Chapter Text
Byleth knew she shouldn’t be following the prince’s caravan. She knew her father would be worried, but she couldn’t help but be drawn to him. She had also never been to Duscur before. The prince had been nice to her, and there weren’t many that would be like that. She was always stone-faced and simple-minded. That off put a lot of the other kids. They complained that it was like she was staring into their souls. It was only a brief meeting at first. She had snuck into the courtyards because she was following a pretty fluffy cat. Most of the cats she had seen were all short haired, but this one had long fur, and that meant it was unusual like her.
That was where she met him. He looked to be around her age, a little younger perhaps, and was looking rather lonely. She had snuck up behind him, and he jumped when he noticed her. She saw the cat that she had been chasing scurry off. There was a little bit of food there on the ground. He hadn’t been petting it, but he was enjoying the company while it was there.
“I wanted to pet it.” Byleth said.
“Ah, so that’s why you’re here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around here before.” The boy said.
“My name is Byleth, my father is a mercenary, and I fight under him.” She said, wondering if she couldn’t chase down the cat still. Where had it gone?
“You a mercenary? But you don’t look like you’re that much older than I am. Ingrid would find you interesting.” He said.
She looked at him then with a tilted head. Her interesting? “Most people find it unusual, but I can fight better than most, and because I’m small enemies ignore me.”
The boy blushed before he bowed stiffly to her. “Oh, where are my manners? Apologies, my name is Dimitri.”
She said it back to him while looking back into his face. He had such pretty blue eyes, like the clear lakes her father fished on. He gulped, but kept her gaze. She closed her eyes to let him out of her entrapment. She could hear the small sigh of relief before he coughed into his hand.
“Tell me Dimitri, do you know how to fight?” she asked.
"I’ve had training.” He replied.
“Would you like to spar with me? It should be interesting to fight with someone closer to my height.” She asked.
His breath caught at her words. Most people wouldn’t dare for fear of harming him. He didn’t tell her that he was the prince either, so perhaps she didn’t know. She was odd. She hadn’t even cracked a smile during their conversation. She was treating him like a person, and he didn’t realize how much he craved that. He didn’t want to get her in trouble, but it would be quite nice to spar with someone who had experience on a battlefield.
“I’d like that very much.” He replied.
He had led her to a large area that had training weapons. He had grabbed a training lance and she had grabbed a sword. He should have the advantage with longer reach. He almost felt as if he was born with a lance in his hands. He had learned to fight as soon as he had learned to walk. He still remembered his embarrassment only a few years ago. He had snapped a sword in two because he had swung it so hard. He didn’t want to repeat that in front of a stranger. He tried to control his strength, but it was hard sometimes. Why did he feel so nervous? She got into a sword stance similar to one Glenn used. Her face had still been a blank slate. Only her eyes gave any indication that she had any life in her. They were a beautiful lavender color. He shook his head. He had to concentrate.
“Ready?” she asked.
He took his stance and nodded. Her speed took him entirely by surprise. He barely had time to block before she was almost on top of him. She was relentless, and he had to remain on his guard. He couldn’t get any attacks in. Her face stayed the same still statue, blank of all emotion. There was only one warrior they whispered that had that countenance.
“Byleth! What do you think you’re doing?” An angry roar came from the doorway that led into the training area.
Dimitri looked towards it and was greeted by her training blade, just hairs away from his nose.
“Do not take your eyes off of an enemy Dimitri. It will get you killed.” She said before she relaxed her stance and stood. She turned to the man that had accompanied his father into the arena.
Dimitri wanted to groan. His father had seen that failure.
“I asked you a question Byleth. You know better than to run off.” The man said.
Byleth shrugged. “I saw a cat I wanted to pet and I met him instead. I asked if he might like to spar with me and here we are. I’m sorry if I made you go looking for me.”
Jeralt pinched the bridge of his nose before he went to rub his eyes.
“Byleth do you know who that is?” Jearalt asked.
“He said his name is Dimitri.” Byleth answered.
