Genres/Ratings: Introspective, Mystery, Friendship, Family, War, Romance. (M)

Characters: Dimitri, Raine, Rodrigue, Gilbert, Warin, Seteth.

Summary: The taking back of the Silver Maiden had been a brutal battle, even for the bolstered and determined troops of the rebellion... but it had been done, and Arianrhod had once again found herself in the capable hands of the Kingdom forces. Yet, that would not be the end of things. The Empire's machinations had stretched far and plunged in deep, and the whispers that had been tightly held to the chest could no longer be kept secret. With Lord Arundel leading the armies invading the Alliance, the time had come for the truth to be released, if they hoped to find the real enemy they were seeking for.

Garland Moon

Garreg Mach (Knight's Hall)

Nightfall

"I am afraid that I do not understand all of this, Your Highness... You mean to tell me that you believe not only Cornelia, but Lord Arundel as well are imposters, and are also likely behind the Tragedy of Duscur? Upon what do you base these accusations?"

Gilbert's voice was startled and confused, which, Raine supposed, was an accurate reaction to the speculation that he was currently hearing. To almost everyone at the table, barring herself, her brother, and Dimitri, it had to sound almost ludicrous. Yet, she had seen enough, and heard enough to know that her suspicions were no longer just idle speculations. Cornelia herself had proven it for them in Fhirdiad, and with Warin and Dimitri's backing, she had felt comfortable in assembling her advisors to brief them on what she now knew. She had expected their reaction, and had prepared for it, but she still had to wonder idly if perhaps they had broached the subject too soon. After all, they had no proof but Dimitri's suspicions of his former uncle, but even then, everything else seemed to fall just too neatly into place to leave it underneath the rug.

It did not help that their confirmation that Lord Arundel was leading the assault on the Alliance's forces had boxed them rather effectively into a corner. The Empire was still reeling, now having lost two major battles in a row with the recapturing of Fhirdiad and the retaking of the Silver Maiden, and Arundel leading in the Emperor's footsteps straight into Derdriu only meant that time was of the essence. Their advisors at the very least needed to be made aware of their suspicions, even if they were to be fruitless, simply to be prepared for the dangers that would come if they were proven true. Underestimating their enemies had proven to be their biggest mistake five years ago. They could not be naive enough to do it twice.

Warin was the one who spoke up when Raine hesitated, and he was sitting down in a nearby chair, feet up on the table in contrast the rest of those in the room who were standing and looking about at one another in confusion and anxiety. To the rest of them, he looked unconcerned and unbothered, which he knew his sister was grateful for when she shot him a look as he explained, arms crossed over his chest and his voice calm and blunt, "Mathematics. All of this is simple mathematics if you follow the established pattern. Everything we've outlined for you follows their exact methodology, down to the letter. We've proof with Cornelia. The likelihood of being wrong on Arundel is slim to none, considering all of the current facts we have at hand."

Rodrigue tilted his head, intrigued despite himself as he reflected on the conversation he had had with Gilbert on the Great Bridge concerning Patricia. Though Gilbert had resisted it fiercely, he had not been able to shake his own doubts. What he was being told, of this mysterious group hiding in the shadows and working with the Empire as a front... He could well enough follow the logic that the siblings, and his future king, had been using to reach their conclusion. It also did fit into the established pattern they had discovered, with Tomas and Monica and now Cornelia, and he was not about to dismiss them. Yet, he did have to admit as he looked to Warin, "You seem quite convinced of all of this. What, beyond the patterns you've noticed, makes you so sure?"

"Again, it's just mathematics. Every single person in this room has had their doubts about all of this from the very beginning concerning all these so-called "minor" details. All the inconsistencies, the things that simply didn't add up, the mysteries... They've been there from the start, but for whatever reason, you all were content to never dig into your suspicions, and so you let the matter lie for fear of what the truth meant." Warin answered bluntly, and he cast a scathing glance about the room, meeting every noble's eyes with scorn and dismissal as they all failed to hold his gaze for more than a moment or two in obvious proof that he had hit a deeply buried nerve. It almost made him want to laugh, if it wasn't so damned infuriating. How much time had they lost, because no one but them had chosen to search further? How many deaths could have been prevented? They had to be beyond count, and he laid all of the corpses at the feet of the men before him as he continued, "I saw what was before me, and dug to find more. The pieces of the puzzle were there, and putting them together was not a titanic effort. Your cowardice blinded you. That is your fault, not mine. If you wish to close your eyes to the idea of there being another, larger threat behind the Empire, that is also your choice, but you should step down from the mantle of "advisors" and allow others with more open minds to take your place before we lose more innocents. If this war is to continue even after the fall of the Empire, then it must continue. Are you willing to go as far as you must to completely bury the threats your homeland, or not? It's that simple."

"Warin, that's enough." Raine scolded him slightly as she saw the rippling of shame and guilt on the faces of the men before her, and she settled a reproachful, but gentle hand on her brother's shoulder. He was not necessarily wrong, and she admitted that, but it didn't change the fact that he was being unnecessarily cruel with his choice of words. Of course, she did understand. He, like her, was still harbouring a good deal of resentment for the lack of aid these men had given her while still forcing her to lead. Unlike her, however, he had no fear in bringing such topics into the light, brutally if he must, because he had no patience or empathy for them and their reasons. She reminded him gently, knowing full well it wouldn't change his mind whatsoever, but not wanting to have him make himself an enemy to the people they were trying to convince, "They've been given quite a lot to take in tonight. It's understandable that they'd find it hard to swallow straight away. They're permitted to be shaken, and to have questions. As well as doubts."

"Not to the point of paralysis."

Raine sighed heavily, wondering if her brother's combativeness was worth his perception, especially as she saw that look go about her advisors' faces at Warin's choice of words. He truly did not give a damn about any of them, and was unafraid to show it. It was not a good look for him, and it was obviously raising tensions that didn't need to be raised. She shook her head, scolding him again even though there was a good portion of her that was enjoying watching Rodrigue, Seteth, and Gilbert squirming underneath her brother's cold lash, "Warin, if you're not going to do anything but drive the hammer down, you can keep quiet until we need you. Keep it up, and you'll start a brawl, which we really don't need right now. We're trying to convince these men to believe us, not want to kill you for being so blatantly insulting."

