AUTHOR'S NOTES: Some might call a certain event in this chapter a mistake; I see it as an opportunity. There were ulterior motives as to why I took people to Izumo after all, and one of the big ones is also explained here. That said, those who are worrying about Corrin's role will not need to worry much longer. I hinted earlier that Corrin is more of a leader and tactician, and that Kamui is more of a fighter. Act III will capitalize on these traits of theirs in due time.
Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 29: Gifts from Izumo

Sing with me a song of Sisters and Choice…

In Camilla and Mikoto's absence, there had not been much done in the way of determining where Kamui would end up, because the subject of conversation had been derailed into wondering what the princess and the queen were talking about in private. There were intrigued expressions across the table as they watched Mikoto and Camilla calmly take their seats again, seemingly happier now than they had been when they had left the room.

"So what was all that about, Mother?" Corrin asked. "Have you met her before?"

"No," Mikoto shook her head, "but she was the last one to see my husband… and it was somewhat comforting to hear what she had to say. The rest of the discussion was just family matters; nothing too important."

Xander and Kamui had both been about to ask Camilla the same question. She seemed to realize this, and so replied before they could even open their mouths.

"That's more or less how it happened," she chuckled, "Lady Mikoto is not one to lie."

Maybe it was more effects of the magic from crossing the barrier into Hoshidan territory (which may have also explained the Nohrians' sudden drive for peace), or maybe it was something else entirely. Whatever the case, Camilla fully believed Mikoto's words to be true. There didn't appear to be anything suspicious about her tone or behaviour either, and thus Xander and the others believed her words.

"So what did the two of you conclude?" Ryoma asked, "has progress been made in this regard?"

"A lot hinges upon whether Kamui chooses to return to Hoshido or Nohr," Mikoto explained. "Has she decided?" She did not mean to put the pressure back on Kamui, but the girl's face dropped immediately after the question was posed.

"I…" Kamui shrank as she felt nearly a dozen pairs of eyes fixate on her. "I wish to return to…" she was clearly stressing about giving an answer, knowing that half of the people in the room would likely be angry at her decision.

"If I have to choose," she began desperately wringing her hands, "I want to return to… Nohr. Please nobody get mad at me!" she hunched over and buried her face in her hands, trembling both literally and as she imagined the faces of her Hoshidan kin right now. In Kamui's defense, they did look rather upset, even if none of them spoke for several moments.

"So it shall be then." Mikoto was the one to finally diffuse the situation as she spoke up. "However, I would like to make one final request, if I may?"

Kamui gingerly looked up at Mikoto, trying to steel herself and hide a redness in her eyes.

"There were rumors spreading after your arrival," Mikoto explained, "that Nohr sent you on purpose as a spy or a traitor. Now obviously I do not believe such rumours any more than you or any of your siblings do, but it would mean a lot both to me and my countrymen if you were to attend with me as to clear all of that up."

"How long would that take?" Kamui looked at her curiously.

"At the most, only a few days," Mikoto explained, "Obviously I would also want to say my goodbyes, and I will without a doubt miss you, but you're a grown woman, and the decision of where you wish to live, and where you wish to spend your life are decisions that are yours to make. Just know that no matter your choices, I will still always love you."

Kamui frowned but nodded, and then turned to Xander.

"We can stay close, should anything happen," Xander reassured her, "Although I do not suspect treachery at this point. It would be more of a precaution, should something go wrong."

"And I will be coming with you anyways, darling." Camilla grinned. Since no one in the room except Mikoto knew this plan, everyone-including Xander, Ryoma, Corrin, and Kamui-all looked flabbergasted.

"It's true," Mikoto silenced the crowd before any of them could start objecting. "I agreed to allow Princess Camilla to accompany Kamui."

"And for what purpose?" Ryoma cast his glance from Kamui to Camilla to Mikoto. "Would that not make people more suspicious of Kamui's behaviour and intentions?"

"To serve as a further reminder that regardless of Nohr's actions, that Hoshido will remain friendly and hospitable," Mikoto explained, "as such, I want all of my children to treat Princess Camilla as a respected guest while she is within our castle walls."

