''It's not fair! You beat me again! I'll never win against you.''
Lucina, princess of Ylisse, said with a frustrated tone. A little girl of ten summers, Lucina has spent the better part of the day with playing wargames with her tutor, Grandmaster Robin. It was not a pleasant experience; her tutor beat her at every game, and the little princess could feel her temper rise after each defeat. She could see that she had already lost the current game, two more moves and she would lose her central king piece.
She was tempted to flip the board in rage, but that would have been unseemly, her mother would not approve.
Why must she do this? She would rather spend time with her beloved father in the training grounds, but her father had denied her this and commanded her to stay in the library under the guidance of the grandmaster. Grandmaster Robin was an educated man and knew much in nearly every subject her father had said. And as heir to Ylisean throne it was her duty to be well versed in much and more.
Not that the little girl cared now, she disliked sitting still amongst all these books, reading about subjects that just gave her a headache. It was a wonderful sunny day that would have been much better spent outside with a wooden sword in hand. What was the point of this stupid game? What was the point of her playing it?
The grandmaster did not remove his gaze from the board, but merely moved another piece further sealing the fate of the remains of the princess' wooden army.
''Now, now your highness. The game is far from over, you can still make one move. Your turn…''
Lucina pouted.
''I don't want to! I don't want to play anymore!''
Lucina stared furiously at her teacher. Robin did not move nor made any eye contact with his angry pupil.
Despite being the same age as her father, her teacher looked youthful. The princess had heard whispers from the ladies in court that he was a handsome man, but the little girl could not see it. If she was to describe him herself. She would say that he looked more like a ghost, his skin was pale from the lack of sunlight, his hair was like silver. Lucina had seen and met many people at court, but none shared the appearance of the grandmaster of Ylisse.
It made him unique. She had asked her father about it once, and he had told her that the grandmaster was not from Ylisse, but a faraway land called Plegia.
Still, he did not change his gaze, but merely continued to study the board.
She then heard him chuckle.
''Would that it was so easy princess. In war one cannot simply always decide when to start a battle nor end it. At least it would not be wise before you have considered all your options, but if you insist on skipping you turn…''
Robin moved the last piece, sealing the outcome of the game. He then leaned back; his gaze still fixed at the board.
''Princess…if you had studied the board more thoroughly you would have seen that you could still blunt my move by sacrificing your horse.''
Despite her anger, Lucina felt embarrassed, she had not considered it, but then again, she did not like how Robin had said she needed to sacrifice her horse. Her father has always told her to care and protect her people. This of course also extended to her little wooden army that she herself had coloured in the colours of her family.
''I would still lose; you still have more soldiers than me.''
Robin merely made a clicking sound with his tongue. It was a sound he made whenever he was about to give her a lecture.
''That may be so, but it would still extend this game with around five turns, which would give you a chance to turn this around. I only have around eight pieces more then you, it's not an impossible task. Always be mindful of your surroundings and your own capabilities.''
He made it sound so easy.
''I-I don't know what to do! It's not fair! You are much older than me.''
Robin picked her king piece from the board and absently played around with it.
''Age is not always an advantage in the battlefield my dear pupil. Old men have the habit of falling into patterns, and a lively mind can get you far. Know yourself and most importantly know your opponent and their intent, and you'll always know what to do.''
As he said it, Lucina felt as if the temperature in the room fell sharply. The room darkened quickly as if the sun had suddenly set.
''Observe, analyse, and then act. That is what I used to say was it not? Instead, now that you have surrendered your people are at the tender mercy of your enemies. Your lands and lives are forfeit to your betters.''
Robin stopped playing around with her king piece and began to squeeze it with his one hand. She heard it crack in his hand.
''You have failed them princess. You have failed them all.''
The Grandmaster grinned. Finally, he turned his gaze towards the princess. His eyes were crimson red and filled with an all-consuming malice. Lucina felt a chill that went into her bones. She knew those eyes; The eyes of an unrelenting predator that had haunted her for nearly a decade. Her foe, the destroyer of all that she had known, the dragon…
His voice changed in a strange manner; each word was followed with a chilling echo. The room around them began to disperse, leaving only the cold.
''Stupid girl…You can never defeat me, try as you might.''
He released his grip and the pitiful pieces of her king fell into the ground. Mockingly he began to tap his temple.
''Always rushing into things, never stopping to THINK! To read your surroundings! Which is why you'll always fail…''
''No…''
''Again…''
''No.''
''And again.''
''NOOO!''
Lucina woke up draped in sweat.
