Emerald Rain

Preparing for Fort Merceus:

Mercedes:

Roughly a week had passed since the last strategy meeting, everyone had begun to prepare for Fort Merceus although it hadn't been mentioned yet, Mercedes had a feeling this was the last time they would be at the monastery for a while.

There were three ways that it could play out, either they come back with the Emperor besides them, Dimitri carrying back her head on a pike, or... They don't come back at all.

If she were being honest that seemed the most probable given the circumstances but Mercedes believed that what they were doing was right and just, and good always prevails...

Right?

No, now wasn't the time to let in this doubt, Mercedes sighed and quickly got out of bed. There was supposed to be a meeting today? Right? she wondered as she got dressed.

Mercedes looked at the necklace on her desk and sighed, how did the Hero's Relic even fall into Emile's hands? Their Mother had never mentioned it once before, but then again, it's not like she really cared about that stuff, and truth be told neither did Mercedes.

But she had to admit there was something enchanting about it. It wasn't quite like the other Relics that her friend had, the only other people who didn't have weapons per say were Felix and Lorenz, although she sort of did count the staff as a weapon since it helped him wield magic more efficiently. Mercedes grabbed the necklace from her desk and fastened it around her neck then tucked it underneath her dress.

Now she was ready for the meeting, she just hoped that she wasn't late this time. Normally Annie would wake her up for the meeting but lately she seemed distracted, something about a riddle of some sort? Mercedes made a mental note to ask her for more information about it later.

The walk to the Cardinal's room wasn't too long but it was awfully quiet, she saw Ashe up ahead of her but he seemed deep in his conversation with Marianne, Mercedes had a theory about the two of them and wanted to observe it from a distance, so she didn't intrude.

Once in the Cardinal's room Mercedes took a seat, the majority of the people who come to these meetings were here, minus the exception of a few, but she was certain they were just late, She looked around the table on the other side of her Byleth and Felix were engrossed in a conversation about Levin swords, "Swords and magic should be kept separately" Felix declared.

Byleth rolled her eyes at him, "Felix, you are a mortal savant" she stated "You of all people should understand the blend of it" she sighed.

Felix shook his head, "That's not the same thing, that's two things together, yes but, they aren't combined at the same time" he said sternly.

Byleth groaned, and Mercedes giggled at their enthusiasm on the matter. Nearby them she saw Dimitri glancing over at them with a small smile on his face.

How sweet.

Soon Gilbert arrived and the meeting began, "We will soon be setting out for Fort Merceus" Gilbert began "Begin preparations after this meeting, we will be departing from the monastery tomorrow" he said and paused for a moment "It has also been decided that we will not be returning to the monastery for some time" he added, Mercedes had figured as much, it was met with opposition but untimely it made sense for them to continue onward and just set up camp.

"There is other news" Dimitri called out, the murmurs began to cease "We have received a report on Fort Merceus" he began "The one that is commanding the troops at Fort Merceus is someone that we have crossed blades with multiple times" he said. Mercedes's blood ran cold; she knew who it was before he even declared it. "It is the Death Knight who awaits us there" Dimitri said.