A/N: The calm before the storm.
Groups of closely set trees covered the forest, their branches stretching up to form a thick roof of leaves overhead, blocking out some of the light from the late afternoon sky. This made the area seem darker, more ominous, and it gave Xander the feeling that someone, a hidden enemy, was observing them from the distance.
Or perhaps it was simply the tension from the recent attack that has brought about this grim atmosphere.
Xander glanced at the aged knight cantering alongside him. For the untrained eye, Gunter looked as he always did, stern and bereft of emotions, but the subtle tightening of his jaw whenever his horse moved a little too forcefully didn't escape the crown prince's notice.
He was in pain.
"Gunter, Laslow. Halt." Xander slowed down his gait until coming into a full pause.
His two comrades stopped as well.
He turned to the knight. "Gunter."
"Yes, milord?"
"I thought you said your wound was shallow." Xander looked pointedly at the bloodied bandage covering the old man's right thigh. "The stains on the surface seem fresh, though."
Laslow trotted his horse closer to them, and, brushing back his bangs, leaned down to observe Gunter's wound. "You're right, Lord Xander. There are fresh blood on the bandage."
"But the attack happened around an hour ago. Why is the wound still open?" Xander asked.
Gunter's brow darkened. "It seems to be healing at an unnaturally slow rate, milord. I suspect the blades the attackers used were infused with some sort of magic."
"Magic?"
Straightening up, Laslow crossed his arms, his usually carefree face now a mask of confusion. "But those fiends were mere bandits, weren't they? It was clear that their purpose was to pilfer Lord Xander's bag, thinking that they could avail themselves of some gold. Weapon enchantments cost a great amount of money—a totally unpractical amount for lowly bandits."
"Especially dark enchantments like this," Gunter added drily.
Xander frowned. His instincts had been right all along—their assailants were no ordinary thieves. Brushing them off as such had been a mistake.
Always trust your instincts, Xander. They have never failed you.
And now they were telling him that there was something he had overlooked, a crucial detail that would help him understand what had happened. But what was it?
The memory of the assault still fresh in his mind, he visualised the events of an hour ago.
Somewhere in the middle of the woods, they had encountered two men, both garbed in black hooded robes, emerging from the trees. With a lethal quickness that contrasted with their large physique, they had charged at Xander, daggers drawn in each of their hands. The one from the right had reached for the satchel, while the other had tried to stab Xander.
It only took a second for the group to respond. Xander had quickly careened his horse to the right, his sword hand unsheathing Siegfried, when Gunter placed himself in front of one of the attackers. The old knight had struck him down with one swift blow to the heart, but not before receiving a slash on his right thigh.
The other assailant had managed to get a hold of the bag and was about to pull back, taking it with him, when Xander sliced off his hand, giving Laslow the opportunity to land the killing hit to his chest.
Panting at the sudden exertion, the trio had looked on as their enemies dropped to the ground. Blood had spurted forth from the cuts they had inflicted, and a thin, sheen of red had coated some parts of their Nohrian armour, as well as the grimy light brown robes of their enemies.
Hold on.
His hands gripped the reins tighter.
Light brown? I was certain the robes were black when we first saw them. Or did they merely appear that way?
A feeling of deja vu trickled down Xander's spine, teasing him with a recollection of an event that occurred months ago. After a few seconds, he inhaled sharply.
That must be it.
"They were mages, not thieves." Xander let his intent gaze travel between his comrades.
Laslow eyes widened with curiosity. "Why do you say that, milord?"
"This is purely guesswork, but I think our attackers were covered with wisps of dark energy, similar to the ones that enveloped Leo when I had chanced upon him practicing in his study. They must have used the same type of magic to cover their presence."
"That would explain why we never detected them until they were practically in front of us."
An unfathomable expression settled on Gunter's face. "So they were the mages after all."
"But why would they want to steal your things, milord?" Laslow gave a puzzled smile.
Xander's left hand subconsciously went to the large bag and held it tighter against him. Swallowing, he spared it a glance to make sure it was still nestled between his thighs.
Instead of answering Laslow's question, he abruptly prodded his horse forward. "We should resume our journey. The sooner we get to Draconhaven, the better. Judging from how quick our raven returned from Leo's whereabouts, I would say we're already quite near. Is that correct, Gunter?"
"Yes, milord. We should be able to reach it in fifteen minutes if we gallop."
"Are you well enough to gallop?"
Gunter nodded. "Yes, milord. There is no cause for concern, I assure you. Besides, my old friend in Draconhaven can cure my wound once we get there. He's rather adept at countering dark magic."
