When in Rome

Rescue

There was a dark, melancholy feeling to knowing that the place you're standing was a battlefield. The sand was still bloodstained in some places, but the sea had long since washed up halfway to the edge of the beach and carried with it any traces.

One night and half of the past was already washed away. In years this would all be a memory. In decades a story. centuries? There would be merely whispers of lost souls and stories passed through generations.

But now it was a battlefield. Only recently deserted, so recently that it still technically counted. Drago's soldiers were fleeing, their scouts stated that they'd heard rumours of them regrouping in the north half of Britannica. If they were smart they could chase them off once and for all, maybe even take Drago as a prisoner to be rightfully tried in the Capitol.

If they were smart.

Hiccup didn't feel like he had the capacity to be smart right now.

He crouched on the sand, the water waved slowly up the shore, edging just under the tips of his boots. His cape pooled behind him in the sand, his helmet rested next to it. his armour dug in at places, not really made for sitting like he was for as long as he had. He wasn't paying enough attention. If he sat like this long enough maybe he would turn to stone, fade away with the memory of the blood and loss he'd gone through for the past seven months. Or was it six? Maybe it had been days. It was blurring together.

The water drew back from his toes.

His senses were pushed further than he ever had before. He was trying to find Aeliana. Trying to get a grip on her but every time he got close it slipped right through. He wondered if maybe he didn't have enough practice or if there was a limit to how far he could go.

He sighed. Drew back the circle. He could hear the soldiers in the camp behind him, the people groaning and moaning with pain as their wounds were treated. The people mourning over the dead. They'd started this battle with nearly four thousand soldiers between all three legions. They sat just over two and a half now, the numbers from their latest fight higher than ever.

He had a meeting to attend soon. Responsibilities piled up in front of him. decisions, decisions. He should be walking through the camp, helping, guiding, supporting. Strengthening morale. But.

But.

He knew everyone would see straight through it. right now they'd probably rather a drinking buddy to a leader. If he was being honest with himself he was happy to oblige.

Sand crunched under someone's step. Metal creaked as Charlotte lowered herself to crouch beside him.

"not so easy." She started.

"not at all."

Charlotte sighed through her nose.

"even though she made it look as much," Hiccup muttered.

Charlotte dipped her head, eyes shut. Hiccup couldn't stop his from closing, too. A final vigil.

And nothing more was said till the water was at least three metres away.

.

All soldiers bodies were taken to the far back trenches where they could be cleaned up and readied for a funeral. Regardless of being in the midst of battle there were too many superstitions and honour-driven mindsets to allow for a warrior's final resting place to coincide with such a spiritually wrecked site. Once bodies were prepped it was organised for them to be sent home for a proper funeral with their family and friends back home.