Disclaimer: Fire Emblem and Kid Icarus do not belong to us. They belong to Nintendo.
Chapter 7:Agitato
"What's eating you?" Dark Pit asks, unable to stand the silence.
Libra is late, and for some reason Phila is the one to tell him the news. He doesn't really know why – she seems about as stupidly attached to Emmeryn as his doppelganger is to Palutena. And, he doesn't really care. But after a moment of silence, in which Phila somehow both stands with all the attentiveness of a soldier while clearly worried, he rolls away his irritation and decides to pester her.
Today is a good day, after all.
He woke up today, and he knew that this was the day his wing would finally be healed. It feels different, and it had took him a moment to realize that what it felt was normal. No aches threading through it, no pain panging down to the tips of his feathers. He's so, so, close to being able to fly again that he can practically taste the clouds, and feel the sun on his back.
Phila raises an eyebrow at his tone, and he wonders if she'll refuse to answer him. Just as he's ready to ask again, and again and again till she finally snaps, the knight answers.
"The Shepherds are making their way back to Ylisstol."
That gives Dark Pit pause.
"That's good?" he asks, cause it should be good news. Maribelle will certainly stop sighing forlornly. So as an answer it doesn't make sense.
He wonders if the Shepherds will come back in time for his wing to be fully healed. Perhaps he'll meet them outside, flying low and fast enough to spook them. The thought makes him smile.
"They ended up encountering a large band of bandits near one of the southern villages," Philla says grimly, "There were no casualties among the Shepherds, thankfully."
"Well duh," he scoffs, ignoring the passing fluttering in his chest, "Robin wouldn't have let them."
"You seem well acquainted with her," Phila says after a moment.
"Hardly. She kept staying up late reading tactical stuff or whatever," Dark Pit wonders if Palutena ever did such a thing. She's the goddess of strategy, among other things. He can't imagine it. Palutena's strategy usually boiled down to "send in Pit".
That it wasn't a bad strategy was besides the point.
"So what's the problem?" Dark Pit presses.
For a moment he thinks Phila wont tell him. Its clear that something is bothering at her, enough that its bothering him. He's surprised when the knight answers his question.
"The level of bandit activity has risen," Phila's explains, and while her voice is deeper and gruffer, she sounds so much like Palutena beginning a debrief that Dark Pit sits up, "That itself is a concern, however…"
"Go on?" he says.
"Tell me, do you know what causes bandits?"
Dark Pit gives the question some thought, before shrugging.
"I don't know. A couple of dudes meet up in a bar and decide that robbing people is more fun in groups?"
Phila's expression remains serious.
"Its too easy to think of bandits as crooks and thieves to their very souls," Phila begins.
"And all too easy to think that "bandit" is a type of class," another voice chimes in. Phila and Dark Pit turn towards the door, where Libra has entered. The priest gives them an apologetic smile.
"Forgive me, Dame Phila. I couldn't help but interrupt. May I continue?"
"You're late," Dark Pit points out, mostly just cause. It wasn't like he had much planned for today.
"And I'm sorry for that, young man," Libra says with his annoying infinite patience.
"You my continue, Libra," Phila says.
"Thank you," Libra walks towards Dark Pit, staff in hand, "As I said, its easy to imagine that a bandit was born a bandit, perhaps springing forth from the very woods, only existing to torment honest citizens. Bandits are not particularly sympathetic."
Phila gives a quiet snort. Libra reaches Dark Pit, and the priest carefully threads his fingers through Dark Pit's feathers, doing a preliminary check up. Dark Pit resists both the urge to fidget and the urge to relax.
"You feel sorry for them?" Dark Pit asks, curious. Last he checked, the general consensus about bandits and brigands among humans was an all expenses paid trip to the Underworld.
"I do," Libra admits after a moment, "After all, very few children are born as bandits. And if they are, they are all the more lamentable, for they know no other life. But for the most part, a bandit is not born. He is made, when an honest man is faced with what he thinks is no other choice."
"There's always another choice," Phila says, and though her voice is harsh it is also weary. Libra's smile is hollow and sad – more so than it usually is.
"What does this have to do with the recent bandit attacks?" Dark Pit asks after a moment. There's something he's missing here.
"The Halidom is at peace," Phila explains, "Its a time of plenty. There are no famines, no shortages. The future is bright."
Libra is silent. He usually is, but there's something more to this one.
