Author's note: So, quite a few of my readers guessed that the surprise point-of-view character is Elise. I hope you will not be too disappointed to find that you are wrong.

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

Chapter twelve: Vows of Secrecy

Selena had been assigned the night watch — that's why she was up and about at the same time as Xander and Azura. She had not been snooping or spying, as some jealous vixens might imply; she had just been doing her duty.

Duty was very important to Selena. It always had been. And that is another reason why she did what she did, why she followed Xander and Azura to Xander's house, why Selena stood outside the door and accidentally listened in on their conversation.

Her intention had never been to eavesdrop — never. She had only been worried for her prince's and princess' safety. When Selena had first seen them that night, Xander looking pale as a ghost in the light of the full moon, she had thought she would ask what was wrong; then, Azura had suddenly started leading Prince Xander away somewhere. Selena had felt too awkward to call out to them, but she had been too worried to ignore them. So (with the best intentions possible) she had followed them.

How Selena ended up listening in at the door is also easily explained. Selena's self-consciousness about hailing her lieges would not leave her, even when Xander and Azura disappeared inside Xander's house. At the same time, Selena's anxiety would not be quieted, either. Standing on the doorstep, Selena had struggled over what to do; she had never before been rendered so stuck as she was then between her emotions.

Finally, just as she had decided that the rational thing would be to confront Prince Xander, she had heard Xander's voice say, "I finally told Corrin about… you know."

Selena had snapped still, her fist poised to knock. She couldn't help it — blame human frailty! — she had leaned in to listen more closely.

"You told Corrin that?" Azura had exclaimed.

"Someone had to!" Xander's voice had shouted. "We couldn't wait for Niles to explain it to her in his own twisted little way!"

Selena had almost shrieked with shock. She had understood immediately what had happened. Lady Corrin had been given The Talk. And Niles — what about Niles?

Her wonder had caused Selena to miss some of the conversation. She had quickly renewed her attention, however, and once again had pressed her ear against the door.

"You told Corrin what about Niles?" Azura had asked.

"That I was afraid that Niles was only using her."

At that moment, there was a loud exclamation inside that had frightened Selena so badly, she had plunged from the doorstep and ran all the way back to her post. She then stood in the dark, bent over, gasping for air; meanwhile, her mind raced and she snickered, as her heart beat a lively tune of amusement in her heaving chest.

Selena tried to sort out her new information in her head. Let's see… Lady Corrin was in the dark about the birds-and-bees. But now Lord Xander's taken care of that. I wonder why Lady Camilla didn't want to do it? And I wonder why they only decided to tell Corrin now? Lord Xander mentioned Niles. Are Niles and Corrin in a relationship? I bet they are! They must be! Yes, then everything makes sense. So, Lord Xander now has to tell Corrin about that. But then, low! Lord Xander finds out that Niles is only using Corrin. Using her for what — social gain, money, satisfaction? All of them are disgusting and base enough to be possible motives for Niles. I wonder if Lord Xander has any proof?

The question of Niles' intentions was the most pressing for Selena. She didn't doubt her deduction of Corrin and Niles' relationship; after all, they had been spending a lot of time together, Corrin was the only person simple enough to love Niles, and Selena was pretty sure Corrin had just been given a biology lesson. The rest of the information had come from Prince Xander, so Selena could think of no rational reason to doubt any of it. All that remained, then, was Prince Xander's speculation.

And I know just who to ask about it, Selena thought with a grin. Her legs, having recovered from their sprint, began to walk again. Her pace grew faster as her eagerness and curiosity increased; before much more time had passed, Selena turned a corner and nearly ran straight into Odin and Laslow, who were sitting and talking in the milky moon light.

They looked up when they saw Selena. Odin called, "Halt! What nether beast dares to haunt this camp whilst the unconquerable Odin Dark stands watch?"

"Was that a question?" Selena asked, sneering at Odin. "Because I missed the point underneath all that garbage you just spewed."

"He said, 'Who goes there?'" Laslow explained, smirking. "But my question is, 'why do you go here?' Why aren't you at your post, Selena?"

"I could ask the same thing of you," Selena retorted. "Pacing in the dark gets boring really quickly, doesn't it?"

"I'll say," Odin agreed. "My mind's so dull tonight, I've been struggling to conjure up names for these weapons that Lord Leo wants me and Niles to christen." Odin held up a piece of crumpled paper, spotted with ink blots and crossed out names. "This should be easy for me — I'm Odin Dark, I was born to name things! But the creativity's just not flowing tonight…" He sighed and hid his things back in the folds of his robe.

Laslow was looking at Selena. She noticed he was wearing his familiar mischievous smile. "This is rather unlike you, Selena," he said suddenly. "You don't usually seek out company, no matter how tedious a task becomes. You've always been a stickler for rules — well, about the rules you agree with, anyway."

Selena smirked. "You think you can bait me into an argument," she scoffed, "but I have the upper hand tonight, Laslow. I know something you don't know…" she sang.

"Ah-hah!" Laslow exclaimed. "So it's gossip that has brought you to us!"

Odin flinched. "Um, I don't really feel comfortable with gossip, guys," he said. "I'm more of a fiction-lover, personally."

"But that's the problem, good friend, with gossip and rumors," Laslow said, still looking at Selena. "They're almost always fiction."

"Not this time!" Selena affirmed, stamping her foot. It infuriated her how condescending Laslow could sound sometimes. "This juicy gossip comes straight from the mouth of honesty — Prince Xander!"

"Lord Xander!" Odin repeated, obviously impressed.

Laslow frowned — trying to hide, Selena thought, his own surprise. "Really?" he asked.

"Of course! You know me, I don't spread any lies." Selena leaned close to the boys' faces and whispered, "Tonight, I heard Prince Xander tell Lady Azura that Corrin and Niles are in a relationship!"

