Chapter Text
Bernadetta’s situation was less than desirable.
Ever since Edelgard’s ascension to the throne, Count Varley—Or Gregóire, rather—Was placed under house arrest and stripped of his title. Bernadetta believed the house arrest wasn’t the non-desirable bit, as he’s since confined himself to his room in a way that mirrored her own behavior all those years ago. The issue was that as his only child, Bernadetta would need to help deal with House Varley’s affairs.
So, maybe this should be rephrased. Bernadetta’s situation was less than desirable for her specifically. Taking care of day-to-day life was simple. But now, upon personal request by the Emperor herself, she has to go and sort out an argument between her county’s and House Hevring’s judiciary. A messenger certainly couldn’t pass on her words, and it’s not as if her father can sort these things out anymore. She’d have to be there in person, as much as she didn’t enjoy it.
Bernadetta sat on the edge of her bed, nervously fidgeting with her hands. She had already finished packing, which involved a lot of fretting over whether she wanted to pack a lot in case of emergency, or pack little in case her things were stolen. She opted for a middle ground.
“Madam Varley?” Asks a soft voice.
Bernadetta pauses, snapping out of her thoughts. Her throat feels tight as she looks behind her. “Yeah?”
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to make sure you packed everything alright,” Says the silhouette in the doorway. The hallway outside was dimly lit, but a kind face could be seen despite the strange shadow lurking over them. Bernadetta recognized the face as an assistant of the Manor who often helped with her daily affairs around the territory.
“Sorry. Yeah I have- I have everything packed right here,” She leans over to the side and picks up a satchel bag full of her things, lifting it to eye-level with the silhouette, “I mean, this is my last thing… Everything else is down with my saddlebag.”
“Very well. I arranged an escort for you as well, Madam. You will be very safe during your travels, I can assure you,” replies the assistant. She shuffles over and holds out her hands to take the satchel.
Bernadetta’s eyes widen at the action and she stands up quickly, shaking her head, “It’s okay… I can carry it. You’ve done a lot already.” She considers not saying anything more, but now she’s curious. “Um… So, about this escort person…”
The stocky figure nods, “He is a renowned mercenary. Apparently he’s such a skilled swordsman that people tell stories of his strength. I have already sorted out payment for his work.”
It seems she has everything taken care of. Goddess bless this sweet old lady. “Wow, really? He sounds important… I hope you didn’t go through much trouble to sort this out.” Bernadetta hops down the long spiraling staircase of the manor behind the assistant as they take a back door, heading to the stables.
“Do not fear, Madam. It’s my job, after all,” She notes.
“Right. Sorry,” Bernadetta fiddles with the string that tied her bag together absentmindedly as she gazed at the row of stalls, a few of them filled with various horses, “Are you totally sure this is a good idea?”
Her assistant's face contorts into a frown. “Please don’t worry. It’s a few days trip, nothing more. You’ll be in Hevring territory before you know it.”
Bernadetta inhales deeply. It was rare for her to go outside full-stop, much less ride out into the wilderness with a stranger. They could encounter an assassin, or trip into a bush of deadly poisonous plants, or fall down a ravine, or run out of food, or… Wait, no. This sounds like the old Bernadetta talking. The new Bernie wouldn’t be scared of a little sunshine, or a new face. She instead preferred to convince herself that she would be fine. “Right. I can do this. Besides… Um, maybe I’ll find a cute animal out there, or a new plant I’ve never seen before?” Or a bear and poison ivy, but she kept trying to push that thought out of her head.
“I would love to hear your findings when you return,” Offers the lady before she perks up at the sound of hooves galloping up the pathway to the manor. “Ah, I believe your escort is here.”
Bernadetta’s eyes widen and she swings her bag around her shoulder, bracing herself as she pulls open the stable door. Contrary to her assistant, who immediately scurries out to greet the escort, Bernadetta decided to peek out from behind the doorway.