“Please, I don’t want her in trouble for my actions.” Dimitri spoke up. Byleth tilted her head at his words, it must be a way that she showed confusion he thought. It was the only consistent movement that she had made. He was still unnerved at how her face didn’t change.
“Why would I be in trouble? Are we not allowed to spar in this room?” She asked.
Dimitri turned to her and bowed. “I am sorry. My full name is Dimitri Alexander Blaiddyd.”
“Why does that last name sound familiar?” She asked.
Dimitri looked at the large man that was built close to his father’s stature. His father looked unhappy, but his face was impassive to those that didn’t know him well. Lambert was not one for pleasantries. The only ones he let himself be a man around were his friends. To everyone else, he was the king that should be respected and kept at a formal distance.
“I am sorry Your Majesty for my daughter’s actions. She meant no harm, and she’s an odd duck. She’s wonderful on the field, can learn tactics in a heartbeat, but she isn’t very social, and I assure you your son would not have come to any harm. As you saw, she is precise with her hits.”
“So you’re the prince then? Is that what they are making the fuss about?” She asked Dimitri.
“Byleth! Show some respect! I taught you better than that.” Jeralt snapped.
Dimitri saw her body flinch, but not so much of a muscle on her face. Could it be that she had been born with some kind of paralysis that makes is so she can’t use it? If that were a possibility, then it was something she couldn’t help, and he would not blame her for it.
Byleth was still confused. “Then can a prince not learn to fight? I still don’t see what the problem is father. He accepted my invitation and he led us here. He is talented. He’s a little unsteady, but he was able to hold his own. With some more training, he will be a brilliant warrior.”
Dimitri felt his heart burst. Noone had praised him like that before. Not only that, whether it be her ignorance or just not caring about titles, she didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he was royalty. It was like a breath of fresh air. Everyone was so uptight and formal with him, but her, she was like no one he had experienced before.
Lambert stroked his chin a moment. “Byleth was it? Your reputation proceeds you Ashen Demon. Would you care to spar with me?”
Jeralt tried to signal her, but the words of acceptance was already out of her lips. Gods he loved his daughter, but at times like these, she really irked his patience. Dimitri looked between them wide-eyed. His father rarely sparred with anyone other than Rodrigue or Glenn. He would teach the knights a lesson in humility a time or two, but he would typically train on his own. Dimitri would watch him from the shadows to mirror his movements on some of those days.
Then his mind registered what his father had called her. He was right. She was supposed to be the ruthless killer who no one stood a chance against. She must have only been toying with him, poking at his defenses to gage his skill. His father held his hand out to Dimitri to take the lance he was using. Dimitri relinquished it and stepped aside.
His father gave a rare smile as she got into her stance. “Very well, demon. Come kneel before your king.”
His father struck first, but she dodged it nimbly. It was like watching a dancer as their weapons met with the clanking of wood. Despite the long reach of the lance, she was able to spin past his defenses. He could tell that his father was getting flustered, but instead of getting angry, the smile on his face was only getting hungrier. He was enjoying this, and he stopped holding back on her.
Dimitri felt sorry for her, even if Lambert’s crest didn’t activate, his strength was still without equal. Dimitri saw the determination and focus in her eyes. The next thing Dimitri knew was that his father lunged at her and quick as lightning she ducked beneath it to give him a smack on the back of the knees to cause him to kneel forward. Lambert caught his fall with his lance, but she still held her blade at his neck.
Dimitri couldn’t believe what he had just saw. She pulled the sword away and then bowed formally to his father before walking over to him. “If you are anything like your father, you have great protentional.” She said, ruffling his hair.
Dimitri could feel the blush on his cheeks as he looked up at her. Who was this battle angel? She couldn’t be a demon, not with such sweet praise and gentle touch.
Lambert burst out laughing. “Jeralt, your girl is wonderful! Please would you mind leaving her here with us while you take care of the matter we commissioned? I would love her to tutor some of my Lionguard, as well as my son. I’ll pay her for her time, guest room, and meals would be included.”
