My family has informed me that I'm no longer allowed to walk about the house speaking like a medieval noble during the holidays, especially the days when our friends and family join us. I told them that I cannot break character until I've finished this story. May the most virtuous side win.
And to oldsnack: don't feel guilty! The amazing world of FE is for all to share! I'm just glad you enjoy it. While I try not to write to an audience, reviews definitely motivate me so really ALL of you are to thank for my work ethic!
Also, I've been sad lately. Listened to "Say Something" by a Great Big World on repeat while I wrote the angsty separation of Edelgard and Byleth chapters. Need to find a more upbeat song to write to now. (I have a song for each mood I try to capture in my characters. Weird, I know but I am the one that just admitted to changing the way I speak to my friends and family, so there)
There was a firm knock at his door. Byleth rose from his desk and opened it.
Edelgard stood before him, her hands were balled together into tight fists. He expected this was coming.
"Did you…" Byleth feigned confusion, "did you have to walk here?"
She fought the wriggling of her lips, but eventually succumbed to a smile, "please stop, I am attempting to remain angry with you."
"Why don't you come in and tell me about it," Byleth stepped aside and she passed him.
Edelgard immediately plopped on the edge of his bed.
He closed the door and took his usual spot on the opposite side. Byleth knew her anger stemmed from his injuries but he was desperate to lighten the mood, "so I take it that you did have to walk. I'm sorry if that makes you angry."
Edelgard turned her body to face him, placing her leg on the bed, "you know very well that I do not mind walking, especially since the white mages have counteracted any unexpected intrusions."
"Oh," Byleth wished he had purchased another armored bear stuffy from the marketplace.
"What you did was careless," Edelgard huffed, her fists tightened. "You could've been more seriously injured, or even killed."
"It wasn't careless," Byleth flattened his lips. "It was calculated. Without proof, there was no way to rid the monastery of Monica. Since I didn't have any, I thought the attempted assassination of her professor would surely get her expelled."
"But that's what infuriates me," her nostrils flared. "You planned to get stabbed."
"I couldn't risk what she might've done had she been left alone," he replied quietly.
"Were those mercenary signals you and Shamir were doing you guys planning that ridiculous stunt?" Edelgard raised her eyebrows in concern.
At least the anger was subsiding. Byleth saw his opportunity to get within her good graces again.
"No, she was trying to talk me into letting her take the knife," Byleth lifted his leg onto the bed to better face her.
He put his finger to his chest, "this means 'I'"
Then he brought his fists in front his chest, each with their index finger pointed at each other, "this means 'injury.'"
"So she was trying to draw Monica's attack?" Edelgard's tone softened. "Instead of you?"
"Yes, but I told her no," Byleth pointed at Edelgard. "I said 'you."
He then took his opposite hand and grabbed his pointer finger, "'catch.'"
Edelgard sighed and made an "O" with her hand and brought it to her forehead with her pinkie extended into the air, "what did she mean by this?"
Byleth chuckled, "she called me an idiot."
Edelgard couldn't help but to laugh as she rested her hands in her lap, "I'd have to say that I can agree with that sentiment."
"I thought you might," Byleth smiled.
"I have to ask," her face lowered as her eyes searched the ground. "Monica had made threats against you, and myself in turn… but she had not threatened any of my classmates, yet."
"That wasn't a question," he replied.
Edelgard shot him a look before she continued, "did you do… that, for me?"
Byleth took a moment to ponder her question.
"I know you always say that you're protecting your students, which I don't doubt for a second," she elaborated. "But I am asking you, specifically, if you did it for me."
It was true that Edelgard was first and foremost on his mind at the time he came up with his plan. Monica kept her from him, and tried to create distance between them. All the while keeping Edelgard in a prison of their design.
"Yes," Byleth simply replied.
"I thought as much," Edelgard pressed her lips together, as if she were trying to hide something deeper. "I don't know know what you said to her-"
"I didn't mention you," he interrupted. "Well, I did, but I insinuated that I knew you were one of them."
"They may have fled Garreg Mach," Edelgard sucked her teeth. "But you realize you'll be in more danger now more than ever."
"One step at a time. At least they're away from the students for now."
She let out a soft chuckle, "Somehow, I find it hard to believe you only plan one step ahead."
He gathered his lips to one side of his face, "that tends to be true. But the Knights of Seiros can be our eyes and ears, when they make their next move, we'll know."
