Author's note: Trying to write seven people in one scene is like trying to keep seven plates spinning. Let me know if I dropped any.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fire Emblem.
Chapter sixteen: Chaos
Corrin was startled; she would have lunged away from Niles, but his arms were still wrapped around her, locking her in his embrace. As the door swung fully open, Corrin felt almost relieved; of the large party who stood on her threshold, Xander was not among them. Yet she felt herself stiffen under the suspicious gazes of her three sisters and little brother.
Niles groaned. "You people have the worst timing ever," he muttered
Elise giggled in reply. Leo grimaced. "I know. But trust me, it gives me no pleasure."
"We're so sorry to barge in at this hour," Azura said softly, "but we needed to speak with you."
Corrin pulled away from Niles. "About what?" she asked, glancing at Camilla and taking a few precautionary steps forward.
Leo opened his mouth to answer but was suddenly shoved aside, so that his jaw smacked into the door post. Camilla then swept into the room and began rushing about, lighting every candle Corrin had in her house. Camilla jabbered as she worked, "We'll get to all that in a moment, darling. Why is it so dark in here? Did you put out all the lights or did someone else? Never mind, sweetie, let me fix it — here's one, two, three… You must be careful not to have too few lights, Corrin, or else people might get the wrong impression."
Azura sighed loudly. Leo rolled his eyes.
Niles crossed his arms and smirked. "What impression would that be, princess?" he asked.
"Nothing untoward, certainly," Leo answered for Camilla in a loud, assertive voice. "Isn't that right, sister? Remember why we're here tonight," he murmured.
As Camilla paused to light a ninth candle, she turned to flash a fake smile at her siblings. "Of course I didn't mean anything naughty!" she exclaimed. "I am just worried certain people might take her unlighted room to mean our Corrin is cheap."
Leo flinched. Niles put a hand over his mouth, as though to hide his expression.
"I'm sorry," Azura asked, her hands curving into small fists at her sides, "but how is that insinuation any better?"
Camilla continued to smile. "I don't know what you mean, darling. Oh! I didn't mean it that way!" Camilla laughed faintly. "What a silly notion, Azura! I think this late hour is getting to your poor head. Maybe it's best if everyone goes home to bed, and I talk to Corrin and poor Niles alone."
"Poor?" Niles repeated, continuing to sound amused. "Shall I assume that's another misunderstood insinuation?"
Camilla shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever you like, dear."
Leo strode into the room and began to whisper furiously at Camilla. Azura flitted from the doorway and took Niles aside, smothering him with apologies and excuses for each of her siblings. Elise bounced back and forth between the two pairs, eating up every word with great satisfaction.
Corrin stood alone, close to the open door, feeling very lost and very cold. She didn't understand why her siblings were barging into her room in the middle of the night to re-light her candles; she didn't understand what insinuations Camilla was supposedly making against Niles — though she was sure they were against Niles. She didn't know what her family wanted to talk to her and Niles about, but the very idea made her anxious.
I don't want to fight with anyone else, tonight, she thought soberly. But I can't let them attack Niles anymore, either!
Just then, a shadow fell over Corrin. She assumed a cloud had moved in front of the moon; but she had felt no fresh gust of wind, and there was a strange shadow at her feet. Corrin spun around and gasped. There, towering above her, was Xander.
Her exclamation called everyone's attention to the giant in the doorway; his presence brought silence to the room. Corrin's mind immediately went to Niles. How would Xander react to seeing Niles, once again, in her room? But Xander's expression was as stoic as ever, his frown no more angry than usual. When he opened his mouth to speak, Corrin braced herself for a harsh statement, a stinging insult, something terrible and offensive towards herself or her fiancé. But Xander's voice was small and a little sad.
"Is this about me?" he whimpered.
Corrin's heart melted in response, but Leo seemed unmoved. With an exasperated sigh, he barked, "No, Xander, for once this has nothing to do with you!"
