Hiraeth
"Ah. Right."
Robin made a clean sweep of the room. His tome was on the nightstand, Brynhildr at Leo's belt. There were no windows to be seen in the fortress chamber (smart), and the only door lay behind the prince in question - the one 'asking' for his help under threat of execution, to clarify.
Considering he wasn't eager to sheer through solid stone again anytime soon, Robin opted to gamble with the diplomatic solution. "Why me?"
Leo lowered himself into a chair at his bedside, crossing one leg over the other. "You're the 'genius tactician' from another world, are you not? You've proven your capabilities. Leaving you to rot in another cell, or the alternative, would be a tremendous waste."
Robin nodded thoughtfully. He was under no illusion that this was much better than the cage, considering the bulk of the Nohrian army was feasibly nearby or en route. Though that still begged the question of why Leo considered it a safe gamble to trust him, especially with his sister's safety.
Best to feel out the situation more.
"Don't get me wrong," Robin said. "I'd rather be here than, well-" he gestured to the air, "-the alternative. But what stops you and Grand Tactician over there from handling this?" He chuckled to himself. "Two's a dynamic duo, three's a crowd."
Leo's nose wrinkled in response. "Ideally, that won't be the case. I'm sure you've noticed, but Iago is not exactly..."
"Reliable? Trustworthy? The sort of person you want in any conceivable leadership position?"
Leo turned away quickly, his tall collar masking an audible snort. "Regardless," he said after a moment. "If we're to be working together, you need to be brought up to speed. Queen Mikoto erected a magical barrier some fifteen years ago, spanning the plains just beyond the Bottomless Canyon. Any Nohrian who crosses it loses the will to fight, but you..." Leo looked to him with a grin. "You aren't Nohrian."
Robin frowned for a moment, mulling over Leo's words.
"You know," he finally concluded. "Your sister is a lot nicer than you."
Leo sighed dramatically. "Let me guess. You were already planning to save her anyway."
"Alas, your sinister methods of coercion are wasted on me. Though..." he trailed off, finger tapping the bedframe absently. "I didn't account for having an army's worth of backup. I can probably work with that..."
The squeak of Leo's chair as he stood jarred from his rumination. "I'd suggest you work it out quickly. What I said to Iago was not in jest - Camilla already had one axe to grind after you took down Beruka in your escape."
"Hah. Knew that was overkill."
Privately, Robin wondered where being ground to a bloody pulp fell between 'swift and painless' versus 'long, excruciatingly painful'.
"You have an office in the chamber below," Leo said, having paused on his way to the door. "It's been supplied with the basics - Nohrian history, army composition, Hoshidan geography, but I will remain available to consult on any matters more specific or..." he glanced back, giving the hallway a thorough sweep. "Sensitive."
"Robin nodded sagely. "I suppose I'll get to it. Maybe you could send a sandwich or two-"
"Though come to think of it," he continued, turning around again. "It would be prudent to provide you with details on local supply routes, not to mention convoy loads, speed of travel... military inventory too, of course." His finger raised to the air as he paced in the doorway. "There's also the matter of Hoshidan troops lying in wait immediately across the border. We've sent wyvern riders to scout but the storm is still far too dense to-"
"Leo," Robin interrupted. "She's going to be fine."
Leo ran a hand across his face. "Right. Of course. I'm rambling." He gave a swift, stiff nod. "Best of luck, Robin." The door clicked shut, murmured half-thoughts lingering in Leo's wake.
To be completely honest with himself, Robin hadn't meant to lie. Getting out of bed and throwing himself into work on a proper strategic conundrum was exactly the sort of thinking he just knew he loved. Sword beats axe, keep fliers away from archers, pairs fight stronger together. That stuff made sense - a piece for every puzzle, a key for every lock. Suffice to say, it was much preferable than slowing down enough to start sorting through the countless thoughts and emotions he'd been pushing aside throughout his lifetime (a notable degree, considering).
Yes, he thought to himself. That's a good plan.
Instead, as Leo's footsteps echoed down the hall, he collapsed back onto the bed with a sigh.
The fact of the matter was this: he'd failed.
He'd failed, and Corrin had paid the price.
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
He could've done something - scrutinized Hans, weaved some sort of wind spell, suggested they hold until the storm eased up. Not let her walk onto that abominable excuse of a bridge with that gods-forsaken sword.
Instead, he'd collapsed, too stricken by nightmarish memory to raise a finger. He had more names now, for more faces. Lissa, Maribelle, Emmeryn-
He shook his head. Gods, he was tired.
But somehow, an entire kingdom was counting on him now (two, even, from a certain point of view).
Corrin was counting on him.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Robin pushed his thoughts into the darkness once more, doing his best to forget about the key in his hand.
Objective 1: Talk to Anna.
Clearly, everyone was under the impression the Hoshidan forces had nabbed Corrin. He must've been the only one close enough to see what had really happened - which was good for him not getting actually-executed, at least. But Leo had seemed completely certain that she was in Hoshido, and alive, so clearly he knew something Robin didn't. That was the only reasonable conclusion to draw, because the alternative was unacceptable - the alternative was that a string of miscommunication and bad info had convinced everyone Corrin was in enemy custody instead of dead at the bottom of-
Look who's rambling now.
