Aleria sank back into an old wooden chair with a weary sigh, muscles screaming in protest. The battered piece of furniture groaned beneath her weight but held firm.

Across the small waiting room, Haddy had all but collapsed onto one of the long benches lining the wall. The woman sprawled there in an undignified heap, a damp rag draped haphazardly over her flushed face.

The clamour and bustle of the crowded clinic had finally died down to a blessed silence, punctuated only by their laboured breathing. Bernard and his soldiers had trudged out not long ago, the mayor sparing a gruff nod of approval for Aleria before departing. His men had dragged the last of the injured from the premises, hauling the clinic's heavy oak doors shut behind them with a dull thud of finality.

Aleria's gaze drifted over the ransacked space - chairs askew, and detritus littering the floor. It looked as though a battle had been waged here, rather than a simple day's work of healing. She let her eyes drift shut with a soft snort of rueful amusement. In a way, she supposed it had been something of a warzone. Just of a different sort than she was accustomed to.

A muffled groan drew her attention back to Haddy's prone form. The younger woman shifted listlessly, the damp cloth slipping from her face to dangle loosely in her limp grasp.

"Sweet mercies, but I've not felt so wrung out since..." Haddy's complaint trailed off into an indistinct mumble as she pried her eyes open to squint blearily across the room at Aleria. "Well, I can't rightly recall the last time, truth be told."

Aleria felt the ghost of a smile tug at the corner of her mouth as she regarded the younger woman's dishevelled state. Haddy had certainly acquitted herself well over the course of their baptism by fire. She'd proven an invaluable assistant, her energy and enthusiasm more than making up for her lack of formal experience.

Aleria made a mental note that they had survived the day's onslaught, but come the morrow, they would likely have to contend with all those Bernard's men had turned away, instructing them to return later. A fresh wave to face, undoubtedly just as relentless as today's deluge.

"Today was a trial to be sure." Haddy's muffled groan of acknowledgment reached Aleria's ears, the younger woman's voice thick with exhaustion. She pushed herself up onto an elbow, peering blearily at Aleria through tangled locks of sweat-dampened hair. "But at least we've a respite now, small as it may be. These last six months... these folk have suffered sore without a healer's care."

Her gaze grew distant for a moment, brow furrowing. "You did not see the worst of it. Turned away at the door more times than I care to admit, while babes sickened and the injured worsened for lack o' treatment."

Aleria held Haddy's troubled stare, her own expression sombre. She could well imagine the scenes the younger woman spoke of. Had witnessed such suffering and despair herself, all too many times during the war. Innocent lives caught in the choppy wake of the conflict, their fates overshadowed by the turn of battle.

"We'll put that to rights soon enough," Aleria said. A promise, though whether more to Haddy or herself, she could not rightly say.

Haddy nodded, the ghost of a tired smile playing at her lips as she met Aleria's gaze. "Aye, let's hope your words ring true."

She pushed herself into a seated position, back resting against the wall as she gathered her dishevelled skirts about her knees. "It's more than just ailments and injuries these folk have suffered, you ken?"

Aleria arched an inquisitive brow, but remained silent, sensing Haddy had more to say. The younger woman's expression grew pensive as she continued.

"Last Gate, it's become a haven of sorts in these past few years. For the dispossessed and displaced - they've made homes here, such as they are." Haddy's gaze drifted to the clinic's shuttered windows, her voice taking on a distant quality. "Fled here from all corners when the fighting neared, or after..."

Aleria felt a pang of empathy, a familiar ache echoing up from the deepest recesses of her soul. She knew that particular sting of loss all too well - had carried it like a millstone about her neck.

"To lose a home once is harsh enough," Haddy murmured, refocusing on Aleria with a weary smile. "These folks have weathered enough hardship to break most. They deserve a bit o' good fortune, I'd wager."

Aleria held the younger woman's gaze for a long moment, feeling the weight of the unspoken understanding that passed between them. She gave a slow nod of acknowledgment.

"Aye, that they do." Her words were soft but carried a steely undercurrent of resolve.

