I still remember the first day I started to actually understand Noctis, the first day I began to actually like being around him.

My mother had passed away not three days prior, and my father had locked himself in his lab without a word to anyone beyond. He pumped out medicine and needed items through a slot in the door.

I had fallen ill and no medicine that I was given seemed to be working. After only a week, I was bedridden and barely able to speak, my body aflame with fever and pain so sharp I begged for death.

I fell into a deep sleep, and when I woke Noctis was in the room with me, curled up in my window seat asleep. He was so small compared to the large vaulted window and he seemed so peaceful.

I had found out the day after that my father had been poisoning me because he couldn't stand to "see my mother's face on me." When I had been getting worse instead of better, Noct had personally gone to his father and ask that I be tested for possible poisoning and, a little reluctantly, Regis had brought in an apothecary from the streets of Insomnia to examine me. They had found fatal doses of three different poisonous plants in my system and told Regis it was a sheer miracle that I had lived as long as I did without proper treatment. After my treatments began, Regis had tried and stripped my father of all his rank, banishing him from the kingdom and its associated territories.

The sickness had taken my voice, leaving me unable to communicate without some sort of writing pad and pencil. A tutor came in day after day to teach me a language built on gestures, which was also being taught to various other personnel at the citadel so I could better communicate. With this, I also dove headfirst into my studies on plant life and the work of both my mother and father. Once I was well enough, I even began training in combat with Gladiolus (much to his obvious displeasure at first) and training in tactical execution and political standings with Ignis.

Every moment I could, I was studying and training and experimenting. My determination to improve caught the attention of multiple people in the citadel, and it wasn't long before I was attending political meetings with Ignis, private lessons with Cor, and receiving imported supplies for experimentation in my father's old lab. I rejected the opportunity to go to a school for the deaf and instead opted for private tutors so I could concentrate on my studies even while performing other tasks like strength training or swordplay.

And then I got sick again.

I had run my body ragged and it had started to take a toll on me, not to mention the already weak state I had been in due to the poisoning in my childhood. I was ordered directly to take it easy for a few months, only allowed to continue on my studies and some light lab work with curatives and non-hazardous materials. It was at this time that I had really gotten to know Noct more intimately, as he would visit me often in my lab or study and we began becoming better acquainted as friends. When my downtime was lifted, we became sparring partners and study-mates, often spending time in one another's company until the wee hours of the night. When he had downtime, sometimes he would nap on the couch in my study or poke around and ask questions while I made potions and poison flasks.

A month before he started high school, Noct came to me and told me he was getting his own place in Insomnia for the time being. I was both elated and sad from the news, happy for him to be getting away from everything, but also sad that I wouldn't be seeing him much around anymore. He promised to keep in touch and we spent as much time as we could together before he moved away.

He kept his promise, calling me at least once or twice a week to update me on his life, his studies, his loathing for Ignis's mother-hen behaviour.

"Remember that guy from middle school I told you about, Prompto?" He laughed with a smile on my screen, "he came up to me today before school started when I was on my way to homeroom, acted like we had never talked before and introduced himself. He's changed a lot, lost a lot of weight and he's actually taller than me now."

Sounds like you two hit it off pretty well, I'm glad you're making friends.

"Well, I wouldn't say plural 'friends.' It's the same as middle school, everyone gawks at me like I'm some sort of rare jewel they want to snatch up, makes me uncomfortable." He frowned, leaning his head on his hand.

But Prom doesn't I reminded him Not anymore at least.

"Nah, that he doesn't." He smiled, "I think he's the first person at the school to call me something other than 'your majesty' or 'Prince Noct.'" He wrinkled his nose and I silently giggled at him.

"So how are things at the Citadel? I mean, Ignis brings me notes and Gladiolus sometimes likes to chat, but how are things going with you?"

They tell me I've become just like my mom I signed, I've been placed in the Crownsguard, my initiation is friday. I'll be one rank directly below Cor.

"Whoa," Noct whistled, "Congrats Anna, does Gladiolus know you're gonna be his boss yet?"

He'll know soon I suppose, I beamed, I also found a new strand of wildflower that helps with bruises in small doses and in large doses can cause painful blistering. I'm developing it into a wax that can be used on blades to give them a little extra oomph.

