"Hurry!" he could hear his wife shout, her voice wavering at the seams. It panicked him in ways beyond belief to hear her scream. To assign him such an agonizing task.
"Take her with you," she ordered calmly, placing their baby in his arms, wrapped in a pale yellow bundle. "The castle will be under siege soon. There will soon be no food, no freedom, no escape. Please."
It got to him every time he witnessed her cry. He gulped harshly. His heartbeat coursed throughout the length of his body.
"One of us has to stay," she said. Her eyes bore earnestly into his soul. "Go!" she hollered hoarsely, giving him a harsh push. "Go!"
With another gulp that was reluctant to pass throughout his throat, he did as his distraught wife had asked, fleeing on foot with their child. The enemy began to shroud the area en masse, racing rampantly for the castle. He bent and curved, weaving his way through the soldiers, trying to calm the crying infant. He took a moment to catch his breath as he entered the courtyard, where he had come at an unfortunate time.
"Lookie here," a wispy haired woman sneered, seeking the satisfaction of her male companion. "He's got a baby!"
"I don't want trouble…" the man pleaded, trembling at the sight of the axe in her hands. He shook his head slowly. His plea was certain to be left unrequited. The woman's male companion said nothing, only glowering down at him angrily.
With a wicked grin, the woman sauntered toward him frightening him with her weapon. The man fell to the ground, trembling under her daunting stance. Tears slid down his cheeks as he hastily set the baby aside before the axe came crashing down onto him.
"This is for my husband, you murderous brute!" was the last thing he heard before his garbled, strangling cries rippled from his throat. Droplets of his blood had fallen onto his infant daughter's cheek, her last remaining memory of him. The lady left the axe embedded in his body, reaching out toward the next surprise that awaited her. She picked up the screaming infant, gently bouncing her in her arms.
"Is she ours now?" the woman asked her male companion, gazing up at him innocently.
"Anything for you, my darling," he replied. The two then carried along merrily as the world around them fell apart, not having a single care in the world.
Sometimes I sit in contemplation and wonder what drives people to do the things they do. I wonder what drove King Garon to slaughter King Sumeragi in cold blood. Why he wishes to destroy futures and families will forever be beyond me.
That is why I sided with Hoshido.
I still see Elise in my dreams, sobbing as I hold Garon's severed head in my hands, and it tears me apart from the inside out. As of late, I cannot sleep. I wander aimlessly around camp seeking companionship. I betrayed the people I love, and every single one of them repel at the very sound of my voice.
"Lady Corrin?" I hear Jakob call, storming into my room. I want to yell, to tell him I'm not at all dressed to have other males in my room at the very moment, but it's too late. I try to cover myself. My thin nightclothes leave far too little to the imagination.
'Lady Corrin, I'm sorry, I-" he stammers, staring at the ground, flushing scarlet. I turn around and stare at the wall behind me.
"It's fine. Please just knock next time." Disapproval drips from my voice.
"I-it's just that your distress was beckoning me, even in my slumber…" Jakob explains. Sweat dribbles down his forehead. He looks like he's going to throw up.
"It's fine, Jakob. Trust me. This isn't an easy matter to resolve." I begin to climb back into bed as Jakob takes his leave. Azura enters just as he is out of sight, looking alarmed.
"Is everything alright? She asks quietly, observing the room. "I heard arguing."
"Yes," I respond, sighing with exhaustion. "It was just Jakob. You know how he gets."
Azura places a hand to her heart. "Thank goodness." She exhales heavily with relief. She's not one for conflict. I've noticed that over time.
"Anyway," she says softly. "I was wondering if maybe you'd like some company for the night. You're nothing but stressed. The ends of your hair are fraying."
Self-consciously, I take a few strands of my hair into my hands. She's right. The ends are stringy and limp. "Uh, sure," I agree hesitantly. Companionship would be nice. In a way, she's one of the only family members I have left. Ryoma told me we don't share the same father nor mother. Garon is by blood connected to me, which makes my stomach churn sickly. I won't stand for innocent lives being taken. Families being torn apart. Futures being obliterated. In a world where my father has power, the weak bow down and are slaughtered at will.
I watch as Azura saunters toward my bedside. I move over, making room for her. She hums before drifting off to sleep, which comforts me. Her hair smells like fierce waves that have clashed against a cluster of jagged rocks.
Tomorrow, I tell myself. Tomorrow we will invade the Nohrian castle and bring peace back to the land, even if my Nohrian siblings won't ever forgive me and brand me a killer.