Genres/Ratings: Friendship, Romance, War, Mystery, Angst. (T)
Characters: Shamir, Warin, Ashe, Petra, Raine, Dimitri, Cornelia.
Summary: Fhirdiad had become a battleground, with civilians rioting and taking to the streets amongst the rebellion forces that surged forward against those of the Dukedom. There would be no mercy for any who stood in each other's way, but that was the reality of warfare. Raine felt nothing as she angled her blade, taking enemy after enemy down with her in every swing... Cornelia stood alone ahead, a pawn of the Emperor, and what secrets she had would be laid bare soon enough. She could be patient. There was still time for that before her head was on the ground.
Harpstring Moon
Fhirdiad (Capital Streets)
Early Day
"The woman's done a number on this place..." Warin muttered as he picked his way over the corpses of the fallen, his gauntlets extended and bared as he led his small party over to the eastern ramparts as Raine had directed him at the fore the of the battle. Ashe, Petra, and Shamir kept pace with him easily, the snipers' eyes warily scanning their surroundings as the bulk of the rebellion's forces charged straight ahead to divert attention and take the gates to avoid minimum casualties to the smallfolk. It had been with both surprise and horror to see the civilians taking up arms when the rebellion's soldiers had filled the streets, and Raine had made it a priority for the larger half of her forces to cover for them and keep them out of the thick of the fighting, lest they become targets for Cornelia and her automatons. "There's too many damn civilians in the way..."
"The reserve troop should have evacuated the majority of them by now..." Ashe muttered tersely at Warin's left, and his hand was shaking slightly on the handle of his bow as he agreed silently with Warin's assessment. As heartening as it had been at first, to know the smallfolk of Fhirdiad were happy and willing to throw their lot in with the rebellion the moment the battle had started, he had seen Raine's face twist in shock and displeasure, and had understood at once why she took no joy in the sight. Her first act had been to corral them, to try and get every single civilian, able bodied or no, off of the streets, out of the fighting, and even clear of the city if it was possible to do so. Rodrigue had happily taken over the evacuation, but some simply refused, and had to be persuaded to leave by the threat of force. "It's too dangerous for them to be fighting alongside us..."
"That is the spirit of rebellion. They wish to be free. Taking the matter into their own hands is the option they see as better than flight." Petra mused with a shake of her head, and she had to admit silently that she was quite proud and amazed that the people of Faerghus still had such burning spirits raging within them. The people in Fhirdiad had been suffering for many long years underneath the yoke of the Dukedom, and yet when the opportunity had arose, they had as one all surged into the streets to take to battle as if it was the most natural thing to do. They were all warriors, even if they were not soldiers, and that had to be admired. "Faerghus breeds many a warrior... They are people with pride, just as we are in Brigid."
"Pride's not much good without the skill to back it up." Shamir pointed out bluntly, and she narrowed her eyes as she spotted the target that Raine had directed the group towards when they had first splintered their forces in the initial wave of attacks. The smallfolk joining them in the streets had complicated matters greatly, but at least Rodrigue had proved his stripes and his influence and was lessening the impact as much as he could. It was a good show of skill, but she wondered if it would be enough. She nudged Warin idly, nodding towards the ramparts before asking, "That's the spot, yeah? Shall I set up?"
"Considering current movements..." Warin turned his head, glancing about the battlefield with a quick, trained eye to take in as much information as he possibly could. He was glad he had explored Fhirdiad before in his youth alongside his father, and while the streets were not as familiar as Garreg Mach, he still had enough working knowledge to be confident in the positions he and his sister were currently taking and aiming for. He turned his eyes back to that spot overlooking the central gateway where Cornelia was currently stationed, and he then mused, "They're going fast, splitting up to take out the mages running the puppets, so it'll be best to follow their example. Set your nest, while we clear out the vermin about you."
"Understood." Shamir needed no other permission, and in a quick bound she parted from the trio, sliding into the shadows and leaping up the unmanned stairway in a spectacular display of agility. She had no concerns of finding enemies blocking her path, as she had already had her eye affixed on her potential nest ever since Raine had outlined her plans before the battle. It was a foolish move, leaving such a spot unguarded when the view below was so unobscured, but she knew that was the way of their enemies today. No one expected an army to resort to assassin techniques, but Raine was no regular commander. She knew full well the advantage of using every man's talent, and while the duty set on Shamir's shoulders was a hefty one... She was glad to have been given it. This was a job she was uniquely capable of pulling off with the least margin of error. It was logical Raine would choose her to do it, and no one else.
Warin watched her go, his eyes affixed on her back until she disappeared into the shadows, and then quickly he was returning to himself and his two fellows who had been tasked with making enough of a distraction on the ramparts to buy Shamir the time she needed to set herself up to her liking. His hands tightened inside of his gauntlets as he, Petra, and Ashe climbed the stairs, though he added tersely as he caught sight of the Dukedom troops they were readying to engage, "Fast, and efficient. No prisoners, unlike with the bridge."
Petra and Ashe needed no more than that as the trio burst like a thunderbolt from the stairwell and into the melee, and they were wild flashes of arrows, gauntlets and a silver axe as they leapt into the fray. The element of surprise gave them all they needed as cursing and shouting and alarmed shrieks were silenced by the frantic singing of weapons. The small retinue of men stood little chance, though they fought back valiantly all the same.
Petra was a whirlwind even without the aid of her wyvern, having needed to once again resort to travel and combat on foot due to the tight confines of fighting within a walled city. She proved however that she did not need the superiority of the air to have mastery over battle, and her silver axe soon was covered in crimson flecks of gore as it flashed out over and over, blocking blows and lashing out with far heavier and speedier ones than her opponents could ever hope to manage. Their overlarge armour was heavy and cumbersome, but her axe cut through with ease, and left her enemies laying across the ramparts in her wake.
Ashe was her shadow, covering her movements with his arrows, and no one came close enough to try to overwhelm her without quickly receiving a bolt dead between their eye slits in their helmets. He was fast on the draw and faster to reload, and not a single enemy ever came within distance for him to switch his weapon out for the lance he used for closer quarters. He had no need for it, as his arrows created steel rain and kept any reinforcements far at bay in fear of his strikes, which both Warin and Petra took full advantage of.
