AN: I don't own three houses nor Fire emblem, all rights go to Intelligent Systems and Nintendo

It was early morning when Edelgard woke up before the others. She washed and dressed and headed out of her tent, only to be stopped by Hubert, who was waiting for her. The young princess. She stared at him for a moment and nodded. "Good Morning. I see you're already awake."

"I assumed you would be up early, so I thought we might have a walk before we broke camp." Huber murmured to her as he bowed lightly. The white-haired princess nodded and headed for the entrance of the camp, with Hubert following. A guard stopped her, and she explained her purpose of leaving the facilities this early.

"Only around the outer parameter of the camp, your grace." The guard told her, and Edelgard agreed to the request and hurried off with Hubert. Alone on the path around the camp, she pursed her lips in frustration.

"I see last night did not turn out as planned," Hubert softly commented as he listened for the sounds of the surrounding forest. His dark eyes scanning everything for spies or others who might bother them. His voice stayed low and calm, but it was clear he was curious about what had happened. Edelgard could easily tell what he was thinking by this point. The two had known one another since she was three and he was six, and the von Vestra family had served hers' for untold ages.

For Edelgard, Hubert was the one person she could trust and knew was loyal to her and only her. Everyone else was suspect. Ever since she was a child, ever since her uncle's experiments on her, she couldn't trust a damn soul. She hated it, but it was what it was. So, with him asking, she knew he suspected something had changed.

The princess cupped her chin as they walked, thinking as she spoke, "Yes, it did not. But there's something to be gained from it."

"And what is that? I was under the impression that the whole attack was supposed to appear that a random bandit raid had occurred. Unless you have decided to allow them to live?" Hubert looked worried. "You know he won't like that."

"I don't care what he likes or doesn't like." She muttered softly, not wanting to take any chances in case her allies were watching. "This was my decision and mine alone."

"So then, what changed the plan? I saw the heir to House von Riegan running off into the woods, with you and the crown prince following." Hubert paused and walked over to look at a robin in a tree. Edelgard joined him and stared at it as he spoke. "Then you returned with that young woman whom you introduced me to last night. She seemed like an interesting figure."

Edelgard glanced at him for a moment and smiled. "Yes, and there was another person whom I'd also want you to meet."

"Oh?" He raised his brow slightly and kept his eye on the bird. "Are they interesting as well?"

She nodded and sat down on a log. "Yes, very."

Hubert turned to face her. "So then, Lady Edelgard, would you care to inform me of the changes that happened last night? Or do you wish me to guess?"

Edelgard looked up at him and pondered how to put it. The whole night had been one twist after another. Where to even begin? She wondered for a moment and then looked at her hands.

"Hubert, do you believe in fate?"

He stared at her a moment and when he didn't speak; she thought he was probably coming up with the best way to imply that she was being silly. "Never mind the question."

"If you wish, I was merely wondering why you would ask that. But, yes, somewhat." The princess looked up at him as he leaned against the tree across from her to relax slightly.

"Somewhat?"

He nodded.

"Care to enlighten me as to why?"

"There are things in this world that aren't always up to chance. Things that we can't always predict, and things that seem to happen because we need them to," Hubert intoned as he watched her.

"But do you believe meeting someone is pre-destined?" Edelgard asked him seriously.

"Given what we have seen in this world. I cannot simply say no. But I cannot say yes either." Hubert honestly told her. She nodded. It would be hard for someone like Hubert to honestly believe in such things. Yet, she felt certain that they were destined to cross paths with her. What that truly meant, she wasn't sure, but whatever came, she was going to meet it head on.

"Was there a reason for asking such things?" Hubert's voice pulled her back from her own thoughts.

"I suppose it was the fact that the two just so happened to be there at the same time. Both felt…" Edelgard contemplated on the right word, "powerful. But not the same sort. They were both incredibly skilled."

"You still haven't told me what exactly changed." He pointed out to her. They could not spend too much time wandering out there as others could come looking for them and decide to join, leaving their time to plan limited.

"My apologizes Hubert, I'm still trying to gather my thoughts." She crossed her legs and leaned forward towards him as she spoke.

"As we were in the woods, I thought for sure they could complete the task, but Claude seemed to have other ideas. He got us lost in the woods, and they kept up with us."

"The Iron King's bandits?" She nodded as Hubert continued. "And so you made it to Remire village, or at least the old one. And then what?"

"We ran into the Blade breaker."

For once, an expression of surprise came over his normally severe face. Hubert blinked a few times, as if taking this information fully in before speaking. "So then, Jeralt Eisner, the rumored former great knight of the church of Seiros, was in the very village that you escaped to?"

The princess nodded as she stood, and they started their stroll again. "Yes, and his daughter was with him. She is as skilled as he is."

"So then, we have yet another thing to worry about." He closed his eyes, going over various options in his mind. She gently nudged him some and the tall man looked at her.

"You may, or we may not. Alois has invited them both to the Monastery. If we can get them to side with us, then there is less reason to work with the likes of Kostas."

