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Tea is poured into a fourth glass. A butterfly lands onto a flower to drink its nectar.
The kettle was set down by a tacticians’ hands. Birds are chirping harmoniously as they watch their fledglings learn to fly.
Removing her gaze from a tree ahead of her, Robin looked back at her company; her joyous family. Chrom, Morgan, and Lucina all sat atop a blanket with her among lush green grass and a tranquil river nearby.
Everyone’s smiles were infectious. Just seeing each others’ faces was enough to make their hearts full.
“I’m so happy we can all be together,” Robin said joyously as she pulled sandwiches out of the picnic basket beside her. She placed some onto everyone’s plates.
“As am I,” Chrom chuckled nervously, placing a hand behind his head. “I tried my hardest to arrange this sooner, but things have been nonstop for the last couple of weeks, as you can tell. I can’t just have Frederick do everything around here, although he insists on doing so.”
Morgan and Lucina nodded in unison.
Robin laughed. “He tried to be our usher for this trip, and wanted to pour the tea. It was hard to get him to stay at camp with everyone else.”
“‘But, Milord, I did it for Emmreyn’s tea parties! I must do it for yours!’” Chrom replied in a mocking tone.
Everyone gave a hearty laugh. But for Morgan, it turned into a haughty sigh.
“What’s wrong, Morgan?” Lucina asked, setting down their sandwich plate.
“I missed you all so, so much,” He said sadly, head down.
“Honey, we missed you too,” Robin replied sweetly.
“That’s why we’re here after all: to spend time together, and catch up,” Chrom added.
Morgan wore a small, sad smile on his face. “I know, but…”
Lucina looked down at him, looking for his face. “I understand that expression anywhere. There’s more to this story, isn’t there Morgan? What is it that you want to tell us?”
“Yeah, there’s no reason to be afraid. We’re family–you can tell us anything,” Robin agreed.
Morgan looked back up, facing Chrom and Robin. “Do you…remember when my birthday was?”
Robin’s and Chrom’s eyes went wide.
“Oh no…” Chrom said, looking away, face red.
“Oh, Sweetie…”
“We’re so sorry,” they said at the same time, both of them looking right at Morgan.
“That was the day we had to move camp after that ambush, right?” Chrom asked.
“That’s the one,” Morgan replied, in a sad tone.
Robin shook her head. “How could we have forgotten?”
“Well, everything was back-to-back against Valm, that’s why,” Chrom sighed.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you either that day, Morgan. I had to help the team to rescue the captive.”
Morgan didn’t say anything at first. He had not touched his sandwich either. “Well…” he started. “I understood why we did not celebrate that day. That’s why I kept it to myself for this long. I knew how busy we all were so…I did not want to be a burden to anyone.” He paused, shuffled his body towards his family and continued.
“It’s not like I was empty-handed that day. Owain and Inigo sang to me as we marched away from our old base. A few days later, Inigo took me out for dinner once. Or…twice.”
“That explains why you and Inigo have become such good friends,” Lucina tried to say playfully. However, it came out somber.
“Yeah…they were both helpful and fun when I could not see any of you,” he chuckled nervously.
The rest of the family were silent to make sure Morgan was done talking. Then, Chrom spoke first.
“We’re so sorry it slipped our minds, Morgan. No one should be forgotten on their birthday,” Chrom said first.
“We promise that we will arrange something as soon as possible,” Robin added, nodding. “We celebrated your sibling’s birthday, so it isn’t fair if we don’t celebrate yours.”
“I agree,” said Lucina. “And don’t worry–I’ll make sure we’ll stay together for everyone’s sake.”
“Really? You mean it?” Morgan perked up, a smile beginning to form on his face.
“We mean it,” the parents said at the same time. Then they both looked at each other. “Jinx!” They both yelled in near unison; Robin was first.
“You owe me a pie!”
“Oh, come on! Why don’t you ask Sumia? She’s better at it!”
“I didn’t say it had to taste good! I just want it…from the heart!” Robin punched Chrom in the arm.
“Ow! I thought you loved me,” He said laughing.
Soon, everyone else was laughing too.
