Everyone is weary. They've been marching for days, and the Hoshidan winter has finally set in full force. Snow and freezing winds have slowed their progress, and though the Nohrians are no strangers to the cold and to hardship, nearly everyone is desperate to reach the woods where they'll cross back into the astral plane.

"Azura, your cloak is coming undone," Kaze says, reaching out to tie the strings snugly beneath his wife's chin. Her cheeks are red, her eyes tired.

"Thank you, Kaze," she murmurs, burying her face in the warm fur of her hood as they walk. The army has abandoned its usual orderly progress; no one is marching in rank or file, and the soldiers are walking together regardless of position, hoping for warmth in numbers. Kaze has taken the opportunity to walk alongside Azura, and he's glad he has. The cold doesn't seem to be doing her much good, and she's getting more tired with every passing day. He can't imagine how difficult it must be, to carry a child, but he respects her decision to speak to Xander herself, whenever she gathers the courage to do so.

Still, that doesn't mean he doesn't worry.

"Here, take mine too," he says, pulling the cloak off.

"No, no, I'm fine!" she assures him, reaching out to stop him. "Really, it's not that bad."

"I don't mind the cold, I've been through worse."

"Still, it's okay, I'll live," she says, smiling slightly as she stifles a shiver.

You always were a terrible liar, milady.

"At least share with me, then," he sighs, pulling her into the large garment. It's a lot colder on his end, but he's happy as long as she's warmer in exchange.

Someone whistles behind them.

"Mm, that sure does look nice," Niles calls out. "I wouldn't mind a big, strong hunk to share his cloak with me."

Azura looks down, embarrassed, and Kaze places one arm around her shoulder.

"Niles, watch your tongue," Leo warns as he rides abreast. "That's my sister and brother-in-law you're heckling."

"Pardon me, Lord Leo. If you wanted someone to warm you, you should have just asked," Niles says, a lascivious grin on his lips.

"For the gods' sake, what did I do to deserve this?" Leo mutters, and Azura giggles.

"It really is quite warm, brother," she says. "Perhaps you should try it."

"Hah, I'd rather die in a ditch."

A sudden commotion begins up ahead, cutting the conversation short.

"What's going on?" Kaze asks sharply, one hand on the blade at his waist. Mozu is hurrying toward them, her simple brown cloak fluttering in the wind.

"Milady! We're here!" she calls excitedly. "The woods are just on the other side of this hill! Lord Xander says we'll cross over as soon as we're sheltered enough!"

"Thank goodness," Azura shivered. "I don't envy the poor souls who have the first watch, though..."

"We'll survive," Effie says, looking as unperturbed by the cold as ever.

"Speak for yourself!" Keaton growls. The wolfskin is wrapped in several skins but still manages to look displeased. "Even with my warm fur, I'm freezing my butt off out here."

"Worry not," a calm voice floats to them. Kaze recognizes Nyx, the sorceress. "I'll enchant the watchpoint for you and the others so that the cold does not bother you," she says, her heavily lidded dark eyes blinking slowly. She's the only person in the entire army not wearing a cloak or skin, despite the fact that her clothes are very thin and exposed.

"Gods bless you, lady," Keaton says, his ears perking up at the thought of warmth.

"Kaze, Lady Corrin and Lord Xander need you up front!" comes the call, and Kaze reluctantly pulls away from Azura.

"I'll see you back home," he says, holding her hand.

"Okay, stay safe," she smiles. He presses his lips to her forehead and lets her go. His other princess is calling for him.

As the light faded and Corrin's eyes adjusted to the change, she looked up to see the outer walls of the fortress, welcoming and sturdy as ever. The soldiers behind her cheered at the sight of the town they'd all come to consider home over the last year and a half, that they'd come to miss while marching across the unforgiving Hoshidan mountains. Elise and a few other eager individuals ran and galloped through the gate, laughing, the rest of the army just behind.

"Welcome back, Lady Corrin!"

"Lilith!" Corrin recognized the voice immediately and was greeted by the little blue dragon landing on the top of her head. "Did you miss us?" she asked.

