Chapter 1: To be a bride (part 1)(Verdant Wind)
A/N: Well, if you can't find a fanfic of one your favorite pairings, I guess you have to make it yourself. I hope is not as cringe as it sounds.
Summary: Hours before Hilda's and Byleth's wedding ceremony, Hilda gets a sense of dread on her professor's decision to marry her, luckily her brother is there to comfort her. slight AU.
"And just a little more"
"Wait! Don't forget the finishing touches"
"I'm not that good with dress-up, sorry I can't help as much."
"No big deal, anything helps Leonie."
"Almost done Hilda, you look amazing!"
Two months after the defeat of the Adrestian Empire at the hands of the coalition forces of the Knights of Seiros and the Alliance and 1 month after the defeat of the reanimated Nemesis, peace finally returned to Fódlan, now the people of Fódlan can put their struggles behind and celebrate the grand wedding between the new King of Fódlan Byleth Eisner, and the sister of the legendary Holst Goneril, Hilda Valentine Goneril.
*Knock knock* "Are you almost ready?" one of the monastery attendants asked.
"Just a few more minutes!" the shortest of the bridesmaids answered.
All the bridesmaids and the mercenary took a step back to let Hilda look at herself in the mirror. The word beautiful fails to describe her appearance, she wore a long white wedding dress that had pink diamond gems embedded in the chest area, gold lines on the frails of the dress, and long bridal gloves, she carried a bouquet of white Anemone flowers. Her pink hair that is normally tied together to make a split pony tail, where now braided up, almost in the same style as Marianne's hair.
"Thank you, I couldn't have done it without you. Marianne, Lysithea, Leonie" Hilda turned to her friends and cracked a smile. Her friends where probably more excited than she was, she was beyond nervous at the moment, the next chapter in her life is about to begin, sure she would of preferred a much more relaxed future, but never less she is overjoyed that she will be spending the rest of her life with the man she fell in love with.
"Fret not Hilda, you are going to be alright" Lysithea reassure her.
Marianne and Leonie nodded in agreement, "That's right, I'm sure the professor m-"
"Hilda?" a man called out to her, he is not that much older than her, yet used a cane and looked like he has seen death ten times over.
"Brother! I'm glad you could make it" she excitedly hugged her older brother.
"I wouldn't miss it even if I get 2 times the food poisoning" He laughed loudly then returned the embrace.
Seeing the events unfold in front of them, they decided to let the siblings have some time alone. "Oh, we will give you some privacy, please excuse us," Leonie then motion the way out.
"Thank you, we greatly appreciate it" Hilda's closest friends left the room.
"Brother how do I look" She spun around showing off her dress.
"Just as beautiful as always" Holst told her with a smile.
"Look at your injuries, shouldn't you be at home recovering?" Holst's army was one of the first fighting force that faced Nemesis, his troops were routed completely but gave Claude and Byleth enough time to organize and strike back. His sacrifice left him crippled.
"He just got lucky, but it's nothing I can't handle" Holst said with complete confidence.
Hilda pulled away mockingly replied, "Geez, even after you sat out the Almyran skirmish?" She set her arms at her hips.
"Oh, come now that was 6 years ago, plus that fight was very different compared to anything the Almyrans' could muster" Holst scoff. "But enough about me, how ironic for you of all people, is going to become the Queen of a united Fódlan." The smile faded from Hilda's face, was she good enough, did the professor make the right choice, was someone as lazy as her worthy of being by his side as a leader of a nation? Tears slowly formed.
"What's wrong" Holst was concern, he has never seen his sister cry before, she was always so cheerful and carefree, nothing brought her spirits down, sure she called herself a delicate flower, but she is one of the strongest women he has ever known. For her to shed tears this had to be something major.
Wiping her tears away with his thumb, he gave her a sincere smile.
"Do not worry yourself dear sister, I am certain that you and the professor are more than qualified enough to lead us into a new age" He hugged her one more time and gave her some words of encouragement. "Now dry does tears for today is a happy one, it should be filled with tears of joy, you do love him correct?" He crossed his arms and pondered deeply.
"Of course I love him, don't be ridiculous" Hilda retorted Holts suspicion. "It's just that… I don't want him to regret choosing me, he probably thinks highly of me and if I let him down..." She loved Byleth, that for sure is not a lie, she loves him so much that she is able to see herself as dead weight, other women are more qualified for this then she ever will be. Feeling that he needed to bring Hilda back from her self-loathing, Holst shared how he felt.
"I remember six years ago when you were still studying at the Officers academy, all of the letters I received from you mentioned your professors name" Holst turned around to face out the window, he saw how the townspeople flooded the cathedral, the church soldiers where having a hard time keeping track of the mases. "I instantly felt that he must be special to you in some way, mostly when you told me how he was able to make you work, I couldn't do that!" He said in a surprised expression, by now, Hilda has calmed down and started laughing as well. "Now, remind me how that meeting at the Goddess Tower went again?" Holst teased his sister. A light blush fell on Hilda's cheeks "You are right, we promised that we will be with each other no matter what."
With that said, she finally looked at the bright side, and dread transformed into excitement. "Miss we are done." Holst called out to the attendant, he then extended his hand, which Hilda gladly accepted, the two walked out. Marianne and the others were waiting outside.
"I'll go on a head" He open the door and entered the next room.
"Hilda are you alright?" Marianne got concern, tear still marked her face, she grabbed her handkerchief, and wiped the marks away.
"I guess it was a good idea to reinforce your make-up with magic huh?" Lysithea said smugly
"Thanks, I really appreciate" Hilda gave an infectious smile, she then pulled all three into a giant group hug.
"Hilda! If you get too rough, you will ruin your dress!" the blue haired gasped.
"Leonie your armor is hurting me" Lysithea protested, being the smallest member had its downsides too.
"Delicate flower my ass" Leonie retorted.
"Sorry, got a little excited there" Hilda beamed. The others laughed it off.
"Shall we? It is almost that time" Leonie told the others.
"You're right, let's go, the goddess will not forgive us if we are late" Marianne as weary as ever. With that said, they departed to the entrance to the grand cathedral.
'Maybe I do have what it takes to be a bride' Hilda thought sweetly, her fears where all for naught and happiness is sure to ensue. "I'll see you soon my dear."
End of part 1
A/N: I know that the personality of Holst is not that well explored in the main game, so a few creative liberties had to be considered (or did I miss out on it?). Grammar and organization still lack in my work, but practice makes perfect right? I still feel that I could have added more, Now, I'm off to replay the golden deer route to better understand their character traits, see ya.