Hello everyone! So sorry about the suuuuper late update!

Christmas is keeping me busy along with my two jobs,

But here it is, and I'm really gonna try to keep it flowing faster! Thanks for your patience ^-^

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach or any of its characters.

lets jump in—

War was indeed approaching. It was clear in the air of the cold, dimly lit council room. Where a few servants had dragged in the long strategy table, by my father's request.

The table was extravagant, in such a lethal, brutal way.

Cut from thick oak, heavy enough to crush a man. It must have taken years to carve the landscape of the world. Years to perfect the detail of every corner of our lands, from the tall walls here in the West, down to every grain of wheat in the Southern farms.

It showed every river, every mountain, and left the rebellion no dark space to hide. For even the trench like lands of The Inbetween were carved into the wood. How my father had received such rare knowledge- I didn't dare imagine.

It was those lands I stared at, my eyes tracing over each line and divot.

The men spoke over one another. Cutting in, though their words meant less than the air it took to breathe them.

North, South, East. All high ranking generals had accompanied their Lords West, all had been summoned here, to this room, and were asked for their wisdom.

I had come to find in my few years as general that all people, whether soldier, general or king, all wished to be the hero. The voice that rose higher than all the rest, that countered any argument. And I had also found that those who speak the loudest, are usually the ones with nothing of value to offer.

"Rush the trenches!" Screamed the South.

"Push them East!" Countered the North.

"Split the lines!" Demanded the East.

Plans in the weakest of forms, and it was truly difficult to keep the snicker in. I had not been allowed in these meetings when the Southern Rebellion had risen. I'd been merely a foot soldier then, and had gone where I'd been ordered to go. Ordered by the men who had perhaps forgotten how battles were really fought. They had been behind the safety of their perfect lines for too long.

Grimmjow, on the other hand, was all too willing to rush into combat. It didn't surprise me to see the thirsty look in his eyes. The gleam I recognized all too well. His insatiable appetite for killing was clouding his mind. We do not know their numbers, nor their training. Charging into a land, very different from our own, blind would never gain us victory.

William Lorchan, substitute Nothern General, nearly shook with his fear of conflict. That was the only problem with men who had risen through the ranks with honor. They'd seen their predecessors fail, seen them fall. And they remembered how fragile the pedestal they balance on was. They will do anything to ensure their own steadiness. Even if it means watching an allied city burn.

But Bellator… their intentions were harder to see. Kither Harrington, far older than my uncle, though still in the prime of his life, was as stone faced as they come. And in my ramblings about being prepared, I had never asked if he was a true ally to the rebellion. Or if he was in the dark as I myself had been only a few weeks ago.

Clark stood from his chair, and the voices hushed out like a weak flame.

One day, I vowed, I will command a room with that blind obedience.

My father rubbed his mouth roughly, and I could hear the scratch of his whiskers from across the table. The room held their breath as we waited for him to speak, to declare, to overtake. And I believe it shocked us all when the king met my eyes, looking past every male in the room and said, "What are your thoughts."

I didn't give them all the luxury of my shock, though I felt it more powerfully than they ever could. With only the slightest of glances to Kither, I calmly looked back to the board before us, taking a few precious seconds to properly arrange my thoughts.

"They'll head North." I said, confidently. They all waited. "The South has too much land to cover, the earth is too flat. They'd be exposed, it's an obvious dismissal." I leaned over the table, letting my hand follow the path of my words, "Bellator is too large to overtake alone, and their people are loyal and willing, with unlimited silver weapons. They'd be fools to think they could hold it for long." My fingers found the deep, tall mountains to the North, "But North… With constant snow and winds, it would be impossible to track their movements. The harsh terrain would slow down soldiers not use to such climates," I gave pointed looks to every man in the room. "And with their Lord and Heir already here, with their people weak and hungry from the recent storms," I steadied my eyes on Clark, "The fight would be over quickly."

A mocking clap began to my right, and I looked slowly to the assailant. Grimmjow, to no one's surprise, had a smirk over his disgusting mouth, "I'm impressed, truly." His tone conveyed the taunt. "But, I believe we are all very eager to hear how you'd plan on preventing such a well orchestrated attack."

"We trap the mountains with Witch Fire."

That sent a murmur throughout the room, "There has been nothing about Witch Fire for decades," Said William. "It is believed to never have existed at all."

I shrugged a shoulder, "Spend some time in the underbelly of this city, Northerner, and you will learn how to get your hands on all sorts of wicked things."

At that, the room looked to the king. His face was hard as he considered. I felt the need to hold my breath as he deliberated.

I cut in before he could speak, "Allow me to head North with Luca, Father. I will ensure all goes well; ensure the North is ready."

"Witch fire will blow the mountains to smithereens. What will happen if you are trapped North?" Kither voiced. "What will your homeland do if war is brought to the walls in your absence?"

I crossed my arms across my chest, my armor clinking, "My soldiers are more than capable of waging battle alone. Though if it gives you all peace of mind, I will entrust the safety of the Capitol to Sam, he has been with me since the beginning and will overtake my duties as General while I'm away."

Gimmjow shot a look over his shoulder to Ulquiorra, who'd been quietly observing in the dark shadows of the room, where he seemed to fit perfectly. Ulquiorra made no move to acknowledge his brother but I knew something silent had passed between them. I made a note of it; Sam would be interested in knowing that his name sparked something within them.

"A short term solution," Grimmjow remarked, looking back to me once more, "Yet what you speak of is all out war in the North. Who's to say you would ever return? Heirs are usually kept away from battle, to ensure the safety of their territories future; why put yourself on the line for foreign land."

