For the next half hour Morgan practiced her shot with a few arrows that Lucina had brought with her. She aimed at trees, rocks, bushes or anything else big enough for her to target. However to Morgan's frustration, she missed every shot. She couldn't find the right range and always seemed to shoot five feet away from the mark.
"Gah!" Morgan groaned as she saw her last shot fly over the bush she was aiming for. "Missed again. This is harder than it looks." Morgan shrugged in disappointment
"Maybe you should take a break and cool down." Lucina suggested.
"Unng." Morgan groaned, "I guess I should... but I just thought that I would at least be able to hit something by now!"
"You just need time to get used to your bow is all. No one master's their weapon in one day."
"I know." Morgan sighed. "But do you think I may have made the bow wrong?"
"Hmm?"
"Well, maybe I didn't tie the string on tight enough or the wood isn't bending like it should." She said staring at the reddish colored bow desperately searching for an answer. "Could you check for me?" Morgan asked and extended her arm to give it to Lucina.
"It looked fine to me earlier, but I'll check again." Lucina replied and looked for anything odd with the frame. She plucked the string with her fingers to check the tension and the weight in her hand appeared to be normal. The frame also looked very strong and lacked any structural weaknesses. So since she didn't find anything strange she grabbed an arrow and drew back on the bow using two fingers. She took a quick aim at a tree about a hundred feet away and steadied herself until she was ready. When she let go, the arrow soared through the air at blistering speeds and cut through the wind with ease.
Morgan could only watch in horror as the arrow pierced the tree with deadly accuracy. It hit directly in the center of the tree, and dug its way in so deep that the only thing remaining was the feathers at the end. It was a perfect shot.
"...So the problem is not the bow." Morgan whispered and lowered her head in defeat. "When is the last time you used a bow mom?"
"Um, I don't know. I am guessing about a month ago." Lucina tried to make it sound recent, but it had been over a year since she last touched one. Though that was the last thing her daughter needed to hear.
"Unng." Morgan groaned. "And you hit the tree on your first shot!"
"Morgan, it was just a lucky hit. I usually don't have that kind of aim." Lucina said to try to cheer her up.
"Regardless, you hit it perfect on your first try! I can't even nick the tree after 100 tries.
Lucina wrapped her arm around her distraught daughter and said, "But I did it with the bow you made. That at least counts for something right?"
"I guess..." Morgan trailed off
...
Then suddenly they heard a noise coming from a nearby bush. It was too far away for her to see but a shadow was moving through it.
"Lucina, is it safe to enter the line of fire?"" Robin yelled from across the way.
"Yes dear." Lucina shouted back.
Robin walked out of the bushes with a couple of arrows in his hands that he had found on his way back. "How's the practice coming along?"
Morgan sighed and said, "Terrible."
"Terrible?" Robin asked surprised.
Lucina rubbed her hand on Morgan's back and said, "She is still getting use to the bow. But she is just barely missing."
"If you count missing by a mile as 'barely'" Morgan muttered under her breath.
"Heh, don't worry Morgan, you'll get the hang of it." Robin walked over and knelt down in front of her. "And I'm sure Noire knows a few tricks to help you."
"Yeah...And I'll miss even more there." She said depressed.
"Miss? Nonsense you are my daughter and a future prodigy. Soon you will be better than Noire!"
"... If you say so" She replied half heartedly.
Robin smirked and reached up to hold Morgan's shoulder. "You know I can't stand to see you frown Morgan, but don't worry, I'll fix that."
Morgan's eyes immediately rose up in surprise and she desperately called out "No wait!" But her cry went in vain as Robin moved in and attacked her sides. Robin's ferocious assault began and within seconds she fell to the ground doubled over in laughter."hehehahaha, quit it!" Morgan cried desperately "Mom help me! Ahahahaaha!"
Lucina dropped down to her knees in front of her daughter and tapped Robin's shoulder and shook her head implying for him to stop.
"Are you sure?" Robin hesitated for a moment but let go of Morgan and watched her go limp.
