She awoke to the sensation of someone tugging on her cloak. Her mind muddled with sleep, she was only mildly annoyed someone was trying to take it from her and rolled so it wrapped more thoroughly around her.
A familiar voice hissed with frustration.
"Blaise! That clock is soaked. You're going to freeze to death."
Edelgard.
And Blaise was aware enough to agree she was very cold, the dampness of the cloak inhibiting its ability to retain her body heat. But it was her cloak, and she wasn't giving it up. She buried her face in the fabric.
"I can give you another cloak. If I had known you were obsessively attached to it, I'd have done so already."
Not the same thing, Edelgard. Even if it was the same, it wouldn't really be.
As such, she ignored the offer.
There was a dramatic huff beside her.
"Blaise Eisner, that cloak is a hazard to your well-being. I will take it from you," Edelgard warned.
Blaise didn't think she would. Not really and let herself drift back to sleep. That was the idea anyway until Edelgard, in fact, did make good on her warning. And Blaise was left in a daze as she found herself cloakless in the blink of an eye.
She hadn't even put up a fight.
She tried to move only to find her limbs felt distinctly like deadweight, and she could only blink as Edelgard threw another cloak at her. It hit her in the face before fluttering into her lap where she stared at it. This one was black instead of red, and it was made of lighter material.
She frowned at it.
I like the red one better.
A part of her knew this was an absolutely ridiculous conversation in and of itself, but she blamed it on how very strange she felt as a whole.
Edelgard's lips twitched. Blaise could see it even as she turned partially away from her as she folded said red cloak until it fit in a bag. "I will remember that," Edelgard promised. "However, I am afraid you will have to make do with that one until we reach Enbarr." She turned back to Blaise fully, eyes flickering up and down as her smile faded. "I know you are tired, but I have stalled Hubert as long as I am capable of. We must be returning to the road," she admitted.
Only then did Blaise realize she wasn't where she remembered being. She was in a tent, but it wasn't the one Edelgard had been using on Gronder Field. A glance outside the open tent flap showed her the colors of dawn lightening the sky.
How long had she been asleep? Maybe that was why she felt off.
Or maybe it was her subconscious reacting to the darker thoughts that were just now beginning to make their way back to the forefront. Her clouded mind slowly cleared and the weird numb feeling slipped away with it.
The Battle of the Eagle and Lion had gotten so horribly messed up. She wasn't even sure how it had all happened. Honestly, it couldn't have gone worse if she'd actually tried to turn it into a nightmare.
And now Balen.
Manuela.
The Black Eagles.
… Her father.
All of them were gone. Because of choices she'd made.
Great job, Blaise. Just great job.
She had a strong urge to hide herself in a hole and stay there. Indefinitely. That way she couldn't- Not again- And it would be safer for everyone when she couldn't understand what was happening to her anymore. It was disconcerting to be shrouded in dark and to not know why. Why her anyway? What was she doing? What did they want? Where was Chevalier's guidance? Was Rhea going to hunt for her? Was Balen? What about the Agarthans?
…What was she going to do? What could she possibly do?
Blaise suddenly felt very alone and very overwhelmed, her lungs constricting in her chest like a hand had literally reached inside her and squeezed.
She saw Edelgard's gaze harden before the princess crossed the short distance between them, a sheathed sword Blaise had not seen her grab swaying with each step. Blaise wasn't sure what she was expecting from her approach, but it wasn't her kneeling beside her. It wasn't her taking the cloak with deliberately slow motions and shaking it out to lay smoothly along Blaise's shoulders. Edelgard's fingers clasped it in place with practiced ease before they curled Blaise's around the pommel of the sword.
A weapon in hand was surprisingly settling.
"The rain has passed so Hubert believes we should be able to reach Enbarr by early afternoon. I believe late afternoon or early evening is more accurate, but, regardless, I expect we'll be there by nightfall," Edelgard stated.
Blaise zeroed in on her voice, listening, listening like it was a lifeline, a necessity of survival.
Edelgard moved as she spoke, coaxing Blaise to stand and then to walk one step at a time.
She just had to keep moving. If it required an obsessive interest in Edelgard's voice and a white-knuckled grip on a sword then that was just going to have to do for now.
"From there, I will need to speak with my father, but I will have you escorted to my room. I believe we will all be tired so we will save the formal dinner for another night, and I will ensure dinner is sent to my room for the two of us. By the time we finish, your room should be prepared. The rest we will worry about come morning."
Blaise nodded, more because she felt like she should than because she comprehended what Edelgard was rambling about. Outside the tent, she finally saw Hubert next to a pair of steeds. She recognized Edelgard's white mare and, of course, Hubert's black stallion, both of which were saddled and ready to ride. It made Blaise wonder if she was expected to walk.
And how they'd gotten her this far.
"You will ride with me," Edelgard answered the former of her silent questions as Hubert joined them with his customary bow.
"Lady Edelgard, the horses are ready, and I expect it will take no more than ten minutes to dismantle the tent. We should leave in fifteen minutes," he announced.
"Thank you, Hubert."
He bowed a second time, and his eyes flickered to Blaise. There was the barest narrowing of his green eyes that made her skin prickle with nerves. He said nothing but nodded, a short, jerk of his head to her before leaving them to gather the last of the campsite together.
Blaise supposed she would consider it some attempt at guarded respect. It was at least acknowledgement of her existence without being overtly threatening.
