A/N:

mostly canon-compliant

ideal formatting is on ao3 (link in my profile). i post the new chapters there first.

i would be most grateful for any reviews/thoughts. enjoy! :)

1180

Horsebow Moon

Byleth raised her offering—a thick, fatty slab of raw deer meat—to the adolescent wyvern. It cocked its head warily, then snapped its jaws at her. But she didn't move a muscle. The wyvern's slitted eyes fixed on the offering then slid up to her face. Judging. Assessing.

"Easy now, Professor," Petra whispered encouragingly from behind, safe at the entrance of this wyvern's small cave. Byleth had decided she would try harness a wyvern to eventually certify as a wyvern lord and Petra and her wyvern, Bruce, had come along to support her. Although many wyverns had fled their caves at their approach, some, like this young questioning male, couldn't resist the temptation of the meat and braved the intrusion.

"Come on, you can have it, I promise," Byleth said gently. "But only if you put this on." In her other hand, she raised a leather harness. The wyvern snapped at the harness before darting to the meat but Byleth sprang away, keeping the reward out of reach.

Slitted eyes blinked at her, gunky saliva dripping off jaws filled with sharp teeth. Suddenly, he stretched to its full height and unfurled his wings, roaring at her in an attempt to intimidate. From the corner of her eye she saw Petra and Bruce tense. A glob of saliva slapped her in the face.

She barely flinched. Fear did not come easily to her.

"The harness, first," Byleth repeated firmly, positioning the harness so he could put his head through. The wyvern craned his neck forward, a low growl in his throat. His eyes were still assessing, but perhaps with a little more respect after she'd remained undaunted at his intimidation attempt.

Then slowly, but surely, he dipped his head towards the collar and she smiled in triumph, tossing the meat over. He snatched it out of midair and retreated into his cave.

But not before he gave her a good sniff first.

"Marvellous, Professor," Petra said as they stood on the ledge outside, Byleth blinking at the bright sunlight. "You are full of courage. You must do this every day so he is trusting you. I fed this one for three months before he is letting me ride him." She patted Bruce adoringly on his thick neck. "It is most warming to the heart when you are achieving the success with wyverns."

Satisfied with the day's progress, they started to descend the mountain, treading carefully down the narrow cliffside path. "Thank you, Petra," Byleth said, "for coming here with me on your birthday. I appreciated your advice."

"You are most welcome, Professor. It is fun to be helping you with your wyvern and I am finding it invigorating to be outside in nature on my special day."

"Shall we take the long way back then? I'd like to hear more about Brigid."

Petra's eyes sparkled with delight. "Yes! I am liking that idea."

"But first," Byleth said, looking up to see Bruce fly lazily in circles over them. "May I ask why he is named Bruce?"

"Certainly! Bruce is my grandfather's name. In Brigid, we name our mounts after strong warriors and hunters."

"Ah, I see." Byleth stopped to give her arm to Petra so she could clamber down a steep bit of the path behind her. "You respect him.'

"I do—"

"There you are, my teacher!" A sudden gust enveloped them as Edelgard and her wyvern, Lilye, landed beside them. Her hair lashing in the wild wind, Edelgard regarded them curiously. "Ah, you're here too, Petra?"

"We are spending my birthday being together," Petra said, smiling. Bruce landed too, trilling a greeting to Lilye who warbled in return.

"Oh?" Edelgard asked, raising a brow. "Being… together?"

"Petra's helping me with harnessing a wyvern," Byleth added hastily. "This was the activity she wanted to do on her birthday."

Petra nodded. "I am wanting to be helping the Professor today!"

"Oh, of course," Edelgard said in a mild tone. Then, she reached her arm out to Byleth. "Unfortunately, there's been an unsettling development. Your presence has been requested."

Flayn was missing.

Although initially presumed to have simply taken extended free time, Seteth was now convinced she had been abducted. With Flayn's valuable rare crest and blood along with the recent rumours of a reaper attacking innocents, Byleth was ordered to search the monastery while the knights searched the nearby villages for Flayn. They were to leave no stone unturned.

Once again, the monastery entered high alert—trainings and lessons were reduced, search and patrol parties were formed, and curfews were strongly reinforced. While some students like Caspar and Ferdinand volunteered enthusiastically to search with her, others, like Bernadetta, disappeared into their rooms hours before curfew even started.

Byleth could tell everyone was scared.

Some were convinced it was the work of spirits. Mercedes could frequently be found sharing the scariest ghost stories, to the abject horror of Lysithea, who would stuff her fingers in her ears if she was within earshot and demanded Byleth accompany her on all her mandatory patrols at night.

