Archive of Our Own

A-knock… knock-knock

“Come in, close the door behind you.”

As Shamir turned around, she was met with Hubert’s steely glare.

“Ah, Shamir. How lovely …”

“I’m getting second-hand embarrassment from your villainry-act,” Shamir said, leveling with him. She asked Edelgard,”Is it all right if I speak to you privately? It won’t be a few minutes.”

“Fine,” Hubert said with a growl. “But know that your days are numbered…”

“Oh, don’t mind him, he’s been practicing his Quincy Jones act. What can I help you with?”

Shamir sat down at Edelgard’s desk and folded her fingers. “It’s about Bernie.”

Edelgard winced and shut her notes. “Yes. Is she alright? Has something happened to her? I take full resp--”

Shamir raised a hand. “That won’t be necessary.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a scroll, letting Edelgard read its contents.

Putting the scroll down, Edelgard nodded with understanding. “So you want me to make the public declaration?”

“If you won’t, I will find another way,” Shamir said. “Do we have your support?”

“Support? Absolutely. Otherwise, placing a bounty on Count Varley’s head for no reason would just look suspicious.”

Shamir dared to half-smile. “I’m one of your best bounty hunters; leave the dirty work to me.”

With a mirrored smile, Edelgard said, “Catherine has twelve bounties on her head.”

“As far as I’m concerned, she has zero,” Shamir said, crossing her arms. She faced away from Edelgard to hide her reddening face. “Because, Catherine has done nothing wrong in her life. Anyway , you seem to be on board. You and yours need to create political whisperings, have it be credible…” Shamir thought. “Is it not enough to say “Edelgard the Emperor has announced a bounty on his head?”

“The tricky part about all this is pulling the focus away from Bernadetta as a victim, because to a pack of hungry wolves, an order of protection won’t matter until they get their meal.” Edelgard laced her fingers together and pressed her forehead against them. “Unless they think Bernadetta died, then stir up something about Count Varley, we can see this to its cathartic resolution.”

“Fine. Keep me updated.”

With that, Shamir left.

“Oh, hey, a Knight of Seiros sneaking around down here! If I shouted that any louder…”

“I quit that a long time ago and you know it.”

Yuri crossed his legs on the desk he was sitting on. He brought his hand to his chest, feigning ignorance. “Oh, my , do I? Tell me, what else do I know?”

With the eye-roll to end all eye-rolls, Shamir got right to business. “Yuri, it’s about Bernie.”

Yuri closed his eyes and faced the chalkboard. “Bernie who?”

“Don’t turn around unless you want a dagger through your thick skull.”

“I used to juggle those, you know. Do your worst.”

A scoff. “I need a favor, if you ever stop playing trapeze artist.”

“Relax, Shamir, I’m just kidding. From one assassin to another.” He heard the dagger being sheathed.

“You know already,” Shamir stated as a fact, waiting for confirmation.

“Indeed I do. I assume you want me to help plan and weave a nefarious plot against Count Varley’s name?”

Shamir paused. “It couldn’t hurt to cause political stirrings, but I came to ask you if you wanted to join me.”

Yuri dropped his easy-going mask, if just for a moment, “Out of the question.”

Shamir started to spin her dagger absentmindedly in one hand, neutral expression sliding into a tender one, “Come now, Yuri, there’s no bullshitting that look I just saw. I know your past, I know it would be all too sweet,” Shamir said, walking around. “It’s not often a bounty has an emotional reward with it.” Shamir flicked the dagger into one of the tables. “We can even play good cop bad cop, shake him down, get intel. What do you say?”

Yuri frowned. “Half the bounty goes to Abyss.”

“Wrong,” Shamir said, taking out her dagger and running it across his neck. “ All of the proceeds go to Abyss.” She dropped the dagger with a wink and put it away.

“F-fuck, woman,” Yuri croaked, smoothing his neck.