Byleth ensured he accentuated the fact that they were in this together. He didn't know how she managed to carry such a massive burden all these years, but he was there now, and could help share the weight.
"I do have to admit," Edelgard smiled as she took a deep breath in. "I am finding my newfound freedom quite liberating. I hardly had to peer over my shoulder on the way over."
It was a simple pleasure, but one Byleth couldn't say he shared in. He'd been watching his back all of his life.
"For once, I am simply free to be… Edelgard," she finished as she threw her body back and rested upon his bed. "I may even be able to actually enjoy myself at the coming ball."
"Were you not planning to before?" He watched as she interlaced her fingers across her stomach. She turned her neck to face him.
"In truth, I haven't been able to find much joy in anything in life," Edelgard replied. "Then this year happened… but I feared Monica's suffocating pressure would steal that from me."
"You've obviously found joy in something this year, then?" Byleth pried. He wasn't sure what answer he was expecting, but he wanted to keep her focus on whatever had led to her happiness. He knew too well the further you fell into depression, the farther you had to climb out.
"I have," she lowered her voice. "More than I thought possible after what I… endured as a child."
"For the moment," Byleth tried to redirect the conversation, "at least you may enjoy whatever that thing is."
"Do you mean to attend this year's ball?" Her question seemed to come out of nowhere.
He shook his head, "I thought that was just for the students."
"That's most certainly not the case," Edelgard sat up. "Professor Manuela absolutely adores participating. Besides, I am pretty sure that our class will expect you to attend. I know Dorothea is anticipating a dance."
"I'm sure you'll make a fine dance partner," Byleth tightened his lips.
"Not with me," Edelgard laughed. "Well, that might not be true as I'm sure she'll manage to convince me somehow. But with you."
Byleth shook his head lightly, "I don't know."
"You were only allowed one secret at a time," her face dropped in seriousness. "I doubt you have any intention of revealing what that last one may be here and now. So you must tell me why you won't go."
It was sound reasoning. Byleth spent several moments trying to poke holes in the deal he had made with her, but was unable to find any. It was either to reveal Sothis's existence, or tell her why he did not wish to attend.
Somehow, it did not seem to be the appropriate time to disclose the existence of the young girl that lived in his head.
He drew in a deep breath as Edelgard's eyes rested on him expectantly, "I can't dance."
Edelgard covered her mouth and chortled but quickly stopped as Byleth hadn't so much as even smiled. He kept his eyes forward. "You're being serious, aren't you?"
"That seems like an odd thing to lie about," Byleth did not lift his gaze. "Though I'm glad you find it amusing."
"My teacher," Edelgard scooted closer to him on the bed. "All year long, you've been teaching your students to dance."
"It's a little different, El," he may have felt self-conscious, but he still wished to keep her attention on the joys of life.
And he had to admit, he rather enjoyed calling her that.
"The Dance of Water's just a name," he continued. "The dance on the battlefield is vastly different from that of a ballroom floor."
She zealously shook her head, "but you're wrong. For several ethereal moons now, you've taught your students the art of the sword and shield, and how to mirror their opponents and each other. Ballroom dancing isn't that different."
Edelgard lifted herself from his bed and held her hand toward him. He peered up at her to find a warm smile. Byleth could feel his chest tighten as she wiggled her fingers, insisting he take her hand. He knew what she intended to do but he also had no desire to make a fool of himself in front of her.
Byleth hesitantly took her hand as he stood. She wasted no time in pulling him a few steps into the middle of his quarters.
Edelgard leaned over and gingerly grabbed his wrapped hand and placed it on the small of her back. She then draped her arm over Byleth's shoulder and rested her opposite hand within his.
"Allow me to lead," Edelgard brought her eyes up to meet his.
"I thought you were already," he swallowed hard. This was nothing like the Dance of Water. There was a lot more… contact.
"No," she chuckled. "I mean when you feel me pull on your hand, you turn that side of your body toward me. When you feel me pull on your shoulder, it'll be that side. When I step to the side, match it with your opposite foot, and when-"
"Be your mirror," Byleth nodded.
Edelgard smiled softly, "exactly. Are you ready?"
He gave her a weak nod.
Byleth felt her pull on his hand and moved the left side of his body forward. He also took a small step as he felt her move backward.
