Finally, I FINALLY managed to write out another chapter. And it's a damn good thing too, I felt like shit being so close to the end of this story but so blocked on it. I don't know how many chapters left now, but I doubt it'll be too many. Hope you all enjoy, read and review!
It only made sense to have questions after everything that had happened. Gemstones, memories. All of it made so little sense sometimes. Still, she hadn't been expecting him to ask any of those questions.
It had been months since the end of the war; months full of walking, boating then even more walking. Valm was a long boat ride from the Ylissian continent after all.
"You wanted to talk to me Robin?" It had been two weeks since they'd returned, but for her it felt both like far less and far more...in the worst kind of ways.
"Yes Chrom." Robin spoke calmly, red eyes periodically flickering black. "I hear you intend to send Fredrick out tomorrow to look for the final gem." The moon held dominion over the sky, sun long gone and as far as she was concerned it really was far too late for this conversation. Considering the king, however, she had little choice but to address it before morning.
"Yes, that's right." Chrom agreed, the vessel's head pounding a little more.
"I can only assume your lack of communication with me regarding this matter is due to the fact that I am simultaneously not 'your Robin' and am the Fell Dragon. Despite that, she feels it necessary to tell you that sending Fredrick on such a hunt would be moot...given that I already know where it is." Blue eyes widened, a look of disbelief taking over his face.
"Grima was sealed, there's no way he could have known the gems were taken out of the Fire Emblem, let alone kept track to them!" The pigtailed girl gave a sigh, shaking her head. Only to give a sudden, almost predatory smirk.
"Call it a God's sense." She let out a chuckle when he looked somewhere between amazed, uncomfortable and still disbelieving. "Sable, I believe it was called. It rests in Plegia, an heirloom to the Grimleal high priest."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Plegia was created by those who worship me as the god I am, and is still mostly run by such people. Tell me, what being would leave everything needed to seal their god in the hands of those who would use them for just that?" How such simple logic never failed to escape the mortal man was beyond even a God's comprehension. "You failing to think of such a plain answer was expected, but the fact that every other mortal in your 'army' failed to realize as well is..." She trailed off, trying to ignore the disgust for mortals that Grima felt.
"...I will tell Fredrick and we can begin planning tomorrow morning." The blue haired man gave a slow, tired nod. Perhaps it was getting too late for him...it felt like the tactician's bed called to her. "How long have you known where Sable is?"
"Grima knew from the start, it was only logical. Robin figured it out once we got Vert. She tried to convince Grima that you would need the information, however he disagreed and refused to allow it until now." The look on his face made it clear that speaking of the two sides so bluntly made him...uneasy.
"What made him suddenly change his mind?" A fair question.
"Robin doesn't know and Grima refuses to tell."
"I...see..." That he expected anything else was easy predictable, but made him no less a fool.
"It's late. Good-" The man grabbed her arm as she turned to leave, glowing red eyes narrowing at him.
"Wait."
"...Normally that is to be said before or during you grabbing my arm, not after." She couldn't admit that she was too weak to pull her arm free, not to him or anyone else. More life energy hadn't been enough, nothing seemed to be enough and it was agitating. "What is it?"
"Does Robin remember? With how you are now, does she remember before we met? ...Does she remember her past?" Concern and hope filled his eyes, and really it was ridiculous.
"No. Grima remembers it all, but Robin has no more memory of it now than the day you met." Words started to spill out without Grima's consent, but there was nothing he could do. "Her mind and body had been overwhelmed, so overwhelmed that Grima could not even take control." Robin doesn't know that, why is the body saying a memory of his? "To put it simply. She'll never remember."
"Not even Henry?" The royal looked so sad, as though his tactician remaining amnesiac physically hurt him.
"All she knows is what she's seen or heard. That's all she'll ever know." His eyes fell at the words, staring at the stone pathway below their feet. Seconds passed by slowly, each feeling like a minute as the orange haired girl waited for her arm to be released. "...Was there anything else you intended to ask?" She just wanted to go to bed already.
"How long has she known?" The words were sudden, causing a sigh.
"The moment they mer-"
"No, not about her memory." Finally the swordsman looked up, eyes looking as though he'd been crying a moment ago...she must have been too tired, beginning to see things, because the only thing to ever make him cry was Emmeryn's death. "How long has she known she was Grima's vessel?" His voice broke when he said the name.
"...Robin was well aware that she was abnormal. Her personality shift during battle, the cruel voice in her head that tried to destroy any self-esteem and relationships. The way she could plan, people and options nothing more than numbers and probability when she needed. The control of fire, once it became known to her. All of it pointed to something being wrong with her." The cloaked teenager's words were slow, digging into memories. "But something as horrendous as the vessel of the Fell Dragon? A human body containing the heart and mind of a being who wished for nothing but destruction? A flesh and mind cage for a malevolent GOD? She knew the moment the words left my mouth and no sooner."
"..." Silence followed the statement, the night insects and even the crows above the room her little family shared made no noise. It stretched on, the branded man seeming to have no idea how to respond. At a lose for words was really the only way to describe the look on his face.
"To be honest, she hasn't come to terms with it yet. Maybe she never will." The pigtails are adjusted as the owner let the words break the silence, a deep breath taken. "Regardless, it's late. Sleep is in order if we intend to plan tomorrow. Night Chrom." Her footsteps echo as she walked away, leaving the king to his own devices.
Who would expect Robin to come to terms with that? Sure, it's been months, but it's not exactly an easy thing to accept. Chrom finally got out some of the questions on his mind though, and even got the best answers Attitude!Robin could give him. See you all soon, don't forget to review!