-38-
Byleth's information she received from Ferdinand worried Dimitri. The other Eagles were supposed to be keeping an eye on Edelgard. The fact that Edelgard had tried to attempt to get away didn't surprise him in the slightest.
Guren padded alongside his horse. He had offered to let Guren stay at the monastery with Byleth until he got back, but Guren had refused to leave his side. Dimitri was grateful for having him as a companion. He wasn't sure how he was going to be affected by what was about to happen with Edelgard and the other Black Eagles. He had shown them mercy once. If they forced his hand, he would not offer it again.
Dorothea was humming a tune as she rode at his other side. She wanted to visit her old classmates, and he told Yuri that he'd escort her. Dimitri had a few questions that he wanted to ask about what Byleth had asked for. He couldn't fathom asking about such things when he hardly knew Dorothea. It also seemed odd to talk about one's bedroom life with someone who wasn't involved. It was part of why he never understood why Sylvain would talk about it so openly in the Academy.
He wished that Byleth would have been able to come with him, but there were still many things that she couldn't get away from. He was doing this under the pretense of checking in with how the once Empire territory was faring. He'd be checking here and then what was the Alliance territory. He hoped to be able to spend time with Byleth on his way back before he needed to return to Fhirdiad. Byleth was much better at talking with Edelgard than he was.
Dorothea's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "So... Byleth told me that you asked her to wear it on your birthday."
He stared at her with wide eyes. It was like she had been reading his thoughts. Byleth mentioned in her letters she talked to Dorothea and Mercedes about them, but it hadn't sunk in. Actually, now that he thought about it, he had blatantly ignored that part because he didn't want to think about what they gossiped about.
She smiled up at him. "It's ok, Dimitri. She only tells us because she trusts us."
He remembered the night of his coronation. She had gotten a little drunk, but all she wanted was to serve him by doing something he requested from her. Byleth's words from that night echoed in his head.
Dorothea waved her hand in front of his face when he didn't answer her. "Dimitri, you're not doing anything wrong. She just wants you to enjoy yourself for a night."
"I already am. Anytime I can be with her, even if it's just being close to her, it's more than I thought I'd have."
Dorothea's smile widened. "You are too cute sometimes, you know that? She loves the simple things too. She just wants to be at your mercy for a night is all."
Dimitri tilted his head. "My mercy?"
Dorothea giggled. "She likes what you do to her, Dimitri. You have nothing to worry about, just enjoy yourself and don't hurt her in the process and you'll both have a good time. I do have some ideas for you if you'd like to hear what I think she'll like."
When Dorothea stopped talking because they were getting to a more populated route, he was grateful. He could tell that his face was flushed. Guren had already left to scout ahead to avoid hearing the conversation. Dimitri didn't want to be rude. So he listened, mainly because Dorothea included what Byleth had responded with on the subjects, but he was definitely not in his element.
She smiled at him. "You're doing just fine as you are, but feel free to talk to me about it if you want. Just like the outfits, there are small things you both can try."
"Thank you, Dorothea. I uh…"
Her laughter startled another traveler they passed. "You really are too cute."
Embar's palace had been restored and remodified after Rhea's transformation destroyed most of it in her escape. Hanneman, Linhardt, and Constance used it now as a facility to study magic and crests. The main purpose at the moment was to research warp magic to make traveling more efficient. Its secondary objective, was to help those that the Argatheans tortured and experimented on.
Hubert and Edelgard worked there as part of their atonement. Hubert helped them track down the last remnants of the Argatheans while Edelgard worked with Bernedetta and Lysithea to assist Linhardt's work. Ferdinand had his own office inside and worked with Petra to solidify goodwill with Brigid and Dagda. Morfis was the only territory they still needed to give an olive branch to, but they mostly kept to themselves.
Ferdinand was the one who greeted them both when they arrived. Dorothea went to teasing Ferdinand right away, but Ferdinand gave her a few polite answers before giving Dimitri the reports about the welfare of the empire. Dorothea giggled and mentioned something about a bee, but Dimitri wasn't able to catch the statement all that well.
Hubert met them outside a large door. "Your Majesty, Dorothea, I assume your visit is a direct response to her actions a few weeks ago."
Dimitri nodded. "Among other things."
Hubert bowed. "You know you have my loyalty as long as she comes to no harm. Choose your next moves wisely."
If Dimitri didn't know how true that statement was he might have given a small huff of laughter. He did not come to quarrel. "I came bearing a gift, and I just wish to talk with her. I would also like your reports. You and Ferdinand have been doing an excellent job with your council members. I hope that we can reverse the damage soon that the war has caused."
Hubert bowed his head. "May I ask a favor?"
"That depends on what that favor is," Dimitri replied.
Hubert's brought his gaze up. "I have tracked down a particular prey that I wish to hunt myself. Will you allow me the honor of putting it out of its misery?"
Hubert was on house arrest as well until they could determine that he was not going to betray them. The fact that he had gone after Edelgard when she ran off was already a violation of those orders, but here they both were, back where they were supposed to be.
From the reports Dimitri received, it seemed that everything was going well. "Who is it that you've found?"
"He was involved in child experimentation." Hubert seemed to be reluctant to share any more information than that.
Dimitri nodded. That was not someone he wanted loose in Fodlan. Dimitri had made a promise to not let anyone else go through what Hapi, Lysinthia, and Edelgard went through. He intended to keep his word. "Do not get innocents involved."
Hubert's lips curled up into a smirk. "He will not get away from me."
The purple light of the warp Hubert used flashed before Dimitri could say anything more. Dimitri knocked on the door Hubert had been guarding. He heard Edelgard's voice giving him permission to enter. He turned to Dorothea and she waved him forward. She turned and started to walk down the hallway. He dug the charm out of his pouch, wondering when it was going to be the best time to present it to her.
When he opened the door, the first thing that he noticed was her hair. It had been growing out for these past few months. Her original brown color he remembered, was dominating the roots. She looked away from him and ran her hand through it. Dimitri looked down; he hadn't meant to stare. She looked like she was doing well, at least.
"Come to punish your caged eagle for trying to spread her wings?" Her voice didn't seem to have its usual conviction. There was bitterness in her tone.