This time, a soft pull on his shoulder and the two spun. Then to the side.
"You're much better at this than you give yourself credit for," Edelgard never tore her gaze from his eyes as their bodies moved in unison, "somehow, I expected as much."
"Perhaps it's I that should call you 'professor,'" Byleth's feet moved with hers. She was right, except for their extremely close proximity, it was very similar to The Dance of Water. "Will I not have to find a date to the ball, if I choose to attend?"
Edelgard scrunched her brow as she pulled his body to and fro, "why would you not attend? You're clearly capable of taking the ballroom floor."
"Well," Byleth tried to summon a multitude of reasons, but only managed a single weak excuse, "it would be quite sad to attend without a date."
"We will find you one," she laughed softly, her gaze almost transfixed within his eyes. "I'm sure Dorothea would jump at the opportunity. I imagine many of your adoring students will want the honor of a dance with their esteemed professor, however. So you'll hardly be left to stand alone."
Byleth wasn't sure why, but that wasn't exactly the answer he wanted to hear.
Edelgard stood beside Hubert and Dorothea. Shamir stood at the front of the class casually biting at her nails.
While she'd come to greatly appreciate Shamir on many levels, she definitely didn't know how to entertain the class while her teacher was away. Their professor had run to his quarters to change his shirt after their morning run and Shamir's silence was making every moment long and awkward.
Edelgard leaned to her right, "Dorothea."
The brunette snapped her head to face her.
"Have you secured a date to the ball, yet?" Edelgard whispered. She feared the silence would only carry her voice louder.
Dorothea shook her head, "no one tames this mare. At least, not yet. I thought we might do a class date since I'm pretty sure no one else has, either."
A class date? That was brilliant. The professor would no longer feel awkward without a date and she wouldn't have to worry about Dorothea might try to pull on Byleth. Though, she found herself becoming quite attached to the mage, and trusted she would not engage in any inappropriate behavior.
Dorothea winked at her as she leaned closer, "why? Are you asking me to go with you? Because the answer is yes, but you'll need to pick out my corsage."
"That's not what I-I didn't mean.." Edelgard stammered. Perhaps, she overestimated her flirty friend.
"Okay, I'll pick out my own corsage, but will you at least buy me flowers?" She batted her eyes.
"Hey, professor!" Annette beamed.
Edelgard peered behind her to see him jogging lightly toward their class.
Leonie made an "O" with her hand and brought it to her forehead with her pinkie pointed toward the sky, "hi, professor!"
Byleth scrunched his brow in confusion as he peered at the young woman who wore a wide smile.
Edelgard covered her mouth and tightened her lips. She desperately wished to laugh, but knew it would only draw attention to herself.
"What have you been teaching them, Shamir?" He gave the knight a scowl. She didn't turn her head though, instead, she continued to nonchalantly bite at her nails.
Leonie lowered her hand and frowned, "she said it was the mercenary signal for 'professor.'"
"I wasn't lying," Shamir coolly stated.
Byleth smiled as he turned his attention back to Leonie. He brought his fingertips to his thumbs in more of a teardrop shape and brought his fingers to his temples, he then moved his hands forward, "that means 'teacher,' or in this case, 'professor.'"
"Then why would Shamir…" Leonie trailed off as she mimicked his motions.
"Because she's still mad at me," Byleth answered. He dropped his eyes to the ground as he approached Shamir. He seemed careful of where he stepped.
"What will we be doing today, professor?" Ferdinand gave him a wide grin.
"I thought we'd learn and practice the art of tracking and evasion," Byleth kept his eyes on the dirt below his feet.
"Yes!" Leonie exclaimed.
"I also would be finding that most enjoyable," Petra nodded her head.
"Alright, one team at a time," Byleth waved his hand. "Ingrid, Ferdinand and Flayn. I'd like you to come stand here and look at the footprints on the ground. Name one difference between mine and Shamir's."
The three did as they were told. Ingrid carefully knelt closer to the ground while Ferdinand leaned on his knees to peer at the ground. Flayn stood beside them as her eyes darted across the dirt.
"Yours are quite a bit larger," Flayn observed. "It is because you are a man, am I correct?"
"Most of the time, that'll be true," Byleth nodded.
"Don't always jump to that conclusion, though," Shamir added. "Catherine has huge feet."
Her quip was met with several chuckles.
