Cycle

by RoseWarden

Robin is a young woman who bakes cakes during the day, sleeps at night, and drinks on weekends. She does not wage wars, fight demons, or solve dating issues. Yet, somehow by divine mistake, she's found herself doing just that. Clearly, someone has her confused with another Robin...

42. Chapter 42

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

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Chapter 42

"I thought we've done some crazy crap in the past, but this tops it all," Sully admits to Kellam and I as all three of us continue the most engaging chore of moving supplies to the Shepherd's collected inventory. She strides ahead of us, the two bundled tents held aloft in the crook of her shoulder by one muscular arm.

"We've taken on forts before, Sully. Just think of this as another run," our male companion suggests in support beside me.

"Kellam, this ain't like any fortress we've gone running into," Sully says back to us as she readjusts the sagging canvas in her grasp. "This is Ironhold. It's the most fortified keep this side of the Feroxi wall. I can't help but wonder."

"It almost sounds like you're worried, Sully," I playfully accuse as I walk with my back to her, dragging my potato sack with both hands one step at a time. I stop and take a breath, blowing stray strands of hair from my face. Kellam gazes sympathetically at my struggle and halts. Reaching down, he hefts the sack up under his other free arm. I try to stop him but he shakes his head and offers a little smile.

"It's not that," Sully promptly denies. "I'm excited as all hells about taking on a real mission for once. No baby work stamping out bandits and whatnot. This is a real soldier's job, befitting a true knight. I couldn't think of anything more worthy to pursue as a Shepherd."

"Vaike said something similar," Kellam points out in amusement. "He was boasting exactly how he planned to storm it single-handed."

The red head exhales through her teeth, giving a hard snicker of appreciation. "That knucklehead's wrong about a lot of things, but not this one. The Shepherds have been reigned in too long. We've got all this potential and never a chance to use it. We're going to show the world just what it means to carry the title of an Ylissean warrior."

"Just don't get reckless, like Vaike. It's hard keeping an eye on him when he gets excited."

"Kellam, I've got the best damn partner a woman can ask for on my side. Stahl's my leverage and I'm his passion. Believe me, I'll be fine." She peers back at me in a change of direction. "If anyone should be worried, I'd think it'd be you Robin. The strike team's got the bulk of the mission riding on them."

"Don't remind me," I admit with a clear conscience. There's no doubt my role is the riskiest part of the plan. With Maribelle's family secret fueling the entire first half of the idea, there was a real struggle to try and keep it as hidden as it was before. The debate started with how many should know, and then who would have the right to fall privy to the details. In the end, Chrom and Maribelle both jointly decided on the personnel going into the infiltration team. Given the dangers and stealth needed, they decided the smaller the group the better. With my map, I was a surefire option to take along. Yay me.

While the rest of the Shepherds wait with what few troops we can spare to bring along, Maribelle's team will take one of the lower escape passages, using it to lead us in. From there Gaius knows a smuggling tunnel that feeds from the keep to the lower commons, an incredibly close point to the main gate. The biggest challenge will be moving through the city's streets toward it. We'll be relying on Henry's collected intel to avoid the troops stationed there. The dark mage claims his information is up to date, only a week or so ago.

Man, I still can't even believe that even happened. Henry. Here. Now! My brain cannot even comprehend that. I'd like to say there's more to know but denying what he is, a Plegian mage, is not something to be ignored. True to Chrom's word, our plucky little dark mage found a quick escort to camp. He's under supervision right now and I'm sure they're finalizing a determination of whether he's any sort of threat or not. Luckily he's got plenty of food and a healer to help bring his emancipated self back to health in doing so. Still, unless you have a thing against bad humor, I know he won't pose anyone a threat. Try explaining that foreknowledge to anyone else but Lucina however.

We arrive at the growing stock pile meant to fuel the Shepherds along in our quest. Adding the various goods to it, we stop to take a small breather.

Kellam sets both his bags down and stretches out the length of his left arm. He gazes to the pile, then adjusts to the horizon. "I'm sure you will be fine. Both Captain Chrom and Maribelle seem confident in the plan."

Sully's tents land with a great thump, knocking into a basket of apples. A few spill and she lets out a disgusted moan before bending over to pick them up. "I hope so. I hate knowing Chrom's heading into danger like that and I can't be there to help." She turns an apple the same color as her hair in her hand before chucking it in the container. "The moron always likes to play hero and it makes me nervous when I can't keep an eye on him."

"It's not like he'll be alone, our whole group will be there," I reassure her as I bend down to help. "I'll watch out for him, I promise."

"I bet you will," she remarks smugly.

"What's that mean?" My head snaps up, the suspicion igniting a teasing smirk and knowing roll of her eyes.

"Nothing," she grins, struggling to hide her intentions. "Just commenting on the obvious."

"Sully, you keep saying things like that and people will start to talk. Actually, according to Lissa and a few others, they already might be." That's an understatement. Of the things I have heard floating around, Sully's name comes up as an origin point.

She takes the last of the fruit from my hands and deposits them away except for one. She gets up off her knees, trying to suppress her own guilt. "Hey, I just happen to tell it like I see it."

"Loudly, if I remember right," Kellam remarks off-hand as he sifts through the pile aimlessly. He's arm deep in busy work as he listens in to the conversation. I can feel an urge to hide away when I realize he's also hiding a smile, though his seems far more supportive.

"Guys, come on," I exasperate. Normally I wouldn't give two flips because finding anyone interested in me at this point would be an instant win. But that changed considerably when alternate dimensions, world killing dragons, mom-swapping, and other various shenanigans took place. And that's not including the prospect that I need to go home! Besides, I'd suck at royalty! AND BABIES. Let's not forget I know what happens! Not that the process of getting there isn't engaging at all because hot damn. Let me tell you what I- Noooooo, bad place!

I can't go fiddling around in junk I know nothing of! I'm not getting involved in anything until I know what's safe and what's not! And now I'm all flustered and I look guilty as hell in their eyes, as if cementing the truth.

The knight sinks down on a crate and flips around the apple in her hand. She picks at the stem, twirling the fruit until it pop off, leaf and all. "All I'm gonna add on the matter is that it's about time. We think it's fine if something happens. I was starting to worry he'd end up married to Falchion. Not the best of bed mates, pretty a sword as it is."

"Believe what you want," I protest vehemently, "but it's all in your head."

"Robin, I've known Chrom for years. We've been friends for years and I've been on the amorous end of it for two of 'em. Trust me when I say this." She finishes chewing on her bite of apple, swallowing before pointing at me. "Something is going on, at least for him. The last month's proved it."

Kellam, ever mindful of the situation, takes one look at my face and falters. He puts down the bag in his hands and reaches out to tug Sully's shoulder in a gentle fashion. "Sully, just leave it be. It's clearly not the best time."

She looks up his arm and straight into his eyes. "Kellam, don't play innocent. You're the one who commented the other day about Chrom's moon-y gaze at her over dinner."

Uh. I wasn't even sitting anywhere close him. I was eating with a few of the Shepherds by the fireside during dinner, well away from where he conversed with Frederick and Maribelle. I would like to think I would have noticed something so obvious.

"I...um..." Kellam stumbles over his words, withdrawing back. He casts me a desperate, pleading look. "It was an observation. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Doesn't matter what you meant by it. The fact still stands that our royal friend's spending more time sneaking peeks at Robin here than his mashed peas," Sully ends with a definitive nod before biting deeply into the crisp flesh of her apple.

Look, I won't deny that there isn't a possibility. But it's easy to get suspicious when two people spend a lot of time together, which we do. He's the leader of the Shepherds and I'm the strategist, we have to spend a few hours together daily trying to figure out how to run this stupid campaign. Sure, we also have an extremely tight friendship, astounded as I am to think possible. Despite it all, he really has become my deepest connection here. Barring Lucina for obvious reasons, he knows the most about what I've been through. And the very fact that I'm standing here as I am is because he decided to give my lazy, unremarkable self a chance be something more.

I dunno though. Maybe she's right? She isn't the only one to say anything. Lissa, Vaike, even Sumia. I'm trying to help her get with him, yet she's doing the opposite! And let's not forget the bold Feroxi crone and her valuable wisdom. I've just been doing the same things we've done this whole time. Nothing's been any different than before. So what changed? Why? What could I offer...

While the idea is as fantastical as it is enticing, it's not fair to even assume something possible without weighing the risks. I'm well aware of what futures I would impact on something like that and the idea is both nauseating and frightening.

I'm barely figuring out my history, let alone worry about the pressing issues that I already know could happen. I haven't even dared look at the kids' pages in the Roster. One specific page in general especially. I may not be the original Robin, but it seems like all her rules now apply to me. That probably includes children. I can't just imagine stepping in to play magical surrogate to a woman I'm not! And the idea that my warped history could eventually effect my future... Robin's s...

Let...let me figure out my own last name before I worry about all of this okay? I don't need the anxiety of knowing whether the key figure in this whole plot may or may not have been star-

"Wait." I look to Sully in horror, running over last night's events in my head. "He was watching the whole dinner? Does that include Vaike's burping challenge?"

"All of it," she smirks.

"Oh gods." I flush in embarrassment, withering up like a dried leaf. It was just a stupid thing Vaike threw out after we imbibed a bit too much at dinner. It was just a handful of us doing it for fun. I didn't even come close to winning.

"I still can't believe Lissa won," Kellam grimaces, remembering the same picture as I do of the thinly built girl blurting out like a foghorn on the top of her chair.

"She's got some lung power," Sully chuckles into her next bite.

I quickly stand, hiding my face away from the duo. "Look, whatever you think, it doesn't matter. We're in a war. We're too busy to be worrying about things like that. Just forget about it, okay? And don't promote it!"