"So you're saying," Dark Pit begins slowly, "That there shouldn't be any reason for this many bandits."
He understands the logic, though he can't help find it a little flimsy. Coincidental. Maybe there's another reason?
"What about," Dark Pit says, remembering something Robin had said, "War?"
There were tensions between Ylisse and one of its neighbors. Something about different gods, or other such nonsense. It seems to him that that's all humans ever did. War.
Phila's smile is not particularly a happy one.
"Very astute. We have cause to believe that these bandits are not bandits at all, but raiding parties from Plegia."
Dark Pit blinks. That wasn't what he'd thought at all.
Before he can press for details – it sounds a bit conspiracy to him – Phila shakes her head.
"Its been weighing on the Exalt, and the Council. And so it has been weighing on me. Its nothing you should concern yourself with."
Dark Pit feels like arguing the point, but Phila was right. It wasn't any of his business. The moment he's given the clear, he'll be out of here. Ylisse and its problems and weirdos wouldn't be his problem anymore.
So he remains silent, even as Libra begins the healing process outright. The light from the healing staff is as soothing as it is irritating, his wings burning with an itch that he can't scratch. Like fire ants crawling between his feathers, which was up there with "breaking his leg against the Underworld Guardian" in events he'd rather not repeat.
He wonders if all human healing is like this. Surely not? Perhaps its something to do with a trick Libra had mentioned early on in these healing sessions? Something that the healer had thought would help him regrow those important feathers, and indeed had?
Finally, Libra stops healing. Dark Pit waits with baited breath for the verdict.
"Dame Phila, may I ask for your assistance for a moment?"
Dark Pit tries to keep his cool as Phila walks over to see whatever Libra wants her to see.
"May I?" Phila asks, and he realizes she's asking his permission to touch him. He nods gruffly. Phila's touch is careful. Gentle.
After a long moment, Phila retracts her hand.
"I'd say it looks healed."
The only reason that Dark Pit doesn't leap from his seat is because Libra's hand is suddenly on his shoulder.
"Hold on a moment, young man."
Dark Pit scowls at Libra. Libra keeps his patient expression.
"Though your wing has healed, I'd ask that you do not do anything strenuous for another day."
"Why?!" Dark Pit can't help but snap, flaring his wings out to their full width. He relishes the feeling. Phila frowns at him, but Libra's expression remains the same. Dark Pit can't help but wonder what it will take for the guy to loose his cool.
"Your wing took time to heal-" Libra begins.
"You got that right," Dark Pit mutters.
"-Though in some respects you've healed quicker than we thought," Libra continues, "Whatever the case, I'd prefer if you rested for one more day. To be on the safe side."
"What are you going to do?" Dark Pit crosses his arms, "Make me?"
Phila looks like she'd like to, but Libra simply smiles.
"No, but I'd ask you politely. You've waited this long, haven't you?"
"…"
"Please, young man?"
The door closes with a dusty thud. Lissa coughs, wiping away at her eyes. It's a long time since she has come here.
'Here' was a small, forgotten room of the castle. Castle Ylisstol was a grand place, which made its emptiness more apparent. It had been like this for as long as Lissa remembered, and although it was less empty nowadays there were still rooms like this. Rooms which had long been forgotten, and remained so. With the exception of those she and Chrom had found when they'd been younger, exploring every nook and cranny of the castle they could in an effort to avoid lessons.
Lissa had continued those adventures long after Chrom stopped being able to. This wasn't a room Chrom knew about. Which is good, cause she needs to be alone for some time.
She makes her way to the desk – an old thing that had come with the room – and puts her bag on the surface. As appealing as the idea to secret away little supplies into her secret rooms had been, she didn't want any of her stuff to get ruined. And unsupervised food tended to attract rats.
Rummaging around her bag, she pulls out a book and a tin of biscuits. Then, settling herself in a worn but comfortable chair, she-
"Hey."
"Ahh!"
Pip barely manages to avoid the first thing that Lissa got her hands on. In this case, its a book that Sumia had lent her, and once she realizes this, it is already sailing out out of the window.
"Shoot-!"
Pip leans back and falls, giving Lissa a completely new reason to scream. She rushes to the window in time for the angel to rocket up from his dive. Lissa shields her face as the wind from Pip's wings buffet her. He hovers in place, wings glowing with violet light. In his hand is the book she'd thrown at him.
