I got a little feedback from the last chapter and even I realized I may have jumped the gun a little early. I do not have a set number of chapters of length, so I'm not even sure how long I want this story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Very early in the morning, before the sun even rose, Say'ri was sitting in front of a flowing creek and appeared to be meditating.
*I might not ever forgive myself…* She thought. *But… at least I know that Robin, Chrom, Lady Tiki and the other Shepherds will always be with me.*
She smiled and continued to meditate by the creek.
It was morning and Robin woke up in Say'ri's tent. He looked around and noticed that Say'ri was nowhere to be found in the tent. He also noticed that he was still in his clothing.
"Where is she?" Robin wondered. "… And I should probably go change into some new clothes."
Robin left the tent and went to his own. Just before he entered, he heard someone speak to him.
"How was last night?"
Robin became a bit startled upon hearing the voice, but turned and saw that it was Gaius.
"Lucky for you no one else is awake yet, otherwise they might get some ideas." Gaius said, sucking on a lollipop.
"So you heard me confess last night?" Robin inquired.
"Yeah… in your sleep."
"… What?"
"Apparently while you were consoling your 'girlfriend', you fell asleep and she left the tent. Immediately after, you started mumbling in your sleep. You DO like her, don't ya?"
"I'm not going to argue with you right now, Gaius. I need to check on a few things."
"Maybe one of those things should be making sure your daughter didn't yap to anyone about your sleep talk."
Robin stopped and simply looked back at Gaius.
"While I was sneaking around, I overheard your daughter mumbling to herself. She overheard you and thinks you and Blades are an item."
"… 'Blades'? How do you come up with these nicknames?"
"As I was saying, Bubbles, you might want to talk with your daughter before doing anything else."
"… You have a point, Gaius."
"Don't mention it. It's what I do."
Robin headed for Morgan's tent while Gaius walked off elsewhere. As soon as there was nobody else around, Tharja popped out from behind Robin's tent and she did not look particularly happy.
Morgan came out of her tent and started skipping happily through the camp while humming a tune. She stopped upon seeing her father walking by.
"Oh, father!" Morgan called to him, running up to him. "So… when are you going to announce you and mother's engagement?"
"Morgan…" Robin placed his hands on her shoulders. "I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding could there possibly be?"
"… When I said those things… I was talking in my sleep and Say'ri left the tent. I didn't propose to her and we don't have a relationship."
"N-no!" Morgan's eyes started to tear up. "I know she's my mother. I just know it!"
"I'm sorry, Morgan." Robin said with sadness and regret in his eyes.
"Your sleep-talking proves it! You have feelings for her, but you keep denying it! Just tell her how you feel about her."
"Morgan, we can't just force this on her. Now, please promise me that you won't tell anyone about what I said in my sleep. I don't want people getting the wrong idea."
Morgan didn't know what to say; she simply pouted and walked away. Robin sighed as he walked away, feeling terrible about the way he was talking to Morgan just now.
*I can't believe I said those things to my own daughter…* Robin thought. *I feel terrible…*
Meanwhile, back in Tharja's tent she was busy concocting something out of various chemicals and disgusting ingredients. She was mostly keeping to herself until…
"Hey, Tharja, can I ask you something about this Risen limb I found while looking for berries?" Henry asked, popping his head nonchalantly into the tent.
"Get out!" Tharja hissed.
"Okey-dokey, then." Henry slipped back outside.
Tharja turned back to her concoction mixing.
Henry kept walking away until he came across Robin, who was simply walking around. "Robin, there's something I need to ask you!"
"What is it, Henry?" Robin complied.
"I found this Risen arm in the forest this morning." Henry held it up to Robin. "I can make a puppet show out of it! Watch!"
Before Henry could start goofing around, Robin stopped him and pointed at the dismembered limb.
"Henry… Where did you find this?"
Morgan was walking in the middle of the woods by herself, still upset about what Robin had said to her.
"How could he say that?" Morgan muttered to herself. "What's so complicated about telling Mother how you really feel? It's not like anyone's going to be hurt… by… it… Severa… right… She believes that Cordelia is her mother and Father is her father. Rrgh! Now I'm getting all confused!"
"Uwaaagh!"
Morgan heard an unearthly moan come from behind her and upon turning she noticed that a Risen was incredibly close to knocking her head off with its axe. Before that happened, something had struck the Risen across the chest at an incredible speed, causing the Risen to fade into purple mist. Morgan looked to see who her protector was to see a young man with spiky blonde hair wearing a golden tunic.
"Be gone, vile demon!" The man said, turning to Morgan. "Hm? Morgan? What are you doing here?"
"Wait, how do you know me?"
"You don't remember your friend, the might Owain?" He questioned. "Your words were more painful than that blow I just landed."
"Grrrraaggh!"
More Risen started to appear out of the forest trees and surround Morgan and Owain.
"Heh!" Owain chuckled. "Face the wrath of my sword hand, fiends!" Owain raised his sword… but nothing else happened.
"Dammit, sword hand!" Owain said to his hand that was gripping the sword. "Now's not the time to-"
The Risen started to charge right for Morgan and Owain, but a gust of wind passed through the Risen and shredded it to pieces. Just then, Robin appeared in front of Morgan and stood between her and the Risen.
"Morgan, are you okay?" Robin asked.
"F-father! You came!" Morgan smiled.
"Of course I did." Robin smiled back, then turning to the hoard of Risen.
