Frozen Hearts

[Morial]

I don't ever think about death
It's alright if you do, it's fine
TAGGED iah	As Azgeda villages rallied together and the armies formed, Morial’s own flesh and blood prepared themselves for their first battle. It would not be for another night, but they still sat by the fire and cleaned their virgin swords and muttered excitedly about the bloodshed to come. It was normal for the young warriors to see their first battle at such a young age, especially when it was a fight that would be so easily won if everything went according to plan. Though Morial knew better than to expect the expected. Still, she knew this day would come. She was a proud mother, but as all mothers did, she worried for her children. They would fight with their father, while she stayed with the archers protecting the Queen as they moved forward into Trikru territory. Such a position was an honor, but it also kept her from her sons. With a small sigh, Morial stood from her place in the snow next to her tent and wandered among the camps. Her children would be safe by the fire with other warriors and children. She needed to clear her head. Her boots were heavy on the snow and ice, making harsh sounds while she walked through the rows of tents and fires. She wasn’t sure where she was going or what she was after... until she came across Ontari outside her tent. Being close to Nia meant that she was close to Ontari at times as well... She’d only just gotten to know her. She knew that she was a talented fighter as they had fought side by side before, only she was much younger. A large part of Morial pitied her... Nia was harsh and cruel to the future commander. Just because Morial would die for her queen, didn’t mean that she appreciated her cruelty towards her own people. She smiled softly and sat beside Ontari, taking a long moment before she spoke. “Are you going to be fighting on the front tomorrow?” she asked gently, not sure what she wanted the answer to be. “Grey and Cael will be... It’ll be their first battle.”

pyxis ★

[Deleted]

As there always was when a battle loomed, there was a thickness to the air. It could have been explained away through the smoke of the fire but Ontari knew it to be feelings of excitement and nervousness that all the warriors felt. This would be anything but Ontari's first battle against Trikru and she was sure it would not be her last either. Still, Ontari felt her own nerves bouncing inside her stomach, causing her to want to hide away from the crowds that she knew would be staying warm together. Inside her tent, small but private and made that way for a reason, Ontari crouched with her favourite blade in hand, sharpening the metal. The screeching of rock against metal was such a familiar sound, it almost became calming but it could not drag her away from her thoughts. With each battle came a danger that Ontari uniquely faced, the threat of being cut and of bleeding in front of the enemy. What ammunition that would be for Trikru, to know that Azgeda had a Natblida hiding amongst them? Her years and years spent under the care of Nia had tattooed that fear into her. Ontari would not destroy the Queen's plan, she would become heda and she would rule the coalition with Azgeda at its head. To do that, she just had to stay in secret until Nia decided it was time not to. With her blade sharpened, Ontari stood to move out of her tent. Her own thoughts were beginning to choke her, as if the fear could suck all the air from her lungs. The crisp night air was what she needed and she was surprised by how much it did seem to help. What she didn't expect to find outside was another person walking by the tents, and for that person to approach Ontari. Ontari was quick to recognise the woman as Morial, a warrior close to Nia and someone that Ontari also personally knew. She was a great warrior and a kind person, someone who was so much different to the Queen and even to Ontari herself who often held a harshness similar to Nia. As Morial approached, Ontari couldn't help the soft smile that settled onto her own features. Especially as the older woman spoke, mentioning her two sons and that they would also be fighting in the battle. It was always exciting when a child went into their first battle and something that brought an element of joy to a battle. "I'm sure they're more than ready," Ontari said, not sure if Morial wanted encouragement in that. Being one of the warriors close to Nia, Morial knew Ontari's secret. It made things different, and left Ontari unsure of how to act at times. Was her hardened mask still needed? It was with Nia, but then it never had been with Roan, whom seemed more like family than anyone else she knew. "I will be, getting a break off guard duty." Any distance from Nia was a relief, especially in the heat of battle, which Ontari liked to view as a sort of escape. "Will you?" she asked, assuming it rude not to return the question. She did wonder, however, whether she would get to fight alongside her again. Morial || You woke up Ontari muse!

