Chapter 10

Corrin stood in a strange room that was at once familiar and unfamiliar, clenching his eyes closed and waiting for the world to stop spinning around him.

He had a headache. One so bad he felt like he'd pass out if he opened his eyes.

Ryoma's plan of having him sit on the supposedly magical Hoshidan Throne to regain his memories had been successful, in a fashion. It was official, he had his memories back. His strange pseudo-amnesia was cured. But everything had come crashing back to the forefront of his mind at once, and it was, in a word, overwhelming. Glimpses of images flashed before his eyes, a thousand scents, feelings, sounds and thoughts, all assailing his mind at once. He couldn't focus on anything. In a way, this was worse than the amnesia. At least with the amnesia it had been a lack of something, nothingness. Not this overwhelming sensory assault that he was pretty sure was driving him mad.

He opened his eyes, the weak light from the lamp behind him even searing his vision, but he endured to study the room.

His room.

Or what had once been his room, anyway. It was a child's room, full of toys and clothes that were little more than distant memories now. Grinning through the seething headache behind his eyes Corrin took a moment to bask in the fact that he actually had memories to call distant.

The room was only small, a single room unlike the suites his siblings had, still attached to the King and Queen's chambers. It truly was a child's room. A single shelf stood against one wall atop the tatami flooring. The room itself was clean, but his effects were still strewn about, as if he would have been back years ago. Paper and pencils for drawing, a few plush toys in one corner, his futon, still rumpled from the last time he'd slept in it. Although he was far too big for it now. A rocking horse in the guise of a pegasus sat in another corner, masterfully hand-carved and free of dust. And a single window facing the castle grounds, a forest that, if his fractured memories were right, held a lake at the center.

"So this is where you were."

Corrin turned away from the window, watching his mother hesitantly step into the room.

"Yes," he said. "I remembered where it was and… I just needed a little peace. You knew I'd be here?"

Mikoto's face split into a smile as she chuckled.

"I may be a seer, but it was easy enough to find you with Rinkah standing out front scowling like a gargoyle."

Corrin scoffed, turning back to the window. After he'd gotten his memories back the pain of being around the other Hoshidans, his siblings, had been unbearable. Every time he looked at them, or they spoke, or he caught the scent of the baths still lingering on them, new memories assailed him like daggers in his brain, too fast for him to make sense of. So he'd acted on instinct and hid in his old room until he calmed down a little.

"Yeah, she's like a bad smell. I can't get rid of her," he chuckled.

"I want you to be comfortable here," Mikoto said after a moment. "What should we call you?"

Corrin went still for a moment, breathing a long sigh out his nose before answering.

"Corrin," he said after a moment. "Just because I have my memories back now doesn't make me a different person. My name is Corrin, but… I am your son. I no longer doubt that."

They stood in silence for another moment until the sound of Mikoto approaching softly on the tatami broke it.

"I thought you regained your memories," she said, still smiling.

"Er… kind of?" Corrin said uncertainly.

"Then you should remember there's no shoes on the tatami," Mikoto laughed, pointing to his feet.

Corrin glanced down, feeling a stab of guilt as he beheld his dirty boots on the pristine tatami floor. He laughed, kicking off his boots and placing them near the door.

"Sorry, old habits," he said as he did so. "We wear our boots inside in Nohr. It's warmer that way."

As Corrin was walking back to the window he hesitated, squatting down to brush his fingers of the drawing sitting on the floor, where he'd left it a lifetime ago.

"I remember this," he said wistfully.

"You drew that as a boy," Mikoto said happily, moving to stand next to him again. "This is your father, this is me, and this is you. You were so excited about it, you wanted to show everyone."

Corrin smirked, gently picking the old paper up and standing.

"We couldn't bear to touch a thing in this room after you were taken," Mikoto said, stepping back. "If we had put your things away, it would have felt like giving up."

Corrin nodded, holding the faded old drawing out to his mother with a sheepish grin. Mikoto looked confused for a moment, hesitantly taking it.

"I was going to give it to you when I got back," he explained softly. "At least… I think I was. It's still kind of hard to recall, but… better late than never, right?"

Mikoto looked down at the picture in her hands for a moment before looking back up at Corrin, her shoulders beginning to tremble as her eyes teared up.

"You've grown so much," she said, her voice shaking. "I can't believe how h-handsome you've become. Just like your… father…"

Corrin sighed, stepping forward and wrapping his mother in a hug. They stood there like that for a moment before Mikoto quieted and Corrin stepped back.

"I don't remember everything," he said. "I don't remember how I ended up in Nohr. I don't remember my father. I only vaguely remember my brothers and sisters. But… It'll come back to me now. I'm sure."

Mikoto smiled and nodded, clutching the drawing close to her chest.

"I'm just so happy to have you back," she whispered. "We all are. I can scarcely believe it…"

Corrin let out a small groan, running a hand through his hair as his thoughts turned to his Hoshidan siblings.

"I was such a jerk to them today," he said. "I said and did things… I was rude to Sakura and Ryoma, and so cruel to Hinoka…"

"They will forgive you," Mikoto promised. "Hinoka especially. There's no way she could stay angry at her adorable little brother. Ryoma I haven't seen act so lively since he was a child. And Sakura already looks up to you so much."

"After just one day?" Corrin scoffed.

"Of course," she laughed. "She thinks the world of you. They all do."

Mikoto walked around to Corrin's front, resting her hands on his shoulders.

"Spend a little time here," she offered. "Get to know your brothers and sisters. Give them a chance."

"I will," Corrin smiled. "But I will go back to Nohr eventually."

Mikoto's face fell, and Corrin had to laugh.

"Relax, I'm not leaving permanently," he chuckled. "But I am in a unique position. Born into the Hoshidan royal family, adopted by the Nohrian one. I could be the bridge that the two nations need. I could bring peace."

