A/N 16, you were annoying in your arrival. But finally, finally, you came out like I wanted you to, plot-wise. Sure you're a little dry and plot-progressing, but… maybe that's okay. I don't own Fire Emblem or any of its alternate timeline forms.
Only the storehouses and the surrounding areas were targeted by the bandits in the small timeframe that the town was raided. As a result, the damages were concentrated. The northern and inner portions of Southtown remained virtually untouched, much to the group's relief. It was in the standing doctor's building that Lissa took care of the injured.
The three men promised her a seat at dinner later at the local tavern-inn and left her to her work.
"I'm… very sorry, sirs, but… the bandits made off with much of our livestock… I'm afraid there's not much we can offer on… the… first page," said the waitress shyly. She held a small notepad in front of her face like a shield and subconsciously tucked a strand of pink hair behind an ear.
"That's perfectly all right," responded Chrom kindly. "Now, a plate of fish for my sister, and as for me, I'll have a plate of whatever meat is available, please."
"I'll… have whatever he's getting. Please."
"...just bread and water, please. No meat."
Chrom added, "Really, don't stress yourself and the other workers."
Relief flooded her features at his words. "Thank you. Certainly. I'll be back with your orders." The waitress gave them a pretty smile, collected the menus, and walked away. There was a certain... grace in her steps that lent a subtle sway in her hips. Chrom's navy eyes followed the motion a little too closely for a little too long and Robin smirked.
"See something you like?" he joked cheekily. Chrom's cheeks pinked. "No. She just… um, had something on her butt," he defended unconvincingly.
"Riiiiight."
"It's not like that! I just think she's sweet-I mean, needs to be more… careful where… she sits…"
Frederick nodded knowingly. "Perfectly normal." A pause. "Milord, you do know you are of marrying age, and the nobles have been pestering you to settle down soon. Perhaps you should look into this matter given your current disposition?"
The blue-haired prince clenched a hand seriously. "The nobles want a lot of things from me, but right now, I see a greater good in the Shepherds' cause than marrying an empty, peacock daughter." He perked up as he quickly changed the subject.
"Robin, I never got to thank you for your aid earlier. Thanks to you, my sister is saved from my poor decision-making and the day is won. Granted, these are only little more than petty bandits, but I really do appreciate the effort," Chrom said, smiling.
The three were sitting around a square table at the tavern-inn, waiting to be served.
Frederick added, "Your methods were quite… efficient, I admit."
Robin blushed at the praise, unused to the commendations. "No, it was nothing really. It was probably a hobby of mine in the past, just staying inside all day and reading up."
Chrom was quick to object. "That's just it, though. Your tactics, strategy, even the way you fight-I see potential in you. You, with us."
"Milord, are you-?"
"How would you like to become a Shepherd?"
The din of the tavern faded away as Robin considered the possibility. Then he realized there was nothing to consider.
"I accept," he replied happily. With Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick, there was friendship, occupation, and a dream. The thought of spending his days traveling the country, meeting new people, and getting to implement more intricate strategies… it filled him with hope.
"Excellent! I was hoping you would say yes. The Shepherds have been in need of a tactician for quite some time, and you seemed perfect for the job," Chrom declared, looping an arm around Robin in a friendly gesture.
"Ah, Prince Chrom! What a delight to run into you here!" called out a lofty voice.
Chrom's arm tensed around Robin's shoulders before the prince released his new friend. "What a coincidence, Yost. The pleasure is all mine," he greeted formally. His tone was detached and little remained of the previous joviality Chrom had displayed earlier. Frederick adopted a new level of stoicness, staying completely silent, mouth thinned into a line.
It was a pudgy, slightly-stooped young man. The folds on his neck bragged a gluttonous lifestyle. He was blonde, and bedecked in jewels and silks that garishly showed off his wealth. In an eyesore of lime green and cherry red, Yost sauntered to the trio.
Robin already shared the other Shepherd's sentiments.
The nobleman bowed. "What business brings you here, Yost?" Chrom asked. The man in question sighed rolled his eyes.
"The usual family business, trading and such. Though, with the recent bandit attack, many of my company's goods have been lost. My trip up north for trade will be delayed and my father would be extremely disappointed in me," he sighed. Yost gave Chrom sideways glances as he spoke.
Sympathetic nods. Awkward silence. "In a town so closely related to the capitol, security has been surprisingly lax. Many of my father's assets have been lost," he added pointedly.
"That's very unfortunate," coughed Chrom. "Please, as… the crown had been lax in its duty of protecting its citizens, accept some compensation from the royal treasury." His tone was reluctant, but compliant. Help me, Chrom's eyes signalled to Robin, who only widened his own.
You're on your own friend.
