Literature
Pathways (G/t)
Spring has finally came. The smell of freshly cut grass, flowers of all kinds of colours and the beautiful evening sun. The garden was lovely.
Everything seemed perfect. Well, sickeningly perfect to be honest.
As Sophie walked towards the balcony, all she could think of was her place in this harmony. Resting her elbows on the fences, she sighed deeply. Even though the sky was bright, her heart ached with dark feelings about this day.
Sophie didn't know why, but she had never felt this lonely. Not many days had passed since she had arrived here but she was already missing her old home.
She was missing her friends. The times when they were climbing on the roof of the grand windmill and watching the sun to disappear. Everything felt surreal now. Like all of her memories were just old and rotten stories that belonged to a stranger.
As another pang of pain settled around her temples, Sophie groaned. She was always getting headaches when she was feeling tensed. As she straightened up, she left the balcony and entered to the garden once again. Maybe a short stroll would decrease her pain.
The Princess started wandering around the geometrically cut bushes and beautiful flowers. She stopped when she saw violets. They are her favorite ones. Although they do not possess a strong smell like liliums or pink roses, their vibrant colors are pretty impactful to win the Princess's heart.
When she was done observing the lillies, a slight movement caught her eye and she stopped in her tracks, approaching the flowers with a frown on her face.
As another flower moved, Sophie was sure that something was there. Or...someone.
She bent over the flowers, resting her hands on her knees, and narrowed her eyes to find out who the intruder was. Right beside the tallest flower amongst lillies, there was a tiny girl. She was trying to chop down the body of it like she was dealing with a thick trunk of a tree, looking quite exhausted.
A smile spread through Sophie's face. It would take her barely a second to rip that flower off the dirt but it seemed quite a challenge to the little girl. A giggle escaped from the giantess' lips as she kept watching the adorable tiny.
Right at the moment Sophie laughed, the tiny girl turned back in terror, accidentally dropping her tool that resembled to a rake.
"Eek!"
When her eyes met with the hazel ones of the towering giantess, she couldn't help but gasp. It was an horror to see a looming figure when you were even shorter than a branch.
Sophie still had a soft smile on her face. She didn't say anything as she kept staring at the girl. She had short and straight black hair that is barely reaching to her shoulders and she was wearing a jumpsuit that is covered with green and purple stains.
"Hey there," Sophie said, trying to keep a low voice. However, the tiny couldn't help but startle by her voice.
"H-Hi, M-Miss." She stuttered, connecting her hands together in front of her.
"Sorry, little one. Didn't mean to startle you." Sophie awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. She was the one who was at least 10 times bigger in size but why she felt shy all of a sudden?
The girl didn't answer. She was still so terrified to do anything. It felt like her legs and arms were tied up to the ground, preventing her to move even slightly.
"What are you doing out here? The garden is not a safe place for a tiny. You might get lost. Or worse, stepped on."
The tiny swallowed hard. She couldn't believe how casually the giantess spoke about her being stepped on. She could have died or lost a limb if the giantess accidentally stepped on her. It wasn't a game for a tiny, her life was on the line.
"I need to collect some plants." The tiny responded shakily. Even her legs were trembling like chords of a violin.
"Fibers and petals of several flowers to be specific."
"Hmm," Sophie mumbled as she crouched down further, making the girl to take a few steps back.
"Why, though?" Sophie asked, her eyes glowing with curiosity. She sounded quite sincere as if she really cared about what the girl was doing.
"I-I'm," The tiny said, slowly reaching down to get her rake. It was no match for a giantess, yes, but it gave her a sense of safety and protection.
"I need those and some herbs for making medicine. M-My Master awaits me."
"Are they for your Master?"
A small smile passed through the girl's lips.
"N-No, it's for the Princess. She had ordered us to make something to ease down her headache, so we are trying to create a mixture for her."
This time Sophie's smile was warmer than before.
"You're an herbalist, then?"
"Oh, no," The girl shook her head in coyness.
"I'm just his assistant." She smiled bitterly, gently resting her rake against the flowers.
"But I want to become one. Someday. I hope I'll live long enough to achieve my dream."
Sophie knitted her brows.
"Why won't you live long enough become an herbalist? You seem just fine."
For the first time, the tiny averted her gaze from the giantess. Suddenly her voice left all of its livelihood.
