Dis' Lotta Trust

"Maybe..." Tiffania murmurs, "But maybe I would have been burned to death instead, maybe I would have been burned under your orders... Would you have watched me die, princess?" she pauses, but gets no response from Henrietta who looks down with conflict written clear on her face. If such an event transpiring would not have been out of the question, and it was obvious to both of them, "What might have been is useless now. You are our hostage, and we are your captors... I wish things could have been different, but they aren't. And will never be. Not anymore."

Henrietta's eyes tear up as she looks down at the rope binding her arms together, "The future isn't concrete, Tiffania. We can still reconcile, I don't know what you three want Brimir's Prayer Book for, but perhaps we could come to an arrangement? We don't have to fight, if it is knowledge you seek, then it can be shared!"

Tiffania holds back a scoff of derision at Henrietta's words, "If you truly believed that, why did you not say so when Michael had asked?"

Henrietta furrows her brows in irritation, "He demanded we hand over the book without explaining why, or even what he intended to use it for! 'Do not worry what I need it for' is what he said, and instead of offering something in exchange for it, he threatened us! If you were in my position, would you have just handed over a national treasure to someone who was a known criminal? Who had a big hand in starting a civil war that almost tore my country apart!?" she exclaims, angry and annoyed at the way the negotiation had panned out.

Tiffania turns away and looks elsewhere in embarrassment. Michael hadn't mentioned that when he explained what'd happened and why he'd kidnapped the princess... Perhaps it was foolish to believe he wasn't at fault for things ending up as they had... It wouldn't be the first time Michael's rash actions had caused unneeded chaos.

Henrietta, noticing the weakness in Tiffania's posture continues, "If he had given a single valid reason for his needing to borrow the book, I would have allowed him to make use of it! Even after his murder of Guiche Gramont, and harm he'd caused Tristain... I would have still allowed it! My best friend, Louise, begged me to allow her to go and speak with him, yet he betrayed her trust, the person who summoned him here in the first place, by attacking us and kidnapping me!"

"Michael always has his reasons... You must have done something to him to start the fighting" Tiffania weakly protests.

Henrietta quickly shakes her head, "No! We did nothing! We came to negotiate in good faith, yet when we refused his demands to have over a national treasure, he attacked us!"

...

The princess leans forwards against her bonds with an imploring expression, "Please, Tiffania, you must know what Michael is willing to do. Everything I have said has been truthful, we are the aggrieved party here... You're a kind person, Tiffania. A good person. But would a good person be complicit with such vile and violent actions!?"

Tiffania bites back a growl, "Well... Good people are sometimes forced to do bad things! No one is perfect!"

"Do you really think that? Or are you just trying to justify your friend's actions?" Henrietta questions.

"I..."

"Tiffania, I am not asking you to betray your friends... I only want the best for everyone, you included. Surely you could speak to Michael, so we could settle all of this like adults? Instead of unthinking fools?"

...

"Please?" Henrietta presses after not immediately getting a response.

"I. I will ask him, but that's all. What is done is done, I doubt Tristain will look kindly on us for kidnapping you in the first place." Tiffania determines as she stands with her book tucked in her arm pit.

Henrietta smiles, "That is all I can ask."

With that, Tiffania sits a good distance away, head buried in her book despite the fact she wasn't reading any of it. Once Ralf returns, she elects to leave and visit the nearby river to clear her head. The discussion with Henrietta has illuminated many things for her, her faults along with Michael's. Indeed, if what she said was true, Michael's actions were starting to look more and more unhinged... She wouldn't allow such a thing to skew her impression of him however... For all of his faults, he was still her saviour.

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Michael returns to the clearing an hour or two later, quickly noting Tiffania's absence and the disgruntled expression on Ralf's face.

"Finally, you're back. If I had to listen to another word from that annoying princesses mouth I might've been tempted to burn her lips closed."

Michael sheepishly smiles, "Er, sorry? Making sure the note got to Louise was harder than it was last time. Something about kidnapping their princess probably had them all on edge... I wonder why?" he sarcastically jokes, before turning to Henrietta. "And I'm sure you'd be glad to hear that you'll be sent back tonight. Back to your fluffy palace beds and sexy man servants... Or whatever else royalty like to amuse themselves with." he shrugs.

Henrietta just huffs at him, "I think you would be surprised as to how little time I actually have to myself. One would actually consider this kidnapping a vacation... If I didn't have a steadily growing pile of paper work back at the palace waiting for me."

Michael snorts, "Oh, boohoo, 'I have so many responsibilities, servant! dry my tears with my golden handkerchief. Also, have the chefs prepare my favourite meal of foie gras with gold shavings and the tears of orphans.', just listen to yourself Princess, fuck me." he laughs as he turns away, quickly spotting Tiffania waving him over from the treeline.