"Rude," he says. His voice is the definition of nonchalance, but it doesn't fool Lissa. There's a spark in his eyes that she's only seen when they'd been pranking Frederick, only even brighter now. Lissa steps back as Pip comes closer, and when his feet touch down onto her windowsill the violet light disappears like embers in the wind. Pip, the world's least ugliest gargoyle, hands her the book. Lissa takes it, stunned.
"You dropped this," he says, propping his chin on his fist and grinning.
The first thing she says is, "Get down from there this instance. And I mean inside, if you do that drop again there will be trouble."
"Alright, alright, chill out," he grumbles, hopping into the room. Lissa's too busy trying to reduce her heart-rate to focus on that at the moment.
She knows, in the back of her head, that Pip could fly. It was practically impossible to forget about his wings and his constant boasts. But it hadn't really struck her, till this moment. And while now he's standing in her room – not her room, of course, but – she can't forget the sight of him hovering in the air, looking all the world like its where he belonged.
"The heck is this place?" Pip asks, breaking the silence.
"It's my room," she explains, and Pip looks at her before looking around the small dusty room. The look he proceeds to give her causes her to roll her eyes.
"Not my bedroom," and that's a small miracle. She tries, with great effort, not to listen to castle gossip, but even she couldn't have hid from the storm that would've resulted from that. She'd probably have had to push him out of the window. "It's just a room I go to when…"
She hesitates. Pip stares at her, which doesn't help matters.
"I get it," he says at last, "This is your hideout. Your secret base."
Lissa considers the word. It's not the worst.
"Yeah, I suppose so."
"It needs some work."
"Did I ask you?"
"I'm just saying," he shrugs, and wipes a finger across the old desk, squinting at the dust. Its a move so Frederick that she can't help but laugh. Pip's eyes snap towards her, and as she reigns in her laughter he leans against the wall.
"So," he begins when she's calmed down, "Why are you here?"
Instantly her cheer trickles away. She can't help but sigh as she takes a seat, and Pip looks at her curiously.
"I made a mistake," she admits. Pip raises an eyebrow.
"Okay…? What kind?"
She ends up retelling the events of the mission for the second time that day. At least Pip's expression isn't stern, like Chrom and Frederick's had been. Or disappointed, like Emm had been.
Mostly, its confused.
"I don't get it," he says after she finishes.
"I know," Lissa begins, "It was reckless-"
"I mean, you won."
There is a moment of silence.
"What?" Lissa says.
"You won," Pip repeats, "You managed to get the hostages free, and that lead to enough of a distraction that the rest of the bandits were beaten like that!" he snaps his fingers, "The way I see it, you were basically MVP."
It takes Lissa a moment to find her bearings.
"But I put myself in danger," she feels the need to point out. She doesn't know why she's arguing Frederick's points when half an hour earlier she wanted to kick him in the shins.
"It's a battlefield," Pip points out in an irritatingly sensible way, "Though I guess that staff of yours probably doesn't do that much damage."
"You're not supposed to hit people with a staff."
"Why not? I do," Pip grins and continues, "You should probably pick up an actual weapon though."
Lissa decides not to say that her brother, Robin, and Frederick had also agreed on that point. Its not that she minds either. The idea of learning to fight is...well it is one that calls to her, though she'll leave swords in the hands of her brother. And she'll never be as good at magic as Emm was.
"So you saved the day, and now your sulking in here?" Pip says, "I don't get it."
"I am not sulking," Lissa insists even as Pip looks around the room judgmentally, "Besides, what are you doing here?"
Pip shrugs and looks away in what he probably thought was disinterest.
"Saw you guys marching back, thought I'd pester you. Spotted you sneaking in here"
It takes Lissa a moment, but when she looks past the words she smiles.
"Aw, did you miss me?"
"I never said tha-"
"You did!"
"I didn't!"
"You know, its not good to lie," Lissa say, sing-song.
Pip grumbles, looking away. There is a pleasant moment of silence. Lissa still feels...well, like trash honestly. The lecture she'd gotten still hung heavily on her, even if she understands that they were only worried about her.
But she'd been trying her best!
"You're still making a face," Pip notes, "Is it really bothering you that much?"
"I mean...yeah," Lissa admits after a moment, "I shouldn't have gone off like that in battle"
"You wo-" Pip begins to point out.
"That's not the point!" Lissa puts her head in her hands, "I can already hear the rumors now…"
Pip gives her a strange look.
"You've lost me."
