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Dorothea & Felix C (before time skip)
There was a sharp clash when Felix’s training sward struck the wooden dummies. He struck again, the dull edge of the sward left a dent in the dummy, crossing from its shoulder across it’s chest.
Dorothea was perched on the sidelines of the training grounds, the room was empty except Felix and the sound of the sward snapping aghast his opponent, Dorothea leaned forward stretching herself into view, letting her legs dangle where she sat, letting her body lean, propped up by her arms as locks of curled hair fell forward over her shoulders.
Felix was facing away, he turned the training sward in his hand, Dorothea could see part of the sward had snapped, the broken tip was hanging off by a few splintered threads of wood.
Felix growled before tossing the wooden sward aside into a small pile of snapped wooden swards like it.
The training weapons that previously lined the wall of the arena were now dwindled to seven lances and four axes, the last training sward was leaning against the wall near where Dorothea sat, her eyes drifted toward the sward before reaching for its handle.
Felix turned on Dorothea, she closed her hand around the handle dragging it against her knees she leaned deeper into her arms, cracking a smile, “Hi Felix” she said softly.
Felix’s eyes fixed on the training sward. “Are you using that?” he asked with a gesture.
Dorothea frowned at the sward with a short wine “Aw, you are in such a hurry to snap the last one” she said, standing slowly with the sward in her hand.
Felix’s eyes flashed between the sward and her eyes “Why are you here?” said Felix.
Dorothea took slow steps toward him, dragging the tip of the sward behind her. “Felix, how long have we shared a class together…? You have hardly said three words to me-“
Felix crossed his arms “If that's why you're here, I’m not-“
Dorothea lifted the sward into view Felix was watched it. Dorothea moved the blade delicately in her hands “Must take a lot of strength to snap so many” she said.
Felix rolled his eyes starring at the face of the training dummy “I don’t have time to talk to you, if you aren’t going to train with me then leave-” Felix huffed, he reached for the sward.
Dorothea leaned out of his reach, gliding her feet across the floor, she stuck the tip of the sward into the floor, leaning into the handle. Felix stoped to face her, they paused inches apart. She smiled “You are so different from all of the other nobles” Dorothea breathed.
“What are you talking about?” said Felix.
She leaned closer pressing the sward further into the floor. “Most nobles are all talk, and poise-“ she said, brushing her hand over the handle of his training sward.
Felix watched her hands then snapped back to her eyes “Most nobles are fools!” Said Felix. He put one hand on the sward handle closing her hands on the wood. “The only thing more disgusting then nobles…” Felix leaned toward her, breathing against her ear. “are commoners falling over themselves for their favor-“ he pulled away pulling the sward handle with him.
Dorothea kept her grip, keeping Felix’s face in front of hers. “If I didn’t know better, Felix… I’d say you were trying to insult me”
“I am- you are flirting with me, stop“ Felix snapped yanking the sward from her hands and turning on the training dummy.
Dorothea floated behind him, “Felix you are too harsh, I only want a few moments to share a conversation with you-“
CRACK
The sward struck the training dummy, Dorothea stayed behind Felix.
Felix quartered toward her, “Don’t stand behind me-“
Dorothea’s smile dropped, she raised her hands to her hips “Felix, is a few moments too much to ask?”
“I’m busy now-“ he said turning toward the dummy, raising his sward, Dorothea turned to block him, Felix swung before Dorothea slid between him and the dummy, Felix froze, his arm colliding with her shoulder, he closed his arm around her to soften his swing. He stared wide eyed into her.
Dorothea smiled.
“What the hell-?!“ Felix hissed pushing her away.
Dorothea stayed close, “Oh? is that what it takes to get your attention?!” she giggled.
“I ALMOST HIT YOU!” Felix through the sward to the ground, it clattered against the stone.
Dorothea watched him back away and pace in front of her. “Your reflexes are second to non-“ Dorothea sang
Felix grabbed her arm dragging her in, “So you’re an idiot or just stubborn?”
