Chapter 13) The Seacomers

I made sure to warn Chrom about Valm, but as the days go by, we try to pretend there's nothing brewing on the horizon. I resumed my duties as queen and took up sparring again to get back in shape, along with raising my daughters as best as I could, given the busy schedule. I rarely had free time, but I couldn't say I disliked all the work. It kept me from fretting. So did planning, and participating, in Sumia's wedding to Frederick. That had been a very joyous day, truly.

It was two months of very happy times. I was scared it would be the last we'd have for a very long while. I was really scared it would be the very last we'd ever have. But I kept my smile and poise. I was a queen, now. I'd act like it.

"Kes!" Chrom's mildly panicked voice made me laugh even as I continued with my task. "Kes, how do you get Lucina to stop crying?"

"She's only crying because you stopped playing with her, dear," I called back. I finished changing Victoria's diaper and leaned down to kiss her nose. She smiled and gurgled in response. She, at least, was perfectly happy. "Just give her back her toy!"

"She was trying to eat it!"

"Then just cuddle her, silly!" I moved Victoria off the changing table, setting her on her stomach, and started cleaning up. Little 'thumps' caught my ear, and I smiled when I saw her lift herself up briefly and look around before lying back down and staring at me. "Goodness, they're three months old. You'd think you'd be better at this by now, Chrom."

"It's not my fault I'm weak to tears!"

I only laughed and finished cleaning up and washing my hands. Then I scooped up Victoria and returned to the nursery, where Chrom had eventually managed to calm Lucina down and was now playing peekaboo with her. "Worth giving up your morning for, dear?" I teased. Victoria began kicking and fussing, so I set her down next to Lucina. I laughed again when she immediately climbed into Chrom's lap too and curled up with Lucina. "Aw, she loves her sister so!"

"Maybe that's what had her cranky?" Chrom suggested. He laughed too as Lucina jerkily got an arm around Victoria, the closest to a hug that they could do. For now. "And, to answer your question, of course. I love spending time with them." He gently set them on the floor, on their backs, and laughed again when they both started kicking. It was almost like they were having a little competition over it. "That's normal, right?"

"It's a way they play, or so I've been told." I giggled, watching them fondly. They both smiled at each other, giggling. "They'll need another health check soon with… gods, I always forget her name."

"Chelsea." Chrom stood up and wrapped an arm around my waist to pull me in for a hug and kiss. "She's been working with us as an herbalist since my father's war."

"That's right. She's a delight." Calm, and knew exactly what she was doing. I only saw her those few times I checked on the twins and she was there, though, so I rarely got to talk with her. "Why is it again that we moved their health from Libra to her?"

"Chelsea has more experience actually checking if a baby is healthy. She assisted with Lissa, actually." Chrom smiled softly and abruptly sat down again to tickle the twins. They giggled and tried to grasp his hands in return. "They're wonderful. Thank you, Kestrel."

"It's not because of 'just' me they're wonderful." Honestly, I felt they were wonderful despite me. "But you're right. They're precious." I sat down as well, smiling at the little scene. Part of me wondered if Mom had played with Robin and me, just like this. "Ah, they probably need feeding soon, so…"

"Oh, good, you two are here." Robin walked in then, smiling warmly. But there was a seriousness to his face, and I knew that whatever he came here for, it wasn't to play with his nieces. "Aw, look at the cuties!" he cooed anyway. "I need to spoil them more."

"Beware, dear brother, because I will return the spoiling whenever you and Olivia get around to having children," I teased. He went bright red. "Did you finally propose, by the way? You spent forever picking out that ring."

"Um… well, yes, I did, late yesterday, and she said yes…"

"Marvelous!" I clapped my hands in delight and Chrom laughed, before returning his full attention to the girls. "I can't wait for the wedding! Will it be here? Ferox?"

"I… we're working on that?" His face went even redder. "Argh, you're the worst!"

"I warned you that I would get you back for teasing me." I let my cheer fade, though. "So, what happened? I'm assuming it's important."

"It is." Robin sighed and sat down. He picked up Victoria to cuddle, and I quickly picked up Lucina to do the same. Chrom playfully sulked before grinning in return. "Chrom, we got a message from Ferox."