Sully leans in mischievously on her free hand, the other dangling idly between her knees. "On the contrary, love seems to bloom quite frequently on the battlefield." Her sharp eyes rest on the male Shepherd. "Ain't that right Kellam?"

He startles at the sudden address of his name, turning around to face her. "Why would you say that?"

"Come on, you know what I mean," she presses with a suggestive raise of both eyebrows.

Now it's Kellam's turn to grow shy under the knight's invasive observations. His fingers twitch nervously together, heavily lidded eyes darting away. "You mean Raimi? That's..."

"Adorable?" I quickly throw out, eager to push the attention off me and on to him.

"Yes she is a-" He clamps up, shocked straight with the admission. Eventually his muscles relax and he sags in defeat. "I suppose you have me there," he adds with his remaining pride.

Sorry Kellam, but I really want the heat off of me. Though I am just as curious. Despite not seeing each other until only this month, Kellam's seemed happy enough with his current place in their relationship. "It's pretty amazing you two can keep up what you're doing. Regna Ferox is a long ways from here. Sending letters back and forth as the only means of communication would leave me feeling utterly starved."

That's speaking from experience. Long distance relationships are rough and that's what did my last one in, according to my spotty records. Schooling took us apart and the distance did everything but make the heart grow fonder. If anything, it cooled it. It's...hard. Very hard. Though I suppose I could be mostly at fault for that one. Ah, bitter memories. My favorite type to remember.

I can see from his initial reaction that there is some longing from his end. But his impressive smile lights up his features and casts my doubts away. "Our letters are very long," he states proudly. "We tell each other as much as can fit on the papers."

"Oh yeah? She start writing anything dirty yet?" Sully jokingly questions. She chucks the now browning core behind her, before kicking back to get comfy. "About what she does in the cold Feroxi lands when she thinks about ya?"

"Sully..." I moan her name in one long drawl. She's really pushing this teasing thing today.

"Right, right, I'll shut my mouth now," she shrugs in apology. "Sorry Kellam. I'm just being an arse. Just playing with you both. Trying to keep up the friendly banter these days in the face of everything, ya know?"

Except, Kellam doesn't answer. He's just gawking at us both, shuffling uneasily in a damning sort of silence that makes her bluff seem not so untrue.

Sully blinks in disbelief, leaning forward with a renewed interest. "Wait. Are you saying she actually-?"

"I-It's not like that! Not entirely anyway." Kellam almost shouts. Both arms criss-cross in denial as he grows a deeper shade of crimson. "Raimi's very passionate under her exterior. She's poetic, i-in a pragmatic sort of way. She's just honest about what she says. It's not...uh...I didn't mean it to look as though she-"

"We should really get the rest of these supplies over!" he mumbles quickly, speeding away stiffly in the opposite direction. Sully and I sit there in stunned silence, trying to grasp what just happened.

"Right," I say numbly.

Another thirty seconds or so pass.

"What do you think she writes?" Sully asks quietly between us.

"I dunno." From what I know of Raimi based on what Kellam's said, I have a few good ideas. And they range all over the place.

Sully and I are lost in a very awkward quiet as we rummage absentmindedly through organizing the pile. The urge to speak grows stronger and stronger, to the point I can't hold back from commenting even for Kellam's sake.

"I bet she likes to top," I immediately blurt out.

"Same," Sully instantly agrees with a louder shout.

Dear God, we've turned into two gossiping teenagers!

She sidesteps to close the distance, bending in so we're ear to ear in a shared conspiracy. "He visited her last night. Think they decided to expand on her poetry?"

"Kellam?" I whisper back in surprise. "As much as you would think, I doubt it. Kellam doesn't seem like the type to do that so quickly in a relationship. Sure, it's been some months since their courtship began, but they've hardly been together in person for much of it. Also, Raimi's the central figure of the Feroxi forces. Privacy isn't a luxury."

She frowns in disbelief. "That hardly stops anyone. Just yesterday, Stahl and I passed some squires rutting behind the food tent."

My intestines squeeze together in disgust. "The food tent? Sully, that's gross."

She raises both shoulders, shrugging in nonchalance. "Just a couple of dumb kids letting off relief. You'd think a march would deter people from that type of thing. Seems to be the opposite. You see some pretty fucked up sights out here on the field. Friends die, wounds grow permanent. The desire for companionship just happens sometimes."

"I-I didn't think of it like that." She has a point. Even a quick one-night stand might seem preferable to an aching soul for temporary relief. The longer we're on the road, the more often loss will envelop us. I might be spared the worst but there are soldiers out there in the army dealing with death constantly, whether it be family or fellow troop mates. "I suppose the stress and trauma would drive some to moral support, in one way or another."

"Yeah. Doesn't have to be sex though. Any good conversation or shared toast could suffice. Sure beats bottling it up inside. A man can go crazy like that. It's one of the first things they teach ya in the military, right after how to hold a sword blade up."

Sully glances out over the army encampment, her tone thoughtful. "The army's as much about your own development as it is your neighbor's. This is one big fellowship we got going on and we've got to look out for each other. Can't win a war by yourself."

This soft, quiet side of Sully is not one I ever see. Even the fearless red cavalier of the Shepherds has her moments of introspection. Just as quick as it came, Sully's back to normal. She places the balls of her fists on her hips, grinning into a light laugh. Reeling back, she gives me a light punch as if to declare she's got her spirits up again.

"Sorry, I'm just blathering. Point is, Chrom's seemed a bit more concerned for you than usual. And that's besides the obvious."

Sully rests on one arm against crate and draws her punch into a firm poke in the chest. "This is strictly between you and me, got it? I said nothing. I only mention this because I care about his stupid arse more than most. He's really trying to help you Robin, even if he feels like you're holding back on him."

I stare dumbly at her, unsure what to say.

Her voice lowers. "Just hear me out. If you're anything like the rest of us, we sometimes hold out on him too. Chrom's good at his job. Too good. He's got an open door policy and we Shepherds appreciate it. However, we don't want to burden him too badly with our own issues on top of those of the kingdom. So, sometimes we rely on each other. That's what teammates are for. We back each other up in hard times."

She settles back, eyes drawn to the silver mark of Naga stitched to the sleeves of my arm. "I'm not askin' you to spill your guts here and now. This is just some friendly advice from one comrade to another. If something is bothering you and you're too worried about seeming like a burden, don't. Us Shepherds are here to back you up. Got it?"

"Sully..."

"Heh. I don't mean to get mushy. But you've turned out to be a helluva an asset to the Shepherds and just as good a friend. You mean something to us, to him. If this whole things starts bothering you, come find us, okay? I may not be the most eloquent of the Shepherds but I have a mean enough right hook that can punch out anyone troubling you, ya hear?"

"I-" I'm finding it a bit hard to talk. "Yeah."

"Good," she declares, throwing an arm over my shoulder to pull us together so we're side by side. "We Ylisseans got to stick together."

"Ylisseans?" I murmur slightly, the word meaning more than it should coming from her.

Disengaging from us, Sully steps away and looks about. "Speaking of sticking together, it's been a while since we've seen Kellam. Poor fella's probably hauling all that gear himself."

"We should probably go back," I force out.

"We're going to have to. There's plenty of supplies left to bring over. He won't be able to do it himself."

She gestures for me to follow. Trailing behind, I call out.

"Sully?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you," I say as earnestly as I can.

She stops, responding with a hardy thumbs up and a quick wink over her shoulder. "No problem."

Huh, maybe things aren't quite as bad as they could be.

---

I take that back. I take it all back!

Mountains are suppose to be pretty, right? Scenic vistas. Snowy caps on the backdrop of a bright blue sky. Nope! Not this one! Maribelle's home is a craggy mishmash of jagged peaks clumped together on a conveniently gray, soggy sky today. Hardly inspiring for a mission. The surrounding lands have picked up in tree foliage giving us a hidden vantage point of the target standing out on the front of the mountain face.

To be fair, Themis is an architectural marvel. If Akaneia had a wonders of the world thing going on, Ironhold would be one of them. Even from miles away, the city had been easy to see. Carved into the external plane, Ironhold looks half swallowed into the landmark. The outer defensive wall is the only part clearly brought from foreign soil, a bright difference to the natural darkened stone of the range. Though the Iron mountains are filled with the precious metal, their composition is mostly from a stone exclusive to this world. Shiss rock is hardy and black, with a certain smooth sheen to them. It gives the mountains their dark, sometimes black color. It's intimidating.

Amid the rock, chimneys and the boxed edges of buildings stand out. The whole city was rumored to be filed and cut to perfection by a team of one thousand wind mages. Whether or not that's the truth, there is serious precision in the perfect angles of the semi-submerged structures. The true work of art is the keep itself. It gleams tall and foreboding under the sun, its spires rising out to arrogantly observe all around. Balconies can be seen where violet colored trees spread their flowering arms to shade the floor below. A lone pole where Themis' banner would hang stands bare, a sign of the fallen keep to foreign invaders.

Ironhold's entrance is locked three gates deep for maximum protection. The gatehouse is the size of a small hall. Atop the thick wall are a great number of towers, each housing a devastating arbalest that's active and ready to fire. One shot from the machine could level a good chunk of land and all with it. Ironhold Keep is meant to be a long lasting refuge. Thankfully we have Maribelle's backdoor to sneak us in.

Hidden where we are, I'm waiting with a few other members of my team before we split to our respective roles. There's a tension in the air and everyone is trying to act normal to cover their nerves. I'm finding it hard to do so however.

I lean back on my heels, face contorting in disbelief at the prospect of taking on such a daunting place. "I still can't believe we have to sneak into that."

Henry's trademark laugh, which would be actually unnerving if he didn't look so genuinely nonthreatening, answers my pathetic wail. With the cloudy weather and heavy shade, he's let his hood down and beams up at me. I'm glad to see his bad sunburn has been healed.

