Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Agatha's trial

Chapter twenty-two: Agatha's trial.

The world spun violently around her, and then with a sharp thud, Agatha landed on uneven ground. She gasped, her head spinning, heart pounding in her chest as she looked around. The air here felt... different. Heavy but warm, familiar yet distant. She squinted against the dim light filtering through a thick canopy of ancient trees, their branches tangled as though trying to block out the sun entirely.

Then she saw it—the cabin.

It sat nestled in the shadows of the woods, a small weathered structure with walls darkened from years of exposure. The wood was cracked and splintered in places, but the cabin still stood proud, defying time and decay. The windows, though fogged with grime, weren't shattered, and the faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, carried on a gentle breeze.

Agatha's breath caught in her throat. She knew this place. The little home where she had spent those precious years hiding, where she had cradled her son, Nicholas against her chest and hummed him to sleep.

Her feet carried her forward without her realizing it, the crunch of dead leaves beneath her boots the only sound. As she reached the porch, her fingers grazed the splintered railing, the texture sending a flood of memories rushing back.

Her trembling hand pressed against the front door, its familiar creak echoing like an old friend as it swung open. The inside was exactly as she remembered simple, modest, but infused with life. The table still had the faint grooves from where she had carved little stars to keep herself distracted. The hearth was cold now, but she could almost hear the crackle of firewood.

And then she saw him.

"Nicky..."

The boy sat cross-legged on the floor, his golden brown curls bouncing as he turned his head toward her. He was seven again, exactly as he had been on the last day she held him. His bright brown eyes lit up, and a wide smile stretched across his face.

"Mama!" he cried, leaping to his feet and running toward her.

Agatha dropped to her knees, catching him in her arms. Her fingers buried themselves in his soft hair, her tears spilling freely onto his little shoulder. She couldn't breathe, couldn't speak only hold him tighter as if letting go would shatter him into dust.

"You're here" she finally choked out. "You're really here."

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his hands on her cheeks. "I missed you, Mama. I've been waiting for you."

She cupped his face, her thumb brushing over the soft curve of his cheek. "I missed you too, Nicky. Every day. Every single day."

His smile softened, but there was a wisdom in his gaze far beyond his years. "Mama, you don't have to be sad anymore."

Her heart clenched. "How can I not be? You're my son. I... I couldn't protect you."

Nicky shook his head. "It wasn't your fault. I wanted to go, Mama. I wanted to stay with you forever, but... I knew I couldn't."

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

He looked down, his small fingers playing with the hem of her shirt. "Mother told me I had to go. That it was my time. But I didn't want to leave you without saying goodbye. So she let me have one last night with you." He paused, glancing up at her. "She told me you'd be angry with her for a long time. But she said you'd understand someday."

Agatha's chest tightened. The memory of that night how she had held him until he fell asleep, kissed his forehead, and woke up to find him gone—came rushing back. "I felt it in the night..you gave me two kisses" she whispered.

He nodded. "One was from me. And one was from Mother."

Her tears came harder now, the weight of her assumptions, her anger, threatening to crush her. "She didn't take you from me," she realized, her voice breaking. "You wanted to go..."

Nicky nodded again, his small hand reaching up to touch her cheek. "She's been looking after me, Mama. She comes to visit, and she tells me stories about you. How strong you are, how much she loves you. She says she's proud of you, even when you hate her."

Agatha closed her eyes, her heart shattering into a million pieces. "I don't hate her," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if she was lying.

"You don't mean to," Nicky said softly. "But it hurts her when you do."

They sat in silence for a moment, his small body warm against hers as she held him close. Finally, he pulled away, his little hands wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm happy, Mama," he said. "I'm in a beautiful place. There's so much light, and it feels like love all the time. You don't have to worry about me."

Agatha nodded, though her heart felt like it was breaking all over again. "I love you, Nicky. More than anything. I always will."

"I love you too, Mama," he said, his voice so gentle it made her ache. "But it's time for you to let go."

She shook her head, not ready to lose him again, but he smiled at her, his eyes glowing with something otherworldly. "You have so much left to do. You and sissy are finally together, with mother! The adventures will be endless and I'll always be waiting, when is your time mama i'll still be here...and you will share so many stories with me of your adventures and if you ever miss me to much, have mother pass along a message to me"

He kissed her cheek—one kiss, this time—and as he stepped back, the world around her began to blur.

"Nicky!" she cried, reaching for him, but he was already gone.

Agatha jolted awake, her knees hitting the ground hard. The Witch's Road was silent again, its eerie glow steady. She gasped for breath, her body trembling as she realized she was back.

Nessa knelt beside her, her small hand on her shoulder. "Mom?"

But it was Rio that Agatha turned to. Her eyes locked onto hers, and before Rio could say a word, Agatha pulled her into a fierce embrace.

Rio froze for a moment, caught off guard, before wrapping her arms around Agatha.

Agatha didn't say anything, the words caught in her throat. But in that moment, she knew—deep down in her heart—that she forgave her... Agatha always assumed Rio took their son to spite her. But in that moment, she finally knew it was the opposite. Rio didn't have to give her those precious seven years with their baby boy. But she broke the rules just for her..Her trial was to forgive her and she finally did.