Leo and Maribelle - The Nohrian Way
Robin was not short by any means.
At least, so he thought.
But as the young tactician walked quietly alongside Prince Xander with the early morning sun peeking above the horizon, the difference in the two men's stride and the contrast of their footfalls only enforced the growing fact that the tactician wasn't physically intimidating in the slightest.
"Now that we're out of earshot of the camp, let's talk. You've been holding in your complaints for a while now and I won't allow whatever inner demons that weigh your mind persist any longer."
Sighs could indicate one of two emotions: disappointment or fatigue. The one that escaped Xander's lips was one not so discernible.
"I must be frank: My worries grow with every passing day. Every inch we gain against Valm is a step closer to yet another of our many ambitious goals," the prince began, his pace certain, his voice contemplative. "But I couldn't have possibly anticipated Nohrian forces to join with Valmese, and that complicates things immensely. These Hoshidan facades we wear will not last forever, and neither will my pride. With more and more Nohrians in the way, we're finding it harder and harder to resolve things... reasonably."
The hand dealt and the cards out in the open, Robin nodded in slow agreement and countered.
"I know I've put the Nohrians in a difficult spot, but I assure you we'll find a way to avoid harming any more of your countrymen. Surely your father can appeal to that method of reasoning?"
"Don't be so optimistic of my liege, Commander Robin. Whatever you may hear of him is either exaggeration or slander, but before anything else, he is a King of Nohr. To have his own son betray the crown he wears... his punishment for our treachery is-"
"Don't finish that thought. You haven't betrayed your country. What we do is not for Nohr, but for mankind as a whole. We are ensuring humanity's right to survive!"
"Is that what you believe?" Xander asked rhetorically. "Because all we have done, all I have done so far is kill men. Men, Robin. Not gods, not dragons. Men. Some of them Valmese, some of them Chon'sin, some of the Nohrian. I am a Nohrian prince, tactician. Why are we doing this?"
"...Because they're in humanity's way."
Xander paused, looking Robin dead in the eyes. Surprisingly, Robin returned his appraisal with the same intensity.
"I see. Now you've shown your true intentions."
"I've proven my resolve long ago. Are you just now doubting my capability to see our mission through?"
"I... am questioning many things. Why did I allow us to follow you? Why did I fight and kill my proud countrymen wearing the cowardly disguise of a Hoshidan, instead of allowing them the bare courtesy of allowing them to look their prince in the eye as he murdered them?"
"Because as Commander, I have no other choice."
"You are not the sole authority here, tactician. Or do you forget your militia only comprises a third of our true numbers? I could have killed you, killed Ryoma, and ended this foolish debacle myself. There would be no Nohrian blood on my hands. No foul taint of treachery and scheming. Only the necessary stain of war."
"Then do so. Kill me, kill us," Robin offered, as if it were the textbook solution. "Take my place and bear the torch of hope, and explain to the rest of humanity why their proud nations lie reduced to flame and ash. Explain to your remnant of survivors why their existence is a slow spiral to their oblivion. Explain to your children why they were raised in the burning cradle of your war."
"I am the Nohrian Crown Prince," Xander reminded Robin aggressively. "My inheritance and my duty are entirely war."
"Is that your humanity speaking, Xander, or your pride?"
"Perhaps my father is doing the right thing!" Xander yelled, shaking his head. "Why are we wasting time with Valm when we should be siding with them, combining our strength to take out your so-called dragon?"
"Because they are threatening to conquer my home! Were Valm not intent on razing Ylisse and our neighbors to the ground, maybe... maybe things would be different. But I swore the day we met that we were going to ensure not only humanity's survival, but its peace! Maybe I am fighting a man's war, but if we lose here, how are we supposed to make a stand against Grima? I still have to fight for my homeland, and I won't let some conqueror get in my way! I vowed that this would be the last time we'll have to raise arms!"
"A vow easily broken, tactician. I have watched you invest in a year of your so called war and here we are, with hardly anything to show of it."
"...Is that what you think of all this? After all we've been through? All we've done is 'hardly anything?'"
A pause, and Xander nodded slowly.
"It is."
"Then I'll have to double my efforts to prove myself right," Robin decided, resuming his stride. "Perhaps I'll earn your trust yet, Xander."
"Give me and my Nohrians a good reason to stay alongside your numbers. Why do we waste our time when I could be regrouping with Nohrian forces and warning them of the coming threat?"
