Arthur pulled his sword out of the man's corpse. He didn't need to wipe it – the blood on the blade of Rust dried before his eyes and crumbled off in a fine red-brown powder. That's the last of them. Arthur chewed his lip, looking around at the dozen bodies on the ground surrounding him.

Caeda, Sumia's pegasus, hoofed the ground and gave a nervous whinny. Her rider was on ground a few yards from Arthur, wiping the blood off her own lance. She gave Arthur a glance, biting her lip with a look of concerned contemplation, before returning to wiping the lance-blade.

Arthur and Sumia had been tracking this group of rebels for the past two days, ever since they had left the main encampment of Hierarch Cain's rebel army. The rebels had been heading south, a group of a dozen knights, escorting a finely-dressed man with a sword at his belt and a cape hung on his shoulder. Arthur's instincts had told him the man was a nobleman – a messenger or diplomat of Cain's with some sort with an important task. Arthur had convinced Sumia to follow the rebel party south. They were a few days north of Southport, in the vicinity of Southtown. Here, the countryside was still at peace – the war was to the north, occurring mainly in the territories between Ylisstol and the Pass. Arthur and Sumia had passed over that countryside the previous week – with the Plegian, loyalist, and rebel armies fighting throughout the region, it had become a blackened, looted wasteland.

The night before, Arthur and Sumia had agreed they were wasting too much time following the rebels. They had decided to attack their camp at dawn. The results of the decision lay on the ground around them. The rebel knights had been camping in peaceful territory – they had not expected an attack. They had been unprepared, unarmed, and unarmored. Arthur and Sumia had killed them quickly.

Now Arthur rifled through the dead nobleman's garments, pulling out a letter sealed with Hierarch Cain's seal – the Brand of Naga, the seal of Naga's church. Arthur signaled to Sumia – he had found what they were looking for. Even this far south they took precautions, walking fifteen minutes from the site of the ambush before reading the letter. Not that either of them wanted to spend much more time in the field of bodies. Arriving in an empty forest clearing, Sumia allowed Caeda to graze. Arthur broke the seal and pulled out the letter.

To the noble Duke Uther,

I have heard tell that your army gathers in Southport – with any luck, this letter will find you there. Your grace's loyalty to the Halidom is famous, and yet I have been confused by your unwillingness to declare a side in the unfortunate conflict which burns our country from within. Hierarch Abel was my mentor – he once told me of your baptism, how you were the only babe he had ever baptized who smiled when he was dipped in the Tears of Naga. My point, Duke Uther, is that you would do well to remember your roots.

The Church of Ylisse has served the people of this country for the past thousand years, while Exalts good and bad came and went. Now, with our country beset by infidels and infested by heathens, I would ask for your loyalty to your faith and to the faith of your ancestors.

This, your grace, is the honey of my offer. I trust you will look with understanding on the upcoming vinegar.

Your son continues to be a thorn in my army's side. In the month since the invasion began, he and the pegasus knight he rides with have killed dozens of my faithful soldiers and intercepted several of my missives. I trust that your son has been deceived into such an unwise course of action by the Plegian whore he consorts with. I request the loyalty of you, your son, and the army of Pyrath. The victory of the faithful is inevitable – as is our vengeance against those who oppose us. It would be most unfortunate were this vengeance to fall upon you and your son.

Knowing that even this missive may be intercepted, I have sent several diplomats separately to negotiations. I trust they will bring back news of your loyalty to my cause.

Yours faithfully,

Hierarch Cane, Defender of Ylisse

Arthur looked up from the letter, brow creasing. A letter to my father. Threatening him with my death if he doesn't comply. Arthur tore up the letter. He said he sent several diplomats. Others with this same letter might already have reached him. I should go and convince my father to stay loyal to Emmeryn.

