Chapter 4: Confessions in the Forest

Dimitri gathered the rest of the Blue Lions together, briefly relating what Rhea had told them in the meeting. After he ensured they would keep it a secret and informed them they would be leaving for Garreg Mach in a few days instead, he ended the meeting.

Immediately, Annette felt a vice-like grip on her hand. Mercedes whispered in her ear. "My tent, hurry." She didn't even wait for a response before dragging the shorter girl off with her.

Once they were in her tent, Mercedes removed her cap and shook free her full cascading blonde hair. "I'd forgotten how warm Adrestia can be," she said, fanning herself with her cap. She took a moment, wiping her brow, then fixed Annette with a piercing gaze and gleeful smile. "Tell me everything."

She had expected this and swiftly relayed her and Felix's conversation and how she steered the subject to where they stood. The whole time, Mercedes sat close to her, her chin in her hands, hanging onto every word with the utmost attention.

"When I asked him about it, he said we were allies, comrades at arms," she said.

"And?"

Annette sighed. "I pressed him further, if there was anything else. He seemed like he was about to say something, but then we came to camp."

"You need to hurry back out there then," Mercedes said, standing up. "Why are you wasting time here?"

She refrained from pointing out how her friend dragged her here against her will. "I don't think he'll discuss it with me." She thought back to the greenhouse, how Felix had opened up to her, but it had only been the two of them there, completely alone. "At least not in camp. There's no privacy."

Mercedes tapped her chin. "True. And Enbarr is no good with everything going on there. What about riding out to a forest?"

"And use what excuse this time? I doubt Felix forgot anything in your medical tent."

"No, Annie," she said, giggling. "Just be honest. Tell him you want to finish your conversation from before. If you'll excuse me, I have to see someone about a recipe." And on that note, she left Annette alone in the tent, working through how best to get Felix out of camp. She knew Felix better than Mercedes did and just coming out with her question wouldn't work. In fact, it might scare him. She needed some pretense to get him alone, at least on the surface, and get him to the forest.

In the end, she settled on grabbing her bow and asking him if he'd join her for a hunt. "I thought it might be nice to find some fresh deer or rabbit for dinner," she said.

He quietly grabbed his bow and she sensed that he figured out her real reason for asking him to accompany her. Thankfully, they managed to make it to a nearby forest without anyone noticing. After tying off their horses to some trees on the edge, they entered the thick woods, neither really looking around for any game in particular, but simply enjoying the walk.

Together, the two of them traveled through the forest where the trees bloomed lush and green. Certainly a rarity in Faerghus, where the cold, harsh winters lasted for months on end and they were lucky to glimpse blooming plants and vegetation for any stretch of time. "It's kind of nice out here," she said, breaking the long silence. The sun cut through the branches, casting golden rays along the forest floor as though highlighting their path. Birds twittered high above in the treetops and squirrels chased one another under tree trunks and into bushes.

Felix hummed in agreement, looking up and around, his bow slung over his shoulder. Then he added, "Yeah."

"It'll be a shame to go back," she said. "It's actually warm for a change." Ever since their march south, she had grown quite attached to the heat. It reminded her of their days at Garreg Mach, where she could actually go outside frequently without needing to bundle head to toe in furs.

"It's alright," he said. "I'm fine either way."

She shook her head. She could hear Mercedes in her ear right now. Was she seriously talking about the weather? She needed to get him to open up, steer the conversation toward the real topic.

"So, you must be glad we're heading back home," she said. "Your brother's been seeing to Fraldarius terrority, right?"

If anything, his typical scowl etched deeper into his stony face. "Yes," he said. "Haven't heard from him recently, which means there's likely going to be a mess when I get back there."

"Oh, but at least you'll get to see your brother again." Keep up the motivation. Steer it. Steer it. "I know my mom will be so happy to see my father again."

"It's been, what, ten years since he's been home?"

She looked up at him, shocked that he knew. "Yes. About ten years." Then she remembered. Glenn, Felix's other brother, lost to the Tragedy of Duscar. The same event that drove her father to leave home. She definitely didn't want to stir up that memory for him. No, steer away. Steer away! She wasn't sure how to move past the topic though and tried to merely avoid it. "I've already written to her and she can't wait. She's been baking up all sorts of his favorite foods to prepare for him."

