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sixteen

Changes All Around

H eather ate her fill. With a happy stomach, she looked at the overflowing spread, overwhelmed by guilt. “Will all this go to waste?”

“It’ll be preserved for later.” Skye snapped his fingers and with a green flash of light, the food vanished.

Heather’s eyes were wide with wonder. “We could have put your skills to use in the kitchens.” She placed her napkin on the table. “I noticed the castle’s been improved upon. The furnishings used to be slightly too big for me. What other magick do you have in your repertoire?”

“I’ll be pleased to show ye.” Skye proffered his arm to her as they rose from their seats.

“I couldn’t help but notice that the castle lacked a few vital amenities. Windowpanes and doors to protect us from the weather, working hearths, a kitchen and bathing chambers.” She smiled up at him, noting how he included himself in the statement. She most certainly wanted to be part of an ‘us.’

“I hope ye don’t mind that I magically altered your home.”

It sounded as if the castle was made to be a model of perfection. She had been reluctant to leave it when she planned her escape, and she was beyond pleased Skye brought it to faerie.

“It sounds lovely. Those were a few of the critiques I had myself. I didn’t feel safe here when I was at the bigger.

..” she couldn’t finish that thought. He had led them over to the far back corner of the great hall, where an additional entrance currently stood.

How did she miss it before? The male beside her was rather distracting.

He leaned forward and held the door open with his right hand.

A chirping noise, quite like birds, filtered through the cracked doorway. Filled with curiosity, Heather poked her head into the entryway. The addition was a flurry of commotion. Soft morning light streamed in from three tall arched windows on the opposite wall.

Tiny creatures zipped by on frantic wings to a chopping block on the preparation table, sharing the weight of a whole carrot between them.

Each critter had four rounded wings flapping chaotically, struggling with the heavy cargo of the vegetable.

A large cauldron bubbled above the hearth.

Three more figures stood on the large wooden work surface in the center of the room.

They were doing their best to chop the vegetables with a human equivalent to a two-man carpentry blade.

They had arched ears similar to the pixie, but theirs was much longer and laid flat out from the side of their heads.

What looked to be a masculine creature dropped his end of the ‘saw’ and hissed up at Heather upon noticing her presence.

Unprepared, she flinched, bumping into Skye’s front in the process.

He placed a steady hand on her shoulder.

And to her surprise, Skye snarled back at the minuscule being.

Heather laughed under her breath at the ridiculous scene before her.

“Don’t be impolite to the Lady of the house, Clive.

” Skye said as he narrowed his eyes at them.

Clive had a bulbous middle and knobby knees.

She didn’t know how he remained upright when he pulled his brown, tiny bag hat from his head and bowed to her.

His pale, chubby cheeks flushed red. He looked fully chastised.

He clinched his headwear in front of him and voiced a stream of squeaks and chirps.

Skye appeared to understand every sound.

Heather was at a loss. Is this how she sounded to Jess and the king’s court when she was thumb sized?

“All is forgotten, friend. Lady Heather wished to see the kitchen.”

The area was much smaller than the series of kitchens at the human castle.

It was a single room, but it was spacious.

Certainly, a pleasant place to be employed, with abundant natural light and the plentiful work surface.

The room was a combination of greens and browns, the colors of the earth the theme of the chamber.

One by one, the petite individuals bowed or curtsied to Heather.

“Clive and his hive are Hobs, and cooks by nature. They have a habit of finding a dwelling to their liking and refuse to leave it. Clive is a treasured family friend and accepted my invite to move in.”

Heather curtsied back to the small gathering.

She was glad that they liked her home well enough to stay.

They were adorable, with their long ears and big, round eyes.

Heather looked forward to getting to know the group.

The meal they were working on filled the room with a heavenly smell.

And if she wasn’t already stuffed full from a large breakfast, she was sure that her stomach would be rumbling in temptation.

“Nice to meet you all. The kitchen smells divine.” She told them with a wide smile. Clive beamed in her praise. Her statement was followed with a series of high-pitched chirps that she hoped was delight.

