Chapter 2 Part 2
"...."
Who is this strange girl? Why is she asking me such a difficult question? I did it. I've already done it. Do I...really need a 'why'? Why?
"Yes, you do. So do we. That's why, we need your why." She said. Wait, I didn't say all that out loud? Or did I? "We need to know. We incest I need to know. Incest, you know? Yes, you know, so you will tell me what us wants to know, so I know too. Pease? Yes, peace. Please."
If it wasn't so freezing cold already my poor little mind probably would have melted. Or maybe it did and I just didn't know. I understood her words, many as there were. I didn't understand what she meant. If only my little mind had room left for more words I would have wondered who exactly is 'we' and 'us'. Except my poor little mind simply did not want to accept that there could be more of her out there.
As if answering my thoughts again, she....
....did she just turn into a bat? A lot of bats?
It was like watching a dandelion burst, but with less fluff and more bats. Lots of bats. Pieces of her face peeled itself off before folding themselves into bats, many, many, many bats. They poured in through the bars like a surge over a broken beaver dam, rushing at me. I gave a loud squeak as I dove for the ground, raising my hands up to my face. Furious flapping wings rushed all around me, threatening to deafen my poor ears. And, just as suddenly as it began, the rushing sound disappeared, replaced by a feeling of something weighing down on my tummy. Not too heavy though, saving her grace.
I slowly, very slowly parted my arms to peer out...
...I very quickly regretted that. A pair of ruby-red eyes peered in right outside the gap right back at me. I gave another loud squeak of terror, but before I could do anything more a pair of hands took hold of mine and pinned them down to my sides. There she was, sitting astride my tummy, leaning down towards me, so close I could feel her soft, calm breaths against my cheeks, so very different from my own panicked panting. Before I could begin wondering (and panicking) about the bats, about her being so close, and those fiery red eyes and are those fangs and why is she so close oh my, she spoke again.
"Look, someone stole our doormat. Mine and hers. I liked that doormat. It had cats on it. Left a crater in its place. We don't want a crater for a doormat. Or a cat. And flood too, with blood, you know? Yes, yes, you do, half of it was yours. Or was it three quarters? Was it half full or half empty? It depends, are you a pessimist or an optician? You bleed a lot for an optician." At this point she was leaning in so close our noses were barely touching, "It makes for a sticky doormat, you know. You can't dry your shoes on blood, it would get all wet. And red. And sticky besides, but you know that. Yes, you know, because you were rolling in it. With her, destroying each other. But you stopped. You didn't destroy her. That's the why we want. You know why, but I don't know if she knows that we know that you might know so you must tell us what you know if you know, you know?"
It was like trying to look for a mountain in the middle of a mountain storm. It's there, you know it is, you're in its storm, but you won't find it either until you walk out of the storm or until you bang your head on it. And my head felt banged up alright. I tried to sort out her words, trying to find some meaning. But...when you seek something like a mountain, you know what you're seeking for, you just need to find it, right? So...maybe she knows what it is she seeks? So...maybe if I just ask her she might answer her own question? Oh, I hope so, please, just spare me having to think anymore!
"...y-you...you know why...?" I asked, a lot more squeakier than I would have liked. But it was difficult to help it with that much vampire in your face. Not that I knew what a vampire was back then, but I was learning quickly, the hard way.
"Do I know why?" She seemed to think about this for a moment, "Ah, reflexing the question back at us. Clever, like a mirror, but with errors. You see, I don't know how to not destroy. She doesn't either. So you can't have a why before you have a how. But you know how. We know you do. Because you didn't destroy her. So please, tell us the why to your how, quick." She looked around, quickly, as if imaginary watches lined the walls, "Before they find me. And you. And us. So quick, intimately, without decay!"
uuh...umm...quick? Err...quick....I thought, I thought as much as I could, thinking harder than I've ever thought, ever. It was more than just 'what do I gain?', that much I was sure. Was it because I was scared? I was scared of being hurt, scared of hurting her too. But...that doesn't explain why I'm helping her. Because I didn't have to? No...that doesn't explain things either...
And then it came to me. Just like that. It was so simple. The answer was in me all along. It was me. It was her too. It was everything. From the day Mother Mountain created me, I already had my answer. I just had to...turn it into words, words she could understand...and having heard the way she uses/abuses words, I had a sinking feeling it would be an uphill battle.
