Beneath the Threads

XXVIII.

A week passed since Morgan was born. Robin was confined to bed, Chrom at her side most of the day. He remembered when they argued the day after Lucina was born, and it still plagued him from time to time. He didn't want another repeat of that, and though he was with her, he still felt he couldn't make up for the way he acted after their daughter was born. He never voiced these thoughts, as Robin was weak and he didn't want to stress her while she recovered.

Robin held Morgan and smiled at him. Having a child had been hard on her both times, but she couldn't deny that her children meant the world to her. Even though pregnancy was painful, she loved the warmth she got from forming a bond with her children before they were born. That bond only strengthened when she got to hold them.

Chrom sat on the bed beside her, Lucina in his lap. The months had been stressful, and they still had to deal with Validar, but spending time with his family was a pleasure he found irreplaceable. He was glad he got to see Robin through her pregnancy, but it only made him upset that he wasn't able to do the same the first time. It was getting late, and Robin kissed their toddler goodnight and Chrom put her to bed. He returned and Robin placed the newly born in his arms. He sighed at the sleeping child.

"What's wrong, Chrom?" Robin asked. "There's something on that mind of yours."

"Being in the secondary castle has given us more privacy than I expected," he said. "I haven't attended a proper council in months."

"A break from the pomp and circumstance well deserved."

Chrom chuckled. Morgan yawned and opened his eyes, staring back at his father.

"The nobles will take to Morgan more than they will Lucina," Chrom said. He bit his lip.

"What?!" Robin exclaimed. "Why? Because he's male?"

"No. It has nothing to do with her being female and him a male." He paused. "It has everything to do with the circumstances around when they were conceived. We were already married when you became pregnant with Morgan. But...Lucina...we hadn't married yet. We only married a few weeks before her birth. The nobles have noticed that, I guarantee you."

"What the hell does that matter?" Robin furrowed her brows. "We're a married, stable couple. I'm your wife, and I was your wife when both our children were born. I'm Queen of Ylisse, and they are the Princess and Prince with you as Exalt. We're the perfect fit for a royal family image. Lucina will likely take the throne, but I don't care. My children are equals."

"Yes, we both know that. I know you adore our children as much as I do. I couldn't imagine picking one over the other. But, the nobles aren't us. They don't see things the same way."

"I don't understand the way they think."

"I do, though I despise it." Chrom swallowed. "It doesn't matter that you were my wife when the children were born. What matters is whether or not you were my wife when they were conceived. Lucina is still considered illegitimate."

"Damn them!" Robin said. "It's not like I'm your mistress. We went went to bed together, we did so knowing we would be wed. Gods...I feel like my capture doesn't matter to them, because at that point I was nothing more than Chrom's pregnant whore."

Chrom grimaced, the words hurting his core. He shook his head. "My father did have a mistress that wasn't my mother. When I was a kid, I'd seen him in the halls with the mistress, doting on her as if she were his wife. My mother cried and cried, and the only thing that helped her was looking after her children. He had this mistress when my mother was expecting Lissa, I vaguely remember it. I remember an off-hand remark he said one day where he said he wished it was the mistress that was pregnant instead of her. It tore my mother apart. My father went to war after that and he never fathered any children with that mistress, thankfully.

"You know the worst part about it, Robin?" he continued. "That was acceptable. The nobles didn't have a problem with him treating my mother that way. He was king and kings can have as many women as they damn well please. And if he would've had a child with his mistress? Oh, an illegitimate child, it happens sometimes. The child would just be paraded around like it was my mother's all along. How disgusting is that? But, me, my fiancee becomes pregnant with my daughter before we have the chance to get married and I never hear the end of it."

Robin clenched her teeth. She frowned and watched Morgan flex his fingers. "I'm so sorry, Chrom. I feel so guilty about plaguing this with you. I don't understand castle life. I just try my best at my duties and hope it shines through. All I've ever wanted to do is love you as a lover should. We never meant to conceive a child, I know, but...I'm glad we did. I love Lucina, and I love Morgan. I'm thankful I have a husband as wonderful as you, I couldn't ask for a better father for my children. Maybe they'll never accept me, but I'll make damn sure they accept my children as descendants of the exalted line."

