Chapter 4: The Sun Shines Once Again

Summary: Reeling from the Second Battle of Garreg Mach, the various characters around it begin the process of preparing for the future. (Also the story's scope begins to slowly bloom)

Byleth had largely vanished from the students' sight in the days following the Second Battle of Garreg Mach. Manuela, when she returned to the monastery following the battle along with the rest of the church's manpower, had taken up the woman's care.

Her injuries had been grievous, clearly never having healed from whatever ordeal that she had endured over the last five years. Dorothea had seen her a few times, but largely the professor had slipped from the public eye for the moment.

She had spent her time tending to Max, speaking with Petra and the others, and generally keeping her hands busy as she worried about the woman she had spent years mourning, only to have her come back and suddenly vanish once again.

She was clearing out some of the damaged parts of the kitchens, moving away some broken decorative pieces from before to shuffle away into the trash, then hauled the bags of broken plaster and stone over to the door for one of the others to haul away.

The cook called her over to haul in some bags of flour and salt, and she hurried over to do so. Since reaching Garreg, she had taken to wearing riding boots, dark pants and a leather jacket that was fashionable but she admittedly didn't mind if it got ruined by dust or damage from fixing things.

As she hauled the rest of the salt into the kitchens, there was a noise from behind her and she turned to face Claude, who stood in the door frame.

"You look busy." He smiled that winning smirk at her. "If I had ten of you, this place would already be better than it was before the war."

She gave a small laugh, then hauled a bag of flour over her shoulder. "I just want my new home to be clean, not to mention having enough food for us all."

He came over to her to haul a different bad over his shoulder in turn, as well as a big pitcher of brewer's yeast to carry over to the storage area.

"There." Claude sighed after the effort. "Now, I need you to go relax." Dorothea looked at him curiously. "C'mon, I've seen you working your ass off non-stop for days."

"I thought you could use ten of me." She teased.

"True, but I'm going to have zero of you if you work your way into the grave. C'mon, the cooks who aren't putting things away made some food. It's not fine dining, but…"

"Since when have I been one for fine dining?" She smiled, and the pair made their way to the tables where they were served buttered sourdough and local vegetables that had been fried in the same butter. "Thanks, Claude."

"Don't mention it." He smiled, tearing off a piece of his bread. "I am, however, wondering why you're working yourself so hard." She glanced up at him. "I mean it. I don't mind, I mean, I can't get Hilda to work, y'know?"

Dorothea focused on her food, unsure of how to respond.

Claude chewed on a piece of the bread before continuing. "You're not… you're not like Raphael or Ferdinand, you're not trying to prove something or trying to impress us. I think you're working away feelings."

She sighed and nodded. "Yeah. I suppose I am. But those feelings are kind of a private thing, Claude."

"And I get that." He set aside his food, looking at her with attention. "You can keep your secrets if you need to, Dorothea, I just want to make sure that you're not gonna work yourself too hard," He thought a moment. "And I want to make sure you have places to let off steam, okay?"

Dorothea nodded, and went back to her food, chewing thoughtfully. "I am… just worrying myself silly, Claude." She gave a small, short laugh. "You… you didn't see Byleth the way that I did, and that's on top of everything else I have to worry about. I'll feel a lot better when she's up and about."

He picked up his bread and chewed thoughtfully. "You and Teach always were close, huh? Closer than the rest of us, I mean." She nodded. "Tell you what. I think we'd all feel a little better if you and I went to go see Teach. She's in rough shape, I hear, rushing her off into the fight so soon didn't do that any favors, but we'll see if she's awake."

—

Leonie sat in Manuela's infirmary, tapping her finger anxiously against her spear. For five long years, she had carried an enormously heavy burden of shame of knowing how immensely she had failed Jeralt, failed the professor who had fallen to their enemies.

And yet here she laid, Byleth Eisner, alive even if just barely.