"...because...it's easy to destroy. Too easy. If I get a little angry...if I have a cold piece of iron in my hand...I could destroy. But...to create...to create is difficult. It takes a lot of love, a lot of patience, a lot of care and time. Mother Mountain's love was great enough to create me...and just like me someone had to have enough love to create her" I looked over at the once-attacker-person, "...so so so much more than what it takes to destroy. I...I want to let that 'love' win over that dark feeling that told me to destroy. I want to believe in that love...I want to protect it like my Mother Mountain would...if that makes sense..."
"..." She gazed down at me, her face unreadable. She remained there for what felt like the longest time. I remained there too, but it wasn't like I had much of a choice with the way she had me held down.
Then, she moved. Much to my shock and horror, she moved even closer towards me. I've had my sisters close to me before, but it's never felt this...awkward. I felt her rest her soft, silky hair against me, against my chest. It felt ticklish as she nuzzled against me a little, before finally settling down there, one ear pressed against my chest, perfectly still and silent.
I waited, breath held, not knowing what would happen if I dared even as much as breath in against her head resting on my chest. It felt like the ages stretched on forever.
Finally, not being able to bear the strange silence any longer, I breathed in and opened my mouth, "...ummm?" I was quickly silenced by a finger pressing gently on my lips.
"Ssshh...we're looking for it..." She said, but said nothing more.
I don't know how long we remained there like that. I had never experienced time that way before, both short and long at the same time.
When she did finally release me and sat up, she wore a puzzled expression, but not an unpleasant one, as if she had found a blackberry in a mulberry bush. Then, as sudden as she had arrived, she burst into yet another surging cloud of bats and rushed out the way she came.
"W-Wait!" I cried out the first thing that came to mind. You'd think that would be the last, considering I had found the whole experience unnerving at best. But I had...so many questions. Who was she? Why the questions? And where was I? And...most importantly....how do I get out of here?
"Nope, sorry, can't waste! We've wasted enough already! Taste, now, that's what we need! Or was it chaste? Or maybe the haste thing. Ah yes!" I heard her voice echo from somewhere further down the corridor. And just like that, she was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts which were an even bigger mess than before. Eyes? Bats? Questions? So many things I didn't know!
I had a lot of time to be confused by myself. My only distraction was tending to my attacker-person....who was beginning to look more and more like a child to me. It was bound to happen, I suppose, after taking care of her for so long. And did feel like a long, long time, at least until my next visitor arrived.
I was called out from my deep thoughts by a knock on the door thing. I looked up and stared at it, not quite sure what to make of knocks on door things. Then it came again, a little louder this time. Finally another came, accompanied by a little voice, "ummm...hello?"
I was quick to recognize the voice. How could I not? It was the voice I had been longing to hear from the moment I woke up in this place. It was my cousin. She was safe and sound!
"Cousin, you're alright!" I said as I padded over to the door and knelt down by it.
"Y-Yes, I am. And...umm...it's thanks to you, cousin." The voice from the other side said. There was a click. A very small, narrow opening in the lower part of the door thing slid open, allowing a little more light to spill into the dark place.
Another tray slid in through the opening, this one holding four bowls, two large, two small. The two smaller bowls held water, much like the ones I had, but the two larger ones bore something thick and steaming that filled the room with such a wonderfully delicious smell. There were a few soft-looking brown lumpy things beside the bowls and some fruits but what caught my eye the most was the creamy soft thing I had tasted when I first arrived. My heart leapt for joy for a moment, before I reminded myself why I was there.
"I...I know you like Mont Blancs...so I stole some from the kitchen..." The voice from the other side said, giggling a little, though with a note of sadness in it. "You...you like these, right?"
"I'm...here for stealing these, aren't I?" I asked, "Because I was naughty."
"N-NO!" She gasped, seemingly in horror. I saw her crouch down, her face peering in through the space. I frowned a little on noticing a dark blue mark about her right eye, as if she had taken a rather bad knock to her it. "No! Absolutely absolutely not! You saved me! You saved the young mistress! You even caught the evil meanie person for us! You're....you're a hero, cousin!"
"But...then...why am I here?" I asked, puzzled.
There was a little sniffle as my cousin slowly sat up again, hiding her face from me. "I-I'm...I'm sorry. I tried. I promise I did, I really did. But miss Eirin wouldn't listen. She thinks you were with that...that nasty meanie person. But...but a person as nice as you can't ever be that meanie's friend! Ever! If...if only the headmaid were here, she'd listen! She'd help you! She'd even help you stay here with all of us! She's really nice, our Remi. She's the best! Way better than Miss Eirin! But...but she's away right now, doing some errand thing for the mistress....Remi....Remi, come back soon...please..."
