one reason, one she'd be unable to point out for a long time.
His heartbeat was her lullaby, her favorite music.
And all it took to drive the nightmares away, if only for a time.
I'll be honest, Cordelias' part was hard to write. Not because of lack of ideas, but I almost made it a LOT darker than what it turned out being and I didn't want to make everyone extremely depressed.
Outside of that, we see Cordelia has now joined us so expect much more of her in the future and that's really all I have to say.
As always read, review, follow, and favorite!
Squad 7 DISMISSED!
(Man I'm sleepy)