To Cut a Path to a Brighter Future

[crimsonflower]

[When Edelgard was called to the conference she did not expect to see Claude there, but after certain events it did make some sense. It gets her to tense up in the beginning, but when Claude mostly hangs back for the conversation he's mostly forgotten. For now.

So then the conversation between Emperor and King went as follows—

Dimitri: Edelgard. I did not think you would actually accept my request.
Edelgard: Call it a whim. Well then? What did you want to talk about?
Dimitri: I will get straight to the point. Why did you start this war? There had to be a way to change things in your territory without the need for so many senseless casualties.
Edelgard: It may be hard to believe, but this is the way that leads to the fewest casualties in the end. Don't you see?
Dimitri: How could I? Countless people have already lost their lives in this conflict.
Edelgard: The longer we took to revolt, the more victims this crooked world would have claimed. I weighed the victims of war against the victims of the world as it is now, and I chose the former. I believe that I have chosen the best path, the only path.]

Comments

[inaurate]

[Claude hadn't been hanging back so much as waiting for the right opening. He had to play this very carefully. It'd been a pleasant surprise that Dimitri had called this conference to begin with, and he fully intended to capitalize on it. And this, everyone coming to the table and having a discussion... this is where he's at his best.

The tension rises, and then Edelgard just hands him the perfect opportunity to interject. It's practically an engraved invitation, really.]

But you still don't have all the information, do you? [He's calm and measured, a deft hand at mediating disagreements between nobles by now.] Can you really say it's the only path worth taking when you're missing vital pieces of the overall picture?

[azuremoon]

[They've only exchanged a few words, and Dimitri was already rapidly losing hope for a peaceful resolution. He can't allow Edelgard to continue on her path, not when that path means she's taking freedom from other people, and if she truly believes that's the only way, then what can he do to convince her otherwise? No matter how desperately he wants it, he can't make her feel the same way he does...

He's so caught up in the moment that he's forgotten anyone else is even there (not uncommon when he's thinking about Edelgard, really). Claude's interjection startles him, but it also breaks him out of his downward spiral. Dimitri takes a deep breath, looking between the two of them cautiously.]

[azuremoon]

[Everything is agreed upon to meet again, and though he knows that peace is still far from guaranteed, Dimitri can't help but have a bounce in his step as they start to make their way back to camp. They're closer than he could have dared to hope for, and that alone makes the weight on his shoulders feel so much lighter.

"Why did you not tell her?" Byleth asks once they're a good distance away, Edelgard and Hubert completely out of sight.]

...it was not the right time. I do not want her thinking that I'm trying to influence her decision with sentimentality. After we have spoken with Rhea, if we can all agree on a new path to walk... I'll tell her.

[With a small smile, he peeks over at Claude.]

Thank you, my friend. Things would not have gone half as well as they did without you.

[inaurate]

[Well, his Majesty is certainly pleased with how things went. Claude watches him with no small amount of amusement, keenly listening to what he says and does not say in answer to Byleth's question. Ah, so he had been on to something all those years ago, teasing Dimitri about his crush.

Dimitri's words directed at him catch him slightly off guard, his eyes widening in pleasant surprise just for a moment before it eases into a somewhat smug smile.]

Oh, I know. It would have been doomed from the start with just the two of you in there. No offense, Teach. [He shoots an easy wink Byleth's way.]

[crimsonflower]

[Should they follow direction properly they'll be lead from the border between the Empire and Holy Kingdom into Adrestian territory. They will find themselves by the coast beyond the village of Remire nestled between Hevring and Merceus. Mountains separate them and Garreg Mach — making it difficult for any weakened prisoner to make a successful get away if they tried.

When they arrive Rhea will not be immediately in sight, but there is a cottage by the shore she might be kept in. Edelgard (and unsurprisingly, Hubert) will be there to greet them.]

I trust your travels were safe?

[azuremoon]

[The location would indeed make fleeing with an injured prisoner inconvenient, but it's still close enough that they don't have trouble gathering enough provisions. Dimitri can see why Edelgard chose it, though Seteth unsurprisingly protests. But even he has to concede that this is safer for Rhea than charging the capital — who's to say that they wouldn't simply slay her once it became apparent they were losing? Nevertheless, the lack of choice puts him in a foul mood, which makes Flayn anxious, which results in everyone else trying to reassure her because Flayn is just the type of person that people want to dote on. It's stressful, to say the least.

