Chapter 14 – Turnabout


The Shepherds had marched non-stop until they reached the imposing walls of the Feroxi border. By now everyone was running ragged but in surprisingly good spirits. The injured had been stabilized and the Exalt was now under the protection of the Shepherds, the Royal Pegasus Knights, and the Feroxi Elite. The Great Wall was a sight for sore eyes and the tired warriors could finally relax without fearing an ambush.

As they settled within the closest fort on the Feroxi Wall, Robin felt the stress drain from his body. The tactician thanked the gods that the weather was pleasant, making it a relatively warm day in the warrior country. Tents had been set up for the army with bonfires placed within the inner courtyard to warm the soldiers, for even the warmth of the sun wasn't enough to overpower the occasional bite of Ferox's icy winds. The injured had been placed in individual tents near the central building for the healer's easy access, while the main barracks had been set aside for the royals and commanders.

Chrom had ordered the young amnesiac to take at least one day off. Even if he had had the energy to argue, Robin could no longer deny that he needed downtime. The stress he felt was starting to overwhelm him. He knew his friend was starting to get worried – and annoyed – at his constant self-deprecation, but what could he expect? This was his life. Tactics were apparently all he knew. Not being able to remember his past life meant he had no experience or memories to fall back on to. Had he worked on a farm? In a store? Why did he remember useful books on tactics but not his favorite meal or any other skills? As far as Robin was aware, he was only useful to others when it came to war games and strategy.

He hadn't even known what he looked like until Lissa had lent him a mirror after the battle at Southtown.

So he had latched on to the one purpose – the one lifeline – he had been offered: being the tactician for the Shepherds.

And he had almost failed.

Robin clenched his fist, his cracked fingernails digging into his palms. Failure of such magnitude was not something he had ever experienced. Every battle and every skirmish he could ever remember had always ended with victory and no casualties for the Shepherds. Robin was not arrogant, but he had been building up his confidence in his skills with each battle, even if he still doubted his worth outside of the role of tactician. And yet, in one of the most important battles he had ever taken command of, he had almost caused the death of his best friend's sister.

"You look worried, Sir Robin." Robin's heart leaped to his throat and he whirled around to see the worried smile of Exalt Emmeryn Lowell.

"Your Grace! I–" Robin stumbled through his words like Sumia would walking a straight line, trying to find the right way to address the Exalt of Ylisse. "M-My apologies, I was–"

"Now there's no need for such formality from one of my saviors," Emmeryn said, her tone pleasant as she waved off his concerns. "I will say to you the same thing I told Lady Rose before. At this point, you have more than earned the right to address me as an equal," she said with a pleasant smile that did nothing to reduce his nerves.

"I… don't think I can do that without having a panic attack, Your Grace," Robin replied weakly. "Though maybe in the future?" 'When the idea won't shave off years of my life.' Give him a battlefield over social interactions with nobles any day.

Chrom and Lissa didn't count in his eyes.

"A pity, but I won't force the issue," Emmeryn answered easily. "It does seem to be a constant these days: to be protected by Plegian tacticians. I can not say I am disappointed with my brother's decisions to induct you and Rose into our ranks."

"Well, to be fair, most of that part rescue plan was her idea. I just conjured the portal spell and blocked their path," Robin clarified. "Without her suggestion, I doubt I would've foreseen this outcome."

"Which were both equally essential parts in the plans," the Exalt insisted before giving Robin a look. "Chrom has already mentioned your doubts, which is why I decide to talk with you. It's the least I could do."

Robin was currently cursing his so-called best friend and beginning to reconsider his loyalty to him since he had decided to sic his older sister on him.

"It took a while to shake off Phila and Chrom, but I should have a few minutes of privacy to speak with you."

Robin was overcome with a new feeling. Was this what it felt like when one was about to be scolded by their mother? If so, he was glad he couldn't remember the feeling.

"As I said, I have been made aware of your self-doubt and I cannot, in good conscience, let our tactician and my saviour feel that way about himself when I can do something about it," Emmeryn said with a tone that made Robin pay attention, similar to the one Rose took sometimes when trying to give him a lesson. "I know that you had problems with suspicions from our soldiers. Sadly that's to be expected. been an important part of the Shepherds since you joined, regardless of your origins. Any doubts of your intentions should have been erased after that battle."

Robin looked down as he pondered her words. He supposed she was right. He had done as well as he could. He had been surprised when Frederick had begun treating him like a comrade while Vaike and Sully had become more polite since the rescue, even though they haven't interacted much. Soldiers that had once looked at him with suspicion were now more pleasant.

"I have to admit things have gotten better," Robin admitted.

"There you have it. There is no reason for you to doubt yourself or the bonds you have formed."

"Maybe… But there is something I need to do first."Robin knelt before the Exalt, head bowed as he continued, "I am sorry. It was a foolish oversight on my part that allowed you to get captured in the first place. If I had been more careful, this entire situation could have been prevented. I failed you and your family, your Grace."

"The idea was approved by the House of Ylisse, Sir Robin," Emmeryn soothed, placing her good hand on his shoulder as she knelt down to his level. "We all share the blame here. I am the one that decided to jump after all. I am sorry for putting you and Chrom in that situation."

"It wasn't your fault, milady! It was Gangr– Oh…" he trailed off once he noted the satisfied smile on her face. Clever. Robin chuckled, "I see what you just did, Your Grace. Thank you. I'm just not used to the idea of losing."

