Anniya

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West.

Well, at least Diobla wasn't a complete traitor.

After all this time, all these months, it was strange. His golden hair was combed and glistening, which was odd since Anniya had been assuming he was in a dungeon all these months. He still had the charming smile with even, white teeth that made most women fall in love with him and made Anniya want to wipe the smirk off his face. He had lost some weight since she had seen him last, but he was still clearly West, not some mirage.

Anniya gaped at him in disbelief, trying to register exactly what she thought of him at that moment. He stood there, grinning at her. She scrambled to gather her thoughts together, and when she couldn't, words spilled out of her mouth. And certainly not the ones anyone would of expected.

" West," Anniya finally managed to get out, mentally kicking herself in the head. She was just throwing out smart answers today. His smile widened.

" Very good; I was worried you had forgotten my name."

That comment made Anniya forget she was suppose to be kind to him for at least a day. Instead, she glared at him.

" Of course I remembered it! What sort of dimwit do you think I am?"

West shrugged. " I haven't seen you in nearly eleven months."

Anniya frowned. Had it been that long?

" It took you several hours to notice me in the inn! As I tend to be a bit higher of the evolutionary scale then a certain man I know, I think you can overlook a few moments!"

West laughed, and Anniya glared at him.

" That's what I like about you. I've been imprisoned for the past eleven months while you've been off dancing in the Ayorthorian palace, but you pick things up right where we left off! Not all women would show as much affection as you would," he drawled in an amused, slightly sarcastic voice.

The word dungeon suddenly brought Anniya back to reality.

" I had forgotten you were down there," she said softly. West's face hardened, and he didn't say anything for a moment. After a long moment of silence, Anniya opened her mouth to speak the same time West did.

" I was near damned dead when they put me down there, but I remember it," West said softly. He opened his mouth as if he were going to say more, but then shook his head and turned to Anniya.

" I'll tell you tonight. We'll stay at the other inn."

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".....................That crazed lizard of yours finally did something right. I knocked out the guard and changed into his clothes. I managed to escape into the woods and into the nearest village, Where--."

" Let me guess," Anniya cut in. " You pocketed the money bag of the first well off noble you saw."

" By god Anniya, would you accuse me of such a horrible crime! Hold your tongue for a moment if you want me to continue," West told her, the laughter in his face evident. Anniya did something very rare and obeyed.

" As you guessed, I did pocket a money bag, and hired a healer. I didn't even guess you might be here. I was only stopping here for the night."

He didn't continue, but Anniya still had a single question that West hadn't even brushed.

" Where's John?"

West didn't say anything, and just drank his ale for a moment. Anniya waited patiently for a prolonged moment of silence. Just as she opened her mouth to repeat her question, West spoke.

" John's dead," he said in a flat voice.

Deep down in her gut, Anniya had suspected that from the moment he had gotten that wound. She knew however bad she felt, West had to feel a thousand times worse. West and John had been partners. West had been the smooth one, and John had been the planner. The way he said it though made Anniya also realize that West was refusing to dwell on it. She suddenly remembered the papers he had given her.

" I gave the papers to Robert," Anniya told him in a hushed voice. West remembered at the same time and sat up.

" It's only a matter of time then. I'm not sure how the Count needs you, but there's a price on your head as well. You're going to stay with me until he's arrested."

Anniya was suddenly reminded of the magic in the necklace, as well as the letter West had given her. He said he loved her.

West stood up abruptly before Anniya could say anything. There were bags under his eyes, and he looked exhausted." It's late. We need to get to sleep."

Anniya nodded, even though her head was bursting with questions, and followed him up the inn stairs. West yanked the door open, and they stepped in.

Anniya surveyed the room with one glance and spoke immediately.

" There's only one bed."

West's face lost the haggard look and was replaced by a look of amusement. She scowled at him. It would be just like West to arrange a situation like this.

" And your point is.............," he drawled, grinning at her glare.

" The point is I have an allergic reaction to dogs, so it would be the best not to share my bed with one. I suggest you go down and tell them that we need another bed." Anniya replied sweetly.

