Mornings Of Gold
Sarah Williams awoke the next morning with a bright light shining into her closed eyes. She rolled over to avoid the light, trying to preserve the last few precious moments of sleep. Her eyes opened, however, when she felt a soft hand smooth her hair back from her face.
Being Underground, Sarah expected to meet people who were different than she was used to. She had expected to meet goblins, and fairies, and dwarves, and yetis and foxes. Sarah did not, however, expect to meet a woman like the one before.
The girl had white hair with thick black streaks. Her eyes were golden with green and blue, and looked as though they belonged on a cat. All of the girl's movements were elegant, with almost a cat-like grace. When she spoke, her voice was soft and sounded almost like a purr.
"Good morning, Lady," the girl said, taking a step back and dropping into the most graceful curtsey Sarah had ever seen. "My name is Cattie, and I have been sent to be your handmaid."
Sarah's eyes grew big, and she sat up slowly. "I have a handmaid?"
Cattie smiled, standing up and said, "Handmaid, Lady-in-waiting, servant, whatever you wish to call me I am here to serve you, Lady." Again, the girl dropped down into a graceful curtsey.
"Would you stop doing that?" Sarah asked, almost impatiently.
Cattie looked up, confused. "Am I doing something wrong, Lady?"
Sarah pushed the blankets back and stood up. She gently grabbed the girl's hands, pulling her up and saying, "Stop curtseying and calling me Lady."
Cattie cocked her head to one side, even more confused. "Do you not wish for me to show you the proper respect?"
Sarah smiled and said, "I just don't want you to treat me like I'm superior to you."
"Lady," Cattie said lowly, lowering her eyes, "you are superior to me."
Sarah sighed, releasing Cattie's hands, and said, "I just want us to be friends. That's all I need." Sarah, too, lowered her eyes, "I need a friend. The Underground is a big place, and I don't know the customs and laws. I need a friend to help with that."
Cattie looked at Sarah for a moment, not quite sure what to say. When Sarah raised her eyes to meet Cattie's, she pulled Sarah into a tight hug, barely containing the tears that threatened. Stepping back, Cattie said, "I'll be your friend." Looking at the clock, which hung on the wall next to the bed, she wiped her eyes and added, "We should get you dressed. His Majesty will be expecting your company for breakfast. I'll draw a bath for you."
Watching Cattie walk into the bathroom, Sarah noticed that the door was on the same wall as her bed.