Chapter 2

Charlene caressed the smoothly shining thing. It had a dark lavender set in the center, among the rich slightly muddy silver of the metal. Simple, yet pretty. She smiled, muttering…"It is…precious…to me…"

Placing it in her pocket, Char turned on her heel and strode back towards the house, yanking the dog around with a yelp. She was intent on getting the thing home and cleaning it off; so intent, actually, that she collided with someone.

BAM! A sound of heads knocking ensued. "Ow!" came the cry from the other person.

"Oh, sorry! Didn't see you," mumbled Charlene.

"That's quite all right," replied the girl delicately, while rubbing her bruising forehead. "I'm sure you had something important on your mind."

Charlene stared up at her in wonder. How on earth could somebody be so polite after being nearly concussed? And not only polite, but perfectly groomed. Her ebony hair swung, shining, from a tasteful band made of lustrous stones. Her eyes, which were the same color as the ring, incidentally, batted under lashes so heavy it was a wonder she could keep her eyes open. Her face was perfectly balanced and charming. Also, for some reason, she was carrying a sword. In a sheath.

"What's the sword for?" Charlene asked.

"Oh, I'm on my way to fencing practice. I've trained with a master in medieval weaponry for quite some time now, actually." She stuck out her hand gracefully. "I apologize for bumping into you, once again. I shouldn't even have come this way, but it was like something was calling me to take a route several blocks out of my usual…My name is Aethelflaed. What's yours?"

"Um…Charlene," Charlene said. She stared at the hand for five seconds before realizing that Aethelflaed wanted a handshake. She shook it roughly, then pulled her hand back. "Well. Nice meeting you."

"The pleasure is all mine," the girl said, smiling charmingly.

Charlene opened her front door and walked inside as Aethelflaed walked around, looking vaguely angsty and confused (yet still beautiful).

In the 15 minutes that Char had been out walking, Mrs. Brown had started supper. She was stirring a pot of what looked like extremely beefy chili. "Hello, dear," grunted her mother as she pushed the spoon through the steamed tomatoes.

"Hi, Mom," Charlene yelled as she ran through the kitchen en route to the bathroom sink.

"Oh, just a minute, there! Give your mommy a hug," demanded the large woman.

Charlene walked over and reluctantly embraced her. Mrs. Brown hung on for about ten moments more than Charlene would have liked. She struggled to get away, but could not escape.

"You….are….getting…so…big!" hummed her mother as she rubbed her back. Releasing her, (yes!) she stopped and sniffed. "Why do you smell like roses?"

On the way to the hall, Char lifted her hand and realized that it did, indeed, smell like her least favorite flower. Damn that Aethelflaed. Ah, well. She filled up the worn counter sink with its chipped 1970s chic brown tile, squirting a couple pounds of hand soap in for good measure. Grabbing a toothbrush (her brother's), she began to scrub the dog poo and dirt away.

Gradually, the ring was revealed to be even more beautiful than before. More beautiful than Aethelflaed. More beautiful than anything she'd seen in a while. Wow. Char grabbed the towel and wiped it off, buffing it to a luster.

Would the ring fit? It looked so tiny. But it would make her scruffy hands so much prettier…She thought that yes, it would fit over her pinkie. Charlene shoved it on and stretched out her paw, admiring the effect for a half-minute or so---

At least, before she disappeared.

Shoutouts! Whoop dee dee!

Snuffles55: Hell, yeah! I loooove parodies. Recognize Aethelflaed?

Ealusaid:Why, thanks, there! THIS is what I'm doing with it…mwah! More comes soon, promise.