It was as if she had a second shot at her own life, at finding some kind of a redemption. The mentor she had placed on a pedestal, idolized and always striven to be like had made her swear to defend his daughter, an oath she had failed.

Officially, Leonie was on guard duty, but the monastery was locked down tight and she found herself sitting in the medical center, watching as Manuela tended to the woman, hoping that there could be some role for her.

Byleth rolled over in her pained half-sleep, groaning as she did so. Manuela hushed her before fixing her bandages.

"How is she?" Leonie asked.

"She's aware, just in a lot of pain." Manuela replied as she worked, not looking over her shoulder. "Dorothea said that she just… stumbled out of some portal like this, I don't know how well her mind is."

"She took part in the battle, at least." She offered.

"True." She remarked. "But she clearly has mental scars as well as all this."

Byleth reached up, putting a hand on Manuela's arm and tried to speak. "Manna…" She sighed, eyes weak. "I…"

Manuella hushed her and focused on healing the rest of her injuries. "Gather your thoughts." She told the woman. "Rest."

Leonie moved over to the professor, taking a good look at her as Byleth began to come about to awareness. "Professor?" She murmured to the woman, whose now-aware eyes looked up to meet her. "Thank the Goddess."

Byleth took a deep breath, putting a hand to her bindings. "Ah…" She sighed. "How long has it been?"

"It's been four days." Manuela informed her, ensuring she was well before standing up. "It's been quite the adventure trying to take care of you, you know."

"Where have you been, professor?" Leonie put in. "Dorothea said she found you like this."

Byleth thought a moment, then shook her head. "It's complicated, Leonie."

That didn't put her fears at rest. "Byleth, I promised Ser Jeralt that I would protect you unto my last dying breath, and finding out that you've been bleeding to death in the gutter for five years… I want to know where you were, and why."

Seeing that Byleth was clearly in no place to give any more answers, Manuela stood up and took Leonie's hand, guiding her away. "Let's go get some more medicine, maybe bring her back some tea. Give her some time to gather herself." She turned to meet Leonie's gaze before she could protest. "She did just come back from death's door."

Understanding now, Leonie headed for the door, only to face Dorothea and Claude coming into the infirmary. The knight began to protest their presence, but Manuela dragged her on out.

"What is with you?" Leonie took her hand away when the door shut behind them. "I am the professor's sworn sword, I need to guard her, I-"

Manuela turned to face her. "Miss Pinelli," She said in her best stern teaching voice. "With all due respect, miss Arnault is one of her closest companions and the woman who saw her first, and Claude is the leader of everyone here. We can take a moment away to let them chit-chat. I promise she'll still be there when we return."

Sighing, Leonie began the trek towards the storage rooms for more medical supplies.

—

"So you were in that… dream-thing all this time?" Claude sat across from Byleth, sounding a little incredulous. "I mean… we all saw that magic go off that took out you and Rhea, but we never saw either of you after that. You suppose Rhea's stuck in one like that?"

Byleth had finally sat up, more aware now. "I don't know." She admitted. "I don' think so. Thales, the mage, I think he wanted her alive, but he just wanted me gone. That's why Solon tried to just banish me from this dimension… I think the dream was an added incentive not to escape."

"Geeze." He put his head in his hand. "What did you dream about, anyway? You said it was pleasant."

Byleth fell silent. "That… is a very private matter, Claude."

He chuckled. "Alright, alright. Keep your secrets." Claude thought a moment. "I need to figure some things out. We've already got the monastery gearing back up, but… we've got to put all these pieces back together." He looked over at his teacher. "You stay here and get better, though. You're not going to be of any use to us until you're healed."

She touched at her bandages. "Right." Byleth then looked over at Dorothea, who had sat there as she listened. "Dorothea, do you mind if we talk privately a moment?"

"Oh," She smiled. "Of course."

"Intriguing." Claude teased. "I'll get out of your hair." He got up and left the room with a smile.

