Camilla didn't know what to think of anything at the moment. That the little boy who grew up with her was currently denouncing any connection they had or she would soon be thrust into war with Hoshido.
"My mother died with her secrets and as a result of some of my own memories resurfaced." Kyuma bared his teeth, eyebrows furrowing, and growl escaping his lips.
"Everything the nohrian royal family was to Kamui and I was nothing but a facade."
Camilla's lips quivered. No. It was real.
Kyuma snapped his head up to Camilla rage mixed with hatred behind the sharp glare of his crimson eyes.
Her eyes widened, he's mad at me.
Kyuma hates me.
"Was it?" Kyuma spat causing Camilla to flinch.
Her mouth opened to quickly deny his belief. A belief that was indeed fact. What do you want me to say? Camilla faltered mouth quivering shut as did her eyes.
How do you want me to react? What do you want me to say? Her resolve crumbling before him.
"I'm sorry." She apologized. Hands moving up to her eyes to frantically wipe away at the tears.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Camilla repeated.
What good would an apology do? Nothing. She had nothing to answer him with except her emotions. Camilla wanted to run away, run away without answering his question but what good would that do?
It would be another form of admittance. Admitting the fact that her affection was nothing, but a mask at first. To get the boy and girl to become comfortable within the northern fortress. The Princess of Nohr could only curse fate. For fate was the reason Kyuma's mother died. Why inevitable warfare and bloodshed will begin in the coming months.
It was the task assigned to them after all. From the very beginning, there was no hope of diverting the downward spiral of her father. Kyuma and Kamui growing into the wonderful adults they are now. The truth unfolding bit by bit for the two siblings.
From the beginning, the Princess of Nohr had no control and no say in what would transpire.
I feel numb.
The room was oddly quiet as both Kyuma and Camilla stared at each other. Violet orbs brimming with tears and the burning rage of crimson faltering.
"D-do you h-hate me?" Camilla couldn't tell why Kyuma looked so shocked. His eyes examining her expression as if untrusting of its sincerity. She smiled - perhaps that would make it better - and reached up to wipe at the tears.
"I'm s-sorry," Camilla apologized before taking a shaky breath. The tears didn't stop instead became harder to control. "Do you?"
"I-I promise, I won't bother you anymore if t-that's so." Camilla gulped, finding it harder and harder to talk. "Kyuma I-I-"
"That is enough," Kyuma spoke up sharply cutting her off.
Camilla could feel more tears well up in her eyes.
"Enough Camilla, your frustrating and annoying." Kyuma let out a dry laugh. Anger pooled back into his voice. "Do I hate you?" He laughed while he said it.
"Do you love me?" He retorted with a question of his own.
"I-"
"You tore me from my own family. Even though they aren't my blood and fabricated a life for me and my sister. This family is responsible for the murdering of countless Innocents. Responsible for the death of my mother. Responsible for the reason why I feel torn into two! Guilty! Horrible!" Kyuma yelled and suddenly he stood up and Camilla felt frozen still.
Her breath caught in her throat as hands wrapped around her neck.
Wha-I can't breathe.
"Do you know how hard it is for me to not snap your neck right now?" Kyuma growled out through teeth sharp and jagged. Camilla let out a gasp at his finger pressing into her neck. Even so, her eyes never left his.
Kyuma, I understand. Forgive me.
Camilla reached over to cup his face. She was ready. Ready to die by his hands if that's what it took to prove that her love is real. Camilla would be paying for the sins of her family...for the sins, she committed.
Perhaps, this was how she paid for the blood that stained her hands. Paid for the years of lies she gave.
She smiled then. A smile that reached her eyes in the face of death. If that is what it takes she would die by his hands.
Suddenly, Camilla could feel the pressure on her neck lessen.
"Camilla," Kyuma whispered teeth no longer sharp and jagged. His eyes were warm Camilla noted. As were his hands as they glided up to gently cup her face. "I'm sorry."
Something snapped inside the Princess of Nohr at that moment. You shouldn't be apologizing. Camilla can't have that. She can't bear watching the regret flitter across his face.
His lips...they shouldn't move in apology, Camilla thought. Perhaps she was going insane but all this time she wasted her breath speaking words that truly meant nothing.
