Night- Epilogue

A/N: This is the last chapter, actually more of an epilogue because it is admittedly pretty short, but it does bring everything to a close. I want to thank all who read reviewed favorited and followed, it's you who provide the inspiration, so thanks again. I really hope that this story proved as enjoyable for you to read as it was for me to write. Thanks again!

Night- Epilogue

Chrom sat at his desk, going through his stack of papers one last time before he allowed himself to rest for the night. He had, only a few hours ago, wondered how his sister had managed to lead the people with such apparent ease and grace. He supposed he had an idea of an answer now. She had merely never given up her hope and trust in them.

It was true that, when it came down to it, he was a leader of overemotional hormonal teenagers with issues. But it was also true that they were like a family. They grew and learned from each other through fellowship and support. Every one of them was united to fight for what was right, for those who could not help themselves, and for each other… Somehow, that in itself made all their struggles and hardships worth it.

Earlier in the day he had claimed that the Shepherds' bonds had been formed by loss, pain, desperation, and hardship. That had been true. However, there was much more to it than that. There was also dedication, determination, honor, hope, and love. Even though they all had a knack for trying each other's patience, they were completely loyal- not only to their family, but to their cause.

They were an odd bunch but, in reality, what family was ever completely without its quirks. Maybe they had all suffered at the hands of the shadows of their world- felt grief, fear, pain and rejection, but at the end of the day they had each other and that was enough. If a person was defined by those at his side, then he was indeed a lucky commander to have such men as these- men who followed him out of a loyalty that sprang from trust, friendship and even love.

This day had been without a doubt one of the hardest he had faced in a long while, but perhaps the secret to leadership was focusing on the few worth wile blessings of their hard life. He still had several problems forming a mire in his mind- what with assassins, mysterious crazed evil look-alikes, and in general the problems with running an army- but he was no longer trapped within that mire. Though hardships would most assuredly come with the same unwavering certainty of the setting sun, he was sure that they would surmount them all- just as the setting sun gave the promise to rise again.

With his mind finally at ease, he glanced lovingly at Sumia who was already asleep in their shared cot with a petal-less flower griped in her sleeping hand. She had accepted his apology before he had even finished voicing it, but she had made him promise to tell her next time when he was troubled instead of holding it all in for himself. She had said that she would always be there to listen.

He brought his focus back to his desk. He had marked out a few ideas of the best route to take out of the foothills, but had not yet actually chosen one. It was something that needed to be decided upon as soon as possible.

He knew Robin was something of a night owl and she would definitely be awake, so he decided to get her opinion before he called it a night. Map in hand, he slipped out of his tent and padded softly to his friend's quarters. He rapped softly on her tent pole and heard an unclear muffled response.

"What was that?" he asked, pulling the flaps aside and stepping in.

Once he did, he realized his mistake: in all the stress of the day, he had forgotten that he had asked Robin to find a new location for the woman's bathing tent until the old one was fully mended. It was only logical that she had switched hers out for the one with the hole and he had just not found out in time. She had had all her stuff temporarily moved to the busted tent and had commissioned hers as the new bathing tent.

Here he was doing the exact same thing he had chastised Vaike and Virion about earlier. His face flamed red, and all he could bring himself to think was 'no, not again.' To his shame, this was not the first time he had made this blunder.

"Chrom!" Robin screeched.

"I am so sorry," he stammered as he tried to avert his eyes and dodge a flying soap dish at the same time.

~The End~

A/N: thanks again for reading. Feedback is very appreciated. May you all have the very best of weeks!

~Kazi

~ATGTJ~