AUTHOR'S NOTES: Part of the whole purpose of this entire "diversion" bit in Hoshido was to give a little more character to Mikoto so that her death would hold at least a little more weight. This bit in Izumo has a 2nd purpose behind it that we'll likely get to in the next chapter or two, but for now, our friends from Hoshido and Nohr can finally sit down and talk peace instead of have to curbstomp an army of would-be kidnappers. As always I welcome feedback, and to those with questions, I encourage you to make accounts so that I can answer said questions more effectively without having to resort to author notes.
Either way, Happy Reading!
CHAPTER 28: The Princess and the Queen
Sing with me a song of Mother and Child...
The tension in the banquet hall between the two families was thick enough that Kamui was fairly certain she could cut it with a knife. Azura, Corrin, and the four Hoshidan princes and princesses were seated on one side of the table, while Xander, Leo, and Elise were seated across from them, with open seats clearly intended for her and Camilla. Archduke Izana sat at the head of the table, and next to him (on the "Hoshidan" side) sat Mikoto, who seemed the calmest of the people there, barring perhaps Camilla.
"For those of you who do not know," Xander stood up after a few moments of silence, "The Kingdom of Nohr has called this meeting for a few simple but necessary purposes. Firstly, we have come to negotiate regarding the fate of the Nohrian Princess Kamui. Secondly, we wish to find ways to settle the differences between our nations. While I understand that our Father has resorted to many deplorable actions against Hoshido, my efforts as Crown Prince of Nohr include trying to restore Nohr's former reputation. I understand it will not be easy and I do not expect your acceptance immediately, but cooperation between our two nations would save a great amount of time, energy, resources, and most importantly, lives on both sides."
"Well then," Hinoka spoke first, "you could start by giving us our sister back."
"Oh?" Camilla retorted almost immediately, "So should we be asking for *our* sister back too?" She cocked her head towards Azura. Azura raised her eyebrows in response, but did not open her mouth.
"Nohr has wronged our kingdom many times, Prince Xander," Ryoma warned, "And while Queen Mikoto and I are willing to cooperate, you must understand that Hoshido cannot simply put Nohr's war crimes in the past and forgive and forget."
"Is it truly a fair demand though?" Leo piped up. "Kamui is not a token to be bartered with. Her say on who she wishes to spend her life with should be primarily her decision."
"And likewise, so should Azura's." Corrin added, "but even then, Hinoka has a point. Another apology in some form besides words would be a good way to start out repairing the damages between Hoshido and Nohr, especially after the whole incident in the waiting room just now."
"That is a further example of what I wish to purge from Nohr," Xander asserted, "Worms like Zola will be weeded out and dealt with accordingly. Nohr has its problems, but we do not wish for Hoshido to be one of them."
"But will King Garon listen to reason?" Ryoma addressed a valid concern.
"That will be our kingdom's primary focus," Xander reassured them. "He has not been himself. He has not been himself for many years, I feel like."
This was a new attitude for Xander to have. Sakura silently mused that it might have been a slight side-effect of Mikoto's barrier (since Izumo was beyond said barrier), but she said nothing on the matter.
"What do you mean?" Elise blurted out, "he's always kind of been like that, at least since Kamui came to live with us, right?"
"Yes, Elise…" Xander groaned, "that is that I and many others are trying to get to the bottom of."
"Whatever his motives, I don't trust him." Hinoka warned, "especially not after what happened 15 years ago with *our* father, and our sister."
"That is an atrocious act that even I have difficulty forgiving," Ryoma agreed. "Whatever curse King Garon put on her to wipe her memories only made it worse."
"And then whatever they brainwashed her into believing after that day," Hinoka tag-teamed this debate with Ryoma rather effectively.
"So what do you want from us, darling?" Camilla chimed in, "remember—out of everyone here barring an unconscious Kamui, I was the only one that was there in Cheve when it all happened. Do you want the truth of what happened on that fateful evening?"
There was silence as all eyes, including Leo, Elise, and even Kamui, were on Camilla. She licked her lips.
"Kamui was terrified;" she began, "understandingly so considering that she had no clue where she was. All Father told me was that I had a new baby sister. That's all my 8-year-old self felt like worrying at the time. So, I did what any good big sister would do and made her feel welcomed and loved. I did not need to brainwash Kamui. None of us did. I simply treated her like I treat the rest of my family—and I love my family more than anything. Kamui did the rest."
Eyes suddenly locked onto Kamui, who glanced down at her lap.
"She's right, really," she admitted, "Camilla has her quirks; so do I, possibly because of her, but a lot of what shaped me into the woman I am today was because of her, and I owe her at least that much in return."
"She's obsessed with you," Corrin pointed out, "it's honestly a little unnerving."
Under the table, Kamui seized Camilla's hand, squeezing it as if to give her a silent indication that she would do the talking here.
"I'm not the type to mince words," Kamui clarified, "if I don't like something, I'll let the person annoying me know. Camilla's antics neither bother nor offend me."
"Back on topic," Xander interrupted them, "We are risking our lives by daring to ask to oppose our Father's will. We will attempt to negotiate with him, but there is only so much we can do in that regard. Thus, that is the best we can offer at this time, unfortunately."
"There's validity in his words, brother," Corrin turned to Ryoma. "Regardless of Kamui's choice, I think it would benefit both parties if we avoided the war."
"And what does Lady Mikoto say about all of this?" Camilla cooed, "I presume that you still wield the authority in Hoshido, do you not?"
"Ryoma speaks well in my stead," Mikoto explained, "however, my stance is remarkably simple. I desire for Kamui to remain with me the same way you do. However, I understand that she is a grown woman and is therefore fully capable of making her own decisions."
