Chapter 7:

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She nearly missed the cave because of the snow, the door that signalled the entrance to the house was of the same colour as the solid stone from which it had been carved.

Amelia took off her jacket and covered her head as she walked, the cold chilling her to the bone, her hair – which had previously served as a source of warmth – was quickly getting wet. She sighed when she got to the door, knocking three times, then two in rapid succession as she remembered.

“Hello? It’s anybody at home?”

“That depends, who calls?” a voice replied from the other side and she held back a laugh.

“My name is Amelia Brown, I am looking for Old Fiun, someone told me that she would be of help.”

“Amelia?” the old woman’s voice came with a chuckle. “A human no doubt with that name.” The door opened with a sudden pull, making her step back. A small old woman with green-yellow skin and fading blond hair looked at her up and down, her red eyes going from suspicion to curiosity, to horror. “Gods be good, enter now, girl. You don’t want to be seen here.”

It took all her willpower to not say that it didn’t matter since she didn’t exist in this world.

The little house inside the cave was warm and pleasant, even if she had to duck her head more than one time. Old Fiun gestured to some cushions she had rearranged in front of the hearth.

“My chairs are too small for you,” she said while sitting and it was true, the little goblin woman barely reached Amelia’s hip. “Now, tell me who told you to find me?”

“Another old woman,” Amelia replied, frowning at the very thought of her, she had been cryptic and annoying, speaking on riddles that barely seemed useful to get back home. “I didn’t believe her at first because well you are— Because the people here just wouldn’t know I exist.”

“Well, someone has to know that Weavers exist, girl,” Fiun said, narrowing her eyes. “Otherwise, how would it be possible for you to enter other worlds? Soon or later worlds connect and even if some of you can’t control them. Travelling must have started somewhere, don’t you think?”

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“Do you know then? Who could have brought me here?”

“You brought yourself here, child,” the goblin woman said. “Or did someone push you through the door you used?”

Amelia drew a deep breath. “That’s not what I mean.”

“Oh, I know,” Fiun laughed, “but even us that are self-aware of how our worlds are have limited knowledge,l. What I know is that you must keep moving until you find a door that takes you to your world, sometimes those doors are in those halls of yours or sometimes they are inside another world.”

“Is everyone here like this? Does anyone know—” Amelia cut herself and thought of the little town that was just some miles from Fiun’s cave.

“That would be dreary, wouldn't it? Especially with only a year. No, child, here there is only me and an old friend back in the town. I don’t know how he realised though, maybe the same old man came and told him.”

“You got nothing else to help me go home?” Amelia asked, her hope draining once again. “Any trick or spell? You were supposed to be—”

“A helpful mentor?” Fiun flashed agrin of yellowed sharp teeth. “Well, I am afraid my charge hasn’t visited me yet or has she, my Lady Weaver?”

“Right,” Amelia said with a scoff, getting up from the cushions. “I suppose I must keep going.”

“Wait, I think I must have an old cloak some thief left around for you,” Fiun said, “you can’t go around through so many winters in those... undergarments.”

She gave her a faded black cloak with a hood, to which Amelia welcomed with a bright smile, despite the lack of answers she had been expecting.

“One more thing, child,” the old woman said, surprising her as she walked her out. “I don’t know how you Weavers do things around, but some worlds do have words for you, be careful to not draw much attention. Oh, and try to stay in places with more time, my old friend told me that too much time just repeating the same week causes trouble.”

“It doesn’t bother you?” Amelia asked, a sting of pity growing in the pit of her stomach. Living the same short amount of time continuously…

“Oh, don’t be silly, how is a year different from just life?” The goblin woman said. “Besides, my friend sometimes brings me some fantastic tales. Enough chatter, you better go before this turns into a blizzard.”

Amelia nodded and with a last ‘thank you’ and a nostalgic stare at the little door in the cave, she put her hood up and walked out to the woods.