The Bride of Grima

Epilogue: For Robin

It was a soft raining day when Chrom came to search for his tactician. On days when it rained Chrom swore that Robin would act in the most strangest of ways. The bluenette had no clue as to why Robin chose the middle of the rain to sit outside. He stomped through the gardens looking for his tactician. Chrom's mouth was set into a line. Robin had been getting progressively worse as they closed in on Validar. Chrom froze when he rounded a corner and saw Robin kneeling in front of Emmeryn's grave. The prince took in a sharp intake of breath. He did not expect Robin to be here of all places. Nor did he expect to hear Robin crying. True rainy days like this kept everyone indoors but...

"Robin..." Chrom said softly coming to stand by the tactician's shoulder,

"She...she died without fighting Chrom." Robin said softly and Chrom frowned. How did Robin know that. "She...she didn't want the war, but Gangrel forced it anyway."

"Robin..." Chrom didn't know what to say,

"The dead talk Chrom. They talk as much as the living...if not more so. Her spirit is not at peace yet."

"How do you know?" Chrom found himself asking as he knelt by the tactician, uncaring if the rain soaked him,

"I told you Chrom...I see things. The living, the dead. I see them all in a constant struggle to be free. There are those that fade quickly in their end, their essence is too small. Hers though...hers is powerful, yours is powerful. You both will be born again should you die. Me though...I will have to live a thousand life times before I see you again."

"Robin?" Chrom asked surprised,

"We...we haven't learned what we need to know. There are small twists of fate Chrom, threads that twist and turn in their own way. Our ties are what keep us together, they pull us all ever forwards."

"Robin?" Chrom looked confused and Robin sighed,

"You won't understand. Not until it's too late Chrom." Robin spoke with pain, "I can only try to help you while I can. But I want you to only remember one thing. Be my strength Chrom. You can do that for me, can't you?"

Chrom wondered where the weirdness was coming from but then he realised what Robin was saying, "Robin...are you alright?"

"I'll be fine Chrom, as long as you're my half of a greater whole." Robin smiled sadly, "There will come a time when things will twist and turn, when all we know is pain and anguish. I don't want that time to come but I know it will, that it is, that it will last for a very long time. As a tactician...I can't end the pain, nor can I be spared from it. I know there will be a time where I am alone. So I will do what I can..." Robin turned to face Emmeryn's grave again. "For my own sake I will do what I can. For the sakes of those who are precious to me now, and those who have yet to come..."

"Robin?"

"Don't worry so." The tactician said squeezing out a small hollow chuckle, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown and all."

Chrom didn't understand a word of what Robin was saying.

They fought hard. Chrom was sweating from exertion and the fight had taken a toll on the prince. Robin had moved to try to save him and it was then that Chrom felt a surreal realisation. He was going to die today. He didn't know how he knew but when he felt the bolt of magic hit him; the prince knew. He spoke his last words as a living man and watched in horror as Robin succumbed to both his anger and grief, as Robin became Grima. To Chrom's shock Grima's first act was to kill Validar. Not just kill him, to destroy all traces of Validar. Chrom had never seen a spirit get torn to shreds like Validar had. Chrom had stepped back and he realised that Grima's eyes were looking right at him. "Forgive me." Was all Chrom heard as Grima allowed his body to twist and change. He saw the Fell Dragon drain everyone but two people at the Table. Chrom blanched when he saw her.

"He's been in pain for a long time Chrom." Her sweet voice said sadly,

"Emm..." Chrom was too shocked to move,

"It's alright. I know you did you best." She hugged him and in that moment Chrom cried.

Years passed and Chrom stood at the Table. He and Emmeryn saw Robin do things that they didn't understand. He ended the lives of the old and dying. Chrom spoke with some of them and learned that it was a great desire on their parts to become risen. Chrom didn't know if he wanted that. He and Emmeryn occasionally went back to Ylisse and watched over Lucina. Chrom's heart ached that he couldn't be by his daughter's side. He saw her grow into a fine young woman and he knew what was going to happen. He suddenly understood what Robin had said all those years ago. Chrom didn't know if Robin could hear him.

The Prince was there when his daughter married the tactician. Chrom had to admit the boy had grown a lot. He was almost as tall as the Prince once was. Chrom walked beside Lucina as she went to Robin, to Grima. He was there when she made that vow. He knew she was doing the one thing he couldn't have done himself. He knew that Robin would look after Lucina. Chrom knew it.

The Prince was keeping tabs on her...on them. He was surprised to see the small baby in Lucina's arms. He saw the way Robin's face lit up and Chrom smiled, "So what future is ahead of this one Robin?" Chrom asked, for the first time since he'd died speaking to his friend. Robin looked up then, right at him,

"Chrom?!"

"Gri-" Lucina began but she turned to where he was looking, "I don't..."

"It's because you aren't able to see." Robin said gently stroking Lucina's hair, "It will be a long time yet. But...thank you."

"Huh? Grima?"

"Someone special is here." Robin said, and Chrom noticed his daughter was looking surprised, "You won't be able to see him, though I can, only because I am able to see those who have passed."

"Then...F-father...?" Lucina looked surprised and Robin nodded,

"Yes." He told her. Chrom spoke,

"I know she can't hear me, but Robin...please tell her I'm not mad at her for her choice. I don't want her to feel like she's alone."

Robin snorted, "I think she knows that already Chrom."

"Did...he say something?" Lucina asked and Chrom saw Robin's gentle smile, a smile that Chrom had not seen in a long time,

"He wants you to know that he's not mad at you." Robin informed her, "He wants you also to know that you're not alone."

Lucina sobbed and the baby in her arms tilted his head, "Mama." She smiled and spoke sweet things to the tiny boy,

"For you Robin..." Chrom murmured to himself. "I know that we'll meet again, in a better life."