A New World

"Hurry up, child. The store is to open at the first touch of sunrise," A woman said in a raspy loud voice, referring to a small young girl who kneeled against the wooden floor, her white pale hands holding a rag, scrubbing the floor to the best of her abilities. 

Eleora sighed after she noticed the woman walking out of sight, the woman whose name she was yet to remember. It's not that she had forgotten, but it was so hard to pronounce that her mind just couldn't comprehend the accent and vowels of such a difficult name. Instead, she referred to her as ma'am, or my lady occasionally when the woman was in a delicate mood. For an old lady, she sure knew how to boss people around and pick on every little detail despite her damaged sight. 

How did it come to this? She thought, angrily scrubbing the floor. Even back in the orphanage, they provided her with a mop at least, and proper cleaning supplies, not just a dirty, half-torn rag and water that had been sitting in the corner for days. It was ridiculous. This entire situation was just astonishing, Eleora didn't know what to make of her crude reality. Was this really happening to her? How on Earth did she get here? Was she even on Earth?

It has almost been a week since Eleora was dragged by a body of water and almost drowned. When she was finally able to break free from the water that held her captive, she swam up to the surface and gasped for air, almost as if she hadn't breathed for years. That first inhale of fresh cold air immediately told her that something was wrong. The smell of fresh cut pinery, the gush of ice-like, cold air, and not to mention the large lake, whose current seemed to drag her further away from the edge where the water met land. Everything was different. 

She had almost drowned, again. Trying to fight for her life to swim toward safety took more out of her than fighting an invisible body of water. When she was finally safe, her hands and legs touching land, she dropped to the ground in fatigue, completely disregarding the fact that it was muddy and dirty all over. She felt like kissing the muddy ground, but if it wasn't for her sore muscles, she really would have. Never in her life had she thought that being on non-moving land was a blessing. 

After a few torturous moments of heavy breathing, Eleora pushed herself off the ground, rubbing the dirt off her cheek with the clean parts of her pajamas. This is precisely where her struggles really began. Not only was it the middle of the night, but the poor girl was nowhere near the pond that she had fallen into, thus she could not find her way back. The once enormous trees had turned into skinny, tall twigs, revealing a bright, white sphere in the sky. She sat against the nearest tree, not wanting to move a muscle until the sun decided to rise. 

After a few hours, Eleora realized that the sun didn't have the answers she was so desperately looking for. Once she was able to see, she set out to find her way back, walking for hours and hours until she found a man-made dirt road and was almost run over by what looked like a carriage. The smart choice was to follow after it and find some sort of civilization. And that's how she ended up here, in a small run-down village, with people who dressed like they belonged in an 18th-century Netflix adaption, with carriages led by horses, villagers with rotten and half-missing teeth, and soldiers who wore steel instead of police uniforms. 

It was all so bizarre. 

No one seemed to know what Seattle was, some even assumed it was a who. But the village itself was not odd, it was the girl who appeared out of nowhere that stood out the most. Eleora wandered the streets for two whole days. A girl whose hair looked like a broom, they whispered, it was fuzzy and dirty, but thankfully its flaming red color was covered by dry bits of dirt and dust. In a way, she was grateful for the dirt, having not seen a single person with hair as bright as hers. It did help her stand out less. 

Another rumor ran through town, claiming that the girl could have wandered in from the neighboring kingdom, for they had never seen garments as inadequate as hers. She was limited to a single pair of pants and a V-neck sweatshirt. It sure gave the villages quite a stir and gossip spread from village to village about the Luminian Kingdom's vulgar taste in fashion. 

The missus, who took Eleora in was an old woman who ran what modern-day folk would call a grocery store, however, it was limited to eggs, cabbages, and whatever she was growing that was in season. She took pity on Eleora and took the poor girl in, giving her a roof over her head, and food in her belly. All for the price of lending her a helping hand around the store. However, this wasn't exactly what Eleora signed up for. The roof was a chicken coop surrounded by about two dozen chickens, and the food was nothing more than stale bread and warm broth of some kind. 

The use and abuse she underwent while under the care of this old woman was absurd. She scrubbed the floor in the morning, sometimes waking up as early as four to just have enough time to finish everything before seven when the store opened. And then just when she thought she could go rest, the woman made her go fetch a batch of fresh eggs and clean the chicken coop. And just when she assumed it would be it for the day, she was to go spend the rest of her day on the small farm a few yards away. The woman was delighted to find someone else to do the work for her, after all, her back was close to giving up on her due to old age. 