I listened as I looked over the items on the tray. That was when I noticed something underneath the creamy soft sweet thing. It was...a key thing? Why is there...?
"Is this a key thing?" I asked, picking it up and eyeing it in the light spilling through the small space. It looked different from the key for the iron wall door thing, it was a lot smaller and rustier to begin with.
There was a long moment of silence before I finally heard a very soft, quiet reply, "...yes...it is." There was a little sniffle, "It's...it's the key to this door....you can...use it to get out, cousin."
My heart soared at the thought. I hadn't been in that place all that long, but it already felt like years upon years. How I missed the smell of the open air, the sight of the blue sky over my head, the feel of the soft grass under my toes. And now it was within my hands, right here, in this key thing. I simply had to...
....
"No." I said, sliding the key back out under the little opening and crossing my arms. Deep down inside I felt my heart sink as I felt the blue sky and green grass slip away from my fingers. But it was the right thing, I told myself. Courage, me, courage.
"....bye bye, cousin, please be carefu-...eh?" My cousin gave a little gasp, "What...did you just say?"
"Oh, right, sorry, I forgot to say 'thanks'." I added, slightly puzzled at her response.
"No, umm...do you not understand? You can use this key on this door and get out. I taught you how to use keys, didn't I?"
"I know, I'm slow but not that slow." I replied, pouting a little.
"Then....why?" My cousin asked, leaning down to look up at me through the little opening. "You could so easily get away."
"Cousin, I can't do this. Not to you. I don't want you to get into anymore trouble. Not for me." I said, crossing my arms.
"But...you've...you've already saved me, yes you have. And I've already put you in so much trouble. It's...it's only fair."
"I've decided." I said, sounding a lot more brave than I truly felt, "And a mountain stands firm. That's what Mother Mountain said."
"But what will you do? You're trapped in there with...with her...."
"I can...hmmm....I can wait for this Remi person to return. She can help me right?" I suggested.
"Oh yes!" My cousin suddenly perked up, "Yes, she will definitely help you out. She always helps us fairies out. Nobody here dares go against Remi, not even Miss Eirin! She's the bestest!" I watcher her eyes light up again at the mention of this Remi person. She must really like her. I began to wonder what sort of person this Remi person might be. "Yes, the moment she returns I'll go get her, I sure will! So don't worry, cousin, I'll save you this time! Promise! Cross my wings, this oath I sing, else I suffer Mother Mistral's sting."
I was a little surprised. As I mentioned, fairies don't take promises lightly. And oaths sworn on our mothers even more so. "Thank you, cousin. And...can you hurry? You see, the meanie nasty person..." I looked back at my newfound 'child', "She doesn't seem right. I think she might be really hurt."
"She's...sick?" My cousin peered in at the still form of my 'child'. "Oh dear...Miss Eirin's the person who knows how to make people right again...but she probably won't help unless Remi makes her."
"Can you please get me more water then?" I asked, "And something to keep her warm? I'll try and take care of her until this Remi person gets back." I said, with confidence I didn't really have.
"O-oh kay!" She nodded, seemingly more cheerful now. "Oh...cousin?" She paused as she was about to leave to look back at me, "...where are your clothes?"
"...." I looked down and remembered that I was clothesless. Ah, right, that's why it's so cold. "Oh, right, I tore it up to help make her better." I said.
"Oh, I'll get you a blanket too then. Yes, that's what I'll do." With that, she fluttered off.
True to her word, she made several trips, leaving me with two big metal circle things filled with water and two thick fluffy cloth things she called 'blankets'.
"Safe winds" She wished me, before she finally quickly snuck out. Apparently she wasn't even supposed to be down there with me. Such courage, for a cousin...
Feeling grateful and a great deal warmer under my new blanket thing, I returned to minding my 'child'. I was slowly beginning to understand, this is probably how Mother Mountain felt all the time, the feeling of watching something so helpless, so needy, in short, a 'child'. It was a strange feeling, a difficult one to describe. But I didn't dislike it. It was a good feeling.
I spent the rest of my time in that place tucking into my delicious meal and minding my 'child'. I won't bore you with the details as nothing more happened beyond the occasional moan from my 'child' in her sleep and more and more of those rippy square things appearing out of nowhere.
