Elven Roses

" … And so exactly how much did he give you?" Skori asked.

Mericlou had just finished explaining her fortuitous turn of luck, but then gasped at her brother's question, stopping her watering of Aldrec's rose, which she had nestled lovingly in one of her best crystal vases. She realized in horror that she had not even bothered to count the money.

"You did remember to check, right?" Skori asked.

"I … I never really looked," Mericlou said in a small, timid voice. She felt her stomach knot with a sickening wave of embarrassment. "I was so happy when he offered me the job; I guess I didn't really think about how much money he gave me. It seemed like a lot; I just took it."

"You accepted a job without discussing payment?" Alaema whispered, sneaking up from behind Skori's large and imposing form. "Sister, how could you?"

"You should count it right now, Meri," Skori said, throwing Alaema a warning glare. "It ought to be a substantial amount after what you told me about this garden. If it isn't, then you had better cancel the job, and give it back."

"Well, let's see exactly how much it is before we jump to conclusions," Mericlou thought aloud as she went into the kitchen.

Alaema, able to speak freely after Skori had retired to the living room and begun his daily trek through the Orb Network, glided into the kitchen on her sister's heels.

"Honestly, sister, elf or not, you should be more careful," she said, either oblivious to, or persevering despite Mericlou's attempts to ignore her. "I'm not saying that an elf would cheat you, but Skori's right. You should've checked the money."

"Sister, come out of the kitchen," Sedriil called from the den. "Meri's had her ears pelted enough for one day."

When his words were answered with an unusual silence, rather than Alaema's expected snide remarks, Sedriil became suspicious.

"Alaema?" He called out once more. "Meri?"

Both brothers were shaken abruptly to their feet when an answer at last came: one of Alaema and Mericlou screaming in unison.

Sedriil was the first to the door where he stopped, dumbstruck at what greeted his eyes. Skori came in close behind, running into his brother. As they clung onto the doorposts, both were awed, and at the same time, frightened at the sight of Alaema and Mericlou in the middle of the kitchen, holding hands, hopping and screaming like little human girls.