This, of course, would be a problem. Reports from the front were scarce, but it was clear that those forces still loyal to Emmeryn were losing. The Plegian army and the Ylissean loyalist army had only met once in the field so far, one week into the invasion – three weeks ago. The Ylissean army had been shattered, scattering back to Ylisstol and into the surrounding countryside. The Ylissean rebels had been harrying both the Plegian and Ylissean loyalist armies. The situation, simply put, was a clusterfuck. Now Cain was sending envoys to Arthur's father, one of the only remaining dukes that had not declared a side in the conflict.

Arthur had not seen his father since they had spoken in Ylisstol, before the attempt on Emmeryn's life. Apparently he had returned to Pyrath and rallied his army. Arthur's father and his army had apparently disembarked in Southport a week earlier. They were now somewhere between Southport and Southtown, marching north without having declared whether they supported Emmeryn or Cain. Arthur sighed. He would have to meet with his father again – he had been dreading it, but it would be necessary to ensure that his loyalty was with Emmeryn. Robin had told Arthur to stop Cain's rebellion. Robin.

Arthur hadn't seen Robin since she had left him kneeling in the forest. She and the other Shepherds had been gone by the time he recovered enough to go looking for them. Only Sumia had been left, patiently waiting at their abandoned camp for Arthur's return. Robin had told her about their assignment. She must have known something was wrong. She didn't say anything, though. Maybe she had expected him to volunteer the information. He hadn't.

He and Sumia had been practically alone together for a month, but really they had hardly talked. Sure, they talked about how to defeat Cain, about how to defeat Plegia. They talked combat techniques and shared stories about their respective islands. They talked about the plots of books they had read, and swapped recommendations. But there were a few specific topics that were never broached. Their fathers. Their engagement. Robin.

Sumia was looking at Arthur, and he realized he had ripped up the letter without showing it to her. He shrugged apologetically and pieced together the two ripped pieces, handing them to her. She read in silence for a minute.

"So… we're going to meet your father?" she said, passing the two scraps back to him. Arthur tucked them in his pocket, nodding.

"Yeah," he said. "We need to make sure my father is on Emmeryn's side."

"And what exactly are you going to say to your father?" said Sumia.

"I'll tell him exactly who Cain is," said Arthur. "I can convince him."

"But… the last time you talked to him was a month ago, right?" she asked.

"Yes," he responded, seeing where she was headed and trying to avoid it. "Things have changed a lot since then."

"Sure, but… do you think his mind has changed?" said Sumia. "About us?"

"What about us?" said Arthur, hoping she wouldn't say it. She did.

"Are you really still going to play dumb, Arthur?" said Suma, making a frustrated noise. "We've been alone together for a freaking month! Are we really never going to talk about the fact that we're engaged? A month ago, we were engaged to marry in a month. I might not be a brilliant tactician, but by my calculation that means that your father will want us to marry now. What are you going to say when he asks about that?"

"I… had thought about it, a little," said Arthur, idly tapping his fingernail against the hilt of his sword. "What do you want me to say, Sumia?"

"Something!" she shouted. "Anything! Arthur, what the hell happened to you? It's like you walked into the forest with Robin one day and suddenly you're a completely different person!"

"You really want honesty?" said Arthur, voice thick with pent-up frustration.

"Yes!" she said emphatically.

"I told her I loved her, Sumia. And she told me that she didn't love me," said Arthur, voice shaking. Even a month later, the memory was emotionally raw. Arthur couldn't have counted how many times he had replayed it in his mind. It had never become easier. "Then she told me I had to leave – that you and I would be splitting off from the other Shepherds on this mission."

Sumia was silent for a moment. "Oh, Arthur," she said. "I'm sorry."

Arthur laughed, a tear springing to his eye before he could blink it away. He had heard those words over and over again in his memory. "You wanna hear something funny?" he said. "That's exactly what she said when I told her I loved her." He laughed again, a pained laugh, his emotions continuing to spill out from where he had bottled them. "It was all going so well and then suddenly, snap, it's over. And all I can think is: what did I do wrong? What could I have done better? How could I have been better? And why the hell was I such a fool?"