I had tried to stay awake, just in case the rippy square things try to get me in my sleep. But I must have failed as the next moment I knew I was waking up with a start to loud voices approaching outside.
"....they came in to murder Flandre and Lady Owen! They are lucky I allowed them to live! That is worlds better than what the others received! Elly had to go over the grounds with a rake to clear them all up!" It was a voice, cold and commanding, probably the sort of voice blades of iron would have if they weren't busy being so stiff or sharp.
"...Oh, my, I am so very moved by your most generous show of kindness, Miss Eirin! Allowing them to live indeed! I'm sure placing them in the dungeons was an act of unusual charity on your part too?" Another voice, this one much younger, much more lively, but filled with just as much power, if not more.
"Where else, pray tell, do you put your prisoners, Remi? In the pantry, perhaps?"
"We have 366 rooms in this mansion. 142 of them barely ever see any use. You could have put them in any one of them, anywhere but the dungeons! Good heavens, these have never even been used!"
"Why, then, do we have dungeons?"
"Because whoever built this place had a very morbid sense of humour, one that you obviously share, Miss Eirin. More importantly, you threw a fairy in there with her!"
"I maintain that the fairy is an accomplice, Remi. A degree of suspicion, at least, would be prudent. You must agree that nothing goes before the safety of this mansion's residents. I merely wished to make double sure of that."
"By locking up an INNOCENT fairy?! Did the moon not receive its fair share of common sense?!"
"Fairies are anything but innocent. You know better than anyone the mischief they are capable of." The voices were right outside the door thing.
"Mischief, yes. Malice, NO!" There was a click in the door thing. "Fairies are children of nature, Miss Eirin. They are physically incapable of evil!"
"Remi, by the moon, if you open that door...."
"You will what, Miss Eirin?" The door thing swung open with a loud bang, revealing what seemed at first glance to be a young girl. A human one, dressed in clothes not unlike the one my cousin was wearing - a long dark blue dress, covered over the front by a length of frilly white cloth. As she stormed into the room, I came to realize that she was in fact a lot smaller than she seemed at first. In fact, on looking closer, she was just a child, a very young child. It was like seeing through the raised hackles on a mountain lion. I began to wonder whether it was her clothes or her voice that made her seem bigger and...well...grander than she really was. She held her head high, her deep, brown eyes gleaming with a sharpness I had yet to see on any other person. Her short, shoulder-length hair was...a pure, snow white, a colour I have only ever found in elder humans.
"You're just a maid, Remi! If you think for one moment that you can..." Another woman strode into the room after her. Almost the child's exact opposite, this one was a fully grownup human woman, a tall towering pillar of rage, hair the colour of cold silver, eyes the red of dying blood, dressed all in darkest blue.
"...I will remind you, dear guest, that I am no mere maid. I am the head maid of this household. My word is only second to the mistress'. So I don't have to think I can. I really can." The little girl snapped at the grownup woman. It was truly a strange scene to watch. I could only cower as I peered out from underneath my blanket where I sat next to the 'child' I was caring for.
"Now, little one...." Much to my horror, the human child made a beeline for me, kneeling before me, bringing herself closer down to my height. I couldn't help but scrabble back as far as I could across the cold stone floor, which wasn't very far as my back quickly hit another pile of those rippy square things. "Please, don't be afraid." She said, soothingly, lowering and softening her voice. "I heard you've already been a very brave girl. Your sister told me so." She smiled at me, a smile so...warm and gentle...it had been so, so very long since I last saw a smile so sweet, so beautiful. Her eyes, her face, all seemed to light up with her smile. It was a smile that drew me in, a smile I felt I could loose myself in. "Now, I want you to be brave for me one more time. Can you do that for me?" She asked, tilting her head to one side, "I promise you we won't do anything to you. Cross my wings, this oath I sing, else in Mother Moon's darkness I sink."
A fairy oath? Another one? Why would this human use a fairy oath? As my mind dwelt on the mystery that is this strange little human girl, I found myself nodding a little. I couldn't help it. She had gone so far as to make a fairy oath after all. As I did so I noticed the grownup lady roll her eyes and shake her head.
"Good girl." The human child gave me another encouraging smile, "I want you to tell me the truth. Why were you in the mansion the night before last?" She looked straight at me, straight into my eyes. It felt as if she could look straight through me if she wanted. Could she? Would she be able to tell if I lied? Do I need to tell her the truth?
