It had been almost nine months since Gwendolyn had last waked the streets of Reajh. She'd finally been called back home after five consecutive missions, and Gwendolyn silently prayed that it would be the last time she was deployed. She was fully aware that it was a prayer that couldn't be answered- the war made that impossible. It was only a matter of time before she was needed again.
As Gwendolyn walked towards the church she called home, a young boy pointed at her from across the street.
"Mommy look! It's her! It's really her!" Running across the street excitedly, he stopped directly in front of the armored woman. The boy looked up at Gwendolyn in awe.
"Whoa... You have the big shield and everything!""Christopher!" the boy's mother cried out as she rushed after him.
"Christopher, we do not point at strangers!" Upon reaching her son, the woman was able to get a better look at Gwendolyn. The color drained from her face.
"You... you're really Ansgar's Shieldmaiden..." She grabbed her son's arm tightly
"I-I am so sorry ma'am. My son, you're all he ever talks-"Raising her hand gently, Gwendolyn cut the woman off.
"It's perfectly alright." Kneeling down so she was at eye level with the boy, Gwendolyn smiled.
"Your name is Christopher?"Christopher nodded shyly. Meeting his hero like this was clearly very emotional for the boy, who could only manage to say
"W-wanna be like you..." before freezing up.
Gwendolyn chuckled.
"Well Christopher, if you want to be like me I'll need you to do two things- Always follow Ansgar's will, and never give up." She put her hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Can you do that for me?"Christopher nodded enthusiastically.
"Y-yes ma'am!"Gwendolyn beamed.
"Perfect! I'm counting on you Christopher." Standing back up, she gave a polite nod to the boys mother before heading off in the direction of the church. Christopher watched her go, awestruck.
"She is so cool."------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The church doors opened with a familiar
*creak*, and Gwendolyn walked inside. The soft clinking noise her mail made as she walked echoed through the church, disturbing what had been a peaceful silence. That night's service had already ended, but there were still a few acolytes putting out candles and counting up the coins in the donation plate. A few of them looked up and nodded in her direction before going back to their duties. Gwendolyn took a deep breath and allowed herself to relax.
"Home at last."Finding her favorite pew- the one in the far back- Gwendolyn would set down her shield and kneel down to pray.