If anyone would have told Robin that she was the daughter of the King of Plegia, she would think you were crazy.
If anyone would have told Robin that she would soon meet a traveller from the future, she would think you were crazy once again.
If anyone would have told Robin that the person she would soon cherish the most was said traveller, you would be deemed insane.
If anyone would have told Robin that this traveller, the one who she supposedly so deeply cherished, was in fact the Exalt's daughter, she would just stop listening.
And yet, all those statements became true in one night.
Robin, member of the shepherds and trusted tactician of Ylisse, was very confused.
It was true that being an amnesiac meant that she would encounter many unpredictable and unanticipated events and tidbits about her life, but this information was very out of the blue.
King Validar, the monarch of Ylisse's nefarious neighbour, was her father. It was implied that she was destined to be a child created for the Grimeal, for her purpose in life to serve nothing but a pawn to the Fell Dragon, Grima. Slowly, some pieces started to fall into place, while others just created greater gaps, such as the circumstances on Plegia's hierophant, and what was the catalyst to his plan; or even the catalyst of her own motivations. Perhaps a scaring memory from the past was making Robin suppress all of her memory that her brain could contain. Robin didn't want to remember who she was any more.
She had made all these new memories with the Shepherds that even if she was to retain her previous memories, it still wouldn't make any bit of sense to her.
In a way, she presumed that she was the example of a nice Plegian. Ugh, Plegian. That's what she was, and it was unsettling to her. Even more unsettling to be Validar's possible successor to the Plegian throne.
Validar's daughter was lusting for the Exalt's daughter. As if the situation wasn't awkward enough.
"Lucina", the progeny of Chrom and Olivia, was the biggest surprise of the war. Some people weren't as surprised though, as some claimed Marth had some very feminine features that made it clear "he" was just a woman with short hair.
From that moment on, Robin made an effort not to make eye contact with the princess, and only spoke when necessary. She wept to herself when she was alone, and started harbouring feelings of hate towards herself for such feelings.
However, as Chrom's trusted tactician, she wore a smile on her face, for fear that her real emotions would only render her weak.
Robin had no time to act helpless, but internally she felt exactly that.
All this made her feel something...something that had to come out, but what was it?
It kept building up and up...
She felt it at the back of her throat.
"Blarghhhhh!" Robin said as she puked off the side of the boat.
Yup, puke. And lot's of it.
"Ew, Robin! I had no idea you got so seasick!" Lissa said, as she covered her nose.
The Shepherds were on their way using the ocean vessels that Plegia so "kindly" provided. However, Robin learned the tough way that she was prone to seasickness.
"I...I'll be fine." Robin coughed. "I'm sure this is the last one."
"You puked four times this whole trip." Chrom said.
"As long as I work as if I'm at 100%, it's fine." She muttered back.
Just after she answered, flaps of a wyvern's wings were heard, approaching closer and closer.
"Milord Chrom," Cherche said, atop of her wyvern, Minerva. "I see the Valmese are on our tail."
"Damn. How many of fleets of ships do they have?"
"Their fleet match ours, but they have more soldiers. We are outnumbered." Cherche informed.
"...We need a plan fast."
The Shepherds split up into two groups, a team lead by Chrom, and a squad led by Robin.
Against three ships of Valmese soldiers, including one menacing General by the name of Ignatius.
"Ylissean troops! You are surrounded, there is no escape; three ships packed with soldiers trumps your single ship with a small pack of mercenaries." Ignatius started. "Surrender to Emperor Walhart or face a bloody death at sea."
"I won't deny that there will be deaths today...but it won't be ours." Robin said.
The Valmese army was fierce. A flock of pegasus knights, a horde of knights, and a squad of mages. Truly a mix well constructed.
The steel plated armour had such a nice sheen, it really was unfortunate for the Valmese that Stahl had an armorslayer.
Two hits each and all the heavily armoured soldiers were lying on the deck, as the blade pierced the steel plating which broke apart.
The team of pegasus knights approached to the left, charging for the green armoured cavalier, but then the sound of a bow being drawn was heard.
The arrows left of the bow of Virion, and swept right through the air. The head of the arrows collided with the first pegasus, striking its wings critically. The rest then followed in a matter of seconds.
Robin could hear the splash of the ocean as the pegasi and riders fell into the water, and the screams being literally drowned out.
It was at this moment that Chrom's squad ran in, and went straight for the general.
Ignatius raised his spear and chucked it at Chrom, but Lucina rushed in and blocked the hit from damaging her father.
Stahl once again used his armourslayer, and the general tried to resist his attack.
Clearly weakened, but not quite beaten, Ignatius jabbed his spear into the cavalier's right knee, causing him to fall off his steed.
Chrom rushed in and landed the final blow with his rapier, slashing precise but powerful stabs.
