2A Companionship Worth an Opera Play
Chapter 1: War Years 1-2
A/N: The world needs more Edelgard/Dorothea, considering they have an interesting relationship! Spoilers for Edelgard's backstory and her supports with Dorothea.
In the first year of the war Dorothea felt like she couldn't take it.
The former singer, and now former student of the Officer's Academy, sat in her room of the monastery alone to break down in private. Tears blurred her vision and stung her bloodshot eyes. A few scars adorned her face from the previous battle. Dry blood (was it hers or someone else's?) stained her clothing and some of her wavy locks. She didn't want to bother the other Eagles nor decrease morale in the Empire army. Seeing them would only dampen her spirit and remind her of what she has signed herself up to.
Why did she sign up?
What a silly question; she knew why. Supporting Edelgard's mission to rid the nobility and Crests was a noble goal that Dorothea truly respected. But… to kill so many people, persons with wives, husbands and/or children, to achieve this goal… It did not sit right with her.
Then again she is Dorothea, a useless girl who never aspired to much…
There was a knock. Startled she used a sleeve to wipe her tears and slim down her clothes to try to look the closest to being presentable in her condition.
"Dorothea? May I… may I come in?"
That voice: Edelgard? Dorothea spluttered at how unexpected the presence of the emperor was. She had expected that workaholic Edie would be busy with strategizing for the next battle or checking on her soldiers to see how they faired. Was it still appropriate to refer to her as 'Edie' when she is now emperor? Dorothea shook her head to rid such petty thoughts. When she heard that Edelgard would be entering the brunet gulped and used a sleeve to try and rub off the dry blood on her head. Dear Goddess she looked absolutely dreadful…
Upon entering Dorothea felt those intense lilac eyes soften towards her. With incomprehensible shame she refused to make eye contact with Edelgard, disregarding any etiquette regarding the white haired woman's position. Her eyes stared at the floor, where some remaining tears fell to the ground. Some weight was felt crumpling the bed beside her, yet she still refused to look up. Something red came into her line of sight: a gloved hand. With the gentleness one would never expect from a usually solemn woman Dorothea's chin was cupped so she could look into Edelgard's lilac eyes. In an instance Dorothea shut her eyes.
"Dorothea… you have been crying…" Edelgard uttered sullenly and quietly. Dorothea could feel the emperor's eyes raking across her features.
Dorothea felt the emperor thumb the dry bloodied patches on her head to clean it off with such tenderness. She then felt the thumb wipe her tears against her cheeks. The taller girl could not help but whimper against such a warm and welcoming touch, after feeling the cold contact of metal against her person. Self-consciously she leaned into the touch. Edelgard was gently pushing her to open her eyes and look at her. Mustering the courage Dorothea opened her forest green eyes to look into those lilac eyes.
Lilac eyes softened solicitously; there was no shred of disgust in them. Nothing about Edelgard's expression displayed displeasure or disappointment towards Dorothea. Something about the emperor's look made Dorothea feel comfortable enough to confide in her. In any other situation she would have jested about Edelgard caressing her cheek. Now though she needed it. With a sniffle she began.
"It… It's horrible… all this fighting and death… I don't know if I can take it!"
Edelgard hummed in understanding. "I am used to killing, yet you are not," she said in that knowing, yet never condescending, voice of hers. "I never wanted for you to become entangled in my war."
In that moment Dorothea broke.
She let out an agonised cry and leaned her head into the emperor's shoulder. Without word she sobbed against Edelgard's shoulder cap and clung to the smaller woman's person. A flinch from the white haired woman indicated to Dorothea that Edelgard was still uncomfortable with touch. Yet for the woman to not recoil or shove her brought… utmost relief to Dorothea. Although awkward and stiff as Edelgard returning the embrace was Dorothea truly appreciated and welcomed it.
After some time the two broke away from the embrace. Dorothea could not smile, yet she hoped that her shimmering eyes would hint to Edelgard that she was truly grateful. Lilac eyes furrowed lightly when they took notice of Dorothea's dark circles; such an expression usually would have made Dorothea giggle. Even as emperor the two were still friends.
