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

Chapter thirty-one: Assassins

Xander had seen everything. Admittedly, he had been watching Corrin and Niles very closely since they had taken to the floor. His attention had been only slightly diverted by Elise, for once she was under his care, Xander's anxieties had been greatly soothed. Instead of fearing for his youngest sister, Xander began to fear for Corrin and Niles; and though Xander himself had been satisfied with their interpretation of Iago's plans for that evening, the arrival of that dreaded hour brought with it new doubts which the prince could not silence.

Does Iago really see value in keeping Niles as a pawn? Xander wondered, absentmindedly waltzing with Elise. She laughed gaily and said something, but Xander did not hear her. Does Iago even trust his own temptations of riches and glory to keep Niles under thumb — or is there a back-up plan for his vengeance hidden somewhere in this room tonight?

His eyes wandered back to Corrin and her beau; in that moment, Niles let out a weak scream and collapsed. Xander heard Corrin's shocked exclamation, and watched her lunge — though weaponless — at the swiftly retreating assailant. The soft music that had been playing was immediately swallowed by the sickening panic of men and women.

Elise clung to Xander, shivering in his arms. "Oh gods…" she murmured, her voice betraying her terror, "Corrin, Niles!"

Without warning, Elise moved to fling herself into that roaring mass; Xander, though startled, reacted quickly by grabbing her arm and dragging her back to him. Elise kicked and shouted to be free, but Xander trapped her in his arms, his fingers digging desperately into her skin. "Stop it," he growled. "Stop it!"

"They need me!" Elise exclaimed, crying in her panic. "My staff — I need to heal them!"

"They're after you, Elise!" Xander shouted. "Stop fighting me, damn it! You can't go to them!"

"Why?" she screamed back, glaring at Xander. "Why would anyone want to hurt me? Corrin and Niles are the ones making Father look bad! They're the targets… Not me!"

She kicked Xander again; but still, he held her fast. "You don't know what you're talking about!" His mind, however, flew back to his earlier doubts. Why Niles? Why him before anyone else — why waste a pawn? Iago, he must have never trusted Niles in the first place. But without Niles, our interpretation of Iago's plan falls apart. We have no idea what's happening. We walked into a trap.

"Lord Xander!" Laslow was beside him, his expression grim. "I've brought your Siegfried, as promised, my lord. Now, please allow me to escort the princess to safety, as we discussed."

"Where's Peri?" Xander demanded. "I ordered both of you here."

"Yes, well… When the fighting began, she got a little carried away."

"Damn it!" Xander exclaimed. "We don't know who the enemy is — she can't be killing whomever she wishes. Never mind, I'll take care of her myself. Take Elise to her room and do not leave until I come!"

"No!" Elise cried. She tried once more to run, but Laslow grabbed and held her in the same way Xander had. Elise continued to put up a fight, but Laslow was stronger than he appeared.

"Please, princess," Laslow muttered, his voice calm and soothing, "they just want to protect you."

Elise shook her head, crying, "But you're wrong." Frustration and horror had sapped her strength, and Elise could no longer resist Laslow as he prodded her gently towards the dining room doors.

As his little sister left his sight, Xander's anxiety immediately returned three-fold; he drew Siegfried, clenching his fists painfully around the hilt, trying to draw strength from the weapon. He took a slow, deep breath, then charged into the fray.

All around him, people were screaming. Terrified women were running in different directions, seemingly torn as to whether to escape into the dining room or into the dark garden whose doors stood at the other end of the room. Men brought out concealed weapons and attacked anyone who appeared armed, so that often noblemen who had so recently been enjoying conversation at the dinner table now struggled against one another.

These clashes were quickly ended, however, by Peri. She would appear out of nowhere, dressed in her beautiful ball gown and wielding an iron sword. True to her name, she would parry weapons out of the inexperienced hands, and threaten worse if the noblemen didn't disperse and retreat.

Xander decided to forgive Peri's disobedience. His attention left her and centered on Odin and Selena, who stood guarding the back doors to the garden. They were directing the crazed nobility towards the winding garden paths, promising the freedom and safety of their carriages in the stable yard beyond. Odin and Selena managed to coax most of the guests into the darkness by wearing confidence on their faces and wielding steel in their hands.