Love is not something proven by words but rather an action. Camilla didn't hesitate when she leaned forward to capture his lips.
Don't you see?
I love you.
Hahahahahaha! Did you guys really think this scene was Canon? No. That's just something I deleted from this chapter. The frustration all year long of how to continue this story is probably filled to the brim with deleted scenes and deleted ideas.
I just thought this one scene had some good writing. I just thought it was out of place here and something way too early.
Now the decision I made in this chapter is probably going to be controversial to you but I want to try something out of the box- pertaining to Ganon - and not entirely unexplainable. Hopefully. Maybe. Probably.
Oh and Happy New Year! Even though I promised myself I wouldn't take another year to upload something new…
Welp.
Fire Emblem Fates: second chance
Chapter 14
"Is there a reason you've called me here?" I asked, anger seeping into my tone. In my peripheral Xander brows furrowed showing a rare show of discomfort. I would be surprised if he hadn't felt slightly perturbed by the greeting.
Garon doesn't smile nor does his facial expression change as he sits on his old throne-most likely decades old at this point. The man looks old, worn, and tired. He looks sick and ill but I know better than to be deceived by looks. Garon propped up his elbow on the armrest of his throne using his hand to prop his head.
"Father please forgive Kyuma…" He turns to me, a look of indifference no, pleading on his features.
Please, don't make it worse.
Xander turns back to his father, "He is still exhausted after having just woken up." He explains standing as straight as any soldier would.
Garon frowns. "Xander...you will do well to not speak for him." King Garon aggressively snapped.
Xander's posture noticeably staggered for a second before he lowered his head, "My apologies father for speaking out of term."
Garon let out a low raspy hum from his throat. His eyes slightly Violet orbs faded and old glance at me.
Garon rubs his chin leaning back lazily against his throne. "Boy...why have you returned?" He asks me as if the curiosity was eating at him.
Why have I returned? Such a strange and silly question to ask.
The question lingers in the air unanswered. I will not part my lips to answer such an idiotic question. King Garon can make his own assumptions.
The slight frown that forms on his lips brings me silent joy, "Your mother has obviously told you the truth has she not? You're to be our enemies by birthright but you still chose to side with Nohr? Do you think I was born yesterday child?" King Garon finishes with a rhetorical question as the man beside him lets out a disturbing roar of laughter.
"Yes, you must think we are incapable of higher thinking if you truly thought we would let you walk right in with open arms knowing you're planning the assassination of the king." The man next to Garon has a golden mask that hides half of his face. His statement garners a glare from me. He chuckles when he sees this, and takes great joy out of the fact that he got a noticeable rise from me.
"My emperor, I must suggest we put this boy to death on the crime of treason."
Xander's head shoots up immediately and his eyes become wide in horror. "Father I -" Whatever Xander had planned to say was cut short by a glare from his father. Xander flinches and in the corner of my eye, I see his fist tremble slightly. However, his expression still remained relatively stoic.
The nohrian family is blind. How can you still stand there and allow him to talk to you any way he wants to. Being a loyal dog till the end will be his grave.
What exactly was my plan? There isn't a reason I can give to him that will make him hate his father.
"The nation is struggling." Xander had a grim smile on his face as he looked out upon the clouds of the northern fortress.
"We're trapped in an endless night and that means no chance of a harvest. The people are starving and I must find a way as the next in line for the crown to remedy that." Xander words made me sigh. Nothing but a greater threat than this looming war will change his mind.
What reason would he have to go against his father? My lips curled down into a frown-or perhaps he's purposely ignoring the red flags.
But he's not only loyal to the nation of Nohr. Xander has shown me that he will continue to be an obedient son to his father. King Garon uses his children's unwavering love to his advantage. Xander, Leo, Camilla, and perhaps even Elise would go to strenuous lengths to make their father happy.
Xander knows the benefits this war will bring to Nohr. The land and spoils of Hoshido-and surrounding territories-will pull this dying nation off its last leg.
"I like how blunt you people are with showing your true colors," Truly I had no time for games anymore. We are at war or will be at war soon enough. Xander looked up at me the same horror in his eyes because to him I wasn't making the situation any better.
