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FERDINAND (PROBABLY) DESERVES THIS
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but mostly a psl
Character(s): Edelgard, mentions of Hubert and Linhardt, Ferdinand, Lorenz, Dorothea, Sylvain, Marianne, Annette
Pairing(s): Hubert/Linhardt (it's the focus but they're not actually in it, don't @ me)
Word Count: 1,884
Summary: Edelgard summons the war council for their toughest mission yet: finding a way to get Linhardt and Hubert back together.
Notes: This is entirely Sable's fault. This entire fic is just an excuse to drag the fuckboys and also Hubert, because I know what I'm about. Also how has it been over a year since I last wrote fic?? Tragic.
The Empire’s rise to power had been carefully planned, carefully executed. It had taken years for the necessary preparations and for everything to fall into place, but once it had, Edelgard had moved swiftly and decisively. Anything else would have ended in her defeat at Garreg Mach. Anything else would have been unbecoming of the new Empress.
Not everything had gone according to plan, and in the end she’d taken on another hand to assist them. What had originally been a plan built by her and Hubert - her ever-loyal right hand - was further refined through the careful gaze of Linhardt. Hubert had told her his intellect was beyond compare and that he could only assist them in their plans, and while she had some reservations, she had given in and allowed them to take Linhardt on board.
Some might have called it benevolence, but she only saw it as helping a friend. For all the battle calculations and skilled maneuvers he could pull off, Hubert was incredibly stupid when it came to feelings.
He’s still incredibly stupid. Painfully stupid. He’s so dumb she just wants to grab him by the front of his uniform and shake some sense into him.
But she’s been patient. This is not something that she can solve for him, as much as she’d like that. Hubert has to come to his own conclusions and make his own decisions and hopefully - hopefully - let down the walls he’s constructed that keep even her out.
Edelgard had not been expecting everything to go immediately to the eternal flames the moment Hubert realized. In truth, calling him stupid was being far, far too kind.
Dorothea had given her word of her worst fears, and Marianne had backed her story up. Linhardt was heartbroken, and Hubert was - yet again - being a complete fucking idiot. She had tried to get him to see reason, to realize that he was overreacting and being stupid, but he did the same thing he always did when he disagreed with her - he nodded, smiled, and pretended he’d do as she said. She knew him well enough by now to know he wouldn’t, and she was not at all surprised when one of her political opponents was found dead a few days later.
Someday she really should to tell him that he didn’t need to kill people when he was worked up. That will probably be a problem later.
A year had passed since the incident, and every time she tried to broach the topic with him he had deftly swerved to focus on something else. She kept falling for it, time and time again, because in the end they were both aware of how important this war is. His love life cannot trump that, no matter how much she wishes she had the freedom to meddle as she wants.
They’re approaching the five year anniversary of their crushing victory at Garreg Mach.
Perhaps that’s what finally pushes her to consider all this again. Five years ago Hubert and Linhardt were blissfully unaware of their feelings, yet being the two most obvious people in the entire world whenever they thought anyone wasn’t looking. Everyone in the academy had known. They had placed bets on what would happen, when they would confess - if they would confess.
(Are you kidding? Of course he’s not going to realize it. Caspar had laughed. I know Linhardt better than anyone. You think that man would know a crush if it hit him over the head? Think again! They’re never going to figure it out.
She doesn’t want to think about Caspar.)
Edelgard finds excuses to send them both away - Hubert to the front lines where he can kill people and probably feel a bit better about himself, Linhardt to deal with some of the nobles who have recently discovered something about crest stones that might interest him. With that taken care of, she calls her council to war.
“I’ve gathered you all here today for a matter of the utmost importance.” She looks around the table, at each of them sitting and watching her attentively, backs straight and prepared for war.
On her right (in Hubert’s spot) is Ferdinand. He gestures for her to continue. “Go ahead, Your Majesty. What is it that’s so urgent?”
On her left (in Linhardt’s spot) is Lorenz, who nods. “Has something come up with the Alliance? I could easily persuade my father to—”
“No,” She interrupts before either of them give her a headache, “this isn’t about the war.”
That earns some muffled whispers and confused looks and before the speculation can get too wild, she presses her hands to the table and stands. “This is about Hubert and Linhardt.”
There’s an immediate rush of replies as a wave of understanding crosses her generals.
“Wait, wait, I thought they broke up what, like four years ago?” Sylvain’s voice carries over the din.
“Do you have a plan for getting them back together, Edie?” Dorothea’s eyes are practically shimmering. It’s a bit hard to tell if she’s excited or scheming.
Edelgard holds up a hand and everyone falls silent. “I’m sure I don’t need to explain to any of you how important this is. You’ve all seen it.”