Haddy's smile brightened a fraction at that simple affirmation. "You're a good woman, m'lady. I can see that plain as day."

Aleria felt the corners of her mouth quirk upwards in a fleeting half-smile, though she couldn't quite mask the hint of melancholy that flickered across her features. She shook her head in a gentle rebuke.

"You've scarce known me a day. That's hardly enough time to make such judgments."

But Haddy remained undeterred, a stubborn set to her jaw as she met Aleria's gaze levelly.

"Aye, but I've seen enough this day to put the lie to that claim." She lifted her chin in a small nod, as if satisfied with her logic. "Why, just look at all you've done for these folk - mending hurts that had gone too long ill-tended."

Aleria opened her mouth to protest, but Haddy barreled on before she could get a word in edgewise.

"That fool dwarf, Ceidin - like as not he'd have gone lame for life, had you not set his leg to rights. And young Tam?" She shook her head, eyes gone wide with remembered disbelief. "I'd not thought to see the lad draw easy breath after the sick had took him."

Despite herself, Aleria couldn't quite suppress the small swell of pride that bloomed in her chest at Haddy's words. She tamped it down quickly, forcing her expression back into neutral lines. Allowing such sentiments to take root was a dangerous road for one like her to tread.

Haddy pushed herself to her feet with a groan. She smoothed her rumpled skirts and tucked a stray lock of hair back into her bun before fixing Aleria with an appraising look.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm famished after the day we've had." She gave a rueful chuckle and shook her head. "Don't suppose there's much left at the market stands by now, but Gareth will have supper waiting at home, I'd wager."

Aleria opened her mouth to politely decline the implied invitation, but Haddy steamrolled right over her before she could get a word out.

"You'll join us, o'course." It was phrased as a statement rather than a request, the younger woman's tone leaving little room for argument. "A proper hot meal is just what we need to put a cap on this long day, don't you think?"

Haddy didn't wait for a response, instead planting her hands on her hips and fixing Aleria with an expectant look. The healer hesitated, torn between a desire to accept the hospitality and the deeply ingrained habit of keeping others at arm's length.

She opened her mouth once more, intending to craft a diplomatic refusal, but Haddy seemed to sense her wavering. With a surprising energy, the portly woman closed the distance between them and grasped Aleria's hands in her own, hauling her bodily to her feet.

"No use arguing m'lady, you'll only waste your breath," Haddy said with an impish grin, giving Aleria's arm a playful tug towards the clinic's entrance. "My mind's made up, so you may's well save your wind for the walk ahead."

Despite herself, Aleria felt the corners of her mouth quirking upwards at Haddy's persistence. There was something almost endearing about the younger woman's stubborn refusal to take no for an answer. A steadfast refusal to allow Aleria to retreat back into the solitary existence she had grown so accustomed to over the years.

"Very well," she acquiesced with a put-upon sigh, though the sparkle in her eyes belied any true exasperation. "If you insist, I suppose I'm hardly in a position to argue."

Haddy beamed at her in triumph, giving Aleria's arm another insistent tug to set them in motion towards the door. The healer allowed herself to be led, shaking her head in reluctant amusement at her companion's antics.

As they crossed the threshold out into the dusky evening, and across the courtyard to Haddy's cottage. Aleria couldn't quite smother the small kernel of warmth that blossomed in her chest. It had been...longer than she cared to reckon since she had last enjoyed such simple companionship that wasn't born of blood.

As they neared the humble dwelling, tantalising scents wafted out to greet them - the unmistakable aroma of fresh-baked goods mingling with the savoury promise of hearty fare. Aleria's stomach gave an involuntary rumble of anticipation, reminding her it had been far too long since she'd last enjoyed a proper meal.

Haddy didn't so much open the door as barge through it, hauling Aleria along in her wake with a merry laugh. The healer blinked, momentarily dazzled by the welcoming glow of the hearth fire after the cool dimness outside.

"Gareth, m'love!" Haddy called in a singsong tone as she shucked off her shawl. "We've a guest for supper - I've gone and invited mistress Aleria to join us."

