Embedded Emerald in Gold fire

A new Chance - 3

"We don't know her, she could be a threat" Jonathan whisper yelled. "She's just a girl..." "a girl who somehow knew how to use some weird potion, does that not strike you as odd?" he interrupted. "But if her mother is a healer... she could have been watching, being taught from a young age" Eleonore replied. "We don't have enough to feed another child in winter" Jonathan then said, sad due to the knowledge. "Just one night... she could help if Nathaniel has another fit in the night" Eleonore said, begging with her eyes.

"You're too good for your own sake" Jonathan whispered, but kissed her gently on her hair as he hugged her "one night" he whispered as his wife hugged him back.

Kara had listened to them, being sure they did not know about her identity yet. But the longer she stayed somewhere the more she endangered herself of being discovered. She may have wanted to leave, but her tired limbs did not follow her commands and her muscles had relaxed as the warmth crept into her body. She wanted to check up on the boy, Nathaniel, but her eyelids increased in weight so quick. She heard some more whispers, not able to make out the words. She fought sleep for as long as she could, but had sunken to the side and was fast asleep by the time Jonathan and Eleonore came back downstairs.

"She's so skinny" Eleonore said, as she scrutinized the tiny hands. Jonathan wanted to pick her up, but Kara scurried back in her sleep, whispering uncoherent words while she seemed to be scared of anyone approaching her. "Let's just leave her by the fire then..." Eleonore said and placed another piece of wood into the flames. Her eyes remained glued to the girl, something drew her eyes to her, bound her attention to the small girl even though there was nothing special about her. Her hair was knotted and looked to be a dull greyish brown, her eyes a dull green when open and her skin pale. But still, this small girl was special even though she did not know how.

Eleonore and Jonathan checked on their eldest once more before going to bed themselves, whispering quietly about the odd girl sleeping downstairs. "I just hope she's not robbing us in our sleep" Jonathan whispered, only partly serious. "We don't exactly own a fortune" Eleonore replied as she snuggled up to him before closing her eyes.

....

Eleonore woke up as one of her children seemed to laugh in the room of Nathaniel. She rose, quickly wrapped a robe around herself as she walked into the next room "Christopher, I told you to let Nathaniel rest" she said as she walked into the room. She stopped when she saw Nathaniel sit in his bed, his face had regained some colour and he smiled at her "Good morning to you too mother" he joked, stroking Christopher's blond hair. The small boy was kneeling on the bed and had turned to grin at Eleonore "but he's fine" he babbled and reached for Nathaniel's brown hair himself.

"You're up?" Eleonore asked astonished "yes, I feel much better" he replied as he lifted his brother off the bed and onto the floor. A dirty bowl stood at his bedside table "did you make yourself breakfast?" Eleonore wondered, still in shock from the fast recovery. "Kara did, she gave me water whenever I woke and insisted I eat as soon as I felt like it" he said. "Kara?" Eleonore furrowed her forehead before remembering the young girl "oh".

Eleonore hurried downstairs to find a pot of some thick yellow paste bubbling over a small fire on the stove. Kara had taken off her large cloak, revealing a long dress which hung loosely, way too large for her tiny frame. The dress was dirty, torn at the bottom and might have once been a light blue, but was greyish now. Her hair was knotted into a loose bun at the back of her head, looking as dirty as it did yesterday.

Kara turned to Eleonore, eying her carefully. She seemed to be unsure of what to say, remaining silent and frozen to her spot. Her small hand had grasped a small bowl filled with some of the yellow paste. Eleonore was not sure what to say either and kept looking at her until Christopher rushed past her. He squealed a little as he reached for the bowl. She smiled at him without parting her lips, handing it to him. "I hope it is okay I cooked something. Nathanial needs energy..." she then said, her dull green eyes looking at Eleonore.