"Do you two want to join us up here any time soon?" Bryn called from the lip of the canyon's edge.
Maude smiled against his lips, the smokey taste of her making his head spin before she muttered, "Not really."
"Let's go,minn eldr," Herrick chuckled as he pulled away. "It's time to go see my mother."
"Oh, goody," Maude deadpanned before following his lead and climbing out of the canyon, leaving their laughter and whatever Flame Soldiers were on the bridge to the raging waters protecting the Kingdom of Rivers.
The last time Herrick returned to his homeland, there were no issues when entering Veter other than his mother recognizing Maude for who she was. His soldiers greeted them, and his parents waited for them. It had been a bright day, the sun shining over the rolling hills and gilding them with its beams. He had felt lighter, even as the revelation that they'd recruited the Heir of Flame to their cause had surprised him.
This time, as the night grew darker and the closer they got to the city, the more desolate his kingdom felt.
Farms that should have been bursting with the summer's crops were empty. Homes built into the valleys that dipped between hills were still.
Preparing for war, preparing to protect his kingdom, was all he had learned. He knew how to plan attack formations, knew the best soldiers to work with each other, and could coordinate their navy with half a thought. He learned all this while trying to stop war from reaching his home. As they arrived at the pinnacle of the final hill that stood between them and Veter, Herrick realized that none of his training had ever made him ready for the sight of his full army readying for an attack.
Torches sprang up around the military encampment as the moon finally rose over the palace behind them, orange lights flickering against the tent canvas. The flames continued to ignite until they stretched all the way around the city and reached the palace gates.
Riders from the camp defense lines broke formation and headed toward them. Herrick and his brother stepped forward, blocking their group in case they were not immediately recognized.
"Glamours up, now," Maude ordered the Elven.
As one, they nodded before the air around them shimmered. It was best they didn't have to explain why they were traveling with beings that were supposed to have been extinct. Dahlia was the last to hide her heritage, her pointed ears sinking beneath her black hair. Nothing could be said for her cat-like amethyst eyes, though. They would have to explain eventually.
"Who goes there?" One of the riders shouted, their axe ready at their side as they pulled their shield forward.
"It is your Prince and your General," Hakon replied, his tone slipping back into that noble tenor that he used so often when they were home. Like nothing had happened to him since they left. "We heard there was war at our doorstep and thought we should return."
Dahlia snorted. It was a short, high-pitched sound that she smothered immediately, but not before Hakon glanced over his shoulder at her, his eyebrow raised.
Drawing his soldier's attention to him, Herrick stepped forward. "Where is the Lieutenant General?"
Each of his men dismounted and bowed to him and his brother, fists over their hearts, before they responded. "He is at the palace in conference with the Queen and King, General."
Herrick nodded. "Good, we will join them there, and once we have caught up, I'll be down for an inspection."
They bowed again. "Yes, sir. Your tent will be set up as soon as possible."
"Thank you," Herrick replied, gesturing to Maude, Bryn, and Dahlia. "They will need arrangements as well. Have someone ready the guest rooms at the palace." And then gestured to the Elven soldiers. "Have them recover in the soldier's barracks."
Maude raised her eyebrow at him, the red arch speaking louder than any words she might have shouted at him. Bryn was shaking her head, and Dahlia was still focused on Hakon but seemed to be listening to what Herrick was ordering.
"Fine," he sighed as Maude nodded satisfactorily. "Have tents erected for our guests as well, right next to mine."
"Yes, sir," the soldiers said before hopping back into their saddles and riding for the camp again.
There was only a moment of quiet before Herrick felt a warm hand slip into his. He looked over to see Maude watching him as he scanned over the army he commanded.
The moment he had fought so hard to prevent was here. They were going to war.
She squeezed his hand once, the gesture comforting, before tilting her head toward the palace.
"Let's go see Alva," she said quietly. "Looks like we have a lot to catch up on."
With just a small tug of her hand in his, Herrick began moving again, and with every step he took, he was thankful for the moody, irritable, wonderful, generous woman at his side. She was the only person who could have brought him back to himself while also opening his mind to how narrow his thinking had been.
Gods be damned now— Herrick had made his choice, and it was Maude. It would always be Maude.
It wasn't long before they came up on the palace gates, now being easily recognized as word had spread that they'd returned. Herrick had guided the Elven soldiers to the barracks so they could wash up and rest for a bit and left them with Maude's promise to check in with them after they were done with the sergeant they captured.
