Disclaimer - I don't own Fire Emblem. All of its properties belong to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.
Warnings for Sully's foul mouth.
Chapter 4
Ylisstol is, literally and figuratively, the crown jewel of Ylisse.
The walls surrounding the outer limits of the city stand twenty or more feet high. A tower crops up at every large juncture where what looks like a large ballistae sits. Guards lean against their weapons on the upper walkway as they keep a look out on the plains for signs of danger. It's one of them who catches sight of us as we walk up the dirt road leading up to its gate. One of them waves down to us and then hollers to their comrades. A series of shouts follows.
The metal grated gate before us rumbles open allowing us passage into the town's streets.
As soon as we enter through the archway a plethora of sights and smells assault me. I spin around and walk backwards admiring the looming architecture around me.
The streets are all paved in cobblestone. Lining its sides are numerous buildings, mostly one or two stories in nature. Many are constructed from wood panels and stone blocks but a few are speckled red or brown from actual brickwork. These buildings are far better built than those we passed in the farmlands sprawled out around the city walls.
It's hard to tell what is a shop from what is a home with the way people bustle in and out of the doors. The houses sit squished together with only tiny alleyways between them. The occasional wooden stall presses up against a designated business, but most seem to prefer a large open window and counter connected to their workshop to hawk their wares. The sounds of merchants and customers haggling mix with those of families yelling to each other from upper and lower floors.
I feel my back bump into someone and I hear an angry declaration of protest. I immediately turn back around and see I've walked into a larger man carrying some bags. He glares down at me and I back up with hands raised in surrender.
"Sorry! Sorry! My fault."
He shifts the bags in his hands and grumbles as he walks away. I watch him disappear into the crowd feeling a little silly about bumping into him. I was so caught up in the experience that I lost track of where I was. I hope no one saw that.
I turn back expecting to see Chrom and the others ahead of me but no one is there. I'm surrounded by foreign bodies. My pace picks up as I stride forward in the direction we were walking. I must have lagged behind them while admiring the town.
I brush past people as I continue down the main street. I search through the faces looking for a familiar one but my group seems to have disappeared. I can't believe I already got lost. I'm such a dip.
At least I know that we were headed for the castle. All I need to do is find the right road there. I stop and ask some fishmonger for directions. He's surprisingly kind about it and gives me easy ones. All I have to do is follow the main road to the city center and then take the northern exit straight to the hill the castle sits on. I thank him and move on.
I continue to follow the road while keeping an eye out for the Shepherds. I have to focus real hard because I keep wanting to get distracted by the town's features. The heavily residential area I had previously been in gives way to more open space and stalls. I can now hear accents mixed into with the natural language as vendors call out. There's a larger variety of goods too. I can see colored glassware and baskets of spices. Bolts of cloth are sprawled out and one stall is smoky from incense.
This open market is something I'll have to check out later. I wouldn't mind taking a peek at some of the more interesting looking stalls. For the time being, I have to focus on rejoining the others.
A pack of children rush by and their laughter tickles my ears. They push through the crowds of people and forward into a largely open space before us. My eyes grow when I take in the grand plaza before me.
A single tree towers over the middle of the square. Its long branches reach out across the space as if trying to shade those underneath from the sun above. Leaves occasionally fall and litter the ground. Low cut walls line the borders of the square and stone benches dot the space in front of them. People both old and young crowd the area. Parents play tag with their children around the outside while under the trunk young lovers sit cooing in each other's ears. Some folks browse the few stalls that have set up shop here while others take in a few street performers near the back.
"This has got to be your first time in Ylisstol judging by the look on your mug."
Sully slowly trots to a stop beside me.
"Sully! You don't know how glad I am to see you!"
"Ha! Thought so. We realized you were missing halfway up to the castle and split up to find ya. I figured you would have stuck to the main road."
"Sorry about that. I got sidetracked with the sights. I feel like such an idiot right now."
"Nah, don't worry about it. Most of the Shepherds reacted pretty much the same way when they first came the capital too. Stahl, my partner, is just a country kid. When he first rode through he was staring at everything like a slack-jawed fool. Biggest town he'd been in up until this point was maybe thirty people at most. He couldn't believe how many different types of bread there were in just one bakery."
"I can understand. I mean, just look at this place," I say while taking in the view.
She looks about with a relaxed smile. "This is called Serene Square. It's supposed to be named after some past Exalt or sumthin. The square's a nice place though. I like to take my breaks here after a good training. I'll take a long stroll around the perimeter a few times. It really helps relax the muscles and the clean air clears my senses."
"Truly, 'tis a marvel. Befitting for such a beautiful place to be named after a queen. I expect no less," Virion's voice rings out.
Sully's mouth puckers and her eyebrows knit together in disgust. She looks like she's eaten a whole lemon. I hold back a laugh.
"Dear Robin, it joys me to see you back amongst us," Virion says while coming around Sully's horse. He bows and then takes my left hand to clasp between both of his own. "You are whole and untouched? Pray tell, for my heart has beaten quick upon my breast with worry."
What a ham.
I shake my hand from his grasp. "I'm fine Virion. I appreciate the concern though."
"Marvelous! Luck is on our side, as they say. Shall we reunite our wayward friend with the rest of the group?"
"That's the plan," Sully says.
Before we can move a loud cheering catches our attention. I hadn't noticed it while we were talking but a large number of people have migrated to the middle of the square. The three of us meander over to see what the ruckus is about. A few people move to the side to allow us in.
A platoon of soldiers walk from the western entrance and march in a curve toward the northern one. In between the rectangular marching pattern there is an opening where a lone woman walks. She is tall and moves with grace and poise. The sun rays gleam off the decorative piece behind her head creating the illusion of a halo. It's almost too perfect because it literally feels like I'm staring at some sort of angel.
"She's beautiful," I whisper in surprise.
"Ah, that is a sentiment I mostly heartily agree with. Such a fair being she is!" Virion exclaims beside me.
"Don't get any ideas there lover boy. That's our Exalt right there. I don't think the Captain and the princess would take kindly to you making eyes at their sister."
The fact that Emmeryn is siblings with Chrom and Lissa is no news to me, but it certainly shocks Virion. He looks aghast at the information he just learned. "Sweet Sully, how could you not have told me that we were in the presence of two royal persons! To have travelled all this ways with a princess and never once done anything of the proper sort for her. I am ashamed as both a gentleman and a noble."
"Oh yeah, you did mention something about being all hoighty-toighty. What house are you from anyway?"
Virion waves her off with the dainty flip of his hand. "Worry not about such things. Where I come from is of no consequence. Know only that I own you a debt for my life and I am a man of my word. Until I have sufficiently repaid you for your heroics, I will call whatever ground you walk upon my home."
Sully's lips pull back in annoyance as she glares down at him.
"What now? You don't own me any stupid debts."
"But of course! Was it not you who swooped down like a mighty war goddess to dispel those vile creatures who were manhandling me upon the side of the road? Your spear flashed like quicksilver into their hearts and doused the fire from their eyes. So too did my heart become pierced by your loveliness. It is then that I knew I would follow you to wherever you may ride so that I may repay you for your deed."
"Do you two need to be alone?" I ask as I point between the two of them.
"Hell no!" Sully swears. "Listen here you. I don't got time for this sort of thing. So you can take your offer and shove it where the sun don't shine."
