A/N: Three weeks! Sorry for that… Trust me, I haven't forgotten, nor will I stop. Stuff has happened (I won't bore you with the details). Anyway, I'll try to update more regularly for the rest of the summer. After that, I'm hesitant to promise anything since I'm starting law school, which might be a bumpy ride at first.
Chapter 8
Robin spotted Tharja from the corner of his eye. She was eating with Gregor and Ricken. Tharja rarely joined the Shepherds during meals, so the cook personally delivered her what she ate. Seeing her socialize with other people was a welcoming change. He thought that it would make his life easier when he asked her to take part in Frederick's exercises. Although, when he saw her bored and with a slightly annoyed expression, Robin feared for the well-being of Gregor and Ricken. Word of what happened to Vaike and Gaius had spread quickly, and Tharja quickly earned a less than desirable reputation. The Shepherds still treated her with respect, but Feroxi soldiers were even less trustful of the only Plegian in their army.
The tactician then considered the possibility that Tharja was forcing herself to be around the other Shepherds because of Fredericks's scolding. No bodily harm came to Vaike and Gaius, but the stern lieutenant didn't appreciate how the Plegian mage used both of them as target practice. Robin didn't know what they did to her, although he guessed that it must have been pretty severe if the secluded Tharja did something so noticeable. In his mind, Tharja didn't handle her issue appropriately. Nonetheless, he was grateful that she was making an effort to be around other people, and that Frederick had not been too harsh on her. Despite her attitude, Robin firmly believed that it was in their best interest to keep her on the front lines.
Robin caught himself staring at her. Thankfully, she was far enough and distracted to notice. The distance between them meant that Robin wasn't sensing her dark aura, so he concentrated on her beauty without feeling nervous. Robin immediately covered his face with his hand, and pretended to rub his temples. He was actually hiding his reddened appearance. The woman was a complete mystery to him. Because of her personality, she was as engaging as a hungry mountain lion. At the same time, she looked so… feminine. Robin couldn't think of another way to describe her appearance. Everyone would agree that Tharja was attractive, but if Robin thought of her for too long, then she became somewhat alluring. A poet would describe her as a thorn covered rose. Robin, on the other hand, was a little cruder. The tactician saw her as a finely crafted sword that had been dipped in poison.
Robin made a mental note to stop reading Sumia's romance novels. Those texts were making his thoughts too prose-like. The Shepherd's tactician had a feeling that Tharja would love that sort of poetic description he had of her. She would say that it made her sound deadly. After the dark mage began appearing in his dream, Robin found himself sometimes knowing how Tharja thought or felt. It was why he panicked a little whenever he thought of Frederick removing her from their unit. He somehow knew how she would react to such a scenario, which was odd to him. Ever since her confession, Robin had downright avoided her like the plague. It was incomprehensible for him to understand her, because he consciously put some distance between them.
Admitting that he was avoiding her made Robin lose his appetite. He wasn't like that to anybody else. It wasn't fair for Tharja. She didn't even do something wrong – not to him. Robin admitted to himself that he didn't know how to handle Tharja's feelings. Life was simpler before she sprung that on him. Robin couldn't help himself. He heaved a heavy sigh through his hands, and it sounded like all the stress was catching up with him.
"Are you alright, Robin," Chrom asked. The tactician knew that his face wasn't flushed anymore, so he lowered his gauntleted hands. Chrom and Lissa sat across from him, and both of them seemed worried. Although, Lissa looked funny, because she had stuffed her face with food.
"Yes, I'm fine," Robin replied as he scratched the back of his head. "I have a lot on my mind."
"That's good. I heard that something happened during today's drill, so I thought that was bothering you," Chrom explained.
"C'mon, Chrom, we're eating!" Lissa fumed after gulping down what she had been chewing on.
Robin chuckled nervously and shook his head. "It's alright, Lissa. Anyway, nothing significant happened this morning. It was just a little friction between the Feroxi soldiers and a few Ylissean volunteers."
"Gods, I can't believe it happened again," Chrom said in disappointment. "I can't turn a blind eye to this any longer. I'm getting involved."
Robin tensed. "There's no need, Chrom. Frederick and I are handling it."
"And it keeps happening," Chrom stated. "Robin, I'm not going to yell at the Feroxi warriors and ruin Ylisse's friendsip with Regna Ferox. I just want to calmly speak to our troops, and hear what they have to say."
"I know that. It's just that you have more important duties to attend, so we didn't want to bother you," Robin explained lamely. "Besides, this is natural, right? Of course there will be internal conflicts in a diverse army like this one."
The Prince of Ylisse looked down. "If Emm was here, she would inspire everybody to work together with her message of peace." Chrom stood up. "I'm sorry, but I have work to do," he said before leaving. Robin felt like he had said that last part himself far too many times.
Lissa pouted and crossed her arms. "Why are you babying my older brother?"
"I wouldn't call it babying," Robin said defensively. "I'm just helping him with a few tasks."
"I'm not blind, Robin!" she exclaimed after slamming her small fists against the table. "You and Frederick are sheltering him. He's not a boy, you know!"
