Peace for a Change

From fear comes hatred.  From Annsuel's fears, a hatred of Lord Gerwolf grew.  Though it did not help that his attitude commonly reminded Annsuel of her father.  Which only fueled her hatred for the man.  Although she had met him three or four times, she still feared him.  She still hated him.

Until she attended a meeting along side Harlyn and the fellow officers of Indignation, Annsuel would have loved to fight against the man to her death.  However, this meeting ended more peaceful.  Harlyn judged the outcomes of a full scale war, and she realized how much death could come with it.  So in order to spare her friends lives, she agreed to peace with Lord Gerwolf, on certain conditions.

1. The nobles had to behave to the law.

2. The nobles had to share their wealth with those in Bree.

3. Indignation could not cause any harm to any noble house.

Simple as that.  Harlyn signed, Gerwolf signed, and all the noble houses signed.  And then there was peace, for the first time in Annsuel's life.  Well, peace in some sense of the word. 

A man, who had signed up work with Harlyn, attempted to force Annsuel to bed.  However, with the help of Firam, Annsuel escaped the man, Balthen.  Of course, as Annsuel was expected to do, she reported the man to Harlyn.  Punishment was arranged, for the original intent of Indignation was to fight against injustice such as that.  So Harlyn led Annsuel, Larinvel, and Firam alongside a friend of Larinvel to a ruin above Bree.  

Punishment, it didn't satisfy Annsuel's anger.  Though her anger wasn't fully because of Balthen, though that did not help it.  Anger inside Annsuel, fueled over the years.  Even though Annsuel did not notice it was there, it was there.  But there was more in Annsuel than just anger, there was love still in her.  Emotions.  A man filled with rage is not much different from a man full of love.  They have something in common, they have emotions.  And one who can love can also hate.  One who can hate can also love.  The most dangerous people are ones who feel nothing, who are empty and cold on the inside.  Who can kill for no reason but for coin.

Emptiness was more dangerous then the strongest hatred.  Annsuel was not empty.  She felt both love and anger.  Love for Levarris.  Love for Indignation. Love for her cat, Honey.  Love for her friends, her brother Wylie, her dead husband, Cayden.  But for sure there was just as much love as hate inside of her.  That's a part of being human.

Anyways, Balthen did push Annsuel's anger.  Punishment came to him, and he tried to make amends in removing one finger, then two.  Each time asking if she was satisfied, being respond with a no.  After his second finger, Harlyn asked Annsuel what she did want.  A simple answer was provided, "I wish to strike him."

It was only one kick, but a powerful kick between the man's legs.  He forced himself to stand tall, though clear pain spread across his face.  Then he was dismissed and Annsuel returned home.  Her anger was not relieved, but a part of her did not hate Balthen.  She pitied the man, being so weak to not fight temptations. 

As Annsuel entered Levarris's halls, Honey following behind her, she noted its emptiness.  Levarris was probably still working.  She removed her hood and boots, crawling into the bed with her uniform still on.  Slipping into sleep fairly quickly, with Honey warming her back.