Chapter 4: New and Old Friends
UPDATED
Original Author Notes: So yay this chapter is finished I hope you guys like it . Sorry again that this took awhile I just started up my final year of college so it has been hectic. Sarah will be in the next chapter I promise. Also so you guys know my friend and I are writing this together so if there is a way to link her profile to this story please let me know. Please review and comment.
Elsie lay there, motionless, in the hot sun. Her face firmly planted face down in the earth. Her once sopping clothes, from the sudden shower at home, were now baked dry from the scorching sun, and sticking to her in the most uncomfortable way. Elsie began to stir. She awoke in a daze and tried to spit the dirt from her mouth. She sat there, covered in filth, unaware how long she had been there, in that wasteland. She was stranded in what appeared to be a desert, or perhaps a pathetic excuse for grassland. She couldn't be sure. Elsie wasn't sure of anything. She didn't even remember how she arrived to this dreadful place. Everything about this place was terrible; from the dismal dried up excuse of vegetation that scattered across the landscape to the few murky stagnate puddles that could be found in the shade of some of the larger foliage. All that Elsie could find appealing was the sky. It was blue, yes, but every kind of blue imaginable danced across its endlessness. She felt as if she was gazing at the most wonderful rainbow even though all that Elsie could see was blue. Certainly something magical involved in its being.
Elsie looked down to realize she held onto a single white bloodied feather. With that glance it all came flooding back to her. The blood. How could she forget the blood? Her father lying there in that gore with his lifeless eyes staring right through her. That image haunted her. Elsie fell to the ground once more as she dragged herself to the nearest pool of water. She submerged her hands desperately trying to scrub off the absent blood from her hands. Her hands were clean, but Elsie felt as if they were covered. They had to be. There was so much blood. The bloodied feather just floated there taunting her. Tears began to flow down her face at her realization that her father was dead, she was stranded in a foreign land, and her mother had just disappeared with a peculiar man, before her very eyes. Yes, the man was her way out of this place. She had to find him. If she did Elsie could surely find her mother and return home. She would fix this.
Elsie quickly stood up, brushing the dirt from her clothes. She looked out into the horizon to better acquaint herself with her surroundings. No mater which direction she faced the desert stretched on forever. She removed her rain jacket and tied it across her waist. She did not need the extra layer of clothing in this dismal heat. Elsie sighed as she looked upon the lonesome floating feather. She hated it with a passion, but she couldn't leave it. The feather was her only clue to what happened. She bent to scoop it up and she unenthusiastically placed the feather in the pocket of her jacket. Elsie turned toward the east, or what she assumed to be east, and started to walk. She thought that if she continued to walk in the same direction she would eventually stumble across someone or something useful. She couldn't stay in the middle of nowhere and hope to be discovered.
Elsie walked for what seemed to be hours. The sun beaming down with each heavy step she took. Her throat was so parched that she feared if she were to open her mouth her tongue would turn to dust and be blown away in the wind. Her body soon gave way to exhaustion and she collapsed upon the hot lifeless earth. Elsie managed to roll onto her back. She lay there staring into wondrous blue sky, slowly drifting into nothingness. She stared into the blue for who knows how long. She could do nothing else for she lost the ability to move due to the exhaustion. Her view was blocked by a shadow, a figure maybe. Elsie couldn't tell. She no longer had the capacity to comprehend images. Elsie felt her body being lifted from the ground. She was being carried by the shadow. She slowly drifted to sleep, as she lay cradled in the unknown figure's arms.
Elsie awoke in yet another strange place, but this time she was indoors. She was grateful to be out of the dreadful sun, but she was unsure if her current location was any better. At least she was in a bed. The unassuming cot was considerably small, but comfortable, well better than the hard ground at least. A single candle found on the rickety bedside table dimly lighted the small room. The air hung heavy with dust. Next to the table sat a solitary chair. Thrown over the chair's back Elsie observed clothing along with a note. Elsie reluctantly rolled out of bed to get a better look. Scrawled across the thin folded parchment read, "Change your garments." Elsie unfolded the delicate paper to discover more written, "and cover your ears, please."
