The children lay in their beds. Molly could see the light glinting off of Natalie's eyes as she watched, her head on the pillow, her body still. In the quiet of the dormitory, Molly began her tale.
"Once upon a time, there was a great warrior named Amo Cera. She traveled the land with her famed sword, Justice, looking for wrongs to make right."
"A female warrior? I thought all warriors were men?" A voice said in the darkness to her right.
"Quiet Eve!" Walter barked.
"No, It's alright." Molly said. "But you are wrong to think that only men can be warriors. Amo Cera was a noted fighter skilled in the long sword and the broad sword. She was an ace shot with the bow and even used the boomerang on occasion. No one could stand before her. They called her the Maiden Prince.
"One night she saw a pretty girl sitting in the window of her house crying. So she asked the girl what was wrong, and the girl told her this story.
"The girl was named Cindy, and her mother was a famous beauty, but she died when Cindy was young. Afterwards, Cindy's father married a woman with two young daughters, and together they were a very happy family, but then her father died. Although Cindy was very sad, her stepsisters and stepmother tried their best to make her happy. Luckily the mother had some money set aside, so they continued to live comfortably, but the mother told the daughters that their best hope would be to marry, because in that land daughters could not inherit property. Cindy objected. She said that she didn't want to ever marry, so her kindly stepmother found her an apprenticeship with a dress maker, and Cindy swore that once she learned enough she would start her own business and support them all. So the four of them lived together happily for many years.
"One day, the prince of the land announced that he would hold a ball to choose a wife, and all unmarried girls must go. The mother and sisters were very protective of Cindy who was somewhat simple but very beautiful. They believed Cindy might be noticed by the prince who was an evil man known for his violent temper, so they hid her in the house when the heralds came.
"Even so, Cindy had heard about the ball while working at the dress shop and she declared that she wanted to go because everyone would be wearing their best dresses, and she would never get another chance to see such a variety of fine clothing again. They told her that she could not go saying that she was just a simple servant girl unsuited to mix with nobles. Cindy was shocked at their change in attitude and ran into the kitchen to darken her face and cry among the cinders. She did not know that they wouldn't let her go because they had heard of the prince's bad reputation and they wanted to protect her from harm.
"So on the promised day her mother and stepsisters left for the ball leaving Cindy behind, but Cindy wanted to see the finery so badly that she walked behind the carriage hoping to watch the fine ladies as they entered the gates. It was on her way to the castle that she passed beside a rival dressmaker's shop. The woman who ran the shop was once the most prosperous dressmaker in town, but ever since Cindy had started working for her rival, her customers had switched to her shop so that despite the suddenness of the ball, her most expensive dress had gone unsold. She was filled with spite from her loss of income so when she saw Cindy, she hatched an evil plan.
"She told Cindy that she would dress her for the ball, and give her a carriage to go if she wanted. Her plan was to get her married off to the prince. Then not only would everyone know that her dresses were best, but her competitor would lose her best worker. Cindy was overjoyed by the offer. She begged the dressmaker to help, and she did, combing and dressing her hair to match the extravagant dress, and giving her silk shoes embroidered all over with tiny glass beads to wear.
"Cindy was last of all of the girls to arrive at the ball. When she entered all eyes were on her, for as showy as the clothes were, she made the dress look beautiful and her shoes on the staircase sparkled like jewels. The prince came over to her at once and asked her to dance.
"They danced many times during the night, and Cindy was pleased for she was able to see everyone dressed in their finery, but then Cindy got tired and wanted to go home. She tried to leave the ball, but the prince wouldn't let her. He grabbed her arms, bruising her skin. He said that she was there for his pleasure, and that she would marry him. She said 'no', but he said that she had no choice because he was the prince. She pulled out of his grasp then, and ran away from him. She tripped on the stairs once, but she was able to get away. The prince could not catch her, but he found her glass slipper on the stairs.
"As soon as her sisters came home, Cindy confessed everything to them, and they admitted that they had only said harsh things to protect her. Afraid that the prince might find her, they cut up the dress and burned it in the fire, but when it came down to it, Cindy found herself unwilling to burn the glass slipper which was very fine. Cindy hid it in a tin which she buried in the ashes of the fireplace.
"But the prince could not be twarted so easily. He got his guards to go from house to house in their search for the girl. When they got to Cindy's house the mother had her hide upstairs. The chancellor insisted that guards search the house and they found Cindy. The mother insisted she was but a servant, but they did not listen having been led here by a tip from the spiteful dressmaker.
"They forced her sisters to try on the shoe. It didn't fit the first sister, though she tried her best to squeeze into the small shoe, wanting to protect her sister, Cindy. The second sister concealed scissors in her hand, and as she tried on the shoe, she discretely cut the cloth side of the shoe, stretching it until it fit her foot. Everyone was excited that the mystery lady had been found, but then the chancellor saw that the shoe had been cut and ordered the daughter seized while he attempted to repair it. He called for needle and thread, and since it was getting dark, he ordered the guards to light the fire so that he could see well enough to sew it closed.
"But while the guards were lighting the fire, they found the tin containing the other shoe. The chancellor then ordered the guards to bring Cindy forward, and they shoved the shoe on her foot which it fit perfectly. Then the chancellor had guards surround the house as he went back to town to inform the prince that his bride had been found.
"That night there was much crying as Cindy knew she would soon be wed to the violent prince, and her sister jailed when he arrived the next morning. Cindy had just opened the window to view her last sunrise as a maiden when Amo Cera had arrived.
