A/N: I'm back with another chapter in tow! This one was really hard to write. Especially the actual ceremony had me so unsatisfied that I left the chapter for almost two weeks untouched until I felt the motivation to go back and revise it. It didn't help that my mental health problems surfaced again (feeling numb/depressive is not exactly what I want to feel when I'm writing a happy occasion like a wedding). But I'm satisfied with how it turned out after editing and I hope you will be too.

Big thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed the story so far!

Cyndrodos: It makes me so happy to hear how invested you are in my story :3 I hope this new chapter won't disappoint! I can slip Walhart into the next chapter, so no worries.

Draen: Thank you, I'm glad you liked what you read so far! And yeah, I guess it's original since most people tend to pair up Chrom with f!Robin which results in Lucina being her daughter, so... not much room for a romantic relationship. Though I haven't seen much smb stories on here either (I think they were like three), feel free to slip me some links if you can! :D

She Who Is Woe: Haha, i see. So i guess I write them with a good chemistry - it's good to know that I'm succeeding with that then!

The dragon towered in all his mighty glory over Ylisstol. Heart pounding, Lucina raised her sword. She felt weak, barely able to lift Falchion as the six red eyes focused on her. His presence emitted an eerie aura that covered everything in darkness and despair. How did she ever hope to defeat such a foe? Fangs bared, the dragon snapped his mighty head at her.

"Lucy!"

Lucina jerked awake when a heavy weight dropped on her with such force that she thought it had smashed her lungs.

Panting, she looked around. She was in her room, safe. Whatever she had just seen was a dream – a mere nightmare, nothing else. At least that's what Lucina would have loved to believe, but it had been more than that. That dream was a memory from the time Grima had started to take over Ylisse. That dragon truly had a terrific presence. How she had managed to not get eaten on the spot back then Lucina still couldn't fathom at times.

Cynthia examined her with a worried frown. She was still lying on her sister from her attempt to wake her up.

Lucina had woken up just fine, but she seemed delirious still. Her eyes were not focusing on Cynthia, instead looking at an unbeknown spot behind her. "Hey, are you okay?" Only when Cynthia addressed her again, Lucina's blue eyes moved slowly to her sister's face and seemed to have become clearer.

"Yes, I was merely startled by your attempt to awaken me." Lucina finally said and let her body relax again. She sighed and leaned her head back into the soft pillows. It had been so long since her last nightmare that she had managed to forget about them for a long while. They had haunted her during the war and long after she had started to stay in the castle. They had only started to get sparser when… when she had started to spend more time with Robin after her proposal.
It was easy to see why, since they had been busy making preparations and pretending to be a couple – that way her mind had been able to focus on something else instead of brooding over her past (and luckily a future that was no more) time and time again. Instead of having a nightmare multiple times a week it had toned down to once or twice every two weeks until she hadn't seen them for half a month. That was, until today. She hoped this didn't make for a bad omen.

Cynthia just grinned. "Sorry, I thought it would be best to start this special day with some oomph, you know?" What little light managed to enter the room through the gap between the curtains illuminated her face and blue hair gently. Half of her figure was in the dark, because the new daylight was still weak.

Lucina chuckled a bit. "You certainly managed to get the oomph-part right." She looked towards the windows where the light came from and was surprised to see that the sun had just begun to rise. Did her sister not know that she was not obliged to start the day on the brink of dawn? This time though, Lucina was glad for the early morning intrusion. It was better than having her thoughts circling around her dream and the happenings which had led to it.

She looked back at her little sister again, who was happily examining her with a hum, legs swinging energetically back and forth. She was certainly in high spirits. This was nothing unusual, but Lucina figured it must have to do something with what she had just said.

"What do you mean with special day?"

"Oh, silly Lucy, you must still be half-asleep to ask something like that!" Cynthia laughed. "Today is your wedding!"

Lucina paled when she heard those words. "What?" Already? Did time really fly by so fast? It felt as if she had finished her vows just a few days ago. Never mind, it had been few days ago actually. Even after she had asked Robin about it she had still needed a while to come up with something she felt comfortable with.

"I knew you'd forget that! Since you've been so busy the last two weeks with attending business with father and Robin. But don't worry: Cynthia has everything figured out! The other girls will be here soon! Dressing up, getting ready – it will be so much fun!"

Her initial anxiousness after waking up resurfaced again. But this time it was not because of the nightmare. She was going to marry today. Today.