I took a step forward, "I, Kyuma son of the late Queen Mikoto went against Hoshidon forces and his own sibling in combat. I shed blood on that battlefield when I sided with Nohr, I steeled my heart and didn't hesitate to injure my sister. Don't you dare accuse me of treason." Every word that came out of my mouth was spat with increasing venom. By the end of it, I was out of breath and looking at Iago daring him to reply.
I took a step forward, "What have you done to earn King Garon's trust than just being smart! Have you've even been on the battlefield, you coward!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, it was loud enough that I'm sure even Leo would have heard it.
There was a noticeable long period of silence as Iago slowly went red in the face. His rage-fueled outburst was imminent as he took a step forward mouth wide to deliver the curses that had surely been swarming around his head.
"The boy makes a point Iago."
Only to choke and cough on his words. He visibly trembled in fear, anger, and shock.
"B-But his outburst is the exa-" His mouth snapped shut the moment Garon raised his gloved hand. Iago gritted his teeth in anger, but even still his fear of getting on Garons nerves kept him from exploding.
"Iago, please do not go running your mouth without my consent." Garon steely voice has Iago taking a step back to avoid any more of his ire. Iago gritted his teeth in anger and he visibly shook as if ready to combust at any moment. However, his fear of getting on Garons nerves kept him from exploding.
Sitting atop his throne Garons dark Violet eyes seem to be taking me in once more. He rubs at his chin once more.
"How pitiful child," There was a low grumble to his voice little emotion seeping through, "It must have been hard to make such a decision to strike your own sister, but alas this is a world where Kin goes against Kin. You will learn that all too often war makes this inevitable child." Garon grabbed both handles of his seat and grunted as he slowly rose from his throne.
His dark Nohrian armor clinks as he steps down his throne and places himself in front of me. He was a tower of a man even when compared to Xander.
"Bring it," He calls, gaze never once twitching from mines.
Soldier ready, quick, and precise runs skidding to a halt and dropping to one knee as he held up something wrapped in purple cloth. From its outline, anyone could depict that it was a sword...my sword. My red eyes glare as I want nothing but to snatch Shadoritingu back.
Garon doesn't even look away as he picks the cloth away unraveling the sword before grabbing ahold of the sheath - the guard scurries away - raising it to his eyes and briefly inspecting it. Is he going to strike me down right here? Xander is still standing next to me staring back and forth between me and his father. Xander can't do anything...he doesn't have his sword nor does he have the guts to raise a hand to his father.
So stand there quietly like a good little servant to your father in silence.
Garon slowly moves to grasp the handle of the sword pulling the blade from its sheath. No electricity erupts from it. He stares at it briefly, eyes gliding over the blade, and then up at me."You want to kill me?" He asks inquisitively. He twirls the sword and stabs it into the ground in front of me.
Without a lick of fear in his eyes, the king of Nohrian stares me down.
Garon raises an eyebrow. "Well, here is your chance boy. Strike me down where I stand and you will have succeeded in your revenge."
"Father what are you doing!?" Xander speaks up, but the king is stoic as he stares directly at me. For once I break eye contact and look down at the handle of shadorintingu.
…
My hands started to clench. My fist tightening harder with every passing second. I could feel my fingers digging into the skin of my palm.
"Protect your sister."
I smiled and slowly reached for the handle of the blade.
"I-I'm...so...g-glad." My mother's dying words.
I reach out with my right hand to grasp the handle. With a twist, I free the blade from the floor.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I don't know."
"Because you are attempting to fight fate right? Ha! That's funny."
Shut up.
"Oh please, you know it's true." I could feel a shiver go down my spine. "You will lose every single time. I showed you didn't I? Every altercation and the final battle ended the same way." Childlike giggles filled my head.
"Will you do it or will you not do it? It doesn't matter because fate will always put you right where it wants you to be." The small girls giggles got louder
Leave me alone.
"You poor poor child I can feel the rage you have..." Another giggle that faded away into nothingness. "I can also sense that your hopeless."
"You pitiful child."
Don't call me pitiful!
The silence is cut by a sharp crackle and pop. Suddenly the dark blade roars to life electricity igniting and curling around my hand. Purple and wild.
I ignored the pain as grabbed ahold of the sword with both hands.
The lightning roared again and I let out a scream through gritted teeth. I could tell even the king took a step back. The purple lightning once wild and untamed started to die down slowly receding back into the blade.