"Good. It's dangerous for us to dally here much longer. It might have been my imagination, but I'd sensed that someone was watching us at some point."
The looks on Gunter and Laslow's faces told him that he wasn't the only one who had felt it.
Without further delay, Xander spurred his horse with a decisive kick of his heel, causing it to charge in an explosion of energy.
As he raced across the woods, he could hear his father's voice reverberating inside his head.
"Guard the tome, son, and make sure that you take it to him. He must keep Brynhildr with him at all times."
That was his father's reminder just before he had set out for Hoshido days ago.
There were so many unanswered questions about this entire affair, starting from the mysterious betrothal to his father's odd requests. But there was one thing that Xander was certain of now—whoever attacked them earlier was after Brynhildr.
And he was determined to know why.
-x-
Leo has seen many sunsets in his life, but none could ever compare to the one he was currently gazing at. For once, he wasn't looking at the scenery through the lens of a detached observer—he actually felt part of it. There was simply something enthralling with the way the rice fields, the trees, the flowers, and even the clusters of small wooden cottages were bathed in a glowing sea of red.
Red.
Just like her eyes.
He groaned in self-disgust.
"Did you say something, milord?" Niles asked beside him, and Leo could have sworn that there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
Sighing, he turned to his companion. Hopefully, whatever it was that was creating these poetic thoughts inside his head would go away soon. "It was nothing. I was just admiring the sunset."
Niles nodded, looking not in the least bit convinced.
"Shouldn't you be inside? You haven't had an opportunity to rest ever since we arrived here." Leo cocked an eyebrow at him.
"I've encountered worse in the streets, milord. I guess my body is already attuned to pain and fatigue at this point." Niles grinned wryly. Then, realising his station, he added, "Forgive me. I didn't mean to sound so negative. What I meant to say was that I'm well, and I would prefer to be here where I could do my job as your retainer. Unless you would rather be alone."
Leo replied with a small grin of his own. "No, you may stay, Niles. I would appreciate the company. So long as you don't mind the hard seats, that is."
They were sitting on one of the wooden benches laid outside the inn, most likely intended for travelling merchants and similar passers-by. Despite the unyielding hardness of the bench that did little to relieve the soreness of his body, Leo understood that he needed this. He needed this time outside to think, away from Corrin's distracting proximity.
Inside his room earlier, he had caught himself straining his ears whenever a rush of footsteps would flood in and out of her room down the hall. He had been consumed with questions like, 'Who is she with?' 'What are they doing?' and 'What could they be talking about so excitedly?' And when he had heard a distinctly male voice emanating from the chamber, he had felt his chest constrict in response. That was when he had decided to get some fresh air to clear his head.
His plan wasn't going so well, however. His thoughts were still as muddled as ever.
"Lord Leo?"
Damn. Did Niles say something? "Yes?"
The smile on his retainer's face was wider now. "I was asking if it was too presumptuous of me to have ordered Odin to stay inside. He wanted to guard you as well, but I was sure you would feel better with him keeping a close watch on the princess."
"No, that's fine. I do feel calmer knowing that one of you are guarding her just in case." Leo hastily turned away. He didn't want to embarrass himself by blushing in front of a subordinate—even if he was a friend. "She's my betrothed and soon-to-be princess of Nohr. The—the future mother of my children. Of course, I expect you two to protect her as you do me."
He ended his sentence with a small, awkward cough that sounded like a wyvern choking on its own bile.
Good gods. What am I saying? I must be going insane.
Apparently, Niles had a different theory. "You're in love with her, milord."
The statement, spoken with such immovable conviction, caused Leo to snap his head back to him. "What did you say?"
"You're in love with her," the retainer repeated.
"That's ridiculous. Of course, I'm not in love with her. How could I be? I've only met her today." Leo protested hotly, almost sputtering with the intensity of his remarks. "I fear you're mistaking my curiosity for something else, Niles. Because all this is mere curiosity, and perhaps a degree of attraction—but nothing more. To think otherwise would be defying reason."
Unfazed by his master's retort, Niles continued to stare at him with a warmth that could only be gained through years of friendship. After a short pause, he spoke up at last. "Milord, may I ask a question?"
"Yes, you may."
"Do you remember our first meeting?"
"Do you mean when the castle guards caught you?" Leo shot him a speculative look. "I was preparing to execute you for breaking inside the palace. If I remember correctly, your former comrades had used you as distraction while they fled for safety."
"Yes, milord. I was so convinced that I was going to die. But then you had decided to not only spare my life, but also take me in as your retainer. Why was that?"