The Exalt pondered her answer for a moment. "I can not say I am well versed on military matters but even I know we would not have made it this far without your sharp mind."

"Thank you. You've set my mind at ease."

"I am pleased that is the case," Emmeryn replied in a wistful tone. "It is good that one of us can get some peace of mind."

That made the tactician frown. "Your Grace?"

Emmeryn looked reluctant to continue. Robin was about to change the topic when she relented. "...The past few days have been rough, Sir Robin. Whenever I close my eyes I can only see the ground coming closer. Or Rose's pained face as the arrows dug into her flesh. It has made it… difficult to get a restful sleep."

Robin felt like an idiot at that moment. Of course, the Exalt would have trauma! Not only had she been present during the attack on the capital but she had also been kidnapped by Gangrel only to evade falling to her death by a hairsbreadth. It was surprising that none of the other Shepherds had suffered some crippling trauma so far, but he realized he had been taking their strength of will for granted. "I had no idea, Your Grace. Of course, you would have a hard time after such. Is there anything I can do to assist?"

"It's alright, Sir Robin," Emmeryn said with a tight smile that didn't convince him at all. "I think the shock will disappear once this war is over."

"I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds but if you feel the need to talk, I'm willing to lend my ear."

"The offer is appreciated and I will keep it in mind, but I think you should focus on the oncoming battles instead of my nightmares. Not doing so will have much more severe consequences than dwelling on my own demons."

"You're right, Your Grace." The war was at its apex and the next battle had to end it unless they wanted the land dyed red. "Though I would prefer to have Virion's and Rose's opinion on my next plan."

"I inquired about her state a short while ago. According to Lady Maribelle, she should be waking up soon," the Exalt supplied.

A relieved sigh escaped the tactician. "That's good to hear. I hope she gets better."

"Our best healers did say she was healing miraculously fast," Emmeryn explained in an assuring tone. "I'm sure she will be feeling well once she wakes up."


'Naga's tits, everything hurts,' Rose thought as she awoke from her slumber, feeling sore all over. With great effort, the battered woman opened her eyes– and immediately regretted that decision as the sunlight seared her retinas. Taking a moment to gather herself, she opened them while facing away from the sun this time and looked around.

She was in a tent with a single table with two chairs, some medical supplies including a few broken staves, and her bag of belongings on the floor with Thorn and her tome rested next to it.

'Where am I?'

Since she wasn't in chains in some dungeon, it was safe to guess she wasn't a prisoner. Again. That was nice. Trying to sit up, a stabbing pain shot through her body. Looking down, Rose saw the bandages wrapped around her midsection. Remembering the injury she took saving Emmeryn elicited a groan from the tactician.

Rose then recalled exactly how she had closed the wound. It had not been her best idea but she hadn't had the energy to fix the wound like she normally would have.

"Speaking of which…" Rose muttered as she closed her eyes in concentration. Deep inside she felt her draconic magic feeling more powerful than before. Her magic coils, surprisingly, had healed nicely and could now feel the power coursing through her body once again. "Must be what Tiki was talking about… Another brush with death. Fantastic… Oh well, it worked out it seems. Could have used that earlier..."

Rose sat up more carefully this time and started channeling a fraction of her dragon power. Frowning in concentration, the ashen-haired woman recalled her experiences as Grima's Avatar. How any injury she received, no matter how grievous, instantly healed. How the steel of a mortal's weapons had meant nothing in their last moments of defiance. The memories stung, but she only needed to recall the feeling of the magic.

A red glow shone through the bandages. A wave of relief washed over Rose's body as her organs and muscles healed properly. Clerics could mend flesh and bone, but things like internal bleeding and infections were outside the limitations of their magic.

Not hers, though.

Removing the bandages, she was happy to see that the wound had healed. The scarring was not as bad as it would be for a normal person; her skin was still red and was not a smooth as before, with a clearly uneven texture, but it was not the disfiguring wound it would have been for a normal human.

Part of her was disappointed that her healing skill was not yet at the level it was when Grima had been in control, but in a way, it was fortunate. Healing too quickly would draw attention and cause questions, whereas she could still play these current results off. Not quite on the level of the immortality she had once possessed but nevertheless, it paid off.

'Thank you, Dragonskin.'

Satisfied with her state, Rose stood to take her bag and proceeded to change into her casual outfit. However, as she took her cloak from the chair, an alarming thought hit her.

She wasn't wearing her cloak.

That meant that at least one healer, if not the entire army, must have seen her full face.

'Shit.'

That could be problematic. Sure, white hair and violet eyes were not uncommon in Plegia; Henry had had the same features, but his facial structure and her's were nowhere near as similar as her's and Robin's.

This could bring up problems with her brother. Robin was sharp enough to draw accurate conclusions when he had enough information, as demonstrated by his ease in developing new strategies in their games with little tips. He would certainly grow suspicious of their similarities.

Maybe Phila was right. Maybe she should explain something to him. That could work in their favor, but she would need to be delicate about it. While this development was not ideal, Rose could adapt her plans. She still had a few years to prepare him and the Shepherds for the truth.

First, though, was making sure that everyone, especially Emmeryn, had survived after she passed out.

That brought yet another complication. She had succeeded. The Shepherds had won and taken back the Exalt. Normally such an event would have been a clear cause for celebration, but it only made Rose frown. Emmeryn's death had been the point where the Shepherd's loyalty to Chrom had been cemented in stone. It had been a point of growth, both for herself and for Chrom. Rose had learned a lot from that defeat and the fires that had been started by Emmeryn's sacrifice had only tempered the Shepherds' steel. Her confidence had taken a dive, but that blow had been one she had needed in order to mature and prove herself once and for all. It had been at that moment that the Shepherds' bonds had become stronger than ever.

