Nilo set his food down as the woman scooted into him, lifting his arm so she could nestle into him, the man giving a happy sigh at the feeling of her warm body tucked into him. It all felt so surreal, to be sitting out in the snow with the woman that was to be his wife. He adored her and every moment they spent together. This day was sure to be a forever memory and this moment eternally precious. It was wonderful that they got to spend this time together, newly-engaged and simply able to love and shower each other with affection. It was a moment that would serve to strengthen what they already had.

So as she gave her reasoning, Nilo listened carefully, her answer making the man grin even wider if that was possible. There was something warming about the way she wanted to stay with him at night and be involved in his life. It was an incredibly intimate moment, one where they admitted to wanting to share a space in the future, even if it wasn’t the usual arrangement. Not every royal loved their partner as Nilo loved Gennadius and he looked forward to waking up next to her.

Familiar fingers traced his jaw as she grew more tender. Oh if he lost her, Nilo would be shattered. There was no doubt about it. The man was one-hundred-and-fifty percent dedicated to this woman and if he were to ever lose her he would lose it all. Monetary possessions could not compare to the feelings he had for her. “So it is settled,” Nilo purred, “We shall sleep in the same bed until you grow too annoyed with me and demand your own room.”

Nilo laughed as she climbed all the way into his lap, the man grabbing a blanket to cocoon them in. Strong arms wrapped around her and he pressed his nose into the top of her hair, her familiar smell always soothing, even if the pair had begun to be covered in white. He didn’t mind, his heart warm from the day's events and his body from the woman he held. “I’m sure being a badass is tiring, but I wouldn’t know. I’m just happy cheering you on in all your badassness.” The man gave a low laugh and hugged her closer, resting his chin atop her head.

“And since you were wondering how welcome you would be, I can assure you that this castle will be as much yours as mine. In fact, it already is your home, don’t you think? We do technically live together and the staff does love you.” The man pointed out, “I also think Da’s convinced you’re already his daughter. He’ll no doubt adopt my entire court as his own once he’s out of the infirmary.” He wondered for a moment how his father would react to the engagement news, even though he knew it would be positive. Nilo would no doubt receive some witty comments from his father about how long it took him to actually pop the question.

“As for eternity Gennadius, that’s what I’m counting on. You’re stuck with me forever now.” Nilo purred, glancing down at the figure in his arms, “Yes, I simply must drag you around on a lifetime of adventures because what’s the fun in going alone? I would much rather go with one the one pretty woman who can handle me.” He chuckled, already looking forward to the times when they could afford to run away from it all.

Nilo’s life may have been defined since the day he was born, but he was still managing to make it his own and that started with Gennadius. It didn’t start with his rebellious streak, it all began with her. “I am very lucky to have the chance to choose,” Nilo admitted, remembering his father's words, “as my father did not. It may have worked out in the end for him, but to be forced into a marriage? I could never imagine such a fate.” The king had loved his queen, but how long had that taken to develop? How long were they forced to live a loveless marriage before the two actually developed feelings?

The prince sighed, more than grateful for what he had been given. “I am happy I had the chance to properly court you, to be able to get down on one knee and ask you to marry me. I may have had to wait two years, but in the end, that campaign did us both some good,” Nilo laughed, “And as horrible as your injury was, I enjoyed the time we spent together and I am more than happy you have made what seems to be a full recovery. Although, I’m sure there will be days you’ll claim you need your leg massaged because I have become a master with my hands.” He chuckled, the man seeming unable to stop laughing. He was happy and inexplicably so.

“I think we are a love story of the ages,” Nilo purred, repeating the words from nearly a year ago that had stuck with him, “Because how many more times will there be a girl soldier and her prince, who found each other worse for wear? Who picked up each other's shattered pieces to put them back together? There will never be another tale to replicate ours.” Would there be many more epic tales of love in the course of history? Definitely, but would theirs forever be the best? Yes. In his eyes at least. Then again, the man was rather biased.

Anyone could see that the man was wrapped around her little finger and was as deeply in love as one could be. The man’s eyes fluttered shut and his chest shook with a quiet laugh. “They’ll write stories about us, I tell you. They will forever remember the time Lavarre was ruled by a hardened soldier with a gentle touch and royal mess of a man who brought her hyacinths every spring.” He murmured, pressing his lips to the top of her head in a gentle kiss.

