Here it is! I think I've been doing pretty ok getting updates up frequently… what do ya'll think?

Zalim didn't take the shock well. Raz could almost see him visibly pale- how that possibly, she wonder, with his albino fur?- and a world of stress came crashing down on him. Suddenly he looked scared and vulnerable, and exhausted. He looked crestfallen. She could tell, he was very dependent on his magic. Whenever he needed something, he just snapped his fingers or waved a hand and it appeared. He'd never… well, not in a long time…

"Woah…" she stepped up to him, watching him closely should his disbelief turn into rage. "R'lax. I' ain't the end a' th'world… read th' rest. Whas i' say?"

He scanned the scroll, and sighed in relief. "Only temporary."

"For 'ow long then?"

"It will just depend, but if I must guess… two to three months."

"Months?"

"Yes, months." he explained, sounding irritable. "That is what I said."

She sighed. Oh great…

…

Raz knew she really shouldn't be doing this. She ought to be planning- getting her revenge, getting out of here! Getting of this cursed island! Getting home to her brothers. But… something made her go out into the garden and start picking herbs. Stupid caring instincts… sometimes she really despised being female! Why must she want to care for those she knew personally? Sure, her pre-programmed knowledge in TLC were very helpful when someone was injured or fell sick and needed immediate attention, and she was the only one that knew a lick about what to do. But still! They were the reasons she was outside in the crisp spring night, picking an assortment of herbs for tea. Zalim wasn't being so agreeable- she was adamant he ought to rest and stay in bed, or at least not be up around. He'd said he needed to avoid too much activity so his body could regenerate it's magic. She'd stormed out of his room before she lost her temper at his difficulty, knowing an herbal tea would help.

As she was picking the mint leaves close to the ground, grumbling to herself, a sharp squeak caught her sharp ears as she brushed a patch of the leaves. Curious, she leaned closer and began gently shifting the leaves, until-

"Lela?"

The tiny mouse sprite lay shivering on one of the fuzzy leaves, sitting in a puddle of dew but too miserable to move. She'd been outside in the rain all night; after Raz left, she was too meek to ask the queen for admittance inside. So she was left shivering out on the plants. She'd been almost asleep when her hiding place suddenly shifted violently, and then she was blinded by the sunlight.

Lela stared at Raz for a moment, her aqua eyes welling up with tears. For only a moment she whimpered, lower lip trembling and sniffling, before the dam broke and she burst into tears. Suddenly she was sobbing and wailing, asking why Raz had just left her. Had she been crowned queen? Was she too big to take care of Lela now? Too busy? Had she other things to do? more important things? Probably. After all, she was a queen. She was just an orphaned sprite that was meek and skittish as could be. Why would a queen make time for her?

Raz could only blink in shocked guilt as the teeny tiny child burst out crying, before reaching out and gently, ever so gently, taking her in her hands, cupping them around her and stroking her head with one finger, bringing her close for as close to a comforting hug as she could get without crushing her.

For a time she just sat on the grass and held the tiny mouse as she sobbed and sniffled, hushing her, explaining why she had left. She told Lela she'd take her inside and she'd never have to be alone again. "Ah promise…" she whispered. "'ll neva leave ya alone again."

"Pr-" she choked on a sob. "Promise?"

"I swear. So" she stroked her ears. "We ok now?"

"Well…" she rubbed away her tears. "Ok."

"Good." Raz smiled. "So Lela, 'ow wouldja like ta be mah lit'l helper?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "I would I would!"

She chuckled. "Alrigh. Help meh pick these min' leaves, then… ah, ya can 'elp me mix it up."

She giggled and beamed, happy as any four year old to help an adult they looked up to. She was helping Raz! She was actually helping! And Raz seemed very happy to see her- she was smiling, and every time Lela brought her a leaf, she'd give her that warm expression that made her feel great! She felt loved. He felt… happy.

"Raz?" she asked, as they were making their way through the halls, toward the kitchen.

"Aye Lela?" she was perched happily on her shoulder. "Wot is i' Sheila?"

She giggled. "Where we goin?"

"Ta make this" she shifted her handful of herbs and things. "Inta hot tea. Zalim ain't feelin 'imslef- if this don't gettim goin again, Ah don' know wha will."

And that was exactly what they did. Lela was glad to help Raz put in just the right amounts, her tiny paw perfect for severing a leaf into half, an often impossibly tedious job that could take half an hour, done in five seconds. She had fun dropping the leaves and roots into the boiling water one by one, watching the bubbles churn and boil. She helped Raz stir- and by 'helping', she was sitting atop the wooden spoon and treated to a ride spinning around and around. Once she fell into the powder of ground-up licorice root, and came up a tannish-white. Raz laughed when she saw this, and picked her up. "Oh Lela… look'atcha." She took a nearby rag for wiping up messes and dipped it in a barrel of water, toweling her off, the little mouse giggling as the rough material tickled her. She beamed at Raz, a bit of the powder still on the tip of her nose, which she took the liberty of rubbing of herself. She giggled again, and this time, Raz laughed with her. "Silly thing…"

After the tea was done, Raz let Lela help her make soup, just out of habit- tea without soup while one was stuck resting in bed was criminal- a bowl of hot potato soup with many spices gave the air a most pleasant aroma. Lela felt her mouth water. "Can I taste?"

Raz rolled her eyes playfully. "Alrigh. Ah s'ppose Ah do need a taste tester." So Lela was treated to a mouthful; it was delicious.

"Perfect!"

She smiled. "Good." She picked up the bowl. "Lela…how wouldja like ta mee' Zalim?"

There you go! Lela's back! I'm sorry if this chapter is bo-ring, but I needed to bring her back. Please review! Please!