He shifts on the log he sits upon, throwing out his cape to rest behind him. Henry looks at the mountain as well, cocking his head to the side with intrigue. "Aw, what's the matter? Feeling a bit 'peaked'?"

The pun makes the situation seem somehow normal. I'd have laughed either way but my desperation for a sense of calm makes it come harder and heavier. So much I'm actually sniffling. My display's grabbed Lucina's attention, who's also been standing by to observe the newest additions to our cast. She sidles over and asks what's funny, a fact I barely manage to describe through chuckles.

She stares at me a long time, clearly deep in thought over the joke.

"I don't understand," she admits with a shake of her head.

"Well it's a mountain, you see?" Henry kindly points out.

Lucina watches him, waiting for a further explanation.

"And she looks sort of sick?"

More staring.

"Aaaaaand mountains have peaks?"

For once, Henry looks mildly upset. His cheer fades away and he observes her like he's staring at a great mystery. "Wow, Lady. You sure aren't the sharpest beak in the flock, are ya?" he muses as he taps the crown of his skull.

Of the two personnel assigned to watch over Henry on this mission, Frederick is the first to speak. His tone is deep and rumbles like the thunder storm that just passed us by. "Mage, you will address Lady Marth with proper respect. Understand?"

"Whoa. No need to twist your small clothes in tiny little bunches." The white haired mage perks up, snapping his fingers in excitement. "Actually, that sounds like a great idea. New curse idea, incoming!"

The whimsy of the moment strikes, the temptation too great to pass. I give a wheezy snicker, trying to talk straight as I deliver this golden material. "Henry, careful not to test it on Frederick or you might make him 'crack'."

Henry's pearly whites open wide, eager to join in the conspiracy. "And then he'd be the 'butt' of everyone's jokes."

"Wouldn't that be a 'bum' situation?" I continue.

"Enough!" Frederick roars. He's gone rigid, fingers digging so deep in his arms the gauntlets are scraping across the metal.

The soft voice of our second anomaly drifts in, attempting to calm the angered knight. "Let them have their fun, Sir Frederick. A bit of levity before the battle will do their spirits good."

"Thank you Libra," I say sweetly, batting my eyes mockingly at Frederick. All I'm given in response is a great hmph as he turns away.

Yes, Libra is here also playing bodyguard to Henry. After the clerics did what they did to determine the boy safe, Chrom was left with the decision of what to do with him. Henry isn't the only Plegian currently on hand. As I said before, we've scooped up the stranded and a few brave deserters. There's no lack of suspicions, but Henry is a special case. With Panne's testimony of him being the one to warn her of the attack on Emmeryn, it makes his case a teeny bit stronger. But, only by a bit. He's mainly here because of his ability to play eyes and ears in the fort with his crows. The trust doesn't go far enough to include him on Maribelle's portion of the quest, but it's enough to give him a chance to prove himself while under the watchful eye of both Frederick and a talented priest of Naga. Libra's past interactions with the Shepherd's brought him immediately to mind as a reference even before I could suggest it.

So here we are. Libra's a bit early and Henry even more so. While neither are official Shepherds yet, the door's been opened! Two less to worry about.

"You know I gotta say, you're pretty nice for a priest." Henry boldly pulls on the back of Libra's travel cloak to reveal Naga's brand on the back. "Considering the fact you like to burn us up all crispy when you find us. Or smash our faces in until buckets of blood spill."

"Henry, that's impossible," Libra remarks in surprise. He gently pries his clothing away from the boy's hands, unsettled by the accusation.

Henry's red eyes are barely visibly under the scrutinizing gaze of curiosity he gives the cleric beside him. "Mm, maybe you're right." He counts off one finger at a time, calculating in his head an unseen equation. "That might be too many. There's not that much blood in the human body. It's more realistic to say two buckets of blood spill. Or just a single if you get one really, really deep."

"That is not...what I meant," Libra softly refutes. "There is no burning upon the stake nor mindless slaughtering."

The priest pauses, deep in reflection. "At least not of recent years."

"Huh. And here I thought all gods liked a good ritualistic blood sacrifice. We always had ours on the second day of the week." Henry leans over and picks a stick off the ground. He remains hunched as he starts to draw circles in the dirt. "So what's Naga a fan of? Eyeball jelly? Finely ground bones? Charred tongue?"

Libra's false cheer is masking the clear unease he's experiencing listening to the young mage rattle off. Reaching for an example, he pulls up a nearby wildflower from the ground.

"Naga prefers the gift of life. Clean spring water is set in an emerald laden bowl before her. Seeped inside is our homage to her, flowers petals and freshly harvested herbs from the prairie. She responds most favorably to buds of the Mila Tree and blue Naga Drops from Mount Prism."

Libra extends the flora to Henry, who takes it gingerly. Henry swirls it between his thumb and forefinger. "Oh."

He pulls on an outer petal and plucks it. Holding it eye level, he observes the tiny floral leaf. "That's actually really boring."

Libra's eyelids flutter in surprise at Henry's tone. The Plegian sounds disinterested as he continues. "That's not what they taught back home. Someone's not going to be happy when they find out their whole curriculum is based on a lie."

"How many cycles have come to pass and I still have yet to grow use to him?" I hear Lucina complain under her breath as she watches the strange conversation pass between the respective parties.

Amidst the duo's discussion, Lissa has been hovering. Throughout it, she's stepped closer and closer until she stands directly behind the war monk. Ylisse's youngest princess has been glaring at both of Libra's axes the whole time, conflicted on whether or not to extend her lingering hand any further to touch them.

"Is there something you need, your Highness?" Libra finally asks, unable to ignore her any longer.

"Oh nothing. Just looking is all," she answers, concentration never wavering. "They just look so big up close."

"They're quite alright to touch. 'tis only metal and wood."

Hearing the okay, Lissa decides to make a move. The whole act causes Frederick to angle just enough to shoot a disapproving expression at Libra. The priest only responds with his serene trademark look.

Lissa pushes up both of her sleeves and flexes her fingers. She wraps both hands around the smaller throwing ax and lets out a wimpy grunt as she tries to lift it. Giving it a practice swing, she then performs a full range chop with the weapon. Her enthusiasm causes her to overexert the effort and she goes spinning with it.

"Whoops!"

Numerous sources shout Lissa's name in panic, each ending abruptly in some form of alarm as the weapon slips from her grasp. The ax goes flying, circling a metallic hum as it cuts through the air. Stahl lets out a loud eep and dives into Ricken, knocking the two to the ground as the weapon embeds itself in the tree trunk just above the mage. There's a solid crack as it splits the bark, Ricken's large hat pinned under it. The two look up at the ax, dazed.

"Oh my gods! Ricken! I am SO sorry!" Lissa shouts in horror, skirts swishing as she scrambles to get off the ground. Her apologizes follow after her, along with a clearly disgruntled Lon'qu emerging from his watchful spot on a nearby tree. He mutters loudly as he dashes after her, clearly annoyed she's managed to find another way to be a danger to herself.

"Princess Lissa, has...quite the grip," Libra smiles shakily.

"Had she chosen to attend more training as I instructed, perhaps her handling of the weapon would not be so poor!" Frederick remarks hastily as he sprints in her direction to maintain disaster control. The fast tempo of his feet mingle with the soundtrack of Henry's amused chuckles.

"She's already showing an interest," Owain quietly remarks behind me. Lucina and I both turn from the ensuing disaster to find her cousin gazing intensely on the scene. Nah's arrived with him, the two drawn in by the noise. She seems less enthused and more horrified at what she's seen.

"An interest in what?" I ask.

Lucina ghosts a smile, lost in memories. She speaks only loud enough for us to hear. "Aunt Lissa told us her desire to follow the path of a war cleric was bred from the Plegian war. She hated the fact that others would consistently put themselves forth for her safety because she could not protect herself."

"Indeed!" Owain trumpets a bit too loud. He winces in apology and joins Lucina's level, his exuberance no less than before. He throws his fist out, shaking it with passion. "So the great third born of her line cast aside her weakness and embraced the irresistible yearning that sang deep in her breast. With many a night of dauntless devotion, my fabled matron held aloft her weapon with pride soaked in sweat and blood. A true warrior emerged!"

He looks back over to where both his parents stand. Lon'qu's learned to stand closer to her, a foot from her back. His ward is kneeling beside a still floored Ricken, the boy breathing heavy in shock. She's doing what she can to help calm him.

Owain softens, his persona melting away. "She'd...always remain a healer at heart, however."

Nah has yet to comment. I note she's watching Owain with a puckered face, one she tries to hide by looking quickly away. She pulls nervously at the sides of her dress, lip bit tightly in emotion. I can't tell if she's hiding nerves or jealousy. Poor kid. I can't imagine how much she's suffering not knowing the whereabouts of her mother. Maybe her father too, as I'm still clueless to that. Gods, I can't keep screwing this up. I've got to focus harder on my mission, for their sake!

"Robin?" Lucina call my name in concern.

My feelings must be leaking through. I throw out a quick joke to deter the concern. "I'm fine. Just remembering all your faces when you saw Henry skip in. Frederick's face looks exactly the same way it did when you dropped that box of tomatoes on him."

When we marched in with the Plegian mage in tow, there were a lot of extreme reactions. Lucina's was the most priceless. She'd been on an upper ledge handing down to Frederick a crate of vegetables. Her initial look was of disinterest before she immediately did a double take. I saw her mouth move in some unheard word, her grasp weakening in the surprise. Without the support on one end, the box dropped and emptied out tomatoes all over Frederick's head. Her surprise swiftly changed to terror as the great knight wiped red goop away from his face with the back of his sleeve. Guess who got dish washing duty that night?

"I had not meant to. I did not expect to see...him following after you all ran out of the fort," she responds indignantly. "A whole war too soon. I would never have imagined our actions to take us this far from course."

"Did you know he was in the band of mages working the dragon cannon?" I say as I pull her away to the side for privacy.

