Now for my take on The Promise, one that will differ greatly from the in-game versions.
Oh, and a brief mention of a character who I've totally forgotten to have in the story by now.
Chapter 84 – Promise of Reunion (Ethereal Moon)
It was the 24th of the Ethereal Moon, the night before the ball. But it was also the eve of the anniversary of the Founding of Garreg Mach Monastery. And as was the custom for hundreds of years, that meant a great feast was held in the dining hall, one that everyone was encouraged to be a part of.
From where she sat, Dorothea could see everyone else enjoying themselves. All three hosues were seated together, with several of the dining tables lined up and loaded with food. And, just as she had expected, it was little short of utter chaos.
Raphael was easily consuming the largest amount of food out of the first-year students, so much so that the others were trying to get him to slow down, especially Lorenz.
"Mmm! Dish ish sho good!" Raphael said as bits of food fell from his mouth.
"Raphael, must you have such slovenly table manners?" said Lorenz. "At least take the time to chew before you speak."
"Oh, lighten up, Lorenz," said Leonie as she bumped him with her elbow. "You know how Raphael gets when he's got this much food before him."
Raphael stopped for a second, and actually took the moment to swallow before he said, "Oh, sorry guys. I just realized I had all this stuff here and thought maybe you wanted some."
"I am more than satisfied with my own portion, Raphael," said Lorenz.
"You call that a portion?" said Leonie, gesturing to the small amounts of food on Lorenz's plate. "Pass some of that beef over, Raphael."
As Raphael handed his plate of meat over to Leonie, Lorenz said, "Leonie, you know I detest–"
The Sauin hunter ignored him and scooped several slices of beef onto the violet-haired noble's plate, which earned a loud groan from Lorenz.
As she let out a smile at seeing Lorenz, Dorothea saw Annette was trying to get Felix to accept a serving of spicy fish, but it looked as though Felix didn't want to accept it when others were looking.
"Come on, Felix," said Annette. "I worked really hard on this."
"Wait, you made it?" Felix asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I know you like spicy stuff! And I really wanted to make something you'd like. So, please?"
Felix paused for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Alright, alright, you win," he said as he accepted the plate of spicy fish.
Dorothea had to snicker at this. Felix could never really say 'no' to Annette for long.
Continuing her look around the dining hall, Dorothea saw Caspar ignoring Linhardt as the sleepy healer tried to get the bruiser to eat at a slower pace. But as he tried to swallow another serving of meat, Caspar made a brief choking sound before grabbing a glass of water and chugging it down, followed by the teal-haired boy gasping for breath.
"I told you not to eat so fast," said Linhardt.
"I-I'm fine, Linhardt!" Caspar coughed, trying to look like nothing had gone wrong.
"Caspar, there's no need to rush," Hilda said as she sat across from him. "There's still plenty left to go around."
A loud laugh from Constance made Dorothea flinch as she turned to listen to the blonde sorceress as she spoke with Edelgard. Hubert had apparently just chased off one of the second-year boys as he tried to ask Edelgard out to the ball.
"He actually thought himself worthy of being your partner in dance, Lady Edelgard?" Constance said snidely.
Edelgard said nothing to this, looking at Constance with some exasperation.
Dorothea decided to look elsewhere and found herself watching as Ignatz was approached by Flayn.
"Ignatz, might I have a word?" asked Flayn.
"Oh, what is it, Flayn?" Ignatz said in surprise.
"I have… not yet found a partner for the ball tomorrow. My brother has been frightening off anyone who has wanted to ask me to accompany them. But I still want to go with someone."
"Is that so? Well, I haven't found anyone to go with myself, either."
"Then, would you perhaps be willing to be my partner to the ball?"
"M-Me? But what would Seteth say?"
"Please, Ignatz? You may be my last hope at having a partner to the ball!"
"I… um… well, if that's the case, then I suppose I…"
"You'll go with me? Oh, wonderful! Thank you so much, Ignatz!"
"W-Wait, I–"
Dorothea decided to quickly look around for Seteth. She saw him off at the side of the dining hall, and he had clearly noticed Flayn had asked Ignatz out. Ignatz saw him looking at him and nearly panicked at the advisor's stern countenance. Seteth took a step forward before Anna stretched a hand in front of him, stopping his advance. The redhead had been invited to the feast by Byleth and was currently taking a break from her meal.
"Being a bit too overprotective there, Seteth," said Anna.
"I merely wish to make it clear to Ignatz that–"
"Jeez, lighten up a little, would you? She'll be fine with him, okay? Have a little faith. Besides, you're gonna scare the kid to death with that look."
Seteth wanted to protest, but he realized Anna wasn't going to let him pass. He let out a defeated sigh as he shook his head.
It was then that a familiar suave voice said to Dorothea, "Awfully lively here today, isn't it?"
Gasping in surprise, Dorothea whipped around with an irate expression as she looked at Yuri.