Regardless. Anna was trustworthy, and Anna was cooperating with the Nohrians (for now), so she should be able to fill in any information Robin didn't have. Maybe the Hoshidans had broken out some experimental wind magic, with one of those scrolls? There were few better hostages to have while on the brink of war than enemy royalty, even if you were 'The Good Guys'.
Though, that also led him to another point of interest - Corrin's father was King Garon the warmonger, and he'd given Corrin that sword. That cursed, evil, any-and-every-descriptor-for-just-plain-wrong sword. So, had he been trying to dispose of her, or...
Well. All the more reason he needed more information, urgently.
That train of thought seemed to have lasted him long enough to spill out into the fort courtyard. Hardened earth spanned the space between thick stone walls, the grounds littered with Nohrian troops at work - training, transporting supplies, relaying orders. With this kind of force assembled, combined with Iago's mention of at least a hundred more like it... no wonder Hoshido had opted towards putting off a conflict for as long as possible.
Still walking forward, he was beginning to realize he didn't know where the storeroom actually was just as he nearly slammed into one of the soldiers in question.
"Oh, sorry," he exclaimed, "Uh, could you by any chance point me towards the storeroom?"
Correction: this towering, armored figure was definitely someone in a leadership position. They wore an intricate set of heavy black plate, etched with gold. Their helmet bore the traditional degree of Nohrian menace, glaring down at him through a thin T-shaped opening. Jagged dragon's wings flanked the sides, which made sense, considering the wyvern they seemed to have just dismounted. The creature was immense, coated in armor and thick black scales. Its ruby eyes narrowed with an uncomfortable degree of intelligence as it caught sight of him, snorting a gust of hot air from its snout.
The wyvern knight stared for a moment longer, before pointing one armored gauntlet across the courtyard, where a cellar opening spiraled away beneath the fortress.
Robin nodded hastily. "Right, thank you, I'll be on my-"
The wyvern growled, and wow, that was a truly blood-chilling sound. It flashed its pearly white teeth and snapped at the open air in his direction. The knight murmured something softly, turning around to lay a hand on the beast's head. Their shoulders and neck were lined with thick white fur, and a long, wicked-looking axe hung at their back-
Ohh.
Robin made it a solid four paces across the courtyard before the knight called out to him. "Tactician."
He turned around slowly, swallowing. "Yes?"
"Oh, don't look so dour," she laughed, helmet tucked beneath one arm. "You have your duties to attend to, hm?" The wyvern snorted behind her, and she continued to scratch its neck. "Well, run along now on those legs of yours. Hopefully, by the time Corrin has returned to us..." she paused, flashing an oppressively sweet grin. "...they're still attached."
Robin didn't look back as he sped away from Princess Camilla of Nohr as quickly as was appropriate.
"Lilith, make sure one of the mages heads this way to freeze the fresh produce, we're not getting more of that anytime soon. The rest of you," Anna said, glaring to the remaining sweating, wide-eyed laborers who were very evidently not up to Anna's standards. "Do whatever she tells you to do."
The blue-haired woman nodded, turning to the others and doling out orders in soft tones. Robin was pretty sure he heard one of them sigh in relief.
The storeroom was about the size Robin would expect from a moderate fortress, but the preparations had clearly turned it into a labyrinthine, unorganized mess before Anna had gotten involved. It was respectable progress for only a day's work - half the chamber had clearly designated walkways, and only a few swords were still mixed in with farming implements (which did beg the question of why those were there in the first place).
He nodded appreciatively as Anna peeled away from her work, wiping her brow. "You've been busy."
"I know I've been away from the merchantry business for awhile, but I swear. Half these kids can't tell a Fimbulvetr from a Nosferatu!" she bemoaned. Robin figured it would be poor timing to mention he didn't know what a Fimbulvetr was either. "I'm half-tempted to call in a few favors from my sisters, get some real workers in here." She put her chin in her hands, taking a seat on one of the many varieties of crates to choose from.
"So, working under the enemy for the greater good, huh?" Robin rifled through one of the nearby crates, lifting out a blue tome lined with gold. No way, was this ice magic? He flipped it open, raising one hand towards the wall-
Anna cleared her throat. "This is the part where I get to say 'I told you so.'"
"Alright, look," he shot back, dropping the tome. "The fact is, it worked and nobody's-"
"Ah-ah," Anna interrupted, raising a finger. "You already used that one."
Robin sighed in defeat. "I'm an amnesiac, Anna. I don't have much material to work with."
She rolled her eyes. "Not to mention, 'it worked' is a stretch." She gestured to their surroundings. "It's a miracle they didn't execute the both of us after-"
Her expression softened. "What exactly happened?"
"Bad memory," Robin answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "I'm alright." Anna eyed him for a moment, but didn't press as he continued. "More importantly, questions. Where are we, and where's Corrin?"
