phoenixstrut | (no subject)

The fight with Corrin and Hoshido was his last memory. Between that and Elise taking a deadly blow for Corrin before that. He knew what would happen to him. He'd die for his kingdom, his family. Although he wished it could have been different. That Corrin would have their side.

But, that was not to be. Instead, he was somewhere between awake and asleep... apparently not as dead as he thought he would be. But, opening his eyes, he wasn't in the castle. He was surrounded by people...no, not people... surrounding him. They had wings. It was strange. And considering Siegfried wasn't in his hand anymore, he wasn't too wary to move that fast.

"Where... am I?"

The woman at the center of the guards starts to take a step forward and answer the stranger's question, but is abruptly cut off by one of the decorated soldiers. She scowls, but ya least the question is answered.

"The High," is the terse response, paired with a narrowed gaze of appraisal. While Dove is immediately working her Light through the crowd to read the man from afar, it seems her guard prefers interrogation outright, whatever the man's physical state. "Who are you?"

"Prince Xander of Nohr... well, former, at this point." A reply as he eyes the man asking the questions. Normally he'd give them a scowl, but he wasn't willing to risk getting himself even more injured.

"What is this... The High?"

The response earns a scoff from the guard, and a confused look. Obviously this man must be mad. "What's 'Nohr' supposed to be? And how did you get here?"

"The kingdom I was raised in. Shares a continent with Hoshido." He closes his eyes for a moment.

"Well, the last thing I remember was fighting with the Hoshidan royals and my brother. And judging by the blood on my armor, I believe I died."

Ah, something seems to click with those about him, and the watching eyes all widen.

"You were human."

This time, it's not the barking voice of the guard addressing him, but one much more gentle. None of those places are recognizable to her, but she's never claimed to be one of the scholars. She does make a note of it to look into later- if there is one.

The guards, for whatever reason, have become more tense, tightening their grips yet again on their weapons, and another man snaps out at him, "who brought you here?"

"I don't know." Closing his eyes to think a moment.

"I believe I died on the throne room floor. After that? I know nothing until I opened my eyes here." He was tired of lying on the ground, but at the same time, he didn't want to move and startle anyone with weapons they were not gripping tighter.

That doesn't seem possible. Or maybe the guard jay likes to snap. "Who brought you-"

"You can tell as well as I that he's telling you the truth, Galen." It's Dove's turn to interrupt, and while the tone is stern and full of authority, there's still a hesitancy deep in those bright amber eyes. "... and I won't have him bleeding out on my stairs. Move him to the infirmary and I'll handle this."

Something seems to have clicked in her mind, and despite the confused -- and some obviously disapproving-- looks from her elders, two soldiers give her their full attention... but hesitate. There's chatter about her, some of them recommending she not take such a hasty approach, and others suggesting which infirmary to visit. She's quick to dispel it all, her eyes never leaving the stranger. "The Royal infirmary. I want him close-by... and guarded."

From anyone getting to him? From him getting out and causing issues? ....for her own council's comfort?

She narrows her eyes. "That was an order," she tells them coolly, sternly but... perhaps not quite as used to her power as she should be.

Edited 2018-05-13 03:45 (UTC)

Xander sighed and closed his eyes again as the angels discussed what to do with him. He was keeping quiet again, the new woman seemed to have things in hand. He was going to be sent to an infirmary, which was probably good, considering he was still bleeding quite a bit.

He'd wait until there were less people to thank the woman who came to his aid.

Dove watches a moment as two guards from behind the fist step forward to find out if the man is able to make it to his feet with their help. Either way, they'll be the ones escorting him into the mansion he had been dropped in front of and finding him a bed in the infirmary.

Must be odd, the feeling of heavy wings at your back when they've only just appeared.

The infirmary's overseer is startled by the group's arrival, but goes about her business as directed. It's only a few minutes after they've gotten him settled that Dove reappears, flanked this time by only two men and a maid, all of whom are directed to stay outside the room.

