Pupper
Well-Known Member
Isolde Bennett - Impregnable Fortress, Geraldis
Isolde wandered toward the training grounds as per usual, her temper had cooled but there was a piece of her that was still lit with anger. That man, he doesn't even know about half of the shit he rambles on about. How can he possibly defend that woman, that Kings Guard. The woman stopped in her tracks, sighing. She had split off from Donovan and now stood in the middle of the fortress staring at the sky. There is something strange about that woman and how she talks about Illya's death. Adran refuses to see it and only defends her thoughtlessly... but why I wonder. Isolde sighed once more and continued toward the training ground.
The grounds were empty, the kids had not returned, clearly assuming that their training for the day was complete. Isolde looked around, an empty ring is what she needed to hash out the conflicting thoughts she was having. The woman drew her halberd as she stood in the middle of the ring, examining the training dummies around her. She drew a shallow breath and advanced toward her targets with grace. She spoke to her before she died, Illya had convinced her to betray her King... for us. Isolde twisted around the targets, easily slicing them down in a flurry of swings and cleaves. She honoured her last wishes. Illya's last wishes, to protect her family? But she expects me to believe that Illya just died... that woman, so stupid. Her face and her body said otherwise.
Isolde trained relentlessly until the sun fell and she became exhausted, stopping in the middle of the ring, staring blankly. I let my temper get the best of me again... idiot.
"Isolde, I'd like to speak with you in private when you have a moment." Adran's voice sounded behind her, the woman startled slightly but turned to face him. "Here is fine, is it not?"
Adran peered around the training grounds, ensuring that the two of them were alone. "I suppose it is. Just didn't want to interrupt you if you were in the middle of training"
Isolde looked at him blankly, "It's too late for that. I imagine you're here to talk about my behaviour."
"Yes and no. I'm here first off to apologize to you. I said some of the things I did out of anger and that wasn't right of me." Adran replied.
Isolde grins at Adran, does he seriously think his pleasantries will work? "You can skip the butter, Adran. What is it you have really come for?"
Adran sighs, stiffening momentarily at Isolde's directness. "It's not merely butter, but as you wish. I wasn't present when the argument began so I don't know what Donovan or Shade said to you that made your temper flare up. I wished to hear your side of the story and see if we can't work things out."
"If you're looking for me to admit what I did was wrong, then I cannot give you what you seek." Isolde sighs, understanding the Diplomats incessant need to mend a situation. "Granted, I probably shouldn't have struck the woman. I merely wanted to... power in a powerless situation." Isolde replied with a softness in her answer.
"Sounds like an admission to me." he grins cheekily "I merely wish to come to an understanding of both sides. What was said that elevated the situation to that level?"
Isolde's face hardens at Adran's cheeky grin, "I'm not sure you would understand, Adran. You do not bare the same mark as we do and so, you do not think the same." she retorted, referring to the shield that branded her shoulder.
Adran pulled the collar of his shirt far down enough to reveal the Guardian's symbol branded on his shoulder when he joined their ranks. " I disagree."
Isolde looked at the mark on the man's shoulder family... "Come" Isolde announced, picking up pieces of training equipment off the ground and moving toward the barracks "Bring some things with you"
"Very well" Adran replied while picking up various pieces of equipment and following her into the musty room which housed the training equipment. Isolde put various pieces of equipment away, as if pondering her next response. "Being given the brand and being born with it are two different things. I was born here, born a Guardian alongside many, many like Illya." Isolde turned to look at Adran now, wisdom in her eyes. "She was family. Like you are now, and what sets me off is when someone leaves a family member behind. That is what your Kings Guard did, she left her to die."
Adran hardened slightly, "she was under orders not to interfere. If she had then Shade would have died along with Illya, and what purpose would that serve?"
Isolde sighed once more, she knew in heart that all the diplomacy in the world would not truly teach Adran what she learned as a child when a Guardian had died to protect her. "That is the difference, Adran. You don't leave someone behind. You do not back down in the face of an impossible barrier. You overcome it, even if that means through death. Leaving behind your comrade is the last thing you do and here she is now, amongst our walls... Illya's blood is on her hands. I trust you at least sought out answers."
"I did. According to Shade's accounts, Illya trusted Shade with the message she was to convey to us, but Illya also knew that for Shade to successfully escape the capital, she would have to die. I may not have known her for as long as you had, but when Shade told that to Claius, the man who knew Illya the best out of all of us, he said that it was just like Illya to sacrifice her life like she did."
Illya knew that she would have to die in order for Shade to escape the capital? I wonder then if my suspicions were correct... "Then I was right. Illya's blood is on her hands after all?"
Adran sighed, realizing lying to the woman now would be useless. She was putting the pieces together on her own. "Yes, with Illya's blessing."