And she had just denied that moment to her brother.

'Well, it's not like it did much good to me in the end.'

Not to say that she regretted saving Emmeryn, not at all. But sadly, it did bring uncomfortable implications, chief of which being that Chrom would not mature as fast as he had before without Emmeryn's death hanging over his head.

However, this could work in her favor. A happier Chrom might be more willing to listen to her when the truth about Grima's host inevitably gets revealed. He wouldn't have the weight of being Exalt on his shoulders, and Emmeryn's rescue had clearly demonstrated that she had their best interest at heart. That could earn her the chance to explain everything and maybe save Robin from a fate similar to her own.

But on the other hand, would Chrom and Robin be strong enough emotionally to handle the war on Valm?

The grandmaster was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't hear the tent's flap opening, allowing Lissa inside. The princess froze, clearly not expecting her patient to be able to stand.

"You're awake!" Lissa shouted, moving closer to her patient and startling Rose out of her thoughts. "You gave us a huge scare, buster!" the princess scolded, but her quivering lips betrayed her inner turmoil.

Rose flinched at the sight of that face. It had been a long time since one of the Shepherds had shown genuine concern for her and she was not feeling comfortable. Part of the reason she used her hood was to hide her discomfort, but now Rose felt very exposed. Not wanting to make a scene, she turned back to her professional persona, one perfect in the Royal Court long ago.

"My apologies, your majesty. I was so focused on saving the Exalt that I disregarded my own safety. Cauterizing the wounds saved a staff's magic charge for Kellam." Rose apologized in a professional tone, placing a hand on the young royal's shoulder to calm her down.

It seemed to work, as the cleric calmed down enough to give her a strong hug. The white-haired woman put her arms around the young princess, awkwardly returning the unexpected gesture. It wasn't like she spoke to Lissa much, so the show of concern was strange. "...I trust everyone made it to safety?"

"Yes! Kellam survived and so did everyone else!" Lissa explained much to the tactician's awkward satisfaction. The young girl's voice quivered and the fluctuation made Rose wince internally as she continued. "Y-you saved Emmeryn! I can't tell you how grateful I am for that!" the young princess exclaimed while burying her head in her chest, tears spilling out of her eyes. "I don't know what we would have done if she died," she managed to whisper, tightening her hug.

Rose cringed, having forgotten how touchy Lissa could be. ´This is getting awkward

The princess suddenly remembered why she came into the tent. Pulling apart, her eyes darted all across her patient's body. "Your wounds! I'm so sor–" She then stopped as something clicked. "Wait, what are you doing off of your bed?! You got two arrows to your back and multiple burns! You shouldn't even have the strength to move, much less walk! It's only been four days!"

"Four days, huh? That means we should be out of Plegia and into Feroxi territory if we took the carriages…" Rose mused aloud.

"Yes. And we had to take off your clothes to treat you. I'm sorry and I know you like your privacy, but we couldn't heal you properly with the hood and cloak on."

"Worry for me not, Lady Lissa. I understand, even though it's not my desired outcome. Anyways, my wounds are completely healed so. It's not the first time someone put a hole in me," she said before muttering, "or several."

Lissa did not take the news quietly. "W-What?! That's impossible! We used what few staves we had to spare just to keep you alive! The dark magic in those arrows took a lot of power to remove extract and even then the damage is not something so easy to heal!" Without warning, the princess grabbed the edge of Rose's bandages and removed them to check. To her astonishment, Rose spoke the truth: there was only unscarred if reddened skin on her toned abdomen.

"N-no way… H-how?" asked the bewildered princess. "You can't just heal an arrow through the stomach and kidney in a few days! Even with all these staves, we barely kept you from bleeding out!" Her voice was getting higher, amusing her patient.

"Ancient Plegian secret, Princess Lissa," jested Rose, taking some delight at the bewildered expression of the usually mischievous princess. "Anyways, I'm off to take a bath and then grab something to eat. By your leave, your highness."

Rose left the tent with her bag, leaving a dumbfounded Lissa in her wake.


"Yo! Robin!"

The tactician stopped writing, surprised to see Vaike standing before his desk with a nervous grin that honestly creeped out the tactician. Vaike had been civil the past few days but they never really talked. Still, Robin was pleased that he couldn't feel any hostility from the axe fighter, so he decided to give the conversation a chance.

"Well, Vaike. This is a surprise."

"Hey man, Teach was wondering if ya got a moment to talk?" Vaike asked with a hopeful grin.

"You want to talk to me?" Robin asked. "I thought you weren't that... fond of me."

The fighter had the decency to look sheepish as he rubbed his neck. "Yeah… That's why Teach's here," the blonde admitted.

"Oh?"

Vaike scratched his neck as he struggled to continue. "I… I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Robin blinked. "Pardon?"

"Bah! Don't make this harder!" he whined, "So, after all this mess and the Exalt's rescue, I… I don't think you are a Plegian spy." The fighter sighed. "The Vaike is not that blind and he can see he has been very hostile towards ya."

"That's putting mildly," muttered the tactician.

Vaike didn't seem to have heard him. "And… you didn't deserve that." The blonde clicked his tongue and took a somewhat serious expression. "The Va– I was convinced that all Plegians were nothing but good fer nothing Grima worshippers. But you and Rose? You helped us despite being Plegian and the way some of us treated ya."