"No, I believe Warin's words have merit, and it's well worth listening to him." Dimitri spoke up, making both siblings, as well as the trio of men in the room turn to look at him in surprise. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling, especially when both Raine and Warin were looking at him as if they had never seen him before, but he soldiered on regardless. He had been the one to bring their trusted advisors there for this talk, and he had thoroughly put himself behind their theories and concerns, and though he understood Raine's concern for Warin's behaviour turning off his allies... What did that matter to the truth? He continued firmly, looking about at each person in the small, closed-off room as he spoke, "Complacency has bought us nothing but pain, and given our enemies an upper hand that has nearly brought every person in this room to an early end at least once. We cannot afford to keep shutting our eyes and ears out of fear of what we might find. And I speak of this from my own personal experience, as you all well know. There is a very real chance that my stepmother, that Patricia, may have had a hand in the Tragedy of Duscur. Whether or not the details are more in her favour or against it matters not. The truth remains. If I were to close my eyes and ears to this fact, and refused to dig further, the truth would be lost entirely... and the fault for that would solely be my own. I cannot live with such a thing. You all must ask yourselves if you can, or cannot, as well."

Raine slid her hand surreptitiously into Dimitri's as he spoke, interlacing their fingers and glad that their cloaks, and the immediate looks and mutters around the room was enough of a cover for it. She hated hearing him say such things, even though she was well aware that he had every right to be as cautious and pessimistic as he was. Nothing that they had discovered, nothing that they had seen or heard, was doing anything to paint Patricia in any sort of warm light. It was a theory and nothing more than she was a victim, and the more they looked and heard of the pains that had been taken to help her survive the Tragedy... It seemed her role was not as small as they had initially hoped.

Dimitri did not show an outward reaction, though he was glad as he felt Raine's hand slipping into his to give him a comforting squeeze. He understood her intent well enough, and also her concern. She had been the one after all to give him a sliver of hope to hold onto, and though that sliver was rapidly growing smaller and smaller... He still appreciated that her knee-jerk reaction to understanding all of this had to been to look for the best possible option, to give him comfort and hope, even if it seemed far-fetched. That alone was enough for him. He had accepted that he might be disappointed, but that would not break him. He had his memories, and his own feelings, which were just as true as any fact he would one day learn. That would be enough. But he returned the pressure of her fingers, and continued on firmly as she supported him in silence, "Having said all of that, now... I would now know your stances. Do you believe in our speculations, or do you see them as nonsense?"

There was a pause as Rodrigue, Gilbert and Seteth looked about at one another thoughtfully. Gilbert and Rodrigue held glances the longest, while Seteth however reached for a nearby chair and settled himself into it. His brow was deeply furrowed, and he clasped his hands under his chin, his sharp eyes speculative and thoughtful as he began slowly, carefully, "I will admit, all of this does indeed fit the pattern you have provided... Especially when you bring up Monica, and Tomas. Cornelia, you say, fits this pattern, and you have proven that she was also amongst this number that we saw five years prior with what you have discovered. Arundel has changed in a similar manner, and without any seemingly rational cause, just as Cornelia supposedly did. It is justifiable to assume he may be amongst their numbers as well."

"I will agree on that point. There is seemingly a sound pattern to be following here." Rodrigue spoke up, nodding to Seteth as he likewise took a nearby seat to join the discussion properly. Gilbert stood still and to the side, clearly uncomfortable with the topic at hand and what it meant, but the nobleman could understand his hesitation. He was a knight first before he was a noble, and his loyalty to the royal family was absolute. It was why he had become so defensive when the topic had been broached before, but now, Rodrigue was well aware that there was no more time left to be patient, or understanding. If His Highness had brought this to their attention with such certainty... "Cornelia's actions were a mystery to many, especially after the aid she provided to the Kingdom... but it all was overlooked, even by the king himself, because of the lives she saved... If I was to install a plant, or a spy, into an enemy nation... It would make sense to use such a person as their cover. Though, I am to imagine, that like Monica and Tomas, this means that the true Cornelia must be dead...?"

"That is most likely, which also brings into speculation that the true Lord Arundel is also dead, if we are to look at when his abrupt change in behaviour took place." Seteth answered affirmatively, and his eyes narrowed further as he studied the map in front of him with a new, fresh perspective. Lord Arundel's withdrawal from the church had not raised any suspicions when it had first happened, as he was not the first noble to do so, and he most likely would not be the last... but now, taking into account of what had happened to Monica and Tomas, when they had likewise been realized as mere disguises for this group.. The pattern was incredibly clear, and too much to dismiss out of hand. "It seems that this enemy of ours is capable of much, and has been working for a very long time to create instability... This is not new, and it is not the first time that Fódlan has seen itself attacked by shadowy groups of questionable nature, and yet... My only question however then, is what are they truly after, and why?"

"That's easy enough to answer. It's power. Power, and control. As old as time itself." Raine answered easily, and her eyes were flat and her expression completely neutral as she unsheathed her blade from her belt and placed it onto the table without any preamble. All who had taken a seat withdrew automatically from its presence, something that made her smile grimly, and she continued on as she knew she had the full attention of everyone in the room as she spoke clearly, laying her hand protectively over the Sword of the creator's hallow socket as the words left her lips, "What they wanted from the start was this, and they had the perfect puppet in place for it, long before it fell into my hands by sheer accident. Think of that. How far ahead they thought and planned, to obtain the power they wanted. And that's how desperate, or bold, they are in order to get it. Any enemy with such potential should be treated with utmost caution and suspicion... and decimated with absolute prejudice. Imagine if they had somehow managed to get the Sword of the Creator into Edelgard's hands. Fódlan would have been firmly under her heel in under a year after she declared war if it had gone as they wanted."

"That would be impossible. She would need the Crest of Flames to wield that blade." Gilbert spoke up for the first time, his eyes narrowed as he looked to the Relic that Raine had placed so carelessly in front of the room full of warriors. It was true enough that how she wielded it was still beyond him, even if she did have the Crest of Flames, as the Crest Stone still was missing from the blade. If anyone but her was to wield it, there were risking their lives and souls to its mercy, and would soon suffer a fate worse than death by transforming into a Black Beast. He has seen it firsthand with Miklan. The power of a Relic was a horrible temptation, but the price one would pay by misusing it was also far more than the victories that could be gained with it in hand. "We are all aware her Crest is the Crest of Seiros, not the Crest of Flames. She would never be able to handle the Sword of the Creator."

"Not... necessarily." Seteth spoke very slowly, comprehension dawning in his eyes as he looked to the siblings before him, then to Dimitri, and then finally back to Gilbert. It made his mouth taste like acid, and yet... He shook his head. Hanneman had thought himself sly, but the truth was that his studies with the Golden Deer had not gone unnoticed. Nor had Lindhart's fascination with that certain white-haired mage from House Ordelia. There had always been sharp eyes within the monastery, watching, evaluating... and he cursed quietly to himself as he explained, "There has been an instance of someone with not one, but two Crests in the last decade... A former student in the Golden Deer house, to be exact. It is true, that the secondary Crest did not come into existence naturally, but it was there, all the same. Professor Hanneman did much to hide it in an attempt to further his own research, but those above knew. If it has happened once, it most certainly could have happened again. And with these enemies possessing the materials and knowledge that they do to already perform such feats... It isn't out of the question that Edelgard may indeed also be a bearer of the Crest of Flames."