A dream…
Yet it felt all too real, Lucina could feel herself hyperventilating, her entire body was shaking. Exhaling and closing her eyes, she tried to ground herself before doing anything else.
It was just a nightmare, she assured herself. Just a nightmare…
As Lucina opened her eyes, she recognised the celling made of cloth, she quickly figured out that she was in a tent, but what else? Judging by the lamp beside her it was night, and she was laying on a field bed. She heard multiple voices around her. Maybe she was in a camp somewhere? She could not recall how she got here.
She tried to rise but found herself tied down to the bed. Panicked she began to struggle to set herself free. She stopped when she heard a voice somewhere in the tent.
''Finally awake, are you? Must have been a nasty dream for you to shout out like that.''
A man with blue hair appeared in her field of vision. A man she recognised immediately.
''FATHER!''
Her father Exalt Chrom gave her an uncomfortable stern look.
''I'm glad to see that you're awake Lucina, but tell me do you remember why you're tied down like this?''
Lucina began to think. She remembered that she had accidently revealed her identity to her father after she narrowly prevented an assassin's blade from cutting his life short in Carrion Isle. She had just arrived to the past a few days earlier and had not wasted any time seeking the Shepards out. But shortly after her reunion with her parents, she saw someone…
Suddenly it began to hurt at the back of her head. She remembered; she saw him.
The great betrayer…
At the sight of him she went into a great fury and immediately drawn her blade and charged him, intending to end it all right there and then. Instead, someone had hit her from behind and the world turned black.
She turned towards her father, his expression expecting.
''Y-yes…I do.''
''Then understand why I would very much like an explanation on why you suddenly tried to murder my chief tactician unprovoked?''
Before she could say anything, one person entered the tent.
''Yes, I would also like to hear the reason for your sudden need to kill me.''
In walked the chief tactician of the Shepards and took his place beside her beloved father. He dared to give her a shy worried smile, appearing almost friendly. It was a mask, she knew it. It was the same mask that he had worn all those years to deceive her and her family.
Years of enmity swelled up in the young princess. Memories of being haunted and driven out from her home by that all too familiar face made her blind with rage.
''TRAITOR! STAY AWAY FROM HIM!''
Again, Lucina struggled to free herself from her restrains, but to no avail, yet both men took a step back at this sudden outburst. Her rapid aggression summoned her father's ever loyal knight Frederick in the tent.
''Shall knock her out again my lord!?''
''NO! Just keep her down!''
Despite the knight's attempt to keep Lucina down, she kept fighting back. Singularly obsessed with the need to save her father from the threat that stood beside him.
''LISTEN! LISTEN TO ME! DON'T TRUST HIM! FATHER PLEASE! HE'S A TRAITOR! HE'LL KILL YOU! HE'LL KILL YOU!''
Both men looked at each other. Her father being the first to talk.
''Well, that's new, I was not aware that you had that on your to-do list Robin.''
A clear jest that showed that her father did not take her words seriously. Lucina could feel a sting in her chest.
The tactician's expression however had now turned into an unreadable mask, and he gave no reaction towards his friend's little jibe. Instead, he merely turned back his gaze at the struggling princess with his crimson eyes. For a moment Lucina could swear she saw the same man that she saw in her dreams.
''Robin?''
As if awoken from a trance, the tactician blinked a few times before answering his friend.
''Not funny Chrom, this is a serious accusation…''
''Sorry, just trying to ease the mood a bit.''
Chrom turned towards his daughter, who by now had tired herself out and stopped moving. Surrendering to the futility of her actions.
''Lucina, this is a very serious accusation you have made, do you have any proof?''
She did not. All she knew was that the chief tactician just turned on his former friends during a campaign, joined Plegia and helped with the awakening of the Fell dragon, before leading the extermination effort of humans himself. She was certain of the last part; she had seen him often enough in the battlefield to confirm it. Yet these events were years off.
How could she prove something that has not happened yet?
She had hoped to just be able to kill Robin before anyone knew anything about it or her, but that assassin had forced her to act.
And now she had revealed her intentions too early.
Stupid, stupid girl…
She thought bitterly. She should have considered how she could convince her father if she was ever caught, but no she had not considered any other plan beyond infiltrating the camp, kill that bastard and deal with the consequences later. It mattered not whatever she escaped or not. All that mattered was that her father would survive in this timeline.
''Well?''
''…I have nothing but my word father. Nor do I have a clear telling how it would unfold. But I can prove that I'm from another time, and in my time THAT MAN!''
She made a gesture with her head towards Robin.
''Will be the undoing of the Halidom of Ylisse. I implore you…don't trust him!''
