Garreg Mach was a complete disaster. Everyone, from students to clergy to merchants, was trying to vacate the school as soon as possible. The losses from the last battle were immeasurable, and the Adrestian army was still nearby. Waiting.

Claude, as well as a few other students were still in the monastery, helping the injured and dealing with the deceased. The students in the dorms were condensed into sharing rooms with one or two others, in order to make room for those whose lodgings were destroyed.

Seteth announced that they would be abandoning the monastery, and advised the students to leave quickly.

Claude went up to the second floor of the dormitories, only to see Hilda standing in front of his door, seemingly conflicted.

"Hil? What's wrong?" Hilda practically jumped out of her own skin hearing Claude's voice behind her.

"I-I don't really know. I was just walking around and thinking and I somehow ended up here because-" Hilda cut herself off, snapping her mouth shut.

"Why?" Hilda hesitated, looking into Claude's eyes and then away again.

"I-I'm not quite sure myself. Everything that's happened has just…" Tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Do you want to go in?" Hilda nodded and Claude unlocked his door. They both sat next to each other on his bed, just as they had done so many times in the past.

"Everything's just been so sudden," Hilda's voice cracked, "I mean, I literally had lunch with Edie and the professor just a few days ago! And now the professor is missing and Edie is-she's-" Hilda couldn't finish her sentence, not wanting to admit the fact that Edelgard had become their enemy.

"I know. It's scary." Claude put his left arm around her shoulders, and she collapsed into him. She muffled her cries in his chest, and he didn't even mind the knowledge that her mascara was likely running, smudging, and getting on the white shirt he had worn that day.

"Claude...can I stay with you for a bit?" Hilda's fingers gripped the back of his tunic.

"Of course. Lorenz shouldn't be here until later."

"Thank you, Claude." She pulled him down, much to his shock, so they were both lying down on his bed. She buried her face in his chest and rubbed his back. Claude gently pulled the hair ties out of her hair, and ran his fingers through her hair.

A few minutes passed, and Hilda's arms slowly halted while Claude continued to caress her hair.

"Hil?" He whispered, "Hey, Hilda are you asleep?" There was no response. Just as Claude was about to get up to wake her up, or just bring her to her room, his door opened.

Lorenz looked straight at him, wide eyed.

"You-"

"Shh!" Claude began to whisper, "nothing happened. I swear." Claude stood up slowly and gently folded the blanket off of Hilda. He decided not to wake her, so he just lifted her princess style, and headed towards the door, which Lorenz opened wider for him. He headed down the hall to Hilda's room, hoping Lysithea would be in the room.

He knocked on the door with his foot, and luckily Lysithea opened it.

"Oh? Is Hilda okay?"

"Yeah," Claude walked in and over to Hilda's bed, laying her down softly, "she just fell asleep."

"Thanks for bringing her over." Lysithea waved as Claude walked back down the hall.

Lorenz, in Claude's room, was only looking at Claude incredulously as he walked in the door.

"Performing illicit activities as a nobleman-to a noble lady no less-is bad enough on its own, but can you at least not do it when we are supposed to be sharing a room."

"That isn't what happened, you know we were both fully clothed when you walked in, but I am way too tired to deal with you right now." Lorenz sputtered, trying to dispute him, while Claude just ignored him.

Just before falling asleep, Claude looked at his wrist and noticed the two pink hair ties wrapped around his wrist.

X

Hilda was tired. She could hear shuffling and muffled voices outside her room. She turned around to see that Lysithea had already gotten up and left.

Due to the mess caused by the attack, several of the students were staying there, but all planned to leave, never knowing when the Empire would come back. Hilda knew that Goneril soldiers would be there that day to escort her back, which was the exact reason why she didn't want to get up.

There was a knock on her door, and Hilda groaned. She got up, wrapping one of her quilts around her shoulders due to the chill in the air, and walked over to the door.

Outside were Holst, clearly the one who had knocked, Claude, and two of Holst's soldiers.

