Charlotte

It is amazing how suddenly someone can believe that they are going to die.

Lady Charlotte had been having the time of her life just half an hour before. The party was in full swing, and she'd had flocks of people surrounding her in the ballroom, all desiring to be included in her social circle. Her best friends had been among them, hanging onto her every word. Viscount Luther had actually offered her a drink. All had been going well.

She would never admit it to anyone, but she harboured silly feelings for Luther. So when he had given her a glass of wine and talked to her, she'd felt a warm glow inside. It was a mixture of pleasure from being in the spotlight and a sense of rebellion. Her father would rarely let her drink, even though she was certainly old enough, and he would definitely frown upon any close relations between her and the viscount. She was twenty, true, but Luther was only eight years older. Her father was so protective.

It had been satisfying to see the heat of Luther's anger melt away from his eyes when he'd been talking with her. She'd thought that it was because she was something special, and she'd promised herself that in the morning, she would talk to her father about the argument that she had overheard. He was being selfish. Luther had been a loyal lieutenant to him for years, and a little more land was the least that he deserved.

She had never realised that Luther had been so happy in her presence because he was plotting to get his revenge.

Now, she was tearing down the street, barely able to stay standing on the pavement as it slid sideways into the sky. It was pitch black except for the occasional lantern, and she just wanted to go home. But home was behind her, in the direction of the pursuer she was trying to outrun. She had no choice but to move further and further away from it.

Her head was pounding and her vision was turning fuzzy. What a time for the gods to pick to deal her a bad hand in life. If these symptoms had presented themselves just half an hour ago, she would have been safely tucked up in bed. Now she was trying to save herself. All she wanted to do was fall to her knees and be sick.

She forced the bile down her throat and kept on running. Her foot slipped on the cobblestones that were slick from recent rain, and the heel of her shoe caught the back of her dress. The sound of the silk tearing rung in her ears as she toppled forwards, but for once, she didn't worry about the state of such an expensive garment. Instead, as her knees hit the floor and someone grabbed her by the waist, she worried about herself.

"Your father will regret denying me power," Luther murmured in her ear. "Are you feeling a little ill, darling? Perhaps you might consider that your wine didn't agree with you." He chuckled. "If your father won't let me expand my horizons and make a more impressive safe holding, he can at least let me add one more girl to my collection."

❤ ❤ ❤

Someone's hand was on her shoulder, shaking her awake. For a moment, Lady Charlotte thought that it might be Luther. She almost screamed.

Then the fog of her nightmare began to clear, and she realised that the touch was too gentle to be the viscount. She looked up and met the gunmetal grey eyes of an armoured woman whose face and ginger hair were streaked with dust.

The woman offered Charlotte a small smile, then turned around to shout something through the open door of the cell. Charlotte was too tired to understand what it was.

"You're safe now," the woman said, pulling Charlotte to her feet.

Another female soldier entered the cell, and both she and the ginger-haired woman wrapped their arms around Charlotte's shoulders so that she would be able to walk.

"There are two more here, Commander!" another girl's voice called. "Who should take them?"

"You and Minna will help one, and Elena and Vi will help the other. Sara, you're taking point, and Tigan will travel at the rear."

"Yes, Commander!"

"Let's move, and quickly! It's taken us an hour to find our way down here, and I don't want it to take us that long to get back up!"

All the girls spoke this time. "Yes, Commander!"

❤ ❤ ❤

Robin

After organising the rescue of Lady Charlotte, Chrom and I had returned to the ball. I'd wanted us to go on the mission ourselves, but my prince had wisely pointed out that if we were absent from such a big social event any longer, the people were going to panic. It had not even been six months since our war with Plegia. If we suddenly left the castle just after a new prisoner had been locked in our dungeons, they might assume the worst.

So we had stayed, and I'd sent Commander Calla and her best squad of pegasus knights instead. Their high mobility meant that Charlotte could be located and withdrawn quicker than if Chrom and I had tagged along, anyway.

I'd had a pleasant evening back at the castle. I'd finally managed to relax and enjoy the ball, and Chrom had only stood on my toes twice when we'd danced. Even after we had finished, he'd stuck to my side.