Though this struggle was unexpected, Xander's allies had all risen to the occasion. Xander didn't know where to go; he didn't seem particularly needed anywhere. He strode against the tide moving towards the garden exit until he found where Niles had fallen. Even here, Jakob had reacted and began to care for Niles' wound.

"Lord Xander," Jakob greeted calmly as Xander approached, "are you all right, my lord?"

Xander nodded. "Is he…?"

"Alive," Niles croaked, smirking. His face was grey from pain. "Sorry… to disappoint."

"A simple knife wound," Jakob reported to Xander, "seemingly not poisoned — he is still alive, after all. I'll take him and the other injured into the dining room for treatment. Where's Lady Corrin?"

"She went after the assailant," Xander answered, his own anxiety growing. "She's unarmed, without even her dragonstone for protection."

"That might be for the best, my lord," Jakob said, grimacing. "The guests are panicked enough without their princess transforming into a dragon before their eyes."

Xander was not sure he agreed, so said nothing further. He glanced quickly around the rapidly emptying room, but saw no sign of his sister.

Niles pointed wordlessly upward. Xander followed Niles' gesture and saw Corrin leaning over the railings of the second floor. Xander left them immediately, rushing towards the stairs and his sister.

Xander was at the base of the stairs when he heard a yelp of pain behind him. He spun around and barely missed the tip of a knife aimed at his arm. Then Beruka was before him, a small hatchet in her hands; she struck her enemy in the shoulder, and he fell to the floor.

Beruka raised her eyes to Xander. "Are you all right, my lord?" she asked monotonously.

Xander nodded, noticing some blood on Beruka's clothing. "Was that your cry, Beruka?"

Beruka seemed almost amused. "Not I, my lord, I'm sure. I've been battling this man for sometime, exchanging blows. This blood on me is mostly his." She knelt down and felt the man's pulse. She shook her head. "I was trying to avoid killing him. I wasn't sure he was an enemy or merely a scared fool."

"I'd rather a stranger die than a friend," Xander muttered bitterly. Beruka nodded.

"And rather a friend die than Nohr," she finished. "I know your heart, my lord, strange as that may sound coming from me. However, remember that if you want to know what happened here tonight, you will need to leave someone alive at the end."

Xander grimaced. "Wise words, Beruka. I'll try to keep them in mind and keep my temper in check."

"For your sake as well, my lord. Haste often results in failure and death."

Xander nodded and rushed up the stairs. He took two steps at a time, then three. His mind spun, demanding answers that he didn't have. Who here is a conspirator? Xander wondered. Is there one or more? Is every armed man an enemy?

Xander saw Corrin still at the banister. "Corrin!" he exclaimed. She whirled around, her face white.

"He's gone!" she cried. "The assassin… He went up here, but he disappeared. He's just gone!"

Xander approached Corrin and looked over the railing. The ballroom was nearly empty, now; the last guests were pouring out of the doors at either side of the room. The only people who remained were the injured, still and waiting for one of Xander's allies to bring them into the safety of the dining room.

"Where's Niles?" Corrin suddenly exclaimed. "I can't see him anymore. Niles!"

Xander began to answer her, but Corrin darted too quickly towards the stairs. He called for her, but her shriek made Xander's own words die incomplete.

Xander lunged forward. Two armed men were on the stairs, one wielding a long knife, the other a bloodied dagger. Corrin held her left arm close to her, blood seeping from her shoulder and through her fingers. The men grabbed at her, but she nimbly jumped back up the stairs.

Xander rushed in front of her and slashed his sword in a warning arc. The two men stepped back. The man with the knife recovered first and crouched low; he shot forward, his blade pointed upwards, and scored the skin of Xander's stomach. Xander raised his sword and drove it into the man's unguarded chest. He fell dead at Xander's feet.

The second man took several steps backwards, retreating down the stairs. Xander followed, Beruka's words echoing in his mind. "If you want to know what happened, you'll have to leave some of the conspirators alive."

His enemy fled down the stairs. Xander turned Siegfried in his hands and tossed it, hilt first, towards Corrin. She caught his weapon, and Xander took the dagger from the dead man's hands. "Stay here," Xander growled to Corrin. Then he charged down the stairs.