With the blanket cocooning them in, Gennadius really was in the ideal and most comfortable position. Tucked between man and blanket, there wasn’t a part of her that wasn’t warm, even her face somewhat sheltered now as she pressed her cheek to his coat, his warm stong grip holding her close. Her sword was at a slightly awkward angle with the sheath, but it didn’t affect the comfort levels all too much.

Gennadius let out a low chuckle, “Are you sure your father wants to have a feral child? At least you always held some kind of decorum. And Theodore knows his way around and is really rather unaffected by things. I bet Theophilus will be the dream child, and Damien...I’d put him as the grumpy brother everyone knows is a real mush. I guess that makes us quite the family, doesn’t it?” Yes, she had a family now, and as it would seem, was about to create her very own with Nilo. Not for a while though, considering she did hope to get some time with just him in their marriage.

“I could not imagine such a thing myself,” she said as he spoke of the arranged marriage. “But I suppose you were always in greater danger of that than I ever was. For myself, it seemed I was going to live the rest of my life alone, and honestly, I had been fine with that. I stopped being willing to give my heart to anyone even in friendship. At the time, Darius and Drusus were the two people who were closest to what I could consider friends.”

Another soft laugh escaped her and she reached her hand up again to his face, “Yes, I agree those two years did great things. They taught me the beginning of what it meant to long and helped me grow enough to be willing to step into your arms.” Gennadius’s face was dancing with a smile as her fingers danced across his smooth cheek. “And I enjoyed every moment we spent together while I was recovering. But yes, I do fear I may always still need your massaging services. It does ache on occasion and skilled hands are hard to find these days,” she explained with an amused huff. Yes, they were both clearly happy people.

And yes, they were quite the love story. Her head tipped back into his kiss as another contented sigh escaped her. “I think you have it wrong. See, you paint me as the better of us there. I just play with swords all day while you do the hard work. Personally, I believe it will tell of how a brilliant prince, perhaps a bit rough around the edges here and there, led his kingdom to greatness and allowed a female soldier the privilege to be the one to hold his heart.”

She leaned back enough to see his face, cupping hands around his freezing cheeks as she pressed her lips to his. “It will be a romance novel to grace every library,” she murmured as she tipped her mouth away, their breath visible in the cold air. “But perhaps we should go in now before we both take another trip to the infirmary for hypothermia,” she laughed, reaching up to brush some of his red hair back and shake out the gathering snow. “It would be a terrible shame for one of us to succumb to the snow now.”

Moving off him with some reluctance, she gathered her tray and a few of the blankets before starting in. Personally, Gennadius hadn’t been too cold, but she was the one wrapped into him and sucking up all his heat, and his face had felt rather cold to her. “Perhaps now would be a good time to go and see your father, don’t you think?” she offered, placing the tray on his nightstand, knowing the maids would probably pick it up later. Not that she wanted to add extra work to what they did but the kitchen was slightly out of the way.

Gennadius moved over to Nilo, still wrapped in his coat and not really looking to return it at the moment. But some of the excitement and joy had left her face, in place of a more somber expression. Because there was something weighing heavily on her suddenly, something she knew would eat her alive if it wasn’t addressed. “One day, your father is going to want to know where I came from you know... maybe it would be best if we told him now.” It was clear the idea unnerved her some, though instead of withdrawing as was normally in her nature, she moved closer to Nilo, seeking his comfort and thoughts on the matter.

“Damien already knows,” she admitted. “He thought maybe we should come up with a cover story if I needed it but I don’t want to lie to your father. I don’t want the entire kingdom knowing... and I don’t really want to tell your father either. It’s just... maybe it is better we tell him than having him ask us at a bad time or some other instance.” And for the first time, in her uncertainty, her fingers moved to the ring instead of her sword, tracing around the band of promise.

Nilo leaned in as she pressed her lips to his, hands warming his face and her breath coming out as a puff of white smoke. He couldn’t help but sigh as she mentioned heading inside, knowing it wouldn’t be too long before the man probably caught a cold. His hair was turning mahogany from the snow that covered it, although it currently had a white frosting over it. Nilo groaned in protest as she moved off of him, his source of warmth yanked from him.