“Stubborn” Dorothea smiled, Felix squeezed her arm, Dorothea watched him carefully. “You know Felix… you are the only person in our class that didn’t introduce himself to me… not a friendly hello… not a glance in my direction… for the longest time I didn’t even know your name-“
“You expect me to care-?“ tightening his grip on her arm
“I do- We’re on the same side Felix, we need each other…” she said, gently raising her hand to his, he crushed her arm in his grip, she slowly lowered her fingers over his. “I think its important that we get to know each other… don’t you?”
“no” said Felix, he dropped her arm and reached down for the sward.
“Felix-“ Dorothea started.
Felix swung at the dummy
SNAP
half the wooden blade splintered and flew across the room. Dorothea watched the place where the dent had landed in the Dummy’s head. Dorothea shook her head and turned from the dummy to leave the training hall.
Felix watched her leave from the corner of his eye.
Dorothea & Felix B (before time skip)
It was evening, Felix crossed the courtyard, passing knights and unfamiliar faces, he kept his eyes straight, focussed on the distant door of the training hall that was visible over the garden walls. Felix walked into the shadow between the garden walls, and suddenly the silence was broken by a clatter of voices, laughter, Sylvain, Ingrid… Felix turned his eyes around the corner of a hedge, a crowd of familiar faces sat around a table in the garden, Sylvain’s laugh was loudest, he leaned back into his chair turning a broad smile toward the others at the table, Ingrid was sitting opposite him, her shoulders were shaking, a smile broke through and brought a bright blush to her face. Dimitri was sitting beside her with a light smile. His straight posture was relaxed into a slump, all eyes were turned to the dark brown locks and bright eyes of their entertainer. Dorothea’s bright voice finished a joke that sent the group laughing again. Dimitri covering his mouth quieting his laughter before muttering something to Ingrid, she slapped her hand to the table when her laughter broke free and Dimitri uncovered his smile
“Dimitri-!” she scolded, giving him a quick shove, he caught himself on the table and Ingrid froze “I-mean- your highness!” Her blush fell to pale cold panic.
Sylvain smiled at Ingrid, he kicked the neck of the table, shaking the dishes and tipping cups full of tea off the side, Ingrid caught two, standing with the cups and guarding Dimitri, Ingrid shot up from her seat
“Sylvain!” she scolded, the color flashed back to her face.
Sylvain grinned “What!? you insulted his highness!”
Ingrid clenched her teeth dropping the cups she caught back on the table and leaned across to face Sylvain “You are such a child!” she snapped.
Dimitri stood raising a hand toward Ingrid “I really don’t mind” he said.
Sylvain stood and leaned toward Ingrid “See, he doesn’t mind if you scorn his title Ingrid” Sylvain sang.
Ingrid threw a full cup of tea across his face, sending a wet stripe through his hair. Sylvain smiled sweetly “You shouldn’t have done that Ingrid” he said, lifting the pot of tea from the table into view. Ingrid backed away, before Sylvain reached across the table for her.
Dorothea smiled at them but her eyes flickered toward Felix who stood in the shadow of the hedge. Felix watched Sylvain chase Ingrid across the lawn, he watched Dimitri stand between them, their squeals and laughter blended together, suddenly the gardens behind them faded, the table they sat at was gone, their faces all changed, Dimitri, Ingrid, Sylvain were all children clumped together, throwing soft shoves , tackling each other in a heap on the lawn. Felix could not remember them laughing together since they were children.
“Don’t you want join them?” said Glenn, there was a dark shape beside him, Felix flinched turned the face was blurred, long brown hair, a light smirk on her face, in a flash everything was back the way it was, Dorothea stood beside him in the shadow
“Are you alright?” said Dorothea.
Felix turned his eyes away, flashing back to Sylvain, to Ingrid, to Dimitri.
Dorothea stayed beside him, “Felix?” she said softly.
Felix crossed his arms. “I’m fine”
Dorothea leaned closer.
