Hello, Goodbye

The Flip of a Switch

Beware! This chapter is going to be longer than the others.

The next several weeks were nothing short of chaotic. The only time Dimitri and I really spent together was of an afternoon when we would have tea in his room. Longing looks were shared, and kisses here and there but that was about it. That's all we really had time for. Also, I got the nagging feeling that something was always on his mind. I was told that he was in possession of a dagger that the Flame Emperor dropped and that he had slowly begun to change after. All his classmates had noticed it and eventually so did I. They had cornered the one responsible for Jeralt's murder in a forest just outside of the monastery. She was gone now but more questions lurked in the air concerning Tomas and possibly others within the monastery that was working for the enemy. I hadn't been approached by Edelgard any more but I would find her staring at me on several different occasions. Today there was supposed to be a big ritual taking place in the Holy Tomb. Professor Byleth had asked me to come. I was surprised but I agreed. 

So many things were changing... including myself. I had become increasingly tired. Probably because of stress. I had been feeling as if I was being stretched out too thin. Claude had convinced me to go visit Professor Manuela, before the ritual  to make sure there wasn't any deficiencies of any sort. He had even offered to go with me. Which I highly appreciated. A steady knocking on my door got my attention as I finished putting up my hair. I walked over and opened it to be greeted by a smiling tan man. "Ready to go?" I nodded and closed my door. We walked down the hall and I felt nervous for some reason. "Thank you so much for coming with me Claude. I appreciate it." A smile graced his face and he patted me on the shoulder. "It's no problem really. You are my best friend after all. Have you told Dimitri how you've been feeling?" I shook my head as he opened the door to the second floor where the teachers reside. "I know you don't want to worry him Thalia but you probably should have told him. He cares a lot about you." I sighed as we opened the door to the infirmary. "Yes Claude. I am well aware of that. He's had so much on his plate though. I really don't feel comfortable with adding more to that." 

Just as Claude was about to protest a sing song voice filled our ears. "Hello. How can I help you two today." All of a sudden I couldn't talk. It was as if my mouth was full of cotton. Luckily Claude saved me. "Thalia hasn't been feeling well lately. So I advised that she come see you." Manuela looked me over before motioning for me to sit down. "Claude I'm going to ask you to step out for a moment, Okay?" He nodded and walked out of the room. "So, Thalia. How long has this been going on?"  She grabbed my wrist and checked my pulse. "For the last couple weeks or so. I keep telling Claude it's just from stress but he won't listen to me." She motioned for me to sit down and held her hands over me. A white light emitted from them and she ran them over my body. She stopped on my stomach and then looked at me. "Thalia dear. You're not sick. You're not tired from stress. You're pregnant." 

I looked at her completely speechless. I thought back to the night of the ball. That was...eight weeks ago. Dimitri never...."Oh shit." I said it out loud causing Manuela to chuckle. I looked at her in horror. How did I not notice this before! "This isn't funny Professor Manuela!" Claude must have heard me because he came running into the room. "What's wrong?" Manuela laughed even harder and I just looked at the floor. "Thalia what's wrong?" I stood up from the bed and walked out of the room. Then I ran. I was supposed to meet Dimitri and the others a long time ago. I knew this was a bad idea. I ran down the stairs and into the Holy Tomb. I was braced with a sight that I had prayed wouldn't happen. There stood the Flame Emperor and people from the Adrestian Empire.  I used the various pillars as cover as I made my way to Dimitri. "Dimitri!" he turned to me with surprise in his eyes. "Thalia! I was worried. Where have you been?" I grabbed a lance from one of the fallen soldiers and swung it at a mage, slicing him across the chest. "Sorry. I got caught up with Professor Manuela."