"Miki! Miki where are you?" Makoto paced herself self as she searched around the busy camp attempting to find the location of her lieutenant's tent.
She had ordered the woman to help make perpetration for the queen's arrival but she was well aware that her first lieutenant was clearly rescinding in her tent most likely already fast asleep at this point. Finding the said lieutenant's tent Makoto quickly stormed in finding the girl exactly where she had predicted. Laying on her cot already fast asleep. Makoto admitted it was rather talented of the blonde girl to fall asleep so quickly and easily not to mention also doing so in her full armour.
"Lieutenant Hoshii, wake up." She practically pleaded with the sleeping girl. Makoto knew that it payed to be disciplined and firm when dealing with her ranks but as much as she had tried it never worked out and only resulted in herself feeling guilty.
"Umm...afuu~" Miki held her hand up to her mouth, accompanying her yawn as she woke up. "Oh captain, good Morning."
"Hoshii Please this is no time to sleep. I ordered you to rally the troops and inspect them. The queen is set to arrive soon. I can't have you sleeping while all this is happening." Makoto stressed placing her hands onto her hips, attempting to sound as serious about her point as she could.
"Ehhh? But I did rally the troops and inspected them also, all 3 battalions in fact." Miki stood up wiping the sleep from her eyes. "That was everything you asked wasn't it?"
"Yeah but...that's not just the point Miki, we need you awake as well." Makoto continued her conversation as she left the tent as Miki followed suit standing at the side of the captain. "This really had to all happen now." Makoto and Miki walked further from the encampment watching the soldiers as they all seemed busy at the current situation, preparing for the queens arrival. "First the influx of refugees coming in from the war across the borders. Then the situations with the frequent dragon attacks."
"It seems odd..." Miki pondered closing her eyes in thought.
"Odd? How so?" Makoto questioned the blondes words.
"She requested to visit her so quickly, not to mention she also won't even tell us what her reasoning is behind it." Miki still regained her pose stuck in thought to the queens decisions.
"I can't claim to know the thinking behind royalty but in such urgency, it's no doubt its something important. Why would she herself come this far if she not thought it was important?" The dark haired captain spoke taking a brief moment to inspect the stationed guards.
"C...captain Kikuchi" The conversation between the two girls was cut short as Takana one of the scouts rushed to the two officers. "The queen and her legion are arriving shortly. She's brought a rather large group too."
"Really a entire legion? This is a lot more presing then I thought. Anyhow thank you very much Takana. You may report back to your station." Makoto smiled at the girl causing her heart to almost stop at the sight of the handsome girl's smile.
"Th..thank you very much Captain!" Takana placed her hand over her heart saluting to her Superior before running off.
"Hehe" Miki giggled to herself watching the girl leave. "Everyone really loves the captain nano."
"Huh? Eh? What are you talking about?" Makoto blushed slightly at her lieutenant's remark. Though in reality she almost immediately regret asking the question. "Enough of this anyway Queen Shijou will arrive soon we need greet her when that happens. Miki also please don't dose off during it. I can't have us look bad in front of the queen."
As her Majesty entered the town of prised upon her horse there didn't seem a single soul that was not transfixed by the appearance or even the very sight of the woman. No doubt she knew the place would be heavily guarded, though the town was not large in any scale or population but the arrival of many refugees no doubt increased the size of the impending crowds that gathered to view her arrival. She had seen herself the promiscuous and increasing amount of refugee camps that populated the area.
Though vigilant to her queen Chihaya's mind almost seemed foreign with the current situation. In all that had transpired she found it harder to wave off the thought of leaving someone she cared for.
"Chihaya?" Takane turned to look at the woman. Her steed still continued the trail as she spoke. "You seemed distraught is something the matter? Ever since we embarked from the capital your expression waivers "
"Huh? N..no..do not worry, I am simply just planning for you well being should we encounter someone hostile." Chihaya spoke though that was not a complete lie as the woman was always on duty to protect her queen if needs be but however her words did speak the complete truth.
"You needn't worry Chihaya. I trust that Captain Kirichi's battalion are more then capable of keeping us safe. Relax when you must I won't except my retainer to lose so much sleep over me."
"It is my duty Mi'lady. Losing sleep is the least of my concerns." Chihaya placed her hand over her heart. Lost sleep was nothing she saw on rare occasions, her duties kept her busy. Though what she said wasn't entirely untrue Chihaya knew what she had left back home was troubling her.
Before she could think any more about the subject her horse as well as her company approached the northern garrison. Makoto was know rather famous in the northern province and word had spread to even Chihaya about the girl's tremendous feats, no doubt she trusted her strength but to take on a dragon would test even her strength no doubt.
Makoto nerves felt struck. Looking to Miki she noticed how calm that the girl seemed as she was only moments away from meeting the ruling member of the kingdom. Yet she showed absolutely no sign of nervousness another quality that the short haired captain admired in her first lieutenant...that or perhaps the girl was falling asleep. Sighing Makoto shook the girl slightly but with enough force to wake her from the quick slumber.
"What...who...nano?" Miki brought her hand to her mouth covering her yawning expression. "Afuu~"
Dismounting from their steeds, Makoto watched on at the appearance of the queen, reaching them Makoto Immediately bowed placing her hand over her heart.
"G..greetings your majesty. On behalf of the Northern province I welcome you to our ." Makoto mentally kicked herself, regretting messing up the beginning of the sentence though continued through.
"Captain Kikuchi." Chihaya spoke up before the queen could respond catching the attention of both the blonde and the dark haired northerners. "They hail you as a hero in these parts. Does your reputation proceed you?"
"Erm a hero? Well...err" Makoto was well aware that people held her in high regards but she never often took it to an extent, in all honesty she also felt it embarrassed her slightly.
"That's true nano" Miki spoke up noticing the struggle her captain. "Everyone from close to far in these parts sees Captain Kikuchi as a Hero. Even the refugees think of her as one too. Without Makoto many of them wouldn't have been saved."
"Really then? So even the refugees?" Chihaya nodded at the statement looking back over at the captain.
"Well..." Makoto took a deep breath before deciding to continue. "It doesn't matter what the people or the refugees refer to me as. I do only what is necessary and needed for my people. To protect them and to protect the home for you my queen."
Looking to her statement the queen simply smiled finally decifing to . "You need not have to act so modest Captain Kikuchi. I am more then hounded to stand in the presence of a such a glorified hero" Before she could continue the queen's conversation was interrupted by her stomach rumbling.
"Erm...if you wish your majesty we have a banquet prepared for your arrival." Makoto eventually spoke up breaking the silence.
"A banquet does sound rather delectable right now." Takane's eyes seemed to light up as Makoto mentioned the idea of eating.
"Is the food plentiful?" Chihaya questioned the northerners again.
"Well there should be enough to feed alot of people." Makoto responded rather confused at the girl's question.
"I hope though that there is enough food to feed the queen." The blue haired woman responded.
"What do you mean?" Makoto found herself even more increasingly confused.
"You will see soon enough." Chihaya sighed walked alongside the queen as she was escorted by the two northerners.