Chapter Text
Corrin clutched her dragonstone tightly. The air around her was thick and overbearing, and in the dense forest she felt like she was struggling to breathe. In her other hand she held tight to her sword, which she used to chop away at vines that draped themselves over the trail.
She looked down at the ground, trying to ensure that her bare feet didn’t catch on any vines or thorns or sharp rocks. She inhaled a thick cloud of pollen and began hacking. The cough persisted and she leaned against a tree to support herself. She drew a flask of water from her pack and choked some down, finally gasping with relief as the coughing subsided. She took a moment to look around.
Which direction was it again?
She turned. On all sides, the Woods of the Forlorn lay dense and foreboding. She would have to climb through the trees and vines, since the path apparently disappeared into the underbrush. Which way was the path going, anyway?
She looked up at the sky nervously. High above her, the canopy of leaves barely let in any light at all. Her only real source of light was a small metal lantern she carried with her. The aura of light cast a circle of dark shadows that swirled and changed, forming menacing shapes in the undergrowth. She shivered.
If she did this, though, Father would be proud. He would love her, just as he loved her siblings. Her resolve strengthened, she again set off through the woods in the direction she was almost certain was correct.
She arrived at a clearing, a hazy bog-like area where pools of muck bubbled and sputtered. As good a spot as any, she dug through her pack and withdrew a map. It only had crude directions through the woods, but based on the size of the forest and her pace so far, she could expect to be out by…
She looked up. A groan had echoed through the clearing. She squinted into the darkness, looking for the source. Perhaps it was just her imagination. She turned her attention back to the map.
There it was again. She frowned. There was definitely something out there. She lifted her lantern into the air.
“Hello?”
The voice echoed, bouncing off the trees and dissipating in the distance.
“Hello?!” she called out again, louder this time. The groaning came again. Corrin stood and peered into the woods. Suddenly from behind the tree leapt out a large beast. It groaned and lurched towards her.
“Is that a faceless?!” she dropped her pack and planted her feet into a combat-ready position. More faceless crashed through the underbrush. “Dammit!” she looked around.
The faceless had surrounded her. She lunged towards the nearest one, slashing her blade across its torso and drawing a spray of black blood. It screamed and stumbled towards her, swinging its heavy fists. Corrin leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding getting slammed into the dirt.
She looked around, her eyes wild. There was no space to fight, and she couldn’t run away. A faceless stomped towards her, growling. She gripped her dragonstone tighter.
Suddenly, dagger sliced through the thick forest air and buried itself into the faceless’ mask. Corrin turned to see who it was. Another dagger sailed between the trees and hit the faceless, driving it back. Then another. The faceless scattered, wary of their unseen attacker.
A head of pink hair stumbled out of the forest, awkwardly trying and failing to not get caught on any roots.
“I did it!” the figure cried out, making her way towards Corrin. “Oh, thank goodness I arrived in time! Are you okay?”
“Felicia?!” Corrin stared, mouth agape. “I’m fine, b-but…what are you doing here?!”
“I’m sorry!” Felicia stammered, nearly tripping over a tree root. “I was just so worried about you. I had to make sure you were okay.”
Corrin nodded and took her arm, steadying her. “Thanks for your concern, but I was fine! Wasn’t it dangerous trying to follow me on your own?” The two began to make their way through the forest as Corrin hacked at vines and branches in their path with her sword. Felicia stayed close behind, one hand clasped in Corrin’s. Her fingers clutched tightly at Corrin’s, her skin soft and warm. Corrin smiled to herself, finding comfort in the familiar feeling.
“They say the spirits of the dead inhabit this forest,” Felicia whispered quietly, as if worried she might draw the spirits out just by speaking of them. “They search for fresh souls to take…that’s scary, isn’t it?”
Corrin nodded. “I think we have more realistic things to worry about here, Felicia.”
