Genres/Ratings: Hurt/Comfort, Action/Adventure, Angst. (T)

Characters: Raine, Dimitri, Dorothea, Gilbert, Ingrid, Sylvain, Annette.

Summary: The time for the attack on the Great Bridge of Myrddin had finally come. The preparations had finished, and now the men and women of the rebellion stood upon the field, awaiting the order to march and begin the battle. For a brief moment, Raine stood back quietly, listening to the tense talk of her students and allies as they understood just who it was that all stood before them in preparation to defend the bridge, and the route into the Empire with their lives. It would be a bloody battle, they all were aware of that much, but it still remained to be the first of their many steps to taking the Empire down. Their wills would have to prevail, even if their hearts would hesitate.

Lone Moon

The Great Bridge of Myrddin

Early Morning

"Status report."

Shamir's curt, brusque voice was welcoming, and Raine turned to see the Dagdan sniper, with Warin at her side, ready to deliver her report on her scouting of the bridge from the previous night. They had sent their best and brightest to explore the bridge and its defences before their assault, at Warin's terse insistence, and Raine hadn't found a reason to deny them. Gilbert turned in unison with her, interest furrowing his brow, while Dimitri remained solid and silent, leaning against the wall of the bridge's entryway as his hand clasped his lance tightly in preparation for the upcoming fight. Raine nodded to Shamir, keeping her own voice brisk despite the heavy weight she had been feeling ever since they had begun the march south, "Yes?"

"The flags of Aiger and Gloucester are flying. The two eldest sons are on the field, along with an assortment of their men. Our initial assessment was right about who had been placed here." Shamir replied, and she folded her arms about her waist as she noticed the look of sympathetic pain flickering across Raine's expression at the confirmation she hadn't needed, but still was glad for. Behind her, that brown-haired singer from the Black Eagles noticeably winced, looking down at her hands, before Petra reached out to gently place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Ignoring this despite feeling a mild prickle of annoyance for Raine's decision to allow the Black Eagle to take the field, Shamir continued on as she knew it was her obligation to do, "The army we face is mostly made up of calvary, though their general is riding a wyvern. The two noblemen are directly to the west of us, via a short and small channel, but the bulk of the forces are further south covering the majority of the bridge. We've also seen Demonic Beasts amongst the men."

"And their numbers?"

"Double ours, by a rough approximation. Perhaps double and a half." Warin was the one who spoke this time, and he absently flexed his fingers as he rolled his shoulders back. His expression was calm and controlled despite the bad news he was delivering, but Raine well understood why it didn't daunt him. They had all faced much worse odds before, and he was confident in his ability, as well as the ability of the men and women they had brought alongside them to take the bridge from the Imperial forces. Still, he wasn't about to simply underestimate the soldiers they were to be fighting, and he understood the value of information better than any as he continued on, "There are two strongholds we'll need to capture to stop the flow of reinforcements from below. One will be to our immediate south. The other is guarded by the two nobles. Those strongholds should be our first priority."

"Agreed... All right. The eastern channel will require more subtlety than strength. I'll take a token force with me to handle it... Dorothea, you, Ingrid, Sylvain, and Annette alongside me should be enough for that. Go inform them and bring them here, please." Raine's mind spun quickly, and her orders came quick and efficiently. She heard no argument despite Dorothea's obvious pain and anxiety, and the younger woman was quick to hurry off back to the bulk of their forces to deliver her orders and bring the requested soldiers forward. She was not at home on the battlefield as the others were, she had put it behind her too long ago, but Raine didn't mind her jitters at the moment. Instead she turned towards Warin, continuing on smoothly, "As for the south... Warin, take the majority of our men and clear it. You're in command in my absence... but remember my orders."

"As you wish, Raine." Warin had no objections despite the look of clear dislike that passed across Dimitri's face at Raine's firm, unflinching command, and he wondered if she had spoken so directly to him to provoke such a reaction from the future king. Warin already knew Raine wished to take control of the bridge with the fewest casualties they could manage, she had told him as much when she had been outlining the bare bones of her strategy for capturing the location, yet she had made sure to voice it aloud for all to hear anyway. She was testing the limits of her authority, testing her soldiers for their obedience and loyalty, and he had to admit he was worried about how far she was pushing both herself and her men. However, he didn't allow for that to show, not yet anyway, and instead he remained calm and professional as he questioned, "Shall I muster the men?"

"Yes, and inform them of my orders. Pass along my message to Rodrigue, as well, if time permits. As for the rest of you, follow Warin and ready yourselves for what lies ahead." Raine replied firmly, and she was both glad and relieved when Warin passed her with nothing but a nod of consent, with Shamir following after him like a shadow. She wondered if they noticed that they were not nearly as subtle as they were trying to be, at least to her eyes, but that was a thought for another day as the rest of her assembled soldiers followed after the scouts to begin their preparations. She was left alone with Gilbert and Dimitri in a handful of moments, and she allowed herself a quiet breath as she mused, "More men than anticipated, along with Demonic Beasts... This will be a struggle, but it is doable."

