Chapter 11 - Puzzles and Plans

"Perhaps we should look at this from another angle…"

The words echoed softly through the musty record room, muffled by the piles of tomes and scrolls piled on and around the many shelves that ringed the chamber.

"Indeed. There is simply too much deviation in the variables to find any sort of meaningful pattern. Perhaps…" a hand gloved in polished black leather tapped the center of the map, punctuating the speaker's trailing silence.

"Yeah, I definitely think we are working with too many variables here. Might be possible that our enemy's method of travel is more restrictive than we thought."

"Precisely." The tapping on the map ceased. "Solving the puzzle of the Invisible Soldiers' ability to traverse dimensions may be more critical in our efforts than we'd originally thought."

Robin nodded, his eyes fixed firmly on the map even as Leo finished, too lost among his own thoughts to immediately respond. His frown deepened, a sigh falling through his lips. "Only trouble then is getting it right. Even if we get something that fits, it could still be entirely wrong. Then we'd be worse than wandering blind…" He trained off, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "...Still, I don't think either of us expected this to be easy."

"I would have been shocked were it that simple." Leo agreed, a rare smile tugging at his lips, if only for the briefest of moments.

How things change, Robin mused.

It had been almost three weeks since Leo had, as promised, begun subjecting Robin to a series of tests and scenarios aimed to assess his proficiency as a tactician. The Nohrian prince had started small, posing questions that any competent army lieutenant or captain would answer. Of course, Robin had passed those with no problem. Then they moved onto increasingly complex scenarios. Robin had, perhaps to some bit of frustration on Leo's part, passed those as well. It had been only after a series of a particularly elaborate tests, which he'd likewise passed, that Robin stepped in to suggest an alternative method by which Leo could gauge his abilities, to which the prince had reluctantly agreed.

This method, of course, was the game he and Virion had come up with to conduct mock battles where Robin could hone and practice his strategies, later going on to becoming one of his tools for instructing Morgan in her own training. He'd hoped this would speed up the process a great deal. Not to mention he'd figured it would give him an opportunity to gain some insight on Leo's abilities in return.

A whole day and nine matches later, their final score had come out to six to three in Robin's favor, at which point Leo had been forced to relent, conceding with only hints of lingering reservations that Robin was more than qualified to help lead their army into battle.

Not that it had been easy. Despite winning twice as many rounds as the Nohrian prince, each individual match had been close. Leo had won the first two matches, and nearly won the third. It had been through learning about Leo's own abilities and preferred strategies in the early rounds that Robin found himself pulling into the lead.

Leo was certainly his better when it came down coordinating complex, large scale strategies, organizing the deployment of many assets, and overall handling logistics with far greater ease than he could. However, Leo tended towards far more rigid thinking, more inclined to creating contingency plans than adapt to changing situations on the fly. Likewise, he tended towards proven tactics rather than create more out of the box solutions. Then there was the matter of his pride, which seemed to get the better of his judgement at times, further hampering his ability to adapt to the flow of battle when at a clear disadvantage.

In the end, Robin had feared his victory might have wounded Leo's pride to the point where he ended up resenting him for it, making the prospect of cooperation between them far more difficult. Thankfully, this worry has proven itself unfounded. If anything he'd seemed to have managed to gain the prince's respect in besting him. They'd actually been getting along quite well because of this newfound mutual respect.

The fact we share a great deal many of the same interests probably doesn't hurt either, Robin mused

Leo's brow furrowed as the last vestiges of his smile faded, his gaze falling distant as he drifted into deep thought. He resumed tapping his finger. Silence reigned for several long moments before the prince once again stirred, lifting his head slightly as he shifted his stance to better face Robin. "So, taking things from the top, our foes have have been focusing their might into small, hit and run raids. Reports from our scouts all confirm these attacks seem less focused on disrupting Nohr's infrastructure or claiming tactical positions, but rather to strike as much fear and confusion as possible. The first attacks fell here," he tapped at an 'X' drawn on the map, indicating a small farming hamlet in southern Nohr, "here," he pointed again, this time to a town southeast of the capitol, "and here," he jabbed a finger towards a third 'X' near the map's center, "all within a few days of the fighting at Vahlsee. After a brief respite, the attacks resumed, falling into a steady pattern of one every few days." Again, he pointed to the markings in turn, indicating the seeming random scattering of markings across the map.