Shadoritingu reacts to negative emotions. The higher the negative emotions, the more powerful the blade becomes. The burning fury and anger that is building within me is a negative emotion. The burning fury I have for Garon. All I could be reminded of was of Ganglari - the sword he gave to Corrin - shards piercing my mother's body as it protected me and my sister.
He still remains calm and stoic. His poise was unwavering. Even as I hold the tip of the blade to his chest.
"Brot-" Xander forces himself to swallow, "Kyuma don't do it." Xander pleads but his words fall on death ears.
Don't ask me to stop. It's his fault. It's his fault. It's his fault. It's his fault.
"Please, I beg Kyuma." Xander pleads once more his voice wavering.
Brown eyes as calm as water, carrying nothing but kindness and love was all I could see when I shut my eyes. Those Brown eyes in their final moments held nothing but regret and acceptance.
Acceptance for a fate that could have been prevented.
"Fate this! Fate that!" Grima gave a hearty laugh rotating in the air as she held her stomach. Legs kicking wildly. "There is no true Fate as far as I'm concerned."
She paused. Expression slowly becoming a straight face.
"Not everything is written in a straight line." Her finger ghosted in the air.
"They branch off into these alternate timelines…" She trailed off as if lost deep in thought.
My eyebrow raised in curiosity, "You sound as if you've experienced it yourself?" I asked.
She smiled, "Oh pitiful child, yes I have. These alternate timelines I've seen some of them with my own eyes." Her white hair twirled and curled into pigtails.
She stood on her feet and cleared her throat. She took a deep breath and looked at her hands.
Her eyes were wide as if in shock and despair, "C-Chrom I didn't mean to,"
Grima suddenly fell to her knees holding a hand to her chest. "Robin...t-this is not your fault," She dramatically fell limp.
"Blargh." She said with her tongue out.
I cringed and clapped my hands silently the sound echoing throughout the white void.
She suddenly jumped up righting herself and began to bow. "Oh thank you. Thank you."
Was she reenacting another timeline? Chrome and Robin...those names give me a headache.
Laying on her stomach and chin propped up in her hands she smiles. "Oh trust me, the fate of you and many others aren't set in stone…" HerMagenta Orbs staring at me as if digging deep into my very being. It forced me to look away.
"A little secret," But it was then I could feel her breathe into my ear and whispered words that struck like fire, "If all the timelines I've seen before this one..." My eyes widen and I snapped my head to her so fast that I felt the whiplash.
But she was gone. Vanished into the endless void.
"perhaps just maybe this will be the odd one out."
Her laugh echoed and no matter which way I turned it was futile to pinpoint her exact location. All that stared back at me was a deep void that stretched on endlessly. A reflection of my deep slumber. Grima, you know more than you're letting on do you?I realized then that the notion of fate blinds us.
But it was Garon who set these things in motion. It had been him that put Hanz up to that plan. It was him who ordered Gunther killed!
It's his fault mother is dead. It's his fault Xander and the others are brainwashed.
Do it.
Do it!
…
But what good will that do? Obsessing over something like fate will only continue to eat at me. If I look Garon here what are my chances of escaping.
What will Xander and the others feel? Betrayal.
I let out a frustrated growl. Why do I care what they think? Why am I so confusing? How can I tell myself I don't care for the nohrian royalty when in fact I do.
What's the point? Sweating and panting I dropped Shadouraitoningu
to the floor.
"Do you want to know the truth boy?"
What? Garon's question has me taken aback as my sword immediately lowers and all of the electricity is lost. The truth.
"Even your mother had secrets she withheld from you during your time in her care." Garon squints his eyes at me ever so slightly. "Boy you raised that sword at me, not knowing the full story, let me bestow upon you the knowledge you so greatly lack." King Garon motions to a couple of guards who disappeared behind a door before entering with a coffin. They set it down in front of Xander and me.
Xander looks quite perplexed as he watches the soldiers quickly crouch and place their hands near some opening and lift the cover off of the brown smooth wooden coffin. The confusion on Xander's face is filled with horror. His eyes wide and agape as he trembles and shakes at the sight of his dead father in a coffin.
