Chapter 18
Unlike their Ylissean neighbors, known for interring their dead in the ground, the people of Regna Ferox practiced cremation for laying their dead to rest similar to the Plegians. It just made sense in a desert nation, where much of the land was shifting sands. Rather than burning their dead with what scarce wood was available, though, scented oils and cloth were used as accelerants by the Dark Mages that presided over the ceremonies, using their magic to accomplish the task. Of course, there was a lot less fanfare to the Feroxi funerals, too. Just people standing around pyres, drinking and quietly reminiscing. A few Ylissean and Plegian mages, and more than a few priests, milled about, too. The mages would no doubt ensure that the fires did their job and burned the bodies to ash. The priests were, in Galle's opinion, just making a nuisance of themselves. The Feroxi were a stoic race of people, made even harsher by the constant warring and fighting of their history. And it was because of this that Galle felt uncomfortable watching Isaac's pyre burning that evening with Van and Arya.
The Feroxi had been quick, rounding up their dead and preparing pyres outside of the city-structure of the Coliseum. They wasted little time mourning, choosing instead to get the act over with so the living could move on and the dead could rest, and even if it felt wrong for Isaac Galle still respected their actions.
A great many pyres had been constructed, and the sky burned purple with smoke from the multitude of fires. As hard as they had tried, there had still been a lot of civilians killed, particularly during Maris' rampage in the arena. It could have been a lot worse if they hadn't arrived when they did, and to Galle's eye civilian losses had been acceptable. Of course Robin would disagree, but he had trained them with their individual personalities in mind. As hard as Robin tried, there would always be casualties and collateral damage. It was just a fact of war, one Galle had learned a long time ago.
From his side Van gave a shuddering sigh as they watched the flames grow, engulfing Isaac's body. He was laid on his back, a strip of gauze around his neck to hide the wound that had killed him, with his armor cleaned and polished and his sword held clasped in both hands at his chest. At least the Feroxi were advanced enough to put scented woods on the pyre to mask the scent of burning flesh, the strong smell of burning pine sap almost overwhelming. They were different to the spices and herbs that Plegians used, though, Galle noticed absently.
"I don't know what to say," Van said quietly. "I always imagined… you know… that if something happened to one of us that… someone would say something… He deserved better than this. After… after everything that he went through, everything we went through… he deserved better."
"He died doing his duty, protecting the weak," Galle said. "I don't think anything else needs to be said."
"Yeah," Van said, looking down. "Thanks, Galle. I know… that would make him happy. You guys can head back. I'm just going to… say goodbye."
"You sure?" Galle asked quietly.
"Yeah. Thanks," Van said, his voice barely a whisper.
The Plegian boy nodded, resting a hand on Arya's shoulder and nodding back towards the Coliseum. Galle knew that Van was trying to hide how hurt he was; the other tactician had been part of the rearguard with Sir Frederick that had taken the important non-combatants out of the city, namely the young Princess of Ylisse. It had been a vital mission, and they had all joked that this time it was Van's turn to sit on the sidelines while Isaac went and stole all the glory.
And Galle knew that Van was blaming himself for not being there. He knew because that's how he'd felt when Arin had been murdered in Saiqat. Van just needed some time to come to terms with it. He was too stupidly optimistic to wallow for long.
The two Ylisseans had made no secret of the fact that they had been friends since childhood, growing up and training to become Knight Cadets in Ylisstol together. The pair had shared a bond that had taken years for the other tactician students to form with each other, and Galle had to quietly admit that even he was a little hurt by the passing of the big Ylissean tactician.
"Will he… be okay?" Arya asked quietly.
Galle nodded. "He's tough. He'll bounce back."
Arya remained silent, a thoughtful expression on her face the entire way back to their lodgings in the Khan's chambers above the Arena. The four tacticians had been forced to bunk together in one of the servant's rooms, but in Galle's mind it beat having to camp again. Most of their group and Tharja's mages were in adjoining rooms, except for Kowrowa and Ita who were licking their wounds in a stable somewhere.
Mari, still recovering from blood loss due to her wound, had been forced to stay behind. Brady had literally sat by her bedside with his arms crossed, glaring at the Chon'sinian girl as if daring her to try to get out of bed. The imploring look that she had shot him had made him snicker a little, but in the end Brady's word was law where the wounded were concerned, and they had had no other choice but to leave her behind. She was recovering quickly, but the shock of losing a limb coupled with the blood loss and the exhaustion that came from magical healing was wearing her out. Add to that the emergency surgery to remove a chunk of bone so that Brady and the others could heal her stump without complications, and Mari was weak as a kitten right now.
Rubbing his jaw where Maris had broken it Galle had to wonder just what that freak had done to become so powerful. In fact, he wondered what the Shepherds had done, too. How did one go so far past the restraints of average humans and become, for lack of a better term, demi-gods like that? It defied logic and beggared belief. For all of Maris' strength Robin had annihilated him with barely a thought. And Robin quite often bragged that both Lucina, Queen Say'ri and Exalt Chrom were stronger than him. It was a humbling thought, and a terrifying one.
But worse, it was frustrating that Plegia had no great, all-powerful heroes like Ylisse, Chon'sin and Regna Ferox did.
The rest of the journey to their temporary quarters passed in silence, neither having anything else to say. Arya was still somewhat shell-shocked and had reverted to a certain extent back to her quiet, unresponsive self of when they had first found her. She wasn't as bad, though, so Galle was hoping she'd eventually snap out of it; asking after Van's health was a good indicator, and she still had a glint in her eyes, the spark. A good meal, a bath and a good night's sleep and she'd be fine.
