AN - I'm so sorry for the late chapter upload. I was playing through the rest of the Shadowbringer's updates (5.1 onwards) on FFXIV, so I could get caught up for Endwalker.
Feels like every time I try to work and upload a chapter, a game grabs my attention.
Still, I'm so sorry for it being late again.
As the hours passed, most of the Black Eagle Strike Force volunteers had departed for their own missions, only leaving the original Black Eagle members still at the Palace for the moment.
However, their time in Enbarr was also quickly drawing to close as the final preparations were now in place. With a small squadron of soldiers already departing, this left little time for the departing members to say goodbye to their loved ones.
Dorothea had latched her arms around Petra's neck, trying her best to not let any tears fall down her face. When they did Petra wiped them away as she pressed her forehead against Dorothea's whispering comforting words to her.
"I'll be alright, my love. No force can be keeping me from returning to your side."
Dorothea pressed her lips onto Petra's as she petted at the Brigidian Princess cheek, "You better. You promised me a trip to Brigid."
Petra returned the kiss with one of her own. "That and so much more."
Caspar was surprised when he spied Linhardt step out from the main gates of the palace and into the courtyard. He looked around, bouncing his sleepy eyes over every one of the Black Eagle members. After a few moments, his eyes finally locked onto his intended target. Within a few seconds Linhardt ran over towards Caspar, hooking his arms around his lover. This startled Caspar as this was the most openly, he has seen the usually drained man about their relationship in public.
"Be careful... Please." Linhardt spoke barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough for Caspar to hear.
Caspar grew uncharacteristically serious for a change as he cupped his lover's cheek. "I will. I swear it for you."
Surprising the two, especially Caspar was the Minister Bergliez appearing and placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "You have nothing to fear, young Hevring." Count Bergliez gruffly spoke as he glanced between the two men.
"My son is one of the, if not, the finest and most skilled soldiers I have had the pleasure to meet." Caspar's father boasted, causing his son to blush slightly at his father's praise. "But I am not talking from the position of the Commander of her majesty's forces, nor as soldier, but as a father."
The count then placed his fist over his own heart. "I promise you; no harm shall come to my son."
Linhardt glared back to Caspar's father, trying to suppress a yawn from escaping. "See to it that you do. Both of you."
"Minister, the soldiers are ready and awaiting your orders." A voice called out to Caspar's father.
Count Bergliez turned his head and withdrew his hand from his chest and held it out to the newcomer. "Ah, General Karma, it's good to see you."
A smile appeared on her face. "You too, Ser."
A smirk appeared on the Count's face. "There's no need to be formal with me, Leah."
This time a smile appeared on the General's face. "Then you better keep your ass alive. The next round at the tavern is on you remember."
Bergliez let out a bellowing laugh. "And miss drinking you all under the table, I wouldn't dream of dying."
The Commander then pulled the General into a close handshake, as he glanced once more at the Palace. "Take care of her." A somber smile spread across his face.
Leah nodded her head, growing a lot more serious. "I will."
Next to the quartet were Catherine and Shamir. Catherine stood in place as Shamir made sure that all of Catherine's armour was in place and protected her sufficiently.
"You're really gonna drag this out, Shamir." Catherine whined, as the archer had just ended her third check of the straps on Catherine's new breast plate armour.
"Just making sure you don't get yourself killed because you forgot to tie up your chest plate again." Shamir spoke as she pulled tightly on the leather clasps that tightened the armour to Catherine. "How's that feel."
Shamir stepped away from her love, as Catherine drew Thunderbrand, and gave it a few swings.
"Feels great."
"Good."
Catherine had just put Thunder brand back into its sheath when she felt a strong tug on her chest plate. Without even realising it Shamir's lips met her own.
Catherine melted into the feeling of Shamir's lips on her own, but unfortunately for the former Knight the archer had pulled her lips away with a satisfied smirk spread across her face.
"Get yourself killed, and I'll kick your ass."
Catherine was speechless as her mouth hung open as Shamir walked away to check on the horses and Pegasus.
As for the Emperor of Fódlan, she had been pulled away to a secluded corner of the courtyard as she stayed in the tight embrace of her former Professor and General of her Black Eagle Strike Force.
"Everything is going to be alright, my light." Edelgard spoke softly as she cupped Byleth's cheek.
Byleth softly sighed as she rested her forehead against Edelgard's. "I know. You've all went on missions before I re-joined you after being missing. It's just that this is the first time actually seeing most of you leave, that's the hard part."
"You forget that you trained us, my love." A wary smile appeared on Edelgard as she pressed a kiss onto Byleth's cheek. "Then we honed our abilities into an unbeatable force that took down armies and fake gods. I know our enemy is unpredictable and harness unimaginable technology that we cannot comprehend."