“And you stay away from my woman if you know what’s good for you,” Shamir warned, then left Abyss.

Hapi, who had been sitting and watching the whole thing pan out said, “Jeez, Shamir can be creeptacular when she wants to be.”

“When you’re the best of the best, like Shamir, you get to act as weird as you want.” Yuri responded. “And boy is she good.”

“What was that comment about a woman?”

Yuri laughed. “Who knows! Maybe she’s dating someone and thinks I’m some sort of threat? To be as good as she is, you have to be just a little bit bonkers.”

“Guess so. The extra money will be nice, at least.”

Yuri nodded and turned to lean on the splintered desk. He muttered low enough so Hapi wouldn’t hear, “And that won’t be the sweetest part.”

Shamir enlisted the help of Catherine and Yuri to carry out the mission. With the go-ahead from Edelgard, and ensuring bounty scroll in hand, she was off. She assigned Yuri to scout ahead and warn his network for any attempted escapes.

Catherine was extra muscle; she was trained in coercion and assassination as Shamir was. Plus, Shamir had to admit she felt more comfortable with Catherine with her.

On their way to Count Varley’s territory, the two worked like clockwork: setting up camp, hunting, keeping watch, taking down bandits, the whole nine.

It was a long journey, but they had planned on taking long journeys together before leaving Fódlan. Might as well go out with a bang.

“Do you think he won’t have back-up?” Catherine asked, bathing in a stream.

Shamir, with her legs in the water, watching, aimlessly twirled a dagger. “That’s what I’m hoping on.”

Catherine gave her look. “Seriously?”

“We have the orders,” Shamir said, holding up the scroll from her bag. “Won’t you find a way to find catharsis?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure.”

Shamir’s brows went up. “ Really ?”

“Yeah, really.” Catherine looked at Shamir with a gaze of concern. “We’ve done so much fighting, killed so much. Let so many innocents die. Is it really right to keep taking lives, like we’re the judgement of Seiros?”

Shamir’s lips formed a tight line. “I don’t know much about the whole judgement part. But…” she looked down, watching a teutates pike swim close to her. She had her dagger out, but… didn’t kill it. “I… think I’d like to be more than just a soldier, Cass.” The admission was soft; she didn’t look her partner in the eye, but she didn’t need to for it to be obvious this was a matter that caused much internal-conflict.

Catherine waded closer, then sat in the shallow water. “You’re considering quitting? Everything?”

Shamir’s brows furrowed. She nodded.

“Wow, that’s something I didn’t think I’d hear from you. You’ve been--...” Yes, Cassandra, Shamir had been a mercenary since childhood out of necessity. No need to remind her; she’s in pain.

Catherine sighed, looking at Thunderbrand sitting on the grass. “Anything you choose, I support you. You know that, right?”

Shamir looked away and nodded again. She looked stuck in her head about the decision; clearly one she had been working out for a long time.

Catherine picked up Shamir’s legs and put them on a shoulder each, catching Shamir’s attention.

“What are you…?”

Catherine grinned, climbing up Shamir’s body.

“Agh!” Shamir cried, wriggling underneath. “You’re so cold !”

“Then you won’t mind if I kiss you, do you?” she asked, her wet body drenching Shamir’s. She wrapped her arms around Shamir. “What could be a better way to warm up?”

Shamir, face and ears red, croaked out, “By a fire.”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “I mean, we could do that too, yes. We could also do this by the fire…”

Cutting off Catherine, Shamir wrapped her arms around her neck and kissed her. They rolled around in the grass until they needed Thunderbrand lit up to see the fire they were making.

“Ready?” Yuri asked. He noted the look in Shamir’s eyes, but didn’t say anything.There was no time to.

Catherine nodded. “Good luck.”

And with that, Yuri was off, staking out the house and delivering quick knock-outs via poison or throat-slits.

The intel that Edelgard and Yuri gave Shamir told her exactly where Count Varley stayed. Catherine tugged on her arm, which made her come to.

