Chapter Text
“Mother,” a tiny voice spoke out from his mother’s lap, looking away from the window of the carriage to look to his parent, blue eyes big and shining with innocence.
“What is it, Chrom?” the blonde queen replied, her voice gentle as she set her hand on top of her son’s blue locks. Her hair was kept up in a bun with her bangs framing her face, blue eyes gazing down from under her baby bangs. “Are you still nervous?” She smiled and ruffled his hair, “There is no need, dear child.”
The child, Chrom, made a face, “But... Father says these people do not like us…”
“And that is why we go,” came another voice, “It is to assure both Plegia and Ylisse that things are not amiss. Having our troubles, yes, but not interfering with the peace we have.”
Chrom’s mother nodded, agreeing. “Yes, well put, Emmeryn.”
The youngest out of the three went back to looking out the window with a small frown. There wasn’t much to look at. Just sand, sand, and more sand with the occasional palm tree or oasis. And it was too hot for Chrom’s liking. Emmeryn looked on at her baby brother, observing him before bringing a hand up to her mouth and giggling quietly behind it.
“Are you scared of being left alone?”
Chrom whipped his head towards his sister, frowning more. He hated it when she did that; observing him until she hit the problem right on the head and announced it to embarrass him… It was a good trait to have, Chrom realized later, but only when it wasn’t being used against him. The prince fidgeted in his mother’s lap and looked down. “You and Mother will be in those meetings that I can’t go to… Why did you bring me?” This was going to be so boring. He could have stayed in Ylisse with the servants while his family was away; his father being busy with visiting other countries for peace meetings.
“Fret not, Chrom,” the queen laughed, patting his head comfortingly, “There is a surprise here for you. I promise.”
At the word ‘surprise’, Chrom gazed up at his mother in excitement. “A surprise? What is it?! Mother, what is it?!”
It was Emmeryn’s turn to laugh. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if we told you!”
“Aww, you know too?!”
The mother watched with amusement as her two children then started conversing about this surprise. She looked out the window with a knowing gaze and ran her fingers through Chrom’s hair.
Chrom and his family stepped out of the white carriage and onto the stone ground. The capital city of Plegia was busy and bursting with life and was unlike the hours of dullness Chrom had to sit through to get here. Before, it was just sand, but now it was just mile high buildings and wealth. Unlike Ylisse culture, Plegia took to darker shades of color and thinner clothing. Some were almost too revealing. As the three walked up the steps to the double doors of the palace, Chrom’s hand within his mother’s, he could hear the announcement of their arrival. The guard’s voice was gruff and laced with his Plegian accent.
“Now arriving, the royal family of Ylisse!”
At the voice, Chrom wanted to duck his head but felt that showed weakness and willed himself to stay strong. As they walked through the halls, escorted by countless of men in armor, they kept to themselves. It was a bit unnerving for Chrom to see both his mother and sister “stone faced.” They didn’t look mean, but Chrom knew what power lied behind those gentle smiles and warm gazes. The dark halls didn’t help him, either. It felt like he was suffocating with the tall men and walls towering over him.
He must have been trembling, because his mother rubbed her thumb against his hand to ease him.
Then, finally, they came upon two open double doors with purple curtains tied back with gold cords next to them. There was a wall of shiny beads that hung from the door, actually preventing them to get a good look inside. Once two guards reached out and parted the beads aside for them, Chrom was able to take in the glory of the throne room.
It was gold. Nearly everything was gold. Apart from the purple carpet they walked on, Chrom was sure he would be able to see his reflection on the floor. There was a woman perched atop of the few steps that led to the throne. It was almost like a balcony with the fencing they had around the ledge of the steps. It was decorated with purple fabric and more gold cords and fine jewelry. Behind the throne hung their emblem, the mark of the Fell Dragon.
The woman had fair skin and was an indicator that perhaps her line ancestors were not completely native to the land. Her hair was very long. The bangs that framed her face were braided and then more taken to form a messy bun in the back while the rest of her hair fell from her shoulders. Barefoot, her strapless purple gown flowed behind her as she headed towards the family. The dress was adorn with gold beads and trimming, her ankles and wrists supporting bangles. She was a beautiful woman, Chrom concluded. Though her brown eyed gaze was piercing, her smile was warm.
“Maryann!” she squealed out, breaking her elegant stride and dashing to the blonde woman.
His mother let go of his hand and opened her arms, nearly falling back when the Plegian woman collided with a bear hug. It startled Chrom, thinking his dear mother was being attacked, but then felt Emmeryn’s lay a hand on his shoulder. The white haired woman rubbed her cheek against Maryann’s, gushing and complaining about not being able to see each other in so long. Finally pulling from their embrace, the strange lady grinned and turned her attention to Chrom, to which he jumped and hid behind Emmeryn’s legs.
