"Okay... Just a little more..." I muttered to myself quietly as I did what must've seemed unthinkable. I, a petal, had dressed up as a root and I was going out to help a woman who tried to kill me more than once. There was a strange sense of humour to this situation and I am sure the appropriate diety found it hilarious. Although, I was not one to laugh at this.

I just kept my head down and walked past everyone without issue. Steadily and safely making my way past the many thorns at the entrance without issue. After all, they did not care about roots, their duty was to the Garden-Mount. But that did not mean this was going to be easy.

If I went about this too hectically, they'd come after me under the suspicion I was a thief. It would also end up escalating into something far worse when it is realised that I am who I am. And, intent on avoiding that, I mixed in a few other things as I went out to find Rose'lhia. A barrel or two was under my arms as I had her stuff on my back.

I was straining my body for this woman as well as my mind. So I was glad to dump the empty, deceptive cargo when I could before I made it out onto the open land outside the mountain. Yet, although we were at our flower's home. Our entire breed's place of origin, many roots stayed out here.

"Excuse me, that woman who was cast out not long ago, did you catch a glimpse of where she might've gone?" I asked a root sweetly as I stopped by one that was sitting down, clearly on a break of some kind.

"What's it to you, huh?" she asked me with a rough tone as she rolled back her muscle-bound shoulders. A clear sign of the hard work she has had to put in because of the unfortunate circumstances of her spring.

"Please, it's important." I go on to say before I let some of my magic flow out towards her. A warm sensation is what I was hoping she felt. One that made her feel healthier and loved in a way she had not really been before.

"Uh... Y-Yeah..." she let out in awe as she caught on to what I was before she idly pointed towards a path. And, it made me smile when I saw it, Rose'lhia had gone the same way we had come here through! I knew this path!

"Thank you, blessing be upon you." I thank the root with before I left them a parting gift. A bit of food they might not normally ever get to have because it was meant for petals. And, for a moment, I found myself lost in the sight of her devouring it.

"THANKS!" she cheered excitedly before her old attitude came back when everyone started to look at her. And, I giggled on my way out of the collection of root bulbs before I stopped before where Rose'lhia's efforts had taken her. Now all I had was concern for the woman who saved me. Saved my son.

How far had she gotten if at all? Had she decided to hold herself up in a cave? Had something gotten to her in her weakened state? How far would I have to go?

I suppose it did not matter, at worst, I would travel the distance between here and the town. And, if I had not found her until then, I would go into the town and briefly check-in. I could, however, right now, only pray for the best. And move fast.

I had to pray all I could and work these legs of mine!

"Please, please be okay, Rose'lhia!"

.

.

.

"The... Ruins..." I weakly muttered as they continued to evade my sights. But I was struggling to move. I hadn't slept because it hurt too much. My scalp, my heart, my burning scar...

I could not sleep so I kept on moving. But with my magic gone because of my punishment, I was struggling more so. I couldn't stand and I was too weak to drag myself along.

It hurt to do this, it hurt to do anything. Yet, I could not just stay out here. It was cold and wet and there were dangerous animals... Dangerous people even.

"Please... Anybody... Nin...? My Love...?" I weakly cried as I came to a stop in the grass before I just let my head drop. I wasn't even sure if I was crying, it had been raining all night and well into the morning as well. My naked body was soaked and it was pooling in all the most aggravating of places.

And I guess this was it... I could feel my eyes just getting heavy...

"HUH!?" I suddenly let out before I came to realise something was off. Why wasn't I on the grass anymore...? Why did I feel like some strength was back in me...!?

"Oh, thank the gods above..." a familiar voice breathed in relief before she came over to me.

"Dandel'lhia...?" I questioned weakly as I looked around at where I was. The ruins, she had brought me to them and had wrapped me up in one of the old tapestries. Down in front of us, was a fire we she had made with the old furniture and above it... A hot meal.

"It should be done soon, don't worry."

"Why're you here!?" I asked her desperately before I tried to reveal my branding. Only for her to stop me with a firm hand keeping the tapestry wrapped around me.

"We found your stuff and there was stuff in it that I could not let you go without."

"Like what...? It was just clothes and..." I started to explain tearfully before she pulled out an example carefully.

"This isn't just an outfit, Rose'lhia." she says as she brings out something I once begged my love to retrieve.

