Beneath the Threads

VIII.

It had been two weeks since Robin's disappearance, that much Lucina, known to everyone else as Marth, knew. She had been following the Shepherds at a distance since Emmeryn's fateful day. She cursed herself. She was able to divert her assassination attempt as it had happened in her future, but she wasn't able to save the exalt. Emmeryn was such a beautiful woman, she thought. She was glad she at least got to see her grace with her own eyes, though she regretted she wasn't able to alter her fate. Lucina had been watching to see what events came to pass due to Emmeryn's sacrifice. She deduced Robin's disappearance, her capture by Gangrel, was a by-product of Emmeryn's choice. Gangrel had gotten more cocky and confident, despite the fact his army was divided.

Lucina grimaced from her resting spot behind a sturdy rock in the sands of the desert, not far from the Ylissean camp. Her actions, her knowledge of the future, had caused so many effects she couldn't have foreseen. She decided she couldn't interfere anymore with the flow of events. She had to keep her distance from her father, no matter how much she yearned to feel the warmth and protection of his presence.

"So we meet again," a voice said from behind the rock. Lucina stiffened. Father, she thought. No, no, go away!

She stood and turned around, coming face to face with Chrom. She knew she should have stopped to rest a little further away from the camp than she had. But, she couldn't help but rest her exhausted and dehydrated body during dusk, right after the blistering sun had faded.

"I know your name's not Marth, but I've got nothing better to call you." He sighed. "What are you doing lurking around our camp?"

"I was listening in on your conversations," she admitted. Lucina cursed herself. Why can't you lie for once in your life?! Why is that so hard?! she shamed herself.

Chrom's eyes narrowed. "I know you saved my sisters and myself on three different occasions, but I still don't know who you are or where you came from. I'd like to think of you as an ally, but since I really don't know you, I can't trust you."

Lucina's heart hurt at hearing him say those words. "I can't tell you who I am."

"Alright. You really want to be difficult? You say you can see the future, and I'd like to think that you can, based on your actions, but I can't discern the truth from the vagueness," Chrom responded with an irritated tone. He seemed to be at his wit's end.

"Robin wasn't captured by Gangrel in my time. That much I can tell you. This event is a by-product of Emmeryn's sacrifice. If Emmeryn had been assassinated that night at the castle, this wouldn't have happened."

"What do you know about the Robin from your time?"

"I-I...can't tell you. I can't change the future any more than I already have. You all must make your own choices absent of my meddling."

"I don't understand you." Chrom huffed. "You carry Falchion. That's my sword. What is yours, a replica?"

Lucina's breath hitched. She didn't answer.

"Well?" he said. "Is it?"

"N-No…" Lucina stammered.

"Then where'd you get it?"

"I-I can't tell you."

Chrom huffed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Since you're a woman in love with secrets, how about I tell you one of mine?"

Lucina stared at him. Her heart pounded. She had never seen him like this before. "A-Alright."

"You know Robin's been captured, since you've been eavesdropping, right? No one in the army knows this, but...she's carrying my child. That's why I need her back. Basilio already said there's a chance she'll end up like Emm...that can't happen. It can't."

Lucina's heart faltered. She squeezed her hands into fists as her mouth went dry. Chrom glanced at her with narrow eyes.

"So if you're serious about saving the future, or whatever mission you're after, help me get her back. You're excellent at wielding my sword, though I still don't know where the hell you got it from," he said.

"I-I can't do that." Lucina shook her head, near tears.

"Why not? Won't you explain to me what your intention is? At the very least, you owe me an explanation as to why you have one of my prized possessions."

"I told you, I can't alter the future any more than I already have."

"This is nonsense!" Chrom shouted. "If you want to help Ylisse, then you have to help me get her back. If we lose Robin, we lose the war. Not only will we have lost our best tactician, but I'll lose my future wife and child. After that, I don't even know what the point of going on is."

Lucina turned around, tears falling from her face. She wiped them away. "C-Can I ask you a question?"

"By all means." Chrom huffed.

"What would you name your child?"

Chrom's hardened stance softened a bit. "Robin and I decided on Lucina for a girl and Morgan for a boy. We agreed on it the night before she was captured."

Lucina bit her lip to contain her sob as more tears streamed down her face. She kept her back turned. Chrom exhaled.

"Now a question for you," he said.

"W-What?" Lucina asked, hoping she didn't sound too distraught.

"When we dueled in Ferox, you were still disguised as Marth. You had Falchion. I asked you where you got it from and you said your father. So, who's your father?"

Lucina ignored his question in her upset. "I-I hurt her…"

Chrom stared at her. "Who?"

"My mother. I hurt my mother. T-Tell her I'm sorry."

"Who's your mother?"

Lucina turned around. She stared at Chrom with tear-stained cheeks and reddened eyes. Her breath hitched as a strand of her hair stuck to her face.

"Look at me and tell me…" Lucina stood, her voice wavering. "I'm from the future. More than ten years hence. I was born in Ylisse. I carry my father's most prized possession, the Falchion. My mother is one of the smartest women in the Halidom."

Chrom furrowed his brows. He studied her form. She carried her sword the exact same way he did. My father's most prized possession. Her hair was a beautiful shade of blue, her eyes were deep and calculating, her facial features…

"W-What?" he mustered. His mind couldn't wrap itself around what he thought she was trying to say. "W-What's your name? Your real name."

"L-Lucina."

Chrom swallowed. He still couldn't process anything.

Lucina wiped her eyes. She stepped forward. "My father and mother are the exalt and queen of Ylisse, Chrom and Robin."

"You're my daughter?"

Lucina nodded. "My eye contains the brand of the exalt, if that proves it for you."

Chrom looked into her eye. The symbol within it matched the one on his arm. He ran his fingers through his hair and bit his lip.

"So you're saying…" he stalled, unsure of how to phrase his thought.

"Your unborn child and I are one in the same, the only difference being I'm her from a different future timeline where the world turns to evil and chaos. I came back in time to prevent it."

"I-I'm having a baby girl?!" Chrom swallowed. "You're my baby girl?!"

"Yes, but grown." Lucina nodded.

Chrom stepped forward and cupped her cheek. "I'm so sorry, L-Lucina. I should've never been so stern with you. You're my daughter, you deserve much better from me than that. Please forgive me."

"Father…" Lucina cried. She rushed into his open embrace. The feeling of protection that she experienced in his arms came back to her after many years of being absent. "Father...I've missed you."