"AmoCera heard Cindy's sad story and resolved to help her. She climbed through the window, and slipped into one of the girl's dresses, which was difficult because of her large muscles. Then she put a veil over her face as a disguise. When the prince came, the guards led her down from the room and the chancellor showed the paired shoes to the prince. Then he lifted the veil, and saw Amocera. He gasped, for in a way, she was even more beautiful than Cindy was.
"'You are not she,' he said, 'but you are a comely maiden. Come to my castle and I will give you riches and cloth of gold.' 'I don't need any of your baubles. I have ones of my own,' AmoCera said as she pulled out her daggers. One she held at the Prince's neck, and one to his breeches as she said. 'Leave these women in peace, or I will make you into a gelding.'
"The guards all around drew their swords, but the prince laughed. He said that he was a rich and important man, and he could take anyone or anything that he wanted. Besides she was only a girl, and stood no chance against a prince. She laughed then saying that she was not the one with a knife to her throat, and that she WAS a prince having been adopted by the King of Andromeda. The prince said that if she was a prince, then they should meet each other on the field of war. So she challenged him to single combat, and he accepted.
"The next day with all the kingdom watching, they fought in the training grounds of the castle. The prince could gain no headway against Amo Cera with the sword, and so he shot a paralyzing dart in her arm. His plan was that she would be incapacitated, he would disarm her, and then claim her body as his prize, but even with only one arm, she was able to fight him off, and win the battle. She cut off the length of his hair and made him swear before all that he would never force himself on anyone ever again. Then she had him pay gold to Cindy's family and the families of every other woman he had violated in his long, evil, youth.
"With the money, Cindy started her own tailor shop and was wildly successful. Evil was vanquished, and Cindy and her family lived a long and prosperous life. The end."
Molly looked over to find Natalie's eyes were closed. All around her she heard the sound of gentle breathing. She rose to her feet and tiptoed out of the room. Walter led her down the hall stopping when he noticed the light on in another room. Molly followed him into what appeared to be the nursery. There were four cribs inside, but only one baby was present. Gina stood on one foot with the baby held against her shoulder.
"Get me a bottle for him, won't you Walter?" Gina asked.
He nodded and ran off down the hall to the kitchen.
"Walter seems to be a good boy," Molly said looking back at him.
"He is. The best, but soon he'll have to leave us. When he comes of age next year they will turn him out with only 100 pounds and the clothes on his back."
"Surely, he can stay on, to help."
"Unfortunately no. We barely make enough to feed everyone as it is, not counting utilities. That's why the charity ball is so important. Ow!"
"Your foot," Molly said. "You shouldn't be walking yet." Molly pulled a chair over for Gina and then put out her hands to take the baby. Gina hesitated before handing the child over. Then she watched Molly's face as she looked at the child.
Molly was shocked for a moment when she saw his face, but she recovered quickly holding the child firmly in her arms. Gina stared for a moment and then lowered herself into her chair.
"He came to us six months ago," Gina said. "He was abandoned. He has a cleft lip, and he was malnourished. Babies usually get adopted quickly, but no one has been willing to take on little Jeremy. A shame, as he is the sweetest, most well-behaved baby that I have ever known."
Molly stared at the split in the center of his mouth that reached up to his nostrils exposing his gums and two tiny teeth. He looked up at her with soft brown eyes. Molly said, "But why would anyone abandon the child? There's an simple operation to repair a cleft lip. You can have that fixed in a day."
"Some people are superstitious, I guess. I can never understand why anyone would abandon an innocent child."
"Why haven't you got it fixed?"
"We had an operation scheduled, but he caught the flu and was very ill. We've only just got him back to a good weight to try again. He has trouble feeding sometimes."
Walter came in then with a warm bottle.
"Can I try?" Molly asked. When Gina nodded, she placed the bottle carefully in Jeremy's mouth. The baby sucked and chewed and reached out to her.
"Your dress! Gina cried as the baby pressed up against her.
"I don't mind," Molly said holding him.
Gina pulled a baby blanket off of a shelf and tossed it to Walter who draped it over Molly's shoulder. She lifted the baby then and repositioned it against her chest as he fed. He made soft noises and kneeded her breasts. He was smaller than Rosie. Walter pulled up a chair and Molly sat looking down as the tiny baby fed. Before long, he fell back asleep and Molly burped him before laying him down in the crib.
"So Molly, do you have children of your own? You seem experienced."
"No, I don't," she said petting Jeremy's soft hair. "But I do babysit quite a bit. You will tell me when Jeremy gets his operation won't you. I work at St. Bartholemew's Hospital. If you have it done there, I'll check up on him for you."
"That would be nice," Gina said staring at her. "You know we'd be happy if you came to visit again. Career day is coming up. You could talk about your work."
Molly frowned then remembering that her job was anything but secure. She stood straighter removing the blanket from her shoulder and placing it on the edge of the crib.
"Well, if you are fine, I think I'd better go home before the driver decides to leave me here. Good night, Gina."
"Good night, Molly. And thanks! Walter, show her out please."
The boy walked down the hall looking back at her often as he led her to the front door. She sighed with relief to find the car was still waiting for her. She waved goodbye to Walter and walked to the car, sliding in when the driver opened the door for her, only to realize that she wasn't alone when she looked into the face of Mycroft Holmes.