"She has it. There's no doubt. I took her blood from Raine's blade to give to Professor Hanneman shortly after Grondor. He found the evidence when I told him what we were searching for. Edelgard was being conditioned to wield the Sword of the Creator... Unfortunately for her, it fell into Raine's hands before it could be stolen." Warin interjected before anyone could argue, and it was not with any pleasure that he slid his trump card from out of his sleeve to cut the arguments short and get straight to the facts. It hadn't been out of careless ease that he had taken Raine's blade from her clothing in the infirmary. He wanted to test his theory, and obtaining a sample of Edelgard's blood to provide to Hanneman had been his only recourse. And Hanneman, much to his surprise, had already proven that he had harboured similar suspicions of his own. "We can safely say that the Sword of the Creator was indeed meant to be in Edelgard's hands, per the machinations of Thales and his ilk... We were lucky to have avoided that."

A terse, anxious silence filled the room, and all eyes, whether by their own will or no, eventually returned to the Relic that lay so innocuously on the table before them. All of them at one point or another had seen exactly what it could do, and just how far it outclassed the other Hero Relics of old. It was no jest that this weapon before them was something of legends, and of horror. Warin was completely right in saying that the blade ending up in Raine's hands was a stroke of good fortune. It was indeed quite possible that if their enemy had had their way, that Edelgard would have conquered the Alliance and Kingdom far faster with it in her hand. Raine herself had already proven just how deadly it was, and with the ease she used it... The room seemed to chill as a sensation of fear, fear and brooding, fell heavy on their heads.

"What is it that you are planning, Professor?"

Rodrigue's voice broke the veil, and all eyes turned to him as he sat up straight in his chair and addressed the woman who had still not removed her hand from the sword. He had witnessed her wielding it many a time now, and he had seen how it seemed to be a part of herself, rather than simply a weapon. He had made his mistakes, refusing to support her when it would have been prudent to do so, but he would not fall for such things again. If His Highness had made his decision to stand firmly behind this woman, than it was only right that he follow suit. So now he looked to her, eyes clear and face calm and yet still burning with rebellion as he questioned, "I am to assume that you did not just call us here to inform us of what you knew... You are a wise woman, and you think far beyond the next horizon when it suits you. You have already looked beyond this meeting. What is it that you plan to do?"

Raine looked from Rodrigue to Gilbert and then to Seteth, taking in their expressions with careful neutrality. Gilbert was avoiding her gaze, looking down at the blade rather than her face, and the guilt that was driven deep into the lines in his face spoke volumes for how he felt. He was discomforted and at a loss, thinking of the family he had failed and what had been right under his nose that he had failed to detect, but such things were not her priority. She knew he would fight, that his conscience and his loyalty would command him to fight on, regardless of how he felt of things as they were. It was his way, his only way, of seeking atonement for the sins of his past, regardless of how far that parted him from those who cared for him and wished him back.

Seteth, like Rodrigue, on the other hand met her stare head-on. His eyes were clear despite his troubled expression, and his hands lay folded and clenched on the table. Unlike the two Kingdom nobles, he was a man of the church, and it had always been clear where his loyalties lied, and with whom. Raine did not begrudge him for that, nor for his priorities, but she was not about to allow his wants to supersede the well-being of the army any longer. He and Gilbert both had proven to do more harm than good with their insistence on following Dimitri to Enbarr, for vengeance and for Rhea, and she had not yet forgiven either of them for using the prince when he had been at his worst to accomplish their own goals. Sating guilt and finding Rhea were not priorities she cared for, and they owed her, and Dimitri much, before she would trust them with her back again on the battlefield.

Now, however, was the test of their mettle. Raine reached for her blade, sheathing it again in one smooth movement as Warin rose to his feet to take his place at her left side as if it was the most easy thing for him to do. With Dimitri on her right, her hand still covertly hidden inside of his, Raine admitted she felt strong, reckless, and more than anything... Angry. She was tired of fighting blind. Tired of being told she knew nothing. She had taken it as a challenge, and she had been digging, relentlessly and furiously, for the truth ever since she had woken after that long, five-year slumber. She was not yet there, but she would be... and it made her voice cold, fiercely lashing out like a whip as she answered, "I intend to continue on with this war. To root them out wherever they may be, yank them into the light, and slaughter them wholesale like the beasts they claim we are. We cannot, and will not, be able to live in any sort of peace with these fiends living amongst us, using us, and playing us against one another for their own gain. They made a puppet of the Empire, and the Imperial citizens are suffering for it. We all are suffering for it... and I intend to end it. Personally, if I must. Your obligations end at the Empire's capture, and the rescue of Rhea, which I don't protest... but mine go beyond. I won't rest until I know who these rats scurrying about in the dark are, what they want, and why they wanted it so badly. I will continue fighting to learn the truth, and then put an end to all of them."

"I intend to follow." Dimitri continued firmly on her heels, not allowing for an answer from the trio of men before him, and knowing he did not need to speak for Warin. It was obvious enough that wherever Raine went, her brother would follow, but he would make his own stance clear enough to his mentor, and the man who had stepped in to be like a father to him when his own had passed too suddenly. He looked both Gilbert and Rodrigue in the eyes, his voice hard with conviction as he explained to them in a strong, clear voice, "I say this both as myself, and as the future king of Faerghus... This war does not end with the toppling of the Empire. If we permit them to retreat back into the shadows, any victories we have obtained, any good we intend to do, can be undone within a generation... We cannot end this war halfway. I will, of course, make concessions for the armies that have fought with us thus far... We are with little information, and in sore need of more. It is my hope we shall find what we need in Enbarr, and will continue on from there. But those who do not wish to fight, or cannot fight any longer, will not be made to follow. With the Empire toppled, both their forces and our own will be weakened. But they will likely not expect another direct attack upon them, which is exactly what I intend to do."

"And how do you intend to accomplish this, if you are going to free the armies that have been fighting alongside you all this time, Your Highness?" Rodrigue questioned shrewdly, and he looked from the siblings back to his future king with calm, but fiercely glittering eyes. He obviously believed their every word, and though his posture was relaxed, there was still a sort of tension, excitement, almost, as he watched them closely. How long had he burnt with guilt and sadness for the death of his friend, and for his own son? To have a chance to put an end to the mysteries of Duscur was almost beyond his wildest dreams... but he still had to approach it as calmly as he possibly could manage, for their sakes as much as his own, "Will you storm their stronghold with just yourselves?"

