"Say Ah"
"Ahhhhhhhhh" Robin opened his mouth and felt a small wooden stick press down on his tongue. Lissa looked intently at his throat to try to find any sign of sickness while Lucina and Morgan watched Robin be examined from a couple of chairs at the end of the room.
"Can you describe the symptoms Robin?" Lissa said as she lifted her staff over Robin's chest. The orb glowed in the staff showing Robin's heart beating and all the other squishy stuff inside of him.
"I just choked on something and it is no big deal." Robin's pulse picked up and Lissa saw his heart accelerate.
"What did the choking feel like? " Lissa asked calmly and glanced over at Morgan who looked really worried about her father.
"It was a small pain in my chest and I felt a little funny, but that was probably because I was holding my wife's hand." He chuckled and felt a need to cough, but he held it in.
"He's lying!" Morgan cried as she rose from her seat. "He was sweating and really pale last night. He also was shaking all over and he felt like he was in a daze!" Morgan exclaimed
"Heh, don't worry Morgan, when you are in love you will experience those feelings too." Robin laughed and Lucina blushed a little.
*Cough Cough* Robin bent over and held on to his chest.
"Hmm." Lissa watched Robin try to recollect himself, but it was obvious that he was holding back some pain. "I better check your temperature." She grabbed a small clear stick from her pocket and looked over to the two concerned woman. "You two might want to leave."
"What? But what if Dad needs me?!"
Lissa walked over and held the translucent stick in front of Morgan's face. "Morgan, in order to take Robin's temperature I have to put this stick up his butt. I don't think he will want you to see that."
Robin snapped his neck to look at Lissa and shouted in horror. "You have to what?!"
"Relax, it doesn't hurt." Lissa said as her voice cracked.
"You know, I am feeling a whole to better. I can't remember the last time I was in such good shape. I think I am cured so there will be no need to-"
Lissa gave him an evil eye and he was afraid to look at Morgan or Lucina or he feared he would see the same thing from them.
"T-there must be another way." Robin started shaking.
"Sure, I can put leeches on your arms and they can suck out your blood." Lissa teased.
Robin was speechless and wanted to run as far away from her as possible, but he was too stunned to move his legs.
Lissa smiled over to Lucina and said, "Don't worry he will be fine, but I need to find out why he is sick so I can help him recover faster."
Lucina nodded and rose from her seat. She put her hand on Morgan's arm and smiled to hide her own worry. "Come on dear, I think we can leave Robin in Lissa's very capable hands."
"...Okay." Morgan sighed and followed her mom to the door. She kept her gaze on her father the entire time until they passed through the arched door.
…
Lissa waited until the two woman closed the door and were out of ear shot. "Now Robin, what is really going on?" Lissa said as sternly as her voice would let her.
"Nothing."
She glared at him and threatened to hit him with her staff. "I know you are lying Robin. How long have you been like this?"
"A day or two." Robin rubbed the back of his head and looked at the ground. "...Maybe closer to two months."
Lissa gasped "Two MONTHS?!"
"Well, it started with just a small cough, and there was this odd feeling in my stomach. It wasn't serious so I thought nothing of it... About a month ago I was getting a little tired and cold, but I just figured it was a small bug and it would pass. I havn't had any major problems until yesterday."
"Do you have any idea what might have caused this Robin?"
"I believe that is your job Lissa. You are the one that went to healing school." Robin laughed in between a fit of coughing, and Lissa stuck out her tongue at his remark.
"Wait a second" She stood still in deep thought as Robin continued to wince in pain struggling breathe. ..."Two months go was right after the...incident."
*cough* "You mean Grima?"
"Yeah, hmm, I think I know what might be wrong then...Robin go ahead and lie down on the table so I can check your vitals." She put her clear stick back in her pocket and prepared her healing spells.
"...Does this mean you are not going to shove that thing up my-"
"Ha Ha Ha Ha Aha ha ha." She snorted a few times and nearly died of laughter. "No, of course not. That was just to get them to leave. I knew you would never say anything was wrong in front of your daughter."
"Phew." Robin sighed in relief knowing that he would still be able to go to the bathroom after this visit, He walked over to the table and climbed up on it so he could lay down.
"Okay, now just stay still, and this wont hurt a bit." She grabbed something from her medical supplies and walked over to the tactician laying on her examination table.
"OW!" Robin gasped in pain as he felt a small needle prick his arm. "What the hell was that for?"
"I need a blood sample." Lissa replied, collected a small amount of blood in her syringe, and used her staff to heal the new puncture wound.
Robin sighed and coughed again."I think I would have been happier with the leeches."
"Hee hee."
...
"Do you think he will be okay mom?' Morgan asked as they waited outside.
