Getting A Little Gift (Tag: Rapunzel)

Wendy paused for a moment, hearing footsteps behind her.  For an instant, she panicked, thinking maybe it was another monster.  She turned around, but saw that it was a young woman.  She looked friendly enough, although Wendy knew better by now not to entirely trust strangers.  Still, that didn't mean she couldn't be polite.  "Hi," she said, giving a friendly smile.  "Nice day out, huh?"  She did mean that.  The sun was out and there was even a little breeze to make the leaves rustle against each other in the trees.  Wendy loved days like these.

Well, the woman was nice, so that was a plus.  Kind strangers didn't exactly come across you every day.  The woman even offered to show Wendy how to make a flower crown.  "Oh, that would be great.  Thanks," she said.  Alice would love something like a flower crown.  She and Wendy had made some in the past, but they were mostly clumsily tied together flowers they happened to find in the garden.  They weren't exactly professional-looking.  But it looked like the woman happened to have a sewing needle with her, so Wendy felt like that was a nice opportunity to make something nice for Alice.  God knew the girl needed it.  "

Wendy watched closely, trying to memorize how the woman moved the needle through the flower stems.  She made it look pretty easy, although sewing with plants was probably a bit different from sewing cloth or leather.  Luckily, Wendy had plenty of experience with both of those.  While Alice had no patience for sewing, Wendy was pretty good at it, and had even made alterations to some of Alice's dresses.  She nodded.  "For a friend of mine," she replied.  "My best friend."  That was the truth.  In a way, Alice had been the first friend Wendy had ever had.  It wasn't exactly easy to make friends in the orphanage she was at.  If you got close to someone, there was a chance that they would be adopted and you would never see them again.  Kids tended to keep to themselves there.  It wasn't until Wendy had left and gone to work at Alice's house that she had finally made a friend.

Wendy was quiet for a moment as she concentrated, trying to get the knack of attaching the flowers together with a needle.  Her first movements were a bit clumsy, but she felt more confident the more she did it.  In a way, that was what learning was all about.  You couldn't get better until you practiced.  Wendy glanced at the woman, wondering who she was.  She didn't seem familiar.  But then again, it wasn't like Wendy knew everybody in town.  "So, what's your name?" she asked.  "I'm Wendy."

Gothel...that was an interesting name.  Although the woman seemed to imply that it was the name people had given her, rather than it being the name she was born with.  But Wendy decided not to ask questions.  She knew people were being extra careful these days, what with the new law in order.  In a way, Wendy was doing all she could to make sure her supernatural nature wasn't revealed either.  She just considered herself lucky that she had Alice to confide in.  Not many people saw supernatural powers in a positive light these days.  "Oh, I work at the Liddell residence," she replied.  "The lord's daughter, Alice, has been feeling a little down lately, so I'd thought I'd give her some flowers to cheer her up."  She gave a smile.  "And I think she'll be doubly cheered up with this flower crown."

"Yeah, her parents are a bit protective of her," Wendy said.  "But I know they mean well.  I mean, she is their only child.  They want to make sure she's safe."  Wendy could understand Derek and Annabelle's reasoning for keeping Alice in the house most of the time.  In a way, she wanted to protect her just like they did.  She always worried about Alice getting into trouble and not being able to help her in time.  It had nearly happened a week ago, when Alice had sneaked into the forest by herself.  Wendy hoped that nothing like that happened again.  "Well, it was either that, or stay at the orphanage where I was raised," she replied.  "I figured if somebody hadn't adopted me by now, there wasn't much hope for me.  So, I decided to work instead.  I guess I'm one of the luckier ones."  She knew that most orphans who didn't end up getting adopted were tossed onto the street and left to fend for themselves.  They became thieves, prostitutes, murderers, all kinds of horrible things.  Wendy considered herself lucky that she had managed to get a job.  Sure, being a servant wasn't easy, but she worked for a nice family, and had even found a friend in Alice.  That had to count for something.