~GRETA~
"Good morning."
My eyes burst open. I'm being lifted from the comfort of my bed. I am certain Adler must be the God of the sun.
Laughter bubbles out of me as he tickles my belly.
Beside him, Femke smiles down at me. Her slender hand remains on his sculpted chest. I do not know why he isn't wearing his tunic properly. The upper-half of it drags on the ground for it is only tied now at his waist.
His wife truly is beautiful. Even I cannot stop staring at her when she makes me so nervous. The morning light pouring into my room through the entryway makes them both look ethereal.
"What a happy little girl," Femke coos down to me.
I am beginning to think she mistakes me for a baby. Has my God not told her the truth?
Graceful, she turns to join my sisters outside my chamber.
"You are so cute," Adler gushes in the absence of his wife, tickling my feet. "You must be patient. No more crying in your noyk. I am always near, my sweet. You are not forgotten here," he whispers.
Anxious, I grasp onto his pinky finger hearing his wife come back in.
"Adler, dear, we are going to be late."
His tone turns sharp making my heart race, "Go without me. Send an advisor here to deliver their message."
I do not like being alone with the Emperor. His eyes turn shiny and soft in a way that makes me uncomfortable when his wife leaves.
"Stop crying," he hushes. His hair looks pretty even though it is newly trimmed very short. The curls are nested very close to his head. No longer do they bounce when he carries me. "It's just me. The only person in this wretched city who understands how special you are. The gods sent you for me, my bundle of joy!"
It is wonderful to be held. Laughter explodes out of me when he lifts me above his head and twirls me in a circle.
"You will grow soon, won't you?"
"Grow?"
"Yes," he mumbles.
His large eyes shoot up as someone else enters my room. He palms the back of my head and presses my face into his shoulder.
"Oh! You have returned, Emperor. May I see her?"
The man sounds friendly. I do not know why Adler won't let me see him.
"She is in poor condition. The hospice has advised only her caretaker to hold her."
"How old is she?"
"Three moons."
I am much older than that. "Enough," I pout in his ear, "I want to see my visitor. Why are you tricking him?"
I'm surprised when my request goes ignored.
"You've made her upset."
"I'm not a fool. She is of your race, isn't she? Why are you being so secretive about this baby orphan krexbin you found?"
"The mongrels will lose their minds and take her away from me. Now, please leave us, you have made her cry."
The man laughs while my skin crawls at my God's vision.
"I think you've made her upset keeping her cooped up in here. Although, Mother tells me you share walks with the little one. Now, I have come to request your presence at the docks."
We leave my room.
I cannot see anything except the empty hallway we stride away from. The ground is so far away but I feel safe with Adler holding me.
***
~BROMMY~
"Wah!" the little woman cries.
My father moves quickly to soap down her little form. What a delicate tiny body. She truly does despise being bathed.
She splashes and kicks the water in the pool while my father scrubs her down.
He laughs as though finding her outburst hysterical.
"Please, no more splashing," he wheezes out. He continues scrubbing her baby-like head. "You'll get soap in your eyes."
To entertain her, I take out my own hand-made fibble. I dip it in the water, leaning over the edge of the mini bathing pool. Her face lightens on the bubbles I create.
It is common for family to bathe in the company of each other. I suppose Greta is family now too.
This pool is small compared to his bathing pool in the temple. The hospice can only afford so much space.
Adler washes himself, I wait nearby, offering him a dry tunic along with a much smaller one for Greta.
Newly clean, she hugs his leg, watching me between strands of her grey hair. Adler picks her up and hands her to me.
Her warm breath tickles my neck, "....mommy."
"Mommy?"
"Brommy," Adler corrects after kissing her cheek.
"She may not want your kisses," I point out.
Of course I know otherwise, her skin is tainted purple. He's flustering her and spoiling her with his limited attention.
Immediately, I'm reminded of why he is so tender with her and gentle. Her smile is so cute...and her hands so tiny.
"When do you think she will grow?"
"I asked her today-"
"What did she say?"
"I do not think she understands her predicament. Her body is still very worn from the desert. Until her energy is renewed and she relaxes in our home, she will remain dwarfed."
"Oh."