“I’m sorry to ask this of you,” he whispered. “You can do this. I believe in you.”
She nodded, looking at the ground. Sucked in a few breaths to calm down.
He nodded, and slipped back out, around the tent, farther from the fighting.
His soulmate followed close behind, her gun arched and ready to fire as they snuck away. All she could hear was Pierre's heavy footfalls and her own heartbeat– the sound of quieting gunfire became a buzz.
He wasn’t sure where they were going, only that they needed to get Geoffrey away. And Edonine… He knew how badly he’d failed her. He knew what he needed to fix.
(Where should they go?)
Pierre's house, then Pierre can letter the general and figure out what they do next )
Edonine's shadowed eyes flickered back to Pierre and Geoffrey to see to their progression into the woods. So far, they were getting away undetected.
(Kk)
An hour passed, Pierre’s arms burning from the weight of his friend. Dread was lodged deeply in his heart, his face lined with grief and something akin to rage.
As they plunged deeper into the woodlamd, Edonine visibly relaxed. "Where to now?" She whispered to him.
At the mere sound of her voice, his expression cleared, if only for a moment. “My house. I’ll send a message to the General from there.”
She walked a little faster to take up to his side. Edonine held onto his elbow.
Pierre turned to look at her, a crack running down the length of his heart. "I'm so sorry… You don't deserve this."
"I chose this," Edonine replied in a quiet voice. She kept her green eyes tilted down. "I chose this…"
"You still don't deserve it.. I should have tried harder, today. To protect you. God, I'm failing already." He leaned over as best he could, pressed a soft kiss to her temple.
She looked down, again. As best as she tried to shoulder it, what she saw today left a scar in her soul. It was painfully evident.
A wave of guilt and worry threatened to overwhelm her– why had he ever brought her into this? Why had he ever agreed with her plan? "I'm sorry," he echoed, voice just above a whisper.
"Don't be," was all the lonely gardener said. She pulled the strap of the rifle over her shoulder.
Skip to when they get to his house?)
(sure)
They entered through the back, careful not to be seen. Pierre drew all the blinds before he lit a few candles and settled Geoffrey on his bed.
Edonine discarded her weaponry and the heavy coat on an armchair. She edged him out of the way, taking a look at Geoffrey's wound. "Needle and thread?" She requested. Her voice sounded flat and fragile. Exhausted.
Pierre slipped from the room before returning with what she’d requested. “Is there anything else you need?” It was clear that he was referring to more than medical supplies.
"Later.. After he's taken care of." She murmured.
Edonine sewed up the wound with careful hands, it left her fingers stained red. Once she was done she requested a towel to wipe it all off. She seemed so… Flat.
Pierre located a rag, but wiped her hands clean for her, wishing he could do more. “You’ve done more than enough. Rest, now.”
She sank down into a chair. Edonine felt stiff and sore, and so.. So tired. There was nothing she wanted more than to be held and comforted by Pierre, but.. She couldnt bring herself to ask him.
Pierre sat on the floor at her feet, reaching for her hand. “Do you want comfort? I— I can hold you..”
Edonine nodded a little bit. Bruises were starting to prickle under her skin in places peppered all over her body. Her breath still felt raw. And she was hungry. But too exhausted to speak, all she could do was slide off the chair into his welcoming arms– and almost immediately, fall asleep.
Pierre held her to his chest, unable to stop the overwhelming guilt and grief— for everything from slipping through him in the form of tears. Silent tears, so as not to wake her; war had taken its toll on them both once again.
I can)
Edonine had crawled in bed with Pierre when evening fell, and woke up first in rhe morning, curled up in a tight ball against him.
His smile sweetened, he glanced off to the distance. "Round Christmastime," he replied with a nod.
Peter grinned at the lovestruck lieutenant. "Ahh, all to make the season merrier. When do you leave?"
I can)
Edonine had crawled in bed with Pierre when evening fell, and woke up first in rhe morning, curled up in a tight ball against him.
Pierre’s arms had loosened around her in his sleep, but he still held her as he slumbered on.
His smile sweetened, he glanced off to the distance. "Round Christmastime," he replied with a nod.
Peter grinned at the lovestruck lieutenant. "Ahh, all to make the season merrier. When do you leave?"
"The fifteenth," John responded eagerly.
I can)
Edonine had crawled in bed with Pierre when evening fell, and woke up first in rhe morning, curled up in a tight ball against him.
Pierre’s arms had loosened around her in his sleep, but he still held her as he slumbered on.
She lifted her face further up the pillow. Just to stare at his languid, sleeping facr, unadultered from the wears of war.
His smile sweetened, he glanced off to the distance. "Round Christmastime," he replied with a nod.
Peter grinned at the lovestruck lieutenant. "Ahh, all to make the season merrier. When do you leave?"
"The fifteenth," John responded eagerly.
(I'm so impatient, can that be "tomorrow"?)