Maybe it was the whole 'back to life thing', but to Robin there was no prettier sight than the common Ylissean high road before the back of Chrom's horse she could see the wild grass span into the horizon. Sprinkled among that deep green were wildflowers in all color hues. If this was Ferox their horses would be trudging through snow with half dead trees around them. Plegia would be no better with barren fields and dust blowing into their eyes.
"Miss this?" Chrom asked.
"Yes. Gods, all of it." She leaned closer into him, leaning her cheek on his cold shoulder plate. With one arm she held onto his waist. Her other hand was too busy playing with his cape by intertwining the rich navy fabric between her fingers. She wanted to feel as many sensations as possible.
"I would imagine being away from home for so long." Chrom still kept his grin.
"… Yeah, it is." Even after living in Ylisse for two years it still took time for her to register that. And this was coming from the country's queen.
"I know it's been a while and a lot's changed…" Chrom sighed, "Lissa and I, all the Shepards will help." He took one hand off the reigns to hold hers.
"There's something more to it isn't there? Chrom, what aren't you telling me?"
"I don't want to stress you out right when you've returned. At least wait until you've had a proper meal in Southtown."
"Waiting will only make me stress out more." As much as she appreciated the concern, she hated not having valuable information. She turned to Lissa who was trotting beside them, "What does he mean by that?"
"I-I, geez you can't put me on the spot like that… Well, the thing is that-Oh don't look at me like that Chrom, she's going to find out when we get to Southtown anyways. I'll just say it plainly: we're having issues with Plegia."
"Wait, what do you mean issues? Validar's dead, Grima's dead too!" Her voice was steadily rising with anger and volume, "What else could be causing these problems?"
"It's alright Robin. Look we're already at the town gates. I promise we'll explain everything at the inn. There's a lot to discuss." They trotted towards the town entrance with a few militia on guard, "Also make sure to keep your hood down."
"Why would I…?"
"Exalt Chrom, Princess Lissa!" One guard approached them and bowed. It wasn't until he rose up he saw Robin and finally loosened the grip on his spear, "Queen Robin? Weapons down men! Sorry sir-everyone gets antsy when we spot Plegian colors."
"Never mind that, what's your report?"
"Sir! Since the Plegian raid a few days ago we've seen no sign of the enemy." Robin's mind started reeling with the new information. Why would Plegia be attacking Ylisse?
"Alright just tell your men to relax, Robin's not going to start shooting thorons around town. Remember she saved this town years ago and we're returning to the inn for her to recover."
They continued on foot after returning the horses to the milita's stable.
"The town's restoration was completed while you were away. What do you think? Quite a difference huh?"
That was an understatement. The last time she was here the town was in flames. It was nice walking around without worrying about falling rubble. Some townsfolk even stopped to greet them with weary eyes, but most continued along their way. However all the children out from lessons followed them all the way to the inn, handing them flowers along the way.
'"Come on Robin! Let's go in!" Lissa said, practically dragging Robin through the entrance.
"Wait Lissa, what's the rush?"
"Hey guys, look!" Lissa yelled when they got inside. In the inn's lobby was a bunch of tables all pushed together forming a big square. Sitting there were a few familiar faces that lit up Robin's face.
"No fucking way… Robin is that you?" Sully yelled, getting out of her chair.
"Sully." Frederick sighed, "That's your queen. Perhaps she deserves a more appropriate welcome?"
"Robin!" Sumia squealed, she also got out of her chair and ran up to her friend to give a hug.
"To be honest I wanted to scold milord for leaving so abruptly, but if it was to retrieve Robin… I suppose I'll be lenient this once." Frederick went up too to bow. Although much like Chrom she didn't care much for formalities and urged Frederick up.
"I'm sure you've been a great help making sure Chrom stayed in line. Thank you for watching him Frederick." Everyone else who was sitting crowding around her.
"Welcome back Robin, it's been far too long of an absence." Miriel greeted.
"Finally! Teach has his old sparring bud back!" Vaike gave her a hearty pat on the back.
"Hey Bubbles."
"Robin." Panne nodded, keeping toward the outside of the circle. Despite the plain greeting, she still had a smirk on her face.
"You remember me, right Robin?"
"Of course…? Oh I'm just kidding Kellam, it's great to see you too!"
"Hey! Is that really Robin? Not fair, I want to say hi too!" A voice shouted out from the makeshift super table. Vaike and Panne scooted to the side to show Stahl sitting at the table. At first Robin wondered why he didn't join the others, but then she saw the crutches beside him. Then his bandaged leg elevated on another chair.
"Are you okay Stahl?" Robin asked, moving past the crowd to see him properly, "What happened?"
"I uh-" Stahl started, although he was staring directly behind her trying to get a read on Chrom. He wasn't quite sure how much to reveal without getting trouble, "Tripped?"
"Over what? An enemy's spear?"
"That's a great explanation! How'd you know?"
"Stahl please. I know about the Plegian attacks." She turned to Chrom, "Now can you tell what exactly is going on?"
"Alright. Just, just stay calm." He moved towards her, taking her hands. Half of it was to soothe her and the other half was for restraint.
"After fighting Grima and you sacrificed yourself, we thought it would be over too. However a few months after there were reports of attacks on smaller towns and villages near the border. I sent the Shepards to investigate and everyone reported the same thing-these were attacks ordered by the Grimleal."
"You're kidding. B-but Grima's dead and…"
"I don't know how they've maintained power, but it doesn't help that in Plegia politics and religion are practically the same thing."
"So who's their current ruler?"
