AN: Happy Saturday! And welcome to part two!
Nothing much to say except I hope you enjoy reading this as much I enjoyed writing it!
But first, Reviews!
Dragon lord Syed: Yikes indeed, lol! And not to worry, Hanneman isn't fully out of he picture yet!
Just a fan of fics: Yes, Rufus kinda sucks, lol. And TWSITD's plans will come into fruition soon! Thank you for the input on the Byleth question as well!
Random Fan: Yes indeed everyone's screwed! And trust me—you going to hate TWSITD much more through the course of this story...not to worry, no deaths YET and agreed, Flayn is adorable :3
Matt Rogen: Thank you for the ideas, I'll certainly take it into account although I make no promises :3 and yeah, Miklan has it pretty rough admittedly. While it doesn't necessarily give him an excuse it does give him reason for being awful.
CuddlyUchiha: I feel this chapter will be right up your alley in this case! And yes I too loved writing Edelgard's reaction to Dimitri's gift!
Metal Vile: I understand what you're saying, but I also get where Matt Rogen is coming from. Hopefully I can have a nice balance within this story!
Chapter XIV: The Prince in Distress
Pt II
For the two hours he'd been on the road, Dimitri couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
He'd glanced out the window numerous times only to be met with looming mountains and the trees vivid and green. And yet, he sat ramrod straight in his carriage seat, eyes scrutinizing every shadow, hand gripping his sword hilt so tightly the it was denting.
"Your Highness," Dedue said from the seat in front of him, a worried frown creasing his normally stoic face. "What troubles you?"
Dimitri's gaze flickered out the window again before he murmured, "I-I feel as if..."
"Your Highness! I believe the horses need a break," The driver called from outside.
Dimitri jolted at the sudden noise, Crest flashing briefly and grip tightening sharply, casing the sword's hilt to snap off its blade.
He sighed incredulously at himself before poking head out the window and telling the driver, "Alright then, stop at the nearest stream so they can drink as well."
The driver nodded with a, "Yes, Your Highness," as Dimitri drew his head back into the carriage. There, he found Dedue holding a new sword with its hilt pointed towards him.
"Did—did you have an extra on hand, Dedue?" Dimitri questioned in bafflement.
"I did."
Dimitri chuckled lightly and accepted the weapon, removing his sheath and dumping out the useless blade before replacing it with the new sword. "You know me too well."
Dedue simply shook his head. "It is my duty."
"Don't be so humble," Dimitri smiled. "I have many knights, nurses, servants, and retainers but only you truly understand me."
"I am flattered you think so highly of me," Dedue said. "But it is unnecessary."
Dimitri was about to argue that statement when the carriage began to slow and the sight of a bubbling stream came into view.
As the carriage came to a stop, Dedue stepped out and held the door open for him before Dimitri could insist the over extravagance of it.
Sighing, Dimitri moved to step out, but as soon as one of his feet touched the ground, Dedue shoved him back into the carriage so harshly that he tripped and crashed hard to the wooden floor.
The wood dented beneath his body and his head thrummed in pain, confusion persisting in his thoughts as Dedue shut the door with a quick, "I beg you to stay here, Your Highness!"
"What?" Dimitri spluttered, staggering to his feet, bumping his head atop the carriage roof and throwing the door open so swiftly he managed to snap it off its hinges.
But he was unconcerned with the door as he ran out of it, because the carriage's driver was sprawled on the ground with blood pooling around him and an arrow sticking out his neck, and Dedue was battling one...two...three bandits.
Instincts took over and Dimitri unsheathed his sword, gritting his teeth and charging forward to aid Dedue.
He then stopped abruptly and ducked when he heard the war cry of bandit coming from behind. The sound of a sword slashing through the air could be heard before Dimitri spun in his crouched position and knocked the man off his feet.
The bandit cried out and fell backwards, but could not hit the ground before Dimitri stood swiftly and thrusting his sword into his chest.
His eyes flicked to the side where an archer was aiming for him, and Dimitri spun and dislodged his sword from his previous victim's corpse, blocking the arrow with the flat of his blade before leaping through the air with a roar and plunging it into this man's chest as well.
Dimitri clutched the hilt of his sword, Crest of Blaiddyd flashing on the back of his hand before he spun around to block another attack aimed for his back, shattering his assailant's axe blade in the process.
The bandit woman gasped and staggered back in shock, giving Dimitri the chance to swing back up and slash deep across her chest.
Dimitri turned his attention back to Dedue as he watched her crumple to the ground with a cry of pain. He was in the midst of running to his aide once more when Dedue shoved one of his assailants aside to spin around and scream, "Your Highness!"
Dimitri briefly felt the crackling of magic raising the hairs on his skin before feeling the spell slam into his back and knock him to the ground with a pained cry and a heavy thud. His forehead slammed against the hard dirty road and caused pain to turn his thoughts to non-discernible blabber.
"Your Highness! No—!" There was the sound of another spell firing and a body slamming against a nearby tree.