He shifted the gift in his hands. "No, I actually came to bring my stepsister one of the few things of our mother that I owned. I had not heard about the events that transpired until I stopped at the monastery. I heard that you ran into some trouble on your unauthorized stroll."
She turned and arched a brow. "I just wanted different scenery. I didn't do it with any ulterior motivations. I just… I did not expect the conversation that I heard."
Dimitri was a little confused by that statement. "From the letter, it seems all you heard was a truth you don't want to face."
Edelgard glared at him. "They just don't understand what I was trying to do."
"The people have a right to be angry. You forced what you wanted on them and made it their cause to fight for without giving them a choice in the matter. To most, it was senseless bloodshed because you declared war for your own selfish ambitions."
"I told them exactly why we were fighting. All I did was try to save the people from an unjust system!"
"I agree that the crest system needs to be dealt with. After seeing what happened to her family, I know why Rhea did what she thought was best. As for the people, you didn't have a connection with them. Those five years after I escaped execution, I saw firsthand the damage that the war caused to those who were not born to higher society. The ones you wished to save, as you call it, were the ones damaged the most by your war."
She rose out of her chair. "Please come with me. There is someone I want you to meet."
Dimitri stepped back to let her pass him. She led him to what looked like an infirmary room. His hair was the opposite of Edelgard's where the roots were white. He looked malnourished and his breathing was ragged.
She made her way to the boy's bedside. "His name is Emeric. He is one of my stepbrothers through my father. I didn't know any of them were left until we raided Shambala. He goes in and out of consciousness, but he still recognized me. When I told him my name, he called me El."
Dimitri came closer. The boy looked like he was on death's door, much worse than he initially perceived. "What did they do to him?"
She ran her hand through Emeric's hair. "None of my siblings had a crest. That is why no one cared about their existence. They couldn't inherit, so they were never announced to the public. They were given to those who slither as a means to make the empire stronger. They wanted to turn my minor crest into a major crest but found they couldn't."
Edelgard paused as her hand curled into a fist. "Everyone knows about Duscur. They know of the king and knight who died, of the prince who almost lost his life, but what of the soldiers who were also escorting you? Just like them, my family was not mourned because no one bothered. They didn't matter, just another death in the world. Why should bearing a goddess' so-called blessing determine if your life has value?" Dimitri could see her rising anger, hear the seething behind her voice.
His own anger rose. "And what of the lives of your soldiers that were nothing but your tools? You act as though you have no fault here. You were the one who determined the value of their lives and deemed them to be irrelevant."
Her face twisted to confusion. Did she truly not see the parallels in what she did to what she had supposedly fought for? "That has nothing to do with this! Now answer me, would they have cared if you had lived or died if you were not the bearer of your family's crest?"
Dimitri winced at a question he had asked himself many times. She deflected his comments. Byleth had warned him about letting his own emotions get the better of him. He didn't come to fight.
Dimitri took a deep breath. "I don't know, but I doubt they would. Byleth told me about your siblings, and I didn't want to believe it at first. It was an injustice that never should have been allowed to happen. The crest system needs to be eradicated, but you have to be careful. People are resistant to change. You need to show them that they can stand on their own before you take away their crutch."
Edelgard turned to him with a glare. "You recognize that, and yet, Rhea and the church still stand."
"Rhea has left her position. Byleth will make sure what happened will not repeat. Your actions have allowed us to unite Fodlan, be it came at a cost. There is a path to a better future that doesn't involve bloodshed."
"What happens when that future crumbles?"
He had watched as his own world crumbled around him, but now, he had been dragged from the shadows. It wouldn't be easy, but it could be done.
"We won't let it. All we can do is honor those who have passed by taking care of the future. Will you help me or will you drown in your personal vendetta? I know all too well the cost it requires El, it's not worth it."
"You want to lecture me? I remember that lance you threw at the Holy Tomb; the look on your face as you tore those men apart. They call me the monster, but I know what I saw in those reports of the few who did escape you before you found them. I don't know what changed that you didn't need to wear that eyepatch anymore, but I know how many of my soldiers you cut down before the Millennium Festival. Despite your own sins, you have been forgiven easily enough. The ones that surround you might have forgotten, but I haven't, or perhaps they just don't know that side of you."
He hadn't been that demon since the day Byleth brought him back in time to help atone for the sins and actions he had committed previously. "People are capable of changing El, even you."
He went to set the charm down on the table before turning around back to the door. There wasn't any dealing with her right now. The purple flash caught his attention to his right, and he braced himself for an ambush. Hubert solidified on the floor with a black-robed figure at his feet.
Edelgard stood and looked between the two of them. "Hubert! What is the meaning of this?"
Hubert nodded to Dimitri. "I was given permission. I wanted to make sure this one died by my hand for what they did to you. I may have doubted Sothis, but I found the proof in what she showed us is the truth."
Hubert took the mask off of the figure. Dimitri recognized him as one of the mages that had been in the room during the vision Sothis had shown them of Edelgard's imprisonment back in Fort Merceus. It had only been a glance at the time, but this one had been in the room talking to Arundel before the masked mage brought her in. The kill had been clean and instant, a single slash across his throat. Dimitri understood the necessity of death, but he wasn't fond of the fact that the body was brought here.
When Dimitri looked over to Edelgard she was staring at the body with widened eyes as her expression froze into horror. Dimitri knew that hysterical expression well, but he never thought that he'd see it on her. She clutched at her head as she fell to her knees. Hubert was at her side faster than he was.
"I don't want to remember! All those horrible things, all the ones that disappeared out of that room before they got to me." Edelgard shook her head. It looked like she was trying to keep her composure bit was failing at it.
"They can't hurt you or any other child any longer," Hubert said.
"I know. They shouldn't have this much power over me." That bitterness was back.
Byleth had mentioned that Edelgard hated looking weak. In her mind, this would be a weakness. The only thing she hated worse was pity.
He came to her and held out the charm. "Anselma told me that it was for protection. I know you don't need it, but I can't see myself keeping it after learning what she did. You were her daughter. Do what you wish with it. The choice is yours. I did not come here to deliver a punishment."
Edelgard looked up at him, and Hubert took the charm from him to present to her. It was probably for the best. El might try to lash out instead of accepting it.
