"Lissa, quickly!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
"Hurry, before she loses consciousness!"
Chrom watched as his little sister dashed to his side, staff in hand. Lissa held an outstretched arm over the body of the woman that laid in his arms, and with a small whimper, cast a steady, warm green glow over her. Chrom felt warmth seeping through her, and pulled the body closer to him. The staff added a sickly tint to her skin, and although he knew it was for the better, Chrom suddenly found himself impatient with Lissa's healing process. He watched as she moved with careful, tedious movements, and wondered how much longer she would take. Every second seemed like an eternity, and he could hardly stand it.
"Lay her flat on her back," she suddenly commanded. "It'll be easier to wake her that way."
Reluctantly, he let Lissa guide the body out of his arms and onto the grass. He stood and watched from afar, studying the face he had searched for for so long. She seemed to be the same woman he remembered, although he knew in his heart that many things were different. For instance, the face that once bore creases and frowns after hours of planning strategic battle tactics would now bear the relief of knowing that the battle had been won, and that the continents were at peace. Chrom felt a smile creep across his face as he thought of all the things he would say to her once she awoke: All the traveling he had done, the peace treaties, the expansion of the kingdom. There was so much he wanted to say, where could he possibly start?
Oh, gods, where am I going to start?
He had always envisioned this day, the day where he would find her. He replayed this moment in his head every time he had the chance: On the field, in the camps, during training . . . everywhere. But now-now that he stood here, gazing upon her gentle face, her frail frame, the woman he had always called upon in times of need, the one he had gone to in times of hurt. The one he could confess anything and everything to . . .
He had no idea what to say to her.
As if to torture him, Lissa suddenly cried out. Chrom was pulled back to reality, and he was petrified. He watched as she began to stir: her hand twitched, her legs shifted, she tilted her head back in just the right way that made the single strand of hair that he had always adjusted fall into her eyes. She was gorgeous, he thought, and suddenly he forgot how to move, forgot how to speak, forgot how to breath. He had prepared for this moment for an entire year, and now he was more mindless than a Risen.
Gods, you cowardly dastard, move! Don't stand there like some bumbling idiot! Move, move, move, move . . .
And he did, he realized. His feet were shuffling forward without hesitation, but it was not of his own account, he knew. Frederick was there, as always, propelling him forward, and before he knew it, he was standing over the body of the woman he loved. He watched as her lips parted, and shuddered as he heard a subtle gasp escape. Chrom suddenly wished he could bend down, scoop her up, and shield her away from the rest of the world. Even in her most vulnerable state, she still had him wrapped around her finger.
A harsh whisper came from over his shoulder, "Milord."
Chrom's heart skipped a beat as he came to the sudden realization that her eyelids were twitching. She would wake up any second now, and he still was at a loss for words.
Hey, Robin . . .
Heeeyyyy, Robiinnnn . . .
You haven't changed a bit . . .
Hey, girl, lookin' good . . .
His breathing became rapid, as did hers. He couldn't do it. He couldn't do it. After all this time, he still couldn't bring himself to-
"Milord, just say what's on your heart."
Chrom released a breath he had not been aware he'd been holding in. Frederick, ever loyal, ever faithful, Frederick, had said just the right thing. Again. In truth, if he were to say everything that was on his heart, then time itself would have to stop to allow him enough time to speak. But he didn't have all of eternity to talk, he had a matter of seconds. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Crouching down, he waited until her eyes fluttered open. Slowly, he reached out a hand and pushed back the strand of hair that had always fallen into her eyes. Her face met his at that moment, and it seemed that everyone else in the world suddenly faded away. Frederick, Lissa, Ylisee . . . all of it seemed to disappear. Nothing else existed in that moment other than he and her.
She managed to speak first.
" . . . C- . . . Chrom?"
Chrom felt his heart seize, and he leaned his face closer to hers.
"Robin, I-"
Then she keeled over and retched.