Beneath the Threads

XIII.

Lucina made a full recovery after a few weeks of rest. She remained in the castle and was given her own chambers at the insistence of her parents. Robin marked weeks off her calendar, noting that he pregnancy had reached the 23rd week. She had mostly rested since returning to Ylisse, due to Chrom insisting, but she was ready to get some duties done as tactician, despite her growing discomfort. Chrom told her if she was uncomfortable she should just rest, but Robin retorted that trying to rest made her think about her discomfort more. It was a light quarrel they got into often, and Robin' figured it wouldn't end until after their daughter was born.

One day Robin invited Lucina to have tea with her, and she agreed. They sat at a small table, while the servants served them with light snacks and warm drinks to accompany the light snowfall from outside. Robin sipped her brew and smiled.

"So, Lucina, when's your birthday?" Robin asked.

Lucina's face flushed. "Um...I'd rather not say."

"Why not?"

"Because then you'll know when you'll give birth. I wouldn't want to stress you that way."

"Maybe you're right." Robin sighed. "You see, we're trying to plan our wedding. It sounds so strange telling you that, but I think you should know. It has to be in spring, so the citizens can gather in the streets to watch. It's overwhelming. We'd just rather get married quietly, but with Chrom being leader, when can't. It has to extravagant. But I'm having a baby in spring. I'd rather not have to get dressed up while heavily pregnant. It's stressful."

"What dates have been suggested to you?" Lucina asked, her brows furrowed. "Because of your capture, the date of the wedding differs than what it was in my time. But I'm sure my birthday will be the same."

"April 19th is the day a lot of the planners seem to like. I'll be so close by then...Gods, I can feel the discomfort already! I wish we could just get married after the baby's born...but by the time I recover it won't be spring anymore."

Lucina's face flushed. "I don't think that's a good date."

"Why?!" Robin exclaimed. "Is that your birthday?"

"No...but the 20th is. I don't think that would end well."

"It really wouldn't. Thank you for telling me. How embarrassing would it be to go into labor at my own wedding? Not to mention, it would rile up the whole kingdom. I'll have to tell Frederick to scratch that date off."

"Scratch what off?" Chrom said from behind Robin. He walked up to their table and sat down in an empty seat.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Robin smirked.

"N-No!" Chrom stammered. "I just came looking for you...and I heard you say...Oh, nevermind."

Lucina and Robin chuckled.

"I was telling Lucina that Frederick needs to know that April 19th isn't a good date for a wedding," Robin said. She sipped her tea.

Chrom took a cookie off a plate and bit into it. "Why?"

Robin glanced over at Lucina, who smiled meekly. Chrom's eyes shifted between the two of them as he grabbed another cookie.

"What?" he said. "Am I missing out on something?"

"How about you ask her when her birthday is, Chrom?" Robin said.

"Okay. Lucina, when's your birthday?"

"April 20th," Lucina said.

"Oh, Gods!" Chrom exclaimed. "We can't get married then!"

"Exactly," Robin added.

"Damn. I'll have to tell Frederick." Chrom turned to Robin. "We're holding council on how to handle Plegia since Gangrel is dead. I was wondering if you'd be up for joining us."

"Yes." Robin nodded. "I'll join."

"Good. " Chrom smiled. "Lucina, you can sit in if you'd like. Maybe you can observe what our plans are and compare them to what you know about the future. I'd like to talk more about that with you. Perhaps tonight at dinner?"

"Alright, Father." Lucina nodded. "I might not be able to add much to the meeting, but I'll listen."

"Thank you. It's about to start, we should get going."