Disclaimer - I don't own Fire Emblem. All of its properties belong to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

Warnings - This chapter contains harsh language and violence.

Chapter 5

Morning comes far too fast for me. One minute I'm happily snuggled up in clean sheets and the next I have Vaike pounding on my door telling me to rise. The room is still dark and when I peek out through a crack in the shutters I see the sky still black. What time is it?

I rise with a weary groan and rub dried drool from the corner of my mouth. God, I feel disgusting.

"Hey Robin! You in there?"

"Gaaaaaah. Shut up Vaike! I'm coming."

I swing my feet over the edge of the bed. Cold stones greet my soles and I feel a chill run up my whole body. I curse under my breath and fumble around in the dark for my boots. I quickly throw them on hopping all the way to the door as another round of banging echoes through the room.

I grab the handle and fling it open in annoyance. Vaike, surprisingly up and not the least bit hung over, has his fist raised and ready to strike another round into the frame. He takes a good look at my frumpy form and a look of mock terror crosses his face.

"Hey guys! Get your weapons! I think one of those Risen found its way into Robin's room!"

"Ha ha ha, fuck you Vaike." I go to slam the door but he reaches out and stops it with his forearm.

"Woah there Robin, don't twist your small clothes in a knot! It's just a joke. I'm just having a little fun with you." He gestures down the hall. "Foods out so gather what you can while there's still something there. The good stuff goes fast ya know."

"That's great and all but I'm going to get washed up first. Where's the bathroom at?"

"You mean where the gals bathe? Head down through the door to your right here. It's the first room on the left."

"Thanks," I wave as I brush past him.

"Whatever. The Vaike ain't taking no blame for eating up all the best grub."

I heave open the big oak door and find myself in another long hallway. I turn to the door Vaike told me of and pull on the latch. It opens easily and I slide in. It's dark except for a few lit torches on the walls. When I turn around, I notice a locking mechanism on it. I shut the door and quickly use it, then give the whole thing a good pull just to make sure it stays closed. I don't feel like getting B-ranked this early in the morning.

I enter into the center of the room and note how small it is. I also note how very much it does not look like a restroom. There's a wicker divider and something long and wooden with a lid. A trunk for storage maybe? On the other side is a large, circular wooden tub. Next to it is a brass stand with a ceramic bowl that sits under some sort of faucet on the wall. I walk over and give the handle a quick push. A short spurt of water spits out from the end. I dip my finger into the bowl and find the water freezing cold. I look all over the wall but see nothing for hot water. What kind of bathroom is this? Next I'll find out that the toilet doesn't flush.

Speaking of, where exactly is the toilet? I walk around and see nothing. Don't tell me they use chamber pots.

I poke around here and there searching for anything. I walk back over to the divider and decide to check the trunk. I pull up the lid and immediately jump back. A rank odor wafts up from the hole in the middle of the solid block I had previously thought a trunk. Oh God. Don't tell me that this is it. I brave a peek over the edge of the hole and see a drop that extends down quite a ways to some lower level beneath the castle. I slam the lid back down and look around in denial.

"What the frik?" I whine pathetically. "This is their bathroom?"

Medieval life can kiss my rump. This bites.

Beggars can't be choosers though. I'll just have to deal with doing things the old fashion way. I shrug off my coat and walk over to the basin near the wall. I work the pump handle several times to fill it up with water. I cringe under the shock of the temperature as I splash my face with it. I regretfully repeat the process as I dunk my whole head in next. I comb through my hair doing my best to make it feel less grody. The strands are all knotty and I have to painfully force my fingers to thread through it over and over again. I work at it as best I can but eventually give up. It's then that I realize I don't have a towel. Bugger.

I grump about, stewing on my own stupidity, and I try to squeeze the water droplets from my hair. I manage to get a good amount out but it's still damp. As for my face, I end up settling on wiping at it with the clean edge of my shirt bottom. So classy.

I pull my coat back on and pull the hood up to shield by head from the chilly air. My teeth are practically chattering as I exit the room. I reenter the habitation hallway and continue down to the common room. I open the door and am greeted by warm candlelight and lively chatter.

All of the Shepherds, barring Frederick and Chrom, crowd around the room's table. A vast assortment of different plates and pitchers clutter the top. Delicious smells entice my nose and I feel my stomach rumble.

"Robin! Over here!" Lissa waves wildly at me from atop a chair on the other side of the table. I meander over and take the open spot between her and Miriel.

"Good morning!" she chirps merrily. She reaches across the spans for a rolled bun covered in a purple jelly. Lissa drops it on a clayware plate and then thrusts it into my hands. "Make sure you eat up! We've got a long trip ahead of us. What do you want to drink?"

I sniff the pastry. It smells fruity and sweet. "Milk would be fine."

"Yuck," she makes a face as she reaches for a pitcher.

I take an experimental nibble at the roll. It's a sweet bread with a heavy aftertaste of cinnamon. The jam on it is very tart and I have to take another bite of the bread to balance out the extremes on my tongue.

"What is this? I've never had it before," I ask Lissa as she hands me a mug. I take a quick drink and I'm thrown by how creamy and thick the milk is. After having years of skim, this is almost a whole different sensation than I'm used to.

Lissa and Vaike both reach for the last slice of a darkly textured bread. She proclaims something about 'princess rights' and smugly snatches it up from the sulky warrior. Lissa sits back and takes a large bite. "It's cwoahberry jwam," she says between chews. "Shuper gwood."

I lean away from the spray of crumbs and take another try. It is good but you need a lot of the bread to take the edge off the jam. That, or add more sugar to the crowberry recipe. I take another swig from my mug and check out the rest of the dishes.

It's really impressive for a medieval spread. That's the funny thing about this universe though. There's so much that's accurate to the time period and then I'll find something more advanced than it should be. I mean, I'm pretty sure scrambled eggs and puff pastries were beyond the typical breakfast menu for this era. Hell, I'm don't even remember reading of breakfast being a thing back then.

Who am I to complain though? This stuff looks phenomenal! Time to load up on carbs!

I pick my way through the various plates and pile on whatever looks good. I have to avoid getting stabbed several times by the forks of other Shepherds but I suppose that's what comes with a table full of hungry soldiers. I sit back and quietly eat enjoying the atmosphere.

Partway through the meal, Miriel finally puts down the book she's been reading and reaches out to replace her empty plate with another apple. She looks startled at my attendance at the table when she goes to reach past me for the fruit. I guess she didn't see me settle in earlier with her nose crammed so far up into her book.