The man reluctantly got up, collecting the rest of the blankets and his tray of half-eaten food and walking inside. The man did drink the rest of his cider, but the half-sandwich and pastry were disregarded as he set his tray atop her. “I wouldn’t mind seeing my father,” Nilo responded, shaking his head to rid it of its frosty coating. Then he dusted the snow off himself and removed his coat to shake it off, the gray article was warmer than the majority of his coats. It was his favorite to wear during winter outings.

Nilo watched as she came closer, the woman sobering and looking a little nervous. He was about to ask what was wrong when she spoke, revealing that she wanted to tell his father about her past. His face softened and the man took a step forward, reaching out and brushing a little bit of snow that had gathered off her shoulders before one of his hands took hers, interlacing their fingers in a show of support. Her uncertainty was clear and the man couldn’t blame her. How were you supposed to tell the king you used to be a criminal?

Nilo offered her a comforting smile. “You don’t have to tell him if you don’t want to, Gennadius. I know you don’t want to lie to him either, but it’s your story to share and he doesn’t have a right to it.” He reassured her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Nilo didn’t mind her telling his father, knowing that it wouldn’t affect their engagement, but he also wasn’t trying to push her into an uncomfortable situation. The last thing he wanted was for her day to be ruined, especially since she had seemed so elated.

“I know my father is a nice man and I’m sure he will be fine with it, assuming you're planning on telling him everything,” Nilo told her, “but I promise you that it’s not a requirement. The man knows you hail from the peasantry and I agree that he’ll probably ask for your full story at some point, but you can always be selective with the information you provide him.” He pointed out, walking away from her briefly to shut the doors to his balcony, but came back to her immediately to rejoin their hands and lead her towards the door.

“The coat looks good on you, you should keep it,” Nilo offered as he led her out into the hall and towards the infirmary where his father would be, no doubt cuddling his dog. “And you can always decide when you’re there too. As far as he’s concerned we’re just visiting.” Was Nilo worried about his father rescinding his blessing? No, the prince was marrying her and that was that, whether his father had an argument about it or not. Although, Nilo truly believed it would go over decently well.

That certainly was something to say, that the king had no right to her story. Which, would make sense for Nilo since he was the king’s son, but for Gennadius, the man was still king and high reigning monarch, meaning that he had every right to know anything he wanted. Then again, she was no officially engaged to the prince, so even if things didn’t go well, she had full faith that Nilo would keep her side. But it seemed, the man was convinced all would go just fine.

“It’s hard deciding what is and isn’t important,” she admitted as he closed the balcony doors. At his return, she allowed him to lead her our and down the hall, mulling over her options, visibly relaxing as they went. Her fingers tightened around his as they moved towards the familiar infirmary halls, which were now sporting much brighter and more beautiful colors, which had done wonders for making the entire place seem much less cold and foreboding than before.

“Are you actually offering to let me keep your coat?” she asked incredulously, free hand reaching to clutch at the fabric that was too big for her, like the rest of his clothes always were. “Be careful what you say or else I may end up wandering the castle looking homeless because all the clothes I wear will be twice my size. And you, good sir, may find your wardrobe devoid of all clothing. Give me one and I’ll take it all,” she laughed, her humor coming back as decided not to worry about what and when she would tell Leonel. As Nilo had said, when she was ready.

“I will tell your father,” Gennadius told the man confidently now with a nod, “Perhaps not right now but soon enough. Besides, we could consider it an asset, no?” She chuckled, remembering how the first time she went out in the royal city with Nilo, she had found it pretty simple to pick out the thieves from the travelers simply because she understood the differences to the tiniest detail. “And, I already stole the most valuable thing here... and I will claim it as my greatest feat. See, I stole the crown prince.”

Oh yes, her exuberance was back as her grip tightened and she took lead, starting to speed up their pace to the king’s room. “And I am NOT giving you back,” she laughed, “because you are stuck. Besides, I can’t very well get the wolf etched out my hilt, now can I?” The woman took special pride in her new sword, perhaps more so than ever now, because the wolf had always been meant to be a symbol of the man she loved. And not it was a symbol of the man who was to be her husband. Who knew the woman would ever be excited about a marriage in her lifetime?

The closer they got to Leonel’s room, it seemed the closer Gennadius moved to Nilo before they arrived at the door. She cast a slight glance at the man, though her gaze showed confidence as she offered a soft knock before stepping in. Her beaming face no doubt gave away that the prince had indeed popped the question, though the ring was the truest evidence. “I heard that you will be back to your throne soon and I had to see for myself,” she grinned. Seeing Flower, she clicked her tongue to call the dog over, squatting down to run her fingers through the animal’s fur, rather fond of the dog herself at this point.