"Such cold words milady," Virion proclaims with hand over heart. "But I can feel the heat of your passion behind them and it stirs my soul even more. Simply allow me to prove myself to you. You shall see that I can be the man who will defend your honor and love until time's end."
Sully leans off the side of her horse and gets in to Virion's face. She squints her eyes and frowns deeply.
"You are a messed up little man."
She straightens back up in her saddle. The people have begun to disperse as the line of soldiers disappears up the road. Sully holds a hand over her eyes and looks about the square. A smile creeps over her face when she focuses on a corner near the back.
"There they are. I figured the commotion would bring them here somehow. C'mon Robin. Our missing crew is over there." She urges her horse forward and both Virion and I follow after her.
Lissa is the first to meet us. "There you are Robin! We were looking all over for you!"
I immediately break into an apology. "Sorry everyone. I got kind of lost in the moment looking at everything. Before I knew it, you were all already gone."
Frederick trots over to Sully and nods approvingly at her. "Good job."
She responds with a quick salute. "Damn straight."
"Now that we've found Robin, we should resume our way to the castle. Everyone stick together this time." He makes to turn away but pauses briefly to glance at me. "Welcome back," he says quickly before spurring Gertie on.
I watch him quizzically. "What was that about?"
"That's just Frederick's way of showing he's warming up to you," Chrom says, clearly amused by the knight's actions.
"Oh." I follow after him as we exit the plaza. We take the north road a short ways before stopping at the bottom of large hill. A snaking path winds up the side leading up to a large castle that stands stark white against the blue sky.
"And that would be home," Chrom states proudly.
"That's a pretty big home," I say in awe as I try to count how many towers stick out from its corners.
"Do they know yet?" I hear Lissa whisper to her brother. "About...you know. Us."
"I, uh, don't think so."
"We should probably tell them then."
I hear Lissa clear her throat loudly, trying to get our attention. "Hey Robin, Virion. There's probably something you should know before we go. You see we're-"
"A prince and princess! Yes, how could we not know!" Virion jumps in dramatically. He's acting as if it's been common knowledge all along even though he only learned of it shortly ago.
"It was clear to me when I first laid eyes upon you both that you were of a much finer blood than even my own. Only those of the highest regal standing could have such an effect!" He begins a poetic rant about their royal virtues and then something about their sister Emmeryn and her beauty that shone like a thousand suns.
Sully gives me a sullen stare. She points at Virion and then makes a circling motion with her finger towards her own head.
Frederick, clearly not impressed by Virion's verbal patronage, starts to grow impatient. "May I remind you all that we have several highly important matters to bring forth before the Exalt."
"No, you're right Frederick. I thank you for the, um, compliments Virion but I'll have to ask you to save them for later. We have more pressing matters to attend to," Chrom says.
"As you say milord," Virion bows again while making multiple flourishes with his hand. "For another time. Lead us on."
I hear Lissa complain under her breath as I walk past her. "Aw, but I liked what he was saying about my eyes..."
The walk up the path leaves me winded. I lag behind everyone as we finally pass through the outer gate of the castle walls. I take a minute to catch my breath while the group talks.
Sully volunteers to take the horses to the stables while the rest of us report to the Exalt. Virion, being the classy gent he is, immediately takes both sets of reins and offers to guide them while Sully provides directions. The cavalier snickers and lets him do so. He finds that the horses refuse to budge under his care. He pulls at their reins and bats off any attempts of help from Sully. We end up leaving the two in the courtyard and head through the main entrance.
I'm thrown by how big the inside is. The primary entry hall opens into a huge room. The stone halls rise high up into a sloping ceiling lined with banners of royal blue depicting the sign of the royal family. Two silver multi-tiered chandeliers hang just overhead bedecked in dozens of flickering candles. A staircase of white marble hugs the west wall with a deep blue rug draped along its many steps. It leads to a second floor balcony that split off in two separate directions. Oil paintings of unknown people line any open space on the walls. The numerous eyes of these strangers seem to follow me curiously as I trail after the group.
We enter a hallway on our left passing two guards. They glare at me from beneath their visors and I speed up a bit more. We walk past servants who bustle about with food trays and baskets of paper. They all somehow manage to drop into a curtsey or bow for the royal siblings while still walking. It's an impressive trick.
We finally arrive at a large set of wooden doors. Chrom greets the guards and they respond with an appropriate bow. One of them reaches out and opens the right side allowing us entrance to what I assume is the throne room.
It is a spectacle to behold. The hall stretches all the way back ending in three tall windows that rise from the ground up. Velvet curtains cascade around the sides, currently drawn back to allow the rays of the morning sun to filter in. Sets of pillars rise up the side walls supporting an arched ceiling covered in gilded inlays. Grand tapestries line both sides of the walls. As we walk down I note that each one is another scene from the royal family's bloodline. The first depicts the ancient king Marth striking down a great dragon, who I assume to be Medeus, with Falchion. Each one after holds a king or queen wielding the same blade. Sometimes they are also fighting and other times the scene is more peaceful.
The throne comes clearer into view as we close in on it. Seated in it is the Exalt herself. She speaks quietly with a young woman in a long robe over a scroll. By the time we reach them their conversation comes to a close and the young woman leaves.
"Emmeryn!" Lissa breaks past us and rushes up the pathway to her sister. Emmeryn rises from her throne and steps down to meet her sister with open arms. Lissa latches onto her and the two share a warm embrace.
Emmeryn lets outs out a light, airy laugh. "Hello Lissa." She gazes up over the younger girl's head and smiles at the rest of us. "Ah, there is everyone else."
"Sister," Chrom states in greeting as we draw to a stop before her. The clear amount of affection in his voice is unmistakable.
Beside him, Frederick bends on knee and places a hand over his heart. He bows his head as he speaks. "Greetings, your Grace. My sincerest apologies for the delay in delivering your siblings home. I claim full responsibility."
"Peace Frederick. Rise to your feet. My heart knows only joy in seeing your faces well and alive once more before me."
"That may be the case, but only barely. We had a lot of trouble out there Emm," Chrom says. "Southtown was waylaid by a particularly violent group of brigands hailing from Plegia most likely. The town still stands but there were some clear losses."
Emmeryn's cheerful demeanor slips. Watching her smile fade is like having the sun disappear behind the clouds. The change in the atmosphere is immediate. "This explains the delay then. Those poor people. I will call in my advisors post haste to arrange some sort of relief aid for them."
Lissa tugs on her sister's sleeve and gives her a troubled frown. "That isn't all Sis. We ran into something else along the way."
Emmeryn seems to know exactly what Lissa is talking about from the way she looks. "You were not beset upon by strange humanoid creatures were you?" The group startles at her words. Seeing our reactions, Emmeryn slowly sits back down into her throne. "So it is as I feared. Their numbers are far greater than imagined."
"You know of these monsters, your Grace?" Frederick asks.
The Exalt nods, clearly disturbed by this information. "Phila!" She calls out. "A word please?"
Footsteps echo as a figure strides out from behind the throne. A stern woman with striking features comes to a stand at Emmeryn's side. She performs a small salute similar to Frederick's but remains standing. "My Lady calls?" She catches sight of the other royal siblings and inclines her head in respect to each of them.
"Phila, my brother and sister have returned with dire news I'm afraid. They report similar tidings to your own regarding the creatures appearing in our borders."
The pegasus knight's eyes narrow. "That is...troubling. This is not an isolated event then."
"Wait a minute! There's more of these things?" Lissa interrupts.