Felix stepped away from her, her perfume crashing over him like a wave. “Do you mind?” he hissed, pushing her away with his elbow “ I said I was fine so leave!”
Dorothea sighed “You were watching us for some time… I thought you wanted to join us”
“I’m busy now-“
“Not too busy to watch us from the bushes though?” said Dorothea.
Felix clenched his teeth. “If you’re using them for your own selfish-“
“my selfish what?”
“You want to marry into nobility-“
“And you think thats the only reason I’m friendly to nobles-?“
“I think its the only reason anyone is friendly to nobles” Felix snapped.
Dorothea shook her head. “You really are a piece of work aren’t you…?” Dorothea sighed “I didn’t mean to step on your toes or make you jealous… I was talking to your friends because I wanted to know you-“
“You are wasting your time and they aren’t my friends-“
“Oh? They seem to know a lot about you-“
“Just because we grew up together doesn’t make us friends-“
“They told me about your brother-“ said Dorothea.
Felix paused
“And I get it… your-“
“No, you don’t… they had no business telling you about… Glenn” Felix paused
Dorothea pressed her lips together, “I didn’t mean to offend you,” she reached a hand toward Felix “I’m trying to apologize for…“
Felix he caught her wrist “Save it, I don’t need your apology, and if you are going to start gold digging at least have the sense to wait until the war is over.”
Dorothea tensed, “I cannot imagine how someone as cold as you are can have such loyal friends… its a miracle anyone bothers to talk to you at all-“ Dorothea hissed, she moved past Felix and rejoined the group leaving him in the shadows.
“Wait- is Felix back there?” said Sylvain.
Dorothea shook her head “No, he was just passing through”
Felix let his eyes fall shut, leaning his back against the hedge, listening as the group's laughter erupted again
“Its a shame he didn’t join us” said Ingrid.
Dorothea & Felix A
Byleth gestured and the class was separated, suited for battle they snuck through the forest, moving with slow steps in pairs to separate areas to wait. Byleth pointed to Felix and Dorothea they glanced at each other before moving together.
They moved through the bushes until the others had disappeared, Felix and Dorothea stayed several feet away from each other, moving further as they walked. Felix stayed several steps ahead.
Dorothea quickened her pace behind him, until she was ahead of him.
He could hear her breathing beside him, a loud tense huff as they walked. He raised a hand to silence her.
she rolled her eyes and rushed ahead of him.
He caught up to her “Slow down you’ll get us caught!” he snapped.
Dorothea stopped and he slammed into her falling backward, she stood above him “Aw can’t keep up?” Dorothea wined.
he moved up on his elbows “I’m serious, you’re going to trigger a trap” “Aw you think I can’t handle myself” Dorothea interrupted, she clasped her hands smiling down at him, “Felix, will you please tell me how to approach the enemy? I forgot!” She sang.
Felix leaned up to stand. Dorothea dropped her smile, she raised a hand over him, there was a blinding light and a rush of wind that slammed Felix back to the ground. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Felix snapped.
Dorothea walked over him stepping on the side of his clothing, keeping him trapped under her, she raised her hand over him, he watched as her palm began to glow. Dorothea glared “I don’t take instructions from people who don’t respect me Felix.”
“I-I- don’t- you’re insane? You’ll get us both killed out here-!” Felix shuddered starring up at her hand.
“You just expect everyone to put up with you- you just expect everyone will write off your attitude the way your friends do! You treat people like dirt Felix, and if you want me to take anything you say seriously you will address me by name, you will look me in the eye and you will apologize to me for your insolent behavior thus far”
“Now!?” Felix said starring up at the light emanating from her hand.
Drorothea lowered her foot over his knee, a whirlwind began to stir around them lifting the ends of her hair “Now.” She breathed.
Felix struggled under her “In the name of- Dorothea I’m sorry! What do you want me to say!? I’m sorry, please stop before you kill us!”
The whirlwind vanished, the light in her palm extinguished, Dorothea took her foot off his leg “That was serviceable” she said.