"But good observation, Flayn," Byleth smiled. "Caspar, Leonie, Annette?"
They stepped forward cautiously, careful not to interrupt the impressions in the dirt.
"That's easy!" Leonie pointed at Byleth's print. "Yours are deeper than hers."
"Is it?" Annette craned her neck and searched for what her teammate was pointing at.
"Yeah, I can see that," Caspar nodded in agreement. He then outlined the shoe print with his finger.
"I think I can see it, now," Annette bobbed her head up and down.
"It's because I weigh more than Shamir does, so my weight creates deeper impressions," her teacher explained.
Edelgard grew nervous. While she was an adept fighter, she knew almost nothing of searching for signs and signals and the first two teams had already stated the extent of her knowledge of tracking.
"Bernie, Petra, Lindhardt?"
The three approached and Petra knelt on the ground with her arm resting on her knee. "The ball of Shamir's shoe is being much more narrow than your boots, professor!"
Petra outlined the sharp point of Shamir's impression with her finger.
"If-if you say so," Bernie's face twisted with confusion.
"I'll join in with Petra's answer," Lindhardt yawned.
"It's true that women typically favor a more pointed shoe," her teacher cautiously nodded. "But don't always rely on that, as well. I've known many women to wear men's boots. Edelgard, Hubert, Dorothea?"
Edelgard swallowed hard as her teammates walked to the front of the group. To her surprise, Dorothea's voice called out even before they could take a closer look.
"The designs of your shoes," Dorothea pointed to the ground. "Shamir's rubber design is more round while yours are more sharp."
She sighed in relief. The last thing she wanted to do was to have the class witness their house leader give a preposterous answer.
"Very good," Byleth nodded in approval. "That's what we call an original trait. Most of the rubber on the bottoms of our shoes are unique to an individual. Even if they wear the same design, the way we walk begins to wear away at the rubber, leaving very specific imprints that can be traced back to a single individual."
Dorothea hopped with excitement.
Byleth walked closer to the gates of the monastery and the students dutifully followed. He stopped short and pointed to the ground, "now look here, this is where I was jogging. Do you see how the heel is less apparent? The faster someone is moving, the more the ball of the foot will be visible, but it'll be even deeper."
The students nodded as they glanced at the ground.
"These are the signs you look for. They can be subtle such as a broken spider web, or as large as a bloodstain on a rock."
"A sp-spider web?" Bernie cringed at the thought. "We have to get that close?"
"Spider webs can tell you a lot, Bernie," He nodded. "Not only can they show you that someone or something disrupted its weave, but they can also tell you about how long ago it was. It only takes a spider about two to four hours to repair its web, so if you see one that's broken, you know you're hot on a trail."
Edelgard knew such attention to the minute details was one of her weak points. However, as every lesson he taught them had proven to be useful, she quietly resolved to make a note to begin studying.
"Who's ready to put these skills to a practical exercise?" Byleth clapped his hands together.
He was certainly in higher spirits today, Edelgard noticed. She thought back to their dance a few nights ago. If it had been up to her, it would have continued throughout the night into the morning.
"Me!" Leonie flung her arm into the air, as if she was expecting to be called upon.
"It would be most useful to apply a real world application," Flayn added.
"Alright," Byleth pointed at each group. "Bernie, Ingrid, Dorothea and Leonie. You'll be our first runners."
"Runners?" Ingrid furrowed her brow.
Byleth smiled, "you'll be running from your team, attempting to cover your own tracks. The rest of the team will try to pick up on the clues you missed to find you. But I want you all to stay within the monastery's hunting grounds, where the knights are still patrolling. If you see anything suspicious, and I mean anything, you yell. Shamir and I won't be too far away."
"Don't need to tell us twice," Caspar rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm not the best… runner, professor," Dorothea stated what the rest of the class already knew.
"No better time to improve than now, Dorothea," Byleth lifted his eyebrow. "Remember, you're only tracking your own team member, so you'll need to use original traits and what you know about your teammate to make sure you're chasing the right runner."
"But-"
"And go!" Byleth interrupted her with a loud yell.
"Ah!" Bernie shrieked before she took off into the nearby trees.
Ingrid and Leonie were not far behind. Dorothea exchanged a worrisome look with Edelgard.
