LET'S ADOPT HER

Selene was surprised to see a young girl enter the room so she looked at Bartimus for answers.

"This is....." Bartimus started but Gal told him to stop.

Gal dusted her thoroughly dirty dress and cleared her throat. Selene waited for the girl to speak and even Bartimus waited.

"This is your humble servant, Gal." she introduced herself and then bowed.

"Servant?" Selene asked,"You're the tree that was carrying me?"

"Not a tree ma'am. A forest spirit." Gal corrected Selene seriously.

Selene smiled at Gal shy and apologized for the mistake.

"Masters don't apologize." Gal said,"Masters ask their servants to apologize for their mistakes. I'm sorry that your other servant did not relay the name of what I am."

Bartimus frowned hearing Gal pin the blame on him but he said nothing for the sake of Selene who was smiling.

"You are not my servant." Selene said then she extended her hand towards Gal,"Come closer."

Gal run towards Selene and put her little hand in Selene's hand. The little girl stared at their hands and felt the warmth of it.

"Bartimus." Selene said and Bartimus looked at her expectantly,"We can't have our own children so why...why don't we adopt her?"

Gal looked at Bartimus who looked shocked and she waited for him to say something.

"Are you sure?" Bartimus asked sighing.

"Yes. Gal, I'm not your master, I'm now your mother." Selene said sounding excited.

"Will you sell me like my real mother did?" Gal asked moving closer to Selene,"I'll kill them this time."

Selene felt sad hearing the little girl say such a thing. How did such a little girl die?

"No I won't. Let's go get you washed up." Selene said trying to sound enthusiastic.

Gal smiled and waited as Selene got down from the bed. The two of them went to the bathroom hand in hand and Selene was happy to see that there was warm water already. She undressed Gal and helped the girl get in the tub.

"Wait here. Let me tell Bartimus.....let me tell your dad something." Selene said smiling brightly at Gal who smiled back happy to have a family again.

Selene went out and found Bartimus standing by the window with his arms crossed.

"Bartimus." she called out to him then when he turned she continued to say,"Go and buy dresses for Gal and also for me and Vivian and some clothes for yourself and the others."

"I'll go with the old men." Bartimus said,"Are you sure you want Gal to be your daughter?"

"Our daughter Bartimus. I'm very sure."

"She's ninety years older than you." Bartimus said and a look of horror came to settle on Selene's face.

"Ninety?" Selene asked in disbelief,"Don't answer. I'm sure."

Bartimus looked at her for a few more seconds then he picked up the purse of coins and Selene saw it begin to bulge even more. He walked towards her and planted a light kiss on her forehead and she blushed.

"I might be long so after the two of you bath you should stay under the sheets where it is warm." Bartimus said walking towards the door.

"Alright. Good bye." Selene said and when Bartimus turned to wave at her she blew him a kiss and he pretended to catch it.

She giggled and went back to the bathroom where Gal was playing with a bar of soap that was made with aloe vera. Back in her time soap had not been made so it was the first time she was seeing it.

"Mama, what do you call it?" Gal asked in her quiet voice as she spun the soap around.

It fell into the water and Gal reached for it but it was hard for her to get it.

"What did you call me?" Selene asked feeling her heart jump from excitement,"Can you say it again?"

"Mama." Gal repeated looking into Selene's eyes.

Selene smiled and entered the tub fully dressed to hug Gal.

"It's called soap. It's for bathing with."

Selene picked up the bar of soap that had sunk to the bottom of the tub then she rubbed it in Gals silver hair. Gal's hair had many tangles and twists and it took time for Selene to untangle it.

"It smells nice." Gal said as Selene rinsed her hair out.

"You like it?" Selene asked smiling and the girl nodded.

"I like it a lot. Let me wash your hair, mama."

Selene let the girl wash her hair and afterwards Selene scrubbed Gal's little body thoroughly.

"Go and dry your hair and wait for me under the sheets while I bath."

Gal got out of the water and wrapped herself in a towel then took another towel for her hair. Selene bathed quickly and when she went to check on Gal the little girl was having her hair combed by Vivian and the two seemed to be having a conversation.

