Chapter 35: Bonds
'One foot in front of the other.' Lucina told herself, walking through fading daylight. 'One thing at a time.'
And she'd start with finding the source of the sound. Lissa took the lead on that, moving towards the castle doorways; they'd been left unguarded thanks to the commotion on the docks. Lissa's pigtails swished back and forth as she tilted her head, trying to key in on the melody as she raced for the castle.
"Wait." Lucina said, right as Lissa approached the doors. "I don't think…"
This place still felt oddly misty in her mind, as Lucina tried to memorize the layout. But there was one thing Lucina was sure of, and that was the sound wasn't coming from the castle itself.
"I don't think we're looking in the right place." Morgan said for both of them. Instead he nodded down towards the water, and the very limits of the harbor. At the edge was a rocky shore meeting the mist. The ringing grew in Lucina's ears, when she tilted her head towards the gray shrouds.
Lissa's face fell at that, as she watched and listened.
"But… I can't swim out to that!"
"I can." Morgan offered, wading into the water. He shrugged off the long coat Morgana had left him, leaving it on the shore. Lucina had her own doubts, with how Morgan had been moving.
"B-But what about your wounds-?" Lucina pressed. She wasn't about to watch her brother drown, just because his limbs didn't share his enthusiasm.
Morgan shrugged at that, tracing his hands through the water.
"They're not slowing me down now. I can make it out there, and take you along!"
"I… I don't know-" Lissa muttered. But before she could finish, Morgan grabbed Lissa by the wrist and plunged into the harbor. Lissa could only manage a quick sputter before she crashed into the water.
Lucina had little choice but to dive in after them. She scowled as her new clothing billowed around her, going sodden. The process of swimming had been significantly easier, back when she had a tail and fins to help push her through the water.
But if she didn't care for the experience, Lissa enjoyed it even less. That much was clear with how she flailed in the water, before latching onto Morgan. For a second Lucina feared they'd both be dragged under, but Morgan proved to be a strong swimmer. He'd lost all his awkwardness on land and cut through the waves, pulling Lissa with him.
It helped that they didn't have far to go, and they ate up the distance with quick and well placed kicks. As odd as it felt to swim with two legs, the waters were still welcoming. She wasn't fighting through the waves, instead being carried by them. It gave Lucina room to lift her head, and pick out an odd thread of silver water flowing among the rocks; behind the shimmering fall was a hint of a cove.
The spray of the waterfall made sure they were soaked to the bone, before they slipped past. Inside was a bowl of a cavern, surrounded by ancient carvings and lit with a strange glow.
Lucina raised her head above the waves, letting her breath out in an awed hush. There was something familiar about this place; something that echoed the lighthouses she and Morgan had visited… And it seemed Lissa had a sense of familiarity as well. That much was clear with how she floundered forward with a gasp, to a pedestal taking up the center of the water.
"Y-you're kidding!" Lissa said as she clambered onto the central island. She stared out from under sodden bangs, looking around. "This place was under the castle, all this time-?"
Morgan splashed his way up and onto the island, breaking Lissa from her stare… And Lucina didn't trust that grumpy look crossing her face.
"…So. You're pretty good at swimming." Lissa's voice was flat, as she walked back to Morgan. He gave a quick nod, trying to smile at her as he stepped further onto the shore. "You can handle yourself in the water okay."
"Y-yeah! I'm pretty proud of it." He picked up on her flat voice a second too late.
"Good." And with that Lissa gave him a hard shove, and sent him toppling back into the water. Morgan splashed and sputtered up at her, while Lissa crossed her arms.
"Maybe you'll remember to ASK next time you do that! I like to know if I'm going to inhale sea water in advance, thank you." Lissa huffed out. Lucina just stared, wondering why this interaction felt so familiar, for an instant.
"S-sorry?" Morgan tried. "I w-wasn't going to let you drown or anything! I just thought that'd be the quickest way to get to…" He trailed off as he lifted his head. A brilliant, almost sunny light danced over his face, like ripples on a pond.
Lucina followed it, losing that sense of déjà vu in the process. Her eyes found the altar fixed to the island, and a gleaming object at the center.
