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Imperial Year 1185 ➳ Flayn
(Derdriu fell and the burgeoning league of nobles known as the Leicester Alliance was disbanded. Annexation by the Empire had gone... surprisingly smooth, almost as if it was meant to happen. Of course, it didn't go without some problems. People are complicated, especially when morals and loyalties are involved.
Ordelia and Gloucester were the first to give in and together, the two houses led much of the transition. House Riegan was no more and Edmund easily conceded once they realized there was no point in fighting. All that remained was Goneril which had long been the strength of the Alliance. Holst Goneril was no fool. Even he could see that he was against all odds and he would have to give in. They knew this at their last Roundtable meeting, when Claude had gathered them all together for their final meeting and explained their options.
This isn't the Alliance's war. If Derdriu falls, they give in to the Empire. Resisting would destroy their lands, lead to suffering, and despair. They'd done well for five years, protecting their neutrality. They'd held their own for so long that their territories had become sanctuaries for those fleeing the war's destruction. He'd thanked Goneril for protecting their borders and Edmund for helping with the financial burden of taking in so many refugees. He'd thanked Ordelia for helping them save as many people as they could and he'd even thanked Gloucester for all of his support balancing these extra responsibilities.
Wouldn't it be a shame if all of their efforts went to waste because of something like pride? As nobles, their duties were to the people. Protect them. Evacuate Derdriu, prepare for battle, lure the Empire in deeply to avoid widespread casualty and destruction and if that isn't enough... If Derdriu falls... protect the people. Surrender. As the Alliance's leader, he would either die in battle or step down and in turn, the duty would fall on Gloucester to lead the others through what happened next.
But the empire had killed his sister. They'd killed Hilda. And Holst wasn't going to let that go easily. Gloucester and the other nobles had tried to reason with him and little by little, he'd begun to relent.
This was fine. The Empire didn't have to worry about Goneril who would inevitably give in. Edelgard wasn't a cruel Emperor nor was Byleth Eisner. They would led the Duke grieve. His lands were the furthest from the Empire and would take time to assimilate anyway. In the meantime, they would move on to crushing the Church and the Kingdom.)
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But Claude doesn't seem to have actually caught fire, and neither does Nader, and she watches and listens with interest as Tiana explains who he and the others who are jumping with them are.]
I see... [It's no small wonder, then, that Claude and Nader seem so close; war is terrible, but it can bring people together when they fight on the same side. It's an intense form of camaraderie, but camaraderie nonetheless.] He is quite—
[Impressive, she's about to say.
But then there's that roar, and the man who bursts from the flames is even more impressive. She watches with wide eyes after he leaps and scatters the fire for the children, relaxes when Nader arranges for the bonfire to be broken up for the other groups, and then her breath catches when he throws an arm around Cladue's shoulders and guides him over.
Their resemblance is striking. Even without Tiana saying his name and making it obvious that she knows him, it's obvious who this must be.
She bows, in the same way Claude had shown her before, suddenly flustered. She'd managed it is an honor to meet you in Almyran to Tiana, before, but being addressed so directly by Malik, she doesn't seem to know what to say.
Tiana puts a hand on her arm, encouraging.]
Ah - yes. And you are Khalid's father, obviously. I mean— [She bows again.] The king! It is an honor and a pleasure to meet you, sir.
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"I understand you left at a difficult time," His voice is softer, lighter, but she'll have no problem hearing him. He has that sort of power. Even surrounded by singing and cheering crowds, when he speaks, he makes himself heard. He seems to pull Claude in closer when he speaks too. Is this some attempt at a half-hug? Claude isn't sure what to make it of judging by the way he glances at his father, uncertainly. "But you couldn't have arrived at a better time. This," He waves his free hand, "is Almyra. Welcome."
What follows is about what one would expect from a welcome. He asks how she is, if she's enjoying the festival, and when he is satisfied he finishes with a familiar warning: Being here won't be easy. But he invites her to make herself at home.
A moment or so later, Tiana goes to take Malik into the crowd so they can dance, leaving Claude and Flayn in each other's company alone once more. As they dance into the glow of the lit fires around them, Claude watches quietly, his gaze lingering for just a moment before he speaks, )
I guess he has a point... (He admits it almost reluctantly, ) It's the best time to arrive here.
"Out with the old, in with the new." That's the spirit of the New Year, right? Everything is ready for something different. Maybe even someone different.
(Things are changing in Fodlan. The other nations are perfectly poised for change. Maybe this year will be the year things finally change here too.)
