It wasn't far now, our true home was just a few heart-breaking moments away. The excitement within me must've been enough to set me back for days as all my wounds were flaring up. Yet, it did not slow me down in the slightest and I kept on going. I kept each sudden flare to myself but I ended up coming to a stop for a different reason.

Despite lacking the severity of my injuries, she was lagging behind. And it wasn't because she had grown tired from carrying her son or our recovered stuff. She was just moving slow... I could see the doubt on her face but I was having trouble grasping it.

"Dandel'lhia, we are so close, why are you hesitating?" I ask her as I slowly slope down until I was resting on the grass. Looking down at her from the incline I was formerly going up.

"I... I can't help but feel that I am doing all of this for nothing..."

"What?" was all I could say as bewilderment took hold of me.

"We've gone all this way, been away for so long... What if he is dead? What if we miss him and he'll never come back? I'm just coming here to sit around an-"

"If you don't want to miss him, get moving." I order her as I ignore my wounds to swing my arm harshly up the rising earth.

"Bu-"

"Now!" I snap as I start to get up again. Staring at her intensely until she made her way ahead of me. And when she stopped again at the top of the hill, I smiled. Because seeing her react the way she did just made me smile for some reason.

I had really done it...

"We should get going." I say to her once I get up there to join her. Briefly smiling at the sight of our birthplace as the great concentration of magic became more visible. Despite it all as well, we could still clearly make out how the place was swarming with our kind. Not just aelenvari from elsewhere, they were the same ones I might've known in our flower.

However, there was a tremendous cluster of them steadily heading out of the garden-mount. And, seeing this, Dandel'lhia rushed on ahead. Although, her son did not understand why and was just happy to be bouncing around so much. For some other reason that only existed in her head, though, she came to a stop and turned to me.

"Move!" I tell her.

"I can't go home without you, Ivy-Mother." she said to me with a warm smile even if the tease was not appreciated.

"We'll go through the flower, then. If you are this worrisome, we'll try and put it to rest." I tell her as I start to head slightly away from the garden-mount. If we hurried, we might be able to slip in through the stem's part of the flower. But was there anything I could do to slow the flower's movement? A magic signal of some kind might get through to them.

I was doubtful of that, however, if only because of what was behind that departing flower. The sheer concentration of the people within made it both a beacon and a blinding light. Yet, for the sake of this sapling, I should at least, try. So, I slowly raised a throbbing, pain-filled arm and I started to focus some of my magic.

Thankfully, this act went some way to just dull the pain outright. But, my mind needed to stay focused on the spell. So, I looked at the sapling one more time as he stared at my magic. A pure, innocent curiosity watched me as I tried to be of further use.

"Watch carefully now." I tease him with, even if he did not get it. And, with a flash of light, my magic shot out of my palm and spread out across the valley. From our point of view, our vision was becoming clouded by this breeze of magic. But to them, to the people I was trying to stop, they felt me reaching out for them.

"I... I think they're stopping!" Dandel'lhia said excitedly as she started to tighten her grip on her son.

"Then I will try harder!" I declare as I start to draw as much magic as I could to make my spell more powerful. However, the consequences of this reckless action saw me struggle to stand. And I collapsed shortly after.

"Rose'lhia!" she let out in shock before she slowly kneeled beside me to check up on me.

"Go..." I told her as I panted in exhaustion. The sudden loss of magic being very stressful on my already recovering body.

"No... We will get there together." she refutes as she seemingly takes ahold of me with a harsh grip. It did not get to me, though, for I understood well the state my body was in. And, when I thought about it, there was something oddly humorous about this. I left our flower with bruises and broken bones, and I return the same way.

"Do not think of me, think of him." I try to tell her, speaking of both her son and the Gilded-Bark. She just did not listen, though, and I was forced along with her. However, this left me smiling as I still wanted to get home. And it was getting closer with each step we struggled to make.

Eventually, as well, aelenvari began to appear relatively close to us. And, oddly enough, it was roots that we first came into contact with. I could only guess what they must've been thinking as we moved through the crowds and their dropped supplies. For once as well, I was glad that it was not me they stared at.

"Is that...?" one said before another would say something similar.

"IT'S A BABY BOY!" soon erupted shortly after before a once scattered crowd grew into a dense cloud. Yet, no matter how many suddenly ran over to us to catch a glimpse of such a rare, treasured sight. They always made way for us as we headed further up the flower's spine. And with that, came a gradual change of scenery.

From leather-clad roots, we started to see modestly dressed stems who dropped what they were doing to see us. And within moments, an army of thorns came running out to surround us. Yet, despite the professionalism that they arrived with. Many fell to their knees and I could hear gawks of surprise.

The further along we went as well, many of the near-petals and stronger thorns tried to reach out for him. It frightened the sapling, but with his mother there for him, he felt safe despite it all. And like before, the reactions of everyone were the same. Joy and cheers filled the air. To Dandel'lhia's likely relief as well, help came to remove that bag off of her back.

"Just a little further and we will see if Jaadagoren has given us false hope..." I whisper to her as our soft thuds became loud clicks. From bare, partially covered earth we moved onto the hovering, marble flooring of the petal's district. The reaction here, though, was far tamer than the rest of the flower and many just looked our way.

The gossip, though, I was thankful for that as that spread news of our arrival far more. If the gilded-bark of this flower was available... And pray tell that he was, if it was our one, he would find out soon. To hear of a pair of petals walk into a flower covered in wounds while clutching a baby boy?

It was unheard of.

