Alfred carried Fiona into the main hall of the mansion where she was quickly ushered off to her rooms by her maids to change out of the slightly dirtied blue dress she had worn outside. They scrubbed her hands and face clean, redid her braids and fitted her into a new white and gold dress complete with white stockings and adorable little leather shoes. Fiona gave herself a little twirl in the mirror, admiring their handiwork, before she was at last ushered into a parlor room where her mother and father were waiting.
"There's my little princess," her dad grinned at the sight of her all dolled up, and crouched down on one knee to hug her. Fiona giggled and ran into his arms.
"Oh, stop, Avery, you'll crinkle her dress." Ava lightly prodded her husband's arm, though she was grinning too.
"I can't believe you're getting so big! And now you're already going to start learning! How the time flies." Avery said, lifting Fiona up to get a better look at her. "Alright well," he said with a sheepish look towards Lady Ava. "Time to get down to business." He put Fiona down.
"Your Mother and I have hired a tutor for you Fiona."
Fiona frowned. "Dad, why do I have to have a tutor? I'm only thiis small." She put her fingers together to demonstrate a very small distance.
"I know my darling, but you're the daughter of an Earl and that means you have to learn a lot more than other kids."
Fiona wanted to pout a little more, but she was unsure of how far to push her luck. She knew she wasn't going to convince them out of it.
"But don't worry," her dad said, messing up her hair a little. "You'll still have plenty of time to run around the garden. There'll just be some afternoon lessons here and there, you'll be fine."
"Fiona," her mother bent down and held her hands. "It's very important that you behave yourself well with your tutor and listen to what they have to tell you. Ok? They're a very important person and so we have to be nice to them."
"They're very important?" Fiona asked. Wait, just who is this tutor anyways? Or is this just some scheme to get me to learn my lessons better?
Avery smiled. "She's a very powerful magician, we're very lucky that she decided she wanted to tutor you."
"Really?" Fiona frowned. Something seems off about this… She remembered the snake and the person in her dream.
"Yes, her name is Felora Adrigal. She came here from another country."
Fiona's frown deepened. What's so special about me anyways? Why has another powerful magician come to have a look at me? What do they want this time? Previously she had been anxious about this meeting because it meant some loss to her freedom, but now she was anxious for a whole new host of reasons. Ahhh, I'm just two! Why does all this stuff keep happening to me!?
"But she might be sensitive about her past, so just be respectful, alright Fiona?"
"Ok," Fiona replied, still frowning.
"Madame Felora has arrived, and we've seated her in the Green room." An attendant walked in just then.
"Very well," Avery replied. "We'll see her now." Avery picked up his daughter and wrapped her close to his chest.
"Avery, it'd be better if Fiona could greet her herself." Ava looked at the pair disapprovingly. "What can she expect? Fiona's only two." Fiona grinned. Exactly.
Avery carried her into the Green room and as soon as they stepped beyond the door, Fiona's breath snagged. It's her!
Sitting across the room in a demure gold and green dress, this time with only a simple crown braid and teardrop jade earrings was the woman from her dream, The Snake of Time. Her purple eyes alighted on Fiona, and she broke out in a predatory smile.
"Ah, so this is her then," she grinned at Fiona. "What a precious little girl."
Fiona felt her dad's hands stiffen a little then quickly relax again. "I'm glad you think so, Madame Felora. We're so very lucky that you've decided to tutor her."
"Ah yes, well. You live a thousand years and you have to find hobbies for yourself."
Avery's expression grew strained again before he smoothed himself out. "Indeed. I can scarcely imagine. My own thirty five years already seem to weigh on me more than I'd like."
"Come here, let me see the child." Felora beckoned to Avery.
Avery hesitated for a moment and then approached.
"Mm" Felora peered into Fiona's sky blue eyes, her own eyes flashing with mischief. "I think the two of us will have quite some fun together." She spoke as if she was just talking to a two year old who could hardly understand her, but her eyes betrayed her true meaning.
AHHH!! What do you want with me, snake lady! Fiona was almost trembling, just trying to hold herself together in front of both her parents.
"Why don't we start tomorrow, how does two in the afternoon sound?" Felora finally pulled back from Fiona's face and addressed her father.
Avery breathed a sigh of relief. "Very well. Alfred here will show you to your rooms." Avery quickly retreated with Fiona still in his arms. Ava, having watched the whole exchange silently and attentively followed her brow furrowed with unanswered questions.
As they left earshot of the room, Ava turned to her husband. "Who is she, Avery? You told me she was a powerful magician from the Northern continent, but what exactly does she want with us?"
"Who knows?" Avery sighed. "But with her kind it's best to make friends, not enemies. All I can seem to figure out is that it doesn't seem like she means Fiona any harm. And if that's the case, than we better leave it at that. Extensive prying will probably have more negative effects than positive ones. And who knows? Maybe she'll tell us just why she's here if she comes to trust us."
"Hmm," Ava said, still pensive. "I suppose you're right." She glanced behind her to the part of the house where they had just come from.