"Indeed." He smiled at her. "It sounds like you're thinking of something already?"

Edelgard nodded. "Yes. I'm hoping to get them both to come join the Black Eagles when they arrive at Garrag Mach."

"I can see your plans." He gave her a pleasant smile. "Very clever of you. So that was why you spent the evening having her meet the other students. You were trying to win her over."

"Yes, and on our travel back with Jeralt, I'll talk to his daughter. I'm sure I can get her to agree to working with us."

The two spent the rest of the morning walk making small talk about the battle that Edelgard fought in. By the time they got back, breakfast was ready, and the two ate with the other Black Eagle students. It wasn't long though before the camp was struck down and the students had departed, leaving the House leaders, Alois and his unit to wait on Jaralt and Byleth. Claude and Dimitri had gotten the commander to allow them to wait for the Blade Breaker, and she had said a farewell to Shez, who had taken up traveling with the students at Sylvain's insistence.

Waiting for the blue-haired girl to arrive was not as long as she expected. The pair came alone without their band and she watched as Alois nearly jumped for joy at seeing the man. I wonder how old they were when they met. Alois is not that old of a man, but he seems almost like a child around Jeralt.

"Come along, all of you, if you please." Alois beckoned to the trio of students and Byleth, to follow.

"Shall we?" Dimitri said to the young woman who joined them, and Edelgard went to her left as Claude joined her on her right, with walking Dimitri alongside Claude. She watched as the morning light glittered through the trees and listened to their conversations as they started off. Alois doing most of the talking and rambling on with his puns. Jeralt, to her observation, seemed more anxious than anything else, and she found it curious. She'd read about his time working at the church and the many feats attributed to him, but that he left after a fire.

He smiled to the men and talked with one of the higher ranked knights along with Alois and, as they walked, Claude slowed down some, forcing the others to follow to keep up. She noticed they had distance now, which meant that could she talk with Byleth. But first she knew she was going to have to compete with gaining her attention from the other two.

"This will be your first time at the monastery." Dimitri commented and Edelgard glanced over at his direction as the girl gave a nod. "I'd be happy to show you around."

"I may take you up on that," Byleth said thoughtfully and Claude sighed lightly.

"It really is Fódlan in a nutshell." He glanced over at her. "The good and the bad."

Edelgard glanced to see the young mercenary furrow her brows at the remark. Now that's intriguing. Was she expecting it to be a place of peace, I wonder?

"Like it or not, we'll be there soon enough." She told the mercenary beside her. Yes, they would be there soon enough and she would have to explain to her uncle why everything failed. She caught a quick glance from Byleth, and it appeared that the mercenary had questions.

"If that's the case, then you weren't too far from the monastery for this camp?"

The imperial princess glanced over. "Yes. This happens every start of the school year. Students take a trip out to the woods nearby. It's far safer in Barnabus woods than in other wooded areas around the school."

"I see." Byleth looked about as they exited the woods and were on the main road. The white-haired girl noticed her staring back at the woods for a moment.

"Thinking of sprinting back there?"

"No, just, I thought I saw someone watching us."

Edelgard glanced over her shoulder and frowned. Could they have sent someone to spy on us? No… It's probably one of Kostas men, seeing where Jeralt and his daughter went to. Nothing to worry about. Just focus on your tasks at hand, Edelgard.

When they got out into the light, Edelgard narrowed her gaze at the gates that opened up the path to the monastery. She watched the zigzagging road as a sign of the crookedness of the very foundation that the church lay upon. She turned to Byleth and motioned with her hand. "There it is… Garrag Mach Monastery."

"It's bigger than I thought it would be." Byleth admitted as they headed up the hill. Edelgard nodded.

"Far older than you would think as well. There's some interesting history to the school; though, you'll have to ask the Librarian for recommended books about it if you're interested."

"The school boasts several interesting areas of study for warriors and knights, magic users and healers." She told the Ashen Demon as they went through the first gate. "Our teachers are the best and were chosen based on their skills, and, as you'll see, each one excels in their specialty field."

"So then it's far more elite than I imagined it to be."

Edelgard nodded. "I hope that you'll come see us while you stay and visit."

As they approached the building, the trio parted ways with the group and headed towards their dorms. She reached out and tapped Dimitri on the shoulder. He turned and looked at her.

"Yes Edelgard?"

"Are you really offering to give her a tour of the school? Don't you think that that should be a duty to one of the other officials?"

"I suppose, yes." He said, and she seemed satisfied, only to be surprised by him when he next spoke. "But I feel that Miss Byleth shouldn't be taken around by someone she doesn't yet know. And having a friendly face might make this more of a relaxing visit. I hope you have a good day, Edelgard."

"You as well Dimitri." She said softly, watching him go. It was curious to her that both Claude and Dimitri were determined to get to know Byleth and Shez this well, and it bothered her. She had to act fast or she would lose her opportunity.

Heading into her room, she sat down and crafted a letter to her father to let him know of the night's events.