The journey itself is not that bad. Dorothea refrains from poking too much fun at Dimitri (though she does gossip with Hilda a fair amount), and Ferdinand is a decent and honorable man that Dimitri has never had a personal quarrel with. He does seem far too interested whenever Ferdinand starts talking about Edelgard, though...

That Dedue behaved himself goes without saying, and the professor was as quiet as ever, only interjecting on the occassion that things needed smoothing over and Claude didn't do it first.]

They were, yes. If you have somewhere that we can rest the horses, I would appreciate it.

[Would riding wyverns and pegasi be easier? Yes, but it also would have looked like they were trying to make off with Rhea. In order to show good faith, only one horse per person was brought along, and the horses are tired out as a result.]

[azuremoon]

[It's the second day of Edelgard's imprisonment before the "execution". Dimitri took full advantage of that nasty hangover to show his face around the monastery earlier, so up until now, he hasn't actually been alone with Edelgard. But Claude has business to attend to as well, and neither one of them can just sit in here for the whole time. Leaving her alone is far too dangerous though, even with the guards they've chosen — so he's unwilling to leave, even if this is terribly awkward without some sort of buffer.

Dimitri clears his throat.]

Well, you need not entertain me. I do not mind if you want to simply rest.

[crimsonflower]

Actually... I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you alone. We should discuss this.

[Edelgard pulls forth the dagger and rests it atop the table.]

[studhorse]

[Getting everyone to relax a little goes swimmingly, and Sylvain drinks often enough to know when to stop to avoid a hangover of his own. But alas, morning must come eventually! Letting Dimitri sleep late is all well and good since the man doesn't have the sense to take a damn nap if he needs one, but Claude? Yeah, Sylvain's going to make sure he's up and around to down a hangover remedy and get cleaned up. Someone has to play buffer with Edelgard and Dimitri, and as Edelgard is not feeling too charitable toward Sylvain, he's not the man for the job.

Claude is.

It's bright and early when he slips back in with a flask full of some foul liquid, a bitter, salty concoction he's found to work quite well in doing away with a hangover. He tiptoes past Dimitri (who is down so hard he doubts he'll be up for awhile yet), squatting near Claude. He speaks softly, but clearly.]

Good morning, Mr. Leader Man! Time to get yourself cleaned up. We can't have people seeing you and His Majesty going around looking like death warmed over.

[inaurate]

[Claude wakes with a groan, squinting up at Sylvain's far too cheery face with the undisguised disdain that can only come from being woken up with a horrible wine hangover.

Sylvain's right, though. Claude wants nothing more than to tell him to fuck off, bury his face in his pillow, and sleep until the afternoon, but he can't. He has responsibilities.

So with no small amount of grumbling he sits up, scrubbing his hand over his face. He takes back what he said last night, the wine had been a horrible idea.]

[azuremoon]

[Aside from a few awkward bumps here and there, the next few days go surprisingly well. Dimitri and Edelgard have mostly cleared the air in regards to their relationship (or lack thereof), and now that she knows Dimitri isn't just clinging to the past, Edelgard seems a little more comfortable with him and his overt friendliness.

Somewhat. It's easier when Claude is in the tent, too.

Still, it's nice to just sit around together, playing games or chatting about whatever icebreaking topics Claude manages to wrangle up. They occasionally came together back in the academy, but never like this. They all had their own goals then. Now, they share the same goal, and that fosters a sense of camaraderie that wasn't there before.

Which makes the day of Edelgard's staged execution that much more nervewracking. It's set for noon, when the sky is clear and the sun is high and there's plenty of time to spot whatever the lance of light Rhea described to them is in time to evacuate everyone. Hubert has confirmed his positioning, though due to the need for him to be ferreted into the archbishop's quarters to lay the spells for transporting Edelgard there and giving himself an escape route after, he is not actually permitted to see her yet. Dimitri wonders if him being here would reassure her. He can tell that she's nervous as Mercedes drops off breakfast, but he doesn't know how to ease that anxiety. Honestly, he's feeling it himself.]