"Of course dear, this is not his first time to the infirmary you know." Lucina smiled trying to hide her own doubt. She had to be strong so Morgan wouldn't panic.
"I know, but I am still worried." She hung her head low and a thousand terrible things ran through her mind.
"Just try to keep your mind off of it." Lucina said sincerely
Morgan strained her brain to think of something else, but she could not find anything to keep her brain occupied and her arm was still sore from her archery exploits."Gah, it's not working mom. The only thing that helps is when dad tells me the story. If only someone could tell it to me while we waited."
Lucina knew exactly what she was hinting out, "I don't know dear."
"Please Mom! Pretty please!" Morgan pleaded.
"...Okay." Lucina paused for a minute and tried to remember where Robin left off.
The Shepherds continued to trudge across the desert with little resistance the entire way, and I watched them from afar. ... ...Eventually, we reached the bones of Grima's carcass and my entire body shook in fear. I was afraid it could turn alive at any second. I looked further down to see Lady Emmeryn held against her will on a high ledge and saw Chrom yell at the Plegian king. I snuck around to try to help save Emmeryn when an ax was thrown straight into Emmeryn's executioner and he fell off the cliff yelling in panic.
"EVERYONE, NOW!" Robin yelled at the top of his lungs and the shepherds came charging through the desert. "RAAAAAWWWRRR!" They shouted a thunderous war cry as they ran full sprint towards the first wave of axemen. They cut them down without hesitation as they made their long trek to the Plegian King. Chrom was taking point with Sumia by his side and the local guards did not stand a chance. I took a quick look at Emmeryn to see that she was safe and there were no enemies nearby. There were a few stray archer littered around so no Pegasus could swoop in and save her, but other than that the area was safe. I decided it would be best to guard the pass in case anyone tried to get to her while the Shepherds took care of the Plegian guard.
The desert sand stained red as arrows and swords cut through the air. There was a clash of metal striking each other and the sound of boots clanking as they ran through the loose ground. No matter where you looked; there was a skirmish taking place. Kellam and Frederick diverted enemy strikes against their armor while Lon'qu and Stahl moved in to flank them. Their two swords cut through them like paper and they did not hesitate to continue moving forward leaving the bodies behind to be forgotten in the sand.
Further down the line, Miriel rained down fire as she flew through the sky on Cordelia's Pegasus. The red-haired knight was also unleashing her fury as she hurled javelin after javelin at the enemies below her. A small platoon of archers tried to shoot them out of the air but her Pegasus managed to dodge the volley of arrows.
Panne, Gaius, Nowi, and Sully all fought in completely different styles but they had each others backs. Needless to say, the Plegian brigands were stunned to see a woman turn into a beast and a little girl transform into a fire-breathing dragon.
The enemy did not stand a chance as the Shepherds ranks marched through the enemies lines. They were covering ground so quickly that Lissa and Maribelle found it hard to keep up with the vicious battle in front of them.
I watched in awe as they Shepherds worked together to take on their foe. It was just like the legends I heard when I was a young girl. Everyone trusted each other with their life and were willing to die to protect Lady Emmeryn. My gaze fell back to the bones of Grima and I shuddered. It took me a second to focus back on the fight and that is when I noticed Robin pointing behind the shepherds and screaming at the top of his lungs.
I was too far away to hear what he was saying, but it was obvious that he was pointing to a battalion of wyvern rider who were flying over to attack the Shepherd's flank. Virion immediately turned around and shot one of the flying beasts while Vaike ran over to help cover the healers. Gregor and Robin also sprinted over to help protect against this new threat as the skirmish continued on all fronts.
As for Chrom and Sumia, they were driving right into the heart of the enemy. Even on that cliff I could see Chrom's fierce determination to save his sister. The enemy was being decimated and I almost felt sorry for anyone that went in Chrom's way. But the mad king didn't seem the least bit concerned. Chrom was getting closer and closer to him and yet the bastard still smiled from ear to ear. My heart sunk and I knew something was wrong.
I ran from my perch and looked for the quickest way to get to the Exalt. I was sprinting so fast that the world around me was a blur. All I could hear was the violent sounds of swords pining and the groans of men being stabbed. I had to make sure she would be okay or the timeline would repeat itself.
I was almost to the base of the cliff when I noticed the sound of fighting had stopped. I stopped for a second to see Chrom yelling at Gangrel. Chrom was within striking distance of the powerless king and yet he was still laughing manically.
...
"That damned Ylissean tactician does NOT play fair!" Grangel cried
"Heh heh heh... Yes, well. Neither do we." The she-devil smirked devilishly and raised her hand.
I couldn't believe my eyes as a giant cloud of purple smoke appeared in front of Gangrel. As the vapors clear I saw over 50 decayed corpses wielding bows appear and my stomach churned in horror as I saw their arrows pointed at the Exalt.