Phila nods before turning back to Emmeryn. "Shall I call a meeting? This is something the others will need to hear of."
"Please. We will join with you momentarily."
Phila bows again and departs.
"Gracious. To think there are more of them. I've heard only details about how ferocious these men are. I am more grateful than ever to have you all safely back in the capital."
"You should be thanking someone specifically for that. Without her, I don't know if we all would have made it back in one piece," Chrom states.
It takes a minute for me to realize that everyone's eyes are now on me. I kind of spaced out during the conversation and ended up leaning lazily against a pillar behind them all. Suddenly the center of attention, I straighten up and try not to look as awkwardly out of place as I feel.
Chrom shakes his head and walks over. He takes me by the arm and eases me from the shadows. "No need to be shy here Robin. You're one of us now, remember?"
"But...she's...I'm...uh..." I sputter.
Emmeryn watches me with clear blue eyes, the same shade as her brother and sister. I feel utterly small in her presence. I'm not sure why but there's just something about this woman that seems ethereal. It's like I'm afraid of her and in awe at the same time. I find that I can't keep her gaze and end up focusing on some spot on the floor nearby.
"I was wondering when you were going to introduce me to your new companion. May I have your name stranger?"
"R-robin." I stand there self-consciously trying to figure out if I was supposed to bow or curtsey.
Chrom luckily comes to my aid. He gives me a friendly clap on the shoulder. "Robin's a tactician by trade. She's proven her worth as a loyal ally and helped save our lives last night. I feel she's more than qualified to be a Shepherd, so I made her such."
"Well then! It seems both Ylisse, and I, own you a debt of gratitude," Emmeryn proclaims.
I flush. "But I didn't-" I feel the grip on my shoulder tighten.
"Remember what I said last night? Don't be so humble about your own success," Chrom says quietly to me.
I decide to heed his words. This time I meet Emmeryn's gaze and put on a weak smile. "Thank you."
"Your Grace. If I may...?"
I feel the warm fuzzies of accomplishment start to flush away. Frederick, you sir, are a goddamn killjoy.
"Speak Frederick."
"Robin has come to us with a unique predicament. She claims to retain no knowledge of her life prior to us finding her. We have little to go on in terms of who she truly is or where she came from. So I would like to take precautions and-
"Frederick!" Chrom snaps in anger.
"-attain the personal responsibility of overseeing her practice sessions."
We all gawk at the knight. Did I really just hear him right?
He continues on, unfazed by the looks he is getting. "Robin's personal memories may not be the only things to have been affected by her forgetfulness. She possesses basic martial skills but I have noticed a clear lack of balance and discipline when she attacks. I fear whatever style she may have studied in the past has been forgotten as well. If she is to serve as a Shepherd, she will need to be at peak form to continue with us on the battlefield."
"As vice commander of the Shepherds, it falls within my responsibilities to see that she is kept in top condition. Given Robin's distinctive circumstances, I would like to invoke a special training regiment where I personally attend to her lessons."
"Frederick..." I hear Lissa murmur in disbelief.
Emmeryn seems approve of the suggestion. "That is a lovely idea Frederick. I see no issue with the request as long as Chrom does not either. This should not interfere with anything, correct?"
Chrom shares a look of disbelief with me before addressing his sister. "Of course. That's a far better idea than what I was expecting Frederick to say."
"Opinions change, milord," Frederick states plainly.
"So I see."
Our talk is interrupted by Phila's reappearance. "My Lady," she greets. "The council has gathered. Would you care to join us?"
"Oh, thank you Phila. It seems time has slipped away from us." Emmeryn stands once more. She reaches for a long staff held in place next to her throne.
"Chrom. Frederick. May I have your presence at the meeting as well. I would like you to deliver an account of what you endured last eve."
"Absolutely. Come on Frederick. They're going to need to hear this," Chrom says beckoning to the knight.
Before I can say goodbye, Lissa runs over.
"I think that's our cue, Robin! C'mon, I want to show you the rest of the castle." Lissa links our arms together and pulls me in the opposite direction. "I can't wait to show you everything!"
For the next hour or so Lissa drags me through the many different rooms and halls of the castle. She babbles the whole length about a multitude of things, most of which I just nod politely to. My thoughts are too busy with the grand finale of the tour, the Shepherd's HQ. It's there that I'll get to meet several more of them. It's like I'm about to head into one big celebrity party.
Eventually Lissa says we are almost done. She pulls me back to the first floor and guides me through several winding corridors. Occasionally a servant or guard will call out in greeting and Lissa will stop to wave. It's endearing how well liked the royal family is amongst even the castle folk. It goes to show how successful they are at ruling their people. The country couldn't be any luckier.
The further we head along the more I notice changes in the decor. The walls have become more sparse of art and the furniture Spartan in design. Flowered vases and plush carpet have given way to weapon racks and wicker mats. We push past more armored individuals than those in civilian garb. I guess we're in the barracks now.
We twist through several more hallways before she stops in front of a specific door. "Here we are! Welcome to the Shepherd's garrison. Home sweet home!"
She pulls at the knob and yanks me in. She disengages from my side and throws her arms out beaming proudly. "Ta Da!"
The place looks like tornado ripped through it.
The table against the east window is covered in dirty mugs and silverware. Flies buzz over several unfinished plates of mystery mush. One overturned cup has leaked red liquid down the side onto the floor leaving a stain upon the stonework. Whatever chairs went with the table are either broken on one leg or overturned underneath it.
A lone tapestry adorns the wall next to a closed doorway on the left. Emblazoned with the mark of the Exalt, the dark blue cloth is frayed at the ends and gashed in several places.
The only other pieces of furniture, a bookshelf and several weapon racks, lie useless. Whatever books and tools they could have been used to store are presently thrown about the floor or stacked in an odd corner. I don't even want to get into the bizarre looking stains on the ceiling or the dirtied hay strewn about.
"Wow Lissa. This is nice." My enthusiasm drains as I finish the sentence.
She catches the tone is my voice and spins around. Her face switches from pride to horror when she sees the state of the room. "Oh boy." She turns to me again scratching the back of her head. "I swear this isn't how it normally looks. Frederick is really gonna kill somebody when he sees this."
The door to our left suddenly bursts open and a blur of bouncing blonde curls jumps on Lissa before either of us can react.
Lissa lets out a tiny yelp as she is thrown back. She nearly hits the wall behind us as a young woman who could only be Maribelle embraces her tightly. She pulls the princess into her chest and presses her face into her hair.
"Lissa, my darling! Wherever have you been? I was worried sick about you! I was about to find a steed myself and drag you home."
"Hey Maribelle," Lissa's muffled voice greets back. She pushes herself back from her friend's stifling grasp. "I'm sorry for making you wait. We had a couple bumps in the road."
"Bumps? Gracious, I would think not! It is more accurate to say you fell into a trench with how many days you were behind! I've been so wrought with fret that I've had to resort to four cups of tea a day just to stay calm!"
"I'm fine Maribelle. A few extra battles here and there tend to happen but I can handle them. You know I'm made of some pretty stern stuff."
"Heh, you better be seeing that you're Chrom's sister and all. Don't want to give your brother a bad name now, do ya?" A muscular fellow with broad shoulders and a deep tan strides up with a pale skinned girl trailing behind him. The man walks up to Lissa and ruffles up her hair in a friendly manner.
"Vaiiiike. Knock it off," she gripes as she pushes his arm away.
