3rd person P.O.V
No focus:
While the Bellweather unit was improving individually they still had not managed to reach a mutual ground between the three of them to further their improvement as a group. This all came to a head as the weekly ranking came out at the end of the first month and the unit was still near the middle of the list, especially after Raelle's stunt with salva and the necro that put the both of them in the infirmary. This was not good enough for Abigail and she was determined to cement her own future in war college regardless of other witches performances. It was this thinking that had stopped the girl from considering other people's opinions and drive behind their actions. It was this line of thinking that pushed Abigail into making an appointment to see General Alder.
Alder focus:
Comparing two different schedules on the desk Sarah sat sipping whiskey, by the looks of it both she and Tally would have a gap at the same time that morning between breakfast and the start of Tally's training. Unless something urgent came up she might be able to bump into her wife on the grounds, as she had been assured last week when they had reunited that Tally was spending as much of her free time as she could exploring and wandering the grounds. She was just about to stand up and prepare for a walk when an aide knocked on the door to let her know that Private Bellweather was requesting a meeting. "Very well, I have some time in 5 minutes, send her in then." Alder said, sitting back down at the desk. One of the biddies moved the half empty whiskey glass from the desk and the older witch pulled over the paperwork and files that held all the current information on the Bellweather unit. Skimming through it she began to get an idea about what Abigail might want to talk to her about.
It appeared that she could not have a walk along the grounds this morning. It was clear to see that the Bellweather Unit was not currently living up to Bellweather expectations. She would request reassignment. "Abigail. What a pleasure. I just saw your mother in Prince Frederick," the General greeted the private, referring back to a short trip she had taken at the start of the week. "She drank all the milk punch as usual." she said, capping her pen and gesturing to the chair opposite the desk. "What's going on? What's on your mind? So many questions.'' The following conversation was one that happened every year between the general and a private occasionally a war college cadet. The child would ask for reassignment. Try all these different excuses but like all others before while she would listen to their excuses the request would be denied. At least this one had the dignity to look ashamed after her request when told how another shit-bird had saved the General's life several times.
Abigail made a hasty retreat from the room after the request was denied. It always had been up to cadets and privates to work out any issues within their units among themselves. They were adults now and they had to learn at one point or another how to act like them. It wouldn't take long for word to get around about Private Bellweather, witches loved some good gossip. Tally was bound to try to ask about it that evening, this was not something Alder was looking forward to.
Tally focus:
After seeing the latest weekly rankings and then being informed that Raelle had landed herself in the infirmary for illegal use of Salva. Tally was unsure of her future in the army and of her unit's future as a trio. She was sure that it would not end well, regardless of the General's decision to Abigail's request. This was proven true in afternoon training when Anacosita told her that Abigail had requested a reassignment. It was clear to the rest of their class when Raelle stormed in angry and attacked Abigail. Insults traded and blows dealt. The instructors were content to let them fight it out until lightning started striking the ceiling of the room. Tally was honestly embarrassed by the actions of her unit.
Later on that evening after their afternoon training was over Tally went to the gardens hopefully to calm down and relax before she had to face her unit either over dinner or at lights out. She was sitting on a low branch of one of the trees when she heard Sarah call her name from the hidden doorway. "Tally, are you here?" The voice was quiet and calm, it was Sarah's voice not the General's voice. This prompted Tally to jump down from the tree, "I'm here Sarah." Tally called from the other end of the garden. Making her way through the plants she reached the door. The pair made their way once again up the stairs and into the now locked office. "So Raelle and Abigail got into a fight in afternoon training today. Word got around that she tried to get reassigned." Tally said, settling into one of the armchairs by the fire.
"Yes she came to see me earlier" Sarah said sitting in the other armchair. "I denied her request. You are all adults, you are all expected to figure out how to work together. If that can't be done in basic then there is no hope after graduation to go anywhere." Once again whiskey was brought over for the pair and placed on the small table between the chairs.
"Sarah, does the imperatrix know that our relationship and marriage is supposed to be kept only to the people who were at the ceremony until we decide to share the information? I only ask because it's been on my mind recently. We never told anyone of our decision to keep our marriage hidden from the army as a whole." Tally said, pulling the conversation away from work. A brief look of fear passed over Sarah's face.
"I told her when I came back to base so unless we have made an announcement by the time your matrimonial season begins after Samhain she will treat you like every other cadet in public. But once the matrimonial season begins this winter we will have limited time to announce our marriage before people start asking questions and try to pair you up with other suitors." Sarah clarified, sipping her whiskey. Unlike Tally who never touched her drink during their meetings Sarah would regularly end the meetings with an empty glass. Tally leaned back in her chair letting her head rest on the back she looked over at Sarah through the corners of her eyes. A small smile crossed her face. She wouldn't admit it out loud yet but she was growing quite fond of Sarah, maybe even starting to fall in love. But those feelings were just for Tally right now. She had yet to see her wife as the general in charge of the army but she was sure that she would love that side of her wife as well. "What sort of announcement would we even need to make?" Tally asked quietly, her eyes not straying from Sarah's profile. Alder turned to look at her and caught her eye. Blush covered both sets of cheeks and several biddies took that opportunity to cough awkwardly.
Thankfully the shadows from the fire covered most of the red tint on the general's face, but there was no mistaking the red tint on Tally's face, a close match to her hair. "Well it would need to be military wide. We would also need to inform the government and give the Hague the okay to make this public knowledge. You will probably want to tell your unit first of course. And then it's just as a case of making sure the details are correct, that we married before you answered the call. That you ignored a dispensation to serve, and that I was not your direct commanding officer unless it was absolutely necessary." Sarah said. Listing of the people and details. "Of course we have time to get it right. If you want, we can start drafting things next week so that you needn't worry about it in the future." Sarah suggested tipping her head back against the chair to look at Tally from a tilted head. Tally turned her head completely to meet Sarah's eyes. A simple nod from the redhead sealed the plan.
It was then that one of the biddies came over to the fireplace to remove the glasses, this was an agreed upon cue that it was nearling dinner service and that Tally would have to leave to meet her unit. Tally was quick to stand this time it was she who put a hand out to help Sarah to her feet, mimicking the gesture that the older witch had done the week before. Sarah walked her to the door at the bottom of the stairs. Tally said a quick goodbye before running through the gardens to meet her unit.
Dinner was frosty that evening, both Abigail and Raelle were already in the mess when Tally arrived, and while the two had come to some type of agreement, the unit was still not on the best of terms, conversation that evening was forced and it all came to a head when Tally criticised Abigail for cowardice that evening before lights out. If anyone was to request a reassignment it would be Tally. As Raelle and Abigail's fighting made it hard for Tally to succeed and improve. She made this known that night before turning off the lights.
Alder focus:
It was during her next walking debrief with Anacostia that she asked about the Bellweather unit; she had overheard one of the other instructors talking about their harmonics and how well they worked as a trio even with all of their disagreements. She regularly asked for information about new units each year but rarely asked about a specific unit several times in a row. It was this new information about the trio's strong harmonics and how they manipulated the seeds that gave her cause to take an official interest in the unit. This was something she made known to Anacostia then and there. Not much would change but she would get weekly updates on the unit instead of the normal monthly updates.
It was soon after this conversation that the small group came upon the fosterlings and their caretakers on the morning walk of the grounds. The toddler class were always happy to see her, they didn't know much about her other than she was always happy to see them. Alder cherished this childhood innocence that the fosterlings had. She also wanted to be able to keep a close eye on her wife's development without it appearing suspicious and the Bellweather unit's talents had given her that opportunity, for which she was grateful.