"Do not mind Hubert," Edelgard assured her once there was some distance between them. "He is on edge. Recent developments aside, other aspects have not all gone as planned either," she admitted, nodding for Blaise to follow her toward the horses. "It is one reason it is imperative we reach Enbarr in short order."
Right. In that case…
Can I lead?
Edelgard raised an eyebrow so Blaise pointed to the horses.
I'm a faster rider.
And it was true. Her father was an expert at horseback and, while Blaise wouldn't put herself up on his level, she was no stranger to riding. No offense to Edelgard, but the princess left something to be desired in that respect.
Edelgard didn't answer immediately as she considered the request. She looked Blaise up and down, probably trying to determine if she felt confident in her state of mind to allow her to do so. Or maybe it was just really weird for someone to ask if they could lead the princess's horse in such a way when they were so below her station.
Eventually though, Edelgard nodded her consent and that tight ball in her stomach loosened the barest amount.
The white mare wasn't skittish in the slightest when Blaise reached out to stroke her head and grab the reins so, even with the heaviness of her body, she had little trouble swinging herself into the saddle. She nudged the horse forward a step or two to ensure she, in fact, did have control over her before allowing Edelgard to swing up behind her.
It was something like a jolt to her system when Edelgard's arm slipped around her waist. For some reason, it surprised her, and the horse reacted accordingly, prancing several nervous steps before Blaise got her mind back together.
Thankfully, Edelgard said nothing about the misstep, and Blaise silently filed away the sensitivity of the mare for further consideration.
Hubert wasn't pleased when he returned, his frown clearly displaying his disapproval. Blaise thought maybe he had seen the rocky start, but Edelgard's response suggested his displeasure was something else entirely.
"There is no one to see, Hubert, and, as such, we need not worry over appearances. We can rearrange once we near Enbarr," Edelgard insisted.
Right. Princess expectations.
"As you wish, Lady Edelgard," Hubert allowed, albeit reluctantly.
Blaise suspected his disapproval diminished some once they were moving. She was quick to nudge the horse into a steady trot and then a smooth gallop when it became apparent this horse was bred for speed. She was too sensitive to be on the battlefield, but she was fast and reactive to the rider. A perfect horse for a quick getaway which made Blaise wonder if that was part of the reason she had been chosen for Edelgard. She was fairly certain Edelgard herself hadn't chosen the mare.
Blaise felt better than she thought she would upon the steed. Not only did she feel halfway useful, but the wind was calming against her torrent thoughts. There was a sense of freedom born of such simple pleasures. She had not felt this way since her mercenary days, days before so many eyes were upon her, watching, waiting, to see what she would do.
She chased that feeling and pushed the horse faster. She had only a vague sense of where Enbarr lay, but she wasn't too worried. How bad could it really be if she got them lost?
And there was always Hubert. As she thought this, said vassal was already pushing his horse ahead of her, and she reigned in alongside him, silently assuring him she was following his directives.
Still, she made no move to slow down, and she hoped his horse could keep the pace.
Edelgard tightened her hold around Blaise, her body sliding flush against her back. Her chin rested on Blaise's shoulder, her breath warm against her ear.
And Blaise, in an overtly childish moment, wondered if Edelgard would be amused or angry if she attempted to race Hubert. She weighed her options, and then proceeded to decide it was worth finding out. She leaned just a little more forward, and she knew Edelgard was aware of the minute movement. The princess said nothing so Blaise dug her heels into the mare's side.
They noticeably picked up speed, Blaise regretting for a brief moment that she had not the foresight to tie her hair back as it whipped around her and likely Edelgard. But her companion laughed, a soft exhale Blaise felt against her neck as surely as if it had been of ice or even fire. It was simultaneously pleased and a little guilty. Edelgard released one arm, her fingers combing Blaise's hair as she gathered the wayward strands together. Blaise could go faster still, and she was vaguely aware they'd left Hubert in the dust as she followed the dirt path she could only assume was leading them in the general direction of Enbarr.
She wanted to keep going, wanted to veer off the path and into the surrounding territory.
She wanted to keep running and running and running until they were far away from everything else. Until they were some place everything that had been could be forgotten. And she could be that simple no-name mercenary who cared naught but for one person with a Crest that sang to hers. A girl who loved to draw and grow flowers and who was hopelessly infatuated with soft lavender.
One who needn't wield a sword all the time, who needn't fight all the time.
Blaise pulled on the reins and the mare slid to an almost instantaneous halt right there in the middle of the path.
Mentally, she berated herself. Hadn't she learned that kind of thought pattern was dangerous by now? She couldn't be that person so why couldn't she just get over it?
Another tug on the reins and the mare turned so Blaise could see Hubert charging toward them.
Edelgard's grip loosened as she relaxed, her chin once again resting on Blaise's shoulder. "I think she enjoyed the run," she stated. It took Blaise a second to realize she was talking about the horse. The horse who was now tossing her head and stepping in an odd sort of pattern with barely restrained energy. "You may have to start taking her out. I suspect none of the stable hands are willing to push her like that," she admitted.
The remark was odd to her. Did they not want to see her at her best?
Blaise shifted in the saddle to see Edelgard. The princess didn't raise her head from Blaise's shoulder but merely tilted it so their eyes met. Her hair was slightly windblown but cascaded in a silver stream down one shoulder framing that lavender color Blaise adored more than she could express. She promptly had to remember what she'd wanted to ask, her fingers fumbling in her haste to not look as if she had forgotten just by looking at the Imperial princess.
Why not?
