Chapter 39: New Enemies
Robin swam upwards, weaving through the gold tipped bones for cover. She kept her eyes fixed to the castle, looming ever closer. In the back of her mind, memories of the last minute planning session loomed. She focused on them, hoping it would keep her heart calm.
"I… I think I know how to save Emmeryn." Robin whispered. In a heartbeat Chrom was at her side. The cut at his side still looked ugly and half healed, yet he still shrugged off the wound. All his attention was fixed on her.
"How?" He whispered.
'This is a mad idea.' Her thoughts had growled… And yet it was the only plan she had. And she wasn't about to trade that hopeful look on Chrom's face for devastation.
"F-first, I need us to use the passage. Or… More specifically, YOU need to use it." She looked across the group. "Chrom, you're to go with Tharja and Henry. They can find the tunnel, and the way back into the palace. Once you're in there, you'll have to reach the dungeons and find Emmeryn."
"Great but… How exactly are we going to do that, with the city on high alert?" Henry asked.
"I'll be causing a diversion for you."
Henry brightened up at that, likely expecting the diversion would involve some form of explosion or collateral damage. Robin decided not to correct him.
"But only after we get some rest-" She held her hand up as Chrom frowned at Robin. "I know it's a hard order, but we all need to be at full strength if we're going to pull this off."
"It's not the prospect of resting… It's having you go off alone." Chrom muttered. He frowned at the plans scrawled on the floor, like he could turn them into something better. But at last, he hung his head, accepting the necessity.
And now, she was picking her way forward, readying herself for that diversion.
Robin tensed, feeling a claw of bone skate across her back; it was dulled with age and not enough to draw blood, but still enough to send a shiver down her. Chrom and the others had to be getting close to the base of the hill at this point, hopefully dodging any patrols they found.
They hadn't been fully convinced by her plan… But unable to think of anything better, everyone else had finally agreed to it. Or at least agreed to sleep on the plan.
Which left her the responsibility of clearing the perimeter.
'Too late to flinch from it now. They're counting on you!'
And in the process of causing a diversion, this might just give her answers to a few of her own questions. She slowed for a moment, feeling those questions all buzz and vie for attention in her head; the details of her escape, or her time as a part of this kingdom… And just how Validar had planned to use Robin, for his own goals-
Robin bit down on the questions, instead forcing herself forward one handhold at a time. She looked up, to see the castle filling the water overhead. With the distance shrinking between her and the structure, Robin surged out from the gold and bones, shooting into open water.
Though even with how she swam, she couldn't outpace her memories.
She'd watched Chrom rest, trying to gather his strength. Nearby Henry did the same, leaving Robin and Tharja to keep watch.
"You should probably get some sleep." Tharja pointed out. "It only takes two eyes and ears to make sure Validar's men don't decide a clump of rocks looks suspicious."
She glanced out the cracks at that; the patrols had moved onto another stretch of the city, Tharja's hideout too shabby and overgrown with sea life to even register as a building.
"I will," Robin promised. "I just… Need to order a few things in my mind. Think through everything one more time."
"Huh. Worrying over everything, you mean. Just like before; it seems like even without your memory, you're still the same Robin."
"And I'm not sure if that's good or bad." The old Robin had drowned people, after all. People who could have been innocent-
'There's blood on my hands either way. Things that I have to make right.' At that thought, she turned to Chrom, watching the rise and fall of his chest, his sail cape wrapped around him in a makeshift blanket. Even asleep, he wasn't free from his troubles; that much was clear in how he tossed and turned, his eyebrows scrunched together and his teeth half showing.
"Emm-" He muttered the word, almost choking on it. Either because of some emotion he couldn't understand, or because it was calling up foggy memories of a storm wracked harbor and loss-
That was almost too painful to consider, and Robin drifted closer to him. Tharja didn't comment, going back to her vigil by the window. Robin kept her focus on Chrom, stretching out a hand and tracing over his face. She brushed his bangs from his eyes, leaving them to float free. And something about her touch seemed to help, and ease him. His breathing evened out, and his features smoothed as well. He'd been calmed at least for the moment, but she didn't forget his pain.
"I'm sorry." She whispered to him. "This is… This is all my fault." Maybe if she'd thought faster, back when they faced Gangrel; if she'd read the tides better, they might have made it more quickly to Emmeryn's side. Or she could have thought of a way to save Chrom that didn't sacrifice his memories-
But here they were, with so much hurt and confusion because of her.
'Emmeryn might be just as confused. Just as lost.'
Which was why she had to make it right.
"…Tharja, why don't you get some rest." She said in a tone that allowed for no argument. And Tharja recognized that tone as well. She gave Robin a flat look, before rolling her shoulders in a shrug.
"Apparently you can also still command, with or without memories. But I was getting tired of watching things, anyway." Tharja told her.
