The Game of Three Generals
by Lady Norbert
A/N: Sorry about that punch in the stomach that chapter nine delivered to everybody!
There is a new piece of art for this series, which you can view on my LiveJournal (the name is the same as this account, and the post is public). It's Roy and Riza in the opening chapter of Brilliancy, where Riza's making the potato soup. It's really sweet!
This chapter is dedicated to Lou Nebin, who provided this story with its one hundredth review. Thank you all so much for all the feedback!
Chapter Ten: Perpetual Check
Perpetual Check: The act of repeatedly checking one's opponent. This is illegal in shogi.
Riza isn't sleeping much, which is perhaps to be expected under the circumstances.
Edward and Havoc and Becky all came to break the news to her. She and Winry were sitting in the garden, watching Black Hayate investigate the buds that will eventually turn into flowers, when they arrived. By their faces, Riza had known something was wrong, and she stood to face it. It was Havoc who put his arms around her, made sure he had a firm grip on her, before relating the terrible news.
Roy is in prison.
They believe he killed Fuhrer Grandfather.
"You don't believe it, do you?" Becky had asked her, once she'd recovered (as much as she could recover) from the blow.
"Of course not. Roy was with me when the explosion happened - I was sick. He wouldn't let me go to the restroom alone, and he was late to the meeting with Grandfather as a result."
"So that's it then!" said Havoc brightly. "You'll tell them that, and there's his alibi." But Riza shook her head.
"Remember when Maria Ross was arrested for Hughes' murder? Her alibi was that she was at her parents' house at the time he was shot. But they couldn't testify on her behalf. Family members aren't allowed. And since no one else can verify that Roy was with me when it happened..."
"...oh, damn."
"Don't they just have to prove that he's guilty, though?" asked Edward. "I mean, how can they prove he's guilty of a crime he didn't commit?"
"Let's hope they can't. It all depends on how far into Central Command the enemy has gotten his influence."
The day after Roy's arrest, Riza goes to the cemetery.
Breda accompanies her to Hughes' grave, where she puts down a bouquet of flowers and contemplates the stone. "I found Roy here, the night before the Promised Day," she remarks, apropos of nothing. "I'm not sure what he was doing exactly. Maybe warning Hughes that there was a chance they might be meeting soon."
"So that's where you two went. Fuery and I did wonder," Breda admits.
"I just had a feeling this was where he'd gone."
"Not surprised that you'd be able to figure it out."
"Heymans," she says, and she knows that this will tip him off that she's really hurting because she never uses their first names. "What if this isn't Acheron at all? What if it's something else entirely? How many enemies do we have?"
He looks at her hands, which have instinctively moved to cover the small swell of her abdomen, and then back at her face. "We'll find out as best we can, Ladyhawk," he replies. "And however many there are, we'll take them on. Take them on and take them down."
She looks at him, then, and smiles sadly. "I don't know what we'd do without all of you."
"We don't plan to let you find out, either."
Two days after Roy's arrest, the world is on fire.
At least, that's how it feels.
The newspaper cranks out extra editions to report on the carnage. The nearly-completed glass factory in Ishval - the one which was Roy's idea, the one he'd almost worn himself to exhaustion trying to bring into reality - has been firebombed in the night. No one knows who has done it (though at least this they can't reasonably blame on the Flame Alchemist, given his location) but the executive decision is made by the standing members of High Command to increase military presence in the area. Douglas is dispatched back to Ishval Command almost immediately, along with Armstrong, Brosh, and Ross.
Three days after Roy's arrest, news comes in that Drachma is assaulting Briggs.
This by itself isn't such a big deal. Drachma assaults Briggs approximately once every six weeks. It's become something of a recurring joke, really. The Drachman soldiers make a formation, throw snowballs at the Northern Wall, both sides make a few rude gestures, and they call it a day. It's practically a tradition at this point. But coming on the heels of the Ishvalan situation, it's treated more seriously than it otherwise would be.
"They're making us go to Briggs!" Becky shrieks when the orders are handed down.
"All of you?" Riza's stomach lurches in a way that, for once, she's pretty certain has nothing to do with the baby.
"All of us," Havoc confirms, looking mournful. "With Douglas in Ishval..."
"...my entire security detail is gone."
"Can't we get someone to countermand the order? Lieutenant General Armstrong, maybe?" asks Fuery.
"She can't override the entire High Command, even if she does technically outrank most of them," Breda replies gloomily. "The best we can do is go and hope it doesn't last long."
"We could try to appeal to her, I guess, depending on what we find when we get to Briggs," Havoc muses. "If it's not as serious as they're trying to make it sound, maybe she'll relent - for Ladyhawk's sake, at least."
"When do you leave?" Riza asks.
"This afternoon."
Edward and Winry accompany her to the station to see the others off. She thanks any higher power that happens to be listening that they, at least, can't be reassigned anywhere. Becky's embrace is tight and more than a little watery. "You take care of yourself," she admonishes.