"It was very quiet," Lilith purred, nuzzling her scaly cheek against Corrin's forehead like a cat. "Nothing of note happened, except maybe the blacksmith getting married to the stable girl."

"Oh my, we'll have to send them congratulations," Corrin laughed. She'd missed Lilith; though they'd had a rather formal relationship at first, months of living in the astral plane had helped them relax their boundaries, and Corrin often felt like she was speaking with a kind older sister.

"Did anything happen outside, milady?"

"Mm, we fought two battles," Corrin said as they crossed over the moat. Kaze was just ahead, speaking to Xander, and Corrin felt a wave of resentment rise in her stomach; she had to remind herself that her brother-in-law had helped her when she lost control. "They weren't easy, but we've now crossed into the border of Mokushu's territory."

"Is that so? You sound tired, Lady Corrin."

You have no idea, Lilith...

"Well, I've had a lot on my mind," she admitted.

"Would you like to talk about it? My temple isn't far," Lilith suggested, settling on her shoulder.

"You know... I think I'd really like that."

Azura stood just outside Xander's office, fidgeting nervously.

Maybe now is a bad time, she thought. We just got here five minutes ago, surely I should let him rest...?

But just as she was about to turn away, the door opened to reveal Laslow and Peri preparing to leave.

"Oh, Lady Azura!" Peri said, giving her one of those eerie smiles. "Did you want to speak with Lord Xander?"

"Of course she does," Laslow said, pushing Peri forward. "It's rude to block doorways, you know."

"Boo, you're such a stick in the mud. Maybe bleeding a bit will cheer you- ow!" Laslow had hit her over the head, though not very hard.

"Don't even think about threatening me," he growled. "I was fighting for my life while you were still a spoiled little kid in a mansion."

"Lord Xander! Laslow is being a jerk!" Peri cried, but Laslow ignored her and continued to push her down the hall.

"C'mon, you psycho. We have work to do. Have a good afternoon, Lady Azura," he called back before he waved and turned the corner.

Azura blinked after them, at a loss for words.

I'm suddenly very thankful for Kaze and Mozu, she thought.

"Azura?" Xander's voice called. "Did you need something?"

Azura took a deep breath, trying to gather her courage.

"Y-yes, brother," she said, pushing open the door.

Xander was standing at his window, overlooking the castle garden. He smiled at her as she came in.

"Close the door, sister, and take a seat," he said warmly, gesturing at the seat in front of the desk. She obliged, incredibly self-conscious as she sat across from him. "Well?" he asked, his eyes twinkling brightly in the afternoon light.

Oh gods, I can't do this, she panicked, looking down at her hands clasped in her lap. I should have let Kaze come after all, who did I think I was fooling?!

"Xa-Xander, she managed to choke out. "I... um ah..."

Her brother gave a soft laugh. "Azura, I'm not going to bite, please, relax," he said. "I already know, little princess. You're here to ask that I remove you from active duty."

She forgot to breathe for a moment, terrified. "Wh-what?!"

"Corrin tried very hard to keep your secret, you know. But I didn't need her to tell me to piece two and two together. I arranged your marriage because I made an educated guess, and I've been observing you ever since." He sighed. "I do wish I could have stopped you from participating in the last two battles, but I know the risks as much as you. Hans and his men are always looking for an excuse to get Father to turn on us, and I wasn't going to let that happen to any of my sisters."

"But... Kaze said that you told him that any man who lays a finger on your sisters..."

"I couldn't help throwing in a little threat," Xander shrugged. "I consider Kaze part of the family now, but that doesn't mean I wasn't a little upset that he'd put you in danger."

"I... I'm so sorry, brother," she said, her voice quivering with shame. "I didn't think things through, I-"

"Azura, I don't blame you."

She looked up, and found that his eyes were concerned but kind.

"You... don't?"

"Why should I?" he asked. "Princes have always been allowed to sleep with whomever they please. Just look at Father, look at all of us! Not a single one of us brothers and sisters share the same mother. Why shouldn't princesses have that same freedom? I am only concerned because, unfortunately, I am not the one who dictates the law. If it were up to me, you would all be free to do as you like. Thankfully, I do have the power to see you all married, and in doing so protect you from these backward societal expectations. I've seen how much you and Kaze care for one another, and I know you will make fine parents. So, no, Azura, I don't blame you in the least."

