The wagon jerked to a stop.

"That's about as far as I can take you," Dimitri overheard Ambrose say to Lilliana. "I want to help you out more, but I need to get home to Mother."

"I understand." Lilliana said dejectedly. "I'll... I'll go help the children out."

Dimitri was already ahead of her, rounding up the kids on their late afternoon high and guiding them off the wagon. Faye ran over to beg for a lift into her big sister's arms.

The prince couldn't help but sneer at the false expression of disheartenment on Lilliana's face. "Say goodbye," he hissed to her as he walked by herding the children to the other side of the path.

"I will," she grunted back as Ambrose came towards them.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and gazed into her eyes upon reaching her. "I'm sorry to see you go," Ambrose said softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Tell me, when will I see you again?"

"I don't know," Lilliana leaned her forehead against his and closed her eyes. "I want to stay so badly, but..."

His frown deepened before he kissed her lips gently. "It will be all right. I'll... I'll hold you in my heart until we meet once more."

Dimitri cringed deep in his gut, pretending not to notice as she reciprocated passionately and clutched Ambrose's jacket.

"Then just let me have my moment before we part," Lilliana breathed, pulling him closer for another intense kiss.

Faye, who had been passed to Dimitri, looked up at the prince and made a disgusted face. Suppressing his urge to laugh, he turned to place her with the other children.

Then he walked up to the couple locking lips fervently and set his hands on Lilliana's shoulders. She opened her eyes when she felt his touch but still failed to prepare for his aggressive yank backwards. Ambrose likewise assumed an expression of surprise.

"Alexandre!" Lilliana pushed his hand away and crossed her arms. "You had no right to—"

Dimitri shoved her back again and stood between her and their smuggler. "Never touch my sister like that again, do you understand?" He straightened to his full height and tried his best to look intimidating.

It seemed to work. Ambrose, though quite miffed at the intervention, stepped back. "A-ah.. yes. Yes, Colette, it would be best if you two were on your way."

She sighed. "I suppose you're right. But... don't forget about me, okay?"

Ambrose gave her another sappy sad smile. "How could I ever forget you?"

"This is much too dramatic for my liking," Dimitri declared. "We thank you and your mother for your assistance, but it is time for you to get going."

"You're ruining the moment," Lilliana hissed not-so-subtly. "Just let us have a few seconds to ourselves, okay?"

He snorted. "You've had hours to yourselves, if I happen to remember correctly. We should be off, and not waste any further time."

Ambrose twitched his mouth. "Of course. Fare thee well, Colette; fare thee well, Alexandre."

Dimitri dipped his head. "You as well."

With that, Ambrose dragged his feet slightly on his way to the wagon. He gave a single glance back as he hopped into the front seat, but snapped the reigns and urged the horse forward.

Lilliana watched him leave with a semi-neutral expression. "I'm glad that's been taken care of," she said quietly.

Dimitri nodded again. "Yes. Now," he gave her a glance. "Come. We are close to the castle."

She sighed. "Yes, I suppose we are, aren't we? How about we give the children a few minutes to play around before we start walking again?"

"I don't think that's very efficient." He gritted his teeth but tried his best to give the idea a second thought. "They can do so while we walk."

"I should've figured that you'd say no. Well, I thank you for considering it." Lilliana sent him a smile. Funnily enough, she had seemed tamer after the last few days. "Come now, everyone. David, I'll carry you first, okay? The rest of you, stay close."

As the other children clamored over each other to grab Lilliana's free hand, Faye held back and seemed to be zoning out. Dimitri looked at her askance.

"Faye?" He asked, stepping closer and holding out his own hand. "Is something wrong?"

She jumped. "H-huh? No, no. No, I'm just thinking."

"Ah, so you were being thoughtful," Dimitri took her hand in his and guided her onto the trail, beginning to walk ahead of Lilliana and the children. "Tell me, what were you thinking of?"

"Nothing really. Just Lillie." Faye stared at the dirt path as she lengthened her steps to keep up with the prince. "And Mister Ambrose."

Dimitri bit his lip. "...Oh. I see." He wondered if he should ask anything more.

As it turned out, he didn't need to. "I just think he's kinda weird. And Lillie's weird around him too," Faye explained, lowering her voice to a badly-concealed whisper.