Some were convinced it was a staff member, pointing fingers at any and everyone. Shamir was particularly unimpressed when Byleth asked about her background during a line of questioning, but became much more candid after realising they shared much in common as previous mercenaries.

Others spouted rumours of the Death Knight. A petrifying reaper, they whispered, come to steal away souls with a giant scythe. Having seen the Death Knight herself, she knew he was no reaper, only a powerful foe who was now, with the disappearance of Flayn, possibly involved in two separate incidents in the monastery. If he was, she would find him and bring him to justice. Now that she had settled into her new life at the monastery, she found herself unwilling for it to be threatened.

And so, that night, as she patrolled the monastery grounds, she remained vigilant, ears pricked for any unusual noises. She was walking down a hallway in the main building when something caught her attention.

A rustling. Followed by a shuffle.

Byleth paused.

Then she whipped round the corner and in three strides, shoved the black-cloaked hooded intruder up against the wall, dagger at their neck. A gasp, and the hood slid off to reveal Edelgard, eyes wide open in shock, cheeks flushed. Her startled breaths were hot on her face.

Byleth staggered back.

Muffled voices floated their way—people were coming towards them from the other end.

Without a word, Edelgard seized her collar and yanked her into the snug recess beside them that housed a marble statue of Saint Seiros. Byleth's back hit the wall and Edelgard covered her with her body. Her hood back up, the princess placed a gloved finger over her lips, eyes pleading for her to stay silent.

The voices were getting louder. "—the catacombs, I tell you!" A man whispered urgently. "There's a whole underground cavern underneath the monastery no one knows about."

"Quiet. People will think we're involved." A woman whispered back. "Let's just find a place quickly!"

"Can't wait to get your hands on me, huh?"

"Judging by that bulge, it seems you—"

Even in the dim light, Byleth could see Edelgard blush furiously. Their faces were only a few inches apart. As Edelgard averted her eyes, Byleth was suddenly very aware of how close their bodies were—Edelgard's chest pressing against hers; their knees knocking together.

"—can't wait, let's just get back to your room now!" The voices faded away with the couple's hurried footsteps.

Byleth stepped to the side immediately, finding her chest tight, pulse racing. Edelgard also flung herself away, her cheeks still flushed. She rearranged her traveller's cloak and Byleth caught a brief flash of red underneath, quickly concealed.

"What are you doing here?" Byleth whispered. "It's after curfew." For some reason, it was hard to hold Edelgard's eye.

Edelgard looked slightly downcast. "Apologies, Professor. I was… I was doing my own investigation into Flayn's disappearance."

Byleth poked her head out to check that no one was still around. It also gave her a much needed moment to take a deep breath. Then, in a slightly chiding tone, she said, "if you asked for permission, I would've let you join my patrols and we could investigate together. If you were caught… they could suspect your involvement, princess or not."

"I know," Edelgard said, chastened. "Thanks for… um—" her cheeks pinked again "—hiding with me." She ducked her head shyly. "I… didn't think before pulling you in."

"That's fine. Let's get you back to your room."

"O—oh…?" Edelgard went bright red.

The words from the amorous couple echoed in her mind. "N—No! Not like them!" Byleth stammered, feeling very hot. "I—I was just going to escort you back! So you're not caught for breaking curfew!"

"Oh, of course!" Edelgard nodded, pulling down her hood to hide half her face. Byleth wished she could hide her face too, thinking she must be as red as Edelgard.

"I also do not want you to be abducted," Byleth added.

She spied a soft smile under Edelgard's hood. "Of course."

They didn't speak any further on their way back to not draw any attention. Byleth did not want others to see Edelgard breaking curfew (or make inappropriate assumptions about her and Edelgard walking around the monastery alone at night) and Edelgard seemed to understand. But at her door, Edelgard touched her on the hand briefly and said, "thank you, for everything. Goodnight, my teacher."

Byleth nodded. "Sweet dreams, Edelgard."

And although she left the princess behind in her room, she was unable to discard the memory of her body pressed against hers for a long time after.

After their late night encounter, things felt a little different with Edelgard.

On the surface, everything was as usual.

They continued their (reduced) classes, subdued bandits, and searched high and low in the monastery for Flayn and any clues for her disappearance. They kept the Black Eagles in line, pushing them further in their studies, but not too far so they lost motivation. She continued to train Edelgard in fighting styles while Edelgard facilitated her flight training and accompanied her during her attempts to harness the male wyvern.