Immediately, I stumble back in a rare show of fear and total disgust. King Garon is...dead? I look up at Nohr's king as he frowns at the sight of his own dead body. He raises an arm and motions down.
"You've come to the conclusion that I killed king Samuragi and stole you and your sister in an elaborate trap set by me and my soldiers in the middle of the night." King Garon is speaking casually again as if seeing his own body doesn't disturb him either.
"Father? What's the meaning of this!?" Xander yelled hesitating to take a step further.
Garon hums loudly from his throat and rebates through the room in low audible continuous sound. "There is a greater power at work than what you originally thought. This war is merely a distraction from the true threat." Garon states.
I watch him slowly turn and walk back up the throne before sitting back down. The true threat? Yes, he's right there is something more sinister lingering about. Still, this war was intentional was it not?
"But wasn't it you who gave Kamui Ganglari?" I asked eyes narrowing ever so suspiciously. It's because of that sword we're here in the first place. Garon lips curl down into a frown.
Garon smirked as he once again rested his head in his hand. "Yes, but I never expected the power to give Nohr such a beautiful opportunity." I pause and inspect the body for a moment. It's a spitting image of him. So why? What is the meaning of this? I raise my sword and pause. If this is truly a copy of Garon then it...shouldn't bleed right? I steadily move my sword forward to poke the body.
It Crumbles and all there is left is dust in the coffin. No bones, nothing to indicate that something was holding the body together.
"Kyuma." I raise my head to Garon. "I will accept you back into the Nohrian Royal family. Do as you must commander." Garin's smile is smug. The glare I send Garon's way oozes murder. I want him to drop dead right there on his throne.
Iago seems utterly shocked mouth quivering and eyes wide, "K-K-kIng Garon-but-" His protest is cut short however when Garon snaps his gaze on him. Garon eyes are furrowed and he's gripping the edge of his throne hard.
"My rule is absolute Iago. If you're protesting against my decisions then maybe you were the traitor all along." Garon stares Iago down. His gaze must have been heavy enough to make Iago fall to his knees and profusely apologize to the king. Garon swings a dismissive arm.
"Bah," Garon let out an exasperated breath. "Get out of my sight all of you." His brows furrow and he stands up from his throne with a flourish of his cape. Every action that he takes even down to the way he walks is aggressive and shows his irritation. Iago bows and walks away through some side door.
I look at Xander who although conflicted is smiling. "Congratulations Kyuma," Xander says happily although his voice is strained.
His eyes are on the coffin and I can't blame him he just saw his own 'father' in a coffin.
I raise a hand to my stomach and hold it there, a sense of nausea taking hold of me and forcing me to look away. Kamui, would you believe that the first person I want to tell this to is you? Xander furrows his brow as he walks closer to inspect the coffin. It isn't something to dwell on right now. But something's amiss. I feel this foreboding presence of deja-vu? No, that possibly can't be it.
"Commander huh?"The words didn't feel right on my tongue. I don't have the qualifications to lead men onto the battlefield. So be it. If that's how it has to be.
I run a hand through my black hair and turn to Xander. "Can you send a message to the stablemaster?"
"You fought your sister."
"I did."
...
What does she want me to say? Apologize, reveal to her how much regret I have? We both made a choice and we're both too stubborn when we have our minds set on something. What else is there to explain.
"Your swords will clash Kyuma…" Lilith stated the obvious. But her eyes held reluctance, she was torn, perhaps hurt that it had come to this. It was more than words, more than what she expected from us. From siblings who looked like they were stuck like glue on the outside. But over time it's effectiveness starts to wane and eventually loses its strength. So when faced and cornered into a decision we were torn apart.
I let her words hang in the air for a moment head rising to the ceiling.
Her face contorted into a mix of emotions. "You're family," Lilith's voice drifted off into a whisper but her voice was sharp, quick, and full of indecisiveness.
Think I don't know that?
"So?" Lilith stared hard at me as if she knew my response cold and dismissable were not my true feelings on the matter.
It hurts to talk like this. But if I can't convince myself that what I'm doing is right then I'll fail.
Lilith's took a shaky breath, hands quivering slightly, and her eyes shut tight. There was a pregnant silence as neither of us spoke. I pressed my lips into a thin line and hung my head low.