"Salutations Robin. A pleasure to see you this morning. You are faring far better today, I hope?"

"I am Miriel. Thanks for asking."

The red-headed mage nods briskly. She gazes at me from over the top of her thin rimmed glasses. "Not at all. I am also pleased to see you remember my name after our convivial outing last eve."

"I would hope so. I wasn't that plastered."

Miriel suddenly reaches into the satchel at her side. She pulls out small, leather-bound book and what looks like a stick of charcoal. "Plas...tered...That is a metaphorical analogy for...?" She waits silently for me to finish the sentence.

"Drunk?" I say hesitantly as I grab for my mug. I go to take a sip and realize it's empty.

"Interesting." She scribbles something and then deposits it back in her bag. "I have been observing your use of phonetics closely. I must say that your usage of linguistics is quite fascinating. Did you know you have a penchant for expressing yourself in a most masculine fashion?"

I wince. Is this going to be a reoccurring joke?

"A spasmodic muscle reaction by the ocular lens, I see. This means I have offended you. I apologize. My statements are purely meant to be an observance and nothing more. No malice was intended upon you. On the contrary, I am most curious about you." She readjusts her glasses with her hand. "I have been told of your situation and it is most stimulating. There are several extraordinary documented cases of amnesia, each with its own hypothesis behind the phenomena and its correlation with the patient's health. I am eager to test such theories in the pursuit of reclaiming your lost psyche."

There's a really creepy look in her eyes right now. I think she's imaging me less as a colleague and more like an experiment. "That's wonderful Miriel, thanks," I reply half-heartedly.

I reach across the table for the milk jug and go to refill my cup when I realize that there's liquid already in it. I eyeball the inside of it, confused. I could have sworn that it was empty just a second ago.

"It has also been said you possess talents in the arcane. May I inquire as to which type?"

"Uh, the kind that blows things up?"

Miriel looks pleased. "Ah, a fellow practitioner of the elemental craft. Stupendous. I am most pleased at this development. You expressed some interest in the field during our introductory banter last evening. Perhaps you would like to discuss this at a further time?"

"Actually, I would. In fact, I have a favor to ask." I down my mug and wipe away the corner of my mouth with my sleeve. "I was wondering if I might be able to have you show me a few pointers sometime on magic control. I'm nowhere near as proficient as I'd like to be if I'm going to be working long time here in the Shepherds."

The thought of asking Miriel for help occurred last night during our walk. Frederick had already claimed a desire to teach me swordplay and that's all well and good. But knowing how to swing a sword isn't my only skill. Neglecting to train my magic capabilities would be a stupid thing to do. And honestly, why wouldn't I do whatever I could to take advantage of this skill. I can fling magic now! Maaaagic! Do you know how cool that is? I just Wingardium Leviosa'd my muggleness out the window and reached a whole new level of awesome. You bet I want to S-rank this ability!

Miriel contemplates my request, tapping the corner frame of her glasses. "An intriguing proposition. It is not often I receive a solicitation for my services as a tutor. My heart palpitations have increased tenfold at the prospect of such an idea."

"Is that a yes?"

"Quite. I believe such an arrangement can be made. We shall arrange a dalliance as soon as I have put together the necessary materials for your lessons."

"Thanks Miriel. You don't know how much of a relief this is. I'd like to avoid blowing up any of our allies or setting a supply tent on fire because of my inexperience."

"Understandable. The power to wield the arcane requires control and precision. It is important to understand what you are using so that it does not end up overwhelming you."

"Exactly! You can't get much conversation out of piece of toast, am I right?" I say as I show her the crispy slice of bread in my hand.

Her thin lips come together and form what I think is a smile. "We shall work on such things to prevent such implications from becoming reality."

"Awesome." I raise my hand and hold it out for a high-five but she stares blankly at it. "Don't leave me hanging here Miriel," I say.

She peers curiously at my hand. "Another unique cultural distinction of yours? How does one respond to this expression of camaraderie?"

Jeez, these people are killing me. I reach out with my other hand and grab one of her own. "Hold your hand flat out." She unfurls her palm and holds it straight like mine. "Okay, now all you do is clap them together." I push our two palms together to imitate the gesture. "You do that but with more force."

"Repeat this then for me. I wish to partake in this ritual properly."

"Okay." I put out my palm again. "High-five Miriel!" Her hand slaps against mine with a good amount of force. "There you go," I laugh.

The mage stares at her hand in awe. "That was...invigorating. What a congenial gesture! That was called a 'high-five' you say?"

"Yep."

Her whole face lights up. "The sudden burst of joy I felt from something so simple is baffling. I must examine the effects of this at once. Perhaps they are memetic?" She turns to her other neighbor, Sumia, and holds up her hand. "Sumia, I wish to ask for a 'high-five'."

I decide to let Miriel continue her new experiment. I finish off my appetite with a few more platefuls of various treats. Having something in my stomach helps my mood. Breakfast continues on a while longer until Frederick comes in to retrieve us.

Hell hath no fury like a steward scorned. When his sights take in the state of the common room I can practically see him reach boiling point. His booming demand to know who was responsible for the mess renders everyone quiet. Chairs immediately screech as everyone disperses at once. A flurry of bodies rush out the left hallway leaving Lissa and I sitting alone in the aftermath. He growls out for the two of us to head to the field before chasing after the other Shepherds. His ferocious yells are discernible well until Lissa and I head outside.

The princess guides me to a corner at the edge of the field and we each sit on one of the upturned logs. We chat about various things while we wait for the others, or what's left of our comrades after Frederick gets through with them.

The sky is starting to blend with hues of red and orange as the sun just begins to peek over the horizon. The air feels damp with morning dew and everything seems refreshing and new. I can't help but feel slightly excited at the idea of traveling with everyone. Sure, I'm not exactly thrilled to be back on the road after nearly dying several times the other day. That's the only disappointment though.

I'm off to Regna Ferox! Home of the most badass Khans to ever grace the world! And then Lon'qu! And then maybe Olivia too if I can find her.

And then there's Marth.

I think back on my conversation with Marth and how everything she said made no sense. Up to that point, everything had gone according to plot, excluding my bizarre existence as the 'Robin' of this world. All the players are in their roles and acting them as they should. The only differences are Marth and I. Oh, and that wyvern rider too.

That character is even more confusing. They don't even belong here story-wise so what exactly is their role in all this? All these anomalies worry me. There's some undercurrent hidden beyond what's happening on the surface and I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it.