Felix chuckled and gave her a wry look. "Sounds like someone I know."

She elbowed him. "I don't hear you complaining though when I have kitchen duty."

"True. What about Gilbert- sorry, I mean Gustave?" he asked.

"He's looking forward to it. But I'd be lying if I said he still wasn't a little nervous. I think he's trying to work up the courage for it." As am I, she thought. She felt like she was standing at a cliff, about to dive into unknown waters.

"Makes sense," Felix nodded, peering off into the darkness of the forest. They still had yet to come across any sign of game.

"I know my mom will have a lot of questions for him." Annette held her bow close to her chest, plucking at the string. You can do it. Ask him before you mess this up. "Speaking of questions, you never did answer mine."

He glanced at her, those bronze eyes momentarily confused before he realized what she meant. "You're right," he said softly.

A minute passed before she leaned forward, looking up at him. "And?"

"And," he stopped, closing his eyes and running his hand along his forehead. He rapped his temple, muttering and mumbling to himself as if having trouble finding the right definition. "I think we're friends."

"Friends?" she asked, downhearted at his answer. She had been sure he felt something more for her. She definitely had for him.

Evidently, her disappointment showed and he quickly rephrased it. "Not just friends, but well," he motioned with his arm, backhanding empty air, as if at war with some invisible entity. Like he wanted to do one thing, but another part of him forbade him to do it. He clenched his teeth much like he did when the professor used to outpace him at the academy.

"Felix?" she tried tentatively.

He grunted and rounded on her, suddenly towering over her small stature, the sun at his back leaving him in a dark shadow. "Look," he started, his eyebrows knit in frustration. Reflexively, Annette took a step away, accidentally kicking her heel on a root and tumbling backwards.

Felix jumped out, catching her in his arms and holding her against his firm chest. Their faces dangerously close now, he seemed to notice her alarm and the harsh lines in his expression softened a little.

"Thanks," she said.

"You're welcome. You need be more careful." Neither moved, as if that might break the calming spell that had suddenly settled over their surroundings. "Look," he said a little more gently, "you and I, I feel we're more like, like this."

His face neared her, leaving inches between them. Annette's heart hammered in her chest, loud enough to surely scare off any forest critters nearby. Felix stayed where he was, not closing the gap nor backing away. What was he up to?

Then she noticed that he was reading her. Waiting for her permission to continue. Her mind a blank, she dumbly tilted her head, lifting it slightly for him. Enough that he took it as a sign to meet her waiting lips.

The kiss was nothing short of electrifying. Despite the stifling sunbeams hitting her directly on the forehead, freezing chills shot as fast as lightning down to her fingertips like the sensation when she cast a devastating spell. Her head spun, whirling in a storm of joy and desire, never wanting those coarse, rough lips of his to leave her. Her arms found their way up to his shoulders. His own hand snaked up to her chin, cupping her in his sturdy hold.

Annette could have drifted off to the Goddess' realm and never know the difference. It was all perfect and seemed to last the rest of the day.

Although time slowed for her, the kiss ended all too quickly. Felix broke first, panting heavily and hanging his head. She leaned against his strong arms, her chest heaving and painfully breathless. It certainly felt like they sustained the kiss for hours.

"That," she said, "is a very clear definition."

"Yeah," he said. "I'm not sure if it matches yours though."

"It does." She lifted his head and smiled wide. "It definitely does." She gazed up at the sun and pouted at how low it had sunk. "We better get back to camp soon," she said, pointing it out to Felix. "Or they'll be missing us."

"You're right." They traipsed back the way they came, neither talking, but unable to keep the smiles off their faces. Annette privately wished that he would smile more. He was very handsome when he did. But she would save that request for another time. For now, she was happy simply to be beside him.

Once they had returned, Felix had to leave to meet a messenger that had asked for him elsewhere in camp. "I promise we'll talk more later about this," he said. Meanwhile, Mercedes had easily inferred everything from her friend's high spirits and rushed her into her tent, almost as giddy as Annette was.

"Something happened!" Mercedes said, shaking Annette so hard that her eyeballs rattled in her skull. "What is it?"

