Corrin swallowed hard, feeling woefully inadequate- silver armor and well-groomed hair be damned- when placed before the grand room that he stood within.
The room was long and narrow, nearly as long as the distance between the two narrowest walls of the Northern Fortress. The ceiling was decorated with numerous engravings and paintings and was far above him by large black pillars that were similarly engraved with images of great battles fought by greater kings. The hall was flanked by great walls of black stone on either side, oil fed lamps clung to the walls every twenty or so paces, complemented by paintings and portraits and weapons of kings that came before. The floor itself was beyond anything that Corrin could have imagined during his time at the Northern Fortress; red, white, and black tiles placed in intricate patterns that were almost impossible not to look at. From the entrance, three impossibly long velvet carpets offered passage to the back of the room, to a large black throne, tucked between the front paws of a massive and terrifying dragon. The Dragon demanded respect, but not nearly as so as the man that sat on the throne beneath it.
His father- King Garon struck and impossibly powerful figure even from a distance. A massive well-groomed beard hung from his chin, even as his hair was kept short and was thinning. Corrin approached the throne quietly, terribly aware of his own insignificance before the man that ruled the most powerful country in the known world. Before he knew it, he had long since left the entrance with its royal guards behind, and stood beneath the dragon statue that kept watch over the black throne. Corrin dared not look upon his father, instead kneeling in subservience and staring at the ground. Corrin's tongue felt dry and heavy in his mouth, but he found the words with which to address his father.
"My King Garon, it is I, you're loyal son, Prince Corrin of Nohr, fifth in line to the throne. I have returned to you from my education in the lands overseen by Duke Lasalle, and I am ready to serve you in this dire time, for the greater glory of Nohr, as both warrior and prince."
Corrin heard Garon shift upon his throne, and the great king spoke, his voice a baritone that bounced off the walls of the hall, carrying itself to the entrance "Tell me Prince Corrin, why is it that fifth in line to the throne grovels on his stomach like a slave. Stand, and look upon me."
Corrin hesitated, but nonetheless followed his king's command, taking in his father from two arms lengths away. Corrin was immediately assaulted by the sickeningly sweet and overwhelming smell of perfume, after Corrin adjusted, he looked at his father in detail.
He was even more intimidating up close; taller than Xander, and almost twice as wide as Corrin himself. He was clad in black full plate armor, save for his horned great helmet, which lay at the foot of his throne, opposite of a massive axe. Garon himself appeared sickly, his dark gray skin sagged and folded over itself and his hair an unhealthy gray, with dark bags under his eyes. Nonetheless, his eyes were hard, and the way he carried himself demanded respect and spoke volumes in power.
Corrin stood his ground as his father addressed him again "My full title is 'His Imperial Majesty King Garon the Second, Duskborn, and Lord of Windmire'. But you too are royalty, so 'King Garon' is acceptable". With this King Garon rose from his throne and walked over to within and armlength of where Corrin stood, doing his best not to shrink away from the mountain of a king, and the sweet smell that rolled off him. The observed Corrin with his black, hard eyes for a long moment, before holding out as single, massive armored hand.
"Your hand, boy."
Corrin complied immediately, holding his hand out. No sooner did Corrin offer it than Garon grabbed it, pulling Corrin close and embracing him, almost crushing him in his arms. The embrace lasted only a second, then the King stepped away. "In private, I would never ask my children to call me anything but 'Father'. Let's hear it, boy!" He commanded, but this time, his voice filled with mirth.
Corrin was taken aback by his father's sudden change in demeanor, and stammered in response "B-but of course father."
Garon placed his hand on his shoulder, smiling in good humor, as if they were sharing some private joke "It would seem you learned etiquette a bit too well. Ah well, time here with your family will change that. Perhaps you will fill out as well, it doesn't seem as though they are feeding you enough in that dusty old castle." Garon's expression softened a bit, his smile going from humored to gentle.
"Unfortunately, I must be your king for a moment." He returned to his throne and cleared his throat "I heard that you met an altercation on the journey here. I would like you to describe the events of the encounter, in brief, but I shall have Alexander give me a more in-depth report."
Corrin nodded, formally, but his heart touched by his father's brief display of affection "We were ambushed by a group of Hoshidans, while I do not know the number, I believe it was between twenty and thirty, my king. They were very poorly equipped and trained, I believe that they were escaped prisoners of war, likely motivated to steal our horses and food to make for the border. They ambushed us from the woods with missiles, throwing our convoy into disarray and wounding many of our soldiers. Partway through the battle though, I was able to use a dragon vein to break their assault, giving our force an opportunity a chance to counter attack and route the enemy, but the strain rendered me unconscious."
Garon nodded "That is to say, you did not engage them in battle yourself?"
Corrin discretely chewed on the inside of his mouth "I did not get a chance, my king. In the initial stages of the battle our enemies were concealed, and I needed to find some safety to rally the men. Once I had used the dragon vein, the enemy was routed quickly, before I had a chance to regain my senses."
Garon nodded again, this time supportively "It happens to the best of us. You did well, young prince. You are not yet known to our soldiers or the enemy's, so leave leading to the crown prince. Your decisions turned the tide of battle, do not lose heart at the glory you did not earn this battle, there will be others."
