"Please, Aldrec, you don't have to do this …" She began, but he cut her off.
"I want to do this," Aldrec pleasantly insisted. "Think of it as a thank-you for getting me out of a terrible slump, and as a way to help you to have one more elf in your patronage. Your family ought to like that, shouldn't they?"
"Yes, I think so," Mericlou said with more than just a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "But … you're the one who helped me. I mean, if you hadn't come around yesterday and helped me out, then I'd probably still be on the ether with the banks, government, and God-only-knows who else just to get my life back."
"Ah, but you have no idea how much you helped me," Aldrec said, taking her hand. He saw her white skin turn faintly crimson.
"Before yesterday, the world was a tomb: a boring, cold place. Nothing changed; things always remained the same, like a repeating movie. But now it feels new again; it's come alive. I need to be honest with you, Mericlou. I want more than just your services. I want your friendship as well. I know that now, you live from day to day, scraping and saving for you and your family, but when you've lived as long as I have, you value the things that no money can buy. I've given you a steady job, and all that I ask in return is your friendship."
Mericlou was genuinely touched by Aldrec's candor. Her eyes softened, and she squeezed the elf's warm, slender hand. "Aldrec … you had it since yesterday," To Aldrec, it was the sweetest smile that he had ever seen.