Several stories up and resting his back comfortably on the bed stand, a weary strategist cloaked in a soft blanket adjusted the pillow on his neck and turned the page on the manuscript resting in his lap with little else to disturb him. As such, his interest was mildly engaged as he skimmed over a lengthy scholarly argument in favor of using siege equipment in open field combat. As the general laboriously claimed, being able to command range over the opponent and having the "might of a dragon" on the field provided a force that outweighed its logistical and technical costs.

While a bit long-winded in some parts, the veteran tactician skimmed over the ideas of the text to see what merit they might have until one pedestrian page in particular caught his notice and fixed his gaze to it. Captivated, he poured his attention over the scribbled notes and the ink laced lines of the canvas with an unbounded interest and wonder that no stargazing astronomer could rival.

"Am I reading this right?" He mumbled half mystified. "Is the beam braced to anything? Or is it fastened on by a rope? Ah! I see it now. This board connects to the base here with the, wait. No, that is not right either. Huh."

The more time he peered over its contents, the list of questions grew with seemingly no answers to sedate his gnawing and fiery curiosity. In truth, he was gripped by them and his surroundings were obscured for hours on end without notice or thought. Little could break his trance during times like these until the strategist was forced to reset his focus by the fading rays of sunset now casting a shadowy hew on the text which was quickly dimming in background.

"Hmm? Night already?" He mentioned while raising his chin to peek out at the diminishing spring skyline outside the palace window. He then leaned over to light a nearby candle on the nightstand and said, "Seems I got carried away again" while stretching his arms out and kicking one foot over the other.

As the evening set in, he returned his attention to his book for a time. The flickering candle light offering him an extension of his current engagement. He noted a touch of familiarity set in as it used to be commonplace for him to stay up well past the night with nothing but a candle and some obsessed thought. The only things missing were the clenched teeth, tense spring-loaded shoulders, and the endlessly consuming scenarios of what would happen if he failed to live up to them.

To the contrary, in the present Robin was about as free going as he could be lying in bed. His surroundings offered a peace that seemed for so long to be out of reach. Most of all, there was no rush. No pressing campaign or hill to charge while elbows deep in manure. No wagons set on fire from Henry's concoctions or being roped into mediating a dispute that came to blows between Gaius and Vaike over sweets and meats. The only worry was keeping his thoughts occupied in the final hours of the day with a book and warm bed. However, as crazy as it sounded, he wasn't sure he liked it.

As far as he was concerned, having lived his whole life with the Shepherds both in peace and in war, he could count on some form of brandish shenanigans his fellow band had gotten themselves into like clockwork. Pranks, gags, and psychotic mages. If anything, the chaos only escalated after the final battle. The sheathing of swords led to the freeing up of hands to pursue other exploits that often involved him somehow. So much so, that he had never realized how eerie it was to be in a soundless room. He noted it brought far more unease than its supposed comfort with the unnatural lull in the air. The only comparison he could draw on was the anxious moments before battle where the landscape and even the winds themselves were silent as if they were privy to carnage about to unfold.

Luckily, that would soon change thanks to the advancing footsteps outside his door. The pattering across the stone walkway was a welcome breakup from the enduring silence and an awaited return to the one above all who had filled his life with unbridled chaos.

"Robin, are you home?" A voice called out as the door swung open.

"Over here, dear." He replied while closing his book with both hands and placing it between his legs.

One cerulean princess perked up upon hearing his reply and set out in that direction after making a slight detour to drop off a delicate package she was carrying in her arms. Once done, a bright smile escaped her lips upon seeing her husband resting comfortably in bed. "Greetings, love. I see you are making full use of the day to yourself."

"About as well as I can considering the circumstances." Robin said while returning her warm welcome. "And you? I take it you enjoyed dinner with your family."

She nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, very much so. It is a safe assumption to hold when we get together. Selfish as it is, and as crazy as it can be, I deeply enjoy any chance we can spare to make the time."

"Good to hear. I would expect nothing less considering the trouble your family can get us in." He quipped with a wealth of experience in that area. "But there's nothing selfish about wanting to spend time with them, you know."