“There was no way I was going to let you face this place all by yourself!” Felicia continued, sounding a little more confident. “It’s not easy to do something behind King Garon’s back, but I somehow managed.”
“Did you tell Jakob and Flora?” Corrin asked, swinging her sword at a thick root in their path. After a few hacks, the path was clear.
Felicia shook her head. “I was going to tell Flora, but I couldn’t find her.”
Corrin paused to take a breather. She took a sip from her flask of water and offered it to Felicia, who declined. She gave Felicia a questioning look. “You couldn’t find her?”
Felicia shook her head. “After I lost you at the Bottomless Canyon, I returned to the castle to report what had happened. Flora started acting strangely…she got all quiet and didn’t want to spend time with me. She’s usually pretty solitary, but this was different.” Corrin sat on a felled tree and patted next to her, indicating that Felicia should sit.
“We…we were both so worried that you were…gone.” Felicia bowed her head solemnly. “I…I think Flora was really torn up about it.” She looked up at Corrin again. “She…she really did care for you a lot, milady. I know she didn’t show it, but…”
Corrin put a hand on Felicia’s shoulder. “I know.” She shifted her hand and wrapped her arm around Felicia, pulling her tight.
“Um…but she was acting strangely, like I said,” Felicia continued. “Then we heard news about the attack on Hoshido. That…that there was a horrible attack on the capital – townspeople slaughtered, the city in ruins, and the queen killed. King Garon said that it was you.” Felicia kicked at the ground absentmindedly. “Flora was so angry. She said some really horrible things about you…I don’t know if you noticed when you returned, but she avoided you entirely. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so mad in my life.”
Corrin nodded.
“Then Flora disappeared.” Felicia concluded. “Some of her things were missing from her room – some clothes, some personal items. She just…left.”
“Felicia, I’m glad you’re here,” Corrin said, offering another half-hug. “But I really think you need to get back to the castle. With Flora gone, won’t they notice your absence too?”
Felicia shook her head. “I’m sure they’re glad to not have me in the way.”
“Don’t say that,” Corrin chastised her. “You’re a hard worker and I’m sure they miss the extra set of hands. Besides, according to…that dragon that Father was talking to, I have to do this alone.”
“Oh!” Felicia cried out, suddenly. “Oh, I forgot that part! I am SO STUPID!” She frowned, obviously disappointed in herself. She punched her leg in frustration.
“Hey, don’t do that!” Corrin said, grabbing her arm. “It’s not a big deal!”
“You won’t be able to pass your test, and it’s all my fault!”
Corrin hugged her tightly. “My test was to subdue the rebellion by myself. I don’t think it’s cheating if we haven’t even made it there yet.” She kissed Felicia’s cheek.
“Oh, Corrin,” Felicia said gently, returning the hug. She pulled away partially, her face inches from Corrin’s. They each leaned forward, bringing their lips closer together.
A groan and a crash echoed through the underbrush.
The two pulled away, both immediately dropping their hands to their weapons.
“Uh-oh,” Corrin hissed. “It looks like we have more company. Do you mind lending a hand?”
Felicia smiled mischievously. “Of course not! That’s why I’m here, milady. I refuse to let you die in this horrible place!”
“Same here,” Corrin nodded. “Let’s do this.”
-
A flurry of snow whipped through the air between the two sisters. Felicia tightened her grip on her dagger.
“Felicia, my foolish sister. Did you really think this rebellion could be solved by a few petty words?”
Felicia nervously surveyed the field. She could hear grunts and clashing of steel in the distance, obscured and muffled by the snowstorm. Against Lady Corrin’s wishes, she had run ahead to try and talk some sense into her irrational sister.
“I’m no fool, Flora!” she cried out, anger welling up inside her. How could she do this?! After all they had been through together… “You’re the one who wants to fight without hearing us out! That in itself is a betrayal of the pride and morality our tribe holds dear!”