"Look Robin! Here comes everyone else!" Lissa's declaration breaks me from my thoughts. She slides off the log and starts to run toward the others. I follow after her and force myself to pay attention to Frederick as he begins to dole out orders for the march. Soon, the darker thoughts drift away out of sight until I think of them no more.

Ylisse's north scenery is a lot more different than its south. While I woke up on fertile plains dotted with farm fields, I now travel on hilled pastures with a mountain range looming further into the distance. The air remains temperate and perhaps a tad warmer without the wind of the plains.

The road we now travel has lost the stone inlay and fallen to gravel and dirt. The forests that once teased us at a distance encroach closer and closer. The trees grow together shading the floor from sunlight making it harder to see through the spaces between trunks.

I hear a hawk's screech and watch it fly overhead. It's a brief distraction to the quiet walk I've had since we've left. While I've had some conversations with the Shepherds along the way, I've found myself more content to stand in the back and observe. It's amazing to see all the subtle differences in the ways they interact with each other. It's apparent that these people have stories and memories amongst themselves that happened well before I came. They may all be of different background and personalities but they share one single friendship between them all regardless.

It feels weird to admit it but there's a part of me that's kind of hoping to someday reach the same level of trust. Everything I had is a blurred mess some world of away. These people are my only lifeline and I want to nurture the growing seed of our bonds. I feel...no I know...that if I lose this then I won't survive the coming days.

I feel a strange pang in my chest and a wave of melancholy washes over me.

I can feel my pulse throb in my brain.I press my fingers against my forehead and massage my temples. Just like that, the sad emotions are gone and I'm back to feeling like myself again. What a weird mood swing.

I snap from my thoughts just in time to avoid running into Sumia. Her pace is barely a crawl and she stares transfixed ahead. I peer over her shoulder and see her dreamy face focused directly on a certain figure up near the front.

"You know, if you stare any harder your eyes may fall out."

Sumia startles. She frantically looks about until she sees me next to her. "Um, hello Robin. Did you need me for something?"

"No. I just thought I should point out how obvious you look right now with your ogling."

"I-I don't know what you mean." She tries to look inconspicuous as she picks up speed but the bright flush on her face and neck give away her guilt.

I sneak my own peek at Chrom as I come to pace beside her. "You know, I don't blame you. He is cute and a prince to boot. It'd be kind of hard not to fall for him. That being said, does he know?"

"What do you mean?"

I point back and forth between the two of them. "Does he know you like him?"

The poor girl nearly trips. Her whole body stumbles though she catches herself at last second. She quickly straightens up and smoothes down the front of her dress. Sumia leans in close. "Please don't say something like that so loudly," she whispers pleadingly.

"A secret crush then? That's cute Sumia," I smirk.

"It's not polite to tease people Robin," she huffs. Her features darken and she starts to walk away from me.

Great, I made her mad. I am such an ass.

"Sumia, wait!" I call out desperately after her. She glances back and slows just enough for me to catch up with her again. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to be friendly. I caught a vibe from you and wanted to do a little girl gossip. I shouldn't have presumed anything by it."

Sumia's pout fades away with a long exhale of air. Her hands twine together before her. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have reacted so defensively. I just find the whole situation so embarrassing."

"Why? It's nothing short of adorable Sumia."

"Robin, please..." She casts a quick glance about and then lets a small smile slip onto her face. "He is handsome though, isn't he?"

Ah ha! Progress! I shift closer and lower my voice. "Are you kidding? I saw that boy covered in blood and mud and he still managed to look good. I don't think it's possible for him to not be handsome at a given point in the day."

Sumia hides her mouth behind her hand as she giggles.

"I'm surprised at how good looking all the Shepherd men are though. You've got Frederick and his broad shoulders, Vaike's tan and muscles, and Stahl's gentle smile and sweet personality. And then we've got tag-along Virion with his smooth voice and suave mannerisms. There's some genuine winners all across the board. How are you girls still single?"

"We're all such good friends Robin. It's hard to think each other as anything but," Sumia says honestly.

"Too bad. You all could make some real pretty kids, I'm just saying."

Sumia half gasps, half laughs. I laugh too, though it's because what I'm say is truth. I know for a fact what the potential children could look like and I can't lie when I say some of them would be darn cute given the right parent couples. Aw crap. I wonder if that's something I'll have to deal with eventually.

I have a sudden desire to search through everyone's bags for telltale signs of who's romancing who. Then again, this is real life. I probably shouldn't mess around with people's relationships. But the urge is a mighty one!

"Why are we stopping?" Sumia suddenly asks.

"What?"

She's right. Everyone around us has slowed or stopped completely. Above everyone's heads I could see two of our riders sitting atop their horses. Frederick looks grim and Sully keeps looking over her shoulder as if expecting to see something. Stahl gallops past us from our rear and joins the other two. Sully says something to him and gestures behind her toward the road. Stahl's confusion turns to worry as she continues talking.

"This can't be good," I say.

"I wonder what's wrong?" she replies.

"Robin! Can you come over here?" Chrom's voice yells from the front.

I exchange a concerned look with Sumia and then jog away. I squeeze past the other Shepherds until I reach the front of the formation. None of them look happy. Chrom beckons me over when he sees my arrival.

"We have need of your map, Robin."

I instantly extract it from my coat and begin to unroll it. "What's going on? You all look spooked."

"Risen have been spotted north of us, down the road," Frederick responds.

Sully makes a face. "I counted at least ten when I was out scouting that way. Gods, they are ugly. I still can't get over those faces."

I brush my finger over the top and let the map ink itself a picture of the surroundings. The grid lines flow into forms detailing the countryside. A collection of blue spots stand at a rest on one side of the hill. The road we follow continues over the crest and down past a river. Spread out along its shores are a number of red dots moving in nonsensical patterns. There's definitely more than ten.

I hold one side of the map in each hand and present it flat out for the rest to see.

"Hold up. What just happened there?" Sully says looking baffled. She gestures to the map. "It was blank just a second ago."

I free up one of my hands and wiggle my fingers around in a mystical fashion. "Magic," I explain in a dramatic voice.

"Uh huh." Sully still doesn't look like she gets it.

"Robin can explain the schematics of it later Sully. Just know that it's an invaluable tool that can help track the enemy's movements," Chrom tells her.

He takes in the map's terrain and I can practically see him making mental notes of all its features. He traces the length of the river, his hand hovering just above the surface to avoid making direct contact. He follows it from one end of the map and then back again to the other.

