Day 7: Weddings
To say Robin was worried was an understatement.
Today was the day.
Today was the day she would meet her fiancé.
These negotiations had taken years to push through. Not out of any lack of cooperation from the actual Exalt of Ylisse, thank the gods, as she pushed for peace just as much as she did. It was because of a good portion of nobles under her, the ones who were the corrupt remnants of the Exalt who wanted to destroy her country and those who had been by Plegia in the process. She had to move around their territories, carefully construct her words, and select the correct offers that would tempt them to accept. She had to deal with insults flung at her from the halidom and calm the rage of her kingdom.
But most of all, she had no choice but to essentially take a hostage in all but name, to "keep her in line" and to "show Ylisse's goodwill", as her husband, Chrom, the younger brother of Exalt Emmeryn.
She had tried her best to prevent this. The last thing she wanted was to strain relations when they were already so tense. Not to mention...she didn't want to take anyone's freedom, especially someone in a similar position to hers, where there were already so little freedoms to begin with. But many of the nobles that would've caused problems were more than happy to throw the prince her way, probably hoping she would mistreat him to that they may go to war once again, or worse...use their would-be children for claim to annex Plegia. It would've meant every single of her other plans would be possible, particularly trade so that her people would never grow thirsty or hungry again. But most of all...when Exalt Emmeryn had suggested it to her brother, he had apparently easily accepted. And he said, as she quoted, "It would be an honor to be married to you".
So she had no choice but to do the same, lest she come off as callous and have all her hard work crash down on her.
And now, here she was, waiting for her fiancé's arrival.
And meet him for the first time.
Just about a week before their wedding.
"You like a vampire bat with how pale you are. Sure you don't want to suck some blood to get some color back?" Henry said, smiling as usual.
"You know that's not how blood circulation works."
"I dunno. It might be possible with you, you know?"
Robin allowed herself an eyeroll before recomposing herself, the caravan from Ylisse finally arriving, escorted by her finest wyvern lord and dark flier squadrons. As the coaches of Ylisse stopped before her, she had expected to greet the Exalt and her siblings from the most prominent carriage. But to her surprise, instead of the Exalt stepping out of one...
"Woo! That was so cool! I didn't know Plegia could be so pretty!"
...she and her sister were stepping off of one of the wyverns...one of the wyverns she personally prepared for the Exalt and her family, the lords being some of her most trusted soldiers and the ride the most comfortable she could offer. An offer she was surprised had been taken.
"As long as you understand," she said, with a soft smile on her face.
A soft smile that, to her surprise yet again, not only remained, but had a tint of amusement to it as the Exalt went to her and showed her respect.
"Greetings, Queen Robin. Are you faring well?"
A slight shake to break her daze and bury her embarrassment. "I am. And you? Was your trip satisfactory? I hope none of my squadron was to your satisfaction."
"It was. Very much so actually. It was quite enjoyable." Then she looked askance. "Isn't that right, Chrom?"
"Er, uh, yes. Yes. Definitely."
And Robin followed her gaze to at least see what her fiancé looked like.
He was taller than her by about a head or two. His hair and eyes blue like the deep sea, his muscled form was obvious even with him wearing loose Plegian attire, yet another shock for her and yet another thing she wouldn't voice, and he held himself with all the experience of a soldier.
It, however, had none of their usual assurance as he fidgeted in place and eyed at everything but her as he made with way before her like with his sisters. As much as Robin prepared herself for his discomfort, her heart still stung that he was just as miserable as she thought he'd be.
"I'm glad to hear that, Chrom," she said, managing to keep her voice steady. "Shall I have you all shown to your rooms?"
"Well, if you don't mind, we would like to," the Exalt said. Then her smile had a hint of mischief. "But if you are not busy, could you could perhaps speak with my brother for a while? I'm sure you wish to have his opinion for some of the details on your wedding."
"Emm!" the prince said with panic before panicking further at his outburst. "Er, wait, I mean—"
"Come," Exalt Emmeryn said to the rest of the delegation. "Let us rest and recuperate."
