For Honor: an unlikely attraction

Ch. 22

William's POV

She was moving so fast It barely registered in my brain what was happening. 

After we heard that loud "ETTU SKIT!", my blood rang cold and I looked in the direction of the shout. When I turned I saw Ingrid sprinting towards us, shoe less, and with a look on her face that was ready to kill. I seen it before, that look. It was the same one she gave when she kicked my out that village in Valkenheim. It still makes me shiver a bit to this day.

She was sprinting fast and from the look of her, she was gonna tackle Gloria to the ground and beat her senseless but that wasn't the case. Acting swiftly, Gloria takes the cap off a nearby barrel, side steps to the side as Ingrid came charging at her and punched her in the side with the barrel cap.

That apparently knocked the air out of her, with Ingrid heaving and grasping her side on the ground for just a little before standing back up.

I looked to Gloria expecting a confused and probably angry expression but what I found was one of excitement and glee. "HAHAHA! Is that the best you can do little girl?!" Gloria taunted to Ingrid. "If you wanted to fight then you could of asked me! I would be more than happy to!" Gloria said. She then raised her arms to the sides, a gesture meaning "come get me".

Ingrid was about ready to pounce again at Gloria before I got a hold of her and held her back. "In-Isabella calm yourself!" I yelled at her.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" she yelled back at me. 

"Well I just did so calm. Down" I retorted back. 

As I was holding Ingrid back and arguing with her, my mother walked up to us rather quietly and when she was in front of Ingrid, she gave her a good loud slap to the face which left a big red mark on Ingrid's pale cheek.

Ingrid looked to her attacker, probably hoping to see Gloria that had hit her but to her surprise, she was greeted by my mom.

"What did I tell you about speaking pagan languages in Ashfeld?" my mom said to her.

To this me and Ingrid were mystified, with Ingrid turning her head at me for an answer but I was as stumped as she was.

My mother then pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration and said the same thing again but adding something extra at the end.

"I said what did I tell you about speaking pagan languages in Ashfeld, APPRENTICE?" she said to Ingrid.

Ingrid and I soon understood what she was doing and started playing along too.

"N-Never speak them in public?" Ingrid answered.

"Correct" my mom said. She then turned to the crowd that had converged around us which was the entire party. I look around until my eyes land on Dante and Elise, looking very worried and about ready to sweat a storm from the look of them. "I deeply apologize for this very unsightly turn of event everyone, especially to you Dante and Elise Scott". Elise and Dante then nod at her in understanding. She continues "You see I have taken the liberties to teach young Isabella here different languages for a peacekeeper must know these things. Isabella, please understand that even though people may not understand what you are saying doesn't mean you should speak them, especially things as vulgar as what you said to miss Gloria". She then turns to Gloria. "I am deeply sorry for-

"Don't sweat it!" Gloria said joyfully. "It was rather exciting. Now if you excuse me, I'm hungry so I must be on my way to the food table" she said but before eating she goes to Ingrid with a smile on her lips. "Fortune favors the bold my friend, so continue being the bold one you are" and she leave to eat.

After that whole scene, things started to go back to normal. Well... as normal as they can be at least. People started to murmur and whisper and when I caught some of them they were doubting my mother's story about Ingrid being an apprentice peacekeeper. Luckily though, there were only a handful of them, at least the one I heard. Most were about how my mother is going to deal with her further, am I having sex with her, how she'll be during missions, etc.

Ingrid had been eerily quiet the whole time after the whole thing while also sticking close to me. I looked at her to see that she was looking down at her bare feet in the grass. "Where are your shoes?" I asked. She didn't look up and speak but pointed towards a nearby table and when I looked to see red heels were by a chair.

"My feet were starting to ache so I'm going barefoot for a little bit" she said. I nod in understanding and the silence comes back in full force. I'm starting to get annoyed at it.

"Look, don't beat yourself up over it alright. Everything is fine now look at me" I said and I put my hands on her shoulders and make her face me although she isn't looking at me..

"Everyone makes mistakes Ingrid" I say in a low voice, avoiding any prying ears. "Please look at me" I say almost pleadingly.

She complies and looks up at me. There weren't many people around us so the atmosphere was near serene. I study her face noticing the quilt ridden look on it but along with that her face was beautiful. Face clean as day, skin soft and light as can be, and lips so irresistible even god can't resist.

I lean down and kiss her softly. When I did she squeaked and I smirked during the kiss. We kiss for a few seconds before I let go and I see her face mesmerized, eyes still closed and mouth partly open.

She regains herself and puts her head on my chest as I wrap my hands around her waist. 

"I can't believe I went through all this trouble for you" she said.

I smile a little. "You starting to regret it?" I said teasingly.

She looks up at me with a smile on her face and in a teasing voice said, "Well... maybe if you kiss me again, I'll give it another thought"

I smirk at that and we lean in for another.