The Fiery Queen of Nohr: Part 23 – A Hand Reaches Through
That hiatus lasted for far too long. FREAKING TOO LONG! 2021 is a bit better than 2020 but not by much I tell you! Seven months! I swear on my life I will NEVER take so long to make a chapter for this story again even if I have to strap myself to a chair to write after work!… Wait no never-mind. My sleep schedule is a catastrophe already without this. I'll just have to find a way. With all that said, on to the reviews.
Quick precision: while I try to answer all reviews, I won't answer things that can't be considered a review. Including obsessively asking me to write another crossover altogether, especially from a story I don't like. I also don't know how to answer to a review that's only an emoji… Oh well.
Dustier7: Thank you deeply for kind words! I agree last year was a mess, and this year isn't that much better in some aspects. I'm so glad to see you invested in the story and the conflicts Lora faces. I hope what's next will keep you as interested!
Soberan 123: Jumping from Dustier to your comment, two interpretations for the Rainbow sage's intention. But you two really understood what happened to Lora in a flash. Oh yes, ignorance can be bliss, but there are people who cannot help but seek it, until it becomes a tragedy. Lora is one such people.
Osterreicher97: As always, thank you for your support.
Spartastic 4: One day I'll make something with no error or misspelling mark my words. It was a short section yes, and its because the next few chapters, including this one, will almost exclusively focus on Corrin. For reminder, Corrin was kidnapped during king Sumeragi visit to Cheve, which also saw Sumeragi's demise. Also yes. It was three month…
TheHolyBlade: Thank you for your kind words! I hope you'll like this chapter as much as the others!
Imperial warlord: As always, thank for your support.
Kerrowe: Garon do have Lora to thanks for not being replaced by a slime monstrosity… As for how things are on Corrin's side, that's the focus of this chapter!
TheLostLordOfCinders: Maybe in another story, my friend, but I'm glad you enjoy this work nonetheless. Work may prevent me from writing for a time, but hollowness shall never take me! Praise the Sun \[T]/ !
Shad7000: It will keep going! Maybe not always as quickly as I wish it would, but I won't drop this story. Thank you for your encouragements!
Pt1oef: As always, a big thanks for your efforts in beta-reading. Multiple transferred characters are indeed something difficult to do properly I feel, and also I wanted this story to be specifically about the Ashen One of DSIII. Also, I kind of feel most NPC of Dark Souls have really self-contained arcs that don't translate well into going in another world.
The-Killer40513: Oh yes I'm continuing this story. But gods dammit life is sure making it hard for me to do so. I won't have something like capture, I don't like this kind of solution since it would clash badly with the characters. Anankos don't capture peoples (except perhaps Corrin), and Lora isn't the type to let herself be captured. But don't worry, this story isn't "Lora tear through Hoshido to find Corrin and Azura". I have other projects in mind.
With all that said, enjoy the story! Please leave a review if you liked it or have a criticism to share, it's always appreciatd and help me improve!
Corrin stood up, rubbing her sore hears over a night of uncomfortable sleep. That wasn't the mattress fault since it was soft, warm and cozy. Nevertheless, her sleep had been plagued by sleeplessness, turning again and again on the bed in increasingly tired ways until her eyes closed without realizing it. As the sunrise woke her up annoyingly, Corrin almost went to the window to close curtains before remembering they were none here. Apparently Hoshidians simply rose with the sun. Looking back at the bed, the idea of burying herself in blankets and try to sleep more brushed her mind before Corrin rejected it. She could almost hear Jakob scold her for even being tempted… How was he feeling? Would he even know about her capture? How would Camilla, and Elise react to her disappearance? What would Mother do… She would tell her to wait for an opportunity. To look for a weakness in their surveillance and escape…
The princess' eyes fell on the neatly ordered piles on the side of her bed obviously: Clothes prepared at her intention. Nonetheless to her surprise as she looked more closely, one of the piles was actually her armor. Clean and shining under the sun as she took one of its elbow pads, closing her eyes reflexively as the sun reflecting on the golden ornaments briefly pained her. To have it still comforted Corrin, even though… She squeezed the cold metal, fighting rising tears. The enchanted swords were lost. They must had fallen into the Bottomless Canyon since Kaze told her they weren't where she had been found. She has lost a gift from Mother own armory…
Corrin put down the piece of armor. Perhaps at another moment she would have donned the armor, but she feared not to be able to keep her feelings in check if she did so. Taking instead the white and blue outfit Queen Mikoto must be expecting her to wear, the princess tried to find how to slip in this thing. It looked far more complicated than anything she has been using…
"Lady Corrin. May I come in?" Asked a voice from beyond the door. "I suspect you might need help with your clothing."