"Double, triple, or even multiply it by the dozens... Their numbers do not matter. They will all fall here like the mad beasts they are." Dimitri spoke dismissively, and his hand tightened on the hilt of his lance almost with anticipation as his one eye slid across the battlefield that lay ahead with the hint of an icy cold smile playing about his lips. He was eager for the fighting, for the bloodshed, and it showed in both his posture and expression as his smile broadened and became more apparent. It would be as easy as exterminating rodents, especially now that he held his ancestor's Relic in his hand... This would be no battle. It would be a slaughter. "We will cleanse this bridge of them, and soon enough, all of the Empire will follow."

"The wanton slaughter you're after isn't an option here. I told you once before, I will not permit it." Raine cut him off harshly, and her voice was cold with tightly leashed anger as she turned on him with flashing eyes and tight fists of her own. She had anticipated this, his bloodthirst and his willingness to leap into the fray with blind delight, and she had already made the preparations to keep him at a tight heel. Warin didn't have his brute strength, but Rodrigue did have the ability to force Dimitri to listen, and if he disobeyed any direct orders, Warin had already been given the explicit command to take him from the field by brute force if needed. She wouldn't permit a rampant slaughter of the enemy forces. Any soldier who offered surrender would be taken at their word, and chased away before they were killed. She had already given that order behind his back long ago. "You might think them animals, but the same isn't true for all of us."

"I doubt that. What would you do, if you saw the people who stole everything from you? If you saw them right before your eyes, living carefree lives, and feeling no guilt? Would you feel nothing? Do nothing?" Dimitri's arms crossed over his chest as he turned to face her, and he felt her glare like a hot flame piercing his skin as she returned his cold stare without once flinching away. She had found a spine somewhere since their last talk, facing up to him without fear or regret, but he doubted that she was as stern and unflinching as she wished to appear. No, he knew she was not, and he was out to prove it as he stabbed at that one weak point he knew she was still cradling all too tightly to her chest despite her lack of interest in it in her daily life, "Five years ago... Did you not deem the woman who killed Jeralt to be unforgivable? I recall that you most certainly did. You were unable to allow her to get away with her crime, and with your sword in hand, you took up the pursuit."

Raine felt her hands beginning to curl into fists as a mad wave of rage and grief washed over her at the mention of her father, but she forced her body to still. As quickly as the emotions had come, they faded, and they were replaced with something much heavier, and much more poisonous to her heart. Yet she cradled it close all the same, and her eyes found the ground rather than Dimitri's face for a moment as she allowed the truth to sink in. It was not as if she had not thought of it. She had many a long night to muse on it, on her father, and though it made her entire body ache with pain... She would not refute Dimitri's claim, and she admitted as much with a slow, sombre shake of her head, "You're right."

"Precisely my point. We're the same, you and I."

"No. You misunderstand me. You're speaking of Kronya. That isn't who I set out to kill that day. That wasn't who I was chasing with my sword in hand." Raine interrupted him as she heard that smug, self-righteous tone in his voice, and again she felt that mask, that hateful mask of the Ashen Demon falling onto her face to disguise her emotion. She pushed it aside with an anguished effort, refusing to hide the truth from him when he was daring to compare their actions. It was not the same. It was not as simple as he wished it to be, and she would not allow him to think otherwise. She didn't care that he was watching her with a furrowed brow, angry at her dismissal when it had seemed he had finally broke through, nor did she care that Gilbert was still watching their fencing of an argument in keen silence. None of that mattered whatsoever, and she spoke quietly, but clearly as she explained for the man in front of her, "I don't blame Kronya for my father's death. She isn't the one I deemed to be beyond forgiveness. That woman was myself. It wasn't about her. It never was. It was me. On being unable to forgive, yes, I will agree that we are the same. On who we blame? We couldn't be more further apart."

Dimitri halted, and his eye narrowed as Raine stood quiet but calm in front of him, without an ounce of a lie in her voice or in her expression. Her eyes were dry now despite the pain that shone in them, and the guilt was pure and unable to be denied. She spoke the truth. She didn't blame Kronya at all for the death of her father. At least, not anymore. All of that guilt and rage and loathing had been turned inwards, had been buried in her chest like a dagger that she had plunged there herself, and even he could not deny that was the truth of the matter. She hated no one but herself for her father's death, and she had no plans of extending her rage to those outside of it. Kronya and Solon were dead, both by her hand, yet that hadn't sated her. Edelgard and Thales still lived... but she had no blame to lay at their feet, either. No, instead she blamed herself, and she would continue to do so, long after the war ended, and he knew it.