"Holst? Why are you-" Hilda's brother cut her off, wrapping his arms around her. The first thing she noticed was that this wasn't his usual way of hugging her-over the top and almost comical. This hug was tight and anxious, and Holst was shaky and close to tears as he whispered "Thank the Goddess you're okay."

"Holst...Holst!" Hilda tapped him on the back, hardly able to breathe.

"Oh! Sorry Hilda. Get ready and say goodbye to your friends. We'll be heading back to father after I gather more information on what happened here."

Hilda frowned. "Holst, wait! We should at least wait a few days, shouldn't we?"

"Hilda, you know that father will want a report as soon as possible. And besides, I shouldn't be away from the border for too long. We'll leave tonight at the latest." Hilda pouted, and she noticed Claude shrug and smile as Holst closed the door on her.

"Sorry about her, Sir Claude."

"No, it's just regular ol' Hilda. She's probably just shaken up over everything," Claude said with a laugh, knowing that she didn't want to go. He thought about the night before, Hilda's tears.

"Still," Holst frowned, "especially with what's just happened, I need her to step up." Holst hesitated for a moment, then stopped and looked at Claude.

"Is something wrong?"

"Hilda...She's still very immature. I suppose it's my fault, I've been spoiling her since we were children, but I'm a general. If Fodlan is about to be overrun with war, I will be put on the front lines. And if I die in combat, then my sister-" Holst stopped abruptly when he heard a door open behind him.

"Holst? Claude? What's wrong?" Hilda walked over to the two men.

"Nothing. You can come if you would like. Sir Claude was going to tell me about the events of the other day." Hilda frowned, but only for a moment.

"Alright, I'll come along too. I fought quite well in that battle, I'll have you know."

"Oh? Did you?" Holst smiled at her.

"Of course I did! Didn't I, Claude?"

"I was just joking, Hil. You're my little sister! I knew you'd be incredible." He put his arm around her, and Claude noticed a rare proud smile on her face.

As they walked, a Goneril soldier came up to the group.

"Sir Holst, there seems to be a storm coming in from the north. It is likely that it will prevent the Empire from moving in on the monastery for a bit, but it also seems that we won't be able to leave until at least tomorrow morning." Holst frowned.

"We should do everything to make sure that everyone is ready to leave once the storm lets up. Tell everyone to assist all of the students and faculty."

"Yes sir. We'll make sure that the whole monastery is ready to leave by tonight."

"Thank you." Holst smiled at the soldier and the trio continued walking.

The three of them decided to eat while Claude and Hilda debriefed Holst about the battle a few days prior, and in the dining hall, Hilda and Holst sat across from Claude.

They spoke for a while, but during a quiet moment, Claude noticed both Hilda and Holst staring intently at his wrist. Hilda with shock on her face, and Holst merely...confused? Claude looked down and saw what had been captivating their attention. Two bright pink hair ties, the likes of which Claude would never own.

Deciding to ignore them, Holst asked a question about the emperors numbers, but Claude noticed the way that Holst seemed a bit more stiff now.

After the meal, Holst thanked them and took off, and Hilda turned to Claude, brows furrowed.

"Why are you wearing my hair ties around? Do you want people to think that we are…" Hilda waved her hands around.

"Sorry, sorry. I forgot about them. I wasn't expecting your brother to have the eyes of a hawk. And besides, he probably didn't even know they were yours."

"He definitely did," Hilda groaned, embarrassed, "a few years ago, I decided to make a bunch of hair ties a while ago, since I got really into doing hair, and Holst helped me out, especially with the little charms." She pointed to the small metal heart attached to it.

"So he definitely knew, huh?"

Hilda nodded. "He definitely did. You may be able to scheme your way out of just about everything, but how are you going to scheme your way out of an overprotective older brother?" Hilda laughed.

"I'm sure I'll think of something," he laughed, "it's not like he can kill me."

"Hm, true. However, he could definitely beat you up."