Robin nodded. In total, there had been eleven raids in the three weeks that had passed since their last major battle. "-And each time they retreat before any aid can arrive. Same tactic they used back in my world," Robin added grimly. He sighed, the worn wooden table creaking as he gripped its rim. "They're trying to spread our defenses thin: knowing the only way we can engage them were if we garrisoned troops at every township and village in the kingdom, and..."

"And the minute we do that, they begin launching full scale attacks once more, picking off our scattered forces," Leo finished, his frown deepening to a scowl. "I'd consider it foolish for them to try the same strategy used against your home when they must certainly know by now you and Lady Lucina are with us. Except…"

"-Except this time I can't predict where they'll strike next. In my world, they were limited by the need to break through the barriers between dimensions. To create a portal both large and stable enough… well, they needed somewhere where those barriers were already pretty weak," Robin explained.

"Precisely," Leo agreed, dipping his head in a sharp nod. "But here they seem capable of traversing great distances through seemingly any water source, adding a great many more avenues for attack."

"And that's only considering known water sources. As we learned at Vahlsee, heavy enough rains can accomplish much the same thing."

"Which unfortunately is data we cannot take into our assessment of their movements, without any reliable way of predicting the weather across the whole of Nohr. Even receiving news regarding it in a timely manner seems out of our reach."

Huh… I wonder if… Robin shook his head, banishing the thought before it could continue. Certainly now was not the time to consider theoretical spellwork that might accomplish such a task. Something so complicated would certainly take months, maybe years of experimentation and research, making it wholly impractical for their needs. Still, just to think, having to weave a stable spell over such a great distance would…

Robin froze dead in place, his mind seizing upon the realization. Gods, was it really that simple? Had they both been overlooking such a crucial, fundamental concept?

"They're still using portals…" Robin whispered aloud, speaking as much to himself as to Leo.

"What was that?" Leo asked, turning to look at him with obvious confusion.

"The Invisible Soldiers, what if they're just using pools of water as a medium for their portals?" Robin said, thinking aloud even as the idea took shape in his mind. "Magic flows most freely through the air, right? Solids, or even vast amounts of liquid, can dampen it. What if they are using this to their advantage, helping keep the spellwork from unraveling and escaping into the surrounding area?"

At once, Leo's eyes widened, immediately grasping what Robin was getting at. "Of course. And since they're not traversing between worlds, far less energy would be necessary. That's not to mention if these phantoms shared some sort of fundamental affinity to water as we'd consider before. Those factors combined would make almost trivial to create large enough portals. Which means..." Leo paused, his expression brightening. It seemed now that he had come to the implications of this hypothesis. "Which means they still face the same limitations as any other gateway, regardless of any advantages concerning the ease," he finished,

"Exactly," Robin said, grinning. You know, sometimes I am actually pretty clever. Sometimes. He shook his head slightly, an elated chuckle falling from his lips. "If I'm right… well if I am it means the two of us really are just a couple of fools, missing something so obvious. But more importantly, it means they would be far more limited in what type of water sources they can use."

"Yes. A source with moving waters or those with vast volumes would prove too difficult to create a stable gateway, greatly limiting viable options. Which means we can eliminate a great many potential origin points. A moment…" Reaching for a piece of paper, Leo began hastily sketching down a rough map of the kingdom and surrounding lands, first transcribing the locations of each of the attacks before marking down every lake or marsh indicated on the maps they had found as references.

"There," he announced after several long, painstaking minutes. "It's not perfect, unfortunately, but I believe now we can compare the most likely source of each raid along with the scattered reports of their movements we've received."

Robin peered over Leo's shoulder, whistling softly as he gazed at the rough map. In addition to the markings for water sources and the attacks' targets, he'd even taken the time to trace out lines representing the direction between each location and the closest source, along with additional lines in red ink that Robin could only presume were the aforementioned reported movements seen by those who'd witnessed the raids first hand.