"Who…" Said Corrin before she identified the muffled voice as Kaze. "Actually, yes. I have some trouble understand how to wear it."
The door slid open and the green ninja entered the room with soft steps, kneeling at a respectful distance.
"Greeting, Lady Corrin. I hope the sunrise didn't wake you up too soon." Said Kaze amicably, before nodding in silent understanding when looking at the clothes. "I see where your difficulties come from. A kimono is not the easiest outfit to put on if you are not used to anymore. Would you allow me to give you a hand?"
"… Yes, please do." Agreed Corrin after a bit of hesitation, and with Kaze's instructtions she started to struggle with the silky clothing. "Are all Hoshidian clothes this complicated?"
"No of course. You may be expected to wear this often as princess, but there is less formal clothing you can use in your daily life or training."
Despite being incredibly soft to the touch, the fabric seemed to have a mind of its own and move than once Corrin found herself retracing the directions backward, having either pulled some part too tightly or unevenly, or wrapped the wrong part of the garment under the other.
"Finally. I thought I was going through wearing my first armor again." Sighed the princess with satisfaction after finally tying up the last sash. "But it is really comfortable."
"I'm glad to hear it. Do you desire something else, Lady Corrin?"
"I suppose I'm not allowed to go outside the castle." Asked Corrin, glancing at the brighter and brighter sunlight coming from outside.
"Ordinarily I would have followed your wish, Lady Corrin, but you are in no state to leave. Queen Mikoto said it would be best for you to stay within Castle Shirasagi's confine until you have recovered."
The answer was more or less what she had expected, but it still stung. Even if she was in no state to run away, to be confined inside yet another place was disheartening after having tasted the world outside. And despite the harsh light outside a part of her wanted nothing but to walk on the paths, spin around and look at every single thing, smell every single place, and hear the rustle of daily life she barely experienced in Krakenburg's market…
Corrin regrettably detached her gaze from the window, thinking about what she could effectively do. Mother did say she always focused too much on what she couldn't do. If she couldn't leave, then she could at least prepare for the future and be ready for a moment in time where she could. Perhaps meeting her "siblings" on the way, and learn more about, well, them. But first, in order to be ready for anything, she needed strength.
"Then, is there a place for training in the castle?"
"Of course. Follow me, Lady Corrin, I'll guide you to the dojo. I think you will appreciate the fresh air and sunlight." Agreed Kaze, standing up and opening the way.
"But I thought I couldn't leave the castle?" Said Corrin, surprised at this seemingly contradictory words.
"Castle Shirasagi is not entrenched into itself like the Nohrian castle but built on a large plateau above the capital. If you ever feel the need, you can even go for a walk in the garden outside without leaving the castle limits."
That's a nice thing to know, thought the princess as they walked in the castle corridors and stairs. The entire building was apparently made to allow as much sunlight to go inside as possible. There were windows everywhere on the walls, and the sunlight so intense it illuminated everything even without direct opening. What surprised Corrin even more was how much wood seemed to be present in the walls. It was so different from Krakenburg or the Northern Fortress where everything was carved from stone. Corrin couldn't resist touching one of the wooden beams to be sure. The darker color contrasted beautifully with the white colored walls, making the ones at home stern in gloomy in comparison. On the other hand, she hadn't seen much of Nohr either, did she? Camilla always said she would get her to one of the flower fields or to her friend Faye's castle, places she said were much better than the Northern Fortress or Krakenburg Castle…
When Corrin passed the gates the wind sent her hair flying and the light made her squint, but it didn't register in her mind, her attention was solely focused on the sight before her eyes. Colors, colors everywhere, bright, and vibrant, and beautiful! She almost ran under the tall wooden arch until she reached the bottom of the castle entrance stairs. A blue sky, a carpet of green grass, trees with leaves of gold, red and pink! Corrin was almost spinning as she tried to look everywhere, drinking on the scenery as if she has been thirsty all her life and only discovered it now. Plus the scents! There were flowers here, she was sure of it even if she didn't recognize the perfume, and the humid grass' scent was so much more intense than in the fields of home! She was hearing water running around somewhere close, the cracking of one, no, two water wheels making her ears stand. And beyond… The princess stood still, enthralled by the landscape. Beyond the massive walls that she could see even from here, a verdant tapestry of fields, hills and rivers was spreading. Even the mountains on the horizon, unlike the menacing and stormy peaks of Nohr, stood clear and colored under the blue sky.
