9"Why have I never heard this story before?"
The storyteller let out a sigh, coming out of her narrative.
"Well, this is not the kind of tale you would want to tell your only child, no matter how old she or may not act."
"Hey!"
"Anyways, as I was saying, we had just come back from our...*cough* meeting...with Plegia's token-royalty. My father has no real talent at being diplomatic, you see. He makes for an awful politician if I am quite honest. We were threatened by the King-Regent, who ordered Robin, your father, to take the Fire Emblem from Chrom."
She paused, coughing into her hand.
"To all of our shock, your father complied, although much like the sluggish, mindless Risen we had encountered, struggling to fight against whatever may have been meddling him at the time. Meanwhile, he groaned in agony and mumbling about some headache. He awoke with a shock, appearing to be even more surprised than we were, I dare to say. And I could not believe my eyes."
Morgan then let out an exaggerated gasp as she lifted her hands to push her cheeks together, receiving a pop on the head for her manners. "We managed to escape with a pre-written plan made by your genius father, who seemed to have trouble remembering where he was, or what he was doing. He refused to pair up with me, saying he needed to keep his head on his shoulders. He would occasionally collapse, and spit out strange phrases to something that didn't seem to be there."
"Grima was clawing at him from the inside."
Confirming the theory with a nod, Lucina went on. "At the time, that was the last thing I suspected. I had many thoughts I was racing through for answers, from anger to fear. I only saw a man that had practically stabbed us all in the back. Who I expected would actually resort to stabbing my father. His best friend. So I steered clear of him the entire time."
Lucina grabbed her daughter's hand, as if seeking support from it.
"It was that night, my father had already given out his passionate claim that Robin was one of us, and that the tactician would not fall for such a trick again, and was prepared for any and all obstacles. His trust did not seem moved at all. Mine however was beyond collapsing. It was decimated."
Morgan gripped the cold hand in both of hers, signaling it was all okay. Lucina met her gaze, and managed to have a minor grin break through. "You knew that much, but you were never told what came after."
"The feelings that had been growing as we spent time together now seemed like it had been a dirty trick. A ruse. A slow but effective poison that would stop me from what needed to be done. Paralyzing me. That, even though I had tried to prevent the future through the small acts I did, that always time wandered on, and that it always followed its original path. That fate was rooted down, nothing up to the task of removing itself from its fell clutches." Lucina threw her hair back, readjusting her golden band. Finding a more comfortable position for it, she relaxed, placing her hands in her lap.
"But that night, I was going to take action."
Absently standing far from the recesses of camp, thinking of past events that had previously unfolded, Robin couldn't help but wonder how the weather reflected current events quite well. The dark skies forming and looming above, ominous clouds black and foreboding. They mimicked the emptiness in his heart. The darkness creeping, contaminating his thoughts. With a sigh, he looked at his "birthmark", the tatoo on his hand. The familiar inkling of emptiness and lifelessness it offered oddly made him a bit comfortable now. He felt the pang of another headache, like a dull throbbing, as he began to piece everything together again.
'Turns out I use to be affiliated with our current enemy. In one way or another. My father? Or maybe I'm a sleeper agent? An unknowing one, in fact? It all seemed per-orchestrated. I felt this mark burn like a Balogne when Validar...Validar...
Father. The current leader of Plegia. A devout Grima cultist. The enemy. His supposed enemy.
That little snake! With an angry cry, he kicked at the dirt below his feet. That sadistic bastard! The irony behind such an insult was lost on him, the dam he built up, holding the doubt and fear at bay, threatening to break once more. He felt a faint surge of energy from his sword. The Levin Sword. Gangrel's parting gift from his reign. Almost like it was taunting him.
"I'm always on edge. I can't sleep. Can barely eat. Feels like something is always floating over me, I fear my own shadow! And I can't escape the fact I am helpless to get away from it all. The headaches also don't seem to want to relent either."
He heard the crunch of sand and crushed rock with the rustle of grass a bit behind him. He saw a faint shine of gold shimmer, no other blade able to replicate that distinct kind of glow. Assuming it was Chrom once more coming to try and give him a pep talk, he gave off a weak shrug.
"Should I expect another rousing speech from my liege?" He didn't bother turning around, preferring to look at the sun just now breaking free of the clouds. He sighed, clenching his fist as he couldn't stand being so helpless against time, against fate.
