Amberly and Annika walked into the cottage, and then they each dropped the basket that they held, which was now empty.
"I'm just saying that, you should lighten up. You are chasing away your suitors with that attitude of yours" Amberly told Annika.
"Not everyone likes to flirt, Amberly" Annika replied.
"It's not flirting, it's compliance"
"Well I refuse to comply" Annika said as she went into the kitchen with Amberly following her.
"You are unbelievable" Amberly told her.
"It's fine by me" she said, then her eyes caught something on top of the counter. She walked up to the counter, only to pick up a certain golden pouch.
"What is this?" She asked.
Amberly came to her, "Open it, and let's see" She said.
Annika untied the pouch, and together they looked inside.
"By the gods!" Annika stunned.
Amberly gasped, "Where did Aurora get all this money?" she asked as she collected the pouch from Annika.
"Where is she? Aurora!" Amberly called out for her. "Aurora!" She called again.
Aurora finally came out from the back yard, "You two are back already" she said, as she kept the shovel that she held.
"What are you doing?" Amberly asked staring at her, from head to toe, because she was covered with dirt.
"I was burying bad seedlings" Aurora informed.
"Anyways," Amberly said as she waved her hand. "Where did you get all this money?" she asked.
"My customer gave it me" she answered, with a smile.
"Customer?" her friends chorused.
"Yes." she said. "The hunter that I told you about"
"Wait. Your fantasy savior?" Amberly asked arrogantly. "I thought we were done with that"
"Done with what?" Aurora asked. It was very hard to get Aurora irritated..like it was nearly impossible, and most of the times Amberly uses that opportunity to pick on her on daily basis.
"This your baseless fantasies" Amberly snapped.
Aurora just sighed tiredly and said, "I'm going to take a bath" then she left.
"What is your problem?" Annika suddenly asked.
Amberly turned to her, "What do you mean?"
"You didn't even let her explain"
"Explain what? That she is making up imaginary friends?"
"How else could Aurora get that money" Annika said.
"I don't know...perhaps she picked it from who knows where" she suggested. More like a ridiculous guess.
"We both know that Aurora will never collect any money that isn't hers" Annika said. Amberly sighed as she crossed her arms, clearly defeated, she knew that Amberly spoke right.
"Stop with this your jealousy, before it ruins you." Annika advised before she walked away. Amberly stared after her and said. "Why should I be jealous of Aurora, she's assumed cursed and also disabled. I'm so much better than her" she dropped the pouch on the counter and left the cottage.
***********************
Aurora was already in the bath basin when Annika came inside.
"Let me help you with that" Annika said as she collected the comb from Aurora's hand, and gently she combed her wet hair.
Annika noticed how dull and quiet Aurora was, and that was not like her at all. So she smiled and said, "Aren't you going to tell me more about him?"
After a moment Aurora said, "Amberly thinks I'm crazy"
Annika exhaled deeply - she wanted to get Aurora's mind off from Amberly. But her plan was not working out well for her.
"You are not crazy, Aurora. You are perfectly sane" Annika informed, as she scooped up some water from the bath basin, and poured it on Aurora's hair.
"I know a lot of people that will disagree with you" Aurora said. Her body completely submerged inside the water, she made no effort to scrub her body.
"Amberly is just jealous" Annika said.
"Of me? Why?" Aurora asked. She saw no reason for Amberly to be jealous of her, she had everything, plus numerous males that are on her beck and call.
"You met a dashing male, who saved your life" Annika continued to come out her wavy hair. "As far as I know, no male has ever saved her life. And none of her so called suitors have ever given her that amount of money"
"Is that why she is mad?" Aurora said and Annika nodded.
"But Zander just payed for what he -"
"Wait," Annika said excitedly, cutting Aurora's words. "His name is Zander?"
"Aye." Aurora answered.
"See, he has a nice name too." Annika said smiling.
Aurora smiled too - well Annika was not wrong.
"Just don't worry about, Amberly" Annika said, and Aurora replied with a nod.
Annika knew how easily tensed Aurora gets, whenever she thinks that Amberly is mad at her. Annika and Amberly were one year older than her, plus they live in the outside world, and have experience things that Aurora haven't. But for Aurora - her two friends are the only people she knows, so because of that, she avoids irritating them at all costs. She couldn't risk them deserting her.