He silently pleaded her to stop yelling. "This is not the place for an outburst," Robin hissed. "We are doing your brother a favor, Lissa."
The Princess calmed down. "Explain it to me. How is it helpful to keep the next exalted from meeting with his troops?"
"I can't speak for Frederick. He's probably just doing his best to serve your brother…"
"As for you?" Lissa asked impatiently.
"I… I've been keeping Chrom's exposure to a minimum." Robin sighed and slumped his shoulders. "Lissa, you see. The thing is…" Robin hated his answer. "Inviting comparison to your late sister is not what he needs right now." He was afraid to face Lissa after saying that. However, she didn't look angry when he met her gaze. If anything, she appeared understanding to what he just said.
Lissa smiled and stood up, she then picked up her empty plate and the one Chrom left. "I appreciate that you're looking after my big brother." She walked towards him. "But don't you have your own problems to take care off?" She cocked her head in Tharja's direction. "It's not like you to stare and blush at your own problems."
All color drained from his face. Knowing that Lissa had caught him staring at Tharja made him feel very nervous. The young Princess could be unpredictable, so he didn't even dare to imagine what she would do with that information. The worst part, though, was that she had obviously misread the situation. Robin was left speechless, even as Lissa sweetly patted his shoulder and walked away.
Despite how much it bothered him, Robin admitted that Lissa was right. He was avoiding his own personal issue with Tharja, but spent his downtime trying to solve everyone's problems. Whether it was helping someone by just listening to their woes, or actively trying to help one of his comrades grow stronger, Robin made time for the men and women that fought with them. However, Robin could be a very private person. Sometimes he hid his fears and insecurities from everybody. Why? He wanted to project an image of total security, and inspire faith within the Shepherds and their allies.
He made up his mind! Robin was going to approach Tharja and talk with her. His legs were a little wobbly when he got up, so he decided to only bring up Frederick's concerns and nothing else. Just because his spine suddenly got sturdier didn't mean he was about to discuss with the dark mage everything pertinent detail: from his dreams about her, to his thoughts on her physical appearance. Nonetheless, he would eventually address her feelings – once he found a way to let her down gently. After all, there was a time and place for everything.
Robin took a deep breath when he reached her table. "Good afternoon," Robin said formally.
"Hey, Robin!" Ricken greeted cheerfully.
"Yes, swell afternoons to you too, Robin. Oi! Gregor has many recommendations for meals. Expand the menu. Robin take this to cook, yes?" Gregor handed Robin a small scribbled parchment. Robin envied Gregor's directness. "Cook never listens to Gregor. Says he does with what you give him, so Gregor bring request to you."
Robin chuckled nervously. "I'll see what I can do. We're doing the best we can, so I'm not sure if the cook can serve anything else."
Gregor raised an eyebrow. "But happy stomach makes for strong warriors. If Chrom and Robin want to win war, then you'll need many strong fighters."
"Stopped complaining," Tharja scoffed. "Be grateful that we're not being fed gruel," she said after swallowing her last spoonful of rice. The Plegian mage was looking away, purposely avoiding Robin's gaze.
Robin pocketed Gregor's note. "Tharja, can I have a word with you?" Her head turned lighting fast to face him. Robin saw her struggling to not smile. Tharja's amethyst-colored eyes, however, betrayed her intentions to hide her sudden bolt of happiness. Her usually smoky and dreary orbs shone like a stream of clear water on a sunny, summer's afternoon. Robin was taken aback by how Tharja reacted.
"Yes! Yes!" she exclaimed. Tharja lost her passive composure. She calmed herself when she noticed that Ricken and Gregor were looking at her as if she grew a second head. "I mean, of course," she said after composing herself.
"Can you meet with me outside?" Robin asked.
Tharja shot up. "Sure." She tried to keep her excitement in check. "Let's go now. I don't want to keep you waiting. You're a busy man, right?" She suddenly moved to grab his hand, but sopped herself. "Alright, let's go." She bolted before Robin could move an inch.
When the tactician turned around, he heard: "Little Ricken, why is scary woman acting like pup? Does she fancy the scrawny tactician?" Robin allowed the comment about his frame pass.
Tharja was mumbling into her hands when he met her outside. "You're not ready. You're not ready. You're not ready," she repeated quietly. "Robin!" Tharja yelped when she spotted him. "On second thought, can we talk on some other occasion? I have to practice my small talk!" She wasn't making any sense. Tharja was happy to talk with him a moment ago, and then changed her mind.
"Wait, this is too important!" Robin alarmed before she could run away.
"Just… give me a chance," she whispered darkly. "I'm not ready." The dark mage hid her eyes from him. Robin was starting to find that habit of hers a little cute. "Please, Robin, let's talk tomorrow. I'll be ready then."
Robin sighed. "It's quick. I just need a moment of your time." Robin continued when she calmed down. "Frederick has brought to my attention some worries he has regarding you."
Tharja became visibly irritated when Robin said that. "I'm a dark mage! I don't need to be part of his awful routines."
"I would agree with you. He's not like that with the other mages," Robin said. "Although, your situation is different…"
She scoffed dismissively. "So there are people who still think that I'm a spy?"
