Lucina stared up at the large dragon skull. Just the sight of it made her blood run cold and goosebumps prick her arms. She had no idea she'd stopped moving until Robin's hand gently touched her elbow. "What's wrong, Lucina?"
"That great skull. I saw it once before, when Emmeryn was sentenced to die. Even then it reminded me of him."
"You mean."
She nodded. "Grima, the fell dragon. A cataclysmic war ushered his return. It's said he fed on the souls of the fallen before turning upon the living. Whether these are his true bones or just an effigy, I cannot say. But I know this." She forced herself to look away from the bones to the determined faces of her parents. "We cannot let that monster come back to life."
"We'll stop him, Lucina. I promise. The future can be changed. You've proven it already." Chrom smiled warmly at her. "And with all of us together, we can turn the course of history."
"I want to believe that, Father. I want to believe that, more than anything." Lucina really and truly did, but it was hard to keep such optimism when she'd seen the future.
Morgan hugged his sister's arm. "We're all here together this time. We'll make all those who couldn't be here proud."
Their parents continued forward, but Morgan held Lucina back. He looked crestfallen. "I'm sorry I wasn't here with you…when Aunt Emm…"
Lucina gently touched his cheek. "You're here now. We all are."
"You must have been so lonely doing everything by yourself." He tilted his head up to her. Determination written clearly across his face. He looked so much like their actual mother. "I won't let you be alone ever again, Luci. I'll always be by your side. No matter what."
She took her brother into a one-armed hug. "That's my line, you goof."
"Well, it's my line now too!"
Upon entering the Plegia castle, the royals and Frederick were led to the throne room. Aside from the pair of guards leading them, the castle halls appeared deserted.
Robin wasn't fooled. He linked his arm through Chrom's leaning his head on his bare shoulder. When he spoke, he kept his voice soft and light as if whispering pointless fluff to his husband. "I saw armed soldiers hiding in the shadows as we were shown in."
"Then it sounds like we have our answer already." This was not a friendly visit.
Validar and Aversa were waiting for them in the throne room. Hierophant Robin and the Risen King were nowhere to be seen.
Robin's grip tightened on Chrom's forearm. He placed a comforting hand over his before unlocking their arms.
"Welcome, Prince Chrom." Validar's eyes locked on to Robin's. "Milord Robin."
Robin felt the little hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"I was told." Chrom moved to stand between them. He didn't care if it came off as rude. He didn't appreciate the way the Plegia King looked at his husband. "You had something you wished to give me."
"My my! No time for courtesy, milord? Such impatience." Validar made a 'tsk'ing sound. "Do you really want it that badly? This concerns me. The Gemstones and the Fire Emblem can be." He paused for effect. "Treacherous artifacts. A fact Plegia and the Grimleal sadly know all too well."
"Sadly"?" Lucina couldn't decide if she was angry or disgusted. She chose both. "You speak ill of when the first exalt used them against the fell dragon?"
"Yes I do, intruder!"
"Intruder?" Her eyes widened in shock. He couldn't possibly mean…
"You are not supposed to be here. You and that dreck beside you." He gestured to Morgan. "You must be destroyed!"
Robin went for his Archwind tome while Chrom's hand flew to Falchion. "You wouldn't dare!" The prince growled.
"Give me the Fire Emblem." Validar demanded. "Give. It. To. Me." He punctuated each word.
Morgan shrunk behind his mother. "You mad scoundrel!"
"This is a declaration of war!" Lucina snapped.
The Plegia king held up a finger. "I will only ask one last time: give me the Emblem. Now!
"Never." Chrom unsheathed Falchion with a 'shink'
"Then this parley is over. Guards!" He snapped his fingers. "Seize them!"
Just as they suspected, though it was of little comfort.
Frederick swung his mighty axe at the closest soldiers clearing the path followed by a blast from Robin's Archwind. "This way! Quickly!"
The small group made a run for it hearing the chaos of battle the closer they came to the rest of their Shepherds. Though Validar claimed Plegia had few troops when Valm was attacking, they seemed to have recruited enough to slow the Shepherds down.
"Don't stop to fight unless you have to." Robin's commanding voice rose over the battle. "Our priority is escaping."
The exit was just up ahead. They were almost there.
Robin felt the shift of magic. "Chrom!" He cried out just as Validar materialized before the prince striking out with magic. Chrom staggered back grunting in pain.
"Father!" Lucina slashed a Plegia warrior in two only for more to take its place. She couldn't get to him. Only Robin was close enough.
"Fools! Run all you like, you can't escape fate. Now." Validar held out his hand. "The Fire Emblem. Give it freely or it will be taken."
"Just try it!" Chrom gritted out.
The Plegai king let out an eerie chuckle. "I won't need to do anything." With a cruel smile, his eyes turned to the tactician. "Robin!"
He jerked away from Chrom clutching his head. His tome clattered to the floor.
"Robin?" Chrom went to steady his husband. "Love, what's wrong?"
The pain was so intense. Robin felt as though his head were trying to split.
"Seize the Emblem and bring it to me." Validar ordered.
Robin's arms dropped to his side, his eyes vacant.
Chrom's heart stopped. "What are you?" Robin grabbed the Fire Emblem in both hands and effortlessly wrenched it off of the prince's arm. "Doing?!"
"Mother, stop!" Morgan cried twisting out of the way of a thrusting lance. His Archfire made quick work of his opponent and he raced towards his parents.
"At last, the Fire Emblem belongs to me." Validar gleefully took the Emblem. "And with my gemstone, it is complete!" He inserted Plegia's stone, Sable, into the Fire Emblem. "Now, to set the Table and perform the rite."
"D-damn you, Validar!" Chrom clutched at his injury hating himself for being so helpless.
Validar gave Robin an almost affectionate pat on the cheek. "Well done, my child." He disappeared.
Like a puppet being severed from their strings, Robin collapsed to his hands and knees. Morgan was by his side helping him to his feet. "What have I done?!" He had been able to see and hear everything, but unable to do anything.
"Mother! We must go!" Lucina draped her father's arm across her shoulders wrapping her own arm around his waist.
They made for the exit, but Robin didn't move.
"Mother, come on." Morgan grabbed his hand and tugged. The tactician wouldn't budge. "Mother?"
"I don't...know what came over me. I'm so sorry!"
"I know you are." With his free hand, Chrom cupped his husband's face. "But right now we need to focus on getting out of here!"
Despite the trepidation in his eyes, Robin nodded.