Chapter 5: Safe Harbor
"Three weeks!" Chrom groaned out. He slumped forward, both elbows digging into the barracks table as Chrom buried his face in his hands. "Three weeks to make the Shepherd sea worthy again, to organize Emm's diplomatic mission. Then another three days for all the ceremonies!"
"Tradition is tradition, sir." Frederick answered. "And I'd sooner not have the city work itself into a fervor. The Exalt can't set out without the proper assurances and blessings of a safe journey."
"It's just... I'd rather be out there now." Chrom sighed.
"Chrom? I'll know I'm still getting used to sailing... but I'm certain it doesn't pay to leave without all your equipment at top condition." Chrom cracked an eye open, to see Robin at the edge of the table. She leaned against the surface for balance, and also to get her point across. Even Frederick gave a grudging nod at that.
"...You're both right." He grumbled. "But I wish-"
"That you were at sea. Everyone appreciates your zeal, but I'd suggest tempering it for the time being." Chrom nodded at Frederick's words.
"Alright. Then I suppose it's best if I excuse myself for now, and find something to do. Actually... Robin, would you come with me? There's been a few things I've been wanting to ask you about."
Robin gave a cautious nod at that, and stepped forward.
"O-okay. What's the first thing you wanted?"
"Well, I think we should do something about your balance." In answer, her feet scuffed the otherwise immaculate palace tile. "And if we're going to do that… You should meet Miriel. She'll want to take a look at you, and see if there's a solution."
-o-o-o-
True to Chrom's words, Miriel DID have an interest to her. She peered over her spectacles at Robin, holding a pen at the ready. Lissa hovered close by, while Chrom perched on a windowsill.
"I must say, you're a rather unusual case. Usually it's sea sickness that we treat, rather than... land sickness for lack of a better term."
"I-I've seen you before." Robin blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
"Oh right, you haven't been formally introduced. Robin, this is Miriel, first mage gunner and researcher on the Shepherd." Lissa continued at a lower voice. "Don't feel bad if you're not familiar with her, she's usually nose deep in books or experiments."
"For good reason," Miriel picked up the conversation, not sounding at all bothered at Lissa's description. "We won't find out answer to the storms by blindly sailing, and the specimens of sea water I've taken so far have been fascinating when put under a magic heat source or electricity or-"
"Land sickness, Miriel?" Lissa cut in. "You said you had something Robin should hear."
"Ah yes, that. The condition is singularly rare, which piqued my curiosity in the first place. I can only recall symptoms from one other instance." Miriel snapped the book shut. "It was from a visitor passing through our kingdom. I was only an apprentice at the time, but the novelty of the case had a way of sticking in one's mind. Not to mention the patient herself; a touch of a cipher, that woman. Here for a few weeks, and then vanished overnight."
"Well, I can promise that I'll try to stick around more than that." And hopefully not vanish without warning... unlike what her own memories had opted to do. Still, Robin felt a shiver work its way down her spine the more she thought about it.
'I wonder if there was anyone out there, bothered at how suddenly I vanished. Did I leave any questions behind, before the Shepherd and Chrom found me in the waves?'
"What happened to her?" She forced the words out, to try and focus on the immediate situation.
"Much of the same I've seen with you, though she struck me as a touch more feverish. The medics were hard pressed to keep her coherent some evenings, and it was more out of a kindness of the late queen that she was given treatment."
"And then once she had a stable mind she just… left?"
"Aye, immediately overnight. The other thing that I remember is how clumsy she was while walking, at least at first… though if I remember my notes correctly, she eventually regained her balance."
"So… the same will happen to me?"
'Will I need to leave, no matter my feelings?' She glanced to Chrom, as he shifted his weight. Looking ill at ease over the words.
"Highly probable, at the very least. Given enough time, your condition should right itself. As for any mysterious disappearances… That's up to you." Miriel then busied herself with prodding Robin's ankles and writing in her notebook. And managing more than a few odd questions about what she ate, which side she felt like falling on the most often… and likely would have continued until Chrom finally managed to draw Robin away.