"Dedue!" Dimitri cried, attempting to push himself to his feet, only for violet cords to spring from the ground and wrap around his body.
"Argh!" Dimitri grunted as he struggled against the magical restraints. The ropes only struggled harder, attempting to force the kneeling prince back to the ground.
Dimitri's eyes darted to his friend, sucking in a sharp breath when he saw him being tied to a tree with similar magical restraints—body writhing and struggling. "Your Highness!" He grunted. "Hold on, I'm coming!"
"Dedue!" Dimitri gritted his teeth and pulled harder, calling on his Crest's full power as he strained. The magic ropes groaned and were beginning to pop—
A boot slammed into the back of his head and smashed his face hard against the ground once more. Dimitri gasped in pain, feeling blood trickle out of his nose and hearing Dedue's distant yell of his title once more.
"Well, well! If it isn't everyone's favourite pretty prince!" A vaguely familiar voice sneered as he ground his foot into Dimitri's skull. The prince bit his tongue to keep another sound of pain from slipping from his lips.
"Good spell work, Jack!"
"Actually my name's—"
"Whatever. Get the potion, and you! Dude with the bow—yes, you! Get the cage carriage ready."
Dimitri's Crest flashed, and as soon as his attacker saw it, he was rewarded with a hard kick in the skull. This time, he couldn't stop the pained cry from escaping.
"No, no, no; none of that Crest bullshit. You're staying right there until we can properly chain you up like that animal you are."
Dimitri attempted to regain his bearings as his head swam and his vision blurred. And from the dazed corners of his mind, he managed to snarl, "You will do no such thing."
This time, his assailant buried his fingers in Dimitri's hair and tugged sharply upwards. The prince hissed in discomfort as the captor loomed over him, crude red hair spilling over his face and a snarl on his lips. "That a bet?" He spat.
Dimitri's eyes widened in horror as recognition bloomed throughout his mind at the sight of the angry scarred face above him. "Miklan."
Miklan grinned wickedly. "Aye what do you know? You do have some sense!" Then, he rose his lance—The Lance of Ruin, Dimitri recognized—and brought its handle down hard on the prince's forehead, stealing away his consciousness.
-o0o-
Correspondence Day had been considerably more hectic than the last time Edelgard had decided to participate—with good reason, what with the infiltration, Rhea going on a priest murdering spree all over Fódlan, and now Miklan causing havoc, it was only natural that people were scared.
After stilling her conflicting thoughts of going after Dimitri, Edelgard yet again skipped the line due to the power of Fódlan's Ridiculous Hierarchy and was more excited than she cared to admit to receive a reply letter from her father.
In the evening just before dinner, she sat at her vanity with a smile of anticipation on her face before delicately prying open the seal and sliding out the scented letter. The smile broadened when she peered hopefully inside and found a pair of sugar candies.
Opting to eat them later, Edelgard opened the letter and scanned the contents, smile slowly fading as she read.
My Dearest El,
I am glad you are enjoying life at the Monastery, being around children your age will do you wonders I'm sure!
I do wish I could hear your voice, to visit you, but alas my health permits me not. You needn't worry about me breaking diet, I haven't been able to eat—my throat aches something dreadful. Everyday it feels as if my heart beats a little slower and I tremble to think of leaving you alone with that monster. I must encourage you to peruse those acquaintanceships you've accumulated thus far, I don't want you to be lonely.
Speaking of which
Edelgard stopped reading and placed the letter down with shaking hands.
"Father," she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut and swallowing the grief stinging her throat. She was going to loose him, her only remaining family—
"Stop that," she hissed firmly, wiping away the traitorous tears that sprung to her eyes. Chin up. Shoulders back. She wasn't a little girl anymore.
Taking a deep breath, she continued reading.
that boy you mentioned, Prince Dimitri. Didn't you befriend him way back when? I remember when you returned to Enbarr you spoke only of him and how charming he was. And yet the way you write of him here is if—he is a stranger.
It saddens me to know you've forgotten someone that seemed so important to you, but even more so it angers me that what that madman put you through did more than steal your siblings and lessen your time here in this world. And still he wants more from you! I'd kill him if I could,
El. I would.
But let us not dwell on saddening thoughts. Again I implore you to interact with those acquaintances of yours; everyone needs friends, my dear.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Your loving father
Edelgard sighed heavily. For the love of Fódlan, just what she needed, more talk of Dimitri!
However...
Edelgard read over the paragraph again, hand drifting to the ever present dagger at her hip. Now not only Dimitri, but her father insisted that she had known the prince as children before...everything.
A knock on her door jolted her hand away and caused her head to snap towards it.
"Yes?"
"Lady Edelgard," Hubert said from the other side of the door. "Lady Rhea has called for an assembly."
Edelgard sniffed disdainfully and re-folded her letter, placing it back into the envelope as she stood and opened the door. "Why?" She asked, as she stepped out and shut it behind her. "Has she decided to parade the deaths of more priests?"
Hubert's lips twitched. "I am just as much in the dark as you are," he admitted. "But it certainly isn't out of the question."