Flora laughed callously, unsheathing her own daggers. “You really don’t understand, do you? This goes beyond words.” She swallowed, her face contorting with disgust. “Don’t you realize, all our time in the castle was…I mean, it was…” her voice cracked but she recovered, readying herself into a fighting stance.
“What are you saying, sister?” Felicia pleaded, lowering her own weapon.
“There’s no point in telling you now, after all that’s happened,” Flora said sadly, a hint of pity in her voice. “If you’re too blind to see what’s been happening, that’s on you.”
“You swore to protect her!” Felicia shouted, hot tears steaming on her cheeks. “How can you do this?!”
“I never swore my allegiance,” Flora snapped. “I refused. We were little more than hostages, taken away as children…all to prevent this from happening, to stop the Ice Tribe from rebelling! I often thought of running away, but I never did. I stayed…because of you.” Though her face was locked in an angry glower, Felicia could see she was crying, too.
“Please, Flora! I don’t want to fight you!”
“Then don’t!” Flora shouted. “Join us! Put a stop to this madness!”
Felicia heard a cry and saw as Corrin stumbled out of the snowstorm, hand clutched to her side, blood streaming from her cracked armor.
“Milady!” she ran to Corrin’s side as she collapsed to her knees in the snow.
“I’m sorry, Corrin,” Flora said sternly. “Not for my actions, but for this unfortunate circumstance. As your retainer, I know this is tantamount to treason. But my family…” she looked pointedly at Felicia. “My tribe…we cannot bow down to Nohrian rule.”
Corrin spat blood into the snow. “It’s over, Flora! You and your father are the only ones left! Please!” she pleaded, doubling over in pain. “End this…”
“Lady Corrin, let me help!” Felicia drew her stave and readied herself to heal Corrin’s wounds. As she lifted the staff, a flash of metal streaked through the snow, knocking it from her grip. Flora readied another dagger.
“I will end this,” Flora said, advancing across the icy ground. She lunged forward at Corrin, who looked up at her sadly. Felicia stepped between them, deftly deflecting her sister’s blow.
“Felicia, move!” Flora yelled. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will!”
Felicia planted her feet in the snow over Corrin. “You won’t touch her.”
“Flora,” Corrin said softly. “Please…just talk. Why are you doing this? Can’t you see we’re trying to achieve peace?”
“Peace?!” Flora laughed again, harshly. “Is that what you call it?” She lowered her weapons, satisfied with talking for now, it seemed. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to, milady.” The last word was dripping with venom. “I thought you were different. I thought that, like us, you were a prisoner, a victim of fate. That the angry, violent blood of Nohr didn’t flow through your veins.” She frowned. “I was wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Felicia said, her voice quaking.
“I pitied you,” Flora said disdainfully. “I…I loved you. Like my own sister.” She spat on the ground in front of Corrin. “Now I see what a fool I was. You’re no different than the others. The cruelty inflicted on you throughout your childhood was undeserved, true, but it did little to prevent you from becoming another perpetrator of such cruelness.”
“Please, Flora,” Corrin pleaded. “Listen to me-“
“Listen? Listen?!” Flora laughed. “Did you let the Hoshidans in Shirasagi listen before you murdered them?”
“No, Flora, I-“
“Shut up!” Flora yelled. Again Corrin could see tears dripping from her chin. “Shut up!” she yelled again. “You’re just like them! A puppet for your father, an engine of destruction and death…you’re a killer, Corrin! You started this war, and you chose your side. Now die.” She lunged forward and shoved her sister backwards. Felicia stumbled on the slippery ice and collapsed in a heap.
Flora leapt over Corrin and plunged her daggers downwards. Corrin rolled, bringing her sword up to redirect the blows, which stabbed into the snow with a muffled thud. Even wounded, Corrin’s battle prowess was far beyond many normal fighters. She scrambled to her feet and held her sword out in front of her defensively.
