Chapter 9

For the first time ever, Brie didn't want to get out of bed. She rolled onto her back and let out a big sigh as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Last night's event drifted into her mind and she smiled, knowing full well just how flustered Lex had been when she cleaned the blood from his face. He practically leapt out of his skin when she touched him and a part of her was interested in getting that reaction from him again.

Brie's mood was soured by the upcoming sparring lessons she'd have to endure. Lex was right by all accounts but it didn't motivate her any further. She didn't enjoy fighting and was only following through to make him happy.

After wallowing around in her bed for a while Brie finally forced herself to get up and get dressed. She took her time, making sure her face was thoroughly scrubbed and her hair was brushed until it was completely tangle free. After her armour was finally put on and the silver shortsword strapped around her waist Brie snatched a fresh apple from the bowl on the table and left her apartment. Then she slowly made her way towards the Watch Tower to find her superior.

Lex opened the door of the Watch Tower just as Brie reached for it as well.

"Oh," Brie exclaimed and she hastily retracted her hand. "G-Good morning sir."

"Good morning Brie."

The pair smiled at each other as Lex stepped outside. Brie squinted as his armour glittered in the bright morning light and they started to walk towards the Green Emperor Way to begin their patrol.

"How's your nose?" Brie inquired.

"A little sore, but it's alright."

"I'm glad it wasn't broken."

"Me too, I've broken it before."

"Oh yeah? How did that happen?"

Lex avoided making eye contact as they strolled through the gardens. He knew Brie was looking at him but he couldn't bring himself to look back because he knew he'd be mesmerized by her round green orbs.

"When I was training to become a guard, I got in a fight one day with another trainee."

"What?" Brie blurted, and she began to laugh. "You got into a fight?"

"Well," Lex shrugged. "I wasn't always this upstanding Captain. I used to be a typical teenager."

"I find that really hard to believe."

"You're right. I wasn't as rebellious as you, but I had my reasons for fighting that day."

"And?" Brie pressured. "The reason was?"

Her eyes searched his face for any clue but Lex remained frustratingly stoic as they walked.

"I'd rather not say."

"Oh. Alrighty Captain."

Brie could tell that it was a touchy subject and so she didn't try to press it any further. For the rest of the morning the pair patrolled in comfortable silence, occasionally making a comment about something or greeting any citizen that approached them. The sun had risen high in the sky by mid-day and its warm rays beat down hard on their heads. Brie had worked up a generous amount of sweat by the time they stopped for lunch and she was not looking forward to sparring in the afternoon.

Lex gestured for Brie to follow and they quickly walked back to the Watch Tower for lunch. Brie took her time, lounging in her chair as she picked at her food. She didn't have much of an appetite but she forced herself to eat a little bit or else she'd feel worse later on. Lex noticed that Brie was acting despondent but he didn't say anything and so they mostly ate their lunch in silence.

It was time for Lex to take his leave. He'd finish his patrol and when Brie was finished her training she was free to leave.

Brie looked up from her plate as Lex began to stand.

"You're leaving now?"

"Yes. I have to get back to my post."

"Okay," Brie replied glumly, and she tossed her fork down. "See you later?"

"Perhaps. I'll try to come by and see how you're doing but when you're done you're free to go home."

"Alright."

"You'll do fine, Brie."

Lex watched as the Elf sighed, and she gave him a small shrug.

"If you say so. Bye."

Lex squeezed Brie's shoulder before walking away, hoping that she'd find the confidence in herself to be motivated to learn. He had pulled a lot of strings to get her one on one training with Master Valas and he prayed that she didn't make him regret his decision.

The Captain paused when he reached the door and glanced back at Brie's form. She still sat slumped down in her chair with her back partially to him and Lex watched as she took a small sip of water and then began to stand up. He quickly turned back around and exited the Watch Tower. He began to make his way towards the Waterfront and tried to focus on his duties but it was hard. More often than not his thoughts drifted back to Brie and he couldn't help but wonder how she was faring with her lessons.

As predicted, after Lex left Brie had a horrible afternoon. Not only was she more physically weak than the usual recruiters for the guards but her spirit was almost nonexistent. Her first lesson with Master Valas had gone terribly. The bearded Imperial had fixed his only working eye on Brie with a severely disappointed expression and from that moment she knew it was going to be a struggle.