Lissa considers trying to explain the rumor mill of Castle Ylisse. The very thought causes her stomach to curdle.
"I have to be a good princess," she mumbles at last.
Pip's brow furrows. A moment of silence follows.
"You ever been flying before?" Pip suddenly asks.
Lissa blinks at him, lifting her head from her hands.
"Uh, no?"
She's had the chance to. Ylisstol's Pegasus Knights are famous, after all. But she hadn't thought it proper to bother any of them, even when she had been younger. They were always so busy, especially poor Phila. She had remained always by Emm's side even after becoming Captain, and while once or twice she'd offered Lissa a ride, Lissa had declined. It hadn't felt right. It never felt right.
But she had wondered. She had wondered what it would be like, to fly.
Pip walks to the window, placing one foot on the sill. As Lissa stands up, slightly alarmed, he turns back. His wings shade the sun, casting himself and the room in darkness. A wind gusts into the room, and his scarf flutters.
"Would you like to?"
There is a moment of silence, where the wind ruffles Pip again. He stares at her patiently, his hand outstretched, and Lissa stares back.
"What the heck are you talking about?" she finally manages.
"Flying," he repeats, eyebrow raised, "I asked if you'd like to go flying."
"I heard you the first time!"
"Then what's the problem?" Pip frowns, "I can probably lift you up. You don't look that heavy."
"I'm not!" she snaps, "But you and I are basically the same height!"
Pip waves a hand flippantly.
"Look, it'll be fine. I could definitely lift you-"
"That's not the point!"
"Then what is!?" he asks, throwing his hands up and hitting the ceiling.
"The point," Lissa begins as Pip scowls at his fingers, "is that people will talk. I'm a princess. I can't just, go gallivanting off like that! It would look bad!"
Even as she says it, she hates the explanation. She hates it all the more that's it right. She could only imagine the gossip that would stir if she was spotted with Pip like that, even if the end result is them careening into the lake or something.
"Didn't you go off gallivanting to fight some bandits?" he asks.
"That's different. I'm supposed to protect the Halidom and its people."
"And that prank? Don't tell me that's a princessly thing to do," he presses.
Its not. But if she let that little voice in the back of her head, that constantly whispered and tittered - oh what would everyone think? - if she let that dictate everything she did? She just couldn't. But she still had some semblance of an image to maintain. For Emm and Chrom, at least.
"That's different," she says, somewhat weakly, and hopes that the angel understands.
Pip stares at her for a moment. His expression morphs into a cold sneer.
"What, are you scared of what people will say?" he scoffs, "Why do you care? Who cares what they think? Aren't you a princess? Just boss them around! Make them listen to you. What could they do to stop you? I don't get why you're being so-"
"Would you just shut it!"
Later, she'll curse herself for letting her frustrations, both then and earlier in the day, get to her. Now, all she wants is for Pip to shut up. Shut up and listen.
"You don't get it, do you? "Boss them around"? Like you do? So I can be mean and alone, and have everyone hate me too?!"
Pip's eyes flash and his scowl turns into something uglier. And then he's gone. A black feather, carried by the breeze, floats down onto the windowsill. Pip himself is a rapidly dwindling dot in the distance.
Lissa stares. The room is silent. And then, finally, do furious tears fall.
It takes a whole day for Robin to realize that something has happened.
There is the aftermath of their most recent mission, working together with Frederick to plot out the best way to integrate Donnel into the Shepherds. Frederick isn't impressed with the young village boy, nor is he particularly enthused with Robin, but Robin is more than willing enough to wear down that distrust. And she believes that Donnel has talent. He had somehow taken out most of the bandits. With Lissa's help, yes, but…
Ah, Lissa...
Robin's first clue that something had happened was the zeal Lissa had taken to 'Frederick's Fanatical Fitness Hour'. Robin had winced at the rundown that Frederick had given her. As a punishment it was certainly effective, and efficient too in wrapping it together with training. Yet not once did the young princess give even a peep of a complaint. No, she had taken to the task with a furious determination, wielding the training axe as if she could will it to cooperate.
At first Robin had been impressed, thinking that Lissa's attitude came from either understanding what she'd done or more likely trying to prove something. And she certainly had a budding talent with axes. It wasn't until halfway through and the princess till had yet to speak aside from a few grunts that she suspected otherwise. And Robin was sure that she wasn't just imagining things, because when Frederick finally called it a day his own expression had been pursed.
