AN: Happy New Year boy's and girls! May I present to you...the finale! This one was a lot of fun to write so I'm anticipating your enjoyment! :D
Reviews!
Dragon lord Syed 101: Thank you for all your reviews! And yeah, Dimitri needs a reality check sometimes, he also has a lot to think about when it comes to the war n' stuff!
Guest 1: Arundel and "good boy" do not belong together lol, but I'm sure you knew that!
Guest 2: YUUP
Ice Cream: Nope! Not dead! just needed a lil break and all that! And thank you for the kind words! Felix is an interesting character to write and I LOVE Dorthea and Ferdinand so yeah they get a lot of attention from me! And the Tower scene made me cry too trust me!
RosyMiranto18: That...is a nice chapter name, I must say!
Klaw117: Aw thank you for the nice words :D and yeah, no rainbows and sunshine here, I don't do that lol. Yeah I skipped the "Jeralt Dies" and "Sothis kinda dies" chapters becasue they were irrelevant to the story so yes, this chap is based very loosely on the White Clouds finale.
Kelery Sarrot: I understand the ship isn't for everyone mostly because of that mess with Patricia and Lamber-doodle but I'm glad you think the concept is interesting at least!
ANYWAY that's about it, enjoy!
Chapter XXIV: The Storm
Dear Dimitri,
I sent this letter to the fastest messenger I could find but even so there's a possibility it won't reach you in time (assuming you intend on fighting with The Church). In the chance that it does, there are some things I must relay to you. I truthfully don't know if I will survive this attack—no matter how much I desire to stay alive and finish all this.
The sharp snowflakes of an upcoming blizzard sliced across Dimitri's flushed cheeks as he clutched the leather reins within his gloved hands. Edelgard's letter replayed in his head as he trotted through the snow atop his stead—he'd hoped a ride would rid his mind of all the stress.
It did no such thing.
I simply wanted to tell you things I never was able to. Things I forgot I wanted to say after The Incident. And I don't believe "thank you, goodbye" can fit it all adequately, so…
"Your Majesty?"
Dimitri blinked rapidly out of his stupor and glanced to his side where a worriedly frowning Ingrid rode side by side with him on a bay mare. "Are you okay?"
He forced a smile. "Of course."
Ingrid's frown darkened and Dimitri's smile disappeared into a sigh as he looked in front of him once more. "Forgive me. This was supposed to be...calming but this blasted war it—"
"The choice is obvious, no?" Ingrid said. "We aid The Church."
Dimitri swallowed and clutched the reins tighter. "I—you're right it—I should—"
"It's the Empress, isn't it?" Ingrid said solemnly, and Dimitri's silence answered perfectly. He grappled with the words in his head before he could deliver a response.
"I promised her, Ingrid. I promised her I wouldn't engage."
"Your Majesty...with all due respect, your duty is to Faerghus first. How would aiding The Adrestian Emperor with a power grab—"
"It's not," he cut in quickly. "She doesn't want power; she merely desires freedom for Fódlan." Catching Ingrid's wrinkled nose he quickly added, "I don't...I don't fully understand her disdain for The Church and nor do I agree with her methods but—she's still my friend, Ingrid. How can I betray her? What would you do, if you were in my shoes?"
Ingrid didn't so much as hesitate as she firmly stated, "I would choose Faerghus. I would do whatever it took to keep it and it's people safe regardless of emotional attachments."
Dimitri smiled weakly. "Of course you would. You would make a fine queen, Ingrid."
Ingrid chuckled lightly and raised her eyebrows. "Just how am I meant to interpret that comment, Your Majesty?"
Dimitri's lips twitched upwards in amusement but a full smile was stopped from forming at the thought that followed.
"Even if marriage was either of our intents...I'm afraid my Uncle has roped me into an arrangement. It wouldn't be possible."
"What?" Ingrid asked in surprise, tugging her horse's reins and urging her to stop. "An arranged marriage? With whom?"
Dimitri frowned and shook his head, "I'm...not sure. Although it is far from my mind at the moment what with...everything."
"A war would shake up anyone I would presume," Ingrid said sympathetically.
...I want to properly express the magnitude of how your actions affected me. How much they, and you mean to me.
"Yes," Dimitri said looking away. "That."
Unfortunately, hiding his face from Ingrid didn't stop her from reading the inflections in his voice, and with a sigh she said, "Your Majesty...I've said this already but I will say it again; you can't put your personal emotions before our country—not anymore. You're King now."
"I know," Dimitri whispered, shaking his head. "I know, I know, I know I just—El..."
"Has chosen her path," Ingrid cut in firmly. "And it's one you can't follow."
Dimitri sighed heavily and swallowed. "I know," he repeated, tugging the reins of his stead and slowed to a stop. "We should head back; a blizzard fast approaches."
Ingrid nodded in agreement before following Dimitri as he turned his horse around and spurred her forwards in a gallop with a light kick and an urging click of his tongue. The snowflakes cut sharper into his cheeks now, tears freezing to his lashes and hands shaking for reasons not related to the cold.
That little dagger you gave me and it's symbolism, it aided in my inspiration. It fuelled my desire to carve a path outside of Arundel's reach. It was an anchor keeping me alive.
"Your Majesty!" a messenger cried urgently as Dimitri and Ingrid trotted back onto castle grounds. Dimitri halted his mount and held out his hand to accept the letter the messenger held out to him.
"It's from The Church, My King," the man said and Dimitri tensed. He'd run out of time, he was sure of it.
He could feel Ingrid's serious gaze burning against his neck as he inhaled slowly and muttered a numb, "Thank you," to the man.
Dismounting, he let a pair of stable hands lead his horse away as he stiffly strode into the castle, hand shaking at his side.
Your persistent kindness at the Monastery is another thing I'll never forget. For the first time in so long you made me feel something other than detachment, resignation, and bitter anger. I didn't know at first why you immediately struck me the moment you approached me. But then I remembered everything and it all made sense suddenly.
Dimitri read over Rhea's letter in his study with slowly slumping shoulders. The Adrestian Army was only three days away, she claimed. If Faerghus was to help, it needed to be now.