Isolde immediately removed her gaze from Adran's and stared at the cold hard dirt beneath her feet. Her eyes swelled and she could feel her face becoming warm now is not that time for tears, Isolde. Keep it together... Isolde swallowed her fear and spoke again, "does anyone else know?"
Adran studied Isolde, "No. Just her, myself, and now you."
Isolde forced her face to harden once more before looking at Adran again, "Claius cannot find out about this. Or Donovan. They will kill her."
"I know. Which is why I came to you first. I knew you would understand."
Isolde shifted her body weight and stood with more confidence, "Illya made a sacrifice for the betterment of her family. That doesn't mean I forgive this woman nor does it change how I feel about her. But the last thing we want is for a bloody mutiny when war is upon us."
Adran agreed with a nod of the head, "Claius I can control, but Donovan doesn't listen to me. Doesn't respect me. I need someone to hold his tongue before he starts the mutiny we're both fearing."
"You want me to babysit? You don't think I do enough of that already?" Isolde scoffed. "Not babysit, at least not if it isn't necessary... but talk to him. Please make him see reason." Adran replied, seeking her help in the matter.
What does he think of me, a silver tongue like himself? She sighed, "That is only asking for trouble, you know that Adran. He might respect me but he will not listen to reason about a Kings Guard he thinks slaughtered our general. And rightfully so. Just because I'm not going to kill her myself does not mean I agree with this but I also have to think what is best for my family and mutiny is certainly not the answer. It would be most wise to give Donovan an order rather than talk sense into him about this particular situation... He will come to see reason with some things and grow to accept them but not this. At least I don't think so.
Adran replied with a sigh, "I need Claius to order him to fall in line then."
"I can tell him if you would rather, I need to speak to him about my rash behaviour regardless. I would rather him hear it from me that I hit our guest than from the whispers of the people."
Adran hesitated a moment before reluctantly admitting his need for her help, "I normally wouldn't ask if I could do it myself, but I feel like my personal feelings for Donovan might cloud my judgment in this instance."
Isolde looked at Adran with a seriousness, "Then I will. But do not dare think for one moment that this means I accept that woman being here. A coupe de gras or not, she still killed Illya. As long as she is a Kings Guard, not in rank maybe, but in soul... I cannot trust her. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Adran replied.
"Then go away. I have a lot to do." Isolde turned, hearing Adran speak once more before leaving "Thank you Isolde."
Isolde waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps, her hand shaped into a fist and she hit a pile of old boxes stacked in the corner. Her legs buckled and she fell to the ground, tears now falling from her eyes. This is a burden I must carry for the Guardians sake.
Isolde wandered toward the training grounds as per usual, her temper had cooled but there was a piece of her that was still lit with anger. That man, he doesn't even know about half of the shit he rambles on about. How can he possibly defend that woman, that Kings Guard. The woman stopped in her tracks, sighing. She had split off from Donovan and now stood in the middle of the fortress staring at the sky. There is something strange about that woman and how she talks about Illya's death. Adran refuses to see it and only defends her thoughtlessly... but why I wonder. Isolde sighed once more and continued toward the training ground.
The grounds were empty, the kids had not returned, clearly assuming that their training for the day was complete. Isolde looked around, an empty ring is what she needed to hash out the conflicting thoughts she was having. The woman drew her halberd as she stood in the middle of the ring, examining the training dummies around her. She drew a shallow breath and advanced toward her targets with grace. She spoke to her before she died, Illya had convinced her to betray her King... for us. Isolde twisted around the targets, easily slicing them down in a flurry of swings and cleaves. She honoured her last wishes. Illya's last wishes, to protect her family? But she expects me to believe that Illya just died... that woman, so stupid. Her face and her body said otherwise.
Isolde trained relentlessly until the sun fell and she became exhausted, stopping in the middle of the ring, staring blankly. I let my temper get the best of me again... idiot.
"Isolde, I'd like to speak with you in private when you have a moment." Adran's voice sounded behind her, the woman startled slightly but turned to face him. "Here is fine, is it not?"
Adran peered around the training grounds, ensuring that the two of them were alone. "I suppose it is. Just didn't want to interrupt you if you were in the middle of training"
Isolde looked at him blankly, "It's too late for that. I imagine you're here to talk about my behaviour."
"Yes and no. I'm here first off to apologize to you. I said some of the things I did out of anger and that wasn't right of me." Adran replied.
Isolde grins at Adran, does he seriously think his pleasantries will work? "You can skip the butter, Adran. What is it you have really come for?"
Adran sighs, stiffening momentarily at Isolde's directness. "It's not merely butter, but as you wish. I wasn't present when the argument began so I don't know what Donovan or Shade said to you that made your temper flare up. I wished to hear your side of the story and see if we can't work things out."
"If you're looking for me to admit what I did was wrong, then I cannot give you what you seek." Isolde sighs, understanding the Diplomats incessant need to mend a situation. "Granted, I probably shouldn't have struck the woman. I merely wanted to... power in a powerless situation." Isolde replied with a softness in her answer.