Jeralt looked utterly taken aback. He looked to Byleth with a serious expression. “Byleth, would you mind running drills for them? It would take a load off of my mind that you have someplace safe while we take care of our business here. You are unfamiliar with the terrain after all.”
Byleth knew what expression was. This was a job that they’d be crazy to pass on. “I can do that, Father. If that is acceptable to Dimitri. I don’t know who these Lion Guard are, but if I would be to tutor him in combat, I want to make sure he’s comfortable with it.”
Dimitri could barely contain his excitement. “Yes, please! I want to improve.”
Lambert chuckled and came up to clap him on the shoulder. “Such a warrior, but completely lacking in humility. You like her do you Dimitri?”
Dimitri could feel his face color. Maybe he had been too eager. “She has such grace when she fights. It was spectacular to watch.” He said. There unbiased, but complementary.
Lambert chuckled and nodded. “Yes, and being on the receiving end. I have not had such a worthy opponent in many years. Those tactics too, she realized my strike pattern so quickly. Wonderful. Dimitri can you show her to the guest rooms? Give her the blue one near your room. I have some things to discuss with her father.”
Dimitri found himself suddenly nervous, but he bowed to his father and then took her hand to pull her in the direction of the guest rooms. This was even better than when El had visited. “You’ve probably traveled all over Fodlan haven’t you?” he asked.
She nodded. “Not everywhere. We normally stay on the outskirts of Fodlan, but we’ve been to Morfis and Alymra.”
They ended up talking a lot to each other. Well, Dimitri did most of the talking, but she didn’t seem to mind at all. She would add a comment where she thought it was needed, or just to prompt him to continue. The meals were better than what she was used to, and she wasn’t used to such opulent living. Inns, taverns, tents, and the open night sky, those had been home.
She noticed that several people would give her a dirty look when she called Dimitri by his name, but he would smile at her so adorably that she didn’t care what the others thought. If Dimitri liked being called by his name than that is what she’d do.
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Glenn Fraldarius was a lean warrior with eyes that stalked around sizing up every opponent. He was one of the lion guard she had been assigned to assess and train. He had also been the one that spared with Dimitri the most because they were closer in age. Not only that Glenn only cared about having a good fight. He was testing himself daily. When Dimitri introduced her to him, Glenn had circled her before shoving a sword roughly her way. He found out quickly that she wasn’t one to be trifled with. Not even a minute into the spar, she had him flat on his back while she stared down him with a blank stare.
“You underestimated me. It was easy to see your movements. Again.” She said.
Glenn growled before he got back up and tried again. Time and time again, it turned into his loss. Dimitri didn’t understand it. At 15 Glenn was entered into the Lion Guard because of his battle prowess. In the few years he had been here, no one had been able to match him. Every time that she had Glenn defeated, she told him how she got the upper hand. Dimitri could tell Glenn was getting frustrated and attacking in anger. He wasn’t listening to her. She finally knocked him back down again, sword at his neck and her body pinning him to the ground.
“If you will not listen, then there is nothing to teach you.” She hissed before getting up and heading over to Dimitri.
Glenn had growled and tried attacking her while her back was turned. Dimitri raised his training lance. “That’s a coward’s move Glenn.”
Dimitri swore he saw the ghost of a smirk on her lips. She closed her eyes and she caught Glenn’s arm as she dodged past it. His chest was pressed against her back with a rush of air at the impact as she disarmed him. She used that arm to fling him over herself and onto his back in front of her. Dimitri was in awe. She was only about a head taller than him, but the strength she possessed rivaled the Blaiddyd line.
Dimitri heard chuckling and saw Rodrigue and his father standing in the doorway. “That was entertaining.” Rodrigue said.
Lambert shook his head. “What did I tell you Rodrigue? She is a marvel.”
Byleth stood and bowed. “I take it by the resemblance that he belongs to you?” she said to Rodrigue.
Rodrigue gave a huff of laughter. “Brazen, isn’t she?”
Lambert nodded. “From what I hear she even calls my son by his name.”
Byleth put her hand on Dimitri’s shoulder and bowed. “Who am I to deny his request?”
