Enjoy.
"Did you see what she did?" Robin asked with bewilderment. Beside him, Chrom shrugged his shoulders. "She certainly is...headstrong." The Prince spoke with an air of restraint in his voice. Robin sighed.
"What in Naga's name did she think she would accomplish? Charging the enemy like that and ignoring the assistance we offered!" Robin was venting now, as he had done many times before. Like when Vaike had broken line and charged a group of Risen alone. "I had to send Cordelia and Sumia after her! Then a whole other attachment of armour and healers!"
Chrom shook his head, hearing similar rantings from the tactician many times before. The two watched with slight interest as Cordelia was speaking to the subject of conversation, a very rude girl with twin-tails. Robin nudged Chrom slightly, having cooled down after his venting. "Do you think you should go talk to her?" He asked the prince.
Chrom nodded. "She does seem to be a capable fighter. We could use all the help we can get against this new threat from Valm..." As he spoke, Vaike quickly wrapped the blonde girl in his arms and spun her around, much to her loud protests.
"Looks like another child from the future." Robin commented dryly. "Yes, her name is Severa." Lucina said as she walked beside Robin. Chrom and Robin shared a look for a brief moment, both already knowing what the other was thinking. Chrom let out a snort not fitting his station, quickly falling into bouts of laughter. Robin smiled and shook his head, showing a little more restraint than his friend.
Lucina regarded her father with a questioning glance. "Father? What is so funny?" She asked innocently. Chrom opened his mouth to speak, before falling into another fit of laughter. Robin composed himself, turning to Lucina with a serious gaze he saved for the battlefield.
"It is a miracle that Vaike found a woman to reproduce with."
Lucina was shocked for a brief moment, the joke having gone significantly over her head. "Why? Is he known for not being able to?" She asked, scanning her memories for any rumours of Vaike not being able to have children. It did not make sense to the princess, as she had grown up beside Severa.
"It's nothing, Lucina. Please, go greet your friend." Robin suggested, pulling a giggling Chrom towards the other male Shepherds. Lucina stood for a brief moment, confused as to what to do, before taking the tactician's advice and going towards Severa.
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The next day, after having a good laugh with the other Shepherds, Robin was waiting for Vaike's daughter in his tent. He had to discuss with her basic strategy, introduce her to his way of fighting, and stop her from acting like Vaike. At least, like Vaike before Robin took over the Shepherds.
He pulled out a small tome reserved for tentative strategies. Considering the girl was using a sword and medium armour, she fit well into his classification of mercenary. Surprisingly she did not seem to take after her mother or father, deciding to use a weapon and fighting style they never adopted. Robin began to mull over his notes, engrossed in the text.
Finally the tent flap opened, revealing the blonde girl. Robin nodded politely, motioning to a seat across form him. The twin-tailed girl sat, regarding Robin with a slightly bored expression. "So, what?" She asked, not bothering to introduce herself.
Robin suppressed the urge to sigh, he could tell this was already going to be a whole thing to deal with. If her personality was a rude as he had guessed, it certainly would be a bane of his existence. "So..." Robin began. "My name is Robin, tactician of the Shepherds and Grandmaster of the Ylissian army." She raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for him to continue. "And you are...?" Robin rolled his hands, hoping to extract an answer form her.
She blew the air from her mouth, finally sitting up straighter in her chair. "Severa." She replied curtly. "Mhm." Robin said, writing down her name in the tome. After scratching at the page with his pen, Robin raised his gaze to meet hers. "And your parents are Vaike and Cordelia?" He asked.
"Yes." She replied curtly-again. Gods, if Robin had to deal with this any longer. Sadly, he knew exactly how this conversation was going to go. Clearing his throat, Robin spoke.
"In the Shepherds, we fight using a strategy called 'Pair Up.' This means that no unit ever fights alone, and we work together. Now your actions today went against everything my strategy stands for, and you seriously endangered yourself and the others." Robin could see Severa bristle on the other side of the desk. "I will forgive you this time, but if it happens again you will not be allowed to fight until you correct your behaviour."
Severa scowled, a fire igniting in her eyes. "Pah! What do you know! I could have taken them all on by myself." She proclaimed proudly, showing a stubborn side that she certainly inherited form Vaike. Robin sighed this time, rubbing his head slowly.
"Well, your certainly related to Vaike..." He muttered, hoping that she didn't hear him. When he looked up to see Severa staring at him with the wrath of the gods, he knew she must have. Deciding to continue rather than dwell any longer, Robin cleared his throat.
"Well. As standard for all Shepherds, I will test you against myself in the training ring. I will gauge your skills, and I will find a good fit for you in our army." He spoke robotically. "What, you don't think I can handle myself in a fight?" She scoffed, clearly offended.
Realization hit Robin fast. He would have to treat each conversation with the girl as diplomatically as possible to avoid her anger, even if small. "No, I do believe you are a good fighter, Severa. You must have been to have survived in the nightmare you came from." She swelled with pride for brief moment. "However, you are no longer facing the mindless Risen. You are facing men and women who are smart, and want you dead. Tactics you used against the Risen will not work, and we must train you to fight against human opponents." Her pride quickly draining from her, Severa nodded sourly.
"Good. Meet me in training fields after lunch." Robin dismissed her, returning to his studies.
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Robin brought the training sword down in wide arc, any skilled warrior would have taken advantage of his opened body. Severa danced backwards instead, not jumping at the opportunity to land a killing blow. Robin took a mental note, decided to repeat the principle again.
