Okay, so I kinda left you hanging in the last one… actually, looking back, I've done that in a couple of chapters… I think. Anyway, thanks to dancrchick for the review and Lela-of-Bast who has faithfully reviewed my story after just about every chapter I've done so far! KEEP REVIEWING, PEOPLE! PLEASE! (REMEMBER: REVIEWS MOTIVATE ME TO UPDATE SOONER!) Oh, also, I'm kinda stupid and I didn't realize that I wasn't accepting anonymous reviews, but I am now! (Just an FYI)

Lela-of-Bast: The kitties are cute! I'm not that big of a cat fan, although they are pretty cool, I'm more of a dog fan. Also, I'm a geek, too, so don't feel bad :-)

"Come, we need to herd the horses." John ordered quietly.

I followed him very, very reluctantly.

That night, I could not sleep. Then, I remembered my diamond necklace. For once in a long time, I took it out for comfort. Then, I heard a voice.

"Elisa!"

I looked around in the darkness.

"Elisa! It's Flora!"

"Flora?"

I peered in the darkness and made out a figure standing in the entryway of the hayloft.

"Flora!"

I ran and hugged her.

"How did you-"

"No time to explain, Little One. I just heard about the way you are treated and everything else from some elf friends. I've just spoken with Emma. Anyway, I thought it was time to tell you something."

We both sat down in the darkness. We could here the soft breathing of John. I began firing questions at her.

"What is it? Can you get me out of here? Now? Does mother know? Are they taking me away and never speaking to these horrid people again? What are you telling me?" My whisper was more like a shout I was so frantic.

"Okay, first of all, will you please whisper, and second, no, your mother doesn't know. I was never really close to your mother… I was only your caretaker, for you and Emma. Sure, I would help around the house at times, but I only stayed for you two. Now I simply need a job. Anyway, I have no close relationship with your mother and therefore I don't have her trust or confidence in… well, in matters like these."

"Well, will you take me away? Please?" I whispered angrily. "Since no one else seems to care?"

"They do care, but they think that you are having a wonderful time here. Amelia… has a way with words, I suppose. Can I please continue? I don't have much time, and no one can know that I was here."

I nodded my head, feeling absolutely miserable.

"I decided it was time for you to know, so I came. I thought that you probably shouldn't know until you were older." Flora paused, and I waited impatiently.

"What?!"

Flora took a deep breath. "You know how you're extremely good at carving?"

"Yes."

"And that you're excellent at speaking Elfian?"

"Um, yes…"

"And that your eyes seem to glow sometimes?"

"And that my ears are slightly pointed?" I finished timidly, already knowing the news she brought.

"Yes! How did you know?"

"John already guessed it." I jerked my head towards him, even though Flora couldn't see me. I heaved a big sigh. "So I'm an elf."

"No, no, only part elf, Little One." Flora giggled. "You grandmother on your mother's side is an elf," she sighed.

"But isn't it a disgrace to marry someone not of your own race?" I asked, slightly shocked, but more annoyed than anything that you were shunned for not being "full-blooded human." Personally, I thought that it being a "disgrace" was stupid.

"Yes. That is why we decided not to tell you that until you were older." Flora sighed again, and then said, "You will look more like an elf as you grow. Even now, you probably look like an elf."

"But, I don't get it. If I'll look more like an elf as I grow, then why doesn't Mother look like an elf? Or even Lou for that matter. He doesn't look like an elf at all, and he's a lot older than me!"

"Good question, Little One. You see, when your grandfather and grandmother had your Mother, she looked like a human, since her elf blood was a recessive gene. But she passed that gene onto you and Emma, so you will look like elves instead of humans as you get older. Another strange thing is that it seems to only work on one gender. If your Father was part elf, then Lou would look like an elf, and not you. But it's different, because the elf blood is on your mother's side. Understand? Anyway, you could pass as an elf in a month or so, probably."

"I told you so, Elisa," a voice spoke up in Elfian.

"John! You idiot!" I exclaimed. "You've been listening!"

"Yes, so?"

I sighed. "So you were right. Big deal." I turned to Flora. "Is that all, or am I part gnome, too?"

Flora laughed softly. "No, but I do have a gift for you."

She handed me a small cup. I could feel the shape of horses on the cup, in full gallop, it seemed. I loved it, even though I could not see it.

"This was made by your grandmother, Elisa. I'm handing it down to you."

"But Emma, why not-"

"She has a different gift. This is yours, not hers. But both of your gifts go together, a little."

"Thank you so much."

"You are welcome, Little One. Oh, and you'll find something different about it, so listen carefully at night when you are done your chores, all right?"

"What is it? Is it magic?"

"No time to explain, you'll find out soon enough. I must leave now. Oh, and one more thing."

She put in my hands what felt like a small block of wood and a sharp knife.

"Keep up your skills, Little One." Flora whispered, hugged me, and left.

There was a short silence, then John teased, "Come along, Little One. The elves must wake before dawn to get the chores done."

"Oh, just shut up, John!" I laughed, chucking the block of wood in his general direction, although I couldn't see him very well. It hit with a satisfying thunk and a grunt from John.

Before he could do anything, I scrambled down the ladder and sprinted across the dirt path, John on my heels, shouting and cursing at me, waking up the whole villa as sunlight peeked over the horizon.