A Court of Lichen and Twilight / An ACOTAR Fanfiction

Chapter Six : The Lichen

My blade was still drawn in my hand, it's sheath banging against my wing joints and shoulder blades. I wondered how I'd be able to remove as much of the fungal plant as possible without damaging it. I wanted to keep it as virgin as possible for Nila to craft with later. With the utmost precision, I scooped the poppy lichen from its niche with the fine tip of the sword and as gentle pressure I could manage. It pooped right out of it's crevice with veiny, porous roots still attached and dangling. The tangle of roots looked like small arms reaching for its grey barked mother. When it sat in my palm, I marveled at the relative ease in which I had found it.

Bark of a blossoming magnolia tree. Check. Red and spotted. Check. Lichen in nature...I believed this what lichen looked like. I was no botanist or apothecary like Nila had studied to be, but this had to be it. It wasn't a capped mushroom I could've mistaken it for growing mindlessly in a pile of compost and besides - not too many odd, spongy plants choose a particular breed of tree to grow in. The conditions matching with the picture in my brain made this an undeniable match in my fullest confidence. I found the poppy lichen.

I gaped, stalling in my tracks and holding the plant in my shaking hands admiringly. Such a simple thing could bring healing from an ugly poison, I marveled to myself. Nature outside of the conifers and wheat fields I was used too was utterly incredible. The world worked in such mysterious ways once you traveled it. My wanderlust always yearned for this feeling when I traveled before Amarantha.

"Hand it here," Silas demanded when I exclaimed in a hush tone that I had found it. "I'll hold onto it ."

I gave it to him instantly, standing back and waiting for his direct approval. He only flipped it around and around, no nod of the head or anything. He was still butt hurt about the ring I hadn't touched or mentioned still stowed away in my pocket. I rubbed my hands on my biceps sheepishly attracting warmth back into the skin from where it gooseprickled in the night time temperature drop. I even loosed my hair down from it's tie to act as the tiniest blanket from the cold on my ears. Silas for sure didn't have the problem with the thick, fine cloak wrapped around himself. The brisk late autumn wind wasn't helping with the fatigue and illness I felt oncoming since our arrival without a cloak of my own. 

A tear was dribbling down my cheek and stung the wind burn from our frosty flight. My mother was going to be okay. I wouldn't have to loose anyone again. Yet, with the over the moon joy that filled my being, emptiness still proceeded to stagnate in within the deepest pit of heartache for me. 

I allowed the thought for even the tiniest fraction of time: I may be able to catch a glimpse at the High Lord that kissed me under the willow tree. His golden, waved hair full of tones of sunlight, wheat, and mud falling to his shoulders effortlessly. His broad, strong warrior shoulders hidden under his emerald embroidered tunic. Even the slightest catch of his piercing green eyes. I couldn't expose myself, but I reeled at the potential I that I might get to see him again. Cyra lead me on in the library when she brought these once tucked away memories back into light. However with the lichen secured and no sight of the High Lord, I feared our exit would come before I could get even a peek at him once more. 

Another stomach cramp choked me in a twinge of pain, reminding me of where I was and what we had to do to get back home. But, I had other plans before we left for the shelter of the blood wards again after these fifty years. We had found the healing lichen in record time. Not even half the night had passed and after one search, it was ours. Excitement ravaged my body from the top of my skull to my toes in the heavy, durable fighting boots. To commemorate the visit, and with the ample time leftover to get back, I decided I wanted to bring a souvenir of the visit here.

"Wait here," I told him while he flipped the lichen around in his hands as he continued to study it. "I'll be right back and then we can leave. I want to bring her something for when she wakes up."