Quinn
Fifteen minutes later, I was in one of the washrooms with Sara and Eden. I noted the floor was designed to gently slant at a low angle so that water flowed to one side and there was a sort of depression, like a drain where it led to a hole in the wall, filtering the water outside. Whoever designed that was very clever, which meant I didn't have to worry about flooding the room.
I turned to Eden and Sara and said, "This will do. The room is large enough for at least ten to fifteen people to clean at the same time."
"We usually have to bring in buckets of water from the wells to fill one of those tubs," Eden said, pointing to the small tubs.
I said, "We won't need those." Turning around again, I continued. "I'm going to create a big tub of water so many people can use it and wash at the same time." After asking them to move back, I summoned my magic circle and started.
Moments later, a massive, wooden hot tub materialized, along with bathing water scoopers, body and face towels, bottles of face wash, bodywash, and hair shampoo and conditioner. Because the tub was incorporated with water and fire magic, warm water started to materialize and rise in the tub after I had touched on the small magic circle on the side, kind of like an on-switch button sort of thing. There was a sensor on the rim of the tub, too, so when a certain amount of water was used, the circle would automatically release more to fill again. In essence, this tub had an endless supply of warm water.
"Oh, my," Eden said.
Once the tub was filled moments later, I said, "We can use these water scoopers to rinse ourselves."
"That is a very good idea," Sara said.
"And the water is perfectly warm," Eden said. "Will it stay warm like this all the time?"
I nodded. "Mm-hmm. It's a hot tub, after all."
"Then let's get the children," Eden said, excitement in her voice.
"Before that," I said, "What about clothing? Most people have lost their homes and belongings, so I'm assuming the clothes on their backs are all they have?"
Sara nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
"Then tomorrow after breakfast, I'll make clothes for everyone. It'll only be three to four pairs per person, but I think it'll do for now."
Eden suddenly started tearing up, and concerned, I asked, "What's wrong."
She scurried over and hugged me tightly, which surprised the bejesus out of me. Gosh, but she was one very emotional Templeton, so completely different from Aldric.
She said, "You're just so very generous, Quinn. I can't believe Aldric got you as a bride. I can't believe you're staying here and helping us when you don't even know us, and you have nothing to gain."
I chuckled, patting her shoulder, which was at the height of my face. It appeared every single one of the Templetons was tall.
"I'm Aldric's wife and the lady of Norsewood now. It's my job to help everyone."
Eden moved back and wiped her eyes.
I said, "Right, let's get the children."
Twenty minutes later, we had the children naked—except for Jonah and Leo who had their undergarments on since they thought they were too old to be washing in the nude—and wearing flip-flops. With their hair and bodies covered in bubbles, the washroom was filled with shrieking noises and giggling and the smell of fresh, clean bodywash and hair shampoo.
I was attending Abi while Elizabeth took care of Alex. Jonah and Leo did the washing themselves, since they said they were old enough. The other children were attended by Maria, Frances, Eden, Sara, and the nursemaids.
I poured a scoop of warm water on Abi, and she giggled, shaking her little body.
"Done," I said, wrapping a thick towel around her. "You've been a good girl, Abi. Now, let's get you dressed."
Back in our sleeping quarters, the children were in their flannel pajamas I created for them, the little ones in a onesie with animal ears hoodies and the older ones in the typical pants and shirts. Abi had a cute little cat one and she kept playing with the ears.
"I'm a cat," she said.
"Yes, indeed you are," I said.
"I'm a dog," Alex said, showing off his dog ears.
The maid tugged them into their sleeping bags and then gave them their toys, hand-sewn and very tattered that clearly had seen better days.
I said, "You like toys, Abi? Alex?"
They both nodded. "Mm-hmm."
I eyed their toys, filthy with dirt and had the necks and arms half-torn from the main body. "But those are too old. Would you each like another one?"
Abi stared at her toy for a moment and then nodded.