"It was only rig–"

"And not just you!" Vaike interrupted. "There's that creepy gal...ya know, the one that has been skulkin' around your tent all morning?"

"Oh, Tharja?" Robin sighed at his current predicament with the strange mage. "Yes, I'm aware," he said, ignoring the sound of someone running away outside his tent.

"Yeah! That's the one! She helped us escape. And there's also that smilin' kid saved Chrom's sisters during the ambush.

"His name is Henry."

"Yeah, him!" Vaike said, nodding. "So while y'all are kinda weird and creepy and into strange books and dark magic, maybe you're not the same kind of evil scumbags as Gangrel!"

"Thanks, I think...?"

"Dontcha mention it!" Vaike said obliviously proud of himself. "Now come here and give Teach a hug as a symbol of our friendship!"

"Wha– UGH!" Robin huffed out as Vaike crushed him under the display of affection.

'First Frederick and now Vaike… next thing you know, Sully will come in too...'

"Robin! I need to speak wi– " said cavalier shouted as she barged into the tent only to stop cold and awkwardly. "Eh… It seems you two are having a moment."

"Hey, Sully!" Vaike greeted with a grin, ignoring the tactician whose face was turning blue. "Teach just got a new student!"

"Wha–?" Robin grunted out.

The cavalier starred at the pair for a moment. "Right. Well, good luck with that, Robin," Sully said as she backtracked out of the tent. "We can talk later if the dunce's lessons haven't killed ya," the redhead said as her parting words.

"Hey!" Vaike shouted at the redhead.

"Stop shouting, Man-Spawn!" a certain taguel growled from the other side of the canvas.

"Oh, my bad Panne!" Vaike shouted, earning a growl. "Teach will make it up to ya!"

"Just keep it down!"

The blonde turned and gave Robin a grin after letting him go. "She wants me. It's my animal magneti-whatchamacallit" he said smugly.

"Magnetism. And I am sure she does," Robin wheezed out.

"Hah! You get me!" Vaike said, slapping him on the back. The Plegian honestly felt the sensation of his own shoulder popping out of its socket. "Come on! How about we go and drink with the rest of the guys, huh?"

And Robin smiled.


Chrom was looking around camp for Rose. Hearing she was healed and walking around after such an injury was astonishing; the woman was just full of surprises. He would love to hear her full story and experiences but he respected her privacy. She earned that much by adding her skill to the Shepherds, not to mention almost dying to save his elder sister. He needed to thank her for that personally.

"Gaius said she was in the red tent near the river… Ah! Here it is." Chrom entered the tent just to find himself surrounded by steam. "What's with this steam?" Looking around he saw a silhouette through the steam. There she is. "Rose! Are you in here? I wanted to speak with y–"


'This bath is just what I needed…' Rose thought as every part of her body was caressed by the hot water in her bath. 'You would think surviving two wars and getting your soul stitched back together would make you indifferent to sore muscles… or an arrow piercing your kidney… Good thing those grow back.'

As the former queen laid in the tub so generously provided by the Feroxi, she let her mind wander. From what she gathered speaking with Emmeryn, the Pegasus Knights survived the attack thanks to her suggestion, so she could justify deserving some indulgence. She would need to work on Robin's confidence later. While Emmeryn's death wouldn't cause the bonding as it had in the past, maybe the trauma that did happen would be enough. And the cherry on top was getting to screw over Grima. There was something about messing with the plans of an eldritch dragon that could make a person giddy.

Even if they had been on the receiving end before.

'Hmmm, I wonder what Grima must be thinking right now…'


"GRAAAH!" the Fell Dragon screamed, crushing a Grimleal's skull with his hand and tossing the bloody carcass against the wall. His disciple hid behind a pillar careful not to catch his attention, lest they become the focus of his wrath.


'Probably not too pleased.'

She moved to the rack where her towel was when she felt a cold breeze hitting her back. Turning around, she found herself in an oh-so-familiar situation.

The Prince of Ylisse stood frozen in the middle of the tent. As if Naga herself wanted to mess with him, the steam chose this moment to leave through the open flap, allowing Chrom to finally see Rose.

All of her.

Strands of wet hair clung to her body, framing her face into a delicate visage that was not normally associated with her. The droplets of warm water slid down her ivory skin, enhancing the curves of her generous breasts, normally hidden by her chest plate. His gaze trailed across her body taking in everything while the small, sane part of his mind yelled him to retreat.

Unfortunately, he was never the best tactician.


'Are you fucking serious?'

Three times.

He had done this three times, in three timelines.

It was as if the universe conspired against her. Which, if she was being honest, wouldn't surprise her.

Now, her old self would certainly have overreacted to this little incident, letting the embarrassment dictate her actions. This Fell Dragon had hide too tough to feel something as trivial as mere embarrassment after dealing with so much severe emotional pain.

Then again, this presented her with a golden opportunity for some cathartic payback. Sometimes Rose liked to imagine how this situation would have played out had she been able to prepare for it and now she had the perfect opportunity.

Oh, she knew this was wrong. The Chrom of this timeline was by all means and purposes an innocent; and a bit of a prude if she recalls correctly. She knew by now he was not the one that had wronged her. The Chrom she knew and the Chrom before her are not the same beings and hopefully wouldn't be. She could at least look at him now without feeling pain.

Still… Call her petty, but she couldn't let this chance pass.

