Valley of Torment.
In response to the Alliance Army's plea, Judith has agreed to provide soldiers. To meet up with reinforcements, the Alliance army sets out for Ailell, the Valley of Torment. Having also secured an alliance with Najenda, she assured them she would meet them in the Valley of Torment, since she wanted to meet Judith herself. Unbeknownst to Claude, something else awaits them there...
At the Valley of Torment, Byleth and her Golden Deer had arrived, and were looking around for their new ally. Who so far was nowhere to be seen.
"Ugh, why is it so hot? I'm getting all sweaty!" Hilda complained.
"Don't be a wimp! Anything's worth it for more food supplies" Raphael said.
Leonie gave him an annoyed look "Move over, Raphael. Somehow you make the heat even worse".
Leone smirked at her friends "This is why I don't wear to much. If the heat is that bad, then just remove some of your clothes".
Leonie glared at her blonde friend "Not all of us are as shameless as you, Leone".
"Let's stay calm, everyone. Once we meet up with Judith's soldiers, we can go right back home" Ignatz said.
Marianne suddenly spoke up "Oh, I finally remembered! The legend goes that this valley was born from the wrath of the goddess... They say a pillar of light poured from the heavens and completely burned away the forest that used to be here...".
Claude looked at her "So you're telling me the goddess, who is supposed to be benevolent, burned a forest to a crisp? Typical".
Marianne shook her heard That's what the legend would have us believe. But it's not recorded in any of the scriptures...".
"Either it's completely made up, or the goddess is some kind of monster" Claude said, words that could've gotten him in to major trouble if spoken to the wrong person.
Cyril looks up "Huh? Is that...".
Lorenz followed his sight "The time for idle chatter is over, Claude. Look over there".
Claude looks as well "Ah, has someone come to greet us?"
"Enemies or allies?" Byleth asked as she saw fairly large troops in distance.
"That banner does not bear the Daphnel Crest" Lorenz said.
"If memory serves... That's the Crest of House Rowe, formerly lords of the Kingdom. They joined the Empire's side without hesitation during the coup. And now here they are, lying in wait for us" Claude said, it was clear it was no coincidence that these people showed up around the same time they did.
"Damn... I thought we had disposed of all the spies..." Shamir said in shame of failing to find all the spies among their ranks.
"House Rowe is mediocre and vulgar, but I hear their knights are powerful" Lorenz said.
Hilda looked concerned "What about the Daphnel soldiers? You don't think...".
"I'm worried about Judith" Byleth said.
"Judith will be fine. It would take a lot more than that to take her down" Claude assure before focusing on the troops "Everyone, prepare for battle! I leave the command in your capable hands, my friend".
Byleth nods and everyone got ready to face the enemy force.
The leader of the enemy forces was an old man named Gwendal "The Valley of Torment... Perhaps a good place to finish off my life as a knight. Only if that puny force of children is able to kill me, of course..."
"So, their general must be that stubborn-looking old man. He looks like he wouldn't even forgive a sobbing child. It's good we came armed for the occasion. Care to find Judith?" Claude asked as she looked over the area "Flames are flaring everywhere and burning people where they stand... Ailell is a terrible place. Everyone, if you don't want to get burned to a crisp, watch your step!".
Gwendal watched as the Alliance forces marched towards them "The Crest of Flames? Ha! Quite full of themselves, aren't they?".
However, among the enemy ranks was Ashe "Just as I thought - the professor's army. But it's too late to back out now. In Lonato's place, I have to do my duty".
The two forces clashed with Byleth and her students holding their own quite well. Byleth cut down two soldiers, while Claude fired a couple of arrows to kill two enemy archers, who was making things difficult for their flyers. Leone blocked a blade with her arm guards before punching her enemy hard in the face, causing him to stumble and fall in to the lava. Leone flinched, that must've been painful.
The battle raged on until a new force arrived... however this was no enemy force.
Heading the new arrivals were non other than Judith "Oh, old Gwendal is here. And he doesn't look to be an ally...".
Gwendal noticed her and smirked "Oh, the Hero of Daphnel is here! I'll expect more from her than the young ones...".
