1.
It's a rather boring night around the campfire the first time Vaida hears it.
"Okay, so here's the thing; Once I heard Ursula say—"
"Oh, Ursula," says Jaffar with an eye roll, "You can't trust a word out of the woman's mouth—"
Nino sniffs, her nose scrunching up. "That's what you think, but you always think the worst of people."
Jaffar sighs, rubbing at his brows. "Nino—"
"No," she interrupts, "I'm telling a story! So, about Vaida—"
Vaida sits at the opposite fire, just out of their viewing range, nursing a wooden bowl of dinner. But she can hear just fine, and she's already smiling, intensely curious as to where exactly this story is going. The girl's an excitable one and Vaida's always liked her spunk.
And she knows that Jaffar does too, despite his rather dreary demeanor. She's seen the subtle quirk of his lips when Nino's around him.
Nino's voice drops into a lower pitch as she leans close to the cookfire. "So, as I said, once I heard that she got her scar wrestling a Wyvern."
Hector bursts into boisterous laughter, loud enough to be heard throughout the entire camp. "A Wyvern? There's no way."
"There is way! Haven't you seen her? One wrong look and she'll send you right to your grave. You think she wouldn't fight a Wyvern?"
Vaida chuckles at that, digging into her lukewarm slop. Nino's right, of course. It's definitely something that she'd likely try once in her life, and she'd be damn determined to come out on top.
"Why wrestle a Wyvern when she already has one?" asks Jaffar quietly. A solid question.
Nino sighs dramatically. "It's a show of power, obviously. Vaida's the kind of woman who marks her territory."
"Don't make her sound like a dog—"
"I'm not! It's just a solid fact, one that you should know from working with her."
Perhaps to most, the words might seem a little rude, but Vaida finds them amusing. She'd definitely fight a Wyvern and she'd definitely come away the victor. So, this one, she lets slide away.
Let the girl have her lofty ideas. Makes for fun when there isn't much of that to go around.
2.
The second time that Vaida hears a story about her scar, it's out in a town while shopping. They don't often have free days, being busy with war and whatnot— but once in a while, they manage to have a few hours to themselves.
"I swear to you, I saw it with my own two eyes!"
"Serra," says Matthew, "My dear, not-so-sweet cleric who's definitely the follower of a dark god—"
"Matthew!"
"—she had the scar before you even met her."
Vaida pauses once she hears, standing a booth away from them in the market. She picks over bolts of fabrics and half-sewn garments, just waiting to be finished.
Serra makes a sort of odd, screeching sound and then says, "Fine, then. I heard it with my own two ears."
Vaida smirks, hearing the exasperation in Matthew's reply, she can practically feel it in her bones. But, to be fair, most feel that way when it comes to Serra.
"Pray tell, what is it that you heard?"
"It was a tailor!"
Vaida blinks at that, her head cocked to the side. Well, that's a new theory, one she's never heard before. Curiosity tugs at her, and it must Matthew too because he's quiet for a little bit too long.
"Say what now?"
"A tailor!" repeats Serra, her voice pitching into that well-known, gossiping tone of hers. "Vaida said some very choice words after being displeased with a dress she once ordered—"
"Now I know you're bluffing," says Matthew with a huff. "Vaida, in a dress?"
"She wears a dress every day, Matthew." Serra sounds a little cross.
"I mean, like, a real dress, something nice and fancy, not her riding gear. Can you imagine?"
It's Vaida's turn to scoff, running her fingers over a bolt of smooth silk as she listens in. Of course, she wears dresses; just because she's a Commander and more likely to punch a man than not, doesn't mean she avoids fashion. She rather likes clothes and shopping.
Besides, the idea of it is utterly ridiculous. She'd never fight with a tailor about looking terrible because Vaida looks good in everything that she puts on. And really, that's just a fact.
3.
"Okay, okay, so once I heard from Leila, the real story of the scar."
It's not the third time she's heard someone go on about it, but this rumor catches Vaida's attention because it's a rare thing for Matthew to bring Leila up unprompted. And, apparently, happily so.
