New AN: Poor Robin, she has to deny her feelings for Chrom and tell him that she only thinks of him as a friend.
AN: Here is another chapter, as promised! Hope you enjoy! Thanks for the follows, favorites, and reviews!
*Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem, Nintendo does. I just use the characters.
Chapter Eleven
~Robin~
Robin sat in the mess tent laughing along with the rest of the Shepherds as if nothing had ever happened. Although, the Shepherds refused to leave her side as they tried to make up for the time that they had been apart. In a way, Robin was glad that the Shepherds were surrounding her because it delayed the conversation that Robin was definitely not ready for. Robin had seen the looks of longing and desire that had been in the prince's eyes. She knew that he desperately wanted to talk to her but Robin had no idea what she would say when she talked to the prince.
'Should I tell him about Morgan and Melody...no that isn't safe... Should I tell him that I still love him, even after two years of being apart... ...but...we...can't be together it would be better for him to think I don't love him anymore... yes that's it...that way someday we can forget this forbidden love and move on with our lives...'
Robin smiled again at the group of Shepherds around her and turned to Lissa who was sitting next to her.
"Oh! I forgot, there was something I've been meaning to ask," Robin said.
"Hmm? What is it?" Lissa asked.
"I know Chrom and Sumia got married and you obviously married Lon'qu, but who else among the Shepherds have tied the knot while I've been away," Robin said, with curiosity in her eyes.
"Oh!" Lissa exclaimed and then she smiled at Robin. "Do I have some juicy gossip for you!"
"Well, let's see," Lissa said. "Well Stahl is completely in love with Cordelia but he can't seem to tell her so. Ricken is constantly playing games with Nowi so I think he likes her. Miriel has been talking to Kellam a lot lately. I can't believe she can actually see him most of the time. Vaike has been beggin Sully for sparring lessons. Gaius and Olivia have been baking sweets together lately. Well, um, Tharja's just being Tharja, but I think she is trying some weird experiment out on Libra so that might lead somewhere. You never know with Tharja. Gregor had been playing this weird game called checkers with Anna. Maribelle is trying to teach Donnel proper manners and I think Donnel likes her, but I'm not sure. Panne still keeps her distance from her so called "man-spawn" but she has started talking to us a little more. Virion still tries to woo almost every maiden he sees but that's normal. I personally think of these couples will eventually get married and very soon but you never know."
"Hmm... wow...although I guess it is to be expected with a group like the Shepherds that has grown so close over the past couple of years," Robin said.
"Yeah," Lissa said. "I'm glad you are back though. Now our little Shepherd family finally feels whole again."
"Haha, thanks Lissa," Robin said with a laugh.
A few hours later, most of the Shepherds were either sleeping or passed out drunk. The entire group had stayed up late drinking and talking with Robin. Robin had refused to drink but she did stay to talk with the Shepherds until she ushered them to their respective tents before returning to hers.
Robin sighed a little and carefully took off her heavy cloak which she hung next to her bed and then she stepped out of her boats. She was completely exhausted but it was absolutely worth it. Being with the Shepherds again, brought back a lot of old memories. She had most definitely missed them during the two years that she had been away.
However, no one in the world could've made her forget just how much she missed her children. Robin had constantly wondered throughout her travels down to Ylisstol and her times with the Shepherds, how her children were doing without her.
'Morgan... Melody... Mother... Mother misses...you... so...much...so...so...much...'
Robin pulled out a small velvet drawstring bag out of her coat pocket and removed two pairs of baby slippers from inside. She held the treasures close to her heart and gave them a tight squeeze. She felt the softness of Morgan's blue shoes and the silkiness of Melody's purple ones.
Morgan...Melody...I miss you...'
Robin had taken Morgan's and Melody's first pairs of shoes with her as a keepsake and in return left her children those boxes. The boxes had a coat that looked exactly like hers and arms to defend themselves. However, the most important items in those boxes were the ring that she had given Morgan and the earrings that she had given Melody.
She bit her lip and closed her eyes. Robin adored her ring and earrings, because to her it symbolized the secretive, but powerful love between herself and the prince. But she had left these two precious objects with her children as a precaution. In case her twins were ever to lose her, which Robin would do anything and everything she could to prevent, the jewelry would serve as a memento of her ...and of their father.
Just thinking about the Prince brought a certain memory to mind.