Perhaps it was that she'd covered up for Edelgard twice now for breaking curfew. Or perhaps it was a growing mutual respect and understanding borne from the sharing of secrets and nightmares.

But whatever it was, the inexplicable pull that she'd always felt towards Edelgard became a loose thread snapped taut. Whenever in class, their eyes found each other. Whenever fighting bandits, their backs were to each other, covering their openings. Whenever searching the monastery, their shoulders would bump and their fingers brush, and her mind would flash to that memory of them hidden in the recess.

And more often than not, Edelgard had an uncanny ability to materialise beside her at the fish pond, their nightmares pushing them into fresh air and the increasingly familiar comfort of each other. Even when the nights grew so cold their breaths hovered, they simply huddled together in a sheltered spot by the greenhouse, unwilling to let the cold be a deterrent.

On those nights under the moonlight, Byleth shared with Edelgard stories of her time as a mercenary—the time she fell into a swamp chasing after thieves and had to battle instead a monster nestled within its depths; the time Jeralt lost a bet and they had to shovel horse shit for a week; and the time they explored a long-abandoned castle on top of a mountain one Verdant Rain Moon for treasure only to come up empty-handed, but that evening, as they sat on the balcony commiserating over dinner, the stunning double rainbow that burst free from the swollen rainclouds was more than treasure enough.

In return, Edelgard explained to her the history of the Adrestinian Empire that she'd drilled into her brain from a young age; the different noble houses in all of Fódlan and their relationships with one another; and the Insurrection of the Seven that meant she was hidden in the Kingdom of Faerghus for three years. But more importantly, Edelgard made a concerted effort to speak of more than politics, to share a few positive memories she possessed—watching her younger sister Lilie dress up in her clothing to put on an extremely unflattering charade of her; and stealing away to the forest during a visit to House Ordelia and stuffing her mouth with cake.

And on her birthday, Edelgard surprised her with a new dagger from one of the best bladesmiths in the Empire. It was a magnificent weapon—fine quality, the edge sharp; and the pommel set with a large bright red ruby. Upon her refusal, for it was clearly worth a small fortune, Edelgard had insisted ("It's the least I can do to show my gratitude for your continued guidance to the Black Eagles). And in a clear move to forestall any further protest, Edelgard had planned for the rest of the Black Eagles to arrive then, Ferdinand rolling another trolley with another cake—possibly bigger than Edelgard's—and the rest carrying other celebratory treats and gifts in satchels.

It was a birthday she would always remember fondly.

As the weeks passed, she found herself thinking of Edelgard more and more, making sure to plant carnations each time she visited the greenhouse, catching fish she knew would make her favourite meals. It was strange, how much space the princess seemed to take up in her mind, how her chest stirred with feelings she hadn't quite experienced, couldn't quite name. But perhaps this was what it was like to have a friend. To have someone she looked forward to seeing, to converse with on all kinds of topics, and who seemed to enjoy her company as much as she enjoyed hers. For someone who's always kept their distance, it was certainly an interesting new experience.

And one she wanted to continue exploring.

"Hello, Professor. A moment of your time, if I may?" Hubert asked, approaching her in the training grounds where she was making the most of a free morning.

"Of course." Byleth set down her lance and picked up a towel to wipe away her sweat.

"Interesting, doesn't seem intimidated at all," Hubert muttered under his breath.

"Hmm?"

"You seem to be in good health." He gestured vaguely at her lance.

"Ah… thanks?" Byleth studied his guarded expression. "Is there something wrong?"

Hubert stood straight with his hands behind his back. "Yes," he said. "I find myself a little concerned for your wellbeing."

"You just said I seem to be in good health…?"

"You misunderstand me. You see, Lady Edelgard has taken something of an interest in you."

Byleth dabbed her face with the towel again, suddenly sweating again. "Ah, um… I think not."

"She has. And it's beneath you to be so glib," Hubert said smoothly. "There is something you need to understand about the role I play here. One of my many duties is to determine potential advantages and potential threats to Her Highness. If you prove yourself useful to Lady Edelgard, then all will be well. If you pose a threat in any way whatsoever… well, I shall have to dispose of you."

Byleth blinked. "Dispose of me?

"Yes." Hubert nodded. "This is no joke. While I may be a student here, I am her servant first and foremost. Therefore, if an untimely demise is not to your liking, you would do well to demonstrate your utility and trustworthiness with all haste. I should warn you that I am far less compromising than Lady Edelgard. Do not be at ease merely because you stand in her good graces for the time being."

Byleth's chest grew tight. "Hubert," she said, very seriously. "I would never do Edelgard any harm."

