Chapter Text
Footsteps filled the halls of the monastery dungeon. Claude griped Areadbhar tightly his mind racing about what this spear had done, who it’s killed, how his friends blood stained the edges…
Its owner had barely been contained in the last battle at Gronder. Claude knew it was worth saving him but wondered if he if could be rehabilitated. If he could return to who he was 5 years ago. Claude stoped and so did his thoughts for just a moment. He was just a turn away from Dimitris holding cell.
Memories of the battle rushed back to him. He saw Dimitri devolve into some sort of blood lusting beast. Dimitri slaughtered hundreds so easily but yet… Claude insisted on not hurting him. When the battle was reaching its end it was clear Dimitri was not going to give up willingly. So Claude conjured up a plan to subdue him… at least enough that he could be restrained and taken back to the monastery. Claude’s army questioned the sanity of their leader. Why not take the opportunity to kill the one of the oppositions leaders and bring this war closer to an end? Many expected Claude to use Dimitri as a bargaining chip but his intentions were more simple than that. If you’d asked him he would have said He wanted Dimitris power both what he had physically and what he held through his bonds.
Despite Dimitris decent into savagery his friends stuck by his side to the end, many agreeing to join Claude’s army…. Intending to keep an eye on Dimitri but Claude made sure to keep everyone a safe distance away.
Only a select few needed to see how their king had been subdued.
Claude made sure to be the first to one see Dimitri and he made sure to be alone. He intended to preserve what little Dimitri had left of his image. Claude remembered back to their time at the academy… and the true selfish reason he intended to keep Dimitri alive.
His heart started to race.
He thought back to their time 5 years ago.
The late sleepless nights they spent together… how they would sometimes sneak out of class and into the woods outside the monastery just to have a moment where they could let their guard down away from everyone else. How they talked about their hopes for the future and how they would try to spend it together… It was all abruptly severed when the Empire attacked and they were each beckoned back home. They lost contact very quickly… and Claude assumed Dimitri had passed. The news of the execution of the heir of Faerghus consumed Fodlan.
And when he heard of Dimitris death, Claude was distraught.
He mourned and he tried to hide it. Sometimes his sobs could be heard in the early hours… but no one ever brought attention to it.
He had finally put that part of his life behind him. He had come to terms with his loss.
But at Gronder… Claude saw him. And he was very much alive. And all that “coming to terms” washed away. He needed to see him again. He needed to know what happened. He wanted to know if he was okay.
Claude breathed in deeply adjusting his grip on the spear. He would hopefully have his answers soon… if he can get through.
Dimitri had been described to have been a beast of late and his actions confirmed this accurate label. He was on a rampage on the battlefield. Pure strength couldn’t restrain the man so Claude had to resort to drugs, their effects intending to last until an antidote is administered.
Claude was not necessarily proud of what he did to ensure the king was restrained in the dungeon but he was positive that Dimitri couldn’t break free.
Claude moved forward eager ready to confront the leader of Faerghus.
He reached the cell door that held Dimitri. He paused. Then unlocked and slowly opened the door. The light shined behind Claude and cast a thick shadow into the dark cell. The blue of Dimitris cape caught Claude’s gaze first and he moved his eyes up to the man himself sitting atop it.
Dimitris bright blue eye glared at Claude. His hands were chained behind his back, his legs were cuffed together and there was a thick steel collar around his neck secured to the wall by not one but two chains. He was silenced by a makeshift gag created by Claude’s headband.
Dimitri’s piercing eye darted between Claude’s eyes and the spear he held. He lunged slightly at Claude and cause him to jump back. Saliva started to soak Claude’s headband as he leaned against the wall.
“I’m sorry about the accommodations your highness… but I need to make sure you’re still… you in there…”
He closed the cell door behind him then knelt down in front of Dimitri as if drinking in the sight. He moved the hair out of Dimitris face, the spear sitting in his lap.
“I’ll remove this gag here… I just need you to promise to cooperate”. He looked straight into Dimitri’s eyes . Dimitri didn’t acknowledge that anything was said to him.
“I’m gonna take that as a yes…”
Claude slowly untied the headband and removed the piece of cloth stuffed in Dimitris mouth.
“Claude…” Dimitri panted. Claudes heart jumped. It had been a while since he heard Dimitri say his name…
“If you intend to keep me from getting… their revenge…. I will kill you.”
His words were cold and fierce. Especially for someone in his position.
“Not my intention big guy” Claude tries to bring the mood closer to what it was like 5 years ago.
Dimitris glare didn’t soften. Claude continued “I actually want to help you get your revenge… by a union between our countries. You … are King now .. aren’t you?”
Dimitri looks away “I haven’t had an official coronation …. But I am technically heir to the throne.”
Dimitri was cooperating. Claude felt like this was already great progress. He wouldn’t have to resort to the extra drugs he brought.
“But that doesn’t matter” Dimitri continues. “None of it matters while she’s still alive”.
“Edelgard…” Claude barely breathes her name and Dimitri lunged forward nearly choking himself “nothing matters until I have her head”
“And I want to help you get her head… and end this goddess forsaken war.”
Claude unhooked the chains holding Dimitris neck, and he fell forward into Claude’s lap. Claude held him for a moment then propped him against the wall. Claude continued to hold on to the unhooked chains loosening the pull on Dimitris neck.
“You and your country have just gotten in the way” he practically snarled.
Claude ignored his taunts. “If it weren’t for us the empire would have taken over Fhirdiad by now then turned and attacked us.”
Claude adjusted and re-secured the chains keeping Dimitri to the wall then unlocked the steel holdings around Dimitris feet.
“Dimitri ” Claude set the spear down behind him and moved in between Dimitris newly released legs and cupped Dimitris face his hands.
“I’m just relieved you’re ok” Claude realized “okay” was a stretch but at this point “alive” was okay to Claude.
“Claude” Dimitris voice was soft- a major shift from what it was a few moments ago. How long has it been since this man was shown compassion Claude wondered. And he realized this was going to be the key to getting his Dimitri back or at least he hoped. But Dimitris tone quickly shifted back, and he wrapped his legs around Claude’s waist with crushing strength .
“I am just a beast now. Anything you remember of the person who previously held the name Dimitri Alexander Blaiddyd is gone. This is all that remains. ”
Claude quickly grabbed arheadbar and used it to pry Dimitri off of him. Even with the drugs Dimitri was still an incredible force.
Claude wasn’t disappointed though. He saw his glimmer of hope.
“Your highness I think I just saw a way into your rehabilitation” Claude bowed almost sarcastically.
He quickly grabbed the steel clamps that previously held Dimitris feet then closed and locked the door behind him.
He was almost giddy his heart was racing.
“I’ll be back tomorrow your kingliness!”
“Claude- do NOT get in my way!” Dimitris voice boomed through the dungeon hall “I will not hesitate to kill you and everyone else here if it means I can have her head!”
But Dimitris threats were falling on deaf ears. Claude was already gone.
He was going to get through to Dimitri- he saw a crack in his armor and he was going to do everything in his power to exploit it.
