Chapter Text
"It's just gonna be a few weeks, honey", Annaleen whispers to her son, cupping his red cheeks with her hands. He has her blond hair. One could see clearly see, how he comes from the most successful bloodline in the entire kingdom. "I know you're scared, but everything will be fine. Mama and I are really good fighters, you know?" The boy falls into her, silencing his quiet sobs against his mother's chest. Annaleen holds him tight in her arms, shushing carefully. She raises her glance to look to her wife, who holds a rather worried expression. Her arms crossed before her chest. Having known her for over twenty years, Annaleen can surely tell, the woman infront of her is clearly holding back tears. Yes, they are going to miss their boy. But this mission is important to the kingdom. It is important for them. They were the ones to come up with it in the first place.
"Hey buddy." Sebrina squats down next to them and puts lovingly puts her hand on her son's shoulder. Ambrosius looks to his mother, eyes still watery and cheeks slightly swollen from crying. "We believe that there is nothing to be afraid of beyond the wall and we want to prove it. If we are right, this would be so helpful. We could build more hospitals, more housing units, more farms and so on. If we are wrong and there is indeed something so utterly terrifying, we will be back faster than you can imagine to help and upgrade the wall, so we can keep everyone safe. No matter, how things play out: We will return to you." Ambrosius listens peacefully, it seems as if the crying has been calmed down. Annaleen presses a kiss on the boys head.
"And while we're gone, nothing is going to be different. You will still go to knight training and school. You are going to hang out with your friends after classes, watch movies, and everything that you already do now. And sooner than you can actually take in, we're gone, we are going to be back again." The boy slowly nods, realising how Annaleen is probably right.
"The only difference would be, that you'll sleep and eat in one of the Institute's dormitories. But this means you get to sleep a bit longer, as your way to school is much shorter now", Sebrina adds onto her wife's arguments. Ambrosius smiles softly, as he wipes some tears away.
"I will miss you", he stutters as he finally gathers himself. Sebrina realises that she is even closer to crying, than before, but she cannot let it out. She does not want to scare her son even more than he already is. She cannot show the doubts and worries, that have been haunting her throughout the whole process of getting the mission approved and even now. Instead she wraps her arms around her family, holding them tight. From now on every hug is a gift. If something goes wrong- No, she must not think about it. Everything will go down according to plan. And even if there is some monster out there: Annaleen is right there beside her. If anyone can slay this monster, it is Gloreth's descendant.
"We'll miss you too, Ambrosius", she whispers.
"You will also get to spend some more time with Auntie Gloria!" The voice of the slim blonde woman on the couch breaks the comfort of the moment. The family of three has been so focussed on themselves that Sebrina has even forgotten about her wife's best friend presence. Admittedly, she found her annoying most of the time, when the women used to hang out on a personal level, so Sebrina had her doubts when first discussing whether it would be a good idea to make her their son's primary caretaker during their time of absence. But Gloria is a very social and logical individual who takes joy in educating, so she was quickly convinced to just trust her wife.
After some other discussions and dinner, Ambrosius went to his room. Annaleen later went to check on him, to make sure everything was alright and to see whether he was sleeping, leaving Sebrina and Gloria alone in the dining room.
"Take good care of him", Sebrina breaks the painful silence, still looking down at her finished plate, the knife still in her right hand, the blade vertical to the wooden surface of the table, pointed towards Gloria. The blonde woman swallows as she is suddenly overcome with concern and slight fear.
"I will", she promises. "He is in good hands with me." Sebrina softens her grip around the knife, laying it down on the table. Her gaze slowly turning towards the woman, dressed in white. To the woman with a veil attached around her hair and chin. Sebrina says the words, she never would have expected herself to say.
"I trust you, Director."