Thank you, Mercedes, [he murmurs as she pours them all some calming tea. Mercedes just smiles in that way of hers.

"Of course. I need to help with some of the preparations, though... do you need anything else?" Her gaze flits toward Edelgard.]

[crimsonflower]

Thank you, this is fine.

[What would she even ask for? Nothing can ease her doubts or worries. She'll just be sitting still at the table with her hands wringing nervously under the desk. That way she seems placid and unshakable to the untrained eye. Edelgard will even pause her movements when she's being looked at only to start right back up again once the eyes are off her.

She's learned how to nervously fidget appropriately as to not garner attention from unforgiving eyes. After all... her uncle was Arundel.]

[azuremoon]

[It takes everything Dimitri has to not literally throw up after leaving Edelgard's room. Deep down, he knew that he wasn't completely healed, but he wants so desperately for that hate-filled chapter of their lives to be over that he tries to convince himself otherwise. Being hit with such a nasty reminder of the days that he spent deliriously fantasizing about killing her in such disgusting, monstrous ways just tells him that he still has a long, long way to go.

He despises that part of himself.

When he first enters the training grounds, the aura around him is so fearsome that anyone else making use of them hurries out. That act he's been putting on since "capturing" Edelgard has everyone steering clear anyway, not wanting to get caught up in his fury. Usually, that would sadden him, but at that moment he's glad for it. He doesn't want anyone to see him lashing out. He'll destroy no less than five training weapons and two dummies before he's able to start running drills with some level of calm again, determined to exhaust himself to the point that he'll be granted a dreamless sleep. In the interest of not overheating before he wears himself down, he's discarded all of his armor. He's so absorbed that he doesn't even initially notice when someone dares to join him, but at least that murderous air is gone.]

[inaurate]

[Claude had taken his time getting to the training grounds, and was unsurprised to see it completely devoid of anyone save Dimitri.

He hangs back for quite a while, watching the man work out some aggression on a training dummy. He's already broken two, and Claude can see a few shattered training weapons as well. Yikes.

Once he's no longer breaking things, Claude joins in on his drills. The bow is still his main weapon, obviously, but he's not half-bad with a sword. It's strange to see Dimitri without all his armor, but a weapon in his hand.

He smiles when the man finally acknowledges his presence, content to keep working at sword drills beside him until Dimitri indicates he'd prefer otherwise.]

[crimsonflower]

[It takes her almost the whole day to recover. For the first few hours she did really need to stay bed ridden. However after that Mercedes kindly shooed away Manuela (who had a suspicious look in her eye as she left) to help Edelgard with a bath and dying her hair. After all she'd still need supervision for quite some time as everything made her dizzy still.

Her time spent with Mercedes is soothing. The serene quality of her unhurried voice and her even temperament makes Edelgard almost forget the events of the day. However when her body is dry, her hair now a bright copper color, and her company gone to help with the meals for everyone she feels...

Scared. Alone yet again. Alone like she was when her siblings had died in the basement. Alone how she was when she was standing atop that platform hanging by the rope. The weight of mortality sits heavy on her chest. They still have so much to do, and yet she feels as though she was lucky to have narrowly escaped. By herself and full of anxiety she sits on the large bed that used to belong to the Archbishop. The former Emperor has donned a full length nightgown that has a modest lace neckline that (unfortunately) shows the healing marks on her neck where the rope rubbed her raw. They aren't as bad as they once were, but they're still tender and noticeable. Thanks to Mercedes and Manuela's help they'll probably be gone in the morn.

When she hears the knock on the door she's nearly spooked, but Edelgard clears her voice to answer:]

Come in.

[She fixes her gloves to make sure nothing shows.]

[inaurate]

[It has been a very long day, even before the-- Incident at the training grounds. An Incident that Claude was very carefully not thinking about. The important things were that their plan had worked, and that Dimitri seemed less at risk of regressing back to that mindless fury he'd lived in for five years.

Now he just had to check in on Edelgard. Mercedes' presence in the kitchens told him they'd finished dyeing her hair, but he honestly wasn't sure if she'd still be awake. She answers when he knocks, though, and he slips into the room, a bottle of wine in one hand and a board game under the other arm.]

