Robin, Robin, Robin.
Hmm?
Robin, Robin, Robin.
Who is that?
Robin, Robin, Robin.
Stop. Stop saying my name.
Hehhehheh.
Who's doing that? Answer me.
Lissa will be joining her brother soon…
No, you stay away from her.
Do you see her falling into the abyss? Her screams, can you hear them?
Shut up!
There she goes into blackness. Hehhehheh.
Who are you?
I'm you, Robin. We're one entity, remember?
Grima? No, no. It can't. You died.
Really? How did I die?
We … we fought our way through Aversa's generals and entered the temple. We saw you there. You were there. I remember that. You sealed us from our comrades, but Chrom and I vanquished you. He delivered the final blow.
Keep going.
You died there, yes. In purple smoke, yes. Yes, I remember. But something went wrong. You took control of me and you…
I what?
You killed Chrom.
Remember that we're the same being now, Robin. I didn't kill Chrom. We killed him.
That's not true.
It's a bitter truth you'll have to accept.
No, I can't….
But don't let that piddling thought distract you from your tale. Keep going.
Chrom collapsed. He told me to escape that place and then everything went black.
I see. And when did I ever die?
You died when…when...
Yes?
I-I don't know.
See? I never died, Robin. You were mistaken. I live inside you now. I dwell in the bottommost chambers of your psyche, lying dormant, biding my time, collecting strength so that I may summon the Fell Dragon once more.
Stop! Stop talking! Just listening to your voice is torture!
That's because I'm evil itself. I am Grima. I am Despair. Remember that.
…
…
…
Robin woke with a start.
It was dark. The first strands of dawn had not yet begun to pierce the sky.
He peeled the covers off of his body and sat on the edge of bed, sweating, shaking uncontrollably.
"Honey," Lissa groaned, "did you have that dream again?"
"Yes. That's the third time this month."
She yawned. "Aww, it's too early to get up. I'm going back to sleep. Can you check up on Morgan?"
"Of course. Give me just a moment."
He toddled across the bedroom to the kitchen and took a sip from the water bucket. For a while, he only stood in the solitary murk. It relaxed him. The morning birds were awake already, and they were chirping outside.
Morgan slept in a cradle he crafted himself. Lissa bore her on the 5th of May, precisely eight months ago. She was a healthy birth, and she cried incessantly for attention, like other babies. Unlike other babies, however, she preferred her father's company over her mother's. Lissa often failed to placate her cries, but merely seeing her father's face was enough to send Morgan into contentment. As such, he was the one who checked up on her every morning, even though this was traditionally the mother's job.
Robin stood over the cradle and watched his daughter snooze in utter peace. He brushed away a patch of hair from her forehead and then kissed her there.
Then, in a strange moment of fate that Robin would not understand until many years later, he recited Naga's Lullaby.
"Night is here,
Have no fear,
Sleep but do not cry,
Trust in water, trust in fire, trust in earth,
Naga is nigh."
Morgan cooed.
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
He had never heard the lullaby before in his life.
…
…
…
Winter.
Snow in Ylisstol was a tradition. It snowed often but lightly enough so that not more than a foot of it covered the capitol at any point during the three months. Because the cold season halted most agricultural activity in the capitol, Robin and Lissa could visit their old comrades often.
Cordelia bore a girl named Severa (that birth was joyous), Cherche, a boy named Gerome (that birth was also joyous), and Maribelle, a boy named Brady (the mother was so shocked at the revelation of her child's sex that she fainted, causing a great scare for Ricken).
Panne, the proud taguel, lived with her husband Gaius on the other side of the city. They were not farmers but gatherers. Panne's extraordinary sense of smell allowed her to sniff out rare roots and fungi growing underground, which she then dug up and transported to her home. There, Gaius treated the findings with different sugars, syrups, and sweet oils in various quantities to achieve a perfect balance of richness and texture. He then brought these goods to market to sell for a high price and earned him and his wife a place among the richer families of Ylisse. They raised a son of two years named Yarne.
