"Jakob." He woke to the sound of a voice whispering his name and a hand squeezing his shoulder.
He rose from unconsciousness slowly, dragged from nightmares of storms and dreams of Corrin finally opening her eyes only to beg for Silas. With a slight, unintelligible murmur he came to, blinking blearily. At first, he saw only Corrin, still asleep. Peaceful. And some despairing part of him eased.
Second, he noticed Camilla standing over him, a slight smile on her lips. "Jakob," she whispered. "Happy birthday, dear."
He blinked. "Oh… Thank you, Sister."
She nodded. "You better get dressed. They're all waiting for you."
"How did you know I would be here?"
Laughing lightly, she explained, "I was more surprised to see her sleeping in your bed than you sleeping in your own bedroom.
"Oh…" he mumbled again. "Right." Half-asleep still, he glanced back at Corrin and watched her inhale and exhale for a few seconds before making himself stand. He took a couple of steps then noticed Camilla wasn't following and looked over at her. "Are you coming?"
"I'm right behind you," she waved her hand dismissively. "You go get changed, and I'll be downstairs waiting."
Jakob hesitated, unsure whether he should leave unconscious Corrin alone with his sister. But he had no argument to give… It wasn't as if Camilla would hurt her… So he left them, and while he stumbled to his guest room and started changing, Camilla sat beside Corrin and watched her silently for a moment.
"You, dear child," she said, "must be blessed by the gods…" She sat in the chair Jakob had just vacated and spread her hand on Corrin's hair, smoothing it out over the pillow. "Jakob is… special. I hope you know that, Corrin, because you've stolen his heart from his chest like a thief in the night.
"I can see how much he loves you… The way he moves, speaks, the way he gazes at nothing and thinks of you." Camilla looked to one side. "I have to admit I'm rather jealous. His love is real. It's true. I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks as you…
"I don't know if you deserve him. I-I don't know if anyone does, really… But if he loves you the way I think he does, then… Then you must be special too, in your own way… and…"
She paused, contemplatively, then continued. She leaned forward and whispered to Corrin as if she were telling her a secret no one else could hear. "I want you to know something... I'm not blood-related to Jakob." She smiled, waiting a moment to allow this to sink in. "But that has never mattered to me. Ever since he came into my life, I've loved him as hard and as deeply as I love all of my siblings." Her voice dropped even lower. "Maybe… even harder…" She swiped a tear from the corner of her eye and went on in a rush. "Therefore, with such a bond, I am his sister. He is my brother, and with that title, I want you to know that you, lovely Corrin, have my blessing. Father—I'm not sure he would see it the way I do, but all I want for Jakob is his happiness.
"That's also why…" Camilla stood and tucked the blanket around Corrin a little tighter. She patted her head in a motherly sort of way, and added, "if you break his heart, I will kill you." She smiled, not exactly pleasantly. "But I'm sure it won't come to that. Will it."
She tilted her head to one side. "I'm so glad we had this little talk, dear. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone's birthday to celebrate."
The second day of his family's visit passed just as slowly as the first. As much as Jakob tried to enjoy himself and show the appropriate appreciation for the decorations and menu and little games of celebration for his birthday his siblings put together and participated in, none of it was the same without Corrin nearby, smiling and giving him birthday wishes in the small moments between.
He tried to focus on his brothers and sisters, to delve into each phase whole-heartedly, to forget about Corrin for a few hours… But that, it soon became apparent, was impossible. She had always been constant in his thoughts, and now with everything that had happened, with the promise he had made to his sister, with Corrin absent on a day she was always there, completely putting her from his mind was beyond his ability.
When they served his favorite food, he looked up, expecting to see her—a tinge of red in her cheeks, a warm glow to her eyes—only to see Felicia and remember why she was serving his breakfast instead. His appetite suddenly gone, he tried to eat and to keep from fidgeting in his seat, and laugh with everyone else when Xander reminisced on some of Jakob's previous birthdays. He only hoped it passed as genuine.
When they opened presents, he automatically sought out Corrin's eyes, usually alight with more excitement than his own, until he remembered she wasn't there, and tried not to look too crestfallen.
When Elise forced them to hold a mini-ball in the largest room the Fortress had, Jakob longed to take Corrin's hand, to sweep her onto the marble floor, and spin her across the room like the princess she was…
It certainly didn't help matters when half-way through lunch, Flora had informed him that Silas had arrived. The urge to go up and stay by Corrin and silently put forth his claim was almost unbearable. He found his body twitching to move, his eyes glazing over as he thought of what he might say to him.
