Azure Moon!Mehra loves her job as Claude's retainer, but one of the things she dislikes about it is being the Alliance liaison for Faerghus. So many people came up to her asking if they can trust the Alliance, trust Claude because he's "suspicious" and it's not like she likes him in that way but if she has to hear one more monk ask her that, she's going to hold an army wide council to figure out why everyone is wary of the guy who didn't start a war before graduation.
"It's either him or Edelgard, take your pick."
"Don't even joke like that!"
"Not a joke. If Duke Reigan is so untrustworthy, take your chances with the Empire. I'm sure they would love to help you take back your lands."
Warning: There is implied child abuse, hints of violence, and suicidal/negative thoughts/ideation so if it ain't your thing, don't read it!
Nothing seemed to be going right for Mehra and if she were back home, there is no doubt her parents or her employer would call her something harsh. Maybe hit her for being so clumsy and stupid. And she would have deserved it.
First she had overslept, leaving Nader- no Nardel (she still thinks it's a stupid name and people are just biding their time, there is no way in hell they are this stupid, Claude-)- to handle inventory reports given by houses Ordelia, Edmund, Daphnel, Albrecht and a few others she couldn't think of at the moment. In being late to do that, she would have to make it up to him. Not only that, but Nebula missed out on his lunch and bonding time with her since she was unable to get him enough time in the forests to hunt because that's when the Immortal Corps did flight runs and they don't need a hungry white wyvern distracting them. Fortunately, Claude handled that, according to Nardel.
To make matters worse, she tripped grabbing materials for the next Alliance roundtable, getting some very precious books scuffed in the process.
Useless girl like you is better off dead, she could hear someone say. At twenty-one years old, this level of forgetfulness was simply unacceptable, especially with the war going on. One misstep and the Empire could be knocking on their door any minute.
The whole point of her leaving Almyra to help Claude was so that he wouldn't be so stressed doing it all on his own, not make his job worse.
"Maera?" Nardel's voice cut through the angry tide her thoughts had become, and she held the now slightly damaged books closer to her chest. "Master Claude wants to see you."
"Oh. Did he say why?"
"No idea. I can take those-"
"No, no, let me. You've done enough for me for today." Nardel gave her a look of concern before going on to continue with his day.
Claude was hidden beneath stacks of books, making her wonder if her hunch was wrong. "Claude?"
"Yes?" Oh. There was a tone to that. He's probably in a very bad mood. "Maera?" His head looked small peeking out from all the work and if she didn't think he was angry with her, she'd laugh at the imagery. Talk about being buried under paperwork. "I see Nardel managed to find you. And you got those books I asked for?"
"Mhmm."
"Just put them on that end table to your left." He doesn't sound as irritated as when she first stepped in the office, but it was common for authority to mask their irritation long enough for their target to get close. Claude may be one of her best friends, but he was still her former house leader, now her duke and prince. If he wanted to punish her for any little misstep, he was well within his right to do so, crest or no crest. "And can you make sure the door is locked?"
He's going to hurt me. He's going to beat me senseless for all my blunders today and toss me out by my hair, then beat me again when he sees the state those books are in. Where is my dagger? No wait-
"Earth to Maera?" Maera didn't mean to jump like she did, nor flinch, but she did, and now she has another thing to envision her beating herself for. Claude's expression softened. "Is everything ok? You've been acting weird all day."
"I am weird. Your point?" Whatever softness was there disappeared quickly as his gaze hardened. He didn't look like a tired, overworked twenty-one year old even if the dark circles and scruff said otherwise.
"Weird is preferring Derdriu's Mystery Seafood Boil over fried pheasant. Weird is thinking plain lip balm tastes good. Weird is brushing your teeth immediately before eating breakfast." He grips her shoulders, and it hurts. It hurts and it takes more strength not to react than it would to push him off. Not that she should or could in the rare moment he got like this. But it wasn't towards her before. "What isn't weird, is saying you deserve to die because you're having an off day!" How did he even know she was thinking that?
"Claude, I am twenty-one years old, not twelve. These are rookie mistakes and those can cost us! I don't want my forgetfulness to launch us further into a war you aren't ready for! I came to help you, not make things worse!" Now he was shaking her.
"I- Are you insane?! We've had this discussion before!" Ah yes, when he threatened to kiss her for insulting herself back during their Academy days, then making good on that threat about a year ago. "You're not expendable, you know!" She should, but she doesn't think she matters unless she is being useful. Sleeping in is to be useless. Forgetting to feed the wyvern you both are raising is to be useless.
"..." There were no words to said, but Claude's grip was starting to really hurt, and she can feel her fingers getting tingly and weak. Before she can comment, his grip loosens and he runs a hand through his hair. "Cla-Kha-..." There is so much she wants to tell him but the boulder in her throat makes it impossible to speak.
"You have got to stop thinking this way or-" Maera's sarcasm couldn't be held back anymore.
"What, you'll kiss me again?"