"No! That's impossible!" I gasped. Risen were not supposed to exist until the fell dragon was resurrected. I assumed the scattered band of husks came with me through the portal, but these were summoned by the hands of the Plegia. "But how?!"
"Bwa ha ha! Oh, did an army of living corpses just APPEAR out of the blue?! Truly, the heavens smile upon mighty King Gangrel this day! Bwa ha ha ha!"
I could see Lissa scared out of her wits and Robin desperately trying to prevent Sumia from getting in the line of fire. Even I was helpless to stop anything.
"ARCHERS! If this Ylissean pup so much as twitches, let fly your arrows!"
"I... I'll kill you!" Chrom shouted in extreme rage.
"Now, now, my boy, no one needs die today. Not you. Not the exalt. Not your friends. Just lay down your swords, and give me the Fire Emblem."
Robin yelled something while trying to hold on to Sumia's arm to stop her from taking off. She was determined to fly to Emmeryn and sacrifice her life and I would have done the same if it was possible.
Chrom yelled back to Robin "Of COURSE I can't trust him! I'm not an idiot! But if I just say no, he'll kill her! My sister or my duty... A problem with no right answer, yet I must choose!"
"I will count to three! Throw down your weapons, or your exalt becomes the world's largest quiver. One! Two!"
"Gangrel, hold! ...You win. Everyone, lay down-"
"No!" Emmeryn cried. "King Gangrel, is there no hope you will listen to reason?"
You mean listen to more of your sanctimonious babble?! I think not.
...
"Plegians! I ask that you hear the truth of my words! War will win you nothing but sadness and pain, both inside your borders and out. Free yourselves from this hatred! From this cycle of pain and vengeance. Do what you must... As I will do. See now that one selfless act has the power to change the world!"
That...that is when she leaned over the edge of the cliff and...fell. I was too far away from her and the only thing I could do was watch it in slow motion. She held no fear of malice, she was still her tranquil self. It seemed like over an hour before she reached the bottom and I looked away before I heard the...crunch of bones snapping.
...
"DAMN YOU, GANGREL! DAMN YOU TO HELL!"
I could not feel my legs and I had a violent urge the throw up. I couldn't even look at Chrom or I would fall into despair. I dropped to my knees and tears fell down my cheeks. I covered my face with my hands and fell into agony. Emmeryn was dead and the world corrected my interference. Grima's resurrection was back on schedule and two words haunted me bitterly.
"I...failed."
I looked through my salt water eyes back up at the scene to see Frederick and Robin dragging Chrom away with a horde of Risen behind them. The Plegian king laughing the entire time.
...
Morgan and Lucina saw the door open and they rose up from their seats as fast as they could. A robed man walked through the newly open door and did not have time to react as Morgan nearly tackled him to the ground. "Daddy!" She cried and held on as tight as possible fearing that he wold vanish into thin air.
"Heh it's nice to see you too Morgan.' The tactician chuckled.
"What did Lissa say? Are you okay? Did it hurt? Yowereinthereforsolong!" She said in a hurried panic. Robin broke his daughter's hold on him and kneeled down to her level.
"Everything is okay." Robin smiled and gave her a small piece of candy which he had received from Lissa after the examination. Morgan exhaled in relief and looked at the sugar sweet Robin had placed in her hand. "Now hurry up." Robin said calmly and poked Morgan in her arm. "We don't want to keep Frederick waiting for your training today. I hear the recruits are doing running exercises today, and I know that is your favorite."
"But what if you need me. I am sure Frederick would understand if-"
"No." Robin shook his head. "I don't want you worrying about me for the rest of the day okay? I want you to have fun and I know running is something that you enjoy. Besides, after giving you that candy I don't want to be anywhere near you when you have a sugar rush... It is hard enough to keep up with you." Robin laughed.
"But what if something happens and-"
"Morgan, I promise I will be right here when you get back."
She hesitated for a second but resigned and gave a small nod. She left her parents and ran to the training ground. It would be her turn to sprint 200m soon and she had to hurry or else she would miss it.
...
Robin smiled as he watched her run away and turned to his wife to answer the obvious question she had for him.
"I am fine, and Lissa thinks she knows what is wrong with me." Robin offered his hand to his wife and she accepted it.
"Can she fix it?" Lucina asked nervously and squeezed Robin's hand tightly.
"It's hard to fix something I don't have, but I think she can help me." Robin said calmly even though he could barely feel his hand and it was turning pale from a lack of blood flow.
"What?" She said confused.
"It's a long story and I am a little tired right now. I'll tell you about it tonight when we get back to our room." Robin could see Lucina's fear in her eyes and gave a warm smile to show that he would be fine. He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek and said, "Don't worry, it's not contagious." He chuckled and the grip on his hand loosened a little.