Rhea had been informed the moment that Jeralt and the students had been sighted on their journey back to the Monastery and she was immediately annoyed and frustrated that they would be arriving so soon. In honesty, she had been kicking her heels for an indulgent amount of time, trying to gather both her thoughts and any information she could uncover before she approached Byleth for a private interview. Her chances of achieving getting the girl alone and off-kilter would decrease significantly once Jeralt was present again.
That meant that the arch-bishop needed to make her move as quickly as she could – she had to assume that Jeralt would immediately seek out his daughter, and they would close ranks together just as soon as he got on site. She just wasn't sure what the best manner to grab the girl would be.
Her initial gut-reaction was to send out a message requesting Byleth's presence at her council chamber to discuss the details of the upcoming moon's Battle of the Eagle and Lion. It was innocuous enough not to raise any unwanted questions, and she could quickly move their meeting to a more secure location once the woman was in her presence. The problem came, however, when her small army of messengers completely failed to locate the Professor.
Rhea's frustration quickly rose into outright petulance as she paced her chamber, the Knights and ecclesiastic staff attending her wisely maintaining a healthy distance as she stormed up and down the large space. Her face was like thunder, and the recriminations aimed at the hapless messengers who periodically were required to report to her their failure at locating the Professor were harsh. Her only respite came when she received the news that Jeralt was back but that he was currently visiting with Manuela, and it appeared he'd been seeking out Flayn and Seteth.
"Fine." Rhea barked, gathering herself together and thinking hard. "I will assume that Byleth will make herself available to see her father now that he is actually here." She tapped at her cheek thoughtfully. "I will go to her room myself." She decided, letting herself out of the ornate doors to her chamber – not even waiting to check that her Knight's escort was ready and following her."
It was a last-ditch effort. Possibly a knee-jerk reaction, Rhea mused to herself as she marched at speed down to the student dormitories assuring herself that if she could locate Byleth in person, the woman would have difficulty in refusing to accompany her at her personal request. Unfortunately, her plan was thwarted when the rather hopeful assessment that the Professor would return to her room to await her father's attention proved incorrect, and her continued updates revealed that her target had not seemed to have surfaced from wherever she was holed up.
Grinding her teeth in irritation, Rhea was just about to storm back to her chamber's in defeat when Byleth's neighbour appeared in the avenue from the staircase that led to the upper floor of the dormitories and literally did a double-take at the sight of the Arch-Bishop standing outside the Professor's door.
"You!" Rhea called out imperiously to the huge Duscurn man she immediately recognised as the retainer to Prince Dimitri. "Do you know where the Professor may be found?"
Dedue approached the Arch-Bishop tentatively.
"I am not certain, your Grace." He bowed with respect, his hand across his heart in the manner of his heritage, Rhea noted. "I do understand that she has been spending recovery time with Mercedes von Martritz on account of the injuries that she sustained. She might be found in our healer's quarters."
"Show me," Rhea instructed.
Bowing again, Dedue quickly led the way to the door of Mercedes's room on the ground floor of the accommodations block.
"May I be of any further service, your Grace?" The Duscurn asked, his manners and demeanour pleasing Rhea to the extent that she focused on him for a second rather than on her current woes.
"Thank you. Dedue, isn't it?" She responded kindly. "You may go. Your help is appreciated, however – as is your discretion regarding my attendance here. I have merely encountered a problem with my staff in their ability to locate Byleth, and I have become increasingly concerned about the state of her health."
Dedue nodded gravely. "My understanding is that the Professor's recovery is going well." He mumbled as he was dismissed. He turned and hurried back to his own room.
Rhea waited as the large man retreated and then looked at the door in front of her. Hopefully, she raised a fist and knocked solidly on the wood.
~0~
Byleth was growing increasingly annoyed by Claude's continued presence in Mercedes room, effectively babysitting her. She was chomping at the bit after a fair amount of inactivity following the events of Flayn's rescue and Jeritza's disappearance. Keeping herself locked away was chaffing at her, and with the news of her father and brother's return –
"Teach, you've got that stubborn look on your face again." Claude suddenly accused, although his expression was faintly amused. "You are just about ready to tie me up and make good your escape, arent you?" He accused lightly.
"Yes." She replied meanly.
