The Matriarch's Daughter

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Conquering Demons

The rest of the day went as well as Thepa hoped. After Wilran left, she spent the next few minutes in silence, trying to think of the words to say to Rory. It was hard given the situation. She was sure that whatever she could say regarding their friendship, Rory would have no memory of it, but at the same time, she was determined to do just about anything to seek Rory's forgiveness. It wasn't until the nurse came and checked her vitals that Thepa finally resolved to start at the beginning.

"You know," Thepa began softly, "when we first met, you took something from me."

Rory blinked, her brows knitting in confusion. "I'm... sorry?" she replied hesitantly, her gaze drifting toward Thepa's beret. "Was I a bad person? Were you arresting me for a crime?"

Thepa's lips curved into a warm smile. "No. We were just younglings then, barely older than toddlings. I think at the time I was upset, but once I understood your intentions, I couldn't help but admire what you were doing."

Rory tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Which was?"

Thepa shrugged. "It was your way of saying hello. Strange, abrupt, maybe even a little rude, but exactly the right way to break through my shell. Back then, I was too shy to notice anything subtle. Had you approached me any other way, I probably would've walked away."

Rory opened her mouth to respond, then paused, a puzzled expression crossing her face. She ran her fingers through her auburn hair, before her eyes gazed at their reflections in a mirror across the room. "But you said I was your sister. No offense, but we look nothing alike."

The bluntness of the comment caught Thepa off guard, and she burst out laughing. Rory's confusion only deepened, but Thepa laughter was a welcome relief from the stress of the day.

"Leave it to you to lose all your memories, but still keep your cheek." Thepa said, grinning from ear to ear, or in her case, horn to horn.

Rory's lips curled into a small smile. "I'm glad I can still make you laugh."

Thepa looked back at Rory, her eyes softening with affection. "We're not blood, but we share the bonds of sisterhood. There is nothing stronger."

Rory's smile grew, a toothless grin that, while unfamiliar, still warmed Thepa's heart. It wasn't quite the Rory she remembered, but it was enough. It was enough to give her hope, and make her believe things could still get better. At least it was enough for Thepa to use as a jumping off point. For the next several hours, the two of them reminisced, or rather, Thepa did most of the talking. Even if Rory didn't remember, she listened, and that was gift beyond Thepa's wildest dreams.

At some point an attendant came in and brought the two of them dinner, but no one made her leave. Thepa felt slightly guilty by the gesture hoping the attendant's allowance had more to do with Rory, but she knew it most likely had to do with her rank or outburst. When she had the chance, she'd apologize, but for now, the steady rhythm of Rory's soft snores brought her a sense of peace.

She grabbed a spare blanket from the vanity, curled up on the floor, and closed her eyes, letting herself drift off with the hope that today was the start of something good. But that peace was short-lived. As soon as Thepa felt the last bits of consciousness slip away, she found herself in a vivid memory.

Rory was in the process of moving items out of drawers. It was one of the few times that the two of them were actually in Rory's room, since she had arrived in Goldale to join the elite team.

As Rory tossed items onto the bed, Thepa broke the silence. "How long do you think you'll be gone?"

Rory flung a brush toward her without looking. "Hard to say. Depends on what spells Draco and Einkidi will need. I also want to spend time with them. It might be a while before I see them again. Do you want that?"