There was silence in the tent.
''Sire you can't seriously trust these words from this girl! Father? And another time? What does it even mean? This is nonsense!''
Frederick declared while firmly holding Lucina down, despite her lack of struggling. Knight Frederick was ever her father's most cautious servant.
''It'…A bit complicated Frederick. Lucina here is my daughter from another time.''
''Lucina? You mean your infant daughter?''
''The very same. She's from the future and I believe her, strange as it is. She has the brand in her eye, and she carries my sword, both is sufficient evidence by my judging.''
Frederick was unconvinced.
''These things can be imitated.''
''They cannot, Lady Tharja has confirmed that her eye is authentic, there's no trace of magic or other illusionary tricks. And her sword is of Naga's making, and she only made one blade in this world.''
Chrom turned his gaze towards his daughter.
''I feel I can trust her Frederick and it's not something I do lightly, despite what you may think. However, I still would very much like that she would not go around and killing my friends.''
Lucina could feel that her father expected her to give some kind of guarantee, but she could not. She could lie and try again another time, but she could not bring herself to deceive her own beloved father even if it was for his own good. She must convince him somehow to exile or at least stay away from his chief tactician. Convince him to execute that traitor was clearly out of the picture.
As she said nothing, Chrom continued speaking.
''Lucina, I don't know what happened in your time to mistrust Robin so, but he is no traitor, nor would he willingly bring harm to me or anyone. I trust him, and I'll not forsake my faith so easily.''
Oh…how she had almost forgotten how loyal her sweet father was for those he considered his friends. It pained her to go against him, but he needed to see reason.
''Father…please. You have not seen what is to come. The destruction…''
Her father would have none of it.
''Enough! Robin and I have held fast through good times and ill. Our bonds are forged in the heat of battle, and I consider him family in all but blood. I believe in those ties more than any foretold destiny.''
Lucina was about to protest further, but suddenly support came from a most unlikely source.
''She's right you know.''
It was from Robin. Every head in the tent turned towards the tactician.
''Chrom, I appreciate your unwavering support, but Lucina is right. Objectively I'm a very suspicious character. I came to your service out of the thin air. I claimed that I have no memories and yet it was clear that I came from Plegia, the very nation you had disputes at that time. And yet you accepted me.''
Her father was quick to object to this.
''Robin…We have talked about this. You have done more than enough to prove your dependability.''
Even Frederick threw his support in.
''And you have my confidence as well! Even if I was suspicious of you in the start. I would gladly vouch for you now.''
Her father's knight then gave her a glare. It was clear which side he stood by. Lucina remembered how her Frederick used to stand by her in all matters before he too died. It hurt to see him give her such mistrusting eyes, but there were other matters at hand.
Namely why Robin would agree with her that he was a danger to her father. Would it not have been more logical that he would deny everything she said and brand her as a madwoman?
Know your opponent's intent…but what was it?
Robin spoke again.
''(sigh) Sometimes I worry about how quickly you trust people Chrom. Just like Virion…or Gaius! That man broke into the castle to rob you and you hired him on the spot.''
Her father smiled a goofy smile.
''Yes! And have I ever been wrong? Look at them now!''
Robin gave Chrom an annoyed look before he turned towards Lucina, his expression masked with false traces of worry.
''Frederick would you please release lady Lucina from her binds? I don't believe that she would try anything anymore.''
That was a correct assumption. Lucina was not so foolish to try something now that she had cooled a bit down, also she was unarmed, and Frederick would still be within arm's reach. She slowly rose to a sitting position.
''Lucina, I won't claim to understand the horror that you have experienced for you to be so hostile towards me.''
Liar.
''And I imagine that my words will do little to assure you, but know I take your warning seriously even if I can't imagine how it can happen.''
He paused as if expecting her to say something. Lucina merely starred furiously at him, unable to even mask her hatred towards him.
Seeing that he got nowhere, Robin continued.
''Of course, actions speak louder than words, so let me propose this…''
He turned towards her father.
''Chrom, put me under watch. Have my every move shadowed by whoever you find suitable all day. Tell the Shepherds about the events of today. I'm sure they would understand.''
Frederick chipped in.
''This is highly unnecessary, and it might prove troublesome, we can arrange for some shifts sure…BUT we're shorthanded AND we're about to go to war.''
Her father seemed to think about this.
''I think I can find a solution for this, call Henry.''
Frederick frowned.
''That dark mage?''
''Yes, he recently agreed to join us, and I think his skills might be of particular use here.''
Robin looked exacerbated at her father.
