Blood Ties

“Easy does it,” Hazel murmured soothingly as she unwrapped the length of fabric that secured the splint to Lily's leg. The woman put on a brave face but a grimace broke through as the halfling gently probed the angry bruising that surrounded the site of the injury. Though the wound on her mid thigh had closed to form a jagged pink scar, it was clear that the bone beneath the flesh had not fully healed. Morwyn sat by and watched attentively as Hazel retrieved a small tin of sweet, earthy salve and rubbed it into Lily's tender skin. The folding chair she sat in squeaked slightly as Lily adjusted her position with a muffled groan.

“Harrowroot and... is that lungwort?” Morwyn guessed as she tried to identify the herbs within the medicine by their smell. Hazel nodded and gave her a brief smile before returning her focus on the task at hand.

“Well done. Harrowroot will numb the pain and lungwort will help with the bruising. Far better used as a medicine than for smoking, you know. There's also ironleaf extract in here which will strengthen the bone as it bonds back together, but it takes some time. Bone isn't nearly as easy to repair as flesh.”

Lily hissed with pain and both Morwyn and Hazel gave her a worried look, but the woman smiled with gritted teeth and waved a hand to dismiss their concern.

“I'm alright, I promise! It just smarts a bit. I'll be okay.”

Deep in thought, Hazel frowned as she finished applying the salve and replaced the lid on the tin. She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. Her ponytail bounced from side to side as she regarded her patient and apprentice in turn.

“Alright, Morwyn. You're up. What else can we do to aid our patient's recovery?”

Morwyn wracked her brain to recall the list of herbs and tinctures and various other medicines that Hazel had taught her. Their names and properties seemed to dart and dodge her efforts, but several eventually came to mind.

“We could give her willow bark extract to reduce swelling and a honeyed ginger tea to stave off infection,” she said carefully as she looked to Hazel for confirmation, but the halfling's face was stone as she waited for Morwyn to finish. “But there's also something different that I'd like to try. If you'll let me, that is. And if Lily is okay with it.”

Hazel lifted one critical brow and waved a reproachful finger at her as a wry smile turned up the corner of her mouth.

“You're hesitating, and I have the impression that you're doing so because you want to spare my feelings. I have very recently been given a firm reminder that ego has no place in healing. If one of us can do something the other can't then we are better off combining our efforts toward the same goal, wouldn't you say?”

Still hesitant despite Hazel's words, Morwyn pushed up her armored sleeves and rubbed her hands together nervously. She looked to Lily, who appeared confused by the interaction but gave her a reassuring smile and a nod. Morwyn cleared her throat and knelt beside her, laying her hands gently on the woman's injured leg as she closed her eyes and drew in deep, regular breaths. She focused inward on her core but didn't yet reach for the magic.

The little golden pool that had swelled with the Moonmother's blessing pulsed warmly at the center of the swirling mass of frost. She prodded at it tentatively, inviting it forward rather than calling it firmly to bear, while at the same time attempting to restrain the frost from forcing its way out of her control. The push and pull within her reminded Morwyn of the ebb and flow of the tides. She slowly opened a pathway through the frost to the healing magic deep within and let it trickle forth through her hands and into Lily's leg. She heard a soft gasp but couldn't tell if it was from Lily or Hazel, but she didn't let it distract her. She was in the depths of the magic and to lose concentration would mean having to start over with some of her power wasted.

As she increased the flow of healing magic she fell back on her training with the scrolls to direct it appropriately, following the little pathways within the flesh and bone and repairing them as she went. It was different than the desperate flood she'd used to save Trux or herself; less immediate, less instinctive, more deliberate. She could feel the scar tissue where Hazel's remedies had knit flesh as well as the tentative bonds that had begun to form between the broken halves of Lily's femur. It surprised her just how much healing had already occurred before she remembered one of Hazel's earliest comments on the subject.

My potions are strong, but they're infused with magic, not cast like a spell.

The herbs clearly weren't doing all of the work on their own. Whatever sorcery that Hazel infused into her medicines was beyond Morwyn's present understanding, but the traces of arcane power were unmistakable. Rather than overriding the work that was already being done, Morwyn directed her own power to follow the lead of the healing in progress and to amplify it. Golden light flowed over the injury in soft, lapping waves as the voids and cracks in the bone grew together as seamlessly as if it had never been damaged in the first place.

Drained and slightly dizzy from her efforts, Morwyn slowly and carefully closed off the font of magic within herself before the frost could exploit the gap. With her control firmly in place, she sat back and opened her eyes to view her handiwork.

Lily stared at her with wide eyes, her mouth open in wonder. She extended and retracted her leg several times, her hands carefully pressing on the bruises that, though faded, were still fairly significant. She shot to her feet and stumbled slightly before Morwyn and Hazel caught her then began to pace back and forth behind the wagon. Heartened by her success, Morwyn looked to Hazel with a grin. The halfling gave her a private, affectionate smile in return, one that meant more to her than than a thousand cheers.

