The Red Artefact

Chapter 4

Claire slowly turned her head downwards. In-between the windowsill and the glass was the gnome like creature, his arms and legs tangled in a split like stance to keep him from falling. His face, which she could now see clearly, consisted of two large eyes which were dark green and a small mouth under his large nose. He was looking at her in a desperate sort of way. This time Claire could find her voice and she screamed a quick shriek, quickly moving backwards, nearly tripping over her towel and sliding slightly against the wet floor. The creature climbed through the window, struggled to pull himself up though he somehow managed it, and dropped own onto the floor with a roll, landing on his butt with a soft 'oof'. As soon as he landed he put his small hands over his ears, looking as if he was trying to block out her echoing shriek. She heard a banging from the bathroom door which caused her to quieten.

"Claire, you okay?" Ollie said worryingly from the other side of the door, which was still rumbling from his knock. Claire looked to the door, and then back to the creature on the floor. She was shaking slightly, but this time not from the cold, gazing at the gnome which was starting to just take his hands off his ears. Ollie knocked the door again, harder this time in desperation causing the door to rattle uncomfortably.

"Claire if you don't answer I'm coming in!"

Claire struggled to answer, her mouth gaping open and closed staring at the creature who was finding his feet, his hat nearly falling off of his head as he did so. She heard the door handle starting to turn and she quickly croaked.

"I'm fine, I, um, I, ah, I just slipped." She didn't want to tell Ollie, well not just yet. What if he came in and freaked out? She would also rather him to not burst into the bathroom and further put her into hysterics.

"You okay?" She heard Ollie through the door.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she replied more strongly, "I'll be out in a minute." Her eyes still haven't left the creature, who was readjusting his mouldy looking hat onto his head.  She heard Ollie mumble okay and then his soft footsteps walking away from the door.  The Gnome was fully standing now, looking at Claire with his large eyes. Claire wrapped her fingers more tightly around her towel.

"Hey," he said casually, waving his little hand in a wave as if they were old friends.

"What the hell are you?" She said shakily. At that comment the creature looked a little offended, his ears drooping slightly. Then waved his arms out, as if what he was is plain obvious. Well, it probably was to him.

"What do you think I am?" He said, shuffling on his feet.

"A gnome."

"A gnome!" The creature shouted outraged. "Like one of them garden gnomes with colourful pointed hats you see placed in Human's front lawns holding flowers or pushing wheel barrows as decoration! I am completely offended!" The creature crossed his arms, turning his body away from Claire, "I am a Elf just so you know, I am not a gnome." 

Claire breathed out heavily, "I'm sorry for offending you." She couldn't help but think that she shouldn't be the one apologising, he was the one that climbed through the window while she was only wearing a towel after all. But he seemed happy enough by the apology and turned around to face her again.

"I'm Angus," he said, pointing his own thumb at himself, walking closer. He opened his mouth to say something else but was quickly cut off.

"Right. Claire," she said hurriedly, "Um, please could you turn around to I can get dressed? And keep those big eyes of your closed." There was no point in even trying to finish her shower now.

"Yes! Of course I shall give you privacy to change." Instead of just turning around he simply strolled into the cupboard under the sink and closed himself into it.