A few days before her projected due date, Lissa requested that Robin buy some nagafish from the market. She'd seemed rather pale recently, so Robin asked for a priest to visit her. After checking her signs of health, the priest concluded that she needed to remain in bed for the rest of her pregnancy and recommended that she drink lots of fluids and eat saltwater fish, a rarity in Ylisse.
And so there he found himself at the center of a smelly seafood market in the middle of June with absolutely no idea of what a nagafish was supposed to look like.
"Is that Robin?"
"Yes, I do believe that is our comrade."
He turned. "Sully? Miriel?"
"Yo, what's up, tactician?" asked Sully.
"Nothing much, Sully," he replied. "How's your husband?"
"Kellam? Hah, that ol' ball o' goof. He still can't keep up with me when we spar. But I gotta hand it to him, he's got a big heart to go with that big body."
"And Kjelle? Is she alright?"
Sully nodded. "Better than alright. She's growin' up to be a real wildcat. She can already hold up a miniature lance. Can you believe it? Only three years old and she can do that. And she also loves to sleep inside Kellam's armor. Makes her feel safe, you know?"
"Great to hear that," said Robin. "And, Miriel, I haven't seen you in a while. What brings you to the seafood market?"
"Fish oil," she replied. "Specifically, hair gel confected from fish oil. For Stahl, of course. He's chronically remiss about tidying up his hair, and I fear that one day it may gain sentience and devour him whole."
"I just decided to tag along," said Sully. "But, seriously, have you seen that thing recently? Ask me whether we could conquer Plegia or Valm, and I'd say 'yeah'. Ask me whether we could fix Stahl's hair, and I'd have to think about it."
"Ever consider just shaving it all off? You know, like going full Basilio?"
"The thought had occurred to me," said Miriel.
Sully laughed. "I can't even imagine…"
"By the way, Miriel," said Robin, "where's Laurent? Don't you usually bring him with you when you go out?"
"Your assessment is accurate," she said, "but this instance is special. Olivia, Sully, and I agreed to send our children on a play date at the grazing fields. We believe that having our offspring intermingle during their formative years will yield maximal social benefits."
"Oh, I see. I think?" said Robin.
"And what are you doing here, mister?" Sully asked.
"Uhhh, I'm looking for nagafish."
"What in the world for?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"Yes."
"Okay, it's for Lissa."
"I comprehend," said Miriel. "Nagafish is the traditional prescription to assuage malaise or lethargy during gestation."
"Your gal's got malaise or lethargy or whatever?" asked Sully.
"She's a bit pale, is all," he said. "To be honest, I think she just wants to know what nagafish tastes like."
"A perfectly valid motive," said Miriel. "In fact, I too wish to ascertain the flavor of nagafish."
"Yeah, me too," said Sully. "Let's find someone who sells it already."
The three of them roamed the market for thirty minutes before they found a nagafish vendor at a small corner stall. They gawked at the price, haggled it down a marginally lower price, and then finally agreed to split the cost equally among them.
"Damn," said Sully, "this thing smells weird. I've got buyer's remorse already."
"I'm afflicted with similar reservations," said Miriel.
"Well, at least I'm not the one who's going to eat this," said Robin.
"I surmise that though nagafish may smell noxious, it may offer a delectable taste when cooked."
"For that price, it better."
"By the way," said Sully, "the summer festival is in less than a month, and Kjelle's looking for some new playmates. You could bring your pipsqueak with ya' and join the fun."
"Laurent will attend," said Miriel. "Additionally, many of our former comrades will be joining us with their progeny."
"The usual suspects. Severa, Gerome, Brady, and Inigo will all be there. Then there's the two little queens, Cynthia and Lucina. They'll be there in disguise."
"Yarne as well."
"Yeah, the last of the taguel will be making an appearance, don'cha'know?"
"Even our acquaintances from afar will be present," said Miriel. "Noire and Nah."
"That actually sounds like something Lissa and I would go for."
Sully jabbed him in the ribs. "The more the merrier."
"Then I'll see you there," said Robin. "Enjoy the fish."
"Will do," said Sully. "Adios, amigo."
"Farewell," said Miriel.