One of the men protests, and she relents with a sigh, allowing him to stay at the door instead, before she turns her full attention to the man on the bed as his armor is removed.

The wings were a surprise once he got off his back. He thought the bumps under him had been his cape in a weird position, but no... he was something with wings now. Maybe even one of these angels? He didn't know.

He sits on the bed, assisting the angels around him with the latches on his armor, surprised by the amount of blood on them.

He... should be in hell for what he's done. Instead, why was he here?

Dove stands back, out of the way as the armor is removed and the cloth peeled away, studying him in silence and looking like she can't quite decide how she feels about this. Is he a victim, a pawn used by the enemy? A challenge, perhaps? Or is he something else altogether with no relation at all?

....he feels more confused than anything, but that undercurrent of dark power has her on edge. Still, there's no use in interrogating a wounded man.

When the last of the clothing is peeled from his torso, she steps forward, dismissing the other angels with a simple 'leave us' and a nod. "Find Marcus and have him bring Galen the Guide records from the past few days."

The worker angels seem perplexed, but bow their heads and go about as she says, leaving her with the stranger and the guard at the door.

With another quiet look of appraisal, Dove steps even closer, eyes glowing brighter as her Light seeks him out. She lifts her hands, but before touching him, she tells him: "I'm going to heal you, if that's alright. Prove me wrong, and you die."

Bold words, for a woman much smaller than him, clad in only a simple white gown.

"That's fine." Is his only answer. He'd prefer to be patched up, and the last time he told a healer no, Elise had whapped him on the head with her staff. Never mess with worried younger sisters.

"Tell me if you need me to move. It feels like I'm injured everywhere at this point." He'll watch her as she works, because healing magic is quite fascinating to someone who can't use it.

There's a small smile on her lips as she lays her hand at the center of his chest, pressing her palm to his skin firmly, but gently. At least he's compliant.

She nods at his suggestion, eyes fully lit now as her Healing Warmth moves through him. Slowly, the wounds begin to knit together, and the warmth seems to bolster the fatigue.... for now, at least. She doesn't want to work too fast, and send him into shock. Angel now or no, she can feel that he's still.... new.

"What happened? ...if you don't mind my asking." Her voice is soft, soothing but still quite strong. She needs to know why exactly he's here like this, and while her techniques are much more kind than her soldiers, she does have a duty to her people.

"A war." A very long war. "Someone I had been told was my brother had been kidnapped from another country by my father. He returned to Hoshido, and chose to fight on their side in a war between my country and theirs." Closing his eyes as he thought.

"The war ended up at the castle, and there was a battle between myself and Corrin, as the crown prince I had to stand for my country. My sister tried to stop it, by taking a blow from me, meant for Corrin, but I didn't choose to stop." Pride.

"And so, that battle was my end. I thought I was dead until I woke up being stared at by your people."

Ah.

"It sounds like you died bravely, in any case," she notes aloud, Light fading from her eyes but the warmth still pouring through him. It's honorable to lose yourself for your people, right? There... is some discomfort in her expression now. "I'm sorry say you've fallen into another war, though fortunately...the end is in sight."

There's s deep sigh as she pulls her hand away to survey her work. She runs, only for a moment to glance at the guard at the door and retrieve a cloth from a basin nearby. The water is cool, but not uncomfortably so, as she washes the blood off his chest. "I apologize for all of the suspicion. We generally don't gain new angels once they're grown."

"I understand the suspicion, especially if I'm in another war. You can't be too careful." A pause as he thinks. "Corrin ended up back in Hoshido before the war, and the sword he was gifted by ou...my father was a trap. A spell killed the queen."

It was a part of his history he didn't like to dwell on. Not Nohr's finest moment either.

She pauses, looking him in the eye finally. That's.... okay yeah, maybe she should keep her guard up, despite his lack of aggression. He's handsome.

