'Are you sure that you're not cold, Milord?'

'Everyone's cold, Freddy. Lay off will ya? We don't 'ave the air for yer bellyachin'.'

Lissa's big brother barely glanced at the two quibbling knights, he had always had a bit of a one track mind and it well and truly wasn't with them now. With the terrible condition Robin was in, it was no surprise.

Lissa, herself, was worried sick. She and Maribelle, it was there job to look after people but they hadn't been in the position. Robin's idea to travel back ahead was better than sticking with them for the time it had taken them to reach the Longfort but Lissa also resented it. She hated that she wasn't with him to help him.

Robin's situation hadn't left her with a good feeling. He was one of their's; not just a soldier or one of their allies, not that any live wasn't important. Just that, he was their's and that meant she had more to do, for him.

Robin was a Shepherd, a friend and Chrom's important person. He was family and seeing him so hurt…it hurt her too, not to say anything for what it's done to Chrom. There was a lot that Robin had done for them since he had joined them on that day in the field, the first time he led them. Most of all, it was for saving her brother.

Lissa reaches out to grab hold of Chrom's hand. It's cold but no colder than her's. 'We're here, we'll be able to see him.' She smiles, giving no promises on Robin's condition. His blue eyes glance to her and he tries a grin but it's weak and his eyebrows remain furrowed, heavy.

He breathes out and in Ferox's rigid temperature it ghosted in the air between them. He nods weakly. 'I know that,' he says and his throat sounds tight. 'I…know, it's just - taken so long.' Chrom had pushed them about as fair as they could go but Frederick and the khans had also made sure that he couldn't force it. That they had been waylaid by risen several times hadn't helped his frustration.

But Chrom had listened, he had listened and he - hadn't run off. and however much they rushed, Lissa was thankful for that. She doesn't remember Emm - falling. She doesn't remember it though she knows she had seen it. Her memories of those few weeks are of Chrom and the certainty she felt as she watched him break formation again and again, as he reckless charged their enemy. Lissa's nightmares as they were chased down was of losing her brother to the madness glinting in his eyes.

She'd never been so happy to be wrong.

Robin had done that. Had made him Chrom again. Lissa wasn't really sure how, she'd been worn thin with her duties and the stress and her own grief but it had cost him. Robin had followed her brother, kept to his side in a way the other Shepherds didn't - couldn't. Robin had been injured and Lissa can only imagine what had been going through his mind but she was so grateful. So, so grateful. That she wasn't alone in the world. That she didn't have to standby to not one loss but two.

Lissa had enjoyed their pranks before Robin had gotten one over her but he had quickly become less of a friend and more of a family, now. Things had changed. Robin was good, he was sarcastic and smart and cared. Lissa also owed him. He wasn't going to lose his leg. He was going to be fine.

He wasn't fine.

Lissa could tell that immediately from the way the Guard - Raimi - had run straight to her with barely a glance to her khan or Chrom, once they had past the border and had entered the fort. Conversations creased and the atmosphere shifted. Lissa got disregarded enough outside of her duties as a cleric. The woman also looked harried, tired.

'Princess Lissa,' she gasps quickly. She's out of breath, like she had run to them as soon as she had seen them coming. Lissa hoped she hadn't. That implied a level of desperation Lissa didn't want in this situation. 'Please, come quickly.'

'Raimi?' Flavia asks but Raimi waves her off.

Lissa's stomach is in knots and it feels like there is a norse around her neck. 'What's going on?' Chrom demands faintly but that's obvious. People only want a healer for one reason and it's never good.

Raimi's face tightens, expression grim but urgent as she shakes her head in agitation. 'Forgive me, Prince Chrom but this is dire.' The ground falls away and the colour in her eyes dim as she desperately grips on the shaft of her staff. It's all she has, all she ever has. She's starting to hate the weakness she finds in herself. 'Princess, Ser Robin took a turn. We're not sure what's caused it but he has a fever -'

'Where is he?' Lissa startles and looks to her side to see the dark mage - Tharja stepping forward, away from their main circle which had been separated from the foot soldiers and allies. They had been taken to the resting quarters.

'In a private room,' Raimi responds instantly.

Tharja's eyes darken. 'It's the curse. It's getting worse.' Her voice is rough as she states this even if she gestures in the direction Raimi had sprinted from. 'Take us. Now.'

Raimi nods, briefly glancing towards Lissa whose shoulder has suddenly been taken in hand by Maribelle who leads her onwards. She hates how she stumbles, how shaky her movements have become as she tries to keep up with their quick pace.

Libra, another newbie has joined them with Chrom just a little in front who is looking accusingly at Tharja. 'You didn't mention this,' he states and there is anger burning there but it began as fear and Lissa can't truly focus on it as her heart stutters in her chest. Fevers were awful, and it would further weaken his body when its sole focus should be on mending itself.

Tharja barely glances at him. 'I wasn't entirely certain there was anything to mention.'

'Tharja.' There is warning in Chrom's tone. Lissa hates it. She can't stand it, but Tharja isn't threatened and of that, Lissa is barely surprised even if she had seen the way Chrom had brought after. What he had been like.

'Robin left the following day, Princeling,' Tharja snaps. 'It wasn't like I could monitor him and Theban isn't uncomplicated. I saw no reason, when we were weeks from this place, that I should tell you something concerning when there was nothing either of us could do about it.

When I found out I didn't mention it because I didn't want to worry you, was hidden under that passive aggression, maybe. Lissa swallows. 'What's happening, then?' She asks, wanting anything to work with.

Tharja's eyes flicker to get and Lissa thinks she can see the concern in them but the dark mage is so hard for her to read, it's difficult to tell. 'If Robin would be honest than he'd be able to have more control, the curse would relax and so would the compulsions. If he fights against it, it will make him sick.'

'How sick?' Lissa's voice wobbles and she's not proud of that. Tharja looks at her and doesn't answer and she finds that's enough of one. 'But we can save him,' she asserts desperately. Tharja stays silent. 'We can. Can't we?'

'Tharja,' Chrom pleads and Robin had value all his own, Lissa selfish desire to protect her brother notwithstanding. Robin was the best, the absolute best but she - if anything happened…if they were to lose him now…

Tharja's lips purse. 'If Robin were to cease fighting the curse's compulsions and receive the correct medical attention…'

Lissa nods frantically. 'We can do that. We can do that.'

'He was fine to start with,' Raimi swears as she leads them to a stone staircase. 'But when we were talking, sometimes he'd stop himself from saying something. He'd bite it off - anything to stop the words.'

Tharja inclines her head. 'That would do it,' she states drily. She looks at them, before settling on Chrom. If Lissa wasn't so stricken, she'd be more unnerved by it. As it is, she barely pays it any attention as they race down a thin corridor. She almost trips over herself when Raimi abruptly halts outside a door.

Faintly, over her own loud uneven breathing, Lissa can hear overwrought whispers from a childlike voice and pained noises. Her toes clench in her boots. Lissa cannot bear to look at Chrom as she stares widened at Raimi. 'Now, please, prepare yourselves,' the woman says, glancing at each of them before opening the door.

Con/Textual Vomit: Sorry, I still need to proofread this. It's just very difficult for me as my mum broke her own leg during my writing this story so it's gotten personal and a bit trigging. I'll get to it when I can.

(28/10/18)

Oz