Re:Awakening
CH 009 - Sweet Partings
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- CASTLE KRAKENBURG, KINGDOM of NOHR -

Prince Xander strode through the cavernous halls of his castle home, his armored boots clanking with each step. He moved with a purpose; his eyes narrowed in focus as he readied himself for what was to come. Many of the castle's servants were quick to move out of his way while the patrolling guards stood stiffly at attention as he passed them by.

Xander paid them no mind and instead focused on the imposing doors leading to the castle's throne room. As soon as he reached the threshold, he stopped, his eyes lingering on the dark metal that seemed to absorb all the light that shone upon it.

He found himself doing that more and more in recent years. He never stopped out of some courtly courtesy or manners. No, Xander stopped because he had to steel his resolve. To ensure his will was strong before entering the throne room.

All because of how much his father had changed.

Xander had grown to hate meeting his father here. There was something odd, something that the furthest reaches of his mind warned him of danger. Something that made his blood boil in his veins.

That didn't unnerve him, though. What unnerved him was the sudden silence that would descend and choke out all sound from every source. To the crackling torches, to the echoing footfalls of those inside the expansive chamber. It left Xander wondering how his father could stand it.

'Then again, Father has changed,' the prince thought somberly.

After gathering his wits, he sent a nod to the guards standing on the sides of the door, silently commanding them to open the doors. Metal scraped against stone, and Xander was greeted by the sight of dim candles and torches, barely lighting the way leading from the entrance to the throne room to the throne room itself. At the end was his father, seated atop the grand chair, as pale moonlight shined through the glass ceiling above him.

As soon as Xander stepped forth into the room, he noted the same chilling silence that he hated hung ominously in the air. It even seemed to manage stifling his thoughts as he moved across the room at a brisk pace.

Nearing the throne, he could hear inaudible whisperings coming from his father, though even as the distance shortened between them, Xander couldn't make out a single word or phrase. As he stood at the base of the stairs leading up to the throne, Xander noted his father hadn't even acknowledged his presence.

Still, Xander stood at attention, keeping his head bowed as he waited for King Garon to finish -what Xander assumed were- his ponderings.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Xander saw Iago slither out of the shadow of the elevated throne with a knowing smile on his face. Xander did his best to keep his features schooled as his father’s advisor now stood beside him at the base of the throne.

The deafening silence slowly lifted, removing the tension in Xander's shoulders as his father finally noticed him.

"Prince Xander," he said with a deep rumble and a slight nod.

"Your Grace," Xander returned with a courteous one of his one, his voice calm and even. "What do you have need of me?"

Garon inclined his head at Iago, prompting the masked Sorcerer to speak. "I'm sure that you are aware of the pulse that swept across the kingdom?"

"I am," Xander replied. "Leo was with me at the time and had taken it upon himself to study it."

“Oh?” Garon leaned forward from his chair ever-so-slightly, unaware of his second son’s actions. Xander fought back a small frown. His father seemed to care little for any of them, aside from Xander himself and his adopted sister. “And what has my youngest son discovered? I am curious.”

Xander was about to answer when he spotted the smirk on Iago’s face. The same smirk that told all who saw him that he knew something and has been holding on to it for his own reasons. ‘Of course, he already knows.’ Xander shook his head and answered his father. “Leo has determined that the pulse came from a Dragon Vein. The obvious fact is that someone with the blood of a dragon used it. We have no reports regarding any of Hoshido’s royals crossing into our borders, so Leo theorized it might be a bastard child of some unknown lineage.”

Garon's eyes narrowed dangerously at Xander's words, his voice carrying a sharp edge in them. "And does my offspring think so low of me?"

Xander didn't flinch at his father's harsh tone. "Of course not, Your Grace. It was the first thought Leo discredited immediately. Our family tree is well documented, after all, as is your commitment to your concubines."

Garon hummed, placated by Xander's assurances.

The first prince looked at Iago. "Though, I assume you have already scried the identity of this mysterious individual?"

The sharp-tongued advisor placed a hand on his chest. "More than that, my dear prince. I have seen him with my own eyes."

Xander was about to question the man when Garon spoke up. "My connection to the Dusk Dragon's Vein gifted me insight into this interloper. Your sister was near their location and has crossed paths with them."

There was something in that statement that seemed too rehearsed to Xander. While he knew that the Dusk Dragon's Vein provided many unique gifts to one who had royal blood flowing through them, this was the first time he had ever heard about such an ability.

No, Xander had the unfortunate thought that his father was hiding something. For now, he would accept his father's words.

"So, imagine my surprise when our king ordered me to study this man, only to find Princess Camilla acting as a close traveling companion." Iago's smirk grew as he began a dramatic retelling of events. "It seems that the dear princess has grown close to this interloper."

Xander rolled his eyes at Iago’s blatant attempt at spinning the narrative. “Then perhaps she is simply trying to learn more about this ‘Interloper’ by engaging with him.” Xander turned to look at his father, hoping to temper whatever honeyed words the masked advisor had whispered into his ears. “Camilla is intelligent and clever with her words. You know as well as I, she has charmed many of our kingdom’s nobles and beat them at their own game. Perhaps she is trying to convince this man to side with Nohr.”

The silence Xander dreaded suddenly befell the room like a heavy weight. He instantly shut his mouth, cutting off any chance to defend his sister as his father's eyes bore into his.

“And yet she does not send any report of this man to me. She does not wait for my order and instead gallivanting across my kingdom with this abomination!” Garon’s deep rumble became a distorted roar as he slowly rose from his throne and stared down at Xander. “She does not even have the forethought to remove a potential enemy from the board!”

The Crown Prince of Nohr could only listen to his father's rage. His body tensed as a shiver ran down his spine. Even Iago was unaffected by Garon's sudden shift as the Sorcerer's smirk faded, becoming a thin line as he looked at his king.

The silence faded as quickly as it came. Garon sat back down on his throne, his grayed, wrinkled face looking even more haggard than it did. He took a deep breath and spoke once more. “Princess Camilla shall be punished for her error. She is near Fort Dragonfall. When she arrives, she will find a summons to return here post-haste. This is not including her error in hunting the rogue Sorcerer, Elias, without permission.”

His weary eyes lingered on Xander. "Her loyalty to Nohr and its crown is now in question. While she is my blood, even she must answer for her errors."

Xander could hear the shift in Garon’s tone and voice. It was like his father was like two different people. And he had just experienced both in the short span of a minute. Thankfully, the father he still recognized returned, giving him a chance to play damage-control for his sister.

"If I may, Your Grace." Garon raised an inquisitive brow, but gestured for Xander to continue. "If my sister's loyalty is now in question, perhaps a chance to prove herself is in order."

"Oh? And what do you propose, Prince Xander?" The king asked.

Xander breathed a little easier now. Lifting her head to meet his father's gaze, he explained his plan. "I have received reports that a group of Hoshidans are testing our borders, possibly to breach our defenses and wreak havoc in our kingdom. I was planning on assigning a company to cut them off, but Camilla's wyverns would allow a quicker strike, effectively preventing any advancement from the enemy."

He took a step forward, planting a foot on the first step of the throne's raised platform as he pleaded his case. "Use this as a chance to test Camilla's loyalty. If she fails, then she will face judgment on top of her military failure. If she succeeds, she not only proves herself but also deals a blow to Hoshido."

Iago moved to speak, but Garon stopped him with a wave of his hand. The king stared into Xander’s eyes while he considered the prince’s proposal.

"Very well." Xander kept a mask of calm indifference, but internally, he was greatly relieved. "However, Princess Camilla will have only a fortnight to complete this task. Should she fail..."

"Camilla's records speak for themselves, Your Grace," Xander replied coolly. "I know she will see it done."

Garon gave his son a small nod, effectively dismissing him from the room. Xander placed a hand over his heart and bowed before pivoting on his heel.

Before Xander walked away, he spared a glance at Iago. “What of this interloper? What can you tell me of him?”

“He is a mage. Quite a powerful one, from what I can tell. I do not know his name, but he has snow-white hair and a rather large, dark hooded coat with three magenta eyes on each sleeve,” Iago replied.

Xander took in the information and continued walking. He stopped at the threshold of the throne room and gave his father one last look before knocking on the door, alerting the guards on the other side to open them.

Garon watched from his throne as Xander left the chamber. He rested his head against his hand, drumming the fingers of his other hand against the stone throne as he considered the matter of his daughter and the interloper. From his place at the base of the throne, Iago spared the king a glance, drawing Garon's attention to him.

"Yes, Iago?" Garon asked with a raised brow.

Iago cleared his throat. Garon had become lucid after the shift in his personality, meaning that Iago would need to be more tactful with his words. "Your Grace, what of the interloper?"

A deep rumble escaped Garon's throat. "Do not engage."

Iago blinked owlishly, making sense of Garon's order. "Is that wise, Your Grace?"

Garon turned his head to look at his advisor, a furious expression dominating her visage. “While you have learned of this interloper, I tasked you to eliminate him. Your failure to do so has no doubt put him on edge.” Iago grimaced. To waste such war assets the way he had caused Garon to turn his ire on to him. “No. We will not draw any more attention to us. The saving grace is that your use of the Faceless can be seen as a random encounter. The ones we have lost control of are known to roam the Woods of the Forlorn, after all.”

The fury marring Garon's worn and weathered face disappeared. "No. My haste has only caused issues. Study him from a distance. Learn more about him." His lips parted into a grim, wicked smile. "Perhaps we can use him to our own advantage. We will give him a leash, allow him to move, but under our supervision. And when we learn of his uses, we guide him."

"Though, should the chance exist, then remove him from the board," Garon finished, his eyes turning to Iago.

Iago smirked, pleased by his king's plan. With a flourish, Iago bowed before Garon. "Understood, Your Grace. I shall keep an eye on him."

----------

Anankos felt his connection to Garon fade, but not before hearing the plan to observe the abomination. What little of the Nohrian King's mind that remained proved to still be useful.

The Silent Dragon had lost the scent of the abomination. The Vein that the abomination used acted as a beacon, alerting Anankos to its presence. And while it could sense its presence in Nohr, he could not narrow it down.

When Anankos listened in on Garon's discussion with his masked advisor through the disconnecting link, he had to agree with the current plan.

His rage caused it to act prematurely.

He knew nothing of this abomination other than its magic, of the twisted power of order and chaos swirling within it.

While this other dragon invaded what Anankos believed was his domain, Anankos forced a challenge.

So, the Silent Dragon would wait and watch, listening from the shadows. Once he knew of the threat this dragon possessed, he would act appropriately.

Anankos returned to the blessed silence of its realm within Valla's capital, content with letting his puppet act in his stead.

Soon, Anankos' years of planning would be enacted.

And the fell humans that infested the realm would face its fire.

As would the abomination.

----------

Xander's mind was a flurry of activity as soon as he left the throne room. Moving down the halls at a rapid pace, he ran through what he had just learned from his father and Iago.

An unknown man with snow-white hair had enough dragon blood within him to use a Dragon Vein. That matched with the feeling he and his brother had when the pulse washed over them. The man was also a mage, something that Iago could have only observed if the man fought.

Knowing Iago, the Sorcerer no doubt caused such an encounter.

Xander came to a stop at the realization that if Camilla was traveling with this man, then Iago's machinations no doubt meant he involved her in them, as well.

Pushing down the boiling anger he held towards Iago, Xander continued on his way. He didn't even realize how long he was in his thoughts until he reached the door to his office. Pushing past the door, Xander was greeted by the sight of his two retainers, one of which grew excited at his arrival.

“Greetings, Your Highness!” said a rather animated young woman with light blue hair with the tips of dyed a soft pink. As she moved with a slight pep in her step, the clump of messy bangs hanging over her left eye bounced, revealing the pair of blood red orbs that gazed at the prince. “How was your meeting with His Grace? Has he given you an assignment? Is it bloody?”

Xander ignored the savage grin on the young woman's face and moved to his desk. "No, Peri. But I appreciate your enthusiasm."

The now-named Peri pouted but shook her head, causing her blue and pink twin-tails to swing with her movements, and shrugged. As she hummed a jaunty tune, the other person in the room stepped forward, running a hand through his taupe-colored, wind-swept hair. "Then, how did the meeting go, Your Highness?"

Xander sat at his desk, folded his hands in front of his face as he went deep into thought. "Enlightening, and concerning, to say the least, Inigo." He looked over at Peri. "Would you please go and collect my brother, Peri? He should be in his study at this hour."

Peri gave Xander a playful curtsy, tugging at the hem of her black skirt before skipping out of the room with a giggle.

Inigo shook his head at his fellow retainer's antics and returned his attention to his prince. "I guess I will get to hear the story once Prince Leo arrives?"

Xander spared Inigo a glance and nodded. As they waited for Peri to return with Leo in tow, Xander pulled out a small roll of parchment from his desk and wrote a series of orders on it.

Not long later, the door opened and Peri skipped back inside, taking her place at Xander's side as Leo soon followed her in.

"Brother," Leo addressed Xander with a nod. Taking a seat across from him, Leo crossed his legs, staring intently at Xander. "How was father's summons?"

"As I told Inigo, enlightening and concerning," Xander answered as he finished writing. He looked at his brother, meeting the younger blonde's eyes as he spoke. "I have learned the of source of the pulse we felt."

"Oh?" That caught Leo by surprise, but a second later, his surprise turned into a sour realization. "Iago, I take it."

Xander simply nodded, earning a growl from his younger brother. "Of course, it was that snake." He looked at Xander, shifting his body as his tone grew serious. "What have you learned?"

“A man whose origins are still unknown caused the pulse,” Xander explained. “First, we know he is a mage. Second, he has snow-white hair, and a dark hooded coat with three magenta eyes on each sleeve.”

Inigo's eyes widened slightly at the description and found that his body had gone stiff. His mind raced at the implications, but he schooled his features quickly enough that no one else in the room noticed.

Xander continued. "Thirdly, Camilla is currently traveling with him."

Leo let out a curious hum at the news of his eldest sister. "I take it father knows already and isn't pleased."

Xander sighed, his weariness apparent to everyone in the room. “No. He is not. I’m afraid that he already had a clear idea of that, and Iago’s added reconnaissance didn’t help matters. His opinion was already formed before I barely convinced him to rescind Camilla’s punishment for a time.”

Leo leaned forward in his chair, fully curious about how his brother changed their father's mind. "How did you manage that?"

Xander's eyes met Leo's. "By offering an alternative. Camilla's loyalty was put into question. So, I gave Father a task for her to complete."

A smile formed on Leo's face, understanding what his brother was hinting at. "The Hoshidan forces attempting to cross our borders."

“Yes. I was originally going to use that as a means to placate Father when he originally learned of her speeding off to hunt for Elias, but as luck would have it, I could simply repurpose my plan for this.” Xander held up the strip of parchment he wrote on earlier. “Her retainer, Severa, is already on the way with Camilla’s Dark Wings to where we expect the Hoshidans to cross. Father was kind enough to tell me where Camilla would be, and so this message should meet her at Fort Dragonfall when she arrives.”

Leo leaned back into his chair, studying his brother's expression. "How long ago did you send Severa on this mission?"

"As soon as I learned of the Hoshidans." Xander leaned back into his own chair, placing an elbow on the armrest as he rested his face against his propped-up hand.

