So I know I said I would post Chapter 30 when it was done, but the thing is, I'm still on vacation. As in, I'm visiting a friend out of my home state and thus have no access to my computer and can't get it edited. So I'm going to keep scribbling away until it's time for me to go. Anyways hope you enjoy.

Ah, yes, I almost forgot before this chapter started. I would like to give a wholehearted thank you to anyone who favs, follows, give kudos, leaves comments, and just plain reads these chapters. It means so much to me. An extra thank you to KirstyCottonotton on Ao3 for your comment. I'm not used to getting comments this nice on any of my big projects. Anyways enough mushy feelings. Let's get back to the fic.

The Princess's Dragon Bride

Chapter 31: Delicate Matters

Robin awoke quietly at first, feeling safe for the first time in many years. He had forgotten a lot of this, the warmth and comfort that overcame him, wrapped up as he was. Despite everything that had happened, he felt renewed. It was as if he was still young, still expected to draft up marching plans and battle tactics, and the all too familiar feeling of wanting to snuggle in deeper and wait just a little longer.

But just as he always had all those years ago, he pulled himself free from the powerful arms that encircled him.

He stretched his arms, knowing full well that Chrom slept like a stone after nights like that. He turned to face his other half. As expected, Chrom was fast asleep. If Robin didn't have a team to rejoin, he would bask in this image and indulge in seeing him like this again.

His heart tightened in his chest. He didn't want to leave. It never got easier being without him. Being alone. Sure, he had the thieves, but his position was made clear many times. It never felt like home, and he never truly felt whole, not until last night.

Carefully , he pulled himself out of bed and made himself a bit more presentable before leaving the room in one of the robes offered in the room. He gathered his belongings, lingering in that room for longer than he should have.

It felt wrong, just vanishing while Chrom still slept. He was reliving that night all those years ago. He was under no threat of being executed by Chrom's father. Yet he couldn't stay, not after leaving the first time, especially now that he had gotten involved with one of Akira's stupid plans and was now a wanted criminal.

As he slipped into his Plegean coat, he remembered something, a regret he had tucked into one of his many pockets. He pulled out the ancient letter, one he had written all that time ago. One, he was always too scared to send his other half.

But now it was different. Chrom still cared for him. He held no hatred for him. Last night proved that. Any doubts Robin had that Chrom wanted him out of his life were far from his mind. So it was time he clears the air with the love of his life.

Soundlessly he crept back into the room they shared, and thankfully Chrom was still asleep inside. He tiptoed over to the bed and placed the letter on the nearby bedside table.

He cast one last glance at his other half. His chest tightened, and in one last risky move, he gently brushed Chrom's bangs aside before placing a kiss on his cheek. Amazingly Chrom still didn't wake up, instead mumbling something before smiling in his sleep.

Robin returned to the door and whispered three little words as he peered from the door one last time. Then as soundlessly as he shut the door, he left the hot spring, letting the wind carry him to rejoin the others.

Marth had missed the shift from day to sunset, but thankfully he didn't miss the shift from sunset to night.

There was something about the night sky that soothed his soul. He had always loved reading about the stars. Seeing them had sparked many years of wonder when he was young.

In his youth, he and his sister would sneak out of his room to watch the stars as long as they could until the guards found them. That was the very reason Shulk had given them those magic lanterns, as they were prone to adventuring around the castle at night and would often get lost.

He hadn't ventured out at night since his goal of becoming Exalt had consumed his life. It was nice to see the stars from somewhere that wasn't a window. He would stay out here all night if he could, and thankfully, it wasn't too chilly tonight.

Pyra had left shortly after seeing he was okay. Shulk, however, never left his side, which had surprised him as they had sat there for what must have been hours. He diligently allowed the prince to rest against him as he recovered from whatever damage Mythra had done.

It was when the wind started to pick up that he decided to cut his stargazing short. However, when he attempted to stand on his own feet, he found them unable to hold him up properly.

Thankfully Shulk caught him then. "Are you alright?"

"My legs feel like jelly," he winced as he tried and failed to stand properly. "I can't even stand."

"If I may?" Shulk's face pinkened only slightly.

Marth had no idea what the seer was asking permission for, but he gave a simple nod anyway. He trusted the seer with his life, and whatever it was he was going to do, he trusted it would be to his benefit.

Almost effortlessly, he scooped the prince into his arms and began to carry him. "Is this alright?"

All the blood rushing to Marth's face fried his brain. All he was able to do was nod as the Seer carried him through the hole in the wall, through the training grounds, and into the castle.

"Do you want to see a healer?"