Arthur had been looking down at the ground, not wanting Sumia to see the tears which he couldn't keep from springing to his eyes. Suddenly he found himself wrapped in a tight hug. Looking down, he could only see Sumia's gray hair. "Arthur," said Sumia, giving him a comforting squeeze. "If she doesn't love you, she doesn't deserve you."

Arthur didn't believe it, but he didn't want Sumia to feel bad on his account. After a few seconds he returned the hug. "Thank you, Sumia," he finally said. "Sorry if I've been a downer the past month. I just… couldn't talk about it. And I also worried about how it would make you feel… with our engagement and everything."

"Don't worry about that," said Sumia, . "Honestly, it worried me more when you weren't saying anything." She hesitated a moment before deciding to say more. "Before the mission, we talked about… y'know… f-feelings… a lot. I'd like to get back to that."

"Okay," said Arthur. He was anxious to move the topic away from himself. "Feelings talk. I just talked about mine, though. What about you? You haven't talked much about Chrom recently… is everything okay?"

Sumia released Arthur from the hug, fiddling nervously with her hair. "Oh…I haven't?" she said. "I guess I just haven't been thinking about him much lately."

"What?" asked Arthur. "Did you ever tell him how you felt?"

"Well…no," said Sumia. "I haven't talked much to him at all since we talked with our fathers."

"Why not?" said Arthur.

"Err… I don't know… I guess we were just busy," she said, avoiding eye contact. Arthur got the impression that she was holding something back, but he didn't want to pry. Maybe Chrom said something? He decided to let the subject go.

"All the more reason to get this mission over with," Arthur said, turning towards where Caeda was grazing happily on the edge of the forest grove. "We should get moving. My father's army should be nearby. Cain's other diplomats might already have reached him."

Sumia nodded in agreement, whistling for Caeda. A well-trained pegasus, she cantered over to Sumia quickly in response to the whistle, giving the pegasus knight a playful bump on the shoulder. Sumia swung onto Caeda's back, extending a hand down to pull Arthur up behind her. He wrapped his arms around Sumia's stomach, preparing for takeoff. Sumia tapped her heels into Caeda's side, and the pegasus kicked off the ground.

"Looks like we're late to the party," said Arthur. Walking into the main pavilion of his father's war camp, they found that one of Hierarch Cain's diplomats, clad in one of their rebellion's distinctive Brand-of-Naga-emblazoned capes, was already there. Duke Uther sat in a wooden chair at the far end of the pavilion – all others in the room were standing. The camp sentries had let Arthur pass easily when he had identified himself. Now, as Arthur and Sumia walked in and approached the throne, the eyes of his father fell on them.

"Arthur!" said his father, rising from his chair. He stepped towards Arthur, clasping his son on his shoulder. "It's good to see you safe, son." Duke Uther gestured to Cain's diplomat with his thumb. "These ones have been regaling me with all your recent exploits!"

"Ahem," coughed the diplomat, giving Arthur a hostile stare. "Informing your grace of your son's recent atrocities."

Duke Uther ignored him, eyes falling on Sumia. "And my future daughter-in-law is here!" Even though Sumia had adjusted to the informal life of the Shepherds, the habits of a noble upbringing were ingrained in her. She curtsied by instinct, extending her hand to Duke Uther. He gave her hand a quick kiss – a customary greeting meant to convey paternal affection. "You are as radiant as ever, Lady Sumia."

"Thank you, your grace," said Sumia. "Or… may I call you father?" What the hell is she playing at? Acting like this is just going to convince my father he was right. Unless… is that what she wants?

Duke Uther laughed in response. "Only if I may call you daughter," he said, smiling. "We don't keep so strictly to the old formalities on Pyrath."

"Ahem," coughed Cain's diplomat once again. "Perhaps we might return to the discussion we had been having? About your grace's allegiance?"

"My son has just returned to me from war," said the Duke, giving the diplomat a smile which did not reach his eyes. "You would not deny a concerned father a moment with his son, would you?" The Duke gave Arthur a parting pat on the shoulder and returned to sitting in his throne. Adopting a more formal tone, he addressed Arthur in a voice audible to the court. "My son. While I would like to believe you have come out of filial affection, it seems more likely that you come with business. What brings you before the Army of Pyrath?"