Gilbert watched closely as Dimitri's face twitched, obviously struggling to absorb her words and all that it meant when it clashed so ferociously with his own worldview. His hand was trembling on his lance, proving the depths of his disturbance, and Gilbert felt a crest of worry urge him into action. He had chosen to be a silent witness when they had begun to speak, knowing it was not his place to intercede in such a deeply personal conversation, but it was obvious that the tension between Dimitri and Raine had grown to a near breaking point. He did not want to see what would be the outcome of all of that tension breaking free, and concern forced him to speak as diplomatically as he possibly could, "Professor-"

"No, Gilbert. I don't want to hear any comforting words from you. He made the comparison, and he deserves to know he's off-base, even if he's partially correct. I stand before you as I am. A murderer, an orphan, and a woman wholly at fault for the death of her father. I have accepted this, and I will carry it to my grave, as I must." Raine again cut off the interruption she had expected, but her eyes never flickered over the tangerine-haired knight. Instead she held Dimitri's stare, taking in the troubled glint in his cerulean eye, but feeling nothing but scorn, disdain, and that pulse of sadness for all he had lost and become in her five year absence. She could do nothing but give him the harsh truth of her reality, in vain hope of making him see that his way was deeply flawed, but she had given up hope that he would listen to reason. It didn't stop her, duty forced her to speak, but she still doubted the words would penetrate his dark veil as she continued firmly, harshly, "But I will never blame those who were not there, and did not hold the dagger. My loss was my failure. I earned the punishment. The people here have not. The whole of the Empire are not my enemies, even if the soldiers standing here today are. I will not dole out judgement rashly, or without cause. Anyone who chooses to surrender, or to switch sides, or to flee, shall be given the chance at life. Because the people here did not commit the Tragedy of Duscur. Or Remire. Or the fall of Garreg Mach, or the death of my father. They are soldiers, men and women who are fighting for their homeland, or for their own survival, and they deserve a chance of redemption even if that chance has long since passed the likes of us by."

Silence followed her declaration, cold, uncomfortable and tense silence, and seeing that no one was fit to reply, Raine simply turned on her heel and left the two men behind her. She couldn't bear to stand there, feeling the weight of their stares on her shoulders, when it was taking all she had to hold up her head and not collapse where she stood from the guilt and the pain. Jeralt was dead, and though it had been five years for them... It had hardly been a handful of moons for her. His loss was still fresh in her mind, his body still warm in her arms, and she hadn't had the will or the strength to visit his grave ever since her return to Garreg Mach. How could she? When to her, he was still freshly buried, and she hadn't had those five precious years to mourn, and to begin to heal?

The scenery about her blurred, and Raine cursed as she paused in her retreat and dashed a hand angrily across her eyes. Now was not the time to be lost in emotion and crying. When this accursed battle ended, perhaps she could hole herself up in her quarters and weep for her lost years and her lost father, but that was not something she could think about now. Her students needed her to lead, and to lead well. If she allowed her emotion to overcome her better sense, she would be putting them all into an early grave. She would not allow it. Taking in several rough, deep breaths, Raine forced the grief and the pain down, shoving it into a small, ironclad box she could open later as she stiffened her spine and forced her face to wipe itself clean.

"Professor! We're here to report for duty!"

The effort came none too late as she heard Sylvain's voice calling for her over the din of her preparing men, and she hastily took in another breath before wiping her face clean on her sleeve. She turned in his direction, glancing over the following women who were at his heel. Everyone save Dorothea looked well and truly prepared for what was to come, but she could not blame the young singer for her hesitation now that she was on the battlefield. It didn't matter that she had been the one to approach her with this request. Now that the time had finally come, she was sick with uncertainty and fear, and considering who it was she was to face... Raine truly could not blame her in the slightest.

She still remembered clearly how Dorothea had approached her that day when the news had broken about the possibility of Ferdinand being on the bridge, and while she had done well in showing courage and defiance... There was still that broken undercurrent of her tossing aside her vows of pacifism. She had to take up sword and tome to be on the battlefield, even if her end goal was not to kill, but rather to save. It was one thing to face her fears in theory, another entirely to be there in person, now preparing to take a life with the weight of her weapons in hand... and it was that display of courage, courage mixed with heartache, that had made Raine eventually give in despite her better judgement.

"Is it true?"

Raine looked up from the map she had been previously pouring over at the sharp voice that had interrupted her work, and she felt little surprise as she watched Dorothea sweep into the room, completely ignoring the fact that she had a captive audience in Rodrigue and Felix as she marched over to Raine's seat in a flurry of anxious movement. The older woman carefully slid the map she had been examining with the help of Rodrigue out the way as she met Dorothea's eyes, and though she was already aware of what would bring the singer to the war room of all places, she still wasn't entirely pleased to see her. She had been dreading this particular confrontation, as she had known it was bound to happen sooner rather than later, but now that Dorothea had come to confront her... She had to admit she wasn't entirely sure she felt ready for it.

Both Rodrigue and his son were silent, expecting her to handle it as she had made it expressly clear that no one in all of Garreg Mach was to give Dorothea and her children anything but space and charity since her arrival a moon prior. It made her rankle with annoyance, especially considering Felix was never silent unless it was outright demanded of him, but she knew this was only another of many of her duties to fulfil, and it was that thought and that thought only that permitted Raine to keep her composure as she folded her hands in front of her and replied calmly as she looked up into Dorothea's anxiety-ridden face, "Is what true, Dorothea?"