"Did we?" Chrom replied. He sighed, his own smile disappearing. "Is it what I think it is?"

"Yeah. Flavia's asked if we can assist her in boosting the defenses of Ferox's westernmost port. Valm is no longer acting so neighborly, and sailors have reported warships sailing straight for us."

"Damn it." Chrom's hand curled into a fist. "So, he is invading, like Virion warned. Do we have numbers?"

"Not yet, but Virion thinks we will shortly. He's already gone to Ferox to meet with someone named 'Cherche'."

"Cherche is one of his knights, and a very dear friend to him," I explained. I hugged Lucina a little tighter, and she giggled, not understanding at all the seriousness of the conversation. "She's been gathering information for him, so…"

"Between that and Virion's own knowledge, we should be able to figure out some sort of strategy," Robin murmured. He frowned, but smiled when Victoria tried to bat it off his face. "Sorry, dear. The frown needs to stay." He focused on Chrom again. "I told the messenger that we'd move out as soon as possible, though only the Shepherds for now. We'll need time to gather an army."

"I hope we don't have to," Chrom growled. His posture went rigid. "I don't want to lead my people into another war. Two years of peace isn't enough."

"I know. But…"

"Chrom, we need to at least warn the people as to what is going on," I told him. I smiled when he glanced at me. "If we explain the situation to them, then if we do need to call for an army, it won't be as sudden. They'll be able to prepare, physically and mentally."

"True," Chrom sighed. He relaxed slowly, running a hand through his hair. "I hate that this trouble is here in the first place, but yeah, we'll warn them. We won't hide the troubles on the horizon."

"Precisely."

"Both of you are in very high regard, thanks to all the charity projects," Robin reminded. He smiled now too. "We'll work out details with Frederick, Chrom. I'll have to adapt some strategies to account for Cordelia not being there…"

"Why wouldn't Cordelia be there?" I asked, frowning. Cordelia hadn't mentioned anything about taking time off. She only wasn't with me now because Chrom was here, so I suggested she take the time off to cuddle with Libra. "Is there something you know that I don't?"

"I… uh…" Robin coughed awkwardly. "Well, aren't you… staying here? With the girls?"

"You said the Shepherds. Last I checked, you and I were there." I gave him a very droll look. "And I swear; if you're answer is 'but they need their mother', I will hit you."

"But they… do need their mother?" Chrom said instead. He flinched back when I glowered. "Besides, you're still recovering and the girls are… well, they… um…"

"Oh, honey…" I began very sweetly, with a smile to match. Chrom smiled nervously in return. "Do you really think you and Robin can do anything to actually stop me?"

"I… er…" Chrom coughed, glancing to Robin for help. Robin, smartly, threw his hands up in surrender. "I love you?"

"I know." I let my smile soften. "And you're right. I am still recovering. So, I won't ask to be part of the frontlines or anything. I'm fine with guarding. But I do want to see what's going on myself." A thought occurred to me, and I couldn't help but smirk. "Besides, do either of you two even knowing anything about Valm and its countries?"

"Uh…" Chrom exchanged a look with Robin and both groaned when they realized they didn't. "And you do?"

"Why, yes! I've done many jobs around there." I giggled, perfectly smug. "Virion, of course, knows more than me, but Virion's not here at the moment. I am."

"You can stop pretending to be a cat who caught the canary, and got a saucer of cream with it, sister," Robin grumbled. He looked down at Victoria, who had fallen asleep during all of this. A quick glance showed Lucina had also decided it was naptime. "But the children…"

"We do have guards we trust," Chrom pointed out reluctantly. "And I have a very fine steward who can run things without us. We'll have to revisit this discussion if it turns to a full on war, but at the moment, it's just feeling things out, right?"

"True." Robin sighed, but smiled. "Okay. And I'm sorry, sister. That was probably really insulting."

"I would've been less angry if you hadn't said 'they need their mother'," I grumbled. I glowered at them both. "They need all of their family, you idiots."

"You're right," Chrom agreed. He slid over to my side, and kissed my cheek. "I'm sorry. They deserve to have their parents. Neither of us had it."

