Night Watch I: Eliza, Ward of Andrew

*Andrew’s POV*

We arrived with no time for introductions to spare. Eliza had to stay with me at all times, so I told her to wait at the edge of the Podium. Blasko, James, and Ashley all gave Eliza a polite nod, which she returned with a deferential one, while standing at attention. Oh please…

As James and Blasko began the ceremony, I reminded myself that, no matter what Ashley did, I was not to lose my cool. I had to maintain control- not just for the Soul of the Forest, but also for Eliza. Not that saving all of the Wild Ones, well, in fact, every Forest Fae tribe, wasn’t important, it's just that it was an abstract concept. Eliza, the individual, needed an ally, and frankly, I was a powerful one, so long as I didn’t fuck things up.

I caught Ashley looking discreetly at Eliza, clearly curious. I guess I couldn’t get mad at him for that, the ceremony was boring. His eyes widened when he saw my sword at her hip. He glanced to mine and clearly recognized Snakebite, in her rather fancy scabbard, even after three years. He looked up at me, saying volumes: He knew I thought Eliza was a good person, he knew I wanted to start her out on the right foot. Ashley was very insightful, he would have some clue what it had taken for me to take Snakebite from her crypt and put her at my side. He knew I must feel very strongly, that I must be trying to send a message.

Ashley looked at Eliza again, then smiled and nodded. He approved. Excellent. All of Dusk Watch would know within hours that the Second Officer of the Night Watch had taken the new exile under his wing, and had preferred to give her his own sword rather than see her wield a lesser one. I smiled back. Maybe Ashley wasn’t such a fucker after all.

Notes

awwww- yay! not exactly bffs, but they're not trying to beat each other smithereens for the moment. baby steps for platonic andley.