"So you keep telling me." Lucina said resigned to refuting his claim at this point. "I should hope your day was as gainful as mine."

Robin puffed out the air in his lungs and said with an overly exaggerated cry, "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but there is only so much I can do when the Exalt locks me out of my office and his chief bodyguard throws me out of the barracks."

Lucina daintily covered her mouth to hide her expression and said, "Father just wanted to make sure you are getting enough rest. You do push yourself too hard taking care of us all."

"So he says." He muttered while believing it to be motivated more by unabashed malice rather than any form of grace. "By his royal decree, I was strictly ordered not to do anything work related today or face life imprisonment in the dungeon. Frederick even advised me that if I held my knife too high at lunch it could be considered sword practice."

"At this point I can't fault them with how stubborn you can be about taking a vacation. Speaking of, am I to assume that the book you have there is purely for light reading and has nothing to do with tactics?" She asked with an accusing tone after seeing a bow and arrow on the front of the cover.

"It's not what it looks like."

"Really?" Lucina leaned her shoulder on the door frame and crossed her arms unconvinced. "Do tell."

Seeing he would have to defend his innocence from her piercing stare, Robin adjusted his position in bed to sit up straight and said, "Well, after Chrom cruelly locked me out, he also apparently told all the Shepherds to avoid me, for fear I would try to bypass his order by assisting them in their duties."

"That does sound like something you would do."

"Maybe." He deflected trying to maintain some semblance of deniability, "But it was at that point I learned how serious his intentions were. Even Morgan was in on it. So it seemed my fate was resigned for me to walk the castle aimlessly with no one to talk to or some task to keep my mind on. It was all a very horrific and woeful tale when you think about it."

Earning only a fake sympathy from the princess, she gave a somewhat amused smirk at his delaying tactics and said, "How terrible! What was my poor and stricken husband to do under such conditions?"

The mock concern was not lost on him as he quickly retreated. Even if it had been ages since she fell for that ploy, she was growing increasingly adept at teasing him back. "I did roam the castle for a while before having breakfast. Eventually, I made my way to the garden and I took in the smell of the flowers. That is where I half thought about drawing the landscape but all my papers and quills were somehow mysteriously locked in my office."

"Probably so you wouldn't spend the whole day drawing up battle plans," She explained.

"Right." He said discovering his friends and family had been exceedingly deliberate in their tactics against him. "So seeing as my options were limited, I left the castle and went into town. At the main plaza there were some music performers and entertainers playing to a crowd that caught my attention. The guy with the flute and the lute turned out to be surprisingly good and I watched him for a while. Actually, I'll have to show you next time we go to the district."

"All good so far, love. But I fail to see how that led to the book I see in front of you."

"Ah, yes." Robin cleared his throat and said. "Funny story. After the performance I took a stroll in the merchant area. Not that it really mattered since some dubious and strikingly beautiful woman took my pouch of gold and left me flat broke before I ever left home."

That one left a tinge of guilt on the princess as she took no joy in hiding their funds. She only reasoned that it was necessary to prevent him from buying something that would allow him to defy her father's orders. Naturally, had he been more reasonable about all this she wouldn't have had to resort to such measures.

"It was there I finally came across a familiar face willing to speak to me. Well, maybe not as familiar as the Anna we know, but her sister was nice enough to humor me until she found out I was penniless. Boy, did I get an earful about that for a good five minutes. Fortunately, she owed me a favor which resolved both of my problems."

The bluenette frowned seeing where this was going. "What favor was that?"

"Nothing special. I put in a good word to help get her stall set up. The sisters do sell good stuff, if not a bit overpriced. Like this book for instance."

"I see. So that is how you obtained it." Lucina pursed her lips and her body language visibly drooped. All that careful planning and effort the Shepherds had gone through to outsmart their tactician and keep his mind off fighting for a day was undone by one minor detail. One innocuous stroke of happenstance that no one could realistically account for. "I suppose it was all for naught then."

"I wouldn't say so." He replied, finding her deflated expression more sinking than any empty silence ever could. "Like I said, I was able to make the most of things even if it was forced upon me. I am yet to break the order Chrom gave me, either."

