Author's Note: Hey, so I actually have one of these this time. I didn't have one last time because I thought it'd be funny to just update out of nowhere and say nothing. Which it was. Anyway, I will not be having a consistent update schedule going forward. I do have quite a few chapters in backlog, but I want to keep that backlog. That being said, I will update new chapters whenever I finish another chapter. So it may be somewhat soon after this, it could be a few weeks, I have no idea. My motivation and free time are what drive this. So yeah, anyway. Enjoy.
The time was now. Dorothea had convinced her earlier in the day that if she had any true alone time tonight with the Professor, then she would confess how she felt. And that time was now. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Her breath felt labored, and she was feeling queasy. All par for the course with the situation at hand.
"I… L-" Edelgard's words were cut off by the clanking of armor on stone. One of Edelgard's Imperial Soldiers ran up the stairs into the Goddess Tower.
"Your Majesty! I'm sorry to interrupt! The scouts that you had sent out a few days ago have returned. There are two armies marching to Gronder Field in the Empire. They will be here within a week's time."
"What? Two armies?" Edelgard turned to look at her soldier, who was standing straight, despite sprinting up multiple flights of stairs in full plate armor.
"Yes, Your Majesty. They were seen bearing both Kingdom and Alliance colors." Edelgard could have sworn that her heart skipped a beat or two.
"Damnit! Damnit! You're dismissed. Start gathering forces and supplies. We leave at dawn!" Edelgard turned around and grimaced, hiding her face from her soldier. They couldn't see her with any doubts. It would ruin everything.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The soldier bowed to her before turning and running back down the stairs from whence he came mere moments before.
"Edelgard?" Byleth's voice sounded from over her shoulder.
Damnit, Dorothea. This is the reason that I can't just admit things to her. Whenever things seem like I could relax, another problem rears its head. I can't afford her right now, even though I wish I could. She wasn't sure what infuriated her more: the fact that she wasn't able to tell Byleth how she felt, how easily she trusted that it would be simple, or the fact that her territory was about to be invaded. All she knew was that she was angry.
Edelgard turned to look at her teacher, somewhat strained due to her inner monologue. "I'm sorry, my teacher. Go and get ready. I will inform the others of the situation that we find ourselves in. Like you heard, we leave at dawn. I'm counting on you, Professor."
Byleth nodded and left down the stairs. As soon as she had left, Edelgard collapsed to the ground, tears threatening to fall down her face.
"Damnit… I got my hopes up. I let myself get my hopes up, only for reality to shove them back in my face. I'm sorry, my teacher. I can't afford to love you right now." Edelgard shut her eyes and grit her teeth. Shaking her head, she stood up from the ground. "I am Edelgard von Hresvelg, Emperor to the Adrestian Empire. I cannot afford to lose. I cannot afford to falter. I must press onward, no matter the cost. That is the price of my path." Edelgard sighed before making her way down to the Ball. Music was still playing, and people were still dancing. She walked in front of the musicians and motioned for them to stop playing. They did so quickly, and once the music stopped, the remaining people in the hall turned to look in her direction.
"I apologize for cutting the night short, but this is top priority. Our scouts have spotted the Kingdom and Alliance armies marching towards Gronder Field. We must be prepared to defend our territory. They are a week's time away. Get ready, everyone. We leave at dawn. That is all. You are dismissed." Edelgard stepped down and started making her way back to her room. Several people were now scrambling about the Monastery, but she was focused on one thing: protecting what was hers.
"Edie!" Dorothea called out from behind her. Edelgard looked over her shoulder, but kept walking.
"Yes, Dorothea?"
Further catching up with her, Dorothea matched pace with Edelgard. "How did things go? You got the chance to be alone with her, right?"
"Yes, I did. And I was about to tell her, but my duty as Emperor came first. As it should." Edelgard was almost to the stairs to her room by this point.
"Wait, so you didn't tell her how you felt?"
