clearing the table, they retired to the snug; Gwen picked up some sewing, while Eve took this final opportunity to sit in her favourite chair with a book and become lost in a hero’s adventure. Tomorrow, she would be embarking on her own.
After a restless night, Eve prepared to leave; she was pretty sure a Kaleidoscope of rather large butterflies had taken up residence in her stomach. Heading downstairs, she was relieved to see some ginger and chamomile tea waiting for her.
“I wasn’t sure what you would want to eat; I thought some tea would be palatable...?” Gwen placed the honey pot on the table, knowing Eve liked to add it to her tea.
“Thank you, I really don’t feel like eating just now. I will take some bread and an apple for later.” Eve mumbled while absentmindedly adding a spoon of honey to her drink. They sat in silence, neither one knowing what to say, though both extremely aware that the time to say anything at all was fast expiring. After her second cup of honeyed tea, Eve stood.
I must not cry, Gwen admonished herself. Plenty of time for tears later, right now, I must be strong for my daughter. She must be terrified, I know that I would be. Moving towards the front door, Gwen helped Eve with her things, carefully rolling her cloak and securing it to her bag.
“Here is your food for later; I have wrapped a piece of cheese in nettle leaves as well, it should stay fresh for a day or so.” Adding the food parcel to her bag Eve was out of things to do; their time was up. Looking around her, she desperately wanted to stay, but knowing that if she were to surrender to this feeling, regret would plague her forever.
“Well… I guess this is it,” she stammered.
“I guess it is,” replied Gwen. Embracing for what could be the last time, they held on tight to each other.
“I love you,” they said in unison. Eyes once again glinting with unshed tears; they both put on a smile, to try and comfort the other.
“I will be back before you know it, and what stories I shall have to tell!”
“You will, my sweet girl, and I shall make a cake to celebrate your return!” Opening the front door Eve walked to the front gate, the sun was shining in the pearl coloured sky, and the sound of finches chattering reached her on the slight breeze. It was a beautiful, peaceful morning to embark on an adventure. Turning back to look at her mother standing in the door- way, she smiled her best smile and raised her hand in farewell.
“Go east, Eve, that is the road to Clear Water Valley. It would make sense to pass through the realm of our allies first,” Gwen called. Nodding, Eve opened the gate and took the first step of her journey, reaching back to close the gate, she wanted to turn to see your mother’s gentle expression once more.
“Don’t look back again child; your path is east. Only look forward now, I shall be here on your return!” Gwen called, not wanting Eve to see the tears that were now sliding down her cheeks, in silent streams of sorrow.
Squaring her shoulders and trying to quell the swarm of what now appeared to be very angry butterflies; she turned her face to the morning sun and headed east towards Clear Water Valley, the Realm of witches.
Eve enjoyed her morning walk through the eastern lands of Hermoria; it was not somewhere she frequented often. The flowers here were in full bloom, even her mother’s favourite orange fire lilies. I will have to remember this when I return she thought to herself. Wondering about how the flowers were still blooming, the season for them had passed; Eve noticed an Elder coming along the road on the left. Even from her vantage point, she could see that he appeared to be muttering to himself. Probably going over his address for tonight’s gathering. Eve thought, she was suddenly relieved she would not have to attend; having everyone stare at her again was not something she wished to repeat.
“Good Morning, Elder,” Eve called out with a wave and a
After a restless night, Eve prepared to leave; she was pretty sure a Kaleidoscope of rather large butterflies had taken up residence in her stomach. Heading downstairs, she was relieved to see some ginger and chamomile tea waiting for her.
“I wasn’t sure what you would want to eat; I thought some tea would be palatable...?” Gwen placed the honey pot on the table, knowing Eve liked to add it to her tea.
“Thank you, I really don’t feel like eating just now. I will take some bread and an apple for later.” Eve mumbled while absentmindedly adding a spoon of honey to her drink. They sat in silence, neither one knowing what to say, though both extremely aware that the time to say anything at all was fast expiring. After her second cup of honeyed tea, Eve stood.
I must not cry, Gwen admonished herself. Plenty of time for tears later, right now, I must be strong for my daughter. She must be terrified, I know that I would be. Moving towards the front door, Gwen helped Eve with her things, carefully rolling her cloak and securing it to her bag.
“Here is your food for later; I have wrapped a piece of cheese in nettle leaves as well, it should stay fresh for a day or so.” Adding the food parcel to her bag Eve was out of things to do; their time was up. Looking around her, she desperately wanted to stay, but knowing that if she were to surrender to this feeling, regret would plague her forever.
“Well… I guess this is it,” she stammered.
“I guess it is,” replied Gwen. Embracing for what could be the last time, they held on tight to each other.
“I love you,” they said in unison. Eyes once again glinting with unshed tears; they both put on a smile, to try and comfort the other.
“I will be back before you know it, and what stories I shall have to tell!”
“You will, my sweet girl, and I shall make a cake to celebrate your return!” Opening the front door Eve walked to the front gate, the sun was shining in the pearl coloured sky, and the sound of finches chattering reached her on the slight breeze. It was a beautiful, peaceful morning to embark on an adventure. Turning back to look at her mother standing in the door- way, she smiled her best smile and raised her hand in farewell.
“Go east, Eve, that is the road to Clear Water Valley. It would make sense to pass through the realm of our allies first,” Gwen called. Nodding, Eve opened the gate and took the first step of her journey, reaching back to close the gate, she wanted to turn to see your mother’s gentle expression once more.
“Don’t look back again child; your path is east. Only look forward now, I shall be here on your return!” Gwen called, not wanting Eve to see the tears that were now sliding down her cheeks, in silent streams of sorrow.
Squaring her shoulders and trying to quell the swarm of what now appeared to be very angry butterflies; she turned her face to the morning sun and headed east towards Clear Water Valley, the Realm of witches.
Eve enjoyed her morning walk through the eastern lands of Hermoria; it was not somewhere she frequented often. The flowers here were in full bloom, even her mother’s favourite orange fire lilies. I will have to remember this when I return she thought to herself. Wondering about how the flowers were still blooming, the season for them had passed; Eve noticed an Elder coming along the road on the left. Even from her vantage point, she could see that he appeared to be muttering to himself. Probably going over his address for tonight’s gathering. Eve thought, she was suddenly relieved she would not have to attend; having everyone stare at her again was not something she wished to repeat.
“Good Morning, Elder,” Eve called out with a wave and a