"We both know speeches aren't my forte, Robin..." A woman's voice. Why is she here?
He managed a half turn to look around to see her. The cerulean hair held in place by the golden band of her usual garb, the intricate design and texture still not coming close to her own natural beauty. It seemed like tarnished metal in comparison. Her beauty knowing no bounds, again losing track of time, much like whenever he allowed himself to steal even the slightest of glances. He wondered how he even managed to function at all when he was in her presence. Her solid eyes, the left holding the seal of the Exalt, tempting him to just get a little closer, pleading him to stay longer. To bask in everything he adored about her. To worship her like many did to Naga herself.
Robin cursed under his breath as he returned his attention back to the setting sun, the tension in the air deafening. He felt her gaze shoot holes through him, as she meant not to utter a sound.
"Crazy day, huh?" He asked, trying to sound convincing, but he found his voice choked and bland. Hardly comforting.
"Why are you so far away from the camp? My father would be worried if he found you had made your way here." He sensed no compassion or kindness behind the words. Much like their first introduction.
Like he was being interrogated.
"I thought some time outside, by myself, would do some good. Maybe clear my head. "He laughed nervously. "Which I obviously need now more than ever if we want to recover from this setback."
"I see..." A pause. To say it was getting awkward would be insulting. The current atmosphere was sterile.
He let out a sigh, hand being lifted to his face "...I also couldn't stand the unspoken words and judgments of the people around me. I heard only a few of their whispers. That didn't really help my mood much." He croaked out another laugh.
"Can you blame any of them?" Emotion finally seemed to break free from her facade, but only heard sadness and tears. Resentment. "They watched a friend give in to the enemy."
He was stung by the accusation, til he faced her, seeing the tears stream down as she hung her head low. He had once been the shoulder to keep them at bay. Now he feared that these tears...
Were aimed at none other than him.
She brought her arm to her face, that not being enough, eventually using her hand to wipe the evidence of grief from her eyes.
"I told you how Chrom was killed didn't I, Robin?" Sorrow. Bitterness. Betrayal. All of these would accurately describe what he heard through her voice. He couldn't help but flinch at her words, the undertone of it making his body seem to grow heavier.
"He...he was murdered by his closest friend..."
Silence permeated, no bug or bird dare to break it. The tactician attempted to open his mouth and comment, but found his words and intellect of no help to him now. He saw the irony of him saying it himself. He was at a lost.
He was as lost as he felt on that first day.
Robin had always had a bit of an issue coming up with rational thoughts when it came to Lucina. She could drive all sense out of him. He surprised himself how greatly she affected him. From a stray look his way to them talking of the silliness of their comrads. He couldn't help himself when it came to her. Caution thrown to the wind.
A small breeze made it way past them, his messy hair battered and thrown around as her just mildly flew into her eyes. When he thought of beauty, of perfection, her face would be the first thing he would picture. A canvas with no equal.
He wore no expression, lost in the expanses of reflection, as she unsheathed Falchion, even as he had a faint idea he knew what its purpose was in this. She finally looked up at him, a neutral disposition.
"Draw your blade, Robin."
He froze, not expecting to be threatened in such a decrypt and dry manner. Nonetheless, his hand found its place on the hilt, if only for the security it promised him. Never once pulling on the blade.
Flabbergasted, then enraged at the challenge, he shouted at her. "You can't be serious! "He yelled this, anger overtaking him. His hand never left the pummel, still it laid in its scabbard. "I would never take up arms against you! Or ever dare of hurting your father! That's what this is about, isn't it!" An accusation disguised as a question.
She apparently foresaw potential conflict, as she did not waver in the slightest. "I know you would never WILLINGLY kill my father! After talking with you, and spending those hours alone together, I know. I feel we share the same values; on life and morality!" Her words became more sporadic and shaky. Flimsy. Like she didn't want to believe what had already transpired. She was still trying to convince herself.
"You gave me the opportunity to feel something I didn't know was meant for someone like me, a woman lost in the throws of time: Joy, Happiness, Contentment." She continued on, seeming to lose her voice but not her tenacious willpower. "You made me feel special! I felt at peace for one if not the only times I've drawn breath. It not being once, either, but many times over! I'm struggling with this probably more so than you are!"