"Sorry squirt." He looks around as if searching for someone. "Where's your brother anyway? He owes the Vaike a date with destiny."
"Naga's grace! Is fighting all you can think of Vaike?" Maribelle says disapprovingly. He gives her a lopsided grin in response.
"Beg pardon for the interruption but I'm curious as well," the third woman finally speaks. "I am eager to hear about our Captain's status."
"Poor Sumia. She has been beside herself since our Captain's departure. She has fallen flat twenty times these past few days with her eyes glued so firmly to the horizon."
"Aw, that's sweet of you to be so worried about my brother Sumia," Lissa giggles.
Sumia's pale face flushes instantly. She presses a palm to her cheek and shies away bashfully to the side. "O-oh! It's not anything really. He's our captain and prince after all. It is only natural to worry about him."
I can't help but feel the corner of my mouth quirk up. It's kind of adorable how shy she's acting.
I feel a heavy weight across by shoulders and nearly buckle under the force, barely catching myself. Vaike's muscular form presses up against my side as his arm rests over me in a friendly gesture.
"Who's the new guy? Another challenger for the Vaike maybe? He looks a little scrawny to be a fighter though."
My whole body goes rigid and I turn my head to give him a disbelieving look. Did he just call me a man?
Lissa's mouth drops. "Vaike! You idiot! She's not a guy!"
"Huh?!" His gaze goes from my face, down to my chest, and back up again. Now he looks more confused. "You sure?"
I self-consciously pull the edges of my coat over my nearly non-existent cleavage and frown. "Yeah, I am. You need me to drop my pants to convince you?" I seethed.
Vaike sputters and backs away, hands up in surrender. "Woah lady, easy. I believe ya. The Vaike don't need to see nothing."
"Dear heavens Vaike! What is wrong with you?" Maribelle gasps. "Please forgive him. He is cut from a much cruder cloth than the rest of us."
"Hey, don't tell me you didn't think the same thing when you first saw her. She's nearly as flat as Corde-GAH!"
Maribelle whips off the parasol hanging at her wrist and whacks Vaike across the forehead. It hits with a heavy thunk knocking him back on his behind.
"You are an ignorant buffoon sometimes," Maribelle sighs. "Please pay him no mind. He's clearly mistaken. It's quite obvious you are a woman. Isn't that right Lissa?"
"Well Frederick and I thought you were. Your face is too round for a guy's," she says casually.
"You and Frederick?" There's definitely someone missing from that equation.
"Oh, well Chrom changed his mind after getting a better look at you."
"That's just swell," I deadpan. I lace my fingers through my hair and tug at the short ends. Do I really look that manly? I think my pride's just taken a nosedive.
Sumia leans over and gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Please don't be upset. This is all just one big misunderstanding. Maybe we could start over?" She steps back and gives me the biggest puppy-dog eyes I have ever seen.
I find my anger starting to slip away the longer I look at her. She just looks so eager that I can't say no. "Fine. Water under the bridge and all that."
I see Sumia's body relax in relief. "Wonderful! I'm so glad!"
Lissa clasps her hands. "Alright! Since we're starting over, let me introduce everyone the right way. The first one here is Maribelle. She handles healing responsibilities like me."
"It's a pleasure," the woman says with a nod of her head.
"The moron on the floor there is Vaike. He's great at smashing heads and that's about all he's good for. We're convinced his brain has just morphed into another muscle."
"Hey!" he protests as he rubs his sore spot.
"This here is Sumia. She's a pegasus knight!"
Sumia tugs at one of her curls. "I'm more so a knight in training. I still have a long way to go before I am anywhere near the likes of the other Shepherds."
"Don't be so bashful dear," Maribelle says with a flick of her hair. "Men find confidence attractive. You'll never be able to catch their attention if you continue to act like a shrinking violet." I have a feeling that when she says 'men' she really means a certain blue haired someone. Sumia catches on too and grows even brighter.
"Anyyyyway," Lissa continues, "this is Robin. We found her outside of Southtown and she helped us fight off a bunch of bandits that were hassling it. She's a good fighter and has a whole bunch of tricks up inside her noggin."
"Tricks, huh? Teach can show you how to do some impressive tricks too ya know," Vaike exclaims. "Want to see me shoot milk from my eyeball?"
Maribelle's parasol cracks across Vaike's kneecap. "YEOWCH!" He grabs at his leg and begins to hop. Lissa and I try to hold back laughter while Sumia looks on mortified.
"Manners Vaike. You've lost enough respect as it is for that earlier stint."
Vaike lets his leg drop though he continues to massage it. "Gods woman. You are insane," he grits through his teeth.
"Hmph. Civilized is more like it. You should be thanking me for sparing you further embarrassment."
"Do I even want to know what's happening here?"
Our group rounds about to find Chrom in the doorway looking fairly bemused.
Sumia's whole face brightens when she sees him. "Captain! You're back! I- I mean we were so-Whoops!"
My arms shoot out even before she finishes . Her toe catches on...actually I have no idea how she just tripped. Regardless, I dive forward to catch her. One of her flailing hands slaps into my nose and I try to ignore the sting as I grab her under her shoulder. I manage to keep her just a loft of the floor.
"Nice catch," Vaike says as he comes to support Sumia on the other side.
"T-thank you," she says to both of us.
"You alright Sumia? You should really look into getting those better fitting boots," Chrom remarks.
"R-right Captain. Of course Captain! I-I'll do just that," Sumia stutters.
The group parts ways to let Chrom past as he enters the room. He does a double take when he sees the state of the common room. He looks like he wants to say something but bites his tongue. Instead he refocuses on us. "I have some news everyone. I gave a condensed report to the council about the creatures the others and I saw out in the field last night."
Maribelle looks mortified. "You mean those ghastly ghouls the merchants have been spotting on the roads?"
"Exactly. It seems the problem is more widespread than we believed. Throughout the day numerous reports have come across Phila's desk concerning these lumbering monstrosities. They've been encountered on most of the main travel routes and have assaulted at least two of our forts on the highlands." Chrom crosses his arms and begins to pace to and fro.
"Phila's scouts have confirmed at least a handful of these rumors. The monsters, who we've dubbed Risen for identifying purposes, usually travel in small packs. Up until recently we thought them only capable of close combat, but one of the last scouts reported being assaulted long range by both magic and arrows."
"So what if they can swing an axe? If I can make it bleed then it ain't any problem," Vaike exclaims with a flex of his muscles.
"Yeeeeah, no. They kind of don't," I reply. He gives me a bewildered stare.
"Robin is right. These Risen may look like men but they don't exhibit the same reactions to pain or injury," Chrom explains. "In fact, they don't seem to register pain at all. Anything short of a killing blow won't prevent them from attacking in whatever way they can."
Lissa folds her arms together and shivers. "It's spooky."
"Surely there must be something that can quell their numbers," Maribelle ponders thoughtfully.
"Nothing short of directly engaging their troops," Chrom states. "Until we have a better idea of what these Risen are, we can only continue to bolster our numbers and perform regular routine outings to exterminate them."
"But Chrom," Lissa interjects, "you saw how many there were. The Shepherd's aren't big enough to handle that many of them."
"You're right. That brings me to the topic at hand." Chrom stops pacing and looks each one of us in the eyes as he continues to speak. "I'm leading a voluntary mission to recruit manpower in Regna Ferox to help battle these Risen. This threat will soon be looming on their own borders and only an alliance between our two nations will provide a chance at pushing back at this new menace."