Unlike the two younger students, Warin was in and out amongst the enemy's numbers like a ghost, his gauntlets flashing in silver streaks to leave rivers of blood spraying from open wounds and torn throats. He had no fear of close combat, and even less of going up against much better armoured opponents. He could find the weaknesses in their heavy platemail and draw blood before they could even turn to find him, and by the time they did, he was already gone and onto his next victim as they realized all of their armour hadn't protected them from his blades.
It was over as quickly as it began as Ashe's arrow found the commander's right eye from over and behind his troops, and Petra and Warin made quick work of the remaining few soldiers as he fell hard off of the ramparts and to the ground below. Ashe checked his quiver, ensuring he had not run empty yet as he watched Petra carefully wipe the blood from her weapon before she turned back to look at him. They traded a comforting smile at seeing each other unhurt, glad for the small mercy in the midst of all the chaos, and then both were looking to Warin as he stood up and shook the blood from his own weapons as he surveyed the damage, as well as the rest of the battlefield from their new position.
The ramparts gave him the height he needed to see the battle unfolding, and it was clear that the rebellion's forces had the Dukedom's nearing absolute defeat. Only small pockets of men remained in the farthest corners of the streets, and the advancing parties would have them wiped out in minutes. Their firepower had proved superior over Cornelia's machinations, and with the Empire unable to provide excess troops, the rebellion's forces had them vastly outnumbered. The Dukedom hadn't stood a chance despite their willingness to use the smallfolk as human shields, and when the civilians had turned on their troops, their defeat had been sealed in stone before the first blow had been struck.
Still, as Warin noted how few of the rebellion's troops were actually on the battlefield, he did admit his sister had played her hand far more conservatively than she could have. When the smallfolk had begun to riot, she had ordered all of Rodrigue's men, which had made up for more than half of her own accompanying forces, to see to their evacuation. It was a wise move to minimize casualties, and from the look of the streets, it had proven successful. Only a small number of civilians had remained behind despite orders to flee, and those were encircled by proper soldiers to keep their movements limited, and their access to the battlefield all but null. He shook his head, muttering to himself with both amusement and annoyance, "At least they're following your orders now to the letter... Heartening change, but long overdue..."
"Has Lord Rodrigue finished with the evacuation?" Ashe's voice broke through his thoughts, and Warin turned to see him and Petra likewise overlooking the battlefield with their hands tightening again on their weapons in earnest. He knew it had pained them to leave behind the bulk of the fighting to join him on securing Shamir's post, but he had asked for them personally, and upon hearing of that, neither of the two had protested their orders. He glanced to Warin before back to the field, taking in all that the older mercenary had and noting that there still was work to be done, "Should we regroup with the others now, Sir Warin?"
"No. You two are staying here until the others call for you. There may be more reinforcements, and I'm not risking leaving Shamir here unprotected. That's why I asked for you two to accompany me." Warin replied with a shake of his head, and he turned back to the archer and wyvern rider as he explained himself fully. Their obedience to his orders was something he took with both pride and appreciation, as he was not their professor, but ever since the day they had met on the way to Garreg Mach so many moons ago, it had been those two who had trusted him from the outset. He trusted them in return, in their skills and their loyalty to their professor, and it made it calm and at ease as he continued on firmly, "I want the two of you to protect this section of the ramparts until the capital is fully under control. If I could, I'd stay myself and send you both back to join your classmates, but Raine's requested me for the end of the fighting. I'm leaving Shamir's protection in your hands. Can you do that for me?"
Petra blinked in surprise, looking to the earnest, torn expression on the older man's face before she turned her head slightly to the tower where she knew the Dagdan sniper was now setting up her nest for her own mission. She was not foolish. She was well aware that her professor's brother and Shamir were involved, even if they did their level best to keep any and all hints of their relationship out of sight to others. Their private lives were their own, and yet there he was, asking them to protect her in his absence, and making it clear in his words and expression that he hated to have to do it, but trusted them with her all the same. It brought a faint smile to her face, admiring how far he had come since they had met in the forests surrounding Garreg Mach with weapons in hand and a cold, curt dismissal of caring for anything but his sister's promise... He had grown.
Ashe glanced to Petra once, taking in her surprise and then the softening of her face in acceptance before he turned back to Warin and nodded in understanding. He would not go against any order that Warin would give him, regardless of how outlandish or impossible it sounded. He trusted Warin and his experience. He had led them through Fhirdiad with ease, keeping them out of the fighting until it was necessary to conserve their strength and keep them safe, and it had only proven that he was every inch the leader that his father was, even if he would deny it to the grave. "All right. We'll stay here and protect the tower for you. Petra and I should be more than enough to handle that."
"Thanks, Ashe." Warin nodded to him in gratitude, and he sheathed his blades after giving his arms another hasty shake to clear off any remaining blood from them. He glanced once over to the tower, unable to help himself as he hated the idea of leaving her behind even if it was the mission. He shook his head clear of the thoughts, focussing himself as he turned for the path that would lead back to his sister, and the end goal that she had made abundantly clear she would not take without him there to witness it. He spared Petra a nod as well before he bounded off of the edge of the ramparts, avoiding the stairs entirely before he hit the ground running.
Raine and her troops had been efficient, clearing out street after street with extreme prejudice. The slain bodies of the Dukedom soldiers were everywhere, with not a single one having been spared from the rout, and the ruins of the automaton puppets lay everywhere in proof of the heavy battling it had taken to bring them down. They were strange machines, things too reminiscent of the damned puppets that Rhea had trapped the Holy Mausoleum with when she had lured them all there with the promise of a gift, and he wondered just what it took to create, and control, such bizarre and dangerous things. He was almost disappointed he hadn't had a chance to test his mettle against the damned things himself, but he knew that was only an arrogant wish of the warrior in him. He took a sharp turn for the north, following the sprawling staircases where he knew his sister was headed, with Dimitri likely in tow.
