The Whispers Of Trees

12. Ones Success Is Another's Downfall

Faelyn hadn't told her mother of what she'd done against her wishes.

She sat at the table across from her, nervous and guilty, but she tried to keep in mind that it was for the better. She had stood up to Achillia and made her father proud, at least her memory of him that was.

"Something is troubling your mind, what is it?" Alea asked, her fingers marking where she had got to on the page of her book.

"Nothing Mamma" she muttered in reply, suddenly hating the sound of her own voice.

"Now now, I know you better than that Faelyn. Speak your mind"

Swallowing hard, the guilt worsened. "Aster has a bit of a cough at the moment, I'm just worried is all". It didn't feel good to lie, especially to her parent.

Humming softly, Alea rose from her chair, marking her page with a couple of dried daisies and leaves.

She made her way across the room amongst her swishing yellow dress, it had been one of Orym's favourites.

Her hand dove into one of the cupboards above the stone water basin, and searched for a moment or two, for what Faelyn hoped to be a spell to summon a hole in the earth so that she could disappear and delay coming clean.

With a small "Aha" from across the room, Alea re-approached the table, placing a small vial with a lid fashioning a pippet, in front of her.

"One drop in his milk three times a day" she noted.

"Thank you mamma"

"Now what is it that is really troubling you?"

It must have been obvious as to the shock Faelyn faced, or her mother could see into her soul. "You're my daughter, what sort of mother would I be if I didn't see that there is more?"

"It's nothing mamma, I promise" she tried to reason, but she knew how strong willed and set her mother could get.

"Faelyn Branyn, you will tell me what you are hiding. I know that look on your face all too well, you are up to something. You wore the same look when you pinched Mr Gatewell's strawberries from his allotment, albeit it was easier to tell with the juice smudged around your face" Alea said, her voice sterner than usual, but it was her way of telling everyone she meant business.

"I went to Achillia" She blurted out, slapping her hands over her mouth as if to stop everything else from tumbling into the open. But it was too late to save herself.

"Why would you do such a thing?" Alea questioned, dumbfounded at the mere thought.

"The way she spoke to you wasn't right, and she broke your tea cup-" she fumbled.

Now that it came to it, all her reasons flew out of the window, her mind went blank under the gaze that screamed betrayal. "You and pappa always protected me, so I wanted to protect you for a change"

"Yes but Faelyn, that is our job as parents. We will always protect you, but if we are not able to be here then who will? Achillia will come for me now, and even you and your family"

"I'm sorry mamma" Faelyn wept as the stony walls she'd propped up with sticks caved in.

Despite her weariness, Alea offered her shoulder to her daughter, her hand softly stroked her hair and back in a way that comforted her since she was a child.

"Mein liebling" she whispered sympathetically, resting her rosy cheek against her daughters strawberry-blond tresses, her arms holding her a little tighter.

"I understand why you did what you did, I do. Your father would be proud, I am proud"

"If something happens to you-" she began to blubber, raising her teary eyes from her mother's dampened sleeve.