Lady in Waiting

By psychored1911

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem Awakening or Fire Emblem Fates

Chapter 9: Binding

"Oh, this is bad… this is really bad… Father's going to flip if he sees the tavern here!" Elise rapidly paced the ground while Felicia and Marth peeked out.

"Wouldn't he be more upset at the mess or how Lord Corrin is acting unbefitting of his station amongst his subordinates?" Marth inquired.

"...That's even worse!" Elise barked before cupping her hands over her mouth. "Okay, okay, take a deep breath…" Elise muttered to herself under her breath before continuing. "Here's what we're gonna do. Felicia, Marth, you two will go get Corrin and alert Lilith to rally the troops. I'm gonna stall father as much as I can; hopefully Gunter's already there by now. Got it?! Good! Now Git!"

Marth and Felicia hastily scrambled back to the tavern while Elise tried her best to quickly make herself presentable with a quick tousle of her hair and circled back to the main building through the back door.

"Ugh… these Nohrian swords are so… weird…"

Hana glanced at the silver broadsword that sat in her hands, knowing that the foreign blade will be replacing her beloved katana for the foreseeable future.

"It's so heavy, and thick, and big too…" Hana groaned, "How do those Nohrian brutes even swing this damn thing around?!"

Catria quizzically plucked the sword from Hana's hands and gave it a few test swings before shrugging and tossing it back, "I dunno what the problem is. It's just a sword. Pointy and/or sharp end goes into the bad guy."

Hana rolled her eyes, "That's not what I meant. It's that the sword just feels different from what I'm used to, that's all."

"Well, you're gonna have to get used to it." Catria shrugged, "When I first started out, we didn't have the luxury of being picky with our weapons. Heck, at one point I would've been happy to pry a half-decent lance off the hands of some long-dead soldier."

Hana winced, "Sounds like you've been through a lot."

Catria just shouldered her lance with a forced smile, "Just be happy that you didn't grow up in my neck of the woods, Hana."

"Are you sure you don't want this?"

Catria raised her hands in protest. "Swords were never my thing. That's the only one we took anyway." Before Hana could try to convince Catria to actually take the sword, a voice rang out.

"Ladies! Come on," Subaki called them over, "We're about to disembark! We're waiting for you by the entrance."

"Coming!"

As Hana followed Catria and Subaki outside their Nestran Safehouse, she could only wonder how she got into this mess.

Hana was a born and raised samurai. She thought her first mission into Nohr would have her charging into battle and slaying an infamous Nohrian general in single combat.

Infiltrating the ranks as the hired bodyguard for Lady Sakura and Lady Azura was not what she had in mind.

Not to mention what she'd be equipped with during the duration of her mission. Instead of her usual kimono and the lacquered wood that would usually compose her armor, she now had to wear patches of plated steel armor (the ones that Lady Azura and her retainers captured a while ago) over a frilly Nestran dress.

She knew she looked ridiculous in this stupid getup, but at least it was better than what Subaki and Catria were wearing.

Since pegasi weren't native to Nohr and were not they used in their military, Subaki and Catria had to leave their loyal steeds behind and ride in Nohrian Cavalier armor and captured war horses (which they also grabbed from that armory; how in the heck did they loot everything that wasn't nailed down?!).

Anyways, as they made it to the city gates, Hana was greeted with the sight of a pair of carriages, the modest one they were using earlier packed to the brim with luggage and other such goods, the other one a more conspicuous and fitting for nobility.

"What's all this?!" Hana asked incredulously, "Where'd you get all this stuff?!"

Catria shrugged, unabashedly picking her nose with her pinky, "Heck if I know. Don't ask me about the finer intricacies of international commerce."

"International comm-"

"What's all the trouble?"

"O-Oh, Hana. There you are."

Hana turned around, finding Lady Sakura dressed in a cute pink dress of Nestran design. It was a bit on the frilly side, but subdued enough that it wasn't flashy, and the embroidered floral design embroidered along the edges gave it just that bit of elegance that hovered right below a distinguished noblewoman's extravagance and far above the average commoner's frugal means.