"Sorry, sir," Niles said in a calm voice, "but it's about me. Again."
Corrin watched as Xander's sad gaze focused on someone behind her. His face tightened and his mouth grew grim. Corrin followed his gaze, unsurprisingly, to Niles.
"So Robin Hood was invited to the party," Xander asked with a sneer, "while the villainous sherif was left to rot in lonely exile in his home!"
"Stop being so dramatic, Xander!" Azura exclaimed with more passion than Corrin had ever heard from her aloof sister. "You were not intentionally left out."
"Yes he was." Elise piped in. "You suggested we leave Xander out, remember, Azura?"
"Just keep stirring that pot, Elise." Leo muttered.
Xander growled, "So you're behind this insurrection, Azura! I should have guessed."
"What does that mean?" Azura demanded.
"Only that you have made it quite clear on numerous occasions now that you do not object to… to… that thing!" Xander pointed at Niles.
Niles waved lazily at Azura.
Azura glared at Xander. "You are right, I do not see a problem with Niles marrying Corrin as long as he loves her."
"Hm! Your naivety is distressing, little sister. But I do not blame you — after all, you have had the misfortune to grow up in Hoshido."
"Xander, if you bring your racist politics into this mess, I will not be responsible for my words!"
"Why did Azura get kidnapped by Hoshido?" Elise asked first Corrin, then Camilla. "Why didn't they kidnap Xander? He's the crown prince. Why didn't they kidnap you, Camilla? You're the prettiest princess. Why didn't they kidnap me? Wasn't I adorable enough for them?"
"They did kidnap you," Leo retorted, "but you cried so much that they returned you the next day and took quiet Azura instead."
"Why didn't they kidnap Leo?" Elise whined loudly. "Can we trade Leo to Hoshido? I really like the Hoshidan kimono Azura gave me. Can we trade Leo for a couple of cute kimonos?"
As Xander strode into the room, Leo backed away. He edged closer and closer to the door, until he was standing beside Corrin. He was frowning at Camilla.
"I lost already," he murmured. Corrin stared at him. He continued, "I never could compete with Xander. I'm sorry, sister, I thought I could convince them to compromise with you. But I can't control them when Xander's here, blowing his trumpet blasts for all-out war and victory."
Corrin was confused by Leo's words, but she thought she could understand the gist of his confession. "You wanted to compromise?" she asked.
He nodded. "I still do, as does Azura. I can't speak for Elise, and Camilla obviously…" He resumed staring at his elder sister. Corrin followed his gaze and found Camilla earnestly trying to explain the situation to their brother.
"Xander, I really didn't want to talk it out," she confessed as she wrapped up her tale. "But Leo and Azura practically begged me to come with them for guidance — I just couldn't say no! And yet the first thing I said was, 'Let's go get Xander.' But the fit they threw…!"
"That's false!" Azura exclaimed.
"Camilla, that's a pack of lies!" Leo accused.
"Lies?" Camilla repeated, a hand on her heart. "Lies! You wound me to death, darling brother. You should have faith in your big sister's heart of gold. I tell no lies!"
"Camilla, if you don't tell lies," Elise asked, "there's a couple of questions I have for you regarding a certain Mr. Sandman who supposedly eats little girls who don't go to bed when their siblings tell them to."
"Not now, darling."
"But Camilla!"
"I don't believe you, Camilla," Xander declared. "When I came in, I saw you in earnest conversation with Leo. Obviously, you were planning how best to hide your new alliance with the traitor!"
Corrin thought she could hear Leo's temper flaring up. "I am not a traitor!" he screamed. "I just think there might be a better way—"
Xander rolled his eyes. "Actually, little brother, believe it or not but this discussion isn't about you."
Leo's cheeks turned red. "That's very clever," he muttered.
Corrin's attention strayed to Niles. He also was watching the battle royal between her siblings from his strategic position of a corner of the room — out of sight, out of mind of Xander. Azura stood beside him. Corrin felt both thankful to Azura and jealous of her; she was glad someone was beside him, supporting Niles, though she wished it could be herself.