"Still along the Bottomless Canyon, a bit further south. After, well," she bit her lip. "We fell back, and before long the entire royal family was on top of us. They were still figuring out what to do about you and I before Prince Leo got word she was in Shirasagi - the Hoshidan capital." She grinned, eyebrows raised. "You actually got him to argue on our behalf."
Robin waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I've got a read on him - if he kills me, it'll be to my face. Probably with an evil one-liner. Chances are I was safer snoozing for-" he paused as his stomach rumbled uncomfortably. Somebody better cough up those sandwiches.
Anna shrugged. "A few days, maybe. You were in and out of it."
"A few days?"
"Robin," she said, staring deep into his eyes. "I say this to you as your friend. Buy some sleeping draughts. Preferably from me."
"I get plenty of-"
"Ten hours. Across four days."
"My perfectly functional lifestyle is completely irrelevant to this conversation!" Robin exclaimed, punctuating each word with the jab of his finger. "We shall now," he pressed on, hand raised to halt Anna's rebuttal, "return to discussing important, mission-critical matters. For example - how did Corrin get from the Bottomless Canyon to Hoshido?"
Anna cocked her head incredulously. "You're the one who saw her get captured, you tell me."
"That's the thing," Robin said, hand on his chin. "She wasn't captured. That sword, Ganglari? It pulled her into the Bottomless Canyon."
Some crates clattered in the distance. Anna choked, dropping the waterskin she had apparently procured before snagging it in her other hand. "What?"
Robin reached out, taking a sip himself. "You know how she survived."
Anna's expression shifted into something unreadable, lost in thoughts for several seconds. Finally, she spoke in a low voice. "I can't tell you."
"Come on," he grinned. "We're friends, aren't we?"
She looked confused for a moment before shaking her head. "No, you don't- I can't tell you." Her eyes bore into his, attempting to communicate what her words could not.
Robin faltered as he realized he'd never heard Anna speak in this raw, genuine tone.
His smile fell.
"So, this thing you know that you can't talk about - it's bad."
She hummed noncommittally in response.
"Corrin told me that her father gave her the sword. King Garon. Does that make sense to you?"
Anna exhaled. "Yeah. It's coming together now." She stood, rolling her shoulders. "We need to find her."
"Well Anna," he said, mustering another easy grin as he rose to meet her. "It's your lucky day."
"I have a plan."
Hoshido was, well...
Wow.
She'd never seen anything like it.
The lake they'd emerged from was nestled within a peaceful, forested glade. Verdant shrubbery dotted the shoreline, the brush growing thick beneath the shade of both familiar sights and vibrant, twisting trees. A lone wooden pier jutted out over the water, and rows of snow-capped mountains towered on the horizon. She breathed deep, tasting the cool breeze wafting across the shoreline and the crisp scent of pine drifting from the forest. And the sky. The sky.
The sky was impossibly, beautifully blue. Puffy white clouds drifted lazily across its expanse, and to the east the sun rose high, casting great swathes of gold across the scenery. Glittering beams of light shone down upon the lake, radiating as though the water itself were divinely blessed.
Compared to a life in Nohr... well, Corrin could begin to imagine why people might grow jealous of such splendor.
It was nothing less than beautiful.
It was enough to forget herself, for a moment.
She was a princess of Nohr. In Hoshido. The kingdom they were all but at war with. Unarmed, no less, and just after-
She spun to the others. Azura had turned away from the lake, and Lucina stood nearby - seemingly as transfixed by the landscape as she'd been.
"Azura," Corrin said, voice quivering unbidden as the events of the last hour caught up with her all too quickly. "What... what was that? There were islands, and dragons, and..." she trailed off, the absurdity of it all ringing in her mind despite the fact she'd seen it firsthand. "That phantom called it Va-"
"STOP!" Azura shrieked, and Corrin's mouth slammed shut as Azura's piercing golden gaze flooded her vision, arms grasping her shoulders tightly.
"You can't speak of it. Don't mention details, don't try to tell anyone else, and don't speak its name." Her eyes blazed desperately. "Promise me."
Corrin let out a breath she hadn't known she was still holding, gently grasping Azura's hands and lowering them off her shoulders.
"I promise," she said softly. She knew she meant it.
Azura exhaled, taking a step back as the tension eased from her rigid body. "I'm sorry. You - both of you," she said, looking to both her and Lucina. "You share my burden now. I can't even begin to explain how painful it is, to want to say something, anything, but-"
She paused, silence washing over the shoreline, before speaking again in a small voice.
"I never wanted that. I'm sorry."
Corrin knew she didn't fully understand the gravity of what weighed on Azura, but anyone could recognize a friend in need. Stepping forward, she met Azura's golden gaze once more.
"Azura, I never could have escaped that place alone. If it weren't for you both, I... I don't know what would've happened." She reached out and squeezed her hand. "You saved my life. Keeping quiet is the least I can do. Besides," she said, smiling broadly. "If we're all in this together, we have to be friends, right?"