She speaks of the tension that fills the room whenever Linhardt and Hubert have to occupy the same space. The awkwardness that stems from either having to talk about the other for any reason. How Linhardt’s withdrawn and unmotivated, barely engaged in anything he does now. How Hubert only seems alive when he’s on the battlefield.
“If this continues, we will be in trouble. Hubert is my right hand, and Linhardt is my left.”
“Hey!” Ferdinand’s interjection goes ignored by everyone at the table. (Except Lorenz, who gives him a look that’s somewhere between sympathetic and pitiful. Like he has any room to talk.)
“I need them both, just as I need all of you. We haven’t made much progress these past four years, and I’m afraid the longer we stall, the closer we come to losing.” Her expression hardens and she brings a hand down on the table for dramatic effect. “That is why we must work together to bring them back together!”
Dorothea’s on her feet in an instant and clapping, though she’s getting a few strange looks from the others. Ferdinand is the brave soul who ventures to ask the question that’s on everyone’s minds, “How exactly is getting them together going to help us?”
“Ferdinand,” Edelgard says, disappointment dripping from her voice, “this is why you’re not on the same level as either of them.”
“I didn’t realize Her Majesty could cast Bolganone!” Sylvain whoops from somewhere in the back. It earns some laughs, which is probably more than Sylvain has gotten in four years.
“Linhardt and Hubert are both exceptional tacticians.” Edelgard continues as if that hadn’t happened. “As we’re all well aware, Hubert is terrifying on the battlefield, and many of our victories have been at his hands. Yet somehow, we haven’t found many victories over the last four years.
“Similarly, Linhardt has handled both research and the daunting task of dealing with the nobles.” She looks pointedly around at the nobles in the group. “I don’t need to tell any of you how frustrating that is.”
Dorothea snickers, “You’ve got that right, milady.”
Had it been anyone else, she would have assumed that it was a jab at her. Coming from Dorothea, it’s playful at worst. “Anyway,” She continues, “they are at their most effective when they are together. It can only help us to devote our time to assisting them.”
“So what is your plan, Your Majesty?” Lorenz is quick to ask before anyone else can, once again trying to make himself relevant.
“That’s why I’ve called you all here.” She looks around at each and every one of them. “You are all my trusted generals and you’re all capable people in your own right. Surely at least one of you has a decent idea.”
A hush falls over the table as everyone began to contemplate ideas. “Can’t you just lock them in the closet for a little while and see what happens?” Ferdinand breaks the silence with all the grace of an iron axe and Edelgard sighs.
“Why did I let you come.” It isn’t a question. Sylvain whoops again.
Some more ideas are thrown out and subsequently dismissed - both men are entirely too clever for any sort of grand scheme to work, and the more simple solutions won’t work because that requires either of them to actually address their feelings.
Finally, a quiet voice from near the end of the table ventures, “C-Couldn’t they just… talk about it?”
All eyes turn to Marianne and she shies away from them. “I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, Mary,” Dorothea smiles, resting a hand on her arm. “It’s a good idea, and were it anyone else, it’d do wonders. But you’ve seen both of them - Linhardt barely has a concept of feelings and Hubert thinks he doesn’t need them. Even if we were to sit them down in a room together and lock the door until they made up, I don’t think they’d accomplish anything.”
“I already suggested the closet,” Ferdinand grunts, looking mildly put out.
“Then what if we make it seem like it’s their idea?” Annette chimes in. Her brows are knitted in concentration and she’s staring at the map laid out on the table. “There’s been reports of enemy troops moving toward Fort Merceus, correct?”
Edelgard pulls the map in front of Lorenz toward her. “Yes, that’s right. Alliance troops were spotted on the move.”
“And Hubert’s troops are pulling back from the battles on the front, right?”
“Yes,” She thinks she can see where Annette is going with this. “He’ll return to Fort Merceus to prepare and ask for more troops.”
Annette’s bright eyes turn on her and her smile is wide. “Easy! Send Linhardt there, they’ll meet up, and they’ll have no choice but to deal with each other for at least a few days!”
“If the Alliance troops do attack, then that could be advantageous.” Edelgard finds herself mirroring that smile without meaning to. “There’s nothing like battle to build bonds.”
She receives a few weird stares, but that was what Professor Byleth had insisted time and time again, and Edelgard absolutely believes it.
“Weren’t they both also stationed in Fort Merceus at one point?” Ferdinand asks. “Perhaps there are fond memories there.”
“Congratulations, Ferdie, that’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day.” Dorothea chimes in cheerfully and he shoots a glare down the table at her in response.
“Excellent work, all of you. I’ll send the orders to Linhardt.” Edelgard pauses. “And don’t forget, if any of you manage to let word of this slip or mess up, I will not hesitate to lock you in the closet.”
It earns some laughs, but they die quickly. Edelgard’s expression is stony and dead serious. No one is going to mess up this masterpiece of a plan that certainly won’t end poorly for anyone involved.