"There's only one way over," he says quietly to himself. He ponders a moment before turning to Frederick.

"Is there anywhere else we can safely cross the Est River from where we stand?"

Frederick shakes his head. "I'm afraid not milord. The river flows from the mountains north and west of here but it is comprised of terrible rapids. It may be calmer further down but it is no less deep. Attempting to ford the waters may prove problematic given the amount of gear we carry."

"And what of the stretch further east?"

"It's all forest Captain. The Est flows into Eastwood and then trickles out onto the coast. If we were to head that way it would be two days of travel until we could find a clear enough route," Stahl comments.

"We don't have the time to waste on that," Chrom frowns. "Looks like we'll have to engage with the enemy." Chrom turns to his steward. "Frederick, tell everyone to ready for battle."

"Aye." Frederick trots off to where the rest of the Shepherds stand and begins to bark orders.

"Plans, Captain?" Sully asks.

Chrom ponders over the map in my hands, searching over every detail. "Nothing intricate. They're spread out in small numbers and that will make it easy to clear them out. We'll split into two teams and wipe them out on both sides."

"Put Virion in one team and Miriel in the other. There are a few wandering the opposite bank so they can both help pick off these loners, maybe even finish them off without having to cross the bridge," I suggest.

"Done. We'll stick with our typical teams though Virion will be placed in yours Sully."

"What? Captain are you serious?" Sully gripes.

"Sully, please. We'll worry about it later," Stahl says as a low moan resonates in the distance.

"Tch. Fine. C'mon Stahl. Let's go meet up with others." The two cavaliers trot over to the rest of the group and join in with the preparations.

And now we come down to me. There's a brief silence before Chrom addresses me. "How are you feeling about this?" he asks, his tone cautious. "You think you can handle this?"

I stare at the tiny red dots and tap one. The Risen's ugly face sketches to life. These are simple grunts and nothing more. It shouldn't be that bad but I still feel some doubts regardless.

"Yes. No. I'm not really sure. I mean, I handled these guys okay last time. They're slow and easy to hit. I just don't want to get into the way of the Shepherds. You all seem like you have plans and I don't want to break the synergy of the group."

Chrom gives me a sympathetic look. "If your heart is not completely in it then don't force yourself to fight. I hardly think the absence of one body will shift the battle against us. If you'd prefer, I could have you stand back with Sumia and watch over the supply wagon."

"I guess. That may be for the best. At least until I start training and get more confident in my fighting skills. Sorry."

"It's fine. Just keep an eye on the battle and see if you can learn anything from it."

Yeah, it's a crummy thing to accept but it's the best move I can think of for myself right now. I've got about as much finesse as a octopus on land when it comes to handling a sword. With Miriel here as our magic cannon, there isn't a dire need for me anymore. I mean, if I had the ability to see exactly what my rank is in swords and magic, I bet it wouldn't even be an E. Probably an F, or maybe even a Z because they are so abysmal that a proper grading system couldn't rank them. It's a horrible prospect to deal with but it's also the truth. What use would I be with my inexperience getting in the way.

I just have to accept my role with bruised pride. At least I can turn this into a learning experience. Watching the battle unfold should be a good chance at learning how the team moves and works with each other. I don't have stats now to educate me on the Shepherds and their progress as warriors. I'll have to use my own abilities of perception and understanding to sort out their strengths for battle.

The two of us depart and join the rest. Chrom stays up front to address the active Shepherds while I slink off to the back. I see Sumia standing off to the side and meander over.

"Hey partner. Guess who's hanging out with you?" I say as I point to myself.

Sumia stops twiddling her thumbs and looks surprised. "You won't be joining them Robin?"

"Nah, I'll just get in the way. It looks like it's guard duty for me and you today." I intertwine my hands and stretch me arms out behind my back. "This shouldn't be long though. They're only grunts. These Risen will be easy to kill as long as no one gets cocky and underestimates them."

"Do they truly look like the reports say? Some of the pegasus knights were describing them. They say they look like men but with grey skin and twisted features."

I don't want to scare Sumia but it would be no good to her if I sugarcoat things. She'll have to face these things one day so it's best she know now. "Yeah, that's pretty accurate. They reek like a dead man and they're about as soulless as they seem. Don't feel any pity about taking one out. I'm pretty sure they're nothing but husks despite how human they may look."

"I see. I'll try to remember that." For the first time I notice the spear held tightly in her left hand. I don't blame her. A weapon can help instill a sense of security when one needs it.

The Shepherds start to separate into groups at the top of the hill. I reopen my map and Sumia looks over it with me curiously. I end up explaining how it functions to her as we survey the field. The river runs across whole length of the grid separating it in half. The Risen shamble down the length of it completely unaware of our position beyond the ridge. I figure that they can trample over the first two sets of Risen closest to us with relative ease. Hell, maybe we can get a third in if they move quick enough.

I'm more interested in watching their formations and who works best with who. Understanding which Shepherds work best with each other is utterly vital in the long run. While there may not be such thing as a support system, there is still some benefit to working the most compatible people with each other. It's just a given that those who know each other's fighting styles can work well off their ally's attack pattern. Sully and Stahl are a great example. Their intimate knowledge of each other's capabilities make them a fearsome duo. They can probably ride better, cut off foes easier, and defend harder.

Morale is another benefit. Fighting back to back with someone you feel comfortable with and trust eases pressure off your nerves in battle. I know that one just from personal experience.

Several dots blink out as the blue and red converge on each other. Just as I predicted, the first two groups are wiped out instantly under the sudden rush from the Shepherds. The line breaks with Sully, Stahl, and Virion one way while Chrom leads Miriel and Vaike the other. Frederick and Lissa's dots are pushed together and they hover near the very middle of the two sides. I figure they have her safely under Frederick's wing, ready to ride quickly to the side of whatever group needs healing most.

Miriel's dot edges away from her warrior compatriots and hovers near the streak of ink that mimics the river. A Risen on the other side bumps against the line repeatedly as if trying to break through an invisible wall to reach her. It continues for a few moments until that too vanishes. Nice job Miriel.

As I watch the battle continue I note how much faster Sully's group is working than Chrom's. There's a pattern forming in the way the three dots move. Sully and Stahl spearhead the trio and continuously loop around and between each other, almost crossing over at points. Virion's dot seems to remain perfectly behind them by one square always matching their speed and direction. The red dots are quickly snuffed out one after another as the trio dances around each other.

