To say that Byleth didn't believe her eyes, would be an understatement. Seeing Monica awake and talking to Edelgard from inside the Infirmary had sent a conflicted feeling to bubble away inside of her.
She isn't the same Monica from before. I have to remember that. She isn't the one that killed father. That was not her fault.
As Byleth withdrew herself from her thoughts, she saw Bernadetta making her way towards her with two trays of food.
"Hey." Bernadetta spoke softly with a small smile.
"I didn't know you had that much of an appetite after battle." Byleth teased, causing Bernadetta to puff out her cheeks.
"I'll have you know; Bernie has already had something to eat. Hmph.'' The archer turned her head away from Byleth childishly. "These are for Monica and our other guest."
Bernadetta's teasing frown quickly changed into something a lot more serious as she turned to the window and saw Edelgard talking to Monica.
"It was a surprise for us as well. Seeing her locked away in there. Petra and Caspar were the ones to discover her, and I helped Petra get her back to camp. To say that we were all surprised to see her face again would be an understatement. From the little that I have talked to her, she seems friendly and really nice. Completely different than when Kronya took over her appearance."
"Hmm." Byleth nodded her head as her eyes never left Monica.
Bernadetta noticed the look Byleth was giving Monica and smiled. "Everyone deserves a chance to grow, but all we need is to take that first step." The archer held out one of the trays of food to Byleth and tilted her head towards Monica's room.
A small smile appeared on Byleth's face as she took the tray of food. "Never thought I would hear my own words used against me, but you're right. "Byleth took the tray in one hand and rubbed Bernadetta's head.
With that, Byleth opened the door to Monica's room, leaving Bernadetta to the mysterious woman. As soon as she opened it Edelgard's and Monica's eyes were drawn to her. Edelgard looked on with concern etched on her face as she continued to watch Byleth. The Swordswoman gave her love a small smile, before turning her attention back to Monica and sat down on a nearby chair.
"It's good to see you're finally awake. You have no idea how worried Edelgard was." Byleth said, causing Edelgard's cheeks to heat up.
"B-Byleth!" Edelgard gasped out causing the mage to chuckle at the antics in front of her in bed.
"Lady Edelgard talked about you. You're Byleth right?" Monica asked.
Byleth nodded her head as she handed the tray of food to Monica. "Edelgard was not the only one worried about you. We all are. We made this for you. No doubt you're hungry."
Monica immediately grabbed the bread and began to tear it apart and dipped it in the soup, before suddenly dropping the bread. Both Edelgard and Byleth immediately took notice of this as Monica's hands started to wildly shake. Within a moment, Edelgard moved from her chair and sat on Monica's bed, holding onto her as the mage started to hyperventilate.
"Focus on my voice, Monica. Can you hear it? Don't say anything, just move your head." Edelgard pleaded to the Mage. Not standing by the wayside, Byleth held onto Monica's hands.
It took a few minutes, but Monica slowly nodded her head. Edelgard let out a small sigh of relief as she started to rub small circles on Monica's back, whilst Byleth softly squeezed her hands.
The two stayed together till Monica's breathing had settled. Still Edelgard and Byleth did not move from their spaces on the bed.
Monica took a few deep breaths before she squeezed on Byleth's hands, freeing them. Enabling her to tap on Edelgard's arms. "I-I'm fine now, Lady E-Edelgard."
Edelgard pulled away but looked directly into her eyes. "Are you sure? You don't need to push yourself for my sake."
Monica nodded and lowered her head. "I'm sure. Just some memories from then. They replayed memories of when the captured me and started the experiments. They drew blood from me and put it into a machine. They starved me and kept me awake. I was so weak. Then one of them took my face."
Byleth tapped Monica on her shoulder. "You don't have to worry about her. I saw to that myself after…" Byleth trailed off, but she did comment any further.
Edelgard quickly jumped in as she reassuringly squeezed Byleth's hand. "The Agarthian, Kronya, was killed and we destroyed their base of operations and their research. No more will they torment others by impersonation."
Monica raised her head and Edelgard and Byleth both saw the happiest smile that they have seen on the mage. "That is why you are amazing, Lady Edelgard. You want to protect everyone from harm."
A fire then was lit in Monica's eyes. "You were my beacon of light to always keep fighting. I want to be that for someone else. I-If you would allow me of course, Lady Edelgard."
