Time to play!

Unfurnished? Charlotte supposed she didn’t mind, but she expected a room to at least have a bed for her to sleep in if they were letting her stay in the freaking castle of all places. She supposed she’d just make do. She’d slept in worse conditions before after all.

Turned out her worried were unfounded. After a short walk, Lady Camilla revealed to her a bedroom that was nicer already than the house her parents lived in. And it was for her. She gawked openly at the room as Lady Camilla spoke, looking around at whatever it was she pointed her attention to. She was so caught up in the room, she forgot to force a swoon when Lady Camilla’s voice was so close to her ear.

“I- oh, yes, that’s fine, Lady Camilla. No need to worry.” Charlotte didn’t need a guard, nor did the idea of a knife so close do her any good. She wasn’t good with knives. Besides, she was more than certain she could handle herself with her hands alone if someone came breaking into her room in the middle of the night.

“Thank you, milady, this room is wonderfully generous of you.”

Camilla brushed off Charlotte’s shoulders, fussing gently.

“Of course,” she said, “You’re worth it. Excuse me a moment, will you?”

Camilla vanished into a different room, coming out a moment later with a fine dress, long to the floor and ruffled below the bust.

“And well, I love how you look, but you need a little something more. Would you put this on for me? I’ll wait.” 

Charlotte wasn’t sure about that. If only because she would probably try to spend far more time lounging around and pampering herself than she expected Lady Camilla ever did. But she would just have to wait and see about that.

“Not at all, milady. I would be happy to accompany you.” She replied sweetly, falling in step alongside of the woman. Dresses. Rooms. Charlotte had never had a room that she hadn’t shared with someone and now Lady Camilla was granting her more than Charlotte would know what to do with. She did her best to remain serene.

It was hard when her bow was suddenly removed. She did her best not to flinch away, and it was all worth it as the crown was lowered onto her head.

Charlotte blinked at herself in the mirror. She looked…oh she looked so fucking good  with a crown, hell yes.

“Oh, that’s perfect,” Camilla cooed. “Now, I’ve got to show you to where you’ll be sleeping. I’m sorry it’s so unfurnished, dear. These rooms were mine, once upon a time, but I did outgrow them.” 

She maneuvers Charlotte down the hall, across the top of the stairway. The door they arrived at was wrought-iron crossed with strips of wood for decoration, carved and curious with cavorting beasts. Deer were almost mythical beasts; they hadn’t been seen in generations. Camilla used the tip of her toe to push at the door.

The room inside was large and wide, and had a high and vaulted ceiling. The windows were pointed at the top in grand arches. Another door, left ajar, showed through to another set of rooms with a writing-desk. A four-post bed dominated the room, with a small single-person pallet at the foot of it, prepared with clean sheets. 

“Don’t worry,” Camilla reassured her, “Beruka sleeps next to me. You’ll be alone, unless you want a servant with you. I can’t promise a guard as good as her, but I’m sure you’re very good at defending yourself if somebody does come in.”

Camilla squeezed Charlotte’s shoulder, in a way that was supposed to be reassuring. She pointed out the armor, black and gold, on the stand. It was scuffed and scratched around the knees and elbows, but still in fine order. 

A body double.

Well why Lady Camilla would chose her was obvious. The two women were both fairly tall, and clearly endowed with certain gifts. Charlotte doubted she could easily find someone else within that time frame. Sure, serving her country was great and all but…shadowing the princess. Doing what the princess did. Lady Camilla was clearly someone who took care of herself and if that was extended to Charlotte…

“Oh, well I’d have to do what’s best for Nohr as a member of its guard.” She replied, hesitance painted on every inch of her expression. “It certainly sounds perilous but…if it’s to protect you, Lady Camilla, I would be honoured to do my service.”

“Thank you, Charlotte. I’m sure you’ll do marvellously,” Camilla confirmed, giving Charlotte one of her most pleased smiles. Life was a little lonely, when her brothers were away on their business. She could only tease Beruka so much before she began to feel bad about it. 

“Are you at all busy? I’d like to borrow you for measurements. And then I have to set you up in a suite of rooms. You have lovely hair, dear. I think you should keep it, so we’ll have wigs made.” 

Camilla stepped forward, lightly pulling on Charlotte’s ribbon to release the bow.

“I’ll take this,” she says, with a coquettish smile, “Here.”

“Oh?” A job. A job wasn’t what she wanted. How was she supposed to look cute and dainty doing a job? Ugh, and the princess would likely seeing her swinging around her axe and there was no way to do that and not sell herself out god damn it.

“Of course milady!” Charlotte smiled and straightened up, arms behind her back as she awaited the order. “Whatever you would have of me.”

“Yes, I’m in need of a double,” Camilla said, spreading her hands in a shrug that stated a momentary imposition at best, “There have been reports of an assassin, and though I’m sure I can deal with things myself, confusion is much better sowed with somebody accurate, you understand.” 

Selena was a good guard, and Beruka cleaved close to Camilla always, but for her own benefit it was best to have a secondary target. It had been a stroke of luck when Camilla noticed Charlotte from her window, and even more when she’d presented herself without being prompted.

