Here's the latest update!
While Xander went with his siblings and the queen of Hoshido to stop an insurrection, and while Leo and Sakura and co. hid in the Astral Plane, Elise was hard at work sneaking about Windmire gathering flowers. After all, Sakura would need some for a bouquet. She also would be hard at work altering a dress that didn't fit her quite right later in the day. While she was currently gathering flowers, Effie and Arthur made sure no one questioned what Elise was doing. She had her flowers, her dress, needle and thread, lace trimmings, and other things set up in her room. A servant or two may have questioned what Elise was doing during such a stressful time, with none of the older royals properly watching the throne, but Effie just casually glowered and scared any questioning people off. Arthur mostly just made sure Elise didn't get herself into too much trouble. Elise was determined to see this through.
After all, it wasn't every day one was to be the minister to her brother's marriage.
Elise had scoured books on Nohrian traditions in the past, as was part of her education, although marriage was only a cursory lesson. Elise, once Xander had officially gone, found all those old tomes that discussed marriage in Nohr. Normally, it was done by a male priest (she rolled her eyes), but female clerics had provided ceremonies in the past. All were considered valid marriages thusly. Elise felt some reassurance upon reading that. However, she knew little of Hoshidan customs, and seeing that Sakura was Hoshidan, Elise wanted to provide that for her. It was her goal to do a hybrid ceremony in the Astral Plane, a place where there were no true rules, so making up new traditions was absolutely valid.
Unfortunately there weren't many books in the Castle Krakenburg library on Hoshidan customs, so Elise would attempt to find some in Windmire. Ever since the end of the war, some small shops had opened that carried imported items from Izumo and Hoshido. Elise was hoping that these shops would carry books on customs, or she could at least ask the immigrant shopkeepers.
Elise perused one that seemed to have a myriad of sundry things, from herbs and dried...things that she wasn't quite sure of, jewelry, knickknacks, even makeup, but there were no books that had what she needed. Cookbooks, story books too, but none on Hoshidan customs. She'd have to ask the shopkeeper.
"Pardon me," Elise inquired the woman at the counter. "I have a question on Hoshidan customs."
The woman looked Elise up and down, seemingly judging the girl on her inquiry, but she answered her all the same. "What is it you need, child?"
Elise didn't like being called a child. It was her dream of being seen as a noble lady one day, but today wasn't the day to argue that. "I need to know about marriage ceremonies. What goes on? What sort of items would I need?"
The lady gave Elise a curious look. "Why do you need to know that?"
Elise tried not to blush or seem shady. She just shrugged. "I know a guy who intends on marrying a Hoshidan woman, and he wants to respect her culture, but we don't know any Hoshidan priests or, uh, shaman? I'm not sure what you call ministers for that sort of thing."
"Monks, or basara usually lead the ceremony. Priestesses and shrine maidens can too, although it's more common for the men to do them. Monks and shrine maidens usually just assist, but it's the priestess or basara that actually leads it."
Elise nodded. "Okay, I understand that. But what goes on with the ceremony? I'd like to help this man out."
"Interesting a young one like you wants to involve herself in such a matter, but perhaps our countries can learn from each other. I will happily help you." So the woman told Elise how the ceremony was held, about the shamanic rattles, the way the vows were exchanged, what the couple would wear, the general etiquette, and even the types of incense that was burned during. The woman provided some of the incense that she just so happened to carry in the shop at a discount price since Elise was such a sweet thing about the whole process, and Elise left, happy to know she could help her brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law.
Arthur wasn't too far off, trying to seem like he wasn't guarding a princess in disguise, but some looked at him as he tried to be nonchalant about following Elise. He failed miserably at it, but no one paid him much attention anyway. Windmire tended to be a quiet place for people to sell goods, so there weren't many threats. It was above ground that usually had all the crime, weirdly enough.