Mikoto reached up and stroked his face, smiling softly. "You will. I've seen it. But it makes me so proud to hear you say it aloud."

"Thanks… mother," Corrin smirked.

He winced though, as stars blossomed before his eyes, his headache assailing him again. He swayed, catching himself and chuckling ruefully.

"But do you have something that can take the pain away?" he groaned. "I don't think I'll get any seep like this."

The next morning Corrin woke as he always did, slowly and reluctantly. He blinked a few times, sitting up and letting the top of the futon fall off of his bare chest as he looked around. He wasn't in the room he'd had as a child; it hadn't felt right to sleep in there, especially not at his current age, so Mikoto had had a small suite prepared for him not far from her own quarters. Or whatever the Hoshidan equivalent of a suite was, anyway. It was only two rooms, far smaller than he was used to, but it would suffice. She had also personally prepared a potion to help him sleep, and for the first time in a long time he'd had a good night's sleep. No dreams. No memories. Just blissful nothingness until he'd opened his eyes.

The room itself was simple, just tatami floors and a small chest of drawers for his belongings on one wall in the inner room. Harwood floors in the outer area, slightly lower than the inner room. Carefully folded and resting on the chest was his cape, and resting atop of it was Ganglari.

Corrin's tired face set into a scowl as his gaze fell on the weapon, recalling clearly now the way it had stopped him from felling Hans at the Bottomless Canyon. Why it had done that, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he no longer trusted the sword. But, that being said, it had served him perfectly during the siege of the northern village.

He put such thoughts out of his mind, climbing slowly to his feet and giving a great yawn. A knock sounded at his door, and he turned to face it.

"Enter," he called.

Emma slid the door aside from the bottom in a kneeling position, bowing low before presenting him with a tray of food.

"I have your breakfast Lord Corrin," she said, finally looking up.

With a little squeak Emma almost upended the tray, and only years of catching Felicia's similar mishaps made Corrin reach out and steady it.

"I-I-I'm so sorry!" Emma cried.

Her face went red as she carefully placed the tray down before turning on her heel and dashing from the room. Corrin blinked, quirking his head in confusion as he looked down at himself. Just to make sure he was wearing pants. He was indeed wearing pants. With a shrug, he sat down and began to poke at his breakfast.

"I'm sure I'm forgetting something here," he mumbled.

He picked up the two little sticks that were carefully lined up on the bottom of the tray, studying them before his face.

"Like what the hell are these?"

After a thoroughly confusing breakfast which he ended up eating with his hands, and now fully clothed, Corrin stepped out of his room to find a flustered Emma waiting beside his door. Her gaze inevitably fell to his hip, where Ganglari was strapped.

"Is there somewhere I can do some training?" he asked. "It's been a while since I've just run some drills."

"Of course, Lord Corrin," Emma nodded. "Please, follow me. I'll show you to the training ground that Prince Ryoma and Princess Hinoka use."

Corrin took his first steps out into the grounds of Shirasagi, shielding his eyes from the ever-present glare of the sun as he glanced around. The same forest in the distance that he could see from his window, a niggling memory in the back of his mind telling him that there was a lake at its center. Between the forest and the castle, though, there was a long training ground consisting of a number of rings of hard packed earth and a shooting range for archers. It was a simple affair, much like his own training area back in Nohr, and it made Corrin smile with nostalgia.

There were already a few other people using the grounds. Sakura and a tall, older woman with a scarred face were practicing archery. The older woman, Reina, Corrin had met in passing already; she had led the soldiers to help evacuate the refugees before returning to Shirasagi with them the previous day, and was one of his Mother's retainers. Her other retainer, Yukimura, he had yet to meet except for the brief encounter on the day of his arrival. Apparently Yukimura was Hoshido's Royal Tactician, so he was a busy man. What little Corrin had had to do with Reina she had reminded him of Gunter, so he had avoided her. The same young brunette woman that had lingered by Sakura's side at the village stood not far away, watching patiently. She looked about the same age as the young Princess, probably one of her servants or retainers.

Hinoka, too, was running drills while her retainers watched. Setsuna looked like she would fall asleep at any moment, while a tall, frizzy-haired man with eyes like a smiling cat leaned on a staff next to her in robes that Corrin could remember now belonged to a priest. The older Princess was fully absorbed in her drills, swishing her naginata back and forth as if engaged in battle with multiple foes, the bladed tip of the spear-like weapon make a keen whooshing sound as it cut through the air. She was clearly dressed in her training gear, too, similar to what Rinkah usually wore. Her chest was wrapped in similar bindings to those that the Flame Tribe warrior wore, and she wore simple pants and boots that didn't hinder her movement. Her toned arms and stomach were on full display as she swung her weapon around, and Corrin had to admit he was impressed by her clearly high level of fitness.

Of course, he mused with a thoughtful frown, nothing compared to the sheer absurdity of Rinkah's incredible abs…

Hinoka stopped when she noticed Corrin approaching, giving her a wide grin. Sakura noticed him, too, and began to lower her bow, earning a swift smack in the back of the head from Reina. The youngest Princess resumed her stance, Corrin trying not to laugh at the similarities he saw between her and Gunter.

"Morning," he called cheerily.

"Good morning," Hinoka greeted, a little more subdued.

"Sorry again about last night," Corrin said, trying to keep his tone light.

"Forget it," Hinoka muttered, looking away and blushing. "It wasn't your fault."

They stood awkwardly for a moment, Corrin trying not to grin at or stare at the way Hinoka had tied her fringe up from her face in a little tuft at the top of her head, the Princess clearly still embarrassed about the previous evening.

It wasn't like with Camilla, he realized immediately. He'd had a flash of Hinoka and himself as children pass through his mind the previous evening, so he had little doubt that she was his sister, but… Camilla would have simply laughed off the previous evening's incident. Actually, she probably would have forced him to stay in the bath with her, knowing his sister. But he didn't know how to deal with Hinoka yet. He didn't know how to make this right. Corrin let out a little sigh, seeing no better way out of this awkwardness.

