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By then, the Shepherds were probably preparing dinner, Frederick would be setting up the campfire, Lissa and Libra were probably still tending to the wounded. But Robin couldn’t meet anyone in the eye.
They’d told them Validar took the Fire Emblem. Half-truths were just as shameful as lies. They both created a false sense of security. But after the Fire Emblem’s loss, they could not afford to lose the army’s faith in their lead tactician. Even so, it didn’t change the fact that he had been the one to take it. He had been the one to rip it from Chrom’s hands.
Robin took a deep breath.
Perhaps, that nightmare that’d plagued his nights for moons upon moons wasn’t just a nightmare. Future? Fate? Destiny?
As he gazed into the reds and oranges of the sunset, he couldn’t help the rage that bubbled up his gut. Fate dictated the sun to rise every morning and fall every night. And the sun obliged. Always, it was a lifeless puppet of destiny. Revolting.
“Robin… Might I have a word?”
Lucina had always been rather impersonal toward him, but there was something different this time. An ominous air Robin didn’t enjoy.
“What is it?”
“It’s about Father.” Despite her also carrying Robin’s blood, Chrom was ‘Father’, “I have memories of him, you know? From when I was little. Before he… died.”
“I see…”
“He was courageous and kind. Everyone spoke fondly of him. People say he was brave right up until the very end. I always yearned to know him better. And now that I do… I can see that the world will be robbed of a great man…” Her eyes were filled with the same resolve he felt burning in his chest. “I won’t allow that to happen.”
He couldn’t help but smile, “I understand. You love him… As do I.”
“… Please, forgive me.”
From the corner of his eye, he caught flash of the sunset in Falchion’s edge. A chill rushed from the bottom of his heels to the top of his head when he realized her blade threatened with lunging through his neck.
“Lucina?!”
“Stay where you are! I have no choice. I must kill you!”
Or… Perhaps… The sun wouldn’t rise tomorrow. At least not for Robin.
“What madness is this?!”
“You’ve thought it before, don’t say you haven’t! In my future… You… You kill Father!”
For a moment, Robin’s world stopped. There was truth in her words. As much as he wanted them to be misguided and false, Robin couldn’t deny it. He’d been, or would be, the one to kill Chrom.
“I knew he had been killed by his closest ally. Having witnessed your bond with him, I couldn’t believe it to be true.” Even though a couple of tear escaped her, her voice didn’t shake, “But today’s events make it clear. You’re at Validar’s mercy. I suspect it is he who forces you to take Father’s life, and very soon…”
“Don’t you think things can change? Your future was veiled in ignorance, but now that we know-!”
“I am here! I believe things can change! I have to! Otherwise, I would have left my friends for…” She looked away for a moment. “I must make things change. I will make things change…” He looked into Lucina’s eyes, and her Mark stared right back. “I know this is patricide… I know it…”
But there was a better future ahead. One that didn’t put this heavy burden on his daughter’s shoulders. “Lucina, you don’t have to-”
“Don’t make it harder! Please… It will be swift and painless. If you hold any love for Chrom, let this be done.”
If you hold any love for Chrom, let this be done…
Curse this hellish war. Curse this damn world that’d put him at the end of his daughter’s blade! The same daughter he’d held in his arms and loved more than life itself. He hadn’t fought through all these years with teeth and claw for it to end this way. Even if she was right, even if this was a sure way to avert the future, his soul refused to believe this was how it had to end. He’d be of more use alive than dead, that’s what Chrom made him understand. Even after his biggest mistakes, even after Emmeryn… There was hope for a better future in his heart. It couldn’t end like this. He had a family to fight for.
“I won’t allow this, Lucina.”
“I understand. Then draw your weapon! We shall let battle have the final judgment!”
“I will die before I strike thunder at my own daughter!”
Lucina got into her battle stance, “Let it be so.”
As Lucina thrusted Falchion toward him, Robin was quick enough to dodge. He’d observed her long enough to know this was not a battle he could win with only defensive tactics. He couldn’t run to camp, he didn’t know how the Shepherds would react towards her. Before he could come up with a different plan, a wall of fire blazed between them and forced them both to take a step back.
“Morgan.”
The young tactician stood a few meters away. Tears couldn’t stop rolling down his cheeks. “What about me, Lucina?!” His voice broken into a million pieces, “I haven’t even been born yet! Doesn’t that mean we should at least try a different way?! Doesn’t that mean anything?!”
“If my dark future is to be averted,” She gripped Falchion and returned to her initial stance. “Sacrifices must be made. I’m sorry Morgan. I’m sorry, Robin. I thought you understood that.”
He was not about to let his daughter and son kill themselves. He needed a way to disarm them both, quickly.
“Enough!” Chrom’s voice boomed through the prairie.
“Father,” Lucina turned to look at the Shepherd’s commander walk toward her. “You don’t-!”
“Lower your sword, Lucina.”
“But, Father-”
“Lower your sword!” Few people knew how terrifying Chrom’s anger was outside of the battlefield.
“A-alright…” Falchion’s grip fell to the ground. “Father, I can explain.”
Robin wished he could’ve spared Chrom this pain.
“There’s no need. I heard every word.” Chrom took a deep breath, “To think I’d ever witness such atrocity from you… For shame.”
She lowered her head.
“I know your heart is in the right place, Lucina. But I trust Robin. You cannot shake my faith in him.”
“This is not about trust!” Lucina protested, “He will be the death of you!”
“And you will be the death of him!” Chrom snapped back, “You’d do anything to avoid your future, but this is not the right way. The ends will never justify the means.”
Robin turned to look at Morgan, choking back his tears as best as he could. He could tell he was trying to put on a brave face now that Chrom was here. He didn’t want to embarrass him by hugging him, but how he wanted to tell him that he wasn’t the only one feeling this sorrow.
“Robin and I have held fast through thick and thin.” Chrom looked at him, “We swore to be two halves of a greater whole. You underestimate the strength of those ties, the bonds we share.” Robin trusted in Chrom’s resolve, just as much as he trusted his own. They’d win this war, they’d avoid Lucina’s future, and Morgan would be born. “I believe in them more than some foretold ‘destiny’.”
“That’s easier to say when you haven’t seen it yourself.” Lucina’s eyes were glued to the ground.
“Aren’t our ties stronger now than they were in your future? I got to meet you. I got to meet Morgan. I got to love you. And you got to love us, Lucina.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, “That’s worth more than you think. We can change things, we already have. And we will again. Right, Robin?”
Robin nodded, “That’s a promise. I will fight for you.”
“I will too.” Morgan sniffled and wiped his tears away, “I still have to fool Father into one of my traps!”
Robin chuckled and Chrom ruffled his hair, “You can try, kid.”
“… I hope someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me. And I hope you will prove me wrong. That the future will crack and fall apart before our bond ever does.”
Chrom nodded, “Go ask Lissa for some poppy milk, kids. You have to sleep well tonight because tomorrow, we will carve our own fate.”
The little ones nodded and walked back to camp. Robin sometimes forgot that Lucina was only 17 years old and Morgan 15. “They’re too young for this…”
“War is cruel…” Chrom reached for Robin’s hand, “Are you okay?”
Robin held his hand tight, “Maybe, a couple of years back, I would’ve let her…”
“Is that so…?” Chrom cupped his face in his hands “I am so glad you’re the you that you are right now.”
“You will not die by my hand, Chrom.”
“I know.”