"If it would help you sleep I could…" A blush encompassed the pale woman's cheeks as she grumbled in embarrassment.
How odd; Edelgard rarely was ever uncomfortable. What could she offer that made her look humiliated?
"…sleep with you…"
Did Dorothea just hear that correctly?
She blinked inquisitively at Edelgard to clarify if she had interpreted the emperor's question correctly. With that blush still encompassing her face and her eyes darting away for a second Dorothea's heart skipped a beat. Edelgard was serious. Now it was the former singer's turn to blush (although her blush was pink and small). Yet her humiliation instantly diminished when she felt the crushing memories of those she killed recently plague her mind. For the past few days she did not receive any sleep. Having some companion sleep by her could… it could make her feel better… To feel a warm presence of a friend would remind her what she is fighting for, and that one of her friends is alive.
With that declared she looked at Edelgard with flickering eyes. "Only if you are comfortable with that, Edelgard," she decreed honestly with a nod.
Edelgard let out a light smile. Seeing the emperor's face crease to express happiness always brought warmth to Dorothea.
"Come to my bed chamber; that way we will not be disturbed." Edelgard explained as she stood up and offered a hand for Dorothea to take.
If she were in a better mood Dorothea would have joked about how Edelgard sounded so scandalous and romantic. Instead the taller woman uttered a quiet 'thank you' and took the smaller woman's hand to stand up. Dorothea let out a ghost-of-a-smile when Edelgard looked outside to be sure no one was around to see the former singer's distressed state. Before leaving Dorothea picked out her sleepwear and slung it over her shoulder. The two exited the room and in no time, thanks to Edelgard's sense of orientation and know-how of short cuts, they reached the emperor's room. Once in Edelgard went into a corner to stare at the wall so to give Dorothea privacy in dressing. Somehow, although sullen, Dorothea managed to remark coyly 'such a lady', which rewarded her the sight of Edelgard's flushed ears. When Dorothea completed dressing in her sleepwear she swapped with Edelgard in the corner. Upon completion Dorothea turned to see that Edelgard had lifted the blanket to usher the former singer first.
They really were doing this.
Yet there was not a shred of reluctance as Dorothea moved to the bed to enter under the blanket and make herself comfortable. Soon after Edelgard carefully moved in to lie beside the taller woman. Her white hair, now free to cascade against her pale features, brushed against Dorothea's ears. The moment Edelgard entered she turned to have her back face Dorothea. Without delay Dorothea snuggled against Edelgard's back so to lay her head against the back of the neck. She kept her hands to herself, knowing well that the emperor was not used to hands snaking around her. Regardless pressed against her back Dorothea felt warmth radiate from Edelgard. Lavender filled her nostrils, a pleasant smell reminding her of simpler and tranquil times. Such times resurfaced such memories, and once more Dorothea felt like she was going to sob.
"Cry against me. Cry as much as you want, Dorothea…" Edelgard whispered encouragingly from her spot.
With that said Dorothea cried against Edelgard's back until the two fell sound asleep.
They turned it into a routine.
Shockingly it came as no surprise to Edelgard when Dorothea bashfully requested if she could sleep with her again. The emperor mentioned that she did not expect one sleep to ease Dorothea's traumatic memories and time in the military. It wasn't that Edelgard wasn't embarrassed; the blushing cheeks and ears told everything to Dorothea. As long as they kept it a secret then Edelgard would permit wholeheartedly.
So every night Dorothea would come to Edelgard's room to sleep with her. She would knock and call out her name. Edelgard would open the door, dressed in sleepwear, and allow her entrance. They never exchanged pleasantries; they just hopped in bed. The former singer would snuggle against the emperor's back and sob against her. Sometimes Edelgard would speak soothingly to her from her position. There was never a time when the emperor expressed belligerence whenever Dorothea requested to sleep with her. She always listened to whatever she had to say about the war in bed. It always unburdened Dorothea's soul knowing that she could be open about her experiences to someone.