Night had fallen by the time they returned to their quarters, a frowning Brady and a very put-upon seeming Mari waiting for them. Arya mumbled a greeting to them both, moving across to her bed and collapsing face-first with a groan, making Galle smirk. It looked like the kid was skipping straight to the sleeping. Brady was first to speak as they came inside, glancing up and rubbing at the scar on his face tiredly.
"Where's the other one?" he asked gruffly.
"Still at the pyres," Van responded tiredly.
Brady nodded, rising with a groan and shuffling towards the door. "Been a long day. Why don't ya kids get some rest?"
He stopped, turning on Galle with a fierce glower. "But she don't get out of that bed 'til tomorrow. 'm I clear?"
"Crystal, thanks," Galle said, rolling his eyes.
With that Brady left, doing his best to stifle a yawn and failing miserably. They were all exhausted, the healers more than anyone else. Galle had seen the various other healers in the Shepherds running around the temporary hospitals that had been set up all over the city for the wounded; he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Sure it was a beautiful altruistic move, but what if they were attacked again? Surely the healers should prioritize the soldiers?
His thoughts were interrupted as Mari shot into a sitting position the second the door closed behind Brady, and with a sigh he crossed to her side.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I need to-"
"Rest. You need to rest," Galle cut her off, gently pushing her back down.
Mari huffed, looking away from him as she let him push her back down. With a tired sigh Galle perched on the stool Brady had been using at her bedside, resting his elbows on his knees. He didn't particularly want to have this conversation, but he cared about Mari and someone needed to put what had happened into perspective, sooner rather than later.
"So what now?" he asked softly.
Mari turned her head just enough to look at him out of the corner of her eye, frowning a little.
"I do not understand your question," she said flatly.
"I just mean… well…" Galle mumbled, glancing down at the bandage wrapped stump where her right arm used to be.
Mari snorted, something Galle could honestly say he'd never seen her do before.
"I have trained to be dominant with both hands," she said.
"That's not what I meant," Galle said.
Mari rose into a sitting position, rounding on Galle with a rare fury contorting her face.
"Just say it!" she hissed. "If you think I am a cripple and I have no place on the battlefield than just say it! I'll prove you wrong like I will everyone else! I will not give up my dream, not even for this!"
Galle reeled back from her, mouth agape in shock before he rallied. Mari swayed, though, no doubt using up what little energy she had left on her outburst. With a tired chuckle and a small grin he gently pushed her back into bed, running a hand through her hair once she was settled.
"I'd say you already proved me wrong," he said softly. "I need to stop underestimating you."
"Indeed," Mari frowned, not batting his hand away from her hair.
"Then rest up, and tomorrow we can go back to you kicking my butt up and down the training grounds," Galle said, bringing his face low to hers.
Mari rose up slightly, pressing her lips to his. When they separated a moment later Galle let his forehead rest against hers, closing his eyes and breathing in her scent. The thought that he might not have been able to share moments like these with her anymore sent a chill down his spine, but he put that out of his mind. Here they were, alive and well, and that was all that mattered.
"I love you, Mari," Galle said, his voice barely a whisper.
Mari smirked, running her hand through his hair herself this time.
"You're not very good at hiding it," she chuckled, kissing him again.
Robin sat in the dark, focusing on his breathing. Deep, calming breaths. In and out. In and out. With each exhale a little more dark magic left his body, leaving him feeling tired and drained. It was easy to see why so many Dark Mages fell to excess and violence in the old days; the fell energies were like a drug, enhancing the feeling of everything yet still somehow dulling pain.
He was meditating in the room that he and Lucina had been given for the evening, a small box with a single high window and a bed barely big enough for one of them, let alone both of them. The window was shuttered and he sat on the edge of the bed, head low and eyes closed, just breathing.
The door opened, and still Robin didn't move. A sweet scent, the flowered soap that Anna had conned Lucina into buying, wafted to his nose as his wife took a few steps into the room. Without speaking she moved around him, lighting the small lantern hanging on the wall and, judging from the familiar sounds of buckles being undone and leather hitting the floor, began to remove her equipment for the evening.
"I crossed a line today," Robin finally said, his voice hollow.
He could hear Lucina freeze behind him, but focused instead on continuing to breathe.
"I saw," she said simply.
"I'm sorry," was all Robin could manage. "I lost my composure and-"
"Stop," Lucina cut him off firmly.
This time Robin did look up, turning to see Lucina wearing nothing but the leggings and skin-tight top that she wore beneath her blue tunic. She was frowning, hands on her hips as she glared at her husband in a perfect mimicry of the way Sumia scolded Chrom.
"You always do this," she continued. "Robin, you are not Grima, and you need to stop bearing that burden. Yes, you controlled the Risen today. I don't even think anyone else picked up on it, aside from maybe Tharja and Morgan. But you did it to save us. To stop Maris. That's not crossing a line, that's just doing your job. So stop sitting in the dark and moping already. Flavia and Isaac, Naga rest their souls, would agree."
"I was actually meditating and it got dark," Robin said unconsciously.
Lucina sighed, shaking her head. "Look at you. You haven't even bathed yet, and your coat is filthy."
"Hey, be nice about the coat," Robin snapped defensively.
Lucina's frown deepened as she raised one eyebrow. Robin awkwardly cleared his throat, sheepishly rubbing at the back of his head.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Good," Lucina nodded. "Now go get cleaned up. We can talk after that of you want. But make no mistake, you didn't cross any lines today and you didn't do anything wrong."
Robin snorted, looking down again. "You must think I'm pretty pathetic right now. I've been doing this as long as I remember, and every time I lose a soldier I go to pieces…"
"No, I love you because you go to pieces every time," Lucina sighed, sitting down next to him and taking one of his hands in hers. "Because even after all this time, when even I have gone numb to the sensation, you still feel every loss as if it were your first."
There was a moment of silence, of stillness, before Robin squeezed Lucina's hand. She squeezed back, and they let out a simultaneous sigh.
