Byleth could not sleep as she laid in silence with her hands folded neatly over her covers. They had snatched a stalemate from what could have been a very devastating loss. Sylvain had put on a brave face, but he had been left with some pretty severe burns after the central hill was set ablaze by the Empire. Linhardt had gotten caught in the shoulder with an arrow and was now in a sling. The Kingdom and Church forces were battle fatigued and running on fumes. And all of that was without considering Dimitri's mental state.
Dimitri had wept the entire way back to Garreg Mach, a steady stream of silent tears trailing down his face as he stared ahead—unseeing. As if mourning with him, the heavens had opened up and let loose a torrential downpour. It was only then—when he thought the rain might obscure his tears—that Felix had allowed himself to cry for his father.
Losing Rodrigue was a blow. He had been a good man, a great man, and a boon to the morale of the soldiers. Now even Byleth was wondering how much more heartbreak everyone could take. Dimitri had pushed them on this path towards vengeance, but it had only cost them more than they had gained.
…go to him…the stables…
Byleth sat bolt upright, eyes searching around her room for what she knew was not there. She placed a hand over her racing heart, trying to feel within the presence she had lost years ago.
"Sothis?" She murmured into the darkness of her room, calling out to the goddess that had resided in her own mind.
Only silence answered her call, but Byleth knew what she had heard. She sprung into action, flinging her sheets off and throwing some semblance of suitable clothing on to run out into the storm raging outside her door.
Byleth sprinted through the rain to the stables, urgency spurring her on as the voice she had heard echoed in her ears. As she rounded the corner, she saw Dimitri there. He was standing in the rain, slowly yet deliberately untying the reigns of one of the horses.
"What do you want?" He asked, voice hoarse and hollow as Byleth came to a breathless stop beside him.
"Where are you going?" She asked, looking at his hands still holding the reigns of the horse.
"It doesn't concern you." He said gruffly.
"It does." Byleth stood her ground.
She could remember so vividly back before everything happened when Eve had pled for her to be Dimitri's support. Somehow Eve had foreseen being unable to be there for the prince and had the Professor promise to be her stand in.
"Dimitri needs someone who cares deeply about him—romantically or otherwise. I fear I can't be that person. If I am unable to step up when Dimitri needs me most, I want to ask that you be there to support him."
"Get out of my way." Dimitri loomed over her. "Now."
"You're going to Enbarr, aren't you?" She asked. And when he didn't reply she continued, "do you really think that will appease the dead?"
"Silence. You have no idea what you're talking about. Death is the end. No matter how much lingering regret a person has, after death, they are powerless. They cannot even wish for revenge, much less seek it out." Dimitri's features filled with an amalgamation of anger, remorse, and determination. "Hatred. Regret. Those burdens fall on the shoulders of those who are left behind. And so I must continue down this path! I already told you as much! It is far too late to stop."
"You're wrong." Byleth shook her head softly.
"Do not waste your breath with some nonsense about how I should move on with my life for their sake. That is merely the logic of the living. It's meaningless. Those who died with lingering regret... They will not loose their hold on me so easily." Dimitri spoke harshly, but all of a sudden his voice cracked and his tone became one of pleading. "But you seem to have all the answers... So tell me, professor. Please, tell me... How do I silence their desperate pleas? How do I... How do I save them? Ever since that day nine years ago... I have lived only to avenge the fallen. Even my time at the Officers Academy was all so that I could secure my revenge and clear away the regret of the dead. It was the only thing that kept me alive... My only reason to keep moving forward..."
"You must forgive yourself." She took a step towards him, squinting through the rain to read his face.
Dimitri didn't respond, his eyes glazing over as he thought about all the loved ones he had outlived in his life thus far. The only thing that had kept him going was his desire for revenge; it was the only thing that had given his life purpose. And now, Byleth was watching as Dimitri grappled with the implication that abandoning his crusade of vengeance carried.
"But then who... or what... should I live for?" His voice was barely a whisper. And all of a sudden, he was the seventeen year-old boy Byleth had met in the forest outside of Remire so many years ago.
"Live for what you believe in." She answered.
"What I believe in... Rodrigue said the same thing." Dimitri murmured in thought. "But is it possible... I am a murderous monster. My hands are stained red. Could one such as I truly hope for such a life? As the sole survivor of that day, do I... Do I have the right to live for myself?"
