I. Failure at Cheve
Corrin wished Camilla had listened. She didn't want to fight her older sister, but she had no choice. Camilla had come prepared to fight. Even that brute Hans had come with her. The fight began smoothly for the Hoshidan army. Corrin had paired up with Hinoka for the fight. Together they were a two woman army.
Orochi and Rhajat were slowly spreading out to alert the villagers. Oboro and Takumi were slowly advancing to clear out any archers so Hinoka would stay safe. Sakura and Azura were in the middle of them, supporting them when needed. Everything was going to plan. Camilla and her retainers were trying to group up with Hans to advance on them, but the Hoshidans were spreading out over the entire town and removing the Nohrians.
A bowstring snapped from behind Corrin. There shouldn't have been an archer behind them. Hinoka fell off of her pegasus and dropped from the sky. There was a Nohrian archer that had somehow slipped through her lines. Hinoka landed on the ground, her slain pegasus landed on top of her. Corrin drew Yato and quickly dispatched the archer.
"Hinoka!" Corrin ran to Hinoka's side.
Hinoka was still conscious. She was struggling to pull herself out from under her pegasus' carcass. Corrin put as much force as she could muster into pushing the horse off of her sister. It was too heavy to manage alone. Hinoka tried to help, but her arms were pinned. Her right arm was broken.
"Sakura, Azura, we need help over here!" Corrin shouted to her sisters.
Sakura and Azura were over by Orochi and Rhajat. There was no chance they could get to Corrin and Hinoka before the enemy would be on them. Oboro and Takumi fell back upon seeing Hinoka's fallen pegasus. They dropped their weapons and with Corrin's help they managed to pull Hinoka out from under the dead mount. Hinoka tried to stand, but yelped when she put her weight on her left leg. It had been broken by the fall.
"Focus on getting Hinoka to safety. I'll make sure everyone can retreat," Corrin commanded.
"What about you?" Hinoka asked with concern.
"I'll be fine. Just go. Get everyone somewhere safe. I'll meet up with you in a minute."
Corrin bore Yato as the Nohrian army began to surround her. She glanced over her shoulder to see her comrades leave the town proper. Corrin turned to try to join them, but an arrow struck her in the shoulder from behind. Reinforcements came, and Camilla's retainers were beginning to get close. Corrin pulled the arrow out of her shoulder and sprinted towards the exit the Hoshidan army had escaped through. Selena stepped out from behind one of the houses.
She brandished a Killing Edge. Corrin tried to sidestep her but Selena was faster than Corrin had guessed. With haste, Corrin struck the first blow against Selena. Selena retaliated with a deft blow. Corrin withstood the brunt of the attack. Corrin went in for another strike, but something struck Corrin before she could connect. It pushed her over onto her back and knocked Yato out of her hands.
Corrin looked up at the monster that had tackled her. It was Beruka's wyvern. Corrin had completely forgotten about Camilla's other retainer when she was trying to get past Selena. Corrin swore and struggled against the weight of the wyvern, but it was no use. Her strength was no match for the beast on top of her.
Selena picked up Yato from the ground and gave it a test swing. "The balance on this thing sucks," She remarked before sticking it in the ground.
"Don't treat her sword so roughly," Camilla said as her wyvern landed. She dismounted and pulled the blade from the ground.
All Camilla wanted was for Corrin to be her lovely little sister again. Here Corrin lay before her, held against the ground by Beruka's wyvern. The Hoshidan royal family and their ragtag militia had been forced to retreat without their leader. Corrin struggled against the weight of the wyvern, flailing her body, trying to kick it even, but it made no difference. Her arms were broken from the weight. There was nowhere to run. She had failed.
Hans began to approach Corrin, his axe raised to strike the killing blow against the former Nohrian princess. Before he could get close enough to end Corrin's life, Selena stepped in front of him. She had a grip on her sheathed sword. Camilla's wyvern landed nearby and she dismounted. Hans lowered his axe. Killing Camilla or her retainers would likely end poorly for him. He left to pursue the fleeing Hoshidans rather than stay in the company of the Nohrian Princess and her retainers. Nobody acknowledged his leaving. He was far too brutish to be worth any attention from Camilla.