Robin had just met Exalt Emmeryn and a very eccentric group of people. After her overall warm welcome, Lissa insisted that Robin shop on her own until dinner was ready. Robin had offered to help but Lissa practically pushed Robin out of the garrison.
So Robin was forced to wander the streets of the capitol, Ylisstol. She was amazed to find that stalls and shops lined the street selling everything and anything that Robin could think of, from fruits to snacks to tomes to strange trinkets and to exotic animals.
Robin found that her feet dragged her into a bookstore and she bought a lot of books on strategy and fighting techniques. She also got some fantasy books for free time reading. Robin thanked the bookstore keeper and told him that she would be back for her huge stack of books in about an hour or so.
'I thought that this was going to be boring... but I didn't know that shopping was this much fun!'
Robin happily skipped out of the store, eager to find more interesting items to purchase. She started singing a love song that she knew and turned her head a little so that her ponytails swung back and forth.
However, Robin immediately stopped singing when she heard a familiar snort followed by a stifled chuckle.
'Oh no...'
Robin turned in horror to see Chrom standing a little bit behind her, struggling to hold in his laughter by clutching his stomach.
"Ahahahahah! You were skipping and singing! That was so cute! With your hair swinging back and forth, you looked just like a little kid!" Chrom laughed long and hard at Robin and only slowed to small chuckles after several minutes.
Robin was not amused as she glared at her commander with a combination of a pout and a glare. "Are you done, Prince Chrom?"
"Hahahaha! Yeah, I think I am. Sorry about that," Chrom said, wiping a tear out of the corner of his eye.
"UGH! You!" Robin said, frowning deeper at him. She wanted so badly to get back at him, but she couldn't do so in public so she just heavily sighed and started to walk away.
"Wait, Robin," the prince said, walking faster to match her pace and walk next to her.
"Go away, Chrom," Robin said, refusing to look at Chrom in the face.
"Robin, please, please forgive me. I know I was being rude," Chrom said. "But I couldn't help it, you looked so cute, skipping and singing like that. You looked so carefree and happy to be in my hometown."
Robin opened her mouth to tell the prince off but the only sound that came out of her mouth was a small gasp. She ran over to a small stall that was selling handmade jewelry.
"Wow..." Robin said in awe, as she admired each piece of jewelry.
Her eyes were instantly drawn to a smooth polished stone about the size of a quarter. It was multiple shades of blue and it looked like the sea. Robin decided that she wanted to buy it, but Chrom, who had come up behind her, snatched it off the rack and went over to the woman who ran the shop.
"I'll take this. How much is it?" Chrom asked.
The woman looked up and was about to answer before she recognized who was in front of her. "Ah...! Prince Chrom! You...don't have to ...worry about paying for the necklace..."
Chrom insisted and gave her a small bag filled with coins and the woman gasped and tried to insist that the money Chrom had given her was way too much.
Chrom smiled and said, "No, that is exactly what this gorgeous necklace is worth."
Robin was about to scold Chrom for buying the jewelry that she wanted to get, when the prince walked over to her and clipped the necklace around her neck.
"Chrom? What are you doing?" Robin asked, confused.
"I saw you admiring this piece of jewelry so I bought it for you. Do you like it?" Chorm asked.
"I...I love it..." Robin said, touching the beautiful necklace. "Th-thank you, Chrom."
Robin knew that if she was to return to Ylisstol, she would have to hide the beautiful necklace so that she could convince Chorm that she no longer loved him. However, she couldn't leave it behind with the rest of her things so she sewed it into a secret pocket on the inside of her coat next to her heart so she would always have it with her.
Robin had told Selena and Kira to tell her twins the full story of their heritage when they were old enough and to give them the boxes at that time as well. She wanted her children to know that they were the children of Prince Chrom and she hoped they would understand why she left and why she wasn't married to their father. Above all of these worries though, she just simply missed her children.
"Robin...!"
'Wow, I can hear your voice so clearly even though I'm only thinking of a fond memory. You're so evil Chrom...'
"Robin!"
'Huh...that sounded like...it was right outside my tent...'
"Robin, I'm coming in..."
'I wasn't imagining it?! Ohmygosh...ohmygosh...ohmygosh...I'm screwed...he is right outside my tent...NO! The shoes!'
Robin hurriedly shoved Morgan's and Melody's shoes back inside her velvet bag and she stuck the velvet bag underneath her pillow, just as a very, very drunk Chrom stumbled inside her tent.
