The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 24

Golden lights flickered on the edge of Iris' vision. She tore her gaze away from the empty gray sky and turned back to the room, where fairies danced to and fro, bringing a smile to her face. "Hello," she said.

The fairies swirled together and shot up to the ceiling, scattering like fireworks.

Iris giggled. "That's very pretty. And so is this room. Thank you."

They zipped toward her, spinning around her head and settling on the sofa beside her, where Char had been sitting.

"I think he feels better about leaving me here knowing you'll take care of me," she said.

One bounced up and touched her lips before taking off to zoom around the room.

"That tickles!" she giggled.

Another one repeated the action, and another, and another, until she was on her back laughing hysterically and a blur of golden lights was circling the ceiling. Her laughter died down, watching them, and they spun together and disappeared behind the dressing screen.

"What are you doing?" she asked curiously.

One popped up above the dressing screen and zipped to the bureau, opening a drawer and pulling out a nightgown.

"Are you drawing me a bath?"

The fairy draped the nightgown over the dressing screen and zoomed back to the bureau for a robe.

"That's very thoughtful. I guess I could use a hot bath to relax. It's been an interesting morning."

The robe joined the nightgown, and the fairy brought one slipper to her, followed shortly by the other.

"You're spoiling me," she giggled, pulling off her shoes and sliding her feet into the warm slippers. She stood up, and the fairy grabbed her by the cuff of her sleeve and tugged her along toward the dressing screen. It was surprisingly strong, but she wasn't resisting its pull. The water in the bathtub was steaming, filling the air with the comforting scent of lavender, and the fairies zipped around to her back to undo the fastenings of her dress. Somehow, she wasn't uncomfortable with the situation. She stepped out of the dress and into the tub, and they whisked the dress away.

"Ooh, this feels good," she sighed, settling into the hot water and closing her eyes. "Thank you."

A burst of warmth touched her lips, and she giggled again, opening her eyes to see the fairies settling on the top of the dressing screen, a line of soft golden lights casting a warm glow on the bath water.

"May I ask you a question?"

One zipped up, shot straight back down, and then returned to the dressing screen. A nod.

"I'll take that as a yes," she said, smiling at them. "Is Char...like that with other girls?" She put her face in her hands. "Oh, what am I saying? I'm sure he doesn't bring girls here." She dropped her hands back into the water with a small splash. "I guess it all seems so sudden. We only met a little over a week ago, and I was scared of him at first. It would seem like he was on my side when we were alone, like he was protecting me, and then all of a sudden, he would switch, and he would treat me roughly and speak harshly to me in front of his brother and the other dragons." She sighed. "Now, I know why. I figured it out by the time he snuck me out of my cell to heal Srot. It was safer for both of us if everybody thought he was only keeping me around because I was useful to the war effort." She looked back at the fairies. "Sorry. I guess that turned into me rambling instead of asking a question."

A fairy popped up, tracing squiggly lines in front of and around her, and rejoined the rest on the dressing screen.

"You really don't mind?"