Dorothea arrived in the doorway. "I have some treats for you that I baked with Mercedes…" She stopped and looked at the mage on the floor and huffed. "Why is there a body here?"
Hubert stood up. "I'll dispose of it at once. Enjoy your sweets, Lady Edelgard. Dimitri, if I may, there are a few things we would like to discuss with you while you're here. We'll meet you in the library."
By we, Dimitri assumed that it would be with Ferdinand. Hubert and the body disappeared with another flash of light. Dorothea approached cautiously with the tray of sweets. Dimitri nodded to her on his way out. He wasn't sure what he should say to either of them. Edelgard had put her reserved mask back on. She at least had the charm he wanted her to have, whatever she did with it from here wasn't any of his business. He'd accomplish what he wanted to here and leave.
There was a knock on the door, and Byleth was distracted from the papers in front of her.
"Hope, I'm not interrupting. You look busy."
Byleth looked up to find Claude standing in the doorway.
Byleth got up from her desk and made her way over to him. "Claude, what are you doing here?"
"I brought you a birthday gift. I'm sorry that I couldn't get here sooner," Claude said.
Byleth smiled and returned the hug he offered. He was in a different outfit then she had seen him in last, and a small gold circlet adorned his head.
He fished a small pouch from his belt. "Well first, this is from Hilda, she told me to deliver this to you."
Byleth took it to find a hair accessory made of crossed beaded strands and metal that was shaped into a flower.
It brought a smile to her face. "Tell Hilda that I love it."
"It did come with a condition. We are inviting both you and Dimitri to our wedding, and she wants you to wear it for the event. We were thinking about Harpstring moon. It would be after the reopening ceremony, and we could make sure that everyone that wants to come will be able to. We can also escort you two back to Almyra with us," Claude said.
"I'm sure that Dimitri would like to attend as well. Thank you for giving us advanced notice. We'll make sure our schedules are clear for the month. I've never been to Almyra, but I look forward to it," Byleth said.
Claude smiled and went to pick something up he had left outside the door. "This is from me. I know you have a fear of heights after falling, but it is the best way to travel. Granted, it won't be ready to take the weight of a rider for a couple of years, but it's better to bond with a baby than to go tame one as we do in Almyra."
Byleth studied the white and gold egg sitting on the pillow that he placed on the table. He was right in that she still held that fear, but perhaps this would be an excellent way to overcome it.
Something she would trust that wouldn't drop her unless she intended it to. She stroked her hand against it, feeling the warmth radiating from it. Based on that alone she would assume that it would be ready to hatch soon. She looked back up at Claude.
"So your white wyvern is one you captured then?" Byleth asked.
Claude shook his head. "She is an exception, I found her as an egg and raised her myself. She was unique like I was, and different colors are seen as a higher rank than the normal ones. That's why I thought this one would suit you. You see the different swirl patterns here? Normally the eggs are a solid color, some dabbling sometimes. Still, marks like these usually indicate that what's inside is something special. My wyvern's egg was all white instead of the usual brown. I still had to go wrangle one up for my coming of age ceremony, but she will always be my number one lady."
Byleth laughed. "Do not let Hilda hear you say that."
Claude smirked. "Can I take you for a ride, perhaps? The last time we were kinda flying with our lives on the line. I'd like to show you what flying really is."
Byleth took a deep breath and nodded. "Let me put the egg in my room and yes. I think I'd like that. Thank you both for the birthday gifts."
Byleth took the egg and laid it on the bed in her room. Sothis appeared beside her. With a happy squeal, she wrapped herself around the egg and closed her eyes to rest. Byleth shook her head and smiled softly as she closed the door. Byleth couldn't recall when Sothis had worn such a content smile before.
Byleth met Claude outside the gates, and the wyvern shifted to bring her eyes to Byleth. That was the one thing about wyverns, they could be very temperamental to those they had bonded or imprinted towards. They were even worse to those that threatened their charges.
"Her real name in Almyran tongue might be hard to pronounce, so to make things easy, you can call her Ivory," Claude said.
The wyvern gave her a warning snarl, and Claude patted her neck. Claude started explaining caring for a wyvern. He showed her different places on Ivory that she would have to get her wyvern used to be touched for claw maintenance and saddle placements.
Seteth should be able to help her if she needed it, but she appreciated the lesson regardless. It allowed Ivory to relax around her. Claude saddled up and reached down for her to take his hand.
Byleth took a deep breath before taking it and used the stirrup to climb her way on. He told her about the different points of how wyverns usually note direction. It was similar to how she dealt with the horses. They had started flying low circles around the monastery and he showed her how he had taught Ivory to respond to move to higher or lower altitudes.
"I've got a message to deliver to Dimitri. Think you could spare the time to come with me?" Claude asked.
Byleth smiled. "I'll take any excuse to see him."
"Alright, hold on then. If you start feeling dizzy, let me know, but just try to relax and feel the wind on your face. Flying is about freedom. Nothing can bother you up here," Claude said.
Byleth nodded. She had been doing alright so far. She had been occupying her mind with what it would feel like if it was Dimitri instead of Claude. Fear didn't grip her as badly as she thought it might. The view was beautiful, and he was right, it was peaceful up here.
The wind stung as it got colder the higher they got, but it gave her alertness she hadn't expected. She had tied her hair back to keep it from whipping around, but it still managed to go wild on her a few times.
"Hey Dimitri," Claude called.
Dimitri turned his head. He was surprised to hear Claude's voice, but seeing Byleth on his wyvern shocked him more. Had he forgotten something she thought was urgent enough to warrant coming to fetch him?
He wasn't sure what to tell Byleth about what happened when he went to see El. It seemed to go well, but the reminders of what he had done before he found Byleth, before the rewind, it had scratched at a scar he had hoped healed over. Edelgard wasn't the only one who needed to atone. As they got closer, Dimitri was glad that Byleth was here.
He planned on checking up on Lorenz to make sure things were running smoothly in Derdriu and the old alliance territory. Afterward, he would return to the monastery to spend the night with her again before heading back home. This was unexpected, but he would welcome any opportunity to see her.