"Please don't." He did laugh this time. "We both know it would be an easy task for you – but we also both know that it is not the right action to take."
"I don't think…." Byleth started to complain, but her line of thought was suddenly interrupted by an overwhelming feeling of unease and Sothis's materialisation directly in front of her.
"Rhea is here…." The Goddess reported tersely. "It seems as though she has messengers out looking for you, and when that failed, she came down here herself…."
"She is unlikely to find me here." Byleth placated calmly.
"Dedue is bringing her along here as we speak!" Sothis disappeared, burying herself deep within the other's consciousness. "Have a care…." She warned as she made herself as small as she could.
"Teach?" Claude was staring at Byleth in concern. "Is something wrong?" He ventured.
"Rhea is here, looking for me," Byleth murmured.
"You want to avoid her?" Claude moved to the front window and twitched the curtain. "Yeah – She is nearly here." He reported drawing back sharply.
"I'd rather have the opportunity to speak with my da first," Byleth whispered. "Or Seteth even…."
Claude nodded his understanding. "We can go out the back." He whispered back to her. "Sneak around and find somewhere to hole up."
Byleth was sorely tempted. "She has people out looking for me." She said regretfully. "I'm not sure it would be such a good idea to be caught trying to avoid her. You go, though, Claude. At least you can give Jeralt a heads-up of what's going on."
For a moment, Claude looked torn. "I could hang around…." He offered quietly.
Byleth shook her head. "I'd rather know that you were away." She said as there was a loud knocking on the door. "Go!" She urged, rising from the bed and heading slowly towards the door.
Claude nodded unhappily. He moved swiftly to the back window and slipped to the ground outside without any further comment.
The door rapped again.
"Perhaps you should ignore it…." Sothis's voice drifted into Byleth's head.
"I'll give it a moment or two and see if she goes away. I can always pretend I was sleeping… or unwilling to move on account of my injuries." She tiptoed back to the bed and lay down on the top of the blankets just in time as the door flew open, and Rhea walked in.
"Byleth, child. There you are. Thank the Goddess! We had no idea where you were or if you were well." Despite the honied tone of her words, Rhea's eyes were flinty. Byleth looked up at the Arch-Bishop groggily.
"Lady Rhea?" She asked weakly. "A-apologies… I have been recovering under Mercedes's care. I was unwilling to put any more work on the Monastery healers, as they were already busy with Manuela and Flayn." Byleth pushed herself into a sitting position. "I'm sorry that you felt compelled to seek me out." She added humbly.
"It is of no moment." Rhea's eyes had narrowed, staring around her but finding nothing that would belie Byleth's words. There were healing items strewn all over the limited space, as well as a camp bed made up by the hearth. "How are you feeling, child? I understand that your fight with Jeritza… the Death Knight – was particularly challenging.
Byleth unconsciously rubbed at the shoulder where Jeritza's blade had struck her during their altercation.
"I'm mainly tired." She said softly. "The events at the Tower with Mikklan were unexpected, and then this…."
Rhea paused a moment and then drew a chair up to the bed. She put out a hand to take one of Byleth's in her own.
"Take whatever time you need, Byleth. I am sure that your lessons can be covered while you get your strength back." Rhea frowned slightly, her fingers grasping a little tighter. Sothis cowered even further back into Byleth's head, pressure building in her skull uncomfortably. "Thankfully, with Flayn's recovery well underway, things will be a lot less fraught around here."
"She is doing well then? I haven't had a chance to visit with her."
Rhea nodded gently. "As well as can be expected." She said evasively. "Now then, I was initially seeking you out to discuss with you some of the details for the Battle of the Eagle and the Lion – but I see that you could probably use a few more days, and it can certainly wait." She paused and squeezed gently on Byleth's hand. "Perhaps this small interlude I have managed to carve from my duties would much better be spent focusing on you, my dear. After all, we have not had a proper chance to talk about anything really – and I cannot help but be intrigued by many of the things that have occurred recently." Rhea leaned forward, her face moving to within an uncomfortable distance to Byleth's own. Her look was searching.