"…No way." Lissa whispered, following Lucina's gaze. "Th… That can't be…"
Lissa scrambled up the island. Morgan cautiously followed up after her, and Lucina moved as well. Drawing closer Lucina picked out a shield, laying almost like a giant gold leaf on the stone.
"…Sorry for sounding dense but… What is this exactly?" Morgan asked.
"I-It's the Emblem. I'm sure of it." Lissa sighed out. She'd lost all her frustration, replaced with awe. Her hands traced over the shield, carefully lifting it up. When she turned to Morgan, it was with a bashful look. "Do you think… We can get this back to the others? They'll need to see it for themselves. A-and no offense, but I need to make sure we're not all hallucinating this."
"We might be able to manage, if Lucina takes the shield." Morgan told her. And with a quick grin he added on "And I'll be sure to warn you about inhaling anymore saltwater."
-o-o-o-
The sun had sunk beneath the waves, by the time they returned. The air was just as chilled as the water, pushing a shiver into Lissa's skin. She also got an extra shudder when she looked to Lucina, and the shield cradled in her arms.
"I still can't believe what I'm seeing." Lissa murmured; she gave a little shiver as Morgan pulled her out of the waves, the air and water both conspiring to chill her skin.
The other Ylisseans had noticed Lissa's absence; that much was clear with how they combed the docks, peering into the gloom.
"H-hey!" Sully shouted, keying into the splashes and the sight of them crawling out of the surf. The sand crunched underfoot as a group of crew rushed to their spot.
"Your Grace-?" That was Frederick's voice, accompanied by a skin shivering breeze. At that point Lissa was ready to get found out. Frederick could scold her as much as he wanted, if it meant a warm meal and room. "What did you… How could you vanish-!?"
"Hey, Frederick. I don't suppose we could continue this over hot tea?" Lissa stalled his protests… And Frederick took in how drenched she was. He also gave a sharp gasp when he glanced at Lucina, and saw what she was holding.
"Oh Gods…" Frederick managed to turn the two words into a prayer. "I-I suppose we'd better."
It was a matter of minutes to get inside and warm up. Frederick settled for the dining hall as a place to talk strategy… And look at their newest treasure. The wane candlelight made the gold glow, and seem almost liquid with how the highlights ran over the surface.
"Is that truly what I think it is-?" Frederick's own voice was hushed, while Phila could only stare. A few other key crewmembers waited around the dining table, the Emblem forming the centerpiece on the wood.
"Beyond a doubt." Libra told him. "I've seen it drawn in illuminated texts, writ in stained glass… But I see now, that those effigies did not justice to the true thing."
"Th-The Fire Emblem!" Sumia gasped; she hung over Phila's shoulder, staring at the shield. "It really exists! But how did you-?"
"All thanks to our new recruits." Lissa took a little pride with how her voice was steady. And at her words, Morgan and Lucina stood up a little straighter. "We found the Emblem in a cove, while you all were busy. Right here in Ylisse… Though yes, I'm also wondering how it found its way HERE, of all places-"
"Well dear… Think for a moment." Maribelle spoke up, moving to stand by Lissa's seat. She also nudged a cup of hot tea towards Lissa, urging her to drink while Maribelle spoke. "We couldn't find Chrom or Robin, the night we got our miracle. And we only saw them when they confronted the pirates… So what were they doing before then? And what would've given them the conviction, to think they could face a pirate fleet?"
Lissa stared over the rim of the cup at Maribelle. But she had to admit, her friend had a point.
"They found the Fire Emblem, somehow. They must have." Phila answered; her voice was still rough and thick with grieving… But the sight of the Emblem banished her sad expression and gave her a decisive look. "And now it's up to us to safeguard it."
"Y-yeah…" Lissa lost the steadiness in her voice, much as she tried to put some conviction into it. But as beautiful as the Emblem was, as much as it hummed with power, it still felt like a poor substitute compared to her family.
'But they've sacrificed so much, to get it into our hands.' And no matter how her chest still hurt, she needed to honor that sacrifice. And hopefully make her own hands stop shaking, and spilling the tea. She set the cup back down on the saucer, taking a deep breath.
"We'll keep it safe. And… Maybe find a way to use it." She continued. Honoring the such efforts was at least something she could picture Emm or Chrom doing… And she wanted to live up to them.
