Author's note: So sorry about the delayed updates, lately. Establishing the plot and setting up the heroes' plans - it's not as easy as some authors make it seem. But I am pleased with this chapter, and I hope you will be as well.

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

Chapter twenty-seven: Trust

After being banned from the audience chamber, Xander had returned to his room to pace. He was worried about Niles for Corrin's sake; he also felt guilty for what Niles was about to face. Xander had understood Iago's particular coldness to mean that Xander would be punished for yesterday's battle. Usually, he would laugh off Iago's paltry attempts at revenge, for he was but the royal advisor and Xander was the crown prince. But here, in this situation, when Iago had his father's ear and could force his hand against Niles…

There was a rapid knock on the door. Xander, startled by the interruption, quickly threw the door open. He was nearly knocked down by Leo, who pushed himself around Xander and inside. He was followed, though with more hesitation, by Niles.

"What is the meaning of this?" Xander demanded, his hand still on the knob.

Leo shushed him silently. Xander paused to think, then shut the door. Immediately, Leo burst out with, "Why did you have to yell like that! Now people will know we're in here!"

Xander felt himself grow tense. He placed his hand instinctively on Siegfried's hilt; as his fist clenched around the worn handled, he felt comforted and stronger. "What's happened?" Xander asked.

Leo glanced from Xander to Niles. Niles sighed and said, "Must I tell it again, my lord?"

"You know all the details!" Leo shouted angrily. "Of course you must tell it."

"But all I know are the details," Niles muttered. "That's why I came to you — I don't know what to do with them."

"And that's why I brought you to Xander," Leo retorted.

Xander stared at the two men, knowing himself to be caught listening to the tail end of a longer argument. He held up his hands in a pacifying gesture and said, "Stop bickering and tell me what's happened. I assume this has something to do with your interview, Niles?"

Niles nodded, but Leo exclaimed, "It has everything to do with that!"

Xander glared at his brother. "If you want Niles to tell his tale so badly, then you'll need to shut up!" he barked. Leo's pale cheeks grew red and he turned his fierce expression towards the floor. Xander knew he had spoken too harsh, but he would worry about apologizing later. For now, he turned his full attention on Niles. "Well?" he asked.

"I didn't see King Garon," Niles explained cautiously. "I only saw Iago."

Xander grimaced. "What? Then, he lied when he said Father wanted us to go. That filthy rat…"

Niles smirked weakly. "You know, I like that insult a lot better on him than myself."

Xander glowered at Niles. "Continue," he demanded.

Niles nodded, but asked, "First, can I know where Corrin went? She wasn't outside the audience chamber; call me vain, but I thought she would be there waiting for me…"

Leo actually smiled. "Corrin wanted to stay, Niles, but some guards came along and told us to stop loitering in the hall. We told you before, but you have to have specific business to be near Father's room. Corrin tried to argue with them, but our sisters convinced her to instead take a walk with them about the castle; they're probably still trying to distract her somewhere around here."

Niles nodded, smirking. "I'm glad. I feel better talking about this, knowing where she is — or isn't, actually."

Xander narrowed his eyes. "You don't want Corrin to hear?" he guessed.

"Not until I've had your advice, my lord," Niles admitted. "You'll see why, easily enough." He sighed. "Iago said that King Garon does not care to deal with Corrin — not now, not ever. And he apparently placed Iago in complete charge of our affair."

Leo winced. "For all the gods' sakes," he murmured, "choose your words more carefully!"

Niles looked puzzled, then smirked again. "Sorry. Force of habit."

"If Iago is in charge of your case," Xander stressed, bringing the conversation back on track, "then you can not possibly have any hope of success. Iago hates Corrin, as he hates all of us. He would never consent to your marriage."

"But he did, my lord," Niles replied. Xander was too startled to answer; he couldn't even attempt to hide his shock, his wonderment. Niles watched his face with great interest, but he didn't dare laugh.

"Yeah," he said instead, "I had that moment myself."

Xander shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. "Why?" he asked, not caring how cold he sounded. "Iago must have a motive behind this. You don't know him, Niles, but he is the most spiteful, vindictive —"

"I know," Niles interrupted, sighing heavily. "He's too much like my old self — he sees everything in dollar signs, measuring each thing and each person's value in how it will help him. He saw value in me and my engagement."

"What could he possibly gain from you marrying Corrin?" Xander demanded.

"A pawn," Niles answered. "He wants me to join King Garon's private army. More than that, he wants me to make Corrin's life miserable. He thinks I don't love her and that she'll be marrying an indifferent gold digger who will lose interest immediately after the honeymoon."

Xander growled, but nodded. "That sounds like a base enough assumption for Iago."

Niles scoffed. "Sounds familiar, though — doesn't it, my lord?"

Xander stared at Niles. Leo gapped. Niles, however, remained aloof, his expression cold and unapologetic. Xander wanted to strike out at him, to berate him for daring to take such liberty around the crown prince of Nohr. Instead, he took a deep breath, swallowed his anger, and tried to see Niles' behavior as Corrin or Azura would have him do.