"She's a royal steed and held to certain standards. They would be afraid to damage her or teach her some manner inappropriate for her station."
She had to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way.
So they hold her back? Seems like a waste.
Edelgard hummed. "It is but there are certain people who come along who see the benefits of a challenge. Sweat, tears, scrapes, bruises. All of it is necessary or everything remains the same."
All of it is necessary.
Blaise got the feeling they weren't talking about the horse anymore. She couldn't press the conversation, however, as Hubert rejoined them and, rather predictably, berated Blaise's handling of the steed. Still, he notably did not make her give the reins to Edelgard and they proceeded on their way to Enbarr in a quick gallop his stallion set.
The rest of the journey to Enbarr was silent as Blaise was busy handling the horse and any words between the two nobles would have been lost in the wind anyway. They came in sight of the city closer to Hubert's early afternoon than Edelgard's evening and so did not even have to break for lunch. Hubert was clearly pleased at their progress as he pulled his stallion to halt, dismounting as Blaise reined in the mare.
"Have you ever been to Enbarr, Blaise?" he asked
A handful of times.
Not that it really counted. She had never been in any area Edelgard and Hubert would have frequented. Hell, the one time she'd made it to the inner marketplace she'd been chased away by royal guards accusing her of trying to sneak into the palace she didn't even know was there.
We stayed on the outskirts.
So don't expect much from her, Hubert.
"We will only be passing through that area and likely with an escort," Edelgard explained, releasing Blaise to straighten in the saddle. "The guards at the front gate will spare us a small battalion of soldiers once they realize my presence. We may have to wait a few minutes, but they should not leave us waiting long." She paused and Blaise twisted to see a frown pull at her lips as she gazed at Blaise. "Just do not be alarmed. Their presence can feel pressured and overwhelming, but they mean well," she warned.
Okay … basically don't panic, keep cool. It is fine.
She hoped she didn't look as concerned as she felt.
"Stay close. I suggest you refrain from wandering. The likelihood is slim, however, should something happen that requires Lady Edelgard's quick removal you would be best suited at her side. You would struggle to prove yourself an ally should you be separated from the two of us," Hubert continued.
Right. Mute and all.
Blaise forced a short nod.
"You will ride my steed which should make clear your status as a guest of Lady Edelgard and limit questions to yourself. Remain at least one step behind Her Highness as is customary when in the presence of royalty."
Oh Goddess… she was going to screw this up, wasn't she?
"Hubert, please desist. You act as if I will not be there as well. There is no need to worry her over positions I will not allow her to fall into," Edelgard interrupted as Hubert once again opened his mouth with what Blaise suspected was another piece of advice she was expected to remember.
She didn't feel any better as she passed the reins to Edelgard and shuffled her way on over to Hubert's stallion.
Are you sure they are going to let me stay?
She knew she really had no reason to question Edelgard's control of the situation but... Well, it was also difficult to get the vision of royal guards chasing her with weapons drawn out of her head too.
Edelgard and Hubert both looked at her then, their faces dark and brooding.
"I would enjoy seeing someone who dared argue with Her Highness over the matter," Hubert admitted, a smile crossing his features that made Blaise fight back a shiver.
Edelgard was not as amused by the idea. Not in the slightest. "Your presence is not up for debate. You are my guest and, more importantly, my friend. They will treat you with the utmost respect, or I will see that they are removed from their position." She flipped her hair, eyes narrowing at the gates of Enbarr in the distance. "I hold no regard for the outdated customs that would say otherwise, and it is only a matter of time until they are rendered obsolete."
Only a matter of time, huh?
Blaise considered her for the briefest of moments, wondering just how soon these plans of hers were going to be implemented. She spoke as if they were on the horizon.
And looking at her, sitting straight on the back of the white mare overlooking the city, silver strands of her hair fluttering in the breeze and shining in the sun nearly as much as her armor, her eyes bright with that lavender fire... She looked every bit the Imperial ruler she was destined to be.
There was nothing stopping Blaise from believing change was near at hand.
And the Aristocrats of Fodlan had no idea what was coming in the form of one Edelgard von Hresvelg. The one they had created through a misplaced worship of Crests and the blood of the less fortunate.
Her lips twitched into a smile at the thought.
Blaise was not yet privy to the full extent of Edelgard's plans but, if what she had witnessed this past year was the Fodlan they desired, if they looked at Bernadetta, Sylvain, Miklan, Dorothea, Edelgard herself, and saw nothing more than an unfortunate casualty…
They deserved everything she would bring upon them.
~FE~
Their trip through Enbarr to reach the palace grounds went as smoothly as could be expected… Which was only marginally so. Blaise was careful to lead Hubert's stallion a pace behind Edelgard, close but not crowding her. Said vassal was leading Edelgard's mare by the reins. He was obviously on foot so the going was slow, at least to Blaise who was hyperaware of the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Soldiers had formed a circle around them in an effort to keep the citizens of Enbarr a respectable distance from their princess. It was overall very loud around them, and it only grew more crowded as the procession continued on and word spread Edelgard was walking the streets.
The entire affair made Blaise incredibly uncomfortable and she kept her eyes peeled straight before her.
It was a good thing she wasn't on Edelgard's mare or her nervous energy would be embarrassingly obvious. Hubert's steed was a much less sensitive horse, continuing on with practiced steps as if there was nothing out of the ordinary.
As if Blaise wasn't clenching the reins so hard her knuckles had turned white.
