Fire Emblem Three Houses: Five Years War
I don't own Fire Emblem Three Houses, or any of its characters. This will be a series of one-shots concerning the five years timeskip that occurs right as the war starts. It will contain spoilers for the Azure Moon storyline, and the supports of some characters.
I will treat everyone from the Black Eagles as being recruited by either the Golden Deer or the Blue Lion house, except Hubert who's impossible to recruit. I will attempt to put the shipping to the side as much as possible, but here's what you can expect: Dimitri/F!Byleth, Claude/Hilda, Ferdinand/Dorothea, Petra/Linhardt, Caspar/Bernadetta, Felix/Annette, Dedue/Flayn, Lorenz/Leonie, Sylvain/Ingrid, Lysithea/Cyril, Catherine/Seteth. It will also contain the Ashen Wolves, who will get a dedicated chapter.
I might operate some minor design changes for some of the characters who don't have any post timeskip designs (Catherine, Shamir, Seteth and Flayn for example). Watch out, this chapter spoils the entirety of Claude's origins.
That said, I hope you enjoy your read.
Chapter 4: Claude "Back Home" Around the Pegasus Moon (February) of year 1181
It always felt nice to be in a familiar place. The dried plains of Almyra were comfortably warm whereas it was still cold in Fodlàn, even in Derdriu of all places. But nostalgia wasn't the reason he was coming back, although he came with some hope of not being recognized by everybody he would come across.
But it failed as he saw a patrol of horsemen coming to intercept him. "Greetings, my prince. Would you mind us to escort you to the royal palace?" Claude sighed "Did the king expect my visit?" The rough-looking leader nodded "Indeed, he expected you to come at some point." They surrounded him, and guided Claude to the Almyran capital.
He could see some citizens eyeing him suspiciously, but he didn't mind, as he had been used to it for the first fifteen years of his life. He only had a three-years break from them after all. He saw the palace from afar, in all its magnificence which contrasted with the more humble residences of the people. The almyrans were as busy as ever, with the marketplace bustling with people and animals in all kinds. He could see a wyvern chained up for sales, a herd of pigs and some chickens. He remembered fondly how he used to steal some of the merchants, and the beatings from them he took for it.
The market's life stopped for a second as everyone was staring at Claude, and whispering, probably about him being a traitor, but once again, he didn't care. They rode towards the palace, where from the front gate, he could see the imposing figure of the king, Nyru Khalid Dryusus. Claude had always been looked at like a scrawny copy of the king. Indeed, Claude inherited of the face and hair of Nyru, but also the stature of his mother, the 'demon queen', who was able to set fear in the heart of every almyran despite her little stature.
Claude climbed down his horse to go and salute the king, who had seemingly decided to be in a bad mood today, as he was looking down at Claude, like the giant he was, severely. "It has been two years since your mother and I received any news from you." Once again, Claude's voice was just a little more acute than the king's.
"Well, it would not be easy to send a letter to a country directly in conflict with the Leicester Alliance." Claude retorted as he smirked. The king's severe expression faded into a big goofy grin as he embraced his son in a bear hug. "Ah Khalid! I have been missing you so much, my son! Have you made friends in Fodlàn? Are they trustworthy? What does the south look like?"
"I would tell you if you would stop choking me." Claude said as he was gasping for air. He felt a few of his ribs cracking under the king's strength. "Ah, well, of course." Nyru said as he released his son "Come now, some of your brothers and sisters might be interested in what you will say." He wrapped his arm around Claude's shoulders, and they both walked inside the palace. He was quite surprised that some of his step-brothers and step-sisters might be interested in what he had to say, them who always mocked him for his origins.
Awkitaf, his youngest brother to date as he was nine years-old, was waiting in a room, patiently reading a book, while his oldest little sister, Fila, was quietly enjoying some tea with Almaniin, his oldest little brother, who was of the same calibre physically as his father. Awkitaf was the only one who gave him a warm welcome, as he came to hug Claude. His other two brother and sister favoured a more formal approach as they only waved their hands at him.
That was weird. At most, he would only get cold glances normally. "Ah, I see you might have noticed these two getting warmer towards you, Khalid. You see, Almaniin got his ass kicked by the Fodlians who were keeping Fodlàn's Collar on his first raid. He took a level in modesty that time. As for Fila, I think Tiana made her learn respect the last time she talked shit about you in front of her." Both of their faces got redder.
Almaniin smirked "Well, maybe you have an answer as to why Fodlians aren't the weaklings I used to think them as. A dark blue haired woman completely kicked my ass with some sort of magical sword, and I honestly thought I would have died right there if my horse didn't drag my ass out of the battlefield." Fila was completely silent, as Claude thought that remembering Tiana's wrath might not be the greatest thing ever.
"Well that might have been one of my teachers at the academy." Almaniin's eyes widened in disbelief "I wonder how well she would fare against Nader..." Fila spoke "Nader got old, that professor seems rather young from what I've heard of Almaniin's tale, so I think she might have the upper hand."
