Author's Note: Apparently today is fanfiction authors' appreciation day, so I wanted to put out a small thing for you guys. It's not long as I only have about an hour to write, but please enjoy.
It had been an exhausting past few days, and as Xander wrote the final line to the last report before him, he let out a sigh. First he had had to ride out to Hoshido after getting word of Corrin's capture (or rather, didn't have to and wasn't supposed to, but did it anyway, because even though his Father hardly cared for the girl, he did), next he had to fight a battle to retake her which proved useless, then he had to ride all the way back to Nohr across the bottomless canyon, after that he had to sit through a long and boring meeting about whether the skirmish with the Hoshidans meant they would enter all out war, and finally, he was ordered to write a full length detail of everything that occurred both on and off the battlefield which pertained to the Hoshidans and Corrin. He hadn't gotten a single wink of sleep in all that time, and was about ready to pass out on his desk.
At this point he wasn't sure if anything he wrote in his report would make any sort of sense, or if his sleep deprived state would cause it to be meaningless strings of letters and phrases, but at this point he couldn't do anything else. Even though Laslow hadn't been on the battlefield in which he encountered the Hoshidan royals, but rather an adjacent one where a different fight was playing out, the prince was confident that the retainer could proofread his work and submit it in legible form before his Father's deadline of sunrise the next day (which was very hard to pinpoint when it was always so dark in Nohr, but it did change to lighter and darker versions of dark throughout the day, so it was still possible). It was already several hours past sunset, and Xander knew that there was no chance of him resting and waking up with enough time to be refreshed enough to revise the report before it was due. So, he had asked Laslow to stand at the ready outside his door until the entire detail was written, at which point he could check it over and give it to one of the palace's official record keepers.
He hadn't actually called Laslow to wait until about an hour before, as he knew the man would be completely useless if he also was running on practically no sleep, and wanted to let him get at least a short nap in. Elise had suggested that he should put Peri outside his door to get Laslow but… Peri was Peri and the Prince wasn't sure how well that would work out. As great of a fighter she was, she could be a bit empty headed at times. Knowing her, she'd get distracted by something in her way to find Laslow, put down the papers, chase it, and then forget where it was she placed them. That, or do whatever it was that got her so covered in blood even when there weren't any reports of injury in the castle or nearby areas, and stain the reports in the process.
So, his best bet was to leave Laslow outside, and hope he hasn't wandered off to court whatever poor maiden had the unfortunate chance to pass by.
He heard voices outside his door before he could get up though, and a few second later Laslow called out, "Is it alright if I let someone in, Milord?"
Figuring that the delay wouldn't do anything bad at this point and just glad that Laslow was in fact still at his post, Xander replied in the affirmative and looked forward, his desk already facing the door. It opened, and in came Elise, dressed in a pink frilly nightgown.
"Good… night, I suppose, Elise. How are you?" Xander began, letting out a small smile as his youngest sister shuffled toward him in her plush wyvern slippers. Though he wasn't exactly certain, he assumed that they were a present from Camilla, as the purple haired woman always complimented them when Elise had the slippers on. It could, of course, be simply because as a malig knight and former wyvern rider, Camilla had a great appreciation for the beasts, but that linkage just as well explained the reason for Camilla to give them to Elise in the first place.
"I'm fine… do you think… Big brother, do you think I'm useful? That I'm good to be around?" Elise mumbled, twisting and looking at the ground.
Xander blinked, and stood up, walking over to her and kneeling down. His armor knocked against itself and made small noises as he went over, causing Elise to look up at him.
"Elise, you are perfectly amazing just as you are. There is no reason that you need to change. You are a wonderful light in this dark space that is Nohr, and I do not want you to ever doubt yourself, do you understand?" he told her firmly, kneeling and taking her thin arms in his hands as he did so.
"Mmm. Okay. But that wasn't answering my question." she replied. She didn't usually catch on like that, but then again diverting her attention wasn't really his intention in the first place so he supposed it wasn't of much consequence.
"Well-"
"Aaaand," Elise cut him off, moving one of her hands to push off Xander's right, Xander promptly removing his left as well in confusion, "you're also not helping me feel good about myself right now because good feelings go with hugs and love and warm stuff. I don't know if you noticed big brother, but you're wearing a bunch of armor, even though it's super late at night and you should be changed into your pajamas or at least your regular clothes, and so your hands are reeeeeaaly cold. Like really really cold. Have you been helping Felicia or Flora with their ice spells or what? 'Cause I know metal gets cold, and this room is kinda chilly even though you have a fireplace right over there that you didn't light up, but that's ridiculous. C'mon Xander, if you stay so cold then you're going to get sick! Although maybe you should get sick. Then I can make you stay in bed and give you soup and watch over you 'till you get better! I'll read you a bunch of stories like you used to do whenever I got sick, and then I'll tuck you in and kiss you better whenever it's time for you to take a nap! Heehee!" Elise began to giggle, and Xander's expression softened.
