The day had been full of fun and adventure. Papa took her to town in the morning to load up his wagon and meet with the other merchants. She was always a good girl when papa met with the grown ups. She sat in a chair and tried to be as quiet as a mouse. Sometimes, she would fall asleep, but not today. Papa said that if she was a good girl she would get a treat from the pretty lady at the sweets stall. Papa always talked to that lady, and she was very nice. The sweets lady always talked about Leena's curly hair, she loved to squeeze her brown curls in her hands and let them fall around Leena's face. Leena didn't mind, the lady was so pretty and kind. So, Leena made sure she sat still and tall while Papa talked.
Now, Leena is walking along the road, holding her papa’s hand, the sweet cake from the nice lady made her fingers a little sticky, but she doesn't mind. She playfully swings their arms back and forth with each step. She is wearing her new green dress and some new leather shoes. She loves the dress, it is is a pretty shade of green, its swirls, and makes a swishing sound when she twists her hips back and forth. She does not like her new shoes. They are stiff and pinches her toes. She misses her old shoes, they were soft, didn’t pinch too much, and had pretty brass buckles. Papa said she had grown and they were too small now. Leena didn’t want to complain about her shoes, because her papa was happy today. He was being kind and smiling, it warms her little heart. Papa is not usually this happy.
(Image curtesy of HotPot AI)
“Papa, where are we going?” She looks up into her father’s smiling and wrinkled face.
Mostern stops walking and bends down to meet his daughter’s eyes, “We are going to see the elves in Lin Gilaith.” The tone of his voice is filled with wonder and mystery. He taps a thick finger on the tip of her nose and smiles.
She remembers the last time they visited the strange, tall folk, and their funny pointed ears. They were so kind to her. She beams at him, “We are?!” Her small voice lifts in excitement.
Mostern taps the tip of her nose again and laughs, “Indeed we are, Little Bee.” He rises and begins walking toward their house.
Once again on their way, Leena sings a little happy song about flowers and bees in the spring. Mostern smiles down at his little girl and wipes a joyful tear from his eye, wishing Erica were with them. As they walk up the steps to their home he lets out a sigh and opens the door and looks down at Leena, “Get Bumble and wait in the wagon. I will load our trunk and we will be off!”
Leena dashes into her room, grabs her teddy bear from the bed and says goodbye to her other toys, “Don’t worry, Amira, you can come next time.” She kisses the doll’s head, “Be good and maybe Papa will buy you a new dress.” Her little finger waves in the air as she speaks to each, giving them instructions.
“Moleena! It’s time!” Mo calls to her, he pulls the door closed behind them as she dashes out of the house.
Leena waves to the little home as they ride away, her curls bobbing around her head as the wagon rumbles down the cobblestone road of Bree. She smiles up to her papa, excitement in her small features.