As much as she wanted to ask Lissa what was wrong, the princess was exhausted by the end of it. Practically swaying on her feet. Maribelle had practically carried her away, and Robin thought it best to leave it for tomorrow. In any case, Maribelle probably wouldn't have let her. If looks could kill, Frederick would've been immolated on the spot.
The second clue then that something was wrong was that her usual visitor didn't pester her.
The rest of the day was a blur, Robin putting to paper the various plans she'd started on the march back. Lissa had already started her training as a War Cleric, and Virion had told her that he intended to be a Sniper. She still wasn't sure whether she should push Sully and Stahl towards Paladins or Great Knights, and wasn't sure if she knew them well enough to sway them if required. And all throughout her musings, not once did Pip bother her.
She didn't think it strange until later that night. As far as she knew, when he wasn't at a healing session, he was either bothering the pegasus knights, the Shepherds, or herself. That she hadn't heard from him at all...she'd sort of been expecting it almost immediately upon returning to the castle.
'Pestered' was perhaps not the correct word. For all the merry trouble he brought onto the Pegasus Knights, he never got in Robin's way. She'd heard of the special Fanatical Fitness Hour the knights had to endure following a sparring session gone wildly off the rail. Pip had even laughed about it later, recounting to her about a knight named Cordelia. And Pip certainly seemed to enjoy irritating Frederick.
When the angel had heard that she was slightly intimidated by him, he'd laughed. It was clear that he didn't quite understand why she felt that way, and she didn't see the need to explain.
That was mostly what happened. Pip would show up, usually near or after the hour of twilight, and needle her with questions. She could tell that some of his queries were to annoy her, while in others honest curiosity shone like gold among river silt. The conversations were illuminating, for otherwise Pip was remarkably cagey. And more to the point, they were enjoyable.
When Pip didn't bother her that night, she worried slightly, but didn't think too much of it. The strange angel didn't bother her everyday, after all.
Then the next day she learns that Pip has regained the ability to fly, from a disgruntled Vaike who had experienced the angel flying at high speeds at low altitude. Coupled with Chrom, who had come to her worrying about Lissa, and now Robin truly begins to worry.
She eventually finds Pip at the edge of the lake that borders Ylisstol.
When she first walks the shore, however, she finds a young woman with long red hair. She's a stunning sight, and not exactly one Robin is expecting. The weather has already turned towards the chilly – at least for Robin. Even now she bundles her coat tighter around her, as a breeze blows in from the lake, and curses. And then she sees the woman.
She stands at the edge of the lake, where the water meets the sand. She cuts a striking figure. Her hair is a vibrant red, the colour of flowers that Robin can suddenly vividly remember but not name, and trails easily past her waist. She wears the uniform of the Pegasus Knights, sans their usual armor, the maroon and white garment flattering her slim and graceful figure. Robin cannot help but stare at the bare shoulders, and then at her legs. Rather than the usual pants that the knights wear on duty, the woman is wearing a skirt over shorts, her legs otherwise bare besides her boots.
'Isn't she cold?' Robin cannot help but think, staring. As Robin stares, the woman catches sight of her.
"Oh!"
The striking woman jogs up to her, and Robin is quick to tear her gaze upwards. She is more intimidating up close with how she scrutinizes Robin, her features sharp and fair.
"You're...Robin, right?" she finally says.
Robin blinks, surprised. The woman must take her silence a different way, for her cool expression breaks into worry.
"Oh dear," she begins, brow furrowed and stammering slightly, "I didn't meant to-"
"I am Robin," Robin says, interrupting the woman before she can go further, "Though I am afraid you have me at a loss. I do not remember you."
"Ah. We haven't met, in truth, but I recognized you from some stories I'd heard."
"Stories? I at least hope they were flattering," Robin jokes, but her mind races. She's noticed, this close, the unique hairpins the woman is wearing. Pins in the shape of white wings. Almost but not quite like Sumia's own hair ornamentation.
"Forgive me," she begins, "But you would not happen to be Cordelia, would you?"
"That's- How did you know?"
Robin shakes her head, smiling.
"I have heard stories as well. Indeed, perhaps from the same person?"
It takes Cordelia a moment to realize what she implies.
"You mean Pip? Have you seen him?" Cordelia asks, almost immediately.
"I am afraid I have not."
"Ah…" Cordelia's stares at her for another moment, "I gather you're searching for him too?"
Robin nods, wordlessly, and Cordelia sighs. It is a long, drawn out sound.