"If you're willing I could use a sparring partner," he offered, actively ignoring the advice that Ryoma had given him.

Hinoka glanced up at him, her face taking on a slight grin herself.

"Seriously?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sure," Corrin sighed. "I was just going to run some drills, but since you're here…"

"Okay, hold on," she said, turning away.

Corrin, assuming she was just making space to begin the match, drew Ganglari and gave it a few practice swings. He froze when a number of alarmed shouts rang out, making him turn in a circle to see what was wrong. As he faced the others again he was surprised to find the cat-eyed man standing guard in front of Hinoka, Setsuna pointing an arrow at him. Behind them Reina was doing the same while shielding Sakura.

"What?" Corrin asked innocently.

"Put down the sword, Prince Corrin," the cat-eyed man said slowly.

"I thought we were going to spar," he said, lowering Ganglari and sheathing it.

"With training weapons," Hinoka laughed. "It's okay, Setsuna, Azama. Stand down."

Both of her retainers did as they were told, Reina doing the same in the distance with a wary look on her face. Hinoka tossed him a spear-shaped stick, taking one up herself and facing him.

"You sparred with real weapons in Nohr?" she asked. "Isn't that dangerous?"

Corrin shrugged, giving the long stick a few practice swings through the air the way Gunter had taught him.

"I'm a little rusty with a lance," he admitted before answering. "And you saw me last night. I didn't get those scars studying. Actually, I take that back, I have one on my shoulder I got while I was studying. Funny story, my brother Leo came in while I was…"

He trailed off, his grin dropping when he saw the serious look on Hinoka's face.

"Okay, maybe I'll tell you that one later," he shrugged, adopting the ready-stance Gunter had also taught him.

He hadn't trained with a lance in a while, but Gunter had drilled it into him like everything else. He and Xander both ended up with sour looks on their faces whenever the old Knight had declared they were training with the weapons in Nohr, despite the Crown Prince being far more proficient than Corrin. The memory made him smile slightly as he flexed his fingers against the smooth, hard wood of the training spear.

Across from him Hinoka adopted a totally different stance to his own, shaking her head.

"That's horrible," she said.

Corrin shrugged, and they began circling each other.

"Scars are permanent lessons," he explained. "We're taught in Nohr that if you got a scar, you did something to deserve it. You screw up, you get hurt. Or you die."

He punctuated his explanation by darting in low, bringing his training lance up under Hinoka's guard. She stepped back, flipping her own training weapon down and smacking it hard onto his shoulder. Corrin hissed and hopped back, opening space between them again.

"And if you'd taken that blow in Nohr?" Hinoka asked hotly.

Corrin grinned, switching to a one-handed stance.

"I'd be fighting one-handed," he said.

Hinoka ducked in faster than Corrin could follow, her lance hooking in behind his leading foot and flipping him onto his back with barely a flick of her wrist.

"Your stance is weak," she said, offering him her hand.

Corrin smirked, allowing himself to be pulled up. Rather than push his attack immediately the way he'd been taught he pulled back, adopting the same stance again.

"I told you I was rusty," he said. "Come on, best two out of three."

Hinoka smirked, shaking her head as she returned to her own starting stance. After a moment she sighed, her smirk being replaced by a melancholy frown.

"It just feels so unfair," she said. "Everything you went through, all of your suffering…"

Corrin shook his head, a blast of memories and accompanying pain momentarily blinding him. Memories of unfair beatings, whippings and scoldings. But after each of those he remembered Elise sitting with him until he could move again, Xander taking it easy on his training the next day, Leo sneaking him adventure novels, Camilla holding him…

"It wasn't exactly a picnic at first, but it got better," he admitted. "As I got older I learned how not to anger the matron at the fortress, and when she finally left I was pretty much allowed my own devices. Plus I always had my brothers and sisters in Nohr to make me feel better."

They started circling again, Hinoka lashing out first this time. Her spear darted in almost faster than Corrin could see, but instinct brought his own weapon up to deflect the strike. He stepped into her attack, ducking past her and failing to trip her up the same way she had him in their previous match. Instead Hinoka smashed the butt of her spear into his shin, making him curse and hop away from her.

"That doesn't count as a hit!" he growled indignantly.

Hinoka laughed as they faced each other again, her face far more relaxed than before. She struck again, aiming for Corrin's chest this time, and he barely had time to smack the blow aside with the haft of his spear before she spun, delivering a crushing kick to his ribs and driving the air from his lungs. He heard the retainers and Emma let out sympathetic sounds as he resisted the urge to double over, resuming his stance as they separated.

"Well, you're tough if nothing else," Hinoka smirked.

"Are you kidding?" he laughed, wincing. "I used to take worse beatings to wake me up in the morning. Stop holding back."

Hinoka grinned again, throwing herself forwards this time. Corrin didn't even bother trying, simply bracing himself as the tip of Hinoka's training spear flashed, striking his chest like lightning and knocking him through the air and flat onto his back across the ring. There was no way he would have been able to block the blow anyway.

"Ow," Corrin managed to groan.

He closed his eyes, trying to decide if the ache in his bruised chest hurt more or if the glare from the sun suddenly assaulting his vision did.

"Are you okay?" Hinoka asked laughingly. "You told me to stop holding back."

"Yeah, just… need a second," Corrin groaned, sitting up. "Ryoma wasn't kidding… ouch…"

He glanced up as a shorter length of wood was dropped in his lap, Hinoka taking the fallen training spear away.

"What's this?"

"Training sword," Hinoka called over her shoulder. "That was two out of three, my victory. Hopefully you're better with a sword."

"I'll have you know I'm great with a sword," Corrin groaned as he clambered back to his feet. "This is nice, though. I never trained like this with my sister in Nohr."

