The search parties would stop searching today if they did not find some trace of Willow and this was perhaps why Olivia's stomach bug had flared up again. She'd gone to the healer, an older woman who feared what would happen to her without Willow's herbs, and she'd been insistent on running some test or other and Olivia was to return the following morning. She was frustrated but there was nothing to be done.

Olivia had returned home just before dusk to find her husband washing his hands in a small bucket at the kitchen table. He'd looked deflated, the grief near threatening to overflow and when he caught sight of Olivia all thought of frustration was gone from her mind.

“They found the leg of one of her hoes,” he whispered, “You know how carefully she monogrammed her belongings. It is without a doubt hers. There was blood...

Olivia had hushed him, more for her own benefit then his. She'd didn't want to know how her best friend had died. She had only just begun to manage the grief of losing Uncle and now, Willow?

Elijah had been part of the search party for the last four days and was exhausted, covered in the dusty and flora of the dense forest around the city. The searchers hadn't dared go further than the King allowed but four days alone in the wilds in the harvest time wasn't good for any one and it was an almost guarantee that Willow was with the Stream now.

Olivia helped Elijah undress and into the tin tub by the fire. She focused on rubbing knots from his shoulders rather than the loss. There would be time enough for that. As he soaked away the grime, Olivia quickly gave herself a quick scrub before pulling from her room her nicest clothes and two ribbons. The clothes were not so different from the usual weave, but these Willow had helped her stain with coal to darken them for her mother’s send off. She'd been lost to childbirth and so she had been permitted to mourn.

Besides the colour, they were the same as her usual clothes, a long tunic with ankle lengths hoes. She replaced her belt with one of the ribbons, a deep sapphire blue coloured thing that was frayed at the edges. It was a family heirloom, worn only for such occasions.

Sitting she carefully took varying sections of hair and brushed them out, twelve strokes each before weaving them into careful braids. It was the only time an adult women would wear her hair down but even then, there was purpose. As she finished up, she heard Elijah rising from the tub and hurried to collect his attire.

His clothing was similarly stained, a two-piece set similar to Olivia's although the tunic was shorter. Olivia handed these to Elijah while she prepared the second ribbon. It was a thicker sort, and she carefully tied his belt buckle to one end so that he could honour Willow's return to the Stream as she did.

Once dressed, Olivia pulled one last item from a cabinet, a small wooden effigy of a women. With loving care, Olivia pulled a strand from her clothing and tied it to the doll. It seemed to glow with the offering and finally they turned to pull on cloaks and quietly made their way to the water. The city was built atop several streams of water but at the top edge of the city was the mother of them all and this was where they were headed

They were not alone, although Willow's family was not present. Olivia presumed they had chosen to mourn in solitude. They joined the small group, made of people that Willow had touched with her kindness. Children, mothers, men and women Willow's help and kind heart had reached many and her loss was felt by all.

Olivia searched about by the water until she found a flat enough shaving of bark and, lifting her skirts, she carried it and the effigy as she stepped into the water, Elijah a step behind her.

“May you find the Stream with ease my friend,” she murmured, laying the effigy on the bark. “May you for all times know the joy you brought me. This thread I give to you to remind you of me in the Stream.” She bowed her head.

Elijah stepped forward with what appeared to be a fragmented pressed flower. Olivia understood and handed the makeshift boat to him.

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“May the Stream sing your name, so we know they found their place. This flower I give to you to remind you of all those you help in your time with us.”

Together, the placed the bark into the water and allowed it to travel away gently, as if held upright by the Stream itself. The retreated from the water and knelt on the riverbank with the others has the finished their tributes. The wind picked up as the people began to hum, harmonising together in a swelling moment of beauty until it reached its highest peak and then silence.

Suddenly, the Stream seemed to respond. As if in song, birds that should have been asleep chirped, owls joined and even the trees seemed to join the harmony for a moment.

Olivia and Elijah shared a teary look.

“I think...” Elijah managed to choke out. “Willow made it.”

Olivia could only nod.

#

The following day Olivia was exhausted, but she forced herself to rise to meet the Healer.

When she left a few minutes late she was in shock as she stumbled home. How.... now of all times?

Elijah was home when she returned and upon seeing her rushed for a shot of alcohol to calm her, but she held up her hand.

“It would seem I will be unable to partake of such a calmer for the next nine months my love,” She murmured.

It took him a moment but once he put the pieces together, Olivia found herself held above the ground in tight embrace barely able to understand the garbles mess of joy Elijah was spouting.

She just laughed, grateful for this new joy, ignoring for now all the dangers that would have to be faced.

Olivia was even more overjoyed when Esther came to visit the following day. There were many tears, although Esther felt almost cold to Olivia. Olivia was just glad for the company, happy to keep even some small part of her dearest friend.

Esther explained that they had started clearing out Willow’s room and amongst the items they had found a wrapped gift with her name on it.

She didn’t open it them, grateful for the gift, but not able to bear looking at it. Esther left soon after and Olivia sat for a time with the gift just sitting in her lap.

It wasn't special, just a heavy square wrapped in wax cloth and tied with farmers rope cross ways. In Willow's elegant script she'd written, 'for Olivia on Winter's Dark Nights. Stay safe and stay warm! Willow' Carefully, she untied the twine, feeling a curious tingle in her fingers, and pulled aside the cloth.

Inside was a book and Olivia quickly made sure nothing had seen before scurrying into the bedroom, which had no windows and, after lighting a lamp, closed the door. Carefully settling on the floor, she turned to the cloth, where she had caught sight of another message.

Olivia,

If you have been given this, then I know my instinct were true and I am gone. You know I sometimes just seem to know things and I have been feeling ill for weeks now. This is what my instincts have been screaming. In the event that I am correct, I wanted to make sure everything would be taken care of.

I have not taken an apprentice. I am too young for such things. It sounds like an old person thing, right? But, just in case, I have written down everything I know about healing and kept it in here. I've actually had this for some time, but I feel you might benefit from this knowledge. I already know all this contains and it might be safest to have this knowledge safety elsewhere in the event something happens to me.

One last thing, if I haven't told you already, I think you should see a Healer. I have a feeling you might be pregnant. Which is the other reason why I thought you might like a copy. It might help keep you and yours safe.

My deepest love for you and Elijah,

Willow

Olivia held herself tightly as she sobbed. It was so Willow to give her something of use and as she forced herself to hold in sobs, she turned to the book itself. It was a simple thing Willow had clearly hand sewed lovingly. Olivia wondered just how Willow had afforded the vellum and ink to create such a thick tome. The front cover was blank but on the inside Willow had written, For Olivia with Love. Olivia smiled through her tears as she flicked through the book, eyes growing wide. The page after was an overview of the contents as headings beside a page number.

It listed everything from magic based poultices to herb-based teas. It even had a separate section detailing the specific locations of medicinal herbs and how to identify them. From Olivia's untrained mind, it seemed a treasured trove and Olivia marvelled that Willow had somehow memorised everything this book contained. Willow even had a little pressed and dried olive leaf in a section marked specifically for pregnancy. With this book, she and her family would be safe as she perused the book, stopping at a section marked 'Good things to have on hand'. It detailed a short list of herbs, plants and liquids and an overview of the use with page numbers leading to the description of their location.

Olivia carefully took note of this before lovingly rewrapping it in the cloth and placing it under the bed. Gingerly she lifted the lamp to put it out as she wandered back into the main room. She pulled her heavy woollen cloak on, tied on some heavy boots and picked up her basket before departing.