"Hehe...ha.. *Pant*.. phew" Morgan sighed in relief knowing it was over. "T-thanks mom."
Lucina smiled evilly and said, "You really shouldn't be thanking me Morgan."
"Huh? Why n-?"
Before Morgan could even finish Lucina pounced on her daughter and tickled her stomach without mercy.
"Wha?! Hehehaha, N-no fair! heheheHAHAHA." Morgan cried as Lucina relentlessly changed from the stomach to the neck. Unfortunately for Morgan, Lucina knew all of her weak spots and her soft hands only made it worse.
"Stop! Please stop!" Morgan yelled in between her fits of uncontrollable laughter, but her mother did not yield. In a desperate attempt to free herself, Morgan tried to crawl away, but this only made in worse when Lucina pulled her back in and increased her speed.
Meanwhile Robin watched unable to control his own laughter as he saw Morgan flail around back and forth for the next three minutes as Lucina continued the torture.
...
"Are you happy yet?" Robin chuckled as Morgan laid helplessly flat on her back with her arms out.
"Y-yes..." Morgan took a deep breath and looked up at her two smiling parents. "Nothing in the w-world could make me happier than I am at this moment."
"Oh really?" Robin laughed. "Well then, I guess there is no need to tell any more of the story then."
Morgan closed her eyes and groaned in misery.
"Heh." Robin laughed and turned to his wife. "Where did you two leave off anyways?"
"We finished after the secret meeting about Plegia and the Emblem."
"Wow, you got far." Robin said surprised.
"Well, you have been gone for four hours, and you know Morgan is not very patient."
"True." Robin laughed and looked back to his daughter "But she is very ticklish"
"Unnngg."
Robin chuckled one last time and decided to give her a break.
... I didn't waste anytime after the meeting. I went straight back to my tent and dove into a pile of books about Valmese strategy, politics, cartography, culture, and anything else I could find. It was going to be hard enough to fight off Walhart and his men to start with, but we also had to find four stones smaller than my hand on the colossus continent.
...
"Let's see, Valmese cavalry will mow down our infantry, but Sumia and Cordelia should be well equipped for them... Though Valm has some of the finest archers in the world. We will have to target them first before we could even think of... no, no, no its too risky." I smashed my hand of the table, "Damn it, Plegia was so much easier to fight. All they had were axes and mages, but these war mongers have thick armor, archers that could pin down a fly, cavalry that could run for days without rest, war monks to defend the clerics, and swordsmen fighting with the strongest swords ever made. It's a tactician's perfect dream... ...and my worst nightmare."
I sighed and looked back at one of the books I was studying. "But they should at least stick to conventional tactics. That at least should give me some room to breathe."
"Yoo hoo! Robin?! Gregor is wondering if tactician that talks to self has a moment for kind mercenary." Gregor called from outside of my tent.
"Huh? Oh, um, I am a little busy right now Gregor. Can you come back later?" I asked and flipped to the next page on the manuscript I was reading.
"Ah okay. Gregor comes back in ten minutes."
"...That's not what I meant." I sighed and took a deep breath, "But nevermind. Do you need to see me for something important?"
"Aye, Gregor has matter to discuss that concerns fighting."
"Okay come on in." I called out and closed the book I was reading.
In the next moment a blinding flash of light entered my tent and I had to turn away or else my eyes would have melted off. "Oy, why Robin cower in fear at the sight of Gregor?
"Gah, it's just that the sun is so bright." I squinted my eyes and looked at the ground below me.
"Hmm? Gregor does not understand the problem. Sun is always bright and allows Gregor to see during the day. Gregor is very glad for sun.
"... Yes I am too, but could you just shut the tent flap already?" I pleaded and covered my eyes with my hands.
"Okay." Gregor said and soon my fingers lost their bright red glow. "Sun is gone now. No need to hide face with hands."
"Ah, thanks Gregor." I removed my hands and looked up at the crazy man in front of me.
"OY! Is Robin okay?" He asked in extreme concern.
"Huh? Yeah of course, why do you ask?"