“Gods above, that was amazing!” Lily shouted, drawing the attention of others who were packing their belongings into their wagons nearby. Suddenly embarrassed, she quickly dropped the length of her dress she'd been holding up to expose her injury for treatment. She lowered her tone but couldn't help bubbling with excitement as she twirled once to test out her newfound independence from the full-leg splint. “I've never seen anything like that, and I feel wonderful! Bless you, bless you both! I've got to find George and the boys!”

As the elated mother pranced off to find her family, Morwyn stood and rubbed her throbbing temples, still dizzy from channeling the magic. Hazel caught her by the elbow with a firm hand and helped settle her into the chair that Lily had been sitting on.

“That golden light was breathtaking,” the halfling whispered as she packed up the small chest she'd left out of the wagon to treat Lily. “I can't imagine why you'd be shy about using such a wonderful gift, though I do suppose it was a lot more painful the first time around. But isn't this the same magic as your scrolls?”

“It's similar, but not quite the same. More personal, easier to direct, but it leaves me feeling drained in a way the scrolls don't.” Morwyn absently rubbed the fabric of her tunic between her thumb and forefinger as she tried to pin down the reason for her anxiety. “Hazel, I... I know how important your work is to you. I didn't want you to feel like what I can do undermines you in any way.”

The halfling stood on her tiptoes to stow the last of her belongings in the back of her wagon, dusted off her hands, and hopped up to sit on Morwyn's thighs sideways. She planted a firm, wet kiss on her cheek.

“It's a good thing you're pretty,” she said with a mischievous grin as she wrapped Morwyn's braid around her forearm like a vine. “It helps distract from how much of an idiot you can be.”

Morwyn frowned as she regarded the vexing little woman on her lap.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

Hazel fiddled with the end of her braid for a moment, miming that it was a paintbrush as she trailed spiral patterns on the back of Morwyn's hand.

“I do love my job but, as recent events have shown, I can't do it all myself. After our conversation I've realized I really am rather tired of trying to do so. Besides, it's not like I'll call on you to mend every stubbed toe and cut finger the caravan suffers. I can tell it's best served for emergencies, but I for one welcome your witchcraft.”

Morwyn reflexively flinched at the word. Hazel paused her false painting and looked up at her curiously. Seeing Morwyn's poorly disguised look of dismay, Hazel cleared her throat and slowly unwound Morwyn's braid from her arm.

“Oh, dear, I've said something to offend. I didn't mean to.”

Hazel's brow drew together with concern as she searched Morwyn's eyes with an analytical gaze. She tilted her head with curiosity at whatever she found within them. Meanwhile, Morwyn was ashamed of the fact that she was ashamed and tried to brush it off with a shrug.

“No, gods no, don't apologize. It's silly to let a simple word open old wounds.”

Hazel's eyes narrowed. She clearly did not take Morwyn's words at face value.

“They called you a witch, didn't they? Is that why you left Skeldrûn?”

Hazel was nothing if not straightforward, but there was a soft curiosity to her inquiry that softened the blow of the blunt words. Rather than explain the painful complexity of the truth, Morwyn simply nodded. She stared at the ground and tried, unsuccessfully, to forget the look on Anna and Matthias' faces as she'd run away. She was brought back to the present by the warmth of Hazel's small hands encompassing hers.

“Their loss, my gain. I rather fancy the idea of being courted by a witch, especially one that uses her power to help those in need.”

Morwyn had expected the halfling to protest, to tell her that the words of others didn't define her or any number of the other soothing platitudes her family had told her over the years. What she hadn't expected was... acceptance? Though humor danced in Hazels words as it often did, Morwyn could tell that she meant it earnestly.

“I suppose it doesn't sound so bad when you put it that way,” Morwyn said as she chuckled and rolled her eyes. “But are you sure you aren't the one courting the witch? You've certainly taken the reins.”

“Well, is it working?” Hazel asked, batting her eyelashes and nudging her playfully with one shoulder. “I suppose it makes sense now why we're drawn to each other. You know, with my cauldrons and potions and all that. Perhaps I'm a bit witchy myself.”

“It's working better than you know,” Morwyn said with a wink. She stole a soft, lingering kiss before lifting Hazel from her lap and setting her on her feet. Indignant, Hazel scowled and crossed her arms with a pout as Morwyn stood and stretched her back.

“What's the big idea, handling me in such an uncivilized manner? You beast!”

Morwyn laughed and brushed her knuckles gently along Hazel's reddening cheeks.

“We've got a long day ahead of us,” she said, lifting a hand toward the dark clouds that swelled over the mountains and raced to overtake the sun. “And I don't think that storm will make it any easier.”