"How do you figure?" She said, cocking her head waiting for some superfluous leap of logic that he was well known for.

Robin saw her skepticism as an opportunity and declared, "I know the topic of this book may be war related, but that is not why I chose it. There are actually some fascinating designs and illustrations in here about constructing a mobile ballista. Whoever first came up with the schematics must have spent years on it given the complexity. It's far more involved than simply making a bigger bow."

His excited remarks didn't seem to carry the same passion to his listener, but he continued on and said, "It's always impressed me. Engineering that is. I'd be lucky to two nail two boards together to make a battering ram. Yet, others can make a marvel like this in a few days' time. The skills others possess is truly incredible. Just like those of our own group, wouldn't you say?"

Lucina stood motionless, unable to glean if his words were of genuine interest or that of a raving mad man. What she could gather was they were without deception which didn't really help matters. "Honestly dear, what am I ever to do with you?"

"I can think of a few things."

She let out a frustrated sigh while striding closer to her crazed companion until she sat on the edge of his bedside. Her eyes unable to stare away from that dumb smile of his. "You are missing the point. For how long now have you been under my father's employ?"

"I don't know. Ever since a chance encounter with a masked swordswomen in the forest." He reckoned while gazing at her branded eye.

Looking away briefly, Lucina held a tight fist with a mixture of emotions. "And in that time you've served us admirably through wars, Risen attacks, bandits, cultists and dragons. All the while dealing with the incessant oddities and quirks of our army. Mine especially."

"All a part of the job." He assured.

"No, Robin." She commanded fiercely. The oak frame of the bed creaked as she pushed her hands down on the mattress in defiance. "No one could ask all that from someone else. Let alone expect it. That is not what father had in mind when he first reached out his hand to you."

"True. If he knew what would come to pass. I would probably still be in that field right now." He said picturing his liege high tailing it out of town with all haste, sprinting if need be upon learning that the unfortunate stranger on the ground was a future son-in-law. "Lucky for me, none of us knew what we were getting into."

"Exactly what I mean." Lucina insisted, eyes narrowly fixed on him with an urgency to get her point across. "Between Lissa's pranks, Frederick's training lessons, Miriel's experiments, Tharja's stalking, Henry's unnerving motivations, Nowi's games, Cheche's wyvern, everything about my cousin Owain, Morgan's pit traps, and my endless worries." She exclaimed while listing each occurrence with her fingers until all were used up. "You've endured it all and much more on top of the burdens already placed on your shoulders. Not once have we given you the chance to spend a day purely to yourself in turn."

"Is that why everyone was so keen on avoiding me?" He asked in surprise that so much effort was put on such a small affair.

Lucina affirmed and said, "Even now, Morgan and I don't let you have a moment's rest after all this time. We practically swarm you any chance you are free."

"Precisely how I prefer it." Robin said cheerfully.

Another sigh escaped her mouth as she steadied herself. "I am flattered, dear. Truly. It does not change that all of us were hoping to give you a day. At least a few hours without having to think about war, or strategy, or listening to our silly antics and ideas."

"Come now, you have great ideas. Remember, I was originally leery of our trip to the hot springs and that turned out to be everything we could have wanted. Same with teaching you how to swim. I also might add, there is also nothing silly about your proposal for pajama uniforms for the army. The color choices, maybe, but not the idea. I just need to work out the logistics of it."

She turned away from him in frustration and huffed, "I've told you this several times. They are not pajamas. Merely padded nightwear so that it is easier to sleep on the ground when we make camp. A rested army is more efficient than a weary one from the hard unforgiving ground, but I digress."

Robin discarded the book lying in between his legs and placed it on the nightstand. He then scooted over to the edge of the bed until he was sitting next to his wife and strung his arm around her waist despite some weak protests and pouts. "You are right. Perhaps I have worked too much in the past, but spending time with the Shepherds, or Morgan, or holding you. That is my release. It is how I unwind my shoulders and regain my senses. It has never been a burden. Well, maybe with the exception of the Tharja stalking thing, but every job has its workday hazards."