As Camilla drew near, Corrin continued her hopeless thrashing. Tears rolled down her face. Camilla stood over Corrin, looking down with that gentle smile of hers. She was finally reunited with her sister again. Never again would they be apart.
"Sister, please understand! Garon is not himself anymore!" Corrin pleaded.
Camilla knelt to bring herself close to Corrin. "Hush, dear. We can finally be a family again." Camilla pulled Corrin's greaves off of her, exposing her toned legs. "Now we can be together."
Camilla stood up. Selena held a long handled axe out to the Princess. Camilla grasped it, and slid her hands into proper position. In, and out, Camilla took a deep breath, and drew the axe over her head. With a forceful stroke she brought it down on Corrin's left leg, cleanly dismembering it just above the knee.
Corrin could do nothing as she watched the sister she once loved so dearly remove her leg. She let out a piercing scream. Selena winced at Corrin's pain. She begged with her sister to stop, to let her go, but Camilla ignored her pleas. Yato had been taken from her. Her dragonstone was in Camilla's possession. Camilla drew the axe above her head for a second time. "Please, sister please!" She shrieked.
The cries of the younger sister were ignored. The axe came down again, finding its mark above Corrin's right knee. Again an agonized shriek escaped from Corrin. Tears streamed down her face. She sobbed, both as a result of the pain, and her sister's brutality.
The older sister returned the axe to Selena, and ordered Beruka to move her wyvern off of Corrin. Through the pain, Corrin rolled over and tried to drag herself away with her arms. Each thrust forward hurt more than the last. Camilla easily stepped in front of her, and picked her up. Corrin's lower legs remained on the ground.
Camilla shushed her sobbing sister as she carried her to her wyvern. The wyvern lowered itself to easily allow its master to climb on with her hands full. Corrin vomited on Camilla's and the wyvern's backs. Neither were pleased. Corrin's sobbing quieted. Her breathing shallowed, her body grew cold. Camilla urged her wyvern to fly with haste back to her quarters in Nohr. Beruka and Selena followed suit, riding together behind their princess.
Corrin's legs were bleeding still. It had slowed, but was still worrisome to Camilla. She used a scrap of cloth in one of her bags to dress the wound as best she could until one of her maids could properly heal Corrin's legs with a staff. Until then Corrin's life would be in the balance.
The flight back to Castle Krakenburg was not a short one. Camilla was terrified of losing Corrin again, this time to death. She desperately tried to keep her maimed sister alive so they might return home together. The flight was silent, save for the winds. Camilla held her sister close to her to keep her warm. Soon they would be home, and they would be a family again.
When they finally arrived, Camilla commanded the wyvern to land on the tower in which her quarters lied. Camilla dismounted the dragon with an unresponsive Corrin in her arms. Corrin was still breathing, but it was shallow. It had been a misstep not to bring a cleric or a troubadour into the battle with her, but this was never the plan. Camilla couldn't bring herself to kill her baby sister. She wanted so badly for them to be together again. She put her little sister down on a couch and placed a towel underneath Corrin's bleeding legs.
Camilla immediately called for Flora. Upon her arrival, Flora was shocked to see Corrin in such a state, but she maintained her stoic persona. Using a stave she was able to stabilize Corrin's condition and seal the wounds on her legs. Corrin remained unresponsive throughout. She had fallen unconscious.
"Will she be okay?" Camilla asked with motherly worry.
"In due time, yes. If you had gotten here a moment later I'm not sure she would have made it. What she needs now is rest," Flora answered.
"Thank you," Camilla replied, relieved that she had not cruelly slain her darling baby sister.
Corrin was asleep, and remained in that state for quite a while. Camilla left her quarters to greet her siblings and eat an early breakfast. After finishing, she returned to her quarters. She helped Corrin out of her armor and into a nightgown. Thankfully her arms were also mended by Flora's magic. Corrin remained asleep on Camilla's couch.
A few hours later, Corrin woke to find herself in unfamiliar surroundings. She tried to stand up from the couch she had been sleeping on, but she ended up falling on her face. Again she tried, but there was something wrong with her legs. The events of the previous night began flooding back to her. Instead of trying to stand on her now mended legs, she dragged her body across the floor to the balcony door. With great effort, Corrin managed to reach the latch above her and unlock the door. She shoved it open.
