✧The Earthe of the Elves✧

15

Mia's POV

--------------------

Saturday. Finally the weekend. My pain is mostly gone now, my wounds are completely gone, as if nothing happened yesterday at all- Except my face, which still feels a bit tender and sore.

This morning the nurse gave me my green dress, the one I got when I first came here. Apparently Rose brought it over after I fell asleep last night. After getting ready- signing out with the nurse at the waiting room and taking a small bottle of pills that look like a solid version of the lotion used on my bruises last night- supposedly it's for pain, in case I get any later in the day- I leave the hospital.

Walking into the castle, it's hard to not think that the path to my room is the same one Cin walked up just yesterday. I don't see Rose or Knox as I walk up the flights of stairs to my room. When I get to my door I open it quickly, deciding to deal with this like ripping off a bandaid. When I open my door, I'm surprised to see all the glass cleaned up, my window fixed with glass that looks a little shiny. Oddly shiny. Walking up to it, I feel a tingling heat surrounding it that I have learned to identify with magic. I smile a little. Someone must have put a little magic on here to make it stronger. As I go about brushing my teeth and hair, I keep looking over to my shower, images of yesterday popping up like watching a movie. I close my eyes and try to will it away.

After braiding my hair- which is getting easier, I actually did a really complicated braid without even realizing I was doing it- I decide to seek out the Queen.

As I step out of the bathroom, a shadow behind my window blinds has me stopping abruptly, my heart hammering so fast a wave of adrenaline crashes into me. Then it moves, and I realize it's just a branch of the tree swaying in the wind. I sigh, shaking my head against the onslaught of memories. I grab my cloak and some gloves, trying to ignore the flare of terror that's slowly fading.

"Stop it," I mutter to myself as I push the door open, all but slamming it closed. I hate being scared.

I head down the stairs quickly, picking the front of my dress up to avoid stepping on it. Luckily the Queen is there when I enter the throne room, sitting on her throne and talking to Andor, who is standing next to it. Rose sees me as soon as I walk in and finishes her conversation with Andor until I reach her. Andor glances at me, expression neutral, before leaving, probably having things to do.

"Mia," Rose says, her voice warm and kind. "I'm so sorry for yesterday. Truly. I wish I had been here."

I shake my head, not wanting to talk about it. "It's okay, it's not your fault, or Knox's, or El's. I'm fine, so it's all good."

I mean, it's not really 'no big deal' that I almost got kidnapped, and I'm still recovering mentally, but I won't worry Rose. Besides, what can she do? Ask me to talk about it? I don't feel like that would help, and I still don't know her super well. Not enough to go into detail about my thoughts or feelings.

Rose gives me an almost reminiscent smile. "You remind me of your dad so much sometimes. He never wanted people blaming themselves for things they can't control. He would always say that, too. 'don't be sorry, it's not your fault.'" She laughs, her eyes far away.

"Cool," I say, not really knowing how to express my emotions about this. But Rose seems to move on, a lightbulb going off in her head.

"Actually I have something I want to tell you." She waits for me to nod before continuing, lowering her voice so it's not echoing through the spacious room anymore. "I've been informed that the orphan elves that found you by the stream a few days ago have disappeared."

I tilt my head in confusion. "Okay..? What does that mean?"

"We think they left soon after Elmer did yesterday. We think they are the ones who helped the Cin get into the city, and they most likely pulled that stunt at the stream because they were trying to knock you out or take you, not kill you."