The princess leaned into him with her shoulder, eyes forlorn as she stared at the wall. She had expected his response but found it unsatisfying all the same. "I suppose my father and I were being foolish to think today would go any differently."

Robin paused, the look on her face eating away at him on the inside. "Everything you said is true, but you have the order wrong."

"Eh?" She asked, returning to his gaze.

Recalling some of his earlier discomforts in the day, he hesitated before saying, "If today was any reminder, I don't like being alone. I tend to seek others out even if I know it would end in some crazy fashion." He mentioned while pressing his hand across the blue tunic covering her stomach. "Otherwise, my mind wanders to some uncomfortable places. Our battles, the mistakes I've made, regrets. Not to mention those inner demons that keep resurfacing. You know the type."

Lucina frowned and said, "I do, and I'm sorry to hear that. I would wish that on no one. It is up to me then to stab those cruel thoughts away."

"Ha, I don't think you need to go that far." He said downplaying her concerns.

"No, it seems I must." She declared recognizing the anxiety under the mask he wore and the hollowness in his laugh.

"Really, it is nothing major." He insisted to combat against her serious intent. "I just like to keep my mind occupied is all. Sometimes the dark thoughts seep through if I am not careful and I begin to have doubts about myself."

"That won't do at all. You are a good man, Robin. My favorite, in fact." She assured with great pride. "You've also helped countless people in more ways than we could ever express. I can't have you forget that."

He looked away and said troubled, "I, I would like to believe that, but there's no stepping around what I've done." He muttered unsure. "All the burning ships and the stained sands. The lifeless bodies of friends and foes. Those were my doing. I always did take the easiest way out of the situation in battle."

"That is not true at all."

"But isn't it?" He cried out afraid. "Didn't I give the orders? Didn't I care more about victory than my actions? There were other strategies I could have used that would have led to more enemies surrendering than leading to casualties, but I wouldn't-" He closed his eyes and winced with a pained burning in his chest. "I couldn't take the risk."

"You did everything you could, dear." Lucina said tenderly while gently brushing away the scattered hairs on his forehead. "No one would accuse you of doing otherwise."

"And yet it almost wasn't enough. I always missed some detail in battle and it put us so close to the edge on multiple occasions. Gods, then when I think about your world and what I could have become-"

"Robin!" She yelled out not letting him go there.

"Ah! Sorry." He said snapping out of his spiraling thoughts while tightly squeezing her closer until there was no gap left separating them. Their legs also pushed together as they overhung the wooden frame. "That is what I mean. It is, difficult, to shut off those thoughts when they get going. I should be okay now, though."

Lucina covered Robin's clutched hand on her stomach with her own. The pair rose and fell with each breath she took, and an unspoken agreement between the two in moments like these. "No need to be strong for my sake."

At that, he soon noticed his breaths were shallow and erratic compared to the gentle ups and downs coming from his counterpart. The stark contrast made him realize he was not as much in control of himself as he believed. The accumulation of daggers in his back had snuck up on him and dug in after nagging and endlessly repeating his mistakes throughout the day when he could not focus his thoughts. "Actually, I may need a minute."

"Take as long as you must." Lucina said softly and with care. She would not let him be plagued by the all too common haunting thoughts that came when they got the war jitters, as they called it.

He curled forward, focusing all his energy on the warmth radiating on his hand over the cold, jagged pricks in his back and neck. Powerless to take back control of his body, he instead redoubled his hold on his wife. Her presence suggested there was a light that could guide his way so long as he could keep a hold on it.

"Easy now, I'm here." She whispered lovingly. "I'm safe too, thanks to you."

Robin clung to those words knowing that mattered the most. His history and past a pebble in comparison. Whatever criticisms or rebukes the knives at his back told him could not hold up against the calming hand he was glued to or the embrace of the one who breathed such life into him. Far from being the cause of suffering or ruin, the last thing he could fathom would be to disappoint the gentle and giving spirit besides him. "I really did get that book just for the designs to look at. Honest."

"I believe you."

"Good." He whispered with a fixed gaze at the wall. "Good. I don't think Chrom would be as understanding if I was to explain to him."