"Kamui...will be okay." I know that for sure. Someone like her would never give up. I pushed myself up to a stand going over to my bedside dresser. Lilith crimson eyes watched me as I pulled a sealed blank letter out.
"You need to give her this," I said holding it out to her.
Lilith looked down at the piece of parchment and then back up to me.
"Kyuma," She paused her bottom lip quivering slightly. My hand slid up her arm to cup the side of her face. It's okay. I'll be okay.
She shut her eyebrows furrowing as she shook her head. "No Kyuma," She sighed removing my hand from the side of her face. Turning to slip the letter onto the dresser.
"I-" She let out a frustrated huff as her cheeks grew a rosy pink. "We won't see each other for a very long time…" She trailed turning away from me. What are you trying to say? I leaned forward wrapping my arms around her.
"Yeah we won't." I spoke softly. Lilith let out a shaky breathe hand against my chest.
"Yes, your right." Her fingers tapped against my chest and down to my stomach. "How long do we have?" She mumbled against my chest.
"15 minutes." I spoke, "Xander wants me to meet him in the war room soon." I could feel my face heat up as her fingers played with the clasp of my belt. She wants to do that?
She stretched to place a kiss against the crook of my neck. Her hands suddenly grabbed the hem of my shirt pulling it up. As her knuckles glided over my stomach and up to my chest I realized she was shaking slightly.
"Are you sure?" I whispered raising my arms as she slipped the shirt off dropping it to the floor. She looked up yellow orbs catching ahold of mine.
Yes.
I lowered myself so that I could brush my lips against her cheek. She let out a small sharp exhale as I pressed kisses into her pale skin. My hands hooked under her arms going to her back.
She arched her back chest pressing against me. "Kyuma," She whispered maneuvering her head so she could nibble on my earlobe.
My fingers hooked against each strap pulling it loose. With each one her dress started to fall past her shoulders.
The top of her breast became exposed and I lowered my head to kiss at the skin. Her hand reached up to comb through my black hair. Her hand clutched at the back of my head as I opened my mouth to grab at the supple skin with my lips. She arched her back once more, a low whine escaping her lips.
"Lilith," I was panting looking down at the slightly red skin on the top of her breast. I squeezed at her waist. "Turn around."
Her face went red at my words, "You want me to..." Her eyes danced around for a moment as her hands' grip at her skirt.
She suddenly grabbed my wrists slapping my hands over my eyes. "D-don't look." Lilith stuttered out the embarrassment clear in her tone.
I could hear the ruffle of clothes being removed. The sound made my heart begin to pound in my chest. Her hand grabbed my forearm pulling me towards her. She pressed up against me wrapping her arms around me.
"O-okay. You can look now." My hands lowered to her shoulders with a chuckle. Her face somehow got redder as I reached behind me to grab ahold of her hand.
She buried her face into my chest. "Don't laugh." She mumbled as I pressed my lips against her knuckles.
"Your beautiful Lilith," I encouraged and Lilith nodded looking up at me with a wry smile.
"I know." Lilith joked swiping her thumb against my bottom lip. We chuckled our hands roaming each other's bodies once more.
"For a moment, it feels like this is right, fleeting but it was there." Lilith gave me a knowing look filled with sorrow. I understood not to get my hopes up. That this was farewell for some time - which depending on the future may very well be never - our last time being intimate together like this.
She held my hand guiding me to the bed. "This feels right. You feel right Kyuma but leave this bed with any regrets." She fell onto her back dragging me on top of her. "Every action, every sound, and every word."
"Let me take it all in."
*Siiiiiiiip*
Oh, I see you're still here. Oh, don't mind me just sipping a glass of wine.
I must say, thank you for reading until the end.
Also, who knows I might upload multiple chapters this week. I hope you liked that scene at the end between Lilith and Kyuma. The best I can explain their relationship is that they're off and on? Friends with benefits? IDK. But they still harbor feelings for each other to at least say goodbye like this.
I needed Lilith to be in Nohr so that this scene could play out and could set up future chapters. Grima made a cameo this chapter and yes it's awakening Grima who wasn't exactly killed for a very specific reason other than Naga can provide who has also already made a cameo during the very start of this story.
I'm saying a lot of things but thank you for still reading this mess of a fanfiction.