Character(s): Edelgard, mentions of Hubert and Linhardt, Ferdinand, Lorenz, Dorothea, Sylvain, Marianne, Annette
Pairing(s): Hubert/Linhardt (it's the focus but they're not actually in it, don't @ me)
Word Count: 1,884
Summary: Edelgard summons the war council for their toughest mission yet: finding a way to get Linhardt and Hubert back together.
Notes: This is entirely Sable's fault. This entire fic is just an excuse to drag the fuckboys and also Hubert, because I know what I'm about. Also how has it been over a year since I last wrote fic?? Tragic.
The Empire’s rise to power had been carefully planned, carefully executed. It had taken years for the necessary preparations and for everything to fall into place, but once it had, Edelgard had moved swiftly and decisively. Anything else would have ended in her defeat at Garreg Mach. Anything else would have been unbecoming of the new Empress.
Not everything had gone according to plan, and in the end she’d taken on another hand to assist them. What had originally been a plan built by her and Hubert - her ever-loyal right hand - was further refined through the careful gaze of Linhardt. Hubert had told her his intellect was beyond compare and that he could only assist them in their plans, and while she had some reservations, she had given in and allowed them to take Linhardt on board.
Some might have called it benevolence, but she only saw it as helping a friend. For all the battle calculations and skilled maneuvers he could pull off, Hubert was incredibly stupid when it came to feelings.
He’s still incredibly stupid. Painfully stupid. He’s so dumb she just wants to grab him by the front of his uniform and shake some sense into him.
But she’s been patient. This is not something that she can solve for him, as much as she’d like that. Hubert has to come to his own conclusions and make his own decisions and hopefully - hopefully - let down the walls he’s constructed that keep even her out.
Edelgard had not been expecting everything to go immediately to the eternal flames the moment Hubert realized. In truth, calling him stupid was being far, far too kind.
Dorothea had given her word of her worst fears, and Marianne had backed her story up. Linhardt was heartbroken, and Hubert was - yet again - being a complete fucking idiot. She had tried to get him to see reason, to realize that he was overreacting and being stupid, but he did the same thing he always did when he disagreed with her - he nodded, smiled, and pretended he’d do as she said. She knew him well enough by now to know he wouldn’t, and she was not at all surprised when one of her political opponents was found dead a few days later.
Someday she really should to tell him that he didn’t need to kill people when he was worked up. That will probably be a problem later.
A year had passed since the incident, and every time she tried to broach the topic with him he had deftly swerved to focus on something else. She kept falling for it, time and time again, because in the end they were both aware of how important this war is. His love life cannot trump that, no matter how much she wishes she had the freedom to meddle as she wants.
They’re approaching the five year anniversary of their crushing victory at Garreg Mach.
Perhaps that’s what finally pushes her to consider all this again. Five years ago Hubert and Linhardt were blissfully unaware of their feelings, yet being the two most obvious people in the entire world whenever they thought anyone wasn’t looking. Everyone in the academy had known. They had placed bets on what would happen, when they would confess - if they would confess.
(Are you kidding? Of course he’s not going to realize it. Caspar had laughed. I know Linhardt better than anyone. You think that man would know a crush if it hit him over the head? Think again! They’re never going to figure it out.
She doesn’t want to think about Caspar.)
Edelgard finds excuses to send them both away - Hubert to the front lines where he can kill people and probably feel a bit better about himself, Linhardt to deal with some of the nobles who have recently discovered something about crest stones that might interest him. With that taken care of, she calls her council to war.
“I’ve gathered you all here today for a matter of the utmost importance.” She looks around the table, at each of them sitting and watching her attentively, backs straight and prepared for war.
On her right (in Hubert’s spot) is Ferdinand. He gestures for her to continue. “Go ahead, Your Majesty. What is it that’s so urgent?”
On her left (in Linhardt’s spot) is Lorenz, who nods. “Has something come up with the Alliance? I could easily persuade my father to—”
“No,” She interrupts before either of them give her a headache, “this isn’t about the war.”
That earns some muffled whispers and confused looks and before the speculation can get too wild, she presses her hands to the table and stands. “This is about Hubert and Linhardt.”
There’s an immediate rush of replies as a wave of understanding crosses her generals.
“Wait, wait, I thought they broke up what, like four years ago?” Sylvain’s voice carries over the din.
“Do you have a plan for getting them back together, Edie?” Dorothea’s eyes are practically shimmering. It’s a bit hard to tell if she’s excited or scheming.
Edelgard holds up a hand and everyone falls silent. “I’m sure I don’t need to explain to any of you how important this is. You’ve all seen it.”
She speaks of the tension that fills the room whenever Linhardt and Hubert have to occupy the same space. The awkwardness that stems from either having to talk about the other for any reason. How Linhardt’s withdrawn and unmotivated, barely engaged in anything he does now. How Hubert only seems alive when he’s on the battlefield.