After her work at the farm was complete, she was to return to the store, help the old lady close, and carry the rest of the produce back to the old woman's house. Only when the clock struck eleven, then was Eleora excused. And back to the chicken coop, the young girl went. Walking back and forth countless times a day had completely exhausted her and her sore muscles. She slept like a rock until it was time to get up yet again. 

Her bed was made of hay and a single blanket was spread out over it. At least the blanket didn't have holes like the old one back in the orphanage, and the chicken coop wasn't as cold during the night, sleeping there was bearable. However, all these jobs took a toll on her body, despite it being only four days since the woman took her in. Eleora let out a loud yawn and stretched her arms, getting ready for the tough day ahead of her. 

"Here I go, nice little chicks, that's it. Give me those fresh eggs of yours," She spoke to the chickens in a soft tone, hoping she wasn't going to get on their bad side. She had already learned a lesson on her first try, one of them pecked her on her hand when she made a ruckus without warning. Soon enough she had about 18 eggs and she made her way back towards the little store. 

The old missus sat at a table in the back of the store, her eyes on some newspaper. Eleora had learned firsthand that the village was weak for gossip, in fact, the whole kingdom was. Everyone knew everyone's business, especially the old missus who took in a poor, unfortunate child from the Lumanian Kingdom who ran away from her abusive parents. This was not true, but Eleora was the only one who knew that and she didn't bother correcting the village folk who stopped by the store and made small talk with this mysterious child. 

"How many?" She briefly asked in a raspy voice, not even glancing up from her yellow newspaper. 

"Eighteen," Eleora answered, placing the basket on the table next to her. Only then did the old missus look up. 

"Eighteen? But yesterday we had twenty."

"And today we have eighteen." 

"Don't you smart-mouth me, child, what have you done to the rest?"

"What? I-I haven't-"

"You greedy child, I took you under my wing out of the pity of my old, fragile heart and you steal from me?"

"I would never!" Eleora said aloud in defense, the woman dropped her newspaper along the side of the basket. Perhaps the word 'Liar' was also written on her forehead?

"There are twenty-four chickens. And only eighteen eggs? Did you notice how ever since you came along the number of eggs has been decreasing? Do you take me for a fool, child?" She said, getting closer to Eleora who made no motion to move away. 

"Well, perhaps they don't like an imposter sleeping alongside them," She said bluntly. The old woman grabbed Eleora by her ear and pulled her along. 

"Admit to stealing, and I will forgive you." 

"I never stole your stupid eggs, what use do I have raw eggs for?" Eleora clapped back. The old woman slapped her in the face and Eleora was left in a brief state of shock. 

"Such foul language, had your parents not taught you manners? For children like you, the best way for proper education is a well-deserved beating," The old woman rolled her sleeves up but before she could hit Eleora again, the young girl dodged. 

"You old fucking hag," Eleora said, bewildered by this situation. After the way she worked her ass off for the past few days, the old woman should be grateful for her and begging her to continue helping, but instead, she is getting a lecture and a beating for something she didn't do. Eleora had no clue why the stupid chickens kept producing fewer eggs, in fact, she had no clue that eggs came from chickens, not until she had waltzed into this world against her will. 

The woman gasped, grabbing the girl by the ear yet again and dragging her out of the store. Eleora took this as an opportunity and punched the woman in the boob, the closest proximity she was in to do the most damage. She tried to play nice, both here and in the orphanage and it got her absolutely nowhere. If she just let her true personality out, perhaps she wouldn't be taken for such a pushover by everyone. She didn't want to be disrespected and bullied like this ever again. Child or old woman, she will hit anyone if they deserved it. 

The elder winced in pain and pushed the girl away from her with surprising strength for an old woman. Eleora stumbled back trying to regain her balance but failing and falling on the dirt road. And in an instant, she flinched and covered herself, ready for the impact. To her left a carriage was flying fast towards her, she couldn't react in time to get out of the way and had no choice but to take it like a champ. Or a stupid child who knew nothing of the world she was in. 

The horses roared as if to warn her to get off the road, and just as luck would have it, they stopped a few inches beside her. She let out a sigh of relief, she almost died yet again all because of that old lady. People stepped out of their little shops and a crowd gathered, watching the commotion unfold in front of them. The once-quiet village had some fresh entertainment, a front-seat show to enjoy. 

"How dare you stop the King's carriage?" A loud voice explained, it was full of authority. 

"I don't give a flying fuck for some raggedy carriage," Eleora said angrily not even looking at whoever spoke, she got up and wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her dirty sweatshirt that she had just washed two days ago. When the horses braked in front of her, some dirt from their hoves went splashing on her and anything around her. 