"I was surprised to find out just how early you left yesterday. But I suppose you had something more important to watch over than the woman you love." He pictured himself snarling, sarcastic, as condescending as a prince was supposed to be. As condescending as Jakob was to everyone he didn't care about.
"—Kob. Jakob? Jakob!" The shout snapped him out of his thoughts., and he looked up to see Leo staring at him inquisitively. "Is everything alright?" he asked. "You've been acting… strangely… all day."
"Yes." He shook his head. "Quite. I… apologize. I didn't sleep well last night, and I believe it's just catching up with me."
"Right… Are you sure?" He seemed doubtful. "A moment ago you seemed almost… angry."
Angry was one word for it, but really, what he felt went far beyond into realms Jakob couldn't even identify.
"I'm certain, Leo. I'm sorry to worry you… Now where were we?"
"Ah," Camilla broke in. "I think we were just about to call for the cake, weren't we?"
"Oh yes!" Elise grinned. "Cake!"
Jakob let out a breath, sending a mental thank you Camilla's way.
Within moments, the cake came. It was sliced, and Jakob tried even harder to keep his thoughts from drifting.
"This is actually quite good," Leo murmured.
"Indeed." Camilla glanced at the large cake. "I'm sorry we won't be able to stay and help you work through that."
Earlier on, Camilla had devised some kind of story. She learned some news and mixed it with some false information, and explained to her siblings that they needed to return to Castle Krakenburg the very next day. Of course, everyone was dismayed. Everyone, that is, but Jakob. Honestly, he didn't know how to thank Camilla. He was guilty that he was, in effect, throwing his family out when they could have stayed a few days longer, but… In the future he would welcome them genuinely and make up for this time… But just then, he needed to focus on the one he loved.
"Maybe," Jakob smiled. "Next time you all come, I'll ask Cook to make another one."
That night, after hugging his brothers and sisters and thanking them for a wonderful birthday, he could only wait minutes before listening at his door to be sure all was silent. He stood for a full sixty soundless seconds before slipping from his room and easing into Corrin's. After shutting the door, he looked up, nearly taking a step forward before he saw a silhouette in the chair beside Corrin. He froze, panic seizing him for the worst half-second of his life before he recognized Silas, and his fear melted into irritation instead.
His back pressed against the door, his teeth barred in an animalistic snarl. He cursed himself, realizing he had not waited for Flora's information before coming in here. A mistake made in his impatience. Now what should he do?
Leave, as silently as he had entered? But no, no, almost as soon as the thought entered his mind, he knew he would not leave. He had at least as much right to be there as Silas. Even if Jakob hadn't been in love with Corrin, he was her family. He had made that clear since day one, but If, somehow, even that were discarded, then he was also the prince she served, and that gave him every right to check in on her if he so wished.
Besides, there had been something he wanted to say to the Priest all day.
Squaring his shoulders, he moved forward again. "I'm surprised to see you here so late after you left as early as you did yesterday." His voice was low, but the implication in the words was clear.
Silas twitched at the sounds of his voice, looking up with surprise, his eyes glowing in the dimness of the room.
Jakob moved to the other side of the bed, the other side of Corrin, standing over her and fighting against the urge to slap Silas's hand away from hers.
"Lord Jakob…" The priest murmured in greeting. There was… There was an edge to the two words, a hint of malice, a sprinkle of distaste. Jakob arched a brow. Oh dear. I seem to have offended him somehow. How terribly unfortunate. He clasped his hands behind his back, studying Silas by the light of the fireplace and soft moonlight from the windows. He and Silas had never really got along well anyway, but Jakob hadn't even seen him for years.
"No, please, don't stand," Jakob said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Silas only grunted in response, a reply which Jakob more or less expected.
"I stayed as long as I could yesterday." He explained. "But I had left the temple in such a hurry, I hadn't the chance to tell anyone where I was going or when I was coming back. I didn't want anyone thinking the worst. I would have liked to be here… with her… But I was needed elsewhere…" He paused before meaningfully adding, "And I knew Corrin would understand."
Jakob scoffed. If his and Silas's situations had been reversed, he would never have left her side no matter the consequences. Silas's excuses were not adequate. "I see," Jakob sneered. "You had more important things to attend to."
