Lucina did not escape the king's intention for long. Tired of her apparent infertility, the king of Plagia had his prisoner moved to the capitol. Dragged and bound before an alter dedicated to their God. In the presence of scores of chanting priests of Grima, the Plegian king performed some blasphemous ritual before forcing himself on the princess again. Her screams were drowned by the chanting of the priests, which seemed to grow louder as time moved on. An unnatural pain burned through the bluenette as she feebly tried to resist the man that once again defiled her. As he finished inside her, she knew that he had succeeded with making her with child. The king seemed to know this as well, as he never touched her again from there on.
He had his prisoner moved to a lonely tower in a separate wing of the royal castle of Plegia. The tower was spacious enough and well furnished. It was clearly intended for prisoners of higher standing, and Lucina noticed that they even began to serve her better food.
Yet all this was a small mercy for the Ylissean princess, as she now had to suffer a greater humiliation, birthing a potential heir of Plegia. She began to resent the child growing within her, seeing it as a parasite that slowly leeched of her life. What would her family think of her if they saw her now? Pity? Shame? Outrage? She could not bear the thought. She is the heir of a dynasty that has lasted for thousands of years, she was supposed to inherit her father's throne and sword, merry a man of good standing and carry on the family name. Instead, she had been trapped in Plegia and reduced to a mere broodmare for that bastard king of Plegia.
Again, the princess wished for death as she could not bear to suffer further dishonour. Death however would not be forthcoming, as the Plegian king had seen to it that she was kept under constant watch. Chief amongst her jailors was a white-haired maid with pigtails. A silent woman, she rarely spoke or responded beyond the most basic of replies. Her eyes were unnerving crimson red like her liege and Lucina suspected that she was a distant relative to the King himself as she bore a canny resemblance to that monster.
The white-haired servant was always watching and ready to act in accordance with her masters wishes.
Early on during her pregnancy, the princess had tried to starve herself to death or at least hope that it might provoke a miscarriage. Her unwanted guardian had acted quickly and with some aid from another servant, proceeded to force feed the suicidal bluenette for a week before the princess yielded and went back to feeding herself whenever her captors brought her food.
While the princess tried to dismiss it as simple paranoia, it also seemed that the white-haired maid could appear and disappear at will. Many of times did the princess consider throwing herself from the windows, but she would never get far with her intent, as the white-haired shadow would always suddenly appear behind her, uttering a simple word announcing her presence.
''Milady?''
Despite her initial dislike of the maid, as time went on the bluenette would make efforts to familiarise herself with her jailor. In the end, that maid was now her only constant companion in that accursed tower. And the princess felt increasingly lonely as the weeks passed.
''May I ask for your name?''
The white-haired maid moved her head a little, several seconds passed as if she considered whatever she should dignify her charge with a response.
''It was discarded a long time ago milady. I'm but an instrument of Grima.''
Lucina found it disturbing how emotionless the maid had replied at her inquiry.
''Surely there must be something. How do you refer yourself among friends or family?''
The maid did not give any indication of answering her, but just blankly stared at the princess.
Lucina was tempted to throw something at her to provoke a response. She quickly reconsidered and decided to do something more constructive.
''Hmm…Well I do need to have name for you. It doesn't feel right to just say you and that. How about I call you Cathrine?''
The maid seemed to think about it before giving a flat response.
''If milady insist…''
Conversations like these would repeat often. Even if Cathrine would rarely reply to the bluenette's attempts to start a conversation, the princess would still talk to her would be jailor for her presence alone helped the Ylissean princess from going insane from the isolation in the tower.
Months went and the child in her womb grew. Never once did the king visit his prisoner during her pregnancy, nor make any inquiry about their child. At this Lucina was grateful for she hoped that he had lost interest and would be satisfied if she would just rot away in that tower. So, it was a surprise that when she finally went into labour, the king was present at the birth of his child. Unlike Lady Cordelia, he saw to it that a midwife and a healer was present during the birth. For a fleeting moment Lucina wondered if the king worried for her and the child, but she quickly dismissed it.
She was a far more valuable hostage then Lady Cordelia, and so could not be allowed to die during childbirth.
Lucina, princess of the Royal House of Ylisse gave birth to a healthy baby girl on the fifth day of the fifth month of the year. As the babe came to the world, she was quickly picked up, cleaned, and immediately handed over to her father. Despite her original dislike for her own child, Lucina feared for her daughter, she remembered how the King had taken Severa away.