-o-o-o-
The more she learned about her parents, the more they took some living up to. Lucina fought to keep a straight face, as she heard the others talk about her mother and father. Morgan had a little less skill, shuffling well away from the table and keeping his eyes downcast, so no one would see how wide they'd gone.
"So they WERE here… But who knows what happened to them?" He whispered to Lucina, glancing around at the other faces. The Ylisseans all wore stony expressions, and kept their eyes fixed to the shield. "Doesn't seem like anyone else knows either."
"I don't know what to make of this." Lucina told him. "And I'm worried about what happened… But at least mother and father WERE here. And I…"
Lucina pawed at her pocket, finding the red gemstone. She tried to sooth her own nerves as her fingers curled around the smooth surface, bringing the stone out and worriedly turning it through her hands.
"W-wait a second!" Lissa yelped out, breaking the dour mood. She stared at Lucina's hands, and the ruby gem that rested in them. Her eyes darted between the stone and the indentations in the shield. Lucina followed her gaze, and concentrated on the details in the shield; the holes and scones that looked almost like gem sockets.
"Th-that looks like a perfect fit for the Fire Emblem. Where did you find that-?" Lissa asked. It was too late to hide the thing… And with that desperate look Lissa gave them, Lucina didn't want to lie.
"In an old ruin." Lucina said; and it was technically true. She held out the stone to Lissa. "Morgan and I… We found the gem there, and had a connection of sorts to it. However, I get the feeling you have an equal claim to it."
Lissa cautiously reached out and brushed her fingers against the gem, like she half expected it to be red hot. But the gem was a perfect fit for her small hand; a fact that didn't escape Frederick.
"Five gems fell to earth, like the tears of a dragon." He murmured. "I remember Libra's recitations of the holy scriptures… Though I always thought 'carved from fire, forest, sea, dawn and night' were exaggerations. But that stone is making me rethink such assumptions."
"We have the proof right before us." Said a fair haired man nearby; there was a touch of reverence in his voice, and Lucina guessed he must have been a priest. "And it seems Naga herself smiles on us."
Lucina stilled at the name; there seemed to be an odd weight and significance to it… But she'd have to ask about it later, when Lissa wasn't curling her fingers around the gem.
"If you're sure…?" Lucina gave her an encouraging nod. The wide eyed but hopeful stare Lissa gave her was a massive improvement over Validar's cold look, and grasping nature, when he'd tried to take the gem.
"Th-thank you." Lissa closed her hand around the gem. "You see, Emm- I mean, the Exalt, she was convinced this thing was supposed to save us."
Lissa tapped the golden shield with her other hand as she spoke, making it ring. "And I'd r-rather not go against her wishes; if we can, then we make this thing stronger. Then maybe we can stand a fighting chance against the storms. And the pirates. AND the undead ships. S-somehow."
Lissa slumped with each of her words.
"…I'm not quite sure how that's supposed to work, but we'll figure it out as we go. And complete the Emblem." Lissa looked over the two of them again, before nodding to Frederick and Maribelle.
"Though first… We should do something about warming up all the way. And healing up. And maybe do something about dinner?"
In just another candle mark, Lucina found herself in a new room. She also found herself watching the glow of a healing staff wash over Morgan. It was clear that Lissa hadn't forgotten her promise to mend him, even with all the new discoveries.
"Whatever happened to you guys before you came here, it wasn't kind." Lissa murmured, half to herself and half to Morgan. His pant leg was rolled up, showing fading scar tissue covering his knees and calves. "What sort of trouble did you get into, before you ran into us?"
"Well… We ran into some people who really wanted the gemstone. And we weren't inclined to give it up." Morgan said. Lucina winced at that, still wary on giving up too much information. But it seemed Lissa had run into her share of unpleasant people, with how she nodded.
"Guess I owe you for not giving it up." She backed that up with another whispered prayer; the staff gleamed like a star had found its way into their quarters, and Morgan slumped back in his seat from relief. "There! The scar tissue ran pretty deep… And you might still have a bit of a limp in your step. But you should at least be able to walk better."
Morgan flexed his feet to test them, and gave Lissa a quick grin.