"Precisely." I let myself soften. Badly worded as it was, I did know they were only concerned with my health and the girls. "But, regardless, they're asleep, so let's get them to their cribs, and I'll work with Cordelia to get supplies ready for you two while you chat war with Frederick."

Please, don't let this be bad… please…

"Haha! I've never seen Virion drop the act so fast!" I laughed, as I walked down the halls. "Gods, I shouldn't be so amused, I do adore him and value his friendship, but…"

"It is rather amusing to see him deflate," Cherche added. She snickered, grinning. "Oh, but don't tell him I said that."

"I'm sure he knows."

"He does, but it's just too much fun."

As I expected, when we arrived at Feroxi, Flavia and Basilio had met us with Virion and Cherche. After Cherche had given her report, though, I'd requested talking to her in private while the others worked on the defenses for the town. Cherche agreed, but only after warning Virion to not be dramatic about anything and simply giving the facts, and the quickness Virion had agreed with kept on amusing me.

"So, forgive me, your majesty, but what is it that you wanted to speak with me about?" Cherche asked once our laughter calmed. "I would have thought you'd listen in?"

"I'm not the tactician. I'm the 'I swear all that is holy, you will eat your vegetables or I will know why' person," I told her with a smile. "I'd given them my knowledge of Valm already. I figured Virion would have a better eye for what their current strategies are."

"True. He studied them very closely before he declared that Rosanne would not survive. Though, if Lady Cassandra had lived…" Her smile faltered and she shook her head. "Forgive me, um…"

"I know what happened. Virion told me."

"Really?" She studied my face closely with a little frown before nodding. "His letters mentioned that he trusted you, Duke Robin, and King Chrom quite a lot. I hadn't realized it was that much, though."

"We do value him, for all that we tease him about his bombastic speech." I smiled, giggling. "Maybe that's why. He needed to be trusted again."

"True. Our people hate him for running, but I know, more than anyone, how much it hurt him to do that." She clasped her hands in front of her and looked down. "It was very hard once we realized what happened to Lady Cassandra. Does he speak of her much?"

"No, but he carries a tea set she gave him, even though that has to be a pain to carry around everywhere. I imagine it hurts him to speak of her." Deciding that things were too gloomy, I nodded to her hairband. "That's pretty, by the way. Your hair piece."

"Oh, you think so?" Her face lit right on up again. Her slight smile told me she appreciated the change in subject. "Thank you. I made it myself."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm quite good at sewing, if I may boast a little." Her smile softened. "Though, admittedly, I tend to simply mend clothing. It's very soothing." She paused, and stopped walking. "We keep getting distracted. Why did you want to speak with me?"

"Partially to help you relax. You were holding yourself very stiffly." I stopped as well and turned to face her. "I also thought that you'd like to meet the other fliers in our group before fighting alongside them. Your wyvern fights very different from a pegasus, and I worry they might be a little afraid, considering Plegia also fights with wyverns. I thought it might lessen future trouble if they got to know her scent and presence."

"That's very kind, your majesty. And clever." She smiled again, and nodded. "Do they know of your plan? The other fliers, I mean."

"Cordelia, my bodyguard, went to fetch Sumia. No doubt they're waiting for us now."

"I had wondered why your bodyguard would leave you with a stranger."

"I am admittedly out of practice, but I do know my way around a dagger, Cherche." I pulled back my sleeve so that she could see the one hidden there. She nodded approvingly. "I also have other means of fighting. I dislike them, but I dislike dying more."

"Fascinating." Her smile became warmer. "Well, in that case, would you like to fetch my Minerva with me?"

"Certainly." I gestured down the hall, and followed her when she began walking again. "Minerva, huh? That's the name of the last Queen of Macedon, isn't it?"

"Yes, I thought the name fit my wyvern. Adorable yet fierce!" Her pace quickened, clearly eager to see her wyvern again. "This way, your majesty."

She led the way briskly, making turns quickly and easily. It was clear that she had made certain she knew the fastest way to the to the little clearing just beyond the stables. There a wyvern rested, snarling at anyone who came close. Black scales glittered in the sunlight, and blue eyes narrowed at our approach. She quickly relaxed, though, when she saw Cherche walking up, and nuzzled her sweetly as soon as she could reach her. I'd heard wyverns bonded closely with their riders, but it was certainly a sight to see anyway.