Edelgard was filled with a mild bit of curiosity of what the second assembly of the week would entail—though there didn't seem to be any executing going on today. For as the duo entered the courtyard and took their place among the Black Eagles, no screaming men, executioners, or angry church knights were present.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Edelgard asked Dorothea who was standing next to her.
The brunette shook her head. "But it doesn't look like an execution again, thank goodness."
Edelgard hummed in mild agreement before searching the faces of the other students, but the remaining Blue Lions and Golden Deer seemed just as curious, and the students participating in other academies were just the same.
It seemed they'd have to wait.
Thankfully, it wasn't for long, as a crowd or students parted politely to let Rhea and Seteth pass, the two standing in the centre of the courtyard like the previous time.
"Good evening, students. I apologize for the short notice but I swear to be brief," Rhea said. Quite unlike the night of The Rite of Rebirth, Rhea looked subdued. And while there was certainly some anger glittering in her eyes, it was certainly not the degree of sheer lividness that had radiated from her being then.
She turned to her advisor and nodded, Seteth stepped forward in understanding and said, "This evening, one of your departed peers has returned to us—Dedue."
Gasps and whispers echoed throughout the courtyard and Edelgard's blood ran cold. Dedue had left with Dimitri; why had he returned—seemingly without the prince on top of that?
Even as the questioned entered her head, Edelgard knew the answer. And it stirred a copious amount of dread within her stomach.
Seteth held up a hand for silence, and once it had been achieved, he continued. "He walked all the way back here battered and bruised, and divulged some deeply troubling news; Miklan and his bandits had ambushed their carriage in the early afternoon and have managed to capture Prince Dimitri."
Edelgard's eyes widened and she clenched her fists. She had been right. She'd known this could happen and she'd done nothing.
Bile tickled her throat as the courtyard erupted into horrified exclamations and angry yells.
"I know it is saddening," Rhea said over the noise, voices quieting as she took Seteth's place as speaker. "But I assure you in due time—"
"'In due time?'" One of the Blue Lions—Sylvain she remembered—demanded incredulously. "Miklan is insane! Who knows what he could be doing to His Highness right now?"
"Your fear is warranted," Rhea said with a serene nod. "But our knights are currently spread thin and the Golden Deer—"
"Then send us, Lady Rhea," Ingrid chimed in purposefully. "He is our leader after all—our prince."
"And above all, he's our friend!" A strawberry blonde from the group cried. "We have to go rescue him!"
"This is what we've been trained for," a freckled boy said. "We can properly put these skills to use now!"
"And we can bring Professor Jeritza for extra support," A dulcet sounding flaxen blonde added.
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," Rhea said. "Miklan is far too powerful for you. But give the Golden Deer time to prepare and—"
"We don't have time!" Sylvain exclaimed almost hysterically. "He could be—!"
"No students are to leave the Monastery," Seteth said firmly, eyes narrowed. "Any plans for departing back home or hanging out in town, I am afraid must be cancelled. And certainly will no students be chasing headlong into dangerous battles."
The Blue Lions went silent, but an air of frustration and fear permeated the air around them. Even Felix, the only Blue Lion who hadn't spoken and by extension the the only one who seemed to have some odd vendetta against Dimitri, looked positively furious. Edelgard couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards them.
"That is all," Rhea said. "Stay within the Monastery grounds and go nowhere else. We will recuse the prince, I have upmost faith in Professor Byleth and her class—and I want you to share in that faith with us." Rhea bowed and added, "May the Goddess be with you."
-o0o-
Dimitri awoke with a grunt, a pounding dull ache in his skull and a fresh stinging on his cheek.
"There we go. Rise and shine, Your Royal Highness!"
Dimitri blinked repeatedly, wincing at the pale moonlight seeping through the bars of whatever contraption he was in, and attempting to regain his thoughts through the disorientation. And slowly, slowly, it all came back.
"M-Miklan," Dimitri grunted, eyes narrowed as he instinctively reached for his sword, only to find the weapon gone and his movement restrained.
Craning his neck over his shoulder, Dimitri found both his wrists chained to either side of the metal barred cage he was in. With a scowl he tugged on them to test their strength before pulling at them.
His muscles quaked and burned, and slowly dread chilled his heart. He'd broken chains many times before, why...?
"You're one of us now, Dimitri," Miklan chuckled as he reached through the cage bars and patted his head. "Or wait hold on...what was that dumb nickname my baby brother and your gaggle of little losers called you? Ah, Dima! You're not leaving here anytime soon, Dima."
"What—?" Dimitri tugged at the chains again, desperately calling on his Crest, and finding an empty hollowness instead. "What did you do to me?"
"Slipped a little something into your mouth when you were snoozing," Miklan grinned. "Fascinating, isn't it? Blocks the power of any Crest for twenty-four hours—plenty of time to collect ransom!"
Dimitri bitterly laughed. "Try it. My uncle won't give you half a gold coin."
