Italics = Thought

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on A03

Mozu snuck into the chamber. Corrin's wound had been cleaned and healed, for all the good it would do. He was supposedly dead. But funeral customs were funeral customs..

She had stolen the counteragent for Abyssleep earlier, when the Doctor had left to relieve himself, and had, as instructed, taken the entirety of the stores.

She shivered, and gently took a spoon of the sickly orange gloop, and placed it in his mouth, helping him swallow.

"…..BLEEEHHH!"

Mozu jumped back in fright.

"That. Tastes…VILE!" Corrin screeched, holding himself back from outright wretching.

"Shh! L-Lady M-Mikoto is nearby!" Mozu pleaded. She really didn't want the plan failing on her account. "P-Please!"

Corrin sighed, and laid back down. "Fine…..go….hide!"

Mozu barely made it before the door opened, and Mikoto walked in, and dismissed her guards.

Moments later, Corrin was leading her out of the room.

"….Nice work, Mozu. You may have just enabled the plan." Corrin's tone, and the expression on his face proved that his statement was genuine.

Mozu didn't know if that cheered her up, or terrified her.

The makeshift camp outside Notre Sagasse had grown somewhat, so when Corrin, Azura (with Shigure in her arms) Lilith and Mozu arrived there, they were afforded a grand welcome.

Anna strode over to greet them, and took a flamboyant bow. "My Prince…welcome to Notre Sagasse….or at least, our camp. We've called it Haven. What with all our refugees and exiles and whatnot."

Corrin grinned broadly. "Very good. Do we have Leaders I need to meet?"

"Well, there's the Twin Leaders of the Plegian Remnant, Three Bandit Lords, the leader of The Greyshields, the brotherhood of exiled Nohrian knights, Gensei, the elected leader of our Ronin and…well, me, head of our traders."

"Good. We're expecting one more, hopefully. Kilma of the Ice Tribe." Corrin nodded firmly. "Flora and Felicia's father."

"I understand. We've set a tent up for you and Azura." Anna said, striding off. "Young Marc of Plegia has gone into town to gather information on The Rainbow Sage, so he isn't here right now."

"It is fine. I will meet with the leaders once Kilma gets here. Might as well greet all of them at once."

"Very well."

Anna reached a rich, light blue and silver tent, and stopped. "Tada!"

Corrin let out a low whistle, before looping an arm around Azura, and let her into the tent.

Anna blinked, and turned to look at Lilith and Mozu. A broad grin etched itself onto the redhead's face.

"Can I interest you ladies in a drink?"

Lord Felix Andoca dabbed his forehead free of sweat for the twentieth time since crossing the border into Hoshido. The sheer fact that he had been humiliated by the King in front of the Council. His King took his useless son's word over his own. He was a Noble, Jakob was some servant to a poor Prince that got himself killed.

"Father? This is safe, yes? We are going home?" Augusta's voice filled his ears.

"I don't know." Lord Andoca murmured. "I….I don't know."

"This is his doing, isn't it? Jakob's?"

"….Yes."

The carriage came to a halt, and voices from outside started to rise in volume.

The doors were thrown open, and Hoshidian soldiers dragged to two Nohrian's out.

"Why are you here? Come to kill more of my family?"

The voice was harsh and angry.

Felix Andoca looked up, and realised he was before the High Prince of Hoshido.

"Prince Ryoma."

"I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage."

No title. No respect. Not unexpected.

"Lord..Lord Felix Andoca." The fat lord managed to keep his voice level and calm. "My daughter, Augusta."

"Lord Andoca." Ryoma started, and made a gesture. At once, the guards around him surrounded Lord Andoca, and levelled their naginata's at him and his daughter. "The filth that you call countrymen assassinated our Prince. Foolishly, they did so in front of most of our nobility. Lord Kobayashi?"

The only figure that remained at the High Prince's side stepped forward. "Yes, my Prince?"

"How many men do the Nobles of Hoshido command?"

"Close to two hundred thousand, my Prince." Kobayashi said. "Although that is not including our reserve, the peasantry we can call upon. If they are included, the number is a little under half a million."

"Half a million." Ryoma repeated, and narrowed his gaze at Felix.

"W-Wait! Our spies said tha-"

"I care not for what rumours filth spread amongst filth." Ryoma said bluntly. "Frankly, your very presence in my Kingdom disgusts me. Speak your intent."

"I am here for Prince Corrin's body to return it for burial in Nohr." Felix managed to keep his voice steady, much to his own surprise.

"You kill our Prince and then have the gall to ask for his body?!" Ryoma thundered, his hand going to Rajinto's hilt. "You really are all Scum.

"B-But the Prince was executed by you Hoshidians!"

Felix was floored by a plated fist connecting with his gut. Despite the fact they were the same age, Lord Kobayashi was a career soldier, and only come into Lordship in the last five years after his uncle had died. "Hold your tongue. You have not been asked to speak."

"F-Father!" Augusta stammered, and tried to run over to his father, only to be forced back by the naginata blades. "Let me help h-him!"

"Denied." Spat Kobayashi.

"SILENCE!"

Ryoma's voice carried across the courtyard.

"My Mother is dead. My Brother is dead. Both killed by Nohrians. I have decided what to do with you both."

He turned to Kobayashi.

"Take the girl. We can ransom her. Kill this fat fool." Ryoma declared, stalking away. "I have heard enough of his lies and pitiful stammering."

"W-Wait! No! Jakob sai-"

Felix Andoca let out only one scream, as the soldiers drove their naginata's into his chest. And realisation dawned on him. His last conscious thought ran through his head with startling clarity.

This was his trap…

Selena had drawn the short straw in Notre Sagasse.

Whilst Beruka and Camilla were settling into a cosy tavern room, she had been left to start looking for information about the small force outside the walls.

Selena had lost count of the number of times she had needed to stop Camilla falling off of her wyvern on the flight over. So was, understandably annoyed she had to go and look.

At least the reward would be worth it.

The feel of her mistress' lips filled her mind, and she supressed a blush.

Now wasn't the time.

A familiar presence washed over her.

Severa. Not-Her-Father's voice echoed in her head. Turn around.

When she did, one figure alone stood out to her.

He smiled at her, and nodded.

"Hello sister." Marc greeted respectfully, though a telltale glint of mischief shone in his eyes.

"Shall we have a talk?"

Up next:

REUNION