10 years earlier
The sun began to rise into the sky waking up households and animals alike. The warm yellow rays of the sun shone threw the curtains of her humble house as her eyes flicked open. She sat up and let the covers fall off of her, rubbing her eyes then letting out a big yawn, her hair a long tangled mess of purple, "morning already…", as she lay her head back down on the ground she was suddenly interrupted by an angry mother who's raven black hair fell just past her shoulders.
"Come on Esla it's time to wake up!… geez your always so lazy first thing in the morning" Lilly placed her hands on her hips, angry at the small child for her behaviour.
"But Mummy!" Esla cried standing up, "Not a chance you little trouble maker" with one hand on her hip she pointed to the door, "now hurry up and go help you brothers collect some water!" sulking Esla obeyed. Watching her set out Brad, her husband, walked up beside her, hugging her as they watched her leave her said quietly, "Esla's such a good littler girl and so devoted for a 5 years old" Lilly nodded her head then walked back inside to start preparing some bread.
The village of Tison was a nice place to grow up in, everyone was friendly and like one huge family. Esla ran up to her elder brothers, David and Charlie, both of the teenaged boys were the spitting image of their father, tall with short caramel brown hair. David however had more spiky hair then Charlie did which made him look a little like a rebel making him popular with some girls. Taking their hands as Esla joined them as they went to collect the water. As they walked they passed by several fruit and veggie stands as well as fish and other types of meat stands in the market place "Good morning you three!" shouted the friendly shop, keep waving a them with a huge smile her face, "Hey big brother…" Esla began directing her statement at her eldest and most loved brother David as they walked, "what is it?" her replied with a hint of curiousness in his voice. Esla looked up at him with large Golden eyes, "why do people keep staring at me?" David was startled by this remark, "what do you mean Esla?", looking down at her feet she said, "sometimes when I'm walking around outside hold big brothers hand like this people stare at me, and I can't help but feel out of place" voice was quieter now but David and Charlie still heard everything. "What are you talking about!" Charlie almost shouted scooping the child up into his arms then place her on his shoulders, "you're the same as everyone else here Esla. Now come on lets race David to the well!" he shouted just as he broke into a sprint. Esla giggled with glee as they ran to the well, "oh no you don't, you not winning this time!" shouted David as he two began to sprint.
Placing one hand on the well Charlie exclaimed "Ha! Your such a slow poke Dave" just as David arrived at the well. Place his hands on his knees and puffing like crazing, "Oh… come on… Charlie… your know you had… a… a… head start!" David spoke while gasping for air. Charlie simply stuck his tongue out at him while her place Esla down on the edge of the well.
"That was fun lets do it again" the small child exclaimed excitedly, David pat her on the head, "sure but next time you run as well" he smiled evilly at her, sweat pouring off his face. Esla jumped down and run behind Charlie, "aaaaaah big brother has gone demon form!" she pointed at David.
The three of them laughed a talked while they hauled the water up out of the well using the bucket had brought with them, then headed back home.
It was midday before they arrived back, David placed the bucket of water inside the small, run down looking house as two more of their siblings appeared, "Big sisters!" Esla screamed with joy at the sight of them, running up to them and jumping into their arms, "I missed you, Ami, Mami!" she said looking at them both. Ami and Mami were twins, both girls four years older then Esla and to top things off they were twins. They each had pitch black hair like their mother and green eyes like their father, each had a pony tail on the side of their head, Ami's to the left and Mami's on the right, so that people could tell the two apart.
"What are you talking about Esla?" stated Ami as she placed her little sister back on the ground, "Yeah Esla you saw us last night didn't you," continued Mami. The two smiled in Unison, "I know I did but" she formed a cute little pout and swung back on her heels, "I didn't get to see you this morning," Ami and Mami just laughed and headed inside where lunch was being served.
The family of seven all sat in a small circle, they were to poor to afford a table so they placed a rug on the ground and used that instead. Each took turns in getting a bread roll and a small bowl of stew, for the mean time they ate in silence. It was Esla that broke that silence, "Mummy, Daddy" she said, Brad and Lilly looked to their youngest, "what is it sweety" her mother said place a hand gently on her daughters shoulder.
"Why am I different to all of you?" she question place her food back down on the rug. This statement shocked the whole family, "I mean I look so different from the rest of you… Mummy has black hair and brown eyes… Daddy has brown hair and green eyes… Ami, Mami, David and Charlie all look like you… but me…" she looked down at her hands. There was once again silence, when suddenly Lilly stood up and walk to Esla's side pulling her into a warm embrace, "so what if you look a little different from us your still our daughter." Esla smiled, "there that's better, you look so much nicer when you smile," Brad said as he stood up, "well I'll see you all tonight, I gotta head back out to work" he said as he turned around to leave giving his family a small salute as he did, "good luck out there Dad" smiled Mami and Ami in unison as they got up and run outside to play, "yeah go get em" said Charlie as he ran past his father after the girls, David on the other hand helped his mother wash up after the meal.
"Go on and play with you brother and sisters Esla" Lilly lead the girl outside the house and waved her off. Esla looked back and smiled running to catch up to the others.
It was evening before the five kids headed back to the house, laughing a chatting like normal. Esla held David's hand as they their house came into sight, "man that was fun" laughed Charlie, "yeah!" Esla smiled at her older brothers and sisters, "we should play that again soon!" she run the rest of the way to their home and jumped into her mothers arms, "I see you all had fun" Esla nodded her head as her mother placed her on the ground she then ran inside followed by her siblings.
David stopped in the door way and turned to his mother with a serious look on his face, "mum I need to talk to you later… about Esla" Lily simply nodded, "Yeah I know you do. You're the eldest and it's about time you found out the truth about her" she smiled and walked inside where dinner had already been put, their father seated, started placing some food on his plate as the rest of the family sat down and dug in.
They all laughed and talked like everything was normal when Brad call them to attention, "everyone we have some news for you all". They all looked up from there meals as he continued, "Tomorrow we are going to having a guest over,"
"Why is that so important?" question Ami, "yeah why?" Mami asked the two girls tilting their heads in curiosity. This time Lilly stood up, "The man Visiting is a someone of Nobility," she said with a serious tone in her voice, "so you all need to be on your best behaviour… OK!" everyone nodded.
"Who is it?" asked Esla, covering her mouth as she let out a huge yawn.
"Sorry sweety, we can't tell you that" Brad stated picking up the small child. Walking over to the sleeping area he placed her down and tucked her into bed, "but it's bed time for you, so go to sleep" he said kissing her lightly on the forehead. Lily walked over and did the same as she drifted off to sleep.
***
It wasn't long before everyone else had gone off to bed and David could finally talk to his mother and father in private.
"So that's what's going on" he said shock to hear what they had just discussed.
"Yes" stated Brad, "but remember Esla is still very young and doesn't know anything yet,"
"So please don't tell her anything" finished Lilly, "Right" David nodded then headed off to bed.
'I can't believe it, Esla is…' his last thoughts before drifting off to the sleep.