Felix scrambled to a stand, climbed his back up a tree, he reached for his sward, Dorothea turned away from him, moving slowly ahead of him, Felix extended the blade and stabbed it into the dirt, pinning the end of her skit to the ground.
“Hey!” Dorothea said, turning on him before he swung the sward at her face she dodged him, he reached for her catching her hair in his fingers, she turned her hand to him, Felix froze before a blast of wind wiped across his face, plastering his hair and coat to the side of his body, she kicked him back to the dirt, he dragged her down by her hair. They tangled together on the ground
“Look who can’t- take- what- he- deals-“ Dorothea huffed, reaching for him, her nails dug into the side of his face
Felix turned away, too late to dodge her, he instead reached for her wrists.
She slid from his grip and sat up over hm, they both panted in the cloud of dust they had kicked up. Her hair dripped down in large tangled loops, he flinched under her when she raised her hand above him.
“I- didn’t- wait“ he blurted out, starring at her palm, he breathed a slow sigh, turning his eyes to her face. “Why are you doing this-… you are wasting time, you are waisting spells-“ he froze when her palm glowed
“I’m not the one who started the fight this time!” Dorothea sneered.
He swallowed and slowly turned his eyes back to hers, “Look- I I-d-didn’t start start this so that you could- be stupid-“ Felix shuddered, cringing, closing his eyes as the light in her palm brightened.
Dorothea starred at him. “So I'm the stupid one here?” she hissed.
Felix blinked his eyes open, keeping his eyes low, panting a slow sigh his eyes locked on hers “All you’ve done is waist it your time, distracting the others with tea and carrying on like there isn’t a war! Like they aren't all going to die and-” Felix paused
Dorothea closed her hand, lowering it down forcing it against his face, like the tip of a sward. “No one is dying here Felix“
“Maybe not today, maybe it will be the next battle, or the battle after that- Maybe the first one will be someone you don’t know, then one by one you’ll see the others fall, some will be taken right in front of you… others will just vanish, you won’t know they're gone until you see the army marching back to the monastery, silent, staring at you, waiting for someone with the guts to tell you your brother's dead-“ Felix hissed.
Dorothea jumped off him, standing while he starred at her from the ground. Dorothea took a shuttering breath. “So thats it? You think we’re all just doomed to die out here?”
“What did you think you were signing up for? Did someone tell you that soldiers live long fulfilled lives, or was it just in your head to marry a soldier? he’ll die young and you can retire-“
“I would never- how dare you!?” Dorothea grabbed his collar, palm ignited under his chin.
Felix glared at her.
“Thats all you see, death," she said " you can’t be bothered to see anyone's motivations beyond your own selfish, screwed up, few of the world!” she snapped, her voice changed, mocking Felix’s tone “if you don’t train with me for twelve hours you’ll die like my brother!”
Felix swiped at her, knocking her off him. She caught herself before she landed, taking slow steps away from him. “You will-“ he hissed “You will die Dorothea, and so will everyone else-“
“So what then? You don’t think skilled knights can die? You don’t think that even after years of training and battle practice they can die? You think you can beat death if you live in training hall!?”
“No, but I’ll last longer out here then you will!”
“And for what? So you can go back to the monastery and train some more?! You live your entire life to survive long enough to to watch your friends die first-“
“They wouldn’t die so quickly if they joined me!”
“Thats it Felix! That is my point! They could join you and then what? they survive the war, and the war after that, they survive another day only to spend those precious hours training? Is there really no time to laugh… to talk to each other…. to spend a single moment away from death and tragedy to remember why we joined the officers academy in the first place-“
“I joined the academy to survive the war!”
“SO DID I!” Dorothea yelled, panting through her teeth “But when the war is over, I want to laugh, I want friends! I want memories I can look back on… so that even if I die before the war is over I can say that I lived!”
