Corrin winced as the tip of Rinkah's club grazed the small of his back for what seemed like the hundredth time. She had relented to untying his hands, but exchanged that for holding her weapon mere millimeters from his body. Every time he slowed or sped up the slightest, she gave him a prod. Corrin, in the interest of his physical well being, elected to keep quiet.
He kept his eyes on the snow, it felt strange against his bare feet. It prickled when he first stepped down but sank quickly under his weight, melting and solidifying unpleasantly between his soles. It wasn't as if he had never seen snow, but snowfall at the Northern Fortress was thick and dense, not feathery and full of air like it was here.
Kaze walked in front of him, testing for the easiest routes through the white powder. Corrin found himself glancing up and down the ninja's back once in a while. His purple scarf swung left and right like a pendulum, momentarily obscuring that curious scale like armor of his. His shoes looked strange as well, looking like a black piece of leather bound to the foot rather than the boots Nohrians preferred. Most of all, he kept his eye on Ganglari. Even from afar, he swore that the red cracks of the sword pulsed a bit.
Corrin lost track of time as they marched him ahead, his mind drifting off into space. He probably should have been taking note of the landmarks they past but he quickly lost interest. He would have chalked up his sullenness up to the threat of having his head relieved of his shoulders, but both Rinkah and Kaze had mentioned that someone wanted him in one piece.
Snow eventually gave way to soft plains, they must have been at a higher elevation to warrant such a drastic change in temperature. In the brief moments when Corrin snapped himself out of his stupor, he eyed his captors. Rinkah had stopped holding her weapon against him, so maybe she had relaxed a bit, and Kaze didn't have him in direct line of sight. Judging from the fight back in Castle Krakenburg, Corrin would be willing to bet that he could take one of them on in a fight. Two, that would be more tricky when he didn't have Felicia or Gunter with him.
His eyes stung a bit when he thought of Gunter. There was no guarantee that they would be able to retrieve his body. Or if, miracle above miracles, he survived, then that might be even worse. Corrin squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to erase the image of Gunter injured and without help.
When night fell, his captors found a relatively safe clearing to stay the night. Corrin was handed a packet of food wrapped in some strange green leaves. Inside was a bundle of a white grain, rice Kaze explained, that was seasoned with some kind of vinegar, and a few strips of dried and salted fish. After Corrin finished his meal, Kaze and Rinkah had a little debate over how to secure him for the night without completely stripping him of his dignity. Eventually, they settled on tying him sitting down to a tree. Kaze apologized, Rinkah didn't share his sentiment.
Corrin was shaken awake early in the morning, before the sun had properly risen. His eyes were blurry as he was pulled to his feet. Fighting the urge to yawn, he rubbed at his arms, checking for rope burn. As soon as the fire was properly stamped out, they were back to the walking.
When they finally hit civilization, Corrin kept his head down rather than dare to look around. Even from what he could see, mostly of people knees down, he knew that he stood out like a sore thumb. He wasn't exactly a prisoner tied in shackles, but the guards in front and behind him didn't exactly make him look casual. He could see feet turning as people stared.
"Good to see you, Kaze, Lord Ryoma has been expecting you," said a deep voice.
Corrin looked up to see a red headed man with a scar slicing through his closed right eye.
"Thank you, Saizo, we're ready to see him," Kaze replied, smiling, though the red ninja didn't seem to do the same. Even with the mask obscuring his mouth, Corrin could tell that he was frowning.
Corrin was walked through the massive gates of what must have been the Hoshidan castle. The walls were not segmented like Castle Krakenburg, they were painted a smooth white and covered with long paper tapestries. Large wooden windows were placed at every couple of paces, letting in streams of sunlight. Large red pillars supported the tall ceilings.
"I request an audience with the High Prince Ryoma," Kaze announced, he gently pulled Corrin forward.
"Enter," said the dour looking guard, nodding to two servants to haul the open the door.
As he stepped into the throne room, Corrin was greeted by the Hoshidan throne. Unlike the black and gold affair of Garon's throne, this one was orange and white, spread like the rays of the sun. In front, standing on the gilded stairs, was a man with long brown hair and bright red armor. Corrin averted his gaze, unable to determine if the armor looked intimidating or garish.
