by Tim Morrison
Chapter 5
Meeting Kya - Ocean Manor, Tara -17 BA
She woke up later, and things were different. She was in a warm room, full of different things, and wide windows that looked upon a deep blue ocean that had sea birds flying and she could feel a warm salty breeze blowing softly against her.
Tya was sitting on the bed beside her, and took Aya's little hand. “Good morning, my little Lady. Do you feel rested?”
“I think so. I don't hurt on my back any more.” Aya replied.
“Can you get up?” Tya asked her gently. Aya got to her feet and wobbled a bit, but then walked around as Tya got up and took her by the hand. “Come, little Lady, I have somebody for you to meet.”
Aya walked with Tya to the door, and walked with her out onto a large deck where she saw another little girl sitting, facing the ocean, her wheat-colored hair flying in the wind.
She turned as they approached and got to her feet. Aya saw that she was about the same height, and she walked over to them. “Hi, I'm Kya.”
Aya let go of Tya's hand and curtseyed as she had been taught. “My name is Aya, nice to meet you.” then she smiled, and the other girl giggled.
Tya sat on the couch and watched the two girls slowly getting to know each other. After the space of less than an hour, they were fast friends. By the end of the day, they were inseparable, and this was as it was going to be. Tya let Regent Pya know that Lady Aya had found her friend and it was good.
...
“Come on sleepyheads, it's time to wake up.” Came the singsong voice that both girls thought of as mother. The two young women woke up from where they had been cuddled together in the huge fluffy bed and got groggily to their feet.
Aya looked up at Kya and frowned. “It's not fair, you're getting taller again.” She pouted.
Kya giggled and tousled her friends' hair, then dodged as Aya took a half-hearted swing at her. “You may be smaller than me, Lady Aya, but you are tougher!” she teased, then they both tumbled over as Aya tackled her and they wrestled on the bed for a few moments before Tya came back in and with a gentle but firm swat to both little bottoms, got the two young girls out of the bed and off to the bathing pool.
Later that day they were sitting as Doctor Solonae paid his first home visit to them. Aya was nervous as he stood her on a stool and had her disrobe, then very carefully examined her, all over. Tya stayed with her, and she could also see Kya sitting there, so she was not alone, but it was strange to have the Doctor looking her over like she was a piece of machinery.
“You are growing quite properly, my dear. Have you any pain here, or here?” He asked as his large but gentle fingers poked into her back and shoulders.
Aya shook her head. “That doesn't hurt, it kind of tickles though.” She half-whispered.
The doctor looked at her with his very shaggy eyebrows, she looked back at him, unsure of what to do, then his eyes crinkled up and he laughed, a great big belly laugh that made her feel a lot better, as he gathered her into his arms for a big hug before handing her back to Tya's arms to help her slip back into her robes.
“Doctor, can I ask a question?” Aya said after she had wrapped herself up in her robe and felt more comfortable.
“For you, little Lady Aya, can ask me anything.” Came the rumbling reply.
“Why am I smaller than Kya?”
The Doctor looked at Tya, then knelt down to take Aya's hands in his.
“Do you remember when you came to me, Lady Aya?”
She nodded, it was a sad time, but she did sort of remember the last flight, falling in the air, and the pain in her back, then waking up to know that Mother was gone.
“That injury you got has prevented your body from growing big. We have worked our doctor skills to ensure you will be healthy, my Lady. But you will not be a big girl. You are a small but very strong girl.” He explained.
“I'm not going to grow tall, like Kya or mistress Tya?” Aya asked, tears brimming.
The Doctor pulled her into another big comforting hug. “You will not be as tall as other girls may become, Lady Aya. But you will be good. Healthy in every way. Just, as they say, petite. Small, but strong.”