Lucina gave him some more time to settle until he showed signs of a beleaguered return. The worst of it behind him, but still in need of a warming hand which she would freely give. "I am sorry, dear. Father and I have gone and caused you more trouble. All we wanted to do was give you some peace, but it seems we have only done the opposite."

"It's quite alright." He said with the palpitations in his heart steadily receding. "If anything, today shows how grateful I am for all the disruptions."

"I fail to see how us dragging you every which way helps you relax." She expressed concerned.

He looked back at her and said, "I know we always talked about wanting a future where we never had to worry about tomorrow, but now that we are here, I don't think I could be happy that way. I would gladly accept all the chaos in the world if it means I get to hold you like this."

Lucina gritted her teeth and said, "As I feared. It seems we have poisoned your mind to the point where you have accepted our insanity."

"Maybe so. No sense worrying about it now that I'm sucked in. I couldn't change things even if I wanted to."

"Now I'm sure something's wrong." She cried out with a faux alarm. "The Robin I know wouldn't give up so easily no matter what the challenge he faced. He would fight against fate with everything he had until it bent to his will. Hellfire and brimstone notwithstanding."

"Even I have my limits, you know."

"Preposterous, if you did I would have worn you down by now." She claimed strongly.

Robin gave a faint smile at that with his reaction equaling lifting the spirits of the princess. She knew from her own experiences that second tremors or setbacks were always a looming threat with the war jitters. Being able to head it off quickly improved his chances. "I've found a way to hold on, not that I could tell you how."

"If you could I would use it against you." She countered and tugged on him to further the point.

"That I have no doubt about." He said while loosening his grip on her but still keeping her close. "Thanks, dear."

"Of course." The princess nodded with a kindred understanding. "Is there anything else I can get for you? Some water or tea perhaps to calm your nerves?"

"I'm good for now. It caught me by surprise, is all."

She waited and looked at him closely before saying, "You mean it this time?"

"Yeah. There is only so much those voices can slow me down before I remember everything I have next to me." He replied with more life in his voice.

"A relief to hear." She exhaled with both of their hands sinking down as a result. "I'd much rather be the one causing your troubles than some dreadful lies."

"Makes two of us." He said sharing the sentiment. "Fortunately, it doesn't seem that my attack was bad enough to wake the little one."

Lucina shook her head and said, "You need not worry there. Our youngest is fast asleep in her crib. All the attention she received earlier today from my family tuckered her out. I doubt she will be up for the rest of the night."

"We can hope, at least." He mentioned not wanting to jinx their luck as their child was still prone to waking up in the middle of the night and crying her heart out. "It is no small feat tiring her out."

"My family found a way." She nodded before saying softly. "I just wish we could have passed some of our pleasant tidings your way."

He shook it off and said, "I've been due for one of these attacks for a while now. No sense in dwelling on it. It's not like every moment of mine has to be a never ending festival."

"… I can still try." The princess whispered faintly.

"Hmph." Robin gave her a gentle squeeze and found renewed strength knowing he married a stubborn bull whose heart was as pointed as her horns. "We both can. So come, let's discuss lighter matters. You never did go into details about how the family gathering went. I trust the old man is still in good health and off his walking stick."

Lucina raised an eyebrow believing the description of her father was ill-suited, but set it aside for now. "He is well. At dinner he mentioned the court is no more tiring than any of our campaigns. He did frequently disparage that battles are fought with words instead of swords, though."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind using Falchion to sever a few tongues."

"Too true. Thankfully mother is there to keep him from doing so." She said relieved. "They both say the past two years have been strangely similar to the time after Gangrel was defeated."

"Well you know what they say. Mad conquerors and dragon worshiping cults come and go, but politics always stays the same."

"Is that axiom up there with never trust a tactician who insists on pairing up with his best friend's daughter?"

Robin reeled back in surprise and gave a mouthed half open look at his wife. "You, um, are getting a little too good at this game, dear."

"It did take some time." She acknowledged with a satisfied grin, "Fortunately, I've been able to pick up on these things living with my serial troublemakers."