This was not exactly met with enthusiasm by anyone. Takumi and Hinoka seemed the most grudgingly opposed to it, Sakura seemed to be okay with the notion, while Corrin looked intrigued. Ryoma's action was very difficult to decipher, and Kamui was oblivious to the fact that Camilla winked at him. Ryoma seemed to notice, but apart from briefly raising an eyebrow he did not react at all.

"I take it you know what you're doing, mother." Takumi sighed, "I don't think I can trust a Nohrian as easily as you can."

"Easing the tensions between your two nations has to start somewhere," Izana spoke up, "which reminds me: I have a few things I want to give certain members of your families. Now I'm not saying you should use them to go and make a mess of each other the way you made a mess of my reception hall, but I figure that the members of the royal families are worthy of taking these relics from a bygone age and putting them to some use. They're sure better off in your hands in collecting dust on one of my shelves."

Izana rose to his feet and disappeared down one of his many hallways, only to return a few minutes later with weapons in his hands. The first item he pulled out was a large golden tome.

"Princess Elise," he spoke up, "this is for you. Rexaura: Light Magic of the highest order. It was used by a powerful light mage centuries ago-and now it belongs to you!"

"Oh, wow!" Elise took the tome and gazed at it, slightly mesmerized (and slightly oblivious to Leo peeking at it over her shoulder). "It's beautiful! Thanks, Izana!"

"You're very welcome!" Izana beamed, "No point in letting the princes have all the fun now, is there? Speaking of which, Sakura, dear? I've got something for you."

"Oh?" Sakura stood up, timidly approaching Izana as he pulled out a magnificent red tome.

"A little empress once used this tome;" he began, "Cymbeline: dangerously powerful fire magic for someone with a calm demeanor and a level head."

"B-but what if I can't keep a level head?" Sakura voiced her concern.

"Ideally none of you will ever need to use these weapons at all!" Izana laughed, "but Sakura, my lovely little friend, if you need further reassurance, I have this for you."He handed her a silver necklace with a small pale blue stone in the center. Sakura tried it on.

"What does it do?" Sakura didn't suspect malicious intent, but she was still curious.

"It will help you keep a level head, even if those around you do not." Izana's words sounded a little more cryptic this time, but as far as anyone else knew, he was just trying to assure little Sakura that she'd be alright. Whatever the case, it worked.

"Thank you so much!" she sighed with relief, "for the charm and for the tome. This… this looks like really intense magic. Not really what I'm used to, but I can still handle it… I-I think." She much preferred scrolls to tomes, but she was not by any means ungrateful for Izana's gift.

"This next one…" Izana brandished a massive lance, "is suitable for a certain warrior princess."

Hinoka's eyes were following the lance with great interest, while Camilla watched Hinoka's hungry expression with amusement.

"Princess Hinoka!" Izana invited her to claim her gift, "I offer you the Wishblade: a mighty lance for the sentinel of Hoshido. I'm sure you can probably figure out more about it than I can. Trying to remember all the secrets of history can be difficult, you know!"

"I am honored," Hinoka gave a respectful half-bow, "More… more than I can put into words. I hope you know what I mean."

"Oh, no worries, love;" Izana used the term lightly, "I gathered from your body language that you're quite excited to possess such a mighty weapon."

"Y-yeah… I am." Hinoka almost looked guilty, but she wasn't about to turn down a gift like this. "Thank you again, Archduke Izana…"

"And lastly…" Izana smirked, turning towards Camilla. At this point everyone kind of figured she would be the last recipient of a gift this evening, considering Izana's earlier words, "Alondite: a mighty blade once wielded by a deadly warrior clad in black-a suitable weapon for the black princess of Nohr, wouldn't you say?" he brandished a silver greatsword.

"While normally I'm partial to axes," Camilla rose to her feet to claim the weapon, giving it a few practice swings away from everyone, "I couldn't say no to a gift this wonderful if I tried. And to say that I am grateful for this marvellous weapon would be an understatement, Archduke."

"I figured you would like it." Izana grinned. "And while I do apologize to the wonderful princes of Hoshido and Nohr, it's worth reminding them of their magnificent sacred weapons they already possess, right?"

There was a muttering of consensus between the four princes as their sisters returned to their seats admiring their new weapons.