This was personal for the prince, taking back his home from the woman who had implicated him in the murder of his uncle, and to face her himself was sorely needed closure. Yet, Warin was well aware that was not why Raine was asking for his presence, too. The two of them were more than enough for a woman like Cornelia, and yet she hadn't made a move for the woman's head without him. Instead, she had chosen to wait, spreading out her forces to ensure the cleanse of the city, and Warin wondered if her hunch was correct. It was the only reason why he could imagine she would demand his presence there, to ensure another pair of ears and eyes were there to confirm her suspicions.
It was difficult to think of, how far the reach of their enemies had truly spread, but he understood exactly why she was playing so cautiously now after Grondor. They were not quite in the endgame yet, with enemies still everywhere, but she was not about to waste any opportunity she had to root them out of the dirt to face the harshness of the light. He understood that much, it was standard procedure for driving out any hidden enemy, but she was still taking no chances. Her own word had already proven to not be enough with her advisors. She wanted more witnesses, more proof for when the time came to come clean of her suspicions, and her intentions for carrying the war farther than most would ever have guessed, or even imagined.
He bent low, entering a hunter's run as he flew through the streets, dodging about corpses and debris that he knew from experience would take weeks to clean and dispose of. Still, the people of Fhirdiad were hardy... They were survivors. They would overcome this trial as they had overcome the Dukedom's yoke. They were rallying, rallying behind the strength of their returned prince and soon-to-be king, and that would give them the much-needed impetus to continue forward into a brighter, more stable future. He had to admit, he shared Petra's admiration for them, in a detached sort of way. Any people who would choose to go down fighting to the last, regardless of their talents or experience, were people deserving of respect... even if all better sense said to leave the fighting to the soldiers.
Flights upon flights of stairs awaited him, rounding his way to the centrepiece of the battle where Raine awaited him, and he was not surprised to see that she had taken only Dimitri with her to the fore, while allowing for the rest of her men to spread out and quell the closest areas. Cornelia was well and truly surrounded, her guards' bodies lying about on the ground, but still the woman stood tall and proud and defiant even as Raine and Dimitri approached her warily. He dropped in from the north, opposite of his sister and from behind, and he silenced himself as he slowed to a crawl. He wanted the element of surprise for the worst case scenario, and he steeled his body, tensing himself as he overheard the exchanges happening just at the edge of his earshot.
"My, my... It's been such a long time, hasn't it, Your Highness? Look at you. You've grown so awfully strong."
Her voice dripped with venom, a rancid, disgusted hatred, and Warin could well imagine the smile she was wearing as she faced down both Dimitri and Raine without a trace of fear. The situation didn't seem to bother her an ounce, as if she had seen far worse, or thought those before her were mere insects, and she stood tall and proud despite the rivers of blood that ran from her fallen soldiers both at her feet and in the streets. Whether it was arrogance or confidence, Warin admittedly could not tell, but he did know that it made his spine stiffen, and his hands clench in instinctive want to separate that head from her body the moment he could.
"Tch... How shameless of you..." Dimitri's answer came in a low, growled snarl, his body tense with anger and his one good eye blazing with battle-light. But he still was calm, still was a centre of a storm rather than the raging whirlwind, and Warin knew full well it was Raine's influence that had let him regain his self-control. Still, he was testing his limits, coming face to face with one of the handful who had started him on this path of hatred and fear and vengeance, and that showed in his voice when he spoke again, "I bet it was you... You who killed my uncle, and had me framed all those years ago, wasn't it? Am I right?"
"Hah!" Cornelia's laughter was loud, loud and arrogantly proud, and it rang out like cracked bells from a ruined chapel as she held out her arms without a sign of shame or self-reflection. She truly did not care for his words, for his anger, and though Warin could not see her face, he could imagine the wicked, cruel grin that was spreading across it as she spoke almost regretfully, "Too true, too true, dear little prince... Aah, I'd already forgotten about that loveliness... And yet... There are so much more pressing matters to speak of... Your little friend... How dare you bring her here instead of killing that girl and playing your part as you were meant to? You simply had to go and ruin all of our so carefully laid plans, didn't you? Why can you children never do as you're expected?"
"So, you know of me, do you?" Raine's response came calm and almost neutrally, cutting off Dimitri from furthering into a rage and bringing full attention to herself with a tilt of her head and cold, calculating look in her seafoam-coloured eyes. Her sword was unsheathed and softly pulsing crimson in her hand, but she held it loosely at her side, as if she had no intention of using it just yet despite the threat. Her calm drew in Dimitri and helped to quell his knee-jerk reaction to charge forward, a clever move that gave her time, much needed time, as she continued on errantly, "How well do you know me, then? Do you call me by name, or is there another term you use for me?"
"You're a smart little girl... Too smart, I'm afraid, for your own good..." The reply came acidly, far more angrily than her dismissal of Dimitri had, and Warin twitched as his hands curled into tighter fists at his sides. Her entire tone and demeanour had changed in an instant, from arrogant and dismissive, to deadly and almost angry, and Warin felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in silent warning. It was as if an eagle was spreading its wings in a threat display, making itself seem ten times larger than it truly was to intimidate its prey or rivals, "I do so wish we could catch up a little, and yet... I'd much prefer you dead at my feet, little Fell Star. You've been a thorn that I've dearly been wishing to remove."
"So, then, you're one of them... Good to know. Then I won't waste my breath trading taunts. I'm going to kill you, but before I do, I'll give you a chance to speak." Raine's voice remained deceptively calm, deceptively casual, but her hand had tightened on her blade despite the fact that not an inch of her body had tensed, or changed its posture. She seemed as calm as if she was having a simple afternoon chat over tea with one of her students and not facing down an enemy commander, but that was simply one of her many talents as the Ashen Demon. She was back in full, true form, at her peak with no chains to hold or weigh her down, and that freedom made her dangerous, made her sharper than her blade when she continued on, "Tell me everything you know of the Tragedy of Duscur... and why it was so important for you to cause it."
