Sleep and food were the last of Robin's worries as she descended down the stone brick stairs. The thumps of her boots bounced off the narrow passageways as she hurried toward her room. The hallway of the castle basement was empty and dark (Thank Naga!) as she fumbled for the key from her coat. She forced down the urge to simply kick down the door and be over with it but logic keeps her reined in as she scrambled to unlock the door. Soon, the lock relented with a satisfying click! and the raven-haired tactician walked swiftly inside. With a good push and a turn of her key, she shut the door and cut herself off the rest of the castle. A soft breeze passed through the single, grated, egress window as Robin slumped against the door. She wearily listened as the other night dwellers in the army climbed down to their rooms. Someone knocked at her door and said a good night before turning in for the day. Probably Henry or Tharja. Robin does not have the energy to discover who. Dawn will soon come and she has decided that no one will see her for the next three days.

Chrom paced back and forth in the meeting room as the other members of the Ylissean army fidgeted on their seats impatiently. It's been an hour since they waited for their head tactician to arrive for the battle meeting. There been reports of a large group of bandits plundering the villages at the south of Ylisse and the people are calling for them to help. Today is the day they were suppose to discuss their strategy and ride out to finally stamp out these continuous heinous activities in the halidom but their esteemed tactician is yet to come, which was quite unusual since she is one of firsts to come in these meetings.

Chrom walked to the windows and checked the curtains for any sliver of sunlight. He wanted to make sure there weren't even the slimmest ray or else, the vampires present in the room will be scrambling back to the castle basement. He even made sure that the hallways outside were also curtained and sent Frederick to triple-check everything. Then, why is Robin not here yet? Did someone accidentally pulled the curtains open on the way here?

The huge double doors creaked open and all eyes turned as the blond-haired princess walked in with a frown. Chrom's eyes searched the empty space behind her, hoping for any sign of the genius tactician.

"Where's Robin?" He asked softly, disappointment and concern written all over his face.

Lissa shook her head. "I called for her in the basement. She said she won't be coming and that she wants to extend an apology to everyone."

"Is she sick?" Sumia asked. Her eyebrows creased in concern for her closest friend in the army.

"Doesn't seem so." Lissa replied. "Seems like one of those times."

"Er...you don't mean those three days in a month where she will be suddenly gone?" Chrom asked. "I still don't know why she would just disappear for days and refuse to talk about it." He turned to the other vampires in the room. "Do you know anything about it?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tharja fumed. Her eyes glinted dangerously as she gripped her dark tome tightly. "Why would I ever harm my beloved Robin? If I find who harmed her, I will make sure they will shrivel in agony under my hexes."

The ones seated closest to her paled and inched away from the dark mage out of fear. Henry laughed gleefully at their Tharja's outburst. "That's mobidly hilarious, Tharja! You should have seen their faces. They looked like the Risen with their guts cut open. Nyahahaha!"

"Geez! Just answer the question." Sally snapped, wrinkling her nose at the erratic vampire. Sometimes, Risen jokes can only get you far.

"The answer is...we don't know!" Henry cackled. "Never seen a vampire did that. Only Robin." He took a sip of blood from his goblet before grinning madly. A rivulet of blood trickled down his chin. "But now's a new moon. All vampires' lowest night. Maybe it got something to do with her, hmmm?"

Cordelia sighed, offering a handkerchief. "Please wipe your chin. Not all of us are into blood fashion."

Frederick turned to his liege, unfazed with Henry's antics. "Milord, what should we do? Should we postpone the rally?"

Chrom frowned. "I'm not sure yet. I should probably consult Robin for this."

"I recommend otherwise." Frederick replied. "It is dangerous. We do not know yet what ails Robin."

"That's another reason that I'm going to see her." Chrom said, shifting his weight as he stride toward his direction. "I'm going to finally root out the cause of all of these disappearances and see if there's anything I can do to help her. Besides," He placed a hand on the great knight's shoulder. "I trust her."