Leo nodded, understanding his brother’s mindset. Better to make sure the pieces were in place, and as the second highest member of the military, he could easily move around troops if he needed to. Xander was also one of the few individuals who could make a move and be able to explain himself to their father with little risk of punishment.

'It's not like Father has been too concerned to care for military matters at the moment. Then again, he already delegates much to Iago and Xander,' Leo thought. With a heavy sigh, he stood up from his chair. "Then the matter is settled. Knowing Camilla, we'll be lucky enough to receive any prisoners when she's done, but at least her victory should placate Father. Then, once she's back, she can tell us all about this mysterious mage."

Leo moved towards the door, but stopped right in front of it. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder at Xander. "Is there anything else, brother?"

“Yes,” Xander replied. “Father used some rather curious terms when speaking of this mage. First, he used ‘interloper’. Then, in the middle of one of his shifts, he used the term ‘abomination’.”

Leo quirked a brow at that. His father's personality shifts were a well-known secret among those in the castle at this point. Leo's interest was geared more towards the words used. "Rather curious of him."

Xander inclined his head, his mind running wild with implications. “Quite,” he mumbled. His brows furrowed as another matter came to mind. “There is something else. Father deems this mage an interloper, yet expressed no desire to capture him.”

"Then we can assume Father has something in mind," Leo suggested.

Xander stared down at his desk. "Yes... That's what I'm afraid of."

Leo let out a brief hum and turned around, ready to leave, when Inigo called out to him. "Excuse me, Prince Leo?"

"Yes, Ser Inigo?" The young prince asked.

"Is Owain free at the moment? All this talk about your sister has me thinking it's been a while since we sent a letter to our own sisters," the taupe-haired retainer explained.

Leo waved his hand as he stepped past the door. "Yes. He should still be in the training hall." As he left, Xander, Inigo, and Peri could hear him mutter something under his breath. "Something about his burning blood and inspiration..."

Inigo turned his head to Xander, about to speak to his liege, when Xander cut him off. "You may leave to speak with Owain, Inigo. No need to ask permission for matters regarding your family."

Inigo bowed. "Thank you, Your Highness," he said, gratefully. With that, he turned and quickly left the room.

His mind still reeled at the simple description of the mage. A mage with white hair was rare, but nothing really noteworthy. A mage with white-hair and a hooded coat with magenta three eyes on each sleeve was too distinct to ignore.

'Could it really be him?' Inigo found moved rapidly down the halls, making his way to the training hall dedicated to the royal children and their retainers. He needed to talk with Owain about this. Maybe they could get in touch with Soleil and Ophelia.

That is, if they even knew where their sisters even were.

Inigo pushed that thought to the back of his mind for now. His ears picked up the sounds of blades clashing against training dummies, accompanied by loud, dramatic battle cries.

"Hark! For you will bear witness to my greatest arte! Great... Aether!"

The taupe-haired young man came to a stop and released a heavy sigh while rubbing his temples.

"Of course," he muttered as he entered the training hall to speak with his friend.

----------

Robin stood under the Mila Tree, staring off into the vast expanse of their shared dream. The ever-setting sun hung just over the horizon, painted the infinite sky a brilliant mix of gold, orange, and purple hues.

It did well to settle his turbulent mind.

Yesterday's events weighed heavily on him. The Faceless brought up too many feelings that still lingered in his soul. He saw too many similarities between Nohr and the Grimleal and Valm. His desire to return home was battling against his growing desire to meddle.

He needed more information to work with. There was only so much he could learn in Nohr, but still plenty to see to understand the kingdom's needs and desires. At some point, he would need to cross over into Hoshido as well.

After leading armies against Plegia, continuing a generational war, Robin learned that truths and perspectives could easily become obscured and twisted as actions and reactions shaped the political and social landscape of one's home.

The sins of the father, passed down onto their children for them to correct. Even if they had to sacrifice themselves to do so.

Out of the corner of his eye, Robin spotted a familiar, serene ghost from that war. One of countless many, but one that weighed the heaviest on his soul. Clenching his eyes tightly shut, Robin shook his head to dismiss the specter.

And the mad laughter that rang through his mind.

With a deep breath, Robin calmed himself and returned to his thoughts. The more he considered staying, at least long enough to get a read on the rising tensions between Nohr and Hoshido, the more he was left with one dreaded thought. He would need to find a way to explain this to Tiki.

A pair of arms wrapped around him as Robin felt a light weight press up against him.

"You need only to talk to me, my love," Tiki said as she rested her head against his back.

Robin didn't respond right away as he silently cursed the blessing that was his and Tiki's connection at the moment. He simply placed a hand against hers as he gathered his thoughts.

"I want to come home, Tiki," he said, just above a whisper. "I want to return to you, and to Flavia, and Anna. To Chrom and the rest of the Shepherds. It’s just…"

Tiki's embrace around him tightened. "But what you have learned worries you." She slid around Robin's body and stared into his purple eyes. "And being who you are, you cannot stand by and watch if you have the power to act."

Tiki raised her hands and gently cupped his cheeks, pulling him into a tender kiss. After several seconds, she pulled away, treating Robin to a fond smile on her soft lips. “That is just one of your many aspects that I fell in love with, Robin.”

"I still feel the need to apologize to you," he said glumly.

Tiki nuzzled against his chest. “I know. You don’t need to, but I know you will continue to do so until we are finally reunited. But...” She looked back up at him. “Who said that if you can’t return home, that I wouldn’t cross over to see you myself? You are my mate, as well as Flavia’s and Anna’s. Do you truly think that we would leave you alone?”

Her emerald eyes narrowed, a look of determination dominating her face as she stared at Robin. "I have been alone for millennia, Robin. And now, my mate, my beloved, is a realm away. If you cannot return to me, I will just have to cross the Outrealms to reach you," she declared resolutely.

Robin stared at the green-haired beauty, trying to find his voice after hearing his lover's powerful declaration. "That's certainly one possibility. But why? I don't want you to risk yourself, Tiki."

“Because, knowing you, you will need all those you can trust to stand by your side. Currently, Scarlet is the only ally you have that has our full trust, and while you have an uncanny ability to connect with others, some familiar faces standing by your side never hurts,” Tiki explained as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

She continued speaking, effectively cutting off any argument he had. “I am already on my way to meet with Chrom, and have already sent letters to Flavia and Anna. Once I meet with them, we will discuss ways to cross over to you safely. I’m sure Anna and her family certainly have the means to do so.”

Robin smiled softly at her words and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll try to not get into too much trouble until you arrive."

Tiki pouted, and with her being wrapped up in his arms and up close to his face, made her look adorable in Robin's eyes. "You say that, but I know you. You will risk yourself in order to save someone," she said, both accepting the future headache while finding it difficult to be mad at her beloved.

Sighing and resting her head against his chest again, Tiki enjoyed the sensation she felt from his embrace. The two star-crossed lovers stayed like that for what felt like hours, feeling the eternally setting sun bathe them in its warmth.

"We need to discuss Camilla," Tiki said suddenly.

Robin nodded. After their engagement with the ambushing Faceless, Camilla had shared what she could, still holding back information that she either couldn't share with someone not allied with her kingdom, or found it difficult to do so. She was, however, rather withdrawn when she did. It was obvious to Robin that even she found the idea of the Faceless repulsive and dreaded even acknowledging them to him.

But there was a stronger bond between them now. Her teasing smile was more genuine; her eyes always lingered on him whenever Robin was in the room. Even with the shift in her demeanor, that didn't stop Camilla from being rather generous with her flirtations and touches when the mood struck her when they arrived at the outpost.

There was a hunger in her eyes, and Robin recognized it. He had seen the same in Tiki's eyes whenever she was in the mood. He concluded that the dragon blood flowing in Camilla's veins was reacting more to him, an insight that Tiki further confirmed.

Tiki gripped his coat tightly. "You see a little of yourself in her, don't you?"

“Just a small similarity,” Robin explained. “With Nohr reminding me of Valm and the Grimleal, I can’t help but see both Validar and Walhart in place of this King Garon.” His body tensed at the thought of his father, at the thought of his long-passed nightmares of Grima taking control of his body. “I suppose I see myself in her place. I trust her and I want to believe that she can make the same choice I did, that if shown a different path than the one her father wants her to take, that she will.”

His eyes softened as he turned his head to stare at the setting sun that was frozen in the sky. "She and her siblings, based on what she's told me of them, remind me of Chrom and Lissa." He paused, and Tiki could feel his heartbreak through their bond.

“Of Emmeryn...” Robin choked on his words at the thought of the ever-gentle Exalt. He even saw her specter appear again out of the corner of his eye, with her soft lips still curled into that gentle smile that she always had.

Dismissing the phantom, Robin continued explaining his point. “Their father was considered a monster by Plegia and their own people, and it cost his oldest child her life to undo the damage he caused. I can’t help but wonder if Camilla and her siblings are in the same situation.”

Tiki listened intently, saving her judgment for when Robin finished. She understood where he was coming from. Validar was a ghost in his mind that refused to leave him. His deranged father had left a deep scar in his psyche that was only compounded by the revelation that an alternate version of himself accepted his role as Grima’s vessel. The same doppelgänger that doomed his world and sought to do the same to theirs. Add on his observations about the similarities between Chrom and his siblings to Camilla and hers, Tiki had to admit that Robin had a point.

The King of Nohr was a potential threat to not only his enemies, but potentially those around him.

All that meant to her, though, was that he still needed her. He still needed the support of the Shepherds. But Robin was worlds away from them all, and while the connection shared between her and him was a divine blessing, it still wasn't the same as being beside him. To share those burdens and offer supportive words to him.

It was one reason Tiki accepted Scarlet so readily. The blonde knight was there. She was an excellent example of a Shepherd and honorable.

There was also the fact that Scarlet was another attractive lover of her mate. That was certainly another selling point with Tiki, and the Divine Manakete was looking forward to having Scarlet in bed with both her and Robin.

Now, with Robin's ability to form strong bonds with others and his new draconic essence, he was attracting others, more specifically those who would be potential mates, rather easily if Camilla was anything to go by. It made Tiki wonder just how many more Robin would connect with.

The more Tiki thought about it, the more she considered it some sort of universal correction at play. After all, Robin was the unintentional force behind most, if not all, the bonds and marriages between the other Shepherds. She found it rather amusing the more she thought about it, that because he had a hand in helping others find happiness with others, fate, or maybe divine intervention, was looking to pay it forward.

Her amusement grew even more when she remembered that many of the time-displace children felt strongly for him the longer they were around him.

Her thoughts soon turned to the lavender-haired princess that Robin was still traveling with. Tiki considered Robin’s words. There was a small hope in her heart that he would be proven right, but she worried that if things escalated as she feared they would, then Camilla might make a much darker choice.

After thinking about everything, Tiki closed her eyes and rested her head against Robin's chest. "Please, just be careful. I don't wish to see you hurt. Whether it be physically, or emotionally."

"I will," he replied with a serious and determined expression on his face.

Tiki kissed his cheek, letting her lips linger for several seconds. “Good. And if the princess does indeed make a move, please make sure Scarlet is there. I trust you and her, but not Camilla. Not fully.”

The corner of Robin's mouth quirked up as he now wore a cheeky smirk. "You just want a rather risqué memory for me to share with you, don't you?"

"Possibly," she replied evenly. "Though I do have one to share with you. Nah has certainly missed you and is rather excited knowing that you have returned."

Robin stared at Tiki, confusion apparent on his face. "Really?"

"Oh yes," Tiki said with a knowing smile. "In fact, I can honestly say that she is only one of many-"

Robin and Tiki perked up in alarm, their eyes narrowing as they felt a presence intrude on them. Looking behind them, they saw a young woman with blood-red eyes and short ash-blonde hair, watching them from beside the Mila Tree with a nervous and confused expression on her face. Next to her was a small spectral being made of azure fire, shaped like a cross between a lizard and a fish, that hovered over the young woman’s shoulder like a guiding light.

Robin was about to call out to the young woman when she suddenly spoke, asking a question that would catch the Tactician off guard.

"Robin?"

And then the dream ended, and Robin awoke.

----------

Corrin found herself surrounded by mist as she entered her dream. Low echoes filled the air, as shapeless specters faded in and out of the mist. Some acknowledged her, others ignored her completely.

Corrin steeled her nerves and focused on the talk she had with Lilith recently.

“It seems as though something is trying to form a deep connection with you.” Corrin’s eyes widened, hearing the blue-haired maid’s words so clearly it felt like Lilith was standing right next to her.

Looking to her right, Corrin expected to see her standing there, only to spot an ethereal version of Lilith holding a bushel of apples before fading away.

"That happened yesterday," Corrin muttered, trying to make sense of what was happening. A thought came to mind. "Wait... Maybe if I..."

Focusing, she drudged up a memory, and the sound of clashing metal rang through the air.

"Watch your footing, Lady Corrin!"

A spectral Gunter appeared before her, rushing at her as he did when they had their last sparring session. Corrin was confused at first, expecting to see herself engaging her mentor in combat, only to realize why she couldn't. "Right. A memory from my perspective."

She wondered if she could watch such memories from an outside perspective, but set that thought aside for the moment. Banishing the spectral Gunter, Corrin was about to review the memory of her recent talk with Lilith when a desire took hold of her heart.

“Okay, think back.” Corrin ran through her memories, going as far back as her arrival at her lonely stone cage.

She was always told Garon had saved her and adopted her into his family, making her the Second Princess of Nohr after her sister Camilla. A part of her always wondered what the truth was. She even doubted what she was told.

There was a nagging thought in the back of her mind that had taken hold ever since she learned her memories before her adoption were lost.

Echoes of the past whispered in her ears as she traveled back through her memories.

"You're getting better, sister. Gunter has trained you well, as always. I look forward to the day you finally best me."

"Darling! Come give your sister a hug. Oh, you're growing more beautiful by the day, Corrin."

"Alright. Let's try this scenario... Why are you laughing? What do you mean, my collar is inside out?"

"Sister! Sister! I have a new story for us to read together!"

She smiled at the thought of her siblings. The days they had spent together whenever they visited always brightened her days. Even though they weren't blood-related, they were Corrin's siblings in all the ways that mattered to her.

"If you wish to be strong, then I will teach you, Lady Corrin. But if you choose this path, then you must give it your all. Am I understood?"

"Lady Corrin, it's time for your lessons... No, you cannot skip out on them. Don't even think about scampering off with my sister. I have my eyes on you two."

"Manners maketh the man, or lady, in your case. So, stand up straight, but not stiff. You want to give off an air of confidence. And no slouching."

"You're finally awake, Corrin! I'm so glad. I was so worried when your fever hit... Hm? Oh! Um, I used my ice to help keep you cool. I'm just tired from it, so please don't worry."

Corrin's smile grew as the memories of Felicia and the others came to mind. She loved her adoptive siblings, but her retainers were the ones that made her time in the lonely fortress bearable. They were just as much family to Corrin as her brothers and sisters were.

Any feelings of warmth she felt were soon extinguished as she reached some of her furthest memories and an icy voice filled the air, speaking over the pleasant echoes of her friends and family, effectively silencing them.

"You poor thing..."

Corrin shivered at the sound of her father's voice. Something about it felt wrong. Her eyes snapped open as she felt a chill run through her spirit. She looked around in a panic, noticing that the mist had turned into an inky black abyss.

The most terrifying part was the silence that filled the air.