"I suggest you get moving," Edelgard replied, her tone as serious as she could muster. "I would hate it if you failed to make it a challenge."
Without another word, the brunette jogged toward the trees with her delicate arms hovering in the air as she moved. Even with the threat of being tracked down, Dorothea still managed to swing her hips as she galloped. Somehow, Edelgard didn't think she would last long.
"How much of a headstart do we give them?" Ferdinand queried.
"A few minutes," Byleth answered.
"What do we do to them once we find them?" Hubert let a rare smirk show on his face.
"Do to them? Nothing," Byleth seemed concerned. "But once you find them, bring your team back here and we'll switch runners. Everyone will get a turn."
"I am finding this exercise most exhilarating!" Petra's smile beamed across her face. "Bernie is most certainly in liking to the skittish rabbit, excitable but quick!"
"Good," Lindhardt half-heartedly replied. "I'll merely follow you, then."
"Everyone participates, Lindhardt," Byleth scolded him.
"I fear I may be a bit… behind," Flayn clasped her hands together. "I do hope you can be patient with me, Ferdinand."
"Of course," Ferdinand nodded toward her. "Slow and steady wins the race."
"What is our strategy, Lady Edelgard?" Hubert's low voice asked.
Edelgard brought her hand to her chin. She did not think Dorothea would put up much of a fight, but she would be a fool for assuming. For several moments, she considered his question.
"Remember to use what you know about your target," Byleth slyly added.
"Do you want to start placing our bets, now?" Shamir put her hand firmly on her hip as she spoke to the professor.
"What we know…" Edelgard repeated his words. "We know Dorothea does not care for dirt, or mud."
"She also wears… those shoes," Hubert added.
"Platforms," Edelgard nodded. "So we'd be looking for a squared heel. That would be a unique trait as I doubt Ingrid, Leonie or Bernie would be wearing such a thing."
Though he didn't see anything, she could see her teacher nod approvingly.
"What would be a unique trait to Ingrid?" Flayn turned to her teammate.
"Um…" Ferdinand furrowed his brow as he rubbed his neck. "Maybe her blonde hair?"
"Alright," Byleth spoke loudly. "I think they've had enough of a head start."
Edelgard began making her way to the tree line where she witnessed Dorothea enter. Hubert walked awkwardly beside her. Caspar dashed past them while Annette struggled to keep up. She did not know why he was running, perhaps it was his enthusiasm getting the better of him. He would surely miss a lot of cues at that pace.
"You seem… more joyous than usual," Hubert kept his eyes forward as he spoke.
They entered the tree line and Edelgard began scanning the tree trunks and ground, "why wouldn't I be? As you said yourself, the dream of being out of the watchful eye of… them has lifted a great burden from me."
Her eye immediately rested upon a squared footprint in the damp soil. The trees shielded the hunting grounds from most of the sun, so the previous night's rain still lingered.
"Do you intend to ask him to the ball?" Hubert continued.
Edelgard was taken back by his question, "what would make you say that?"
"Your not-so-subtle questions to Dorothea," he simply replied.
Edelgard did not answer, instead she paid close attention to her own feet as she stepped over Dorothea's prints.
"I'm sure I can convince him to take you," Hubert would not let up.
"I don't need you to get me a date, Hubert," Edelgard grew annoyed with his line of questioning. She was grateful that he seemed more intent on ensuring the professor had returned her affections rather than planning his demise. "Besides, Dorothea said we might go as a class."
"Is that because you are afraid to approach him? Please, Lady Edelgard, allow me to ask on your behalf."
"I'm not afraid and I don't need you to ask him anything," she sighed heavily. Then, a single leaf fluttered in front of her face as it fell to the ground.
Edelgard snapped her head toward the sky.
Someone clung to a thick tree branch several meters above them. Their legs and arms firmly wrapped around the wood.
She had to narrow her eyes to see a hint of orange through the thick mud that covered the person's body. Plastered to the mud were several green and brown tree leaves, they even held a bunch within their fists. "L-Leonie?"
The mud-covered individual turned their head to face her. They brought what appeared to be a finger to their lips, "sssh! You'll give me away."
Edelgard lowered her gaze and blinked several times. It was certainly Leonie's voice. But she had never seen someone resort to such… methods before.
"Get outta here!" Leonie waved them away with a loud whisper.
Edelgard continued forward, still uncertain of what she had seen.