Dimitri nodded. “Yes. She gives quick commands, Your Highness is a mouthful, so I permitted her to call me by my name.”
“Such a shame she’ll be leaving soon. Her father should be coming back to pick her up any day now, and we are going to do some negotiations with Duscur. There will be no time for training on the road.” Lambert said.
Dimitri tried not to react to that. He had gotten so used to her presence. Every morning she would have a cup of tea with him to discuss what tactics they should learn for the day. Then after breakfast, they both sparred at the training ground for hours. She was an excellent teacher and he loved it when she gave him praise. Then they would break for lunch and she would tell him stories of her travels. Then she would train one of the Lion Guard as he went to his studies. Then they would meet once more for dinner and she would give Lambert a full report on everyone’s progress. His father seemed to enjoy the reports. Dimitri enjoyed the few times that his father would nod to him and tell him that he was proud of his progress.
She was the only person in the castle that didn’t treat him with reverence or fear. He was simply Dimitri with her and he admired her strength and poise. She wan’t anything like the noble girls that flitted about when their fathers visited. He would show her his favorite horse and told her his fears of being clumsy because of his strength. He was constantly breaking things.
He wanted to capture the cat for her so she could hold it like she had wanted to, but he was afraid that he would grab it and kill it by accident. She had only ruffled his hair and brought meat out to where they had seen the cat together and set it down. Sure enough the cat came back, but she sat back and just put a finger to her lips.
“Sometimes, just admiring something without touching it is enough. Then once you’ve earned their trust, that is when you can trust yourself to touch.” She said, holding out her hand.
The cat came up to her and bumped its head against her hand. She still didn’t try to pet it. She motioned for him to hold his own hand out. He was trying not to shake and the cat came and bumped his hand. He smiled and soon, his shaking stopped. The cat decided it got tired of them and left.
“I don’t want you to go.” He said as he watched the cat leave, reminded of his father’s words that she would soon be gone as well. She’d be off on some grand adventure and he would be stuck here tied to this place and his crown. She’d be in danger, having to fight to earn her keep again. He knew that her nickname was only because of her expressionless face, but it did not match the person she was. She was too attentive, too caring. He knew that getting another girl a dagger was probably not the smartest move on his part, but unlike El he knew that she’d use it.
She had swept aside his bangs and laid a light kiss to his forehead. “I will miss you too.” She said.
His hand went to where her lips had touched, his face turning red. “I...I wanted to thank you with more than words. I will never forget your lessons, nor you. I’d like you to have this. I hope that if you ever find yourself in a bind that this can help protect you since I can’t be there to protect you in its stead.” He said, taking out a dagger to present to her. The sheath was blue and the hilt was open so she could hook her thumb to throw it if she had to.
She took it with reverent hands, her eyes blinking furiously. “Thank you. no one besides my father had ever given me a gift before, and it’s not even my birthday.”
Then her lips did quirk up ever so slightly into a smile and he felt his breath catch in his throat. Maybe one day, he could make her truly smile, if they met again. “Your welcome.” He left her then, as tears started to build up in his eyes. Gods why did this hurt so much? When El left he had been disappointed. He had fun while she was here. She would hold a special memory in his heart, but Byleth, this pain was like nothing he had felt in his young life.
Byleth was disappointed. He hadn’t said goodbye before he left. Lambert had paid her father a handsome sum and told him that they could stay the night, but they should leave in the next morning. They had gotten the caravan ready and her father had kept her to ask her questions. What she didn’t understand was what was happening to her. She felt like something was clawing at her heart. She didn’t like whatever feeling this was. It was new and it hurt. She guessed that last night would be his goodbye. She held the dagger in her hands. It was a wonderful quality and weight. He had chosen well.
Then she did something that she would have never considered before, she disobeyed her father to follow the caravan. Something was nagging at her mind. Something was wrong. Her entire body was coiled up for a fight. She had had this feeling before, it had saved her father’s life many times. She had no doubt that something was about to happen, that Dimitri was in danger. Death would come to those that would dare harm her prince.