Chapter Text
“I never thought I’d be here again,” Silas admitted as they walked into the capital of Nohr. His new Hoshidan brothers had been perplexed by the dark sky, wondering if they’d miscalculated the time it would take to reach the capital.
“We set off before the sun was even in the sky!” Takumi had complained. “And its already night?” Silas explained that it was always this dark in Nohr, perpetually hidden under thunder clouds yet it rarely rained. Ryoma lamented about how when the war was over, he would make sure to aid Norhian peasants and farmers. It was a comforting offer. Just a month prior Silas would have feared a band of Hoshidans marching upon the capital. Now here was among their men—broke bread with their men. Still his amour was marked with the sigil of Nohr a constant reminder of his roots.
Corrin’s voice brought him back to the present. “Neither did I…” Though she had clearly spoken in response to him, her crimson eyes were forward, locked on the stones of the walls around them. Silas felt his heart sink. Here he was getting misty when Corrin was a traitor marked by her own siblings. Yes, Leo had shown her mercy, sympathy even. Camilla must have felt some pity for her sister, seeing as she hadn’t chased her across the continent on her wyvern. But what about Elise? What of Xander… even as children the two were close and Silas… Silas was jealous of that closeness.
No matter what they were doing, no matter the game or conversation, Corrin would come running at the sound of her brother’s voice. Her blood eyes shined like rubies and were big enough for Xander to see his own reflection. The gem of Nohr… in more ways than one. Silas would bite his lip watching his friend leave him behind. He almost cut it clean in half the day he was forbidden to see her again. Imagine: a knight without a lower lip. Then again, imagine a knight who wanted nothing more than to see his childhood love again. Him seeing her leading odd group of Hoshidan retainers and falling off his horse at the hand of her blade. Falling back into that childhood love.
Again, Corrin’s voice brought him back. “Silas, have I made a mistake?” His horse reared as Silas pulled back on the reigns. Corrin had seemed so sure of her actions at Fort Jinya and at every battle since. But that was before she fled Cyrkensia, before losing Flora, before Leo’s stand in the dark forests. Forget Fort Dragonfall—this was the belly of the beast, and there was no turning back.
“You can’t think about that now.” He answered her finally. “You have your family to protect.” He looked over his shoulder, catching a glance of the bright red tones of the Hoshidan family. Silas looked back at Corrin, her eyes still fixed on the horizon. “And on my honor as a knight I will protect you, Corrin.”
Xander had never drawn Siegfried on Corrin. She never realized the sound it made as it was pulled from it’s sheath, like the moans of all the souls it had sliced in half. The echoed through the room, echoed through Corrin’s bones. As demanding as her brother was he never wanted to harm his “little princess.” Bronze swords were perfect for practice: intimidating, hefty, and real. She had been afraid when Xander would charge at her with sword in hand, stopping just before the blade touched her neck. Now there would be no stopping.
It was as if he had heard her thoughts. “Once and for all.” With his blade held high Xander got into his fighting stance, a figure she knew well. Yet Corrin did not challenge him. “Brother please!”
“Silence!”
“Xander!” Corrin refused to relent. “Father is not the man we once knew. Surely to hear it in his words, how he orders you to kill your own family.”
“I will not—“
“Surely you’ve seen it in his eyes!” Corrin took a step forward, sword held behind her. “That is not our father.”
Xander grit his teeth, Corrin could almost hear it across the room. “You lost the right to call him your father the day you chose those Hoshidan scum!”
Corrin heard Takumi pull at his bow and the hum of lighting as Ryoma pulled at his swords. She signaled her brothers to heed, never taking her eyes of Xander. “Xander… remember what we used to say to each other. That when the time was right and the crown was yours we would rule together.”
For once the sound of violence halted in the castle. There was no sheen of iron or chorus of tomes. “The dream can still happen Xander…” Her hand extended to man across from her. “Help us fight Garon and we can be at each other’s sides again! Please.”
Corrin thought she saw Xander’s hand shake. “How dare you?” He took on the soul of the lion that graced his shield. “I will defend my homeland!”
No one saw the blonde girl running until it was too late. Until Xander’s sword had cut through the air and through the pink bow atop her dress. Neither Xander nor Corrin heard the battle begin around them. Both only heard their heart beat as they ran to their sister.
Outside the room Hoshidans fought Nohrians as they always had, but now swords came down through the air with a coldness steel had never known, and arrows flew like doves towards their targets. Quiet and striking. Every man knew there was no battle after this one. A man could die so his king could live, or survive just to see his kingdom taken over by bastard conquerors.