“Don’t make me regret giving it to you,” Nilo told her sternly, though he laughed as she tugged him forward, taking the lead and dragging him along behind her in the infirmary halls, the two ever the characters that haunted the wing. Who would have thought that he would ever spend so much time in the infirmary laughing and having fun? The two always seemed to make the drab halls seem bright despite the sense of foreboding that came with the territory. Although, soon enough, the royal infirmary would become empty again with his father’s recovery.

He nodded when she agreed she would tell his father at some point, although he was still surprised she had made that decision. Nilo warmed as she considered him the greatest prize she had ever stolen, his fingers giving hers a gentle squeeze. The man never wanted to be given back either. He was hers to have and to hold forever. The ring she now wore was his promise of that and their marriage would only solidify it further. A future together was even closer and her “yes” had been the greatest gift she could have ever given him. Just as the proposal had promised his affections to be forever hers, her answer had done the same.

The two entered his father's room and Nilo released her hand as she bent to pet Flower, who had grown much bigger from her original tiny, fluffy form. Although, she was still a cream ball with a permanently grumpy, squished face. He bent down and scratched her behind the ears for a moment before snatching her left hand and proudly brandishing it with a flourish, the diamond glinting in the sunlight. “Lo and behold, we are engaged!” Nilo announced with a hearty laugh, allowing it to fall back at her side. Even if the ring hadn’t been there, it was more than evident by the way the two beamed that something monumental had happened between them.

Leonel let out a chuckle himself at their entry, the pair ever-dynamic characters. “Yes, I will be returning to the throne in the next couple of weeks, although I’m sure the doctors will require daily check-ups for a while to make sure I don’t have a relapse.” He explained, before turning his attention to his son, “And I am surprised you worked so fast Nilo. Did you have to consult half the castle to make up your mind? Have a little meeting in the war room?” His father questioned, cocking a humored brow.

Nilo scoffed, moving to sit in the chair he had been in earlier next to the bed. “For your information, Damien decided to take the day off so no, I did not talk to anyone,” He huffed before calling Flower over to him and subsequently stealing her away from Gennadius. The prince tossed her a mischievous look as he buried a hand in the canine’s thick mane. Although the man would have liked to talk to Damien, things had worked out anyways. The woman had accepted his proposal and she would one day be his bride. How much better could things have gotten?

“I am still surprised, but proud. Congratulations you two and I look forward to the day we are officially family, Gennadius.” Leonel told them, offering a warm smile to the pair, “So, any ideas yet on when you intend to make the official announcement? Or is it one of those things I won’t be hearing about until the day of?” He joked, shifting on the bed, which he was so grateful he would finally be out of after a year. To be able to return to his own chambers… it would be wonderful.

As Nilo snatched her hand to lift it up for Leonel to see, Gennadius could not help her laugh. The moment her hand was released, she couldn’t help but look over the ring agin, face beaming perhaps even more than it had. Every glance at it reminded her of Nilo’s proposal and just how beautiful it had been... and how it would be so much more beautiful when they were standing side by side as husband and wife.

Her fingers worked through Flower’s extra-long fur, enjoying the softness of the dog who, despite her ever-grumpy looking face, was the sweetest thing anyone could ever meet. Doing so, she was hard pressed not to laugh at the king’s teasing of Nilo. It sounded like something the prince would have done if he could, considering how nervous the man was before he proposed. It would be one of her favorite parts of the whole thing, how he made her so concerned that she believed something was wrong with him, and even for the few moments she thought he was getting ready to tell her that things were going to have to come to an end between them.

When he called Flower over, the dog going to her master, the woman met his mischievous look with a huff and mock glare. “If you’re marrying me, doesn’t that mean that I will technically own your dog too?” she shot at Nilo with a look of triumph before redirecting her attention to the king. No, she would never actually take Flower from her master, but her master didn’t need to know that. It was much more fun to make the prince think that Gennadius really planned on taking duel ownership, if not steal the dog on top of his clothes.

“It will be an interesting day, indeed, sir,” Gennadius chuckled at the mention of them being family. It was actually something she looked forward to, as well. “Though I’m not convinced you really want a heathen running around your halls for the rest of eternity. At least, some of us think I am a heathen...” A pointed look was sent in the direction of Nilo, as if actually accusing him of doing something horrendous, which was part of the fun since Leonel was there.

