THE MOMENT
"HELLO!!!?" Gwen leaped off her four-post bed when she heard the call. She dashed to the window; but, she couldn't help but notice that it sounded like a girl that called up to her. She still felt a glimmer of relief until she looked down. It was a silver-haired girl. She held some sort of broad box, but the fact that she was alone crushed Gwen's hopes.
"Yes?" Gwen asked. Now that she knew she would still be stuck there for now, she lost interest in conversing with anyone. She wanted to crawl back into bed.
"Did you order a pizza??" The girl asked. She raised the box high towards Gwen's window. As soon as she heard the strange word, Gwen gave the girl a second look. Her clothes were unlike anything Gwen had seen before. She wore blue pants and a green top that looked as comfortable as peasant clothes. But even from a distance, Gwen could see quality in the stitching. Being locked in a tower didn't leave Gwen much time for outdoor hobbies. Instead of dismissing her as a fool, Gwen decided to her.
"A what?" she asked. The girl smiled and shook her head.
"I guess not. So... do you want to be in a tower?" she asked.
"NO!" Gwen yelled. "But, my knight seems to be taking his time," she said.
"I'll help you," the girl replied.
"How?" Gwen asked. "You don't look like a knight."
"I'm not," she replied with a shrug. "Do you want to get out of there, or do you want a knight to rescue you? 'Cause from here, it looks like you have to pick one."
"Can... can you really rescue me?" Gwen called down.
"I can try if you want me to," the girl replied. "Why can't you climb down with your blankets?"
"I cannot remove them from the bed, and magic prevents me from cutting them," she called down. "The gowns provided are too weak for a climb."
"But.. there's nothing keeping you from coming through the window?" the girl asked.
"Only the wish to keep my body whole," Gwen replied and stuck her hand out the window.
"Alright, I got it!" the girl called up. She set the box on the ground, then walked to the tower wall. She looked up, then she looked left and right to get her bearings. Then, she walked back to stand next to the box. She looked up at Gwen.
"Is there anything to tie it to if I get you something to climb down?" the girl asked. Gwen nodded.
"The bed is immovable," she replied.
"Great! Are you going to wear that?"
"Gowns are all I have," Gwen said.
"Uh...do you have pockets?" Gwen shook her head.
"No...?" It was a strange question, and Gwen started to doubt the girl's intentions.
"Do you have any small containers? Like a pouch or something? Something with only one opening and dark inside." Gwen tilted her head and narrowed her eyes down at the girl.
"What for? You're toying with me, aren't you?"
"Trust me," she replied. If nothing else, Gwen sensed sincerity in the girl's voice.
"I have a sewing pouch," she said after a moment.
"That'll work. Empty it out, then bring it to the window; but, don't drop it."
"I have to leave my supplies?" Gwen asked.
"Lady. Do you want to leave, or not?" the girl asked. "I still have to deliver this pizza at some point."
"One moment," Gwen disappeared from the window. Then, she returned half a second later. She held out a red velvet pouch that looked big enough to hold a large grapefruit.
"Perfect," the girl said. By the time Gwen reappeared, the girl was holding her own small silver pouch. "Hold on a second," she said. She opened the pouch, the stuck her hand in. Then, after several seconds of wiggling her fingers in the bag, she pulled her hand out.
"You're set. Just tie the end to the bed, then throw the pouch out."
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" Gwen yelled. She felt like this girl was taking every opportunity to mock her. And, she felt like the town fool for falling for it so easily. She nearly threw the pouch down at the girl; but, she needed it for her supplies.
"I'm talking about trust," the girl said. She nodded at the pouch. Gwen rolled her eyes then turned the pouch upside down and opened it.
"There's no-," Gwen's words caught in her throat as a bright red tip of cloth poked out of the opening about to fall. She was quick enough to clench the bag shut in her hands again and she yanked it back in. She opened the bag and tugged on the red cloth.
A bright red handkerchief came out; but, its corner was tied to an orange handkerchief. As she pulled it out more, orange gave way to yellow, then to green and there still seemed to be more inside.
Instead of wasting time pondering how she managed it; Gwen realized that if she got out of the tower, she could ask the girl in person. She wrapped the red and orange part around the bedpost and tied it off. Then, she carried the pouch to the window.
"I just throw it out?" she asked. The girl nodded. Gwen threw the pouch and it fell at an arc, leaving a rainbow of handkerchiefs dangling down the side of the tower. Gwen tugged on it, and it felt strong enough to support her.
"I'm coming down!" she yelled, then she grabbed the line and climbed out the window. She was nervous; but, the strange girl encouraged her to not look down. And, she repeatedly told Gwen that she was "doing fine" just so she did not have to climb down in unnerving silence. Finally, she reached the bottom and the strange girl dashed up and gave her a hug.
"You did it!" she said. Then, she stepped back and extended her hand. "I'm Emily, by the way," she said.
"Gwen," she introduced herself.
"What's your favorite number, Gwen?" Emily asked.
"35," Gwen said. "Why do you ask such strange questions?" Then, Gwen paused. "I have a favorite number?" Emily laughed and patted Gwen on her back.
"I'm not the one to explain it to you," Emily said. "But, you're going to kick yourself a little bit once you find out you could've left there any time."