Claude landed. Guren stayed back while Dimitri dismounted from his horse to approach. The wyvern turned his head towards him, and Claude reached across Byleth to pat its neck. When it was safe to approach, he reached up to take Byleth off the saddle. He hugged her to him a moment before putting her down to stand on solid ground. She was trying to hide her shaking, but he could still feel her tense from her discomfort.
"I have a message from Sylvain. The Sreng chief has asked to speak to the leading lord directly. Sylvain's waiting in the Derdriu harbor to meet you and take you to him. Sylvain asked me to deliver the message since I was heading this way," Claude said.
Dimitri nodded. He still wasn't happy at Byleth's distress. Claude had called for her attention and then showed her the proper way to dismount. Dimitri wondered why Claude would be teaching her any of this.
She chuckled at Dimitri's puzzled expression. "Claude gave me a wyvern egg for my birthday. It will be a few years before the baby will be big enough to ride, but he's showing me some things now that I can practice with some full grown wyverns.
Dimitri nodded. It seemed like a strange gift since Claude knew she was afraid of falling. She had stepped away from him when Claude was showing her the best way to give praise for a job well done.
There were certain places that some wyverns would love over others, but the jawline or on top of the snout along the nose worked well. They were a lot like horses in that regard. Anytime they comply well during a flight it was best to give them some semblance of respect.
Claude noticed her hair and started apologizing. She took it out of the band and ran her fingers through it before she turned her back to Claude. When Claude began to touch her, Dimitri felt a heat blaze through his chest.
Dimitri didn't get that close before the wyvern ducked its head in front of them and gave him a warning growl. Claude gave him a raised eyebrow before he smiled.
"Hey Dimitri, do you have another of those ties for your hair?" Claude asked.
"Yes, I've snapped a few of them on accident before, so I make sure to keep a few of them on hand," Dimitri replied.
"Could I have one for her? Her hair's going to get tangled worse then this on the way back if I don't do something," Claude said.
Dimitri returned to his horse and grabbed one of the bands out. He was happy to see that her shirt had a high collar today. The bites he gave her a few days ago were hidden away from Claude.
Claude was braiding Byleth's hair and had used her tie to twist off the end. The wyvern let Dimitri approach this time with a softer growl.
When Dimitri handed it over to Claude he had wrapped her braid around itself and tucked it in. Claude used the band to keep it wound. Byleth did an experimental shake. As she thanked Claude, Dimitri couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Something delicate and intricate like that was beyond him. He'd probably pull too tight and hurt her, or it would wind up being a mess. It did look nice on her. When she came back to him with a smile on her face he couldn't help but smile back, despite his darker thoughts.
She pulled herself against him and raised on the balls of her feet to wrap her arms around his neck. "So I came because I wanted to see you, but I'll tell you a message too since I can. Harpstring Moon is when Claude has invited us to Almyra for his wedding. Make sure your schedule is clear. I will see you in Etheral Moon, my love."
He wrapped his arms around her. "I look forward to it."
"Byleth mentioned that you had gone to check on Edelgard. How is she?" Claude asked.
Dimitri wasn't sure how to answer that. They seemed to reach a partial understanding, but there was still some animosity. They shared a meal once before he left with the rest of the former monastery students. He hoped the animosity wouldn't last for long as she found a way to atone and realized what her actions caused for others.
"Better than expected. We both walked out with our lives intact. She isn't stirring up trouble so that is the best thing we could ask for."
Claude nodded. "That's good. I should return Byleth to the monastery before Seteth has a stroke."
Byleth hugged him tightly before they exchanged a quick kiss. "Is something wrong? You're tense."
He bowed his head into her hair. "I'll talk to you about it later."
She put a hand on his cheek. "I won't leave until I know you're ok."
There were times he wished that she didn't see through him so well. "She was asking questions about the one-eyed demon."
Her lips made a small O. Then she hugged him tightly. "You are no longer that demon any more than I am the Ashen one. Our pasts help shape us but don't get dragged by it. I love you. Focus on our future and look ahead."
He embraced her as he closed his eyes and let her words soak in. He took a deep breath of the faint scent still in her hair before he kissed her temple. She always seemed to know what to tell him when he needed the encouragement and reminders the most.
"I'm glad you came. Thank you Beloved. Your hair does look nice like this, but then again, I have a biased opinion."
She gave him a small smile before she let him go. She came to pet Guren, who had been waiting patiently by the horse. When she went back to Claude he started asking her some questions about what she had thought about the height and what levels she had been comfortable with.
When she got up into the saddle herself, Dimitri couldn't help but feel proud of her. He knew what fear and uncertainty felt like and she was facing it head-on. He would follow her example. No matter what their future held, they would face it and overcome it.
Dimitri saddled his horse as he continued to watch them. Claude was giving her the reins this time. At least Claude seemed to know to keep his hands off unless necessary. When Claude's wyvern took off Dimitri couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. He'd rather she be riding with him to Deridu and then take her home to Fhirdiad. That sentiment would have to wait. There was still plenty of work to do. Byleth circled the wyvern at a lower altitude before Claude prompted her to go higher. When they finally went out of view, he motioned for his own horse to get moving as well. Guren was silent beside him, but his amber gaze followed the white streak in the sky as well.
The road to Deridu wasn't that difficult to transverse. The alliance had fared better than most of the region. There had been civil skirmishes, but not the amount of destruction that the other areas suffered. After they rescued Deridu from Arundel he had left some troops to help with the rebuild. Many of the Golden Deer students had lent a hand in helping their region.
Sylvain was waiting at the harbor with the reports he needed. There wasn't much to do other than board the ship and head across to Sreng. Sylvain had said that they could have flown, but he wanted a chance to show Dimitri the trade routes that they talked about implementing and where the danger areas for pirates were. The winds were on their side and it would be a pleasant journey.
They would be spending one night on board and Sylvain was sharing the cabin with Dimitri and Guren. Dimitri sighed when Sylvain started to pester him for details on what he and Byleth have been up to since the day that he caught them in the sauna. First Dorothea, now Sylvain. Why was it so surprising to others that it made them want to inquire about it? Guren asked to be let out before they began to talk. Dimitri obliged and wished he could follow. He knew that Sylvain wasn't going to stop pestering him, but it wouldn't be wise to separate in pirate-infested waters like this.