Byleth did not have any more words for the Faerghus prince. The truth was, she didn't have answers for all of his questions. Those were something he had to figure out for himself. It was part of being alive, and he would have to learn that. Dimitri had lived for so long alone in the shadows even when he had had people beside him. It was perhaps why he had loved Eve so much because she was the only person who saw through to that.
But Eve was gone now, and so Byleth did what she believed the prince's wife would have done in this moment. She held out her hand, silently offering him an anchor to hold onto— inviting him back into the world of the living.
He hesitated a moment, looking at her hand with a flurry of emotions before finally reaching back out. His grasp was tentative—as if afraid to break her—and he looked at their hands in wonder.
"Your hands are so warm..." His voice was barely a whisper. "Have they always been?"
The two of them stood in silence a moment longer, the rain pouring over them as if to wash them of their sorrows from the past few years. Byleth could feel the slightest of tremors in Dimitri's hand as she held it. She wished she could do more for him, but had no idea how.
"Get some rest, Dimitri." She said finally.
"I will." He swallowed thickly, finally releasing her hand. "Thank you, Professor."
Byleth took to tying back up the horse in the stable as Dimitri returned to his quarters. She watched him walk away, knowing there was so much more he had to grapple with. So long had he lived on the path of revenge and now he would have to find a new reason to live. Byleth knew she could not give him the answers he needed, but she could at least stand by his side as he found his new path.
The next morning, everyone gathered for a war council to decide their next steps after Gronder Field. They had all suffered heavy losses and were wary of continuing on their path to Enbarr.
"Our victory at Gronder was certainly a turning point for us. However... Rodrigue's death has been difficult to bear. We've lost considerable military strength and resources." Gilbert addressed the council with a somber look.
"Are there no lords we can rely on?" Byleth asked, casting a glance towards Sylvain and Ingrid specifically.
"Unfortunately, with things as they are now, I don't think House Gautier has any resources to spare." Sylvain frowned.
"I'm sorry. I really wish we could help." Ingrid shook her head. "If only house Galatea had anything to give..."
"If we split up the soldiers currently defending the monastery, we should have sufficient numbers to invade the Empire. But even then..." Gilbert trailed off as the door to the council room swung open to reveal Dimitri.
"Your Highness!" Dedue called out in concern. "You should be resting. Your wounds are still healing..."
"I am well, I assure you." Dimitri waved off his vassal before addressing the group. "More importantly... may I have a moment of your time?"
Byleth nodded, wondering if the prince had gotten any rest the night before.
"Thank you." He thanked the Professor. "I wish to apologise. To all of you. I have led you down this dark path with me, and have cost so much suffering along the way... I cannot tell you how sorry I am for my behaviour. There is no apology I could offer that would be sufficient."
" And how do you intend to make up for my father's death?" Felix grimaced.
"Felix... I realise words alone are not enough to repent, but I fear they are all I have." Dimitri addressed his friend sorrowfully.
"I'm not after more empty words." Felix shook his head. "I want you to speak through your actions."
"I know that no amount of regret can ever bring back the lives we have lost. I... I know that well." Dimitri took a deep breath and Byleth could tell he had been up all night considering how to atone for his actions. "It is like patching up a tear with a different material. Things can never be as they were. The best I can hope for is to make things whole again. I wish to do the right thing from now on. That is why I have made a decision... I intend to take back the Kingdom capital. I wish to save our people, those who I turned my back on for far too long. To follow my heart and do the right thing... That's the only way I can atone for my sins."
"Your Highness... If we can win back Fhirdiad, it will give us the advantage in our war against the Empire. As one who has served the royal family for ages, know that your words bring me great joy. And pride." Gilbert's eyes brightened at Dimitri's words, though his words remained level. "That said, I must point out that if we make for Fhirdiad, the Emperor's head will slip further out of reach. Can you live with that?"
"I still hold hatred in my heart for her and for the ones responsible for the tragedy... That, I will carry with me until death. But... my life is my own." Dimitri cast a meaningful glance towards Byleth before continuing. "It belongs to no one else, and it is high time that I started living for what I believe in. I will no longer allow the voices of the dead to bind me. This is something that I must do... No. Something that I am choosing to do. I will accomplish my aim, even if it means risking my life to do so."