The stern great knight yielded with a sigh. "If that's what you want Milord then, I shall assist you just to make sure things will go well."

Lissa bounced on her feet. "I'm coming too! If she's sick, you'll need a cleric at your side."

Chrom turned to the others present in the room. "This meeting and the rally will be postponed until we have consulted Robin for a decision. For now, you can all rest easy. I will call for all of you once our plans finally proceeded."

Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick stood before the tactician's door. A single torch carried by the great knight illuminated a limited portion of their surroundings. The other night dwellers have already withdrawn to their rooms to catch up on their sleep though, Chrom swore she could feel Tharja glaring at them through the thin gap of her door. The basement was eerily silent with only their heartbeats ramming in their ribs as they lined uneasily before Robin's room.

"So..." Lissa asked nervously. "Has anyone of you went inside a vampire's bedroom? Maybe Robin's?"

The silence of the two men confirmed an inevitable no. Chrom, as foolish and reckless he is most of time, has the wit not to enter other people's rooms without proper permission, especially belonging to a woman or a vampire. Unfortunately for him, Robin is both of them. Frederick is a no-brainer. He might be a knight who pledged immeasurable loyalty to his liege, but he has great respect for other people's privacy.

Chrom took a deep breath. I went down here to help Robin. He reminded himself. And so, I will. He marched forward and knocked firmly three times. "Robin, are you in there?"

Silence. Chrom tried to call for her again. "It's me, Chrom. I came down here to see if you are feeling well. I brought Lissa and Frederick with me."

A few seconds of silence passed before a muffled voice answered him from the other side of the door. "Chrom...? I apologize for not coming up. Lissa must have told you already earlier."

"It's fine." Chrom replied, relieved that the tactician has not disappeared to Naga-knows-where. "I put everything on hold until I consult you for advice."

"You shouldn't have done that." She groaned in exasperation. "The army could do without me for a while."

"Nonsense, Robin." Chrom exclaimed. "You're a member of the Shepherds. We don't leave anyone behind."

A soft chuckle. "All right." She said. "You're the general. Just...favor me a few days and I will be issuing tactics in no time."

Chrom glanced at Lissa and Frederick. A worried expression written all over his face. He took a deep breath and steeled himself to ask the request they all three had in mind. "Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we come in?"

Chrom had prepared himself for all possible responses from Robin but he was caught off-guard nonetheless. There was a loud crash, mixed with things clanging and shattering on the ground.

"NO! DON'T COME IN!" She shouted, loud enough to be heard by the other residents. A few heads popped from their doors and looked at the commotion. Chrom groaned inwardly. She didn't have to say it like that and they would have left her without another word, but the situation seemed to call for him to step up. That, and he made a promise that he will see to the end.

"Look, Robin. I know you don't want anyone else going in your room, I respect that. But-"

"I didn't say that!"

"You-wait, what? You don't?" Chrom was genuinely confused now. Who was the one again who told all of them never to try going in their room? Was it Robin, Tharja or Gaius? Chrom forgot but he got a feeling it was Gaius. He's probably hoarding sweets in his room. Maybe that's the reason there been ants crawling the walls of the hallway at his side. Chrom should probably check on it later.

Her voice trailed off. "I mean, you could ask permission and I would let you come in..."

Chrom pressed his ear against the wooden door. "So, you're letting us in?" He asked hopefully.

"NO!"

Chrom felt hurt at her reply. Robin can be more stubborn than he is if she wants to. He could try all kinds of plans, both dumb and less dumb, and he still wouldn't get through her. He genuinely wants to help her but she just pushes him back. They are comrades and best friends, for Naga's sake! He trust her with his life so, shouldn't she trust him too with whatever she's going through? But things have gone awry and Chrom have no choice but to push through. He could hear footsteps descending down the stairs from the upper floors. The others must have caught wind of the commotion and were hurrying to lend a helping hand just in case. The other vampires have come out from their rooms and gathered in the hallway with Tharja scowling at front. Chrom care not if they are making a scene in the morning. He does not care if his older sister Emmeryn comes down to demand what is happening. He have already pushed far in the minefield and Robin's well-being is priority.

