philip_charming | Adventure the Third

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somarium

Adventure the Third

[Coming back to the cottage from the battle with the statue, Philip took care of his horse Samson, moving on autopilot... then just slumped in a chair even as the horse flopped onto a carpet nearby.

Just give him a minute, he'll reach for the bandages soon... Right now, he'll just sit and stare at his battered and aching hands.]

I helped today. I know I did. Lives were saved by my actions; mine, and those of others. But what do you say to the people that died anyway?

What do you do, when your best just isn't good enough?

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[STORIES, eh? He's not sure he wants to hear all about how you and France have been getting along...

But still, England makes an unfortunately good point.

I'd heard that was the case, but it's the first time I've had it proved true.

[He keeps on trying to tell himself they're not his people... and it helps, a little.

But not nearly enough.]

[England's quiet and thoughtful a moment.]

Always managed to save your people then have you?

My soldiers, no; my people, yes.

[His eyes stayed on England's, calm and steady; talking it out helps too.

So, thanks for that.]

You differentiate then.

A soldier's purpose is to fight for his country in war. To lose him is regrettable, yet acceptable- at least, if he died to good purpose. That's why you have soldiers, why you have fighting-men; they- we- fight, even die, so that others don't have to.

So when they fall, then yes. It seems a failure in my eyes.

[England shifts a little when Philip says 'fight for his country.' But he listens to the rest and nods along in parts.]

Soldiers fall, that's the way of it. But you're quite right, fighting to protect others is a noble cause in itself.

[A pause]

Unfortunately the battlefield holds its own code more often than not.

[Yeah, Philip hasn't cottoned on to the whole 'countries-as-people' concept JUST yet. He just thinks there's some folks out there with weird foreign names, and deals with it.]

So I've found. Which is one of the reasons I've made sure the battlefield was staged well away from the kingdom's people.

That really wasn't an option, this time.

[England sighs heavily.]

That's usually not an option as to where to fight.

On the contrary. The choice of battlefield is often a crucial element in victory.

[How many ~~lightsaber duels~~ battles have been won or lost simply over possession of the high ground, for one example alone?

If you have the advantage yes.

If not, you still have the choice of where to fight back.

Perhaps.

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Adventure the Third

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