She was so innocent. So pure. She didn't deserve to be stuck in the hell hole that was Nohr. She didn't deserve to have to face death and cruel concubines who tried the best they could to get rid of her so they could win Garon's favor every day. She didn't deserve to have Father as he was now. He was sure that Father, his true father as he was before he became so obsessed with conquering Hoshido, would have babied her like there was no tomorrow. Maybe when the upcoming war was over, Father would go back to the way he was in Xander's most precious childhood memories. No, he surely would. Then they could be a happy family, with nothing more to worry about than the occasional uprising (they did rule over an entire country, and if everything went as Iago planned, soon an entire continent) or small family quarrel.
"Heeeya. Is anybody in there?" Elise drawled, knocking Xander's forehead ever so slightly, just above his circlet.
"Ah, I apologize. Just reminiscing. Elise, as I said, you are an amazing young lady, and I could ask for no more than what you already give. And if you so surely want me to say it as you have it phrased, then yes, I do find you useful. Now tell me, what is it that has you so concerned about such a silly thing?" he chuckled, smile widening.
"Well… And promise me you won't get mad, okay?"
Another puppy dog look from Elise, and another chuckle from Xander.
"I promise."
"Okay so I was kind of bored since I got forced to go to my room as soon as we got back, so I decided to sneak out and see what was going on. Well, while I was walking around I saw Iago being all shady behind one of the pillars with some random guy kneeling in front of him. He was dressed in all black, and looked so scary that I kind of got worried and thought about going back, but stayed anyway 'cause he started talking. Anyway, this guy starts explaining how he trailed Corrin after she left us, and then said a bunch of stuff that was pretty boring so I didn't really pay attention and don't really remember, but eventually he got to some good stuff about one of the Hoshido nobles." Elise recalled, saying everything matter-of-factly.
"Elise!" Xander scolded with a click, taken aback at the fact that she had apparently spied on Iago and hadn't gotten caught. If he so much as passed by when Iago was speaking to someone, not even attempting to eavesdrop on their conversation, he was stopped in his tracks and his Father told about his "insubordination." And Xander was the crown prince, the only legitimate child of the king and queen. Iago really hated Elise for her happy-go-lucky nature, and undoubtedly would've done something terrible to her had he noticed. Did his sister not realize how close of a brush with death or at least injury she had had?!
"You said you wouldn't get mad! And I'm not done yet. So this noble was apparently Corrin's little sister. Sahkra or something like that. Well, you know how Corrin and I are pretty close, but she still kinda backs away whenever I jump up and hug her, and won't let me follow her around? Well guess what! Turns out that not only did she let Sahkra hug her for a really long time, but she also let the princess join her little army! I wanna join up with Corrin! Why doesn't she like me as much? Is it 'cause we're not related? She didn't even know we weren't related until yesterday or whatever! So why can't I be like that? Or at least, that's what I thought."
"Elise, hush! I won't get mad at you, but please keep your voice down. What you're speaking of could be interpreted as treason if Iago or one of his dogs hears you, so please, stay at a low volume." Xander whispered, looking at the door momentarily to see if Laslow's shadow had moved past the door and to listen for any signs that the retainer had reacted.
"Oh. Sorry, Xander. But as I was saying before you shushed me, I figured out why! So, since you do think I'm useful, big brother… Please make any use of my body you can!" she yelled, completely ignoring everything Xander had just said.
At this the sound of Laslow falling over and twitching could be heard outside, and Xander choked.
"E-Elise? Where did you hear that sort of thing…?" he stuttered, arms shaking and eyes wide as his expression morphed into one of horror.
"That's what the weird spy guy said Corrin's other little sister told her. He said 'then the princess told the traitor 'please make good use of me' and thrust her body forward, writhing under Corrin's stare…' and started blushing. It was kind of weird, now that I think about it. But since that worked with Corrin, I figured it would work with you too! So, what do you think Big Brother? Will you?" Elise asked with much enthusiasm and hope, unaware of what she had really said.
"Elise…" Xander said, no expression in his voice.
"Yes?"
"Promise me you will never ever say that again."
"What do you mean? Did I say something wrong?"
"Just promise me. Especially not in front of Camilla."
"Okay."
Xander let out another sigh, and got up to hug Elise, knowing that his body armor was just as cold as that on his hands, but ready to deal with whatever whines the material gained from Elise.
"Hey Xander, do you think that we could maybe hang out for a little while? Even if it's only for a few minutes? Because you're so busy we hardly spend any time together any more, and when we do usually it's with Big Sister and Leo. And I love them too, but sometimes I just wanna hang out with you, you know? So…?" Elise's eyes were glistening, practically sparkling as she put on her best face to get Xander to agree.
