Chapter 16
The day after the run-in with the band of assassins, the decision had been made to escort Emmeryn to a more secure location. The shepherds had set up camp in a dense forest, before trekking through the mountains the next day. Nathan had been asked by Chrom and Frederick to meet them in the strategy tent once everything was set up, so he took the time to help some of the others with pitching their tents, after remembering that he had lost his to bandits a few weeks before. The tactician took the time to catch up with each of his fellow shepherds, except for Lissa, whose tent he made an effort to avoid. From talking to Chrom, even the prince and Frederick were getting tired of his constant avoidance of the princess, and the subject came up in every one of Nathan's conversations with the shepherds, which he quickly avoided and changed the subject. He was even frustrated with himself, unable to come to terms with his feelings for his best friend's sister.
Once he finally made his way to the Strategy tent, he looked around and saw Chrom and Frederick standing on one side of the main table, with Lissa standing on the other. His eyes widened, trying to figure out why she was there? Gods forbid, did Chrom and Frederick tell her about his crush on her? Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead as he walked over and stood beside Lissa, simply giving her a curt nod, which she returned. He then turned to Chrom and Frederick.
"So? What's up?" He asked. Chrom and Frederick looked at each other, seeming to visually try to force the other to talk, until Frederick finally spoke up.
"Well…since you are in need of a tent, sir Nathan…and Milady here is in need of a bodyguard, we figured it may be a good idea for the two of you to bunk together?" He told the two shakily.
A brief awkward silence filled the room, before Nathan, now beet red, simply looked at Chrom.
"…What?" He said in a monotone voice.
"Hey, since when am I in need of a bodyguard? I thought that was Lon'qu's job?" Lissa pressed.
Chrom looked over to Lissa. "It WAS, but he requested a change if possible." Chrom continued, "There is still the bounty on Lissa's head, and until then, she needs someone to watch her. And you, for the moment, need somewhere to sleep. So I'd prefer to kill two birds with one stone, and Lon'qu has already done his fair share of watching Lissa, and deserves a break." He said. "Fair enough?"
Nathan sighed in defeat. "Fine." He muttered.
Lissa let out a glum sigh as well, and grabbed at Nathan's cloak to pull him along. "Come on, I'll take you to my tent so you can unpack…" She said quietly. The two quickly shuffled out together.
Once they were gone, Chrom turned to Frederick.
"Did you ever suspect that would be the reaction we got from those two after saying they can share a tent?" He asked the Great Knight, who chuckled and shook his head.