Annabeth looked up at Zachariah and quietly asked, "What are your rules?"
"There are only a couple and they are quite easy to follow."
Annabeth nodded while her eyes were downcast to the floor. She was trained to follow orders, that's what she was good at so this shouldn't be a problem.
"I don't like laziness." Zachariah began, "So my first rule is that you must help out. If there are some dishes that need to be cleaned or if I can't make dinner just jump in get it done. I won't ask you to do any of the extremely tasking chores, just the small ones to make sure the clutter stays clear."
She quickly nodded her head, her snow white hair falling near her face. That was an easy rule to follow, momma always made her do house chores. Momma always told her that men don't like lazy women and by the looks of this small cabin, keeping it tidy should be no problem.
"My final rule," he said, "Is don't wonder the woods alone. I don't care if the sun is shining or the stars are out you do not leave this cabin without me. It's very dangerous out there and you could easily get lost."
Annabeth's head snapped up to look at him before giving him another nod, a sign of understanding. She wouldn't dream of going out their alone again, and even if she did, the serious expression on Zachariah's face told her she would be in deep trouble.
"Use your words Snow."
"I understand."
He nodded satisfied with her reply before gathering the dishes and taking them to the bucket to be washed. The dishes were quickly finished and set on a towel to dry. Zachariah turned around wiping his hands on his pants and looking at the thin woman across from him. He could tell she was deep in thought and whatever it was could be seen troubling her.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" His voice was gentle so as not to frighten her.
"What will the sleeping arrangements going to be?" she whispered.
She looked terrified by the question and probably by every possibility that her little mind seemed to come up with. He smiled slightly before looking around in thought. He had a few extra blankets as well as an extra pillow in the corner of the cabin. He could just make a small bed out of that until he could get back to town and get another small bed.
"Don't worry. I will sleep on the floor."
Annabeth opened her mouth to protest. She couldn't let him sleep on the floor in his own cabin!
"Don't even think about arguing with me."
Zachariah quickly made his makeshift bed, while Annabeth sat and watched him carefully. She didn't know if she could trust him, but right now she didn't have a choice. Slowly and carefully she made her way back to the bed in the corner of the room and laid down, silently praying for a night with not nightmares.
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That night was the first night she slept in peace. Annabeth finally had a night with no fears of what the sun would bring with its rising in the east. Usually she either didn't fall asleep until late into the night from fear of her betrothed coming to call, or she had nightmares of of her impending marriage. That first night in the cabin, was a night she had never experienced before. Safety and peace were both foreign feelings to her and yet those were the only feelings she had that night, and she wasn't sure if Zachariah was the cause of those feelings or not.
Of course she rose early and quietly tidied up her bed before slowly stepping over Zachariah's sleeping form and made her way to the stove. Grabbing the matches off the table she quickly lit a flame to get the stove hot and then made her way to the cupboard. Finding all the ingredients for pancakes she quickly whipped up a batch. She was about six pancakes in when she heard Zachariah begin to wake up.
"What are you doing Snow?"
His husky morning voice made her shiver slightly. Doing her best to hide that she turned around to face him and found her words stuck in her throat. Zachariah was sitting there with extremely messy bedhead and no shirt. Working in the woods had allowed him to become very fit with a chiseled body that could make any woman drool.
Raising his eyebrows he asked, "Snow? Are you alright?"
Quickly snapping out of it she nodded her head, some baby hairs falling to frame her face.
"I made pancakes. I hope that's alright."
He seemed shocked by this and quickly got up and sat at the table to see his plate stacked up with fresh pancakes. Grabbing is silverware he dived into the pancakes savoring each bite he took.
"These are delicious Snow!" Zachariah exclaimed.
"Thank you." Annabeth whispered as she finished making what was left of the pancake batter.
She slowly placed the rest of the breakfast on his plate, making sure his plate never emptied and that he got a full belly. Annabeth was always forced to eat last. She was taught to feed the man first because her future husband didn't want to go hungry just so his wife could eat.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
Zachariah's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She nodded and then sat down at the table taking one pancake and slowly eating it. Annabeth found that eating slowly filled her up.
"Is that all you are going to eat?" He asked.
Once again she nodded her head. It was no wonder she was so thin, he thought. So he grabbed three more from his plate and placed them onto hers before finishing his breakfast.
Annabeth was shocked. She quickly tried to give him his food back but the sharp look he gave stopped her in her tracks.
"I don't know what makes you think that I am going to let you go hungry while I eat like a king, but we better get something straight. You will not sit there and wait for me to eat my fill. You will eat when I eat and have as much as you want. Do you understand?"
Zachariah did not like that she was willing to starve just to make sure he ate. He had no idea where she came from or what happened in her past, but he knew that it couldn't have been good. There was a new found determination to learn about her secrets, as well as an overwhelming need to protect her.