Stuck together - Book One of Meehric's Tales

Chapter 4: Her love-at-first-sight

Day 28,837

Three large windows let the sun into the room. The walls are raw stone, full of imperfections and character. A dark wooden table takes up most of the space on the right side of the entrance, shining when the sun hits it. On the other side of the room is a counter with dishes and food on it.

A small lady is cutting some fruit on the side of it. She stands on a three-stepped stool made of flowers, branches and grass. The flowers continue to bloom over and over, leaves appear and disappear from the branches, vines climb up the counter. Sometimes a flower grows almost to the table and the lady, with an elegant movement of hand, makes it disappear. She doesn't look like she is of any age, her white silky hair braided like a crown around her head. Her ears are large and pointed, her eyelashes white and very long. Her nose is pointed like her ears, but not as large. Her eyes, as well as her short fingernails, are silver. She's wearing a simple cotton brown dress, with a white apron covering the front from chest to toes. She's barefoot, comfortable on the grass of her stool. Her large hands manipulate the knife with elegance and precision. She cuts a cantaloupe with dexterity, making cubes small enough to eat in one bite.

She hears a small stepping sound behind her. She smiles as if she recognizes the steps.

"Princess, you're going to be late."

Lilea appears next to her and hugs her, passing her left arm around her back, resting her head on her shoulder, her purple hair hiding her face.

"But I'm sleepy, Nanny."

She wears a floaty white sleeveless dress with large green stripes. The top hugs her chest tightly, covering her skin up to her collarbones, the skirt divided into multiple long petals that brush the floor with every step she takes.

The small lady laughs.

"Ah, youth."

Lilea raises her head and squints at her. As she does, her hair falls on her shoulders, two white braids framing her face gracefully.

"I am not a child anymore."

"You'll be an adult once you've passed your Ceremony, my child." replies the Nanny calmly.

Lilea goes around the counter and grabs a piece of fruit.

"It's in a year. So far." She bites into the fruit. "Do you know what happens during the Ceremony, Armita?"

"I do not, Princess. I am an elf, I am not allowed to be in the room."

Lilea munches on her fruit.

"It's a shame. I want you to be with me."

"Your parents will be with you."

The elf grabs the fruit and puts them in a bowl. With a graceful gesture, she indicates to a branch to bring the bowl to the table on the other side of the room. She then catches a crystal glass that another branch is holding and fills it up with a thick white drink.

"You know that it's not the same." mutters Lilea.

Armita smiles. She drops a mint leaf into the drink and silently orders to another branch to take it to the table.

"Your Grandfather and your Mother survived without me."

"They were not as close to you as I am." replies Lilea, adamant.

"How do you know?" The elf steps down from her stool, smiling.

"Because I am your favorite." Lilea winks at her.

"Stop talking nonsense and go eat, Lilea, you're going to be late."

Lilea rolls her eyes and walks reluctantly to the table. She doesn't even pull the chair out to sit on it, climbing on its arm before folding herself into the seat. She is in the direct sunlight, feeling the rays on her skin. The elf flicks her hands, and a chair forms from branches, vines and flowers. She sits facing the Princess.