Love in the Dark is a Fire Emblem: Three Houses fanfic by GirthJohnson available at fanfiction.net here
or at Archive of our Own here.
Though the path they walk is one that is dyed blood red, it is a path they take together. A tale of friendship, heartache, and love between the Adrestian Emperor and her beloved mentor from their days at the monastery, up until the very end.
Beware of spoilers from Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Tropes:
- Adaptation Name Change:
Before the Cindered Shadows DLC came out revealing Byleth's mother's real name, Sitri, the author gave her the name "Eleanor". - Battle Couple: Byleth and Edelgard are a rather terrifying combination, as Kronya learns the hard way.
- Birthday Episode: Chapter 14 celebrates Byleth's birthday, which is meaningful in giving him a first birthday celebration in his entire life, courtesy of Edelgard and the Black Eagles. Byleth also acknowledges the day as Sothis's birthday near the end of the chapter, much to her pleasure.
- Cassandra Truth: When Byleth goes to Manuela per Edelgard's suggestion, he tells the professor he's been hearing a rythmic beating in his chest. Manuela tells him it's his heartbeat, but he tells her that he doesn't have a heartbeat. Manuela doesn't believe him...until she takes a stethoscope to his chest.
- Curb-Stomp Battle:
- The battle against Kronya in chapter 33 is almost utterly one-sided.
- Chapter 34's battle against Solon turns into one the moment Byleth takes to the field with his new powers.
- Dissonant Serenity: Byleth's usual thing in battle, giving him the moniker 'The Ashen Demon.'
- Emphasize EVERYTHING: Many words are put in italics for emphasis.
- Heroic BSoD: Byleth falls into a pretty big one after the events of Remire and a huge one after Jeralt's death. Edelgard has one after Byleth is captured by Solon's spell.
- Horrifying the Horror: Byleth, after fusing with Sothis, manages to utterly terrify several Demonic Beasts and even Solon with just a glance.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Duke Aegir imprisoned Edelgard underneath the palace in Enbarr with nothing but rats for company. In Chapter 39, she forces him to suffer the same fate.
- Love Confession: Byleth and Edelgard confess their love to each other in Chapter 25.
- Offhand Backhand: More like offhand swordstab, but Byleth does this against an enemy in Chapter 34.
- Official Couple: Byleth and Edelgard of course, though it happens sooner than the end of the game.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: In Chapter 39, Byleth confronts Duke Aegir in his prison cell, psychologically tortures him, slashes his neck with the Sword of the Creator, and promises to kill him within the next twelve years. Given all of the horror he put Edelgard through, he definitely had it coming.
- Rivals Team Up: Dimitri, Claude, and their houses accompany the Black Eagles to the chapel battle.
- Running Gag: Byleth kicking down a door with Hubert dryly remarking about it, starting from the mission to stop Miklan in Chapter 9, has been slowly making itself into one.
- Secret-Keeper: At the end of Chapter 21, Edelgard fills Byleth in on all of her plans to destroy the Church of Seiros.
- Shipper on Deck:
- Both Byleth and Edelgard's fathers, Jeralt and Emperor Ionius, support the two's attempts to woo each other.
- Byleth finds himself encouraging Felix to pair up with Lysithea for the grand ball after noting their similar personalities and heated conversations surrounding cake (a reference to their early support conversations).
- Sixth Ranger: Byleth enlists the help of Felix and Lysithea to help the Black Eagles rescue Flayn after she is kidnapped by the Death Knight. Following the incident, Byleth extends both of them an offer to join the Eagles full time, which they accept.
- Super-Reflexes: Byleth's reflexes, already honed from a life of fighting, are raised to superhuman levels after fusing with Sothis. It's noted that Byleth is moving and reacting faster than his opponents can actually see.
- Title Drop: Chapter 25 is called Love In The Dark.
- To the Pain: Edelgard gives a doozy of a threat to Solon after Byleth is swallowed by the darkness of Zahras.Edelgard: I will claim every drop of blood that flows through your veins. I will break every bone in that twisted body. I will rip you limb from limb until you have repaid the life you took. But I warn you now; nothing you have to offer could ever make up for what you stole from me.
- Tranquil Fury:
- The Remire Village affair has Byleth go on an unholy Roaring Rampage of Revenge. The only time his fury isn't tranquil is when he snaps at Dorothea before they take to the battlefield. He snaps out of it when his anger nearly costs him two of his students.
- Edelgard after Byleth is consumed by Zahras.