"Thank you," Robin said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Probably sit in the dark and mope like a moody teenager," Lucina said lightly. "Now go get cleaned up so I can hug you. I just bathed, I'm not getting dirty again."
"It would probably motivate me a lot more if you came with me," Robin suggested with a grin.
"I don't think so, mister," Lucina sighed. "Bath. Now."
"Yes, dear," Robin chuckled.
The next morning Sumia finally managed to corner Robin while he was washing his face, dragging him to a meeting with Basilio and Chrom and barely giving him enough time to dress properly. At points literally dragging him, given his reluctance to become involved in international politics again.
"I don't care if you're the queen or not, let me go or I'll light my coat on fire with you still holding it!" he snapped as she dragged him through the Khan's quarters.
"You and I both know that's a bluff," Sumia stated levelly.
"You can't prove that," Robin protested.
"So do it," Sumia insisted, glancing over her shoulder at him.
Robin went silent, frowning and looking away.
"You forget I'm a mother now," Sumia laughed. "You can't out-stubborn me, not with my two girls. You of all people should know that."
"Yeah, yeah, just ease off the coat," he sighed.
Lucina was already waiting for them at the entrance to Basilio's chambers, giving a small giggle as Robin stumbled when Sumia released him. He shot back up, clearing his throat and rolling out his neck as he attempted a slightly more dignified approach under his own power, straightening his coat as he did so.
"You're the one that sicced her on me, aren't you?" he asked Lucina.
"No, but if I knew it were that easy I would have done so years ago," she laughed, rising up on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Good morning, dear."
"Yes, good morning," Robin groaned, feeling the irritation drain out of him in the face of Lucina's smile.
"Let that be a lesson to you, Lucy," Sumia said, hands on hips. "Men can be just as childish as their children. Sometimes you have to treat them as such."
"I disagree wholeheartedly, stop putting weird ideas in my wife's head," Robin grumbled, crossing his arms.
"I see what you mean," Lucina laughed, patting Robin's arm. "It's okay, honey. We'll go get you a snack and some juice after this."
"Oh don't you start too," Robin muttered dejectedly.
Both women laughed as he brushed past them, pushing the doors open and stepping into Basilio's audience chamber. Robin tried and failed to not think of the fact that this had until very recently been Flavia's chamber, feeling a frown rise to his face. Within Chrom sat with Frederick hovering at his shoulder like always, the Exalt positioned across from the two reigning Khans, Idallia and Basilio. Robin felt a spike of frustration seeing Idallia sitting with Basilio and Chrom as equals, but as much as he disliked the woman Basilio had apparently been very clear with how she was going to be treated.
A Khan in name only working ceaselessly to repair the damage she and her own had wrought, and eventually create a stable economy for Regna Ferox. A tall order, one that Robin was interested to see how she accomplished.
"About damn time you got here," Basilio grumbled.
"He was probably trying to get out of the meeting," Chrom said with a grin. "Sorry, old friend. They insisted."
"Ah, so you're the one that sicced your wife on me? That's cold. I thought we were friends." Robin deadpanned, crossing his arms.
"Oh stop making a scene and sit down already," Sumia huffed, taking her own seat next to Chrom.
Robin sighed through his nose, he and Lucina taking their own seats. The three parties were arranged in a rough triangle, Robin and Lucina's seats facing the other two. Absently Robin thought that he should have brought Arya along for this; it would have been a valuable learning experience for her, but it was too late to send for her now.
"So what's so important I had to be dragged out of retirement?" Robin asked with a sigh.
"We are here to discuss Idallia's 'reparations'," Basilio said, steepling his fingers. "Seeing as you were directly affected we felt it prudent you be here."
"I don't see a representative from Silva here," he pointed out.
"Silva is in my territory and none of your business," Idallia snapped.
"Easy now," Chrom said, his tone carrying a clear warning. "It wouldn't be too late for me to demand you clapped in irons, 'Khan' Idallia. Show some respect."
Robin grinned a little as Idallia grumbled a barely perceptible apology, Basilio letting out a deep sigh from her side and dropping a hand on her head.
"Girl, you're going to have to learn to play nice with others," he rumbled, messing up her perfectly straight hair.
Idallia held her tongue, but it was clear what she thought of the company she found herself in from the glare she turned on the room.
"To start," Basilio began. "She and I are both going to travel to Ylisstol to issue a formal apology. Then we're signing over all of her mercantile rights and trade deals to the Annas and the Exalt."
"I'll bet she didn't like that," Robin said with a smirk.
"I don't," Idallia seethed. "And do not talk about me like I'm not here."
"Tough, you're being punished," Basilio snorted. "After that we send the proceeds to you to cover the new fort that I'm hearing is just about done, then use the rest to rebuild Silva. Then we sit down and discuss a couple of new trade deals between Ylisse and Regna Ferox."
"And I promise I will not be gentle," Idallia muttered, glaring pointedly at Chrom.
"You know, you're real wordy when you've got someone in your corner," Robin snapped, losing his temper. "Make no mistake Idallia, like Basilio said, you are being punished."
"I am aware of this," Idallia spat venomously. "That doesn't mean I won't do my job. You get quite 'wordy' yourself in front of your friends."
"After that," Basilio said, his strong voice silencing their argument before it could begin, "we'll set about creating a stable, universal currency for the north. One accepted in Eastern and Western Ferox. And from there… we didn't get that far."
"Build the economy," Idallia sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, we'll build the economy," Basilio said quickly. "But first we got to Ylisstol."
Silence fell, Robin and Idallia glaring at each other across the space before Chrom turned to Frederick and spoke.
"Send a messenger back to the palace, have them prepare the good guest quarters," he almost sighed, turning to Robin and Lucina. "I assume you two will be coming as well?"
