"Hm."
"Is something amiss, Princess?" Henrietta shook her head at Agnes' question as the two sat in the princess' study, an open letter.
"No, Agnes, just... ruminating." This letter came from Sir Winters, and it brought more weight to her troubles; he had Louise had apparently gone on a quest during the Summer vacation and the Water Spirit had tasked them with finding a lost artifact, and he was asking for her aid in finding it. She had a feeling she knew whom had taken the item and where they could begin their search, which would coincide perfectly with the other matter she wished for them to attend to, but... could she trust Sir Winters? She knew Louise would perform this without question, but if he got curious...
...no, no she had to believe he could handle this. She could not pull her hand away now after he'd proven himself.
"...A little insurance never hurt, however..."
Nate tapped about on his Pip-Boy as he, Guiche, and Louise waited for their pick-up along the road to the Academy. He should've expected the quest to find the Water Spirit's ring would've been a whole ordeal. That probably wasn't the worst part; he had to go to another continent on a super-secret mission with Miss Fireball over there and Captain Gigolo. They couldn't be less discrete if they were flying around with Tabitha's dragon. Oh yeah, they also had to go in the middle of a FUCKING CIVIL WAR, and because it was on a fucking island God forbid if they screwed up and couldn't get off in time.
He sighed and Guiche looked at him with a bright smile, "Worry not! Albion is truly a beautiful country! We can admire while we rescue Prin-"
Nate wrapped his hand around Guiche's mouth, using the other to point at him with each word. "Shut. The fuck. Up."
Louise crossed her arms but didn't say anything. It might've seemed an overreaction, but she probably understood this was a secret mission, at least. Nate pulled away to check his notes: Albion, floating continent, going to break apart sometime in the next 50 years, civil war with the... Reconquista, some group claiming to be by the people, for the people, primarily deals in float stones. He sighed mentally, reminding himself that the job was just get the letter and get out. He wasn't getting involved in any of this civil war political bullshit. It didn't take much longer for a covered wagon to rumble its way up the road and stop before them, and Nate stepped up to the driver. "You Wardes?"
"Nae, sir. The captain is aloft." Nate raised a brow but it became clear when a man in fancy armor atop an actual griffin landed on the ground. Nate had to respect the pomp and circumstance... helped his outfit wasn't too off from Nate's own. Nate looked back and saw both Guiche and Louise looking shocked, though he wasn't sure why Louise was stunned. According to the Princess' letter, she should've known Wardes.
"Louise, it has been so long." The man knelt down and took Louise's hand, planting a kiss on the back of it, and sending her blushing bright red. Nate rolled his eyes and moved towards the back of the wagon.
"Yeah, yeah, get on the carriage. You can hang out with your grandpa later." He got a step into the wagon before Wardes chuckled.
"I'm actually dear Louise's betrothed."
"..." Nate slowly leaned back so he could look around the wagon's side, and Wardes raised a hand.
"I'm aware of her appearance, but I assure you Louise will be a woman in a few years and the marriage will truly happen then."
"...Get in the carriage." Nate felt a headache already developing, but he kept telling himself this was normal for them. It was one of the most awkward rides he had in a while: Guiche kept fanboying over Wardes who barely paid him any attention, instead focusing on an awkward, quiet Louise. He and Wardes didn't have much to talk about, the Princess had thankfully explained most of Nate's situation to him. They reached the harbor when the sun was going down and found an inn to wait for when the island would float closer tomorrow... God what an insane statement. Louise and Wardes had retired to their rooms, leaving Nate and Guiche at a table once Nate made clear that no, the ladies at the bar were not "entranced by his noble bearing" and were just gold-diggers. Nate took a swig of beer and sighed. "You really didn't learn your lesson, huh?"
"E-Ehehe, well..." Guiche trailed off, sinking in his seat. "How could I resist speaking with such wonderful ladies after they invited me over?"
Nate glared at him before shaking his head. "Break up with your girlfriend."
"What!?" Guiche was completely offended, standing up to slap a hand to the table.
"If you can't control yourself, our little "Summer vacation adventure" is going to happen all over again. She's as bad as you are-"
"I will hear no such insult against my beloved Montmorency! She may have been misguided, and we are taking a break..." Guiche trailed off a moment but his confidence returned. "But she truly is my one and only!"
"Uh huh." Was Nate's only response, and Guiche huffed before sitting down. There was silence for a moment before Guiche sighed.