What had seemed like a foolhardy plan a few months ago when Lucina had accepted the proposal was going to become reality in a couple of hours.

There was no need to be nervous. Nothing would change after her marriage, except that she would share quarters with Robin, as expected from a couple. Right? All was well, they'd just do as planned. No strings attached. It was alright. Stay calm, she told herself.

But when Cynthia got up from her bed and pulled her out of the sheets by the hands Lucina could feel the sickness rising in her stomach.

"Hey, has someone seen my shoes?"

"Where is my lipstick?"

"Nah, can you do my hair?"

The morning was busy in Ylisstol castle. As announced by Cynthia earlier before, Lucina's female friends had gathered in her quarters and were busy getting ready for the big day. Lucina herself was already dressed and sat on a stool in front of her mirror while Severa made her hair. The bride goes first, everyone had said. Truth to be told, Lucina had been too caught up in her own thoughts and had barely noticed how she had gotten into her dress.

Her little sister Cynthia was running around and searching for parts of her outfit. "Where are those shoes?!" She was donning a sleeveless yellow dress, its pleats reaching to her knees and with a dark blue ribbon tied around her waist.

"Um… you mean the yellow heels over there?" Noire said and pointed to said pair of shoes which laid unceremoniously next to Lucina's bed. Cynthia almost didn't hear her.

"Oh! There they are!"

The whole morning, Cynthia hadn't been able to sit still. Like a whirlwind she had been gushing about getting dressed, waking Lucina up way too early and getting her friends together to get ready for the ceremony. Severa had appreciated the fact that Cynthia had stopped acting like a hero for at least the day and went back to looking forward to the girly stuff like getting dressed up, but now it started to get on her nerves.

"Could you please shut up for a second?" She requested loudly, while she busied herself with Lucina's hair.

Cynthia was abashed. "How can you say something like that?! It's Lucy's big day after all!"

"I need some peace and quiet! Those pin-up hairstyles require a lot of concentration!" Severa huffed.

"Aw, come on." Cynthia pouted, but the next distraction came literally through Lucina's doorstep not even a moment later.

"How do I look like?" Kjelle asked and expanded her arms to show off her suit and west. It was of navy blue color and the west itself a light blue.

"Hmpf, didn't think I'd live to see the day where you would actually wear something else than your armor." Severa said, but her cheeks turned pink while she talked. It was rare to see Kjelle without her armor, in fact, Severa couldn't remember the last time she had seen Sully's daughter without it. It was a shame, really, because Kjelle was a beautiful woman.

"Kjelle! Why are you not wearing a dress?" Cynthia stood not a moment later next to her and examined her from all sides, checking if the suit had folds, disbelievingly tugging at it here and there.

"Why would I do that?"

"You are a bridesmaid, aren't you? Bridesmaids wear dresses, silly!" Cynthia insisted.

"We all are. And no one said anything about a uniform dress code." Kjelle explained. She looked towards Lucina. "Besides, Lucina said I could wear whatever I want as long as I attend. She doesn't care about that stuff." Maybe she expected the princess to back her up, but Lucina did not answer; she was too absorbed in her own thoughts.

"Yeah, well, but I do!" Cynthia said and firmly grasped Kjelle by the arm. "And now come here, I got you a dress while we went shopping last time."

"Heck no!" Kjelle defended herself and broke away from the shorter girl's grip.

"Noire, Nah? Could you lend me a hand?" Cynthia asked. "We can't let Kjelle go like that!"

"Actually…" Nah began, with the intention of announcing that she did not plan on taking a side in this silly argument, but suddenly she stopped. She had just remembered that one time during practice where Kjelle had insisted on continuing, even though Nah had obviously struggled to catch her breath: to get her "fired up" again Kjelle had said something very offensive about Manaketes. Nah suddenly found it was the perfect time for a payback. There weren't many things that made Kjelle feel as if she was driven into a corner, or uncomfortable even, but having to put away her armor was one of those. Wearing a dress or something remotely feminine another.

Nah let go of Noire's hair and rose from her seat on Lucina's bed.

"You are absolutely right."

Noire was surprised at the sudden change of character, but looking between the two fractions she stood up too. "I-I'd actually like to see her in a dress too…"

Kjelle's eyes widened as she realized that almost all of her friends had ganged up on her. When she saw that mischievous glint in Cynthia's eyes, she knew it would be for the best if she retreated. She made a couple of steps backwards and was out of Lucina's room immediately.

Cynthia ran after her, as did Nah and lastly, in a slower pace, Noire.