He cocked his head. "How so?"

Faye furrowed her brow. "I dunno. I can just kinda feel something's not right. Like she's weird, or something. I don't know."

"Do you mean... you think she's being dishonest?" Dimitri suggested, knowing she wasn't very good at articulating her emotions yet. "Or something else?"

She nodded emphatically. "Yeah, yeah, that. Like kind of like lying, but it's weird. And I can feel it's not right whenever she says something to him. I don't really like it."

"That makes sense." Dimitri patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Do you like Mister Ambrose?"

Faye twisted her mouth to the side. "I don't know. Kind of. I think he's nice, I guess, but I don't really know anything about him. And I don't know if Lilliana likes him either."

Dimitri perked up. "You don't know if Lilliana likes him? What do you mean?"

"I know she kisses him and hugs him a lot and stuff, I know that," she said hastily. "But that's why I think she's... you know, what you said. The dis-something. Like lying. But she's not telling a lie or something, it's like with what she does,"

He laughed. "Oh, now I understand," Dimitri grinned for the first time in a while. "You think she's pretending to love him, right?"

Faye, looking extremely relieved, nodded. "Yeah, yeah! Like I don't think she actually likes him, but she acts like she does. Do you know why?"

Dimitri rubbed his chin as though he was thinking of how to answer; in truth he knew what she was doing, obviously, but wanted to make sure he didn't communicate any animosity towards Lilliana to her little sister.. "Perhaps... it's because she just wants to use him to get us here. And she thinks it's easiest if she sed... plays up to him."

"That seems a bit mean," Faye looked disappointed. "Why would she do that to him? Wouldn't he feel bad?"

"Yes, he would," Dimitri said wryly. "But.. if she hadn't lied to him... we wouldn't be able to get to where we are."

"Oh." She paused to kick a rock. "Where are we, then?"

He mused for a moment. "Well... I'm assuming we're rounding Gronder Field just east of House Varley and a few miles southeast of the Oghma Mountains. We should be trekking along the Airmid River soon enough, if my calculations are correct."

Faye widened her eyes. "You're smart with maps," she said, like a child usually does when they meet someone with any level skill in something they don't understand.

Dimitri blushed faintly. "Oh, no, not me," he shook his head. "I've just been through here many times, is all. I... I know most of the paths."

"Oh, is that so?" Lilliana sidled up to him, hefting David in one arm. "It seems the children are concerned as to how long it will take us to get to the castle. Would you have an estimate, by any chance?"

The prince shot her a look, good-natured mood turning sour. "No, I wouldn't. I might offer a suggestion, however. Should everyone continue moving quickly, there's a possibility this journey will go faster."

Lilliana sent him a sweet smile. "That's quite ingenious, Highness! I never would have thought of that,"

"Nor would I have expected you to," Dimitri muttered, straightening. "Refrain from speaking to me any further. It would not do to get into another heated argument without Webbs."

She rolled her eyes. "Highness, I don't start those arguments. You do know you just have some sort of addiction to disputing everything I say, don't you?"

He bristled. "That's not true in the slightest! Every one of your statements is just a deliberate provocation and it's exhausting to deal with!"

"Calm down, Highness," Lilliana stepped backwards and held up a hand in surrender. "No need to snap."

"Since when were you the collected, reasonable one?" Dimitri scoffed, clenching a fist. "You don't have the moral high ground, so stop acting like it."

"Dimitri," she said in a warning tone, with an almost motherly look. "Please simmer down. We'll probably be there soon as long as we keep the quarreling to a minimum."

With a frustrated growl he dropped Faye's hand and stalked forward. "I'm hot," he grunted, "and as a result I am irritable."

Had he looked backwards to see, he would have noticed her eyes soften with sympathy. "I get it. You know, we could probably take a dip in the Airmid later if we make good time," she suggested.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps. But for now I'd rather you stay quiet."

There was a brief flash of exasperation in her expression, but she covered it up quickly. "Of course."

Faye made to catch up with the prince again, but Lilliana took her hand and held her back, whispering something in her ear. The little girl's face fell and she walked more sluggishly beside her sister.

Lilliana gazed at Dimitri, who had yanked a sachet of lavender from his pocket and pressed it against his nose. She wondered how long they'd have to be enemies.

