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A child, she thought. What wish could a child possibly make that the god of wishes could not grant it? "Thank you dear," she said to him, and stealed herself for what would come as the carpet set them gently on the forest floor. There before them was a small female Medaria, body shaking from the sobs that were coming from her throat. He had been right, it was a sight that tore at one's heart. But what was the child crying about? Mina searched for some reason for the child's plight. It did not take her long to discover it. Not far off from where the child lay, she saw the body of an adult Medaria. It could only be one of her parents. But where was the other parent? Why was the child out here all alone? Her attention was directed back to Nazi as he walked over to the child.

She waited for him to tell her where to have the carpet fly them to next. The childs plight did make her heart break. She laid down beside her and resting her head next to the girls said, "Do not worry child. Nazimak will do everything in his power to see that you are cared for." As she said it, an idea sprang to mind. What if she, Mina, were to take the child under her protection and care? Would Nazi approve of such a suggestion? He seemed to care enough about what happened to her, to find her a new home. Why shouldn't that home be with her? As the carpet flew on, she pondered the idea silently, not sure if she should voice it out loud or not. The child was leaning heavily into her side, and she had stopped her silent sobbing, and had her head resting on Mina's front legs. It appeared she had cried herself to sleep, so Mina decided she would take the opportunity to voice her thoughts.

"Nazi, I've been thinking. Why take the child to someone she doesn't know? Look at her. She is resting so peacefully here beside me. Beside us. Why not allow me to care for her? I have always dreamed of having a daughter. Someone to love me as a mother, and not as a goddess. You know she would be well cared for, and want for nothing with me. Will you think about it please? Before we arrive at our destination?"

Did she wish it? He had to ask? Silly god. But she quickly answered, before he changed his mind. "Yes, I wish it! Oh Nazi, the three of us will be so happy together, just you wait and see. I will raise her as though she was my own flesh and blood. I will teach her how to rule, and she will be loved by all of my genies." She had to force herself to stop talking. So many images of their future together were playing out in her head, and she wanted to share them all with him. But as she spoke, she saw a smile begin to play across his face, and she knew that he too wanted this as much as she did. "Nazi! You're teasing me aren't you? I didn't need to wish it, did I? You want her to stay with us as much as I do, don't you?" That last question was said with an accusatory tone, as she sat there and glared at him.

She gave the carpet instructions to return them to her home, and then she relaxed for the remainder of the trip. Nazi seemed content to simply lie there in silence, and the child remained asleep until she woke her when the carpet landed back in her chamber. "Wake up little one," she said softly, as she nudged the child with her nose. Slowly, the girl awoke, wiping her eyes with her paw, and looked at her new surroundings. Mina could see by the look on her face that she had not been expecting to find herself in a place so foreign. "Welcome to your new home little one," she said.

The child looked first at her, then at Nazi and then back at her saying, "Who lives here?"

Mina laughed and replied, "Why I do, and now so do you. Nazimak was gracious enough to grant my wish, which was for you to come live with me. You may call me Mina for now, and if some day you find it in your heart to love me, as I will love you, then you can call me Mother. For you will be as a daughter to me in everything."

The child looked at her intently, as though trying to determine if this was a dream, or perhaps a cruel joke being played out on her by these two adults. They were both so unlike any Medaria she had ever met before. "But where are we? Where are all the trees? And the birds? And what is this place we are in? I have never seen anything like it before."

Mina walked over to the girl and said, "I understand you are confused dear. Come with me, and I will answer all of your questions. Let me show you where you will be sleeping. Then I will take you on a tour of the rest of my home, so that you know where everything is. If it is trees and birds you want, then I am sure the God of Wishes will be happy to grant you your wish for those." She turned to Nazi saying, "Why don't you make yourself comfortable? Or would you rather tag along with us girls?"

When she said her name, Mina smiled. Shariah was a beautiful name. Taking her cue from Nazi said led them out of her chamber and down the hall to another door not far from her own. She wanted to keep her new child close at hand for the time being. The door opened at her word and she walked into the room, Nazi and Shariah following behind. "This will be your room my dear. Everything you see is yours. My genies will bring you anything you need. If you are hungry, simply ask them and they will see to it you are brought food and drink. If you wish to bathe, they will fill your bathing tub for you, and bring you perfumes and oils for the water. The chamber we just left is mine, so I am just down the hall if you should need me for anything. If you become lonely, come to me. I am always here for you, as is Nazi when he is here."

Shariah looked at the god of wishes and said, "You don't live here?"

Watching him with Shariah almost made her want to start crying herself. She toyed with the idea of rushing over to them, and throwing herself into their embrace, but looking at them she decided against it. Shariah needed time to bond with Nazi while he was here. There was no telling when he might decide, or need, to leave. She knew he had his own business to attend to, and she could not expect him to be here every waking moment. So she sat down where she was and let them have their moment together. She would have plenty of those moments with the child in the days, months and years to come. She took the opportunity to glance at the items that Nazi had made appear, and wondered to herself what it must be like to be a young child. She had never known childhood herself, and therefore could not relate to the childish things that Shariah had wished for. It was something she hoped that she could learn from her; what it was like to be a child. Perhaps they would play games together, or simply go for walks and explore new places together. She looked forward to learning what it was that Shariah liked to do.

She followed Nazi out into the hall, closing the door behind her. "So my love, just exactly what is this business you and I have to see to? Or were you just making an excuse to get us out of the room, so she could settle in? If so, I do know of some unfinished business you and I could attend to, and if you follow me, I will show you what it is I need you to do." She kissed him lightly on his mouth and turning her back to him, sauntered down the hall, back toward her chamber. She didn't bother to look back to see if he was following her. She had a good feeling that he would not pass up this opportunity to spend some quiet time with her. She reached the door to her chamber, which opened at her approach, and stepped inside, heading straight for her reclining pillows. She positioned herself on the plumpest pillows and waited for her lover to come to her.