"They're still deciding. As of now the potential candidates have formed a makeshift council. All members are influential figures in their respective fields like economics, military, education, politics, and religion. The Grimleal still has its influence on a majority of this council though, making it hard for us to make progress."
"And how are we monitoring this situation?"
"I've sent Tharja and Henry with their spouses… along with two other people. They're probably the best people I could've sent for the job."
"Is it safe for them?"
"As much as we're restrained by the Grimleal, the Grimleal are restrained by us. They can't attack our people without us taking a stronger direct influence in Plegian matters. It would be enough to get Ferox involved as well."
"So we're bluffing with them? That's not safe at all! But there is no other choice, is there?" Chrom shook his head.
"They know the risks Robin. I didn't ask, they volunteered themselves. I couldn't even say no. You know how bad it is to say no to Tharja."
"Alright, so what's stopping us from taking direct control over Pegia? Well until we get rid of the Grimleal."
"I wish it was that simple. Even though we have the upper hand in resources we're still recovering from the war and the Grimleal aren't going to give up their power willingly. Also… Our own people are tired of fighting. They're beginning to see Plegia as nuisance. That's why the guards got nervous after seeing your cape, or why some of the townsfolk gave you dirty looks. No one would support a large-scale war right now, and I don't blame them. Everyone just wants rest."
"You noticed them too?" Robin asked.
"Don't get angry at them Robin."
"I won't… I'm just taken back. I hoped that my homecoming would mean everything's over. It feels like we haven't done anything."
"I know, I know… But look around. We're all working hard on solving this. If-no when we solve this I promise you it'll be over. The Grimleal will no longer have any political standing over Plegia ever again."
After understanding the gist of the Plegina situation, the group moved on to catching Robin up on what she missed. Cherche and Miriel gave birth to Gerome and Laurent, Brady was accepted into the royal orchestra, and so on until Frederick ordered everyone to let Robin rest. She didn't object and Chrom didn't either. He gladly led her (briskly) to their quarters, ignoring everyone's snickers.
Once she had closed their room door he pressed her up against it.
"You know…" Chrom growled into her ear, "Lissa was right, a kiss on the forehead is far too chaste of a greeting for your return."
"Perhaps… But if you truly took after the characters in her novels you'd have ravished me in that field." She hadn't even noticed her voice deepen in anticipation. Chrom moved on to leaving kisses along her neck. In return she reached to unhook his cape and relax the straps of his armor. However as furiously as she started to undress him, she slowed at the same rate. Soon her grasp on his clothing loosened and her arms hung limply at her side. Her mind couldn't help but think about everything she had heard today. It was enough to change her excitement to guilt.
A year was a long time to be gone.
In that time, how many of their friends got married? How many of them conceived? While they were happy (as the should be) and Chrom congratulated them, how could those moments not serve as a reminder of her? And how many times did he think of her during the mundane times: while he was in those stuffy meetings, travelling hours on horseback, or at the day's end in an empty bed? She had left him to rule alone and raise their little Lucina, wondering if his wife would return. He was trapped with those burdens while she had the freedom of not remembering.
How fair was that?
When Chrom felt a tear on his cheek, his lust dissipated into concern. He brought his hands that trapped her beneath him to cup her face, using his thumbs to gently stroke away the tears, "Robin… Oh gods, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Chrom." She managed to sniffle, "I've been so happy to be here, with you… I forgot how much pain I caused leaving like that."
"Oh Robin, love, don't apologize for that. I'll admit I was shocked to see you deliver the final blow and it was hard to see you vanish before me… But despite the pain of being alone, I was also happy. I had a wife who was willing to go to such lengths to protect her loved ones." Chrom moved to rest his forehead against hers, "It was your choice to make, and you strove for a resolution-not a compromise. You could say we were separated for a year, but I still felt like my tactician was guiding me all that time.
"You're too good to me Chrom." Through her tears Robin finally smiled. She reached out to trace the small tears running down his cheek.
"Gods I was so scared you wouldn't return."
"But I'm here now." She comforted. He leaned into her with his head on her chest, "I'll help you in whatever way I can. I wasn't too bad of an advisor during those two years, was I?"
"Compared to those old men? You were a God's send." He laughed against her and his voice reverberated throughout her body, "I've been at an impasse with them lately. I'm not sure how Emm maintained her diplomacy with them. Lissa suggested I blow raspberries at them while they aren't looking to keep my sanity."
"I hate to break it you but they weren't so keen about me either. I'm in the same boat as you." They had moved to the bed sitting side by side.
"If it meant being closer to you, then they can think whatever they want." Chrom's pupils dilated when Robin moved to sit on his lap. Apparently side to side wasn't enough anymore.
"Chrom. It's our first night together after a year and all you've done is rattle on about stuffy old men." She went back to her earlier task of unclasping his armor. To complete her goal she pushed him onto his back and straddled him, "you certainly are quite the charmer."
"Apologies love." He pulled her to his right, using the momentum to be pinning her to the bed, "Let me make it up to you."
The Grimleal? Politics at the castle? Any lingering thoughts disappeared once the covers drew over them. Her only thoughts that night were of how wonderful it was to be in Chrom's arms again.
A/N: Yup this is an update... It's been a while, that's for sure, but I cranked this out, with more content on the way (I hope!). For those who read the first chapter months ago: thank you for your continued support! For new readers: thanks for checking this out!
In terms of this chapter there's a lot of stuff that gets explained so I hope it wasn't too boring. That just means the more exciting stuff is yet to come! (... Right?!).