´Even I deserve some fun every now and then. Especially after getting shot by arrows saving his sister.´


As his eyes trailed across Rose's breasts, lewd thoughts were the farthest thing from his mind. His eyes were drawn to the nasty scar that ran through her chest. The old wound started above her heart, trailing across the upper curve of her breast and ended just above her belly button. There he could see the multiple scars she had received, including the new ones that the woman had received saving Emmeryn.

Chrom was so entranced with her wounds that it took him nearly a minute to realize something: he had been staring at her naked body the entire time.

And Rose was well aware of this.


"I didn't take you for a voyeur, your majesty," stated the snowy-haired woman, putting down her towel and directing her attention to the intruder.

"ROSE! I'm so sorry! I didn't–" stammered the bluenette, trying to regain his bearings. "I would never spy on a lady bathing!"

Her lips twitched at the words. "Oh? Am I a lady now? So you finally see me as a woman?" Rose teased with a raised eyebrow, enjoying the sight of him squirming. Who knew petty catharsis felt so good?

"No! I-I mean yes! I can clearly see you're a woman!" Realizing what he just said, he quickly corrected himself. "Wait! I d-didn't mea–!"

Rose laughed at the bumbling royal, who still hadn't fled for safety. This was too amusing.

She crossed her toned arms under her breasts, pushing them up and drawing his eyes to them for an instant before survival instinct kicked in just enough to look her in the eyes. Taking a moment to enjoy the prince lose his cool, she playfully questioned his intention, "Well, it seems you were looking for me. How may I be of service?"

"S-service?" His mind, probably still looking like it was trying to grasp its sanity amongst a sea of indecent thoughts, didn't deduce yet that the best course of action was to leave this conversation for another time. With his eyes still trailing the curves of her body, his mouth spoke "I, well, I-I just wanted t-to thank you for risking your life-saving my s-sister… You almost died, a-and well… I..." Chrom trailed off, still distracted by the sight before him.

"Thank me, huh? There is no need for that, I was just doing my duty and preventing a tragedy. But if you want to return the favor, I have something in mind." Sitting down on a stool, she gave a towel to the prince before turning her back to him and uttering her suggestion. "You could help me wash my back. I can't really rea–"

The insinuation was enough to snap the lord out of his daze. "I-I NEED TO GO! I'LL SEE YOU LATER! WAIT, NO! I MEAN– ARRG!" Finally regaining hold of his remaining sanity, the prince fled from the tent, followed by the amused laugh of a purple-eyed witch.


Emmeryn was walking around camp with Lissa and Maribelle, trying to relax after such a close brush with death. She was ready to die for her people and for peace, but only now that she had time to reflect on her situation did it fully hit her. The Exalt was doing remarkably well but, despite the strong front she put for Sir Robin, there were still moments of panic as the images of the ground rapidly approaching as she was hugged by the bleeding mercenary kept replaying on her mind. Lissa and Maribelle were trying their best to get her mind on to other things but with the war approaching climax it was not working as well as they had hoped.

That was until they saw Chrom running out of the women's tent with a towel in his hands.

That certainly took her mind off of her troubles.


The male Shepherds were talking about the last fight with some drinks, enjoying a moment of masculine bonding that was long overdue when Chrom busted into the mess tent. The prince then grabbed a mug of ale from Stahl – earning a reproach that was ignored – and chugged it down in one go. The prince was not in the mood for their brotherly camaraderie and sat at a table far away from his comrades. The men did take notice of their captain's strange behavior yet the prince chose to ignore their stares and instead rested his head on his hands, trying to ignore all indecent thoughts that were flooding into his mind.

Which was hard considering he was a young adult male that had just witnessed an attractive, fit woman dripping wet inside a steamy tent.

'I need to stop thinking about that wet hair voice, toned muscles and generous NO! STOP THAT! Oh Naga, Please give me some peace and quiet to pull myself together…'

Unfortunately for the young prince, Naga did not feel particularly merciful that day.

To make matters worse for the young prince, Rose chose that moment to come into the tent. For many, this was the first time they've seen her face completely, only recognizing her for the sword strapped to her waist by the familiar red sash.

Some of them also were quick to notice her attire. Used to her wearing a chest-plate and her tactician's coat all the time, they were surprised to see the Plegian woman wearing leather pants with a white camisole.

"Well, that coat of her's hides quite the sight," muttered Gaius as his eyes trailed to her posterior, enjoying the sight of tight leather swaying at each step. Robin felt slightly uncomfortable at the sight, though, even if he was not sure why. But he knew he didn't like the way they were looking at her.

Rose ignored the men and proceeded towards the table with the militia's food. Serving herself some bear-jerky, the Plegian silently sat in front of the bluenette and began to eat her food. Finally noticing her presence, Chrom looked at her now uncovered face before going completely red. He was trying to utter more apologies but nothing came. Rose kept eating in silence.

The rest of those present kept watching the red-faced lord and the unhooded mercenary's interaction. The entire tent was silent, which made it perfect for eavesdropping. They sat there for a short while in silence, no one daring to move despite the burning questions they had.

Finishing with her food, Rose stood up ready to leave, but not before uttering one sentence only for the prince.

Her voice was smooth as a blade being plunged into his weakened heart.

"Well, I certainly hope that after our little one on one earlier, you will now see me as a woman."

She started walking away, leaving an embarrassed lord and a stupefied set of warriors behind.

The silence had to be broken eventually.

"Well… Damn," commented Stahl, for once on his life forgoing food for something more interesting.