It came as no surprise when Hubert one day confronted Dorothea and inquired about entering Edelgard's room at night. He stood with arms crossed, his yellow eyes ominous as ever as they stared intently into her own. Many would have cowered before him, yet Dorothea stood poised with a solemn frown. The woman was ready to explain her reasoning to the stubbornly loyal man and assure that no harm would fall upon his mistress. But she was ill-prepared for what he had to say.
"It would seem that you have been looking better after spending time with Lady Edelgard every night," Hubert mentioned with such nonchalance that Dorothea was dreading what to expect.
"Her Majesty too has been appearing in higher spirits. I can say with utmost confidence that you would not be able to strike her down."
Such a response made Dorothea shake her head and chuckle. That was Hubie's way of saying 'I approve of this', and for that she could not help but beam in jubilance. She was in such a mood that she even hugged the intimidating man and uttered her gratitude.
"You're not such a bad person, Hubie," Dorothea spoke into the hug with a mischievous smirk. Her smile then grew soft. "Thank you."
"Thank not me but Lady Edelgard," Hubert acknowledged when she pulled out of the hug. "She cares about you a tremendous amount."
Whilst there were some things Dorothea disagreed with regarding Edelgard she believed his words.
Overtime at the end of the year whenever Dorothea had her back to Edelgard she felt the emperor wrap her arms around her. Really 'wrap' was not the most accurate term: it was more flung and rest an arm upon her person. Although awkward as it may appear Dorothea, when being a sobbing miserable mess, appreciated the weight of the warm arm.
"I hope you don't mind," Edelgard whispered from behind the taller woman. Dorothea could sense her friend blush.
"Not at all," Dorothea answered as she looked over her shoulder.
There was something about those stern yet kind lilac eyes that made her feel safe. It was quite odd, for Dorothea has seen much gentler eyes with the men and women she has dated. Yet Edelgard's eyes felt truly… genuine. Whenever they gleamed Dorothea felt she saw Edelgard at her truest. There was nothing diabolical or hidden in them. They were quite a… beautiful feature of her.
"You can still call me 'Edie'," Edelgard uttered after some time. She looked away from Dorothea's green eyes. "I liked it when you called me by that name."
Although melancholy about what had occurred from the battlefield Edelgard's declaration made Dorothea giggle puerile. Awkwardly she raised her arm over to thumb the embarrassed emperor's nose. She didn't know why she committed to such an action. Yet seeing Edelgard blush and smile lightly eased the former songstress' soul. Such a sight brought a little smile to Dorothea.
"Very well then, Edie."
Into the second year of the war Edelgard has grown more stoic with her duties.
In order to achieve her goal she had to be austere and know when and how to take risks. Nothing must hold her back or waver her deeds. With these five Kingdom troops kneeled before her all she had to do was give the command and they would be executed. It was just her, Hubert by her side and these five tied down knights. There was no need for a public display; such a concept abhorred her. Finding amusement in the execution of someone brought a disgusting feeling even to someone so used to death as her.
She opened her mouth to issue the order-
"Edie stop!"
Edelgard halted and turn to the source of the caller. Dorothea was rushing up to stand between the kneeled soldiers and the emperor. Stunned Edelgard stared up at the woman with furrowed eyebrows and narrowed eyes demanding her to step aside. But the former songstress stood her ground as she glared accusingly towards her.
"Step aside Dorothea-"
"Are you insane!?" Dorothea abruptly cut off.
Without waiting for a reply Dorothea firmly grabbed a hold of Edelgard's wrist and dragged her away from the site. Edelgard sensed Hubert ready to come for her, so she turned to him with a look to assure him that she will be fine. Soon the white haired woman found herself in an unoccupied corridor of the monastery where Dorothea continued to eye her with astonishment and belligerence. It amazed Edelgard that Dorothea showed no shred of fear with her, even when the smaller woman appeared absolutely furious.