"I chose this path," Lucina affirmed, stepping forward to Azura's side. "I would not fail you by skirting the weight of this burden now. We shall bear it together," she said, joining in with a small smile of her own. "As friends."
Azura looked between them for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words. Finally, she smiled weakly, a bit of color beginning to return to her face. "Thank you. Both of you."
Corrin gave her hand a final squeeze before releasing it. "You would do the same for us."
Azura looked ready to say something more, but her eyes suddenly widened. "We're all still soaked! Here, let me..."
With a soft hum and a wave, each droplet of water rose from their bodies, any moisture sucked dry from fabric. They shimmered there in the air for a moment, before glistening in the morning light and evaporating - like tiny dying stars.
Corrin let out a short laugh of amazement. "Wow. That's a useful trick."
"I come and go through here often," Azura said. She laughed softly, the sound echoing across the water. "There's only so many times you can pretend you fell in the lake."
Grinning back, Corrin opened her mouth to reply, but stopped to look Lucina's way as she stepped towards her. The still-masked woman reached to her belt, offering a light brown flask. "For your wound."
"Oh!" Corrin exclaimed, suddenly reacquainted with the piercing ache in her shoulder. Not to mention just how exhausted she was. "Thank you, Lucina," she yawned, tipping her head back and grimacing at the bitter sting of the vulnerary.
Azura yawned as well, rolling her shoulders. Lucina raised a hand to her face, yet even she wasn't safe.
"You're familiar with the terrain, Azura," she managed after a moment, rubbing her nose beneath her mask. "Is there somewhere nearby we may recuperate?"
Azura nodded, gesturing towards the treeline. "I'll take you to my home. Follow me."
Corrin noticed the way she hesitated on the word 'home', but held her tongue.
She led them down a winding trail through the forest; the narrow path marked by scattered stones. Birdsong echoed from the canopy as they walked, and Corrin smiled upwards as they greeted the sunrise with their chirping harmonies.
After several minutes the group emerged at the back of, well, Corrin figured it was some sort of manor. Built of red and white wood, it sat atop a stone foundation and stretched well into the distance either way she looked. They must have been at a side entrance - a large raised deck led to a set of ornate doors, well-shaded although it was clear of the forest. Corrin glanced up, curious just how-
Manor was not the right word. It was built from wood rather than stone, but castle was much more suitable. The towering structure boasted countless floors, their blue-green tiling vanishing into the clouds. She knew Hoshidan architecture had its differences from Nohrian styles, but this was something else altogether. Where Castle Krakenburg rested in the shadowed heart of Nohr, this fortress seemed built to pierce the heavens themselves.
Azura strode on undaunted, pushing one of the great doors open and gesturing for them to follow. Sparse white walls and vaulted hallways stretched into the distance within, and Azura weaved through them with instinctive ease. Though the place was certainly strange, something about the smooth wooden floors and warm torchlight gave it this comforting, homely sense. Which is ironic, Corrin pondered as they walked, considering I couldn't be further from home right now.
If she was being honest, the floors did most of the work. Gods were they preferable compared to the freezing stones of Krakenburg, or the Northern Fortress. Not to mention The Place That Shall Not Be Named.
"This architecture reminds me of Chon'sin," Lucina offered. "I was never given the opportunity to visit, but I knew it through books and paintings."
"Chon'sin?" Corrin said, the pronunciation strange on her tongue. "I've never heard of it. Is it near Hoshido, then?"
Lucina shook her head as they started up a flight of stairs. "Not exactly. It's... a long story."
"If you say so," Corrin shrugged in response. "Though speaking of, where exactly are we? Do you have family here, Azura?" It might've been a good idea to ask that before wandering into a Hoshidan castle, but she trusted Azura. They must've met at Castle Krakenburg before she'd left for the Northern Fortress, right? Maybe Azura's parents had been visiting Hoshidan nobility, or something - before the war broke out. Corrin was about to open her mouth to inquire further, but Azura suddenly raised her hand at an intersection. The group fell to a halt, and Azura glanced down both hallways before gesturing them forward silently.
"Azura?" Corrin said, voice dropping to a much lower tone. "Are we supposed to be sneaking around?"
She frowned in response. "I'd like to avoid unwanted attention. I don't think the ninja have noticed us yet, so they must be-"
"Ah," Lucina exclaimed, nodding in understanding. "This is Castle Shirasagi, then. I agree, it would be best to discuss our situation in private before-"
"We're in Shirasagi?" Corrin hissed in alarm. "Azura, I'm-"
"Die already!"
Corrin's heart leapt to her throat, and she didn't hesitate to throw herself against the wall as Azura and Lucina did the same.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Silence hung for a long moment. Corrin looked to Azura, who raised one finger in a shushing motion.
"Allow me!" the voice cried out again. "No, that's not... allow me!"
A boy that looked to be about Leo's age turned the corner. He wore strange clothing - reminiscent of the Hoshidan soldiers she'd seen at the canyon, and his long gray hair was tied back in a ponytail. His face seemed contorted in a strange grimace, but it vanished as he caught sight of them.