"I plan to tell everyone the truth, and allow for them to make up their own minds on the matter. If they wish to fight, and are in any shape to do so, then they'll be welcome to join us. Those who are finished may lay down their arms and put themselves to rebuilding... and I also intend to ask for aid from Claude on this particular matter." Raine answered, and she was almost amused by the sharp looks that were cast her way when she mentioned the young leader of the Alliance. She could sense their questions on their lips, and she answered them before they could be asked as she folded her arms errantly over her stomach, "What Claude has always prized most is unveiling secrets... What better bait to tempt him with than giving him a position to unveil a mass conspiracy personally? He won't be able to say no. And this problem effects him, just as much as it does the Kingdom. The Alliance fell to civil war because of the Empire. Because of Edelgard. If he has any real interest in putting a stop to the meddling in his territory, he will want to see it all put to an end... and even if he refuses that... Well, I don't need his permission to seek out the other lords and ask for their aid instead."

"Raphael has been in contact with several of his comrades from the Golden Deer... We have already secured a promise of aid from the remaining forces loyal to House Gloucester from Lorenz." Dimitri continued where Raine left off, and he glanced to her with a small, appreciative smile at the idea that still she was playing a long, long game that nobody would have thought of, or imagined. Raphael had been more than happy to write on her account to his former comrades, and the speed with which he had been answered had proven Raine's actions on the Great Bridge of Myrddin had not been in vain. "Marianne has joined her voice to his, as well as his old friend, Ignatz. Of course, we cannot assume we will have full support from the Alliance entire, but we can make a case to them, and I will do so when we accomplish our mission this moon. Should they choose to join us or not, it does not matter. We will make do with what we can get. We always have. And this is a threat we cannot avoid."

Warin rolled his shoulders back, stretching himself calmly as he looked from one unsure face to the next as he saw they weren't entirely convinced. He could well understand their hesitance to rely on Claude, especially considering how little his aid had really been when the war was looked at from a long-distance perspective. Claude had played a conservative hand even while giving them aid, and he had paid a heavy toll in Grondor despite their best efforts to spare his men from the Imperial troops. If he wanted nothing more to do with them, with the Alliance, after Derdriu was saved, it would be the perfect time for him to take his escape and bow out. Warin expected nothing less, and he spoke up idly, "There are many options for bolstering our forces, but counting out the Alliance right now is a fool's errand. Claude may be unwilling to give aid, and may forbid his house from lending us soldiers, but he is only one lord of many in the Alliance. Lorenz has already sworn an oath to Raine, due to her action on the bridge. While his father may have led the civil war underneath the Empire's banner, Lorenz's voice still holds weight at the roundtable. If he leads, other smaller houses may follow. And if they prove to be insufficient, I know several mercenary companies that we can trust to fill our ranks, if worst comes to worst. We can't afford to be picky."

Seteth let out a long, tired breath, both somewhat surprised by their intuition and willingness to stride on forward, and also their complete lack of fear as they presented their plans. They had effectively trapped all three of the older men into a position where saying no was simple idiocy at best, and wilful ignorance at worst. They had proven their ability to work around their so-called superiors, and from that smouldering look in Raine's usually so calm or neutral gaze... He could do nothing but nod his head, speaking slowly, quietly, "I imagine if you've already gone this far, then you've no intention of moving backwards at this point. You did not assemble us for permission, merely to tell us what you intend to do from here on out. Am I correct?"

"That's right. I've no intention of acting in the shadows any longer. Nor am I about to ask permission for what I do. That time has come and gone. You can either fall in line, or stay out of my way." Raine answered with a harsh, cold edge to her voice, and she watched with a dim sort of satisfaction as Gilbert and Rodrigue winced at her words. Seteth however continued to hold her eyes, and she both admired and hated him for his steadiness before she continued on firmly, "I'm aware where your loyalty lies, Seteth. It's always to the Church and to Rhea first... and I haven't complained, nor will I start to. But be aware of this; I don't trust you. You, or Rhea. You've both kept secrets from me, and you continue to do so, even now. When Rhea returns, I intend to squeeze out every drop of information she's kept from me and my brother, and then give her back this mantle she shoved onto my shoulders. I want nothing to do with leading the Church of Seiros. It should have been your duty, not mine. But for the sake of our goals, I'll continue as I have, and I'll expect your support, whether you want to give it to me or not. Then when this war ends, I'll see the backs of you once and for all."

Seteth looked from young face to face, taking in the measured expressions that stared back at him and he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling. Such raw defiance and unfiltered resentment... and he knew it was their right to feel as they did. He had argued, had chided, but in the end, he had been a follower, and had done nothing that could prove he was worthwhile of their trust. Still, he did admit it smarted to be told so frankly that she did not believe in him whatsoever, and he said so with a regretful sigh, "It pains me to hear you speak so frankly of mistrusting me, especially at this juncture, but... I will not say I have not earned it. Still, I will tell you that I have no intention of doing anything less than following your orders and ending this war however it is you wish to end it. I am your soldier to command... and I will not harm you, or see you come to harm."

"You made your bed when you refused to trust me from the outset until I proved myself useful. And further tucked yourself in when you saw only the way to Enbarr and to Rhea, regardless of the costs it would take to get us there in the state we were in. And I'm speaking to all of you when I say your priorities were skewed, and your hands are every bit as bloody as mine are for how you decided to wage this war in an attempt to accomplish your own ends. I won't forgive any of you for that." Raine's voice once more cracked out like a whip, harsh, cold and fierce, and she cast a steady and withering glare over the three men she should have been able to count on, but had found herself abandoned by. Guilt, neutrality, secondary motives... All of it had led Dimitri further down a path he was only now desperately trying to crawl out of, and she blamed them as much as she blamed herself for having it come to such a point long before it could have been avoided. "From here on out, I do not ask permission, nor will I beg forgiveness. We do things my way now. If you've arguments to make, then make them. I want your opinions, I want your experience, but I don't need your judgement when it's so damned impaired by your own blindness and biases. I trust none of you as men I'd put my back to, but I know your worth as soldiers. This army needs you, and unfortunately, so do I for the time being. Consider this a truce for the past few moons."

Warin forced down a laugh at the stricken looks that passed across the faces of the three men seated before them, and only knowing Raine was now laying down the law and needed the tense atmosphere to have her words have the full impact kept him from showing his emotions. It helped that he could feel Dimitri responding to her anger, and now he was the one squeezing her hand in comfort, and he looked from Gilbert, still looking at the ground in silence, and than to Rodrigue who was nodding along knowingly, accepting his lashing without argument. Seteth seemed to be the only one truly and deeply disturbed, but if he had an argument to make, he could not make it as Dimitri spoke up, likely to ease the tension and break things up before it could come to a head, "Raine has my full support, as well as my full approval to move as she wishes... If there are arguments to be made, debates to be had, then I will permit them, but from now on, her will is my own. She has earned her place as our commander, and I will see her treated as such. But for the moment, we've spoken enough. You may be dismissed, to think on what we have told you, and how you shall move forward from here on out."