Cold wind blew into the tower. Corrin took a moment to recognize the Castle where her siblings lived. It was close to the fortress in which she had grown up. If she was in Castle Krakenburg, then she was back in Nohr. Did Camilla bring her here after dismembering her legs? Corrin thought for a moment. She could try to transform, but without her dragonstone there was no guarantee that she wouldn't lose control.
Corrin pulled herself out onto the balcony. The sun was beginning to rise. The denizens of the castle would likely be about soon. A door opened from inside Camilla's chamber. Corrin turned herself around to see Camilla yawn at the lounge doorway. She tried to drag herself out of eyesight, but Camilla felt the cold morning breeze, and noticed the open balcony door. She towered over Corrin.
"What are you doing out here, Corrin. You'll catch a cold," Camilla said with concern.
Corrin glared up at her older sister. Camilla bent down to pick Corrin up. Corrin slapped away her hands.
"Don't touch me."
"Oh don't be that way, darling. Come now." Again Camilla tried to pick up Corrin.
Corrin slapped away Camilla's hands again. Camilla was no longer amused by her sister's vitriol. If Corrin wouldn't come willingly then she would have to use force. Camilla stomped on Corrin's left wrist, grinding it into the floor.
"Come now, Corrin. You wouldn't want to miss breakfast, would you?"
Camilla made a third attempt to pick up Corrin, not moving her heel until she had a firm grasp around Corrin's midsection. Corrin wanted to fight, or bite Camilla, but that would accomplish nothing. Camilla carried her inside and latched the balcony door. Letting Corrin out into the cold would make her a bad sister, after all. Camilla placed Corrin gently into an excessively cushiony chair. Corrin checked her wrist. It was sore, but thankfully not broken.
Camilla left her chambers and Flora entered. Corrin was surprised to see her former retainer. If not for the horrendous circumstances, it would have been a warmer reunion.
"How do you feel, Milady?" Flora asked.
"I've been better," Corrin replied. "Flora, you could help me escape and regroup with my Hoshidan siblings! They'll be able to help me!"
"I cannot do that, Milady. I am no longer your maid," Flora said in a flat tone.
Corrin sulked in her chair while Camilla was out of the room. She was no longer a member of the royal family, and reaped none of the rewards she had when she still lived in the fortress. There would be no help from any of the maids or butlers, much less any of her siblings' retainers.
"Would you like something to eat, Milady?" Flora asked to break the silence.
"I'm not hungry."
"It would do you well to keep your strength up," Flora insisted.
"There's no point." Corrin preferred withering away over living as Camilla's pet.
Flora stopped talking, and Corrin didn't bother to try to converse. If only Jakob or Felicia were here. They would have undoubtedly helped her flee. She couldn't run on what was left of her legs. It was unlikely she would be much use on the battlefield ever again. That was probably part of why Camilla did it in the first place.
The chamber door opened. Camilla stepped through carrying a steaming bowl. Flora disappeared into the hall and reentered a moment later with a folding table. She set the table down in front of Corrin, and Camilla set the bowl down on top. There was a silver spoon already set in the bowl filled with a thick stew. Steamed carrots and potatoes floated on top of the liquid. Camilla stood over Corrin, looking at her expectantly.
"Try it, darling," Camilla cooed.
Corrin turned her head away from Camilla. "I'm not hungry," She said.
Camilla pouted. "Corrin honey, I made this stew myself. Won't you at least try it?"
Corrin shook her head, still refusing to make eye contact. Camilla was hurt. Did her dear sister hate her for bringing her home? Had she really grown to hate her old family that much. It was all the Hoshidans' fault. If not for them, Corrin would still be hers. Camilla slid the table aside and leaned in to hug Corrin.
"I missed you so much. I was so worried about you. Won't you please eat?" Camilla pleaded.
"I told you I'm not hungry." Corrin pushed Camilla away.
"Aww, is the little one grumpy?" Camilla asked like she were talking to a baby.
Camilla stepped away from her little sister and began whispering to Flora. Corrin couldn't hear what they were saying, only that Flora nodded. Flora left, and returned a quarter hour later carrying thick steel chains and manacles. Corrin jumped out of the chair and began crawling towards the balcony again. Camilla grabbed her before she could get anywhere.