"Oh!" the Hoshidan exclaimed, hastily crossing his arms nonchalantly. "Hey, Azura. Where have you-?"
His surprised gaze jumped between the three of them before he reached for the object slung across his back - an ornate white bow. His eyes narrowed as he drew it back, an arrow of light manifesting to match its ethereal bowstring.
"You've got one chance, Nohrians," he growled. "Step away from my sister, before I make you."
Azura lunged forward, arms raised. "Takumi, let me expl-"
"Lower your bow, sir," Lucina ordered. "I do not wish to harm you."
The sound of a blade unsheathing echoed through the hall. Takumi swiveled to the right, aiming low. Lucina's blade flashed in a golden arc, the luminous arrow dissipating instantly on impact.
Takumi's eyebrows shot up. "How did you-?"
With a thud, the nearest door slammed open. The masked man within lowered his leg, while raising a pair of jagged throwing stars. "Lord Takumi."
"Saizo!" Takumi exclaimed. "You need to warn the others. There could be more Nohrians in the castle."
Saizo's eyes (er, singular eye) narrowed in Azura's direction. "Someone must have led them inside."
Takumi looked between the two of them with a suddenly bewildered expression. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying-"
The floor creaked suddenly as a set of boards slid away. Another ninja leaped out of the hidden passageway, rapidly taking in the standoff. His violet eyes widened as he met hers. "Princess Corrin?"
Corrin gasped in recognition. "Kaze, right? Are the others safe too?"
He nodded swiftly. "Thanks to you, we returned to Hoshido safely. To my knowledge, they are well." He looked towards Saizo, who grunted in affirmation.
"The attack on the Flame Tribe was routed. No casualties."
"I bet it was a distraction," Takumi offered. "Draw our forces away while the Nohrians snuck into the capital."
"What's this about Nohrians?" another voice interjected. The new speaker turned the bend, revealing a woman with short red hair. She held some sort of lance, and her red-and-white armor was scuffed and torn in several places.
She paused for a moment, taking in the scene. "...What's going on here?"
Takumi spun towards her. "Hinoka! The Nohrians have infiltrated Shirasagi!"
"We're not invaders!" Azura all-but shouted.
Takumi tilted his head. "Oh," he said, lowering his bow. "Why didn't you say so?"
Azura stifled a groan, running one hand across her face.
"Big sister!" a young voice called from the way Hinoka had come. "Y-you should really let me take a look at your-"
The short, pink-haired girl skidded to a halt in the intersection, yelping in shock. "W-what?"
"Sakura, stay behind me," Hinoka said, patting her head. "You, in the mask!" she cried, raising her lance in a defensive stance. "Lower your sword!"
"...My apologies," Lucina stammered, confusion evident even behind the mask as she sheathed her blade. "I meant only to defend Lady Azura."
"Azura?" Sakura asked, stepping out from behind Hinoka. "Wh-where have you been?"
Her frown deepened as she shut her eyes. "It's a very long story..."
"Is everyone alright?" a gruff voice called. The man stepping into the hallway towered over the others, largely due to the immense mane of brown hair flowing out from his crimson helmet. One hand fell to the blade sheathed at his side.
"Lord Ryoma-"
"Big brother-"
"Uh, we're fine!" Corrin squeaked. All eyes turned to her. "I think we're fine, right?"
Ryoma's hand fell off the katana's hilt instantly. "Corrin?"
Corrin cocked her head in response. "You know me?"
"Alright, enough!" Takumi exclaimed. "Will someone please explain what's going on here?"
A gasp echoed from the far end of the hallway.
Turning, Corrin caught sight of a woman in an elegant white dress, a pointed golden star rising from her long black hair. She stepped forward slowly, wide brown eyes locked with her own.
Silence hung over the group. Takumi looked about ready to break it, but Ryoma laid a hand on his shoulder.
Finally, the woman stopped before her. She was shaking, one hand raised as if to touch her, yet it hung still in the air.
She spoke, in a very small voice.
"Corrin?"
"Hello!" she said, voice laden with worry and a fair bit of confusion. "Er, are you someone else I've-?"
Her question was cut off as the woman lunged forward almost violently, arms wrapped tight around her. "Corrin," she gasped, body wracked with sobs as she buried her face in Corrin's shoulder. "I cannot believe- I never thought-" she choked out, loosening her grip and pulling back to meet Corrin's gaze. Her eyes watered, yet she beamed uncontrollably. "I am so, so happy to see you again. My sweet daughter."
Corrin gaped, managing a choked murmur that sounded something like "What?"
She watched, with painstaking clarity, as the light died in the woman's eyes.
"Mother," Ryoma interrupted, laying a hand on her shoulder. "We should discuss this elsewhere."
She released her grip, blinking her eyes. "Of course. Forgive me, Corrin. I will... I will explain everything."
An unbearably awkward silence hung over the procession as Ryoma led them through Shirasagi's halls. Kaze flashed Corrin a sympathetic glance, and when next she looked he and Saizo were gone. While Ryoma stared forward resolutely, Hinoka seemed to be undergoing a whirlwind of emotions - gaze locked on Corrin one moment and frantically looking anywhere else the next.
