As they rode off from the thickets, Maria Blanca braced herself. She had never ridden any striding beast, let alone a horse. Riding on top of a running elk was an experience she both savoured and feared. While continuing on their way to their destination, the pale princess closed her eyes and gave all her trust to the elk, though her heart was pounding and sweat was beading profusely on her forehead.
The elk discreetly looked behind and seemingly smiled, fascinated by the princess who was murmuring prayers while she lowered her head to his nape.
After what seemed to be minutes passing through many frozen trees and bushes, they had finally arrived at a place isolated from the known lands…
A lone cottage.
A cottage, fit for a small family, sat somewhere in the vast forest.
Once Maria Blanca raised her head, her gold eyes grew bright like the forgotten sun, noticing the warmth emanating from such a lovely abode—a humble domicile, she thought, carefully pulling herself down from the elk's back. Walking towards the place to get a better look, she was curious why there was a house for children amid the isolated greenery.
Despite not knowing the answer, she smiled and giggled, happy to see such an unusual place. "Oh, what a lovely little place! I wonder if these little children had their parents. I could probably—" As she turned her head around, the elk that brought her there was now gone. She looked at the small creatures that followed them with wide eyes filled with bewilderment. "Where is he?" She asked, turning around to see where the elk had gone. "I never even got to say 'thank you' to him. Well, you remained here…" Maria Blanca proceeded to bestow kisses on the little woodland creatures that accompanied her, telling them how grateful she was for their help. "You are a gift amidst this fearful circumstance. Thank you!" She then walked closer to the small cottage, knocked on the door, and entered quietly, thinking that the 'children' she believed who lived there were asleep.
Upon entering, the cottage was quiet. Too quiet if children ever lived there. Maria Blanca was baulking at first, popping her head in and out of the slightly open door, hoping she did not disturb those who dwelt there.
"Go—good day!" She stuttered as she stepped inside the cottage. "I do not mean to disturb you, but I have come here to ask for help! I am lost and I need shelter, even just for the night." There was no response coming forth. The silence of the place made Maria Blanca wonder whether the place was completely abandoned or not. There seemed to be no one home as she explored the whole ground floor. She sat on the settee, and there was no one there to throw her out. The princess then entered the dining room, where she saw the dirty plates and some untouched food that were on the table. Seven little chairs, seven little plates with seven pairs of cutlery. It then dawned on Maria Blanca, "Oh my!" She exclaimed. "Seven little children! I wonder if they have a mother and father?" Yet looking at the dining table, there were no two big chairs. The seven little chairs were there, but none for the parents. Maria Blanca let out another gasp and muttered to herself, "Oh dear! Probably they are orphans! Oh, poor children… seven of them without a mother and a father." Sad by the fate the children had, Maria Blanca finally invited herself in and decided to clean the house as a gift for her little hosts.
Outside the comforts of the wooden abode, the woodland creatures remained, still observing the pale princess while she put herself at ease inside the cottage. They perked their ears, drew their little noses closer, and never let their big eyes wander out of her as they watched her with her doings. Sensing their curious stares, Maria Blanca turned towards them and giggled. "Silly fellow, come and do help me tidy up the place." She happily called them as she fashioned herself an apron from a cloth and grabbed the broom that was tossed behind a dirty cabinet. With sincerity, the animals obliged, and the bunch then proceeded to sweep the floor, finished cleaning the dishes, and cleared the cobwebs that adorned every nook and cranny of the place.
As soon as work was done and the cottage was spotless, Maria Blanca and her little friends ascended upstairs, where the room was, and noticed that small beds with different designs, probably to fit the children's liking.
"Oh, look! Such wonderful little beds!" Maria Blanca jovially exclaimed to her little friends, who smiled in response. The pale princess suddenly yawned, clearly losing her battle against the magic of Hypnos. "Goodness! I am exhausted. I cannot sleep on these little beds. But maybe I can borrow a pillow or two, and borrow some of these blankets… I can sleep comfortably here on the floor, and you can also lie beside me!" She gleefully told the animals as she fluffed up the pillows, slowly lay down on the floor, and set the blankets about her.
The woodland creatures gaily conceded as they tucked in under her blankets, while others just plopped down beside her, letting sleep loom inside the room of the little cottage that sat somewhere in the thick forest.