Elise used the secret tunnels to get back to the castle, where she was met by Effie. The two nodded at each other, Elise as chipper as ever, and the trio of princess and retainers walked together back to the castle. Once they arrived, Elise went immediately to work, jotting down the things she remembered the shopkeeper had said so she wouldn't forget. Once she was done, she began work on hemming the dress, altering the darts and stitching so it would fit Sakura's figure better. Camilla was great at embroidery, but it was Elise who had the eye of a seamstress. She guessed Sakura's measurements from memory, and hoped that this dress would fit her. She had confidence it would, Sakura wasn't that much bigger than her, but her chest was Elise noted. No matter. Altering the neckline of the dress would allow the Hoshidan princess to breathe. Elise also started adding the red lace trimming that would reflect Hoshido's colors. A white dress with red trim… Flowing off the bride's body elegantly. This would look lovely on Sakura, Elise was sure.
As for her brother, Elise knew she'd have to go through his finest livery, or even have to make it herself if needed, for him to be as equally as elegant as his wife-to-be. She had altered and even made clothes for Leo in the past, as practice, but her older siblings always told her it wasn't her job to make clothes for them. That was why they had a tailor after all. But Elise liked working with clothes, as well as playing her music, and while she was a princess, there were times when she wanted to live a simple life where she could do the things she wanted. But alas, she had to be royal, and live up to expectations she wasn't always capable of upholding. No matter. She loved her life and her siblings, and was thankful to have them all still.
So Elise spent her time working on her tasks as Effie and Arthur ensured the castle was safe. Word had yet to reach that the other royals left, so they knew there wouldn't be their own insurrection. That, surprisingly, given the history of the Nohrian royals, was the norm for Nohr. Only Cheve and the Ice Tribe had ever given them trouble. Inland Nohr never gave much of an issue.
Evening had soon hit, and Elise was exhausted. She took a break so she could have dinner. She asked her retainers if anything suspect had happened, and they replied that no, everything seemed to be fine. Elise was glad. She wasn't the strongest fighter, but the remaining soldiers she knew she could command. At one point in the war, she was assigned as a strategist for lesser conflicts, and she did so splendidly. Xander had left her in charge knowing she could handle it.
It was stressful, sure, but Elise was always confident in herself and her family. She knew, in the end, that everything would be as it needed to be.
It was days before Xander and co. made it close to the Hoshido border. It was a harsh march, unrelenting, because the conflict at hand had to be dealt with immediately. Any stops made were very short. Flying scouts ensured the road ahead was safe. Normally, a casual trip from Nohr to Hoshido could take weeks, as Xander remembered Leo and Sakura's perilous journey. Nearly two months the two spent in trying to get away from the rebellion in Nestra. But that was a much different situation than a war march. Ideally, this march would take up to two weeks total. Perhaps less if they took shorter rests.
They did make a stop in Izumo, where Izana, gregarious as ever, greeted them and demanded they rest and feast with him. It was a bit annoying and hardly prudent, but Xander relented. Everyone, the troops, his family, the dour Queen of Hoshido, needed the morale boost.
As feast preparations were made, Xander thought of his younger brother Leo and his love interest. Lover? Soul mate? He wasn't sure what to call the two, but he knew his brother. They were here somewhere, and he needed to find them.
But first, this feast.
The troops were lively, eating their fill. Camilla looked bored, glaring at the impolite behavior of the men and women serving Nohr. Corrin looked concerned. The Queen of Hoshido, Hinoka? She kept glaring daggers at everyone not Hoshidan. Even Izana held some of her ire.
But he was not to be perturbed. Izana flitted about, entertaining his guests. He was meant for this. Sharing was caring after all.
But Xander had nearly enough. When everyone had their fill, he commanded everyone to get some rest, or spend the rest of their evening training. Everyone groaned, drunk and full, but did as he commanded. Hinoka disappeared somewhere, as did Corrin. Camilla walked up to Xander.
"I cannot believe how depraved our troops are over a little feast," she growled.