“Personally sir, I thought it would it would be lovely to just get married and surprise the kingdom, but your son insists that there is a method to all this. Something about an announcement in the town square and at a ball... And I am getting the impression that he expects me to attend both these things and everything in between,” she huffed dramatically, as if the prince had just asked her to go clean out an entire swamp with nothing but her sword to be used as a shovel. “I am also apparently not allowed to run through any of the nobles who irritate me.”

Gennadius straightened from her crouching position seeing that Flower was not returning to her, stretching her arms up in the air. “Truly, I am starting to see a lot of disadvantages in this new commitment I seem to have made.” Again she was addressing Leonel and not Nilo, though she couldn’t help the mischievous glance shot the prince’s way. “Do tell me Sire, can you tell me exactly what good could come to me from being stuck with your son?” She gave a dramatic wave of her hand, as if there was really no way to convince her that she hadn’t made a mistake. It was really the first time both she and Nilo had been in the same room with his father so it was quite a show of how dramatic the two could get with each other.

Nilo + Leonel

Nilo scoffed as she claimed she would take ownership of his beloved pet as if Flower already wasn’t the castle’s dog. “You better not corrupt my precious child. She is perfect the way she is,” The prince ruffled Flower’s fur, looking at the dog as if she could actually understand him and wasn’t just enjoying the attention. “Then again, it seems I cannot help that you will officially be her dog mother, so I guess I must grow used to spiked-collars and violent tricks.” He laughed, fingers brushing over the leather collar she currently donned.

“Do not look at me as if you’re not a heathen,” Nilo retorted, shooting her a look of his own, to which he received a look of disapproval from his father, “Don’t look at me like that Da. You are blissfully unaware of the things she does to me.” He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes at her. “One day I swear to you she will show her true colors. One day!” The man leaned back in his chair and Flower settled as his feet, no doubt drooling on his boots as the conversation continued.

Leonel found the pair’s interactions humorous and it was nice to see them be themselves around each other, even if they were standing before the king and having their usual banter. “Yes, there is a method to this,” The man answered with a chuckle, “There will be an official announcement in the city square.” He explained, knowing his son was just as oblivious to what happened as she was. They had gone over marriage proceedings several times together, but he knew his son hadn’t absorbed anything. “There is also a celebratory ball, as you previously stated, which will happen soon after the announcement to commemorate the engagement.”

He glanced between the two, knowing of their previous record when it came to the ball. Disappearing and sharing the very dance that was the first of their many scandals. This time, all eyes would be on them more than before, given the fact their engagement would be the subject of it all. “You two can wait as long as you’d like to announce it, but rumors are bound to spread quickly. The staff will soon be aware and some have families of their own they return to. So just beware of that fact, although I will not pressure you to make an announcement. This is your affair, after all.” Leonel pointed out, giving them free rein to make the first of their many decisions.

“Then there’s the wedding itself, which you will no doubt have pressure from your nobles and people to rush, but don’t worry.” Leonel reassured, knowing that the nobility could be like bloodhounds when it came to shoving their noses into the lives of royalty, “This is your decision, not theirs. Last I checked, royalty trumps nobility.” The man laughed. Even though Gennadius was not royalty yet, she would be following their marriage. “Even so, you may not hurt my nobles, no matter how much they irritate you.”

A brow cocked, by both father and son, as she claimed that there were many disadvantages, though Leonel was aware it was in humor. In a way it was also true, given as becoming royalty had many benefits and drawbacks. As she asked what good could come from being with his son, the man chuckled, thinking for a moment. “Surely you already considered this before blindly accepting his proposal? I took you as a smart woman Gennadius.” The king joked, thoroughly enjoying a normal conversation for once.

The man scratched at his jaw as he tried to form an answer for her though, even if it was a question more suitable for his son. “Well personally, I think he’s easy on the eyes,” Leonel commented, which was funny considering the two had nearly identical faces, “I would claim he was a well-trained gentleman, but he skipped out on the majority of his education, although I believe he will treat you well lest he has me send him to the gallows.” Nilo gave an offended gasp at his father's threat, crossing his legs with an additional huff.