Incidentally, this seemed to strike a chord with Camilla, who, despite her own motherly tendencies, understood that this woman was definitely Kamui's mother. Mikoto seemed to notice the gears turning in the lavender-haired princess' mind as well.
"Would you not go to all ends of the earth to try and rescue a lost child?" she asked.
"I would," Camilla nodded, "although if what you say is true, how come you never tried coming for my darling Kamui?"
"Had it been only me and her, I would have laid down my life for her safety," Mikoto asserted, "but the Queen of Hoshido waltzing into Nohr would be suicidal, and I had my remaining five children to consider as well. We devised numerous schemes to try and take her back without any bloodshed, but until recently, we clearly had no success."
"I am intrigued as to how you pulled her from under our noses," Camilla looked amused, "although more than anything I am relieved to see that she is safe." she paused. "If I may, Lady Mikoto… may I have a moment alone with you?"
This unsurprisingly turned heads, with even Xander and Kamui giving her skeptical looks. Sakura actually audibly gasped; Hinoka's expression was incredulous; Takumi was staring like a slack-jawed village idiot; and Ryoma and Corrin were both shocked and somewhat wary at Camilla's audacity. However, Mikoto proceeded to one-up Camilla and shock everyone else in the room further by agreeing.
"Aye; a moment, Archduke, if we may?" she turned to Izana as Camilla rose to her feet.
"If you need a little quiet place that isn't all covered in blood and weapons," Izana explained, "I'd try the room just down the hall; 3rd door in the right. You can't miss it!"
"We will only be a moment," Camilla promised, but that did not stop everyone in the room from fixating their glances at her and Mikoto as the two women left the banquet hall and found the room Izana mentioned. Despite being dimly lit in contrast to the grand feasting hall, it was cozy and inviting, as the queen and the princess seated themselves across from each other.
"I am curious," Mikoto said softly, keeping eye contact with Camilla, "what did you wish to speak to me about that could not be said in front of the others?"
"A few things, actually," Camilla began, "and I mainly didn't want any interruptions, be they from your side or mine. Firstly… I want to speak to you about King Sumeragi, and the night Kamui came to us in Nohr."
"What do you know of that?" Mikoto looked alarmed but more curious than anything, "you must have been a young child at the time of the event."
"15 years ago I would have been 8," Camilla nodded, "so I was young, yes; but I was also old enough to remember it. While the guards and retainers on both sides stayed back when my Father and your husband met, Kamui was at Sumeragi's side, and I stood at Garon's side. I was there, Lady Mikoto. I watched it happen… and I can only imagine the heartache it must have caused you."
"So why…" Mikoto whispered, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because it reminded me of my own childhood," Camilla answered, "The princes and princesses you see in that banquet hall are not even half of King Garon's children. All but Xander were born of ambitious concubines who essentially used us as pawns to try and gain the king's favour. Soon it was just me and my three siblings who remained. I thought of Leo. I thought of Elise. When Kamui was brought to me, I thought of her too. I know what it is like to not have that motherly presence in your life."
"Camilla…" Mikoto sighed, taking the Nohrian's hand and enveloping it in her own hands, "I think I understand where you are coming from now."
"I only wish for you to understand where my doting comes from," Camilla reasoned, "I want Kamui at my side. I want to keep her as my own. None of this stems from personal greed, and now having gotten to know you, I certainly don't wish to keep her from her mother, either."
"It is a choice that she will need to make," Mikoto concurred, "but I feel for you, Princess Camilla. You wished to give her the life you never had."
"I'm surprised that you are not angrier at me," Camilla admitted, "Here I am acting possessive over your daughter, wanting to keep her for my own. I cannot imagine the level of wrath I would display if someone attempted to do that with one of my children."
"I understand your motives," Mikoto smiled, "and understand that you are a good person. More than that, I see a beautiful woman whose life dream is to have a family—most likely a very large one; am I correct?"
Camilla closed her eyes, as if letting her mind wander. "I yearn for that above all else." she whispered, "I am cruel to my enemies because I am protective of those I love."
"So what do you wish from me?" Mikoto asked. She tried to help people when she could (hence her magnificent reputation across Hoshido) and figured that Camilla was reasonable enough to not say something outlandish. Camilla's response still caught her off-guard nonetheless.
"If Kamui elects to return to Hoshido," Camilla declared, "I wish to accompany her."
Mikoto actually raised her eyebrows in surprise. However, it was then her turn to surprise Camilla in return with her response.
"I will attempt to arrange it." she agreed, "Obviously it still depends on Kamui's decision as to where she wishes to live, but I feel that your presence at Kamui's side could actually be mutually beneficial to both Hoshido and Nohr, even if it cannot be permanent."
"I understand it cannot be permanent," Camilla nodded, but then raised an eyebrow, "but how do you figure this benefits both our kingdoms?"
"There are rumors going around," Mikoto began, "rumors of a Nohrian spy or traitor. I am certain they are connected to Kamui, and I wish to put those fears to rest. Even if Kamui chooses to return to Nohr, I will make the request to bring her to Hoshido for a short time only to help dispel those rumors—and if I am permitted, the offer to allow you to accompany her stands."
"Well then," Camilla stood up, "I suppose we should present these propositions to the others. There's little point to counting our hens before they hatch, after all."
"Indeed," Mikoto rose to her feet as well, smiling. "Princess Camilla?"
"Hmm?" Camilla turned around as she headed for the door.
"Thank you." Mikoto smiled. "Thank you for your remarks."
"No," Camilla chortled sweetly, "thank you."
Smiles were exchanged alongside mutual understanding as Mikoto and Camilla made their way back into the banquet hall to deliver their news.