And it would surely grab their attention and muster them to move. Yet, as a familiar layout appeared before us, someone moved out to stop us. It was a familiar sound that we both recognised quickly. An actual ivy-mother...

"And who are you?" they asked with their true-voice and for some reason, I recognised it.

"I could ask the same of you when you are wearing my dress." I answer back as I stood tall. Smirking slightly as the confidence they tried to show suddenly disappeared.

"I-Ivy-Mother R-Rose'lhia!?" they let out with a voice full of shock both with words and their true-voice. The breakdown in how to speak even amused the sapling. Which in turn made me smile as he laughed.

"Rose'lhia?" a far more masculine voice asked from a distance. And, the moment it reached our ears, Dandel'lhia froze up once again. This time, though, she hastily handed her son over to me as tears started to build up. And she rushed on ahead once her hectic actions deprived her of a son to hold.

"So Motrtha is with us today." I remark as I slowly move on ahead to catch sight of an old love. And now, when I stared off into the distance. As two parted lovers embraced each other once more. I found myself...

Not resenting the sight before me. And feeling that made me happy, because it meant I could truly say I had moved on. That Nin was the one I loved. However, I refused to let my mind wander and it was not long before Dandel'lhia broke the kiss.

"Oh! Oh!" she started to hoot as excitement filled her, "Come here, Little One! Here! Come to Mama!" she let out with happiness-filled tears.

"Mama sad..." her son let out as he suddenly tried to break from my grip. And from there, I just watched as he waddled as fast as he could before his mother met him halfway. With one sudden grab, she then hoisted him up and held him before a speechless Oak'endoor. Slowly, however, he started to reach out.

"I... Is... Is this my...?" he asked tearfully as Dandel'lhia began to nod her head fanatically. A smile on her face as the sapling was suddenly snatched from him.

"MAMA!" her son cried in fear as the Gilded-Bark spun him around and announced to the whole world what he had.

"I HAVE A SON! I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SON!" he roared with all the excitement he has had to otherwise keep bottled up for now. And I kept on smiling like everyone else as an impromptu celebration burst to life.

If one listened carefully, one line stuck out the most, "The Gilded-Bark's Son has returned!"

Yet, that line, despite with how much cheer it was said with. It filled me with regret and I turned to leave as quietly as I could. But my earlier comments had damned me to stay here. For while Dandel'lhia celebrated with her lover, hundreds of newly made mothers came to me.

"Ivy-Mother!" many of them cheered before I shook my head and stepped away.

"I'm not..." I tried to say as I pointed at the petal who replaced me. But even she, dressed in that outfit, they all still kneeled to me and saw me as... It was enough to make my eyes water, but I kept myself composed for the moment.

"You've come back..." a voice I once desired to be only mine let out with some traces of excitement still in his voice.

"N-No... I'm only here to..." I started to say before that excitement clouded his judgement.

"BRING US BACK TO THE GARDEN-MOUNT! OUR IVY-MOTHER AND MY SON HAVE RETURNED!" he roared triumphantly, with that declaration setting off the rest of our flower. And to such a point did it get, that the world seemed to tremble with true-voice and words. Yet, I was the only one to be left trembling fearfully at this.

No one seemed to notice, however, and they just shoved it all upon me.

"P-Please, Ivy-Mother, take this back! I am sorry for staining it with my-" the Ivy-Mother started to cry as she begged me to take it from her.

"NO!" I snapped back at her, much to the shock of those around me.

"Sorry, Rose'lhia, we got so excited that we did not see. Go on, rest in your bulb while we head back in. We'll send someone in to look at your injuries." the Gilded-Bark started to say before everyone started to grab at me and take me into my old home. And while the lack of change to it was oddly appreciated. What was happening right now was not.

"N-No! I am not staying!" I tried to tell them, but it fell upon the blind and deaf and I was left on my own as the outside world grew louder and louder. My injuries, however, kept me here despite what I wished and I just let my body rest. It was nice to be back in such nostalgic territory, but I had other things to do!

I wasn't the ivy-mother anymore... I should not have been here and I needed to be ready to depart soon. With our flower at the garden-mount, there was no reason for me to stay here. I had to go before the worst came to pass!

I didn't belong here...

"Hello, Ivy-Mother, I am here to look at your injuries and take care of you for the time being." a decently powerful petal said as they gracefully entered my bulb.

"Do not call me that... Your ivy-mother is out there!" I remind her to which she just shook her head.

"No one could ever replace you." she tells me with a voice full of adoration before she restrains me so she could start applying magic. However, as my body started to somewhat heal. I took advantage of it and I forced her off of me.

"I don't belong here..." I let out with panicked breaths before I rushed out of the bulb.

"Ivy-Mother!" I heard her let out before I tried to escape the flower. Thorns, however, quickly barred my escape and they tried to stop me as gently as they could.

"Enough!" Dandel'lhia told them before she approached me on her own after sending the others away.

"I need to go..." I tell her with a fear-filled gaze.

"You need to rest, Rose'lhia." she thankfully said. None of this Ivy-Mother Rose'lhia stuff had gotten to her...

"I... I know, but, I can't stay here... I can't let them make me..." I tried to explain before she held me in an effort to comfort me.

"You won't make it back to him if you head out like that." she told me, clearly speaking of my Love.

"I don't belong here... I have done what I intended to do..." I whimper quietly to her as I feel her start to move me back into the bulb.

"Head on out, please." she tells the petal before she puts me back on the bed.