"Vivian, you're here." Selene said,"Have you bathed?"

"Yes. Your daughter is lovely." Vivian responded with a smile,"She has lovely hair too."

"Mama, can I comb your hair?"

"Yes. Let me dry it a little first."

After two minutes of rubbing her hair with the towel, Selene finally sat down to let Gal comb her hair.

When Gal was done combing Selene's hair, the three of them started talking about nothing in particular and Selene and Vivian made sure not to ask Gal about her past. Bartimus soon came back with the gowns and he was glad he didn't have to go and give Vivian her things because she was already there.

"I'll let you change then we'll continue our conversation at supper." Vivian said getting up and taking the two heavy bags having her gowns.

"We'll see you later then." Selene said waving at Vivian.

"Papa, how much do you and mama love each other?" Gal asked as Selene started dressing her.

"More than life." Selene answered.

"Really?" she asked,"I was asking him."

"The answer remains the same." Bartimus said walking to the door so he wouldn't disturb the mother and daughter.

"You should bath too." Selene said.

"I'll bath when the water is changed." Bartimus answered and he left the room.

Once they were both dressed they went downstairs where they noticed the other guests at the inn were going out and moving about. Gal's blue eyes searched for Quinton Dunbar. When her eyes found him in the see of bodies she was surprised to see him looking like a boy from a noble household.

He even had his hair combed back but it looked a little messy like whatever he had put in it to make it lie down was not strong enough anymore. He was greeting some people and when he spotted her she straightened her back for a reason she didn't know. He showed her a charming smile that made her feel afraid for some reason so she looked away immediately. Selene had caught the little exchange and she smiled foolishly before realizing that she shouldn't be allowing Gal to flirt at her age. Her smile fell but she smiled again after remembering that Gal was almost a century old.

"Are you heading out for dinner?" Quinton asked stopping Selene and Gal,"Our dinner right here is remarkable and as you can see guests at other inns even prefer to come here."

"We wanted to tour before dinner actually. Do you know some good places we can go to? That are close by of course." Selene said looking down at the boy.

Quinton's eyes fell on Gal who had a constipated look on her face and he smiled up at Selene.

"Isn't your husband coming along?" Quinton asked and before Selene could answer Bartimus came to stand next to Gal,"On foot or carriage?"

"Carriage." Bartimus answered.

Gal looked excited hearing that she would be riding in a carriage when she had only ridden in one while being transported to the slave auction house. For most forest spirits it was impossible to remember anything from their lifetime but for Gal she remembered everything. She had been sold as a sex slave and had died from the abuse she was faces with. Now she had a new chance to experience the childhood that had been stolen from her and she wouldn't let it fly by.

She looked at Selene gratefully and then at Bartimus who looked like he was upset for some reason. He caught her staring at him then he smiled slightly and she smiled back.

"This way." Quinton said with a bow.

They went outside and followed Quinton to a black well furnished carriage driven by two white meres. Quinton was about to enter the carriage first but Bartimus held him back.

"Ladies first boy." Bartimus said with a threatening glare that made Quinton turn pale.

Quinton stepped aside and watched Bartimus help Selene and Gal into the carriage then Bartimus told him to get in as well. Once they were all inside, Quinton was back to smiling and he told the coachman where to take them. Along the way the boy told them what some places were called and why they were so well known.

Gal looked in every direction and even going from one side of the carriage to another.

"That building there was built around a hot spring and most people who go there are couples. I highly recommend it to the two of you." Quinton said then his eyes fell on Gal who seemed a little disturbed hearing his words.

Selene and Bartimus looked at each other remembering that their first night together was at a hot spring. Gal sat down and looked at the carriage's floor wondering if she would ever appreciate intimacy after what she had gone through.

Bartimus noticed the sad look on Gal's face and he frowned. He touched her little hands and received her memories in his mind. He felt bad for the girl and he could feel her pain and how she shivered at his touch.

"No one can hurt you anymore." he said making Selene and Quinton look at them questioningly.

Gal's eyes became moist with tears and when she looked him in the eye her tears just started flowing out. Selene hugged Gal not knowing why the girl was crying and Quinton had to ask the coachman to take them back to the inn.