"You..." I slowly let out as I suddenly rushed on over to hold it. Crying as hard as I could as I held the soft silks against my face. Only to then shake my head as I put it back down.

"Rose'lhia, this is yours. All of it is, keep it. Make use of it!"

"I can't now..." I cry as I stroke my sore, bald head and gesture at my burnt stomach.

"None of that matters, Rose'lhia." she says as she makes sure her face is more clear in the light.

"Yes, it does!" I snap back at her, not caring for why she was being so aware of where she was.

"Rose'lhia, look at me. My scars are going away, they are healing me slowly and carefully. I might not be able to ever use my true-voice again, but the skin... It's improving. Your scar will go away too in time if you want it too, and your hair will grow out again."

"Why're you here...?" I asked her quietly as I returned to resting my aching body.

"You already know the answer to that, but, if you would prefer, I can go on back to the Garden-Mount?"

"N-No! You can stay..." I say quietly as my eyes start to linger on the food.

"Right, that." she lets out urgently before she took it away from the heat so she could leave it beside me.

"I take it things are getting better without me around...?"

"You haven't been gone for that long!" she tried to laugh out before she awkwardly looked away.

"You should've just kept my stuff, used it for yourself."

She then started to laugh nervously, "See... I was, but then, well, I found that."

"You just can't stop meddling in my life, can you?" I ask her, trying to smile while everything around me seemed so doomed to fail.

"I suppose not, but I know you are thankful that I am." she answered with a smile before I started trying to eat my food. For a while, however, I just used it as a means to get warmth into my bones.

"Thank you, though, for doing this for me..."

"Don't think much of it, just don't waste my efforts."

"Waste them how?" I decide to ask as I haphazardly test the food.

"By not going to your lover all the way back at Suhurlodst."

"I already told you..."

"Rose'lhia, forgive me for saying this, but, having read some of your diary... By accident! I have come to see how much of a liar you are."

"Liar?"

"The proof is all there, Rose'lhia. You love him and want to be with him. And while I get you'll never come home to plant your seed... You will have him be there for you. So just go, go and find him once again and remind yourself of why you love him. Teach him that and let him love you back." she firmly tells me before she gets up and walks away.

"I suppose I will have to obey you now..." I let out, nearly breaking out into sobbing as the terms of my new life came back to my head.

"Rose'lhia, please, I know how this all works officially... But you haven't stopped being a full-name petal. You are still Rose'lhia, you hear?" she says to me as she comes over to sit by my side.

"So, what will you do once you get back to the garden-mount?" I decide to ask her as I didn't want to keep talking about myself.

"Well, outside of explaining my absence and calming the Gilded-Bark down, I wanted to make our son his first pair of tubes!" she explained, excitement brimming out of her as she started to turn squeamish at the thought.

I then smiled, "I remember my first pairs..."

"Pairs?"

"I was a demanding child," I huffed out, "It all had to be perfect and everyone was happy to allow me the right to demand it."

"I can understand why." Dandel'lhia giggles before she likely starts to think about her first pair.

"If I remember correctly, I wanted my first pair to look like Ivy Mother Passion'liha." she reminisced with a dreamy sigh.

"My predecessor?" I remarked as I remembered the beautiful teacher I once had. While many might've remembered her for her bountiful body and her loving attitude. I remembered her more so for the grace at which she conducted her religious duties. That was what I respected her for.

I was too arrogant when I was younger to care about how she looked because I was already catching eyes. It was funny, in a way, if I didn't become an ivy-mother. The Gilded-Bark's mother might've matched me up with him. But Passion'lhia was special in that she kept me focused even despite what it was that I was preparing to do...

"But, yeah... I wanted them to be just like Ivy-Mother Passion'lhia's... But, they had a hard time explaining to me why I could not have them as she had them. She even had to explain herself while I barraged her with compliments..." she sheepishly explained at the end.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"So, did you ever want to be an ivy-mother?" I decided to ask as I thought it over. If she admired my teacher that much, maybe she had been inspired at some point? But, no, she shook her head at me.

"No, what I wanted to be was a mother since the day I could think, really. I spent a lot of my time around them, watching as they cared for their seeds and listening to them explain how I would be just like them one day..." she explained before she started to cry as she smiled.

"And I near-"

"Don't, just, forget about it, okay?" Dandel'lhia interrupted me with before she smiled at me.