"Don't do this to me..." I ask of her, but, it was probably pointless of me. After everything I had done to her, she had all the freedom in the world now to make this moment the worst it could ever possibly be...

"Do what...? Rose'lhia, I'm trying to help you." she clearly lied as my magic started to flare in response. If I was to be cornered, then I would fight my way out of here.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I scream as the bulb is suddenly blown away in its entirety by what little magic I had left. However, she was still near me, seemingly baffled by my actions. But I knew it was an act... I know she wanted to exact vengeance upon me...

"Rose'lhia, it is alright, you are amongst your own now." the Gilded-Bark suddenly said as he marched upon me with a stern gaze.

"No... No..." I let out again and again as I saw those eyes. Within them was no compassion, only severity. It only meant that he had been told about what I had done.

"Stay away!" I let out before he suddenly closed the gap and enclosed me in his grip.

"Rose'lhia, please. You are safe now." he said to me softly as he held me tightly against his bare, muscle-bound chest. A soft grip even went through my hair as exhaustion rapidly filled me like some kind of poison.

"Ge..." I started to say before my eyes closed. Yet they quickly opened again and I was left panicked before they closed once again.

.

.

.

"Papa...?" our son let out in confusion as he sat on my lap and looked up at his father.

"Yes, Little One, Papa." I told him with a congratulatory tone. I understood that he had only just met him. But I wanted to get this all out of the way as quick as possible even if we had all the time in the world now.

"It is nice hearing this." my Dear commented as he held out his hand for our son to take tentatively.

"I'm sorry you could not be there for the first time he sp-" I started to say before his lips found mine briefly.

"Do not worry, Dandel'lhia, the fact you are here is all that matters to me." he explained as his forehead went against mine. But, with his eyes so close, he couldn't help but finally acknowledge my injuries.

"Dear..." I let out with concern. I did not want to be pushed on the subject for a number of reasons. But the main one was the scared woman I tried to comfort not that long ago. Being here didn't just mean a lot to me, it mattered a lot to her too.

And if it got out what she did, she would never come here again...

"I'm sorry, I'll leave him with you, I'm going to go and check up on her again." I suddenly say as I left my son in my lover's arms.

"Is everything alright? You have been visiting nearly every moment since she lost consciousness." I was asked.

"Should I not? She did bring us back to you, after all." I joke in an effort to hide my actual intent for going.

My lover then smiled, "Make sure to tell me when she does, I want her to be well-rewarded."

"Of course..." I nearly mutter as I start to think about how quickly this had all escalated. The flower had already been brought back into the garden-mount and the excitement had spread. It was like a joyful Patricide in how it worked out. One small thing had escalated into a mountain-wide celebration.

And while I understood the importance of baby boys, it felt so strange watching its effect. But, I suppose it also ended up like this because of what Rose'lhia was. A full-named ivy-mother of considerable reputation and presence. Even when she was loathed and envied, she was still respected by all.

In fact, I could still easily recall how she stood out even amongst the other ivy-mothers. Our flower was truly blessed to have someone like her for however long she was in that venerated position. But it also put into perspective as to why she was so fearful. Cruelty to roots was abundant but to another petal?

It could never be forgiven regardless, especially for someone like me.

If the truth about my injuries got out, or why my son and I had left, it would be over for her. Everything she had ever loved and known would suddenly detach itself from her. She would be branded and exiled forever and would never step foot here again. Her own home.

"How is she doing?" I asked those tasked with helping her recover as my mind lingered elsewhere. Like in that foul place she worked to get me out of, the reason she had these injuries. I still found myself capable of cruel thoughts. What if I did get back at her?

Yet, I also could not find myself going through with such thoughts in the slightest. It would take some time, but I could go on to forgive her now that she has done something like this for me. She had changed, that was clear, but had I as well? How much had we both changed, in fact?

"She is doing fine, Dandel'lhia-evwifoad." she respectfully nodded whilst I found myself caught off guard by the honorific. It had been so long that I had forgotten that I was destined to be called it once our son sprouted from his seed. The Wife of the Greatest Man...

Both the title and its meaning filled me with pride and I couldn't help but smile. Yet, I did not let it cloud my mind for long. So I stepped inside and found Rose'lhia to be awake. I tried to greet her warmly, but it was clear that she would be staying on edge...

"Can you give us some privacy, please?" I asked the petals in here as I stepped aside to let them go out into the garden-mount. And I turned back to the former ivy-mother once they had all gone.

"Get it over with... Cut my hear and sear my flesh..." she spat as she slowly started to rise.

"Rose'lhia, no one knows. It is just between me and you right now. And it is all behind us." I tell her as I sat down at the end of the bed.

"No, it's not... I know it isn't... I have served my purpose and now I am in no capacity to leave, perfect for you!"

"If anyone had found out, Rose'lhia, you wouldn't be here being attended to." I point out to her with a straight face. And, as hostile as my tone might have been, I was only trying to make sure she understood. I felt a more severe tone was best for that...

"Then let me go..."

And this made me sight, "As I said before, you won't make it back to even that town like this."

"Do not tell me what I can and cannot accomplish." she snorts as the idea became firmly rooted in her mind. And, somehow, it made me smile seeing that kind of attitude. Even with her full name, she still had to work hard for the position of Ivy-Mother. Though, she certainly had an easy time doing it.

"But, yes, Rose'lhia. There is no reason for you to be scared or concerned. You are safe. And I have no intention of revoking your right to be safe in your own home."

"We are there, then?"