"Oh?" Hinoka asked, giving her own practice sword a few test swings. "She wasn't a fighter?"

"No, she was terrifying," Corrin laughed, massaging his ribs. "I'd go so far as to say that she was the fiercest fighter out of all of us. I've only ever seen her fight seriously once, but it was enough. She was always busy in Windmire with the Nohrian Court, though. When she did visit she doted on me endlessly. She'd probably never lift a weapon at me, training or no. It was… a little frustrating. She still sees me as a child, even now."

Hinoka made a thoughtful sound, frowning as she adopted a two-handed ready stance. Corrin suppressed a grin, slipping instinctively into his own one-handed stance. Hinoka held her practice sword the same way that the men at the Bottomless Canyon had. No doubt it was a common Hoshidan form, which meant he'd seen it and fought it before. This time, he had the advantage.

Stepping forward, Corrin lunged, the tip of his wooden sword flying aside as Hinoka lashed out with a horizontal slash to try and open his guard. Corrin did grin this time, spinning beneath her blade and slipping around her blow, ending their first round with his wooden sword resting against the back of her neck in a manner of seconds. They stood like that for a moment before Corrin chuckled and stepped back.

"You are much better with a sword," Hinoka admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. "Best two out of three, right?"

Corrin smirked, silently saluting her with his sword as he stepped back into his ready stance. Hinoka attacked first this time, a blistering barrage of two-handed high and mid strikes obviously aimed to throw Corrin onto the defensive. With one hand he caught each blow on his own blade, knocking Hinoka's sword aside each time. She was ready this time, slashing a wide arc at Corrin's midsection and making him jump back. They both grinned, circling again.

"You're not half-bad with a sword yourself," Corrin commented, circling his blade.

Hinoka laughed, closing the distance again with a brutal downward slash that Corrin caught on his blade, deflecting it aside. He circled his sword again as Hinoka drew her own weapon back, both wooden swords meeting again with a thunderous crash that sent fragments of wood flying everywhere.

They danced apart, both laughing and holding the stumps of their ruined practice swords.

"Let's call that one a draw," Corrin chuckled.

"My Lady, are you unharmed!?"

"Lord Corrin! Are you okay!?"

Both Corrin and Hinoka turned to their respective names, Azama striding forwards with his staff held up while Emma looked on with worry in her eyes. Over her head she noticed Sakura and Reina watching carefully, and he gave them a cheerful wave.

"I'm fine," Corrin assured them.

"I'd ask if you want another round, but Ryoma gets mad if I break too many training weapons," Hinoka laughed bashfully.

"Oh, you're just afraid I'd beat you again," Corrin laughed, dropping the remains of his sword.

Hinoka snorted, crossing her arms and grinning again. "Azama, get us two more swords."

"I'm afraid I must refuse, My Lady. For your own good," he sighed. "Do you remember what happened last time you ruined your training gear?"

Hinoka frowned as Corrin chuckled.

"Let's reschedule for a later date, then," he suggested. "I think I might go for a cool-down run instead."

Azama cleared his throat, raising one eyebrow at Hinoka as she opened her mouth.

"I'll, uh, clean up the mess," she mumbled dejectedly.

"Very well," Corrin chuckled.

He turned and walked over to the archery range, the young brunette girl glaring at him his entire approach. Reina glanced up, offering him a warm smile and a nod as Sakura fired another arrow into her target.

"Good morning, Lord Corrin," Reina said. "I'm glad to see you feeling better this morning. Queen Mikoto mentioned you were experiencing some side-effects after regaining your memories."

"If by 'side effects' you mean 'debilitating, mind-numbing headaches', then yes," Corrin laughed.

The twin scars in the shape of a large cross on Reina's face crinkled as she smiled and laughed along with him.

"Yes, she did mention headaches," the older woman laughed. "I'm glad to see your sense of humor is unharmed, though."

Corrin shrugged again, grinning at Sakura.

"Are you free after your training?" he asked.

"Y-yes," she said meekly, looking down.

"I was wondering if you would like to join me for some tea?" he suggested gently. "If you have time, of course. I'd like to get to know my family a little."

Sakura perked up at the word 'family', nodding excitedly as she smiled in relief.

"Y-yes! Yes, of course!" she said.

"After your training," Reina chimed in.

"I'll leave you to it," Corrin said. "I'll come find you later, okay?"

Sakura nodded as Corrin turned away again, quirking a brow at the brunette girl's glare. He stopped short as he came face to face with Emma, still holding a towel and a waterskin for him.

"Er… I'm just going for a run," he said hesitantly. "Wait here?"

"Of course, Lord Corrin," the girl said with a bow, backing off.

Corrin shook his head as he began to stretch out his legs. Servants in Hoshido were much more… overbearing. Even after living with Felicia, Flora and Jakob for so long it would take some getting used to.

Panting and sweating as he jogged beneath the boughs of the small Shirasagi forest, Corrin let his feet simply carry him wherever they willed as he let his mind empty and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. It was a novel change, getting to go for a run outside rather than down the long, empty corridors of the Northern Fortress, and he had to admit it was nice. The rustling of the leaves overhead, the loamy smell of the earth beneath his feet, the insufferable sunlight filtering through the trees, all of it was so pleasant he felt like running forever. Or rather coming back at night and running forever then. He still hadn't adjusted to the sun yet.

His memory flashes had quieted now, too, leaving him with a blessedly blank mind as his feet carried him down a winding path through the trees. He recalled there was a lake of some sort in the forest, and the urge to take a dip with no one around was almost overwhelming. He didn't remember the last time he'd actually been able to swim. Or if he even could swim, but he supposed there was only one way to find out.

Mind now made up, Corrin picked up his pace, the thought of swimming and then drying himself in the sun bringing a smile to his face as he raced to the lake.

