Chapter Text
“You have everything?” Robin asked as they met up clandestinely outside the castle walls.
“Yes,” Lucina replied with a satchel over her shoulder. They were traveling light for obvious reasons. They had agreed to leave quickly and quietly. All the same, Lucina looked over her shoulder at the castle.
“You sure about this?” Robin would be lying if he said he had no doubts, but if this was the only way to be with her, he would make this choice every time.
“It is a big step,” She smiled back at him, “But if it is what it takes, I’ll gladly do it.”
“And it’s not like we’ll never be back. Maybe we can pay a few visits once things settle down.”
“Yes, maybe.”
After a day’s travel, they stopped at a small and unassuming inn. Turning in to his room, he sat his bag down. He idly opened it to deposit some of his clothes for bed though he furrowed his brows as a glint caught in his eye.
He reached in and pulled out a ring. A ring he did not pack. Underneath it was an envelope. Cautiously, he opened it. Pulling out the letter within, he instantly recognized the oddly plain handwriting for a king. The message was simple.
You’d better do it right. She’s worth more, but it’ll have to do.
Robin set the paper down and looked the ring over some more. It was worth more than he would ever feel comfortable spending on jewelry, and Chrom paid him quite well. It was masterfully engraved and jewel encrusted with a large sapphire as the main eye catcher.
He agreed she was worth more.
Clutching the ring in his fist, he sat on the bed and thought.
The following morning, Robin met Lucina for breakfast. Both of them seemed preoccupied. The weight of the ring felt heavy in Robin’s pocket. It was a form of blessing, but it also showed the support they would have should they have stayed. Not that it mattered as Lucina had been adamantly stubborn in her refusal that they could work around her brand.
So he said nothing.
Lucina, on the other hand, did have something to say.
“Were we too brash?” She asked carefully.
“Maybe, but is there any other way?” Robin probed.
“I always thought my duty demanded I leave…but I’ve already thrown that aside, haven’t I?”
“Having second thoughts?” Lucina looked up to see Robin’s complicated expression and immediately responded.
“Not about you, never. But…I want them to be there when we commit ourselves to each other.”
Robin smiled as he leaned an arm on the table, “You got a letter too, didn’t you?”
“Yes, from my mother,” Lucina looked away, “It was…supportive. They always have been. Even if we can’t stay forever…I want to have them there when we’re wed.”
The tactician smiled in response, “I think that’d be good. I’m sure we’ll have to talk Sumia down from something big though. Something small will work. Just us and our friends.”
Lucina looked away at his comment, but she responded all the same, “Yes. That sounds nice.”
“Well then, guess we had best reverse course.” Robin stood to pay the tab leaving Lucina to think.
“All of our friends?”
Needless to say, neither Chrom or Sumia were too surprised to see them again. In fact, Chrom seemed a bit smug. They did not judge though. If anything they were happy to finally put all the angst behind them and readily gave their blessing.
It was all a bit of an embarrassment, but since Chrom and Sumia had noticed them packing, Chrom had not sounded any alarms on their disappearance. When asked if he knew they would come back, he simply shrugged and said, “You’d come back if you wanted to. Either way, I trusted you to make her happy and treat her right.”
The couple were certainly embarrassed, but Robin could not say that he was going to swear off rash actions as it still ended with him engaged to his love. He could deal with the teasing that came with it.
He was happy. He finally had what he had longed for after so long. Lucina was happy as well at finally getting what she had also given up on finding. However, something was not right with all of this. Something she needed to set right before enjoying this happiness.
Robin returned to his office the following morning, but he had a pep in his step that had not been there before. He was smiling ear to ear when he entered and began prepping the stove. Like old times, but better.
He was getting the heat going when he noticed something on his desk that had not been there last night. Curious, he found a letter addressed to himself. Opening it up, he gave it his full attention once he realized who had left it.
I must beg your utmost pardon, but after yesterday, I realized that I did still have a duty to fulfill. That to my friends. I am at least part of the reason they left their families behind, and while they may be content with their new lives, I owe it to them to bring them back to share in what I have found here thanks to you.
So, I will find them, and I will bring them back for our wedding. I should have told you, but this is my mistake to fix and I knew you could probably talk me out of it. I promise you, I will bring them back and fix what I’ve done. Once I have, if you’ll still have me, I promise to never leave your side again.
Love,
Lucina
Robin fell back into his chair as he read it over and over as if the words would change. Eventually, as he idly tapped the letter against his open palm and he looked wistfully out the window. Then he smiled.
“If that’s how it is, then I’ll wait. Do what you have to do. I’ll be here. I’ll always be here for you, my princess.”