"You too. And look after my men."
"Somebody has to!"
Riza smiles, then turns to address the three grown men who are shuffling their feet and fidgeting like teenaged boys. "Men... you have your orders. I expect you to fulfill them with the same diligence and loyalty you have always shown to the General and me."
Their heels click, and their arms fly up in uniform salutes. "Ma'am! Yes, ma'am!"
"You are three of the finest soldiers ever to serve under the Amestrian banner," she all but barks with her old customary sharpness. "It has been a privilege to serve alongside each of you. Protect each other, as you've always done. And... and..." Damn hormones. She struggles not to wilt.
"And come back as soon as you can," she just manages to say. The tears are threatening.
"Ah, geez, Lady..."
"Don't do that..."
"We'll be fine! We'll be back before you know it!"
"Blame the kid," she mutters. "You know I wouldn't be acting like this otherwise."
"Hey, now, that's our prince you're talking about."
"I kind of think it's a princess, myself."
"You care to make a little wager on that?"
"You know it."
"Fifty cenz says it's a boy."
"I'll take that bet."
"I'll wait and see how Falman bets, since he never loses."
Becky coughs, and when they look over, she jerks her head in Riza's direction. Riza's tears are still there, but they're prompted more by laughter than anything else.
"You three," she says, shaking her head. "Please promise me you won't ever change."
Their expressions melt from surprise and slight mischief into something softer. Finally, hearing the train whistle, it's Fuery who breaks the silence. "Permission to hug, ma'am?" he asks shyly.
"Granted."
She can't count how many arms are tangled in this embrace; it's distinctly possible that Winry and even Ed have joined in it. All she knows is that as it ends, as the queen's men board the train and it pulls out of Central Station, the queen herself feels a chill like nothing she has ever known.
Ed and Winry talk at great length. If they weren't parents themselves, there'd be no question about how they would handle matters. But they have a little boy, and they've spent a lot of time away from Lucas already on Roy and Riza's account, so it's a bit of a tricky decision. Neither of them wants to leave Riza in her present state, and although she feels guilty, she's also intensely grateful.
On the morning of the fourth day of Roy's incarceration, General Piper pays Riza a visit.
"I'm really sorry for everything that's happened, Colonel," he says. He has a nice, gentle voice, suitable for consoling a troubled woman.
"General, I can vouch for my husband's whereabouts at the moment of the blast. Doesn't that count for anything?"
"I wish it did. Can anyone else vouch for your whereabouts?"
"Not...not really. We passed a number of soldiers in the halls, but I don't know who any of them were. Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong found us maybe ten minutes after the explosion."
"That unfortunately creates a window, which creates a chance for doubt. I'll mention it to your husband's defense attorney, though."
"Can I see him?"
"He's not allowed visitors below the rank of General, I'm afraid. Meanwhile, I understand your security detail has been disbanded."
"Yes. But the Fullmetal Alchemist has very kindly agreed to assist in that capacity." Riza thinks she sees where this is going.
She doesn't. In fact, what he says takes her completely by surprise. "We have guards posted around the Fuhrer's mansion at all hours, of course, and we'll be stepping up that detail. But in light of your current situation, the High Command has decided that you should be placed in protective custody."
"Excuse me?"
"You're to be confined here to the house for the duration of the trial. It's for your own safety, ma'am, I'm sorry."
"Am I allowed to refuse?" she asks dryly.
He smiles apologetically. "I wish I could say yes. I know you value your independence."
"That's putting it mildly."
"You're still the First Lady, or First Lady presumptive if you prefer, and you're pregnant with the Acting Fuhrer's child. And with what's happened to your husband, and the subsequent shake-ups in national security, you could be a target for abduction or worse. For your sake - for the sake of your child - this is a regrettably necessary step."
The worst part is that Riza can fully appreciate the logic. He's right. She doesn't know if he's really to be trusted, but he's right. "I'll concede to this situation on one condition," she says.
"Ma'am?"
"The Elrics are my houseguests. I want it understood that they may come and go as they please, and are not to be hindered."
"Edward Elric is still technically considered a state alchemist, even though he's no longer able to perform alchemy. He is, therefore, a member of the military and no one would impede him. As for Mrs. Elric, I can't imagine anyone having any objection to her movements."
"Thank you for that."
"I will personally bring you news every day of what happens at the trial, if you like," he adds.
"The Fullmetal Alchemist is planning to attend the trial in my stead, so I'll already have a daily report." He flinches just slightly, and she relents. "But if you'd be so kind as to keep me informed about the situations in Ishval and Briggs, I'd certainly appreciate that."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm happy to do anything I can to help. I sincerely wish there were more I could do."
"Do you think we can trust him?" Riza asks Ed after the General takes his leave.
His golden eyes are dark. "Right now, Hawkeye, I don't trust anybody in this entire city whose name isn't Elric or Mustang."
"Good. We're in agreement."