"Lucina," he reached his hand out, her taking a few steps back in response to the gesture. "Stand back!" She yelled at him. The wound it caused much like a searing burn. He felt his own tears building. "I... I can't do this! I care for you too much! I wouldn't even dare to defend myself from you, Lucina!"
Originally hoping that would calm down the situation and diffuse it properly, the opposite effect made itself prevalent. This only added more fuel to the wildfire. She shook her head with growing animosity.
"I thought you had honour! Or understood it at the very least! You should know me by now! I won't strike down an unarmed opponent!"
"But I am NOT your opponent, Lucina! I would never chose that! Ever! It goes against every fiber, every inch of my very being!"
This caught her attention, her hand loosening, her arm lowering. However, breaking free of her trance, thrusting the sword out further, she refused to lose her ground. But her voice was loosing its former edge.
"But Validar! Your father! He holds something over you! Whether bone or curse! He controls you! You are at his mercy!"
Once more ripped apart by the claws of one of his migraines, he instinctively relinquished his sword from its resting place. Muscle memory born of flight-or-fight, unaware his hand now held it in a death grip. "I couldn't help myself! For me, I was fighting a headache! Aghh!" He was spurred on, anger now being laced into his words. "...Next thing I know, the Emblem went from my hands to that good-for-nothing tyrant's!" His eye was twitching as he went to push his hand against the front of his head, leaving his right eye open to study her.
She took two steps to her left, her eyes never leaving his. Still scanning them. As if looking for an answer still.
"See? You couldn't help yourself Robin. He is the puppet master, you the unwilling puppet. You have shown you can't fight against the strings that tie you two together."
Robin felt the veins in his head bulge at this. His sword sparked to life, making its presence known to the cornered and frantic tactician.
"I also can't go against you either, it seems!" He threw down the Levin Sword, the energy pulsating and shooting out as it bounced to the ground, soon falling silent.
"I don't want any of this! I hold you, all of you, in my hearts! Is it so hard to believe that I'm doing my best not to give up, even now!"
He didn't allow an answer."Your father practically adopted me into his family, for I didn't remember having one! He became my friend, because I didn't remember the feeling of one standing by my side!" He said while pointing off into the distance.
He pointed at her, holding his ground."Your mother! Sumia! She gave me those terrifying hugs that made me squirm cause I didn't know the warmth and comfort they offered!" He shouted as he grew more passionate. " Your aunt Lissa taught me to relax more, cause I didn't know what being overworked meant!" Hands now clenched, balled and to either side of his face, determination and need for the preservation of his honour spurring him on.
"I felt so empty, so alone, like I didn't belong anywhere. But you all gave me something I doubt I would have even experienced before I woke up in that open field. I still feel like I don't belong, yes. But without you guys, I may have willingly done all of those things I did in YOUR future!"
He put his hands to his head, akin to a madman collecting his thoughts as he started pacing. He screamed, and threw himself onto the ground.
"And you," bringing his face up to look at her, maybe for the last time, a bittersweet smile etched onto his dirt-ridden face. "You offered to me more than you know. The ability to look forward to the next day, as long as it meant seeing you again. To find lapses in my schedule for me to simply ignore my troubles with you. That's why it hurts so much here," he put his palm to his chest, then brought it up to his forehead as his voice cracked. "When you come at me, calling me a murderer. And look at me with such disdain."
Lucina was caught off guard, fighting against the blush battling for control over her features. She stuttered, shaking her head free of such trivial matters.
"I must do this Robin!" She proclaimed with despair. "Chrom is the only one who can end this! I must be willing to sacrifice everything to prevent what is to come! Even my own happiness! My own feelings!"
Robin struggled to his feet, mumbling, although she could faintly hear the words.
His voice was as shaky as his legs, tears flowing freely with reckless abandon. "First, Donnel sacrifice's himself to save me for leaving my left flank open. And loses an ear." He picked up his weapon, though he struggled as his tears blocked his vision.
"Gauis get's wounded to take that hit that was meant for me by Walhart," Robin sobbed as he layed the sword horizontally in both of his hands. "Having to be fed mush through a straw as his stomach is still healing from the stitches having to be reapplied every other day. Now to think, I am just some...entity that can be used and discarded by our true enemy. A tool. A weapon."