His smile faded somewhat, though, when his thoughts turned to his siblings in Nohr. It was a secret fantasy of his that one day the five of them would go to a lake or a beach somewhere and just relax as a family. Maybe with their retainers, but always as a family. That he was going to do it alone now almost felt like a betrayal to them, but as he contemplated turning back he finally emerged from the trees into the sunlight again, and almost tripped over his own feet as he quickly threw his hand up to shield his eyes with a hiss.

Coming to a stop he blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the brighter light. As he willed his eyes not to tear up again a familiar lilting melody floated across the shore to him, making him look up with a squint.

There, on a small dock jutting out into the lake, the hazy, ethereal figure of a woman was singing.

"You are an ocean of waves, weaving a dream, like thoughts become a river stream…"

Corrin groaned slightly as a fresh memory brought yet another stabbing headache, but stepped forward anyway. He'd heard this melody in a dream before. The woman's words were familiar, but subtly different…

A ripple spread out atop the water, leaving the surface of the lake glassy and smooth in its wake from the woman atop the dock, such was the strength of her voice.

"Yet may the tide ever change, flowing like time, to the path, yours to climb…"

As Corrin's vision cleared the hazy form on the dock resolved into that of a young woman, thin and painfully attractive. Her long pale blue hair, the color of the sky, hung down past her hips beneath a strange white head-dress. Her clothes, pure white, were tight and form-hugging. Corrin found them somewhat strange, especially given that her leggings only had a single white legging, her other leg left bare from the hip down. Long gloves reached up to her shoulders, and her top flared out to become something of a dress.

So lost he was in her singing that Corrin didn't even realize he was still approaching the lake until he stumbled on a rock and yelped as he caught himself. As if he'd closed the lid on a music box the woman's song stopped, and she spun and turned a frown on him. She stomped up the dock, the trail of her dress flaring out behind her and a golden amulet hanging down from her neck atop her clothes swinging with the motion.

"Yes?" she snapped, glaring up at Corrin.

The Nohrian Prince winced, tempted to resigning himself to being glared at by all the women his own age in Hoshido, but cleared his throat and smiled all the same.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," he said sheepishly. "I just got lost in your singing. That was a beautiful song."

Corrin cursed in his head, realizing just how much like Laslow he sounded at the moment and expecting the woman to send him off with a few choice, harsh words, but he gave a small and relieved sigh as the woman's face softened as she looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on Ganglari's hilt.

"You must be Prince Corrin," she said after a moment of studying him.

"I am," he said quickly. "You have me at a disadvantage, though."

"I'm Azura," she said. "A former Princess of Nohr."

He opened his mouth to respond, hesitating and closing it again as her words registered.

"What, really?" Corrin said, grinning excitedly for a moment before frowning thoughtfully. "Wait. If that were true, surely I would have heard of you. I… don't remember having three sisters in Nohr…"

"That's because I was kidnapped by Hoshido just after you were brought to Nohr," Azura explained. "I've been here for a very long time. After you were taken Hoshido retaliated. And failing to get you back, they settled for me. I suppose we've both been hostages for most of our lives…"

Much to Corrin's surprise she spoke without any malice or negativity, simply stating the facts as they were. Despite being taken from her family and her home, and actually remembering it, it appeared Azura had come to terms with her own circumstances. However, given what Corrin now remembered of his own treatment all he could do was wince sympathetically. For such a thin and ethereal-seeming girl to have gone through what he had…

"Gods, I'm so sorry," he sighed, looking away.

Azura's gentle laughter made him glance back up, a small grin decorating her face now.

"No, it's okay," she assured him. "I may be a hostage, but I've lived a happy life. The Queen has always treated me as if I were one of her own children, and the Hoshidan royalty have accepted me as one of their own."

Corrin didn't know how to respond, a small twinge of jealousy blossoming in his breast at the thought that she had had so easy a life compared to his. Of course, now that he looked at her, he could see no sign of the intense training he had endured, no scars, no wounds… Her body was thin and toned, but it was the body of a dancer, an artist, not a warrior.

"Do they, now…" he muttered, turning away to look out over the lake.

"Is something the matter?" Azura asked curiously.

"I had thought for a moment that I had found a kindred soul," Corrin admitted.

"And you no longer feel that way?"

"You have a good life here, right? They don't treat you like a prisoner, like a weapon… a tool."

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry, Corrin."

"Don't be," he said, smiling a little as he turned back to her. "After all, I have my brothers and sisters in Nohr, and just the thought of them was enough to ease my pain. I am glad to meet you, though. I am lucky enough to count the rest of the Nohrian royal family as my own family. At the very least I hope we can be friends."

Azura laughed a little, the sound delicate like wind chimes on the breeze, covering her mouth with one hand.

"You are a strange one," she chuckled. "I hope that, too."

The former Nohrian Princess moved back to the lake, humming the tune of her song as she sunk to sit on the edge of the wooden dock. Her bare feet just barely brushed the surface of the lake, sending ripples out from her again as she hummed. There was a strange, dream-like quality to the scene that Corrin could only attribute to her own natural grace and poise. Not a single movement of her lithe limbs was wasted, every one carefully calculated and beautiful. If she wasn't doing it on purpose Azura would have been the most regal person Corrin had ever met. She glanced back up at him, smiling softly as she chuckled.

"Would you care to join me?"

"Actually, I was planning to swimming and… on second thought, I'd love to."

Corrin shuffled over on legs starting to ache now that he was finished his run, his movements seemingly crass and oafish in comparison to Azura's nimble form. He hopped on first one foot and then the other as he pulled off his boots, sighing in relief as he sank down next to her and submerged his feet in the cool water, the sensation sending shudders of pleasure up his spine beneath his sweat-damp gi.

"That feels nice," he groaned.

"Indeed," Azura agreed. "We should take now to relax before tonight's banquet."

"Banquet?" Corrin parroted curiously.

