Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,77
I have always been proud of you. I love your passion for cooking even though I would love for that passion to have been directed to the fae arts. My own mother didn’t want me to learn the arts. She wanted nothing more than for me to become the wife of a man with a good status in the court.” Hannah popped the top off one of the vials.
“I didn’t know that.” Elise fetched a mortar and pestle and ground up some talica seeds.
“She used to make me go to court and parade me around as if I were a pig at the market.”
Elise giggled. “I think I’d describe you more of a beautiful bird, maybe a Jabavel.”
“Thank you.” Her grandma bowed her head. “My point is that I have been where you and Karros are now. The knowledge I wish to give you, what I learned from those days, is that our families often act out of love and kindness. Not malice. My mother came from a poor family. When she was a child, the other children used to look down on her because she never had the right clothes or shoes.”
“She was trying to protect you.”
“Me and my children. She’d seen her own mother’s heartbreak at not being able to provide for her daughters. My grandfather died when she was still young.” Hannah added the ground talica seeds. “She wanted to cushion me from that.”
“But you didn’t go along with your mother’s wishes.” Elise handed Hannah another vial.
“I married well. But I married for love, too. For me, love was the most important thing. I couldn’t have lived with a man I didn’t love. I couldn’t marry a man who wouldn’t support me and my thirst for knowledge of the fae traditions.” Hannah raised her eyes and stared at Elise. “Do you think Karros would have been happy with Flora?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” Hannah’s eyes bore into Elise.
“Yes. I do think he would have been happy. Not in the way he deserved but he could have found a way to make it work.” She smiled shyly. “At least that’s what I believed until he met Zara.”
“And you met Caleb.” Hannah’s eyes twinkled. “The way you look at him makes my heart swell. You are a lucky woman. He adores you.”
“I never thought I would ever feel this way about a man. I had given up on having a family. All I wanted was to pursue my career. Then I met Caleb and it all changed in an instant. Which was scary.” Elise leaned on the table watching Hannah put the finishing touches to the potion.
“Love is supposed to be scary. It’s supposed to consume you like flames but also comfort you like a warm blanket on a stormy night.” Hannah placed her hand on Elise’s cheek. “You’re glowing. Sylvie can see it, too.”
“Does that mean Karros and I are not going to be banished or disinherited?” Elise asked.
“Not by me, and I suspect Sylvie will come around. She just needs to make you and Karros work for her forgiveness first. As for your parents, I’ll talk to them.” She tilted her head to one side. “I am the wise woman of the wildwood after all.”
Elise slid her arms around Hannah’s neck. “The wisest woman of the wildwood.”
“Okay. I have to add the secret ingredient to the dream walking potion.” She closed her eyes and placed her hands over the small ceramic pot into which she’d placed all the ingredients. Elise watched and listened as Hannah infused the potion with her magical essence. For a moment the potion glowed, the contents swirling around as if they were being stirred.
“Is it done?” Elise asked as Hannah opened her eyes and fetched two small silver goblets from the shelf behind them.
“It’s done. Although I can’t guarantee it will work. Dream walking is not something that can be forced. I can guide them back to where they need to be but remembering is up to them. If they think it’s too painful, their minds will keep the memories locked away.”
“They’ll face their pain and their fears for their sister.” Elise inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly as she steadied her nerves.
“You’re scared for them.” Hannah placed her hand on Elise’s shoulder. “Whatever they remember, they’ll cope with it because they have you and Flora to comfort them. And protect them.”
“We should go and get this over with. I’m worried for Karros, he stayed at Zara’s side. If anything happens to her, he’d never