With a clang of steel on steel, Flora attacked again, thrusting her daggers towards her liege. Time and again, Corrin beat back the blows, never returning the attacks. Taking advantage of her focus on Corrin, Felicia ran forward and tackled her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her against the snow. A halo of flame erupted around her, turning the ground to slush and prompting Felicia to hop to her feet and back away. Flora stood up and again charged Corrin, her daggers wreathed in fire magic.
Corrin weakly defended against blow after blow, refusing to strike back.
“Lady Corrin, you have to fight back!” Felicia shouted, sifting through the snow to find her healing stave. “You can’t stay on the defensive!”
Corrin deflected a thrust one second too late, and Flora drove a dagger into her left shoulder. Corrin cried out and let go of her sword with that hand. Wielding one-handed, she now moved even slower. The space between getting attacked and defending herself was growing, each move increasingly sluggish. “No!” Corrin shouted defiantly. “I refuse to hurt her!”
“You fool,” Flora snapped again, kicking outward. She drove a heel into Corrin’s stomach and sent her sprawling backwards into a snowdrift. Corrin lay on the cold ground, blood pooling around her, gasping. For all her complaints about training while wounded or tired, she was thankful that the ability to fight while disabled was drilled into her so thoroughly. She weakly gripped the hilt of her sword.
Flora drove her daggers down again, aiming for Corrin’s chest. Before she could leap forward, her body jerked suddenly. Corrin stared at her.
Flora staggered backwards before stumbling and falling. Corrin could see the hilt of a dagger protruding from her shoulder. Felicia stood behind her, one hand empty, breathing heavily.
“F-Felicia,” Corrin stuttered. “You-“
“She’ll be okay,” Felicia said, her voice uncertain. “It’s just a flesh wound. I think I startled her more than anything.” She rushed to her mistress’ side. “Let me heal your wounds.”
Corrin shook her head. “T-tend to your sister first. I’ll be o-okay…” she leaned her head against the snow, blinking slowly.
“Your wounds are more serious,” Felicia protested. “It’ll only take a minute. Hold still.”
“No, tend to Flora first…” Corrin’s voice trailed off as she drifted into unconsciousness.
-
Corrin pushed open the door to the inn that had been converted into a makeshift hospital. The battle with the Ice Tribe had been fierce, and now they had to tend to the many, many wounded. Corrin had managed to convince everyone that it was in the best interests of everyone – proving that Nohr did indeed care for those under its rule.
She made her way down the hall and turned into a dark room with a solitary bed. A figure lay on the bed, unmoving.
Corrin lit a lantern, filling the room with a soft orange glow. She carried a tray of food which she set on the bedside table.
Flora lay on her side, eyes open, staring at the wall.
“I brought you some dinner,” Corrin said brightly. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted so I just brought a little bit of everything.”
Flora said nothing and made no acknowledgement of Corrin’s presence.
“Um…the rebuilding of the town is going well. Only a few buildings got damaged in the fight, but Kilma says it should be done in the next few days.”
Flora again remained silent.
Corrin sighed. She stood over Flora’s bed and waved a hand in front of her eyes. “Hello? Anyone in there?”
She frowned, her prompts all going unanswered.
“Why didn’t you kill me?” Flora asked, emotionless.
Corrin stared at her, surprised. “I…I couldn’t.”
Still unmoving, Flora repeated herself. “Why not?”
“I love you, Flora. You know that,” Corrin said softly. “May I sit?”
Flora said nothing. Corrin sighed.
“Flora, you need to eat something. Felicia said you haven’t been eating or sleeping. You won’t heal if you keep this up.”
Flora rolled onto her back and sat up, looking up at Corrin. Her eyes were vacant and detached. “You…you don’t even realize what you’ve done to me, do you?”
“What are you talking about?”
Flora smiled sadly and shook her head. “When I sided with my tribe, I knew the conditions were victory or death. I failed.” She balled her fists into her lap. “I…I failed. I can’t stay here.”
