“AHH!” Donnel yelped. He was merely in the weaponry tent to get a temporary lance to use in place of the one that broke. However, now here was Donnel, on the ground, lances, staves and bows on littering the ground and himself. He knew he should have asked for some sort of help.
Firm words would bring her to a halt. Cobalt eyes blink once, twice, and his words are finally dawning on her. She doesn’t bother to face him. It’d be of no use. What could he say that could ever make her change her mind? How was he to guarantee that her mother- Grima, wouldn’t doom them all again? It was… amusing. Frederick the Wary daring to give the benefit of the doubt. If he knew, knew of all the terror and turmoil that would plague these lands should Validar be successful he would never come to her defense. He might even do it himself.
Something else amusing, how quick he might be to simply – chop off her head, or maybe burn her, like ancient times were said to do with witches. It seemed fitting, to burn bridges by burning the last tie to Grima. Frederick would kill her, if he knew what was good for him.
Be civil, he tells her. How, she wonders. When this… This thing who once left her world for ruin dares to take the place of her mother. To meet her with soft comforts, and tell her that nothing in this world could harm her; not while she was here. Mother said she would be her shield, the one barrier between the world’s evil and Lucina, but this was just poison upon a snake’s tongue. Robin would not protect her, and Lucina knows this. There’s no bartering with demons.
“Stay back,” she’ll warn. But even still he draws closer. His mount taking hesitant steps towards her, and a bitter laugh will die on her tongue. Did he think her a child? Incapable of making decisions? As though she hadn’t spent the last few weeks- months thinking this very moment over. Swaying back and forth between decisions. Was the good of all truly worth her mother? Yes.
The gesture he makes is small. Urging her to hand over her sword. And at first, a small head shake will keep him at bay. But as he talks his words will fall on deaf ears. She’s no longer here. Simply staring back at him, blade in hand. He didn’t listen. She knew that her thinking was in a haze. Dull. Apathetic. Why did he not heed her warning? Again, he tells her to think about this. Her lip twitching in the beginning sparks of irritation. Hot. Burning. She has thought about this. Even if his loyalty to the queen biased his judgement, she would not be swayed. Her mother was a beast to be slain.
Still he persists. Rigid is she. Her perfect calm disturbed by the gentlest hand to her shoulder. It’s so small; earnest even. Kind is his touch, but foul are his words. Spoken low, and meant only for her. That if she wished to take Robin’s life, she would have to take his, too. And for this, she will hesitate. Fingers that had been once so sure on her blade falter. This was not according to plan. Frederick had done no wrong. He was… Innocent.
“You believe her to be worthy of your life?” A nod. And she will exhale. Eyes flickering to him, and then away. He can have it his way. Petty emotions will not drive her from her cause. If there was anything she was deserving of, it was this future. One without ruin. Without soil tainted in blood. Two could not compare to how many she could save. And that was why she was here, was it not? Not to get attached. Or to back down at the idea of losing two of her comrades- her friends- her family- the enemy. No hesitation.
Only her posture lowering, and she can see sparks of confusion- shock flicker across his face. Perhaps he doesn’t think she’ll kill him. After all, doesn’t she think the same? Frederick was loyal to his core. Her life he could not have. This fight was never fair; a victor had been named long before.
Blood stained the edge of her blade. Glistening, and she can hardly hear the cry of the horse she’d injured. Watching blankly as it tumbled to one side; trapping its rider. A pause. She could leave him there. Allow him to the mercy of scraping by with only an injured leg. Maybe. He calls to her. So far away it seems in the gaze of her mind. Cobalt eyes allowing themselves to be drawn to him as he speaks. Pitiful bargains lost on deaf ears. Answered only with a small shake of her head. No loose ends.
His death is quick. Calm. A mere slight of hand as she silences him, or.. freed him, really.
It was Frederick’s turn to do the laundry this week, a task he didn’t mind in the slightest. Each warrior among the Shepherds had their own box of laundry, keeping each person’s clothes separated from the other’s. Frederick would take a box and wash laundry within, delivering it to that person’s tent when he was finished.
He had already done Chrom’s laundry (and had gone through the extra effort of folding it, for his Liege) and had continued with Lucina’s. He brought the basket to her tent, poking his head through the flap and– “…Oh my!”, he exclaimed, dropping Lucina’s laundry on the floor. Perhaps if it were anybody else than Prince Chrom’s daughter, he would not have been shocked, but…
“My sincerest apologies. I was sure that you had kitchen duties today and that you wouldn’t be here.”, he said, averting his gaze pointedly, having gained a sudden interest in the ceiling.
Keeping up with the way the Shepherd’s handled chores was going to take some getting used to. There had been warnings- hadn’t there? Laundry was always on the same day, yet in the haze of her worries the words never truly registered.
“H-Hey!” and her shout is far from dignified. It was borderline squeaky and she’s already taken it upon herself to relish in the embarrassment it causes. Hands are a little slow to come up and cover her chest. Well, there’s not much to cover but she is still deserving of some bit of privacy despite this. A few seconds wasted as she pieces together exactly why he’s invaded her space. The wisp of a laugh that passes through her mouth is hardly audible, and she’s naturally pulling her tunic back over her head so that he may not have to upturn his neck so.
“I understand. I’m decent now. Truthfully, I should’ve been on kitchen duty but Kjelle insisted that she be the one to cook. Perhaps I could help you with what you’re doing?” A pause, and a hint of amusement to her tone. “Starting with announcing oneself.”
The situation that had brought Ike to this world was strange, and honestly something he would rather not attempt to wrap his head around. Not only was it a different land, but it was apparently a different time -- not knowing the names of places was easy enough to understand, but to realize that he was some long-dead hero of legend in this time was...uncomfortable.
If he had to put it bluntly.
But, for the most part, this army was no different than any other. Long-dead legend or not, and most didn’t dwell on that fact for very long when there was work to be done and battles to be fought.
Still...It was a rare day when Ike didn’t feel eyes on him.
“...Can I...help you with something?” Ike inquired hesitantly, looking up from his current task of sharpening one of his blades -- something Ragnell didn’t require very often, so it was lain on the ground by his side.