He squeezed his eyes shut and leaned back in the desk chair, biting his lip until it bled before taking a quill, dipping it in ink and penning his reply.
With every word, he felt his heart splinter.
No matter where your path leads adjacent to mine, whether it be far away or in direct opposition, I want you to know I will always cherish my friendship with you. Both when you were Dima, and when you were Prince Dimitri.
Dimitri had the messenger called back into the study to hand him his letter before turning to the innocently gleaming weapon held securely in its glass case.
If we do end up fighting, do not lament. I assure you my sentiments will remain the same.
Thank you, thank you for everything my long forgotten friend. It was because of you that I did not lose hope.
Dimitri rose from his seat and pressed his palm against the glass, Aredbhar shining through brilliantly. He then abruptly hiccuped on a sob as he pressed his forehead against it whispering, "I'm sorry." Again and again and again as if it made his decision any less treasonous to his heart.
Goodbye.
Love,
El
-o0o-
"Good news, I presume?" Seteth questioned Rhea as she stood atop her balcony, smiling serenely into the distance.
She hummed and responded, "King Dimitri has accepted. Now with him, The Alliance, and our Knights, the Empire doesn't stand a chance." Her eyes glittered triumphantly as she turned to her advisor. "They realize that that girl compromises us all, and it pleases me greatly."
Seteth nodded slowly. "I see. Empress Edelgard's defeat will be thorough and swift then."
"No," Rhea said simply as she turned from the balcony and walked back into The Audience Chamber.
"I...don't understand," Seteth said in confusion. "You claimed yourself with our armies combined..."
"You misunderstand me, Seteth," Rhea said, pausing by a statue of the Goddess and smiling mildly brighter. "Her army will meet a swift defeat, but for the treacherous ideas behind that army to be destroyed as well...she will need to be made an example of."
"Made an...Rhea—"
"This can never happen again, Seteth. Never." She turned around and placed a palm on his cheek. "You understand, yes?"
"What do you plan on doing with her?" Seteth questioned as he stepped away from Rhea's hand, although if Edelgard were to be made an example of and wouldn't be allowed to die swiftly...Seteth knew it wouldn't be a simple beheading.
Rhea's smile fell slightly. "Why does that concern you?"
"She's a child, Rhea," Seteth said firmly. "A little girl barely eighteen. You can't actually—!"
"I've made my decision," Rhea said cooly as she stepped around him. "Find the Knights. I want to go over the plan once more."
-o0o-
This was it.
Either she fell here or she would succeed and carry on her rebellion.
Edelgard closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. When they opened again her gaze was trained sharply towards the Monastery looming in the distance. If all went to plan, that building would be a mere shell of its current beauty.
Clenching her fists, she turned around and addressed her army. "Remember," She told them. "Only a select few of us will break through the first line of defence. Then, once I give my…" Edelgard swallowed the bile in her throat briefly before nodding towards Arundel. "...uncle the signal, we will charge with our full might. Questions?"
"Has Rhea enlisted the help of any allies?" Ladislava asked with a raised hand.
Edelgard turned to Hubert, silently urging him to answer. The Alliance and The Kingdom hadn't answered The Church's plea last she'd heard but that had been a week ago...much could have changed.
"From what I know, no. Our spies were unable to learn any new data however so take this with a grain of salt and prepare for extra resistance," Hubert stated.
It was a stupid childish wish...but Edelgard silently wished nothing had changed. Not only for the sake of this battle ending with her on top but also because fighting Dimitri—
She wasn't sure if she was ready to fight Dimitri.
"No need for the sad face, niece," Arundel drawled just before they left, hand gripping her shoulder. "Either way the boy lives...of course his actions simply depend on whether or not Cornelia will need to...ah forcefully subdue him." His smile broadened as he continued, "And if you fail I'm sure we could use Dimitri as our new face of the revolution—with some artificial upgrades, of course."
In a way...that was worse. So much worse. At least if Dimitri was dead he'd be safe from Arundel and his band of freaks.
Still, as she, Hubert and select few in the frontline soldiers marched onwards, she attempted to steel herself. If Dimitri was there...if he stood in her way then they would be enemies and she wouldn't be able to protect him from Cornelia and anyone else who sank their claws into him.
If Dimitri wasn't there then he was still out of reach. Perhaps he wouldn't be as meddled with but Edelgard still wouldn't be able to protect him.
And if Edelgard lost in either scenario then—
No. She didn't want to think of Dimitri going through the same torment she had.
And yet...and yet her mind taunted her, showing memories of Dima and Prince Dimitri strapped to tables and sobbing for a Goddess that didn't care to hear him.
So she forcefully replaced them with happy memories. Again...it was childish and foolish and she should simply stop thinking about him all together. But in a way it was a comfort. One less warm feeling of happiness before she rocked Fódlan to its core—whether dead or alive.
"Lady Edelgard," Hubert said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. She hummed in response as he uttered, "You are shaking."
Edelgard frowned and turned to him fully, indignantly stating, "I am not—" he held up her hand and raised an eyebrow. The cursed thing was indeed shaking beneath taught leather gloves.
Glaring, she snatched her hand away and briskly walked ahead of him.
"If this is about that king again—"
"He has a name," she said coldly, eyes stubbornly trained on the Monastery before her.
Hubert let out a breath of agitation before grinding out, "If this is about King Dimitri again then you need to set him aside."
"Why?" Edelgard demanded, glaring at him over her shoulder. "Did you lie then? Did he accept?"
"I would never lie to you, Your Majesty."
"Then let me have this."
"Lady—"
"If the time comes I will fight him. You know this. Or do you doubt me now?"
Hubert paused for a brief second before saying, "Of course not, apologies for overstepping." But that pause needled into her brain and plucked out her deepest anxieties.
What if, when faced with harming Dimitri that she faltered after all? It had been bad enough when he was simply Prince Dimitri but now he was also Dima. How—?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of thunder exploding through the sky. Edelgard and the rest of her army looked up as clouds swiftly swirled around above them.
"Where did these clouds come from?" Edelgard questioned out loud as Hubert's visible eye narrowed.
