Fiona is skimming through the syllabus and making sure checking she has everything to complete the requisites.
A knock at the door.
Fiona gradually stands, walks to the door, takes a deep breath, turns the knob and opens the door. She sees the top of Alaya's veil sauntering down the stairs. Fiona takes a step forward and something clunks against the door.
She looks down and tears up.
Fastened to the door knob is the message cylinder.
Fiona clutches the cylinder with resolution, even though her hands shake the girth of the cylinder makes it easy to control. She glances back to the stairs. and Alaya is gone.
Fiona closes the door and opens the cylinder at her desk. A folded note slides out.
My Dearest Fiona,
You have instructed me to not enter your room and to leave you alone. I will not enter your room without permission, but I will not leave you alone. Frankly, I care very much.
Our mothers talk about our living situation. Do not feel that you lost control of your life, I wasn't allowed an opinion. I had to sit and watch our mother make decisions concerning your ... out circumstances.
Your mother petitioned for separate floors therefore I moved one floor down. You occupy my old room. Yes, you are in my bed. Scandalous.
You have studies, Louisa's daily appointments, assigned domestic duties and I am going to train you to defend yourself. Mother Vastra is building the curriculum as I write this letter.
I have family business responsibilities, training and I also have domestic obligations. No one gets out of doing household duties in this house, trust me I have tried.
Each evening you and I will clear the table, clean the kitchen, wash dishes, and serve afternoon tea together. I have never looked forward to kitchen duty in my whole life. After which we are allotted time together.
You and I can do whatever we want during our social time. Until you are better pick any book and I shall read it to you. When you return to full strength, we can plan devise for ridiculous adventures.
When it is dark, the house is yours to do as you like. Remember the night is our greatest asset as detectives or as in reference to myself a detective-in-training.
You should know ... I have inherited a tool, from my Mother Vastra, to track scents. Your letters have your scent which I used to discover your Mother's business, your room and that horrible hospital.
I will arrive at your door tonight around six-thirty to escort you to dinner, our first Christmas Eve dinner.
Eating is the only way you will get stronger. So, please eat tonight, even if it only a little.
I do hope I remain Your Alaya
Fiona grabs a piece of paper and struggles to write but her hand lacks control. She goes through multiple pieces of paper, finally settling on minimum and simple words. She folds the note in half, places it in the cylinder and locks it.
Fiona grips the cylinder and exits her room. She looks down the stairwell and coughs audibly twice.
Moments following the door opens one floor below a taller veiled woman appears, Fiona assumes Mother Vastra. Peering down to the ground floor two others are staring up - one is a veiled Alaya and the other is Alaya's Mother Jenny.
Fiona extends her shaking hand gripping the cylinder for all to see. Mother Vastra nods and retreats back into the room.
Mother Jenny yells up, "You need to figure out a better system than coughing." and departs grinning.
"Thank you Fiona. Please hook it to the banister. I will retrieve it shortly." Fiona nods.
Fiona placing the blue ribbon around the bannister's large bulb and returns to her room.
Alaya quietly ascends the stairs and removes the cylinder from the banister. She takes it to her room, turns the symbols to A ... L ... A ... Y ... A and the latch pops open. A note comes out.
Alaya takes a deep breath and sees Fiona's messy handwriting.
You are my Alaya
Thank you for finding me.
Fiona
Alaya sits back and rereads the note again; hope has entered her heart.