Beneath the Threads
XVIII.
A month had passed since Lucina was born. Robin had made a steady recovery, enough to get dressed without help and move around her chambers, but she was still mostly confined to bed. Her and Chrom had drawn up plans for Flavia and Basilio, and the ports were secured without issue. The Valmese forces backed down for the time being, but the Khans warned they were only reevaluating their strategy and would soon provoke again.
Chrom was attending council one afternoon when Maribelle came to give Robin a check-up. After she was finished, Robin watched as she cooed the small baby in her arms.
"Oh, darling, I just can't get enough of her! She's precious!" Maribelle smiled. "Have you thought about-"
"Having another?" Robin chuckled. "It's nice to say that when you're not the one that has to give birth."
"It's worth it."
"Of course. Maybe one day."
Maribelle laid the child down in the bassinet. She looked at the giant plush bear on the floor. "Milord isn't the best at buying gifts, is he?"
"No. But I think it's adorable anyway. He tries."
"I think you'll be able to return to some of your basic tactician duties given another week. You're doing well managing daily activities on your own. But, I'd like to caution you. Don't overexert yourself. And no tome training! You're not quite ready for that yet."
"Alright. But, I do miss practicing magic. Miriel's stopped by a few times to tell me about her latest research and discoveries."
"There'll be a time for that. Perhaps just read about it instead?" Maribelle gave her a pleading look. "Please? For me?"
"Alright." Robin chuckled. "For you."
Maribelle smiled and left Robin alone after sharing dinner. It was getting dark, and Chrom was still busy. Robin sat in the rocking chair beside the bassinet and cradled Lucina in her arms. She dozed.
Something hit the roof. Robin jolted, rustling the sleeping baby in her arms. Lucina began to cry, and Robin tried her best to comfort her. She glanced out the windows, but didn't see anything. She sighed as Chrom walked through the door.
"Hey, Robin. I'm sorry I was so busy today," he said as he walked over to Robin. "I missed you."
"Something hit the roof," Robin murmured. She continued to stare out the window.
Chrom furrowed his brows. "It was probably just a crow. It happens sometimes."
"You're right. It scared Lucina, that's all."
"She'll be okay," Chrom cooed, taking the baby from her arms. "Father's here to protect you!"
Later on that night, after they had put Lucina to bed and laid down themselves, Robin still stared out the window. She drew the sheets close to her and studied the stars through their sheer half-drawn curtains. No one could even get up here, she thought. Why am I so worried? She sighed, listening to Chrom snore lightly. She thought the worry might've stemmed from her role as a mother, and even more from her time spent captured. She had made great strides in moving on from the incident, but the effects of it would never fully leave her. She was a hovering mother, that much she knew. She even hovered over her grown daughter, so much so it emitted a chuckle from Lucina, who claimed Chrom was just as much a hovering father as well. Robin threw her legs over the side of the bed and walked over to the bassinet. She leaned down to pick up the baby, but halted before she did. Her heart jumped in her throat.
"Chrom!" she shouted. "Chrom, wake up!" She snatched Lucina in her arms and backed away from the window.
Chrom jolted awake. He sat up in bed. "What? What's wrong?"
"T-There's someone on the balcony," she stammered. "Just out of sight, beside the window. I saw them from the bassinet."
Chrom quickly dressed in his armour and grabbed Falchion. Robin clutched Lucina to her chest, her heart pounding. The baby must've felt her mother's distress through the thin fabric of her nightgown, because she started to cry. Robin tried to quiet her, but her attempts failed. Chrom went to open the window. Robin stopped him.
"Chrom, don't!" she said. "There may be more than one of them. Whoever they are, they're waiting for you to step out! You could get easily overpowered. We need to call for help."
Chrom backed away from the window. "You're right. I'll call for Frederick."
Someone knocked on the door. Robin jumped, causing Lucina's sniffles to burst into wails once again. Chrom moved her behind him and opened the door, sword ready. He lowered it when he saw it was Frederick.
"Milord, Risen have invaded the Castle grounds," he said quickly. "We need to get Lady Robin and the child somewhere safe."
"Risen?!" Chrom exclaimed. "How?"
"We're not sure, but we suspect fowl play. They act as if they're being controlled by a third party, perhaps through powerful magic."
"Gods...so that's what's lurking on the balcony." Chrom grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Robin's shoulders. "Robin, we have to leave."
They rushed down the hall. They came upon Lucina's chambers and Robin halted. She took her fist and beat on the door. Chrom stopped and beat on the door with her. Frederick walked forward a few paces, then stopped in his tracks when he realized they weren't following him.
"Milord, Milady, please! There's no time to stop," he scolded.
Lucina opened the door in her nightgown. Her face flushed when her eyes met Chrom and Robin's.
"Mother! Father! What brings you here at such a late hour?" she exclaimed.
"Get dressed in your armour, Lucina. There's Risen on the castle grounds," Robin said.
Her face scrunched in horror. "Oh, Gods!"
"Hurry! We don't have much time. We need to gather every Shepherd and soldier we can," Chrom said.
Lucina slammed the door. She opened it again in her armour, her Falchion in its holster. They continued down the hall, stopping occasionally to wake sleeping people to warn them or recruit them to fight. They made it to the clinic wing of the castle, where they went to wake the healers. They had stopped by Lissa's chambers, but there was no answer. Now they were banging on Maribelle's door.
Maribelle opened the door groggily, then straightened up. "Milord!" she said. "How may I serve?"
"We came to warn you Risen are on the castle grounds," Chrom said.
"What?" Lissa exclaimed. She appeared beside Maribelle on the other side of the door.
"Lissa! Gods, we've been looking everywhere for you!" Robin exclaimed.
"I'm sorry. Maribelle and I were studying new healing techniques and I guess we fell asleep."
"Milord, let Robin and the baby stay with us here in the clinic wing. We'll look after her," Maribelle said.
"Alright. We'll return when it's safe." Chrom nodded. "Lucin-Lucy, stay here as extra support."
Lucina nodded as Robin breathed a sigh of relief. At least she could keep an eye on her daughter, both versions of her, that is. Robin placed the baby in Lissa's arms and paced the room. She wished she could be with Chrom, defending their home and their people, but she knew better than to try. All she could do was wait.