Marianne and the Forbidden Codex: A Fire Emblem Three Houses story

Confrontation

The next day, the forces of the Alliance and the Empire advanced with the greatest haste. The expectation was killing them. The young combatants were on their way again on their carriages. Leonard and Marianne sat together again. She felt an irrepressible desire to take the boy's hand but knew she couldn't in front of everyone. Leonard talked to her about different things, most of them of no great importance.

He told her about poisonous plants and mushrooms or mountain animals. She reacted with a smile to the strange and funny descriptions he had made. For the rest of those present, the couple's attitude was almost contradictory, thinking about the situation in which they were. For Leonard, talking about all the stupid things he could think of was the best way to avoid thinking about what had barely let him sleep the night before.

In front of them was again Lysithea, who was reading the last of the books she had brought. The boy's voice wouldn't let her read; she looked at him stealthily. She felt that her attitude was too obvious and got the book closer to cover the blush on her face. Ignatz asked why he was reading so closely, but she didn't answer.

Suddenly, Leonie felt the earth shake subtly. She lifted her head from the chariot and shouted, "The enemy has arrived!". Claude, who trusted his companions, told everyone to get down immediately—the time had come. As they descended from the moving cart, arrows began to rain down on the coaches, piercing the flimsy canvas that covered them.

The nervous reaction was evident to everyone, despite being sure what would happen. Observing the situation, Leonard could see where the attack was coming from in the distance. It was an army. One I hadn't noticed. The troops, all dressed in blue, were steadily approaching them.

"This is serious!" Claude yelled. "Our enemy has arrived! Divide all units into squads of ten fighters; we can't let our army be affected by another coordinated attack! After the skirmish, everyone gathers together just like we said!"

Leonard considered such a brilliant idea. The flexibility of that boy showed his talent as a strategist. He watched as Edelgard followed the strategy in unison. Despite being enemies, if anyone could be trusted to lead an army other than Byleth, it was Claude.

They all proceeded with speed. The warriors also divided up to accompany the crews. Edelgard and Claude were left together in a central position. Leonard offered to examine the area from which the attack came. He started to run, but someone stopped him by the arm. It was Marianne.

"Let me go with you."

"You cannot!" Leonard exclaimed.

"I will do that anyway!" she said, with an expression of anger that he had never seen on her. "I swear I won't get in the way!"

"Come on, then," Leonard took the girl's hand, amazed at her courage.

They all watched as the couple stepped forward. Claude ordered his companions to fall into formation: Leonie would follow the couple, clearing the way on horseback. Raphael and Holst would follow close behind. Lorenz and Ignatz would attack with magic and the bow, respectively, from a distance. Lastly, Lysithea would wipe out the most significant enemies that appeared with her black magic.

Edelgard, for her part, ordered Ferdinand to second Leonie, Dorothea to accompany the other wizards, Petra to pair up with Holst, and Bernadetta to accompany Ignatz. Finally, Hubert would stay to protect her and Claude with his magic.

Marianne and Leonard, meanwhile, advanced to meet the army. Soldiers with the Blue Lion banner and monks from the Church of the East Monastery were there. They were able to recognize that an older man was leading them. It was nothing more and nothing less than the Bishop of the Church: Cornelius II.