"Robin's eyes are redder than Valmese armor! Robin also has dark circles around eyes the size of Gregor's fist!"
"Heh, oh right. ... I er, I tried this new spell and one of the side effects temporarily made my face look like this."
"Hmph, Gregor does not believe tired tactician. Gregor thinks Robin has been avoiding sleeping when moon comes out. Tactician should know that white moon means it is time for sleeping like cub nestled next to mother.
"...Erm right, I will keep that in mind tonight..."
"Oy, Gregor thinks Robin should be making with the sleeping now!"
I paused and shook my head before I said said, "But the sun is still out. I should wait for the moon or else I dishonor it's purpose."
"Hmm...Robin makes good point. But promise Gregor that you will obey moon tonight."
I put on a fake smile and crossed my fingers behind my back. "I promise."
Gregor nodded in satisfaction.
"Now." I cleared my throat and stretched my arms. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Hmm, hold on...Gregor forgets" Gregor knocked on his head with his hand and randomly talked to himself for a moment "Oh ho right! Now Gregor remembers. Gregor has request to ask of Robin."
"Which would be?"
"Well, Gregor knows that Robin is great swordsman. Gregor is honored to fight paired next to the side of tactician like the old days in desert and considers Robin a very good friend."
"But?"
"But Gregor would like to be paired with Cherche and giant angry dragon that tries to eat Gregor for the next fight.
"Giant angry? - ...You mean Cherche's wyvern?"
"Aye, Gregor believes that wyvern thinks Gregor is food for eating."
"So if Minerva is trying to eat you, then why do you want to be paired with Cherche?"
"Long story, but Cherche says that Gregor saved wyvern's life a long time ago. Cherche is very grateful for it and even washes Gregor's clothes despite protests. So Gregor wants to return the favor and protect her in battle."
"Wait, she washes your clothes?" I asked surprised.
"Aye, that is what Gregor said. Cherche appears to be very grateful. Ho ho, or maybe she falls for Gregor's charms yes?"
"Heh, she is how much younger than you?" I laughed.
Gregor grunted at my comment and said, "Oy, Gregor has a heart younger than infant. But Gregor realizes physical age difference so Gregor knows not to try to pursue lovely young beauty and angry dragon. Gregor merely wants to protect them in combat."
"I see...Well that does solve my problem with who to pair her up with. So yeah, if she is okay with it then I don't see a problem."
"Ah, many thanks Robin. Gregor will not forget your kindness."
...
Gregor left in a jolly mood like always and let me get back to my work. I had another twenty books to read, and a strategy to plan. So I set back to it and gazed at the map in front of me. Hours went by as I made notes for my battle plans and practiced invisible battles in my head.
...
"Hey Robin! I have a special package for you." Sumia called out happily through the linen tent.
"A package?" I murmured "Did Flavia or Chrom find more books on Valm?
"No, but this is even better!" She said excitedly and entered the tent. However this time the sun did not come with her so I guessed it was nearing night time. "I think you will - OH MY Goodness!" Sumia yelled in surprise and nearly dropped the box she was holding. "Robin you look terrible!"
I rolled my eyes and said, "And you look as beautiful as ever." I jested but her reaction didn't change in the slightest.
"This isn't funny Robin! I've never seen you look like this before!" She cried in a panic and moved closer to look at my bloodshot eyes. "When is the last time you slept?!"
"...That depends. What day is it?"
"It's Thursday." Sumia called back worriedly.
"Hmm...let's see. I went to sleep on Monday so that would make it-"
"MONDAY?!" Sumia yelled in horror. "Robin have you locked yourself up in here the entire time?!"
"Well not the entire time. Every once in a while I leave to um, relieve myself.
"So this is why I haven't seen you around at dinner?" Sumia asked in shock. "Dear Naga, please tell me you have been eating!"
I put my hand up in the air and smiled. "Relax, I always have spare rations in my tent. I can't focus on my work if I am starving of hunger so yes, I have eaten."
"Thank the gods." Sumia said relieved and placed the box in her hands on the ground. "But why in the world are you doing this?!"