"Camilla, it's been literal weeks since they've had a proper meal. Despite the urgency of our mission, I think they deserve a rest and some good food." The food was truly divine. Izana definitely knew how to throw a party.
"Hmph, well, they could use some manners. They don't represent Nohr very well. We're better than this." She flicked a piece of hair off her shoulder.
"While I do agree Camilla, this whole situation has been, in a word, strange. There is nothing about this that is normal."
"Our runaway brother and his bride-to-be? Helping an ungrateful queen with her country's rebellion? It's not too out of the ordinary."
Xander shrugged. "I think it's time to rest. Do you know where Corrin went? I wanted to bid her good night."
"How dutiful of you. She went somewhere with her retainer, Kaze? They're outside somewhere. Or perhaps he led her to her chambers."
Xander looked at her quizzically. "Are you implying something, Camilla?"
Camilla chuckled. "Of course not. I just know things, is all."
Xander thought her statement was quite enigmatic but bade her good night anyway and left.
The grounds of House Izana were beautiful. Divine, even. Xander quit enjoyed walking around them, wondering if Castle Krakenburg would ever have something like the flora seen here. But Xander knew his country, and the soil wouldn't take to the seeds and saplings of anything Izumite or Hoshidan.
It was as he was walking under the moonlit sky around the grounds that he heard voices. Immediately, he drew his sword.
But then he recognized the voice to be Corrin's and Kaze's so he sheathed Sigfried and approached. But the voices he heard were not of casual talk. It was beyond casual. It was...almost intimate.
Xander saw the two embrace and then...kiss.
Oh. So this is what Camilla knew.
Not one to intrude on such a private moment, Xander stole away to his chambers.
Leo spent his days with Sakura. The two were nearly inseparable. It made Niles want to gag, Odin recite poetry of some long forgot poet, and Azura smile quietly and hum a pleasant tune. While the young woman often disappeared, she came back frequently to spend time with the two people she considered family. After all, she was raised with Sakura, but fought in a war with Leo. It only made sense for her to seek closeness.
Azura had explained her disappearance after the war. There was a conflict far away in an unnameable place she had to resolve. Leo asked where on the continent would this conflict be, but Azura stayed mum on the subject. It was shady of her, she knew it, but Leo accepted her silence. Sometimes, secrets were necessary for survival. He knew that, and so did Sakura.
Azura loved the romantic ideals of how Leo and Sakura got together. Surprisingly, she lived for the drama of it all, saying it was like a tragic Nestrian play. Leo had insinuated this wouldn't be a tragedy, that only good things were to come. They had to. Why would the gods let them get this far and then...do something unthinkable, unspeakable?
"It's not that I want this union to fail, but you have to admit, Leo, that the whole situation is dire. You essentially kidnapped Hoshidan royalty," Azura explained.
"Someone that was perceived to be dead, and kidnapping implies it wasn't consensual. This clearly is." Sakura nodded along to Leo's defense.
"Of course, but if the citizens of Hoshido find out what happened, there will surely be a rebellion. You've already told me Nohr is occupying Hoshido and that Hinoka and Xander left to settle the insurrection that occurred. If word of Sakura's survival gets out and that she's all but eloped with a Nohrian prince, well, pardon the phrase, but all hell will break loose." Azura warned. "I don't mean to be dour or anything, but I worry for both of your safety."
"Th-thank you, Azura, b-but it'll be fine." Sakura stammered out. Leo could tell Azura's words made her nervous. He squeezed her knee in reassurance.
They were sitting in a dining area Leo had constructed using the magic of the realm. It was quite homey, reminding the stowaways of a small cottage in a forest. It essentially was. Odin had just fixed some roasted boar (again) that Niles had slain, and the group was eating it between slices of bread that Sakura had baked herself. It was really a delicious lunch.
Leo kept the journal that he used to communicate with Elise on his person at all times. He never knew when Elise would need him, or ask to visit. She hadn't yet. Apparently only a few days had passed in Nohr, and while time was hard to tell in the Astral Plane, Leo surmised that essentially the same had passed. Days seemed longer, as did nights, but perhaps that was a trick of the mind.
