The Awakening

Chapter Eight

"You should know, you snore horribly while you sleep." Brianne's sharp and awfully chirpy voice had elicited a deep groan from Avelon.

Her voice cut through the only thread of sleep she had clung to. She was in no way a morning person, particularly so when they began with someone such as Brianne's or Balor. She lay entangled in a mess of blankets, while letting out another deep groan that resonated with her disdain for the early hours.

"You should know, your voice is horrible to wake up to." She retorted, groggily wiping at her eyes. She was barely able to complete her sentence before a deep yawn escaped her lips. Brianne snorted at the sight.

"You should get up," She declared in a cool tone. The sound of the drop in her tone had instantly woken up whatever parts of Avelon were still asleep.

"Balor hates it when we sleep in." Avelon frowned. She did not care for whatever Balor liked or disliked.

Reluctantly she shoved herself up, eyeing Brianne suspiciously. She wore pale brown pants and a crisp orange blouse, which accentuated her eyes and had them shining even in the still-dark-although-it-was-morning room. Her look had envy sparking inside Avelon's chest. She had still been dressed in the brown pants and blouse given to her upon arrival.

"Balor or you?" She nipped, earning an eye roll from Brianne.

"I don't care whether you are asleep or awake." She sneered, pulling her bedsheet straight with apprehension.

Sighing, she slowly pushed herself away from the small comfort of her bed, purposefully ignoring Brianne. She stretched as soon as she stood, and strolled over to her bed bucket, which to her surprise was filled with fresh cold water. She shot a glance toward Brianne.

The question on whether it was her that refilled the bucket hung on Avelon's lips, but she decided against asking her whether she had filled the bucket. Swiping her tongue across her teeth she absentmindedly wondered whether Brianne would be able to swipe a tube of toothpaste from somewhere within the castle.

As both of them splashed cold water onto their faces, neither of them dared to utter a word regarding their heated discussion the evening before.

"Why does he want to see me? Balor, I mean. What am I doing Today?" Avelon's broke the silence, rinsing her mouth with the cold water. The absence of toothpaste was a harsh reminder of the luxuries they were denied as slaves.

"We," Brianne began, her voice dripping with apprehension as she spat into her water bucket, "Are assigned to clean the stables. The mares that returned from the journey must be groomed and tended to." Tended to. Avelon snorted pitifully. Her mother would have enjoyed Brianne and her word choices.

"So, only you will be joining me Today?" She asked, her tone laced with a fraction of surprise as she straightened her bedding and tucked them in at the sides. She attempted to busy herself so that she had no reason to face Brianne directly.

Coward. Her body stilled at her destructive inner voice.

"Unfortunately." Brianne grunted, her footsteps echoing towards the door.

She lingered for a moment, silently waiting for her to follow, before stepping out. Avelon gave her bedspread a last tug before trudging after her. Her eyes cast down as she walked, deeming the pitiful material scraps she was dressed in as appropriate attire. Not that she had a choice or say in the matter. Her deep sigh was audible as she miserably followed Brianne. She would not dare ask for clarification as to why she was not seeing Balor. The less she saw him, the better.

The atmosphere between her and Brianne had been dripping with tension and unspent words as they made their way through the palace, however neither of them said another word to each other.