Afternoon

I was dreading dinner by the second. I knew that by now they had a punishment in mind, I didn't care to know what it was, my father loved me but this would be no slap on the wrist.

I've read some books in the library, they were about punishments, some old and some new. I wanted to prepare myself for the punishment. What did they have in mind? Would they make me go into the river at night when it's the coldest, or would they put me in a little box stuffed in a hot room but take me out before I suffocate to death.

I was lost in the thoughts of the ways they may punish me that I almost didn't notice a strange thing that caught my eye, it moved. Like, actually moved. It couldn't have been a human, it was pitch black. I looked at the thing and saw a raven, why would a raven be in the castle? I approached the raven and it stayed very still, time felt like it went by hours but probably only seconds.

I felt compelled to hold the raven, almost like a love for it. So without thinking, I picked it up and started to cradle it, I inspected it's beautiful feathers, it's strong wings, and it's gorgeous purple eyes. The eyes reminded me of what my mothers eyes looked like in my dreams. "What a silly thought" I said, subconsciously I started to sing for the bird.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Simon staring at me with that goofy grin of his. "You seemed to have taken a liking to Opal" he said "She also seems to like you."

"Who's Opal?" I asked. He pointed at the raven. "Oh!" I said realizing that Opal must be his bird "I'm sorry for touching her without permission"

He chuckled "Opal gave you permission. It's up to her, not me."

We walked out into the garden and had a lovely conversation about torturing punishments. I had to go inside though, for it was dinner time. I bid him farewell and he said "I'll be at the pub tonight"

Oh Lords, he's going to get me into a lot of trouble I thought while walking to my room, deciding that I would go to the pub.