When Robin was certain she was asleep, she hastily scratched a plan out in the dirt, well away from where any tails or fins could accidentally sweep it clean.
"We can't all sneak into the castle…" She said to herself. "So it stands to reason that one of us needs to act as bait, so the others can slip through."
Chrom gave a twitch in his sleep, suggesting that he was close to waking up and disagreeing with her. Robin scrawled the last of her directions on the floor, before carefully pushing her way up and towards the window. On the way out, she paused over their impromptu planning board. She took the piece of lavender glass, representing her… and moved it towards the conical shell of Plegia's castle.
"It's the best I can do… Hopefully it's enough." She whispered to Chrom, before slipping out through the window, and into the empty streets.
Her skin prickled, as did her scales; being out in the open water made her squirm, like she could feel all the guard gazes drawn on her. She raised her eyes to the ramparts. There were already dark shapes drifting along the old castle walls; the Mer were holding to traditional patrol patterns, like she'd seen at Ylisstol.
'Validar says he hates the surface world… But he certainly hangs onto our old land dwelling customs.' Robin frowned at both the old castle, and the soldiers. She looked over the ancient quality of the castle… And couldn't suppress her shiver. The castle had an almost sinister air to it, compared to Ylisse's architecture… Though the stonework was eerily similar at times.
But the guards and defenses were a different story. Strands of red and silver floated over the ramparts, and Robin narrowed her eyes on them; jellyfish were circling the walls like guard hounds, which explained why no one ever bothered to approach or attack the castle from above. The sunken Plegian guards opted for darker armor compared to Ylisse's silver and white. And they all froze in place to stare at her.
Every nerve in her body screamed to dive back into cover. Instead Robin yanked the hood free from her face, letting her pale hair stream out. A shout went up from the ramparts of the castle, and Robin faced the palace… And the guards streaming out of it. They broke from their patrols, streaming upwards like sharks towards a kill.
It chilled Robin's blood to see so many rushing towards her. But it also meant a few dozen less to notice Chrom sneaking in.
"I-I'm here." She met them, unflinching… And hoping she'd gambled correctly that they wouldn't harm her. She had to be too valuable to Validar, to risk that. And from the way they circled around her but didn't bring their weapons to bear, she was right. "I've answered the summons of Validar… And I trust you'll take me to him?"
Her answer was getting turned to the palace gates, Robin falling into the ring the guards formed around her. Robin followed them, past the reach of the jellyfish ringing the upper levels, and towards a barred, broad set of doors that slowly yawned open. With the steel portcullis fangs, it felt like swimming into a mouth… That slowly shut behind her, sealing Robin inside.
-o-o-o-
"Did she go mad!?" Chrom muttered to himself. He half wanted to yank his way free of the cramped streets and into the open ocean, to try and chase her down-
Tharja and Henry stayed on either side of him, looking ready to dart out towards him and drag him back down the second he tried. They'd read out the Plegian script she'd scrawled down… And without another plan to follow, they didn't have much choice but to go along with it.
There were still leftover bolts of panic racing through Chrom, remnants from when he woke up and found her missing. The room had felt oddly barren and diminished, without her violet scales. And that empty feeling had only grown worse, as Tharja read out the plan and message.
'This is our best chance.' The scrawls had said. 'I can act as the best bait to draw attention, while you get Emmeryn out. Tharja and Henry can guide Chrom to the cells. We'll meet either in the palace, or outside of it. You just focus on getting her free.'
Chrom could only shake his head at that.
"I can't believe this… How could she think THIS is the best plan-?"
"Well, do you have a better one?" Tharja snapped at him, pulling him along. Chrom had to shake his head; panic and loss still clouded his thoughts.
"Then this is the only plan we have to go with." Tharja said.
It didn't mean that Chrom had to like it, however. His tail thrashed in sharp, angry motions. To add to his frustration, he kept pitching towards the ground; Henry had to keep pulling him up so he wouldn't crash into the coral strewn streets.
He'd give anything for another lesson from Robin right now; on how to swim in a straight line if one was angry.
"How does sacrificing herself help anything? She's-" Pain bloomed in his chest, at the thought that their hushed conference might have been the last time he'd ever see her.
Even with the message promising they'd meet again… Somehow he couldn't fully trust in the words. Maybe because of how Robin had already broken her word, in a way; by slipping out in the night.
'Who knows if we'll see her again-? I can't lose her!' He promised himself. And a fainter thought twinged at that; 'I can't lose another person-'
The thought of the golden haired woman, and that name 'Emmeryn' both clawed at his heart.
"Can you swim a little faster while you grumble?" Tharja asked, pulling him along. "Look, Robin has had wild plans before, and they've gotten her out of Validar's reach. Hopefully this one does the same."
