Work Text:
How could I have slept for five years? Is everyone okay?
Byleth had pushed through her fatigue to hurry towards the now abandoned Garreg Mach Monastery- a place she had grown to care for thanks in part to her students. Though her body ached and her muscles cried in pain, she carried on. On this day, they were supposed to all meet up once again to reconnect, but the tides of war had shifted everyone's plans.
Did they still remember their promise? Are they still… No. They have to be alive. You trained them well enough.
The once-proud Monastery now was nothing but ruins. The walls had started falling apart, the stained-glass windows were shattered, remnants of glass painting the floor. Thieves infested the site, looking for any semblance of goods they could find to steal. Fodlan had suffered in her absence. The people were suffering.
One-by-one, Byleth was reunited with her students- her Blue Lions. In the last five years, they had all grown so much. Though the world had been cruel to them, they had persisted and grown into fine young adults.
Taking a head count of her former students(something she had picked up during her stint as a professor), she counted one less student than normal. Byleth blinked, frowned, then counted again. It became apparent who was missing.
Marianne.
The girl from the Alliance had surprised her years back when she had asked to transfer to the Blue Lions. Marianne was always a quiet student, preferring to keep to herself most of the time. Byleth paid extra attention to her on occasion, not out of pity, but out of concern. Marianne rarely smiled, instead keeping a solemn appearance. Dark circles under her eyes highlighted the girl's struggles with sleep. She never was late to class and never would sleep during class, but she would always retreat to her dorm room early into the evening. A severe habit of apologizing for her existence or for taking up space raised eyebrows. It was obvious to Byleth that Marianne was holding serious burdens she never would open up about to anyone. Byleth tried to get her to open up, but she never pushed. Marianne kept others away, keeping them at arm's length.
When she transferred, a few of the Lions had been kind to her to ease the transition. Perhaps they knew more about what had happened to her during the war.
Ashe had mentioned that Marianne returned home to the Alliance territory when the war started. Mercedes and Annette agreed and admitted that they didn't know anything further.
If she's back in the Alliance, I hope she's safe.
It gave Byleth an uneasy feeling to think of anything other than the girl's safety. Marianne was always so kind, yet so hard on herself. She cared about everyone so deeply.
She deserves to be sheltered from war.
Byleth made one final survey of the Monastery that night, checking for any missed security risks. As she made her way to the Cathedral, she secretly hoped to see the blue haired mage again, praying to the goddess like she always would. Instead, she was met with nothing but rubble and ruin.
The next morning, Byleth was preparing to meet with Seteth and the former Knights of Seiros to strategize. On the way to the Cathedral, Byleth heard footprints quickly approaching. She turned to see a knight calling out to her.
“Professor! A visitor just arrived. An ally. They wish to see you.” The knight said.
“An ally? Who?” Byleth asked.
“The daughter of Margrave Edmund from the Alliance.”
Byleth paused for a moment as she connected the dots to understand who her visitor was. “Where is she?”
“The stables, Professor.”
“Thank you for the message.” Byleth spared no time in changing course to go to see her visitor.
Seteth can wait a little longer.
Byleth found herself walking faster than she even meant to. Arriving in front of the stable, she stopped.
A young woman in a long blue dress, with blue hair pinned back neatly into a bun stood next to a horse.
“Professor? It's really you.” A soft voice spoke up.
Byleth was frozen in place as Marianne began walking towards her.
“I'm so glad to see you're okay, Professor.”
Marianne paused. “I apologize for being late to the reunion, it took longer than I thought it would to reach Garreg Mach.”
No longer did she wear a pained expression on her face. No dark circles or tears under her eyes. Instead, a gentle smile was planted on her face. No longer the shy teenager she once was, an elegant young woman stood before her now. Warm brown eyes met her own green eyes.
Under the warm gaze, Byleth lost her focus. Her stomach felt strange, and her face burned hot. She didn't understand these strange feelings, but she did know one thing for sure.
She's beautiful.
“M-Marianne. I'm glad you're okay as well.” Byleth finally spit out a response, breaking away from her gaze. “I have to admit that I was worried.”
Marianne let out a soft chuckle, “We were the ones worried about you after you disappeared. I prayed to the goddess that you would be okay. It seems my prayers have been answered.”
Byleth felt her stomach twist into another knot.
“You haven't changed, Professor. It's so nice to see you again.” Marianne smiled earnestly.
“It's nice to see you again, as well. You've grown much these past few years. I can see how much happier you are.” Byleth admitted.
Marianne blinked, then looked back towards the ground for a moment, her own face turning pink. “I am trying to be better than I was. I want to see this world become better someday, as well. I want to see the end of the war. I will stay here and fight by your side.”
“Thank you.” Byleth was surprised, but wouldn't complain about her former student staying.
She said her goodbyes and before she left the stables behind, she took another look at the blue haired young woman.
We'll see the end of this war, Marianne, I promise.