"It sounds like you've lived a colorful life."

Another pause.

"I'm Dove, by the way. Heiress of the House of Phoenix and Archangel of the High."

If he's paying attention enough, his own Light may 'flex' as if responding to her title itself. She, however powerful, will just continue to clean him up for now, though.

"Xander. Former crown prince of Nohr. For however much that might be worth up here." He glances at her for a moment, before looking over at his armor.

"This is a weird question, but did I arrive with a sword?"

She nods and offers a small smile as she moves around behind him, careful to avoid his wings. She's.... not sure how sensitive they are, especially since they're new. Fully grown though, and strong, she realizes as she studies his back. ....fitting, given the rest of him.

"I'm not sure, to be honest," she admits, shaking her head and trying to figure out just how she's going to go about cleaning his back. "If you did, one of my guard will have taken it to the armory for safekeeping." She laughs softly, deciding to start with his shoulder first, and trying to keep things light. "Not something we generally leave lying around the mansion grounds."

...not that they'll return it to him right off, if it had arrived with him. There's still a lot to find out first.

"How are you feeling?" Dizzy from all the Light yet?

"I'll have to see if I can check there at some point." He wasn't going to get his hopes up, and he could work with another sword, but Siegfried was... his. "I understand. Especially with that one." It could kill if not wielded correctly.

"Dizzy, lightheaded." He paused. "But not dead, so I don't think I can complain a lot."

There's a look on her face for just a few seconds. She's... not entirely sure how long it might be before he's even trusted to go anywhere, especially the armory. She does frown mildly as she inspects his shoulder more carefully. Ouch. "Especially with that one?" she repeats curiously. "Something we should know?"

She laughs softly, gently guiding his arm up so she can properly reach his side for more direct healing. "Fair enough. That will go away in time. The transition isn't too difficult."

Well, he's stuck here. He might as well be upfront about it so no one got hurt. "Siegfried is one of the divine weapons of Nohr. He has to choose the wielder, and if someone tries and isn't good enough... well..." He turns his wrist to show her the scars from an early fight using the sword. "This can happen."

"I'm assuming the dizziness is an adjustment thing, then?" He asks, holding his arm in the position she put it in.

"Ah..." She does pause to look at the scars he shows her, brow furrowing again. "Will it hurt the men who moved it? ....if it's even here, I mean." She doesn't want any of her guard injured accidentally, and looks up to find a maid nearby to give a nod toward. She's been listening to the conversation, and goes quietly out the door to see to the unspoken command.

"It is," she nods, carefully cleaning his side and surveying their Light's work. "And you've... still sort of lost a lot of blood..." she adds with an apologetic smile. "Your body will mend much more quickly than it did before, but... it's still a side effect. You'll need to rest... Even I can't heal you entirely, or you'll go into shock..."

She guides him to relax his arm, and moves around to carefully work between his upper back, hoping and praying to anyone that he's not intensely sensitive just yet. "So you have no recollection of who brought you here? Or the gate you came through?"

"It shouldn't as long as they don't try to wield the magic within it. It can be just a sword if needed. But, well, it's the magic that's the problem." He watches the maid leave, probably to check on the status of the sword and whoever may be in charge of it.

"That's good to know." A glance in her direction. "I'm assuming I'm going to get to 'relax' a while during your check to make sure I am who I said I was?" he gets it, he really does.

He flinches a bit. That was unexpected, but doesn't say a word. Good training. "No. Just waking up to the group surrounding me."

She nods again. Her men... should know better than to try using any type of magic outside their own Gifts. ...and her maid is quick.

She meets his gaze with those amber eyes again, then blinks and looks away, back to her work. She doesn't want to be cold toward him, but being too kind.... is that a display of weakness? She really can't afford it, but if he's innocent... "Yes. Fortunately for you, it'll be in the luxury of the mansion, but... you'll be guarded." She might as well give him a fair warning, right? "At least until we can figure out why you're here and who brought you. Adult humans aren't generally brought to the High."