There was silence and then a shuffle, and Gilbert excused himself first without much preamble or an excuse. He avoided all eyes as he ducked out of the door and into the night, and Rodrigue followed on after him. He however did pause at the doorway, nodding thrice to each of the young leaders in a show of both respect and apology, and he was rewarded with three nods in return from each of them for it. He swept out after his fellow knight and noble, leaving Seteth last. He stood slowly, painfully, and his face was a grimace as he, likewise, made for the door.

He paused however, his hand heavy on the even heavier wood before he glanced over to Raine slowly. Her seafoam-green eyes were piercing, and her expression even moreso... and though he knew it futile, he could not quite help himself. It made him ache to know that even now, she did not trust him, nor did she trust Rhea. She had every right, he knew that much and accepted it, and yet... He wished for her kinship, all the same. She was intelligent, fierce, and loyal, risking everything to protect those dear to her, and that burrowed down into his very core. They were not so dissimilar, and it made his voice tired, and weak as he spoke again, "I hope you know that I do truly speak with sincerity when I tell you I am loyal to you and your goals, and wish for your victory. In fact, I do honestly wish nothing but the best for you in all of your endeavours."

"Can you say the same for Rhea? Will you tell me all she's been keeping from us?" Raine's reply was cold and cutting, and Seteth winced and looked away from her almost at once as it was delivered. His jaw tightened as his eyes focussed on something outside to avoid looking at her again, and she had her answer without needing his speech. She could already hear the excuses, that they were not his secrets to keep, and the very idea made her temper flare. She didn't care any longer. "I didn't believe so. Keep on walking out, Seteth. I'm merely following your example that you set from the day we met when you declared me untrustworthy. You can't be angry, upset, or disappointed that I'm merely staying in line with your rules."

Seteth had no answer he could give to that reply, and all of them in the room knew it. There were too many ways in which he was being pulled, and it was not as if Raine was wholly wrong. After all she had been through already, the time had long passed for her to begin to draw lines in the sand to protect herself. Even if it meant calling out her allies, and making sure they knew exactly where they were all now standing. With Dimitri's approval, and her renewed spirit... She was nigh-untouchable. There was no stopping her, barring dropping the truths that were not his to say, and that knowledge weighed on him like the world entire as he merely nodded his head and exited the room into the shadows of the night.

Only when the door closed behind him did Raine finally drop her guard, letting out a long, exhausted breath as she slumped down lifelessly into the nearest chair. It was not something she had wanted to do, nor was it anything she enjoyed, and it had taken quite a bit out of her to finally stand up and tell the trio of men how finished she truly was with them. There would be no love lost between her and Seteth, as they had only ever gotten along in professional settings, and she counted that as not much of a loss. Her feelings towards Gilbert were more complicated, due to her involvement with Dimitri and with Annette, but she would admit she felt little sympathy for him, and that it would take a long time before she could look at him with trusting eyes again. Rodrigue had come out the best in the entire mess, proving willing and eager to take ownership of his mistakes, and she already was well aware he would be her best bet in a real, true advisor she could give her tasks to without fear or concern of tainted biases. He loved his king, and would stand up for him, but he also would stand against him to guide him when all other options were gone.

"Heh... I imagine you've been wanting to say that for moons. Quite a show."

Raine grimaced at Warin's laugh, and she wished that it wasn't true as some dark, vindictive little part of her wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment. She had been sitting on boiling resentment and anger for quite some time, and releasing it had been cathartic in some ways... but more than anything she felt tired, not exultant at finally letting her true thoughts free. She could understand Warin's enthusiasm and pleasure, nothing satisfied him more than seeing nobles put back in their place, but she was not her brother. What little good she felt was buried by tiredness and anxiety, concern of burning bridges she still needed in place, but he didn't have to concern himself with that. She rested her head on her hand as she laid her elbow on the table, and she remarked tiredly as she squeezed the bridge of her nose, "Warin... Shut up. I know you enjoyed that, but you know I didn't."

"I did enjoy it. Don't punish me for my little pleasures." Warin replied honestly and with a shrug, but he sobered as he looked to the door, then to Dimitri. The prince's eyes were narrowed and concerned as he watched Raine closely, clearly not thinking of much beyond her care, which was a good thing to see, if still slightly annoying. But he could temper that well enough, and he did so easily as he leaned back once more in his chair and remarked idly to the still-standing noble, "What do you think, then, princeling? Will they follow? Or do you imagine a ruckus?"

"They will follow, if only because they have no choice... But for how long, that will depend on the individual, I think. Once Rhea is rescued, the Church will have no reason to continue onwards, barring their involvement with these... enemies of ours. If Rhea's information extends to them, then perhaps we will gain leverage over the Church's knights, but I admit I am not of a mind to use such tactics to force their hand." Dimitri answered slowly, thoughtfully, and he crossed his arms as he looked upwards as if the ceiling overhead had his thoughts pasted on the wood and stone. "Rodrigue will follow as far as he can, as that is the type of man he is, but he has diminished his own forces greatly over the past several moons in supporting the rebellion. If he cannot aid us, it will not be because he does not wish to, but because he simply does not have the resources to give. I will not fault him for that. As for Gilbert... He will follow for as long as his body allows him to, even if I were to command him not to. And, I think, the same can be said for our class."

"Most likely. They haven't pushed you this far to abandon you now. Once you tell them the truth, they'll be as eager as you to stomp out the last few rats crawling about in the dark." Warin agreed with a nod, and he watched as Raine pulled another face at the truth she clearly already knew, but didn't want to hear. It made him shake his head, though it was with fondness and exasperation as he pointed out to her in a much gentler tone, "You do realize that their loyalty to you is unshakeable, yes? At this point, you could command them to march into the flames themselves for you, and they wouldn't hesitate to throw themselves in. And even if it wasn't for you, they've all suffered because of the Empire, and those pulling the strings behind them. They'll have their own reasons for joining your efforts, even if it didn't come down to loyalty. And once you speak to the Alliance, that's more men to take into our hold. I'm confident this can be done, even if you need to rip the men right out from underneath Claude to do it."