"Because I have so much work to do. We will be leaving for the Valm in less than a week from now, and I will only have so much time to prepare while we cross the ocean. I just don't have the time to sleep."
"Robin, you can't just skip sleeping. Your body needs it!"
"I know, which is why I had Henry cast a spell on me so I could go without it."
"What?! Robin that can't be healthy!"
"Probably not, but my health is not the problem. I need to make sure that everyone else is safe and I can't do that unless-"
"But who is making sure you are safe?!" She said with a large amount of fear and concern in her voice.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." I waved it off
Sumia shook her head and said, "No! You are not fine. You look awful and you need to go to sleep right this instant!"
"I can't-"
Yes you can, because if you don't then!" Sumia stopped half way through her sentence and she looked completely horrified. "Robin! You need to go to sleep!"
"Look Sumia I-"
"Robin! If you don't go to bed this instant then I will have Chrom make you!" She yelled in concern.
"Sumia! I can't sleep. I cannot afford that luxury with everyone's life on the line. I will not risk your life or anyone else's because I spent my time sleeping.
"Robin." She whispered and ran over to hug me. "Please... I am concerned about you and what if Chrom saw you like this?"
*Sigh* "He would hit me till I lost consciousness."
"Mhm, and don't think I won't do the same!" She rose her fist in the air. "Just looking at you has me worried for your safety, and how can Chrom or I sleep at night knowing that you are suffering?"
"Which is why I didn't tell you two." I remarked
"...Robin." She said with a lot of hurt in her voice.
I shook my head and shrugged. The longer I kept saying no the more I would make Sumia worry so I resigned. "... Okay, I'll get some sleep."
"Good!" Sumia said urgently and let go of me. "And I don't want to see you up again until it is lunch time tomorrow! You need to make up for all the sleep you lost!"
"But-"
Sumia glared at me with an evil eye and silenced me from my last attempt at staying awake.
"Okay... but will you at least tell me what is in the box first?"
Sumia looked back at box and said, "Oh, it's your new equipment."
"Huh?" I said confused and bent down to where the box was
"You are our tactician for the campaign so Chrom and the Khans thought it would be best if they gave you the gear for it. You are officially the Supreme Commander of our forces, but Chrom says the title Grandmaster fits you better."
I slowly opened the container and saw a dark blue cloth at the top which was the same color as Chrom's cape. It looked like a blanket at first, but when I pulled it out of the box I noticed that it was not a blanket, but a new cloak. It held the Ylissean crest at the back along with golden stitching across the seams. It also felt much softer to touch than the old ragged robe I was wearing.
"We had it tailored so it would fit you perfectly, and we made sure that it had plenty of spare pockets since we know you like to keep a lot of stuff on you."
"...It's incredible." I marveled at the blue cloak in front of me. It went all the way down to my feet and had my name embroidered on the inside. However, that was not the only thing in the box. The was also a set of platemail armor that would be concealed behind the blue cloak and it was made of from some of the strongest metals in Ylisse.
Sumia smiled and said, "I thought you would like it. There is also a sword that comes with it, but Chrom wants to be the one to hand it to you. Of course, you need to go to sleep first!" She insisted.
"So you keep saying." I shrugged and went over to my bedroll. "But If anything happens though I expect to be woken up."
"Nothing important will happen Robin. So don't worry about it."
"Still if something does then I-"
"Shhh, relax Robin and go to sleep. Nothing will happen, I promise."
...
"So what happened?" Morgan asked while still laying on the ground.
"Hmm, what do you mean?"
"Well, when someone says nothing will happen it foreshadows a major event." Morgan replied
"Not this time." Robin laughed. "I slept undisturbed and things remained the same during my slumber. It wasn't until I woke up that Chrom started yelling at me and demanded I started taking breaks. He said that if he ever heard about me going without a night's rest again then he would fire me from my position and escort me back to the castle in chains.
"But grandfather was only joking right?"
Robin looked back to his wife and chuckled. "Somehow, I don't think he was."