"No, worse: I'll marry you!" Maera stared at him in utter disbelief. If he was serious about marrying her, that seemed less like a punishment and more of a twisted reward. Unless he meant he wanted to have sex with her until those bad thoughts went away. Which still seemed more like an reward than punishment.
"That seems like an excuse to kiss me, anyway! You might as well become my boyfriend if that's the case!"
"But I don't-"
"Oh, so now you don't want to take responsibility for what you just said?" She's teasing now. "Claude von Reigan, you scoundrel." What looked to be another retort morphed into a sly smile.
"Ahh, no, you're trying to get me. I'm onto you." He does reach out and pull her into a hug. "But seriously though, please don't do that again. Teach would hate it if you didn't make it.." And many others. Maera returns the hug, but now her cheeks are tear-stained.
"I know. I'm sorry," she whispers. "I'll try to do better." After a beat, she looks up at Claude, but she can't see his face.
"Please don't make me think of a life without you in it. Please..."
Meet Maera (Her real name is Mehra but there was a spelling mistake in the admission process that she was too lazy and tired to correct once she got to the monastery.)
Born in the Imperial Year 1162 on the 5th day of the Great Tree Moon (4/5), Mehra was born and raised in the western regions of Almyra, where a lot of the Almyran-Alliance conflicts take place.
From a very young age, despite bouts of absent-mindedness, Mehra had to be vigilant from dangers in and out of the home, which gave way to an accidentally standoffish personality. Once you warm up to her, she is much more lighthearted and whimsical than she comes off as.
As she got older, she became more and more interested in the Officer's Academy in Fodlan for a formal education and as a way to get her family out of poverty. To better assimilate, she took on odd jobs working for visiting nobility, sequestering herself away from family and friends for two years to learn the language well enough to hold a conservation.
Because of her hometown's proximity to the Alliance, Mehra was immediately placed in the Golden Deer house.
And it's every bit the hilarious disaster you think it is. Since Almyra is big on titles, every character pretty much leaves with their own nickname.
Claude
Nickname: [redacted]
Claude seems a bit too at home with the residents, and if anyone asks, he'll claim that he's been working on his Almyran with help. Claude's lineage is not that secret, but he still doesn't know how they'll handle the full truth of it. Not everyone can look at a secret prince of an enemy nation or in Mehra's case, your homeland, and feel dumber for not figuring it out sooner. In any case, Claude does what he does best and acts as mini translator while Mehra is tour guide and mediator when culture clashes eventually happen. And here, nobody is really harping on the fact Claude looks a little familiar™. Claude also has the time of his life watching Lorenz struggle the most. He's made it a point to teach him Almyran insults in lieu of proper sentences. He almost always get strangled for it.
Still worth it.
Hilda
Nickname: Miss Candy
Not only does Hilda's perfumes remind the village youths of candy, her hair and almost endless supply of Fodlan sweets further cements the belief that she is a woman made of marzipan. It doesn't rain too much in Mehra's village, but when it does, best believe someone's kid is gonna run up to Mehra and ask her to warn Hilda. The kids are too freaking cute, and she wins them over even more wielding an axe. The teens want to spar with her, but get put off by her "delicate flower" act. Other than that, she's cool. The adults are a harder sell because strong girl is lazy, and they really don't see how sneaky Hilda is. She looks like a Goneril and err, well... Mehra decides that none of the Golden Deer have a last name for the duration of their stay.
Lorenz
Nickname: Snake [fearfully]
Is this man human? Why is he so pale? Why is his face shaped like that? Is he some evil snake creature in disguise? Strangling Claude for making him look stupid in front of the Almyran common folk does not help the children see him as human, even though he's really trying to connect with Almyran folk and Claude is an asshole. After a few days, Lorenz was mistaken for a pretty woman by a few of the kids. They all ran away screaming something about stealing people's skins and calling him a monster as soon as they heard him talk. Lorenz looks to Mehra, who is far too amused to play mediator again. "Congratulations, Lorenz. You've frightened the children. Are you proud of yourself?" Lorenz doesn't have much of good time in Almyra.
Mehra bringing a boy home is a test in patience. They seem a little difficult to please, or it's just that she has a very eclectic taste in men.
Claude: Yeah he's literally one of the princes, but he's also not a full blooded Almyran. Not a deal breaker but one of his half brothers would have been preferred. It doesn't take long to convince them of the benefits of being Claude von Reigan's fiancee but damn does that initial impression kind of sting.
Dedue: He gets out with immediate compliments. Well liked by others in the village for his kindness. Good for heavy duty chores. He can cook too? Dedue may not be a prince but he still has some royal connection, not to mention prime breadwinner material and that's all they can ask for.
Ferdinand: Poor man was mistaken for a woman because of his luscious locks. He may be loaded, but he is of Fodlan. And they aren't a fan of those cowards. Ferdinand, being the stupid prince charming that he is, wins them over (with help via translation by his intended but shhhh) anyhow with his weapons collection and battle exploits. That night, Mehra corrects them. Fodlanders aren't cowardly. A little slow on the uptake, but not cowards.
