Beneath the Threads
III.
The morning sun was bright against the cream color of the tent. Robin opened her eyes, her ducts dry and agitated from her stresses the night before. She was in Chrom's bed alone, the sheets carefully tucked in around her body. She smiled to herself and settled into the pillow. She knew it was Chrom that had wrapped her in a cocoon of warmth, and it comforted her. Her eyes lulled again, exhaustion taking hold.
Stirring in the tent woke her from her daze. She leaned up quickly, a reflex she had learned from the night she had first encountered the Risen with Frederick, Lissa, and Chrom. The habit of always being on edge and sensitive to sound never left. She wondered, if the war ended and she lived in the castle, would she be able to shake the habit then? A part of her dismayed and said no.
It was Chrom. Robin relaxed for a moment before a cold sweat broke out along her skin. I'm so thankful for our child, he said. Was it really true? Or was it his grief speaking? It could be that he was so overwhelmed the day before, the true meaning of child evaded him. It had certainly evaded her to an extent. He was so incredibly calm and welcoming of the news. Robin was wary of it. She was sure the acceptance would fade into frustration when he realized the complications their relationship had caused.
"Good morning," he said. He walked over and sat on the bed beside her, already dressed in his armor. "I came to wake you. Are you well?"
"I'm fine," she whispered.
"Good. We're holding a meeting in the strategy tent. We're discussing our next course of action." His fingers brushed her hair and gave her scalp tingles. She swallowed.
"Chrom?"
"Yes?"
"You're really not okay with this, are you?" Robin glanced to her stomach.
"It doesn't matter. It's done."
"How can you not be frustrated?"
Chrom shook his head. "I've got a lot to think about. I want to grieve, but I can't stop to. I want to tell the whole world I'm going to be a father, and I'm so happy for it, but I can't stop to. It seems I don't currently exist to take any satisfaction in myself. I must serve others, no matter what I feel."
"Are you really…" Robin swallowed. "...happy about fathering a child?"
"I am." Chrom nodded. "There's no reason to resent it, Robin. We made the choice to be intimate. This is our child. After Emm...maybe this is the blessing I need."
"I fear it."
"I do too. Not the child, but the circumstances surrounding us right now. You will not give birth on a battlefield. I won't allow it. I don't want our family to be born on ground drenched in bloodshed."
Robin clutched the end of the sheets. "Where will I go, then? Will you send me to the castle in Ylisstol?"
Chrom sighed. He rubbed his palm over his face. "How...far along are you?"
"About eight weeks."
"When do you think you'll start to show?"
"I read a book that said anywhere between 12 to 16 weeks. With my clothing, I garner I'll be able to conceal it during the early stages of visibility."
"I want you to stay with us...for now. I don't trust you being alone in the castle. Lissa and I won't be there, and after everything Emm went through, I couldn't stand the thought of you being so far away while I'm fighting these battles and I know I can't get to you."
"Fair enough. This way I can continue to strategize. Me leaving for the castle would cause a stir, anyway, since my roles are here with the soldiers."
"Right. I'll have it arranged for you to be dismissed from the battlefield. You're overworked. I already suggested that you take a break from the fight."
"Do you think the war could end within the next eight weeks?"
Chrom shrugged. "Maybe. With you focusing all your time on strategy, perhaps you could come up with something genius to end this fight faster."
"Perhaps. But I wouldn't count on it." Robin smiled.
Chrom smiled back and kissed her. "I need you in the strategy tent. After the meeting, if you need to, come back here and get some more rest."
Robin sighed and wrestled out of her cocoon of sheets. "Chrom...I can't just start disappearing. I need to work like I normally would. I shouldn't do anything that may cause suspicion. If someone found me here, that would be confirmation enough of our relationship."
"Yes, but I also need you to focus on the child in your womb. You need a moderate balance of work and rest, Robin. You've already been on the battlefield while carrying, and it terrifies me to know that in retrospect."
"I-I'm sorry…" Robin frowned.
"It's alright. But that ends today, don't you agree?"
"Yes."
Chrom sighed. He bit his lip. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so demanding. I'm so worried already. I hate that you have to be here and not somewhere safe. There's nowhere I can send you. You have to stay with me because there's no trustworthy place anywhere. Not even the castle. I can't believe this. Even the Gods send my blessings as ruthless challenges."
Robin cupped his cheek. "I know. You've just spoken what I'm thinking before I could speak it. I think it's safest if we stay together. And you're right on everything. I really do need to be careful so I don't overwork myself."
"I'll leave you to get ready." Chrom smiled. "Thank you, Robin. For everything."