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 Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:31 am
Elani smiled and blushed a bit - though it wasn't all that visible on her - and looked around, relieved at the idea of heading back home. "All right, we'll go back," she said, then looked around again, her eyes widening as she realized she really didn't know the way back to the fourth district. "Um... we'll go this way," she said, leading Thali in what was unknowingly the perfectly wrong direction.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:50 am
Thali followed, but frowned as she studied their surroundings. "Lani," she started, "this not the way home." Many toddlers might have been unable to recognize that they were going the wrong way, but not Thali. Her memory was excellent.
Unknown to the two girls, a guard crept behind them. He gently put a hand over Thali's mouth and removed her hand from Elani's.
"Princess, what are you doing so far from home?" he asked. "Your father is going frantic. It's time you were in bed for a nap," he added. Ignoring the threats of being hung and losing his head, he carried the tiny princess back to fourth district.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:56 am
Elani didn't know what had happened - one minute she was talking with the Princess, and the next minute she was gone. "Little bird?" she called, her voice wavering as she looked around. "W-where are you?" There was no answer, because the little princess was even now being taken back to the fourth district, but Elani didn't know that. All she knew was that the princess was gone - gone maybe kidnapped even - and she was all alone... all alone in a very... a very big... kind of scary place...
Panicking, Elani started to run, looking around frantically to try and find Thali anywhere - she didn't want to be here! Not all alone and lost in the third district! She was only eleven - she wasn't really a grown-up! Grown-ups never got lost! They didn't get scared! Tears started to leak from her eyes and finally, Elani found an out-of-the-way spot along a wall and sat down, starting to bawl like the lost little girl she was.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:31 pm
With the princess' screams and cries, the guard found it difficult to understand what she was trying to say, even when they got to the castle. "Calm yourself, princess," he said gently. He was used to children, he had two girls of his own. "What has upset you?"
"I gonna hang you," Thali said clearly, wiping at her eyes with her free hand, she used the other to clutch at the doll Lani had given her. "You left Lani! You left her! I gonna hang you and then--" she paused, and wiped at her eyes again. "And then I make you hurt very badly!"
The guard didn't seem at all bothered that he would be hung. He was used to death threats from the baby princess, he got them three times a week. "Calm yourself, little princess," he repeated. "I'll go fetch your Elani. Try to rest," he added, gently pushing her towards her bed. He was off to Third District.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:40 pm
Elani squished herself against the wall, trying to appear small and unnoticeable - which she mostly was, as she was in a shaded area and was a small dark elf. She was going to be lost and trapped here forever, all alone with no-one to take care of her and no books! no books and no toys and not family, no food! "I want to go home," she whimpered, curling up into a little ball and wiping at the tears falling from her eyes, before breaking down into full-blown sobs.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:08 pm
"You are Elani, I take it?" The elven guard, being as swift as the wind (not literally, but it makes a good image), had arrived in time to hear the girl's wish. "The princess is quite upset," he said, offering her a handkerchief. "She is presently preparing for my death for the fourth time this week, and wishes you to be present."
He paused, and gave her a reassuring smile. "Not many elflings are as brave as you two are," he said. "Exploring Third District. I suggest First for your next venture away from home. It is much more pleasant." He winked at her playfully. "Now come with me," he said. "I'll take you home."
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:27 pm
Elani took the handkerchief gratefully and sniffled into it for a few moments before she managed to calm herself down. "I can go home now?" she asked, her voice rough from crying. "Am - am I in trouble? I didn't want the princess to go alone, but - but I should have tried to get her to do something else - I should have..." Against her will, her golden eyes watered again, and the young elf looked every bit the pathetically-sad puppy dog who is afraid it's going to get a swat on the nose.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:51 pm
"You're not in trouble," The guard, Eamon, assured her. "If anything, our Lord will admire your curiousity." He took her hand gently, and smiled down at her. "No one has ever been able to keep the princess from her adventures. I doubt very much you could have convinced her not to go," he said. "She is too much like her father."
"Now," he continued. "I best get you to the princess at once, before I get into trouble." He led her through Third District and into Fourth, heading straight for the castle. "See? You're home now."
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:58 pm
Recognizing the area once they were close enough, Elani's eyes lit up and she hugged the guard, so grateful was she to be back home and safe. "Thank you, thank you," she said, giving the older elf a huge smile before running off to the castle, eager to find Thali and assure the baby princess that she was alright, and back, and hopefully stop any tantrum that might have started before it got too bad.
"Princess little bird?" she called from outside of Thali's bedroom door - she could hear the little elf from clear down the hall, she was so loud. Ouch.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:23 pm
"I WANT MY 'LANI!" Thali was tantruming full force, various voices could be heard inbetween the toddler's screams, trying to reassure her that Lani was fine, and would be there soon. It didn't seem to be having any effect. "I WANT MY--" the crying stopped. "Lani?" the toddler asked, making her way to the door. She opened it, and quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, attached herself to the older girl.
"Lani, you're back!" she cried, hiding her face in her friend's dress. "I missed you!" She paused, and pulled away to glare at Elani. "You bedder not leave 'gain!" she said, shaking a finger at her friend. "You bedder not! I gonna get very mad if you do!"
A few elves in the background chuckled in relief. The princess was no longer tantruming! It was time for celebration!
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:30 pm
Elani didn't bother to correct the princess in that it was Thali who had left her - she knew the baby wouldn't understand nor care. Instead, she simply pulled her little friend into a hug and smiled. "I promise, little bird~ I'm not going to ever leave you."
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