She looked at the clothing with a look of disdain, "Well, they are at least clean, which I can't say mine are." She quickly took off her filthy clothing and replaced them with the modest ones. Elsie looked at the scarf and back to the note, "Cover my ears? What's wrong with my ears?" She reached for the scarf as she noticed glowing emerald eyes in the far darkened corner of the room. She moved in for a closer look. All of a sudden a furry creature pounced out and landed lightly on the cot. Elsie stumbled to the floor and quickly scurried to grab the chair in an effort to protect herself from the unknown creature.
To her relief it was just a cat. This cat was not any ordinary cat. It was gorgeous. Its coat was a luscious tone of apricot and appeared to glisten a rich red with the cat's movement. The cat's eyes were a deep emerald with golden flecks scattered throughout. The cat sat there starring at Elsie's disheveled appearance. They both sat looking at each other in silence. She hesitantly crawled on the bed to inspect the cat. It just sat there licking its paws while Elsie poked and prodded it cautiously. When she was satisfied the cat was safe Elsie muttered, "Hmm you're a strange kitty. Where did you come from?" The cat ignored her and continued grooming. "Well you're super cute so I think you need a cute name to match," Elsie scooped the cat and cradled him in her arms. "Now, what should I call you?" she continued to cradle the cat, and with her next thought she excitedly thrust the poor cat up in the air with joy, "I know! Gingersnap is perfect for you." Elsie squealed with joy as she began to tightly hug the poor feline. The cat was not pleased.
Elsie was abruptly startled by a loud hurried knock that came to the door. The cat struggled, as it broke free from Elsie's grasp, scratching her forearms in the process. "Owe, why would you do that?" she exclaimed as examining her arms. The knocking continued. Elsie turned and headed toward the door, but was stopped by a loud obnoxious meow. She found the cat perched atop the chair with the forgotten scarf in its mouth. "Oh my ears I forgot," Elsie quickly wrapped it around her head, she paused and returned her gaze back to new friend, "Wait how did you know?"
The knocking continued, but this time there came a raspy old voice, "It's midday you must check-out now! You only paid for one night. This ain't no charity."
Elsie rushed to open to door and was confused to find a very small old woman. Nothing about her seemed pleasant. Elsie apologized, "I'm so very sorry ma'am. To be honest I don't have a clue where I am."
"You're in my inn that's what and you're time is up." The old woman took a look around the room. "What a pig-sty you turned this into."
"What no I didn't do anything! Listen I just woke up here," Elsie tried to defend herself. Gingersnap made his way to perch on her shoulder for a better view.
"Well all I know is that a young man dropped you off and paid for ONE night! All you Fae are the same. Always blaming your troubles on others," the old dwarf began to shove the unwelcome guests through the door.
"Hey look I'm not blaming anyone I just want to get home," Elsie exclaimed as she regain her balance. The poor cat gripped tighter.
"All you Fea live in the capitals. Head there I don't care I jus' want you and that mangy cat out of here!" The unpleasant woman barked.
"I'm not a fe-." A sharp pain in her neck interrupted Elsie. The cat bit her as if he wanted her to keep quite. The old dwarf slammed the door mere inches from Elsie's nose "I don't want to stay here anyway!" Elsie huffed as she took the cat in her arms and headed down the musky hall. She paused and decided to return to the shut door. Elsie tentatively knocked, "Can you at least show me the way out of here and tell me the way to the main city?"
The old door opened and all Elsie could see was the woman's crooked little finger point down the hall, "The door's that way." The door remained partially opened, "and you need to ask someone else to help you, 'cause I sure as hell won't. Some of us have work to do. Like cleaning up after you stinking Fea," before Elsie could respond the door slammed again.
"Man what a pleasant woman don't you think Gingersnap?" she asked the cat circling her feet; the only response Elsie got was a meow as the cat stroll down the hall. She joined the apricot cat toward the exit. Elsie found a large door that she assumed could only be the way out. Walking out of the dirty old inn she was temporarily blinded by the great increase of light. Was this world ever not bright? As her eyes began to focus, Elsie was amazed to discover she was a giant amongst all these dwarves. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Feeling uncomfortable about the height difference she began to hunch as she traveled the busy streets.
