I'm so glad you're all right.
Yes. Thanks to all of you.
Hmph... Being rescued by Ludmila is a bit vexing, though.
Even so, the series of actions Tigre took to save you
was quite a sight to see.
W-Well...
And yet, all I could do was stand there stunned.
I'm sorry.
Lady Eleonora...
And so, I've decided to give Tigre a reward.
"Lord Marksman and Vanadis"
Um, please cover yourself up. Don't you have any shame?
Do you feel embarrassed when a dog or a cat sees your body?
Judging by your demeanor, I guess you're not here to ravish me, huh?
It was an accident.
It's my own fault for not thinking that someone might be in here.
Don't you have anything else to say?
I'm terribly sorry.
How was your bath?
Don't tell me you...
Hmm? What?
What's wrong? Does Lady Ludmila, of the proud House of Lourie,
not eat wheat gruel from a street stall?
Of course not. I have no interest.
A war maiden does not eat at street stalls--
Ho-ho!
This looks good!
Mmm...
--How childish. --This is too much!
Mmm, delicious!
It's so rich...
Would you like to try some?
Consider it an apology for earlier.
What, with this? Well, I will at least accept your thoughtfulness.
I can guess whose work that was.
Not bad, huh?
Glad to hear it.
Hey, you! What are you doing?!
I could ask the same thing.
You don't have to give that girl any special attention!
--I was just giving her some of my gruel! --Lover's quarrel! Lover's quarrel!
Sir Tigrevurmud...
You're a good man. But this is all you are.
Always at Eleonora's beck and call. I've lost my interest.
Is that your assessment? That's a laugh.
This is what you just said.
"I'm someone who can't even see through to Tigre's true worth."
You poor woman.
Lim, when you get back to Leitmeritz,
increase the border patrol.
You don't think Lady Ludmila would...
Just as Elen predicted,
Ludmila massed soldiers on Leitmeritz's border.
By doing so,
Elen ended up being sandwiched between the two forces of Duke Thenardier and Ludmila.
Such was Thenardier's intention to suppress Elen's movement,
by having the war maiden Ludmila keep her in check.
Hmm, unlike his dimwitted son, Duke Thenardier is pretty clever.
Are you going to fight Ludmila?
She might be spoiling for it more than you think.
You don't mean...
Lady Ludmila has nothing to gain by fighting Lady Eleonora.
She can protect the benefits Olmütz enjoys
from her association with Thenardier.
Tigre, you decide.
Me?
You can allay your anxieties about the future through battle.
You can send troops to Alsace,
to prepare against Thenardier and Ganelon.
You decide.
Yeah, you're right. This is my fight, as well.
That's right.
We also have to protect Viscount Augre, now that we're allies.
Let's dispatch an envoy to her.
Mm-hmm.
Ludmila rejected the envoy that Tigre sent to her.
The forces from Leitmeritz now advance,
and the forces of Olmütz ready for battle.
Eleonora is heading this way.
To be defeated by me.
Are you really going to fight the Wind Princess of the Silver Flash?
The interaction between the House of Lourie
and the House of Duke Thenardier has gone on for 80 years.
I cannot allow it to end on my watch.
I have inherited the pride handed down for generations in my Lavias.
Not like Eleonora.
With the Tatra Mountains to overlooking to the east
lay the Blycolin Plains.
Amid the frigid air and the fluttering snow,
the first round of battle was carried out here.
Nicely done.
They're pretty tough.
The day eventually ended without reaching a conclusion,
and both armies, having suffered their casualties, drew back.
What do you think of Ludmila's soldiers?
However much you tear them down, they get right back up.
You're right.
She's always been strong on defense.
Best among all the war maidens, I'd say.
This despite her personally being so aggressive.
I didn't see Lady Ludmila at the forefront too often.
I'd like to avoid seeing it, if possible.
Hey, she can't beat me when it comes to field warfare.
Tomorrow, I will stand at the head of our forces, and crush her.
Lady Eleonora,
what is your record up to now of going against Lady Ludmila?
I'm 2-and-1.
Lady Ludmila told me the exact same score once before.
What do you mean?
From where I stand, there was a draw,
but both of them insist that they were the ones who won.
You two are on extremely bad terms, huh?
Leitmeritz and Olmütz have been on bad terms as a matter of tradition.
Tradition?
For generations, war maidens of the House of Lourie,
including Ludmila's mother and grandmother, have been hostile.
Her mother and grandmother? Are war maidens dynastic?
Nope. War maidens are chosen by the Dragon Gear.
Well, we can chat about the details later.
Right now, let's get ready for battle.
The Olmütz army have completely withdrawn their forces.
It appears the enemy has headed into the Tatra Mountains.
We've been taken!
Are you saying that Ludmila intended to do this from the start?
Yesterday's battle must have been meant to sound us out.
There is only one route to the Tatra Mountains' citadel.
Defensive positions built up on all sides
block the way of any enemy.
She seems pretty intent on a siege.
Ludmila has frozen over all the strategic locations
with the power of her Lavias.
It's tighter than any castle gate.
