Corrin

The reception was winding down, my retainer, Kaze, and Lenore ushered me into my room. They had to take off the wedding dress and dress me in riding clothes. They were informed a few days ago that they would be the ones to escort me to Nohr and would be staying with me. Kaze was as ever faithful, but I could tell Lenore wasn't happy to be leaving her family, just like I wasn't happy either. Kaze stood outside the door of my room while Lenore undressed me quickly and deftly. Her fingers were flying across the buttons of my dress and once she removed my dress from me, she pulled out the clothes that were hanging in the closet. My riding gear was a simple cream dress that had short sleeves, it wasn't a kimono dress as my new in laws had brought it with them. The cream dress was lower cut than I was used to, and it had long sleeves which would have me sweltering in the Hoshido heat. My feet and legs were stuffed into a darker cream type of leggings with dark brown boots going over top of them. The boots rose to about my knee. Once I was dressed, she worked about getting my hair into a more relaxed style. Soon, curls fell about my face.

We exited my now old room, and Kaze took place behind us as we moved quietly and quickly to where my in laws were going to be waiting. We were leaving the night of the wedding, there was no time to waste as it was a two-week journey to get to Nohr and they already had their wedding set in motion. The wedding for their country was to occur two days after I arrived to Nohr. I was informed that I was to be riding with my new husband and his sister, Camilla, while Leo and Elise were to ride with the King. Kaze would be riding on the back of the carriage with Lenore in a wagon meant for the maids that the Nohrians had brought with them.

Once we were outside, my Hoshidan family stood out there waiting for my arrival. I teared up a little at seeing my family, knowing this was the last time for a very long time, that I was going to be seeing them. It tugged at my heart, this was so hard. I walked up to my siblings and hugged them all goodbye. I made my way to where Ryoma and my mother stood closest to the carriage. I reached out for my mother and hugged her tightly. I felt wet drops on my neck, and I realized she was crying too.

"My beautiful daughter, I love you so much. I will pray to the Dawn Dragon that you have safe travels and arrive in Nohr safely. I will write to you as soon as I possibly can," She said with a smile. I smiled back at her, telling her I loved her as well and turned to my brother.

"Little sister, you did amazing tonight. And you looked beautiful," he said gently. I looked up and smiled, Ryoma was tall, but Xander was a few inches taller than him. As I hugged my brother, he tightened his grip on me, making me a little uncomfortable. I pulled away and saw that look in his eyes that he had before I walked down the aisle. "I'm sorry, Corrin. I love you."

"I-I love you too, big brother," I replied. This was weird, what was that strange look he was giving me?

While I was speaking to Ryoma, my new in laws walked up and Xander stood by my side. I saw Xander staring at us the entire time and then a weird expression crossed his face when Ryoma said his final words to me. The carriages pulled up at that moment and King Garon went to a carriage.

"I have a wonderful wedding present for you all." He opened the carriage and…

Out stepped my father.

My mother gasped and I heard my sisters cry out "father!" happily. I felt my mother rush past me and run straight to my father and embraced him. Sumeragi, the king of Hoshido, held my mother tightly. He looked a lot thinner than he had the last time I saw him. His hair dragged the floor and looked unkempt. He was in very simple clothing, just a white shirt with brown pants. He was clean, but he looked haggard and not well taken care of. I felt nothing. It surprised me that I didn't feel joy or even felt the urge to cry, I felt nothing. This was my father and I all I really remembered of him was that he taught me how to sword play a little.

"My dear family, it feels good to be back," he said, his voice hoarse. My mother released him at that moment and my sisters jumped into his arms. I stayed by my husband and didn't move. This was the man that my entire life was traded for. My whole future was traded for someone I felt nothing towards… absolutely nothing…

My brothers both hugged him as well and my father turned to me, his brown eyes looking into mine and he smiled at me. I blinked and saw his arms open to me.

"Corrin, come here."

I stepped forward mechanically and hugged him. I didn't have any reactions. I mean I was grateful he was home, especially for my mother's sake, but I didn't remember him. This wasn't the person who raised me. Ryoma, mother, Lenore, they had raised me. This man… he had not. I pulled away after one short moment, my hug as a lot shorter than my siblings and I believe my father noticed it. I saw my father look around me and at Xander. He stepped up to Xander and held out his hand.

"You're my new son-in-law. I hope you take care of Corrin," Sumeragi spoke firmly. Xander took his hand and shook it solidly. "I appreciate you coming here to release me."

"It was part of the treaty after all, so it was nothing. I assure you, Corrin will be safe," Xander answered. I saw my father's eyebrows go up in surprise, safe wasn't exactly what he was wanting to hear.

"Come now, it is time for us to leave," Garon spoke up by the carriage. He had the door open and motioned for me to get in the carriage.

"But, your majesty, we just got my husband back, is there anyway she can stay a little longer?" my mother asked nicely. I could see the political maneuvers starting in her head.

