"Will you come with me?"

...

"Don't worry, I understand", she said in a tone too light for the situation. Ruth smiled carelessly, but Virgil knew she understood. After all, she always did her best to do just that, for him. "Then, see you later?"

She didn't wait for him to respond and, instead, with that carefree smile of hers, gave him what would be her last present to him in years: standing on toes, she hugged him for a moment. A moment she used to plant a peck on his cheek before giggling and running back to her horse.

There wasn't a carriage to wait for her, after all. She didn't need one, either.

The woman smiled at the memory as she finished dressing one of her men's wounds. It was nothing fancy, just a quick fix until they got to the base to treat the injured properly. Still, as long as it could help even a little bit, it was worth doing. "There, all done!" a smile never left her face, seemingly carefree but concern still visible in her eyes. "... thank you, lady Ruth", a soldier replied in a quiet, thankful tone, still a bit shaken but more steady than he was before. Lady von Essen was always like this: smiling at her subordinates even during the darkest time, showing concern to each and every one of her people, and always ready to march with them, no matter how dangerous the mission might have been. The daughter of their lords, she was brave and decisive, striking any enemy brave enough to interfere with the rebellion’s plans, but always concerned for her allies, going to any lengths to protect them. That's why many youngsters loved her, even though many seniors often reprimanded her for... for god knows what, honestly, because commanders never let anyone walk in on their conversations with the lady.

"Is something the matter?" she asked, perhaps noticing the soldier's gaze. "Maybe the bandage is too tight?" "Ah, no", his flustered expression almost made Ruth giggle, but she restrained herself, waiting patiently for the answer. "I just wanted to thank you. For everything you do for us."

“Bah”, she jokingly dismissed his words with a wave of her hand, “don’t be foolish. Who else would I do it for?”

After all, they were her people. Which seemed convincing enough for the soldier in front of her as he finally returned her smile with his, much smaller one.

“Now, rest a bit along with the others, and then we’ll move out again. Considering our side was victorious this time, I don’t think they’ll give chase.”

Not that they’ll have that much people to send, either. Ruth made sure to strike down the most important people and lay enough traps for the others.

It was no sooner than the man left her field of sight completely that Ruth let her smile falter a little, turning in a much more wistful one. She wasn’t completely honest with her friend: she would do it for someone else, too. Time and time again, actually. As long and as often as needed.

That’s how she learned to dress wounds as well as she did.

I wonder if he’s out somewhere recklessly letting himself getting injured again, Ruth laughed softly, climbing a tree on the verge of their temporary camp in a few quick steps.

It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Or, likely, it was more than possible given how training and battles were the only outlet for Virgil’s emotions as far as Ruth knew. Knew and always told him it would not serve him well.

Told and still dressed any and all of his wounds, scolding him in a joking manner but concern present in her eyes.

With time Ruth came to think, back then, that she would always be there to do it for him, but… oh well. Her younger self wasn’t as clever as she thought herself to be.

Now she could barely do anything but hope they wouldn’t meet on the battlefield as enemies. Granted, there was a small chance of this happening because von Essen’s job in the rebellion forces was to disrupt supply chains, stop reinforcements… or take someone out, silently, and steal the enemy’s intel.

First task, more often than not, fell to her people who knew the terrain well, while the second usually was handed to Ruth. She was The Huntress, and, naturally, she could hunt down any prey.

As if, she huffed, scanning the area around. It was what people thought, but hardly what she really was. Ruth was a hunter, yes, but not a human murderer.