"You have some nerve interrupting me-"
"How could you think of executing them!?" Dorothea demanded with fury in her eyes. "They've been defeated. Just spare their lives!"
"Spare their lives!?" Edelgard fumed, eyeing the older woman as if she had lost her mind. "They could be a threat to the Empire if I let them off!"
"Do you remember when you wondered how you'll be remembered in history in an opera play?"
Edelgard's expression softened lightly in puzzlement. Where was Dorothea going with this? What did some silly opera play have to do with her position as emperor?
"You said you'd be either remembered as the leader that liberated the Empire or the foolish leader that took her revolution too far," Dorothea continued with her trenchant glare increasingly cutting through Edelgard's cantankerous mood.
"At this stage you'll be remembered as the monster that took her vision too far."
All semblance of Edelgard's anger vanquished.
She stood still with her expression softened in mortification upon hearing Dorothea's words. Her entire posture loosened as the former songstress' words penetrated her mind and pestered her to no end. As she contemplated the meaning her mouth fell agape in disbelief and horror regarding her actions. She had planned to execute those soldiers without hesitation… She had planned to mercilessly cut down all that came before her…
She was becoming a monster.
With that sudden realization Edelgard felt faint. For a second she thought she would throw up or collapse from a new dizzy sensation that consumed her. As a result of her nausea she leaned back against a wall to steady herself. She brought a hand to her head to clutch it in incredulous terror. This is not what she wanted to become. At the rate and course she was going she would become the very thing she feared and despised the most.
"What am I becoming…?" Edelgard whispered to herself as a reflection upon herself.
Something warm penetrated her arm. Blinking to brush aside her pessimistic thoughts she noticed that Dorothea had laid her hand against her arm. No longer did the former songstress appear enraged. Instead a soft expression of pity and concern etched itself upon her features. Green and lilac locked in an intense emotional resonance. Such kindness in Dorothea's eyes always made Edelgard wonder why she was blessed with witnessing such warmth from someone. She did not deserve this. Yet Dorothea was here by her.
"Please don't go down a path of an obsessive ruler that ruined Fódlan," Dorothea uttered soothingly to her. She brushed her fingers against Edelgard's arm. "You are much better than that."
Edelgard gave a nod and let out a sombre sigh. To hear such words from others would have made her bark at how false it sounded. But to hear from Dorothea, and know that she truly believed it, warmed Edelgard's heart that she believed had grown cold.
"Thank you Dorothea," Edelgard spoke wholeheartedly with a tiny sad smile of gratitude etched on her face. Her expression grew solemn. "If you see me doing anything like that… then I want you to step in and stop me."
Dorothea smiled with sheer relief and rapturous pride in Edelgard. Seeing the taller woman's eyes light up made the emperor's heart skip a beat. "You can count on me, Edie."
This time a genuine smile graced Edelgard's face as she stared softly at Dorothea. "I know I always can."
The second year was coming to an end.
In the infirmary bay Manuela, Dorothea, and any other person familiarised in healing magic attended to the needs of injured and maimed soldiers. Looking over her shoulder Dorothea noticed Edelgard kneeling beside a bloodied Bernadetta to whisper soothingly to her and clean the blood with a cloth. Although horrific as the scenery she was a part of Dorothea could not help but soften and let out a light smile upon seeing Edelgard attending to Bernadetta. Beneath that stoic appearance there truly was a kind soul in Edelgard. It made her remember when Linhardt had whined to the group how Edelgard was basically the mother of the Black Eagles. That memory made her giggle.
Manuela told her that she could handle the rest of the troops, and that she recommended that she go and sleep for the night. Dorothea was happy to continue helping… yet a selfish side of her wanted to bolt out. The smell of blood and the moaning made her want to gag and break into a sob. Not matter how often she worked here she would never get used to the sight of harmed or dying soldiers.
So she left the infirmary. No soon after she left Edelgard finished checking on the soldiers and boosting morale. When the emperor noticed her she smiled one of those rare genuine smiles and approached her.