A smile pulled on Edelgard's face as she held Monica's hand and squeezed tightly to them, causing the Mage's cheeks to heat up. "I would be honoured to have you fight by my side. Once you have rested, of course."
Excitedly, Monica nodded her head. "I will, Lady Edelgard. I would do you a disservice if I got in your way of achieving your dreams, if I did not take care of my own healing."
Edelgard squeezed once more into Monica's hands. "You could never do such a thing for me Monica." Edelgard smiled as she stood up from the bed and hugged the mage. The embrace only lasted for a few moments, but it meant all the more to the two women.
As Edelgard pulled away, Byleth stepped closer and also gave Monica a hug, surprising both Monica and Edelgard. Monica however, quickly relaxed into it as her blush only darkened.
After a few moments, Byleth pulled away too. "Sorry if that was a bit too sudden. Edelgard, Dorothea and Bernie said that I give warm and comforting hugs, and I thought you could use one."
Monica shook her head and smiled at the Swordswoman. "No, it's fine Byleth. I definitely needed it."
With that, the pair made their way towards the door of Monica's infirmary room. "If you need anything at all, Monica please do not hesitate to ask."
"I-I do not wish to trouble you, L-Lady Edelgard. Y-You're probably very busy, running a country and all." Monica stuttered as she nervously fiddled with her hands.
Edelgard however, shook her head. "It's no trouble at all. You're a dear friend of mine. I nearly lost you once, and I refuse to lose you a second time. So please, let me know."
Hearing this declaration from Edelgard only darkened Monica's cheeks even more. "A-As you wish, L-Lady Edelgard."
Byleth and Edelgard took one more glance at Monica as she resumed eating her bread and soup, before leaving the room and quietly shutting the door. The Emperor let out a small sigh of relief. Byleth interlocked her fingers with Edelgard's gloved ones as the pair made their way towards the room that held the mysterious woman.
"Everything went well with her, and she seems to be doing great. You helped her there." Byleth spoke as she gently rubbed her thumb against the back of Edelgard's hand.
"It was weighing heavily on my mind, what I would say to her if I ever saw her again. The real her this time" Edelgard shook her head and brought her free hand towards her racing heart.
"Still, I'm proud of you. You were there for Monica when she needed you too despite how you yourself must be feeling."
Byleth shook her head and squeezed tightly to Edelgard's hand. "While I may have been a bit wary of her, actually talking to her settled my nerves. I knew before she wasn't the one who killed father, but this reassured me that this Monica is real. How she reacts and talks is different from Kronya. She's more… real. If that makes any sense."
Edelgard chuckled to herself. "It's a very you answer. Still, I'm glad."
"She also seems to like you a lot." Byleth spoke softly.
"I noticed." Edelgard answered as she squeezed Byleth's hand. "Does it… bother you."
Byleth shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know… I'm just starting to get used to my feelings, so I'm not sure what I should be feeling… but I didn't mind it. She makes you happy and I like it when you smile. Is that weird?"
Edelgard stopped as she pulled on Byleth's hand and kissed the back of it. "That's sweet of you, dear heart. Your feelings are your own, Only you can decide what they mean."
Byleth thought on this as the two continued on the way towards Bernadetta and the new arrival.
"Hmm…" The Brigid princess groaned as she stirred away. As soon as her eyes opened, she was greeted by the beautiful sight of Dorothea's bare back.
A soft smile appeared on Petra's face as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Dorothea's waist. She softly pressed her lips against the back of her love's neck, followed up by repeated kisses as her mouth dipped from the nape of her neck to her left shoulder.
This stirred awake her songstress lover.
"Hmm, I love you my dearest Petra." Dorothea spoke as she turned around to face Petra and pressed her lips against hers.
"And I, you." Petra replied back.
The two pressed their foreheads against the other for minutes. Just taking in the scent of the other and reassuring themselves and each other that they're still alive. Petra then pulled away for a moment to dip her head and started to kiss Dorothea's neck.
A moan escaped from Dorothea as Petra was aiming to continue where the pair had left off earlier in the day.
That was until they both heard a loud knock from their door.
Petra growled in frustration as she turned her head and glared at the door. Dorothea shrugged on a thin robe as did Petra as the pair pulled away from each other. The Brigid Princess stomped her way towards the door and gripped onto the door handle with all her might. Clearly not amused with the interrupter.