“If this continues, we will be in trouble. Hubert is my right hand, and Linhardt is my left.”
“Hey!” Ferdinand’s interjection goes ignored by everyone at the table. (Except Lorenz, who gives him a look that’s somewhere between sympathetic and pitiful. Like he has any room to talk.)
“I need them both, just as I need all of you. We haven’t made much progress these past four years, and I’m afraid the longer we stall, the closer we come to losing.” Her expression hardens and she brings a hand down on the table for dramatic effect. “That is why we must work together to bring them back together!”
Dorothea’s on her feet in an instant and clapping, though she’s getting a few strange looks from the others. Ferdinand is the brave soul who ventures to ask the question that’s on everyone’s minds, “How exactly is getting them together going to help us?”
“Ferdinand,” Edelgard says, disappointment dripping from her voice, “this is why you’re not on the same level as either of them.”
“I didn’t realize Her Majesty could cast Bolganone!” Sylvain whoops from somewhere in the back. It earns some laughs, which is probably more than Sylvain has gotten in four years.
“Linhardt and Hubert are both exceptional tacticians.” Edelgard continues as if that hadn’t happened. “As we’re all well aware, Hubert is terrifying on the battlefield, and many of our victories have been at his hands. Yet somehow, we haven’t found many victories over the last four years.
“Similarly, Linhardt has handled both research and the daunting task of dealing with the nobles.” She looks pointedly around at the nobles in the group. “I don’t need to tell any of you how frustrating that is.”
Dorothea snickers, “You’ve got that right, milady.”
Had it been anyone else, she would have assumed that it was a jab at her. Coming from Dorothea, it’s playful at worst. “Anyway,” She continues, “they are at their most effective when they are together. It can only help us to devote our time to assisting them.”
“So what is your plan, Your Majesty?” Lorenz is quick to ask before anyone else can, once again trying to make himself relevant.
“That’s why I’ve called you all here.” She looks around at each and every one of them. “You are all my trusted generals and you’re all capable people in your own right. Surely at least one of you has a decent idea.”
A hush falls over the table as everyone began to contemplate ideas. “Can’t you just lock them in the closet for a little while and see what happens?” Ferdinand breaks the silence with all the grace of an iron axe and Edelgard sighs.
“Why did I let you come.” It isn’t a question. Sylvain whoops again.
Some more ideas are thrown out and subsequently dismissed - both men are entirely too clever for any sort of grand scheme to work, and the more simple solutions won’t work because that requires either of them to actually address their feelings.
Finally, a quiet voice from near the end of the table ventures, “C-Couldn’t they just… talk about it?”
All eyes turn to Marianne and she shies away from them. “I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, Mary,” Dorothea smiles, resting a hand on her arm. “It’s a good idea, and were it anyone else, it’d do wonders. But you’ve seen both of them - Linhardt barely has a concept of feelings and Hubert thinks he doesn’t need them. Even if we were to sit them down in a room together and lock the door until they made up, I don’t think they’d accomplish anything.”
“I already suggested the closet,” Ferdinand grunts, looking mildly put out.
“Then what if we make it seem like it’s their idea?” Annette chimes in. Her brows are knitted in concentration and she’s staring at the map laid out on the table. “There’s been reports of enemy troops moving toward Fort Merceus, correct?”
Edelgard pulls the map in front of Lorenz toward her. “Yes, that’s right. Alliance troops were spotted on the move.”
“And Hubert’s troops are pulling back from the battles on the front, right?”
“Yes,” She thinks she can see where Annette is going with this. “He’ll return to Fort Merceus to prepare and ask for more troops.”
Annette’s bright eyes turn on her and her smile is wide. “Easy! Send Linhardt there, they’ll meet up, and they’ll have no choice but to deal with each other for at least a few days!”
“If the Alliance troops do attack, then that could be advantageous.” Edelgard finds herself mirroring that smile without meaning to. “There’s nothing like battle to build bonds.”
She receives a few weird stares, but that was what Professor Byleth had insisted time and time again, and Edelgard absolutely believes it.
“Weren’t they both also stationed in Fort Merceus at one point?” Ferdinand asks. “Perhaps there are fond memories there.”
“Congratulations, Ferdie, that’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day.” Dorothea chimes in cheerfully and he shoots a glare down the table at her in response.
“Excellent work, all of you. I’ll send the orders to Linhardt.” Edelgard pauses. “And don’t forget, if any of you manage to let word of this slip or mess up, I will not hesitate to lock you in the closet.”
It earns some laughs, but they die quickly. Edelgard’s expression is stony and dead serious. No one is going to mess up this masterpiece of a plan that certainly won’t end poorly for anyone involved.