When the ball was over and the final guest had departed, he'd insisted on sleeping with me. I'd been more than happy to oblige. All our noble guests had returned to their own homes or the houses of their friends instead of staying in the castle, and I could see how worried Chrom was about leaving me. Besides, I'd secretly hoped I would wake up next to him on Sir Amias' day.

And now I was in his bed, watching him catch his last few minutes of sleep as I lay with my head on his bare chest. He hadn't bothered to take my key from around his neck when we'd torn our clothing off last night, and I'd thought it was quite sexy to see him wear just that alone. It continued to look pleasing to my eyes this morning, and I wished that I was still wearing mine. Due to its blade, however, I'd managed to keep my brain working long enough to take it off. Where it had gone after that was a mystery.

The gentle rhythm of Chrom's breathing was interrupted as he let out a small sigh and tightened his arms around my waist. I smiled, lifting my head and gently kissing his nose to wake him. I could have lay there in his warm embrace forever, but Calla and her pegasus knights were due back soon.

Chrom groaned beneath my touch, his eyelids slowly fluttering open.

I smiled again. "Good morning, my prince."

He hummed sleepily in reply, then pulled me down towards him and claimed my lips. My smile widened against them, and it lasted even when we had to break away to fill our lungs with air.

"I'm awake now," he murmured, stroking my cheek. "Happy Sir Amias' Day."

My gaze drifted to his necklace again, and I traced my finger down the key. Once it had eaten up the cold metal, I let it continue its journey along his chest.

He sighed appreciatively, and I looked up. "Happy – mmm!"

He'd trapped my mouth against his once more, hungrier. Lust exploded between us, and he flipped me over so that he was pinning me to the mattress.

I was just starting to wonder if we were going to begin the day with a love-making session when there was a sudden knock at the door.

Both of us froze instantly, but it took Chrom a few seconds to actually roll onto his side. I pulled the covers up over my head, trying to hide in case someone barged in.

Chrom cleared his throat. "Who is it?"

"Frederick, milord. The pegasus knights have been sighted, and they should be here within the next ten minutes."

"Thank you. I'll be ready."

We waited until Frederick's footsteps had moved away. Then I threw the covers off my head and exchanged a frustrated glance with Chrom. This would just have to be continued later, then.

We got ready as quickly as we could. My bracelet was nowhere to be seen, but I could at least find some clean clothes in Chrom's wardrobe. I had always made sure that there were some garments of my own in there from the moment he had first asked me to sneak in. I was not going to do the walk of shame in the ball gown I had clearly worn last night.

By the time I was dragging my hair into pigtails, Chrom was ready. He watched me thoughtfully for a moment, then vanished from the room.

I heard the study door open, and he returned a moment later with a single red rose, the end of the stem dripping. He examined me again, then drew Falchion and cut most of the green away.

I decided not to point out that he had a pair of scissors in his study, and instead stood still as he approached me and tucked the flower behind my ear. He wouldn't meet my eyes until his gift was in place. Then he stepped back with the expression of a hopeful puppy.

I took his hand and went to the floor-length mirror. "It's beautiful, Chrom. Thank you."

"It's not as beautiful as you," he said, the corners of his mouth turning up as he met the eyes of my reflection.

Heat fanned across my cheeks, and I watched myself turn bright red. "Thanks. Y-your present is still in the garrison. I should go and get it." I turned around to face him and tried to pull myself together. "If we're waylaid by news of the rescue before I can give it to you, then could I meet you in the dining hall before everyone else gets there?"

"Of course."

I hurried to his bedroom door, hoping that I could sneak out before any of the servants came by and saw me leaving.

Instead, I opened it to find Commander Merton with his fist raised to knock.

I squeaked in surprise. Then I turned around and hid behind Chrom when he came over to investigate my outburst.

Merton just raised his eyebrows. "Commander Calla and her squad have all safely returned, Your Grace. The rescue was a success. Lady Charlotte and two other young women were found and have all been returned to their homes. Earl Mathis sends his thanks, and he's promised to come to the castle in a few days' time to show his gratitude in person and discuss the future of his viscount. For now, he wishes to remain with his daughter."

"I understand," Chrom said. "Thank you, Merton."

"If you see Lady Robin," the commander continued, suddenly lifting his eyes to the ceiling, "pass the news on."

"I will," Chrom said earnestly.

He checked that both ends of the corridor were clear before ushering me out of the room.