"It's like… Like I'm standing between heaven and earth." Whispered Corrin, her entire body relaxing as a feeling of contentment steeped in her mind, as if she could just spread her arms and fly away in the gentle wind…
"Are you feeling well Lady Corrin? Do you need to sit down?" Asked Kaze worriedly at her side.
"Sorry, I'm fine, I'm fine! It's just so… Woah." Said Corrin, at a loss for words. It was all so beautiful. More than anything she has ever dreamed of. Everywhere she looked there was something to behold and looking twice only led her to notice more things to admire. To the point she only realized after some time that she asked to get somewhere in the first place. "Hum, where is the training ground?"
"Follow me, Lady Corrin."
As it turned out, the stone path made it very easy to see where to go. The grass was untouched all around, leading the princess to wonder how light the gardeners were on their feet to not leave a trace while they tended to it. Kaze said there was a garden too. If the outside was magnificent already, what would the real garden look like? How many different flowers would it have? Her head full of questions and her eyes darting everywhere, Corrin barely noticed when the wooden structure appeared between trees. Coming inside, she also found the structure to be different from what she expected: a large rectangular courtyard circled with walls, with only a quarter of it covered with a roof and the rest in open-air. Something so open wouldn't be good in Nohr, where the frequent rain and storms would make it very impractical…
Someone was already present in the place, practicing overhead slashes with a long blade. No, not just any blade. Coming closer Corrin noticed the silver-blue sparks dancing around the white metal, golden decorations upon the weapon's back and guard. If the Sigfried was imposing, this one was slender but looked just as deadly. The princess was certain it could only be one of the two divine weapons of Hoshido, the Rainjinto. Making the tall man with a mane of spiky brown hair swinging it the crown prince of Hoshido, Prince Ryoma. Her… supposedly, eldest brother, who sheathed his blade to meet her.
"Ah, Corrin. I thought to visit you soon, but you recovered faster than I have hoped." Greeted Ryoma warmly, glancing approvingly at her outfit. "How can I help you? Are you doing a tour of the castle?"
"Hum, hello Ryoma. Actually, I was looking for this place. Kaze told me I could train in the dojo to regain some strength."
"Yes, I suppose you need it after what you have been through. Would you like to join me?"
"I would be happy to" Promptly said Corrin, taking up the offer. "I don't have a weapon with me though…"
"It's not a problem, Lady Corrin. The dojo has enough wooden weapons in stock." Interjected Kaze, seemingly appearing at her side with a katana made entirely of clear wood from nowhere.
"Thank you, Kaze." She said, weighing the training weapon.
It was surprisingly heavy in her hand. Did she lose more strength than she thought? She made some tentative moves, trying to find her mark before starting a basic sequence of hits, three slashes ending with a thrust. With each movement the weapon weight was almost dragging Corrin forward, and she nearly tumbled down the first time she made the thrust. Slowing down the pace the princess repeated the sequence again, mindful of her balance and footing. Soon she fell into a steady rhythm, moving in tandem with muscle memory and actual memory. Left, right, downward, thrust, position, repeat. Dull pain spread from her arms and her breath became erratic, forcing Corrin to stop before she could hurt herself.
"That sequence was well-done. You have a good grip and posture." Commented Ryoma. "Would you agree to be my sparring partner for a moment? I'd like to see how much you are familiar with our fighting techniques."
"Thank you. And, why not? Just let me, rest a bit, catch my breath." She said using the wooden katana as support while recuperating.
If he was even half as strong as Xander she had no hope to do anything but entertain him. And if the speed by which she has seen him move was any indication, he was at least as quick as Xander. But it wasn't a duel or a contest, the prince of Hoshido just said he wanted to gauge her abilities. Looking at the red-haired ninja bringing him a wooden katana identical to her own, Corrin thought that at least she wouldn't have to face his divine weapon. She noted his aggressive high posture and took a medium guard of her own, deciding that going on the defensive was much better in her condition. Once she felt ready, she nodded towards him.
"Then here I come!" Declared Ryoma before stepping forth.