"Ha! Such confidence. I am beginning to see why you caught her eye. But let me remind you—harm can take many forms. It is not only the physical that can hurt. Your life is at stake here, I would be very careful with each step you take around her."

She met his intense gaze. "Hubert, stop speaking in riddles and tell me what you mean."

"If you cannot parse what I mean, which has been so plainly stated, then you truly are not worth a moment of Lady Edelgard's time. I shall begin to plot your death. What is your choice of poison?"

Byleth let out a small, uneasy chuckle. "Let's not be too hasty. Rest assured, I shall consider your words with utmost gravity."

He nodded. "Excellent. My family, House Vestra, has been sworn to House Hresvelg for generations, myself given to Lady Edelgard—"

"Given? Are you betrothed?"

"I said given, not betrothed." He sucked in a breath, looking like he had to resist giving her a lecture. "I was given to Lady Edelgard as her vassal when I was seven. I will protect Lady Edelgard by any means necessary—both in the open and in the shadows. Do not test me."

"I may not understand you, but I certainly will not test you in this regard. Now…" She picked up her lance. "Shall we do some training? Or something else? I have endeavoured to spend some time with every Black Eagle on something they want to do."

"My apologies," he said in a tone that was completely unapologetic. "I have many other important things to be doing with my time instead." Hubert turned to go.

"We could discuss poisons?" Byleth offered. "I came across some rare ones in my travels."

He paused, raising a hand to his chin. "Rare poisons, you say? How fascinating. You're not the Professor I thought you were when you first arrived. It seems you notice more than you let on, enough to know my… interests."

"Well, I'm changing," Byleth said, with a note of satisfaction. "In fact—"

"If the fact is not about poisons, I will be taking my leave."

"One might argue that impatience is a form of poison, minimising one's ability to accurately assess the benefits of any given situation, such as a candid conversation with your professor…"

"Ah." Hubert fought a small smile. "I see why you have caught Lady Edelgard's eye." He folded his arms. "Very well, Professor. I'm all ears."

Byleth proceeded to squeeze thirty minutes of precious time from Hubert. A rousing success, in her opinion.

Hubert truly didn't need to worry.

While she didn't quite understand what he meant, she knew with absolute conviction that she could not do Edelgard harm in any way. Nor could she bear the thought of Edelgard coming to harm either. When they found Manuela unconscious in Jeritza's room, she was even relieved that Edelgard would take Manuela to the infirmary, out of harm's way. If Jeritza was indeed the Death Knight, as all evidence seemed to point towards, then the further away Edelgard was from him, the better.

It wasn't that she didn't believe in Edelgard's abilities. But just like that first night she met the princess, there was that inexplicable urge to protect her—now stronger in the wake of their newfound camaraderie—that meant she kept Edelgard in her awareness at all times on a battlefield, at times at the expense of herself.

So that day as they descended into the underground chamber beneath Jeritza's room, with Edelgard away and safe, there was nothing holding her back. Together with the Black Eagles, she made quick work of the enemies that stood between them and the Death Knight. And when they burst into the room where he sat astride his horse, the unconscious bodies of Flayn and another woman by his side, she readied to spring—

A masked figure appeared in front of the Death Knight.

Byleth and the Black Eagles froze.

"Halt!" The masked figure demanded in an echoey voice, disguised like the Death Knight. He was dressed in dark robes over grey armour, wearing a white mask stained with crimson, the same colour as the long plume on his helmet and the feathers on his pauldrons.

The Death Knight hesitated, grip tightening around his scythe. "You are getting in the way of my game. I want to kill her."

"Hmph. No!" Although the intruder wasn't tall, he stood with the gravitas of one who expected to be obeyed. The Death Knight's commander, then. "You'll have more opportunities to play soon. Your work here is done."

Byleth glanced between them. She wondered if it was feasible for her to subdue the Death Knight while the Black Eagles apprehended the masked figure. But without an accurate assessment of the new enemy's abilities, it would be reckless to risk her students' lives. Once again, she was thankful that Edelgard wasn't there.

"Understood," the Death Knight said. "I will go." He shot Byleth and the Black Eagles one last glare before he disappeared.

Byleth tensed as the masked figure turned to them. "Who are you?" she demanded.

"I am the Flame Emperor. It is I… who will reforge the world."

"Don't!" She heard Hubert hiss to Lysithea behind her. "We don't know how strong they could be."

"What do you want?" Byleth asked the Flame Emperor.

The Flame Emperor considered for a while, then shook his head. "We will cross paths again soon." And without saying anything else, he also disappeared.