Severa sighed when the door closed shut. "Thank goodness they are gone."

Lucina didn't comment on that. She stayed quiet, while one of her hands fumbled absentmindedly at the hem of her dress. She was looking into the mirror, but her gaze did not really focus on anything: Neither herself nor her friend.

This did not go by unnoticed by Severa. She was combing Lucina's hair steadily to get all the knots out before she'd pin them up. "Are you nervous?" She asked after a while.

"How did you get that idea?" Lucina answered and forced a smile as she looked at Severa's image in the mirror.

"You are trembling all over, silly." Severa only said. It didn't take much to understand that the bride would be nervous on her big day.

"Oh." Lucina hadn't even noticed.

"Are you happy-nervous or anxious-nervous?" Severa inquired. She put the comb away, while her eyes searched for the pins and accessories she would need for the next step. She had laid them out neatly on the commode in front of the mirror and when she was sure everything was there, she took Lucina's hair in her hands and started to pin it up bit by bit.

"A bit of both I guess. One does not get married every day." Lucina answered.

Severa nodded in agreement.

Lucina watched her in the mirror and remembered the last time she had sat in her room, while her best friend had done her hair. It had not been a happy occasion, since Severa had helped her get her disguise ready for her time travel to the past.

For some reason, she decided to bring this up.

"Remember when you did my hair for our travel back in time?"

"Heh, yeah…" A little smile appeared on Severa's face. "I'm glad that this time it's for a happy occasion."

Lucina wanted to nod in agreement, but Severa held her hair firmly. "Careful, or you'll ruin my work." She reprimanded her.

Lucina mumbled a little apology and grew silent again.

In the quiet, they could have sworn they heard Kjelle curse from a nearby room.

"It seems that you made your decision." Severa suddenly said.

Lucina stopped fumbling with her dress. She knew exactly what Severa was talking about. "Yes. I want to stay with my family."

"I see." Severa's voice was neutral, her gaze always on the blue hair.

"What about you? Do you know how you want to live out your life here?" Lucina asked. She knew that her friends had stayed with their families after Grima had fallen. Everyone had wanted to enjoy the peace they had fought for so hard and, just like her, catch up with their now alive parents.

But coming from the future, they knew they had to be careful to not alter too much. Except for her, no one was born up to this point in time so the danger of delaying – or even preventing – their own births was a very real one.

And she knew that most of them felt like strangers in this time line. It had been the same for her, that's why she initially had wanted to leave Ylisstol.

"Yeah." Severa said. She paused for a second before she continued her work. "We all made our minds up when we heard that you'd get married."

"So I was the trigger?" Lucina's heart grew heavy.

Severa shrugged. "Well, you've always been our leader, so yes, in a way you were. Even though we all knew in the back of our minds that we couldn't afford to stay in this limbo forever."

"I see." Lucina's expression was firm upon hearing those news. Part of her felt melancholic when she heard that her friends started making their moves after she had begun the trend. The thought of them going far away made her sad. It had been nice knowing that they had lived nearby, happily with their family as if none of the fights had ever happened – but Severa was right when she described this state as a limbo. They had spent their time at places and with people they had always and would always belong to: friends, family, homes – but in a timeframe that wasn't their own. It was a strange state of belonging and at the same time not really belonging somewhere. "What did you decide on? Will you stay? Or leave?"

"Aw, come on. You know I wouldn't be able to stay with mom forever – I always start bickering with her." Severa's gaze softened. "She'd grow tired of it and decide to not have me if I stayed."

"I don't think that's true." Lucina objected, but Severa quickly continued.

"I will go on a journey."

"Where to?"

"I don't know. Somewhere."

Lucina watched her friend in the mirror. As per usual, Severa didn't show any of her emotions and had her gaze focused on Lucina's hair.

"Will you be happy?" Lucina asked.

"I don't know. Hopefully." She smiled a crooked smile. "Will you be happy?"

Lucina smiled softly back. "I hope so. Or else I wouldn't be doing this."

Severa nodded. "So, um… how exactly do you feel for Robin? Are you two getting along?"

When she had first heard the news, she had had a hunch that there had been more to the marriage than what met the eyes and indeed, Lucina had been quick to explain the true intention behind it. Severa hadn't questioned her friend's choice. She knew Lucina well enough to know that she didn't make rash decisions and she also knew Robin well enough to know that she wouldn't want to hurt Lucina. But maybe something else had resulted in the meanwhile. Severa had heard the news months ago, so who knew? She was all about the juicy details.