His weapon stroke and she deflected it, before answering with a slash he swatted aside with ease. The prince's speed was measured, his strength controlled, and to her relief Corrin found herself able to react and respond to his actions. She blocked a double overhead slash and answered with a diagonal cut that was promptly deflected, leading to a thrust she sidestepped. Letting go of her thoughts Corrin joined the exercise fully, enjoying the back and forth of their weapons and the dance of their positioning. An enjoyment the Hoshidian prince seemed to join in, a smile on his lips as he led their increasingly complex exchange. Without realizing it Corrin accelerated the tempo, ignoring the sweat that started to trickle her forehead and the protest of her limbs, moving with the gentle wind amidst the sunlight.
She tempted an audacious movement. Ryoma sprung forth explosively in response. Corrin saw him coming. But too fast! Twisting her body aside she blocked the blow at the last moment, unable to rise her weapon in time enough to deflect. The impact pushed her back and resonated in her arms. She cried out, a searing pain radiating from her shoulder throughout her whole body.
"Corrin! Are you alright?" Exclaimed Ryoma.
"I'm okay! It's okay." Said Corrin through gritted teeth.
She winced, barely able to move her left arm without a surge of pain. She would have to give it more rest obviously. At least she managed to keep the weapon firmly in her grasp, she wouldn't have heard the end of it from Mother if… if she had been here…
"I'm sorry to have hurt you. I became too engrossed in our little bout when you barely came out of bed." Apologized Ryoma sincerely.
"It's nothing. I should have been more careful." Nodded Corrin in acknowledgment, exchanging her wooden sword with the soft towel Kaze brought her to wipe the sweat of her forehead and neck. Giving it back she caught the curious, almost analytic expression of Ryoma.
"I must say your skill and speed are admirable. As strange as it seems, you seem to have been well-trained in our techniques already. Who taught you to use the katana?"
"Queen Lora did, obviously." Answered a feminine voice in her stead.
Corrin looked behind her, catching a figure leaning back against the entrance wall of the training area. A woman with long dark-blue hair in high ponytail, wearing a light gray armor with a naginata strapped to her back. As she approached Corrin gazed at the impressive cross-shaped scar on the woman's face. Almost perfectly symmetrical and running from cheeks to forehead, it looked more like the result of deliberate make-up rather than a battle wound.
"Hello, Lady Corrin. Interested in my scar?" Said the woman, making Corrin realize with embarrassment that she has been starring. "It's a souvenir from the Queen of Nohr. Oh, I wish you could have seen some of the spars I had with her years ago. The sight of my blade closing to her throat was thrilling. Oh, I wish I could have dug it all the way in…"
"Uh... I'm sorry, but who are you?" Asked Corrin, a bit unnerved by the fond reminiscing tone. "Moth-I mean, Queen Lora did that scar to you?"
"This is Lady Reina, a retainer of Queen Mikoto. She was one of the members of the delegation sent to Nohr to establish the ceasefire." Supplied Ryoma.
"Greeting, Prince Ryoma." Said the woman, her deep purple eyes staying on the princess. "She did. Please, do not trouble yourself over it. Queen Lora bested me fair and square and could have easily killed me. I do not hold it against her myself, I even sparred with her quite a bit afterward."
The clean cut of the scar made Corrin shivered, her own wounds were still fresh in her memory. She had no doubt Reina would have been dead if the blade went further deep. That Mother… No, Queen Lora did this didn't really surprise her, even if it made her uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, but… you wanted to spar with her even after she gave you this scar?"
"Of course, Lady Corrin. I find no greater joy in life than what I feel when I am fighting, and the Queen of Nohr gave me the best fights of my life. I hope our next battle will see me victorious in our dance." Said Reina with another bloodthirsty grin.
"Gods, I thought Mother was a special case…" Said the princess, before her cheeks went aflame as she realized she thought out loud. "Oh! I'm sorry, I…"
Lady Reina's smile morphed from vicious to affectionate, a change so jarring it stopped Corrin's attempts at apologizing.
"Now, we were talking about your swordsmanship. Queen Lora was the one who trained you isn't it?"
Corrin nodded.
"So… The Queen of Nohr trained you in the way of the sword. What else were you taught of our weapons?" Asked the prince.
"The nodachi, the naginata and the yari. I also tried a big wooden mace she said was like what Oni warriors use once. I was better with the katana so she focused on it, but I had to try out and train against everything."
"I see."
Ryoma was frowning in a way that now reminded Corrin a lot of Xander. Was he worrying about something, or was it how he looked like usually?
"I expected nothing less." Said Lady Reina confidently, which made Corrin look at her with curiosity. "You see, while the ceasefire was negotiated, I was trying to find a way to bring you back. Without success unfortunately. I only found comfort in her promise you were treated well, and I can see I was right to trust it."
