CHAPTER 18
Sarah woke up and had her kitten sitting off to the side staring at her while she slept. She turned her head to the side looking into his lovely amber eyes just looking at her. Studying her introspectively.
She said, "What is it, my little love? What are you thinking so hard about? It makes you look so wise and handsome." His purr motor switched on. He walked up and headbutted her chin, rubbing his face against hers in long strokes. She reached up, petting him and rubbing his little ears.
She said, "I love you too, my sweet little boy." She scooped him up and kissed his face all over, rolling over putting him on his back. He put his paws on her chin like he was holding her back. He had an adoring look in his eyes looking back at her.
She giggled and said, "You are the most adorable little kitty ever. I could eat you up by stealing all your kisses just for your mama." She rubbed her nose on his nose and rubbed his ears with her thumbs.
She told him, "I like waking up to such a loving sweetheart every morning. Let's get up and I'll do my things and feed my favorite boy some breakfast." She kissed him on the nose and got up. She went to the bathroom, stretched, yawned and brushed her teeth. She came out and looked around for him. She found him looking out the window on the balcony through the curtains.
She went up behind him, picked him up and asked, "What do you see, my little love?"
Down below in the courtyard one floor down was a young girl, about twelve years old. She had a full grown tattered looking Cathmere cat on a leash. She was practically dragging the poor thing by the neck. She could hear the spoiled child screaming at the cat. The cat was looking up at Sarah and Azure in the window, while being dragged.
The child screamed, "You stupid cat, I'll teach you to not listen to me!" The cat suddenly was shocked like being electrocuted. It flopped down on the ground, twitching on its side."
Sarah said out loud, "I 'wish' that all people that use collars like that on all Cathmere cats would feel the same exact pain at the same exact intensity due to size, instead of the cat from now on." The magic swirled and swirled, reaching out stretching across the land traveling like a wave outward to make it so. The girl fell down to the ground and twitched as the cat recovered. It sat up and looked up at the window where Sarah and Azure were looking back. It looked at the girl that had started screaming and crying and jumped to her feet running out of the garden leaving the cat behind. Sarah cuddled Azure to her.
She stepped out onto the cold balcony and said to the cat, "The collars for all of your kind will not work any longer. I turned them on to the enslaver on the slave. Come climb up here and I will feed you breakfast with my baby Cathmere. You are welcome and will never be harmed by me." Sarah turned and went back inside. She left the door open to the balcony. Sarah sat down on the bed and started mixing milk and meat together in his little bowl.
The very scared and timid cat peeked in the room off the balcony after climbing up the ivy. Sarah saw the cat peek inside and acted like nothing was happening. She said, "Here, my sweet boy. You eat up. The cat crawled on its belly not knowing why it was doing it, but wanted to watch. Sarah mixed up more meat and milk together and said, "Come on in. Everything is fine. I want you to eat your fill. I have plenty of food for you. It is meat and milk and is good for you and healthy. My little baby boy likes it. I think you will too. I promise I will not hurt you ever."
Sarah slowly got down on the floor and put the bowl down and slid it to the hiding cat. The cat painfully slowly stepped out to the bowl and sniffed it. Sarah said softly, "You eat that and I'll give you plenty more. I'm closing the door though because it's cold outside." Sarah moved away and closed the door to the balcony. When she came back the food was gone.
Sarah said, "That was fast. I'll make you more." Sarah took the bowl and filled it again with a generous portion and sat it back down on the floor. Sarah went to the bathroom and got a bowl for soap usually and rinsed it out well and filled it with water and sat it down next to the food bowl. The cat came out again and ate ravenously. Sarah took Azure and his bowl and sat down by the food and water and she patted his head and he continued to eat.
Sarah said, "I'm terribly sorry. That girl is a horror. Her doing that to you…. Well I just couldn't stand watching it another minute. Can I take that collar and leash off you? It looks so barbaric and must hurt." Sarah slowly reached out and unclasped it and tossed it away. It was so tight to the cat's neck that it had grown a groove into the neck of the cat. She reached out and touched the cat on the head with her finger tip. It shied away.
Sarah said, "I won't hurt you. You probably never had a kind touch in your whole life. For that, I'm so sorry. My little boy was orphaned in the woods so you know I did not buy or enslave him. I raised and saved him in love only. I would never harm you, so please don't be afraid of me ever." Sarah softly petted the cat's head after it let her. It didn't know what to do. It laid down flat on its stomach and just let it happen.
Sarah said, "I will hide you in my room until everyone leaves after the ball. Hopefully they will think you ran away. I will not return you to that terrible child. You will be my cat to protect like I protect my little one here. If it's ok with you? I would not want you to feel you didn't have a choice in this. You are intelligent enough to know that I will not force myself on you. You will one day recover from all this." The cat looked up at her in the eyes for a long moment. The cat crawled up into her lap and Sarah started petting it in light strokes. Azure mewed and she picked him up kissing him and cuddled him as she continued to pet the injured and long suffering cat.