Edelgard stopped and turned to look at her. "No, I didn't. I was about to, and then we were interrupted by the news that I gave to everyone else. Like I told you before, as the Emperor, I don't get to have love. Not like everyone else." Edelgard's tone was much more venomous than she had hoped. Embarrassed by her outburst, Edelgard turned and retreated up the stairs, leaving Dorothea where she stood.
"Edie…" Dorothea said behind her. Edelgard didn't turn around. She couldn't turn around. Not after that. Of course she didn't mean for it to come off as harsh as it did, but it had just slipped. out. To be truthful, Edelgard was jealous. She wanted Dorothea's freedom when it came to pursuing things aside from her main goal. She wished there was a path that she could take where that was feasible now. She wanted love. She wanted to love and to be loved, and she wished that her teacher could be that one to love her and be loved by her.
But wishful thinking wouldn't accomplish anything. Edelgard made her way back to her room, tears threatening to fall once more. It was always her. It was always her teacher that would be the reason behind her tears. She undressed and stepped towards her dresser, pulling out her Emperor's garb and setting it on top of the dresser for the morning. They would need to leave soon. Edelgard quickly slipped into some pyjamas and nestled herself up in her bed, begging sleep to take her quickly; fortunately, tonight, fate was kind and granted her request.
The morning came faster than she had wanted, but she had a job to do and couldn't afford to take any longer. Edelgard quickly dressed and gathered her equipment. She held onto her axe, Aymr, and made her way to the front gates. Though it wasn't dawn yet, there were a good number of her troops that had gathered there, including Byleth. Though Edelgard's heart twinged slightly, she made her way over to her Professor.
"My teacher, thank you for being here."
Byleth shook her head. "I'm not the only one here. You should thank them as well."
Edelgard laughed softly. "So I should. I shall thank them when everyone has gathered. Just for the future, I do have to say that since I'm the emperor, we can't let it slip that I'm following your command in battle, Professor. I-"
"Your Majesty. A word?" Hubert approached her from behind.
"Of course, Hubert. Professor, please excuse me." Edelgard turned to walk away, Byleth nodding as she did so. "So, Hubert, What did you wish to talk about?"
"I wished to once again bring this to your attention. We have not seen the Professor fight for us yet. Are we sure that she is truly with us? She has only been here for not even two whole days."
"Hubert, don't you think that if any time would be best for us to learn her true nature, it would be today?"
"I will concede that, but I am still wary that she may turn on us again."
"I don't think that should be a problem, Hubert. She had told me that she would have chosen us if only she had known all those years ago."
Hubert shook his head. "If it were anyone but the Professor, you would be on edge like I am. But regardless, I will support your decision. That is all." Hubert bowed and turned from the white haired Emperor.
He was right. If it had been anyone else, Edelgard would be much more hesitant to trust them. It would be impossible for some people to have even a semblance of trust from her. But when it came to her Professor, she couldn't help but trust them. And so she would. She would trust her teacher until she proved she couldn't be trusted. And so, once all of her forces had gathered, she once more introduced her Professor.
Stepping up to a raised platform in front of her army, she addressed her forces: "Imperial Army! As I'm sure that you are all aware, our lands will soon be under attack. We will be travelling to Gronder Field shortly. I know this is somewhat worrying, as most of our past militant endeavors have resulted in our current stalemate, but we have recently received a tremendous help in our cause. My teacher, if you would step forward." Edelgard motioned towards Byleth. Her teacher looked around and sheepishly stepped forward. "My old professor at the Officer's Academy here at Garreg Mach has returned to us: Byleth Eisner, daughter of Jeralt the Blade Breaker, tactical genius, skilled fighter, bearer of the Crest of Flames, and wielder of the Sword of the Creator. With her help, we can finally turn the tides against those that would stand against us! For the Empire!" Edelgard raised Aymr high above her head, and the masses of people that were gathered before her erupted in a loud cheer. "With that in mind, we leave as soon as possible. Load up and get ready to fight in the coming days." Edelgard smiled and stepped down from her platform, heading towards the fields outside of the Monastery's gates.
