Silent Pain

31

As the month went on Miranda noticed that Angie was more of a child than a nuisance, at first when they got back to Miranda's she noticed the doll was quiet, clingy, and just wanted to be around her however she never was in the way, always sitting to the side watching Miranda work or experiment.

She wouldn't talk until the third day when the priestess was upstairs, mixing up some food. Angie was sitting quietly at the table when she first spoke it was a shock to Miranda, "Mother Miranda?" The woman froze and looked over to Angie who had made her way to the kitchen, "Yes Angie?" The woman spoke softly, "When will Donna and Marie be back?" Miranda stopped, looking at the doll as hadn't recognized the small amount of emotion on her face before.

Miranda sighed "On the 5th of next month, which is about 22 days away." She said and Angie nodded, walking back into the dining room. The priestess took notice of the way she had held her head down like she was dissatisfied with the answer. "She is lonely." She whispered to herself, finishing and plating the meal.

She set the smaller portion in front of Angie who gently declined, not wanting to annoy the priestess. "Angie you have to eat. Donna would be disappointed if she learned you wouldn't eat when she was gone. Marie would be as well." Miranda explained gently, it was like having a human child around, one who missed their parents and wanted to go home.

Angie looked up at Miranda and sighed, "Okay." She brought the plate closer to her and started to eat slowly. Miranda was patient with her as she waited for the doll to finish breakfast, understanding the situation she wanted to know how to fix it.

"Do you want to come into town with me?" She asked but Angie shrugged "I have some shopping I need to get done, maybe we can stop by your manor for a bit?" Angie looked up at her for a moment "Will we be able to go in?" She asked, Miranda nodded "I have keys to every lord's domain. It was something I made very sure, but for privacy reasons, I never used them unless a serious situation happened."

Angie nodded "Okay." She seemed to beam a bit at that and finish her breakfast quickly, "That's good. While I do dishes and make up a list I want you to do something for me." Angie looked at her, waiting for her next task. "Get cleaned up, when we stop by your manor we can get you more clothes and some things to do other than sitting around when I'm doing dangerous things."

The doll nodded and got up, pattering over to the downstairs lavatory. Miranda got up and grabbed the plates and such, getting them washed up. She started making a list, "Mother Miranda." She looked over to Angie sitting at the edge of her counter, cleaned up, "Yes?" "You need a maid, like Marie used to be for me and Donna." Miranda chuckled, taking a breath "She used to be a maiden for me as well, we became good friends."

Angie giggled and swung her feet "Yeah but don't get you lonely?" She asked and Miranda stopped her writing, "No dear. Not really, I'm too busy to take care of someone else." Angie shrugged and waited patiently while Miranda checked around her house to see what she needed.

After she was finished, they gathered a basket with a blanket and left the house. "Alright, first let's grab some groceries," Miranda said as the doll got comfortable riding in the basket. Miranda traveled the market with a slight smile on her face, she was in her robes but without her halo behind her head. Everyone knew if the priestess was out and about with her halo she didn't want to be bothered with priestess things.

They smiled and bowed their head to her in respect as they passed, saying a quiet "Good morning Mother Miranda." Before passing her for their own business. Miranda hummed as she looked through the options for some fruits, picking up the ripe ones and setting them in the basket.

She handed the vendor some Lei, moving on to the next thing she needed. Doing this a few times they walked past Marie's stand and Angie looked at it, "It looks lonely without Marie running it." She said, Miranda looked up from the baker and hummed at the dark lights. "Yeah, but they will be back soon Angie." Miranda smiled and looked down at the little doll.