A dwarf? Willow looked at the man with unabashed intensity. She had never seen one in person before. She had heard of this race, of course, but never had one traveled through the forest she resided in. He was small in stature, but looked rather strong. Far more strong than Willow now felt herself, let along poor Lia. Though, Willow felt her pride flare up at the idea of getting help for herself, and it must have shown in her face, because the dwarf continued, something about welcoming help when you needed it and he mentioned his mother.

"I really am okay, good sir," Lia said. She looked at Willow and could tell the tree spirit was conflicted on whether she should give into her human side and accept the dwarf's help. Perhaps for Willow's sake, Lia should also allow him to help her. She did feel more weak than usual. Lia had seen some of the servants before when they were with child and they continued to bustle around, cleaning and doing vigorous labor. She could not fathom how they were able to do that. Forced by the King and Queen, no doubt.

Lia felt ashamed that she never once offered them help, though they had never asked and her being Princess, they would not allow her to help anyway. She wondered what happened to their babe when it was born. Did it get raised to be a next generation servant, or was it given to an orphanage, or worse?

"I do suppose we could both use a little hand... I mean, a hand," Lia blushed. "I meant no offense. I mean... oh dear, I'm making a right fool out of myself." She looked from Willow to the dwarf, something akin to panic settling into her eyes. 

"You should not apologize, My Lady," Willow scolded. Lia had forbidden Willow to tell anyone she had runaway from her kingdom and was a princess, but whenever the tree spirit wanted to remind her of her upbringing, she called her "My Lady," which was almost as bad. 

Willow looked down at the dwarf. "Should she? Are you offended?"