"Of course, I know you heard the Gilded-Bark when he said to bring the flower back inside." I say with a smile as I watched her warm up emotionally. It was nice to see her happy like this.

"I want to see it..." she then let out as she slowly tried to get out of the bed.

"Should you be doing this?" I ask her as I get a better view of all the bruises her body had accrued. And I had a very easy time doing so as she was completely naked.

"I can do what I want." she snorts pridefully before she steps out into the open without so much as a strap of silk.

"Lucky." I remark enviously as I bring some attention to her state as I pass by. Teasing her with just a gentle tap before I moved slightly ahead of her. Though, I suppose being able to move away from a supporting structure was far more teasing than that small action.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"You know... When my Love finally has eyes for me... I want to bury my first seed here. I want to tend to it with him. I want to raise my son in this mountain like I was..." she let out with what was both a dreamy and tired sigh.

Hearing that even made me blush a little, "You certainly have a mind for the romantic, don't you?"

"Of course." she says matter-of-factly.

"So, who is your lover, anyway? Did you see a brilliant emerald light up at Suhurlodst?"

She smiled and shook her head, "No, I saw a divine man come to our flower and prove himself."

"Man to our flower..." I repeat before I felt like I got who it referenced, "That human champion? Nin Urtuan?"

She nodded smiling at first, but it quickly disappeared, "Formerly human, now."

"Hm?"

"He became an osibindah somehow after coming back from the dead." she told me as she moved forward before she plummeted to the rich soil beneath us.

"Wait... The osibindah we shared a dormitory with back at that academy!?" I asked her in shock as I stepped backwards at the thought. Nay, the understanding was what made me nearly collapse. To hear from her mouth that she had fallen in love with such a predator was... Something.

But, I suppose it was the human she fell for, not the bug...

"Yes, but, he does not love me because of the mistakes I made... He went on to love someone else while I was busy playing the fool..." she cried as her hands dug into the soil.

"Rose'lhia, as you have shown, mistakes can be righted. If his eyes can set on someone, then they can set on you!" I try to comfort her with as her cries started to turn into howls.

"No, he won't! You don't know a thing! I turned on him when he needed me the most! The man who risked his life for me was one I turned away from just because I saw someone else whose magic was greater!" she explained in one big go.

"Rose'lhia... I..." I tried to say before I went quiet, unsure of how to handle this. But, looking around uncomfortably made me acutely aware of the gazes directed at us.

"There is nothing I can do to bring him back to me... If he was ever with me at all... That woman with blue hair... Comatose in a bed in that city, she holds his heart now..." she went on to explain further. And somehow, each word came with enough tears to soak the soil again and again. Her heart ached and it was clear...

"There are many things you can do, Rose'lhia. You just need to give it time..." I say as I think on my own worries from when I was staying up on that mountain. I thought I would never see my home again or my lover, but now look! One was all around me and the other was just one call away!

"No... I understand how it is... I cannot win his heart... He never loved me... And it is clear that he never will..." she sobbed before she suddenly rose to her shaky points.

"Rose'lhia!?" I let out as she suddenly began to move ahead at what must've been painful speeds.

"If I cannot be loved by him... Then I'll just forget about it. If everyone wants me to become Ivy-Mother once more, then I shall!" she declares as a false facade begins to overtake her.

"Please, let's not be so hasty with this, Rose'lhia. You are overwhelmed right now, it's fine, just..." I tried to say before she disappeared into her remade and repaired bulb. And when she came out again, she was fully dressed in that attire...

The attire of an ivy-mother.

"If you need any help regarding your son, you know where to find me." she tells me before she slowly stepped out into a more public space.

"You stupid woman..." I let out in disbelief as I watched it unfurl. I could not say for sure that she was giving up. But she was lying to herself about this. She was trying her hardest to convince herself that this was the way to go about things.

"It is truly a wonderful time to be alive." my lover commented as he suddenly appeared from behind and held me.

"I'm worried for her..." I said to him as his hand held my stomach. With our son patting at my shoulder from his other hand.

"Her strange mania has left her, there is nothing to be worried about." he said before I looked up at him.

"She is struggling with the fact her love does not love her back..."

"Bah, she still has that delusion then? That the osibindah was the champion who bested me in tourney before a Valkinvar?" my lover snorted disrespectfully. And while I had to admit, I was fearful around him because of what he was. Hearing about Rose'lhia's plight certainly made me look back on it differently. Weird as it might sound for anyone who knew the truth, but I did trust her!

"Oak'endoor, please, that man is not just some wild creature that once captured me and our unborn son."

"It is still an osibindah." he tells me with a frown as he lets go of me. But, his stern gaze instilled nothing into me. The man I loved could not scare me when I knew he would never hurt me.

"If the Ivy-Mot- If Rose'lhia was willing to set her life behind just so she could be with him, then he was more than an osibindah."

"You never knew him."

"I did, Oak'endoor, because before Rose'lhia brought me back here, it was that man who saved me! It was him who took our son out of that hive and saved him!"

"The Valkinvar presented our little one's seed before me..." he tried to correct me with.

"And I gave it to him which he then passed on!" I nearly shouted before our son's whines brought us to a stop.

"I am sorry, Dandel'lhia. I did not mean to argue with you so soon after finally being able to hold you again..." he lets out as he pulls me in close.

"It's fine, Oak'endoor. But, please, do not pass comment on this unnecessarily. Rose'lhia's heart is broken in a way only Motrtha could possibly know." I utter against his chest as his hand went against my head.

"I'll leave it to you, then."

