siegnatius wip part the first

When Siegbert first met Ignatius, they were mere children.  Siegbert had only recently turned 9, and the boy before him couldn't have been much older.  Still, the way he hunched his shoulders and curled in on himself made him seem much younger, peering out from behind his mother's legs and averting his gaze whenever Siegbert made eye contact.

"Siegbert, this is Ignatius."  Siegbert's father motioned towards the boy in question, who only seemed to slink further behind his parents.  "His mother is a retainer of mine, and his father, a noble knight of Nohr."

Siegbert glanced up at his father, who nodded his head towards the other boy and his mother--Lady Peri, his mind supplied after a moment.  As Peri tried to pry Ignatius from her leg, Siegbert dutifully closed the gap between them and stuck out his hand.  "It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you, Ignatius.  My name is Siegbert, and it would be an honor to fight alongside you one day."  A strong, formal greeting, as expected of one who should someday inherit the throne of Nohr.  Just as he was taught.

A chuckle rippled through the adults, likely amused at such serious words coming from such a young person, but Ignatius looked panicked at the mention of fighting, recoiling at Siegbert's outstretched hand.  He glanced from it to Siegbert's face, then back to his hand.  His fingers still clutched Peri's skirt like a vice.

"Now, Iggy, be polite.  Say hello to Siegbert."  Peri ruffled Ignatius's hair, and slowly his fingers unclenched, until he reached out a hand to meet Siegbert's.

"H...hello.  It's nice to meet you, Prince Siegbert."  His voice was soft and his words hesitant, a stark contrast to Siegbert's own greeting.  But it seemed to satisfy the adults, who smiled as the boys shook hands.

"There, now, that wasn't so bad, huh?" Peri beamed.  "You two are gonna get along swimmingly, I just know it.  Who knows?  Maybe one day you'll be Prince Siegbert's retainer like Mommy is for Prince Xander!"

And at those words, that panicked expression passes over Ignatius's face, his entire frame tensing as his hand returns to its original place at Peri's skirt.

And in that moment, Siegbert cannot imagine a life where Ignatius could serve at his side as his retainer.