Between Christmas Lights and Shadows

3

“Oh, miss?” A soft voice sounded. I groaned, I had slept so hard I felt like I weighed a ton. It was a dream. I thought. Until the realization hit that if it were, no one would be talking to me or waking me up. My eyes popped open. I was facing the wall away from the door. I turned my head, then my body slowly to look behind me. It was the dwarf woman Elion called Missus. She had another tray of food and a tote bag and she was watching me with a warm smile. “You sure sleep a lot, miss. Had to make sure you was breathing a few times, you were sleeping like the dead.” She said, setting everything down. “You are as thin as a young piney. I’ve made you porridge on potatoes and some greens. Some soda bread…” she went on while I admired her. Mostly because she reminded me of my grandmother. So nurturing and loving. Losing her made the world flip upside down. “… And, while you were hibernatin’, I was able to find some clothes that would fit you, I’ve mended them as needed to fit your tiny waist.” I watched as she laid out these beautiful dresses. The fabric thick and the so elegant. Something you see in those movies that make you want to go frolic in a snowy meadow with your Prince Charming. With a pair of black boots and some long socks that were hand made and would surely take up my whole leg! “Missus, these are beautiful. Thank you.” Missus shrugged, “Warmer than the garments we found ya in.” She giggled. “I’ll leave you to it. I’ve put toiletries in the wet closet (what?!) and maybe come out and breathe in some new air. I’ll be waiting, miss.” And she disappeared behind the door, closing it.

I figured out the ‘wet closet’ was the bathroom. Once I’d showered and put on one of the dresses, I looked myself over in the mirror. I looked like I was from a different time. I pulled my hair back into a pony tail and grabbed the shaw she’d left behind as well, wrapping it around me. I walked to the door and grabbed the handle, exiting into the mysterious next room that these strangers who saved me keep disappearing behind.

The room was small but long. A small dining table next to the kitchen at the farthest end, a living space that had an incredible fireplace ablaze, and then the door where I was. Missus was on one of the couches, knitting. She tilted her head, knitting perfectly fine while looking at me. “You look like a new woman, miss. Such a pretty las you are cleaned up.”

“I agree. Thank you. I don’t have beautiful things like this back home.” Material things weren’t necessarily so important to me, nor was I given them as a kid. But as I got older, sometimes the lack is apparent. It’d be nice to have it. But I wasn’t in the tax bracket. Missus patted the cushion beside her, “Join me.” I smiled and walked over. Taking the seat. The setting was so serene. The crackling of the fire, Missus’ humming. Watching her expert fingers create such gorgeous patterns. “Miss, what’s the mortal world like?” She asked, snapping me out of my trance. “Uh- It’s different. Considering you can’t walk through doors from inside of places into other worlds where I’m from, and it seems you all are more -attuned to that happening than I am.” That made Missus chuckle. “Well you don’t seem very different than I. Other than I am an elf.” I cleared my throat, because the surprised intake of air when she said that choked me. “An elf?” I nodded too many times, I had to place my fist under my chin to stop. Missus chuckled harder, “Yes, an elf. The Prince wanted me to answer any more questions if you had any. He was very serious when he said he wanted you comfortable and to not feel captive.” Her delivery was not great, as the word captive alone made my hair on the back of my neck stand. I had to remember I was around strangers. I wasn’t technically safe still. “That’s kind of him.” I said. “So, when you say you’re an elf… what kind of elf?” I asked and then said before I could think, “Like Santa’s… elves?” She let her knitting needles and project fall into her lap, laughing hysterically now. “Ye could say something like that.” She said, catching her breath. “You are funny, miss.” She sighed. “But something like that is the best answer. However we are responsible for the Good Spirit, deary. You ever feel the two angels on ye shoulder? The good and the bad. We are the good… and that also helps the big man get around.” She chuckled. Continuing to knit. I watched her again. “Are you able to help me get home?” I asked quietly, as if someone was listening that shouldn’t. “Oh, miss, how I wish. But only the Prince and -…” She paused. “Only certain beings can do that type of magic. Mine is more based in the Spirit. I can enchant and such. I’m a caregiver and healer.”

I let it be quiet as she knitted her heart away. The moment I shut up, the beauty of a masterpiece weaved right in front of me lengthened down her legs to the floor. Suddenly, the front door opened, jolting us both. It was Elion and Marvis. Elion’s eyes waved down the length of me, a smile of surprise spread like butter on warm toast. “My goodness, you look absolutely beautiful.” He said walking to the couch we sat upon. “You look well rested too.” I nodded a thank you. “He stood crossing his arms. “So, miss…” Elion said, letting his sentence hang. I hesitated, if I gave him my name that was another thing he had on me. Not only his “posse” with him and me being somewhere I absolutely wasn’t even sure existed. “Gia.” I said before I took any longer to answer. “That’s lovely. Gia.” When he said it again, it sent a warm wave through me, making me straighten my back.