"Quite the mother hen aren't we?" Dorothea jested with a grin.
Edelgard huffed a laugh and shook her head. "So I have been told countless times by Linhardt."
Dorothea halted her giggling when she paid attention to Edelgard's face. To a person not familiar with her they would not notice that Edelgard appeared pallor. Her eyes also seemed strained, as if she were exhausted. A bit of perspiration could be seen against her forehead. It almost appeared as if the emperor was sick. A frown of solicitous concern found itself on Dorothea's face.
"Are you feeling well-"
Edelgard let out a grunt. It was barely audible through her gritted teeth. Dorothea then noticed that on reflex the smaller woman clutched her left side. Instantly Dorothea came to support the emperor to stand up from her bent position. Something red started to stain through Edelgard's crimson attire. Blood.
"You're injured! We need to get you treated immediately-"
"No!" Edelgard spoke, whining when she felt that she stood up too quickly. She fell into Dorothea's arms. "There is no need to further burden Manuela!"
"Then I'll treat you!" Dorothea insisted with no room for debate. "I'll take you to your room!"
Edelgard tried to weakly shove Dorothea aside, but the woman did not budge. "If you don't allow me to treat you then I'll undress you here and treat your injuries!"
That silenced the emperor. With much reluctance she allowed for Dorothea to shoulder her and take her to her room. Once in the room Dorothea gently laid Edelgard on her bed to sit and went to lock the door. Right after she then approached and gestured that she would be assisting Edelgard in taking off her clothes. Normally to hear Edelgard squirm like a petulant child refusing to eat their vegetables would have made Dorothea go into a hysteric fit. But now she was scolding the smaller woman for being silly as she helped take off her cloak and tunic.
When she finished Dorothea regarded Edelgard. Upon sight of the topless woman she let out a gasp of petrified flabbergast. Faded scars adorned Edelgard's torso, some appearing to be sword slices or punctured wounds from lances. There was a gash on her left side: the latest and bleeding wound. As her eyes raked the emperor's person she also noticed two strangely precise horizontal scars across Edelgard's wrists where the arteries were located. Throughout her scanning Edelgard refused to make eye contact. There was a look of utter humiliation and self-loathing. Dorothea has never ever seen Edelgard appear so… vulnerable.
"Oh Edie…" Dorothea breathed out hoarsely through her hand that covered her mouth.
Edelgard bit her lips and shook her head, mumbling how she did not want to be pitied. White eyebrows furrowed in revulsion, and lilac eyes narrowed in anger.
Dorothea lowered her hand and stared at the old scars with burning determination. "I-I know a spell that should cure faded scars!"
"Don't cure them!"
Dorothea halted and stared wide eyed in dubious wonder at Edelgard. The emperor had mustered the courage to look her in the eye. There was a resolute expression on her face. Dorothea's bewilderment then turned to confused dander towards Edelgard's intransigent attitude. Why in the Goddess' name would Edelgard not want her old wounds to be healed!?
"Are you an idiot, Edie!?" Dorothea demanded with fiery eyes and furrowed eyebrows. She tried to clamber to the smaller girl to treat those wounds. "Let me help you!"
Edelgard moved back until she was cornered against the headboard. It was such a silly sight, heightened only by her horned headpiece meant to make her look intimidating.
"These scars are reminders of my past failures. I cannot remove them, for that would mean I am running away from the past."
"What kind of nonsense is that!?" Dorothea admonished, ignoring the infuriated and offended look on Edelgard's face. "You'd insist on curing my old scars-and anyone else's in the Empire-in a heartbeat! What makes you different!?"
Edelgard shot up and glared darkly at the taller woman. "You have no idea what I've been through-"
She was silenced.
