Against Byleth's will, it was voted and agreed upon that Claude and Dimitri would join the army when they marched to Enbarr—with the allowance came many conditions, most of which restricted their movement in battle. They weren't allowed to make themselves known and they couldn't stray too far from their locations in the middle of their respective factions.
It was a quiet march, despite the number of soldiers the Resistance Army had under its banner. There was plenty to talk and worry about once they got close to Enbarr, however. Little over halfway there, Byleth had sent a small group of scouts ahead to determine how they would attack and, if possible, to convince as many people as they could to leave the city or barricade themselves inside. The day they were close to the Imperial capital was when the scouts returned.
"We have a report!" One of them announced as they came up to her and Seteth.
"You may give it," Byleth said, setting aside what she was talking to Seteth about for now.
"The emperor has been reported to be near to full strength," the scout explained. "Masked mages have been seen demonizing the Church in the name of the emperor. Regardless, most of the townspeople were willing to hide away or evacuate while we fight; it seemed that had already been requested of them."
"Do you have any information on the battle itself?" Seteth asked. "When the Imperial army will attack or defend, what soldiers we'll see on the battlefield?"
"Just that their generals include Hubert von Vestra and the Death Knight," the scout replied.
"Thank you," Byleth said. "Tell the others that we'll march in a few hours—we can't risk more of those who slither in the dark to join the fight."
The scouts bowed and left, which led Byleth to continue talking to Seteth about their strategy. As before, it was simple—Byleth and a guard-of-sorts would disarm the generals, doing what they could to make them retreat without hurting them. Before the battle, she told the Resistance Army how to identify those who slither in the dark; if they were uncomfortable killing them or weren't certain, it was advised to avoid confrontation. They started their attack as soon as everyone was ready, breaking up into four distinct groups: Byleth and her guard of Knights; Seteth and the rest of the Knights; Claude and the Alliance forces; and Dimitri and the Kingdom forces.
Byleth's group went ahead to handle the first general: the Death Knight. He was simply waiting for her, all other soldiers having been told to avoid him. "I was very disappointed in our last fight," the Death Knight said when she came up to him. "Going into it, I expected to kill or be killed. Unfortunately, I only have permission to hinder you." There was a short pause and a quiet sigh. "Shame."
Byleth fought him without replying. He was hard to knock down—he didn't fall for the same tricks twice—but, in time, she took his weapon and got him to a point of surrender.
"You have two options," Byleth told him firmly. "Leave Enbarr until the war ends, or be taken prisoner by the Church of Seiros."
"Both options are undesirable," the Death Knight acknowledged. "…Very well. I'll receive scorn regardless; take me away. I'll be your prisoner—for now."
With little resistance, the Death Knight accepted the Knights' care into making sure he'll walk away smoothly. Three of Byleth's guard secured and went with the Death Knight, with the remaining six coming with her to find Hubert.
Edelgard's living shadow was hiding behind a line of masked mages and another line of Imperial infantrymen. Byleth gave the order to kill the former and disarm the latter as she went ahead to confront Hubert.
"Can I say, you always have been predictable," Hubert noted with a tsk. "It's just one of the reasons why I never liked you. You've made life harder for Lady Edelgard—I could never forget that crime. She likes to call you an old friend who lost their way somewhere along the line. It is because of that former friendship that she asked me to tell you, in her exact words: 'I will accept peace on very few conditions. First, the Church of Seiros must relinquish all its power, disappearing entirely. Second, any people hailing from the Empire that chose to side with the Church must stay in Enbarr to receive punishment where it is due. If neither or one of these cannot be fulfilled, I won't allow the peace you desire.'"
As much as Byleth wished she could agree, she knew what her answer had to be. She took out her sword slowly, preparing for Hubert's attack. "No. I want to talk to Edelgard myself—I want to make sure the terms come from her and her alone. You can stand out of the way and let me through, or you can be stubborn and fight."
"I've sworn to protect Lady Edelgard," Hubert replied. "It is in her best interest that I make this decision. I should have dealt with you earlier, before you were a problem and before she became attached. I will rectify that failure now!"
Hubert attacked almost instantly—Byleth was prepared enough to dodge the first attack, but was hit the second. She couldn't talk her way out of this problem; she couldn't disarm him, either, for lack of things to take away. Knights that were in her guard and close by came to her when they realized she was fighting. Hubert more-or-less flicked everyone away but Byleth, who dodged and attacked with careful timing.
Byleth had to hurt him for Hubert to finally fall to his knees. She knew what his answer would be, so unlike the Death Knight she didn't give him a choice. "Knights, make sure he can't use magic and bring him outside of the battle. For now, he's our prisoner."
"Prisoner?" Hubert echoed. "It's hard to believe you don't live to spite Her Majesty after hearing that order."
"You'll be returned once the war ends," Byleth said.
"Lady Edelgard won't bend just because you have hostages," Hubert said as the Knights began to bind him. "She'll bend because it's the most strategic move to make at the time. Never mistake compliance with loyalty."