As Frederick the wary drug the two royals down the hall, Robin saw that the shepherd had quickly scattered around the castle. Most were about as skinny as them from what she could tell, a few had bruises or healing cuts, but all of them looked at Robin and Chrom, as they were dragged along, in shock.
Robin didn't think to question how she must look, it wasn't really a priority. Glancing at Chrom she noticed his hair was dirty, she could see the marks the ropes left on his arm where there was no sleeve, his skin was as pale as Izana's hair, and his brilliantly blue eyes had become dull. Robin wished she could embrace him, to just be close, but now was not the time. No matter how much she loved him, she had to stay focused.
Once they were drug into the dining hall Robin saw maids scattered around the edges of the room. One of them, she noticed, was the one who had tied her up when they had first been captured.
"Frederick, is it wise to have Zola's maids healing the shepherds?" Robin questioned. Normally the knight was always worrying about the smallest of problems. Biggest example is how long it took him to warm up to Robin. It wasn't until just before they killed Gangrel did he finally trust her.
"Do not fear my lady, these maids are loyal to Izana, they were being held captive as much as we were. Whenever they could they would sneak extra food or water to the injured and would apologize that they couldn't do better." Frederick replied as he released his death grip on the royals. Robin swiftly, but gently, rubbed the wrist he had grabbed. Even though the staff helped, not all injuries could be healed with a stick.
Now that Robin thought about it, the maid who had bound her had looked at her with sad eyes, silently apologizing. Robin had been too busy scolding herself to notice. She'd have to thank the maid for trying to help the shepherds once Frederick had left them in peace.
That, however, would be a while. The knight had already had two bowls of stew out for them. Robin noticed Lissa eating her's a few seats away with Gaius. As soon as Frederick left the two royals Robin saw Cynthia and Sumia hurry over to the knight out of the corner of her eyes, causing her to smile. Frederick was a wonderful father, a little on the strict side, but caring.
Despite how her stomach was growling, and all the hunger pains, Robin slowly ate her stew, savoring every flavor. For them to eat such a hearty meal after barely eating anything for a week could cause more harm than good. So Robin had to pace herself, but in all honesty, stew never tasted better.
Stahl surprised Robin and Chrom a bit when he was suddenly behind them. Robin swore he could be annoyingly quiet if he wanted to.
"My lord, my lady, we've located the weapons." Stahl said with a smile as he held out Chrom's falchion and Robin's leven sword. All annoyance for the knight was quickly replaced with gratitude, even though Zola was dead, Robin felt strange without her leven sword or tomes.
"Thank you Stahl, and my tomes?" Robin questioned, making sure her gratitude showed through.
"Last I knew prince Morgan was searching for them since they were not with the other weapons." The knight reported, his smile turning into an annoyed frown. Why couldn't Zola just leave all their weapons together? Did he want to annoy them from the grave!?
Robin glanced behind the cavalier to see Virion approaching with something in his grasp.
"Thank you Stahl, please inform us once you have located the tomes." Robin said quickly, her gaze still on Virion.
"Of course my lady," he replied, giving just a small bow before marching off.
"Virrion, how may we help you?" Chrom asked the duke, seeing that he was on a mission.
"Oh my lord, I came here to ask if you knew what this strange bow was?" Virion held up what looked like an unstrung bow. It was made out of nice materials, Robin was surprised it wasn't being used, "It doesn't belong to any of the archers."
"Hm," Chrom mused, standing and taking the bow from Virion, running his gloved hands over the wood.
"Hey, mitts off! That's lord Takumi's!" A female voice shouted from behind Robin and Chrom. When the tactician turned to see who it was, she confirmed it was Takumi's blue headed retainer, Oboro. The color of her hair bothered Robin, it was about the same shade as Chrom's. Normally the only people with dark blue hair were kin to the hero king of legends, Marth, but the hot headed retainer definitely didn't strike Robin as royalty.
But, then again, neither did Chrom. She'd have to ask her about her heritage some time later, because at the moment she was glaring at Chrom with so much anger that if looks could kill, he'd be six feet under.
"My deepest apologies. We were about to rejoin lord Takumi and lady Corrin. Perhaps you would be so kind to show us where they are?" Chrom asked politely after the girl snatched the bow away from him.
She rolled her eyes, "Fine, come on, this way." She muttered before marching off, not even pausing for Robin to jump out of her seat, leaving her mostly finished stew behind. Tragic, really.
It turns out, they still hadn't left the throne room, go figure, Robin thought to herself as Oboro lead them in, giving Takumi his stick before leaving once again. The group members, including Flavia, who had avoided capture by Frederick, were either sitting on the floor or leaning against a wall, so Robin assumed they were waiting for something. She was proven correct when she realized there was no sign of Izana.
"Where's our prophetic friend wandered off to?" Chrom asked with a small smile when the group realized they had returned.
"He went to speak with an ancient God so he could help Corrin find out where she's supposed to go." Sakura answered from where she sat next to Takumi. The prince was examining his bow, probably checking for damage from carelessness. Smiling, Robin assumed he found none.
Hearing the scuffling of shoes, Robin and Chrom turned around to see Izana slowly making his way into the throne room, his face shining in the candle light with sweat.
"S-sorry to have… Kept you waiting." He sputtered out as the group quickly jumped to their feet, Corrin hurrying over to the duke.
"Archduke, what's wrong!? You look exhausted!" The princess fretted, glancing at Sakura as if silently saying to have her staff ready.
Izana took a deep breath before continuing, "I had a chat… With an ancient God… But even I don't understand it…" Izana took another breath," It's so short to… 'Go meet the dragon.'"