"Alright..." I mumbled as I started to eat. Nearly gagging on it despite the state I was in.

"Don't give me that look!" she complained as she crossed her arms with a bemused huff.

"Leave it to those who can, I suppose?" I ask with a smile before I made sure to finish the meal quickly.

"I have packed some supplies in with your other stuff as well... So, uh, good luck Rose'lhia. I know we have parted already, but, don't forget what I have said." she says as she gets up and clearly heads for the exit.

"I said it was fine for you to stay..." I tell her with a saddened expression. One that switched to agitation when she started to howl with laughter.

"I-I'm sorry... S-Sorry! I just... It's hard to imagine that you'd ever be sad to see me go, you know?" she explains before a smile came to my face.

"I suppose it is." I say as I tighten the hold the tapestry had around me.

"But... I do need to get going, Rose'lhia. It is wonderful to see that you are still okay, stretchy as the term is right now. But, I have a family to get back to, one that is probably very worried about me."

"Yes, I know, don't let me keep you." I tell her as I start to wave as best as I could.

"No... No..." she started to moan before she practically ran at me to give me a hug. One that I could not really return.

"Go to your family, Dandel'lhia." I tell her as she breaks the hug.

"And you start yours, do you hear me?" she jokingly threatens before she waves one final time on her way out.

"I will try..." I ponderously let out as I tried to wonder if I was really done out here. I know Nin needed me and I clearly wanted him. But, was there more I could do out here before I went back to him...? Painful as it was for me to say, I did not see his current issues going anytime soon.

I needed to learn patience and that was probably best learned out here. But what could I do...? I was now an exiled aelenvari. The ones I looked down upon so viciously once upon a time...

But, there were women like that not far from me. And, for a moment, they all looked up at me for guidance. So maybe I could go there...? I may not be an ivy-mother or even a petal anymore, but that didn't mean I was unable to help them.

So, if they were all still there, maybe I should go...?

"Yeah, I think I will." I say with a thoughtful nod before I started to shuffle about in an effort to get to sleep. My body was exhausted even with this clear magic injection from Dandel'lhia. So, I just laid on my side near my stuff and closed my eyes once again. Yet, it would seem my mind was too busy to let me sleep.

So I waited for a little bit, letting the fire's warmth soak me through and through while the soft bag beneath me called out for me. And, slowly, ever so slowly, I felt a heavy weight upon my eyes.

.

.

.

"Mama! No! Mama!" my son whined as he tightly pulled down against me.

"Alright, hold on, I was just moving my points!" I complained as the recently fear-stricken child refused to let go of me. But, I couldn't be angry at him for this behaviour because I did disappear suddenly. It was honestly quite shocking when I walked back to the Garden-Mount! A whole army had spread out just for me...

And now that same army was making sure I never disappeared again. I could understand why completely, yet, I was still frustrated by it. Privacy just did not exist for me right now. A thorn -always- had to be present.

But it wasn't so bad while I was out in the open belly of this sacred mountain. And while my son was playing around with the soil and dirt often, we weren't here to do that. We were in fact doing a more ceremonial aspect of something I have wanted to do for so long. We just needed to find a piece of metal ore that we could use.

Yet, being a mother was distracting me completely from it as my son just wanted to play. Any insect he found he shoved near my face. And, the ones he put near his own I had to stop from moving. I also had to be holding his hand the entire time as per his own demands to keep me around...

"Mama, look!" he let out with confused excitement as he tug out something hard from the earth.

"Well, would you look at that, we best go show this to Papa!" I let out with relief as he had by complete accident stumbled across one of the pieces or ore inserted for the ceremony. But, he just shook his head and dropped it.

"No... Boring..." he let out before he began to dig again.

"No, exciting!" I corrected on his behalf before I picked him and the ore up so we could go elsewhere. Fun as it was to play with him, sitting in the loose earth was not very much so after a while.

"Fine..." he complained before he clung onto me tightly.

"No, ease up."

"No!" he snapped as he made sure not even me loosening my grip would see him drop.

"What will I do with you..." I mutter under my breath as I brought myself and him back to our flower. Walking up to the necessary petals and handing them the ore before presenting myself before my lover. It wasn't an overly grand thing, the making of my son's first pair of tubes. But, being what I was, it couldn't help but try to be grand.