Elsie wandered the dust-ridden streets for some time as she desperately prayed to herself to at least find someone normal. Upon going down another street she noticed a man who looked like her. He was tall and lanky, but strangely strong for his build. The man had long rich locks, but fair skin. He was busy loading a nearby cart with bundles of wool. Elsie hovered up behind the man, and reached out to tug his loose sleeve, "Sir… I am sorry for disrupting you." The man instantly froze as if her touch were ice. Elsie feared she must have done something wrong.
The man finally turned with a huge smile planted on his face as he discovered she was not another dirty dwarf. He eyes scanned her humble attire. "Ah, you must be a servant Fea for the palace right? What in the underground are you doing way out here child?" he replied as he kneeled down to her level. His dark eyes couldn't help but stare at Elsie's scarf.
Elsie felt uneasy locking eyes with the man, but she spoke anyway, "Well, I am lost sir. I was wondering if you could tell me how to get home. You see my mom was taken by a strange man, and I found a.."
"Meow," the cat cried looking at her. The meow was so loud that the unfortunate Fea could hear nothing else.
Still loading the cart the man asked, "From which of the Kingdoms do you hail?"
Elsie confusingly responded, "Well no Kingdom sir," the cat nipped at her ear lobe, but Elsie continued, "I'm not from here."
Elsie's statement clearly caught the man's full attention. He stopped his work and turned to face the confused girl, "So are you saying you are not from the Underground? What exactly are you my lady?" He kneeled down with his dark eyes piercing through her.
Gingersnap screeched to get her attention, but the silly girl ignored the cat's warning, "Um I'm American I guess."
The man's eyes sparked with a realization that he as not dealing with any ordinary girl. He slowly stood as he spoke off into the distance, "Ah American, I see." The young man returned his gaze back toward Elsie, "I know exactly what I can do for you. Please wait here I will return with the help you deserve," and with that the man disappeared within the crowd.
Elsie patiently stood by the cart bubbling with anticipation. "Isn't this great Gingersnap? I think I just found my way home," Elsie spoke excitingly as she reached down toward the auburn feline to give it a playful stroke. The cat quickly dodges her hand and snipped at Elsie's fingers. She quickly withdrew her hand, "Hey what was that for?" Elsie began to stroke her injured digit. Her attention was drawn toward the base of her dress when Elsie felt a tug. Gingersnap was desperately pulling. Elsie ripped her skirt from the cat's jaw, "What has gotten into you crazy cat?"
Before anything else could happen the cat is violently kicked from Elsie's view. Her gaze followed the perpetrating leg up to discover the owner. The thick leg belonged to one of two large burly Fea men dressed head to toe, in dark heavy armor. They had to be guards of some kind. Elsie just stood in shock from seeing her new friend vanish from her sight. The pudgier of the guards viciously ripped the scarf hiding Elsie's ears from her neck. All Elsie could do was mindlessly massage her neck as she blankly stared at the brutes. "Ah, so you are just a dirty little round ear," the stout guard chuckled. Peering from behind the guards appeared the tall lanky cart loader, "See I told you she was a human!" Before Elsie could defend herself the other guard whacked her at the base of her neck with the hilt of his sword, and Elsie was knocked out cold.
Elsie found herself lying on a cold damp stone floor. She struggled to gain her bearing. She was yet again in an unfamiliar place. "Damn seriously? Not again," Elsie gruffly mumbled as she managed to sit up. The room was dark, but it was clear she was in a prison cell. Rusting bars surrounded her. A resting figure could be seen in the cell next to hers. The silhouette was rather small; it was a dwarf. Elsie quickly remembered how her cat was violently kicked away from her, and she franticly looked about in search of Gingersnap. "Gingersnap are you here?" Elsie hesitantly yelled out into the darkness.
A chuckle came from the small dark figure, "It be only you and me 'ere."
"Hey you. Can you help me?" Elsie whispered to the next cell.
"I want nothin' to do with ya," replied the shadowy figure.
"But aren't you a dwarf?" Elsie asked peering through the bars to get a better view of her roommate.
"What else would I be?" he bitterly responded.
