'Ah. Sir Stahl, you've escorted Prince Chrom and our dear tactician here?'

'Hiya, Stahl, did you - Robin?!'

'What on earth has befallen your face?!'

Stahl winced at the twin shouts of disconcertment when he'd stepped aside and allowed Prince Chrom and Robin through as he held open the tent flap for them. It was slow going for the two as Robin became more despondent, paler as he allowed Prince Chrom to take on more and more of his weight.

'Lissa, darling, prepared if you would,' Lady Maribelle asked in that strict way of her's as she quickly deposited a phial back onto the bottom shelf of her media trolley and stood from her crouched position. Princess Lissa didn't spend the time to respond as she hastened her task. 'Set him down, Milord. Quickly now.' She gestured to the cot beside her and Stahl watched while supporting himself with his lance, as Prince Chrom nodded and gently helped Robin to sit on the edge of the cot's frame.

Lady Maribelle didn't waste any time in stepping up to Robin as Chrom made way for her, hovering worriedly to the man's side instead. She scanned Robin's face, tilting his profile by his chin as she examined his eyes, briefly checking his teeth before focusing on his nose. She runs a delicate finger down both sides of the bridge. 'Not broken,' she mutters with a sigh and then she's moving on. 'Sir Stahl, would you move that stool?'

Stahl jolts at being addressed but nods and absentmindedly passes his lance to Prince Chrom who was left fretting, before Robin rolled his eyes, caught hold of the prince's arm and dragged him down to sit beside the tactician. The stool in question is not far as the tent isn't that big, especially since more than half of its length was cordoned off with a curtain. This side was really only for the royals or for surgery if it were required. His strength, however, is limited from the day's battle so the strain is abnormal to walk over, lift it and carry it back over.

He positions it for Lady Maribelle as Stahl understands that she must want it for Robin and his leg. He grabs a nearby pillow to rest it against the hard wooden seat. She spares him only a second for a thankful nod as she gently places her two dainty hands underneath Robin's injured leg. 'Grit your teeth if you need to,' Lady Maribelle says and then lifts his leg to rest on top of the pillow.

The pain is obviously as Robin gasps out before desperately attempting those vain sounds. It always - hurts to have to experience a friend suffering. 'Maribelle -' Prince Chrom begins, pale as he takes one of Robin's clenched hands into his own, shifting so that Robin has something to lean against.

'Has to be done, Milord. Elevation is key,' Lady Maribelle interrupts primly as she stares at Robin's already exposed leg before she addresses the tactician. 'Robin, on a scale of one to ten with ten being the worst pain you have ever felt, where are you?'

Robin's mouth trembles. It is no surprise that he would be reluctant with Prince Chrom watching like he is. 'Eight,' he admits in a strangled voice.

Lady Maribelle's lips thin. 'Are you nauseous? Do you feel dizzy?'

'Headache,' Robin responds through grinding teeth. 'No…sickness but I - I am lightheaded, now.'

Robin and headaches were par for the course. Stahl wasn't sure why; some episodes were so severe that it affected Robin's vision, impacted his balance. Sometimes he'd be unable to endure light or noise. Stahl worried that it was some kind of illness and it had some connection to Robin's amnesia. He had sent a letter home to ask after medicines for some of Robin's symptoms but he had yet to get a reply.

'He was using Thoron,' Prince Chrom interjects with a soft voice that didn't once dispel his visceral concern. 'His sword was shattered early on so he…properly used it more than he would have.'

Lady Maribelle wets her lips as she glances between them as Robin nods in acknowledgement. 'Of course,' she sighs. 'That does tend to wear Mages out.'

Robin wasn't quite a Mage but he was good at knowing his limit with mana and since he was also talented with a blade, he'd simply switch once he thought he'd reach it. (Of course, that was also dependant on his opponent). Miriel could be more - reckless, but only when she was in pursuit of knowledge and she was conducting her experiments. Ricken was the most careless with his desire to be useful.

Not that Robin was perfect with his restraint. In an act of desperation or an unplanned retaliation, he would overextend himself and then need to breathe to get back his strength. Honestly, Robin was very good at seeming in control before surprising you by doing something truly ridiculous.

Lady Maribelle was right to be worried about internal bleeding and trauma with how worse for wear Robin seemed, however she seemed appeased. 'On to your foot…' Lady Maribelle frowns as she crouches next to Robin's mess of a leg.

Robin's boot had been difficult to cut off and it had been swollen to a degree that it couldn't be removed by simply pulling it off. Slashing through the toughened leather trapping Robin's injury Stahl imagined, was probably the most stressful thing Prince Chrom had ever done, but they said Princess Lissa had insisted before she'd allowed him to move.

