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Chapter Text

They found her lying in a patch of gloxinia.

"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know," he quipped, taking the girl's hand and pulling her up. She was shorter than him- around Lissa's height, he would say, with soft white hair hidden beneath her purple hood. That was the day Chrom's Shepherds gained a tactician.

Time brought camellias, red, pink, and white. Lissa picked them as they marched, decorating Frederick's hair with them. Chrom laughed as the poor knight dodged the princess's blossom assault. Robin giggled, covering her mouth in an attempt to hide it- Frederick deserved to retain a shred of his dignity, after all. Chrom plucked a white one off the bush and placed it in the tactician's hair, a soft smile gracing his face.

She left it there for days.

The day came when they sat together in a grove of primrose, swapping secrets back and forth, until the biggest secret he held slipped out. She gasped lightly, her mouth hanging open. She looked everywhere but at Chrom, at a loss for words until her eyes fell upon a single bloom of striped carnation.

Robin stood up abruptly. "I'm sorry, Chrom, but… we're at war. I can't be with you at the detriment of our army. I… I have to go now. I have work to do."

She left him all alone, a red and white carnation falling to rest at his feet.

He hardly spoke that week.

Robin sat with her back to a tree, looking down on the Shepherd's camp. She fiddled with a sprig of ragweed, slipping it in and out between her fingers. It took a while, but she brought herself to her feet, tucking the plant into her coat.

"Chrom?" She called into his tent, fiddling with her bouquet.

He poked his head out, eyes weary, before pulling back the tent flap and stepping out wordlessly. A patch of jonquil graced the ground near his mismatched boots.

She held out a handful of purple hyacinth. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Chrom. I- I love you."

He took the hyacinth and examined it closely as Robin waited, each second like a year. Finally, he smiled gently and pushed aside one of her bangs, placing the stem behind her ear. He swept her up into a giant hug, spinning in a circle, laughing through the tears in his eyes. She buried her face in his chest, giggling in pure joy.

A month after the war ended, ivy was crawling up the sides of Ylissitol Castle. Chrom waved to the crowds of citizens from up on the castle balcony, absolutely beaming. Robin leaned up and pecked his cheek, grinning at him all the while. Both had crowns of white heather weaved into their hair.

Wolf's bane lined the road the morning they marched on Walhart. Neither thought anything of it.

It was Autumn when they defeated Grima.

When they lost her.

The trees were nearly bare, and quite early this year, as though they too were mourning the beloved tactician. Dead leaves littered the camp, falling down like rain in an effort to smother them all. In one of the tents- one most particularly covered in leaves, Chrom lay on his barren cot.

In his hand, a single bloom of forget-me-not.

Since there was no body to be buried, her grave was more or less a shrine, and a well-frequented one at that. But nobody visited the memorial quite as much as him, or for quite as long as he did. Today, his head was bowed, and he whispered to her as he worked, a sweet prayer of longing and memories. He dug a tiny hole and filled it in, patting the dirt with such care. He stood up when he was done, a half-smile on his face.

A beautiful sweet pea, one that said exactly what he meant.

"Thank you for such a lovely time."

Chapter Text

Flower Language Guide

Gloxinia- Love at first sight

Camellia- (Pink) Longing for you (Red) You're a flame in my heart (White) You're adorable

Primrose- I can't live without you

Striped Carnation- Rejection

Ragweed (Ambrosia)- Your love is reciprocated

Jonquil- Love me; Affection returned

Purple Hyacinth- I'm sorry, please forgive me

Ivy- Wedded love

White Heather- Wishes will come true; Protection

Wolf's Bane- Beware

Dead Leaves- Sadness

Forget-Me-Not- True love; Memories

Sweet Pea- Goodbye; Thank you for a lovely time