9:27 Haring/December 30th / 9:28 Wintermarch/January 1st
It was the night of the New Year. There was a big feast in the main dining hall for the nobles in the Bannorn that Bryce was hosting. They do this every few years in order to marry off daughters or sons to create alliances. I was helping Nan making petit fours for the party as well as helping with the cooking. It was a ginormous mess in the kitchen with tons of servants helping, preparing, serving, and sending out the food.
By the time we finished with everything, it was early morning of the next day. All the leftover food was being shared with everyone. For once I saw elf and humans mingle without too many snarky remarks or insults. It was nice to be in a community like this.
Earlier in the week, I received a letter from Rael. Eren did find him and hurt him as I thought but Rael told me not to worry about it. He told Eren nothing since there was nothing to tell but he made sure to tell Eren I was a good person. Knowing that Eren hurt Rael didn't make my opinion of him any higher though.
I made myself a plate of food and grabbed a bottle of wine. Nan gave me a good natured nod while people were dancing in the kitchen, singing tales about Andraste. I slipped out from the stuffy room and into the cold night. It was snowing again. I loved the bite of the cold on my hot cheeks. I managed to get to my room without any stops. I prayed at the chance at another year and ate slowly while reading another book.
I started to think at what the New Year was going to hold for me. How was I going to convince anyone to give me any training to fight? The only ones I could think were the guards but I'm not sure if I could ask them. With the New Year comes new hurdles and even more time to wait to go back home. I prayed I'll be able to make it.
9:28 Wintermarch/January 29th
I haven't had time to write. I had been accompanying Oriana everywhere in Ferelden after the New Year's Eve banquet, settling business deals, selling lands, writing all sorts of letters and correspondence to merchants and so on. Oren has gotten a handle on speaking thanks to my help. We finally had time to come back to Highever. Most of the snow has melted and the farmers are talking about an early spring. It would be good for them to get back on track with their harvest.
"It's good that Oriana found a capable woman like yourself Nia." Eleanor said. We were out near the gardens as I helped Oriana with her cross stitching.
"Oh Eleanor." Oriana shook her head.
"I am being serious my dear. It's hard to find good and loyal help like yourself. You take such good care of Oren as well and anyone that my grandson likes must be a good person." Eleanor nodded toward me. I nodded.
"Thank you. Truthfully Oren reminds me of my own son." I admitted, giving Oriana more colorful thread.
"I have heard you lost your family. I am so sorry." Eleanor said sincerely. I felt a stab in my heart but I nodded.
"Now Eleanor, we were talking about traveling to Amaranthine. Let's not mention her family." Oriana said quickly. Eleanor nodded. I did an inward sigh before a guard came by.
"My lady Eleanor, milord Bryce has requested your presence." The guard said.
"Oh what is bothering him now? Excuse me." Eleanor went off with the guard while Oriana quietly did her cross stitching. I absentmindedly played with my ring.
"Nia, may I ask something?" Oriana asked.
"Yes." I nodded.
"Where are you from originally?" Oriana asked. I bit my lip at her inquisitive stare. It wasn't something that anyone could accept, much less believe.
"Somewhere extremely far away, a place you can't reach through normal means. I was forced to come here. It wasn't my decision." I mumbled. Oriana gave me that calculating stare.
"Wherever you came from Nia, I hope you can return home one day. I'm sure they miss you terribly." Oriana said sincerely.
"I know they do." I sighed.
9:28 Guardian/February 12th
My stomach was in knots as Oriana led me to Bryce's study. I have seen him around the castle but I haven't talked with him personally since that day in Denerim. Oriana wasn't in a good mood either. I didn't know what this meeting was about but it involved me to an extent. I was really trying hard not to let my panic get the best of me. We arrived in Bryce's office where Eleanor, Bryce, and Eren were there. Eren was leaning against the wall. Eren scoffed and kicked off the wall.
"Really? Is this who you had in mind? A handmaiden who does not know anything about this city?" Eren sneered.
"Eren watch your language. I have overlooked your actions if only because you have earned your title of Captain of the Guard with your own effort but no more. This last debacle has only furthered the worsening opinion that the other nobles think of you." Bryce started.
"I don't care what the others think of me. My business is my own." Eren huffed.
"Unless it starts to affect us." Eleanor stated. Eren frowned.
"Your troubling behavior became worse as soon as we gave you Gilmore. For that, we will switch Gilmore with Nia. She will be your attendant." Bryce stated. I had to clench my teeth for my jaw not to drop. Eren did that for me instead.
"Are you sodding mad!?" Eren snapped.
"Language!" Eleanor reprimanded.
"I have no need for a nanny much less someone like her!" Eren pointed at me.