Stahl wasn't a healer but you didn't get this far into a conflict and not pick anything up. She'd probably been worried about blood flow and Robin's circulation being cut off. It also saved time for Lady Maribelle how didn't even have to worry about rolling up Robin's trousers. The deformed, bruised ankle was out in the open and visible for anyone to see.

Lady Maribelle was slow but firm as she started to touch points of Robin's foot and leg. Robin, himself, swallows a whine but can't seem to stop the stifled cries. He's blinking back tears when Lady Maribelle asks: 'could you put any pressure on this afterwards?'

'Was - I was fighting on it for - for a part of the battle,' Robin manages to reply as he wilts more into Chrom's side, not quite having the power to keep himself upright any longer. Stahl, a mounted fighter, had never known a leg injury besides sores or cramps. His most serious injury involving his ankle was when he sprained it after his horse had perished to a Beast Killer.

He'd been fine but his foot had gotten stuck in the saddle as Marvel had fallen and he'd had to wrench it out to parry another attack. Fighting on an injury like Robin's - well, it beggared belief, really.

'And when the adrenaline faded?' Lady Maribelle followed up rather pointedly, looking not at all impressed.

'I could,' Robin replies but the stubbornness is dimming.

'He would have walked back if I had let him,' Prince Chrom confirms tightly.

Lady Maribelle exhales deeply though there is something relieved about her eyes. 'For future reference, Robin, when your ankle has swollen twice its size, it is not recommended to continue to put pressure on it,' she informs cooly. 'However, that you can is indeed good news.'

Prince Chrom slumps slightly. 'So, then -'

'Ankles are finicky things, Milord. I wouldn't be too happy just yet,' Lady Maribelle says gently though it is in warning as her hands leave Robin's skin. 'Robin seems to have dislocated his ankle joint but I am unsure if this is due to a fracture forcing it out of place.'

Stahl swallows roughly. Flesh wounds, burns; these, however bad, are usually pretty simple to heal with the right staff, tonic or potion. Broken bones were another thing altogether. You could manipulate a bone back into place - if needed - and encourage the breaks in heal but it took time that not a lot of people had. There were risks of damaged nerves and ligaments and even internal bleeding. Their medicine, how it was, could do little for them.

The war was ending now so there was time but Robin was also a solider; their tactician and broken bones and a tendency to break again. Invasive treatment like surgery was there and it didn't always work. It was so easy for a person to become lame or - or require an amputation because of a broken bone and for Robin, that'd be devastating.

'Do you know if you have ever done any previous damage to this leg, Robin?' Lady Maribelle asks as Prince Chrom seems to digest the new possibility that Robin might be in quite a bit of trouble. It looked like someone had had taken a knife to his side.

Robin's eyes clench shut for a moment. 'No,' he replies after he falters.

Lady Maryville inclines her head, not at all surprised. 'Lissa,' she calls. 'Are you finished?'

'Er…yeah, I think so.' Princess Lissa jumps up from the floor not far from them. She carries over her staff and rushes to them, ungracefully dropping down by Lady Maribelle's side in front of Robin's foot. 'Okay, Robby. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I've got the right spell but you won't get any feedback if it doesn't work,' the princess promises with a smile that was darker than was common.

Robin tries to shift but ends up ousting himself as he stares down to Princess Lissa and Lady Maribelle. Bitting viciously on his lip, Robin nods. 'Of course,' he breathes. Prince Chrom wordlessly hands Stahl's lance bak as he moves so that his arm can curl around Robin's waist, cautiously manoeuvring them so that Robin can get more comfortable for whatever they were about to do.

Princess Lissa nods, seems to steal all the air in the room as she readies her staff. Stahl did not have any potential for magic but he had been around it enough to recognise the subtle shifts in the atmosphere to feel it, to taste it. 'Asmeagan Aeghwaes,' Princess Lissa chants with a voice that was strong and firm.

The crystal woven on top of her staff - its conduit - started to shine. The glow hits Robin's leg and in an instance his skin becomes translucent. Stahl blinks and he is looking into what was the inside of Robin's toes, all the way up to his kneecap. It…was very disturbing and focusses his attention on the people around him instead.

'Impressive, darling,' Lady Maribelle says in hushes praise though her eyes are focused on Robin's leg, intense and gleaming in the light of Lissa's staff. She hums in contemplation as they both inspect the structure of his bones. 'Odd, though…do you…?'

Lissa shakes her head. 'Robin, are you able to shift onto your side for us?'