"Well, stating the obvious, I'm a tiny. I can't do anything if a royalty claims me as their slave. Or, you know, just like you said earlier, I'm easy to get stepped on."
Sophie gazed at her in pity.
"Oh, I didn't mean to hurt you by those words. I was just trying to warn you about being careful."
Sophie bit down on her lip, fixating her gaze to the ground.
"Sorry for that."
The girl's eyes widened. Why the giantess was apologizing from her? She had never met with a giantess that soft spoken before.
"Don't need to apologize, Miss." She smiled awkwardly. Sophie paused for a moment before turning back at her once again.
"So...do you need any other flower to make that mixture?"
Sophie really seemed interested in her work. She didn't have much knowledge about medicine, though, she knew just a few things about botany.
"Actually, yes. I need some rose petals, dark red ones to be exact. The giants cannot see it properly but there are many little bugs and creatures feeding off them. They are hard to see even for someone like me. Getting their oozes out is the key for making the mixture. They have a calming effect."
This confession made Sophie chuckle.
"Hey, you were just talking about being small and vulnerable but you're doing the same to those bugs! You're quite the hypocrite..."
The girl couldn't help but laugh at those words. The giantess was right in a sense but she was missing a point.
"Not at all! They are just bugs that cannot think or speak at all when I'm a human being. Just smaller in scale..."
Sophie nodded as she felt defeated by the argument.
"I know where those roses that you speak about are."
"Oh, where?"
"They are at the end of the garden. Decorating the sides of the gate of the palace."
"Oh..." The girl sighed deeply, looking to the ground once again.
"It's so far from here..." She murmured.
"Well, if you want, I can take you there."
She rapidly lifted her gaze to Sophie.
"You'd really do that?"
"Yes, of course!"
She paused for a moment.
"Why are you helping me?"
Sophie shrugged her shoulders.
"Do I need to have a reason? I just stumbled upon you and it wouldn't hurt me to take a few more steps."
Tears of joy welled up in the girl's eyes. It had been years since a giant treated her that kindly. She was used to being tossed around or getting scolded. Receiving help seemed quite impossible until now.
"Thank you, Miss. I'm really lucky to meet you."
Sophie responded with a cheeky grin.
"The pleasure's mine."
She straightened up, relaxing her body.
"No need for formalities, by the way. What's your name?"
"It's May."
"It's lovely."
"And what's yours?"
Sophie smirked. She start rubbing her chin, idleing around a bit before she answered the question.
"I think I want to stay as the mysterious stranger for a bit longer if you don't mind."
Shen then crouched again, extending her hand towards May. The tiny quickly covered her head with her hands in a sudden movement, started trembling under the shadow of the massive fingers.
"Um, what are you doing?"
May slowly opened her eyes, finding out that the giantess' hand was hung up in the air, just a few inches away from her frail body.
"Aren't you going to pick me up?" She said in fright.
"Yeah, but only if you permit me to, dear. I don't want you to get hurt."
Another wave of confusion stroke May, letting her put her guard down.
"You're weird," She muttered. Her comment got another chuckle out of the giantess as she slowly wrapped her fingers around the girl's torso. She squeezed her a bit, being sure that she's secure enough, and finally lifted her from the ground.
May quickly held onto the massive fingers beneath her as she was swung up to the air. It wasn't that bad but everything was overwhelming for her when she was reminded that she was inside the hands of a giant.
Sophie opened her palm and cupped her other hand under it, creating a barrier for the girl.
"Good?"
May quickly nodded, holding onto one of Sophie's fingers to prevent falling off.
"So," Sophie said while her thunderous steps shook the ground.
"Are you going to be the one that brings the mixture to the Princess?"
"Um, I don't think so. My Master would present it. Besides, I'd totally freeze up at her presence. I'm even terrified from being up there, I'd have a heart attack in front of a Princess."
Sophie giggled.
"Is she that bad?"
May rested her arms back, leaning against Sophie's fingers.
"I don't really know much about her. The other princess, Cherry, is the one that terrifies me. But I recall hearing some rumours about Princess Sophie, too."
Sophie cocked a brow at her. May continued.
"I heard them she liked to have a lot of servants in her watch. Dozens of them serving her."
"Why she's having that much?"