"I will try, I can't in good conscience leave her like this." I say while watching the bizarre sight play out before me. Despite being dressed like one and having the experience of one. She was just full of doubt as she did it. And I knew full well that it wasn't the injuries that were making her self-conscious of her looks that was doing it.

"Please try to think of the flower, whatever you choose to do then, please. Replacing Rose'lhia was a hard thing to do given how much she had ingrained herself into the flower."

"I am aware, I don't even think anyone could truly replace her..." I let out with uncertainty.

.

.

.

"Rose'lhia, can I talk to you?" I asked the woman who saved my life.

"No, I don't think that would work, try applying it like this instead." she said to the mother-to-be that she was attending too. Completely ignoring me in the process.

So, with a roll of my eyes and an agitated sigh, "Ivy-Mother!"

"One moment," she told the petal before she stood up and faced me, "Can I help you, Dandel'lhia? Is Spruce'endoor in need of something or are you seeking my advice?"

"Yes, I guess you could say yes to both of those." I lied with the click of my tongue as I watched the pretending woman.

"Then I suppose I must go, then." she says before she turns to the other petal once again to clarify some details.

"Thank you, Ivy-Mother!" she let out gratefully as she nurtured the bulge in her belly. For a brief moment as well, a desire for it to happen again with me appeared.

"So where is Spruce'endoor?" Rose'lhia asked as she obviously took note of the lack of a son in my arms or near us.

"We're going to get him now." I honestly answer before silence overtook us the rest of the way. Only to be broken every now and then by Rose'lhia's professional antics. And once again, I could not help but notice the reluctance present each time.

"So are you and the Gilded-Bark doing alright?" she then decided to ask me. Likely because she saw my frowning. But that existed because of this behaviour of hers, not my lover.

"Yes, we're calming down from the initial excitement of my return. However..." I tell her before I glance over at the many thorns that had been ordered to keep watch over me.

"I suppose it cannot be helped..." Rose'lhia comments with a shaky voice once she notices what I did not completely finish saying.

"Yes." was all I then said, but perhaps I went about it a bit too ominously. Thankfully, we found my son in short order and I picked him up. Separating him from the other children he was playing with. Unfortunately, however, the ease at which he clung to me made me worry for him.

"Hello there!" Rose'lhia tried to greet as warmly as possible, but Spruce'endoor only shirked at her and dug against me.

"Let's find somewhere quieter." I tell the offended woman before we went and found such a spot. Then, when we sat down, I let my son play around with my fingers while Rose'lhia carefully watched him.

"Was that what you wanted to talk about? Why he was struggling to get involved?" she asked me to which I just shook my head. This left her confused but now was also the perfect moment to bring up what I actually wanted to talk about.

"No, Rose'lhia, I am here to talk to you about what you are doing. It needs to stop." I told her, looking her straight in the eye and getting to the point immediately.

"I can't stop being an Ivy-Mother." she laughs out nervously as she puts on a refined facade. But I saw how she trembled as those legs were crossed. She is fully aware that applying the pressure will make it break... So that is what I had to do.

And I could only pray that she would not hold it against me.

"Yes you can, and you have done exactly that to be with the one you love." I tell her firmly, emphasising the core detail that drove her away before. She wasn't scared about being found out. She wasn't running away from something. She was running after someone.

"Th-There isn't anyone that I love..." she lied as she looked away.

"Nin Urtuan." I uttered clearly, to which she flinched and looked my way yet not. So I cupped her chin and moved her gaze up to mine.

"He doesn't love me..." she whimpered.

"Did he not save your life? Did he not fight harder just to win you back!? Was the event that made you fall in love with him, to begin with, centred around how he felt about you!?" I say to her sternly, recalling what I could while quickly filling in the gaps for the rest.

"I was just a burden to him... An unwanted parasite."

"Unwanted parasites do not have their lives saved! People do not go out of there way to help parasites!" I nearly shout at her as I took her arm to keep her sat down.

"Let me go..." she whimpered.

"I am not letting you go anywhere until you stop whatever this is! You are not an ivy-mother! You left it behind to be with Nin Urtuan! The Champion who saved my son and our people!" I angrily tell her, much to the growing fright of my son who was stuck in the middle.

"LET ME GO!" Rose'lhia suddenly screamed as her magic flared. And it stopped as quickly as it started when my son started to cry.

"Shhh, it's alright, I'm sorry." I tell my son quietly as I remind him of how loved he was. It was my fault for bringing him here. But I had my reasons to do so. Rose'lhia cared about this baby boy, and he helped me more than he could grasp.

"Why can't you just leave me alone...?" Rose'lhia then quietly asked as she sat down with a sigh.

"Because you don't want to be here, and I cannot stand this pathetic behaviour from you." I told her sincerely. While we have had our rough spots, one thing stayed consistent. Like with everyone else, I respected Ivy-Mother Rose'lhia, however, this woman was not that one anymore.

"Pathetic...? How is it pathetic to realise that I am not loved by the man I gave my heart to? He does not love me so I am leaving him alone. There is nothing pathetic about realising your limits."

"And what happened to the Rose'lhia who brought herself to the top because she could?" I mockingly asked her as a glare appeared on both of our faces.

"I could become an ivy-mother... I am Ivy-Mother! My Love's affection, however, is not something that can be gained... So do not speak to me as if you know me. Because you don't!" she aggressively replied back with as she jabbed at my scars and mutilations. And, she was right, I really did not know her...

But I was beginning to understand her.