"No, when they accept my children, they'll accept my wife, who went through hell to bear me those children." Chrom sighed. "Robin, you are an incredible wife and mother. I couldn't ask for more from my family life. When I grew old enough to understand what my father did to my mother, I vowed to never treat my wife that way. I vowed to never take her for granted. I hate that you're struggling from this war on a personal level. I hate that Gangrel hurt you, that Validar is trying to manipulate you. I feel like failure as a husband. You've went through two painful pregnacies to bear my children. And, yet, I can't protect you from these fiends. Of course, I can't take away the discomfort of carrying a child, but all these other factors shouldn't have stressed you and made things more complicated. I'm sorry. I would never dictate to Naga and the Gods what blessings I do and don't deserve, but, if you never bear me another child, part of me would be thankful."

Robin wiped her tearful eyes. She ran her hand along Chom's shoulder. She traced the brand on his arm and sighed. "None of that is your fault, Chrom. Yes, it has been hard on me, but it's been hard on you as well. These fiends are putting you through hell, just as they are me. I know my pregnancies have been hard from firsthand experience, but I've seen how your worry over me drains the life out of you. Birth is excruciating, but I don't know if I could be the husband that has to watch his wife go through it. Yet, you were there, both times, at the shock of the midwife and nurses. Even Maribelle was surprised. It just goes to show how dedicated you are to our marriage and our family."

"I couldn't imagine not being there, even if it stresses me to see your pain. The births of our children have been some of our most intimate moments as a couple, and I cherish being a part of that. Being able to hold a baby to my wife's chest the moment after they're born...Gods, I can't describe it. Those are some of the most precious moments of my life. And to think…" Chrom stiffened, tears in his eyes. "To think that our enemies have infiltrated that, or have tried to, cuts deep. It's not even about our differences as realms anymore, or even what entities we worship, it's about them manipulating my family and my marriage. My fight is personal now. I can't guarantee I won't rage on the battlefield, Robin. I'm sorry."

Robin ran her fingers through his hair. She kissed his cheek. "I can't hold rage against you, because I'll likely be the same way. As a matter of fact, I know I will be that way. I'm angry, Chrom. They infiltrated something so intimate and sacred to us. They will pay for it. Dearly."

Chrom leaned his head on hers. They watched Morgan until he began to sniffle. Robin took him in her arms and fed him. Afterward, Chrom put him in the bassinet and they went to bed together. It was in the dead of night when a frantic knock came to their door. Robin jostled, her heart pounding. Morgan began to cry at the sudden noise. Robin went to get up, but Chrom held her shoulder as a signal for her to stay in bed. He rose and leaned into the bassinet, cradling the baby in his arms. He walked over to the door and peered through the small hole at eye level. He grimaced and opened the door.

His daughter from the future was at the other side of the door. Her eyes were distressed and red, her face damp with sweat. She glanced to the crying baby in her father's arms and stiffened.

"Lucina!" Chrom exclaimed. "By the Gods, what are you doing here?"

"Morgan's been severely injured," She said. "The Grimleal...they ambushed him. It was bizarre, they weren't fighting him at first, but they turned against him when he attacked. Aunt Lissa treated him and sterilized the wounds, but she said he should be brought here because Lady Maribelle would be able to handle his long term care, along with other healers here at the castle. I thought it best if I escorted him myself."

Chrom's heart throbbed, and the intensity at which it did pained him. The baby at his chest felt his raging heartbeat, and it only upset him more.

"He's here?" he asked.

Lucina nodded. "Yes, Father. In the clinic. I found Lady Maribelle first, and she's taking a look at him now."

"Okay...Okay…" Chrom panicked. He pushed the newborn into Lucina's arms. "Um...just...hold him until the caretaker arrives. I need to help your mother out of bed."