Miklan shrugged. "Don't know unless I try right? Besides, so what if he doesn't wanna cooperate? I have House Fraldarius, House Rowe, House Gautier, House Galatea, House Charon...damn! That's a lot of noble money!"
"That's it then?" Dimitri asked. "Money? You'd risk the wrath of an entire kingdom for money?"
"Well there's the added bonus of knowing Little Baby Sylvain is sobbing because his best friend is in my clutches. But other than that? Yeah, pretty much!"
Miklan chuckled and leaned against the caged carriage with a smirk. "To think, so soon into my rebellion I'd be able to live large."
As Dimitri's eyes darted around the wood and metal cage, another slow realization came to him.
"Dedue," he gasped, before glaring at Miklan's smirking face. "What have you done with Dedue?!"
"Your Duscur friend? He's dead," Miklan responded, and Dimitri's heart stopped long enough for his vision to blur. His eyes wide, his head shaking slightly.
No. Oh Goddess No—
"Joking, joking!" Miklan laughed. "Wow that expression is priceless! I let him go—can't ransom you if nobody knows you're in trouble, yeah?"
Dimitri's shoulders slumped in relief and he sent a silent thank you to The Goddess. Dedue was safe, he was alive...
And if his friends knew what happened—his gaze locked wearily on the Lance of Ruin clenched in Miklan's meaty fist.
"Oh yeah," Miklan grinned, as if he could read Dimitri's thoughts, "Anyone dumb enough to come after you...heh. Goddess show them mercy because I sure as hell won't."
Miklan knocked hard against the wooden part of the carriage with a laugh, causing it to rattle and Dimitri to wince at the aggravation to his headache.
"Better hope Sylvain doesn't come looking for you then, Dima!" Miklan cackled mockingly as he turned on his heel and walked off through the dark woods. "He'll be in for a pretty—hey! The hell are you three going?! Stay here and guard him!"
"Come on boss—!"
"We talked about this, damn it! You guys are guarding him through the night. You pulled the short sticks you dumb fucks, do your job and you can get a drink later!"
As Miklan continued arguing with his men, Dimitri gave the chains another futile tug, rueful smile on his face. Maybe he deserved this, maybe this was his punishment. Why should people risk their lives just for his—?
Edelgard's disapproving frown appeared in his mind, eyes narrowed and lips pressed tightly.
The rueful smile became mildly softer. El. Dimitri wondered if she'd heard about what happened. And a selfish part if him wondered if she cared.
-o0o-
"Edie."
Edelgard blinked in surprise and turned to look over her shoulder. There, illuminated by the glow of the Dining Hall, stood Dorothea. However her signature coy smirk was nowhere in sight, only a worried frown in place.
"Dorothea. Is something wrong?"
Dorothea didn't answer, only stepped forward, heels echoing against the stone. "You're going after him, aren't you?"
It was Edelgard's turn to frown. She turned to face Dorothea properly and crossed her arms. "What gave you that idea?"
Dorothea shrugged as she came closer still. "A hunch? A feeling? That look in your eyes?"
Edelgard's frown deepened. And Dorothea laughed lightly. "Joking, I'm not psychic or good at reading people's eyes—it's just you're wearing a cloak and you two are kind-of-sort-of friends? So..."
"It's cold," Edelgard defended with huff, turning away from Dorothea and hugging the cloak tighter to her body.
"Hmm. Oh yes, Petra who is sensitive to the cold is just fine but Princess Edelgard who is native to Fódlan has to wear a cloak in the summertime despite never wearing one since she's been here."
Edelgard pressed her lips tight together, reminded once more of Dorothea's secret perceptiveness.
"And if I am going after him," Edelgard began, giving the brunette a sideways glance as she leaned against the stone banister. "What will you do?"
"I won't tell Rhea or Seteth, if that's what you mean," Dorothea said. "But I will tell you this."
Her face became serious again and she put a hand on Edelgard's. She was surprised to find the songstress's hand to be mildly calloused—subtle, but it was there. "Is it worth it? To chase down a madman with a Hero's Relic? Risk getting captured too, or worse? Is he worth it?"
Edelgard shared Dorothea's gaze and thought for a moment. Dimitri didn't deserve this, Edelgard believed that fully. This was in some parts her fault, she knew that. And for some obnoxious and odd reason she cared for him, something she'd stopped denying.
But what was missing the presence of one kind boy the feeling of regret she'd feel if she let her dream die? If the deaths of her siblings became all in vain?
"No," Edelgard decided finally. But she didn't want to think about their time watching "Searching for Love" and only feel a deep sadness, or never here is awkwardly polite voice again.
She would regret it if she was captured and her goals were put in jeopardy. But she knew she'd regret it ten times more if she left him to die.
"But I'm going anyway."
Dorothea smiled sadly and slid her hand off of Edelgard's. "You have it bad, don't you?"
Edelgard rolled her eyes, but found there wasn't any annoyance in the action unlike when she usually did it in response to Dorothea. It was odd, really. At best Edelgard had been dismissive towards Dorothea and at worst downright rude. Yet she still came out here to check on her.