"I know enough about you to know that you miss him. That the reason you even did this for me, was to try and prove something to him. You keep making up reasons in your head but you couldn't be further from the truth." I tell her with a sigh as I rubbed my son's hair.

"And what do you know about our relationship, hm?" she asked with a snort at the end.

"I know he saved your life." I said once again, because that is all I really did know. An unfortunate side effect of what my perspective led me to do back on that mountain. I had no idea that that osibindah was the same human I passed my seed onto back in the hive...

"And there we go with it again..." she commented before she stood up, "Leave me be."

"I will not!" I declare as I quickly move to stop her from leaving. Side-stepping her attempts each time and forcing her to stay. And I could only apologize later for it, but, I used my son to keep her here as well. Her power was restrained by his presence.

"There is nothing to be done, Dandel'lhia. He does not love me, and I must learn to forget about him." she said before I stopped her once again with an outstretched arm.

"The Gilded-Bark did not love me once upon a time, you know that? I was not his favourite from the moment he laid eyes on me. Just another dandelion that met the standards befitting of one such as him."

"So?" was all she took away from that.

"You cannot just give up on Nin Urtuan like this! He cared enough to save your life again and again! There is love present, but you are too impatient!"

"Impatient?" she asks with a bemused huff, "I was with him and by his side since the moment he first was found by our thorns out in the valleys... When he was hauling you and so many others behind him on an old log! Yet, his heart did not become mine... It became someone else's..."

"Impatient." I repeated as she looked down at the ground.

"Did you just not hear a word I-"

"All I am hearing are the excuses of a quitter. Someone who is meant to teach the flower about love and the light that comes with it is the same one falling into darkness because she does not understand that love is not straightforward!"

"My entire profession is about love... How could I not understand it!?"

"Because no one here loves you!" I snap at her.

"I..."

"We respect you, Rose'lhia, that is all. But despite what wisdom you pass on, you have never been loved. What happened with Nin Urtuan was your first experience with it! And I will not suffer an Ivy-Mother who does not follow what she is meant to teach!"

"How dare you..."

"How dare I? How dare I what? Rightly point out how you have turned your back on your lover once again because you have some doubts!?" I aggressively asked her as I got up in her face.

"Is everything alright here...?" my lover asked as he suddenly appeared from one of the narrow passes that led here.

"Everything is fine, Oak'endoor, please, just give us some space."

"No... He deserves to know..." Rose'lhia suddenly let out tearfully as she dropped her staff and fell to the ground.

"Ivy-Mother!?" he let out in concern as he tried to reach for her. But her sudden explosion of magic made us all move away from her.

"Rose'lhia, what are you doing!?" I asked her as I held my son close to my chest as we watched the hysterical woman.

"I don't know..." she fearfully admitted as my scared son began to whine.

"Bad Woman want to hurt Mama again..." he whined against my chest. But, it was just loud enough for all present to hear.

"What...?" my Lover let out in confusion as a sight that had always concerned him began to grow in significance. But, when I turned to Rose'lhia, I saw that she had suddenly calmed down. Albeit, she was not crying at herself.

"I am, aren't I, Sapling? I'm the bad woman who hurt mama... I'm the bad woman who nearly got you killed by osibindah... I'm the bad woman who scarred mama for life and led to her being captured by human scum... I'm the bad woman who turned her back on the man she loved... I'm... I'm..." she let out all of a sudden as she trembled and cried.

"Is this true?" the Gilded-Bark asked me with a stern voice as he suddenly loomed over me. I could see that there was a part of him that wanted to be lied to. But, I could also see how much anger he was holding back.

Yet, I looked at the ground, because this isn't what I wanted to happen, "It is... But-"

"THORNS! ARREST ROSE'LHIA, NOW!" he roared as he suddenly approached her and violently hoisted her up by her hair!

"Wait, no!" I tried to interject as thorns came rushing in to restrain Rose'lhia.

"SEND WORD OUT! ASSEMBLE ALL THE OTHERS! A COUNCIL OF JUDGEMENT IS TO BE CALLED!" he roared as his own magic began to flare out with protective fury.

"Rose'lhia..." I let out in despair as I watched the broken woman get dragged away.

.

.

.

"So it is all true?" one of the gilded-bark's present asked me as he leaned forward, surrounded by his harem.

"Y-Yes, but!" I once again tried to say before the weight of what was going on cast me aside.

"By someone who wore the attire as well..." an ivy-mother said with a shocked gasp. And, to my horror, I watched as those who once practically bowed before Rose'lhia turned on her. They distanced themselves in but a moment.

And somehow, it was me, the one who she did this all to that was trying to prevent her demise...

"Then without further discussion, we shall get to the final acts." my Lover declared as he stepped forward with the full power of his title behind him.

"Oak'endoor, please..." I begged as he passed me by. But, he just ignored me and protectively held me as Rose'lhia was aggressively held down against the earth. A patch of specifically curated dry, lifeless earth.

"Rose'lhia, you have brought shame to yourself and have committed unforgivable crimes against not only the woman I love, but the flower you were meant to protect... And it is with great regret that I strip you of your role. However, as it is what it is, I will let you do it yourself as to not damage the honoured dress which you taint." he begins to explain.

"O-Okay..." she weakly replies with as the chains holding her down are loosened. And, quickly and hectically yet also reluctantly, she took it all off. The dress that declared her position and all that came with it. Yet, clearly eager to get back at her, the Gilded-Bark tore off the tubes himself once she had loosened them.

And now, she was standing before all of her now former peers completely naked. A hot iron on approach from behind her...

