Rage and Rebellion (Histories of Havenhearth)

8.7 Commandaire Snowberry

"What in the spirits is that?" commandaire Snowberry asked. She passed her field glasses to Heathtree. A large mass of people were approaching the rebel forces from the rear. But the commandaire could not tell who they were.
"By the spirits they are Tainish marine!" Heathtree exclaimed.
"Give me back the glasses - What are the rebels doing? They're confused! By the spirits, some of our combattants seem to be with-" she trailed off, lowered the glasses, rubbed her eyes, and lifted them back up. "Greenmoor!! I need your eyes! Somebody is causing a diversion, could you please confirm who it is? I'll be dammed if I didn't just see my own daughter."
Greenmoor looked, spying her friend. Gwinael was with a small force of what appeared to be a mix of Land and marine combattants, who were causing a ruckus at the back the protectorate.
Heathtree snatched the glasses from Ally. "I can't see anyone now commandaire,"
"No time Heathtree, we must act on this, take advantage. We're all going in! Even me. Leave the hill to the archers, we must disable them now, this is our chance, join with whoever it is is coming from the rebel's rear." A moment later, a horn was heard and only a few minutes after that, a small force, including Commandaire Snowberry, were tearing down the hill to outflank the rebels, still confused about which direction they should be attacking.
Snowberry and her small band swept forward, the commandaire waving her sword in the air, as if she was fresh out of training.

Commandaire Snowberry rejoiced at seeing her daughter, running towards her when the action had died down, but since it would be undignified for the commandaire to hug her daughter- she stopped just before and saluted. Gwinael saluted back. Commandaire snowberry stepped forward, placing both hands on Gwinael's shoulders.
"You did well, Snowberry," They turned to walk alongside each other towards the city- they had to escort some of the marines back to their ships. And some of the foreigners who had been chased out of town, were now being escorted back into it, with the choice to remain if they wanted to.
"I couldn't have done it without Andri,"
"I know his worth, don't you worry." 
Gwinael hesitated, "by the way, commandaire, I've been wondering... the terms?" she ventured in a whisper, noticing her mother stiffen right away.
"what terms?" she shrugged. Gwinael knew this meant that the terms were ignored, never passed on and not to be spoken of again.
"But Jade, she is still alive,"
"And that, combattant, is none of your concern," she returned, putting her arm across her daughter's shoulders and gave her a little squeeze as they walked on.
"Mother? I'm ready to go home."
"Me too, Gwin. Me too."
And that was that. Her mission was complete. Gwinael had done her duty as a combattant: her job was now done. Others too had done theirs: the supply column had been stopped, the town released from occupation, and all of the foreigners had been safely evacuated and many of the mob had returned to the countryside. The Golden Defenders was an internal Cassioni issue now, to be dealt with by the republican protectorate if required although some Tainish had been left behind to garrison Chevelles, until the ascendancy had settled matters with the legations.

Gwinael could not stop wondering if any good for anyone had come of the whole thing. All of the fighting, all of the loss. She was a combattant but the meaning of her protectorate clothing still evaded her. In any case, she was certain that she could never go through such an experience again, now that she knew what proper action was like. She was certain she would never have the strength or courage to face it. But maybe she wouldn't have to, for they returned to the city, finished the mission, and then began the long trek back through the craggy hills with no incident. She was back under the command of the cantankerous, scowling Heathtree, and soon they would be back in Tainland, as if the whole thing had never happened. But not quite, since she and her small band of captives came back seasoned combattants, with a full taste of action, and the knowledge that they had apparently conducted themselves as women and men of the Tainish protectorate, earning the thanks of the ascendancy, as if that was sufficient for what they had been through. Gwinael just thought that all they had done was whatever they could to survive the ordeal, and it was that that she was proud of. They went back through the Hills without any incident, beneath the watchful strongholds on the crags whose personnel had heard the news of their victory; and beyond the Pass they rested before marching the last of the distance back to  the coast before they were on their way back to Tainland.