When I woke up I could feel a pillow underneath my head, slightly damp, and a woollen blanket draped over me. I nestled into the soft fabric before remembering how it hadn't been there when I had fallen asleep.

Blinking my eyes open I could see through the window that it was still dark outside, I could've sworn the sun was about to come up before I had fallen asleep.

"Nice sleep?" I heard a voice behind me.

I looked over my shoulder to see my father leaning against the headboard, he held documents in his hand that I could only presume were reports and...

"Are those readers??"

He shut his eyes like it pained him to discuss the reading glasses propped on his nose.

"Healer didn't have time to fix whatever went wrong, left me with these so I could catch up on paperwork," he sighed, "The sooner their gone the better."

I tried to suppress a giggle, "Very sophisticated," I mocked. He peered at me over the rim making me laugh out loud, rolling around on the bed.

After I had gotten over my laughing fit he shuffled some papers, disposing of some in a drawer and locking it.

"So..." I started.

He put aside the rest of the papers, placing his glasses atop them, "I don't know where she is Rena."

"Right."

Was that good? Bad? I couldn't figure out what I felt at that. She had left, again, I mean I hadn't expected her to stay, but she had also tried to kill herself and my father. I couldn't figure out if I hated her or admired her, thought her stupid or smart, there was too much going through my head with too little answers.

"And the church?" I pressed.

"A discussion for another time, now-"

"No," I cut across him, "We're done with cutting me out of these conversations, you'll tell me what happened and you'll tell me now." I had never spoken to him like this before, voice devoid of emotion, brooking no room for excuse.

He sighed, "Very well," that went better than I expected, "There's not much to it really, we had then cornered and she surrendered."

"What?!?" I looked at him in disbelief.

"It was a trick," he explained, "When she walked towards us she ki- I took her hand and she, well I'm not quite sure what she did but it was merzots that's for certain."

I scoffed, "So she can use it but when it comes to me, nooooo."

This time it my fathers who questioned me, "You tried to use merzots?!?" He demanded.

"No," I quickly lied.

"Rena," he scolded.

"I didn't actually use it!" I insisted, "I was only thinking about it. Mabey."

He sat up straighter, "How many Grisha theory lessons will it take for you to understand that merzots is forbidden!"

"Except when it comes to you, right?"

"That is different. I have experience, you are a child who has never, and I I find out you have Saints help you, used merzots, no one in their right mind would use it. Look what it's done to me!"

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry, I won't, promise."

He took a deep breath, "Good, that's good."

After sitting through another check from a healer, per my fathers insistence more than request, I was finally allowed to leave the large room that suddenly felt claustrophobic.

I first went to the kitchens. What was left of the staff we're busy making food and hot soup for the surviving soldiers while the far end of the room was being used to brew ointments and other medicines.

I grabbed heaped my arms with as many trays as possible, making the dangerous walk to the infirmary with the quickly cooling chicken and potato soup. Sent back down with empty bowls it was a miracle I hadn't broken anything yet.

I grabbed a clean tray and looked around at the available food. The basics were stacked on, soup, bread and herring, but in the back I found it, sweet pastries. Grapping a towel I hid some jam tarts, and surprisingly baklava.

The towel was added to the tray as I made my way back through the maze of halls until I found my father.

He was sleeping when I quietly entered the room, almost peaceful looking.

I placed the tray on his bedside table, putting a cover over it to keep in the heat and quietly left the room, not hearing the mumbled 'Thank you' from the sleeping form in the bed.

Ok, ok, I'll be honest not my best work but I'm already late posting this and I rushed😅

Sorry for the late post this week as been HECKTICK and I did get a chance to write anything.

Happy Ramadan, Easter, Passover or whatever you celebrate, even happy new day!! Hope it's amazing for all of you!!

~Sarah (PoshStarfish775)