"What are you doing here, Yuri?" said Dorothea as she did her best not to look too spiteful in public.
"You sound like I wasn't invited here," said Yuri. "Well, turns out I was." Then, after Dorothea scowled at him, he said, "Still mad at me, I see. I get it. But just so we're clear, I'm not here to cause trouble. And I also wanted to ask you if there's anything I can do to make up for what I did to you. Maybe something like… being your dance partner at the ball?"
Dorothea couldn't help but let out a hearty "Ha!" at this. "You think you're so clever, Yuri, but that's one game I'm not playing with you. If you want my forgiveness, you have to do something for me."
"And… what would that be?"
Dorothea smiled at this, seeing the apprehension in Yuri's eyes, despite his attempts to hide it.
"You are going to ask out a friend of mine to the dance."
Yuri couldn't keep his confusion hidden at this point.
Dorothea then stood up, took Yuri by the arm, and said, "Follow me."
She then led him through the dining hall, catching a glimpse of Dimitri having a conversation with a smiling Marianne. Claude was also telling Petra an elaborate story that was probably untrue, but Petra seemed to be buying into it all the same.
Dorothea and Yuri soon stopped in the far corner of the dining hall, where Bernadetta was sitting alone.
"Hello, Bern," Dorothea said sweetly.
"Ah! Oh, Dorothea, don't scare me like that," Bernadetta squeaked. "I– wait, why is Yuri with you?"
"Yuri wanted to ask you something. Go ahead, Yuri."
Despite being more-or-less coerced into it, Yuri smiled as he took a seat across from Bernadetta.
"I hear you haven't got anyone going to the ball with you, Bernadetta," said Yuri.
"No, I don't," said Bernadetta. "I wasn't even planning to go."
"Oh, don't go making that mistake. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. If you miss out on it, you'll eventually regret it. So, on that note, I'll make this simple: You wanna go to the ball with me?"
"W-W-What?! To the ball? With YOU?!"
"Bern, Yuri's right," said Dorothea. "If you were to sit out of the ball, you'd regret it for your whole life. And Yuri's willing to go with you. Come on, Bern, it'll be fun."
"I… umm… I g-guess I could go if… if it's with you… Yuri…"
"Excellent," said Yuri. "So, tomorrow at sundown, then? Good."
"W-Wait! Let me give it some thought!"
But it was already too late. Dorothea and Yuri had chosen then to step away from Bernadetta as the purple-haired girl fidgeted in confusion.
"So, does that mean I'm off the hook with you?" Yuri asked in a sly tone.
"It's a start," said Dorothea. "And you had better not make her sad tomorrow evening, or I'll make sure you regret it."
Dorothea walked away from Yuri as Balthus and Hapi called him over. The singer made her way back toward her seat at the table and saw, to her surprise, that Byleth had arrived and was seated next to Dorothea's spot. The teacher had been called away by Rhea nearly an hour ago, so Dorothea had worried that she wasn't going to come back for the rest of dinner.
"Professor, you're back!" said Dorothea as she took her seat.
"I'm sorry I took so long," said Byleth. "Rhea had a lot to discuss."
With an understanding smile, Dorothea and Byleth turned back to watch the others as they continued their feast. Lysithea was smiling blissfully as Mercedes brought more dessert to her. Ingrid was letting out a sigh as she sat next to Sylvain while he tried to flirt with a pair of second-year girls, both who snubbed his advances. Ashe was now trying to help Linhardt in making Caspar slow down his meal while Hilda laughed at Caspar's antics. Ferdinand was now proclaiming how he would be the best dancer at the ball before an exasperated Edelgard and a perturbed Constance. At the Knights' table, Catherine again let out a loud yelp as Shamir stomped on her foot after the swordswoman had grabbed her rear. Cyril was quick to scold Catherine afterwards, leading to Alois chuckling at Catherine's antics.
Dorothea then noticed Byleth smiling at what she saw. Tables full of students, teachers, and Knights all enjoying themselves and each other's company.
It was then that Dorothea made her move, something she had been thinking about for the past few days.
She rose to her feet and, taking a fork, began to tap it against her glass of water. The resulting chime could be heard throughout the dining hall.
"Everyone? Can I have everyone's attention, please?" Dorothea said loudly.
Everyone in the dining hall turned to look at the brunette as she began her speech.
"I just wanted to say that… it's been nearly a whole year since I began attending at the Officer's Academy. And while this year hasn't been perfect, and… has been with its ups and downs, I feel we are so blessed to have met so many wonderful people here at the monastery. People from the Adrestian Empire, the Kingdom of Faerghus, and the Leicester Alliance, all under one roof. We've all come such a long way since we first started here nearly one year ago. Now, tomorrow is going to be the 995th anniversary of Garreg Mach Monastery. A big event, to be sure, but… Five years from today is going to be the millennium festival for the monastery. The 1000th anniversary of its founding. I'm sure it'll be like nothing else the people of Fódlan have ever seen."