Arthur smiled. His father had trained him in rhetoric for just such an occasion. He would know that Arthur was here to convince him not to join Hierarch Cain. If he was giving Arthur a chance at public speech, he must want him to succeed in the convincing. Perhaps there were members of his army with sympathy towards Cain.

"My conscience brings me, father, and my loyalty to our Halidom. As a son, how could I stand aside and watch Cain's snakes pour their venom in the ear of my father." Arthur gave a pointed glance at Cain's diplomat. "Ladies and gentlemen, I come to you as an honest son of Pyrath. One month ago, I was with Exalt Emmeryn when Hierarch Cain made an attempt on her life. The man is an extremist, so blinded by his faith that he has sabotaged the defense of the Halidom." Arthur pulled the pieces of the hierarch's letter from his pocket and held them up to the audience. "He now styles himself 'Defender of Ylisse' while simultaneously threatening the life of every Ylissean citizen. Father, I am here before the Army of Pyrath to request that you honor your vows to Emmeryn and help me destroy Cain's rebellion."

Arthur's father smiled. "Your passionate words move me, son." He looked askance to Cain's diplomat. "Have you any response to these accusations?"

"Of course!" sputtered the diplomat. "This child lies! Hierarch Cain is a gods-fearing man! The Exalt has the blood of Naga – he would not harm a hair on her head! The boy lies."

"You call my son a liar?" asked Uther. He had the diplomat right where he wanted.

"Well, warriors of Pyrath – who do we trust?" said the Duke. "My son, himself a warrior born of Pyrath?" He pointed to Arthur and a cheer went up from the assembled Pyrathi.

"Or this man," said Uther, pointing to Cain's diplomat. "A continent-born weasel sent to deliver threats?" The crowd was silent. Duke Uther smiled.

"Sounds about right," he said. Now he addressed the diplomat. "Tell your master, the Defender of Ylisse, that he is a traitor and a snake. Tell him I will scatter his army and present the Exalt his shattered sword." Arthur's father glanced at his guards and pointed flippantly at Cain's diplomat. "Escort his lordship from our encampment."

Uther turned now and addressed those gathered in the pavilion. "Tomorrow we march north – tonight, we feast! Spread the word!" Arthur and Sumia exchanged a look. After a month of drinking only water, eating primarily hardtack and wild berries, a feast sounded very good to both of them. Now Arthur's father was calling them over to where a main table was being pulled. "Lady Sumia, you must indulge in some Pyrathi hospitality!" said his father.

Pyrathi hospitality consisted mostly of mannu, a traditional Pyrathi hard alcohol made from fermented seaweed. Arthur had only ever had sips of it – he had always found the taste disgusting. Sumia took a sip of the transparent light-green liquid.

"The taste is… ahem…quite unique," said Sumia, wincing.

Arthur took a shot of the stuff himself, grimacing at the alcoholic taste. "Yeah, it's not drunk for the taste," he explained. "I wouldn't try to savor it."

Sumia nodded and put her hand at her mouth. She excused herself to take a moment outside. Arthur would have accompanied her, but his father was pulling him into a seat to talk.

"Now Arthur," said his father, taking a seat and taking his own shot of mannu. Duke Uther did not drink often while on Pyrath – perhaps his habits changed while on campaign. "I was happy to hear that you and Sumia are working so closely together. Quite a happy coincidence, eh?"

"Did you do that?" asked Arthur, suspicious that his father had somehow influenced Robin.

"Ha!" said his father. "I was going to ask you the same question – I suppose you've given me an answer. So you didn't choose to leave your tactician after all. What happened?"

"Nothing related to you," said Arthur. "She sent Sumia and I to stop Cain."

"She sent you on an assignment alone with another woman?" said his father. "I trust your little relationship is finished, then?"

Arthur was once again grated by his father's smug attitude. "My relationship status is none of your business," he said.