Sakura bashfully turned away, "Y-Your stare is getting a bit intense, Hana… I-I was only trying it on…"

"O-Oh, sorry." Hana coughed into her hand, "It's just that I haven't seen you in something other than Hoshidan garb, milady."

Sakura looked down at her attire, "Y-Yes… I don't think this suits me- Aah?!"

The next thing any of them knew, Azura had grabbed hold of Sakura from behind and gave the startled girl a little twirl, sending the smaller girl into a dizzy mess that Subaki was barely able to catch in time.

"Sakura," Azura crouched down to eye level with a gentle, calming smile. "You are beautiful the way you are. Have pride in your appearance, and the rest will come right after."

"Have pride…" Sakura repeated as she took a deep breath and a moment to compose herself, letting out her worries with a slow, drawn-out exhale and stepping out of Subaki's patient hands.

"Atta' girl." Azura beamed as she slowly rose to her feet before referring to Nagi, "I trust that your commercial endeavors went well?"

Nagi gave her a thumbs up, showing off a huge pouch of gold, easily 5,000 gold, probably more. "This is barely scraping the surface. A little handshake here, a little word of mouth there, and now we have more than enough capital for our operation. Also," She then produced a letter and some documents, and presented it to her, "This is for you, Lady Azura, or should I say, Lady Aqua. You are now the proud countess of the worst patch of land that Nestra has to offer."

"Ooh, splendid." Lady Azura clapped her hands playfully, "Tell me all about my new fiefdom."

"You own this long-abandoned mansion smack-dab in the middle of northern Nestran mountain ranges and the Nohrian black forests." Nagi extolled dramatically, playing along with the dramatic turn her new liege was going with, "The former lord of this little patch of hell was rumored to have done horrific experiments and bloody rituals to the peasants that lived in his land in his futile attempt at seeking eternal life, so much so that the land was abandoned and the noble courts had him swiftly executed, but not before the habitable villages in the surrounding areas burnt to the ground in the chaos. And the best part, we got it for a steal because nobody wanted such accursed lands."

"Excellent!" Azura clapped her hands in childlike giddiness. "Just as I've always wanted! A wretched piece of scorched earth that must be swimming in monsters and spirits!"

Sakura glanced at her adoptive sister uneasily, not knowing if she was just messing with her or being completely serious.

It was outright bizarre seeing the otherwise solemn and taciturn Lady Azura… having fun with her role (a bit too much fun in her opinion, but she wasn't going to rain on her parade)… these new retainers of hers really were having quite an effect on her.

Lady Azura practically hopped on her toes in anticipation, "Ooh, now I must ask, what is my new title?"

"Thou art Lady Aqua, Countess of the Black Forest!" Nagi declared. "May we all swear fealty to thee!"

"Hear, hear!" Catria cheered, "All hail Lady Aqua!"

All four of Azura's new retainers bowed with stupid grins on their faces, with Azura returning the gestures with an overly dramatic curtsey of her own.

It was a calculated risk: while a merchant's caravan could be more discreet, there were only so many places where those of common birth could be allowed. They were attempting to destroy high value targets, probably guarded by the most formidable military forces in the continent, ones who decidedly conquered numerous nations under their belt. Lady Azura's new nom de guerre as Lady Aqua, a nouveau riche countess, while not as discreet as they could have taken, did grant them the ability to get just as close to those who prefer the company of nobility. Their operation was incredibly well financed. Nohr had made quite more than a fair share of enemies in their pursuit of conquest. So much so that the stolen military secrets that were irrelevant to the Hoshidans were sold at a very high price. Not to mention, swiped from the armory was a surplus of bearer bonds; certificates that can be exchanged at banks, each worth around a moderate fortune. The bonds alone have likely made Azura one of the wealthiest women in the region.

Hana had to remind herself that this absurdity was actually part of the plan. For Lady Azura's swan-dive into the Nohrian Heartland, they had to infiltrate the area as minor nobles of Nestra, having just enough clout and resources to move a sizable strike force into the Kingdom of Dusk to organize a kingdom-wide raid, but just minor enough that it evades notice from the Nohrian nobility. "Is this land by the border as well?"