He left himself open, not putting up his usual battle stance as he struck the blade into the soil, it standing erect as a monument to a metaphor. A metaphoric white flag, a sign of surrender.
"To make things worse." He paused, taking a deep breathe in for preparation. "Now I am to believe I must fight the very woman I fell in love with, if I want to live."
His mind cleared instantly as the words caught up to his brain. Shock and embarrassment now overpowering the strain the migraine once crushed him under. The tears grinding to a halt, as he saw the princess stand there with mouth wide open.
She heard me? No no no. NOOOO!
He jumped to the side, springing into a full-fledged sprint as he ran off down the hill. He heard her gasp and yell out his name as he raced onward, sparing no thought as his legs carried him deeper.
He looked up, the gears in his head once again turning as the ones in his legs kept him going. Despite the situation, all that came after was horror. How stupid could he be? This wasn't how it was suppose to happen. Not at all.
"Robin, come back!"
He bolted towards the woods, her words making him aware of how close she was to him. Not even thinking of where he would go, he broke through a bush, the thorns stabbing at him in his attempt to lose her in the forest.
Back to camp? No, he would seem even more suspicious than he probably already appeared to be. Maybe he could just hide somewhere for a bit. So he could actually think about what transpired.
"Robin! Wait!" He heard the trees behind him rustle with life, the princess still on his tail. He took a sharp right, almost tripping over a large log that lay there as he steadied himself. A branch wacking him in the face, blinding him temporalliy as he winched in pain. He pushed himself harder, needing to get away. His blood racing through his body as quickly as his frantic thinking patterns.
How could I let that slip out so nonchalantly. And so abruptly? Why am I so lovestruck that even now all I want to do is now what she's thinking?
Why am I even running? Am I just a coward? Still afraid of rejection.
That back there was hardly a confession.
"Robin, stop!" He snapped back into reality, barely getting out of hands reach as he heard her hand barely make contact, the force of wind behind it frightening. He turned to see her charging him in his peripherals, cheeks hot from the chase. And he thought Lon-qu was fast.
"ROBIN! I need to talk to yo-" with a loud yelp, she tripped over a root that caught her foot. She clasped onto the back of his hood as a lifeline, causing him to fall alongside her, landing on his back with a thud and a very loud and rude curse, followed by a complaint. Lucina blushed at his language, but her face grew hotter as she pushed herself back up with her arms to assess her new situation.
She was looking down at the ashen haired man, with the eyes that reflected the beauty of nature: the colour green. She fell silent, her mind betraying her at such a crucial moment. He stuttered, barely able to make sentences, their eyes interlocked. He began to stir beneath her, easily as anxious as she was. Her heart racing so, that he probably would have been able to hear it. Fearing he would run again, she spoke up. She knew this wasn't an ideal situation, but she could not stop now.
"I wah-was afraid. Afraid that...that I was wrong. Or worse, you were simply showing me a kindness that you showed for your friends. That I selfishly desired...for myself." The more happy breed of teardrops began forming, a laugh of nervousness and embarrassment escaping as well.
She cleared her throat, unable to stop herself now. "I held you in my heart just from our second conversation amongst ourselves, but with that came doubt and worry. For I never experienced such things in my lifetime." She chuckled, looking away from his eye momentarily. "I even asked my mother about the feelings I harbored. I feared becoming another Cordelia."
She looked back at him, seeing him captivated, all his attention on her. Battling her uneasiness with such things, she quickly faced away as she tried to escape his gaze as he did not even attempt to relieve her of her predicament.
She heard him struggle to get up, but instead of standing, he plopped on the ground in front of her, their faces dangerously close as she could feel the air from his nostrils..
Again. She couldn't help but feel like the many characters in her mother's more scandalous novel choices as she felt his hot breath on her face.
"Gods, I am such a fool..."
She lifted her face, bringing her attention back to his eyes, and found his were locked on her lips, her smile that she could not contain for the life of her growing still. She became acutely aware of their faces inching closer together. She saw his eyes close, in preparation for what was to happen next, the way time slowed making her tense and antsy. She had no idea what to do, but felt herself gradually gravitating to meet his. Forces unseen hellbent on making her lose her usually sound mind to a mess of hormones and wild emotions. To lose her senses as she longed for him to ease her concerns, once more. She followed his lead, eyes closed, as she felt every nerve tingle in anticipation.
