"Sylvain, can I ask you something?"
Eve turned to her friend suddenly as the two of them looked out over the chasm from the bridge to the cathedral. They had been standing there in relative silence for quite a while, waiting to be told it was time for their mission. Sylvain had been the one to invite her out there after finding Eve walking laps around the monastery. She knew that he knew she was stressed and had brought her here for a quiet moment. But there was too much on her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about Dimitri and how he was working himself to death. And everything that happened in the Sealed Forest. And what would become of the Professor during this ceremony they were about to hold.
"Mhm?" Sylvain hummed.
"When we were fighting in the Sealed Forest…" Eve trailed off, wondering how she wanted to phrase her question. "Did you know you were smiling?"
"…was I?" Sylvain faltered, but didn't seem surprised.
"What was going through your mind?" Eve leaned forward, trying to read his face.
"You know my father, don't you?" Sylvain asked instead of answering. "You've seen how he is?"
"I know the Margrave all too well." Eve nodded in response.
"Then you know how cruel he can be." Sylvain said. "And you knew my brother, how he was when I was growing up."
"Yes." Eve nodded again.
"I was raised by them, I grew up around all of that." Sylvain finally looked over at his friend. "And that combined with my distaste for my Crest and the way people treated me for it— it turned me into a very cruel person."
"Sylvain, you're one of the most caring people I know." Eve's brow furrowed. "You shielded Felix and Ingrid from knowing the pain you were going through. Even today you try so hard to protect those around you."
"Maybe so. But a sick part of me finds joy in harming others sometimes." Sylvain shrugged.
"What?" Eve frowned at her friend.
"You know I hurt myself because it's a hurt I can control. But sometimes when I hurt others it feels good to make other people experience what I have." Sylvain looked down at his hands in shame as he spoke.
"Syl, you never told me this." Eve reached out to grab his hand reflexively.
"Well, it's not exactly the kind of thing I'd want to advertise about myself." Sylvain tried to laugh, throwing his head up to the sky to blink back the tears forming in his eyes.
"I'm sorry for prying." Eve sighed.
"No, it's fine." Sylvain shook his head. "It's nice to have someone to talk to about these things. I know people just see me as this good-for-nothing scoundrel. I like that you take me seriously."
"Sylvain, you're not a good-for-nothing. And of course I'd take you seriously." Eve frowned. "I'm glad we got rid of our rule not to talk about the things that bother us."
"Hey, you didn't deny the scoundrel part." Sylvain threw a lopsided grin her way.
"We both know that bit's true." Eve laughed.
"Perhaps." Sylvain laughed back before sobering up again. "Thanks, kitten."
"Always." Eve nodded.
Sylvain brought his arm up and around Eve's form to pull her into his side. She rested her head against him and he leaned to rest his atop it. Eve was glad she had become such good friends with Sylvain. While it hadn't started out as the healthiest of relationships, he was now the person she trusted more than anyone. And as she had grown more comfortable with him, she had told him more of the truth.
Eve had shared with Sylvain the story of her home country. He knew about her family, about her ties to Fodlan; he knew her real name and the origin of her powers. And Sylvain knew all of her promises she had made— from her most recent promises to Dimitri all the way down to the vital one that led her down this path all those years ago.
"Eve, Sylvain."
Eve brought her head up to look over at where Dedue was approaching the two of them.
"Is it…?" Eve cocked her head to the side, her eyes flickering to the cathedral behind him.
"It is time." He nodded. "The Archbishop is finishing her preparations and has asked us to gather."
"Showtime." Sylvain said as the three of them made their way back in the direction Dedue had approached from.
"Showtime." Eve echoed hollowly.
Eve and Sylvain joined the rest of the Blue Lions in the Cathedral where they were surrounding the Professor.
"A revelation from the Goddess…" Dimitri was saying as they walked up. "To think we'll have the honour of attending such a historical event."
"The Archbishop will be here soon to accompany us to the Holy Tomb." Dedue announced.
"If something happens to her, all of Fodlan will suffer. We must protect her at all costs." Ingrid said with a furrowed brow.
"This may sound mad, but perhaps we don't have to worry so much about that." Dimitri pondered. "Lady Rhea has said before that she is capable of protecting herself. I have a feeling that is true. I thought it was a strange thing for her to say. And beyond that, her movements bring to mind a great warrior with an extensive military background."
"Who is Rhea, really?" Byleth frowned.
