The Tent
The regiment clattered across the sun-drenched plains, horses clopping along steadily. The smell of mud and grass filled the air, mingling with the dust raised by each hoof beat. The recruits gazed out at the horizon with fearful anticipation, the reality of the battlefield looming closer. Emelia’s horse suddenly snorted and jolted as one of the soldiers leaned over and vomited behind a leafy tree. She looked to Leon, who rode beside her, with a look of apprehension, “Is it always like this?” she asked, her voice barely audible over the thumping of the hooves.
Leon looked over to the young soldier, hunched over as if he were a withering flower, “There’s always at least one.” he said reassuringly while gently patting Emelia’s leg.
Emelia stood on the threshold of her future, feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She took deep breaths, inhaling the smell of possibility. Her chest felt tight with anticipation as the mystery of the unknown spread before her like a blank canvas. She was ready - like an adventurer equipped with nothing but courage and a sense of adventure - to forge ahead into the unknown.
The company followed the path for days until the sun dipped low, and the horizon was painted with a dark grey. The battlefield seemed to stretch for miles, and the smell of gunpowder lingered in the air. Soldiers set to work, opening supply carts and hammering stakes into the ground. Horses whinnied and stomped their hooves as they were tethered to nearby trees, their riders quickly collecting their gear and heading towards their assigned tents. Leon guided Emelia to a single tent near the center of the camp, “This one’s all yours,” he said, pointing to the entrance.
A grizzled veteran soldier with a face full of crags and wrinkles barked out a laugh. “The princess gets her own tent now,” he said with a smirk. “How nice.” He raised an eyebrow and looked around the camp, a silent challenge to anyone who would dare stand up against him.
Leon stood tall and still, his eyes meeting the other man’s. His jawline was firm, and his voice carried a rough edge. “I suggest you find your own tent, soldier,” he said.
The soldier stood at attention, his back as straight as a board and his gaze fixed firmly on the floor. “Ye...yes, sir.” His voice was barely audible, and his head bowed in reverence. Then he spun on his heel and hurried away.
Leon knew he had crossed a line and was met with Emelia’s stony-faced glare. He couldn’t help the spreading of his lips into a wide, familiar grin and the laugh that followed soon after. “Yeah, I’m not sorry,” he could see how genuinely upset she was with him, and he struggled to contain his amusement. “You’re not sharing a tent with the other men,” he said with a peculiar glint in his eye, finishing with a flirtatious wink. “Unless you share with me.”
Emelia’s expression shifted from a look of annoyance to one of amusement, her eyebrows raised in surprise as her lips curled into a playful smile. “What would people say?” she asked with a bright laugh, her eyes twinkling.
Leon scanned the camp, overhearing the men’s conversation and laughter from the fireside. The smoke from the fires cast a hazy glow in the air. His eyes trailed over the makeshift tents, and he was suddenly aware of the subtle whispers about them. “The men gossip no less than the women, so it would be foolish to think that we would be exempt from the rumor mill,” he muttered.
Emelia knelt down, tugging the zipper of the canvas tent door open. She tossed her heavy, rust-stained bag inside and propped the door open with a flat rock. She took a deep breath, glanced up at him, and said, “I’ll be just fine.”
He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. As he pulled away, his lips curved into a warm smile. “Alright, I have a debrief to attend. I’ll see you later.”
“Mmmm, bye,” her gaze lingered on him as he moved away, her lips curling into a wistful smile. She stood for a few moments longer, finally shaking off the trance and stepping inside her small canvas tent, zipping up the entrance before settling in.
The afternoon sun was finally below the horizon. Emelia stepped out of her small canvas tent, feeling refreshed after her long journey. Trees surrounded the small camp, and a few tents had been placed in a circle around a central fire pit. Soldiers bustled around, some sharpening their weapons, while others gathered around logs, laughing and trading stories. Emelia followed the noise, her feet crunching against the stones. She stumbled upon one soldier practicing his stance with a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. Everywhere she looked, soldiers were preparing for battle.
“Emelia!” she heard her name, the voice thick with authority, and spotted Lieutenant Lassiter waving her over. His tall frame blocked the entrance to the command tent, and the heavy canvas shifted in the wind. As she approached, he stood aside, holding the curtain so she could pass. Inside, she found the most powerful men in the army sitting around a wooden table with a large map. King Leon and King Edward sat in high-backed chairs with Lieutenant Lassiter, head of the archers, and Lieutenant Miles, head of the foot soldiers.
“Good afternoon,” she said, lowering her eyes out of respect. She bent her knees slightly and made a slight bow.
King Edward strutted around the table, his cape billowing out behind him. He stopped in front of Emelia and smiled warmly. He took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze. His eyes sparkled as he leaned in and hugged her, whispering softly, “It’s so good to see you, my dear.”
“You as well,” she responded, her voice tinged with relief. King Edward had been through so much within the past years, yet here he was, welcoming her with open arms while leading the charge in this war, “I’m surprised you were for me joining.”
He looked upon her with eyes of admiration, “You are my daughter,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve seen the skill with which you use a bow. You have a warrior’s heart, and I can’t deny you the opportunity to prove your strength.” He cupped her face with both hands, “Who am I to stop you?”