Guard Captain Gerald Whitebourough's Point Of View

It's been a couple of weeks since that final battle. We've cleaned up any remainders trying to hide away or attack nearby villages, and we are still waiting for Lady Lily's return.

According to the reports given she went into a blood filled rage when she found out a woman had been violated, and prisoners killed. Considering the news of what happened after, and the trails of bodies she leave behind... I am happy we are the defensive army. I am left with no doubt she would have done the same to people in her own army, and perhaps because of that, the soldiers seem more well behaved than usual.

The young lady has gotten a rather terrifying reputation in very short time. Still, it is worrying she has not returned.

We sent a troop after her unit about a week ago when she didn't return, but we haven't heard anything since then.

I glance to one of the young uns riding towards me in a hurry, but there is no fear in his eyes, only joy. I feel weight lift off my shoulders at his expression, and the words he speaks sends ripples through the people standing nearby.

"Augustus-sama has returned with the rest of his troop! All of them! They'll arrive tomorrow around sunset!"

He nearly trembles with excitement at bringing these news, and mixed cheers rise to the air behind me.

"Hurry up and deliver the news to the castle," I rush him off. He'd been so happy he just wanted to report it to everyone he met along the road.

The villagers shine as they excitedly discuss how to greet 'Augustus', but they aren't the only ones. The soldiers and guards are teeming with excitement as well, whispering and conspiring, and in the crowd soft hums escape them as they walk about merrily.

---*---

The young Lady arrived as predicted by sunset the next day, and by the castle gate stood every single person from the village, and even some from other nearby villages that had family here. The air buzzed with excitement as the Lady with Al, Tony and Whiskers behind her rode up the path in a light but elegant gallop, only slowing down once they reached the beginning of the crowd, and a crowd it was.

Colors were everywhere, the most brilliant dresses had been pulled out of the drawers, the one and only set of nice clothes for the men as well, and along with all the colorful clothes were bundles of flowers, so as the lady arrived in the crowd she was met with a roar of cheers and a rain of flowers. In the rain of flowers, and with the warm sunshine on a cloudless day she seemed to shimmer as a hero of a fairy tale.

She slowed down at the impact of the situation, likely a bit overwhelmed at the reception. She gave them a smile in return and continued on, for at the castle gate stood young Eric-sama.

Many would likely haven't thought of the importance of what was happening... but it was a terrible situation if handled improperly. Lily was impersonating a younger brother, thus, a rival. In the current situation Eric who should have been the heir for the position of Lord, could end up having his position taken away by the much more skilled younger brother, which had just routed and eliminated the first invaders in two decades, and with odds that were nothing less than terrible. Those who believed that Lily was indeed a boy could, without knowing, end up giving their loyalty to Lily instead of Eric, though Eric was their future lord.

Lily dismounted elegantly and walked the final short way to Eric, and the voices quieted as Eric raised his hand.

I was worried for the young Eric. If he couldn't stand out against Lily, but ended up in her shadow, then it would hinder his path as a Lord. Furthermore, she had swept the loyalty of the citizens and the common man within a few days, something which should have belonged to Eric, at least so it should. If Eric took up a grudge for this, then the young Lady would be in trouble... but my worries would prove to be unfounded...

Lily knelt in front of Eric with the elegance of a knight and flicked her mantle behind her, but though she shimmered with the elegance of a warrior, and a hero... Eric showed me something I had yet to see from the young Lord. The air around him changed, and in an instant I had expected to only see years from now, he appeared as his father. His eyes had a calmness like the mysterious lake Lumere, and his posture straight, yet without the stiffness you'd expect. He shone as the Lord, and Lily knelt for him with sincerity as she looked in his eyes.

In that moment they looked like a true Lord and his Knight. Both having faced death, and both aware of the fates awaiting both of them. I had watched Eric since he was small... but this newfound calmness in his being was appeared with the passing of the storm.

"I bring news of victory, my Lord!"

Lily's voice rang out in the silence.

"I bring you the ring of Lord Folcon, the commander of the enemy army."

I had indeed heard rumors that it was the young Lady herself that had taken the head of Lord Folcon, but was this then not the third leader whose head she had taken during the siege?

Eric nodded.

"You have done well. What about the survivors?"

Eric's silhouette against the evening sun had no mantle as Lily had... however... though it wasn't visible I believe that it is there. That Lord Eric has fully taken upon himself the mantle of a Marquess, and both accepted and understood the life he will lead. I know, for his eyes have the same look as those who have prepared for death, and the death of those they hold dear... but a softer and more caring look than that of a commander. Though still... with equal chilling dedication.

"We left no survivors through the pass, my lord. A single messenger made his way to Fort Brightrock, and as such..."

Lily paused to reach into her breast pocket and pulled out a large iron key.

"I give you the key to Fort Brightrock. We had to wait for reinforcements to hold the fort until we could leave, as such our return took a bit longer."

...

Lily-sama... did you perhaps forget it was a defensive mission? No, wait, before that... she's serious? She had nine men with her, and all of them returned? How in the world would she take a fort with only 10 men? Even if the young Lady's magic flood is exceptional it wouldn't make it over the wall with enough power to do any harm.

The area went silent as if to wait for a 'just kidding', but nothing like that ever came. Eric-sama was the only one to look unfazed at the news. In fact he looked as if he was keeping back from scolding her. Instead, however, he reached out his hand and took the key with a thoughtful gaze.

"I declare the conquest of Fort Brightrock be dedicated to Lady Lily Celeste!"

I stood shocked for a moment. I had expected it to be declared to their mother... ah, but, to declare it to the future queen didn't seem like a bad move either. Practically, the Fort would end up in Lily's hands if it wasn't either taken back, or given back in negotiations with Lily's approval. In other words, Eric was giving it to Lily as property. It was unexpected. Even Lily was looking up at him dumbstruck. There was no reason for a future queen to hold a fort that was in enemy territory... though... if they knew who owned it I doubt the new Marquess Guimont would attempt to attack it for a while.

The crowd bursts into a cheer as Lily smiles up at Eric and responds.

"To Lady Lily Celeste!"

"To Lady Lily Celeste, to Lord Eric, to Lord Augustus!" The cheers of the crowd reach towards the sky as another wave of flowers are tossed towards the heavens.

I glance down to Asher that stares up at them with a longing gaze. He's young, and he has set his eyes on being by the young Lady's side... and though I pity him for never being able to stand by her side, I admire the dedication in his eyes.

Asher turns his ashy mauve eyes at me with a steely determination. "Guard Captain-sama, can I become a knight worthy of standing by hero-sama's side?"

He asks me, as if unsure if it is even physically doable. I kneel down by his side and put my hand on his little shoulder.

"The knights only take in exceptional or well connected students. You are truly gifted with both sword and heart, Asher. I'm an old man now, but I'll see what I can do to find you a teacher. However, unless you gain the protection of a fairy, then you will never be able to stand by that person's side."

I caution him with this. For the royal knights and guards must be contracted, and always by at least a middle grade fairy. However, his expression doesn't change, and instead he gives me a strong nod and peers back at Lily with a gaze of awe.

Lily herself doesn't seem to have noticed the burning gazes of admiration that lock onto her from young boys of the city, and neither has Eric noticed the eyes of admiration from the adults.

Lord Celeste, you really have been blessed with wonderful children.