When they wound down, and wiped tears from their eyes, Robin looked back at Chrom, staring at him. “I just realized something. Do you know what runs in this family?”
“Oh? What is that?”
“Bottling feelings in,” Robin looked back at her children. “I think they get it from you, Chrom. You may have trusted me when we first met, but when it came to being vulnerable…”
Chrom chuckled nervously. “No way! They got it from you.”
Robin shook her head. “Nuh-uh! I may not remember everything about my past, but unlike you , I’m an open book!”
“I agree with Mother, Father,” Lucina butted in. “Before and after joining the army, and knowing you before I came to this past, I’ve observed how you speak. I have noticed that compared to how I remembered you, you are more shut-in–afraid to speak more…intimate things.”
“Oh great, you sound like Miriel…” Chrom laughed.
“Well…I think you’ve come a long way, darling. If you didn’t admit to anything,” she grabbed his hand. “We wouldn’t have made it to the relationship we’re in. I also think you have become quite the Exalt too.”
“Emmreyn’s death changed me…a lot. You’re right.” Chrom looked down solemnly. He looked back up into Robin’s eyes. “But I didn’t have a choice. I would have fallen if I didn’t lean on you, Lissa, the Shepherds, or anyone.”
“You’re so strong, love,” Robin gave him a reassuring smile. “You’ve overcome a lot.” She looked back to her kids. “All of us have.”
“I know,” Lucina said, feeling tears form in their eyes. “I can’t believe how far we have come in avoiding our future, and the fact that we can be together at all, it’s…”
“Amazing,” Morgan finished their sentence. “I feel that every day too, sib.”
Everyone smiled, looking up at the gorgeous partly blue sky in silence. They took in the birds tweeting, and the roaring of the river.
It’s amazing…
The Ylissean exalt straightened his back and looked at his wife. “Now that you mention it Robin,” he started. “I can see myself in Lucina, if that makes sense.”
“I do agree that we share some similarities,” Lucina agreed. “But how do you mean?”
“Well, you carried an ‘invisible burden’ as Libra called it for moons, or years. It took you time to come to terms with those feelings, to express them, and to lean on others to help you when you needed it.”
He shuffled around the blanket. “I’m the same way. I’ve grappled with multiple things of course, but my rite of passage as exalt is not the only journey that shares those parallels.”
“You must be talking about accepting Uncle Libra, right Father?” Morgan asked.
“Yes, among other things. It was months before I admitted I was wrong, even though guilt panged in my gut. That conversation was so hard.”
“Yeah, Father, I can understand now. You are strong for that,” Lucina nodded in understanding.
“You are too, Lucina. I cannot imagine any of what you went through, past or present.” Chrom clasped his hands in his lap, resembling Morgan. “I am sorry I made it harder for you.”
“Father,” Lucina started after taking another sip. “We have already built that bridge and went over it. And not everything is your fault. I had my own things to shoulder too, as you know.” They set their glass down. “All I care about is the you of now, Father. Thank you for treating me for who I am.”
“Well, I think it’s worth celebrating,” Robin set a plate down, finishing her sandwich. “Figuring out something so…crucial to how you see yourself, and having to deal with many different aches is so difficult. You’re tough, Lucina. I am so proud of how far you’ve come.”
“I wholly agree,” Chrom smiled proudly.
“Me three!” Morgan beamed cheerfully. “You’re so much happier and confident now! From before you told me, to after your birthday, it’s like night and day!” His perkiness softened into a glowing smile. “I wouldn’t have my sib any other way.”
Lucina felt the trademark warmness they felt every time they have been affirmed.
“Thank you, my family. I’m so grateful to have a Mother, Father, and brother. I wouldn’t have asked for anyone else, and I’m so happy to have all of you back.”
For now…
I wish this moment would last forever…
“Three cheers for the Ylissean Royal Family!” Morgan said, cutting off Lucina’s thoughts.
“Three Cheers!” Robin and Chrom echoed, raising glasses. Some drips came out of Chrom’s, while Robin’s was empty.
Lucina chuckled, noticing a splash of tea landing on the blanket.
“Three cheers,” Lucina finally echoed, raising their glass.