Maybe...
"Yes, Dorothea. Because I can't care about someone without also wishing to take them to bed."
Dorothea's ever present coy smile returned. "I said nothing about the bedroom, Edie."
Edelgard gave her a tiny smile and left the banister, flipping on the cloak's hood. "If anyone asks, tell them I retired early."
With that, she descended the steps, looking for a secluded area to Warp before pausing. Turning over her shoulder once more, she found Dorothea watching her.
"Dorothea," she said. Hesitated, then began again. "If...if I return, perhaps I can take you up on that girl's night."
Dorothea gave one of her brilliant smiles, eyes glittering like emeralds in the darkness. "When, Edie. When."
-o0o-
One option would be to tell Arundel of Tomas's complete disregard for his commands, and another was to wait for Rhea send the Golden Deer.
Unfortunately, Edelgard did not trust The Church nor The Agarthans to save a cat from a tree let alone a prince from a bunch of bandits. So instead she was going to trust magic she'd never tried before.
Edelgard unfurled the handkerchief Dimitri had given her, shaking off the pastry crumbs before setting it down on the Sealed Forest floor.
Deep breaths, she took a step back and held her hand above the delicate cloth and sent her magic running through her veins to accumulate into her palm.
From what she researched, Tracking Spells only worked on items belonging to the tracked a little over a day after leaving their possession. Edelgard hoped she wasn't too—
The elegantly patterned handkerchief began to glow a bright blue, hovering in the air like a miniature bedsheet on an invisible pole.
Edelgard smiled in relief. Yes! It worked—!
The handkerchief zoomed off, leaving a trail of blue sparkles in its wake.
Edelgard gasped in surprise and warped towards its rapidly retreating form, her fingers brushing the fabric just out of reach as it continued its flight.
Cursing, Edelgard was forced to run and warp after it every few feet, and while it would certainly make her journey quicker, it would eventually deplete both her magic and energy—not a good thing if she was forced to fight out of whatever camp or establishment Dimitri was being held in.
Who was this spell made for? People with mounts? Very fast mounts at that?
What a moronic and troublesome thing...
In the span of her journey, Edelgard had smacked her head on a low hanging bough once, tripped on rocks, tangled vines, and tree roots more times than she could count, and mistakenly misjudged the lay of the land and fell down a ridge thrice.
After warping to the edge of a precipice and tumbling down with a shriek for the third time, she reluctantly decided that she'd be forced to expend even more magic, and fully powered her Crest. The night was filled now with not only a trail of blue and a burst of magenta every few steps, but now the lilac glow of her Crest of Seiros burning on the back of her hand.
Edelgard's movements became noticeably more elegant, any obstacles immediately alerted to her long before they appeared and the weight of gravity loosening its grip on her body so it felt as if she were floating.
The wind and the grasping branches pulled her hood back, and Edelgard could feel the breeze running through her hair and tickling her flesh pink. Despite the circumstances, Edelgard couldn't stop the adrenaline fuelled smile from lighting up her face. This was the second time Dimitri had unknowingly showed her a hobby she'd now need to do more often.
She didn't know how long she'd been running and warping before the forest opened up, the trees spacing apart and the path widening into a clearing.
And then she heard voices.
Edelgard gasped lightly, warping again to try and snatch the handkerchief and feeling it brush her fingers. Gritting her teeth, she tried again, and missed again. The third time was the charm, as she paired her next warp with a lunge. She fell on top of the handkerchief and quickly rolled behind a tree, tearing her cloak and panting as quietly as possible while she squeezed the struggling fabric in her grasp with all her might.
"Hey, you heard that?" A man asked his partner.
"You probably heard the growling of my stomach," the man grumbled bitterly.
"D'you think boss will at least bring back some food?" At third said forlornly.
Edelgard became suddenly aware of the fact that she hadn't had any dinner at the question. She hoped she could find Dimitri and leave as soon as possible.
Of course, she'd have to first get passed—
"Probably not, we kinda pissed him off trying to sneak away. How about the random money though? Do you guys think he'll split that with us?"
Ransom money? Meaning they had a prisoner? Meaning...Dimitri?
Edelgard listened more intently, gripping the handkerchief with one hand and properly readjusting her hood over her head with the other.
"Dunno. He's been a mega jerk ever since getting The Lance of Ruin; I'm getting a bad feeling about him now."
Miklan.
Edelgard slowly peeked from her place behind the tree she hid behind and there, three men stood guarding a caged carriage.
Dimitri.
She hid once more behind the tree and thought hard about her next move. Stealth would surely be her friend here—warp behind one, slit his throat, get the other two while they were distracted. Per—
The handkerchief successfully squirmed out of Edelgard's grip and zoomed towards the wooden carriage.
Edelgard attempted and failed to catch it once before darting behind the tree and gritting her teeth in frustration. The three bandits cried out in surprise and a familiar voice let out a shocked yelp.
"Hey!" One of the bandits barked banging his fist on something—presumably the carriage. "What kind of game are you playing?!"