I brush my fingertips across the top until the map redraws itself into a larger view of the field. The Risen numbers have already dropped drastically. Even those on the other bank are slowly disappearing thanks to our long range capabilities. It's a relief to see that Frederick and Lissa have barely moved from their spot. No injuries are a good thing. In fact, the two of them are annihilating several Risen of their own as they try to cross the small bridge constructed over the middle of the river bend.

For once, things are going right.

"Robin, behind us," Sumia whispers fearfully.

Or maybe not.

I whirl around and step back in surprise at what I see. Or maybe I should say what I shouldn't be seeing. I hold up the map and look frantically back in forth between it and the space before us.

The map is empty. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

So why is there a Risen standing behind us right now?

"Oh Gods..." Sumia's voice quakes. Her whole body goes rigid. She's practically wrapped around the spear that she holds tightly to her chest. Her already pale features have gone pure white.

I can't blame her. This Risen look nothing like the ones I saw the other night nor the ones behind us fighting the other Shepherds. This guy is a caliber just below the Chieftain in looks. Taller and leaner, this Risen stands a half a foot above the average minions we fought. Its armor sits broken and tattered around its limbs allowing the diseased flesh free exposure to the light. The fetid skin is discolored and woven with horrible boils. I am silently thankful for the helmet that blocks out its faces. I'm pretty sure I don't want to see what's left of it.

The freak lets out fierce bellow. It bends forward and throws its arms out in an aggressive stance. It carries no weapon, nor needs to judging by the oblong fingers on its hands. Each tapered digit ends in a fine point, the skin blackened like some form of frostbite. It's like five obsidian daggers grew out of each hand.

"What is this?" I whisper in disbelief as I continue to note its lack of appearance on the grid. Why isn't it appearing?

Sumia shuffles backward. "Robin?" She utters my name in a tiny voice and looks to me with questioning eyes.

"That's a Risen." I slowly extract the tome from my coat. "Sumia," I say low, "I'm going to strike first. I need you to clean up if I can't take it down from a distance. Keep it busy long enough for me switch to the sword if they get too close. I'll follow your lead after that, got it?"

No answer.

"Sumia?"

She breaks from her trance. "Y-yes. I'll do my best." Sumia's battle stance shares a similarity with Frederick's in the way they hold their spear. It's subtle but I can see from the way she positions her hands and how she angles her shoulders.

Another feral howl cuts through the air. It starts to move toward us. I flip the tome to a standard spell and start to focus. I plant my feet and close my eyes to envision the spell words and symbols. Tingling sensations on the soles of my feet start to prickle my skin. There's the familiar rush of-

"Robin, look out!"

My eyes fly open just as I see the Risen rushing me. It's running? When did simple Risen r-

Pain shoots through my body. All the wind is knocked from my lungs as its form rams mine. My ribcage is on fire and I can barely breathe due to the pain. I'm vaguely aware of my back hitting the ground. The smell of dirt mixes with decay in my nose.

I blindly kick out. My foot catches something and I knock one of it legs off me. The rest of its weight presses down on me as we struggle against one another. Something knocks into my brow and my vision speckles with dots. My head snaps back and I feel a sharp pain at the base of my skull.

My mind starts processing a million thoughts at once. What is this Risen? Where did it come from? Is it a boss? A new type? Why is it running so fast? Why claws?

My fingers tighten around my tome and I start wailing on the Risen's head with it. The helmet clangs with each hit I make. "Get off...you smelly...Asshat!" I throw all my strength into the next strike. The force of the blow shakens the Risen and I feel myself able to wriggle out from underneath it.

As I back away to safety, Sumia charges forward. She lets out a meek yell and slams the tip of it into the side of the Risen's abdomen. The weapon sinks into the soft muscle and burrows in well past the blade's length. A long hiss turns into a mournful wail and it twitches from the wound. One of its gnarled hands grasps the spear and yanks it out from its torso. Sumia lurches back as the Risen throws her spear aside, pulling it from her grasp.

Sumia is already at a disadvantage on the ground being trained as an aerial unit and all. Now, without a weapon, she is totally defenseless. One good chomp from that thing and she would be gone for good. Of course that would only happen if I let it, which I won't. A world without Sumia meant one without Cynthia as well and I just happen to be a fan of the hyperactive hero magnet.

"Hell no you don't," I say under my breath as I draw out my sword. Experience be damned! I have to protect the future of the Justice Cabal!

I rush up behind it and swing for its lower heels. This thing has been using speed to its advantage so if I can cut its mobility then it should be easier to handle for the two of us, even with our disadvantages. I know that severing an Achilles' tendon can destroy a person's whole balance. I know it's located somewhere on the back of the foot. I just am not exactly sure where. I hope I'm cutting at the right spot.

The sword stabs into the heel and slashes right through. The creature reacts and instantly turns on me leaving Sumia forgotten. The leg I attacked wobbles but stays standing. Blast! At least I've got it distracted.

"Grab your weapon Sumia!" I call out to her as I stare down the Risen. God this thing is giving me the heebie jeebies. Those eyes are just baring right into me.

There's a bizarrely twisting nature to its movements as it steps toward me. Its whole body seems to dip and dart in all directions. It almost reminds of a snake.

There's a quick hiss and smoke puffs out between the spaces in the visor. One of its clawed hands shoots out and take an experimental swipe at me. I make a blunt chop at it and miss it by a mile. It's so fast! I'm like a slug when compared to it.

The Risen draws in closer and aims for my chest. I awkwardly block the attack with the side of my sword but the rebound of the force knocks the blade back into me and I nearly end up cutting my nose with the edge of it. I steady myself and decide to take the initiative.

When the Risen retracts back to make another strike, I dart forward. I raise it to align with my shoulder and I go to make a stab at its neck. The Risen brings one of its hands up and lets the blade cut right through the middle of it. Now wedged in the cartilage, the Risen yanks its arm back and pulls me with it. I let go of the sword's hilt but I do so too late. Its uninjured claw slashes out at me.

I can hear cloth ripping and then there's a burning sensation in my upper thigh. It is ice-cold, then turns searing hot. My mind shoots off alarms at the influx of pain. The creature hisses triumphantly before me as I feel my leg buckle. I let out an agonized cry as I feel the claws tear out of my skin.

Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God...

I can barely focus on anything else but the agonizing burn in my leg. My hands grasp madly at my thigh. They are instantly coated in something slick and wet. I'm bleeding? Sweet potatoes on fire! I am bleeding!