"Notice anything odd?" Leo asked, holding up to sheet of parchment to him.

Robin peered intently, eyes scanning the sketch thoroughly. Then he stopped, a sharp intake of breath, realizing exactly what the Nohrian prince was was referring to. "The observed movements don't match up for the three northernmost attacks," Robin said. "Like all the others they seem to have come from the nearest water, only then departing away from the water source. To the Northeast. But why? The only thing out there is a river, and that's surely flowing too quickly for them to use it..."

"And it's too far east for them to be targeting Windmire directly," Leo agreed. "But, I think I may know what they're attempting. Fitting, considering it's much the opposite of your last plan."

Robin grimaced, a sound somewhere between a groan and hiss slipping through clenched teeth. "They're going to dam the river. Even if they just block the river with debris, they'd only need to create a still patch for a day or two at most, gathering enough forces before striking out."

"And then they would have a straight shot for the capital. They are planning to launch a full scale invasion on Windmire," Leo finished, his expression falling grim once more. "And most of the army is with us, with only reserves left behind within the city. At least we can take some comfort in the fact that our forces are no more than a day's march from the river. But..."

"Who knows if that's enough time," Robin finished, a grimace twisting his lips,

"Yes…"

Robin's frown deepened, carefully weighing the options that lay before them. "If we're wrong about this, then we'll be just inviting more attacks," he noted, speaking as much to himself as to Leo. "But…" he trailed off, considering his words carefully, "if we are right, then sitting back and doing nothing would turn out far worse, I fear."

"Yes. It's a risk, but… you are correct, we don't have much of a choice but to gamble. Hopefully your luck in that regard will hold," Leo agreed. He scowled, tapping the edge of the table, clearly still mulling over their options. "Still, I don't like this. Even if we prevent this attack, what's to stop them from just resuming their current tactics? While preferable to losing our capital, the people of Nohr are still suffering from each raid. And with them our position becomes ever more dire. Winter will set in soon, and our land provides little food. If they begin targeting our farmlands while the harvest is yet ongoing…"

"Actually… I've been thinking on that a bit. And if we're right about the portals, I think I have a way of preventing that," Robin announced. He moved around the table, picking through his own piles of notes. Unlike those Leo had made over the past few days, the fruits of Robin's work lay in disorganized heaps. The two of them may share a great many similarities, but organizational skills clearly were not among them.

At last finding what he was looking for, Robin returned to the other side of the table, a stack of parchments in hand and a confident smile on his face

"Alright, here's what I was thinking…"

. . . . .

"I don't understand. Why am I remaining behind?" Corrin asked, his voice raising almost to a shout as he finished.

"Corrin, you know the answer to that," Xander replied. The soon to be Nohrian king sighed wearily, looking more tired than Corrin ever remembered him seeming.

"But-" Corrin grimaced, the step he took forward sending a jolt of pain through his side. He gritted his teeth, reflexively clutching the spot.

"For one thing, the fact that you're still healing should be reason enough for you to sit this battle out," Xander noted, eyeing the spot where Corrin had covered his side with a hand. "But no, that is not my only reasoning. It's how you behaved during our last battles that concerns me."

"I'm fine," Corrin hissed, anger tinging his voice as well as the pain.

Over the past few weeks, Corrin had spent most of his time in bed, recovering from his injuries he'd sustained in the process of destroying the dam at Vahlsee. Even with healing magic, repairing broken bones and closing the worst of his open wounds, he had been slow to heal, his whole body weak and aching at all hours for days on end. It had only been in the past few days that he'd been able to spend any real length of time up and about. However, on the orders of his siblings, Jakob, Felicia, and Flora had kept him quarantined to his quarters. To avoid any strenuous activity they'd explained. Told him he should try to relax until he was fully healed.

He'd hated every moment of it. It reminded him all too keenly of the years spent locked away in the isolated fortress his father had put him in. Despite their excuses, their true intentions were plain enough to him. They just wanted him out of the way so he couldn't cause them more trouble. Not that he could exactly blame them. It seemed like that was all he did nowadays.