Edelgard recoiled when she felt a hand slap her right cheek. Stunned she rubbed it with her hand. Her cheek stung so intensely to mark how powerful the slap was. The nerve of-! Enraged and baffled she shot a malicious snarl toward Dorothea. Upon sight her expression completely diminished. Dorothea's eyes were teary and her cheeks puffy. Edelgard's posture loosened at the sight of her distressed friend-no, her best friend. She tried to open her mouth to say something, only for it to clamp when Dorothea quietly began to treat her gash with a healing spell. No words were spoken. Many times Edelgard tried to say something, only for some mysterious force to take the words out of her. Once done Dorothea stood up and eyed Edelgard with a sullen and disappointed expression. Edelgard felt small and useless with how Dorothea was regarding her.
Dorothea huffed and spat out, "I'm sorry I cared."
Edelgard's heart sank. She tried to reach out. "D-Dorothea wait-"
But Dorothea slammed the door and left. Now Edelgard was left alone to realize just how stupid she really was…
Dorothea hugged her knees atop her bed as she cried. She felt a mixture of emotions: rage, sadness and disgust all rolled in one. Just thinking about Edelgard made her sniffle and allow for more tears to run down her cheeks. Who does she think she is? What did she accomplish by acting all high and mighty? Dorothea expected better from Edelgard. Perhaps she placed too much trust and respect in her…
There was a knock on her door. She instantly knew who it was. She kept quiet. Edelgard could beg and plead all she wanted; she was not going to give her the luxury of an apology.
"I came to apologise for my irrational behaviour from before," Edelgard spoke from behind the door. Her voice sounded strained and sombre.
"Yeah you were being irrational, and senseless too," Dorothea shot back defensively. "Just leave me alone."
"I… I wish for you to cure my old scars."
"Oh? What made you change your mind; hoping to get on my good side?" Dorothea sneered, knowing full well what the emperor's intentions were.
"Please… may I enter and explain my reasoning? I want to be honest with you…"
Now that perplexed Dorothea. What did Edelgard meant about being honest? It sounded like this extended beyond faded wounds. Although furious and depressed as Dorothea was she knew that Edelgard would not leave her alone. With a sigh of defeat she went over to unlock her door. Once unlocked she saw Edelgard in her sleepwear bashfully look at her with shame present in her eyes. Without a word Dorothea gestured that Edelgard could enter, and she then went to sit on her bed. Edelgard went over to a corner to take off her sleepwear to expose her scars once again. Afterwards she moved to sit beside Dorothea, whom distanced herself and refused to look at her.
"You are right that I was acting extremely foolish," Edelgard began. Dorothea knew that the emperor was not good with expressing her feelings so she was patient.
"Having old scars will not achieve anything nor will it make me magically forget my past, although tempting as that may be," the smaller woman continued. "Hence for I to move forward it would be best to rid these scars."
Dorothea glanced over her shoulder and noticed how Edelgard lifted her wrists to show the peculiar scars. On closer inspection they looked like surgical cuts. Ever so slightly Dorothea's expression softened when she noticed how Edelgard appeared extremely uncomfortable about sharing these scars.
"But I kindly ask that you leave these scars as they are," Edelgard quietly insisted, although there was no vigour in her words.
"You mean a lot to me Dorothea, and I truly cherish having you as my best friend." Hearing those words surprised Dorothea. She turned to face Edelgard. "Hence you have every right to know why I am the way I am."
Now Dorothea could not help but be extremely curious. Edelgard is a person shrouded in mystery, one whom never spoke about her upbringing. There was some tinge of incomprehensible remorse etched in Edelgard's words. Whatever she had to tell it was something that weighed her soul.
"If you wish for me to, I would like to share my past with you…" Edelgard spoke, alluding to giving Dorothea the opportunity not to listen if it frightened her.
Dorothea just nodded. With a shaky breath Edelgard began her tale. It startled Dorothea to learn that Edelgard had ten siblings before. She had just assumed that Edelgard was an only child. As Edelgard continued though Dorothea's fascination turned to mortified horror of the likes she never felt. Edelgard spoke about the experimentations conducted on her and her siblings to wield another crest. In painstaking detail Edelgard spoke about how she witnessed her siblings die or be put down because of madness. All throughout Edelgard shivered uncontrollably, and her eyes flickered as if holding back tears. Sometimes she flinched in recollection. Without realizing it Dorothea laid her hand against Edelgard's to squeeze it as a way to comfort her.