"Such weighty accusations...! Yet... Mm. What would you do if I told you nothing? Kill me anyway? I know you can, Fell Star. But I don't fear death, so your threats mean little to me." It was an easy, effortless dodge, made still in that voice dripping hate and venom even as she tried to disguise it underneath pretty words and haughty, dismissive actions. Yet... After a moment, she looked from Raine to Dimitri instead, and her voice again changed, turning amused, sadistic as she almost mused in bittersweet longing for the memory, "But, still... I suppose a little reward, for getting this far, would not be remiss. A tale then... A tale of ten years ago, when a certain someone made a wish... A wish to see her real daughter again, no matter what or who she had to sacrifice to do so... and how I helped her make that wish come true, at the cost of the king's lovely head."
"You...! My stepmother...!"
A hand stretched out, calmly interrupting Dimitri's rage, and Warin watched, both spellbound and uncertain, as she carefully, gently, pressed the back of her hand against Dimitri's chest. The much taller prince had begun to stride forward, his hands gripping down powerfully on his lance, and yet with one simple touch she stopped him dead in tracks without having to look at him. Raine spoke quietly, firmly, as she kept her gaze on the woman before her as she instructed Dimitri in a commanding tone, "Not yet... I know what you feel, and what you want, but not yet. Still yourself. We'll get the answers we want, one way or another... Killing her now would be a waste, especially if you want the whole truth."
"You wound me! It is the whole truth. My dear Patricia wanted only to see her true family again, and at any cost." Cornelia answered with a sharp tinge of anger breaking through her facade, and Raine's patience, and her tight hold on Dimitri, was clearly something she had not expected, nor wanted to see. She outstretched her hands theatrically, playing to an invisible crowd even as a sneer curled her lips and made her voice ring out hallow and venomous in the stillness, "Her family meant everything to her! You certainly know that feeling yourself, do you not? And so I gave her aid, just as I am meant to. I gave her her dearest wish. But, I suppose the shock may make it seem like lies to you, yes, poor little prince? Unloved by the only mother he ever knew. So pitiful. So despairing... But it is the truth. It is what you asked for."
"You've failed to mention how fulfilling this wish of Patricia's was of any importance to you. Unless killing the king was your goal all along, and you simply used her wish to fulfil your own." Raine pointed out calmly, and she felt Dimitri twitch against the back of her hand as he looked from her, to Cornelia, and then back to her in surprise. She didn't regard him however, knowing that if she dared to take an eye from her opponent she very well could lose her head before she could blink. She had underestimated her and her kindred twice before, five years ago... She would not make the same mistake, and pay the same price now. She would answer the questions later, for she knew there would be many of them, but the more pressing concern stood in front of her, and made her voice sharp and unforgiving as she pressed harshly, "How much of what happened in Duscur was her want, and not that of you and yours?"
"You ask too many questions, Fell Star..." Frustration coloured her voice, frustration and a deep, dark hatred that once again raised Warin's hackles. He watched, keeping himself painfully still as he knew he must as Cornelia's hands clenched into fists at her side. Her work of taunting, weaving her tales of truths and lies were not working, and the anticipated outcome she craved was nowhere to be found. It made her play boring, and it made her angry that someone had come in ten steps ahead. Sparks began to flicker at her fingertips, and her voice was a sibilant snarl, losing all of her dramatic delivery and feminine charm as she growled out, "It's time to be rid of you."
"No, I think I've asked enough... and time grows short here. Whatever truth you have will be buried with you. I can see that in your eyes. But the order isn't mine to give." Raine replied with a shake of her head, but she steadied herself all the same as that first fireball flew. Her sword sang out with ease, cutting the spell in twain and sending the two halves harmlessly sailing by both her and Dimitri's sides to collide with the ledges behind them. Not even a speck of ash had touched them, and she looked to Dimitri, nodding her head as she gave way to him now, "It's your call. This is your business to settle, not mine. You gave me what I asked for. Now take what you want. The floor belongs to you."
Dimitri's hand tightened down on his lance... but he had no intention of stepping forward. Instead he raised his weapon, and slammed the blunt end down on the ground with one forceful, echoing strike. The pre-planned signal was answered the moment it was given, and with eager, bloodthirsty speed. The arrow flew straight and true from the tower, finding its home in the side of Cornelia's throat with almost no effort, and piercing on through from the force of the shot. He watched, teeth tightly gritted as the former mage of the Kingdom stumbled, choking on her own blood as her eyes widened in horrified shock. It would only take a handful of moments, moments that would spare both him and Raine injuries they could not afford to take in a prolonged battle after spending so much time healing that moon. He watched, impassively, as she fell to her knees, hands grasping at her throat before the life left her eyes, and her body sagged to the ground and fell entirely still.
Slowly, painfully slowly, Dimitri turned to see Raine watching him with careful, guarded eyes as Cornelia's corpse lay harmless and still before them and the capital's castle. Part of him was surprised, and yet another was numb... She had known. Her hunch had proven right, and he wasn't sure if that hurt him more than it startled him by how far ahead she was capable of seeing. His body stung, his heart ached, and he shook his head slowly, painfully slowly as he asked her quietly, tiredly, "How did you know? Or was it another one of your guesses?"
"It was an... educated guess, I suppose. You may have forgotten, all those years ago when we first overheard Edelgard as the Flame Emperor, speaking with Thales. He mentioned the Tragedy of Duscur being something they were responsible for... And I knew that kind of thing could not have been done without inside help from the Kingdom." Raine replied with a low, heavy sigh, and she shook the blood from her sword, carefully cleaning the edges of her blade on the leg of her trousers before she sheathed it in a slow, clean movement. "When I was told of Cornelia's immediate allegiance to the Empire, it made enough sense that she would be the traitor. Unless, of course... The Cornelia you knew was not the Cornelia she originally was. Kronya, Solon... Monica and Tomas... It seems to be a pattern, killing and replacing people with power, or influence, and using their faces to further their goals. Cornelia being another plant of sorts made much more sense than her being an opportunistic traitor. Especially considering the sheer speed with which she acted once Edelgard declared war."