"Is it true that you've ironclad confirmation of the fact that the armies of both House Gloucester and House Aiger are to be guarding the Bridge of Myrddin?"

Raine winced, and she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from scowling as she wondered how those two pieces of information had escaped the doors of the war room in record time. After the utter disaster that had almost gotten the lot of them killed in Ailell, Raine had made it a priority in seeing that such information concerning the rebellion's next move was to be divulged only to those she and the other handful of commanders in the rebellion deemed pertinent in the future. Yet here Dorothea was, a non-combatant and a woman who had made it personally clear she wanted as little to do with the goings on of the war effort as possible, with that information in hand and clearly upset about it. She glanced over her shoulder to the father and son behind her, but both could only look at her with a mixture of confusion and uncertainty in reply. They, at least, had not been the ones to open their mouths, and she believed them on expression alone before she turned back to the singer who had come to confront her personally.

Rubbing her temples for a moment, Raine didn't answer immediately before she sat herself up straight so that she could look Dorothea in the eye. She wouldn't lie, even if she was unhappy of the fact that the monastery's walls clearly has too many holes in it for her liking. And worse, she understood exactly why Dorothea had chosen to abandon all thoughts of decorum or keeping herself on the sidelines when she had heard exactly who it was would likely to be facing down the rebellion troops at the moon's end. It couldn't be something she was digesting easily, and it made her anxiety understandable, but Raine was forced to keep a calm composure she didn't truly feel before saying quietly, politely, "Felix, Rodrigue... Can you please leave the room for a moment? I need to speak to Dorothea privately. We can continue our discussions afterwards."

Rodrigue hesitated, clearly uneasy with the order, and Felix just shook his head, muttering something under his breath as he made for the door without much argument. He knew that tone his professor was using, it was not one that brooked discussion, and he wasn't interested in trying her obviously quite frayed patience. No amount of wanting to see the resulting showdown was worth pricking his professor's temper, and he knew it wiser to step out of the way rather than argue just for his own amusement. His father clearly was not as aware of this as he was, as he did not move and instead spoke up slowly, "Professor, perhaps I-"

"You better quit while you're ahead, old man. This doesn't concern you. Let Professor deal with it." Felix called from the doorway, though he wondered why he was bothering. Even if he wasn't interested in seeing his professor have it out with Dorothea, it would be leagues more entertaining to watch her dress his father down. He supposed it was Mercedes' influence, though he didn't want to admit it. She had been badgering him constantly since his father had showed up alongside his troops to try and get along with the man, and while he had no interest in being cordial... He didn't want to hear her continuing to scold his ear off, either. It made him brusque as he waved a hand and gestured to the hallway, "She'll call you back in when she's done. Just leave it alone."

Rodrigue looked to his son, and then to the professor uncertainly as a heavy silence filled the room. There was a palpable tension that he did not quite understand, but as he looked to the angry expression on the young woman's face... He decided it was likely best he heeded his son's warnings. He was not entirely sure what it was that was going on between the two, but clearly it was a personal affair that he had no business overhearing. He did not know the leader of the rebellion well, but he did know she was obviously a woman not easily trifled with, and he had no desire to overstep his boundaries by disobeying a direct order. He nodded his head, offering a half-bow before he excused himself quietly, "Professor... I shall be waiting for your call to return."

Raine waited until both of the two nobles were gone, with the heavy click of the door shutting behind them signifying their departure before she turned back to Dorothea. She waved a hand idly, gesturing to a nearby chair in invitation for her to sit, and it took a few moments before the former Black Eagle gathered herself enough to take it. Her hands were trembling as she gripped the front of her dress and curled them into tight fists, and Raine let out a tired breath before she began quietly, "I'm not about to ask how you know what you know, but I will say I'm extremely annoyed that after the catastrophe at Ailell that our commanders clearly haven't learned their lessons about keeping important information secret... but I'm also not about to lie to you. Yes. What you're asking is true. We've confirmed that both House Aiger and Gloucester have troops stationed at the Great Bridge."

"Do you know who's leading those troops?" Dorothea's question was cutting, though she was also aware she was stepping her toe over a boundary she herself had drawn. Raine's expression was chillingly neutral, but her eyes were sharp and scanning her extremely closely. She was not sure if she was about to be reprimanded for demanding more information, especially when she really had no rights to it, but once she had heard the whispers... It had been impossible to stop herself from going straight to the professor for confirmation. She needed to know. She wouldn't be able to rest until she did, no matter if the answer was one she wished for, or was dreading. She could not help it. "Have they seen anyone in command?"