"No, no, I should be fine" Marth didn't know what he could say to the lead healer if he were caught being bridal carried into their office. "I should be on my feet by morning. If I'm not, then we shall consult the healers"

"If you're sure," his concern was evident, but he thankfully didn't argue and began his trek to the prince's room.

Marth hoped they wouldn't be caught. The sight of the Seer carrying the prince bridal-style to his bed chamber would make for a scandal, and if the council heard, he would never live it down.

A smaller fraction of the prince's mind couldn't help but marvel at the sheer strength the seer was hiding. How had he never noticed? "You are very strong."

Chrom was slow to open his eyes. He had never felt so simultaneously amazing and exhausted. Sure, this wasn't his first time, but it had been so long since he had felt this way it might as well have been a new feeling.

He was immediately aware that he was alone. A slow dread filled his heart, and he forced his eyes to open. The bed was empty. Panic and worry spiraled within him. Had it all been some elaborate and terrible dream?

As if to answer his question, something in the corner of his eye caught his attention: a small folded note adorned with a wax seal.

The seal was plain, and the paper was worn, clearly old. It was the awkwardly scribbled handwriting that told him exactly who this was from. The letter was addressed to him, or at least that's what his name written in his tactician's chicken scratch told him. Was I really asleep long enough for him to pen an entire letter without waking me?

The letter inside told him a different story. There was no introduction. No, this wasn't a formal or fun little note he had planned to send him via mail. No, the way it was written made it clear it was Robin's spiraling thoughts,

"Before anything else, I need you to know I loved you. I still love you." Those words had eased some of the pain in Chrom's heart. However, this left a question swirling around in his mind, spurring a storm of worry and doubt in his mind. "This was not your fault," the note read, as if he could read his mind. It did little to ease Chrom's fears.

"I was under threat," were the words that gave him pause. Panic surged in his heart, his mind running through every negative encounter he'd witnessed. How had he never noticed it before?

As he continued reading, his heart dropped into his stomach. His father, his own father, had threatened Robin. He should have known, his father had always had terrible views on Plegians, and his distaste for Robin was clear. But Chrom had hoped Robin's master tactics, which had won them the war, would have changed that. He hoped his father would finally see Robin's value.

"There would be no talking to him, Chrom." Gods, he knew that was true. There was nothing his sister or Chrom could say to keep him from invading Plegia and starting a war. Chrom only got involved after he lost Emmeryn.

The more he read, the more he understood. Robin's fears of being killed weren't out of self-preservation but rather out of concern for Chrom. How is this not my fault? He tightened his grip on the letter subconsciously.

"Ylisse needs a good Exalt at the helm" Robin always cared about everyone else's happiness before his own. The implication was clear, Ylisse needed a good King, and Robin must have seen himself as getting in the way of that. Chrom's father was the impulsive and aggressive type. Chrom wouldn't put it past his father to have set up some of the nobles at his table with possible successors if he had failed to stay in line. And Robin's note on Lissa's possible fate in this hypothetical world was disgusting but not out of character for his father and his council.

Robin confirmed his spiraling fears, "I know what you would have chosen. And I can't do that to the people." Robin was just as much a bleeding heart as Chrom himself was, despite his caution. Damnit Robin!

It was the last part of the letter that sparked the fire in his heart. Robin, in no uncertain terms, had told him that he would return if he would still have him. Of course, I would forgive you, you idiot. And yet this only left a burning question, Why did he join the Phantom Thieves and steal his daughter?

But the letter didn't mention the kidnapping, the Thieves, or anything about the current situation. Chrom overlooked the letter for a long time. It's old. Just after he left, if I was to take a guess.

If he wanted answers, he'd need to ask Robin directly.

Akira was enjoying the peaceful boat ride. He and Byleth were fishing up dinner. Leven and Cloud were rowing the boat whenever the wind would falter. And the girls seemed in very good spirits. Today was a wonderful day.

"Akira!" Joker looked up just in time to be hit directly in the face by a wind tome. "You left me behind, you dastard!"

He couldn't see the man landing on the boat through the book on his face, but the sound of his boots hitting the wooden deck told him he was here. "Robin!" Lucina seemed enthused at his return. Poor girl.

Akira removed the book from his face and stared at the annoyed mage. "I thought that was the plan," he rubbed his face. "You said to go, so we left."

"I meant get to the boat, not leave me behind," Grim growled. "You're lucky I had enough wind tomes to catch up to you."

"I mean, we didn't go that far."

"That's not the point, Akira," Grim pinched the bridge of his nose before he dropped himself in front of the makeshift wall separating them from the girls.

