Chapter Text
"And into the moonlit sky they run, constantly dancing away from the sun. Two shattered souls combine in their pain. Unto eternity forever they reign.” Dorothea looked out to the gathered audience and bowed. The curtain was drawn as hundreds of flowers were thrown up onto the stage to a thunderous applause. She exited the stage and made her way to her dressing room, humming to herself as she took off the layers of jewellery and makeup. It was getting late and she was rather hungry having not eaten since breakfast hours earlier.The clock chimed seven times and Dorothea was distracted from her hunger upon realising she’d be best to gather her belongings and coat. Best not to keep Jeritza waiting she thought to herself as she exited out onto the streets of Enbarr.
It was darker than she had anticipated it would be, the walk home will have to be brisk, to avoid risking harm. Even in the streets of the capital she had to be careful.
“Hey Thea! Your performance tonight was astounding.” Dorothea turned to punch the potential assailant, but in doing so realised who it was.
“Ferdie, what are you doing here in the capital?” It had been weeks since they had seen eachother last. Their friendship had had a rocky start, but now they were particularly close friends. Many would call it scandalous, a commoner and a noble being friends, Ferdinand and Dorothea quite frankly didn’t care. Through Dorothea, he was able to find out many of the issues that commoners faced; poverty, lack of access to education and an endless workday to name a few. He was determined to improve the conditions of commoners in the von Aegir territory and the rest of the empire, Dorothea was more than willing to help him.
“I was planning on paying you and Jeritza a visit before I leave to start my education at Garreg Mach. You don’t mind if I accompany you back to yours, I’d hate for harm to befall you due to your wandering the streets of Enbarr after dark.”
“No I don’t mind, but we better get going, I was meant to pick up dinner.”
“Well, how about pizza, my shout of course.”
“Ferdie, you don’t have to do that for me.”
“Who said I was doing it for you?”
“I’m sick of watching you and Jeritza dance around each other, just tell him already.”
“Lets just go order dinner.”
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“There’s too many of them, we’ll have to change our plan.”
“Leonie, you go left. Dad you go right. I’ll take the middle.”
“You got it B.”
After a quick change of tactic, they managed to defeat the remaining bandits with relative ease. Jeralt proceeded to check over the girls for any injuries they may have received in the skirmish. Fortunately they minor. Byleth had sustained a cut to her right arm and Leonie was showing signs of slight bruising as a result of a particularly hefty punch she received in the fight. Having dealt with the bandits that had attacked the village, they went to see the mayor to collect their payment.
Upon being paid they made their way over to the local pub, ‘Ike’s bar and grill’. The pub held a rather pleasant atmosphere. Patrons were scattered through the joint. A game of pool was taking place in one side room whilst a poker game was being held at one of the tables in the far corner. They seated themselves at a table, and began to read through the menu:
“Not much to choose from, is there?”
“You are both getting little Laguz meals.”
“But dad.”
“Can we at least get a plate of garlic bread?”
“Fine.” Jeralt sighed, who knew having two daughters would be so troublesome.
“Welcome to Ike’s Bar and Grill! What can I get you today?” Asked a rather attractive blue haired man.
“Umm, I’ll get a Medium Beer and Beorc’s fill, my daughters will both have a little Laguz meal, soda for the drinks. And a plate of garlic bread for the table as an appetiser.”
“Rightio, I’ll go inform the chef of your choices, any preference in the degree at which the meat is cooked?”
“Medium Rare will be fine thanks.”
“Well I hope you guys enjoy your evening. I'll be back in a bit with your food.” The man proceeded to wink before walking over to the kitchen.
“Hey B wanna arm wrestle?” Leonie asked, putting her arm on the table. Byleth clasped Leonie’s hand, locking her eyes on her opponent's. Jeralt grabbed both of their hands to ensure that they were completely vertical, “3...2...1...Go”
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Jeritza was half asleep on the couch, when Dorothea and Ferdinand finally arrived. But the scent of BBQ meatlovers and spicy veg trio pizzas, woke him.
“Finally, you’re home, and you brought food, and Ferdinand.”
“Sorry Ritz, we got sidetracked.”
“Doing what.”
“We ran into von Vestra.”
“The Marquis?”
“His son.”
“He spent thirty minutes yelling at Ferdie, about how it's no good for an empire noble to be wandering the streets, with ‘random women’ when he should be focusing on his upcoming education at Garreg Mach.”
Jeritza, grabbed a slice of the spicy vege trio, “Hopefully you won’t have to share a dorm room with him.”
“It’s a shame you are leaving us Ferdie, although I heard Manuela Casagranda, the star of the Mittelfrank Opera company will be teaching there. I’m Jealous.” Dorothea made her way over to the buffet table and proceeded to pour herself a glass of ginger beer. She was about to offer to pour the boys a glass when she noticed a letter on the bench, addressed to her. Out of curiosity she opened it.
‘Dearest Dorothea Arnault, I’m writing this letter, to inform you that I, your secret benefactor, have enrolled you in Garreg Mach, in which you will join the black eagles house, seeing as you are a citizen of the empire. I expect you to perform well in your studies and excel. It’ll be seen to that anything you desire shall be provided within reason of course. Farewell.’
She read it and then read it again. Someone had to be playing a trick on her.
“Thea, is everything alright?”
“Read this,” she thrusted him the letter. Ferdinand took it and read it slowly.
“Secret Benefactor? You must have captured the eye of some noble.”
“What’s going on?”
“Apparently I’ve been enrolled at Garreg Mach.”