“How are you doing?” he asked, sitting next to you on the loveseat, your knees brushing softly against each other.

“Better now,” you replied, taking a sip of the cider, “What’s the problem?” you asked, you hadn’t seen him in days. While not unusual, it begged the obvious question. Why had he sought you out now? Had he started a prank war with the younger Grisha and needed expert help? Hopefully, but judging by the glum look on his face. Probably not. Why did he always look like it was the end of the world? Placing your book on a nearby table you took his hand, trying your best to reassure him.

“I need your help,” He answered, watching you process his meaning. He truly didn’t want to interpret your peace, but this mission was urgent. He would go alone but the stolen goods were too precious, he couldn’t risk Druskelle getting away with them. His fingers brushed along the back of your palm, his eyes staring deep into your own. A small spark spread over his hand where his fingers brushed. Hoping you could see the desperation, but you still smiled. Always smiling at him, even when he was the worst, thought the worst and worried that the worst would befall his people, those beautiful smiles brought light unto his life when he needed it the most.

“Ok,” you said, matter of factly.

“You don’t even know what I need help with,” he looked away, folding his hands together on his lap. He needed to stop these careless touches, the feelings that stirred in him could only wreak havoc on your friendship. Why were you like this? Always willing and ready to help, not just him. He had seen you once stop to help a child get their cat from a roof, he struggled to understand how you maintained your kindness through all the wars the people of this world had put you through.

“Doesn’t matter. You haven't asked for my help in nearly 50 years. I’ll help you.”

“We’ll be leaving tonight,” he informed you, “Meet me in the war room in 2 hours.” he said, exiting the room with haste. He had informed you of a young Grisha being held captive, a mission of sorts that had to be small, had to be kept that way for it to work. He spent some time informing you of the plan. The two of you would be the only ones on the mission, the risk of being spotted with more than 2 was too high. His plan was for you to sneak into their camp, you would act as a distraction while he did his best to help the child. With the setting of the sun it was time to get this plan underway.

Heading to your room that was unsurprisingly massive and gaudy, you changed into your most distracting outfit. A long red dress, cut low at the bosom, the corset cinching in your waist. This would be perfect. With your hair firmly in place you strapped a dagger to your thigh and headed towards his room.

“You ready? Know your part?” He asked, when you knocked on the door.

“Sure do, I sneak in and distract the guard. You get the kid,” he turned to face you and his face was almost as red as your hair.

“No,” was all he said.

“No? No, what?” You asked, genuinely bewildered, he wanted you to distract the guard. In this outfit they would be hard pressed to keep their eyes off you.

“Not like this,” he gestured to your outfit, his eyes deliberately glancing quickly over your protruding bosom.

“Fuck off, this was your plan oh mighty Heretic, I'm just going along with it.”

“Can you not be distracting without it?” he murmured, he had thought you would wear pants and a cape, something easier to traverse the woods in. This outfit, while stunning, was more likely to distract him and not suitable for the journey. His brain stopped when he realised the implications of what he said. You felt heat rumble though your body, was he suggesting? No, he wouldn’t mean...

“Not without giving myself away,” you replied, hoping that you had dodged whatever lewd thoughts, now was not the time. It never was.

“Fine,” his long fingers running down his face, he wrapped one of his black capes around your shoulders, hoping to cover some of your exposed skin from the cool air. “let's just go then.”

Xx

You reached the encamped quite late and were happy to see there were only two guards on duty. Unclasping his cape you let it fall into the snow. You dropped to the ground rolling around in the dirt and he gave you the strangest look. “What the fuck are you doing?” he asked, rolling his eyes at the strange behaviour you always seemed to exhibit.

“You'll see,” you smiled at him, taking the dagger from your leg and slicing a shallow swipe across your arm, running your hands through your already tousled hair, before running with an exaggerated limp towards the guard.

“Sir, sir!” You called, reaching towards them, “please help, there's a monster. It's following me.” throwing yourself into the taller ones arms, you began to shiver. You hadn’t been this close to one of them in a very, very long time.

In the brush behind you, Aleksander rolled his eyes. You always had a flair for the dramatic. He watched as the guards helped you to what he assumed was their medical tent. Taking careful steps he crept towards the tent he knew they were holding the young Grisha. He moved fast when he spotted the young girl, she would’ve been no more than 10. Her face bloodied and bruised from where the monsters had hurt her, her wrists bound tightly, her small head hanging almost lifelessly on her chest. Only the soft rise and fall of her chest confirmed that she had not succumbed to her injuries yet. He felt the wind rise around him, the flaps of the tent opening flapping wildly and he knew he only had moment left. With one slice of a shadow he had freed the young girl, cautiously lifting her.

When he exited the tent, he saw the camp was in shambles, the other tents knocked over, fires blown out and the two men were nowhere to be seen and there you stood. The wind blowing your hair wildly around your face, the dress spiraling like a flame skirting around your body and he saw a glimpse of the woman he had once known, the reason you had hidden yourself away from the world The oncom- "sir," the young girl stirred on his shoulder, "where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere you'll be safe, rest now," he reassured her, patting her hair as he pressed her face into his shoulder to shelter her from the wind. Your eyes met his and you saw the young girl beaten and battered on his shoulder. You made your way towards them.

“Is she ok?” you asked, observing the bruises along her small arms.

“No, but she will be, in time. The men?” he lifted his head, his eyes sweeping over the camp.

“Not a worry, but we better go now,” you said, ushering him into the wood. You knew if you told him what they had tried he would tear them apart. He didn't need that, he already had enough on his plate. Besides they wouldn't be trying that on anyone else anytime soon.

“I knew you were the right woman to bring,” he smiled at you and you took him by the hand, the warmth of his touch relieving the chill of the wind. You walked slowly hoping not to the harm the young girl anymore and prayed you would make it back to the little palace before their reinforcements came.