"You suggest doing nothing while the North is savaged?" Growled the Northern General.

Grimmjow gave him a shrug, "I suggest allowing your people to fight for themselves." A pause, waiting for me to speak out against his challenge. "We all have cities to protect, we all have people to feed, if the North cannot even protect its own capitol- what good will they be to us when real war is raged? I say let the weaklings burn."

I could not hold my tongue any longer. "Perhaps, it is different southward, but in the West we do not cower behind lines on a map. The Golden Army will defend its allies, and obliterate all enemies of the crown. We road South to aid your forgotten people when a tyrant rose from the sand, and we did not hear such strong words then." I leaned over the table, casting my protective shadow over the deep mountains of the north, "And do not forget, Grimmjow, that soon I will be one with the North. And I do not take kindly to traitors of my kin." All northerners in the room stomped their boots at my declaration.

Lust flashed in the darkness of his eyes, before he blinked it away. "You would die for your fiance's homeland?"

"Death comes for us all." I smiled, "If Morta comes to claim me, then I will make sure the earth quakes, and mountains fall. All will know that Orihime Inoue is dead, for the blast will ring out clear across the world."

"Let the Gods hear." They all chanted.

I turned once more to the king who had been uncharacteristically quiet, his face shadowed and nearly distorted in the low light. He nodded, to no one in particular, and stood straighter, the shadows falling away. He gripped his bottle of wine by the neck, and poured it over the board, slipping and pooling in the North. "Go North, my Heir. Bathe the mountains in traitor's blood," The words rose the hair on my arms, my body singing beneath the evil look in his eyes, "And bring me the head of another conquered rebellion."

I told myself the sick, disgusting grin that rose on my lips was an act. I pretended the bubbling in my stomach was lingering nerves. I made myself believe I was dreading the gore, the screams, the death.

All the while, the monster inside me rolled over, opened its slitted eyes and smiled.

Sam was waiting for me in my chambers. Having nearly paced a rut into the carpet. "Well?"

"Most are thirsty for war. Though, I sense a hesitation from the North- despite Luca's anger." I quickly filled him in on the rest. When I was finished, I plopped onto the long couch, laying out flat. "I need you to watch the twins while I'm away. I don't like the thought of them roaming the Court's without restrictions."

"I'll let a few of the new recruits trail them; call it field experience. They won't be alone for an instant." He assured me, lifting my feet to slip under them. "So, to the North you go."

I attempted to rub the the tired from my sore eyes, muttering a solemn, "It's been a long time."

"Yes, though I will remember your poor temperament upon your return for as long as I live. My nose still looks crooked." He laughed to himself, then his whole face sobered, his tone growing tense. "But you're a child no more, and many things have changed since your last ride North. You might not find such a warm welcome."

"I've already laid roots, and I expect them to spread quickly."

Though, I did not deny the risks. Northerners were a private people. Being tucked away in harsh terrain made you rely on your neighbors, yet caused a wariness of outsiders. More mouths to feed, more bodies to bury.

And I was not as beloved an Heir as Cuyler.

"I worry about you going alone." Sam cut into my thoughts, "Even you can not stop a village of enemies."

"I will not need to. Ryley will be going with me. Let him appease his people."

Sam recoiled slightly, "You're bringing him along?"

"I can't very well ask him to stay, now can I? His father and brother are returning, it's only fitting he accompany his future wife home."

At that, Sam twisted, nearly knocking my legs from his knees. I growled and his reply was a suggestive look. "Cuyler will be making the trek with you, eh?

I cut him with an icy glare, "Did you think he'd remain in the Capitol while his home is undertaken?"

"Is that respect I hear?"

I shrugged a shoulder, "He is a fine soldier and a dedicated heir,"

Sam laughed, letting it drop. "And what am I to do with the copperhead? And her league of misfits?"

"I'll take care of Bronze, she'll steer clear of the court's while i'm away. There's nothing that interests her without me here."

I felt him lean forward, "Nothing?" He questioned, in a cocky, male tone.

I looked him dead in the eye, "Nothing."

Sam slumped back, not looking at all disappointed, "It seems you've thought of everything,"

"I don't like that you sound surprised,"

He grinned around his words, "Though, I am curious about one more thing." I gestured with a hand to get on with it, "While most took your offer, there are still some recruits that haven't given up. They come to the Center everyday, waiting for your return. Oliver among them. If I'm to watch over your duties and play General for a few weeks, who will be there to ensure they don't kill one another?"

As answer I sat up, and draped an arm over the spine of the couch. "Can I entrust them to you?"

A chuckle drifted to us through the shadows, moments before Ichigo stepped in from the open balcony doors, a smirk on his face and a dagger in his palm, "As long as you don't expect them to all be alive when you come back."

"How long have you been out there," Questioned Sam.

"Long enough to be creepy." Ichigo said seriously, flipping his dagger from hand to hand.

Something sparked behind my eyes and I stared at Ichigo for a moment. The wheels slowly turning. I fixed my gaze on the center of his forehead, as if I could burn a hole straight into the brain within.

He reached a hand, hesitantly, to his brow. His fingertips searching for something out of place.

"How soon can you get Bronze here?" I barked out, so suddenly that both of the iron trained warriors flinched.

"Maybe, 20 minutes. What's up?"

I nodded, more to myself as the wheels moved smoother Sam rubbed my leg, bringing me back out. They both stared and I flicked a hand at Ichigo, "Get her here."

He nodded, took a step back as if in a daze and then seemed to find himself once more, and disappeared out into the night

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Thanks for reading, I hope it was worth the long wait.

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Till next time—