Everything is ruined

A slightly worried Camilla is looking for Hati

I wonder if you left back home. 

It’s a little disappointing, even if I’m loath to admit it. Not only does it make things more difficult for me, it’s also…

Disappointing. 

“My lady,” a soldier says with reverence. I give him a quick, annoyed look. Why is he talking to me? It’s a wonder he has the guts for it. 

I squint. He looks vaguely familiar. Soldiers all look the same. Boring grunts.

He looks at the ground, speaking hastily. “If you’re looking for Hati, he went that way.”
Good news. No sign of relief ran across my practiced and stoic face, of that I’m sure, even if my chest feels a little lighter. However, I give your apparent friend an inspecting look. He knows that we’re… Close, I suppose. 

Such keen eyes beg for blood.

“Please don’t hurt him, my lady,” he says quickly.

The audacity almost makes me chuckle. What a brave little man. 

Such curious words leave his mouth. Words that spark something within me. Something that nips out chunks of my insides.

How is it his business if I hurt you or not? Who is he to ask anything of me?

Alas, that is not important. Not now. Now, I need you to return to me, I need you in my sight. I’ve grown fond of your face.

Besides, I need to make sure you won’t get yourself killed before your time.

I don’t grant the soldier one last look. He already showed me where you are. He did his part.

Without another word, I start walking towards the direction he pointed at. No need to act coy, he knows I’m interested in your whereabouts. I will have to decide what to do about that later.

After a good while of walking in the wet snow, I finally find you.

I look at your face, one that I’m oddly happy to see again. However, you’re expressionless, completely relaxed. At peace. Dead.

“Druid,” I say, trying to get a reaction out of you. It doesn’t work. You’re still unresponsive. Dead. 

Irritation crawls down my spine.

To think that you’d die in the snow like a sorry, homeless beggar. After everything you’ve been through, winter would be the one to take your miserable life. 

That’s insulting to what you’ve been through. You, who were supposed to rain death upon the Empire.

“Druid!” I say louder, as if it would make a difference, as if you would hear it to the afterlife.

I grit my teeth. From the first moment I saw you, I’ve made mistakes. I shouldn’t have talked to you. I shouldn’t have come here. Now everything is ruined.

“Druid!” 

Your eyes focus on me and I almost let out a foolish breath of relief.