“Oh yes, I agree,” Camilla said, “I played down here as a child. I’m still very fond of it.”

Camilla took the seat across from the faux-soldier, lighting the candle and leaning back until the seat back lodged against a barrel. She slowly lifted one leg and put one heel on the table, and then the other, one leg crossed over the other one.

“Do you have a name, sweetie?” she said, “I’ll give you anything you want, but first… I think we should be friends.” 

The image of her playing down in the cellar made Xane cock xir head. She didn’t look like a cook’s daughter. It didn’t escape xir notice that she copied xir mannerisms, usually xir job.

“The name’s Xane.” Xe didn’t know the soldier’s name, and there was no point in taking another one when nobody here knew xem. “Pleased to meetcha. If we’re friends now, do I get to learn yours?”

She tossed her hair, relaxed and fond. Despite how curious it was, she wasn’t afraid. Nohr’s fauna and incidental flora was more frightening than somebody sneaking in where they weren’t wanted. 

Saber stumbled at the sudden weight, but managed to keep his balance, albeit cursing the whole while. He placed his hand on top of the wyvern’s head and tried to push the beast off of him. Touching the thing still made his skin crawl, but he wasn’t about to stand there and let the animal push him around.

“I’m fine.” He insisted. With a huff, he patted the creature’s face a few times to get it away from him. The texture was strange. “Now are we going or not, your majesty?”

“Of course,” Camilla said smoothly, “Goodness, you have a blue tongue. If you weren’t such a big, strong man I’d wash out your mouth with soap for using such foul language.” 

She checked the saddle and tightened the belt, slapping Marzia’s flank gently. With a quick hop, she got up into the saddle. 

Saber grimaced. The woman wasn’t wrong with her her logic. That didn’t mean he could just get over the crawling instinct in his skin to stay the hell away from that beast. He would never in his life understand royals and their weird tastes.

Sighing slowly, he shrugged what he was carrying more securely onto his shoulder. “I thought you said that we didn’t have much time to dally about, ma’am.” And not much time to get over this either. He may be uneasy, but he wasn’t one of those dainty youngin’s, flying around on a horse either. He walked around her, and while he gave the creature’s head a wide berth, he tentatively reached over and patted the creature’s torso. 

“We should get going, no?” He tilted his head towards the creature, indicating for her to go ahead and take her place. She was the rider after all.

Marzia swung her head down to buffet Saber’s side, trying to lever up his arm and get him to pat her head. Camilla watched it happen with fond amusement - such a weight put to movement could send any stablehand flying, and she wanted to see how he’d brace the weight. 

The sound of the door closing wasn’t lost on Xane. Combined with the warmth, it made sweat bead below xir helmet. As xe had thought, the stone walls looked an awful lot like a dungeon.

With the torches lit, it looked a tiny bit more hospitable. Xe knew better than to try to worm away from her hold. When given an opening, xe settled into a chair and leaned back, propping xir feet on the table. The mannerisms abandoned those of the face xe still wore, and the soldier’s boots clunked on the wood.

“Nice place you got here.” As an afterthought, in an imitation of politeness xe added, “Ma’am.”

“Oh yes, I agree,” Camilla said, “I played down here as a child. I’m still very fond of it.”

Camilla took the seat across from the faux-soldier, lighting the candle and leaning back until the seat back lodged against a barrel. She slowly lifted one leg and put one heel on the table, and then the other, one leg crossed over the other one.

Ishtar gently took the ladies hand. Camilla? She seemed trustworthy. Her hand was soft, a mothers touch. She blinked and looked up to the woman. A faint blush to her cheeks. Now that she was closer the woman was a lot more beautiful. She calmed herself and tucked her tome into her holster.

“My name is Ishtar. And, I thank you for saving me. I owe you one. I never thought I’d be chased all the way out here. Some guys were… Harassing me. They fought me off into the forest and here we are. So again, thank you.” Ishtar looked to the undead wyvern and smiled, she was beautiful in her own way. She sensed the overprotective vibes from her as well.

Camilla clicked her tongue to tell Marzia to bend and boosted Ishtar into the saddle with a gentle shove. Mages always did seem light as a feather, but she was used to lifting far heavier things than that. Camilla swung up behind her and reached for the reign, clicking her tongue and digging in her heels. 

Marzia croaked and spread her wings, launching into the air a few moments later. Camilla tilted her head to look over Ishtar’s shoulder, still wondering after the reason she’d been pursued. 

Dammit. That was the problem with bouncing from land to land. No time to study the locals’ mannerisms.

She had to be some kind of leader or general, by the sounds of it. Xane followed her commands, easy enough to do with all xir experience with mimicry. Soldiers always had the most uncomfortable posture. That was why xe imitated them so poorly at times.

“You don’t think I’m pretty enough already?” xe asked. It was hard to make the effect work while playing soldier.

Xane was pretty sure that was code for the dungeons, but that wasn’t new territory, and it seemed riskiest to disobey with her looking at xem like that. “Aye, aye, ma’am,” xe said with a jaunty little salute before entering. Maybe it’d be easier to lose her down in the dark.

