(TW// this chapter contains implied child abuse, discrimination, description of severe injuries & mentions of child abandonment. If you are sensitive to, uncomfortable with, or have experienced any of the listed triggers please do not read. Reader discretion is advised.)

Lorana followed Ivan closely, trying to keep up with the prince as they moved through the castle. Eventually, the two reached a door that seemed to reach to the roof of the room. As Lorana examined the door it began to open, startling the young elf. The young girl rushed behind Ivan in hopes for protection, but instead heard a conversation. "Greetings your highness, you seem to have returned early from your visit. Is there any reasoning behind your early return?" someone asked. Lorana peaked out from behind Ivan to see a devil with chocolate skin & long curled mauve-silver hair. The demon was in a maids dress & possessed gold where her eyes should be. Lorana couldn't make out more details of the beast as she ducked back behind the prince. "Greetings Meredith. Indeed, I have returned earlier than expected. There was a witch execution happening today. It was not like those I had been told of before, the children were trying to delay the execution, including the victim. Meredith, I'd like to introduce you to someone." Ivan said, stepping to the side, revealing the young elf.

"Greetings young one." The monster said, kneeling down to greet Lorana. Lorana just stood frozen with fear, the eyes of the demon locked on her. "OH MY! ARE YOU OK SWEETHEART! YOU'RE COVERED IN BLISTERS & BURNS!" the demon said, gently grabbing Lorana's hand while looking over her skin. "Lorana, this is Meredith. She's going to help you. Meredith, could you please treat Lorana's burns?" prince Ivan asked, receiving a nod from the maid before heading somewhere in the castle with Lorana in tow.

As the two continued to walk through the halls, the young elf slouched in on herself, ashamed of the way she looked & nervous of the creature leading her. Lorana turned her head to the left ever so slightly to see a portrait of four people. One looked like Ivan, there was a man standing behind the boy who looked to be much older & stricter. Next to the old man was a beautiful women with long blond hair & blue eyes. The person in front of the lady appeared to be another girl with blonde hair & beautiful blue eyes. Each seemed different in the painting, the young boy seemed to stand as still as a statue. The older man seemed strict but gentle, the lady next to him seemed to be pleased with the people she was with while the younger girl was the only one smiling. Lorana looked at the title of the painting & struggled to make out the words on the golden plaque.

" I see you're curious of the painting yonder. If you wish I could tell you of it." the devil said, startling the young elf. "s-sure.. just don't take my soul!" Lorana said, giving the hell spawn a small chuckle. "deary I'm no demon, I'm but a simple Tiefling." She said before continuing. "That is a portrait of the royal family, though it's two years old & no longer correct." Meredith said, carefully leading the elf away from the painting. As they continued down the hall, Lorana heard whispers from other maids & butlers. "poor child." "I can't believe a demon like her is dragging a child around." "did that monster hold her to a torch?" "did she kidnap an elven child?" "I still cannot believe the king allows a sinner like her walk around here." "once that hell spawn is alone we shall exorcise her. She mustn't be in this realm." Each & every foul murmur from the humans of the castle had felt as if a dagger was being plunged into Lorana's ears.

'how could one be so foul to another. Why must they talk as if they were the great oracle?' she thought, curling in on herself. Meredith had noticed this change & looked over to the servants who were whispering amongst themselves. "pardon me for interrupting or displaying any form of disrespect to you, but may you please stop whispering false assumptions amongst each other? Our guest seems to feel unwelcomed by your slander." One of the women looked at the Tiefling & sneered. "Of course, a sinner like you would listen in on conversations you have no part in. We're only speaking the truth." "I apologize for the misunderstanding. I'm only assuming you speak of false ideals in your minds as prince Ivan has told of how you speak of me & our guest's reaction. I heard not a single word you have spoken as I ignore the negativity you speak of." Meredith responded, keeping a calm & respectful tone & manner.