Corrin wrapped her arms tightly around herself, shaking like a leaf as she tried to ignore the shift in the dreamscape and focused on pushing through her memories. She winced at a slight pain she felt in her mind, as if warning her to stop digging any further.

Her curiosity won out over her fears, and Corrin pushed forward.

"Orphaned at such a young age..."

Corrin raised her head slowly, her eyes spotting a set of regal armor as black as night. She finally met the eyes of King Garon and saw a twisted smile on his face. Her gauntleted hand reached out for her as his smile grew. His voice grew more distorted, as if something else was speaking through him.

"You are my child now."

"No!" Corrin took a fearful step back, clenching her eyes shut as she turned away from Garon's hand. She panicked and stumbled backward, falling onto her rear, fully expecting her father to grab her.

When nothing happened, Corrin felt her fears slowly evaporate as she opened her eyes, scanning the abyss for any sign of Garon. It felt like hours had passed before she felt well enough to even stand on her feet again.

"Why did I react that way?" Corrin's body shook, an icy fear gripping her heart as she saw Garon's hand still reaching out for her. Her father was distant and the few times she interacted with him; he had only spared her a few words.

But they never felt as cold as they just did in that memory.

"You are my child, now."

Those words felt haunting.

Corrin took another minute to calm herself some more. The inky-black abyss slowly dissipated into the gray mist she had grown accustomed to, providing the princess some form of comfort.

Corrin didn't know how long she stood in the mist. She assumed it was for a while, though with this being a dream, time seemed to be meaningless. It made her wonder if she would wake up soon.

The thought of going through her memories again was a tempting prospect, but the sudden chill she felt as she remembered the spectral Garon put a stop to that thought.

Unbeknownst to her, a small azure light hovered close to her, emerging from the mist like a specter. It slowly inched closer to the princess, the warmth from its light proving the young woman further comfort as the lingering words of King Garon faded from her mind.

Corrin turned around, spotting the light as it hovered behind her shoulder. The light shifted, turning into azure flames before taking a familiar shape.

"It's you," Corrin said as she held out a hand to the ethereal creature beside her.

"It looks to be doing much better, Corrin! Still, I don't think I've ever seen anything like it before. Have you found out anything?"

The memory of Felicia looking over her shoulder as Corrin cared for a small, injured creature she had found one day exploring the grounds of the Northern Fortress. She had spent nearly a month taking care of it, with Felicia's aid, all the while trying to learn of its origins and what it was. Corrin found nothing, but based on the fishlike tail and fins along the back of its reptilian body, Corrin took to calling it a dragon-koi, after an old Hoshidan legend she found in a book.

After it had finally healed, Corrin took it back to the river where she found it. When she released it into the water, Corrin never saw it again.

Gently scratching the dragon-koi's fiery jaw in wonder, Corrin couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity with it. Despite it being years, Corrin felt that it had only been yesterday since she last saw it.

"Hello again," Corrin said to the dragon-koi with a fond smile on her face.

Letting out a melodious chirp, the ethereal creature rubbed its face in the princess’ palm.

Corrin wondered how this was possible. Magic was the first thing that came to mind. Leo had always said that there were still many mysteries left in the world, and maybe this was one of them. After all, this was her dream.

But the dragon-koi felt too real. There was also the connection that Corrin felt between them. Something within her blood stirred the longer they were together.

Suddenly, as she continued showing affection to her ethereal companion, Corrin's pointed ears twitched as she heard both a familiar and unfamiliar voice in the distance.

Her head on a swivel, Corrin looked all around her, expecting to see the same hooded figure from her past dreams, only to still be surrounded by the all-encompassing gray mist. Red eyes narrowed, trying to pierce the mysterious veil for any signs of another presence.

Yet Corrin, and her companion, were alone.

As Corrin continued searching for the voice, Lilith's words came to mind. "It seems as though something is trying to form a deep connection with you."Corrin took a deep breath and focused on remembering her previous talk with Lilith.

The ethereal presence of the blue-haired maid reappeared, still holding a bushel of apples. Oddly enough, a representation of Corrin joined her, providing a new perspective to the scene. Corrin looked between her doppelgänger and Lilith, trying to make sense of why she was seeing the scene from a different angle now. It was jarring, to say the least, seeing one’s self, even if it was just a memory.

It gave Corrin a headache just thinking about it.

Corrin shook her head, trying to move past her existential thoughts, and allowed the memory to replay itself. She watched as Lilith turned around, while holding out an apple to a horse that wasn't there. "Your blood is powerful, Lady Corrin. Just like your siblings. Perhaps another whose blood is just as powerful as yours is reaching out to you."Lilith turned back around, her eyes meeting the eyes of the ethereal Corrin. The blue-haired maid looked unsure and disappointed herself, as if hoping to be of more help to her lady. "Just be careful. You said you've dreamt of this hooded stranger before. Whatever magic is connecting you to him, he must surely notice it as well."

While Corrin considered Lilith's words, she heard the voice again, louder, much clearer than before, and giving her a direction to head. Moving blindly through the mist was still difficult, like wading through deep waters, but Corrin was determined to meet the man that had been a part of her recent dreams. To determine if he was merely a figment of her imagination or someone reaching out to her.

The dragon-koi spirit followed her, albeit hesitantly. Corrin looked over her shoulder, noticing her companion’s slower pace, and the worried look on its face. It's as if it sensed a powerful predator and tried its best to not to gain said predator's attention.

Before Corrin could think more on it, the voice returned, sounding weary.

"I want to come home, Tiki."

Something within Corrin stirred when she heard that, an understanding she had with that statement. It made her realize that she was longing for something. Of dreams of a home missed.

It made Corrin feel for the one speaking.

As she continued to move through the mist, the drab grays blended and swirled into hues of purple, which then bled into warm oranges and vibrant golds. With each step, she heard more and more of the voice, as well as another, picking up on the conversation happening between the two.

"You say that, but I know you. You will risk yourself in order to save someone."

The mist finally faded away and Corrin found herself walking atop an ocean, whose surface was so still that it reflected the burning sky perfectly that the horizon seemed invisible.

In the distance was the tree she saw in her last dream. Its expansive branches reached into the sky, its towering form creating a striking silhouette against the sky. And underneath the shade of the tree were two people.

One was a light-skinned, green-haired woman that Corrin would describe as an otherworldly beauty. From her slim, mature body, her wide hips and ample chest, to her long, pointed and ridged ears that made her exotic, the woman was on par with the likes of Camilla.

Corrin felt a small heat in her cheeks as she caught herself staring at the woman.

But it was the pair of green eyes that were like emeralds that expressed a deep love whenever she looked at the man in her arms that drew Corrin's attention the most to her.

The heat she felt only grew when her eyes moved over to the other figure.

For the first time, Corrin had a chance to really look at the man whose name had been etched into her heart ever since the pulse she felt.

His hood was down, revealing his snow-white hair, with its windswept bangs hanging over his vibrant purple eyes and his sharp features. He was handsome, but it wasn't just his physical appearance that Corrin was lost in. It was the soft, caring expression on his face whenever he looked at the woman with him.

Corrin felt drawn to the two, slowly moving forward until she stood next to the tree. She studied every detail she could of the two, from the affection they expressed for the other, how their eyes lingered on the other when silence befell them and they had no more words to share. When Corrin saw the smirk on the young man’s face, she sported a similar blush on her face that the green-haired beauty had on hers.

Inside Corrin’s soul, something resonated. She unconsciously reach out to the two, only to pull away when she noticed they had stopped talking. They were alert and immediately their eyes turned to Corrin, making her feel vulnerable under their gaze.

She shifted nervously on her feet, trying to not any more than she had. As she opened her mouth to speak, Corrin felt a slight tug in her consciousness. Looking down at her body, she noticed she was slowly becoming transparent, as if fading from the dream. She looked over at the pair, noticing the same thing happening to the pair.

Desperate for at least one answer, she quickly called out to the white-haired young man, hoping she was right. "Robin?"

She watched as the young man reacted to her inquiry, with the young woman turning to look at him with a hint of surprise and confusion flash through her eyes.

Before she could get an answer, Corrin felt the waking world call.

She awoke to the early morning sun's rays filtering past her sheer curtains, bathing her room in a warm light. Rolling onto her back, Corrin stared at the stone ceiling of her room.

“I saw him.” Thoughts of the white-haired young man filled her mind. Closing her eyes, Corrin relied on her memory, reforming Robin from every detail. As his form came into being, she felt drawn to the confident smirk he wore and the pair of vibrant purple eyes.

Another person appeared next to him. The green-haired beauty that was his companion stood next to him, wrapping an arm around his and entwining their fingers together as one would do with their significant other.

The same connection Corrin felt towards Robin was matched by the unknown woman, albeit to a lesser degree. It made Corrin wonder what all of it meant.

If the next time she slept, would she enter that same shared dream with them?

A part of her hoped for it. Corrin wanted to talk to them. To understand who they were and why she was connected to them.

Releasing a sigh and rising from her bed, Corrin stretched the kinks and stiffness out of her body and made her way over to her wardrobe, stripping off her nightwear in order to get ready for the day. As she did, she continued to imagine a pair of vibrant purple eyes gazing at her.

Yes. She wanted to see Robin and his companion again.

After donning her regal attire, Corrin left her room, surprising Felicia, who was just outside the doors, ready to enter the room in order to rouse her from her slumber. Corrin's sudden appearance caused the clumsy maid to misstep, falling forward and into Corrin's body, with her face landing in the comfortable cushion of the princess' full bust. The sight of her best friend brought a radiant smile to Corrin's face, and seeing the shocked expression on the maid's face caused her to chuckle as she wrapped her arms around Felicia.

"Lady Corrin! I didn't think you'd be awake already," Felicia remarked, a flustered blush dusting her cheeks.

"Believe it or not, I can wake up on my own," Corrin replied good-naturedly.

Making sure Felicia was good on her feet, Corrin made her way down the hall, with Felicia falling into step with her. "Oh, I know. It's just either my sister or me have to give you a rather cold alarm," Felicia said with a playful grin.

Corrin involuntarily shivered at the reminder, remembering the multiple days she wished to linger in bed, under her warm sheets, only to have the two Ice Tribe sisters use their magicks to wake her up with a snapping cold.

"Still, I'm surprised. It's rare for you to wake up before either me or Flora come to wake you," Felicia said thoughtfully.

Corrin gave her a nod, understanding where she was coming from.

Felicia studied her lady, trying to make out the puzzle before her. "Did you have one of those dreams again?" She asked.

Red eyes met icy-blues. "Yes. I did," Corrin replied with a small nod. "I saw him. I saw Robin."

Realizing her mistake, Corrin came to an abrupt stop as she heard Felicia gasp.

"Really! Then it must be fate, Lady Corrin!" Felicia said, bouncing on her heels. "Lilith's advice must have helped you!"

Felicia’s elation was infectious, and Corrin found herself smiling along with the maid. “Yes. I’ll need to thank her.”

Felicia quickly wrapped an arm around Corrin’s and began dragging her down the hall towards the servant’s quarters. “Then let’s go see her now. You can tell us both about your dream!”

----------

As Corrin and Felicia walked the halls of the lonely fortress, Lilith sat at the edge of her bed, staring at her clasped hands.

It had been years since she faced anyone with a draconic essence as powerful as she felt during the night. Not since her father. It made her feel small, like a mouse standing next to a lion.

Despite that, she felt no madness from the pair of human dragons. There was no malice or rage.

There was simply comfort and strength. Longing and love between the pair.

Lilith silently cursed her nature. How her own instincts reacted the way they did. There was the same feeling she had whenever she was next to Corrin, spending time with her lady, chatting for hours about any topic that came to their minds.

What's worse was when those purple and green orbs fell upon her. They recognized what she was.

Lilith wondered, just as Corrin had, on whether she would see them again. There was a hope in her heart, to fulfill a desperate wish that had been building for the last few years.

- SOUTHERN OUTPOST, WOODS of the FORLORN -

"Again! Keep light on your feet, Sophie!" Robin stood across a nervous Sophie, the Cavalier trying her best to keep a firm grip on the training lance.

When she, begrudgingly, woke up with the sun and left her room in the barracks, Sophie was greeted by the sight of Robin fencing against one of the training yard dummies. She found herself engrossed in his form, noting it was far different from anything she had seen her fellow soldiers practice, let alone what she knew of the swordsmanship of the Samurai of Hoshido.

She remembered how easily he weaved powerful magicks during yesterday's ambush, so to see Robin be just as skilled with a blade was shocking. Most mages in Nohr didn't even bother using any martial skill in a skirmish. Even high-ranking Dark Knights focused more on their horsemanship and magic over the blade. Having one was more for a last resort.

Mustering up the courage, the gray-haired soldier went to the quartermaster's supply room and took a training lance and sword, intent on wanting to spar with the skilled warrior she fought beside. She told herself it was to test her skills and limits, but a part of her wanted to know more about Robin.

After all, he was traveling with Princess Camilla herself. To Sophie, that meant he must have been special.

And a part of her, deep down, hoped that some of that skill and courage he had would rub off on her.

When she made her way over to him and brought up the idea of a spar, Robin accepted it wholeheartedly. Ecstatic, Sophie nearly danced on the spot.

Then she noticed the damage done to the dummy Robin had butchered.

That was the best word Sophie could think to describe what of the poor thing as she observed every nick and cut carved into the straw-man's beaten body. Chips of wood were scattered all around it, as cotton and straw pooled around the dummy's base.

Testing a skill, he told her. Sophie only asked that he not use that skill during their spar. If it enhanced his physical strikes the way it did, then she wanted to avoid an extended stay in the outpost's infirmary for the foreseeable future.

The spar started slowly, and Sophie couldn’t help but feel like she was a rare animal Robin had found and wanted to study. He allowed her to dictate the pace of their first bout. Every step she took, he moved appropriately, keeping his distance but close enough to counter if necessary. Every one of her strikes or probes was met with counters and defensive ripostes from Robin.

Next came a more serious side of the white-haired Tactician. He soon changed the rhythm, making moves against her, forcing her to react other than act as she had been doing earlier. He tested her defenses and reaction time, pushing her to her limits.

If Sophie was honest, this was some of the best training she had received since she first joined the military.

After finishing their second round, Robin discarded his coat, draping it over the dummy that had been his unfortunate victim earlier. Sophie did her best to maintain her composure. With the large coat gone, she, and the growing audience interested in the spar, were treated to the sight of Robin's physique underneath his form-fitting shirt.

She was thankful Robin was professional about the spar, as it helped her keep her focus. He took to instructing her the best he could, pulling from his experiences from his life to help her develop a more comfortable lancer form for her. Taking to it like a fish to water, Sophie noticed that some of her past mistakes and bad habits were slowly being chipped away under Robin’s instruction.

Scarlet had joined them at some point, offering her advice where she could. While she trained to use a lance like most Wyvern Riders, she favored an axe. Sophie accepted the more experienced knight's words and slowly incorporated what she learned during the spar.

Now, with the final round set to begin, Sophie was hoping to impress both Robin and Scarlet with what little she had learned from them. Shifting her feet and bending her legs, Sophie narrowed her eyes on Robin, ready to spring into action.

