Italics = Thought

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on AO3

The group of four royal carriages rolled into the main courtyard of the North Fortress, all four being led by horses from the royal stables. Each was the product of generations of breeding for the exact purpose of pulling the carriages of the royal family, and didn't even seem in the least bit tired. The drivers didn't even acknowledge the small group of people that were waiting to greet them in the courtyard. The carriages themselves were a dark, near black purple, with gold, armour like additions on each side. The family crest was printed, again in gold, on every door.

Only one of his siblings wasn't riding in one of the comfortably warm carriages. His black and gold armour gleamed in the early evening sun, riding a black horse that wore similar battle armour.

He recognised Steadfast, Xander's beloved steed, instantly.

The carriages had barely stopped before Corrin felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around him, and was floored by a blur of black, gold and purple.

"Big Brother!" The blur cried happily, as she nuzzled her against his chest.

Elise. Dear sweet and oblivious Elise. He did love her, in his own way. She had only been born a few short months before he had been taken as a guest, so she couldn't remember a time without him. When the time came, she would probably be crushed when she learned that she and he shared no blood. That he was her brother in name only.

"Hello Little Sister." He said, returning the hug. "Don't take this the wrong way, but would you mind getting off of me? Kinda making it hard to breathe with you hugging me like that."

"Oop! Sorry! Sorry!" the short girl apologised, and stood up.

Corrin would have stood up himself, but a hand appeared in his view.

"Come on Little Prince." Xander said with a grin. Corrin returned the grin, and took his hand, allowing himself to be hauled up.

"Really Xander? I'm as tall as Camilla now. Hardly a little Prince." He joked. "Now Leo, he is more of a little prince than me."

Xander patted Corrin's shoulder. "You'll always be called Little Prince, Brother. Even if you grow taller them the rest of us."

"Just let him call you it brother, it is better than some nicknames you could be called." Corrin's younger brother made his presence known. Leo clearly hadn't slept much, either because he'd been reading all journey or because he couldn't sleep in a carriage, Corrin suspected it was a mix of both.

"Dearest little brother, are you saying you try to come up with worse nicknames for me?" Corrin asked, part curiously, part jokingly.

"Wh- no! Of course not!"

Jakob spoke up now. "Your highnesses, if you will follow me, I will show you to your quarters for the evening. Flora and Felicia are willing to escort your retainers…and Lilith is extremely capable of taking care of your horses."

Xander looked Jakob over, and raised an eyebrow. "You've grown since last we met, Jakob."

"That is what happens when one gets older, your highness, and it has been nearly a year since you've been to visit Master Corrin."

Jakob's words clearly stung his eldest sibling. "That was not my choice, nor was it my fault. Tensions with Hoshido have grown worse in the past few months, Father has needed me commanding our armies. That is one of the reasons we are here, Corrin. Father has finally found a way to break the curse on you. He wants all of us leading the charge, to show Nohr that its Royals aren't cowards that let their soldiers die whilst they feast."

"Ah…so Father wants to show me off yet again, in a nutshell." Corrin said airily.

"That isn't fair Corrin." Xander said sadly. "You know why you've been kept up here.."

"Yes yes, the Hoshidian filth cursed me to bring weakness to those around me, so Father sent me here with a magical barrier to protect myself and my servants, as you remind me every visit…speaking of visiting, I don't see my beloved elder sister here? Is she still asleep?"

"She was worried about how you would...greet us. She knows how much you dislike it here, and how much you wish you could live in the Palace. Beruka and Selena are cheering her up right now, she'll come out later."

"And by that you mean…?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter, brother." Leo snapped.

"I didn't say anything of that sort Leo." Corrin commented, and raised an eyebrow. "What did you think I was suggesting?"

Corrin bit back a laugh at the embarrassed look on his brothers' face. "H-H W-Well…."

"IF we can get back on track…." Xander said, stepping in. "Jakob, if you would be so kind..?"

Jakob bowed. "Of course, your highness, this way please.."

As he led Xander, Leo and Elise away, Jakob glanced toward Corrin, and gave him a knowing nod. He and Flora would keep things hidden from the Royals tonight. Then in the morning, he and the girls would go with him to Anya, and there his Masters plan would reach its next phase. And so long as Corrin's mysterious friend in Hoshido played her part correctly, his Master's grand plan would succeed. He would see to it.

After all, that is what you do for a friend.

Selena was tired, hungry and pissed off.

Not only had she spent most of the journey insisting to her lady that no, Corrin wouldn't be angry and yes he still loved her, but Camilla hadn't believed her, so she had had to call in Beruka for help. Beruka's attempt to cheer her up was…bizarre. Selena didn't know that fake cat ears even existed.

She thanked the maid for escorting her to her room, and promptly collapsed, face first, onto the bed.

She winced slightly, her shoulder was burning for the first time since….

She tried not to think about it, or the whispering in her head that she prayed was just her imagination. It had to be her imagination, it had to be.

Because the whispering voice belonged to her father.

"Hello again, dearest daughter."