Maribelle looks rather off put by the idea. She leans forward on her parasol and points a dainty finger at the prince. "Milord, you do realize that it is several days of travel by foot through untamed brush and hillside. And that is only through our own lands! Upon reaching the border, there is still a treacherous mountain path with snow as far as one's eye can see. Is that really something a member of the royal family should be doing?"
"Formal treatises like these are typically done by the ruling Exalt themselves in days past. I am substituting for Emmeryn because of the fact you just raised. She would be safer in the capital. Aside from that, imagine what the sudden disappearance of our leader would do to the populace. Keeping up the appearance of stability will keep our people from panicking."
"The Captain is absolutely right!" Sumia chimes in, hanging on his every word.
"If it's that important then count me in," Vaike gestures to himself with his thumb. "You'll be needing someone like the Teach to give these bastards a lesson or two in pain."
"I'm in! As a member of the royal family, this is just as much my responsibility as it is yours Chrom," Lissa volunteers. She turns expectantly to me and I catch on.
I raise my hand. "Sticking with you all is probably the best thing for me right now."
Maribelle is hesitant. She looks torn as she spins the parasol in her hands. "My deepest apologies dear friends but I will be unable to join you," she finally says. "My father is hosting a summit with his vassals and has called for me to help prepare the banquet. I have already made plans to leave and would have done so already had I not been worried about your delayed return."
"Easy Maribelle, no need beat yourself up over it. This is not a mandatory mission. I understand the obligations to your family and you have full leave with my blessing," Chrom reassures her.
Maribelle puts up a brave face but it's easy to see she's still upset. Lissa ends up leaning over and giving her a hug. "Thank you both. I will return as quickly as I am able."
"There's no rush. Make sure to tell your father he is welcome any time at the castle. It's been sometime since we've last had the pleasure of his company." Chrom now turns his attention to our silent pegasus knight. "And what of you Sumia? You've been fairly quiet about it. Will you be staying behind as well?"
"Of course not Captain! I'm just not sure how much help I could be. My skills continue to seem subpar compared to the others. I'm afraid I would only be a burden to you."
I sympathize greatly with Sumia. I know the feeling. Yesterday proved to me just how utterly ineffectual I could be to everyone else.
"Don't worry about your combat prowess Sumia. I'm sure there are other ways you could be of some help," I say trying to comfort her. "I bet they could use an extra pair of hands when it comes to setting up camp or even cooking."
I make sure to intentionally mention cooking. Her supports labeled her a pie queen so a tiny part of me wants to try her recipes and compare them to mine. I wonder what she likes to do with her crusts?
Sumia looks better after hearing my words. I suppose the support helped boost her confidence a little because her determination seems to return. "Alright. I'll do it. I may not be the best fighter but I'll do what I can."
"That's the spirit Sumia," Chrom says happily. "I'm going to let the rest of the Shepherds know now. Make sure you all pack for the journey as we leave early tomorrow morn. Assemble at the front gate by sunup."
"Yes, sir," everyone says in unison.
Everyone begins to scatter in different directions at once. Maribelle and Lissa both scurry out together with a quick good-bye to go pack their respective goods. Vaike exits through the back hallway hollering about all new routines he was going to try out.
Sumia goes to follow Vaike when Chrom calls for her to stay. He motions for me to come over as well.
"Sumia, this is Robin's first time in the barracks. Could you help her settle into a room here?"
Sumia straightens up and salutes him with a serious face. She looks like she's just been handed the mission to save mankind. "Absolutely Captain! You can count on me." Her stance falters. "Which room should I take her to? There's several empty ones."
"Hm. How about the one at the end of the hall? That should work."
"Right! Come along Robin," Sumia says excitedly.
We exit through the same doorway Vaike did and come into a narrow stretch of corridor. Both sides are lined with doorways. A few decorations hang on the fronts of doors or on tables to the side marking the unique presence of its owner. Sumia takes me past each one until we arrive at the very last on the right side. The door is already unlocked so we step right in.
It's a small space. A dresser and bed are pushed against one wall. The only decoration is a mat under our feet that covers the center of the room.
"Quaint," I say neutrally.
Sumia tries to look encouraging about the situation. "I know it doesn't look like much now but once you start to settle in you can start adding little touches here or there. It will feel like home in no time!" She heads over to window and unlatches the shutters. She pushes both outward allowing sunlight to filter in. "If you'd like, I could take you into town and show you this textile shop. The owner is a sweet woman and she made the curtains in my room. Oh! Look how pretty the view is!"
I walk over next to her and peek out. I have to admit that it's not bad. It looks out over the open courtyard where I can see much of training field. A few long-stemmed yellow irises peek up over the bottom sill. A flowering tree grows to the left and its branches droop with white buds around the window like a frame. A light breeze wafts in carrying a natural scent.
"I can't complain about this," I say feeling a bit better about the arrangements.
I feel a tug at the cloth on my shoulder. Sumia is pulling at the torn opening on the sleeve.
"One of those Risen knicked me last night," I explain.
"Would you like me to sew that up for you?" she asks genuinely.
"You can if you want." She tugs a little harder at the sleeve as if urging me to take it off right then. "You want to right now? Sumia, it's not that important. I know you still have to get your gear together."
"Don't be silly Robin. This won't take me more than a minute. Besides, I don't know anyone who likes to go around with a drafty hole in their coat. Now give it here," she says while beckoning to me with her fingers.
I remove my map from one of the pockets and then shrug off the heavy overcoat. As I hand it to her I feel strangely naked without it. It's like I'm shedding off a layer of my own skin.
She folds it up neatly and tucks it under the crook of her arm. "I'll return this to you soon. Why don't you sort out things in the mean time. Oh! I'll make sure to let one of the maids know that you'll need some fresh linens too. There's nothing nicer than clean sheets to sleep on!" she sighs contently.
"Thanks Sumia. It's really nice of you to be doing this for me."
"Of course Robin! Anything for a new friend!"
Her little declaration comes as a pleasant surprise. I haven't known her that long but to hear her say that makes me feel incredibly happy. Sumia has shown herself to be nothing short of a kind and caring individual so far. If she wants to be friends then who am I to say no.
"Hey Sumia, Robin!" Vaike steps into the room and leans cross armed against the door frame. He gives us both a toothy smile. "How goes the move in?"
"It's pretty much over with before it began," I shrug. "I don't have much, just one bag. I probably won't even end up unpacking much because I'll be taking it all with me again tomorrow morning."
Vaike rubs his hands together. "Excellent! That means you'll have plenty of time tonight."
"What does that mean?" I ask suspiciously. There's a wicked gleam in his eye.
"So, I got this idea."
"Oh." Sumia says with strained enthusiasm.
"Hey," he whines. "Just hear me out. I was thinking that we have a little welcoming party for Robin before her first mission tomorrow. We grab all the Shepherds, settle down at our usual spot, and hit up the tavern."
"Vaike, I don't know..." Sumia replies. She clearly has some doubts about drinking before the mission. "We're heading out so early tomorrow. Don't you think it would be wise to stay clear minded."
"Heh. Don't you worry about me. The Vaike knows how to handle a good brew or two. Come on, it's a great way to introduce her to everyone. What do ya say?" he says while nudging her in the ribs.
"Um."
"I could use a drink after yesterday," I admit shamefully. I understand where Sumia is coming from but I really wouldn't mind relaxing before heading back out on the road tomorrow.