Lucina wanted to nod again, but Severa didn't let her. "Ow, yeah we are. I feel… content when we are together. There is no need to pretend to be someone else and we are having a lot of fun."

"Do you love her?" Severa did not beat around the bush.

Lucina's face reddened and her posture stiffened. She still didn't know how to answer. "W-well, we didn't do anything related to this yet a-and she never brought it up and…"

"Hehe." Her reaction was enough for Severa. She applied a few final hairpins to fix the bride's hair and gave her a strong clap between the shoulder blades that made Lucina swallow her own words.

"How do you like it?"

Lucina stared at the mirror for too long because she almost didn't recognize herself and turned her head to examine the hairdo from all sides. The way Severa had done her hair gave the impression that it was naturally curly. She carefully grazed the bun, almost not daring to because she feared she would mess it up with the slightest of touches.

"It's beautiful."

Severa was obviously proud. "Leave things like that to me – and now for some makeup!" She announced overly enthusiastic while she left Lucina's side.

Lucina paled a little when she heard that.

"I-is that really necessary? You've already done so much and you still haven't gotten dressed."

"Nonsense! I'm not getting dressed before I'm finished with you. You are going to be the best looking bride ever, the people will talk for months after the wedding about you." Severa was already rummaging through her cosmetic bag that had laid on Lucina's bed.

Lucina watched her with mild discomfort. Last time someone had tried to apply cosmetics on her had been Cynthia and she had almost pricked out her eye with the eyeliner back then. Granted, this was years before their parents had died, but she still wasn't too fond of the memory.

"Severa, please…" She pleaded, but in the back of her mind she knew that there was no stopping her now.

"Lucina." Her friend suddenly said and stood still.

Her voice sounded off. Lucina waited for her to speak.

"Please, let me do this for you." Severa said quietly. "This may be the last opportunity for us to be like this. To talk about serious and not so serious stuff, argue about makeup and hairdos – just like ordinary friends. I don't know when – or if I will return once I depart for my journey." She explained with a now stifled voice and Lucina could see how her shoulders trembled. She rose from her stool and walked over to her friend.

"Severa…" She gently touched her shoulder.

"Don't." Severa pushed her friend's arm aside and backed away, but it was too late: Lucina had already seen the tears.

Lucina watched her and it pained her to see her friend like this.

"You can always return here." She said then. "Even if you find happiness somewhere else and it will be years from now when we will see each other again, know that you will always hold a special place in my heart. You are my best friend, Severa, and I intend to keep it like that." She touched Severa's shoulder again and smiled softly.

"Lucy, you are…! You are impossible!" Severa turned around again, her eyes filled with tears. "H-how dare you make me cry with those words!"

Lucina chuckled. "Come here." She said and embraced Severa tightly. Severa returned the hug, letting the tears flow silently. "Please visit me every once in a while." Lucina requested gently.

Severa nodded wordlessly and they stayed like that for a minute before she broke the hug off.

"Now come here, you still need to get finished!" She announced with new found enthusiasm.

Lucina happily obliged this time.

Robin was nervous. Very, very nervous. Even though this marriage had been her idea and she had spent weeks planning it and Lucina had reassured her time and time again that she wouldn't back out of this, she just couldn't help it. She had fallen in love with Lucina and now actually had the luck to be able to marry her?

Even though she stood at the beginning of the aisle, nervously looking at the entrance door, it still felt like a dream. All of her married friends had assured her that it was natural to feel that way, so she tried to calm herself by taking a couple of deep breaths.

Next to her stood Chrom who observed her with a gentle smile. "You nervous?"

"You bet." Robin looked back at him and returned the smile. It was reassuring to have him by her side, even though she felt bad that he wouldn't be able to walk his own daughter to the altar. They had found a little workaround though, seeing as how there were two brides, they decided they would make the walk down the aisle together. That way, father and daughter would at least be able to walk side by side.

"Imagine how I felt, knowing that the whole kingdom had its eyes on me and Sumia."

His words weren't exactly reassuring. The mere thought of even more strangers watching them made her anxious. "Oh gods, don't make it worse. It may not be the whole country, but I bet all of Ylisstol will be waiting outside the chapel. And it's already bad enough that half of the people in here are people I don't know but had to invite anyway for political reasons."

Chrom suppressed a chuckle. "I know exactly what you mean. It was the same for me." He watched the people sitting in the rows and grinned. "You tried your best to keep as many outside as possible. I see you even invited all the children from Libra's orphanage."

