Sorry for being a day late. There were some things that got in the way.
The next day
Eva's breathing was so shallow.
All seven children and their parents were in the room.
"Eva…" her mother mumbled and squeezed her daughter's hands.
The thin, grey girl smiled widely at her mother and coughed.
The mother rose from the stool, but the little girl finished her coughing and smiled warmly.
"It will all be fine, Mother…" she whispered in a hoarse voice. "I will be going to a beautiful place."
The room grew quiet.
"Eva…" their father said slowly.
"No!" the twins said in unison and climbed onto the bed – William had some trouble but made it up eventually. "You cannot go anywhere…"
Eva coughed and laughed. "It won't be forever … you will see me again…"
Then she put her skinny hands on the twins' heads and smiled warmly.
She sounded so grown up.
"There is … no need to be so grim…" David mumbled.
Eva tried to speak but coughed instead. The coughs sounded like they came from deep in her lungs.
"It is going to be all right," Wendy said and put her arms around Edward and David.
"She is not getting better!" Edward spat under his breath.
"I know," Wendy whispered back.
Their made a sound and for a moment the older children smiled.
Arthur had wrapped himself around their mother's leg.
"Did the priest not help her?" He asked their mother.
"I am so tired…" Eva said and laid back down.
"My sweet little girl." Their dad said and grabbed Eva's hand.
He had tears in his eyes but smiled at her as he patted the hand. "You are right … we will be just fine…"
"It hurts…" her voice was croaky. "And will you all be … lonely…?"
She spoke even slowly now and coughed, as she tried to pat one of the twins on the head.
"Oh," the mother breathed, and the tears began to fall.
She and their father gently got the twins off the bed.
Their mother wrapped her arms around Eva's shoulders and smiled through her tears.
"You do not need to worry about us, my little one." She said and rubbed her chin slowly against Eva's hair.
Wendy tried to collect her brothers in an embrace.
Eva huffed as her parents held her and told her how much they loved her.
Arthur clung to Wendy's side, as Eva took in a few sharp breaths.
Finally, she breathed deeply. "Love … you…"
Wendy felt her throat close.
Their mother howled like a wolf and collapsed onto Eva's bed.
Their father covered his face with his hands, still holding onto Eva's hand.
Wendy was almost pushed to the grown, as all five of her brothers tried to bury their heads in her clothes.
Eva was not there anymore.
Three weeks later
Wendy forced a smile as she handed someone a mug.
"How are you doing, little Wendy?"
She nearly jumped at Mina's voice.
"Can I get you anything?" Wendy asked instead of ordering.
Mina shook her head. "I just wanted to see if you needed any help. And of course, if there is enough food for us to eat here for dinner."
Wendy smiled. "There is always enough food – though I do not know what you would help with, everyone is doing all their chores."
She walked up toward the bar.
Mina followed.
"I just mean … Wendy it is fine in these times to ask for help…" She said in a low voice, as Wendy wiped down the counter.
Wendy bit her own tongue so she wouldn't cry and chuckled falsely behind her hand.
"Then should you not be the one asking for help?" She teased. "Your wedding is next spring."
Mina blushed. "Well, we were thinking of postponing…"
They got interrupted by a traveler yelling about when the food would be ready.
Wendy smiled across the room. "I will just go see!" She yelled back.
"Mother, when is the food ready?"
Her smile fell as soon as she saw her mother.
The woman was sitting in front of the fireplace where the pot of stew for lunch was cooking. But she was staring down at the dress in her hands.
It had been Eva's dress. She had gotten it for a dance, and she had loved it.
Wendy's mother hadn't noticed her and it wasn't until Wendy put a hand on her shoulder that she looked up.
"Oh, sweetheart." She said and wiped her tears away. "What brings you out here."
"Is the lunch ready?" Wendy asked gently this time.
Her mother looked into the fireplace. "Oh, of course. It should be ready now."
Wendy smiled as her mother franticly took the stew off the fire and went to get some bowls and spoons.
Then her eyes caught a glimpse of her father sitting in the rocking chair outside and staring at the forest. He was waiting for Edward and David to come back from the hunt.
Wendy sighed and helped her mother carry the food out.
They missed Eva. She did too.
The next time she had the chance, she would go see the elven queen.
One and a half months later
Wendy and Temper trotted through the snow.