Corrin only bowed his head at his father's support. His father continued, this time his voice cast in a more dangerous tone, near fury. "The bastards, curs. Striking at us from within our own country, the nerve of it. It is a shame you killed them all, a public execution is in order…regardless, if they were indeed prisoners of war, this is dire. I must find whomever was so lax as to endanger Nohr in such a way. Go now, young prince, speak to one of the guards to guide you about Castle Krakenburg whilst you settle into your new home. I will, summon you later, after I have resolved this issue."
Corrin bowed, expressing his gratitude "Thank you, my king, I will look forward to it."
Garon laughed "No, you will not meet with His Imperial Majesty Garon the Second, you will meet with Garon the proud father. I shall endeavor to make it so. Now go, Leonardo would appreciate someone to break the monotony of his recovery, and I know Elise is about somewhere. Camilla is in Nestria on business unfortunately, and Xander has his own duties to tend to."
Corrin bowed again, heart soaring from his father's acceptance "Thank you…father."
It took all of his willpower not to exit the room skipping past the guards, forfeiting his dignity.
Corrin sought out the nearest guard- a beautiful woman with long blonde hair held together with white bows, contrasting with the dark breastplate and gauntlets that constituted royal guard armor- and requested that she take him to Leo's study.
Unfortunately, Corrin was not known in Castle Krakenburg, which lead to a half-hour debacle where he was detained, and the woman screamed at him to with large bellows that seemed to defy her slim frame, before it occurred to him to show her his royal, stamp, after which her aggressive...passion for her work did a complete 180, with her taking him firmly by the hand and leading him through the castle, giggling frequently and speaking to him with a soft, demure voice.
The castle's surgeon was easy enough to find, but Leo was not so much. Leo was slippery when he wished to be, and the surgeon was a scatterbrain that-while brilliant-that had a difficult time remembering that Corrin was interested only in finding Leo, not the surgeon's many exaggerated exploits and research on how the humors were affected by infection, and different ways of treating the humor imbalance with alcohol. How it was the man even found a way to transition to the subject was beyond Corrin, but it was equally simple to transition again, from which Corrin was able to talk the man down and his escort was able to cut the man off immediately and spirit them away.
Leo's room was their next destination, naturally. His escort did not seem to know exactly where his room was, and Corrin could not very well navigate the black and sparsely decorated halls of Castle Krakenburg. The woman did not seem to care though, and her behavior had changed from friendly to somewhat odd, it made him uncomfortable, and he was growing slightly impatient with it.
"I would recommend the harlot step away from the prince."
Corrin furrowed his brow, no, he was quite certain that it was not he that had spoken. He could be somewhat distracted at times, but never quite to the point he ever voiced his thoughts out loud. Perhaps he had taken an injury he had forgotten in the last battle, a small strike to the head. Or perhaps it was when he used the dragon vein and passed out, he hadn't felt quite right since using it come to think of it- everything sounded far too loud- he should have asked the surgeon of it.
"Oh, my Lord Leo, how happy I-we are to have found you. You can be quite difficult to find at times."
He had just been lost in thought again, hadn't he? It was an unfortunate habit he needed to break.
"Good then, I have no need of your attention, and you'll get none from myself. If you want attention, join the other whores in the underground."
A particularly barbed reply, Corrin noted. Leo's quiet tendencies left Corrin almost forgetting how barbed his tongue could be, and how well he could wield it.
"W-Why Lord Leo, how could you be so cruel. And here I was so thrilled to finally make your acquaintance. You're as bad as they say and worse!" The women stormed off, crying, but more furious than anything else.
The exchange finally ended, Corrin directed his full attention to his brother, pushing a small cart arranged with various maps, paintings, small vials of fluid he could not discern, and books.
"Leo, I can't say I approve of that tongue lashing you gave the girl."
Leo sneered "She's a lowborn peasant girl and a harlot. She has quite the reputation as I understand, her behaviors are a well-known secret, and the walls of this place whisper such things."
Corrin shrugged, admittedly not terribly distraught "Nonetheless, it was not very gentlemanly."
Leo only shrugged "Then let her find a gentleman, I have a reputation of my own to maintain. That she had the gall to use you to seek me out shows that it is in disrepair, and the Cold Bastard Prince of Nohr should grace the more public halls of this castle to remind Windmire not to trifle with him."
Corrin felt a pang of concern for his younger brother as he looked him dead in the eye "Do they truly call you such a thing?"
Leo merely held his stare "Not to my face, but the walls whisper. There is no such thing as a secret in Castle Krakenburg, but enough of this. I have no desire to argue such things with you."
Corrin nodded "Alright, what is it that has you out and about when you should be resting and recovering, little brother?"
Leo glared at this "I'm no child to be pampered and scolded. I am continuing my work."
"And exactly what work would that be?"
"Primarily historical in nature, I've been pondering Nohr's current state, and I was hoping to find patterns in the past to understand the political climate and economy. So far I find our current situation to be unprecedented, but nothing new ever happens in Nohr."
Corrin eyed the vials, genuinely interested "And the mixtures?"
