Chapter Fourteen:

Off To Battle

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Her fingers were trembling, and she knew for a fact that her face was much paler than it usually was, but regardless of all of that, Harriet's fingers were flying across her work.

She laced up her boots. She sharpened her sword. She greased the joint areas of her armor. All the while panicking on the inside of her mind. Leopold had said they would be leaving in less than two hours. In less than two hours, she would be on her way to an event that would most definitely change her life.

It made it even stranger that she knew it, too. She sighed through her nose as she stroked Clark gently, trying to find some comfort in the little animal. He seemed to acknowledge how nervous she was, as he had been eerily quiet all morning.

She peered down at Clark, her brow furrowing. "Well, Clark? Do you know what is going to happen to me?" She asked him. He didn't answer. "Yeah, me neither."

She placed him onto her shoulder, letting him sit on his normal perch. She had decided that she would take him with her in his little mouse holster. It was for mostly selfish reasons, but she couldn't stand to leave him behind. If only for the fact that if he was with her maybe she wouldn't feel so alone.

Harriet glanced up as Garreth walked into the tent, a scroll of paper in his hand. He frowned at her and then at Clark.

"Did you finally write your letter?" Garreth asked, and Harriet nodded, not trusting her voice to sound steady when speaking about such a fragile subject.

After seeing Garreth writing a letter to his family the night before, Harriet had reluctantly followed suit. It just seemed so inadequate. In one letter to her family she had to apologize for leaving, explain why she left, as well as express how much she loved them and how glad she was that she took the opportunity to fight in the war. All without trying not to feel incredibly guilty over how self-seeking she was being. She had barely been able to sum it up in a single letter, and it left her feeling like she could've, or should've, written a novel on all of those subjects instead.

With any luck, they'd never see it, but Harriet was more than happy never to think about it again. Both she and Garreth had agreed to burn their letters to their family the moment the war ended... if they survived that is.

"Where are you going to put yours?" Garreth asked. Harriet cleared her throat before answering.

"I don't know. I was thinking about giving it to you, but you don't even live in Ecrivenia, so maybe not."

"You could always give it to King Frederick," Garreth suggested, his eyebrow raising as Harriet shook her head quickly.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Then what about King Leopold? He's your only other option." Harriet's shoulders slumped as she realized he was right. She didn't even want to think about how risky it was to give a letter like that to Leopold. However, she knew that he would only ever open it if she died in order to give it to her family. She shuddered to think what his reaction would be to find out who she was through a letter. She squeezed the bridge of her nose with one of her hands. She would have to tell him just before she died if it ever came to that. But then again, maybe that would be worse.

"I wish there was someone else," Harriet said, groaning, and Garreth gave her a sympathetic look.

"I'll bet, but you know there isn't. Plus, I'm sure he wouldn't mind the company right about now. King Frederick left earlier so he's probably alone."

"How do you even know all of this?" Harriet asked, her voice reflecting her feelings on the matter. Garreth gave her a pointed look, not saying anything until finally she understood what he wasn't saying. He had been a spy, of course he knew.

"Right. Well, I'm just going to go do that," Harriet said, shuffling her feet where she stood. She always felt kind of awkward when Garreth's spying was brought up, but considering the fact it was going to be the last day of the war, for better or for worse, she knew she had to get over it. "I'll see you later."

Garreth nodded and Harriet left the tent dreading the conversation she was about to have. Everyone in the camp was subdued, quiet, and Harriet felt like if she made the slightest sound they would all startle like skittish horses.

Walking towards Leopold's tent, Harriet brought a hand through her short hair before stopping herself abruptly. She needed to cut it out. Why on earth would she feel the need to preen herself before seeing Leopold? With an annoyed sigh at her own odd and misplaced instincts and habits, she walked up to the entrance to the tent.

"Your highness? May I come in?" She called, waiting for only a moment before the tent flap was pulled aside to reveal Leopold.

"You may. What brings you here, Mr. Greenfellow?" Leopold asked, his blue eyes focused on her own grey ones.

"I was wondering if I could ask you a small favor. You know my older brother?" Leopold nodded stiffly, his jaw flexing slightly. Harriet tried not to react about that. Why wouldn't he like Mark? Mark was wonderful, albeit a bit of a dork most of the time. However, she pushed that thought away. "Would you give him this, should anything- should anything happen?" She held out the letter for him to take, but he didn't, not right away, and his eyes held hers for a moment longer.