[Morial]

I don't ever think about death
It's alright if you do, it's fine
TAGGED iah	A break from guard duty. It was a strange way to phrase it, as guarding the Queen was meant to be an honor. Morial didn't blame Ontari for wanting a break from her mother figure of sorts made sense. She was a harsh woman and difficult to be around even for Morial. If she was out of line, Queen Nia wouldn't let it slip. Despite her loyalty, Morial was not perfect. Her children made her a flawed warrior, as the Queen was not her only priority. The father of her children would often say that she could have other children... it was a wonder they weren't still together. "I will be guarding the queen," she replied softly as she looked at the fire before glancing at Ontari with a devious little grin. "And you from afar, but at least the view is something to look forward to." She was teasing; flirting with the future commander as if it wasn't inappropriate to do so. "My children's father will be fighting with you. I don't trust him to look out for them... He gets too caught up in his own head." She didn't have much faith in the man. He wasn't much other than the occasional bed warmer and even then... "I know it's probably a lot to ask... but I can't take care of them while I'm watching the Queen. If you're going to be there... it would mean the world if you could keep them safe." The favor was hardly a fair one... She'd come to see Ontari as a friend of sorts. At the very least a sister in arms. Still, asking something like this from the future commander was much even for Morial, but she knew her head would be clearer if she knew that somebody competent would be watching the boys.  "You're probably right; they will probably do well, but I think it's natural for a mother to worry. The Queen doesn't feel that it's a good enough reason to accompany them." There was only a slight hint of resentment for that fact in her tone. Her duty was to her Queen first, which was painful. Not as painful as the punishment for disobeying that order though. Ontari probably understood that better than anyone.

pyxis ★

[Deleted]

Ontari would never wish guarding the Queen on anyone, no matter how much such a position was supposed to be an honor. It was one of the worst jobs a warrior could be given, in Ontari's opinion at least. Targeted more greatly by the enemy. Protecting a never thankful Queen. But it was a position that could not be denied. The Queen expected all to be loyal to her and to obey her and if there was anyone who knew the price for disobeying, it was Ontari. She had payed part a price many times, particularly when she was younger. Because of who she was, Ontari could not be killed but that didn't mean she had things easy. She was also being trained to become Heda, something that meant she came to see all the Queen did, even when she didn't wish to. "I'm sad to hear that," Ontari said, her lips only then turning up into a smile as Morial spoke again. "If I look back towards the Queen, at least I'll get someone nice to look at too." Ontari hadn't missed the tone of what Morial had said, nor did she find such a comment inappropriate. The Queen would find such a thing inappropriate, and that only encouraged Ontari to flirt back.  And Morial was a nice sight to see. Maybe this sort of behaviour would help Ontari in working out how to deal with Morial, and which side of herself to show around the woman. The father of Morial's sons was a completely different story when it came to what Ontari thought of him. He was a good warrior, she couldn't deny that, but she had never been one to like him personally. Ontari wasn't surprised that Morial didn't trust him to keep a good watch on his own children during the battle. The request Morial was making was a big one, and one that would likely put Ontari in more danger, by forcing her to watch others other than herself. Not answering right away, Ontari avoided Morial's gaze as she weighed up her options. "I will do the best I can," Ontari eventually came to say. She wouldn't make any promises about the safety of Morial's children but she would do the best she could without putting her own life or secret in danger. "This battle will be easy won and your children will fight like the warriors they are." Warriors were who Ontari respected and they were the people she always found she was closest too. Her kind words, while likely not expected from some, were truthful and how she really felt. After a moment, a smirk came onto Ontari's face, her eyes locking on Morial's gaze. "I don't know if they'll fight as well as you, though. No warrior moves with more grace." Back into the flirting and it felt comfortable with Ontari, more so than she would except. Maybe it was because it was a bit of an act, saying things that weren't normal. It was so much safer than being anything like real or open. And nothing would come of it, not between a worried mother and the prized possession of the Queen. It was also Ontari's little way of rebelling. She had so little ways of doing such a thing with Nia's eyes always on her.  Morial || Ontari muse is so up and down, she's the most difficult to post with.