A stout, round-faced man turned from where he stood at the small kitchen table, a steaming meat pie in his hands. Despite his rumpled appearance and flour-dusted apron, there was an unmistakable air of kindness about him as his gaze fell upon the two women.

"Well now, you'd best make yourself at home then, Mistress Aleria," he said, dipping into a courtly bow that was somewhat spoiled by the knife and pie still clutched in his hands. "Any friend o' my Haddy's is more than welcome beneath our roof."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Before Aleria could protest the unnecessary formality, Gareth was already bustling about, hastily setting the pie aside to clear a third place at the rough-hewn table. He dragged over another stool, dusting it off with a calloused hand before turning back to face her with an expectant look.

"There y'are now, a seat for the lady." His doughy cheeks dimpled with a warm smile as he waved her over. "Come now, I saved somethin' special from the stall to celebrate Haddy gettin' back to work."

"Ah, but o'course!" Haddy piped up from beside her, giving Aleria's arm a conspiratorial nudge with her elbow. "I'd nearly forgot to mention - this great lump here is our local baker. The reason for this..." She patted her rounded midriff with an impish grin. "Well, let's just say I've more meat on my bones these days than when we first met, eh Gareth?"

The baker let out a hearty guffaw at that, his ruddy cheeks dimpling with mirth as he shot his wife an adoring look.

"Aye, that's the truth of it!" He planted his hands on his hips, puffing out his chest with an exaggerated air of masculine pride. "Can't rightly be faulted for wantin' to keep my woman well-fed now, can I?"

Haddy snorted indelicately, rolling her eyes in playful exasperation though the sparkle of genuine affection in her gaze was unmistakable.

"Is that your excuse then, you great oaf?" She reached out to give his ample middle an emphatic poke, eliciting a theatrical wince from the baker. "By my reckoning, it's like as not the other way 'round - simply means there's more of you for me to cuddle up to on a cold night!"

Gareth grinned unrepentantly at that accusation, shrugging his broad shoulders in an amiable sort of way.

"Well now, if that's the case, I shan't complain overmuch," he said with a wink. He turned his attention back to Aleria, gesturing expansively at the small table. "But here I am, prattlin' on while our guest goes hungry! Please, have a seat m'lady."

Aleria settled herself gingerly onto the proffered stool, her movements belying a hesitance born of long habit. She felt distinctly out of place amidst the warmth and casual domesticity of Haddy and Gareth's humble abode. Still, there was an undeniable appeal to the simple scene that tugged at something long-neglected in her soul.

Gareth made quick work of portioning out generous slices of the steaming meat pie, the flaky crust giving off a mouthwatering aroma. He slid one of the plates before Aleria with an encouraging nod before settling across from her, Haddy taking up the remaining seat at his side.

For a few moments, the only sounds were the contented noises of people tucking into a well-deserved meal after a long day's labour. Aleria had to admit, the first few bites were absolute bliss - the savoury filling melting on her tongue in a rich blend of flavours she'd not tasted in far too long.

She couldn't quite stifle the soft hum of appreciation that slipped unbidden past her lips. Across the table, Gareth's chest puffed out with an air of undisguised pride at her evident enjoyment of his culinary talents.

"Good, ain't it?" he said around a mouthful of pie. He swallowed thickly, chasing it with a swig from his mug before continuing. "Secret's in the herbs, y'see. Just a touch, mind - too much'll overpower the rest."

Aleria nodded, appreciating the simple pleasure of a home-cooked meal shared in pleasant company. She took another bite, savouring the interplay of flavours as Haddy picked up the conversational thread.

"So then, Mistress Aleria," the younger woman said, her tone taking on a distinctly inquisitive lilt. "It seems you and Mayor Blackfist are mighty close."

She arched an expectant brow, gaze flickering briefly to Gareth before refocusing on Aleria with open curiosity writ across her features.

"We go back quite a ways," Aleria replied after a moment's pause to gather her thoughts. She set her fork down, brushing at an errant crumb on the worn wooden tabletop as she sought the right phrasing.

"We... knew each other, during the war." Her voice was carefully neutral, giving nothing away. "Bernard and I were..." She hesitated, "Well, let's just say we saw more than our fair share of hardship through, together."

