Due to unforeseen circumstances this will be my last chapter. The story ends here.
...
That is not true, it's an April Fools joke. A really bad one. I have no intention of abandoning this story.
Anyway, I hope everyone's staying safe and please enjoy the chapter.
-DarkDevilsAdvocate
A messenger arrived from Margrave Gautier, Sylvain's father, with two pieces of news; one good and one bad. The good was that Fhaergus was finally united, the other lords cowed into falling in line and supporting Dimitri's war effort. The bad was that one of Viscount Klieman's men confessed to being a part of the Duscar Tragedy and that the Viscount had also been a part of it. The man, along with the troops and supplies, were currently headed towards the monastery.
The thing was Dimitri wanted Byleth to come with him but he didn't know how to ask after their last conversation.
It wouldn't be weird to just ask... right? Dimitri thought as he wandered through the fort in search of the professor. He found her walking the ramparts, looking out at he fields that stretched out in every direction from the fort. He took a moment to marvel at how beautiful she was bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
I need some time to think.
Dimitri frowned when his brain unhelpfully reminded him of her words. How was he supposed to ask her to come with him after that? He wasn't even sure that she wanted him around until she had come to whatever conclusion that came after her serious considerations. It was frustrating.
"Byleth." Dimitri forced himself to call out to her only to frown at the strangely blank expression on her face reminiscent of when she had first arrived to Garragh Mach all those years ago. He had grown so used to the emotion she readily displayed lately, the fact that she wore her heart on her sleeve, that such an empty look was startling. It also had the added benefit of hiding her thoughts perfectly.
Frustrating.
It had been so much easier when he had been swallowed by anger, surrounding himself in his own melancholy and allowing himself to be used as a tool for vengeance. He didn't have to worry about others. He didn't have to think about consequences. He didn't have to be bothered about the future. He had been living as a corpse driven by revenge. He hadn't needed to consider the future at all when he had been willing to die as long as it meant that he killed that woman. It had all been to uselessly appease his ghosts.
"A messenger has come. there's new about Duscar." Dimitri growled in a way that was re-mindful of his aggressive and feral state, causing Byleth's eyes to widen. He was a little happy to see that he could cause her to react, to make an expression other than her blank but also felt a little guilty by it as well. What could she think other than the fact that he was reverting to how he was when she had found him? Despite that, though, he didn't pull back from the hostile tone in his voice. "I will return to the monastery. I want you to join me."
He hadn't stated it as a question but Byleth nodded in answer anyway. They stared at each other with Dimitri breaking the silence when it started to grow awkward.
"Right. Good." He resisted the urge to cough just to add more noise between them and turned with a bit of a dramatic flair with his cloak. He stormed away with an aura of menace that instantly faded once he had turned the corner and was out of her sight only to be replaced by utter embarrassment.
Why did I do that?! She probably thinks I'm regressing to my predatory feral state! What if... what if I succeeded in pushing her further away?
Dimitri sighed and ran both of his hands over his face with an aggravated groan.
I'm an idiot.
The soldiers were lively as they marched through the fields and the forests; laughing and joking. There was two circles of silence in a perfect diameter around Byleth and Dimitri, who traveled in different sections of the parade of troops. After their argument the previous day, and with the speed of spreading rumors, everyone in the army was convinced of the relationship between them. The soldiers that were outside of the areas of silence were making bets, first initiated by a certain red-head, on whether or not the two leaders would get back together and, if so, who would be the first to cave and apologize. So far it was 3 to 1 with Dimitri the losing side.
Dimitri hadn't come to any conclusion in his worried thoughts by the time they had stopped to camp for the night and he decided that he would take his mind off of his concerns he decided that he would help out with setting things up. He first offered his help to putting the tents together but after breaking three poles, two stakes, and a mallet in his distracted state, it was suggested that he find others in need of help. He found his way to food preparation but with his lack of taste the food ended up over-seasoned, under-seasoned, or burnt. He was chased away after that. Word must have spread quickly, because everyone else quickly, but politely, refused his offers of help.