"Do you think I would not have mentioned such a thing if I did?" she glares. "His story does make sens. Henry is a prodigy, his prowess famous among his own academics even if they have no face to place to the legend. For a weapon so complex, it does not surprise me he would be among the most practiced casters selected by the Plegian army to function it."

I go over the exact details in my head, reciting the lines I received on the report Henry's interrogators made. "And your surprise attack on the mages caused them to scatter for safety. That, combined with Plegia's hasty retreat, left him stranded on enemy lines."

"According to mistress Panne, he need not have stayed," she corrects me. "He may very well have attempted to retreat to both Ironhold or the Pass. Apparently she is the reason he stayed."

"That's so bizarre. But that has to be the truth, right? He's no schemer. I'd believe it."

"Indeed. Plegia's success was circumvented by our intrusion, preventing their clean escape and the stranding many. In past cycles, Henry would have always returned to Plegia with the rest of his comrades. But our intervention and the arny's subsequent loss changed that." Lucina rotates her wrist around, demonstrating the environment around us. "And now? We stand in the shadow of Ironhold Keep."

She whispers the next part with hesitation. "We've changed so much."

"For the good!" I confidently remind her. "Do you realize what's happened since coming to Fort Tyr? Our route has changed! We've avoided the ambush that takes place while Ylisse was hastily pushing for the capital of Plegia. The same one that kills Maribelle."

"You rejoice too quickly," Lucina rebukes. "We are set to infiltrate the fiercest fort in Ylisse. Should we escape from this event unscathed, then I will consider celebrating."

Can this girl ever seen anything positively? "Killjoy."

"I prefer to see it as realism," she counters bluntly.

The harshness of her statement brings up the concerns I've been trying to suppress. I've been getting by so far, unable to ever fully shake Caeda's words from my mind. I can't help but wonder how confronting Lucina is going to affect our relationship for the future. Honestly, it could go any way. What I do know is that there's an integral mission happening and going into it with the potential for a deep rift between us is not a good idea. We both need to go into this with a clear head to achieve victory. I've tried to hold it in. Yet, there's a needle of doubt threading a great ball of guilt and I can't unravel it until I know the truth.

I...

"Hey," I find myself saying. "Can we make a deal?"

"A what?" Lucina wonders at my abrupt statement. "Why?"

"Look," I say, breathing deep, "if I can make it through this with everyone alive, can we talk?"

I know she hasn't caught on to my meaning because she looks confused. "Robin, we may talk whenever you wish."

"No, not that type of talk. The talk," I emphasize. Seeing her continued look of puzzlement, I elaborate further.

"I had a chat with Caeda. About you...and your past. Robin's past." This isn't the full blown thing. I just want her to know what's coming. What needs to be done. "She didn't want to tell me anything. She preferred I ask you first if given the choice."

Lucina's features go blank but her eyes remain calculating. She never averts her gaze from mine, searching my face for more answers than I can give.

"And what did you do?" she asks slowly.

"I honored her wish," I reply, trying to sound somewhat more positive in an attempt to combat her stand-offish nature. "If Caeda would rather I hear it from you, I will."

Lucina drops her chin to her chest. "That...is very much like her," she says sadly.

Quick to band-aid the situation, I explain my angle on this. "I don't want this mission to distract either of us. It's too important to go in with a cloudy mind or some big block between us. That's why I haven't pushed yet. But after this, I really don't have a choice. Not with what I did manage to get from her."

Lucina remains as she is, so I continue. "I don't need to be protected from this. I have every much a right to know the truth as you. Upset as it makes me, I can't hold a grudge against you. She helped me understand where your thinking may lie. But I deserve the right to know. You said we were equals, right? So prove it. Talk to me like we're partners in this."

"Let's trade," I conclude, throwing my hand out for a shake. "I give you Maribelle and Brady's lives, you give me Robin's. Fair?"

Her head tips up, just enough to stare down my outstretched palm. Lucina moves one hand out. At first I think she's about to grab mine to seal our deal. Instead, she grips around my wrist and pushes it down. We lock eyes and her voice drops.

"Is your plan not to go home? To eventually return to the life you once led?"

Her grasp is firm, but not painful. This is not a friendly shake. "I had hoped to," I reply warily.

"Then why burden yourself further? You were blessed with ignorance to the grand scheme of it all." Her voice shakes, almost pleading. "Robin, you are a good woman. You need not be the vessel to carry her burdens. Do what you must then go home. Live a better life than what's been allotted to you and your future here."

She finishes with one final heartbreaking word.

"Please," she begs.

Me? My future? I gawk at her, blown away at the broken emotion she's addressing me with. Her eyes plead under her passive mask.

"Robin. Marth."

Panne's sudden appearance scares us both, causing us to jump a foot apart. The Taguel hardly reacts to us, foot shifting through the dirt impatiently. "We are to leave now. The others have concluded the way is safe."

"O-Okay! Great, we're right behind you. Just have to get our gear," I stutter.

Panne turns away without another glance and disappears, leaving us back to the awkward state we just shared. Not what I wanted!

"We'll pick this up later then?" I remark as casually as I can. "No pressure. We're good."

Lucina mumbles something to placate me as she makes for our parked bags. I follow and soon find the whole group scrambling. With both teams ready, we split apart to our respective routes. The main army will head to their point to wait while we retreat to the mountain passage. With scouting reports coming up clear, we traverse the woods easily to the designated gate at the back edge of the mountain.

Panne leads the rest of us to where Maribelle and Gaius wait, the Duchess meeting us herself halfway. She fills the air with chatter about the dangers of the mountain as we make our way there. I'm plenty happy to reach our destination, her grisly descriptions of death by avalanche and spider babies making my skin crawl.

The small clearing barely holds us all, the trees wrapped around us in a tight embrace. We emerge to find Gaius bent over with his back to us. A curtain of vines is draped around him as he works at an indentation in the rock face. The dark wall we face is flat, barely a scratch to it aside from the natural junctures formed by erosion. I can't see anything resembling a door.

Chrom seems to share my sentiment, head bobbing up and down as he observes the scene. "This is it?Looks to be a simple stone wall to me."

Maribelle pauses before the wall, running a hand over the glossy surface. Her curls tumble over her shoulder as she turns to give a coy smile. "It would not be a secret path if it were that easy to discern, would it, milord?"

He rubs the tip of his nose with his thumb, blanching in shame. "True."

Beside me, Owain mutters something while making a familiar clenching motion with his fist.

"Did you say something Chris?" I ask, already aware of the speech brewing inside him.

"I am merely basking in the moment, Lady Robin. The holding of bated breath before the magnificent storm that shall sweep over this mountain in its fury." He swipes his hand across his face, eyes sparking with fire. "I tremble in anticipation of the moment we step into the gaping mouth of the mountain to be swallowed in its darkness, the only bastions of light holding back the ever pressing breath of the void!"

"Mhm," I can't help chuckling. "I feel you. The pulsating of my own blood drums in my ears, the thirst for victory a rising tempo that stirs my fighting spirit onward!"

"That's..." He drops his arm, going starry-eyed. "That's excellent!"

He rushes up and leans in on his tiptoes. "Can I borrow that?"

Before I can reply, Owain is jerked back by his collar with a choked gasp. Nah pulls him away, sighing.

"Tell him no. Please. For all our sakes."

"But it's a perfect line!" he flails. "I can't let this pass into the ether, never to be used again!"

"I think you can," Nah denies in exasperation.

He twists out of her grasp, pulling his shirt back in order. "Tiki, how else can I prepare for battle?"

"Like a normal human?" she argues.

"Easy you two," Chrom calls over to us. Despite the gravity of the situation, the childish antics of the two seem to have charmed him.

"I don't remember the stories regarding Lady Tiki as being so surly," he adds playfully to Nah.

Owain splits into a great grin. "Thank you un-...uh, Chrom!"

The familial term stirs Chrom, the title both alien and welcoming to his ears. His eyes linger a moment longer on the boy, savoring the name, before continuing. "Sorry, I had not meant to intrude. I just couldn't help overhearing."

"It's hard not to hear," Nah huffs.

"Yet it's not truly harming anyone. If Chris feels he will be at his best by preparing himself as such, then who are we to deny him. I need everyone here at their prime, motivations included. Perhaps you could let him have his moment to prepare, just for the sake of the mission?"

Nah's ears redden in embarrassment and she pulls her hood up. She clenches it tight under her chin to hide her face. "Right," she shies away. "Sorry Chris."

"I-" Owain clears his throat, bowing his head bashfully. "I accept. Thank you Tiki, for understanding."

I tap the back of Lucina's heel with my own to get her attention, which has since drifted to Gaius and Maribelle's fighting. I dip my head in the two male royals' direction just in time for her to catch the rather sweet interaction between uncle and nephew as they shared a victorious look of understanding and kinship.

Her mouth parts just enough to emit a barely audible gasp. She eats up the scene like starved woman. I know she's locking away that precious memory forever, a treasure she very well may never see again if we fail. I'm rewarded with an appreciative flit of her lips, lost quickly to focus on Maribelle's rising voice.

"Gaius, you claimed you would have this open by the time I arrived. It has been well passed and I see no progress!"

The thief is still hunched over and working furiously at the door. His tools are in disarray over the felt bag he keeps them in. He tosses aside the instrument in his hand and snatches up another, appraising the edge of it before returning to his duty. "I estimated," he corrects her. "There's a clear difference between knowing and guessing."

"You are keeping us waiting."

Gaius pops on both knees and waves his tool right under the Duchess' nose, causing her to jerk back in surprise. He waggles it, voice thick in annoyance. "Listen here, cupcake. You think you can pick clean a fabled Sturgeon's lock faster than me, I welcome you to it. Otherwise, let a man do his job."

