A Day in the Life of a Madrigal

by Achitka

I've found myself writing a lot of Encanto ficlets of late - so guess I'll plunk them in here. Random ficlets will be showing up all month. There's a Tumblr event going on #Encantober - tomorrow's prompt is strength. Since I tend to write this stuff too close to bed time - there are likely to be grammar issues. Cannot be helped.

9. Present

Present

Bruno waited at the base of the staircase Casita had constructed so Luisa could reach her door. The small green box he held felt heavy in his hands. His mother did not approve of giving presents on Gift Ceremony days, but Bruno decided a long time ago, she was wrong about that. So, when each of his sobrinos opened their door, they got a small token from him. Something to remember him by, he thought, if he ever did get up the courage to leave. The door appeared and Bruno tried to smile. From the looks of it, Luisa was going to be super strong. While Luisa was big for her age, she still played with her dolls. She was always gentle and kind to those around her and Bruno knew his mother would exploit her Gift unmercifully.

He made his way up to her room following the flow of people up the staircase. Luisa's room was spartan at best and Bruno wondered how Luisa would do in such a place. There didn't seem to be anywhere in here to just…relax. Luisa was surrounded by her sisters and cousins; she broke into a wide smile when she saw him.

"Look what I can do, Tío!" she shouted happily, and picked her bed with one hand. The bed quickly became over balanced and Luisa lost her grip on it. People scattered as it crashed to the floor. Luisa froze when she realized what she'd done. Bruno went over and lifted her off the floor.

"Looks like you're going to need a little practice, eh?" he asked and Luisa just nodded. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. This is for you," Bruno said handing her the box.

Luisa nodded making the flower crown her sister made for her wobble a bit. She carefully opened the box and took out the small cloth doll. The doll's face was cloaked in a hooded ruana that did not come off. Luisa looked at the lid of the box then and asked. "What does it say, Tío?"

"It says his name is 'Hernando the Brave. And he is the Guardian of Luisa. Strongest of The Madrigals'."

She smiled then and gave him a hug, but pulled back when she realized she was hurting him.

"I'm sorry Tío!"

"Don't be sorry, best hug I've ever gotten."

Luisa smiled again hugging the doll this time, kissing its tiny hooded head. "Thanks, Tío."

"You're welcome, Lulu. Now go hug Abuela."

"Okay!"