He had been merciless even on her first day, and Brie had spent four hours being drilled through various exercises until she literally collapsed and was unable to move.

"How they let a scrap of an Elf like you into the Imperial guards, I'll never know."

Brie scowled at Master Valas from where she was laying on the floor, completely exhausted. She could barely breathe and her entire body was drenched in sweat. All she could do was stare up at him as she gasped for air.

"We're finished for today. You're dismissed."

Brie waited a good fifteen minutes after the trainer had left before she even attempted to stand up. Her limbs felt like they had been liquified and her entire body screamed in protest as she tried to sit up. She cursed Lex over and over as she finally managed to claw her way to a standing position.

Taking a step was a whole other ordeal. Brie hissed as her leg muscles cramped and she slumped against a wooden post with a frustrated growl.

How in the world am I going to get back home? Brie thought angrily as she attempted to take another step. I can't even feel my legs.

The guard she had been speaking too earlier in the morning found Brie in the barracks a little while later. She had somehow shuffled her way into the room but she couldn't resist taking a seat on one of the benches to rest and was unable to get back up. He offered her a stamina potion, which Brie was extremely grateful for. Within a few minutes she felt a little better and was unable to stand up without having the room spin.

The moment Brie reached her home she knocked back two more potions. She made a mental note to pick up a crate of stamina potions before her next lesson as she collapsed on her bed. She felt sick and therefore her appetite was non-existent. Brie was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

A bird cawed outside Brie's window and she slowly opened her eyes. She was laying on her back, and as soon as she was conscious enough she realized it was another day, and there'd be another lesson.

The Elf groaned as she rose up from her bed and she slowly made her way downstairs, hissing as pain shot up her legs and back. More than once her leg muscles cramped up and she nearly fell, but somehow, she made it downstairs and Brie quickly sought another potion.

This morning Lex decided to go to Brie's apartment. He had spoken briefly with Master Valas the night before and had been informed about how disappointed he was in her lack of strength. Lex had apologized profusely and asked Master Valas to have patience with her.

"Brie's got the right personality to be a guard, she just lacks some physical strength."

"Personality doesn't mean anything if she can't handle herself in a fight."

"I know," Lex sighed. "I know you can whip her into shape. That's why I asked for this favor."

"You're really invested in her huh?" Valas responded, and he stared at Lex with a critical expression as he stroked his beard. "I'm glad."

Lex had been confused by Master Valas's comment but he said nothing and bade him goodnight before returning to his sleeping quarters.

Now the Captain stood in front of Brie's door and he knocked lightly. He was surprised when a minute later the door opened and Brie's tired face squinted up at him.

"Captain?"

"You're awake," Lex greeted.

"Barely."

"Oh, come on, I heard you did alright."

"Alright?" Brie scoffed as she shuffled outside and shut the door. "You're joking right? There's no way that Valas used that word with you. He said I was shit."

"Okay..." Lex replied meekly as they began to walk. "He didn't have anything nice to say."

"He shouldn't. I thought I was a bit more athletic than most people but I was terribly wrong."

"It just takes time, Brie. We all started at the bottom."

"Ha!" Brie laughed, and she jabbed Lex in the arm.

Lex watched the Elf hiss as pain shot through her arm and she rubbed her sore limb with a scowl on her face.

"That's funny. I'm pretty sure when you were a young recruiter you could fight and fight well."

"Yes, but that's only because my father was the Captain of the guard in Cheydinal."

"See? I'm just a nobody from Skingrad."

"You're from Skingrad?"

Brie squinted up at Lex, struggling to see him when his armour glittered so brightly in the light and she nodded.

"Yeah. Anyways, you might as well enjoy this patrol today. It may very well be my last."

"Brie," Lex laughed, and he shook his head. "You're so dramatic."

"Am I? I couldn't even walk yesterday, Captain. I only made it home cause Cidius gave me a stamina potion when he found me collapsed in the barracks."

"Cidius?"

"A guard? He said he's been working for about a year now."

"Oh, yeah."

Lex's expression grew dark as he thought back to the young guard from the day before. Brie didn't notice his change in mood as she shuffled slowly beside him.

