Safe Arms

Lucina rested with her head tucked against Chrom’s chest. Yet another year had come and gone without a single sign of Robin. Naga had said there would be a chance that Robin could come back if her bonds with the Shepherds were strong enough. Robin had a strong bond with almosteverybodyin the core Shepherds. She especially had strong bonds with her children. Lucina herself, Morgan, and Miran… They had all bonded extremely quickly and Robin had stepped up as being their mother despite her technically notbeingtheir mother. Lucina was actuallyolderthan Robin had been when they’d met. It was strange to have her mother be younger than her, but Robin hadn’t cared; she’d fully accepted Lucina and the twins for who they were. Five years… It’d beenfive yearssince the fateful battle with Grima. Where Robin had struck down the Fell Dragon with her own hand to prevent him from rising again. Lucina knew it waswellwithin her mother’s nature to do that. She was so self-sacrificing that ithurt.Robin would hideso muchfrom even those closest to her until it was too late. Chrom had almost struck the final blow, but no, Robin had jumped in the middle and dealt it herself. The saddest part were the kids. Little Cina, Morgan, and Miran wouldn’t evenknowtheir mother. The spirited, spunky, reckless, but gentle, kind, and empathetic woman that had raised Lucina, Morgan, and Miran with such care. They wouldneverknow her. Of course it was a risk Robin was willing to take but none of them had wanted it… Grima rising again would’ve been worth it to have Robin back. But no, she thought the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few. Chrom wrapped his arms around Lucina and held her close. “We’ll find her. I promise.” His voice was hushed, but it lacked strength and resolve. Lucina knew better. There would be no return for Robin. Naga had lied and she hated it. The advisers had arranged a marriage for Chrom and he and the noblewoman whom he didn’t even know would be wed within a few months. There was no care nor any say for the family. Chrom needed to continue his bloodline even without Robin. They hated it. They all hated it, but there was nothing that could be done. She hated politics so much.