The other Shepherds had arrived as well, taking out the Risen with little to no problems.
Back at the riverside, Say'ri had finished meditating and stood up.
"I should return to camp." She said to herself. "The others are probably worried about me."
Say'ri turned around and instantly saw a Risen jumping right at her. She tried to pull out her sword, but the Risen has nicked her across the shoulder with its sword and backhanded her, knocking her into the river with her shoulder bleeding. The Risen charged right for her and Say'ri closed her eyes, but she heard the sound of something piercing the Risen's rotten flesh and opened them. A blade had stabbed the Risen through the stomach, then it sliced upward and cut its head clean off. As the Risen faded into purple haze, Say'ri could see a young woman with violet hair that was cut in the same manner as her own and wearing red armor similar to her own. The young woman sheathed her sword and held out her hand to Say'ri.
"Are you all right?" The young woman asked.
Say'ri took a while before responding. For some reason or another, she couldn't help but recognize this young lady. "M-mercy."
Say'ri grabbed her hand and the young woman helped her up.
"Fie! Your shoulder!" The girl exclaimed. "Do you have any vulneraries or elixirs on hand?"
"No, but my friends' camp is not far from here."
"Then I implore you to head back as quickly as you can and get that wound patched up."
"But what about you? What if you run into more Risen?"
"I can take care of myself. I learned everything I know about swordplay from my mother."
"You must be of Chon'sin, no? I can tell by your armor."
"Yes, Chon'sin is where I was born."
"Your skills with a sword are most unparalleled. I'm sure my friends would appreciate it if you would join our cause."
"What exactly is this cause?"
"To reclaim Chon'sin from Walhart's control."
"Pardon?"
"The Shepherds and I are a new Resistance force fighting against Walhart's to end his reign. Please, Miss, will you join us?"
The woman did not answer, but after a few minutes had passed Robin and Morgan came running up to Say'ri.
"Say'ri, are you okay?" Robin asked.
"Aye, Robin, thanks to this young woman's assistance." Say'ri nodded, pointing her head toward the young woman.
"Thank you very much for helping her." Robin told her. "Do you live around here?"
"… No, I don't have a home anymore." She replied.
"Well, we'd be more than happy to give you a new one." Robin stated.
"H-huh?" The girl seemed confused. She then noticed Morgan and something stirred inside of her. "… Say'ri told me all about the Shepherds. Yes, I will join you."
"Welcome to the Shepherds, Miss… ?" Robin held the question until she answered.
"Rei'qu." She introduced herself.
"Wow, now we have two more people with us!" Morgan cheered.
"Sorry, 'two'?" Say'ri raised her eyebrow.
"Morgan was saved by Lissa and Vaike's son from the future." Robin explained. "He's… odd, to say the least."
"Though Lissa seems to be happy about it." Morgan stated. "Apparently, her Brand of the Exalt never appeared, but when she saw that her son carries it she became so happy she started crying."
"I don't blame her." Robin nodded.
Later in the command tent, Chrom and Flavia were looking at Rei'qu, whom was accompanied by Robin.
"She could be a Chon'sin deserter." Flavia said. "Though it's not my decision whether or not she joins the Shepherds."
"Chrom, Rei'qu saved Say'ri's life and she has no home." Robin stated. "At least give her a chance."
"If it were anyone else, I might have had to think this over more." Chrom admitted. "But if YOU think she can be trusted, then so be it. Welcome to the Shepherds, Rei'qu."
"Mercy, Prince Chrom." Rei'qu bowed to Chrom before standing upright again. "Tis an honor to fight alongside you."
Before leaving the tent, Rei'qu took a long look into Robin's eyes. After a few seconds had passed, she finally left the tent.
*What was that about?* Robin thought to himself.
As soon as Rei'qu left the tent, she was greeted by Morgan who was hugging her tome close to her chest.
"So how did it go?" Morgan asked with anticipation. "Are you in?"
"Aye, I am now a soldier of the Shepherds." Rei'qu replied.
Rei'qu then noticed that Morgan was just staring at her.
"… Why are you looking at me like that?" Rei'qu inquired.
"It's just… You seem familiar, but I'm not sure if I've met you before. You see, I can't remember much of anything before joining the Shepherds."
"Wait… you… you don't remember me?"
"No, but your question says that you must know who I am. Tell me. Please tell me!"
Rei'qu looked away from Morgan. "I'm sorry, I can't."
"Pretty please with cherries on top?" Morgan continued to beg.
*Maybe I shouldn't tell them who I really am…* Rei'qu thought with a look of sadness on her face.
Later that night, Robin finally went back to his tent as he lied down on his cot. However, he saw that on his table was a piping hot tea.
"Lissa must have made this…" Robin muttered as he got up and picked up the cup. "Or maybe it's the tea Say'ri told me about. Did she make this?"
The moment Robin took a sip of the tea, something didn't feel right. He suddenly felt a chill as if someone was watching him.
"Hello, Robin."
Robin recognized that voice and turned to see that it was Tharja.
"Tharja, what are you doing here?"
Tharja didn't answer, instead she was mumbling something to herself and Robin started to feel like his body was moving on its own. He couldn't even speak as he continued moving closer to Tharja.
All she did was simply smirk. "You're all mine now, Robin."
Yeeeeah… Sorry I had to pull the "it was all a dream" thing with you, but I can still pull off some character development with it. Also, if you can't guess who that new girl is… Good, though I'm sure it's pretty f***ing obvious who she really is. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!