Artemis Files (0.5)

Chapter 17

Mid 2273 Brotherhood Base Midwestern Chapter

It had been days since Artemis caught Khamsin planning his assassination on the High Elder. His trial was only a few days but it felt like an eternity for her as she waited for his results though, but eventually she was called back to the place where her much shorter trial took place. When she entered the room, she almost missed Khamsin having gotten so used to seeing him in his mech suit that she almost didn't see the now sad lump of a half a body that he now was. His hands were bound, like hers had been a few days prior though since he didn't have feet they didn't need to bind those.

He let our a low, guttural noise as she passed by him, clearly upset that it was her that caught him in his crimes and not some more experience soldier. All it took though was a look from the High Elder to silence him. Without a word she took her place next to the High Elder. They'd talked it over the past few days while the trial went on. Since she'd been the one to catch him in the act essentially, she would stand next to the High Elder with her bow in hand and she'd be the one to shoot the executioners shot once he'd given her the word.

And that's exactly what happened. When she'd been fighting him initially, she'd actually meant to aim for his heart, but he'd moved at the last minute and her arrow found his shoulder instead. Now with him bound, and unable to move there was no way she'd miss this time. Artemis notched an arrow and pulled back the string. The High Elder gave her his go ahead and she released, where this time the arrow found his heart. Khamsin let out one last pained grunt and she'd heard the air leave his lungs one final time.

Artemis knew it must've been right away, but it felt like an eternity before she finally heard the High Elder order that Khamsin's body be taken away and cremated. "A traitor doesn't deserve a proper burial," he'd explained. For a while, neither of them said nothing before he turned her to face him. He stood, looking her in the eye to the point it started making her uncomfortable before he finally spoke. "I'd be dead if it wasn't for you," he said. "And the Brotherhood, well who knows what else Khamsin had plans assuming he succeeded and made it to power." She saw it in his eyes before the words reached his mouth, clearly it had been something that weighed on his mind but still she needed to hear it. "With Khamsin gone, that leaves an opening in my inner circle, and you seem quite capable. How would you like to join it?"

Even though she had been expecting it, it was in his eyes and Lucian had been hinting at it for days, she wasn't sure what to say. She'd only been with the Brotherhood for a few months. She was just an Initiate. Now if she accepted her rank and reputation would skyrocket. But that wasn't what she cared about, not really. The High Elder's inner circle tended be very strong, or at least very skilled in a fight. They also tended to travel to the other chapters of the Brotherhood to help out. That was something she wanted to do. If she was able to travel then that meant there was a chance, albeit probably a very small one, she would be sent back to the Commonwealth on an official mission. On top of that it meant she could help free slaves from across the Wasteland in all regions that she visited. Other then freeing her dearest friend, it was the one thing that meant the most to her.

Slowly she nodded before she began speaking. "Yes. I... I think I'd like that very much," she said. Artemis' motivations must've been written all over her face. She could tell by how the High Elder let out a chuckle as a hand found its way to her shoulder. She couldn't help but not laugh along with him, knowing that she'd just made probably the greatest ally she possibly could in the old man.

Soon though, the laughter died down and he gained a more solemn look and again looked at her. "My wife... she's seen you around a few times, and my son seems to have formed a deep friendship with you. He talks about you often and I know he came to you the other night to calm your nerves. He's always been a sweet man. Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? I know my wife and son would love to have you over and quite frankly, so would I."

Artemis was shocked. She'd never expected something like this. Lucian was a friend, and it was kind of him to come to her the other night to comfort her. Artemis nodded without a question. "Of course I'd love to be there," she said. She couldn't help but smile when the High Elder beamed happily at her. A kindness for a kindness. It was something she'd been learning since her escape really, but especially since she'd been with the Brotherhood.

"I'll send Lucian to get you when we're ready," the High Elder told her through his smile. "It should be around six or so but be ready in case it ends up being earlier or later."

Artemis nodded and they separated. She spent her time cleaning up and dressing in the nicest clothing she had. She'd just put on a relatively nice blouse when Courtney came in. She was on the tall side, pale skin with blonde hair and green eyes and she wore red rimmed glasses. "Oh, sorry I hope I didn't walk in on you changing."

Artemis smiled. "I just finished actually. You're fine." She turned to face the mirror and began messing with her hair. Not sure what to do with it. It had been in that ratty ponytail for the longest time, but she'd stopped wearing it a couple of weeks before being found by the Brotherhood with the colder weather. She'd wanted to keep the back of her neck warm. Now she had an opportunity to make it look nice, but she wanted to do something different with it. Behind her, she can hear Courtney chuckling as if she found something cute or funny, and it took her a moment to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry," Courtney said, still giggling. "If it's alright I have an idea of what to do with your hair. If you're alright with that that is." Artemis didn't have a reason to tell her no so she agreed. For a while Courtney toyed with her hair. Admiring it for a while. "You have such lovely hair," she said under her breath and then her eyes seemed to brighten a bit as if she suddenly got an idea. "Oh, it would look so good in a loose braid." Courtney nodded to herself as if she was pleased with herself and then began getting to work.

Within fifteen or so minutes Artemis wasn't sure what to say. While it was down, her hair landed a bit past halfway down her back. now that it was up it was just past her shoulders. The braid itself didn't start until just above the base of her skull, the hair above it loose and acted as if it was trying to get free from the braid. Courtney's final touch was to place it over her left shoulder. "Courtney I... I love it. Thank you." She really couldn't stop staring at it, noticing for the first time that her red hair complimented her deep blue eyes, and the braid framed her face.

Eventually there's a knock at the door, and opening it revealed it to be Lucian a bit early. Artemis thanked Courtney one last time before going towards the High Elder's family quarters.

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Present Day 2287 - The Prydwen

Arthur ran his hand through the braid she still wore, a small smile toying with the corner of his lips. "You wear it like that to this day," he said. His voice, gentle, and as he thought back he could only think of a few times outside of when she was sleeping when she'd had it down. They'd finished early that day, the crowd was small today but there were still people coming in. It was hard to imagine the now white hair as it had been once. A deep red. Her skin at the time would have been pale since it hadn't seen as much sun yet compared to its current tan, and her eyes... he'd seen how deep of blue her eyes had been before she'd lost her sight. The earring like objects around the rim of her ears emitted sound to allow her to echolocate and special shoes were being made to allow her to feel vibrations through the floor.

Not that that mattered much, not to him anyway. His hand "accidentally" grazed her cheek letting her know they would speak later and she nodded in response. Arthur didn't miss the slight upward curve of the corner of her lip he knew was similar enough to his own letting him know she understood what he was trying to say.