The man jumped the last five steps and stumbled towards the exit, where Selena and Odin still stood guard. Xander screamed, "Stop him!" Immediately, Odin lunged forward and tackled the man. There was a scuff, the man using his dagger to damage Odin's left leg. Odin cursed but held the man down. Selena surged forward, raising her own small sword. "Don't kill him!" Xander commanded.

Selena hesitated, then struck with her sword. The blade ripped through the struggling villain's clothing, locking his short cape to the floor. Odin cautiously crawled off of the enemy, dragging his left leg behind him. Xander and Selena grabbed the man's arms, hefting him to his feet and ripping his clothing free from Selena's blade. Xander slammed him against the wall and Selena took Xander's stolen knife to press against their hostage's neck.

"Tell us who you are," Xander growled, "and what happened here tonight."

The man's eyes widened, but his voice was shockingly calm. "My name is pointless, as I am now a dead man. I will tell you what happened, however, in return for a merciful death."

"Granted," Xander said. "Now, quickly."

"We were hired by Advisor Iago to murder certain questionable members of the court. I and my two cousins were members of a disgraced noble family. We were promised, if our mission was successful, that our family would be restored to its previous prestige. But you killed one cousin and his brother, I am sure, is dead, too. Obviously, we have failed."

"Who were you to kill?" Xander pressed.

"Our hit list included three people: Sir Niles, wanted dead for conspiring against the royal family; Lady Corrin, wanted dead for conspiring with her treacherous fiancé; and Lady Elise, wanted dead for various acts of treason during this war with Hoshdio." The man suddenly grimaced, and Xander recalled Elise's cheer and charm at dinner. "We questioned her death, sire," the man mumbled, "but Advisor Iago promised we were acting for the king's glory!"

Xander shook his head. "Your story sounds almost noble, but it does not explain why there are so many bodies in this room."

"I can not answer that. I fought to stay alive; others most likely did the same."

"Then this was just a mess of misunderstanding," Odin murmured, his voice weak. He leaned against the wall and pressed a hand to his wounded leg. "All these people, dead or wounded, just because of three conspirators. This was a trap, my lord! Iago must have let them keep their weapons so they would kill each other."

Xander nodded. He felt sick; his mind was torn between grief for his people and murderous hatred for Iago. Xander stared coldly at the last conspirator before him. "Now, your wish?" he said, almost a question.

The man nodded. "Thank you, Lord Xander."

Xander used the knife of this man's cousin to finish him; the man fell dead before the familiar blade, his face eerily peaceful. Xander glanced down at him, then closed his eyes briefly. "Corrin would not have approved," he murmured. He turned to Selena. "She is upstairs, wielding Siegfried. Bring her to me." Selena nodded and flew towards the stairs.

Odin was still lying against the wall. Xander approached him, grimacing at the shallow leg wound. "If I help you, can you walk to the dining room? Someone can heal you there."

"Yes, sir," Odin mumbled. "This is nothing for the great… Odin Dark! Of course," he laughed weakly, "I was also rather battered and cut up while escorting people out of the door. I'm just feeling… a little overwhelmed."

"Rest then, until Corrin comes. I'll stay and keep you safe."

Odin nodded and closed his eyes. Xander turned from him and looked out into the darkness of the garden doors. There was a faint gleam of lanterns from the back of the stables, and someone was hurrying from that direction.

"Brother!" Leo called as he limped into the light of the ballroom. He stumbled back in shock, however, as he noticed the injured bodies still occupying the room. "My gods," he murmured, then fell beside Odin, "what happened? Was I completely useless tonight?"

"You saw the guests to safety?" Xander asked.

Leo nodded. "Camilla and I put as many into the carriages as we could. Most drove away without waiting for assistance."

"Then your use tonight has been immeasurable to the families who might otherwise have lost the loved ones you escorted." Xander declared.

Leo shook his head. "But what about my family? Where's Elise, and Corrin, and Niles?"

At that moment, Corrin rushed into their midst. Her white dress was horrendously spoiled by the red stream from her shoulder. She held Siegfried in one shivering hand. Her eyes were wide and frightened, and she cried as she laid her weary head on Leo's shoulder. "You're all right!" she exclaimed.

"Corrin!" Leo shouted, grabbing her by her forearms. "What happened to you? You're injured…"

"Where's Elise?" she asked, looking from Leo to Xander.

"In her room," Xander said, "with Laslow. She's safe, Corrin."

"And Camilla?"