My heart raced, threatening to break out of my chest. My breathing caught, painfully. I probably couldn't lie to save my pebbles. It was the one thing Mother Mountain never taught me. If anything, she taught me the opposite, to be honest and true no matter what. What was it she used to say...?
"...D-Do not hide, stand with pride, Mountain in the light..." I said, half to myself, gulping, "My Mother Mountain taught me to always tell the truth, miss. Y-You didn't need to ask me for it." I said, looking straight back up at her. "I...I always tell the truth." That in itself was a bit of a lie, to be honest, but since I was going to tell the truth....
"That was wise of your mother, little one." The girl smiled, "I'm sorry for implying otherwise."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my poor nerves, "I...I was on a journey, miss." I said, deciding to start at the beginning. "Mother Mountain told me to...to leave her behind. She said I had to find a new home. And...I got hungry, really really hungry on my journey...no matter what I ate I stayed hungry. And then...I'm...I'm sorry, miss, the smells...the smells from your home smelled so delicious I...couldn't help it. I was so hungry...and...and..." Telling the truth was...more difficult than I thought. Maybe...maybe if she was mean or cruel to me it would have been easier...but...but she was so nice. Tears welled up, but I fought it...no...don't cry, me...
"It's alright, little one." The girl reached out for me. I flinched. W-was I about to be punished? But...but...you promi-...
...she patted me on the head, stroking my hair gently, almost...lovingly. "You came in and had a bite to eat. And I think nobody can blame you for that. My recipes are the very best if I do say so myself." She smiled again, that beautiful gentle smile.
"Y-yes..." I nodded a little, blushing deeply in sheer embarrassment, "I-I'm s-sorry...really really sorry, miss...t-they were r-really really good though..."
"You believe her then?" The tall woman asked, coldly. "Just like that?"
"Fits the story, Miss Eirin." The young girl's voice changed again, snapping back at the older woman. "I couldn't ask for more from such a brave child."
"Ah, so you'll believe Daiyousei's story too." The tall woman rolled her eyes, "We know there is a traitor in our midst, Remi. Would you put it past Daiyousei?"
"Her name's 'Mana', Miss Eirin, 'Mana Fey', my 'great fairy'. And I named her that for a reason." The young girl said, slowly turning to look up at the elder woman, "Let me spell it out for you, just in case. I would trust her with my life. If you dare accuse my fairies of disloyalty ever again, so our Lord help me...." Her eyes widened on noticing someone at the door. "M-Mana! Miss Eirin didn't mean it that way!" She cried out at the little figure hiding by the door thing. But it was too late. My cousin had heard the accusation. Wide, horrified eyes brimming with tears, she took off.
"...tsk..." The tall woman muttered under her breath, "I told her to stay upstairs."
"EIRIN!" A dark, scary look took over the young girl's face, "I swear, you..."
"My my, apologies, am I interrupting something...?" Another person arrived at the door thing, this one a tall, towering woman, even taller than the Eirin woman. Her long, beautifully decorated green and gold dress was so massive it took up most of the door opening and trailed along on the floor behind her. Long red hair, the colour of mountain roses, flowed down her back like a deep, red sunset. "I heard the commotion and I could not help but worry."
"Your highness, I-I'm so very sorry. It was...a little housekeeping problem, nothing more." The Remi girl rose to her feet and then quickly bowed again, pulling bits of her dress up. "I'm sorry that you should see our home in such a state just as you arrive. If you could please bear with us just a moment longer I'll show you to your room..."
"It is fine, Remi." The new arrival smiled. Her smile was more a peaceful, gentle one, like the caress of the breeze upon a still mountain lake. "You've already done much by travelling all the way to Port Dover to pick me and my companions up. Besides, I am here to help, not to be served. That said, I already told you many times, we are in your home, not China. I am no princess in your home, so, please, call me 'MeiLing'." Her speech was slow, speaking as if she was plucking each word out of the air, but carefully, almost gracefully, as if determined to shape each and every word perfectly. Her voice, however, was something to experience. It was ringing, flowing, like a crystal clear river of music.
"Yes, y-your hi-...I m-mean, M-Meil...Meyl..." The young girl bit her tongue, "O-oo...I-I'm sorry, I..."
"Or you may call me 'China' if that is easier." The woman in green said with a smile as she glided into the room. "Now, this child here looks quite ill." She said, kneeling down by the 'child' in my care. "Though I see someone has done her best to take care of her. Was that you, little one?" She asked, looking up at me.
