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"Do you think he's dead?"
"Oh, Gaius don't say that!"
"Is it cause you're worried it's your fault, since you didn't catch him in time?"
"Gaius!" Three voices reprimanded at once.
The sound of bickering was not favorable to Frederick's pounding head. He felt like there was a small army running around in his head, and the rest of his limbs too. He couldn't move them, and panicked, but that settled once his arm reached up automatically to hit a certain thief.
"Yep...he's alive," Gaius said, and rubbed the side of his head. His pain was a dull echo of what the knight was feeling. "Aim is pretty good too. Guess he didn't get that beat up after all." The disappointment in his voice was pretty evident, and Lon'qu pointed it out, while Stahl was helping right Frederick into a sitting position.
"You don't seem so pleased about that," Lon'qu said, and offered it to Frederick. His eyes were still closed, and his face contorted into a grimace. "We've got a few vulneraries in you. However, we weren't sure about the dosage..."
"That explains why my, urgh, head is spinning." He rubbed his temple as Stahl pat his back, and Frederick noticed that his armor is gone. His eyes finally open and he looks around for it, and sees that Gaius is carrying it, while eyeing it up. He'd have to make sure that the thief didn't sell it behind his back and claim that he was doing him a favor.
"That and the twenty foot fall," Stahl added. They'd heard the screams from Sumia after they noticed her flash powder, and had proceeded to make their way to the spot as soon as they could. Stahl was an optimist, and hoped nothing would go awry, but Lon'qu had only grunted and said that something of this nature was to be expected.
"Yet I live," he smiled wryly. He remembered just why he fell. He's amazed that the girl was able to signal the others and manage to find him in the dark.
"I caught you after you got kind of banged up," Sumia said, and he knew that she was blushing even though it was pitch black around them. "I'm sorry...I panicked, but my girl knew what she was doing. And you're very heavy!"
"So she dropped you again," Gaius chimed in shamelessly. "Luckily for you good sir, I caught you. I expect repayment at your earliest convenience."
Of course, he did. But what was important then was the medicine. He scrounged around in his pockets and panicked when he couldn't find it. "Where is it?" He patted his clothes frantically, pain and dizziness unimportant. There would be no point to any of this if the task at hand wasn't completed. He couldn't bear the thought of his annoying pupil being so lifeless, pale, and...
No. Perish the thought.
"I have it here," Lon'qu said, and tossed a pouch into Frederick's lap. "It fell out of your pocket. I scavenged around for the plant as they treated you." His words are simple, but his face says something else. Frederick can see little cuts and abrasions. There is quite a bit of dirt clinging on to the other man, and he can gauge the hardship he's gone through too. A sincere soldier, Frederick thought proudly. Serving the army so loyally. That or...like everyone else he also had a soft spot for the girl. Sumia, Stahl, Gaius, Lon'qu...all looked ragged and terribly exhausted. Well their efforts weren't going to go to waste. Not if he could help it.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Frederick stood up with such vigor, no one would have guess that he was just battered by a mountain. "Let's put the tactician out of her misery." He lead a determined march down the path, with the others hurrying to keep up.
"That is not the choice of words I'd go for, Tight Pants," Gaius grinned, as he handed off the bulky armor to Lon'qu, and surpassed a frightened Sumia.
Tight pants? Bah, what a strange man.
There's a commotion the moment the team set foot in the camp. As raucous as everyone was, people stepped aside to make way for them to bring the cure. It seemed as though no one slept all night; the sky was gradually turning lighter, and Frederick worried as to whether or not they were too late. he glanced around at somber faces, which weren't a good indicator of what had been going on other than that she was not yet healed. He staggered through, and straight into the healing tent. Chrom was changing the damp towel on her head, while Lissa and Maribelle looked to be mixing something together.
And Robin...her skin was frighteningly translucent. He could practically feel how weak her pulse was from where he stood. He quickly handed the pouch with the plant to Maribelle; which he'd safeguarded with all he had on their way back. They'd ran into bandits on the road, but he took them out without flinching. Truly, the man was terrifying when something...perhaps someone...this important was on the line.
As soon as Maribelle had the plant in her hands, he'd rushed over to the unconscious tactician. He took her cheeks in his hands, and shuddered at how cool they were. There were still faint traces of dried blood around her lips, and he took the towel on her head to wipe off the stains. Chrom watched him, rather bewildered. He felt a pang in his heart at how his knight held on to her...when he himself had been clutching on to her hand for so long, claimed for himself.
"We've been doing our best," the prince took it upon himself to inform him, although why he felt there was a need for it, he did not know. Rival or not, the most important thing right then was her. "I don't know how it matters to you, but as you've lead the expedition..."