Robin ignores her growing worry – she'd rather hoped that someone at least knew where the angel has gone.
"Do you know what happened? She asks instead.
"If you mean why he's decided to disappear like this, I haven't a clue," Cordelia sighs again, before scowling, "Where could that boy be?"
Suddenly, there is as shadow at the corner of Robin's vision.
Something swoops over the lake at speeds too fast to be a pegasus. As Robin stares, she realizes that the shape is not that of a bird either. Its Pip. He's faraway enough that she can't make out his features. But she can see the black wings, and the violet light that trail from them. The angel loops in the sky and dives, in attitude like a lazy seabird but the word hardly applying at the speeds he's going.
As Robin and Cordelia watch, Pip swoops down so low that for a moment Robin worries that he'll slam into the lake's surface. Instead he tilts to the side, his wing skimming through the water. The spray that's sent up flies so high that it shimmers, and Pip comes to a stop suddenly, rising up and twirling like an acrobat before hovering over the surface with great wingbeats. Its then that he spots them.
Robin does not know much about birds. Or, if she ever did, she's forgotten all about it. But there's something disquieting about the way Pip hovers. His wings beat, yes, but in great slow flaps. Far too slow to keep him aloft, slower than even a man treading water, yet he hovers above the lake the same. Hovers, bobbing like a cork in a tub, and stares at them.
"Pip!" Cordelia calls out, "Get over here!"
A quiet moment follows, a breeze blowing in from the lake. And then Pip rises. Like an arrow shot straight up he flies, and as Robin follows him he disappears into the sky above. It is a clear day, and Robin has no idea how far up he has gone to disappear like that.
"Can you see him?" Robin asks Cordelia. She shakes her head.
"That little-" Cordelia begins.
A black speck appears in the sky. The black speck is soon clear to be Pip,
He plummets towards the earth like a missile fired from a great bow. As Robin watches in alarm, Pip now distinct, a star of light flashes in his hands. The light resolves into what appears to Robin as a gigantic club tipped with brutal spikes. She doesn't get much better of a view when Pip's wings flare, stopping him from crashing into lake, and he brings the club crashing down. An explosion of darkness slams into the water, sending a towering wave up into the air.
Robin barely manages to pull the tome out of her coat and let loose a concentrated Elwind. The result is that Robin and Cordelia are merely swamped, rather than drowned. Robin manages to get to her feet, even with her cloak sodden and weighing what feels like twice its usual weight. Cordelia also clambers to her feet, nearly slipping in the mud. Her hair sticks to her, face and neck and back, and she would look like an artists rendering of a river nymph if not for the mud on her boots and the fury in her face.
Pip, for his part, hovers over the surface of the lake. Whatever weapon he'd been holding before is gone. It is a small mercy, Robin feels, that he's nearly as drenched as they are.
"You-!" Cordelia splutters, pulling back the hair stuck to her face.
Before Cordelia can launch into a proper tirade – and before Robin can hit him with a blast of Elwind for his trouble – Pip's wings flare and he's twirls around. He sends them one last glance, and Robin can't discern his expression from this far away. And then he's flying away, zooming out further over the lake, away from the shore.
"You get back here!" Cordelia demands, yelling at the sky, "Right this instant!"
The skies above remain empty.
Emmeryn is aware that there's been some falling out between her younger sister and Pip. She is even aware of the reasons for it, though only slightly. Only what Lissa had told her.
Once, her younger sister had freely told her things. Little secrets, everyday things, and whatever had burdened her. Emmeryn wonders what had happened to that.
'Time', she thinks, melancholic.
She's currently in her study. She had invited Pip for tea once again, almost immediately after the last time. She never could've foreseen what would happen in the interim. Originally she'd hoped to put the angel more at ease. That it would act as an ever so slight reprieve from her normal work was a slight bonus.
Now she wonders if he will actually show up. She hopes so. She wants to talk to him. But more pressing is the letter in front of her.
It is perhaps the tenth of its kind. That is, the tenth draft of the letter she's been trying to write to the East Khan of Regna Ferox. The letter she hopes will rekindle friendly ties between the Halidom and the Eastern Khanate.
It has been years since the last diplomatic ties, however. She'd only ever remembered meeting Khan Flavia once, so long ago that she can barely remember it. Even the word 'meeting' is a stretch. She'd seen the Khan at a diplomatic meeting between the two countries, back when her father had been Exalt.