"Look, we couldn't just stay there," Akira fixed his glasses, only now realizing they had shifted when he got hit earlier. "Nabbit was there, and I just know he's working with the kings."

Leven, at that moment, stood up and sat himself down next to Grim before petting his shoulder sympathetically.

"Leven? Don't tell me you're still mad too?" Leven, as if to answer his question, made direct eye contact before abruptly turning his head away. He's still mad.

"Well," Lucina chose that moment to change the subject, "now that our resident magic expert is here, what do you propose we do about Corrin's seal?"

"That's hard to say," Grim frowned and pulled out the map, staring at it as if it would help. "We can't leave it be, since it only seems to be getting weaker as the days go by."

"If I knew anything about white magic, I would fix it myself," he sighed, "but it seems the light magic needed is something beyond me."

"Maybe a church could help?" Byleth asked as they continued their fishing, seemingly uninterested in the matter.

"Doubt it" Grim traced the line of the river they were on as if trying to figure out where to get off. "it would require an incredibly powerful mage to get it fixed."

"I can pull some strings in Fodlen, but-" Byleth started.

Grim followed the river on the map before then motioning to another continent. "I don't know if I feel comfortable waiting that long."

"Powerful light magic?" Cloud spoke up for the first time this trip, "I think I know someone."

He pointed to a spot on the map, and Grim was quick to trace a path to it. "It is closer. I'd say a week's time if we take it really slow."

"Then that's where we're going." Akira motioned towards the sails, and Grim grumbled something before casting a powerful wind spell. Akira was the only one who was flung to the floor by it.

Marth thanked the Gods when he awoke and found himself able to get out of bed on his own.

The healers had told him he would recover quickly. Thankfully Shulk had done him the courtesy of summoning the healers to Marth's room rather than carrying him to the medical ward.

It had been several days since his spar with Mythra. After being bedridden all this time, Marth was eager to get up and around. A part of him mourned not being able to skip out on council meetings anymore. He needed to attend them, but he wasn't going to pretend he didn't feel like all the nobles were trying to speak over him.

He strolled around the castle, trying to think of what he needed to get done first. Council, studies, and training were all things on that list. The Council had already met that day, so had been lucky for today.

He could always catch up on his studies, that is if he had gotten proper rest like he was supposed to, but he didn't. He, as always, had Shulk bring him his work and simply worked from his bed. Now he was far ahead of where he needed to be, and in theory, he could use this time to rest properly.

So that left training.

He made his way to the training grounds only to find them empty. He, of course, wouldn't expect Pyra and Mythra to be waiting for him there while he was still recovering, but he nonetheless hoped to continue their training sessions as soon as possible.

Perhaps it was for the best. While he was well enough to walk around, sparring with them again so soon might have been a bit too much. The thought of sitting down seemed unappealing after being in bed for the past few days, though. He felt restless. Standing eased some of that restlessness.

Idly, he peeked back at the back wall of the training ground. It hadn't been fixed yet. In fact, he could have sworn a few more bricks had fallen out, making the hole bigger.

He strolled on through and returned to the almost dreamscape on the other side of the castle's wall. The rubble had been removed, and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. Stepping under the pale stone arches of the gazebo, his heart danced as he gazed around the structure.

He leaned against the banisters and stared out into the lake, shifting from foot to foot to ease his restlessness.

He was bewitched by the sounds all around him. Before his restlessness began to demand more movement, he took to walking around the gazebo, noting the different flowers, pale roses, tulips of many different colors, lilies, irises, and many more he didn't know the name of.

A carving catches his eye; the letters C and R were carved into one of the stone pillars surrounded by a heart. Strange. His mind started crafting fantastical theories on what two lovebirds would have carved into the stone.

A snapping sound rang out to his right. He turned suddenly and was relieved to see a small squirrel run back into the dense forest at the end of an overgrown stone path. He looked down at the path falling down to the base of the gazebo, climbing up a warm set of stairs. A path?

Curiously, he timidly walked down the stairs. He wandered along the path, careful not to make too much noise.

He found a trail of scratched trees, and following the path, he quickly found himself outside the castle grounds. The second he saw the outline of Ylisstol's castle town come into view, his heart stopped.

Panic suddenly took a tight hold of his heart. His breathing began to quicken. There was an unguarded path outside the castle. An alternative pathway around the castle.

He ran back into the woods. This confirms it. This has to be how the thieves made it into the castle.

The woods spiraled around him, an endless maze of clawing trees and dense shrubs. How many people knew of these pathways?

The smell of pine was almost suffocating. Relax, if everyone knew about this side passage, then we would be getting raided constantly.

