Fallen

Chapter 2: Orders

I have to do what's proper.

She repeatedly thought as she pulled her dark purple hair over her right shoulder, running her small hands through the length. The girl sat on the floor beside her bed, facing the tall window to the outside to which she could view the rest of the city further out and the tower that beamed with a pale blue light that stretched from its depths, to the emptiness of the heavens above.

"Timidity?"

She turned her head, her bright turquoise eyes meeting deep red ones.

"Hallo, Aeravain." Timidity smiled with her young face. Aeravain gave a small smile back. Her long white hair seemed to glow slightly with what light hit it. She was rather a small girl, and wore a dress of grey.

"Your... mum... is waiting for you." Aeravain's small voice whispered as she fumbled with her fingers together before her, unsure of what else to do. Timidity nodded with an eager look.

"I just have to be proper." She sighed and looked back at her hand full of hair. Aeravain grasped Timidity's hair, streaming through it with her fingertips as she pulled it behind the girl's head, starting to braid a small piece. Timidity sat there on the floor with her legs crossed, her light purple dress taught between her legs at the angle they were stretched apart. They continued in silence.

"Done.." Aeravain laid her hand on Timidity's shoulder and gave a slight finger tap. Timidity twisted her head and looked at the white haired child behind her, smiling.

"I wish I had you as a big sister." She chimed. Aeravain looked at her stunned for a moment, before giving her a comforting smile herself, her cheeks turned red as she turned away and started towards the door slowly. Timidity stood up and dusted herself off before quickly stepping over to catch up as she walked behind Aeravain.

They walked in silence down the halls which echoed their small footsteps, and Timidity's humming. Her bright turquoise eyes perused out the windows along the walls, looking at the brightness of the day and the trees that bloomed. She felt her heart soar as she looked back at Aeravain, seeing her pale skin and white hair glow in the sunlight from behind, to which Timidity let out her own small laugh. She stepped quickly as she passed the older child and spun on her heels, her arms out and her fingers outstretched. Aeravain's head tilted as she smiled warmly at the sight.

"Timidity."

A sharp voice eradicated the moment of pure childlike splendor as Timdity tripped over her own feet as she stopped herself, her eyes wide in shock as she came to face her mother.

The woman wore her dirty blonde hair in a high and tight bundle, a few strands curled loosely around her face. Her dark brown eyes flashed at her daughter with her jaw set firmly. Timidity's smile vanished immediately as she felt her eyes grow hot, to which she stood there with her hands folded neatly over each other before her, and staring down at the floor as she tried desperately not to cry. Aeravain looked between the woman and the younger girl, her own red eyes dimming in response as she stood stalk still, gazing forward into nothingness.

"Is that how a child of the Rowan family behaves?" The woman's voice came out harsh, whispered past clenched teeth. Timidity visibly drew back to the sounds, her chin tucking before she shook her head. She dared not look up into her mother's face. "Come." She hissed as she spun around and walked briskly down the corridor. Timidity stood as she did before for a moment before she jumped at the feel of a hand on her shoulder. Looking up in fear, she made eye contact with the same red eyes she knew so well, to which she sighed and smiled at her before nodding and walking.

Aeravain stood alone in the hall, looking after the young girl as further down the hall, she turned around slightly and waved with her tanned hand before disappearing into a room.