Sarah said, "I need to get dressed for breakfast soon. Merlara will be here to change my clothes into a presentable dress and take me to the royal family. Don't be afraid I won't let anyone take you away. You just stay here for today and I will make you well and give you love. I will give you a better name too not your slave name from that cruel child either."
The cat flipped over and presented Sarah her underbelly in a female submissive pose. Sarah knew she was a female. Sarah stroked her soft underbelly. Sarah asked, "How about the name, Naidia?" Suddenly the cat turned on her purring motor.
Sarah giggled and said, "I think you like it." She kissed Azure's little head. "Then, Naidia it is. Your name means hope, delicate or fragile. I will give you hope and treat you like you are a delicate flower." There was a knock at the door. Naidia bolted under the couch. Sarah picked up the bowls and got up and went to the door. It was Merlara.
Merlara said, "Good morning, Sarah, did you sleep well? You had a really tough day yesterday with everything. Alissa's here and being a pest as always. Her collar on her Cathmere backfired and shocked her instead. It was so funny. She was crying and throwing a fit. I guess her Cathmere ran off. I hope it stays away forever. The bitch is so mean to Dalish. I can't stand her."
Sarah said, "Naidia." Merlara looked at her funny.
Merlara asked, "Whatever are you talking about?"
Sarah said nonchalantly, "Her name is Naidia. Not Dalish." Then it hit her. Merlara started laughing like crazy.
She said, "Sarah how is it that you're always one step ahead of me? I love how you think."
Sarah said, "Azure and I saw what she was doing to her Cathmere and I made a huge wish. It was to make all people who put those cruel torturous collars on them feel the same intensity shock instead of the cat. I think it went out to the whole Underground." Merlara's eyes got big.
Merlara said, "Let's hope so. I'm going to do your dress now, Sarah. She cast a crystal and had a lovely sea green color dress in muted shades, long sleeves off the shoulder boat neck neckline and she was wearing matching flats. Her hair was the same as last night curly and swept back from her face. It was lovely. Sarah kissed her cheek and put on smokey eyes and light makeup quickly.
Sarah said, "Thank you , sweetheart." Sarah mixed up some more food and put the water dish back down. She put Azure in her pouch and put him on. Sarah got on her knees and said, "Naidia, nobody can enter this room ever unless I say so. You're safe in here and can eat and drink your fill. I'll be back after breakfast. Ok? The little sand box is for going to the bathroom. I'll be back soon honey. I promise." Sarah got up and left the room, locking it and holding Merlara's hand.
They entered the dining room and sat down together. King Elwin said, "Good morning, my girls."
Merlara said, "Good morning, father."
Sarah said, "Good morning, Your majesty."
There was across from them, the Goblin King smiling at her, Alissa frowning at Merlara and Sarah, and Alissa's father leering at Sarah. King Elwin introduced them all. The father was Lord Garrik.
Jareth said, "Good morning, Lady Ashar." Sarah smiled.
She said, "Good morning, Your Majesty." The servers came in and they started breakfast.
Lord Garrick said, "You are very beautiful, Lady Ashar. However, did you get inserted and accepted so quickly into the royal family and to be a human?"
Sarah said, "I guess, I was at the right place at the right time and got lucky to meet such wonderful people."
King Elwin said, "I think we are the lucky ones, my dear child. You are a priceless gem to us." Sarah smiled at him with genuine affection and blushed.
The Queen smiled at Sarah and said, "Indeed, you are."
Lord Garrick said, "Oh how nice for you to be aligned with the royal family. Your family must be proud."
The Goblin King said, "She has no family. She is so kind that she makes her own everywhere she goes." Azure pooped his head up out of the pouch and Sarah looked down and patted him looking in his eyes. Jareth was surprised.
Alissa nastily said, "Oh, you have a Cathmere kitten. How nice for you to be able to bring it to the table while people are eating. That seems inappropriate. Did you get the royal family to buy you one?"
Sarah looked at the little bitchy girl and said, "I don't need this kind family to buy me anything. I was given this baby by a sprite in the forest when I was stopping to rest while traveling between towns. It chose me to save it after someone murdered the mother a stole her week old kittens to sell, but they missed one. I do not treat animals like I saw you doing from my window this morning. I love my kitten and never would beat him or harm him ever."
Alissa spitefully said, "How dare you say anything about me! You act like Merlara's friend! I have been her friend long before you! You don't even know me! You act all friendly to the King. I've known them longer! You just want money and reputation! You just want to be a mean human bitch to me!" Everyone gasped. She whined, "I got hurt this morning and lost my cat. You should be nicer to me." Now she plays the 'pity me' card in her deck of fake games.
Lord Garrik said, "Enough, Alissa!"
Sarah said, "Child, you earn no pity from here. You're mean spirited and cruel and deserve nothing. You will have to earn respect. You just try to take it. You will never have anyone's respect acting like a brat with fake acting skills." Alissa looked at her clueless to what she just said.