If Robin didn't know any better, she would've thought the Exalt had somehow hypnotized her subjects as they followed her and the Ylissean delegation, Henry skipping happily as he made conversation with the royal siblings. But she knew she hadn't, as her secret guard, led by Tharja, were still in the shadows, waiting to strike at any threat. Unlike Prince Chrom, who had absolutely no protections whatsoever. If it weren't for the fact that, at this point, her protection now extended to him, Robin would've questioned how sound the Exalt was to leave her brother to a foreign queen.
Especially since the prince was still looking like a rabbit about to trapped.
Of course he would. Even if he had agreed to this, he has essentially been sold to her for the sake of the peace talks.
So, she swallowed her hurt, and said, her smile hopefully soothing,
"If you are uncomfortable with my presence, Prince Chrom, I'm willing to excuse you and allow you to accompany your sisters right now. I can come up with an excuse as to why I didn't follow your sister's request later."
But instead of relief, the prince turned more panicked and said, "No!"
Robin froze.
Chrom froze.
Tharja...nearly hexed him, but she was thankfully quick enough to stop her before a international incident could happen.
It was just as well, as the prince quickly said,
"Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to shout. I just... No, you're not making me uncomfortable."
Now Robin was staring again. "You're...not?" she said, not quite believing her ears.
"No. Er, unless you're actually uncomfortable with me. I don't want to burden you or anything."
"You're not at all. If anything I..." Robin stopped herself. She almost revealed an insecurity to him. She should keep it to herself. However...
The look in her fiancé's eyes, earnest in his concern for her, the one was taking him away from his home and family...
...she felt she owed him some measure of honesty.
"...I'm the one that's burdening you. I'm sure you wouldn't want me as your wife."
And to that, Chrom strode to her, held her arms in his hands, and said, determined,
"You're not a burden to me. Not at all." But that wasn't all he had to say. "You're the one who's pushing for peace just as much as my sister is. You reached out to us, our halidom, even though we were the ones who attacked you, and wished to rebuild our nations together. I wouldn't have accepted this marriage if I didn't think we could work out, because I know you'll do your best to meet me halfway."
All Robin could do was stare with her mouth agape.
How could she not?
This man, who she hadn't met face-to-face until, had just...assured and soothed her when he had little reason to.
A part of her, the selfish part of her, couldn't help but be touched at his actions and she smiled.
"I'm... I'm very glad to hear that, Chrom. No words can capture how much it means to me."
For that, she was rewarded a warm smile.
"I'm glad to hear that as well."
With the tension and worry gone from her body, her more responsible self was quick to remind her of the time and place. Still, even knowing that, she was much more lackadaisal than usual as she said, offerring an arm.
"Then shall we do as your sister suggests and speak of our wedding? I already have most of it prepared, but I can accommodate anything you might need or want."
For a moment, Chrom was stunned, but then he accepted her arm, hooking his own around it, if with an nervous yet excited tremble.
"Sure."
With that, any and all worries of this agreement ruining all that she worked for left her, replaced with hope and excitement for the first time in a long time.
To say Chrom was worried was an understatement.
Today was the day.
Today was the day he was going to get married.
And by the Gods was he nervous.
He knew he would've been nervous. How could he not? Even before he arrived in Plegia, and discounting the amount of respect that he had for Robin had already been close to his awe for Emm before they even met, it was a marriage between the royalty of Ylisse and Plegia, as a sign of their new peace. He would've gotten nerves from the pressure of wanting that to succeed for the sake of his family and home.
But he hadn't thought he would be so nervous his palms were actually sweating.
Then again, while he knew he would be amicable with Robin, with Emmeryn's tales of her exploits painting her as an honorable queen, he hadn't expected to fall for her either.
It was almost like a dream. For years, once he became of age, he had to deal with the two-faced courting of nobles, all wishing for his favor in hopes of having more power or money or the many number of things he had from being the prince of Ylisse. Then he came here to Plegia to marry its queen, the one person who had every reason to flatter him for her wish for peace, and the first thing she did when they met was apologize for the circumstances and offered to give him space, thinking herself undesirable despite her status and her demeanor.
And that was just the beginning.