"Of course."
"Yipee!" Elise exclaimed, jumping up and down and twirling a few times in her excitement. Her bountiful curls, loose from her usual style bounced all around her, and Xander couldn't help but smile. It was nice seeing her so happy. It was nice seeing anyone so happy quite frankly. Or even happy at all. Things in the castle had been taking a turn for the worse lately, and more frowns than ever marked the faces of its residents. But, things like this made it all a little better, so it was fine.
"Now then Elise, you better head on back to bed before someone catches you. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay!" she giggled, and headed for the door. Right before she opened it, however, Xander opened his mouth again and began to speak.
"Elise… were you trying to dye your hair again so you could look like Camilla?" he asked his younger sister.
"Eh? What are you talking about?" she said, turning around to face him.
"There's a spot at the bottom of your hair that looks like a dark shade of purple. It's a little different than the other purple though, and is more of a, well, splotch than a portion of a line, so I was curious. You can ask for help rather than attempting to do it yourself and messing up. I'm sure many people would be happy to help," including Peri, who had an impressive gradient in her hair that the retainer did herself, but there was no way he trusted Peri to be alone in the same room as Elise for long enough to dye hair. Elise might set the girl off, and he wasn't willing to find out the consequences.
"There is? I haven't dyed it for a while though. Actually, it's time for a touch up, so I have to get that done soon. Maybe some of the dye just faded and spread. Well, I gotta get to bed, so I'll see you tomorrow Xander. I love you! Goodnight!"
With that Elise opened the door and headed back to her room, skipping down the hall in no way attempting to be quiet. Laslow entered after her, shutting the door behind him without a sound.
"Have you finished you report, Milord? I can take it down if you have," Laslow said, putting out a hand to receive the documents.
"That I have, here you-"
Xander choked once again, staring down at his desk in absolute horror. Elise's strange hair splotch wasn't runny dye. It was ink. Ink from a bottle that she must have knocked over in her excitement and gotten on her hair. Ink from a bottle that was currently in its side. Ink from a bottle that had spilled all over his desk. Ink from a bottle that had completely ruined the report he had to submit by sunup, along with everything else near it.
"A-aa-aaaaa-aaaaaaaaa-" he stuttered, trembling.
Xander's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and with a loud crash, he fell into the floor, sight fading.
"M-Milord? Milord? Xander? Are you okay? Xander?!"
He could hear Laslow's voice, quiet and hazy, as if in a dream. Slowly, his vision turned to black, and the concerned face of his retainer above him faded to nothing.
It was well past noon when Xander awoke for the day, dressed only in the garments he wore under his armor and tucked into his bed. His head hurt for whatever reason, and his hand had a terrible cramp that ached as though he had written for six hours straight. The pain in his head echoed, pounding as though he had spent a considerable amount of time banging it against a stone wall. But why…? Then-
"The report!" Xander cried out, shooting up into a sitting position as fast as his body allowed. Stars filled his vision, and he dropped back down, the world turning black and coming in and out of focus. His ears were ringing, and he put a hand over his forehead. It was hot. So hot. Why was he under so many covers if it was hot enough to cook without a stove in his room?
"Lord Xander! You're awake! Here, take some of this. It should help your headache."
Above him was Laslow, holding out a small vial filled with liquid of some color he couldn't quite discern given his spotty vision.
"Thank you…" Xander said, drinking it down. It hardly had any taste to it, but then again Xander's mouth tasted like sand in the first place, drowning out whatever else was added to it.
"How are you feeling? You have a fever, and Elise has been trying to check up on you since she rose this morning. I've kept her out so you can rest, but I don't know how much longer I can keep her at bay, so she may soon be charging in here," Laslow reported, brow furrowed.
"Terrible. But that's of no matter. What about my report? It was ruined…"
"That thing? Don't worry. I took care of it."
"What do you mean?"
"I told you, don't worry. Now eat some of this before Elise comes in, because you should probably have something in your stomach to wake you up a bit before she assaults you with questions on how you're doing and what you want to drink and what stories she should read and whatnot. I have to go down to the infirmary for a second to smuggle out some more tonics before I'm caught and you're dragged down there, but I'll be back soon. See you then, Lord Xander, and work to get well."
"...Thank you."
"Of course."
Author's Note: Well, I said that I only had an hour, but I had so much fun writing this that I spent just under 2 on it. It's very rushed so I haven't had the chance to look it over and check for discontinuities or spelling errors, but I hope you enjoyed it regardless. I'll give it a look over tomorrow, and will correct things then. Until then, here's a little side story in honor of fanfiction authors' appreciation day. It's still 8PM here! I'm in California, USA, so that's how in case your computer shows that I posted it on the 22nd rather than the 21st.
Just over 3,300 words. Published August 21, 2016.
Eruran out.