People looked at her. She saw mostly curiosity, some disapproval. She was glad no one said anything. At least nothing she could hear.
She noted Edelgard kept glancing back at her.
She was pretty sure they were nearing the palace when the crowds thinned to something marginally more manageable. Of course that was when the soldiers let their guard down a little too much.
Blaise was just beginning to think she was going to make it through this without making her anxiety obvious when a gentleman slipped his way through the guarded perimeter right as Edelgard was going by.
The result was Blaise being forced to pull her horse back lest she run him over, but the tension already present in her meant she did so with too much fervency that even Hubert's well-trained steed reacted to. He whinnied, shaking his head with such great force that only Blaise's death grip on the reins kept them in her hands. Miraculously, she managed to keep him steady enough that he only backed up, Blaise regaining control after a few steps.
Still, the damage had been done.
Edelgard spun in her saddle with the speed of a hurricane as soldiers swarmed around them to remove said gentleman who was now spouting off about the Emperor failing to fulfill some duty or another.
Blaise didn't really care what exactly he was on about as she was much more concerned with the fact she was separated from Edelgard which was something Hubert had specifically said not to allow. Not only that but she had a very strong urge to grab her sword and force some space between her and everyone else, a sudden sensation of claustrophobia spreading through her at the heightened activity. She figured that wasn't an appropriate response, however, and so instead pretended she was a statue. Her jaw clenched as she willed Hubert's stallion to stay still. She simply watched as the gentleman was forced away, the temporary excitement fading.
Some guards spoke to her. She saw them look at her and their lips move at any rate. She saw them wave her forward, a simple movement that should have been easy for her to process. Except it wasn't in her overactive state. Then a guard reached for the reins and Blaise knew she'd made a wrong move. She jerked, the horse backing up out of reach with a snort that Blaise was sure was irritated. But there were only more guards.
Closing in.
Surrounding her.
And she didn't know which way was the way out.
Enbarr was huge and she'd been too nervous to get a good look at the streets as they'd walked them. She'd figured sightseeing could wait.
She pulled the reins again, the stallion side-stepping another grab for his halter.
"Halt!"
Blaise's attention snapped up from the guards around her at Edelgard's command. Hubert was no longer holding her reins, the princess swiveling the mare around and urging her into a trot towards Blaise.
"Guards, return to your formation," she ordered, a stern flash of lavender sending them scrambling back into a respectable distance. In another moment, she had drawn alongside Blaise, close enough she could speak with relative privacy. "I apologize, Blaise. Shall we proceed?" she asked.
Her tone was more formal than Blaise was used to, but she didn't miss the significance that was their close proximity. It was a statement. A silent but very strong statement of respect.
For Blaise.
Blaise wasn't quite sure how to feel about it. This was definitely not what Hubert had advised, but she was certainly not in a position to argue etiquette with her.
So she nodded and the horses walked forward together.
"Hubert, please ensure there are no further interruptions," Edelgard wished as they passed the mage.
He bowed, lower even than was typical of him, before he drifted away from them in a position better suited for surveying. He didn't look too happy, but she hoped it had more to do with the guards than herself.
They had fallen into a slow but steady pace before Edelgard spoke again, her voice softer and more relaxed. There was enough distance between them and the guards that she appeared to feel more comfortable. "My father, the Emperor, has been ill for some time now. He has little strength to lead Adrestia…" she paused, her brow furrowing, "... It is of no surprise our citizens are growing impatient when their requests appear to fall on deaf ears," she admitted.
Edelgard had never spoken much of her father that Blaise could recall. Nothing but that one conversation at the Goddess Tower at any rate which had left Blaise with mixed feelings regarding the Hresvelg patriarch. Edelgard had spoken fondly of him and her mother, but there was also something deeper, a conflict as the conversation devolved into the creation of the Flame Emperor.
He hadn't done anything as his children were taken, as one died after the other until only one was left.
Whether he wouldn't or couldn't… Blaise wasn't sure it really mattered in her mind. She wasn't sure it really mattered in Edelgard's mind.
Because, in the end, he was alive and ten of his children were not. He was a puppet ruler and Edelgard was next unless they did something about it.
The thought hardly computed in Blaise's mind when her father was so vastly different. He could never watch and do nothing. He took risks if there was even a chance. He was willing to die. He was willing to die for her. A girl she realized he had been aware all along who may not have been his at all.
The wind felt especially cold as it blew around her and she wished for her thicker cloak.
"Blaise."
She blinked, tilting her head to find Edelgard watching her. Evaluating, calculating, but whatever thoughts she had hidden.
Blaise supposed she had been expecting a response. She grasped for something to Sign. Family, they were talking about family.
I met your Uncle.
Edelgard's reaction was not what Blaise expected. She tensed with a jerk that nearly threw her off her mare, lavender eyes widening a fraction. They flashed as her jaw clenched. "What? When?" she demanded. As if realizing the scene she could potentially be making if someone was watching them, which was basically a guarantee, she whipped around to look straight ahead. Her face had flushed a funny shade of red that diminished with a series of deep breaths. It was fascinating to watch, Blaise not even bothering to reply until Edelgard recovered enough to look back at her. "Explain," she ordered.
Blaise shrugged. What was there to explain?
He was at the battle.
"And what did he say? I expect he spoke to you," Edelgard pressed.
Blaise noted her hands clenched the reins and frowned.
Offered to take me to you.
Among some other things that she really did not want to think on. Lifeless eyes flashed behind closed lids as she blinked.