"Thank you, milord," Frederick muttered absentmindedly, and then directed his speech to Robin. "Hey you. You mustn't keep me waiting for our training. Stop pretending you can't hear us." Her breath shook and he felt a temporary surge of hope, thinking she woke up. But of course it was just a false start...she remained asleep.
He felt something well up in his eyes, and it frightened him. The fear and despair he felt was unnatural. He'd dealt with the death of many comrades, comrades that he considered his friends. But this one girl...was turning his world upside down. He didn't want to think about it, and took it out on Maribelle.
"Is it not prepared yet?"
She clucked her tongue and ignored him as she was finishing the mixture. He pressed her again, and she finally spoke. "You and your team took your sweet time about this. It'll take me a minute, hold your horses."
She looked like a mess. Her hair was flawed, and she was running ragged trying to keep Robin alive. That poison probably would have killed her if Maribelle hadn't shoving every remedy she'd ever known of. She felt horrible for letting Lissa go out so late to retrieve supplies, but the princess wouldn't take no for an answer. She'd been switching in and out of tears, but helping all the same.
They were finishing the touches on the plant and...there!
"Ready," Maribelle said, and briskly doled out the mixture on to spoon. "Lissa dear, get me some water." Frederick and Chrom quickly made room for the two girls, and started praying harder than ever. This was it. It was a now or never moment. If their efforts were futile...they would lose her too.
Frederick propped up Robin to an upright position, and her body was only held up by his support. His hold was gentle, as though he were holding a doll. Chrom took the water from Maribelle, and they made one final prayer before sending the medicine down her throat. It was a struggle getting it down as she kept coughing it back up, but with much coaxing and pleading (all deaf to her ears) they fianlly managed it.
"What is the course of action we must take now, Maribelle?" Chrom asked, and beat everyone to the punch.
"Now, we wait."
Waiting was very painful indeed. Frederick had been sent to procure more supplies (they were scarce in the middle of the night, but the dawn promised more wares). He didn't see why he had to, but he wasn't about to hinder her healing process. It was growing more and more painful to watch her anyways. Her sleep had been growing fitful, which was a welcome sign to them. It was the first activity she was showing, and her fists had clenched the sheets. Chrom had gently cupped her hands with his, and whispered to her. It was when she'd murmured Frederick's name that the knight had been excused.
He was working diligently, even though he had many injuries to tend to, he revealed them to no one, and had forbid his team members to disclose them to anyone. There were raised eyebrows at his lack of armor (he'd had Gaius return it to his tent) but not one word came out of him. He limped when no one could see him. It felt like daggers were stabbing into his skin, but he reminded himself that he'd gone through much worse.
He returned to the tent with great timing. Their tactician was finally beginning to stir. Frederick quickly replenished the stocks, and stood behind his lord, who was still holding on to Robin. She was slick with sweat, and was shaking yet again. But her murmuring started to increase. She suddenly shot up, clutching on to her head. Whatever nightmares were plaguing her didn't dissapear; her eyes looked like she was still lost in another world, and he could see tears streaming down her face.
And he felt anger. Anger that someone would administer this type of poison to her. Or anyone, considering that she wasn't the intended target. Chrom or Lissa could have easily fallen into such a trap. But it was she who was in peril.
Yet he...he said that she'd planted this on purpose? Taken it on purpose, even? No... Though he doubted her at every turn, he couldn't think that she'd be this willing to suffer pain. The poor girl was trembling, and Chrom had enveloped her in his arms, trying to soothe her to the best of his ability. He was about to do the same himself, but of course she had no room for him.
No, what was he saying? There was nothing in their relationship besides antagonism. He was simply duty bound to Chrom and Ylisse to make sure nothing funny happened under his watch. Chrom's concern was beyond that of a friend, and reminded Frederick that he wasn't even that much to Robin.
Not that it mattered.
Well since her life was now out of danger, his work was done. He quietly exited the tent without drawing any attention to himself, only grabbing a few medical supplies to fix himself up.
What he did not expect, however, was a pale Robin bursting into his tent not too much later. Gaius had 'let slip' what transpired on the mountain, and Robin found the need to come visit him. As though he was the patient. She was still rocky on her feet, as she had just survived dangerous poison. He could see Chrom standing right before her, his body as her support. And here she was, demanding that he gets seen. He had stripped down to his under armor clothes at this point, to treat every cut he had. Self-healing was not pleasant, but he didn't wish to waste any more vulneraries.
Her seeing him like this...he felt vulnerable. And the last thing he wanted was to feel vulnerable to her.
"What is of me, does not concern yourself." A cold sentence was all he gave her before turning away, and thinking she'd get the message. He didn't know what he hoped for, but he didn't expect to be hurt by the simple "Okay," she told him before leaving.
It's strange how one word could stab him so much.