"Perhaps you would be willing to accompany me to my personal chambers, Byleth." She murmured, although there was an edge of steel to her request that might have been seen by some to convey an *almost* veiled threatening command. "It would be unwise to talk of such matters where we may be overheard, and I am also keen to ensure your comfort…." She cast a glance around Mercedes's small room. "It is a shame that you have felt compelled to seek your recovery time in this location. You must always be confident in seeking me out if you need any aid, child. After all, your dear mother was my own closest friend and confidant for many years…."
It was taking all of Byleth's discipline and self-control not to push the larger woman away from her or allow her unease at their close proximity to show. She could feel Sothis quivering deep within her mind too.
"M-my thanks, Arch-Bishop." Byleth managed to force out. "I am extremely grateful for your kind thought and the allowances that you have made to me since my father and I returned to the Monastery." There was a slight challenge in Byleth's emphasis on the word 'returned'. It was possibly unwise, and her father would likely be shaking his head in despair – but Byleth couldn't help the slight belligerence that Rhea's overbearing demeanour was provoking her to. She was immediately gratified to see that her slight dig had hit its mark when Rhea moved back a fraction and her eyes flashed with momentary anger.
"it was something of a shock to finally see you again, Byleth." Rhea hit back coldly. "Obviously, you were merely a baby when Jeralt faked your deaths and left – but our reunion was rather bitter-sweet for me, I'm afraid. You are so like your mother in looks… stronger in your physique – but your face is so alike that for a moment, I thought you were an illusion or a ghost." Rhea straightened her shoulders and finally pulled back out of Byleth's space. "Come along, child." She outright ordered this time. "Come along with me and bring the Sword of the Creator along too. I am very interested in the manner in which you were able to use the sword in aiding you to locate Flayn." She stood and straightened her robes. "Quickly now, child…."
"If I leave, Mercedes will be on the warpath seeking out her patient!" Byleth protested weakly, not moving. "She has ordered me to stay abed and…."
"One of my Knights will remain here and advise the healer of your safe whereabouts when she returns." Rhea waved away the objection. "After all, I seriously doubt she will question the Arch-Bishop's seniority in matters of wellbeing." Rhea's lips were set in a disapproving line. "If you are feeling too weak to move, I can also have one of the Knight's carry you to my rooms."
"You will do no such bloody thing, Rhea!" Suddenly the huge form of Jeralt was in the room, seemingly out of nowhere. "I am gonna be taking responsibility for the care of my daughter."
"Jeralt." Rhea somehow managed to plaster a smile on her face and bow her head slightly. "I would suggest that Byleth seeks more comprehensive support than that provided by a student…."
Jeralt crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at the Arch-Bishop. "With you?" He scoffed. "Will you look after her as well as you cared for her mother during her confinement?"
"Da!" Byleth sat up. "Lady Rhea…. Do you think we might meet up at a later date?" She asked politely – her tone as respectful as she could manage. "I have not seen my father for some time now, and he can become rather antsy when he is concerned for me…." She shot him a frown.
With what appeared to be a great effort on his part, Jeralt reined in his anger with a huff. "The kiddo is right." He muttered. "I am concerned for her wellbeing. And that of my son." He couldn't resist adding.
Rhea realised that she had lost. It was her own fault for procrastinating. She would have to regroup.
"Of course, Byleth." She said kindly. "We will meet up soon, once you are feeling better." She drew herself up to her full height imperiously.
"If you need anything, Jeralt, I only wish to ensure Byleth's wellbeing. Hopefully more successfully than I was able to manage Sitri's."
Jeralt bristled, but he gave a short nod.
Rhea moved towards the door. She paused and looked as if she would speak again for a moment but then exited quickly, indicating for her security to attend her.
Jeralt and Byleth remained silent for a time until Jeralt finally shut the door and heaved a sigh. "It was a good call to get Claude to come and seek me out." He said gruffly, pulling up a chair and sitting down heavily. "I dunno what Rhea was hoping to achieve, but I doubt it was anything good."
"Da…" Byleth's voice was small. "Did she really know my mother as well as she is insisting?"
Jeralt shrugged. "Yeah," He admitted reluctantly. "Your ma was devoted to her. I think marrying me was the first and only time she rebelled against what Rhea might have wished."
"So, maybe the Arch-Bishop does have an honest motivation to…."
"No!" Jeralt shook his head sharply. "Don't…" He warned.
"Jeralt is correct…." Sothis added passionately. "There is something very wrong here. I can feel it."