Dimitri hadn't wanted to answer at first, but trying to keep his face stoic was apparently not an option as Sylvain was usually able to guess correctly based on Dimitri's reactions. Finally, Dimitri relented and started talking as Sylvain kept going more and more off course. He wasn't sure if Sylvain was purposely trying to bait him or if some of the things Sylvain mentioned were something that couples enjoyed together. As the conversation kept going Dimitri decided to ask what Sylvain thought about Dorothea's suggestions. He wondered how useful Sylvain's actual advice would be. Sylvain's reply had been to get more information about what Dimitri and Byleth had done.
Dimitri thought about what Sylvain said for a moment. That would be something he could be comfortable with. Granted, he would attend to her afterwards, but that did put his mind at ease. That night the amount of bruising on her had alarmed him. He had been afraid that when she made this request that she was expecting him to do worse than that to her, but what Sylvain described, perhaps he was just having the wrong mindset. When she had asked him not to hold back the first time, she had called it revealing the depth of his desire for her.
"Thank you Sylvain. It's given me something to think about," Dimitri said.
"I'm just happy you've… I mean, you hid in my room when a girl started chasing you. You've always been using the don't be so depraved line. I'm glad my skills can be useful to you," Sylvain said.
Dimitri nodded. When Sylvain would actually take things seriously, he was pleasant to talk to, even with a subject such as this. "It is nice to have someone in your corner you can talk to for more embarrassing matters, so thank you for being a good friend. And thank you for your work in Sreng."
Sylvain smiled. "I'm glad you found someone you can be happy with. When we dock the ship, I was told to bring you straight to the chief. Ingrid is waiting on the port and will be there with us. Sreng wants to talk about trade routes and give you a gift to signify peace between us, whatever that'll be."
Dimitri shrugged. "We'll just have to see. Also I'd appreciate your silence on the matters we've discussed tonight."
Sylvain chuckled. "Oh trust me some of the ones I've come up with aren't even the best ones out of the rumor mill surrounding you two. For someone who doesn't talk that much, she is pretty loud."
Dimitri groaned and covered his face.
They went back up to the deck the next morning as Sylvain pointed out some of the more problematic areas. There weren't any pirate ships that they came across and for that Dimitri was thankful for that. It had been a long time since Dimitri had been on a boat as sea. The last time was he was just a boy and his father was making a trip to Derdriu. They had decided to go by ship since the snows still hadn't melted enough for carriages to pass through easily enough and Dimitri was still learning to ride a horse. He had to agree with what Byleth had said about the smell of sea breeze after the battle when they were with Claude. Perhaps, she might like to go sailing as well.
The negotiations had gone well. Sylvain had been on pristine behavior, which surprised Dimitri. Sylvain was always goofing off and slacking in his training, but he seemed to have the mannerisms and politics memorized and implemented them almost better than he had. Guren impressed the tribe and Sylvain told him later that a few of the Sreng people had been calling Dimitri "wolf lord", which with how Sreng favored beast companions, was a very high compliment.
The trade routes would be established between both sea and land as long as Dimitri would make sure the pirate problem didn't get out of hand. Fodlan's part of the negotiations was protecting the trade routes with the navy they had inherited from the former Alliance territory.
Their gift to Dimitri sat in his lap on the way back, a wyvern egg. Sreng's wyverns had adapted to enjoy cold temperatures and survive in harsh environments. Since Fodlan wyverns usually had to head south for the winters. Faerghus had usually relied on pegasus knights for their ariel battalion and post couriers. This egg was the largest one out of the clutch that had just been laid that year so it was a hope that it would grow to be one that could still fly with both a leading lord and what they expected to be a leader's regalia of armor. Like Byleth's gift, it would be a few years before it would be able to start with flying lessons.
He was so scared of breaking it, but he had been careful with it so far. They had told him it would be hatching some time within the moon. It would also be a different color than most Fodlan wyverns, a dark grey to white shades they had said. When he brought it back to Fhirdiad Guren had sniffed at it before leaving it alone.
"I am not a babysitter. When that thing hatches, you are on your own. Think of it as a pre-parenting exercise," Guren said.
Dimitri wasn't sure how to respond to that, but he kept the egg with him most of the time. Guren did his usual job of making sure he slept and ate well enough while he got caught doing his work as usual. Dimitri wasn't going to admit it to anyone, but part of the reason he did work so hard was that when he didn't work his mind would normally fixate on Byleth and it would only make him miss her more.
At least with work he could be doing something useful and it never seemed to stop. There was always something that needed to be looked at. He kept the egg close by as Sylvain taught him about wyvern care. Byleth had made sure that both he and Ashe had training on a wyvern in case they were in a battle where their movement was restricted. He was grateful for the help. When the egg finally did hatch the wyvern inside was a smoky grey color that held a tinge of blue when the sunlight caught it. It's silver eyes looked like storm clouds. It yawned before looking up at him.
Dimitri held out his hand as the wyvern butted its head against his fingers. "I think I'll call you Maksim, come on, let's get you some food. I imagine since you just hatched you must be hungry."
Maksim's grey blue scales caught attention from others whenever they went out. Most of the time Maksim was riding on Guren's back or on Dimitri's shoulders. Guren would grumble about how attached the wyvern was to him, but Dimitri noticed how Guren would wait until the wyvern got comfortable before he moved.
Ashe liked making treats for it since he missed the wyvern Byleth taught him to ride in the Academy. Dimitri talked about wanting to see if it might be a possibility to allow trade with Sreng to include wyvern eggs. Ashe may have declined the rank of knighthood, but he could still find one useful for traveling and hauling ingredients.
The tavern that Ashe and Dedue ran together was doing well now that it was open for business. Hapi would serve as hostess. Anyone disrespectful to her or any of the staff, would earn a harsh trip out of the door. Dedue had requested the building beside it be saved for Mercedes. For the moment it was were the orphans would stay that were old enough to work.