"Alchemical in nature, mostly."
Corrin eyed another odd item in the cart "And the brush?"
Leo's eyes narrowed a bit at this "Unfortunately, the alchemists' college does not see fit to provide me with the leeway to get a mixing apparatus. The brush is a suitable but humiliating replacement."
Leo cut his brother off before he could utter another question "I would rather not dally about unnecessarily, let us continue this in my quarters.
Leo's room was meticulously organized and clean, and surprisingly sparse. Truth to be told, having seen Leo's work habits, Corrin expected much more clutter- the room was quite modest all things considered, smaller than Corrin's in the Northern Fortress. The bed was small with plain linen sheets, a desk with an oil well and parchment with many different and complex markings. Aside from a single painting set by the single window, the room was utterly sparse.
While Leo pushed his cart in the corner Corrin approached the table and examined the parchment on the desk "Leo is this…music?"
"Ah, yes, I was making a short composition for Elise, she's been getting better with the violin, surprising given…well, I've been making this to help accommodate her."
"That is good of you, Leo."
Leo grunted and rejoined Corrin, at his desk "You almost sound surprised. I don't need to be a bastard all the time. Tell me, your backwards tutors at the Northern Fortress didn't neglect to teach you chess, did they?"
Corrin laughed politely at the barbed statement towards his mentors "Of course they didn't, don't be silly or spiteful." Corrin continued as Leo ducked under his bed and pulled out a chess set. "I was quite good at it, I believe, at the very least I won more than I lost."
Leo smirked "We shall see. I would be wary; your time playing with pointy sticks and being struck upon the head may have left you less prepared than you may have liked to believe".
Corrin won the first match with relative ease, Corrin could not find a single opportunity to take a significant piece of Leo's, and instead built up a large and intricate defensive line just as Leo did the same. In the end, Leo's pieces picked his formation to pieces, but left his king open to a quick riposte from his queen. Corrin would have been happy ending there, but of course Leo would not allow Corrin to end their exchange with a swollen head.
Granted, it was good that Leo did. In the second match the same intricate formations without attacking. When they came to blows, the exchange was bloody for both sides, but Leo maintained a slight advantage, and formed a wedge to cut past his lines, and forced his king to capitulate.
The tie breaker was turning out about the same as the second, and Corrin decided to use the opportunity to broach the topic of his concern "Leo, I don't think I really approve of the reputation you've tried to build for yourself."
Leo did not raise his eyes from the board "What of it?"
Corrin looked at his brother intently, taking his attention from the board "Primarily, your treatment of the women in our employ."
Leo finally turned from the game and met Corrin's gaze "I give them what they deserve. I am not aware of how the women you have interacted may have been in the northern reaches of Nohr, but the women in Windmire are typically conniving and treacherous, and those in this castle have only done so by climbing over the rest with the grand schemes."
Corrin frowned slightly "Certainly not all of the women here are so awful"
Leo dismissed his brother's speculation "You haven't been here, you are ill informed of the inner workings of this castle and its past. You would do well to be more wary."
"I can't help but worry that you could do well to be less so, and more gentlemanly."
Leo's eye's narrowed "Let's say that, for the sake of argument, that some of these women were deserving of some fundamental respect. Would I still be wrong to shirk them?"
Corrin scowled in confusion "You seem to have answered your own question."
"Think Corrin, what is it my reputation affords me?" Leo spoke Corrin's thoughts "Peace, quiet. Few women here are willing to so much as approach me without important business. In time I will be overshadowed as Xander's bitter bastard brother, with no friends or enemies. I will not be worth being invited into the schemes of nobles, nor important enough to draw their ire- allowing me to help Xander rule from the shadows."
Corrin's mouth was agape "Leo, you cannot be serious."
Leo ignored his brother's shock His Imperial Majesty King Garon's greatest domestic failing was felt only within these castle walls, as a direct result of his great love of women. Even if I am wrong to treat them with such indignity, does it matter in the great scheme of things if it averts great tragedy? Were King Garon wary of the women would many of the tragedies in these walls be averted? I will not allow myself to be seen as a pawn for the personal advancement of some conniving bitch."
For once Corrin had no words with which to argue against his younger brother, Leo simply sighed "You have lost Corrin, had you paid attention to the board you would have noticed I had checkmated you at the beginning of this absurd conversation. I grow tired, leave me be for a time so that I may rest."
"Leo, I must believe that you are wrong. This life that you have chosen- its not right. It can't be right."
Leo simply kicked his board under his bed and rested on his bed "I'm sleeping now. If you would be willing, could you take the music I made for Elise and deliver it to her. She's far too energetic for me to handle right now."
Saying nothing, Corrin walked up to Leo's desk grabbed the music, then turned and left.
Fleshing out each of the royal family members given their...well, traumatic childhoods...well everyone copes in their own way.
Well, its been a while, I'm more than a little rusty, and I haven't written in this style before this story. If anyone has any thoughts on how I could improve my writing, or how I flesh out my characters in these little filleresque intermissions, please do.
Review if you enjoyed and tell me why. If you hated it, then proceed to review and trash talk me, my family, and if you find the time, my writing.
