Casilla, barely holding onto what drowsy consciousness she had, found herself thoroughly displeased by the sharp beams of dawn's light striking her eyes. She hissed, eyes wincing to shut out the offending light. Still, Casilla was grateful for the awakening, in a very annoyed manner. Dawn meant most, if not all of the knights were out and about, and their lively presence meant for something for her to do throughout the day. She was grateful for the nap she snuck in, but she wouldn't admit that anytime soon. Collecting herself, Casilla stood up, beginning to wade through the mist that even now hung heavy in the air. It would be fitting to call it a fog, but Casilla liked the ring of mist. It rhymed with mysterious, and that was more fitting than anything else.
On her way out of the courtyard, Casilla bumped something on her shin, and yowled. Hands immediately clasped around her lips, Casilla held her breath, waiting for something to happen. The knights didn't often tolerate laziness, and Casilla had yet to shake off sleep's hold on her. Eyes tight and tired, shoulders slumping like she had weights on her back, Casilla looked rested. It would simply not do, not for the knights' approval, and not for her own guise of alertness. Her yowl seemed to attract no curiosity, and Casilla breathed easy, hand going to her chest. "Thank goodness," she muttered, continuing to walk forward, steps taken to go around whatever she bumped into- at least, she would, had a grip on her not held her firmly in place.
Curiously, Casilla turned her head, a befuddled expression crossing her face right before one of utter surprise manifested in the quickened beat of her heart. Behind her, looming untold feet above her, was a hulking figure lost to the obscuring mist. An appendage had stuck out from the figure, clanking with the sound of heavy armor, settling down on her slim shoulder. Casilla gasped, though all she could inhale was the moist air, her fear stifling the cough that tickled her throat. Digits, rounded and hide in comparison to her, hardly had to dig into her flesh to keep her effectively paralyzed; the terror in her bones took care of that. Another sound of clanking, gutteral grinds, and metallic resistance filled her ears. Another appendage, a hand, no matter how large it was, on her other shoulder.
Casilla froze, the mist glistening from the chilling aura she produced in her scared state of mind, the sound of falling ice crystals accompanying the sounds of the giant behind her. Swallowing heard by her ears ears, Casilla forced herself to attempt to speak, try to make some sense of what was happening. "G-G-goo-" Her words failed her, her mind unable to string together a coherent sentence. The giant spoke for her, a deep rattling tone echoing from the depths of their armor.
"Has your rest put even your tongue to sleep, young lady?" Their voice, touched by booming octaves, seemed to fill the very frozen air around them. The page swore she heard more ice drop from the vibrations. Casilla, nodding without a second thought, or any doomed chance of pretending that she wasn't just asleep, agreed.
Something else erupted from above, repeatedly shaking the hands on her shoulders. A laugh, Casilla thought. Hearty and coming deep from their chest, it trembled and shook her. Heavy pats nearly fell her, the playful action unbecoming of something so outwardly intimidating. "Perhaps you should try another location, hmm? One's snores give away such a spot." Casilla would've argued that she didn't snore, but again, fear stole her tongue, along with all her courage to talk back.
The hands left her shoulders, the figure moving ahead of her in long gaits, hands behind their back, fingers subtly beckoning her. "I have something to ask of you, if you are done with your rest." Casilla, uncharacteristically quiet, nodded once again, and followed behind the knight. "I'm grateful for your enthusiasm. It's rare to find in the early hours, isn't it, Casilla?" Blinking, Casilla furrowed her brow, finding her courage to speak. "How do you know my name, sir?" This wasn't a knight she'd seen before, let alone heard of, even with her time spent as a page. True, the Queen's domain was massive in its expanse, but a majority of the knights were known to group in the castle's walls. The only reason a lowly page such as herself was there because a chance encounter with one of the higher knights.
"I know much about you, and, to begin, I'd like for you to know my name." Turning to face her, the knight looked down at her, their helmet making seeing their face impossible. "I am Eddler, young lady. Captain of the Queen's guard."
Casilla was appropriately flabbergasted.