"Wh-why are you here, Chrom?" Robin asked.
"Robin...I've missed you...so much..." Chrom moaned, as he stumbled again, his breath reeking of alcohol.
"Ah!" Robin said as she struggled to hold Chrom up. "Chrom... have you been drinking?"
Chrom gave a meek nod in return as he sat down heavily on Robin's bed.
Robin's heart was beating crazily fast as her heart broke at the sight of her true love broken down like this. He couldn't stay here. People would talk. But she couldn't leave him alone either. She sat down next to him on her bed and he pushed his head to her chest and stroked his hair gently. "Shh...It's going to be okay, Chrom..."
The prince shook his head defiantly and mumbled, "It's not okay...you...you left me...Why did you leave me?"
Robin could feel her heart breaking all over again, but she composed herself. "Chrom, I had to leave. You were engaged to someone else."
"But I don't love her like I love you," Chrom said immediately.
Robin's heart swelled and started beating even faster when she heard those words. But she forced herself to think that Chorm saying that was a really, bad thing.
"You'll learn to love her," Robin tried to say even though every word hurt, coming out of her mouth.
Chrom shifted and looked Robin straight in the eyes and he instantly leaned towards Robin and kissed her passionately.
When he pulled apart, Chrom said softly while hugging Robin, "Do you get it now? I can't learn to love her! I only love you! Only you! I've...I've missed...you so much...Robin, I love you...I love you...I love you."
Robin slowly hugged Chrom back and mentally prepared herself for what she was about to say. "I missed you too, Chrom. And I love you too. Y-you're my best friend."
Robin's heart ached to say those words when she would rather kiss Chom and never stop and proclaim that she would never love anyone else.
Chrom was silent at Robin's words and he slowly looked up at her and the pain in his eyes almost broke Robin's resolve. "You only love me...as a friend?"
Chrom's question burned Robin's heart but she forced herself to nod numbly.
The prince tightened his grip around Robin and said fiercely, "No! ...You're lying! You're lying to me, again, Robin! Why? Why would you lie to me? I know that you are lying? What was that night about then? Did it not mean anything to you?!"
"Chrom, I...I can't breathe...squeezing...too hard..." Robin gasped out.
~Chrom~
The prince immediately let go of Robin and mumbled, "Sorry." The love of his life had just told him that she only loved him as a friend. All of those longing, deep, powerful emotions that he had struggled to hold back for the last two years were overflowing him now. He felt completely and utterly lost. He felt tears prick his eyes and then he noticed that Robin wasn't wearing the necklace that he had bought for her. The one that looked like the sea.
"I guess...that it is true..." Chrom choked out. "You're not even wearing the necklace anymore, or my ring, or the earrings...You really... don't...love me anymore..."
Robin nodded stiffly and said, "Chrom, you have Sumia and Lucina now...And you'll always have me...Your closest companion...your best friend...I promise never to leave you again.
Chrom instinctively pressed his face into the palm of Robin's left hand and gave it a soft kiss before he let it drop.
'I don't want to be you closest companion...I love you too much for that...I want to be your one and only lover and I want to be your one and only...'
"...I'm sorry to have disturbed you," Chrom managed to say, over his grief. "Good night," Chrom said as he lifted the tent flap and looked over his shoulder one last time. Robin's back was to him so he couldn't see the look on her face. However, he did see two objects lying on the ground next to Robin's bed. They looked like fuzzy, miniature, socks. One of them was blue and the other was purple.
Lingering on the strange objects only a second longer, before Chrom shut the tent flap behind him.
~Robin~
Robin listened as his silent footsteps grew farther and farther away and when she was positive that he was gone she laid down on her cot with silent tears streaming down her cheeks.
'I...I'm in love with my commander...my best friend...my prince...Chrom...but I can't share these feelings... He can never be mine... so I have to keep these emotions inside of me... keep this love to myself...so that I may...forget these feelings of love someday...'
Robin rubbed her hand over the cloth that sealed her pendant away from the eyes of the world. She knew that forgetting her love for Chrom would not be easy. She knew that she would also never love another, because her heart belonged solely to him and her love for him ran as deep as the sea that was depicted on her precious pendant.
'Chrom...I...I still love you...So much...'
AN: Such an emotional chapter...This was a little hard for me to write but definitely a super important chapter...Hopefully I will have another chapter out tomorrow as well. See you guys then...Please follow, favorite, and review the story! 3