Secret Spring
Oooof, my first actual sort of writing/art trade. I hope it holds up to the regular standards of previous “secret trade” events. Thanks to @terra-haven for hosting this event!
This is for Mod Katie @heartfeltheroes and it’s platonic Chrom with teenage f!summoner with the order of heroes from feh.
~Mei
It was one of those nights again.
The ones where the thoughts of battles past, ran though your head with no intention of stopping. They seemed to be endless with a whole bunch of “what if” questions coming along for the ride. A lot of it was due to the fact that you almost sent some heroes to their deaths when you weren’t keeping a close eye on the enemies.
Truth be told, it scared you more than you knew to see those who’ve been so kind as to take you under their wing to train as well as respect you as their tactitain, even with only having board game level strategies on your resume (although, you played a pretty mean round of monopoly when you got going). Along with being the one chosen by the legendary Breidablik to come in Askr’s time of need.
There was a lot of expectations held by both the people of your new home and the extremely competent heroes you’d summoned and honestly, it was a lot more responsibility than you’d expected when Anna first asked you to become one of their leaders. And frankly, there was quite a bit of unwanted staring from the nobles and judgemental pricks that oh so often attended the council and war meetings.
Throughout your adventures through Askr’s castle, you’d come to find nifty little hiding spots and secret passages (Old castles certainly are known for them after all...). Often, you’d roam the spacious halls on the nights you couldn’t sleep, when everyone else was in bed and there was no one left to bother you. Except the occasional guard who, thankfully paid you little to no attention.
It was on one of these outings that you found a hidden stairwell that lead to the roof above the tactics room. It’s location so well positioned that it was almost as if the architect knew that the future tacticians would need their own place. Since it was ever so easy to just say that you needed to go over a few things as an easy alibi.
Quickly grabbing a candle from your desk, you open the door to your room just a crack - enough space to peak out into the darkened corridor. With no one at sight during this ungodly hour, you leave the relative safety of your private chambers and book it down the hall. No one can yell at you now for being so “disruptive” or too “ill mannered”.
Using your keen knowledge of the guards schedule, you know that with the on going war with Embla, all of their attention has been on protecting the castle from the walls surrounding it. Their main thinking was that if someone had snuck into the castle, the absolute beasts of heroes within, would easily send them to Hel. Not the most foolproof plan but it certainly worked as no one in their right mind would willingly contest against Ike or Xander (you wouldn’t wish that upon your worst enemy - not including war-time enemies).
Almost at the tactics room, you aim slightly left of the main doors, closer to a portrait of Prince Alfonse and Princess Sharena (the tactics room was near the hall in which they hung the royal portraits). Holding your candle up to the painting, you can see all of the well crafted brushstrokes and marks that made up the royal siblings. Moving your hand across the canvas, you touch upon the Prince’s sword, pressing slightly as you prepare to step back.
As the sword begins to give off a faint glow, the painting swings forward with a jolt, revealing a staircase. Hastily you climb the stairs, two at a time, you couldn’t afford to be up there when the sun rose as the aerial fighters began their warm up laps.
Breaking through the trapdoor leading to the roof, the sky unfurls before you. With no cloud in the sky, you can see each star shining brightly above, a sight you’ve come to love, especially on the days you feel homesick. On some occasions you can outline familiar constellations that you would from your world, Ursa Major, Leo (not the moody Prince), Orion... It was a comforting sight, to say the least.
A creaking sound from the trapdoor cut through the night air like a sword through flesh - the sounds from the battlefield just couldn’t leave you alone, could they. Turning around, ready to punch the living daylights out of whoever just disturbed your precious alone time, your anger subsides as you realise who it is. It was the very person you’d almost killed earlier that day, the Exalt of Yilise, Chrom.
You watched as he stumbled to find words... was his face getting redder? Fidgeting with his hair, obviously embarrassed a getting caught following someone.
“Uh, hey. I didn’t mean to- well it wasn’t intentional - uh, it was just a small curiosity...” He sighed, taking a breather as he collected his thoughts, “I didn’t intend on following you this far. I was merely curious as to where you were headed this late at night... I’m sorry.”
His explanation certainly surprised you to say the least. You expected that you would’ve at least heard him walking behind you, what with his... strange one shoulder armour piece and Falchion hanging at his side. Chrom wasn’t particularly known for being stealthy or good at hiding things. Goodness, his battle tactics certainly weren’t helping him there, what with his destructive sword swinging.
A reply formed smoothly as you took in his words.
“It’s alright, Chrom.... would you like to join me...?” You gestured to an open space to your side. His deep (?) voice ringing in the brisk air, “If you don’t mind.”
Shaking your head, you feel- or rather hear him settle on the roof beside you. It was a wonder how you didn’t notice him before at all. A comfortable silence engulfed the two of you as the night sky became more prominent.
Soon enough you could feel his eyes on you. Tearing yourself away from the sight, you’re met with his dark eyes, some of the stars reflecting off of them.
“Chrom, what ar-”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“... worry about what?”
“Everything, I guess. Like the war... and stuff like that.”
Taken aback, you contemplate what he’s saying. Making sure to come up with a totally not lame response.
“I’m surprised, you’d be the one to say that. It seems like such a Lissa statement.”
“Hey!”
Chuckling a bit, Chrom runs his hand through his hair -like all people do when they’re trying to be less awkward. He turns towards the edge of the roof, the part that looks onto the gardens.
“ I... I just want you to know that even though you’re our tactician, you don’t have to be perfect. So what if I almost die a couple of times, I’m still here.” He flashes you a confident smile, like the whiteness of his teeth could keep your problems at bay.
Not knowing how to respond to such a declaration, your mouth stays closed. Prompting Chrom to open his.
“Uh, let me rephrase that. What I mean is that even though you’re in charge of our battle strategies and all that, don’t be afraid to rely on us to get you out of your boring duties. I know Lissa would be ecstatic to aid you - she’s been doing it since she was able to walk.”
Letting out a chuckle, Chrom focuses his gaze on the stars as he slowly begins to rise.
“Anyway, I should probably to my leave if you want to have some time alone. The sun should be rising soon-”
“I don’t mind it if you would like to stay,” you stammer quickly.
Turning back to you, “ If you wouldn’t mind my company.”
Sitting back down, you two sit in silence... until Chrom tries to make a joke but it comes out as a really, really bad dad joke. Both of you remain on the roof, even as the sun comes over the horizon and the sound of yelling and wing beats fill the air.