She thought he was respectable in many ways, though he seemed to have lost his guide to the right path. She couldn't help but ponder the thought that if she had come to Garreg Mach, perhaps she would've had the chance to really get to know him, to build some sort of a friendship. He was kind in his own subtle way, and he was a born leader, and through that disillusioned facade lie quite the degree of charm.

Oh, but she longed to know him for more than what she had been told of him. To really understand his heart, to be able to connect and empathize with his emotions.

To, for once, be able to call him a friend, and a good one at that.

But that was all the sappy thoughts twirling around in the back of her mind. The only feeling towards him she could really comprehend was that undying, constant nagging that begged her to get just a bit closer, to wrap herself in his arms forever. But even with those ideas, she had absolutely no idea as to why they had to manifest with him, of all people, as the subject of her attraction.

Lilliana tossed her hair back with an annoyed flick of her wrist. There was no use troubling herself with such matters at the moment, was there? Perhaps when she was holed up in the castle near Hrym she could afford to give them a bit more consideration. At least then it might benefit her.

Little Posey flopped down on the ground. Red in the face and panting heavily, she refused to stand up. "I'm tired," she said simply.

Lilliana frowned. "Come now, I thought you always said you were strong! We should be there soon, I promise," she coaxed, squatting beside her for a moment.

Posey shook her head. "I am strong," she replied, "but I can't walk anymore. I'm only five, too."

Dimitri noticed the pause in those behind him. "What's the problem?" He demanded, walking towards them and crossing his arms.

"Posey's weary," Lilliana told him. shifting into a sitting position. "And she'd rather not get up."

He sniffed disdainfully. "Well, we can't have that. It's been two or three hours, and considering the rate we've been going I'm assuming we're getting close. So up, we ought to continue."

Posey, who didn't understand a word he said, stared at him blankly without moving a muscle.

Lilliana tapped her shoulder. "Come on Posey, just a bit longer, okay?"

The little girl shook her head. "My legs hurt," she complained, a hint of whininess in her tone.

Dimitri groaned internally. The one thing he couldn't stand was children getting cranky. He knelt down next to her and slung his bag off of his shoulder. "Hold this," he said, and passed it to Lilliana, who rolled her eyes.

"Your name is Posey, right?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Okay. Are you tired?"

"Uh-huh."

"All right then, would you like me to carry you?"

Posey's head snapped up. "You'll carry me?"

Dimitri nodded. "Yes. Climb on."

Struggling to her feet, Posey wasted little time hopping onto his back and wrapping her arms securely around his neck. The phrase 'strong as an ox' came to the forefront of Lilliana's mind as he stood with the stocky, fairly heavy girl on his shoulders.

Perhaps he could carry me like that one day, she thought distractedly. She then fought the urge to smack herself for conceiving the notion.

Dimitri jerked his head towards the trail. "All right, everyone, let's continue."

El rushed up and tugged on his pants to grab his attention. "Can I get a ride next?" He requested, looking up at him. "Please?"

The prince pursed his lips. "I don't know. You'll have to wait."

Just as he stepped forward again, Octavia seemed to materialize in front of him. "I want a turn after El," she demanded. "Okay?"

Lilliana intercepted and pulled her back. "You need to wait, Octavia. Maybe after we've been walking for a bit longer."

Octavia made a pouty face. "Fine," she huffed sourly. "But I still want a turn."

"Me too," El moved to stand next to her. "I want a ride too."

Suddenly, it was as if a bright light seemed to illuminate their eyes as the two arrived at a brilliant new idea.

"What if," Octavia began mischievously, "Mister Highness—"

"—carried both of us," El continued with equal amounts of devious intent, "at the same time?"

Dimitri, who had had enough, briskly strode ahead of the group, with Posey bouncing along in tow.

Lilliana set David down on the ground and put a hand on the two schemers' shoulders. "I don't know if that would be such a great thing for him, all right?"

El frowned. "Why? He's really strong. He could probably do it."

Octavia lifted her chin. "He could definitely do it," she said with lofty certainty. "He's carried me before and I know he could hold two of us."

"Yeah, exactly," El nodded, and a look of understanding passed between them. "It's not gonna be a problem or anything."

