Hydrangea sat down with a huff. She wanted to do something; Linden hadn't even let her stoke the fire. Her own sisters had kicked her out of the kitchen.
She heard the tread of a boot and looked up to see the Sovereign walking in to the room. He sat down on the opposite side of the couch, his sword sticking out awkwardly. She covered her mouth to hide her giggle.
He removed the scabbard and set it down on the wooden floor.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked after a few seconds of listening to the fire crackle.
She looked up and stared at him, 'Why would he care?' Her mind flashed back to when he'd tucked her hair behind her ear. She unconsciously moved her hand to her ear.
"I did." After a few more seconds she asked, "You?"
He nodded, "Yeah, met your brother. They're twins?" He asked his eyes glancing at her.
She nodded, "Yes, they are sixteen, no… seventeen. Their birthdays have passed."
He nodded and they both looked up when they heard footsteps thundering down the steps.
"Gladi! Where is my…?" A young girl with black hair and green eyes came down the steps and was about to yell at her sister but she stopped when her eyes found Hydrangea. Her freckled face bloomed into a smile and she ran for the couch.
"Hydie! I can't believe it! Gladi said that you would never come back."
Hydrangea smiled as her little sister hugged her, "I missed you too, Maggy. And Gladi was wrong. Of course I would come back."
Maggy, or Magnolia was only 10 when she had left and she had loved gardening.
Magnolia hugged her sister tightly then raised her head and asked, "Who's this?"
"Maggy, this is the Sovereign." Hydrangea looked at the Sovereign, her hands clinging tighter to her younger sister, "Sovereign, this is my sister Magnolia."
The Sovereign nodded, his eyes hesitant and she could see his Adam's apple bob slightly.
"Wait, the Sovereign as in the man that took all of those girls? The one mother sold you to? Did you know that mother died? Yeah, she got really sick and Linden and Row buried her by the oak tree. Does that mean that you're Queen? Are you married to him?"
"Maggy! Maggy." Hydrangea said, gently prodding her sister to quiet, "I'll answer those questions later, but first you need to attend to your chores and I believe Asher would like to say hi as well."
All three glanced up to see a boy with blonde hair—and a spray of freckles across his face as well—peeking out from the stairwell.
Maggy got up and waved goodbye to her long lost sister before entering the kitchen.
Hydrangea's gaze then drifted to her younger brother, Asher. He walked forward, an unbelieving smile on his face, "Hydie, is that you?" He asked his hands outstretched.
She smiled and began to feel tears gather in her eyes.
He ran and gave her a hug that she warmly returned.
"I told them you'd come back." He said with a grin, his teal blue eyes glittering. She smiled and nodded.
"Hydie!" Two voices cheered as they ran into the room and tumbled on top of each other.
She laughed at the sight. The two youngest boys picked themselves up and then both hugged their eldest sister.
She continued laughing happily, a tear escaping her eye from all of the emotions stirring inside her.
Both boys regaled her with stories of their summer.
"Hickory, Palmer." She said looking between both boys, "Amongst all of this fun, did you ever help your brothers or sisters?" She asked with a stern voice but her face was not serious in the least.
Both boys nodded readily, Palmer's brown tufts of hair bouncing with Hickory's blonde ones. She smiled once more and pulled them close. Oh, how she missed these children.
"Now, off to work you two." They scampered off and Hydrangea reclined happily on the couch, her eyes watching the fire lazily.
"You have a lovely family." The Sovereign suddenly spoke next to her. She looked over at him to see him watching her keenly. She felt a warmth in her chest then a fear.
She straightened herself and tidied her skirt, "Thank you."
"Hydie?" A small, bell-like voice said. Both sets of eyes turned and saw a little girl standing at the base of the stairs.
Hydrangea beckoned with her arms to the youngest child of the household, "Yes, Peri. It's me."
The little girl doubtfully edged towards her sister, a doll in her arms that she was clinging to wholeheartedly.
When she was but two feet away from Hydrangea she lowered the doll and stared at her sister with wide sapphire blue eyes. Her black hair was in a tangled mess and her pale skin was still smudged from sleep.
"Am I sleeping?" The small girl asked her hand reaching out to touch her sister. Hydrangea held in a sob and she reached to touch her baby sister, "No, Peri. It's me. I'm here."
The little girl's lips parted and she reached to hug her sister. Hydrangea pulled the small girl onto lap and rocked her slowly, stroking her hair as they both cried.
Bastian swallowed hard as he beheld the emotional scene. He'd taken her away from all of this, he'd torn her away from this little girl.
After a few more seconds Periwinkle calmed down and she began to talk in her quiet, sweet voice.
"Who's this? I've never seen her before." Hydrangea said as she held up the doll.
Peri smiled revealing her two dimples, "This is Martha. Gladi made her for me from some of your old clothes."
Hydrangea's brows rose and her heart pricked feeling a little hurt, but she quickly disguised it and smiled, saying, "Well, we'll have to have a serious talking to with her, won't we?"
Peri nodded and giggled.
"But before we do we should get your chores done. Do you still feed the hens?" She asked only to hear the warning voice of her sister, "Hydie." Rose called from the kitchen.
"Rose." She practically whined back.
"Peri, get to work, and remember to stay warm." Rose said ignoring her sister's plea.
Hydrangea slumped into the cushions of the couch and pouted.
But soon, breakfast was ready and all were in the kitchen waiting to be fed.