Inside the room Xander held Elise’s body, while Corrin pressed her hand on the gash across her chest. Even then she knew it was futile. “Elise!” Xander shouted as if his youngest sister were across the room. “Elise, speak to me!” With her free hand Corrin pushed a strand of blonde out of Elise’s face. Your hair was always so nice, sister, Corrin thought. She didn’t dare speak for fear her voice wouldn’t hold.
Despite the pain Elise did not cry out. She did not yell as her brother did. Instead she spoke as if she were just about to drift to sleep. “Lay down… your swords… kindness… an-and warmth. Tears.”
“Save your strength.” Corrin choked, her vision of Elise fading in the pools filling her eyes.
“Brother… sister…” Tears fell from Elise’ eyes. An alien drop appeared on her forehead. Corrin looked away from her sister to see Xander’s cheeks shining with tears. When she looked back Elise was gone.
When the army broke down the door, Silas feared the worst. Yet somehow, fate managed to be blacker than even his worst nightmare. Princess Elise’s body was on the ground, her dress no longer the light pinks and whites she was known for. Now she was just black and red, colors befitting of a Norhian princess. Sakura was above her, holding her staff but having long since given up trying to revive her friend. Azura held the girl’s shoulder’s.
“Azura, what happened here?” Silas asked, not daring to move past the doorway. He knew both girls well enough but felt no right to step between them and the dead girl. The dead princess. Azura just shook her head.
Refusing to look at Elise’s corpse again Silas turned away, only to see Corrin bend over what looked to be… “She beat him.”
Once Xander opened himself up it was easy to drive the blade into his torso. Corrin had thought that it would be like stabbing a boulder. How could she just cut down the man she loved as if he were any other solider. Yet the Yato had no trouble breaking the skin, tearing up his insides. When her eyes met his she felt an instant regret. So this is what he felt when he realized it was Elise who he had cut down. She wanted to scream, but instead she just bit her lip and pulled the sword out swiftly same as a butcher.
He was much bigger than her, but still she managed to drag him to the corner of the room, sitting him upright. “Xander…” She’d given up hiding her tears as soon as his body hit the floor.
“My little princess… you’ve done well.”
Her shoulder’s shook and her tears fell into her brother’s lap. “I-I learned everything from you.”
“Look at me…” She followed orders like the dutiful sister she was. “I always loved… your eyes. Seeing myself in them as we sparred… when we laid together. I never thought I could hate those eyes.”
“Xander don’t—“
“Father… you must—“
Corrin’s hand held his cheek, her thumb resting on his lips as she shushed him. “Please forgive me. I don’t deserve it I know but please. I did what I thought was right.”
Xander’s eyes were closed but his lips parted into a smile. “I’m proud of you… little princess.”
Corrin buried her head in Xander’s chest. The salt of her tears mixing with his blood. She sat there, waiting to feel his hand caress her hair. Wishing he would call her his little princess once again. Wanting to feel his lips on her ear as he whispered to her. Instead she felt a hand touch her back. Still keeping her head on Xander’s cold chest she saw Azura sitting on her knees beside her. There were specks of blood on her white dress. Corrin felt a tug in her throat. All this and yet the sight of crimson—perhaps belonging to Elise, or Xander, or some nameless solider, make her want to puke.
A once forgotten voice spoke. “Corrin.” Silas stood, holding Yato in his hands. The gold blade shone in the dim light. She had dropped it where Xander last stood. And he had whipped it clean for her, knowing full well that she would not touch another drop of her brother’s blood. But what did it really matter?
It had taken months to rebuilt. Not just Nohr but Hoshido as well. And among the ruins stood a new statue in memory of Lady Mikoto. Meanwhile in Nohr all reminisces of Garron had been torn down. Cheve was liberated, brutes like Hans either executed or jailed, and the dark mages disbanded with their tomes destroyed. Only the new king Leo was allowed to keep her magic, and act of friendship more than an act of mercy.
Despite it all Silas found it easy to smile at the feast in Hoshido. He had not returned to Hoshido with his friends, instead staying behind in Nohr to help rebuilt and reestablish the monarchy. Though most saw it to be a shell of it’s former self, without the power of mages and an army behind the crown. All that was left was Lord Leo, Lady Camillia giving up her title as soon as the smoke had cleared. Yet she did still come to the feast, chatting with the Hoshido family like old friends. As it should be. Had it not been for Garon perhaps the two families would have been friends long ago.
Silas too found himself chatting with the royals, honored to have their time. Sure they had fought alongside one another but there were hundreds of persons to be met with. A knight of Nohr was hardly high on the list—though Sakura argued otherwise. “I’m so happy to see you! How are things in Norh?” The girl chirped.
“Moving along. I can’t thank you enough for the rations your family has sent our people.”
“Th-that’s mostly Ryoma’s doing.” Her cheeks turned as pink as her hair and Silas smiled. The princess had matured yes, but there was still that shyness he knew from the camps.
