Author's Note: Hey, everyone! I'm, um...I'm back?

Firstly, apologies for the impromptu hiatus; I kinda fell into a writing slump and got distracted by a bunch of different things in my personal life, leading me to have a difficult time attempting to find the time - and motivation - to get back into the groove of writing. But, that was then, and this is now. I'm hoping to get back towards posting regularly again for all of my works. And, rest assured, this story in particular isn't finished yet! Case in point, what better occasion to come out of a slump than with the release of a new Fjorm alt (which I was able to acquire)?

Now then, I believe this has been a long time coming, so I hope you all enjoy this latest entry and that you all have a fantastic day!

Alexlu1997: Oh, believe you me, I can see Fjorm "subtly" (read: not-so-subtly!) butting heads with Seidr - and all her time variants - over Kiran, if Seidr herself may not realize it!

FireEmblemMaster101: Ah, Sylvain. Doing his best in perhaps the not most optimal way possible, though I will concede he is very perceptive when he wants to be. And yes, we can't forget the usual Sylvain-Felix comedic back and forth; a routine I've come to re-enjoy since starting my newest gaming focus, Fire Emblem: Three Hopes!

Half-beastdragonsoul2013: Heartwarming? Yes, definitely. Mildly unsettling and invasive? ...also yes. Can never have too much wholesome content!

LuigiG54: Aww, thank you; I sincerely hope that you are doing better! Also, awesome to hear that my writing has inspired the creation of artwork; I hope it was to your liking!

Pikatwig: I'm so glad you enjoyed the previous chapter! And also awesome to hear that you're a fan of one of my other works; that's great to hear! Thank you for your suggestion, and I hope I can continue providing quality content for all us KiranxFjorm enjoyers!

Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Thanks for the review! Ah, Fjorm's performance - truly a pivotal moment for FEH and KiranxFjorm shippers!

Brian303: You bet I am! We're not finished yet!


Breaking the Ice

"Ah, there you are, Flora and Felicia!"

Fjorm smiled as she approached the Ice Tribe twins, both girls turning their heads at the sound of Fjorm's voice.

"O-Oh! Hello, Princess Fjorm!" Felicia immediately greeted with a hasty, yet respectful, bow of her head before smiling nervously at the approaching Nifl princess. Beside her, Flora gave a serene smile and graceful bow as she offered her own greeting.

"Hello there, Princess Fjorm. Was there something you required of my sister and I?" Flora asked politely once Fjorm had stopped a few feet in front of the two maids.

Shaking her head, Fjorm replied, "Oh, no, not at the moment." Giving a pleasant smile, Fjorm elaborated, "I just wanted to offer you two my sincerest thanks for your efforts in ensuring the success of this festival of ice!"

Both sisters beamed with pride at Fjorm's praise, albeit with varying degrees of decorum. As Felicia giggled bashfully, Flora responded calmly, "It is our honor to offer our assistance, Princess Fjorm. As members of the Ice Tribe, Felicia and I felt it was our duty to ensure this festival be as successful as possible." With a proud smile, Flora asked, "May I assume the festival is to Lady Nifl's liking as it is to yours?"

"Oh, yes!" Fjorm responded enthusiastically as she placed her hands together in front of her. "Lady Nifl appears to be enjoying this festival very much!"

"R-Really? Phew, that's a relief!" Felicia commented with a reassured sigh. "I was afraid she wouldn't like it and freeze us solid!"

"Felicia!" Flora lightly scolded her sister with a disapproving frown before turning her attention back to Fjorm with an apologetic expression. "I apologize for my sister's uncouth comment, Princess Fjorm!"

Giggling softly, Fjorm shook her head as she replied, "Oh, please, do not apologize, Flora! I know Felicia meant no offense." Addressing both sisters, Fjorm added, "I know Lady Nifl may appear…intimidating and not easily pleased, but I assure you that she is enjoying her time here at the festival. A-At least, that is the impression I have received."

Mildly placated by Fjorm's reassurance, Flora offered a soft hum of acknowledgement as Felicia spoke up beside her. "By the way, where is Lady Nifl? Wasn't she attending the festival with you, Princess Fjorm?"

At Felicia's question, a thoughtful frown crossed Fjorm's face. "Well, yes, she was," The Nifl princess answered. "However, I…am not sure where she is currently. She excused herself from me not too long ago. When I asked where she was heading, she told me not to concern myself with her business before walking off."

"Hmm, well, I'm sure she had a good reason to leave your side for the moment," Flora offered in a patient tone. "Perhaps she wanted you to take the time to enjoy the festival yourself without her presence? Attending a festival with a nation's founding deity might seem…intimidating to many casual attendees."

"Yeah, that could be it!" Felicia agreed with a nod of her head. Her smile then turned slightly mischievous as she added, "Maybe Lady Nifl wanted you to enjoy the festival with…other people from the Order of Heroes! Like…Kiran, for example?"

"Huh? Um, perhaps you're right," Fjorm responded, her expression becoming somewhat reserved at Felicia's pointed comment. "Yes, that might be true. Perhaps…Lady Nifl wanted me to share my homeland's culture with Ki- er, o-others in the Order of Heroes who are not as well versed in our culture and customs!"

A neutral expression crosses Flora's face before it shifts back into its previous, polite expression. "That is certainly a possibility, Princess Fjorm. Or it could be Lady Nifl intended for you to simply relax and enjoy the festival with…whomever you choose. Even if you are royalty, it is important for you to take the time to rest as well."

"Er, y-yes, you are right, Flora," Fjorm said with a slightly embarrassed smile, one hand placed lightly atop her chest in a not-so-subtle attempt to still her racing heart. "Apologies, it seems I was getting ahead of myself. Gunnthrá often chides for me taking things like this a bit too seriously as well." Shaking her head, a look of determination crosses Fjorm's expression as she says, "Very well, I will endeavor to enjoy this festival to the best of my ability!"