Robin swallows, glancing up to Prince Chrom. 'Can - can you -?' The prince nods as he helps the tactician to move. It wasn't easy and the process hurts Robin quite a bit but they get there. 'T-Thanks.'

'Ah.' Princess Lissa winces. 'There it is; the tibia.'

'Drat,' Lady Maribelle hisses as her nose wrinkles. 'And the fibula. Typical.'

'What's going on?' Prince Chrom interrupts nervously.

'A break, sire,' Lady Maribelle informs gravely and Stahl's stomach instantly drops. Prince Chrom's face seems to collapse in on itself. 'I believe this is the posterior malleolus fracture which means the tibia - or the shinbone - is fractured and, unfortunately…like in most cases, the fibula has also been broken.'

'Luckily, the ankle seems to be in place,' Lissa states but her voice is unsteady. 'So we won't need to manipulate it back into place. It's just swollen, probably to protect itself.'

Stahl watches Prince Chrom carefully. 'Meaning?' the prince asks thickly, his arm reflexively tightening around Robin who seemed numb, in shock as he stares down to his leg.

Lady Maribelle and Princess Lissa glance to each other, as the light from the princess' staff dies and the skin of Robin's leg becomes solid once more. 'His ankle is stable,' the princess asserts to Lady Maribelle.

Lady Maribelle's lips purse but after a moment, she nods and turns to look at Chrom. 'Luckily, Sire there is no dislocation like what was first assumed, however -'

'Your ankle is stable, Robin,' Princess Lissa cuts in with her repetition as she reaches out to grip hold of Robin's uninjured knee. 'It - that…is the luckiest thing about your leg, but - we're going to get through this. Okay?'

Robin forces his eyes open, breathing heavily out of his nose for a moment as he gazes at Princess Lissa. He was no doubt observing her desperation as he silently assents. 'Okay,' he agrees weakly though Stahl could tell he believed it very little.

Princess Lissa was an optimist but she had also seen war; she had learnt better. This, however, seemed to be something she needed. She needed Robin to get better even if that meant to suspend her disbelief to try. It wasn't…a good feeling, for Stahl to realise. Lady Maribelle was silent for these moments were Princess Lissa tried and failed to smile, watching the whole thing in resignation.

'You look like you need something for the pain.' The Lady Maribelle reaches over to the trey and pulls off one of many phials to hand over to Prince Chrom. 'Take - all of it.'

Prince Chrom uncorks it with his teeth and for once, Lady Maribelle doesn't comment on the impropriety even if she does cringe. He is gentle when he coaxes Robin to drink and they wait for the tactician to down the liquid. 'The bone displacement isn't…much of a concern at the moment so we'll cast and brace the leg to make sure the fracture isn't further displaced, however, I must insist that no weight is to be put through this leg for at least six weeks.' Lady Maribelle's words are tense, she is tense. 'I cannot express the importance of this.'

'Six?' Prince Chrom exclaims as Robin's head drops against his shoulder. 'We're so far from home; It's going to take over two weeks just to get to Ferox -'

'I know,' the princess murmurs. 'But, Chrom, this leg - Robin can't work on it. He can't jostle it. We have to be so, so careful now otherwise…otherwise he'll need surgery Chrom and, if that doesn't -'

'What my dearest means, is that there is a great risk that Robin could lose his leg,' Lady Maribelle intervenes when the princess starts to stumble over herself, as she places a hand onto her friend's trembling shoulder. 'Amputation is a real possibility. This leg must be treated with the utmost care.'

Prince Chrom slowly looks to Robin, like he'd learnt to do because Robin had proven to be there when needed. And just like every other time, Robin saw what Prince Chrom wanted without a word needing to be spoken. 'If I travelled to Ferox by air instead of with our ground troops, than I might reduce any damage to my leg and I'll…I'll stay off of it as much as I can.'

'You'll have to stay off of completely,' Lady Maribelle states. 'A clutch won't be enough to protect it. You'll have to push your pride aside and be carried to wherever it is you need to go until you are given the all clear to weight bear.'

Prince Chrom stares at Robin, appearing to hesitate on what to say. Stahl can all but see the bridges that had yet to be crossed for the two of them. 'Robin,' he murmurs. 'I know how you are but, please, this once…'

'We have weeks of travelling, Chrom.' Robin's voice is miserable as Stahl had ever had it, on the cusp of breaking so wet he was surprised that the tears hadn't already fallen.

'I can't watch you hurt yourself. You must understand this.' Prince Chrom expression is tremulous and the way he holds onto Robin is like he's afraid that Robin will disappear right in front of him. 'Right?'