"I don't know," May's eyes wandered around the garden.
"It's just cruel. Someone told me that she likes sticking with 7 servants usually, naming all of them by the days of the week."
"Those rumors are quite creative..." Sophie mumbled.
"She was using every servant for the day that were named by."
"Using?" Sophie frowned.
"I don't understand what my friend meant by that but she used that word, yes."
When Sophie was about to say something, she realized that they had arrived to the rose section.
"Here you go," She dropped the girl next to a flower.
"Thank you so much, Miss. I'm really grateful for your help."
Sophie shrugged her off and saluted her before they parted ways.
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May had tucked all of the ingredients into her bag, dragging it on the ground while she was heading towards the Wall. The bag was quite big and heavy due to excessive amount of different kinds of herbs. Though, it was nearly enough for creating just one mixture of the medicine.
May huffed with exhaustion as she held the bag and swung it towards the entrance. The way through the Wall was way too long and she would surely pass out if she carried that weight any longer.
"Hey, can you help me?" She asked one of the guards.
"What's inside the bag?" He cocked a brow.
"Oh, I'm Master Wilhelm's assistant. These are just some plants as ingredients."
The guard nodded and took the bag away. May gazed at the garden one last time before following the guard to the depths of the Wall, leaving the fresh air behind, entering the suffocating tunnel.
———————
The poor girl was covered in sweat. She didn't know how many hours had passed since she had entered the atelier. It seemed like a day without an ending.
With heavy moves, May kept stirring the large pot with a stick. Watching the swirling mixture was peculiarly soothing. May felt hypnotized by the movement of the waves.
The elixir turned out to be brown. Dark red and light green had made an ugly color that resembled to mud, and the its slimy texture was not helping, either.
She was so caught up with work that she didn't hear her Master.
"May, are you there?"
May startled and dropped the stick inside the liquid.
"Shoot..."
She faced against him.
"Yes. Yes, sir."
Master Wilhelm seemed quite pleased and excited as he approached to May.
"Our mixture worked perfectly! The Princess was quite content when I was leaving."
May saluted these words with a sigh of relief.
"That's great! We should make more of that formula, just in case."
"Sure, sure," He mumbled, scratching his beard.
"But that isn't the reason why I came to see you."
"What is it?"
"The Princess asked me if I did everything by myself and I told her that I had an assistant who helped me. After this, she wanted to see you to thank you in person."
May suddenly froze in her place. He couldn't be serious, right?
"You're kidding, right?"
Wilhelm chuckled.
"Not at all! Isn't that great? You'll get to meet her!"
May stumbled upon to the side, holding onto the pot's edge.
"What's wrong? Aren't you excited?"
The girl swallowed hard, wearily gazing at her Master.
"I'm excited but it scares me a little. I...I'm scared that I might say or do something wrong or stupid."
Wilhelm sighed. He then closed the distance between them, putting her hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"Don't worry, it'll be just fine. You worked hard and deserved the applauses. There's nothing wrong about to finally hear them."
May gave him a timid smile.
"But it's the Princess and worse, she is a giantess."
"Trust me, she's a kind soul."
Wilhelm grabbed both of May's shoulders and pushed her forward.
"Come on, we shouldn't keep her waiting."
May glanced at the atelier one last time before she disappeared into the dark tunnels.
——
The tiny was breathing heavily. She took a yet another deep breath before pushing the door open leading to the giantess' room.
The Princess had been sitting at her writing table, signing and checking some documents. When the doorframe hit the bell, the Princess became alerted that she had a visitor. She dropped her pen, cursing under her breath as the ink stained the upper side of one of the papers.
She watched the frightened tiny to greet her by bowing before her, without lifting her gaze.
"Mistress Sophie," She tried to sound confident but her voice had already cracked.
"I'm Master Wilhelm's assistant. How can I help you?"
A faint laugh was heard above.
"Don't need to introduce yourself, I know who you are."
This voice, May thought.
Why it sounds so familiar?
"Come on, let me see your pretty face." The giantess said amiably.
May lifted her gaze towards the Princess.
Blonde hair and beautiful hazel eyes.
"It...It's you..." May stuttered in terror. She took a step back, raising her arms in front of her as some sort of defense.
"Surprise..." Sophie smirked.
"I thought you would get it before arriving here."