" Only one bed rooms are left, and even if there were other options, It's nearly dawn and I crave sleep. As it is, there is no other place to for me to sleep in this room" West replied, and began unlacing his boots.

" Try the floor," Anniya replied dryly. West's smile only widened as he took off his shirt and settled down on the bed.

" You're welcome to stay awake, but I plan to rest while I can."

" You low down, disgusting, rotten.................... thing!," Anniya finally told him when she saw he had no intention of moving. Straight out of prison and already back to his arrogant personality.

" Naikl Merdos," she muttered under her breath, the Elfin words for cheap skate. The floor would be uncomfortable and freezing. She had no money to go to another room. That left Anniya one choice.

" If you put one single finger on me, I will skin you alive and sell it at the market! You know, a creature with a soul would feel actually feel guilty, not smirking right now, as you probably are," Anniya fumed as she began unlacing her boots as well. She lay stiffly down on the bed in her disgusting, dirty clothes, suddenly all too aware of how small the bed was. Anniya tried to put as much as space between her and West as she could, but it was only a matter of inches.

" You know, you could put your shirt back on," she informed him, turning her back to him so she wouldn't have to look at his face as she went to sleep. West only laughed.

" Anniya, Anniya. If you refresh your memory you'll recall that I am a thief, not a rapist. I'm not going to touch you."

" You forgot murderer," Anniya added nastily. What sort of shoddy place were they staying at? These beds were scarcely big enough for a dwarf. West only yawned and turned back over.

Anniya continued scowling at the wall. But eventually, sleep overcame her.

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Though Anniya could sleep peacefully, West could not. He slept less then most did; only six hours a night. So nightmares were always more stressful.

" Tell me, who did you give the papers to," the cold voice screamed in his head. " Just kill him. Burn him alive. I don't care."

And at that moment he was set on fire and he was burning............

West flinched and woke up, bathed in sweat. He sat up and looked outside. It was still dark outside; so it had not been almost dawn when he went to sleep.

His hand bumped into Anniya, and for the first time West remembered she was there. It was almost funny how she transformed in sleep. When Anniya was awake, she was ready to snap a witty retort to anyone that annoyed her, and didn't give a damn. In her sleep, she had an angelic look to her. West resisted the urge to brush away the wisp of hair that was in her face, and began searching for his shirt. It was strange how West treated that near year in the dungeon. He looked at it as if it were a nightmare, something horrible that he could only reflect on. He would rather reflect on it then actually be there.

As for John, West tried not to think about him at all. Back in the dungeon, he had been haunted by nightmares of guilt. The Count hadn't accepted West's story on how he had been the perpetrator, and thrown both of them in chains. Anniya had done god knows what before going to the Ayorthorian castle, and Robert had been too busy waltzing around in the Court to keep track of where his cousin on the 'bad' blood side of his family was. West knew if he dwelt on John's death and blamed himself, he'd transform into one of those pitiful people. If West wanted to help John, self pity wasn't going to do it. Revenge would.

He pulled on his shirt and began tying up his boots. After he had stolen some money, West had regained confidence. The healer had given him questioning looks, but hadn't said anything when he healed him. As soon as West was able to walk again and purchased himself a temporary bow, he had began to go straight to Frell. That was as much as Anniya knew. She didn't know about the revenge plan.

In his dungeon time, West had managed to learn things that drunk captains had accidently slipped. Such as the Count was planning an assassination attempt on the King and Queen at a Royal Ball they were having to welcome their prince home. It was there he planned to kill the Count.

West always referred to him as ' The Count'. The man's true title was Count Frederick Di Fallon, 3rd in line for the throne. West couldn't bring himself to call the man an actual name, like a human.

He finished tying his boots, and stood up to go downstairs. Anniya had already taken over the bed, ambitious even in her sleep, West thought, grinning wryly.

There was something different about Anniya. She acted almost exactly as she had when he had last seen her, but there was something different about her West couldn't name. She couldn't always meet his eye, but he couldn't think of a reason why.

" One ale and one of the biscuits," West told the innkeeper after he had made his way downstairs. He eyed the serving maids and the hired help as they were scurrying to clean the tables, sweep the floors, do all of their normal chores at a hasty rate.

