I'm sure the title says it all...

as always, R&R if ya want... or not ... :)

C Support

"Uuuf" Ike groaned.

"S-sorry, Ike… I guess I was moving too fast." Corrin was holding a small piece of cloth. "Looks like it went a bit deeper than we thought." She continued to clean off a wound Ike had in his right shoulder.

"Guess so…" Ike blankly stared ahead.

"I'm sorry about this, Ike. If I had been paying more attention to my surroundings, you wouldn't have had to take that arrow." Corrin laid the wet rag down, switching to a dry one.

"Don't worry about it, Corrin. Your life is more important than my shoulder." Ike winced somewhat at Corrin padding at the wound. She put the dry rag down as well, grabbing gauze to rap around Ike's shoulder.

"I'm just glad it didn't take your life… I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if you lost your life because of my own stupidity." She sighed.

"Corrin, don't beat yourself up over this." He was looking at her now. "What happened, happened, we can't change that, so now we just move on."

"I know, but… what if, Ike? What if I did get you killed?" Corrin pleaded

"Then so be it, as long as I'm here I won't let you die. There is too much riding on your survival." Ike's voice was stern in its tone.

"You're my friend, Ike. I don't think I could bare seeing something like that happen to you, especially if it was because of me… I've already lost so much." Corrin was wrapping much slower. "I know my job as a leader is to bare the hardship of all my men, but… sometimes I don't think I can take it. I… don't think I'm fit to be their leader, let alone their princess…"

Ike faintly smiled, "What's the matter with you?"

"I'm sorry, Ike... it's just-" Corrin glared at him. "It isn't the first time I've gotten someone killed. My father..." she paused, "My mother... they sacrificed themselves to save me. But what was it worth, I can't even hold a candle to their leadership. Gods... everything has been happening so quickly these past few weeks, I... I haven't really had anytime to think about my mother." her voice grew uneven.

"Corrin, none of those things were your fault. Your parent gave their lives to save you, because they loved you, and they believed in you, just like everyone else here, giving their all to support your cause." Ike tried to comfort her, but she shook her head.

"I know that, but what if it had all been in vain?" she mumbled the last part, but Ike heard it clearly. They remained in silence for a moment, Ike peering around, noticing an etching in the side of a sakura tree.

"Corrin..." she looked up to him, "Does the carving you make in a tree ever disappear?" he asked.

"No, it's a scar that will always be there." she replied.

"Right, but the tree keeps growing..." Ike paused, "Eventually, when the tree has grown taller, and its branches grow wider and more brilliant in size, that scar, will become a smaller part of the whole." he faintly smiled. "You have already done such an amazing job, Corrin, and I think you always will. Regardless of how much others may believe in you, I won't falter in my trust for you, Corrin."

The young princess finished wrapping the gauze around Ike's shoulder, taking a step back so Ike could flex his arm to check how much flexibility he had. Ike proudly smiled to her. "Not bad, Corrin, not bad at all."

"You like it, it's my first..." she reached a hand out to help the mercenary stand to his full height. Ike looked down to the princess, who warmly smiled to him. "Thank you, Ike... I am, so grateful to have met someone like you." she bowed her head, staring with her pinkish eye's into the mercenaries. He simply nodded to her in slight bewilderment.

-Ike and Corrin Achieved C Support-

There ya go boy's and gals and everyone else...

Short chapter I know, but I guess the title speaks for itself.

The bit about a scar on a tree becoming a smaller part of the whole is an old quote I believe. I heard it from a friend, and I stuck with me, but I don't actually know where it's from.