Outside of their room, Petra saw Caspar and Linhardt. Both looked on with trepidation on their faces as they gazed at Petra. Immediately, her annoyance dissipated as she saw the sad looks on her friends faces.
"Petra… There's something we need to talk about." Linhardt spoke as Caspar nudged his way forwards.
"I-I… We found something in Father's… General Karma's office that you need to see."
Petra nodded her head as she patted Caspar's shoulder. "I have understanding. Allow Dorothea and I time to be changing, and we will join you."
Caspar was about to turn away, but Petra stopped him. She pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around him. It took a minute for Caspar to catch on to what was going on, but eventually he willed himself to hug Petra. He hugged tightly to her before pulling away a few seconds later.
"Thanks, Petra. I-I needed that."
Petra smiled at him, just as Linhardt pulled Caspar closer and wrapped his arms around his waist from behind.
"We should head over there. See you both soon." Linhardt said as the two walked off.
Petra closed the door and turned around to see Dorothea trying to put on her mage robes. With her back turned away from the Princess, Dorothea felt chiselled arms wrapped around her waist. Petra pressed kisses onto the nape of Dorothea's neck.
"You do not have to come with me. You can stay resting in bed." Petra said just as Dorothea turned around, so she was facing her love. She lowered her lands and rested them against Petra's hips.
She shook her head before pressing her lips onto Petra's. "They said it'll be important to you. If there's anything that will be important to you, I want to be there."
Petra leaned her forehead forward and pressed it against her love. "Very well then."
It took no time at all for Petra to get changed into something more fitting, as both herself and Dorothea arrived at the former Minister's room. With a squeeze of Dorothea's hand, Petra knocked on the door. General Karma was the one to open the door, with a smile she opened it wide letting the pair inside where they also saw some of the Black Eagles. Edelgard, Bernadetta and Byleth had joined General Leah, Caspar and Linhardt.
"What is everyone doing here?" Dorothea asked surprised to see everyone here.
"Lady Edelgard said that she had something to show Petra and said we should all be here." Bernadetta said as she smiled at the pair.
"That is correct." Edelgard said as she stepped towards a nearby table that belonged to the former Minister. On the desk there was what looked like a long rectangular case that was covered by a cloth.
"I went through Leopold's things in here to see if he left anything for Edelgard, myself or for Caspar. Apart from a few notes here and there, there wasn't anything. Until I found this." Leah explained as she pointed at the case. "As soon as I found it, I notified Edelgard and sent Caspar and Linhardt to find you."
"I wanted to wait till after the war to give this back to you to return it to your people, but the Agarthans have accelerated things." Edelgard said as she picked up the case and removed the cloth.
The case itself was encrusted with gems that were familiar to Petra. They were gems from her homeland. Petra gasped as Dorothea squeezed her hand.
Edelgard opened the case and sure enough, Petra saw her father's sword. The sword that was claimed by Leopold as he murdered her father and plunged all of Brigid into the Empire's servitude.
Edelgard placed the case down on the table and picked up the sword by its scabbard and held it in her hands in front of Petra. "It's yours by right. Once we end this war, you can take it back to your people. To a free Brigid. That's a promise that I will keep. Not only as the Emperor of Fódlan, but as your friend."
Petra was still astonished by what was in front of her. She knew that her father's sword had been kept as a war trophy, but to see it with her own eyes was something entirely. With a shaky hand she took her Father's sword from Edelgard.
The last time she held it, was when her Father showed it to her before he left to lead the Brigid and Dagda war with the Empire. She had been around five summers old at the time, so the sword was taller than she was and felt heavy in her small hands. Holding it right now and it felt just as heavy as before. Now Petra held it with the burden of the future of her people.
Petra pulled the sword part way out of its scabbard and saw the familiar inscriptions of the Macneary royal family. Starting from her Grandfather, Buchanan, and then to her Father, Argyle, then her own name. Underneath her name was her younger brother's, Oskari, finally ending on her younger sister, Damhnait. Each name was inscribed in her native tongue.
A small smile appeared on Petra as she touched the inscriptions.
Names I have not seen written in a long time.
Oskari…
Damhnait…
Petra quickly pushed her sword back into the scabbard, as she looked around to her friends. "I… I do not know what to say."