Elsie quickly spewed out as many questions she could think of, "Well what is going on, why am I here? When am I going to get out?"
The man grunted in displeasure, but still responded, "This place is where they keep people they don't want, this is going to be your home, so get used to it, and stop bothering me."
"But your not helpful at all," Elsie whined.
"Maybe if you asked the right questions," the dwarf was clearly becoming annoyed.
"What do you mean, I was taught any question is a good one," Elsie retorted.
"That's just plan stupid, you where taught wrong," the dwarf shifted so his back was facing her.
Elsie pouted in response, "That's not nice you know. My mother always taught me dwarves where nice, and that they like jewelry."
"Your mother? … What is her name?" the dwarf questioned her, his interest obviously rising.
"Sarah…. why?" Elsie replied confused as to why her mother's name would mater.
He spoke to himself while Elsie tried to lean in closer to hear, "Sarah? So she didn't forget about this place, or hopefully me." The dwarf was lost in thought until he noticed someone heading toward the girl's cell. Someone he didn't particularly like. "Oh look, you got a visitor," said the dwarf. Elsie turned to look down the hall, and true to the dwarf's word a tall man with blonde hair spilling out from under his hood was walking toward her cell with Gingersnap at his heels.
"Gingersnap!" Elsie squealed as Gingersnap squeezed himself through the bars to be with her. He greeted her with a meow. The cat purred as he rubbed up against Elsie's thigh. "You are such a good kitty," Elsie began to stroke the cat. "I was so worried about you." After the little reunion Elsie finally looked up toward the man Gingersnap brought with him. He wore a long heavy leather cloak with a hood putting his face into shadow. The cloak has definitely seen better days, but you could tell it was expensive. The man wore awkwardly snug fitting pale leggings and tall leather boots. The boots were covered in grime. He must have just come from trudging in mud to be this dirty, but Elsie didn't care for this was man was unlocking her cell.
"You think that to be just a simple cat?" said the tall man smirking, or at least she thought he was; the hood made it impossible to tell. He opened her cell door.
Elsie still petting the cat, "Of course he's not just a simple cat. He was smart enough to bring my rescuer." She smiled up at the unknown man.
The man just let out a warm chuckle in response. "We should get you out of here quickly." The man ushered Elsie out of her cell.
Halfway down the hall Elsie stopped, "What will happen to my friend?" She turnned to look at the dwarf's small cell.
The man frustrated with her question stopped, "The dwarf? He's no one's friend." He continued on his way with the cat closely behind.
Elsie stopped him by clutching onto his arm, "How can you say that? He's my friend. We just can't leave him."
"Listen we don't have time for this. He's just a gardener," the man replied with annoyance.
Unsatisfied with his response Elsie shouted back, "And I'm just a girl! Unlock his cell."
"Fine," the man muttered as he unwillingly unlocked the dwarf's cell. He turned back toward Elsie ignoring the dwarf, "Happy that we wasted our time? Now lets go."
Elsie ran to the dwarf's side, and helped him out. "You going to be alright? You can come with us if you want," she said to him as they leave.
"I'll be fine. Stop worrying 'bout me, but worry 'bout yerself. Fea can't be trusted with humans," he whispered into Elsie's ear. "Tell your mother we miss her," and with that the dwarf darted off without giving his name.
"Alright, are you done now? We need to leave," the impatient man motioned for her to hurry.
Elsie reluctant to move spoke, "How can I trust you?"
Flustered the man questioned, "You didn't worry about trust when I was unlocking your cell. Why do you care now?"
"Look this whole time I've been in this hellish place I haven't found anything that's been what it seems. I just need to know that I won't end up knocked out again," Elsie needed to know; she didn't want to end up unconscious ever again. She's been unconscious enough, in the past couples days, to last a lifetime.
"Nothing is what it seems in this place. The sooner you realize that the better. And what else can you do? Sit in here and rot? I'm not sure that would be your best choice." The man tried to comfort her, "I promise I won't hurt you."
Elsie grudgingly agreed, "Okay, but when we get out of here I want some answers."
"Very well," the man responded gently. With that they headed for the exit with the strange cat trotting behind them.