3. Break

Lina stood stock still as she looked at the people surrounding her, her eyes touching upon them one after another. It was a trap, had to be. But they were all clearly just common folk - maybe some artists but otherwise farmers and such, hardly any thinkers and certainly no fighters.

They were rambling sporadically about throwing her a ball.

"Do I look like I do that? Do you think I waste energy on dancing when there's barely enough to eat, still, in plenty of areas in our country?" she asked finally, trying to keep her voice absolutely neutral. She wasn't angry, just...perplexed.

"Well, no, Lady. You never seem to waste a thing," one of the strangers said, smiling weakly.

He was well-dressed enough, though clearly not well off now, if he had been previously. Came from money, but then the hard times came. Plague, flood, drought - you name it. A ravaged country that'd had to start prioritizing, and he just hadn't been a high enough priority.

"Exactly. Least of all, my time," she answered almost thoughtlessly.

The small group around her shifted uneasily. She kept her gaze on the one who seemed to lead them.

The man coughed. His face was lined heavily though he couldn't be much older than her. His body had the look of someone who had suddenly lost some weight, not in any intentional or kind way.

She felt maybe an ounce of pity, suddenly. And sighed.

"Can't use up food on the event itself, anyway," she added. She scratched the edge of her jaw with her rough nails. Looked at some clouds. Not so hot but still sunny, today.

The man perked up a little. His eyes seemed to have a tiny spark in them yet. "No. We have planned for this, setting aside what we could. No one is going to go hungry for some silly party."

"Hmm." Lina wanted to be away from here already. She hadn't planned to hang around this town, but had found herself slowly surrounded as she tried to enjoy a meal indoors for once.

"Many here have our own gardens and actually have grown some to spare," a woman added squeakily. She then clamped her mouth shut with obvious discomfort.

The lone wanderer sighed again, softly but for a good long breath. She supposed this was part of what she was trying to do - be seen as an ally to those who wanted true allies. No more shadows.

"I planned to leave here immediately, but need a few things if you have a leatherworker here," she said, nudging her bread and cheese on her plate. Staring down at the plate for the time being.

"Of course, we can provide a variety of services and supplies. I'm sure you've heard of our artisans being some of the best of the region!" The ringleader said. Now, he really smiled, and it made him look young. Younger than her, maybe, now.

The small group began to disperse almost immediately. The when and where of the event didn't even seem to matter now that they had some kind of consent from her.

"You folk are strange for being so close to the Capital," Lina murmured with a quick look at the Leader.

"Strange? Nooo. Just your standard patriots, Lady!" said the man. He bowed just a bit then hurried off with more energy in his step than before.

**********************************************************

She tried not to think about it as she prepared for the event. She focused on combing out her hair, rubbing balm into her cuts and scrapes, changing into the cleanest and freshest-looking garments she had.

She hated having to care about such things again. Well, maybe hate was too strong a word for that. But she did not appreciate having to play the role of the doll.

Not a doll, no, she corrected. Not this time. She did need to worry about appearances a little here, but the People wanted to speak to her, see her, for something else.

To keep the darkness at bay, even if it was only here. Only this town, or even just one person.

They wanted hope. Something, anything, like hope.

She grabbed the shiny rock dangling around her neck, usually hidden under her clothes and armor, trying to stay calm. She didn't like relying on others nor being relied upon. She didn't like feeling needed, feeling constrained.

But now she could feel the stone changing her mood slightly, letting her redirect it from her discomfort to her goals.

Yes. She had goals, and one was to make the People feel safer. Make them see that not all power corrupted, not all who stood above them wanted to merely step on them or blot out the light.

Those who could only crawl now needed a hand getting back up. And every time the King's men rode through this place, it was only a reminder that they had and would continue to turn a blind eye to suffering and need.

Then don't let them turn their head anymore. Let them know that there are those who still stand.

Not all who wander are merely wandering. And even a blind eye may be caught with enough brilliance.

*************************************************************

The music was not bad. Forest sounds were beautiful, but so was a nice lute and voice.

The company was just rowdy enough to let her hide at the edges of the torchlight, keep her opinions on it all to herself.

"Here," Naida said, handing her a plate of steaming meat, potatoes, bread - things you didn't get much of dashing through the woods. The woman, a mother of 2, had been the main organizer of this event and was married to the Leader, whose name turned out to be Jack. Just, Jack.

"Thank you," Lina said. She took the food but held it for the moment - probably too hot to dig in yet.

"Thank you for coming. I was pretty sure you wouldn't," Naida chuckled. "You seem like you like being alone the most."

"Eh." The soldier put the plate on the table in front of her. "It's true," she added.

"But?"

"But...you people put some effort in, and effort should always be appreciated, especially if it involves sacrifice."

"Oooh," Naida cooed, wiping her hands on her fluffy apron. "That is a very nice-sounding line. Will you write a book?"

Lina laughed a little, and the harsh sound made heads turn toward her. She glowered at the looky-loos before looking back over at the housewife. "Books can just be burned."

"Or they may be protected and cherished for a later day," Naida shot back.

Lina just made a grumbly sound in her chest. "Maybe. It takes strength, commitment. Not much of that left in Ashira, or anywhere."

"But maybe still just enough!"