Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Four chapter update, 6 + 7+8+9 (What I like to play the game a lot and Fanficton was down Monday.)

Robin's POV

I got sent off with a few troops to deliver a message to Regna Ferox that the war was starting. It wasn't a big force, me, Lissa, Ricken, Maribelle, Stahl, Donny, Vaike and Lon'qu. Really Lissa was the liaison, the rest of us were just her escort. Regna Ferox was still cold and snowy, the white powder crunched under are feet with each step.

Flavia said she'd start moving her troops defensively and wait for our call.

We didn't hit any snags till we started heading home…we came across some people treating injured soldiers.

"What happened?" Lissa asked concerned.

"You should turn back, there's danger ahead." The one man said.

"Tell us what happened." I reputed.

"Some Bandits have blocked off the road ahead, they're forcing tolls on those who pass, and the ones who can't pay…well…you get the idea."

"Profiteering off refugees huh?"

"Our lives are at stake, this caravan will no longer deal with this country." The merchant cried.

"The people will need help though." I said "If you stop they'll starve."

"Then we'll secure it." Lon'qu said.

"Huh?"

"This is my home too, and I don't want bandits running around unchecked." The swordsman said.

"I agree." Lissa said "And since I'm in charge we're helping."

"Since when are you in charge."

"NEE!" she stuck her tongue out jokingly.

"Lissa darling that's very unladylike." Maribelle sighed.

"Whatever let's just go."

We assembled near the river and prepared to start flushing out the bandits. We decided the first thing to do was warn a nearby village of the bandits, so I sent Stahl and Donny to do that. I stayed with Ricken and the two of us blasted the enemy with spells.

"HRA!" Vaike was swinging like a fool, blowing bandits off the small bridge, and Lon'qu was with him, cutting arrows that flew by.

"What's that…" I said looking across the river.

"HYUP!" A girl was jumping around cutting some of the bandits "She's protecting the village."

We should go back her up. She's quite nimble, look at her jump around like it's nothing.

I ran across the bridge and made my way over to the woman.

"Watch out!" I said charging a spell "RAH!"

I shot off a bolt and blasted the man trying to attack her. She must have been fighting for a while because her clothes were torn, she was covered in snow, and there was a broken arrow in her shoulder.

"You need medical attention." I said looking at her shoulder

"I'll be fine." She hissed "I won't be done till the bandits are gone."

"Seems like you have things under control here, leave the rest to us." I said.

"You're offering to help, how cute." She smiled.

I saw Stahl ride out and the village shut its walls.

"They've been warned Sir, they'll be waiting for the all clear."

"Good job, let's finish this up."

"GAH!"

My attention was drawn to Donny who was struggling to block the axe of the Bandit leader.

"Give up and die!"

"Dammit!"

"Donny!"

"Here we go!"

The woman flipped in, kicked the leader in the face and cut his side with her sword.

"AUGH!" he hissed.

"See ya!" she giggled.

"There are such…pretty flowers…" he groaned as life faded from his body.

We immediately went back to the village and the merchants to tell them the bandits were taken care of.

"Thank you, you've saved our business." The merchant said.

"There is that better?" Lissa asked treating the hero woman's shoulder.

"Perhaps she needs more?"

"She's gonna overdose on healing magic if you two don't stop." Ricken laughed.

"So, what's your name?" I asked.

"I'm Anna, the Secret Seller." She said standing up and poking my nose "You really helped; Next time we meet I'll give you an extra special deal, okay cutie?"

"HMPH!" Lissa pouted.

"Something bothering you Lissa?"

"Let's just…go home." She huffed.

A few days later.

It was a nice calm night, the moon was high in the sky and the breeze was ever so calming. I was out in a castle garden, observing the sky.

We've been lucky…the Plegians haven't attacked yet.

The last couple days I've spent drawing up plans in case we get attacked. Lissa brings we tea and tells we what's new with the rest of the Shepherds, Chrom and Sully train, Stahl and Donny have apparently become good friends, and for some reason Virion is teaching Miriel the art of fortune telling.

"Hey Robin can we talk?" Chrom said.

"Oh umm…yeah sure."

He took a seat.

"What'd you wanna talk about." I asked as he took a seat.

"Tell me about you and Lissa." He said looking off.