Hubert and Byleth soon approached, Hubert holding the reins of two horses, Byleth holding the reins of one.
Hubert handed Edelgard one of the reins. "Your Majesty. Here is your horse. And might I say, what a rallying speech. You certainly roused that crowd. I commend you."
"Thank you, Hubert. Now, we must away towards Gronder. The enemy forces will not stop."
"As you command, Your Majesty." Hubert nodded and mounted his horse, Byleth and Edelgard following shortly, mounting their own horses. "Imperial Army!" Edelgard yelled, acknowledging her forces. "Forward to Gronder!"
The next five days went by slowly. There was no doubt that a forced march for a week had taken its toll on her forces, but it was a necessity. The other armies wouldn't have stopped. Soon enough, though, Edelgard and her forces reached Gronder Field. As soon as they had gotten to the field, camp was set up in the forest nearby. It wouldn't do for the enemy to get there and ambush them out in the open. After her camp was settled, Edelgard took a walk around the camp.
The soldiers around her were working hard to set up their own camps, tents, and fire pits. While it was hard work, these men certainly seemed like they were enjoying their work. As she was walking, she felt many eyes on her. Several of the soldiers were staring at her as she walked through the camp. Though it did feel weird, she did acknowledge that most people usually were not this close to the Emperor. After doing her rounds, she returned to her own tent and got ready to sleep. With the battle estimated to be the next day, Edelgard knew that she needed sleep tonight. And she did her best to have it claim her quickly.
Edelgard woke with a start as her tent flap was opened quickly. She eyed the opening to her tent and saw a figure standing above her. Edelgard reached underneath her pillow, grabbing hold of her dagger. As she drew the dagger, the figure kneeled before her on one knee.
"Your Majesty. There is news to report."
Edelgard sighed a breath of relief. "Hubert, I would ask that you would not sneak up on me like an assassin would."
"My apologies, Your Majesty. It is a force of habit." Hubert bowed his head even more.
Blinking and shaking her head to wake herself up, Edelgard continued. "What news do you have, Hubert?"
"Scouts have seen the opposing armies approaching. They should be here within a few hours."
Edelgard quickly stood up from where she had slept the night before. "Start waking the rest of the camp. We will move soon."
"Understood, Your Majesty." Hubert stood up and exited the tent quickly.
And so it will begin…
Edelgard stepped forward onto Gronder Plains, Aymr in hand. Byleth, Hubert, and several of the other former students stood with her. For that, she was grateful. But she couldn't focus on much else as she began to see the two other armies start moving towards the Empire lands.
"Mages, send out a preliminary attack. Thin out their numbers early on." Edelgard turned behind her to the mages. They started chanting, and a wave of fireballs launched themselves towards the other two armies, easily making connection with enemy numbers.
From across the battlefield, Edelgard saw Dimitri step forward from the Kingdom army. "Know that I will tear your heads from your shoulders. The dead must have their tribute." His voice echoed across the field.
Likewise, Claude soon stepped forward from the Alliance army. "As big class reunions go...this one's gotta be the worst in history."
Typical Claude. Always trying to find a way to add humor to serious matters. She thought. She stepped forward from her own army and raised her voice. "Years ago, we fought here as classmates…" Edelgard lowered her head. Though she knew that this was the path she needed to take, she couldn't help but feel some regret. "But not today." She raised her right fist, her archers raising their bows.
"Kill every last one of them!" Dimitri yelled, bloodlust apparent in his voice. His army immediately started running forward. Claude gave his own battle cry and his forces followed him out onto the battlefield.
"And so we fight on." Edelgard looked out onto the battlefield and lowered her arm quickly. Immediately, a volley of arrows was launched from behind the young Emperor, and with her own battle cry, her army ran out onto the field as well.