The prince mulled over the question for a few seconds before understanding finally dawned.
So this is where this conversation is heading.
He didn't like it one bit. He felt like a man who was digging his own grave, but he answered the question nonetheless. "It was because you didn't beg for mercy in the face of death. Instead, you accepted your fate with a sense of humility the likes of which I had never encountered before. And seeing you like that, I think I was overcome by a feeling that convinced me to give you a second chance."
It was an irrational choice considering the circumstances. Nothing about the situation had indicated that Niles could be trusted, and yet, Leo had gone ahead and took a risk with him anyway.
"Some feelings defy reason, but that doesn't make them any less real." Niles' smile then took on a self-deprecating edge. "Ironic, isn't it, that a cynic like me would say such a bold statement? But you see, milord, even I believe in intuition and love at first sight. Or at the very least, I know they exist."
Love at first sight.
Was it true? Could he really be in love with Corrin?
It seemed such a surreal possibility, and yet, even now, the merest thought of her was enough to cause excitement to thrum wildly in his veins, forcing his pulse to pick up speed once again.
The terms that he had called her earlier—my betrothed, princess of Nohr, mother of my children—all rang loudly against his ears. Inside the deepest recesses of his mind, he knew that he had uttered them to claim her in some way. To console himself with the knowledge that she was his, and no one else's.
Leo was suddenly breathless.
He was in love with her.
From out of nowhere, the thunderous sounds of hooves broke through the silence of the evening. Leo and Niles had been so preoccupied with their conversation that they hadn't noticed that night has already befallen them. With great difficulty, they focused their gazes on the newcomers.
"It's Lord Xander's party!" Niles cried, his eye narrowing as he peered into the darkness.
Leo instinctively stood up, his retainer mirroring his action. True enough, there were three mounted figures that were briskly galloping their way across the distance.
He instantly recognised the man in the middle as his elder brother. With his large, solid build being all the more pronounced in the Nohrian armour he wore, and with Siegfried glinting ominously against his hip, Xander was an intimidating presence even from several feet away. Especially with the faint splattering of dried blood on his face and armour.
Blood?
Tensing, Leo glimpsed at Laslow and Gunter, and sure enough, they were also caked in blood. "Xander!" He exclaimed, just as the three men stopped their horses before him. "What happened?"
Xander shook his head. "Don't fret, Leo. We were attacked in the woods, but these stains aren't ours. Gunter, though, was injured in the fray." He gestured to the elderly knight who was mounted beside him. There was a bloodied bandage covering his right thigh. "It's a small wound, but it hasn't healed yet. We believe the blades used were covered with some sort of magic or enchantment that prevents healing."
Leo scowled. "How long has it been since the attack?"
"It has been more than an hour already," Xander answered. "Hasn't it, Laslow?"
"Yes, milord." Laslow replied.
"They used some powerful magic, then, if it's still keeping the wound open until now." Padding his way towards Gunter, Leo stopped and inspected the bandage. It was hard to determine the colour of the stains due to the lack of illumination. "How do you feel, Gunter?"
"I'm fine, milord." The small wince that accompanied Gunter's remark did little to convince Leo that he was really fine. "The head of this village is a friend of mine. I'm certain he knows a way to counteract this magic. So as not to bother you anymore, I've already informed him, milord, and he's expecting me in house, just beyond that street."
"I'll go with you, Gunter. It's only a small distance so I'll walk, while you remain on your horse." Turning to his retainer, he requested, "Niles, please accompany me."
Niles bowed. "It would be my pleasure, milord."
Mild surprise was evident in Xander and Laslow's faces. Having already dismounted, they were on the process of tying their horses to the small wooden shed beside the inn.
"Are you sure, Leo? Wouldn't you rather rest inside with us?" Xander slid him a concerned glance.
"It's okay. I've already managed to do so earlier." The younger prince shook his head. "And besides, Gunter can heal faster if we combined our efforts."
Xander nodded, and made his way for the entrance to the inn. "I have something important to discuss with you when you get back."
"Yes, Brother."
What Leo didn't tell him was that accompanying Gunter would also give him more time to prepare what he was going to say to Corrin tonight. He planned to finally tell her the truth about his identity.
I wonder how she'll react when she finds out that the weird man she met at the baths was actually her betrothed.
The thought brought a grin to his face. "Let's go."
-x-
A/N:
This is a chapter where I wanted to showcase Niles and Leo's friendship. Niles is one of my favourite characters in the game, and he's probably the best bro figure for Leo. I love him so much!
Now the question remains, who will get to Corrin first? Heh.