Skye’s warm hand met her lower back as he leaned in to say quietly, “Ye made them very happy. Shall we carry on?”

She nodded, once again taking his proffered arm. He led her out the great hall and up the familiar wide staircase. They approached the open door of her bedchamber two levels up.

“You’ll find a bathing chamber is easily accessible from here.” They crossed the bedroom, and he opened a set of new double doors opposite the balcony- the place that was previously empty air, allowing a child to lean in- was now the most decadent water closet she had ever seen.

Another whole chamber that hadn’t existed formerly.

The mint and cream palette of the bedchamber carried into the additional room.

In the back center of the bath was a humongous soaking tub inset into the floor.

On closer inspection, the inside was radiant, like the interior of an abalone shell.

It shone purple, emerald, and pale green with the changing of the light from a domed, frosted skylight above.

The floors in the space were also made from white glossy seashell matter, a clever way to keep everything impervious from spillage.

The walls were covered with live ivy and lilac wisteria.

Heather wanted to get into this bath immediately.

To submerge in water completely was a luxury.

Unless she had a spare moment to slip away to a river, she usually had to bathe from a bowl.

She stood over the tub’s edge. It was empty.

“How does the bathtub work?” she asked. Noting that there wasn’t even a spigot or a pump.

“We rely on enchantment for the majority of our daily tasks. I’d summon water into the tub.”

“Oh.” Heather was crestfallen. How would she survive here in faerie without power of her own?

“How will I make use of the bath?”

“Well, you’ll always have me.” He raked his hair back from his face and grinned. Heather blushed pink.

“However, I appointed a ladies’ maid to attend ye.” He turned toward the doors as if looking for the individual in question.

“May I introduce Ella.” A female emerged from the hall.

She was a moth pixie with cloudy white wings.

She had a green dress on with an apron. Her ash blond hair was pulled into a tight bun at the base of her neck.

She appeared to be the same age as Heather, but appearances were deceiving with the fae.

She considered that Skye’s mother seemed no older than five and twenty.

“Milady,” Ella curtsied.

Heather walked forward, clasped Ella’s hand, and shook it. “Wonderful to meet you. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. I’m magick-less.” Heather had vowed to herself that she would never treat anyone the way she was treated as a scullery maid.

“It’s my pleasure, Milady. I’m proudly in the employ of the Ashwoodes.” Ella stood straight and tall with her wings erect above her shoulders.

Heather felt the heat in her cheeks rise.

She had her suspicions Skye was an Ashwoode, but she wasn’t secure in knowing who they were as a household.

It sounded as if they were renowned. She would have to ask him when they were alone, so she wouldn’t embarrass herself.

Here she was courting someone, unaware of his last name or his lineage.

“Please call me Heather. I’d really love a bath. Skye, would you mind if we finished our tour later?”

Sky bowed and took hold of her hand, kissing her palm, “Take your time. Find me when you’re ready to depart.” He inclined again and the two females returned his courtesy with curtsies before he promptly left the room.

Ella turned, closing the double doors of the bath.

With a snap of her finger, white smoke like magick emerged, filling the tub steadily.

Steam rose to the ceiling. Out of the corner of her eye, Heather swore the flowers along the wall bloomed wider, their petals enlarging and spreading, saturating the chamber with a wonderful medley of floral scents.

Heather made quick work of untying the ribbon from her hair and placing it on the vanity.

She sat at the dressing table while Ella assisted her in removing her stockings, her gown, and kirtle.

She lowered herself down into the warm waters as quickly as she could, unaccustomed to being in the nude with company in the room.

Ella added a bubbling solution into the basin.

The warmth of the bath seeped deep into her bones.

Her muscles loosened and relaxed. She was humming to herself before she knew it.

She spread her limbs and noted that the seashell tub was large enough for two.

Her nipples pebbled under the surface, the image of Skye joining her.

She pictured those wide set shoulders and tapered waist bared to her.

Would she ever cease turning red in embarrassment here in faerie?

It was all the male’s fault. He was too finely made for his own good.