Chrom lets out a deep exhale and walks over. "Maribelle, leave him be. Badgering him won't speed up the process."

"Thanks Blue," Gaius throws to the prince before returning to work.

Chrom pulls the fussing Maribelle aside. I can't blame her for being slightly on edge. She's got to be anxious about this mission. There's a lot of weight on her shoulders and it must be stifling her conscience. Being stuck before we even begin isn't a great start.

Curious of the obstacle, those of us remaining crowd around the alleged frame of the door. We join Panne who has been observing the wall in her own quiet world. She faintly acknowledges us, moving aside to allow us in.

There's nothing I can see by my own eye that would denote a door. According to Maribelle, it's a set of double doors meant to swing outward. The vines running beside it hide the keyhole and mechanism used to open it. In any other instance, she could have opened it herself. The assault on her keep left little time to think about grabbing keys in her flight, leaving us to undo the door the old fashion way.

"Impressive," Lucina admits, scratching a finger against the smooth surface. "I can see no tampering on the surface."

Panne surprises us all with a grunt of appreciation. "Almost a seamless blend to the rock. Impressive for a man-made creation."

She steps up next to the girl, placing her own palm flat to the rock. She runs it up the side and then in a great arch, pointing out the top of the frame.

"It's very slight," Nah squints behind the Taguel. Their height difference is amazing because Nah dwarfs Panne in size when transformed, yet it remains the opposite now. "The crease runs almost perfectly with the crack there. They carved this to match the natural fissures of the stone."

Panne regards the young manakete with more open fondness than many others. "You have keen eyes, child."

"What would be most impressive is if the door would open," Maribelle sighs impatiently behind us.

"Anyone try saying the magic word?" I crack humorously. It does little to lessen her mood.

"I highly doubt this door is rune inscribed. Though, I would not know the incantation if it was."

In a moment of whimsy, I face the door and wiggle my hands around in a spellcasting fashion.

"Mellon?"

Nope. All I get is the ticking of Gaius' tools and few clueless stares.

"Unfortunately not," Maribelle apologizes. "Had there been a key phrase, the enchanter would most likely have reflected a phrase tied to the immediate surroundings. Fruit would have nothing to do with it."

This leaves me with a profound sadness. Alas, the agony of being the only one who gets a good inside joke. Wasted material.

A shadow darts by and the air fills with the hectic flap of a bird's wings. A crow descends at a steep glide toward Panne, who extends her arm in welcome. It lands atop her outstretched limb giving a quick caw in greeting. It hops up and extends a leg where a strip of paper is tied with bright yellow string. She gently unwraps it and takes in the message.

"The remaining Shepherds send word. They are nearing their point and await our move."

"Good," Chrom exclaims. "If we time this right, we can reach the keep by nightfall and wait for the cover of darkness to move. Does everyone have their cloaks with them?"

A collective yes runs through the group. My own article of clothing is tucked away neatly at the top of my pack. Salvaged from the enemy, we distributed a standard issue Plegian cloak to each member of the squad. My hope was that it would give a chance for cover should we find ourselves unable to avoid personnel in the city. The cloaks come with deep hoods that cover most of the face. It may not be much, but if we have to end up blending in for some reason, we'll have some way to try and go undetected.

"Bingo," Gaius states triumphantly between the picks clenched in his teeth.

The wall shakes. Inside I can hear the metallic squeak of ancient gears grinding together. The rock face opens like magic, two doors slowly breaking apart in perfect symmetrical fashion. Dust blows toward us as if the mountain were letting out a great exhale after holding its breath for centuries. The whirring eventually comes to an end leaving a great black abyss exposed before us.

Gaius leaps up and delivers a shallow bow. "Ladies and gents, we're in."

"Finally!" Maribelle stalks forward brandishing her parasol like a weapon. A new crystal sits at the tip of her umbrella, one she rubs her hand over with the activation of her own magic. The stone glows with a hot, blinding white. She steps into the mouth of the cave system and shines it inward. The light illuminates a good ten feet of space before being swallowed up by the inky black beyond.

A cold draft rolls over us bringing a damp, musty smell. Nah recoils and vigorously rubs both elbows through her clothes. "Creepy."

Panne looks even more put off by the sight, her nose twitching in disgust. She finishes scrawling something with a charcoal stick on the back of the paper before retying it to the bird. "The air is foul and dead. Few living things call this place home."

On the contrary to her companions, Maribelle seems right at home. She has no trouble taking five more steps in. A part of me wants to drag her out, fearful a monster is going to come out and suck her up in the darkness beyond.

"We need not enjoy this," she remarks casually. "The trip only requires us to traverse one path. We shall be free of it by the start of the eve if we do not stop or linger long in the tunnels. We are directly below the city and have little space to travel."

There's a shared reluctance in the way we file in, everyone's huddled closer than normal for security reasons. I notice Nah hovering in the entrance and I pause. The others walk around me as I wait for her. She's hesitating, gaze on the back of the cave.

"Tiki, you coming?" I call out.

"This place...I thought I heard...," Nah shakes her braids in protest. Stalking past, she denies her previous mood. "It's nothing. Never mind me."

"Okay?" I quickly follow after her.

Entering the cave is like passing through a new plane of existence. The feelings is instantaneous. All warmth is sucked away leaving a cold shroud to settle over me like a veil. The slow loss of light is disorienting. The deeper I step in, the harder it is to continue. There's this sense of trepidation that ensnares me as I lose the open world outside for these cramped tunnels. Thousands of years of rock rest around me. I'm entering a realm that isn't mine, and the goosebumps that run up my arms remind me of this.

I can now smell what Panne did, at least to a degree. The first full inhale feels slightly polluted to the rain soaked smells of fresh dirt and leaves. This is air is stale. It's oxygen that's stayed trapped under the weight of stone, mingling only with dust and murky precipitation. The gaping tunnel ahead draws me in, making me shiver. Another wind brushes over my face, fine and unseen like spider webs. My imagination is overwhelmed. I swear I hear a wispy laugh, as if the mountain is mocking my fear.

I don't like this place.

Pushing aside my silly feelings, I quickly wiggle my way to the front and pull out my map for a waiting Maribelle. Chrom joins me and the three of us summarize the plan again.

The map looks bone white under the lighting, and the ghostly etchings bleed to life in a disturbing fashion under the lingering ambiance. An in-depth detailing of Maribelle's map come to life on my own, threading out in its inky grid form. I zoom out, enlarging the network to its fullest. Our cluster of life is a tiny flurry at the base of the mountain. To my relief, no other dots seem visible from this far out. We look to be alone in the numerous passages.

"So far, so good," I breath. "I don't think the enemy has discovered your tunnels."

"As it should be. I am thankful none the less," Maribelle shares in relief.

"The paths may be clear now, but we shouldn't let our guard down. It may be possible that no one inhabits the tunnels at the moment. I want an eye on your map at all times, regardless," Chrom warns.

"Got it, Captain."

Maribelle huddles in closer, drawing attention to the space above where we stand. She traces through the single path we are on and turns left at the first intersection we reach. I follow her motion all the way up to where the edge of her keep's structure peeks at the top corner of the page.

"The path we must take is this here. It is a simple one, as we are traveling straight to the courtyard."

"Looks like aside from one juncture, we stick to the left path at all times," Chrom observes.

The simplicity of the route eases off a bit of the edge from the mission. "Straightforward, I like it. Little chance to get lost."

"The exit is here," Maribelle concludes, accidentally touching the surface of the paper. She purses her lips in surprise, then stumbles out an apology as I draw up the markings again. "This opening shall empty into a space between the outer wall and private terrace. Should those cravens have managed to keep this building intact, the path to Gaius' route will be found behind the stables."

"For the record," he shouts behind us, "I was never involved in the construction of that route."

"As if that would help when faced with the accumulation of your other crimes," she mutters. "Back to what I was saying, that is what we must know for now. We shall review the next phase of our plan as soon as we reach the city. Is that well for you, my Lord?"

"Fair enough." Chrom backs away and waves everyone in for attention. "Alright everyone, listen up. I want us to arrange ourselves just as we were assigned. If all is well, you have little to worry on this route. These tunnels should be home to nothing but bats and beetles. Nevertheless, there are numerous tunnels one can get lost in. Stick close to the group and alert us to anything that may arouse suspicion. While we should be mostly covered, there have been rare exceptions that Robin's map does not pick up."

The group bumps elbows and knees as we struggle to arrange ourselves in the tight space of the corridor. While doing so, Chrom ushers a final warning to us all.

"The ease of this branch does not allow for laxness. I expect you to be just as alert now as you would be on the battlefield. I don't have to remind you how much of a risk this is. Not just to us, but the rest of our people waiting beyond the gates. Our new source has found that Plegia has another regiment heading to Ironhold, due for arrival in ten day's time. This keep needs to fall into our hands by then. Understand?"

Another round of yeahs, these more resolute than before as the sincerity of the situation sinks in.

"Alright. If we have no more questions in regards to the execution of this leg, we'll head off. This stretch is going to take us time to traverse and there's little time to linger. Let's get a move on."

Up front, Panne and Maribelle take the lead. The combination of her light and Panne's sensitive hearing play as our strongest deterrent to any surprises at hand. I follow right on their heels, the light of her parasol keeping my map readable for both Chrom and I to observe. Chris and Marth pair up behind us and Gaius trails behind with Nah. Moving in sets of two gives us the most space with the tunnel narrowing and widening at random. Unlike the original tunnels which rise up at the highest of thirty feet, these smaller man-made tunnels were made for humans only. The lack of room is annoying at times.

Not just annoying, but distracting as well! Sully's words have put me on edge and it's caused my concentration to break a few times, much to my annoyance. I like to think I'm good at pushing aside pesky emotional disruptions for the sake of the mission, but sometimes the brush of our hips or the knock of an elbow causes that nervous twisting in my lower stomach to fluster. I just force myself to stare harder at the map, absorbing the steady climb of our dots until my vision is peppered in blue.