The Guard at the door shuffles and clears his throat, obviously not comfortable with her decision. She ignores him, and continues mopping the man's back, only drawing back at the flinch and immediately offering an apology. "I'm sorry- I know they're.... sensitive."

"An unintentional prisoner of war. As I mentioned, I just came from one, so I know the need to keep your home, this High, safe from enemy spies." He couldn't say he would enjoy it a lot... but he wouldn't mind a while to get his thoughts together, and figure out what exactly happened. "Especially is this is abnormal."

He shakes his head. "They're new. Something I'm going to have to get used to having."

That's... definitely pity in her eyes, but she attempts a small smile anyway. "I appreciate your patience and understanding. I probably should go ahead and let you know...now that you're here, there's... no going back, really..." He'll definitely have time to himself... once her advisors have a few words with him in her absence.

Her cheeks do flush though, as she finally steps back around to stand in front of him again and set the cloth aside. "....yes. You'll be able to hide them as well, eventually, but...they'll always be that sensitive, as will your back in their absence. Not in battle, though, should you choose to join the Knights. That choice is yours, though."

...if he checks out.

"Well, that will depend on what the rest of your fellows think, it seems. They didn't seem to happy that someone like me showed up on their doorstep." For now, he just wanted to rest. The fight with Corrin and the Hoshidans was still recent for him, and even though she cleaned him up, he was still sore and injured.

"Thank you, m'lady. For everything."

She studies him for a moment or two, almost as though she's... listening for something? She'll grace him with a smile soon after, though, and another nod as she motions for another angel to come over and assist him. "I'm sure they'll warm up to you once your name is cleared." If it's cleared. "And you're very welcome, Xander."

With that, she'll leave him in the capable hands of the infirmary's aids to get settled into one of the sectioned off 'rooms'. There will, however, be an ever present guard or two remaining to keep an eye on him over the next while.

Over time, Xander is allowed more freedoms, and while he may not have had another audience with Dove herself, he's likely to have learned much more from the Knights he might befriend. The last of her name, and having just been thrust into her role in the past few years, it's to no one's surprise that she's busy and somewhat aloof... until one day she's spotted in her gardens alone, just outside the mansion, stroking the nose of a lovely white stallion. She sets her forehead to the beast's brow as it dips it's head to hers. Perhaps her most recent meeting with her council hadn't gone as well as planned.

He's learned as much as he can so far without talking to Dove herself. some of the younger Knights let him look at some texts, nothing too secretive. Some history, things to read when he's bored... which is a lot when he's recovering. At some point, he was given his own room, still guarded, but it was a nice place to start.

They gave him more roam of the place, and he often found himself in the gardens, relaxing there, or practicing swordless defense to keep himself in shape. Today though, there's a familiar face with a white stallion. He walks up, making sure to make some noise so he didn't startle her right at the end.

"Something bothering you, M'lady?"

She's aware of him long before he speaks, but waits until he's shuffled over to lift her head and give him her attention. He's met with a small smile that's quick to replace her weighted gaze. She shakes her head. "No, no... I'm fine. Just a series of extremely dull meetings," she explains, though there's a little more bitterness in it than she intends. "It's been a long few days."

The horse turns to look at the man, eyes bright gold and curious. It gives him a huff... but otherwise stays still under its mistress's loving strokes at its neck.

"I've heard you've exceeded Galen's expectations," she grins, looking him over. While she might not have been immediately around, she's kept up with Xander's progress through the eyes of her staff. It's no secret that the head of her personal Guard is impressed with Xander's skill... even if he's loathe to admit it.

"Dull meetings." A small smile, holding out a hand to the horse for a moment. he knew better than to try to pet a horse before it knew him. "I remember being in plenty of those."

"Galen. One of the guards?" He hadn't learned all of the names just yet. He was working on it. "I'm glad, even if I'm not trying to impress anyone."