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...by the end of their conversation, she comes to the conclusion that he's kind. He certainly seems like a lot - "larger than life" is an apt enough description for him, she supposes, and even in the brief time she spends with him before he and Tiana leave to dance, he commands the attention of everyone around him.
He's upfront and honest about the fact that things may not be easy here, but he also invites her to feel welcome, to make herself at home. It's better than shielding her from the fact that things might be hard - if she's aware that they'll be difficult, she can at least prepare for them.]
"Out with the old, in with the new"...
[She repeats the phrase as she and Claude watch the other dancers.
That's fitting, really. Something different, someone different - new places, new people, new plans. The friendship they've struck up is somewhat new, too; they hadn't known each other too well even in Garreg Mach, but she's certainly looking forward to getting to know him better.]
...I think we could all use a little change. [A pause, and then...] More than a little change, in some cases. But change is not always a bad thing.
[A smile, then, as the others continue to dance. It seems a little silly to just stand and watch, and she holds a hand out to him -]
Would you like to dance?
[The steps seem easy enough, and what she doesn't know already, she's willing to learn.]
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I thought you would never ask.
(He laughs and takes her hand, stepping forward so that he can lead her out toward the main crowd.
He meant it. He thought she would never ask. No one ever does.
Turning to face her, he gives her a twirl and steps off. The dance is easy and nothing like the formal dances they used to have back in school. It's lively, energetic, almost wild once you really get into it, and it's easy to forget that this is a celebration at the palace and most of those present are other royals or high-ranking officials. And with everyone celebrating, no one really notices who is and isn't like them.)
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...it's fun. Frankly, Flayn finds it much more fun than the formal dances at Garreg Mach - not that she didn't enjoy those, too, but she really spent more of her time there people-watching, because most of the students were too intimidated by Seteth to ask her to dance, and she wasn't about to paint a target on someone's shoulders by asking them herself. (It's a problem, when your closest living relative is an overprotective meddler.)
But that's not the case here. They're free to dance and to celebrate and to relax, and though being in Almyra won't necessarily be easy later on, for now, everyone is more or less of the same mindset - this is the time to come together, not to focus on the differences.
By the time they're done, it's late, and Flayn is getting sleepy despite wanting to stay up and see everything. She's still smiling even as she tries to hide a yawn behind her hand.]
...is the new year always like this, in Almyra?
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Not one to stay up too late himself, he offers his arm to Flayn once more at the end of one dance and begins to lead her away, back towards the palace. She's tired and he has a long day ahead of him. They both need to rest,)
Yeah. At least, for as long as I can remember. (He has, after all, been away for only a little less than a decade.) ... It's been a while.
(Once they're away from the crowds, away from others that can watch them, he'll let Flayn slip off him so they can walk side by side freely. He doesn't have to keep her as close now; they can relax,)
The last time I celebrated was... just before I left, actually.
(Seven years ago? Or is it eight now? Hm.)
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[...well, if what he experienced tonight lines up with what he remembers from before he left Almyra - then it probably is always like that, and any differences are the exceptions, not the norm.
Flayn wonders, as they walk and as she slides her arm out of Claude's so that they can just walk nex to each other, if she'll be here for the next new year's celebration. Probably. A year may feel like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't; will the world be safe enough for her to go her own way in a year?
Probably not. But as long as she keeps her head down and waits, even Fódlan will be safe for her to return to someday, once she's faded from living memory.]
Well... I am glad that we returned in time to celebrate it this year. You seemed as though you were truly enjoying yourself.
[The way he smiled tonight definitely looked a little... different. More genuine, maybe? She isn't sure exactly how to describe it.]
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It's good to be back home.
(To see his mother again and spend time with her. It was even nice to spend some time with his father again. Time that wasn't spent putting on strong fronts and flairs,)
... You know, the nice thing about the new year is that no matter where you are; in Fodlan or Almyra or anywhere in the world... for a few days, everyone is celebrating the same thing.
(They're getting closer to hall where Flayn's room is,)
Imagine what else we could celebrate together...
(And that's it. Here they are. He stops in front of the hallway. The lanterns are dimmed down and there's only moonlight and the glow from the fire outside to really light things. Down the hallway, there's one room with one lantern lit right outside it, dim and low but noticeable,)
Everything looks different at night. I had one of the servants leave the lantern on by your room. You can turn it off before you go in.
(Blow the flame out and call it a night. It probably isn't the easiest to see but he offers her a friendly smile,)
Good night, Flayn. Happy new year.