“You can play a couple of instruments, can’t you?” An indignant nod from Nilo, “So there’s a plus for midnight serenades,” Leonel laughed again, the hand at his jaw falling into his lap, “He can dance exceptionally well, considering I had him taught and he does have exceptional etiquette, not to mention his dogs an adorable creature.” He gestured to Flower, who had fallen asleep on the floor, “Not to mention I have a treasury that can buy you all the swords you could ever desire.” Leonel told her, blue eyes glittering with humor.

“Although, I think this more of a question for your intended and yourself, not his father,” He pointed out, “You’ve chosen to spend this past year with him so obviously, you have your own reasons.” The kind chuckled and shook his head. She probably knew his son better than he did at that point, so why bother the man who spent a year in a bed. “I mean, there's also the perk of gaining a great father-in-law who also happens to be the king,” Leonel suggested.

Hearing about the announcement and ball again, did not come as a surprise, but they felt like they held more weight to them when it was the king being the one to inform. And she hadn’t even considered the actual wedding. And she was sure there were a lot of formalities that went into that and she hadn’t even considered the planning it would involve as well. It was beginning to concern her some, but Leonel’s voice brought her out of it as he also made a point that she wasn’t allowed to harm any of the nobles.

“See Your Majesty, I was being smart. I feared hesitating would crash the entire kingdom with the forlorn look I was given,” Gennadius laughed, again glancing at Nilo, knowing that while she was having her fun now, he was sure to get her back at some point. Whether it be now with the king, or later in something like acting playfully cold to her or trying to take all his clothes back. Or perhaps a new surprise.

When Leonel started listing what made Nilo worth it, she couldn’t help an amused chuckle at the first part. Yes, the prince was quite the looker, though she was sure when the king was younger, they would have been spitting images of each other. As for being well-trained... well, Nilo did hold himself rather well in court but training could always be changed. She would know as a colonel, now wouldn’t she? So yes, that too could be considered a plus. It was during this time that she leaned back against the wall, ankles crossing as she looked between father and son.

“Yes, the instruments are a plus, and despite him saying otherwise, he has a rather nice voice. Though I am sure he would rather coerce me into singing him to sleep.” She held back the ‘again’ she had wanted to use, deciding that would lead to questions. “And perhaps there is merit in the dancing since he probably should teach me. The last time I danced was my first, and I do believe if I was not a good footsman as a soldier, I would have sent us both sprawling to the floor. And that could have been the real scandal.”

At the mention of buying her swords, she couldn’t help her chuckle meandering over to where Nilo was. “I have many reasons,” she agreed, unceremoniously flopping into the prince’s lap, having long gotten over any embarrassment over such things at this point. Blame it on the staff and everyone’s poorly timed entrances when she and the man were together. “Though the fact that he is comfortable probably trumps them all. Though I do admit your desk comes in a close second. Then an inn bed in third...” The fact that she was able to label the places she found most comfortable was amusing, especially considering none of them could actually be considered comfortable. Though she purposefully left out Nilo’s mattress.

“Now having you as a father-in-law may very well be the deciding reason though. As for your ever so kind offer of all the swords I could want, I’m afraid that one holds less of an appeal. I prefer to make mine. I have more faith in my own abilities,” she laughed, glancing at the sword and sheath that hung off to the side but within view. Yes, blacksmithing was not only something she was confident doing, but something felt extremely skilled at. To the point she had even begun debating just messing around with it as a hobby and try her hand at more than swords and daggers. There was one project she had in mind...

The plans for the day had been rather simple really. Nilo had insisted he had some errands to run in the city and everyone was under the impression that he had taken a guard with him. So what had there been to worry about? The prince went into the city often, so this was nothing new. And Gennadius was not overly concerned about it either, planning on taking the time to do some work with the Theophilus and the battalion. And, of course, later she and Nilo were to spend time together, probably talk nonsense before getting a bit mushy, and ending with her actually learning more about the kingdom and what being a royal involved. Because for once the fates were on their side... right?

“I’m telling you Theophilus, these two should be put with one of the other Captains,” the woman jabbed at the two papers with the names of the soldiers they were talking about. “They are just not going to do well where they are now. Stick them with someone else and I think they might actually have potential.”

“Or you are teaching them that when things get hard, to run from it.” Came the smooth calm reply.

An exasperated huff, “Or maybe I am trying to make a tactical decision.”

“Are you?”