"My lord," Kaze knelt while Rinkah bowed slightly in recognition.
"Rise, my friends," Ryoma smiled, a surprisingly easy expression that offset his severe appearance. "I thank you for your work, Kaze and Rinkah."
Corrin fought the urge to flinch as everyone's gazes turned to him. He willed himself calm and straightened his back, looking Ryoma straight in the eye. It was what Xander and Camilla would have done, they wouldn't have wavered for even a second.
"What is that sour look for, my dear?"
Corrin jumped at the new voice, whipping around on his heel. A dark haired woman dressed almost entirely in white was approaching them. A golden halo was pinned to the back of her hair, like Iago, Corrin thought distastefully. She stopped before him and smiled softly.
"My child, my sweet child. You're finally home."
Before Corrin could react, the woman closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. He shrank inwards from the unfamiliar touch. She was surprisingly strong, holding him in place as her fingers pressed against his armor with emotion that he did not understand. Her long hair brushed against his face as she held him against her. Corrin's arms felt limp, unsure if he could draw away.
"You may not remember us, but we are your family," she said once she released him. "You are prince of Hoshido."
"And that would make me your older brother," Ryoma said. "I can still remember the day you were taken. My father, Sumeragi, fought tooth and nail to keep King Garon from stealing you. But he was unsuccessful, my father was slain and you were taken from us."
Corrin tore away as if the woman had burned him, hand instinctively flying to the empty space where Ganglari should have been. Behind him, someone cleared their throat, footsteps signaling that they was cutting off any escape routes.
"You are mistaken," Corrin insisted. "King Garon is my father, I have siblings in Nohr who are waiting for me, they're probably wondering where I am. I'm...I'm Nohrian."
"Corrin, please," the woman's smile faltered with desperation. "Do you not remember me at all? I am your mother, Mikoto, or did you find a new mother in Nohr?"
Corrin could feel his heart begin to pound, his face burning while his hands turned cold. Cold spine crawling panic was welling up in his chest.
"Please, I want to go home," the words were out before he could control himself.
Mikoto's eyes creased in melancholy, she held up a placating hand and was about to speak before Ryoma stepped forward.
"Do not be disheartened, Mother, it is not surprising that Corrin does not remember us," Ryoma said. "It is only nature after spending so long in Nohr, and we are asking him to believe so much when we are but strangers to him."
He held his hand out to Kaze who dutifully handed over Ganglari.
"Corrin," Ryoma said, Corrin snapped to attention. His voice was surprisingly not gruff, instead clean and clear, but it held the universally recognizable tone of authority. "Will you allow us to prove how relieved we are to have you back with us? That even if you do not remember our faces, we have never stopped searching for you?"
Corrin swallowed, Ryoma's words were kind but that did not change the fact that he was in a strange land and surrounded by Hoshidans. Who is to know what would happen if he refused. Suddenly, the reality of how alone he was struck Corrin like a ton of bricks. He was in enemy territory and no one really knew where he was. Yet, he was still alive and unscathed and Mikoto and Ryoma seemed to want to keep him that way. It was almost dream like, how things that were not a possibility were happening. So, like a dream, he may as well keep moving. Maybe he would wake up.
"Yes, I want to hear you out," Corrin finally said.
Mikoto and Ryoma exchanged approving glances, Mikoto's hands clasped in what looked like relief. However, before any other words could be exchanged, the doors burst open and a soldier bolted in. He knelt down, still gasping for breath, before them.
"Lady Mikoto, Lord Ryoma, the northern villages are under attack from those...creatures."
"What about Hinoka and Sakura? Are they safe?" Ryoma asked, ignoring the gasps of surprise from the others in favor of a leader's calmness.
"They're helping evacuate the townsfolk. They're holding out for now, but the surprise was such an attack, we were overwhelmed."
Ryoma gave the soldier a curt nod before sending him away. He turned to Corrin, holding out Ganglari.
"It seems this is an apt time for you to meet the sisters you left behind. There is something at the villages that you need to see. Will you fight with us, Corrin?" he asked.
Corrin agreed immediately. He had no reason to refuse, after all, he had agreed to hear Ryoma out. He eagerly reached for Ganglari and pulled it back into his possession. Its living like warmth was immensely comforting.
