Beneath the Threads

XXX.

When Morgan woke again, he saw his mother reading a book. He smiled and recognized it as one of her many tactical strategy books. He was in pain everywhere, but being with his family helped ease some of the ache, if not slightly provoke it with his relationship with his father. He loved his father, he truly did, but it was hard to for Morgan to find ground with him. It was a blessing, for when he woke as an amnesiac, he didn't even know whether or not he had a father. He just knew his mother. Happening upon his father without knowing it was a surprise, but Chrom's stature still intimidated him. He didn't know how to handle having such a genuine and high caliber figure as a parent. Robin was similar, but he knew her well, which made that image easier. He didn't know what to do about it, but it was always on his mind. He sighed.

Robin closed her book and smiled. "Hello, Morgan. How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright, Mother. It'll just take time to get better," he said. "Where's Father and Lucina?"

"Your father went to check on the children. Lucina left this morning to return to the front lines." Robin frowned and shook her head. "I tried to get her to stay...but, she was adamant."

"That's just like her. Never one to rest."

"Yes, it is. Even though it drives her mother mad with worry." Robin sighed. She got up and sat on the edge of the bed.

Morgan stared at the ceiling. "Is Father coming back?"

"Of course. He's been with you all morning. He stayed with you while I fed the baby earlier, and I'm with you now. We haven't left your side." Robin paused. She held Morgan's hand. "Does he really intimidate you? You can be honest with me, Morgan. I've wanted to talk to you about this since yesterday."

"Yes, Mother." Morgan swallowed. "He...really does."

Robin furrowed her brows. "It hurts him to hear you say that. He doesn't mean to be. I know it's because you don't know him like you do me, and he's, well, royalty, but he sees it as something he's done as a parent. He thinks he's done something to you to make you feel that way."

"He hasn't, Mother. He hasn't done anything ill to me...I just don't know how to approach him. I've seen how people stiffen when he comes around, when he gives orders. They don't want to wrong him. I heard him chastise Ricken one day when a few tents caught fire...and he was so stern."

"Gods…" Robin bit her lip. She hoped Chrom wasn't outside the door listening, she knew his words would crush him. "Morgan, you have a really twisted view of your father. If he knew, it would break his heart. He's stern when it's the right time to be. Leading an army and a Halidom is no easy task, and it requires him to present himself as strong and defined in his stance. People stiffen because it makes them nervous to be around their leader. The Shepherds don't treat him that way. They treat him as a normal person. If Ricken got chastised, then he must've had something to do with the fire."

"It doesn't make it any easier to approach him. I've often wondered how you two…"

"Got married?" Robin finished. "You're wondering how I fell in love with the person you think he is. But, really, he's the exact opposite. He's kind, Morgan. He cares about his family and his friends. He's attentive to what needs it most. Sometimes that means being stern. But, under all of that, he's a doting husband and father. Not to mention a big dork!"

Morgan shrugged. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt him...I just don't know what to do."

"Give him a chance. He loves you to bits, you know. The night you were born, he held you in the rocking chair until dawn. He wouldn't put you in the bassinet to sleep, he was adamant you would be more comfortable being held in the hours after birth. He did the same with Lucina. You both fell asleep in his arms before you did mine."

"Alright, Mother. I'll do my best to get to know him better."

"Good. I know you'll both find it enjoyable."

They sat in the silence of the early morning. After a few minutes, the door opened. Chrom walked in, his arms full of random items. Robin shook her head and chuckled. She glanced to Morgan, who had a confused look on his face.

"Look out, there's a doting father on the loose!" Robin teased. She took some of the items from his arms.

"Hey! My son's sick. He needs these," Chrom defended with light tone.

"Yes, I'm sure he needs a box of candies and a giant plush bear."

"Of course. And a book and a blanket and a cupcake."

"Gods, Chrom. Do you want to add cavities to his ailments?" Robin sighed. She smiled and placed the bear beside her son on the bed and handed him the box of candies.

Chrom set the other items on the nightstand. He sat down on the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright, Father." Morgan smiled. "Getting better a little at a time."

"Good. Take all the time you need." He paused. "I spoke with Lucina this morning. She recalled what happened from what she saw, but she didn't know exactly what happened to you. Are you feeling up to recalling it to us?"

"Yes…" Morgan bit his lip. "I was following tactic Mother taught me. I had found myself far from the group, and it was a strategy she taught me for when you found yourself alone and surrounded by enemies. It was working, until pain hit my head. There was voice calling out to me, a voice claiming to be my grandfather. It was distant...but it was there. It told me I was to serve Grima, and Grima was to be resurrected in a vessel. And that vessel was Mother. I was able to oust this presence, but once I had, I was ambushed. The next thing I remember was Lucina at my side on the way here."

"No!" Robin exclaimed, tears on her cheeks. "No, no, no!"

Morgan glanced to Chrom. His heart sped. "F-Father?"

Chrom shook his head. "Morgan, that voice was that of Validar. He is your mother's father, and they do have the blood of Grima. You and Lucina have a mix of exalted and Fell blood. It makes you more powerful than you realize. Validar must've found this in you, and has used your lineage to try and contact you. To manipulate you. It's a good thing you were able to oust him. He's contacted your mother in the same way. When we're ready to leave the castle, we are advancing towards him immediately. He needs to be dealt with. We cannot afford to have him seize control of anyone in our army for the interests of the Grimleal."

"Gods…" Morgan furrowed his brows. "He hasn't tried to contact Lucina...that I know of."

"No. She would've told me if he had." Chrom nodded. "It seems he can infiltrate only at certain time where the mind is susceptible. The more stressed you are, the more doubt you fell, the easier it is for him to contact you. It's easier for him to manipulate you into accepting Grima in this state. You're an amnesiac, so this makes you easy to target, since your mind can be clouded at times. When your mother was in labor, he was able to get through to her because of the stress she was under. The more determined you are in your motivations and actions, the less he will be able to control you. Familial bonds seem to have a role in it as well. He can't get through to your mother when I'm around."

"What do I do, Father?"

"There's nothing much you can do, other than reject his offers should he get through. Fight back at him until we are able to met him in battle. The best thing is to make sure you relieve yourself of doubts."

"I'm going to try my best. Will...you and Mother help me?"

"Of course. We'll always be at your side. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to us."