For the first time since knowing her Dorothea saw Edelgard cry.
The emperor broke into a quiet sob. Dorothea forgot at that instance why she was furious with Edelgard. She brought the smaller woman into a tight hug and allowed for her to cry against her shoulder. With a hand she cautiously ran her fingers against Edelgard's scalp as she continued to listen.
"I am the only one left alive… I don't want anyone else to suffer because of Crests and rank anymore…"
"Yet here I am acting childish over faded scars. Most damning of all is that I hurt you, Dorothea," Edelgard hic-coughed miserably. Awkwardly she returned the hug. "I am truly sorry; I never ever wanted to hurt you…!"
Forest green eyes softened at those words. There was a real genuineness to Edelgard that Dorothea has never seen from others. The former songstress felt privileged that her best friend shared her this personal story. On top of that she felt pleased that Edelgard truly was apologetic and despondent about her actions. No one has ever apologised to her with such honesty and willingness to be humiliated. Such thoughts made Dorothea shake her head to rid them. Why was she thinking about Edelgard like that? The only time she ever contemplated such matters was with her dates and lovers-
Carefully she retracted from the hug and offered a light smile to Edelgard. "I'll only forgive you if you allow me to heal those faded scars of yours this instance."
Edelgard smiled through her teary face and gave a deep nod in gratitude. With a few muttered words and hand gestures (and Edelgard had to turn for her back) Dorothea cured every faded wound. All that was left were the two on Edelgard's wrists. Once done Edelgard uttered 'thank you'. Dorothea tapped the emperor's shoulder and beamed proudly at her. Lilac eyes gleamed with such gratitude that it melted Dorothea and made her heart skip a beat.
"Not that I don't like admiring your gorgeous body but you best to dress back up in your sleepwear and go get some sleep," Dorothea jested with a wink.
A splutter escaped Edelgard and a brilliant crimson flushed across her face, neck and stomach. Such a sight made Dorothea grin triumphantly, knowing that she was the only one to elicit such a reaction from the so-called stolid Edelgard. Besides it appeared that her comment lightened the claustrophobic and crushing atmosphere. Edelgard stood up to place her sleepwear back on (Dorothea whined in dismay which made the smaller girl flush darker, much to the delight of the former songstress) and turned to Dorothea. On the spot Edelgard looked at the floor and bashfully twiddled her thumbs. Dorothea grew serious when she noticed how saturnine Edelgard still appeared.
"May I sleep with you for tonight?" Edelgard meekly inquired with her eyes still trained on the floor. "I… I don't think I can sleep on my own without having nightmares."
Dorothea nodded. It was now her turn to soothe Edelgard. The taller woman told her friend to turn around so she could dress in her sleepwear. Once dressed she slipped into the blanket and told Edelgard to join her. Edelgard took off her headpiece, placed it on a table nearby, and quietly approached to slip beside Dorothea. For the first time the two were facing each other in bed. The former songstress then wrapped her arms around the smaller woman to cuddle. Edelgard hummed contently and brought an arm around Dorothea's shoulder. Nervously Edelgard leaned her head against the crook of the neck. Lavender once more penetrated Dorothea's nostrils, which made her sigh in content. For Edelgard this felt… strangely comforting and pleasant. Hearing her friend's heartbeat and feeling those arms gently encompass her body made her feel safe.
"I don't deserve such kindness…" Edelgard whispered against Dorothea's neck.
"And I don't deserve a friend like you…" Dorothea retorted back. "Yet here we are."
"We make for quite an odd two," Edelgard added with a faint smile. She snuggled her head closer and deeper against Dorothea. "Thank you Dorothea…"
"You've done this with me many times… I should be thanking you…"
Soon the two fell into a deep slumber. For the first time in years Edelgard felt truly safe and loved.