Vaike pokes Sumia again. "See? Even Robin needs to unwind a little before the big march." She looks even more lost at his cajoling.
I feel bad and try to help her out. "You don't have to agree if you don't want Sumia. No one is forcing you."
"I-No! No. It's alright if you want to. We're going out to celebrate your arrival anyway so it would be rude not to go!"
"Ha! Alright! I'll go tell Sully. She and that new guy of hers can get everything set up for us while I tell the others," Vaike cheers.
"Her guy? Do you mean Virion?" I ask.
He lifts his shoulders. "How should I know? I just saw some smarmy looking fop trailing her earlier. Said somethin' about following her until 'death due them part' or whatever."
Yep. That's Virion.
"I gotta go get this together. I'll come back for you when we're all ready!" Vaike bolts off around the corner with the most enthusiasm I've seen anyone exhibit.
Sumia shares a conflicted look with me. "I really hope Vaike can handle himself tonight. Parties are fine and all but he's not always...responsible," she whispers the last part as if he'd somehow hear her.
"Vaike's a big boy. I'm sure he can handle himself Sumia. And if not, he'll just have to deal with the consequences."
"I suppose." She shifts my coat in her arms to a more comfortable position. "I'll start working on this now so you can have it for tonight. Okay?"
"Alright. Thanks again Sumia."
She waves and exits leaving me alone in the room. I end up ignoring my rucksack and wandering back over to the window. I lean against it and watch a few soldiers out on the field sparring. My mind starts to wander until it simply stops all together. It feels nice to just stand for a second and not have to worry about something. So much has been troubling me since I got here that it was making my brain feel like it could explode. Little moments like this are a blessing. I end up staying like this well until Vaike returns to let me know everyone is leaving.
It is near sunset when we all gather together in front of the castle. Aside from the familiar faces, I see several new ones and notice another person missing all together. When I question Vaike about Frederick's lack of presence, he says something about conveniently forgetting to let him know. Apparently Mr. Responsibility is such a stick in the mud that he would have shut this whole thing down if he knew it was happening. Chrom and Lissa both carry a devious look but don't elaborate on how they managed to get him distracted for the evening.
On the way to the tavern I am introduced to Stahl and Miriel. The cavalier is a fairly average looking young man with no outstanding features. He's constantly pushing his messy hair out of his eyes or suppressing a yawn. As we chat, I find he's a genuinely sweet guy and easy to talk to.
Miriel is a bit harder to relate with. Her prim appearance and upturned nose make her hard to approach casually. When I finally manage to start a conversation with her I feel intimidated by her rather "eloquent" vocabulary. She's extraordinarily intelligent and has a deep passion for her research. Once I start questioning her about that the barriers fall away and we manage to find some common ground.
Our path ends at a good sized inn right at the foot of the castle pathway. Being so close to the castle grounds, it's a frequent spot for many of the guard after their shift ends. Between them and the few inn residents who have joined the common room for a meal, the place is bustling.
As we enter, the barkeeper lets out a friendly welcome. He greets everyone by name and ushers us in. The Shepherds have a designated longtable to themselves which he guides us to. Orders are quickly given and everyone has a drink before them not long after. The group chatters amicably with the owner while plates of food are made up for us. I'm introduced to the man and he regales me with some embarrassing stories about the Shepherds while we eat. It's a good meal and by the end of it I'm left full and aware of a few more skeletons in the Shepherds' closets. The innkeeper is eventually pulled back to his job and we all lose ourselves in different conversations.
Time passes and it grows more crowded the later it gets. The influx of bodies push us closer together. We end up packed in pretty tight, nearly elbow to elbow.
"I feel dirty," Maribelle moans in discomfort. She is drawn up and rigid in her chair. When another patron comes to brush up against her she shrivels away in disgust. Her neighbor, Sumia, gives a sympathetic look before taking another tiny sip of her drink.
"Liven up Maribelle! There's nothin' to worry about. These are just normal folk like you or me," Vaike laughs from across the table. "Hey barkeep! Bring another round here! The Teach can't preach on a parched tongue ya know!"
"Oi, Vaike. Don't you forget about me!" Sully yells. She lifts her own tankard and tilts it upside down to show its empty contents.
"You're a woman after my own heart Sully. You hear that barkeep? Make it two!"
Sully leans back on her chair. One of her legs thumps down onto the table, followed by the other crossing over it. The force of her boots hitting the top causes all the silverware to rattle.
The sound startles fellow knight Stahl from his slumber. His head jerks up from where it was resting in his arms. He blinks in confusion, seemingly lost. "What happened? Are we leaving?"
"It's nothing Stahl. In fact, we're ordering another round," Sully responds nonchalantly. "You want a drink?"
"Another?" He blows at a stray strand of hair from the corner of his mouth. "You don't think you should hold back a little? We are marching tomorrow morning after all."
"You know me. I'm responsible enough to know when to quit. Unlike some fools around here," she says gesturing to Vaike.
"If you say so." Stahl straightens up in his seat and casts a mournful stare at the empty plate in front of him. "What I'd rather have is more of that porridge. I really wish they had bigger serving sizes here. I feel like I hardly filled up at all."
"You're better off letting that settle Stahl. There was a lot of cream in that dish. You'll end up bloated," I comment.
He sighs longingly. "I know but it's only so often I get to enjoy it. What they make at the kitchens in the castle is always so watered down. You lose all the flavor in it."
I stick my tongue out. I know exactly what he means. I prefer to use milk bases in porridge myself as opposed to water. "You can't spruce it up with anything? Surely you can throw in some butter or sugar."
Stahl's whole face brightens up. "I try to. I prefer honey myself but they're usually out and it takes so long to get in. I'll usually end up having to eat it plain at least once a week."
"That sounds like utter torture," I grimace. "Try a tablespoon of peanut butter sometime. It's to die for."
"What's peanut butter?"
I nearly spit cider all over the table. "WHAT?"
I startle Stahl with my sudden outburst. "I'm sorry?"
I'm trying very hard to understand this. How has he never heard of the most delicious thing on the planet? "Okay," I breathe. "Let me try to understand this. You have never once in your whole life heard of peanut butter?"
"No."
"I can't- How have you not heard of this? It's a brown paste made from nuts. Peanuts obviously."
He scratches his ear, looking very confused. "How do you make butter from nuts? I don't understand. And what type of nut is a peanut anyway?"
I cover my mouth as I stare at him in horror. This is...this is a nightmare! How can there be no such thing as peanut butter?! I knew it! I knew I died! I've died and gone to hell!
I throw my hands up in defeat. "That's it. I quit. There's no way I can be in a world without peanut butter! No way, no how!"
"I'm so confused right now."
"Stahl. You don't understand. Peanut butter is life! Without it, there is no meaning. One cannot simply have a PB and J sandwich without the PB!"
Stahl starts to reach over the table for my mug but I snatch it away. He eyes it hesitantly. "Robin, perhaps you should stick to water for the rest of the evening."
"I'm not drunk. I just feel betrayed. There's this empty hole in my life and I have nothing to fill it with! Unless...you wouldn't happen to know about Nutella would you?"
The crashing of glass interrupts Stahl before he can respond. We both look over to see Sully and Vaike, both red-faced, practically forehead to forehead with snarling faces.
"Vaike, I could take you down with one hand behind my back."