The Emperor took one of Byleth's hands and kissed her knuckles. "But there is one thing Those Who Slither In The Dark are not prepared for." A devilish smile grew on the Emperor's face as she pulled away from Byleth's embrace, but kept a firm hold on her love's hand.
"They believe that we'll be overconfident and careless after our win at Fhirdiad. They believe we'll be predictable. However, they are the ones that are overconfident and underestimate us. That will be their downfall, I swear it my light." The Emperor took a hold of one of her love's hands and brought it to her chest, to her beating heart.
Byleth brought her lips to Edelgard's own. "I know my heart. We'll do it together."
The two separate their lips from each other as Byleth pulled her love into a tight embrace. The two stayed together until they heard footsteps slowly draw close to them.
"O-Oh... I-I'm sorry. I-I-I didn't know y-y-you were still h-here." The Black Eagles archer timidly hid behind a wall as she started to chastise herself.
A small frown tugged at Byleth's mouth as the two split apart and approached their friend.
"Bernie-Bear, it's alright. El and I were just saying goodbye for now." Byleth pulled her sister into her chest tightly as she rubbed her back to try and calm her down.
Edelgard joined in as she stroked the archer's head tenderly.
After a few minutes, the archer had calmed down considerably, so Byleth stooped rocking the woman in her arms.
"I'm so proud of you Bernie-Bear." Byleth spoke up as she pulled herself away to look her sister in her eyes.
Byleth brushed Bernadetta's bangs away from her eyes. "You're no longer that scared girl that would stay in her room. Now you're fighting to protect everyone on Fódlan and beyond."
Bernadetta wiped away the tears from her eyes as she glanced at Edelgard and then at Byleth. "A-After hearing about what they did to Edelgard and Lysithea... I-I wanted to do something... I can't stay in my room any longer and hide away until something else makes them disappear."
Bernadetta's eyes drifted over towards the Emperor again as her mouth turned into a frown, but her eyes burned with fiery determination.
"No one hurts the people who Bernie holds dear- no Bernie's family."
Soft infectious smiles spread from Edelgard to Byleth as they both hugged tightly to Bernadetta.
"Thank you Bernadetta." Edelgard spoke as she softly stroked the archer's head.
"Just be careful okay, both of you." Byleth spoke as her left hand held tightly to one of Edelgard's, while her right held onto one of Bernadetta's.
"We will, my love." Edelgard answered as she pressed a kiss to Byleth's forehead. Bernadetta on the other hand didn't say anything, instead opting to bury her head further into Byleth's chest.
A few hours had passed since the find farewell with Edelgard, Byleth and Bernadetta, and Byleth didn't waste any time getting back into shape and ready for battle...
It didn't quite go as the former mercenary had expected. She was hunched over, trying to suck more air into her lungs as she tried to summon the energy to continue her spar with Ingrid.
"Maybe we should take a break." Ingrid spoke as she moved to hang up with wooden Lance on the weapon rack.
However, Byleth stopped her as she gritted her teeth and somehow manged to push herself to her feet, sword in hand and Byleth back in her fighting stance.
"I... I... I can still go."
Though Byleth had managed to convince herself that she was ready for another sparring session with Ingrid, her body, on the other hand was not.
Byleth got to her feet only for a few seconds before collapsing to her knees, gasping for breath. Both Ingrid and Leah rushed to her side, as Byleth laid down on her back with a hand over her beating heart.
"I... didn't realise how strong I was... and how effortless... combat was with the... crest stone attached... to my heart." Byleth panted as Ingrid and Leah sat next to her.
"At least now we might have a chance to beat you in a spar." Ingrid joked making a smile to spread across Byleth's face.
"I wouldn't bet on it, Galatea." Leah spoke as she rested her arms behind her back as she laid down next to Byleth.
Byleth caught on to this and tilted her head curiously at the General. "Oh, you know about my combat ability from when I still had the Crest Stone?"
This question caught the General off guard as she scrambles for an answer. "I-I heard from a few soldiers t-that you are a force of nature on the Battlefield. Unbeatably some said."
Byleth could feel something was up with the General's answer but didn't comment on it.
Why does it feel like she knows me more than she's letting on?
Why do I get the feeling that I know her?
Ingrid drew away Byleth from her inner questions as the former Blue Lion nudged her shoulder into Byleth's.
"Then what are we waiting for. We have a month before the others get back. Time to get you back into fighting form."
Byleth nodded her head as she gazed at the slowly setting night sky.
I hope you're taking care of yourself out there, my love. Please be safe and come back to me.
AN - Thank you everyone for reading this. It really means a lot.
The next three chapters will leave Byleth behind for now and will follow the three raiding parties close to: Faerghus, Derdriu and Enbarr. Not sure which one to start off with though yet.
Finally, I hope you all have a fantastic last day of Pride. Just remember you're all not alone. You all have those that love and care for you.
Love from your resident Non-Binary Bi Ace