The gathered crowd watched on in hushed silence, some with interest, while others more so out of boredom. One such pair that came to watch the spars were Charlotte and Benny. Charlotte had heard about the princess’ white-haired companion being out in the yard from her fellow soldiers and grew curious enough to join them. Benny followed along, mostly out of not wanting to leave his friend alone more than anything else.

Sophie initiated combat. Kicking off the ground, she sprinted towards Robin, her training lance poised to strike. Once she was close enough, she thrusted her weapon, aiming for Robin's torso, only for him to sidestep to the right. Sophie didn't slow down. She took a step forward, planting her foot in the ground and swinging the butt of the lance at Robin.

The Tactician easily parried the strike and knocked Sophie off balance. She was forced to block an overhead strike, allowing Robin to push into her space, limiting her lance's capabilities. With a flurry of strikes from his training blade, Robin forced Sophie on the defensive.

Sophie panicked. She knew Robin was taking it easy on her. He even told her he would stay a step above her skill level, enough of a difference to make it difficult for her, but a small enough difference that she could win if she pushed herself. Steeling her nerves, Sophie looked for an opening, following Robin's rhythm as she continued to defend herself from a barrage of sword strike.

Her eyes widened as there was a lull in Robin’s pattern, a hole to exploit. She maneuvered the butt of her lance in between Robin’s legs, catching one of them and throwing off his footing. Robin stumbled backward, but remained standing. Sophie took the advantage and stabbed her lance at him. Robin knocked the attack back, but Sophie moved with the shifted momentum, pivoting on her heel and sending the lance head at Robin, forcing him to move.

She followed up with a flurry of thrusts. Robin steadied his footing, deflecting several of Sophie's strikes while weaving through the others.

What happened next was something Robin didn't expect.

Sophie pushed her advantage too hard. All it took was one wrong step, and she slipped while trying to jab her lance at Robin. There was a surge of magic coming from within her, catching Robin off guard. The tip of her lance slipped between Robin's arm and torso, and caught a bit of his shirt. The magic building up within her released at that exact moment and practically shredded Robin's shirt.

The training yard grew quiet as Robin and Sophie stood stock still. Sophie developed a heavy blush on her face as she had a clear few of the Tactician’s athletic and toned body. Specifically, his slightly glistening, firm chest and chiseled abdominals, which had gained a thin veneer of sweet from their spar.

"O-o-oh. Um. I-I’m..." Sophie tried to form an apology, or at the very least, a sentence, but her mind was currently focused on other things.

Scarlet let out a hearty laugh at what had just happened and joined the two fighters, sidling up to Robin as she did. “Damn. It took me a few days to get you shirtless, Robin. And she does it in less time than that.”

Sophie heard what the blonde knight said and felt like curling up into a ball.

Robin just rolled his eyes and gathered the remains of his shirt. His eyes looked over the shredded fabric, judging if it was worth repairing. With a firm nod, he channeled his magic and muttered a quick chant. His shirt quickly mended itself, appearing as good as new. Robin looked the shirt over with a critical eye, and after meeting his expectations, put it back on.

Scarlet stared at the shirt, completely dumbfounded by what she saw, and took a hold of the fabric and gave it a tug. Her eyes turned upward and met Robin's. "One of those, 'necessity breeds innovation', things?"

“Sort of,” Robin said as he fiddled with the shirt, making sure it fit him appropriately. He noted, with a slightly sour look, that his shirt was a bit more form-fitting than it was a moment ago. “Tharja, one of our more...” Robin paused, trying to both accurately and generously describe the broody mage. “Unique members, was well known for her wide array of hexes and charms. She created this charm to mend her outfit, and it was a rather big hit among us.”

Conflicted feelings emerged at the thought of Tharja. While Robin got along well with her -after growing used to her antics and spending time with her- she still had those moments that made him rather uncomfortable. She also was rather confrontational with Tiki after his relationship with the Manakete became public.

Add on Flavia and Anna joining, Tharja made it known that she felt rather slighted. She never blamed him, though. No, Tiki was the target of her ire, but Tiki didn't back down.

Near the end of the war, a begrudging respect formed between the two, something Robin was thankful for.

That still didn't stop Tharja from claiming she would get him to see her as a viable lover, even if she had to share. A part of him even wondered about the possibility of her joining their now-growing group and how she would fare with it all.

"That's so unfair," Scarlet remarked with a slight pout, breaking Robin out of his thoughts.

"It's like nothing even happened," Sophie added as she inspected the article of clothing herself.

"Which is an oddity in itself," Robin explained as he moved over to the training dummies and donned his coat. "That spell was designed to make minor fixes on tears and such. I overcharged it this time. Mostly out of curiosity."

It was also why his shirt might have been tighter. Over-correction with magic is something every mage avoids for one simple reason. Over-correction, more often than not, blew up in the caster's face. Robin was lucky that he didn't cause his shirt to disintegrate in his hands.

“I mean, should you really complain?” Scarlet asked him. Seeing him shake his head, unable to say no to her question, a victorious grin appeared on her face and she lightly tapped his shoulder with her fist. Moving across the yard from him, Scarlet twirled a training axe and pointed it at Robin. “Not tired yet, right? You and me still have quite a few rounds to catch up on.”

Robin huffed in amusement, raising his dulled sword into a guard. “I’m sure we’ll have plenty to catch up once we make it to Fort Dragonfall.”

Scarlet rolled her eyes and tested the balance of her weapon. The shaft of the axe was shorter than what she trained with, as wyvern knights needed extra reach, but she would make it work. Her red eyes narrowed on Robin as she slowly circled around their little sparring area. “Yeah, and I’m sure the princess will be more than willing to join us. I bet she’ll barge in like last time.”

Off to the side, Sophie’s eyes widened, picking up on the not-so-subtle frustration coming from the freckled blonde and her meaning. As she tried to dispel any thoughts flooding her mind regarding Robin, Scarlet and the princess, Robin and Scarlet moved at a blur as their spar began in earnest. Sophie watched on, entranced by their movements.

Scarlet moved aggressively, with each attack trying to break through Robin’s guard. Robin was more fluid, weaving through Scarlet’s strikes like water, all while prodding her defenses.

Sophie was so lost in watching the fight that she missed Charlotte and Benny join her on the sidelines.

“I’ve never seen a Chevois knight fight before,” Charlotte said as she looked at Scarlet. Her words caused Sophie to jump in surprise. As the gray-haired Cavalier calmed herself down, Charlotte continued to watch the spar.

Robin had just parried a strike from Scarlet. Using the opening he created, Robin then slid his leg in between Scarlet’s, messing with her footing and taking her down to the ground. As he went for the point, Scarlet deflected his blade and rolled away to create some distance between them.

“You should have seen them yesterday,” Sophie commented as Scarlet soon pushed back against Robin.

Charlotte quirked a brow at Sophie’s words, noting the awed tone in them. “How are you doing?” She asked. “I didn’t get a chance to ask yesterday.”

“O-oh!” Sophie couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. Her lips formed a small smile. “Tired. I didn’t expect to run into any Faceless yesterday. There have been no sightings of them recently, so a large group showing up was a surprise. Especially the numbers that showed up.” She looked back at the spar going on, her eyes lingering on the battling warriors.

Charlotte did the same. She noticed there was a flirty undertone between Robin and Scarlet. Each time one of them entered the other's personal space, there was a light touch or lingering gaze in their eyes that one could easily miss. Even at the end, when both Robin and Scarlet had their weapons aimed for a killing blow, they were sporting wide smiles.

The curvaceous blonde’s intrigue -and budding arousal- piqued as Scarlet suddenly grabbed Robin by his shirt’s collar and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Some of her fellow soldiers seemed to enjoy the show as wolf-whistles and cheers filled the air, though Robin and Scarlet ignored them completely.

When the two ended their kiss, a slightly blushing Sophie turned her attention back to Charlotte. “Thanks for checking up on me.”

Charlotte blinked and turned to look at Sophie. She gave the Cavalier a casual shrug. “It’s nothing.”

“I wouldn’t call it nothing, Charlotte.” A curious Sophie and an annoyed Charlotte turned to Benny. “She waited for you to show up after your squad arrived back here without you, Sophie,” he explained.

Sophie was at a loss for words. Charlotte had been one of the few soldiers that cared enough to check on her. Benny was second, but he kept to himself, mostly. Sophie appreciated her fellow soldier’s consideration, as it helped make her assignment at the outpost that much easier to deal with.

Charlotte huffed and crossed her arms under her impressive bust. “Oh hush, Benny. I’m just looking out for a fellow soldier screwed over by our wonderful kingdom’s politics,” she said, trying to downplay her actions yesterday.

“Welcome to the club, ladies.” Sophie, Charlotte, and Benny all turned to see a smirking Scarlet. “You aren’t the only ones to get screwed over by some shitty politics.”

“Is that how you ended up serving Princess Camilla?” Sophie asked.

Charlotte unconsciously leaned in closer, wanting to hear what she thought would be an interesting story.

Scarlet snorted before breaking out into boisterous laughter. “Kinda.” She fought back her amusement, her laughter dying down into brief chuckles as she spoke. “No. I was dismissed entirely after a botched mission. Still kept my title as a knight, though.”

Benny now grew interested in the freckled knight’s tale. “What happened?”

Scarlet released a long sigh and turned her head upwards. “My squad and I went chasing after some bandits harassing some villages near the border in Cheve. The bandits were more organized than we originally thought and my friends paid the price. If it wasn’t for Robin, I would’ve joined them.”

She looked back at the trio as they listened intently to her story. “Robin and I talked a bunch while we escorted some of the village’s leadership back to the capital. Learned about him and his group called the Shepherds.” She saw the odd expressions on their faces and quickly responded. “Yeah, strange name, but it fits them. Anyway, we made it to Cheve, did my duty, was reprimanded, and dismissed from the military.”

Charlotte’s mouth scrunched up. “There’s more to it than that.”

Scarlet shrugged. “I was a kind of a problem child. I had a bunch of grand ideas that were blocked over and over again by the military council. Probably made a big enough stink that they used my mission as a means to finally get rid of me.”

“So, you decided to travel with Robin?” Sophie asked, completely sure that was the case.

Scarlet perked up, standing up straight and puffing out her chest. “Damn straight. If I can’t be a knight of Cheve, I can still be a knight of the people. I became a Shepherd.”

“And his lady,” Charlotte added with a teasing smile.

Scarlet didn’t answer right away. Instead, she tilted her head to the side with a rather curious expression on her face. Sophie wondered what that meant while Charlotte understood the look completely.

“Technically one in his rather unique love life,” the messy-haired blonde replied. “Not that I mind, really.” A heavy blush dusted her freckled cheeks as she bit her lower lip. Just imagining what the future held for her was making it hard not to jump Robin’s bones. She just needed to hold out a bit longer.

Besides, after they break away from Camilla, who says they couldn’t enjoy a romp in the wilderness before actually continuing their journey. Followed by a long, restful night of camping.

Charlotte committed those words to memory and looked around for Robin, who seemed to have disappeared during their talk. “Where did your friend go?” Charlotte would be lying if she said she wasn’t annoyed that he wasn’t around at the moment. She still wanted to speak with him.

Scarlet gave her a flippant wave. "He went to discuss your situations with Camilla."

That caught Charlotte off guard. "Wait. Really?"

“Yeah. He is used to commanding others in battle and he believes in leading by example,” Scarlet explained. “I can tell that some of the glaring issues with Nohr’s military are getting to him. So far, his two best examples of what Nohr could be would be Lord Lucien and Princess Camilla. But he’s had just as many, if not more, shitty examples than good.”

Charlotte shook her head at her fellow blonde. "No. It's not that easy."

Scarlet quirked a brow at that. She looked over at Benny, raising a hand to point at him. "It really is. The big guy here was the one that lit a fire under Robin." She turned her attention to the officer's quarters. "That's just who he is."

Charlotte and Sophie turned their heads, following Scarlet's gaze. Sophie had the benefit of experiencing Robin's command during yesterday's ambush. Add on his camaraderie with Scarlet and the princess, she believed the blonde knight. Charlotte couldn't help but feel a little thankful towards the Tactician, even if she thought nothing would come from it.

A small, genuine smile graced her lips. Not even one word to her, and he already had a point in his favor.

----------

Robin knocked on the door to Camilla's room, calling out to her to let her know he was outside. "Camilla? It's Robin."

"Yes, Robin?" Her demure voice called back out a few seconds later.

"You're meeting with the commander of the outpost before we leave, yes? I've learned some things that I'm curious about. There might be more wrongs to fix aside from Sophie's case," he explained.

Camilla remained quiet on the other side. Robin got antsy waiting for her, but before he could try reaching her again, the door opened.

"Come in, please," she said, beckoning Robin in.

Robin gave her a grateful nod and stepped inside. The room itself was simple, but still had the trappings that made it stand apart from the regular beddings of the common soldiery. A soft mattress, large enough for two, sat in the far corner of the room, just under a window that looked out into the main yard. Against the opposite wall was a simple, sturdy wardrobe, with a desk right next to it.

Camilla moved to the bed, taking a seat at the edge, and patted the spot next to her, signaling for Robin to join her. There was a smile on her face. Not the flirtatious one he had grown used to the last few days of travel. This one was softer, a far cry from the confident princess Camilla was yesterday.

Sitting down next to her, Robin spoke. “I overheard a soldier, a young woman named Charlotte, offhandedly comment how she and Sophie needed to stick together. When she uses the phrase, ‘screwed over by their kingdom’s wonderful politics’, it makes me rather irritated.”

Camilla looked him in the eye, never once breaking contact as he spoke. "I see."

"I just wanted to bring it to your attention," he said. Placing a hand on her thigh, Robin gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's not my place to speak about your kingdom's military, but I won't stand idly by when a wrong can be righted."

"And if I offered you the chance to do so?" She moved her hands, gently entwining her fingers with Robin's. "Nohr could use someone of your talent, Robin. I know my brothers would appreciate your candor and intellect. My little sister, Elise, would no doubt swoon over you like a maiden and would wish to have you join her on her many goodwill tours." Her grip tightened as she continued. "And my darling Corrin could use trusted warriors like you and Scarlet. Of course, I would thoroughly enjoy your presence."

Robin didn't answer right away. He let out a heavy sigh, causing Camilla's shoulders to slump ever so slightly. "I can't, Camilla." He looked her in the eye, making sure she knew he took her request seriously and wished to give her a serious answer. "Nohr isn't my home. I have others waiting for me."

A sad smile formed on his face. "... They've waited long enough."

"She must be something special if she is worth traveling the world over to reach," Camilla commented after a moment of thought. Her lips curled into a teasing smile. "And one who is quite fine with you gallivanting with a beauty like Scarlet the way you do."

Robin chuckled, happy to see that flaming ember in Camilla still burning within her. “Funnily enough, it was her idea. Granted, it only really happened because there were two other women who expressed a shared interest in me in the past.”

Camilla leaned in close, her interest growing more and more as he spoke. While her father was one who committed himself to those he claimed as lovers, there was a certain fondness, a connection she could hear in Robin’s voice as he spoke about the women in his life. A part of her was jealous.

Jealous of Scarlet for chancing into such a relationship. At least that’s what Camilla thought. She might have been a little hot and bothered when she first stumbled upon the pair, as they were still intimate with each other. She was jealous of the other women Robin had yet to name, noting the level of respect he had for them. But, most importantly, she was jealous of the woman that first held a place in his heart.

