daughter of esmund

Sixteen

A/N
Hey y'all! Thank you for tuning in for another part. I hope you enjoy it and if you do please consider leaving a vote and a comment! I would greatly appreciate it.

- Joya

Word Count: 3193 (I warned you)

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Annie's POV

The loud knocking at a door is not the greatest way to wake up after you first full night's rest in days.

"Love? Are you awake?" Cadenza's voice came from outside the wooden door to the room I'd been resting in.

I groan and peak my eyes open, squinting at the early morning sun shining in through the window next to the bed I was laying on. The light streamed down in beams onto the uneven wooden boards covering the floor. I give a huff as I sit up, the headache returning. It's not the same pounding feeling it had been the day before, but it's still a present aching in my temples. I stretch a bit as I manage to stifle and yawn and respond, "Yeah, I am.."

A few seconds follow that response before she opens the door, stepping inside, arms full with clothing. A hairbrush and a roll of bandages seem to be sitting on top of the folded items. She places them on the dresser, giving a breath of relief before turning to face me. She smiles in a way that seems to almost be impossible at this time of morning, but she manages it anyway.

"Good morning! Are we feeling any better this morning?" She asks, taking a few steps forward.

She's wearing the same outfit as yesterday, something typical of lords. The only things different is her lack of the silver plated armor and her hair was pulled neatly into a bun at the side of her head, a few strands hanging loose of it's grasp. I moved to pull my feet off the bed, sitting on the edge of the mattress and causing an indent in the shape of the grey sheets temporarily. I give a small yawn despite my efforts to stifle it. She let out a few giggles, "Oh goodness, it's no wonder you're so sleepy this morning, you were asleep as soon as your head hit the pillow.."

She really isn't exaggerating. You can tell by the fact that I barely remembered anything from the previous night and the fact that I was still wearing the clothes I'd been dressed in for almost two weeks. Now that I think about it, new clothes wouldn't be a bad idea. I finally clear my throat and answer her question, "Yes, I'm doing better. I think I just needed some sleep."

She nods, "That sounds about right based on what Laurence was telling me, speaking of Laurence.." she moves to sit on the edge of the bed beside me, sinking into it as well, "Do you know each other...well?"

I blush at what she's implying, but manage to shake my head, "No, no, we're just...friends? Acquaintances, acquaintances sounds better."

She smirks, "Oh really? 'Acquaintances' isn't what I got from Laurence when he was telling me about you.."

The scarlet color of my cheeks deepens, "W-what did he say?"

"All good things, but I think it would be better if you asked him..." She winked, moving to stand up again, "I brought you some stuff, come downstairs when you're ready. Laurence and Aphmau just got back with Levin and Malachi and I figured you'd want to meet them.." She pauses for a while at the door, seemingly attempting to phrase her next thoughts. Eventually she looks back to me, "Aphmau told me about O'khasis, you know, about what you saw?"