The tavern would bring in people who were looking for people to take the jobs and take the one most suited to the task. Work completed would earn them some coin from the one who hired them and a meal from the tavern. Sometimes just helping with the tavern was enough. It was doing so well that they were already talking about expanding it. It pleased Dimitri to no end that their hard work was paying off. When Dimitri entered he was usually approached by two varieties of people, those that wanted to thank him, or those with requests of him. Dedue offered a private room for him, but this was the best way to make sure what Ashe had pointed out all those years ago wasn't going to repeat itself.
He may be a noble, and now the king, but he wasn't about to hide away in the castle. When he had talked with Edelgard he had commented on how she didn't know the people's desires. This was the best way for him to learn. He knew he couldn't make everyone happy, but he refused to be a bystander when he could do something about it. Byleth was working hard around the monastery like she always was. He would do the same here in Fhirdiad.
Dimitri finished up the letter to Byleth and sat back a moment as Maksim watched from the top of the desk. Makism crawled down and nosed his way into the inkwell. Before Dimitri could stop him, the wyvern had spilled the ink and fled, creating a trail of footprints over the top of the parchment. He caught the wyvern before it could do more damage. He looked at the letter for her. He sighed, it hadn't gotten on where he had written. If he didn't send it off soon, it wouldn't get to her in time for her to sleep. He'd been prompt with the timing, and he didn't want to worry her. He glared at the squirming wyvern as it got ink all over his sleeves.
Guren chuckled. "Enjoy the parenthood. At least the wyvern can't talk back."
Dimitri gave him a peeved glare. "Yes, but he's made a mess of everything."
Guren went onto his hind legs to observe the damage on the desk and letter. "Ashen will find it cute, don't worry. Make sure it's signed, and I'll get it up to the owlery while you get everything, including the hatchling, cleaned up."
Dimitri clutched Maksim to his chest as he sighed with the other hand. "Thank you, Guren."
Guren grinned before dipping his paw in the spilled ink and leaving his own pawprint on the blank space below Dimitri's writing. "Any preference on the flower to go with this one?"
Dimitri had turned to take the wyvern to the bathroom to scrub him down. "No, I'll let you choose the gift today."
Guren took the parchment in his teeth as he heard the water being turned on. It wasn't long till Maksim was making discontent squawking sounds as Dimitri started to grumble for him to be still. Guren let himself out and padded his way out to the gardens Dedue tended to in the mornings as a gift for Byleth to enjoy when she got here. Guren debated a moment, but he ultimately decided not to take them. As he made his way up the tower to the owlery, he spotted what he wanted. Byleth was always fond of owl feathers, and Guren found one in good shape.
"For the Archbishop I take it?" The postmaster smiled and picked up the feather in front of Guren.
Guren relinquished the letter as the postmaster rolled it up with the feather inside and placed it within a protective shell. Guren nodded, the ink should have had enough time to dry by now. Dimitri would generally come here himself if he wasn't preoccupied. The postmaster whistled, and an owl came to his arm. He pointed to the monastery flag on his wall. The owl nodded and flew off with the letter in tow.
The postmaster patted Guren's head. "Our king has a great friend in you. Keep up the good work, pup."
Guren didn't really appreciate being called a pup, but the man treated him as friendly as he did his owls and it was a welcome change. He made his way back to Dimitri's room where a still wet wyvern decided to hop onto him and cling to him as if its life depended on it. Guren had to fight a bout of snickering seeing Dimitri run after him with a towel in hand and his shirt soaked. The desk hadn't been taken care of yet. Guren shook his head and laid them both in front of the window as Dimitri sighed and went to work on the desk as both of them dried off in the sunlight.
Byleth barely managed to get any time with her egg as Sothis and Flayn would abduct it for themselves. Seteth spoke of his relief that Sothis had found her attention elsewhere besides pranking the monastery inhabitants, but Byleth was a little peeved. It was her gift, and yet everyone seemed to want to take it for themselves. Was this jealousy? There had been a lot of new feelings since the ceremony that she and Dimitri had preformed. She was still working on figuring out what they all were.
Byleth had been doing paperwork when Sothis came to find her to tell her that the egg was shaking. Byleth had put the paperwork down without a second thought and excused herself. Sothis and Flayn stayed outside the room so it wouldn't imprint on them instead, but demanded to see it the moment after. Byleth had asked around for possible names of the wyvern. It was Annette that told her one she liked a lot, Roksana, which meant star of significance. Byleth watched as a white wyvern with patches of golden scales broke its way out of the egg to stare up at her with large golden eyes.
"Welcome to the world, Roksana. There are plenty of people who want to meet you, so let's not make them wait."
Roksana crawled into Byleth's extended arms. Roksana was about the size of a cat and Byleth petted her like she would one. Byleth was surprised to see Seteth outside the door with Flayn. At first Byleth thought he was there to fetch her for something, but even though he was embarrassed to admit it, he had come to see the hatchling as well. The children especially loved seeing her when she came to show Annette and Felix.
Dorothea and Mercedes were overjoyed but less pushy to see Rocksana. The conversation they had that day was an interesting one. Mercedes even pointed out the large ribbon that kept the dress shut would be long enough to let him tie her up if he wanted to. Byleth had tilted her head at that, but they had said that all she had to was relax and let him do what he wanted. Byleth really didn't understand why there was so much giggling that day, but it was nice to have friends that she could be so forthcoming with.
Byleth had gotten used to getting Dimitri's letters around the same time every day so when the owl was late she wondered what had kept him. She pampered the owl that came with his message yesterday that would send today's letter back to him. The routine for them now was like clockwork. Every owl that came to the monastery Byleth would pamper, pet, and give treats to as it rested there for the night. The bird from the previous day would be sent off to return to Fhirdaid.
Roksana rested on her shoulders as the owl eyed the wyvern warily. The evenings were about the only chance that she got to have with her since Flayn had taken it upon herself to take care of Roksana during Byleth's meetings. Byleth was happy that the wyvern had started to come to seek her out. She had gotten to hiding from Flayn so she didn't have to leave her as often. Byleth had made a rule that Flayn had to lay off. If Roksana wanted to spend some time with Flayn then she would come to Flayn rather than be dragged off by her.