"Well," Annette said, drawing out the word, "after you left, I decided to ask him if he wanted to go hunting. So I searched the training yard, but he wasn't there. Then I checked his tent, but he wasn't there either. Then I-"

"Annie, please," Mercedes said. "I can't take the suspense."

Unable to hide her growing grin, Annette grabbed her friend's hands. "He kissed me!"

Mercedes clapped and threw her arms around her, gathering her up in a great hug. "Oh, Annie! I'm so happy for you. Come, come," she quickly pulled her to a small table in the tent, set out some teacups, and grabbed her kettle. "Wait right here. I'll be back before you know it."

True to her word, Mercedes returned within minutes, rushing her kettle of piping hot water to the table and pouring them each a cup. She hurried to add some tea leaves to the cups. "Now," she said, scooting her chair close and folding her fingers underneath her chin, "what happened?"

Annette detailed the entire trip, sparing no detail from Mercedes about it. By the time she finished, her friend sighed wistfully. "That sounds perfect," she said. "So what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know," Annette said. "Everything's happening so fast, that I haven't had time to think. After the war, I had planned to go back home and spend some time with my father. And," she sipped her tea, "I don't want to rush Felix into anything either."

"Why would he feel rushed? He kissed you."

She made a good point. Still though, something had kept him from talking to her about what he wanted until now. As Ingrid mentioned, Felix did keep many people at arm's length, but that didn't feel quite right in their case. After all, he had opened up to her in that greenhouse and today, showing a side that she had never seen him display in public to the other Blue Lions.

What about the gossip? He had started to avoid her soon after they became the subject of gossip around camp. Could that have pressured him? It had put her at unease too when she heard whisperings about them, but only because she had been unsure of their status. Could Felix have been more affected? Did her insistence today worsen things and he would rebound to a more standoffish nature?

"Annie?" Mercedes asked. "What's wrong?"

"Mercie," she set her teacup aside and took her friend's hands, "promise me something."

"Anything."

"Please, please, please don't tell anyone what I told you today." She squeezed her hands.

"Annie, I won't-"

"Promise me. I need to check something and make sure I didn't mess up today. So please, keep it a secret."

Mercedes stared at her for a moment, confusion written all over her face, but she nodded. "Alright, I promise."

"Thank you." She wanted to go find Felix right now, but if her suspicions were right, she should hold off for a while, give him a bit of space. Besides, she told herself, you'll see him tonight. And this could all be in my mind.

Felix hated to leave Annette. He hated even more that he hadn't kissed her again or longer. And he especially hated that they had walked back in silence, exuberant and lively yes, but without talking anymore. He had desperately wanted to request a song from her, any of the number that had echoed in his head for weeks now. Sylvain's advice had unfortunately reared its ugly head, insisting he keep some semblance of normalcy.

The soldier who fetched him relayed that the messenger was insistent though, so he had regrettably left Annette behind. Felix didn't pay much attention to his footsteps, his head still back in the forest, back with Annette, dwelling on her beautiful face, highlighted all the more by the sun. He knew he had made a fool of himself, awkwardly kissing her. He was no expert after all. But he could've spent the rest of the day and night as the biggest fool in the world if it meant more time with her.

He pushed aside the flap for the tent while the soldier waited dutifully outside. Dimitri and the messenger rose from their chairs, the latter bowing to him. "Lord Fraldarius, my condolences for your father."

It still unnerved him to hear that, even though it had been months since his father's death. It reminded him all too vividly of Glenn's passing and the constant sympathies everyone expressed toward him and his father.

"Thank you." Behind Dimitri, Dedue stood ever at attention. Felix swept a hand to the chairs and sat across from the messenger. The king's presence rankled him, dismissing all cheery notions from the afternoon. "What news do you bring?"

"It's your brother, my lord," he said. "He requests you return at once."

"Has something happened?"

"There are rumors that some minor nobles in Fraldarius have taken advantage of your father's passing and your brother's inexperience. Recently, our spies alerted us that they intend to assassinate your brother."

Felix sat up straighter. "What, why?"

The messenger shook his head. "I don't know all the details myself. Your brother sent me post-haste to fetch you. I believe the nobles are those who never quite saw eye to eye with your father. Since neither you nor your brother have officially taken the title of Duke Fraldarius, we believe they intend to usurp your house."