"Umm…what about her?" I asked confused.

"Everything you know."

"Um…she's a sweet girl, very nice, I like her we're very friendly." I described his little sister as best I could."

"When you say you like her do you like her as a friend, or like her like her…"

"Ummm? I'm confused?"

Chrom grabbed my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes "I'm asking if you have feelings for her, romantic feelings."

"Oh wow…I had never really thought about it like that…" I said "I don't know, when I'm with Lissa I do feel different…I guess maybe…I do."

"I thought as much." Chrom sighed.

"You say that with a negative tone." I observed his demeanor.

"Just…be good, I couldn't pick someone better for Lissa than you." He said handing me something "Take this; you'll know what to do with it when the time comes."

I looked at the bobble in my hand.

A ring?

"It's late." I said looking at the moon high in the sky "We should back it in."

"Yeah, I'm still angry."

"Why?" I asked "Is this another thing about me and Lissa?"

"No, I'm just thinking about what Gangrel said…it wasn't a lie, my father fought with Plegia for many years. The fighting only stopped with his death fifteen years ago. The fighting dragged on so long Ylisse was hurting, the army was small, to the point it was mostly just farm kids like Donny...they just were marched off to their deaths, and with no farmers there was no food…a chain reaction of suffering. I was only a kid, but I remember those times, I remember how it hurt Emmeryn. Luckily Lissa was young so she was spared."

"Something like that would surely change people." I commented.

"Our dad died before Emm was ten; her certainly left her in a bad place. A blood thirsty Plegia, a nation of riots…my sister took it all on. People hurled a lot of insults…and rocks, she still ahs a few scars. No one ever understood her pain like Lissa and I did."

"Sounds like palace life isn't so easy as stories make it out to be." I half smiled.

"I don't know how she does it, but she always greets hostility with a smile." Chrom said "She reached out, and ended all the wars, then people forgave her, and she never resented them for a second. Emm is a vision of peace, something Gangrel will never understand…unless he is killed for it, and in that case, perhaps I am the reaper."

"Chrom you shouldn't talk like that." I said.

"Yeah I know, Emmeryn would never allow it, and I don't want her to."

"Well said." A voice spoke up.

"HUH?!"

Chrom and I both got defensive, and then calmed when Marth exited the shadows.

"Evening." The boy nodded.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Chrom growled, concerned about a defensive breach.

"The hole in the wall by the maple grove."

"How the…how do you know about that?!" Chrom gasped "That wall was bashed during Shepherds training, I thought no one else knew…"

"Your secrets safe with me." The mysterious swordsman said "I came to warn you."

"Hmm?"

"The exalt is in grave danger." Marth said.

"That's ridiculous, she's guarded at all times." Chrom said shrugging off the notion of an attack.

"What if…What if I said I saw the future, would you believe me, if I saw a future where Emmeryn dies here tonight."

"Chrom…" I whispered to my friend "He's acting odd…"

"Yeah I know…he sounds like he's lost it."

"I figured you wouldn't believe me." Marth sighed "So I'll prove it!"

He drew his sword.

"I will now save your life…from that man."

Marth turned around and sliced a man who jumped out of a bush.

An assassin?!

"WAH!" he stumbled back when a second assailant appeared, the masked man tripped, and the knife of the attack shattered the mask, and lowered his…no…her hair.

"HAA!" Chrom cut down the attacker "Wait…you're a woman?"

"I knew her voice sounded forced." I chimed in "She's very good."

"To be honest I'm shocked it took you so long." She smiled.

Marth was very pretty, long blue hair, a wonderful face, but her figure was hard to gauge due to her outfit.

*BOOM*

"Dammit!" Chrom yelled running off.

"It's started." Marth mumbled running behind him.

"Wait for me!"

We got inside and people were running all over.

"Chrom, Robin!" Lissa yelled "What the heck's going on?!"

"Seems we're under attack." Chrom told her "Defensive positions now!"

People split up around the castle to defend Emmeryn's room.

"Chrom take Lissa and leave." The exalt instructed.

"Not gonna happen." Chrom shook his head "You stay in there, the Shepherds will defend you."

"All we need to do is get to the leader, the rest will likely scatter after that." I said.