Hey. Oh, I like the hair! [He grins, nonchalantly approaching the bed and placing the bottle of wine on the bedside table. He'd snagged a pair of wine glasses as well that he pulls out from one of his pockets.] Thought you might like to celebrate a perfectly performed scheme with me.

[He notices the rope burn around her neck, but carefully doesn't wince or stare. He'd ever so briefly caught a look in her eyes that was painfully familiar, one he's often seen in his own reflection-- it makes him all the more determined to stay.]

Well, that and I still need to play you one on one. [He winks and places the board game on the bed too. It's certainly large enough for them both to sit comfortably, as wildly improper as that would be. But if she objects, he's more than happy to move to the little breakfast table in the room.] That is, if you're up for it. [Why yes, that is a challenge.]

[inaurate]

[Alright, so Claude fucked up. He fucked up so bad, twice, in the same day. And normally he'd keep that to himself but this is-- complicated. And messy. And, well. Sylvain already has the context for why exactly this happened and what a spectacular mess it is. Judging by the look the man had given him, he'd seen Dimitri leaving the training grounds before Claude had and likely had his suspicions. And he's a hell of a lot smarter than he acts.

So, he's the one a somewhat desperate Claude tugs into a hidden corridor he'd found his first year at Garreg Mach.]

So, I have... a bit of a dilemma, regarding what you brought up to me a few weeks ago.

[HE FUCKED UP SO BAD SYLVAIN PLS HELP.]

[studhorse]

[Of course he has suspicions, but he didn't ever dream whatever happened would be dire enough for Claude to yank him into a hidden passage like he's about to divulge state secrets.

Though, considering who all is involved, that is the case...]

Yeah?

[Go on, he has no idea how serious this is and the urge to tease is strong. He has to know what level of teasing is appropriate!]

[azuremoon]

[Now that it's been a couple of days since the "execution" and Dimitri has had time to stew over both the way he treated Edelgard and the incident with Claude, he's decided that both of them deserve an apology. Since Claude is so very good at keeping things from getting too awkward between Dimitri and Edelgard, Dimitri tries to go talk to him first. Thankfully for Claude, Sylvain has been keeping an eye out for that and catches Dimitri about to do it, at which point he quickly redirects him by noting how Dimitri's been moping and he should just talk to Edelgard already. When Dimitri expresses that he's not entirely sure what to say, Sylvain announces that he'll go with him, picking up some sweets from Mercedes along the way.

This brings Dimitri to the door of the archbishop's former quarters, holding a basket of pastries, Sylvain at his side. Not wanting to be subject to further teasing, he knocks, praying that Sylvain will behave himself.]

[crimsonflower]

[Edelgard opens the door, but what he sees may not be what he expects. Her hair now resembles Annette's or Ferdinand's hair color. Her face done up with cosmetics. Most notably the clean way her eyebrows are shaped, the gentle color and shine added to her lips, and the dark stain of mascara on her lashes.

The outfit she wears is a simple dress with a braided belt cinching the waist. The white lace gloves she wears reach just far up into the bell sleeves of the dress that the only skin that shows is her neck and the open back display (should her hair move; at the moment it hangs down smooth having recently been brushed out). The intricate design on the lace is enough to obscure the scarring that a more simplified pattern would give away.

She stares at the two men standing outside her door.]

I did not expect to have this much company today.

[crimsonflower]

[After dusk turns to dark Edelgard will take a torch and find her way to the training grounds. Her hair is pulled up tight into an intricately braided bun done by herself. And though torchlight does not lend too well to seeing detail, one may notice she's still wearing that makeup.

After all Mercedes and Annette insisted that it was "battle-proof" and that no amount of blood or sweat would smear it. Instead she'd simply need the special oil-based liquid made for removing the special makeup. If she arrives before Dimitri she will browse the selection of weapons. If not she'll simply stand proud waiting to be noticed.]

