Children Of Myths, Act One: Scotland

A parade for Artica

Two days after her return, and the redhead still felt like the numbers in her current age were swapped, she wasn't eighteen anymore but eighty-one.
Even after more than ten days her body wasn't still recovered by the spell she performed on the pillar, and she had to walk with a cane like an old lady. No working in the fields or heavy labor, only feeding and taking care of the animals was allowed.

"Hazel, come here" Artica proceeded to shear the wool from each sheep one at a time. It had grown quite a lot in the last few months, and it needed a trim before summertime.
In all honesty, she needed to spend some time like this, even if she would have eventually go back to Tir Nan Og...
Not now. She wanted to take a break and prepare for her upcoming birthday on June First. How funny, a Winter Fae born between Spring and Summer, ironic.

"Hey..." Safie's voice interrupted her thoughts, the older young woman sat beside her, giving her a hand in shearing Oak.

"How are you feeling?"

"Still like a cranky old lady but at least I walk now."

Her cousin laughed a little while patting the sheep's back "The townsfolk is wondering what will you do next"
Artica groaned, her antennas dropping "Might I please have a few days off? It's not that I'm in the physical conditions to get back my axe and go fighting."

"I know, I know. That's what I told them."

"Good" She sighed, crossing her legs "Anyway, I've decided that I will wait for Evans to give me more locations and then go ask the Fae to come with me. I won't ask anything from the people ever again."

Too much guilt, too much. She didn't want to lead anyone else to their death. At least the Fae would be able to fight back better against the Cult, they were more resistant and had magical abilities. Never again she would put the others in danger, especially the man she was in love with.

"You know next week it's your birthday, right?" Safie changed subject, trying to lighten up the mood of the conversation "You'd better get those legs back to work before that. And don't go out risking your life again, I'm ready to smack Morrigan with a frying pan."

"Safie. No"

"Safie. Yes"

They shared a laugh before gathering all the wool and bringing it home so Arianna could start working on it to make it into threads and then sell it to the local tailor for some extra money. After that, the two girls and Brendan went down to the marketplace to sell their products, Artica wasn't allowed to lift heavy things, she'd only be in charge of the money and handing over the merch to the purchasers.
Despite the recent funeral caused a significant mood drop among the townsfolk, they were doing their best to move on with their lives and support both the families of the deceased and the three Banshees who stayed at the graveyard to water the flowers and pray for them.

"Uncle, is it ok if I take some jam, bread and butter and gift it to them?" Artica asked, wanting to do something for her first Sidhe friends.

"It's all right, we still have twenty of those, just be careful on the road towards the church."

Artica went buying bread and carefully climbed up the road to reach the three sisters, they still wept a little, but she didn't blame them, it was their nature to get attached and be sad for the departure.

"Afternoon..."

"Oh, it's Artica" Maeve sniffled and wiped the little tears.

"You shouldn't make this much effort, though."

"Annag, let her sit with us."

Caireann made space for her to sit down and all of them smiled as they were offered bread with soft butter and jam. Faeries loved gifts done from the heart, even more than those given to thank them for favors and such.