An oily grin appeared on Yost's face as he clasped his hands delightedly. "Excellent, excellent, I say. Now, where were we before that unpleasant bit of business popped up?"
"Here are your orders, sirs," piped in a cheerful voice. The same pink-haired woman arrived, balancing the four dishes and several drinks on her arms on a large tray.
"Ah, thank you," said Chrom.
Identical, steaming dishes of meat appeared in front of Chrom and Robin. The gamey, juicy smell that emanated from the slices made Robin's mouth water and he eagerly forked the tender meat into his mouth. "Thish ish really good," he beamed at his companions, forgetting his manners.
From behind a plate of a warm loaf of bread, Frederick looked almost ready to hurl. Sweat had materialized on his brow and he looked feverish. "I'll take your word for it, Robin," he muttered.
The woman held up the plated mackerel, unsure of where to place it. "This was... for your sister..?" she asked Chrom, pointing at the fish.
Before Chrom could respond, Yost took the opportunity to open his mouth and say, "Oh, I'm just keeping her seat warm. Just set it right here, nice and easy. No need to trouble yourself and move from there." He not-so-subtly winked at the waitress and Robin could see her quietly shudder, but comply to her customer's wishes.
At the angle she was at, the poor waitress had no choice but to practically bend over the table to reach. Her worker's uniform offered a view from where the nobleman sat, and by the look on Yost's face, it was nothing to scoff at. When she came back up, her cheeks were flushed with mortification.
"Tell me, what is your name?" prompted Yost as he rested his chin on a heavily-ringed hand.
She wouldn't meet any of the men's gazes as she stuttered, "O-Oli-Olivia, sir."
He leered over her from his spot and said, "Well, Olivia, once I've finished keeping this chair warm, maybe you could swing by later and do a little warming yourself, hmm?"
Olivia shook her head, her eyes still trained to the ground. Her pink hair shuffled in the motion, causing the strands to fall from behind her ear and into her face. "Th-thank you, sir, b-but-"
Chrom pounded the table with his fist. Not loudly, but forcefully enough to silence the other man. "That's enough," he commanded. Yost looked as if he was about to protest, but decided to think better of it and shut his mouth. Chrom turned to the waitress. "Thank you for the meal, Olivia," he murmured.
She gave the group a quick bow before rushing off with the tray.
Robin had been discreetly following the whole exchange, and thus noticed when the nobleman's eyes never ceased to rove the waitress' body. Predatorily, lewdly, possessively.
The tactician glanced at Chrom, but the prince seemed intent on occupying himself with his plate. Frederick had found great interest in the floorboards.
"Well. I supposed I should retire for the night-big day tomorrow, what with the inspections and travel plans. I bid you farewell, noble Prince Chrom, and thank you again for your most generous gift. It will be put to good use," Yost said. He dazedly excused himself and exited the room.
Immediately the thick, congested atmosphere dissipated.
Robin felt a rush of air from behind.
"Thank Naga, I thought that insufferable prick would never leave. I didn't want to join you all with him around," complained Lissa. Having arrived from the healing building, the blonde princess plopped herself onto a creaky wooden chair with little finesse.
"Lissa-" Chrom started. "Milady-" Frederick tried. But she only gave them pointed looks. She reprimanded, "Don't try to defend him. You both know I'm right. Did you see how he treated that girl? Maribelle would have his head."
Chrom slouched in his chair. "One of the reasons why she's not here. Anyways, lacking of charms he may be, but that still doesn't change the fact that his father is very influential in court. Emmeryn already has enough to worry about without us adding petty noble squabbles and manners into the mix," the blue-haired man sighed. "Take heart. With the extra financial aid for his business, we shouldn't be encountering Yost any time soon."
Lissa hummed in response. "True, true," she agreed. But privately, she briefly imagined the fish to be the man and savagely speared a few bites of salted fish.
Frederick cleared his throat. In a low voice, he said, "Milord, I must go prepare our supplies for tomorrow's trip back to Ylisstol. Despite the damages to this town's buildings, I spotted a few stores that should stock the materials we need."
Chrom met his knight's question. "Do as you must, Frederick. Robin, Lissa, and I will await your return here."
"Yes, milord."
Chrom sighed. "Frederick, I told you to just call me-"
"Actually, I'm done for now," Lissa cut in suddenly. The men gave her strange looks to which she stretched her arms and released a dramatic yawn. "It was a long day. I'm pooped. Good night, everyone!"
After a chorus of goodnight's and milord's, only Robin and Chrom remained of the original four.
"So," stated Chrom.
"...so," answered Robin. "What now?"
It was a little awkward. Both were strangers in this newly-minted friendship, having just barely scratched the surface of each other's personality. Still, nothing brings people closer together than one person saving another from a life lived alone and one person saving another from certain death on multiple occasions.