"What are you talking about?" Edelgard heard Dimitri say. "This?"
"Yeah!" One of the other barked. "What kinda magic are you trying to cast?"
There was a hesitation. Dimitri was silent for about five seconds before stammering out, "Ah—ah yes! I was...using a magic spell. That's correct. It was me. Nobody else."
Edelgard was torn between amusement and incredulousness at Dimitri's abysmal lying skills. Still, at least he was giving her a chance to keep her stealth in tact.
"What!? Since when could you use magic?!"
"Does Boss have a magic blocking potion too?"
"Wait, wait, hold on a sec, something's not right here."
Now, while they were still speculating. Edelgard concentrated her energy on the line of trees behind the men and warped deep into the undergrowth to block out the magenta light.
"If he has magic why'd he call a piece of fabric here? Why not blast the cage open? I think somebody else did this; I think somebody's here."
"Okay...but with that logic why didn't they blow down the doors?"
"There's probably a secret message on that thing!"
Edelgard crept forwards, hands falling to her dagger and slowly sliding it out of its sheath.
"What's it say?"
"Huh. It's blank."
"I told you, it was me," Dimitri insisted. "I-I was practicing."
"Where'd the handkerchief come form though?"
"Yeah! I'm telling you, somebody else is here!"
Three...two...one. Edelgard fully activated her Crest and dashed forward in a blur.
"Aw are you trying to play hero, Your—?" Edelgard plunged her dagger into the back of the man's neck and he screamed, choking on blood as she shoved him aside and slit the next man's throat.
She was about to move on to the last one when he tackled her to the ground. Edelgard cried out as her assailant pinned her arms behind her back.
"Damn it! I knew it! I freaking knew it!" The man snarled before Edelgard rammed her shoulder into his cheek, causing him to grunt and flipped their positions.
The last thing the man saw was Edelgard's fierce lilac eyes before she slammed the dagger down between his eyes.
The man's angry gaze dulled and she sighed in relief, removing the dagger and wiping it clean with the edge of her now tattered cloak. It basically usless now with the clasp gone and the edges torn.
"Edelgard," Dimitri uttered in shock from the cage. His voice seemingly caught between relief and horror.
"D-Dimitri," Edelgard said breathlessly, gripping the bars of the cage and using them as leverage to hoist herself up on her weary legs. "Are you alright?"
"I—you..." Dimitri attempted to move forward, but was halted by the chains binding him. "You...came?" He asked instead of stating, seemingly afraid that she wasn't here for him at all.
Edelgard nodded and gave him the tiniest of smiles. "I came. Don't worry I—"
"Well, well!"
Edelgard spun around as a man with red hair casually strode forward with a wide grin, twirling a weapon—The Lance of Ruin she recognized—by its handle with on hand and swirling a flask in the other. "Kinda lucky my men are such squealing pigs, aye? Well, lucky for me that is." He took a long drink before tossing the flask aside and pointing the lance at Edelgard's throat. "Probably didn't want me to find your fairy tale knight in sexy tights, did you, Dima?"
Edelgard mentally cursed as she watched the glowing weapon twitch and glow eerily. How did he sneak up on her so easily?
Dimitri strained against the chains, from behind her, grunting and cursing as he struggled to no avail. Clearly, his Crest had been impaired.
"So, gonna to tell me your name, gorgeous?" Miklan questioned with a faux innocent smile and a tilt of his head. Edelgard glared right back, dagger tightly clasped in her hand. If she was quick enough, she could—
"Awww, she's shy!" Another man called out, and Edelgard's eyes darted to the left were snickering bandits began to pour out of the woods. Then to the right as even more stepped forward.
Dread and panic were rapidly mounting on her soul. She couldn't fight them all with simply a dagger, and certainly not after she'd used up so much energy trying to get here.
"You know, darling," Miklan said, regaining Edelgard's attention, but from the corner of her eyes she could see the bandits closing in. "In Faerghus, when somebody asks your name, you answer." He punctuated the word by stabbing forward with the lance, spurring Edelgard to jump backwards and hit the carriage with her back.
"Run!" Dimitri exclaimed, still tugging desperately at the chains. "Get out of here, I'm not worth it!"
"But where's she 'sposed to run, Dima?" Miklan mocked. "We got her surrounded!"
Dimitri's eyes darted around the closing circle of bandits and they widened slowly with each one they landed on. She was truly outnumbered. Edelgard could teleport away, hide deep in the woods. Then she could watch from the shadows and wait for another opportunity to save Dimitri.
Nodding slowly, she locked eyes with Dimitri and poured as much honesty into her gaze as possible as she sheathed her dagger and said, "I will come back for you, Dimitri."
She didn't wait for a response from either him nor Miklan before she thought of a tree she had seem on her way here, warped—
And staggered to her knees five feet away from where she had just been standing, right in arms reach of a dozen bandits.
'Oh no...'
She was immediately hit with a blast or Miasma and she skidded against the ground with a cry of pain.