Her relief was so great that she had to hide her face in her hands for a moment.

Pull yourself together, don't cry here!

"I don't know what to say," she finally managed to whisper. "You truly are as kind as Corrin always says you are, brother."

Xander chuckled. "Not at all, I'm just an older brother. Your older brother too, princess. Now, do me a favor and get yourself some bedrest. You and your child need it."

"You... lost control?"

Their voices echoed oddly in the temple, the sounds distorted by the pools of water around the dais and the high roof. Corrin had sunk to the floor just beneath the small set of stairs, Lilith curled up on the stones at the top as she listened to Corrin recount what had happened in the battle at the pass.

"Yes... it was almost like what happened in Hoshido when Lady Miko- I mean... when Mother died..." Corrin said quietly, hugging her knees. "I felt like I was seeing through a fog, like my body was moving on its own..."

"What did your body do?"

"It... it killed a lot of soldiers," Corrin said, her voice wavering. "No... I killed them. I was furious... and scared... I've never been so frightened or confused in my life..."

"Not even with your lady mother's death?" Lilith asked carefully.

"No, that was different... that was grief and rage... That was bloodlust for revenge."

"But not this time?"

"No... I mean, there was certainly bloodlust, an instinct to kill and rip and tear... but nothing had happened to incite it. No one near me had been hurt or killed, and I was only transforming in self defense. But as soon as I let go of my human form, there was a horrible surge of fear and anger in my heart. It terrified me; what if I'm going mad, Lilith?"

Lilith rubbed one of her small claws against her cheek, reminding Corrin of a cat again.

"I couldn't say, milady. It's true that I'm a dragon, and there's probably no one else who understands as much as I, but you and I are still very different creatures..." Her voice took on an odd, sad quality. "I'm an astral dragon. I am not human anymore."

"Any... more?"

"Astral dragons can't transform back and forth the way you can, Lady Corrin. There's only so much magic we can use to switch from one form to another. As you recall, I exhausted mine at the Bottomless Canyon, so I am now unable to become human again. Still, that doesn't mean I'm the same kind of dragon you are, milady."

"But... what does that even mean?" Corrin said, frustrated. "Everyone says things about me being an ancient dragon, or that I'm special... but is it really all that different from what people like Keaton can do?"

"The wolfskin? Well, I suppose there are some similarities," Lilith mused. "But as you can see with his ears and tail, the wolfskin are were-humans. They're always part of their beast forms, and when they transform all they're doing is changing their bodies. Their minds are still their own, they are still themselves."

"Then... the dragon isn't actually... me...?" Corrin asked, unnerved at the thought.

"No, it is... but it has what you might call a mind of its own," Lilith said, tapping her claws thoughtfully on the marble. "Ancient dragons are very special. They were there at the beginning of the world, it's said, and they granted humans all sorts of powers and abilities. But what all the stories agree on is that those dragons, despite being enlightened and powerful, were still beasts. They were born from nature and couldn't separate themselves fully from it. The longer they lived, the less their minds were able to ignore that call to the wild."

Corrin groaned. "How can I be an ancient dragon if I'm not even a few decades old, Lilith?"

"I don't know," Lilith said, but Corrin thought there was an odd tone in her voice. "All I know is that you must be one, somehow born in this era. And if you are, even if you have a human form, you'll have that connection to nature whenever you transform. Even with your dragonstone, I'm sure you've noticed that everything feels sharper, more intense, when you're a dragon?"

"I thought that was just because of my stronger instincts..."

"It is. It's the same thing."

"I don't understand..."

"What I mean, milady," Lilith paused for a moment turning her large amber eyes to her. "Is that when you transformed in the battle a few weeks ago, perhaps it wasn't madness you were experiencing."

"But, I lost control!"

"Animals lose control for reasons other than madness," Lilith said. "Perhaps you should ask yourself what you sensed to make you so afraid and desperate in that moment, Lady Corrin."