❤ ❤ ❤

I bounded into the dining hall five minutes later, a velvet box of chocolates in one hand and a love note in the other. Chrom was already waiting for me at our table, his hands clasped awkwardly behind his back.

It was quite clear to me what he was hiding, as there was a small pot of water in the centre of the table, but it didn't make me feel any less excited when I sat down next to him and he revealed his gift.

"Happy Sir Amias' Day," he said, offering the bouquet of roses to me. "Be careful, because I left the thorns on some. We can't have roses without thorns, can we?"

I smiled, lifting the flowers to my face so that I could smell them. "No, we can't. Thank you."

I leaned forward to put them in the makeshift vase and realised that there was a piece of parchment tucked into the back of my bouquet. It was Chrom's love note.

I hastily scrabbled around for my own and gave it to him, then read the letter that I had received.

Dear Robin,

Happy Sir Amias' Day. You are the wind at my back and the sword at my side, and I love you with all of my heart. You are intelligent and funny, beautiful and kind, brave but wise, and a hundred other things that I cannot put into words but see in you every day. You always strive to do your best, and you always put the needs of others before yourself. Know that I will do the same for you.

Your dedication to finding Lady Charlotte was extraordinary, but you once told me that every country has thorns and roses, and now I think that sometimes you forget how sharp those thorns can be. I don't want you to get hurt, so please be careful. We are two halves of the same whole, and I could not exist without you.

I also could not imagine having a better wife, and I know that the people of Ylisse agree. You will make a beautiful princess for them. Together, my love, we will continue to restore peace to the world.

Your Amias,

Chrom

Chrom wrapped his arm around me as he put his own letter down on the table.

"Thank you," I said. "I promise to be more careful. I couldn't exist without you, either."

"Aww, how cute," a voice said from the doorway.

We both looked up. Lissa was standing there, wearing a dress that I had never seen on her before. Her bright eyes were focused on the heart-shaped box of chocolates that were still sitting at my side. "Are those for my brother? Did you get what I recommended?"

I blushed, scooping the box into my hands and offering it to Chrom. "Lissa, I don't think you're supposed to mention –"

"It's fine," Chrom laughed, taking it from me. "How else were you supposed to know which are my favourites? Mmm...I haven't had these in ages. Thank you."

"Do you want to share?" another voice asked.

Now Stahl was standing in the doorway, Cordelia at his side. Lissa glanced over her shoulder at them, then finally moved out of the way and approached our table. To my surprise, Lon'qu followed her. I hadn't even known that he'd been there.

"Hide them quick, Chrom," Lissa giggled as she sat down next to us. "Otherwise there's going to be a riot when the rest of the Shepherds get here."

"I can think of a good way to hide them," he said, his eyes glinting mischievously as he pried the box open. "Hmm, now which one –"

"How disgraceful," Maribelle's voice cut in, and I realised that it was too late. All the Shepherds were streaming in now. "One shouldn't already be indulging in puddings when they haven't even had their breakfast. Prince Chrom, I expected better of you than that."

Lissa laughed, and Chrom started to protest. I used the momentary distraction to take one of the chocolates for myself, but Chrom's eyes fell on my fingers as they lifted the sweet confectionery to my mouth. There was something in his expression that made me hesitate. "Is this your favourite one?"

He carried on looking at me forlornly. I rolled my eyes and snapped the chocolate in half. There were others of the same flavour in the box, but it still felt mean to steal my fiancé's gift. I offered him a piece of my heart, and he ate it before he actually bothered to reply.

"No." He grinned. "But thanks anyway."

I whacked him over the head with my love note, and the other Shepherds burst into laughter.

"You tricked me!"

"It's my present!"

❤ ❤ ❤

After breakfast, we all went to the ballroom to hang our paper hearts from the giant tree that had been potted in the centre. As this wasn't quite such an important event as Divine Day, we then dispersed to get on with our work.

It was still a holiday though, so Chrom and I frequently abandoned our papers to visit one another. In the afternoon, he brought a large stack of them into the library and sat with me. While he signed things, I worked on the weekly reports about the progress that we were making with Ylisse, dreaming of writing them in my own study once I was a princess.

