Part two of the update.

Fellspawn

Chapter Nine

Though she had promised Gerome not to blame herself for her future self's actions, she still found herself conscientiously avoiding Laurent and his little family over the next week or so, as they ventured north to investigate a mansion. Instead, she buried herself in tactics and army administration, and spent any spare time with Chrom and Lissa, avoiding even contact with Lucina, as the younger royal dedicated most of her time lately to becoming reacquainted with the man who seemed to be one of her favorite siblings. Robin was also cultivating more of a relationship with Libra and Severa, as Libra's calm support and Severa's volatile affection seemed to soothe Robin's jagged edges.

Though thoughts of their future with Grima agonized her still, she could not keep Morgan and Marc from flocking to her side, as they, unlike Laurent, were eager to be around her, and they were so charismatic and innocent in their affections that she could not find it in herself to deny them, even if their proximity hurt her.

As they passed a small Plegian village, Severa had somehow sweet-talked Robin and Libra into escorting her to its market for a 'shopping spree'.

Severa clutched Robin's arm casually but affectionately, and Robin had the sneaking suspicion that her daughter knew what she and Gerome had spoken about in the mirage village, for the normally hot-and-cold girl had been especially touchy-feely lately, as though she was comforting her.

Libra walked sedately beside them as they strolled down the dusty streets, examining brightly colored stalls flashing goods both simple and exotic.

"What about these?" Robin asked Severa as her eye caught on an elaborate pair of jasper earrings prominently displayed at a jewelry stand. There was an especially beautiful hairpiece beside it, but Robin doubted that Severa would want to stray from her surrogate mother's wing clips, and she certainly did not intend to overstep by suggesting it.

"Ooh, pretty!" Severa cooed. "Do you think they would match that pretty yellow kimono I bought in Ylisstol?"

Robin considered. "Maybe if you wore your hair up. Otherwise, I think it might cover your ears."

"True," Severa sighed. "I'm pretty attached to my pigtails, though," she lamented, running a hand through the hair in question. "I guess that's a pass, then."

"Not that I would give up the opportunity to spend time with you, dear, but my presence here seems unnecessary. I am rather hopeless when it comes to fashion," Libra noted, watching over their daughter's shoulder.

"Don't be silly, Daddy! We need you here! To get a man's opinion."

"To help handle the cost, you mean," Libra muttered with a sigh, though even his mumbling was musical to the ear.

Robin snorted. They were both familiar with Severa's penchant for frittering away money, having been suckered into funding a few of her shopping sprees already.

Severa huffed. "If you have something to say, just say it!"

Robin ran a hand through Severa's hair fondly. "Let's just say that we all have our flaws, sweetheart, and being a spendthrift is decidedly not one of your many virtues."

Severa just flicked a ponytail over her shoulder and flounced off to the next stall. Libra shot Robin a commiserating glance before following.

Robin stayed to examine some more of the jewelry, taking special note of a small emerald-studded bracelet that she thought would suit Morgan nicely. After haggling a bit with the shopkeeper, she hurried to catch up with Severa and Libra, depositing the bracelet in one of her coat's many pockets.

When she rejoined them, Libra placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Robin, I appreciate your friendship, and I welcome getting to know you and our daughter, but I can't help but worry that in spending time with us, you are avoiding other matters that need your attention. The church of Naga teaches that being cognizant of one's problems is the first step to self-fulfillment."

"I'm attending to my duties perfectly well," Robin evaded.

"Your tactician's responsibilities, yes," Libra prodded gently. "But your familial ones?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Robin lied.

Severa must have been listening in because she chastised, "He doesn't bite, you know."

"Your father?" Robin asked with genuine confusion. "I know that."

Severa shook her head. "Laurent. He's stuffy, for sure, but I guess he's worth knowing."

"I can really see the love for your brother shining through," Robin deadpanned.

Severa scoffed. "You gave me six. I'm allowed to dislike a few of them."

"Also, should I be surprised that you two know?" Robin shot them both glares.

Libra shrugged delicately. "Severa was simply concerned, I'm sure."

"Well, I wouldn't put it like that," Severa deflected with a toss of her pigtails. "But you've been all nervous lately, and I couldn't just let that go, Mama."