With nothing to occupy him, his thoughts came back to plague his mind.
I need some time to think. I need some time to think. I need some time to think. I need some time to think. I need some time to think. I need some time to think. I need some time to think.
Over and over those words echoed in his head. The night air cooled his skin as he paced through the camp while Byleth's words repeated consistently; more insistent than the accusing dead that tormented him. She hadn't been avoiding him exactly but she hadn't sought him out and he had been so distraught by what she had said that he hadn't been able to approach her since asking her to come with him back to Garragh Mach. Whenever his eye was drawn towards her those words would repeat.
I need some time to think.
What was there to even think about and for this long? Shouldn't it be simple?
I need some time to think.
Her words were louder and more persistent than any of the vengeful dead that plagued him. Their voices were mere whispers compared to the strength behind Byleth's declaration that repeated over and over again. Consistent. Reverberating. Tormenting.
I need some time to think.
"Hey, Board Prince." Felix called out, breaking the future king out of his thoughts. He had seen how distracted Dimitri had become and had decided that he would help... in his own way. "Spar with me."
Dimitri looked up Felix who stared at him with a flat look as he waited for the prince to make up his mind. After a moment, Dimitri turned to face his old friend fully.
"Lets."
No one really wanted to fight, even a false one, after the battle at the fort and the daylong march so there hadn't been an official training area set up in camp. Dimitri and Felix made due with a wide empty area at the edge of camp. Far enough that the camp wasn't in any danger but close enough that they had light from the campfires to see by.
The battle started slowly with the two of them circling each other. Dimitri was the first to make a move, stabbing forward with the training spear he had picked up for the fight. Dimitri outclassed Felix with strength and it would only take one or two hits for him to win. That was if he could hit. Felix easily dodged the attack and sliced up at Dimitri who only just managed to block. Dimitri may have the strength but Felix had the dexterity to dodge and attack right after.
Back and forth they exchanged blows, evenly matched, as they ignored the soldiers and knights that looked their way, watching and making bets on who would be the winner.
Dimitri growled as he stabbed forward again and sliced sideways when Felix lept to the side, the swordsman bringing his sword up to take the brunt of the attack. Dimitri was pressing his advantage, the corner of his mouth lifting as the swordsman's feet began to slide along the grass at Dimitri leaned into his attack. With a grunt Felix angled his blade and caused Dimitri's spear to dig into the ground. Dirt exploded around them as the prince lifted his weapon quickly when his old friend attempted to counter.
It wasn't fast enough.
"Sloppy." Felix scolded with a scowl as he pulled his blade back to his side after having smacked Dimitri across the shoulders. There was a noticeable sting as Dimitri stood up and he scowled up at the sky at his own failure. "You're distracted."
"'I need time to think'. What does that mean?"
"Is that what she said?" A third voice asked and both of them looked towards Sylvain as he walked up to them with a careless wave of his hand. "That's never a good thing."
"What do you mean?" Dimitri asked with a slightly desperate note to his voice.
"Well, usually when a girl says that it means that she's considering breaking up." Sylvain as he gave his friend a sad look and a shake of his head. He really did feel bad for the Prince's first real breakup.
"W-what?"
"He means that she's finally come to her senses and realized that she's better off without you." Felix added with a glare that was ignored. Dimitri was too distraught to hear what they said. There was no way, right? Byleth loved him. She had said so. She had married him in another timeline. She wouldn't give all that up, would she? She wanted to still be with him right?
Sylvain had to be mistaken. Had to be... but if anyone had expertise of breaking up, it was Sylvain. How many times had Dimitri witnessed women breaking up with Sylvain? How many more had there been that he hadn't seen? If anyone knew that hose words were the end of a relationship, it was Sylvain.