"Can you please stop this!?" I cried out as I stepped out towards Rose'lhia.

"I hereby banish you from our flower and the Garden-Mount of the Angaxslo!" he started to declare ominously, much to the cheers of those around us, "And I strip you of your pride and beauty!"

And as he turned away, everyone else stood up and approached her. With wicked snaps and cries of pain, I watched in horror as Rose'lhia was broken down. They tore out her hair and cast it into fire... And they struck her with blunt, magic-sapping weapons.

Then I watched as the father of my child did the same with all the fury he could muster. Blood began to leave Rose'lhia's exposed scalp. And she struggled to stay awake as all her magic was forced to leave her. A foul way to die, if that was their intent...

And, as this was all called forth to seek retribution in my name, it soon became my turn...

But I did no such thing, "Rose'lhia, please forgive me..." I tearfully tell her as I genuinely did not want this to happen.

"I-It's fine... It is probably for the best..." she weakly tells me before she is sharply brought back to her points. With a point being made about having her bare belly exposed for all to see.

"And now, I forever mark your accursed existence." the Gilded-Bark hisses as grabs the cherry-hot rod from its carriers. And, as if he was trying to spear her with it, he slammed it into her gut.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed to the point of her voice breaking as her body twitched and convulsed in pain.

"STOP IT!" I roar as I use my magic to blast the rod off of my saviour's body.

"Why...?" my Lover questions before I start to blast Rose'lhia free of the restraints. Then, with anger in my eyes, I picked her up and started to carry her. Threatening any thorn that stepped near us as I made the explicit effort to get her out of here. This was all I could do for her now...

I could not get her rations or clothes to hide her shame... No one would allow it. And were it not for my presence and strength of magic, I am sure those around me would be throwing what rubbish they could. They could not allow such a shamed individual a peaceful departure...

But, eventually, I reached the point where I could say I had kept my silent promise. And all the while, I did my best to pass on magic to Rose'lhia so she could at least survive the night. But, she stopped me once we got out of the garden-mount... And I was struggling to understand why.

"I-It's okay... Thank you..." she whimpered as she tried to escape my grip.

"Why... Why're you thanking me...? If I just..."

"If you left me alone... I would not be given the freedom to focus on trying to win my Love's heart... Though it saddens me that I will never be able to come home again... I am glad the last time I came home was to save your son..." she tearfully told me as my own eyes started to act up.

"No! This isn't right, you redeemed yourself! You accrued all those injuries making up for your mistakes! You bled for a woman you hated not so long ago!"

"And now... I have the chance to redeem myself before Nin... And the Bad Woman will finally be gone..." she weakly tells me as she begins to slowly drag herself up so she can leave.

"Rose'lhia! Wait!" I say before I bring her in for a hug.

"It's alright, you will be a great mother..." she tells me as she returns the hug.

"I promise I will be... I promise..." I cry as the heat from her freshly burned skin warmed my own. But it soon started to cool down and I felt her trying to escape my grip. And, knowing that there was nothing that I could do. I let her go.

Wiping away what was left of my tears as I watched her slowly hobble away. Regret filled me up to an almost painful degree as she grew further and further away. Yet, at the same time, I felt like she was closer than it seemed. The way they forced out her magic made me feel blind even though I could still see.

"Goodbye, Rose'lhia!" I call out one final time, and although I was met with silence, I smiled. I chose to believe she bid me farewell and good luck even if I could not hear it. Eventually, however, I turned back around and slowly headed back inside. Even if I kept stopping to take advantage of my newfound position.

I could've sworn that I could still see a distant flicker out there. I wanted believe that that was the case. But there was no denying that after a certain amount of time, there was no one out there anymore. And as the weather began to turn bad, I moved back inside properly.

A heart full of worry as rain started to pour. So I had to try and keep faith in who she was. A full name petal that became an ivy-mother. Even if she had been left broken. I had to believe that out there, she was going to make it.

"Please know, that I am sorry." I said to her one final time.

.

.

.

"Mama! Mama!" my son called out to me as he came running at me with something in his hands.

"What you got there?" I asked him with a smile as he entered my arms and I picked him up.

"Picture." he let out slowly before he showed me what we made for Rose'lhia after she had saved me.

"And a lovely one at that." I let out as I took it into my hands and looked at it. It hadn't been that long ago since we took that. But now, it felt like a lifetime ago when you looked at the woman resting in it. However, I smiled at it.

"We still have her stuff..." my little one then commented as he started to gesture towards a bulb in the distance.

"Do you want yo look through it then? She says it is alright." I lie just because I wanted to at least save some positive memory of her.

"Okay!" he let out with a voice full of excitement as he started to bounce about in my arms. And, amusing as it was to feel and see this excitement. I couldn't help but feel anxious as we moved into the place where our bag was being kept. Then, once we arrived, I put my son down so he could rush over to it.

"Let's have a lookie, then, shall we?" I asked him with a smile as I snatched him up and opened the massive bag. Huffing in amusement when the first few things that came out was but one of many outfits she had packed.

"There's lots and lots!" Spruce'endoor cheered as we brought out the first set of clothes. And, as per usual, I found myself jealous of the kind of attire Rose'lhia was entitled to. Being a full name aelenvari came with so many perks... I also was somewhat sure she'd be fine with me making use of this now that I was officially Dandel'lhia-evwifoad.

"We best make sure to keep it all neat, then." I say, using this opportunity for two different reasons. The first was my own scavenging so I could honour her memory, while the other was to teach my son about cleanliness. Wouldn't want him to become a messy man later now, would I?