"It is either this or you will be grounded." Bryce threatened. When Bryce said it, even I felt afraid. Eren chewed the inside of his cheek and glared at me. I looked away, not wanting to get involved.
"Fine. I agree to this." Eren said calmly. Too calmly for my tastes. There was that look in his eyes, the look of a plan.
"At least you agreed." Eleanor mumbled. "Oriana I apologize for this. Nia will still take care of your letters in the evening."
"Then that means I'll-" Eren started.
"No. You will stay here in the evenings as well. No more nightly outing or late rotations." Bryce crossed his arms. Eren's face grew red with anger.
"Fine." He gruffly stated. Awkward didn't even begin to describe how I felt.
"You are dismissed. I will want reports on Eren's behavior should there be any changes, Nia." Bryce looked at me. I gulped and nodded earnestly. Eren walked from his place and I followed him out. He kept a brisk walk where I nearly had to jog to keep up with him. Then I realized that I was following him to his personal quarters. I braced myself for anything that might happen.
Once we were in his room, Eren started to take off his armor. I looked away politely, my hands folded in front of me. He put it on an armor stand and took out a rag and something in a pot. Eren's face was oddly calm but I wasn't about to let anything faze me either. This was weird for both of us.
"Come and shine my armor. Make sure you leave no blemish or I will give you more to do." Eren sneered. There it was. The scheme was dancing in his eyes. Fine, two can play at that game. Whatever he can dish out, I'll be there to take it. I took the rag and the polish. Eren sat at his bed and took out his sword and shield. The shield looked worn and I wondered why he didn't change it out for something newer. Eren caught me staring before I went back to shining his armor.
His armor was dirty as hell. I had to pull up my sleeves and take a few things down to even get it clean. I saw Eren smirking in my peripheral vision but I ignored him. He left the room but I didn't notice. My feet started to hurt but I was able to get everything to a shine and clean slate. I wiped my brow when I saw Eren stomp towards me with a bucket. I gasped in surprise when he dumped mud all over the armor.
"Clean it again." He sneered. I felt my anger rise in me again.
"You are such a jerk." I snapped. Eren's eyebrow twitched. Then he dumped the bucket on top of my head. I let out a frustrated grunt as I saw him saunter to his door and threw the bucket at his back.
"Ow! You little-" Eren stomped toward me again.
"Yeah go ahead and try to push me around like the rest! I am not going to stand for it!" I snapped.
"Do you have any idea who you are talking to?" Eren said in a low voice.
"Yeah I do, the stupid brat of the Cousland family." I retorted.
"I will not allow such insubordination while you are under my command!" Eren yelled.
"I'm not technically under your command because I'm not your soldier or a guard. I was placed here so I can make sure you stop being stupid. You really think I want to be in this position? You're an adult yet you failed at that so now you need someone to look after you. Hah, now how exactly does that look to you huh?" I crossed my arms. Eren gritted his teeth.
"I will make your life worse than the void." Eren threatened.
"Bring. It. On." I glared back. Eren flicked off the mud from my shoulder.
"I want this mess cleaned by the time I get back, if it isn't you'll need to shine all everything in the armory." Eren walked out and slammed the door. I let out a frustrated growl and kicked the bucket. I wiped off the mud from my hair. I had a feeling this was going to be a long assignment.
9:28 Guardian/February 17th
I hissed in pain as the blisters from all the cleaning that Eren kept on assigning me stung from being broken. I wasn't able to clean the mud fast enough and Eren watched as I did the whole armory. The only thing I couldn't touch was the sword and shield of Cousland. It took me all day and Eren watched, bored, but he wanted to break me. I knew he did but I wasn't going down so easy.
After that, I accompanied him at all of his rotations in the city. There was no riff raff to take care of which I was grateful for but my feet hurt from walking all over the city. Eren issued orders and commands. The men followed his word to the letter but I can tell a few of them wondered why I was hanging around. Punishment is what Eren said.
He made sure that his pace was faster than mine as well as trying to lose me on several occasions. Eren always had a face of disappointment whenever I would find him. The callouses on my feet grew slightly from following him. Then of course I had night duty taking care of Oriana. I haven't even been with Eren for a full week and I was already starting to become exhausted.
"Ow…" Another blister popped open on my hand as I was writing this. Curse Eren.
Woo! Beta'd by FearaNightmare
I finally got to where I wanted to! You know where this is going guys, yep the training from hell! It's coming guys, sorry it took so long to get here lol Wow, already ten chapters.
Shout out to Ruxiod, snaseronn, and CynthiaDaPanda for following/favoriting! Thank you for Chimera Spyke and Syutaku for reviewing! Please Review!