A few hours had passed since the private meeting with the Black Eagle Strike Force had concluded, and with the knowledge of the Crest Experiments that Edelgard and Lysithea were subjected to, a brand-new wave of fiery determination was lit in ever member's eyes.
Most outright volunteered on the spot to join Edelgard to raid and gather information on Those Who Slither In The Dark's movements or any of their plans. Hubert and Ferdinand, naturally volunteered, as did most of the former Black Eagle house. Most of the former students from the Golden Deer and the Blue Lion houses, also outright volunteered.
Some were still nursing injuries that were still flaring up from the battle against Rhea, so they decided to stay behind with Byleth. With Shamir still feeling pain in her chest and arms, she reluctantly agreed to stay behind, cursing Catherine under her breath. Ignatz was still nursing a bad burn on his arm, so Raphael elected to stay behind and care for his lover.
While others had decided to remain behind to protect Enbarr. Sylvain and Ingrid had volunteered themselves to stay behind, if Those Who Slither In The Dark do declare an attack on the capital. General Karma had elected to remain behind to coordinate with the forces heading out with the Emperor and the Back Eagle Strike Force, while also nurse a nagging pain in her leg.
Others were given alternative roles, instead of fighting Those Who Slither In The Dark. Hanneman and Linhardt were given permission and resources to begin their research on Crests and find a way to rid Lysithea and Edelgard from their curse. Edelgard had made Manuela the head physician at the Palace and the Empire army. With the battle against Rhea, there was a lot of wounded soldiers that needed treatment. Manuela was all too pleased to leap at the chance to take this position, no longer having the heart for battle.
Every other member of the Black Eagle Strike Force had volunteered to follow Edelgard, Ferdinand and Hubert on their raids on the Those Who Slither In The Dark strongholds. However, there was one member in particular that was having her own doubts in herself amongst other thoughts that were spiralling inside her head.
"Have you given any thoughts on whether to go with Edelgard, Dorothea?"
Dorothea watches her parental figure and mentor as Manuela was putting the finishing touches to her new office at the Palace. Dorothea wanted to be helpful, so she helped to carry a wooden box filled to the brim with medicinal plants to Manuela's office.
Dorothea stood in silence, giving a non-committal answer. "Maybe..."
"I'm surprised at Bernadetta wanting to go. I had my doubts, but when she heard about the experiments that Edelgard and Lysithea were forced to endure, she's been determined to do everything she can." Manuela had put the finishing touches to her desk.
"Yeah..."
Manuela glanced at her former student of the performance arts and noticed her looking quite distracted with something.
"Thea', what's wrong? You look like your mind is in Faerghus." Manuela asked as she sat on her desk.
Dorothea shook her head. "Nothing, I'm fine. Where do you want these?"
"I'll take them."
Dorothea handed the box over to the former Songstress as she placed them on a nearby table.
"Now are you gonna tell me what's eating you?" Manuela took Dorothea's hands into her own. "Thea... You're like a daughter to me. Please tell me what's wrong."
A few seconds passed and still no word from Dorothea.
"Did something happen between you and Petra?" The former Songstress asked squeezing Dorothea's hands.
Immediately, Dorothea shook her head as she pulled her hands out of Manuela's. "Of course not. I love Petra with all of my heart. Nothing will change that."
Dorothea then lowered her head and tightened her hands into tight fists. "I… After hearing what Edie and Lysithea went through. What Those Who Slither In The Dark did to them. I wanted to tear them apart… Make then pay for hurting my friends." Dorothea wrapped her hands around her arms, quivering. Manuela placed her hands on to her shoulders, trying to calm her down. "But the thought of going out there… in battle… It terrifies me. I feel like I lose more and more of myself every time I go out there."
Dorothea raised her head as she felt Manuela cup her cheeks into her hands. Tears trickled down the younger woman's face.
"I-I don't know what to do. E-Edie's my best friend. I'd do anything for her... But I can't go out there in battle again. I just can't."
Without a second thought Manuela pulled Dorothea into her arms as she wept. "Y-You think she'll feel less of me for not joining her in battle?" Manuela rubbed the younger Songstress's back tenderly, giving her time to calm down.
"Of course not!" Manuela squeezed tightly to Dorothea. "Thea', Edelgard wants the best for all of us and she'll do anything to achieve it. Almost to a worrying degree in fact." Manuela raised Dorothea's chin to look into her eyes and wiped away any tears. "Talk to Edelgard, Thea'. She just wants best for you. She knows what the war took out of all of us, you especially, Dorothea."
Dorothea wiped away her remaining tears and squeezed tightly to her mother-figure and mentor's hands. "Thank you, Manuela."
The older woman pulled Dorothea closer into her arms once more. "Think nothing of it, Thea'
For someone called the Emperor of Fódlan, she was surprisingly a bit of a handful to find.
Indeed, it did take Dorothea quite a while to track down the Emperor. Predictably, she was spending time with Byleth in the Palace gardens drinking tea. Though what caught her eye the most was that Petra was with them. Not wanting to wait any longer with these thoughts in her head, she joined up with the trio at the garden table.
"Hey you three. Thought you could have a party without me?" Dorothea walked up to the trio with her usual teasing tone, but Petra and Edelgard felt like something was up. Even Byleth managed to work out something was off.
Dorothea pressed her lips onto Petra's as the Songstress took her seat right next to her. "This isn't being a party. We were just discussing of the future of Brigid."
"Petra and I have been discussing Brigid's independence from the Empire and Fódlan." Edelgard poured a cup of tea and passed it to the Songstress.
