The morning sunlight shining in from the curtain-less window urged her to get up, but she just refused to comply. Instead, she snuggled deeper into her bed, in the snug guest room loaned to her by Madam Eponine in the second story of the inn.

I don't want to get up yet, she thought groggily, inhaling the clean scent of the quilt. There's nothing good waiting for me, anyways. I have a murderous sham of a princess hunting me down, an unidentifiable prince to find, and a reality-warping curse to break. I'll just snuggle here and sleep a little more, thank you very much.

She smiled lightly as sleep once again began to overtake her...

... then sighed in sadness as the door banged open in Madam Eponine's characteristic way.

"Up, up, up!" The lady sang out, propping open the window and letting the warm air in.

"Okay." Tutu sighed quietly once more, then curled up out of bed and stretched. One satisfactory yawn later, she was pulling on a pair of trousers and her ivory vest. "What tasks do I have today?"

"Sweeping, then mopping, then finishing the dishes left over from last night's shenanigans. There are biscuits and sausage downstairs for you; it's a good breakfast anywhere. And then the other workers come back, they'll be a right nice set of help."

"I hope so," Tutu laughed warily. "I still ache from last night."

"We won't see another evening like that here, that's for certain." Madam Eponine gazed out the window. "Meyer is quite the mysterious one - so private and closed off, yet so charismatic..."

Tutu smiled. "Still pondering him, Eponine?"

"Not like that!" The woman floundered hastily. "It was just - just a wonderful night. And good for business! And what a mysterious tale..."

"Yes." Tutu's motions slowed for a moment as she remembered her discussion with the traveller the previous night. "For certain..."

The slam of a door downstairs echoed up through the floor, and Madam Eponine halted, a smile slowly spreading across her face. Then, beaming, she hustled out of the room and hurried down the stairs. "They've arrived!"

"Who?" asked Tutu, tagging along quickly. By the time the word was out of her mouth, they were at the foot of the stairs, and two young men were coming towards them with packs slung over their shoulders.

"My boys!" Madam Eponine cried, spreading her arms and enveloping them. "Your journey was not too difficult, I hope?"

"Not in essence, but the thought that you were here waiting made it considerably less bearable to come back," the tallest boy teased, his lavender eyes laughing.

"Out with you," Eponine swatted the top his head good-naturedly. "Get your things in place!" She pecked the cheek of the second boy. "Your bedding is clean, and the floor of your room has been swept - no thanks to the two of you."

"I thought we were rather good at taking care of our room," the boy with lavender eyes huffed. Tutu blinked - she'd never seen such a shade before.

"Lies make for a paper gentleman, my dear," Eponine sighed. "But let's leave it at that - I'd rather not recount that horror. Now, I believe an introduction is in order." She drew back and gestured at Tutu. "Tutu, may I introduce you to my lazy workers?"

Tutu grinned and curtsied as best as she could in her trousers. "It's a pleasure. I've heard so much about you two."

"Little more than slander, I don't doubt." To Tutu's surprise, the lavender boy bowed and kissed her hand lightly. She blushed and remained standing in awkward silence, not knowing how to respond. He rose his head and grinned at her. "I am Femio."

"Tutu. It's a pleasure." She pulled away, and he stood.

Eponine pulled the second boy forward. "Don't be so shy!"

He blinked a couple of times before settling on a sincere, if a bit awkward, smile.

Tutu grinned back, charmed by his innocence. "Hello. And what's your name?"

The boy's lips parted, as if he was about to speak. Then he flinched, and his mouth closed.

Tutu flushed as she realized her blunder. Oh... So then this is the one that can't speak. I'd forgotten... How careless of me. "I'm sorry," she ventured blindly. "I'm sorry, I-"

"Oh, it's alright. It took me a bit to get used to as well." Eponine assured her. The boy looked at her questioningly. "That you're mute," Eponine told him.

Tutu winced. Mute... So he can't speak. That must be very hard... Not being able to tell anyone anything.

The boy eyed Tutu's expression. He reached out and patted her on the shoulder good naturedly. Tutu looked at him in surprise; his eyes seemed to spoke to her. Don't worry about it, it's an innocent mistake.

"Anyhow," Eponine went on. "Tutu, meet Mytho."