He thought, maybe, Niles was in pain. He had survived now two audiences with King Garon (though one had been contrived) and was expected to become King Garon's newest lapdog. He had been harassed by Iago, and once more doubted due to his past and appearance. Perhaps, emotionally, Niles was spent.

Slowly, Xander nodded his head. "You're right," he murmured, "I did accuse you of such baseness. But," he hesitated, "I trust you now, brother."

Niles appeared honestly shocked. He opened his mouth once, twice, three times — but no words came to him. He tried to smirk, but suddenly threw back his head and laughed weakly. "Damn it," he muttered. "I never expected that."

"Nor I," Leo said, smiling at Xander, "but I'm proud all the same." His expression and voice changed immediately, becoming grave. "But as heartwarming as this moment is, you have to finish telling him what happened, Niles."

"Yes," Niles agreed, regaining his own composure. "I accepted Iago's proposal, thinking it was my only shot with Corrin. He took my eagerness as confirmation of my supposed indifference; he was pleased with me, and stuck his scrawny neck out further."

Here, Niles paused, hesitating to continue. Xander noticed Leo flinch, as though trying to physically prepare himself for a blow.

"Iago," Niles said softly, "has hired — really, ordered me — to murder Princess Elise."

Xander recoiled. "What?" he asked, weakly. The words repeated in his mind: Murder, Elise. Then, louder, in rage, Xander screamed, "That dastard! I'll kill him myself before I let him near my sister!"

He was blind with rage. He glared at the door, thinking he could bolt through, find Iago, and then… then…

Leo stepped between him and the exit. "Wait, brother!" he exclaimed. "You can't go charging off and killing him!"

"He's a traitorous, lying beast! He deserves death!" Xander shouted.

"But he claims Father knows!"

Xander stared at Leo, his strength immediately failing him. "Father…?" he repeated. "Father ordered Elise's death?"

Leo exchanged a look with Niles. "That's what Iago claims," Leo said. "He's probably lying, but can we take that risk?"

"But, Elise…!" Xander began.

"She'll be safe, my lord," Niles affirmed. "Iago has hired me to do the killing, and if I'm here, she must be safe."

Xander turned his glower on Niles. "'Hired' you?" he repeated. "Then, you accepted his job?"

Niles grimaced. "He said I must accept or die. I considered doing the heroic thing and declining, but he could easily hire someone else to kill her. My death would be pointless. So, I accepted."

Xander gazed vacantly about the room. He shuffled a few steps forward — he didn't know where to go, what to look for. He felt trapped, suffocating; he suddenly turned and strode towards his bed. He sat down with a sigh, and hid his face in his hands.

"… I'm sorry," he mumbled, the words sticking in his dry throat. "This is my fault. Father isn't the origin of this plot — this is Iago, getting revenge for my cross of yesterday, and all the days before that. I embarrass him, but he can't touch me. Elise, however, is nothing to Father. Iago can crush her without pause."

"But," Niles started to say, "she's still royalty. Won't King Garon react at all to her murder?"

"Father doesn't care!" Xander barked. "He has a crown prince, that's enough; he has Camilla to marry off for a good match. Elise has always been an extra piece on Father's chess board."

Leo looked hurt. "Maybe he will react," he murmured slowly, "but Iago can explain it away. He always can."

Niles seemed to understand, for he didn't press it anymore. He changed his tactic and his voice, saying very quietly, "Lord Xander, though your sister is in danger, you're forgetting one very important detail to Iago's plan: His assassin is not willing to kill."

Xander raised his head. In place of the heavy exhaustion of before, Niles' face now shone with grim determination. For the first time since Corrin drew her brother's attention to Niles, Xander thought he saw in this man what she and Leo saw: An ally, trustworthy and, in his own way, true.

Xander shook his head. "Why do I keep doubting you?" he asked.

Niles shrugged his shoulders. "It's a common problem with me, sir. Don't feel too badly about it."

Xander sighed. "We have to break this cycle, Niles, before we become family. I'll promise you, sincerely this time, I won't doubt your intentions again."

"I doubt that," Niles remarked, grinning. "But thank you, my lord. To recap quickly, we have to figure out a way to save Princess Elise from Iago's wrath. Obviously, I can't simply go back to him and call it off — he'll kill me and hire someone else, or do it himself. Now, I don't know if you remember this, buried as it is under all the extra drama, but I want to get married. If Iago wasn't completely lying today, then only he can give me permission to marry Corrin. And I have an insane idea that — if by some miracle it works — will save Princess Elise and keep the wedding on track."

Leo grimaced. "How insane?"

"It doesn't matter," Xander interrupted, surprising both Leo and Niles. "I'll do whatever it takes to save Elise," he continued. "And, after all we've been through and all we're about to go through, I… couldn't be happier than to see Corrin wed Niles."

Niles laughed lowly. "I'll ignore that slight hesitation and focus on the sentiment."

Xander nodded. "Now, your plan?"