"Understood, your highness." Gilbert nodded and then addressed the rest of the council. "So? Any objections?"
"None." Byleth shook her head.
"You are correct. We cannot afford to die in vain by recklessly challenging the empire." Seteth agreed.
"I'm worried about Lady Rhea... but if this is the choice you've made, I support it." Mercedes nodded.
"I am at your command, Your Highness. I will follow you anywhere." Dedue bowed his head.
"My bow is at your service, Your Highness." Ashe piped up.
"I'll help too!" Annette clenched her fist with determination as she spoke. "The people in Fhirdiad need us!"
"Fine. I'll help you...in my father's stead." Felix crossed his arms. "But in return, you must win. You know that, don't you...Dimitri?"
Byleth blinked, surprised to hear Felix refer to Dimitri by name. In all the time at the Officer's Academy, she wasn't sure she had ever heard him refer to the prince by his first name. Perhaps now he saw that this reformed Dimitri was in fact the person he had grown up with and not the boar he had believed him to be transformed into.
"I do." Dimitri said firmly, Felix's use of his name seemingly not lost on him. "And I swear on my father's lance that we will prevail."
"Then it is decided. It seems this war council has much to discuss. Our next stop is Fhirdiad, the Kingdom capital. For the future of Faerghus!" Gilbert cried out as the rest of the council echoed their excitement.
After spending time to reassess their numbers and resources, the Church and Kingdom forces finally set out to Fhirdiad. They had reports that news of the rightful heir's return had spurred on the people of the Kingdom Capital to rebel. Cornelia, for her part, had done nothing to subdue these rebellions and was gathering all of her forces to meet Dimitri head on.
There were those who were wary of the prince's change in demeanour. Many were unsure if this was truly a lasting change and if he had actually realised the error of his ways. But the general consensus was that regardless of what the actuality of the situation was, everyone was glad they were no longer being led on a destructive path of vengeance. And those who hailed from the Kingdom were glad for the chance to free their homeland.
"Fhirdiad... It has been a lifetime since I was last here. Five years ago, in fact. On the day before my execution, when Dedue helped me escape from prison." Dimitri mused as their forces gathered just outside the city walls. "I killed soldiers from my homeland, stole weapons from their corpses, and made my escape, soaked in their blood. To think this is how I would return to the city of my birth, after all that has happened..."
"I'm proud of you." Byleth said.
"I do not deserve that." He shook his head. "If not for you or Rodrigue, I would still be lost... I am glad to have you at my side. From the bottom of my heart...I am forever grateful. Let's win this, Professor. Let's all make it out alive and celebrate our victory."
"Your Highness. The path to the castle has been cleared. We are making preparations to advance." Gilbert approached the two of them. "Say the word, and we march."
"Your Highness, wait!" A scout came pushing through the ranks to reach the front where they were gathered. "We're being followed."
"A pincer attack?" Byleth's brow furrowed with concern as she looked over at the prince for his reaction.
"I don't think so." The scout shook their head. "It's just one person."
"Professor, a report." Shamir appeared beside them.
"What's going on?" Byleth asked.
"Someone's been following us for a while, trailing pretty far behind the back line." Shamir said. "They weren't there when we departed from Garreg Mach, but they appeared maybe a day into our march this way."
"What are they doing now?" Dimitri asked.
"They just stopped." Shamir shrugged. "They aren't advancing, they're just standing at the top of a hill watching us. It's honestly really weird and their vantage point concerns me. Oh, and they're wearing red so there's that."
"Professor, Dedue, join me and we will investigate." Dimitri motioned to the two of them.
"Your Highness, is that the best idea? If they're sporting Empire colours it could be a trap." Gilbert stepped forward.
"Sylvain." Dimitri called out to his friend who was on horseback. "Join us and you can ride back to the front lines quickly if anything happens."
"I do not think this is the best course of action." Gilbert advised.
"If it is a trap, I'd rather know now before we engage with Cornelia and put ourselves at a disadvantage." Dimitri reasoned. "Come, let us go."