Haddy was nodding slowly, her expression one of rapt attentiveness despite the vagueness of Aleria's admission. The healer couldn't quite decipher the look in the younger woman's eyes - curiosity, certainly, but something else lurked there too. A hunger for... what, precisely, Aleria couldn't rightly say.

"You must have been just a babe in arms, if that," Haddy mused, one corner of her mouth quirking upwards in a teasing grin as she gave Aleria an appraising once-over. "Why, you've hardly more years on you than me, by my reckoning."

Despite herself, Aleria felt her cheeks flush slightly at the unexpected observation. She wasn't accustomed to having to dissemble about her age - those few who knew the truth simply accepted it without prying further. An uncomfortable lump formed in her throat as she contemplated how best to deflect the younger woman's innocent inquiry.

"And just how many summers have you seen Haddy, if you don't mind my asking?"

Haddy blinked, seeming momentarily taken aback by Aleria's response. She exchanged a brief, sidelong glance with Gareth before refocusing on the healer, giving a small shake of her head.

"Well now, let's see..." She pursed her lips in contemplation, brow furrowing slightly as she did a quick tally. "Twenty-three, I reckon - aye, that'd be about right."

Aleria winced despite her best efforts at maintaining her composure. She ducked her head, suddenly finding the remnants of her meal utterly fascinating as she sought to gather her thoughts.

"Is that so?" Her voice emerged as little more than a murmur, tinged with sheepishness. She drew in a steadying breath before raising her gaze once more to meet the couple's expectant looks.

"Well, I must admit, you've the advantage of me in that regard" Despite her discomfort, Aleria couldn't quite suppress the wry quirk of her lips as she made her admission. "I'm nearly twice your age then it seems."

The words hung in the air, seeming to reverberate in the sudden stillness that had fallen over the little cottage. Gareth and Haddy simply stared at her, identical looks of stunned disbelief writ large across their features.

For a long moment, no one spoke - the only sounds, the faint crackle of the hearth fire and the muffled bustle from outside filtering in through the shuttered windows. Aleria felt heat creeping up the back of her neck as that heavy silence stretched out, broken only by the occasional soft creak of Gareth shifting in his seat.

It was Haddy who found her voice first, the younger woman blinking owlishly as she leaned forward over the table. Her brow furrowed in consternation, lips parting to voice the obvious disbelief they both felt.

"But...that's not possible, surely?" Her gaze raked over Aleria in an assessing sweep, as if somehow, she might have overlooked some telltale sign of advanced age.

Aleria regarded the twin expressions of scepticism levelled her way, a small, rueful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She couldn't rightly blame them for their disbelief - to those unfamiliar with the ways of magic, such feats must seem nigh on impossible.

"I can see you find that difficult to credit," she said, keeping her tone mild and free of any reproach. "But I assure you, 'tis the simple truth of the matter."

She paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing in that same measured cadence.

"Those of us particularly adept at the arcane arts tend to... age more slowly than most, you see." Aleria wet her lips, choosing her words with care. "Most theorise it's due to the abundant mana that flows through our bodies - the very fabric of all the world's energies. it imbues us with a sort of... resilience, if you will."

Haddy was watching her raptly, her initial scepticism slowly giving way to dawning comprehension mingled with a childlike sense of wonder. Gareth, for his part, simply listened in silence - his open features betraying a struggle to fully grasp the implications of what Aleria described.

Aleria lifted one hand, letting it hover palm-up before her as she continued.

"In my case, I've been doubly blessed." A soft emerald glow bloomed to life in her upturned palm, the verdant radiance casting dancing shadows across the rough-hewn beams overhead. "You see, my particular affinity lies with the powers of restoration and renewal. Healing magics, if you prefer."

She turned her hand slowly, allowing that soft verdant light to play across the simple furnishings and the enraptured faces of her hosts. Though the illumination was gentle, it carried with it a sense of warmth and vitality that seemed to suffuse the very air around them.

"The energies I channel are, at their core, the selfsame forces that govern life itself," Aleria went on, her voice taking on a hushed, reverent quality as she spoke. "To wield them is to bask in the primal spark that fuels all living things - the endless cycle of growth, of rejuvenation."