"Did he?" Her voice rumbled with an underlying fury. She shook herself, tossing silver hair over her shoulder as she returned to facing forward. "Well, it is a good thing you did not accept his offer. He was displeased to learn I had interfered before and you, more than likely, would have ended up back down there. But this is not the place for this conversation. We are almost to the palace. If you would humor me, I would like to have a healer look over you. I know whatever you experienced on that field had to have been grueling."
In other words, she didn't want to talk about her uncle and the conversation was back on Blaise.
Go figure.
But then she was probably right to be concerned.
Maybe it was just the fact Shambhala was on her mind but the idea of a healer sent an unusual combination of fear and disgust through Blaise.
Blaise twitched her hand, capturing Edelgard's attention once again.
I do not like healers.
"Very few people do," Edelgard assured her, "but sometimes an examination is necessary. Besides, Manuela was saying you handled your time in the infirmary well."
Manuela is different.
She was Manuela and kind of like Chevalier. Supportive, protective. Perhaps even a little overly so.
A flicker of a smile pulled at Edelgard's lips. "She is, isn't she? I have every intention of requesting her presence in Enbarr. Maybe in the near future but, until then, I assure you I will send the palace's most attentive. She looked after me when no one else could."
Blaise didn't argue. She figured Edelgard would send the healer regardless. She simply tried not to think on it instead focusing on the former part of her sentence.
She was going to send a request to Manuela?
Blaise chewed on the inside of her lip as she glanced at her, Edelgard once again facing forward with her eyes focused on the approaching palace.
… Just don't wait too long, Edelgard.
~FE~
It was well into the afternoon by the time their slow procession through the city was over and they finally arrived at the grand palace of Enbarr. Some guards and staff bowed and offered their services as was considered respectful, but Edelgard declined all of them with the exception of a maid she asked to prepare one of the bedrooms on the same floor as herself. Other than that, she requested Hubert to inform the Emperor of her return and subsequent visit she would be giving within the hour while she personally escorted Blaise to her room.
There, Blaise was left to her own devices as Edelgard left to meet with her father.
She wasn't quite sure what to do.
Blaise had not been particularly shy about visiting Edelgard's personal quarters at Garreg Mach, but this was hardly comparable. The dorms were nice and clean but on the minimalistic side. A student, no matter how wealthy, could only dress it up so much.
Blaise was now staring at a bedroom that was far nicer than anything she could possibly have imagined much less had ever set foot within. The ceilings were at least three times her height, and she suspected made of a spotless white marble that also covered the floors and made up the columns that framed doorways and other niches in the room. There were fluffy, grey rugs across most of the floor space. They looked soft enough to have been made of feathers though she was intimidated to find out personally. The furniture that included a massive bed, a towering wall-to-wall bookshelf, an armoire, a desk, and a vanity were made of a dark oak wood. There were windows everywhere, positioned to allow as much light as possible no matter what time of day or season of the year. They were framed with curtains of a regal violet that swept down to the floor. The balcony was awe-inducing. Even from way across the room, Blaise could see the gardens through woven wrought iron. A grand oak door hid another room she strongly suspected was a personal bathhouse. And was that crystal that embellished every window, every torch, every lantern, every chandelier, magnifying and dispersing light in all directions?
Edelgard practically had her own library, her own office, her own suite, her own balcony in a space that was bigger than the entire home Blaise's family had frequented in Remire.
And Blaise was too afraid to touch any of it.
So she stood there by the door, staring down in some kind of strange horror at the flecks of dried mud that had fallen from her boots there in the entryway. Should she leave her boots there and try to cross to check out the potential bathhouse? Wash herself down? Would that make it okay to sit on one of the chairs? Or maybe just the floor itself? That seemed like a decent enough idea except then the bathhouse would be dirty. With mud and grime and ash and goddess knows what else.
Her fingers tangled in her necklace and her father's words echoed through her mind. His words of pride. She'd done well for herself.
They were sour now, a mockery as she stood there.
To think she had managed to delude herself into believing she could stand next to Edelgard... She couldn't even stand in her bedroom.
Edelgard was not happy when she returned and found her still standing in that one spot. She ordered her, pointed finger and all, to sit down and Blaise nearly went into some kind of episode when Edelgard nudged her along and debris dirtied another spot of the immaculate room.
She didn't care about the room, she said. There were maids for dirt, and she hadn't picked out a single item inside and, therefore, held no attachment to anything.
Blaise could believe that. There wasn't a single piece of red in the room nor did it feel anything like Edelgard. It was a princess's room no doubt but not Edelgard's. Why was that?
Edelgard had barely gotten Blaise situated in the only chair the former mercenary would accept (one of solid wood and no upholstery) when the healer arrived. The princess was clearly considering removing herself in the name of privacy except that Blaise, decorum be damned, grabbed her hand and refused to let her go.
The healer was nice enough she supposed, humming as she went along and saying nothing derogatory or condescending regarding Blaise's status. In fact, she said only what she was doing as she was doing it and promised a full report before she left them on their own.
So Blaise assumed she, at least, wasn't dying.
Dinner was another affair that was as awkward as it was quiet, and Blaise was, frankly, glad when Hubert arrived and announced her room was ready. Edelgard must have felt the same since she practically dragged Blaise down the corridor to a room several doors down.
Edelgard glanced inside then at Blaise and back again. "It looks satisfactory," she hummed to herself.