"We have every right to assume what you have done to this poor child. The child would never go willingly with a demon such as you-" "Tiefling, ma'am." Lorana interrupted. "she is no demon, & she was requested by mister Ivan to help me with my burns. Please do not say things that are not true." She added, infuriating the human maid. "Well then sweetheart, how did you get burned if she had not done it?" "simple ma'am, a wolf was to attack me & a kind witch threw a glass bottle of scalding water at the beast. I ran to hug the creature & was burned by the water. She was executed for hurting me, even when I spoke the truth. I attempted to rescue her as she did for me & had gotten caught in the pyre below her. If mister Ivan had not pulled me & the lady that grabbed me, I would have perished." Lorana answered, receiving a scoff from the maid. "the demon must have brainwashed her. Besides, you look as if you were left on the streets by your parents. They must truly be worried as their daughter was kidnapped by a demo-" "my parents did leave me in the woods! They told me to stay there two days ago! Why must you lie to make yourself feel better than you truly are?" Lorana said, tears welling in her eyes. "Look at what you have done Katherine. His majesty will not be pleased by your treatment of our guest. Come with me dear, let us clean your skin of the chars devouring it." Meredith said, leading Lorana away from the horrid maid.

Lorana looked to the ground in shame. "Am I to be beaten for my outburst ma'am?" she asked, flinching at the thought of what her parents did to her as punishment. "Dear Heavens, I Hope Not! Your reaction was understandable for anyone in a situation like yours. Katherine had stepped out of line & your response is understandable." Meredith said, looking at the young elf. He had begun to see trivial things she had not noticed before. Lorana's eyes appeared dull in nature, she had the smallest of limps & her right arm hung limp. A patch of skin on her face appeared to be slowly turning blue with only a clump of matted charred hair barely covering it.

"My dear, do you wish to stay here?" Meredith asked, receiving a slight nod from the young elf. "Come with me dear, the barracks hold pastes that were made to lessen the pain of burns, along with cloth to help the knights recover from battles against enemies." She said, giving Lorana a soft smile. Soon the two entered the barracks, noticing two young boys training with one another. Lorana looked towards a log that had been carved to have a flat top & sat atop it. Meredith smiled as she grabbed some slimy paste from a bowl & called the young boys over. "Boys, can you fetch me some cloth so I can tend to our guest's injuries?" Meredith said, receiving a nod from them as they ran off.

Meredith approached Lorana & began to rub the paste on the patches of burnt skin. Lorana shuddered as the cold paste was rubbed in. "I should have informed you that the paste was cold." Meredith said as the boys returned with cloth & a doctor. "Greetings Meredith. The boys already told me of the child. I would like to take a look at her once you finish." The doctor said, gently taking Lorana's left arm help wrap it in the cloth. As Lorana was wrapped in cloth, the doctor took time to examine each section he was tending to, by the time Meredith & the doctor finished, Lorana's left leg had a stick wrapped next to it & her right arm held against her chest with cloth wrapped around the back of her neck.

"Meredith, I would like to inquire as to why it feels as if the bones in her leg & arm were nearly broken? I cannot imagine you being capable of doing so." The doctor said, looking at Lorana with concern. "I have no clue as to how she sustained such injuries, however I can only assume her parents had done so considering her situation." Meredith said, a concerned look also plastered her face.

Lorana looked at the two adults & shifted to the side slightly. "Ma'am, sir, how long must I have to be wrapped in cloth?" she asked rubbing her arm. "Four to five days at the least, young one" the doctor said, giving her a friendly smile before continuing to converse with the Tiefling maid. Lorana took in her surroundings, observing her surroundings carefully. The two boys Meredith had called earlier began sparing with one another in the barren courtyard, using wooden poles as if they were swords. In the center of the courtyard stood what appeared to be a training dummy surrounded by a pile of hay scattered along the ground. To the left most wall was a rack of weapons, amongst the lances, maces & swords was a singular riding crop.

The second she gazed upon the whip she flinched, the image of her father glaring at her holding it was fresh in the young elf's mind. Lorana snapped out of her mind as quick as she entered. Looking away from the weapon rack she noticed a stables filled with numerous horses in each stall. Her eyes fell upon a horse with a snow-white coat speckled with charcoal. In the few seconds she was staring at the beautiful stead, Lorana felt as though the universe had destined this encounter. Lorana had regained composure after a few seconds & tried to approach the stead, only for one of the boys sparing to stop her.

"You should rest, it shall help you recover faster." The boy said, a reassuring look had consumed his face. It was at this moment, Lorana knew she'd finally found her home.

Word count: 1788