I woke up in my bed in the servant's quarters with everyone else, this time however, i snuck off outside and headed towards the forest. I check the stone hut, empty. I begin to walk towards where i cut wood.

"But the flowers that withered in winter." A song flows floats though the trees like a light breeze. "Shall grow once more in the spring." I follow the sound of the song heading towards the fire. "And like in the year that has ended." I approach quietly so no to disrupt the song. "Their light, warmth, and beauty, will sing."

I peek around a tree, revealing juniper and wolf alone, together. Juniper appeared embarrased despite only singing to one person, she spoke shyly: "I still don't understand how you like.."

'snap' i turn to see fennel standing behind me, holding my cloak. "I came to return this before you leave." She passes it to me then returns to the castle. i put the cloak on, and head towards where i cut logs. 

Raven was cutting trees ferociously in her muscular form, i call out. "Hello." Raven stops leaving the hatchet in the tree.

"Took you long enough." She sound annoyed.

"Sorry, i was delayed." I said.

She sighed. "It's fine." 

"Where is everyone else?" I ask, grabbing an axe. 

"Heron and Spider are doing the survival ritual." She hits the tree with the axe. "Captain is leading a hunt for those wolves." The axe moves fast enough to be heard. "Boar is 'busy'." She axe whistles as sharply as it swung into the tree. "And i'm left on lumber duty." The tree creaks then falls down into the clearing.

 I swing my axe at the fallen tree to remove its branches."What's the survival ritual."

"If two warriors fall in love and wish to settle down and to start a family, they are sent into the wilds to spend a month alone and together." She says, hidding the longing in her voice with a veil of annoyance.

"Sounds easy." I say. 

"Yeah." She sighs.

Mid-afternoon the day's work had been done, the sky was clouded and rained lightly, i stopped at the edge of the forest waiting for it to rain to stop, when movement caught my eye. A horse and carriage came into view from the road, my curiosity compelled me to investigate, i walked along the forest's edge towards closer to the road. Then along the road to the carriage.

The horses looked well groomed and the carriage well maintained, i walled around to the side facing the main entrance of the castle, the door of the carriage was open, i looked inside...

"Took you long enough." A girl was inside. Her hair like a river of night, her eyes like flashes of lightning. "Hurry up and take my bags, if you don't you will have to deal with my mother." I paused, uncertain. She, however, rolled her eyes, "The lady sapphire."

A shiver went down my spine, and my completely numb arm burned. "Of course, i'll do it immediatly." I reach into the carriage and pick up two large but light bags. "Are you coming in?" I ask. 

"Are you going to stop the rain? You can tell my mother, that i won't come in until the rain stops." The dread of talking to her again feels deadly. I look up at the sky, it looks like it won't stop raining soon. I slowly lower my head to face her, my eyes stop on the roof of the carriage.

I summon my spirit above my head, and will it, bigger, flatter. Warping the shape of the spirit is uncomfortable, but bareable.

"Oh aren't you handy." She seems surprised. She exits the carriage. "Follow me." She says. Maintaining the shape of the fire-roof, carrying her bags, and walking close to her is difficult. We enter the castle. And I recall my spirit.

The entrance hall is a small room with large doors either side. Two people are talking in a hushed tones but clearly arguing. One, telling by his wettened appearance was the carriage driver, the other was by his past appearances was in charge of the servants.

"Don't worry, i've got one" The young lady said. They both turned silent to her arrival.

The driver spoke politely, "Then my duty is complete, young lady. With your permission i will return." 

"Go, i'll be fine." The young lady said. The driver noded then left. The young lady approached the 'head' servant and said with absolute certainty "I choose this servant." 

The 'head' servant replied. "Your mother was very specific, no personal servants, no handmaids, no bodyguards." 

The young lady all but ignored this "Then i shall speak to her directly." She looked over her shoulder at me. "Follow." 

A familiar door. The knocks sounds loud. "Mother." 

A sound of rushing comes from within. A pause. "Enter." The voice sounds exceptionally nervous, but still sounds like my death to me.

The young lady opens the door, I sidestep out of view. The young lady enters.

I close my eyes and listen:

A light set of rapid footsteps. The sound of a light cloth impact.

"I missed you, Rose." Came an older voice shaking slightly.

"Me too." Came a younger voice. Two light steps. "Since i haven't seen you in a while can i have something?" Said the younger.

"Certainly." Said the older without delay.

"Can i have a personal servant?" Said the younger.

a pause. The olders breathing became faster.

"You don't need one, so ask for something else." Spoke the older voice slower than before. 

"There is nothing else i want." Said the younger voice.

"I can't break the rules for one person, and besides that, don't you have some at home." Spoke the older voice.

"But i don't have any here, Besides he is young, and can control fire, and is polite." The younger voice spoke quickly. Her breathing becoming shallower.

A pause. 

"There are no servants like that. If they can use magic they should be a student." Said the older voice.

"No he was a servant, he wore the serving clothes, And was stronger than other boys, and he acted like he was afraid of you. So can i have him?" 

"There are no exceptions, no servants." The older voice spoke with authority.

A foot draging on the floor, a light footstep.

"Oh" The younger voice, slightly lower in tone. The older's breathing stopped.

A heavier footstep.

"I, I will think about it." The older voice said, in a rapid hesitating tone.

 A pause. A soft thump of clothes. A whisper. 

I open my eyes. I turn to leave.

"Send him here." The lady sapphire spoke.