"Oh, by the way," Silas countered, ignoring Jakob's remark. "I couldn't help but overhear some of the festivities you and your family were having downstairs. I suppose you were having too much fun to tear yourself away until now—when all is finally quiet?"
Before Silas's sentence had ended, a growl was emanating from Jakob's throat. The idiot didn't understand anything. "I would have been here—" His hand swiped through the air, and his words were a bit louder than he had intended. Glancing at Corrin, he forced his voice lower. "I would have been here the entire time, but I couldn't, not with… with—"
"Ah, that's right," Silas retorted. "It wouldn't have been viewed well if a prince was seen to care so deeply for a servant, would it? You couldn't be seen with the likes of Corrin."
"That's not—That's not—" Jakob shook his head like he had been slapped, trying to get a grip on this. Fury roiled in his body. Never in his life had anyone spoken so harshly, so daringly, so disrespectfully to him. Nor had anyone spoken so honestly either, and the truth mixed in with Silas's words infuriated Jakob more than anything else. "How dare you!" He finally said, the exclamation definitely above a whisper.
"Well it's true, isn't it?" At some point Silas had risen to his feet and was likewise standing over Corrin's form, his hands making angry gestures in the air. "She's not good enough for one of your rank. She has no titles, no money, no family connections, no hope of rising up in the world! What use have you of her but as a servant?"
"That's not true!" Jakob roared, his blood boiling hotter with every word exchanged. "She is good enough! She's—She's more than good enough! She's sweeter and gentler and braver and nobler than I will ever be! If I were king of Nohr and Hoshido combined, I still would not deserve her!" His hand slashed the air, his teeth gleaming white and his eyes glowing red in the darkness of the room. He breathed deeply, only realizing what he'd said after the words had left his mouth. He hadn't meant to make his feelings for Corrin so obvious, but now that it was done, he realized, he was glad Silas knew, and he stood, staring him down across the bed as if they were generals fighting over a piece of land. I dare you to dispute my claim, Jakob thought. I dare you.
But Silas didn't. He shut his mouth, his expression stormy, but he said not a word. His eyes didn't leave Jakob's, and it was only the sound of shifting sheets and the slightest of murmurs that broke the electrified stare on both sides.
And suddenly, the two men were kneeling on the mattress on either side of Corrin, each with one of her hands in theirs, watching her with bated breath. She shifted, turned slightly, her brows lowered in some sign of discomfort.
"Cor—" Jakob started, just as Silas whispered her name. He would have scowled, but he didn't have the concentration with Corrin showing signs of life after lying still for so long. She murmured something, and Silas repeated her name, adding, "Can you hear me?"
Her icy blue eyes fluttered, and Jakob had to release her hand regretfully as she shifted onto her side, facing Silas. Settling again, she relaxed against her pillow. For a tense moment, Jakob thought that was it. That was all she could do yet, and she was asleep again.
But just before settling completely, she murmured something. A word. A name. His name! "Jakob…." She sighed. It escaped her lips as a breath, but it filled the prince with overwhelming elation, and inexplicable triumph. His face broke into a disbelieving smile. How was it possible? The first word she spoke was his name? Near enough to brush her hair from her forehead, he gazed at her.
But Silas was staring with a conflicted look, his eyes flickering across her face. And the sigh that he expelled distracted Jakob from his floating thoughts. He looked back at Silas, wondering what he would think—the woman he loved whispering another man's name…
Silas merely raised Corrin's hand and lightly touched his lips to it. Jakob watched, the corner of his mouth turning down, but then the Priest stood, letting Corrin go and glancing at the prince. He paused for a moment, ran his fingers through his hair, and then spoke in little more than a whisper. "I think I'm going to go… She's getting better. I'm happy to see it…" He looked away, appearing lost in some kind of reverie. "But since the worst is obviously behind her," he continued. "I won't be coming back tomorrow. If she… If she asks…" He shook his head. "No… She wouldn't, though. Nevermind. Just tell her I visited… when she wakes… if you don't mind..."
Confused by Silas's calmness, by his mild manner, and the fact that—that he was leaving, all Jakob could do was stutter, "Of—Of course…"
Silas nodded. He turned as if to go but stopped. He looked at the prince again. "Ah, forgive me… Lord Jakob… for what I said earlier... I understand now that I was mistaken." Jakob realized his mouth was hanging open and quickly shut it, but Silas only bowed. He nodded again, as if to himself this time, and then slipped from the room, leaving Jakob, once more, alone with Corrin.
