Chapter Text
1180 Garland Moon
“Uh, your Highness?” Annette looked down at what appeared to be the third bundle of broken roses littered on the table, though her gaze turned to see whether or not Dimitri got any thorns in his hands. “Are you alright? Your hand isn’t bleeding, is it?”
Dimitri looked up, a small, tired smile on his face. “Oh, hello Annette. I... don't believe so.” He'd paused mid-motion tugging out a thorn that’d caught in the meat of his palm when his Crest had cause him to crush yet another stem. As he proceeded to tug out the sharp bit of plant, a small welling of red did follow making a liar of him.
Annette grimaced. “Oohh dear, hold it up for just a sec!”
She sat down beside him on the long school bench, taking out her side bag she tried never to go anywhere without— for how traditional the uniforms were, they didn’t always have much in the ways of pockets— she took out a small bundle of bandages. Taking a moment to inspect the wound if there was any leftover thorn, but finding thankfully none, she began to wrap it up and tie it on the end with a small bow.- “There we go. It might feel a little awkward at first, but it’s better to keep it on until the bleeding stops. No need to paint the roses red, ahahaha… ah that was bad.”
Dimitri turned his hand to take in the bandaging— which was a tad excessive in the amount used for the size of the wound, if he was honest. Yet he found something charming in the fact she'd tied it off with a bow, as if it was a decoration rather than medical care. "Thank you, Annette. Although... my attempts to make that flower crown might only get clumsier. I confess, I haven't completed even a single garland." He glanced guiltily at the pile of mangled white roses by his feet.
“How many were you asked to make for the festivities?” Annette knew during Garland Moon it was traditional for women to weave white roses for friends and loved ones, but at Garreg Mach it was made into an exchange and small party within each house. However, she did know it wasn’t out of the question for people to make special garlands for someone they’re sweet on, regardless of house affiliation.
But! There were still plenty of roses on the table! She gave a gentle kick to one of the fallen flowers. “And don’t worry. The first ones are always difficult.”
“Thank you. I was thinking about trying to make a dozen, but... even one might be beyond my current capabilities." Dimitri admitted with a frown.
He'd always enjoyed the tradition of exchanging crowns during this moon, having happy memories of doing so with his close friends and family... before. He’d hoped to be able to make enough to share even with the orphans at the monastery. But it seemed his clumsy strength applied even here.
Sensing that Dimitri was feeling down about his current efforts, she picked up two roses attached to their stems. “Well, we still have plenty of roses to choose from, so don’t count yourself out yet. Do you mind if I help out? I, um, finished my parts in kitchen duty already.”
It was more that she had kindly been asked to leave when she ran into one too many things and almost started a fire when her mit caught the flame… but, Dimitri didn’t need to know that!
His frown became a smile. “Would you? I'd appreciate the assistance. We'd only need to make what Professor Byleth requested.”
“Of course! I’d be happy to help. Let’s aim for that number the Professor asked for, then go from there.” Annette turned to her work, measuring out the stems to make sure they were even, before starting to twist them around. If Dimitri looked at her fingers as she did so, he noticed a fair few cuts and one bruise on her right knuckle.
"Have you woven flower crowns before, Annette?" He asked with no little awe and how quickly she was doing so. Her movements were quite skilled, but even with the cuts, he was still slightly distracted by how small and delicate her hands looked compared to his own. If he raised his hand to compare, there would be a stark difference.
Annette seemed to brighten even more at the question. “A few! Mercie and I exchanged them when we at the School of Sorcery in Fhirdiad, and it was something my father taught me when I was younger.”
Her father always enjoyed working on small projects with his hands, but since she was too young to handle the carving knife he showed her how to twist and build flower crowns and daisy chains galore. During the summer months, her mother never went without some flowery adornment. “I try to keep up with it. Even when it isn’t the festival, people seem to brighten up with flowers arranged like this.” She had a small, nostalgic smile on her face, before she looked up, blinking when she saw Dimitri was watching, and then letting a small hiss when she was pricked. “Ah, and dangerous too, but no broken skin… how about we try the next link together? Pick out two roses that have similar stem lengths.”
“That sounds like a wonderful passtime. Everyone enjoys a pretty flower.” He did as she said, gathered two roses of similar size and kept a gingerly hold-- as trying any different had already ended in many disasters. Dimitri looked to her, awaiting further instruction.
She looked over the two first to check, then nodded in assent. “Excellent choices, now, you just want to start from the ends and work around, like… hm, I guess like making a long knot? Feel free to test it and work it a little before hand to make to twisting easier, since sometimes the stems can be stiff.”
She moves forward, gently placing her hands over his and tried to ease two fingers to lightly bend the stem.
He allowed those small, soft hands to manipulate his own, guiding his fingers until he took up the motion— oh so carefully pressing to lightly bend the firm stems into a more complex shape. It went slow, but there was progress to the two ends becoming intertwined, with Dimitri releasing the grip when he worried his strength would go to far and Anntette being there to maintain the shape even when he wasn't. Thanks to their combined efforts, the two white roses were woven together- neither bruised nor crushed.
When they finished, Annette couldn’t keep the smile off her face at the accomplishment. “Good job. You were very careful, all I had to do was help keep your fingers steady.”
It was then that she realized she was still holding his hands, and there was a small rise of color to her cheeks.