Camilla followed the soldier down to the cellars. Just as she hoped, the temperature below ground didn’t make her a liar. To be careful, she shut one side of the cellar door before she descended the stair, and pulled the other one after herself to keep in the warmth. 

The cellar was an old one, drilled right into the rock. There were probably preserves in the depths that were older than castle Krakenburg. The ceiling was low and vaulted, the flagstones underneath pitted by footsteps. If Camilla cared to think about her youth, she’d probably find treasures she’d left down there an age ago. She lit the torches, moving swiftly to try and catch the soldier’s arm before they went too far into the dim. 

On the right was a table set up for overnight watches, set for two people with some old chairs, plates, cups and an unlit candle. 

Robyn chuckled sheepishly, “I was just wondering what I should do next. I volunteered to patrol for the week. It’s something I usually do back at home, so it’s relaxing to have the opportunity to get myself back into a familiar routine.”

Curious eyes fell upon Camilla’s purse. Was she keeping the Princess from doing something important?

“Oh! Apologies. There I go rambling again. Were you headed somewhere? If I can cross anything off my list, I would love to accompany you.”

“Oh, no. not really,” Camilla said politely, “Though I was going to visit my wyvern in the stables to see if she was settling in. If you’d like to see her too, I don’t mind.”

Camilla wasn’t exactly dressed for flying - she’d left grossartig mond on the stand in her rooms this time around - but it was just fine for a social visit. 

There was no putting up a fight to Lady Camilla’s requests on a good day. Far stronger than Setsuna was, she easily pulled the archer down to sit next to her. Setsuna blinked in surprise. Well. She supposed she was here now.

“If you insist, my lady…” Setsuna glanced around at their surroundings. They were at a rather private part of the festival. Seems everyone was busy elsewhere. With her hand now out of her possession, Setsuna did her best to not let her fingers start to absently fidget. “Are you sure you wouldn’t want me to get one of your retainers?”

“I’ll find Beruka again,” Camilla said softly, her voice leaning tender and soft. “Or she’ll find me. She’s always so good at that.” 

Camilla leaned toward Setsuna, reaching for her arm and finding the hand on the end of it. She latched on while her vision cleared, and purposefully let go of Setsuna’s hand when she could identify where she sat. The fact she could see the outline of their hands was gift enough.

Ishtar peered around the tree, she saw the lifeless bodies and then she looked to the purple haired woman, “Th-thank you. My tome…” She opened the tome to the woman and the pages were worn and falling out of the spine, “I… I couldn’t use it anymore or else it would be utterly useless and I wouldn’t be able to fix it at all.” 

Ishtar held the book close to her chest, “Thank you so much ma’am, how would I ever to be able to repay you for your bravery and kindness?” Ishtar looked up to her and took a small step towards her. She had a kind mother instinct to her, Ishtar never knew what it felt like but she enjoyed the feeling.

“You don’t need to worry, dear. Would you give me your name?” 

Camilla offered her hand, glad for once that her gloves were soft and warm, not covered over with spikes like her brothers. It helped now and then to keep a tender hand.

“I’m Camilla, a princess from Nohr. My tactician saw the torches and asked me to investigate. You’re safe with me.” 

Marzia had become bored, and her neck angled around the tree, her warm breath a heavy puff over Camilla’s fluffy hair. It made Camilla’s smile break wider, into a soft little laugh. 

@affectionateterror

She felt her heart racing, she closed her eyes and turned the corner. She was behind a tree, holding her breath. She didnt’ want anyone to hear her. She heard the enemies footsteps. Mjolnir was too badly damaged to keep using without risk of breaking.

The night sky was dark and she heard the whines of horses galloping through the forest. She was caught, they found her. They would brand her as a traitor for being here in Askr. She surely knew that someone from her homeland heard she was still alive and was going to forcibly pull her back to her wretched family.

“Down!” she ordered, feeling the rush as Marzia folded her wings and dropped from the sky. The world spun and gravity drew them to the earth, but Camilla fixed on a brightly-lit point and steered with her knees. 

Marzia cleared the trees and extended her wings, flying low over the crowd. Camilla’s axe caught the tops of the torches, dropping the flame to their feet, and Marzia caught one of the men in her claws, lifting him high as they ascended again. Marzia beat her wings and lifted higher, shrieking a call. The horses bickered and tromped, alarmed by the sound. 

“Shame on you!” Camilla called, “Making me come all this way.”

She clicked her tongue to tell Marzia to release her prey, and the man fell, crashing on to another horseman who lost control. The horse bucked him off, already scared by the fire that crackled in the dry grass of the verge. A few of the company turned back, unwilling to be next despite the anger of their leader. 

“Go home! All of you!” Camilla commanded, “I found your prey before you did. She’s already dead.” 

Camilla guided her wyvern to land and stayed in the saddle, nudging her so that Marzia flared her wings. The remaining horsemen peeled away as Marzia’s jaw relaxed, showing her teeth. 

As the sound of hooves faded into the distance, Camilla slid out of the saddle and gave her wyvern a gentle skritch beneath her chin. She took a moment to orient herself and fitted her axe away to fix on her back.