Seconds later, the Crest of Charon flashed into existence above them. Edelgard's eyes widened in horror and she cried, "Scatter!"
The army broke apart just as a giant lightning bolt shot from the sky and exploded against the dirt path with an explosion and a flash. Stray tendrils of electricity shot out and slammed into Edelgard's back as she and the rest of the soldiers were thrown forwards. A scream of agony left her lips as she fell to the earth with a heavy thud, gasping for breath.
"Lady Catherine," Hubert snarled through gritted teeth as he forced himself up on convulsing limbs. He spat out the blood in his mouth as he continued, "We underestimated her range with that blasted Crest."
Edelgard coughed, both due to the light fire the lightning had caused and the stench of singed corpses she knew were behind her.
Edelgard pushed herself to her feet, tugging out the elixir flask strapped to her hip and drinking a small sip. Immediately the twitching in her limbs stopped as she said, "Where is she? We need to find a blind spot."
Hubert nodded firmly after sipping from his own flask before turning around and yelling, "Winged mounts! Find out where Lady Catherine is!"
Thankfully the armoured soldiers far behind the carter that bolt had caused snapped out of their shocked stupor to kick their Pegasi and Wyverns into flight. Four left at once, reaching the clouds and circling the Monastery just over the hill's crest.
Moments later, arrows and spells shot from the towers with blinding speed and horrifying accuracy. The two Pegasus riders went crashing to earth with a well placed Thoron blast while one of the Wyvern riders were shot out of the sky with an arrow lodged in his throat.
The final rider swiftly swooped towards the waiting Edelgard and Hubert screaming, "Tower to the left! Tower to the left!" Clouds swarmed above him, the Crest of Charon appeared, and lighting singed both man and beast to bones covered in charred mangled flesh.
Edelgard gritted her teeth before saying, "I'm going to risk Warping closer."
Hubert's eye widened and he swiftly shook his head. "Lady Edelgard, we discussed—"
Edelgard ignored him completely, desperation clutching her heart as she dashed into the tree line for cover. Catherine would destroy all their current force within minutes and there was no way she could bring in the rest of the army with that threat hanging over her head.
"I won't lose," she told herself firmly. "I won't lose."
Once buried beneath the canopy of leaves she Warped away and reappeared in the blessedly deserted town.
Eyeing her surroundings, Edelgard unsheathed the silver axe strapped to her back and strode cautiously through the empty streets.
Immediately her shoulders tensed sharply, and within seconds she'd spun out of the way of a flying axe. Her eyes glanced briefly to find the axe had lodged into a nearby house door before snapping towards the charging Knight emerging from the shadows of two shops.
Edelgard rushed forwards to meet him, eyes narrowed in concentration before she Warped out of the way of his left swiping sword in the last instant.
She reappeared behind him, skidded to a stop, twisted sideways and rammed her shoulder into his armoured back, taking advantage of his forwards momentum.
The Knight fell with a cry of surprise that was swiftly silenced as Edelgard buried her axe blade within his skull.
Tugging her weapon out of the dented and now bloody helmet, Edelgard swung it forward with a grunt and slashed an arrow from the sky, spinning around to block another heavier axe that connected with hers.
She gasped under the weight before clutching the handle of her weapon and sending electricity zooming through it. The soldier screamed and convulsed, giving Edelgard time to push him and his axe backwards before kicking his fried corpse in the chest.
As she'd hoped, the Knight fell in direct path with that of a nearby mage and she fell backwards beneath his bulky weight with a shriek. The spell she'd been casting exploded and Edelgard swiftly jumped out of the way of the blinding flash of Throron.
She'd barely enjoyed her victory when a brawler slammed into her from her side and sent her crashing through a door with a cry or surprise.
The two fell heavily to the ground, Edelgard's axe slipping from her grasp. Quickly however, she tugged her dagger from beneath his body and plunged it deep into his exposed abdomen. The man roared in agony before grabbing Edelgard by the throat and hoisting her up.
She gasped for breath for only a moment before he tossed her like a rag doll against the wall.
Edelgard's vision spotted and her skull thrummed with pain as she struggled to her feet, grasping the handle of her fallen axe tightly.
The brawler dashed forwards with a war cry that she silenced as she sent her axe flying upwards. It cut free a candelabra and the structure crashed atop the man's head.
He faltered for a moment, but Edelgard used it as an opportunity to dart forward and plunge Dimitri's dagger even deeper, twisting it firmly.
She then tugged the blood soaked weapon out of the gurgling and choking soon to be corpse and spun to toss it into the throat of an archer who had tried sneaking up on her.
Behind the fallen archer, a mage stood, and blasted her straight in the chest with Sagittae orbs. Edelgard was sent flying once more, crashing through the house and tumbling onto the cobblestone streets.
Gasping for breath and cursing, Edelgard pushed herself to her knees and took out her flask once more, only able to drink a small amount before having to roll out of the way of another blast.
Goodness, if she was losing breath now, it was prudent thinking on her part that she didn't Warp closer than she already had towards—
A Pegasus rider swooped down towards her and Edelgard scrambled to her feet, hands alight with flames that she didn't get to throw once the woman tossed a spear in her direction.
Edelgard jumped sideways and rolled, ducking as the mage behind her fired again. She then stood up just in time for the rider to swoop down once more and slice her across her chest.
She cried out falling to her knees and clutching the bleeding wound before quickly Warping to a nearby rooftop to catch her breath and drink more elixir.
She needed to be in top shape to face Rhea...anything less and—
An arrow buried itself and Edelgard's arm and she involuntarily released the flask in her hand with a cry of pain. She could only watch in horror briefly the flask clattering to the street and spilling its contents before another Pegasus rider swooped forwards and kicked her off her perch.
Edelgard fell with a shout of surprise before landing hard, the breath knocked out of her lungs and the black spots reappearing.
"Careful!" A Knight shouted. "What are you fools doing?! Don't kill her! Don't!"
Edelgard's brow furrowed at that command before a blast of violet illuminated the sky and tossed the riders from their mounts.
"Lady Edelgard," Hubert's voice said urgently as he appeared in her vision, kneeling beside her and handing over his flask.