She closed her fingers, letting the soft green glow sputter and die as she lowered her hand once more to the battered tabletop. Haddy seemed to startle slightly at the abrupt extinguishing of that verdant radiance, her eyes wide and shining in the dimness that followed.

"So, you see," Aleria concluded with a faint, enigmatic smile, "While the march of years may etch their toll upon most, I am... inured, in a sense. Cradled in that which imbues all living things with vigour."

Gareth and Haddy simply stared at her, identical expressions of rapt wonderment plain on their open features.

Finally, it was the baker who found his voice first - the words emerging in a hushed rasp of pure awe.

"Well, I'll be..." He trailed off, seemingly at a loss for how to adequately sum up his amazement. Instead, he simply shook his head slowly, eyes wide and shining in the firelight as he regarded Aleria with open reverence.

"Beggin' your pardon Mistress Aleria, but... a power like yours must've been a right blessin' to have on the back lines durin' the war." He grimaced slightly, as if realising the potential insensitivity of his words. "Not that I mean to dredge up any bad memories, mind."

Aleria felt a familiar tightness constrict her chest at the baker's innocent remark. If only he knew... But no, those were secrets best left buried, horrors she had no desire to speak out loud.

"It was... a challenging time for all of us," she said carefully, sidestepping the unspoken implications of Gareth's words. "I simply did what I could, where I could."

It wasn't quite a lie - more an omission of certain unpleasant truths. In reality, Aleria had spent precious little time tending to the wounded behind the front lines. No, her place had been in the thick of the fighting, wielding her powers in ways that perverted her craft.

Mercifully, Haddy seemed to sense the shift in her demeanour. The younger woman laid a gentle hand atop Aleria's, her touch startlingly intimate yet not unwelcome. When Aleria met her gaze, Haddy's eyes shone with a sort of tender understanding.

"Enough of such grim talk for one evening, hmm?" She gave Aleria's hand a reassuring squeeze before pulling back, the weight of her palm's absence leaving the healer's skin tingling strangely. "I've a fancy for something sweet after all that savoury richness. What say you, Gareth?"

The baker started slightly at being addressed, his ruddy features clouding briefly with chagrin.

"Oh aye, 'course love," he said hastily, pushing back from the table and lurching to his feet with surprising agility for one of his bulk. "Near forgot myself for a moment there. Can't rightly have our guest leaving without sampling the best this humble baker's got to offer, now can we?"

He winked at Aleria, the sombre pall that had momentarily settled over the room banished as quickly as it had manifested. With a reassuring grin and a subtle nod towards his wife, Gareth turned and bustled off towards the small kitchen alcove, leaving the two women alone at the battered table.

Haddy watched him go with a look of unabashed fondness, her gaze tracking the sway of his broad shoulders and the slight hitch to his gait. When she turned back to face Aleria, her expression was warm and open, devoid of even the faintest trace of pity.

"He means well, that one," she said with an affectionate roll of her eyes. "But sometimes his curiosity gets the better of him, bless his heart."

Haddy leaned in conspiratorially, as if sharing some great secret between just the two of them.

"I'll let you in on a little something about my Gareth, though - the man's got a tongue for tales like you wouldn't believe." She tapped the side of her nose knowingly, eyes twinkling with mirth. "If you've a mind for it, you'll not find a finer bard this side of the Red Mountains for regaling us with a few stories of his own. Might be just the thing to take our minds off... well, unpleasantries best left undisturbed, eh?"

With those words, some of the lingering tension seemed to bleed out of Aleria's shoulders. She found herself offering up a small, grateful smile in response to the younger woman's understanding.

Perhaps in this simple home, surrounded by the warmth of newfound friends and the simple pleasures of good food and good company, she might find some small measure of solace from the shadows that lingered at the edges of her mind. The offer of an evening of harmless tales and frivolity was one she found herself surprisingly keen to accept.

"I think..." Aleria paused, wetting her lips as she carefully chose her words. "I think I should very much like that, Haddy."