Lavender & Lilies

Louder Than Words

"It's time to get walking again," Dimitri said loudly. Lilliana stirred and frowned.

"It can't have been more than an hour or two," she protested, albeit drearily. "Let the children sleep, Highness."

He nudged her roughly with the toe of his boot. "No. They're getting up now and we're going to make it to somewhere other than this goddess-forsaken forest."

With an irritated grumble she punched his knee; unfortunately it was still covered by his solleret and Lilliana's knuckles were skinned slightly. "Your sympathy skills are quite lacking, Highness," she snorted, grimacing with pain. "I would've thought they'd teach you manners at the palace."

Dimitri looked down at her condescendingly. "Until you learn some of your own, I think you should shut up. Or you can stay on the ground and I stick my lance between your eyes."

She glared at him. "I'd throttle you if I had the energy, but I think I'll settle for waking the children, then."

"Much obliged, Miss von Elway."

"Go away."

Webbs finally rubbed his eyes and struggled to his feet. Seeing Dimitri, he said, "Ah, Your Highness. Are you... feeling better?"

Lilliana seized on this. "Feeling better?"

At Dimitri's lack of a reply, she stood with a strange look in her eye. Then she gave him a suggestive smirk. "I meant to ask... how was that bug?" Lilliana whispered, glancing at his lips a few times and running her hand up his shirt for dramatic effect.

He pushed her away unceremoniously. "Don't come near me. And it was fine. I suggest you try it yourself," he hissed, "it might do you some good."

She leaned in once more to flick his nose sharply. "You're very cold. I expected the heat to have loosened you up slightly."

Webbs held out a hand before Dimitri could snarl something back. "Come, Miss von Elway. We could be at a fairly large village soon and I think His Highness would like to make haste there."

She twitched distastefully. "I see. And if you remember, Major Webbs, you may call me Lillie, or Lilliana. Not him, of course... he is required to address me with respect. But you need not use such formality."

Webbs nodded. "Yes, yes, certainly. I won't forget a second time."

Lilliana gave him a brief smile and turned to the prone forms of the children on the grass.

Dimitri spat angrily once she was out of earshot. "She is impertinent. An absolute fool of a woman; I once again implore you to allow me to kill her. She's much more trouble than she was ever worth."

"Would it kill you to refer to her without a disdainful edge in your voice?" Webbs sighed, now beginning to rub his forehead. "She would appreciate it."

"She would not," Dimitri stated firmly. "She would take it as me attempting to suck up to her, or some such nonsense. It is easier to be frank about it and if she shares my loathing, then there is nothing to be done about it. I hate her and she hates me, and that is how it will remain."

"You are stubborn... but I fear she is just as or more so than you," the major said under his breath. He shook his head to clear it. "Anyway, did the scouts return with a path to the nearest village? If I am correct we should be passing right by Fort Merceus by tonight if we make good time, and if so, we can seek the towns surrounding it for supplies."

Dimitri, slightly annoyed at the turn of subject as he was quite fond of ranting about the girl, nodded begrudgingly. "Yes, and they said that we need walk only thirty or thirty-five more miles. If we keep the children from straying or taking any unnecessary breaks, we should be there by sundown and we can rest for the night."