"And who is this woman that has earned such devotion?" Camilla asked, doing her best to keep a level tone in her voice.

"Tiki. Her name is Tiki," Robin answered with a fond smile.

Something clicked in Camilla's mind at hearing that name.

The Halidom of Ylisse. The eyes of Grima. A woman sharing the name with the daughter of Naga. Stories in books she read with her siblings. Stories at were just that. Stories. Nothing that Camilla ever thought had a sliver of truth to them.

But here was that proof. At least, someone who had enough conviction in his words that made Camilla doubt he was lying to her.

A chuckle escaped her lips. "I guess my thought of you falling from the sky wasn't that far off from the truth, was it?" she asked.

Robin gave her a playful smirk. Camilla had grown to like seeing that smirk of his. "It's possible. Magic is a wonderful thing, after all," he replied.

Camilla closed the short distance between them. Her lips were only inches away from his, and she was treated to the sight of shining pools of purple that stared back into hers. Her blood yearned to connect with his, causing her desires to burn within her heart. She steeled herself, resolving to sort through her feelings before reaching the fort.

Before parting ways with the white-haired Tactician.

"Robin…" Camilla's voice was low, almost vulnerable, as she spoke to him. "Can you swear to me that…" Her hand squeezed his. It was a question that needed to be asked, for her peace of mind, more than anything. "Should we cross paths again, it won't be as enemies."

Robin was silent. Camilla expected that. It would have been an easy enough to answer if he just wanted to placate her, telling her no, they wouldn’t be. But the fact he was silent meant he would give her an honest answer. Something she greatly appreciated.

"That will depend on too many things, Camilla," he finally answered after a moment of thought. "But I hope that doesn't come to pass."

The answer caused a sad smile to grace her lips. She had fully expected an answer like that, but it still caused her heart to ache.

For as long as she knew, she did everything to please her mother, who wanted to increase her standing among the court and Garon's concubines. That soon turned to wanting to please her father and to stand out among her siblings. And now, with her father's decline and aggression, she focused on ensuring her homeland's prosperity alongside her brother.

This time, Camilla wanted to be selfish. She wanted him to tell her what she wanted to hear, to choose her over his home. She wanted to have what Tiki and Scarlet had with Robin.

The idea of sharing wasn’t something she was against, either. After all, she was the result of her father having several concubines alongside the late queen. While many of the concubines shared -in the loosest meaning of the word- the love of the king, they focused on played political games with one another in order to earn a higher standing with him, and while Camilla learned to play such games because of her mother, she found them rather tedious on a good day.

It’s one reason she doted on her siblings as much as she did. She didn’t want their already complicated family life getting in the way of their bonds.

There was another reason the idea of sharing didn't turn her off of the Tactician. Camilla was a sensualist. She enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh. And while she had yet to find anyone that truly tickled her fancy, she did explore and sate her hunger through her retainers.

Leo once explained that their draconic blood pushed those urges to the extreme some days.

Camilla would agree with him, though, unlike her siblings, she indulged whenever she felt such heat in her blood.

It honestly surprised her how she well she held herself back from jumping Robin while they traveled. As much as her teasing no doubt influenced Robin, that was doubly true for herself. She still remembered the day she met him and the pleased, erotic sounds coming from Scarlet. She also remembered how long her fantasies carried her through the night as she pleasured herself to the thought of Robin, imagining herself in the blonde knight’s place.

Now, with their parting soon to come, Camilla currently battled her desires that demanded she stake her own claim on Robin. Something she was sorely tempted to do.

But her commitment and duty to her home continued to overcome those desires. That wasn't the only reason, however.

Camilla truly wanted Robin to be with her, to call Nohr his home. He was different. Intelligent, handsome, powerful, charming; a true breath of fresh air in her life. He treated her with the respect her station demanded, but wasn’t afraid of her title, treating her as an equal, something that, should anyone else have done, would have earned her ire. He met her teasing with some of his own and wasn’t above pushing the limit.

It was more than her blood reacting to him. Camilla knew she was falling for him.

It’s why she feared the future. A traitorous part of her, deep within her heart, told her Robin would become her enemy. That they would cross blades on the battlefield. Such a thought troubled her.

Seeing the turmoil in Camilla’s eyes, Robin spoke up, his voice steady and his tone firm. “Camilla, I-“

"No, Robin," she said, cutting him off. "It's all right. Sometimes..." Her purple eyes met his as her lips formed a faint smile. "We must leave things in fate's hands."

Robin inclined his head, though he did so with a frown. "We can still alter fate. If there is one thing I know is certain, it's that we can challenge our fates."

Camilla's breathing hitched at such a declaration. Many would say the same, but there was such conviction in Robin's words that made her believe them. Giving his hand a squeeze, Camilla stood up from the bed. "Well then. I shall speak with the commander about Sophie and this..." She turned, looking to Robin for a name of the other soldier he was worried about.

"Charlotte. As well as her friend, Benny, I believe," he said, supplying the names.

Camilla nodded her thanks. "Charlotte and her friend, Benny. Maybe... I can change their fate, yes?"

Robin inclined his head and stood up. "Then, while you're speaking with the outpost commander, I'll make sure we are ready to leave."

As Robin was about to exit the room when Camilla stopped him suddenly. Before he knew it, a pair of soft, luscious lips pressed up against the corner of his mouth. Camilla lingered for a good, long moment before finally pulling away.

'Yes,' Camilla thought. 'I wish to be selfish this one time. Consequences be damned.'

She said nothing to him. She didn’t need to. The sultry and longing look she gave told him everything. She exited the room, her hips sashaying enticingly as she did and made her way to the commander’s office, leaving Robin alone in the threshold of her room.

He found it difficult to tear his eyes away from the sight.

"I think I am starting to come around to her,"came the disembodied voice of Tiki.

Robin chuckled at his Manakete lover's words and made his way to his and Scarlet's room, ready for the rest of the trip to the fort.

- FORT DRAGONFALL, KINGDOM of NOHR -

Beruka stared impassively into the night sky, scanning for any signs of her lavender-haired lady. She expected Camilla to have arrived a day ago, but it seemed her estimation was off. Now, she just had to be patient and wait.

The issue was the message from Xander she had received for Camilla.

While Beruka knew she and Camilla could link up with the rest of the company in a day or two, she would prefer to be punctual regarding Xander’s orders.

Especially if it was a punishment from the king.

Beruka heard a pair of footsteps behind her. They were hesitant, their gait slow and off beat the closer they drew near her. She recognized them, belonging to the fort’s lord commander. He was a portly General, who only earned his command because of his pedigree and elbow-rubbing among the nobility. Essentially, someone Beruka deemed uninteresting, ineffectual, and moronic.

And because of that last observation, if he ever was a future target, she may actually die of boredom. A foreign concept for a professional such as herself.

"Lady Beruka." The blue-haired assassin sent the man a glare over her shoulder, causing him to tremble in his heavy armor. "Apologies, but... When might the princess arrive?"

Beruka continued to stare at the man. This trembling grew worse as he waited for her to answer him. It felt like hours before she did.

"The princess will arrive when she arrives," she answered monotonously.

She ignored the indignant sputtering coming from the commander and turned her attention back to the skies. The moon illuminated the land, and with no clouds lingering, she had perfect vision for her vigil. Which soon paid off at the sight of two wyverns heading towards the fort.

"There," Beruka said, stepping further onto the fort’s wyvern landing. "Lady Camilla has arrived."

It didn't take long for Camilla and Scarlet to land their wyverns. As soon as the lesser-dragons landed, the lord commander was quick to move, wanting to be presentable to the first princess.

He gave her a salute and attempted to help her off of Tear. "Princess Camilla. I welcome you to For-"

"Yes, yes, Lord Commander Wult," Camilla said, cutting the man off. Her mood soured slightly at the sight of the lord commander, knowing about the man from Xander's less than stellar remarks about him. Still, she needed to be cordial. "You honor me."

The man nearly bit his tongue with the flippant dismissal the princess gave him and was knocked off his rhythm, but he recovered rather quickly. Spotting the young man and woman dismounting the second wyvern, Lord Commander Wult’s mouth formed a thin line. “Your retainer has already informed me of your arrival, and I already took the liberty of preparing one of the royal suites for you. I will need to have the servants prepare rooms for your companions, however.”

Camilla rolled her eyes. She spotted Beruka giving her a signal, one that caused her curiosity to rise. She looked at the lord commander, giving him a sharp glare. "Have them prepare the room next to mine."

Wult sputtered. Before he could bring up the impropriety on the matter, Camilla cut him off. "Before I retire for the night, there are things we will discuss, Lord Commander, regarding three soldiers and the mishandling of their placement."

She turned to face Robin and Scarlet, her tone notably gentler as she spoke to them. "We shall speak later."

Robin and Scarlet shared a look and nodded at the princess.

Camilla gave them a smile and handed Tear's reins to Beruka. "Well, Lord Commander, by your lead," she said to Wult.

The inept man stood up straight, and led Camilla, rather stiffly, into the fort towards his office, leaving Robin and Scarlet with Beruka and their wyverns.

Beruka turned to face the pair, motioning them to follow her. "This way. We have a spot prepared for your wyvern."

She didn't wait for them, instead already leading Tear to her spot to roost for the night. Robin and Scarlet followed the blue-haired assassin, noting the various looks and stares they received as they entered the fort. Out of the corner of his eye, Robin thought he spotted a fleeting shadow. The sight caused him to be on alert.

Despite that, the soldiery seemed more curious than cautious. It made him wonder if he was simply jumping at shadows. The only Nohrian who appeared to be on guard was Beruka.

That was a reasonable reaction to Robin. She was one of Camilla's retainers and, based on her words, Beruka was a devoted one. The fact that Camilla had told Beruka to wait for her at the fort while she traveled with him and Scarlet no doubt made Beruka wary of the pair.

The blank stare she sent their way every minute or two made that acutely apparent to him.

After ensuring Tia was comfortable for the night, Beruka then led them further into the fort, heading towards the wing reserved for the royal family. She stopped before a pair of ornate doors, gesturing to them as she spoke in a disinterested tone of voice. "Here are your rooms. If you require anything, then ask the servants."

Robin and Scarlet were about to thank the young woman when she pivoted on her heel and left them alone in the hall, not sparing them a further thought.

Scarlet's face scrunched up at that, obviously put off by Beruka's sudden departure. "Oh yeah, sure. Thanks, by the way! You were a real help!" Rolling her eyes, Scarlet pushed open the door to their room. "Weird how expressive Camilla is and her retainer is the exact opposite."

Robin followed her as she entered the room. Scarlet let out a low whistle, impressed by how opulent everything in the room was. Furniture made of dark wood, laced with gold trimmings and detailing. Skillfully woven tapestries lining the dark stone walls, with silky curtains hanging over the windows. A large, welcoming fireplace sat opposite of the expansive bed, which bared fine coverings colored in regal purples and magentas.

Robin had to admit it was a room meant for royalty. It made him wonder if any of the other forts in the land had rooms such as this or if this was the exception.

He and Scarlet set their travel packs down by the desk in the corner of the room. Scarlet started removing her armor, letting out a pleased hum at the sight of an armor stand nearby.

“So, what’s our plan now?” She asked as she placed her cuirass on the stand’s cross post.

Robin slid off his coat, draped it over the desk chair, and took his grimoire into his hands. Scarlet watched as he turned through its pages, waving his hand in an intricate pattern and muttered a spell. A purple and azure light filled the room, causing her to cover her eyes.

As the light faded, and Scarlet’s sight returned to normal, Robin inclined his head, pleased by what he had done. “We’ll leave at dawn. We shouldn’t push Nohr’s hospitality, even if Camilla is on our side.”

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed at his words. She nodded, understanding his worries. “Right. Don’t have to tell me twice.” She continued to remove her armor, leaving her in only her tunic, riding chaps, and boots.

Feeling Robin’s eyes on her, the blonde knight smiled and decided to give him a show. Bending over, she stuck out her firm rear, causing her tunic to ride up her curves. Lacing her fingers around the string of her thong, she shed the thin fabric covering her modesty slowly, drawing attention to her sex.

“How long until we can expect the princess?” She asked Robin, carelessly tossing her thong aside and moving over to the bed, dragging Robin along with her.

“I would suspect by the time she’s finished speaking with the lord commander,” he answered, knowing what she hinted at.

He expected Scarlet to make the first move, which she did. What he did not expect was the gentleness that she displayed when she brought her lips to his.

When Scarlet finally pulled away, she did so with a warm smile on her face. “Then I guess we can be a bit more romantic before she gets here.”

Robin pulled her close, feeling her large, soft breasts press against his firm chest. One of his arms snaked around her waist, holding her in place as he leaned in close again.

“I’m perfectly fine with that, Dame Scarlet,” he said, capturing her lips.

----------

Camilla pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, letting loose her pent-up frustrations after dealing with Lord Commander Wult. The talk was rather short. She effectively stated that Sophie, Charlotte, and Benny would be assuming posts here at the fort. At the mention of Charlotte’s name, Wult seemed to pale, something that Camilla picked up on and exploited.

He was quick to capitulate to her terms, not wanting to suffer the wrath of the royal family. After all, what was a snobby, jilted noble’s ire compared to that of Princess Camilla?

Now Camilla sat at the desk in her room, with Xander’s message in her other hand. Her eyes scanned the thin roll of parchment once more, ensuring she understood the contents perfectly. Xander always was precise with his wording, saying what needed to be said and nothing more, as anything less meant understandings would happen.

And misunderstandings always caused issues.

Camilla,

Father's ire is turned onto you regarding this "Interloper" you are traveling with.

Once you arrive at Fort Dragonfall, you are to leave for the city of Elford at your earliest convenience and met up with your company. Severa will explain things further.

This is to prove your loyalty to Father and give me time to calm him down. When you return, we will talk.

Please be safe.

Your brother,

Xander

Camilla released another sigh. Earning her father's ire was a dangerous thing, and not even being his child protected you from it these days. It made her following decision that much more important.

“We shall leave at dawn,” Camilla said, turning her head to look at Beruka.

“I'll have our wyverns ready, Lady Camilla,” Beruka said with a slight incline of her head.

Camilla set the small parchment down and rose from her chair. She strode over to the dresser that sat flush against the wall, all the while undressing herself. Beruka dutifully took Camilla’s armor and placed it on the stand provided to her as Camilla shed her clothes next.

The lavender-haired princess turned her head, looking at the wall standing between her and Robin. Her mind was a flurry of activity. Thoughts of what she should do, what she wanted to do, and what she was expected to do all fought to determine her next set of actions.

All of those arguments fell to the wayside, as she could see Robin’s face clear as day. From the deep purple pools that studied everything intently to the cocky, yet playful, smirk he wore.

She remembered the kiss she gave him before leaving the outpost and the feelings that stirred within her.

Her soft lips curled into a smile. "I'm going to be selfish."

"My Lady?" Beruka asked, confused by the princess' words.

Camilla looked over her shoulder at her retainer. "Nothing to worry about, dear Beruka." She pulled a rather risque negligee from the wardrobe and slipped it on, the lacy fabric fitting her curvaceous form while struggling to contain her bountiful chest. Next, she slid on a sheer thong that did little to hide her wet sex or the trimmed mound of lavender pubic hair.