"I guess so," Robin said, his eyes never leaving Idallia's. "Do you really need both of us, though?"
"You are not getting out of this," Lucina said lightly from his side.
"Yeah, trust me, that much I get," Robin scoffed, finally breaking off his glaring contest with Idallia to look at his wife. "But we have wounded. I'd like to send them back to the fort in Nauta while we're this close. And I'd like to remind Emm that she does, indeed, still have parents."
"You want me to… go back?" Lucina asked incredulously.
"It'll just be another month or so," Robin sighed. "I'll be right back. But I am worried about Emm. Her being around Aversa alone for so long… just thinking about it gives me chills."
Lucina frowned, but didn't object to his reasoning. Clearly the thought of finally being able to go and see their daughter again appealed greatly to Lucina. Chrom cleared his throat in the silence, rising to his feet.
"I'll leave those preparations to the two of you," Chrom said judiciously. "If there's nothing else, we should all begin our packing."
"Seriously, you called us all here for that?" Robin groaned.
"These things… usually take longer," Chrom mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Because usually there's a crowd of nobles and their representatives all trying to speak at once," Frederick muttered, frowning.
"And now you see why I'm retired," Robin said with a smirk. "It's much easier to corral teenagers. Just threaten to increase their homework load."
"Somehow I don't think that would work on the Ylissean Court, dear," Lucina sighed.
That afternoon Robin had gathered the entirety of his little Shepherd group in one of Basilio's large rooms, the team sitting or standing around casually now that the threat had been dealt with. Tharja and her mages were present as well, his problem for having been brought into the situation by Robin. The tactician stood before the assembled Shepherds, hands clasped behind his back.
"So, as some of you are no doubt already aware I'm supposed to foot the bill for a tropical vacation now," Robin said.
"Try all of us," Severa said.
"We didn't know!" the dark mage girl Femi said.
"A vacation does sound nice, though," another mage, one of the twin boys that Robin couldn't for the life of him tell apart, said.
"Silence," Tharja hissed at them, narrowing her eyes.
"Thank you, Tharja," Robin said with a nod. "Now, unfortunately that will have to be pushed back some while I deal with the last of the fallout from this situation in Ylisstol. I'll be taking a small group with me while the rest of you go to Nauta to prepare."
"The ship's going to depart from the port in Nauta, then swing around south to pick up Robin's group in Southtown," Anna said helpfully. "At least it will once I book it. I'll call in some favors so it won't be too expensive for you."
"Yes, thank you Anna," Robin said, far less enthusiastically than when he'd thanked Tharja. "At least I don't have to do as much walking now."
"So who's going with you, then?" Fae asked from her perch next to Arya.
Robin nodded gratefully at the manakete. "Good question. I'll be taking Arya, of course. And Galle, if he's still willing. And… that's really it."
"You weren't kidding about a small group," Galle grumbled. "Maybe I wanted a break?"
"He will join you," Mari spoke up from next to the Plegian boy.
Galle opened his mouth to protest, but snapped it shut when he turned to look at Mari. "Fine," he sighed, slumping in his chair.
"We will go, too," Kowrowa said from the back of the room. "Where you go, we go. Our Queen was clear on this."
Ita huffed but otherwise remained silent, crossing her arms as her ears twitched in annoyance.
"Mind if I tag along?" Gaius piped up from close to the wolf shape-shifters in the back. "I have some, uh, acquisitions it would be easier to move in Ylisstol."
"Legal acquisitions, right?" Robin deadpanned.
"Well, Bubbles, I'm not going to lie to you," Gaius shrugged.
"You didn't answer my question, either," Robin pointed out.
"I am aware of this," the thief said with a smirk.
"Alrighty, then, the rest of you go with Lucina back to Nauta," Robin said, rolling his eyes. "Arya, Galle, get your things together. We leave with the Ylisseans this afternoon. Gaius, I am not helping you move stolen goods. You're carrying them yourself."
Small conversations began to break out in the room, many of the younger Shepherds and mages excited at the prospect of the vacation. "They have wagons, right?" Galle asked no one in particular.
"Actually, sir, I'd like to go as well," Van said, standing.
The room grew quiet again as all eyes fell on Van, the mood becoming heavy.
"I don't have a problem with it," Robin shrugged. "But why?"
"Isaac," Van said seriously. "He was a Tactician for the Knight Orders in Ylisstol. I… have already spoken to Knight Commander Frederick and Wing Commander Cordelia. I'm… to take his place. I think it's what he would have wanted."
Robin sobered, his face a carefully neutral mask before he broke into a sad grin.
"You know, I think you're wrong about that. I think he'd be worried you'd make him look bad. But I approve. I didn't train you lot to be my personal army. I trained you for tasks like these. You have my blessing, Van."
"I'll make you proud, Sir," Van said with a nod. "Both of you."
"You already have," Robin said. "Better go get your kit together. I know how you sprawl out if we set down for more than an hour."
Van nodded, his own face breaking into a grin as he, Galle and Arya hurried from the room. Or he and Arya did, and Galle was caught up in their wake. Mari followed after them, pausing to give Lucina and Robin a respectful bow before exiting.
"Everyone else, relax. It's vacation time. See you in about a month," Robin declared.
Lucina gave a sigh a few hours later as she set her pack down in the pile with the rest of those heading north to Nauta. The gear was being gathered in one of the great terraced entrances to the Coliseum, the entrance of choice for large convoys of supplies and goods and visiting dignitaries alike. The only thing Lucina could liken it to was the docks of a seaside city, yet totally landlocked. There was a hustle, a desperate liveliness to the people working as they tried to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Or as normal as Feroxi get, considering she'd seen three fights break out in the land-docks in the last hour that were apparently 'business as usual'. Wagons of every size and shape brought vegetables and fruits from the south, as well as lumber and quarried stones to repair the damage Maris had done. Animals milled about, too; chickens and pigs brought to the city to be sold or bartered, adding to the general confusion and chaos.
