Little Angel, Go Away.
Come Again Another Day.
That morning, Danica did not wake as gracefully and peacefully as she usually did. The princess was lying on her plush bed on her stomach. Even while she slept, there was a disturbed look upon her usually soft and serene features. She lied there uncomfortably, having been awake for what seemed like at least an hour. Toot had woken her up like he usually did, but this time she was less friendly than usual, having requested that he quiet himself and hold still. As she wished, the little beast cuddled in close to his princesses neck and collar bone quietly. Danica had felt slightly guilty for snapping at Toot like she had, but at that moment she was selfish and worried more about her throbbing head more than his feelings. This didn’t stop her from placing a loving hand to his side to comfort him as he pouted, though.
She’d awoken with a terrible head ache and had hoped that lying in bed with nothing but the silence the lull her back to sleep. Thankfully, the lovely choirs she was so ecstatic to hear on any other morning hadn’t yet begun their soft melodies. At least they hadn’t when she awoke. Now that so much time had passed, again they filled the halls of the palace with their sweet sound. One by one, soft string and wind instruments joined the singing, the first of which Danica guessed was some sort of cello or violin, and then a piccolo. It was ashamed the music pained her because if this were any other morning, the princess would have been delighted with the addition to what was usually only vocals. At such a distance from where the choir sung, the music seemed like a dull humming sound and it was some what of a comfort to her, at least the familiarity and warmth of it was. But the sound itself did not help her any. Sighing, Danica stretched her wings and then turned to her side, careful not to disturb Toot who had, in the long wait for Danica to wake up, had fallen asleep again.
She’d finally begun to slip back into a comfortable sleep again when a loud, and rather annoying at this time of morning, voice came from outside the door. It was none other than their usually welcomed tutor to wake him from their beds to do whatever it was they had to do that day. That’s what Danica would have assumed, anyway. Even when the man did not enter or send a female staff member to her room, she still couldn’t help but be angry with him. So close was she to falling back asleep and finally being comfortable. On top of that, Dante’s calling out to herself and her brother woke Toot up again, sending him right back to his usual morning practice of prodding Danica out of bed. The Gods must have surely been against her that morning because she just couldn’t win. If Dante had at least come inside her room when he spoke to her, the princess could have demanded that she leave him alone for the day because she felt ill. She probably could have sent Toot to go and play with the other pets of the kingdom as well, leaving her with nothing but herself and her bed.
Defeated, Danica threw the blankets off of the bed, not really caring when they fell to the floor in a messy lump. She lazily walked over to her mirror. Next to it, hanging on a hook on the wall, rested a white robe. Just like any other piece of clothing in the Valkyrie Kingdom, on the back was a large hole. Danica slipped on the robe, folding and then unfolding her large wings through the hole so that they would not get trapped under the silky garment. Then she walked to her bedroom door and quietly opened it, giving a tired look at the two guards who stood watch over hers and her brother’s rooms protectively. The two men gave her a respectful nod and she did her best to return the favor. Wordlessly, Danica reached over to where her breakfast sat and pulled it into her room. She didn’t touch it, though. The idea of food made her feel even more ill than she had already been. But simply removing it to her room would be enough of a gesture for Dante, should he ask about it. She’d simply tell him she wasn’t hungry. It seemed heartless, but she did appreciate his effort and would tell him so later.
Now fully dressed, again in a lovely, but backless white dress, Danica emerged from her room with what she hoped was an energetic demeanor. Her hair was tied back lazily. Around her neck was the same pendant she wore every day with the royal insignia engraved upon it. Though it was obvious she’d put little effort into her appearance that morning, Danic still looked lovely and more than presentable. Toot followed closely behind her, flapping his tiny wings as hard as he could to keep up with the female.