On his walk back, Robin contemplated how to properly prepare the nagafish. He had planned to stop by Cherche's house for her advice, but an army of black thunderheads invaded the sky and inflicted a sudden storm upon the city. He decided to take a shortcut home.
With droplets pattering on his head, Robin's thoughts turned to the summer festival. The feast and the red ribbon game and Morgan gamboling about with the other children. He looked forward to these things.
Lightning forked the horizon.
…
…
…
On July 15th, the cicadas did not thrum, the crickets did not chirp. It had rained for five days straight and on the fourth day, the rain turned red. The wiser fishermen knew this was because the clouds drew their water from the Western beaches, which were colored red by the dense spores of the local algae. These 'blood rains' were not uncommon on the Plegian coasts, but they were exceedingly rare in Ylisse, let alone an inner city of Ylisse. The holy men, of course, deemed it a dark omen.
Lissa went into labor that evening as Robin was preparing dinner. He sent his neighbor to retrieve a midwife, who arrived just as Lissa began to have major contractions.
The midwife instructed Robin to retrieve a large tub of water, leave it in the bedroom, and then wait outside until the birth had completed. Traditionally, men were not allowed to take part in assisting parturition, since it was considered bad luck.
He did as he was told. He fetched the water, left it with the midwife, and then lay in the adjacent room, listening to the moans of his wife against the white noise of rain. Though this was his second time going through this, he felt considerably more anxious.
Six hours passed.
Finally, at around midnight, the cry of a baby sounded through the house.
Robin broke out of his half-slumber and burst into the bedroom, nearly ripping the door from its hinges.
Lissa met him with exhausted eyes and smiled weakly. "It's a boy."
The midwife washed away the blood and then doused salt on his skin for good luck. She then dried off the water and swaddled him in fine linen before letting Lissa hold the child. "Owain," she whispered. "You've finally arrived."
Robin caressed the baby and marveled at how delicate he was. His hands were tiny but soon they would be able to wield even the heaviest blade. A laugh escaped Robin's mouth. This unadulterated joy had passed through him once before at Morgan's birth, but to experience it again was a true privilege.
The baby began to cry.
Blood suddenly gushed onto the bed. His body went numb. He stared at it vacantly for a moment before his mouth would move. "Lissa, you're bleeding," he said stupidly.
More blood. Robin tried to sop it up with towels, but they were quickly saturated, and the blood began to soak into the sheets and drip onto the floor.
"Do something!" he screamed at the midwife.
"I-I don't know," she stammered. "I've never had this happen before."
"Then bring someone who knows what they're doing in here, goddamnit!"
"Y-yes," said the midwife, rushing out of the room.
Robin grabbed more towels and tried to plug the hemorrhaging, but the flow did not stop.
"Oh, god. I can't…. I'll get more towels from the other room. Hold on."
She tugged weakly at his shirt. "Robin, wait. Don't go," she said. "I'm feeling a bit dizzy. I-I need something to drink."
He poured a glass of water, hands trembling, and gave it to her. She only managed half a sip before her hands failed. The cup spilled on to the bed, sending liquid mixing into the bloody covers.
"Ugh, I feel … weak," said Lissa between shallow breaths. "Bright lights. I…"
"What?" asked Robin. "What is it?"
"I-I'm sorry, Robin. I … I love you so much. I…"
"Lissa?" he said. "Lissa, you're scaring me. What are you doing? Are you sleepy? Why … why aren't you opening your eyes?"
He clenched her hand, cupped her cheek, which were cold now. "Lissa!?" he shouted. "Wake up!"
Owain wailed.
"No, you can't do this to me," Robin whimpered. "You can't leave me here alone. We were supposed to raise these children together, grow old together, die together. This isn't right…"
He glimpsed at Lissa through a lens of tears, half-expecting a response, but it didn't come. She had gone.
Robin buried his face in her wife's lifeless body, holding the crying baby between them, and father and son wept together until they were too tired to weep any further.
…
…
…
The summer festival came and went. He did not go, but he left Morgan in Cordelia's care while the month-old Owain remained in his cradle.
Cordelia would later tell Robin that Morgan played with the other children into the early hours of the morning and enjoyed herself immensely.
…
…
…
Years passed.
…
…
…
Robin, Robin, Robin.