" Expecting an important visitor," West carelessly commented, gesturing to the servants around him. The innkeeper nodded vigorously.

" Not just any visitor. We were informed that a Count would be staying here on his journey homeward."

Damn.

" A Count? That'll no doubt bring good business for the inn," West remarked, continuing as if it was a normal situation. The innkeeper once again nodded, brewing the ale as he spoke.

" Aye, that it will. Count Fallon as well! Third in line for the throne! He's on his way back to Frell."

" What time is he arriving? Perhaps I might be able to see the man myself," West said, taking a drink of his ale.

" We were told early in the morning. We've been up all night, cleaning and scrubbing the floors. Most likely in the next hour or so."

" Ah, damn my schedule. I'd love to stay, but my wife will have a fit if I stay longer then I need. As it is, there's a fair in my village within a few days, so I must get to the road," West sighed convincingly. If the Count wanted a description of West, he certainly wouldn't be expecting a clean, shaven man with a wife waiting at home.

The innkeeper gave him a knowing smile.

" Aye, I know how wives are. Fret like hens if you leave them alone."

West finished his ale. " My sister and I will be checking out now. Keep the change, for such fantastic service," he said carelessly, placing a money bag with nearly 30 gold Kjs in it. Basically, an amount to buy a pure bred stallion. The man felt the weight of the coins in his palm and gaped. West gave him a shrug.

" Excellent service, like I was saying." It was a enough money for the man to feel that West was a lord undercover, and not mention anything of him to the Count if there were questions.

" Thank you, milord," the man said, stuttering. It took a long time to save up that much money. West turned on his heel and walked as slowly as he could force himself to walk up the stairs.

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While West had been downstairs, Anniya had been dreaming. In her dream, Robert kissed her again, while West was there. West only stared at Anniya, then stared at Robert. He said something, and then turned and left. Robert kissed her again.

That was when Anniya woke up. Did she have to dream about them while she slept? It was confusing enough dealing with Robert and West awake, much less asleep. Anniya pushed away the dream and snuggled back down under the blankets.

It had been awhile since Anniya had slept on an actual bed. She had been savoring the feeling, even though it would of felt terribly uncomfortable to anyone else. Until West burst into the room.

" Get your boots on. We're going," he said abruptly, throwing them at her. Anniya caught them, surprised.

" What's the rush? I just woke up," she told him as West snatched up his cloak and bow and arrows. Anniya looked at him, slightly bewildered, but put on her boots. West seemed dead serious.

No sooner then did she have her boots on then West yanked her to her feet and dragged her out the door. She wrenched her arm free from his grip.

" West, for the love of god, if I'm suppose to be running away from something, you could at least tell me what it is!," Anniya told, exasperated. He met her eyes for a brief second.

" The Count. He's staying here on his way back to Frell. And arriving anytime from now to the next hour. We need to make it to the bridge."

Anniya realized the danger. There were two ways to arrive, and one to leave in this town. If the Count was detouring slightly out his way so he could rest, and unfortunately that was the way Anniya and West needed to leave if they wanted to get back to Kyrria. It was nearly inevitable with the time that they'd run into the Count and his men. They could stay and hide out at the other inn, but it was bound that someone would recognize them if the Count asked.

" Anniya, dammit, this is not the time to ponder the situation!," West snapped, tugging on her arm. But Anniya had an idea.

" We don't have to go over the bridge."

" Anniya, are you insane? That's the only way! What do you suggest we do then? Swim?"

Anniya grinned. " Something like that."

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Esperanza didn't trust people. Gypsies can't trust people; after all, people didn't trust them. You couldn't really blame her. She hadn't always lived out on the streets selling herself for enough money to get by. Her family had traveled with others, for their blood was wild and could never be happy settled down in one place. That had earned them the name gypsies, but back then Esperanza didn't care. She was fiercely proud of her heritage, and it hadn't mattered what other's thought of them. Un the caravan, she had a family, she had friends, and for the most part, Esperanza was happy.