"Queen Kestrel, this is my darling Minerva," Cherche introduced, hugging Minerva in return. "Isn't she the cutest?"

"I'd go more with awe-inspiring, but cute works too," I replied, stepping closer. Minerva lowered her head and growled, baring teeth. I met her gaze calmly, perfectly still, and nodded when Minerva backed down. "She's certainly magnificent. How long have you been with her?"

"Since I was nine, truthfully." Cherche gave Minerva a slightly worried look before returning her attention to me. "I was training to be a war cleric, you see, so I carried a very heavy staff to train for wielding an axe. So, whenever she misbehaved, I'd just bonk her on the head and tell her 'no'. And now she is the sweetest!"

"That is the most badass thing and I adore you for it." I studied Minerva, eyes narrowed. I didn't know much about wyverns, but I did know enough to know she wasn't quite full grown yet. Her scales weren't quite as thick as the full-grown wyverns I'd seen in the past. She was probably the equivalent of an older teenager, which was an amusing mental image. "She was probably a baby then herself, huh? No sign of her mama?"

"No, some hunters killed her mother, but one of them turned against his fellows and saved her. But she was very sick when I found her, which is what let me wrestle her down into submission."

"Wait, you wrestled her into submission?" I had to laugh. "That's just amazing."

"You're the first person besides Virion to not challenge my word."

"Look, I've been a mercenary. I've seen stranger. I've done stranger."

"Including make Minerva back down from a simple look." Cherche's smile faded. "I've never seen her do that before, truthfully. She normally growls a little more, at least."

"Maybe it's the mother death of doom I've perfected." Though, the stories always said that wyverns were distantly related to dragons. Grima was a giant and powerful dragon. Perhaps Minerva sensed Grima in me and cowered. "It could also be that I showed no fear. I've also seen things far scarier than a wyvern, Cherche. A wyvern will only rip you apart." I met Cherche's gaze, perfectly serene. "It's humans that scare me. They'll make you wish for death first."

"True. Walhart certainly proves that." Her face softened with another smile. "Ah, but here we are rambling. You wanted me to meet… I heard the name 'Cordelia'?"

"The redhead who was with me, yes. Sumia is the other flier of our little group." I smiled back. "They'll be at the front of the place, likely. If you'll follow me, we might be able to get a little bit of bonding before Valm shows up."

"At their fastest pace, I'd guess a few days, but it wouldn't be the first time they've surprised me." She shuddered. "Such zealotry… I've never seen it."

"I have." The Grimleal were practically the definition of zealotry. "But, regardless, let's get the bonding started, shall we?"

Valm's ships arrived in the harbor five days later. Within an hour, we had two lines of defense fall. The third, however, held magnificently, and so, our first battle with the Valmese army happened within the center of the town, with them uncaring of all the destruction and us desperately trying to keep them from destroying everything in their path.

"Tharja, I don't suppose you could do me a lovely favor?" I asked, cutting down a soldier. We were in one of the alleys, too narrow for a horse, to limit the number of people who could come after Tharja as she sniped with spells. "I'm aware I'm not as pretty of a sight as Gaius, but I would appreciate it nonetheless."

"You are a perfectly lovely sight, Kestrel," Tharja retorted instantly. She cast Flux spells with an almost bored look, using the shadows to devour the enemies. "And something tells me I will enjoy your favor anyway. You can answer a question I have, however, once I'd done the favor."

"Certainly." I cut down another and walked over to her, searching for one Valmese cavalier in particular. I found them quickly, and pointed them out. "You think you can give that one a terrifying death for me? Please?"

"Sure, but why would you want that?"

"I saw that one trample a child, and I'm pissed off."

"I do enjoy a mother's wrath." Tharja smirked and absently flipped through her tome and giggling. "I hope they like darkness…!" She gestured sharply, and the shadows beneath that particular soldier reached up and around, like a beast's maw, and snapped down on them, killing them instantly. "Soldiers really do need better resistance to magic."

"No, they don't. Well, ours do, but don't complain about fighting being easy."

"I suppose." She glanced at me. "Now, my question. How in all the bloody hells did they get those horses on the ship? They require a lot of food, water, and they defecate at a rate faster than your twins combined."