He excused them by saying their day wasn't finished, which made Robin wonder what else he had in store.
-o-o-o-
"How are your feet?" He asked once they found themselves back in the halls, and Robin knew she wasn't hiding her grimace as well as she wanted. Their path was a gentle downward slope, but even that pushed needles into her feet.
"Managing," she admitted. "There's still something very sensitive about them, even if I'm not sure what. But I can drown the feeling out somewhat, because I'm curious about where you're taking me."
"Well... take a look out there." Chrom answered, waving a hand towards an arch. Robin shifted herself forward, leaning against the railing to look out. A small courtyard gazed back up at her. A section of the castle swooped down and touched a sandy bank, surrounded by cliff face rocks. They acted as a natural gate, letting little else but tides flow in and out. The low sun cast vivid colors on the scene, turning the waters to green and orange.
"It's lovely..." even if looking at it, she had an ache in her heart. Sensations of loneliness and longing squeezed at her, all in the same breath.
"I'm glad you like it. It's a tide pool, though once the sun sets fully you can see all the properties it has. But I... I was actually hoping I could request a favor of you." His face looked so hopeful, she had to nod and motion for him to continue. "Could you perhaps... teach me how to swim? Or at least swim better. I'm only decent, and after seeing you fight the waves, I want to be closer to your skill."
When Robin nodded, it transformed his face with a bright smile.
-o-o-o-
Chrom had made his arrangements with Robin, leaving him perhaps a candle mark of free time to wander the castle. Where hopefully he'd figure out a way to swim without layers of cloth.
Instead of an idea, he found a merchant from the council.
"Anna?" He tested the name, once he saw her. She nodded at that, her eyes lighting up.
"So! I overheard something about the prince being wistful about swimming." Anna favored him with a knowing smile. "You'd be amazed how word travels; though if you plan on setting back out to sea, I'd say it's a useful skill. Not enough sailors actually bother to learn it."
"So I've heard..." Chrom mumbled. At least she wasn't teasing him too much about the odd request. "I'd sooner try and keep fighting instead of giving up and drowning."
"Well said! And if that girl battled the waves as much as you said, then she's not a bad teacher..." she trailed off. "Just one question though; how exactly are you planning to swim in that get up?"
"I... thought I'd work through the problem as it came up." Chrom said. "I'm certain I could discard the cape if I needed to. Then the upper layers, and keep my pants-"
"And slowly get dragged down as they grow waterlogged and heavy. And then you struggle more to stay afloat than actually learn." Anna's eyes gave an amused twinkle. "Prince, can I give you a little advice? I'd suggest ditching that outfit entirely, if you want to prove yourself a fast learner."
"...Alright, but what are you suggesting instead-?" Something in the pit of his stomach dreaded the way she lit up at the question.
"Glad you asked! As it so happens, and for a paltry sum of gold, I have bone-fide, customer satisfaction or your money back, swimming attire! Courtesy of one of my relatives in fact." Definitely. He definitely didn't like that eager glint in her eyes. "You know, I already spoke with Robin, and she agreed to make the purchase for herself, with a little borrowed gold; I even gave her a discount. So surely you wouldn't want to let her down?"
Chrom bit back a groan, fingers going to the money pouch at his belt. "Well... I suppose when you put it that way- are you certain this is going to help?"
'And why is my face burning up so much?'
Anna favored him with a grin, and produced a... unnervingly small satchel.
"Absolutely certain! And here you are! Do tell me how much it helped, once you're finished." When he looked up, she was already disappearing down the halls. Chrom fiddled with the buckles, opening the package to an alarmingly sparse... and a small scrap of cloth inside. Just a blue pair of smallclothes, in fact.
"You want me to wear THAT!?" The last outraged word echoed all through the castle.
-o-o-o-
"…Robin." Frederick's voice stopped her in her tracks. And there was something in that single word that banished the ambient warmth, no matter how much the sun still glowed. "Hold a moment."
She didn't have much of a choice. Her feet seemed rooted to the spot, only grudgingly turning around to face Frederick.