Eve blinked at the Professor in mild surprise at her question. While Byleth wasn't Seteth levels of devoted to the Archbishop, Eve had also never heard her overtly question Rhea. She wondered if the Professor had also read the passage in Jeralt's diary that had prompted Seteth's suspicions.
"I wonder…" Dimitri murmured. "Mind it's also possible that I'm way off track. Regardless, perhaps we should brace ourselves for anything."
"I never imagined attending a ceremony for a real revelation." Ashe glowed with excitement.
"I wonder what the ceremony will be like. I'm so nervous. I'm not ready for this." Meanwhile, Mercedes was pacing with worry.
"There's no chance for battle unless something goes terribly wrong, right? How boring." Felix grimaced, crossing his arms over his chest.
Eve opened her mouth to chastise him for such thinking after everything they'd been through lately, but was beat to it by Sylvain.
"If you keep saying things like that, something bad is bound to happen." The redhead tutted.
"Your Highness, I will protect you no matter what." Dedue turned to the prince before noticing the vacant look in his eyes. "Your Highness?"
"Lost in thought?" The Professor asked gently when Dimitri only sighed in response to his vassal.
"Hm? Ah, I suppose you could say that." Dimitri snapped his head up when he realised they were talking to him. "Nothing to worry about. It's about time for Lady Rhea to arrive. Let's all steel ourselves for whatever may occur at this ceremony."
Eve frowned, looking at her husband with worry. He didn't look any better than he did the other day when she found him passed out. No doubt he had not heeded her words and was continuing to train to the point of exhaustion. And now he seemed too preoccupied with whatever was on his mind to even pay attention to the others.
"Dimitri, take a breath." Eve whispered, sidling up to him to grab his hand.
"I assure you, I'm fine." Dimitri said to her softly.
"Do not lie to me." Eve frowned.
"That's rich coming from you." Dimitri turned to look at her without a hint of his usual kindness in his eyes.
Eve immediately dropped his hand like it was hot coals. He was right, of course, but Eve couldn't help the hurt that blossomed in her chest at his cruel tone. Dimitri was never like that to her— to anyone.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what's come over me." Dimitri apologised when he saw her reaction, reaching out for her hand.
"No, you're right." Eve moved her hand out of his reach. "I've no right to question you."
"Eve, please." Dimitri pleaded, reaching for her hand again. "I'm sorry."
Eve let him grab her hand this time, halfheartedly holding his in return. She knew she was being childish for being so hurt, but she had thought herself an exception to Dimitri's flashes of darkness. And his reaction had been a bitter reminder that she was unsuited to be the one to heal his heart. She had contributed to much of the pain that he held; she was dishonest and worked in tandem with only her own agendas.
"It is I who should be sorry." Eve surrendered with a sigh. "Come, let's follow the others"
The Blue Lions all followed the Archbishop as she led them down to the Holy Tomb. They were in awe as they witnessed the wonders that were hidden from plain view.
"Are you surprised, Professor?" The Archbishop turned to smile. "This is the Holy Tomb."
"Incredible." Dimitri looked about in wonder. "To think such a vast space has been hiding beneath the monastery all this time. I wonder what powers that giant mechanism that descends beneath the ground."
The group moved on, walking through the enormous space to stand at the base of a grand staircase.
"This is where the goddess who created this world was laid to rest, along with her children." Rhea motioned around her before motioning directly to the throne that sat atop the multitude of stairs. "It is said that our creator, the Goddess Sothis, sat upon this very throne. Professor, do you recognise this throne?"
"I do." The Professor answered plainly.
Everyone balked, turning with shock to look at their changed Professor.
"So long…" Rhea breathed with elation. "I have waited so very long for this day. Sit upon the throne. I have no doubt you will be gifted a revelation from the Goddess."
Wordlessly, the Professor made her way up the stairs. Each member of the Blue Lions watched with baited breath as she neared the throne. Eve could feel her heart racing as she prayed her assessment was correct. Rhea would not win.
"Well?" Rhea leaned forward with anticipation as Byleth sat in the Goddess' throne.
As she sat there, Byleth looked as if she were listening for something. But as the moments passed in silence, it became increasingly evident that nothing was happening.
"It was supposed to be but a step away." Rhea murmured in hurt disbelief. "What could possibly be missing?"
Suddenly, Eve felt Dimitri drop her hand. She looked over at him curiously to see him whipping around to look at the room around them.