Dimitri was silent, drinking in her words and seeing that she had accounted for things he had long ago discarded. He had been so quick to blame Edelgard, to not see past the betrayal and his hatred... but she had seen far more clearly, and thought far more logically. It bothered him, that he had not seen what was now so clear, and he simultaneously appreciated her foresight even if it made him wince. He had never gotten along well with his uncle, or with Cornelia, but to be told so bluntly that the woman once famous for saving his homeland was no more, and instead was merely another puppet as Solon and Kronya had been... He turned his head somewhat, eyeing the corpse of his enemy, before he asked quietly, gruffly, "Do you believe the same of my stepmother?"
"Patricia? I don't know enough of her to say so. And it isn't as if Cornelia, or whatever her real name was, was above spreading lies in order to break your spirit. She said so herself, that she wanted to see you despair... I wouldn't believe anything she said at face value." Raine replied with a firm shake of her head, but she well understood why Dimitri felt the urge to ask, and why, despite their victory, he looked so hallow. She couldn't imagine the hurt he was feeling, nor did she wish to. Her parents had loved her unconditionally, and if she had known that to be a lie, she was well aware it would have broken her to pieces. She looked down however, both uncomfortable and aching for him as she added quietly, "As naive as it sounds, and speaking only for myself... Even if she wished to go home, even if what was said about her desire to see her family was true, that doesn't make her responsible. Those dark-robed mages... They've all proven time and time again they prefer to use people, before they show their hand. Doesn't it make more sense that they would use Patricia's heartsickness to their advantage, before she herself would turn to murder?"
Dimitri wondered how much of her words were an attempt at comforting him, or if she was speaking honestly. But, in the moment... He had to admit it didn't matter. It was a gentle anchor, a preserver as he felt himself beginning to drift, beginning to drown, and he clung to it desperately. Cornelia's words had shaken him, and shaken him badly. To think, the woman who had cared for him had never actually loved him at all, and had conspired to have him and his father murdered... Had been responsible for all that had haunted him since he was little more than a boy... He didn't want to believe it, even if it was true. And hearing her give credence to an alternative, to another motive that made her as much of a victim as anyone else... That he could swallow more easily.
"Dimitri, I'm-" Raine squeaked in alarm as he cut her apology off, pulling her close and wrapping his arms about her in a fierce bear-hug. She stood there silent in surprise, uncertain and concerned, but she felt that gentle tremor in those strong, encompassing arms and she allowed herself to forget the embarrassment and the worry. She leaned in close, resting her cheek against his shoulder as her own arms reached to wind themselves about his waist to return his embrace. It hurt, knowing that he was again so damned vulnerable and in pain, and that she was partially responsible for it. It made her teeth grind, and she tightened her hold before murmuring fiercely, "I'm going to help you find out the truth of all this, Dimitri. No matter what it takes, I promise that I will help you uncover the facts, and those responsible will be found. I promise."
Dimitri heaved out a long, shaky breath into the top of her hair as he squeezed her closer, mindful of his armour and yet wanting to feel her closer in his arms all the same. He wondered, as he had been for the past several weeks what he had done to deserve her or her kindness. She spoke so earnestly, so clearly of wanting to make sure he had closure, to uncover the mystery and put things right, even in the midst of all the chaos about her. He couldn't understand where that drive came from, when she was the one in the most need of support and a shoulder to lean on, but... Still, there she was, again putting him first, above all else, simply because she wished to. It made him ache, both with want and with that deep, smouldering affection that was slowly burning him from the inside-out, and he whispered raggedly into her hair as he allowed himself one more lingering squeeze, "Thank you... It means... everything to me that you'd say those words... But for now... For now, we can put it aside. There's still much to do, and we'll need to turn our attention there, for the time being."
Raine bit her lip, about to argue, but she couldn't get the words out as she heard the sound of the troops approaching in the distance. The city was cleansed of the Empire and Dukedom soldiers, and with Cornelia fallen... The army was coming back together again. Injuries would need attending to, the city would need to be inspected for rebuilding, and corpses would need to be buried... It was more tedious than the battle itself, but she was quickly becoming used to the lifestyle of war. Still... For a moment, just one moment, she wanted to ignore it all and nestle in close to his arms and pretend that nothing else mattered, and it could just be them for awhile longer.
"What is that sound...?" Dimitri spoke quietly, uncertainly as he finally allowed himself to pull away from her and back towards the streets. It was a din of noise, growing louder the closer it came, and he didn't believe for a moment it was their soldiers. It was too raucous for trained men and women to be making, even if the taking of Fhirdiad was indeed something to be celebrating. He stepped to the ramparts with Raine following him like a shadow, and he felt his breath catch in his chest as he heard the chanting, the cheering, rising through the streets. He could catch a glimpse of them now, the civilians and smallfolk, now rushing like a tidal wave amongst the soldiers towards the castle, and he froze both with uncertainty and shock as the sounds came to his ears, yet still somehow failed to register.
"Your name. They're cheering you're name." Raine murmured as she watched the crowd rush about the stairwell, with hundreds of faces staring up in excitement and glee to see their prince above them after all of the fighting had finally ceased. Amongst them stood her students, as well as Rodrigue's men, and to a man, all of them were joining the chant for their future king, and the liberator of their home. She couldn't help but smile, turning to look up at the startled, unsure look on the man's face beside her, and she slid her hand gently into his as she reassured him softly, "You came home to them. You freed them from the Dukedom. This is your welcome, and your thanks... Your Majesty."
From behind the walls, Warin ducked away as the chaos at the front of the stairs grew louder, but he cared little for the celebration, as wise a move as he understood it to be. Rodrigue had allowed the smallfolk back into the city once it had been cleared, and of course every single man, woman, and child that had remained in Fhirdiad had raced as one to welcome back their future king. He and his men had saved them from the Empire, and now he was receiving a hero's welcome... Proof that he was where he belonged, and that he had made the correct decision in returning for his people. It almost made him chuckle, knowing full well Rodrigue had known this would be the reception Dimitri would get, but he supposed that was simply the way of politics, and reinforcing the change that had set them all on this path in the first place.
