"Snow." Zachariah began, "I wanted to inform you that I am heading out to cut some more wood. The weather seems to just be getting colder and now that I have you here I am very concerned about your health and well-being."
Annabeth opened her mouth to protest but a quick lift of his hand silenced her.
"You are extremely thin and small and I don't want you getting sick on me. I will only be gone a couple hours and once I return we will be going to town."
Annabeth's face instantly went pale. She didn't want to go to town and take the chance on her mother or betrothed seeing her. If they did, they would surely drag her back home by her snow white hair.
"I-if it's alright I would much prefer to st-stay here. I-I don't need to go to t-town for anything."
Zachariah stood there for a moment watching her. He could see her shaking and the amount of fear radiating from her almost punched him in the face. The urge to ask her what scared her so much that she would rather stay in the woods alone rose up, but he quickly squashed it not wanting to scare her anymore.
"Snow. You need more than just one outfit to wear. Besides the one outfit you have is not suitable for this cold and neither are those shoes. We are going to town to stock up on groceries and get you some clothes."
Annabeth was shaking her head so hard her hair fell out of her bun and fell over her shoulder. Her fear outweighed the sense that Zachariah was making. She could live in this dress forever, anything to keep herself from being forced back home. There was no way she could go through that again, she just couldn't.
Zachariah sighed and walked up to Annabeth, gently touching her shoulder and guiding to face her back to him. He calmly pulled her hair back up into its bun and then turned her back around. Placing both hands on her shoulders he looked her directly in the eye, wanting nothing more than to take away her fear.
"Snow, I don't know what happened to you or where you are from," he whispered, "But I can assure you that while you are with me I will not let anything happen to you. You will stick to my side like glue while we are in town and if anyone makes you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, you tell me immediately. Got it?"
Annabeth slowly nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. Her gut was telling her this was a bad idea, she truly didn't want Zachariah to find out about her past. She also trusted him with all her heart and hoped and prayed that their trip to town was swift and uneventful.
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Annabeth had finished tidying up the small cottage when a cold breeze struck her in the back. Turning around swiftly she saw Zachariah removing his coat and making his way over to the fire to return some feeling to his body. Annabeth's anxiety skyrocketed. If Zachariah was back that meant it was time to go to town. Her heart felt like it was about the beat a hole through her chest and then plummet to the floor.
"I have the pickup warming up out front Snow. We will be leaving for town in just a few minutes."
Annabeth swallowed the lump forming in her throat and quickly combed her fingers through her hair before putting it back up. She then straightened out her dress trying to make herself as presentable as possible. Realizing she didn't have a coat she quickly looked around trying to find a suitable replacement.
"You may borrow my other coat for our little trip." Zachariah said.
"That's alright. I can make do with what I have on."
Zachariah was quick to turn around and make his way to Annabeth. He wasn't angry with her, but with what she said. What made her think that she should have to freeze? Did she find herself to be an inconvenience? He knew he could be reading into that small sentence, but all of her signs since his announcement this morning said otherwise.
"I am not giving you a choice in the matter Snow. Go grab my other coat and put it on this instant. I will not allow you to go out into the cold without something to keep you properly warm."
Annabeth quickly nodded and made her way over to the coat rack. Pulling the coat down she shakily put it on over her, small body. The coat was rather large on her and covered her body from the neck to the mid-part of her thighs. Her cold thin fingers began to fight with the zipper, trying to pull it up so the wind couldn't get to her.
Zachariah stood there and watch her struggle for a moment before calmly making his in front of her. Gently removing her hand he gripped the zipper and smoothly pull it up to the top of the coat, then grabbing his coat opened the cottage door and patiently waited for her.
With a deep breath in Annabeth slowly made her way to the truck. She quickly realized that somehow that little cottage and large oak tree of a man, had become her safe place. It was such a quick attachment she had formed, but she chalked it up to Zachariah constantly showing her kindness she had never known before. So, with the help of Zachariah she climbed into the truck and looked out the window as her little haven disappeared.