"No, they haven't... but we can make educated guesses. Which I imagine is why you're here." Raine's answer came slowly, quietly, and she shook her head as she reached to rub at her temples where she could feel the faintest traces of a headache beginning to make themselves known. Even if she wanted to ignore the obvious, there was no way she could. The only ones leading the forces of the two noble houses had to be the eldest sons, even if the Prime Minister of the Empire had been stripped of his title and lands five years prior. His son was still in service to the Emperor, and his loyalty rewarded him with a soldier's position, even if the powers he had wielded as a noble had been taken from him and held hostage. She didn't need the rebellion's scouts to tell her who was leading. She already knew, and she knew Dorothea had reached that same conclusion. "There's little doubt in my mind that both Lorenz and Ferdinand will be leading their men in defence of the bridge... And I understand why that must be a pressing issue for you."

"I want to come. When you take the bridge with your forces. I want to join you."

Raine had known it was coming, but she still felt her stomach sink somewhere into the floor and farther below as she looked Dorothea in the eye and saw the stubborn determination shining in her expression. She meant it, every word, but it was all the more reason for Raine to pull back and away from it even if she understood exactly where the singer was coming from. The request made sense, when she took it from a purely personal standpoint, but she could not afford to make decisions on such things. She had to be pragmatic, had to be calculating, and she shook her head as she replied bluntly, though not entirely unkindly, "Dorothea, you know that I can't allow for that. I feel for you, but if I bring you to the front, you must understand how that will look to the rest of the troops. You came here with the sole purpose of being a non-combatant. Changing your mind because a fellow classmate will be on the enemy lines... You understand how that will look to others, don't you? I might know your reasons, but the others will not. And any idea they've had of obeying my orders when it comes to leaving you and your children alone won't last if you take to the field."

"I don't care what they think of me. I need to be there. If Ferdinand is really going to face you all... I have to try one more time to convince him to lay down his sword. I must." Dorothea shook her head, eyes blazing as she understood exactly where Raine was coming from even as she shook it away in the next moment. Her pride, her safety... Nothing mattered in the face of what she was realizing was coming. In a short handful of weeks, the rebellion would be marching on the bridge... and she knew they would succeed in wresting it away from the Empire's control. They were stronger than they were before now, bolstered with the troops Rodrigue had provided, and their willingness to fight far outmatched any standard Imperial soldier's desire to defend the bridge. They would hold their ground and fight to the last, yes... but they would lose, all the same. She couldn't permit that to be the only route left to Ferdinand. She simply couldn't. "I may be able to get through to him this time. I have to try. What if I can persuade him to stop fighting? Isn't that better than simply killing him outright without giving him the chance to reconsider his actions up until now?"

"Dorothea, you did try. You made every effort you could, and he still chose to stay in the Empire five years ago." The words tasted like bile on her tongue, bitter and acidic and making her body shudder, but she knew she had to speak them all the same. What Dorothea was requesting of her was madness. She wanted to put herself at risk, with no guarantee of success, without thinking of the full consequences of her wish. What if she failed? What if she succeeded? Neither of those outcomes promised anything that Raine was equipped to deal with. Dorothea being present to see the death of her friend... or worse, somehow managing to convince him to lay down his sword, only to make him a traitor in the midst of a battle where the men at his back would sooner ram a lance through his shoulders when he abandoned them for the enemy than follow his example to stand down...? She shook her head again. It was far too dangerous a hope. Far too dangerous a scenario for her to entertain. "What makes you think that now your words will get through to him?"

"I don't know!" Dorothea felt herself explode without consent or thought, and though a small part of her knew it was unjust of her to be doing so to Raine of all people, she still could not quite help herself. Too many emotions had been bottled up, and too much was being forced to go through her mind all at once. She knew she had to sound mad, and she knew she likely was, but it didn't change the feelings of obligation and guilt that were choking their way about her chest. She shook her head hard, hands clenching until they began to tremble as she balled up the fabric of her dress in her fists as she continued, "You're right, maybe it won't help, but... I can't just sit here, knowing that you'll be marching to fight, and do nothing! Even if it's just for my own selfish sake... Even if I fail... I won't be able to live with myself if I don't try one last time!"

Raine waited for Dorothea's breathing to settle and for her temper to return, and she could tell the singer was glad for the pause as her tense body relaxed, and then her shoulders sagged. She slumped in the chair, seemingly exhausted by her outburst, but Raine admitted she didn't so much mind taking the brunt of it. This was different than anything else she had done so far, and Dorothea's reasoning was not something she necessarily disagreed with. However, that was a personal matter and not a pragmatic one, and she knew which side had to win out on such matters.

She pressed two fingers to her temples, watching Dorothea closely before deciding to speak, and when she did, she chose her words as carefully as she possibly could. She needed to be distant, professional, yet she also didn't want to sound cold or uncaring. It was a difficult balance to make, but she fought for it all the same as she began slowly, deliberately, "Dorothea, think of the logistics of what you're asking. First, I have to bring you onto the battlefield... and you'll be called to fight. I can't protect you, or keep you away from the bloodshed. You will be forced to take up a weapon and protect yourself, and make yourself useful for our goals. Can you fight again? Can you kill your countrymen to protect yourself, to get to Ferdinand, who will most assuredly be leading from the frontlines? And can you kill him, if he chooses to ignore your pleas, and tries to kill you, because you're standing with the forces of the rebellion? Unless all of your answers to this are yes, a yes you mean without an ounce of hesitation or uncertainty, I cannot allow you to join us. You'll be too much of a liability, and a liability is not something we can afford."