When the owl finally arrived, she smiled. It was one of her favorite owls from the castle. It had such beautiful markings. Dimitri had told her it was one of the owls native to Fhirdaid. She gave the snowy owl a treat for making the long journey to her and brought it inside, where she kept a nest ready outside her door. The owl ate happily as she took a few fingers to stroke the feathers on the top of its head softly. It hooted at her as the monastery's resident owl made its way to its perch.
Byleth huffed in laughter as Feh puffed up their feathers to the delivery owl. "No need to be jealous; you have the easy job after all. I have a treat for you as well, thank you for delivering that paperwork earlier today."
Feh gave a soft hoot before snatching the treat from her fingers. Byleth smiled and took her prize inside. Roksana squawked until Byleth went to her treat box. "You know I haven't forgotten about you. I think I might spoil all of you too much."
Roksana made no argument as she munched happily. Byleth pulled open the shell to see it was just a single parchment today. She pulled out and found that it was a feather as well. It was a beautiful white one with golden markings. "Look Roksana, it matches you."
Roksana glanced up and seemed transfixed as Byleth twisted it so the gold would shine. Roksana used her tail to take it from Byleth's hand and put it in her bed nest that Mercedes made her. Byleth chuckled as Roksana returned to her treat. She was going to have to request Ashe to make them some more wyvern food. No matter what they made here at the monastery Roksana seemed to only like eating fish or Ashe's food. Maybe Byleth did spoil her too much.
She unfurled the scroll and had to cover her mouth before her laughter disturbed the others. It seems Maksim was giving Dimitri some trouble. Guren's pawprint also made her smile. She wished that she could talk to him like they did before bed. It was at least nice to have his messages before she slept. She missed having his warmth. The ethereal moon couldn't come soon enough.
Dimitri searched the crowd. Why in the world they had insisted on such an elaborate celebration for his birthday was beyond him, but everyone seemed to be having fun at least. He would have thought Ingrid and Sylvain would be back with her by now. The months apart were not moving fast enough to his liking, but thankfully it would be just a little more than a year that she would be here permanently. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if she was forced to stay Archbishop and they would have to continue these short visits with each other.
The noble that was trying to keep a conversation going with him pointed at the large stack of gifts that he had told everyone that he didn't want. He'd have to go through them later and see if there was anything he could truly use, and then see what could be done with the rest. He was only half paying attention to the conversation. Had something happened during their travels, perhaps? The noble caught his attention by giving him a thank you for his time and going elsewhere to mingle.
Dimitri tried not to sigh in relief. It was still so exhausting to deal with so many people at once. It was something he had never dealt with well, but there was no escaping this when he was the center of the attention. Then there was a whoop that he recognized at the door as he saw Sylvain wrap an arm around Felix's shoulders and lead him straight to the banquet table. Byleth smiled at the two of them before waving off Ingrid to go join them. Mercedes made a beeline for Dedue. Byleth started taking the stairs towards him two at a time. She was wearing the cloak he made her as well as a dress that he was sure Mercedes made for her that was the same color as the cloak.
Her face was red from the cold outside, snow still sparkling on the fur around her face. He called out her name, and the crowd parted for her. She took it as an invitation to move faster, her heels clicking on the tiles beneath her. He knew he was grinning wide, but he didn't care who saw his adoration. She lept into his arms and wrapped her own around his neck, the momentum spinning them around for a turn. He embraced her and before kissing her temple. She had used another floral scent in her hair, and he buried his nose into it. The relief that he felt just holding her drained so much of the aggravation and stress of the night away.
She tightened her hold. "I've missed you so much, Dimitri."
"I've missed you too, Beloved," he replied.
"I have put on what you requested of me, Your Majesty. I hope you look forward to unwrapping your gift," she whispered.
He could feel the texture of what was hidden underneath the dress and it made his mouth water in anticipation.
He set her down. "Get something to eat. It's been a long journey for you. The fire is ready for you in my room. Take what you want with you, and Guren will lead you there."
She gave him a sly smile. "I thought you'd be more eager to disappear with me."
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You'll find a blindfold on the dresser. Put that on and stay near the fire when you're ready. I plan to be enjoying unwrapping and using my gift for the rest of the night, but I want to make sure you're comfortable and fed before I do so."
She smiled up at him before stepping back for a curtsy. He smiled and watched her leave for the banquet table. He noticed a few of the other women looking at her snidely. Mercedes came to him with a basket and presented him with some of her homemade sweets.
"Thank you, Mercedes. Have Byleth put them in my room for now," Dimitri said.
Mercedes nodded and found Byleth over by the banquet table. They started giggling over something and Mercedes started gathering things onto another plate before the two of them followed Guren out of the hall. Mercedes returned by herself shortly after. He noticed Dedue bringing the luggage inside before disappearing through the corridor. Sylvain came over to him and wrapped an arm around him.
"So Your Majesty, why are you still here and not joining her?" Sylvain asked.
"I'm going to let her get comfortable without my hovering. We have plans tonight. She knows I'm not being neglectful of her right now."
"Oooo is that why she's so eager? She's been fidgety and excited all night, and that's not like her. What did you promise her? I gotta see if it meets approval," Sylvain taunted.
Dimitri gave him a side glance. "And why do I need your approval? I told you in Sreng what we agreed on."
Sylvain's eyes went wide. "Oh, that, well unless you want any last minute tips, the only thing I can say is don't keep the entire castle awake tonight."
Sylvain patted him on the shoulder a few times before wandering through a greeting a few of the nobles that were trying to approach Dimitri and grabbing their attention. Dimitri stayed until the clock tolled out.
"Thank you for your time, gifts, and well wishes. I am going to retire for the night. There are guest rooms on this floor if you feel inclined, you are welcome to them. My friends, you know where your usual rooms are and I thank you for escorting the Archbishop all the way here.
"Rest well, Your Majesty!" Mercedes' voice rang out with a few others echoing out.
He nodded before stepping out, every step up the stairs bringing more excitement with it. She should have had enough time to get comfortable. The thought that she was there waiting for him sent a thrill through him. He knew that if she had stayed to eat in the ballroom he wouldn't have been able to keep from touching her and he didn't want anyone else bothering her. To know she was so close was maddening.