"Falchion…why are you glowing…" Marth mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Nothing!" she glared "It does not concern you!"

"Seems like nothing ever concerns me."

"Sorry, I'll defend the door for you." Marth said.

"We'll take out the rest." Chrom said drawing his sword.

"HAA!" I let of a shock that zapped an assassin.

"Robin!" Chrom yelled running passed "I'll leave Lissa with you."

"Roger."

"Aw wow I got my own personal knight." Lissa giggled.

"Now is not the time for jokes." I said.

"Okay…" Lissa frowned slightly "Let's protect everyone."

"If I can't get one I'll get the other!"

"Lissa look out!" I pushed her back and blocked a sword with my sword before cutting the man down.

"Thanks Robin…"

"No problem Lissa."

"HRAA!"

"WHAT IS THAT?!"

Lissa and I both screamed as some sort giant rabbit ran passed and kicked the attackers away.

"A new assassin?"

"Stop!" Marth yelled "Panne is not your enemy."

"Hmm?" the rabbit looked at us.

"Well you've been right so far so we'll trust you." Chrom said before turning and pointing his sword at a man's throat "Drop it or die."

"Whoa, Whoa hey now!" the orange haired man said "Let's all be cool…I ain't trying to hurt no body."

"Says the guy running with the assassins!" I yelled blocking more attacks.

"I'm just trying to make a living." The man shrugged "I'm a thief, not a killer. They hired me to bust open a vault, not kill the exalt."

"Perhaps you can prove these good intentions?" Chrom said.

"Heh?"

"I need al the help I can get to save the exalt." Chrom said "You seem capable; perhaps you could give us some information?"

"Fine I'll help, but you gotta sweeten the deal Blue." The thief smirked.

"You want gold don't you, common thug."

"No you dunce, I saw sweeten, like candy and stuff." the thief said reaching to Chrom's side "What do we have here?"

"That's just some stuff form my little sister."

"I make the best candy!" Lissa giggled.

"Sugar…I'm yours!"

"He swapped sides over…candy!" Chrom gasped.

"You want the leader right, by the way my names Gaius. The leader is some sorcerer called Validar."

Validar…why does that sound familiar?

"Traitor!" A man with an Axe ran up but Gaius ducked and cut through him.

"Stay outta my way."

We pushed thorough the attackers till we made it deep into the enemy force. They had a lot of dark mages with them, but with Miriel and Ricken's help we were able to dispatch them. At the same time Lon'qu was slipping through the crowd cutting down horses and their riders.

"Oh…there you are." A disturbing voice said.

I looked over and there was a tall, thin, scraggly looking man there.

He looks just like…that man from the dream.

"Validar…"

"If you submit to me I might honor you with the truth."

"I won't fall to anyone." I glared.

"Very well than…How about this?!"

"KYAAA!"

"Lissa!"

The girl was being attack by some sort of black cloud.

"I'll just remove the trash first."

"Put her down now!" I slashed at him with a sword but he batted my away with his magic.

"HAHAHA!"

Validar blasted me with fire spell after fire spell. My nose was filled with the smell of my burning cloak and skin.

"I'll kill the brat now!"

"NO!"

I charged up my hand and grabbed his chest, delivering a bright spark.

"GAHAHAH!" he hissed as his insides were charred "This isn't…how it was supposed to happen!"

"GET OUT!"

I kept up the voltage, until his heart stopped. Validar lay on the ground, a smoldering husk.

"Lissa!" I ran over to her "Are you all right."

"Robin!" she hugged me "Thank you! I was so scared!"

"Hey…" I hugged back "It's okay." I leaned my forehead against hers "It's okay…"

"Robin…don't leave okay…" Lissa whispered.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Lissa and I walked back to the main room where Chrom was with his other sister.

"Seems everyone made it out unharmed." I said.

"It's thanks to all of you." Emmeryn said.

"I beg for forgiveness." Phila bowed "They should have never made it to the castle."

"Relax Phila." Chrom said "No one could have known…only Marth did…"

"Who is Marth?" the Exalt asked.

"Yes we should speak with her…umm, Robin where's Marth?"

"I don't know, I saw her like ten minutes ago…" I said.

"I think she ran away." Lissa said, still refusing to leave me side.

"Not again." Chrom groaned running off.