Could it be true? Was Byleth truely going to separate herself from him? Was there anything he could do to convince her otherwise?
No, he shouldn't be so selfish. If she truly decided that she would be happier without him...
If she would be happier...
Byleth sat before one of the fires that had been set up throughout the camp to keep everyone warm in the cool of the night and to light up the darkness. Being further south, it was warmer than it would have been had they been in Garragh Mach but the nights were still chilly. None of that really mattered to Byleth at the moment. Even the war was far from her mind. Instead she was focused on what had happened between her and Dimitri. She was so frustrated with the fact that Dimitri kept throwing himself in harms' way to save her, he knew what it did to her, and yet he never seemed to think about it. She knew that he acted more on instinct than thought when he moved to defend her and she knew she should take that into account but ever since her emotions had become more pronounced she had a hard time setting them aside to think about other's motivations clearly. She didn't have the practice that others did at controlling her emotions.
"May I have this seat?" Byleth looked up to see Seteth standing nearby, waving to the empty spot next to her. She gave a nod and scooted an inch in silent invitation. She said nothing as stared into the fire while Seteth gave a soft groan like the old man he was as he lowered himself into a seated position. They sat there in silence long enough for Byleth to wonder if Seteth was waiting for her to speak. Just as she was about to give in, Seteth spoke first.
"It wasn't exactly subtle." He began, nodding to the other side of the camp where a space had been left on the edge of camp and was currently taken by Felix and Dimitri as they fought each other in a spar that was friendly for them. Anyone who watched could see that Dimitri was throwing himself into the faux battle. He had the superiority in strength but Felix was dexterous enough to dodge almost every blow. It was a battle of brawn over finesse. "What are your plans?"
"I don't know..." Byleth answered softly. She really didn't. Her thoughts had hovered over the fact that perhaps... perhaps this had all been a mistake. Her husband Dimitri hadn't thrown himself in danger to save her until that night where he had died and she had to wonder if it was because they hadn't had an official relationship until he had proposed to her at the Goddess tower. By then the war had been over and there hadn't been any more battles to fight. So was it her fault? Was it because she couldn't keep her secret to herself? Was it because she couldn't carry the burden of knowledge alone? Was it because her desire to be loved overwhelmed her good sense?
"Well, what do you want?"
"I... I want..." What? What did she want? She wanted to be with Dimitri. She still loved him. Still wanted to be his lover, his wife, his beloved. She also wanted him to take better care of himself instead of throwing himself into danger every time there was a chance. "I still want to be with him... But I want him to stop. stop trying to protect me every time he thinks I'm in danger. I want him to be safe."
"No one can stay safe. Not in war." Seteth reminded her and she frowned at the truth he spoke. Just because he was right didn't mean he had to point it out to her.
"Funny hearing that from the person who called a medic when Flayn tripped." Byleth replied a bit more bitterly than she had intended. "You asked me what I wanted, not what was feasible."
"True. Now, the question is have you actually talked to him about what it was you wanted?" Seteth asked and silence was his answer. He gave her a knowing smile at the obviousness of her quiet pout. "I believe a talk is in order, then."
"Talking doesn't always work."
"You won't know until you try. Sir Catherine was correct in one thing: Dimitri is a love-struck puppy. He will wag his tail happily for your smile."
Seteth's words startled a laugh out of her and Byleth raised a brow as she looked at the man she considered her uncle, her eyes glowing in the firelight
"You really think it's that easy?" She grinned at him when he gave her an even look that repeated his words as loudly as if he had said them out loud. You won't know until you try.
"Seteth... Thank you." She spoke softly, blinking in some surprise as Seteth stared at her with an odd expression on his face. She was about to ask him about it but he spoke first.
"Byleth-."
"Byleth." A third voice interrupted them and brought both their attentions to Dimitri who stood before them; his appearance shrouded in shadow with his face cast in darkness from the campfire behind him.
"May we speak?"