He hoped all was going well. Knowing Xander, they were closing in on Hoshido, perhaps even in Izumo, and Xander was perhaps keeping an eye out for a certain blond brother and his pink haired sweetheart. He hoped Hinoka wasn't giving him too much grief. It wasn't Xander's fault. Really, it wasn't anyone's fault, but someone had to take a stand for love, and damn it, Leo had to be that one. He couldn't let Sakura leave, not after everything they had gone through. Their journey was a once in a lifetime chance. He was thankful for it, despite the hardships.
As Leo pondered their getting together, he felt a strange energy coming out of the waist pouch he kept the journal in. He pulled it out and it was glowing. Elise sent a message.
Everyone at the table knew of this magical journal and awaited what it had to say this time. Normally it was just updates on what was occurring back home. But really, anything could happen.
Leo saw Elise's bubbly script scrawl onto the page. I think it's time I visit, Big Brother!
Leo pursed his lips, wondering if Elise should come.
Sakura read over his shoulder. "Elise wants to visit?"
"I haven't seen her in so long," Azura mused. "It would be nice to see her again."
"She'd take it as quite the shock, but I think she'd be glad to see you again, Azura," Leo agreed. "Perhaps it's time she does visit."
So Leo went to his chambers and found his quill and ink, marking the page in his neat scrawl that it was okay for Elise to come. She had her means of travel and so the group all waited for her to appear.
It took some time, as he was sure Elise was having trouble imagining where he could be, but a light shone down onto the open spot where he and Sakura and his retainers first appeared. In a flash, Elise was with them, as were her retainers.
"Sorry it took so long! I was a bit nervous! I brought Effie and Arthur just in case, but it's late in Nohr right now so I doubt anyone will wonder where I went. Hopefully I'll be quick." She held forth the bundle she was carrying. Leo also noticed the retainers were holding their own respective bundles. Well, Arthur wasn't. He would probably drop his.
Elise seemed to be bubbling with excitement. Leo raised an eyebrow at his sister's giggly state.
"Why are you so excited, Elise?" he asked.
"Silly! I'm here to marry you and Sakura!" she burst out.
Leo and Sakura were shocked. Niles whistled. Odin whooped. Azura stared on in quiet amusement and pride. Elise had yet to notice her in her excitement.
"Well, Elise, um..." Leo was at a loss for words. He turned to Sakura. "I haven't properly proposed to you yet, Sakura."
Sakura smiled. "Nothing about this is normal. We knew this day would come." She looked down, a bit embarrassed. "Le-let's do it. Let's get married."
"YAY!" Elise yelled. "I worked so hard to research proper marriage ceremonies. I really wanted to do a Nohrian-Hoshido hybrid and I think I came up with the perfect one. I hope that's okay?"
The duo nodded. "That'd be lovely, Elise," Leo agreed, and truly he was excited and proud of his baby sister. She had grown up so much.
"Alright! Well, Effie, Arthur, and I will set up! I've got Sakura's dress and Leo's livery. Effie has some supplies needed for the marriage ceremony." She was all smiles. Then, she finally noticed Azura.
"OH MY GODS! AZURA?!" She nearly dropped her bundle of clothes, her knees buckling, but Azura laughed calmly and helped Elise stand.
"I'll explain everything shortly. We have a marriage to perform," Azura said.
So Elise and her retainers went to survey the perfect marriage spot, Leo saying he could create the ideal place. Sakura was handed her dress and Azura would help her dress. Odin and Niles volunteered to help set up the ceremony as well, and with everyone having jobs, the marriage would soon commence.
It wasn't what many would expect of a Nohrian prince and a Hoshidan princess, but nothing about their relationship was normal, and Leo and Sakura were happy with what they had.
Next chapter is the wedding and we see what goes down in Hoshido!