"First, I should finish explaining Iago's plan: He is to throw us an engagement party in two weeks, where the wedding will be publicly announced to some small party of high officials. I am to murder Princess Elise that night and find a way to pin the crime on one of the guests, who will be easy suspects because of their rank." Niles paused for breath. "My counter-plan is to let Iago host the engagement party and think he's won. On that night, Princess Elise must stick to King Garon as closely as possible. Then, after we've announce the engagement — that part's important — there will be a stir so wild, you'd think everyone would be killed in the confusion. Of course, no one is."

Niles stopped. Xander leaned forward, exclaiming, "And?"

"No, that's enough," Leo said. Xander looked at his brother, watching as Leo's strategic mind began to fill the holes in Niles' proposition. "Yes, delay tactics… Iago couldn't fault you for that, though he might grow suspicious… And then the engagement will go public, and it will be too late for him to renege on the agreement."

Leo shuddered, seeming to snap back to reality. "We'll need a plan for what to do to keep Elise safe afterwards," he said, "but for the time being, this plan might actually hold water. Do you have an idea what the stir should be?"

Niles grinned excitedly. "Of course. You'll simply need to —"

The door burst open and Niles stopped speaking. Elise skipped into the room, running straight up to Niles and hugging him about the waist. "You're alive!" she giggled, while Niles sputtered and blushed.

Corrin came rushing into the room next, also running without pause to Niles. She hugged him around the neck, while Elise continued to suffocate him from the waist. "You're okay!" Corrin cried, laughing in relief. "I wanted to believe, but I was so worried… I'm so glad you're all right!"

Niles laughed as well. "It's amazing what a near-death experience can do for your popularity."

Xander heard Camilla chortle, and turned to find his sister loitering near the door, Azura standing beside her. Azura was smiling as widely as her younger sisters, but Camilla wore her usual sly smirk.

"I didn't think Father would kill you," Camilla purred, "but I am a little surprised by your high spirits. Is that the effect of my darling sister's presence or some good news?"

Corrin and Elise released Niles. They both stood back, and Xander saw Corrin hold her breath. Niles grinned and slowly reached for Corrin's hand. Then he whispered, "Corrin, will you step out with me for a second?"

Corrin nodded. Elise opened her mouth to protest, but Leo quickly swooped in and covered her mouth with his hand. Corrin and Niles slipped into the hall; and Elise bit Leo's finger.

"Damn it!" he screamed, holding his injured hand and grimacing. "What the hell, Elise?"

Elise stuck her tongue out at her brother. "I wasn't going to say anything, Leo! I was just going to… to…" She trailed off and stomped her foot. "I'm not a child!"

Leo nodded his head. Hesitatingly, he reached out and patted Elise's hair. "I know," he murmured.

Elise's eyes went wide. Xander turned away, unable to watch. His chest burned with anxiety and anger; he hated himself for sitting on his hands while that snake, Iago threatened his sister's life. Some day, you will pay for your crimes, Iago. Xander promised himself.

There was a sudden squeal outside. Everyone leapt to their feet. "Yes!" they heard Corrin shout, laughing. Immediately, Xander relaxed. He saw Azura and Elise smile, heard Leo sigh and Camilla chuckle. Xander himself felt strangely calmed.

Corrin and Niles came back into the room. Corrin was blushing and smiling, holding her left hand with her right; even Niles looked slightly pink in the face. Before they could speak, Elise rushed forward, exclaiming, "You're engaged!"

Corrin laughed. "Yes! Father has given his approval!"

"Hurray!" Elise shouted, taking Corrin's hands and dancing her about the room. Leo awkwardly tapped Niles' shoulder, and Azura shook his hand. Corrin separated herself from Elise and hugged all her siblings, thanking them each in turn.

She saved Xander for last. "A lot has happened, hasn't it?" she whispered, her voice veiled from the others due to Elise's continued chatter.

Xander nodded. "Not all happy, and that was my fault."

Corrin shook her head. "I was angry, sometimes, but, I like to think I always appreciated how much you loved me and were looking out for me, brother."

Xander smiled. "I'm glad, little princess."

She glanced over her shoulder, then said even more softly, "Niles said that the battle isn't won, just yet."

Xander grimaced. "I had hoped he wouldn't say anything." He didn't even ask my opinion on telling Corrin.

Corrin shook her head. "Niles had to tell me, because… because it's part of his redemption, he said. It's harder to be honest, but if he wants to 'deserve me', he said, he needs to be so."

Xander paused. "I once wished that Niles could be all evil, for it would have made it much easier to hate him. To be honest, I still feel that way."

Corrin laughed. "I understand. Don't worry, Xander, you can trust him."

Xander raised his eyes and watched as Elise pelted Niles with questions and advice about his groomsmen. He sighed, but smiled. "I know," Xander replied.

Ending note: Okay everyone, you now have a choice... Would you like one more humor chapter (already written, depicting Niles finally enjoying some siblings antics) before the two-part conclusion, or should I simply rush right into the engagement party?