Samantha of the Island

I am home this weekend. Michaela wanted me to be around for homecoming since Mom and Dad couldn't be. So far, it's been great. Coming home is not usually this pleasant. I should learn that my expectations mean nothing this fall.

I'm going to fairy-tale it up now:

That night, Aurelia left Hardenstall with several lists of orders, bags of clothes needing mending, and only 10 hours in which to complete everything. No one actually expected her to finish, but for some reason, no one argued when she continued to take orders.
Back at her cottage, Aurelia went through her normal routine with her animals. She sat down to work, completely un-phased--humming pleasantly to herself. As she hummed, the clothes that needed mending seemed to stir in the bag, which glowed just a little. The skirt she was working on formed in her hands as she traced the patter on the fabric. No sewing, no pins, just touch. As much as it should have looked unnatural, Aurelia's nonchalant behavior made it seemed that every piece of clothing ever came into being this way. The animals made no movement. It was normal for them as well. She checked each order off the list, and within just a few hours, she had completed her work.
As she finished the last item, she stared out the window and jumped. Instead of the lights of Luren, something closer, something green loomed closer on the horizon.
"It's coming together," she whispered. She knew it was strange that anyone from Shorin would ever stoop so low as to pay attention to Hardenstall. Aurelia smiled. Something stirred inside her--something she had never felt before--excitement. She hummed faster; she couldn't be tied down with chores tomorrow morning. The Representatives from Shorin were coming, and she needed to make an impression.