Dorothea took a short moment to pause as she looked at the others. The singer had their full attention, and they were eager to hear what she had to say next.
"So, I was thinking… that on that day, five years from now, we should all return here for one big reunion!"
This caused quite the stir among those present in the dining hall, but it was clear the others liked the idea.
Continuing her speech, Dorothea said, "I know some of you will be busy with new work and that some of you will be taking thrones and all, but it would really mean the world to me– um, to us, to all of us, if you were to show up on that day. You, my dear friends from the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer, and Ashen Wolves. And of course, you, our dear Professor Byleth!"
In surprise, Byleth said, "M-Me?"
"Of course, Professor! It wouldn't be a stretch to say that you're the heart of our first-year semester here at Garreg Mach. It just won't be the same if you're not there. Am I right?"
This was met with the others unanimously agreeing with Dorothea.
"You see, Professor? So, will you make it a promise?"
Byleth hesitated for a second, and then smiled as she said, "It's a promise, Dorothea."
"I must say, that's awfully impetuous of you, Dorothea," said Claude. "Perhaps irresponsible. Almost certainly impossible. But if Teach is going to show up, then I'll have to be there too, won't I?"
"Indeed," said Dimitri. "Although, by that time, I will surely be king, so I may not have the luxury to come at such a time."
"Oh, don't say that, Dimitri!" said Annette. "You've just gotta come!"
"I know you'll be busy by then, but it's a bit early to be backing out, don't you think?" said Mercedes.
"As the new leader of the Alliance, I will certainly have the occasion to attend and pay my respects to Lady Rhea," said Lorenz.
"That almost certainly will not transpire," said Lysithea.
"I will be giving my all to attending our rejoining," said Petra. "You will be seeing how much growing I have done."
Sylvain was about to say something perverted regarding Petra's wording but stopped when Ingrid glared at him.
"It would certainly be interesting to see how much you will have improved by then, Dorothea. As well as you, Professor Eisner," said Felix.
"You can count on me being there!" said Anna. "I'll have a bunch of new stuff to sell by then!"
The others began voicing their own desire to return to the monastery for the reunion. Dorothea's face beamed with a joyous smile.
But then she realized someone wasn't joining in on the promise.
"Thank you, thank you, everyone!" the singer said to the crowd. "I'm so glad you're all agreeing to this!" Then, turning to Edelgard, she said, "Of course, it won't be a big reunion without our yet-to-be-crowned Emperor, will it?"
Edelgard had to fight not to flinch at this, and she was thankful no one noticed her.
"You'll be here when the time comes, right Edie?"
"I…" Edelgard paused before she said, "Who knows where each of us will be in five years' time… or who we will become."
"Edie, you're saying that as if you won't be here. But you'll be coming, won't you?"
The others eagerly awaited Edelgard's answer as she took another pause.
"I will… endeavor to be here, Dorothea."
Dorothea seemed to accept this answer, much to Edelgard's relief.
"So, it's settled!" said Dorothea. "We'll all be here five years from now, no matter what!" The singer then turned to Byleth and said warmly, "No matter what, Professor Byleth, I'll be here on that day."
…
The following morning was a nearly perfect winter day. The sun was out, the temperature was just right, and the workers at Garreg Mach were busy preparing the main hall for the festivities that would come that night.
Dorothea watched with amusement as Annette and Mercedes went to gather the first-year girls to get their makeup and dresses ready. She knew it was going to take those two all day, especially since they now had to get Bernadetta all prettied up for Yuri.
The singer was going to join them soon, but first she had something she wanted to do. An idea that had been given to her by the Gatekeeper.
The singer made her way to Byleth's room with a letter in her hand. She knocked on the door, planning to leave the letter in plain sight without the teacher seeing her.
There was no answer. Nothing could be heard from within the room.
Dorothea knocked again, and again there was no answer.
Realizing Byleth had to be out, Dorothea slipped the letter between the door, leaving more than enough outside for someone to see it. Then, taking a moment to make sure Byleth wasn't around to see this, the singer ran off to go help the other girls prepare for the ball.
But as she got out of eyesight of the letter, a small gust of wind knocked it loose from the door, making it fall to the ground.
Then, as if on cue, a limber ball of hair in the form of a Riegan Tabby darted up to the letter, took it in its teeth, and let out a muffled "Reow~" as it scurried away with its prize.
I'm so sorry I haven't had any Gatekeeper appearances. I know he's the best boy, but I just can't write him in without it feeling super forced. :(
I know I'm still putting off the romantic stuff between Byleth and Dorothea, but I have to make sure the timing is right. We all know how teacher/student romances can be seen as dicey. I guarantee, however, that there'll be a moment when we get to the Goddess Tower event.