“Let’s go.”

With Yuri scouting and clearing the paths for them, the job was quick work, and before they knew it, they were in front of Count Varley’s door.

Of all things, Catherine did not expect Shamir to hesitate.

She whispered so urgent it sounded like a hiss, “Shamir! We’ve come too far to give up, now! Please don’t give up on us, on Bernie!”

It was then that Count Varley left his office, eating what appeared to be a stack of tiny cakes.

“Oh my! I wasn’t expecting anyone today! Security, intruders! ”

“Run, Shamir, let’s go !”

Shamir, dragged by Catherine, looked back at Count Varley. She looked at the fear in his eyes.

Soon enough, they met up with Yuri, who was just as frantic.

“So you did it?”

Catherine shook her head.

“ What ? What happened ?” he asked, gaze flitting around to capture every single thing that moved.

Catherine shut her mouth.

Yuri winced, getting the idea. He turned toward Shamir and took her by the shoulders. “Listen, yeah? We got about five minutes before the cavalry is called in and we’re sent back to Garreg Mach and Her Highness with our heads on pikes. Got it?” He shook her.

She grabbed his arm. “Hands off.”

“Uh-uh, there’s no time for that. You’re the most renowned mercenary in all of Fódlan and beyond. And this is when you get cold feet?”

Shamir growled. “I’m not getting cold feet.”

Yuri forced her to look at him in the eyes. “Did you see his fear?”

She looked away.

“You’re better than this,” Yuri said, annoyed. His life was in danger because their top mercenary forgot how to mercenary? How did that make sense? What was going on under the surface? “What is it?” he asked through grit teeth. “What made you freeze?”

Shamir looked at him, this time without disdain. “I don’t. I don’t want to be this country’s… fucking lapdog anymore.”

“Okay, okay,” Yuri said, nodding. He patted her shoulder as a siren started overhead. “Shit. Okay, we need to go, but we may be able to pull this off, yet.”

“Oh?” Catherine oh?’d.

“Follow my lead.”

Catherine and Yuri physically bumped into each other, then Count Varley.

“Who are you two?!” he asked, afraid.

“Cassandra Charon from House Charon, here,” Catherine said with a low bow. This visibly relaxed the Count. “This, this ruffian is trying to steal from your coffers! Already got some of mine.”

Count Varley waved his hand, dismissive. “Oh-ho-ho, that’s simple; my cavalry will--”

“That won’t be necessary,” Catherine said, seeing the wide eyed look Yuri gave her. “This is personal . He stole my girlf--uh, husband and won’t tell me where he took him!”

“Such a shame,” Count Varley said.

“I’ll tell you fools if you catch me!” Yuri taunted, then bolted outside.

“Quick, after him!” Catherine yelled. She turned back to Count Varley and said “I’ll need you as an eyewitness. Pay attention though; I’m fast .” She shone a grin, then her demeanor changed to hatred as she gave chase.

Count Varley, much to their delight, followed.

“Get back here!” Catherine yelled. She made a big show (as usual) of unsheathing Thunderbrand. “Be prepared to eat my blade!” She did a few moves for show.

“Oh, wow! That hooligan will never get away n-- aACKK!”

Shamir, laying flat on a tree branch, nailed Count Varley between the eyes with one of her poison-tipped arrows.

Yuri and Catherine both high-fived.

Shamir grit her teeth and steeled herself for their celebration.

“It’s done.”

“You bet it’s done. I-- hold on.” Yuri walked over to Count Varley’s dead body and spit on his face, then kicked him for good measure, then looted him for everything he had on him. Surprisingly? Quite a lot.

“Hey, partner! Excellent shooting, as usual,” Catherine said, nudging Shamir.

“Let’s just get back.”

“Wait, Shamir, you’re bleeding.” Catherine stood, holding onto Shamir’s arm.

“Yikes, it looks bad, too,” Yuri said, inspecting the wound.