"Ha!" I grinned, amused. "You can modify ships to account for the horses, and you just bring their food along with yours. Same thing as humans, Thajra."

"Blech, I dislike the very idea of being on a floating, flammable thing." Her eyes narrowed. "I will demand reparations if you insist on me getting on one."

"Taking over yours and Gaius's chores for a night or two so that you've lots of time together?"

"Mmm, it'll do for the moment." She smiled, though. "For the moment." The smile faded and she nodded to someone behind me. "Olivia."

"Sorry to bother," Olivia replied, smiling gently as she raced over. She wore a modified version of her dancer's outfit, one with leather armor to help guard her from arrows. A gift from Robin. "But Tharja, Robin wants you to fall back to a different area of the town. They're moving out of your range."

"I see," Tharja replied. She crossed her arms and nodded. "Very well. Are you to lead me?"

"Yes." Olivia looked to me. "Robin also wants you to guard Virion, Kestrel. Miriel took a bad hit, so he's having Kellam pull back to guard her."

"And let him privately worry about his lady wife," I joked. I'd told Robin to just leave Kellam near Miriel in the first place; they fought better when near each other. "This will show him to listen to his sister, huh?"

"Oh, he listens to you all the time, Kestrel," Olivia replied, almost defensive. Then her smile ruined it. "Of course, he doesn't always go along with it when he should."

"You suggested something and he did the opposite, and now you're proven right."

"Yes, but at least he's properly contrite when it happens?" She giggled, blushing. Tharja and I exchanged a knowing look on what 'contrite' meant. "Regardless, battle positions?"

"Yes, of course, Olivia," Tharja replied. Her smirk told me what her next words would be long before she actually said them. "Let me know if you need a contraceptive, by the way. Or a fertility charm. I know how to make both."

I laughed so hard at Olivia's embarrassed squawk that we had to fight off a couple of enemies before we could actually get to our positions. I took the back ways through everything, mostly because I needed to stop a couple of times to catch my breath. Two months wasn't quite enough time to recover from pregnancy, or get back in shape, so I wasn't at my best. I felt it, and it annoyed me terribly. We had invaders, clearly some willing to kill children like they were nothing, and I couldn't fight as well as I wanted. Aggravating, to say the least. I tried to keep it off my face when I met up with Virion, but his sympathetic smile told me I'd failed. I didn't mind much.

"All hail the beauteous warrior queen!" he declared, dramatically bowing. And conveniently avoiding an arrow with the motion. "I am delighted to be in the presence of such a testament of strength."

"You always know how to make me laugh," I replied, smiling already. It faded as I looked around the battlefield and saw the blood running into the water. "That's going to mess up fishing. Providing any fishermen have survived."

"Some, my queen. Some." Virion's eyes narrowed and he brought up his bow, aiming an arrow. Two blinks later, one of the Valmese riders went down with an arrow through the eye. "Walhart knows he needs some alive to be laborers."

"Gods, what an arrogant asshole. Who goes around conquering the world anyway? That's such a stupid goal. You can't balance that many countries, and ruling through fear only lasts so long." I blocked an incoming axe and cut off the wielder's head. "If you give people nothing to lose, you're only inviting them to take everything you have."

"He calls himself the Conqueror."

"What a coward, then. It's easy to kill a person. It takes actual effort to rule."

"And this, my dear, is why you are a queen." Virion smiled briefly before shooting a distant mage, just before they fired a spell up at Cherche. "I will admit; it soothes my weary soul to see Minerva flying about again."

"You've missed her."

"Terribly." His smile became nostalgic, and I was almost tempted to ask a little more. But this was neither the time nor place. Nor was it my business, really. "Seems she's flying well with Cordelia and Sumia."

"They practiced a bit." I looked down and saw our own cavalry leading theirs in circles, right into traps. "I think we've got the battle under control."

"Do we?" Virion also looked around and nodded, smiling. "I knew that would happen." His smile faded quickly. "But will it continue? Valm won't stop."

"I'm sure Robin can make a victory. I'm more worried about whether Ylisse will survive it." I was also worried about the Grimleal. They specialized in moving through the shadows, and war cast the whole world in darkness. "Say, what are the chances of Walhart being manipulated?"