"Believe me, I'm not afraid to push it that far if I must, but I'm hoping Claude leaps for the bait before forcing me to such an extreme." Raine answered with a shake of her head and another long sigh... She was not looking forward to this "meeting" that Claude had pushed for ever since her fall in Grondor, and she could only imagine what he wanted from her now that she was well. His interest in uncovering secrets, regardless of who held them or why, had always made him a pain in the neck... and now there were many a secret she was holding, and she could only hope that tempting him with some of the juicier ones would gain his compliance. It didn't matter if they did not trust one another. Trust wasn't necessary. It was simply commerce, trading one thing for another, and she knew him pragmatic enough to think of it in those terms if she presented it to him in such a manner. "The more you tell me about how pushy he was to speak with me and me only after Grondor, the less excited I am to see him in person again... I only have one thing to offer him, and that isn't something he will ever get. I'd much rather be dealing with Lorenz. He's a far more fair and noble man than Claude is."

"Thankfully for all of us, if Claude does end up leaving the Alliance, leadership falls to Lorenz first... and if not to Lorenz, then House Goneril stands a good chance of taking over. Hilda will be much more malleable than Claude, so either suits me fine." Warin waved his hand dismissively, and when both Dimitri and Raine looked to him with both confusion and interest, he could not help but smile darkly in reply. He shrugged his shoulders before explaining with a cold note to his voice, "While I was in the Alliance searching for Claude, I learned quite a bit of their politics. It's a messy and loud affair, this entire roundtable business, but the balance of power isn't nearly as delicate as it looks to outsiders. The families that hold the most power and influence are easy to see, especially with the war drawing them out and to the frontlines. Right now, House Reigan has control due to birthright. Should Claude abscond, that falls to Gloucester, though there can be claims made that Lorenz is unfit because of his father's betrayal to the Empire. That leaves House Goneril to take charge... Their current leader, Holst, is a strong warrior, a good man, and most importantly, ferociously loyal to the Alliance. You'll have very little trouble convincing him to give you aid should it come to him being the one left in charge. Even less so if you go through his sister."

"You play politics almost as well as a noble. How much time did you spend in the Alliance, learning all of this?" Raine asked rhetorically, knowing full well Warin didn't want to answer as much as she didn't want to hear it. But a cursory look at Dimitri, showing both surprise and admiration proved that every word Warin was speaking was true, and made her confident again despite it all. Warin's look of distaste at the compliment made her want to laugh, but she wisely held it in. It wasn't politics, it was simply the balance of power that Warin had studied, and that was something every mercenary learned to read during their time on the battlefield. How else were they expected to act with only coin in their pocket, and usually little to no information on the foes they were to be set against? She leaned back against her chair, sighing before she waved her hand in an idle gesture, "All right, that's enough for tonight... Go on back to Shamir and gloat about winning one over on the nobles. I'm tired, and I'd rather not talk any more work for the day."

"If you say so." Warin agreed readily enough, and he knew full well when he wasn't wanted. He got up without complaint, stretching his aching muscles before he made for the door like the three elder men had before him. He only paused to look over his shoulder once, watching as Dimitri lay comforting hands on Raine's slumped shoulders, before he turned back around for the exit. She would be fine in present company, and didn't need him here to jape with her when she honestly wasn't in the mood. Shamir would much more enjoy the recounting, and he was rather looking forward to telling her anyway.

The door closed for a fourth time, leaving Raine and Dimitri alone. Dimitri fought back a smile as Raine slumped under his hands, and he rubbed her shoulders with gentle strength as he watched her tired expression closely. She hadn't enjoyed a moment of this even if she had been the one to push for the meeting in the first place, and though it had gone much better than it likely could have, all things considered... It didn't make it any less stressful. He was quiet, voice gentle and calm as she closed her eyes and refused to move from her seat to follow her brother's example to head back to her quarters, "If you're that tired, wouldn't it be wise to retire for the night?"

"Have you finished all of the work put on your desk?"

The reply came sharply despite it being asked tiredly, and Dimitri this time could not fight his smile. Hadn't he been an exhausted mess himself these past several days? After taking back Arianrhod, he had been tasked with absorbing the former houses supporting the Dukedom back into the Kingdom, and the process had not been a smooth one. Over five years, nearing six now, of unattended to politics that were now being shoved unceremoniously into his hands, and he was staggering under the weight just as much as she had at the first. Still, he had been prepared for such things since he was a boy, and even if he was rusty, he did remember his training. And with Rodrigue guiding him, and Raine supporting him, he knew he was the luckier of the two as he answered her honestly, "For the most part, I have, but you know as well as I that it will be back to overflowing on the morrow. I have nothing pressing to return to at the moment."

"That's good to hear. You haven't been sleeping well." Raine mused quietly, and the concern was genuine even as she closed her eyes and melted underneath Dimitri's hands. He continued to rub and massage, easing out the tension that had been building back in her shoulders, and unconsciously she leaned forward to give him more room without thinking. He obeyed her unspoken wishes, his hands applying just a little more pressure, and she arched just a little before letting out a sigh as a knot of tension released underneath his skilled fingers. He had learned her body rather well in the past moon, almost to the point of embarrassment on occasion, but for moments like this... She couldn't really complain.

"Take me back to your quarters tonight, and I'll sleep just fine." Dimitri promised her with a low chuckle, and he watched as she turned her head to shoot him a look that was both exasperated, yet also extremely tender, over her shoulder. Unable to really help himself, he quit his massaging, he plucked her up from her chair with ease before sitting her down on the edge of the table instead. She squeaked in surprise, as always caught off guard by just how strong he was when he wished to be, but he didn't mind it as he stood in front of her and then wrapped his arms about her shoulders to pull her in close for a warm, encompassing hug. He rested his chin on the top of her head, carefully squeezing her about the middle as he added on gently, "If you are concerned however, I can sleep in my own bed tonight. You look exhausted, too. And the last thing we need is an interruption to explain away... Again."

Raine pulled a face, glad that it was hidden in the front of Dimitri's tunic as she well remembered the fallout from that ugly moment when Raphael had been knocking on her door early in the morning. Too early for her, and fearing that she would be in a spectacularly ugly mood when she woke, Dimitri had sacrificed himself by opening the door to greet the intruder to spare her just another hour to rest. No one got off easily when their professor was sleep-deprived, and he knew that better than most. Still, it meant the end of their secrecy, especially since Flayn had been shadowing Raphael, and both of them had look stricken to see the future king of Faerghus emerging from their professor's room early in the morning, hair unkempt, clothes hastily tossed on and very obviously just waking up. Dimitri had been apologetic and remorseful when he had told her what had happened, and she forgave him, even though she had been wincing with the knowledge that the entire monastery would know by lunch, and indeed, they had with Flayn's eagerness to "share the good news".