"Then bring it! I'll take you on right here, right now!" Vaike sweeps an arm across the space between him and Sully pushing plates and cutlery over to my side. I have to move back to avoid some forks from falling in my lap. He raises the same arm upright and holds out an open hand in her direction. "Arm wrestle match for claim of strongest Shepherd. You game?"
"Huh. You got some guts Vaike." Sully rolls up her sleeve past the elbow and then places her own muscular arm down with a heavy thud. "You think you have what it takes to beat me? Ha! We'll just see about that."
I see Lissa jump up at the other end of the table. Her eyes look eagerly at the two of them. "Ooo! Ooo! Fight! I'm putting money down on Sully!"
"You better be ready to lose it all then cause the Vaike's about to take the title!"
The two lock hands. They glare at each other with the fiercest sneer each could come up with.
"Stahl. Count down for us," Sully orders.
Stahl starts to protest but she gives him a bone-chilling glare. He shrinks back and obeys.
"3. 2. 1. Go."
Two war cries erupt from the warriors startling Sumia and Virion from their conversation. Both Vaike and Sully's arms shake in a deadlock as their power shifts equally back and forth between the two of them.
I decide that now is as good a time as any to get another drink and excuse myself. Barely anyone registers my departure since all eyes are glued to the match. Instead of wandering to the bar, I find myself stopping in front of the fire pit. The soft light and occasional crackle of the flames seems to draw me in. Several chairs lay in a semi-circle around it and I find myself plopping down into one of them. It seems a tad quieter here compared to everything behind me.
I hold up my arms and outstretch my hand to bask in the warmth of the fire's glow. When held directly before the fire, the brand on my right one seems just a bit darker than before. I take my forefinger on my left hand and trace over the design. The skin feels no different there than it does anywhere else.
Of all the mysteries currently surrounding me, this is by far one of the biggest. How is it even possible for me to be carrying this right now? Grima's bloodline doesn't even exist where I come from. So how did the impossible become possible? I try to think back on the day this happened but still get nothing. In fact, it's still hard to recall even before that!
The more I try to remember, the more it hurts. My childhood is one large blur. I can't remember school or friends or clubs. I don't know what the house I grew up in looks like or what the name of the first boy I dated was. Even my mother's face is missing.
That there kills it.
My mother. Why can't I remember my own mother? She's all I had so why is it so hard to recall the color of her eyes or the way she smiles. I don't remember why but I know there isn't anyone else in my life. There's no paternal presence in any way or form that I can conjure up. The same thing for siblings.
All I have is a handful of puzzle pieces loosely placed together to form an incomplete picture. There's her laughter on a Christmas morning. The heat of her hand in mine while we walk through the street. A familiar lullaby that hums as I try to forget about a monster under my bed. It's utterly depressing and I want to bang my head against a wall because of it.
"Mind if I take a seat?"
I peer over my shoulder and see Chrom looking down at me. I lamely gesture to the chair on my right. He eases into the seat and leans forward to hold his hands closer to the fire. He rotates them trying to get an even spread of warmth over his fingers.
"So what do you think? Not a bad lot overall, right?" he says while tilting his head back toward the rest of the group.
"They're different. I mean that in a good way," I add in quickly. "Diversity can be a good thing. It allows for more ideas and experiences."
Chrom laughs. "Well I can certainly guarantee different experiences than you've had before. They're still dragging me into new situations every day."
"I bet." My voice sounds strained but I try to hide it. I'm obviously not doing a good job of it because the mood swiftly shifts. Chrom is smart enough to put it all together when he sees my mark and the look on my face.
"You're trying to remember." It's not so much a question he asks as it is a statement he knows to be fact.
"Yeah. It's no good though." I clench my hand into a fist and hide it back in my sleeve. I'm sick of looking at it.
"Don't be so hard on yourself Robin. This may take some time. Everything will work out in the end. "
"And if it doesn't?" I hate being so pessimistic. I think the alcohol's starting to make me melancholy.
I hear Chrom's chair scrape across the floor as he leans back into it. "Well, you have us to watch out for you now. Once a Shepherd, always a Shepherd. We'll have your back regardless of what may come."
"Just like that, huh?" I know he's telling the truth so why do I feel so doubtful. Is it because I know what's going to be revealed someday in the future?
"Yeah," he replies. "Just like that."
The single word slips out of my mouth. "Why?"
He looks at me curiously. "Why what?"
"Why did you take me in? Tell me honestly. I know you don't want to hear this again but I did a lot of screwing up the other day. I got a little better with the fight last night but I attribute a lot of what I did to luck. On top of the whole inexperience thing, there's Frederick's prior point. I'm an unknown element and you just ushered me right into one of the country's elite fighting units. Doesn't any of that bother you?"
"Should I have to worry about you?" he asks me plainly.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Then there's your answer. No need for me to be bothered. As for your other question, I can ask you a similar one. Why not?"
"Don't turn this around on me Chrom," I warn him. "I'm serious. Most people don't stop by an unconscious traveler and then adopt them into their home."
"Most people don't fight off bandits nor attribute their survival to said unconscious traveler either. I'd like to think there's some bond of trust built up between the two of us after facing these hardships together. Or, am I wrong about that?"
I'm taken back by his statement. He trusts me. Two days of being together and this guy trusts me. I don't know what to say to that. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Not in a bad way! It's more like I don't know what to do with this new responsibility. I should be honored that after that craptastic performance of mine Chrom thinks I'm still worthy enough to be considered a fellow comrade in arms.
So why does it make me feel so scared?
My silence puts a wall between us. I see him frown and turn away. Was that a flicker of disappointment in his eyes? He goes to rise from his seat."I apologize. It seems I've made you uncomfortable."
I feel a wave of panic and then shame. "Wait!" I jump out of my chair so fast that is tips over from the force. I try not to cringe when its back hits the floor with a loud crash. Luckily, the chatter of the tavern masks the noise and no one seems wiser to it. I quickly bend over and return it to an upright position.
"I didn't mean to do that. Knock it over. I just, um, yeah. Oops," I ramble nervously. Chrom watches me apprehensively, waiting for my response. It's hard to find the right words for what I want to say.
"I'm sorry. You've got to realize that all of this," I finally say while gesturing to the other Shepherds with my hand, "is new to me. Foreign even. I'm not used to having people comfortable enough to leave their lives in my hands. I'm an utter beginner at this in real life. I'm good at this type of thing on paper but when I don't have control over all the circumstances then it becomes much harder than it looks."
There's hidden truths woven between my words. Playing this out is different than experiencing it. When I do this in the game I can retry levels if I make a mistake. I'll know what turn reinforcements appear and exactly how much damage each of my units can make on an enemy for effective kills. My little avatar does all the work for me when I force her or him into battle.
Here, everything is different. I have my map to let me know where the enemy may be but that's it. I can't control who comes or when they do. I can't tell who will have a better advantage over another because there's no mathematical programming running behind their actions calculating advantages or weaknesses. And I am most certainly doing my own dirty work now. If I want to fight then I'm going to be the one swinging the sword.
My head feels like a mess. I just don't know what to think about things anymore.
"I appreciate what you've done for me and a part of me is humbled you can even think that way about me, and utter stranger to you all. I think it just shocks me a little that you would be so willing to adopt a complete mystery into your life so readily."
He watches me somberly. "It's not all that strange Robin. That's just who I am. I'm always going to be willing to give someone a fair chance at my trust. I'm also not going to stop trying to help someone in trouble regardless of whether I know them or not. It's my duty as a leader of the Shepherds and as a prince to the kingdom."