"Then what animal do you like?" I asked, leaning in close.
She brightened up and said, "A sheep!"
I chuckled. "You like a sheep, eh?" I made a show of summoning my magic and then, voila, a super soft sheep toy with fluffy white fur was hovering in the air.
Abi widened her eyes and gasped. "A sheep!"
I grabbed it and then handed it to her. "It's yours."
She hugged it against her chest, the toy as big as she was.
Turning to Alex, I asked, "What about you? What animal do you like, sweetie?"
"A dog!" Alex said. "A big one and white."
I chuckled. "Of course." I made him a big dog, and the boy hugged it against his chest tightly.
Once the other children saw the new toys, they started begging for one, too, and I ended up obliging. When it came to Jonah, he said, "I'm too old for toys. I don't want one."
"Me, too," Leo said, and they both burrowed deep into their sleeping bags.
Once the children were asleep, I managed to have time for myself and went to wash up for the night. Of course, I hadn't seen Aldric anywhere since dinner and suspected he must be with the men, preparing for their monster subjugation departure tomorrow.
The next morning when I woke, I was greeted by a thick, white blanket of snow everywhere. Even though it was only the beginning of winter, it was already this cold and snow was falling this thick and hard. Indeed, Norsewood was a forsaken land.
After a quick wash and change into a warm, easy outfit of a pair of trousers, boots, and a thick sweater, I, along with Maria, Elizabeth and two of the maids, went down the stairs and into the kitchen to start preparing breakfast. I choose the kitchen simply because I didn't want to disturb the refugees sleeping in the great hall. When most of them were up for the day, we'd transfer the food over to serve.
The head cook, a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Gladys Burton, and the other kitchen staff were already present. It appeared they had been eagerly waiting for me since dawn, which made me feel a little guilty for coming well after sunrise, or what could be considered after sunrise, since there was no sun this morning to mark the time.
Though this world had twenty-four hours in a day much like Earth, there was no clear method to track time. Or rather, they simply used the sun as a guide, and in winter, well, let's just say making an appointment to meet was disastrous. It looked like I'd have to start creating clocks and teaching everyone how to read the time soon.
"What will we prepare for breakfast, my lady?" Mrs. Burton asked.
Last night's dinner must have been an eye-opener for her because she couldn't stop gushing about how delicious the beef stew was and how soft the bread was. I had promised I'd teach her and the other cooks how to bake the bread, which they had been absolutely delighted.
"It'll be French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, and oak porridge with banana and berries," I said. "Scrambled eggs and oak porridge are options for those who can't handle solid food such as the elderlies and the very young."
"My lady thought of everything and is thinking of everyone," Mrs. Burton said.
"I do my best to make sure we meet everyone's needs," I said.
Once the food was magically created, there was a lot of marveling from everyone, except for Maria and Elizabeth since they've seen it before, many times. The food was brought into the great hall an hour later, where by then most people were up and about, and drinking coffee or tea or hot cocoa. The men especially liked the coffee, and they looked alert and ready for the day, since the caffeine had kicked in.
Everyone seemed to know the cue as they started lining up even before the serving was ready. I wondered if they'd start crying like last night while eating.
I didn't have to wonder because there were already tears pouring among the first lot who started eagerly gobbling down the French toast and bacon and scrambled eggs. I also wondered if this was the first time in months since they had had a proper breakfast, or any at all. I had heard that since after the dungeon break and monsters attack four years ago, breakfast was a luxury.
While the morning meal was being served, I created another table and then made clothes, simple easy to wear ones, nothing fancy. There were sweatpants and sweaters, underpants for men and panties and bras for women, and socks and sneakers. Except for the undergarments and shoes which were all black, the clothing came in different colors from black and dull gray to colorful pink, red, yellow, green, and blue and everything in between. They were also ranged in different sizes as well. In case it got extremely cold, and they needed to be outside, which I knew they needed to be, I created down jackets attached with hoodies, as well as hats and gloves.