Bravery, intelligence, ambition - she had always had those. What is bravery if not standing up for those in need? Intelligence if not teaching all you know and learning what you do not? Ambition if not leaving home to find better opportunities? Tho...
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"YOU'RE A VERY GOOD TEACHER."
"Are you sure this is alright with your father?"
Keturah rolled her eyes playfully. "I've already convinced him to let you go, don't make me have to convince you, too."
Helga grinned. "That was actually in regards to the Hippogriff I'll be taking."
The noblewoman stopped in the midst of stroking her beloved Hippogriff's feathers. "Oh," she said, embarrassed that she hadn't picked up on that. She quickly shook it off, lifting her chin. "Yes, it's perfectly alright. He's actually the one that suggested it. He says it'll be much faster than a horse." She looked lovingly at the creature before her before she turned to Helga proudly. "Cicely, here, is the fastest of our herd. Have you ever ridden one before?"
"Once," Helga responded with a slight grimace. She thought back to her childhood with her daredevil of a brother, and of the time he had convinced her to try and ride a wild Hippogriff. It had not ended well at all. She was sure the scars on her back from that fall would never fade.
"It's fairly simple," Keturah continued. "Not much different than riding a horse. One thing, though, they are very proud creatures, Cicely especially." Helga eyed the creature that seemed so comfortable around Keturah, and Cicely eyed her right back. "But as long as you're respectful and don't pull out any of her features, you'll be fine."
Helga swallowed, nodding. Keturah, satisfied, turned her attention to the House Elf approaching with Cicely's sattle.
"Now, Gita, make sure that all of Helga's things are tied down securely. She has a long journey ahead of her!"
"Of course, Mistress!" squeaked Gita the House Elf. With a snap of her fingers, Cicely's saddle was securely fastened. She then turned to Helga, who held her small rucksack of belongings tightly in her hand, distracted, her eyes still fixed on the face of the Hippogriff. "Gita will take Helga Hufflepuff's things now!"
"Oh!" responded Helga, startled. She'd always been on equal grounds with the House Elves of the castle - it felt out of place that one was serving her now, even on Keturah's orders. "I-I can take care - " she started, but as she saw the House Elf's eyes begin to narrow, she stopped, holding out her rucksack. As much as she wanted to lessen the load of work on her fellow servants, she knew better than the stand between them and a direct order from their masters. "Thank you, Gita," she said quietly. Gita nodded, securing her things to the Hippogriff.
"Now, do you know any navigational charms?" Keturah cut in. Helga was baffled by how much she cared about her well-being - she had no idea Keturah held their friendship in such a high regard. "Not to say you don't know your way home or anything, it just can all be very different from the sky."
Helga chuckled a little, causing her friend to smile. "Yes, I'm fairly well-versed in navigational charms - I think I had actually taught you a few of them." Her eyes went wide, shocked at herself that she had actually said that out loud. Relief flooded her as Keturah laughed, not taking offense at all.
"That was stupid of me," Keturah laughed. "Of course you did - you taught me most of the charmwork I know. You're a very good teacher." Helga reddened at the compliment. "I'll try to return the favor by teaching you more about Hippogriffs," she smiled, stepping closer to Cicely.
Helga didn't protest - Keturah probably could teach her a thing or two about Hippogriffs, or really, most magical creatures. The world of magical creatures was very much unknown to most anyone, wizard or Muggle, except for the Keck family. That had actually been how they had made their fortune. Sir Lucien Keck, Keturah's father, came from a long line of beast tamers, every male heir being knighted because of it. Any time any magical beast threatened a village, the Kecks were there to protect it. The family had a rich history as Dragon Slayers, but more recently, they've turned to gentler methods with the creatures. Keturah, with her father, had been the only witch known to tame and train a Hippogriff.
"The most important thing to remember is that it's a relationship," Keturah instructed. She stroked Cicely's feathers, and the creature closed its eyes, leaning into her touch. "You are not the master of her, as she is not the master of you - it's all about mutual respect and trust."
As Helga watched Keturah, she began to have a better understanding of her than she ever had before. "Like a friendship."
Keturah turned to her and smiled. "Exactly. Like a friendship."
With the Gita the House Elf gone, Helga's things secured and Cicely ready to take flight, Keturah sniffled and pulled her friend into a tight hug. This would only be the second time that Helga had left her since they had first employed her, but Keturah felt this parting more deeply. Her four sisters had long since been gone, each of them married off before they were eighteen like she would soon be, and with the absence of her mother, and the absent nature of her father, Keturah had grown remarkably close with Helga without the Half-Blood even realizing it. She was like another sister to her.
Helga chuckled slightly, goodheartedly, as she returned the embrace. "It will only be a week, Ketty. I'll be back before you know it."
Chuckling a bit at herself, Keturah pulled away and quickly wiped the stray tear from her cheek. "Yes, of course," she said. "Only a week. And then the two of us will be preparing for a ball!"
Helga smiled reassuringly, though she was much less excited about this than her friend. "That's right," she confirmed. "And we'll make it the best ball Keck Castle has seen."
Keturah smiled again, taking Helga's hand and helping her onto Cicely. Helga was grateful for this, as she doesn't think it would have gone nearly as smoothly if she had tried to mount the Hippogriff on her own. Seeing she was safely on, Keturah rounded back to Cicely's face, taking her beak between her hands, and pressing her forehead between the beast's great, amber eyes. Watching this, Helga thought that she had never before known someone as brave. "You take care of her, Cicely," she said quietly to the creature.
As Keturah stepped back, Cicely looked prouder than she had ever looked before. Keturah smiled at the pair of them, witch and Hippogriff, and waved as they departed.
