This story will be going on hiatus for 18 months while I serve a mission for my church in France. Not that y'all will be likely to notice with my crappy updating habits. Sorry it took so long for this chapter. I was suffering from writer's block –I'm still suffering from writer's block but decided to say screw it and give you guys one last chapter before I go silent for a year and a half.

Robin leapt from the wall, using Elwind to break her fall, and rushed towards one of the unit commanders.

"Have your troops fall back, but slow down the enemy as much as possible, we need to buy time for the citizens to get to the inner wall," She ordered

The commander nodded and immediately relayed her orders to his unit, as Robin turned and headed through the alleyways in an attempt to head off any Plegians that had broken through the defense line in the chaos. She knew they couldn't hold out for very long before it became dangerous to keep the gates open any longer, all she could do was prevent that time for arriving for as long as she could.

She emerged from the alley in front of a large group of Plegians charging through the streets. Quickly pulling out one of her tomes, she cast Bolganone on the ground beneath their feet. The cobblestone square melted into hot magma and swallowed up the screams of the burning Plegians. The spell missed a few of them but she was able to rectify that before they could reach her.

Looking out from her slightly elevated position on the hill, she surveyed the battlefield. It was absolute chaos. Troops from all over the city were retreating while continuing to engage the Plegian forces while some were in an all-out retreat, unable to hold against the massive army they were up against. Citizens were rushing towards the inner wall desperately trying to keep their loved ones with them some making it and others being cut down before they could. The crying and screaming that echoed through the walls would not soon leave her.

The front line soon reached her in their retreat, having broken contact with the front line of the enemy. She cast another Bolganone to slow down the enemy before following the rest to the inner walls.

"Close the gates!" She yelled as she passed under the portcullis. The gatekeepers wasted no time as they cut the rope and sent the gate crashing down, impaling soldiers both allied and enemy alike. Robin turned away from the cries of the citizens and soldiers that didn't make it back inside. She wasn't naïve, she knew she couldn't save everyone, but that didn't make the sacrifices any easier. But she couldn't focus on that now. She had a castle and an Exalt in need of defending.

The war room was immediately where she headed, knowing that that is where she'd find Emmeryn.

"Lady Robin," She turned and saw the squire from earlier running towards her, jars of discarded kitchen grease in his hands, "What do you want done with this?"

"Deliver it to the commander on the wall right now. He will know what to do with it," She ordered, and returned to her current task.

Robin strode in without announcing her presence. She did not miss the disapproving (and slightly fearful) glares she received from multiple members of the council. Now was not the time for formalities.

"Lady Robin," Said one of the more elderly members of the council, "What are you doing barging in-"

"The outer walls have been breached which I'm sure you're all aware of," She said, ignoring the council member, an action which she was sure would become habit before the end of this.

"Yes we are," Another of the council members responded, "Given how greatly your skill was praised by Prince Chrom, I would have expected you to hold out much longer. Perhaps your skill was exaggerated,"

"I may be skilled, but not even I can perform the impossible," Robin countered, "Ylissetol was ill-prepared for a siege of this caliber. We should consider ourselves fortunate they didn't bring any wyverns with them as we'd be hard pressed to counter them with our relatively few archers and severe lack of Pegasus knights,"

Robin knew that he meant to provoke her. It was no secret that they were not fond of a stranger with amnesia found wearing Plegian robes being appointed as the chief strategist. She knew her words would provoke them, and she knew it wasn't wise. However, being as stressed and tired as she was, she couldn't bring herself to care. Never, in the three wars she had participated in, had her skill ever been questioned, and especially not for something as mundane as the strategies she was using now.

"Enough," The Exalt commanded firmly before any could retort. Emmeryn sighed, "We don't have the time for this. How are the people?"

"Many, I'm sure are grieving for family and friends who didn't make it in time. We kept the gates open for as long as we could, but we weren't able to hold out long enough for them all to make it,"

"I will go visit them, walk among them,"

"Your Excellence, I would advise against it," A council member said, and for once they and Robin were on the same page.

"I would also recommend against it," Robin advised, "We're in a delicate and dangerous position right now. The Plegians might try to push their advantage by attempting another assassination,"

Emmeryn shook her head, the stubbornness that would occasionally rear its head becoming present, "I understand the risks, but the people need to know that their ruler hasn't abandoned them,"

Robin knew there was no arguing with Emmeryn once she made up her mind, "If you insist," Robin almost insisted on accompanying her, but thought better of it knowing that there were many things that needed her attention, such as making sure Cordelia made it safely into the citadel, "May I take my leave,"

"Of course,"

Robin bowed and left the room.

Please leave a review, and thank you for continuing to be patient with me.

-AlyRe