"Yes, it is."

"Interesting." Azura turned to her other two retainers. "You two, manage your way to make a mansion or something on the property in case the wrong person chooses to look. It might even make a good backup plan. Take as much of the backup funds as you need. We'll see you again when the job is done."

She tossed the documents to the man who nodded and caught some of the documents he needed. He motioned his head, prompting the other girl to follow as she waved goodbye to the rest of the group.

As they ran past with grins that made Hana just a tad uncomfortable, Hinoka approached Azura and Sakura from the safehouse. "You know, there's no shame if you want to back out now and let someone else do the heavy lifting."

Azura smiled softly. "Right now? When I'm having so much fun?"

"You scare me, sometimes. You know that?" Hinoka told her as she patted her adoptive sister on the shoulder.

Azura cocked a brow. "What do you mean by 'sometimes'?"

"It is a life or death mission."

"And we are up to the challenge."

Hinoka laughed and hugged her tightly, pulling Sakura into the hug when she did so. "Be safe. Please."

The two of them hugged back. "We will."

"Also, I have a favor, if you can." Hinoka looked somewhat downtrodden. "I know the odds are very slim it'll even matter in your mission, but… If you have even the slightest opportunity, can you check if Kamui is still alive?"

Azura's smile faded, "Hinoka…"

"I know, I know… it's just…" Hinoka paused, looking down at her feet, "If there's even the slightest chance of finding him, I need to know… even if all we find is bones…"

Azura took a deep breath and grasped Hinoka's hands. "I'll try."

Corrin stood atop the Northern walls. There was an unmatched view; the majestic, snow-top mountains, the dense, mysterious forest, and the quiet river that stood between them. These sights never got old to him; he always imagined what was there, just out of reach. Far away from everyone and everything else, it was his favorite place to think. What was on his mind, however, was really pushing luck with his view.

"So… she doesn't want to marry me…" Corrin's heart ached. He vividly remembers the day she and Flora arrived at the Northern Fortress. Camilla brought them from Windmire as they stopped there from their long trip from Freesia. Supposedly, they were to be trained as maids to learn to be more ladylike for the Nohrian courts as well as be his few friends while he stayed there indefinitely under his father's orders.

The second they walked off the carriage, he knew the three of them would be best friends. After a misadventure that lead to the latrines being blown to bits and receiving a terrifyingly, harsh scolding from Lilith, who they swore was growing horns and had glowing eyes at the time, their friendship was solidified.

The years passed, and they got older, and older, until he couldn't think the same way about his friend. He yearned for more and thought something, maybe, something would happen. Maybe they would be something more.

It seems he was alone in his thoughts…

He shook his head, wiping away the tears in his eyes, "Get a grip, Corrin. She just said she wasn't going to marry you. You're still friends. She's still one of your best friends! It's not like she's going to throw that all away for some spur-of-the-moment decision or anything… And neither should you…"

That's right. They're still friends. It's not like what they had between them meant nothing.

It wasn't like he was in love with her or anything… yeah, they were always friends. Always were, always will be...

…So why did his heart feel like it was getting ripped out of his chest?

He shook his head, taking a whiff of that frigid Nohrian air, allowing its familiar fragrance to calm his nerves. Why was he being so down? This was his birthday. Even if it was so early in the night, he should be happy. Being this depressed now would just drag down the day for the rest of his subjects. He had to keep a happy face… for them…

…All by himself…

In this gilded cage he called a home…

…He was going to die single, wasn't he?

Actually no, that wasn't likely. Father was probably going to marry him off to some no-name noblewoman for some political reason or another-

"Lord Corrin!"

Corrin nearly jumped at his name being called. Whipping his head back, he noticed Felicia running up to him frantically.

Corrin swallowed, "Felicia, I thought I told you that my title isn't necessary when we're al-"

"Yeah, well, I think someone's gonna disagree." Felicia hastily came to a halt, "Milord, we have guests."