My ancestors apparently had considerable difficulty with it.
However, I'm winning, no matter what!
The Leitmeritz army surged and retreated,
but the Olmütz army gave no ground,
and the progress of the battle came to a complete stalemate.
You mustn't! Didn't I say so yesterday, too?!
The way this is going, the battle will just get drawn out!
The cold is numbing our soldiers' spirit!
I will use Arifar's power to fly,
swing around behind their camp, and wipe out the whole enemy force!
Sir Tigrevurmud, please stop her! It's too reckless!
Tigre, whom do you belong to?
I belong to you.
Yes you do. Then you should trust me, obey me, and wish me off well.
Or am I wrong?
I...
...hold you in very high regard.
I know I've asked a lot by deciding to bring you here,
out on the battlefield.
But I don't want you to recklessly try anything so dangerous.
Really?
Yeah.
You really think that much of me?
Yes I do.
More than anything?
What were you remembering just now?
Alsace.
You sure do love your homeland, don't you? Well, that's okay.
Both you and Alsace belong to me, after all.
Yeah, you're right.
By the way, if you had said the name of some other woman,
right now, you'd only be as tall as your head.
That was a pretty wise response, in your own way. My compliments.
Then you'll abandon your idea?
Give me an alternative, and I'll do what you ask.
I have a favor to ask in that regard.
Containment (con-tain-ment) To keep an enemy from acting. Also, stopping an enemy in a place advantageous to you. (Ex.) Thenardier used Mila to contain Elen. -> Elen's army cannot garrison in Alsace.
Hollow (hol-low) A place with a cavity within it. A hole. -> Hollow of a tree. Tree hollow.
Today's the third day...
Here.
A bear?
I heard a story once about a village
where the hunters wore animal skins.
This will keep you from drawing suspicion.
H-Hey...
Nice.
Huh?
Nothing at all.
Are you sure he'll be okay?
I'll be fine. I'll find us a way to the peak for sure.
I still have some water. But food...
Are you the one who shot that arrow?
Um, aren't you cold?
I'm a special kind of person, so I'm fine.
You walked a long way to get here.
Where did you shoot this animal from?
Don't lie to me, commoner. There's no way you could reach that far.
I'm sorry I doubted your word.
She's surprisingly open.
Why don't you take off that covering?
As long as you are near me,
the cold of the wind and the snow should not be an issue.
According to the law of my village,
I am not allowed to remove this while up in the mountains.
Oh. That's too bad. What's your name?
Urs.
Are you a war maiden?
Yes, that's right. You don't seem at all surprised by that, huh?
Well, that's okay. In light of your skill with the bow,
I will overlook your lack of manners.
I have an idea. Come and serve me, Urs. Like I just said,
your skill with a bow is worth at least that much.
I came here from a faraway place.
I have no intention of leaving the land of my birth.
Oh. That's too bad.
Don't you suspect that I might be a spy?
That's a funny thing to say. Relax.
An outstanding hunter like you would easily make it out this far.
An armed military force never would.
I know!
Here, drink this.
It's good.
Thank goodness!
Tea is great, isn't it? It warms both the body and the soul.
She can manage to smile like that?
What's the matter, Urs?
What?
Nothing. Why would a war maiden not be accompanied?
I'm out for some fun.
Yes, I'm just out for some fun.
If you'd like, I'll listen to what you have to say.
Whatever you have to get off your chest.
There's an old fable about venting into a tree hollow.
You know, you're pretty nice, for a bear.
When I was chosen to be a war maiden,
I was ready to shoulder the pride and the gravity of it. But...
...good of the country or not, I had to team up with people I hated.
For the sake of my pride, I had to be untrue to my feelings.
I thought that I... understood that, but...
Urs, I'll remember your name!
If you ever feel like it, come on by the palace in Olmütz anytime!
This isn't good.
Once the sun finishes setting,
I won't be able to follow Ludmila's tracks anymore.
I've found it.
The route... into the citadel.
Hang in there! It's just up ahead!
The guard at the rear is light.
If even a hundred of us get to the stronghold...
This isn't what we bargained for.
Perhaps Ludmila became more cautious after meeting you.
What do we do? Turn back?
No. If we give up now, we play right into the enemy's hands.
While we dally around here,
Thenardier may be closing in on Alsace.
I'm going to destroy that gate.
Elen!
Dragon who brings victory, be with us!
Ley Admos!
Elen!
What are you doing, Tigre?! I have to strike them once more!
You were going to fall prey to those arrows before you could!
There isn't any other way! You knew that, didn't you?!
It's no use now.
The enemy knows we're here.
There's no time! Not for you, and not for Alsace!
Elen...
Isn't there anything we can do? Anything...
Arifar!
Huh?
Please, lend me your strength!
I know that Elen is your master.
You and I have no direct connection.
But please, lend me your strength!
Such a two-timer.
That settles it.
Charge!
Stick with Eleonora! Don't fall behind!
The gate has been broken through?!
Eleonora...!
The night battle at Tatra had commenced.
The fight between fellow war maidens now begins.
"Episode 5: The Storming of the Tatra Mountains"