She sighed in relief as the agony stabbing her back and skull dissipated when she sat up and drank.
"I can hardly believe you charged lonesome into enemy territory," Hubert said with a shake of his head. "Are you alright?"
Clearly not. Hubert was right, what had she been thinking? She sighed to herself and shook her head. She was absolutely going mad thanks to this war she'd initiated.
"Fine," she said getting to her feet and moving towards her fallen weapons. The axe lay not too far away from the now dead mage. And thankfully, Dimitri's dagger was still buried in the neck of that archer. "How is the army?"
"Evading the lightning as best they can but..." Hubert frowned worriedly. "Well it's fairly difficult."
From outside, the sound of screams of agony followed the galloping of hooves against cobblestones and the swish of a scythe. Death Knight paused before the destroyed house's open door and stated, "We must make haste. The defences must be taken out." He was followed warily by a dozen soldiers staying a safe distance away from him. Smart.
Edelgard nodded in agreement, silently grateful that the two had decided to follow her. "Alright," she said, sheathing her dagger and twirling her axe. "Onwards."
The Knights weren't nearly as intimidating with allies by her side. But as the Monastery grew ever closer, her anxiety slowly climbed.
There would surely be more foes to worry about within—
Suddenly, an arrow whizzed by and stabbed the ground centimetres away from Edelgard's foot.
Three heads darted upwards where a familiar cheekily smiling archer stood atop the spine of a roof. "'Ello friends!" He called jubilantly with a wave.
Hubert's hands became engulfed with violet magic as he narrowed his eyes at Claude.
"Whoa, whoa, hey! I just wanna talk," Claude insisted, slinging his bow over his shoulder and holding both hands up.
"You shot an arrow at us," Edelgard deadpanned.
"Flashy way to get your attention," he winked. "Trust me, if there's one thing you gotta know about me, Ice Princess it's that I never miss a shot."
Edelgard rolled her eyes and scoffed at the bold declaration as Claude continued. "Although...it's not princess anymore, is it?" He slid down the roof's shingles and landed in a crouch before them. "Your Ice Empress now," he smiled up at her, verdant eyes not carrying a fraction of the cheerfulness in his demeanour. "A war huh? That's what it's come to?"
Edelgard sniffed and looked away from him. "I hardly think you'd understand," she said, placing a firm hand on Death Knight's wrist, as he was practically twitching to charge at Claude for no particular reason.
"Try me," Claude said, standing up fully and crossing his arms across his chest. "Clearly there's some Church hatred but I don't feel like that's it."
"To put it simply, I want a world where your life isn't dictated by your blood and heritage but only your abilities," Edelgard said.
Claude hummed theatrically before saying, "Yeah you're right, I don't get it. Because there's several things you could've done before...well that," he nodded towards the carpet of corpses trailed behind Edelgard and her small entourage.
"Oh?" Hubert sneered with crossed arms. "Pray tell."
"Well, use your influence as Empress to point out the Church's faults and slowly wean people out of the Crest and nobility System, going after Rhea al assassin style instead of dragging people into a bloodbath if you think she's such a threat, passing laws to—"
"Again, you wouldn't understand," Edelgard said firmly. "Especially someone like you."
Claude's smile broadened but his eyes grew ever more frigid, narrowing slightly. "Someone like me, huh?"
"An outsider," Edelgard clarified. "You don't know Fódlan's history, and thus you may never be able to right the injustices—"
Claude laughed then, a biting bitter sound tinged with frost. "And you think I don't know anything about injustice, eh? 'Someone like me?'"
Edelgard shook her head. "I didn't—"
"You know for someone who wants to fix Fódlan or whatever, you're kinda bigoted," Claude stated causally.
"What?" Edelgard demanded. "I am not—! It was a simple deduction based on—!"
"My heritage?" Claude finished as he raised his eyebrows. "Oops! She's a hypocrite too, ladies and gents!"
"Enough of this. I bore quickly from this conversation." Death Knight said darkly. "Step aside or face my wrath."
"Yes, Claude," Edelgard said in a voice she hoped properly masked her flayed ego. "Move voluntarily or we will cut you down."
"That's your problem, Edelgard," Claude sighed dramatically as he rolled his head. "Oh so violent. Not even going to try negotiating? Are you just going to kill everyone who doesn't agree with you?"
"I have laid out my terms perfectly; move now or I strike," Edelgard said coldly, stepping forwards and levelling the infuriating boy with a sharp glare. "Final warning."
"Stunning wit, Your Majesty, but that's not negotiating," Claude said casually. "You know there's someone you remind me of! I think you know her, teal hair, creepy smile, dead eyes of a sociopath—"
Edelgard's Crest flashed violet on the back of her hand and she charged forward with enhanced speed. There was no possible way he could dodge at this speed. No way he could block her swinging axe fuelled by fury and adrenaline.
And yet her blade met another, the vibrations stunning her to a stop as she stared wide eyed into the narrowed dark blue eyes of Byleth Eisner. Within a second she'd taken advantage of Edelgard's stunned shock and disarmed her with ease, sensing her axe clattering to the street.
"Hey, Teach! Right in the nick of time," Claude greeted cheerfully as his former Professor pointed her blade at Edelgard's throat.
Behind her, Hubert held out his hand to stop Death Knight from charging while the mage watched the scene with narrowed eyes.
"Rhea wants an audience with you," Byleth said. "Surrender and come with us."
Edelgard tilted her chin upwards and narrowed her eyes. "Does she? Well I'm afraid the only time I'll be interacting with her is when I duel her."
"You won't get that far," Byleth said calmly. Not a mockery, simply a statement. "We have dozens of elite knights and mages, and while we've been given orders not to kill you I think you'd rather see Rhea while standing strong instead of limping on one leg, am I wrong?"
"Is that a threat?" Edelgard challenged.
Byleth shrugged. "I guess. It's not an empty one, though."
Edelgard shared a split second glance with Hubert. If Byleth was under orders not to kill her...
"No, I suppose not," Edelgard agreed. She stepped back with her hands up. "Fine." Beside her, Hubert's lips twitched upwards slightly.
Byleth watched Edelgard for a few moments before gesturing towards Claude with her head. "Got the manacles?"
