Chapter 18: Acts and Flames

                                    

                                          
Lucina's POV 
                          
Rain gently fell as I walked through camp.  It had been ten days since the rise of Grima, and we were about a two-day's march from Regna Ferox's border.  The sky was still a deep purple, and off in the distance, I could see the silhouette of Grima's monstrous body.  Chills were sent down my shine every time I looked or thought of Grima.  'How could my darling younger siblings really serve something so evil and cruel?   I can't believe they really choose on their own to follow Grima.  I just can't.'
                          
Everyday I checked on Morgan.  Sometimes, he would remain silent and unwilling to talk.  Other days, he would speak of Grima's "redemption" and his ideal world.  But, everyday, I've seen that he sticks to Grima, no matter what.  
                          
We blindfolded him and tied him immediately the day we captured him.  Surprisingly, he just went along with it.  There was no resistance from him.  Even when we severed the mark every morning,  he would remain silent and allow us to do whatever we wanted.  It was almost like he wanted to be captured.  But, he still seemed to long to be with Robin, Alex, and the Grimleal.  That's what he had become accustomed to.  In his mind, the Grimleal was his "family", not the Shepherds I like I believed.
                          
That day when I was walking through camp, soaked from the rain, I heard a voice.  I noticed it was coming from Morgan's tent/prison.  I sneaked closer, the sound of the rain hiding the sound of the grass rustling underneath my feet.  From a distance, I saw through the flap of the tent.  Tharja was in there talking to Morgan.
                          
I shivered.  Through all the years of my life, Tharja creeped me out.  Her laugh, her smile, when she threatened to hex someone, everything about frightened me.  I had heard from the Shepherds that she had a strange obsession with Robin.  
                          
These past few days, everyone watched her.  No one truly knew if she aligned with us, the Shepherds, or with the Grimleal and Robin.  With her being from Plegia and a sorceress, it eould make sense if she was with the Grimleal, but with her personality, you could never know side she would lean to.  The whole reason she joined the Shepherds was that she did want to die for a cause she didn't believe in.  She was only with the Shepherds because she was safe and she wouldn't die.  Now, with Grima on our backs, no one was safe.  
                          
"Mother is doing good," Morgan responded to whatever Tharja just said, most likely something about Robin.  "She's happy that after all these years of hiding she can come out."
                          
"When I see her again, I hex her from staying away from me," Tharja promised.  "She's been a naughty girl."
                          
"In what sense?  In the fact that she is aligned with Grima or that she's hid all these years." 
                          
"Both.  I never really liked the Grimleal.  I tolerated them and left them alone.  I can't believe a person like Robin would join them.  Nevertheless, I still have my feelings for Robin.  Those will never change."
                          
"Are you going to join the Grimleal, so you can be with Mother?"  I flinched.  I saw that that question would appear in some shape or form, but never so directly.  'Is that his plan?  To recruit Tharja and use her to take down the Shepherds from the inside!'
                          
"Interesting offer, but I still have stuff to do here in the Shepherds.  I won't discard your offer, but for right now, I'm good."
                          
"Do as you wish.  But, this offer is not a last resort."
                          
"I will remember that."  Tharja turned and left.  I quickly hid behind a tree and hoped she wouldn't see me.  She paused for a few seconds as if she sensed me and then, continued walking.  I sighed and stared at the tent.  I decided to wait a few minutes before heading in there.