[azuremoon]

[Suffice to say it's difficult to get through the rest of the day as amped up as he is. Dimitri will be sure to take some time out to eat properly at least, not wanting hunger and his poor self-care to result in a loss where he otherwise might have won. He briefly considers taking that care a step further to prevent any embarrassing incidents like the one with Claude, but... well, it's Edelgard. She doesn't have that sort of interest in him, clearly, and as long as he wears a cup to avoid her noticing, a little battle lust just makes him fight more fiercely. He'll have his hair pulled back too, clad in lighter training clothes instead of the armor he favors these days. Edelgard arrives slightly before he does, and — has he ever seen her in a pair of pants that tight? Oh dear. Clearly, someone else selected them for her. They would have to, since she can't freely go shopping. Dimitri clears his throat, forcing himself to put on a neutral expression before he approaches.] See anything you favor? I may use a sword myself, there are not many sturdy training lances at the moment. [Entirely his fault.]

[azuremoon]

[Things continue smoothly over the next week and a half, though there's no denying there's tension on all sides now. Still, since Sylvain so thoroughly convinced him that he doesn't have feelings like that for Claude, Dimitri's thoughts are mostly filled with Edelgard. He demands a rematch, which he wins, and she readily accepts a third challenge as well. But after he properly introduces her to Felix, she seems to prefer sparring with him instead, much to Dimitri's disappointment. Not that he can blame her since Felix is very good with the sword, and he's glad that she'll be learning from someone as talented as he is.

It's a little lonely, anyway.

Claude is busy all the time too, which is... saddening, since Dimitri had gotten used to spending time with him, but he feels like he can't ask for his time. Claude's cleverness is a necessity in this fight. Asking him to hang around just because he enjoys his company is selfish.

Until he has something delicate he can really only ask Claude about, that is. The three leaders will be traveling together, and that means sharing a tent. Since smaller groups are better when your enemy can target you from the sky, the tent will be just big enough for them to fit their gear and three bedrolls side-by-side. Dimitri knows he wouldn't be able to stop himself from having inappropriate dreams crammed up next to her, so he has to make sure that doesn't happen. So he catches Claude as the war room clears out, pulling him off to the side, not making direct eye contact.]

Claude. I have... a favor to ask of you.

[inaurate]

[Claude hasn't been avoiding Edelgard and Dimitri per se. It'd be impossible to, for their efforts in mitigating the fighting and preparing their attack on the Agarthans, if nothing else. But he may have exaggerated how much he had to do once or twice, and it was true he hadn't spent any personal time with the two of them in a while. He needed the distance, to remind himself of all the reasons why he had to let those particular feelings and wants go by the wayside.

Somehow it's not surprising Dimitri's the one to pull him aside first. He's half expecting to get called out on his avoidance, a litany of excuses already on the tip of his tongue-- but no, it seems Dimitri has something else on his mind. He won't even meet Claude's eyes. Something else, then.]

Well, I won't promise anything without hearing what it is, but go ahead.

[inaurate]

[It's not long at all until they're ready to move out toward the Agarthan's base, their strikeforce all set to travel in small groups to better avoid detection. All is going according to plan, except for the small matter of their sleeping arrangements and Claude's sanity.

He just had to give in to Dimitri's puppy eyes and agree to sleep in the middle, didn't he? On the plus side, he certainly wouldn't be hurting for warmth-- though Dimitri's presence in the tent alone would have done the job. They've made camp for the night, laid out their bedrolls... watch for the night is set, and Claude is starting to wish he'd volunteered-- it's not as though he'll be sleeping anyway.]

Ah, how nostalgic. Feels like just a few weeks ago we all shared a tent!

[Because....... it was. It's not a very good joke. It was a long day of covert travel.]

[crimsonflower]

Though the quarters were not as close. At least now Dimitri does not need to snarl at me every few hours for show.

[Edelgard is already sitting on her bed mat combing her fingers through her hair. Despite her gentle complaint she does not seem all that bothered by the arrangements.]

[azuremoon]

[Though Dimitri doesn't sleep well, as far as his sleep in general goes, he does all right. He knows he can't shield them tomorrow, but he allows himself to indulge in feeling like he is tonight. He ends up shifting upward and curling over on his side, his arm tucked up underneath his pillow and extended outward above Edelgard and Claude's heads. It's enough for him to drift off, even without touching them. The price to pay for the loss of Mr. Bear...

