"What story should I tell you, Grandpa Black?" Lila asked as she settled into the chair at the table.
"Well, I noticed that you keep a necklace on all the time, but you don't like anyone talking about it or knowing about it, right? I was just wondering if you liked me enough to tell me about it. If you are not ready yet, that's ok." Sirius's back was to the child as he worked on his makeshift stove.
Lila held the necklace in her hands and was silent for a few minutes. Suddenly as if breaking from a trance, she looked up and said, "Do you promise not to tell or try to take it from me?"
Sirius turned around and looked at her solemnly. "Lila, I promise you that I will keep your secret, and that I would never try to harm you or take anything precious from you."
Lila cocked her head and studied him for a minute. "Ok!"
She opened her hands, and held up her necklace for Sirius to see. It was a little gargoyle figurine holding a round emerald to its stomach. When looking closer, Sirius thought he saw the eyes of the gargoyle blink and the stone glow. Probably these old eyes, but that is definitely a powerful necklace.
"This is Zoltan. He keeps me safe and talks to me in Daddy's language. I think he is learning English too, or he's always known it. I don't know. He says that you are a person to be trusted. You have a good heart, even if it is troubled. Zoly is always right. I never take him off. He even keeps me warm if I don't have enough blankets. Do you wanna touch him? I think it would be ok."
Lila set Zoltan in Sirius's outstretched hand. Sirius was so shocked at how warm it was, he almost dropped it. The gargoyle was made of something very hard, but not metal. The emerald "Zoly" was holding, seemingly the center of his power, was so clean and pure that it would have sold for enough to see Lila into her old age. As he was poking it, he thought he heard a deep laugh.
"I think he's ticklish there." The little girl was giggling too.
Sirius smiled and returned the figure. "You are well loved by someone, Lila. I have heard about these guys. I cannot think of a better gift for one's child in these times. You have been doing very well to listen to him." Sirius tousled the child's hair lovingly before returning to the stove to serve up dinner.
I know this is a short one, but at least it's out pretty fast! :) Hazelnut Frappachino for Writegirl!