"Well, of course. Libra and Lissa would both be here today anyway. Besides, Lucina really wanted little Rosemarie to be the flower girl – and since I played with them I couldn't bring it over myself to not invite them." And if she was honest, she preferred the little children over any conceited, stranger aristocrat any day.

She tried looking at the first row, which was ways away from where she stood, but she saw the future children of the shepherds, safe for Owain and Lucina, sitting at where Lucina's side of the family was supposed to sit and where all the orphans and Lissa sat. Thinking about it, the children had their fun and Lissa was able to sit at the right side of the rows without arousing any suspicions, because the rumor that Lucina had visited the orphanage from time to time to help with the orphans because she herself was also one, had spread quickly and hadn't been too far away from the truth anyway.

Most of the orphans couldn't sit still and were standing on their places to watch out for the other bride's arrival. Rosemarie stood near Robin and Chrom, bashfully holding her basket with the petals and wearing a yellowish dress. Lissa had told her that it was one of her old hand-me-downs that she herself had worn maybe twice for special occasions.

Next to Rosemarie stood Willis, whom Robin had appointed as page boy for one reason only: To get back at him from smacking her so hard with his wooden sword during their play fights. And maybe because Lucina had feared that Rosemarie would get very anxious if she was to walk alone with the couple while so many people watched.

Willis just stood there, in one of Chrom's old suits, seemingly disinterested. His sole purpose was to carry the train of her wedding dress. She had considered entrusting him with the rings too, but since she didn't want something to happen to them (on such occasions things always tended to go wrong in crucial moments) she had instead left them in the care of her best man: her trusty friend Donnel. It was strange seeing him next to Severa waiting at the front, all dressed up, in a very nice black suit with bowtie and without his signature tin pot on his head. His hair was neatly combed and he held the cushion with the rings with both his hands. He stood a little too stiff, but Robin understood his nervousness only too well.

"Roobiiiin, this is boring." Willis said. "You said there would be a party."

Seeing his pouting face made her smile.

"There will be – after the ceremony here in the chapel."

"Ugh." The boy only grunted. Rosemarie watched him with an offended expression, not believing that he didn't enjoy being part of something as big and pretty and wonderful as a wedding.

"It will be held at the castle. Don't you want to see the castle from the inside?" Robin asked.

Willis stopped his moaning and stood up straight. "Really?"

"And there will be more food than you can eat." Chrom promised.

"Awesome! Thanks, uncle!" The boy's green eyes shone with anticipation.

"U-uncle?" This address came very sudden and made Chrom feel way older than he was.

Robin laughed and Rosemarie elbowed her friend who in turn gave her an annoyed glance. She then turned to Chrom and made an apologetic bow.

"It's okay, don't worry." The child's uneasiness made him feel bad. "In a way you are Lissa's children, so… I kinda am your uncle – right?" Unsure, he turned to Robin who only grinned. She was glad that she did not have to wait all alone with all those people watching her.

When they heard the people cheer outside they knew that Lucina had arrived.

If Lucina had been nervous in the morning, then this feeling had evolved into outright anxiety by now. She fumbled again at her dress, trying not to think about what was about to happen. Even though she had been aware of the wedding at all times, the closer the real moment got the faster her heart started to beat.

"Everything alright?" Owain, who sat opposite of her inside the carriage, inquired. His blonde hair was messy as always (which made Lucina wonder how he had been able to slip away like that under her aunt's watchful eye), but he wore a suit as it was right and proper.

She tried to smile at him, but it came out a grimace. "I'm a little nervous."

Owain smirked at her. "How unusual. I don't think I've ever seen our brave and valiant leading light like that. Alas, such must it be, the melancholy woe of a young maiden before entering holy matrimony."

"Leading light?" Lucina raised an eyebrow. It had been quite a while since he had last talked in his theatrical manner. "I'm no leader anymore and honestly, I never felt much brave or valiant in our timeline." She admitted.

"But you guided us all to safety and into this time. Being able to act, despite being scared stiff is the very definition of valor!"

There he went again, gushing about heroism and courage, but it made Lucina feel as if she was talking to him under normal circumstances. Though, normal sometimes meant to her that she felt as if they were still at the base camp and bonding over their weapons. She remembered Severa's words, how everyone had made their decision for their further lives after hearing about her plans for marriage and wondered if Owain would leave on a journey too. Would he really want to leave his parents and the orphans who saw an older brother in him?