I suck in air wildly between my teeth as I try to control myself. Tears are pricking the corners of my eyes from the overload of everything occurring. I barely manage to crack my eyes open and look down. There's blood all over my upper pant leg. The material is soaked and stuck to my skin. I can see three deep gashes in the material, no more than a few inches in length each.

"Robin!" Sumia's voice shrieks in terror. She charges forward and the tip of her spear catches the Risen in the neck. The thin blade passes through one side of it and exits through the other. The creature loses interest in me and starts to claw at the spear. Raspy wheezes of air echo out from under the helmet. I wonder if she pierced the vocal chords.

She pulls the spear out and twirls away from the wild slash of its wrist. Sumia's eyes are locked on the creature, filled with fear. Her hands shake so badly that the tip of her spear is wobbling under the tremors.

The Risen continues to make wheezing hisses as smoky trails blow out the sides of its neck. It makes a sloppy grab at her but Sumia twirls away again. The spear in her hand spins as it shifts positions. She thrusts out with it again, catching another blow into its lower side. A straight shot to the kidneys.

On any other enemy Sumia's attack patterns would be spot on. She's aiming for all the vital regions. Unfortunately, Risen are tolerant to pain and nearly immune to otherwise lethal attacks. Sumia would wear out before this thing died if she kept up her pattern of precise strikes. She needs to one shot this bastard right through the head.

The initial shock of the attack is starting to wear off. Adrenaline is kicking in and I find my senses beginning to sharpen. My breaths are shallow as I work myself up to lean on an elbow. Every new pressure on my leg is another tremor of pain up my nerve system. I bite hard on my tongue to avoid wailing in pain.

I need my tome. If...shit that hurts!...if I can hit the Risen in the helmet with an electrical surge then I'm hoping...damn it!...the metal will be a conductor and amplify the energy damage.

Either I roast its head or it whips off the protective piece allowing Sumia a shot at the brain.

Luckily, I spot my book only an arm's reach away from me. I roll over and apply pressure to my good side. The movement is horrible. I can feel a new gush of blood run out over my leg. I have to support Sumia so I don't have time to be distracted by this. Ugh, it's so hard though.

My fingers reach out, brushing the spine. My middle digit catches in the groove of the cover and I hook a fingernail into it. I pull hard and it slides just barely. It's enough space to let two more fingers sink in. I drag it inch by inch until I can close my hand around the other edge and pull it over.

My vision flickers and I shake my head to clear it. I check on Sumia and see her duel as gained no ground. There are three more open wounds on the creature but it hardly looks fatigued.

I open the cover and start turning pages. My fingers are smeared with dirt and blood which leave imprints on the corners of each leaf I flip. I settle on no particular one. I just need to do enough damage to at least cause it to take off the helmet.

"Sumia! Get out of the way," I manage to call out. I push everything I'm feeling at this moment out of my mind. I focus on nothing but the magic and my single target.

It feels like someone's pouring scalding water up my arms. The energy is utterly unbearable. My outstretched arm shakes wildly and I have to clamp down on it with my other to keep it stable. My vision becomes a tunnel and the only spot I can see at the end of the darkness is the glint of that helmet in the sun. I force everything I have out and let the bolt fly.

The force is too much and my whole body shoots back. I feel the rocks and grass scrape my back as I skid backwards. I cough violently as I lay face up toward the sky. My arm feels heavy, like a weight has been tied to it.

I struggle to sit up. "The head," I slur. "Sumia...stab the...head..."

There's a strained gargle and wheezing then something strikes the ground and rolls into my foot. More wheezing and then Sumia letting out a frightened cry. What follows is a squelching sound, like someone smooshing Jell-o with their hand. I then hear a giant thud and Sumia crying out once more. A continuous wet squishing sound continues over and over and over again.

The haze over my eyes is fading. "Sumia?" I call out weakly.

The Risen is on the ground. The area around its upper chest and neck are burned black. The skin is charred so bad that it has blistered and cracked. The jaw of the Risen hangs open in a silent scream. Its yellowed, jagged teeth remind me of just one fate that could have befallen us today. Above that is...a pulpy mash of what was once its face.

Sumia drives the tip of her spear continuously into the creature's cranium. The space between the nasal cavity and top of the skull is crushed under the nonstop assault of her weapon. All that remains is a fine gravy of grey brain matter. She drives the tip into the head with one final desperate yell and then falls back onto the ground. She sits on her knees desperately clinging to the support of her weapon.

The creature explodes into a puff of smoke and the violet fumes drift lazily up into the sky.

"Sumia?" I try again.

She stirs, just barely. "It's dead." Her response is a hollow declaration.

I get up on my hands and good knee to start crawling. My injured leg hangs limply behind as I drag my way over. I ignore my protesting body, my concern for Sumia outweighing my own pain.

"Nice...job," I force out. "Told you they were freaky."

"Heh." It's a wisp of a laugh but it's progress.

"That isn't what we...ow...what we fought the other day. Way worse. Double congrats on...killing it."

"It was due to your help. Thank you." She turns to speak again but her words fall away. I follow her gaze over my shoulder and see two Risen, the typical kind, bumbling over the hilltop.

Crap. Really? Give us a break already.

Disappointment turns to relief when I see twin bodies of red and green ride over the crest after them. Sully and Stahl split in two directions and each ride up on one of the Risen. One cracked cranium and one beheading later, the two Risen fade away.

"Great job partner!" Sully grins. She rides up to Stahl and gives him a friendly punch in the shoulder.

Stahl grins pleasantly back. "They're not so bad once you figure out their patterns."

Sully pulls at her reins and guides her horse forward. "No kidding. Once we finish off the stragglers we can get back to-Naga's arse! Stahl, look!"

The two cavaliers finally notice us and gallop over. Both swing out of their saddles and the duo rushes over to Sumia and I, weapons drawn.

"What happened you two?" Stahl asks as he kneels by Sumia's side.

"Risen," Sumia and I both say in unison.

Sully looks me over and frowns. "Stahl, toss me a vulnerary."

The other cavalier pulls something out of one of the pouches on his belt and throws it between the two of them. The golden bottle catches the light and shines brightly. She catches it with one hand and yanks away the top of it with her teeth. Sully spits the cap to one side and holds my leg down flat with her empty hand.

"This is gonna sting. A lot. Bear with me okay?"

She tips it sideways and a clear liquid pours out. The instant it hits my skin I hear a hissing sound.

