The Heart of Shadow and Gold

Chapter 24

Ashley's POV

Queen Gwendolyn, or as she insisted that I called her Gwen, was not kidding when she said shell whip up us something to eat.

I look at the table filled with foods of all different kinds. I have never seen the majority of these foods, besides the potatoes that when I smushed, I realized that the potatoes with skin on them is how they originally come.

Marie always makes the grounds inhabitants food consisting of green beans, mashed potatoes, carrots, and bits of steak or pork in it. But it was always mixed, this was all separate.

I never realized how good all the food Ive been eating for years is on its own.

I had a plate in front of me with a weirdly shaped piece of meat, still on the bone I should say, and mashed potatoes. the potatoes were fairly flavored, and it tasted delicious.

The piece of meat -which I was told was chicken- was unlike anything I have ever tasted, the skin was crispy and seasoned while the meat was decently cooked and fresh.

I got some weird looks when I used my cutlery to cut the meat off the bone while they were just eating it off the bone.

Once finished I stood up and walked to the kitchen, which in its entrance I turned to the queen. "May I enter the kitchen to wash my dishes?" I politely requested, as I would do to Marie when I had dirty dishes that when I had time, I offered to help clean the dishes.

"Oh, dear you can just put them on the side of the sink." She responded.

"If you want, I could help you clean up." I offer again, insisting to earn her hospitality.

"That would be lovely," she smiled, "but you should really take more, I insist, if you would like seconds."

"No, no, Im filled, your cooking was delicious." I complimented her as she smiles brightly.

She was about to respond to me when knocking could be heard.

Queen Gwendolyn stood up, brushing off her evergreen dress.

Walking towards the door she let in two guests she was talking admirably about, and out of pure hesitation and fear I backed away from the opening and quickly walked in the kitchen to set my plate down and get my bearings, as I was having one of my panic attacks, thankfully this one was mild and I was more in control of myself than I usually am.

What if they dont like me?

Oh, dont be ridiculous, after all I went through, they had better like me!

What do they look like? Are they snobby? Are they sonorous?

And suddenly realization hit me like a freight train.

Are my parents elves?

I took a deep breath as I strode out of the kitchen, pushing down my panic and masking my fear as I was met with a woman and a man with dark hair and a certain style I couldn't place.

The woman had both her hands on her chest like her heart was going to burst as she looked at me with an emotion so strong I thought she was going to erupt like a volcano if she continued to push it down and hide it, although the woman looked at me with a sense of recognition, like she's seen me recently and understands what I have been through, which is impossible.

The man was slightly taller and his pointed ears peeking out of his short hair, he had tears running down his cheeks already. he looked like his world has been pieced back together, like someone gave him back a prized memory back.

"you're even more beautiful in reality." The woman broke the silence, she looked like she was going to cry.

"You know me?" I questioned suspiciously. What I meant to say was you know me outside of reality? but instead chose the safer option.

"Since birth." The man whispered.

"you're my parents." I spoke, I knew this fact, but it was hard saying it out loud for the first time.

As if that was the trigger word, they hugged me. They embraced me, pulled me in their arms and they cried in happiness as their child was returned to them after all these years.

At first, I felt uncomfortable and tense, still was, after all, these were strangers and elves nonetheless, no matter their blood relationship to me.

But I did like that just for a second, for a moment, I didn't have to worry about anything, just focusing on these oddly comforting and familiar arms wrapped around me protectively.

Maybe its possible to find a home here after all.

A/N 777 words