Blaise peeked over her head. It was only marginally less fancy and really that was probably more a matter of taste than expenses. Either way, "satisfactory" was not a justifiable description in Blaise's opinion.
This can't be my room.
"Why not?" Edelgard inquired. Blaise was surprised to see she actually seemed concerned as she looked back inside. "I admit, I expected the color scheme would be different than what you are used to. The room belonged to one of my sisters actually, but it can all be changed tomorrow."
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Color schemes? Sisters? She hadn't even considered-
It's too fancy.
And now apparently your sister's. Isn't that against some rule?
Edelgard huffed at that. "Where did you think I was going to make you sleep? The barracks?"
… Is that an option?
"No, it's not."
Damn.
It's your sister's.
"I daresay she isn't going to care. In fact, she would probably be honored to have you use it. She'd be horrified to know no one has touched it in so long," Edelgard insisted.
Now that was just guilt-tripping her.
Well played, Edelgard.
With a sigh, Blaise stepped inside, half expecting to be struck down as she crossed the threshold. But she wasn't. Her eyes scanned the room that was nearly identical to Edelgard's when it came to workmanship. It was laid out differently and had more sketches on the walls, more artistry, and the colors were softer, but it was still extravagant.
"Those are her sketches," Edelgard stated.
Blaise blinked, a memory of a time by a campfire when Edelgard mentioned a sister who liked to draw. She drew very well, if Blaise said so herself. Well enough it was sad to think these sketches had been hidden in a room for years.
What was her name?
"Rosamund. She was my eldest sister, third in line for the throne."
She wasn't quite sure what to say to that or what good it had done to ask and the conversation died between them for several long moments.
Edelgard eventually broke it with a strained breath that Blaise pretended she didn't notice. "Are you going to be okay?"
Yeah.
She was fine.
More or less.
"The servants are at your call at any time. They wander the corridors along with the guards, just flag one down and give them your request. They should know who you are. Alternatively, I am just down the hall."
Blaise nodded. She doubted she would act on either, but she acknowledged the offer anyway.
"I will take my leave then. I will be by in the morning." Edelgard gave the slightest of bows before retreating, gently shutting the door behind her.
Silence, silence, silence.
Blaise pressed her back against the door, eyes flickering from corner to corner of the room now that she was alone. There was another door across the way. She hoped it was a bathhouse as she kicked her boots off and left them by the door. Her feet sank into plush rugs, Blaise reveling in how soft they were. Who needed a bed when they had these anyway? They were totally soft enough to be bedrolls.
Pushing that thought from her mind, she slipped inside the adjoining room. The door swung shut behind her and she found herself, in fact, in a bathhouse. A bath had already been prepared, steam still rising from the water and a fresh set of clothes and light armor resting on a bench against the other wall. With a jolt, she recognized her red cloak or, rather, the Flame Emperor's red cloak she had taken custody of.
It took nothing more to convince her to strip and practically dive into the bath, scrubbing her skin and hair in record time just to scramble out and splash water everywhere as she barely even bothered to dry off with a towel. She opted to leave off the light armor though she did pause to admire how shiny and new it looked, it's ebony color the same Edelgard's personal battalion had worn. The clothes fit so she assumed the armor would as well. She let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding when she finally fastened the thick red cloak around her shoulders, it's heavier weight familiar and comforting.
Very comforting.
Maybe it was a conjunction of being clean alongside the fresh clothing, but it was almost like she was new. Hell, she even smelled slightly floral from the soap which she was certain had never been a thing before. Old mercenary habits of using cheap soap and all.
She was beginning to think she had been missing out.
... She could almost forget.
Almost.
Rather than fall into that trap of ruminating, Blaise took the time to brush out her hair, to lose her thoughts in the rhythm top to bottom until each swipe was unaccosted by a single tangle. She took the time to braid it, even as her eyes began to feel heavy. She dug through her bag for her one ribbon. Blue and silver… She nodded, satisfied, and dragged herself to the bed.
She had a vague thought the bed was soft before she succumbed to the comfort of sleep.
She didn't know if it was because of some latent exhaustion, but she didn't dream. She had no need for the servants on staff that night nor even Edelgard herself. She woke up when it was still dark outside the windows but not long before dawn. Blaise dressed herself in the new light armor, taking her time to inspect and marvel. She had nothing else to do until Edelgard came to get her after all.
But that passed much too quickly, and she could not find anything else to do.
And she finally couldn't stop herself as her thoughts drifted of their own accord. To her father, to Balen, to the utter nightmare of a disaster that was herself. Was it… possible to not be who you think you are? Chevalier had said she'd given her the Crest so surely she would know and have told her.
Right?
And, and, her father had never treated her like he questioned her.
Maybe Rhea was just saying things because she didn't like her.
But what about the dark magic… was it normal for it to just appear like that? She had no training with it so wouldn't that make it innate? Chevalier had never used dark magic so it wasn't linked to her Crest in all likelihood.
Goddess, she didn't know.
Was she Blaise Eisner? Was she Névé? Someone else?
Her face stared back at her in the mirror of the vanity. She looked the same as she always had. There was no yellow in her eyes, only cobalt blue. She was not otherworldly pale. Edelgard was paler than her even.
Still, she couldn't shake the idea and it horrified her.
Blaise spun on her heel away from the mirror, grabbed her sword from beside her bed, slipped on her boots, and was out the door. Her steps were loud in the early morning silence and guards nodded to her as she swept by. She made every effort to appear as if she knew where she was going so no one would stop her.