"Perhaps after this, Montmorency will see what a man I am, what I could be. Like Sir Wardes."
"Or you could just. you know, not chase after everything that compliments you slightly." Nate waved his tankard towards one of the bar floosies who had already moved on to her next target. Guiche groaned and held his head.
"Please don't tell her about this."
"My lips are sealed." Largely because he didn't want to get involved with his nonsense again.
"Thank, I'm worried she might tell me-"
"Count Mott sends his regards!" Nate turned around just in time to see a knife coming for his face.
Louise let out a quiet noise as she awoke. She simply laid in bed a moment as her mind try to recalled scrambled dreams. She knew it involved Wardes but like many dreams it faded away with each second.
She hated that she couldn't say it was a good dream.
She didn't know if it was a bad one either, but something felt... off, wrong somehow. She should've been thrilled Wardes was here; he must've heard everything that happened since the familiar summoning ritual, but he was still so warm and kind. So why? Why could she not say she was happy to see him? After a moment she slapped her cheeks. No! This was a good thing! She was finally reunited with her betrothed on a mission for her Princess! She nodded to herself and at up, ready to meet the day- wait where the hell was she?
Louise blinked in confusion as she saw she was in a room that was definitely not her inn room. She stood and felt a gentle sway in the movement, making her way to the door and opening it to see a scruffy looking man standing in the hall. "Who-"
"Captain, our guest is awake!" The man called up the wooden hall, making Louise jump. After a moment she saw Wardes coming down the stairs, smiling softly.
"Good morning, my dear Louise."
"Wardes? Where are we?"
"Aboard our ship. It's unfortunate, but we had to leave much earlier than expected."
"Did..." She blushed bright. "Did you carry me here?"
"I did." Louise groaned and Wardes chuckled.
"Please tell me Guiche and the d- Sir Winters did not see."
"I'm afraid our entourage elected to return home." That woke Louise right up. Guiche? Giving up the chance for glory, to repeat the same tale over and over to whoever would listen? She knew he wasn't exactly as tough as he thought, but to abandon them so close to their goal?
"I... see. Did they say why?" Wardes sighed but kept his smile.
"In the case of the young Lord Gramont, I think he realized he bit off more than he could chew. Sir Winter elected to guard him back to the Academy." Ah... that, that made sense. Yes, Guiche definitely needed someone to keep him safe. Louise nodded as she ignored the rolling in her stomach.
"I should've expected as much. Are we on our way to Albion?" Wardes nodded and offered her his arm. She blushed and grabbed onto it, allowing him to lead her above deck, and she had to say that Albion was a beautiful sight.
"Another few hours, and we shall be upon Albion's soil." Louise nodded, and Wardes returned with her to her room. The closer they got the more she was able to suppress the feeling in her stomach as she and Wardes spoke more of her time at the Academy. They landed upon the port, and Louise admired the great sky-ships and colorful people before she was quickly ushered into a wagon by Wardes. After a few minutes he chuckled. "Do not pout so, my dear."
"I'm not pouting!" Maybe she was, a tiny bit: she was used to smooth carriages, not these plain, rough wagons where you had to sit on the floor and feel every bump of the road. Wardes held her closer.
"I'm afraid the discomfort is not over yet, but we shall-" The wagon slowed and Wardes looked to the driver. "Driver? What's wrong?"
"Th-There's a roadblock, sir." Louise peered up around the driver and saw Guiche awkwardly standing behind several golems that had blocked the road off.
"Wha- Guiche!? What're you-" Her familiar's face popped up around the back of the wagon, and the whole thing almost shook as he stomped on the step at the back with a grip that creaked the side of the wagon.
"HEY GUYS, WHAT'S UP!?"
"What- you!? But Sir Wardes said you left, why are you here!?"
"Count Mott sends his regards!" Nate turned around just in time to see a knife coming for his face. Quickly he brought up his mug and the knife sunk into it, and he whipped out his pistol, popping shot after shot into the attacker's stomach until the man fell back to the floor. When he saw more men standing up to rush them Nate did the same.
"AMBUSH!" Time slowed as Nate took aim, taking out three of the assassins before something slammed into his back, sending him reeling against the table and onto the floor, flat on his back. He could see Guiche running as more people chased him, but Nate's focus was quickly brough to a man tossing aside a broken chair and pulling a knife. Nate stepped back into V.A.T.S. and took him out, but he quickly realized his gun had run empty. He stood and pulled his knife free, charging in with a roar at the three going after Guiche, tackling one fat bastard out a window. Nate scrambled to sit on top of the man with both hands on his knife and sent it towards their throat, but the man caught it and the two began struggling. Nate was making slow progress so he let go with one hand, letting the man push the knife away but letting Nate jab his free thumb into the man's eye.