"Bwahaha! Teach is proud of his rival!" Vaike shouted between laughs.

Chrom just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. 'This can't get any worse.'

"Chrom Herbert Lowell!" He was proven wrong by hearing the voice of his older sister, asking a question he never wanted to hear. Emmeryn stood there, her normally serene expression was replaced by a stony one, with a snickering Lissa and a disgusted Maribelle at her sides. "Care to explain why you were inside the women's bathing tent?"

This question set the rest of the males into a frenzy.

"Man, she used your full name. You're in trouble," stated Stahl.

"You went spying on Rose?! You got guts, boss! She almost killed me when I tried." Vaike praised his rival.

Stahl looked at Vaike in confusion. "I thought you hated her?" questioned the viridian knight.

The axeman just shrugged. "Eh, sure, I wasn't her biggest fan, but I'm not blind. She still has a killer body. Did you saw those pants fit her ass?"

Stahl did. They all did.

"Voyeurism is most uncouth, Sir Chrom," scolded Virion, looking at him with disappointment.

"That's why you had Snowflake's towel! Sneaky! I like it!" Gaius commended.

"Ma' always say to respect women, milord," stated Donnel, watching his lord in a new light and it wasn't a flattering one.

"I'm surprised she didn't skin you alive—wait, your middle name is Herbert?" Robin asked, trying and failing to control his laughter.

The laughter didn't last long as the temperature dropped and Emmeryn directed a scathing glare towards them, reminding them of her presence. They have never expected such action from their sweet Exalt, but now everyone felt as if they were facing an angry mother.

Emmeryn turned her gaze back to her little brother with a raised eyebrow. "Well? Anything to say?"

And for the second time that day, Chrom was left speechless.


The next morning Rose decided not to torture the fragile mind of the prince for petty entertainment and took things more seriously. She went looking for her brother with the intent to discuss the next battle with him. Of course, that was not to be as she ran into the prince, who looked happy to see that she was fully clothed this time.

"Prince Chrom," she greeted politely, ignoring his flinch. "It's good to see you this fine morning."

"Rose… I can't begin to apologize for that incident," Chrom blurted out. "It was improper of me and I can only blame myself for it. I hope this doesn't tarnish your image of me."

She laughed and decided to throw the prince a bone. It was moments like this that reminded her this was not the Chrom that wronged her and that there was still hope with him. She already had her fun anyways. "It's alright your majesty, it was an honest mistake. If anything I should apologize for having some juvenile fun at your expense, but I figured it would lighten the mood after such a dark time and take your mind off the war for a moment," Rose said, lying with a straight face.

"Still, it was improper of me. It's not something a member of the crown...NO, any decent man should do," Chrom said with conviction.

"All is forgiven. Though I must say, and pardon if I overstep my bounds, that I haven't seen anyone blush like that in ages. It was like a teenage boy looking at a naked woman for the first time."

"Eh…"

Using all her willpower to hide her smile, Rose faked a shocked expression. "Oh, dear. Was it? Well I'm honored and I hope it met your expectations," she added sweetly

"I'm not going to fall for that one," the prince said with a deadpanned expression.

"Pity," she replied with a smirk. "Oh well, enough of this. How are you, prince? The battle and escape certainly were a whirlwind of emotions."

"They were," Chrom admitted. "And it was because of a certain pair of Plegian tacticians that I still have two sisters," he added somberly. "Once again, you have my gratitude. If you ever need anything, the crown will support you."

"... Don't go promising things like that your majesty or I might hold you to that. Though I can't think of anything right now that requires such an action," Rose said, not wanting to get into that topic. But if anything she could use that promise when the truth inevitably came out. "What plans do we have for the next battle? Gangrel will not take our rescue lying down. If anything it will finally drive him over the edge. He will come at us with everything he has."

"And we will be ready for him," the prince declared, hand on Falchion's hilt. "I will never forgive him for what he put Emmeryn through."

"You're angry. Understandable," Rose said empathically. "Temper your anger but don't let it control you, lest the madness of combat consumes you. Gangrel will press you, goad you into attacking blindly."

"I know, but I'm not sure I will be able to contain myself when I see him."

"You will have to or you will play into his hands," Rose stated. "His style is that of a trickster and I know he favors a Levin Sword like Anna and Robin," the tactician mentioned and was satisfied with the thoughtful look the prince got. "I would recommend using the next few days to spar with Anna and Gaius so you can get used to fighting slippery opponents."

"That's not a bad idea," Chrom said, liking the idea. "I could certainly use the time to prepare." The prince sighed. "While you were out, the entire militia pledged their support to the cause, even those two Plegians we recruited. It seems Emmeryn's words reached them too."

"I'm glad to hear that. Maybe it will reach the rest of Plegia and we can have some peace," Rose added, before looking around. "Pardon me, your majesty, but have you seen Robin?"

"I think after spending a little while with the guys he went to the War Room. He should still be there."

Finally some progress. "Thank you. By your leave, prince," she said, bowing and departing.

"And Rose?" the bluenette called behind her, making her turn.

"Yes?"

"Please drop the honorifics and call me Chrom. You have more than earned the right like any other Shepherd," he added with an honest smile that ached her heart as it dug out old memories.

A flash of something must have shown on her face for Chrom to get a confused frown. "Very well. I will see you soon, Chrom."

Ignoring the familiarity of the situation, Rose departed towards her objective. Minutes later she found herself inside the Feroxi Fort's war room and in front of her brother as he moved pieces on a board, plotting their plan of attack.