The new group of Shepherds that Robin had assembled were departing right after Robin and her father left for Ylisstol, and it would be the first time in years she would be away from her husband for more than a few hours. She was shocked to find just how much the thought disquieted her.
Footsteps behind her made her glance up, Owain, Severa and Noire approaching from within the Coliseum.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Severa asked without preamble.
"Yes, Severa," Lucina said with a weak smile. "He would not have announced it if I had not agreed."
"It just feels… wrong," the red-head stated, searching for the right word.
"You two have been inseparable since Valm," Noire added. "It's going to be strange not seeing you together."
"It's only for a month," Lucina laughed. "We're not attached at the hip, you know. Besides, I have been away from my daughter for far too long."
"Oh, I can't wait to see little Emmy!" Noire practically squealed. "I haven't seen her since she was a baby! She must be so big now!"
"She has gotten big," Lucina agreed, a wistful expression rising to her face.
"Ah! Lucy I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to… I didn't…" Noire stammered.
"Argh! My sword hand burns!" Owain shrieked, holding his wrist downwards.
"I think Brady can make a salve for that," Lucina laughed.
Severa sighed, smacking her 'fated companion' in the back of the head. The blow was far softer than she used to hit him, though, Lucina noted with a small grin.
"Robin was right," Lucina said, her smile much more genuine now. "There's no need for both of us to go, and Emmeryn has been alone for far too long. I… miss her dearly. I am honestly more worried for Robin without me there to keep him in line."
She said the last part with a laugh, but Severa nodded sagely as she jabbed Owain in the ribs with her elbow. "I'd be worried about him, too. These louts can't do anything right without us there holding their hands."
"If you are so worried than perhaps Owain Dark should accompany him," Owain declared in his best stage voice.
"That would merely make me worry more!" Lucina laughed.
"Seriously," Owain said, dropping his 'Owain Dark' persona. "I don't mind going with him if it'll make you feel better."
Severa frowned, crossing her arms and glaring at the blonde man.
"Oh don't look at me like that, my fated companion," Owain chuckled. "Absence, as they say, makes the heart grow fonder. Besides, I'd like to see how this timeline's me is growing up. Make sure he's doing okay. I'll check in on this timeline's you, too, if you'd like?"
"Don't you dare," Severa seethed.
Owain smirked, holding his hands up in surrender as he stepped back a little. Noire giggled behind him, an impish grin of her own rising to her pale face.
"Ooh, someone's jealous," the archer-turned-mage teased.
"I'm not jealous of myself!" Severa snapped. "Fine! Go! You'd better go! I'm telling you to go! And you'd better bring me back a present!"
The other three time travelers laughed as Severa crossed her arms and pouted, looking away. Lucina had to wipe a tear from her eye she was laughing so hard, something she could say she had not done for quite some time. It was strange, too, seeing Noire bold enough to tease someone, especially someone as volatile as Severa. They were all growing up, Lucina realized. No, they already had grown up, she corrected herself. Gone were the awkward teenagers with no life experience outside of a battlefield that had travelled to the past, and the thought made Lucina melancholy once more. However, before she could dwell on these thoughts their laughter was interrupted by shouting from the Coliseum.
"There you guys are!"
The four time travelers looked up as another group exited the Coliseum, led by a frowning Morgan and Cynthia. Inigo, Brady, Yarne and Kjelle seemed to be caught up in their wake, almost unwillingly following the two other women.
"Come on, we hardly ever get to see each other anymore, we're gonna go have lunch!" Morgan declared.
"Sis!" Cynthia cried, latching onto Lucina with a big hug. "You weren't going to leave without seeing me for a little bit, right?"
"No, Cynthia," Lucina soothed. "In fact, that sounds like a brilliant idea. Let's all spend some time together."
"Been a while since she bossed us around like this," Brady grumbled, a grin on his scarred face.
"Just like old times," Kjelle laughed.
"Well then, fearless leader," Inigo said with a foppish bow. "Lead on!"
The people of Regna Ferox were known for one thing above all else; their love of training, and their love of fighting. Therefore, it made perfect sense that there were numerous training rings attached to the Khan's quarters in the Coliseum. The Khan-Regnant's private training grounds even overlooked the Arena itself, high above the bloodstained sands to remind them where their power came from. It was in one such training ground, inside the Khan's quarters, that Arya found herself watching Mari and Galle spar. The Chon'sinian girl moved like water around his guard, their training weapons clacking against each other as she proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that she could fight just as well one-handed as with two. Galle hissed as her wooden sword smashed into his arm again, and he hopped backwards.
"Alright, you proved your point! Grima that hurt…" he moaned.
"Have I now?" Mari asked, circling her sword.
Arya grinned at their exchange, resisting the urge to giggle. Ever since news of their relationship got out in Saiqat Galle and Mari had stopped hiding it as much, and Mari's icy exterior had even begun to thaw a little. Where before she was aloof and quiet, the perfect Chon'sinian soldier, now she was a cool, confident woman that Arya actually found herself idolizing a little. And Galle was… well, Galle was Galle. He hadn't changed that much, it had just become far more apparent how whipped he was.
"Again," Mari said, raising her sword one-handed.
"Do we have to?" Galle moaned as he moved into his own ready stance.
Arya smiled as she watched her friends sparring, toying with her own sheathed dagger in her hands. She'd followed them more for companionship than to actually train, knowing full well she was probably intruding on their time as a couple. She couldn't help it, though; she just couldn't stomach the thought of being alone right now.