“Go back to Jakob at the castle,” Corrin pleaded. “You can get some rest and-“
“You think I can go back to Nohr? Just like that?” Flora snapped. “I’ll be executed as a traitor. You know that as well as I do.”
“Stay with us, then.”
Flora shook her head but said nothing.
Corrin knelt next to the bed, bringing herself level with Flora. “Please,” she pleaded. “For your sister’s sake. For my sake.”
“I…I’m a failure as a servant and a retainer. I’m a failure as a daughter, and a failure as a member of the Ice Tribe. I…” her voice trailed off. She turned to face Corrin, her eyes suddenly dark and serious. “I wish you had killed me when you had the chance.”
“Flora!” Corrin gasped. “How can you say something like that?”
“I…I refuse to stay and fight for Nohr. I can’t join you. I have nowhere to go. You…you’ve condemned me to this hell!” she said, raising her voice. “Why couldn’t you just kill me and get it over with!”
Corrin stood up and put her arms around Flora, pulling her to her chest. “Don’t say that, Flora. Please.” She could see Flora was silently crying, tears rolling down her cheeks though she made no sound.
“I…I’m sorry, milady,” she said out of habit more than anything else. Her nails dug into her palms as she tightened her fists.
“Flora…” Corrin said tenderly, putting a hand on Flora’s cheek. Flora closed her eyes, allowing herself to savor the touch. With her life going to hell in a handbasket, she may as well indulge in what shameful pleasures she still had. She sniffled once, the only audible proof of her crying.
Corrin released her hold. “Can…can I sit?”
Flora nodded, wiping her cheek with one hand. She scooted over in bed and Corrin sat next to her, extending an arm around her.
“Ah!” she winced as Corrin’s hand brushed against her wounded shoulder.
“Oh, sorry!” Corrin apologized quickly. She shifted her hand down to Flora’s lower back and pulled her tight against her.
“I love you, Flora.”
Flora gave a dejected smile. “And I you, milady.”
“I’m sorry that…everything happened the way it did.”
Flora nodded. “Me too.” She turned to face Corrin. “You’ll take care of Felicia while I’m gone, right? Gods know that girl can’t take care of herself.”
“Yeah,” Corrin said. “Um…will you be back?”
“I…I don’t know,” Flora admitted. “I think I just need to work some things out.”
“Okay.” She wrapped herself more tightly around Flora. “Promise me you’ll stay strong. We need you.”
Flora smiled. “Of course, milady.” She returned the hug, her slim arms pulling Corrin tightly.
She let out a single sob before burying her face in Corrin’s shoulder. “I-I-I’m sorry, milady,” she mumbled.
“It’s okay,” Corrin said, stroking her head. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
“Lady Corrin,” Flora said quietly, almost inaudibly.
“Yes, Flora?”
Flora inhaled deeply, drawing in Corrin’s scent. “M-may…May I have a kiss?”
-
Corrin and Felicia stood together, hand in hand, before Kilma’s desk. His office, the space from which he ruled his tribe, was somewhere between a study and a throne room. He sat in an ornately carved wooden chair, a stern frown on his face. The room was lit with oil lamps. Outside, sleet blew against the window and frost crept up along the joints between the glass panels. Kilma pursed his lips.
He brushed back his gray hair and removed his metal facemask.
“My precious daughter, Felicia…what do you have to say for yourself?”
“I’m going with her,” Felicia said. “It is my duty as a retainer, and as a servant of the royal family. Where my master goes, I go.”
Kilma’s eyes flashed with anger, but he remained calm. “After all that they have done to us, you still choose to take their side?”
Felicia shook her head. “No, father. I take the side of my master. She also opposes the cruelty of Garon’s rule. I believe the best place for me to be is at her side.”
Kilma stood up suddenly, looming over the girls. “The best place for you to be is with your people!”
“I…I know that, father. But they have you, and Flora, and-“
“Pah! As if she could do anything to help us. She can barely defend herself, and has proven incompetent in defending our village.”