Still, even though he did feel that surge of relief for the end of the fighting, Warin didn't cede to it as he slid amongst the walls and back to the stairwells. His mind was for one thing and one thing only now that he knew his sister was safe and in protective hands. The crowds were being diverted straight through the city, giving him a clear route to the tower, and he took full advantage of the distraction to make his way there as fast as his feet could carry him. It only took him a handful of minutes, taking the stairs three at a time to make it to the entryway where Shamir had set her nest far up top, and he caught sight of her just as she was leaving, quiver and bow strapped to her back, and a small, light smile playing on her lips from the satisfaction of a job well done.
In one smooth movement Warin pushed her back into the darkness of the stairway, grasping her hands and pinning them to the wall as he leaned down and captured her mouth with his without preamble. After one brief moment of surprise, Shamir melted, sighing against his lips as she relaxed against his chest, eagerly responding to his hunger and want without hesitation. He only lifted his head when the need for air made him dizzy, but he didn't pull back from her. Instead he leaned in further, trapping her between the cold stone and his chest as he ducked his face into her shoulder, nuzzling her neck with a long, tired breath as his arms curled up against her own to lessen the space between their bodies.
"You're breaking the rules." Shamir remarked idly, but if she was annoyed, her voice and body didn't show it as she leaned her head back to give him more room to nuzzle. He had caught her off guard, but that didn't much bother her either, especially if this was to be her reception on the completion of her mission. She knew it had pained him to separate from her, he had been her shadow ever since what had happened in Grondor, and this was merely his way of showing his concern for her safety, and his need to be close to her. She slid one hand free of his, reaching to lovingly brush her fingers through his matted navy curls as she asked with a hint of a smile, "Do you not care about keeping us a secret anymore?"
"Everyone's busy cheering at the princeling. We've time." Warin dodged the question, brushing his mouth along her throat to elicit a quiet gasp, and he pushed her more firmly against the stone to feel every single curve of her body flattening out against the harder planes of his. She felt too damned good against him, intoxicating and hot and soft all at once, and it made him burn with want of her, regardless of the time and place. He knew he was behaving like a child, running to her for comfort and security, but he admittedly didn't care how bad he had to look. She gave him grounding, allowed him to show he was weak, and he relished it selfishly as he nipped at her earlobe, "Give me a few minutes..."
"You know you don't need to ask." Shamir told him quietly, and she reached to wind her arms about his neck to hold him more firmly against her for the moment. They were safely tucked away, and from what she had seen from her vantage point up above, no one was about to notice them missing. Even if someone were, it truly wasn't as if she cared. When he had explained why he had wanted to keep their relationship close to the chest, she had not argued. They were mercenaries, and moreover, they both had no need or desire to share their personal lives with others. One day the secret would get out, if it hadn't already, but Warin was jealous of his privacy, and he wanted to keep her to himself for as long as he was able. She knew the feeling and shared it, so she found no reason to complain. It wasn't as if they were ashamed of one another. She wouldn't be wearing his mother's ring if she was. They simply wanted to be able to enjoy one another, for as long as they could, in uninterrupted and private bliss for as long as possible.
Shamir bit her lip, keeping herself silent as she felt Warin's mouth travelling lovingly across her neck, finding the hammering pulse point before sinking his teeth against her skin. She swallowed her groan, feeling that familiar surge of heat blossoming deep in her middle, and she wondered idly if there was enough time to steal a round or two before anyone noticed that they were missing. From the noticeable bulge in his trousers as he pressed up against her, she could tell the same thought was on his mind, and she tangled her fingers in his hair as she reminded him regretfully, "Your sister will notice you're gone..."
"I know." Warin sighed just as mournfully, but he didn't release his hold on her all the same. He wanted to feel her body against his, wanted to hear her breath in his ear and her heartbeat under his palm, and he wasn't about to let her go until he had his fill. It was becoming a terrible habit, seeking her out after every battle, every mission, to steal her away like this if they weren't paired together, but he couldn't find it in himself to stop. It was the only thing that kept him steady, the only thing he felt safe in grasping for, and he nuzzled against her neck again, feathering gentle kisses over the bite mark he had left, "I'll speak to her later, once things settle down..."
"You ought to. As much as I enjoy this, and I do enjoy this... You need to let her know how much she worried you this past moon." Shamir hated to be so stern with him, especially when she was fully relishing in how his touch made her feel and how much it made her want him, but she knew it was only a momentary bandage over a broken limb. He was hiding himself from his sister, choosing instead to indulge in her for comfort and safety, and while she fully understood why he was holding himself back... He couldn't do so forever. And she couldn't continue to reap the benefits of his fear, either. It simply wasn't right of her. "The prince can have her every other night, but you've known her longer. He can miss her for one while you reconnect."
"So you've watched as closely as I have, huh?"
Shamir pulled a face, not entirely sure if she liked his tone, or the implication... yet she couldn't entirely deny the fact that she had been watching. Almost everyone had, though most had the grace to look away at least when it came to the more intimate comings and goings of their professor and prince. Shamir however hadn't felt that such grace was needed, and she knew full well more nights than not that the two were sharing her quarters. She wouldn't admit she entirely approved, but they were both adults, and it wasn't as if she had any right to interfere with their relationship, as such as it was. And she shook her head, leaning back against the wall as she glanced up to her own lover to meet his half-amused navy stare before she answered honestly, "Of course I have. I may not be one of her students, but she's always treated me well, and fairly. I'm as fond of her as most here are, and I worried with the rest of them after Grondor... I wasn't about to quit worrying, just because she was up and about."
Warin bit the inside of his cheek to fight a smile, and he rested his weight on his arm as he leaned against the wall to spare her from his pin for the moment as they took the time to talk in the privacy of the stairwell. Even from where they were they could clearly hear the cheers and the shouts, and he could well imagine just how vexing and discomforting it had to be for the prince. He admitted, somewhat vindictively, that he hoped it lasted, that Dimitri continued to feel the weight of his burden and all that came with it for awhile longer, though he knew such thoughts would likely get him chastised harshly by his sister. It made him question, though he knew it wasn't entirely fair of him to do so, "Do you approve?"