Azura was so tired that Kaze didn't have the heart to wake her once morning came. With a silence born of his training, he got dressed and left their room, meaning to head to the stables and give Kawaru a good rub down in her place. He ran into Mozu on the way down the hall.

"Oh. It's you," she said curtly.

"Good morning, Mozu. Headed to the fields?"

"Yeah. Nothin' much growin' this time of year, but I wanted to check how them field hands been handlin' things while I been gone."

"And the spear is for...?"

"Disciplinin'" she said, tapping the naginata she had hoisted over her shoulder. "That, and I figure I should git some practice in while I can."

"Very diligent of you," he chuckled.

"O'course, I'm Lady Azura's retainer," she said proudly. "And so are you, for that matter. Whatcha up to anyway, sneaking around at this hour?" she asked suspiciously. "Not seein' some other princess behind milady's back, are ya?!"

"Never!" he cried, shocked that Mozu would accuse him of adultery. "I'm just going to see Kawaru."

"Without Lady Azura?!"

"She's very tired..."

Mozu's expression softened. "Mm, yeah, I bet she is. I guess I never did get around to congratulatin' ya. Not that I didn't notice bout a month ago," she scoffed.

"How-?!"

"I clean milady's clothes, ya dimwit."

"Oh."

"Men," Mozu sniffed. "Ya'll should really grow some common sense once in a while. Not much else growin' up in them heads of yours, it seems."

Laslow was walking to the archery range, his boots crunching through the snow pleasantly. It was a nice day, brisk and fresh, and though it was technically winter in the astral plane as well, he felt far less cold than he might have if they were still on the march.

I guess it's like they say, 'there's no place like home,' he thought, whistling to himself. It was early, and most people were still fast asleep after the long journey, but Laslow had never been one to stay in bed when there were things to do. Especially not when he didn't feel like dwelling on unpleasant thoughts.

"Laslow, good morning!"

He turned to see Kaze waving at him from the corral as he led a large, beautiful falicorn by the reins.

"Ho!" he called back, changing his route. "Morning, Kaze. You're up early."

"So are you," Kaze said as he led the falicorn up to the fence. The creature eyed Laslow suspiciously with its blood red irises.

"Heh, I suppose I am. And you, I know you're trying to frighten me, friend, but I know someone with black hair and red eyes who would put you to shame," he grinned at the falicorn. Its ears twitched and it snorted at him, it's long black horn glinting in the bright morning light.

"You shouldn't provoke them," Kaze warned, laying a reassuring hand on the creature's nose. "They're intelligent as they come, and Kawaru more than most."

"I suppose that's Lady Azura's mare, then?"

"Mm, but she's asleep so I came in her place."

"I see. By the way, I hear congratulations are in order," Laslow said, smiling. "Here's hoping for a safe birth."

"Thank you, though, that won't be an issue for quite some time," Kaze said, his expression softening. And I thought I had it bad, Laslow thought, trying not to laugh. "I didn't call you over for nothing, though, Laslow," he said suddenly, and his voice became very serious.

"Oh?"

Kaze glanced off to the side, and Laslow got the impression that he was listening very hard for something. Apparently satisfied, he turned back toward him.

"Listen, I know you and Lady Corrin are seeing each other," he said, his tone businesslike. Laslow felt the blood drain from his face.

"Wh-what?! But ho-?!"

"Never mind how I know," Kaze said, lowering his voice. "I'm not here to lecture you. And it's possible others have already spoken to you on the matter."

"Well, yes, but-"

"No, just listen. I don't know what you've done or are going to do, but please, Laslow, have a care. As one man who loves a princess to another, I have no right to warn you not to see her. But I do want to ask you to protect her. Lady Corrin is very important to me, and even more important to Azura. Whatever happens, I want you to swear to me you'll do everything you can to keep her safe."

"Kaze... that goes without saying," Laslow said, running a hand through his hair tiredly. "But you have nothing to worry about. As I've already told... others... we're not seeing each other. Our relationship was over before it began."