"Not everyone you find on the side of the road can be a friend. You may end up regretting that decision at a later time," I say sternly.
"Then I'll live with my choice, good or bad."
God, he is stubborn. "You say that so easily now but think about it. Can you really say you won't have any regrets if some tragedy comes to pass because you trusted the wrong person? You should be more thoughtful about who you go to help and how you go about doing it. You may not get a second chance to fix the damage done because you carelessly threw yourself into it."
I'm aware that I'm dancing dangerously close to the hidden warnings that I want to tell him so badly. Warnings about the Grimleal blood I seem to have somehow inherited. Warnings about Emmeryn's inevitable future. Warnings about Grima. But how can I? No one would believe me without any proof and who knows what that would do to the plot bringing such things to light too soon.
Chrom's getting a little defensive thanks to my lecture. His posture has changed aggressively and there's a harsher edge to his words as he speaks. "I'm sorry but I won't change that about me. No amount of seconds chances or forewarnings would ever change my mind about helping someone. I would do the same things regardless."
As he finishes I feel a sharp stab in my brain. It happens again, a flash of something. It's just like last night. The room fades away and the two of us stand in a battlefield. Smoke rises from some of the charred corpses around us. I somehow know that the burning flesh is of my own doing.
Chrom's form shifts and he's older. He's in armor I've never seen before and he's covered in the grime of dead men mixed with his own blood. He's frightening and regal all at the same time. He's looking at me with such anger in his eyes because I know we've been arguing.
"I wouldn't change anything Robin! I would do the same thing over and over again if given the chance!"
"Stupid, stubborn fool! You're going to lose everything you've ever loved because of this choice!"
Pain blossoms in my head. It floods out across my forehead and spreads out in all directions. The scene shatters like glass and I'm back in the tavern. I grab with both hands at my head and feel dizzy. My legs give out and I hit the floor.
"Robin?" Chrom's by my side. He supports me by the shoulder so I don't roll over onto the ground.
The searing pain is brief and the aftermath leaves a hollow drumming between my ears. I can feel my pulse beating in my brain. What was that just now? God, I want to lie down.
"Fuuuuudge..." I moan feebly.
"Chrom, is everything okay? I just saw Robin fall over," I hear Lissa's worried voice behind me.
"I'm not sure. She just collapsed."
My hand feels heavy as I try to wave it off. "I think I had too much to drink," I lie.
"You wouldn't be the first. Someone's going to have to drag Vaike home. He's passed out beneath the table right now," Lissa responds unenthusiastically.
"Sis, tell everyone we're packing up. I think we've reached the limit for the night," Chrom tells her. I feel him put my arm over his shoulder and him loop his own around my waist. He helps me up but my whole body feels lame. "Have Stahl handle Vaike for me, okay?"
"Alrighty," she says. Her footsteps move away from us. I hear her yell loudly for everyone to gather up and a collective groan rises from the table.
Chrom starts easing me toward the exit. He's being a little too gentle, as if any quick movements would break me in half. "I'm going to have you ride back with Sully. It'll be quicker and less stress on your body."
When we get outside the fresh air is very welcome. Gone is the smells of sweat and beer. Now I can smell grass and the spices from the kitchen wafting from the inn's chimney. Chrom guides me to the open stable beside the building and helps me down into a bench.
"Robin, are you certain that you don't feel ill?"
"Yeah Chrom. I'm just suffering from a bad migraine. It's been happening since I woke up." It's partially accurate. I just don't know how to explain the weird images that go along with the pain. I'd rather keep that to myself right now until I can figure out what they are.
I can tell he isn't buying it but he respects my privacy more than sating his own curiosity. He drops it and we wait silently until everyone else starts to file over.
It doesn't take long for the rest of the Shepherds to emerge. Most everyone appears to be in good spirits with the exception of a slightly wobbly Sumia and Vaike, who was out cold. I end up giving everyone an early goodbye as Sully, Stahl, Vaike, and I mount up on the horses. There's plenty of good-nights and then the four of us leave.
I'm honestly glad to be on Sully's horse because I think I would have thrown in the towel after walking halfway up the slope to the castle. The horses get us up the pathway in half the time and soon we are past the gates and in the courtyard. I'm feeling better at this point and Sully only has to guide me by the elbow back to the barracks. I feel bad for Stahl as he falls further and further behind us having to walk with the weight of Vaike on his back.
Sully commends me on my drinking skills and even says she'd like to take me out herself sometime. According to her everyone, including most of the men, are lightweights or "lily-livered sacks of griffon-shit" when it comes to drinking. I'm not sure if it's responsible to tell someone who is allegedly drunk to go back out and drink some more sometime but Sully is Sully. You can't expect much else when it comes to her rough-and-tumble nature.
When I reach my assigned door I thank her and stumble in. I don't even take the time to admire the newly cleaned floors or the fresh sheets brought in by the servants. I promptly land face first into my pillow and slump into the mattress.
Oh man. This has got to be the best feeling in the world.
I barely manage to slip off my boots and coat. I let my eyes close and feel the pressure in my head starting to ease. I'm soon lulled into a sleep so deep that I don't dream at all. There is only blissful darkness.
A/N This is a simple chapter meant to bridge the gap in time before they all set off for Regna Ferox. I wanted to show Robin getting to know everyone in an environment off the battlefield so I hope that came across well. Not a lot of action but that'll be remedied soon enough. I'm really excited for the tournament!
I actually got some reviews (yay!) and I figured I'd respond. So! -
Anvila01 - Thanks for the compliment. It's true, I haven't done anything like this for at least four or five years. I'm glad it's good though because the stuff I had on here originally would have made anyone squirm.
passwordrawr - Thanks for the two reviews! I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so much. By the time I get to the larger battles, I hope I'll have writing something of that magnitude down pat. There's nothing like a good army siege.
CrimsonHeresy - I'm glad you like the map idea. It was actually something I came up with years ago when this was originally a fanfic for Fire Emblem 7. I wanted to create something for the protagonist that gave them some clear sign he was a tactician. I'm glad I kept the idea.
Gunlord500 - Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm happy you and all the rest are enjoying the ride alongside me :)
BrowncoatJedi - Great user name! Firefly and Star Wars, yeah? Thanks for the long review because it really helped to know I'm on the right track with the characters and setting. I'm trying to breathe enough life into the world to make everyone feel alive, but it's a fine line sometimes between being original and being out of character. Thanks for letting me know about the typos too. I'll try your advice as I go back to edit.
12309 - I'm happy you gave this a chance. Stories with protagonists and different dimensions are tricky to handle. You have to be very careful with how you handle their exposure to new elements so it's good to know I've gotten across Robin's inexperience effectively.
OneShotMasta - Thank you so much for the double header review. Your reviews made me smile. I've got a lot more planned so hopefully you'll stick around for the whole mystery. Stay tuned!
Luciz - Also two reviews! Wow! Thank you. I have plenty left to write with no plans to stop yet. And I will definitely have the story branching into the second generation. I do have some story plans concerning Robin and the potential for a family but that's a secret for now ;)
Raven Tsurara - Thank you for all the reviews! I'm glad you like Robin so much! Also glad to see you enjoyed some of the original content. Some of those scenes were my favorite to write. There's a lot more to come so hopefully I won't disappoint you in future chapters.
You guys are all the best: reviewers, subscribers, and readers alike! Thank you.