That had been the last meeting between Ylisse and East Ferox, she remembered.
The only thing she has to go off of were old lessons about Regna Ferox. Most of which she wasn't inclined to take as truth. Most in Ylisse still thought of the Feroxi as the barbarians to the north.
She stares at the letter, and muses that perhaps a new draft was in order, when there is a knock on the study door. Shortly after, they open and in walks in Pip. Emmeryn sees the disgruntled guard at the door for only a moment before the door shuts loudly. Pip walks further into the study, looking around with an air of disinterest.
"Nice place," he says, clearly not taking in much of the study at all.
"Thank you. Please, take a seat."
Pip does after a moment of staring. He fidgets as he does, and fidgets while Emmeryn brews and pours the tea. It can't all be chalked up to the nature of the chair either. At least, Emmeryn doesn't think so.
"If the chairs are uncomfortable, you can stand," she says, placing the cups on the desk.
"Huh? If you say so," Pip makes a show of standing up and stretching. Both his arms and his wings. Its a sight to see. The wings must span about as long as he is tall. And as she watches, she can't help but notice-
"Your hair," she says.
Pip blinks, and runs a hand through his hair, further messing it. A leaf drifts down onto the floor.
"Huh," he says.
Emmeryn wants to ask. She has a feeling he wouldn't answer. There is a nervousness to him today, that reminds her of when he'd first come to Ylisstol. So instead she fills the air with small talk as they drink tea. At least, for as long as she can. When the tea is over, and the plate of biscuits is but crumbs, Emmeryn finally broaches the question.
"Did something happen between you and Lissa?"
She wants to hear Pip's side of things. To get a clearer picture. She's disappointed, if unsurprised, when Pip gives her a startled glance before waving a flippant hand.
"Nothing happened," he says.
"Is that so?" she says mildly.
"It is," he replies, firm.
"Lissa's been trying to find you for some time now," she says in that same mild tone. Not reproach, cause she doesn't want to blame Pip. As far as she knows, the disagreement was caused by both sides. Lissa was adamant that she needed to apologize about something she'd said.
Pip twitches. It hard to catch, with how quickly his expression smooths back into indifference, but for a moment Emmeryn can swear that Pip seems upset.
"Is she? What for?" Pip shakes his head before he's even done with the sentence, "On second thought, I don't care. In any case, its not my business."
Emmeryn prepares herself to explain, gently if firmly, that whatever disagreement had happened, he couldn't just leave Lissa in the dark. It wasn't particularly fair to either of them.
The speech dies before it even reaches her tongue, when Pip says, "I'm going, after all."
"Going? Going where?" she asks, even if she has her suspicions. They only grow as Pip slowly walks to the balcony of the study.
"Away?" Pip turns around and raises an eyebrow, "Remember? My wings are fixed now, so I'm going."
"Tell me, what brings you to our Halidom?"
"None of your business," the boy scoffs, "Besides, don't get too worried. Soon as I'm healed, I'll get out of your hair."
At the time, she hadn't given the words much thought. Of course their peculiar guest would leave as soon as he was able to. He made that abundantly apparent. But over time, Emmeryn has grown used to his presence in the castle. She knew that Phila felt the same. And he was, no matter what was currently happening, Lissa's friend. Emmeryn knew this.
Emmeryn thinks. Swiftly, because she has no doubt that Pip might very well leave as soon as this conversation is done. She can't keep him here, of course. It wouldn't be right. But to keep him in the castle meant more than just by force. She considers trying to tell Pip that he shouldn't leave without at least talking to Lissa. Its the truth.
But to someone like Pip, who chaffed at even the slightest hint of restriction? Trying to guilt him, even if it was true, would drive him away faster than anything.
"Well?" Pip asks, scowling. His arms are crossed, and his brow furrowed.
What they need is more time. Isn't that always the case?
"If you're thinking about asking me to stay-" he begins hotly.
"I wouldn't mind if you did," Emmeryn said, "You're always welcome here, you know?"
She smiles. Its the truth, after all. Even those in the castle who murmured about the dark winged child – and she knew they existed, even if they were wise enough not to be in earshot – couldn't very well say that the boy who had saved her Pegasus Knight and the Shepherds wasn't welcome in Ylisstol. Chrom wouldn't stand for it.
"Er," Pip flounders for a moment, "That's...real kind of you. But-"
"-Your wings take you wherever you want to go, yes?"
