Magic and Mortality (DISCONTINUED)

Chap. 2 - Childhood Queries

KEY = Subtitle/POV change | Author's note |"Speech" | 'Quote/Thoughts' | Text | Emphasis

 The three made their way to a small cottage on the edge of town. It was a typical cottage, the door framed by roses coloured peach and white. A small fence surrounded the cottage and the garden around the small building.

"And here is our humble abode," Belinda joked.

"It is quite a cute cottage." Aelfric smiled as he remembered a similar cottage, one he practically grew up in. He followed Belinda's father, who he now knew as Marcus, around to the back of the cottage where the stables were while Belinda walked into the cottage. 

Inside the cottage, Belinda quickly cleaned up the table, still set out from breakfast. The spare room was always made with special elven sheets that were charmed to stay clean, a gift from an old friend of Marcus's. Aelfric and Marcus walked into the cottage to smell fresh tomato sauce simmering in a pot over the fire. 'I hope elves can eat spaghetti,' Belinda thought.  

The said spaghetti was soon on the set table, and the two occupants of the cottage sat down with their guest. They ate in silence for a few minutes.

"What brings you here, Aelfric?" Marcus asked after finishing his bowl. 

"My father had heard of a disturbance just south of here. The quickest route was through town, so I decided to go through, and maybe meet some people. In the castle, there is very minimal contact with humans." Aelfric also finished his bowl. Belinda was on her second bowl. 

"If you don't mind me asking, how do you eat so much, Belinda?" The elf queried. 

Belinda quickly finished her mouthful. "I use up a lot of energy throughout the day, and I usually skip lunch. It's more use as working time."

Aelfric chuckled. "I used to know a human girl like you. She was my best friend. She'd always eat the biggest amount of food when she was invited to the palace.  I'd always ask if she was being starved at home, however she always said no. Whenever I was invited to her cottage, her father would make the most amazing meals that she would eat with the same amount of vigour."

"Used to know? What happened?" Marcus queried.

"She acted completely normal the last time I saw her. She said goodbye like she'd skip through the door the next day, however she never came back. I... I haven't seen her since." Aelfric finishes, silence flooding the once merry cottage. It was as if the once seemingly flouncing fire in the hearth was no longer a source of heat nor joyful. The room had been filled with the sorrowful sympathy that came with such a grave story. The three occupants of the chairs at the small table uttered no words for what seemed to be millennia. 

Belinda sighed. "I hope she is alright. I'd better be cleaning the kitchen." She gathered the now empty bowls and walked outside of the cottage to clean the dishes. Aelfric nodded a goodnight to Marcus before he left the room. Marcus stood and walked to the fire, kneeling on the soft woolen carpet that stopped about a hand's length from the hearth. He peered into the fire pleadingly.

"Please," he prayed, "let me have the strength to not remind Belinda of her childhood." For he knew that if the two realized the identity of the lost girl, a great darkness would be unleashed.