we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

[advancements]

(catchall for camilla's and xander's adventures through fódlan!)

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[advancements]

[Camilla isn't crying, but she's dangerously close to it. Some part of him knew and acknowledged that Lorenz is important to her, but seeing it like this...

Well, he doesn't get time to ponder it. Camilla shoves him backwards and knocks him off-balance, giving her plenty of time to get a head start as she rushes off. Xander's torn for a moment - he wants nothing more to return to the monastery and pretend none of this happened, but he can't do that. Father won't be pleased if he doesn't follow Camilla back. Just in case. Right?

So he follows after her, reaching the mouth of the cave and watching as father's men move to block the exit after him. Father is there and Lorenz is awake now, and something twists in Xander's gut even as he approaches them with a steely expression. Father's orders are absolute, with no room for argument, and when he's asked to take Lorenz hostage, Xander does so without a second thought. He takes the sword offered to him and presses it to Lorenz's throat, refusing to let any shred of emotion betray him. Now is not the time for doubts.

This isn't just a test for Camilla, after all. This is also a test of Xander's loyalty to House Krakenburg. He feels foolish for not having realized that sooner. Of course father left him alone for so long without instructions or interference; he wanted to ensure that Xander would be prepared to make difficult decisions on his own.

He is, and he has. So he holds Lorenz hostage and listens to his father gloat about how weak and stupid those of House Gloucester are. Xander's eyes drop to the ground and don't move to look at his father, Camilla, or his hostage. It's too late for regrets, He tells himself. You've made your choice. It's not like he can turn back the clock and take a different path. This is what he was meant to do, as the heir to House Krakenburg. Whether he likes it or not is unimportant.

(The way father talks about Grechen, Camilla's mother... No. There's nothing in his words to imply that any of what Camilla said that day in the stables is true. It isn't true. It can't be true.)

Duke Garon pretends to be generous, pretends to give Camilla a choice, as though any of them are stupid enough to believe that this will end any other way. Either Camilla goes with him, back to House Krakenburg, or Lorenz dies. They all know Camilla can't let Lorenz die and she will do anything to ensure he doesn't. Briefly, Xander wonders just how things will turn out if they do let Lorenz live. He can't imagine they'd kill the heir to House Gloucester - political ties are difficult enough to navigate without one house killing the heir to another. That could spark all-out war between the Empire and the Alliance. So Lorenz is safe, but Camilla won't allow herself to think like that. They all know that too.

Lorenz is smart enough to figure that much out, and he's doing his best to convince her. He doesn't attempt to fight Xander any, but his words are surprisingly steady considering the situation. He doesn't even seem frightened, which is more than Xander was expecting from him. But Camilla isn't listening, and they're all aware of that too.

Her cry cuts Lorenz off and her tears ensure he isn't speaking up again. Xander looks up briefly at her words, and wishes he hadn't. When they were children and Camilla used to cry, he'd hold her close and try to reassure her—

That's enough of that. The Camilla he knew back then might as well be dead. The Xander she knew back then is too.

Camilla doesn't get long enough to get the words she desperately needs to say out - she's cut off when one of his father's men slams the back of his weapon into her head to knock her out cold. They're already grabbing her arms and getting ready to haul her off and that's when Lorenz decides he's had enough. He attempts to knock the sword away (and cuts his hands and arms open in the process) and is readying a spell—

And then all hell breaks loose.]