"Don't be rude." The motherly tone that had previously been in Camilla's voice was now gone. She was getting upset at Corrin's resistance.
Camilla put Corrin back on the chair and Flora continued to install the chains into the floor around the chair. If Corrin so much as shifted her weight, Camilla would flinch. Corrin tried thinking of some way to escape from this, but she couldn't think of anything. If Flora would help her she would at least have a chance. Angering Camilla any more would be dangerous.
Flora finished installing the chains securely into the floor. She locked Corrin's left wrist in first, and Camilla locked her right arm. Corrin was relieved that at least her hands weren't shackled to each other. They were separately chained to the floor instead. Corrin sighed. Things still weren't completely hopeless. If she could convince Camilla or Flora to at least bring one of her other Nohrian siblings to visit, one of them might help her to freedom.
Camilla moved the folding table back in front of Corrin. Corrin toyed with the chains
around her wrist instead of paying Camilla's food any attention. Finally, Camilla was tired of waiting, she knelt down next to Corrin. She picked up the spoon, scooped some stew with it, and held it in front of Corrin's face. Corrin stopped playing with her chains.
"I told you I'm not hungry," Corrin reminded Camilla.
"Come on. Open up," Camilla cooed.
Camilla's spoon advanced towards Corrin's face at a snail's pace. Corrin was getting tired of Camilla trying to baby her. Whatever this situation could be called was worse than being thrown in a dungeon to rot. Camilla's spoon hit Corrin's closed lips. A little broth from the stew spilled onto Corrin's nightgown. Corrin slapped the spoon away, knocking it onto the floor behind Camilla.
"Stop doing this, sister. Don't you have anything better to do than humiliate me?" Corrin spat. Calling Camilla her sister was difficult. Saying it genuinely was nigh impossible for Corrin. It ended up leaving her lips with thorough vitriol. Corrin didn't intend to be so spiteful, but she had nothing but spite for Camilla.
Camilla took a deep breath, and picked up the spoon. She picked up the spoon from its resting place on the floor and handed it to Flora. Flora left the chamber to replace the dirtied spoon with a clean one. Camilla turned to stare down her disabled little sister. Fiery rage glimmered behind her eyes, betraying her composure. Saying nothing, Camilla drew closer to Corrin, and delivered a forceful slap across Corrin's face.
"Keep this up, and I'll take your arms too," Camilla growled. "In fact, why don't I give you a little taste?" A sadistic smile grew on Camilla's face. She retreated into the deeper recesses of her quarters and returned with a heavy carabiner. She crouched down behind Corrin's chair, pulled the chains together, and bunched them up. Satisfied with the shortened length of the chain, Camilla used the carabiner to keep it at that length. Corrin's arms were immobilized.
"Now I'm going to get you something fresh, since you've let my stew go cold," Camilla snapped.
Camilla slammed the door on the way out. Corrin was thankful that she was finally alone, but she was immobilized. She regretted not throwing herself off of the balcony when she had the chance in the morning. It was sometime after noon now, Corrin estimated. There wasn't a clock in this room of Camilla's chambers; she could only estimate based off of the sun's position in the sky.
After being left alone to ruminate for half an hour, Camilla returned with another bowl of stew, and a glass of water. Corrin turned her head away from Camilla. Camilla put the stew and glass on Corrin's folding table in silence, and filled a spoon with stew. She got on her knees and held the spoon level with Corrin's face. Corrin continued to look away until she heard the spoon clatter against the bowl. Camilla grabbed Corrin's face and forced her to face forward. She used one hand to plug Corrin's nose, and with her other, she held the spoon ready.
Corrin tried with desperation to hold her breath, but her biological urges won out, and she opened her mouth to gasp for air. The spoon lunged into her mouth, depositing a mediocre tasting broth with small diced potatoes. Camilla let go of Corrin's nose to hold her hand against her mouth. Corrin reluctantly chewed and swallowed Camilla's stew. At the very least, she couldn't taste anything worrisome. It was just bland.
After Corrin swallowed, Camilla removed her hand. "Now, would you like to be a good girl and eat your breakfast?"