A Commanders Job

More than three days passed since they set off from the Smithssard Mountains. Due to the attack of enemy ships and the monster, it took longer than expected. When they finally arrived at the Union only Aiduin was there greeting them, neither parades nor any other kind of celebration since everybody was busy holding the defences at Ogeroy Creek. For the first time since it's creation, the Eagle unit could take a small break except for Aymon he immediately to his office to fill out all the paperwork.

"I heard that you successfully completed your first mission as Lieutenant." Aiduin came towards him while he was writing his report.

"Yea more or less. Two of my men were killed and our ship was nearly sunk by an enemy patrol but we could even blow up the Empires supply ships, so not too bad after all."

"You should get accustomed to losing your subordinates since that's what get for waging war. If you can't bear with it you should have chosen another job after all their lives are depending on our decisions. We will always be burdened with those responsibilities until we die, therefore it is even more important to never make choices light heartedly and without thinking. So you better keep a certain distance to the soldiers under your command."

"But I need to get to know my men, or how am I going to bond together with them. It's definitely something necessary to command them."

"That might be the case but you need to find a healthy balance between getting to know them and keeping your distance from their personal affairs. We are no doctors, after all, the only thing we should think about is how to successfully complete the mission with the best possible outcome and bringing back as many soldiers alive as we can. That's what we, the commanding positions, are for."

Aymon nodded silently with his head.

"Change of subject, how is it going in the council, are we finally making any progress with the decision making?"

"None at all, on the contrary, it got even worse. The biggest part of the population is getting cold feet under the pressure of the Empire and is thinking to turn back under the Empires tyranny, being alive is still better than being dead after all. And while our Union is on the verge of collapse the GRE and High Elfs are sitting at each other's throats ready to steal the power from either faction."

"What a shit show, while our men are dying on the frontline they are playing power games with our lives. If worst comes to worst a new civil war might start when we are fighting off the invasion ... sigh. How does it look on the frontline?"

"Actually pretty good, the defences were finished just in time and now we also received the urgently needed supplies from you. There were some bombarding and some small units that tried to infiltrate our territory but we could successfully repel them."

"That sou..."

Aymon was interrupted by two quick knocks on his offices' door.

"Sorry give me a second. It's open please come in."

It was Samira holding a whole new load of paperwork between her arms.

"Please fill out these forms by tomorrow Lieutenant." A huge pile of documents was put on the desk with a dull sound.

"Sigh... even this now, can you give me a hand with it Sergeant?"

"Oh of course darling." Her unmistakable ironic tone irritated him.

"Can you also cook me supper since you are already at it?" His response was equally ironic as hers.

"I do..."

"Well, then this old men will let you two alone with your lover's quarrel and go take a rest." Aiduin quickly interrupted the quarrel

With quick footsteps, he went towards the door and winked at Aymon before closing the door and disappearing in the night. Samira went to the seat on his side, sat down and started helping him with the paperwork.

"Did you already write the condolence letters to the families of the deceased soldiers?"

"No, not yet I'll do that as soon as I have finished working on the report"

"Should I do it for you?"

The pen in his hand paused for a brief moment.

"I think it's something I should do, you can work on these papers for me."

It was obvious to her that he was trying to keep his distance from her by holding the conversation at the bare minimum. She put her pen to the side.

"What is going on with you? Normally you are more lively then this, are the deaths of two of your subordinates still bugging you?"

"No, it's nothing you should be concerned about."

"Are you serious?! I'm worried about you and that's how you respond to me? Well do as you like I just wanted to help you especially given the fact that that's my job." Frustrated and angry she stood up and left the office by smashing the door behind her.

Shortly after the door opened just a crack.

"And how am I even supposed to help you if you don't let me?!" Making it her final comment and leaving again.

"Sigh, I'm sorry Samira but I don't want to lose anyone near to me again." Talking to himself now alone he worked through the whole night and fell asleep on his desk in the early morning.

2 weeks left before the beginning of winter. Even though the supplies could e brought back in time and the defences were finished just in time, the invasion still posed a threat to the Union. But the worst enemy was still the ongoing internal conflicts.