The enemy screamed and pull a hand away to clutch at his face, and Nate plunged his knife into their neck with the distraction. The man's one eye went wide and he clutched at his throat before Nate wrenched his arm back, sending a streak of blood into the air. The man struggled to stand and Nate scrambled off him. Not time to dawdle: he rushed for the inn window they'd gone through and slide over the ledge back inside to see Guiche panting heavily. In front of him were three shoddy Valkyrie's pointing spears at three men kneeling on the ground. "Guiche! Are there any more!?"
Guiche practically jumped out of skin at the shout. "I-I-I don't know!"
"Fucking-" Nate sheathed his knife to reload his pistol, pointing at Guiche, "Stay here!"
Guiche nodded and Nate practically sprinted upstairs. Wardes' room was open and empty, and so was Louise's. Nate rushed back downstairs and he pointed Deliverer at one of the kneeling men. "Start explaining."
"We don't have to tell ya-"
Pop!
The man started screaming when Nate blew out his kneecap, and Nate wordlessly pointed at the next man, voice going icy. "Want to try for two?"
"Count Mott hired us!" The youngest of the three screeched, and Nate pointed the gun at him next. "He paid us to get revenge on you!"
"Where are Wardes and Louise!?" The young looked at Nate in confusion, flinching when Nate jabbed his pistol at him. "There was an old man and a little girl with pink hair, where. Are. They!?"
"I-I don't know! I swear to Brimir I don't know! We just got told to go after you!" Nate said nothing, breathing deeply and rapidly as he lifted his pistol and smacked the slide against his forehead as the boy devolved into blubbering, trying to force himself to think. The kid didn't sound like he was lying but then where the hell were they!? The rooms were empty and- inspiration struck. Their rooms... the little luggage they had was gone. They'd only need that if they were going on a long trip, so...
Nate rushed to the window, scanning the sky. There: the faintest silhouette of something in the air, lit by the faint moonlight. Nate slammed his fist against the broken glass and pointed at someone random. "You!"
"Me!?"
"Call the guards! Guiche, move!" Nate started marching out of the inn, not waiting for a response. He joined soon enough, frazzled and covered in sweat.
"Sir Winters, what's going on!?"
"They left us!"
"W-What?"
"Louise and Wardes bailed on us, they're heading for Albion."
"But why would...?"
"Oh, we're gonna fucking find out..."
"...and Sir Winters commissioned us a ship, pushing the crew to go as fast as possible." Guiche finished Nate's story as he came around the back.
"Wardes...?" Louise looked to her betrothed. Surely... Surely, he hadn't lied? Wardes' smile had disappeared, and after a moment he sighed.
"Yes, I admit it: I did purposefully leave you behind."
"Yeah no shit, you putz."
"However, I had my reasons." Nate crossed his arms. "You must understand how it seems to tell one of Her Majesty's closest confidants that a man, who has only held the title of Chevalier for a few weeks at longest, is joining you on an incredibly important mission. As much credence as the princess' words lend, I could not be totally assured of your skill. Though, from the tale you tell, it seems my worries were unfounded."
"...Yeah, no. That ain't passing the sniff test."
"I-I believe Wardes did what he did for a good reason." Louise spoke up with more confidence than she felt.
"If... I may interject?" Guiche hesitantly joined in, "You do not have any evidence that here was any sort of... ill intentions."
"Oh I know, which is why I'm going to make sure there's nothing going on." Everyone stared in confusion as Nate's hand shot out, grabbing Wardes' wrist.
"What are you-" Nate clacked a pair of handcuffs around his and Wardes' wrists. "Manacles?"
"For the entire time we are here, you will not eat, sleep, or jerk it without me knowing."
"Wha- Familiar! Unhand him this instant!" Louise screeched, and Nate stared at her for a moment before lifting up the keys... and tossing them into his mouth to swallow them. "Are you a dog, just eating random things!? Guiche, get the keys out of him!"
Guiche just raised his hands defensively, "I have already done my part in this quest, I think."
"I... suppose this can be some form of penance, Sir Winters." Nate chuckled at Wardes words.
"Oh we are just getting started..."