"I-is there something wrong?" His face certainly suggested that. Frederick seemed to take up the entire hallway, with how he loomed over her. His cautious look was back in place, having been absent during the meeting with Chrom.
"Your performance at the meeting, for one. Not only did you speak out of turn, but…What were your goals, speaking the way you did?"
"Trying to remember… Though with mixed results. It just sort of… Slipped out?" Robin told her legs to cooperate. Not to buckle under Frederick's gaze, and especially not to go out entirely… Even if thinking back to those weird half memories shook up her balance. She likely couldn't walk away now, however much a part of her wanted to. "I'm not sure if any of it was real, or just nightmares from almost drowning-"
"Including that mention of Grima?" Frederick's voice went cold. "That name is not lightly invoked, you should know."
"I-I'll try to remember, in that case-" She wasn't sure if that was enough to convince him. He still frowned over her, his gaze scrutinizing… But she also wondered over how he hesitated, when he spoke.
"And you remember nothing else? Nothing that would tell us more?" Robin shook her head, and Frederick let his breath out in a long sigh.
"You… Are something of an enigma, still. Anyone with a mote of memory or propriety would know better than to do what you did. And we still have no leads on who you are, or where you come from." And there was any number of accusations behind that, all of them suggesting she couldn't have come from anywhere trustworthy. "And yet…"
He sighed the last out, screwing his eyes shut.
"You've saved us once." That was said grudgingly. "And you kept his grace afloat."
"It… Just was the right thing to do. He was in trouble." And thinking back to it still courted a headache. "I wish that I could… Do something to convince you."
Frederick dipped his head.
"Caution has been how I've stayed alive, and afloat. I can't trust you, without knowing more… And that's something you can't give me, if your mind is a blank slate."
"N-nothing personal at least?" Robin meant to say that quietly, to assure herself and keep it private. But Frederick still overheard, and gave a stiff nod.
"And aside from that… It seems I need to remain wary for the sake of the entire royal family. Given how they've warmed to you-"
She wondered, and worried at the lightness in her heart at that, and how at odds it was with Frederick's coldness. Thankfully, an interruption was close at hand.
"Moment of your time, Robin?" Came Lissa's voice. It broke Frederick's scowl, replacing it with a bewildered, and slightly frustrated look.
"Doesn't look like you're up to anything too important, and I've got something to share with you!" Lissa said, stepping in front of Frederick. She almost buzzed with excitement, over whatever it was. "Chrom asked us to look for something more for you to wear. So you wouldn't get completely soaked by anymore storms."
"I-I suppose that could be important." And she wondered at the bundle Lissa carried in her arms.
"You wouldn't believe how hard it can be to find a tailor when half of Ylisse is taking up the capital. And all the spare outfits have been spoken for. Anyways! Maribelle and I found this, tucked away in one of the store rooms." She held out a bolt of dark cloth to Robin. Her fingers still had a shiver when she reached out to take it… And immediately hooked into soft, smooth fabric that rested gentle against her skin. Robin unfolded the garment, and found herself looking at a long robe. Cut from a fabric that was almost black, save for slashes of violet and gold on the sleeves, cuffs, and hem.
"It was folded in the very back," Lissa informed her. "I'm surprised that there weren't any moths getting into it."
Robin nodded, sliding her arms through the sleeves and feeling the robe fall over her shoulders. It felt oddly natural, and comforting; almost like being enveloped in a cloth hug.
"Huh. That fits you better than I thought." Lissa said.
"Y-yes. Thank you for finding this."
"Not a problem; guess we're lucky someone left it behind." At Robin's confused blink, Lissa continued. "It doesn't match any fashion I've ever seen. But we get a lot of people traveling through the capital, or on merchant ships. Might've belonged to someone from Ferox, or even Valm!"
"…Or pirate isles." Frederick grumbled that, and Lissa turned a frown on him.
"Point is, you've got an outfit to wear around now. Okay, Frederick?" Lissa stepped across Frederick's path when he tried to move around her.
"…Very well." Frederick sighed, finally relenting.
