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The sun was still below the horizon, but the sky was slowly filling with colour— pinks and pale blues peeking through the dark layer of clouds.
The lantern by her feet had burned out long ago, and Rae’lia rested her palms against the stone of the balcony’s balustrade, staring out over the shadows cast upon the castle grounds.
The quiet stretched on, and Rae’lia let out a breath, the exhale fogging slightly in the air. It was a crisp morning, but she paid no mind, letting the air cool down her skin as she watched the world begin to wake.
The sky lightened, Rae’lia turning to rest her back against the balustrade, watching the sheer curtains across the open doorway drifting in the slight breeze.
Behind them, within the still darkness of their room, Chrom continued to sleep; Rae’lia just being able to make out his figure in the shadows. He had never been a sound sleeper, snoring and mumbling his way through the night, tossing over and drawing close to whoever’s space he was sharing. Without Rae’lia in the bed beside him he had sprawled out, back to the balcony and arms reaching for her absence.
She wasn’t ready to return to sleep, however, tipping her head back to drink in the pale sky. It was seldom that she found peace like this; had time to herself. She loved her family— truly— but there were times where she felt the need to slip away, to recollect herself in private.
Below in the gardens, the first morning bird began its song, and a smile quirked at Rae’lia’s lips when she recognised it to be a robin; the namesake of her youngest child.
The world was at peace — it had been for years, now. Rae’lia took a deep breath in as the clouds lit up in an ocean of colour.
“Oh, gods— no—!”
Rae’lia’s breath caught in her throat as she whipped her head around at the cry. “Chrom?”
Chrom writhed in his sleep, tossing one way then the other, sheets twisting in his fists.
“You can’t— Rae, no—”
Chrom’s eyes flew open as he sat up, reaching in front of him for something that wasn’t there. Instantly, he turned to Rae’lia’s side of the bed, only to find it empty, cold from her absence. From her spot on the other side of the curtains, she could see him curl in on himself, bringing a knee to his chest and setting his forehead on it, letting out a quiet sob.
Rae’lia was by the bedside in an instant. “Chrom?” she whispered, reaching to set a hand on his hair.
Chrom kept his head lowered, hand covering his mouth to muffle his crying.
“Love?” she tried again, lowering herself to sit beside him. Chrom’s next breath shuddered through him and he turned, burying his face into her shoulder.
They remained like that for a while, Chrom’s frame shaking with sobs, Rae’lia running her fingers through his hair in small, repeated motions in what she hoped was a soothing manner.
Slowly, surely, his cries eased, his arms snaking around her waist from behind as he set his forehead on her shoulder.
Silence. Chrom’s breath fanned out over Rae’lia’s back, warm against her chilled skin. She laced her fingers with his, searching for the metal of his wedding band in the dark.
“You disappeared again,” his voice was quiet.
Something twisted in her heart like a knife; a wound that never truly left. “I’m sorry,” her voice barely formed the words, an understatement for the void she had left behind in her wake for several years.
(Somehow, it felt worse than the knowledge that she had made her choice without the belief that she would ever have a chance of returning.)
Rae’lia continued to play with his hand, toying with the ring in the quiet between their breaths. Chrom shifted slightly, preparing to say more.
“And Robin–”
He stiffened, head shooting up as he pulled away from Rae’lia, something wild in his eyes. “Robin–” he threw the covers back and stumbled across the room to the baby crib, only to half fall against it, weak at the knees when he discovered it empty. “Oh gods, no…” he buried his fingers in his hair, “no, no, no…”
Rae’lia fought against the ache in her chest, padding softly to his side once more. “It’s okay,” she said softly, reaching up to rest her hand gently on his bare arm, just below his Brand, only for him to throw her off, eyes screwed shut.
“No, you don’t… Robin– he’s gone–”
“Gaius has his son for the night, remember?” Rae’lia set her hand back on his arm again, persistent, “he’s safe. You know he won’t let any harm come to him.”
Slowly, Chrom withdrew his hands from his hair, pulling them down across his face as he released an agonisingly slow breath.
Rae’lia reached up further to cradle Chrom’s cheek, fingertips threading through the hair by his ear. She could feel the old scar along his temple, still invisible in the dim morning light. “Will you look at me?”
He leaned into the caress, eyes still closed. A tear slipped out from beneath his lashes, and Rae’lia brushed it away with her thumb. Her next word was whisper-silent: “Please?”
Finally, Chrom let his eyes open, own hand coming up to cover Rae’lia’s. “You’re here,” he said shakily.
“I’m here,” she murmured.
“You’re here.”
His hand squeezed hers, before he turned his face to press his lips against the palm of her hand.
Rae’lia felt the corner of her lips upturn. “And I’m not going anywhere, love,’ she said, “I promise.”
Chrom sighed, something seeming to settle in his mind. “Come back to bed?” he asked, bringing her hand down so he could place a kiss against her knuckles.
“The sun’s rising,” she replied, as gently as possible, “the day is beginning.”
“Please, Rae?” he said, tugging her back across the room, and she followed with no resistance, “let me be selfish, just this once.”
Rae’lia sank into the mattress once more, only to be drawn in by Chrom, tucking her underneath his chin and draping an arm across her waist.
Sleep found her easily, pressed against Chrom’s warmth and held securely in his arms.