"...If you're certain..."

"I am. There is nothing between myself and Lady Corrin... and I'm sure there never will be."

He didn't wait for Kaze to reply before he walked away, his grip on his bow painfully tight.

Azura is glad to be home. Things have been so tiring and overwhelming lately that the chance to finally rest, and to focus on herself and her health, is a welcome change from the hard life of being at war. Everyone else seems to be just as relieved that they won't be setting out again for a few months, and the mood in the fortress is festive.

The only person who still seems exhausted is Corrin.

Azura can't blame her; though they're holding down the fort until the winter is over, it doesn't make her job as commander any less demanding. Corrin still has to oversee all the preparations and plans for the upcoming campaign, and she and Xander still have to address the concerns that the men might have about their strategies. She knows there's already been a row between Corrin and Hans earlier that week, when the King's man demanded to know why they weren't marching immediately into Mokushu. Part of the reason there's a watch outside the astral plane is to stop Hans or his men from getting any messengers out to Nohr, and Azura knows there's every chance that Hans might do something at any moment, which is why Xander has asked Camilla and Azura's permission to borrow Beruka and Kaze, in order to keep an eye on him in shifts.

Between that and the anxiety of being on Hoshidan soil once again, Azura isn't surprised to see how tired her sister looks. It worries her, and she's afraid that Corrin may fall ill again, just like last time, so she begins keeping an eye out for her, hoping to at least make sure she eats and sleeps properly.

About a week after they've returned to the fortress, she finds her sister sitting at the fountain in the castle garden, poring over a book.

"Corrin, I brought you some pastries," she says, smiling at the focus with which Corrin is devouring the words on the page. She has always loved to read, and even when it comes to work, she eagerly consumes texts like she might die for lack of knowledge.

"Oh, Azura, hello," she finally says, once she's come back to her senses. "Sorry, what was that? I didn't hear you."

"I brought you a pastry," Azura repeats, holding out a bun wrapped in a napkin, fresh from the kitchens. She takes a seat next to her, though she regrets it almost immediately. The stone is freezing and wet with snow.

"Thank you," she says, her eyes glinting with pleasure. She brushes the hair from her face and takes the bun, unwrapping it and taking a bite. "Mm, did Flora make these?" she asks, a blissful expression on her lips.

"I believe so," Azura giggles. "She's a very good cook, isn't she?"

"Mhm, the best," Corrin says, licking the crumbs from the corner of her mouth. A moment later, however, she pauses, frowning.

"Corrin?"

"It's... nothing," she says, brow furrowed. "Isn't there a strange taste in this?" she asks, handing it over to Azura.

Azura takes a bite, savoring the soft bread.

"No, not really," she says, giving it back. Corrin stares at it for a moment and raises it for another bite, but without warning, she claps her hand to her mouth.

"Corrin?!"

"Ugh!" she cries, leaning over and trying to catch her breath. There's tears in her eyes, and Azura knows, though she isn't sure why, that Corrin is about to retch.

"Hold on!" Azura says, grabbing Corrin's hair and pulling it out of the way. She rubs Corrin's back as she heaves, waiting for the fit to subside. When at last it seems like she's done, her breath coming in ragged gasps, Azura releases the curtain of hair and presses a hand to her sister's forehead. "Are you alright?" she asks, worried.

"I... I think so..." Corrin says hoarsely, clearing her throat. There are wet streaks on her nose, and she looks deathly pale. "I think I might be catching ill, I've been so tired and sluggish lately..."

Azura is about to remind her that she needs to take better care of her body when an odd thought strikes her.

"How long have you been feeling like this?" she asks cautiously.

"Huh? Oh, I guess a few weeks...?"

"Is this the first time you've thrown up while eating?"

"Yes, but I have been feeling nauseous often, especially when I wake up..."

Azura barely realizes that she's grabbed Corrin's shoulders in a sudden, desperate movement.

"Azura?!"

"Corrin, listen to me, you have to answer this truthfully, okay?! When was the last time you bled?!"

Notes:

More fluffy hijinks?! Welp, take them while you can, friends~

As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the update!