The questions were swordstrokes, but they were not cruelly spoken. The sympathy in Raine's eyes lessened her hurt, but it could not banish it entirely. She knew the professor was right to point out what she hadn't thought of initially, yet she was somewhat surprised to find that she didn't care as much as she had thought she would. The idea of picking up a blade again was abhorrent, but... the thought of staying behind, quiet, demure and useless, while those who housed her and her children without question fought with Ferdinand... That hurt far more. She shook her head and took in a deep breath, steeling her nerves, steeling her stomach, as she met Raine's piercing stare and replied quietly, "If my answer was yes, would you take me with you?"

Raine closed her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from replying on instinct and not with her better sense. It went against her natural desires to say no to such a heartfelt plea, but she was no longer a simple professor catering to the relatively harmless whims of her students. No, those days were far behind her now, even if they were still so close in her memory. She couldn't act freely. It simply was not within her bounds to do so. Her decisions impacted many more people now, and they required approval from others in similar positions of power. She was leading, but she wasn't leading alone, and she knew that wariness showed on her face as she answered tiredly, "You'd need to let me think it over before I could give you a concrete answer, Dorothea. At the very least, I'd have to consult with Seteth and Gilbert to have their approval. You'd likely need to make a case to them."

"Fine. If that's what it takes, I'll do it. Gladly."

"Be careful what you wish for, Dorothea... Be careful what you wish for."

That warning now was echoing in Dorothea's ears, Raine could see it clearly, but she decided it was best not to speak up as her four chosen soldiers crowded about her in anticipation for her orders. Over their heads and behind she could see Warin mustering the rest of their forces for his assault on the southern half of the bridge, and she was glad for his steadiness before she returned her attention to her students. All of them met her eyes unflinchingly, ready and willing, and she offered them a small, tight smile at their obedience and kindness, despite the pressure of the situation they were in. Their confidence in her was a balm to her wounds, and a much-needed one, and she turned a little to point to that tight hall that Shamir had spoken of as she began without preamble, "That is our route, and our goal is just beyond that. Unfortunately, that means no mounts, Sylvain and Ingrid, and I apologize for that... but I think you understand why I prefer you on foot, yes?"

"A bottleneck... I see." Ingrid spoke first with a nod, and she tilted her head as she glanced at the winding passage that permitted entry into the depths of the bridge that served as both a means of transportation, and a fortress all on its own. It was a travel passage, one not meant to take the brunt of an invasion, and yet their professor intended to use it just for that purpose while the mass of their forces created an opportunity for their movement. The blond knight smiled knowingly, impressed as always by her professor's keen intuition, but she turned back to her all the same as she questioned, "You believe that the enemy will force their mounts through anyway?"

"Calvary has an advantage over infantry forces by sheer speed and movement, and it will be an advantage they'll be loathe to give up, especially against a small force like ours... Professor is right. On foot, we'll be able to force a bottleneck much more easily than if we were mounted." Sylvain spoke up before Raine had to, and she smiled to herself at his quick insight and the intelligence she had always known he hid under his poor charm. He was a strong student as well as a soldier, but he rarely allowed it to show since it did not benefit him in the ways he wanted. But those days were far behind him, and now he was acting as his true self, free from his former insecurities and hatred, and now determined and settled in himself as he continued with a nod, "And with Annette and Dorothea behind us, that gives us even more of an advantage... I'm all for it."

"But we aren't here to kill, remember, Sylvain? That's not why the professor chose us to come this way." Annette reminded him firmly, and though her voice was quiet and her concern apparent for her comrades, her eyes were hard with determination as she glanced to Dorothea, who had been silent since coming to fetch them. Though she knew she was not as close to the young Imperial singer as Ingrid or Petra were, her heart naturally went out to her all the same when the situation had been explained to her in as much detail as Dorothea had been willing to give. She reached out kindly, taking Dorothea's hand firmly in her own as she continued on, "We're here to convince both Ferdinand and Lorenz to lay down their arms. It might mean cleaving a way through their forces to get to them, but we aren't going to kill anyone if we can manage it. Those are Professor's orders."

"They are. But I also won't be asking you to risk your lives to carry out mercy. If you must kill to defend yourselves, then do so. This is still war, and our enemies will not have the same compunctions as we will for taking lives." Raine corrected Annette gently, and she looked to each of them to both take in their expressions, and to show her own to them in complete honesty. Ingrid was avoiding her gaze, obviously troubled, but she quickly stilled herself in a show of professional stoicism. Her future king's hatred was her hatred, but she was not blind to her orders, nor was she the type to disobey. She loved her homeland more than she valued unquestioning obedience, and even if it meant sparing an Imperial soldier to do her duty... She would do so, if the situation permitted, because she understood the cycle of revenge and bloodshed would continue if she waged the war her king so dearly wished to wage.