“I don’t know, you tell me.” Determined dark blue eyes met the ever patient green orbs that raised a thick brow at her.

A sigh. And then she threw her hands in the air, “Fine! Fine... Mulligan stays, Garth goes...”

“Splendid. I had a feeling you would...”

“Shut up T while I still like you.”

“Yes ma’am,” followed by a chuckle as the two stepped out of the war room, both falling into a calm chat as if nothing had happened. It was their custom to have at least one thing they disagreed on and have Gennadius argue while the Captain calmly stared her into submission. Worked almost every time, and then when they left the room, they left their arguments there as well. And this was the calm way of things when it all went to hell.

“COLONEL!” A servant came skittering around a corner. But it wasn’t the frantic yell, but the blood on the man’s clothes that caused her to freeze up. Had one of the soldiers had an accident? What had happened? Though neither her or Theophilus had time to ask any questions before the breathless servant blurted out the news, “The prince! He...”

The man never got a chance to finish his sentence, Gennadius already off in a run towards the infirmary, Theophilus right beside her. Nilo... oh gods... was that Nilo’s blood? What had happened?! He was just going to the city! He had gone to the city so many times before... surely this was all some big misunderstanding and the prince had just found an injured horse in the stables or something...

But when she entered the infirmary, the blood trail told a very different and disturbing story. One that had filled her with a terror, more than anything she had even experienced at the borders. Because this was Nilo’s blood... and there was far far FAR too much. And so she came careening around a corner in time to see them setting him down on a bed. “Oh gods...” Her heart was constricting as she rushed to the doorway, trying to take a preliminary glance at the extensive and brutal damage done. “Watch the dagger,” she snapped, more out of habit and stress than anything.

It was all she could do, to shift into battle mode, the one that kept her calm among the screams of pains in the thick of fighting. The one that had the sense to make sure some panicked nurse didn’t yank the blade out before making sure they weren’t about to spill out one of his arteries... because that would mean every chance was over and Gennadius couldn’t even fathom to think of such a thing, and she wasn’t about to let someone make a stupid mistake.

The woman moved closer about the same time they were pulling of his shirt. The flashes of the borders came almost instantly, seeing the bloodied injured men. But this was from her nightmares... because this was Nilo. The grade of his injuries was that of those of war... or a hunter who had decided to toy with his prey. Where had the guard been?! Who the HELL had done this... “Nilo...” her voice had softened exponentially compared to the barked order she had given the nurses. But it was at the same moment that they were trying to stem the blood flow and the prince became feral.

Gennadius easily dodged the arm that had flown out randomly in a panic. The nurses were begging him to calm down as they kept coming forward to try and help him to only be sent scurrying back. For a moment, the woman did nothing, watching as her mind desperately worked to get a solution and fast. “Don’t touch him for a minute!” she barked at the nurses as she tried to move closer to him, catching Theophilus’s gaze and nodding. Augustus was coming in as well and the moment he saw what was going on, disappeared.

“Nilo... Nilo! Look at me... LOOK at me...” she commanded the man, trying to get his attention and his focus off the nurses and more notably Theophilus and Damien (who had finally arrived and was seeing what needed to be done). “It’s just me... “ The woman held her hands up in full view to prove that she wasn’t hiding anything. Every move was that of someone with a frightened and injured animal, whose only instinct was to fight. “Eyes on me. See? The nurses are behind me. They aren’t hurting you. Let me help you...”

It was then that Augustus re-appeared and all hell broke loose. Theophilus made an easy lung forward to try and hold down the prince on one side, leaving the other for Damien. The Captain was using his body weight to try and pin the thrashing man to the bed. “Watch the dagger!” Gennadius yelled to the men, unable to get close herself without risking some damage to herself or possibly getting the others thrown off. Which left her pacing off to the side, watching the blood that was getting everywhere and gritting her teeth against the yells.

The doctor was trying to force himself close enough to Nilo’s head with what seemed to be an entire flask of a drugging liquid. But how is all unfolded couldn’t really be told from her point of view, because by then, all she was seeing was red. Even she had some blood on her clothes now, the entire place looking like the nightmare it was. And someone was going to pay... the moment they were able to get the dagger out, Gennadius was going to take the very same one and thrust it in the monster’s heart who had done this. Because right now, it didn’t even look like there was a guarantee that Nilo was going to survive.