"Xander." Camilla's shoes made an echoing clack, clack as she entered the almost silent throne room.

"Camilla." Xander would have been intimidating had he not been her brother. The years had passed, and Xander now wore the cloak and crown of the king. Beside him sat Charlotte, the bride he had taken. She had felt quite overwhelmed by the queen position at first, but she had settled after some help from her husband. Now she was looking earnestly at Camilla, ready to hear what was being said.

"We confronted a fleet of ships... they were Ylissean. Their king and princess were on board. Unfortunately, there was a battle and... we were unable to halt them." Camilla let out a sigh.

"Ylissean ships... Ylisse is south of Nohr, correct?" Xander thought for a moment. "Did they state their specific purpose for crossing Nohrian territory?"

"No, sire." Camilla replied.

"If you had to engage in combat, I would keep a close eye on them. I'll send scouts to watch, and perhaps spies in their midst." Xander concluded.

"Very well, sire."

"Camilla?"

"Yes?"

Xander then gave her a smile. "Good luck out there, sister."

Camilla smiled back. "Good luck to you too, brother."
___

Meanwhile, Laslow was pacing around his chamber, which he now shared with his wife.

Ylisse... my father is here... and I don't know why... he looked like he was about to be sick. If he had to face his father in battle, if this was war... Ylisse didn't declare war, did they? At least, without good reason...

"Laslow!" a voice called accompanied by knocks on the door.

"Come in, you two." Laslow greeted Odin and Selena.

"So Laslow... what plan have you conceived from the depths of your mind to counter this problem?" Odin may cut the theatrics when it was serious enough, but dramatic language was starting to work into his speech pattern.

"I..."

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do! Once we find out if these Ylisseans are here for a fight, we're gonna do what our lieges say as usual!" Selena folded her arms.

"Selena, we couldn't possibly raise blade and tome against our motherland!" Odin protested.

"We have no choice. Plus, Nohr's new policy of no brutality? We're not actually going to kill our friends and family."

"She has a point, Odin." Laslow agreed sadly. "The circumstances unfortunately call for us to be retainers, not Ylisseans."

"Plus, I'm your wife. You have to agree with me." Selena grinned at Odin.

Odin muttered "Curses..."

"What was that?"

"Of course, dear."

Laslow chuckled. "We haven't changed much from when we first arrived here."

"You have, Laslow. You've gotten over a lot of your shyness for one thing. Too bad, though. It was fun while it lasted." Selena dug his arm.

"You have a wife and daughter now, and you've even changed in your appearance. Behold, Laslow of the Indigo Skies, grown from a shrinking violet into-"

"I get it, I'm not as shy as I was."

"But seriously, Laslow, you've grown up. Your dad would be proud." Selena nodded.

"Maybe he will be. This could be a huge misunderstanding. My father and I could meet up..." Laslow had a hopeful glint in his eye.

"And me and my parents could too..." Odin joined.

Selena was quiet.

"Selena?"

"S-Sorry... just lost me there..." Selena had the image of Cordelia's rage seared into her mind, the war cry from the corners of her throat screaming out into the battle. Her own mother turning that fury on her... Selena would never admit it, but it terrified her. She had never seen her mother so angry.

"... it's settled. We try and figure out what is happening, and if it's alright, we can try meet our parents. If not... we follow orders." Laslow concluded.

"Odin Dark believes that this will work out tremendously! Family reunions, introducing our children..."

"What will Xander and Leo do when they find out you're royals?" Selena inputted.

"We tell them that while we are royalty, we still wish to serve them as retainers, brothers in arms!" Odin grinned.

Little did they know someone was listening in to their conversation...

They looked at each other, and thought the exact same thing.

That isn't just a birthmark.