"And it's up to us to see our part through." Henry chimed in, darting out of the alley and towards a great rise. It was a giant hill, lined with rocks, crumbled columns… And a handful of sea serpent bones, their points streaked with gold to showcase more of Plegia's wealth.
Some of the glittering points pressed at Chrom's scales, almost like the mountain itself was biting and trying to drive him back. He grit his teeth in answer, squirming past the points and heedless of the nicks and scratches he picked up.
Tharja watched Chrom force his way forward, one stubborn tail twitch at a time. And she'd lost her impatient look, trading it for one of grudging respect.
"Though… It is pretty impressive, just how much you're willing to help Robin. Guess that means we need to put our best forward, with keeping you alive." Henry added. Chrom blinked at Henry, unsure whether he was supposed to be flattered, or worried.
The mage didn't give Chrom time to think about either, as he swam ahead. He weaved among the bones, tracing his hands over the white and gold shards, and dark stones.
"Here we are! Secret passage time!" Henry continued, darting down where a rock and serpent skull formed a rough overhang. In the shadows they cast was a deeper black, and when Chrom was pulled forward he realized the skull's overbite and rocks formed a tunnel.
"Right… We can do this." He said. "Just have to find Emmeryn… And Robin, and make sure we all get out of this." It didn't seem like an impossible list… Until Chrom almost drifted into one of the walls. His shoulder bumped the rock, as an awkward reminder that he still wasn't the best swimmer. And was even less of one without Robin to help him out.
'All the more reason to help her.' And maybe once he found her again… That might also help the stab of pain that settled in his heart. And how it felt like part of it had been ripped out, as he dwelled on her absence.
'Robin,you don't need to put yourself at risk… You don't need to carry whatever is hurting you all by yourself. I only hope that I can tell you that.'
-o-o-o-
Robin swam through the castle halls, taking in the gloom. Mage lights lined the walls, a display of the power, sorcery, and resources that Validar had. The globes were like torch lights and cast yellow lights along her scales, making the violet seem all the richer.
"Is it true?" Came a rich voice, one that sounded equal parts heavy and fatigued with power. Not Validar, Robin instantly knew… And then her eyes fell on the speaker, as he swam down from the towers and high vaulted ceilings and into the reach of the lights. "You've found her?"
"Ah-" Robin scrambled for a name as she took in his features, feeling like she'd seen that grizzled face and scars before.
"General Mustafa." One of the Mer provided, and they all bowed. Only Robin stayed unmoving, blinking at him as the general swam forward… And offered a hand to her. Calluses were thick on his fingers, and there was even thin scars tracing over his fingers. Whoever this man was, he wasn't afraid of getting his hands bloodied.
"So it is indeed true. You've come back to us, Robin." Mustafa continued, his voice low with respect. "You had all of us worried… But it's a relief to see you alive and well. Would you permit me the honor, of being your escort?"
"Y-yes," Robin blurted out. He gently closed his fingers around her hand. His grip over hers was firm… But there was a surprising warmth to his touch, like he was genuinely glad to see her. With a light tug, Mustafa drew her out of the circle of troops. Instead they fell in behind herself and Mustafa, acting as an honor guard instead of captors.
'This might be your best chance to escape.' Robin told herself… And yet she also couldn't bring herself to break out of Mustafa's grip, or lob any spells at the now relaxed ranks. A part of her wanted to draw this diversion out for a little longer, and perhaps get some clues from Mustafa.
"I… I admit I'm a bit confused about all the changes." She said, testing Mustafa's reaction. "Things are… Different, since I left."
"Yes… Validar has grown more militant. I fear your departure did something to him. Perhaps compounded by the loss of your mother weighing on his mind-"
'Mother…?' One part of Robin's mind thought. The other part doubted that Validar was capable of such empathy; if anything, he likely viewed the loss of Robin as the loss of a possession. But she didn't dare voice that out loud, with so many of his soldiers and loyalists surrounding her.
"But with luck, you can ease some of our tension. He seemed… Glad enough, to know you were close by."
He likely meant that to be reassuring. Instead it left her skin squirming. As they swam through the halls, flickers of memory swam up in her head. She tried to think back over what Tharja had told her.
'I escaped from all of this somehow.' She told herself, looking about as they swam further in. Ancient and close hewn walls greeted her eyes. With such confined passages and barely a hint of outside light and windows, she was at a loss for how exactly she was going to escape again. At the moment, it felt like they were swimming down the throat of a monster.
As they moved, the guards seemed to treat her like a precious, fragile stone… But not a person. None of them looked at her either. Because of that, they didn't notice how her eyes widened, when she saw where they were taking her. The hall widened out, the ceiling rising ever higher and broader into a multifaceted dome. It was almost like a starry sky was carved overhead, with how polished the stone and abalone was… But it did nothing to set Robin at ease.
'The throne room.' She realized, her heart pounding in her chest.
And it became less a question on how she was going to escape, and more how she'd survive.