"At least Raphael was tactful?" Dimitri offered halfheartedly, and Raine playfully thumped his chest as she stifled a laugh by nuzzling her face deeper into his tunic. They both knew that to be true, as the poor former Golden Deer student had looked stunned before promising that he wouldn't utter a word. Flayn of course could not be contained anymore than a hurricane could, but he had done his best to not repeat what he had seen out of respect for their privacy. He was one of the few who did not harbour any resentment whatsoever towards Dimitri over Grondor, as he understood loss well, and he was shockingly mature in comparison to many of his peers. He had already gone through what most were only seeing now, and he had already put his demons to rest long before he had even set foot inside of Garreg Mach. His understanding had been a balm, and it made Dimitri smile as he added on somewhat teasingly, "Scolding Flayn still isn't out of the question, you know..."

"And risk Seteth's wrath? After this? No, thank you." Raine answered with a shake of her head, and she nuzzled him one last time before pushing him gently away so she could look up at him properly. He was smiling down at her gently, his cerulean eye glinting with that deep, honest affection that made her entire body warm. His hands lay gently on her hips, refusing to entirely let her go, and she well understood his desire to keep touching her despite it all. They had spent the last few days in their own quarters, attending to their increased workload, and snatching moments when they could during their rounds and in between their usual duties. It wasn't ideal, but it was what they had to do in order to make sure neither fell behind, and to say they missed each other in the cold night hours was an understatement. Though, it made her smile somewhat awkwardly as she looked up at him and remarked almost sadly, "It's a pity I can't stay in your dorm... You're so frequently sought after that we'd never have a moment's peace. Even though they know full well where you are now, they're too afraid to interrupt my sleep in the morning even if they need you."

"The fact that you are not a morning person is indeed an unasked for benefit." Dimitri agreed with a lopsided smile, and he reached to errantly brush her bangs out of her face before tracing her cheek with his knuckles. It was true enough, however. After that first initial interruption, and despite the fact that their relationship was now public knowledge... No one came to her quarters calling for him. Either it was out of propriety, or out of fear, and Dimitri heavily was leaning for the latter. Even in her beginning days as a professor, it had become quickly known that disturbing her sleep for any reason other than a mission or battle was extremely ill-advised. She hated her sleep being interrupted, so much so that she dropped the "Ashen" part of her nickname to become a "Demon" entirely, and she frightened everyone when she was forced to work before her stipulated hours. "Still, I'll agree it is unfortunate you can't visit my quarters as often as I can yours. It would be nice to return the favour and hide you away from the world at large whenever you felt the need."

"The sentiment is enough." Raine disagreed gently, and she hugged his hand to her chest before letting out a long breath and leaning back to look up at him with a small, warm smile. Despite the entire evening, he was still there, lingering to make sure she was truly all right without asking the pressing questions she knew had to be on his mind. He had stood up for her when he had sensed her wavering, but for the most part, he had allowed her to draw her own lines in the sand without him. He had understood it was what she needed to do, to make her voice feel heard without him speaking for her, and she appreciated it immensely. She idly reached down to find his other hand, still glued to her hip, and she threaded her fingers through his as she added on softly, "And with that said, I also appreciate what you did and said tonight. I know it wasn't easy arguing on my behalf to Rodrigue and Gilbert, and that they are important men to you. My feelings for them aside... Thank you for letting me say what I needed to say."

"You've done too much with too little reward or recognition. Rodrigue is aware of that, and he's expressed his regret. Gilbert is a different man, singular in focus, and I'm aware that makes him divisive. I do not approve of everything he does, or why he does it, but he has been at my side for a very long time, and he knows me in a way few do... Still, neither of them are you." Dimitri answered with quiet honesty, and his thumb rubbed absent circles into her thigh as he leaned down to kiss her forehead as she sat still and calm in front of him. Her fingers squeezed his, gentle and understanding, and he gave her a nuzzle before kissing her cheek and continuing gently, "You are my first priority as of now. So, with that in mind... Tell me what you wish for tonight. You've done enough to earn a reward, if you ask me."

Raine laughed gently, pleased with the offer, but dismissive of it all the same. She hadn't done anything beyond reveal the truth that was to come out sooner rather than later, and stand her ground after being made into a doormat. It wasn't anything worthy of a reward, no matter what he said to her. She turned her head slightly, rewarding him with a quick, soft peck before she told him with a trace of another laugh, "Thank you for thinking of me, but I don't need anything other than our usual routine. If you've nothing waiting for you in your own quarters, then come to mine and we can rest a bit. That's more than enough."

Dimitri frowned at how easily she dismissed him, as he had felt how tense her entire body was even from simply giving her shoulders a rub, and he had no intention of allowing her to be so quick to deny herself anything. Even if all she wanted was a simple chance to share a bed again after a few days, it simply didn't feel fair. And with a playful, evil smile, his hands slid down her sides to grasp her hips as he shook his head and tutted, "Now, that won't do... You can't be denying me every time this comes up. If you won't allow me to treat you, then I suppose you leave me no choice but to beg for forgiveness rather than ask permission."

"What are you-" Raine's words died in her throat as Dimitri knelt down without waiting, and he slid her legs apart before she could have enough time to react. His hands were quick as they flicked her belt open, and quicker still as he lifted her hips to pull down her trousers just enough to give him access to her. He was so damned strong, and she cursed herself for forgetting that fact as he so easily had her trousers and legging down before she could even think twice about trying to fight him. She flushed as she realized his intent, hands flying to his hair in a desperate attempt to make him quit as she began hastily, looking from him to the door and then back to him as she argued, "Wait, wait, wait, you can't do this here, what if someone walks in?! At least take me to my room before you start anything!"

"I don't recall you complaining so much when I took you in the chapel shortly after we took back Arianrhod..." Dimitri mused lazily, and despite her hands pulling at his hair, it was easy enough to ignore as he parted her legs still further and kissed at her now bare inner thigh. She froze almost immediately, her breathing catching at the touch, and he hid a smile against her skin despite knowing full well how much he was cheating. She was incredibly sensitive to physical touch. Moreso than anyone he had ever met. All it took was the most innocent of caresses and she melted almost at once, and he knew full well how to take advantage of it, and he did so without a hint of shame. His teeth dragged lovingly across her inner thigh, savouring her shuddering gasp, and his hands tightened on her hips as he continued between kisses and nips, "In fact, I don't believe you ever complained at all..."

When she had come to see him in the chapel only a few weeks ago, when he had been mourning his stepmother and musing on how deep the conspiracy went after interrogating a confessing servant, she had done all she could to remind him that his family of the past did not shackle him from having a family in the future. Despite everything, she was still there for him, and had promised she always would be. He had been overwhelmed in the moment, thinking of nothing but wanting her, needing her, and he hadn't waited then, either despite all better sense cautioning him to do so. Her sweet cries of pleasure as he hid her in an alcove and ravished her body over and over until he had been forced to carry her back to her quarters for more still made him tremble with memory... and from the flushed look on her face when he chanced a look up at her, he knew she was relishing the memory, too.