Byleth looked silently over at Dorothea for a brief moment before speaking. "Doro…" Her voice was soft, uncertain. "I know how I escaped. It wasn't about… Rhea, or my power, or…"

She shook her head. "It was you."

"I felt you." Dorothea nodded. "From the road, not even in the village, I… felt your presence. I knew it was you, as clear as a summer sun. I didn't know how to help, but…"

"But you did." She interjected. "You found a way." Dorothea nodded at her. "Dorothea, there is… more to us. A thousand people passed through there, including some of my students, but it was you."

Dorothea thought a moment, a guilty thought thrown back to the woman she had slept in the arms of a mere few days ago. She hadn't expected to find herself torn like this, but suddenly she was faced by someone she real feelings with, someone who she had singlehandedly proved had some strong spiritual connection with her, and…

"I feel it too." Dorothea admitted. "I felt it… before, near graduation, when we danced and met beneath the goddess tower, but…" Byleth met her gaze silently. "You were my professor. I couldn't very well say anything."

Byleth looked down, thinking a moment. "Doro, there's more." She looked up. "My dream was about you." The woman blinked back at her. "I dreamed of loving you, of Jeralt… approving, of us."

"Oh Byleth." She murmured, coming over to hug her. "Jeralt would have approved, were he here, and you know that. I… I don't know what's happening with us, but…" Byleth hugged closer to her, the Ashen Demon shaking gently, breaking Dorothea's heart.

"We'll figure this all out."

—

Ferdinand ran the boar-hair brush along his mount's scraggly hair, washing out the dirt and muck from his mane.

"There we are." He announced to the horse, stepping back. "How are we feeling?" The horse made a pleased noise at him. "Good, good."

He moved over to grab food only to notice that Maxwell and Bernadetta were coming at the back of the stable.

"Good morning!" He called to the two. "Come to ride?"

He could tell that both of them standing there were quite nervous, but Bernadetta nodded. "Yeah." She helped Max forward come over to the horse, who he looked up at with wide eyes. "Maxy wanted to come see them, he says he likes horses."

Maxwell nodded. "I've always loved seeing them, but I never learned how to ride. They're so pretty! What's his name?"

"Lord Highwolf!" Ferdinand grabbed some treats for the horses, shelling some sunflower seeds to hand to Max. "Here, hold out your hand to him."

Max did so and the horse came to eat the shelled seeds out of his hand, making him giggle at the feeling before Ferdinand pulled the boy's hand away when the seeds were gone.

"There," He smiled. "Don't keep your hand open near a horse's mouth once you're out of food, he might not realize you're out."

"Horses eat seeds?" He inquired. "I always thought they ate apples."

Ferdinand knelt down with the boy. "Horses will eat just about anything, but you should feed them grasses and hay first and foremost. They need a healthy diet to grow up to be an effective warrior, just like humans do!"

He flexed his arm and Max laughed. "Can I ride with you?" He asked. "Please?"

"Certainly!" Ferdinand smiled at him and went to go retrieve his saddle and bridle, making Max turn to face Bernadetta.

"Missus Bernie," He wrung his hands. "Will you come with me and Mister Ferdinand?"

For a moment, Bernadetta wanted to say no, to flee back to her room and find a nice quiet book or to hug one of her stuffies… but she relented anyway, determined to face the world she had spent so long fleeing from.

"Of course." She smiled. "I think you should ride with Ferdinand though, he's a much better rider than I am." Max turned and gave off a happy noise as Ferdinand showed him how to attach a horse's equipment.

The door opened behind them and Petra poked her head in. "Ah!" She called, entering fully. "You have been having Maxwell."

Bernadetta nodded at her, stepping aside so she could enter. "That's right, we're taking him off for a ride."

"Probably off to the meadow down by the southern road." Ferdinand called over to her as he helped Max onto his horse. "Promise we won't be long."

"The evening will be on us before too long." Petra noted. "Will you be being back before the sun begins its setting?"

