Eranor was delighted at the opportunity to have a bath. She had been on the road for the better part of a week, not to mention the stress of becoming someone’s slave added on top of that. Also, she was almost kidnapped. She almost forgot that. Yes, time to soak in some hot water and wash the previous day’s events off her sounded heavenly. As she sat down in Tialla’s bathroom it almost was.

It really was a bathroom in the literal sense. The whole room was dedicated to the bath, though admittedly it wasn’t very big. It was a smooth room, with faucets and benches along the wall and a single drain in the middle. The faucets were connected to apparatuses in the ceiling where water supplied from water runes were fed through pipes heated by fire runes to deliver hot water out of small hand faucets when a button was pressed. Already Eranor had taken a faucet and was starting to rinse herself in the steaming water. It was incredibly relaxing after the past few days, only there was one glaring issue.

“Feels great to get all clean after such a long trip, doesn’t it Eranor?” Rosewood asked smiling, naked as the day she was born, as was Eranor. Though Rosewood remained seemingly oblivious or uncaring about the awkward situation. Tialla was behind her similarly naked, but at least more aware of the strange situation, even if she played it off rather well.

“I’m sure she agrees Rose,” Tialla said with a smirk. “Now Eranor come sit over here by me,” Tialla had sat down on one of the benches along the wall and gestured to the floor in front of her. Eranor sighed getting up from her position and sitting in front of Tialla in the spot instructed, just in front of her feet. Tialla was already testing the water coming out of one of the faucets. “Your hair is very pretty Eranor, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it,” Tialla said as Eranor suddenly found said hair starting to be sprayed with delightfully warm water.

“I thought yours looked better actually,” Eranor said starting to relax at the soothing feeling of having her hair cleaned, despite the awkward scenario.

“Really, but it’s all white. I always thought it made me look like a granny.”

“What?” Eranor said shocked turning around.

“Keep looking forward,” Tialla gently corrected. “Unless you want shampoo in your eyes.” Tialla started lathering up some shampoo in her hands.

“Well, I think it’s very unique,” Eranor said, stopping as Tialla started to rub the lathered shampoo into her hair. Eranor stopped talking and melted into Tialla at the soothing sensation of having her scalp massaged.

“I suppose it is that,” Tialla said dismissing the comment.

“You should learn how to take a compliment dear,” Rosewood scolded from her spot in the room as she was washing herself.

“I thought you were playing the salve tonight, Rose,” Tialla shot back with a scornful look “Shouldn’t really be talking back to your master like that. If that’s what you are.”

“Hmmm quite right,” Rosewood took the comment in stride showing no real effect from it. Tialla scoffed angrily, Eranor tilted her head back toward the girl.

“She’s just so dense sometimes,” Tialla said quietly as she started rinsing the shampoo out of Eranor’s hair.

“I do get that impression,” Eranor agreed.

“All right stand up let’s get the rest of you clean,” Tialla commanded gently, Eranor obeyed rising up to her feet as Tialla started lathering up some kind of liquid body wash into a brush. Though the body washing was a little rougher than the hair, Eranor still found it relaxing. “Wow you were dirty,” Tialla said looking at the clouded water washing off Eranor.

“It was a long trip,” Eranor said vaguely after a look of warning from Rosewood.

“So I’ve heard,” Tialla said obviously suspicious. “It seems even you are keeping secrets from me.”

“For your own good,” Rosewood said seriously. Tialla scoffed.

“She’s actually right about that one,” Eranor chimed in. Tialla gave Eranor a look but released a breath in acknowledgment.

“So it seems, but I will find out eventually.” Tialla said calmly spraying Eranor clean with one of the faucets. Rosewood seemed to be done as well and was casually exiting the bathroom, though the fact she said nothing to Tialla as she left didn’t go unnoticed. Tialla grumbled as she left.

“Seems pretty bad,” Eranor said cautiously.

“She’s just so …” Tialla held her arms up in a vague shape struggling to find the right words.

“I know what you mean,” Eranor said genuinely. “My nurse maid was the same way. Though I guess I see now she only wanted me to be my best. I kinda miss her,” Eranor said losing herself in thought a bit. Tialla took the comment to heart and seemed to calm down some.

“Yeah, I guess you may be right.”

“All right,” Eranor said suddenly. “Your turn.”

“My turn what?!” Tialla demanded.

“Your turn to get clean,” Eranor said plainly. “Come on you did me the least I can do is return the favor.”

“Eranor that’s not how this works. You’re the slave here.”

“Sounds exactly like something a slave would do.”

“Not that kind of slave though,” Tialla defended horribly. “It’s not like that. Rose would kill me if …”

“Rose left,” Eranor reminded. “And I’m sure she would kill you if you took me off my leash. You did, and here you stand still breathing.” Tialla gave Eranor a look. Not having any rebuttal to what she was saying but still seeming to adamantly deny her. “Can I just do this for you? You seem like you need it.” Tialla closed her eyes.

“Just be sure you use that green bottle on my scales,” she explained. “They’re a little sensitive. I don’t have a lot of them so I like to keep the ones I have.”

“Yes master,” Eranor spoke the very proper name in a way that wasn’t at all salve like. “Ok sit down right here in front of me.” Tialla obeyed but kept a feigned regal air about her as Eranor got to work lathering the same shampoo in her hands.

“I said you should come up with something else,” Tialla said back, she was quieted as Eranor started rubbing the shampoo in.

“I’m still working on it,” Eranor paused for a moment. “Nana.” Tialla smiled in satisfaction. “If you don’t mind me asking, how long ago was it? You know, when your parents.” Eranor didn’t finish the thought but Tialla knew what she meant.

