As the last echoes of applause faded from the tavern below, Elara and Nell stumbled up the narrow stairs, giggling like schoolgirls. The adrenaline from the performance still coursed through their veins, making them giddy with excitement.
"Did you see their faces?" Nell exclaimed as they reached the landing. "I thought old Tom's eyes were gonna pop right out of his head when you hit that high note!"
Elara laughed, her cheeks flushed with exertion and joy. "I can hardly believe it myself. It all feels like a dream."
They made their way to Nell's small room, which had become their impromptu dressing area. As soon as the door closed behind them, Elara let out a long, contented sigh and flopped onto the bed.
"Oi, watch it!" Nell chided playfully. "You'll wrinkle that pretty dress of yours."
Elara sat up, smoothing out the colourful fabric. "Oh, right. I suppose I should change back into my own clothes now."
Nell busied herself with gathering up the various bits and pieces they'd used to create Elara's stage persona. As she worked, she cast a sidelong glance at her new friend. "So, how'd it feel? Being up there, I mean. Having all eyes on you?"
Elara paused in the act of unlacing her bodice, a faraway look in her eyes. "It was... incredible. I've never felt anything like it before. It was as if every part of me was truly alive for the first time."
Nell grinned, plopping down beside her on the bed. "Yeah? Even better than getting top marks in your fancy lessons or whatever it is you nobs do?"
Elara laughed, shaking her head. "You have no idea. Back in my old life, everything was about perfection and propriety. Compliments were given grudgingly, and even then, they never felt quite real. But this..." She gestured vaguely, struggling to find the words. "This felt like I actually accomplished something. Like I touched people's hearts and made them happy. It was... pure."
Nell's expression softened a hint of understanding in her eyes. "Sounds like you've found your calling, duck. Who'd have thought a highborn lady like yourself would find her place in a rowdy tavern like the Anchor?"
"Certainly not me," Elara admitted with a rueful smile. "If someone had told me a week ago that I'd be singing bawdy songs in a dockside pub, I'd have thought them mad."
As Elara continued to change out of her performance attire, Nell regaled her with highlights from the show, mimicking the reactions of various patrons. Their laughter filled the small room, creating a bubble of warmth and camaraderie.
Just as Elara was fastening the last button on her more modest day dress, a loud knock at the door made them both jump.
"Oi, you two!" Maggie's gruff voice called from the other side. "You decent in there?"
Nell scrambled to open the door, revealing the imposing figure of the Matranker. To their surprise, Maggie's usually stern face was split by a wide grin.
"Well now," Maggie said, her mismatched eyes twinkling with mirth, "if it isn't our little songbird and her crafty magpie!"
Before either of them could respond, Maggie stepped into the room and swept Elara up in a bear hug that lifted her clear off her feet. Elara let out a startled squeak as Maggie spun her around, laughing heartily.
"You did it, lass!" Maggie crowed, setting Elara down but keeping her hands on her shoulders. "By the gods, you actually did it!"
Nell, witnessing this uncharacteristic display of affection from the usually gruff Matranker, burst into peals of laughter. "Blimey, Mags! I ain't seen you this cheerful since... well, ever!"
Maggie shot Nell a mock glare, but couldn't keep the smile from her face. "Watch it, you cheeky little minx. I've half a mind to toss you both in the harbour for all the trouble you've caused."
Elara, still a bit dizzy from the impromptu spin, steadied herself against the bedpost. "Trouble? But I thought... wasn't the performance good?"
Maggie's booming laugh filled the small room. "Good? Lass, it was bloody brilliant! The Anchor hasn't been this full in the morning like that in years. And the coin! By the gods, the coin we made this morning"
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a heavy pouch, tossing it to Elara. "Here, your share of this time take. You've more than earned it."
Elara caught the pouch, her eyes widening at its weight. "But... I can't possibly..."
"None of that now," Maggie said firmly. "You're one of us, and we take care of our own. Besides," she added with a wink, "can't have our star attraction looking shabby, can we?"
Nell clapped her hands excitedly. "Ooh, we could get you some proper stage outfits! Maybe something with more sparkle, or..."
As Nell rattled off increasingly outlandish costume ideas, Elara felt a warmth blooming in her chest. For the first time since her world had been turned upside down, she felt like she truly belonged somewhere.
Maggie, seeming to sense Elara's emotional state, gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You did good, lass. Real good. But don't let it go to your head, yeah? We've still got a long road ahead of us."
Elara nodded, meeting Maggie's gaze with newfound confidence. "I understand. And... thank you, Maggie. For giving me a chance."
The Matranker's expression softened for a moment before she cleared her throat gruffly. "Yes, well. Don't make me regret it. Now, you two get some rest. We've got a busy day ahead tomorrow."
As Maggie turned to leave, Nell called out, "Oi, Mags! What about me? Don't I get a share of the profits?"
Maggie paused in the doorway, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, you are both partners in it so spread it as you both see fit"
Nell's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. "Am I ever! You just wait, Mags. I'll have our girl here performing for the King himself before you know it!"
Maggie chuckled, shaking her head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. For now, focus on keeping her in one piece and out of trouble. Think you can manage that?"
"Aye, aye, Matranker!" Nell saluted playfully. "I'll guard her with my life, I will!"
As Maggie left, closing the door behind her, Elara and Nell looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter once more.
"Can you believe it?" Nell exclaimed, flopping back onto the bed.
Elara sat down beside her, still clutching the heavy pouch of coins. "It's all happening so fast. Just yesterday, I thought I'd be thrown out onto the streets, and now..."
Nell propped herself up on her elbows, her expression turning serious for a moment. "Listen, Elara. I know all this must be a right shock to your system. Going from fancy manors to a place like the Anchor, it's bound to make your head spin. But I want you to know, you've got friends here. Me and Maggie, we've got your back."
Elara felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "Thank you, Nell. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Nell grinned, giving Elara a playful punch on the arm. "Probably would've ended up in the gutter, or worse. Lucky for you, you've got me to keep you on the straight and narrow."
They both laughed at the absurdity of Nell, of all people, being anyone's moral compass.
As their laughter subsided, Elara found herself yawning. The events of the day, the nerves, the excitement, and the sheer emotional whirlwind had left her utterly drained.
"Right then," Nell said, hopping off the bed. "Time for our star to get her beauty sleep. We did not get to sleep at all the previous night".
"Blimey, I didn't realize how tired I was," Nell mumbled, her words already slurring with sleep.
Elara hummed in agreement, her eyes already drifting closed. The bed was narrow, forcing them to lie close together, but Elara found she didn't mind. There was comfort in Nell's presence, a warmth that went beyond the physical.
As sleep began to claim them, Nell shifted, draping an arm over Elara's waist in a loose embrace. In her drowsy state, Elara found herself leaning into the touch, grateful for the simple human connection.
"Y'did good today," Nell murmured, her voice thick with impending sleep. "Proud of you..."
Elara felt a smile tug at her lips as she drifted off. "Couldn't have done it without you," she whispered back.
In the quiet of the room, their breathing soon fell into a synchronous rhythm. Two women from vastly different worlds, now united in friendship and shared experience, found peace in each other's company.
As they slept, tangled together in the narrow bed, the worries and excitement of the day faded away. For now, there was only rest, comfort, and the promise of a new day to come.
Outside, the sounds of the Anchor gradually quieted as night settled over the tavern. But in Nell's small room, two friends slept soundly, their dreams filled with music, laughter, and the hope of better days ahead.
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