Chapter 2

"-doesn't make it right!"

Olivia stops in front of her husband's war tent, unsure. Chrom doesn't sound angry but there is a tone of exasperation to his voice that she rarely hears. Curiosity getting the better of her, she parts the entrance and is met by the sight of Chrom pacing in front of a bored-looking Tharja and a grinning Henry. Frederick, ever faithful, is standing by her husband's side while Robin leans against the edge of the large table that usually hosts the strategy papers that he and Chrom pour over every night. A map of Valm currently takes up most of the space.

Chrom's eyes flicker towards Olivia and he gives her a small smile. Unfortunately, this draws the attention of everyone else. Frederick nods, Robin gives his own smile and Tharja glares at her, but it's Henry's widening grin that chills her. "Hey, it's the crazy lady!"

"Crazy lady?" Chrom asks in bewilderment as Tharja chuckles.

"Yeah! She thinks I like sacrificing doggies to some dark god. Isn't that weird?"

"...yes, I wonder how she'd come to that conclusion," Frederick remarks dryly.

"Anyway," Chrom interrupts, redirecting his attention to the two dark mages, "I am extremely disappointed. I expect that it won't happen again."

"I don't see how what we did is any different than the competitions Vaike, Gregor and many others have about how many enemy soldiers they can take down," Tharja says in a flat voice, sounding bored and looking as disinterested as Olivia has ever seen her.

"Not that I approve of their actions, but at least they have the decency to cut down their opponents quickly. What you two did was barbaric."

"But it wouldn't be fun otherwise!" Henry exclaims.

Chrom's eye twitches. "That doesn't matter! You don't use enemy soldiers as guinea pigs in your hexing competitions! Do I make myself clear? We treat them as fellow human beings!"

"Is that an order?" Henry asks.

"Yes. It's an order!"

"Okay!"

Henry looks complacent and satisfied with the conversation but Olivia can still see traces of defiance in Tharja's face as she stares at Chrom, unimpressed. She opens her mouth to say something brutal, equal parts scathing and logical, but Robin beats her to it.

"Just don't do it again, Tharja, alright? I'm pretty disappointed in both of you. That's not how we function."

It's amazing, Olivia observes, how much power Robin has over Tharja. She visibly deflates and shrinks in on herself a little at Robin's comment, but composes herself enough to say "I understand, Robin" in an even voice.

"Very well then. Dismissed," Chrom says, waving a hand and walking over to Robin.

Tharja quickly strides out of the tent, shoulders slightly slumped. Olivia feels a pang of sympathy for her. Henry looks around the tent once. "Well, goodnight everybody!" He parts the entrance and leaves, whistling a merry tune.

"Did you need something, Olivia?" Chrom asks, sounding as exhausted as he looks. His hair is disheveled, his eyes are red, his clothes are blood-stained and there are lines in his face that weren't there two years before. She feels oddly guilty at the fact that she didn't participate in today's battle when she sees the state he is in.

"I just wanted to check on you," she replies. Chrom smiles and reaches over to grasp her hand in his, giving it a small squeeze.

The moment is over when they hear Robin curse. "Damn, I intended to give this to Henry for tomorrow's battle," he exclaims, holding up a dusty tome. "I'll go catch up with him."

"I can do it," Chrom says at once, moving to take the book, "I want to speak to him about his experiments on Risen, anyway."

"My lord, allow me. You need to rest."

"Gods, Frederick, I'm fine-"

"Guys, I can do it, it's not that big a dea-"

"I'll-I'll do it!" Olivia stammers in the chaos, effectively silencing all three men. "You guys are very busy planning tactics, right? And you're all so tired. Really, focus on what you have to do. I'll bring Henry his book."

She pats herself on the back for finishing her statement with minimal blushing and stammering. Then again, considering she's seen the three men of front of her practically every day and she's married to one of them, it'd be pathetic if she couldn't even manage that.

She takes the tome from Robin's hand and accepts his thanks with a nod before giving Frederick a wave and Chrom a quick kiss on the cheek. Then she walks out of the tent, intent on finding the evil boy.

There's nothing to be worried about, she tries to assure herself as she walks through the camp. Henry won't harm her, Henry wouldn't-

"Nya ha ha!"

Olivia freezes in her tracks and quickly ducks around and behind a large supply crate just as Henry and Tharja round the corner, having come from the direction of the armory.

"There is no need to walk me to my tent," Tharja snarls at him. "Chivalry doesn't suit you."

"Chivalry? No way! I'm not that kinda guy. I just really wanted to ask about that last curse you used! It was AWESOME!"

"It was pretty impressive, wasn't it?" Tharja says, sounding pleased despite her best attempt to address him casually.

"Heck yeah! The way that guy's bones shattered one by one starting from his pinky down to his toes was so cool! It's a shame you couldn't get the skull though."

"...I have to admit your curse was also impressive. I have never seen anyone die from fingernails sprouting from their eye sockets until now," Tharja says, grudging respect in her voice.

"You think so? I was also trying to make his tongue well up in his throat and explode, but he died before I could finish it! Must be CAWS he was such a weakling, nya ha ha!"

"Unfortunate. I'd like to have seen if such a curse is possible."

"Well, guess we won't. Chrom says we're not allowed to kill the baddies that way anymore. But at least we're still allowed to kill them, right? That's the best part!"

Olivia has heard enough. Her skin is covered in goosebumps and bile is forming at the back of her throat at their casual descriptions so she emerges from behind the crate and approaches them quickly, refusing to look them in the eye.

"Hey, it's the crazy lady who likes dogs! What-"

Olivia cuts him off by slamming the tome onto his chest. "Robin wants you to have this for tomorrow's battle. Goodnight."

She turns around and walks away, not once looking at the pair. Behind her, she hears Henry let out a delightful cry. "This one's strong enough to blow holes clean through people! Awesome!"

These are the people fighting on their side, Olivia realizes as Henry's voice fades away into the night. Henry's a monster and he's bringing out the worst parts of Tharja that she's spent the last two years suppressing.

Olivia decides to vanish the thoughts from her mind as she approaches her and Chrom's tent. If she continues thinking about it, she'll just get nightmares. Tomorrow, Olivia decides, she'll simply ask Lucina about about the fate of the two Plegian dark mages in the future.

A/N: Now, before ChromxSumia shippers comment on the OliviaxChrom pairing, I'm doing this based off of my current playthrough. I married Olivia and Chrom because I wanted an awesome Lucina. But mostly because Inigo looks the best with Chrom's hair and Inigo will be in this story. He just looks wrong without the blue hair, you know? But don't worry, any pairings other than HenryxTharja will be practically non-existent.

As always, please leave a review! Constructive criticism is much appreciated.