Claude sat down with Nyru on one of the cushion as one of the maids came and served tea for both of them. "Father told me you might be interested in Fodlàn, is that right?" Claude asked to his half-siblings. Fila spoke again, with the same monotonous voice "Why, yes, some things there that might be totally unknown to us. That and I don't specifically want to talk to Tiana."
"Well, first, it isn't quite as united as Almyra. It's divided into three countries, the Leicester alliance, where I live, the kingdom of Faerghus, and the Adrestrian empire." Claude started, only to be cut off by Awkitaf "But then, how come they not be in war constantly?"
Claude smiled at his youngest brother "The church of Seiros was keeping the peace up until last year, through not so peaceful means, but since now it isn't here anymore, Fodlàn is plunged in war."
Nyru sighed, but before Claude could ask him what was wrong, Almaniin raised his voice "How does it work? Do they pray to the great lizard? Do they have the same apostles as us, like the lion, the falcon, the tortoise, the serpent or the sage?"
"As far as I know, there are five saints and a goddess the Fodlians fervently believe in. It's the only religion that's authorized in Fodlàn, and it is enforced by the knights of Seiros. But it doesn't matter, now Fodlians are prone to say that the goddess has abandoned us, with the fall of Garreg Mach." Claude explained.
Awkitaf, always the curious one, asked "What's that? It has a weird name..." Claude was about to answer, before a feminine voice came behind Claude. "It's where the church hosts the officer's academy, as well as it's from where they rule."
Claude shuttered at the sound of the voice, as were both Fila and Almaniin, though Awkitaf didn't seem to care as he said "Thank you, Tiana!" Claude could hear her answer from behind him in a gentle voice "Anything for you, sweetie." Claude turned around very slowly from the fear his mother brought to him. Tiana hadn't lost any of her youth, despite growing a few grey hair in her cherry coloured hair, which might add some credibility to her nickname of 'demon queen'.
And as soon as Claude completely faced his mother, she embraced him in a bear hug. "Seriously?! Can't you both do anything else to greet me but strangle me?!" Claude muffled as Tiana seemed to want to crush Claude's spine.
"Look at you, Khalid! You're all grown up now, how handsome you have become- What do you mean? Nyru did the same? Sothis be damned, you stole my idea!" She let go of Claude to head towards Nyru who faked his innocence. But Claude held her hand as he went for a more conventional embrace, that she gave back.
"Well, now that we have almost everybody, how about you tell us all about it at dinner, tonight?" Nyru offered. "Very well, but first, let's fight, Khalid!" Almaniin said as he jumped from his seat. "Uh, no thanks, I know full well how you would break one of my arms."
Claude settled with strolling around the gigantic gardens of the palace with his mother. "Have you met any girl you might be interested in?" Tiana asked with a wink. "Maybe, but I mostly manipulate anyone into doing what I want."
Tiana laughed "Come on, Khalid, I know you're not like this!" Claude scoffed "Well, yes, indeed, I may have set my eyes on someone, but I'm keeping this to myself." Tiana smiled innocently "Even if I break your arm?"
Claude smiled back "Especially if you break my arm." Tiana held herself by his yet-to-be broken arm, as they crossed a bridge above a small river. Her smile faded as she asked "How is my father doing?" Claude decided that he shouldn't go the easy way with his mother, as she would make him regret it sooner or later. "I would give him a year at most."
Tiana sighed "I wish I could have seen him before." Claude tried to reassure her "Don't worry, I think he was quite happy when he heard some news of you from me, and he did love me as a grandson." She remained silent, and so did he until they came back inside the palace as the sun went down and the moon rose up.
Claude sang and danced as the night dragged along, getting himself familiar again with the Almyran culture, discussed about his life at the monastery with his half-siblings and step-mothers, and before he knew it, he woke up in his old bed with a complete headache. He waited until the sun went completely up in the sky before he went to the audience room for the reason he came in the first place.
The king was sitting on his throne, as if he had been expecting this very moment to happen before Claude even arrived. "I know you did not come to settle back in Almyra until the war consuming Fodlàn ended. I admit I would have felt ashamed to have such a cowardly son." Claude smiled "You know me well, father, I must ask you to help me to defeat the Adrestrian empire, by lending me troops, and an advisor to guide them."
The king sighed "It pains me to tell you this, but our military strength has gone low over trying to raid Fodlàn, and I am using the rest of my troops to prepare what will follow the opening of the borders of Fodlàn. I can only give you an advisor and fund some mercenaries" Claude was taken aback by this "You don't intend to invade Fodlàn as soon as I open Fodlàn's throat, do you?"
"No, I would never do such thing, but I need to prepare my troops to ensure safe routes towards the Leicester Alliance. The bandits problem has grown consequently since the last five years." The king said in a sad tone.
