Take possession of her elf princess

"Err, alright," Kayla looked around her table of friends and steeled herself as best she was able, meaning she stood straight and looked at the ground a few feet away, the best to not be intimidated by the crowd of onlookers. As she approached the auctioneer, he cleared his throat, and she jumped, looking up wide-eyed. He was practically touching her, but she hadn't heard him at all!

"Miss Kayla, if you please," the auctioneer handed Kayla a fanciful card, acrylic, printed with the words 'deed of ownership'. She took it carefully. "Simply place your thumb on the card, as centered as you can, and you will be recognized as the rightful owner of our delightful acquisition.

"Uh," Kayla looked at the card, then at Lexi — who frowned at her — then back to the auctioneer, "any chance I can just. . . free her?"

"Free her? As in not take possession? No. However, what you do with your own property is your business. If you fancy letting her loose, or make decisions for herself, or whatever you would call 'freedom' in a world utterly alien to her, in which she has no survival skills," the auctioneer grinned, his canines looking particularly vicious, "then you may do so. She's yours."

Kayla swallowed hard, and shutting her eyes anxiously, slammed her thumb onto the acrylic card. The crowd applauded, and Kayla blushed hard even unable to see them. She could imagine them all standing, all staring, ugh.

She felt it in her fingers first. A burning, like she'd been slicing spicy peppers. The hot-tingling carried up her fingers to her hand, and then to her wrist, and when she couldn't take it anymore she moved to fling the card away. Only there was no card. Kayla opened her eyes to see a delicate bangle around her wrist in rose gold, where the heat was even now dissipating as quickly as it had arisen. Engraved in a delicate spidery hand around the edge were the words: "Kayla, possessor and rightful holder, all rights reserved, of Llexilwen rue Polsara."

"W-what?" Kayla shook her hand, making the bangle bounce slightly, and she grabbed it with her left hand and twisted and turned it, looking for an opening, or a catch. While she looked though, she couldn't help but think about how pretty it was.

"What does all rights reserved mean?"

The auctioneer took Kayla's arm and guided her gently to Lexi. "One of our greater innovations from recent years. We found when exotic specimens came to our House that certain less reputable parties might wish to acquire them after failing at a bid — or worse, never bidding at all. That clause simply makes little Lexi untouchable, not to be interfered with, harmed, or absconded, by anybody intentionally, without your permission. Sadly there is nothing stopping anyone from threatening or harming you, but a clever girl should be able to make the most of Lexi's considerable talents to provide herself with some protection. Now," the auctioneer took a dazed Kayla's hand and put Lexi's in it, "please return to your table."

Sooo soft. Kayla couldn't help but squeeze Lexi's hand once she'd touched it. And real! She was holding a real elf. It was like a dream come true. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to learn about her, and her people, before freeing Lexi. No, actually it was Kayla's responsibility to look after the poor thing until she knew Lexi wouldn't end up dead in a gutter, or locked up by scary government scientists. Would it be so bad to be paid for that help with some facts about elves?

"Come on dear," said Kayla, smiling shyly at the much more beautiful elf.

Lexi was frowning, but in a more confused way, than the angry look she'd had earlier. "Did you mean it?" asked the princess.

Kayla blinked. "Mean what?"

"That you wish to give me my freedom?"

"Err, yes. Though he had a good point, you don't know how to live in my world."

Lexi bit her lip — even her pearly teeth were perfect! "Accurate. Nor do I know how to return home as of yet. Additionally, if this," Lexi squeezed the band on Kayla's wrist, "truly provides such potent protections for me, perhaps it is best we remain so bound, for the moment."

With that, Lexi started off to Kayla's table, who jogged quickly to catch up to her new. . . acquaintance? Potential friend? Kayla didn't want to think of her as a possession, however true that was.

Wyatt ran up to Kayla as they got back to the table. "Wow. She's real, this is all real."

Kayla tilted her head. Oh Wyatt. With every ounce of courage she could muster, she smothered him in a big hug. "Oh Wyatt, I can't believe you did this for me."

"Haha, yeah, I can be pretty dumb. But I guess it got me to confess my feelings," said Wyatt, hugging her back.

Now that made Kayla tingle. She squirmed a little in Wyatt's arms, though they were almost the same height, and he was a bit light for a guy, they still felt strong around her, and right.

He broke off the hug first, clearly embarrassed, looking up into the air. "Uh, I didn't know you spoke elvish. What's that from, the Lord of the Rings?"

"Huh? When did I speak elvish? I mean yeah, of course I've read all of Tolkien's notes on all the races of Middle Earth, but I'd remember pulling it out."

Wyatt pointed over to Lexi where she was sitting — apparently a chair had been brought for her by some staffer, because there were exactly as many chairs as there were people, including her. "When you talked to her. Both of you were speaking it."

Lexi lazily looked over, and stared daggers at Wyatt's hand. He noticed her looking and dropped his hand to his side in a rush.

"It's that bonding device the slimy man who sold me gave you," said Lexi matter-of-factly, practically as if she was bored, "it allows you to understand me, and speak to me in my language. I understand yours, more or less, but it has none of the divine nuance of mine. It is not, however, called 'elvish'. A handful of my people were captured together, and I saw their kidnappers use such devices just so. Perhaps before we find a way to return me home, we find out how to make these creations. My people could use such things to great effect on our more difficult neighbors."

"Beautiful," whispered Wyatt, staring at Lexi even if he wasn't pointing at her any longer.

The gavel banged up front.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the next auction of the evening is a most unexpected, but happy one," shouted the auctioneer, "the newest addition to our collection. By the usual bidding rules, I present to you a one month extension to any life! Enough to survive serious injuries that would otherwise result in ****, or extend your natural lifespan by 31 days! We do not skimp, here at the Auction House."

A bored-looking beanpole of a man, dressed in a tuxedo, strolled up to the auctioneer with a serving platter. He removed the cloche and revealed a tiny bundle of throbbing, twitching, wire.

"Bidding will start at—"