So it was that it had come as a surprise when Xander had arrived to meet with him in private. Of course, he'd already visited several times over the past weeks. All of his siblings had. As had most of his friends. But this was different. This was to discuss more serious matters.

Least he had the courtesy to come tell me the battle was even happening, Corrin thought bitterly, no longer attempting to quell his growing distaste for the whole situation. Sure, Xander had explained what was happening: how Leo and Robin had figured out what their foe's next move would be and that even now their army was preparing to march north to stop them. But he'd only told him about it as a formality. No, the real reason for this meeting was so Xander could chastise him like some misbehaving child. To chew him out for his reckless behavior. To finally explain the reason he'd already been forced to remain here away from everyone else.

"No, you aren't fine. Your actions last battle made that all too clear," Xander countered. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression composed and stern as he looked at Corrin. "Twice now you've charged headfirst into peril, letting yourself be surrounded and cut off from your allies. You've been reckless before, but never have I seen you act so in complete disregard for your own safety, let alone the safety of others."

"So?" Corrin asked, not even bothering to hide the harshness of his tone. "It's not like I put anyone else in danger this time. Last I checked, I wasn't in command of anyone at Vahlsee, so don't give me anything about not acting like a leader. Because I'm not. Not anymore. You already saw to that, remember?"

"Gods, Corrin…" Xander closed his eyes, grinding his clenched jaw as he stood in stoic, only his eyes showing the frustration that seemed to be taking hold of him. "This isn't about that. This is about you. You could have died, Corrin. You must realize that. But that's the problem, isn't it? You don't care if you live or die."

"I'm fine," Corrin repeated, his voice falling to almost a growl.

"You say that. But you aren't. Do you even know what people have said about you? Everyone who saw you fighting out there reported the same thing: that you aren't trying to defend yourself from incoming blows! That you only seem to care about killing as many of those things as you can."

"I'm fine," Corrin repeated a third and final time, screaming the words this time.

"Corrin, look at yourself. You're a mess. You barely sleep or eat. Every time we've tried to talk to you, we have to struggle just to get even the briefest response. You're hurting and you won't even admit it," Xander told him. "Which is why you're staying behind. It is plain that you are not well enough to take part in any fighting, for the sake of your own well being."

"So what then?" Corrin snapped, taking another step forward. He grimaced again as the sudden movement sent another spike of pain stabbing through his ribs. Only this time he ignored it, the flash of anger that accompanied his outburst numbing the pain. "I'm not going to sit around here when everyone else puts their lives at risk! I won't!"

"And what are we supposed to do, just let you run off to get hurt again? Or worse?" Xander countered, his gaze hardening as he looked Corrin dead in the eyes, not budging a single inch.

"Try and stop me. I refuse to be treated like… like some child! I'm tired of everyone deciding they know what's best for me. Well you don't. None of you know what I went through!" he screamed back, his rage boiling over.

"Corrin, for your own good, I order you to stand down," Xander told him, raising his own voice to a shout now. He hands clutched, his brow drawing tight. "I will have you thrown into a cell if I must. As your future king, I command you to stop. Right. Now."

"Will you now?" Corrin asked, an almost hysterical laugh falling from his lips, its sound poisoned with a bitter tinge. "Why not just lock me away in my castle, maybe then send me off to die when I'm no longer needed. That's what Father did, so why not pick up where he left off!" Corrin spat the final world, his expression twisting to a snarl as his barely contained rage boiled over. A haze of red descended over his vision, his heart racing, his breathing coming in ragged, almost primal heaves. He reveled in its feeling, in letting it all out, to stop keeping it all contained.

He was tired. Tired of everyone treating him like a little kid. Treating him just like a tool. He'd fought for them. Killed for them, sending so many to their graves that it neared on an atrocity. And for what? To be tossed aside now that he was no longer needed? Like he was never wanted?

They never cared, the thought echoed in the corners of his mind, adding fuel to the fire. They used you. Just like Azura was used. A sacrifice for their greater good.

Silence.