"Halt!" His voice echoed in the space. "Reveal yourself!"
"Don't move, any of you. If you move, your lives will be forfeit." A man clearly dressed in Empire garb appeared alongside Imperial soldiers and the Flame Emperor. "Thank you ever so much for guiding us this far. The Imperial army will now take possession of everything in the Holy Tomb."
"Why is the Imperial Army here?" Dedue stepped forward to be alongside Dimitri.
"This can't be. How did they get into Garreg Mach?" Ingrid gasped incredulously.
"Even the Flame Emperor is here. That can only mean—" Sylvain started.
"The Flame Emperor is connected to the Empire." Felix finished his friend's thought. "What do you know."
"I never imagined you'd have the nerve to return here." Dimitri stepped forward, a certain snarl in his voice. "What are you after, Flame Emperor?"
"Is it not obvious?" The stoic figure replied. "The Holy Tomb contains great power; the power to rule all of Fodlan."
"And to attain that power, you'll trample anything that stands in your way, just like you did in Duscur!" Dimitri spat.
"I had nothing to do with that." They replied before turning to their troops. "Quickly, retrieve the Crest Stones! Kill for them if you must."
"No…" Eve gasped, watching as the Imperial troops moved towards the caskets.
"Insolence!" Rhea roared. "You will atone for the sin of tramping on this holy resting place. Professor, destroy these villainous traitors who dare dishonour our creator!"
The Professor pulled out the Sword of the Creator, ready for battle. The rest of the Blue Lions fell into formation, facing their enemy and creating a barrier around the Archbishop.
"I will not allow such violence from the Empire!" The Archbishop called out. "Strike down the rebels and protect the Holy Tomb!"
As the chaos began, both sides shouting out directives, Eve watched in frozen horror. She couldn't bring herself to move in her astonishment.
"Heretics!" She watched Dimitri shout as he disposed of an enemy. "What could be gained from desecrating these tombs and disgracing the dead?!"
So much bloodshed in a place meant to be a peaceful resting ground. Eve felt the bile rising in her throat as she watched everything unfold. Only when she saw a soldier approaching the tomb nearest her did she finally spring into action.
"You stay away from her!" Eve rushed forward, slamming the soldier to the ground before he could open the casket. "Do you have any idea what these stones are?"
She didn't wait for an answer as she plunged her blade into his chest. When she was sure the life had faded from her enemy, she stood to look at the casket behind her. To her relief, it was unscathed. He hadn't even begun to open it by the time she had gotten to him.
"You're safe." She whispered, resting her hand atop the stone for a moment.
Eve looked around, taking survey of her classmates as well as the other caskets in the tomb. Her eyes landed on Dimitri as he made his way towards the Flame Emperor. She could tell just by his demeanour that this was the side of Dimitri that she had seen in Remire. And just as she had gone with him then, Eve lurched into action to stand beside him now as he faced their enemy.
"Do not try to say you have forgotten…" Dimitri growled. "Do you know just how many people died in Duscur?"
"Why bother with this?" The Flame Emperor answered without a hint of emotion. "Stay silent and fight."
"So you want to turn your eyes away from the lives you have trampled?" Dimitri asked, a hint of mania creeping into his tone. "Dastard! You are a monster. The lowliest beast I have ever known."
With that, he charged the Flame Emperor. Eve, for her part, tried her best to stave off the Imperial forces that moved to protect them. She knew she would only get in the way if she tried to fight alongside Dimitri, so this was all she could do.
As they clashed, Dimitri blocked an attack from above with the length of his lance. He gritted his teeth as he pushed back until he ultimately pushed the Flame Emperor back, knocking them in the head with the base of his weapon.
The Flame Emperor stumbled back and the telltale clatter of their mask falling to the ground echoed around them. Eve whipped around to finally see the face of the person responsible for so much of Dimitri's heartache and gasped when she realised who it was.
Dimitri began to chuckle first and Eve turned to look at him with astonishment. His chuckle became a crazed laugh as he threw his head back. By now, the others had all gathered around to witness as the Empire forces drew back.
"Is this some kind of twisted joke?!" Dimitri laughed manically.
On impulse, Eve reached for Dimitri's hand as she had many times before to calm him. She knew it would be futile, but couldn't help the gesture. For his part, the Prince smacked her hand away without so much as a glance in her direction. And as he stalked forward, crushing the Flame Emperor mask underfoot, he even brushed away Byleth as she tried to stop him.