Lorenz was a man on a mission. That Reigan was up to something. He just knows it. But somehow, that isn't the most pressing thing on his mind when he barged into Duke Reigan- Claude's office.
"Claude, I-" The new Duke was hugging someone. Hugging Mehra. They were hugging. No, the tenderness of this embrace deserved to be treated with reverence.
He stands in front of the still opened door, transfixed at the now ruined intimate scene before him. He had never seen Claude nor Mehra hug people for very long, much less hold each other. Claude isn't wearing the outermost layers of his usual ensemble, and Mehra isn't wearing her glasses. And they both stare at him as if they were caught messing with one of his tea boxes.
"O-Oh, my apologies. It seems I was intruding on a rather private moment."
"Lorenz, it's not-" Lorenz can't help the wide smile that grows on his face. While he did not particularly like Claude, he was a man of romance and passion. And even Claude deserved someone who he could share a moment of solace with behind closed doors. There were so many ideas at once, so many questions to be asked, but that could wait. As he takes his leave, he doesn't hear either of their panicked calls of his name.
Forget his true identity, the more important question is when will the wedding take place?
(This is the result of 2 am Discord call bullshittery that now has become lore for my FE3H Insert)
Summary: Ferdinand likes women who challenge him, and his father- while not surprised- is still very disappointed.
Duke Aegir liked to think he raised an honorable, respectable man. Sure, he also made sure his son was taken care of to the best of his abilities but surely that was no issue. Right?
Well, as he found out today, he was terribly, horribly wrong.
Ferdinand's letters start as they always do, lauding tales of recent studies, finding out his particular strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, some of his classmates' antics and Edelgard's progress. And then he got to the fifth paragraph.
Ferdinand had mentioned an Almyran student before, but just how fascinating it was that the Officer's Academy attracted even those outside of Fodlan. Now? Now he went on ceaselessly about how intelligent and introspective this... peasant girl was and how a conversation they had sparked a line of thinking he had never considered before.
"She really told me about myself, Father," what in blazes does that even mean, Ferdinand? "And while I am still unsure of the phrase's meaning, I take it to mean having to reveal harsh truths to someone you are speaking to." He then goes on to say what exactly she told him in so many words. "Such insight would no doubt be of use to me when I succeed you as Prime Minister. As a noble, is it not our duty to ensure the best possible outcome not only for ourselves but for those under our leadership?"
While Ferdinand had a point, it certainly wasn't worth being smitten over. Had his son lost his Sothis-given mind? Apparently so.
"Not only is she intelligent, but she is quite easy on the eyes. I would call her a desert flower, but I have been informed Almyran women do not take kindly to being called that by Fodlanders. Her beauty is an unpolished yet strong kind. If she agreeable to courting me, then I would love for you and Mother to write to her as well." Duke Aegir took a deep breath, pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered just where he went wrong. First, mere peasants are barking at him as if he were their equal and not a scion of the Empire. Second, the peasant in question wasn't even of Fodlan, and as much as he would love to teach her a lesson, it was an action unbecoming of an Aegir, disrespectful to his son, who did not seem to be any worse for wear, and would certainly have dire consequences if he were found out. No, he was above such things. It didn't mean he had to like or respect her, though.
Desert flower or not, she was still likely a crest-less, low class brat who did not deserve his son's admittedly easily won admiration. In his response, he would endeavor to let Ferdinand down gently, remind him of his duty to both House Aegir and the Empire. This wasn't the time for silly infatuations.
But since puberty, nothing with his son was so cut and dry. In an almost unprecedented record for fastest letters sent, Ferdinand stood his ground and insisted it was more than infatuation. He couldn't go a single day without thinking about or seeing her at least once, and her presence in his life has made him a bit more appreciative of the commonwealth that makes his comforts possible. Even he admits it's a little scary how fast and hard he's fallen. Maera was of honest character, and even if she was a little skittish, she means well.
Now Duke Aegir had a name to go with the dirt covered face he was imagining. Why would he want someone who came from a culture of iron and war? Wouldn't he want a woman more sensitive to noble sensibilities? A woman who was actually delicate and refined? He'd ask all these things if the attraction to opinionated, gruff women wasn't a lifelong dilemma. Even as a boy, Ferdinand gravitated to girls who were not easily cowed. First that merchant's daughter who shoved him when he said something she must not have liked when they were four, now this.
Worst of all, his wife was greatly amused at the turn of events. "Perhaps you should suggest he pursue Edelgard if he wants strong women."
"Now Firabella, you and I both know l want him to surpass Edelgard, not wed her."
"Yes, I know, dear husband. But our little Ferdinand has always been fond of women who do not give in to him easily. Or at all. Much like his ancestor. And Her Highness's no nonsense personality would grow on him eventually."
"No, do not further entertain the thought," he huffed, continuing the reading of the letter. "She doesn't even believe in Sothis!"