"Feels a lot better. Thanks… Y-your Grace? That was what Frederick called you-"
"Oh no, don't you start too! One stickler for formality is enough!" Lissa cut him off. "Though if you want to show your gratitude… Maybe try keeping off your feet for a bit, to let the healing really set in. Chrom was always the worst with following those instructions…"
Lissa trailed off, and Lucina forced herself to stare at the floor. No asking awkward questions just then, she reminded herself.
"W-well… I'd better give you all some room to rest. And see if dinner is ready yet." Lissa continued, more subdued. She slowly picked her way to the door, and gave them a quick nod before vanishing into the hall.
Which gave Lucina a chance to speak to Morgan.
"So even with your wounds… You're adapting pretty well to land. We're lucky no one picked out that spell we worked on the ship… And that they seem to trust us." Morgan gave her a lopsided grin at that. "More to the point, they seem to trust YOU. They certainly don't worry that you… And by extension, myself, might be enemies. How did you get to be so good at land life?"
"Well… Weird as this might sound? I feel like I've done this before. A-and seeing Mother and Father gave me an example to follow-"
She'd never heard about this before; Lucina found that she could mimic Lissa's desperate stare pretty well, as she looked into Morgan's eyes.
"You saw them!? Wh-when?" Morgan scratched at his head, squinting and trying to think back.
"Well… Actually it was right before you saved me. I guess that transforming takes chunks out of your memory, along with taking your legs." Morgan admitted. He turned in the chair, looking out at the window. "But… I'm getting little fragments back. Maybe it's just because we're back to walking on two feet. But when I move around on legs, I get little hints of walking before. Recent hints, too."
"Tell me more? How did you see Mother and Father? And… I could use a few more pointers, on how to balance on two feet." Maybe then she wouldn't feel such a pang when she looked at the water. But she couldn't keep from following Morgan's gaze, and staring out. The harbor had turned to sheets of black, and glimmers of pale moonlight.
As they looked over the harbor, he whispered more of what he could remember.
"I think… There was something about an arena. And needing to wear a mask so no one would recognize me, when I helped the people in that arena? A-and I needed to help Mother and Father fight off… Things like us. Other Mer."
Given their encounter with Validar, she wasn't surprised there were hostile Mer in the ocean. But it still made her heart sink, knowing her mother and father were forced into a battle.
'I hope they have a measure of peace now, wherever they are.'
"I rushed in to help them, but something cut me up, and pulled me out to sea. Sorry, but that's the best I can remember. Memories are still kinda patchwork." Morgan admitted, looking a little subdued. He shrank back into his chair, shoulders slumped.
"They're more solid than anything I have. Whatever I can remember feels more like dreams… Or nightmares." Lucina admitted. With how Morgan tilted his head, it was clear he wanted her to continue.
"Well… It's like what we saw under the lighthouse. I keep having these visions of buildings aflame, or getting swallowed by the sea. Maybe that's why I'm focused on the present, with how bad those visions are."
"Sounds a lot like what happened in… In Ferox?" Morgan tested the word. "I think that's right. Fe-"
"Ferox? You're from Ferox?" Lucina flinched at the voice, and knew that they hadn't kept their voices low enough. Lissa hesitated at the doorway, a platter of food in her hand and peering at them in surprise.
"Well… Not exactly. Just that we've been there before." Morgan told her. "We were looking for… Ah, family. Someone who had blue hair, like ours."
"Well, the only match I know is my brother. And last time I checked, he was way too busy to have any kids. Especially kids your age." Lissa said, a laugh hiding behind her words. Morgan echoed it a little, and even Lucina gave a quick cough of a chuckle, finding it contagious.
"What is your brother's name, out of curiosity? There's not a lot of… of Tide Touched out there, I understand." Lucina said. The laugh vanished from Lissa's breath, that familiar melancholy blanketing over her.
"Ch-Chrom. His name was- IS, Chrom."
The name hung in the air; Lissa's voice had been soft, and yet the words felt like they'd slammed Lucina directly in the chest.
'That's his name. That's father's name!' She was lucky that shock stilled her throat.
"What… Happened to him?" Morgan asked, making up for her shock. "You always seem so, well, sad when you talk about him?"
And now that he pointed it out, Lucina could feel a chill running down her back.