Her mind was too far gone as one thought tumbled over and over
Her father had known. Had cared for her anyway.
And she'd killed him.
She pivoted for the stairs on her left, deciding at the last minute against continuing forward where there was likely nothing more than guest rooms. The stairs, a flowing, grand staircase, led down to the main floor.
And the main entryway.
Fresh air. Maybe fresh air would do her some good.
So she stepped out in the chill morning air, not daring to linger lest the guards question her. She chose a direction at random and walked. There was a cobblestone pathway that was as good as any other path to follow. It was shaded by giant trees and decorated by carefully tended shrubbery. Blaise bet in the spring it was a beautiful place to stroll. The palace never seemed to get any farther away so she suspected the path was simply taking her around.
She didn't know how long she walked but dawn began to lighten the horizon when the peaceful silence was broken by commands and a clash of weapons Blaise would recognize anywhere. Blaise paused, her gaze dropping to her sword and then back up as a battalion in strict formation marched across a path running perpendicular to her.
She couldn't, could she?
Edelgard had suggested she was welcome anywhere on the grounds... Of course, that was likely meant to be after she had a vague idea where anything was.
But she was already out here and probably lost so...
Blaise turned to follow the battalion, adrenaline beginning to fill her veins at the vey sound of the ongoing drills. It made her feel better, like an icepack on a wound. She found herself in an arena that was bigger even than Garreg Mach's official training grounds. She slipped along the edge, eyes focusing on a myriad of different training equipment meant to enhance certain skills. There was some sparring going on, some guards were working on footwork and formation exercises, there was archery practice, weapon and armor maintenance, mage-work, training dummies with soldiers lined up with their various weapons.
She was drawn to the latter, stepping out of the shadows to stand before the vaguely human-shaped block of wood. Her father had always encouraged her to let out her frustration with him or Balen or an inanimate object. She never thought he would be the cause of her distress, but then she'd never thought she'd be here without him and Balen either. Blaise glanced around, flexing her fingers that itched to grip her sword. No one was saying anything and someone had to have noticed her. She took that as a good sign and pulled her sword from it's sheath.
She swung it, the blade cutting the wood from shoulder to hip with a satisfying hollow thunk.
Another glance around and no one seemed to spare her more than a passing glance themselves. She went back at it with a progressive intensity.
A swipe at the base of it's head, a series of stabs that sent it rocking on its rope, she threw herself at it as if it was an enemy, spinning and twirling around to hit it front, back, and sides alike.
Blaise felt a smile tug at her lips as the adrenaline ramped up in proportion with the ferocity of her attacks. She threw punches in between complicated combat maneuvers and followed them up with fire or thunder magic. She did slower, heavier attacks, quicker, lighter ones, she switched it up so no enemy, even if they were real, could possibly predict what she was going to do next.
She grew more and more confident as the training dummy literally fell apart a little more with every attack until it was nigh recognizable as anything more than a pile of rubble.
Manuela would probably tell her to stop. That she was overdoing it. But Manuela wasn't here so Blaise ran to the next dummy and threw herself upon it. It fared similarly, Blaise beating it into the ground with every ounce of energy within her as if it was Monica or maybe Myson themselves.
"Hey, you! With the blue hair!"
Blaise only paused in her attacks because it was obvious they were calling to her. She grimaced, muscles twitching with barely restrained energy. Someone was coming to tell her to stop, and she still had so much energy left to burn. She turned toward the voice to see a guard standing a respectful distance away.
"No need to destroy the training gear. If you wanna beat down on something, join the sparring. It'll be more of a challenge."
She wasn't so sure of that. All things considered, the training dummy was sturdy. Sure, a person could fight back, but that didn't mean they could give her a challenge. Her father promoted inanimate objects for a reason. Not to mention, one scan of the training around her told her there was very little enthusiasm and very little leadership.
They were training but only to say they did.
Still, the guard was eyeing her. Was that some kind of way for him to say he wanted to spar? She didn't hold out much hope for his well-being, but she would accept the offer nevertheless. She twirled her sword as she turned her back on the broken dummy. She held her blade out, dropping into a stance that was a clear challenge. He grinned, and she knew she'd guessed right.
The guard held an axe. Steel probably. Nothing especially fancy though it did shine in the light of dawn as he swept it before him in a maneuver she supposed was meant to be impressive. It only made Blaise think of how amazing Edelgard truly was with hers.
Whatever. She shouldn't judge the Empire's royal guards. They weren't technically soldiers after all.
Blaise bounced on her feet but made no move to engage. She didn't think that would be fair to him. To knock him down before he could so much as move.
She didn't have to wait long. He charged with a cry reminiscent of Caspar, and she felt a smile cross her features as she simply stepped to the side as he swung his axe where she had been standing.
Too slow.
He pivoted, cutting it through the air in a swipe that aimed to cut her in half.
Again, she slipped right out of reach, not even bothering to try and fight back. She did twirl her sword, taunting him and growing immensely satisfied as his face turned a shade of red and he engaged with another swing of his axe.
Fun. It was actually kind of fun.
Their duel went that way for several minutes, the guard charging and threatening to break her in two... assuming he could hit her. Which, he couldn't, Blaise beautifully spinning out of reach of each attack. Only when his axe struck slow and he was out of breath did she put him out of his misery with a forward rush that put her within his defenses. The tip of her sword pressed against his chest plate before he had so much as blinked. His shock as he stared down at the blade in her hand called the match.