"You would expect no less from an accomplice." The Eirin woman muttered.
My heart leapt. D-does that mean I'm in trouble again? For helping her? "I-I'm sorry!" I squeaked, "I...she just looked like she was in so much pain...and...and...I was the one who hurt her...and....she's so helpless like a child...I couldn't help it...I..." My mind ran away, taking my tongue with it. I gave a little gasp as I noticed hot tears streaming down my cheeks. "I-I'm sorry! I'm s-so sorry!" Why? Why'd I lose it? Why'd all the fear and worrying from all this time come at me all at once? I was doing so well! I....
"It's alright, it's alright, little one. You did well." I found myself pulled into a sudden hug by the young girl. Surprised, shocked beyond belief at her gentleness, her kindness, I...I simply lost any strength I had left. I broke into honest, earnest tears, the first I shed in a long, long time. "You've been a very, very brave girl. Few could have done what you did that night, sacrificing yourself for your sister and complete strangers, fewer still would have had the courage to care so much for their enemies."
"Indeed, you've taken really good care of this child." The woman in green nodded, "I see her wound has been cleaned and bandaged well and care has been taken to control her fever....were these your clothes, little one?" She asked, having untied the rag around her arm.
I gave a little nod against the young girl's clothes, hicupping a little all the while.
"I am...impressed. In all my long years I have yet to see anyone dedicate so much even to royalty, let alone an enemy." The woman said, beaming at me.
"Miss Eirin...I will not ask why our prisoner is so ill. But I will ask that you do your job as house physician and treat her." The young girl said, pointedly.
"...." The Eirin woman gave the young Remi girl a dirty look, "I am not touching her. You carry her to the infirmary."
"Allow me." The woman in green said, smiling.
"Y-your highness..." The Remi girl gasped, but before she could protest, the woman in green had hefted the former-attacker-person up in her arms, carrying her almost effortlessly. "Please, I could..."
"She is unconscious, so anyone could carry her. However, you, Remi..." The woman in green nodded down at me, "...already have your hands full." She gave another one of her smiles before turning to the Eirin woman, "Lady Eirin, was it? If you could please lead the way?"
Without another word the Eirin woman swept out of the room. The woman in green followed behind, bearing her burden with surprising ease.
Left alone in the room with the young girl, I became awfully conscious of how I was clinging so tightly onto her. But...it felt so...so comfortable...so warm...it was like being...
...yes...like being back with Mother Mountain again...
"Sigh....that Eirin...." The girl sighed, "She means well. She really does. But she can be so...stiff sometimes." She shook her head. "Now, little one..." She placed her hands on my shoulders before kneeling down before me, "Do you have a name?"
I shook my head as I quickly dried my tears on the backs of my hands. "N-no miss."
Naming each other is a strange concept to us fairies. Why so, you ask, dear guests? Well, it is difficult to compare, but the closest comparison would be like you naming each and every part of your own body. Yes, indeed, you have your general words for things like 'nose', 'hair', and 'nose hair', but you wouldn't name your ears 'Koakuma' or your fangs 'Remilia' now, would you? Or maybe you would, but that would be strange, even by human standards. It's the same for us fairies. We are all 'one' the same way all of nature is 'one'. There are no strangers, no friends or enemies, among fairies. There is just 'us'. Though there are those among us who bear names, as you know. Most of us get named by other beings, especially humans, for want of something to call us by. And sometimes it sort of 'sticks'. We don't particularly mind it, and it saves you humans a lot of trouble trying to address us individually.
Now...where was I? Ah, yes, Remi.
"That's perfectly fine, little one. It's not usual for you and your sisters, is it?" The girl said kindly. "You can call me 'Remi'. Just 'Remi', no need for this 'miss' business. I'm no 'miss', though by storm I will be 'lady' one day." She said with a little grin. "Ah, yes, 'lady Remi'..." She repeated to herself, almost wistfully. "Ah, are you cold?" She asked, noticing that I was shivering again. My warm blanket thing had fallen off my shoulders amidst all that. "Let's hurry and get you warmed up then." She said, pulling off her white frilly cloth thing and wrapping it around me before draping my blanket thing back around my shoulders. "So, would you like something to eat first? Or shall we get you cleaned up? Or would you rather get some clothes on first? Or perhaps you should rest? You're not feeling unwell yourself, are you? You look like you've been pushing yourself a little too much, little one."