The path itself is a steadily sloping ascent. In the damp, closed-in quarters, it's hard to tell we're rising. The situation is a claustrophobic mess and the only thing keeping us sane is the occasional chatter that sparks up every so often.

While the weight of what's to come presses on our heads, it doesn't stop us from seeking a way to distract ourselves. Someone asks what's the first thing we'll have to clean after freeing the camp and another starts spouting ideas for a victory feast. Maribelle remains mostly silent, her grim focus saved for the mission ahead. Nah also says little even when confronted by her friends. I can tell she's more on edge than she's ever been. She drawn into herself, every step a touch too soft. She constantly stops to look over her shoulder. When asked what's wrong, she just replies she's unnerved.

Whatever it is that seems to upset her, it's not of a physical form as far as I can tell. The map's remained clean this whole adventure. I suspect she's simply unnerved by the whole atmosphere. If something were stalking us, we'd have been attacked by now. Or at least I would have. I'm sure of it, or so says my gut.

"So, Junior's a fun guy." Gaius' voice bounces around us, breaking our longest silence yet after the last conversation. "How do you think the others are handling him?"

"Junior?" Chrom repeats, unsure of the identity behind the new nickname.

"The new kid. Willowy, white as sugar, creepy laugh?" Gaius identifies.

"The boy is named Henry," Panne growls out from the front. If there's one thing I've learned from watching the two interact, both the mage and the Taguel have established a strong familial connection. Panne's not the most nurturing type, but I would say the way she stalked about the hall they kept him in for questioning was a fine display of concern and anger.

"Ignore him," I say, trying to calm Panne down. "Gaius gives everyone a pet name, it's not meant to be offensive. That's just his thing."

She emits a disgruntled sound of warning from the back of her throat that unsettles the thief.

"We've removed his tome and placed a temporary silence spell on him. He won't be able to cause any trouble that way," Chrom explains as he ducks under a low hanging root that slithers along the wall. He holds up the loose ends with his forearm allowing me to duck under without it tangling in my hair.

"He can't cast, sure. But that flock of birds he has flying around freely could be a problem if he wants it."

"I have told him to behave. He will listen to me," Panne reassures us confidently.

We reach the only intersection worth noting. Maribelle guides us right with her lighted orb. The air is getting colder making me wish I brought thicker gloves.

"You sure that kid will listen to you, Whiskers?"

Panne stops in the middle of the path and turns around. Her eyes have a wild gleam in the bend of the light behind her, masking her face in wild shadows.

"Yes."

Her tone leaves no room to argue. She twists around returns to her original pace. Gaius, meanwhile, ruffles the back of his hair and shrugs with one arm in defeat. "Alright, then."

"Strange of you to argue, Gaius, given how we came to recruit you amid the ranks of Plegian assassins," Maribelle speaks for the first time in a long while. Her snide jab is meant to get a rise from him but it barely affects the easy-going thief.

"Yeah, 'cept I'm born and bred Ylissean. Treason ain't a crime I'm looking to commit. That should be the last thing you have to worry about."

"I wouldn't have anyone here if their loyalty was in question. The Shepherds do not discriminate. Our present actions are what matter, not the past," Chrom interrupts, ending the argument prematurely. There's not much to debate there.

"As for Henry, Panne's word isn't the only thing verifying his truth. I've even had Miriel see to him. The general consensus seems to be he presents a danger more to himself than anyone else."

"That sounds...bad," Nah whispers to one of the cousins behind me.

"There's other details that work in favor for him, ones that needn't be expanded upon just yet. Know that we've spoken and taken necessary steps to ensure his and our safety," Chrom concludes.

He's right. I read the reports brought in on him. Henry was a model prisoner, if that's the right word to call him for the hours they confined him. He obediently answered every question and made no threatening remarks or movements. At worst, he annoyed one cleric with own incessant questioning of the mundane. When would he see Panne again? Could he have some milk? Simple things.

That's one way a cleric described him. Simple. She denoted his Grimleal upbringing bred him to only answer commands and find joy in achieving directives. Miriel instantly scoffed at the novice analysis and expanded greatly on the psyche we're more familiar with. She confirmed he's a fully capable individual but socially inept. He lacks a filter and is highly impressionable, trying to mold himself into an appeasing profile that would be accepted by his desired company. He has a basic understanding of right and wrong but is skewed thanks to his upbringing...or lack of one. She made a remark on his apparent albinism and the social stigma that's tied to it in many countries, including Plegia. Considered an ill omen, he was probably sent away as a child or given straight to the Grimleal to take care of. There was probably a healthy dose of ostracization mixed in.

Given what I know from the game, she isn't that far off. Not at all. And that just makes me ill to think about. Poor Henry...

"Hope you're right Blue. Being Plegian is one thing. But this kid's an authentic Grimleal. They give death cults a whole new meaning," Gaius warns.

"Gaius this-

"Hold! Everyone!" Maribelle's command cuts into the dark, the acoustics enhancing the sharpness of her order.

Even as Chrom twists around and holds up a hand to stop our march, everyone's already froze the second she spoke. Turning back with the swish of his cape, he steps up to the forefront with hand on sword. I'm only a step behind.

"What's the problem?" he immediately asks.

Panne and Maribelle exchange a look. Slowly, Maribelle extends her parasol forward to illuminate the foreground. The path extends five or so feet forward before disappearing. The jagged edge work of the path is proof of the flooring that has crumbled away under the impact of a large cave-in. Debris litters the cutoff and what remains of the path. The only ground left borders the right wall and is just enough space for one person to walk along at a time. Very. Carefully. Stalactites hang heavy overhead and could easily be walked into without ducking.

Maribelle brings her parasol overhead to light the ceiling. There are stumps where other stalactites once hung. The roots are all broken, evidence they came crashing down into the floor below taking chunks with it.

"Fun," I gulp, eying the deep drop before us. I kick a stray stone and watch it tumble over the edge. The rock bounces against the wall and then ceases to make any further noise. That's a long drop.

"This looks recent," Chrom comments as he walks to the remaining portion of the tunnel walkway. Maribelle follows, casting the tip of her parasol over the path for better illumination.

"It is. Twas not the path I escaped on, but I do know our recent inspections came clear of damages. Such accidents are not uncommon though."

"You are all acting disheartened. The path may be smaller, but it remains!" Owain pops up in earnest between the two. He takes one confident step on the shaved ledge.

"Chris! Don't just go barreling into things that may be unstable!" Lucina runs up, grabbing him by the arm. As she pulls him back, the ground shakes. We all jump at the noise and leap away from the shaky path. The stone cracks and drops downward forming an uneven leveling.

Owain quickly untangles from Lucina. The scare leaves him looking vulnerable, fear etched over his features. He tries to seem brave by picking himself up and declaring some loud praise for his cousin's reflexes. Chrom immediately begins admonishing the reckless action as the others gather around the crumbling path. I half expect Nah to be yelling right next to Chrom, but she remains missing from the spectacle.

For the second time, I find the young manakete hovering behind us all. She's isolated in the back, staring down the tunnel just within the last vestiges our our light. Her silhouette standing against the black gives me some serious horror movie vibes. With her back to me, she reminds me of those creepy ghost girls who turn around with spooky faces to a well timed jump scare.

Really though, it's just Nah. There's nothing to be worried about.

I walk up behind her and call out nice and clear to prevent startling her. "Tiki, you're hanging back again. Did you hear something?"

"I..." Nah's fists bundle up and the hem of her dress, wringing the material. "Yes."

"I'm sure it's-"

Did she say yes?

I drop to one knee beside her and unfurl my map in a hurry. "What do you hear? Risen? Humans?"

"Dragons," she whispers.

My hand stops midway through tracing a finger across the map's surface. I raise my head, mute in shock at her admission.

"Oh, sorry!" she exhales shakily. "I didn't mean to sound like it's a problem. They don't pose a threat to us. They're long gone. The constant whining is just..." she exhales shakily. Nah places a hand against her angular ear as if to block out an annoying sound. "Really, really irritating."

"What do you mean they? What dragons?"

She stares forlornly into the distance at figures that aren't there. "Lucina told me the history of this place. The dragons...the earth clan members who died here. A piece of their souls still remain seeped in the stone. Their echoes are so loud. So angry."

Her face scrunches up and she clasps a hand over her other ear. "I can normally ignore them but sometimes they get loud. That rockfall stirred the whispers."

Is Nah serious? There's literal ghosts here? Angry dragon spirits floating about and haunting us out of sight? "Nah," I accidentally let loose her real name in my surprise, "are these...these ghosts a problem?"

"No." Nah almost giggles, her smile displaying sharpened canines amid the rows of her normal shaped teeth. "They're dead, just like I said before. They can't hurt you. Humans can't even hear them. It's just echoes of their spirit imprinted in the stone. I don't really know how to describe it."

Her smile fades and she hugs herself a bit tighter. "No one was alive to tell me. I just sort of...figured it out on my own. It's sort of like how we can commune with Naga if we meditate real hard. Our souls are full of magic, like pegasi or other similar creatures. If something extraordinary happens, we can effect the environment. Most of the times its just this, left over voices that echo or strong feelings that overwhelm the senses."

"That's new. I had no idea dragons were so, um, sensitive." Is that the right way to describe it? "Are you going to be okay? This sounds all sorts of odd. If I'd known this was going to be a problem for you, I wouldn't have brought you along."

"It is strange. It's not like I haven't encountered it before. I think it's much harder trying to describe to a human the sensation." Nah twiddles her thumbs behind her back. "I'm sorry if I've worried you. It's only a bother for me. It's just...the words are angry and they make me sad. I can't help them. Couldn't help them. They went crazy and died miles from the sun. So cold and alone. Sometimes I think they're almost talking to me and it makes me feel bad. But they aren't. It's just voices of the past."