"Relax and enjoy it, my beloved... I'll make you forget everything else soon enough, I promise." Dimitri muttered as his kisses trailed further inward, and she tensed in answer, hissing as his tongue playfully brushed at the already damp fabric of her smallclothes. She was so easily manipulated that it almost made him feel guilty for having his way with her, but when her fingers ceased their pulling and instead curled themselves into his thick blond mane to hold him still... He didn't feel entirely too bad. She wanted it just as much as he did, and even a few days apart was enough to drive him mad with want. It was selfish, he knew that, but as his fingers slid past that one frail barrier to feel her slick, wet heat as he began to play and probe... He didn't care.

"Nn...!" Raine groaned, unable to help herself as her legs parted instinctively to give him more access to her as he began to play with where she was already aching for him. She well remembered the chapel, and though now with hindsight did she feel embarrassment and shame for what they had done there... In the moment, as he had said, she hadn't complained once. No, she had allowed him to do what he pleased with her, making her scream his name for the Goddess herself to hear over and over with his fingers, his tongue, and finally his body, up against the cold stone walls until her legs had given out. He hadn't cared who may overhear despite the late night, and after his first caress, nor had she. She knew it made her a hypocrite, but she was so damned weak against pleasure that there was simple nothing she could do. Her body betrayed her as it always did, hips arching forward, urging for more, and his name escaped her in a breathless little whimper she couldn't control, "Dimitri..."

"Yes, Professor?" He knew it was cruel, calling her by her title while he was doing this to her, and her eager moan as his fingers slid in deep where he knew she wanted him the most only proved it. Her reaction was instantaneous. It flipped a switch, making her numb to anything else but him, and reminding them of all they could have stolen when things had been forbidden. The thrill of it made them ache and throb and want, and indulging in it only made the fire burn hotter. His tongue scraped along that sensitive bundle of nerves nestled between her thighs, and the answering moan of agonized pleasure only made him want to give her more, but he paused for a moment, eyes flickering upwards as he asked huskily, "Do you want me to stop...? Or shall I continue for you?"

"Goddess, no... K-Keep going..."

Dimitri hid a smirk, and his free hand lifted her hips just a little to ease her posture as his tongue again went to work pleasuring her. Her moans echoed in the empty hall, but he delighted in the sounds as her nails pricked at his scalp and her legs wound themselves about his broad shoulders. He would continue until she begged for mercy, and he would carry her back to her quarters afterwards for more before the night was through. She could sleep as late as she wished, he'd guard her door and keep her company to make up for the days they had spent apart. It was the least he could do to reward her for the effort and courage she had displayed tonight. But for now... His fingers delved in deep, milking out groans and whimpers that made him throb with want, and her taste urged him further in giving her all she could ask for, and usually would not. She wouldn't complain. She never did... and it made him bold, reckless and hungry as he nipped her thigh and whispered back in obedient assent, "As you wish, my beloved..."

AN:

They're a pair of horny young lovers, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! -ducks a frying pan- That and they have a lot of time to be making up for, and they jump on every opportunity every chance they get. Of course, it doesn't mean that there still aren't bumps along the road, and that things are absolutely perfect between them (Dimitri in particular always says he never will fully recover from his PTSD, which is a rather realistic take on things, speaking as a fellow sufferer), but, as always... This series really does stand on the rule of taking what happiness you can get, whenever you can get it, because life is cruel and doesn't go by your schedule. War makes that even more of a cruelty, and these kids, now young adults, have been mired in it for so long that they all deserve every little pinch of joy they can grasp, even in the worst of times.

Now, this was not entirely meant to be a "Raine bashing on her advisors" chapter, though it did kind of turn that way halfway through. But, considering things, I find her anger and her disappointment to be completely valid. Even against Rodrigue, who by far and large is the most helpful presence in Azure Moon despite his untimely demise. Now, my personal feelings for Gilbert aside (and they aren't pleasant ones), I am aware Seteth is a staunch supporter of Byleth, but this is not Byleth. This is Raine, who is sick and tired of the secrets she knows are being kept from her, and Seteth in this work has not supported her sufficiently. He makes his loyalty to Rhea clear at the outset, which, for Raine and Warin both, is a sign that he is not to be trusted. And furthermore, considering his attitude to them both despite Rhea's insistence that they be brought into Garreg Mach for work, is it any real surprise that the siblings hold onto their mistrust and dislike of him?

Now, be aware that once again I am writing from the perspective of people who are not read into the truth as we as readers are. We are aware that Seteth and Rhea had their reasons to keep their secrets, (whether are not those reasons are good is debatable) but they did keep their secrets, and not everyone is happy to be kept in the dark, especially in life and death situations. This story, while definitely driven by the Nabatea and their history and actions from a narrative standpoint, does not mean that they are the focus, or even will be portrayed sympathetically from the POV of the main characters. Their lives have been damaged, almost to the point of ruin, several times because of the secret-keeping of both Rhea and Seteth, and they are only acting in response to the treatment they have received. Sometimes, no matter how genuine an apology is, or much goodwill is shown... People do not forgive, and that, also, is a realism I wanted to show.

Raine and Warin, and even Dimitri, are all heavily damaged characters, and are all quite biased in their own ways. The same can be said of Seteth and Rhea, and I won't dispute that for a moment. I'm very aware of the tragedies they've faced, and why they act as they do, but it does not absolve them, nor should it. Byleth is a character capable of great acts of forgiveness and pity and empathy, and this is not a bad thing. However... Raine isn't Byleth. Nor is Warin. They are their own characters with their own will and feelings and logic, and are only acting as they would with the information they have. Will that change when the truth arrives? Perhaps it will. Perhaps it won't. But I am certain that they are not wrong for feeling as they do, and I don't intend to change how I am writing.

Again, however, this isn't an anti-church route by any means, anymore than Verdant Wind was. The main pillars of this story are "truth", "growth", and "love". This isn't me as an author with a vendetta against Seteth, or Rhea, or even Edelgard, despite the fact that they are all being shown in a not-so-kind light right now. There is much to be liked about the three above, much to be debated about them, and much to enjoy about what they bring to the narrative, on every route of the game. I do not really dislike anyone in 3H, though I may like some characters more than others... but this story, while being written by me, isn't about me. It's about the characters, and how they react and respond, not how I would.

Anyway, I've done enough explaining for the night, and I've got another monster headache that kept me out for most of the day. I need to eat something, drink a lot of water, and then rest as best as my head will allow me. Thanks as always for reading, and if you feel the need, please drop me a review. I'm always so glad to get word from my readers, and I'll see you again soon with another chapter! Have a good one, guys!

Mood: Adamant.

Listening To: "Battle Symphony" - Linkin Park

~ Sky