In front of her was a young man dismounting a gray-ish mare, speaking to her assistant. One hand held the reins of his horse, and the other rested on the sword sheathed in his belt. His hair was tousled and sideswept, almost haphazardly pulled into a small ponytail, and he brandished a blue fur-lined cloak and leather armor. He was definitely not from the Empire… He looked so familiar, but Bernadetta couldn’t put her finger on it.
Bernadetta’s assistant must have mentioned her in their conversation, as the man’s gaze flicked to meet her own. His eyes were so vividly brown they almost looked orange, and his stare was so sharp it made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She recognized this feeling, but… What would he be doing here?
Quickly, she ducked behind the stable’s door once more, as if she had been caught doing something she wasn’t. She pretended to be taking careful consideration of her horse’s saddle as the pair entered the stable.
Her assistant motions to the young man, “Madam Varley, this is–”
“Felix,” Bernadetta finishes. She didn’t mean to blurt it out, so she averts her gaze, trying not to make eye contact. “I mean- I think so.”
“Oh, you two know each other?”
“…We did,” Felix replies.
The two stand in silence for a minute. He was certainly not as tall as she remembers him being, but still felt as if he towered over her. Something about this was strange. It feels like forever since they’ve seen each other, and now all of a sudden they’re meeting again? Bernadetta felt her words get stuck in her throat. The room felt the same way it did when they first met; Tense.
“Let’s go,” Felix says after a while, brushing past her.
“Wait– Right now? Like, right now , right now?” Bernadetta asks, scrambling to put her things in her saddlebag.
“Yes, right now. I’d rather not waste any time,” He replies distantly, pulling open the door of the stables more so that she could take out her horse. He unties his own steed’s reins from a post and puts his boot in the foothold of his saddle, swinging his other leg over.
“Excuse me, sir. Here,” The assistant holds out a small leather coin purse, “Extra money to book inns.”
Felix accepts the purse, putting it in the pocket of his saddlebag. “Thanks.” His eyes darted to Bernadetta once more. “Ready?”
She hesitates, turning her head to look back at the manor. Bernadetta questions whether or not to say goodbye to her father before departing, but… If he cared even the slightest, he would at least make his presence known. Bernadetta holds the reins of her horse a little tighter and nods at Felix. She gives her assistant a little wave farewell before clicking her tongue, letting her steed speed up into a trot.
—————
House Hevring was, like House Varley, stationed near the base of the Oghma mountains. In fact, it was so close to the mountain range that the Garreg Mach Monastery, now almost reduced to rubble, could be seen on the horizon. The journey there was easy enough–You just had to follow the direction of the summit until you reached Mach coast at the edge of the land. Though, ever since the Officer’s Academy’s closing, the place was riddled with thieves. Bernadetta would never try to make the journey on her own unless she had a death wish. Sure, she was proficient with a bow and arrow, but she didn’t see herself being skilled at combat unless it involved running away.
She remembers Felix being the opposite, on the other hand. While he didn’t seem to follow the Faerghan traditions of chivalry as closely as some of his classmates, she rarely saw him wandering around places other than the training grounds. Obviously his training has paid off now if he’s become a skilled mercenary.
“What business do you have in Hevring territory?” Felix asks.
Bernadetta looks over at him, surprised that he would be the one to break the silence. “Oh, I just… Have a meeting. House Varley and Hevring and Bergliez kinda- They have this rivalry thingy, I guess? So I have to help sort stuff out.”
“I see.”
Silence fills the air again. She listens to the clopping of hooves on the cobblestone path as a warm breeze blows the bangs framing her face at a strange angle. “So… Um. What brings you to Adrestia?”
“Nothing,” His eyes are focused on the road, “Just looking for work.”
Bernadetta shifts on her saddle, thinking carefully. “Yeah… How’s- How’s stuff going back home?”
Felix seemed to tense up a little, “Dunno. My old man’s taking care of things.”