"Nothing's stopping you," Robin goaded.
"Do not casually brush me aside, tactician. How can you be so calm fighting against my countrymen, knowing that your army is comprised of not only Nohrian troops, but their royalty? How can you be so calm, knowing that I am ready and willing to strike you down?"
Robin paused, considering the question with closed eyes. After a beat, he smiled faintly even as Siegfried left its sheath.
"I planned for your betrayal the moment we met, Crown Prince. I was hoping that just this once, I'd have proven myself overcautious."
"Peppermint?" Leo wondered, sniffing the air as he peeked his head inside Maribelle's tent. The duchess nodded, smiling genuinely at the prince's appearance.
"What of it? Is it not to your preference?" Maribelle asked with faux concern.
"The opposite, actually. It's been a long while since I've had peppermint tea. In Nohr, even the royalty had few chances to enjoy it."
"Is that so? Well, in that case I'll have to oversee a plantation once this is all through. We can't have Windmire's halls smelling like a dump now, can we?"
"As I often remind you, you mistake our lack of resources for sheer barbarism," Leo retorted, slightly infuriated at the blonde smirking back at him.
"Get used to it pal," Brady called from the far corner, prompting Leo's sudden attention. Said priest was lying on the ground face-up and legs crossed, fiddling with a book.
"I-I, grr... was unaware you would be joining us," Leo attempted, sounding as civil as he could. Maribelle's slight scoff didn't escape his ear, despite his growing annoyance.
"What? Oh, gods no. Coffee is way better than that garish tea crap."
"Tsk, first of all, that's not how garish-" Maribelle began, only to be cut off by Brady yelling incoherent noises to drown her out. "To think that I'll bear such a child..."
"Let's forget he exists for the time being," Leo offered, raising his cup steadily and bringing it to his nose to take in the aroma.
"A-ah yes. To your health, Prince Leo," Maribelle sighed, raising her own.
My health? Of course! Enjoy as it slowly but surely diminishes to oblivion.
A sound of the door opening.
"F-father?"
Leo put on a forced smile, slowly lowering the cup back to the table.
Oh Dusk Dragon and any other divine deities listening, hear my prayer and end my suffering.
"Leo, darling, do try to relax. You're breaking a sweat!"
"O-of course, Maribelle," Leo gritted, turning slowly to face his future son in the doorway. "What is it, Forrest?"
"H-hello, Father. May I have a word?"
"Of... course. But can't it wait?"
"I-I'm afraid not. I'm sorry but-"
Leo turned back to Maribelle, only getting a slightly disappointed nod in response.
"Go on then. Do hurry though. Enough alone time with Brady will drive any sane woman mad."
"So, what did you want to talk about, Forrest?" Leo began, finding the company of his son oddly relaxing despite his previously agitated state. It was generally quiet, aside from the birds and the clanging of swords from the training ground.
"It's not about me, Father. If you could, can you follow me?"
When Leo didn't, Forrest turned, a worried look on his face.
"I know you're still not comfortable around me unlike your loudmouthed acquaintance Brady, but it doesn't hurt to be frank every once in a while. What's going on?"
The long-haired boy nodded, a resolute look on his previously timid face.
"It's not that I'm uncomfortable, father... it's, eh. You'll understand in a few seconds."
"A few seconds?"
"Like I said..." Forrest began, leading Leo through the camp towards the training grounds. The background cacophony slowly came into focus as the two Nohrians stepped past the training field and towards the command tent.
A whistle, and then the acceleration of pace.
"I would have taken your word for exaggeration, but apparently not."
"I'd prefer Lady Maribelle not be involved in this... Hence my discretion," Forrest whispered.
The acting-commander gulped, looking at the carnage that trailed from the border of the sands ending at the feet of his brother. Siegfried was emanating a wild purple fire, burning to the point of charring the grass by Xander's feet. With every step, dust crunched underneath the crown prince's boots, the sound drowned out by the clanging of the Nohrian sword meeting inferior steel.
At the receiving end of the Dusk Blade was Robin, admirably parrying his opponent's crushing blows.
As best he could, anyway.
Both of Robin's arms were bloodied from grazing wounds, and the practice sword he was holding was soon to join the three others that had broken earlier. His cloak was long discarded, only revealing more nicks and bruises, and even those were apparent in visibility.