Time passed all too quickly. The pair began their watch in the gardens as usual and before Brie knew it four hours had passed and it was mid-day. She glanced over at Lex to see he was gesturing for her to break for lunch. She walked slowly, her feet dragging as she shuffled with her head bowed. Lex sighed as he glanced back at the Elf but he said nothing and they continued walking in silence.

Lunch was a somber affair. Brie played with her food again, unable to bring herself to eat very much. The anticipation of the pain she knew she'd surely be feeling soon was enough to twist her stomach into painful knots and she almost felt sick.

"It feels like a funeral in here," Lex lamented quietly, and he sighed. "Can't you cheer up a little bit?"

"Why?" Brie pouted.

"It'll get better, I promise."

"Well when it gets better then I'll cheer up."

Lex didn't try to fight Brie on the subject anymore. The way she pouted her bottom lip and stared at him with furrowed brows made a lump form in his throat and he had to look away. Eventually he finished his lunch and took his leave, squeezing Brie's shoulder again before he departed the Watch Tower to continue his patrol.

If the first day of training was bad, the second was even worse. Master Valas was relentless and he put the Elf through back breaking exercises for over four hours. Oftentimes he would smack her if she was too slow and Brie grew tired of it so she'd pick up the speed, being fueled only by anger and spite. By the end of their session she was an even more exhausted heap on the floor as she gasped for air like a fish out of water.

"You've still got miles to go," Master Valas growled as he leaned against a wooden post with his arms crossed. "I haven't even let you pick up a sword yet."

If I had a sword I'd run you through old man, Brie growled internally, and she squeezed her eyes shut to stop the room from spinning.

"I know what you're thinking," Valas continued coolly as he began to walk away. "You wouldn't even come close to touching me, Elf. You're dismissed."

Brie was glad that Lex had once again failed to show up and witness the mess that was her. It took her nearly an hour to pick herself up off the floor and struggle to stay conscious all the way back to her apartment. She didn't see a single sight of her Captain along the way, which she was grateful for. Once again Brie skipped dinner and opted to pass out on her bed instead.

When Lex finished getting ready a few mornings later and entered into the dining hall he found Brie slumped over a table with her head resting against her arms. Her hair was a tangled mess but she wore her armour, and so he was grateful that she had at least put that much effort into getting ready. She groaned when Lex took a seat across from her and slowly picked her head up. There were dark circles under her eyes and she stared at him with a pained expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Everything," Brie whispered dramatically.

"Brie," Lex laughed, and he patted her hand. "You know I keep telling you-"

"Yeah, yeah," Brie cut in. "It'll get better. I'm tired of hearing that."

Lex watched with an amused expression as Brie dragged herself to a somewhat standing position and shuffled towards the kitchen. She returned a few minutes later with two steaming bowls of porridge.

"Thank you."

Brie's stomach grumbled noisily and she shot the Captain a meek little smile as she hungrily spooned a mouthful of porridge into her mouth.

"Not eating properly isn't going to help you."

"Iknow Cap'n."

"Slow down," Lex insisted quietly. "You're going to give yourself a stomach ache."

Brie took a big drink of water and let out a deep breath.

"Are you my father?" She teased.

"Of course not."

"Okay just asking. I know some people are into that sort of thing-"

"Brie!"

"Captain?"

Brie grinned as Lex's exasperated expression cracked and he began to laugh. The sound was like music to her ears and she stuck her tongue out at him when he threw his hands up in defeat. A few other guards who were also eating their morning meals glanced at the pair with curious expressions but they paid them no attention.

"You're driving me insane, Brie."

"That hurts my feeling, Captain."

"Finish up your porridge so we can get to work."

"Yes sir."

Their morning was fairly uneventful. Brie was used to the mundane by now. She could even admit, if only to herself, that she enjoyed patrolling the Imperial city. If she was being totally honest, Brie knew that she enjoyed her Captain's company with more than anything but she tried to keep those thoughts to a minimum. It was dangerous thinking. The inappropriate thoughts she had allowed herself to have the other night only made her feel confused and sometimes Brie found herself daydreaming and entered dangerous territory as she stared out at the gardens in the Green Emperor Way.

Lex found himself thinking things as well, but he tried desperately to keep them at bay. Brie's teasing never failed to get his pulse racing. Even though she had been kidding it still sent his mind into a territory he was terribly unused to and had avoided for many years.