"Go on," says Lyndis, curiosity creeping into her voice. Vaida snickers; the Lady is kind and just, but rather gullible at times. Makes her likable, though, even if a little bit of a liability.
"So, imagine it," says Matthew, his hands held out before him in a dramatic flourish. Vaida isn't within their eyesight, so he doesn't see her, but she can easily watch from where she's tucked against Merlinus's merchant cart, arms crossed over her chest. "A thief, the best of their kind. Definitely, definitely not myself or Leila—"
Jaffar snorts at that.
"Hey, shut it. Like you get to talk about her."
Matthew and Jaffar are on better terms nowadays, but the latter still gives him a narrowed look as he throws a knife into his food menacingly. It takes Nino reaching out and grabbing his wrist for the tension to break.
"As I was saying," continues Matthew, clearing his throat, "A thief, best of their kind, decides to take on a mighty foe. You know, steal from the best, amirite? That's what really hones your talents. Anyway, they tried to steal from Vaida—"
"Like she has anything of value," says Nino with a laugh, and she isn't entirely wrong. Vaida really doesn't have much to her name— only the fine leather saddle on her Wyvern's back, and the few valuables she can stuff into its packs.
"Would you let me finish?" Matthew feigns annoyance and Nino cackles in return, throwing a piece of her chicken at him. Vaida frowns. What a waste. It isn't often they have proper meat.
"What's there to finish?" asks Nino, her mouth curved in amusement. "Not like it's true."
"It is, I swear it! The thief wasn't good enough to get anything valuable, but they managed to leave their mark."
Vaida chuckles at that, shaking her head. It's a fun thought, a thief getting the better of her. Problem is that there isn't a person who'd get close enough— she's far too keen and observant to let her guard down in such a way.
Still, entertaining at least. And while Vaida is definitely the type to hold a grudge, she certainly won't over something like this.
+1
Another night and another rumor.
Heath is the one to chuckle this time. "Absurd," he says, "The ideas they come up with." They're sharing a dinner that's meager than most, but it's made up by the good company. The whole crew is there, enjoying a quiet night by the fire.
At least, the fire that Vaida and Heath are sharing. Wherever Hector and Matthew sit is sure to be loud and raucous instead.
"Funny, though," says Vaida, her mouth curling into a smile. "Never gets old, if I'm being honest."
"Which you rarely are," teases Heath, nudging her knee with his.
"Oh shush," she says, "I never lie. I'm better than that." And they all know it to be true— from the moment she'd joined Eliwood's group, she's been forthright about exactly who she is and who she serves. And that isn't Eliwood. Everything that she does is for the good of Bern, and Bern only.
"Actually, I wonder," says Ninian from across the fire. She's softspoken and polite as ever, her ankles tucked gently together and her hands clasped neatly in her lap. "What is the real story?"
Heath immediately sobers up, his face serious. "That's… It isn't my story to tell."
"I'm more than willing to share," says Vaida.
"Vaida—"
"As I said earlier, shush. She means nothing ill by it, and I really don't mind. It's quite a valiant story if I must be honest, and we all know how much I like to talk about myself."
Heath cracks a small smile, the tense moment lifting, and no one else refutes her. It's true, of course. There isn't a bigger fan of Vaida than Vaida herself.
"I know that most see me as quite the vain woman," starts Vaida, "and they would be right. I should be. I've risen in the ranks of men and I became a Commander. I had at my fingertips an entire fleet of riders, and we did our best to protect Bern at all costs."
She nudges Heath in the side with her elbow, and he playfully nudges her back. "And despite the rumors that circulate, I truly cared for my kin, as they did me. Vaida's Raiders were a group to be feared not because we struck dread in the hearts of others, but because we protected those who couldn't protect themselves. Countrymen, other companies— if it was for the good Bern and they called, we would answer."
Vaida can't help but look wistful at the idea, slipping back in such old memories. The way they would fly through the air, the brilliant landscape of Bern spread below them.
She and Heath talk about this a lot in their free time; how much they miss home. Even Heath who claims to have no love left for the place. But it's a bittersweet thing because their home doesn't miss them the same way.
"There were those that were jealous," she continues.
"Louts," cuts in Heath, spearing a carrot with his fork and shoving it into his mouth angrily.