Taking a robe and draping it over her form, Camilla made her way to the door. She came to a stop, turning to see Beruka following in her shadow. "Beruka, dear? Please ensure that I'm not disturbed and then get some rest. We have a long flight ahead of us and I'm sure Severa is going crazy, having to keep my company in line."

Beruka hesitated for only a moment before nodding her head. "As you wish, my Lady."

Camilla smiled and walked with a spring in her step. The hall that the royal suite resided was currently empty, allowing the princess the freedom to move unabated towards her neighbors. As she reached Robin and Scarlet’s room, she placed an ear to the door, wondering if the two might already be in the middle of an intimate session.

She was surprised she could only hear soft moans and the sounds of shared kisses. Wasting no more time, Camilla pushed open the doors and strode inside, catching the sight of a nude Scarlet sitting on top of the desk, grinding her against Robin’s bulge with her arms wrapped around his neck.

Scarlet peaked over Robin's shoulder, not really surprised by Camilla's entrance. In fact, she was rather ecstatic, much to Camilla's surprise. "Ha! Called it." Scarlet looked at Robin with a wide grin plastered on her freckled face. "You owe me two gold crowns."

Camilla chuckled as she closed the doors and slowly strode over to the desk. Robin and Scarlet watched with rapt attention, focusing on the gentle sway in Camilla's hips. "And just what were you two betting with such a grand wager as two gold crowns?" She asked.

“Whether you’d knock or barge in,” answered the blonde.

Camilla looked at Robin, who only shrugged. "I thought you'd be polite about coming here."

A smirk formed on Camilla’s face, and she dropped the robe, revealing the silky negligee. Robin and Scarlet couldn’t help but stare at the princess’ body, from the way her clothing draped her curves to the way her breasts and wavy hair bounced with each step.

As Camilla moved behind Robin, pressing her massive chest against his back. Robin saw the hunger in her eyes, the same hunger that was there before they left the outpost. As she got closer, Robin felt his throat go dry.

"Camilla?" He asked. "Are you sure?"

She lunged for him, crashing her lips into his. Her tongue forced its way past his lips, entangling itself with his, fighting for dominance. A squeal escaped her as one of Robin's hands found its way to her chest and fondled her.

Their kiss deepened while Scarlet watched on. She was using this as a test for herself, to see if she really meant what she said to Charlotte and Sophie. To her delight and her body's honest response, she did. She bit her lip and began running a hand down Robin's torso, down to his pants, where she slipped it under the hem and continued onward.

After an intense minute, Camilla willed herself to pull away from Robin. Her breathing was haggard as she took deep gulps of air, all with a proud smile. She noticed where one of Scarlet's hands moved to and licked her lips before mirroring the knight's actions. As she gripped the hem of Robin's pants and tugged them down, she locked eyes with him, making sure her intent was clear.

“I’m quite sure, Robin. I want you, even if only for one night. To make it real.” She kissed his jaw, moving down his to his neck. Scarlet did the same while sliding her body off the desk.

As Scarlet and Camilla freed his cock, Camilla purred. "Oh~, yes. I'm going to be selfish just this once." She licked her lips at the sight of the large phallus in her dainty hand. Even with Scarlet's hand gripping it with hers, there were still two to three inches left uncovered.

Camilla moved her hand to the bulbous tip of Robin’s cock while Scarlet maintained her place at the base. There was a thick drop of pre-cum dribbling out of the crown’s slit and Camilla lathered her palm in the liquid. Once her hand was properly coated and slick, Camilla rubbed the upper half of Robin’s cock, gently stroking it while Scarlet gave the lower half several steady pumps.

Scarlet peppered Robin's neck with fluttering kisses while she stroked him. Camilla was more focused on Robin's stiff rod. She could feel the heat emanating from it, making her wonder if she would get burned if she wasn't careful. The veins running along the shaft bulged with each twitch as Camilla felt Robin's heartbeat through it.

Rubbing her thighs together, Camilla grew needy, something Robin took notice of. Her breathing hitched Robin's hand slid under her thong, with a pair of his fingers trailing her hungry slit. His ministrations only caused her thighs to clamp tightly shut, keeping his hand in place as his fingers teased her.

"How naughty of you, dear Robin," said Camilla through her raspy breath.

Robin suddenly found himself turned around, with her backside resting on the edge of the desk as Camilla and Scarlet dropped to their knees, their faces hovering just inches away from Robin's throbbing cock. Camilla's visible eye hazed over in lust as the scent hit her like a stampeding horse. She only now realized just how badly her draconic blood would react to the musk of another, one much stronger than hers, as well.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Scarlet asked the princess. Camilla nodded dumbly at the question. Scarlet smirked and moved closer, flicking her tongue across the sensitive organ, causing it to twitch in response. Giving it a few more appreciative licks, Scarlet wrapped her lips around Robin's cock and bobbed her head at a slow, steady rhythm. A pleased hum escaped her as another dollop of pre-cum leaked out from the tip, coating her taste buds in his unique flavor.

Camilla heard a pleased groan escape Robin’s mouth as Scarlet got to work. She moved to the base and looked Robin in the eyes. “Yes, quite impressive~” She pressed her lips at the base of the shaft, planting a soft kiss against it, feeling the heat emanating from it as she did. Lapping her tongue, Camilla lathered up Robin’s shaft while Scarlet focused her attention on his tip.

Robin leaned his head back, enjoying the sensation of the two beauties working together. It surprised him since Scarlet was, initially, a little aggressive with the princess when they first met. Now, she worked in unison with the princess, almost perfectly.

Scarlet took her time to polish the crown of his cock, bobbing her head at different rhythms and catching him off guard. Camilla would lather up his shaft, thoroughly coating it in her saliva before she would surprise him by giving his engorged jewels the same manner of attention.

Then they would switch.

As Camilla took over Scarlet's spot, she did so almost lovingly. She could only take a few inches before meeting resistance. She took her time, bobbing her head at a slow, brisk pace, getting used to Robin's impressive length. And when she moaned, the vibrations sent pleasant shivers down his thick rod. Scarlet took one of her hands and pumped him while peppering his length with kisses and mirrored Camilla's earlier actions by giving his balls some attention, as well.

While his resurrection messed with his sense of time, it still felt like years since Robin experienced the feeling of two women pleasuring him. The last time was with Tiki and Flavia wanting one more romp before they committed to their last battle with Grima. Anna joined in later after she squared away some assets, making their last night together one to remember.

And one that Tiki enjoyed experiencing again in their shared dreamscape.

Scarlet and Camilla were certainly making this a memorable experience as well. He was sure Tiki would enjoy it next time the they dreamed together.

"Fuck~" Scarlet said as she pulled her away after nearly a minute of fellating Robin's cock. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she moved back to the base of his cock while Camilla took Scarlet's place again. "Do you know how much I had to keep myself from having Robin fuck me with this cock, Camilla? You being around made it rather hard, you know?"

Camilla planted a kiss on Robin's crown before answering Scarlet. "Oh, I know. It was quite apparent how hard I made it whenever Robin rode with me." Scarlet pouted before she continued sucking Robin's cock. Camilla moved her head to the base, keeping eye contact with Robin as she spoke. "You didn't need to hold back on my account. I wouldn't have minded watching you two."

Robin's cock twitched painfully, begging for its first release as Scarlet and Camilla continued to work as a team, switching their positions every few seconds. Robin let loose a low growl as he eyed the two, committing the sight of them greedily gobbling his cock to memory.

"Scarlet! Camilla!" He muttered in a low, husky voice.

Scarlet and Camilla shared a look before both of them wrapped their fingers around the base of his cock. They pressed their cheeks together, sticking out their tongues, pumping his cock together while teasing the tip.

"Go ahead, Robin," Scarlet said, her eyes becoming half-lidded as she once again wrapped her lips around the crown of his throbbing cock, trying her best to coax him to cum then and there.

"Cum for us~," Camilla demanded in a sultry voice before taking Scarlet's place, moaning in pleasure as she sought to take the first shot of his seed.

Robin happily obliged. Camilla’s eye hazed over gain as the first string of cum plastered her mouth. She was caught by surprise when the second followed shortly after, shooting down her throat. Camilla pulled away as the third string came, painting her face with his seed. She failed to notice his cock twitch several more times, releasing a torrent of his seed, coating both her and Scarlet, who moved in close to Camilla to get her fair share.

By the time Robin was done, Camilla felt like she had been thoroughly showered in Robin’s cum. Strings of white coated her wavy, lavender hair while thick globs had dripped down her massive chest, pooling within the valley of her breasts. Her tongue had lolled out of her mouth at some point, showing just how much cum she took from Robin before it became too much for her.

Before she could swallow the load lingering in her mouth, she was immediately assaulted by Scarlet, who crashed her lips into Camilla’s. The blonde knight’s tongue invaded her mouth, stealing as much cum as she could from the princess.

Robin felt a fire burn intensely within him at the sight. Scarlet had pulled away after a few seconds, panting heavily as a thick strand of saliva and cum bridged her tongue to Camilla's. Both beauties swallowed the thick loads, making a great show of it for their lover.

Camilla gave Scarlet a cheeky smile. "My my. How bold of you, Dame Scarlet. Who knew you were so lewd?" She then looked at Robin's still-hard cock. "And aren't you just insatiable, Robin?" Her visible eye locked on to his. Robin could practically see the lust within it.

Robin placed a gentle hand on her cheek, which Camilla unconsciously nuzzled into. Robin surprised her with a kiss, earning a lewd moan from the lavender-haired beauty. Breaking the kiss not long after, Robin gave her the same cheeky smirk that seemed to cause her heart to flutter. "Tell me what you want, princess."

Momentarily stunned, Camilla finally answered him after recovering her voice. “I want to you make love to me, Robin,” she pleaded.

"As you wish," he replied. Offering a hand to Scarlet and Camilla, both women accepted the gesture, allowing him to help them up.

Camilla moved towards the bed. As she did, she slid her hands under the shoulder straps of her negligee, letting them slide off her shoulders. The lacy lingerie pooled around her feet, followed by her thong. Laying down on the bed, she spread her legs, revealing her leaking sex, her tantalizing scent tickling Robin's nose.

Before Robin could accept the open invitation, Scarlet made her move. She planted her knees to the sides of Camilla's hips, pressing her freckled breasts against the princess' and arching her back, presenting her bare pussy as an alternative.

"Not so fast, princess," Scarlet declared. Her red eyes glared at the Nohrian Princess. "I told you, you made it real hard for me to enjoy my man's cock, so I'm getting my fix in before you get a full taste."

Camilla just smiled and took one of Scarlet's hands into her own, entwining their fingers together. "As I said, I don't mind watching, Scarlet. It just gives me something to look forward to. Plus..." Camilla raised her head, leaning in close to Scarlet's ear. "I would love to see the faces you make when Robin thrusts into you."

Swaying her ass to entice Robin, Scarlet looked over her shoulder at him, her red eyes offering a small, desperate plea. “Come on, Robin. I’m ready.”

The white-haired Tactician didn't need to be told twice. Robin took his place behind Scarlet, his rod poking at her entrance. Scarlet wasn't lying. She was soaked. Their snogging earlier must have really made her hot and bothered.

While Scarlet certainly enjoyed some roughness, it seemed that she thoroughly enjoyed some romance, something Robin would keep in mind going forward. A blushing maiden, she was not, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t someone who appreciated genuine love.

That wasn't the Scarlet in front of him this time, however. The Scarlet current in front of him rolled her hips back, sliding her soaking loins along his length. She gasped when his hands gripped her waist as he lined himself up with her entrance. He gave her a few experimental prods, noting now easily the tip of his cock slid into her.

Even with just a small bit of Robin's cock penetrating her, Scarlet failed to hold back the lewd mewls that escaped her lips, resulting in her biting her lower lip to keep them in check.

"Come on, Robin~" Scarlet begged. "Don't keep me wai-"

Robin slammed his hips forward, burying himself in Scarlet's pussy up to the hilt. Scarlet moaned loudly at the feeling of his cock filling her up. Her lips broke out into a wide open-mouthed smile as her body accommodated Robin's size.

From her spot below the blonde, Camilla thoroughly enjoyed the start of the show before her. Whenever Robin would thrust forward, Scarlet's body would follow with his momentum and rub up against Camilla's body. Their mashing breasts bounced with each thrust, their aroused nipples tickling the other's skin. Camilla even released a surprised gasp when she felt Robin's engorged balls slap against her pussy as he fucked Scarlet.

Robin tightened his grip on Scarlet. His steady rhythm increased as his hips crashed into her, causing her firm, toned ass to ripple with each smack. Scarlet could feel the tip of his cock batter her insides as it reached the deepest parts of her velvety cave.

When Scarlet felt the tip of his cock knock at the entrance to her womb, she couldn't hold back as she experienced her first climax for the night. Camilla practically purred at the erotic face Scarlet made as her body twitched and spasmed. Sweet juices squirted from her honey pot, coated both Robin's cock and Camilla's sex in the lewd liquid.

Robin gritted his teeth as the blonde's body refused to have him pull out of her. It was like Scarlet desperately tried to milk him as her vaginal walls contracted and squeezed him tightly. He growled and moved one of his hands to her back. The shift in weight pushed Scarlet further up against Camilla, surprising the two women as Robin rutted against Scarlet like a beast.

"Fuck." He grunted, amazed by the tightness of the blonde's sex that just seemed to continuously pull him further and further in. "Scarlet," Robin growled as he buried himself deep inside her.

“Don’t. Stop. AH~ Robin!” Scarlet cried out in pleasure. She was in a haze as she came down from her orgasm. Robin had become rougher as he slammed his hips violently against her ass, causing her already sensitive body to reach its limits once more. In a moment of clarity, she recognized the princess, whose smug and playful face was only inches from hers.

"Such a lovely expression on your face, Dame Scarlet," Camilla purred. Her visible eye gazed at a grunting Robin as he continued to plow Scarlet from behind.

Wanting to wipe the smirk off of Camilla's face, Scarlet used one of Robin's thrusts to push her forward, giving her the chance to crash her lips against Camilla's. While initially surprised, Camilla was all for it and passionately returned the kiss with gusto, wrapping an arm around Scarlet as the other took the knight's hand and entwined their fingers together.

Scarlet succeeded in a way, while also realizing that kiss the lavender-haired princess wasn't quite so bad.

Driven wild by the sight and sounds of the two beauties underneath him, Robin felt his desires burn intensely within him. He didn't hold back when his orgasm came. His testicles churned as large amounts of his seed erupted from the tip of his cock. He grunted as he rutted into her, a primal need to reach into the deepest parts of the tomboy knight and fill her to the brim with his seed.

White, hot cum squeezed out past Robin's cock, dribbling down Scarlet's slit and dripping down onto the bed, staining the silky sheets.

Scarlet lost strength in her core, her legs shaking violently as the waves of another orgasm washed over her. She laid on top of Camilla, nuzzling his face in the princess' neck as she tried to catch her breath. A weak whimper escaped her lips as Robin pulled out of her sensitive pussy, though she couldn't help but smile as she felt Robin's lips pressing up against her freckled cheeks.

Even Camilla shared in the intimacy as she ran a gentle hand across Scarlet's back, her nails trailing up and down the curve of Scarlet's spine. The blonde shivered at their touches. Her whole body was sensitive, and each touch caused pleasure to spike through it.

"Better, Scarlet?" Camilla asked in a gentle tone.