No matter how many times she had ventured into the forest, the elven queen had not appeared. Neither had any of the other creatures of the forest.
They had been in the forest for a long time when Wendy huffed and pulled Temper to a stop.
She breathed deeply. "Your majesty, I have come to see you!"
Her voice echoed through the barren forest, but nothing happened.
Then it began to snow.
Wendy sighed irritated and was about to turn the horse around when she noticed a little twinkle.
The twinkle began a glowing bright line that swept over the snow.
The white snow became a green meadow and flowers and trees that Wendy only had seen one place before.
As the line swept over the ground below them, Wendy smiled.
It was the elven queen's realm.
Greetings my little hunter… the elven queen echoed as she appeared in front of him.
"Hello, your majesty," Wendy said relieved.
The elven tilted her head. You wished to see me…
"Well, I have not seen you for months," Wendy said.
Her friend looked puzzled. It had been that long…
"Yes," Wendy said and glided down from Temper's back.
Time is not always so kind to me…
The elven took hold of her own chin and looked truly puzzled.
"Then it was not on purpose?"
The elven queen looked at her with the empty, deep blue eyes. Friends should never not see one another … on purpose…
Wendy was just as confused. "Then what have you been doing?"
She huffed at the sudden warmth of the air and let her winter coat fall to the ground.
The elven queen gestured to the magical forest around them.
Many things …
Then her mouth twisted into a knowing smile.
Though I seem to remember … a reason for you to come…
Wendy smiled unsure and stepped closer.
"I really miss my sister…"
The endless sparkled and the elven queen turned toward a row of trees.
Wendy followed her friend's line of sight.
A small shadow glided out from behind one of the trees.
Wendy froze and her eyes grew big as the shadow stepped out into the meadow.
Her cheeks were rosy and full like they were before she was sick.
Her red hair, which had been cut to just below her ears during her illness, now reached her lower back.
Her eyes sparkled with life and her flushed skin glowed.
Sister…! She yelled with glee when she saw Wendy and ran toward her.
When her arms closed Wendy and she felt Eva's face pressed against her stomach, she realized that it really was there.
Wendy wrapped her arms around her little sister and squeezed her.
"It is really you." She whispered as her legs gave way and slide down to sit on the ground.
Well, of course … the queen always keeps her word…
Wendy noticed the strange way Eva spoke now – it mirrored the elven queen.
You should have come sooner… Eva said and buried her head in Wendy's shirt. I was so lonely…
"I am sorry…" Wendy said and stroked her sister's hair. "It has been hard without you…"
Oh … I do miss you all too… Eva then looked up at the elven queen, who watched them smiling. Can I not see them all…?
The queen tilted her head. I see no danger in that … though they need to come … and choose to leave…
Wendy laughed at her friend's words.
Her Majesty had no desire to spirit any of Wendy's family away, but apparently could still not help the way she spoke.
That is the first you laughed … in a long time… the elven queen smiled.
Wendy felt her face. "Yes, it feels good to laugh again."
She tickled Eva and the girl giggled at her.
If you and yours visit … at the first day of spring … there will be a celebration… the elven queen said.
Oh… Eva looked at the queen and then back to her sister.
That is the purple night… she smiled at Wendy excitedly. Please come … and bring the others… it would be so much fun…
Wendy pulled a loose log back behind Eva's ear. "You know what the purple night is?"
Yes… Eva sounded excited. It is a night where the night is purple … and there is dancing and celebrating and thinking… the little girl continued on. I have even seen it…
Suddenly the little girl furrowed her eyebrows and looked at the elven queen. Have I…? When the queen shook her head, the little girl turned back to her sister. But the others say that it is truly wonderful…
Wendy hugged Eva tightly again.
She was so happy that she could do that again.
"Of course, and I will bring everyone to see you, I promise."
Almost four months later
"Wendy, where in the forest is this place you want to show us?" Her mother asked as they put the last of the food in the basket.
"It is a surprise." Wendy smiled and closed the lid of the basket.
The twins snickered behind her skirt.
"Do they know where we are going?" their mother asked with a smile.
Wendy patted William on the head. "They might have an idea."
"Well, we are ready now." Their mother said and patted the very full basket.
"We are ready too," their father hobbled into the room with Edward and David and sat down on a stool. "Though I would like to know, why we are going into the forest at night."