Ashe saw Byleth fighting. With an heavy heart he aimed his bow, hoping he could end it without causing any pain... However, before she could fire his arrow, someone spoke behind him.
"Don't even think about it Ashe" The voice sounded familiar.
Ashe quickly turned "Felix!? You're alive?!".
"Obviously. Now stop being stupid and help us stop Gwendal" Felix said.
"But I-" Ashe began but was interrupted when a Pegasus landed near them "Ingrid?!".
Ingrid smiled at him "Sorry we did't come back sooner. There was a lot happening".
Ashe was utterly shocked "But how? I thought...".
"We'll explain later. Now will you help us or not?" Felix demanded.
Ashe took a breath before he nodded "Yes. If you believe this is right, then I will fight by your side once more".
"Good, because we are not the only ones here" Ingrid said.
Leone punched another soldier, before one was going to attack her from behind, only to be struck down by a lance. Leone turned around "Sylvain!".
Sylvain smiled at her "Hello there beautiful. Long time no see".
"Indeed. We have a lot of catching up to do after we finish up here" Leone said as she looked back at the enemy soldiers.
"Agreed. These traitors will no rechieve any mercy from me" Sylvain declared.
Najenda stood on top of a cliff, overlooking the battlefield "Looks like we arrived just in time. CHARGE!".
Several soldiers charged in to help Byleth and the rest. One of them was an armored man wielding big spear rushed forward before throwing his spear with such force it penetrated an enemy soldier and hit another enemy behind him.
An enemy archer was aiming at Ingrid as she was flying around. However, before he could shoot her, a steel wire wrapped around his neck, followed by a voice "Sorry, you are not killing any beautiful women while I'm here".
The owner of the voice was a green haired young man to broke the enemy's neck with a quick yank on his wire. While that was happening, several more enemies were dropping thanks to Chelsea dashing around them, sticking sharp needels in to their neck. She was moving to quickly for anyone to catch her, and her range allies didn't make it any easier for them.
Hilda struck down an enemy before an arrow hit one who was about to attack her "Mine! Glad you could make it".
Mine walked up with a smirk "Someone needs to keep you alive. Ready to stop being lazy and help me out here?".
"Very funny. But of course, I don't mind fighting alongside you" Hilda said as she readied her ax.
The two sisters stood back to back, ready to face whoever came at them.
Byleth smiled, happy for all the help. If they take down Gwendal, the battle will be over. Fighting her way through the enemy soldiers, she finally confronted him.
Gwendal looked at her "Does a whelp like you really expect to kill me? I am Gwendal, the Gray Lion, a knight by the hand of Count Rowe! Do your worst!".
He rides towards her and Byleth extended her blade, successfully knocking him of his horse. Gwendal recovered quickly, and swings his ax at Byleth. She ducked under his strike and went to counter, only for him to block her strike and kicked her back. Byleth remained standing and narrowed her eyes, before readying herself again. Gwendal charged at her again, but she dodged and deflected his blows, before cut him across his chest plate. He grunts, but was not finished yet. Byleth got ready, and as Gwendal charged in with an overhead strike, Byleth quickly stabbed him through the chest.
Gwendal coughed up blood, but still managed a smile "Ah, so I have found a place to die... Young ones... I thank you...".
Byleth pulls her sword free, allowing her wothy foe to die in peace.
Claude landed next to her "That old man must have been struggling with the position he found himself in... It's time to gather ourselves and pull back our troops".
Byleth nods "Right".
After the battle, it was finally time to speak with Judith.
"To think we'd get into a scrap here of all places. We're lucky we all made it out alive" Judith said.
"I'm sorry for involving you in this" Byleth said.
"Don't worry about it. In this day and age, it's a miracle I've been unscathed this long" Judith assured "Anyway, long time no see, Professor! Are you still watching this boy's back?".
Claude looked annoyed "Can you quit calling me a boy in front of everyone? I'm the leader of the Alliance now. It's not proper-".
Judith gave him a look "Not proper, is it? Says the leader who has neglected Alliance territory for years. If you're really the Master Tactician, you should go back to working quietly at whatever little desk you do your planning on".
Claude groans "Ugh, don't call me that either. Who even came up with that nickname?".