Yet, as time went on, I couldn't help but feel like that I was the child. Each time I found an outfit, I let out a sound of excitement and I played around with it. Carefully and thoughtfully feeling them out while also seeing how it might look on me partially. And later, I was tempted to try them all on in private.

Even with the excessive amount of care I was now receiving, I still had issues with how I looked...

Eventually, though, the clothes were all taken out and all the other things were starting to come out. Interestingly enough as well, there was a piece of something. Whatever it was, it was hard and shiny and seemed to be a little wilted. Was this...?

"A piece of Nin?" I questioned slowly as I looked at the memento Rose'lhia had had me carrying all this time.

"Mama... What does this say?" Spruce'endoor asked me as he tried to pick up a thick piece of stone.

"Wait, hold on there, Little One." I said to him affectionately as I picked it up for him. And I put it back down the moment I read the first word.

"Mama?" he asked me, clearly confused and understandably why.

"This is something we're not allowed to read." I tell him with a smile as I make sure to properly cover it before leaving it somewhere specifically. After that unfortunate discovery was made, we then got back to it. Pulling out all sorts of random items that must've meant a lot to her. It made me laugh to some extent as well.

Despite how she was before everything went the way it did, she still had all this proof. All this proof that despite what she said, she still did in fact think she had a chance. Yet, that also made me frown as I looked it all over. If I had known this stuff was all here...

"I suppose I can keep most of it safe until the odd chance I might ever see her again." I mutter quietly as I start to put most of the stuff back into the bag before securing it tightly. Then, without anyone pushing me to do it, I put it on my back and left the bulb with my son. And I must've confused most of the petals we went past.

Eventually, though, we reached our personal bulb and I placed the bag into the corner. Stepping outside once that was sorted and I smiled at my son before we headed towards my Lover's throne. Moving past everyone else with ease before I then curled up next to him in the open space the wide chair had. And oddly enough, despite how fresh the horror was in my mind.

I had no problem being near him, the Gilded-Bark...

"We have a lot to do." he commented as our son moved from my arms and to his lap. And, I am sure it came to his amusement, but our son caught more gazes than either of us. I was also sure I could hear a clock ticking in regard to my son. In not so long a time, he will have a burden thrust upon him...

"I think we should take it easy for the moment, while we are here in the Garden-Mount." I sigh out tiredly as I spend a few moments looking around our home.

"We can only be here for so long." he remarks as one of his hands moves to take mine.

"And in that time, we'll catch up on all of the stuff we promised to do when our little one finally sprouted."

"I guess we can." he says happily as he helps our son stand up on his legs.

"I also know it probably doesn't matter here, but I think we should start with his first pair of tubes." I say quietly, but, even then, my words were still brimming with excitement and anticipation. The moment I withheld myself from doing was now about to come.

"His first pair... I admit, I had forgotten that promise." he sheepishly chuckled as I started to squeeze his side as hard as possible.

"Honestly..." I remark as I gently take ahold of one of my son's points. Pondering what we could make it out of before I looked towards our bulb. There was nothing metal in Rose'lhia's bag that I felt comfortable touching. However, I am sure she wouldn't mind if we went picked apart an old outfit for it.

That way, she could still help my son without being here...

I'm sure she would like that, so I slowly got up and moved to leave, "Where're you hurrying off to?"

"To get an idea of what to make the tubes out of."

"Isn't that a joint decision?"

"Not after you forgot about the promise." I joke before I leave.

"Fair..." he chuckles to himself before he got back to whatever he must've been doing beforehand. And, after a brief case of getting lost heading back there, I eventually made it.

"Hm, what here is more... Rose'lhia-ish..." I ponder aloud before I start to look through the pile of clothes. And soon, I found something I think would work. But, I spent an odd amount of time looking at it. The name of the material for some reason escaped me for a moment.

Rose-gold...

"But I don't think I can use this..." I then remark in shock as I realise what it was that I was holding here. Was this her...? No, there was no way I could wear this or take it apart for my son... This would have to go join the other things I was going to keep safe.

To think she had brought along the attire she would've worn for her... First time... But why would she have brought this along with us...? I honestly could not figure it out at all...

"Don't worry, though, I'll look after it." I say with a gentle smile as I looked at it. It was a very pretty set of clothing. Everything about it was about love and motherhood. Perhaps even more so than her Ivy-Mother's dress and its associated attire.

It must've been invaluable emotionally and physically. Gemstones and fine silk and of course, magically engraved rose-gold. It was a highly personal thing that I couldn't take my eyes off of. It showed just how much she valued herself once upon a time.

But knowing that all this stuff was here... I felt guilty trying to keep it for myself. So I briefly left the bulb and looked in the direction I came up from. Then I turned to the exit of the mountain and kept my eyes upon it.

"Allow me to help you, Rose'lhia..." I promised with a mutter as I suddenly hurried towards my own bulb. I had to get all this stuff back to her. There was simply too many things here that mattered to her. And I had hope that I could still catch up to her if I hurried...

But with all these thorns watching me... What was I going to do...? I guess the only real thing I could do was be inspired by Rose'lhia's forgiven cruelty. She did all this to me to make me look the part of a root.

And no one would notice if a root left the garden-mount!

"Oak, Spruce, I am sorry. Please bear with me..." I quietly said as I passed the pair by on the way to our bulb. But, they had not noticed me and that made it all the easier to get going. So that the woman who saved me would not fall into despair, I would return these memories to her.

I would remind her of how much she loved the Champion!