Robin sighed. "I'm just afraid he doesn't want me in his life. I couldn't blame him if he didn't." Libra rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she thanked him with a smile.

"He… idolizes Miriel," Severa said hesitantly. "Just don't try to replace her."

"I wouldn't do that, anyway," Robin frowned.

"Yeah, I know. But that's really all I can give you. He was a little kid the last time I saw him!" She scowled. "I'm doing a crappy job of helping, aren't I? Sorry, Mama."

"It's alright, sweetheart. I do appreciate it, really."

Severa turned her head to the side to hide her blush.

As the sun kissed the horizon, Robin sank to her knees on the bluff she had caught Gerome admiring earlier. It seemed he had inherited more from her than she had earlier considered. She wondered if, in retreating here, he felt as close to his lost mother as she felt to her son now. She wondered further, if he did, whether it brought him comfort or pain.

The day had been long, one problem after another, and she found herself struggling to cope, though perhaps not as much as she had during the events around Emmeryn's kidnapping and fate-touched demise. With so many people depending on her—her soldiers, the Shepherds, their families, her future children, the citizens of Ylisse, and the poor Valmese living in terror of Walhart's heavy-handed conquest—she felt overwhelmed by the responsibility. Times like now, she lamented her lost memory. Perhaps her past would have prepared her in some way to handle stressors of this magnitude.

Probably not, she admitted to herself ruefully. Whatever she had been prior to Chrom and Lissa's discovery of her in that field, it was doubtful that she had ever been pivotally involved in anything so world-changing as the wars she found herself embroiled in now.

She slipped her arms out of her heavy tactician's coat, freeing them from its confines but letting it drape across her shoulders, finding its weight comforting. She leaned back on her haunches, hugging her knees to her chest.

She turned her thoughts to the future once more. Robin would never wish that world upon her children's shoulders again, but she did feel a certain wistful curiosity towards her future self, the one who had become Grima. According to the children, the bonds of the Shepherds were not quite as close in that reality, and for all that Robin had cultivated her own sort of relationships with certain members, she had eventually become alienated enough from her comrades to fall prey to Grima's seductive influence. She could almost feel the pressure herself, the impulse to stand on her own, to find the strength within herself to be a rock for her children, to win this war, to not crumple under the weight of everything she must achieve. What must the Robin of the future have been like, nearly a decade older and wiser, sure of her own past, and having brought ten children into the world? What made a woman like that give in?

Whatever it was, she hoped she would prove strong enough this time to resist that offer of power.

Robin sighed. And now she was faced not only with the knowledge of what she must not do, but also with finding the solutions to questions she should never have had to answer. She loved her children, she really did, but their existence was problematic.

Should she try to make sure they were born the same way? Would it not damage the bonds of the Shepherds further to do so? To—here, she cringed—seduce Lon'qu, knowing that without her influence, he and Olivia may end up happy, with a child of their own. Similarly, should she approach Gregor and Gaius, knowing that their previous association with her might taint their eventual marriages? Miriel, admittedly, might not care, but Maribelle? The noblewoman almost certainly would. By all accounts, Cherche and Virion saw Inigo as a blessing for their relationship, but some of the other births seemed, if not ruinous, simply impossible now. Owain was born from Henry and Miriel's unpredictable experiment. How could such an incident possibly be replicated unless intentionally invoked?

She let out a cry of frustration, tucking her chin into her knees.

"Gregor is expecting beautiful lady tactician, but instead sees tiny purple pillbug!"

Robin lifted her head up upon hearing the cheery voice, greeting the mercenary with a quiet, "Hello, Gregor."

Gregor did not hesitate to sink to the ground beside her, spreading out his limbs with a casual flamboyance. "Gregor suspects the lady is troubled. Thoughts are heavy of future?"

"Is it so obvious?" Robin asked him.

"Only to Gregor. He is sensitive soul, very institutional."

"Intuitive?" she clarified.

"Bah, either is good." He rested one of his large hands on her thin shoulder. "You have problem with children?"

She shook her head slowly. "Not with them, per se."

"Is problem with how they are being made, then?" Gregor asked.

"Yes," Robin responded thoughtlessly.