"If it makes her happy, I suppose I do. It isn't as if I have a right to tell her what she can or can't do with herself. She knows full well what we're doing, and never once has she made a hint about it." Shamir pointed out wryly, and the rueful look on her lover's face only made her sigh. They both knew that Raine's eye was keen, and she had to have noticed their behaviour despite all attempts to not show anything outside of the bedroom. They couldn't always help themselves, and even if they had been perfect... The battlefield was a hellish and hectic place, where emotions ran high, and even they, as practised as they were, couldn't keep a calm head one hundred percent of the time. "I don't wish to hypocritical... Nor do I wish to turn things about, considering how much progress has been made since she woke. And say what you will, as small as it looks, but she has improved, and it's incredibly relieving."
"I've seen it. I know." Warin admitted with a nod, but still some dark, vicious part of him wished that it wasn't so. It was selfish and cruel of him, angry and bitter, but there was no denying that his sister had grown healthier in the past several weeks that she had been with Dimitri constantly at her side. He had coaxed her out of her quarters and back into the thick of things in the monastery, and side by side, they were once again taking their places as the commander's leader and prince respectively inside of the rebellion. It was a good change, as small as it was, but still... It had to be him. Despite all the pain he had inflicted on her, directly and indirectly, it was him who was healing her now, and bringing back her smile when he had been the one to take it away in the first place. "I'd still love to draw and quarter the dastard, but... I can't find it in me to do it. I've seen what you've seen... and I know Raine. For better or worse, it's him she chose. I can't, and I won't, interfere with that."
"Even though you hate it with every fibre of your being. You're a better soul than I. I'd beat him over the head on principle, but he's doing it well enough without my input. That's the only reason he's given me to stay." Shamir noted with a shake of her head, but the acid in her voice fell flat as Warin watched her with quiet, longing eyes. She reached up to touch his cheek, fingers dragging south to caress the long scar on his throat before she continued, "Regardless of him... You still need to speak with her. I understand why you've kept your distance, she needed the time to heal and decompress, but she's as stable as she ever will be now... You, on the other hand, are not."
"Have I been that much of an annoyance to you?" Warin asked half-jokingly, but he felt the pulse of concern even as Shamir's fingers rapped his cheek reproachfully at the question. Her violet eyes hardened, looking at him sharply for daring to question her emotions when it concerned him, and he closed his eyes, surrendering his weight to embrace her gently in apology. She took it after a moment, curling her arms about his waist again, and he nestled his face against her hair, breathing in that sharp, refreshing scent of pine resin and leather before he sighed, "I will speak to her, I promise... I know I should have earlier, but... Seeing her like that in Grondor, and then afterwards, in the infirmary..."
He didn't need to finish his sentence, and Shamir tightened her hold on him comfortingly as she knew where his thoughts were taking him. Five years later, and the loss of his father still stung as if it had happened yesterday. He tried not to dwell, and he performed his duties in mourning as often as he could, and now more often than not with her beside him, but it did not lessen his pain. He has lost his mother and his father, and his sister was all he had left. To narrowly lose her, and to see her in the worst of it, dangling by a mere thread... It had taken a harsh toll on him. Only his love for her, his love and concern for breaking her further, had kept him from reaching out before she was well. Now, he had no excuse save his pride, and it was not a good enough excuse to continue to delay. "You know full well she loves you. And you also know she won't judge you for your worry."
"She may for my anger."
The hoarsely muttered words in her neck made her smile ruefully, but she couldn't quite help herself as she reached to stroke her fingers once more through his hair comfortingly. She understood, but... She also could not quite entirely blame his sister if she did decide to judge him for his anger. After all, if the positions had been reversed... Would she have been able to stand idly by? Would he? She knew the answer, and she knew he knew it, too. It made her squeeze him closer, just for a moment, before she reminded him gently, "If she does, that's her right. As long as you remember that, then you're free to feel as you wish. She'll understand that much. She's a good woman, and she loves you. You can bicker all you like about it, but don't be hypocritical, and you two will reach an accord easily enough."
Warin pressed another soft kiss to her neck, lingering for a moment before he finally drew away and looked down at her expression. She was watching him with soft eyes, her concern readily apparent, but also tinged with earnest affection. It was only during moments like these, stolen between the two of them, that he got a chance to see her without her guard up. That, he knew, though, was his own fault. They were too practised at professionalism, and it wasn't easy to break. It didn't help that he still was so damned possessive of her, either. He sighed again, his thumbs rubbing idle circles into her hips before he promised quietly, "I'll speak to her, once things settle down... We'll be here in Fhirdiad likely a few days. I'll have plenty of opportunities without being a bother."
"If you think she'll find you a bother, you've sorely lost touch with her." Shamir remarked with a roll of her eyes, but her voice was still kind as she watched him watching her. He knew everything she was saying was right, and he wasn't making an effort to deny her. He was simply tired of the facade, and also wary of the conversation to come. It was his right to be, all things considered, which she supposed was why she hadn't taken him to task until now over it. He had been a broken man after all of the anger had gone out of him, broken and fearful and shaken, and she hadn't wanted to make it worse while his sister healed. Even after her waking, she still needed time to settle and re-adjust, and her new relationship with the prince made Warin even more cautious about where to place his feet. He was doing his best to give his sister her space and his respect... but he couldn't do it forever. "Give it another day or two, while this place is cleaned up and things are sorted. When the celebrations start, you'll have your window of opportunity."
Warin almost chuckled, and he wondered why he hadn't considered that the rebellion's success would of course provoke a wild celebration when combined with the future king's return. Of course, all questions of coronations and formality were still likely far beyond them, but having secured a foothold back in their homeland... It made sense that for once, their victory could be savoured and celebrated, for the living and for the dead. He shook his head idly, reaching up to caress Shamir's cheek as he mused, "All that time with everyone prancing about and getting drunk, and I'll be missing out on hiding away with you. You won't mind waiting for me, will you?"
