#edeleth

Edelgard couldn't sleep. Again. The nightmares she had tonight were too much for her, and because of that, she couldn't get back to sleep. She had given up, so she wandered around the monastery hallways to clear her mind.

She was careful not to wake up anyone; she walked with soft footsteps echoing in the hallway, and she kept quiet as she passed by rooms. She didn't want comfort—she didn't even need it right now. It was midnight, and she didn't want to wake up someone over some silly nightmare.

The professor would say it's not silly if he was awake, Edelgard thought.

She paused for a moment at the thought of her teacher. A small blush crept up on her face. The professor… no, Byleth… he had helped her through these nightmares before. He had listened and didn't judge her when she poured her heart out to him when she had nightmares that night. Because of that, they became closer friends as a result. Even though Edelgard asked him to forget about the incident, she would never forget the comfort he had given her then.

She sighed, shaking her head. Why was she daydreaming of her professor, as if he was someone within her reach? They were teacher and student, nothing more.

Edelgard took another step to move forward—

"Ugh…"

Edelgard stopped upon hearing a muffled voice nearby. She glanced around, eyes wide, searching for an enemy.

"No…"

Edelgard turned towards the door where the voice was coming from. Byleth's room.

"Edel… please…"

She didn't stop herself when she knocked on her professor's door, concern growing inside her. She wished she had brought her axe with her to defend Byleth from whatever was attacking him, but… if she had to fight with her bare hands, so be it.

The mumbling continued inside, and Edelgard didn't waste a moment to open the door. Inside, she saw a figure in the bed, struggling against the blankets that tangled around him. Aside from him, there was no one else in the room.

Edelgard quickly came to the conclusion; it wasn't an attack. Byleth was having a nightmare.

"…Professor?" Edelgard called hesitantly.

Byleth gasped, sitting up quickly from his bed. Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed his sword and held it up to Edelgard's face. Edelgard didn't even move, not because she was afraid he would cut her down. Because she knew that feeling too well.

Byleth blinked away the sleepiness in his eyes, adjusting himself to the darkness before he saw Edelgard's silhouette. The moment he realized he was holding his sword towards his own student, he quickly lowered it, the sword clattering on the ground. He breathed through his nose, before letting out an exhale through his mouth.

"…Sorry." Byleth whispered, "I didn't expect a visitor at this time of night."

Edelgard nodded, accepting his apology. "It is okay, Professor. I… would do the same."

Silence reigned, with Byleth sighing as he rubbed his eyes. Edelgard noted wetness on his face, and she frowned. Had he been crying? She had never seen her professor cry before. What had he dreamt about?

"Nightmare?" Edelgard asked, trying to break the silence.

Byleth nodded. "Forgive me if I woke you up, Edelgard…"

"No." Edelgard shook her head. "No. You didn't. I was already awake when I heard you."

"…Nightmares as well?"

Edelgard was taken aback by Byleth's conclusion. Of course he would know that. The professor was surprisingly knowledgeable about his students.

"Yes…" Edelgard confirmed with a nod. "I heard you mumbling, and I assumed you were attacked, so I checked on you."

Byleth's mouth curved very slightly. Subtle, but Edelgard could see a tiny smile on his face. This man never emoted before. Seeing him crying and smiling was like seeing Bermadetta outside her room twice in one day.

"I appreciate your concern, Edelgard," Byleth said. "Thank you."

Even though Byleth looked calm, Edelgard could see the trembling in his hands. She frowned as she stared at his hands. How bad was the nightmare that would cause him to be so shaken up?

"Would you…" Edelgard asked, "like to talk about it?"

Byleth hesitated, as if unsure of accepting Edelgard's concern for him. Edelgard waited patiently, but her frown grew when he said nothing.

"Forgive me," she said quickly, "if it's that bad of a nightmare, you don't have to tell me."

Byleth shook his head. "No. No, I'll tell you." Byleth scrubbed his cheek, sighing before he began. "We… were all in a war. Everyone was there. Rhea. Jeralt. Alois. All of the Black Eagles. And… you." He let out a shaky breath. "We were all fighting. But I couldn't fight, like I was frozen in place. I could only watch as everyone was killed. Jeralt… Rhea… and everyone in my class. Then you were killed… but it was worse."

"Worse?" Edelgard asked, "How so?"

"The killers…" Byleth swallowed. "They tortured you. They hurt you. I tried to scream, to get to you, but… I couldn't do either. You… were yelling for me. Screaming for my help, and I-I couldn't help. They then killed you in front of me." Byleth shook his head, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. "I know something like that wouldn't happen, but… I was helpless. I hated it."

"Professor…" Edelgard's throat tightened at the thought. A war. Everyone killed. Edelgard herself being tortured and killed in front of her professor. Even the toughest warrior would be shaken up by such an image.

"It's a silly dream, I know," Byleth said, "but… it felt real."

"I know how that feels, Professor," Edelgard whispered, walking closer to him. She sat down beside Byleth on the bed, her frown intensifying. "But… your dreams are lying to you."

Byleth glanced at her, an eyebrow quirked. "Lying? How so?"

"I know you wouldn't let anything happen to me or to any of us." Edelgard said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're the strongest out of everyone in the class. And we know how protective you are of us. I know for a fact that you'll keep us safe no matter what, even in such circumstances."

"Edelgard…" Byleth sighed.

"Professor, we love you. Don't let those dreams convince you that you're weak and unable to keep us safe."

Byleth let out a small, watery chuckle. "That sounds like something I would say to you."

Edelgard quirked a small smile herself. "Indeed. I learned from the best, after all."

Byleth smiled back, a small one, but still noticeable. Wiping away another tear from his eye, he sighed. "Forgive me for having you to comfort me over something so silly."

"You do not need to apologize for needing comfort," Edelgard said, "even the strongest people need it."

Byleth sniffled, nodding while whispering a small "thank you". They stayed together then for an hour, enjoying each other's presence as Byleth began to calm down from his nightmares.

Byleth yawned, covering his mouth as he did so. "I think… I should be able to sleep now."

Edelgard nodded, before standing from the bed. "Very well. If you need anything, you are more than welcome to come to my room."

"I extend the same invitation to you, Edelgard."