"Good; in that case, I also need to get you to Chrom. Sounds like there's some sort of appointment with him." An odd giggle lurked in her words, and she was eager to tug at Robin's arm. Robin gladly let Lissa pull her away… But also knew that Frederick's eyes were following her. Still cautious.
Given what had played out in her mind during the council and Miriel's interview, Robin wasn't certain she could blame him.
But she was also more than ready for that swimming lesson, if only she could find Chrom. Provided her feet didn't give out before then.
-o-o-o-
"This is utterly, absolutely, and completely stupid." Chrom muttered to himself, trying to keep his cape wrapped around him as much as possible. He'd half scuttled from a quiet room in the palace down to the courtyard.
He tugged at the shirt he'd scrounged up; ragged enough that no one would miss it, light enough he was sure it wouldn't drag too much in the water. Hopefully enough to keep him a touch more decent.
…Hopefully.
Not that he was in a hurry to be seen. It had been bad enough when Lissa glimpsed him in a hallway.
'At least she'd gone so choked that she couldn't actually laugh and draw more attention.' He'd been able to swear her to secrecy with a bribe of his desserts. And gotten to the courtyard and the secluded pool without any further incident.
A part of him hoped Robin had actually forgotten she was meeting him here, or had been waylaid by Frederick. A part of him hated asking him to meet up with her.
'But better she get to know him than have to deal with this situation.' He was set on his plan now; slip into the tide pool for a minute at best. Swim around, and then return the blasted suit to Anna and thank her for the trouble but conclude he wouldn't be requiring it any further.
He scowled at the tide pool like it had turned to acid, and he was being forced at sword point to take a dip in it. With a grumble, he undid the catches on his cloak.
Then he waded in... and the shirt proceeded to billow out around him, ready to tangle his arms. Chrom shut his eyes with a grumble, glad that no one else was there, before peeling the thing off, tossing it aside and hearing it land on the rocks with a wet slap.
"Anyways, It's a good thing I found you when I did. I thought Frederick was going to spend all night trying to get whatever records he could out of you." The voice came from around the rocks.
"Trust me Lissa, I'm grateful. I... Wasn't sure how to answer him." A scuffle of sand on feet followed. "This at least is something I know how to do. And I'd hate to let Chrom down-" That was Robin's voice, cutting out when Chrom splashed into deeper water. The tide pool rose up to his chest, so at least he wasn't on full display.
'Deep breaths, deep breaths, things are fine, things are fine they'rejustfine-!' He tried to tell himself, right as Lissa and Robin stepped around a cluster of rocks. It was all he could do not to freeze... or slip, the way the sand turned underfoot.
They saw his clothes discarded on the rocks, before they ever glimpsed him. Chrom found himself wishing he'd buried them in the sand instead of leaving them out. Lissa smirked when she saw the discarded clothing, before tugging at Robin. A hint of Robin's skin showed around the dark robe she'd draped over herself. Her bare legs peeked out at the hem, showing rich bronze against the pale sand.
Her eyes were constantly searching, taking in the surroundings now that she was at shore level. Her side was supported by Lissa, an arm resting against Lissa's shoulders. Even so, he saw the way a tiny twitch and wince traveled up her leg, each time her foot touched the ground.
His own feet shifted on the sand, slipping backwards. He tumbled in the water, throwing one arm out for balance with a splash.
"H-hey," he managed to call out, lifting his other arm out of the water to wave to Robin. And hopefully draw her attention away from whatever hurt.
Lissa followed the motion as well.
"Hey Chrom, are you-?" Lissa's words cut out in a snort. Then turned into a giggle. She had to duck out from underneath Robin's arm, from how much she was shaking with laughter. Her eyes were fixed on him.
"...Lissaaaaaaaa." He growled. "You've already seen me in this ONCE already, I don't see why it's so funny a second time."
"I-It's not THAT!" She finally burst out, holding her sides. "It's... oh gods, have you SEEN your tan lines?"
Chrom stared at his raised arm, sun colored... up until the pale line of his doublet took over, giving him the most bizarre farmers tan he'd ever seen.
He doubted anyone would blame him, if he sank into the water and never came up for air again.