"It's time to light this ship." Robin said.
Stahl laid on the ship's deck, clutching his knee, clearly still in pain and bleeding from the deep wound. "I need a healer."
"Don't worry Stahl, I'll get you one as soon as possible-"
"EVERYONE, YOU HAVE TO JUMP NOW!" Basilio yelled.
Robin clutched Stahl's hand and tried to drag him to the end of the ship. Maybe she could just carry him to safety, that could work.
"I'm sorry Robin, I can't put weight through my leg." Stahl explained.
"It's okay, just keep holding on to my hand."
Robin could hear the crackling of flames...which meant the oil tanks were going to explode any second.
Uh oh.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
The two were almost at the edge of the dock, but would they have enough time? It was already starting to get hot.
"Robin!" Chrom yelled. "Let's go! You two are the last ones left!"
"I-I know, just...wait!" She answered, trying her hardest to carry Stahl, who wasn't the lightest man in the army.
"Milady Robin," Cordelia called. "Hop on." She extended her hand.
As soon as Robin gripped Cordelia's hand she heard a boom.
Scared and startled, she realized she forgot something.
Stahl.
She turned to look back at the fiery blaze. A body of a cavalier burning alive.
The fire crackled and consumed the ships whole.
A sky a red was cast upon the sea and embers burnt brightly, giving the illusion of the sea being on fire.
And a spot empty on the boat for one more shepherd.
She...didn't save him.
In the moment, she let go of Stahl's hand and he was burnt along with the ships.
Robin failed herself.
It would take some time before the Shepherds reached the Valmese port. The sea was no longer red by then, but Robin still saw the raging flames in her memories.
She had secluded herself in a cabin on the boat for a while now, weeping and cursing to herself for about two hours. Everyone told her not to take Stahl's death too hard, casualties were a point of war, and he would be honoured as soon as the war came to an end.
Even so, she blamed herself for his death. Robin hated this war, and she hated death, even the deaths of the enemy. Robin hated the though of taking someone's life away from their families, and friends. The idea of burning your enemies alive on a ship seemed very morbid.
If only she hadn't been found on that field by Chrom one day, and there wouldn't be any more screw ups.
If only...
"Robin?"
The sound of someone calling her was startling.
"How have you been, Robin? We've all been worried about you." Lucina said.
Lucina simply being in her presence just added more "fuel to the fire".
"Lucina...am I a bad tactician?" She asked.
"Where did you get that idea? You've been a marvellous tactician. You have pulled off amazing victories and everyone is grateful for that." Lucina answered.
Robin hesitated before speaking again as a tear started to form in her left eye. "Everyone is grateful? I'm marvellous? If-if I was truly as marvellous as you say, then why did I allow..." Her voice started to crack as she trailed off. "why did I allow Stahl to die then?"
"I feel horrible!" Robin cried as she held back her tears. "...I don't want to show my face."
Lucina didn't say anything, but Robin felt the princess suddenly hold her in an embrace. Was she trying to comfort her?
"Wha-what is this for..." Robin muttered quietly.
"Shhh..." Lucina whispered, as she held her closer. "No one is going to resent you for you actions. My father knows that you did what you could, and sometimes...death is inevitable. I felt horrible when my aunt passed away again after I tried so desperately to save her life, but fate took another course of action for her."
Robin buried her face into Lucina's shoulder and began to weep. "Do you blame yourself for Emmeryn's death, Lucina?"
"I did." Lucina choked back. "I did for some time. I wondered why I couldn't save her. I thought all that time in hiding was a waste of time, and all my efforts did not matter. It is why I still worry for my father, and that I might not be able to foresee when someone will try to take his life again."
Lucina's embrace was so comforting; she smelled like smoke and sweat, but it didn't matter. Robin loved the fact that someone took the time to check up on her even if that might seem a little hypocritical, considering Robin wanted to be left alone initially.
"With the way things have been going, I have no doubt that you will save him." Robin told her. "You're courageous, dedicated, and you have a kind heart."
Lucina laughed. "Hey, I am the one trying to make you feel better, not you trying to make me feel better." She lightly messed up Robin's hair after that remark. "but thank you, Robin. You also possess those qualities."
"Mmhmm..." Robin mumbled as she kept her face buried in the princess's shoulder. "You do make me feel a lot better. Don't leave just yet..."
Robin's cheeks burned up as she realized what she said. Man, that sounded greedy.
"If you insist."
Maybe being the tactician wasn't so bad after all.
And Chapter 13 is finished. This one took me quite a while to write the draft and then forever to finish my revisions.
I've been really trying hard to polish up my grammar and structure, so hopefully that shines through.
Recently there was this fanfiction post on r/fireemblem and I was worried if I was at fault for any of the flaws mentioned in the comments.
As always reviews are appreciated and I'll see you next chapter!