Petra pushed open the windowsill of her room, the crisp breeze pushed passed the faded, sheer curtains and fluttered pleasantly against her face. Beyond the bedroom window lay the rolling green hills of Trier, her quiet hometown, with its small homes and rolling acres of farmland dotting the picturesque landscape.

She turned to the washbasin, pooling water into her hands before splashing it against her face. Her fingers gripped the edges of the basin, her upper body hovered above to allow it to catch the residual drops of water. She blindly reached for a towel and pushed it against her face.

This was the day to tell them. She thought quietly.

She slid the towel from her face and looked into the mirror that hung across from her. Her mind reassuringly replayed the words scripted in her head, but her heart could only beat faster.

How could she tell them?

X

Petra sat cross-legged on the floor, an old map book laid across her lap. She had skimmed the book cover-to-cover many times before. Her fingers delicately pushed aside the pages to reveal the dried, pressed flower that was given to her those many years ago.

"Dad? Is it strange that I want to go beyond the walls?" she addressed her father who sat at the kitchen table.

Her father looked at her with concern, "Don't let your mother hear you, she'll worry." he chastised.

"...is it strange?" she repeated.

"No, it's not strange at all." He answered plainly, "...but you have to understand there's a reason why we're behind these walls. You've seen the Scouting regiment pass by here many times before. They leave here with smiles and dreams and return with broken hearts and shattered bodies."

Petra averted her gaze, "That's...not..."

Her father sighed, "You're sixteen now, and I know you have a romantic heart-"

"Dad!"

"No, listen to me. The Scouting Regiment is a noble endeavor, but I don't want to see you return on a cart..."

Petra looked to him, "You told me we should do all that we can to help them, right? They set up the recruitment stands, and people walk by them like they're invisible. It's...it's sad!"

"Petra," he scolded, "...indulge your father. Yes, we should help as much as we can - but I'm also a selfish old man when it comes to his family." He looked to his daughter meaningfully, "I want what's best for my daughter..."

Petra sat quietly as she absorbed his words.

Her father's eyes softened as he looked over her slumped form on the floor. He got up from his chair and strode to her, ruffling her hair with a smile, "My starry-eyed girl...you're so gentle. I know you want to help...but when you get older, you'll understand that this quiet life is what true happiness is."

She heard her father's footsteps retreat into the next room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

'Our choices must always be guided by our hopes, not our fears.'

Petra absently began to trace the contours of the flower, and she remembered.

X

She was never meant to be a soldier.

She was meant for a life forever embraced within the sweet comfort of her hometown. She was meant to help run the family's supply store, and look after her two younger siblings. She was meant to one day meet a man who would sweep her off her feet and start a family of her own.

Petra was never meant to be a soldier, but on a bright blue morning she broke the news to her parents.

"I've enlisted in the 100th training regiment...I'll be leaving for the grounds next week..."

The words floated and hung in the air. Petra nearly thought they didn't come from her, but she felt the rawness in her throat swell as she watched the eyes of her parents widen in shock.

Her mother immediately burst into tears, and her father could look only return a mute, expressionless stare.

"Petra," her mother spoke as she sniffed against her worry, "...don't do this. Stay here...you're still so young!" She pulled her daughter into a fierce, protective embrace and wept, "...don't do this…" came her muffled voice.

Petra could only hold on helplessly to her grieving mother, as she glanced to her younger brother and sister, sitting at the table, who in turn began to cry sympathetically in response to their mother.

She had wanted to cry too.

She knew that her family wouldn't take the news well, but she was completely unprepared for the emotional tide that hit her at this very moment. She felt her mother shaking in her arms, and she closed her eyes tightly.

"Anna, come away." Petra's father softly coaxed his wife from her entangled grasp upon their daughter. He moved in gently and took his wife's arm.

She reluctantly stepped away and latched on to her husband, "Talk to her Nicolas, tell her to stay." she pleaded urgently.

Petra's father looked to his daughter, his mouth set in a firm line.

"Petra," he began, before reaching out to place a hand on top of her head, "You've talked about this before...and I'm not ready to give you up. I suppose no father ever is..." His eyes looked at her sadly, "...but I won't stop you either."

She heard her mother stifle a sob against the back of her hand, and her own throat became tight and dry, "Father," she spoke haltingly, "...thank you."

"Petra, my starry-eyed girl..." he pulled her into an embrace, "Promise us you'll write often?"

Petra wiped away the burgeoning tears that threatened to spill from her eyes and she beamed up at him. Her smile forever reminded him of the little girl he would always see her as.

"I promise."

==Author's Notes==

Next chapter: Training Day

Petra finds herself on the unforgiving grounds of the 100th training regiment. There, she meets up with future squad mate, Auruo. Aww Auruo~ (light...light...one-sided AuruoxPetra to come?)