"Oh! I-I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here…"
Arya and Galle both looked up as the pink-haired gypsy woman Olivia walked in holding a sheathed short-sword in her hands. Mari took the opportunity, though, her training sword arcing down and smacking Galle square on the top of the head.
"Wide open!" she shouted as the wooden weapon came down.
Galle yelped, retreating and holding his head as he cringed in pain. "That was a cheap shot!" he shouted indignantly.
"We are dueling and you became distracted," Mari said, clearly trying not to laugh.
As the couple continued their training a thought occurred to Arya. With a deep breath she bounced to her feet from the crate she was sitting on and approached the older Shepherd. Lady Lucina was always telling her to keep an open mind about her fighting style, to watch and learn wherever she could…
"Um… Lady Olivia?" she asked timidly.
"Yes!" Olivia squeaked, clearly surprised.
"Would you… teach me some of your… your techniques? For sword-fighting?"
"M-my techniques?" the older woman asked, quirking her head. "I just… they were my… dancing moves that I… incorporated…"
"Oh…" Arya mumbled, looking down.
"I-I-I mean I can teach you, um, a few basic moves!" Olivia added quickly. "I'm sorry, it's just that… no one's ever asked me to… teach them how to do anything before… I'd be happy to teach you!"
Arya looked back up, smiling broadly as a deep red blush began to spread across Lady Olivia's face. For the next hour Olivia taught her, beginning with flexibility exercises and warm-ups before moving into some basic movement flow. It was totally different to the rooted, steady style that Lady Lucina had taught her; where both styles emphasized flowing between the blows, Olivia's was one of constant movement. It took Arya a little while to find the right rhythm, but once she started thinking of it as more of a dance than a fighting style she stopped tripping over her own feet as much. When she finally stopped to catch her breath she glanced up, surprised at the sound of clapping. Olivia, Galle, Mari and even Robin himself were watching, clapping with smiles on their face.
"That was really good!" Olivia said. "I think you're a natural dancer!"
"S-sir Robin! When did… how long have…" Arya managed to stammer, her eyes going wide.
"A while," Robin chuckled. "I didn't want to interrupt anything. You were doing well, though. I might need to have Olivia teach me some moves."
"No thank you," Olivia said instantly. "Trying to teach you to dance for your wedding was hard enough, thank you."
"That's cold," Robin sighed. "How're you feeling, anyway? Should you be up and moving like that after Maris… you know… uh… skewered you?"
"Subtle," Olivia laughed. "I'm fine. It feels better to move around. I was getting a little stiff. Libra might have gone a little overboard with the healing magic, though. I think I actually looked a little younger this morning."
Robin scoffed, grinning. "That's good. I was worried about you, you know. So worried I won't even point out that that's not how healing magic works."
"Don't spoil my dreams," Olivia pouted.
Robin barked out a laugh, turning to his student and former students. "And how are you feeling, Mari?"
"Care to find out, sir?" the one-armed girl asked, holding her training sword up suggestively.
Robin laughed again, holding up his hands non-threateningly. "No thanks, I just watched you beat the stuffing out of Galle, and I know how much you like him compared to me. I'll take a pass."
Mari nodded, frowning slightly. Clearly she had actually wanted to spar with her teacher.
"I just came to remind you all we're moving out soon," Robin continued. "Although it is good to see all that time I spent training you won't be going to waste, Mari. I'm glad."
Mari nodded, her face breaking into a rare, wide smile at her former teacher's words. Galle frowned though, tapping his training sword against his shoulder.
"Did you ever actually work with us on our swordsmanship?" he asked seriously.
Robin came up short, freezing before grinning guiltily. "Er… yes? Maybe?"
"I don't think you did," Galle said, narrowing his eyes.
"I supervised, now are you lot going to get ready or not?" Robin huffed.
So it was that Robin once more found himself heading south to Ylisstol, this time swaying back and forth and watching the countryside crawl by as the wagon he was riding in meandered further towards the Ylissean capital after almost an hour of loud and tearful goodbyes.
Say'ri's Chon'sin group had been first to depart, heading west to Port Ferox, where they had left their boat. Morgan had sniffled, valiantly trying not to bawl in front of the others as she'd clung to her father, the memory making Robin a little misty-eyed himself. He would have to make time to see her once their vacation was over, perhaps under the guise of a recruiting trip to Chon'sin. He and Say'ri had exchanged a warm handshake, not going so far as to hug, but it was good to see that they had finally reached an understanding. Virion and Cherche were somewhere in the other Ylissean carts, though, the Duke of Rosanne stating he wished to look into some trade contracts while they were here on the Eastern Continent. It made Robin smile to think he'd get to spend time with his old friend, the circumstances of the previous day making it impossible to so much as speak they had been so busy.
The Plegians had left next, to little fanfare. A few handshakes, Mustafa giving Robin a big bear-hug, and they were gone. The black carriages would travel along the west road, too, before heading south and passing directly into Plegia. Apparently it had taken quite some effort to get the Longfort gate they would be using open at first, Basilio joking he had to go himself and take a hammer to the massive gates to open them. But they were open now, and more and more trade was being conducted between the two nations, which Robin felt was another good sign.
Then it was their turn to leave, the Ylissean delegation's wagons loading up quickly. The younger tacticians all said their goodbyes, Galle and Mari even sharing an intimate embrace in front of everyone, surprisingly enough. Owain had shown up, too, claiming 'he was on a mission to keep Robin safe from the powers of darkness'. Robin had nodded before quickly passing the boy off to his Aunt and Uncle, a confused Owain being bundled into the royal caravan by an ecstatic younger Lucina. The time-travelling Lucina had bid farewell to both of her parents and her younger self, Chrom trying to hide the wetness of his own eyes by giving her a great bear-hug of his own before leaving his wife to say her own goodbyes. Sumia didn't even try to hide it, crying as she held Lucina and made her promise to visit more. Of course, Sumia had always been a crier, though. The tactician had almost felt bad for the younger Lucina waiting in the carriage. Then Robin had stepped forward, and they had shared an embrace of their own, Lucina resting her head on his shoulder the way she always did.