"They didn't tell you?" she asked, the ghost of a smile on her face. "There was to be a banquet tonight to celebrate your return, followed by a great festival in the Shirisagi Village at the base of the mountain for the rest of the week."

"Huh. Not surprising," Corrin shrugged.

The banquet and the festival were both news to him, but Corrin had guessed that there would be some form of celebration. Now that Mikoto was making an official public announcement about his return it would make things easier for him to bridge the divide between the two nations once things settled down. Of course, getting back into contact with Nohr would be the hard part…

The Nohrian Prince sighed again, leaning back and supporting himself with his arms only to hiss and shade his eyes again.

"Okay, how did you do it?" he asked irritably.

"I'm sorry?" Azura said, taken aback. "Do what?"

"Adjust to the sun!" Corrin growled. "You're from Nohr, too, right? How did you adjust to the thrice-damned sun!? It's so bright! It's driving me crazy!"

Azura looked at him for a moment, her face slack before she smiled, chuckling a little. After a few seconds clearly trying not to, she gave in and burst into laughter, holding onto her stomach as Corrin groaned and tried desperately to shade his eyes, grinning along as well.

In the grounds behind Shirasagi Takumi walked, letting his fingertips brush over the bark of the ancient cherry trees he passed beneath. He'd always loved the Cherry Grove, ever since he and his father had played there in his youth. Before Nohr had stolen him away. Now, as a man, the Cherry Grove was a place of peace and tranquility, a place of quiet contemplation that steeled his resolve, reminding him why he hated and fought. It also made for the perfect place to have meetings with the various heads of the clans that supported him, so far removed from the prying eyes and ears of the castle and his brother's damned ninja.

A few steps behind him Oboro followed as attentively as always, quietly waiting for his word should he need anything.

However, unlike usual Hinata, Takumi's other retainer, stood with her. Hinata was usually his first choice to lead the troops Takumi was entrusted with; he was young, only a few years older than Takumi himself, but had proven himself against the constant Nohrian raiding parties of Faceless. The son of a prominent line of samurai that had served the Hoshidan royalty for generations, Hinata was the first of his family to actually be a retainer to a member of the royal family. He was a head shorter than Takumi, his dark brown hair messy and long, pinned to the back of his head lazily, and wore a sleeveless black chest plate that showed off his toned, muscular arms. He rested his family's cherished katana across his shoulders in its sheathe, watching in obvious boredom as Takumi held his meeting.

Takumi's three closest allies and strongest supporters in the Hoshidan Court, Haitaka, Senno and Daichi, walked with him under the trees, following his winding path through the grove. All three wore plain kimonos in Takumi's presence, but he knew that they were all powerful and respected warriors.

"Things in the south are going well," Senno reported, pushing his spectacles further up his thin nose. "We have lost our Nohrian contacts for our trade, but it is only a matter of time before more take their place. I will send some people to reach out once the dust settles."

Takumi made a thoughtful sound and nodded, looking up at the trees.

"Good," he said without looking back. "I want the route re-opened. As much as I hate to admit it, their metalwork is far more advanced than our own."

"If we had access to their stockpiles of ore we would have far more to work with," Daichi grunted. "My smiths and artisans would benefit greatly having more material to work and practice with."

"Patience, Daichi," Takumi said. "Once things calm down after my… 'brother' returns to Nohr we will make moves."

Takumi bristled at having to call the Nohrian prince his brother, but the evidence was there. Corrin was Kamui, as much as he hated to admit it. The Nohrian was his older brother.

Haitaka stepped forward, the quiet warrior bowing slightly before speaking.

"We know that it does not sit well with you, your brother's fate," he said, his voice soft. "However know that our trust in you remains unshaken, Prince Takumi."

Both Senno and Daichi nodded in agreement, and Takumi felt a stirring of pride in his breast. Hoshido would eventually overcome Nohr, especially with men like these at his side.

"I appreciate that. I'll see you at the banquet tonight, gentlemen."

"I'm not comfortable with this," Corrin said.

Kaze glanced up with a smirk. "It's not that bad. It's really just a heavier version of what you've been wearing for the last few days."

"No, I mean I'm not comfortable with all of this," Corrin sighed. "This… banquet. Meeting the Hoshidan Nobility. I didn't even have anything to do with the Nohrian Court. And yes, this kimono is insufferable."

He and the ninja were in his room, Kaze helping the Nohrian Prince to dress for the evening's banquet. Emma had disappeared in the afternoon, begging Corrin's leave to do her own training, leaving him with only Kaze as his attendant. At his insistence they had found a black kimono with small purple highlights among his late father's possessions, but it was still uncomfortable. He had lived his life as a shut-in, being forced to train in tactics, philosophy and war. Not in courtly manners, and certainly not in Hoshidan courtly manners. He barely knew the basics of Nohrian etiquette, thanks to one of the countless books Leo had leant him. Corrin couldn't help but shake the feeling he was about to make a royal arse of himself.

"It's not that bad," Kaze repeated. "Just keep your head down, eat slowly, do not jam your chopsticks into anything or leave them sitting upright, and you'll be fine."

"And if someone talks to me?" Corrin grumbled.

"Talk back," the ninja suggested glibly.

Corrin let out another sigh, glaring at the other man. Kaze chuckled, shrugging innocently.

"I don't see why you're so worried, milord," he said. "You will be seated between Queen Mikoto and Lady Hinoka at the position of honor. There will be conversation, yes, but most of it will likely be the same inane pleasantries that usually get exchanged at these things."

"You seem quite confident about that," Corrin deadpanned.

"I've served the royal family for just as long as my brother has," Kaze explained. "I've seen this kind of thing before. I think that the worst I've seen was Prince Ryoma being grilled about his love-life by a potential suitor when we celebrated him becoming Samurai General."

Corrin chuckled a little, before sighing.