"I'm certain he's doing this of his own free will."

"You can do many things of your own free will, Virion, and still being manipulated like a pawn. In fact, the best at the game are the ones who turn that free will to their advantage."

"Depends on who would benefit from a war like this." Virion brought his bow up again, carefully sighting a distant rider shouting orders. "Can you think of someone?"

"At the moment, aside from my general distrust of the Grimleal, no. For now." I knocked aside a thrown handaxe, keeping it from hitting Virion. "But that might be something we keep an eye on."

"Very true." He loosed the arrow and it caught the enemy leader straight in the neck. They gasped and coughed up blood, struggling to remain on their horse, but then Minerva swooped by and snatched them up. Cherche tugged on the reins and led Minerva up, right over a group of Valmese soldiers, and had Minerva drop the body into the center, making them freeze and leaving them completely open to retaliation from our own forces.

The battle was over. But there was no comfort in it.

"Such devotion to their ruler," I muttered, glaring at the bodies. We'd tried to capture some of the Valmese soldiers, but they committed suicide before we could interrogate them. Gaius did a search of the bodies, and we did get some information, but still. "Gods, it's like we're fighting the damn Grimleal."

"I don't suppose, sister, you happen to know a way to interrogate the dead?" Robin asked absently. He winced when I glared. "Sorry, that was… I'm sorry."

"Please don't ever think that again."

"I won't. I'm sorry." He pulled me into a one armed hug, and I relented, resting my head on his shoulder. I knew he was just desperate for information. Information was a tactician's weapon. "Let's join Basilio, Flavia, and Chrom."

"Shouldn't we…?"

"Sister, the whole reason we came over here is because we both severely injured our hands digging through the rubble for survivors, remember?" He held up his hand, bandaged instead of glove before taking mine, which was the same. "Oh, huh, we have the same size hands."

"Is now really the time?" Still, I smiled, laughing. "Okay, right. Lissa might hurt us if we try to keep helping out when we're hurt."

"Forget Lissa. Olivia will kill me." He made a face, and I had to laugh again. "Oh well. It would be a nice death, I suppose. Maybe. I'd have a pretty sight at the end of it, at least."

"That is so morbid." And I was horrible for continuing to laugh. "Let's go before you kill me with laughter."

"Oh, I could never hurt you, Kestrel. I'd weep and I look absolutely horrible when I cry. And that, according to Maribelle, is a horrific tragedy."

I choked on laughter, and he joined me a split-second later, leading me from the ruined house where we'd had our 'prisoners' to the place by the bloody, splintered decks of the port where Chrom, Flavia, and Basilio talked. All three paused, however, when we twin hyenas headed for them, and they looked both annoyed and 'oh, gods, did they snap?'.

"I'm really interested in whatever joke has you two so amused," Flavia noted dryly. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Very interested."

"How morbid is your humor, Flavia?" I asked in return, covering my mouth to at least muffle the sound. "Unfortunately, it's a combination of morbidity and sheer ridiculousness."

"Besides, Gregor says that sometimes when you're frustrated, you need to laugh to make the world all confused and not screw with you quite so much," Robin cheerfully added. He did let his cheer fade, though, and it wasn't long before I could stop my own laughing. "So, how bad?"

"Bad," Basilio sighed. He looked over the port, and I remembered then that he was the West-Khan. This was a port he knew well, and one he likely put a lot of time into helping. In the space of a few hours, it was ruined. "Though, thankfully, the multiple lines of defense helped dampen civilian casualties. They're low."

"But they're still there," Flavia added. She crossed her arms, and shuddered. "And we're going to have to explain to some parents that their children won't be making it home, and some children that their parents won't pick them up."

"Yeah, they weren't taking any prisoners." Basilio rubbed his temple. Chrom, silent, took my hand and squeezed it. I leaned into his side reassuringly. "It didn't matter. You bent the knee or you met their blades. Lovely people. They don't even take pleasure from it, which I could at least forgive to a degree. Gods know I love a good fight. But they just didn't care."