"Guests?" Corrin cocked a brow, "Xander and Camilla usually don't arrive until the afternoon-"

"It's not Prince Xander or Princess Camilla!" Felicia nearly slammed her hands on Corrin's shoulders. "It's King Garon!"

All color drained from Corrin's face, "King Garon? Father is here? Are you sure? He hasn't even set foot near the Fortress in years!"

"It's him! Look!"

Felicia dragged him to the other side of the wall, where his gaze met with the sight of his father's personal carriage, complete with the Royal Guard standing by.

"Oh, dear…" Everything began to sink in all at once, "Felicia, tell Lilith to rally everyone. Now."

"Marth is already on it, milord." Felicia grabbed him by the arm, "Now, come on. We have to get you ready to meet your father!"

"Papers, please. My friend here will check all individuals for contraband."

Ah, another day, another caravan.

Charlotte checked the passports for the newest set of carriages coming into the homeland. From the paperwork, it's a pair of Nestran noble sisters coming into Nohr for the Festival next month, using the rest of their time to take in the great city of Windmire in all of its glory.

Lucky dastards.

The Festival of the Dusk Dragon was only a month away, yet here she was, stuck in the middle of nowhere. And, according to the guard captain, that's where she and Benny were gonna be the entire time.

Ugh, this sucked. She just had to be demoted at the worst time. The one time her choosing to be polite had to bite her in the ass! Well, at least Benny made for good company, he was sweet and such a good listener. He was probably her best friend at the job, despite how he appeared to most people-

"Erm, what is this?"

Charlotte craned her head as Benny dug out what looked like a giant crystal from the pouch.

The pointy-eared retainer gulped, "Uh, that's a family heirloom of mine. Please don't take it away."

"Don't worry. I'm putting it back." Benny said as he dropped it back into the pouch and returned it to its owner.

Geez, even this chick's retainers were loaded? Maybe she had to get into the retainer business. She might even have better odds at nabbing a rich husband like that.

Benny then went over to the pigtailed, blue haired girl, checking her personal belongings. While doing so, he accidentally dropped what appeared to be a small painting that has been folded many times to fit into a pocket.

"Do you mind if I take a look?" Benny asked. He didn't really think this would be a stolen piece of art or anything being smuggled into the country, he assumed it would have been more personal than that. Still, it was his job to check.

"Go ahead, I have nothing to hide."

Opening it up, the portrait revealed to have one man with blue hair, a brunette woman by his side, two younger adult women and several young children, all girls. Every single one of whom were wearing elegant outfits.

The pigtailed retainer perked up, hopping off her horse and slinging her arm over Benny's shoulder like they've been best friends forever. "Ooh! So, that's my family. My father is over there holding hands with my mom; that's me standing in the back; those are my younger sisters sitting; and those-"

"I get it." Benny folded it back up and returned to her. "You have a lovely family, miss."

While true, he was wondering how someone had so many daughters, even more so how every single one of them had blue hair. Maybe it was something that rich people do. That would explain the expensive-looking dresses…

But enough about that. Charlotte then climbed into the luggage carriage and checked for anything out of the ordinary.

"Hey! What's this?" Charlotte called from inside the carriage.

"I thought you hid the stolen documents and bearer bonds." Saizo whispered.

"I did." Kaze whispered back.

Both knew if they found the wrong thing, the mission would be over. They both quietly drew their daggers from behind their backs…

The border guard emerged from the carriage with what seemed to be a note in her hands.

Sakura paled. "Oh no… T-That's mine…" she whispered.

Azura side-eyed her, but otherwise said nothing as the border guard approached them.

"So…" Charlotte showed them the note. "Do you mind explaining this?"

Azura wordlessly leaned in to read the note. It read:

"I know that it's probably going to close to impossible, but… we should at least try to find Kamui. Our eldest sister spent years trying to find him and failed, but…

Sakura gulped, feeling her heart race as the border guard turned to her…

Azura, seeing her distress, spoke up in her sister's defense. "That's mine. I'm sorry if it's alarming-"

"I didn't think anyone else still cared about that old urban legend."