"Mm~ fuck yes," replied the blonde. She turned her head, her red eyes fluttering as she inched closer to Robin. Her lips met his, eliciting a moan from her. "Divines, I needed that."

Robin just smirked that same lovable smirk he had. "I aim to please."

Camilla sent him a sultry look. "And you'll your work cut out for you. I will be very disappointed if your performance is lacking if what I just watched was anything to go by."

"Don't worry, princess," Scarlet said as she rolled off the curvaceous beauty beneath her, laying on her side as she got comfortable on the mattress. She ran a hand across Camilla's taut stomach, looking at Robin as she did. "If you haven't noticed, Robin tends to rise to the occasion. It's kinda his thing."

Camilla looked down, noticing that Robin's cock was still rock hard. She licked her lips at the sight of the mixture of erotic juices that coated every inch of it. The draconic blood running through Robin's veins, including the throbbing ones running along the length of his cock, was certainly apparent to Camilla.

Even without it, she was sure Robin had plenty of stamina to work with.

As Camilla spread her legs wide and moved a hand to her pussy, the other gripped the pillow under her head tightly as a realization of the situation hit her.

She was about to give herself willingly to a man she didn’t know she would ever see again. Yet, despite that, she was looking forward to it. Her short time with the purple-eyed Tactician had been quite the experience. She ran through every point he had in his favor, and he was not found wanting in her mind.

Spreading her folds open with a pair of dainty fingers, Camilla gazed longingly at Robin, her massive chest heaving as she committed herself to accept him as her lover. While she kept things light with Beruka and Severa, Camilla was giving Robin her entire being willingly. She smirked internally at the thought of have many lords and ladies’ would be heartbroken, knowing that someone had claimed what many said was Nohr’s greatest treasure.

"Well, Robin?" She said with a husky purr. "Come to Mommy~" The anticipation was killing her. She watched as Robin gripped the base of his cock and lined it up with her slick entrance. Robin, ever the gentleman, waited for her word to continue. With a firm nod, Camilla braced herself.

She winced as soon as the tip, letting loose a small hiss as her velvety walls stretched to accommodate Robin's girth. He took it slow, however, giving her plenty of time used to his size. When he met a small amount of resistance the deeper he went, Camilla took in a deep breath and readied herself as Robin took the plunge.

A rather cute gasp escaped her soft pink lips, her luscious breasts bouncing as soon as Robin's hips crashed into hers. Her grip on her pillow tightened, her nails nearly tearing through the silky cushion.

"R-Robin~" Her gaze landed on him, a lustful plea apparent in her violet orbs.

Robin complied with the princess’ wish. He planted his hands at her sides and dragged his hips back. Camilla let out a whimper as the further he pulled away, the emptier she felt. When he finally moved his hips forward, that whimper became a moan as she felt full once more.

Robin started slowly, treating her gently as he found a steady rhythm that Camilla’s body reacted honestly to. Her cunt was undeniably tight, and he was glad that she and Scarlet had both been as aroused as they were. Add on that Scarlet’s orgasms coated his cock with plenty of her juices made fucking the Nohrian Princess that much easier.

Camilla moaned as Robin maintained his rhythm and she unconsciously rolled her hips to meet his, trying to push those last few inches into her. She enjoyed the feeling of him bottoming out in her, feeling the tip of his cock reach deep inside her.

From her spot on the right of the princess, Scarlet watched as Robin fucked the lavender-haired beauty. It was quite the sight, tracking the movements of his hips, how his large cock disappeared into the princess’ royal pussy. She found it hard to tear her eyes away from the enticing sight of the massive mounds that bounced with each thrust and licked her lips at the inviting pink pebbled nubs.

Robin seemed to have the same idea as he leaned down and latched his mouth onto Camilla's left tit. Camilla mewled at the stimulation as a teasing grin appeared on her face. "Yes~ That's it. They're all yours~"

Scarlet inched closer to Camilla and soon copied Robin's actions, claiming the other tit as her own.

"S-Scarlet!" Camilla cried out in surprise, not expecting the blonde knight to latch onto her like that.

Scarlet was surprised herself initially. Was it the situation she found herself in? Was it her own amorous desire and pent-up frustrations spilling out? Scarlet found that she didn't care too much at the moment. She accepted that she's more than willing to share in the fun with another woman.

At least if it was someone she found herself taking a strong liking to. And Scarlet had grown to like Camilla over the course of the last few days.

As Scarlet came to terms with the shift in her sexual proclivities, Camilla dealt with her mind growing hazy as Robin pulled his mouth off her nipple with a wet pop and upped the tempo of his rhythm, only to switch it up with a series of powerful thrusts that shoved his thick cock hard into her before switching once more.

"Yes." A lusty smile formed on Camilla's face as she wrapped an arm around Robin. Scarlet pulled away from Camilla's breast, allowing the princess to do the same with her other arm, pulling Robin close to her. "You're going to ruin me, Robin."

Scarlet moved in close, a knowing smirk on her face as one of her hands trailed down Camilla's body towards her pussy. Her fingers reached Camilla's clit, grazing the sensitive nub and causing Camilla to moan at the sudden stimulation.

Camilla’s legs clamped themselves against Robin’s body, nearly wrapping themselves around his waist, preventing him from pulling out of her. A thin sheen of sweat formed on both of their bodies, causing them to glisten in the warm light of the candles scattered about the room.

"Kiss me, Robin." Camilla said in between breaths. "Claim me. Make me as yours. Completely yours." Whether through the throes of passion or her draconic blood reacting strongly to their coupling, Camilla meant what she said.

Robin leaned his head in close, just stopping shy a few inches from her lips. "As you wish, princess."

He captured her lips, earning a throaty moan from the princess. She pulled the Tactician deeper into the kiss, locking her arms around his neck, preventing him from breaking away.

She could practically feel the vibrations of Robin's guttural growl through her bones. Something within Robin shifted, something primal. Something powerful. And he expressed that through his body.

His cock viciously plowed into Camilla’s royal cunt. Camilla felt as though her body was getting reshaped with each thrust. Her core burned, and recognizing her impending climax, Camilla reacted. Breaking the lip lock and burying her face in the crook of his neck, Camilla struggled to speak through Robin, constantly slamming his cock into her, and her unsteady breathing. “Robin~ AH! I’m close.”

Her words spurred him on. Camilla's vision swam with stars. Her hold on Robin tightened. She could feel his cock tense and grow inside her pussy. He was just as close to climaxing as she was. The thought of sharing such an intimate moment made her heart skip a beat. In fact, her blood demanded it.

As well as staking her own claim.

When the first wave of her orgasm hit, Camilla pressed her lips against Robin's body, where the neck connected to his collarbone. Then she bit down, hard enough to draw up a trickle of blood.

The action caused Robin to grunt and bury his cock deep inside her as he was driven to match his climax with hers. Thick strands of his seed erupted from the tip of his cock, painting Camilla's insides white. When Robin tried to pull his hips back, Camilla wouldn't allow it. Instead, she wrapped her legs around him and held him in place.

Camilla's eyes fluttered as more and more of Robin's hot cum filled her up. She swore that if his cock wasn't acting as a stopped, then it would all spill out onto the silky sheets of the bed. It felt like hours before Robin stopped rutting her, though Camilla could have cared less. She was more focused on basking in the warm she felt from his body as he pressed up against her.

Her legs finally gave out, falling limply onto the bed. Her arms nearly did the same, though through sheer will, she maintained her grip on Robin, keeping him close to her, even if it was weakening by the second.

"Wonderful~" Camilla said in a low, shaky tone. She licked her lips, cleaning them of Robin's blood, savoring its flavor. "Simply wonderful, Robin." Her womb churned with his seed and the thought of baring a child flashed briefly through her mind. She entertained the thought for only a moment, not wanting to think of the future ramifications of this night.

Not now, at least.

A pair of lips pressing up against her neck broke her out of her thoughts. A pleased moan escaped her lips as Robin showered her with gentle affection. Her eyes fluttered open, spotting a smirking blonde in front of her.

"Well?" Asked Scarlet, her knowing smirk growing wider by the second.

Camilla returned the smirk with a smile of her own. “I am very well pleased.” Her hands ran through Robin’s snow white hair, curling several thick strands in between her fingers. “I can’t remember ever feeling this way,” she said. “My retainers certainly know how to help me scratch certain itches, but they can’t reach the ones Robin did.”

"As I told Scarlet." Robin pushed himself up, gazing down at Camilla and Scarlet. "I aim to please."

The two beauties shared a smile at that. Camilla turned to look out the window, noting that the moon had begun its ascent as several bright stars dotted the night sky. "Well," she said, turning back to look at Robin. "The night's still young." She pulled herself up, pressing her lips to Robin's. "And you, my dear Robin, are still quite eager for more."

Her eye became half-lidded as she gazed upon him. "So am I~"

----------

"Fuck~ It's so fucking deep! Robin!"

Scarlet furiously rode Robin's stiff cock. Her large freckled breasts bounced wildly with her movements. As soon as Robin pulled out of a freshly fucked Camilla, Scarlet wasted no time and jumped him on the spot. Camilla laid next to the pair, thoroughly enjoying the show if the sound of her fingers pumping her cum-filled pussy were anything to go by.

Scarlet had to admit it was a rather erotic sight. But her attention was focused on the man laying beneath her.

She had been riding him for the past ten minutes and he showed no signs of exhaustion. Scarlet, however, had to keep herself propped up by placing her hands against Robin's chest. His chest that was marred with light scratches from whenever his cock hit the one spot that drove Scarlet wild.

The blonde tomboy had already came several times since she started and she knew Robin was intentionally doing it to drive her mad with pleasure.

Scarlet's ass clapped against his thighs as she slammed down on Robin's thick cock, eliciting a lewd moan from her and a hard grunt from the Tactician.

"AH~ So. Fucking. Good," Scarlet said with each wet plap.

She squeaked when Robin's hands groped her ass and forced her to bury his cock deep inside her. Once her pussy lips kissed his base, Robin guided her movements, making her rock her hips back and forth before letting her take back control.

Camilla hummed, enticed by the sight of the wyvern knight ride the dragon in human skin with gusto.

"Quite enthusiastic, yes?" She casually looked over at Robin and the pleased smile on his face. Shifting her body on the bed, Camilla gently placed a hand on Robin's cheek and engaged him in a passionate kiss.

Scarlet felt a heat rise within her as she watched her lover and the princess snog as she was in the middle of riding him. The whole situation was far different from what she would have expected, but she didn’t care. She stared to imagine what it would be like with Tiki joining in, or maybe Flavia.

Scarlet felt that she and the Eastern Khan would make it a competition.

The thought stoked the fire in Scarlet’s core even more. She would ensure she had the stamina to match the khan when that time came.

Robin broke away from Camilla's kiss, wincing as his balls ached for their next release. His hands moved up Scarlet's curves and gripped her hips tightly. Scarlet let out a surprised sound, which turned into a throaty moan as Robin held her in place and thrusted his hips upward.

“R-Ro~bin!” she squealed in delight at his sudden roughness. “Fuck, fuck, fuck~” He slammed into her hard, shooting his thick load deep into her hungry cunt. “YES!”

Scarlet's back arched, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as the corner of her lips curled into a cock-drunk smile. Robin slowly pulled her off his cock. She shuddered as the sensation of his still-hard cock scraping the sides of her highly sensitive walls.

----------

Camilla wrapped her soft, luscious mounds around Robin's cock. After three rounds with Scarlet and Camilla, his cock was thoroughly lubricated, making it easy for the princess to slide her tits along its length.

She found it rather naughty that she was giving her skin a healthy coating of hers, Scarlet's and Robin's juices. The wet sounds of her tits slapping Robin's crotch made the entire situation even dirtier to the princess.

"How do my massive breasts feel, Robin?" She asked, locking eyes with the man as he sat on the edge of the bed. "These royal mounds are the envy of every noble lady in Nohr. I should know. They can't help but send me such jealous glares."

Camilla was quite proud of that fact, and quite surprised that despite having what was considered the largest breasts in the kingdom, Robin’s cock was still large enough that his crown poked out past the valley of her breasts.

Robin struggled to keep his breathing steady, unable to answer the lavender-haired beauty as she worked her magic. It was clear she had no experience using her breasts to pleasure someone -something Robin felt honored by for being the first- as Camilla took a minute or two to pick up on his subtle reactions.

Applying a small amount of pressure, Camilla used her luscious mounds in earnest, finding a steady rhythm that caused Robin's breath to hitch.

Finding his voice, Robin finally answered the Nohrian Princess. "A-Amazing."

Camilla let out a melodious giggle. "Do you love how soft they are? How even they can't fully envelope your delectable cock?" She slowly raised her breasts, maintained eye contact with Robin, and then slammed them back down before repeating the process. "Or maybe you love the First Princess of Nohr servicing you like your personal cock-slut? Having me on my knees? Or maybe you love that you can take me however you please~"

There was a steady trickle of arousal leaking from Camilla's hungry cunt. Her vulgar words, while meant to drive Robin wild, unintentionally did the same for her.

Not that Camilla minded one bit.

Scarlet roused herself up, recovering enough from her ride, and took a spot behind Robin. She looped her arms around his neck and snuggled him, nuzzling her cheek against his. Her tired eyes focused on the princess and watched as the glorious orbs smacked Robin's groin.

"Damn. That's a pretty sight," Scarlet commented.

Camilla smiled at Scarlet's words. While she was used to many jealous glares and less-than kind whispers, it made her day hearing another woman seem to praise her mature anatomy.

The only others that did so were her sisters and Corrin's salmon-haired maid, Felicia.

Just the thought of her sisters joining her this night played to a certain kinky side of the lavender-haired princess. For now, she simply buried such fantasies and continued to focus on the searing cock sandwiched between her breasts.

Licking her lips, Camilla leaned forward and wrapped her lips around Robin's crown as she continued to pump the shaft with her tits. The grunts and moans coming from Robin encouraged Camilla to push him closer to the edge. As she blew him, lewd, sloppy sounds come from her mouth. Her tongue flicked across the slit at the top of the tip, scooping up a small dollop of cum that oozed out of it.

Mix it with a combination of Camilla and Scarlet's climaxes, and Camilla was devouring an erotic cocktail that she wanted more of.

The moans that she released sent pleasant vibrations along Robin's shaft, bringing him to the edge like Camilla wanted.

"Princess." Robin unconsciously raised his hips, trying to seek out the pleasure that was causing his body to quiver.

Camilla pulled off of Robin's cock with a wet "pop" and stared him directly in the eye. "Cum for me, Robin," she commanded. Her rhythm increased, filling the air with sounds of her tits slapping Robin's wet crotch and slick cock. "Mark me, Robin~ Paint me with your cum."

Lust filled her purple orbs as she stared at Robin. "Fuck my tits. Fuck these royal tits until you cum for me~"

Robin felt his control slip at that moment, and complied with Camilla's wishes.

The first thick string of cum shot out of his cock like a geyser. It arched high into the air before letting gravity take control. The first string landed on Camilla's face, with several large drops splattering on her tips as the second jet of cum shot out.

“Yes~” Camilla cried out victoriously. “Cum for Mommy~” She came as soon as the first string of Robin’s hot seed landed across the bridge of her nose, going from cheek to cheek. The sensation rocked her body as she unconsciously continued to pump Robin for all the seed currently churning in his balls.