"Owain? Will you leave on a journey too?" She decided to ask.

The blond examined her, his expression pensive for a few moments. Then he smiled, rose his right hand and said: "I need to stay my sword hand or else dire things will happen."

She didn't know what she had expected, but hearing that he would leave made her sad. He and Cynthia had been the only family she had left from her time and it had been comforting to know that he had lived in the orphanage nearby. For some reason she hadn't been so emotional when Severa had told her about her plans, surely because part of her did not want to ruin the day, but hearing it from Owain too made it finally real. They were leaving. Her friends and family from the time she could truly call home.

Her sadness must have shown, because Owain moved seats so he could sit next to her.

"I'll make sure to keep you updated about all my legendary exploits." He promised.

Lucina nodded. "Please, visit me too if you can." She tried to smile, but instead she teared up which prompted him to hug her.

"I promise. And now no more tears or else Severa will chop my head off."

She laughed softly. "Yeah, she put a lot of effort into my makeup."

The carriage came to a halt and she could hear the people waiting for her. She took a deep breath and braced herself, while Owain opened the door and exited.

He smiled and made little bow while he helped her out of the carriage. She felt as if the whole world was staring at her and it was not a pleasant feeling. There were people left and right, only keeping so much distance that she and Owain could pass without problems. Some were well dressed, others in their casual clothes, but they were all smiling and cheering and trying to catch a glimpse at her. Lucina could not remember ever seeing so many people at once – the only association she had to huge crowds of people where the sizes of the enemy armies the shepherds had engaged. She clung onto her cousin's arm while he walked her proudly towards the chapel's entrance door.

"By the gods, there are so many people here…"

"It's your big day. Enjoy it." He said and smiled a way too satisfied smile. "Imagine you are a hero and they are cheering because you saved their world from destruction." It sure seemed that this was what he did.

"Um…" At least one of them loved the attention. Still, Lucina tried her best and put on a smile while she humbly raised a hand to greet the people around her. It was a strange feeling. Had her father's wedding been like that too? Even though the people didn't know she was royalty they still behaved as if she was. She was aware that this was because of Robin's connection with Chrom, but still. For a second she imagined that this was her original time – a future in which she and her friends were safe and the nation had recovered enough to celebrate.

They entered the chapel and she saw her bride-to-be, her father and Willis and Rosemarie standing at the beginning of the aisle.

Seeing them calmed her down. She glanced left and right, to see who was sitting in the rows and was relieved to perceive the familiar faces in the front rows.

The two children were adorably dressed. Rosemarie watched her with shining eyes and even Willis had his mouth agape when he looked at her.

Her father stood tall and handsome and when he saw her, a smile so bright showed on his face that it filled her with tremendous joy and pride, albeit it made her feel a little embarrassed too. She had never dared to dream about this day in her own time, but he was there, alive and well and proud. It set her heart aflutter.

And Robin, by the gods, she was so beautiful Lucina couldn't keep her eyes from her. Her dress was white, just like her own, and with a long train. She bore a veil, but had decided against it covering her face. Still, it complemented her garb nicely as it fell smoothly down her back. The dress was strapless and the lower part consisted of multiple, frilly layers while at the same time it managed to not look too pompous. Her amber eyes were shining with excitement and happiness and the reason why Lucina couldn't stop looking at her.

Owain nudged her which made her snap out of her reverie and they slowly moved next to Robin and Chrom to stand beside them.

Robin smiled with rose colored lips. "You look beautiful." She whispered into Lucina's ear.

"So do you." Lucina truthfully replied. They smiled at each other and linked their arms with their respective male escort.

"Are you ready?" Robin asked.

Lucina took a deep breath. From the moment she had accepted the proposal she knew what she had agreed to and did not think even once about backing out. She had thought about her parents and the life she would be able to have with them and found it was worth more than anything, even though lately she was not sure if they were the sole reason for her want to marry. She looked at Robin again and her heart started to beat faster.

While she was ready, she did not really feel so. She was nervous and anxious and she really, really hated how there were so many strangers looking at her right now.

"Yes, even though I don't really feel like I am."

The other bride chuckled lightly. "I know exactly what you are talking about."

The music started to play and together the two pairs made their way down the aisle.

Lucina put her utmost effort into concentrating on walking in a straight line. It suddenly seemed so difficult with all those eyes focusing on her. She stared straight ahead, where Libra was waiting for them at the altar. She could see him smiling encouragingly at her and was glad that a familiar face would join them in matrimony.