"Now, with that said and done," Izana continued, "let's finish up here, and then you all should get some rest. It seems you solved your issues for the time being, which is always good! Just remember: you're always welcome in Izumo as long as you keep those weapons of yours safely stowed away, right?"

"Of course," Mikoto smiled. "Thank you, Archduke Izana. You have been abundantly hospitable to my children and I, as well as to the family of Nohr. I understand that it is not Izumo's responsibility to solve Hoshido and Nohr's problems, but I wish to thank you for the assistance and welcome that you provided us all."

"Like I said," Izana beamed, "any time! Well, y'know; except when there's violence and stuff."

The two families settled across the hall from one another, divided into (mostly) pairs: Mikoto with Hinoka and Azura, Takumi with Ryoma and Corrin, Leo with Xander, and Kamui with Camilla. Elise convinced Sakura to room with her for the night, for it was clear that these two had very little, if any animosity towards one another.

"Do you think I made the right decision out there?" Kamui asked Camilla after the lights had gone out for the evening.

"Well I personally think you did," Camilla giggled, "but you know how I am. If you're not careful I'm going to join you on your bed and snuggle you."

"Camilla…" Kamui groaned.

"Don't 'Camilla' me in that tone of voice, darling," Camilla giggled, and a moment later Kamui heard footsteps as Camilla sat on the side of her bed. "Come here and rest your head in my lap. We can talk about this a little more before we sleep."

"Do I have to?" Kamui argued.

"No, but pretending you don't want to isn't doing you any favours." Camilla knew that while Kamui tried to disavow her closeness sometimes, that she secretly appreciated it. Sure enough, a moment later she felt Kamui's soft hair tickle her lap as Kamui laid there, gazing up at the blackness of the unlit room.

"Do you think I made the right decision on a higher level though," Kamui went back to asking questions. "Like, overall?"

"Honestly… that's a little harder to say," Camilla's fingers idly separated strands of Kamui's hair as they conversed, "I spoke with your mother as you recall, and after hearing her side of the story, I can only imagine how much she must be grieving knowing that this will be the last time she sees you for a while."

"That's what she told you?" Kamui sounded distraught.

"Well of course," Camilla nodded, "any good mother would lament the loss of a child. She missed you, dear. But I miss you too. I told her that I wanted you, and she was very understanding of where I came from."

"Maybe we should really start taking lessons from Corrin," Kamui suggested, "the idea of our families being able to live peacefully sounds better by the minute."

"I'm interested to see how I'm treated in Hoshido, however brief we're there." Camilla shrugged.

"I'll make sure they don't treat you maliciously." Kamui promised.

"Don't worry, darling," Camilla giggled, ruffling Kamui's curls, "I can handle myself. We'll get this mess figured out sooner or later, but you can't beat yourself up over this. You'll have your big sis with you this time anyways. Hopefully that makes you feel less homesick."

"Yeah…" Kamui sighed. "Thanks for hearing me out, Camilla. Thanks for always being there and everything. It… well, it really means alot to me."

"I'll always be there for you, darling." Camilla cooed. "Now, should I tuck you in or should I snuggle you to sleep again?"

"Camilla…" Kamui half laughed and half groaned, "that was cute when were were little, but now it almost seems too much."

"Oh, I understand." Camilla giggled, "you're a big girl now and don't need momma anymore. Alright then."

"Camilla, don't even go there." Kamui laughed as well.

"If I didn't go there, I wouldn't be your big sister." Camilla teased.

"Fine, fine… fair point. Thanks again though." Kamui conceded.

"Any time, darling…" Camilla returned to her own bed. "Any time."

AFTERTHOUGHTS: Eeyup, I gave the princesses legendary weapons of yore for two reasons. Firstly, I figured I'd go with something that people recognized instead of an infinity+1 sword for everyone, and because Tellius is a series worth shouting out to. Secondly, it never really made sense to me that only the princes had weapons, unless there's some covert sexism or something. Ryoma and Xander make sense; heirs to their respective thrones, eldest children, crown princes, all that. But why then, did they skip over their 2nd children? Whatever the case, I suppose that argument is now laid to rest.
Also, there's a reason Camilla received Alondite instead of Urvan, and while it doesn't have anything to do with Ragnell, it does have something to do with the plot.
Thanks for reading!