Tharja and Henry lived in Ylisstol for a few months before moving back to their hometown of Plegia under pseudonyms. They were a supremely odd couple that spread unease wherever they went. Tharja was often caught reciting spells in public, while Henry preferred to stay at home and experiment with blood alchemy and crow breeding. But the two adored each other and shared an unspoken bond that only their mutual backgrounds in dark magic could afford them.
Tharja bore a daughter named Noire, who was severely underweight and sick at the time of her delivery, but went on to make a full recovery.
Lissa was three months pregnant with their second child.
Things seemed to be returning to normal.
…
…
…
The government of Ylisstol had been in turbulence ever since the death the Exalt Emmeryn, and it had degraded into deeper disarray when news of Chrom's demise reached the capital. No one mentioned that it was Robin who slew him; this secret was kept between those who witnessed the event in an unsaid understanding.
Because Cynthia and Lucina carried the blood of the last Exalt, they were named the rulers of the Halidom, with Lucina taking priority over her sister due to her mere eleven months of seniority. However, since neither had reached adulthood, Sumia was designated Lord Protector of the two children. Having no experience in leading a nation, she appointed a cadre of advisers with Frederick at its head.
Lissa delivered a letter to Sumia a month ahead of time to ask for an audience with her and her children. Because Cynthia and Lucina were the last in Chrom's lineage, all contact with outsiders was monitored and documented to obviate any attempts at assassination. Lissa, who shared blood with the children, was allowed special privilege to visit them at any time. Robin, however, needed to have his background checked and approved, so his wife sent the request on his behalf. This inquiry was expedited (usually, it took six months for a response), and permission was granted after just three weeks.
The castle guards were curt. They checked his person for hidden weapons, his bags for any contraband (he only took a bouquet of tulips), and then verified and re-verified the imperial seal on the letter of invitation to the castle. Lissa was exempt, and she watched all of this with impatience. Finally, after interrogating him about his intentions and nature of the visit, they allowed him to pass.
"Jeez, that took a while," she said.
"Yeah, those guys don't play around. No words or actions wasted. All business."
"I'm sooo glad I didn't have to go through any of that."
"Lucky you."
"Ha, I'm sorry," she said, "but I was about to die of boredom just waiting for you to finish. You have a lot more patience than I do. I like that about you."
She pecked him on the cheek.
"Shhhhh, what if someone sees us?"
"I don't care."
She pecked him on the other cheek.
When they reached the entrance to the royal chamber, a guard checked Robin's invitation (again) and then opened the door to the room, whereupon they were greeted by the Lord Protector and her two blue-haired girls, both about four years of age.
"Sumiaaaaaaa! Cynthia! Lucina!"
"Auntie Lissa!"
The two blue-haired girls dashed over to her and each claimed one of her legs.
"Great to see you, Lissa," said Sumia. "How's Morgan coming along?"
"Excellent," she replied. "Morgan's not even eight months old and she's already starting to form sentences."
"Ah, Cynthia here didn't speak until she was almost a year old, believe it or not, and now she's the biggest source of noise in the castle."
"Yep," beamed Cynthia.
Sumia laughed. "She takes pride in that. Oh, and how's the other baby?" she asked, pointing to Lissa's bulging belly.
"Energetic to say the least," said Lissa. "Kicks around like a mule. If he's this much work now, imagine how he'll be like once he's born."
"A boy, then?"
"We hope. Robin picked out a name for him: Owain."
Sumia turned to him. "A wonderful name." There was a faint quaver in her voice. "It's good to see you, Robin."
"It's an honor to have an audience with you, Lord Protector." He wasn't sure how she felt about him. After all, he was her husband's murderer. Some residue of bitterness still lingered in her heart, no doubt, but at the same time, she was not a vengeful soul. Perhaps she could see that it was Grima who was to blame and not him. Either way, it was wise to exercise tact.
"Oh, Robin, you don't have to be so formal with an old friend," said Sumia.
"As you please, milady. Any trouble brewing in the outside world?"