Corrin sighed suddenly and fell back, exhausted, against the doorframe. Her face felt hot and her chest felt tight with anxiety. She clasped her hands together, trying not to fall apart.
She felt Leo's eyes on her. She flinched; she wanted to hold in the angry words that were screaming in her head, but she didn't think she could hold back the tide any longer. She wiped some sweat from her forehead and dug her nails into her hands.
"Enough…" she whispered. She choked back a sob and wailed, "Enough!"
Slowly, the noise surrounding her stopped. Everyone's attention was now on Corrin.
"What is wrong with you all?" she asked, her voice half-sad, half-exasperated. "Our family has never fought like this before — we've yelled and teased in jest, but never in anger! We've always been on the same side, feeling happy and sad with each other; we're not supposed to make each other cry!"
Corrin forced herself to look at her siblings while she spoke. She couldn't see Leo, who stood beside her, out of view; she was afraid to look at Niles, and thus couldn't see Azura. But she could see Xander and Camilla, both of whom were too shocked or angry to meet her gaze. The only one brave enough to meet her gaze was Elise; Corrin's strength faltered, however, when she noticed her little sister was crying.
More softly, Corrin continued, "I love all of you — my siblings, and Niles. Xander, I trust that Niles loves me back. Why isn't our word good enough for you?" Leo coughed, as though he wanted to answer, but couldn't. Again, there was a sharp silence.
Corrin's eyes finally fell to the floor. She had a sudden headache from staring so intensely at her family in the dim light. What had she hoped to see — hidden regret?
"I don't want to hurt any of you," she murmured. "I don't understand. Why must all of my choices hurt my family!"
Elise sobbed harder. Corrin hadn't realized her little sister had thrown herself at her until Elise rammed her face into her chest; Corrin nearly toppled over, but Elise was hugging her so tightly, she somehow managed to keep them both standing.
"I'm sorry," Elise whimpered.
"I'm more sorry," Corrin promised. "I shouldn't have spoken so harshly in front of you."
"But I wasn't supportive either!"
"But you weren't harsh." Corrin raised her head to see Leo. "I'm sorry to you too, Leo, and Azura," she glanced towards her sister. "My rant doesn't apply to you."
Camilla grimaced. "Corrin," she exclaimed, "that's too harsh!"
Corrin focused on Elise's hair, and hugged her sister closer. "No. Your treatment of Niles is too harsh." she muttered. "But… I am sorry I hurt you, Camilla. And you, Xander."
Corrin didn't look at Xander. But she heard him whisper, "… I'm sorry, too, little princess."
Elise raised her head and dried some of her tears. "Then, if we're all sorry," she asked, "is the fight over?"
Instinctively, Corrin looked to Xander. She noticed everyone did the same, staring with her and straining to hear their leader's call. Corrin glanced at Niles, but his head was down, his face hidden; he was the only one not searching for Xander's approval.
Corrin turned back to see Xander shaking his head. "I still can not consent." he murmured.
Leo scoffed. "Why not?" he demanded. "What do you want?"
"I know what he wants," Niles said, his cold voice causing Corrin to shiver. She found him staring at her, his expression usually grim.
Corrin felt anxious. Leo growled so low, she thought he hadn't meant for anyone to hear him; but Corrin heard him say, "Don't you dare give up now. Just don't — not after Corrin fought so hard for you."
"He'll never accept our engagement as it is now," Niles continued, still looking at Corrin. "Every day we wait and plead with him to accept is a day wasted. Corrin, you know it kills me to beg. But I would still do it, I think, if it wasn't a waste of my time. What I'm about to say — I'm doing because I don't want you to be hurt anymore."
Corrin took in a sharp breath, bracing herself. Please… Don't be a coward.
"Corrin, take off the damn ring. There's no point. It's over."