The fact that it he still had a large quantity to give meant that Camilla's morning flight might might be delayed as she and Scarlet wouldn't be getting much sleep if they wished to appease the human dragon she was kneeling before.

----------

As Camilla basked in the warmth of Robin's cum on her silky skin, draping her body across the bed as she gathered her breath, she was in the prime position to watch Robin take another turn with Scarlet. But that wasn't all. No, the best part, in Camilla's mind, was the way Scarlet wanted Robin to take her.

"Robin! You're splitting me in- oh fuck~ In two!"

The reason? Scarlet had stood on shaky legs, placed her hands against the stone walls of their room and bent her body forward, presenting her ass to the Tactician.

Robin wasn’t one to turn down such an invitation. It didn’t help that while Scarlet swayed her firm ass enticingly, sending Robin a challenging smirk. Robin was sure to take it nice and slow, teasing her anus for nearly a minute before pushing his cock into her.

Scarlet let out a series of weak whimpers as she took him inch by inch. Robin only made it halfway before meeting too much resistance. Even when his cock was thoroughly coated in the arousal and saliva of two beauties, Scarlet was too tight to take him all the way.

Scarlet asked Robin to take things slow, a wish he would comply with. With light thrusts, Robin fucked Scarlet's tight ass at a steady pace. Scarlet was incapable of speech, as her brain was overloaded by the sensations of Robin's thick rod invading her tight ass. The sensations of Robin's thick cock penetrating her asshole seemed to be too much for the blonde at the start.

But Scarlet was tenacious, and after a minute or two of her ass getting used to such a large object pushing its way inside her, Scarlet had soon taken more and more inside her with each thrust.

Which led to what was happening now.

Robin's hips crashed into Scarlet's rear, filling the air with the sounds of her ass cheeks clapping with each impact. While Robin wasn't rough with her this time, Scarlet didn't mind. She just wanted to cum again from her lover's ministrations.

"Divines. Robin. You're ah ah making me crazy!" Scarlet declared as she rolled her hips back to meet his.

"You're-" Robin grunted as he found some difficulty pulled his hips back as Scarlet seemed unwilling to let him go. "You're not making it- Fuck! Making it easy, Scarlet."

“Oh, ah~ yeah?” Scarlet looked over her shoulder, sweat dripping down her brow, as she locked eyes with Robin. “Do you want to fuck-“ She gasped as Robin bottomed out inside her. She could feel him rearranging her guts with each thrust. “Fuck ah~ my ass every day?”

She let out a gasp as Robin hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close before pressing her up against the wall. Her breasts mashed against the cold stone as her hard nipples scrapped each divot and flaw in the masonry. Scarlet was forced to stand on her toes as Robin increased his speed, fucking her ass at a brisk pace.

Robin leaned in close to her ear, growling as he did. "Think you can take it every day."

Scarlet laughed at that. She knew what he was doing to her, and she loved every bit of it. “Guess we’ll find out~” Her erratic breathing matched her wildly beating heart. “Mmph~ We’ll have plenty of opportunities tomorrow.”

Robin mulled over the idea, becoming more and more willing to experience the blonde knight's body. He realized that both he and her would have plenty of time together to sate their growing arousal for each other.

Scarlet's breathing hitched as Robin pulled his hips back to where only the tip of his cock remained inside her before slamming into her hard, like a wyvern tackling another. She came again. Her insides clenched tightly as her orgasm ran through her body. Her anus latched around Robin, forming a tight seal around his meaty cock as he started filling her bowels with his seed.

She nearly lost her footing and had to rely on Robin to keep her standing. Not that she minded at all. He did have his powerful arms wrapped around her as he molded his body to match the curve of her back.

As Scarlet basked in the afterglow of her anal fucking -and considering how hard it might be to sit on Tia's saddle tomorrow- Camilla sauntered up behind Robin.

"Robin, dear," she said with a purr. "I still need you~"

Scarlet huffed, annoyed by the princess' intrusion, but understood her desires.

That, and Robin still had yet to soften at all, though Scarlet expected that. He left her bow-legged the first time they fucked.

She almost laughed, remembering that Camilla had intruded on them that time too, as well as over an hour ago.

----------

"Ah! Mmph! Robin!"

The sounds of the bed creaking filled the room, mixing with grunts, moans, and slapping skin as Robin, Scarlet, and Camilla all gathered on the bed. Scarlet laid limply on her back, her chest rising and falling slowly as she recovered from her last round with Robin.

Camilla, however, was currently getting plowed from behind. Laying flat on her stomach, her massive breasts pressing into the soft mattress beneath her while she held a pillow close, her body was getting rocked by Robin, who still had plenty of energy to burn.

Camilla pressed her face into the pillow, effectively muffling the lewd sounds escaping her lips. Even now, Robin was scratching that deep itch within her, hitting all the right spots, some that she didn't even know she had. Her long, wavy lavender-colored hair was a messy, cascading down her sweaty back and spilling out onto the mattress.

"Robin~" She buried her nose into the pillow as Robin buried himself into her gushing pussy. "Ro-" He pulled out and went right back in, forcing Camilla to gasp in surprise. "BIN~"

Her ears picked up the sound of his heavy breathing. Turning her head to the right, she saw how close his face was to hers and the look of satisfaction on it as he continued to fuck her.

"You're hitting my weak spots, Robin," Camilla remarked as the tip of Robin's cock scraped up against one such spot. "Mmm~ Just like that."

Camilla battled the lust-filled haze in her mind, trying to keep her focus but finding great difficulty doing so. She had wanted Robin to claim her, just like he had with Scarlet. Like he no doubt did with Tiki and Flavia and Anna. And she got her wish.

“I’m close.” Camilla said in a desperate tone. “I’m so close, Robin~” She gripped his hair and pulled him close, crashing her lips into his. She forced her tongue past his lips, engaging him in an oral dance of dominance.

Each time his tongue ran across hers, her body shivered. Every time his thick cock rammed her pussy, reaching deep into her velvety cave that he had thoroughly reshaped to be his. Camilla lurched forward as Robin rutted into her.

"Robin~" A lewd smile formed on her face as she stared blankly at the bed's dark wood headboard. "Cum with me. AH~ Cum with Mommy~"

Robin bit back a deep growl. "Fuck! Camilla!"

"Robin!" she cried out as she was overtaken with ecstasy.

With one last deep thrust, Robin came, filling Camilla’s womb for a second time that night. The Princess of Nohr could only make raspy gasps and throaty moans as string after string of Robin’s hot seed painted her insides white.

After several light thrusts, Robin pulled out of her pussy. The sensation was too much for him, resulting in an aftershock to hit him. Two thick strands of cum erupted from his tip, landing on the back of Camilla's head, with several dollops splattering her wavy locks.

Feeling his cock rest between her ass cheeks, Camilla playfully bounced her hips, teasing the Tactician into taking her one more time.

Only to be stopped by Scarlet, who leaned against Robin and took his cock into her calloused hand. She shot the princess a dirty look, one that let Camilla know it was her turn again.

Camilla just smiled and gave Scarlet a flirty wink.

----------

A gentle calmness settled in the room. The scent of sweat and sex hung heavily in the air.

An exhausted Robin rolled onto his back, nestling his body between Camilla and Scarlet. After several intense rounds, he needed a moment to catch his breath. The two tired beauties at his side joined him, taking a spot on each arm and pressing their bodies against his. Robin gently wrapped his arms around them, pulling them closer to him as they laid together.

"We've certainly made a mess," commented a tired Camilla as she scanned the room.

The bed was an absolute mess, with stains marring nearly every inch of the silky sheets, from corner to corner. Along the floor were several small puddles of cum that spilled out of Scarlet and Camilla's freshly fucked vaginas when Robin pulled out of them. Some walls even had a few stains whenever Scarlet or Camilla moved over to them.

Furniture was pushed aside, chairs knocked over, rugs turned over, curtains and tapestries nearly torn from their rods.

Camilla sympathized with the servants, knowing their work was cut out for them once Robin and Scarlet left the fort.

"I'm going to enjoy a nice, hot bath when we wake up," Scarlet said as she nuzzled against Robin's chest, basking in his natural warmth.

"A shared bath does sound rather wonderful," replied Camilla, as she trailed a hand along Robin's musculature, tracing each rise and fall of his abdominals.

Robin quirked a brow. "Just a bath, right?"

Camilla chuckled, filling the air with her melodious sounds. "Yes. As much as I would wish otherwise, dear Robin."

The idea was a tempting one, but Camilla had to follow her brother's orders. As much as she wanted to spend more time with Robin, and by extension, Scarlet, she didn't want to risk earning more of her father's ire.

Or for Robin to gain any more negative attention than he already had.

It hurt, however, to know she may never see him again. Such a dreadful thought was one she wished to ignore.

Instead, Camilla wished to enjoy being in the arms of the man she had determined to be the one for her. Her blood resonated with his so strongly, she doubted she would ever react in such a way with another.

Fate was fickle with wishes, no matter whose they were.

As Robin's hand trailed the curvature of her spine, Camilla looked at him. He wore a content expression as he stared off at the ceiling, obviously deep in thought. She found comfort in the softness of his face, in the serene calm in his shining purple orbs. Many of Nohr's nobility wore stern or cold expressions most of the time. Not even her older brother, Xander, was exempt from that, though the saving grace was how quickly that cold exterior would melt whenever he spent time with her or any of his siblings.

With Robin, his eyes always carried an intense focus, especially in a spar or fight. They held a hint of curiosity whenever something piqued his interest, and there was a certain spark when his mind was thoroughly stimulated. She already knew she loved that smirk of his as it spoke volumes, from his confidence to his playfulness. That smirk was just as adaptable as he was.

Releasing a dainty yawn, Camilla snuggled into Robin, resting her head on his shoulder and ensuring she was comfortable for the night. The trio didn’t even bother with a comforter or sheets. The night was warm enough, as the summer heat filled the room, making the use of extra sheets or coverings rather stifling.

Camilla focused on Robin's breathing, unconsciously matching it as they laid in bed. Despite spending several hours being intimate with one another, sleep had yet to claim them.

This allowed their minds to wonder and questions to form. One of which Scarlet wanted to voice.

“So...” she said, getting Robin and Camilla’s attention. Eyeing the princess, Scarlet asked the question that was burning in her mind. “Mommy, huh? I didn’t realize that the first princess was kinky like that.”

Camilla wrapped a leg around Robin's as she gazed at the blonde knight across from her. "Robin didn't seem to mind." Her gaze shifted to him as a playful smile graced her lips. "In fact, I can say he rather enjoyed it. Quite the lewd beast I've laid with." Her attention returned to Scarlet, with purple eyes meeting red. "And as if you are one to talk, Dame Scarlet~"

Scarlet had the decency to blush at that, knowing what the princess was referring to. Scarlet was definitely going to be sore in the morning.

Robin shook his head as he listened to the byplay happening between the two beauties in his arms. That didn't stop him from smiling, though.

"It is rather surprising," Robin stated. He knew that nearly everyone had a kink of some kind. Tiki enjoyed having him nibble her ears or to bite down on the spot where her neck connects to her collarbone. Flavia sometimes turned sex into a form of competition, though she enjoyed getting dominated during those times. Anna's was certainly unique.

She enjoyed being intimate in public, making sure those around her were none the wiser. Robin still remembered several deals she struck while she had him take her from behind, with a curtain drawn to hide him from view. High-risk trading, she called it.

"Still, I won't lie." Robin looked at Camilla with that same smirk that drove her crazy for him. "I did enjoy it."

Camilla gave him a soft smile and moved in for a chaste kiss. "As did I." She laid her head back on his shoulder, lazily closing her eyes as she placed a hand on his chest. "This was a night to remember. One that will never leave my heart."

Scarlet watched the interaction. A sad smile graced her lips as she realized what Camilla was feeling currently. In a surprised gesture of camaraderie, Scarlet reached over and took Camilla’s hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze before giving Robin a tender goodnight kiss. As well as one for Camilla.

As the two beauties fell to soft whispers of sleep, the candles dying at the ends of their wicks with the moon's light streaming through the window, Robin laid awake. His hands raked across Scarlet and Camilla's forms, tracing every curve. He gazed softly at the two, noting how Scarlet seemed to enjoy snuggling, and Camilla still carried a level of grace in her sleep.

"She looks rather peaceful," came the soft voice of Tiki.

'Agreed,' Robin mentally replied.

"Scarlet is quite adorable as well. Though, I'm not really surprised. It just fits her," she observed through their link. "You need to sleep, Robin." Her voice was full of concern, though Robin could pick up on the subtle chiding in her tone.

'I'll join you soon, Tiki. I just had a lot on my mind.' He wasn't lying. This was the last night to determine what he would do in this land. He needed as much time sorting through his thoughts on the matter.

Robin had finally come to an answer as soon as Tiki made her presence known.

"I know, my love." Tiki, the ever-mature Manakete, made sure that her feelings and thoughts on the matter came through clearly. She understood what he had chosen to do. "Promise me that you will be safe."

'I will, Tiki,' he replied, his conviction apparent in his thoughts and the bond.

"Good. Then sleep, my love. We can discuss our plans together," Tiki replied, her words a gentle order rather than a suggestion. "Besides, you seem to have quite the memory to share with me."

Robin smiled and slowly closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him at last. 'As you wish.'

- KINGDOM of NOHR, COUNTRYSIDE -

Camilla and Beruka sped through the air, racing through the skies as the princess was determined to meet up with her second retainer and her company as soon as possible. Letting out a yawn, the princess was still rather tired from last night's events, her body sore but practically glowing. She was just glad she could still sit on her saddle without little issue.

Unlike a certain blonde knight.

The thought of said knight soon drew Camilla's thoughts to the odd pair. It had been several hours since she parted ways with Robin and Scarlet, and while her heart ached at the loss of their companionship, it didn't hurt as much as she thought it would.

A part of her even felt hopeful that they would one day meet again.

Raising a dainty hand to her soft lips, Camilla remembered her parting gift to Robin. She even shared a heated kiss with Scarlet, catching the blonde Wyvern Rider off guard with her actions.

"May fate treat us kindly, dear Robin," she said into the wind, imagining his handsome features and trademark smirk.

Gripping her reins tightly, Camilla spurred Tear to speed forth northeast towards Elford. "Come, Beruka!" She called out to her retainer. "We have Hoshidans to punish and I don't wish for Severa to have all the fun herself!"

As Camilla raced forward, Beruka silently complied and followed after her lady.

----------

Heading northwest, Robin sat behind Scarlet as they rode Tia through the air. They were making their way to a small village several leagues away from Fort Dragonfall.

Glancing at Robin over her shoulder, Scarlet spoke up. "So, we're going to do this?"

Robin gave her a firm nod. "Yes. Something is wrong with Nohr, with this entire war, and many will suffer because of it. We need to determine what exactly is happening and do our best to lend our aid. And if we can, earn the trust of Prince Xander and the rest of the royal siblings. We'll need all the help we can get."

Scarlet was silent for a moment before a wide, toothy smile formed on her freckled face. "Alright, then!" She held her axe in the air, showcasing the mosaic Exalt Brand embedded on both sides of the weapon's head. "Look out, Nohr! The Shepherds have arrived!"

Robin smiled at the blonde's enthusiasm and pride in her words. His confidence matched hers as he spoke. "Right. It's time to tip the scales!"

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