Ferdinand climbed on after Max. "We will." He promised, turning his attention to Bernadetta, who was getting on her own pony's saddle.

Petra nodded her head. "Then I will leave it to you." She turned to the door. "Please be keeping young Maxwell safe on your trip."

As Petra left, the pair rode out towards the gates, and then along the path to the crossroads. It was a gorgeous day today, Ferdinand thought as he rode with one arm and held Maxwell with the other. There were birds singing above them as they turned and rode towards the trees and old buildings of the south.

Ferdinand gave his charge tips on how to ride and stay stable on the horse as they made their way across the countryside. Maxwell was a laughing and joyful boy during the trip, asking the man he rode with all sorts of questions about the world and the mount they shared.

The late-afternoon sun shone honey-colored rays down on them when they reached the meadow at the base of the southern hills. There was a small cluster of now-abandoned buildings here as well as just a gorgeous spot to visit.

Ferdinand helped his charge down, and then climbed after him, adjusting his uniform as he looked around, seeing Bernadetta coming down as well.

"Mister Ferdinand!" Maxwell called to him as he ran to the trees. "It's so pretty out here!"

He smiled and gave a gentle laugh, walking behind the running Max at a leisurely pace. He missed this place, it was true, but he also missed the miller whose home was abandoned, or the butcher who stayed down the road.

Together the three of them went to the small stream that cut through the area, the adults laughing as Max chased some dragonflies.

"This is always such a beautiful spot." Bernie said to her companion as they walked along the stream. "I missed being out here by the monastery."

"House Varley's lands are quite beautiful as well." Ferdinand noted.

"It's not the same." She shook her head. "Here I am… free." Ferdinand looked over at her. "Free from… my family. My past. My future. That's part of what makes it so beautiful."

"The future is ours to claim." He interjected. "It does not need to look purely like our imagination, like how we set it in our heads. We mold it like clay."

Bernie gave a small laugh. "I suppose so." She looked to see Max was still chasing some bugs. "I want a future like this, you know? A beautiful home, a family, c-children…" She stumbled over the last word.

"When the world is safe for such a thing, you will have it as much beauty as you want." Ferdinand promised. "I will fight as hard as I can to give you such things."

Bernie turned bright red. "Y-you're going to give me a child?"

"N-no!" Ferdinand's face fell red as well. "I-I mean to give you a world capable of such things, to build a future free from places like the Empire to grant you such a thing. I…"

They fell into an embarrassed silence, Max's happy playing and the noise of the stream being the only thing to break it. As they neared a small chapel, at the stream's bend, however, there were noises coming from within, making Ferdinand raise a brow.

"There's people here." He noted.

"I didn't know anyone survived down this way." Bernie agreed. "This area's been abandoned, is it a student?"

He put a hand on his chin. "Or maybe Imperials we missed." He stepped over the stream. "Give me a minute."

Ferdinand headed towards the small building, and poked his head in through a window. Inside stood Marianne and Linhardt, something he noted as unusual as he moved for the door.

"-sidered that your crest brings happiness?" Linhardt was speaking to her as Ferdinand stepped inside.

"Happiness?" Marianne cast a glance back to see Ferdinand as he came in. "I-"

"Don't mind me!" Ferdinand put his hands up. "We're taking the kid Doro found on a field trip and heard you two. You know how Claude wants us to make sure there's no Imperial troops or anyone out here, thought it was worth a check."

Linhardt nodded at him. "Thank you. Marianne wanted to find somewhere private to pray, and talk, we found this place."

"Of course." Ferdinand nodded, partially wanting to stay and talk, but he decided against interrupting. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I won't interrupt."

"Ferdinand, wait." Lindhardt called to him, and he stopped. "Settle a debate. Does Marianne… make you happy?"