How many of the castle staff knew about this? He found a marked tree and pressed his back to it.

Did Father know? Did Lucina know? He slumped down and hugged his knees.

Breathe.

It might be a secret exit in case of emergencies. He closed his eyes, lowering a hand to touch the grass under him.

He forced himself to listen to nature. It's not completely out of the ordinary for a castle as old as Ylissetol to have secret exits.

The forest's breath returned to his ears. Birdsongs calling from tree to tree. The wind's gentle touch rustled his hair. The feeling of a pinecone brushed against the back of his hand.

Breathe.

He waited there, feeling the rapid beating against his ribs slowly ease. Shulk and Pyra will be looking for me.

An image of the seer ran through his mind as gently as the wind, the concern clear on his face. Best not to keep them waiting.

He stood again, shaky and unbalanced. He pressed his palm into old wood, and waited for the strength to return to him. I'll look into this later. Best not to dwell on it now.

He stood properly and turned to leave.

"Hi." Bowser Junior greeted.

Marth screamed as his heart stopped suddenly. Any control he had regained was gone.

The koopa prince floated in front of him in his clown car, laughing, as the Ylissean struggled to regain composure.

"How long have you been there?" Marth's cheeks pinkened as the other prince calmed down. "Were you following me?"

"I saw you leave the training area," he grinned, "and thought you were chickening out of Mythra's training, so I followed you"

"Well, that's umm," he felt the dread returning. "No worries, I have no intentions of running." it's not as if that would help with how fast Mythra moves. His back arched as a bitter reminder of how powerful she was.

"Let's get back there, shall we.'' He returned his gaze to the tree's mark and left in the opposite direction as the mark indicated.

The trek back to the gazebo was mostly uneventful. That was until the Koopa Prince tapped his shoulder and pointed through the thick trees to a small speck of light. "What's that?"

Marth had assumed it was simply the sun peeking through the trees, but it was too early for that. At this current time of day, the sun would still be overshadowing this part of the forest. "Maybe we can get a better look from the training grounds."

He rushed through the forest while the other prince simply flew upwards and out of sight. Marth regretted not asking for a lift, as it would have been faster.

When Marth returned to the gazebo, he found Bowser Junior hovering outside his sister's balcony. The blue curtains in the surrounding windows were a clear giveaway.

When he closed the distance, the other prince came down from the sky with something in his hands, a small lantern.

An enchanted lantern that gave off its own neverending glow. A lantern with small butterfly shapes decorating the corners of the shutters, which had been opened completely. He knew this lantern. He owned one almost exactly like it. What in Naga's name is it doing out here?!

"Do you know this thing?" Junior placed it in his hands, and all Marth could do was stare.

He only slightly registered two sets of footsteps coming from the training grounds. He only faintly registers the sound of Shulk calling out his name in surprise. Or of Jr telling Pyra that Mythra, their victim was ready again.

It was only when Shulk shook his shoulder that he was forced to return to reality. "Are you sure you should be out and about like this?" the seer took up his entire field of view as he moved in front of him to look him over, "you look pale. Perhaps you should get more rest."

The lantern could be seen from the forest.

"Oh no, is he sick?." Pyra frowned as she stopped Jounior from grabbing a weapon. "If he's still recovering, he can take another day off."

If it could be seen so clearly in the day, I can only imagine how easily it could be at night.

"I think we'll have to take you up on that." Shulk frowned as attempted to steady the prince.

It was used like some sort of beacon.

"No fair, he's never going to toughen up like this." Junior pouted as he crossed his arms.

Only a handful of staff could enter Lucina's room, aside from Lucina herself.

"Junior, we talked about this," Pyra sighed. "Humans are very squishy, and wherever they get injured, they can't just recover or come back as dry bones"

But then, why would she do this?

"Not with that attitude, they won't."

Unless Corrin put it there, but why would she fake getting kidnapped if this was the case?

No, this wasn't some ploy by King Bowser. It can't be. He'd be throwing his own daughter into the line of fire.

I was almost killed that day. I don't think Bowser would have orchestrated with criminals that could have harmed his daughter.

No, there has to be another explanation. There just has to be!

AN/ Wow, that was fun. I think I've got my mojo back. And sorry for this being short it originally was going to be another chapter, but after moving some stuff around, I realized that this chapter was overloaded with things going on. So I cut it in half as there is something I'm going to do next chapter, and I didn't want to distract from it. So yeah, I had to come up with a whole new chapter name for this one. Anyways I hope you've had fun, and I'll see you next chapter.

~ (7/4/2023)