[color=6ecff6][h3]♕ Reina ♕[/h3][/color][hr][hr]
How could one ever really prepare for a moment like this? Even with the advanced warning and the time to prepare herself, the princess of Grado, Reina, found she was dreadfully ill-prepared. Drilled heavily these last few days, she was the first one ready, finding herself almost an expert at equipping her own custom armor. It was made light to play into her strengths which Garric had been instrumental at identifying. Garric. That aggravating mercenary had done a fine job of pushing Reina past tears almost every day while she trained with him and up to this point, there was no love for such a harsh man in Reina's eyes. However now, with things as they were, Reina couldn't help but want one more day of training, one more beating by a blunt sword if that meant this invasion could be delayed because...

Reina's attention drifted from the swordmaster and focused on her father, Rioga, now addressing those present. Reina felt herself swallow hard as she hung on his every word as if it would be the last she'd ever hear from him because that's exactly what Reina worried about. It wasn't the physical preparations that were troublesome but the emotional toll. Someone once told her that any man can die in battle and leading up to this moment, that's all she could think about. Her father dying just like that. She could try to convince herself, try and let herself be swayed by her father's outward certainty in victory but alas, she'd always think of the worst. 

When her father offered the Sacred Stone in an outstretched hand, Reina stepped forward and claimed it silently. Obvious trepidation expressed in her face as she took the stone from his hand as she looked up to meet his gaze. She stood there for a moment longer wishing she could just break down into her father's arm and for that moment, it may have looked like she was going to do just that as her eyes began to water. However, she steeled herself long enough for the moment to pass, quietly stepping back down to join what would be her allies for the foresee able future. 

For the remainder of her father's instructions, she tried desperately to focus on the information but could only think about her father in that time. Yet, she couldn't even look him in the eyes as her focus was drawn to staring at the blue gem in her hand. So much trouble over something so small. Was it worth this much to start a war over? To lose your life for? Based off of what, folktales? It wasn't fair that this burden should be hers to carry something so dangerous and to risk losing her father over this. 

It wasn't until Reina was addressed directly that her father managed to capture her attention fully. She was expecting to hear something but found herself disappointed as she felt her heart drop. However, she wasn't intending on disappointing her father, not now anyway, and tucked the stone into a safe place on her person. 

Her attention drifted elsewhere as her body went through the motions. She caught the other stone, the Tactician's Stone and rolled it around in her hand. Surprisingly, she managed to bring herself out of her slump long enough to understand the gist of this magic but upon trying to use this magic for a tactical overview, she felt sick when she saw the amount of red figures in the castle. She closed her eyes and turned away as if trying to hide from the horrific vision but the sounds of battle were now audible even here in the throne room. There was no escaping this reality now.

With things progressing rapidly now, it felt like mere moments until Reina heard her father ushering them onward to escape. [i]We'll be fine... Go![/i] With that statement uttered, it had finally sunk in that Reina might be seeing her father for the last time. She couldn't even say something up to this point. She was frustrated with herself almost as much as she was frustrated with him. He can't promise that. He doesn't know what will happen. Finally, the stubborn form of the princess came to bear. Eyes watering again as she turned to face her father, yelling in outright refusal. 

[color=6ecff6]"Dammit father! All you can say to me is "go"? What if something happens? You don't know what will happen and this might be the last time we..."[/color] She stopped herself, unable to proceed past the very word that put an image of her and her father together. If this was truly the last time, then the last thing Reina wanted was that image of "we" to be one of her yelling at her father. [color=6ecff6]"Okay.."[/color] She muttered meekly, [color=6ecff6]"I'll keep the Stone safe until I can give it back to you."[/color] She quickly ran up to him thereafter and wrapped her arms around her armored father. Unfortunately Reina was quite dwarfed by her father in his armor while standing so in an attempt to be more affectionate than hugging a giant armor suit, she stepped back reaching for his hand giving it a squeeze in between both her hands before turning and following Aldo towards the escape route. 

She didn't need to say it, just like her father didn't need to say it. However, this last gesture was to be their "farewell" and "I love you" and that would hopefully be the image Reina would think of if anything did happen.