Soldiers on each side held onto Byleth's shoulder as they led her though the dungeon. Byleth looked at those who were locked up, which most were bandits. One that caught her eye, was someone they were searching for, Rhea. She looked very frail, pale, and without any will to do anything.
Rhea slowly looked up as she heard footsteps in front of her. When she did, her eyes went wide when she saw her again. "No…" She was chained up and watched by a couple of soldiers.
Byleth looked away seeing tears fall from her eyes. She wasn't sure what to say. She failed her. She failed everyone. Byleth felt so lost, she was imagining that Sothis was yelling at her again.
"You… You IDOIT!"
Byleth gasped as she stopped dead in her tracks, only to be pushed by the soldiers.
"Keep movin!" one soldier snapped.
Byleth kept walking. She could've sworn she heard her voice clearly, but that would be impossible.
"I get wanting to keep those precious to you safe, but I did not entrust you with my power to become a prisoner!"
Byleth kept walking but was starting to frantically look around for her.
"Yes, it's me! And now that you've protected them, now what? You can't keep them safe now, can you?"
Byleth looked down with a frown.
"I thought you'd have things handled. But no. Like always, you need to be coddled. For me to hold your hand! Heck, I even tried to guide you to NOT do what you did. But you didn't listen!"
Byleth wondered what she could've done differently to have kept everyone safe.
"You could've fought them! You have my power! Okay yes, there was no way you could have dealt with those soldiers by yourself or with the others… But there was a chance, even if extremely slight, for victory!"
Byleth knew she couldn't go with Dimitri's plan. It wouldn't work. Plus, her getting herself killed by Edelgard was likely to make him worse. Her thoughts drifted to him with tears in her eyes, hoping he's somehow okay.
"Like getting yourself captured is any better!" There was a sigh. "Though at the end, I guess there was no good option here…"
Byleth looked down at the ground with a sad look. The last thing she wished to hear was that anything she would do would be hopeless. The guards shoved her in a cell and locked her in, with guards keeping watch in front.
Seteth, Rodrigue, and Gilbert got Dimitri to agree to meet up at the monastery to discuss with him on a possible alliance with them. After he was done talking with them, he headed back to inform Claude.
Once Claude came, he brought the whole group that was to come with Byleth.
"… Is there a reason why they all came with you?" Gilbert asked.
Claude shrugged. "Thought they'd like to see some of their allies."
Felix crossed his arms. "Like I care about that! I just came to see if the boar got any worse!"
Rodrigue sighed with his son's attitude. Even though he's glad he was fine, he wishes he could be a bit kinder to his majesty.
Dimitri didn't pay him any mind.
"… Nice to see you, Felix," Sylvain stated.
Felix looked away with a crossed his arms. "Whatever..." But a smile crept into his face, seeing Sylvain and all his friends again.
Sylvain smiled as he wrapped an arm around Felix's shoulder. "Come on, Felix! Hey, I know! We can go out and loosen up after this meeting. Go and pick up some chicks!"
Felix threw his arm off him and glared at him with a pissed look. "Can't you realize what's important here?! Where in a war! Byleth is in danger!"
"Doesn't mean we can't relax for a bit while Claude and Dimitri talk."
"Agh! You're insatiable!" Felix stormed off.
"Marcie!" Annette shouted.
"Annie!" Mercades shouted.
They both ran up and hugged each other.
"It's so good to see you again!" Annette said.
"It's good to see you too!"
Annette pulled back with a serious look. "So, how you've been? Has things been getting better with… him?" Annette looked at Dimitri.
Mercades frowned with an unsure look. "Well…"
Caspar recognized someone he didn't think would be with them. "Oh, hey Fleche! What brings you here?"
Fleche glared at him. "… Caspar?! How long where you with them?"
"Wait, Caspar… You know her?" Rodrigue asked.
"Yeah, of course! She's my aunt!"
Most people around gave a surprised look, as she looked younger than Caspar.