"…He picked a fight he couldn't win." Lissa mumbled. "We've had Plegian pirates breathing down our necks, and he went out to fight them. He bought us time, but…" She swallowed a sob. "He hasn't turned up. He called down a miracle to spirit a whole castle away. But he couldn't even save himself. I-I don't want to think that he's dead though-!"
The words flowed from her like water through a sieve. Lissa only stopped with a sniffle, rubbing her sleeve across her face.
'It… Couldn't be the same Chrom as our father, could it? And he couldn't possibly be dead-?'
"…I bet he's still alive." Morgan said. Soft as his voice was, it still drew Lissa's eyes up. "He sounds tough and reckless enough that he could pull it off. So I wouldn't give up on him just yet!"
Lucina managed a nod to back that up.
'Whether he's the same man or not… I don't want Lissa giving up on hope.'
"Th-thanks." Lissa said, before remembering the platter in her hands. "Ah, right. Here's some dinner for you guys, before you all decide to call it a night. As a little thanks for everything you've done."
Though whether it was for their finding the Emblem, or their words just now, Lucina wasn't sure.
-o-o-o-
A part of Chrom wondered if this was his first night under the waves.
'Exhaustion is making you foolish.' He banished that thought as he shook his head, letting the bubbles from his gills stir through his hair.
He was keeping his promise to Robin, both with the night watch and finally settling down to rest. Chrom gave once last glance back to the ridge, where the hostile Mer camped. But nothing stirred in the night-tinged waters, save for a few fish darting through the moonbeams.
It was strange, seeing the moonlight turn watery through currents and waves. But it couldn't have been the first time he'd ever seen moonlight in such a way; this was the place his body had been built for.
'Isn't it?'
The dimmed light made his eyes grow heavy, banished that lingering doubt, and pushed Chrom down to the sandy bank. He curled into the sand and let his eyes slide shut.
Though he discovered it was hard to make himself comfortable. There was a light chill to the waters, and no matter how he curled into the sand, it couldn't fully warm against him. Chrom stubbornly kept his eyes closed, trying to drop fully into sleep.
Instead, the best he could manage was a drowsy haze, full of tossing and turning. It didn't help that the events of the past day played through his head; all the strange chaos, odd questions… And an unsettling snatch of memory that kept playing through his head.
Something about a name that Robin had said… Emmeryn.
A painful twinge moved through his heart at that, melancholy mingling with fatigue. It made for a painful fog to try and reach through, no matter how he tried to sink into deeper sleep-
Until his hands brushed against something, and Chrom found himself curled up against a pocket of warmth. It banished the chill, and even the traces of sorrow haunting him.
And something else brushed back against him, in response to his touch. He felt something like fingers brush along his cheek, soothing him. Chrom mumbled a little, as he drifted off.
"What…?" What was he resting against? He half wanted to ask.
But there was also a sense of peace settling into him, banishing the last of his discomfort, and making him drift all the way off, before he could do more than wonder.
-o-o-o-
A warm, peaceful feeling settled into Robin. A content hum moved through her throat as she exhaled, which stirred her hair and teased at her fins. This peaceful feeling was something bone deep, curled up in her chest and pushing a gentle feeling into her with each heartbeat. Robin curled into it, giving a soft sigh-
Something brushed across her side and back. It had weight, and its own warmth. And it didn't belong to her.
She blinked her eyes open, a confused mumble forming in her throat. What she found was blue; the gradients of the ocean, speckled with pale light from a rising sun. And closer to her… The deeper blue of Chrom's bangs.
In a moment she realized why she was so focused on his bangs; their foreheads rested together, so she had a full view of his face. She was vaguely aware of the weight of his arm, thrown over her side.
'So that's what I felt.' He thoughts provided, still reluctant to lurch into full activity. Not when she was surrounded by warmth.
Chrom murmured something sleep-laced, and his arm tightened around her. Sleepy as his voice was, there was a content sound in it… And somewhere in the midst of his whispers, she heard something familiar.
"…Robin…"
Her name. His lips stayed parted on the last syllable, and there was a strange pull in her heart as she watched him. She wanted to tilt her head forward, to fully bridge that gap-
Chrom blinked his eyes open. He watched her through half lidded eyes for a full breath, before reality crashed over them both. Robin wasn't sure who flinched first, but they both broke away. She leapt for the hull ceiling, while Chrom smashed into the sand and seagrass.