"W-what is happening over here?" Leo called out as levelly as he could manage. Pausing for a split-second, Xander regarded his brother before letting his arm fall once more.
"Leo, join me! We must return! All of us, back to Nohr!" The crown prince replied, burying Robin underneath a torrent of strikes even as he spoke.
"Huh? Has something happened to Father?"
"We've been led to believe that the Shepherds are saving humanity," Xander warned. "But we have done no such thing since day one! I'm taking our Nohrians back to our homeland, and we will do what King Garon commands! Not this Ylissean manipulator!"
"Are you listening to yourself? You realize what will happen once we step foot in Windmire," Leo countered. "We'll either be branded as traitors, or Father will order us to wage war against the Hoshidans and Ylisseans! What will you aim to accomplish?"
"More than what we've done here!" Xander argued. "If we're to go down the path of war, I'd rather do so under Nohr's banner, not the pretenses and lies of this snake! A united humanity-"
"S-say what you will," Robin attempted, still smiling despite his apparent pain. "I'm proud of the work we've done... Corrin is too!"
"Don't bring our sister into this argument!" the prince roared, bringing Siegfried down again.
"And why not?" Leo reasoned. "She wanted this peace, didn't she? Iago, a Nohrian commander, has her hostage!"
"Don't tell me you're siding with Robin, brother?"
"I side with Nohr," Leo corrected. "And right now, I trust Robin. He's tried his best to minimize the deaths we've had to inflict, and we've discussed our plans once this is through. Don't throw this all away for the sake of pride!"
"Pride?" Xander scoffed. "I am a Nohrian Prince, as are you! Pride in Nohr should be our most stirring of motivations!"
"I'm not denying myself of my Nohrian heritage and duty as a prince, but after spending time with the Hoshidans... I will not stand idle to let our countries wage pointless war! Not when there is a better alternative!"
"So... the Crown Prince stands alone," Xander sighed, lowering Siegfried and curb-stomping Robin beneath his boot. "I will not tell Father of your decision, out of your own safety. That does not null the fact that I am disappointed in your lapse of judgement, Leo."
Rolling the unconscious tactician away, Xander sheathed his sword and fully faced his brother.
"Tell him what you will," Leo argued. "I will avoid your quest for bloodshed, even if it means branding myself a traitor against my own brother."
Another deep sigh.
"Your son."
A nod.
"Forrest, go back to the tent. I'll be finished briefly," Leo advised, letting his son not witness was he feared was about to take place.
"B-but..."
"It's okay. I'll talk with you later."
"O-of course, Father."
Xander waited as the young boy ran back, allowing the future Nohrian the courtesy of being out of earshot.
"..."
"Were you anyone else, dear Leo, I would have ignored that comment under the pretenses of emotional sway. But you're too smart to have let that remark be out of spite. What are you playing at? Do you mean to deceive your own country? Your own king? What webs are you spinning without my knowledge?"
"Webs? Xander, do you think of me so poorly that I would re-instigate the pain the Concubine Wars brought? We are family. Maybe not by full blood, but I grew up not under your shadow, but shoulder to shoulder!"
"Then come home with me, little prince! Do you truly wish to abandon your 'family?'"
"If my family chooses war, then yes...I won't let your pride blind you from making the right choice," Leo warned, backing away in caution.
Quietly, Siegfried emerged from its sheath once more.
"Nohrian law is blunt on the subject of traitors," Xander began, kicking Robin's sword towards Leo for him to pick up.
"Indeed it is," Leo gulped, ignoring the discarded blade and drawing his own from its sheath. "And what is my punishment? What is the sentence for reaching for peace?"
"You're a traitor for abandoning our war."
"I don't like the feeling of this," Brady sensed, rolling around on the ground in mild discomfort.
"Can you stop your fidgeting, dear? You'll knock something over. Get up!" Maribelle chided, fake-reading a book to pass the time.
"I'm gonna go outside," the priest decided. "Leo should've been back by now, right?"
"Since when were you worried about him?"
"That's why I'm worried, Ma: I'm concerned about someone I don't give a hoot about."
"You truly mean to kill me?" Leo wondered, reading Xander's eyes for any lapse in gaze. Sure to be had, they flickered briefly with the slightest hesitance, but once more burned with righteous anger.
"I take no pleasure in this, Leo."
Siegfried shot out a black flame, scorching Leo's left arm underneath his armor. Biting his tongue as he hissed in pain, the younger prince staggered back and quickly recovered his footing before bracing for another blow. When none came, Leo lowered his guard.