When he opened the door she was sitting in front of the fireplace stroking Guren's fur. Guren looked up and nodded. He gave her a small nuzzle before he stood up and took his place outside the door. Dimitri shut it behind him. He noticed one plate of food was untouched next to Mercedes's basket filled with fruit and other treats.
"The plate is for later if we get tired of nibbling on each other and want something to satiate a different appetite. It was Mercedes's idea, she said something about letting it be part of taking care of each other," she said.
He smiled with the fact that she knew him so well to know what would catch his attention first. He noticed a few other things that weren't there when he left like the towels and water at the bedside. A pouch of herbs lay next to some tea bags. Little things that indicated the prep work that would allow them to enjoy the night without any interruptions. He unlatched his dagger from his belt and put it next to hers, taking the entire belt off afterward. He left his shoes near the door and took off the stiff overcoat, leaving the undershirt on him for now. He set his crown next to her circlet.
She had stood for him, her hands at her sides. The black lace stockings poked out at the bottom of the dress. He knew exactly what waited for him underneath. She wore the blindfold as he had requested. He knew what she had requested when he had shown her the garment in the box.
He stroked her cheek. "Are you sure you still want this Byleth?"
She leaned into his touch. "There is no part of you that I don't want Dimitri."
When morning came Byleth shifted closer to the warmth radiating from Dimitri. She breathed a contented sigh as he tightened his hold on her. She briefly registered Guren at her back as the wolf shifted closer to her. Guren must have come inside after they had finally collapsed in a tangle before deciding to finally sleep. She knew when she looked into a mirror she was going to be greeted with the bite marks he left after he asked his questions. Afterward he lavished her with kisses and pets.
After every few rounds he stopped to take care of her in some small way or another. She snuggled into his chest at the memories. He had fed her some of the fruits and had brought the extra blankets for the bed so she wouldn't be cold on her first winter night here. She was not looking forward to getting out of bed. Not only was she warm and comfortable, but her body ached in the best of ways.
She felt something moving from Guren to crawl onto her shoulder. A small, cold nose hovered over her cheek and she had to keep herself from being alarmed. Roksana would do this to her some mornings if she overslept. Maksim had hidden from her when she first came in. He was probably just curious about her. She opened her eyes to see grey blue scales shimmering out of the corner of her eye.
Dimitri had told her about his wyvern in his letters to her and Claude refused to say if he had any hand in the choice with the timing of her gift. She still found it oddly convenient that their wyverns were going to be the same age and they were going to be training them together. Byleth would let Claude keep his secrets, but he had hinted at the fact that Roksana shouldn't be too bothered by the cold. It wouldn't surprise her if Claude had been on his own mission in Sreng.
She moved her hand to point her finger towards Maksim's snout, but went no further. She watched as he moved further into her vision. He really was a pretty wyvern. The coloring made her smile when she thought of how Dimitri might look riding atop of him. She petted him with just a single finger at first before she started to add more. Maksim closed his eyes and made a pleased sound.
Dimitri stirred beside her. "What? Oh, I hope he didn't wake you."
His voice was still heavy with sleep as he turned his gaze to the dragon sitting on top of the blankets.
She continued to pet Maksim. "No, I was already starting to wake. How are you?"
He reached out to pet some of the hair away from her face. "I'm always doing well when I get to wake up beside you."
Maksim crawled closer to his hand and rubbed against it as a cat would. Byleth jerked as the cold scales on his tail hit her skin. Maksim glared at her and flicked his tail on the covers as he studied her. Dimitri chuckled before he picked Maksim up and put him on the other side of them and brought himself closer.
"I really don't feel like getting out of this bed."
He kissed her temple. "We will have to at some point, but for now, you are my captive."
Guren lifted his head up as she giggled when he kissed her neck. "If either of you starts with that again I will bite. There are others who are looking forward to spending time with her too."
Dimitri chuckled. Guren had a point. He wanted to show her around the castle and Ashe wanted to show her the tavern. She snuggled closer to him and he buried his nose into her hair. It was comforting to have her here after all these months.
"I am happy you're here. Thank you for the gift, it was very satisfactory."
She huffed. "I had better been more than satisfactory."
He raised a brow at her indignation. "As if that wasn't obvious."
She leaned in to kiss him and Guren growled. "I swear, you two are worse than rabbits! Behave!"
Byleth smiled before turning around to pull Guren into a hug. "I've missed you too, Guren."
Dimitri watched as Guren's tail began to wag. Maksim was starting to squawk at his other side. He would be starting his day normally by now so it made sense that they'd be used to the routine.
He took advantage of Byleth being turned away from him as he pressed himself against her. "I think if we don't go we might have a rebellion on our hands."
"Whatever we do had better involve food. I've missed Dedue's and Ashe's cooking."
He smiled. "If that is what you wish, we will see it done."
Notes: Thank you everyone for your patience. I hope you enjoyed it and you know comments and kudos are always appreciated. Thank you to MissDimilith and Chrono, for the help and for helping me choose the wyvern's names I had spent all the time on quarantine doing nothing but writing and maybe the occasional tv show. Now that I am back at work it limits the amount of time I have to write. I had two fics on the backburner, the mermaidbyleth/piratedimitri au and the dragongirlbyleth/werewolfmitri au but with the three I have, I think they will have to stay there until I at least finish Lion's Dance. Would you have a preference on which one makes you would be more excited to read? I'd usually respond to your wonderful comments when I update to let you know that the next chapter has come out as well as reply to them. I love it when I see them pop into my inbox so TY! Because of how long these chapters might take me to finish I am going to start to reply when I see them. I have a few personal reasons for this choice, mainly stress for thinking about how long I'm making you wait to acknowledge them, you might not feel that way but the thought eats at me regardless, so I hope I have your understanding. If you'd like the chapter updates my twitter is the best place for that Lunafox90 I also retweet A LOT of Dimileth and other FE content. As always thank you so much for taking the time to read, and giving my fic a chance. I started Lion's Dance as a self indulgent project back in February and knowing that we're getting to the last chapters is both exciting and heartbreaking. I think I might make these last few more broken up and shorter, it means more chapters in the long run, but it will allow me to get them out a bit faster and not so much stress. The amount of love and support you've given me over the months has not gone unnoticed and I appreciate every one of you. Stay strong, stay safe, and take care of yourselves.