“Now, Gia. I wanted to discuss exactly how you come to join us here. Mortals are not consistent visitors of Whispering Pines. And quite honestly, and please take this news with grace…” Elion said, pausing. After a sigh, “… in order to come into our world, you’d have to have been summoned by someone of our world and with power.” I watched him. Missus placing a hand on my knee that I didn’t realize was bouncing rapidly. Marvis waited behind Elion, stoic like. “For your safety, you’ll come to my home and stay. Until we find out who summoned you and their purpose.” I felt like the floor fell from my feet because I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to leave Missus. She made me feel like this all wasn’t too insane as it actually was. I was comfortable with her.

“I- I have to leave here?” I looked at Missus, who tilted her head at me in, a sad grin spreading on her full face. “Oh, miss, don’t fret. I can come and see you at Elion’s home. But you would be plenty safer there than here, depending on the circumstances, deary.” I still didn’t want to leave her. Not even for a second. But if this ‘dream’ was continuing and it led to my way back home- well, my room I came from for the time being. “Are you ready?” Elion asked. I snapped back into the moment. I nodded and stood.

Missus rose too and walked over to the door, picking up the same tote she’d brought in earlier. When i reached her at the door, she handed me the full bag, “Some clothes and things a lady needs. If you need anything from me, just give me a jingle.” I nodded, not understanding how I’d get in touch with her. But the sentiment was reassuring. She grabbed a cloak and motioned for me to crouch down. I did. She threw the large cloak around my shoulders, adjusting the hood and wrapping it around me to cover my chest, and then tying it snuggly to stay on. I rose fully, thanking her and exited the warm home into the now dark, snowy land before me.

Two strong and large horses, with hair thick and wavy on its head and around it’s feet waited at the end of the home’s front yard, on a snowy trail. They were an all white one and a black one. They seemed way larger than the average horse I’d ever seen in movies or shows. Their eyes sparkled and so did their bodies, almost like it was coated in magic. Marvis got on the grey horse. For being a small man or elf, he did it quite swiftly. And then Elion got on the all white, majestic horse. He steadied the animal, then looked at me, reaching out a hand to me, “Let me help you.” “I’ve never been on a horse before.” I said. He smiled, “Do not worry. You can ride in front of me.” That thought made me go cold all over. Being that close to a strange man, in a world I don’t know of and is potentially holding me as a hostage… even if he was cute. I hesitated. He kept his hand out to me, slightly tilting his head. Making some of his hair fall onto his forehead. “I’ll hold on to you the whole way. I won’t let you fall.” I took a slow breath and grabbed his outstretched hand. Elion hoisted me up with ease. I threw my leg over the front of the large saddle. Settling in. Elion, I could tell, tried to keep a comfortable distance but either way my back was against his chest and my ass practically pressed into his groin/lap. I felt heat rise all over of embarrassment. Anxiety. His mouth was diagnol of my left eye by so many inches. “Hold on.” He said. And we were off! It felt like it went from 15 miles per hour to 100! These horses were f*****g fast. I was bouncing a bit until I felt Elion’s hand grasp my hip, steadying me. The touch felt so intimate. No, Gia! No Stockholm’s syndrome! I suppressed the feeling it gave me and began to try and focus on what the next move was… I hadn’t woke up but - God I wasn’t sure if this was a dream or not!

The minutes ticked by while in my mind, spiraling. Tears began to pick at my eyes from the cold air that rushed into them. After few more long moments of thoughts and taking in the scenery, I saw a large, golden light on a black post. I squinted hard to see what it was or possibly led to. The closer we got the clearer it became. The horse came to a trot until we came to a stop right at the post. Behind the post in the trees, a large home hid, all white. Elion got off first. He held both arms up to me, his hands politely grabbing my waist and lifting me up and setting me down on the ground. The home was grand and had a green, calming glow about it. I was in awe of it. It looked so whimsical in the snow and trees. I slowly followed behind the two men. “This is my home. Please make yourself comfortable.” Elion said as he pushed the large glass door open into his home. I felt fear slide into my body like it was wearing me like a suit. I said a quick prayer and walked into his home. Another level in this God damned ‘dream’ I was currently trapped in.