Their lips made contact, the lightness and the pure innocence of the touch electrified her, her gut preforming somersaults. Simple, but also mind-shattering. She felt her senses explode, heighten, and collide. She felt an immense amount of pride when he hummed in contentment, the air coming through his nostrils tickling her face. She did her best to refrain from giggling. Nothing else mattered at this point. The fear she knew and felt at every one of her waking moments vanished with thoughts of him overtaking them. The doubt she had of herself and her struggles, even of him and her, ceased to be. Regret, well...not doing this sooner counts, correct?
Robin felt that knot in his stomach dissipate as they met in the most simple of the more intimate methods. Having no past experience, or none he could call upon, he didn't know of anything quite so sweet. So natural and freeing. He couldn't help but sigh at the contact, the euphoric rush akin to nothing he had ever divulged in. The fog in his head clearing, his only thoughts of her. Lucina. The headache no longer hammering against him. He felt no worry. No pain. No sorrow. He felt as if this was the happiest he had ever been. He brought his hand to her cheek to deepen the kiss, lost in the beauty that was Lucina.
After only a few seconds, they parted, foreheads leaned up on the other's. Lucina giggled softly as Robin reached and held both of her hands in each of his own.
"You have no idea how much that...this...means to me, Lucina." He stared lovingly into her eyes, a smile unlike any she has ever seen appearing in front of her. She felt herself become giddy to be the only one to ever be able to see it.
"I am sorry I went into this so irrationally, Robin. I was scared. In more ways than one, obviously."
Robin's right hand left hers as he squeezed her face, lovingly grabbing her attention, quite literally. He laughed. Simple. Yet light. Unburdened. A rare treat considering the last couple of days, if not weeks.
"You know how hard it is to think up plausible tactics when you're thinking of using a new joke and pick-up line for your next chance encounter with a lovely princess..."
"Ohhh." She smirked at him, pulling back a few inches. She knew it'd be too much for his liking. "So Lissa catches your attention then?"
She wasn't ready for him to so casually pull her against him for a second kiss. Her argument and wit smashed and broken as he pulled away once more, his hands not leaving her sides. He left her speechless and face too hot for her liking. She slapped his shoulder in spite, smile breaking through regardless.
"Please. I'm sure she doesn't have these wonderful eyes I find looking back at me. The devotion and love, along with the pain I see now. The enchantingly deep blue I get lost in every time they come my way. The same ones I want to find staring back at me when I wake up each and every day. To know that the one who belongs to them, looks at me the same way I do her. The very same pair that I desire to see at every chance I get." He pulled a few strands from her tangled hair into his hands. "Who also has such...amazing hair ." He said with a sniff.
"I think I remember you once mumbling about how I smelled."
Rambling and fragments of sentences was all she was left with as he tried to find a correct answer. He gave up, his shoulders falling as he leaned over in defeat. " I still was never able to figure out the scent either. But yes. I think you smell delightful."
"Would you like to know the name of the fragrance? I get it from my mother actually. She is so adept at such things."
He clutched her hand in his, looking at how easily they connected and molded together. The act causing the butterflys to return, though he did not wish for them to leave. The action making his stomach shuffle, the warmth easing the previous panic that inhabited him. He felt like he'd fight every day of his life for just another moment like this one.
"I say we leave that as a mystery for now, princess." She kissed him on the cheek, him holding her there as the sun's last light reached out to them. As if begging for tonight to not be its last. He made his promise here: That he would not only stop her future from occurring, but preventing himself to become its author as well.
Cutting the more solemn realm of thinking short, he leaned back, prompting himself up with his arms behind his back, palm's to the grass and dirt. "I plan on figuring out every one of yours. From how to make you laugh to how to make you squirm." He reached and poked her in her rib cage, causing a girlish squeak to emit from her, reaching to protect her side's from the offender as she left her mouth wide open in shock.
"Luckily I already know the latter."
"But...but...?" She looked ready to jump up and flee. He held his stomach as he belted out a chorus of unhindered laughter, her expression only worsening his condition.
"Turns out Owain gives out very reliable information if you listen to his stories hard enough."
"Robin!"
"You are absolutely adorable when you are like this." He said as he grinned mischievously.
