Ambassador

Insomnia

The clock chimed midnight. She couldn't help but groan. For the past few nights, her sleep had been fitful at best and non-existent at worst. In fact, she could think of many words for it: feverish, evasive, difficult, insomnoment... she groaned again - that racing mind didn't help matters, either. Tomorrow, the humans would be arriving in the morning. Whilst excited to finally speak to one, she also couldn't help but feel nervous for her first impressions. It was an odd mix of nervous excitement and horror: her whole life, all she'd heard is of their wrong-doings, about how many innocents they'd killed, or how quiet yet conniving they were. She didn't exactly hate them, but she knew plenty who did, and she was willing to wager that many of the humans hated them, the Varalians, in return. Although, their visit couldn't have come at a worse time - just before the thick snows, meaning she'd be trapped with them for weeks on end. Honestly.

She turned over, and caught her earring on the edge of the white, silk pillowcase. Frustrated, she took the jewelry out and reached out to slam it onto the bedside table. But she couldn't reach. Clink. The sound of the gemstone falling onto the wooden floorboards underneath her bed. With yet another sigh, she took off the heavy covers, and felt around for the matchbox that she always kept under the pillow. The blazing light filled the whole room with its golden glow and crackling noise, like static lightning, buzzing and flashing, exploding with barely contained energy. The melted candle she lit was dimmer, but light enough to see by. Her dress for tomorrow hung neatly prepared from a hook in the wall opposite, and next to it a doorway led into a small bathroom, and clothes storage. Dark mahogany and red velvet were everywhere in this place, with heavy drapings and stone walls. Sometimes she just wished for some simple lace, but these chambers didn't belong to her. Besides, she always had the modern wing of the castle to venture to, if the stifling decor became all too unbearable.

She never noticed that before, and if she did it had never bothered her, not until the start of this winter season. Her own home was so similar, yet something about this place was too much right now. She couldn't sleep. She could never sleep. She -

She quickly placed her feet onto the floor and tugged on the bell-pull. The candle flame dwindled, and it felt as though smog filled the thick air. Before she could even think, a timid knock sounded on the door.

"M'lady?" It wasn't a voice she recognised.

"Just - get me some - tea. And candles!" She barely heard her soft reply, or the patter of her footsteps down the long hallway.

Her candle now only lit the edge of the large canopy bed, and the bedside table closest to the window. Perhaps she'd have the covers changed to a lighter colour tomorrow, and if she asked nicely then Asmodeus should allow it. She couldn't sleep with so many blankets piled atop of her.

Sighing, she stepped up to the large window, and held the candle stub to the curtains. They absorbed the light like a void, and made the room appear even darker than without the candle light. So, she peeped out from the centre of them, parting the great velvet swathes with her finger to look out. Past the glare of light reflecting through, she could see the moon. Always there, always watching. She made her feel safe, always, with her silver glow. And tonight, she was full and bright, so much that she could see the forest from here, and the maze. The moat trickled gently, an old reminder of times past. Yet now a fence lined most of it, with only washerwomen and workmen venturing near. It ran into a stream that eventually turned into the Great River Euranitha, and she keenly felt the quiet power of the water rushing past.

Just then, the maid knocked again, and opened the door, blowing the candle stub out with a draught.

"Your usual tea, m'lady, and some candles." She placed the cup onto her bedside cabinet, and straightened the candelabra that sat there.
"Thank you. Please replace the candles and light them for me... are you new?" She stood upright at the question, and 'fished' with her mouth for a second, opening and closing it like a water creature.

"Fairly, m'lady. Isethan told me what tea you prefer." Isethan was her normal lady's maid, but Isethan wasn't here today.

"Where is Isethan? And what's your name?" She stood there again, still as a statue.

"She said she'd got urgent business out of town, m'lady, and didn't want to worry you. My name is Annabelle."

"Well. You may continue your task while speaking, Annabelle." She nodded and quickly got to replacing the missing candles in the empty candelabra, and lighting them. Soon, the room was filled with shining warmth, and she dismissed her. The fruity tea warmed her hands, so that when she took a sip, she could feel the warm liquid spreading through her body. Slowly, she drained the cup.