The horse stares at him, eyes...much deeper than that of a normal animal. A moment later, and it bumps his fingers, huffing his approval.

Dove just keeps that smile up at him, until something appears to click in her mind. ...Hm. "That's right... you were a prince." It's a thoughtful observation.

"Head of the Royal Guard.... my own personal babysitter," she singsongs in a sigh, though she does smile. "He's stubborn, but an excellent knight. Even if you weren't trying, you've succeeded."

There's a pause, but she circles back around to his previous royalty. "Were you active, back home? As a royal, I mean." She shakes her head, unable to find the right word. "Politically." Maybe he can help her.

Xander gently rubs the nose of the horse as Dove talks. So, she was kept under eyes herself. He understood why he was, but not her.

"Politically, yes." He said, thinking about his...well, previous life. "I was the one who was going to become king, so I was learning and acting on my own near the end of my life. Father was... well, hands off on certain things."

And then there was the war, but he wouldn't mention that for now.

She studies him as he replies, and if he's careful, he might feel the quick sting of conflict as she tries to decide which course to take with this. She eventually settles on telling him a little. It's common knowledge amongst the other angels after all. He might as well hear from her, if he hasn't already heard from the other training Knights.

"I see... My brother was raised with the same intent- to become archangel after my grandfather, but they... I didn't have any of training myself," she explains, "I'm fairly certain I was just intended to give my mother something to fawn over while the men discussed the war." A much different life than the one she leads now.

She hesitates, but attempts a smile. It probably ends up a little shyer than she probably was going for. "....what are your mornings like, Xander?"

He senses something, but he's still working on that part, so he can't figure out what, exactly. He listens and realizes that she was what Camilla may have become now. Leo would take the throne though, Nohr was a bit old school.

"At the moment, waking up and training after breakfast. Then to the library."

She can't help but grin. "Strong and studious." Maybe this will work after all, if he agrees. "If I could arrange it, would you be willing to join me for breakfast? Just a few days a week," she clarifies, cheeks flushing a bit. She doesn't want to take up all his time. "I would, um... like to hear another perspective from someone who's been in a similar role." A mostly unbiased, not power hungry someone.

Edited 2018-05-31 04:01 (UTC)

"If my personal entourage doesn't mind." He meant his guards. It would be nice to see someone other than them during the day.

"I'm assuming you're getting stuck in what Leo and I called a politics game, hmm?"

Now she just looks apologetic. "It has been weeks," she agrees, looking over her shoulder toward the guards she knows are posted about them. "I'm sure I can negotiate something. Between myself and Era here, I'd say you'll definitely be well watched." She grins at the 'horse's' snuff at her comment. "If the Archangel can't hold her own, what good am I anyway?"
She's just... going to refocus past that hint of doubt there.

She shakes her head. "I'm not sure it's much of a game anymore," she sighs. "I've put quite a few of my own Council back in their place, but given I'm the only one left of my name, I don't get a lot of wiggle room. Fortunately, despite those who still want me removed, there's... really no getting around it."

It's not like she can just pass the Archangel's Gifts to anyone else.... unless she's killed. And then what?

"I see. Well, I may be able to help you with that, or at least try. Politics was something I was forced to learn due to father."

He smiles, kind of a smirk.

"Well, I also understand that, because I was an unexpected arrival."

She nods. "Let me speak with my Guard and see what I can do..."

Surprisingly enough, she's eventually able to convince them to allow her to meet with him in... semi-private for breakfast a few times a week, when she isn't busy with other diplomatic duties. Granted, it's lakeside in her private gazebo with security surrounding it entirely, but... they're at least able to talk in peace, and their meetings quickly become something she looks forward to, even if it technically is to study. It's...really nice, having someone to talk to that isn't entirely biased in one way or another, especially with his patience.

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Sorry if this is too much glossing!

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