The drums are sounding.

The air thrums with it, the ground shakes with every strike. They stand abreast, side by side, a wall of human flesh, proud and strong. Many of them will bleed. Most of them will kill. Some will never come home.

Stop, please, don't do this!

No one seems to hear her voice. Her brothers and sisters are at the front, jaws set, their standard fluttering in the air above them. Across the field, an army stands in their way, larger and more terrifying than anything Azura has ever imagined. She thinks she can just make out Ryoma's blood-red armor, and the flash of Raijinto in the sun.

You'll kill each other!she pleads. Xander and Camilla shake their heads, and Leo's eyes are full of hate. Elise looks lost, but she won't look at Azura either. Corrin is standing at the front of them all, sword in hand. Azura reaches for her, taking hold of Corrin's arm. Her sister merely brushes her off.

"You don't understand, Azura," she says, and her voice feels cold and distant. "We have to do this."

Of course I know! But you can't, please!

"There's no other way," Corrin says. She raises her sword arm and shouts back at her men. "For Nohr!"

"For Nohr! For glory!" they call back to her. The cavalry and infantry surge all around them, a sudden wave of bloodlust rushing forward to meet their enemy. Above them, countless dark shapes clash in the sky, but Azura can no sooner tell pegasi and kinshi from falicorn or wyvern.

Stop this! No!

She searches around her frantically, but Corrin and the others have vanished. It's impossible to find them in this chaos.

Stop! Xander! Camilla! ANYONE! PLEASE, DON'T DO THIS! I BEG YOU!

Bodies are everywhere, the smell of blood thick in the air. It's a familiar sight, but now it seems unbearable. She makes to back away, and then she sees it.

Elise, impaled on Raijinto's blade, her blonde hair stuck to her face, her eyes and mouth opened in pain and surprise. Blood is trickling down her lips, and Azura watches, completely unable to move from the shock, as Ryoma effortlessly kicks her little sister aside and pulls his blade free, uncaring. He doesn't seem to notice as Azura steps forward shakily, falling at Elise's side and taking the poor girl's hand. It's already turning cold and clammy, and those lovely amethyst eyes will never light up with glee again.

Gods, was there truly no other way?! she asks herself, clutching Elise's hand and pressing it to her own heart. She sobs, feeling as though she's the one who's been cut down, but there is no time to mourn. The air is suddenly rent by the furious, wounded roars of a dragon in the distance. It's a horrible, heartbreaking sound, like her soul is being torn apart.

No... No! Not Corrin! Don't take her from me, please! I can't lose anyone else, I can't lose her!

She's somehow back on her feet, sprinting through the battle, but though the sound is everywhere, she can't find Corrin. Fear pounds through her blood with every strike of the drums, and she doesn't know how many more there will be before Corrin's heart is stopped.

"CORRIN! CORRIN!" she screams, tripping as she bounds through the endless fighting. "I can't lose you, I won't! We need you, Corrin! I NEED YOU! COME BACK, PLEASE! COME BACK!"

She falls, and suddenly all her strength seems to abandon her. She can't move, she can barely even open her eyes.

Corrin...

She wakes bathed in sweat, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Kaze heard the muffled cries and for a moment, he thought it was an animal outside their window. It was only when she hiccuped that he realized it was Azura, and he turned over in bed immediately.

"Azura, what's wrong?" he asked, worried, reaching to take her face in his hands. She shook her head, trying to force a smile but failing miserably.

"It... It's nothing," she muttered, her fingers clasped over his. "It's just a nightmare, I'm fine..."

But he could tell she was lying.

"Come here," he said gently, pulling her into his arms and pressing his nose into her hair. "It isn't real, you're safe; we're all safe."

She sniffled into his shoulder, and he was shocked to find that she was trembling. He'd never seen Azura so shaken.

"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked, a little awkwardly. She immediately shook her head, her face still hidden.

"No, I... I just need a minute," she said thickly. He gave a resigned sigh and stroked her hair reassuringly.

"Whatever you need, love," he said. He could guess the reason for her tears; in a week's time, the Nohrian army would be breaking camp and resuming the march to Mokushu. Azura wouldn't be coming, but somehow that only seemed to make her more anxious as each day passed. Kaze wished he could stay behind to keep her company, but his experience and skills were indispensable to the campaign.

"Everything will be fine," he muttered into her ear, hoping against hope that his words wouldn't become a lie.