Felix clenched his teeth. his face was pale. “Felix… when I was a child… I lost my mother… I was orphaned on the streets for years… my mother wasn’t a soldier… but she died… I wasn’t a soldier… but I was sure that any day… it could happen… and it would be over… no one is free from that fear… the thought that at any moment we could die… our loved ones could be taken from us… but today- they're here… we are together now Felix… and I don’t think its a waist of time… to talk to you…” Dorothea said, her voice fading softly.
Felix stared in silence.
Dorothea smiled and extended her hand to him “So lets call it a draw”
Felix starred at her hand a moment, he reached slowly for her before locking their hands together. He was silent, their hands lingered together.
Dorothea & Felix S (after the skip)
After the war, the monastery was was repaired, , the great hall was filled with tables and music. Dorothea and Felix stood side by side surrounded by their classmates. Dorothea raised a toast to the end of the war, Felix smiled and raised his glass after hers. The group broke into conversation. Dorothea glanced at Felix over her glass. Felix’s eyes traveled up her hands over the lip of her glass and settled on her eyes.
“You didn’t tell me that you were leaving after tonight” he said.
Dorothea drew her glass down, “Felix… would you accompany me for a walk?" she said expending her arm.
He took her arm to lead them outside, the noise of the celebration faded behind them, the gardens were dark, Dorothea sped up to lead them away from the noise.
“We don’t have to walk this far… its not that long of a story.... is it?” Felix asked.
Dorothea tugged him along, keeping her eyes forward “No… it's not long… I just wanted to get somewhere more appropriate” she said.
Felix looked at the garden walls and then back down the path where they came from. “What do you mean?” he asked.
Dorothea giggled “You’ll see” they approached two heavy doors to the training hall, Felix furrowed his expression.
Dorothea reached for the handle of the door letting go of Felix’s arm.
Felix turned back to the gardens where they came from. “Is everything ok? I mean you're just getting married right? That noble idiot asked you- right? Dorothea?”
Dorothea grabbed his sleeve to lead him into the training hall.
It was dark, Felix searched the room, the pitch black shadows that covered every wall.
Dorothea turned to the room and with a flick of her hand the candles ignited.
Felix jumped “You can do that?”
Dorothea smiled and pressed a finger to her lips. “You have no imagination Felix” she giggled.
Felix studied the candles on every wall, the room was warmer. Dorothea left the door open. “I know how much you don’t like to talk” said Dorothea reaching for a training sward. “And… since this is goodbye… I figured we could have some fun”
Felix watched the sward in her hand “I don’t get it?”
Dorothea tossed the sward to him before she picked up another one. “Swards aren’t my specialty… so go easy on me k?” she said.
Felix lowered the sward tip to the floor, “You want to fight me?”
Dorothea spun her sward lightly in her hand “Yes”
Felix scowled “You can just tell me you’re getting married-“
CLACK-
Dorothea knocked his sward lightly with her own. “Come on Felix, hit me!” Felix took a step away
“I don’t- I feel like there is something you want to say… this feels forced-“
Dorothea sighed, she swung at Felix and knocked the side of his knee
“Ow!” he snapped,
Dorothea smiled “hit. me.” she said.
Felix rolled his eyes and dragged the tip of the sward into her sward with a light
CLICK
Dorothea shook her head “Arn’t you the one that told me… you’d prefer to spar with someone over talking? Because you can read a person better from the way they swing their sward-“ Dorothea asked.
Felix glared at her, lifting his sward, swiping her weapon aside with one swing, her training sword bounced and clattered on the ground.
She raised her eyebrows “I asked you to go easy”
Felix raised his eye brows watching her bend forward to pick her sward up off the ground, she lingered with each motion she made, Felix felt heat rise in his face, watching her arm expend for the sward, she lifted herself straight, her eyes caught his with a small smile lingering on her face. “Just tell me what you want to say?” Felix spat,
Dorothea took her sward in hand and swung it at his
CLACK
“First I want you to tell me what you plan to do after the war.” she said.