Her thoughts ran like so. Annie, don’t make this weird. This is helping, just helping! Don’t be weird and snatch your hands away like his hands are a hot potato— they feel pretty warm, though. Does his Highness’s temperature naturally run warm—? Ahhhhhh, I’m pausing too long!
Thankfully, she moved her hands back the normal, just fine way. “Umm, maybe one or two more pairs, and then we can layer them together!”
It wasn't until she'd withdrawn that Dimitri missed the weight of her hands on his own, an emotion that had him blinking.
"Very well," Dimitri's brow firmed in concentration and he attempted to repeat what they'd just done on his own. After matching another pair and was nearly half-way there when it happened– his fingers pinched with a tad to much strength and one of the stems snapped!
“…Ahh, it’s okay, you were getting there.” Annette just bit back a gasp of surprise at the snap, but— wait, maybe it was just her imagination, but…
“Is your crest the main thing giving you trouble with this?”
He sighed, though was mollified by the fact that the roses still remained together as only the latter half of one stem had been broken.
“It's... in a way. My strength comes from the Crest of Blaiddyd, but it is something I must always be conscious of. It can make tasks that require finer control difficult for me.”
That sounds like a difficult thing to deal with, having to maintain control so precisely with worry of losing it… Dimitri must have a hard-earned sense of control, but even then it still…
“I never thought before now… well, it’s something you’re always aware of, which sounds stressful.”
Dimitri glanced at Annette and asked sheepishly, “Does your Crest ever... trouble you?”
She tilted her head. “Mine? Well… when I was a child it happened a few times… I have almost blown up a target stand… once or twice.” She added quickly. “It hasn’t happened in a little while, so don’t worry! It’s… my crest conserves attack magic power, so while I can get some great boosts in a fight, it’s, uh… not that helpful outside of combat.”
She sighs. If she had better focus all the time, it wouldn’t still be an issue…
“That sounds similar to Ingrid and Sylvain's Crests. Mostly activating during practice or in battle.” Growing up, it'd been quite the learning process of how to spar safely. His father Lambert had been his only partner at first, the one who'd helped him learn how to master his augmented strength. If only he'd been with him longer, his uncle was family but didn't... quite understand.
These days, sleep and the screams of the dead were a far greater struggle for him.
Shaking off such thoughts, Dimitri picked up yet another pair of roses and looked to Annette. “Would you assist me with these? I believe three could be enough attempting a proper garland, yes?”
Annette was struggling whether or not to clarify that it happened outside of battle more than she let on, but Dimitri asked for assistance before she could explain further. “Oh, of course. And we can use the other ones as central decoration, too, still plenty of stem to twist.”
She rested her hands over his again, gently guiding the loops.
He gave a pleased hum as the three pairs of roses were successfully woven together. Going so far as to pluck up another undamaged rose and asking, “Then we connect them together with other flower’s stems?”
Annette felt a small… something in her chest as she saw the flower cradled in his hands. He held it with care, but seemed much more comfortable. It was a good sign. “Right. Doing so will hide any bald spots so the petals will be what is mostly seen.”
She picked up one herself, then showed him how she bent it, mimicking wrapping it around the garland. “The knotting is a bit more complicated— wrapping up and down the other stems instead of around, so take all the time you need.”
He watched her hands with the new shape, admiring how easy she made it seem. Once she'd finished, he mimicked her with his own flower-- attempting to wind the stem around their other weavings. It was tricky, he had to back off multiple times when the thorns would snag or more pressure was required. But he did as she'd said and took his time.
Contrary to her usual antics, Annette remained calm and quiet, ready in case Dimitri requested assistance. They were quiet for several minutes, until Dimitri rested the completed garland on the table.
“I think it’s finished,” Dimitri then looked up to Annette. “Does it look… alright?”
“Absolutely,” Annette responded, picking it up to further admire the work. “I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love to receive a garland like this…”
Ah, that could imply something she didn’t mean to imply, and she felt her face get hotter.
Dimitri didn’t seem to notice, resting his own hands under hers to keep the garland stable, and blithely replied, “I couldn't have made it without you, Annette. You seem the flower queen for Garlands.”
Q-queen?!
“Oh, that’s— haha,” oh goddess did she just giggle— “that’s really sweet of you to say, your Highness. But, honestly, you need to give yourself more credit. You were dedicated to finishing, and you did it! I just offered a pair of helping hands.”
“And a great help they were." With a wide smile, Dimitri looked from her to their hands. They held the finished Garland between them, the white roses still mostly budded-- as if shy given the situation.
Oh, that was a nice smile. Dimitri must be happy… or she hoped he was happy. Annette’s own eyes looked down, and a small, bubbling of warmth came up as she did.
Its… it’s not that, but maybe this is a little like how it feels when you make a garland and give it to someone you fancy— wait, no, this is for Professor Byleth— unless, does Dimitri fancy the Professor— No no, it’s an assignment, don’t make this weird!
They both heard footsteps coming their way.
“Ah Dedue,” the prince cheerfully greeted their classmate, lifting the Garland a little higher to show it off. “Look, Annette helped me weave this flower crown for the festival.”
The Duscur boy’s tread was just as heavy as he came closer to inspect the Garland. His head tilted as he looked from Dimitri to Annette and back, asking, “You… didn’t remove the thorns first?”
“…” Annette took a moment, before squawking. “Ah! That’s what I forgot we could do!”