"Of course," he said, his voice much more sincere as he took the letter from her hand. "I will return it to you at the end of the battle," he commented, wordlessly expressing the fact that he thought she would make it through. Harriet gave him a small smile, at his wordless reassurance, even if there was truly no way for him to know such things.

"Thank you, sir." She nodded to him and was about to turn on her heel to leave when Leopold spoke.

"If you would stay a moment, Mr. Greenfellow. I'd like to speak with you."

"Of course, sir," Harriet responded, turning back around to face him and clasping her hands behind her back. She stood there watching him closely, doing her best to keep her eyes from wandering down to his pursed lips.

"What do you intend to do after this is all over? Save for helping with the endeavor to find your brother's friend, of course," Leopold asked, his arms crossing over his chest as he tilted his head slightly to the side. Harriet paused, a little surprised by the question.

"I haven't really thought about it. I guess I'll figure it out when I get to that point."

"Would you like to become part of Marenta's royal knights?" Leopold said abruptly, and Harriet froze, utilizing all of her jaw muscles to keep her mouth from popping open in shock. Of all of the questions he could've asked her, she certainly hadn't expected that.

The royal knights of Marenta were well known for being some of the best trained men in the surrounding countries. However, Harriet knew she could never join them, no matter how much she wanted to. After all of this was over, she was going home, granted that she actually could.

"I would like to be with my family, sir," Harriet said.

"And after that? After you are reunited with your family?" His voice sounded hopeful, even to her own ears. Did he really want her to come be apart of his knights so much?

"I'm not sure, but I would like to think about your offer a little more before I commit to it," she answered, all the while thinking of how there was no way Clara would ever let her leave the palace again if she was able to get home. If Leopold wanted her to be a part of his knights, he'd probably have to save her from a locked tower first.

Though something told her he'd be one of the ones to help build said tower. Gosh, she would be in so much trouble when she got back. Yet, she pushed that thought away in favor of paying attention to whatever it was Leopold was saying.

"That is a good choice, I wouldn't want you to regret your decision after you made it." Harriet nodded her head mechanically, her movements feeling stiff even to her.

"I best go finish getting ready, sir," Harriet said, and Leopold waved a hand dismissing her.

"Very well, and Mr. Greenfellow?" Leopold called, causing Harriet to look at him over her shoulder. "You will be marching beside me this morning." Harriet forced her head to give a sharp nod before she could say anything that would betray both her shock and her fear. There was no way she would make it through the battle without him finding out she was a woman.

She left the tent quickly, taking long strides to reach her own tent; hurrying inside.

"What's wrong?" Garreth said, picking up on her nerves as she straightened her armor and clutched her pack to her tightly before dropping it. She wouldn't be bringing it with her.

"So many things. I can't even list them all." Harriet didn't look at Garreth as she double checked that Clark was secured in his mouse holster. Her hands were shaking every so slightly, but she shoved them downwards to rest one on her hip and the other on the handle of her sword, choosing to not take notice of her body's clear indication of her nerves.

Garreth opened his mouth to say something, but as shouts echoed from the middle of the camp, they both knew it was time to go. Harriet grabbed hold of her shield and did a once over to make sure she had everything, putting her helmet on her head, before meeting Garreth's eyes and giving a small nod. With that they both pushed their way out of the tent, not giving a single glance back to what they were leaving behind as they went to join the others.

"Garreth, King Leopold told me I was to march beside him. Come with me?" Harriet asked, kicking herself internally at how insecure she sounded as she asked, but Garreth didn't seem to notice, instead choosing to simply follow her.

Soon enough they were both at the front of the line, with Harriet standing between Leopold, who was on his horse, and Garreth who was walking like she was. Leopold's held tilted downwards as he looked at her, before he took his sword out and raised it in the air.

"Forwards!" He shouted, his strong voice carrying to the back of the company. Everyone began to move at once, following his orders. The men were all quiet, the only sounds heard was the sound of their movements.

As they moved farther and farther away from the camp, Harriet could feel her nerves building and she longed to just talk to anyone, but she didn't want to break the silence. So instead her eyes landed on Leopold's horse to the left of her, trailing up to land on its owner.