"Shiiiiiiit, you weren't kidding," I gripe. Sumia takes my hand and I squeeze it tightly as new sensations of pain rip through me. It feels like someone is branding me with a hot poker. Sully's pressure on my leg increases to prevent it from pulling away. She pours the rest of the liquid over it and then tosses the empty bottle over her shoulder.

"Looks like the vulnerary did it for you. Still gonna have Lissa look you over though. Think you can stand?"

"I don't have much choice," I manage to say. Sully grasps my other hand and both her and Sumia help me up. The pressure on my upper thigh is just manageable. Sully has Stahl take her place so I have someone to lean on while she flags over the rest of the Shepherds.

Frederick and Lissa are the first to arrive with Virion trailing behind. Lissa promptly hops out of the saddle and runs up. "Are you guys okay?"

"Peaches and cream here," I say sourly.

Lissa gives me a disapproving glare and pulls out her staff. "Who's injured?"

Sumia shakes her head. "I'm fine. Just a little bruised in some places. Robin was wounded by the Risen though."

"Risen? How did that happen?"

"My map didn't register it for some reason. I don't know why. All the rest of them popped up fine but this one snuck up right behind us and-" I reach into my coat to pull out the paper and freeze. "My map." I twist around searching the grass. "You can't be serious?"

I push off Stahl and start to hobble away. I head towards where I first saw the Risen and search around frantically. This could be an utter disaster if I've lost this. That map is the only advantage I have right now. Without it, I'm utterly screwed.

"Maybe over here?" I wobble toward a downed tree hoping to find something. I push aside branches and bend over the trunk despite the protesting weight in my thigh. I lean as far forward as I can trying to see if it got caught somewhere.

"Robin?" Lissa's voice drifts over from behind me.

"Go away. Busy!"

"But Robin-"

"Not now Lissa!" I say anxiously. " I have to find my-"

Someone grasps me by the shoulder and pulls me up. I'm spun around to find myself facing Chrom. He lifts his other hand to reveal a familiar sheaf of paper. "Missing something?"

I let out a high-pitched squeal of glee and throw an arm around him as I hug the map to my chest with my other hand. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I nearly had a heart attack thinking I lost this."

He blinks and stares down awkwardly at me. "I, um...you're welcome."

I untangle from him and hold out the map, looking it over for tears or rips. Aside from a mildly frayed corner, it's wholly intact. Before I can start fiddling with it, Lissa starts to push me back toward the tree.

"Alright, enough with the distractions. Let me do my job before you cause that wound of yours to open."

Lissa begins to work her magic and it instantly feels much better. It subdues the pain and almost all of the tight pressure in my thigh disappears.

"Mind telling me what happened? I heard something said about an ambush," Chrom asks.

"You heard right. I'm not sure why but the map didn't register the Risen coming up behind us. Albeit, it was like nothing we've seen before. What you all fought by the river is nothing like the one we faced. It was thinner and so much more fast. I didn't think it could move as it did so before I knew it the damn thing was interrupting my spell and taking a chunk from my leg."

"Sumia tried to put it down but nothing she did would work. She poked him in the neck, kidney, torso, you name it. I literally blew my nerves out with a magic attack that was meant to give us the strategic edge and Sumia had to spear it through the brain several times to have it stay down."

"Blech." Lissa makes a disgusted face. "That sounds gross. Poor Sumia."

"Yeah, poor Sumia. Did you check in on her Chrom? The whole ordeal left her kind of shaken."

"Briefly. She said she's better now that the confrontation is over."

Briefly? Chrom's such a stupid moron. I want to shake him silly and scream 'Go be a prince already! Swoop in and make her swoon!'

"Well maybe you should check again. She still looks really pale to me. Faint even," I say, hoping he'll take the bait.

Chrom, living up to his ever-present daftness, just looks confused. "Sumia says she's fine and I'll take her word for it. As captain, my first priorities lie with making sure the injured are tended to."

"You mean your priorities lie with making sure Sumia is still in a sound mental state before she ends up vomiting on your shoes like I did back in Southtown. That Risen attack really shocked her, Chrom. Look, I'm not even bleeding anymore. Now scoot over there and go give her some verbal support or something."

"I don't under-"

"Stop worrying about me Chrom. Go do your job already!"

"Somebody do something already because I'm trying to concentrate here!" Lissa yells from her crouched position beside me.

Chrom starts to say something else but I just wave my hands at him in shooing gesture. He makes an exasperated noise and shakes his head before walking away.

"You two are so weird," Lissa remarks.

She finishes healing me up soon after. I stand back up and she has me walk around to stretch out the muscle and see how it feels. It doesn't hurt beyond the occasional dull throb which is a good sign. She considers me cured and we join the rest of the crew.

It's decided fairly quickly that we should resume marching in case anymore groups start to shamble in. Our scouting efforts are doubled but little else changes in terms of our route. Chrom has me stand closer to the front now and I'm forced to do frequent checks of the surroundings for the remainder of the day. I want to point out that there's a glaring issue with my map but decide to deal with it at a later time. For now, it's best just to let everyone chill out and continue on to the border.

The rest of the day's march is quiet and, more importantly, uneventful. The group slowly starts to return to normal as the adrenaline from the encounter wears off. Sumia begins to feel more at ease again after some prodding from Sully. It makes me feel better to see her cheerful again.

When Frederick calls for a stop to the day's march I nearly yell for joy. I'm so exhausted after today's little adventure. All I want is a full belly and a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, before any of that can be done, we have to actually make camp.

So here I am standing clueless before a ramshackle set of supplies that I could barely pass off as a tent. Of the five poles meant to hold it up, only three are properly fitted. The fourth is jutting out at the front at an odd angle and I simply gave up on the fifth.

The canvas itself lays lopsided, sagging completely in one corner where the neglected pole should stand. The right side is lifting off the ground because the ropes I have tied to the pegs that are supposed to hold them down are so loose. That's not my fault though! The only knot I was ever told I needed to know was the one used for tying shoes.

I stand there with hands on hips watching the wreckage of my tent sway in the wind. One good gust and this will probably go flying away. Surprise, another disappointment. Why not add tent making to the growing list of things I can consider myself a failure at!

"I surely hope you don't mean to sleep in that tonight." I turn around and see Frederick staring aghast at my handiwork.

"Well, I always thought a tent with four walls was a little unnecessary. Who needs all that space, you know? I thought I'd go for something more practical yet just edgy enough to make a statement. You think it will catch on?"