Voices of the past, huh? Can something so fantastic happen? I suppose it could in a world where myths have come to life. If the dragons could leave behind physical marks like gouged walls and cracked bones, whose to say their magic can't exude into the world as well? That's chilling.

Nah shakes off the feeling and returns to her usual persona. Pulling up her hood to protect her neck from the chill, Nah turns away. "They're just really distracting. The sooner I leave, the better I'll feel."

I get off the ground and watch her leave. Curious, I peer one final time down the tunnel. I can't help but agree with her. Since coming into this place, it's just felt off. The atmosphere is oppressive. When I brought it up, Panne is the only one who shared the sentiment. Well, now it's Panne and Nah. The rest have carried on like it's just another cave to hike. They're more worried about the mission than the caves.

I can't help but wonder if I've felt so uneasy because of this negative juju floating around that Nah spoke of?

Leaning out, I press my ear against the dark just to try and listen. I block out the voices of my group, muffling them so all my concentration is pointed toward the shadows beyond. I feel like I need one of those tape recorders to capture and play back those...uh, what are they called? EVPs? Never went on a ghost hunt because I figured it was utter malarkey. Now look at me. Ha. Ha! Ghosts.

Beyond the ring of light, there is nothing. The stuff that makes deep space. In its depths there are only faint traces of nature. The rhythmic plip plop of water sinks into a puddle below. Somewhere far in the depths, rocks rolls down a wall in reaction to a deep rumble. Aside from this, there is little life to be heard.

The whole idea behind this place is gloomy. Dragons really are no different than humans. They bonded like us and enjoyed activities like we do. To know that a bunch of them tore each other apart in the deepest depths of the mountain with no one to hear their final cries is downright depressing.

And to think that the event is so traumatic that the very echoes of their screams stuck to the stones like fresh blood is just...urgh. If I had to leave some piece of myself behind, I wouldn't want it to be the bitter, crazy part. I'd rather leave behind my laugh or-or maybe my collection of recipes. Yeah! You could chuck a coin in a fountain as a tip and I'd whisper the secret ingredient to my zucchini bread in your ear. That's a lot more appealing than carrying over blood lust, doom, and gloom.

…..fury...

My breath catches.

Er, what?

My limbs lock up and press even harder. I didn't just hear something did I?

Ha, ha.

No way.

I could have...No. That's impossible. Now my brain is making shit up cause I'm spooking myself.

A long, cold chill runs up my spine. There's nothing there, physically. Yet I feel it travel up the base of my spine, bone by bone. The unseen finger tiptoes up between my shoulder blades and travels over my right arm. It spirals down like an unseen mist until it reaches my hand.

I let out a weak cry as I pull my hand to my chest. The brand on it stings briefly, like the stab of a needle right through it.

"Robin!"

"Nyaaaah!" I shriek, flailing away from the voice. "Don't eat me!"

Chrom steps back out of arm's reach. He makes a face as I stumble away, pressing a hand to my beating heart.

"C-Chrom, you startled me," I greet meekly.

"Apparently," he agrees, looking me up and down. "The last of the bridge is unstable. Maribelle needs to see your map again to find an alternate path around."

"Oh."

He looks over my shoulder into the darkness beyond. "Is everything alright? Tiki was over here before and now you."

"It's nothing," I interrupt. "The atmosphere is just getting to us. All scary shadows and whatnot."

"This isn't a time for ghost stories, Robin. I need you to focus," Chrom reprimands in exasperation. He beckons me along to follow. "Now come on over. We have to improvise a new path quickly to make up for lost time."

With a final glance, he strides off to the rest of the group.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I grit between clenched teeth and lightly pound a fist into my forehead. I have to be letting things get to me. Right? Right? How...With one last tentative look back, I eagerly break for the group and human comfort. Whatever these sensations are that Nah gets, she can keep them.

I really can't wait to get outside again.

---

A/N: Sorry if the chapter was clunky. I just couldn't decide on anything! All that fatigue from the holidays, I guess. : I

But wow! I had no idea there were so many Henry fans! Now I feel even more nervous writing him! Both he and Libra will obviously have more spotlight later, unfortunately it wouldn't seem very realistic to have Henry join Robin's portion of the battle with how uncertain everyone still is regarding his place here.

Caves though. What a creepy place to be. I had a lot of road trips in my childhood, and many stops we visited were cave systems. The tour guides would always think it cool to shut off the electricity as some point just to show how dark caves get. Holy cow, guys! Nothing can describe how disorienting it is to be submerged in utter darkness. It's Lovecraftian horror vibes right there! The darkness is suffocating and makes your senses start to go haywire.

Now that I've reached Revelations, I'm off to support grind. On top of that, I'm finally going to try and recruit some children! I ignored them until now to keep it a surprise for the end. I wonder how my little families will turn out?

And a mega huge thanks to Caellech Tiger Eye for building up a TV Tropes page for this. If getting a recommendation was like an academy award, this is like getting the Nobel peace prize! Thank you so, so much!

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Review Responses -

Caellach Tiger Eye – Well, I was excited to introduce Henry. I've been sitting on it since his crows started appearing in chapters months ago. I think it reflected in the writing.

I was reading Maribelle and Gaius' supports and the phrase she made about her family not being well known at all despite still maintaining noble status stuck out to me. So I got crafty! Panne's height is a creative choice as well. I want Taguel to stand a bit apart from humans. I can only see her as a very tall, athletic Amazonian type. She'll wreck you ala Wonder Woman. Yarne would look so intimidating and then confuse everyone by being the big softie he is!

The thing about making chapters at this point is that you have to pace them right. The main plot is going, characters are still being introduced, and existing ones have relationships evolving outside the main POV. Dropping in appropriate pieces between the build-up and execution of battles is a finicky thing and I find myself doubting my decisions even after I publish it. Was it the right time to divulge this? Did I explain this proper? Chapters I know that are word heavy and lack action like last chapter alert me that it needs some spicing up. So along with the main focus of the chapter, I went through my cache of smaller events that had to get done and picked the most accurate one. Henry's unveiling fit very well with Panne's heavy inclusion in the mission and the insight he could offer to Maribelle. So I do appreciate that the flow of the chapter went right. Like I said, I always worry. I did last chapter, this one, and will the next. Thankfully more often than not I've chosen the right formulas.

Conquest was painful to play as someone who enjoys the good route in games. I won't go in depth to avoid spoilers, but the angle of the plot was hard to swallow. It also made me respect Ryoma even more. For Birthright, I'll pm to save spoilers. But I will say here I'm a support spammer ;) As usual, I'll continue the rest with the rest of your pms as well. Life has been merciless lately!

ArcherShirou – Henry's crows have their uses. They'll definitely do some good for Ylisseans.

King Keith – There's been some brewing interest in the potential for dark magic. I'm going to poke a bit more into it to see what can be used. Both Tharja and Henry's supports highlighted some interesting ideas.

The Dragon Age reference is actually unintentional, ha ha. I wonder if I subconsciously threw that together. It works though! On Gaius and Maribelle, she hasn't forgiven him entirely. Her stern treatment of him should test to that. However, after the C support, she grows suspicious of his involvement in the family's incident based on information that doesn't add up. She works begrudgingly with him (going so far as to heal him in battle) for the sake of civility until she address the issue. Robin alludes to their C support already occurring so Maribelle's is in between the two events. In a way, she has thrown aside their squabble to at least abide him because he is an asset to be used. If he can get her into Ironhold, she can get her father's transcripts and confirm or deny any suspicions she has.

Birthright is a lot happier than Conquest I've come to discover. The ending was probably the worst for me in Birthright while Conquest was one long, grueling ordeal. I keep forgetting about Project X Zone. I'll have to pick it up when I find a little extra pocket change. I heard the text gets memetastic at times.

Raiden312 – Puns. Blessed puns. I'll never be sick of them.

There's no living dragons or tempting gems in these mountains luckily. The group should be safe!

I felt Conquest was a lot more painful than Birthright, and not just because I played the latter first. I won't say more because I don't know if you beat either but there are tough events to face throughout. Revelations has been a balm on the wound, thankfully. It's a much more satisfying experience to play after the others.

3liManning – Emmeryn :( That poor thing. She's being so strong, but it's so taxing for someone who only wants to negotiate and finds the diplomatic route utterly unavailable. She's getting by as an acting healer. But if she starts having to actually fight, I hope she can keep it together.

Yep! If you can find a world map on the internet from FE13, there's a mountain range that's just east of the mission Maribelle gets kidnapped. It goes a ways up along the border. The tunnel entrances are reversed though. The villain Marth fought came from a country that existed in modern day Plegia. He had minions burrow from Plegia's side into Ylisse for conquest reasons. Themis (according to me as the game never gave an actual location) encompasses the mountain range as part of its lands. The capital was built from one of the tunnel exits on the Ylissean side.

I did do normal mode and that was still a challenge! And I've played lunatic and hard mode in past games! Chapter 21, with the Eternal Stairway, can kiss my butt. The troll things hurling rocks kept killing my units. I probably used every dragon vein that level to escape properly!

More theories! Hurrah! I can't say it's a bad one. It explains aspects of her amnesia, among other things. So many points I could comment on, but I can't! Still, I applaud the tireless effort to unveil the mysteries. Makes me nervous that they'll live up to expectations when revealed, ha ha!

White Nightmare – You're right, variety is good! Like some of the older games, I'd like to invoke the change up in settings and goals. If Ironhold were an actual game level, the objective would be to reach the end of the map. I'd like to do other classics like "hold the base for x amount of turns" and "protect so and so to escape point." There's no confirmation here but exploring both strategic confrontations and big battles would be ideal.