Dorothea took a small sip and sighed happily, recognising one of her favourite blends. "Hmm, Edie you spoil me. Albinean Berry." The Songstress settled into her chair before turning her attention to Petra. "So how are things going?"
"Just the fundamentals nothing concrete yet." Byleth answered as she sipped on her tea.
Petra's smile had fallen thinking about their lack of progress. Though Edelgard was not about to let her friend dwell on the negatives.
"Trust me Petra, once we deal with these... pests, Brigid's independence is my number one priority."
This seemed to elevate Petra's spirits slightly, as a small smile appeared on her face.
"I am appreciating it Edelgard." Petra smiled at her dear friend sincerely. Dorothea took Petra's hand into her own and pressed a kiss to it, improving Petra's mood drastically as a blush settled over the Brigid Princess's face.
"Now that's what I like to see, from my princess." Dorothea teased as a pure laugh escaped from Petra.
"While I am loving the uh... compliments. How are you fairing today, Dorothea?" Petra asked as she felt Dorothea's hand tremble, causing the Princess to be on edge instantly.
Dorothea looked away avoiding everyone's gaze. This only made Petra more worries about her love. She was used to the kind and confidant Songstress, she has grown to love, but seeing her reduced to someone that's nervous to speak her mind frightens the Brigid Princess.
"We can go somewhere more private, if that would help Dorothea?" Byleth said as she glanced at the Songstress with concern etched on her face. The same can be said for the Emperor too.
Without saying a word, Dorothea agreed, and the quartet retreated to the Emperor's quarters to ensure Dorothea was feeling a lot more comfortable.
She had told Hubert that she wasn't to be disturbed until Dorothea had spoken to the trio.
Inside Edelgard's own private quarters, Dorothea sat on one of the chairs at Edelgard's desk that had not been cleared from the morning. Edelgard took her seat, as did Byleth, sitting next to the Emperor, and Petra, sitting right next to Dorothea.
Byleth had poured Dorothea a new cup of tea to help calm her nerves. Dorothea took the cup by the handle and sipped on it, savouring the sweet taste.
She placed the cup down gently on the saucer as she took a deep breath, to gather her own thoughts.
Petra placed her hand in Dorothea's, squeezing it gently. The Songstress appreciated the gesture as she gave the Brigid Princess a small smile.
"I talked to Manuela, hoping she could set my mind at ease. She's the one I always went to whenever I was having doubts back in my days as the 'Mystical Songstress' at the Mittlefrank Opera Company. She always encouraged me and raised my spirits whenever I wasn't feeling a performance." Dorothea smiled at herself as she lowered her head and glanced at her hands joined together with Petra.
"She told me that you would understand, if I asked you." Petra squeezed tightly to Dorothea's hands as she pressed her lips to the Songstress cheek. Dorothea leaned into the touch of Petra's lips as she glanced at the two in front of her.
"When you told all of us about what... they did to you and Lysithea, I was ready to join you in wiping them off the face of Fódlan forever. Never let them hurt another living soul again..."
Dorothea squeezed tightly to Petra's hands. "But then I think about going out there. Out in battle. Killing... I just can't do it... I'm sorry." Dorothea lowered her head, awaiting judgment from her friend.
Though what the Songstress didn't expect was the Emperor to lay one of her gloved hands on top of Dorothea's head and rubbed her hair affectionately.
"I understand Dorothea and I'm sorry too." Hearing this Dorothea raised her head and saw that Edelgard wore a worried frown. "I wanted to shield everyone from what I was planning. I didn't want any of you to be harmed joining a war I started, not even Byleth."
Edelgard walked over towards Dorothea and crouched down in front of her, looking directly into her friend's eyes. She laid a hand on top of Dorothea's. "I should've done more to help you. Done more to limit your exposer to the war."
Byleth approached the pair and rested her hand on the Songstress's shoulder. "We both should have." Byleth squeezed Dorothea's shoulder in comfort. "No one here will fault you if you wish to remain here."
Dorothea's head shot up directly at her former Professor and then to Edelgard. "B-But I'm your closest friend E-Edie, B-But I can't... I can't fight for you. Fight for what they did to you, your family."
Once more tears settled over Dorothea's eyes as she gripped tighter to Edelgard's gloved hand. "H-How... How do you not h-hate me?"
Edelgard didn't waste any time in comforting her friend as she pulled the Songstress tightly into her arms while rubbing comforting circles into her back. "Because you are one of my most cherished friends, Dorothea. I couldn't possibly be ever angry at you."
The pair were silent for a few minutes as Dorothea's sobs filled the room. Petra and Byleth did their best comfort the Songstress too.
When Dorothea eventually pulled away from the Emperor's embrace, she swiped away the remainder of her tears. Her attention was then drawn to the Brigid Princess sitting next to her. "I'm sorry for not telling you any of this." Dorothea pressed her forehead against Petra's. "I just didn't want to worry you. You have enough on your plate with your people and fighting Those Who Slither In The Dark. I didn't want to push any more stress onto you."
Petra leaned forward and pressed a kiss onto Dorothea's lips, while cupping her left cheek. "I would be taking on more plates if it would be meaning you are free from these worries, my love."
Edelgard glanced at the pair with a loving smile as she felt Byleth's hand glide into her own. The Emperor studied her love's face, finding the same heart-warming smile that Edelgard herself was expressing.
Though what she wasn't expecting was for her love to press a kiss onto her cheek. "We should leave them be." Byleth whispered as she squeezed tightly to Edelgard's shoulder.
The Emperor agreed as she rested a hand onto her friends' shoulders. "Please, take as much time as you need."
Without saying another word, the pair left the Brigid Princess and the former Mittlefrank Songstress to their own devices.
