“ i can’t believe you put yourself at risk for my benefit ” for Cella
FIRE EMBLEM: THREE HOUSES STARTERS // accepting!
Can she blame him for incredulous look, when feeling disbelief herself? Emerald eyes do not waver, and she sustains his gaze regardless of any wish to avoid it; it had been the only possibility for him to escape --- the words almost escape her, but she is held back by their lack of explanation. That it was true he may have lost his life had she not aided him does not provide answers for why she did not take simpler, safer route. Myrcella needed not risk herself, leaving hearth and home to venture into danger; she could have sat idly by, attended execution as it would have been demanded of her, turned away her gaze then, and returned to the Keep with its protected walls and comforts that befit a princess.
And yet, mere idea does not sit well with her. Their friendship, if it could be called so, was worth more. She could not play pretend and ignore that he needed help; and though initial plan was never to act in such haste as to escape, she had neither the time nor the influence to do as she would have wished. He needed saving then; how could she ignore it for selfish reasons?
For all that it mattered, she may yet have been able to return. They would believe her if she blamed Robb for all of it, playing delicate hostage rather than assuming her place as designer of what would not seen as anything other than betrayal to family and House. It may not fit in with all the hints left behind, but it was scarcely news that House Lannister wished to paint the Young Wolf in as unflattering light as they could. Some would know the truth (she is not naive to think one such as Tywin Lannister would be fooled by poorly crafted lie); yet even him may choose to take advantage of it, if not before ensuring Myrcella would not be able to ruin his plans further by giving her away to marry someone she did not know, as far from King’s Landing as possible.
Initially, she may have entertained idea of returning. Somewhere along the road, though, Myrcella had left such idea behind. “Do you think so little of me that I would leave one I named friend to die?” There is a light curl of pink lips, a half smile that is to lighten mood as much as it is to reassure herself. It is no light matter, not truly, not when it is such life changing, perhaps life threatening route she has taken. But there is no other path to take; not one that does not end with her on a gilded cage she does not want.
There is no comfort where they are, improvised camp that it is now that they have finally stopped to rest, King’s Landing long left behind. It would be a lie to say she prefers it to a comfortable bed and servants to attend to her every need, but it is preferable to his death -- of that she has no doubt. “I knew of their plans. If there was time, if decision had not yet been made, perhaps I could have thought of another way --- perhaps I would have been able to help without risking myself in the process. You did not have that time, however. It was the sole way to ensure they would not take your life.”