"And here you were, worried about me being poisoned by bad influences." He muttered in disbelief. "It's a miracle Chrom hasn't left me for dead while dangling upside down in some pitch black room."

She perished the thought and said, "I made my choice long ago and I accept the consequences that came with it. My point was you never had the same chance to choose before we swept you up into all of our escapades. Still, I am glad that you and father have managed to stay on good terms. I would have hated to have driven a permanent wedge between the two of you."

"Good being used loosely." He said delicately. "But yes, all the awkwardness aside, it is nice being able to joke around again without fearing he might actually honor some of his threats."

"He mentioned something of the same." Lucina hummed merrily. "In his own way, of course. During dessert he even expressed wanting to return to the old days of the Shepherds touring the fields and tending to the flock."

"With the nobles always biting at his ankles, I don't blame him. I'd take patrolling the lands any day, myself."

"You would?" Lucina asked surprised, her tone rising ever so slightly to match her now upright posture.

Meanwhile, Robin felt a new unease overtake him. His wife's reaction suggested there was more than a common curiosity involved. She was also holding her breath as his hand remained perfectly still on her abdomen after a hushed silence. "We are speaking hypothetically, correct?"

"Of course." She inhaled while restraining any previous hint of interest with a more guarded and even keel tone. "Purely in the realm of remote and far off outcomes."

"Why does that only fill me with more dread?" He questioned with a faint laugh.

She bit her lip and said, "Forget it, dear. I was just curious. You've battled with enough obstacles today to worry about my strange musings."

"Dear, we've been over this." He said earnestly. "I always have time for my wife's strange musings. Now, what did you have in mind?"

"Really, it is nothing." The bluenette glanced away with a guilt ridden expression.

"Lucina." He said sternly and unmoved.

"I was merely thinking of an oft chance scenario." She said gingerly. "There might be some merit in father visiting our smaller towns and villages to make sure they have not been neglected from our restoration efforts. However, if he were to do so, he would likely be in need of a close and trusted advisor to accompany him."

"In the unlikely event, that is." Robin said, seeking to clarify.

"Highly unlikely." She stressed.

It was there he saw another sign of the danger his mouth had walked himself into. A growing spark, like that of a kindling flame had occupied the two pools of blue staring back at him. The apparent risk of adding to the blaze or being consumed by prolonged exposure was a constant looming threat that he never managed to come away unscathed from. "If I were to humor the idea, what would that entail to a certain sneaky swordswoman which I have an attachment with?"

"I can scarcely gather the person you are referring to." Lucina claimed with an elegant and regal demeanor. "However, I would suspect it would mean a great deal to them, and they would seek to make sure that the advisor is well compensated for their efforts. Even if that person is in no position to ask after her last idea went so poorly."

"Do go on." Robin said keeping a close watch on her to gauge how far down the rabbit hole he had put himself in.

"Well, let's just say there is a princess. While she may have relinquished her claim to the throne, she still feels a strong sense of responsibility and duty to make sure her people are safe and looked after. It is great that she can help train soldiers and tend to the needs of the capital, but she also wishes to see if there is anything else she can do to mend the left over scars that besets her haildom."

"That is an oddly specific conjecture." The tactician replied blankly.

"We are speaking in hypotheticals." She mentioned struggling to restrain the ratcheted upward crease of her cheeks.

"Again, weren't you the one accusing me of working too hard and doing more than what is expected of me? Yet it's okay for this princess to do so?"

"I never claimed you were the only one with that issue." She mentioned sheepishly.

Robin shook his head and laughed at the sheer absurdity of it all. His arm still held closely to her waist and their hands dampened with sweat from the heat of their prolonged touch. All the while, they danced around the topic in front of them. "As much as I would like to enable my wife's bad habits, I do have some concerns."

"What are those?" She asked quickly and eager to address.

"For starters, are you going to be okay being away from our youngest for that long? We can't take her with us across the countryside."

Lucina froze and blinked twice. She had intentionally delayed thinking about that as the prospect of leaving their baby behind pulled on her heart strings and left a stale taste in her mouth. "No, but I know she will be well cared for in the castle. We will also make sure the trip is quick so we don't miss any new skills she might pick up. She is already learning so many new words as it is."