"I'll miss you," Robin said softly.
"And I you," Lucina sighed. "Behave yourself, okay? The smoother the talks go the faster you'll be able to leave."
"I know, dear," Robin chuckled. "I love you."
"I love you, too. I'll see you soon," Lucina replied, leaning back enough for them to share one final kiss before he left.
Then Robin was on the wagon, waving farewell to the rest of his team as they passed out into the forests outside of the Coliseum. That he was sharing his open-topped wagon with Galle, Arya and Gaius was no surprise. That Ita was sulking in the far corner, refusing to look at anyone was somewhat surprising; apparently she had hurt her leg when she and Kowrowa had tried to distract Maris, and Kowrowa was making her ride in the wagon. Even more surprising were the two Dark Mages sitting across from him, Tharja and her student Femi bundled up under their cloaks and looking miserable in the cold outside air.
"He couldn't even organize a carriage? Typical," Tharja muttered, glaring at Chrom's carriage near the head of the convoy.
Femi simply sneezed, looking utterly miserable.
Van was riding with Frederick at the head of the convoy, his duties as the Knight's Tactician already having begun. It made Robin a little sad to see one of his students leaving the nest again, but it filled him with more than enough pride to make up for it.
"What, couldn't wait to get out of the cold?" Robin asked his old friend, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.
"I actually need to speak to a colleague at the Mage's Tower in Ylisstol," Tharja replied.
"I'm sure that's what it is," Robin said with a smirk. "You know it's a lot warmer in my fort than in the Coliseum, right?"
Tharja blinked a few times, subtly glancing back towards the Coliseum and letting out a sigh. Robin just laughed, shaking his head and leaning back. She always had hated the cold, even back when they had travelled north together after the first Plegian War.
"What are you grinning about," Tharja snapped playfully. "Making fun of the miserable woman, are you?"
"Just thinking that if Virion were here it'd be just like old times," Robin laughed.
"It would only be like old times if he were hitting on me constantly, and I don't think his wife's wyvern would approve."
Robin burst out laughing, rocking back and forth in his seat as he wiped a tear from his eye.
The week that Chrom had set for travel time passed quickly in a haze of country scenery and boredom. Robin's cart had played word games to the point they were getting so good at the Chon'sinian game 'shiritori', where you strung words together by matching the last letter of a word with the first letter of a new word, they had played it almost an entire day without a break. Owain had joined them eventually, his colorful and strange words making the game infinitely more interesting. Robin began to think he should have brought some books along with him, absently reading through his spellbook again. When Tharja saw him doing this she decided to hold an impromptu lecture and quiz, to which both Femi and Arya looked absolutely stricken. Robin was ashamed to admit that all three of the younger travelers scored better than him in the theory quiz, and Tharja had given him a knowing grin when she'd come to his scrap of paper. Amazingly, Owain had done very well taking the quiz, too, scoring almost the same as Robin, something that had depressed the tactician even more. Gaius spent the time either sleeping or whittling at a chunk of wood with one of his many daggers. He seemed antsy without Panne there, constantly glancing around as if he were expecting something to happen. Ita had started to grumble towards the end of the second day, and by the end of the third Robin had almost literally kicked her out of the cart. Now she split her time between running alongside the convoy in her wolf form with Kowrowa and sitting in the cart when the wound in her leg flared up again.
Fortunately Robin only had to suffer Idallia's presence when the convoy broke for dinners. He and Tharja would eat with the Exalt, his Queen and the Khans while the others ate in their own little groups. Idallia usually ate silently, looking down at her food intently before excusing herself and going to bed. On the fourth day of this Basilio let out a deep sigh, running a hand over his bald head.
"Having second thoughts?" Robin asked, glaring at the tent Idallia had disappeared into.
"Boy, I've been having second thoughts about things since before you were born," Basilio scoffed. "Regna Ferox, unfortunately, needs her. I didn't like Flavia at first, either, but she grew on me."
"I really don't see that happening with her," Robin muttered.
"Give it time," Sumia suggested. "A lot has changed for her. She'll need time to adjust."
"Don't defend her," Robin scoffed. "What, her brother goes nuts during a plan to take over a neighboring country and all of a sudden she deserves our pity?"
"No," Tharja growled without hesitation.
"How is what we're doing with her any different than what you did with Aversa?" Sumia asked pointedly. "We all agreed to look the other way, give her the benefit of the doubt. And we were right to do so. Can't you give Idallia that same benefit of the doubt?"
Robin opened his mouth to respond, but realized he didn't have anything to rebut with. "Alright, point. Aversa did treat me a lot worse at first, too…"
"Give her a chance," Sumia repeated. "I'm sure she won't be so bad once things settle down a little."
"Alright," Robin sighed. "Alright, I'll give her a chance. But I'm closer to Eastern Ferox than anyone else, and I swear that if I even get a whiff of her being up to something I'll come down on her like the wrath of the heavens."
"That's all we can ask," Sumia said with a slight smile.
"Just because we all get along doesn't mean that all the leaders do," Chrom added. "Did you see the way that the Valmese representatives were glaring at us at the Coliseum?"
"I think that was because you got nicer rooms than them," Basilio guffawed.
"I still don't like her," Tharja muttered.
"Yeah, but you don't like anyone," Robin chuckled.
"That's not true," Tharja said, frowning and looking away slightly. "I'm not… entirely against the company I presently find myself in."