"Treated well? Lady Reina, you cannot be serious. She was imprisoned and isolated in a fortress, her memory stolen to become a tool. Those dogs almost had her killed, would have her killed had Kaze not been…"
"That's wrong! They protected me! They died, everyone, all of them for me! Even Gunter!… I'm sorry Ryoma. I can't…I can't let you slander my soldiers."
The princess breathed deeply, fighting her bottled pain after interrupting the prince. Tense silence fell on the place following her outburst. She held against Ryoma's stare, painfully gripping the wooden sword as her only support, sweat sticking the fabric to her skin uncomfortably as the wind blew.
"I owe you an apology. I didn't mean to speak ill of the dead." Said Ryoma, softly and gravely. "I know you think they were your allies, and I'm doing my best to sympathize. But you are much kinder to the Nohrians than they deserve. You will understand in time."
"… Perhaps." Said Corrin noncommittally, hoping to drop the subject. Ryoma adverted her gaze and sheathed his weapon.
In a gust of wind, a black-haired female ninja appeared beside the prince, kneeling respectfully.
"Lord Ryoma, your meeting is soon to pass." Said the newcomer with reverence.
"Thank you, Kagero. I'm sorry, Corrin, I have something I must attend to shortly. I hope we will speak again soon about happier subject."
"Me too."
Ryoma left the training ground, the newly arrived woman and his red-haired ninja following him closely. The latter sent to Corrin a look so fiercely hostile she was briefly taken aback, and soon there were only the princess, Kaze and Lady Reina still present.
"Don't take it too much at heart, Lady Corrin. It's hard for us to see past all the wrongs Nohr brought, especially for your siblings."
"You don't seem to have as much problem with it." Pointed out Corrin, a bit dejected by the turn of event.
"Did I give you that impression?" Wondered Reina out loud. "I'll admit I don't feel as strongly against the Queen of Nohr as many other. For someone like us, I cannot think of a better thing to bequeath than the science of arms, and by the skills you have shown, you have been made into a magnificent warrior. She may be our enemy, but she certainly cared for you as much as she could."
"She did. I… I don't think I would have ever suspected she… wasn't my real mother." Admitted Corrin with difficulty. "But then…"
"That I feel kinship with Queen Lora does not change anything. I hate Nohr. They killed many of my countrymen and assassinated our king. If I could, I would slaughter them to the last before leaving their corpses to rot."
The absolute conviction within Reina's voice hit like a frozen slap, and Corrin almost slumped on her feet. The scarred Hoshidian pats her head with a strong hand, with a more gentle look on her face.
"Take some time to recuperate, alright? I am eager to see what you are capable of once you have recovered. Lord Ryoma surely feel the same. And please, remember this is only my feelings. Many would prefer the peace your mother seek instead." Reassured Reina with a smile, before leaving the training ground as well.
Corrin looked at the wooden weapon she still held; her knuckles white from gripping it too tightly. Wordlessly she sat down, stretched her sore arms and legs, feeling how the stiffness was going to haunt her for a while. She looked at the green haired ninja who had just positioned himself slightly beside her once again, ready to answer her commands, wishing Jakob or Felicia were here instead… Shaking her head, Corrin pushed back the thought with a twinge of shame. Kaze didn't deserve that, he had saved her life and had only been helpful from the start. Jakob would be offended that Kaze had the chance and not him… the princess giggled at the thought of her butler grumpily declaring that he would have done a much better job in front of a stone-faced ninja, offering his back as a mount to transport her… then she realized Jakob would actually do something like that if he had the chance and her giggle devolved into full blown laughter. Furthermore, he would probably ask if she needed a cushion to make it more comfortable! Corrin bent over, her jaw and ribs aching all over. It was good to laugh.
"Alright. I can keep going a bit more." Corrin said when she found her breath again, standing up.
The sun was higher in the clear sky, its rays got warmer yet still pleasantly so as the princess left the training ground. Once again, she couldn't help but look at everything around her. Her gaze was quickly attracted by the castle itself, the difference between its architecture and that of the castles she knew more than ever apparent. The main building, a towering rectangle of white walls ornamented with wooden beam, was flanked by two smaller towers and wing buildings, connected with each other by aerial wooden arches. Blue sky tiles made the rooftops, giving an impression that the castle was part of the sky itself. It was lacking in defenses, thought Corrin, but with such an elevated location, they were not needed. It looked like the builders wanted to create something not just functional, but also beautiful. To be able to build with beauty in mind, without worrying about the storms or conflicts… Corrin was understanding more and more why the people of Nohr envied Hoshido…
A few days later…
With a tempestuous flap of wings the pure white winged horse circled above Corrin. With the wind of the day came the force of the flaps and her long hair instantly went into her face. Holding them out of her eyes, the princess kept looking at the flying mount until it landed in the grass near, hearing faintly the words of its rider.
