My Dearest Lady Cotton

Naive Kindness

   Chatters of sales and bargains echoed around Cotton as she cradled a Long Sword to her bosom. Few village folks weaved two and fro around the young Wife, busily peering into shops and carrying baskets over their heads. 

   Holding her Husband's letter between her thumb and pointer finger, she hurried away from the local Blacksmith, all the while admiring the Enchanted Blue Calcite encrusted into the sword.

    She had to be careful. Many thieves and robbers hid along the streets, and knowing that the Blacksmith was tucked far into the back of an alleyway, made it easier for them to strike.

  And there was no way the lilac haired woman would let anyone steal her Man's precious partner. Especially since Louis was over the moon with news of his long sword inheriting magic. She couldn't wait to bring 'Rosa' home to him!

   Patting the metal affectionately on the side, she grinned from the responding clanks and clunks. There was nothing to worry about. She'll be safe, as long as she kept the brooch on her chest.

  He really had to hide it in the balcony garden, didn't he? Her conscious grumbled, eyeing the Enchantment of Echoes clipping her shawl together.

  She replied with a light chuckle, ignoring the sour words that spilled from it's tongue. "It is how he is. Strange."

   Shaking it's head, her mind continued to glower, clearly displeased at Cotton's answer. He should be more careful. What if the letter flew away because of the wind? Then where would the necklace be now!

  Well, her conscious wasn't wrong... but knowing Louis, the man probably placed something secure around it, blocking the missive from any escape. The winter plants guarded the parchment quite well, that seemed to be enough.

   While examining a beautifully crafted set of wooden carvings, she noticed a rather tall woman hovering distressingly close to body. Boring her pale blue gaze upon Cotton, she stood still, eerily admiring the aquatic sheen flickering in and out from the sword's newest Enchantment.

  Awkwardly shifting her own blue eyes away, the lavender haired woman cleared her throat, clutching 'Rosa', the long sword, nearer to her stiff chest, fleeing the shop and the creepy woman as warily as she could.

   Looking back every so often, she quickly counted the number of coins in her pouch, her fingers trembled along her grip of her Husband's sword. What was that? Why was she staring at her in such a way? It was unnerving!

    Unnerving indeed! Her conscious sneered, piping up from its perch in her head. What did she want?

    Biting the bottom of her lip, the young Wife sighed and carried on to her apartment, peering over her shoulder one last time. Stars if I know. I hope we don't bump into her again.

   Feeling a finger poke her side, Cotton jerked with a squeak and veered her head, firmly gripping 'Rosa' as it clattered to her panicked movements. At the sight of that same tall lass from the store, the lavender haired woman paled and rigidly squeezed her arms impossibly tight, imprinting intricate patterns of the sheath into her hands.

   The eerie woman waved a shy hand, smiling gently at the young wife's horrified face. "Excuse me," She began in a small voice, rolling a lock of white clementine colored strands around her slender fingers. "I um..I am new to this City. Can you help me, Miss?"

   At her tiny voice and shy gaze, Cotton could feel her guard simmer down just a tad. However, her inner mind wracked the young Wife to keep her barriers high. "Do..do you need anything?" She replied, stepping back just a slight.