“As I recall there were also quite a few flower seeds sent as well. The local girls love tending to their gardens. They especially enjoy seeing the new flowers. Orchids aren’t native to Nohr you know.”
“I-I wasn’t sure… they’re not—not wilting are they?”
“No,” Silas laughed. “In fact they’re growing quite well. Some of us are afraid they’ll start sprouting like weeds all around Nohr!”
Sakura managed to smile. “That would be lovely. The p-purple petals are just l-like the royal colors.”
“That’s what I’ve assured my men.” He looked around the banquet hall. “Have you seen Corrin?”
Sakura’s smile disappeared. “N-no. S-sorry.” Silas sighed, his face falling as well. “I’m sure she’d be happy to see you!” The young girl assured the knight. “She’s just be well… she doesn’t like parties.”
“Neither do you.” He pointed out. “Thank you again, Sakura.”
Silas managed to catch every member of the royal family, and every conversation ended the same. “Where is Corrin.”
“I don’t know but I wish I was with her.” Takumi’s arms were crossed over his chest. It was odd seeing him in a formal kimono as opposed to his usual garb. Despite the soft looking fabric, the prince’s face was sour—as if the outfit was ill fitting. “I don’t know half these people. And the other half I don’t really like.”
“That’s… pretty blunt for a prince.”
Takumi scoffed. “Stupid rotations…”
Silas was about to ask him what he meant when three people cut in. “Takumi! Stop crossing your arms like that you’re hiding the best part of it!” Two girl’s flanked Oboro’s side. Silas assumed they were nobles, going off the gold in their hair and hanging off their ears. “I was just telling these two about the obi—come on now!”
Without another word Takumi relaxed his arms, revealing a dark blue wrap with a silver scene sewn at the bottom. It showed what looked like a typical Hoshidan courtyard. The girl’s oohed at the design, and Oboro beamed. “Prince Takumi isn’t the type to wear loud fabrics—and he really shouldn’t. Anything too loud would drown out his royal completion. So instead I gave him this statement piece which I hand sewed—“ It was at that point Silas lost the conversation thread. He looked to Takumi for help but found the prince smiling of all things.
Silas decided to look for Corrin on his own.
The banquets were all starting to blur together. First there was the banquet for the return of the royal family to the capital, then the banquet celebrating the first day of rebuilding, then the one after the peace treaty between Hoshido and Nohr had been signed (that one had been memorable since Leo was there). On and on it went. What was it eve for anymore? Corrin looked out over the lake, the sleeves of her kimono blowing in the wind. Sometime the breeze frightened her. It meant her skin was exposed to a blade or a poison dart. For months she wore nothing but the custom armor the now dead king Garron had given her. It had been a touching gift from her father… now she might as well give it up to the forge to make new swords.
“Lovely night…”
Corrin’s heart skipped a beat. She gripped the bannister of the gazebo, wondering if this was all a dream.
“Azura!” Corrin had raced down the steps “No—“ She grabbed at the blue rays of light, trying to hold on to some part of the girl she had grown to care for. “No! I can’t lose you too!” Her hands turned white, wrapping around the bits of Azura that still existed in this world. The blue hair girl felt none of it. And Corrin looked into her golden gaze.
“Can I see you… smile one last time?”
That had been it. One last smile—far from the last river of tears. Gold and ruby met, crown jewels of Hoshido and Nohr. Right here… here is where they first met. “Azura…” Corrin spoke finally.
Azura looked back at the lake. “Isn’t it beautiful? This lake. I spent so many days here just looking out over it.” Corrin opened her mouth to ask—to beg Azura to stay, but the other girl spoke first. “Join me?” Corrin wasn’t sure how much more her heart could take. “Look… please, just look.” She blinked, coming to terms with what her friend really meant.
Corrin complied, looking out over the lake. At first there was silence. Then, the first note in a familiar melody.
“You are the ocean’s grey waves…”
“Corrin?”
She jumped back, grabbing the banister once again. Silas stood just outside the gazebo, looking up at her. “Y-you scared me.”
The knight laughed. “I find it hard to believe I scared the legendary princess Corrin.”
“Is that what they’re calling me now?”
“Well… you did end a century long feud.” Silas regretting saying anything when he saw the look in her eyes. Legendary princess… princess of what? Hoshido? Nohr? By blood she was neither. By title she had been both.
The two just stared at one another in silence. Silas had never taken the time to see how much his friend had grown. She was taller, of course, her face thinner. Her body was more like Camilla’s than Hinoka’s, rolling like mountains. And her eyes had grown… truly a gift as they were her most striking features. Yet standing below her he could not see himself in them. It was like trying to find his reflection in on a dull sword’s edge.
Corrin broke the silence. “Silas, have I made a mistake?”