"Edelgard!" Dimitri yelled as hands gripped her arms and forced her to stand. She struggled desperately, but even that pathetic display of magic had stolen her final drops of energy, and she soon became a panting limp form in the arms of laughing men.
"Cute!" Miklan cackled. "A' for effort...Edelgard. Yeah? That's her name, right Dima?"
"Bastard!" Dimitri roared, tugging the chains sharply and causing the carriage to rattle, eyes wild and livid, lips snarled. "If you harm her in the slightest I will tear into your flesh and turn you inside out with my bare hands!"
This dark promise was met with more mocking laughter from the bandits before one asked, "What do we do with her, Boss?"
"She killed three of our men, I say we kill her!" One of the men holding Edelgard's arm barked.
"Nah," Miklan said, stepping towards her and tilting her chin up with The Lance of Ruin's tip. "She's too pretty to just kill." Edelgard gritted her teeth as she watched his leering eyes appraise her face before lowering to the rest of her body, lingering on her legs. "Way too pretty. We'll feel her up and turn her to used goods first, then we kill her. That sound fun, boys?"
The bandits roared and whistled in uproarious excitement on an equivalent level to the blood boiling rage that had erupted in Edelgard's chest.
"I'll kill you!" Dimitri bellowed, voice drenched with pure hatred. "Keep your filthy hands away from her!"
"Hush, Dima. Just sit there and enjoy the—!" Edelgard spat viciously into Miklan's eye before he could finish and effectively silencing the excited roars of the rest of the bandits.
"ARGH!" The bandit leader cried out and wiped angrily at his eye before backhanding Edelgard with enough force to snap her head to the right and leave her ear ringing.
"Stop it! Stop hurting her!" Dimitri screamed, his anger now being laced with fear and desperation.
Miklan ignored him, grabbing Edelgard's face and forcing it towards him again. "Forget it." He spat. "Kill her now and make it slow."
"Aw, but Boss—"
"Shut up!" Miklan spat as he turned his angry glare to the protesting bandit. "Kill her..." he turned to Dimitri, a cruel smirk peeking through his anger, "And you get front row seats."
"No, don't!" Dimitri pleaded, panic finally overriding his rage as the bandits save for the ones holding Edelgard got their weapons out. "Miklan, I beg of you please!"
Dimitri's grief seemed to only increase Miklan's mood as Edelgard took in a deep breath and narrowed her eyes, mentally grasping for something deep within her blood.
"I told you before, didn't I, Dima?" Miklan said with a dark chuckle as the familiar sharp pain in her chest caused Edelgard to shudder. Still, she persevered, she kept grasping.
She wasn't dying here.
"Anyone dumb enough to come after you..."
She was almost there, she could feel the heat building in time with the pain, sweat trickling down her brow, eyes now scrunched shut in concentration...
"Would get no mercy from—"
Edelgard's eyes snapped open and her entire body glowed, lighting up the clearing in a vivid crimson light. The bandits all turned to her with exclamations of shock, while the two holding her wisely let her go and quickly stepped back.
"What are you idiots doing?!" Miklan yelled as they backed away from Edelgard, the ground beneath her charring and catching aflame, glowing hair swaying in the eldritch current of her power.
The back of her hand burned a vivid red in the symbol of Flames as Miklan yelled, "Get her! What? Are you afraid of little glowing girl?!"
Edelgard had to concentrate on her breathing, quivering as agony seeped through every vein, an agony that increased as she stepped away from the stunned Dimitri and Miklan and towards the cowering bandits.
She swung her arm with a war cry, sending out a thick rope of flame that immediately incinerated all it came in contact with. The mere action brought her to her knees and blurred her vision, but determination had her staggering back up, turning a burning gaze towards a spluttering Miklan.
"What...? Who are you?!" Miklan cried, stepping backwards as Edelgard stumbled towards him.
"Edelgard von Hresvelg," she answered, holding out a hand and letting a ball of flame grow within in it, narrowing her eyes before adding, "And your executor."
The wide eyed Miklan watched as she tossed the large fire ball with a roar. At the last minute, he held up the flat side of The Lance of Ruin to shield himself as he was thrown into the woods with a scream.
Edelgard let her hand drop before she forced herself towards Dimitri's cage. Fighting unconsciousness, she gripped the bars and watched them melt beneath her grip before shakily sending a tiny blast from her finger to sever the chains.
"Edelgard..." Dimitri whispered, eyes filled with shock and awe. As he crawled forward out of the cage, The Crest of Flames symbol faded from her backhand, and the little bit of energy it granted her along with it.
As her knees buckled and fell towards the ground, she felt him call her name stop her decent.
-o0o-
Goddess.
Dimitri couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
He was still in a mild daze as he carried Edelgard in his arms and away from the lightly burning clearing. He didn't know which way he was going, he just knew he needed to get somewhere safe—Edelgard was at risk in her current state. That being said he had skipped the nearby village Miklan and his men had gone drinking to—he didn't want to risk bumping into any of his bandits.