"Captain?"

Brie had called Lex's name three times before he finally turned to her.

"Sorry," Lex blinked and then shook his head.

"Where did you go?" Brie teased.

"N-Nowhere. What is it?"

"It's noon, sir."

"Is it?"

The Elf nodded. They departed their post and began walking back towards the Watch Tower. Brie made her Captain sit down while she went to order their lunch and she couldn't help but tease him about his distracted behavior.

"Sit down sir," Brie cooed as she ushered him onto a chair. "Take it easy, okay? Maybe drink some water-"

"Brie..."

"I think you might have gotten too much sun," Brie continued, and she grinned.

Lex snatched her hand before she could press it against her forehead and he stared up at her with a small frown.

"You're torturing me, Brie."

"I-I'm sorry," Brie responded sadly, and she tried to ignore her racing heart as Lex finally released her hand.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nope," Brie shrugged and began walking towards the kitchen.

As soon as he was out of sight Brie sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose while waiting for their meals. The cook glanced over at her as he spooned a ladleful of stew into two bowls and placed them on a tray along with some fresh buns and a fresh sweetroll each for dessert.

Why are you acting like such an idiot? Her mind screamed. You need to calm down.

Brie quietly thanked the cook and snatched up the tray. Then she quickly walked back to their table with a calmer demeanor.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted Master Valas's back. He occupied the chair across from Lex and the Captain nodded at something he said with a serious expression. His eyes moved across the room and he spotted Brie standing nearby with their tray of food.

"Looks like she's back," Lex started.

"Oh? There's the little runt," Valas grunted as he stood up.

Brie's eyes narrowed as she shuffled forward and forcibly placed the tray down on the table.

"Sir."

"Well I'll see you later, enjoy your meal scrappie."

Brie growled softly as she watched Master Valas stroll away and then she threw herself onto the chair with an angry sigh.

"You know he's just teasing you, right?"

"Yeah but it's annoying."

"He only acts that way so you'll push yourself harder."

"I know," Brie mumbled as she slid one bowl towards him. "I get it. Can we please talk about anything else?"

"What would you like to talk about?"

"Nothing really, let's just eat so you can get back."

Lex stared at Brie for a long moment. She avoided looking back at him and instead began eating, but only a little bit. He didn't understand why she was behaving so wildly and he chalked it up to her training and began tucking into his meal.

When he went to leave Brie sometime later he squeezed her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"You know I'm proud of you, right?"

"Proud? Of what?"

"I know you hate these training sessions but you haven't missed one yet. It'll be over soon enough."

Brie nodded. She watched as Lex departed the Watch Tower and turned back to her sweetroll with a small sigh. She wasn't in the mood for sweets and so she returned everything to the kitchen and slowly made her way to the training pits, eager for the day to be over and done with. She felt a little better having heard Lex say he was proud of her again, and so this time she put up with Master Valas's drills with quiet determination.

It was around six o'clock the next evening. Instead of heading to the Bloated Float for dinner Lex took off in a different direction and headed towards the training pits. It was a spacious building perfectly tailored for training Imperial Guards and Lex had spent a lot of time inside its four walls. He was committed to keeping up his physical strength and so he frequently sparred with other younger guards or sometimes other trainers. It also allowed him to let off steam, which was usually a direct cause of the thieves Guild and their elusive leader.

A few other men and women were sparring in the spare rings with one another when Lex strolled inside. He wandered around for a while, his eyes peeled for Master Valas and his petite Elvish student. He finally spotted them in one of the larger rings and he leaned against a wooden post to watch the scene.

Brie stood with her back to Lex and she clasped a short wooden sword in her hands. Her arms were trembling from exhaustion and her chest heaved as she glared up at Master Valas. Sweat poured down her face and drenched her hair, which had been hastily tied back with a piece of string but had started to become undone during her training.

Master Valas appeared completely unfazed as he too held a wooden sword. He had wacked Brie with it more times than she could count and she knew probably her entire body was covered in small bruises. Every part of her ached but Brie refused to give up as she staggered her feet and sucked in a deep breath.

"Ready to give up?"

"No," Brie gasped breathlessly, and she gripped her sword harder.

"Too bad. Take a break and come back here in ten minutes."

"W-What?" Brie responded, and she lowered her arms.

