Honorary Golden Deer

Deluded Victory

Linhardt felt like he was in a daze after Edelgard's body was moved. He barely felt the sudden coldness when Byleth was forced away to help bring order to the now chaotic questions of 'what would now be done?' He stood just inches away from where the Empress's body had been, staring up at the throne wistfully. It felt like an eternity since he had last taken his place at Edelgard's feet, speculating what her last words to him would be before she took his life. To think it would end up this way- with Linhardt's heart still beating strongly- it was a relief. He couldn't help but think how things would have played out had they failed. Linhardt grimaced, a country under siege for all time, afraid to speak out against their Empress of absoluteness. That was not the freedom that Linhardt knew Edelgard was fighting for, but the inevitable outcome her choices had borne.

Linhardt was unconscious of the movements around him. He didn't shrug off the hand that fell to his arm, barely protesting as the individual who touched him, guided him slowly away from the throne. Whoever it was, was speaking gently to him, trying to coax him out of his mind-numbing stupor. Linhardt didn't return to the world around him until he was seated and gently being shaken by his shoulders. He fluttered his eyes and let his pupils dilate as he focused on the blue-haired man who was sighing in relief.

"It's okay, he's okay." Caspar turned to whoever was being shadowed by the man's bulky frame. Linhardt slowly peeked around him and found Mercedes with her fingers nervously near her mouth. When their eyes met the priest smiled brightly in relief and Linhardt looked back at his friend.

"Wha-" He put his hand to his throat at the croakiness of his voice and cleared his airways. "What happened?"

"We all left the palace and no one could find you," Caspar replied and scoffed, shaking his head as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Mercedes found you in the throne room staring blankly. You've been in there for hours."

"Hours?" Linhardt furrowed his brow. "It's only been a few minutes."

"We're about to head back to the monastery," Caspar told him as Mercedes moved forwards and gently placed the back of her hand against Linhardt's forehead.

"You were blissfully unaware of everything that's happened recently." She removed her hand and looked at him thoughtfully. "You must have been very deep in your memories."

"What have I missed?" Linhardt stood and groomed himself as Caspar and Mercedes filled him in.

Dimitri, Claude and Byleth, along with the reassuring presence of Ferdinand and Caspar, announced their intentions to the people of Enbarr, and the start of establishing peace. Most were pleased that the war was ending, looking forward to having their husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, returning home. Others were still hostile towards Dimitri's potential leadership, which they had all expected. No one was optimistic of a one-hundred percent contribution, despite the energy they conveyed as they marched to battle.

Ferdinand, Caspar, along with Bernadetta, and Dorothea- who was so pleased to see her friends again, and was easily swayed to give peace a chance- would be staying in Enbarr to help their people return to some form of normalcy before the inevitable politics would take over. Mercedes also noted that Hubert would be coming with them back to the monastery after another round of questioning was left with silent answers from the dark mage.

It seemed Linhardt had missed some important declarations in his trance of lost time. He followed them back to where the army was resting after their long gruelling battle. Some were still extremely wary, eyes flickering in every direction to ensure they were ready for a surprise attack, that Linhardt was sure, would never come.

When he caught sight of Byleth tending to a soldier's wound, he thanked Caspar and Mercedes for their help before heading towards his beloved. Byleth seemed to hear him coming and rose to greet him. Linhardt leaned his chin on the professor's shoulder as he was pulled into the man's embrace. The warlock let out a tired but content sigh as he closed his eyes, allowing Byleth his full trust despite the immediate hesitancy of the structure of the three countries, and let a small smile grace his lips.