Sylvain had proven himself a simpler man, wishing to only be pointed in a direction and not mull over the specifics of the situation, but his empathy would not allow him to act so casually. He felt Ingrid's unsteadiness and her worry, and he acted naturally to provide her comfort. He reached for her shoulder, giving it a light, careful squeeze for all of a few seconds before he dropped his hand again respectfully. A battlefield was no place to be working his charm, for all the good his charm ever did him against Ingrid of all people, but he couldn't help the desire to try all the same. Annette's words rung true enough for him, the pragmatism was something he understood, but he also was well aware it would only make the fighting all the more difficult for them. It was harder for them to fight leashed than it was to fight to kill, and that was something their professor knew, yet still she had given them those orders. Whether it came from belief in their skills, or her own idealism, he wasn't quite sure, but he knew better than to argue with her now. She was wiser than him, and he respected that wisdom.

Dorothea however bowed her head, her hands tightly clasping each other as she bit her lip and remained silent. The looks that had passed between the foursome were of no comfort to her. They were battle-hardened, soldiers, and the difference between her and them was stark. Even Annette, the sweetest and kindest of the lot had seen her fair share of war, and she looked just as ready as the two knights were to throw herself headlong into battle without even a moment's hesitation. She wondered where their bravery came from, their ability to fight without regret, but she had long ago realized she was simply a different breed from them. Still, the guilt lingered, and before better sense could kick in, she found herself murmuring, "I'm very sorry... This is all because of my selfishness..."

"That's not entirely true, Dorothea." Ingrid broke in before Raine had a chance to, and both surprised and intrigued by the blond's immediate defence of her friend, the eldest of the group stepped back in silence to allow her to continue. Ingrid had the most difficulty with her orders, having suffered more than Sylvain and Annette had during the breaking of the Kingdom, and she took personal injury to all Dimitri had suffered at the Empire's hands. She had made that all expressly clear, and hadn't been afraid to voice her objections when she had first received her orders, but now her expression was calm and almost kind as she turned to Dorothea and explained gently, "It's true that you're here for Ferdinand, but Professor's orders of mercy are not only for your sake... There's pragmatism at play here, too. You weren't at the council, so you didn't hear her outlining her plans, but sparing soldiers, convincing Ferdinand and Lorenz to lay down their arms... It isn't just for your wishes, it's also for the good of the war."

"But how can that be? Even if we somehow manage to convince Ferdinand to betray the Empire... What good will it do if he joins the rebellion? His men likely won't follow him... Edelgard stripped his family of their rank and territory, as well as all of the soldiers that were once loyal to his house. The forces he commands are Imperial soldiers with no loyalty to him." Dorothea frowned as she wondered at Ingrid's confidence, and she glanced over to Sylvain and Annette in hopes of finding an answer in their expressions. Sylvain was grinning in his professor's direction, but she was shaking her head at him in exasperated amusement, while Annette returned her confused look with a comforting smile. This only served to make Dorothea more puzzled, and she wondered at what she had missed as she looked to Raine and asked, "What are you hoping to achieve?"

"A sorely needed advantage, Dorothea. Lorenz is a noble, but his loyalty has always been first and foremost to the Alliance. Just like Ferdinand with the Empire. That is why they're both here today." Ingrid explained patiently as Raine looked to her with a small nod, giving her silent permission to continue on. They had grown more secretive in their war councils now ever since the disaster in Ailell, speaking only in closely guarded quarters, and keeping word tighter to the chest than ever. But Raine clearly trusted Dorothea to be let in on the finer details she had been keeping secret even from the likes of Dimitri and Seteth, and after having been informed of her schemes... Ingrid could well understand why. The risks were high, higher than Seteth would ever agree to, and Dimitri simply would never permit Raine to reach beyond their own forces that had already been tried and trusted to his satisfaction. She was playing a dangerous game, but the payoff, if it succeeded, was well worth it, and Ingrid knew it, and trusted in her as she explained, "If we can use that loyalty to our advantage, if we can convince them to turn their coats here and now... We'll gain an ally that gives us both a potential key to more allies, as well as an unexpected advantage for our next battle."

"An advantage for your next battle?"

"If we continue to march towards Enbarr, we'll be taken through Grondor Fields... And it's very likely Alliance forces will be coming to defend their territory, as the Imperial army marches to repel our invasion. Three armies clashing, just as it was five years ago... If we allow things to continue as they are." Raine explained with a roll of her shoulders, and her eyes flickered as she glanced over her shoulder to see the men Warin had amassed now preparing themselves for the signal for the initial rush. She had made all the calculations already, planning several steps ahead despite how many times she had been warned to look to the next battle and the next battle only so not to get distracted... But Raine refused to be so callow. Edelgard had won handily five years prior because she had been fighting a war long before they had known one was even in play. She would not have such an advantage again. It was their turn to flip the tables, and the script, on the former Flame Emperor. "I don't intend to have a replay of the Battle of the Eagle and the Lion... but more I can't say, until this fight is over. Too many factors are still in the air. But, should we succeed, and my plan plays out as I hope it does... Edelgard will find herself without the upper hand, in very short order."