"You're a difficult man to find," she said, enjoying the sight of his jump and glad she could still do it. He was getting better at detecting her but she still had a couple of tricks up her sleeves. The lack of armor certainly helped get these amusing drops on him.

To train his awareness of course. She couldn't allow him to get rusty.

"Ah, Rose!" Robin greeted once he calmed down. "You're here! Sorry, I've been meaning to speak with you, but well… between the guys and what happened with Chrom..."

"I get it. No need to worry, you didn't hurt my feelings," she said while patting his shoulder.

A snort escaped her brother. "I think you could take it. But it's your other injuries that worry me. Should you really be walking around?"

"I come from excellent stock and I've always healed fast. Same reason I could walk after the mess in Ylisstol." One good thing that bastard Validar gave her.

"I wish I could heal that fast," Robin said as he rolled his aching shoulders.

'The price is not worth it, little brother,' she thought to herself. ´But you may get it

"Anyways. I wanted to check with you about the oncoming fight and what my role would be this time. I think you have proven yourself not to need me to correct your strategies any longer, but I can always give them a new outlook."

"Yeah... About that..." Robin said, sounding nervous for some reason. The man sighed and looked her straight in the eyes. "You're not participating in the next battle."

Rose's eyes widened at the proclamation. "Pardon?"

Robin ran a hand through his hair, "You, Kellam, Sumia and some others have barely recovered from the last battle. Your injuries, in particular, were horrible and that's not taking into account the wounds you received in Ylisstol not that long ago, regardless of this insane healing you have. Even a month would not be enough to heal entirely from that."

"I'm fine now." Truth be told her stamina was down the drain. Her magic had recovered surprisingly well, but her mana coils were still too bruised to use that power. Like any muscle, it would only make her stronger once they had time to heal, but right now Rose could only fight in melee and was still damn tired. Her rapid recovery already brought suspicion over her abilities, alongside the power she showed in Ylisstol, so maybe laying low for a while was necessary. It didn't help that Valflame took offense of her using it. Even if the Shepherds weren't asking questions others in the army will.

'Damn you Salamander! Why couldn't you just share for once?!' Arrogant Flame Dragons...

"I would feel better if you stayed here and rested. Additionally, I want you to stay with Phila to protect her majesty," Robin explained as if trying to appease her. "I would feel better if we knew people of your caliber were protecting her."

"I..." Damn, that made sense. Assassins could be everywhere, even in Ferox with all its mercenaries. But this was another opportunity if she played it right. She couldn't babysit him forever and this could be the opportunity that cemented the Shepherds trust in him. Saving Emmeryn prevented that whole bonding session in Ferox if things went like in her timelines, though it seemed Chrom still received support from them. Maybe it was time to roll the dice once more. Rose sighed dramatically and nodded. "Very well, I will stay. I know you will pull us through."

"It's not that I don't want you there!" Robin quickly backtracked, which she found honestly adorable.

"I'm not offended Robin and I understand the desire to not take any more unnecessary risk," she relented. "And truth be told... I could use the rest." There, she admitted it, rolling her shoulders.

The tactician released a breath in relief. "Thank you," Robin said sincerely. "Knowing you and the others are safe is a weight off my shoulders."

"Geez, you sound like an annoyed mother."

"I'm trying to be serious here..."

"Serious, huh?" she said giving him a feral grin. "In that case, let's discuss your training regiment for the next few days."

"Ehh…Pardon?"

"Come on, I decided a while ago to help you as much as I can as a fellow tactician. There is still much I can teach you, little chick. Let's see how far you can fly."


Time passed and it was time to depart for the front lines once more. Word had reached the Shepherds that the Plegian army was marching towards them; the alliance planned to meet them halfway, on their terms.

Robin prepared his horse, adjusting his Levin Sword and Thunder tome to these saddlebags, along with other spellbooks in the case they were needed. He had to admit, those ice spells that Rose had him practice were pretty great, but he had a certain fondness for the element of lightning. And even if his body spent the week protesting, he couldn't deny the results. It was almost freaky how fast he improved his stamina and strength but Robin wasn't about to complain. He could cast spells faster and stronger than ever before and that made the tactician wonder what the limit of his potential was.

A set of purposely loud steps indicated someone was approaching him. "Robin," the familiar voice called from behind him.

"Hey Rose," he said, thankful she chose not to try to scare him this time. "Come to see me off? Heh just like in Ylisstol. Hopefully, you won't injure yourself while we are away. We don't want a repeat of last time."

"Hmph. I'm not that ba—" she stopped. "Ok, yeah, even I don't believe it. But let's ignore that. Saying farewell is not the only reason I'm here."

"Oh?"

Rose looked hesitant for a moment, which was easy to see since the woman had taken to walking with her hood down now that apparently everyone had seen her face. He was glad because she was honestly too pretty to be hiding like that. Robin couldn't understand her reasoning for hiding her face but he respected it.

He didn't like how the others ogled her in those leather pants, though...

"I have something for you," she said, capturing Robin's attention. "Turn around and close your eyes."

The amnesiac blinked at that. "What? Why?"

"Just do it," she grumbled with a dash of pink on her cheeks.

Curiosity got the best of him and Robin complied. While his eyes were closed he could hear a slight click and the movement of the cloth. After a moment the tactician felt something being placed on his shoulders with surprising delicacy.

"You can open your eyes now."