"Flame Emperor?" Linhardt muttered. "Rather worrisome that he sounds intent on showing up again."

Dorothea and Mercedes rushed to the unconscious women, who appeared to be physically unharmed on the outside. Mercedes knelt by Flayn, checking her pulse, while Dorothea did the same for the other.

"Are they alright?" Byleth asked.

Mercedes nodded. "Seems to be only unconscious. We should get them to the infirmary."

"The enemy's withdrawn," Hubert reported. "It's safe to transport them now."

Nodding, Byleth knelt to pick Flayn up while Petra hoisted the other woman onto her shoulders. Slowly, mindful of any possible internal injuries, the Black Eagles made their way back to Jeritza's room, emerging at the same time Edelgard rushed in, cape flying. She skidded to a halt at the sight of the women. "You found them? Where?" she asked.

Ferdinand and Caspar burst into an explanation at the same time, to Hubert's annoyed huff.

"I see," Edelgard said when they finished, looking perturbed. "I am pleased that Flayn was recovered and you have all escaped another encounter with the Death Knight unscathed. Although—" she eyed a gash in Lysithea's side "—some of you need to visit the infirmary."

"Yes, let's go," Hubert said, taking Lysithea's arm. "We'll take these two to the infirmary as well. Professor, Lady Edelgard, please inform Seteth of the good outcome."

When the Black Eagles trooped out—Ferdinand carrying Flayn on his back—Edelgard turned immediately to Byleth and assessed the superficial wounds that she sported.

For some reason, Edelgard's scrutiny tightened her chest. "I'm fine," she said. "Please do not worry."

Edelgard's brows knitted together in concern. "This gash looks deep," she said, taking her arm and leaning closer to inspect the wound. "Perhaps we should go first to the infirm—"

"I'm honestly fine," Byleth said, removing her arm from Edelgard's grasp. Her skin tingled where Edelgard touched. "I'm glad you weren't there. This new enemy… Until we know how strong he is, it would be best for you to take extra precautions in any future missions, maybe even sit out."

An odd expression came over Edelgard's face. "Are you… worried for me, my teacher? You've never once hesitated to put me on the frontlines and I must implore you to never do so. I am the leader of the Black Eagles and Emperor-to-be. I will not let others sacrifice themselves for me without also being there with them."

"I think it wise to be prudent," countered Byleth. "The Flame Emperor speaks of reforging the world. As heir to the Adrestinian Empire, you might be at risk."

Something like hurt flashed across Edelgard's face. "I can handle myself. My teacher… you have always treated me like a normal person, a student like any other, not a princess." Guilt flickered in Byleth's stomach. "Right from the very first house battle," Edelgard persisted, "you believed me capable of fighting Dimitri, unafraid for my safety—"

"That's not true," Byleth interrupted. "I do think about your safety, but I knew you could handle him."

"Do you not believe I can handle this Flame Emperor?"

Byleth didn't answer, unable to express what she was feeling. Edelgard watched her with fierce eyes as she contemplated. "I apologise," she said eventually. "You're right, there is no valid reason for me to take you off the frontlines. I…" The guilt in her stomach flared. "I was unduly concerned for your well-being and let it shape my thoughts."

"Apology accepted." Edelgard nodded. "As long as it never happens again. I am happy to follow your orders, my teacher. But not if they're unjustified." She took a step closer to Byleth, a small smile on her lips. "Although I will confess it pleases me to know you are concerned about me." Then Edelgard tapped her on the nose, almost playfully.

Byleth blinked in surprise. A rush of warmth in her chest. "Of course. I think about you often, Edelgard," she said, seriously. Her words seemed to take Edelgard by surprise too—Edelgard's eyes widened and a blush rose on her cheeks. "And… perhaps Hubert got into my head," Byleth admitted, scratching the back of her neck.

Edelgard chuckled. "Did he make some thinly veiled threats against you?" She put on a deep, slimy voice. "You must protect Lady Edelgard otherwise I will poison you, ha ha."

Byleth smiled. "Actually, that wasn't a bad impression." She put on a deeper and slimier voice. "If she is harmed… you will die a thousand deaths by my hands."

Edelgard burst into laughter. And Byleth found herself laughing as well. And when they finally stopped laughing, Edelgard gazed at her with the softest expression on her face. "Another laugh…" she said. "It's nice to see you look happy. After all that's happened. In the time we've spent together recently, you have smiled more easily."

And not for the first time that month, Byleth said, "I'm changing. Apparently."

"Is that so?" Edelgard's smile grew wider. "That pleases me."

Byleth nodded. "I think it pleases me too," she agreed.