"I believe we owe her thanks as well." Emmeryn said gesturing to the rabbit.

The huge beast shrunk down and was revealed to be a woman, with rabbit ears.

"Brave taguel, there are no words to express my gratitude."

"So you know our name." Panne said "It's a start."

"I'm sorry, but what is a taguel?"

"I am a taguel." The woman said "The last one…we are shape-shifters, most times we are just called beasts. I only came to help because my warren owed Ylisse a great debt. We are not friends understand!"

"I…I don't." I continued to be the only one talking, and apparently I was not doing a great job."

"It's little your kind ever understands." Panne growled "man spawn like you slaughtered my people."

"Who…why?" Emmeryn said confused.

"Don't act surprised, you're all the same. You humans…always ruin everything you touch."

"There is some truth to that…" Emmeryn sighed "I once heard that in a taguel society everyone is treated as an equal. Mankind could learn much form your kind. I know it's most likely too late, but I sincerely apologize."

The exalt, was bowing her head to the other species.

"Your Grace you-."

"It's fine Phila…" she said looking back.

"You claim to be blameless, yet apologize, humans are so confusing." Panne sighed "Words are nothing but hot air."

"I know…" Emmeryn said "But words are all I have."

"You seem sincere enough." Panna smiled ever so slightly "I've never met someone who felt my pain as their own, Perhaps you…are different from the others."

"All I ask is that you give us a chance to earn your trust." Emmeryn smiled.

Panne wandered off and Chrom came back in. Until we could figure out how the assassins got so far we thought it best to move Exalt Emmeryn.

"Go to Ferox, it's safe there." Chrom said.

"And leave the people undefended, absolutely not Chrom." Emmeryn glared "I will not leave my people alone, I will stand with them."

"But what if-."

"Perhaps a trip to eastern Palace is in order." Frederick said cutting Chrom off "It would be safer and Plegia know nothing of it."

"Please Emm, at least do that much." Chrom said "I can't go to Ferox without knowing your safe."

"Very well…" Emmeryn sighed.

"Thank you." Chrom smiled reassuringly "We can escort you to the palace and head north form there."

I went back to my room to get ready.

"Hey Robin." Lissa said running up "What did Chrom want to talk to you about before all that stuff happened?"

"Umm…he asked me about you." I smiled.

"Really." Lissa gasped "What about me?"

"He asked how I felt about you." I told her.

"And how did you respond." She asked prying deeper.

"I said she's annoying and plays pranks like dropping toads-."

"Frogs."

"Yes frogs down my coat, but I always get her back, like with the worm the other day."

"Oh yeah, that was funny, but then you made me stop." Lissa pouted.

"I also said I liked you pout because it was cute."

Lissa started blushing "You think it's…cute…"

"I think a lot about you is cute." I smiled.

"That's…really nice of you." Lissa said blushing more "Ummm…I should really get going!"

"Lissa wait." I said grabbing her arm.

"Whoa!" she yelled as I hugged her "What wrong?"

"When he had you…I was so worried, I'm just happy you're okay." I whispered.

"Robin…"

"I don't ever want to see you get hurt Lissa." I whispered "I want to protect you forever."

"You shouldn't say things like that." Lissa blushed "You'll give a girl the wrong idea."

"What if that's the idea I wanted to give you?"

"Robin." Lissa shuddered.

I leaned down and grabbed her chin. Lissa was as red as crimson and looked like she was about to explode.

I leaned down and placed my lips on top of hers. She was motionless at first, but as my hands dropped to her tiny waist she began to kiss me back. After a few seconds, we separated.

"Oh Robin…" Lissa said hugging me "You don't know how long I've wanted that…I've liked you since I first saw you in the field."

"I knew there was always been something special about you Lissa." I smiled back.

"Robin…" Lissa said hugging tighter "Don't even go away."

"I won't leave." I said holding her close, and feeling the ring roll around in my pocket.

AN

Thank you for reading. Feedback is appreciated. Feel free to message me any questions or concerns.

I've played a ton of Awakening, but one thing that was always weird was how the relationships, specifically proposals, come out of nowhere, I tried to change that for the story and have Robin and Lissa have some courtship before he inevitably proposes. But I still wanted to keep that fun spontaneity in too.

Till Next Time!