Claude didn't answer, instead he swiftly nocked his arrow and let it fly at the exact second Hubert lifted his hand to send a barrage of Dark Spikes shooting forward. The arrow lodged into his wrist and caused him to grunt in pain, sending the spell spiralling off target.
"You should have got the mage," Byleth sighed as she landed after leaping out of the destructive spell's path and pointing a hand forwards.
"Hey, like I said I only wanted to talk!" Claude defended as knights began to pour from the Monastery entrance in droves. "Besides, why didn't you use your teleporting mojo?"
"I don't teleport," Byleth said simply as she sank into a fighting stance.
'Could have certainly fooled me,' Edelgard thought as Death Knight charged to meet Byleth's blade and Hubert engaged Claude. But Edelgard wasn't paying attention to either.
There, in the distance within a tide of war crying loyal fighters Rhea strode out, hair in a low braid that danced in the wind, body draped in ethereal armour and hand holding a sword and shield both.
Her fierce eyes locked with Edelgard's, a snarl twisting her lips before Edelgard's vision of her was blocked by a leaping assassin.
Edelgard unsheathed her dagger and blocked his twin blades, twisting out of the way of his descent as she charged to where her axe had been dropped.
The assassin followed with incredible speed, and had almost managed to hit her with a slash before she could roll underneath and snatch up her axe, spinning with the intent to knock the swords from his hands.
The weapons chattered to the cobblestone and Edelgard slashed her axe across his neck.
Checking to see that the flask given to her by Hubert was still intact, Edelgard charged through the throng of soldiers with Hubert, Death Knight and few of her soldiers, goal set on The Archbishop.
-o0o-
"Well, somebody's quiet!" Sylvain teased lightly as Dimitri stared unseeingly before him, the sound of battle growing louder and louder in his ears and the Monastery growing ever closer.
If the fighting was still happening...it meant El was still alive, yes? At least for now.
He swallowed thickly as he clutched the reins tighter. He didn't want to...oh Goddess how was he going to—?
"Well you're definitely in a bad—"
"Oh, shut up, Sylvain," Felix snapped.
"Joking at a time like this is hardly appropriate," Dedue stated from Dimitri's side with a disapproving frown.
"And that's exactly why I'm easing the mood! We could die you know."
Dimitri squeezed his eyes shut as he imagined such a horrible scenario. Sylvain skewered, Ingrid broken irreparably, Felix a mess of burnt and mangled pieces, Dedue choking on his own blood—all because of him, him and his horrible, inadequate—
The world swam before him as he opened his eyes and he swiftly held his shaking hand up to stop the army marching behind him.
"Your Majesty?" Dedue question worriedly as Dimitri felt another sob crawling up his throat.
"Hey!" Felix barked and Dimitri jolted in surprise as the swordsman stepped up towards Dimitri and glared up at him. "Pull yourself together, Boar."
"I c—I can't do—I can't lose—" Dimitri shook his head as a tear slipped loose from his eye. "I can't do this."
"Well suck it up. We can't turn back now you told them we were coming."
"Wow, since when did you care about breaking promises?" Sylvain asked, leaning back on his horse to regard Felix with a pair of raised eyebrows.
"Shut up, Sylvain!" Felix spat acidly before turning back to Dimitri. "You know these people. If we don't show up—"
"I'll be as good as declaring me their enemies," Dimitri said softly. "I know."
"And would you rather, what?"
"Not...having Faerghus invaded."
"Good." Felix stepped away from him then as Dimitri gestured for his army to move again, swallowing through the knot tightening his throat and continuing onwards.
He couldn't believe he was doing this. He was going to fight and possibly kill El. The girl who taught him to dance and—
"I'm sorry," Dimitri whispered once more under his breath as the flag of Faerghus was raised and they all charged.
-o0o-
With a guttural scream, Edelgard sliced through an archer and finally broke out of the throng of bodies, gasping and limping towards the steps of the Monastery doors. Rhea stared down at her as if she were dirt beneath her shoes.
Gritting her teeth, she ascended the steps, drinking a quarter of her flask and feeling it rejuvenate her. The army below seemed to pause to watch her, and the silence caused her every step to echo.
Once atop, the two women glared at one another.
"I don't care for your reasons," Rhea hissed. "I cannot permit for this foolishness to continue!"
"The feeling is mutual," Edelgard responded, raising her axe. "Tonight I will put an end to your reign of tyranny."
Rhea laughed bitterly and pointed her sword forwards. "You are nothing more but a naive little girl daring to defy The Goddess!"
Edelgard swung her axe and the blade crashed against Rhea's, a loud singing of metal permeating through the air. "My bone to pick is with you," she ground out, jumping away from Rhea's sideways slash. "The Goddess is simply collateral."
Another dark laugh escaped Rhea's lips as she stalked forwards. "Breaking you will be all too delicious." Her Crest flashed on the back of her hand and she dashed forwards with outrageous speed.
Edelgard was slammed into and thrown backwards into the Grand Hall with a cry of surprise before swiftly regaining her bearings, landing hard onto her two palms and flipping herself backwards to her feet just as Rhea slammed down with her sword.
Landing, Edelgard caught her axe from midair and swung for Rhea's neck but she was gone again. She felt the air shift and pivoted around to slice at Rhea's reappearing face this time but she'd held up her shield to block.
"I didn't spend so long fixing everything for you to come and tear it down with your foolishness!" Rhea yelled as she pushed forwards sharply and caused Edelgard to stumble backwards.
"Look at Fódlan!" Edelgard yelled back, clanging her axe against Rhea's sword again and again until the sound of it caused her head to hurt. "What have you fixed, you forsaken tyrant?!"
Rhea let out an unintelligible shriek of rage, as she disappeared again with a flash of her Crest. Edelgard sucked in a sharp breath as she watched the blurred form circle her before going in for the attack with the same intense speed.
'Now.' Edelgard ducked underneath a slash that would have slit her throat before pressing her palm against the back of her weapon and slammed the axe blade into Rhea's chest.