"It is something really special," Ethan said with big eyes in a slow voice.
When her parents looked at her confused, Wendy just smiled and looked out the window at the darkening twilight. "We should get going. I do not want us to be late."
Arthur was already waiting for them outside. He was so excited.
Wendy was too. She had not told any of them about Eva yet and could not wait for their reaction.
Edward and David were helping their father walk, as his crutches would be useless in the forest.
Wendy smiled as they stepped into the tree line.
The lantern in her hand reminded her of that time she and David went to look for their father in the forest at night.
She looked down at William, who held onto the other side of the basket.
Arthur, William, and Ethan had never even known their father could walk at one point.
They made it to the stream running through the outer part of the forest and Wendy stopped.
"You wanted to show us a stream?" Her mother asked from behind her.
Wendy just smiled and held up her lantern. "Your majesty!" She called. "We are here!"
"What are you doing?" She heard her father ask, as the stream began to light up.
The glow of the stream spread and engulfed them.
She heard her parents gasp.
As the light dimmed down again and they stood in a beautiful field of colorful flowers. Creatures wandered around them setting up tables, benches, and instruments.
"Where are we?" Her father asked in awe.
"The realm of…"
Wendy was cut off by her mother's gasp.
"Eva?"
The red-haired little girl looked up from picking flowers. She smiled brightly, as she ran toward them.
Mommy! She laughed and jumped into the woman's arms.
The mother's legs buckled under her.
"Is it really you?" She whispered and stroked her child's hair and face.
"By god…" Their father stared at the little girl.
It really is… Eva laughed.
It seems you all arrived well… said the elven queen as she elegantly floated toward them.
"Who are you?" The father asked.
The beautiful woman bowed her head at them. I am the elven queen … welcome to my realm…
There is nothing to be scared of mother… Eva smiled at her mother. She does not wish for harm … she likes Wendy too much…
"Are … we stuck here?" The father asked.
The elven queen turned her endless eyes on the crippled man and stepped and the girls to get a clear line of sight to him.
You are free at any time… the elven queen said and tilted her head. Though … I would like for you to stay for the celebration… the pupilless eyes focus on his crippled leg. Though the leg could be an obstacle…
She pointed a finger, and the father felt the pain slip out of his leg.
Carefully and confused he let go of his two sons and stood on it.
It is just for the night… the elven smiled and gracefully turned around. Please … enjoy the purple night…
Father… Eva let go of her mother to hug her father.
The man hugged his daughter tightly. "How is all this possible?"
"We have been playing with the elven queen for a long time," Arthur said and hugged Eva from behind. "She is Wendy's best friend."
"Best friend…" their mother echoed.
Wendy smiled innocently as the three younger boys squeezed Eva from three sides.
"We should get something to eat. It is a long story."
Wendy told them everything. About how she met her majesty and their time together. About how the magical creatures in the forest taught her how to dance and play the fiddle. And about how the elven queen had saved Eva.
"Oh, Wendy…" Her mother hugged her. "Thank you…"
"So, we are going to dance with fairies?" her father asked and looked at the strange creatures wandering around them as they sat in the field.
It is going to be so much fun father…!
A bell started playing and Eva got up smiling. It is about to begin … come we should join in…
"Remember not to eat anything we did not bring with us…!" Wendy yelled as the twins ran after Eva.
"This is truly magical…" Her mother said as a full moon rose in the sky.
"Yes, but it is about to get even more fantastic," Wendy said.
The sky turned purple, and Wendy got up.
She watched as her father got up with ease and helped his wife up.
They joined Eva in a big circle of all the other creatures in the field.
When the instruments laying in the grass floated in the air and started playing by themselves, all the creatures joined hands.
They danced around in a circle as the music got faster.
Wendy smiled as she heard her mother laughing.
The night was filled with dancing and drinking with the elven folk. They told amazing stories that not even Wendy's grandmother could rival and swung the mortal guests around until their feet were sore.
Are you happy? Eva asked as they watched the dancers and drank wine.
Wendy smiled as she watched their father swinging their mother around.
She had never seen them do that before.
"Yes," she said and put her glass down, and smiled at Eva. "Everything is perfect."
Eva wrapped her arms around Wendy and smiling buried her face in Wendy's shirt, just like she always did when she was really happy.
Yes, everything is perfect now…
Please tell me what you think.
Hope to see you soon.