Unlikely

'To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.'

-Confucius

It was the thunder that woke me up. I was certainly accustomed to rain so it had to be the thunder or maybe it was some instinct that led me. No matter. Somehow I found myself walking down the halls of the Alexandrian Palace. I would leave in the morning but Queen Garnet had offered to house us for as long as need be. She was truly a kind and patient young woman; however, I long for Burmecia and Lord Fratley.

I awoke from my thoughts to find myself in a sitting room. Like all rooms in the palace it was simple yet elegant. I enjoyed this feature of the Alexandrian palace. The quiet of its beauty was even more dazzling than loud beauty. It was silent strangely. Yes, there was rain and occasional thunder but still the silence was unusual to me. I tapped my finger against the armrest, just to make some comfortable noise and grinned.

"Quiet isn't it?" a strong voice said to my left. I turned to see General Beatrix. I had not spoken to her since meeting her in Queen Brahne's chambers. Everytime I see her I still feel anger welling up inside my chest. I did not want to blame her. She, however, was just a pawn to a pawn to a pawn in a grand game of who would rule.

"Yes. Every." I answered, not really wanting to talk. I could not blame her but I needed something to blame...along with myself.

"Lady Freya? Can I ask you something?" I turned, intrigued by her voice. Something about it was different from her usual no nonsense voice. I didn't know what but as I said I was intrigued and just managed to bite back a harsh remark.

"Certainly."

"Can a person forgive a sin that committed against them and become comrades, if not friends?" She asked. Her voice was so...I can not explain but I now knew that I wasn't the only one to blame her. She in truth blamed herself and I received the distinct feeling that even if I did forgive her she would not forgive herself.

"General Beatrix, I can forgive but I can not forget quite that easily." I told her truthfully.

"I don't want you to forget or your people anymore than I wish to forget this crime like many others. I want you to remember for my own sake. It sounds selfish but I need your forgiveness because I can not forgive myself." She looked at her palms then. I could almost see the blood that she had spilt with those hands in her eyes. She truly hated her blood- soaked hands and I could not blame her for it either.

"To answer your earlier question. Yes, forgiveness is strange." I said somewhat elusively. She smiled at me, understanding my meaning. It was an honest smile. One that was worthy of the meaning of smile. She was a pure person like Queen Garnet despite her rough demeanor and experiences.

"Thank you Lady Freya."

"Please, just Freya."

"Very well...Freya. I am just Beatrix."

"I will bid you goodnight then, Beatrix." I bowed briefly to her and left the room. I somehow felt satisfied in a way. Someone had once said that you could find unlikely friends in unlikely places. Alexandria was an unlikely place and Beatrix was suddenly an unlikely friend. Yes, that was the word.

Unlikely.