Elsbeth's Prison

Elsbeth felt a strange feeling come across her body. A glow appeared around her as she felt herself being pulled toward something. When it stopped she was by her home again, and Alora, her mother, stood in front of her with her arms crossed.

"What do you think you were doing!" She fumed, "if anyone had seen you-"

Elsbeth stood up, "I'm sorry Mom." She said, she looked at her feet. "I felt a calling to the palace, just as you had, I was curious."

Alora softened slightly, she put her arms around her daughters shoulders. "If anything happened to you, my little love. I'd never forgive myself." She said gently.

"I won't do it again."

"Did anyone see you?" Alora said, there was so much worry in her voice Elsbeth was tempted to lie. But perhaps Elsbeth's face was enough, Alora's expression froze. "Who?" She said.

"My cousins, Amos and Sonnis." Elsbeth wanted to melt into the ground when she saw her mothers face. Alora looked horrified.

"Did they know who you were?" Alora said.

"No," Elsbeth saw Alora sigh slightly, some of the tension dissolving. She wrapped her arms gently around Elsbeth, drawing her into a tight hug.

"I was so worried, if Onicent had seen you, or if his son had recognized you." Alora trailed off, but Elsbeth felt confused. Alora had never mentioned Onicent specifically.

"Why would it be a problem Mom?" Elsbeth said.

Alora's face spasmed with sudden grief. She held Elsbeth so tightly that her hands were whitening. But she never answered Elsbeth's question. At last she let go. "Come inside my little love."

Elsbeth followed her with light footsteps. The sun would rise soon, and the nymphs were stirring from their trees. Elsbeth imagined later she'd run through the fields, the nights events would dissolve among the flowers and sunshine. She even had made some friends among the nymphs, she would tell them all about her adventure. She knew they would listen closely and excitedly, the young nymphs loved to gossip.

But there was something bugging Elsbeth below the surface. Why was Alora worried about Onicent. Something else surfaced in her head, Onicent was green like her. She shook that thought away, she was happy in her life with her Mom.

But something had changed in the house, it had gotten bigger it seemed. Alora lead her to a door she'd never seen. "Come with me, I have something to show you."

Alora walked down stairs, and when they reached the bottom there was a massive room. It was an underground garden. Elsbeth gasped, it was beautiful. A small stream trickled through the middle, there were so many colourful flowers.

"Do you like it?" Alora asked.

"It's amazing," Elsbeth whispered, she leant down and stroked a flower.

"I'm sorry my little love." Alora said.

Confusion flashed through Elsbeth's mind. But then Alora was gone, and so was the exit. Elsbeth ran at the walls, but she had no way to break through. She ran to where she thought the exit should be and pounded.

"Let me out Mom, I'm sorry, I will stay close to home. I won't ever go away again!"

The voice floated through the walls, "this is for your own good, now that Amos has seen you, you are no longer safe. I have to protect you, I could never forgive myself if someone hurt you."

Elsbeth kept pounding, until she was exhausted, then she found a place in a hollow and sat down, her hands went to her head. But she knew her Mom loved her, her Mom wanted to protect her.

But she would miss the world above terribly.