"Now that, my son, is where you are wrong," said his father. "This Robin clearly does not even care about you enough to keep you at her side. It sounds to me as though you have less of a boyfriend–girlfriend relationship and more of a commander–errand-boy relationship. Sumia, meanwhile, is clearly a charming and respectful young woman. Perhaps you have come to see the wisdom of my advice?"

Arthur had decided he needed another shot while his father was talking. He finished it now. "Maybe I would have been more accepting of your advice if it had in fact been advice. You didn't advise, you demanded."

"Are you still upset about that, son?" said Uther. "Yes, I demanded. Is that so unforgivable? I know what is best for you. I knew that this relationship with your tactician would end badly, and look – I was right. Now will you just trust me?"

Arthur didn't respond, staring into his glass. When he finally did respond, it was not an answer to his father's question. "You told me you would extend the engagement if I distanced myself from Robin. We're distanced – are you going to keep up your end?"

"I will extend the engagement if that is your wish," said his father. "Although I see no reason for it. We could hold a marriage tonight, in the encampment, if you so desired."

"No," said Arthur firmly. "I need more time."

"Time for what?" interrupted Sumia, arriving back at the main table.

"To take care of this situation with Cain," responded Duke Uther easily. "Arthur and I were just discussing the logistics of defeating that traitor."

"Well I'm no strategist," said Sumia. "But I would think your first move should be meeting with the Exalt. Even though the army of Ylisse was defeated in the field, we've heard the Exalt still has a sizable force remaining in Ylisstol and the surrounding countryside. I would march there and unite your army with hers."

"Sound advice, daughter!" said Uther with a laugh. He looked to Arthur, gesturing to Sumia with his thumb. "You were right, Arthur! This one is a keeper." Arthur glared at his father – Sumia looked down at her hands, blushing. "In any case, we plan on doing just as you have said, Sumia. Tomorrow we will march north, to Ylisstol. Until then, you two are welcome to accompany us or return to the Shepherds."

"We were instructed to deal with Hierarch Cain," said Arthur. "We're staying in Ylisse until he's defeated, but the two of us will move more quickly on our own. We'll go north on our own tomorrow."

"Just the two of you?" joked his father. "Not the most romantic couple's trip, is it?" This comment prompted Sumia to blush once again.

"Romance will have to wait," said Arthur. "At least until the Halidom is safe." Sumia looked up at him, a strange expression on her face. Her brow was creased. In frustration, maybe? Disappointment? The expression only lasted a moment before she was smiling jovially once again.

Late that night, Arthur and Sumia stumbled back into their campsite in the forest just outside Duke Uther's encampment. Having perhaps overindulged at the feast, especially where the mannu was concerned, Arthur's inhibitions were quite loosened.

"Gods I can't stand him these days!" complained Arthur brashly as they arrived at their campsite. "Why is he so…"

"Stubborn?" suggested Sumia. "Obstinate? Y'know, I think you two are more similar than you'd like to believe."

"And what was that back there?" said Arthur, ignoring her comment. "'May I call you father?'" he said, mimicking Sumia's voice. "Are you trying to get us married?"

"Well… I just wanted him to like me." said Sumia. "I guess I just thought… things are over between you and Robin, right?" She toyed nervously with her hair as the question hung in the air.. "So…why… are you still…er…so against it?"

"What? Because I can't stand being ordered! And I can't stand that maybe… " Arthur paused, sighing. "Maybe my father was right. He told me to cut things off with Robin. Maybe if I'd listened I wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"Why didn't you just listen?" she asked, taking a step towards him so that she could see his expression in the dim light of the crescent moon.

"I didn't like being told what to do," said Arthur. "Honestly Sumia, I'd feel waaay better about marrying you if my father didn't approve so much."

"So what, you just want to be defiant?" she said.

"Exactly," said Arthur.

"How does that feel?" she asked, eyes alight with curiosity.

"What, have you never been defiant?" he asked her, incredulous. "Never? Not even as a teenager?"

"Well… er… in my mind I have been," said Sumia, rubbing her hands together. "I think about it a lot. Fantasize, really. But… no. I've never been openly defiant to my father."