Robin doesn't answer right away but when he does, it's like the response has been ripped from his throat. 'Yes, I'm not good to anyone crippled.' Regret crashes on Robin's face as soon as the words are out as he frustratedly tugs on the length of his hair. It had grown since the tactician had first joined them, chugging from those short, somewhat spiky tresses that Stahl had first seen to something smoother, almost gentler. It reached his collarbone in places though it seemed to have happened not of restyle but because the man never had time to bother with a haircut.

(The one occasion he had taken scissors to his own head after a number of people mentioning it, it had become an unspoken agreement to never allow it to happen again. Though Vaike had found the whole thing hilarious, it was just as well that Robin's hair wasn't that slow to grow.)

Stahl's heart squeezes at Robin's choice of words because he knew that the man thought little of himself, but it was another thing entirely to hear it. In reaction, Prince Chrom's eyes widen and a look of horror transforms in his face. 'That's not what I meant at all, Robin. You could have no limbs at all and I'd still -' he stops suddenly from what seemed to be the start of a strong rant, pausing to recollect himself before continuing slower, but with the same amount of conviction.

'Robin, I want you to be well. I don't like seeing you hurt. I've…already lost too much with - with Emm, I can't do it, not again -'

'Stop.' Robin's voice is as sharp as a blade even if he wields it unsteadily. 'I - I'll misunderstand.'

'Misunderstand?' Prince Chrom repeats with eyes wide in confusion as Robin starts to pull again, but just emotionally but physically too.

'You - you -' Robin stumbles with words, can't seem to pin them down or can but can't regulate them properly. 'You have to leave,' he finally gasps out.

'What?' Prince Chrom reels back like Robin had just slapped him across the face. 'I can't just -'

'You have things to attend to, Chrom,' Robin says as his right hands digs into one of his buckles. His fingers are almost white as the flex against that ridiculous belt. Stahl still vividly remembers that it'd once stopped an attack from a lance with only serious bruising, Naga only knew what it was made out of.

(Stahl used the word "only" because at the time the lance's shaft had broken on impact with Robin's middle and it'd looked like, when Robin hit the ground unconscious with the half the blade appearing to be jutting out of his stomach, that he'd been run through. He'd never forget Prince Chrom's scream.)

'Robin,' Prince Chrom starts pleadingly. 'Please, allow me -'

'Chrom, you are our leader and you've stayed to see the worst of my injuries. You are leaving me in capable hands but you have more important things that need your attention, like getting an accord with Flavia and setting up the patrols with Frederick before nightfall.' Robin keeps his gaze firmly planted in the opposite corner of the room as he speaks. 'I'll - I'll still be here, if you wish to return, afterwards.'

Something about Chrom's eyes shatter and he hopelessly hesitates before he finally starts to move and untangles himself from Robin. He separates them because Robin has asked but he still reaches out again, tentatively. 'I…do not wish to leave you on your own,' he says with sincerity but also clear longing as he looks upon Robin's face as he stalls at the edge of the cot.

Stahl clears his throat, can't help but feel that this this was a personal moment between the two of them. 'Prince Chrom? I would be able to…stand guard, while you finish up.' Stahl volunteers this as a peace offering, though Prince Chrom simply wished to be here and it had little to do with security.

Prince Chrom shifts to look at him and Stahl fights any outward reaction at the prince's restlessness. 'I…'

'Please,' Robin whispers finally.

Prince Chrom stands and starts to walk to the tent flaps. 'Take care of him,' he orders quietly and Stahl nods. 'I'll…be back,' he says to Robin before he's left to silence

Robin slumps and Princess Lissa is quick to spring up and catch hold of one of his shoulders and attempting to get Robin into a better position on the cot. 'It might've been prudent to at least say goodbye, Robin,' Maribelle chides while shaking her head. 'I'll let his leg if you help him back, dear.'

Princess Lissa nods and they both aid him to lay properly on the cot now his support was gone. Robin cries out but doesn't complain as Princess Lissa quietly hushes him. They both manage it, though it requires a bit of concentrate.

'Chrom's gonna be upset about that,' Princess Lissa says once Robin is situated and Lady Maribelle reaches at the top of her trolley for a clean cloth. The bowl next it is still steaming from the runes craved into and she dips the rag into the water.

'I didn't want to,' Robin states through his teeth as Lady Maribelle starts to gently clean his leg. Though she was known for being proper, Stahl had always liked that she was also never afraid to do what she had to. Even if that meant getting her hands dirty. It spoke of her character even if her nose tended to look down on people it shouldn't and she lost some of her compassion, because her life had been sweetened through her own good circumstance.