Alissa said, "You big mean filthy ugly human animal!" The table gasped.
The king stood up and said forcefully, "Lord Garrik, remove your nasty disgusting child from my table and do not ever bring her back. She is an embarrassment to you in case you haven't realized that by now. The audacity to insult a good woman who is also half fae, for your information. You have no standing at my table anymore. Leave the palace and you are not invited to the ball. I retract your invitations!" He pointed his finger to the door.
Lord Garrik said, "But your majesty, I didn't do anything."
The King said, "No, that's the problem you haven't done anything to teach your child manners. You have raised a cruel and hateful child and you fail as a parent and guardian. You embarrass yourself and me for allowing my family near that child. You will be gone now!" He was still pointing.
Lord Garrik snatched Alissa by the arm and yanked her from the table as she whined saying, "But… but … I want to eat…what's the matter, daddy?... I don't want to go… why does she get to stay… that human bitch!" Garrik moved quickly out the door.
King Elwin sat down and sighed and turned to Sarah and Merlara and said, "I'm sorry for making you ever spend time with that creature, Merlara. I apologize for allowing that spoiled child at the table, Sarah."
Sarah said, "It's ok. I'm the one who made the collar electrocute her when she did it to the Cathmere. Then, I stole her Cathmere anyway." The room gasped and then started laughing.
Kieran laughing said, "See, I was right she is the most creative person I ever met." Sarah nudged him in the shoulder and smiled at him. They ate happily. Jareth was laughing and grinning the whole time. Sarah truly was amazing in how she handled it.
After breakfast, Jareth pulled Sarah to the side and said, "Sarah, will you come watch me joust?"
Sarah smiled and said, "Of course I will." He smiled at her.
Sarah stopped by the healers room with Merlara to ask if he could come by her room and look at something for her. She wasn't specific. Sarah went back to the room to wait. When she entered the room, the cat was laying on the bed. It jumped up and flew off the bed to hide.
Sarah said, "Naidia, it's ok. Don't hide from me. You can come up on the bed. I don't mind." She closed the door and sat on the bed. She put Azure in his pouch on the bed. He came out of the pouch and sat on the bed cleaning himself. Naidia came out from under the couch and hesitantly jumped up on the bed. Sarah put her hand out to her. Naidia looked at her and walked up sniffing her hand. Sarah rubbed her head. Naidia came closer.
Sarah said I'm going to have the healer come by and look you over. You need your health checked so I can help you properly. She sat back and the cat climbed on her lap timidly.
There was a knock on the door. The cat jumped. Sarah held her in place and said, "Don't be afraid I'll protect you."
Sarah got up and opened the door to the elven royal healer. His name was Hagen. She stood back and let him in.
Hagen said, "What can I do for you child?"
Sarah asked, "Can you look at this Cathmere and see what she needs to be healed." Hagen looked at the cat and Sarah picked her up gently and handed her to the elf. He cast diagnostic spells on her and cast healing g spells on her.
He said, "Oh my stars, who would do such things to this beautiful creature. She has had several broken bones and has internal bruising, she suffers from malnutrition and dehydration. I have healed her internal bruising and cracked bones in her ribcage. She will need the unicorn milk you feed your little one and plenty of water. She will be better under your care."
Sarah said, "It's Lord Garrik's child's cat. She was seriously abusing her and nobody gave a damn. I'm taking her with me after tomorrow because I want her safe." Hagen was petting the cat looking sadly at her.
Sarah got an idea and said, "Hagen, would you like to take care of her and protect her from harm?" Hagen looked at Sarah surprised. He looked at the cat thinking.
Hagen said, "I cannot afford to keep her in unicorn milk to heal her health."
Sarah said out loud, "I 'wish' for a quart bottle of unicorn milk that has a good seal, will not go empty and will never spoil." A bottle of unicorn milk in a quart milk bottle appeared on the table next to the bed. Sarah handed it to him.
Sarah said, "Problem solved. I changed her name to Naidia. It means hope, fragile and delicate." Hagen took the milk and was still petting the cat.
Hagen said, "You are a generous woman, Lady Ashar. I would love the company of a beautiful creature. She will be beautiful again, I'll make sure." Sarah kissed the old elf.
Sarah said, "Just go make sure Lord Garrik and his horrible child are gone from the palace. The king threw them out during breakfast." Hagen nodded and went to find out.
When he returned he said to Naidia, "They are gone. Naidia, will you come stay with me in my rooms and keep me company? I will never harm a hair on your body. I will heal you and keep you safe. I promise." The cat looked at Sarah and then at Hagen. She nuzzled Hagens robes. He petted her softly. He picked her up and took the bottle of milk.
Hagen kissed Sarah's cheek and said,"Thank you, child."
Sarah patted Naidia and said, "Bless you both. Be happy Naidia." The elf left with the cat and milk to his rooms. Sarah smiled to herself and thought they were the perfect match.
She laid on the bed and picked up Azure and said, "She will be happy now, Azure, in a kind and gentle life." Azure started to purr.