He's quiet and contemplative through breakfast and on the march out, but as they reach the range where the Agarthans will no longer be able to assault them from the air and their forces begin to assemble, he turns to Claude and Edelgard, placing a hand on their shoulders.]

...I truly am glad that we have all come together like this. Thank you, both of you.

[For not steering clear of him due to him losing it so spectacularly before — and just for existing, really.]

[inaurate]

[For Claude, it feels like he simply blinks and then it's morning, too exhausted to even dream. He wakes to their combined body heat around him, not touching but still felt... Hopefully the next breakfast they have together will not be full of so much tension. This time there are no sweet buns Claude can use to help cut it.

This time, he knows to expect Dimitri's earnest proclamations, but it doesn't make it any less affecting. Claude had been about to make towards Pruscilla, who was no doubt pleased about no longer having to be caked in mud, when the weight of Dimitri's hand on his shoulder stopped him. And there it is, that powerful sincerity that unsettles him in the best way.

He can't keep all the fondness out of his eyes as he looks at them both. They've put more trust in him than anyone ever has, than he ever deserved.]

Save the thanks for the victory feast. [He says lightly, placing one hand over Dimitri's on his shoulder, the other on Edelgard's arm, squeezes gently and lets go.] I'll see you both there. [He radiates a confidence he doesn't fully feel; the time for doubts has passed, and he's fully in Mister Leader Man mode now that they're about to meet up with their forces.]

[azuremoon]

[With everything so meticulously planned, it's a quick and fierce battle that awaits them before the Agarthans retreat underground to lure them into their lair. As uneasy as that makes all of them, they can't turn back now — that would just give the Agarthans time to find a way to kill them. So they forge onward, only to discover that the Agarthans are capable of firing miniature lances of light within their facility.

Nothing is ever easy.

Thankfully, between Byleth and Claude they're able to form up and retaliate. Byleth and some of the faster soldiers (along with a healer) go to attack the control room in the far left of the battlefield, Dimitri and a small group with less mobility are directed to the near left, Edelgard is sorted into another lower-mobility group that goes to the near right, and Claude is assigned to the far right.

That's when the trap springs. The rooms slam shut, trapping people inside and throwing what the Agarthans view as their four biggest threats into the depths of their own memories. Dimitri is, of course, initially throw when he finds himself back in Duscur, and he almost joins his younger self in trembling on the ground. But he's relived this moment so often, both awake and asleep, and he realizes what's happening. As if he's in a lucid dream Dimitri makes his way toward the man about to behead his father, no longer feeling the heat of those flames or smelling the scent of burning flesh. He hefts his spear and rams it forward, running the illusionary Thales right through the heart.]

We're coming for you, [he says as the scene fades away.

But first, he has to make his way to Edelgard and Claude.]

[crimsonflower]

[The fact that the surrounding area is dark doesn't change with Edelgard's illusion. However what little light illuminates now shows the stone walls of a basement, and... cells. Iron bars holding back captives. One of them in the distance a young man, probably just a few years shy coming of age, is hollering unintelligible sentences. Words slurred together or clear but strung alone into a phrase that makes no sense. It echoes down the hall.

In a nearby cell is a small girl with dusty brown hair, or dishwater blonde. She's pressed herself to the bars and one little arm is reaching out. A few scars mark her arms and hands.

"No! Get away from her!" The voice is a younger version of her own. Almost recognizable if one is attentive.

Edelgard looks to the right where the ghost of herself is reaching out to. She remembers this clearly, but still it haunts her like a nightmare. She knows what she will see, and how it will turn her stomach, but she looks on anyway.

What is in the cell to the right is a crumpled body. Only about five or six years old. Lifeless and without color. A few rats have gathered around the body and they begin to start chewing on the flesh and the fabric of its clothes. On the other side the young girl is screaming. Crying for the vermin to leave her younger sister's body alone. Hot tears sting young Edelgard's eyes as she sobs and continues to try and reach through the bar with no avail. She's small, but she can't fit. Her arms too short to be of any use.

The child collapses against the bars sobbing.

"She's my sister! You can't do that! She's my sister... please..."

Her cries aren't loud enough to be heard over the wild young man a few cells down. She sniffles and sobs. Reaching for something under her poor excuse for a bed. She pulls out... a dagger.]