"Outside," Leo answered, "seeing the last guests into their carriages."

"Then… Niles?" Corrin murmured, her voice growing weaker.

Xander took Siegfried from her hand, and she collapsed soundlessly into Leo's arms. Selena crept up behind them and tried to help Odin to his feet; he too was unconscious, but groaned in response. Xander sheathed his sword and propped Odin up on his own shoulder, nodding for Selena to do the same. Then he turned towards Leo. "Can you carry Corrin?" he asked.

Leo bent low and swept Corrin into his arms. His eyes widened. "That was easier than I thought it would be," he admitted.

Selena smirked. "Great, then take Odin, too."

Together, they all stumbled in the direction of the dining room. Xander searched the faces of each injured person they passed, and was relieved to find that most of the wounded bodies he saw still lived. Jakob, Arthur, Effie, Silas, and Kaze were clearing the room, bringing the injured into the dining room. Xander stopped Effie to ask for a death toll, and she reported only five strangers — three of whom, Xander knew, had been the assassins.

"Is it wrong," Xander murmured to Selena as they trudged wearily through the dining room doors, "to be relived I do not recognize the dead?"

Selena shook her head. "Probably, my lord. I know the feeling all too well — it keeps me up at night, tossing and turning in alternating guilt and comfort. To watch anyone lose a life is hard, but to experience it yourself is excruciating. You're just like every other man, Lord Xander — you prefer the lesser evil."

Xander nodded, consoled. He now noticed how changed the dining room appeared since dinner, just an hour or so before. The chairs that had so recently been filled by dazzling nobles were now mostly empty; what few still held people were occupied by dazed men and women whose sparkling jewelry was, for the most part, dulled by blood. On the tables themselves were laid many guests. Healers were rushing about binding what wounds weren't infected, and clamoring for staffs to close worse injuries. Xander noticed two bodies with open, lifeless eyes, but as Effie had said, neither one was familiar.

Selena helped Odin to a chair. Xander quickly left them and followed Leo further into the room. They were quickly sidetracked by Jakob, who appeared aghast by Corrin's injury. He led them to an empty seat where Xander was startled to see Elise already working tirelessly. She was binding bandages around Niles' stomach.

"You idiot!" she yelled at Niles, who still looked pale. "If you want to get in good with me, then you have to tell me when my life's in danger!"

"Hey, I would have been fine telling you," Niles muttered, grimacing as Elise pulled the bandage tighter around his wound, "so complain to your big brother."

"I beg your pardon?" Leo exclaimed.

Niles startled, and Elise jumped. She whirled around to glare at her brothers, fixing Xander with a longer, harder stare. "You big dummy!" she screamed, yanking once more on the bandage and causing Niles to curse in pain. "You've been hiding an assassination attempt from me?"

Xander glanced disapprovingly at Niles. "Who told you?" he asked.

"Laslow," Elise answered, tossing her hair angrily. "He's a gentleman. He understands that a girl has to know when she's in trouble. You people, on the other hand, are stupid dumb idiots!"

Niles swiped the bandages from Elise's hands. "I can't believe I'm saying this," he growled, "but I want Jakob as a nurse."

In Leo's arm, Corrin laughed lightly. Xander turned to her, noticing that her eyes were open and her face, though pale and haggard, was happy with relief. Leo set her down gently on the chair beside Niles. She immediately winced and touched her injured shoulder, then slowly leaned sideways to rest against Niles. "I… I think I've lost a bit of blood," she murmured. "I feel sort of… dizzy."

Niles tilted his head against hers. "I'm sorry," he muttered angrily. "I should have been able to see this. I should have at least been able to protect you."

Elise came forward and moved Corrin's hand off her shoulder. She frowned. "I have to bind this so the bleeding stops. Um, I'll have to rip the dress to get to the wound, and I can't promise it will be a neat process."

Corrin's white face flushed slightly. Niles smirked. "Don't be embarrassed on my account," he said.

Leo grimaced. "It's your side that's injured, right? So I can smack your head right now without killing you?"

Jakob stomped over to the bedside, carrying bandages and damp towels. "How are you, lady Corrin?" he asked, his voice panicked. Corrin smiled and replied pleasantly to his questions. Jakob smiled for her, but the expression froze over into icy indifference as he turned to Niles. "I have to check your temperature," he muttered.