"Catherine will shake me down once she gets a spare moment. She's caught our scent, and she's been dying for a chance to corner me for the past several days. The march and the fighting is the only reason I haven't been pinned to a wall yet." Shamir answered with a laugh, and Warin's face, a look of surprise and fear, didn't do her any favours for her amusement. It was true that she and her partner had long since reconciled over their differences between their duties and faith and friendship, but they all were aware that she and Warin would likely never truly get along. That, of course, was not of concern to Shamir, but it was obvious Warin considered it something to be worried about, and she couldn't stop herself from snickering as she remarked, "Don't look so afraid, or she'll be after you next. The woman can smell fright. She's not about to go threatening you, as much as I know she'd love to. She may not like you, but she respects you as a soldier. And you can say the same, yeah?"
"Of course." Warin's agreement came readily and honestly, and there was no trace of a lie in his sharp navy eyes as she looked to him expectantly. While he had always been careful to avoid stepping his foot into any sort of conflict between the women, and he had tempered himself about Catherine out of respect for Shamir... It was still true that all personal differences aside that Catherine was a true soldier, and she well deserved her Relic, and her title. No amount of differences of faith or loyalty would ever make him belittle her as a warrior. It simply was not his way. Still... He did allow for more honestly than likely was wise as he admitted somewhat wryly, "I suppose my only worry is that she wouldn't approve. But, I know you. You don't ask for approval."
"No, I don't. But Catherine also knows me, so she won't be giving approval. She simply wants me to acknowledge you to her. Which is fair enough, considering all we've been through. She's still my partner, even if we will eventually be parting ways someday." Shamir replied honestly, and she mused that the thought was a bittersweet one, which she had not expected. Five years ago, when things had been so tense, she hadn't considered that her attachments to Fódlan would one day make her wish to stay instead of keeping to her feet as she had all her life. Now... She had grown fond of this place and its people, even if it was not hers to claim. But that was a topic for another day, long, long in the future, and she shrugged as she added, "And regardless, this gives me a chance to get a few jabs in about Seteth. She can have a taste of her own medicine if she wants to drag me through the mud for a laugh."
"I'm keeping my nose far out of that one. I'll stay somewhere with Alois and listen to him crack bad jokes all night before I even so much as think as glancing your way if that's how you intend to go about it." Warin raised his hands in supplication as he shook his head, and the sound of Shamir laughing at him brought a smile to his face. He felt lighter than he had in weeks... Perhaps moons, even. He leaned down just once more, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head before he sighed, "We should be getting back before someone comes looking."
"Another minute." Shamir disagreed, and she reached for his collar, pulling him down slightly before capturing his lips with her own in a proper kiss. He surrendered immediately, and she could not help but smile as his strong arms drew her back into his chest, pulling her as close as he could as they again stole a moment in the darkness of the stairwell. Her fingers combed gently through his hair, stroking, caressing as he nipped her lower lip to deepen the embrace. It was risky, to keep him here, but... She didn't mind the gamble, especially when the payoff was so sweet. She was as selfish as he was at times, not wishing to share what they had, even with those she was close with, and for as long as she could, she wanted to savour him being hers and hers alone. They were permitted that much, after all they'd done and been through, weren't they?
"I love you."
"Mm... I love you, too."
AN:
These last few weeks, I've had trouble with my desire to write, and my desire to continue on with this project, and, at several times, I've considered scrapping all of it entirely and leaving it here, unfinished because I sometimes find myself not liking writing it anymore. For as long as I've been writing, I made myself a promise that I would not ever write for others. I write solely for myself and my own satisfaction. To improve on my craft so I one day feel like I can do my original stories and the characters within them justice with a skill level I have yet to attain. Sharing my work with others, seeking their insights and criticism and sharing in their emotions has helped me become a better author, and I thoroughly enjoy entertaining people and sharing my worlds with them and making them feel the things I feel (or just feel things in general) and never once have I thought it to be a burden. It was and is a genuine joy, and a privilege to be able to do this, and I've gained a lot of experience over my last fourteen years on this website.
Lately however, that mindset has changed. I've been receiving review after review, every week I post, that does not pertain to what I am writing, or even who I am writing about. I have tried to address their behaviour multiple times in private via PMs, and only now am I addressing it in public because those attempts went unanswered. I do not like falling to this level, and though I won't name you, I'm very aware that you know exactly who you are. I am not writing this story for you. The characters you love are not the focus of my works, and being told constantly about your opinions and infatuations and where you want my story to go has gone from irritating to outright rude and now painful. I want to quit writing because of your reviews. I don't enjoy doing what I do because I dread your reviews in my inbox. I've tried to address your lack of politeness. I've tried to tell you to tone it down. Nothing's worked. I'm resorting to this as a last-ditch attempt to make you understand exactly what your behaviour is doing to me, before I have no other choice but to purge your reviews, ban and block you from my content, and force you to look elsewhere for entertainment. I'm aware this all sounds dramatic, and probably overblown, but writing is one of my few pleasures and passions, and I cannot stress enough how much your rudeness is ruining it for me.
So, I'm leaving this as a warning, a threat, and a general message because I imagine anyone else reading this is probably confused, irritated, or wondering if I'm addressing them, and not you. So stop it. This story isn't for you. It's for me. If you want to see your favourite characters written so badly, go seek out work where they are featured as the main focus. You are well aware by now that they aren't in my story. I don't care about your opinions or your wants or interests anymore. Especially because you've shown very little care about mine. Leave another review as you have before, and I will make good on my promise. I want to write. I want to enjoy this world I've created without feeling pressured to write a story I've no intention of writing. I want to finish this work the way I intended it to be finished. Are you going to allow me to do that, or are you going to force my hand? The choice is up to you now.
As for everyone else, I'm very sorry you've had to read through that. I'm only resorting to this because my PMs have gone unanswered, and I don't want to arbitrarily block someone without trying to get through to them first. I won't be posting another AN like this again, as I imagine this problem will solve itself before my next update. I apologize in advance also if my future chapters are a little late, or disjointed. I will do my best to edit them again to bring them back up to snuff. I appreciate all of my readers and reviewers, and I am genuinely sorry that my problems can impact your entertainment. Thank you for your patience, and my apologies for the trouble.
Mood: Irritated.
Listening To: "Joanne" - Lady Gaga
~ Sky