Author's note: Thanks so much for reading all the way to chapter six, everyone!

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

Chapter six: The Talk

Early the next morning, Azura knocked on Corrin's door. Corrin had not slept well that night, for thoughts about Niles and her siblings and Xander's abrupt exit had kept her awake for hours. She was still feeling confused and cross when Azura arrived, but receiving a visit from her best friend and (sort of) sister cheered Corrin immediately.

"Good morning, Azura!" Corrin exclaimed, smiling. "What brings you here so early?"

"Well, I just saw Niles," Azura said softly, entering the house. "He seemed upset, and I thought you might be able to explain his mood."

Corrin beckoned Azura to sit down. She quickly busied herself by collecting some tea and biscuits from her cabinets. She waited as long as could, and then asked in as disinterested a voice as she could muster, "Why do you think I would know what's bothering Niles?"

"It was just a thought," said Azura, her voice betraying nothing. "I know you two have become rather good friends in the past few weeks, so I thought you might be able to hazard at least a guess."

Corrin set the breakfast on the table. Azura began to pour the tea, but Corrin just stared at the biscuits on her plate without moving. "… He seemed upset?" she asked slowly.

Azura nodded. "I know Niles is not an early riser, so the fact that he was up and about at this hour was by itself interesting. He was in the cabbage patch, using some of the rotten cabbages for target practice; sometimes, he would spin around and aim at a healthy cabbage as well. I don't think Jakob would approve of that, and I would have called Niles out on it, but his face made it quite clear that he didn't wish to be disturbed. So I came here." Azura calmly sipped her tea.

Corrin twisted her fingers in her lap. Should I tell Azura about our engagement? She was honestly frightened at the thought, scared that Azura might react with the same disgust their siblings had. But she's been my confidant in so many other things. How could I exclude her from knowing my news?

Azura was always being excluded from the privileges of the royal siblings. That fact bothered Corrin immensely, though she never could find the words to express her thoughts to Xander or Camilla. Inside, however, Corrin stewed over the problem often, and felt terrible that she — without any Nohrian blood — was beloved and valued as a princess whereas Azura, a true daughter of King Garon, was ignored.

Azura has to know! Otherwise, I am only a hypocrite.

Taking a deep breath, Corrin stammered, "Azura? I think I actually might know what is upsetting Niles…"

Azura smiled kindly. "I thought so. Will you tell me?"

Corrin nodded. "You see, it's— Azura, Niles and I are engaged to be married."

"Oh!" Azura's eyes widened and she clasped her hands together. She was smiling. "Corrin, I'm so happy for you both! I supposed there was some strong attachment between you two — you were spending so much time together — but I never guessed that you were in love!"

"You're pleased?" Corrin asked breathlessly.

"Beyond words!" Azura left her chair and threw her arms around Corrin, hugging her tightly. "May you both live in utter happiness together!"

Corrin thought she might cry with relief. "Azura, your happiness has made my own all the sweeter! I'm so glad you approve."

"Approve?" Azura stared at Corrin. "Why should you worry about that?"

Corrin sighed heavily. "Because I didn't find any when I told our siblings about my engagement."

"Oh. I see." Azura sounded sad.

Oh gods! She's offended! Corrin burst out, "Azura, I'm so sorry I didn't include you last night in my confession! It wasn't planned, really. I was sitting outside and they heard me talking—"

"Corrin," Azura interrupted, "I'm not offended, not at all. But I can see where this story is heading, and can guess that our family's rejection is what has driven you nearly to tears and Niles to slaughter a herd of defenseless vegetables."

Corrin shook her head. "They didn't take it well, and I ended the conversation by running away from them. I ran here and was crying myself to sleep when Niles called. I told him everything."

Azura looked shocked. "You told Niles what, exactly?"

"Only that they weren't happy, nothing specific… But everything I tried to hide from him came out when Xander burst in."

"Oh dear. I'm sure he wasn't happy to find Niles here."

Corrin smiled ruefully. "He was furious! But it was so strange."

"Hm?" Azura looked interested.

"Well, Xander was angry about Niles being here, but he also seemed frightened." Corrin frowned thoughtfully, thinking over the event once more. "For whatever reason, he was particularly struck by Niles being in my bed."

Azura choked on her biscuit. Corrin started to her feet. Azura coughed and hacked and gurgled; Corrin slapped Azura's back and pranced about, shouting.

Eventually, Azura did recover. She heaved air back into her lungs and quenched her burning throat with water Corrin had had the sense to fetch. In a few minutes, Azura could speak again.

"I… apologize for that… display." Azura huffed, her face pale but her cheeks red. "I… I should not have reacted so violently. I was not judging… I was only surprised! Very, very, very surprised."

"By what?" asked Corrin, turning her head this way and that about her room. She couldn't imagine what had jumped out to frighten Azura so suddenly.

When Corrin looked again at Azura, she noticed her sister's eyes staring incredulously at herself. "Corrin," said Azura, "do you have any idea what you just said?"

"Ah… When?" Corrin felt embarrassed. "I didn't say anything offensive, did I?"

Azura stared another moment. Then she took a large swig of water. "Oh dear," she murmured again, hesitatingly setting the glass down. "I… I think you should talk with Camilla."

Corrin gasped. "Why does everyone keep telling me to talk to Camilla?" she shouted.

And there was a knock at the door. Corrin and Azura both started. "Ah, come in!" Corrin said quickly.

The door opened and Camilla entered the room. "Good morning, sweetie! Oh, and Azura, too! How lucky. I was going to send for you, but now I don't have to!"

"Good morning, Camilla," Azura said softly. "Did you need something from me?"

"No, honey, not at all! In fact, you need something from me." Camilla smiled broadly. Corrin and Azura exchanged glances.