Felicia and Flora share a soft, polite chuckle with each other before Flora responds, "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Princess Fjorm. Please let Felicia and I know if there is anything we can do to enrich your enjoyment of the festival."

"Oh, yes! Please don't hesitate to ask us for anything!" Felicia eagerly echoed with a large smile. "In fact, if you need help finding Kiran, I'd be more than happy to help-"

"That will be unnecessary."

"Hm?" Recognizing the familiar, icy voice addressing them, Fjorm quickly turns around to see Nifl approaching them with her usual aloof expression on her face…accompanied closely by another individual. "Oh, Lady Nifl! And…K-Kiran?"

Grunting softly in exertion as he steps through the snow, the summoner looks up with a cheerful expression as he greets, "Oh, hey, Fjorm! And hello to you both as well, Felicia and Flora."

At the summoner's greeting, the two maids give short bows before Flora says with a warm smile on her face, "Greetings, Kiran. I trust you are enjoying the festival?"

"Oh, yeah! I am, thank you," Kiran replies with a grin before his attention turned to Fjorm. "So, Fjorm? What did you need me for?"

"I…beg your pardon?" Fjorm replied with a confused expression on her face as she meets Kiran's gaze. "I'm sorry, Kiran, I'm afraid I don't-"

"Cease this stuttering, Fjorm," Nifl interrupted curtly, her aloof expression betraying a hint of exasperation. "I did not bring this human to you so that you could make a fool of yourself before us all."

Taken aback by Nifl's icy words, Fjorm promptly closed her mouth as she attempted to piece together why Nifl had brought Kiran to her. Fortunately, she was saved by the sound of said summoner clearing his throat somewhat awkwardly.

"Um, Lady Nifl said you wanted to see me. Something having to do with the festival?" Kiran said, a patient smile on his face as he waited for Fjorm's response.

Before the baffled Nifl princess could even respond, Felicia – unfortunately – beat her to the punch. "Oh, how convenient!" The pink haired maid said with a delighted smile, a hint of mischief in her tone. "We were just talking about how Princess Fjorm wanted to show you around the festival, Kiran!"

"Ah!" Fjorm gasped softly at Felicia's brazen words, her cheeks flushing softly. In front of her, Kiran began to speak again.

"Oh, really?" The summoner glanced at Fjorm with a questioning gaze as he asked curiously, "Is that true, Fjorm?"

"U-Um, well…" Fjorm stumbled as she turned her attention back to Kiran, slightly flustered at being put on the spot so unexpectedly. She fought hard to suppress the warmth creeping into her cheeks as she could practically feel multiple pairs of eyes on her. "Th-That is…"

A scoff cut through the tense atmosphere as everyone's attention was drawn to Nifl. "Pathetic," The ice dragon said as she shot Fjorm a disapproving glare. "If you have this much difficulty making such a simple request, how is it you intend to invite this human to your home?"

"Th-That's…!" Fjorm feared her heart might stop at that very moment as Nifl revealed her desire to everyone present, Kiran included. The sound of Felicia's barely restrained giggles behind her did little to ease her hammering heart or stave off the blush that now threatened to consume her whole face.

"Huh?" Kiran said with a confused expression, his gaze darting quickly from Fjorm to Nifl and then to Felicia and Flora's expressions. "What about going to visit-"

"K-Kiran…"

The rest of Kiran's sentence was quickly cut off by Fjorm, who stepped up to the surprised summoner with a demure expression. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Fjorm did her best to keep her voice steady as she said, "Um, might you be interested in…accompanying me to see the festival? I…would be happy to share with you anything you'd wish to know about my homeland as we do."

Blinking for a moment, Kiran chuckled as he nodded. "Oh, sure, Fjorm! That sounds good to me; I'd be happy to learn more about Nifl as well."

A relieved smile stretches across Fjorm's face as she replies, "Great! I-I mean, thank you, Kiran." Turning her gaze to Nifl, Fjorm smiles as she says, "O-Of course, we would be happy to have you accompany us as well, Lady Nifl."

"Cease your foolishness, Fjorm," Nifl responded without hesitation. "I have no interest being party to your frivolities." Casting her gaze away from Fjorm and Kiran, Nifl continued, "I brought you the summoner so that you may drag him along in your errands instead of I…that is all."

"A-Ah, I see," Fjorm replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice, before speaking again in a hopeful tone, "B-But, perhaps…you might join Kiran and I later for the festival's conclusion?"

"…hm," was all the response Fjorm received from Nifl.

Seemingly satisfied with that response, Fjorm turned to Kiran and said, "Well, Kiran, let us be off. Please do not hesitate to ask me anything about my homeland!"

Chuckling, Kiran nodded as he offered his arm to Fjorm, which the Nifl princess bashfully accepted by looping her arm through the summoner's. "Alright, if you say so! Actually, I was curious about…"

As the duo began making their way to the festival, Felicia sighed wistfully as she and Flora watched them depart. "Awww, how precious!" The pink-haired maid gushed before turning to Flora in excitement. "Come on, Flora! Let's follow them!"

"Felicia! Don't be so shameless!" Flora lightly scolded her sister once more. "We have our own duties to attend to still." After a brief pause, Flora schools her expression back into a mask of professionalism as she begins walking off towards the festival…conveniently in the same general direction as Fjorm and Kiran. "Let us be off, sister."

Giggling softly, Felicia nods her head without a word as she followed after Flora, leaving Nifl the only one remaining in the now vacant area as she discreetly watched all four individuals depart, her eyes focused especially on Fjorm and Kiran.

"…noisy," Nifl murmured softly to herself.