“About a year ago,” Tialla said thoughtfully. “Died in a hunting trip. And of course, I’m their only child so.”

“I can’t imagine the stress,” Eranor was still rubbing shampoo into Tialla’s hair. “Being fast tracked to leadership like, not to mention dealing with your parents’ death.”

“Well, though it may be off putting to say, their death did not hit me especially hard.”

“I know what you mean,” Eranor was sympathetic and she started rinsing the shampoo out of Tialla’s hair. “I don’t really have any love lost for my parents.”

“That may be partially my fault.”

“Please, they were treating me like property long before they sold me off as a slave. If it wasn’t to you, I’d probably be doing this to some minor lord's son or something,” Eranor had finished rinsing and was ringing some of the water out of Tialla’s hair. “When I say that I guess being here isn’t the worst. Though there are some things I’d opt to change of course … Nana” Tialla couldn’t help a giggle at the comment.

“I did not know my baby would be so witty,” she smirked as Eranor motioned for her to stand up. “It’s exactly as you say though,” she continued talking while Eranor lathered up the body wash onto a brush. “Just like you I was destined to be married off to some lord as well. Until my parents died, and I had to take the throne. Funny how all of the royal kids are the ones getting married off instead of doing the marrying.”

“You get more bargaining power when your offering up a chance at the throne,” Eranor said cynically. “Lucky for you that your parents died before they could ship you off,” Eranor started gently scrubbing Tialla.

“That is quite the horrible thing to say,” Tialla replied neutrally.

“It’s not wrong though.”

“No …. No it is not.” There was a silence for a moment, the comments made between the two girls weight the atmosphere of the room heavily. “It seems very disingenuous of me to be complaining about my circumstances. Some people would kill to be queen. Or even princess.”

“I’m more than happy to do all of your complaining for you,” Eranor smiled as she started to rinse Tialla’s body off. “Consider it one of the many services of you new baby slave Nana.”

“What would I do without my royal complainer?” Tialla giggled some. “I think Nana is growing on me.”

“Yeah? I’ll stick with it then,” Eranor said moving to the green bottle. “All right you’re going to have to explain this one to me.”

“Oh well that one you don’t really lather up you just kinda rub it in the scales against the grain,” Tialla started to explain. “Maybe I should just do it.”

“No!” Eranor scolded pressing against Tialla’s chest. “I came this far, you’re gonna let me finish the job.” Tialla blushed silently and let Eranor continue. The sensation of rubbing against the grain of Tialla’s scales was very strange, something Eranor didn’t quite expect from the otherwise soft Tialla.

“I know, it does feel a little weird,” Tialla apologized. “Imagine how it feels for me. Surely you Miqo also have some strange hygiene routines.” Eranor blushed and look at Tialla in the eyes before quickly averting her gaze.

“Tail wax,” Eranor said quickly. “We have to apply tail wax, about once a month, or it gets all frizzy.”

“Really?” Eranor said laughing.

“Hey I didn’t laugh at yours!” Eranor protested.

“Fair enough. I think perhaps I will get you some then. Can’t have my little kitten with a frizzy tail.”

“Kitten?”

“Works well with nana I think.” Eranor sighed in acceptance. “If you’re done kitten. I do believe it is time for bed.”

“I could sleep for a thousand years I think,” Eranor said as the two exited the bathroom.

“I’ll bet you can, but you’ll have to settle for a night for now,” Tialla donned a bathrobe that was waiting in the bathroom and after she was clothed, she led Eranor back to the nursery. “Ok hop up on the changing table.” Eranor rolled her eyes but laid down on the thing. “Oh, it’s not that bad. I should know I’m not that far out of diapers myself.” Tialla spoke calmly as she prepared a diaper under Eranor.

“Same here,” Eranor admitted. “Though that doesn’t make me eager to go back into them.”

“Oh, you’re parents were slow to potty train you too?” Tialla questioned as she applied a cream and powder to Eranor.

“Yeah. Just another way for them to show me off.”

“Well, I hope you don’t mind that I think it’s cute, and definitely will be showing you off.” Tialla smiled taping up the diaper snuggly. Eranor scoffed a bit. “Fair enough. Now give me a color for your onesie.” Eranor couldn’t even be surprised at this twist. Even back home she still had a few onesies that she still fit into from her baby years that she would wear to bed from time to time.

“Pink,” she said plainly.

“Pink it is,” Tialla said rummaging through the closet until she proudly revealed a soft pink onesie decorated with yellow flowers. Eranor raised her arms up and found the thing slid over her head and Tialla snapping the crotch shut. “Now up in the crib.” Tialla pointed, but Eranor was already shambling her way to the crib. “You do look cozy in there,” Tialla commented as she slid the side of the crib up and then shut closed the top locking the whole thing shut.

“Beats sleeping on the ground.”

“High praise,” Tialla said sarcastically handing Eranor a pacifier attached to a clip through the bars of the crib. Eranor pondered the soother for a moment before attaching it to her onesie. “Do you want me to get you a bottle?”

“I’m already about to pass out. I'll be fine.”

“Ok Eranor,” Tialla moved to leave the room “I’ll see you in the morning I hope you rest well.”

“Same to you,” Eranor called out as Tialla left the nursery. She walked past the door to Rosewood’s room on the way back to her own, not really noticing that the Miqo was watching from her door with a happy smile on her face. With Tialla gone, Rosewood made her way back to her room to go to bed herself.