The woman gasped before staggering backwards against the wall, she then let out an almost animalistic snarl before her Crest flashed once more. Edelgard expected her to speed around her again, but instead she began to slowly rise into the air, magic crackling in her palms before she let loose what Edelgard recognized to be Agnea's Arrow.
Edelgard's eyes widened before she jumped out of the way and rolled back to her feet, the spell exploding the entirety of the once Great Hall and causing Edelgard to stumble to her chest.
An invisible force then lifted her into the air, and she felt panic clasp around her heart.
She was forced to spin around to face the equally hovering Rhea as she held her hand up towards her. "You run on nothing more but daydreams. Not to worry, once I've defeated you I will show Fódlan what becomes of such sinners."
Edelgard was then tossed upwards, yelling in pain when her body slammed against the ceiling. The pain hadn't been given a chance to settle before another spell shot towards her vulnerable form.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Edelgard quickly Warped away, reappearing in the Cathedral and flinching as the spell shot upwards in a brilliant beam of light and crumbled the ground away.
Crying out as her broken ribs shifted, Edelgard crawled away as fast as she could before she fell into the slowly gaping hole. It was to no avail however, the new patch of marble she tried to latch onto crumbled away and she began to fall.
Using all her strength, she Warped once more, this time reappearing on the far end of the room to catch her breath. With shaking hands, she lifted the flask to her lips and drank generously before taking in a deep and staggering to her feet.
"I can do this," Edelgard whispered to herself as Rhea rose from the ground like a vengeful spirit. "I must do this."
Narrowing her eyes, Rhea, shot another Arrow spell at her. Cursing, Edelgard Warped herself into the air behind the woman, kicked off the wall and aimed for her head once more with a loud war cry.
Rhea turned too late, the blade burying itself into the side of her neck as Edelgard threw her whole await against her. The already crumbling marble cracked violently beneath them as The Archbishop began to gasp and choke on her own blood.
Pulling the axe out with a squelch, Edelgard spat, "What is it you wanted to show Fódlan again?"
Rhea's shocked gaze became murderous, and Edelgard watched in horror as the deep wound on her neck slowly stitched itself back together. Moments later, Edelgard was thrown back once more, Rhea's hand clenched tightly around her throat as she was slammed against the wall.
"I said..." she began in a chilling voice, the hand not holding Edelgard up glowing white before slamming against her abdomen. Through Edelgard's shriek of blinding agony as the spell tore through her internal body, she continued, "Once I defeat you, I will show Fódlan what happens to sinners!"
Rhea tossed Edelgard into the air and bashed her face with her shield, sending her crashing and tumbling to the ground as her skull exploded with agony and a gash opened up on her forehead.
Edelgard couldn't even get up before she'd been levitated once more. She was then elbowed viciously in the stomach by Rhea and sent crashing through the balcony doors. Her head crashed hard against the heavy stone handrail and for a moment she was rendered blissfully unconscious.
But of course, Rhea was anything but merciful.
With a sharp strike to the face, Edelgard was violently brought back to the land of the living, Rhea's cruel eyes boring into her pain dazed violet ones.
"Look," she hissed, her voice growing deeper and echoing eerily, pupils lengthening and green shimmering from her form.
Edelgard watched wide eyed as Rhea's face morphed, scales fading onto her skin, teeth protruding from her mouth, horns growing from her skull...
In a blinding flash of light, Edelgard was pinned beneath a giant lizard-like claw, gasping at the agony on her sour and aching body. The balcony cracked under the weight, and Rhea squeezed Edelgard's slight form in her clawed hand before raising into the sky with two mighty beats of her leathery wings.
Half the Cathedral crumbled into the courtyard as they flew high into the sky. Once they'd reached a point that Rhea seemed suitable she flapped idly in the air and opened her palm. She then flipped Edelgard onto her bleeding abdomen and pinched a handful of hair, forcing her head up. "Look at what has become of your army," she boomed.
Lightning was picking off groups of men at a time, volleys of arrows laid waste to the rest that escaped and winged mounts tossed knights into the air before dropping them to their deaths.
Shamir, Alois, and Jeralt fought with intense vigour, laying waste to countless foes without seeming fatigued.
The emblem of red was slowly being eaten away by too many soldiers of different colours—one of which...she realized was azure blue.
Her heart plummeted.
She'd known this could happen...but yet she still felt utterly betrayed.
"That isn't all of it," Edelgard croaked through her bruised vocal chords. "Hubert will have—"
"Do you mean the group of fools waiting behind the wall?" Rhea questioned, a hint of smugness seeping into her voice.
Edelgard, through Herculean strength managed to stop the horrified whimper from escaping her lips, but she could not stop the tears from springing to her eyes.
"You're not the only one with spies, von Hresvelg. And The Alliance are rather fabulous in that department," she continued. "So now do you see? Do you see how pointless it is? What happens to naive girls who challenge The Church?"
'No. No, no, nonononono this was wrong, this was all wrong! It wasn't supposed to be this way! It wasn't! Why, why, why?'
How had things gone so wrong?
Edelgard squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears from spilling out. No, no. She couldn't falter. They could still change the tides.
She could still change the tides.
Edelgard's hand slipped to her hip and slowly pulled out her dagger. Gritting her teeth she rolled swiftly to her back and tossed the blade into Rhea's large eye.
The beast shrieked in agony as blood gushed out, tossing Edelgard off her palm involuntarily as she raised her hands to cover her clawed appendages to cover the eye.
Edelgard's breath left her momentarily as she fell from the sky, the wind tugging at her hair and stealing her breath, embers and light rubble cutting against her cheek...
'Focus,' she told herself before Warping closer to the ground. Flash. 100 feet. Flash. 50. Flash 10.
Edelgard slammed to the marble floor of the half destroyed Cathedral. Crying out in agony as she clutched her now broken leg.
She couldn't move. She couldn't concentrate she couldn't think—but she had to move lest—
Wind gushed through the once beautiful Cathedral and a flash of light followed as Rhea landed against a carpet of broken glass and stone. She snatched the dagger hilt and sharply tugged it out of her wounded eye with a gasp of pain, tossing it to the ground as she strode towards Edelgard's fetal form and the socket regrew an eyeball.
