Hidden Worlds .. Karuna for Melakka

[Melakka]

Belle was loving the the hand to hand contact .. it was magical all on its own! Castles, queens, glowing forests, faeries .. this was the stuff of dreams! Well her dreams, anyway. She'd found a book of magical stories and read it whenever she could .. at night under the bed covers when no one could see .. and longed to escape the east end and come to a place .. a place just like this!
The question had a sting to it but time had eased the pain it gave Belle to talk about it.
“My mum died when I was 8 .. never knew my dad.” She spoke neutrally as the sentence had become something of a mantra to be trotted out when questioned by an Authority. The gentle caress of Cyra's wing tip to her cheek brought up a choking sob of remembrance.
“My mum used to give me butterfly kisses when she tucked me up .. and you just brought it back to me.” She sniffled but looked up at the queen with shining eyes and a shy smile “Thanks Cyra!”

[Karuna]

cyra was taken slightly aback by this but then smiled softly. she stayed silent for some time before finally saying "would you like to stay here in this world? At least you would have someone to help keep trouble away from you and not be completely alone."


she knew inviting a human to stay was very rare but it did happen and would turn far less heads since it was an orphan child.

[Melakka]

The question simply astonished Belle; no one had wanted to foster her for more than a month and certainly not adopt her but the queen who owned the huge castle was being extraordinarily kind towards her. She thought off a book she'd once read and almost asked about Turkish delight .. but decided not to mention it!
"I think I'd love to stay here .. this place is wonderful .. and very green!"
For some years Belle had made a little extra by picking the pockets of wealthier people and now it was almost second nature to her. 'I must be careful not to pilfer here and get on the wrong side of Cyra' she thought.

[Karuna]

"Then it's settled. Come, you should have a light meal then i'll show you around." she said softly, using her wing to gently and almost playfully push the child along. "What would you like for lunch Belle?" she asked calmly as they entered the castle.

[Melakka]

"I don't know what to say ma'am .. you're being so kind to me! I .. I'm so sorry I stole your rings when we held hands earlier! I don't know what came over me .. please take them back."
Belle lowered her head and mumbled "Can we have trout to eat? I've never tasted it but people have told me it's delicious .. I'd love to try it if that's all right! "

[Karuna]

Cyra leveled the child with a look before accepting the rings back.

"We can but first we will have to talk about this little....habit of yours." she said, her voice getting a bit firm but not angry or harsh.



"There is only a few rules for staying in my palace, Belle. Do not steal, do not lie, no putting yourself into harms way, be respectful of all people or creatures and since you're a child, you must tell me where you are going before you go so I will know where to look if you get hurt or something." she said calmly "Now I'm not a harsh person however if you break these rules you will be punished."



Cyra debated rather or not she should give the girl a lighter punishment this time since she had told her the truth and confessed besides waiting until she had asked about the rings later.

[Melakka]

Cyra's list of rules not to be broken might appear to perfectly reasonable to an outside observer but to Belle, who had spent the great majority of her life stealing, lying and putting herself in harms way on a daily basis, it seemed tantamount to a denial of life itself. Couple that with not being allowed to come and go as she pleased, an art she'd all but perfected at the Institution for Wayward Girls and the prospect of living in a magnificent castle seemed to lose some of its allure. She dismissed threats of punishments for transgressing the rules from her mind, there were some rules at the institute too .. but no one ever bothered to enforce them!
“Sure Cyra, I won't have to steal here will I? I'm sure I can get out of the habit .. and I'll be sure to tell you whenever I go anywhere so you'll be able to find me!”
Belle spoke the words she knew were expected of her but knowing as she said them she was breaking the rule about not lying she crossed her fingers behind her back to make it 'okay' .. in her mind at least!
“Can we eat soon .. I'm really pretty hungry!”

[Karuna]

"Yes, but I warn you...Do not let me catch you stealing again." She warned sternly before leading her into the palace and toward the dining hall. She told a chef what the child wanted before taking a seat at the table.



"So, what do you like to do? Any hobbies?" Cyra asked

[Melakka]

Belle liked the way Cyra had accepted her word while noting that she'd continued to make the empty threat about her not stealing again. “Sure Cyra, I won't!” she replied before adding purely to herself “I won't let you catch me again, that is!” Despite her defiant thought, Belle was finding the caring approach of the queen a distinctly odd experience; one that made her feel important somehow, important by having someone look out for her at all .. let alone a real queen! 'I suppose she'd throw me in a dungeon or something if she ever caught me breaking her silly rules' she thought and smiled to herself.
“Wow, this is a great room, Cyra, so many beautiful things!” Belle gazed at the great carved sideboard, the heavy silver tableware, the exquisitely cut glass decanter and drinking vessels. “I don't think I've ever had a hobby as such but I'm interested in how things work .. I like to take stuff apart and try to put it back together again, you know? It's amazing seeing how things connect, sometimes!” Belle noted the quizzical expression on the older woman's face, “What do you like to do Cyra .. when you're not looking out for me that is?” she asked with an innocent smile.

[Karuna]

"I paint in my spare time." Cyra answered, sensing something was up but wiping out off as paranoia. It wasn't very long after that another fairy came from the kitchens with bowls of a light soup and bread.



"Your fish will be ready shortly, this is only an appitizer since you probably didn't eat a lot before landing here." the young man said to Belle with a small smile before vanishing back to the kitchens.