"Sounds like an admission to me." he grins cheekily "I merely wish to come to an understanding of both sides. What was said that elevated the situation to that level?"
Isolde's face hardens at Adran's cheeky grin, "I'm not sure you would understand, Adran. You do not bare the same mark as we do and so, you do not think the same." she retorted, referring to the shield that branded her shoulder.
Adran pulled the collar of his shirt far down enough to reveal the Guardian's symbol branded on his shoulder when he joined their ranks. " I disagree."
Isolde looked at the mark on the man's shoulder family... "Come" Isolde announced, picking up pieces of training equipment off the ground and moving toward the barracks "Bring some things with you"
"Very well" Adran replied while picking up various pieces of equipment and following her into the musty room which housed the training equipment. Isolde put various pieces of equipment away, as if pondering her next response. "Being given the brand and being born with it are two different things. I was born here, born a Guardian alongside many, many like Illya." Isolde turned to look at Adran now, wisdom in her eyes. "She was family. Like you are now, and what sets me off is when someone leaves a family member behind. That is what your Kings Guard did, she left her to die."
Adran hardened slightly, "she was under orders not to interfere. If she had then Shade would have died along with Illya, and what purpose would that serve?"
Isolde sighed once more, she knew in heart that all the diplomacy in the world would not truly teach Adran what she learned as a child when a Guardian had died to protect her. "That is the difference, Adran. You don't leave someone behind. You do not back down in the face of an impossible barrier. You overcome it, even if that means through death. Leaving behind your comrade is the last thing you do and here she is now, amongst our walls... Illya's blood is on her hands. I trust you at least sought out answers."
"I did. According to Shade's accounts, Illya trusted Shade with the message she was to convey to us, but Illya also knew that for Shade to successfully escape the capital, she would have to die. I may not have known her for as long as you had, but when Shade told that to Claius, the man who knew Illya the best out of all of us, he said that it was just like Illya to sacrifice her life like she did."
Illya knew that she would have to die in order for Shade to escape the capital? I wonder then if my suspicions were correct... "Then I was right. Illya's blood is on her hands after all?"
Adran sighed, realizing lying to the woman now would be useless. She was putting the pieces together on her own. "Yes, with Illya's blessing."
Isolde immediately removed her gaze from Adran's and stared at the cold hard dirt beneath her feet. Her eyes swelled and she could feel her face becoming warm now is not that time for tears, Isolde. Keep it together... Isolde swallowed her fear and spoke again, "does anyone else know?"
Adran studied Isolde, "No. Just her, myself, and now you."
Isolde forced her face to harden once more before looking at Adran again, "Claius cannot find out about this. Or Donovan. They will kill her."
"I know. Which is why I came to you first. I knew you would understand."
Isolde shifted her body weight and stood with more confidence, "Illya made a sacrifice for the betterment of her family. That doesn't mean I forgive this woman nor does it change how I feel about her. But the last thing we want is for a bloody mutiny when war is upon us."
Adran agreed with a nod of the head, "Claius I can control, but Donovan doesn't listen to me. Doesn't respect me. I need someone to hold his tongue before he starts the mutiny we're both fearing."
"You want me to babysit? You don't think I do enough of that already?" Isolde scoffed. "Not babysit, at least not if it isn't necessary... but talk to him. Please make him see reason." Adran replied, seeking her help in the matter.
What does he think of me, a silver tongue like himself? She sighed, "That is only asking for trouble, you know that Adran. He might respect me but he will not listen to reason about a Kings Guard he thinks slaughtered our general. And rightfully so. Just because I'm not going to kill her myself does not mean I agree with this but I also have to think what is best for my family and mutiny is certainly not the answer. It would be most wise to give Donovan an order rather than talk sense into him about this particular situation... He will come to see reason with some things and grow to accept them but not this. At least I don't think so.
Adran replied with a sigh, "I need Claius to order him to fall in line then."
"I can tell him if you would rather, I need to speak to him about my rash behaviour regardless. I would rather him hear it from me that I hit our guest than from the whispers of the people."
Adran hesitated a moment before reluctantly admitting his need for her help, "I normally wouldn't ask if I could do it myself, but I feel like my personal feelings for Donovan might cloud my judgment in this instance."
Isolde looked at Adran with a seriousness, "Then I will. But do not dare think for one moment that this means I accept that woman being here. A coupe de gras or not, she still killed Illya. As long as she is a Kings Guard, not in rank maybe, but in soul... I cannot trust her. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Adran replied.
"Then go away. I have a lot to do." Isolde turned, hearing Adran speak once more before leaving "Thank you Isolde."
Isolde waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps, her hand shaped into a fist and she hit a pile of old boxes stacked in the corner. Her legs buckled and she fell to the ground, tears now falling from her eyes. This is a burden I must carry for the Guardians sake.
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