Siana awoke to a high pitch screeching sound, that nearly toppled her form the rickety bed she lay upon. It was absolutely the worst sounds besides a barn owls, she had ever had to bear witness to. She covered her still adjusting ears, hoping to relieve them of whatever painful promise came her way.

Just when Siana released her ears to hear nothing but silence, it would start again. Barking orders and causing many links within Siana’s head to begin more buzzing. She growled frustrated already with having little sleep. This was started to needle on her more so than that

horrible bed. With only a few items to hook around her body, Siana was out the door nearly toppling over a smaller female who looked paler than snow falling.

She bowed her head quickly scurrying off from Siana’s gaze. The mere action took Siana back to when she also was that girl. She frowned not liking those old memories and headed for the kitchen in hops of grabbing something before her test would begin.

“Why are there no rolls? Where are the rolls to be had. Margaret what do you even do around here?” The questions poured from a high pitched hiss from within Margaret’s kitchen. Cringing to its ringing through her ears, Siana pushed the door open more catching a glimpse at the female hooter who didn’t even bother to look at her. Margarette turned ever so slightly to nod in Siana’s direction, acknowledging her existence as she couldn’t do much more with the woman still barking orders and waving her hands like some spoiled child.

It was bad enough that Margarette had to feed nearly fifty heads, she didn’t need to be barked at like this, and Siana was starting to feel something protective over the woman. With a low rumble followed shortly after a sucking of Siana’s front teeth, that screeching woman finally closed lips and turned to see who was behind her.

They locked eyes, both darkening far quicker than both seemed to expect.

Siana took in the woman’s appearance. Dressed finer than most, hair had been pulled up and tightly woven to a bun at her top. Fingernails clearer than some plates she’d eaten off of, but what really got Siana was the jewels she wore. The gold sparkled along with its ruby cousins, as if she’d sold her soul to look prettier for this blessed visit.

It wasn’t that she was unattractive, she was quite stunning. But Siana made a note that if men were into woman who looked as though they’d taken far to many hits to the face with the hilt of a sword, well than Siana was worse off than she was now. Pointed nose with dark inset eyes, high cheek bones promised she’d never smile normally...or pleasing to anyone elses eyes.

There was soft movement behind the woman, as Margarette handed Siana a sweet roll filled with jam. A favorite of Siana’s ever since she’d stolen one on a colder night. Ever since then Margarette made sure to have a few set aside for Siana’s cravings late into the hours.

She took the roll with a slight smile of thanks, before turning back toward the woman. Siana took a generous bite not caring how her table manners looked, she wasn’t into looking feminine, unlike other woman her age Siana was a warrior. Not a princess.

“Who are you? What is this your wearing? Why aren’t you answering me?” She waved a perfectly slim finger over Siana’s body, as if it were her weapon of choice. Siana took another bite of her roll, tasting the still warm flesh of its insides. Her lips licked cherry red jam from each corner of her mouth before answering.

“I’m Siana, armor, cause your voice is of a screeching falcon.” Margarette choked after having taken a sip of water, she banged on her chest looking away quickly, hiding her ever growing smile.

If it hadn’t been for the woman’s deadly glaze, Siana to would of given a small chuckle. She was feeling rather perky for having very little sleep. That and hearing a woman with a voice would could wake the dead didn’t help neither.

“Well I never. You horrible mongrel,, well see just how well you speak to me when your mountless.” Both hands grabbed fistfulls of her perfectly straight dark red dress, it swished as she passed Siana is a huff of aggravation. With the words spoken to her, Siana put the pieces together...that had been Lady Annabelle. She rolled her shoulders feeling tension building, if the test was hard before it was going to be twice as so now.

“Siana..” Margarette rushed to her side, taking her upper arm lightly. Siana looked at the woman with a softer look.

“Its fine, I had a feeling this day was going to be interesting.” Margarette snorted shaking her head.

“That woman is a witch, she’ll make sure you do not get what rightfully belongs to you. Or she’ll take something else from you to prove her point.” Siana rose a brow in question, the whole meaning of what she spoke wasn’t adding up.

“One cannot take what is already mine, they may try, but will bend to my will.” A slow grin of mischief formed across Siana’s lips. If Margarette thought that was a lady, then what to the gods was her real mother suppose to be.

