Author's Note: I think this is my favorite chapter. Leo's dialogue is golden - if I do say so myself. I hope you agree.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fire Emblem.

Chapter five: The Plan

The hour was even later, now, but Camilla, Leo, and Elise were still gathered in Xander's house. Camilla and Leo had been taking turns pacing, waiting for Xander to return; Elise had of course insisted on voicing every single vicious scenario that could be thought up for Corrin and Niles, saying them in the most outlandish fashion possible.

"What do you think Xander will do to Niles when he finds them? I say them, because they're probably together. I know for a fact they try to get together for a few hours every night, because I've often passed Corrin on my way to bed and she's asked me if I've seen Niles about. I guess they don't have a specific rendezvous point; they must just go wherever the mood takes them every night.

"Do you want to hear how my book ends? It was really thrilling. The man raised his and the princess' son to hate his uncles and aunts, and trained him to kill them when he was older. Of course, the man didn't get away with it — his son killed him. But not before he had killed the princess' family.

"What do you think Xander will do if he finds them together? I mean, maybe he'll find them sitting together outside, talking. Do you think he'd interrupt talking? I think he would. He was angry enough to interrupt them no matter what they're doing. Even if they're in the supply tent counting swords, Xander would probably yell at them to separate. What do you think Xander will do if they're not counting swords?

"Do you think Corrin's first baby will be a boy or a girl?"

"Elise!" Leo screeched. "If you don't shut up, I'm going to spank you and send you to your room!"

Elise gasped. "You can't do that! I'm a grown woman, you said so yourself! Camilla, tell Leo that he can't do that!"

"Maybe he can't," Camilla snapped, "but I can! Elise, enough with the innuendoes! Go to bed!"

Elise sniffed loudly, obviously hurt. But she went and laid down on Xander's bed without another word. By the time Xander returned, she was asleep.

"What happened?" Leo asked before Xander was even fully in the house.

Xander sighed. "What are you still doing up? You should be asleep."

"You can't send me to my room when this is happening." Leo retorted, frowning. "It's not as though you have to shield me from something. I know as much about this precarious situation as you and Camilla do."

"Actually, I know more." Xander murmured, and flopped into a chair.

Camilla and Leo immediately crowded around him. In a whisper, Camilla asked, "What do you mean, Xander? Did… something happen?"

"Something almost happened!" Xander retorted, grimacing.

"Shush!" Camilla said, pointing towards the snoring Elise. "Don't wake her. But do tell us what happened."

"What almost happened," said Leo quickly, "right?"

"When I got there — to Corrin's house — they were both there. They were… sl-sleeping. On the bed. Both of them. Together."

Camilla's face was white. Leo looked like he might faint.

"It isn't what you think!" said Xander. "But to think it could have been… I completely lost all composure and woke them by screeching. He left almost immediately, but not before taunting me with his intention to marry our Corrin!"

"That doesn't sound like Niles…" Leo muttered.

Xander scoffed. "But the first part rings familiar, doesn't it?" Leo didn't answer.

Camilla chewed nervously on her nails. "Who was he addressing when he said he would marry Corrin?"

"I don't know. No one specifically. Why?"

"Well, proclaiming marriage is something positive. It's certainly better than the idea that he's using dear Corrin for a short fling."

Xander flinched. "Comparatively, I suppose so." He gave a short, hallow laugh and said, "I wonder if he even knows…"

Camilla and Leo perked up. "Knows what?" Leo demanded.

Xander looked uncomfortable again. "Knows… Leo, are you sure you don't want to go to bed now?"

"Knows what?" Leo repeated, sounding even more desperate.

"Knows… that Corrin… doesn't know… You know." Xander responded.

Leo looked lost. But Camilla slapped her hands to her mouth and exclaimed, "No! You mean, she doesn't know?"

"No." Xander said.

"How could she not know? Surely someone — Gunter or her maid friend must have said something."

"Said what?" asked Leo.

Xander scoffed. "Gunter? Gunter probably doesn't even know!"

"Knows what?" Leo asked.

Camilla clicked her tongue. "Corrin doesn't know…"

"No." Xander said.

"Do you think he knows she doesn't know?"

"I don't know." Xander frowned.

"Knows what?" Leo exclaimed.

There was a loud snort from the other room. Elise said, "I'm half asleep and I know!"

"Elise!" Camilla reprimanded. "This conversation is not for you, darling. You should be asleep."

"I'm eighteen years old! I know what you know, what Corrin doesn't know, and what Niles doesn't know that you know that Corrin doesn't know, even though Leo doesn't."

"Doesn't what?" Leo shouted, pulling his hair. "What the hell are we talking about?"

"Nothing, dear," Camilla patted Leo's shoulder. "I think it's time we all got to bed."

"Camilla's right." Xander said, raising from his seat. "This nightmare will still be here for us to sort out tomorrow."

Leo and Elise protested, but Xander hushed them quickly. "No more! Leo, to your house. Elise, to your house. Now. I need a moment to speak with Camilla alone."

With a lot of grumbling and some very heavy sighs, their younger siblings filed out of the house. Camilla gave them each a hug and goodnight kiss, but they would not stop pouting to answer with the customary, "I love you, too."

When they had left, Xander shut the door tight. "You have to do something about Corrin." he said.

"Well, thank you!" Camilla huffed. "No question, no please and thank you?"

"Camilla, you're a woman! You have to do it! It's your duty." Xander affirmed, sounding more desperate with each word.

Camilla nodded. "I know, I know. Of course I'll do it — without any mother, it's my job to instruct our sisters in this area of life. This subject is something no tutor's lecture or friend's experience can ever teach. I'm glad to say I did my duty by Elise on her last birthday, but I have been horrendously neglectful to forget Corrin, and little Azura, too!"

Xander turned pale. "Please, don't talk about it anymore. I'm pained enough that Corrin needs to be talked to. Don't tell me you've already talked with Elise, and don't tell me you still need to talk to Azura. Just promise you'll talk to Corrin and don't tell me any more about it."

Camilla smiled. "I promise, Big Brother."