He took a deep breath and spoke in a firm voice. "Robin."

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" She snapped.

"No." He answered decisively. "No one's gonna leave you alone and whether you like it or not, I will be inviting myself in. I will even destroy this stupid door if I have to, so help me."

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

"Try me!" He challenged. It would probably be the worst decision that Chrom will make, but this is for Robin's sake. What must be done, must be done. "You're disappearing for three days every month without a word to anyone. If you're not going to Naga-knows-where, you're locking yourself in your room. What am I supposed to think? That you are sick? That you are sneaking out, hiding something from us? That you are betraying us to our enemies? Gods forbid!"

It was the first time he ever raised his voice to his tactician and guilt washed over him like tsunamis as realization dawned on him. He continued, softer and desperate than before. "Please, Robin." He was begging now. "Just let me in."

Tension-filled silence lies heavy in the air. There was no reply from tactician; no shout, no witty remark...nothing. Chrom slumped dejectedly against the door. He ran a hand through his hair, preparing himself for the worst. That Robin will hate him forever.

"I'm sorry, Robin." He whispered and moved away from the door. He motioned for the red-haired mage. "Miriel, blast the door."

Miriel adjusted her glasses up the bridge of her nose, surveying her superior's expression. "Are you certain, General? If this comes down to a fight against Robin, we-"

"Just do it!" Chrom snapped exasperatedly.

The red-haired mage exhaled. "Very well." She stepped forward and opened the fire tome she was carrying. She reached out a hand and a magic circle lighted up in front of her as she chanted a spell. A swirling ball of fire formed, growing larger by the second before charging straight toward the wooden door and blasting it into fiery cinders. Chrom stepped past the smoking ruins of the doors, determined to settle things with his tactician.

This is it. Robin shut her eyes tightly as she sank deeper under the sheets. Why can't Chrom trust her enough to leave her alone? It's not that she's going to betray the army, for Naga's sake! What force invoked Chrom to think that? They've been through hell and back many times than she can count. She trust him with his life, knowing both of them have each other's back no matter what highs and lows they encounter. Then, why? Why is this happening?

She could hear Chrom giving an order to Miriel and her chanting a fire spell right before her door. She curled tighter into a ball as the wooden door exploded into burnt splinters to the ground. Voices increased in frequency within a second; so does, the tension. Footsteps thumped against the cold stone floor and a soft light slipped through the sheets as someone approached the side of the bed. A warm hand pressed against the fabric as he called out for her name.

"Robin..."

"Just leave me alone..." She whimpered. Robin does not care if she looked vulnerable to the rest of the army. She does not care if her reputation as the strong-willed and brilliant tactician of Ylisse is shattered in front of them.

The Ylissean prince sighed, running a desperate hand through his hair. He sat down by her feet on the bed and gazed wearily at the woman covered in layers of thick blankets. The others have stayed back at the other side of the door as he requested. He needed to talk to her alone as possible.

"Look, Robin. I'm sorry. I just-" He fumbled for words. Be honest, Chrom. Tell her what she needs to hear. "We were worried about you - especially me. I have no idea what's happening and I wouldn't know if you will not tell me. I really want to help. Please believe me."

His words stung painfully but she couldn't relent. "If you really want to help," Robin mumbled. "Why won't you leave me? Three days...that's all I need, Chrom."

"You're not making this easier, Robin." Chrom answered.

"And so are you." She replied softly.

Silence followed. Chrom reached out to the blankets, debating whether to pull it off or not, but dropped it. He took a deep breath. "All right." His voice was hoarse as he resigned himself to his defeat. "Three days." He said finally. "I will you give three days just as you wanted. No one will bothered you in those days every month. Not even myself."

He was replied with silence from the tactician. She didn't have to; Chrom does not want to mess things up more than he already did. He stood up and started to walk toward the door, or whatever was left of it. He took one last look at the tactician before darkness and silence finally took over the room.