"What?" Laslow exclaimed, pulling back. He frowned. "Lady Corrin and Niles? Sigh, it really is true — women will take anyone over me."

Odin scoffed, seemingly pleased. "Is this petty information all you have to offer the great Odin Dark?" he asked. "Hah! I spit on such pathetic news! Odin Dark already knew about the engagement between his bunk buddy and the fair lady Corrin."

"Engagement?" Laslow and Selena said together.

Odin nodded. "Affirmative! Shows how good a gossip you are, Selena. You didn't even know what kind of relationship they were in. Hah!"

Selena steamed. "Oh yeah? Well, I have much better stuff than that. That was just the ground work for the real gossip. Here it is: Lady Corrin didn't know about… the bird and the bees!"

Odin grew wide-eyed and his cheeks turned bright red. Laslow laughed out loud. "Well well! Her relationship with Niles just grew all the more interesting! I suppose she really is the perfect girl for him!"

"It get's better," Selena said, smirking. She felt powerful, knowing she had her audience's attention back. "Lord Xander told Corrin everything, but now he's worried Niles is using Corrin for…" Selena trailed off. She didn't actually know what Lord Xander suspected exactly. But the boys took Selena's hesitation for discretion, and jumped eagerly to their own conclusions.

"Well, duh," Laslow said, shrugging his shoulders, "he's Niles."

"That's not true!" Odin exclaimed. "Niles would never do that to Lady Corrin! He really loves her!"

Selena rolled her eyes. "Odin, please, your optimism is making me nauseous. We're talking about Niles!"

"You're wrong about him!" Odin insisted. "He's not using Lady Corrin. If he was, then he would have already had his way with her when he—" Odin fell silent.

Selena and Laslow pounced on him. They towered over him, trapping Odin in his seat on the rock, his back pressed painfully against a tree.

"What happened, Odin?" Selena asked.

"Tell us what he told you, exactly as he told you." Laslow said.

"Or I'll break your arm." Selena threatened.

Odin swallowed hard, his eyes wide. "But… But… I was sworn to secrecy!"

"Odin, we're your closest friends!" Laslow exclaimed. "We've known you far longer than you've known Niles. Your loyalty belongs to us, first and foremost."

Selena nodded. "You'll keep that in mind from now on — if you know what's good for you." She cracked her knuckles.

Odin shivered. Laslow glared at her. "Why are you a retainer and not a hitman?" he asked.

"Shut up," Selena retorted. "Now, Odin, the scoop!"

Odin ducked his head. "… Fine." he whispered miserably. "But you guys have to promise — no, no! vow — not to tell anyone else!"

"I vow." Laslow affirmed with a bow.

Selena smirked. She was used to these swears of secrecy. "I promise," she said quickly. "Now out with it!"

"Okay… Well, the other day, Niles snuck out of the house again. He's always done that, so I've never thought anything of it or ever even thought to ask him where he goes. But that night, he didn't come home like he usually does. I woke up pretty late at night, but he still wasn't back. When he did come in, I was still up, waiting and wondering what had happened to him — then I saw his face! He looked ready to kill something… like me! But I was so curious, I asked where he had been anyway. Surprisingly, he actually told me — he had been with Lady Corrin in her house, and had fallen asleep in her bed!"

"What?" Laslow exclaimed again.

Selena grinned. "Cha-ching!" she shouted, pumping her fists. "This stuff is golden!"

"It's not what you think!" Odin said quickly. "They had just been talking, but fell asleep. And then, uh… Then, Lord Xander found them and woke them — by screaming."

Selena laughed outright. She laughed so hard, her back bent forward and her stomach ached. She gasped, "Oh man! I can just see his face!"

Odin continued to grimace. "You wouldn't be laughing if you had seen Niles' face. He was embarrassed and terrified his reputation had suffered an irreparable harm."

"He was probably embarrassed to be seen in bed with his clothes on!" Selena scoffed, waving away Odin's exclamations. "What does he care what people think of him? He only wants Corrin for that, anyway."

"No he doesn't!" Odin shouted again, standing up now. "If that's what Lord Xander thinks, Niles really is in trouble. I have to warn him."

Selena pushed him down again. "What did you just say?" she asked through her teeth. "You weren't just going to go off and tell Niles, were you?"

"Of course!" Odin said.

"Who said you could pass on my gossip? No way am I getting dragged down with Niles when Lord Xander finally does have him hanged for treason! My gossip is off-limits!"

But— but!" Odin stammered. "I shared with you! I have to tell Niles or he'll lose Corrin!"

"I agree with Selena," Laslow said, appearing thoughtful. "I have no desire to be punished, either. And it doesn't sound as though Niles really has Lady Corrin, anyway, so what's the point of risking our own necks?"

Odin balked. "How can you say that? Our whole lives, we've done nothing but risk our necks for other people. It's our mission, our destiny to be the over-burdened heroes! How can you turn back now and neglect a person in need?"

"You've been spending too much time with Arthur," Selena muttered, her cheeks burning. A small part of her felt that Odin was right — she had done something wrong, and now she was turning her back on an opportunity that might go towards fixing that wrong. But Selena's self-preservation instincts squashed that feeling into silence. "Niles isn't a person in that same sense — he's just a pretentious flirt! I'm sure he doesn't even want our help."

Selena nodded her head, her words convincing even herself to stay silent. "Odin," she continued, "you're not allowed to tell anyone what I told you tonight, you hear? Especially not Niles. If you do, you'll get a punishment so terrible it will make Tharja's curses look fun! Understand?"

Odin turned pale. He nodded. "… Yes, Selena," he murmured, "I promise."

Ending note: Whatever will happen now?