She looked back at the small family circle, awe and hope rising in her chest.
Her mind screamed at her to rejoin the fight, to remain strong. But another part of her said to join the family in supporting the harmony magic around Frederich. Perhaps, this once, she could support by being supported.
And she wanted to be next to Ian.
For the first time in her life, she turned her back on an open enemy and walked away. She could feel the moment the blue shimmer enveloped her; it was like stepping into the warm air around a fire on a bitterly cold night.
When she dropped to the ground next to Ian, she stifled a groan as her bruised knees hit the floor.
Reaching out, she placed her hand on Ian’s knee. She could more than imagine what it felt like for him to sit next to hisfather in this state, and she wanted him to know that she was there, that she understood.
His hand covered hers, squeezing gently.
Invited by his touch, Robin leaned her weight into him, letting her tired body relax against him for support.
She closed her eyes, just for a moment, and breathed in as deeply as her wounded lungs allowed.
Then she opened her eyes, looking down at the king she had spent her life trying to vex. He looked so helpless and different from the man she had stood up against all those years ago. She was proud of her work, proud of everything she had created and everyone she had supported.
But she was glad that she was no longer the young girl reacting in anger.
Frederich was just a man. A man who had done his flawed best to create safety for his people. A man who had learned the truth too late to make lasting change. But it was not too late for her. And it was not too late for this man’s successor.
Robin tilted her head, still resting against Ian’s shoulder, to look up at his face. She fully believed that Ian would also do his flawed best to bring safety and peace to the people of Iseldis and beyond.
Feeling her movement, Ian took his eyes off his father and looked down at her. The expression on his face was so wholly Ian, solemn and peaceful.
Robin relaxed her own face enough to smile up at him.
She was happy and proud to be sitting in the circle of this family, taking her place at his side, and creating harmony together in the midst of hopelessness. If they could build this together at such a time, they could face anything.
Then, Frederich coughed, a sound so small she almost missed it.
Ian droppedhis gaze from Robin’s upturned face to his father’s flickering eyelids.
Frederich was waking up.
Ian leaned forward, sensing every one of his family members doing the same around him.
Frederich opened his eyes, looking up at their faces in confusion.
To his right, Ian’s mother let out a joyful sob.
Frederich lifted a hand toward her, and she clasped it in her own.
Twisting his neck, Frederich looked around at each of them, a small smile flickering across his face despite the persistent confusion.
His eyes narrowed when he recognized Robin.
Ian squeezed her hand.
“Robin?” Frederich’s voice was dry and barely audible. But the lines between his eyes had faded into softness. “I have missed much,” he said.
Ian nodded, unsure how to fill his father in on everything that had happened.
Frederich must have picked up on the sounds of the battle, however, as he tilted his head to where Gareth, Onric, and Aden still fought.
“It has been many sevennights,” Ian said. “And Gareth has finally shown his true colors.”