'Why ever not?' Lady Maribelle asks as she finishes up and Princess Lissa takes over to dry Robin's skin with another dry cloth. It was obvious it was hurting Robin but it was necessary and they were as gentle as they could be.

'Because I didn't want him to leave,' Robin grits out in embarrassment while Lady Maribelle reaches for a small pot that she opens to reveal cream, that she dunks her fingers inside nd starts to sooth over Robin's ankle right up to his knee in efficient motions.

Lady Maribelle halts at his response, glancing up from her work to look at Robin's flushed cheeks and the frustrated line of his mouth. 'Lissa, dear, this is worse than you described.'

Princess Lissa huffed: 'I was trying to be tactful,' as she walks away to gather some materials.

Lady Maribelle frowns at that but Stahl has never seen her turn that sharp tongue on Princess Lissa and she doesn't start now. With a deep sigh, she readdresses Robin who looks like he'd prefer it if he remained ignored. 'What, exactly, would have been the harm in Prince Chrom knowing that? I think he'd have much preferred that sentiment over your silence.'

'But then he wouldn't have left,' Robin responds while Stahl wonders if he should intervene. He's never quite sure on his place and it makes him second guess himself. 'And he needed to. Chrom was - has duties. He doesn't me holding him back or the criticism he'd get if anyone found out.'

'And you were worried over what you were going to say with where that conversation was going and needed to get rid of the recipient,' Lady Maribelle states with a hawk like gaze. Stahl sort of pities anyone who would take the long thick curls, the frills and the pink as weakness and think to underestimate Lady Maribelle.

Robin swallows with some difficulty. 'Yes.'

'It seems though you cannot lie, you are still good at hiding what you mean,' Lady Maribelle says with disapproval. 'I've just put cooling cream on your leg. It should aid the swelling. I will also insist that you not move until we march to Ferox and that you keep your leg still and elevated. If you need anything you must ask to avoid further injury.'

Princess Lissa brings over some wrappings, and with Lady Maribelle's aid, the begin to encase Robin's leg. 'You shouldn't worry so much over what you say, Robby,' the princess sighs.

'Lissa, I'd much prefer not to lose something -'

'There is nothing you could tell my bother that would make you lose him,' Princess Lissa declares while Lady Maribelle ties off the bandage. The princess stands again, brushing off and flattening her skirt as she does. 'I need to get that cast and brace, I'll be back in a second,' she informs them and leaves, ducking through the separation curtain and into the busier, loud other half of the tent.

Robin watches her with a melancholy look and Stahl has to stile a sigh. 'Dear Lissa told me mentioned that you did injure your side in the fray?' Lady Maribelle asks in the silence, seemingly resigned to the atmosphere.

'I had help,' Robin retorted but helpfully untucked his shirt from underneath his belt and revealing to them skin that was shiny and very, very angry.

'It appears so,' Lady Maribelle frowns as she inspects the area, plodding it and inquiring at the pain. 'Superficial damage, it seems. You're lucky that it isn't worse.'

'My luck had to go somewhere,' Robin grouses only to make a pained sound when Lady Maribelle pinches him.

'None of that now,' Lady Maribelle chides him. 'Now, I'll clean and wrap this but Lissa is right. Perhaps you should listen to her as I fear that you are letting yourself believe something that might be to the contrary.'

In the silence that these chastisements have created, Lady Maribelle treats and wraps Robin's burn with Princess Lissa returning half way through with the supports their tactician's leg will need. Robin does not respond to the hints given to him and instead allows himself to sink into his own fatigue, quietly accepting more pain medication that eventually has asleep and pliant to the healer's attentions.

Stahl, himself, felt like he had bitten through his tongue with his indecision over speaking. He'd wanted to step in at points but had ended up stopping himself at every time. He wasn't stupid; he'd figured Prince Chrom and Robin long into their campaign and it was for better or worse, a known secret amongst many but that didn't mean any of them knew what to do with the tiptoeing around the subject there was.

Stahl's brother just needed some gentle teasing, before he was ready to admit to himself that Bernadette was what he wanted, but desire didn't seem to be the problem with these two. This secret seemed to be hurting more than it was protecting now, too.

The Curse that Robin had been afflicted with - although awful and quite harmful for someone like Robin, suddenly seemed…convenient. Convenient in that horrible way a lot of conveniences were. It could be the break these two needed, with a little help.

Con/Textual Vomit: Welp. This required a tonne of research. I quietly despair. I have, thankfully, been informed that I'm fairly accurate with that ankle so I am relieved and hope it's okay for you as well :).

(Originally uploaded: 03/ 05/ 2017) (Updated: 18/02/2018)

OZ