Invisible Ties | Fire Emblem Awakening (Novelization)

Chapter 35: Dreams Come True

Robin

For a moment, I just stared at Validar, frozen to the spot with fear.

Chrom squeezed my hand. "Robin?"

I turned to him. "Chrom...first, I have a favour to ask. If Validar does gain control over me...promise that you'll cut me down."

Chrom released me with a glower. "You can't mean that. You can't ask that!"

"I'll resist him with all that I am, I promise you. But there are other people involved here, too many people to ignore. You have a duty to protect them as well."

"I have a duty to protect you and my people, gods damn it, and I will. I can't cut you down. You mustn't let Validar seize control! Whatever it takes! Whatever the cost!"

"I'll try. You know I will." I sent a silent prayer to Naga that Chrom would remember his people and the importance of his life if I turned on him. Then I drew my tome. "I'm ready."

We marched towards Validar. Aversa matched us step for step, smiling wickedly. Just as she was within reach of our swords, she snapped her fingers and muttered something under her breath. A magical barrier sprung up between Chrom, me, and the rest of the group, sending the Shepherds stumbling backwards and trapping them with Aversa.

It was just like the barrier we had seen at Plegia Castle -- and the one I had seen in my dream.

This fight was between Validar, Chrom, and me.

Validar stood at the bottom of the altar. "I still find it almost hard to believe you really did come to witness the glorious culmination of your failure. I have the Fire Emblem, and the Dragon's Table is set for a feast. I will return Grima to this world!"

"You'll destroy the world!" Chrom said. "Lucina has seen it!"

"Then I pray today's spectacle lives up to her nightmares! The sacrifice has been made, and the fell dragon now only needs a mortal vessel, which you so kindly brought along."

Who is he...?

Validar smiled. "Take those gloves off, Robin."

I looked down at my hands, covered in the brown leather gloves Lissa had given to me when I'd first joined the Shepherds. I had worn them almost every day since. It had made it easier not to look at the mark on my hand and wonder why, every time my eyes fell upon it, I felt queasy.

I pulled off my left glove. The back of my hand was plain, the skin clear. I let the garment fall to the floor.

Then I pulled off the right one.

A pink, six-eyed mark stared back at me. The same mark that everyone had looked at two years ago around the breakfast table and then passed off. As the piece of leather that had hidden it for so long hit the ground, I said what we were all thinking. "He means me."

"You ken quickly, Robin," Validar said. "That's my girl. The symbol on your hand is, indeed, the Brand of the Defile -- more commonly known as the Mark of Grima. It is much like Chrom's Brand of the Exalt, but you are his antithesis. You are destined to be Grima's vessel and bring an end to this world!"

"No!" I shouted. "Never! I'll die first!"

"You carry my blood – the blood of the fell dragon. His soul slumbers within you. And now the time has come to Awaken you both! The Grimleal have worked for generations to create someone like you, a vessel worthy of our master. Simply having Grima's blood in your veins is not enough. My father was not worthy, nor was his father before him. Even I was not able to accept Grima's most sacred gift. But you? You had all the makings. You were perfection!"