"That sound absolutely terrifying," Noct shook his head, "I definitely want to see this in action for myself. I gotta get off here though, Ignis just came in and he's looking at me like I've done something wrong. I'll talk to you later Anna." He let out a heavy sigh as he spoke.

Tell him I said hello and please be nice to him. I signed quickly before letting the call drop. I mimic a sigh. Noct may be my best friend, but sometimes I just want to strangle him for being such a brat. I understand why he is the way he is, but that still doesn't excuse most of his behaviour, especially toward people like Ignis.

I decide to call it an early day and take my medicine before heading out to the aviary garden where Nia is trotting around chasing a small squirrel. She catches it after a moment and snaps her beak down to kill it before chomping at it. I let her be while I check up on my garden and pick some of the vegetables that are ripe, loading them into a small basket I keep on the bench. No sooner did I finish pulling a few weeds did Nia come trotting over and nuzzled my neck, thankfully without any leftovers from her meal. I let her roam about, tossing vegetables for her and running through her training a few times over before settling down in a patch of shrubbery that she had flattened out into a makeshift sort of nest. I would've probably fallen asleep there too if it wasn't for one of the servants, a lovely young woman named Mirell, who shook my shoulder lightly and told me it was time for supper.

I remember how strange it used to be to dine with the king when I was a child. Because my father and mother had been well respected by Regis, I often was dragged into the dining hall to eat, sitting to the left of Noct. Now, I eat in the hall with Regis as a sort of courtesy, partly because Noct no longer stays at the Citadel and I don't want him to eat alone and partly because I'm technically his ward and should dine with him as any of his "children" would.

We eat usually in relative silence with Regis commenting every so often about the food or the day. It's hard for me to keep up conversation while eating sometimes because I have to put down my utensils to "talk." Thankfully, it's not rude to sign with my mouth full though. After our plates are clean, we typically sip on hot tea and eat small baked pastries, and that's when most of our chats actually take place.

When we have the time to talk, we usually steer clear of political manners as much as possible.

"Can I ask you something, Anna?" Regis says lightly, setting his teacup down on the table and looking at me rather strangely. It was if a great weight had been dropped onto his features, a look that scared me often when I see it.

Of course. I sign with one hand, placing my cup down as well.

"Soon, Noctis will be taking a journey to Lunafreya for their marriage, I'd like you to go with him." His words shocked me.

Go with him? I signed slowly, unsure, but I figured only his men would join. You know, like a bachelor's trip or something?

"Yes, he will be bringing his crownsguard with him, and that will include you," he looked behind me out the large paneled windows, "I ask this of you because I know you've never traveled beyond these walls. I ask this of you because I know you will keep my son safe, and because I think it will be good for you."

I looked down at my lap. There was something to his tone that didn't settle right with me, a sound in his words that seemed to say something more, so much more.

What exactly was he trying to tell me?

I'd like that, I sign while trying to keep back the worried tears that threatened to peak through, thank you, Regis. I will not cry, mother said that to cry was to worry and to worry was to wish someone else's death. I will not cry.

"I do wish you'd stop calling me that," Regis cracked a smile, a small light of humor in his eyes again, "As my ward, you are like a daughter to me, you can call me as such you know."

I shook my head with a smile, force of habit I suppose, mother always scolded me when I didn't address you properly.

"You're mother was a very interesting woman indeed," he laughed, leaning back with his tea again, "she had a way of making her presence known even when silent, a sneaky and near unpredictable fighter with the soul of a true warrior." He looked me dead in the eye, "she would have been so proud to see you as the woman you've become, I can guarantee that."

My heart hammered painfully at his words and a lump formed in my throat. Times like these made me all the more thankful that I didn't have to speak.

That's all I've ever wanted I smile. Mirell came in and began clearing our place settings slowly, giving Regis enough time to finish the last of his tea before he stood, offering me his hand and walking with me out into the hall. From here, he'd head to the consul room and then to his study for most of the rest of the night. If he's lucky, he'll be asleep before the sun begins it's next cycle over the horizon and he'll be able to sleep for more than an hour, only to start the day all over again. I can't help but stare after him as he walks, a new cane in his hand that rests so his ring clacks against the head every once in a while.

When I'm safely in my room, I allow myself to cry.