Samantha’s Room

All Elin knew when she woke up was that she was warm. She wished she could just curl up in that warmth and stay there forever. Yet, because the softness around her was just a bed, she knew that she'd have to leave that warmth if she was going to find Kim. After all, that was the only thing missing for her at that moment.

As Elin opened her eyes, sh couldn't help but feel a little confused and disoriented. She couldn't remember being in a room like this, and she was confident that she hadn't gotten into a four poster bed in her life.

Yet, her surroundings showed the heavy curtains hung over the bed, shielding her from most of the light from the day. The last thing she remembered was eating breakfast. She wasn't sure what happened after that, but she was sure she'd have remembered if she'd gone to a room that had a bed like this.

Elin started to slide out of the covers when she suddenly realized what she was wearing. It was a nightgown from a very soft and fine material. The kind she hadn't seen since she was in her own world. Not to mention that she hadn't had a nightgown to wear since then either.

The nightgown wasn't made to fit her, as it was rather loose, but it was still pleasant to have one to wear again. Elin wished she knew that she'd be able to keep it, but had a feeling that it was probably just a loan. Although, she wondered if she'd be able to work as a waitress at an inn and get enough money to buy one herself. Which might even be preferable because then at least that would then be made to fit her exactly.

Shaking her head, she continued to move to the edge of the bed before pushing a curtain back so she could get out of the bed. She wanted to find out how she'd gotten there in the first place.

Maybe it was because she was still partly asleep or because her brain hadn't fully woken up, but she wasn't having much luck with organizing her thoughts. Se knew that if she walked around that she should then get her thoughts clearer. Although, she wasn't sure what she'd realize when she did. Especially since she really had missed these simple luxuries.

As the curtain moved back, she had to drop it because of the light from the sun was shining too brightly and she found herself blinded for a minute from the sudden change from the dark inside the curtains to how bright the rest of the room was. The pain from the sudden light in her eyes chased away any other thought for a minute or two.

Despite her temporary blindness and not having moved the curtain much, she was able to know the curtain opening hadn't gone unnoticed by people who were outside the curtains, despite how small the movement was. She heard voices muffled from the curtain that were talking in low tones, so she couldn't make out what was being said. She was only aware that she wasn't alone in the room.

The curtain on the other side of the bed was opened, shedding more light around her, but not as much as the side she'd first opened herself. The person who was opening the curtain was clearly a maid, although her uniform was that of a plain brown dress and an apron that only went around her waist. The maid's movements were quick and efficient at tying the curtain so it wouldn't fall back and put Elin in the comfortable darkness again.

"I'll inform the young miss that you're awake," the maid told Elin. "She'll be overjoyed to hear that."

Elin nodded, not sure what else to do. Although, she did start to move to that side of the bed. She wasn't sure why it wasn't so bright on one side of the bed, but she wasn't in the mood to try and think it through. She was more worried about how she got there in the first place as well as where this wonderful nightgown had come from.

She got off of the bed as the maid quickly made her way out of the room. She didn't run, but she was certainly moving faster than a walk. Not that Elin really cared. Since she didn't know the maid was referring to in regards to the 'young miss' part, she couldn't say if it mattered to her.

While she was left in the room without any knowledge of exactly where she was, Elin looked around and was happy that her eyes were adjusting just fine to the increased light. Although, she was able to determine why she'd been blinded when she'd opened the first curtain around the bed, and that was because outside the window there was a row of windows that was reflecting the sunlight directly through that window. It wasn't clear exactly if the windows were in the same property as the building Elin was in was on or if it was a neighboring property, but Elin deduced that once the sun moved enough so it wasn't relecting directly through the window, she might be able to tell.

The only other person in the room was another maid who was busy cleaning. While Elin was confident she was aware of Elin's presence, she didn't turn and say anything, but rather continued her work as if nothing had happened.

Elin thought she looked rather young and wondered if she might have instructions not to talk to Elin or something, so she thought she'd not try to press the matter and possibly get the girl in trouble. Although, Elin still wanted someone to talk to.

She wasn't hungry, with the amount she'd been able to put away at breakfast, and she was fully rested and didn't even feel the slightest bit tired. All she really needed was something to change into and someone to talk with. Not that she cared who it was, but she didn't want to make new problems, for herself or others, if she didn't have to. At least not if it didn't involve something necessary for herself.

The maid who left returned shortly with a young girl that Elin recognized immediately. Samantha was ecstatic to see Elin awake and moving about. Then behind the maid and Samantha was Kim. Which made Elin feel much more relaxed.

"Good to see you awake," Kim said, sounding like she meant it.

"I'm so happy you're up," Samantha said before Elin could respond to Kim. "I wanted to thank you for saving me last night."

Elin smiled at Samantha. "I'm glad you're feeling better," she said, then suddenly remembered what she was wearing. "Uh, where did this nightgown come from? I don't remember having one like this."

Samantha giggled. "That was one of my mother's old nightgowns," the girl replied. "When your body guard was looking for a place to let you rest, I offered to let you use my room. Then I asked my maid to change you into that nightgown because I knew sleeping in that dress you wore to the party last night wouldn't be very comfortable."

Elin smiled. "I'm sure it wouldn't have been either," she replied. "Thank you for letting me use your bed. It was so warm."

Samantha giggled. "It is, isn't it?" Samantha said, her eyes lighting up. "Some days my maid has to drag me out because I just want to stay in there all day."

Elin couldn't help but laugh herself. "I know what you mean. I've had days like that myself. Only, I get told that if I don't get up that they'll make me sleep on another bed that isn't so comfortable and my bed would be taken away," Elin replied, looking for a place to sit down.

The options were limited, though there was a few chairs around a amall table that Elin assumed Samantha used for playing with, but couldn't be sure. However, the maid who was cleaning was inbetween them and that table, so she didn't try to use it.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Samantha asked, looking startled. "I had my maid send your dress to be cleaned, and I'm afraid it's not back yet. Is there something I could offer you to wear until it gets back?" the ten year-old asked.

Elin smiled. "Maybe if my clothes from the inn I was staying at could be brought here, I could change into something from that?" Elin suggested. Being offered the girl's bed was more than Elin could have even thought to ask for, so she didn't think it would be polite to even think to accept more.

"Don't worry about that," Kim said. "Jonas and Elmo left about an hour ago to get our things from the inn. They should be back soon enough."

Elin sighed. She would have liked to change out of the nightgown, especially since it wasn't something she was used to wearing for long outside of bed. Yet, it wasn't like she could do anything about it. Much like so much she'd had to deal with in this world.

"If that's the case, is there somewhere we can sit down while we wait?" Elin asked. "I mean, you have a sitting room, right?"

Samantha looked a mix of surprise and bitterness. "My father said this is all I need until I get older," she muttered, looking like she had her own opinions about the subject.

"Don't worry about it," Elin said, hoping she wasn't going to make this situation worse. "I'm sure he'll let you have things like that soon enough."

"I guess," Samantha sighed, then she perked up as if her depression was merely a skin to be shed like that of a snake's. "Oh, yes. You mentioned somewhere to sit. Follow me."

Elin couldn't help but chuckle to herself at Samantha's change in her mood. It made Elin wish she had a daughter of her own. Not that she knew what having a child would be like. Just that seeing Samantha made her think about things like that, when she hadn't even had those thoughts cross her mind in the past.