The healers' clinic in Eldergrove's western quarter smelled of dried sage, clean linen, and the faint metallic tang of medicinal elixirs. Sunlight poured through tall, narrow windows set high in the stone walls, turning the whitewashed room into a soft, glowing space.
Liliana lay in a narrow bed near the window, propped up on clean pillows, a thin blanket drawn to her waist. The nightdress she had been carried in had been replaced with a simple linen shift provided by the clinic; it clung lightly to her still-gaunt frame, but already color was returning to her cheeks slowly, steadily, as the blue infusions worked their magic.
Violet sat on a stool beside the bed, holding her mother's hand. She had barely left the room since they arrived yesterday afternoon. Her purple hair was neatly braided now, though a few strands had escaped to frame her face.
The borrowed dress from Rosalynn, soft blue linen hugged her curves modestly, but the neckline dipped just enough to reveal the faint love bite Damien had left on her throat the night before. She had not tried to hide it.
Liliana's eyes fluttered open.
For a long moment she simply stared at the ceiling, breathing shallow but even. Then her gaze drifted downward and found Violet.
Her cracked lips parted.
"Violet…?"
Violet's breath hitched. Tears welled instantly.
"Mother."
Liliana's hand thin and trembling lifted toward her daughter's face. Violet caught it, pressing it to her cheek.
"I'm here," Violet whispered. "I'm here. You're safe."
Liliana's eyes filled. Tears slipped down her temples into silver hair that still retained its luster despite everything.
"My baby," she breathed. "My sweet girl. How…?"
Violet leaned forward, pressing her forehead to her mother's.
"We found you," she said, voice breaking. "Aunt Rosalynn and…Damien. They brought you here. The healers are helping you. You're going to be all right."
Liliana's gaze shifted past Violet's shoulder.
Rosalynn stood in the doorway, hands clasped before her, emerald eyes shining with unshed tears. She wore a simple gray gown today; silver hair braided loosely down her back. She looked older than Violet remembered from childhood stories lines of worry etched faintly around her mouth, a quiet strength in her posture but still beautiful, still unmistakably Liliana's sister.
"Liliana," Rosalynn said softly.
Liliana's breath caught.
"Rose…"
Rosalynn crossed the room in three quick strides and knelt beside the bed, taking her sister's other hand. She lifted it to her lips, pressing a kiss to the knuckles.
"I am here," she said. "We are all here."
Liliana's tears spilled freely now.
"You came," she whispered. "After all these years… you came."
Rosalynn's voice trembled, but she held it steady.
"I never stopped loving you, sister. I never stopped looking for a way back to you."
Liliana looked between them her daughter and her sister then closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"I thought I would never see either of you again," she said. "I thought… I thought Harlan would keep me here until the end."
Violet's fingers tightened around her mother's hand.
"He is gone," she said quietly. "In jail. He cannot hurt you anymore."
Liliana exhaled a long, shuddering sound of relief.
"Thank the gods."
Rosalynn leaned forward, brushing a strand of silver hair from her sister's forehead.
"We are taking you home," she said. "To our house on the ridge. It is safe and quiet. There is a garden, clean air, healers who will come every day. You will rest, heal. And when you are stronger… you will stay with us. As long as you wish."
Liliana's eyes opened again, shimmering.
"You would do that? For me?"
Rosalynn smiled soft, fierce, loving.
"You are my sister. Violet is my niece. You are family. And family belongs together."
Liliana's lower lip trembled. She reached up, weak fingers brushing Rosalynn's cheek.
"I missed you," she whispered. "Every day."
Rosalynn leaned down, pressing her forehead to her sister's.
"I missed you too."
Violet watched them, tears streaming down her own face now then leaned in, wrapping her arms around both women. The three of them stayed like that for a long moment: mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece reunited after years of distance and pain.
Liliana pulled back slightly, looking between them.
"Where is the young man?" she asked. "The one who carried me here. Damien, you called him."
Violet's cheeks flushed faintly.
"He… he went to the guild," she said. "To submit the herbs we gathered yesterday. Before… before everything happened."
Rosalynn nodded.
"He will be back soon. He is… family too."
Liliana's gaze sharpened slightly, though exhaustion dulled the edge.
"Family?"
Rosalynn hesitated, then smiled small, private.
"He is my son," she said simply. "And he is the reason we found you. The reason you are safe now."
Liliana looked at Violet again, searching her daughter's face. Violet met her gaze steadily, though her cheeks burned brighter.
"He saved me," Violet said quietly. "From the men in the forest. And… he brought me home. To Aunt Rosalynn. To you."
Liliana studied her daughter for a long moment. Then she reached up, cupping Violet's cheek.
"You are different," she murmured. "Stronger. Braver."
Violet's eyes shimmered.
"I had to be," she whispered. "For you."
Liliana pulled her close again, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Then I am proud," she said. "So proud."
The three women stayed like that holding one another, tears falling freely until the healer returned with another infusion and gently urged Liliana to rest.
"She needs sleep," the healer said. "The medicine is working, but her body is weak. Come back tomorrow. She will be stronger."
Rosalynn kissed her sister once more.
"We will return at first light," she promised.
Liliana nodded, already drifting.
"Bring him," she murmured. "The young man. I want to thank him."
Rosalynn smiled.
"I will."
They left the clinic together, Violet walking between them, one hand in Rosalynn's, the other resting on her stomach where the ache of last night still lingered sweetly. The sun climbed higher over Eldergrove, warming the streets.
Violet glanced up at her aunt.
"He will come back soon," she said quietly. "To the house."
Rosalynn squeezed her hand.
"Yes," she answered. "And when he does… we will all be together."
Violet nodded, a small, shy smile curving her lips.
"Family," she whispered.
Rosalynn looked down at her niece purple hair catching the sunlight, eyes bright with hope and felt something settle deep inside her.
"Family," she echoed.
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