French Fantasy 1x1 Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Abel frowned, confused but disappointed. "Oh. If that's what you want," he muttered. "You too, your Highness." He left the room, reminding himself that rich people couldn't take jokes and to try to hold back everything he was going to say that wasn't polite.

[AnnaCat17]

You good with a big time skip?)

Eloise watched him walk away before shutting the bathroom door and getting ready for the day, trying to just forget everything that happened.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Yep)

[AnnaCat17]

-one year later-

Lucien was tossing papers in boxes tiredly as they waited to hear the report of how what everyone hoped was the last battle went. He scratched at his beard and paused to listen to the radio everyone else int he code department was crowded around, listening nervously to the information as it came flooding in. He ached to go home and see his family again and to see what had happened to Callias. With the war going on not much time was spent on gossip about the royalty so he wasn't sure if Callias was married yet or not. He found himself hoping he wasnt but he only allowed himself to focus on one thing at a time and right now that thing was gathering things to burn if they won the war tonight.

Gale stayed hidden in the trench as bombs exploded nearby. Daybreak was almost upon them and that is when they would make their final attack, with the sun behind them to shield them from view. He reloaded his gun as he awaited orders and once they came he pulled himself up over the edge with the others and released a battle cry as they all rushed forward. Gale was faster than the others and was in the lead. He could taste victory, they were so close to this nightmare ending. He wanted more than anything to return home to Fleur and Ilaria and as he saw the enemy trench getting closer he felt sure that by sunset the next day he would be there. THat was, until he heard the click. Shock set in so quickly he could barely understand what happened as his fellow soilders rushed around or over him, not allowing themselves to look down at him. He had stepped on a mine. He figured that out quickly, but it took him longer to realize just how bad of a shape he was in as he faded into unconsciousness.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias stayed inside his chambers or his office or the nursery most of the time unless he had something important to do. Every minute of the day was spent worrying about Lucien and wanting anxiously for his next letter. He hadn't seen Ilaria since she had screamed at him, both for sending Gale and Lucien away, especially without saying goodbye to Lucien. That was a year ago. He hadn't seen her since. He couldn't sleep or eat, and stopped caring about shaving or keeping up with unimportant duties. Like the cat. This stray cat kept showing up at the palace. He was irritated at it and kept sending people to get rid of it. But it always came back and no one seemed to be able to catch it.

Ilaria spend most of her time holed up in her house or with Fleur. She was so worried about Gale, as well as Ashr for Fleur. She couldn't stand to be apart from him for so long. Every day felt like a year itself.

The moment the landmine blew up, Ashr was thrown back. He had barely any time to register what had happened before he felt pain and he couldn't move. Shock. He finally managed to let out a ragged scream and he crawled as much as he could away from the blast, but where was he really going? He couldn't tell which direction was which. All he knew was the look of terror on his friend's face when he realized what he had stepped on.

Abel was lucky. Sort of. He hadn't been injured much when the landmines went off. He kept running for the enemy trenches, clutching his gun tightly in his hands.

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien stopped as he heard that there were landmines exploding. His friends were on the front lines. He waited until he heard they were in the trenches before setting the huge pile of papers ablaze and drove off to the makeshift hospital, knowing that is where they would be taken if they had been hurt. The hours dragged by but at last the report of the enemys surrender came and so did the injured. He saw Abel first and rushed over to him. "Still in one piece?" He asked worriedly but his eyes were still searching for the other two.

Delphine ran down the hall to Callias' room as the radio at last announced the victory, desperate to be the one to bring him the good news.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Abel grunted in reply, nodding. He shoved his gun tightly over his shoulder, sitting down to wait for medical attention once the worst injuries hand been treated. He only had some pieces of shrapnel in him. That could wait.

Ashr's eyes were squeezed shut. He heard nose around him, but couldn't make out what was going on and refused to open his eyes. He was being carried in a stretcher inside of the makeshift hospital.

Callias was sitting the a chair, holding potato to his chest so he could relax with his heartbeat. He watched Delphine come inside, dark circles under his eyes as he stared at her dully.

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien cursed as he saw the other two get carried in. It was hard to recognize Gale for the wounds but Ashr was at least ok. He forced hinself to turn away and grabbed a rag, pressing it to one of Abel's worst wounds. "Im going to radio home and warn the girls of what's coming. With any luck we can get them out here by morning." He said before heading off to the radio room.

Delphine grinned at him. "Its over. We won." She looked back down the hall as someone yelled something to her, her grin widdening. She looked back at Callias. "Lucien is on the radio giving updates from the hospital."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Abel rolled his eyes at 'the girs'. Constantly hearing about the people they had waiting for them back home was annoying. But he was also jealous of them. He didn't have anyone waiting for him, desperate to see him come home safe. No one was waiting for him, no one to write letters to, no one to care. He envied them.

Callias sagged in relief. They had won. He jolted to his feet, hurriedly but carefully giving potato to Delphine before running down the hall before she finished her sentence after 'Lucien is on the radio.' He was okay. He was safe. He wouldn't be the one reporting to them if he was direly injured.

[AnnaCat17]

Eloise looked over at Callias as he rushed into the room but quickly went back to watching the people who were transcribing everything Lucien's crackling voice said. He was reading reports as they came in of the number wounded and dead and which platoon was being sent where.