"How extensive are the damages?" Chrom asked. He looked to the waters, where the waves were desperately trying to wear away the signs of battle. Blood and splinters bobbed and swirled about, though, determined to stay. "I can see here, but the rest…"

"Everything behind our lines is fine," Basilio reassured. However, he looked grimly towards a nearby… well, it had been a house. Now, it was rubble. "The things in front, not so much. This isn't even going into the damage to our army. We're still recovering from our little revolt, and now…"

"And let's not forget that this is supposedly the vanguard," Flavia growled. She dug her fingers into her bandaged arms, and blood seeped down. She didn't seem to care. "A taste of the meal yet to come. If the rest come…"

"We're screwed. Plain and simple." Basilio's declaration made all of us look down. "So, the question becomes… what the hell are we going to do?"

"Right now, we clearly need to rest and repair," Robin pointed out. He looked mostly calm, but I could see the trembling in his eyes. "After that…" He sighed. "I can think of a couple of strategies. I'm sure I can think of more by working with Virion, Cherche, and Kestrel. But, do we want to fight? Can we afford fighting?"

"Ylisse isn't necessarily in the best place for a war, particularly one across the sea," Chrom admitted. His grip on my hand tightened, but it loosened when I winced in pain. "Neither is Ferox, really. We have a few ships, but…"

"We also need to consider if we can afford to just let them come, though. They're both bad options, and we have to pay one of them." Robin's expression became grim. "Which is cheapest?"

"That… is something we'll have to think on," Basilio whispered. "As rulers and…" He looked directly at Chrom and me. "You two will have to think on your girls. If it's war across the sea…"

"…Yeah, there's a lot to think on," Chrom agreed. He looked down and I rested a hand on his shoulder. "Both on a professional, and personal level."

"So let's meet again in… a month? That sound okay?"

"Do we have a month?"

"If we don't, then we'll push them back and then decide." Basilio shook his head, and began walking off. "Make sure to rest. I will once I help a bit more with the rubble."

Flavia disappeared down the road as well, and Robin followed soon after, whispering something about her needing to check in with the healers. Chrom and I remained by the water, though, standing there in silence. Chrom absently traced patterns on my bandaged palm, eyes distant.

"We have a lot to think on, it seems," I whispered, breaking the silence. I twisted my hand to hook my fingers around his. "I can't say I'm eager to leave Lucina and Victoria."

"Neither am I, Kes," Chrom replied softly. He leaned forward to rest his forehead against mine. "At the same time, those… those bastards didn't care about the children in their way. I don't want them anywhere near Ylisse."

"Neither do I. But can we fight back?"

"I don't know. We'll have to look at the numbers." He looked at me. "Kes…"

"Don't ask me to stay behind until we know what's going on." I smiled sadly. "I know that as a mother, and queen, I might need to. Hell, you might need to, as Exalt. But let's not ask anything like that until we know what we're doing. The army might need your charisma, and you might need my blade and knowledge of the area."

"Why does that have to be true?" He became fondly exasperated. "Did you have to be so well-traveled?"

"Robin and I ran for our lives, and the Grimleal had little presence in Valm." I shrugged. "Though, I've no idea how it is now."

"It'll be fine. We'll make it fine. Somehow." He closed the distance between us and kissed me gently. "For now…"

"Let's help the people here, and leave in the morning to explain the situation."

This was going to be a very long month. A very, very long month.

Notes on Cherche:

A former vassal of Virion's from Rosanne, she is a quiet woman who enjoys sewing, cleaning, and cuddling with her wyvern, Minerva.

Her strength actually rivals Vaike's, making her one of the strongest in the army, and thanks to Minerva, she can land in the thick of things and emerge on top. However, due to Minerva's size, she isn't very fast, and magic can kill Minerva (and her) in one hit due to a lack of resistance.

She needles and prods Virion to deflate his ego, but it's clear she's closer to him than anyone. Perhaps she's why Virion's flirtations and one-night stands never last?

Author's note: Welcome to the second act. In-game, Chrom more or less jumps at the battle, but I thought it would make far more sense for all of them to be like "wait a moment, can we really afford this?". Cherche's story about how she met Minerva comes from her supports, and they are hilarious (and they also explain her class change options very neatly).

Next Chapter – Interlude, Declaration