“Don’t say that!” Corrin said loudly, cutting off his criticism.
“What?” Kilma snarled, glaring at her. “What did you say?”
“Don’t you dare criticize her! Not after what she gave up to defend you!”
“A meaningless ploy that did nothing for our people!” Kilma growled. “Her actions meant nothing, in the end.”
“No! She did what she felt was right. She stood up against the oppression of your people, and she did it at your request! She was willing to die for you! Can’t you see that?” Corrin cried out, anger seeping into her voice. “She gave up so much for you!”
“Who are you to say?!” Kilma took a step closer, fists balled. “You, who stole my daughters away from me. And now you deign to tell me what I may think of them?”
Felicia stepped between them. “Please!” she cried. “Stop fighting! It’s over!”
“I was under the impression the battle was over,” Kilma spat. “But did not dream that my daughter would dare run off with the very monster who did this to us.” He stepped closer, glowering at Felicia, his fierce eyes piercing her. “Do not think that I am blind, dearest Felicia. I see the way you look at her.”
Felicia tried her best to look confident, meeting her father’s gaze with only slight trembling.
“You disgust me.” He frowned, disappointment more than anger on his face.
Corrin clenched her teeth and glared. She squeezed Felicia’s hand, her nails digging into the flesh accidentally.
“I had a husband all picked out for you, you know. A fine boy, who would have made a fine chief one day. But I see you have no interest in such things.”
Corrin stepped forward. Felicia tried to pull her back. They made eye contact and Corrin mouthed something to her silently. She nodded and assented.
“Sir, I am going to be forward with you. For the sake of your people and yourself. I came here as a show of good will, to promise that the Ice Tribe will from now on be treated fairly and justly. I can personally guarantee that I will do everything in my power to ensure that. I…I also came to ask you…” she gulped and took a breath. “I…have come to ask your blessing, as Felicia and I intend to marry.”
Kilma stared, his eyes burning like hot coals. “You abhor me. Words cannot describe my repugnance. You will get no blessing from me. Not now, nor ever. Get out of my sight.” He waved his hand.
Corrin turned to leave and as she walked by Felicia could see tears in her eyes. The door shut behind her and Felicia stood alone, staring at her father.
“Father-“
“You are no daughter of mine.”
Felicia steeled herself. “I will marry her, father. With or without your blessing.”
“Then without,” Kilma said with a heavy finality.
-
Felicia stared at Corrin’s bare back in the darkness, the light strips of faded scars visible in the moonlight streaming through the treehouse window. They lay in bed, sheets wrapped around their legs, Corrin snoring softly into her pillow. Felicia reached out a cautious hand, a single slender finger tracing down the ripples of the girl’s spine, the finger stroking the rough texture of the scar tissue. Corrin snorted and twitched in her sleep, prompting Felicia to withdraw her hand.
In the soft darkness, the two lay together.
Corrin curled up into the fetal position, a tight ball wreathed in mussed white hair. Felicia leaned her face forward and planted her lips on Corrin’s spine. Even now, in the small hours of the night, she felt herself drawn towards her mistress – no, her lover. As Corrin had reminded her time and time again, they were not master and servant anymore; they were equals. Though she still served the royal family, it was to aid in the war effort, same as everyone else. She still took solace in her daily tasks – amongst all the violence and bloodshed, there was comfort to be found in her routine. Washing dishes, folding laundry, dusting and sweeping, tending to the campgrounds…she sighed. It seemed as if more and more these days she found her time occupied by caring for the wounded and dying. Corrin snorted again, rolling onto her back.
Felicia curled up tight against her, resting her head against her shoulder, draping an arm across her bare stomach. She pressed them together, her cold skin welcoming Corrin’s warmth. She smiled, listening to Corrin mumble in her sleep. In the silence, she could hear the gentle pulsing thumps of Corrin’s heartbeat. She rested her head on Corrin’s chest and allowed the sound to lull her to sleep.