"Laslow..."

He was still half-asleep, but he managed to give a groggy reply.

"Hmm? What is it?" he yawned. Corrin tugged at his arm.

"I want meat," she said. Laslow opened one eye to look at her incredulously. She was sitting up, her hair cascading over her bare shoulders, her red eyes glowing in the darkness.

"Princess, do you know what time it is?" he asked, glancing at the window behind their bed. The sky was still pitch black.

"I know, but I really need meat," she insisted, her voice petulant. "Please, Laslow?"

He groaned.

"It has to be right now?" he asked.

"Mm."

"Okay, okay," he sighed, pulling the sheets back. "I'm up."

It took him a few minutes or so to stretch the sleepiness out of his limbs, Corrin rummaging at the foot of the bed for something.

"Here," she said, handing him the same shirt and trousers he'd discarded before bed. He sighed.

"Really? Can't I just find something clean to-" He stopped at the look on her face, desperate and wild. Her eyes seemed to be glowering with need, and he realized it was probably dangerous to delay any further. He took the clothes and began to pull them on.

Once he was dressed, he found his bow and quiver next to Corrin's sword and slung it over his back. There was no way there was anyone in the kitchen at this hour, and besides, he'd realized that his wife liked her meat fresh. It seemed the further her pregnancy progressed, the more dragonish her habits became.

"Preferences?" he asked as he made for the door. Corrin followed, a bedsheet thrown over her shoulders.

"Whatever is easier to find," she said, and her voice seemed to have regained that soft, kind quality he loved so much. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to the crown of her head. She made a noise, like a purr or a hum, as she buried her face in his neck, nuzzling against his skin. He chuckled.

"You're like a cat," he teased, running his fingers through her hair. "Will you miss me, princess?"

"Not on your life," she said, pushing away playfully. "I'll just miss having something warm to sleep next to."

"I am wounded, Corrin," he said dramatically as he pulled the door open. "I hope I am felled by the most dangerous creature in the woods and feasted on by rabbits, for I will never recover from this slight."

"Oh shut up," she laughed, pushing him into the hall.

"Wait, wait!" he cried, grabbing onto the door frame for a hold. She hesitated. "If anything happens, call for Felicia or Flora," he said sternly, his voice low as he turned to face her.

"Yeah," she replied in a whisper, glancing nervously at both ends of the corridor for eavesdroppers. "But..."

"Promise me," he insisted. "Keeping the secret doesn't mean anything if you get hurt or die." The winter was drawing to a close, and already Corrin's stomach was showing a certain roundness. She'd been taking care to wear loose clothes or thick coats to hide it, but it couldn't stay hidden forever, especially not now that the war loomed nearer by the day. Her retainers would need to be told before then, but Corrin seemed to dread having to explain that she meant to go into battle regardless.

"You worry too much," she said evasively. "Nothing is going to happen-"

"Corrin."

She sighed, suddenly looking tired.

"Fine," she said. "I promise."

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"I'll be right back," he murmured.

"You're just delaying now," she frowned. Laslow chuckled.

"Fine, fine, I'm off." He turned off down the corridor. Just as he reached the staircase, he heard a loud hissing behind him.

"Laslow! Be careful out there!"

He caught a glimpse of red eyes watching warily as he waved and then they disappeared from sight.

Kaze fell asleep quickly, but Azura found that sleep eluded her for the rest of the night. She twisted and turned uncomfortably in her bed until she finally gave up and got up as quietly as she could. Grabbing her warmest coat and a pair of boots, she left the room in silence, closing the door behind her. The corridors were empty; it was still dark out, and Azura didn't expect to find anyone else awake at that hour. She ignored the cold stone on her bare feet as she made her way downstairs, pulling her coat over her shoulders as she went.

It wasn't until she reached the first floor landing that she realized she didn't have any particular destination in mind. She hesitated, her hand on the balustrade.

The woods, she decided. They would be quiet and deserted, perfect for singing, or at the very least, to contemplate things in peace.

She sat on the stairs to pull on her boots. She rarely wore closed shoes, but she was too cautious to risk catching cold just now. Once they were laced, she pulled herself up gingerly by the railing and slipped out the castle doors, silently and carefully pushing them closed behind her.

There was fresh powder on the ground, but the sky was clear. The stars shone brightly, the moon casting a pale, white light over everything. A gentle wind blew through the trees, cold and invigorating. If Azura closed her eyes, she could almost imagine it was the sound of waves on a lake or by the sea, and the thought brought her much needed inner peace.