"I'm going to drag you to the centre of that battlefield by your hair," Rhea said cooly as her hands became electrified and she tossed a ball at Edelgard.
She cried in pain and twitched as Rhea continued. "Then I will parade you around..." she tossed another one and Edelgard bit her lip to stop the scream. "And show them..." another. A tear finally escaped Edelgard's scrunched lids. "That Edelgard von Hresvelg...!" Her voice rose in volume as a stronger electric blast caused Edelgard to scream again. "Is nothing more but a foolish!" Blast. "Idiotic!" Another. "Sinful little girl that deserves to be—!"
Her voice cut off abruptly, replaced with a breathless, bloody gasp and the sound of blood spilling onto the marble.
Edelgard opened her eyes slowly. "Hubert?" She croaked, blinking the water from her eyes, only to find a scene that sent a shockwave of disbelief shooting through her spell fried system.
Dimitri stood behind Rhea, Aredbhar plunged straight through her back and a furious look covering that oh so welcome face.
-o0o-
'This is for Faerghus,' Dimitri had told himself several times as he chipped away at Edelgard's dream with every Adrestian soldier that fell to his eldritch blade.
But the guilt didn't go away, he couldn't stop apologizing in his head...
And then he had heard her scream.
It was the same primal instinct that had overcome him all those moons ago during the bandit attack. Faerghus no longer mattered, the war and The Church no longer mattered. All that mattered was finding El and saving her before it was too late.
He'd galloped through the flaming town, set for the Monastery where he'd heard her voice, the constant repeat of "I'm sorry." Quickly replaying, "El. El. El."
He needed to find El. He needed to protect El. He couldn't let her die—Goddess forgive him but not even for Faerghus.
As he galloped into the building, deaf to all the sounds of his title being called, the ceiling came down. Dimitri vaulted off his horse and stumbled to his feet, not daring to stop his forwards momentum as the entrance became closed off.
He charged up the steps, muscles burning with exertion and breath coming out in ragged puffs. The shaking of the building had him stumbling, the crown on his head kept slipping down his brow but it was the sound of Edelgard's pained shriek that caused all those inconveniences to become irrelevant.
"El!" Dimitri screamed hoarsely. "I'm coming! I'm coming!"
The ground shook once more and Dimitri staggered against a wall before continuing onwards. "Hold on! Please, hold on!"
'Don't take her from me,' He also silently begged the Goddess. 'Not El. Please don't take her from me too.'
Tears leaked down his cheeks as he ran faster. "Please..." he whispered.
He charged through the unhinged doors of the now destroyed Cathedral, and there El was, curled up and crying as Rhea tortured her relentlessly, all the while spewing insults and threats.
Immediately, his fear became bloodlust.
Charging forwards with a roar, Dimitri plunged Areadbhar straight through Rhea's back, relishing the sight of her blood staining the dusted marble and the choking noise she made.
How dare she? How dare she hurt El?
"Hubert?"
El.
Dimitri turned to find Edelgard staring in confusion up at him.
"D-Dimitri?" She whispered in awe, attempting to push herself up, only to cry out and slump back down.
"Edelgard," Dimitri breathed tenderly as he tugged out his lance from Rhea's body and crouched before the quaking girl. "El. I'm here, you're safe now."
He placed his weapons down before he pushed the lopsided crown and the loose strands of his hair, then moved to unclasp his heavy fur cape in order to use it as a bandage. But Edelgard shook her hewed.
"The flask," she said hoarsely. And within a moment he found the enchanted object strapped to her waist. Quickly, he tugged the flask, uncapped it and pressed it to her lips.
She choked slightly before the liquid went down, and Dimitri watched colour return to her face just as it ran out. She closed her eyes breathing a sigh of relief before she pushed herself to her knees slowly.
"Careful," Dimitri said, holding her shoulders and helping her right herself. "Careful."
But Edelgard's eyes were trained on his, steady but tinged with a dash of hope. "Why...why are you here?"
Dimitri swallowed and said, "I heard you scream I—I'd accepted Rhea's plea if only to keep the unspoken alliance between us going strong but—I couldn't—you—" he shook his head and turned back to Rhea with a frown, her teal eyes staring at nothing.
Edelgard followed his gaze, eyes alight and lips parted. "She's...dead?" She breathed.
He laughed bitterly. "Yes. I don't think The Church will desire Faerghus's aid now."
A smile threatened to break across Edelgard's face before it faded, the hope in her eyes dimming away with it before she said, "I will tell them it was me...everyone will believe it, and then you can..." she took in a deep breath. "Keep your alliance for when—when Faerghus—"
"No."
Edelgard blinked in surprise. "I beg your—?"
"I can't possibly leave your side, Edelgard," he said with a shake of his head. "Every second of every day I'm worrying, wishing...wanting. It's maddening I—" he paused, licking his lips. Before whispering. "I don't agree with you, but I can't hurt you, El—it would kill me inside if—"
"Stop!" Edelgard cut him off, placing a finger on his lips and looking away from him with closed eyes. "Don't—you can't say that unless you mean it,"
"I do," Dimitri said firmly as he squeezed her wrist gently. "Every single word, El."
Edelgard's hand trembled as she slowly turned back to him. "You—you want…"
Dimitri hesitated again as his mind forced him to think with his head and not his heart. War had already begun regardless of him wanting it. And while he could still salvage an alliance with The Church, then what? He would have to go through this all over again—worrying and unwilling. To live with that, while being King?
He looked back at her, the hope in her eyes flickering but swiftly fading out.
"I want to walk with you," Dimitri confirmed finally with a smile. "Yes, Edelgard. As I said I—"
Edelgard lunged towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his neck, causing Dimitri to startle.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, you have no idea how—" she pulled back from him, staring at him with shimmering pastel eyes that for the briefest moments dropped to his lips...
She shook her head firmly and stood up swiftly, Dimitri following suit. "We...we have to get back to...ah the others it..." she took in several deep calming breaths but the excitement in her face didn't fade, and it made Dimitri smile brightly. "With The Church out of the way and you here I...we only have to take The Alliance and then—"
The words from Edelgard's mouth cut off the second a simultaneously surprised and agonized scream escaped Dimitri's. Pain erupted through his side as warm blood spilled from his lips and he crashed to the ground with a painful thud.