“Oh, just who is this little dust bunny?” she cooed, crouching and trying to peek around Emmeryn’s legs. Chrom would shift and move to prevent her from looking. She pouted. “You’ve gotten taller again, Emmeryn.”
Emmeryn’s laugh brought some comfort to Chrom, but wasn't enough to let up his guard. Suddenly, he felt himself being picked up much to his distaste. Chrom turned his head and rested it on his mother’s shoulder, shielding himself with what way he could.
“Dove, this is Chrom, my son…”
Dove’s eyes sparkled with delight, stepping closer and quickly jumping around to get a look at Chrom’s face. Chrom squeaked and lowered his head to bury his face in the shoulder.
“Chrom, you outta behave,” his mother warned in a teasing manner, “She’s the one that has your surprise.”
Quiet and still for a few moments longer, the prince gradually lifted his head and stared at the grinning woman. “... Pleased to meet you…”
He was set down. Chrom found himself wanting to be back in his mothers arms when Dove crouched and cupped Chrom’s chubby cheeks. “So polite!” she giggled, letting a hand rest on her knees while the other offered a shake, “Good day, Prince Chrom. I am Dove, the queen here.”
Slowly, the blue-haired child grasped Dove’s fingers and shook. “Hello…”
She smiled kindly, pools of brown squinting. “You wanted a surprise, right? Something that you won’t get bored of during your time here?”
Chrom nodded eagerly. The queen rose from her spot and offered her hand. Throwing a questioning gaze over his shoulder, Emmeryn nodded and made a ‘shoo’ motion with her hand, amused. Gulping, he took the somewhat stranger’s hand and followed her. He listened to the Plegian talk as he contemplated his sister and mother’s trust in the woman. From how they reacted and expressed themselves casually, Chrom would say they were fine friends. There was no way they’d let someone they didn’t trust take him alone, right?
She stopped talking when they reached a door. “Prince Chrom,” Dove started, getting ready to open the door, “Treat him kindly, would you?”
When the door opened, Chrom was met with a lot of books. Obviously, this vast amount of knowledge was the library. As they walked through, Dove led him through twist and turns Chrom was sure that had never been in a library before. This must have been a secret chamber of some sort… They came upon another door, and this time, it revealed a young child. Light shone through the large windows, curtains blowing gently as the breeze passed by.
The child of white hair turned from their spot on the bed. “Mama?”
Chrom’s breath caught in his throat. Was this his surprise? A girl?
“Robin!” Dove cooed out as she left Chrom’s side to embrace the child now standing on the bed to be somewhat on her level, “Robin, dear, remember that surprise I was telling you about?”
A quick nod from Robin. “Yes, Mama.”
Giggling, Dove thrusts Robin into the air, making the child squeal with joy, and moved so that she could place them in front of Chrom. The prince gasped at the two brown eyes staring into his own. Shakily, Chrom move to bow only clashed heads with the other.
“OW!” they both cried in unison.
Quick to get back on his feet, Chrom gasped and rushed to Robin’s side. “I-I’m sorry! Sorry!”
Dove laughed and proceeded to watch the two interact. Robin took Chrom’s hand and stood up, creating distance between them afterwards to bow properly without any injury. “Hello, I’m the prince of Plegia, Robin.”
Chrom stared… and stared. Stared some more. Then, finally, “You’re a boy…?!”
Robin flushed and squawked. Dove howled with laughter and doubled over. To both of their reactions, Chrom reddened himself and lowered his head in embarrassment.
“Yes, prince, he is! Robin, I trust you will be a courteous host?”
Robin, his cheeks still red, motioned for Chrom to follow him. Doing so, the two children went over to the corner with smaller bookshelves and a mini table with chairs. Dove made sure Robin got Chrom comfortable before slipping out of the room with a smile and skipping back to Maryann. Chrom fidgeted in his seat and forced himself to keep his eye contact with Robin as they sat across from each other.
“Do… You have a sister?” Chrom finally mumbled out.
Robin nodded. “I do. Jay.”
Silence again. More staring.
“Where is your dad…?”
The boy tilted his head and frowned a bit. “Mama said he left and never came back. Left her to rule over Plegia…”
“Your mother seems like a nice lady. How come my father and her are fighting?”
“I… am not sure…” Robin looked down. “It can’t be her doing. She likes Ylisse. Even if she didn’t she says it is better to be on good terms with someone than on bad. I think it is the people, not Mama.”
Chrom studied him carefully. For a young boy, he seemed to be well attuned with the world around him. He knew more than a child should. Chrom could only vaguely wonder why. His mother didn’t seem like the type to force him into things. Rather, she’d give him a means of escape. Robin didn’t look he had a miserable life, just… more adult. Which was sad being that they were only kids.