May examined the giantess in front of her. To her mischievous grin and arched eyebrows that were quite ready to turn into another expression, something that she didn't want to see at all.
"I didn't know that you were the Princess." May bent her head slightly.
"I've said terrible things about you, right into your face."
Unknowingly.
"Yeah, about that," Sophie crossed her arms on the chest, raising a brow at the girl.
"They were pretty upsetting to hear, to be honest."
It was the first time that her tone became harsh. As if she was threatening the girl.
"Y-Your highness, I...I'm so sorry." May tried to gaze upwards, yet failing miserably. She thought she could hear heartbeats if they stood like this any longer.
"I didn't mean to be disrespectful."
"But you were, indeed." Sophie said, bending over the tiny, casting a shadow on the poor girl. Although May wasn't seeing her body from the ground like before, being this close to the giantess' face was also terrifying.
May felt tears coming to haunt her eyes once again, eager to stain her cheeks.
"I-I didn't know! I beg for your mercy." She finally met with the giantess' fierce gaze, falling down on her knees. She connected her hands together, closing her eyes shut as her whole body began trembling.
"Please, I'll do anything!" She begged, trying desperately to convince the Princess to be forgiving.
"Hm, anything?" Sophie paused.
"W-Well, I can't do anything b-but I'll try."
"I'll try to be worthy of your mercy." May tried to flame up her ego. It always seemed to work on giants.
"Okay, then. I only have two requests. That's all." Sophie smirked at her.
"Y-Yes, your highness. Anything you want." May said quickly, trying not to anger her any further. She silently waited for the Princess's orders, anxiously playing with her hands. When Sophie finally determined what she wanted out from the girl, her features softened.
"First of all, I don't want you to refer me as royalty. Just use my name, it'll be enough."
"I don't think that I have the right to refer you like that." May responded instantly.
"Are you trying to disobey my orders?" Sophie said jokingly yet putting an act of wrath.
"No! Of course not! I would never..." May said helplessly as she panicked. Her heart was beating like a sick drum.
"Since we solved this one, let's get back to my other request. After work, I want you to come over."
"Every single day?"
"No. Just when you feel like it."
May went silent. She didn't understand what was going on at the moment. The girl seemed very calm yet her requests seemed strange.
"Sometimes I do get lonely, little one. Being able to speak someone other than royalty would feel nice."
She then lay her hands to the table, right beside the girl, relaxing her shoulders and neck in the process. A serious yet sorrowful expression settled in her face as she sighed heavily.
"Well, you don't need to do that if you don't want to. I was just messing around when I told you that I have some conditions for you. I'm not mad at you, either. I knew there should have been countless rumors about me. So, don't worry about getting punished in any way. I'm not the type to do that."
A glimpse of hope passed through May's bright brown eyes. The Princess didn't seem to make sll that up about herself. Something about her felt sincere. And it was a strange and unexpected feeling for May.
"I enjoyed our encounter at the garden.When I returned, I find myself hoping to stumble upon you again."
Trying not to look at the massive hands right beside her, May spoke.
"I...I don't know what to say. You want my companionship? I'd be happy to do that for sure but I'm just an herbalist. Well, not even an actual one, as you know. I can't add much value to your life."
"Why do you keep belittling yourself like this? You've said it before, there's nothing putting us apart except our size difference. I want someone to talk to, that's all I'm asking."
"If that's the only thing you want..."
May gave her a timid smile.
"I'd be happy to fulfill your desire. Is it okay for me to come back tomorrow? Once I'm done with my duties? Sorry if that's contradicting what you had in mind...but I really like my job. I don't want to quit."
"Of course. Don't feel like you're forced to come here when you don't feel like it. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
May shook her head.
"Oh, alright...thank you."
"Then, see you tomorrow, May."
"Y-You too, Mistress."
——————
2 years later
"I'm ready to go, your highness."
May bowed down elegantly, holding the skirts of her ankle-length dress. She then spinned around herself, creating a wheel of the colour pink as the red and white stripes of her dress blended together by the motion.
She was standing right on the Princess's nightstand, who was rubbing her eyes, trying to get out off the bed. The bags under her eyes were justifying how overworked she had been for the last week.
"Ugh, when will you stop doing that?" Sophie grunted.
"It gives me the ick..."