"You found some metal?" my lover asked as he happily took our filthy son onto his lap while all his other lovers looked on.

"He eventually did..." I answer before putting on an air of smugness as it was my son that was being focused on right now. The son I provided my lover was the centre of his attention and a dominant force in his heart! I suppose this is what Rose'lhia felt like once upon a time.

"Then I guess it is Papa's turn to do his bit!" he excitedly let out as he left our son in the throne while he got up. And, before us, some petals brought before us a simple forge for which my lover could do his task. Although, the metal we found was not the one he would use. Instead, it was something I chose.

I was quite thankful to discover that we had it as well; rose gold.

"Would you like to come closer or are you fine there?" I decided to ask my son as I moved a little closer to him.

"Stay..." he let out with uncertainty before I slithered up next to him. Letting him fall back against my angled chest while our shared love got to work. To the flutter of my heart as well, our son suddenly jumped when the loud banging of metal started. And, it was only made even more impressive to watch as our son's age meant the metal lacked magic.

So my lover could just mould it in his hands or bend it as he pleased. The crudeness it would produce as well would be more fitting for his first pair as well. That was something we agreed upon a long time ago. But, we never were able to put it into words why we felt that way.

It was just what we decided.

"Papa strong!" our little one cheered after he tried to damage the chair all of a sudden.

"Aw..." I let out as I kissed the hand he hit the throne with.

"I want to be strong like Papa!" he told me as he pointed at him with his free hand.

"Then you best listen to him when he tells you things. He can teach you how to be even stronger!" I told him as I smiled and cupped his cheek.

"No... Papa the strongest!" he corrected as he started to cheer the actions of his father on. And, though I could tell he was trying to hide it. I saw that smile on Oak'endoor's face. I saw it!

Eventually, though, it would come to an end and he would come back to us with a pair. Freshly made and beaten well by a well-meaning father. Of course, our son just looked at them cluelessly before he was pulled forward slightly. However, once they were slipped onto his frail points, his excitement was immeasurable.

"MAMA! MAMA! LOOK! MAMA! I GOT THINGS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!" he screamed happily as he kicked his legs about. But, with this excitement came risky hastiness that nearly saw him fall over.

"Not so fast!" I caution him with as I take ahold of his hand as he slipped all over the place.

"Slowly now, Spruce'endoor. Slowly." his father told him as he showed him proper posture. But, that was not enough to get our son used to it. So we both held one of his hands and started to walk alongside him. And, as it was also something he would probably have to do later anyway.

We decided to take a tour of the flower so my lover could perform whatever duties he had to. On our way, we received compliments at such a frequency that it nearly blinded us. Eventually, as well, our son stopped trembling and swinging with each step and began to walk more so on his own. Although, we never once let go of his hands.

"Okay, now, let's try over there." I suggested to the pair of them once we came across an appropriate spot. So, from solid marble and other precious stones, we went back into the soil and bare earth. And once he had sunk into the earth properly, we let his hands go. Waving him off to go play with the other children before I turned to my lover.

"Is she alright?" I was then asked by him.

"Rose'lhia?" I asked, making sure I was understanding it properly before we carried on. And, in particular, I paid attention to how hurt he seemed to be when he started to ask this.

"Yes, I know you disappeared to go and find her."

"She is alright, I have seen to it that she makes it through the initial part of her journey." I said with a sigh as I moved my solemn gaze to the ground below.

"Please, do not hold it against me for what I did..." he sadly muttered.

"You did not listen to me and went through with one of the worst punishments you could muster... To our own Ivy-Mother of many years..."

"She and you both admitted to what she had done. Even a testimony from my own son..."

"You still didn't need to go through with it..."

"I did, not even someone like her can be exempt from our laws. If we let one through, we let it all through over time."

"Oh, stop... I was begging you to stop the entire time and you all turned on her for something she had redeemed herself over." I tell him as I cross my arms. Doing nothing as he slowly moved me into his grip.

"Then please, please temper my anger as you did once upon a time. Please do not leave me the harsh man I have become in your absence..."

"I won't leave you, my Love. Not until Undwote comes for us all." I tell him before I lovingly kiss him. Making sure he understood properly that this was only a brief issue we could work our way out of.

"I cannot change my decision, I hope you realise that..."

"No, look at me, Oak." I said to him improperly as I reminded him of how close we were.