It was only then that Corrin realized that Xander was staring at him, his expression one of shock. His mouth hung slightly open, his skin having turned almost pale. But worst of all was the look of pain and guilt in his eyes, carrying the look of one unable to believe what they'd witnessed.

All at once, Corrin's anger vanished, realizing to his horror what he'd said. Of all his siblings, Xander was the only one who remembered his father from the time before his corruption and descent into madness. He'd been the one who had the most difficulty accepting what had happened, and so carried the most guilt for not taking action when the truth had finally been revealed. The truth that the Nohrian King had been long dead, and that only a mockery had remained had shaken Xander to his core.

And Corrin had just accused him of being no better than the very monster who'd taken their father's form.

"I didn't… I didn't mean to… I…" Corrin swallowed hard, his words catching in his throat. "Xander, I'm-"

"Enough," Xander snapped, silencing with a sudden glare. In an instant, the prince's expression had changed, disbelief replaced with a hard, impassive mask. "We can resume this conversation once the battle is won. Until then, you will remain in your quarters. Guards will be placed to prevent you from bringing any harm to yourself. Do I make myself clear?"

"Xander, I…" Corrin took a step forward, almost pleading now. "I'm sorry, I didn't…"

"I'm not going to let you get yourself killed, Corrin. This is for your own good." With that, Xander turned away, his armor clanking and boots thudding as he left the room. He stopped, giving one last second's glance over his shoulder. Then he stepped through the doorway, shutting it hard behind him.

For several long moments Corrin stood there motionless, the whole of his being feeling as though it had been covered in a sheet of ice.

"Why?!" Corrin screamed, suddenly throwing himself forward. He seized the edge of the dining table, upending it with a violent wrenching throw. A boom shook the treetop home as the table crashed down into the wooden floorboards, glass and ceramics shattering as its contents fell in a scattered heap. Snatching up the single intact teacup from where it had become entangled in the tablecover, Corrin spun around, another scream echoing through the chamber as he threw it with all his strength. The cup slammed into the wall, shattering it into a hail of glistening shards that sprayed back to settle across the floor.

The cry became a howling scream as Corrin fell to his knees, clutching at his face with both hands.

All he wanted was to keep everyone safe.

All he wanted was for no one else to die.

Yet all he'd done was lash out at one of the very people he still cared about. Worse, he'd only proven Xander's fears true. He'd ruined any chance he had of convincing him to let him take part in the battle. Ruined any chance of being trusted with that responsibility ever again.

He wouldn't be there to protect them. If something happened, if any of them got hurt, it would be because he wasn't there.

It would be all his fault.

No matter what I do, I mess things up. Corrin shook his head from side to side, a sob wracking his chest. Now I can't even keep them safe.

Author's Note: So, yeah, I totally failed to get this one out quickly like planned. While the first half of the month since my last chapter was taken up by being super busy, the second half was 100% on me due to deciding I'd rather play Fire Emblem Echoes than write during the past two weeks. Still, I have a week and a half until I finally graduate college, and with a full month and a half before my job starts I should have plenty of time to write from here on out.

Anyhow, onto guest review responses.

Guest - Thank you, I am always glad to hear it when people are enjoying my work

Darkness21 - Thank you for the review as always, can't really respond to the first bit due to anything I can say giving too much away. I really wanted to explore the dynamic of the newly arrived Awakening characters with the Fates cast, starting with the royals, so glad to hear I got some of that across. And yeah, as stupid as the Babyrealms are, I do feel that Robin and Lucina would apologize for overreacting and getting super upset. As for responding to your reviews, I do that for basically every review I get. Just with guest reviews I can't respond via PMs like I normally do, so I respond to those in my author's notes

Anyhow, that's all for now. I look forward to hearing what you guys think of this one. Until the next one, have a great day! Peace!

Character Spotlight: Leo

Class: Dark Knight

Secondary Classes: Troubadour, Cavalier (A* with Xander)

Skills: Luna, Vengeance, Bowbreaker, Tomebreaker, Seal Magic

Personal Skill: Pragmatic - If the enemy's HP is not full, the user deals 3 more damage and receives 1 less damage.

Equipment: Brynhildr

Status: Alive