What?

"And here I thought that nobody really talked about it outside of Nohr." The border guard chuckled.

Her companion, the scary-looking border guard, raised a brow. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you hadn't heard? This was like this huge urban legend that made the rounds in taverns back when I was a kid. Kamui, y'know? The lost prince of Hoshido."

The Hoshidans collectively froze up at his name being called.

"Urban legend?" Nagi, oblivious to the source of her compatriots' distress, spoke up. "What urban legend?"

"Oh, so rumor has it that during peace negotiations, the Hoshidans betrayed the armistice by kidnapping Princess Azura and killing Queen Arete. King Garon retaliated by killing King Sumeragi and taking Prince Kamui, his only child to the reigning Queen Mikoto. King Garon, benevolent in his ways, knew the child was innocent and gave the child to one of the noble houses of Nohr so that the child would live with the love of the kingdom in his heart."

If the Hoshidans didn't look pissed then, they were now. The blatant propaganda of such a tragic event in Nohr's favor inflamed anger within their hearts, so much so that they were barely able to reel it back in before Benny glanced at him.

Charlotte chuckled. "I heard rumors the Hoshidans have offered huge bounties for Prince Kamui's whereabouts, and if they manage to bring the lost prince home, they'd be set for life."

"Ah, now I remember that rumor." Benny acknowledged. "I always thought something like that would be nonsense. As if any Nohrian noble would actually raise a Hoshidan prince as their own."

"Yeah, you're probably right. The poor kid probably never even existed in the first place." Charlotte noted before gesturing to the caravan. "You guys are clear to go." She handed the paper to Azura.

As they left, Catria and Nagi found themselves surrounded by an uncomfortable air of distaste and disgust, which had been emanating from the Hoshidans ever since that border guard opened her mouth.

"Are you guys okay-"

"NO."

Catria reeled back, "Yep. Good talk."

Corrin walked (read: ran) into his office, only to find his father, King Garon, sitting on his seat at his desk, combing through his books. At the other side of the desk, at the side where he would normally receive some guests, sat Elise, sitting silently, visibly squirming in her seat.

His father was an imposing man. No doubt the years of grief and controlling the tumultuous Nohrian courts have hardened him, both physically and spiritually. That's exactly what this kingdom needed, though: a hardened king, a strong king to lead the people through times of scarcity and strife.

"Father, it's good to see you! I'm sorry I couldn't greet you at the gate, I was asleep and was only informed of your arrival just minutes ago." Corrin said as he bowed.

"Ah, my son, Happy Birthday." He said, sternly.

"Um… Thank you, father." Corrin bowed, "It's also technically Kana's birthday too-"

Garon glared at him coldly. Elise whipped her head away.

That was probably not the best thing to say at the moment. There are few things Garon dislikes more than being reminded of what happened with Kana, the others would be the queen's massacre, and what became of Arete and Azura.

"...Take a seat." Garon ordered.

"Ah, right." Corrin gulped, hastily scrambling over to the nearby chair, next to Elise, just as King Garon enthroned himself upon his chair. The room was silent, save for the crackling of the fireplace. Above the mantle stood a painting of a younger King Garon and his late wife and Corrin's late mother, Queen Katerina. Their warm smiles did little to bring Corrin any comfort now.

He heard of this. Back in his youth, King Garon marched over to the lands of his vassals unannounced on more than one occasion. This wasn't out of any form of impoliteness, no. This practice was to catch the nobility off guard, to catch them in the act of any right or wrongdoing. This simple, yet effective means of exposing the corruption of various nobles did much to purge the excessive wastes that drained upon the masses.

But never in his life did Corrin expect to be subject to such a practice, by his own father, no less.

"I've been going over your work. Gunter and Elise have painted quite a picture on your ventures here." King Garon stated before tossing one of the books onto the desk. "This is impressive. Well trained soldiers, educated children that put nobles to shame, surplus of supplies, not to mention you turned the fortress into a miniature city-state in its own right."

"Why would you have everyone be just farmers when they can be so much more?" Corrin replied, "It's not the Nohrian way to let anything, even one's potential, go to waste."