"No, there is no time. We cannot delay," he said in a voice that left little room for argument. With one more motion of his hand he signaled for me to get into the carriage.

I felt Xander's hand go to the small of my back and he ushered me into the carriage, I tossed one last look over my shoulder at my family and I saw the heart broken look on my mother's face. My heart twisted and I stepped into the carriage, Xander stepping into it not too long after me and he sat beside me. Camilla stepped up into the carriage and sat on the opposing side from us, crossing her legs. I closed my eyes and laid my head back against the wall of the carriage.

I was leaving my only home I had ever known.

Xander

I sat in the carriage next to my wife, it was nighttime, and I could see her falling asleep slowly but surely. Her eyes were closing, and it wasn't long before I heard her soft sighs of sleep. I felt Camilla's gaze on me, and I looked up at her. Her purple eyes were curious, and she tossed part of her hair over her shoulder. She smiled at me and leaned forward, glancing back and forth between Corrin and me.

"You two certainly make a handsome couple," she said in her sultry voice with a laugh. I glared at her.

"It's not like that and you know it," I replied in a clipped voice.

"Oh, I know that, but maybe if you could get over your dislike of your new bride you might find something more," she remarked. "She's certainly pretty enough. I hope we will become fast friends." With a sigh my sister sat back and had a smirk on her face. "And just to let you know, Xander, the attraction between you two is palpable."

"Attraction? To her?" I spat out in disbelief. I felt Corrin stir next to me at my words and then she got still again.

"Yes, the way you look at her and the tension around you two, especially when you are looking at each other, is almost too much for even me. I'm surprised you haven't noticed," She said with a soft laugh.

"I am not attracted to Corrin, Camilla. Stop this foolishness, it is ridiculous," I answered.

"Why is it ridiculous? Because of Nyx?" I stilled at her words and I saw one of her eyebrows raise.

"How did you know?"

"Oh brother, you weren't exactly hiding it well and the maids gossip of course. Selena heard a maid saying that Nyx slipped out of your room a couple of weeks ago, very early from what I'm told. Be grateful I told them to keep their mouths shut or father would have her head," Camilla said with a flippant tone. "Just keep in mind that I saw her at the wedding, she didn't look too pleased with the tension that I could feel and see myself."

"Camilla, if I wanted your opinions, I would have asked for you to give them," I said tightly. Great. Now the servants knew about Nyx and I. Cheating wasn't exactly taboo in my country but sleeping with someone of such a low born status continually was, especially for the Crowned Prince. If Father found out and disapproved, he could have me stripped of my title and her banished or worse. "You say anything to anyone."

"Who am I going to tell, darling?"

My eyes fell to Corrin's sleeping form and Camilla's face lit up with affirmation. I looked back up at my sister and saw her watching us again. I couldn't believe that we had been found out. This was bad. I may have to put distance between Nyx and myself for a while until the rumors die down. Once they did though, I would go back to her immediately.

"I won't say anything, big brother, but keep in mind that you can't keep all your secrets hidden for long. If she finds out it won't be from me, but I think it best that you tell her yourself," she said. I shook my head.

Cheating in Hoshido was extremely frowned upon. If Corrin found out she might break the alliance herself and go back to Hoshido, and then my people would be without the food they so desperately needed. No, Corrin could never find out. My country depended on this marriage to survive. They needed the medicine and food that Hoshido offered and they also needed the healers that Hoshido had. My people knew the bare minimum of healing and while we did have some adept healers, they were far and few between. Elise, my younger sister, was such a healer of adept skill, and I knew she was excited to learn even more from the Hoshidan healers. This alliance was beneficial for us all, I couldn't let it fall apart.

Camilla grew quiet and I looked out the window of the carriage. It wasn't long before Camilla was also sleeping, and I felt my eyes growing heavy themselves. It was a very long day and I was growing weary. Just as I was starting to fall asleep, I felt something against my right arm. I looked down and saw that Corrin was now laying against me. She was sleeping hard and she had her entire body leaning against mine. Looking at her now, I could see her features in the dim moonlight that flashed through the carriage windows.

Her silver hair covered her cheek and she started to shiver slightly. The place where she laid against me felt warm all over and sent a chill up my spine. I lifted my arm that she was leaning against and draped it along her so that she was now laying fully up against my side, her head in the crevice of my shoulder. My left hand moved her hair off her face and with her sleeping like this, even I had to admit she was sort of… pretty. She had long silver lashes that dusked her cheeks and her lips were fuller than I had anticipated. Her chin was delicate, and her nose was small and rounded. She was pretty when she was sleeping, unlike when she had a frown on her face when she looked at me.

I laid my head against the side of the carriage and I fell asleep. I didn't even notice that Camilla wasn't asleep at all and was smiling at us as I drifted off.