As Tears Go By Part 2 (rough)

She was born as a result of a drunken deacon’s play with a bar maid. Her father had told her mother to keep the child a secret, to not affect his chances at the priesthood. She had, but when Autum was very young, her mother died. Her father, though he had taken a vow of celibacy, took her in. However, because of his rectitude and honesty, he was denied entry into the priesthood for violating his vows. He tried to cope, but he crawled farther and farther into the bottle. He became increasingly violent when he drank, and eventually, he took his frustrations out on the young girl. Whether he remembered or regretted this, she never knew. When she was seven, he enlisted her into the military.

Though she was small for her age, she took naturally to the life of a soldier, thanks to her natural intelligence, diligence, and ability to follow orders. In a few years’ time, she was selected to participate in a training exercise for Dawn Stryfe, the count’s daughter, who was soon to be attending the Imperial academy.

Dawn was set to face her companion Bradley Cain in a contest of strategy. Bradley was to defend an abandoned fort, and Dawn was to take it. Unfortunately for her, Bradley had proved a cunning tactician and cut her off at every opportunity. Dawn surely would have failed, had Autum not made her way to the command area and given Dawn the advice she needed to take the fort.

However, Dawn did not accept the praise of those around her, instead admitting that it was Autum who had won this battle. It seemed that no one was willing to believe this fact, except Viscount Victor Trajian, and Bradley himself, having witnessed Autum’s brilliance firsthand.

Nonetheless, the Count was prepared to elevate her family to the peerage, until it came to light that her father had been killed in a tavern brawl.

The news had struck Autum like a blow. She did not hate him, despite his cruelty towards her. He was, after all, her father. The only family she'd known. She did not cry, but for the first time, she thought about the future. Her future. Without him, she had no home to return to. In the past few years, se had grown and matured. She had seen only eleven summers, but she no longer considered herself a child. But in that time, the simple life of a soldier had made her fall complacent in its routine and its monotony. She had not considered what might become of her should she choose to leave that life.

It was a day like any other, it seemed. She sat in the barracks, thinking about what would become of her. She supposed now that she’d be a soldier all of her life. It was then that Dawn came into the barracks. The other soldiers were transfixed, not expecting to see the daughter of the Count here. The young baronet merely strode with confidence right up to Autum, and smiled in a devilishly charming way.

“I never got a chance to thank you properly, for all of your help,” she said softly, “So, I’ve made an arrangement with my father. You’re to come to the castle.”

Autum was a bit shocked at the sudden appearance of Dawn.  It took her a moment to comprehend what Dawn was saying. “When?” was the only thing she could manage to say.

Dawn giggled. “Now, of course.” Autum got up and began making her way to the door, but Dawn put a hand on her shoulder. “You might want to gather up your personal effects. I’ll help you with them, if you wish. Father was going to send servants, but I told him you might not go for that.”
Autum paused for a long moment. Realization had dawned, but she was still in disbelief. “What… do you mean?” she asked slowly.

Dawn giggled a second time. “I mean, that if you’re going to live there, you’ll probably want your possessions, right?”

Autum’s vision blurred. It was all so sudden. But in a moment, she collected herself and steeled herself against the inevitable. It couldn’t be what she was thinking. Why would it be? In silence, she gathered her things. Dawn tried to help, but each time Autum politely declined assistance.

When they arrived at the castle, the Count received them as he would receive a visiting dignitary. The Countess sat on his left, with their eldest daughter standing beside her. To the Count’s right stood Viscounts Mark Stryfe and Victor Trajian. The Count’s young son Samuel, stood beside his uncle. The Count stood as they entered the room and bowed in greeting.  Dawn returned the bow without hesitation, but Autum was awestruck. She did not know at all how to react to this new situation.
She didn’t come out of her state of paralysis until the Count began to speak. “Welcome, Lady Autum,” he said in a booming voice. “I would like to extend my apologies for not coming to the barracks to get you myself, but my daughter insisted that she go alone.”

Autum’s faculties returned to her at once, and she fell to her knees in an awkward kneel. “My Lord,” she said in a halting voice she did not recognize as her own, “it is not necessary for you to trouble yourself on my account. I am merely a soldier. I am undeserving of the favor you have shown me.”

The Count laughed. It was not a cruel laugh, rather a mirthful, pleasant sound. “Were you but a soldier, you may be correct, but as of today, you are a knight of Lennaire. You have inherited the title of your father,” he said.

“My father was not a knight,” Autum replied, feeling her throat tighten.

The Count smiled impishly. “Not while he was living, no,” he said. “But I made good on my promise to raise him to the peerage, even if it was posthumously. As he is deceased, the title falls to you. There will be an official ceremony this afternoon. You may rise.” Autum stood shakily. “However…” the Count continued, “you are still only a child. I cannot allow you to live on a fief on your own. For this reason, I have appointed a steward to your estate until you have become an adult, and are capable of maintaining your own land. Until that time, you may live here, in the castle.”

Autum’s legs gave out as the Count finished, but Dawn’s arms shot out to support her before she fell. She could not believe it. “Thank you,” she managed to stammer after a pause.

Autum could not recall what transpired after that. There seemed to be more talking, but she did not hear it. When she came to her senses, she was in a large bedchamber. Her things were all placed carefully on the bed, and Dawn stood next to her, smiling at her.

For the first time, Autum looked at her fully. She was short for her age, which Autum gauged as thirteen or fourteen. She kept her dark hair tied back loosely, and her features were soft and delicate. But what struck Autum most were her eyes. They were a deep green, almost emerald-colored, and they seemed to emit a strange light that enhanced her already attractive face.

“Something wrong?” Dawn asked, still smiling.

Autum started and blinked to clear her head. When she looked back at Dawn’s eyes, the light she had seen before was gone. “No,” she said at last, “no, nothing’s the matter. I just… I’m not used to all this.”

Dawn laughed. It was a clear, calming sound to Autum. “Well, of course not,” she said when she had finished. “It’s got to be an adjustment for you. I can’t imagine a soldier’s life prepares you for this…”
Autum smiled despite herself. “No, it really doesn’t.” As she moved to put her things away, she expected Dawn to leave her, but she was surprised when the other girl merely walked to the nearby chair and sat down.

“You’ll get used to it,” Dawn said as she threw her legs over the arm of the chair. “In fact, it will get incredibly boring. That’s why I can’t wait to get out of here…” Dawn’s  voice trailed off and a far-away look came into her eyes, and as Autum looked, the light she had seen earlier returned, brighter than before. Dawn snapped back to the present and smiled ruefully, causing the light to vanish. “Sorry, ma cheri,” she said softly. “I suppose you want some privacy, before the ceremony.” She stood and bowed gracefully to Autum.

As she was turning to leave, Autum’s hand caught her shoulder. “Thank you, ma dame,” Autum said in a near-whisper.

Dawn turned to face her fully, and to Autum’s surprise, wrapped her arms around her waist. “You’re welcome, ma cheri,” she replied, and planted a kiss softly on Autum’s cheek. Autum pulled away quickly and covered her face with her hands, as she felt the hot crimson rise. She heard the other woman’s footsteps exit the room, and the door softly close behind her.