Robin was pretty sure this was normal amongst the Shepherds.
"Well, since you're a Shepherd now, and my new tactician, and our options are limited, I guess this calls for one thing, and one thing only," Chrom said in a teasing tone.
"Drinking celebration?" Robin proposed eagerly. He sincerely hoped he wasn't a lightweight.
Chrom grinned.
"Drinking celebration."
One hour later found the two men bone-tired, completely smashed, and uncommonly candid.
Prince and tactician slouched over a bar drunkenly. Between the pair lay a haphazardly-stacked pyramid of empty bottles, cups, and glasses. Both men were tired and sore, but quite obviously content with their achievement.
Still, there was an important matter that needed to be resolved.
"He-heyyy Chrome. Gooooogle Chrome," slurred Robin, clutching a half-filled tankard. His head felt like such a heavy burden on his shoulders, so he rested it momentarily against the rough wood of the table.
From beside him, Chrom took a swig of his own drink before mimicking Robin's pose. "Yeeeeee?.." he 'asked.'
Robin shook his head. The action caused a few unruly white locks to cover his eyes. "Now that we're offish-ly… ya know… friends… there's sumthin' I wanna tell ya. But it might be weird." He tried to see Chrom and meet his eyes, but his hair poked annoyingly at his vision, so he quit and jabbed out a finger at the prince.
"Naaaaaah, buddy, go on a-and shay it. A good… leader needshta lishen to hish people."
"Your… hair," Robin announced, missing completely and prodding Chrom's cheek, "it's just sho… It'sh sho cool." He waved his hands wildly. "Like… like the ocean and sky combined to make shuch really cool blue hair! I don't think I can… remember others havin' sumthin' that pretty!"
Chrom tried to talk, but hiccuped instead. The action made his head bounce against the table. "Heyyyy, I wuzabout to tell ya the same thing. Like, it'sh alwaysh the girlsh that're talkin' bout hair, but guysh can too! I love yer hair, buddy. It's snowy! Like… snow!" He giggled and drew little circles on the table with his pointer finger.
Robin was filled with indignation and pride. "Yeah!" he yelled, punching a fist in the air. "And-and they're alwaysh shaying thingsh about marryin' and complimentsss… sho… I like yer hair sho much that if there wazza girl version of ya I'd probsh marry her jest for the hair!" Pure adrenaline coursed through the tactician's veins, and he couldn't contain the huge grin after his statement. "Well, maybe not," he added as an afterthought. "Ya gotta great pershonality too-really, really, really niiiiice!"
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" bellowed Chrom wordlessly as he vigorously nodded his head in agreement. His voice carried loudly over the din of the tavern. Robin took that to mean hey, thanks a lot! I must admit, I too appreciate your personality. I feel as if we are the best of friends already and I look forward to our future collaborations as Shepherds.
The drunken pair leaned on each other in their camaraderie, guffawing uproariously and ignoring the annoyed glares the other bar patrons gave them.
A shadow fell over their heads. "Milord. Robin."
Frederick stood behind the two fools calmly. His back was laden with foodstuffs and other traveling supplies, leaving room for the knight to irritably cross his arms. The knight made the mistake of smelling their breaths and crinkled his nose at the scent of various alcoholic beverages.
"I think you've both had enough for tonight," he muttered. "Get up. We're retiring to your rooms."
"Amen to that!" yelled a random old woman to almost unanimous assent.
When the two failed to respond, Frederick carefully lifted Chrom and hoisted him over his right shoulder. He did the same to Robin and placed him on the left. Neither really protested, so far gone they were.
As he headed towards their rooms, the knight apologized on behalf of his charges. Thankfully, no one seemed to recognize their prince and his tactician.
Still, despite the nuisance they had caused in his absence, Frederick's cold demeanour softened as he thought of Chrom. The prince was always preoccupied with the going-ons of his people that he very rarely allowed himself some fun. It was good to see the stiff prince let loose, even if it was with Robin.
But maybe, just maybe, the protective knight thought, glancing at Robin's dozing face, the new tactician wasn't so bad.
This was bad. This was so, so, so bad, oh no, oh-
"Aaa-" Her scream was cut off by a grimy hand at her mouth and the pressure of a blade at her back. The tip pressed into her skin slightly, enough to push, but not enough to cut.
"If you value your life, you won't make a sound. Nod once for yes."
In the pitch blackness of the room, Olivia nodded once. There was a small chuckle from behind her, low, rumbling, and entirely too sinister.
"Good. Now walk."
A/N So yeah. I've always thought Olivia was really cute and had a great personality, sort of like Fluttershy from MLP. No, I am not a brony. Olivia's going to play an integral role in the upcoming chapters. Finally… one of my favorite characters is going to be important...