She woke up in a soft, warm bed for the first time in her life. Slowly her eyes opened and she whispered: "Mum?"
But it was not her mother who sat beside the bed and gently brushed a strand of her silky, black hair away from her pale face. She heard a voice, soft and caring....
"Welcome to my home, a star shined on you, it was not your time to leave this life yet".
She tried to sit up straight but fell back into the soft pillows, a long sigh escaped from her mouth and she asked again: "Mum?"
Then she turned her face towards the voice and she looked at the most beautiful creature she had ever seen in her life, a feeling of peace and warmth entered her heart and she smiled.
The Elf woman studied the girl's face and she took a shining goblet in her hand, gently pressing the rim against the girl's dry and cracked lips. A warm, sweet liquid dripped into her mouth, her dark eyes sparkled again. "Where are my parents...what happened...please...tell me what happened, are they here? "
The Elf canted her head and looked at her, whispering: "I do not know...I found you under a wrecked wagon, barely alive, there was no one else, nor was there any lifeless body in the vicinity....I am sorry, this is all I know"
Reality slapped her hard, everything was gone, her life was empty now. Her parents were either dead or taken by the robbers, the latter would probably be worse. A shudder swept through her body and the Elf laid a warm hand on her forehead. "Sleep now, I will answer your questions later, rest is important". She stood up and left the room without making any sound.
The honey-like liquid started to have it's effect and she slowly descended into a deep, comfortable sleep.