"Even now, you hold back against me?" the mage knight taunted, trying to distract Xander and buy time for someone to hear the commotion.
Preferably Ryoma. He can actually hold his own against Xander, unlike myself.
Stepping over Robin's still body, Xander closed the distance and lunged once more. It was a cautious lunge not meant to injure, but Leo's footwork was not nearly as well developed as anyone else's. Stumbling over himself, the young prince toppled over clumsily as the flames of Siegfried consumed his periphery with its proximity.
"Will you not fight back?" Xander asked, no emotion in his voice. "You speak of your grand ideals, but lack the conviction to commit to action?"
"What's the point? I can't beat you, and we both know that."
A brief moment of silence, and Leo realized that no one was around. No one would see him die.
Maribelle...
"Yet you still hold onto your sword."
"Would you prefer to strike down a defenseless foe?"
"Sword or not, you are far from defenseless."
"And what good would come if I were to strike back against my own brother?"
"I would feel better about putting you down if you did."
Brady watched as Forrest ran back into Maribelle's tent, taking off his book bag as it seemed to be slapping against his hip needlessly. The priest jogged over to the fallen bag, but decided to head towards the location the younger boy had left.
"Something's not right. Why isn't Leo with him?"
Lost in his own thoughts, Brady looked inside the bag and eyed a curiously familiar tome.
"The hell? Isn't this Brynhildr? Hey, Forrest you dropped... Ah well. What's in this damn thing anyway?"
Looking over the pages, Brady saw that they were complete gibberish (just as before) and that revelation did nothing for Brady's state, so he simply brought it with him and headed towards the sparring grounds.
"I'll return it later. He won't miss it for a few seconds, right?"
"You really want to go through with this? Killing me in cold blood? What would Camilla or Corrin do? Or Elise!"
"They, being better Nohrians, would agree with me. Now stand up or I will strike you down without giving you the honor of dying on your feet."
Shakily, Leo rose to his feet, unsure of what to do to pacify his brother.
Luckily, he had no need to.
As soon as Xander reared back to strike, a tree emerged from underneath his feet, sending him flying back a good 20 feet from where he stood.
"H-holy shit!"
Leo's head turned sharply, eyeing Brady running closer towards the mess. In his hands was Bryndhilr, still glowing purple after its sudden activation.
"Wait a minute."
Leo felt around his hips, his own Bryndhilr still sitting on Maribelle's tea table.
Slowly, his eyes turned back to Brady.
"You saw that, right?" the future child called, looking at his hands in amazement. "That was... whoa."
A chill far worse than Xander's threat suddenly coursed through Leo's spine.
"You're kidding me."
"Should we pursue?" Leo asked Robin, prompting the tactician to shake his head. They were both in the medical tent, with Maribelle treating Leo's arm as the two men discussed the recently departed Xander. Robin was not yet patched up, but they were already making plans despite that.
"Beruka and Kellam are still in Nohr gathering intelligence. We could use this to figure out what your father is planning in Nohr and Hoshido. Besides, with Walhart so close to our grasp, I have some suspicions to take care of first."
"Of course. Are you alright?"
"I was conscious for a long while," Robin admitted, flashing an oddly unharmed smile. "I was going to step in if he tried to kill you. It's a good thing he was holding back, though. He didn't want to."
"I'm more concerned about your health," Leo admitted. "Xander didn't hold back with you."
"I have a few surprises," Robin laughed softly, shaking his head. "Still, my body hurts like you wouldn't believe and I may be sore in the morning. Hell, I'm sore now."
"I see. And-"
"Stop fidgeting you," Maribelle groaned, trying to steadily wrap Leo's arm.
"And of course, there's this," Robin laughed, splaying his arms at Leo and Maribelle. Brady just used Bryndhilr. That alone implies-"
"Nothing!" the two blondes yelled simultaneously.
"Robin, dear," Maribelle continued, flush red, "Would you be a dear and leave? I'm sure my two proteges would love to patch you up."
"Of course, Milady. Milord," Robin bowed with a coy grin, exiting the tent, seeking out Brady and Forrest.
"Oh, what do I make of this development?" Maribelle wailed, burying her head in Leo's chest. His arms currently occupied with bandages, Leo could only grunt in discomfort at the noblewoman sobbing down his armor.