He turned and raised a brow. He liked Marianne quite a bit, finding her very lovely to be around and quite beautiful but it was an odd question. "I like having her around." He nodded, looking at the woman. "Marianne, you're a very lovely lady who has proved hugely helpful to all of us across the years. I couldn't imagine having this team without you…" He glanced at Linhardt. "I just would rather know what we're talking about."

Linhardt sighed softly. "Mari is convinced that her crest is an endless mire of bad luck and ill-tidings, but I see it differently. We're all incredibly lucky that she's here, that she gets to be in our lives. Like you said, she's incredibly skilled, some of us would be dead without her. And…" He looked at Marianne. "We would all be less without her."

Ferdinand nodded, seeing what he was getting at, trying to convince the woman of her own innate goodness. "Of course!" He smiled. "Mari, you are incredibly kind, gentle, generous and, yes, skilled."

"I-I don't know." Marianne stammered. "My crest has never brought me much of anything, I…"

"Rather than mourning the way things are," Ferdinand suggested. "Is it better not to accept your heritage and move forward?" Mari glanced at him uncertainly. "You curse your situation, reject who you are, but that makes you dearly unhappy. Nothing will change in your misery."

"And do you accept your situation?" Mari asked him.

"Of course!" He smiled that winning smile at her. "Every person has a purpose to fulfill, something that imbues our lives with meaning and direction. Whatever comes my way, I shall what I am meant to accomplish. We all have something like that."

Mari cast her gaze between the two of them. "A-and you two think I have something to accomplish?"

"Yes!" They both called, making Mari blush.

"Your purpose doesn't have to be big in this life," Linhardt picked up. "But you have made everyone in your life happy, and I hope that you see that clearly. Crest, no crest, the part of you that the people of Garreg Mach see makes us happy."

Marianne blushed and looked at her shoes. "I-I… thank you both. You have dearly moved me."

Ferdinand smiled and looked back towards the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me," He stepped towards it. "I am still on a field trip with our young friend."

—

Petra rapped her knuckle against Dorothea's door and was called in. She stepped inside, finding her friend brushing her hair at her vanity.

"Good evening!" She smiled, then winced as she worked out a curl. "Come in."

"My apologies for bothering you, Dorothea." She bowed her head. "I went to go finding Maxwell as you asked of me, but Ferdinand and Bernadetta were taking him horse-riding."

"He'll enjoy that." Her smile grew and she finished fixing her hair as Petra pulled up a nearby chair. "Let's keep an eye out for when they get back, I get the feeling that Edelgard's going to cause us some troubles here."

Petra nodded. "She is most certainly going to do things of such. She has been already sending my grandfather letters asking for Brigid's submission to her Empire."

Dorothea looked over at her. "Are things turning ugly out there?"

"No, Brigid is still just as beautiful as ever."

She chuckled darkly. "I mean do you think Edelgard's going to invade Brigid?"

"Oh!" Petra thought. "I do not know, Dorothea, but I have instructed my grandfather to purchase us as many days as possible before any violence breaks out. With Claude's permission, I have purchased several ships of Almyrian mercenaries and sent them to Brigid."

Dorothea nodded, sitting to face her companion directly. "Do you want to go with them?"

She shook her head. "My presence would be complicating things on Brigid. Edelgard most certainly knows that I have joined the resistance, and if I am spotted there…" She paused a moment. "And I shall not be abandoning my friends."

The songstress smiled at her. "Thank you." She whispered.

Petra smiled back, turning her head slightly. "You have become quite dear to me, Dorothea." The other woman blinked at her. "You are part of my reasoning for staying in Fodlan, I wish to…" She searched for the word. "Be keeping your fire in my life."

Dorothea turned red and felt small pricks of tears begin at the edges of her eyes. "Oh, Petra." She whispered, and reached out to hug the other woman. "I…"

She couldn't find the words. Byleth had much the same confession earlier, the two women she had such a great, driving attraction to, and…

"I am caring deeply for you, Dorothea." Petra smiled.

What was she to do?

Notes:

You can read the Author's Commentary here:

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