She hardly noticed when she started to hum as she made her way through the courtyard. Silence had always been her constant companion, and though it could be lonely, it also managed to give her a space in which to be herself.

"Azura?"

The voice startled her, making her jump. She turned, looking for the speaker, but there was no one around.

"Who's there?!" she called, anxious.

"Up here!"

The shadows at Azura's feet flickered, and she realized there was someone on the castle wall behind her. The light of the moon cast the person's face in shadow, but she could recognize the long black hair and the fiery red eyes anywhere.

"Co-Corrin?! What are you doing there?!" she asked.

"Oh... nothing really," Corrin called back. "Uhm, Azura... Are... are we on speaking terms again?"

Azura winced. She'd momentarily forgotten that she was angry at her sister; they hadn't spoken in nearly two months.

"I... I suppose so," she mumbled, but Corrin seemed to have heard.

"In that case... would you... like to join me for a bit?" she asked, uncertain.

"Uhm, how?"

"Oh, there's a staircase along the wall... I could fly you up though, if you prefer?"

"The staircase will be fine, I suppose."

It took her a few minutes to find the stairs and another few to climb it. There was a lot of ice and she had to be careful not to slip. Corrin was waiting for her at the top, and she grasped her arm to pull her up the last few steps.

"There," she said, and Azura was surprised to see that her cheeks were red. She didn't think that sort of exertion enough to tire Corrin, but then again...

She's also expecting a child, Azura reminded herself, glancing down at Corrin's abdomen. Her cloak was far too thick to see beneath it.

"You can sit on the ramparts if you like, or just stand," she said, a little awkwardly. She didn't seem to know what to do now that Azura had actually accepted her invitation.

"It's... rather high up, isn't it?" Azura said as she looked over the battlements. She wasn't afraid of heights, but recently they'd been making her dizzy and nauseous.

"Is it?" Corrin asked, glancing down. "I hadn't thought about it..."

In the end they sat side by side on the wall, Corrin with her feet dangling over the edge and Azura with her back in the opposite direction. Neither of them said anything for some time.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Corrin finally managed.

"Mm, I suppose it has..."

"Azura... Listen... I'm not sure what it is that upset you... No, well, I suppose that's a lie," she said, her hands twisting in her lap. "You have every right to be mad at me, after being so careless and... all of... this..." She pressed a hand to her stomach, her expression pained.

"Corrin..."

"I wanted to apologize for that. I never meant for this to happen; I must be a disappointment to you..."

Azura sighed.

"No, you're not," she said tiredly. "I just... I just don't understand. You always hated Laslow, you always said he was a fop and untrustworthy, so I don't understand how you ended up like this..."

"I see."

There was an edge to her voice, but Azura wasn't sure she was hearing correctly.

"I... I didn't mean to be rude or anything," she amended hastily. "I just can't see why-"

"Can't see? Or won't see?" Corrin said suddenly, and her eyes turned on Azura with sudden force, startling her. They were dangerous, wild.

"Corrin...?" she asked, suddenly afraid.

"How many times, Azura? How many times do you think I sought you out? Not just now, not just these last few weeks. I've always wanted to share things with you, I've always loved spending time with you. I'm not the one who pulled away," she said accusingly.

"I... I didn't..."

"Tell me, Azura, what's Elise's favorite color? What is Leo afraid of? Who does Xander fancy?" she asked fiercely.

"I don't know!"

"Of course not! When have you spent more than an hour in any of their company?! When have you actually tried to be a part of this family?!"

"Corrin, you're frightening me!" she cried.

"I'm sure that any time you've spent with us has all been because we're interested in getting to know you," Corrin continued, unfazed. "All you ever do is distance yourself from us! How can you possibly understand what happened between me and Laslow when you've never asked?! How can you possibly know what I feel if all you ever see is Kaze?! Tell me, Azura!" she cried, and Azura was shocked to see tears fall into Corrin's lap, her knuckles white as she gripped the wall with her nails.

"I... I don't..." she floundered, completely at a loss.

"Do you even have any idea why I'm here tonight?! Do you understand even a little of what's happening to me?! Of why I have no choice but to go to war even though my heart and my body are screaming at me to run?! Have you ever tried?!"