Then I organised the Shepherds into small groups to deal with the recent Risen sightings that had been reported. Once I'd done that, I bundled all the papers together and put them to one side. Everyone could start their missions tomorrow – today, we all deserved to at least have some rest.

At dinner, Chrom took me to his study, which had been rearranged to accommodate a dining table for two. A few small, red candles were flickering on the lace table spread, filling the room with the soft scent of roses. Our food was already waiting for us, topped with silver plate covers.

I gasped as I took it all in. Chrom just smiled and led me to my chair. He pulled it out and waited for me to sit, then walked around to the opposite side of the table and sat down. The candles illuminated his beautiful blue eyes and made the colour brighter.

"Oh, Chrom," I said. "This is perfect. I wasn't expecting this."

His smile grew wider. "The meal hasn't been cooked by me, so I hope you like it."

I laughed as we picked up our cutlery. Then I paused and looked at the glass in front of me. "Wine?"

"With no added ingredients, pink or otherwise."

"You know I'd do whatever you asked me to, anyway."

"Oh, really? I have plenty of evidence to the contrary."

I pretended to glare at him. Then I started to eat.

Chrom had certainly spoken the truth about not cooking our meal because it was delicious. It was so fancy that I wasn't actually too sure what it was, but I didn't really care. I tried to savour every mouthful, but it seemed to vanish from my plate far too quickly.

Chrom found his box of chocolates for pudding and wanted to split them in half. At first, I protested – I didn't mind only stealing one or two – but he insisted that he would enjoy them much more if we shared.

"Besides, you've never had these chocolates before, as far as you can remember," he added. "We need to make a new memory."

I opened my mouth to object again, but he picked up a chocolate and placed it on my tongue. It tasted too good to argue anymore, so I just grabbed another.

Once the box of chocolates was empty, Chrom stood up with the promise that he was going to fetch my final present. He came back with my favourite chess board, a large, heavy ornament that usually resided in the library. An inexplicable feeling of love and joy coursed through me the moment he set it down on the table. He knew me well.

It was one of the best games I'd ever played, not because it was the most challenging, but because of my opponent. He would frown slightly every time he thought about his next move, and a tiny crinkle would appear above the bridge of his nose that I wanted to kiss away. Sometimes his concentration would just fade into utter confusion when I made an advanced move and captured his pieces, and it was so cute that I kept making stupid mistakes.

We talked as we played, and sometimes it would take a while until one of us moved a piece because we were laughing so hard. Every time I looked up and caught his eyes, I couldn't help but smile as fire exploded inside me.

It was no surprise when I won, but that moment quickly became hazy with other new memories. I somehow went from trying to pack away to falling into Chrom's lap, and suddenly we were kissing like there was no tomorrow. His hands were tangled in my hair, and mine were unbuttoning his shirt. Then they slid underneath the fabric and over the hard muscles of his chest, and I sighed happily into his mouth. We broke apart long enough for him to drag my top over my head and shrug his own from his shoulders, then we pressed our lips together again. He picked me up and carried me to his desk, and we did something there that I'd never even dreamed of doing on top of his important papers.

Once we were finished, we put our clothes on and went into his room, only to rip them all off again and repeat our love-making in his bed.

Eventually, I found myself curled into him as I caught my breath, letting the heavy rise and fall of his chest soothe me like a gently rocking boat at sea.

"I love you," I whispered. Then, as an afterthought, "We need to keep some of the thorns on the roses at our wedding."

"Hmm." For a moment, he didn't seem to hear me. I wondered if, sometimes, my eyes captured him the way that his captured me. He appeared to be lost in them. "What?"

"The white roses that we're having as our main flowers. I want some of them to have their thorns on, even in my bouquet."

"Gods...the wedding planners won't be happy."

"You're the one who gave me the idea. Blame yourself."

He planted a kiss on my forehead. "Well, I suppose I can live with it. Did you really like your roses that much?"

"Yes. I love them."

"Good." He tightened his arms around me. "There's nothing that makes me happier."

THE END

____

A/N: Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for reading this book. If you enjoyed it, you can find more Fire Emblem fanfiction on my profile, including a novelisation of Awakening, a novelisation of Fates, and plenty more seasonal short stories.

Thank you again for your reads, votes, comments, and support. Have a brilliant day, single or taken, and remember to eat lots of chocolate!

Love,

Morgan xxx