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

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend gave her a wry smile. "I think you assume too much of me."

[~echo~]

"Then you assume too much of me, too," she shot back, smiling. "We are friends now, and there's no going back on that."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I didn't say there was," Elend said with a sigh. "And I didn't say I wanted to. I just wanted you to know I'm sorry."

[~echo~]

"Then I forgive you," she said gently.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend didn't say anything. In fact, he didn't say anything for awhile. They just walked in silence, until eventually Elend spotted the smoke rising in the distance. They were close. That was chimney smoke.

[~echo~]

Anne smiled in relief- it was getting colder by the minute. "Thank God... lets go."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend was shivering, his feet hurt, and he was covering in dried mud. He was miserable, but at the same time he was happy. Happy to be out here with her, happy he was away from his so-called 'home.' This was actually living.

[~echo~]

When they arrived, a kindly old woman answered the door. "Oh, you poor people. You must be freezing. Come in here by the fire!" Anne thanked her and stepped inside after her, her limbs beginning to relax.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend shuddered a bit when they stepped into the fire-warmed room. His numb body parts burned as they thawed. "Thank you," he said as he walked toward the fire with Anita. "I'll do whatever you need to repay your kindness. I can work." He'd never worked a day in his life, but he'd heard that's what people did when they were seeking shelter and had no money.

[~echo~]

"Me too," Anne chimed in. The old woman smiled kindly. "Thank you. But that is not necessary. Are you hungry?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "We've had a long trip." He couldn't even remember the last time he'd eaten. Had he had anything before leaving?

[~echo~]

The old woman nodded. "Let's get you washed up, first." She drew a tub of hot water and pushed it behind a curtain. Anne went first, washed quickly, and then dressed in one of her extra dresses. She then helped the old woman prepare some food for them.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend bathed next, more than happy to wash away the grime and mud. When he was done, he borrowed an outfit from the woman's husband.

[~echo~]

By the time Elend was out, a loaf of bread was out of the oven and a roast was about to come out of the oven.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend breathed in the food's aroma and let out a deep sigh. "That smells amazing."

[~echo~]

Anne smiled. "Working in the kitchens helps."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend kept his distance, though he wanted to go over and take her hand. They'd made it! They still had a long way to go, but they'd made their first milestone. They'd head out in the morning, try to get out of the Vale. Maybe go to the Crownlands and blend in a King's Landing. "I bet you're an amazing cook," he said.

[~echo~]

Anne blushed and clasped her hands together. "I'm okay," she said modestly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend smiled and turned to the woman. "I can't thank you and your husband enough for your hospitality. Are you sure you don't want any time of payment?"

[~echo~]

"We insist," Anne added. Her husband chimed in, "If you absolutely must repay us, tomorrow, you can chop firewood, and you can help Martha cook," he said to Elend and Anne respectively.