She took note of this and quickly averted her eyes. Whatever’s happening in Faerghus, she wouldn’t know, but maybe she struck a nerve? “Sorry,” she mutters.
He doesn’t respond, but Bernadetta suspects it’s not because he’s angry–Her voice just got very quiet, maybe he didn’t hear her. She doesn’t repeat herself, as the conversation doesn’t seem to be going anywhere regardless. Felix was never as sharp-tongued towards her as he tended to be to others, but there was something about him that seemed strange… Distant, maybe? Did she say something to upset him? So much for making conversation. Good going, Bernie …
“We’re here,” Felix pipes up, tugging slightly at his reins to slow his horse.
Nestled into a hillside were various merchant shops, all clamoring and shouting out about their good prices. Villagers, presumably from Varley or maybe Merceus territory, were making bargains and exchanging goods. The noise echoed off the summit’s walls, making Bernadetta’s ears ring. Her face scrunches up a little, confused. “Wait… Um… This isn’t an inn. Why are we–”
“Pit stop,” Felix interrupts, dismounting his horse. “The nearest inn is still far off. We’re getting food.” He takes out the coin purse from earlier and ties it to his belt before meeting Bernadetta’s blank stare. He pauses and holds out a hand for her, “Are you coming or would you rather go drink out of the water trough with the horses?” Whether he was sarcastic or annoyed, she couldn’t tell. On second thought, maybe she didn’t want to know.
“Oh, sorry! I’m sorry… Yeah, I’ll come…” Bernadetta says quickly, taking his hand and hopping off her saddle. She stumbled a little, her grip tightening on his hand to regain balance. As much as she’s improved her horseback riding, the dismount always gives her trouble.
“We’re not getting anything too expensive. Just enough to last us. And only travel food. We can’t buy anything that would go bad quickly,” Felix instructed, leading Bernadetta through the crowd.
She nodded silently, too busy looking at the stalls to say anything. They really did sell everything… Armor, weapons, pastries, horseshoes, board games… But one in particular caught her eye. A small family of traveling merchants who made miniature pies–both sweet and savory types.
Felix must have noticed her staring because he stopped in front of it. He awkwardly lets go of her hand. “These?”
“I was thinking about it. But… Um, I’m gonna buy it with my own money,” She replies and waves at the vendor to get his attention. “These two… Please.” She mutters and motions to the food.
“Sure thing, miss. 6 coins,” The vendor replies.
She attempts to pull out individual coins from her purse, but internally panics when she feels like she’s taking too long, much to her embarrassment. Quickly, she takes out a piece of silver instead and sets it on the counter a little bit more aggressively than she’d like. “Sorry… Thank you…” She then clears her throat and turns to Felix, holding out one of the pies to him, “Here. This is for you- If you don’t want it, that’s okay too.”
“Oh. Are you sure?” He asks, averting his gaze slightly as he takes the food.
“Positive,” Bernadetta says with a shy smile as she bites into her pie. “Mm, this is so tasty! Try some.”
Felix obliges, eating the food given to him. “Huh. Not bad.”
Her eyes widened, “Wait… You’re smiling! Is… Is it really that good?”
“What? Shut up, no I’m not,” he says defensively, “Quit staring at me.”
“Aww, it’s gone,” Bernadetta replies dejectedly, but her eyes still light up again when she takes another bite of her food, “Are you back to being grumpy?”
Felix looks at her with an expression that conveyed both amusement and disbelief. “…You’re very odd, you know that?”
“Odd? I- I guess… But how so?”
He looks like he wants to say something, but decides against it. “Nevermind. I’m going back to the horses.”
Bernadetta giggles to herself, following behind him as she eats with a slight smile evident on her face. Things seemed a bit less tense now—Especially after finding out that Felix didn’t change a bit over their time apart. She does wonder though, if she can make him smile again before their journey is over. For some reason, she wants to see it again.