Robin obeyed and saw what it was. A pair of shoulder guards joined by purple cloth just like the one his cloak was made of, rested on his shoulders. The golden designs signifying importance and rank as they complimented the designs of his cloak. Turning to the woman Robin saw that her own shoulders were bare, leaving her only with her cloak.

"Wha?"

"Those were given to me by former comrades," she explained in a soft voice. "I think we spoke of this before. Those… are important to me despite the fact that we parted on bad terms. This is the symbol of a Grandmaster who looks over their comrades." Rose gave him a smirk which looked a little pained. "Kinda like how a Shepherd looks over his flock. I think you can now associate better memories with them while you lead Ylisse to victory."

His eyes glanced at Rose and to his shoulders. "I… I can't accept this! If they truly had that much history with yo"

"Yes, you can," she said with finality. "Think of it a sign of my pride in your growth," she amended. "When we first met I had no intentions of joining this militia but I guess curiosity got the better of me. Even if you don't believe it, you've grown immensely in our time together. You drink knowledge like water and anyone can see your drive to keep your comrades safe. You've gained their trust. They will support you. You don't have to do everything alone." Rose put a hand on his shoulder. "I think you would've done fine without my help."

Robin held her gaze for a minute and decided to add his own confession. "I didn't expect many things when I joined the Shepherds, but they happened anyway. Certainly didn't expect to run into another Plegian tactician who would become a mentor and, dare I say a friend in that arena. Heh, sounds like something out of an amateur novel."

Rose smiled at him. "Nothing ever goes exactly as expected, but you have the skill to adapt and triumph over such situations. Many men fall because of their hubris, unwilling to adapt to an ever-changing battlefield. Not you, though." She took a deep breath and continued, "You have the potential to be not only a great tactician but also a great man. I think you already are. Keep your ideals at heart and your mind sharp and nothing will stand in your way. You will triumph over Gangrel, of that, I have no doubt." Rose spoke with such confidence that Robin could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

"...Do you actually believe that?" Robin said, his voice barely above a whisper. The amnesiac would be lying if he said he didn't have doubts about their chance of victory.

Rose nodded, "I do. Now it's a matter of you believing it. The only thing holding you back from your potential is your own doubt. What's one more battle?"

Robin felt confidence surge through his body. Thinking back at all the battles he had with his comrades since waking up in that field. He felt the last of his doubts on himself banish. He had defeated countless enemies. He led the army to victory in the Hallem Plains against the Risen Horde. They infiltrated Plegia and rescued Emmeryn right under Gangrel's watch and lived to tell the tale.

They had their share of injuries but so far the Shepherds suffered no fatalities. Robin knew not to get overconfident, and that a defeat will fall on their laps at any time, but right now that was not the case. They were strong. They were survivors.

She was right.

He could do this.

They could do this.

"Thank you," Robin said with a smile that she reciprocated.

"Thank me by winning this war. I can't be there holding your hand all the time," Rose said with a smirk that made him twitch. "Sometimes a mother has to let her children go their own way, no matter how adorable there are," she added while pinching his cheek.

The amnesiac pushed her hand away and rubbed his cheek. "And just like that, the moment is gone."

"You love it."

Robin snorted. Still, he couldn't deny it. They had bonded in their joint love for tactics, in the long nights of planning and learning. Small bits of her experiences allowed the amnesiac to picture the world in a new way. Yes, he enjoyed her company and he was happy she seemed to reciprocate. If Chrom was his best male friend then Rose was his best female friend. He didn't felt any romantic feelings for her, as some might have gossiped after one too many long nights together in his tent, but that didn't mean Robin lacked affection for the stranger mercenary. Stranger things happened in the Shepherds anyways. Like Miriel and Frederick being marrried, apparently.

In a bold move that certainly took the woman by surprise, the amnesiac pulled her into a hug. "Take care."

He felt her arms close on him, and heard a soft, "You too."

For a moment, as he felt her lips kiss his blushing cheek, Robin wondered if this is what family felt like.


The sight of the marching army brought memories to the surface, but this time Rose welcomes them. These were not tarnished by betrayal, for at that moment the bonds forged through pain and loss had been at their strongest. The Fell Dragon hoped that everything goes as well for her brother as it did for her.

No.

She knew it will.

"You truly care about him."

"Emmeryn," Rose said, turning around as she recognized the voice. "It's good to see you out of bed."

"Indeed. Phila has not let me out of her sight the past few days and insisted I rested. I barely had time to speak with Robin and to scold Chrom before she locked me in my room," Emmeryn said earning a smile from the tactician. "My apologies for not speaking with you sooner but they insisted I rested."

An ungraceful snort escaped the tactician who felt more at ease being informal with the Exalt. "Trust me, I understand. Robin insisted I stayed behind with the injured even though I can walk."

"You have taken enough risks for us. More than a mere contract requires. You have earned some rest," Emmeryn insisted as she stepped next to her. "Additionally… I think it is a good time to talk."

Rose looked at Emmeryn searching her face for something. The Exalt was sincere and she knew she would be a good ally.

'Well, I already took a risk with Phila... And the captain would feel better knowing the Exalt is informed... yes, this could work...'

"Yeah… I think I would like that. We have much to discuss."


A/N: Well, Robin has his brotherly instincts and doesn't like people ogling his sister. Even if he doesn't realize it. A bond that transcends time.

Sadly, the war didn't let me have much room to play with the bonding but I hope I showed Robin and Rose care for one another, even if only one is fully aware of the reason.

Thanks to Victory3114, Shipping Rates Apply and Xbro Kong for checking my atrocious grammar.