Emmeryn

"Who's the cutest prince in the world? You are! You are!" I tickled my year-old brother, making him laugh. "What's my name again, buddy?"

"Emm!" Chrom giggled.

"And what's your name?"

"Chrom!"

"What's Mommy's name?"

"Mama!"

I laughed and hugged him close. "No, silly! It's Lucia!"

"Mama!" he said again, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world.

I sighed and shook my head. "Close enough!" I smiled.

This was just a part of our morning routine. I was Chrom's primary caretaker, and I took pride in that. Plenty of maids and wet nurses volunteered to care for him, but I refused their help. This is my brother, I want to watch after him! After an entire year, I had gotten used to our new routine. I would wake up, get dressed, prepare myself for the morning, and then repeat that with Chrom. After that, I would always sit on my bed with him and play with him until Mother came to take us to breakfast. This morning; however, she was late.

"I hungry!" Chrom pouted, putting his hands on his stomach.

I hugged him and ruffled his blue hair. "I know, buddy," I said. "Mother will be here soon, just wait!"

Right on cue, Mother came into our room. "Sorry that I'm late, kiddos!" she apologized. "I was talking with your father."

I looked up at her. "Mother, is everything alright?" I asked.

She sighed and sat down on the bed. "Honestly, Emmy...I don't know..." she said under her breath. "Your father is focusing all his time and energy on the war, and I don't think it's good to him..."

I glanced at Chrom. "Mother, can we talk about this later? I know he's too young to understand, but I don't want to talk about this around Chrom,"

Mother nodded and hugged Chrom and I close. "Of course, sweetheart..." She squeezed us one last time and released us, picking up Chrom. "Now, who's hungry?"

"Me!!!" Chrom cheered, wrapping his tiny arms around Mother's neck.

She laughed. "Alright then, little one! Let's get some breakfast!" She and Chrom left the room, I followed close behind. What could Father be planning?

...

"Chroooom! Stop! You're making a mess!" I whined as my baby brother got his breakfast of mixed berries all over his blue tunic.

"No!" He stuck his tongue out at me.

"Oh, that does it!" I reached out to wipe some of the juice off his face, but he retaliated by headbutting into me and getting me messy. "Chrom! I'm wearing white! This will stain!!!"

"He doesn't know that, Emmy," Mother said, taking Chrom and placing him on her lap. "Me, on the other hand: am wearing purple, so it won't show!"

I sat back down in a huff and crossed my arms. "No fair!"

"Emmeryn, sweetie, we've had Chrom for over a year! You should know better than to wear white!"

"Whatever!" I ignored her.

We ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Emmy, you have lessons today, you should go and change after breakfast." Mother said.

I groaned. "But lessons are so booooring!! And who's gonna take care of Chrom?" I asked.

She patted his little head and smiled. "I'll take care of him today, you need to focus on yourself. The future Exalt must be in tip-top shape, after all!" she winked.

I tried to hide my smile. "Ok, Mama..."

I felt Mother kiss me on the head. "You need to get ready, little princess," she commanded. "I'll be in the gardens with Chrom if you need me,"

I nodded and hopped off my chair. "Alright! And promise me that you'll tell me what Father's planning, later!"

"Of course, darling. You need to know, after all..."

"...Is it bad...?"

She glanced at Chrom, who was starting to fall asleep in her arms. "I'll explain everything later, I promise..."

I bowed my head. "Yes, Mother..."

...

Lucia

"It's almost autumn, little prince," I said to Chrom. I squeezed his hand gently and allowed him to toddle beside me.

He looked up at me. "Mama?"

"Pretty soon, all the leaves on the trees will fall, and the plants will die..." We really don't need that...especially now...

Chrom pointed to a small maple tree. "Tree?"

I chuckled under my breath. "Yes, Chrom... That's a tree." He tried running off to it, but I wouldn't let him. "Nuh uh, buddy! It's too dangerous for you to go off alone!"

He pouted for a second but continued to look around in wonder a short while after. I smiled at him. I truly wonder what kind of person he's going to grow up as... Emmy has already shown signs of being a pacifist...but Chrom... Will he end up like his father? Will he result to violence to solve his problems? My little boy looked back at me, a wide grin spread upon his face. Ha... I can't imagine my little Chrom fighting... He's so sweet and innocent... I shook my head to snap myself out of my daze. Ah... I-I can't think like that right now! I need to show him something important...

I picked him up and hugged him close. "I have something I need to show you, Chrom," I told the infant.

"Ok, Mama!"

I walked with him until we reached a small section of the gardens. Flowers and bushes covered the land, giving color to the small garden. "This is the garden your father gave me while he was courting me," I sighed. He was so different back then... I guess he didn't have that much stress on his shoulders, then... He wasn't Exalt then... "Once we married, every garden in the castle came under my care, but there's something special about this little patch..."

Chrom gave me a look of confusion. "Papa?"

"One day, little Chrom: I'm going to give this garden to you," I said. "And you know what you're going to do with it? Someday, you're going to meet someone you want to spend the rest of your life with...and you're going to give them this garden..."

Chrom stared at me in wonder. "Garden?"

I giggled. "Yes, buddy: garden..."

...

"...Mother? Now that Chrom's asleep...can you tell me what's going on?" Emmeryn asked.

I tucked a blanket over my sleeping son, sighing. "Alright, Emmy... But what I tell you does not leave this room, ok?"

Emmeryn bobbed her head. "Ok!"

I sat down on her bed and began stroking her hair. "Emmy, your father is in fear of losing the war."

"So?! Don't you always have that fear when going to war?!"

I shook my head. "Well, yes...but... Your father is too paranoid over losing... He wants to send out another draft. One that makes any able-bodied man serve."

Emmeryn's eyes were wide. "...What? No! No, he can't do that!" she cried.

I held her close. "He's willing to do anything to ensure a victory... Even at the cost of thousands of lives..." Tears began to fall down my cheeks.

"T-that's not fair! That'll only make us lose!"

"I know... And I hope that it doesn't have to come to that..." I whispered.

Emmeryn hugged me tightly. "I...I don't want that to happen! I don't want people to die!"

"Me neither, Emmy... Me neither..."

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I got this done quicker than I thought! I've just been really excited to write this! I still haven't gotten over the fact that I'm finally doing it! Yeah, it's a lot! Thank you so much for reading, and look forward to reading more!

Currently listening to: Fallen Angel: Three Days Grace