Mother Elf's Arc

Chapter 4 of 11

Mother Elf finished writing the invitation to Mrs. Robin and set it on the table to dry. She looked out the window at the third cottage and thought about who should receive it next. Someone came to mind right away, but the thought made her pause. Agnes had stood beside Melissa at her wedding even though she had doubts. Mother Elf remembered hearing about it from the other elves who lived near the church. Agnes had swallowed everything she felt and held the bouquet and smiled when the vows were spoken. She had done it because Melissa needed her there, and Agnes loved her enough to give what was hard. That kind of love deserved a crown. But Mother Elf wondered if Agnes would accept one. Some mothers believed they only deserved honour when they felt no hesitation, when their love came easy and pure. Agnes might think her doubts made her unworthy. Mother Elf walked to the third cottage and opened the door. Sunlight poured through the glass walls and warmed the wooden floor. She placed a bottle of bluebell perfume on the table, its delicate scent filling the room like a quiet blessing. Outside, Daddy Elf was building a swing with a wide canopy and soft cushions where Agnes could sit and rest her legs. Mother Elf watched him work and knew this cottage would be a place where Agnes could put down what she carried. She went back inside and began preparing the flower crown, weaving stems together with steady hands. This crown would say what Agnes might not let herself hear: that love given despite doubt was still love, and still enough. When the crown was finished, Mother Elf held it up to the light. The petals trembled slightly in her hands. She had made her decision, and she would not take it back. Agnes would receive the third cottage whether she believed she deserved it or not. Mother Elf set the crown on the table beside the perfume and stepped outside. The swing moved gently in the breeze. She would write the invitation tonight, and Agnes would come, and Mother Elf would place the crown on her head and tell her the truth about her worth.