Why are my dishes clean?

I find myself standing in my kitchen looking into my mostly empty sink. My bowls that had left overs in them are sitting in the sink. All the other dishes I had piled in there are clean and put away neatly in the cupboards.

Did I sleep walk? Why would I do the dishes of all things? And I almost never put them away either, I stack them on the counter just to reuse them. Until the pile is so tall I can't stack anything else on it. 

I look at the bowls in the sink. I can kinda see myself sleep eating though. That was my best dish I made yet and I don't even remember eating it a second time. The devastation. My stomach growls. Why am I hungry after eating that much? I was going to have my left overs for breakfast. What little I do have in my enchanted ice box is for Rox's and my lunch. We are eating here before going out together. He is going to help me find a gift for his parents. He told me I don't have to because they don't do gifts outside of big occasions. Yet it's been ingrained into me from a young age to present gifts to others if you want to curry favor with them.

Wait. Rox is coming over. I look to my slightly messy small house. The cream white walls could use wiping down from dust, mail clutter needs help and I'm seeing dust bunnies hiding in the corners. He has seen worse though when he surprised me with a few visits over the last 6 months we have been together. Looks like I'm going to be skipping breakfast anyways to clean up. My stomach growls. Maybe I have some crackers?

After rummaging through my empty cupboards, I found some crackers and stole a few thin slices off the cheese I'm using for lunch. Now it's time to clean. I tie a faded red bandana Rox left here over my shoulderblade length straight pastel blue hair. Starting in the living area I begin tidying clutter, wiping things down and using a broom to sweep the floors.

My mind replays the scene of meeting Rox for the first time while I clean. I had stepped off the trail I was on to get a closer look at a golden winged butterfly. I climbed over fallen trees, up and down hills following it. Then it finally landed so I could get a good look at it. The light pink accents were gorgeous with the gold. 

A loud hiss slipped through the trees. That's when I realized I stumbled onto a giant blue and black serpent's nest. I froze in fear as the snake towered over me. It's tongue flicked in and out while looking down at me. I knew I should draw my sword but my body did not want to move with the snake's yellow eyes watching and waiting.

Even when it lunged at me I couldn't find the strength to dodge. That's when Rox tackled me and we rolled away from where the serpent bit the ground. When I opened my eyes my face was in his bare chest and my hands naturally were braced on his abs. I have watched knights train shirtless but touching them? That was a first for me. Flushed from embarrassment I barely heard what he said next.

"Get out of my way." He growled looking at me with his sharp yellow eyes. Getting up he pulled out two daggers from his belt. That's when I realized he was a goblin from his green skin tone. With his tall stature around 6 feet, defined muscles moving his brown vest and tan pants, a faded red bandana over black hair, pointed ears pierced with a few gold rings and a bottom canine tooth poking out while a small smile danced on his softly chiseled face. He looked dangerous and wild. 

Our first encounter was not all that romantic. Outside of the tackle. Seconds after I concluded I wanted to know him better, he cuts the serpent down and I'm soaked in fluids from the snake. I'm ready to hurl while Rox is laughing at my sorry state. I was furious and wanted little to do with him at that moment.

"I told you to get out of here." He slows to a chuckle.

"Well... I.." I fought back my gag reflex. 

"Since you're safe now I will be leaving." He whistled and his grey dire wolf Dot came to him. He hopped on and took off.

"Wait!" I yell but he was gone. "Which way to town?" I whimpered.

I found a river after wandering aimlessly for awhile. The water was cold thanks to early spring but I needed the icky stickies off of me. Then shivering I followed the river hoping to find civilization. Thankfully I did just as the sun was setting. So clutching to what little coin I had, I found a tavern to warm up in. I walked in and the warmth started to seep into my cold fair skin. The music was lively with stringed instruments. Conversations and laughter was loud and merry. The smell of bread, soups and drinks made me drool. Most of the tables and bar seats were taken. That's when I saw him sitting at the bar laughing.

"You!" I shouted pointing my finger at him. 

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at me. Then they followed my pointed finger to Rox.

"What about me?" At the time I hated the smirk on his face but now it's one of my favorite things about him.

"You just left me in the woods!" I shout while still standing funny and pointing.

"I killed the serpent trying to kill you. And I was right in my assumption, you were capable of finding a town." He tipped his drink back.

"I don't think this wet rodent was very capable of much! Looks like she fell into a river!" A guy laughed and everyone else joined in.

"Wait! Doesn't she look one of those nobles?" A guy shouted.

That line made my blood freeze. The murmuring of them wondering what fun or how much they could get for me broke out through the place.

Next thing I knew I was on someone's shoulder being carried out of the place. The whistle I heard earlier rang out. Quiet padding of a running animal gets louder before Dot burst through the tree line. I hear shouts and people running from the tavern I was just in.

Rox threw me onto Dot and got on behind me. His right arm wrapped around my stomach pressing my back into the front of him while his left hand held onto Dot's fur. In a blur we were gone racing between the trees.

After a short while he tells Dot to slow down and that we lost our pursuers. If I wasn't so cold I might have fought how close we were. Yet for some reason I felt safe and he was very warm.

"So you ran away from home?" His voice was gentle while breaking the silence.

"I guess you could call it that." I replied.

"What would you call it?" He asked. I turned to look at him since only one other person ever cared what I thought. His gaze was on the dark woods around us. The thought of how handsome had sunk in. He looked down with a smile. "You alright?"

"Y-yea." I said turning to look forward again.

"You still haven't told me what you would call running away." His voice was low and quiet.

"I'm just out adventuring. My parents want me to come back but I want to see the world. It's not like what the others say." The memories of the tavern pop back up. "A-are you going to hurt me?" I clenched my arms around my chest. He let go of me.

"Why would I do that? You want to be free. So be free." He leaned back and Dot stopped.

"You're just going to leave me in the woods again?" Terror came over me.

"You haven't been on our own for very long have you?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No. Not long at all. I sold my jewelry to get this gear and the house in Frog Creek. I go to the guild there for jobs but I'm not strong enough for many of the requests that get put in." Looking back I wonder why I told a stranger so much about myself but luckily I did.

"Frog Creek?" His eyes lit up. "That's not far from my tribe or from here. How about I take you home since you look like your about to be frozen solid?" 

He threw a blanket over me before heading towards town. Some how I had enough brain power to ask him to drop me off at the edge of town so he wouldn't know which house I lived it. Could he find it on his own? Yes but back then I knew no better. 

Shivering at the edge of town I handed him back his blanket and thanked him. He was about to take off but I spoke just in time.

"Wait! What's your name?"

"Rox Evergreen but you can call me Rox. What's yours?" A smile danced on his lips.

"Sophia. Sophia Stone." I smiled back.

"Your eyes are like sapphires Sophia. I hope you stay free so they can keep that shine." He wrapped the blanket back around me then took off into the woods while my heart fluttered.

A knock at the back door brings me back to the present. Rox is here! I look at the time, he is right on time at a little before noon.

I open the door to let him in. There he stands at 3 foot 2 inches tall. 

"Hey Sophie!" He beams while I smile back.

The story of his true height is a funny one...