"Dandel..." he said slowly as I placed my head against his chest.

"I know she met a lot to you as you were both intrinsically involved with each other as your roles commanded such a thing... But, we just have to let this be in the past." I tell him before I turned my gaze back out towards our son.

"Just make the most of what she has done for us..." he let out regretfully as we watched as our son laughed and played.

"It's all we can do, really. But, when I see him, I have no problem with that." I comment with a smile before I move out into the soil like our son was. And, with a giggle escaping my mouth, I enticed my lover to follow as he rarely ever felt the bare earth upon his skin. It was even amusing to watch him approach the edge of the flower so tentatively.

"Where do you think you are going?" my lover demands to know with a smirk as he starts to chase me across the soil.

"No! No! NO!" I let out excitedly as I started to run away from the giant of a man. Laughing all the way until he tackled me to the ground like a skilled predator.

"Mama being attacked by Papa!" our son nearly screamed before he and all the other children came rushing over with big sticks.

"He- ow!" my lover started to complain before our son and his army started to beat him down. And I couldn't help but laugh at the state of it as my lover tried to protect himself.

"Get him! Punish him!" I demanded from my saviour as I held him close and peppered his cheek in kisses.

"N-No!" his father complained as the beatings carried on.

"Keep going, I'll give you lots of pudding later!" I bribed our son with. Laughing heartedly as he perhaps went a little too far with his attack.

"P-Please! I'll give you more! No!" his father tried to tell him before one of the other children got involved.

"I want pudding too!" they said before they all started to say so.

"Fine! You all get more pudding after dinner, just stop those two!" my lover decreed as he put some pride back into his body. Excitedly holding my son before I ran away with him in my arms as dozens of children ran after us. A growing horde even came about as the promise of dessert spread to more of them.

"I'll protect you, Mama..." my son let out with terror as the scope of things started to clearly get out of hand.

"Don't worry, you are very strong." I whisper into his ear as I find a place for us to stop. And, to his confusion, I sit down behind him as the swarm of playing children come to a stop before our rock.

"Pudding!" one cheers as I start to guide my sons arm.

"AWAY!" he let out as he started to swing his arm wildly. And, as he did so, I channelled my magic across his stick until the area around us glowed bright.

"EVERYONE! RUN AWAY!" his father cried with a mock tone of fear before all the children ran away at our son's supposed arcane might. And when it came to a stop, I couldn't stop myself from laughing as he tried to do it again. And it only confused him when nothing happened.

"Mama... I did something..." he let out with uncertainty before he decided to drop the stick so he could properly sit between my legs.

"Well, aren't you strong!" his father cheered as he rubbed his head and moved down to his eye level.

"I am so strong I deserve all the pudding!" he let out with a laugh as he went back to trying to use magic. And I laughed a little more before I focused on my lover.

"You just had to mention something sweet..." he complained as he looked back at all the parents who had gathered as a result of all those children. Some were consoling their scared children while others were telling them off. Others just listened to their plentiful daughters and rare sons as they explained what had happened.

But, regardless, I shrugged at my husband whilst smirking, "Learn your son better."

"I have all the time to do so, now." he informed me with a smile as he pulled us both close.

"I think we should have pie." I then whisper to our son who lit up at the word.

"Is the lady gonna make it!?" he demanded to know.

"Maybe, she just might." I lied for the sake of his smile. Smiling with equal intensity as he jumped for joy at the thought of it. Of course, though, I would not be able to deliver on my claim. So I just had to hope his recently found love of pie would be satiable here.

"Pie?" my lover decided to ask me quietly as he was clearly hooked by the interesting details of our words.

"When we were travelling with Rose'lhia, we stopped by a human inn and there was a lovely old woman there who was very pushy but very skilled at cooking." I explain to him with a grin as he nodded in understanding.

"Then I am sure we can sort something out!" he let out with a smile as he brought me to my tips before we both did the same for our son. And as we walked back to the flower, he swung between our arms.

"A pie for them and a pie for them... Pie for them! Pie for everyone!" our son tried to sing as we went back to the flower.

"Might as well make something of it if we're giving all the children pie..." my lover remarked as he looked down at all the children with curiosity-filled eyes. Their ears even twitched in excitement as they heard our son's voice.

"An evening of pie?" I laugh out.