Dimitri walked towards where Shamir and the scout had indicated the mystery individual to be with Byleth, Dedue, and Sylvain all trailing behind. When they reached the spot, they indeed saw a strange individual standing at the top of the hill. None of them could make out any details of who they were other than the crimson hooded cloak they wore that obscured the rest of their form from view.
Sylvain squinted, trying to make out any details of the person before them. He could see their cloak flapping in the wind, but with the sun behind them they were all but impossible to see clearly. It was because of this that none of them saw when the figure whipped out a bow and sent an arrow flying in their direction in one deft movement.
"Your Highness!" Dedue moved in front of Dimitri to block the shot, but the arrow instead found purchase in the ground a meter in front of them.
"Lousy shot." Sylvain half laughed before noticing something on the tail of the arrow. "What's that?"
Dedue stepped forward to pull the arrow from the ground and untie the piece of parchment that was secured to it.
"Please allow me to join your forces." Dedue read the note aloud. "I will explain everything if you allow me to. Please hold out Areadbhar horizontally before you if I may approach. If at any point you wish me to stop, hold Areadbhar vertically and I will cease movement."
"Could it be a deserter?" Sylvain asked. "They're in Empire colours, but maybe they left to fight for us."
"Your Highness, this is very suspicious I would advise against letting this individual get close." Dedue folded the letter back up as he cast a wary glance towards the person still standing atop the hill.
"Be at the ready." Dimitri responded before turning his Hero's Relic in his grasp to hold it out before him horizontally.
"Your Highness!" Dedue protested.
But Dimitri held fast as they all watched the figure begin their approach. Even as they moved, Sylvain could barely make out any details about who they were. From what he could tell, though, they had discarded their bow and were approaching with no weapons drawn.
They continued down the hill, walking slowly and deliberately. Sylvain found himself leaning forward in anticipation as they drew ever closer.
"That's far enough." Dimitri slammed the butt of Areadbhar into the soil below them when the mystery person was only a few meters away.
They stopped in their tracks silently, unmoving and unspeaking.
"Who are you?" Dimitri called out. "What is your purpose here?"
"I don't think introductions will be needed."
Ice shot down Sylvain's spine as he heard their voice. And he froze even further as the individual undid the clasp on their cloak and allowed the wind to remove it from their person. Bewildered, he jumped down from his steed to take a few tentative steps towards them to see if it was truly who he thought it was.
She was wearing what was clearly pieces of uniforms from Empire soldiers. Her hair was so much longer than when he had last seen her, tied with a piece of cord into a trailing ponytail. The pieces of hair around her face were choppy and uneven— obviously cut haphazardly with a knife when they became too long to see through. But she was the same as she had been. And she was alive.
He wanted to call out to her, to speak her name, but his voice was caught in his throat. And all of a sudden, Sylvain's vision was blurred and he was only vaguely aware of the interaction happening before him by what he could hear.
"I thought you dead…" Dimitri breathed in disbelief.
"I thought you to be dead." She replied. "And you, Professor."
Suddenly, Sylvain could see again and he realised his vision had been blurred by the tears that had welled up in his eyes and were now streaming freely down his cheeks as he lurched forward to embrace the friend he thought he had sent to her demise five years prior.
"Eve!" He choked out, pressing her into his chest. "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry?" She managed to pull away enough to say.
"All those years ago I sent you away." Sylvain shook his head. "I told you to take His Highness and go. I sent you to your death."
"Sylvain, we lost the battle for Garreg Mach." Eve shook her head. "We would have been equally as doomed if we had stayed. I'm sorry you carried that guilt all this time. I should have come back sooner, but I… Well, there's no time for explanations now."
"You're alive…" Dimitri muttered, still clearly in shock. "But how?"
"I will explain everything later." Eve looked up at Dimitri to meet his eye with her own burning ones. "But please, let me fight for Fhirdiad. Please allow me to stand by your side once more and lend you my blades."
"I would be honoured to have you by my side once more, Eve…"
As it had the day they first arrived at the monastery, her name felt so foreign in Dimitri's mouth. He had gone years not daring to utter it in his waking hours lest he be reminded of the woman he had loved and sent to her grave. But here she was before him once more, her emerald eyes just as captivating as they always had been as she swore her blades and her life to him.