Gregor rubbed his hands together. "Gregor can explain. When man and woman—"

Robin tuned back in very quickly, blushing. "Not that part!" she assured him. "I understand the methods involved, Gregor."

"Ah," Gregor said, blinking at her. "Gregor is not seeing problem."

"In the children's future, my relationships with their parents were temporary, and a lot of them ended up with other people afterwards."

"Ah," Gregor said, comprehension dawning. "Robin is worried she is intruding in friends' happiness."

Robin nodded rather glumly. "Yes. What right do I have to interfere with their lives?"

"Friends have choice. Is not intrusion if welcome. Take Lon'qu. Fine swordsman, terrible with women. Not smooth like Gregor."

Robin nodded.

Gregor continued. "Lovely lady Olivia very shy. Beautiful as cherry blossom, but never telling people feelings."

His point was starting to come together in her head. "You think I'm the reason they get together at all."

"Lon'qu had baby with Robin, yes? Baby means the two became close. Lon'qu now is scared by women, but in future is not. Gregor does not think the lovely Olivia changed that. You, more bold. Assertive."

"And Gaius?" Robin fought to hide her blush. "Or you?"

Gregor chuckled heartily. "Do not be worrying about Gregor. Much practiced in ways of love, and Miriel is not type to mind. Gregor has never had child, but thinks could be blessing, especially if his son has mother like you."

Robin smiled a little. "Thank you, Gregor."

Gregor smiled at her. "Anytime. As for sneaky thief, he and bold Maribelle have problems of many kinds. She thinks he is rough, not having caring heart. But never is a man caring more than for little baby."

"You mean taking care of Brady softened him up enough in her eyes that she could see his good side?"

Gregor nodded. "Woman like that moved by action, not words. She sees him loving, thinks he is capable of more."

Robin considered that for a moment, Gregor sitting patiently by her side. Eventually, she told him, "You may be right. Thank you, Gregor, for clearing my head."

"Robin is very clever, but sometimes she is thinking too much. Gregor smart because he sees things. Wisdom comes with age, and Gregor very old indeed!"

Robin laughed. "You've aged well, if it's any consolation."

Gregor winked at her. "Robin flirts with Gregor, and Gregor very flattered, but Gregor thinks now is not best time for Robin."

She smiled ruefully. "No, I need to figure myself out before I start anything with anyone."

"Ah!" Gregor started slightly. "Gregor almost forgot! Lucina search for Robin, asked Gregor to help find."

"Lucina? What did she want?"

"Is something about bug in supply tent?"

After the fifth time Frederick avoided a direct question in the war council, leaving Chrom to repeat her words, Robin decided enough was enough. Making a 'time out' signal with her hands, Robin asked, "Chrom, could you leave for a few minutes? We'll pick this up later, but I think Frederick and I need to have a long-overdue talk."

Chrom let out a sigh of relief, having been tortured by the tense atmosphere. "Of course, Robin. Sumia has been wanting to spend more time together for the last few days, anyway. I think I'll pull her away from her work for an early lunch."

Robin smiled at how in love they were. "Have fun."

Chrom chuckled. "I will." He departed quickly after that, a certain spring in his step.

Robin fixed Frederick with a harsh glare. "I have no designs on Princess Lissa." Ignoring the knight's sputtering, she continued, louder. "And frankly, even if I did, it would be none of your business. You've been broken up for months."

Frederick continued his stony silence.

Robin sighed. "As much as she was crude in her wording, Severa was right when she berated you. This passive-aggressive behavior is unworthy of you."

He flinched at that, and Robin twisted the screws tighter. "Yes, Lissa and I had a child together by magic, and yes, in that future, we had a brief relationship. But she ended up with you. Does that mean nothing to you?"

"Of course it means something," Frederick admitted.

"Then why are you threatened? Because she sought comfort elsewhere while you were gone? We're friends, and she would never cheat on you while you were together—she's not that kind of person. And you know that even if she was interested in me romantically, I could never return that interest."

"So that gives you the right to, what, use her?" he spat.

Naga damn her, she was one breath away from slapping him. "How dare you!" she seethed. "She's one of my closest friends, and I owe her so much! Is it using her to display that affection?"

Frederick took a step back at her vehemence, sighing. "No, of course not. My apologies, Robin. I am being… irrational. I always am, when it comes to her."