"Of course I have!" Azura said, and she flung her arms around Corrin's shoulders instinctively. This was nothing like the motherly kindness she'd shown when Corrin had realized she was pregnant; this was something done for Azura's own sake, because she suddenly found she couldn't take it, she couldn't stand seeing this woman cry her soul out, especially not when everything she said rang true.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Corrin," she sobbed, unable to hold back her own tears. "I didn't mean to, I thought... I thought it was for the best, not to get too close to you or the others... I thought I was protecting you, but I didn't realize that I was only hurting you!"

"Of course you were hurting us! Of course it hurt me! I thought we were in this together! I... I've missed you, more than I can bear," Corrin wailed, her hands clinging to Azura's arms.

"I didn't know, I'm so sorry," she said. It seemed like an eternity before they were ready to let go, and when they did, Corrin was the first to wipe her tears.

"Sorry," she muttered, looking away, ashamed. "I... I lost myself for a bit..."

"No, don't apologize," Azura said, staring down into her lap. "You were right... About all of it. I was angry because I thought you were being irresponsible and foolish, but... I never asked you how you felt about any of it. That was my own fault."

"Even so, I shouldn't have shouted," Corrin groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Forgive me, I'm... not quite myself right now."

"What do you mean?"

Corrin grimaced at her slightly.

"Well... I wouldn't know how to explain it, really... Ever since Laslow and I... Uhm, that is to say..." Her face burned, and Azura understood.

"Oh, the baby?"

Corrin nodded weakly.

"Y-yes, even since, I've been a little... off."

"I think that happens with all of us," Azura said, giving her a rather weary smile. But Corrin shook her head.

"No, mine is a bit..." She stopped suddenly, her shoulders rigid. "Azura, how long have we been here?"

"Huh? Oh, perhaps an hour or two...?"

Corrin suddenly got to her feet, scanning the horizon warily.

"No, something is wrong," she said, and she made a strange sort of gesture, as if she were trying to catch a scent.

"Corrin?" Azura asked, confused.

Corrin turned toward her swiftly, pulling her cloak aside.

"Azura, I need you to go back to the castle and tell Xander that I'm going outside the plane. If I'm not back in ten minutes... tell him to prepare to march out."

"What?! Why?!"

"The reason I was waiting here," she said as she dropped the cloak on the parapet. "Laslow went out earlier because I asked him to, but he was taking a long time, so I came out to wait for him. But if it's been as long as you say, he should have been back by now."

"Are you sure?!"

"Yes, something isn't right. I can feel it," she said, and her hand seemed to twitch. "Please, call Xander. And... I'm sorry."

She gave Azura a pained smile before a pair of leathery wings sprouted from her back and she leapt from the ramparts. It took her moments for the full transformation to take hold and then a dragon was bounding across the river, noble and proud. But as Azura watched her go, she thought it was a little strange, how lonely it looked under the light of the stars.

The pain in his shoulder is searing hot. He leans against a tree for a moment, feeling for the object that's lodged in his flesh. He feels iron, and grimaces.

At least it's not an arrowhead,he thinks as he steels himself to pull it out. Naga, grant me strength.

With a grunt and a hiss, he manages to yank it free, his shoulder throbbing painfully. It is usually better to leave an arrow or knife in, to prevent excessive bleeding, but Laslow's only weapon at the moment is a bow, and he can't pull the string with a knife in his arm.

Gods, this takes me back,he thinks, fighting the mad urge to laugh as he leans back against the tree for a brief respite. He can't stay here for too long; he's left a bloody trail and they'll find him far faster than he'd like.

"I... I have to... lead them... away," he mutters as he forces himself to keep moving. He's going to die here tonight, he has no illusions about that. But as long as he can fool them, as long as he can lead them as far from the entry point as he can, it will give Corrin and the others time to muster up their forces.

Sorry, princess,he thinks as he stumbles through the undergrowth, his arm trembling with his bow in hand. He can't see clearly, and he's sure he can hear the noise of someone approaching. I wasn't able to stay by your side after all.

It feels like there's fire in his veins, and his eyes flicker uncertainly as he falls to the ground.

As the darkness closes in, he thinks he hears the furious roar of a dragon nearby, and his heart can't help but beat a little faster, pounding the poison through him steadily like the beat of a drum.

Notes:

Finishing FE Echoes gave me the inspiration for a quick update. Leave me your thoughts, and as always I hope you'll enjoy it!