Reality

Cathlinn woke up in a daze, recalling everything this version of her mother said. One of the maids, as she came to realize they were, came in and started preparing dresses for Cathlinn to choose from. It all seemed to move so slowly and it allowed Cathlinn to delve into her thoughts, letting her get lost in the labyrinth of confusion. To someone outside of her own being, it seemed she was trying to adjust and was doing so quietly. They couldn't see the inner storm that raged inside her head as she tried to think of what would fit better in the situation. She didn't realize the wardrobe change until she felt the corset tighten around her. She gasped at it, staring down and scowling.

She wanted to dress herself if she was honest; because who really needed someone to help them put on clothes? She sighed quietly, letting the maid sit her down and do her hair. She thought she was ugly with the way it was done, a braided crown pulling her bangs back and leaving the short hairs to stick up and out. She much preferred the bun that had been a mandatory in uniform; at least she could see the bangs and didn't have some shining piece of nothing putting her. The maid had been thoroughly surprised with the compliance and Cathlinn could see the judgement as she stared at the tattoos earlier, wondering if the maid would say anything to anyone else about them.

The Captain, that blond man that she only dreamed about, was waiting patiently outside her door with a smile. She nodded at him and forced a smile, not speaking as he started with small talk. Cathlinn hadn't been permitted to wear her glasses, her eyes beginning to feel the strain after sitting in a small throne in a room too large for her comfort. Everything here was too big, even if it was meant for royalty. One by one, people approached her, unable to get within a few meters, and having to yell their complaints to her.

This was tiring and she soon lost her posture, giving in to leaning forward in the throne. The Captain was watching from the other side of the room, a look of disappointment clouding his expression. That's what she saw anyways as there finally came a break in the influx of people. Cathlinn was already tired of it and the longer she saw the look on the man's face, the more she felt she had let them down somehow. She let out a breath, tapping the pumps they made her wear by the heels to get the clacking noise. She needed a bit of a break and he seemed the friendliest person to speak with.

"I'm sorry this shit is so boring. I'm not a lawyer or a therapist," she called. The man smiled, forcing his lips to part as he slowly stepped forward.

"It's nothing to worry about. Your highness, I can't help but notice this isn't making you happy like it used to," Cathlinn fought back a snort at the comment as he knelt just in front of her. "I think we should find you something else to do. I want to put you through a few trials and in order to do that I need to know what you did before." She immediately wanted to speak out, staring at him as a hand fell over his breastplate. She pushed herself up, shaking her head.

"Get off your knees, Captain. I'm a lower rank than you," she informed him. His eyes widened a bit as she started to walk.

"Lower rank? Your highness, I'm-"

"I was military," she cut him off, taking the crown off her head and holding it out towards him. She hugged herself, her nerves fighting to take over and make her stutter but what would that show him? That she was uncomfortable? She had to fake it until she made it, convince herself this was fine even when she felt out of place. A thought occurred to her, making her look the man in the eyes for the first time that day.

"Can you teach me the laws and military structure? I don't want to break any of them," she asked. The man's eyes were wide as he reached for his blade, her eyes widening slightly as she felt someone grab around her mouth and force her down. She smelled the copper as the man pinning her to the floor said something to the Captain. She glared up, her heart racing as the man slowly turned to look down at her.

"Now," she didn't give him time, slamming her palm into his nose. She felt it break as he let go of her face. "You bitch," Cathlinn connected her hand to his shoulder after wrapping her arm around his lower one. She shoved him to the side and tightened the arm under her own, locking it in place. Her knee shoved into his chest and she stared at the decorated knives in their sheaths as she forced the arm close to it's breaking point. She was already out of breath, the corset straining as she tried to breath.

"Stay the fuck down," she barked. She turned towards the Captain and heard the snap of the man's arm as she tightened against his struggling, "Captain, call the rest of the guard and-"

The singing of the blade in her ears, the warmth of fresh blood on her skin and clothes; she froze. Of course this was their reality. To her, being in the military was all about working on components from helicopters. It wasn't bloody and war had turned into mostly standing by. To these people, this seemed every day; this was their reality. She had been pulled up and back as other guards came into the room, the Captain yelling orders while holding her close. Cathlinn held her nose, watching the body as the decapitated corpse was dragged onto a tarp.

"Captain," she muttered.

"Yes, your highness," his voice trailed again as Cathlinn glared up at him. Her hand was away from her face as she carefully pushed him back a bit. An assassination attempt meant even this version had enemies and had she been the other her, she would have died right then and there.

"Teach me how to use a sword better," she put an emphasis on better, her gaze sharp as the two stared at each other. He was surprised but soon his face turned serious as he bowed a bit.

"I'd need to get a feel for your current ability, your highness," he stated.

"That's fine. Wouldn't expect anything less," she muttered. The doors swung open and her mother raced in, more guards behind her as she reached Cathlinn. Cathlinn let her worry over her face, a small smile forming at the motherly behavior.

"Monique, are you all right? Did they catch him," she questioned.

"I'm okay, mom. I broke the guys arm and Captain killed him off," Cathlinn laughed nervously. The statement only brought a panicked look to her mother's face as a handkerchief was placed on Cathlinn's nose gently.

"Monique," she cried.

"What? It was self defense," Cathlinn's smile fell as she started to squint a bit. "He used deadly force so I returned the favor. What? Was that too unladylike for you or something? I could have-"

The hand racing across her face shut her up as her mother glared, "That's enough. Retire to your room. It seems the Captain is still too young for his charge."

Cathlinn grit her cheek and raised her hand a bit before lowering it, "Neither of us saw the man come in. The Captain did his job. Assassins tend to be good at theirs too though."

"I said enough, Monique," Cathlinn flinched, looking over at the Captain.

"No," Cathlinn snipped. The entire room fell silent as Cathlinn motioned at the man in question. "This man probably worked pretty fucking hard for his position. You're going to say he's too young for his status? Then I'm too fucking young to listen to people's problems all fucking day. I'm not a therapist or a councilor."

"Monique," her mother gasped. "Watch your language!"

"My language has shit to do with this," Cathlinn yelled. "He finished the guy off. He's doing his fucking job!"