For Honor: an unlikely attraction

Ch. 21

Ingrid's POV

"My god, and then what happened?" Elise asked with great anticipation.

After the ceremony and the cake cutting, me and Ingrid started to talk. It started out with simple topics: our lives, interest, favorite past times, etc. Then it spiraled into me telling her my many stories of any kind" My battles, the voices in my head, the time I got lost in the forest and was able to survive for a whole week, and all that.

It was... refreshing. other than William, Elise has been the only other person to ever speak to me as a person, as Ingrid, not as the "great and wise shaman" everyone in my village believes I am.

I chuckle a bit and then say, "I turn to the last conqueror who was so afraid to face me, he didn't see he was backing into a 'cliff'. He then stopped moving away and said 'I will not let you take me, you pagan whore' and he fell off the 'cliff' but the 'cliff' was actually a five feet drop and I dropped attack him before he even saw it coming". I then take a large sip of my mead.

"Wow! You must lead an exciting life don't you Ingrid?" She said with amazement in her voice.

"It is. Do you know how to wield a blade?" I ask,

"I do. My uncle is a warden and since I was six, he has taught me how to use a blade but to be honest with you, I'd rather prefer dual wielding like a peacekeeper" She said with excitement.

"Like William's mother" I asked.

"Exactly like Mrs. Jackson. She is suck a powerful woman and peacekeeper. They say she took down a gang of raiders and a jarl ALONE. With what I know of that woman, she probably did" She said with admiration in her voice.

"She is is she?" I say to Elise lowly.

Elise then notices my voice change and looks at me. My eyes were not facing her but to the mother of the man I came here for. Elise then looks at her as well for a quick second before turning back to me. From her face, she was worried.

"Are you scared Ingrid?" She asks simply.

"What?" I say astonished. "ME? Afraid of an old hag that's probably losing every ounce of killer skill with each passing day? Please Elise" I say before consulting my mead again.

There was a pause for a good amount of time before anything was said again. "I'd like to think that I am a fearless girl, Ingrid but when I first met Mrs. Jackson, I must be truthful: she scares me" Elise said to me. I then look to her face and see great seriousness in it.

To be truthful as well, I'm afraid of her as well. More than any other person I met or face off in battle. She just gives off this aura or danger and death. I've seen it before but with her... it's greater than anything I've ever seen.

"...maybe I am a little worried. But she won't find out about me. I know it." I say with conviction. 

"But still be careful Ingrid. You might have everyone else fooled but with Mrs. Jackson, the smallest things can give you away: the way you hold your cup, the way you eat, walk, talk, how you pick things up, etc." Elise explained to me.

"She won't find out Elise. Ever. Now stop this talk, this is your wedding, enjoy yourself." I say to her while I raise my cup in the air.

"Aye" she says and we clank our cups together and drink.

Music then starts to play. Its elegance in its sound a far cry from the usual up beat music of my people.

"Oh! The bride and groom dance! Excuse me Ingrid." Elise says before rising from her seat and going to the dance floor to met with Dante.