However, the king merely stared at his new-born daughter with his uncaring crimson eyes. Holding her on one hand, he proceeded to use his other hand to examine the girl, turning her small head from side to side, stretching her arm etc. Whatever he was looking for, he apparently found it. For he smiled his twisted smile, before surprisingly handing the waling girl back to her mother.
''You have done well princess.''
With shaking arms weakened by the recent birth, Lucina took the infant from the king. Instinctively the princess held her girl close and tried to hold her in a way that was comfortable for the new-born. The infant for her part seemed to recognise her mother, and the girl's cries soon lowered into small whimper before going silent.
The king beheld mother and daughter for a moment before turning around and left without another word. Lucina was tempted to call him out and ask what would happen to her now, but she quickly held her tongue, fearing his attention and reply.
His other servants followed soon after leaving only Cathrine to tend to the princess and her child.
''She's beautiful.''
Surprised at the sudden comment from the maid, Lucina looked at Cathrine confused before turning her gaze to her now sleeping daughter.
Even now Lucina could see that her baby girl had thankfully inherited most of her family traits. Small tots of blue hair (not unlike her own) grazed her child's head, her nose had a very similar form to her grandmother etc. It was as if she held a smaller version of herself, Lucina could feel an inner pride and love sweel within her heart. Now that she held her daughter in her arms, she knew she could not bring herself to hate her. Her child had not chosen to be born into this world. Instead of cursing the girl's existence like she had done a few months prior, the princess now instead began to beg for forgiveness. Her daughter had been brought into a world of captivity, and the princess feared what the child's father intended for her in the future.
Lucina could feel tears running down her cheeks, carefully she wiped them away without disturbing the sleeping bundle she held close to her chest.
''Yes, she is precious.''
Lucina agreed with the white-haired woman. Her daughter was the most beautiful creature she has ever seen, and she swore then that she would do anything to keep her safe.
''Do you have a name for her?''
Again, Lucina was surprised at the maid's unusual chatty mood, but she did bring up an important subject. Back in Ylisse the naming of her daughter would be celebrated with a grandiose ceremony at the temple of Naga. Half of the population of the capitol would try to attend, and all the nobles of the land would at least send one representative of their house to witness the presentation of the next member of the royal house.
Lucina sighed, it was unlikely that the king would do anything similar, and even if he did, she would have no part in it. She would not have it that her daughter be involved in any religious ritual of Plegia.
''Ah...''
The princess felt the bundle stir. Her daughter was once again awake. Slowly she opened her eyes, and Lucina could now see that she had inherited one facial feature from her father.
His eyes.
Yet unlike the king and his servant that stood besides the Ylissean princess, the girl's eyes did not appear dull or cold, but it was as if it shone with an inexplicable light. There was a certain intelligence and curiosity behind it, not unlike a certain teacher that the princess once adored and admired.
Mentally the princess shook her head, she was getting distracted. Her daughter needed a name. Truth to be told she had not offered it much thought these last few months, and now she was at a lost on what to do. Should she name her after one of her ancestors as it was custom amongst royalty? Or should she find something herself?
Lucina looked at her daughter who returned her gaze in kind. Silence ensured, the princess reflected on how her daughter's blue hair would distinctive her from many in Plegia, as most either had dark or white hair.
Blue..oh how she suddenly missed Ylisse and its green fields and blue bodies of water. Plegia had little of it, most of its landscape was just desolate desert. Having decided on how she would choose her daughter's name, Lucina vaguely recalled that in the old language of Ylisse, morga was a word for the sea, or at least a word for blue water.
''Morgan, yes…I think the name Morgan would do.''
Another chapter done! Originally planned to make this longer and let it cover the first few years of Morgan's childhood but decided to end it here and move that part to later if I can find a relevant excuse to include it.
The naming of Morgan seems a bit far fetched I know, but I wanted to add a bit of ''logic'' behind it.
As for questions, I have been asked if Robin wilfully submitted to Grima, or if he was forced to it.
I would say forced, as he returned to Plegia, his father had him seized as soon as he was isolated. Alone and unable to call for help, it was a small matter for the Grimleal priesthood to perform the ritual that ensured that Grima could take full control of his host's body. I would not say that much of Robin's original personality remains within at this point, he's pretty much just a walking corpse. With Grima pretty much cosplaying as the king of Plegia who just want to see Ylisse destroyed.
Of course, this is sadly something Chrom or the shepards know nothing about.