"There you go. The wind is great today isn't it? You took those curves like a champion."
The pegasus neighed happily at the compliment, folding its left wing to let Hinoka slide form its back. Corrin approached them slowly, looking with fascination as Hinoka scratched the animal behind its ears and gave it a sugar cube. With a lick it caught the cube and crunched it happily, acting just like any other horse.
"She is beautiful."
"Of course she is. It's too bad you can't fly for now." Agreed Hinoka.
The red-haired princess insisted she came to fly with her, but Queen Mikoto formally opposed this decision, fearful that she was still too fragile and that she might have an accident. She could at least accompany the princess during her little excursion in the castle's field. The sun wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as the days before, to the point she adapted perhaps a bit too quickly… The head of the pegasus bumped into her, almost startling her out of her thoughts. Corrin caressed its muzzle, noticing the glint of intelligence in the beast's eyes as it pressed itself against her palm.
"I knew she would like you. If you could I'm sure she wouldn't mind having you on her back."
"Really? I thought they only accepted… certain persons." Said Corrin, catching herself before she could say "Hoshidians".
"Don't be silly. It's true pegasi generally take a single partner for life, but that doesn't mean they will reject everyone else. They do tend to react poorly if anyone try to ride them without their partner though."
Corrin nodded as she passed a hand through the mane and back of the winged horse, marveling at the powerful muscles she could sense underneath. With how she has seen him fly she wasn't too surprised, but still, it had nothing to envy to the powerful breed of Nohr's cavalry. Could it throttle on the ground as quickly too? Maybe not. And it couldn't bear as much armor as well if it needed to fly as graciously. But so unprotected, a single arrow, or worse…
"Haah!" The pegasus had snorted and licked her hand, making Corrin almost jump back at the rough and humid contact. "I don't have apples on me you know." She said to the animal.
"I bet she does." Said Hinoka, getting another sugar cube from her pouch. "Hey Corrin, what do you have in mind? I know that lick, she only does it when I'm feeling anxious or bad. You can tell me."
"Well…" Drifted Corrin, unsure as to whether or not to dig deeper into the memory. "I had a horse. In Nohr."
"Oh." The face of Hinoka darkened immediately when she pronounced that last word, and already the princess was starting to regret even bringing the topic.
Corrin sat in the grass. The ground was softer than she always expected because of those long and smooth grass, unlike the short and dry one of Nohr.
"Horizon was a mare, and she was gifted to me when I was twelve… How old were you when you started to train with your pegasus?"
"Ten. But I only started to ride her at eleven. You miss her, don't you?"
It had happened so fast. An instant she was on her mission with everyone around her and the next she was fighting for her life, leaving behind a trail of her dead men and soldiers, their corpses mangled even after they had been put down… Hinoka sat down her side.
"She is dead. Even with her armor, Horizon was still struck down by arrows. Then an enemy with a hammer…" She couldn't get the words out, the memories itself too horrid to put into word.
"I'm sorry, Corrin. She must have meant a lot to you in that terrible place. I'm sure she doesn't suffer anymore now, riding with the spirits in the wind." Reassured Hinoka, showing the white clouds above.
"I didn't know horses could become spirits. Or that ones from Nohr could?"
"I'm sure your partner deserves it. Even if she doesn't and her spirit incarnates again, perhaps she will be among the newborns pegasi of the following years. If she was as attached to you as you are to her, it will happen."
"That would be nice…" Agreed Corrin as she wiped her moist eyes, trying to imagine what it would be for Horizon to soar through the air, flapping white wings. "Thank you, Hinoka."
"Don't worry about it. What sort of big sister I would be to leave you crying like this, heh?" Said the red-haired princess, closing on and passing her arm around Corrin's shoulders.
They stayed like this for a time, Corrin finding a warm comfort in the presence of the Hoshidian princess. Hinoka really did act like a big sister. It was more and more difficult to think of her as a stranger or someone that could keep up that sort of lie… Hinoka helped her to stand up, taking care not to force on Corrin's bad shoulder.
