Chapter Four: The Skirmish at Dawn

Author's notes:

A mix of Byleth's and Dimitri's point of view. I hope you enjoy my take on the Skirmish battle. I do enjoy a good fight scene.

Eclipse-Ix7: Thank you very much! I hope you will enjoy this chapter.

The group hid themselves behind the stoney gates of the village's entrance, watching as figures beyond the clearing moved in the cover of the treeline. Dimitri gripped his lance and was about to take a step forward onto the battlefield when the young woman's hand flew out in front of him, halting him in mid-step. With a slight frown, Dimitri peered towards her.

"Don't worry son," The warrior's voice remarked calmly, before clarifying, "She's reading the battlefield. Give her a moment."

Dimitri looked back at the young woman and realized in the moonlight, that she was thoroughly scanning the field, her dark blue eyes analyzing every part of the battlefield until she dropped her hand.

The young woman looked over her shoulder and silently indicated to Claude to hit the first target, a scout sent ahead of the bandit group. The lone figure was quietly edging closer to the village and was now in perfect range for the Golden Deer leader. 'Twang' strummed Claude's bowstring, followed by a dull 'thunk' as it struck the scout in the upper left shoulder. Before the man could scream in pain at the arrow protruding from his body, Byleth was upon him with a finishing slice across the neck. Dimitri hadn't even noticed her creep forward while Claude had been taking aim.

Only a soft gurgle escaped from the bandit as he crumpled to the ground. Byleth looked down upon the now lifeless body, a face contorted in anguish met her gaze. She quickly looked away and moved onwards. At least his suffering was not prolonged...

With a wave, she indicated for the three leaders to follow her while giving her father a knowing nod. The warrior took off in full gallop in the opposite direction while the group crouched quietly. Dimitri was at a loss as to why the young woman directed the warrior to ride off away from them. Surely they could have utilized his skill and cavalry prowess. But another wave of the young woman's hand brought back the prince's thoughts to the present as they stealthily advanced forward from bush to bush.

Byleth held out her hand to halt their movement, ahead were three bandits chatting and watching Jeralt take off with his horse. "Should we go after him?" "It's just one merc and it's not the kids, we have our orders." "Yeah, but why is he going that way?" They continued to chat away in confusion and it finally dawned on Dimitri, the bandits were completely distracted and unaware that four bodies in the shadows were readying to pounce.

Quickly and efficiently, Byleth leapt out of the bush first, her sword held up high before bringing it down in a powerful diagonal arc, slicing the bandit's torso. She then quickly crouched down and flung her hand forward in a signal. 'Twang - Thunk!' Again Claude let his arrow fly, this time finishing the bandit off with a clean shot right into the heart.

Edelgard and Dimitri followed suit. While the other bandits were taken aback at the young woman's sudden appearance and an arrow seemingly coming from another hidden attacker, the two other students unleashed their own styles of attack. Edelgard, with a graceful yet strong slash of her axe and Dimitri, with a swift and powerful lunge with his lance. Each crouched back down into the cover of the bushes while Claude took two more shots to finish off the bandits.

Checking that it was safe, Byleth indicated for them the exit into a small clearing. Claude made a low whistle as he emerged from the bushes. "It's because of you guys that I'm not dead right now. Thanks for that!" The young man remarked happily as he stretched his arms upon his bow. Byleth turned to stare blankly at the young man. "Ugh, well I didn't expect to run into mercenaries like you in some remote village. The gods of fortune must be smiling on me!" Claude added with a thumbs up.

"Ignore him," Dimitri sighed as he plucked lingering leaves off his cloak.

"How rude of you to say such a thing to our new acquaintance," Claude gasped, then place his hand upon his chest. "You wound me, Dimitri," the Golden Deer leader feigned a pained expression.

"Serves you right for abandoning us on the battlefield," Dimitri retorted, then raised a brow as if to challenge Claude to state otherwise.

"You mean my strategic exit, that you and Edelgard ruined by following," the Golden Deer leader sniffed with pretend annoyance.

Byleth turned away from the bickering young men and proceeded forward, with Edelgard quickly following after her. "You have a strange aura about you," the Black Eagles leader remarked as she walked alongside the young woman. "And your tactics on the battlefield are truly impressive," she continued. "The Empire could use a talented person such as yourself."

Byleth halted and peered inquisitively over at the young woman's sudden proposal. At first Edelgard had felt quite confident as she spoke to the young mercenary, but now, under the full weight of the young woman's appraising gaze, Edelgard felt her cheeks slightly flush.

"Hey Edelgard, no keeping our fearless mercenary all to yourself!" Claude remarked mischievously, causing the Black Eagles leader to quickly turn away. "Wait a minute...were you blushing! Come on let me see. I never would have thought it possible from you!" Claude continued. This time Dimitri could not hold back and rolled his eyeballs in exasperation. "Really now Claude, you are both tactless in battle and in manners," Edelgard smited back at him.

Unaware by the group, the bandit leader Kostas watched the events unfold as he gripped his axe in frustration. "Damn. Why are there mercenaries in the village?" He gritted his teeth. There were at least two independent mercenaries out on the field from what Kostas could deduce from his vantage point. One mercenary was a cavalryman and was currently finishing off Kostas flanking unit. The second merc was protecting the brats. "Guess we'll have to deal with them too."

As Claude and Edelgard continued to trade sharp barbs, Dimitri found himself alone with the young woman. "Thank you," he remarked sincerely to her. "We are in your debt. It wouldn't do for us to fall in a place like this," the prince added, feeling the bitterness for those whom they had cut down.

Byleth turned to look up at him, her expression softened by the moonlight and again it seemed like this was all a dream for her. She blinked and gently nodded, "The battlefield is a poor resting place. But, now that you have our strength, we shall ensure no harm befalls you." There something alight within her eyes, like an eternal flame hidden within. Dimitri...well...he practically felt inspired. She was so calm and collected, yet had a fierce confidence in her abilities. "Yes, let's work together to drive out these thieves!" The prince remarked with a surge of renewed energy as he raised his lance into the air.

"ARRRGHHH! I'm gonna kill you where you stand!" Roared the bandit leader as he ploughed through the brush in a head on attack. 'Damnit!' Byleth cursed as she whipped around in time to see that not only did the hulking figure brandish a savagely large axe, but was making a mad dash right at the young man, whom she had just swore to protect.

"No!" Byleth roared as she pushed Dimitri aside...and took his place.

More rambling notes from the Author:

So, took the liberty of changing out Edelgard for Dimitri for the cutscene.

I feel that Byleth is a bit of a challenge to write as per the gameplay, she doesn't display emotions, at least early on. I've always given my characters very descriptive and emotional responses so it does present me with a perfect opportunity to hone my writing skills. Did you notice that everyone seems to think Byleth just stares blankly back at them, while Dimitri feels that she has more of a daydreamer affect?

(DISCLAIMER) I do not own nor claim to own any of the Fire Emblem Franchise and Ninetendo's work. It is from the team's own brilliance…my additions are from my own madness.