"Well, you can lay around all day today if you like," Elena answered with a smile as she set down the tray of tea and porridge. Once that was down, she unwrapped the sleeping infant from her back and set him carefully down on the bed, which was large enough to sit all three of them with room to spare. "You don't mind, do you?" she asked, and her large, maroon eyes lingered on Pepper for a few moments longer as she did. Good, at least the girl appeared to be in much better shape than she had been yesterday. The poor thing. Elena couldn't quite say the same about herself, but that was secondary now. Her primary task was looking after Pepper. And, after that, finding out who the girl was, and why she had been drawn to her so. Elena's heart gave a momentary pang, thinking of all the girls in that market who she hadn't helped. All dead or sold into slavery now.
"And there's no need to get out of bed, unless you want to." Elena poured two cups of tea, then set one aside so the tray now only contained the porridge, fruit, and one cup of tea for Pepper. "Here you go. Scoot back onto the bed there," she said, urging Pepper to proper herself up instead against the headboard. She may as well enjoy being in bed. Then she set the tray down in Pepper's lap. Elena got the second cup of tea on it saucer and, maneuvering carefully, joined Pepper on the bed, tucking her knees to the side. All else aside, this was nice. This is what Elena imagined it'd have been like growing up with sisters her own age, instead of her sisters, who were much older and (from Elena's perspective) much more serious than her. If only Pepper really were her long-lost sister. Except come home, not gone away, like her long-lost brother. But Elena felt fairly certain that was not the case.
"I think it's probably best that you stay indoors today, anyway," Elena added to her prior comments, a touch more seriously now. "I think it's safer, I mean. I don't know what the fallout will be from what... what happened yesterday. So it's probably best that you stay here and rest. I think you've earned it, anyway." She smiled a bit at that, trying to make up for the serious tone of a moment before. "You can stay here as long as you like, of course. And when you're ready, we'll help get you back - safely - to your college in Serendipity. Mallor, my husband, makes business trips to Arca from time to time. And one of my sisters is married in Serendipity. So it shouldn't be hard to arrange. But not before you're ready, of course! And if you want to stay on longer here, obviously you're welcome to - as long as you like."
Elena smiled hopefully at the girl. Not necessarily hopeful that she'd stay (though she had to admit something about the idea seemed nice), but hopeful that she would feel better, feel safe and secure, that she felt she was somewhere she could trust.
Elena shifted her weight, concern clear on her face, however bright of an exterior she tried to keep, and set her tea to balance precariously on the bed in front of her. Then she picked up Avi and placed him in the crook of her legs. The infant stirred momentarily, then settled back asleep. Elena watched him, her features softened, for a moment before returning her attention to Pepper and picking her tea carefully back up. She had so much she wanted to ask the girl, so much she wanted to know. But the only decent thing would be to at least let her eat her breakfast first. So instead she said, with a defeated smile, "He sleeps like an angel now, but you forget about it in the middle of the night when you want to sleep."