"There's no need to be nervous, Prince Corrin," the ninja soothed. "I'll be attending the banquet as a servant with the retainers. If worse comes to worse I can make a scene to take the attention from you."

Corrin barked out a laugh, shaking his head. "You're a good friend, Kaze."

"What else is a servant for?" the green haired ninja shrugged.

"Right, well then…" Corrin sighed. "Lead the way. Slowly. I can barely move in this stupid thing."

Kaze laughed, holding the door open for Corrin. "You get used to it."

As the duo walked through the hallways of Shirisagi they chatted, Corrin fidgeting uncomfortably as Kaze led them downstairs to the banqueting hall.

"I miss pants. Are you sure I can't wear them underneath?"

"Yes, Lord Corrin. Everyone would be able to tell."

"I feel naked."

"You did remember your smallclothes, right?"

"No, I left them in the room- of course I remembered them!"

Kaze held his stomach as he laughed, the two of them emerging from a staircase onto the first floor where the girls were already waiting for them with their retainers standing a small way away. Sakura, Hinoka and Azura were all wearing white kimonos with various patterns and highlights, each one of them looking far different than Corrin was used to seeing them. Hinoka fidgeted restlessly the same way he had been, clearly just as uncomfortable in the thick, heavy clothing as he was. Sakura looked slightly more nervous than she usually did; from what Corrin could tell about her the youngest Princess wasn't fond of social events like these. Azura, however, was the picture of calm grace, every bit the proper princess and lady, her flowing blue hair cascading down her back and shoulders like a silken waterfall as she disinterestedly watched the servants scurrying about in preparation for the banquet. Corrin had to admit that he found it difficult to take his eyes off of her.

Azura glanced up, catching him staring and giving him a playful grin before Corrin's view was full of Hinoka.

"There you are!" his older sister said exasperatedly. "What took so long? You get lost?"

"I had some trouble with the kimono," Corrin grumbled. "I feel naked."

"I know what you mean," Hinoka grumbled in return. "I hate these formal things…"

Azura chuckled slightly from behind them, smiling slightly next to Sakura. She stepped forward, her delicate hands reaching up and straightening the collar of Hinoka's kimono as the taller woman fidgeted restlessly.

"They aren't so bad," she said, smoothing out the material. "You just have to remember to watch your posture, Hinoka."

"Yeah, yeah," Hinoka sighed. "Come on, let's get in there before Mother sends Reina to search for us again."

"Again?" Corrin parroted as they began to walk.

"Let's just say you can't get out of these things," Hinoka grumbled. "No matter how hard you try to hide."

Sakura and Azura both laughed at Hinoka's frowning expression, Corrin making a sound of comprehension and nodding sagely as they walked. The retainers and Kaze trailed behind them, each dressed in less ornate but still fine clothing. Azama had traded his simple priest's raiment for a more detailed formal version; the brown-haired woman who had been with Sakura this morning was wearing a pale pink floral pattern that made her look much younger; Setsuna looked barely awake in her own blue and black robe; and a red-haired man chatted amicably with Kaze at the rear of the group.

A thought occurred to Corrin, and he turned to face Azura, almost tripping on the hem of his long kimono in the process. He stifled a curse as Sakura reached out to steady him before nodding his thanks and turning to Azura.

"Say Azura, do you not have any retainers?"

Her face darkened for a moment before her serene smile returned, and she shook her head.

"I have not been afforded such a luxury, no," she said simply. "It is simply not necessary for me, as a hostage."

Hinoka snorted through her nose, grinning lop-sidedly.

"C'mon, Azura, you know you're practically family," she said.

Azura smiled, somewhat sadly to Corrin's mind, and nodded.

"You're right," she said. "Now let's talk of happier things. This is supposed to be a celebration."

"Is there going to be raw fish?" Corrin asked, taking the hint and changing the subject. "I heard stories that Hoshidans don't cook their food…"

After a whirlwind of greetings to nobles, military officers and important merchants, most of whose difficult Hoshidan names Corrin forgot instantly, dinner was served and he found himself seated on the floor between his mother and Hinoka, looking down at a small tray of food. Arrayed in the long banqueting hall everyone was seated on the ground in rows similarly to the royal family, but where the others were seating aligned down the room Corrin and his family sat across the head of it, in a position of honor. Or so he assumed. From left to right the seating arrangements were Takumi, Ryoma, Mikoto, Corrin, Hinoka, Sakura and then Azura. Ryoma looked resplendent in a deep red kimono, cutting a regal figure seated next to their mother. Takumi looked around the room, clearly bored as he picked at his food, occasionally nodding politely to one noble or another. At his other side the three girls chatted quietly as they ate, occasionally giggling softly at something Corrin didn't catch.

It was a world removed from the Nohrian Court, he had to admit. Where the Nohrian nobility had been a display of power and affluence, the Hoshidans didn't seem to care for such things. Many were wearing understated clothes, simple kimonos much like what he and his siblings were wearing. And unlike in Nohr, the women were much more modestly clothed, in some cases wearing even more than the men were. Corrin wondered for a moment how they were supposed to attract attention to find a husband, but judging from the levels of attention already being lavished on those women present this clearly wasn't an issue. Everything was so different, so alien from the cold reality of Nohrian Nobility, and Corrin was surprised to find that he was enjoying the more relaxed Hoshidan setting.

Sighing, the Prince looked back down at his plate in thinly veiled despair.

"Is everything alright, Corrin?" Mikoto asked discretely.

"Yes, mother," Corrin sighed. "I'm just… used to my food being cooked."

A plate of artfully arranged cuts of raw fish, sashimi, was laid out before him with a small shallow bowl of sauce for dipping. It looked safe enough, and his siblings and Azura didn't hesitate at all when it was placed before them, but Corrin had always been taught to be leery of uncooked food.

"This is just the first course," Mikoto laughed quietly. "You do not have to eat it if you are uncomfortable."

