#anywhere

For Eleanor the room is like a dream. Easily surpassing her old one.

She has made a nest of pillows on the big bed.

Oh, it is MUCH more delightful to think of these things than of the last few days...

And it is good to hear that the mortals are now in safe hands. Did she delay them? Did she make a difference? She'd like to think so.

She MUST think so.

A knock on her door.

"Ohhh..." She sits UP, so dignified, a Countess!

"You may enter."

A figure peeks in "Countess, it is I, Rosalita. I brought you more clothes...also... well, Steward Diego said you might be wanting play times with childlings sometime?"

"There are other childlings here?"

"Alas, not many living in the hold, one is mentoring with a bug pooka in the jungle... last I heard." She says "however, in the neighborhood, well, we have families and some of us have children."

"That would be acceptable, thank you. Gerald says it's important I learn to socialize."

"Si, it is" She says

"Do you have children, Miss Rosalita?"

"Sadly, the gift has not come upon them."

"I am sure they bring you great joy."

"Two more wonderful ones I could not ask for, mortal or no," She says "We shall see mmm?" A smile "We have some pooka childlings. Some rescued by the Flamefree herself"

"Pooka are jolly."

"Well, they put on a good mask for the tears" She nods "But they also play the pranks. You are not the sort to lose your temper for such?"

"Not too much, unless they pull my hair. I detest...." A pause, as she touches her shorn locks.

Her once glorious hair is ..stumps and half locks

no doubt she looks lovely, for she is a sidhe...

but still!@

A... sniffle.

But she keeps her dignity.

"Oh .. you poor thing. Wait.. I get someone who can help your hair... I promise. You look through these clothes.. okay.. " the boggan's heart goes out

A brave nod. "Okay, Miss Rosalita."

"Good good..." She moves out.. leaving a pile of clothes to sort through and pick the best.

She finds the softiest, coziest nightgown... perfect for hiding in her pillow-nest.

And there she nestles. No visions come.

Then there's a knock

She lost track of time.. did she fall asleep? or just stare at a wall?

"Lo?" A voice says, a girl

Muffled. "Lo?"

"My name is Ariel... uhm.. I'm here to help with your hair?"

"...Like the mermaid?" SOftly.

"Ahm.. yeah" a laugh? "Only. uhm.. I got goat legs"

"Can I come in? I can't work magic from here"

"..okay."

Ellie stares from the middle of her nest, a blanket pulled up over her shorn head and clasped at her neck.

The little satyress trots up, "oh.. this room is so beautiful..." she gapes at it all

Ariel doesn't look Mexican either, and she sure dosn't sound it... she bounces on hooves and looks about

"It's a princess room. Nicest I ever saw." She agrees.

"So are you a princess? I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask. Where I'm from they don't much care for nobles, but my brother's a knight so I know not all of them are bad. And when Coy called I thought I could help..." She trots closer "But Uhm. .I kind of need to see your head to help it"

"I'm a countess. But I don't belong to anywhere."

"Promise not to laugh."

"I promise" She says and crosses her heart "And if I start to I'll cover my mouth and turn around and feel terrible about it"

"Well, okay."

She pulls the blanket off her head, but keeps it wrapped around her shoulders. "It looks awful. I don't remember them doing it."

"Oh" Ariel does not laugh, she looks angry "But you have such beautiful hair ... to cut it like that is. .. it's mean" A hoof stamp "And wrong and I know trolls and i would say to the trolls 'Grab those guys who did that to her hair and make a wish' and they'd know what I mean you bet... you hold still, I'm gonna fix that. And don't you worry, you could be bald and you'd still have the best eyes"