Claude nodded "I see, but who might that advisor be-" He was cut off by what he could only describe as a roar behind him as he got wrestled by Nader the Undefeated, his old instructor. "I heard you had been talking shit about me, kiddo?! I just come back from beating up both Fila and Almaniin, so you better explain yourself, right now!" He yelled with a full smile on his face.
Nyru raised his voice. "That's enough Nader, or Nardel as you will be now known in Fodlàn. But before you leave, Khalid, I have one last thing to show you. We have captured a small imperial troop resting in a village near the coast. I was going to execute them, but the villagers told the soldiers I sent there that the imperials chased some bandits, and offered them to sleep here as thanks for routing the bandits."
The king continued. "Now, if it really was an imperial incursion, first, there would be more soldiers, second, they wouldn't have cared about civilians in distress. And even then, their leader and his girlfriend seemed rather young, so I thought you might have known them at Garreg Mach."
The king waved at some guards to bring some people, and Claude's jaw dropped as the guards came back with Ferdinand and Dorothea both shackled, who were both visibly stunned in return to see Claude in such a place.
Completely taken by surprise, he had to think very fast of an excuse, but the king did it for him as he spoke in a perfect fodlian "Are they the friends you might have been looking for, Claude Von Riegan?" Claude regained his composure and answered "Indeed, your grace. I saw them fight for the archbishop at Garreg Mach against imperial troops. I thank you for not hurting them too badly."
Nyru then spoke "It is settled then. Nardel shall accompany you back to the Leicester Alliance. We shall provide you with horses for your journey back to Fodlàn. Farewell, young duke." With that, the king rose from his throne, and ordered the guards to free the rest of Ferdinand's troop.
He left without a word after that, and Nader, Ferdinand, Dorothea and Claude went out of the palace to see the Aegir troop ready to leave, along with a few almyran mercenaries. Claude hid the sorrow he felt from the fact he couldn't say goodbye to the family he had just rediscovered from the others.
As they were leaving the Almyran capital, Ferdinand thanked Claude "I am truly grateful you got us out of here, Claude, otherwise, we might have died in Almyra without anyone knowing." Claude smirked in return "What kind of man would I have been to let you both rot there?"
Dorothea took the opportunity to ask Claude for some answers "Why were you having an audience with the almyran king of all people, Claude?" Ferdinand glared at Dorothea, but Claude raised his hand. "I understand your concern Dorothea, I was there only to grab one of house Riegan's oldest servants, Nardel. He's a well known strategist from there."
"You served house Riegan, but then why have you rejoined with Almyra, the direct enemy of the Leicester alliance?" she pushed, but Nader only smiled affably in response "Do you recall the murder of the Kirsten family?"
Ferdinand frowned "Yes, Raphael's parents, who were rich merchants, got murdered along with the heir to the dukedom of Riegan, as they were going to Gloucester territory, but what does that have to do with you, Nardel?"
Nader continued "Well, as an almyran put in charge of the trading routes, I was quickly pointed at as an accomplice, so duke Riegan quickly sent me back to Almyra, where I served the king in various commercial matters. It seems the duke wants me to get back under his service once again, as war is consuming Fodlàn."
Ferdinand became more suspicious "Why would the duke need a commercial specialist as a strategist?"
Nader continued smiling warmly "In time of peace, I wasn't needed as a strategist for the duke, and I clearly wasn't the best strategist in the king's court."
Dorothea smiled "Hmpf, it makes sense. I hope you didn't take offence from us being too suspicious with you." Claude smirked "None taken."
"While we are speaking, could you inform us on what happened in Fodlàn?" Ferdinand asked to Claude. Which he did on their journey back to Fodlàn's throat.
Derdriu, The Lone Moon (March) of year 1181
"Once again, thank you for pulling us out of this situation, Claude" Ferdinand said as he was getting himself ready to leave Derdriu along with Dorothea and the Aegir troop. "Don't worry, as long as you go looking for Dimitri, consider both of you free of any debt to me."
Claude waved them both goodbye as Nader was standing beside him. "You have some suspicious friends, kiddo." Claude sighed "Don't mind them, they have all the reasons to be so. Now come, Nardel, we have business to deal with." Nader followed him as he entered the Riegan mansion "Of course, master Claude."
It was fun to write this chapter, as I love Claude, as the most morally righteous lord of Three Houses, I liked to flesh his family out a bit, as well as naming them. I did so by taking the names of emperor Claudius' family, Nero Claudius Drusus, Germanicus, and Livilla, and translating them into their Arabic consonance (which gives respectively king Nyru, Almaniin, and Fila) except for Awkitaf, which is the Arabic consonance for Octavius. We already knew the name of Claude's mother through his and Balthus' supports.
For Romeoraiden, thank you for reviewing every chapter so far, I'm glad you are enjoying them, especially the little Sothis supplement.
Next chapter: The monastery's last rats