Corrin wrung her hands. She wanted to speak to her, but no words came.
Sakura stuck close behind, curling in on herself. Similarly, Lucina trailed Azura. She looked entirely out of her element, look of bewilderment perfectly mirrored by Takumi's.
Azura met Corrin's gaze just as she looked to her. She looked ready to say something, yet all she offered was a small smile. It felt equal parts comforting and sad.
Occasionally, the air was punctuated by the woman's sniffles.
Several minutes after descending another set of stairs, Ryoma stopped in front of another door. Rather than swinging open, it slid to the side, revealing some sort of sitting room. It had a clear view of the city proper, an interconnected network of Hoshidan architecture stretching out far below them. I remember reading Shirasagi was on top of a mountain...
The room itself was also nothing like its Nohrian counterpart. Rather than chairs and sofas, the room boasted an assortment of cushions and woven mats upon the floor. This must've been a regular occurrence for the family - they all took their spots quickly, and after a moment of standing awkwardly in the doorway, Azura gestured to a soft pink pillow at her side.
Lucina, looking just as uncomfortable as Corrin felt, settled for leaning against the wall.
After a long pause, the woman began to speak. "I don't even know where to begin..."
"Uhm," Corrin started. She felt strange, as though she were watching someone else speak. "What's your name?"
The woman stifled a laugh, though it didn't seem happy. "I.. I am Mikoto. Your mother."
Mother.
Her mother.
The queen of Hoshido was her-
Corrin couldn't help herself. She started giggling. Quietly, at first, though before long she had doubled over onto her hands and knees. Takumi looked away. Ryoma's eyes took on a concerned gleam.
"Corrin?" Mikoto asked. "Are you alright?"
It's just, so... funny!" Corrin gasped. "All this time, I've thought my mother was one of Father's concubines, like- like the rest of my siblings. That she didn't love me, or- or want me. But!" she exclaimed. "Now, now the queen of Hoshido is claiming to be my mother. And I don't- I don't even remember her face!"
Azura squeezed her arm tight, and Corrin realized she was crying.
Mikoto's eyes never left her, despite the crushed expression blossoming across her features.
"My poor Corrin," she murmured, though she didn't seem to have the stomach to reach out to her. "It's... a sad story. You were abducted by forces from Nohr when you were very young."
Corrin sucked in a breath, shaking her head. "No, no... King Garon is my father. Xander, Camilla, Leo, Elise - they're my siblings!"
"Are those the Nohrian royals?" Ryoma interjected, voice low and resolute. "They're not your real family. I remember the day you were taken."
Ryoma closed his eyes, hints of anger beginning to drip through his demeanor as he spoke. "Our father was King Sumeragi Shirasagi. In those days, there were tensions between our kingdoms, but not war. Not," he said, gesturing towards the window. "Not like today."
Corrin spoke in a small voice. "What happened?"
Ryoma cocked his head. "Ah. They wouldn't have told you. King Garon lured our father to Cheve under false pretenses - a peace conference. Ha!" he scoffed, voice raised. "His real plan was to murder our father in cold blood. You were five years old when he kidnapped you."
She stared on, disbelieving, mind spinning a thousand miles a minute.
"You really don't remember any of this?" he sighed. "Not even a single memory?"
"No," she affirmed, shaking her head. "I only have the vaguest memories from my childhood. I lived in Windmire with my siblings, and then Father sent me to the Northern Fortress. It's built on a Dragon Vein that generates a protective barrier..."
"To keep you there," Ryoma said.
"No!" Corrin argued. "I... I was sick, and weak. I suffered from headaches, and..." she shook her head slowly, dispelling unpleasant thoughts. "There was... I lost a lot of my memories, so he sent me there to heal..."
Ryoma reached out a hand slowly. "Corrin. What I tell you is the truth. I am your older brother, Ryoma. This is your elder sister, Hinoka, and your younger siblings - Takumi and Sakura. King Garon lied to you."
"That's impossible," Corrin stated definitively. "He couldn't, he's my-"
-the last time he'd visited her - maybe three, four... well, some amount of time ago.
"This is Ganglari, a sword infused with magic from another realm. With it at your side, you will crush the Hoshidan army with ease."
"Father... they're beaten. You want me to execute helpless prisoners?"
"This is Hans. No trouble will befall you in his company."
"You are MY CHILD. You do not DARE to defy me."
Corrin's heart burned in her chest.
"He's my father," she murmured helplessly.
"I'm late for training," Takumi announced, rising to his feet.
"Takumi," Ryoma rumbled.
"I'm late!" Takumi shot back. He left the room without another word.
"H-Hinoka," Sakura murmured a few moments later, tugging on her arm. "You r-really need someone to look at your wounds..."
Hinoka seemed to stir suddenly at her name, looking towards Sakura. She strode forward, coming to kneel directly in front of Corrin.
"I... I guess you don't remember me, huh?"