"...You want to stop with the creepy sentence finishing schtick?" Pip mutters.
Emmeryn laughs, some of the tension draining from her. She can't help it. Pip looks so disgruntled in that moment.
"I'm sorry, Pip," she says, "Please forgive me. I am afraid I am somewhat pressed for time at the moment, hence my haste."
"What's wrong?" Pip asked, dropping his scowl.
"...I need to send the Shepherds to Regna Ferox to restore diplomatic ties," she finally says. She doesn't quite expect Pip to understand. The angel has shown his lack of knowledge about geopolitics all too often. So she's pleasantly surprised when Pip's face screws up in thought.
"That place up north? Why?"
"Ylisse and Regna Ferox historically used to have friendly ties," Emmeryn explains, "But nowadays it is not so. It's been years since the two countries last met."
The diplomatic ties had stopped sometime shortly after her father had taken the throne.
"So what's the problem?" Pip asks, "Just send the Shepherds."
"It will take them time," she explains, "Regna Ferox is a large, harsh country. And...time is of the essence."
There is a moment of silence.
"...You want me to deliver something?" Pip asks. The way he asks, its clearly not him asking if he can do her a favour.
Emmeryn could feign ignorance. Say that it hadn't crossed her mind.
Instead, she says, "If you were to do so, you would do Ylisstol a great service."
"I could care less about that," Pip scoffs, turning around. Glancing back towards her, he adds gruffly, "So, what is it that you need me to send?"
Emmeryn startles, but is quick. It is to her fortune that she has a passable letter with her.
As she hands the letter to the Khan to Pip, Pip rolls his eyes at whatever expression must have been on her face.
"I don't forget favours," he says.
"Make sure this letter is delivered to Flavia, the Eastern Khan of Regna Ferox," she says.
"Yeah, yeah," Pip says flippantly, though he takes care with the letter, "Is this all?"
"Yes-" she begins. Pip doesn't let her finish.
"Great," he turns around, marching away. Emmeryn's confusion turns swiftly to realization as Pip opens the balcony to the study. The evening breeze rushes in, and Emmeryn brings her shawl closer around her shoulders. Pip stands there, eyes closed, letting the wind brush past him for a moment.
He glances back towards her.
"This is urgent, isn't it?" the smirk on his face betrays the nature of the question, "So I best be on my way."
His wings snap open. Violet light chimes, pouring forth from his feathers.
"Pip!" she calls, reaching out towards him.
Pip looks back.
"Please, travel safely," Emmeryn says finally, smiling at him as her arm lowers.
His expression of annoyance shifts into surprise. Before it can shift to anything else, he flaps his wings and is off, faster than any pegasus. The knights who guard her study give cries of alarm, but there's nothing they can really do. And no need for them to do anything either.
Emmeryn clasps her hands, and utters a prayer under her breath. For the safety of the angel that they have sheltered these past few weeks.
"You got any maps?"
Robin opens her room to find Pip rummaging through the stuff on her desk, with the exception of her diary. To see him after so long trying and failing to find him causes her to freeze and stare dumbly.
Pip glances at her, raising an eyebrow, before something catches his eyes.
"Here we go!" he picks up and flourishes what does turn out to be a map of the continent. Robin knows because a moment later its shoved in her face.
"Where are we on this map?" Pip asks, brusque.
"Uh," Robin's finger is already on the map before her brain can catch up, "About here."
Pip turns the map around to stare himself.
"Huh, the lake's bigger than I thought it was. Way bigger."
Once again the map is shoved in her face. This time she pushes it down, and gives Pip a look. He returns it.
"Where's Regna Ferox?" he asks.
"That is what you have to say? After drenching me and Cordelia, and skulking about for a whole day!?"
Pip makes a face.
"Well if you're going to be that way," he rolls up the map and tucks it away. He ducks under her arm and begins to walk away just as Robin wonders if she should perhaps thrash him a little.
"You-!" she begins, before realizing that he has stopped walking and started running. She runs after him.
"Get back here!"
Pip glances back at her, and she catches the grin on his lips for the briefest instant.
"No time!" he says, breaking into a sprint, "Catch you later!"
Dear heavens this took a long time. Longer than it should have, by all accounts. At least this time, the writing wasn't the difficult part. The difficult part was eking out time for it and editing. I thank the audience for its patience, because I've been excited over where the next chapter is heading for a while!
Thanks for reading. Tune in for the next chapter!