"How dare you..." a voice hissed from above Dimitri's numb body, the after effects of magic in the air dissipating. "Use that weapon against me!"
"NO!" Edelgard screamed, paying Rhea no mind as she fell back to her knees and rolled Dimitri to his back. "No, no, no, no!"
"So, your sins have corrupted even the King of Faerghus," Rhea spat. "This shows I was a fool to entrust humanity with rulership—all of you are greedy savages!"
Dimitri's vision was quickly fading, and he could only see smudged blurs of Edelgard's panicked face and Rhea's furious one, the blood from her supposedly mortal wound caked on her clothes.
"I will make an example of both of you!"
It was that comment that caused Edelgard to snap. The back of her hand burned a blinding crimson and her body glowed as she yelled, "Get away from him!"
Rhea's eyes widened in shock before her form was blocked by a wall of flame that circled he and Edelgard, keeping them safe. The symbol of Flames then faded and Edelgard fell to her hands, blinking rapidly taking several deep breaths before turning back to Dimitri.
"It's okay," she told him in a much softer voice, swiping away the bangs clinging to his sweaty forehead and resting that hand on his cheek. "I'll fix you. But you can't close your eyes, do you understand? Stay awake."
Dimitri couldn't answer, too busy trying to get oxygen to his no doubt punctured lung so he nodded weakly instead. She pressed her hands against the wound and Dimitri hissed in pain, Edelgard shushing him gently.
He could feel magic being pushed into his wound, but it was weak...just like...
His eyes fluttered and he could have sworn he saw a familiar face kneeling beside him as well; glacier coloured eyes, blonde hair, a trim beard.
"F-Father?" Dimitri whispered, lips pulling up into a smile. The more his eyelids fluttered the clearer his image became. He didn't look like he usually did, he wasn't ragged angry—he looked sad, no bittersweet. He was smiling but it shook with effort and there were tears in his eyes.
"Don't cry, Father," Dimitri mumbled, reaching a hand to touch his face. "I'm coming now—"
"No!" Edelgard commanded and he was shaken vigorously. Lambert disappeared and his eyes opened fully again to see Edelgard framed by an inferno once more. "Keep your eyes open, don't you dare close them, Dimitri!"
"I...'m try...ing," Dimitri breathed weakly as Edelgard pressed her palms even tighter against the wound.
"Why can't I heal you?" Edelgard asked shakily. "Why won't it—no! Stay awake! Dimitri, please—!
When he began to drift off again, Glenn was there this time as well. He wasn't crying like Lambert, but he still looked bittersweet as he gave his shoulder a pat. "You always loved rushing," he said. And just hearing his voice—not accusing or biting or angry, but just like the actual Glenn when he was alive—
Tears leaked from Dimitri's eyes as his smile broadened. His family...he was going to see his family again—
Edelgard's scream of frustration pulled him back.
She was pounding one hand repeatedly against the ground while the other shakily tried to mend Dimitri's wounds. Tears were falling from her eyes too, and she was shaking with sobs.
"Dimitri," she whimpered, removing her hand from his chest and cradling his face. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me too."
'I'm sorry' he tried conveying with his eyes, the sad smile on his lips, the gentle rubbing of her hand with his thumb.
"Dima..." she whispered, placing her forehead atop his, the flames around them dying slowly.
"E...l..." his breath ran out then, and the world disappeared.
o0o0o0o0o Epilogue o0o0o0o0o
It was a bit like floating.
There was peace flowing through his heart for the first time in forever and the knowledge that everything was okay loosened the weight on his shoulders.
The field he was walking through was filled with red poppies and bathed in moonlight, and there waiting at the very edge of his vision was—
"Father!" Dimitri cried happily, charging through the fields with a shout of carefree laughter escaping his lips.
Lambert turned, a smile—an actual smile on his face as Dimitri neared him. Beside him was a woman—a woman who wasn't Patricia.
She was blonde, eyes a coffee brown, face decorated in light freckles and a tearfully joyous smile on her kind heart shaped face. The woman ran to meet Dimitri with a laugh of her own, wild curly hair bouncing behind her with her arms outstretched in a wanting hug.
Lambert followed, slower however in more of a speed walk.
And then Dimitri's steps froze. He frowned in confusion, and looked around.
The serene scene was cracking.
Lambert stopped, smile becoming the bittersweet one he'd given him when he...well he couldn't truly remember when he'd given him that look. But the woman...the woman was hysterical.
Her gaze of joy and love became one of horror as she sped up, screaming, "Dimitri!" tearfully over and over again.
The world was shattering and falling apart now, and Lambert was saying something but Dimitri couldn't hear him because the woman was screaming, and the moon was so bright it was blinding—
Dimitri blinked slowly, the light above him glaring back down. Confusion swam through his thoughts as he took in his surroundings, bloody utensils, metal, leather straps—
And then confusion slowly faded into rage as his gaze landed on a face he never wanted to see unless it was twisted in agony.
"Good morning, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd," Volkhard von Arundel said with a smirk. "We're delighted to have you back."
AN: AAAAAND Part I is DONE!
I was actually contemplating forgoing the little stinger at the end and making it look like the story was over by marking it complete for a little while but A). I'm not THAT cruel and B). You guys aren't stupid! They didn't even kiss yet, HELLO.
Also Claude's not hiding his heritage this time around because I never knew who the hell that guy thought he was fooling-he LEGIT looks like Cyril's older brother and most if not all the non-Fódlan characters were BIPOC coded so when that turned out to be his deep dark secret I was like. "Wait, what...?"
Anyway, I mentioned this already but Part II will be VERY character driven. Not just Dimitri and Edelgard but the other students plus Claude and Byleth will have storylines, character arcs, relationship arcs, etc! It will also NOT follow the canon timeskip-THAT will come in Part III. Part II is like a mid-point between the two.
Follow my Twitter "The Fantasy Fan" or Glitter_in_her for updates and news because I'd like to tweet stuff and not just retweet :D
Fantasy Fan OUT!