Corrin's face scrunched up in confusion, "A dragon?"
Corrin took a step even closer, concern openly expressed in her facial features before the archduke continued as he put on an almost sad smile, "I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually… I really, really hope you do, too. After all, I think I may-" Izana suddenly grasped his side, falling down to one knee, "Owww, ow, ow… Yup, definitely gave my life for the message."
To everyone's horror his other leg gave out and the duke fell to the floor with a crash. Corrin quickly ran forward, falling to her knees before holding Izana's head up. Robin covered her mouth in horror before she and Chrom ran over as well, terrified that he was suffering from some illness from being in the dark room for so long.
"What! You're dying? How did this happen!?" Corrin shouted in shock as her sister began to hurry over.
"Well," Izana muttered with a groan, "The ceremony I performed always requires something in return. Every message has a price, this one was my life. I'd really like it if a bard wrote a nice song about my noble sacrifice…" Robin couldn't help but let a small, sad smile form on her lips. Turning her head, she also saw that princess Sakura had stopped in her tracks, after all, this wasn't a physical wound or illness.
"Oh, Prince Takumi…" Izana continued, glancing up at the prince who stood by his head, "I know I asked before, but… Make sure you help out Corrin. OK?"
Takumi flinched, clenching his teeth, "But… I…"
"What, you're still not willing? I'm dying here and you're still unsure? Listen, if you don't… I'll come back as a ghost and haunt you. All the time… Boo."
Robin heard Flavia let out a light laugh at the Archduke's humor, even at death's door.
"Archduke…" Takumi muttered under his breath, closing his eyes as he held an internal battle with himself.
"Well, I said what I needed to say… Bye… Bye…" Izana said sadly, a small smile still on his lips as his head went slack in Corrin's arms. The poor princess let the Archduke's head rest on the wooden floor as she got back on her feet, blinking away tears.
"Why didn't he tell us this would cost him his life?" The princess questioned, her voice scratchy, "Why…"
From behind her she heard the sound of Sakura trying not to cry, "Oh, Izana…"
"Giving up his life for the good of everyone. He was an admirable man." An older man with a scar across his face said from the edge of a hallway, nearly causing Robin to jump out of her skin. She guessed he'd been there the whole time, she just didn't see him.
"I'm so sorry… This is my fault." Corrin cried, "If I hadn't have picked this path, the Archduke wouldn't have died like this… I didn't realize the cost of my goal, as right as I believe it to be…" Robin took a step towards the princess before remembering her place and stepping back. The way the princess acted, the way she tried to handle everything by herself, it reminded Robin a little too much of Lucina.
"You must keep believing in it. Don't waste his sacrifice." Takumi spoke up, much to Robin's surprise.
"Brother…" The princess said sadly, almost defeated.
"Listen. I'm going to help you accomplish your mission. I'll fight with you. After all, it was the Archduke's dying wish. So, I'm coming along… Sister." Takumi said, smiling a little at the end.
Corrin's eyes lit up like a child on christmas morning, as if she had always wished for her younger brother to say that, "Thank you Takumi. I won't let you down!"
"Well, if Lord Takumi's going, I guess we'll have to go too!" Hinata shouted from where he and Oboro where leaning on a wall, watching the scene unfold.
"Yep! I'd sooner die than be separated from Lord Takumi." Oboro added, a small smirk on her face. Robin and Chrom left them to be acquainted, walking over to Flavia instead.
"So, Mss. Tactician, got any plans yet?" The Khan asked.
"Yeah, most of our army still needs to rest and heal from imprisonment, but I would like to send out our strongest pegasus knight or wyvern rider to find Basilio and tell him not to come running in her, shouting curse words and cutting down innocents." Robin replied.
"That oaf is stubborn enough he probably is trying to get here only using the manaketes for guidance instead of asking for a map!" Flavia shouted with a laugh, "There's a reason your tactician is a lady, Chrom, men can't even tell left from right! Even to save their lives!"
"I beg to differ!" A familiar voice said from somewhere nearby. Turning to the left Robin saw Morgan and Lucina walking towards them, Morgan glaring at Flavia.
"Well that's because you're so much like your mother, that woman's smart enough it got passed down to both of you, thank the Gods for that! I don't think I could deal with another Chrom!" Flavia replied with a smirk.
"Hey, I'm right here!" Chrom shouted in annoyance before Flavia roared with laughter and Robin covered her mouth in attempt to hide her giggles. Morgan and Lucina just stood there smugly, smirking as they watched the Khan act like she was a lot younger than she really was.
Sighing, Robin waited for them to calm down and act like adults, which might mean she'd be there for quite some time.
A/D
Oh my Gods, I'm so sorry it took so long for me to type this chapter. I was having minor writers block, my little sister is sick with a stomach bug, I've been pushing myself to hard, and I'm trying not to get sick. I think I'm going to TRY and update once or twice a week, but it takes me a while to type these, especially since I have another story I'll have to type a chapter for soon. Oh, and my editor is at a science summer camp so she can't check the chapter, so sorry if there's mistakes.
One other thing, I will be using the ships from my first Fire Emblem playthrough, and the ships, I've discovered, aren't that popular. Ones that most people don't use is Henery x Maribell. I only paired them up because I paired Ricken and Tharja together. My only explanation for that is that I hated Norie with white hair XD Also, Gaius x Lissa, Frederick x Sumia, Sully x Kellam, etc. Since I was new to the whole marrying thing for the characters I had no clue what I was doing XD I just wanted the children characters XD. So, sorry if your OTP isn't in here, I'm only using this cause I know nothing else about other support conversations. *shrugs*
~Until next time *rolls away*