As the days to the wedding dwindled, his love for her grew and grew. He fell for her wit, getting him to laugh more times he could count. He fell for her knowledge, so vast and so varied she could've easily been mistaken for a scholar. And he fell the most for her kindness, accepting Lissa's pranks in private, Emm's more blunt opinions during tea times and his shortcomings, unable to help himself from either bumbling in front of her with no prying eyes on them, or defending her viciously when there were. They could all just be themselves around her.
And he was about to be married to her.
By the Gods, how was he going to get through this...?
"Why am I not surprised to see you like this."
"Robin?!"
Indeed it was his fiancée, closing the door and making her way towards him with an amused but warm smile, mesmerizing as ever even with her Plegian wedding dress being much simpler than a Ylissean one.
"Sorry, did I scare you?"
"No. W-Well, yes, but I don't mind." He gulped. "Is it time?"
"Yes. But..." She sat down beside him and took his hand in a reassuring squeeze. "...we can take a few minutes. What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing. I'm just ah..."
"Just...?" Robin said, encouraging.
"I'm just so nervous. I know I really shouldn't, but I just...I can't believe this is happening and I...oh Gods..."
He focused on his breathing to calm the sudden spike in his breaths, panting as if having run for hours, Robin's grip a grounding presence that made it easier.
It was only when he got it back to more manageable levels did she say,
"I'm nervous too."
He whipped his head with wide eyes. "You are?"
"Is that so surprising?" she said, amused and teasing.
Chrom just shook his head. "Ah, no. It's just...I'll admit, I'm having a hard time imagining it. You always look so calm, even now. And well...you had everything planned and ready and made sure it was perfect."
"...true, but...well..." She laughed, though there was a hint of hollowness to it. "...I can't help but wonder... What if someone slipped our notice? What if someone attacks? What if I somehow embarrass us in front of the Ylissean delegation and my followers?" Now her smile turned rueful. "What if it all goes wrong...and everything is ruined because of me?"
Oh.
That...
"It won't."
"And how can you be so sure?"
"Because I'm marrying the most amazing woman in the world and if there's anyone who can make a perfect it's-"
Hands clamped over his mouth as Robin said, her face flushed,
"O-O-Okay! I get! That's enough!"
Chrom couldn't help but chuckle as he slowly pried her hands away from him. "Good. Because I'm more than willing to repeat myself."
"...well, then, know that I mean it when I say this is real...and I do want to be with you. In fact..." She face reddened further as she wrapped her hands around his own. "...I wouldn't have wanted to be anyone else. So be confident that this, as you said, 'amazing woman', wants you by her side."
And with that, the nervousness was gone, leaving excitement in its wake and a soft smile on his face.
"Thank you, Robin. You know just what to say."
"Thank you, Chrom. You do the same for me as well."
One more shared smile and with that, they walked out and on the aisle, surrounded not only by the nobles, but by all the people that were under Robin's rule, and they vowed their love for each other.
"You may kiss the groom."
His new wife didn't need to be told twice, yanking him by his collar to pull him into a deep, long kiss.
The first of many to come.
Author's Notes: once again just sat down and hand go brrrrrrr.
Okay but seriously, the minute I saw the "weddings" prompt, I immediately took as my chance to write an arranged marriage Chrobin piece because I'm just a sucker for the Happily Arranged Marriage trope. I didn't really have much of a plot for what I wanted though, until I sat down and wrote it. Then it became this AU, the details of which are not reaaaally planned/set other than "Robin somehow took down Grima, the Grimleal, and stuff to become queen" and may or may not have her mother be alive. Maybe. Because of the lack of plan though, a part of me feels like I fell flat in Chrom's part, but it's better than what I originally wrote, so I also kinda like it. It's weird.
Apologies if you were hoping for a more detailed wedding though. In writing this, I realized that when it comes to writing weddings, I'm more for the buildup and aftermath rather than wanting to talk about how the actual ceremony and how it went down.
Either way...it's the last day. Wow time flies. If you read all my entried 'til now, thank you. And if you only just read this, thank you too. I had fun this Chrobin Week...even if I was late once again with writing the entries. XD Hope you all had a wonderful Chrobin Week 2022. I also hope I'll be here next year too!