Corrin could see the tear tracks staining her face.
"But listen, Corrin, I- I need you to know. This is your home. I've been searching for you for so long, and- it might take some time, but if there's anything you need, our rooms are in the same hallway, and-"
Hinoka coughed, clearing her throat. "I'm so happy you're back. And we're going to be a family again, alright?"
She squeezed her shoulder and stood. Corrin's mouth hung open, but she couldn't think of a thing to say.
Sakura glanced Corrin's way, but broke eye contact quickly and hurried after Hinoka as she exited.
Finally, Corrin found her words, stumbling as they were. "I... need to think. About all of this."
Mikoto dipped her head, her expression solemn. "Ryoma can show you to your room."
The High Prince of Hoshido nodded, and Corrin stood silently.
The warm glow of the sun through the window only served to remind her just how far from home she was.
"Azura," Mikoto said, bringing her to pause as she rose to her feet. "Could I speak to you alone for a moment?"
Azura looked to the door Ryoma and Corrin had just exited through. Lucina still leaned against the wall nearby, mouth a thin line. Azura nodded silently, and Lucina hesitated a moment before turning to leave.
"Swordsman," Mikoto called. "What is your name?"
Lucina bowed her head. "You may call me Marth, milady."
"Thank you for all you have done, Marth," she said earnestly. "Someone will show you to a room of your own."
She nodded stiffly, expression halfway between a stoic frown and a grateful smile. "You have my thanks, Queen Mikoto." She stepped outside, and then there was only Mikoto and Azura. The latter settled back down on her ocean-blue cushion.
"Are you alright, my dear?" Mikoto began, gaze warm. "You were gone for many days. I worried for you."
The best lies were half-truths. "I'm sorry," Azura said. "I ran into trouble on my travels. Marth saved me."
Mikoto nodded. "She seems very loyal to you."
Azura's eyebrows raised. "She's not-"
A small smile crossed Mikoto's face. "She's not what?"
Azura sighed in defeat, and Mikoto chuckled slowly. "Not to worry. Her secret is safe with me."
A comfortable silence hung for several moments. That's how it often was with Mikoto - she had little to say, and Mikoto seemed to appreciate the quiet as well.
"I'd like to ask her to be my retainer," Azura said. "She has nowhere else to go, and I thought-"
Mikoto raised a hand. "I think it's a wonderful idea."
"You do?" Azura asked disbelievingly.
"It would help to legitimize your royal status," Mikoto explained. "And I am glad to see you made a friend."
Azura wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she didn't. Mikoto took to wringing her hands - a nervous tic.
With a start, she realized Corrin did the same thing.
"It's okay."
Mikoto tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"It's okay," Azura repeated, swallowing the lump in her throat. "You have your real daughter back now. You can just tell me what you want."
Mikoto looked away, and regret panged in Azura's throat. She'd never been anything but kind to her, and her reunion with Corrin... could have gone better. It was unfair of her to act so callously. She opened her mouth to apologize-
"I wasn't born to nobility," Mikoto said, staring out the window upon Shirasagi. "My parents were farmers. They wished to marry me to the local lord's son, to increase their status."
Azura looked to her curiously. Where was she going with this?
"Azura, I have come to realize that..." she trailed off, pacing slowly before taking a seat on a mat nearby. "The events to come may no longer proceed as I've anticipated. That... perhaps my silence has done more harm than good."
She exhaled with solemn finality. "I knew your mother. Arete."
Azura's heartbeat quickened. She fiddled with the ends of her hair absently.
"I didn't marry the lord's son," Mikoto admitted. "I ran away."
"To Nohr?"
Mikoto shook her head. "No. I fell."
Brown eyes bore into her own. "Into the Bottomless Canyon."
Azura's breath caught in her throat.
"We were very close. And so, when you came to us, I..." her voice dropped to a murmur, gaze distant. "I swore to myself I would keep you safe."
She leaned close, easing Azura's arm up from where it grasped the end of the pillow like a lifeline. "I know I am not your mother. But you have been so strong, stronger than anyone can know. And no matter what," Mikoto said, voice strong with an air of confidence that came with only absolute certainty. "You will always have a home in Shirasagi. You will always be like a daughter to me."
Azura didn't speak. But she rarely needed to, with Mikoto. They understood each other.
Mikoto laid an arm across her shoulders. Not too much contact, but... enough.
Enough to make Azura feel safe for the first time in a long, long while.
Corrin sighed, rolling onto her left side, then her right. Try as she might, she couldn't get comfortable on the strange mat they slept on in Hoshido. At this point, she was almost tempted to ask Kaze to steal her some pillows. Ryoma had left the ninja outside her door when he'd left a few hours ago. To give you privacy, he'd said, though Corrin wasn't so sure. Not that she could do anything about it, anyways.
She twisted around, picking up another piece of the Hoshidan dish he'd given her around midday. Sushi, or something - fish, cucumber, and a crop called rice wrapped in seaweed. Truth be told, it was really good, but as Corrin dipped the roll in a dish of sauce she was once again reminded she didn't have much of an appetite.
