Taking a Walk [EINNA + LAUREL]

 

Laurel Hyrule

The forest was quiet and the camp was just about empty. That wasn’t good – they needed more people if they were ever going to stand a chance. Laurel wasn’t sure that they would stand a chance anyway, but she was doing everything she could to push that thought to the back of her mind. It always found a way to creep back up.

She was, in all honesty, a mess – if only on the inside. It thankfully had yet to shine through to her outward appearance in anything but the smallest ways. There were dark circles under her eyes, yes, but they were neatly hidden by the hood she’d taken to wearing ever since her rescue. It made sense to wear it given how chilly it was, but on a more personal level, it made her feel just a little bit calmer than she actually was. How could she be calm, though? She couldn’t sleep anymore. Every time she tried, she saw her mother and father and cousins all dying in various terrible ways. In some strange, sick way, it was almost better that she’d seen Iris die. At least she wasn’t left to imagine it. If there was one thing that they couldn’t have right now, it was a royal so unstable that she woke up screaming every night. The solution was simple: She would not sleep anymore.

She wouldn’t eat either. That was less because it brought up memories and more because she kept forgetting to do it. Her daily routine had become an endlessly repeating thread of chores – write up as many fliers as she could, patrol the forest, gather supplies, rinse, repeat. When she remembered she would grab a handful of berries or something small like that, but she was getting worse and worse at remembering with each passing day as normal things like hunger and boredom left her. It was almost as if she was attempting to convert herself into convert herself into an automaton. Maybe she was!

That was what was needed. Not a weepy, shaking, depressed young lady – someone who could shrug all of those things off. Maybe a stronger woman could have looked all of this in the eye and smiled, but she couldn’t. She had failed. But the least she could do was pretend that she was better. If all they needed was a smile and a “things will get better”, then she could of course provide that. Not sincerely, but it would look sincere.

Laurel was on one of her patrols now, though there really wasn’t a reason for her to be. It was late enough that it would have been reasonable to assume that no new recruits would appear tonight. These walks had become her substitute for a good night’s rest, though, and she welcomed anything that would give her an opportunity to busy her mind. Pulling her hood up over her head, she continued on her way.

BY AERIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

Einnashe Zeil: Hyrule's Sentinel of Truth | She'd killed a lot today. Likely twice the amount they'd need for the week...It was all washing back to her. The tricks she played as a child when she lived out in the wilderness. Had things have been different...she might have been happy to know that she'd lost no amount of her skill in the hunt. However she had no such feelings of accomplishment. Hunting...keeping herself busy. It was the same thing, and as long as she could think of a mouth to feed she had someone to hunt for. So now that the camp would have plenty of meat for the week, she'd go gone on to build up a decent amount to drop off at Kakariko Village since their food supply was likely being strained by the extended amount of people present there. As a result she'd stayed up for a decent amount of time doing just that...It was only when it became too dark to do a decent hunt that she decided it was best to retreat back to camp. After all the woman had no desire to fight wolves over a kill. She'd done that when she was younger and learned her lesson decently enough. So...there Einnashe was, slowly walking back to camp and dragging a large bag filled with her prizes from the hunt. She imagined when she got to camp she'd go through skinning at least one of them so that it'd be one less animal to clean in the morning. She'd have to bury the sack to preserve the meat so that it wouldn't spoil over night. Either that or she'd leave it to whomever was doing night patrol...she'd yet to decide. All these thoughts filled her mind until she saw the familiar shape of Laurel just about to cross her path. The woman dressed in her hunting clothes stopped and bowed slightly out of habit...She didn't truly feel it was necessary for her anymore. Laurel might have noticed Einna's mannerisms changing further and further way from that of a well disciplined knight---but neither had said anything or even commented on it. It was a small thing left to rot...like so many other things... "...M'lady. You're up quite late. You weren't searching for me were you?", Einna questioned with mild concern. In truth...she wished Laurel would spend this night resting rather than worrying over a worthless ex-knight if that was the case... Though she also faintly knew better than to assume such. Laurel had been up rather late for a number of nights. Level 1. Nirvana Durandal LAUREL HYRULE

made by duet of gs

 

Laurel Hyrule

The sight of Einnashe had made her jump her a bit when she’d first come into view. It was either instinct or jumpiness that had come as a result of lack of rest – likely the latter. She had not, after all, been scared of this slow-moving and familiar figure. She had indeed noticed a change in the knight since their arrival here, but felt it was not her place to voice it. It seemed to her that they all had their ways of coping, and Einna’s was at least healthier than Laurel’s…just so long as you didn’t ask the animal population of the Faron Woods.

Once, when she was younger, she’d seen this before. Back then, they’d both been teenagers and Einnashe had been…wild. Or wilder than she would become. She had apparently been downright feral as a child, but knowing nothing about the woman’s people, Laurel at the time could not have found it anything but fascinating. This was different. It wasn’t fascinating, it was…telling. She wondered at times what the lady was thinking. She’d lost people too, of course – people just as dear to her as Laurel’s family had been to her. Einna, once the picture of a perfect knight, could not hide that pain. That meant that no one could.

She very nearly bowed back to her without thinking, but stopped herself just in time. That might have looked like mockery. Gods was she lightheaded. It felt as if she was constantly talking through some thick, oddly textured fog that had also wormed its way into her brain and taken residence there.
“I was not. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.” She said quickly, forcing a smile that was probably meant to be reassuring. It was not.
“I’m having a look around. Someone may come searching for us and I won’t have them getting lost.”

BY AERIE OF GANGNAM STYLE

Einnashe Zeil: Hyrule's Sentinel of Truth | A frown faintly revealed its self on her expression. Yet the only sign of it easily seen would be the slight narrowing of her eyes, and the faint glow of distaste provided by the shine of the moon. For a moment, a sympathetic habit appeared under the cover of her thick pale blue scarf. Her mind ran through many words, and chose them carefully... "If you will allow it, M'lady", she began,"I will gladly take your place for this task. You've a long day tomorrow and many more to come." There was more to her reasoning, however...this woman was the last of the royal family. The only person left her heritage bound to her to protect. Though her heritage meant little anymore, thanks to what she'd allowed to occur to the royal family as a whole...She refused to release what little obligation she had left. Laurel was also a very important friend to her just as...Just as another once was. There were many feelings behind her still present desire to protect... "It would be best if you did not place yourself in unnecessary danger via a mere tempting of fate. Be it by another's hands...or your own." Level 1. Nirvana Durandal LAUREL HYRULE

made by duet of gs