A Kind Of Bravery: A Mulan Retelling [1st Draft]

13. Conversations

Chapter Thirteen:

Conversations

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Harriet felt more than a little sick as she watched Leopold and Frederick talk, both of them with small smiles on their faces. No one else in the line seemed to notice her anguish, except for Garreth anyway.

"Do you know him?" Garreth asked, his voice quiet in her ear. She nodded in response.

"You could say that," Harriet said, earning herself a perplexed look from the man beside her.

"You know the king of Ecrivenia?" Harriet nodded hesitantly. It was funny how he hadn't made the connection between Clara, the Queen of Ecrivenia, and the name of Harriet, her sister. Harriet shook that thought away. If he didn't know, she certainly wasn't going to tell him.

"You are one odd duck, little soldier." Garreth turned away from Harriet, but Harriet continued to watch as Leopold and Frederick got closer. She felt sick to her stomach, but then that sickness turned to sharp pain as Frederick's eyes merely went past her, not even noticing she was there. But then again, she definitely didn't look like herself, at least not if Gardenia's spells were working.

"Mr. Greenfellow," Leopold said, causing Frederick's eyes to snap to hers. "I would like you to come give a detailed report of what you witnessed yesterday as soon as you have everything settled. We will be in the King's tent." Harriet nodded, watching as Frederick's mouth tugged down into a frown before he began to walk away with Leopold, no doubt going to his tent.

Harriet felt both relieved and nervous all at once. She doubted that Frederick would've looked at her like that if something wasn't wrong, but it's not like she could ask him straight out. For all he knew, she was a complete stranger.

Trailing behind the other soldiers, Harriet followed Garreth to one of the tents provided, throwing her pack onto one of the bedrolls. She carefully grabbed hold of Clark, placing him on top of her pack, even though he chattered at her as she put him down.

She didn't really want to leave him alone in a new place, but she didn't want to risk anything. Sure, if Gardenia's spell worked Frederick would never even think she was like herself, but bringing a mouse named Clark with her seemed like a bad idea all around.

She let out a sigh through her nose, more than a little stressed over the thought of meeting with her brother-in-law. On the upside, she might be able to get some information out of him about how Clara was doing. Harriet's mouth creased into a frown. What if she'd already had the baby? Harriet felt a sinking feeling. If her sister had the baby and she wasn't there Clara would never forgive her.

Harriet bit her lip for a moment, fighting against the flipping of her stomach, before walking out of the tent with her head held high. That was something she had learned within the army. If you looked and acted confident, everyone thought that you actually were.

She walked purposefully towards the tent, unsure of what to do. Should she just go right in or should she wait? However, as the sounds of voices drifted through the crack in the tent entrance, Harriet found herself rooted to the spot.

"What do you mean Harriet's missing?" Leopold snapped, his voice loud and filled with obvious worry. Harriet's eyes widened as her heart stuttered to a stop. Had they found out? Was Mark okay? She felt her insides clench as she worried about what might've befallen her friend due to her actions.

"She's been gone for ages and we have no idea where she is. Her friend, you know Marcus Greenfellow?"

"Yes, of course, I've been training his younger brother."