Author's Note: The following is a Fire Emblem: Fates fan fiction. The avatar is female and called by the default name of Corrin; the story takes place in a universe where Corrin chose to support her adoptive Nohrian family rather than her birth family of Hoshido. Please, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fire Emblem.

Edited for typos on August 18th, 2016

Chapter one: The Confession

Corrin sat on the low wall that ran along the streets of her private castle. "Castle" though it was called, it was actually a small Deep Realm, consisting of a grassy courtyard lined with streets, with useful houses and shops on either side. Private it might be called, but Corrin shared the space with all of her allies, and had but a single one-room house to call her own.

But it won't be just mine for long, she thought. Soon, it will belong to us — Niles and myself.

Last night, in the very spot where Corrin now sat, Niles had suddenly bent down on one knee and proposed to her. She was still reeling; when she had first met Niles, Corrin had thought he was a cruel, aloof man who could never keep any friend long enough to become close. Still, she had tried her best to befriend him, but never with the anticipation of uncovering the rusty emotion of love and a new passion of protectiveness.

"I never thought I could love anyone the way I love you." Niles had said. "It's a weakness, I suppose."

Corrin smiled, saying aloud, "He still tries to hide it, but he really is such a sweet man!"

"Who is, darling?"

Corrin fell off the wall, landing on her hands and knees in the dirt. She scrambled to her feet and found all four of her siblings — Elsie, Leo, Camilla, and Xander — staring at her. Her face began to burn.

"H-hi, everyone." Corrin stammered. "Wh-what are you all doing out here at this time?"

"Watching you squirm, apparently," Leo said, smirking. "Who were you talking about back there?"

"Back where?" Corrin asked — too quickly, she thought.

"You know when." Elise was giggling with anticipation. "You said, 'Though he tries to hide it, he's such a sweet man!'" Elise pretended to be Corrin by fluttering her lashes and panting in between words. She laughed again. "Who did you mean? Tell us, tell us!"

"Was it me?" Leo asked.

Camilla patted Leo's head and laughed along with Elise. "Silly little brother, Corrin wasn't taking about one of her siblings. Obviously, wittle Cowwin must be in looove!"

"Love!" Leo gasped, looking suddenly as nervous as Corrin felt.

Xander chuckled. "It is not a bad word, Leo. Corrin is an adult — it is not strange that she should feel some slight stirring at this time in her life. And considering the situation, when her life is put on the line every day, it is all the more likely that some 'crush' should develop."

"... Um, Xander?" Corrin muttered. "I do not wish to interrupt your psychological study, but I think you should know that what I feel is far from a 'slight stirring'…"

Xander nodded eagerly. "Of course, little princess. I do not mean to doubt your devotion."

Corrin's crippling embarrassment melted in the heat of crimson anger. "Do not patronize me, Brother!" she shouted. "You are right that I am no longer a child, but what you are referring to is no more than an adolescent fling!" Corrin balled her fists at her sides. "I am a grown woman! And whether you all see me as such or not doesn't matter, for Ni-!"

No no no, you madwoman! You can't just screech your news at them!

Corrin's rage defaulted. Her shoulders slumped, her fists relaxed; she felt like beating her head against a wall. "I'm so sorry." She sighed. "I say I'm a grown woman, all while throwing a temper tantrum like a toddler."

Everyone apologized in turn. Xander said, "I am to blame, Corrin. First I eavesdrop on you, then I insult you. You must understand, it is difficult for me to think of one of my little sisters in love."

Xander smiled. Corrin smiled shyly back. "Of course I understand. I forgive you."

"Hurray!" shouted Elise. "Now that that's out of the way, tell us who your crush is!"

"Is he gorgeous?" asked Camilla.

"Is he rich?" asked Elise.

"Is his family respectable?" asked Xander.

"Do we really have to talk about this...?" whined Leo.

Corrin stared at her feet. "Well, I would like to discuss this... topic with all of you. B-but not if you're uncomfortable!" she said quickly.

"Yes we do so have to discuss it!" Elise stomped her foot. "Ignore Leo, Corrin, and tell us!"

"Well..." Corrin began slowly. "He is handsome, I think. He's not very rich, Elise, heheh — at all. And you don't have to worry, Xander, about his family bringing disgrace to me, because he doesn't actually, ah, have one."

All four of Corrin's siblings stared at her, unblinking. She knew what they were wondering, however afraid they were to ask.

She took a deep breath and, ignoring the trembling in her stomach and chest, Corrin squeaked out the name. "I... am in love with... Niles."

All was quiet. Corrin raised her head slowly and peered into the eyes of each of her siblings. Elise looked confused, as if she were trying rather hard to remember who Niles was. Leo looked even more embarrassed than he had previously; his cheeks were intensely red, as though it were he who had just confessed to some love. Camilla smiled — but it was an empty smile, a tentative front meant to distract Corrin while Camilla decided how to proceed. Xander's expression nearly matched Camilla's, but his pleasant smile was not so convincing.

Corrin's eyes teared up, finally eliciting a response from her siblings.

"That's... wonderful, Corrin!" Xander exclaimed, too loudly. "I'm very happy… you told us."

"Being in love," said Camilla, "is good for the skin. So you'll become even more beautiful! How wonderful!"

Leo could still say nothing; his mouth opened and closed like a suffocating fish. Even Elise adopted a patronizing smirk as she hugged Corrin and said, "That's really neat, Corrin! ... Niles? Really?"

Camilla and Xander gave her a harsh look. Elise shrugged her shoulders. "I was just wondering! Niles seems like a weird choice for anyone's first love."

"That may be your opinion," said Xander, "but it is obviously not shared by Corrin. You should congratulate her, support her; her feelings are still very fragile at this time, and should not be subjected to rational discussion just yet."

Corrin wanted to scream. "Enough, enough! I can not listen to this anymore!"

"See?" Xander crossed his arms and stared disapprovingly at Elise. "See what your unwanted opinion has wrought?"

"Not her!" shouted Corrin. "Not just her, anyway. All of you, especially yourself, Xander, have said nothing remotely kind or at the very least respectful since you forced — forced! — my confidence. I wished so desperately for this moment to be one of utter happiness and cheer, but you have dashed all of my hopes for that! So I'll just say it: I love Niles, and he loves me. As of last night, we are engaged to be married. Good night!"

And Corrin fled to her home.