With the exception of Dimitri's boots crushing fallen acorns and leaves, the occasional hooting of owls, and Edelgard's delicate breathing, all was silent. And in the silence, Dimitri's mind wandered back to that extraordinary sight.
He had always known Edelgard to be formidable; she was fantastic with an axe and certainly no slouch with a dagger—but alas, he had clearly underestimated her.
The way her skin, hair and eyes glowed...as if she were housing the very essence of the sun beneath her flesh, the way her hair swayed as if it was submerged in water, the way she unleashed such terrifying power.
It was terrifying, baffling, mesmerizing...the way Edelgard had looked immediately reminded Dimitri of the tales of The Goddess's power, of her wrath, of The Goddess herself. Blasphemy perhaps it was, he couldn't quite help the comparison.
Dimitri peered down at her now. Even without his Crest, Edelgard was light. She was a petite girl, her long lashes castes shadows over her rosy cheeks and her petal coloured lips were slightly parted. Before, she had appeared to be The Goddess, but now, Edelgard looked very much like a delicate doll.
The prince chuckled to himself. That was perhaps what Miklan had seen at first glance, and it had certainly proved his downfall.
Dimitri entered another clearing and checked the surroundings with a nod. This would do for now.
Gently resting Edelgard against a tree and using her ruined cloak as a makeshift blanket for her, Dimitri got to work on starting a fire. He snapped branches from trees and took bundles of leaves, ensuring the unconscious Edelgard was in his sights all the while.
When he had accumulated a decent pile, he prayed all his lessons with Professor Jeritza wouldn't be for naught, before calling for a flame.
Dimitri beamed when a tiny little flame flickered and spluttered in his cupped palms before lowering it to the bundle and watching it catch on fire.
Finished for now, Dimitri leaned against the thick tree Edelgard was and watched her worriedly. He didn't have any weapons, Miklan had took his sword and Dimitri hadn't the insight at the time to take one from the dead bandits. If anyone came, he would have to rely on his fists—fists that no longer bore the power of his Crest.
Dimitri clenched and unclenched his hands, sighing softly. His Crest had always annoyed him but now that it was gone...
"It will come back; don't worry."
Dimitri tensed and gasped before he turned to find Edelgard awake and looking at him.
"Edelgard," he breathed in relief, smiling. "I'm so glad you're alright. How do you feel?"
Edelgard chuckled weakly and closed her eyes again. "Horrible. But there's nothing to be done."
Dimitri shook his head. "Nonsense, tell me what ails you and I will try and help."
Edelgard opened her eyes and once more and stared at him intently before smiling sadly and shaking her head. "Again, there's nothing to be done about it."
Seeing as how Dimitri had no water, food, and couldn't cast a Healing spell to save his life (a huge problem), he let the topic drop, well aware he had nothing truly to offer her.
Instead he tentatively asked, "That...that power back there; what was it?"
Edelgard's smile faded and she looked away from him.
Mentally kicking himself, Dimitri quickly said, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pry I was just—"
"The Crest of Flames."
The words died on Dimitri's tongue and he regarded Edelgard with wide eyes. He had never heard of such a Crest, on top of which, didn't Edelgard already have The Crest of Seiros? Did that mean...?
"Two Crests," Dimitri said. "You...you have two Crests?"
Edelgard nodded silently.
"I didn't know that was possible!"
"It isn't. At least...not naturally."
Dimitri furrowed his brow. "Edelgard?"
Edelgard swallowed thickly, staring into the flames before whispering. "I..." she then turned to Dimitri, "I never told you why me and my siblings went missing, have I?"
-o0o-
Miklan crawled to his feet, cursing and spitting algae and mud. He may have been saved by his trusty lance, but he had also been blasted till next century into a stupid stream.
When he found his way back to the clearing, he growled. Nothing but ashes, melted corpses, and a ruined and empty cage carriage remained.
That Goddess damn bitch.
Edelgard von Hresvelg.
He paused at the name, furrowing his brow as recognition slowly manifested in his head.
Hresvelg? Wasn't that the royal family of Adrestia?
He'd lost a prince and a princess?
Miklan clenched his lance and it burned brightly. Not for long they wouldn't be lost...not for long. And when he found them...
Miklan smirked and chuckled into the night, carelessly crushing a dead man's skull.
-o0o-
AN: If any of you were wondering why Edelgard was able to pull a Deus ex Machina despite her being out of energy—don't worry! Next chapter will explain it all!
Speaking of Deus ex Machinas, NO I will NOT have Edelgard use her Crest to immediately get out of tricky situations all the time—that would be both lazy and boring and I can't count the amount of fanfics and novels alike on two hands that I've stopped being invested in because of this very reason.
Thirdly, yes. I KNOW the Crest of Flames is purple in the game but seeing fire vein represented in purple is extremely aesthetically unpleasant for me to look at, so I am exercising my creative freedom :3
Fourthly, The Black Eagles and Blue Lions will be showing up in the next chapter as well!
Anyway. See ya tomorrow!
Fantasy Fan OUT!