Lilliana let go of them for a moment to pull Lucas and Irene out of a nearby mud puddle. "It's just that I don't think he's in a very good mood right now," she explained when she returned. "So maybe you should let him be. Is that clear?"

They assumed sullen expressions and hunched their shoulders.

"Yeah, fine," El grumbled. "I just wanted to be carried again."

She sent them a semi-sarcastic look of sympathy. "Can't have everything we want, I'm afraid. Now hurry along; I need to get the rest of you little maniacs moving."

Octavia recovered first and beckoned to El, inviting him to race her. When they had barreled off along the path, Lilliana sighed and gathered the others in front of her.

David had found a new fascination with beetles, for some reason or another, and Irene was in the habit of constantly dirtying her clothes whenever she was given the chance; Lizzie and Olivier were fairly well-behaved for now, if only thanks to their low amount of energy; Frederich was still Frederich, more or less, except now Cassie was angry at him and Espen alike.

Their current caregiver wiped her brow under the harsh sunlight. Too much sun, she thought, I'm much too sweaty.

"Ah— Major Webbs? Is that you?"

Lilliana perked up when she heard Dimitri's cry of surprise. Squinting, she made out the shapes of multiple adult figures, the number increasing as more stepped from the trees.

She almost fainted with relief, ushering the kids toward the prince and the returning members of their party. "Go find Barrett," she told them. They didn't need to be told twice, and even Lizzie took off running for the young soldier with amber eyes as warm and comforting as a blanket in the winter moons.

Mustering the remaining strength in herself, Lilliana trudged after them, stretching her arms and wishing sorely for a razor or a cool bath, or both in an ideal reality. Hopefully, when they reached the castle, she'd be able to get cleaned up and maintain a presentable appearance.

Even when a captive of a deranged young man, it was important for her to look her best, and that was reflected in the careful preening she partook in every morning. If she hadn't repinned her bun and twirled out the curls in her locks, or swatted her outfit free of dust, or reapplied her perfume, or filed her fingernails with the file hidden safely away in her pocket, it was a morning wasted by her standards.

Webbs walked up to her as she joined the group.

"I'm glad you made it, Lady Lillie." He smiled, but the expression couldn't hide the deepened wrinkles in his face.

"As am I," she replied with a dip of her head. "Did your group make it through Merceus and Bergliez without incident?"

The grizzled soldier wavered a moment. "Mostly, yes, but... I'm afraid we lost one on the way. We're not quite sure how, but suddenly he was gone, and we couldn't afford to delay by looking for him. I hope he is doing well."

Lilliana clasped her hands together. "I do too. But on a different note, do you know how much further it will be until we reach the castle? I fear the children might give out before we arrive, and though Barrett is here again I'm sure they'll tire quickly."

Webbs looked grateful for the change of topic. "Only an hour or two more should be necessary, so there is no need to worry." He studied her with a smile, and this time it reached his eyes. "I expect it must have been quite tough to keep them all reigned in throughout the last week. ...Did you receive any help from His Highness?"

"Sort of, if you believe it," she gestured for him to walk with her as the soldiers resumed their trek. "I certainly didn't, at least until I noticed him having a conversation with Faye. It's odd... I never quite figured him the type to be good with children."

He laughed. "Yes, I suppose that would be hard to believe with the state he's in now," he chuckled. "But back before Edelgard seized the Imperial throne, and they were all at the Monastery, he would head to the marketplace after lectures and teach the orphans swordfighting. It was very entertaining to watch, I assure you; back then, at least, he always had a soft spot for kids."

Lilliana glanced ahead at the prince with a newfound glint of respect in her eye. "As long as he doesn't attempt to kill me again, I'll accept a story like that no matter how far-fetched it may seem," she looked thoughtful to Webbs.

"Oh, you needn't worry about that," the ex-Major shook his head with a grin. "He won't try that again. I've spoken with him about it and he is most certainly wary of such behavior now."

"Wonderful. I expect he'll stay outside a four foot radius, now," she said wryly. "I think he's improved on his emotional management, at least a little bit."

"Ah, I meant to ask," Webbs watched her out of the corner of his eye. "How often did the two of you argue while I was gone?"

Lilliana tried to suppress the blush that spread across her cheeks. "Well, ah... just a few times. Not very much at all,"

Webbs smiled and shook his head with a semi-disappointed sigh.