Beneath the Threads
VI.
It was a long day of battle. Chrom's legs ached more with every step, his head pounding from fighting in the desert heat. He walked back into camp, soaked in sweat and grim. At least I can spend some time with Robin tonight, he thought. I have to remember what keeps me going. He stopped by the dinner tent and served himself a cup of water. He drank half of it while he used the other half to clean some of the dirt from his face. Frederick ran up to him as he was exiting the tent.
"Milord!" he exclaimed, breathless.
"Yes?" Chrom asked. "What's wrong?"
"Robin is missing. We've searched the entire camp for her, but there's no sign of her presence. However, we found her sword and tome dropped right outside your tent."
Chrom stared at Frederick with horrified eyes. Acid rose in his throat and he had to swallow it down so he didn't vomit. The world around him was spinning. Everything was crashing down on him. He couldn't think clearly. All he could think about was her smile and his hands on her midsection the night before. He was told by Emmeryn he ought to exercise patience and not be brash, but he couldn't possibly bring himself to mold himself into her image at this moment.
"We-We need to form a few search parties. It'll get dark soon, and with Risen a threat, she can't be wandering around alone," Chrom said sternly. He gripped the handle of his sword in its holster.
"Milord!" Maribelle came running up to him, her eyes red with tears. "Please let me accompany you on the search."
Chrom understood her thoughts, as they mimicked his. "Of course. We'll split into two or three groups and circle the area around camp. Maribelle, you'll stick with me."
The Shepherds circled the camp until dark. She was nowhere to be found. While out in the deep sand, Chrom's emotions overcame him. With the dusk sky above him, he fell to his knees, sinking slightly into the sand. Maribelle crouched beside him, her staff in hand.
"W-What have I done, Maribelle?" he stuttered.
"You haven't done anything, Milord. This isn't your fault," Maribelle said softly.
"I'm a damn fool. I didn't send her back to the castle. I thought I could keep her safe."
"The castle was likely a more dangerous place to be alone than with us. Ylisstol fell while we were gone, remember that."
"Gangrel took her." Chrom buried his head in his hands. "He got away with taking Emmeryn, so he got cocky and decided to take another as a bargaining chip. And we had our damn guard down!"
Maribelle's eyes widened. "Milord, how can you be sure?"
"There's no other explanation. She wouldn't leave the camp for anything. She stayed in my tent all day. She likely stepped out to wash up and Gangrel ambushed her. That's why the soldiers are missing. They were defeated, leaving Robin alone in camp without her realizing it."
"Her sword and tome were outside your tent."
"Exactly. She wouldn't try to fight him, because she knows she couldn't handle it on her own. So she surrendered. She had no choice, especially now that's she's with child."
"We'll get her back," Maribelle said. She gave her his hand as he stood from the thick sand.
"I-I can't go through this again," Chrom choked. "He wants the Fire Emblem. He knew my chief tactician is a good bargaining chip, but he doesn't know the half of it. If he finds out she's carrying my child, he'll know he can make just about any threat to get me to surrender it."
"Robin will hide it from him. She may be a hostage, but she's still got her wits about her."
"I hope you're right."