He brought the sword above his head in a wild and clearly telegraphing his moves. Severa once again dodged the admittedly slow attack, bringing up her defences once more. Robin mentally sighed. Lucina was one who knew how to fight against humans well, but Severa does not. She would require training from Lon'qu or Chrom. Lucina would also be a good fit, but he feared Severa wouldn't take her friends' training as seriously as she would with a less friendly instructor.
Deciding to quickly end the match, Robin swiped horizontally at the girl before turning his body and using his momentum to bring the blade back again for another slash. He impacted her hastily thrown-up block, making her stumble. Seizing his chance, Robin dashed forward shoulder-checked her into the dirt. Quickly kicking away her sword, he brought his own to press against her collarbone.
Severa scowled up at the tactician, rolling her eyes. "Fine, fine. You win." Robin nodded and withdrew his weapon. He extended his hand to offer her help form the ground, but Severa refused with a glare. Shrugging, Robin backed off.
As the blonde girl brushed the dirt off herself, Robin stepped closer. "Like I suspected, it seems you have little training in how to kill people." Robin winced at his choice of words, hoping to avoid setting her off. "For now, you will be placed with the others who patrol for Risen. Until we can secure a spot for Chrom to train you, I'm sure he'd be happy to help."
Severa's eyes widened. "I refuse." She spoke flatly. "I'm sorry?" Robin questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I refuse to work with Chrom." Robin stood dumbfounded for a moment. Questions immediately rose to his mind. Had Chrom offended her in some way? Was she overreacting?
"That is fine. I shall place you with Lon'qu, he is just as good as Chrom." Robin backpedalled, trying to stop her anger form rising. Strangely, she seemed to visibly relax. Just as Robin had spoken, Lon'qu had made his way past the training area, carrying a large bag of potatoes. "I cannot Robin." He spoke simply, and before the tactician could respond the Feroxian was gone.
Robin raised his arms, confusion played on his face. "What the hell?" He asked no one in particular. Dammit. Robin thought. I don't trust Vaike or Gregor. Anna would just ask for money...Gods damn me.
Robin turned to face the mercenary. "Looks like I will be training you from now on." Robin had expected a reaction of anger, but he was strangely surprised to find one of...relief? Her face hardened once again, and Robin could tell that brief moment of relief as but a break in her mask. If nothing else, Severa seemed to be trying to distance herself from Chrom and the other Shepherds. He would have to try and get her to be more social.
"Hmph." Severa huffed before walking off. "Wait!" Robin called after her. "We didn't schedule our next lesson!" As the girl turned the corner, Robin cursed himself. Why do I get stuck with the weird ones. First Tharja, then Henry, now this?
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Robin hit the dirt, hard. He groaned and instinctively rolled to the side, grabbing for his sword. Unable to find the weapon, he rolled to his feet with fists raised. He eyed his opponent with a dangerous eye, encouraging her to attack.
"You don't have a weapon!" Severa shouted. "Surrender!" Robin smirked. "I don't think you have beaten me, merely disarmed me." He said cockily. Severa rolled her eyes, kicking his practice sword outside the arena boundaries. Robin cracked his knuckles, grinning.
Severa launched towards him with a cry, swinging her sword in precise attacks. She's improved. Robin thought to himself as he ducked under her attacks. Robin kicked outwards attempting to bring the twin-tailed girl down. Surprising him with such speed, Severa took a hand off her sword and grabbed Robin's boot. A second of confusion flashed on Robin's face before he was pulled off-balance and fell into the dirt.
As he fell, Robin grabbed outwards in an attempt to pull Severa down with him, an attempt to get the upper hand. He missed, instead clutching at air and falling painfully into the dirt again. Severa brought a knee onto his chest, aiming her sword at his throat. "Surrender." Severa ordered, panting slightly.
Robin grinned. "I think not." Severa's eyes widened, realizing that the tactician was not done yet. Robin kicked with his knee, hitting Severa in the back. She tumbled forward, losing her balance, and Robin used that moment to spring-board her over him. As she tumbled in the dirt, Robin glanced around for her practice weapon. Unable to find it, the settled into his un-armed stance again.
Severa crouched in the dust, her back towards Robin. She didn't say anything, or move. "Severa...?" Robin called out hesitantly. He took a cautious step forward, concern flooding through him. "Severa, are you okay?" Robin was a step away form the blonde girl now.
As he was about to crouch down and check to see if she was really okay, Severa turned. A wicked smirk on her face, she jumped with all her might, smashing into the tactician. Robin felt the air rush out of him, not expecting the sudden attack. Gasping for air, Robin looked up to see Severa smiling at him.
"Looks like I win!" She proudly proclaimed, a genuine smile played happily on her face. Robin took a moment, caught more off-guard by what he was seeing rather than her attack moments ago. Dirt and dust were floating in the air, allowing the sunlight to be displayed as vivid streaks. Her face framed by her golden blonde hair, her beautiful smile, it took him off-guard.
Snapping back to reality, Robin chuckled. "I don't think that was quite fair." Severa scoffed. "No, but it wasn't against the rules!" She announced, sitting back form Robin on the dirt. "I outsmarted he tactician!" She giggled slightly, getting to her feet and dusting herself off.
Robin lay in the dirt for a few moments longer, staring up at the blue sky. He began to think about Severa, deciding to save that image of her in his memory. Then, like a ballistae shot, he realized what he was feeling. Love? He thought to himself. No, that's impossible. More like, infatuation. She CAN be pretty...
Ah shit.