"Oh, sir Knight! Have mercy on this old woman! This child stole and proceeded to threaten my life when I questioned her! Lock her up, take her away!" The old woman broke down begging, dropping down on her knees in front of the knight. Eleora cringed at the absurd lie she just heard. 

"I did not do such a thing, you crusty lying grandma," Eleora said, taking a step towards the old lady but only to get stopped by the knights. She felt the air knocked out of her as she hit the ground, with two knights tackling her down. "Let go of me, you dirty bastards! I'll kill you, let go of me!"

"Who do you think you are talking down on us like this?" The knights said in shock, she clearly struck a nerve. Eleora struggled to break free but their grip on her arms and shoulders was making her hands grow weak from blocked blood flow. 

"Oh my, such foul language!" Someone whispered in the crowd, followed by others whispering among themselves. 

"I don't give a donkey's arse who you are. That old hag is lying! Old ass bitch lost her mind over some chickens!" Gasps and whispers filled the air, but a deep low chuckle made everyone silent almost the second the sound traveled through the air. The stranger laughed lowly and the carriage door opened. 

The villages all got down on their knees and bowed respectfully, the knights tilted and lowered their heads. The grip on Eleora softened and she was able to push herself into an upwards position, it was more comfortable than the taste of dirt. She watched the tall man in question, the man who silenced the crowd and made everyone bow down in respect, but not long enough to make judgment. Was he in charge around here? Was he a king or something?

"Lower your head, child," The knight next to her whispered, Eleora scoffed in reply. 

"I don't bow for no man." And just like that, she was eating dirt yet again. The crowd didn't dare make a noise, they were scared that they were going to get punished for the girls' misdeeds. 

"How dare you disrespect Lord Nikolai! Sir, shall I make an example of this child?" The knight asked, Eleora proceeded to struggle against their grips. The man, Lord Nikolai, ignored his knight and turned to face the old lady. Eleora couldn't make of his face, she could only see his black, polished pointy shoes, and the royal blue color of his pants with gold stitches on the side. 

"Is this your child?" The man asked the old lady, his voice stern. 

"No sire, this child was wondering about the streets lost a few days ago. I took her in with the kindness of my heart, and this is how she repays this old woman. My heart is heavy, my lord. I forgive her for her misdeeds, but my lord, have mercy on this poor, uneducated child," the woman said shakily, visibly terrified of this unexpected guest.

"You lying old hag, you took me in to be your working slave. The only mercy you showed was to that cracking, broken back of yours," Eleora said pushing herself upwards again, to meet the eyes of the lord. His cold dark green eyes looked back at her. He indeed looks like someone out of a fairytale, a tall, handsome prince. His hair was a deep auburn color, and when the sun hit from one side, it looked like the color of trees. It fell flat against his shoulders, but in no way did it look girly. Perhaps it was his look, a sharp jawline followed by sculpted, heavy features. And his clothes were definitely royalty material. Eleora's face met the floor again, but this time her head was just parallel to it. She opened her eyes, staring at the little rocks and praying for this moment to end. Maybe common sense was finally getting through to her head after getting face-planted a few times. 

"Lift her head up," He spoke and they immediately followed. Eleora glared back at the man who now stood in front of her, she couldn't help herself. She hated those who abused their power the most. He squatted down to get a better look at her, and for a second she swore that his eyes glowed a brighter shade of green.

"HA! Now that's very interesting," He said, looking into her eyes. His own eyes widened and he smiled the most sinister smile that she'd ever seen. Eleora felt as if he was looking not at her but something in her. She knew indefinitely that there was nothing interesting in her dirty features or the dark brown color of her eyes that seemed to blend in with her pupils.

"I've never seen anything like this. Now tell me child, where are your parents?" He spoke again, standing up. He adjusted his white gloves but did not look away. 

"Dead." 

"Perfect. I'm taking this child with me," He said turning around and making his way back to the carriage. 

 "But sire-"

"No," Eleora said bluntly, who does he think he is? This will be considered as kidnapping!

"No?" He repeated with amusement, stopping in his tracks but not turning around to face her. 

"You can't force me to go with you against my will," She said confidently. 

"She'll ride with me," He let out a sort of a snort or laugh and proceeded to walk towards the carriage, ignoring her protests completely. The knights followed along, dragging the girl with them. To much to their surprise, she put on quite a fight to stop them. From hitting, kicking, and even biting. But a little girl was no match for the King's men, especially those of the First Order.