"Your sarcasm is duly noted." He gently places the bundle of firewood is his arms on the ground and walks past me to my tent. Before I can stop him, he starts to pull one of the corner poles from the ground.

"What are you doing? That took me forever to get into the ground," I say as I rush over to stop him. The pole pulls out easily under his grip. Without the support, the whole front of the tent flutters inward. He proceeds to rip up the rest of them until nothing is left standing. I stare morosely at the felled remains of my tent.

"Raise your spirits Robin. You are not done. We shall have you sleeping in a proper tent yet."

"Wait a minute. Are you helping me?"

He pulls the canvas to the side and picks up the poles one by one. "Aye. That I am. Did I not say I would take care of your training?"

"Yeah but I figure that means swords and smashing things."

Frederick drops all but one pole and then crouches down to retrieve a mallet from amongst the tools I had borrowed from Vaike. He eyes the ground and then starts to make marks in different areas of the dirt. "Being a Shepherd is more than swordplay and fighting," Frederick finally says. "There are many fundamental skills that provide the framework for the success one hopes to achieve as a soldier."

He motions me over as he steadies the pole with one of his hands. As I approach, he hands me the mallet with the other. "Self-sufficiency," he says, "is one of those skills."

That makes sense. I suppose soldiers do have to learn more than just how to fight. Danger doesn't just come in the form of another human. There's the natural elements and animals you have to watch out for. And Risen too, I guess, if you so happen to find yourself magically whisked off to a world that has them.

Frederick and I start working on the frame little by little. I end up doing most of the work while he guides me verbally through the process. It's both easy and hard. The set up is fairly simple, it just requires a lot of concentration in regards to making sure everything is spaced evenly and accurately. Frederick has to pull them up a few times because I pound them in at weird angles. I find myself worn pretty quickly from all the hammering.

I'm a little miffed when I find that pulling the canvas over requires even more manual labor. There are three stakes on each side and each has to be pulled just tight enough that it isn't pulling too hard or too lightly on the material. And then comes even more hammering for each one. Apparently you need a good even space between each one because I have to rip those up several times too from bad aim. It's that or Frederick just likes to see me suffer.

Eventually the job gets done. Frederick walks around it tugging at ropes and shaking the poles for support. He then takes a peek into the interior. When he comes back out, he looks relatively more at ease with tent.

"Acceptable work Robin."

I stand back and admire the final product. "I'll admit it. That looks way better."

Frederick finishes with a finally tug at the last knot and then joins me. He gives an appraising nod. "A one hundred percent improvement. The sense of accomplishment and a dry night's sleep is the best reward one can ask for."

Oddly enough, Frederick's right. I can't help but feel proud of putting up that dinky little tent. Actually seeing its completion after the hard work has lifted my spirits. I have a renewed hope in my own abilities again. It's weird to think but it's all thanks to the guy standing next to me. If Frederick hadn't stopped to help me then I would probably be sleeping with the open sky tonight.

"I suppose I should be thanking you. So, thanks. I appreciate the help and any you offer after this."

" 'tis nothing. You are a Shepherd now and I am bound by our common bond as comrades to assist however I can. Even if it is over something so simple a child could do."

Low blow Frederick. Low blow.

I ignore the jab. "I'm grateful, regardless. I know I've kind of botched a lot of stuff lately so it's nice to know you're all still willing to lend a hand."

"We all start from humble beginnings Robin, prince or pauper. As long as you hold firm to your goal then you can move nowhere but forward. I have trained many men and women in my time and not one of them achieved their true potential through simply bumbling their way through life. They recognized their weaknesses and worked hard by themselves and through others to conquer that which held them back. So too will you with time."

"Thanks Frederick."

"One thing though."

"Yeah?"

"Do not mistake my charity as a sign of utter trust. I still plan to keep my eye on you. Should I catch wind of anything even implying foul intentions, I will not hesitate to make my spear's presence known. Do I make myself clear Robin?"

"Abundantly so. Though, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about."

"Time will be the judge of that. As for now, allow me to say that I would like to begin your training sessions upon the morrow as soon as we finish setting up camp. We will continue until supper is called and then finish there. Understood?"

"Yes sir," I say in mock salute. "I'm sure you'll be able to turn a rookie like me around in no time."

"I have not failed once in my teachings Robin. I swear, somehow I'll make a man out of you yet."

I chuckle to myself. "And then we'll fight some Huns."

Frederick swiftly spins around. "What was that?"

I quickly hide my smile. "Nothing."

"This is no joke, Robin." He glares, his dark eyes boring into mine. "I plan to work you into the ground if I must. I tell this to my recruits and I will say the same to you. Pick your favored god and pray to them now because they will be the only deliverance you have after I get done with you."

...

...

Well shit. I'm doomed.

A/N I apologize for the long wait. This thing called a "job" really like to take up my time. In the end though, we got another chapter in with more character development and a dash of Robin-bashing. Poor thing. I'm not sure if Frederick and Miriel's training will be a blessing or curse for her. Anyone have any requests for future character interactions? I feel like Sumia is hogging the spotlight right now. She's just so adorable though!

As usual, thanks for stopping by readers!

Due to my work schedule, I am usually unable to check the site for a full day or more preventing me from responding to reviews in a timely fashion. So, I'll be responding to them at the end of chapters to remedy that. Thank you for all your kind words!

Review Responses

Luciz - More aspects of Robin's past will slowly come through as the story unfolds. As she finds time to herself, she'll reflect more and more on the memories that slowly start coming back. Glad you liked the scene too, that was my favorite part to write!

Raven Tsurara - Thank you for still reading! It's wonderful to see that Robin is turning into such a well received character! Being the central POV, it's important she stay likeable, you know?

passwordrawr - I prefer character driven stories so it's only fair to take it slow and show just how much they grow with the plot around them. It can be a struggle sometimes but a natural pace is worth it.

Ruu - Ha, ha! No, thank you! I'm glad you like it. And yes, I plan to have Robin get to a kitchen sometime and make use of the only skill set she has, culinary ones! She'll be gracing the Shepherd's table with the wonders of peanut butter and much more!

Darthstriker - Thanks for the compliments. I've never done fight scenes for a medieval setting before so I've had to do a lot of research into making it realistic. Glad to see those hours weren't wasted! As for the pairings...I'm starting to draw them up now. A vote already for Robin and Chrom though? Hmm...that would be interesting. I'll keep that in mind ;)