[That vow is so nice. It's one that says he'll be there and that he will protect her. But that he will stand with her too. There's so much faith in that it makes her smile as she looks down at their hands.]
Hubert, I vow to make myself as useful to you as I can be. By being bonded to you, I hope to become stronger so I won't disappoint you. Maybe even so you can be proud to be with me.
[Her cheeks color and she adds one more thing. Something she didn't write but something she suddenly feels inspired to add.]
I vow to protect you when you don't feel strong. No matter what.
[She gasps a little as the feeling of the ritual causes the circuit to close between them. Tying them together and making them become as one. Basically. She doesn't know if it's really quite like that but it... It feels like that?
But it also feels really good. Comforting somehow.]
[There it is again, that complete awareness of another person, settling next to Edelgard's in his mind. Looking down as Bernadetta was, Hubert couldn't see her blush, but he felt the sentiment behind it.]
[And as the ritual closes, magic begins to move between them like a gentle current, flowing from Hubert's hands as he'd demonstrated before—but now automatically, a give and take, that same magic passing through his new Bonded and returning to him cleaner, purer. It's refreshing, like a drink of water he hadn't realized he'd needed.]
[Hubert chuckles, shaking his head slightly. His emotions, even with the effects of the Bond, feel vaguely distant, as if he held his own emotions at arm's length from himself. Somewhat amused, but also pleased.]
Again with this talk of usefulness and disappointment. There is something I once had to clarify with Petra, and I think it would do as much good here—I consider you a friend, Bernadetta. And I value that friendship, though I realize I am poor at expressing such. As much as I appreciate your drive to be useful to me—and Lady Edelgard—that is not the sole factor by which I consider you.
[He valued the friendship of all of the Eagles, at this point, and Hubert was beginning to realize to how many that wasn't readily apparent.]
[But most of all, their new Bond carried nothing but the sincerity of his words. Hubert meant that.]
[She doesn't feel alone like this. There's always someone there and it's a friend. It's Hubert. Bernadetta is a little moved by how protected it makes her feel. Smiling, she looks down at the hands she's still holding.]
I'm sorry for doubting it. That wasn't fair to you.
[Lifting her head, she offers him a smile.]
It's still hard for me to figure out how to be a friend since it's still new to me. I guess I just thought being useful would mean I was doing well.
[A little giggle and she looks at the flower that he wears for her. She's not scared of him anymore, something he can easily feel now that they're bonded. Bernadetta has always been a more emotional young woman compared to some. It's not easy for her to hide any of what she feels.]
If that is something you would like me to hold you to, then I shall.
[This is quite a different experience than it was with Edelgard. Her emotions were more tightly controlled, if not to the same degree as Hubert's. In the dream, he'd doubted her in turn, when she'd said he was safe. Bernadetta really did feel that way, didn't she?]
But, I wouldn't worry too much; it seems you are in good company, Bernadetta. There are a great deal of things I need to learn, myself.
[She opens her mouth like she's thinking of arguing. He can probably feel that for a second she's thinking about it. But then she changes her mind. Instead, determination rushes in.]
Yes. I can't change or get better if people don't hold me to it!
[And who better than Hubert to hold her to it? He's her bond mate now so he'll know for sure if she's falling short!]
Maybe I could hold you to it too? To getting better and learning?
[He tugs on her hands gently in a subtle gesture to start moving. They're still standing in the middle of the ritual circle, after all; the presiding Witch is still standing there patiently, but she also seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. Newly Bonded always did seem to forget everything else and have a moment.]
[But Hubert also gives a small nod of approval; that rush of determination was a good thing. But... a vague hesitation follows it. He hadn't meant learning spellcraft, though that'd be the easiest assumption to make.]
[Hubert wasn't in a hurry to clarify. It was something he was still unsure of, himself.] That would be fair, yes. We are equal partners in this link we share. Should we consider that woven into our vows?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bloodypath) wrote2019-10-03 11:06 am
no subject
Hubert, I vow to make myself as useful to you as I can be. By being bonded to you, I hope to become stronger so I won't disappoint you. Maybe even so you can be proud to be with me.
[Her cheeks color and she adds one more thing. Something she didn't write but something she suddenly feels inspired to add.]
I vow to protect you when you don't feel strong. No matter what.
[She gasps a little as the feeling of the ritual causes the circuit to close between them. Tying them together and making them become as one. Basically. She doesn't know if it's really quite like that but it... It feels like that?
But it also feels really good. Comforting somehow.]
no subject
[And as the ritual closes, magic begins to move between them like a gentle current, flowing from Hubert's hands as he'd demonstrated before—but now automatically, a give and take, that same magic passing through his new Bonded and returning to him cleaner, purer. It's refreshing, like a drink of water he hadn't realized he'd needed.]
[Hubert chuckles, shaking his head slightly. His emotions, even with the effects of the Bond, feel vaguely distant, as if he held his own emotions at arm's length from himself. Somewhat amused, but also pleased.]
Again with this talk of usefulness and disappointment. There is something I once had to clarify with Petra, and I think it would do as much good here—I consider you a friend, Bernadetta. And I value that friendship, though I realize I am poor at expressing such. As much as I appreciate your drive to be useful to me—and Lady Edelgard—that is not the sole factor by which I consider you.
[He valued the friendship of all of the Eagles, at this point, and Hubert was beginning to realize to how many that wasn't readily apparent.]
[But most of all, their new Bond carried nothing but the sincerity of his words. Hubert meant that.]
no subject
I'm sorry for doubting it. That wasn't fair to you.
[Lifting her head, she offers him a smile.]
It's still hard for me to figure out how to be a friend since it's still new to me. I guess I just thought being useful would mean I was doing well.
[A little giggle and she looks at the flower that he wears for her. She's not scared of him anymore, something he can easily feel now that they're bonded. Bernadetta has always been a more emotional young woman compared to some. It's not easy for her to hide any of what she feels.]
I'll try to get better. Promise.
no subject
[This is quite a different experience than it was with Edelgard. Her emotions were more tightly controlled, if not to the same degree as Hubert's. In the dream, he'd doubted her in turn, when she'd said he was safe. Bernadetta really did feel that way, didn't she?]
But, I wouldn't worry too much; it seems you are in good company, Bernadetta. There are a great deal of things I need to learn, myself.
no subject
Yes. I can't change or get better if people don't hold me to it!
[And who better than Hubert to hold her to it? He's her bond mate now so he'll know for sure if she's falling short!]
Maybe I could hold you to it too? To getting better and learning?
no subject
[But Hubert also gives a small nod of approval; that rush of determination was a good thing. But... a vague hesitation follows it. He hadn't meant learning spellcraft, though that'd be the easiest assumption to make.]
[Hubert wasn't in a hurry to clarify. It was something he was still unsure of, himself.] That would be fair, yes. We are equal partners in this link we share. Should we consider that woven into our vows?