That had been all true until she was four, merely a baby. Her story was a similar to the horror Anniya had experienced; only in a way, it was worse. Anniya could blame it on the blood thirsty ogres, but Esperanza could only blame it on the evil in human beings. Both were connected in that sense though; Anniya had witnessed her parent's death, as Esperanza had. She still recalled the day. They hadn't been near any towns, and were on their way to Bast. Her sister had been tying a head scarf in her hair, when they heard a scream of wild fear. Esperanza remembered being terrified out of her mind, her mother urging she and her sister to get into the wagon, her Father and brothers running up. Esperanza had been the baby of the family, and was absolutely terrified. Her brothers had leapt up into the wagon, and her Father had brought the whip down on the horses.

Esperanza had felt safe for sometime. It wasn't until several hours later that an arrow shot through the tarp of the wagon and pierced her brother's shoulder. Soldiers surrounded the wagon almost immediately. Esperanza had began crying again, but had fallen silent when a regal looking man approached the wagon. His hair had been the color of ebony, with cold, hard, eyes that resembled steel. His voice had even sounded like she had expected it to--cold and crushing.

" Look what almost escaped. Kill the man and the woman," he said cooly. Within a moment's space, two of the soldiers stepped up and slashed her mother and father with a swift motion. Esperanza shrank back, too terrified to register what had happened. Her siblings were in shock.

Merc was sixteen, the oldest. He lunged at the man. Esperanza had been terrified for him, but had not been expecting the man to take his sword out and slashed her arm several times, quickly but deep. She screamed as the blood began to run.

" If you touch me or one of my men, I shall do that again. Slowly, and deeper."

My brother stiffened, and my sister tightened her grip on me. She was fourteen. The man appraised all of us, then finally turned and spoke to who appeared to be the captain.

" Send the brothers to the dungeon. Have a bit of fun with the older girl."

The captain, obviously disliking what was going on, had spoke. " What of the little one?"

The man's steel gray eyes locked on Esperanza's. She had stared back. he looked at her for a long time. Then he broke the gaze and shrugged.

" Leave her here for the wolves. Or perhaps the Ogres. Come now, let's be going," the man said, and turned the dappled horse toward the other direction.

" Yes, my Count Fallon," the man replied obediently, and signaled to the rest of the soldiers to follow.

" ' Ranza," my sister screamed, kicking like mad. Someone hit her with the hilt of their sword, and did the same to Esperanza's brother.

Esperanza shook her head, pushing out those horrible thoughts. She turned and looked around the streets, looking for someone who could possibly have a loaded money bag. Anniya hadn't shown up, and that was that. She hopped down the street, trying to keep her bare feet warm. It was too cold, even for Ayorthora, to be outside without shoes. Hopefully that wouldn't last for long.

Esperanza had no hand for stealing, although everyone thought they were born with one. She shivered, and looked around. This was the capital city, there had to be someone with a big money purse around here!

She saw one at last. He looked strangely familiar, but perhaps that was a good thing. Esperanza quickly smoothed her hair, and strode over to the man with dark, dark, blonde hair. His clothes signified he was of nobility. He was talking to some man, looking stressed. Even better. She waited until the conversation ended, and she strode over.

" Hello there," she said in a bit of a husky voice. The man seemed to guess what she was suggesting.

" No, I'm sorry, I'm in a rush, I don't have time to pay some girl to lay on her back while-."

The man stopped short when he looked at her.

" Have we met," he asked her. Esperanza was about to ask him the same thing. They studied each other for a minute, and suddenly Esperanza remembered where she had seen him before.

" You're Anniya's friend!," she exclaimed. His eyes widened as he recognized her as well.

" Do you know anything about her," the man immediately demanded. Esperanza nodded.

" We were suppose to meet near this bonfire. I can show you where it is," she told him. The man nodded, and extended his hand to help her up on his horse.

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**** Author's Note***

* whistles*. I leave all these dinky little 2 page chapters everywhere, then I throw this 7 pager one at you. Hopefully I'll get into the habit of doing that. Alright, well I want to say that thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story so far. Without you guys, I probably would of given up a long time ago.

Esperanza and Robert are going to run into West and Anniya soon, so the story should be well on it's way. Alright, that's all I have to say.

----------- Faerie_gurl