you //still\\ have all of [me]~crystalfrost <3~

[~echo~]

As Anne Connelly carried the clunky wooden bucket out to the courtyard well, she grumbled under her breath. Always toting water for the cook, always doing what she was too lazy or too busy to do. She set down the bucket beside the well and gazed up at the blazing sun, pressing the side of her hand to her forehead for a better view of the sky. It was only about eleven in the morning and it was already blazing hot outside. She took the tip of her apron and mopped her forehead with it, tied her long hair up into a simple bun, then tied the rope that attached to the beams over the well to the bucket. Lowering down the rope, she sighed softly. Once the bucket was full, she tugged on the rough rope and brought up the much heavier bucket again. She began the slow walk back to the kitchen when the door opened to the courtyard. Anne gazed up to see who it was.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend Arryn strolled through the open door. He nodded to Anne as he passed, but he didn't give her a second glance. He entered the kitchen, intent on finding something to snack on before he went out for his midday ride.

[~echo~]

Anne dipped low to the ground in a respectful curtsy, not meeting Elend's eye. She entered the kitchen after him, setting the heavy bucket onto the counter. She wiped her hands on her apron, then gazed at Elend. "May I assist you, Your Grace?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Ugh, please don't call me that," Elend said, waving his hand. "I just want an apple... or something. Maybe some cheese."

[~echo~]

Anne nodded respectfully and then went to the pantry to fetch him an apple. Reaching for a ripe, red one she walked back to him. "Here you go... Elend."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend smiled at her, but like always his smile held a hint of bitterness. "Thank you," he said as he took the apple from her. He bit into it with a juicy crunch and then strolled out the door again.

[~echo~]

Anne watched him go, hoping he would decide to turn back. "Um... let me know if you need anything else."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend paused and glanced back at her. Then he nodded and left the kitchen, starting across the courtyard and toward the stables, munching on his apple all the while.

[~echo~]

Anne watched him go. Then, a clout on her head startled her and she crumpled to the floor. "Ow!" she exclaimed. Tge cook grabbed her by her arm and dragged her up. "You are needed in the stables. The best farmhand got sick and had to go home. You are to go and help out in there," she said fiercely. Anne brushed it off and nodded, gritting her teeth. "Yes... ma'am."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend entered the stable and walked to his stallion's stall. "Stableboy!" he called, looking around. When no one answered, he swore under his breath. "Where are those kids when you need them."

[~echo~]

Anne quickly made her way to the stable and noticed the ward again. "Well, it seems I keep bumping into you, Elend," she joked, rubbing the top of her head which was sore. "You bellowed?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Ah, yes," Elend said. "Hello again. I need my horse saddled."

[~echo~]

"Right away, sir," she said, hurrying off to his horse's stall. She knew it was his horse only because she had walked past the horse's stall and saw that it was marked as his. She grabbed all the tack, remarkably strong for her small build. She brought the tack to the horse's stall and began work. Within three minutes, the horse was groomed, tacked and ready to go.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend took the reins with a nod. "Thank you, ah..." he paused. "I don't know your name."

[~echo~]

Anne cleared her throat. "My name is Anne Connelly. Just your average scullery maid, sir," she said with a smile.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend nodded and led the horse past her toward the stable door. Then he paused and glanced back. "If you're a scullery maid, what are you doing in the stables?"

[~echo~]

She laughed quietly. "The cook told me- ah, very roughly, shall I say, that the usual stableboy was sick as a dog and couldn't work today." She rubbed the spot where she'd been hit. "Needless to say, I was needed."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"A lady like yourself working in the stables?" Elend mused. "Damn shame, if you ask me."

[~echo~]

Crossing her arms indignantly, she sniffed a little. "A little bit'o work ain't gonna hurt anybody," she said. "'Sides, I'm a strong girl. I'cn handle it."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend raised an eyebrow at her. "You didn't talk like that before," he said, amused. "Why start talking improperly now?"