Dorothea furrowed her brow, but quickly decided it was best she say nothing else. Raine didn't seem willing to discuss it further, either because she didn't trust her with the details, or because she was worried speaking her plans aloud would somehow lessen her chances. Regardless, Dorothea decided it didn't matter. She didn't want to know the details of Raine's scheming for the war... All she cared for was bringing Ferdinand back to Garreg Mach safe and sound, even if he was unwilling. She would do anything and everything to keep him alive, to bring him home, because she simply could not bear the alternative. "Very well... Forgive me for delaying us. As I said... I know that I am not as skilled as all of you, but I will do my best today for you. I owe you that and more for ceding to my selfish demands. Today, I'm a soldier once more, under your command, Professor. Any order you give... I will follow."

"I appreciate it, Dorothea. But I will try to keep you out of the fighting to the best of my ability, at least until the time comes when Ferdinand appears... For the moment, hang back, and focus on healing. Annette can handle any long-range tactics we'll be in need of. Don't push yourself past your limits, simply because you feel you must. You'll only be a liability otherwise." Raine reminded her gently, and she was glad to see that Sylvain, Ingrid, and Annette showed similar kindness and empathy with nods, a squeeze of a hand, and reassuring smiles. It was why she had chosen them for this mission and no one else, because they would all understand and obey without question, and she needed that loyalty more than anything else today.

The booming of a war horn sounding broke through the silence, and brought a grim smile to Raine's face as she heard the roar of soldiers following quickly behind as Warin and Rodrigue began their move. It was met immediately by shocked cries and angry shouts of enemy combatants racing to their posts and hurrying to engage, and it was exactly the signal she had been waiting for. Though their mission of clearing out the bridge was indeed the most important part of their entire foray, for Raine, they were simply one large distraction for her and her group. She reached for her blade, reassured by its weight and that familiar pulse of warm, quiet power that surged up her arm from where her flesh touched the cracked hilt. She turned to her group, who watched her in expectant silence, and she nodded once in reassurance.

This was home. This was where she was at her best, regardless of everything else that troubled her or caused her grief. She felt the weight of the monastery and leadership and politics falling away, and leaving her with her old instincts of her mercenary past, and her professor's wisdom and love for her former students. Her sword was light and familiar in her hand, and her body felt spry and lithe despite her earlier exhaustion and worry. Nothing else mattered but the battle ahead, and here, she was safer than she ever could be wandering the familiar halls of Garreg Mach. She knew her renewed confidence showed in the gleam of her eyes and the way her sword rested in her hand, but she cared little for the transformation. There was work to be done, and her father's reassuring words of her being a mercenary born were echoing comfortably in her ears.

"Let us begin."

AN:

A word of warning, that was posted once before, but must be repeated again... I hate fight scenes. I hate writing them more than anything else in the world. However, this is Fire Emblem, and a fic about Fire Emblem without fight scenes is kinda like writing about water without ever mentioning that it's wet. I get it, and I'll do it, but I will be bluntly honest with you that is not my forte, and it probably won't look very good no matter how hard I'll try on it. I apologize much in advance for the dip in quality the next chapter is going to take because of this, but please be noted that I didn't half-ass it. I worked my best on it, and I am truly and deeply sorry if it just does not stand up to my usual quality.

So, here's where things start changing up a tad in Azure Moon. I won't exactly explain what Raine's schemes are, since that takes away from the fun of the future chapters, but I'm wondering if anyone knows what she has in mind here? I will say Grondor is the biggest hint in this chapter, but what about Grondor will be left to your imaginations. There are three (but sort of two, since one point leads into the other) key points in AM that are going to be changed, as I don't intend to follow AM to the letter, and Grondor is one of the areas where most of this change is going to occur... I wonder if anyone can guess where these changes are going to occur? No prizes this time, since that means you might be able to guess at my endgame, but do try anyway! It amuses me! XD

I also need to stop staying up so late to write. Why is it that the bug always hits the worst when I'm supposed to be sleeping? I'll never understand it. My muse apparently is as nocturnal as I am, and it's super not healthy. I already have insomnia problems. I don't need to make it worse by staying up in front of a laptop and tapping away until my wrists start begging for mercy... I'm masochistic, aren't I? Oi vey... I should go to bed.

Anywhosit! Thank you as always for reading this far, and please drop me a review should you feel the need. They are my lifeblood after all, and I always feel so energized and excited to keep writing whenever I get that alert in my inbox. Every little thing counts, you know. Even the smallest, "Good job!" makes me feel so good, and so thankful to you guys. You all keep me writing and my spirits up, you know. And I owe you all big for taking the time out of your day to read, or review, anything I work on. I hope you have a good one, and I'll see you again next chapter!

Mood: Bemused.

Listening To: "Ring Your Bell" - Kalafina (Fate Stay Night, Unlimited Blade Works ED)

~ Sky