"Both of us?" asked Corrin.

Camilla nodded. "Uh-huh! You poor beautiful dears are in need of some womanly enlightenment. And it's my duty to provide you with it!"

"That's…" Azura's blushed deepened. "Does this have anything to do with Corrin and Niles?"

Camilla's smile tightened. "Oh. So Corrin has told you?"

"Yes," said Corrin, her voice dripping with annoyance, "and Azura is very happy for us!"

Camilla looked surprised. "We all are, dear! Didn't Xander tell you that last night?"

"Well, he did say you were mostly caught off guard, and that you are all willing to give Niles a chance." Corrin admitted. "But did he mean that?"

Camilla nodded her head. "Of course!"

Corrin peered into her sister's face, her eyes, her expression. She wasn't at all convinced that everything was fine with her siblings; but Camilla's tight smile betrayed nothing.

Camilla must have seen her sister's anxiety in her frown, for now Camilla spoke with renewed excitement, her smile reaching ever farther across her cheeks. "If we weren't supportive, then I wouldn't be having this conversation with you, now would I?"

"What conversation?" Corrin asked.

"Darling— No, darlings," Camilla reached out two hands, placing one on Corrin and the other on Azura. "The time has come for you, my deawest wittle sisters, to become women. You must know of something incredibly dangerous, incredibly risky, but absolutely essential to your lives as women. Oh, and it's great fun, too!"

Azura looked pained. "Ah… I thought so."

Corrin leaned forward, focused intently on Camilla. "What is it?"

"Corrin, Azura, it is time you know the truth about—"

Someone beat at the door. Rapidly and more rapidly came blow after blow on the thin wood, threatening to smash it into bits. The three women started, Camilla standing up to face the would-be intruder; but all tension ceased when Elise's voice called, "Let me in let me in let me in!"

Corrin sighed with relief and went to open the door. Elise fell inside, nearly smacking Corrin with her raised fist; but Corrin caught her sister before either one could be hurt.

Corrin laughed. "It seems everyone wishes to visit, today!"

She turned and saw that Azura was also smiling at Elise's unexpected appearance. Azura seemed almost relieved, and dabbed daintily at a thin sweat that coated her forehead. Wow. She must have been really spooked by Elise's knocking. Corrin thought.

Camilla, however, did not look at all pleased to see Elise. She was frowning, and stared disapprovingly at their youngest sister. "Elise, you should not be here! Go back to bed, darling, it's still early."

"Nuh-uh!" Elise exclaimed, picking herself up from Corrin's arms. "I wanna hear! It's not like I'll be hearing anything I don't already know; you already told me everything!"

"Even so," Camilla said, sighing, "I think Corrin and Azura would prefer to have some privacy during this conversation."

"But that's not fair!" Elise shouted. She tugged on Corrin's arm, staring pleadingly into her face. "Is that true, Corrin? Tell her you don't mind my being here! Azura, tell Camilla I can stay!"

"Wait a minute, Elise!" Corrin gasped, shaking her sister off. "I don't even know what you're talking about, so I can't question Camilla's judgement. Though, I really do wonder what she could have to say that you can't hear." Corrin looked at Azura, who was blushing and sweating again. "Azura, do you know?"

"I, ah…" Azura's voice was a small squeak. "I do know what Camilla is referring to… And I do think it would be better if Elise goes somewhere else for the time being…"

"No fair!" Elise cried, bursting into sobs. "Azura, you big meanie! I bet you would have let your stinky Hoshidan sister stay and hear! You like her better! You're so mean to me! You hate me!"

"That's not true, Elise." Azura said, closing her eyes. She seemed to be trying very hard to stay calm. "In fact, when Queen Mikoto wished to speak on this matter to Hinoka and myself, Sakura did not like being left out, either. She also begged me to plead on her behalf, but I refused then, as well."

Elise seemed shocked. But Camilla was struck dumb. She floundered for several moments, her eyelashes fluttering, trying to take in what Azura had said.

Corrin turned in exasperation from one sister to another. "What did Queen Mikoto say to you?" she asked Azura. "What you want to hear?" she asked Elise. "What are we talking about?" she asked Camilla.

Finally, Camilla answered. But she answered Azura. "So, you already know then, Azura?"

Azura nodded slowly. "Yes. Queen Mikoto thought it best to tell me and Hinoka together. It made sense at the time… It didn't seem as though I would ever be reunited with my Nohrian family. I am sorry."

"Oh no, darling, don't apologize!" Camilla smiled, but Corrin recognized its fake pleasantness. "Of course Queen Mikoto should have had the pleasure of discussing that with you! After all, she had the pleasure of raising you in her house all those years; why shouldn't she also have the pleasure of seeing you through womanhood?"

"I wouldn't say it was a pleasure," Azura murmured, looking extremely uncomfortable. "Hinoka vomited."

"Now now, dear, no need to tell lies to make me feel better!" Camilla had grabbed Elise by the arm and was now tugging her towards the door. "Since your Hoshidan mummy already told you, Azura, why don't you tell Corrin? Tell her exactly as her real mother would. Good morning!"

Camilla slammed the door shut. Corrin and Azura sat in awkward silence for a long, long time.

Finally, Corrin turned to stare at Azura, trying to express all her questions and confusion through her doleful frown. She must have succeeded, for Azura started to her feet and patted towards the door.

"Oh, Corrin…! I can't… I'm not prepared…! I don't know how to… I can't explain how… I'll fetch Camilla! She'll tell it much better than I can! I'll be right back!"

And Azura slammed the door behind her.

Corrin stared at the plate of biscuits on the table. She grabbed a handful and flung them at the wall. "What are they talking about!?"