For a moment her eyes lingered as she pondered everything all at once. She thought of her current predicament, her family, the letter she wrote, her hopes to save Oliver, the fact that she was confused over how Leopold even knew where to meet the enemy (she chalked it up for him being a tactical genius), and last of all, she thought of Leopold.

She thought of Leopold, both looking forward to and dreading the moment when he found out who she really was. She thought of how she had long since forgiven him for anything she had blamed on him in the past. She thought of him in that moment in the way she hadn't let herself before. She didn't know if it was the nerves, or the fact it might very will be her last chance to think it, but she recognized the churning of her stomach for what it was, the skip of her heart for what it only could be, and the deep dread of realization for the conclusion she had finally come to.

It was like it all clicked into place. Once, a very long time ago, Harriet had asked Clara to describe how she felt about Frederick. Clara, at that time hadn't given her much of an answer, skirting around the subject by saying there was no way he would ever like her, even if she did like him. Later, Harriet had asked her again, and Clara had finally given in and said some nonsense about butterflies, fireworks, embarrassment, and undeniable pull to be near Frederick. Harriet had thought her sister had lost her mind, but now, Harriet was wondering if she had lost hers.

She was feeling almost everything Clara described, she had been for weeks. Her brain tried to find purchase in the idea that maybe it was nerves from the battle but Harriet knew it wasn't. She didn't like that it wasn't, but she knew it all the same.

She was fond of him, more than fond of him, and she had to finally admit it at the worst of moments. Harriet wrenched her eyes away from his face, forcing them to stay on the path ahead. Dear Lord, she cared for him; genuinely, romantically. She felt a bubble of hysterical laughter almost force its way up her throat before she shoved it down.

Harriet felt a small nudge in the side of her armor, and she turned to look at Garreth who was staring at her in concern, his eyebrows furrowed. He raised an eyebrow at her, but Harriet just shook her head. This was something to keep to herself, because of all times to have the revelation that she was sure would cause Clara to shout with joy if she ever found out, this was the worst possible time.

Straightening her posture, Harriet did her best to align her thoughts on the task at hand. In minutes, she would be in a fight for her life, now was not the time to dwell on things like- she couldn't even think the dreaded "L" word. She would deal with it all later, preferably after Leopold found out she was actually a girl.

With great effort on her part, her thoughts returned to what they had to be on, and she marched on until Leopold gave the signal to stop, his arm raising and causing their small army to come to a halt. They all stood completely still, there was no sound of rustling or fidgeting.

Harriet looked at Leopold out of the corner of her eye, frowning at the expression on his face. He was rigid in his saddle, his back straight as an arrow as he held himself still. His eyes were on the treeline far away, a mere speck in the distance across the large and uneven field they were in. Harriet followed his gaze, keeping her eyes also on the treeline, until something else caught her eye above it.

Her eyes squinted as she tried to look closer, but her ears registered a thunderous roar that nearly burst her eardrums before they could. Her heart was rattling in her chest, the pulse of it reminding her she was very much alive, despite the fact she was currently shaking in her boots, and her lungs were suddenly fighting to draw breath as they constricted with undeniable fear.

The shapes of the other army got closer, and Harriet felt a wave of horror wash over her as her eyes finally could see the outline of whatever it was that was flying just above the treeline.

Emerald green scales glittered in the sunlight, and a fiery plume lit the sky with an unearthly glow, seeming as if the very clouds were being burned from the inside out.

The other side hadn't just brought an army, they had brought a dragon, and looking up at it, Harriet had never felt so hopeless.

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Dragons, letters, and "L" words, oh my! If only Clark was a dog, then it would make the comparison far too perfect. Though I do think Harriet would object to a pair of ruby slippers. Either way it looks like trouble for Harriet, that's for sure. Thank goodness there aren't any evil witches around, that would just make things worse.

What do you think will happen with the dragon? What about Harriet's very ill-timed epiphany? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

My apologies for updating so late! I hope I made up for it with the material I provided. Hopefully another update should be coming your way soon as well as a few treats for those of you interested in reading stories completely unrelated to this series. (Can you say time travel stories and a Nutcracker retelling?)

Anyway, I hope you all liked the chapter, and if everything goes to plan, I will see you all sometime later this week!