Chapter Text
Elise was bopping on her heels, standing on the cobblestone of the courtyard.
An entire delegation was present there, with her, in the shadow of Krakenburg. The air was official, knights in armour, delegates in uniform, flags being hissed. It did remind her of the war in a way. Even when this was supposed to be a moment of joyful anticipation.
She held Camilla’s hand, who gave here a quick smile before looking on to the gate.
Elise couldn’t bear the wait, it was too much for her almost, even when she could hear the galloping of a pair of horses, and the creaking of a gate closing again.
She was here.
---
When the carriage came to a halt, two servants made for the door, clamping down the little stepping ladder under it. Out came a familiar face, Hana, her princess’s loyal retainer. She’s wearing a fancy Kimono, but no sword.
And then – after she was helped out – came the better face. Like a shining sun, donned in the royal colours of Her realm, and face caked in the most pretty paints, She poked Her face out, gazing around the courtyard, until it finally locked on its target.
Sandals touched down on the cobblestone as the Princess was helped out of the carriage. After Her some more people must have left it no doubt, but Elise simply did not give any care to that, only One had her focus after all.
“Welcome to Nohr, Princess,” Camilla bellowed out in a noble tone, as she reached a hand for the Princess to take, a custom She evidently got accustomed to now, as She instantly took it and the two shaked hands.
“I am as always, glad to be here, especially for such a grand occasion.”
“Yes, We are honoured to have You here again too. Unfortunately my two brothers could not make it here for the greeting. They’ll be present for the dinner of course.”
“Yes, thank you, Princess Camilla.”
Now that the shackles of social norm are lifting up, She could make Her way away from the welcoming committee, and finally gaze upon Elise, who was still digging her heels into the ground, unendingly patient for this one moment.
Words and Phrases making its way through her mind, for this one all-meaning moment.
And when the time was right, perfectly awaited, perfectly expected, it came out.
“Heya, Sakura!” accompanying a smile.
---
Sitting on a windowsill, westwards, so as to gaze towards the sinking sun, not that it could be followed that well. It is spring after all, and Nohr.
“I cannot wait for tomorrow,” Sakura spoke into the silence.
“I cannot believe that it has been a year.”
“What? That I almost missed your birthday.” Sakura snickered around at that.
“Yeah! You doofus!”
“I already said I’m sorry,” Sakura mocked apologetically, “but you also said you didn’t care, haha!”
“Of course i don’t! You gave me the best Birthday I ever had!”
“Yet!” Sakura tried to feign some confidence and smugness, she’s bad at it.
Elise just laughed out loud at that.
“You’re so funny, Sakura!”
---
“I cannot believe it, its been eighteen years, tomorrow. A lifetime of events, of ups and downs. It feels like I just was sneaking out of the house, stealing away into the underground market, where I first met Effie, and Arthur.
It feels like an eternity ago, that Father told us to go and march onto Hoshido, to bring our sibling home again. The day they decided against us, against me, the day i realized how angry it made me, to see them be free, while I remain.
It feels like yesterday, that day where our eyes met. On that field, with that river. Her brother gave me a glare, ‘I will kill you’ , if he hadn't had to fight Leo, he might have done it. But his glare changed quickly, dodging magic, getting grazed, and instantly Her. On his back, healing the wound back.
And i couldn’t help but stare.
It feels like lifetimes ago, that i saw Her, there, on the Astral Plains. I joined into my siblings army out of necessity, but also, to still a thirst, a curiosity. I needed to met Her - to see Her.
And it feels like this day should have never come, a year later. I am eighteen.”
---
It was, for the msot part, as any other day. Birthday wishes, socialites and sycophants. Xander doing his politics. Leo doing his reading. Camilla doing the organisation. Elise had to shake maybe three dozens of strange men and women’s hands, hearing them wish her ‘prosperity’ and ‘maturity in age’. That she is a ‘bright flower for Nohr’.
The gifts were great as they ever were, her siblings did care, they really did. It made her so grateful. But that didn’t matter.
She had Her.
Unlike the years before, Sakura was here, from the beginning. Since the moment she got dressed by Flora, and clacked her way downstairs into the dining hall, seating herself next to Her.
She was here.
Elise was happy, this was a good day. She will cherish these connections for ever. Her Siblings, her Retainers, her Love.
So when she got presented with a cake – courtesy of no other than ‘fucked up pain-au-chocolat’ Sakura – they all came together, and they had a nice little time.
The cake was ... serviceable, a bit burned, a bit misaligned in texture, but who cares – eating cake is not about having good cake, it is about sitting together and laughing.
---
“At the end of the day, it’s just a day like any other.”
“Yes, I guess that is true.”
“But if it gets all of us together to have a nice time, then i wouldn't want it to be gone. Ever.”
Sakura was just smiling, back on the same old window sill, watching the same old evening sun. Elise felt tired enough by now that she was lying in her love’s lap, thinking of things.
“And yet,” Sakura said now, “You haven’t even opened my present!”
“I know.”
Elise gives a wide grin, almost mischievously so,
“I am saving it for a special occasion!”
“What would that be?” Sakura looks half confused, half knowing.
“Something even more special than my birthday.”
Then she started snickering for minutes to come.