"Indeed," King Garon nodded in agreement, "But the fortress and its inhabitants are one thing, your own prowess is another. How is your progress on your own training?"

"It's progressing smoothly, if I do say so myself." Corrin said humbly.

"Is that so?" Garon slowly, but discreetly reached by his belt, grabbed a dagger, and threw it at his son. Corrin, with only a split second to react, tilted his head before the blade made contact with his head.

"Let me see it for myself."

Corrin blinked, whirling his head back to the knife that now embedded itself into the door. "N-Now? But father, Xander's not even here yet."

"Last I have heard, Prince Xander is only the second greatest warrior in Nohr." King Garon stated. "I want to see your growth against the true greatest warrior of Nohr, one of the newest of the Nohrian Knights. She should be in the Fortress now, if your sister is correct. I believe her name is… Marth."

Corrin gulped, "W-Wait, you want me to fight against Marth?! But she's-"

"You will have until the morning to prepare. If you lose, then nothing shall change, and you have proved yourself to still need these ancient walls for your own protection." "If you win… then what happens next will be my gift to you, my son."

Corrin was barely able to catch the bronze sword as King Garon walked past him towards the door, "B-But Father! I thought that-"

"I expect great things from you, Corrin." King Garon stated as he walked past, "You better not disappoint me."

"R-Right…" Corrin nodded, glued to his seat as Elise scampered next to him. Once their father was gone, he whispered over his shoulder to her. "...I'm screwed, aren't I?"

"...Yeah…" Elise uneasily admitted, scratching her head uncomfortably. "You're probably never leaving the fortress alive…"

The next morning.

This was not how Corrin pictured his birthday would go.

Granted, he would be expecting a duel, but with his Brother, and not the only person in the world who beat him in the field of honor.

As for the knight herself, she stood opposite of him, unmoving, even as his father whispered something into her ear.

With nothing but a single, unflinching nod, King Garon walked away from her, and towards the aging knight, "Gunter, if you could do the honors."

"Gladly, sire." Gunter cleared his throat, "We are gathered here today to see Corrin, second prince of Nohr, and Marth, knight of Nohr, in the ring of honor. The duel shall continue until one yields of their own free will, is deemed unfit for further combat, or is knocked out of the ring. Do both participants understand the terms of the duel."

"I do, Sir Gunter." Marth nodded.

Corrin gulped, "Y-Yes, Gunter."

"Very well." Gunter brought his hand down, "You may commence."

Corrin barely blinked, and Marth had seemingly instantaneously vanished and reappeared right in front of him, her blade already coming towards his neck. Corrin panicked, bringing his own blade up, and was knocked straight to the ground, albeit left with his head still attached to his neck.

"Stand up, milord. Don't make this too easy." Marth stated as she brought one foot up, intent on stomping on his feet.

Corrin jumped back and scrambled to his feet as Marth stomped downwards, just barely getting away from her and swiping at her to keep her at bay for just a moment so he could catch his bearings. Once he properly recovered, he lunged at her, only for her to duck underneath his blade and swat the back of his head once she was behind him.

Elise winced, "This isn't really a duel, it's a one-sided beatdown."

Leo cupped his chin, "Are you curious as to what father said to Marth?"

"Probably something along the lines of 'kill my son and rot in prison forever'." Elise shrugged.

"You really think Marth would hold back against Corrin?" Leo scoffed, "I've seen how she trains him."

"You mean how she beats him up?"

"Yep."

"You do realize I can hear you, right?!" Corrin barked back, only to barely dodge an overhead swipe from Marth.

"Focus, milord." Marth stated bluntly as she clashed against his blade, pushing him back at almost the same speed as a walking pace, inching him close to the edge.

"Uhh…" Felicia's eyes flickered between Marth and Corrin, unsure of who to cheer for in this instance. She then shut her eyes and pumped her fist, "Umm… go Marth?"

"Thank you."

"Oh, come on!"