''Not to give the wrong impression. I do like Henry well enough, but is he really the best candidate for this?''
''Yes! He has proven himself very capable, as you would soon see.''
Her father seemed mightily pleased with this, yet it was clear that Robin did not share his optimism.
''That's not what I'm concerned abu-…Dear Gods, nevermind.''
It did not take long for Frederick to return with her father's newest recruit, as soon as he opened the flaps to the tent, in burst at least five crows. Flying everywhere and cawing loudly, the chaos of the birds was accompanied with a male laugh.
''HAHAHAHA! Yes! Fly my little ones! Greet the king! Greet the girl! But careful to not poke their eyes out!''
Lucina could not see anything from the crows, but she could hear Frederick shouting.
''HENRY! Get those birds out!''
''Aww…Do I have to? They are not birds, but family!''
''I DON'T CARE! GET THEM OUT!''
Just as quickly they came in, the crows flew out again, and in their place stood a young man, not much unsimilar in appearance to the tactician besides him. Pale skin and white silver hair, Henry was clad in robes in the manner of Plegia, and strangely always kept his eyes closed. Lucina could not recall ever seeing him in her father's court back in her time.
He looked at Chrom and gave him an excessive bow.
''Hello your highness! How may I be of service?''
Lucina did not like the disrespectful tone he spoke to her father, but he seemed unfazed at this.
''Henry, thank you for coming in such short notice, I may indeed need your services. I recall that you told me that you can speak to your crows?''
Henry clapped like a little child in a circus at this.
''Why yes indeed! They are my eyes and ears! I speak to them, and they speak to me! A dozen eyes and ears in one! And once I die, they will even eat my carcass to the bone! You cannot find truer friends then that! Do you need help with that? Ohh…please say that it is so! It's been so long since they had fresh meat!''
Her father frowned at this.
''No…nothing of that sort. I just need someone to keep an eye on Robin...''
Her father and Robin explained the situation.
''Hmpf…No corpse for my friends or me? How dull, but I can do this…yes, I can! Anything for my new friends! My friends and I shall watch our dear tactician like a hawk! Nothing shall get past me! Inside or out!''
With that the strange mage left the tent.
Her father once again turned towards her.
''I trust that this is a satisfactory arrangement?''
Lucina was still lost for words. It was indeed a small solution for her fears, but it still vexed her that it was Robin himself that suggested it.
What was his goal?
''Y-yes…it's fine…it's…''
Then it hit her.
No, it was not fine. They are alle being deceived! Lucina realised that by putting himself under constant watch, Robin might appear to be genuine in trying to prove his innocence, but he had also put himself in the best protection possible against her. She remembered his instructions.
''Tell the Shepherds about the events of today. I'm sure they would understand.''
It was clear to Lucina that Robin had the Shepherds absolute loyalty, none of them would likely take her words seriously, but they would keep a close eye on her once they hear that she had attacked their tactician.
Henry's words came back to her.
''Nothing shall get past me! Inside or out!''
Yes, they would watch him, but they would also watch her. It would be difficult for her to come close to Robin without anyone noticing now.
Stupid, stupid girl…
She thought, she has acted too rashly. She could only hope that this would also limit his own movement somewhat.
Still, she needed to salvage this blunder somehow and quickly without digging a deeper hole for herself. She could not deny it now without sounding unreasonable, and most of all she needed to protect her father.
''Yes, this is fine…but I would also like to stay close to you father. Please let me be your personal guard like Frederick.''
Her father gave her a warm smile at this.
''You got no objection there; I'll look forward to spending more time with you Lucina.''
Robin took a step closer to her father.
''Chrom…Is this wise? You have just meet her and…''
''Whatever time she may come from be it the future or the past, she is still my daughter, and Gods know that I can never deny her anything.''
Robin's face was like stone, it was clear that he disapproved, but he did not press it further, instead merely excusing himself before leaving with Frederick. As he turned towards the exit, he cast one last glare at the princess from another time. He hid it well, but she knew in her heart that his eyes contained nothing but hate towards her.
She has confronted him enough times to know it to be true.
Notes:
My second story of the Fire Emblem awakening universe.
Just found it interesting to write a scenario, where Lucina had a clear picture from the start who the traitor would be.
As you noticed I have changed a few details of the main story, like when Lucina appeared in the current world, which is now much later. And she was also old enough to remember more clearly her father and Robin.
Don't know if I would continue with this story, as this could be a long one, but please share your thoughts (good and bad). I would be happy with any constructive feedback, and it helps with my motivation to get a few responses here and there.
Till next time ^^