#mid-time skip

[bleedingflames-archive]

@bluelionhearted  @strengthoflions

Roxy had been riding for some time now, crossing through hostile and friendly territory alike.  Fortunately there was little to call attention to her.  Having taken the effort to cover her fiery red hair and dress as simply as she could, the girl drifted from town to town with hardly a glance.   The turmoil from Imperial invasions, as terrible as it was, helped her fly beneath the radar. 

Her route north took her into Faerghus, following the map she had brought with her. She had one destination that she hoped she could talk her way into; Fraldarius house.

She dismounted as soon as she was in sight, leading the animal in so she presented less of a threatening target.   She didn’t have to be incredible observant to notice the guards standing sentry and knew they’d likely stop any visitor.

“Halt!” One of them shouted as soon as he spotted her, his sword ready to draw.  “State your business.” 

“I would like a chance to speak to at least Felix Fraldarius, if not Lord Rodrigue.  Also Annette Dominic and Ashe Duran since they’re also here.  I’ve got some information they might be interested in.” 

“Who are you?” The other guard asked suspiciously.

“Baronetess Roxanne von Sol.” Roxy answered calmly, hiding the frustration the interrogation was causing.  She felt each passing second breathing down her neck.  She didn’t have time to argue with guards.  She was probably going to going to waste enough arguing with her former classmates.  “I was in the same House at the Officer’s Academy with them.” 

The guards regarded her with another long silence, causing the girl to shift restlessly.  “Another orphan then.” He snorted, clearly not believing in the title she had given.  “If you disarm I’ll escort you inside and see if they’re willing to meet you.” 

“Fair enough.” Roxy dutifully removed the multiple knives she had concealed on her person, dropping them into her saddlebag as she did so.  One, she even pulled from the messy braid that her hair had been tied in, a place few looked to see.  

“Come along.” The guard escorted her inside, her horse remaining under watch of the other.  As she was left in the entrance hall, a servant was sent in search of the three teenagers.  If anybody could verify the guest’s identity they could.  

[bleedingflames-archive]

It had taken her a little while once she had managed to make it home, but it was time well spent.  She had located every last one of her adoptive house and quite a few of the other house members as well.  Each one had a special designation on the broad map she had posted to a wall in her office, formerly the one held by her father.  

Surprisingly, despite the horrific battle that had taken place at Garreg Mach, there had been remarkably few casualties among the students.  The knights had taken the brunt as the students retreated and scattered in all directions.  She might have been willing to leave it at that, but she had more dire problems. 

And it was a problem she couldn’t stop on her own.  Well, not without risking more than she was willing to do.  She might be planning on turning against the Empire but she was far more use pretending to remain loyal.  Double agents lead precarious lives but in this day and age everyone’s life was full of danger. 

Evaluating her options, Roxy finally decided on the only recourse she had available to her.  She needed to recruit those that could act openly to pull the prince out of the mess he was in.  Packing what she’d need for the road, she saddled the horse best suited for the long distance she needed to cross. 

She only hoped she’d get there in time and that her potential allies wouldn’t argue too strenuously about her own nebulous loyalties.

[songbirdmage]

From here

@strengthoflions

He was blushing and judging by the heat in her cheeks, just as much as herself.  She already knew that he wasn’t able to express his emotions very well but this was really the first time he hadn’t turned away when his face had flushed. 

But his question had caught her off guard, enough to temporarily rob her of words.  And he seemed to take that as a rejection, something that she hadn’t intended on doing.  In the past, his flustered almost shouting might have scared her off but she understood him better now.  At least a little.

So after that briefest moment of complete surprise, Annette carefully closed her book to set it aside.  She stood up to walk over to him, one of her bright smiles lighting up her eyes.    “I’m not going to tell you no, Felix.  I’d like nothing more.”

[songbirdmage]

She might have been eavesdropping from outside the kitchen, still dressed in her nightgown and robe.

[songbirdmage]

{ "Can I kiss you?" -- strengthoflions, Felix }

@strengthoflions

Since coming here Annette found herself, perhaps surprisingly, sticking close to Felix.  He was a comfort in a way; a reassurance she wasn’t alone as she thought she might be initially.

And he seemed to need her company as well given that he never pushed her away or told her to leave him alone.  She was learning that beneath all that gruffness lay a man who felt far more than what he was comfortable with.

Can I kiss you?

The question came out of nowhere, causing Annette to look up from the book she was reading her eyes wide.  Sure, she had kissed him, at least on the cheek, several times, but he had never asked or tried to return them.  Although she couldn’t deny that she had thought about kissing him properly. 

Cheeks flushed bright pink, she nodded after failing to produce any sound at all.  

[songbirdmage]

@bluelionhearted

A soft knock came at the door before it opened and Annette slipped through carrying a tray in what could have been counted as an extraordinarily exaggerated manner.   Except this was Annette who was notoriously clumsy.  

“Ashe, are you awake?”

[songbirdmage]

@strengthoflions

Felix had finally finally fallen asleep.  Granted it was on a couch in Ashe’s room, but he was still asleep.  It was rest Annette could tell he sorely needed for all she knew it wouldn’t make up for the emotional and mental trauma all of them had faced.  

Start small, Annie. One step at a time.  Isn’t that what Mercie always told you?  Goddess I hope she’s alright. 

Instead of going to the room set aside for her, she had taken a position beside Ashe’s bed to better keep an eye on both boys so that neither would be disturbed unnecessarily.  She could do little beyond that. 

But Ashe had awoken finally, and she had been able to reassure him that she wasn’t a ghost and that she was really alive and in much better condition than himself.   It wasn’t long before he fell unconscious again, leaving Annette figuratively alone in the room. 

That is until she heard the stirring from the couch on the opposite side near sunset.  “You woke up.  How do you feel?”

[songbirdmage]

@strengthoflions

The disaster at Garrag Mach had only been the beginning, leaving the student body in shambles.  Annette had done the only thing she could think of doing, returning home. She could figure out what to do once she was no longer on the run.  

She had little idea if any of her friends were still alive or if they were hurt or held captive.  She had no way of finding out.  And riding straight into Fhirdiad proved that she had merely jumped from the frying pan into the fire.   Uncertain at how safe she might be, she chose to do the one thing that might, just might get her some answers and possibly safety. 

Riding into Fraldarius territory wasn’t something she might have originally chosen to do but if anybody else had survived that terrible final battle, Felix was the most likely option.  The pony she rode in on was tiring as soon as the house came into view.  

The poor thing wasn’t used to long journeys but Annette had little other option considering her skill with riding.  Given the option she usually preferred to walk on her own feet.  

Coming up to the house, she slowly dismounted wondering what the hell she was even supposed to say or ask, or anything.  

“Oh this was a stupid idea wasn’t it.”