"Come on, I must bring my partner back to the stables. Don't forget I'm taking you on a ride when you're better."
"Hinoka, wait." Said Corrin, not letting her arm go. "Seeing your pegasus, I thought how it couldn't carry armor. I can't help but fear what a single arrow could do, especially from the sky… Don't you have a way to protect her from that?"
"Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt my partner." Said Hinoka, petting her pegasus' head. "Plus, Nohr can't cross the barrier and fight anymore. Even if I have to fight a hundred dead meat by myself, none of them carry bows."
With an energetic jump Hinoka was on the back of her mount, who spread its wings and took flight. Corrin watched them rising above the trees and flying to the west till the base of the mountain. Once again, Corrin had that intense desire to just jump and join her, as if she could just flap her arms like and dive among the winds…
Tiredly, she took the path back the castle. Looking at the edge, Corrin gazed at the silent Kaze realizing she had completely acclimated to his presence. It wasn't even weird to turn back to speak to him, she was already used to it with her retainer… Wasn't Kaze technically her retainer now? Queen Mikoto did say something along those lines. Anyway she wanted to ask him something else, something she didn't want to ask to Hinoka.
"Kaze, are you sure Hoshido never attacked Nohr in the last years? Not a single time?"
"Completely sure, Lady Corrin. I can assure you even the daimyos closest to the border wouldn't act like this without alerting the shinobi in their territory, and we would never help to hide such actions. We might be determined to protect Hoshido from the shadows, but we don't forsake morality for it."
"But it doesn't make sense. It's because of those attacks that we, that Nohr sends Faceless to Hoshido. To prevent them from raiding the countryside." Insisted Corrin, feeling a disagreeable instinct creeping in the back of her mind. "There is no reason to just do it, they wouldn't."
"I can't speak favorably for Nohr, milady." Admitted Kaze thoughtfully. "But I can definitively assure you, with the Barrier protecting us there is not a single reason for us Hoshidian to harass Nohr. Not like this and not for such a long time until Nohr sent us those monsters."
"But you knew about the attacks, right? Lora… Queen Lora told me you were sent messengers. That all the attempts at opening dialogue about it failed."
"Those messages asked for reparations first and foremost. Something the court would of course not agree on as we never did what we were accused of in the first place. For many those attacks are a lie designed to humiliate the kingdom. Since then the voice of those who reclaim vengeance for the lives lost and the damages caused by the Faceless keep gaining more support."
"That's awful…" Said Corrin, realizing things were much more complicated than she thought.
As they closed to the castle and started to climb the stairs made of white stone, Corrin noticed a small group descending to them. Despite squinting, Corrin's elongated ears picked up their voice before she could recognize their face, three persons, with two speaking jovially about… hairs? The voices stopped almost instantly as they came closer to her and Kaze. Two samurai, a boy and a girl, about her age and a bit older respectively, accompanying… her eyes switched from the impassible face, long hair in a ponytail kept together by red ribbons, the lightly armored blue outfit, and most of all the white and golden bow without string. She hadn't seen him before, in the days since her awakening, but Hinoka had described him clearly enough. Her possibly little brother, the second prince of Hoshido, Takumi. He did look just a bit younger than her.
"Hello, Takumi." Greeted the princess tentatively. "I'm sorry I didn't get to see you sooner."
"Just so you know, I'm not excited to meet you in the slightest." Corrin was taken aback by the answer, her ears going down as she accused the cold, almost aggressive tone of the prince. "From what I've heard, you're quite vocal about defending the Nohrians. On top of that, you say you don't have a single memory of this place. Can you really be called my sister? A princess of Hoshido? I'm not going to accept you with open arms."
The tirade ended in an uncomfortable silence. What was she supposed to say to this? It wasn't like the same questions didn't dwell in her own thoughts as well…
"… You're probably right, Takumi. You have every reason to be suspicious, and, I don't have anything to say that can ease your mind." She admitted in the end, earning an indecipherable look from the prince.
"Humpf. If you plan to take advantage of Ryoma or mother's kindness, I'll never forgive you. Remember that."
And with those words he went down the stairs, leaving his two companions to join him after an instant of… shock? Even they seemed to be surprised by the prince's venom, but it did little for Corrin, who simply watched them take the direction of the training ground. It was as if she just received the kind of scolding Leo reserved for some peoples… the resemblance was a bit startling and it didn't help at all her dampened mood.
"Please don't take his words too much at heart, Lady Corrin. Prince Takumi is known for being moody from time to time."