"What do you mean, Mistress?" May asked innocently, keeping her head down.
"Stop saying that!"
May looked up and locked her gaze to Sophie's, curtsying towards her.
"I'm really sorry your majesty but I still don't understand what you—ow!"
May squealed once she was snatched away from the nightstand, getting trapped right into the Princess' grip. She quickly held onto the massive fingers instinctively, not because she feared that Sophie might actually hurt her.
"Will you stop being such an annoyance today? I'm already sweating buckets and you're not really helping." Sophie groaned angrily. Though, her grip was loose. She was just feeling overwhelmed because of the upcoming ball.
"Additionally, you know how much I hate those titles. Even hearing jokes about it makes me feel uneasy."
May smiled softly. She wasn't taken offense at Sophie's words. Everybody went through hardships and she just needed to be patient with her today.
"Soph, you're just overreacting. It's fine, I was only messing around."
Sophie let out a shuddering breath before she let go off the girl, opening her palm.
"When you refer to me like that, I'm feeling like I'm pressuring you to stay with me rather than following your own will."
May frowned in confusion while she settled at tge center of the palm.
"Sophie, that's ridiculous. You know how much I like spending time with you."
Sophie sighed deeply, glancing away from May.
"I don't know...I've been thinking a lot about us, lately."
"Huh?"
"If I wasn't a towering giantess, would you still choose to become my friend in the first place?"
This time it was May's turn to get upset.
"Where all of these are coming from?"
The Princess dropped the girl onto her stomach as she leaned her back against the pillows.
"I don't know…I saw Laura the other day. She was wearing her servant as a necklace. The poor woman seemed very miserable yet she just stood without even making a single attempt to escape, or she even moved."
Sophie cupped her hand to May's back.
"I saw the fear in her eyes. She also feared to look any other giant in the face. That's when I started thinking about us."
"In what way?"
Sophie took a shuddering breath.
"May...do I intimidate you? Do you feel comfortable sharing your every opinion with me? Or do you tend to tone yourself down, just for my liking?"
"Sophie, I can't believe you are thinking like that!Hearing you talking like that pains me more to accept the fact that you're my Mistress on the paper…”
The tiny took a few steps towards the girl's ankle, putting her hand over, gently patting on her skin.
"Of course I feel comfortable around you. You might be the kindest giant that I've ever met. You don't intimidate me at all...well, except the times when you're unaware that I'm standing on the ground, that's pretty terrifying to deal with." May joked, tilting her head to the side, gazing at her softly.
This little confession also cheered Sophie up.
"Sorry for being so paranoid all of a sudden. I do overthink everything sometimes."
"Yeah you do, you dumbass."
Sophie let out yet another giggle as she shyly looked at May.
"I was already seeing all the cruel things my family and other royals are doing to tinies but seeing Laura liked that really hit home."
May shrugged her shoulders.
"You were saying that she was a kind person. Why don't you try to talk her out of it, maybe?"
"Do you think she'll actually listen to me?"
"I don't know but it wouldn't take a lot of effort to try it."
Sophie nodded. May was right.
"Okay, okay, listen to me now," May waved her hands to get the girl's attention.
"These dresses are not going to wear themselves. Now get your ass down here and choose one already, we just have an hour left before the ball starts."
"Yeah, fine..." Sophie huffed.
Suddenly, May felt the ground beneath her started shaking slightly. Not much of a movement that would make her collapse. Though, when Sophie's large body swiftly slipped under her, May couldn't help but squeak as her body met with the soft fabric of the blanket.
"Hey! You did that on purpose!" She whined, trying to get herself out of the folds of the thick fabric.
Standing at 3 inches tall now, Sophie grinned devilishly.
"Whoops. I never thought about that at all. You're so small to notice."
As May climbed off from the mountainous hills of wool, she slid down to the bed again.
"Whatever,"
She walked towards Sophie and suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. She didn't say anything as she kept hugging her for a moment. When they were separated, Sophie looked confused.
"What was that for?"
"For being my friend, dummy."
It was Sophie's turn to wrap her arms around the girl.
"Thanks for putting up with me."
May chuckled, holding her friend tighter.
"Always."
When they separated, May still had an impish smile.
"Now, let's get going. I'll act like I don't know you at all you if you're coming to the ball like that..."
"Shut up!"
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