"Go on girl, you're going to collapse."

Brie threw her sword down into the soft sand with a frustrated snarl and stomped away. Master Valas chuckled as he watched her go and then he walked towards the fence and leaned against it as Lex drew closer.

"She's quite the spitfire, your Elf."

Lex almost corrected Valas's comment but he quickly shook his head and played it off.

"Looks like you really pissed her off today."

"I did," Valas laughed. "It's the only way to get her to fight back."

"I guess I'll go see how she's doing. I don't think she saw me..."

"Be my guest."

Valas watched Lex as he watched away, his thoughts burning with curiosity.

Brie stood in the barracks near a rack of swords and she sucked in a deep breath as she clenched and unclenched her fists. She hastily blinked as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks and she let out a small hiss of anger.

Fuck! She screamed internally as deep emotions bubbled up inside of her, threatening to break through.

Brie bit her lip as she choked on a sob and the tears came anyways. She hyperventilated for several seconds as she allowed herself the small breakdown and she clamped her hand over her mouth as she cried. Her shoulders trembled from the force and she turned towards a wall, hoping desperately that nobody walked in on her.

"Brie?"

Brie startled as Lex's voice drifted over to her. He was the last person she wanted to see and Brie hastily wiped at her face as her Captain drew closer. He paused as he realized she had been crying. Concern rippled through him and when he touched her shoulder the Elf jumped and took two steps back.

"Brie? Why are you crying?"

"W-What?" Brie squeaked as she brushed wet strands of her hair away from her face. "I-I'm not crying sir."

"Brie..."

"Yeah?" Brie whispered, her voice cracking.

Lex moved towards a bench and sat down. He patted the spot beside him and waited patiently for Brie to join him. She tried to keep the façade up but it was no use and so she sighed and plopped down on the bench beside him.

"What's wrong?" Lex asked softly.

"It's stupid."

"It's not stupid. Clearly something upset you."

"Lex-"

"Brie. Your emotional wellbeing is also my responsibility. Please."

"I..." Brie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as she felt the tears threatening to spill once more.

"It's just... something Valas said to me earlier."

"An insult?"

"S-Something like that," Brie mumbled, and she stared down at her hands. "It was what he said. I-It was like something my mother used to say to me all the time before I ran away from home..."

Lex peered down at Brie with a soft expression, and he nodded understandingly.

"It just... brought up memories I try really hard to f-forget."

"Are you going to be alright?"

Brie frowned and then gave a firm nod. She sucked in a deep breath and finally looked up at Lex.

"Of course."

"Good," Lex smiled, and he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her pointed ear. "Don't you feel better telling me?"

Brie was silent for a moment as she gazed at him. Her cheeks were flushed bright red and beads of sweat had formed on her skin from the rigorous training. Her clothes were completely drenched and she looked exhausted but Lex was glad to see her smile, if only a little.

"Yeah. I do."

"Excellent."

Lex stood up from the bench and straightened up. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and turned to Brie when she slowly stood up as well.

"Go back out there and keep working hard okay? You're almost done, Brie."

"I know sir. I will."

"When you're finished all your training I'll take you out for dinner, okay? To celebrate."

Lex smiled as Brie's face lit up and she gave him an enthusiastic nod.

"Okay! Deal."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Goodbye sir. Thanks for dropping by."

Brie watched Lex leave. For somebody who wore a set of very heavy armour he moved like a man who dressed in leather. After he was gone Brie quickly splashed her face with water and knocked back a stamina potion before returning to the ring to finish sparring with Master Valas. He noticed the change in her attitude after visiting with Lex and it made him smile as Brie pushed harder. Her body had begun to tone nicely and she could now handle the wooden sword with ease and some degree of grace. Her fighting was still in need of a lot of fine tuning but she was getting there, and Valas was proud.

That night Brie lay in bed for a while, her thoughts filled with too much and she couldn't sleep despite how exhausted her body was. She thought about her childhood and how unpleasant most of it had been. It was something Brie didn't like to think of often and when she did it left a bitter taste in her mouth. As usual her thoughts eventually drifted towards Lex as her eyelids grew too heavy to keep open. She pictured his smiling face as she drifted to sleep, wondering to herself with a sleepy smile what his lips would feel like pressed against hers.