"It's alright, I understand him. Thank you Kaze." Said Corrin, trying to smile at the green-haired ninja.
Without saying more she started walking again, crossing the large wooden structures framing the stairs up to the castle entrance, moving then in its sun-touched stairs and corridors. From that moment Kaze took the lead, his knowledge of this place guiding the princess through the still unfamiliar environment. Few peoples ever met her route, most of them starring at her with suspicion or curiosity before looking away. It wasn't as if Takumi was the only one showing some measure of mistrust, he was just the first who made it painfully obvious… Going beyond the place where she had been resting for the past few days, Corrin went up the stairs leading to another secluded yet more spacious part of the castle's side tower, unsure of where Kaze was leading her until she noticed the leaning frame of Reina near a door. The scarred woman smiled warmly at her, pointing at the door.
"You can enter, Lady Corrin. Lady Mikoto will see you inside."
"Thank you, Lady Reina." Said Corrin, instinctively reaching for a door handle that wasn't present before remembering the doors were sliding here. She sighed at her own silliness before opening the door, noticing Kaze taking place at the other side of the door from Reina. Just her alone with Queen Mikoto, then?
The room was neatly ordered. A carpet covered part of the floor. A small mattress was on one side of the room, a small coffer on another. Queen Mikoto was sitting near a little writing desk, a little thing that just like the rest of the room seemed so small. When Corrin entered and closed the door she met the radiant and happy visage of the queen of Hoshido.
"Corrin, here you are. Oh, I'm so happy to see you getting better everyday! Come in. This is your room, exactly as you left it all these years ago."
Everything suddenly made sense as Corrin looked at the furniture around. Of course it was small, it was made for a child to use. She could easily picture a young girl using the desk, hiding things inside the coffer and trying to jump to reach the window…
"It felt like I would be accepting the idea that you weren't coming back when I tried to move things. So I couldn't bring myself to do it." Explained Mikoto, her voice faltering under painful remembrance. "Seeing you here again, with me… You really have grown, Corrin."
"Ah… and this is…?" Mumbled Corrin, kneeling and taking a small paper covered in clumsy drawings from the little desk. One of the drawn figures felt familiar.
"Oh, this is a drawing you drew when you were younger. Here. This is father, this is me, and this is you." Said Mikoto, sitting next to her to point at the draw figures.
The princess nodded when her delicate fingers touched the clumsy attempt at drawing a small person with long hair, pointed ears and red eyes… no wonder it felt familiar. She would have little difficulty believing she did draw this as a child, her attempts at drawing ending almost exactly the same when Camilla came in the castle to draw with her for the first time… Corrin put the paper back on the desk, her hands trembling as she touched the wooden furniture. She couldn't lie. She couldn't lie to Queen Mikoto.
"I'm sorry… I don't remember anything at all. I can't remember this drawing or this room. I don't know how to react to all those things you said. Even if you tell me I'm your beloved child, that we are mother and daughter… Sorry, I'm sorry. I can't return those feelings."
A pair of tender hands cupped her cheeks, bringing her head up. Corrin faced the pained and loving visage of Mikoto, her eyes so full of affection it was almost unbearable.
"… Oh, my child. Don't be. There is no helping for all the time that has been stolen between us. But I want us to slowly earn back this lost time. I want us to be a family once again. Nothing will separate us anymore, my dear daughter."
Her hands went from Corrin's cheeks to her back, and the princess surrendered to the embrace, holding the queen as tightly as she was held. Even if she really didn't feel anything special for that woman, she couldn't bear to see her so hurt and sad. She couldn't stand to see that and not give back some of the affection and care she has been shown. It wouldn't be right… After some time, the queen herself broke the embrace, a more serene smile gracing her lips as she softly rearranged Corrin's hairs around her ears.
"Spend time here as much as you like. When you feel better, we'll gather everyone to get you to reconnect together. Just take care of yourself, alright?"
Corrin nodded, and Mikoto gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before standing and leaving the room. Now alone in the place she took a new look at the picture, opened the drawer to discover an old feather and dried up colors, took out a small wooden pegasus from the coffer, checked the mattress… and sat again, looking around. Her own room, her own drawings, her siblings, her mother… she should have felt moved, sad, something. All she could take from it was a blank. Was it a wonder people were suspicious of her?
"I don't think I deserve all this…" Admitted Corrin to herself, looking outside the window as if the sky could answer her.
The sky was clear and the sun graced her with another beautiful day, but she couldn't feel any warmth reach inside…