The Missing Stone

Rush

"Mildred!"

"Milly wake up!"

"We need to go!"

She sits up, still very much asleep but awake enough to respond.

What is it? Go where?

"The soldiers are departing for Arianrhod," Chester supplies, hovering worriedly around her. His words spark surprise in her, and now she is very much awake.

Now? Right now?

"Yes right now- ow!" Chester is interrupted by the sound of something smacking him.

"Would you please shut-'' Mao's voice is then cut off by Aelura's yawn. Mildred also yawns, stretching as she pulls on her boots. Seteth said that they'd be heading out soon, but she didn't know "soon" meant "the very next day". She rushes out the door, down the halls to the stables, finding Ashe readying his horse for departure.

"Mildred!" He calls in surprise, turning to her with a warm smile. "I saved a little bit of breakfast for you since you were sleeping in." He hands her a wrapped parcel, still warm from the fire. Mildred nods with a smile in thanks, feeling gratified by the fresh food and...apparently Aelura is squealing again.

"See? It's impossible not to love him!" Aelura floats a spin, tail wagging with an expression that shows how absolutely smitten she is. Mao cheers, celebrating the happiness of her friend. Chester shakes his head, amused by their antics. Mildred nearly chokes on her food laughing, drawing a concerned look from Ashe and apparently Ingrid from the other side.

Mildred clears her throat after finishing her breakfast, "Is there really enough time for us to secure Arianrhod and march to Deridru on time?" Ingrid tilts her head, thinking. Ashe secures a bag to his saddle before swinging himself on.

"I don't know, but I have faith in the professor and His Majesty, for they would never lead us astray," Ingrid replies with conviction, Ashe nodding in enthusiastic agreement. Mildred chooses to ride with Ingrid this time, following the blonde to the pegasus stables.

"Does your pegasus have a name?" Mildred asks, blinking at her outburst. Ingrid doesn't seem to mind as she pats her pegasus down.

"Cellie," Ingrid answers, pointing to a blanket and a belt on a hook near the stable door. Mildred hands them to her. "It's short for Celandine, which means 'swallow bird'." She motions to the bridal straps on another hook. Mildred retrieves them.

"Where did you find the name?" She asks, the fear of awkward silence driving her to keep the conversation going, like they aren't about to storm one of the biggest fortresses in Fodlan. Cellie nickers as the bridle is slid on. Ingrid pats her nose for comfort.

"I got it from a book actually," Ingrid admits, attaching the reins and swinging them over Cellie's head to rest on the saddle. "Ashe had given me a book of names to help me name the pegasus I was assigned. Cellie was smaller than the other pegasi at the academy, so I named her after a swallow bird. It seemed fitting." She hoists herself on the saddle, opening a bag attached to the saddle for Mildred. She shifts and hops in, getting herself settled. She has a thought, but can't ask Ingrid at the moment because she is now a cat.

How come the professor doesn't ride a pegasus?

"Pegasi do not allow male riders on their backs," Chester explains, floating with one leg over the other behind Mildred. "They're mythical creatures, deemed majestic and graceful; to ride one is to battle in such a way. The goddess willed it so that only a woman could ride a pegasus. Besides, the professor has his wyvern. He's fine without a pegasus." Mao snorts at the end of Chester's explanation, muttering that it sounds more like a speech.

Meanwhile, Aelura pouts, "So I can never see Ashe on a pegasus?"

Probably not...

Aelura lowers her head but perks up when Ingrid takes flight. The fastest route to Arianrhod is through the plains, and while the snow is a bother, the Kingdom army is equipped well for such weather. They've lived here their whole lives after all. They reach the fortress the next morning, an alarm sounding within, making the Imperial soldiers stationed there scramble to their positions.

Ingrid swoops Cellie low enough for Mildred to hop down safely, landing atop the wall of the fortress and watching the others file in through the eastern gate.

"Hubert," Mildred hears Dimitri mutter, alerting several of the soldiers and the professor by him, including Mildred herself. "So, you have come here in command of extra troops from the Imperial capital... I had hoped to take the fort while it was poorly defended, but now... Well, there is nothing to be done." He turns to the rest of the group. "We must defeat Hubert, then take Arianrhod."

There is no way it's the same Hubert...

"Only one way to find out," Mao says, then grins. "Good luck out there."