Rodrigue and Gilbert gave a worried look. This means she's from the Empire, and the reason she gave for wanting to join in their ranks was highly concerning.
"Caspar, does she happen to have a brother?" Gilbert asked.
"Yeah… Well, she did. It was Randolph. Why do you…?"
Fleche pulled out a poisoned knife and dashed towards Dimitri. "Die, you bastard!" But then suddenly, something jerked her arm and caused her to drop the knife right in front of Dimitri. When she looked over to her arm, she saw an arrow that pinned her to the wall and she attempted to pull out the arrow.
Alliance soldiers came and apprehended Fleche.
Claude gave a stressed look as he put away his bow, then crossed his arms. "Just why was she even with you in the first place?"
"It was his highness's orders…" Gilbert explained.
Everyone looked towards Dimitri.
Dimitri looked down to the ground with a frown. "Fleche … I caused her to feel my hatred. To feel my pain. All because of the way I treated her brother…" he thought to himself.
Felix crossed his arms with an annoyed look. "So why did you agree to let her join, boar?"
It was because he understood her desire to get back to those who hurt those he cared for. But Dimitri seeing it from an outside view and being the one to cause her such grief. His mind wondered to the person who stopped him from tormenting Randolph and he held his hand to his heart. "Byleth…" he muttered.
Everyone decided since everyone should be allowed to unwind and calm down after what happened.
Dimitri stood in front of the destroyed rubble in the church with a frown.
Rodrigue walked over to him. "Your highness?"
"I deserved to be stabbed… for the punishment of what I've done."
Rodrigue gave him a serious look. "What you done?"
"For… for all the killing and suffering I caused." Tears slid down his face.
Rodrigue put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't commit any sin on the battlefield, Dimitri."
Dimitri clenched his fists. "I'm just trying… to appease the ghost of those I lost, but…"
"Dimitri… you should do what you feel you want to do."
"What… what I want?"
Rodrigue nodded. "For what you believe in."
Dimitri thought about what he wanted to do. Memories of one who used to be referred to as the Ashon Demon, starting to smile around everyone came to his head. And after working together more, he felt he could open up to him from his feelings and got to know she felt the same about killing as well. Then he remembered the last thing he saw of her before she got kidnapped. She tried to look away to keep from anyone from seeing, but though her hair he saw a frown and tears that hit the ground. At this point, all he wanted was for her to be safe, and do something to see her smile again. Though with all he did and put her though, would he be capable of even doing that?
After an hour everyone gathered around to talk.
"So, what are your terms to team up?" Claude asked.
"I take command and…" Dimitri started.
"No deal."
Dimitri glared at him. "What?!"
Claude crossed his arms with a serious look. "No offense Dimitri, but I can't trust your judgement from how you've handled things, to the point to drive Byleth away."
Dimitri looked down with a frown.
Claude stood up, ready to leave. "So, if that's th…"
"Fine…"
Everyone stared at him with a surprised look.
Dimitri crossed his arms. "We can try your approach."
Claude sat back down with a smile. "Alright, then I have some things to ask of you, before we can go any farther…"
Dimitri crossed his arms. He had a bad feeling about this.
"Of course, you can lay down any more request, I'd be happy to listen."
After some time, Edelgard walked over and talked to the guards, who nodded and left. Then she looked over at Byleth with a hurt look. "I'm sorry… But I'm going to have to kill you."
Byleth looked at her with a serious look. She was ready to accept her fate, as being locked up wouldn't be any better. But she hoped before she could go if she could talk to her. "Before you do… can I know why?"
Edelgard gave a shocked look. It was hard enough to have to cut her down. This isn't what she wanted at all, and more than anything she wants her help to stop them. But, she guesses it's not surprising. "…Why?"
"Why… did you do all this? What made you start this war? What has made you say what you said about Rhea?"
Edelgard looked away with an unsure look, but she knew that Byleth couldn't be any threat and thus saw no reason why she can't tell her everything. "All right…"