She gave Margarette a pat on her arm snatching another roll for her walk toward the stables, her grin holding even though her eyes looked less bright from lack of sleep. Margarette grabbed her doors thresh watching her walk out, calling to her once more had Siana looking over her shoulder.

“What if she does not bend, what will you do then?” The question was rather good, considering Siana herself wasn’t sure what was to be of all this. But her mind was set, and even if she broke promises to herself of steering clear of War, she’d not be breaking this promise. Deciding the best answer was another, Siana smiled taking a bite of roll.

“What happens to things that do not bend Margarette?” She held the roll up a bit in thanks, turning around to walk on. Margarette smiled wildly as one woman walked around a corner peeking to see if Lady Annabelle was gone.

“Clever siana...very clever.” Margarette whispered waving the woman to come in out of sight.

Pounding temples causing his still behavior to become less and less stable. Each sound of someone speaking was grinding against War’s ears, they all knew of her arrival and were busy trying to keep from her sights. As was he.

He cursed his stupidity for having far to many ales the night before, which at this very moment were coming back to bite him. Growling while rubbing her temples, War tried to picture a battlefield where he could be let loose to do as he pleased. Not listening to whispers of when she’d burst through the Wall’s doorways in hopes of finding what she shouldn’t.

Praying almost seemed reasonable to War at the moment, not that it would do much. Even gods were smart enough to keep from Annabelle, or rather Lady Annabelle as she so stubbornly liked to correct everyone on her title. War grunted, a lady she was not. More like some serpent in short grass. She didn’t even bother hiding her cruel-ness, now that Marco was gone.

He had hoped for a little more time of peace before her bellowing voice carried into his soul, but the gods saw differently as both doors to the Wall pulled open giving way to a blood thirsty woman of death. She looked far more livid than usual, and he wondered for a split second who hadn’t bothered to do as she said. War made a mental note to find that individual and reward their valiant efforts in pissing her off more.

It was the thought that counted.

“War!” She strode in like she owned the place, clicking her heels across creaking wooden boards. Even their cries of pain wouldn’t be hushed by her voice of destruction.

“Yes...Lady Annabelle?” He stood up, making sure she knew of his imposing size hadn’t changed. Truly hating the way she looked at him, War folded his arms feeling less violated by her squinting eyes.

“That mongrel is not to have my dear husbands steed, why he’d roll over in his grave if he knew a beast of a inbred was seated where he once sat.” War contained his temper, every word she spoke was opposite of what her beloved Marco would of said.

Yes the man was blood hungry, cruel and deadly with any weapon he picked upon. But he also was kind, loyal and giving to those less than himself. He’d of liked Siana’s look on life, and if he’d not been struck down by her fathers men, he’d of thought her as a kin like so many others had now come to terms with.

“She is to take the test. I shalt speak on this anymore with you.” His body moved only to be blocked by her once more. War gave her a warning look, he tried again, and again she stood in his way.

“This conversation isn’t over yet War. If she wants that beast so badly than she can have him.”She waved her hand dismissing the beautiful animal like he was nothing more than a rusty blade. War held his arms to his chest waiting for her to continue, there was no way this woman would go without something of her own.

She gave him a killer smile, one that was sure to haunt his nightmares.

“Your still without a wife, and I just so happen to still have an unwed daughter.” War licked his lips trying his best not to bite down on his tongue.

“I am in no need of one, which is why I’ve not taken any.” Blunt and to the point War tried once more to move around her, but the woman was just as he thought...a snake. she recoiled coming around him in a sweep of movement that would of been graceful enough had she not been in such a over sized gown.

“My daughter is beautiful, sweet and silent. You wouldn’t even know her around.” If she wasn’t a mother, War would of thought her a peddler. Trying to sell off ones own child because it looked good for breeding purposes. He bit his tongue.

“I will hear no more of this.” He didn’t give her a chance, both feet moving quicker than had they been chased by dogs of war. Closing the outside door tightly War held the handle for a brief moment, his mind hoped it would keep her contained within the manor while giving him a chance to regain his composure.

The more he thought about that woman’s words the more bitter he began to feel, how far was she willing to go to get what she wanted. and if it was deeper than the blackest seas, would he finally give in to have some peace, or fight till his last dying breath. Because as it looked, death would be his only peace.

(Doing as much as I can with the writers block I have, sorry about the shortness. Have a wonderful holiday if I don't post another chapter before than. ^-^ <3)