Mako's Message: Not that it needs to be said, but these aren't being posted in the order I wrote them. This happens to be one of the older ones, and one of my favorites. I also didn't know what I was going to title it until about five minute ago. I thought, "I bet 'Edge of Dawn' will inspire me." Twenty seconds in and I had my title.

#5 – Cherished halls and drunken daze...

"It was incredibly irresponsible of you to allow Lady Edelgard to drink like that. I expected better from a Professor."

Byleth's habitually blank expression seemed to show regret, or perhaps even shame, but that might have just been what Hubert expected to see.

"They ownee gave me wht I asskd for."

"I admit I didn't realize how low her tolerance was."

"Isnot yuur fault. I want ted to have fun fur once. Annai did. Ss doent lissen tuh Hubie." There was a pause as Edelgard looked around, "Wait. Wrr are we goin?"

"We are taking you back to your quarters."

"But thh pparrty..."

"I cannot allow you to stay in public in such a state."

"I'm going to have to agree. I'm sure you'd be more upset with us for allowing you to be seen like this, than you will be for missing the rest of the party."

"Damn et. I hate dis. I want to huv fin with yoo all. Ah wunt tuh en-joy schule. But I kent. I hate crests. Ah hate te church.-" Hubert stopped and went rigid. "-Iz all bullshet. It's a sham." Fortunately they were nearly at the door to Edelgard's room and Byleth was able to get her the remaining steps on their own. "Fugz the church," Edelgard drunkenly continued, and as Byleth opened the door she straightened up and turned to face them, raising one finger as if she was gearing up for a long lecture, "Lemmee tell you why-"

"Shh," Byleth said and guided her the final few steps to her bed, "You can tell me later. For now, drink this," they produced a small bottle like you might see in any medicine shop, "And get some sleep."

Edelgard put the bottle to her lips without question and quickly drank the contents, "Bleh! That's terrible."

"I know. My father told me it was intentional, so people wouldn't rely on it."

"Whit is it?"

"Something to help you sleep, and not be hungover in the morning."

"Mmm..." Edelgard seemed to be drifting off already, and she pulled her pillow to her before falling sideways onto the bed and nuzzling into it.

"She wont remember this tomorrow. Not sure if it's a side-effect of the medicine or an intended one, but it does the job quite well." Byleth took the bottle from Edelgard's hands as her breathing slowly shifted to the even pattern of sleep. They looked it over for a moment then, deciding it was worth reusing, put it back in it's pouch. "Now put that rag away before you make me regret giving it back to you. Besides, do you really think there's anything you could have soaked it in that would subdue me fast enough?"

A sudden scuff of leather on stone gave away the sudden stop of Hubert's approach.

"You also can't cast magic precisely enough to not hit your Lady as well. And of course knives are messy. And frankly you're just not strong enough for that either."

They turned as they stood to face Hubert, with a look of mixed rage and fear on his face. "I'd have hoped you'd have realized I'm no enemy of you by now. I'm well aware of how she feels about the Church. When the time comes, I will stand with her."

Byleth walked towards the door and stopped just outside, their hand on the door, "Now why don't we leave her to sleep?"

Hubert turned and, almost back to his normal composure, walked out into the hall. He turned to regard Byleth with intense scrutiny, looking for even the smallest crack in their expression or mannerism that would betray the lie. "Lady Edelgard thinks highly of you. Far higher than she should in my opinion. Should you betray her I assure you my vengeance upon you will be prolonged and agonizing."

Byleth smiled ever so slightly, "I expect nothing less of you."