"S-sorry!" He blurted out, staring up at her. "I didn't mean to- I mean don't know why I-!"
Chrom shook his head back and forth. Her eyes snagged on the gills cut into his neck, and the long fins framing his face. And they stayed fixed on them, reminding her how they didn't look right on Chrom.
"…Sorry." Chrom offered again, looking up from where he rubbed at his head. His tail flicked, agitation making the scales ripple… And pushed him a little further away from her. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."
"F-far from it." The words escaped her lips, before Robin had any time to think about them. They at least did the job of stilling Chrom, and stopping him from swimming any further away. And to keep him still, Robin found more words spilling out. "I-I didn't mind. I-it even makes sense to share body heat like that, considering the open water."
She waved her hand through the ocean, the bubbles following her fingers.
'And there's also the fact that you felt safe.' For what felt like the first time in an eternity. But her throat closed up on the words.
"…I-I didn't mind it. It made me rest easy." She had to settle for that instead. But it at least got Chrom to nod.
"I think I was sleep swimming, if that makes any sense." Chrom said. "I remember feeling… Lost. And when my hand found you it… It just sort of… Felt right."
Pink dusted his face.
"…At the very least, I didn't feel adrift any longer."
He'd drifted a little closer to her, as he spoke. And Robin found herself reaching out, the tips of her fingers brushing at his hand.
"This almost seems familiar-" Chrom broke off in a wince, and Robin's hand jolted away from his.
"Then it's fine! You don't need to worry about it!" Or rush things. She never wanted to see him hurt by her, or feel terror, and all because something from his past burst into his thoughts before he was ready for it.
Even if it hurt her to look at him. Chrom gave her a cautious glance, and tried to move his lips… But some pain must have lingered in his head, and kept him from asking any more questions.
"Besides… We still have a lot of ocean to cover." Robin gestured towards the currents. On the ridge above, the camp had already vanished; the patrol clearly hadn't felt any need to linger during the morning. "We still need to follow to that patrol, and get some information."
Maybe that would help him, more than her touch ever could.
-o-o-o-
She was holding back something. And in the process, she was hurting herself. Chrom knew that much, even through the pain and the haze settling over his head.
'Why can't I do anything about this?' Either about his head, the hurt look flickering over Robin's face-
Or how he still felt clumsy in the waters.
But he found that he couldn't ask; the words were like weights on his tongue, refusing to leave. So instead he nodded, to try and give them both something else to focus on. The motion was stiff with reluctance… But he still managed it. And she took note of it.
A little bit of weight left her shoulders, letting her drift up into open water.
"We'd better hurry, in that case." She put all her focus on the task at hand, and the best route to it. "We can probably cut through the coral down there. It should give us a little more cover."
Her tail gave a few flicks taking her down low along the sands. Chrom tried to follow… But it was like sleep still lingered in his tail, making him clumsy and only half in control.
"Robin-?" He just managed… Before bumping shoulder first into the sands. Touches of grass and silt both billowed up. His voice froze Robin, and she twisted around to him.
"Ah, sorry. H-here…" She held out a hand to him. He wondered at the way she squeezed his fingers, when they closed around hers.
"Remember to keep your free hand out, if you can. It'll help balance you." She showed him, keeping her tail strokes slow. He followed them, getting his fins to mirror her movements. His tail still tensed a little, the scales feeling oddly tight and resistant… But if he kept his eyes on Robin, the tension and awkward feeling lessened. Maybe just because he wondered at how graceful she looked in the water.
"Have we swum together? Before all this?" Chrom asked as they cut through the waters. Robin lost her grace for a moment, staring back at him… And with a faint look of recognition.
"I-I'm guessing that's the case. With how this feels…" He trailed off. His head wasn't the only thing that protested over thinking too hard. His limbs also went curiously leaden, his gills needing to work overtime and burning-
And feeling odd. Like they didn't belong pressed to his skin, fluttering in and out to draw air.
"…S-sorry. You're right. We need to focus on other things right now." One thing at a time, Chrom tried to tell himself. First he had to figure out what had happened to his memories. He'd have to focus on the contents of those memories later.
And why being close to Robin still felt right.