The Flower that Bloomed in Winter

A First Meeting

TRIGGER WARNING, MENTION OF SA. 

Cassia had spent her entire life in a village made of huts. She was used to dirt floors that would muddy with rain and sleeping beside the fire in the winter to keep warm. Ludis's house was no hut. 

The floor was polished to a shine so vibrant that Cassia could see her reflection in the marble tile. Cassia had never known that homes could have two floors, but this one did. With a grand staircase set in the entryway, covered in fabric so thick that Cassia could swear it absorbed all sound. 

Hanging above them was a ring that held glass and candles, the flame refracting in the light to illuminate the entire room. "I will have the chef prepare a meal, we will all eat together." Ludis babbled excitedly, setting Cassia back down on her feet once they were inside. "Oh, I am sure you want a bath before that, after all you both are-" she looked them up and down. "I mean, you must be exhausted from your travels. How long did the journey take?"

"We walked for almost three days!" Cassia supplied, "two days." Acacia corrected, "it was a bit of a journey, but I am so glad that we could be together again, sister. Where is your husband?"

"Oh, here and there. That man is never long for staying in one place. Maria!" Ludis called suddenly, a woman dressed in black and white scurrying down the stairs. "Draw a bath for our guests and have two rooms prepared."

"One room is fine," Acacia intervened quickly. "Cassia and I always share a bed."

"Oh, how adorable. Alright, one room then." Ludis took Acacia's hands, "Now, tell me, why have you come to visit after so long?"

"Is it alright if we speak somewhere more private?"

"Of course! Silly me, is it the husband? Do you want me to call for another of my staff to play with Cassia in the meanwhile?"

"No, that is alright." Acacia took Cassia's hand, squeezing it. Ludis led them to another room, this one smaller, but no less fancy. "Make yourselves at home, I will call someone for tea." Ludis poked her head out the door while Cassia sat down beside her Mother, Ludis taking a seat across from them. "Now, tell me, it has been quite a number of years, why did you never write?"

A woman with a white bonnet and apron pushed a tea cart inside, arranging the tea on the table. She kept her head bowed, acting as though she were invisible. Cassia watched her with great interest for a moment.

"I apologize Ludis," Acacia rose suddenly, releasing Cassia's hand and kneeling on the ground. "We have nowhere else to go." In an instant her Mother was choking back tears, trembling with fear. Cassia had never seen her Mother in such a state.

The woman that had been arranging the tea left in a hurry. 

"Oh my," Ludis knelt down beside her sister. "Please Acacia, rise, it is alright. Tell me everything."

 Just like Acacia did when Cassia had a nightmare, Ludis supported her sister, hugging her tightly. "The King has ordered that all who practice magic will be put to death. I cannot allow them to kill my daughter. We burned everything to the ground and fled during the night, but there is nothing left for us. We have nowhere to go." Ludis listened while Acacia told her everything. "But why did you disappear? Why did you never contact us? Father and Mother were worried sick." She moved tenderly, brushing back Acacia's purple hair from her face. 

"Do you recall how I was studying at the university?" Acacia's voice had grown small. Ludis nodded, "Yes, you were very enthusiastic about being a sorceress, ever since we were children." Ludis's brow pinched, "is that why you ran away?" Acacia shook her head. "While working there, I met the man I thought I loved. We were speaking late one night and I recalled drinking tea. I recall feeling drowsy, then waking up in his bed. I-I did not know what to do. I thought I had given myself willingly. When I found out I was pregnant, I-" she stopped, glancing at Cassia. 
"I understand, you do not need to say anything more." Ludis stroked Acacia's head. Cassia looked down at her feet. 

She had never known who her Father was, her Mother had never spoken about him, at least, not until now. Cassia rose quickly, she did not want to hear anymore, "I will go bring our stuff to the room first-"

"Cassia I-"

"I will be back!" The child promised, hauling their suitcase out, but Cassia's knees were shaking. On the other side of the door, she nearly collapsed. "Oh my, young miss, you must be careful." One of Ludis's maids, the one that had arranged the tea, knelt down beside her, helping Cassia to her feet. "Please, allow me to take this suitcase for you." She smiled, "my name is Emma, tell me if you need anything, alright? You can follow me to your room."

Cassia nodded, following Emma up the stairs to a room that was larger than Cassia's entire home. "The bath is just this way," Emma placed her bag down, leading Cassia into a washroom with a giant, shiny tub. "What is this?"

"That is a bathtub."

"But it is so large," could they really keep all this water here without it going stale? Cassia looked around for a rag to wash herself with. In the winter, when it was too cold to bathe in the river, they would fill buckets with water and then heat it over the fire. When it was warm enough, they would use a rag to scrub themselves. It was warm enough to swim in the river, so why had they collected water in the tub?

"Allow me to assist you, young miss?" Emma asked, noting the little girl's confusion. She peeled Cassia's white dress off, placing her down into the tub. "Hot!" Cassia sang, realizing how warm the water was. "Sit down, I will scrub you," Emma instructed. Cassia sank down slowly, a layer of grime floating off of her body. 

By the time they were done, her Mother had gone to look for her. "There you are, my lilac," she knelt down, brushing Cassia's cheek. "Mother!" Cassia greeted her, eager to see her again. "They had a basin so big, you can fit your entire body into it! Emma told me I can wash myself everyday if I want to, they do not ration water in this house and-" she stopped, looking up at her Mother's expression. "What is so funny?" The child pouted. 

Acacia shook her head, "Nothing, nothing." She took Cassia's hand, "I will show you where we are sleeping. This house is so large, so hold onto my hand, alright?" Cassia looked up at her Mother, who smiled down at her. "I am holding so tightly, I promise I will not let go." 

If her Mother was impressed by the size of the room, she certainly did not say so. Cassia clambered onto the bench beside the windowsill, the seat plush. Everything about the room was the picture of luxury in Cassia's mind. Her Mother looked around quietly, but she did not look as excited. Cassia watched her, her Mother taking a seat quietly beside her, squeezing her hand. "Is something bothering you?" Cassia asked, letting go of Acacia's hand to squeeze her Mother's cheeks between both palms. Acacia shook her head, "no, nothing is the matter.... Cassia... about what I said before-"

"If it hurts too much, you do not have to tell me." Cassia released her Mother, laying her head on Acacia's lap. Acacia was silent a moment, running her hands through Cassia's long purple hair. "If you do not mind waiting a little longer, then maybe someday... I will tell you about what kind of man your Father was."