"He probably would too. I've read some of those letters he wrote you. 'Dearest sister, I've noticed an alarming number of men getting close to you through your letters. While I'm sure that you are able to handle things on your own, if any of them were to overstep their boundaries, please inform me as I would not hesitate to-'"

"Stop, stop," Hilda cried, "those were so embarrassing! And how do you even remember that much of it anyways?"

"You remember it when someone is indirectly threatening you in such...interesting ways."

"Hm," Hilda pouted, "it really would be a shame if Holst did do any of those things. Your face is your best asset."

"Why Hilda, I'm wounded. I've got plenty of other great assets. My aim, my brain, my tongue."

Hilda laughed, "that tongue of yours has gotten us into trouble more times than I can count. Like that time you told Seteth we were behind the chapel after curfew because we were just that pious, and then you were so drunk you forgot all of the names of the four saints." Claude chuckled as well.

"He was so angry when I messed up Cethleann's name, I thought he was going to strangle me right then and there."

Hilda laughed, but then her entire smile fell as she looked down, biting her lower lip. "Claude...what will happen from now on? Will we ever be able to sit and joke around like this again after we leave? And...that night, I remember we were so loud walking back to the dorms, Ingrid and Edelgard both came out of their rooms and yelled at us."

"They were so mad."

Hilda laughed a bit, though her eyes were still watery. "We'll never have times like that again, and I just don't understand why."

"Hilda," Claude paused a moment, trying to find the right words, "we may not be able to have those moments with Edelgard or Ingrid anymore, and I may not be right down the hall anymore, but we'll still be friends, won't we?" Hilda sniffled, nodded, and hugged Claude.

"I'll visit Derdriu as much as I can." Claude smiled down at her, but his eyes were uncharacteristically sad. "What's wrong?" She felt Claude stiffen. "What, you think you're the only one who can read people? I've spent enough time with you, Claude. I know the face you make when you're upset."

"I guess we really can't hide anything from each other. What would you do if I ended up really far away? Much farther than Derdriu."

"Hmm," Hilda thought for a moment, "you know I hate extra work, but if it's for you I might be willing to travel a little far." Hilda's brain took another direction. Why? If you're going that far, why would you not take me with you?

They sat in comfortable silence, until they realized how late it had gotten and both had to turn in for the night.

"Claude...I don't know when the next time we'll see each other will be." Hilda kneeled in front of where Claude sat leaning against the side of the building, looking straight at him. "And…the next time we see each other, who knows what will be happening. one of us might even be dead."

"I hope not."

"I feel the same, but if the unexpected happens, I…I can't bear the thought of one of us dying without telling yo—-showing you—I…" Hilda grabbed his cheeks. "Tell me if you want me to stop."

He said nothing.

It was a desperate kiss. Both of them unsure if it would be their last. She cradled his face in her hands, while his rested on her waist. The two began to let out small noises, eventually quietly moaning each others name.

Claude's mouth wandered across her cheek, almost approaching her ear, but turning down instead and Hilda was so glad that she tied her hair in pigtails, leaving her neck clear of hair. She tangled her hands into his hair, pulling it slightly, but the slight pain was reciprocated as Claude lightly bit her neck.

"C-Claude, we should turn in for the night." Claude agreed, and they went to the dormitories, but continued in Claude's bed exactly where they had left off outside.

In the morning when Claude awoke, Hilda, Holst, and the Goneril soldiers had all left. Claude sat up, deciding that it was probably late enough, and noticed something on his side table. Pink paper, and next to it, two pink hairties.

Dearest Claude, I'm sorry for leaving before you've woken up, but my brother wishes to leave, and he's difficult to argue with. I wish we could talk more, especially about...what happened. I hope to see you again soon.

All my love, Hilda.

P.S. You can keep the hairties since you seemed to love wearing them so much.

Claude sighed, folded the paper, and prepared to leave, knowing that in 5 years, he would be back, and he hoped she would be too.