"I've been looking for you…" Dimitri said. "I will take that head from your shoulders and hang it from the gates of Enbarr!"
Dimitri launched himself forward as several troops tried to protect Edelgard. He knocked a group of them aside with barely any effort, hurling his lance towards the white haired girl. Edelgard dodged to the side, just barely avoiding Dimitri's weapon as it whizzed by her face.
"Stop right there!" Another Adrestian soldier stepped into Dimitri's past.
Eve jolted, moving forward to provide support to the now weaponless Dimitri. But before she could even draw her blades, he had the soldier by the head— his massive hand covering the entirety of their face. And with a sickening crunch, Dimitri tightened his hold before dropping the lifeless soldier.
Eve gasped, covering her mouth with her hand in shock. She had known her husband's brute strength, but she had never thought him capable of this level of violence. And worst of all, there was a satisfied smirk on his face as he flicked his wrist to fling the blood from his hand.
"Before I break your neck, there is one thing I must ask you." Dimitri said as he stalked ever closer to Edelgard.
"Stay out of my way." She glared back at him.
"I don't recall giving you permission to speak." He looked down at her, a thirst for blood in his eyes. "Answer my question. That is all you have left to do. Flame Emperor…no. Edelgard. Tell me now. Why did you cause such a tragedy?"
Edelgard gritted her teeth, but did not reply.
"You killed your own mother, and yet you haven't even had the decency to stop and consider the reasons behind your actions. Have you?" Dimitri spat accusatorially.
"I already told you, I had nothing to do with that." Edelgard shook her head.
"It was foolish to think I could reason with a lowly beast." Dimitri laughed humourlessly. "You are a monster."
As Dimitri stepped towards Edelgard, Hubert warped beside her.
"Come, Hubert!" Though she had been so unflinching in her demeanour, there was clearly panic in her voice as she called to her retainer. Even the unflappable Edelgard had been unsure of her chances of survival in the face of this Dimitri.
The two of them warped away before Dimitri could get any closer. And, one by one, the rest of the Adrestian forces began warping away as well— leaving the Blue Lions standing in shock. Rhea was shouting some warning or another after them, but Eve was too focused on Dimitri to listen. As she approached him, unsure of how to handle the situation, Eve watched Dimitri crumple to the ground.
"Dimitri!" She called out, rushing forward to grab him.
Once again she found herself holding his unconscious form looking for any signs of injury. She couldn't be certain he wasn't harmed. During the battle, she had used her Crest to protect everyone. But in her shock, Eve had not used it when Dimitri challenged Edelgard. Satisfied that he at least wasn't fatally harmed, Eve let out a relieved sigh. And before she could even turn to ask, Dedue was beside her, wordlessly lifting the prince into his arms to carry him back.
"Take care of him." Dedue said to her as she trailed after them.
"Always."
"So… He's finally shown his true face." Felix muttered as the Blue Lions all sat together in their classroom. "The same Dimitri I've seen once before— a beast who loves spilling blood."
"You're wrong! I'm sure of it." Ingrid interjected. "There has to be an explanation…"
"I knew he'd been carrying the burden of that tragedy." Sylvain offered. "I understand his thirst for revenge. His family and closest friends… all massacred right in front of him. But…it still doesn't add up. There must be more that we don't know."
"That's true. Dimitri didn't come unhinged until after the Flame Emperor was unmasked…" Mercedes trailed off in thought.
"You don't think…there's some connection between those two…do you?" Ashe asked timidly.
"The only person we can really ask that isn't him isn't here." Ingrid said, glancing at the desk where His Highness and his wife usually sat together.
"You really think Eve will know?" Annette asked.
"Sylvain? Felix?" Ingrid deferred to her friends with raised eyebrows.
"What?" Felix grimaced.
"You two are the closest to Eve other than Dimitri, what do you think?" Ingrid elaborated.
"I don't know what she knows, but it's entirely possibly." Sylvain shrugged. "There's certainly no harm in asking once she gets back from tending to him."
"Oh, I hope His Highness is okay." Mercedes worried as they all remembered why Eve wasn't with them.
"If Eve's taking care of him, he'll be fine." Sylvain nodded comfortingly.
"It's beautiful how devoted she is to him." Ingrid mused. "Especially considering the fact that they were arranged to marry."
