The Price of Greatness

There weren't always dragons in the Valley,

Nor angels in the darkened sea,

There weren't always maidens in the frozen lands,

Nor sons of men guarding ancient tree.

Those words were etched into the walls of Eldrinvale, an ancient-ish stronghold build into what may considered the last of the world trees. It was also etched into the minds of the guards that were stationed there, because one, it was mandatory, and two, there was little else to occupy one's mind while stationed at Eldrinvale

For Hartiens those verses were the furthest thing from his mind. It was raining, and so he was busy thinking about how much he hated the rain, and that if he were in charge of the weather it would never rain. He had brought this up once upon a time, and Sergeant Guszevich had said, that then the world would die in a dry cracking hell.

Always the optimist that Guszevich. Hartiens didn't much care though. If the rain stopped then the giant tree might die, and then he wouldn't have to guard it. He wasn't entirely sure what he was guarding it for anyhow. It had never been attacked. It produced no fruit. There wasn't anything magical about the leaves. As far as he knew, it was just a big tree.

"I mean even if it gets attacked tomorrow, and they chop it down big deal. They'll have a giant stump in the middle of an otherwise unimportant valley" Hartiens said, his words partially muted by the wind and rain that was making it's way through his leather armor.

"It's a world tree Harty" The guard next to him said.

"What's your point Sid? You ask me, we're just preventing a large sale of lumber to the southern markets." The guardsmen didn't turn to each other, the looked straight ahead as they spoke, looking out to the horizon, always watching for threats. Threats that never came.

"World trees are special" Sid said. Rain splashed his face stinging his eyes and biting at his exposed skin.

"Sure, but how? And what are we guarding it for?" Hartiens asked.

"Dunno" Sid shrugged, the most movement he made in the last few hours.

"Well doesn't it just make you frustrated, knowing that you're wasting away guarding something that doesn't need guarding?" Hartiens asked.

"You getting paid?" Sid asked.

"Well, yeah" Hartiens admitted.

"Me too, to just stand here, and not ask questions. Can think about whatever I want up here too, it's not that frustratin' if you think about it. Which I do," Sid spoke more than Hartiens was used to. The conversation did come up once a day though, thought Hartiens.

"Corporal"

The guardsmen didn't turn but Sid came to a position of attention placing his polearm in the crook of his shoulder.

"You are relieved." Sid placed his right foot behind his left and spun in a drilled movement that allowed him to face his replacement.

"Captain," Sid saluted, and marched to leave, not saying a goodbye to his comrade. Because why would he?

The captain leaned up against the carved wooden railing, her hair falling along the edge of the sky, her head craned in such a way to try and make eye contact with Hartiens. His lack of discipline would usually lend itself to looking into her eyes at that point, but with Captain Warwick, he chose to look straight ahead. As a good soldier would.

"Sergeant Hartiens, can you tell me," she ran her hand through her hair, black, wavy, drenched, and completely out of regulations, "Why it is that you haven't been promoted?"

He took a moment, "Captain, have you always been fond of trap questions?" Hartiens asked, still looking straight ahead, best to only fall into one trap at a time.

"Sergeant," her tone changed to that of a snake that was disappointed the mouse didn't crawl into it's mouth, "you wound me, I merely mean to ask why you haven't applied to become an officer."

"Well, when you phrase it like that," Hartiens released the tension that had been slowly building in his shoulders and back, "it's because the idea of officer grade bureaucracy sounds incredibly boring."

"You're right," Warwick tilted her head back a little, still trying to catch his eyes in her gaze. "I would hate to take you away from the thrilling life of guard duty." She gestured out to the rainy horizon. Gray. Bleak. More Gray.

The idea of becoming an officer at one point enticed him. He even chased it for a bit. All it would take is someone backing him, and enough years as a guard. Then a title and significant pay increase would be his.

As it was though, he could only think about a few things. The rain that was undoubtedly making Captain Warwick even more attractive, and of escape.

"Captain, why can't you let a sleeping dog lie?" He looked down. Bad move. Her eyes caught his, and if the sparks were physical it would've caused an electric wave over the rain. She had deep violet eyes typical of a half elf, but breathtaking nonetheless. Her hair was already soaked by the pouring rain, sticking to her face and shoulders. Which brought his attention downward, and he really had to catch himself, or else.

"You have ambition James, anyone can see that. It hurts me to see you cooped up on guard duty, especially with your abilities."

"Don't," Hartiens warned. His abilities were his business, and where did she get off saying his first name? The captain was frustrating and terribly attractive.

"You know we're looking for a replacement on the squad," Hartiens raised his left eyebrow. That was news. Who died? is what he wanted to ask. That would be insensitive though.

"Who died?" He asked.

"Edmundson." She looked away. Looks like she did have some modicum of feeling after all.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I won't be joining that squad." Hartiens would prefer the bore of a simple life. He could withstand the 'call to greatness' or whatever the hell fate called it. He could endure the monotony of guard duty if it meant not being on that squad.

"You know I have the authority to make you do what I want?" She said.

Hartiens swore he heard a laugh somewhere in there. A bitter and rueful little thing, he smiled back and looked at her. Looked at all of her in that moment. Wrinkles wore around her eyes, and her shoulders drooped from a weight that wasn't physical. She was tired. But then, so was he.

"Alison. You can order me to do whatever you like, but I'm my own man. There's no authority you or the king himself can hold over me." Hartiens turned back to his post.

"You're insufferable." She breathed and then leaned in close to his ear. Her breath hot on his ears, "Come to my quarters after you're off."

"Is that an order?" He asked.

"No Hartiens, it's a demand, one that even you'll be sorry to refuse."

"Yes ma'am" Hartiens saluted as she walked away. There weren't always sons guarding the ancient tree. There weren't always daughters that seduced them either he supposed.

And she says I'm the insufferable one.