“It’s nothing . Can we just go ?” Shamir snapped.

“Uh-uh, no attitude at triage,” Yuri said. “Take off your jacket.”

Shamir almost went off on him then and there, which gave Catherine time to peel the jacket off. Shamir hissed. Underneath was a deep gash that ran from Shamir’s back to just about her stomach.

Catherine grit her teeth. “I’ll hurt whoever did this to you. No, I’ll kill them.”

Yuri frowned as he addressed Catherine. “Go back in there to kill all Varley’s goons single-handedly?”

“ Yes! Now get out of my way !”

“Nah, you’re not going alone,” Yuri said, to Catherine’s fury. “I’m going with you.”

And with that, both of them ran back in the house, hooting and hollering, as they took back loads more loot than either could have imagined, including the conservatorship Count Varley had over Bernie.

When they came out, carrying just about all they could, including many cavalry-men’s blood, they found Shamir slumped against a tree.

“Okay, we gotta get out of here.”

Yuri looked at Catherine, impressed. “You know, you have a fine habit of saying the obvious.”

“Shut up, let’s just go !”

They grabbed Shamir and ran as far back to Garreg Mach as they could.

“Wow, I can’t believe you three made such quick work of the house,” Edelgard said, then addended her point. “Well, actually , I can.”

All of the gold, treasures, and conservatorship paperwork were handed over to Edelgard. Only Catherine was there to represent the three -- Yuri was spooked by Edelgard and Shamir was under Manuela and Flayn’s care in the infirmary --.

“Shall we?” Edelgard asked.

“Please.”

With that, Bernadetta von Varley entered the room, timid as always. She opened with, “ Please don’t tell me you’re going to have my head! Please, anything but that! I swear I wasn’t doing anything! I--”

“You were eating cake. It’s alright, take a seat.” Edelgard gestured to the seat next to Catherine.

“Oh no, Thunder Catherine is here, too?!” Bernie muttered to herself.

“No need to worry, we have good news for you,” Catherine said, trying to look as friendly as possible. It wasn’t hard, but she wanted to soothe Bernie’s extra woes if she could.

“Bernadetta, we have a number of things on this table,” Edelgard said, presenting the loot from the mission, “Do you recognize or want any of them?”

“Well, I did always want my grandfather’s sword. There’s no crest, it’s just that he was… always so nice to me, and…”

Seeing Bernie start to tear up, Edelgard presented her with a familiar scroll.

“Do you know what this is?” Edelgard asked, studying Bernie’s expression until a look of recognition popped up.

“Oh! Yes. It’s the--…”

“ We killed your dad,” Catherine gushed out, unable to contain herself.

“WAAAUGH??!”

“Yep! You’re free now!” Catherine patted her on the back, a little too harshly. “No more dadly dictatorship!”

Bernie’s mouth was agape and stayed agape until she fainted sitting upright.

Edelgard pressed her fingers against her temples. “Catherine…”

“...And then I told her she was free! Wasn’t that awesome?”

“...Catherine, I need to teach you how to reign in your impulsivity.”

“Maybe,” Catherine admitted. “Now, tell me the most important thing: how are you doing?”

“I have no idea who you are,” Shamir said with a blank face. Catherine started to panic.

“Wait! No! Seriously?!” Catherine yelled, then craned her head. “ Manuela! Hurry! ”

Shamir started to laugh. “I’m find, you dope,” she said, holding Catherine’s hand and tugging. “It hurts, and it is bad, but I’ll be fine soon enough.” And with a smile, said, “Then we can leave.”

Voice soft, Catherine squeezed Shamir’s hand. “Yeah. It feels like everything we could have done here, we’ve finally done. Closure.”

Shamir nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Rest, my love,” Catherine said, kissing Shamir all over her face. “And I’ll be back to take you mud-wrestling in a few weeks’ time.

“I’m going to throw you in a lake.”