"It's a perfect title for a boy who loves crafty schemes as much as you do. You should be grateful to the professor. On your own, you'd look like a scoundrel of a leader" Judith said.
Hilda laughed "Haha! Claude's usually so flippant, but even he gets overwhelmed when Judith is around!".
Lorenz smiled "As expected from the leader of the prestigious House Daphnel. Her dignity if beyond compare, even if she is no longer one of the Five Great Lords".
"The Five Great Lords?" Byleth asked.
"The five most influential lords of the Leicester Alliance. They hold the voting rights at the roundtable conferences. House Daphnel used to be included among their ranks, but division from within has hastened their decline. Their vote has since been passed to the emerging Margrave Edmund" Lorenz explained.
"Thanks for the exposition, Gloucester boy" Judith said.
Lorenz looked highly offended "Boy?! I will not-".
"Now to business. There were some unexpected interruptions, but I've brought soldiers and supplies, as promised" Judith said, ignoring Lorenz completely.
Claude smiled "Thanks, Judith. I'll gladly take them off your hands...".
Judith shook her head "Hold your horses, boy. You're misunderstanding. These soldiers are precious to me. I made them what they are. I'm not about to loan them out to someone".
Claude looked confused "No? Then why did you come here?!".
Judith smiled "What I'm saying is that I'll be joining your army. You're going to fight the Empire with the Knights of Seiros, right? Fight for Lady Rhea? Not without me".
"That's admirable and all, but we still don't know for sure if Rhea is in the-" Claude began but was quickly interrupted.
"Oh, she's there. A witness saw Lady Rhea being dragged off by the Imperial army after the battle five years ago" Judith said.
Alois stepped "Are you sure your source is reliable?!".
Judith nods "One of my own saw it happen. I'm certain".
"It seems we chose wisely when we decided to fight against the Empire" Alois said in pride
"But you're the leader of House Daphnel. Is it OK for you to leave your territory unattended?" Claude asked.
Judith looks at him "And what about you? Is it OK for you to leave the Riegan territory unattended?".
Claude was getting annoyed by her constantly turning things around on him "That's... I've left it in the hands of a reliable retainer and-".
Judith once again interrupted him "And I've asked that retainer to watch over Daphnel territory as well".
Claude was taken aback "Wait, wait, wait... You just up and decided to get my retainer to do that without even asking me? No respect, this one...".
"What retainer?" Byleth asked.
Judith looked at her "Oh? You haven't met him yet, Professor? His name is Nardel. He strikes me as a really special individual. And he's quite handsome too!".
Claude gave her a look "So that's your definition of handsome?".
"No objections, then? Good. That settles it. House Daphnel is now yours to command" Judith said.
"I'm sure you'd come along even if I refused. So be it. We'll be counting on you, Judith" Claude said.
"Now, I believe some other people wishes to speak to you" Byleth Judith said.
Byleth looked and saw Najenda along with several members of the Blue Lions, and some new faces. She was happy to see all of them, and was glad to see the Blue Lions didn't submit to the Empire.
"It's so good to see you again professor. We believed you were dead" Ingrid said.
"Yeah, things were rough without you" Chelsea said.
Byleth smiled "I'm happy to see you all. But how are you all here?".
Najenda stepped up "I recruited them after the coup on Lord Dimitri. Not all of them were to eager to fight against their old home, but I can be quite convincing".
"No jest. Didn't take much to convince us it was better to fight against our homeland with a chance of freeing it, rather than submitting to the Empire" Sylvain said.
"It was an easy decision for me and Chelsea. No way we would roll over for the Empire" Felix said.
"The rest of the Blue Lions should be back at the monastery by now. They will be eager to meet you" Najenda said before motioning to the two men she had arrived with "Meet two of my best soldiers. Bulat and Lubblock".
Bulat bowed in respect "It's an honor to meet you, Professor Byleth".
"I heard a lot of stories about you. But non of them mentioned your beauty" Lubblock said in a perverted tone, earning a smack on the head by Bulat. So he was similar to Sylvain, good to know.
Byleth smiled. She felt like they had a chance of winning this war now... And she hoped Akame and Esdeath could be convinced to join them.
.
Tell me what you think.