But once he slouched into the tide pool, Robin started forward. The robe fell down around her arms, and she shed the cloth easily enough. Chrom tried not to blush when he saw the violet band of fabric circling her chest. A matching piece of small clothes were the only thing that kept her decent.
'Don't tell me Anna really did convince her to wear one of those blasted swimwears as well.'
When her feet touched the waves on the shore, her step grew a little more sure. That much was clear with the lightness in her feet, splashing into the shallows.
'How can she move so sure with just... just THAT covering her?' He tried to keep his eyes fixed to her face.
"I don't get it. Aren't you feeling kind of awkward about this?"
Robin blinked at him, the water tugging at her hair where she shook her head.
"No, not when it means I can get back in the sea. It's a lot harder to swim when you've got several pounds of clothing weighing you down."
"Well, it's a good thing she's so easy going about this; you look redder than a lobster, Chrom." Lissa teased from her spot on the rocks... and Chrom tossed some water at her, to shoo her off. Which Lissa did, with an indignant sputter and shriek.
Once she'd ducked away, he started at the hands that had found their way onto his own. Robin kicked off the bottom and pulled him out from the shallows, into deeper water.
"I should probably tell you, I don't know or remember much about teaching someone how to swim. It just comes to me. I don't know if I CAN teach it." Robin turned to him, her hair fanning out behind her.
"Hey, I can always learn by watching, and trying out what I see." Chrom offered, and Robin bobbed up and down in the water as she nodded. A smile flickered across her face as she skimmed a hand through the pool, enjoying how she floated. She seemed in her element, once their feet left the sand and they treaded in open water.
Much as he hated to admit it, Chrom was feeling at ease too. He almost forgot the awkwardness of showing so much skin, with only the pool acting as a blanket. Though his skin still tried to burn, wherever the air touched it.
"T-try to show me, for starters. And I'll do my best to follow your lead." Robin nodded at that, letting the motion dip her head and pull her underneath the water. She surfaced a few feet away, and motioned for him to follow.
He lost track of how long they swam, Robin showing a stroke and him trying to replicate it. Eventually the sun vanished, taking the glory of the ocean sunset with it. The moon rose in its place, and yet the heat stayed in the air and tide pool.
"Hold off for a moment," he suggested to her, when she was about to kick off with her feet again. She often moved with them together, like a dolphin, rather than a person. "I almost forgot, but I should tell you-"
Robin came to a stop next to him, tilting her head to the side. The motion cast out ripples. A few droplets escaped her chin, splashing into the water-
"Oh!" She gasped out at the contact. It wasn't a simple ripple or splash; instead there was a glow of light, almost electric blue. A burst of stars flickered on where the water was disturbed.
He couldn't blame her when she drew her hand through the waters again, causing a shimmering tide to follow in her wake.
"Is- Is this normal in Ylisse?" She blurted out, yanking her head up to stare at him. Chrom couldn't stop himself from laughing at her face, eyes stretched wide.
"No, just unique to this tide pool. It's supposed to be some sort of sign of Naga's favor-"
"And you let us swim around in it!? Isn't that-"
"Taboo? Hardly. Or at least not any more than me being a prince. I think I'm allowed some leeway with that."
"And... being 'Tide Touched?' Does that grant you the same allowances?" The way she said that showed it was still an unfamiliar word to her.
"Ah... yeah, I guess so." He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "You're not upset, are you?"
"No! I... I love it!" She blurted out. "Just a little surprised, is all. And honestly a bit surprised that you'd let me see this. But happy, too."
"I guessed, going by that smile on your face." Chrom noticed that the expression had a way of lighting up her features, even more than the tide pool did. He found himself returning the grin.
-o-o-o-
The glow seemed to make Chrom's hair all the more blue. That set Robin's heart at ease, despite the shock of the glowing water.
'Actually, I feel more at home now…'
"By the way… What is 'Tide Touched?' If you don't mind me asking? I remember you called yourself that." He tapped his bangs in answer, scattering a few droplets. The damp quality and shimmering light lent the blue in his hair an extra richness.