"None so far as we can tell. Plegia has been sending envoys to us to try and maintain peace on the borders. We've established new trade agreements, and tariffs are lower than ever. Both nations are prospering more than ever. The historians are already calling it a Pax Ylissea."
"And what about…"
"No reports of Risen at all. The land is safe for now, but we'll be keeping an eye on things," said Sumia. "Are those tulips?"
"Yes, the prettiest ones from the garden."
"Actually, Robin just bought them from the florist on our way here," said Lissa.
Sumia laughed. "Thanks. The children love tulips."
"Two lips," said Cynthia.
"No, no, sis, it's 'tulips'. One word."
"Tulips," repeated Cynthia.
"Here," said Robin, offering her one, "take it."
She accepted the flower eagerly, inspected it, and then held it above her head. "I am Marth, hero of Eel-east (Ylisse)! Rah! Rah!" she proclaimed, thrust it in and out like a lance.
"Cyn-thiaaa," Lucina whined, snatching the flower from her hands.
"Hey! Give it back!"
"Marth didn't use a lance, dumby. He used the Falchion, and that was a sword, see?" said Lucina, holding the tulip like an épée.
"Oh, whatever," said Cynthia. "Maybe I'll just stick to being Cecil then."
Lissa giggled.
"Kids," said Sumia, "this is Robin, by the way. He was a great adviser for us during the wars."
"Uncle Wobin," said Cynthia.
Lucina poked her in the forehead. "Ow!"
"Robin, sis. Robin."
"Good day to you girls," he said to them.
"Good day, Uncle Robin," they said in unison.
He studied their eyes and found no traces of animosity, only curiosity. And Robin realized that now would be the only time that they would gaze upon him with such innocence. Once their mother was to tell them the true circumstances surrounding their father's death, they would harbor only hatred for him. But for now, they were free from history.
Robin knelt down so that he was at their eye level. "Cynthia," he said, "do you like it in Ylisstol?"
"Yes, I like it a lot. I love the food and the comfy beds and the gardens and the birds. I get to play every day and sometimes I wear makeup and try on mama's clothing."
"You'll be a good wife. Enjoy every moment. You will remember these times when you grow older."
Robin shifted gaze to Lucina. "And how about you, young Exalt? What do you want to be when you get older?"
"I want to be the greatest ruler ever! I'll lead our knights into battle and take down our foes in one blow just like father."
"Just like…"
"Father, the bravest warrior of them all," she said. "Mama tells me stories of him and his holy sword, how he traveled a thousand miles to face evil, how everyone around him looked to him for strength, how …"
"That's enough, Lucina," said Sumia.
"…how he was the greatest swordsman on the continent, how…"
"Enough!"
Lucina shrank back. Robin himself had never heard Sumia raise her voice before.
"Ah, I'm sorry," she said, eyes pink.
"Don't be. I understand," he said. "It seems that it was a mistake for me to come here. If my presence is too much of a burden, then I'll go."
"No, you don't have to…"
"I insist," said Robin. "But before I do, let me ask you, what do you plan to tell the children about … their father's passing?"
"My husband believed in this, and I do too: the ugly truth must prevail over a beautiful lie."
"I see." Robin looked once more at the two children. "Cynthia, if you wish to become a lady of fine manners, then listen to your mother, for she is a lady with the finest manners that I know. If your aspirations change with age, then strive for those instead, but never lose your thirst for life.
"Lucina, you will become a strong noblewoman and a prudent queen. If evil should befall your kingdom, then I shall trust you to restore the peace. And when many summers pass, and you know more than you know now, I will be expecting your knock on my door."
Robin turned to Sumia. "Take these tulips and plant them in your garden. Collect their seedlings and save them for the future. If just seeing my face troubles you, then look upon the tulips instead. They'll remind you of the good things about me without bringing up the bad."
She received the flowers. "I will do that."
Robin bid farewell to her and the children and thanked them for their time.
"Wait," said Lissa, "what about dinner and all that?"
"You don't have to leave," he said, "But I can't stay. That'd be rude. I'll see you back home."
He left his company in thunderstruck silence and exited the castle without another word to the guards.
The royal garden remained fallow that winter.