"It's not too late for me to smite you down, you realize."
"Nah. It's pretty hard to do that when your family heirloom isn't anywhere to be found, I would say."
, just now noticing she must have dropped Falchion when she went and bolted to chase after him. She stood up and started to look about, embarrassed at her carelessness as she tried to figure out where they had started. Having no luck, crestfallen, she was seconds away from plopping herself next to the snickering man-child.
They deadpanned as a famialr voice rang out about them, not able to tell where it originated from.
"Lucina! Robin!"
The two looked toward the blackness of the forest in the direction the voice came from. When the young Exalt burst into their vision, Robin flew back in fear as Lucina cowered behind him. Chrom shaked his head violently, the odd twig or two falling out as he quickly apologized, having Parallel Falchion and Robin's Levin Sword in his hands. He smirked as he handed the blades to their respective owners, not aware of their nervous and embarrassed states. Lucina adamantly apologized for the mistake while Robin gave a forced, and frantic nod thank you.
"Father, wah-how did you know we were here?"
"Simple, I followed you when you left camp. I feared something was amiss, so I kept myself hidden. I assumed that you two were working out some of your differences, so I did not intervene. I only heard a spare amount of what had been said before you two up and left me to climb out of those bushes, my cape got snagged on the damn things..."
The Exalt sighed, with Robin seeming to relax a great deal. He must not have heard about the more important and the rather potentially life-threatening things that could cost him if his Lord had not been occuiped. He look over to his best friend's daughter, whose face was still flushed from the previous events. He gave her a comforting smile and slight nod, hoping to bring some relief as she desperately looked away from him, almost causing him to laugh at her bashfulness. She was way too cute when she couldn't hide her mortification, face scarlet in discomfort. Chrom either payed no mind, or did not notice as he complained of some bug that seemed to be caught in his hair, resulting in Lucina screaming and jittering away from him. He laughed breathlessly as Chrom asked for her assistance in the matter. He received no help in his plight as Lucina avoided him at every turn. The tactician was relieved things seemed to be going back to their special brand of normal.
"How did grandfather react to you guys?" Morgan wiped her eye free of the tear from her insistent laughter. She saw the blush during about half the story, meaning to take full advantage of the new-found ammo she had been granted.
"Well, my father is very oblivious to these kind of things. And I wish I was over-stretching myself when I say such a statement. He found us there sitting on the ground, and thought we were finally coming to terms with our 'friendship'."
"Wait, what?"
She smiled, and giggled shortly after. Telling Morgan how Chrom had believed he had been quite the expert at eavesdropping.
"So, he either you guys had confessed and practically agreed to be married right before that little make-out session, or he is as dense as Kellam's armor looks."
"Actually, Kellam's armor is really light, from what he's told me. Says it helps keep him incognito and mobile that way."
"...you missed the point, Mom."
Have you ever looked at your writing and just thought... "has it been getting worse, or easier to understand?"
Either way, thanks for coming to the fourth chapter of Time Wanders On. WE FINALLY GOT TO THE MENTION OF THE TITLE!WHOOOO! TOOK A LONG TIME. It was small, but I'll be honest. I put in there by instinct. Only later when I was revising this did I notice it. I was like "GO ME".
Also. I was going for a scenario I always wanted to see happen, where Robin and Lucina actually confess during the Judgment scene! If this has happened before, I am sorry, I haven't seen it written, and I do not or plan to steal your idea/s.
Thanks to gokart48 for reviewing the last chapter, I really do appreciate it, even the small things! So please do me a favor, relieve me of my fears, and tell me your thoughts! I love any kind of review. Heck. Even "Eww. Lucina" would work! I want to hear your thoughts considering I literally put my all into this one chapter! Tank you, berry mulch.
Ken-pai would like to give thanks for dropping by. Whoa, that rhymed!
Last Revision: 8/1/2015 at 5:03am
LONGEST CHAPTER I HAVE EVER WRITTEN. COMING UP TO 5,171 WORDS!
By the way, sorry about the horrible romantical stuff. It's not my forte. Hopefully I'll get better. Hopefully xD
9/13/15 I honestly forgot I had finished this. I have been busy with college and I as hoping to fix up the first two chapters before uploading this one, but, that Bed Time Story update reminded me this little thing was already done. SOO...I submitted it!