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

[~echo~]

Anne gave a little chortle. "Good for him," she said with a smile.

A maid was supposed to be finding Elend for his father and she had looked everywhere so she gave a little yell. "Sir Elend!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend jumped and rose to his feet. "You should get out of here," he whispered urgently.

[~echo~]

Anne looked slightly mfrightened but peeked down at the ballroom where she could see the maid near the entrance to the hiding spot. "I can't... she's right there," she breathed. "You go, and I'll slip out while you distract her."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend nodded and strode toward the door, taking a deep breath to compose himself. He opened the door and looked at the maid calmly. "What was that?"

[~echo~]

Anne watched him go, standing silently herself. "Thank you," she breathed.

The maid jumped slightly and then held a hand to her chest. "My goodness, sir. You frightened me. Your father is asking for you... rather firmly. I think it was something about a ball or something- I didn't pay attention much. He just said to find you."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend bit back a groan. "Alright. Thank you." With that, he headed off to his father's study. He hesitated outside the door, like he always did, before knocking.

[~echo~]

Anne had made it out of the room safely and was standing next to the wall down the corridor a bit, trying to catch her breath. The other maid walked down the hallway where she was and noticed her. "Hello," she said and Anne nodded tightly in return. Her almost finding them had been entirely too close a call.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend entered the study, schooling his face into emotionlessness. "Yes, father?" he asked.

[~echo~]

Anne continued to the kitchen, her heart still racing.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(You should play his father )

[~echo~]

(Okay haha xD Sorry, I'm a bit clueless.)

Elend's father was sitting in a chair, gazing at the door. He looked very serious and a muscle in his jaw was jumping. "Sit." It wasn't a request.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend bit back a sigh and took a seat in front of his father's desk.

[~echo~]

He seemed to gather his thoughts for a few moments before speaking. "Elend." There was a hard note in his voice but it didn't give much away. "It seems you've been spending a lot of time lately in the ballroom- practicing for the next gala, are you?"

[~echo~]

Bump

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I like the ballroom when it's empty," Elend said calmly. "It's peaceful."

[~echo~]

"Oh? You must get lonely. You're sure nobody accompanies you to te ballroom?" he asked, his voice raising just slightly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend snorted, pretty convincingly, I might add. "Who would accompany me? Furthermore, who would I want to accompany me? No, father, I like spending time alone."

[~echo~]

His hand slammed down on the desk and he stood, his muscles taut. "I commend you. You're a good liar," he hissed furiously. "Every time you have gone into that ballroom, a scullery maid has followed you within five minutes," he growled, his voice full of venom.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend felt a chill, and it had nothing to do with the temperature of the room. He knew. He forced a laugh. "Me and a scullery maid? Please, father. You injure me."

[~echo~]

"Stop lying to me, boy," the man warned, straightening up and beginning to make his way to the other side of the desk.