You…
Robin, Robin, Robin.
I know that voice.
Your mind is in turbulence.
Yes.
What troubles you?
Lissa. You took her from me.
Hehhehheh.
You took her from me.
She was weak. The darkness overcame her.
You killed her.
You're giving me too much credit. We are one, after all.
No...
That means you have as much part in murdering her as I do.
That can't be.
It can, and it is. And as for Morgan and Owain…
Stay away from them, devil.
…you shouldn't worry. They are strong. They will live. They will grow older and surpass their mother.
How do you know this?
A part of me lies within them. I sense their abilities. Owain is a mere baby, but he may become a skilled swordsman. Unfortunately, he is out of my influence, for he is protected by the mark of your goddess. Morgan, however…
My daughter….
…she does not bear the Brand of the Exalt, so you must raise her to be a healthy child. I will have much use for her when I awaken.
That will not happen.
Oh?
I won't let it. I will kill you right here and now. Do you hear me, Grima?
…
…
…
Robin shot up from bed and found himself soaked through with sweat. He tore out of his covers and burst into the kitchen, grabbed a knife from the table with both hands and held it point facing his stomach.
"I'm taking you with me."
Energy pooled in his arms while he summoned the willpower to overcome any hesitation that remained. Fingers steady, blood aflame, a primal urge commanded him into action. He readied himself to plunge the blade inward.
"Daddy."
He froze.
The knife clattered to the ground in a dull clank as he slowly became aware of what he was about to do. "Oh, god," he whispered, voice shaking.
"Daddy, where are you?"
Robin drank a sip from the water bucket, composed himself, and went to Morgan's room. "What is it, sweetheart?"
"Daddy, can you sleep with me tonight?"
"No, Morgan, you have to learn to sleep alone."
"But it's scary."
"I'll be right next door."
"I want you to be here."
Robin sighed. "But I've been in here with you for four nights in a row."
"I don't care."
"How about I sing you Naga's lullaby?"
"What's that?"
"It's like a spell. You sing it to someone you love and that person will be protected against evil when she sleeps."
"Cool! Do it, daddy!"
Robin cleared his throat and recalled the lyrics to the 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 blinked. "Is that it? Am I protected now?"
"Yes, now go to sleep."
"Okay. Goodnight, daddy."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
He kissed her on the forehead and then returned to bed. He lay there numb for three hours and then descended into a restless slumber.
...
…
…
Lissa, how is life on the astral plane?
I miss you. I think about you every day. I see your visage in the sun, in the stars, in the water of the lake, in the leaves of the trees. Everything is a reminder of you.
Morgan is doing well. She's still a scaredy-cat and won't fall asleep unless I'm with her, or I sing her her lullaby. She picks things up much quicker than other children her age. A month ago, she pulled off her first incantation. A weak fire spell to ignite a candle, but a spell nonetheless. She nailed it on her first try (usually it takes a new mage at least a dozen tries to get it right). You should've seen the look on her face when she did it. She was so happy, so, so happy, cheering, hopping up and down, and asking me if I saw it. She'll be a famous sage someday.
Owain is four years old and already shows an affinity for the sword. He has your eyes.
Us three went to the summer festival for the first time together a few months ago. The feast was grand, but I didn't eat much. No appetite.
The red ribbon game was a hit, though. I didn't participate, but Lon'qu did, and he carried his team to victory as we rooted for him from the sidelines.
…
Lissa.
If we could meet in another world, would we fall in love again? Would you still play pranks on me to get my attention?
Hold me to your bosom?
Tell me your secrets?
Say you love me?
…
I do have one more thing to tell you, and you won't like it. You were wrong. You were wrong about me being a good father. I know that I'm supposed to love both our children equally, but I can't do it. When I play with Morgan and talk with her, I remember only the positive things about you. But when I even glance at Owain, I'm reminded of your death. I'm reminded of … it.
I've raised him for four years, but it's become too painful. I feel like I'll break apart if I'm around him any longer.
So, I sent him to live with Sumia and her children in the castle. Since he carries the Mark of the Exalt on his arm, it was simple to prove his royal lineage. He's in good hands.
I know you'll hate me for this. I hate myself for it. I just hope you can forgive me.
Please forgive me.