"Wow, really?" Chrom laughed. "All these years I thought you were just putting up with us."
"Dear, be nice," Sumia admonished. "This is serious growth for her!"
"I'll drink to that," Basilio shrugged, pulling a large flask out of his pack and taking a deep swig. "Who's thirsty?"
"Ever consider that there might be a lot more Feroxi around if you all didn't drink so much?" Robin suggested, accepting the flask and taking a swig himself. The harsh liquor burned a trail down his gullet, making him cough and splutter a little.
"It's cold up north, boy," Basilio guffawed. "Maybe you lot would complain less if you drank more!"
"I'll drink to that," Chrom laughed, taking the flask from Robin and drinking. "Gods, Basilio, what are you drinking? Pure grain alcohol?"
"Pretty close," the Khan shrugged.
Sumia sighed, wordlessly snatching the flask from her husband and giving him a dirty look. Then, as soon as he looked away taking a small swig of her own. She was busted, though, when she burst into a coughing fit, handing the flask off to Basilio before she spilled it while Chrom laughed and patted her on the back. The Khan grinned as he held the flask out to Tharja, the Dark Mage blinking in surprise as she looked between him and the flask.
"To not being entirely against the company we find ourselves in," Basilio offered with a grin.
Tharja hesitated, but broke into a small smile as she accepted the flask.
"I'll drink to that," she said, knocking back the strong alcohol with a contented sigh and barely even flinching at the harshness of the drink.
"Atta girl!" Basilio cheered, accepting the flask again when Tharja held it out.
"What are you drinking in that desert?" Sumia asked aghast.
"Is water really that hard to come by?" Robin laughed.
Tharja just rolled her eyes, slipping back into her perpetual frown. "I do have a life outside of all of you now. And it gets cold in the desert, too."
They laughed, continuing to pass the flask around until it was empty and they had to raid the Ylissean supplies for a bottle of wine Chrom had packed 'just in case', continuing to laugh and converse well into the night. Of course the raid had woken Frederick and Cordelia, the Knight Commander sternly refusing to join them while his wife sat up with them as their chaperone. Then Virion and Cherche had gotten wind of the festivities, and everything became a blur when Virion pulled out his own bottle of drink. Robin didn't even remember what it was. When he woke the next morning he was surprised to find Tharja curled up next to him, both of them nursing wretched hangovers as they climbed back into the wagon. It was little solace that all of the others, with the exception of Cordelia who had made sure they didn't do anything too stupid while intoxicated, weren't feeling much better. The day was cursedly long, the swaying of the wagon making Robin feel ill as every bump and jolt sent spikes of pain through his head. Tharja fared little better, groaning and glaring from beneath her hood at everyone that made so much as a sound around her.
The next day they passed far enough south to be considered in Ylisstol's territory. Eventually they would be able to see the capital city on the horizon, Robin finding himself excited to see the spires and domes of the beautiful city once more. Even if he did still feel ill from the drinking the day before. Van joined them in the wagon that day, wanting to spend a little more time with his friends before life separated them. Owain had returned to the carriage with his family, too, citing a need to 'ensure little Lucina's education was going according to plan'.
"I've never been to Ylisstol before," Arya said conversationally that afternoon.
"It's beautiful," Robin said. "I've never seen anything else like it. Valm City was close, but there's just something about Ylisstol, the way the architecture just flows, that makes it stand out."
"Plus there's lots of bakeries and delis," Van added. "Isaac dragged me to practically every one of them in the city."
"Explains why he was so much bigger than us," Galle muttered.
Robin chuckled along with the others, glad that his student's memory was already bringing joy rather than sorrow. They were all very mature for their ages, though, even if they didn't always act like it. Robin's retort about how Galle could probably stand to eat a little more died on his tongue as he felt a wave of nausea, once again cursing how low his tolerance to hard drink had become over the last few years. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, trying to keep his lunch down.
"Are you alright, sir?" Arya asked, picking up on her teacher's distress.
"Yeah, just drank a little too much the other day," he chuckled weakly. "I must be getting old."
Tharja scoffed across from him, but remained silent. She looked as green as he felt, something Robin considered odd given the tolerance to alcohol she'd shown while they had been drinking. Before Robin could think more on this the wagon lurched to a halt, its occupants swaying with the motion and Tharja actually giving a groan as she held her head.
"What's going on?" Van asked, standing to get a better look.
"Dunno," Galle mumbled, standing next to the Ylissean boy. "Let's go find out."
The two of them jumped from the back of the wagon to the hard-packed dirt road, jogging towards the front of the convoy as Robin and Tharja both sagged. A pained retching sound made Robin glance up, his eyes widening as he realized that the younger Dark Mage, Femi, was vomiting over the side of the wagon.
"Gross," Gaius moaned, moving to the other side of the wagon.
"S-sir, I don't… feel so good…" Arya moaned, grabbing onto the sleeve of Robin's coat and swaying a little.
Robin and Tharja both looked up at once, their eyes meeting as Galle came racing back along the convoy at a dead sprint. His next words made Robin's blood run cold.
"Ylisstol is burning! The city is burning!"
AN: Moving the story on! Shock horror! The plot thickens! Who was worried the story was done? Did you think this was an epilogue chapter? YOU WERE WRONG! I said I'd be doing the Future of Despair DLC, and I meant it. I meant what I said and I said what I meant, metallover's faithful one hundred percent. Is anyone else keen as hell for Echoes? I want that game so hard, and I still can't believe it comes out literally a day after my birthday! Whoop-whoop! Now excuse me while I try to pump out one more chapter of the Self Insert before my holidays end...
The first episode of the Invisible Ties Audio Drama is live! Check it out by searching our channel on YouTube, Neckties You Can't See! If you've ever wondered what my Robin sounds like, this is the place to find out!
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