`You mustn't forget. Keep your eyes open. Watch your surroundings with keen. Stay silent. Never let them see you. And may your angels watch over you as the battle starts.'
"SERENE!" Father wailed across the dining hall. I yelped and ducked down behind table. I peak over the table at him to see his silhouette standing over it. I wince and duck down hoping he didn't notice. As I heard the dogs bark from the den I scrambled to all fours and made my escape, but before I could reach the door I felt hands clasped around my waist lifting me up. I screeched before giggling as my father chuckled setting me on his side.
"Serene, you mustn't run off. You know how your grandmother can get." He began. I groan and lay my head on his shoulder while he makes his way to a chair and slowly sits us down. I sit across his knee and huff before looking at him with my puppy eyes. "Papa, please. She's cruel! A witch if you must! She-" before I could finish father looked down at me and I glanced to my lap. "Don't talk about your grandmother that way dear. You will learn to respect her one way or another. Hate is a loophole to cruelty. You must learn to control yourself until your away from your enemies. Chin up, shoulders back, back straight, and a cold glare to scare off the witty men." He continued making me giggle. I looked up at him and sigh. Ever since mother passed we have been all that each other's got. His smirk grew wider almost in mischief, my expression changing to the same. I poke my tiny hand out as he does the same clasping his enormous hands around my own. We stare down in a game of confidence, me going for the win but fathers been playing this game since grandpa was around and he was a kid just as I. Squinting to keep my eyes open, papa Smirks and chuckles before blinking. I jump up in excitement and victory. "HAH! I win, I win, I win!" I yelled giggling. The dogs soon joined into my little song of victory howling along with my screeched tone. Papa chuckles and shakes his head. "Quiet down those mutts! Before I do it permanently!" Nan yelled up the stairs that ran over the door connecting to her study. I winced flinching at her cold spiked tone. Papa sighed glaring at the opening to her study. The dogs tucked their tails and layer down under the table as if they were hiding. I huffed in annoyance of the witch and crawled to the dogs sitting by soni. They are both really big dogs. Dad says they are mastiffs. They look like big'ol cats. I giggle to myself and soni lays his head in my lap as dad stands walking towards us. He crouches in front of us and smiled with pity at me before petting Sonis nose. Loni soon joined us laying her head under my knee. I rubbed her head soothingly as I looked up to papa. "It's okay dear, I'll talk to her. Stay down here okay?" He said calmly I nodded and he rubbed a soothing thumb over my cheek before standing and heading towards the stairs.
A few minutes after he walked in and closed the door there was yelling. I covered my ears as the yelling got louder. Soon I felt tears cover my eyes. Loni(lah-nee) and
soni(suh-nee) growled the direction of the voices as they got louder. I slowly laid down on lonis belly as soni crawled behind me and laid his head atop my chest. As if to comfort me loni tucked her nose under my jaw and licked the tears off my cheek. I reached behind me petting her belly. Soni nudged me before licking my chin. I smiled at them before sighing. Not long after I dozed off with soni on my chest and loni behind my head.
I woke up to a big slam. Glancing around in panic I saw my papa walking down the stairs in anger. I winced seeing the fire in his eyes. Soni and loni tucked themselves closer to me as if to protect me. I patted both of them before climbing out from under the table. Papa stopped when his eyes met me. His whole body relaxed along with the fire in his eyes. He smiled reassuringly before opening the dining hall doors and stalking off. The dogs met my sides and walked me out, back to my sleeping quarters.
I smile at the memory before grimacing at the end of it. I just finished taking the dogs on a run and now we are headed back to my quarters. We get to the door and I creek it open. Taking a look around as if anything's different. I sigh making my way to my bed but screech when I hear my dressing room door open. "Oh! My dear princess I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you!" Marry said hurriedly in a freak as she put her hands out holding my gown and bowing her head. I snorted before falling into a giggling fit. "Don't be sorry marry it's okay. You frightened me only a little." I replied. She looked at me in confusion and slight shock before letting a smile fall on her face. She took slow steps towards me as I slipped my shoes off. "How was your day princess?" I sighed looking down at my red velvet dress that met the floor with a golden run down the middle of the chest, now covered in dust and cobwebs from under the dining table. Loni jumped up on my bed as did soni and they watched me and marry protectively for any sudden movements as if marry would hurt me. "It was a day like any other. And yours?" I replied. She sighed before letting out a yawn. "It was tiring. My lady gave me a run for my money." She replied a slight chuckle to her tone. I snorted to that as I looked at her. She payed the dress on my bed and walked towards me. I turned around pulling my hair to the side as she helped me get out of my dress. "So princess your turning 19 tomorrow, aren't you excited?" She said a smile on her face. I shrugged and shook out of the dress. When it fell to my feet I turned around and put my arms up so she could throw my nightgown over my head. I sighed and shrugged once it was on. "I don't know. They are throwing a ball for nothing. I feel like she's just doing it for the attention. She likes to make it known that we're well off." I replied she gave me a sympathetic smile and turned to the door of my room that lead to the hallway. "I must go tend to his highness but princess if you need anything my quarters are always open." She said smiling and I nodded. "Goodnight marry. And stop calling me princess! When we're alone call me serene please you know how I feel about that." I said. She chuckled opening the door nodding and turned back to me. "Goodnight serene" she replied walking out and closing the door.
I yawned and made my way to my bed climbing up by loni who lay on the left side of the bed while soni stays at the end keeping watch. They've always been like that, protective of me. Papa made sure of it. He didn't trust people in the castle so he trained them to protect me. It's never came to need but it's better safe than sorry.
Laying my head on the pillow I turn towards loni who stands just to lay closer to me. I smiled kissing her furry head before snuggling into her fur and falling asleep.