The room was... well, it wasn't bad. Plenty of space, shelving, a desk for writing, a balcony with a clear view of the city...
It was the little things. A stuffed toy with a grinning red face. Paintings and drawings in a child's hand. Unfamiliar clothing hanging in a closet, far too small for her.
It wasn't home. Maybe it had been someone else's, a long time ago, but...
She felt like a stranger.
She had tried to remember. Desperately racking her mind for even the slightest whisper of a life lost, any ancient, buried sensation that would suddenly come to clarity - with the truth of her life revealed to her.
But in Ryoma's eyes, she saw only Xander's caring - firm, but unyielding. In Hinoka's devotion, Camilla's unwavering love. Takumi's snark echoed Leo's own, and Sakura's kindness mirrored the joy that Elise brought to them all.
Xander. Camilla. Leo. Elise. They were her family.
But then there was Mikoto. And...
And Father.
Corrin groaned, sitting up against the wall. Hours of solitude had given her no clue as to what to think, and this room was stifling. She needed some air.
Rising to her feet, the rug spanning the room rubbed comfortably against her soles as she crossed the chamber. As she slid the door open, Kaze raised an eyebrow in a silent question.
"I'm going to the lake," she explained. "I'll be back soon."
He nodded. "Would you like me to escort you?"
Corrin shook her head. "No, that's alright! I remember the way."
She didn't remember the way. But ten minutes later, instinct led her back down the hallway they had first snuck into Shirasagi through. Another clue that did nothing but make her forehead ache when she started to overthink it.
The walk down to the beach was pleasant, at least. The sun was beginning to set in the horizon, and for a moment Corrin paused, transfixed. She'd never seen a sunset like this - hues of orange and pink heralding the light as it slipped over the edge of the world.
Corrin had always felt Nohr was a bit too cold. She closed her eyes, basking in the warmth.
A soft, melodious hum flowed through the forest. The hair on the back of her neck rose - not uncomfortably, just... charged. Like the crackling of a fire, the smell of rain before an oncoming storm. It felt like power.
And yet, ever-so peaceful.
Stepping out from the treeline, Corrin was unsurprised to see Azura sitting on the edge of the dock.
"Yet the waters ever change, flowing like time. The path is, yours to climb."
"Your song is beautiful," Corrin admitted, taking a seat next to her. Her toes tickled the surface of the water.
Azura held the final note for a moment before falling silent, turning to face her with a small smile. "My mother taught it to me."
"Oh," Corrin murmured. "That's... that's nice."
"I'm sorry. I wanted to give you the chance to rest, before..."
"It's alright," Corrin said with a sigh. "It was going to happen eventually, right?"
"Still. I can't imagine what you're thinking right now."
"I..." Corrin's voice wavered. "I don't know what to think. Xander, Camilla, Leo, Elise - they're my family, no matter what. But..."
Azura looked to her patiently, and Corrin pressed on. "But maybe the Shirasagi's are my family too. And that - that scares me. Because that means my father lied, and..."
Corrin's head fell to her knees. "And we could be at war, Azura. Any day now. And I just..." She sighed. "I don't know what to do."
Azura reached out a hand tentatively and laid it across her shoulders. "It's okay to feel adrift, Corrin. For now..." she trailed off. "For now, you have time."
She blinked back tears, smiling softly. "Thank you."
"This lake has been a safe harbor for me," Azura said with a dip of her head. "You're always welcome here."
Corrin coughed suddenly, and Azura's grip tightened. "Corrin?" she said. "Are you alright?"
Corrin raised a hand, sitting up with a smile. "I'm fine - I'm fine," she insisted. "Just, don't invite every aquaintance that falls from the sky here, alright?"
Azura's golden gaze glowed impishly. "Currently, that's not a problem."
"These just keep flowing, huh?" Corrin said, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
Azura turned away with an aloof flip of her hair. "I can't fathom what you mean."
"What I mean?" she chuckled, brow half-furrowed. "Water you talking about?"
Azura giggled, a tinkling melody that warmed Corrin's heart. "That was terrible."
"Azura!" Corrin gasped, hand flung to her chest. "My puns are pier-less!"
The two doubled over, and a ways down the beach a flock of birds took off, fleeing the commotion.
At last, Corrin shook her head, looking to Azura as she sucked in a breath. "We should... probably get inside..." Azura gasped, looking up to the sky. "It'll be dinner soon, and you don't want to miss Hoshidan cuisine."
"Alright, alright," she relented as she stood. "But if there's too many vegetables, I can't promise I won't be shallow."
Their laughter echoed through the trees as they walked the forest path back to Castle Shirasagi.
Just for a moment, Corrin thought Hoshido felt a little more like home.
Hiraeth (noun). A homesickness for a home you can't return to, or that never was.
If Takumi isn't in your top ten of "Fire Emblem characters that rehearse their crit quotes when they think nobody's around", you are unequivocally incorrect.
As usual, here's the link to our discord server: discord .gg/9XG3U7a
Next up is Chapter 8 - Love.