"You, you've done so much for your people already. You lived, you Fought, you've endured. If today would be the end, it would end in Honor."
This came from a past warrior. He didn't die, where is his honor? Salome found herself pensive on this as his voice bellowed through the hut, where those able to fight entered to get their final blessing. Salome was just passing through, she had no intention in lingering for his pointless words of hope. She's always found them pointless and hypocritical. Their great leader Merlin, even once was a warrior, and no death was bought upon him, yet he is at such a honorable stature. Leader.
Salome realized this recently. Now It was revealed why she truly fought. For her own honor, she didn't' need people to remind her of it. It was rightfully gained, let them praise her for it, but let them not dare, to say it was because she died in agony. She would rather live in life with honor, not die for it.
However, things have changed. Ideals, once pressed in her head, faded leaving not even the slightest print. She let her self go. Her life, would be left behind as she walked out that village. She would fight at her own rules. The ultimate purpose was to deliver her people, she still respected that, but now, instead of the broader outlook that everyone was trained to see, she selfishly took her own purpose for this battle. Within it, she will be searching for any outlet, any excuse, at the very end to let herself go. Therefore, she fought for her people, no betrayal there, let them be happy.
But also, let herself be happy as she knew she helped get them there, and that she would then, have permission to go.
This thinking during the night before, led her to rushing through the process of preparation. She was desperate to have her feet pressed on that battle field. Before, she rather enjoyed being painted while reminded where she was going, why. Before, it pumped her adrenaline, and made her cry out war. Now it was just a hold back.
Paint her blue for identification, paint her in runes for protection, define the tattoo around her hips to remind her place in their grandest victory, but until the coffin is ready, do not waste the time.
When she was dressed for distraction, when she was painted to properly be given the name that separated her from the rest, when she was protected by a protection she wished not to have around her yet she had to accept, when her band around her hips was highlighted in black, she left that village behind. All the memories, pains, smiles, losses, gains, left behind. She left her home to join a new.