"Poor sots," corrects Vaida, because really, they were, "Men who couldn't get over the fact that there was a woman that was better than them. Couldn't live with the idea that we just might have to work together. Years I dealt with this and my company too, until there was a General who decided to handle the matter."
Eliwood perks up at that, leaning forward in anticipation. "What did he do? Did he challenge you to a duel?"
Vaida cracks a grin at the idea, enthused to have a captive audience. "That would make for a good story, but no." Her gaze falls as her eyes grow distant, lost to her memories. "He concocted a fake rebellion, using the backs of Bern villagers to carry out his dirty work. Framed them as insurgents. We were sent to take care of them, which we would've done and happily so.
"But when we arrived, we found a pitiful place, full of unarmed peasants." Vaida looks at Eliwood, her expression severe instead of her usual boastful and playful nature. "I am a lot of things, My Lord, and I have done a lot of terrible deeds; but I have not, and never will, harm a person that is innocent. We refused to carry out the order, which led to the punishment of the entire company."
"Punishment?" asks Ninian softly. Hesitantly.
"Death by hanging." It's Heath who answers, his posture stock still. "The entirety of Vaida's Raiders, and our mounts too. All because we wouldn't slaughter a village of peasants."
Ninian lets out a gasp, her eyes growing round as saucers.
"Vaida told us to run," continues Heath, his mouth quirking into a wistful sort-of grin. "Not all of us made it out, but she held the line while we tried."
"Held the line?" asks Eliwood, "All by herself?"
Vaida shrugs as though it was nothing. "What's a weasel of a man compared to someone like myself? It was then that I challenged him to a duel." She shoots a wink to Eliwood, who chuckles softly.
"Truthfully, though," says Vaida, her voice pitching quieter this time, "My men meant everything to me— they still do. As leaders, we are faced with choices like this every day, and those that aren't willing to lay themselves down for even their scrappiest underlings aren't worth holding such a title."
It's something that she knows Eliwood agrees with. He's shown such tendencies time and time again— it's why Vaida joined his side to begin with, despite being the natural enemy to Bern. He'd saved Zephiel, and Vaida owes him a debt, one that she willingly pays.
"And so, the duel," prompts Heath around a mouthful of dinner. "I've actually never heard this part of the story."
Vaida laughs as the memory consumes her. A man, a great General, bogged down in his heavy armor and wielding an axe. Vaida hadn't much on her at the time, her weapons having been confiscated and her Wyvern drugged stupid. But she'd persevered, standing up to the man with nothing but her fists and a scowl. He hadn't liked that, her spunky and careless attitude.
"He tried his best," she finally says, "But he was slow— too slow. I was hard to hit. But, he still managed to nick me, I guess." Vaida motions to her face and then laughs again. She thinks of a blade flashing before her eyes and searing pain as the axe glanced off her temple.
"Nearly lost my damn eye."
"But you didn't," says Heath with a grin, "And our illustrious Commander escaped with the kind of prize that she loves— a bad-ass scar and story to regale."
Vaida nods triumphantly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"So," starts Eliwood, slightly awed, "The real story behind the scar is that you single-handedly took down a General so your men could get away?"
"Well, I didn't take him down. He was distracted by my stubborn will to live and I barely made off on the back of my Wyvern. The lout is likely still alive, much to my aggravation."
Heath roars with amusement, entirely beside himself. Eliwood and Ninian stare, likely because Heath is usually a quiet man but— well, he can still see the humor in things.
Heath slaps Vaida across the back before he gets up to clean his bowl and utensils. Eliwood follows suit, taking Ninian's from her hands. Once gone, Vaida is left with only her.
"A scar well earned, then," says Ninian from across the pit, her unearthly eyes gleaming in the firelight as she watches back. "No wonder you're so proud."
Vaida can't help but beam, pride surging in her chest. "Yes, well, there are certainly worse things I've heard about myself."
"Like pitifully terrible rumors that paint you out as quite villainous."
It's a joke, the first that Vaida's ever heard from Ninian who's usually too prim and proper to say such a thing. That perhaps, is the most outrageous thing to have happened around the campfire that entire night.