Mako's Message: "Mako, why are you posting fanfics at four in the morning?" you may be asking. Well, that's because I've lost control of my life.
Anyway, this one is fresh off the press, so to speak. Though it's been one I've been wanting to write for a few months now, after being inspired by another story with a similar setting, but where a storm forces them to stop. I would have liked to added more detail, but it didn't work out with some of the artistic choices I made with this story...so I didn't. Hope you enjoy!

#7 – Last Chances

Edelgard looked over at Byleth, wondering why they had been silent since leaving Enbarr. And also why they sat across from them, opposed to beside them as they had on the way there. They'd been happy to go with her when she asked, but ever since her coronation she'd been… She wanted to say distant but that wasn't really it. They seemed lost in thought. Witnessing your student being crowned Emperor without warning would surely give one a lot to think about. They were nearly at the Adrestian border though, and she'd have hoped they'd have thought about it enough to say something by now. If only they had the time to stop at nice Inn and have a good meal together. Then maybe...

She resisted the urge to sigh as she turned her gaze from her Teacher to the scenery outside, listening to the clopping of the horses hooves on the hard packed dirt road and the rattling of the carriage. The road was rougher than she'd like. Especially considering how important this road was. She'd have to remember to make sure the roads were properly maintained and maybe even rebuild some of them. That wasn't going to be until quite a ways into the future however.

She took a deep breath but did not sigh.

"We still have to cross into Alliance territory before we reach the Monastery grounds, correct?"

Edelgard snapped back around to look at them, ready to say oh so many things, but was silenced by the blank, unblinking, possibly even bored look her Teacher was giving her. "Ah...yes. We will be going that way still."

Byleth made the slightest of, "hm"s and nodded their head before turning to stare out the window in silence again.

Edelgard stared at them in silence, though inside her head she was screaming her frustration into the sky.

0-0-0-0

However much time had passed, Edelgard didn't know. She'd lapsed into a state of obliviousness, that may or may have been broken once or twice by Hubert bringing his horse next to the carriage to give a report from their scout riders and make sure she had everything she needed. Only one thing managed to snap her out of it; Byleth's voice.

"We're about to cross into Alliance Territory."

Edelgard blinked at the statement, not sure she'd really heard it, before turning to see Byleth still staring out the window. "Yes, we are," Edelgard responded, not sure how else to respond. She almost turned back to her own window, not expecting her Teacher to say anything else and wondering what it was about the Alliance that was so interesting to her. But then they spoke again.

"Do you think it would be fair to say that you have no power here? You're the Emperor of Adrestia, not of the Alliance, after all."

Edelgard allowed herself a small frown as she considered what Byleth said, "I...suppose that is true. In that I have no right to make commands or demands to anyone I didn't bring with me from Adrestia."

"Do you think I have any power here? I'm only your Professor after all, and we're not on the monastery grounds."

Though she had no idea where they were going with this, Edelgard wasn't going to let this conversation die, "Well, you are technically here as a representative of the Church to witness my coronation, but there's certainly no one here who'd have any reason to obey anything you told them to do outside of Hubert and I, and even then only if it had relevance to our schooling. Or if I told them to, such as if we were to be attacked by bandits or similar."

Byleth looked to the ceiling of the carriage, "'A representative of the church' hm? So, that would certainly mean I was under no obligation to obey your orders. Wouldn't you say? And being by myself here, I have no way to make you do anything either."

Edelgard blinked and then shook her head, "I have to admit I'm not really following your train of thought. What are you trying to get at?"

Byleth took a deep breath and then released it, "I'm trying to decide if either of us is under the power of the other right now."

"Under the other's power? Why?"

"I have a feeling that things are going to change soon." When Byleth looked back at her, the expressionless mask they always seemed to wear had cracked. There was a pain and sadness in their eyes that nearly took her breath away. But after the brunt of it had washed over her, she could see loneliness, fear, exhaustion, want, and...something she was maybe only wanting to see. But regardless of whether she was reading this torrent of emotion correctly or not, she was sure that her Beloved Teacher could not have bared themselves to her any more if they'd stripped off all their clothes. "With everything that's been happening, and now you taking the throne...I can't shake this feeling that we might not have much time left."

Edelgard's blood chilled at their words, wondering just how much that keen mind of theirs had put together...and how right they were.

Byleth stood and turned to sit on the bench beside Edelgard. "Do you get that feeling?" they asked, taking her hand, "That something is looming just over the horizon? That we might never have a moment like this again?"

Edelgard no longer felt cold.

"Hubert!" she called through the window.

"Yes, Lady Edelgard?"

"I'm tired and would like to rest. Make sure I'm not disturbed."

"Of course my Lady."

She turned back to Byleth and said, "I too worry that we might not have much time left," while covering their hand in hers, "And, if you think we should make the most of this moment we have, then I fully agree." Byleth closed their eyes and leaned forward, almost touching their forehead to hers, and Edelgard, struggling to keep her breath, kissed them.

0-0-0-0

Edelgard and Byleth lay together across the bench of the carriage, knowing they were nearing the monastery. That soon their time together was going to end. When the familiar sounds and smells of Garreg Mach reached them they separated and made themselves presentable. Only a few minutes after they were satisfied did the carriage come to a stop. Edelgard was the one to open the door and step out. Hubert stood waiting for her, and once Byleth stepped out as well sent the carriage away.

Byleth's face was once again a barely readable mask as they appraoched them, "Edelagrd, Hubert. It was an honor to bear witness to the coronation of the new Adrestian Emperor. Edelgard has already asked me to make no mention of her new status until it can be formally announced. On that note, classes will be held as usual tomorrow morning, so be sure to get some rest. The Goddess knows I couldn't, unlike Edelgard here. Something about the rattling just wouldn't let me find any peace. Good night.

Hubert watched them go before saying, "Have you determined if they will walk your path?"

Without a change of expression she said, "I fully believe that they wish to, but I suspect the Professor will not be with us for much longer.