Dorothea's platform prints had mostly gone in a straight line, thus far. She imagined her friend would have been more concerned in gaining distance, rather than to take the time to mask the myriad of clues she had left behind. She was a distance fighter, after all.
"Does it appear that her footprints are growing… further apart?" Hubert cocked his head toward the ground as they walked.
"She started running," Edelgard nodded.
"That's unusual… for her."
"Agreed, she must have heard us and started panicking," she couldn't help but to chuckle.
"Apologies."
Edelgard jumped to her side. Petra placed her arm across her chest and gave her a bow. She didn't even hear Petra's approach.
"I'm sorry for having startled you, Lady Edelgard," Petra stated. "But our Bernie has fled this way, I am being sure. We will be needing to cross your path."
Edelgard gave her a nod as she tried to slow her own heartbeat, "by all means."
Without another word, Petra darted across their path while Lindhardt lazily followed. She must have been hot on Bernie's trail.
For a moment, Edelgard imagined how scared she must be right now. Bernie already held the unreasonable notion that most meant her harm, let alone having Petra hunt her.
"Lady Edelgard," Hubert called from a small distance ahead of her. He knelt on the ground and nodded toward something.
She cautiously approached and sure enough, there was a large impression within the mud. It held an incredible amount of detail. Edelgard could make out the deep crevasse that appeared to be a nose and the curvature of what looked like an outline to a chin. She could even see small slits embossed in the mud where eyes would have been, "is that… a face?"
Hubert nodded and pointed to either side of the face print, "this is where she tried to catch herself with her hands. It appears in her haste that she tripped."
If Edelgard had the time, she would have returned to the monastery to mix a batch of plaster. Then she'd have a perfect Dorothea mold to hang on her wall. A trophy.
Instead, she laughed as she took a sharp turn to her left and began walking.
"Where are you going?" Hubert double-stepped to catch up with her.
"What do we know about Dorothea?" She mused. Edelgard had to admit, it felt nice to be able to laugh so frequently in the past couple of days. Her teacher and classmates never ceased to be able to put a smile on her face.
"She took a nasty fall," Hubert answered as he crouched below a fallen branch.
"And if she's covered in mud," Edelgard smirked. "That simply wouldn't do. She's not Leonie."
"She would attempt to clean up," Hubert nodded in understanding.
"The pond in which we went fishing isn't far from here, just past those trees," Edelgard pointed in front of her.
Together, the two walked in silence. She didn't mind, especially if it meant she would no longer have to discuss who she would be taking to the ball.
Confident that they would find their teammate where she expected, she allowed her mind to wander back to the night her and Byleth danced.
Of course, she wanted to ask him then and there. Instead she offered her friend for fear he would find another. Edelgard always prided in her courage and bravery, but when it came to him, the words could never leave her lips.
"How…. new shoes… forever!"
Edelgard couldn't make out every word Dorothea angrily muttered to herself. She craned her neck to peer between the trees and saw her friend a short distance away. Hubert gave her a nod as they emerged from the tree line.
Dorothea didn't seem to notice though, she sat on a rock and thumped the bottom of her disrobed shoe with such force that water gushed from it's opening.
"I believe you have been found, Dorothea."
The brunette turned around quickly and sighed deeply, "thank goodness. Can we go back now? I'm not very good at being a runner."
Together, the three made their way back toward the gates of Garreg Mach. She told Dorothea of her plans to make a mold of her face to hang on her wall. Though her friend wasn't terribly amused at the thought, she shared in her laugh.
It didn't take long for her teacher and Shamir to come into view. He frowned and muttered something to the knight before handing her a single coin. She took it with zeal.
He put a smile on his face as he walked toward them, "looks like they found you, Dorothea!"
"I'll definitely… need to practice more," she sheepishly stated.
"A little mud on your face can wait," Byleth gave her a consoling tone. "If you were being chased by someone who intended to kill you, I'd rather you get dirty than to die. I couldn't bear the thought."
"I can see your point, professor," Dorothea deflated.
"Alright, Edelgard," Byleth's gaze met with hers. "You're up next."
Edelgard couldn't help but to linger for a moment as she looked into his deep blue eyes.
She gave him a nod before she began to jog back into the tree line. Her heart pounded though she had not exerted herself.
While she certainly didn't mind being chased, she much preferred to be the one doing the chasing.