"Why?" Niles asked, grinning. "Do you find me hot?"

Jakob's dead smile widened. "Niles, do you know what happens to patients who harass their doctors? They never get better."

Niles frowned and said nothing. Jakob touched Niles' forehead without incident, whispered some instruction to Elise, then strode off to another patient. Xander waited for Jakob to leave, then sighed. "How did he become a healer?"

"His bedside manners," Leo declared, "are best suited to a morgue."

Corrin shook her head weakly. "Oh, no. Jakob's very kind and helpful."

Niles raised one eyebrow. "That's the lose of blood talking," he said. He helped Corrin to sit up, grimacing as he moved. "Princess, mind helping out here?"

Elise came forward, as did Leo, the later propping Corrin up while Elise cleaned and sewed up her shoulder. Corrin moaned in pain and soon fell back into unconsciousness. Xander flinched and had to turn away; it was admittedly difficult for him to watch Corrin be a patient.

Facing this way, Xander saw Azura and Camilla enter the dining room. When they noticed him, they both flew forward, and Camilla nearly tramped Keaton in her frantic haste. "Elise! Darling! My baby sister!" she cried, flinging her arms around her younger sister. "You're all right? You're okay? Your big sister doesn't have to ruthlessly murder anyone tonight, does she, sweetie? I can do it, darling, for you."

"Camilla!" Elise protested. "It wasn't me, anyway! I know what Laslow said, but it doesn't make sense! Corrin and Niles are injured, but I'm fine."

"Corrin?" Camilla's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oh, my darling!" She rushed towards Corrin, but Leo intervened.

"She's fainted, Camilla, and in pain. Your slobbering over her will just make her feel worse."

"Who did this?" Camilla demanded, whirling around the room. "I will see them hanged and killed and fed only on poisonous bread and then burned alive and—"

"Camilla!" Xander exclaimed. "Calm yourself before you have a panic attack, or cause one. There were three conspirators when this evening began. Now, there are none."

There was a silence in their corner of the room. Lowly, Niles asked, "Were they all out for Elise?"

"They were hired by Iago to kill you, Corrin, and Elise. You were called traitors. They thought they were fighting for Father."

"That's ridiculous!" Leo exclaimed indignantly.

"All the same," Xander replied, "I believe it. I think we can assume that Iago invented Niles' part in this evening in order to make him a distraction — he would have been an easy target for the other assassins, and might have even killed some of us himself. Truly, in this mess any one of us could have been killed, and our killer would have been untraceable. Iago would have been completely innocent in Father's eyes. It was an evil, genius plan."

"But, we can tell Father the truth now, right?" Elise asked, her voice sad.

Camilla shook her head. "Why, darling? Do you think he would believe our words? No one he cares for is dead, and we have no proof except Niles' testimony and the words of some dead men that Iago was behind this. Once again, he has set a trap and slithered out of it without pain."

Elise wiped her eyes. "But… But anyone could have died!"

Xander nodded. He turned to Niles, who still wore an angry, frustrated expression. "Elise is right," Xander said, "the knife that went in your side could have gone in Corrin's back. Indirectly, you saved my sister's life tonight. … Thank you, Niles."

Niles seemed startled, but managed a smirk. "You have my sucky waltzing to thank for that, actually."

"Wait," murmured Azura, her eyes wide. Xander startled, for he had almost forgotten his silent sister was in the room. "Let us tell that to King Garon."

"Tell him that Niles is a bad dancer?" Leo asked.

"That Niles took a stab wound intended for Corrin," Azura clarified, looking thoughtful. "That might just be the key to ensuring their marriage."

"Are we still on that?" Camilla asked, frowning.

"Azura," breathed Elise, "that's perfect! Then Iago can't weasel out of this promise either."

Azura smiled. "What do you say, Xander?" she asked, turning to her brother.

Xander looked down at Corrin's sleeping face. He smiled. "At this point, anything to make her happy."

Niles grinned. Elise clapped her hands. "Hurray! Okay, when Corrin wakes up, I'm giving her the good news! I called it first, hah hah!"

Ending note: I hope you enjoyed that chapter. It was difficult due to being so different from the previous chapters, but a lot of fun to write. And in case you're worried about Niles' male pride being wounded by his early retreat in this battle, don't worry - he'll have his moment to shine in the next chapter.