"Nervous?" She heard her father whisper beside her. He was close, walking on her left and stole glances at his daughter whenever he could.

"Yes." She whispered back.

He smiled. "I was just the same back then. Really wished I wasn't the Exalt in that moment." He chuckled at the memory. "You look beautiful today. It makes me very proud."

She felt the warmth and love in his words and couldn't help but smile. While she wasn't able to touch him in this very moment he was still as close as he could be and knowing the circumstances, Lucina appreciated every inch that was not between them. It was not perfect, but they did get pretty close to it.

When they stood before Libra and he started to speak, the music stopped so everyone could listen to his words.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this beautiful day to witness the union of and in holy matrimony." He began.

Robin and Lucina listened quietly as he greeted the guests. They had gone through the procedure a couple of times for practice, so Lucina allowed herself to glance around and saw little Rosemarie and Willis who both stood now next to their best man Donnel and the appointed maid of honor Severa. When Severa caught Lucina's gaze she winked at her which in turn made her smile and relax a bit. It was always reassuring to know that she had many people close to her in this moment. Now that she saw Severa in her voguish red dress she regretted not looking around and see what her other friends had worn to the occasion. Lucina made a mental note to catch up on that later on during the reception.

Robin took a deep breath while she tried to stay focused. So far everything had gone smoothly, which seemed to her like a miracle considering how nervous she was. She hadn't been able to sleep well the night because of that and she had been horrified upon seeing the dark rings under her eyes when she had awoken today, but luckily Tiki had been able to conceal them perfectly. Manaketes sure had a lot of life hacks up their sleeves, Robin had learned today.

She glanced towards Lucina, careful not to move her head too much because she feared that the slightest uncalculated move would mess something up. In the back of her mind she knew that this was a childish fear, but she couldn't help it. And feeling like she had completely forgotten something did not help either.
Her heart was still beating at a staggering rate. It had been like that from the moment she had gone to bed yesterday and had seemed to only increase when she had entered the chapel and walked down the aisle. Lucina was looking at Libra, even smiled for a second. She seemed so much calmer than how Robin felt in the moment, it made her wonder how she was able to do that.

"…and the sacred vows that you make to one another today present you with the opportunity to express your love in your own words." When Lucina heard these words she started to grow nervous again. Soon she would have to say the vows she had thought upon such a little while ago. Would they be enough to convince a whole nation that they were in love? What would Robin think about them? No, she shouldn't concern herself with this. She chose genuine and true words. It was fine.

"I would at this time invite you to publically declare these vows." Libra said and looked at Robin. "Robin, you may begin."

Robin nodded and took a deep breath. Oh boy, was she nervous. She turned to Lucina and took her hands in hers and gulped. This was it. Soon, they'd be officially a couple. Looking into Lucina's bright blue eyes made her almost forget the words she was about to say, but strangely enough they were a source of comfort at the same time, too. For just this split moment it felt as if time had come to a standstill. Everything would be alright.

I want to be able to look forever into those eyes.

"Lucina, true to your name you brought light into the darkest moments of my life. You have had my back countless times and supported me when I needed you most." She grinned a bit while saying this line, because it referred to their countless battles together, but she knew that those words carried also a different, romantic connotation for those who weren't aware of their past. "With these words, I vow to be the light of your life, as you have been for mine, to support you in sickness and in health, during the good times and the bad and – above all – I vow to make you happy by whatever means possible." She squeezed their hands a little tighter.

Lucina barely had the time to think about the words spoken, as Libra asked her immediately afterwards to declare her own, but there was one thing she noticed: Robin hadn't gone and dramatically declared her eternal love in front of everyone – as Lucina had assumed she would, so that their devotion and relationship would not be questioned by anyone. Instead she had chosen true words, humble and genuine ones. Promises she could and would keep. It was something Lucina hadn't expected her to do – and she had never brought it up, because this was an arranged marriage after all which served a certain purpose. Robin's words had taken a burden from her she didn't know she had carried.

You don't know how happy you already made me.

Her eyes teared up as she prepared to speak:

"I…" She gulped and tried to inhale deeply to compose herself. She felt how the grip on her hands strengthened and looked down at them and then back into her fiancée's reassuring smiling face. Feeling Robin's warmth calmed her down. Lucina smiled back. This was not the first time, she thought, as she remembered the night Robin had spent in her room not too long ago. She began her words anew:

"I take you to be my companion in this life and promise above all else to live in truth with you, to communicate fully and fearlessly as I offer to you my hand and heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace. With these words I pledge to you my faith, my honor and my devotion as I join my life to yours."