"Well, get over it! It's one thing to dislike me personally, but this behavior is beginning to affect the cohesion of this army. We are fighting a war, Frederick! We can't afford to waste time by having two of the lead soldiers unable to so much as speak to one another without petty games."

"You are right." Frederick met her eyes, a sort of self-loathing in his expression. "Perhaps she would be better off with you than with a man who cannot even control his jealousy for her sake."

Robin deflated, all of her anger draining from her at the defeat in Frederick's bearing. She took a seat at the war table, facing him. "I can't pretend to understand your and Lissa's relationship, Frederick. I think it would be confusing even if I did not have my own deficiencies in that area." Truly, their on-again, off-again relationship baffled everyone in the camp. "But I don't think Lissa would be content without you in her life." Working through the old pain she felt at the memory of their failed romance, Robin admitted, "As for me...She and Chrom are built from the same cloth; I don't think she would be any happier with me than he was. Both of them want, more than anything, to be in love with someone who puts them before the world. I could never fill that role."

"At least you would put her feelings above your own petty grievances," Frederick said, and Robin got the sense that this had been building for a long time. It was unlike Frederick to be so insecure. "At least you would be there for her." The bitterness in his tone surprised her.

Robin shook her head. "Maybe," she said mildly. "I'd like to think I would. But I don't think you're doing as poorly as you fear. Did you let your jealousy get the best of you? Yes, for a little while. But you're talking to me now." She met his eyes, hoping he would take her words to heart. "You clearly care for her well-being and her happiness. You're not perfect, but neither is she. You just need to listen to her more and stop worrying about how the future might turn out. That's something both of us could stand to work on."

Frederick's eyes closed. He seemed deep in thought. Eventually, he opened them, and he nodded to Robin. "I will… attempt to do as you say."

Robin smiled. "That's all we can do, Freddie Bear."

"Mama!"

Robin braced herself for the impact she knew was coming, but she still had the breath knocked out of her as her youngest daughter leapt onto her back.

"Yes, little heart?" she asked.

"So, say that a certain someone had put a teensy tiny, itty bitty, little scorpion in their brother's coat, and it stung him. How would that person apologize?"

"Morgan! You didn't!" Robin was aghast.

Morgan hugged her tighter, thighs digging into Robin's ribs. "It was only a little one! And it wasn't poisonous!"

"Well, thank the gods for that!" Robin explained. "But you shouldn't do things like that! It isn't nice."

"Aunt Lissa does! She puts frogs in your coat all the time!"

Robin sighed, then sternly insisted, "When it comes to pranks, Lissa is a terrible role model. Do not emulate her."

She could not see Morgan's face, but she could almost hear the girl's pout. "But he embarrassed me in front of Khan Flavia."

Robin sighed. "You still need to apologize."

"I know," Morgan said glumly. "He's really mad. Please help me," she implored.

Robin sighed again, running a hand through her hair. "Which brother?"

"Marc," she admitted, perking up now that Robin had capitulated. This surprised Robin; from what she had seen, the twins rarely fought, though they did occasionally slip into playful banter.

"Alright, this is what you need to do…"

Robin watched from outside the command tent as Morgan approached her twin brother, who was sulking by the fire pit, his arm covered in a thin, arable bandage that was stained green, presumably with some kind of ointment.

"Marc…" the girl began, approaching him tentatively with a piece of rolled up parchment in her hands.

Marc harrumphed, deliberately turning his head away from her.

"Maaaarc…" Morgan whined. "I'm really sorry!"

Marc turned his back on her completely.

"And I'm going to make it up to you!" Morgan said determinedly. "Here, look!" She tossed the parchment into his lap.

Nice throw, Robin thought as it sailed over his head to land neatly in his lap.

Marc grudgingly unrolled the parchment, examining it. "Is this what I think it is?" he asked, a bit of excitement creeping into his voice as he turned around to look at Morgan.

Morgan grinned. "Yep! It's a treasure map. And you know it's not a prank because I bought it; I didn't make it. I thought we could go find it together, and you could keep whatever we find!"

Marc scrutinized her. "You swear you're not lying?"

"Cross my heart!" Morgan chirped.