[b]Miriam
Chapter 22: Divergence[/b]

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V535RoDNCQ Some good ol' Zelda fo yo ROM
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They would understand. Maybe they would scorn her for it, but that was nothing Miriam was not already familiar with. What use could she be as a spy? Even less, what could she do as a nurse for a blind girl? This was not her story and she had better leave it be and return to what she knows. Miriam shook her head and sighed, looking back to the road in front of her. Leia stood there, glancing back at her and expecting something, Miriam stepped after the dog but before she did she looked back one final time. The fort loomed in the distance, they had already walked a fair bit but you could see the fort and even the dots that were undoubtedly Midway soldiers speckled among the outline. They were still preparing to leave, to fight whatever great battle awaited them next. When Miriam had left Ellie's tent, she had felt morose. She pitied Eliana but what could she have done to help her? What could she possibly do other than what she had already did? 
	"Useless.." She muttered to herself, walking on after Leia. Miriam dragged on the sash of her new rucksack, it was, like her new gear, from Midway and made of a very fine and sturdy material. It was certainly better than her previous old bag had been, but it didn't feel quite the same. Nothing did. Within it the coin-pouch Freda had given her jingled, as well as enough rations and supplies to last her at least a month. She was richer now than she had ever been in her entire life but leaving the fort now, she felt empty. Miriam looked up, the road lay ahead in between the watery marshland, risen on top of wooden platforms and the rare cobbled path. In the very far distance the rolling hills of the Northlands were covered in snow, and the road would diverge to lead to a myriad of destinations. Maybe at the end of one of them, she would find the way to return to her old life...

[b]Meanwhile, At Hunter's Hill...[/b]

This man was a doubtless Commander. What he said were orders, never suggestions, his will and even his appearance was that of the Northlands and his mind was tactful and determined. He stood leaned over the large table, pointing to one of the many maps that lay in neat formations on top of it. The four generals present nodded, hummed and murmured their agreements. Walter folded his leg up and reached for the cup of tea that stood on a small table next to him. He sipped from it casually, looking across as one of the generals gazed toward the sound he had just made, for a short moment Walter was fearful he had been spotted but alas, the officer saw nothing other than what he had expected to see when looking to the chair in the far end of the room and he returned to listening to his King. They discussed for a lengthy time, discussing a futile war and how to best protect their people from these invaders. Such narrow thoughts, Walter mused but listened still. It was interesting to look upon this King whose grandfather had wanted nothing but peace, whose father had both proclaimed war as well as truce. What fate lay before this one? Walter hoped to find out, soon enough.

It was only a few hours until all of the officers had left, and the King was left alone at last. He sighed, rubbed fingers across his eyes and shook his head wearily. Walter did not doubt the situation was growing quite taxing. The King passed another table and touched his fingers upon the hilt of his sword, a sword which power Walter could scarcely fathom, the Northern King even less so. Walter rose from his chair at this moment and with a simple sway of his hand the air around him shimmered and the spectrum illusion was broken. The King turned immediately, maybe expecting one of his officers to have remained, he was undoubtedly confused as he was instead met by the visage of an old wizard. He moved his hand to grasp the sword's hilt where it stood.
	"Peace, good King." Said Walter, he rose his hands in a gesture of only peaceful intent, his muddy cloak flapped aside and beneath were no weaponry. The King narrowed his eyes in turn, he held a his sword firmly, ready to strike if need be.
	"Who are you? Where did you come from?" He was concise and strict in his questioning, just like his father. Walter kept his arms up, replying calmly, he had had time to prepare what to say.
	"My name is Walter Andalus, from where I come is a query of perspective that holds no interest in our current discussion." Walter stood still, he was a few paces away from the King, who had yet to call out to his guards. This bode well. "But if you are confused as to how I appeared here now? I have been here quite a while already. I only chose to appear before you alone."
	"Magic." The King snarled and his teeth flashed an angry scowl, Walter almost took a step back from the tone of his voice alone.
	"In a way." Walter admitted. The King drew his golden sword now, his eyes lingered on Walter but his mind was set on the guards undoubtedly just outside the tent, they wouldn't hear anything even if the King did call out to them.
	"Explain yourself, before your end is met, mage." The word was an insult to the King and Walter found that both rude and disturbing. He cleared his throat and patted his coat down briefly.
	"I've come to deliver you a warning, Good King." He said and he noticed Leofric had narrowed his eyes, intrigued but very much on edge. "The war that you wage and the enemy that you fight." Walter continued, he needed to formulate this well. " - You need to halt your course. For it will lead to the destruction of this entire realm." Walter paused, allowing the King to mull that reveal, he only scoffed.
	"What are you saying, you madman?" 
	"For every moment you spend battling the Red Invaders you play further into the hands of the true threat to our world. I have seen the enemy, and this is not them. I beseech you; When the opportunity arises, to make peace."
	"And what would one such as you know about this?" The King pointed his sword in Walter's direction, it shimmered with an otherwordly glow. The same kind Walter had seen in the hands of monsters, only brighter. He sighed.
	"We are trapped in a Wheel of fate and destiny, Good King. Doomed to circle this wheel of destruction until there is nothing left of our world but ash and debris. I am giving you the chance to step out of the Wheel, and follow your own path, rather than the one you have been given, just like you have been given that sword you hold." Walter nodded faintly toward the glowing sword that was held firmly in the King's hand.
	"I've heard enough of this." Said the King, having taking in none of it. Just like Walter had assumed, really. But the Warning had been given at least. "Guards!" The King called out but they did not respond, nor did they even hear. The King looked back to the Wizard and positioned his sword in a thrusting stance. Walter sighed and spread his hands in a shrug.
	"I ask you; are you a King - Or a Hamster?" He then shut his eyes and flexed his hands, he passed into the next realm and from it walked a few paces to leave the room behind. The shadowy realm was different somehow and as Walter traversed it he could sense another King, further away, a King that was in comparison much more aware yet so much more dangerous. Walter left the realm and reappeared on a field far from any of the royal threats and he looked up where the sky rested gray and heavy with snow. It won't be long now.