Robin waved his hand. "No! Gods forbid, no. Tharja, I've shown preferential treatment to you over other Shepherds that have been with us for longer than you have," the tactician began. "I think you've more than proven your usefulness to our cause, and I've been taking into consideration your talent whenever I plan for the next battle."
The Plegian woman smirked. She brought her hands to her cheeks in embarrassment. "Really?"
"Yes. Frederick is stricter on those who I rely the most," Robin explained. "He just wants to witness our dedication to Chrom." He was purposely leaving out Frederick's suggestion to remove Tharja if she failed to comply.
"Fine," she held out her index finger, "but I have one demand."
"I-If it's reasonable, I'll granted it," he stuttered.
"It's not exactly safe to have a mage train with a non-mage, correct?"
"Unless a none-mage wants to improve their resistance to magic," Robin stated.
"Those people tend to end up as little crisps," Tharja mentioned off handedly. "As you can imagine, I'll need someone as a partner."
"I guess." Robin didn't like where she was going with this.
"And there's only three mages in this army that I would be willing to train with: Miriel, Ricken, and you." She stepped forward. "Miriel's busy teaching Ricken some spells. That leaves only," Tharja poked his chest, "you."
Robin didn't understand why he suddenly blushed. "I-I… Chrom and I spar all the time."
"Your swordsmanship is fine," Tharja pointed out. "Perhaps you should now work on your mastery of the arcane arts." The dark mage smirked. "I'm rather talented. This way you'll learn some new tricks and get Frederick off your back."
I should've stayed in my table. Things weren't complicated while I sat there. "If I agree to do this, will you follow Frederick's rules?" Tharja nodded. "Then you have a deal. We'll start tomorrow." Of course Robin wasn't fooled by her claim that he had everything to gain from her convenient arrangement. She obviously had her own hidden agenda.
However, she made a lot of sense.
XXXX
Tharja dropped to her knees when she entered her messy tent. She frantically searched for her "normal" notes. They were not next to the bat wings and toad carcasses. That was the last place Tharja saw them. Instead, she found them under the flux tome Robin gave her some time ago. Thanks to Sumia's help, Tharja was able to summarize the key elements of a lovable, normal girl. It was her own thesis on normalcy. Tharja needed to review them many times before meeting with Robin for their special training time.
Life was good, life was very good. Just when she was feeling like she had hit a brick wall, fate handed her a golden opportunity. Happiness was practically flowing through her entire being. Those awful hours with Sumia were going to pay off. The pegasus knight was a great person; Tharja just hated what Sumia taught her. Talking about the weather was so blasted dreadful. But Robin was worth it. Robin was worth spending the rest of her life pointing out that the sky was blue, even if it was the most idiotic conversation topic humans conjured up.
Step One: Smile Sweetly
This was very hard for Tharja. If she smiled for too long, her face felt sore. She was used to scowling all the time that any other expression was straining on her features. It was incomprehensible how some people went through their entire life with a cheery expression. Her gloomy behavior wasn't exactly the greatest part of her personality, meaning that smiling more would help with her image.
Step Two: Smile Some More
Tharja made a mental note to work on an ice spell for when she needed to heal her trained face.
Step Three: Laugh
Her stomach fell. Sumia told Tharja that she needed to work on her laughter. Apparently she sounded creepy when she forced herself. Well, nobody's perfect, she concluded.
Step Four: Act Natural
It was so ironic. Tharja was supposed to act natural while she pretended to be someone she wasn't. That was just insulting. For her, it was like being slapped and being told to like it. Basically, it was the most masochistic thing she had ever forced herself to do. Being natural while pretending to be someone she wasn't was also a perfect oxymoron. Tharja was not happy with all the contradictions.
Step Five: Be Yourself
Tharja crossed that one out. She couldn't believe she wrote four paragraphs on how to be herself. If it wasn't for her cynical personality, she wouldn't need to be training to be normal. There were dozens of useful ways for her to spend her time, like perfecting that human implosion curse she began working on three months ago.
Step Six: Give Him Something to Eat
According to Sumia, the road to a man's heart is through his stomach. Tharja knew that what Sumia said sounded like hogwash, but there was some truth to it, even if it was physically impossible for the heart and stomach to be so directly connected. The pegasus knight said that Chrom fell in love with her after she began feeding him some rhubarb pies. Of course, Tharja had to mimic that one aspect of their relationship if she wanted to increase her chances of success. The Plegian mage investigated thoroughly what was Robin's favorite: liver-and-eel pie. It was as unappetizing as it sounded. Apparently the love of her life had poor tastes in food. But that was fine. Robin was intelligent.
Step Seven: Repeat!
Tharja mentally cursed the gods for not granting her the virtue of patience.
A/N: I have a neat realization that I want to share with you. In Fire Emblem: Awakening logic, everything is solved with food. Want to get stronger? Eat something (F!MUxBrady). Need to improve your image. Bake him a pie (M!MUxTharja). Need a new tasty hobby? Feed someone (NoirexOwain). The list is comically long. I mean, in the Tellius series, Oscar was the only one talking about food. It was HIS thing. Here? Nope, everybody has something to say.