`Marth's blunt reply and Corrin's betrayed gasp sent Felicia reeling, "S-Sorry…"

Flora and Lilith empathetically patted the younger maid on the shoulder, with the former burying her embarrassed face with her free hand, mentally noting how her sister could've saved herself the humiliation by simply cheering them both on instead of choosing one via mental coin toss.

Jakob, on the other hand, massaged his temples at his friend's stupidity, "I don't know her. I don't know her. I don't know her…"

In his desperation, Corrin shoved Marth's blade back and attempted to strike her with his fist. Instead of, say, a punch, it came out as a backhanded smack across her cheek.

Not a direct, valorous strike, no. He gave her what amounted to a bitch slap.

And for what it was worth, it did in fact stun her. And him. In fact, it seemed like it drew the chorus of winces and hollers from the crowd to a screeching halt.

Marth looked at him incredulously, her brow raised and her eyes wide.

"..."

"..."

"..."

And then she glared.

MURDEROUSLY.

Corrin gulped. "I'm sorry…"

"ARE YOU EVEN TRYING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY?!"

Marth's slashes became more ferocious and harder to parry, keeping Corrin on the backfoot the entire time. Corrin had no openings to even attempt to get a hit in, he was only barely able to skirt the edges of the ring in order to not be defeated by knockout…

…

…

…

Wait a minute, that's it!

Corrin kept back, deflecting each and every one of Marth's attacks, waiting for that one opportunity, when-

Marth lunged forward for a stab. Corrin twisted his body to the side, her blade barely grazing past his armor, and outstretched his free arm, grabbing onto Marth's sleeve. And with momentum and imbalance on his side, Corrin pulled as hard as he could.

He could see Marth's eyes widen in realization as he pulled her further outwards and closer to the ground with him in tow.

The two collided onto the ground, with Corrin ending up on top, with his blade pressed against her neck. They were both out of the ring, but Marth fell out first.

Corrin had won. He was beaten, bruised and probably bleeding, but he had won.

"I… I… I win." Corrin panted, his exhaustion finally catching up to him as beads of sweat threatened to rain down on his mentor.

Marth smirked, looking nowhere near as tired as her student. "A win by ring out, but a win nonetheless. Well done, milord."

The crowd began cheering, whooping, yelling in his name. Leo and Elise ran up to him and embraced him. Lilith came over with a staff and healed his wounds. Corrin loosened his grip on his sword as Marth gently pushed it away from her neck-

"Enough."

And then the crowd went silent again as Garon slowly marched towards them. Corrin hastily scrambled to his feet and pulled Marth up before they bowed to the king's presence.

"Corrin, you have won." His father said proudly. "But do not let this victory get to your head. Had this been a true battlefield, your opponent would have just as easily thrown you off and ended you justly."

The second prince gulped. Even though Marth put him through the ringer, he unconsciously knew she was still holding back so as to not kill him, accidentally or otherwise.

"However, a victory is a victory, son. Enjoy it." Garon patted Corrin on the shoulders, "When you are done celebrating, come to your office, where I shall grant you your reward."

King Garon then proceeded to leave for the main castle, with his entourage in tow. As for the rest of the Fortress, they began celebrating Prince Corrin's victory in one way or another, lifting their beloved prince over their arms and bringing him to the tavern for another round of drinks.

Perhaps this wasn't such a bad birthday after all.

A/N: And done! Once again, special thanks to SK for beta-reading this chapter for me. So, when we were writing the border scene, the original plan involved a very poorly written novel written by Subaki chronicling the adventures of "Saizo Saizo Binks" a hero from Hoshido who was granted the superhuman powers of ninja because there was a lot of "ninja-chlorians'' in his blood and he happened to have a tragic life involving his parents dying before his birth and his ex-girlfriend leaving him because she could clearly do a lot better. There were also vampires for some reason. Reading the stupid thing gave Charlotte and Benny a headache, and when the Hoshidans are far enough away, Saizo more or less tries to kill Subaki in a completely justifiable fury. Needless to say, adding that scene would've killed the tone and pacing, but man, did we want to add that somewhere. Anyways, that's all for now. Please review!