I understand completely. What original characters that did appear were meant to fill in a void for the necessary roles I needed to represent (military leaders, the commoner voice, etc.). The immediate roles are filled so I won't be expanding the cast any bigger than usual. Like, maybe one or two more at worst but that's wouldn't even be full time. I'll be careful. Still, if any characters feel like they're being forgotten, let me know. I'm pretty good about swapping and amending scenarios to fit characters.

Arthogawa – Getting Henry in this early makes for a good chance to delve into dark magic, so I agree. And who can resist the crazy charm he's bound to bring!

No worries, not every chapter has something for everyone. It was a transition passage at best.

That's true, Robin does need to watch herself. She thinks she can read him really well, but the same can be said about him. He's already proven he's given thought to her predicament. Being sketchy won't help the situation. I don't think her secrets will last to the Valmese war this time around.

That conversation is coming. Trust me. Once they're safe, there isn't much more to worry about to hold Robin back.

robotortoise – Yeah, sorry. Exposition and build up can be wordy. Next chapter should be more action packed to make up for it.

The body-switching hex is a possibility. I'd think something like that is extremely powerful and has a drawback the longer the user invokes it. Dark magic is powerful but has major cons to it so I'll have to work out a balance for it. You're right, dark magic gets ignored a lot despite showing some great advantages in supports. I think the stigma behind it and the difficulty to wield it responsibly prevents it from getting more exposure. I should remedy this!

faolae – Someone's next. Who could it be...?

Guest – You're very welcome! Glad the reveal was so exciting for you! Look forward to more of him in the future!

thatinfectguy – Thanks! It's been a good run so far. As for the twins, I'd like to aim that way. It's a major goal of Robin's anyway, so there's no reason not to pursue it. I'd hate myself if they did die! But things change. For now though, they're safe.

poliders71 – Hey, hey! No worries! It's fine, mistakes happen :) But holy cow, that'd be so cool. I have no eye for mechanical detail so all I have of dragon cannons are a mental image. If you find the time to whip up a picture, I'd be delighted to see! I shall bask in the artistic imagery!

Oh man, sorry to hear about the bum return trips in an out of the hospital! I'm hoping you're all better! I'm rather at a loss for words. I'm incredibly happy to hear this story made a difference for you. If anything, I should thank you! Knowing that I helped even one person in a small way with my silly hobby is worth a thousand bucks. I'm definitely inspired. I hope this story continues to help keep a smile on your face through all the future good and bad times. Really, thank you for your story!

NODAHE – Hey again! Thanks! I have a crazy metabolism so I eat, like, five times a day! No worries! I'll keep myself well hydrated and sane. I appreciate the thoughts. It means a lot! You guys are the best!

OCDingshutin – I understand completely. My Fallout DLC came out and I've completely ignored it for Fates. It's the only thing I've played in my free time between work and writing!

The twins are a beautiful tragedy. Their separation is a means of punishment and protection. They cause less trouble apart and learn to listen better. There may be other reasons though...

Yes, the Plegians who attacked Ironhold have been in control of her territory since her expulsion. Gangrel has enough soldiers there to maintain a commanding presence and keep up the export of raw materials from the mines. He took some of those who were part of the siege and had them come to Ylisstol, so the keep is not as occupied as it was when she left. Hope that helps!

I'll try to perfect the experience and wiggle in Tharja when I can :)

Animeseris – Two years, it's been a great experience!

Robin and Henry are going to destroy the world with their jokes, just you watch! And speaking of jokes, Robin's nickname is a reference to the song "Lady Marmalade" by the group Labelle. It plays at her verbal tic of always using food to describe things as well as her continual attempts to flirt/tease with love interests (and, ironically, her constant failure).

I sneak in romance where I can despite there being war everywhere. I'll scream over a good knight/princess romance. And no, you're not delirious. A certain blue-haired prince may have been threatened by the handsome general whose shown some clear interest in his strategist. ;)

Panne is being very maternal with Henry, whether she knows it or not. She's a protective sort.

"...The only thing is hitsuzen." Ah yes, Clamp. Yuko is such a badass. Tsubasa and xxxHolic were favorites back in the day, crazy as their plots were.

Solanum Red – Hey, welcome! Nice to meet you! And thanks! I try to maintain some level of realism as it gives a greater effect to the trials battled and victories gained. Adapting video game logic to real life is a creative endeavor, if not challenging!

I think one of the novelties of exploring alternate outcomes is seeing differences in how others can react to each other. Creating pairings that cannot be achieved in the game gives greater weight to the idea that anything is now possible, or able to be influenced. It's also just fun. There's no way I was leaving one poor male Shepherd to remain forever alone. It just spiraled from there and here we are!

Theories are delicious and I enjoy reading them. I'm feeling generous today so I'll indulge. Your first one carries some weight. Check chapter 25 if you want to look into it more. The next two were written to be intentionally vague to allow you to decipher as you sees it. You could be right or wrong, spoilers though. That last one is interesting. Lucina has made such claims. However, there's an interesting sentence in Chapter 11 ;)

Thank you for writing. I hope you enjoy future chapter as much I as love dying mercilessly in Fates, ha ha!

timewastin – I'm a glutton for easter eggs and media shout-outs. I'm going to rot in reference hell by the end of this, ha ha!

Chrom, and many others, are certainly pressured in some ways by the current state of things. Sully explains a bit, incidentally, in this chapter. Death is unpredictable and a constant possibility in war. It's very human to start to realize regrets on unfulfilled ambitions or desires to react on things they naturally may not have thanks to time. Start a hobby, get drunk for the first time ever, patch up torn relations in a family...no one wants to die with regrets. Specifically for Chrom, he's proven to be a very passionate individual in his devotion to those he cares for. When those relationships are threatened, he seems liked he'd react fast to preserve and protect in accordance with his feelings.

While I gave some insight here, I'll explore Henry's back story deeper with him in person. Plegia's stalemate at Ylisstol caused a hasty retreat that displaced a good number of lower ranked soldiers thanks to a lack of discipline and organization. Gangrel's strategy was a numbers game with him enlisting as many civilians as possible to use as a shield for the merc groups and seasoned players to aim straight for the commanders. Henry's a useful weapon for the Grimleal but just as easy a tool to throw away if need be. They never came to collect him in the chaos, and he got stranded like many others. If he hadn't sought out Panne, Ylisstol's guard would probably have found him as they scoured the countryside for the deserters and displaced. But more on that later.

That's some sound strategy there. I like the idea of baiting in Plegia with a rigged explosion or some such. Ironhold is already going to ambush the already mentioned incoming reinforcements by maintaining a facade of occupation until the Plegians are in the walls. I should think of something to do with Tyr before the rest of the waiting army leaves. Good thoughts! Helpful as always!

Kaoru-chibimaster – Whew! I hope you slept a little in there! Take some eye drops!

Ah, random caps-locking, that's my preferred way to express copious joy when faced with a favorite pairing, ha ha! No worries, I'd appreciate even a sentence! This review is great!

Thank you! One of my main goals was crafting a unique new angle to Awakening, making what we all knew and loved a refreshing new tale to revisit. The alternate take on Robin emerged from that. On one hand, there's one who is more a villainous mastermind. The other is an average Joe with ideals and insights new to both war and leadership. Cycle's Robin is able to give a different viewpoint on the events she endures, one that's more gray in morality. Suddenly not everyone is bad nor good. It opens up for so much more development behind the original characters' motivations and progression as heroes in this tale. The possibilities are endless and I love it :)

As always, I'll do my best to provide a steady flow of chapters. You never know when the next question will be answered!

hot poteito – Another year of learning and expanding my skills. I couldn't be happier!

Henry and Panne have a fascinating little set of conversations. She's one of the very few people I think who can really see what he's struggling with, outside of Cherche and Olivia if memory serves. And of course this story's Robin will do what she can to help. The puns are a given, obviously. And who better to attack first than stuffy old Frederick! ;)

friedkimchilover – Thanks so much! This has turned into quite the novelization, so I might as well go all out with the grand scope of it. Having the reviews is a wonderful bonus and allows me to chat with a great number of people. It's been a great experience!

Overlord Valkyrie – Henry was probably the most asked for character, second to Tharja. He ended up being the one with a stronger opportunity for introduction so it worked out! Poor kid needs all the hugs!

War's a bit of a tug of war at this point with each side trying to gain leverage, so things do seem to be a struggle. Emmeryn's having a hard time adjusting and I feel horrible subjecting her to it. Either she dies and is at peace, or lives and endures hardships. Suffering either way D:

I'm beginning to discover the connections between Awakening and Fates. There are...possibilities. At the very least, I could always make some obvious foreshadowing for events to come. I'd love to write some Fates fanfiction, I'm just trying to burn through Revelations. I'm still in the beginning but I'm already collecting some ideas!

Thanks, two years is along time for any commitment. I'm still astounded with myself! Glad you've stuck around for it!

Selias – Thanks for the correction suggestions! I'm bound to miss things so pointing out the logical fixes are appreciated. Makes the story a better read. I fixed the first two and I'll work on the others tonight or tomorrow.

Can't confirm anything in public. If you want me to PM you the answer to your question, I certainly can. As for the crow, that was indeed Henry's. He has known Panne since the assassination attempt, so his crows have been buzzing around for a while. That was a little foreshadowing for readers with a keen eye. Good catch!

Titan127 – I'm not sure how many people remembered Panne and Henry's support but I figured those who did who get it would sit through some eager anticipation for the rest of the chapter, ha ha.

Thanks. I figured it would be a cool change of pace. It builds a great history for Maribelle and gives a more in depth look to Ylisse's different provinces. And who doesn't love a good stealth mission. I've never written one so I'm excited to test my skills!

Ha! I'm biased toward Eldaran, he's my favorite OC. Both he and Robin have a casual interest in each other, which is why poor Chrom is a bit jealous. And Frederick, so swoon worthy! Utterly loveable under all the gruff exterior!