Blaise-1
Royal Guard- 0
Their one-sided duel gained some attention from neighboring guards. She could hear their whispers. Who was the blue-haired swordswoman? Was she supposed to be here? She arrived with Her Highness yesterday. See if you can win a match...
Another guard approached her from amongst the gossip, also bearing an axe.
He didn't even have to ask, Blaise dropping into her stance with her sword aloft as he settled across from her.
He fared no better when he too attacked, Blaise catching the head of his axe with her sword and sending it careening across the grounds in the first maneuver she ever taught Edelgard not to allow. She thought he might press on with hand-to-hand, but he seemed to reconsider and bolted for his weapon instead.
Smart move.
Blaise- 2
Royal Guards- 0
Amused chuckling echoed around her as a duo stepped forward.
"Hey, will you take on two?" one called out to her while pointing her thumb at her companion beside her.
Blaise nodded, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Now they were getting somewhere.
The fight still lasted less than five minutes and ended with one guard unconscious after she punched him in the face with the pommel of her sword. The other guard, the one who had spoken to her, ended up on her back when she swept her feet out from under her.
Blaise- 3
Royal Guards- 0
She lost count of how many skirmishes she participated in. She cared naught as long as it didn't intimidate the guards enough that they quit challenging her. Luckily, they seemed to be having just as much fun as her. She was pretty sure almost the entirety of the royal guards had gathered in a large circle that made a temporary dueling ring. Every battle ended with a whooping cheer (for her) or unrestrained laughter (for her unfortunate opponents) that only drove her harder in the next duel.
It was all strangely reminiscent of her mercenary years. When everything was easy and simple.
Fight, fight, fight then pat yourself on the back and do it again.
The groups against her grew larger, upwards of five, six, seven opponents at once, and she began to break a sweat as she was forced to really strategize her attacks instead of relying entirely on skill. Practice dummies became shields, other equipment scattered around were obstacles she forced others to work around, she even used a stray lance once to catapult herself up and over to come at a group from behind.
And still the crowd cheered and guards she had beaten previously would try their hand again with a new group and again she'd win. And again and again.
When was the last time she'd won so handily?
Her breath was coming in heavy puffs as dawn gave way to morning and another group of guards formed together to take her on. They were in good spirits, clapping each other on the back in an expression of support.
Something tugged in her chest that she stubbornly ignored.
Their weapons were drawn and Blaise was lowering into her stance when they were interrupted by a voice she wasn't familiar with. The guards all around her, however, snapped to attention and that told her plenty.
"That is enough! Everyone return to the drills that are expected of you this instant. This is a royal court, not a sellsword's camp."
Guards dispersed like ants fleeing rain, allowing Blaise a glimpse of this mystery man. He was rather short and... well-rounded with retreating orange hair. He wore robes fancy enough to rival your average noble, and he strutted toward her like he owned the place.
"You! Who might you be?" His voice grated on her ears and she had to refrain from cringing. "Disturbing our systemic routines and not a hint of appropriate mannerisms. Which commoner family graced us with you?" he drawled, his disgust evident in every word he spoke.
Blaise felt her lip curl despite herself.
He was one of those nobles.
"Well…? Speak," he ordered.
Which, of course, wasn't going to happen. She'd been in such a hurry she hadn't bothered to grab her notebook either.
It didn't bother her that she couldn't do as he requested as much as she thought it should.
She wasn't sure if the guards had picked up that she couldn't speak for herself but, as the seconds ticked on with the noble growing more and more red in the face, a guard to Blaise's right bowed and spoke.
"My Lord Duke Aegir…" Blaise raised an eyebrow at the name, "… she arrived yesternoon with her Highness Lady Edelgard. I saw her myself."
Duke Aegir's beady eyes narrowed upon her and he somehow managed to look even more disgusted by her presence. It was a stark contrast from Ferdinand who she decided must have taken more after his mother.
"Ahh…. Her Highness did mention you. Some mercenary she picked up at Garreg Mach, yes? I had hoped she would have taught you your place but no matter. Follow me," he ordered before spinning on his heel toward the palace.
Blaise mentally cursed. She hadn't even made it twenty four hours before getting dragged back to Edelgard like a misbehaving puppy. Sparring wasn't even her idea either! She'd have been content beating the combat dummies into rubble. She kicked at the ground as she walked, Duke Aegir leading her down a path that took her straight back inside where he led her up some stairs, around a corridor or two, and finally through two massive, golden doors emblazoned with the Empire's emblem.
The throne room.
And Blaise suddenly realized how terribly wrong she was in regards to this situation.
There was only one other person in the room, and they weren't Edelgard. A wizened man sat upon the throne, his face pale and emaciated, dark hair thin and graying, but the crown still settled firmly on his head.
Emperor Ionius IX.
Said Emperor sat a tad straighter, leaning forward in the throne as empty, dark eyes fixated upon her.
She could read nothing from him and anxiety flared in her chest.
This was most definitely not how Edelgard would have wanted this to go and Blaise had to fight back a grimace.
If the Emperor didn't have her head first, Edelgard certainly would.
A/N: Settle in, guys. Predictably, we're probably going to be here longer than I intended. Still, hope you enjoy a bit of a cool down after the heavier intensity of the last few chapters.
I don't put Enbarr's royal guards' combat skills on the same level as say their military might be. I think Blaise would totally wipe the floor, especially if discipline was a little slack due to the Emperor's illness and the other nobles were simply enjoying themselves and generally not caring to oversee the little things.