Arthur was seized by a sudden impulse. "Do you want to be?" he asked. He pushed Robin out of his mind. I'm over her.

"What do you mean?" said Sumia, beginning to blush.

"I mean do you want to do something that our fathers would disapprove of?" said Arthur, putting his hands on Sumia's waist. I'm over Robin. "Right now?"

"Uhh…" Sumia had turned red. "S-sure."

Sumia doesn't deserve to be your rebound Arthur. She deserves better.

Better? She wants this too. And besides, I really do like Sumia. This isn't about Robin.

Really? You believe that? You're lying to yourself, Arthur.

Oh yeah? Watch this.

Arthur silenced the voice in his mind by leaning forward and pressing his lips into Sumia's. It was a very different kiss than he was used to with Robin. Where Robin would have pressed back against him, Sumia simply surrendered. Where Robin would have pushed, Sumia melted.

(Explicit Content – see AO3 lol)

(TS;DR – Arthur and Sumia have sex.)

Sumia sagged on top of him and they both caught their breath. "Defiance… huh?" she said, between pants. "I see… why you like it." They both laughed at this, and Sumia rested her head on Arthur's chest. When she did so, Arthur noticed that there was a Brand on the small of her back – a pink symbol like a sideways eight. Arthur recognized the symbol – his math tutor had once called it "infinity". Tired and content to resolve the mystery another time, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled his blanket around them. Within a few minutes they were both asleep.

When Arthur woke the next morning, his throat was dry and sore. His first thought was confusion – he never normally slept naked. As he pulled at his blanket, he found it held in place by a mysterious weight.

He turned to his right and saw that the blanket was in fact held in place by Sumia. She was lying next to him, his blanket wrapped around her at the chest, exposing bare shoulders. She nestled against him in her sleep, reacting to his movement, and as the events of the previous night came flooding back Arthur realized he had crossed a line.

A complicated mix of feelings swirled inside him – satisfaction and regret, contentment and anxiety, desire and concern, pride and shame – all wrapped into one confusing sensation.

This was wrong. You're using Sumia, Arthur. She deserves better.

What the hell is wrong about it? Sumia and I are engaged – I'll have nothing to regret if I just marry her and forget about Robin. There's nothing wrong about it. There's no reason to feel guilty.

Then why do you feel guilty? Because you know that Sumia doesn't understand your feelings. Because you know that she's the kind of person who'll fall in love easily, and you know that you're the kind of person who will break her heart by accident. You know how that will feel, because you just experienced it. So you know you can't do that to her, but what are your options? You could tell her everything now and break her heart a little bit, or you could keep this up and hope you really fall in love with her in the future. But the longer you stretch this the worse it will be if you let her down. Can you keep yourself from hurting her? Suddenly another thought struck Arthur.

What if this is what Robin was thinking? What if she hurt me because she was worried about hurting me more in the future?

You're in bed with Sumia, Arthur! Stop making excuses for Robin! It's time to be decisive.

Just as he was thinking this, Sumia stirred next to him. She pulled herself against him, resting her head on his chest. He looked down and found her slate gray eyes, soft and trusting, considering him. The guilt was in his throat – he didn't let it reach his eyes. I won't hurt Sumia like Robin hurt me.

"How did you sleep?" she asked him, eyes fixed on his face. He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. It shouldn't have been easy, but it was.

"Better than I ever have," he said, leaning back and giving her a smile. She beamed in response.

It was the first time Arthur had consciously lied to Sumia. It would not be the last.

(Author's Note: Uh-oh. Ending on a foreboding note. What will happen next week?

I've never written smut before, but low-key I kinda enjoy it. Editor's Note: I removed it lol. I don't look much at AO3 but I think it's still there. is the puritan remix. It definitely won't be every chapter, and I will continue to include TS;DR's. Next up is a Robin chapter, but I have some stuff to do this week so it'll probably be out sometime next week. Definitely before the end of the month.

Song: Best Friends – The Weeknd)