"We can make for Fraldarius territory at once," Dimitri said. "We won't let this stand."

Felix leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin for a moment. "No," he said slowly. "I need to take care of this on my own."

Dimitri frowned. "Felix, this is no time to be stubborn."

"Use your head for a minute," he shot back. "If you ride with us to put out every little fire in our territory, what kind of precedent does that set? A lord should be able to control his own house without needing to have the king on hand." He stood and strode behind the chairs.

Dimitri closed his mouth and folded his hands together. "At least let me send some troops with you. As a show of force."

He nodded. "Alright. We can leave at first light."

"Begging your pardon, my lord, but your brother said he can't wait. You're needed immediately."

Felix clucked his tongue. "Fine. Go with Dedue to select those who are available and rested."

Dedue and the messenger exited the tent, leaving Dimitri and Felix alone. "I wish you would let me accompany you."

"You have enough on your plate with Enbarr and the archbishop stepping down," Felix said and glanced at the floor. "When my father passed, he left his burden as the Shield of Faerghus on my shoulders. Whether I like it or not, it's my duty now to shield your throne. To accomplish that, we need to show unity and fortitude."

Dimitri seemed to follow him. "If I have to come help you, it alerts any lingering enemies that we're open to attack."

"Now you're using your head. Or do you think we've defeated up every last Adrestian force and every last rebel?"

The king sighed. "No. Reports indicate that some may have escaped Enbarr and are scattering in different directions. It'll be months at least before we round them up."

"Exactly. You're needed here for the time being. Enbarr is in complete upheaval with the Empire collapsed and right now, at least for a few days, you need to be the diplomat, not the monster of the battlefield." He looked around. "With any luck, these may just be rumors. Or they may be too cowardly to go through with it."

"We'll keep this between us then," Dimitri said. "No need to cause a panic and make everyone think enemies are waiting in the wings at home."

"Agreed." As Felix walked out of the tent, he suddenly remembered his promise to Annette. Before he could hurry to find her, the messenger and Dedue approached with a small squadron of mounted soldiers, Sylvain and Ingrid among them, and a spare horse for Felix.

"No," Felix said, pointing at Sylvain. Definitely not the redhead he wanted accompanying him.

"Hey, come on. It's on my way home," Sylvain said, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Least I can do is give you a hand."

Felix ducked out from under his grasp and shook his head. "I have to take care of something first. Has anyone seen," he looked at Sylvain, wanting to avoid an earful on the way home, "Mercedes?" He figured wherever she was, Annette couldn't be too far.

"I saw her in the kitchen hours ago," Dedue said. "I haven't seen her since."

"My lord," the messenger said. "We really must leave as soon as possible."

"I know," Felix said. "But I just need to do something."

"What's that?"

"I-" He lost his voice as all the eyes watched and waited for him. He didn't want to discuss this with anyone else. And he couldn't run all over camp searching for Annette for hours. In the past day alone, the Enbarr refugees had more than tripled the camp size, making finding someone an all-day adventure.

As Dimitri exited the tent as well, Felix groaned and made a snap decision. He took the king aside and brought him close. "Look, do me a favor."

"What is it?"

"Tell," he shoved his revulsion at confiding in Dimitri of all people back down, "tell Annette that I'll, um." Why were the words not coming to him?

Dimitri circled his hand, prompting him on. "That you'll?"

"That I'll see her later," he finally said. "And that we, I, I - Yes, just tell her I said 'Bye. I'll see you later.'" Goddess, this is infuriating. I'll just write her a letter and explain it. That would be the simplest plan. A letter. For now, a simple message that not even Dimitri could forget would suffice, then Felix could write to her later.

"Very well," Dimitri nodded, somewhat confused. "You had better hurry."

Felix mounted his horse and took the lead out of camp. He cursed the nobles plotting against his house and he cursed his ineffectual brother. After so many weeks apart, the last thing he wanted was another long period separating Annette from him. The faster we deal with this, the sooner I can see her again. "Let's go!" He spurred his horse onwards and raced down the road out of camp, the messenger, Sylvain, Ingrid, and the soldiers following close behind.