"Are you sure you will be okay with this?" He asked knowing this would be the longest they would be apart from their child.

"I do feel strongly about it." She nodded. "As much as it pains me, I know there are places outside the capital still struggling. There is only so much I can do from here to help. Plus, you never know if we might find another tactician on the ground in desperate need of our aid and support."

"If that happens then we run far, far, away." He urged fearing the worst. "I'm not cut out for another long campaign or fully grown daughter suddenly popping into our time."

Lucina lessened his concerns and said, "We wouldn't need to take them in. Just see that they are brought back to health. I am also weary of battle. Which is why it might be useful to have someone else willing to fight for us in our stead."

"Fair enough." Robin muttered knowing they were getting sidetracked. "My second concern is along the same lines. More specifically, bandits."

"What about them?" She asked curiously. "It has been some time since we last heard of sightings."

"It's not like they give us advanced notice." He cautioned. "The royal family also makes a high profile target away from the castle."

"All the more reason why we would seek to have a masterful and dashing strategist to keep us safe."

"About that." Robin hesitated, a new type of fear visible on his face that Lucina had rarely seen before. "Are you sure it would be wise to trust that bumbling strategist?"

"Is that even a question?" Lucina asked tenderly and fearing the darkness had taken hold of him again.

Robin used his free hand to gently stroke his fingertips across his wife's cheek, earning a shimmer from her eyes and a glowing complexion. "Things are different now. Should we ever find ourselves on a knife's edge again there is no question my emotions would be making my decisions for me. Especially if you or Morgan were in danger. I know I would hesitate and start second guessing myself. All the while our position continues to worsen until I can't protect you two or anyone else."

"That would never happen."

"It could-"

"No." She firmly declared. "You've proven time and time again that dire situations are when you are at your best. There is no one I trust more to protect my flank in those moments."

"I don't know, Lucina. I do more looking at your flank these days rather than protecting it."

"Which is why I know you'll be highly motivated to keep it safe." She claimed with an unshakable confidence in her man at arms.

With tinted red cheeks, Robin lowered his hand from her face and collected strands of her cerulean hair on the way down to her shoulder. The tactician unknowingly emboldened her efforts with each action he took. "That would not be the only reason."

She beamed with an affectionate gaze and said, "I know that, love, and I do not wish to force your hand. I merely think it would be a fortuitous opportunity. It allows you to get out of the office without the drawbacks of today. I would be able to feel more at ease knowing that towns are recovering. There may even be some nostalgia in sharing a tent like we did when we first married. Not to mention if things go well we could spend some time visiting the sights. I'm sure Morgan could also take some pressure off you if we were to encounter bandits and -"

"Okay, okay." He said stopping her from hurriedly listing out all the reasons she had come up with. "You don't have to convince me, you know. I've already promised to follow you anywhere. It's not like I can deny you anyways when you look at me so strongly."

"I would like to have your support instead of dragging you along by force." She responded sweetly. "If you do not wish to go I would understand and tell father we would be unable to follow him."

He had discarded that option entirely and said, "You already know my answer. I'm going with you."

"Are you sure, Robin?" She asked, feeling a bubble well up in her chest.

"As sure as the fact that my life is in danger anytime I see that gleeful look in your eyes. There can be no question where Morgan inherited it from."

Lucina excitedly leaned forward and gave him a kiss; silencing any concerns he had while only further cementing her convictions. "It is you who brings it out of me. I certainly was not like this before we met."

"So you claim." He said finding it difficult to believe at times.

"I mean it." She nudged while refusing to let him break eye contact, "I would be nothing without my dream catcher who warms me at night and chases away those decrepit deceivers who whisper only frigid words. It's why I seek to return the favor to the one I rely so heavily upon."

Robin opened his mouth with a quip half lumped in his throat. A clever deflection he had crafted beforehand only for it to be shoved back down by her piercing eyes. Lucina's will was as unrelenting as it had always been, and directed fully on him. He knew that no tactic or ballista would offer him victory under those circumstances. Even the demons entrenched at his back fled at first sight. "You've done far more than you know."