Caspar stepped forward and rested his hand on the Princess's shoulder. "There is nothing to say. Your family's sword should have been returned to you a long time ago. This isn't something Father should have kept from you."
Petra was silent as she held tightly to her family's sword.
A smile settled over Edelgard as she moved to embrace Petra. Slowly she wrapped her arms around Petra. "I swear it, Brigid will be free once more."
Hearing those words once more from Edelgard had set the tears free. She returned Edelgard's embrace with one of her own. The hug lasted for a few minutes before Petra pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I-I'm going to be taking some time for myself." Petra stammered out as Dorothea's fingers interlocked with Petra's free hand.
"Take all the time you need, Petra." Byleth said as she patted her shoulder with a comforting smile.
Bernadetta nodded her head agreeing with her.
"T-Thank you." Petra said as she left the former Minister's room with Dorothea not far behind her.
Byleth spent the last of the daylight, training with Ingrid and Raphael to try and regain some more power in her fighting ability. She was gaining way to how she was before, but still not enough to satisfy the swordswoman. Byleth had dismissed Ingrid and Raphael for the night. While they left, Byleth stayed behind, practicing her magic, bow, lance and sword work. Now as the night hung in the sky, Byleth decided that enough was enough and headed off back to bed to rest.
First, she discarded her sweaty clothes and ran herself a soothing bath. After spending a good 20 minutes easing her tired muscles in the bath, she changed into her usual evening wear. Though there was one thing that concerned her.
Where is El?
As she reached Edelgard's bed chambers, she noticed that the Emperor was not here. She exited the bedchamber and approached a nearby guard.
"Have you seen Her Majesty, within the last few bells?"
"She was approached by one of the maids taking care of the rescued children, Lady Eisner." The guard answered. "They have had trouble sleeping."
"I see." Byleth replied back as she headed towards the children's room. The rooms were previously used by the royal family. Edelgard and her siblings.
It did not take long for Byleth to find the bedchambers and Edelgard. Though she didn't expect to see what she saw. Inside one of the rooms, she saw Edelgard asleep, with a book in her lap with the children surrounding her, also asleep.
A small smile formed on Byleth's face after looking at the scene in front of her. Quietly she approached the small group and took the book from Edelgard's hands. She then moved to carefully pick up the children and placed them in their beds.
Kain was first. He put up little resistance to being put into bed.
Vanessa and Katarina were next as neither made a single noise.
Castor and Cassius were after. The younger of the siblings held tightly to one of Edelgard's stuffies.
With those two silently wrapped up in bed covers and soft pillows, Byleth continued with carefully picking up Valter was holding tightly onto Roland. Not wanting to separate the two, Byleth picked them both up and carefully placed them in bed together.
Now down to the final three, Priscilla was next as she held onto Ayra's hand. However, not tight enough as Byleth was able to separate the two and tuck Priscilla into her bed.
Now onto the final two. This would prove to be the most difficult as Ayra and Astrid were holding tightly onto Edelgard's gown. Astrid was securely in Edelgard's lap and refused to let go despite still being asleep. Byleth even tried to worm her own fingers into the young girl's grasp but failed. She did however manage to free Ayra's hand that held tightly to Edelgard. The issue was that Byleth now couldn't get Arya to loosen her grip on the Swordswoman. Quietly sighing to herself she saw there was a nearby spare quilt that was left over from the beds. She picked it up and sat down next to Edelgard.
Ayra had nestled her head into Byleth's chest. Settling into her night, she wrapped the quilt around the four, giving space for Ayra and Astrid to feel comfortable with, yet still remain warm.
However, this inadvertently awoke Edelgard. As the Emperor slowly opened her eyes, she didn't believe she would see Byleth next to her.
"Byleth…" Edelgard tiredly spoke. "I'm sorry… one of the maids said the children were having trouble sleeping, so I wanted to check on them."
Byleth smiled and pressed her lips onto Edelgard's forehead. "It's alright, El. I didn't mind."
The two then felt two small hands grip tightly to them as both Ayra and Astrid settled further into the two.
"Well, I guess we're staying here." Edelgard said softly as she leaned her head against Byleth's.
As she felt Ayra get comfier, hugging tightly to her, Byleth smiled again as she kissed Edelgard's forehead. "Goodnight, my heart."
"Goodnight, my light." Edelgard replied back as the two closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.