"Devoted for sure." Sylvain nodded, cautioning a glance at Felix.
"She'll make a great queen, won't she?" Ashe smiled gently.
Everyone was silent for a moment as they thought about it. Sure, they had all always known that that's where this was going, but none of them had really given it much thought. They all considered Eve their enigmatic and secretive friend and classmate. She had become such good friends with all of them that they had forgotten she wasn't just a peer but also their future queen.
"Queen, huh?"
Dimitri awoke to a comforting warmth radiating over his abdomen. His eyes fluttered open to see Eve kneeling beside his bed. Her hands were hovering just over his stomach where she had pulled up his shirt just enough to reveal the wound there. There was concentration and worry creasing the space between her brow and turning the corners of her mouth down.
As he watched her heal him, he thought about what he had told her about intentions when he taught her to heal. She could never heal herself because she didn't care to see her wounds gone. And as he considered it further, he realised he had never seen her heal Felix.
There had certainly been opportunities for it. She rarely used her Crest during skirmishes and small missions so as not to exhaust herself. Dimitri remembered an instance in particular where Felix had been grazed on the arm by an arrow. Eve had seen it happen— she had been the one to call out to him so he was able to avoid being fully pierced by it. And yet besides giving the wound a once over to ensure it wasn't grave, she did nothing about it.
Felix, the man she loved. She did not heal him. So why would she heal Dimitri?
And how could she possibly look so tender while doing it? He was a monster, she had seen it. He was not so naïve as to believe that she could see anything other than a beast after what he had done in the Holy Tomb.
What he had done in the Holy Tomb…
Suddenly, everything came crashing back to him as he remembered where they had come from. Rage built up in him as he was reminded of Edelgard and the desecration of the Holy Tomb. And he became even angrier at the thought that Eve could look so tender and caring for the monster he was.
"Stop that." Dimitri sat up and batted Eve's hand away roughly. Even he could hear that his voice was gravelly and angry in a way it never had been before.
"Dimitri, your wounds need healing. You over exerted yourself." She frowned, reaching out towards him once more.
"I said, stop." He barked, grabbing her wrist roughly.
He had never yelled at her; not once, not even when she deserved it. Eve was stunned silent, eyes wide as she looked at her husband's fingers wrapped so tightly around her wrist.
"You're hurting me." She whispered after a moment of tense silence.
Dimitri dropped his hold on her as if she were made of hot coals, his hand burning with shame.
"Forgive me, I don't know what came over me." Dimitri muttered, turning his face away from Eve as he spoke.
"May I continue?" She asked, eyeing him warily.
"How is it that you cannot heal yourself, but you can heal a monster like me?" Dimitri turned back to face Eve, conflict written in his features. "Can you not see that I am not worthy of saving?"
"You're wrong." Eve shook her head as she continued on with her healing.
"Why me?" He asked, a hint of desperation in his tone.
"What do you mean?" Eve cocked her head to the side, hearing his desperation and wondering what exactly it was he was desperate for.
"Sylvain, Felix, you never heal them." Dimitri elaborated. "Why is it only me you heal?"
He watched as she went somewhere, withdrawing into herself and her memory. It seemed like a tender memory, but a bittersweet one.
"I'm going to get you some food." Eve stood suddenly. "You need energy."
"Eve…" Dimitri tried to reach out for her but she was already walking away.
"Don't worry, I'll be right back." She shook her head without meeting his eyes.
And as she walked away, Dimitri noticed the bracelet on her wrist. He knew it had been a gift from Sylvain moons ago. But it wasn't the bracelet itself that caught his attention. He noticed that as she walked, the stone beads along it were crumbling off the cord. Many were cracked, some outright destroyed. Dimitri looked down at his hand and noticed bits of crushed stone sticking to his clammy palm. And as Eve opened and closed the door to his chamber behind her, he realised that he had gripped her wrist so tightly that he had broken the stones along her bracelet. She hadn't so much as flinched. He could have crushed her bone, broken her wrist, with his brutish strength.
And as the realisation washed over him, Dimitri leaned over the edge of his bed and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the floor. The bile in his throat burned like the pain in his heart. And as he considered the way he had just hurt Eve, he vomited once more.
A/N: Sorry for the bug with the last chapter where it was all html. It should be fixed now. If there ever is a problem with the chapter here, though, I do also post on AO3 under the same username :)