"It's an old tale, that decided to show up in my blood. Or at least my hair color. It's said that when someone has blue hair like this, well..." he ducked his head, embarrassed over talking about it. "They're supposed to have a connection to the waters, more than usual. And since I always feel so keen to be back out on the sea, I guess there's some truth to that."
"I'd believe it; your hair is nice that way." The words slipped out of her mouth before she could think, and Robin rushed to follow them up. "Wh-what I mean is, that was one of the first things I noticed about you. The blue color of your hair reminds me of the sea at its best moods."
She wondered at how his eyes lingered on her. A few droplets settled on the white hair, giving a soft blue glow. That same light shimmered off the pool… and almost did the job of hiding the blush still on Chrom's face. Almost.
"For what it's worth..." Robin said. "I'm looking forward to going out to sea as well. I... I feel in my element when I'm out among the waves."
"True... though much longer in these waters and you'll probably turn into a prune, or a fish." Robin sighed at that, not entirely looking forward to being back on land, or the way the water would go from soothing to cold. But she let Chrom lead her out of the pool, and take a few shaky steps onto the sand-
And her steps held. Her legs still shivered a little, but it no longer felt like she was walking on knives at each step. She stared at him, then back at the pool, knowing amazement dropped her mouth open... but she didn't care. For the first time, she could walk on land and actually feel at ease in doing so.
-o-o-o-
The days moved by. And with them, her feet grew more and more solid underneath her. Pain no longer stabbed through her when she walked... but still, the sea held a restless place in her mind and heart. A tugging at her, that only looking outside and watching the waves would soothe.
It was the case one evening, where she left the guest room granted to her and found herself padding down the stairs. Towards the beach Chrom had shown her. It was only to glance at the water, she reminded herself; beautiful and soothing as it was, she wouldn't dare swim in it without him.
Robin kept the promise going through her head. She was so distracted with it, she almost blundered into someone standing at one of the terraces. But there was no missing that cape, white as sea foam, or the blue hair.
"...Chrom?" She stilled her steps. His hair had gone blue-black, the lamps burning in the walls giving it the faintest touch of brightness.
"Ah, Robin!" He jumped a little at his name. The winks of orange scattered across his bangs from the motion. "What are you doing out right now?"
"I could ask you the same," Robin pointed out. "I felt a bit restless, so I wanted to look at the sea again." She forced a laugh at the confession. "Strange, isn't it? You'd think I'd want to avoid something that took my memories, and yet…"
"...It feels closer to home than anything else." Chrom finished. She nodded, and he gave an agreeing hum. The silence drew out, filled the waves. But it wasn't an awkward hush; all they needed was the call of the sea. And the other's company.
'Though that won't last forever.' Robin forced herself to remember.
"You said you were going to this... Ferox place, soon?" She tried to keep the nervousness out of her voice, at that idea. Walking the empty hallways of the castle didn't hold a lot of appeal for her, even if she was getting her balance back.
"Yes; as important as it is to find the source of those storms, Emm's safety also takes priority." She got the impression that he was secretly looking forward to it; being at sea with his family. It made what she had to ask stick in her throat. She could imagine Frederick's scowl, that she dared to intrude more on their lives.
"Do you think it would be possible for... for me to accompany you as well? I realize I'm still an enigma, that I don't know much about sailing, but-" But the idea of staying behind left her cold. The bewildered look Chrom gave her wasn't much better; maybe he thought the suggestion was as bizarre as she did.
"What are you talking about, Robin?"
'What did you expect?' She told herself, glancing away-
He saw the way her face fell, hastening to add "I thought it was obvious you're coming with us."
'Wait, what?' She paused, an odd shiver moving up her feet… And settling into her heart with a quick squeeze.
"Y-you mean it?" When Robin lifted her head, Chrom was still watching her.
"Of course! You have an amazing talent with reading the waves. Not to mention swimming, and I'm sure either of those will aid us." He gave a soft chuckle.
"They certainly helped me out before… And I hope we agree on that?"
Robin's answer to that was a relieved laugh and a nod.