Felix starred at her, his sward was still in place, Dorothea knocked it from side to side in his hand. “I haven’t thought about it… maybe I’ll become a mercenary… “ Felix shrugged,
CLACK
Dorothea struck his sward again, Felix sighed and struck her back with the same light force that she struck his sward with.
“There will be a lot to clean up… now that the war is over… the villages will see unrest for years” said Felix, moving to knock her sward away again.
she dodged him and struck the top of his wrist softly. Felix frowned at her “That was pretty good… why are you asking me to go easy?”
Dorothea lifted her sword to point at his throat “That is not up for discussion… we are talking about your future-“
“We’re also training-“
“We are… communicating” Dorothea said, lowering her sward, letting the blade slide down the side of his. Felix watched her. “If you are a mercenary… does that mean you will be staying Fodlan?” she said
“I don’t know” Felix said, watching her sward move up and down against his blade. he glanced from her to the blades.
“What about after that?”
“After what?” said Felix
“After the unrest settles… after you are finished being a mercenary?” Her blade rested aghast his, slowly sliding up to the hilt.
Felix took a long breath when she stopped at his hand, he knocked her blade away with a harsh motion
“Ow!” Dorothea squealed
“S-sorry” he started
she smiled, stepping closer, maneuvering herself between Felix and his sward.
Felix started to deflect her but paused when her perfume struck him. he lifted his eyes back to hers as they stood together. “I was going to marry him…” Dorothea started, smiling at Felix “But-“ she cast her eyes away “I thought… about all the damage after the war… all the damage we’ve done… I’m not ready to be a wife that sits at home watching the cleanup from a nobles castle.” said Dorothea.
Felix leaned forward to catch her eyes “So then… you’ll join me… I mean… the cause”
Dorothea stepped away, sliding their blades together as she stepped away. “perhaps” said Dorothea,
“So then you refused him… the proposal”
CLACK
“Yes…” said Dorothea
“you know with his money and influence… you probably could have done a lot of good for Fodlan.” Felix said
CLACK
“Ow, that was dirty” he moaned.
Dorothea shook her head “Felix… as the head of house Fraldarius, couldn’t you have used similar money and influence to do the same?”
“I was disinherited… it was my own choice”
Dorothea paused, their swards fell apart “I herd about that…”
“I always knew I could never leave the battle field… I think my father understood that in the end” said Felix, raising his blade to hers.
“Felix” said Dorothea, “I have something I want to ask you.”
Felix waited.
Dorothea took a step closer to him. “I never understood… what you were fighting for… you’re first thought as soon as the war ended… was to jump back in… become a mercenary” Dorothea took another step closer. “You never… wanted a partner… or a marriage… or a family?” said Dorothea.
Felix dropped his eyes “I- no…”
“So if… someone asked you… you wold refuse?” said Dorothea.
Felix took a sharp breath “It would depend… on who asked.”
Dorothea smiled, she reached her sward around him, and took his hand, “Felix-“
Felix dropped his sward
Dorothea took his hands in hers, holding his fingers gently in her grip “Would you marry me?” she breathed.
Felix froze “I- can’t take care of you- I thought that was… what you wanted”
she shook her head, “I realize… if I just wanted to be taken care of… I would never have the power help the people I care about… but if I found someone… who understood that… who wants to help Fodlan heal… maybe we could take care of each other” said Dorothea, their eyes lingered.
“Well… um… if you- I agh-“ felix stuttered
Dorothea giggled she closed her arms around Felix, he froze, slowly lowering his arms around her turning his face into the side of her neck, tightening their embrace. Dorothea smiled “So then… is this a yes?” Dorothea said against him.
he parted them so that they stood face to face. “yes” he breathed lowering a kiss to her lips.
Dorothea & Felix Ending card
Dorothea and Felix were married and worked together to clean up the wreckage that the war had left behind, they fought side by side for years. Both survived well into their old age finally choosing to retire from their career as mercenaries and enjoy the peace that they had so long fought for.