“Why is your room hidden in the library?” Chrom asked, curious. Usually, normal rooms would just be in the hallways…
“To keep me safe. Mama said people are afraid of knowledge.”
“Keep you safe…” Had Robin been attacked before? “Say, Robin, what do you do for fun around here?”
Robin kicked his legs and smiled. “I read. I go into the garden we have and sometimes go swimming… I like to play with Jay when Mama can’t be around.”
“That’s it? You have this whole big place and hardly do anything?”
“I would like to go out more, but Mama said it is dangerous with how things are right now…”
Robin must have it kind of hard here. There was tension not only between countries, but between civilians and royalty as well. Now that Chrom thought about it, it was growing to be that way in Ylisse as well. Something to do with how his father was handling things.
“Prince, would you like to see something interesting?”
“Chrom.”
“H-huh?”
Chrom smiled. The boy acted collected, but judging by how he kept fiddling with his hands under the table, he could tell he was a little nervous. Shy, even.
“Okay… C-Chrom... “
Grinning, the blue prince stood from his seat and offered his hand. “Show me that thing!”
Robin stared at the hand, blinking. It took a moment, but the albino flushed and smiled back at Chrom, taking ahold of his hand and leading him out the door. He led him to a garden of white roses and down a narrow path of thorn. The entrance to such a path was well hidden and led Chrom to believe they were diving head first into a bush of thorns. But, alas, they did not and Robin continued leading him until he turned to shush him and get on his knees, crawling forward. Chrom followed his example and looked to the opening that allowed him to spy on what was his sister and an older female version of Robin.
Her hair was pale as well, two twin-tails sitting atop her head and falling over her shoulders. Her pale fingers were threaded with Emmeryn’s. The blonde was leaned up against Jay’s shoulder, looking content and relaxed… Happy. Chrom hadn’t seen her like showing those three features all at once in a long time. Even so, the sight confused Chrom. While the two chatted and caressed each other, the young prince made his leave.
“Chrom?” Robin questioned once they were free from the thorny path.
Chrom turned to look at Robin and frowned. “That was weird…”
“It… is?”
“Yes, it is! They are both girls!”
“... So?” Robin looked legitimately confused. “How is it weird? Is it not allowed where you are from?”
Unable to explain exactly why it was strange or decipher why Robin was looking at him like he was the weird one, Chrom grew a tad frustrated. “N-no, I don’t think so… I-It just is, okay?”
The Plegian prince looked down. “I’m sorry.”
Now Chrom felt bad. “... It’s okay. I don’t see… that a lot. At all, really.”
Robin turned away and started walking, kicking at the ground dejectedly. Chrom followed. “It shouldn’t matter… They’re happy, right?”
“I guess they are…” Chrom paused. That feeling of slight discomfort and heavy confusion lingered. “Have… they been doing it for long?”
A nod was his reply. “I think so. I’ve seen them go to their spot every time she visited.”
“You don’t find it weird?”
“No. Plegians are allowed to show love to whoever they want. Mama said so, so she made it so.”
Robin sat by a small looking pond and dipped his bare feet within the water. He still looked a bit disappointed. That wasn’t good, especially if Chrom was to stay in a foreign country for another couple days with hardly seeing his sister or mother. So, the Ylisse prince shuffled over and made to take off his boots to follow Robin’s example.
“I do sword fighting,” he finally spoke out, changing the subject, “Father said I get to have his sword passed down to me.”
“... I do as well,” Robin replied quietly, watching the fish nibble on his toes, “I prefer magic, though. I’m better at it.”
“Woooah, you can do both?!”
With the spying incident forgotten, the two were back on the path of friendship. Soon, the two became inseparable during Chrom’s visit. Wherever Robin went, Chrom went and vise versa. The two even opted for sleeping in the same bed and taking baths together.
Overall, Chrom had a great time with Robin and considered him to be a wonderful friend. The prince didn’t have many at home with how he usually stayed within palace walls, occasionally being visited by one of the noble’s children. They were fine. They were fun. But Robin… He wasn’t stuck up or tried to be a know it all. Actually, Chrom was actually starting to think Robin did know it all. The boy was a year or so younger than him, but knew as much as a wise elder man.
He inspired Chrom to do and be better. He wanted to be on Robin’s level. Robin was many things, untalented and boring being far from him. Chrom rubbed off on him as well. Before, he had been reclusive but now he was out and about, actually holding conversations with people that weren’t family or teachers. He actually learned how to have fun outside of family and books.
And their mothers could see the sudden click between the two. It actually brought Maryann and Dove great disappointment when they went to get Chrom for their departure. The two were on Robin’s bed sleeping. Around them were many papers of drawings telling a story about slaying a great dragon.
“Cherish this bond, Chrom…” Maryann whispered as she gently lifted her son into her arms, rubbing the back of his head when he stirred, “He will become a very important man in your life.”