"At least your brother didn't try to kill you."
"Had I a brother, and had he tried to strike me down, I would voice similar complaints," the duchess replied haughtily. "But I am glad you are unharmed."
"I don't think I am," Leo admitted sadly. "Maribelle, Xander was right. What we're doing... Nohrian soldiers are dying! We have to explain it to them, but we risk exposing the rest of our plan. But the longer we do this, the more suspicious Hoshido will be as well."
"I don't know much about strategy, but I do know a thing or two that could offer you comfort," Maribelle confided.
"And what's that?"
"It's that you are never alone on this battlefield. A-and..."
"And? Were you going to say some cliche line about you being by my side-"
"Y-yes! Er, I was, until you spoiled the moment! Gods, this was a lot more... difficult than I imagined," Maribelle realized, still flush red.
"To be fair, I've always trusted you," Leo laughed, still grim in his expression. "And I hope you'll trust me even if my resolve isn't as unwavering as Xander's."
"He's a prince of a nation," Maribelle reminded. "But you are a commander risking everything to save humanity. Don't forget that."
"I... I'll see to it that I won't."
"Then good. Now. I believe there is tea that is... much colder than when I last left it."
"Are we going to ignore the fact that Brady wielded Bryndhilr?"
Maribelle closed her eyes.
"Y-yes."
"I know it's an odd-"
"It's not odd! I... Funny, I see it unfolding, like a story. Brady takes after you in a way, and Forrest... after me. Doesn't that... amuse you?"
"Should it? They're from the future. A lot can happen in the future. So much has changed-"
"We die," Maribelle reminded herself slowly. "And we leave them behind. That's not a future I want to put a family through. Not mine."
"Then what? We know what happens in the future. Like it or not, Brady and Forrest..."
"Need their parents, don't they," Maribelle sighed. "I didn't think I would have any problems when it came my turn to find my future children, but now?"
The curtain opened, and Brady and Forrest entered with a mischievous-looking Robin.
"Just picking up some balm, Ma-Mother," Brady corrected, ignoring Leo.
"Hello, Father. Are you feeling better?" Forrest asked, looking at the bandaged arm in front of him.
"Of course, thank you," Leo replied, glancing at Brady, who grimaced in return.
"I'll conveniently disappear now," Robin excused. "And I should probably restock the balm that I purposely hid. Have fun, you four!"
"So Leo and Maribelle, alongside so many others?" Azura nodded, listening to Robin's account eagerly while she dressed his many cuts. "Is Xander already gone then? Or the others?"
"Peri, yes. Laslow... reluctantly yes. They'll likely be asked to repel the rising revolution in Cheve, a district south of Nohr. Are you familiar with it?"
"They have a large contingent of cavalry and wyvern knights," the songstress replied, thinking to herself. "Xander will be occupied for a while."
"Good. That gives us time to unfold why Valm was able to be allied with Nohr so quickly."
"You planned, this, didn't you?" Azura wondered.
"I haven't the slightest idea what you mean," the tactician laughed.
"With your power, you could have easily pacified Xander. But you wanted him to go back to Nohr, why?"
"Remember when we swam to Val..la?" Robin drawled out, emphasizing his ability to say the name of Azura's birthplace.
"What of it?"
"Let's assume that Nohr and Valm are allied. That makes returning to Ylisse harder. We already have to convince Nohrian and Hoshidan guards to let us past. It will be much harder if we're at war with Nohr."
"What does that have to do with... that?"
"I need to know if Anankos is planning his offensive. With Xander at the heart, I can focus efforts on gathering the allies we haven't quite convinced."
"Walhart?" Azura wondered.
"Among others, yes. Tiki might be useful, if she doesn't detect my true identity right off the bat. Then we need to rescue Robin for real, along with Corrin."
"And what will happen to you once we find Robin?"
"I will disappear as per the plan, and watch from the sidelines. Do you still suspect a betrayal of me?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest," Azura admitted. "Dragons cannot be trusted. They have their own motivations. Yours conveniently happen to be suicidal."
"Well, everyone likes a happy ending," Grima countered. "And mine is setting Naga and myself free from this ethereal lie. I am, after all, partially human."
"Among other things."
"That is also what I want to find out in Valm," Grima sighed.
"Oh?" Azura wondered.
"Robin, the human, was born in Plegia if you recall."
"What does that-"
"If what I fear is true, Grima was born... in Valentia."