"Under the eyes of Naga, Robin, do you take Lucina to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to honor her, to be sensitive to her needs, to comfort her in difficulty and to put your full and complete trust in her, so long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Robin promised with a proud smile.

Libra turned to Lucina and repeated his words, which she answered with "I do" as well.

"To commemorate this union, you may now exchange rings. Let these rings remind you of each other's love and of the promises you have made here on this day." The blond man then turned to Donnel, to signal him that it was his turn now.

Donnel was frozen with nervousness and did not even notice, but luckily he had Severa by his side who gave him a subtle nudge to remind him where he was and what was going on. He looked at her and she stared back menacingly while her mouth formed the words "come on".

The realization hit him then and he walked over to the couple, almost tripping over his own feet when he made the first step and muttered an almost inaudible "by golly" when he made it unharmed.

Robin suppressed a chuckle and smiled reassuringly at him. He smiled nervously back, his face all red.

Robin took the ring with the sapphire attached to it and repeated after Libra: "I, Robin, give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed." Carefully, she placed the ring on Lucina's right ring finger. They had spent so much time together since they had bought them that their trip to the jeweler seemed like it had been a century ago. Here, in this moment, she was convinced that they would live their lives together happily. They had done so before this day and they would continue to do so. And however Lucina felt for her, she had put into most beautiful words how far she was willing to take their relationship. Her vow had sounded like a poem, full of simple, but oh so strong and honest promises.

It was Lucina's turn then to place the ring she had chosen for Robin on her right ring finger. She took the little gold dragon and examined the diamond in his fangs with a smile. As a tactician and soldier Robin had always been powerful and bright; back then when they had bought the rings and had ordered the gemstones to be customized the diamond had seemed the obvious choice. "I, Lucina, give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed." The gemstone was strong, unbreakable and brilliant – just like her. No other stone had seemed worthy back then to represent Robin and Lucina found that this was the case even more so today. Bright and beautiful she was and Lucina considered herself lucky to have her as bride.

"By the power vested in me by our beloved goddess Naga I now pronounce you wife and wife."

It was done now. Robin and Lucina allowed themselves to exhale. They held each other's hands tightly and smiled relieved at each other, hearts still pounding fast.

Then Libra continued, which set Robin into a mild panic. "You may now kiss the bride, forever sealing your union."

Robin stiffened. So that was this one thing she had completely forgotten about. She had spent so much time thinking about the wedding, preparing for it and even more time dreaming about how it would feel should Lucina ever reciprocate her feelings – but she had forgotten the most obvious part. Shyly she looked at Lucina who had blushed and seemed equally awkward about the thought, but there was no going back now.

Robin leaned close, carefully and slowly, not sure if Lucina would consent to the kiss. She had always tried to not step over any personal boundaries during their engagement and to not take advantage of the fact that they were officially in a relationship ("It would be totally normal to kiss every once in a while, since we are a couple."). Not that they had much of a choice now.

"It's alright." The princess whispered when their lips were only an inch apart. Robin felt her face grow hot. To just be able to kiss her freely… it still seemed too good to be true. Surely, today would be the only opportunity to do so.

To Robin's surprise, it was Lucina herself who closed the space between them and sealed their lips.

She barely heard the following cheers of the people.

A/N: The story is coming to a close. Depending on the length of the reception (which is the focus of the next chapter) it will be only one or two chapters left. I won't be updating regulary anymore since I don't have the next parts written ahead and I need to study for the most important oral examination of my major (which, of course, is a significant part of my final grade). I will also go on a trip to Australia starting on November 6th which will last until 22nd January and I wanted to take the exam before that. I will try to update before my trip again, but I can't promise it. Not only because of my studies, but also because my mental health issues rob me of my motivation for both (all) things often times.

To anyone wondering why I made Donnel the best man: It's a tribute to my game file bc he was the character I S-ranked my avatar with. Planning this whole thing out was quite fun - initially I had one best man for each bride (and Chrom being Robin's), then I thought it unneccessary. Before I introduced Rosemarie I was thinking of making Nowi the flower girl (which would have been hilarious). I used a Christian wedding script, mostly because that's what I'm familiar with, but also because Ylisse struck me as middle-european based country.
I'm still taking suggestions for character interactions for the next chapter!

That was all - hopefully you will hear from me before November 6th :)