Corrin resisted the urge to say 'this whole endeavor makes me uncomfortable, from the clothes to the strange food', but held his tongue. Instead he picked up the smallest piece of sashimi on the plate, very carefully dipped it in the sauce and brought it to his mouth. Mikoto smiled approvingly as Corrin chewed, raising his brows as he swallowed.

"It's not that bad," he admitted.

"I will pass along your compliments to the chef," Mikoto beamed. "I'm sure they will make him very happy."

Corrin nodded, trying a piece of a different fish this time and watching the room as he chewed. There were perhaps a hundred other guests, not including their various servants that flitted about with the Shirisagi staff. Most were talking and laughing loudly amongst themselves, drinking the local rice wine and other beverages that Corrin couldn't identify. He'd opted for simple tea himself, a choice he was growing more and more satisfied with as he watched the Hoshidan nobility drink themselves stupid before him. Takumi and Ryoma were both drinking the wine as well, but pacing themselves far slower than the others. Kaze was sitting with the other retainers towards the back of the room, talking happily with a similar looking red-haired man seated across from him, but Rinkah was nowhere to be seen among the diners.

Corrin drained his tea cup and set it down for scarcely a moment before one of the servants was on him, offering a refill. He would have guessed she was similar in age to Emma, pretty enough with her long black hair carefully pinned up, although dressed in the white and gold livery of a Shirisagi maid.

"Allow me, milord," the young girl said.

Corrin nodded, absently reaching for the cup to hold it up to her. As his fingers brushed it the girl let out a surprised little squeak, and Corrin looked down just in time to see hot tea land in his lap.

To his credit Corrin didn't cry out; a lifetime of harsh training in extreme conditions in the icy northern reaches of Nohr had given him quite a high pain threshold. However the conversation in the hall died, replaced by amused muttering and a ripple of snickers and chuckles at his expense as all eyes turned to the commotion.

The girl dropped to the floor, prostrating herself at Corrin's side.

"Milord I'm so sorry!" she said quickly.

Corrin waved her off, grinning good-naturedly. "Don't worry about it. It'll wash out. I'd like the tea actually in my cup this time, though."

The girl rose slowly as another wave of laughter passed through the room at Corrin's joke, looking up at him and nodding with tears in her eyes.

"Maybe you'd better hold the cup this time," he suggested to more laughter.

"I-I-I will get a… a cloth, milord," she stammered nervously.

The girl nodded, pouring another cup of tea with agonizing care before bowing again and fleeing the room. Conversation resumed as Corrin subtly tried to air some of the heat from his lap.

"That was skillfully done," Mikoto whispered.

"It was mostly my fault," Corrin reasoned. "Besides, I'm used to clumsy maids."

A few of the closer nobles, sitting nearer to Takumi, hadn't gone back to their earlier conversations, instead paying close attention to Corrin after the incident.

"I had not expected such calm forgiveness from a man raised in Nohr," one of them, a reedy man in glasses, said. "Truly it speaks well of your character, Prince Corrin."

Corrin frowned slightly, but inclined his head at the man. He wasn't entirely sure if he should feel complimented or insulted, but judging from the look on Takumi's face he was leaning to the latter.

"Nohr can be a harsh land to live in, true, but I've found there are no kinder people," Corrin said in a measured tone.

"Kind enough to keep you prisoner for fifteen years," another nobleman scoffed, obviously drunk.

"I was not mistreated," Corrin said quickly.

"Yet your body is covered in scars, is it not?" Takumi asked evenly, a small grin on his lips.

Beside him Hinoka coughed, choking on the fish she'd been eating and chasing it down with some tea as she blushed.

"My training was thorough," Corrin deadpanned.

He didn't know what Takumi was playing at, but he didn't like the look in his younger brother's eyes.

"There's no need to defend the bastards!" another drunken nobleman slurred. "After everything they've done to you and to us it's a satisfying sight to see you sitting here!"

"I only wish I could see the look on that little bastard Xander's face!"

"Oh come off it, last time you and he were on the field you turned and ran!"

Raucous laughter filled the room as the nobility all took up the topic, badmouthing Nohr and the Nohrian Royalty as they ate. It took all of Corrin's willpower not to immediately jump to their defense, instead clenching his fists and glaring at his half-eaten tray of sashimi. In truth, Nohr had wronged Hoshido, but at the same time Hoshido wasn't guiltless either. They were two countries at war, and Corrin didn't want to admit it, but he was on the opposite side he was used to at present.

His gaze snapped back up, though, when he heard one of the nobles slur something that crossed the line.

"I've heard that the Nohrian Princess even 'motivates' her troops with her own body! Can you imagine that!?"

"Hah! Have you seen her? Just one glance at her behind me would have me fighting like a demon!"

"Are we talking about the older or the younger one?"

"The older one, you sick old dog!"

"Yes, but he always did have strange taste."

"That's enough! Show some decorum before your Queen!" Ryoma called, too late.

Corrin pushed his tray away with a clatter, the sound going unnoticed by all but those among the Royal Family.

"Excuse me, I need some air," he said absently as he rose to his feet.

Scarcely had he taken two steps before his legs gave out, asleep from having sat on the ground for so long, and he ended up flat on his face behind his mother and Ryoma. Corrin simply grit his teeth and rose again, ignoring the mocking laughter as he strode from the room with his head high. He didn't need to look to know that Takumi was one of the ones laughing at him the loudest.

As he entered the hallway outside of the banquet hall he completely missed the maid that had spilled the tea in his lap, hesitantly waiting by the door with a cloth in her hands. He brushed by her, doing nothing to hide the scowl on his face now as he questioned whether it was even worth trying to bring peace to the two nations.

AN: That little scene with Emma running from a shirtless Corrin actually happened to me IRL. The second time I went to Japan I opened the door to my hotel room to accept my breakfast fresh after crawling out of bed. The poor room attendant was so uncomfortable. It was hilarious.