Chapter 2: The Bonds We Share

I could not help but feel groggy as we returned. Groggy as I was, I stopped to admire the beauty of our home as always. A city in the trees, all connected. In the centre, towering above it all was The Great Oak herself. Said to have been planted by the goddess Eden when the world was first taking shape, I do not think there is anyone who would be unimpressed by the place we called home.

Taking the sights in only lasted for a moment as I felt myself being led towards The Great Oak by Gaius. It was never an easy climb, living on the 30th branch, but the view also never lost its charm and wonder. Truly a sight to behold. It was simply magical. Oh, I could go on and on of the wonder of it. Even though I felt as if I could climb up here with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back by now having resided here for so long, I always took a great amount of pleasure in allowing someone else to help haul me up, so that I might gaze upon the sights below as I ascended.

Letting myself be helped up, I turned to make my way across one of the bridges, heading towards Gaius' home. We would always visit his family first after these nights away since it was so far below my own home. Stepping into the hollowed-out wood, Gaius offered a hearty greeting in the way he always did, with an energetic wave and smile.

"I'm home!" He yelled.

Coming to greet us, as always, was his mother. Miss Flo was as beautiful as always. You could tell that her Earthborne elemental affinity had really shaped her. It was as if her hair were as bright and green as the leaves outside, just as beautiful as the flowers we would always lay upon. Welcoming us both back with a smile always melted away any worries either of us might have had, despite the pressure we would both feel.

"Well, come in then."

Her voice always sounded so calm and composed, so different to her boy. You could really tell he was his mother's son when he spoke about what he loved, though. Whether that was about the plants he'd discovered that day, the animals he had befriended or his blooming romance, as embarrassing as it may have been. Like his mother, Gaius was responsible for preparing food that may very well go on to be served to Dahlia herself. The Earthen Mother

Prepared was perhaps not quite accurate. He was to gather, and to hunt so his parents could cook everything he had gathered for them. That was how he had been allowed to go off on such trips. It was no secret that I would accompany him so often, though I was not always a help rather than a distraction.

"You two should know by now you can't stay the night in the woods every night anymore. You'll both be needed around your homes more often."

I could not help but sheepishly stare at my feet upon hearing that. I knew it was true. It was not like we helped each other to a great extent. In fact, I would say that I performed my duties significantly better when not in the presence of Gaius.

We would both venture into the woods for similar things in food, but that was where the differences stopped. While Gaius needed to collect fruits and berries to adorn the meals of the Earthen Mother, I found myself in need of supplying my family with food that we could deal with having to eat over the course of a few days.

So, I would go out and hunt. I learned exactly how much it was ok to take from The Woods, and how much would do too much harm. It was not easy, but I was the only one young and healthy enough to stay out hunting our next meal so I found myself a teacher and learned the ways of the bow. Built from some of the wood from The Great Oak itself, I was lucky to have a teacher who taught me the ways of her craft as well.

It would usually not be such a problem to gather food, but letting people know you were from the sub-terranean complex of Terra originally does not help your case. It is no coincidence those who make their way out often struggle.

It was precisely when I was thinking about how I had met Gaius when I felt a small impact against my forehead. Flo had just flicked my forehead, having clearly caught me not paying attention and drifting off again.

"Hey, were you listening, Lutum?"

"Hm? Oh yes, of course!"

I knew she could see right through my lie, but she held off berating me further instead simply carrying on with what she was saying. I think she could tell I had not managed to get myself a healthy night's sleep.

"Here."

Flo called in her motherly voice, setting down two cups on her small wooden table, gesturing to Gaius and I. Smelling it from the sweet scent, I could already tell without looking that she'd blended some of her speciality tea once again. She never would tell us how she made it, only that it was made with love. But this was the same tea that would have been served to Dahlia! The Ruler! To be getting the same meals and treats was…simply incredible.

You could never find anything this wonderful beneath the surface. It was impossible. That was why so many made it their dream to reach The Great Oak. In search of things like these. That was how my mother always described the place, anyway.

"Thank you, Flo." I could feel the love and warmth put into the blend as it reached my lips. Letting her know with my satisfied expression, I turned to Gaius with an expectation.

As Gaius sipped his tea, I could once again feel my mouth lift itself into a smile.

"Wasn't so bad, hm?" Flo mused.

"No, ma." That was always something so precious to me too, the way he would call his mother and father like that. As if he was still just a baby bird not ready to leave the nest. I knew we could not spend all our time together, but I had hoped to spend as much time together as we possibly could. I think both of our families already expected us to end up married with how inseparable we could be.

My mind wandered again, but it kept drifting back to one topic.

"Have you heard the news?"

"About Dahlia's abdication? Yes dear, it's such a shock. We don't know how much we could possibly have our lives changed from just next week!"

I had attempted to hide the markings revealed to me earlier learned were on my face with some camouflage technique I had learned for hunting. It was not easy to tell that what covered it was in fact soil and dirt. I do not think Gaius quite realises the potential implications, but it was quite easy to convince him that it was likely for the best to not draw attention to it.

We spent a long hour chatting with Flo, but when Gaius' father made his appearance, I realised the time had gotten away from me. Exchanging some quick pleasantries with the man before excusing myself, I ascended The Great Oak once again.

Leaving his house was always the worst part of my day. It was so cosy, and I had to climb so far to reach my home. Residing on the 55th Branch should be easy enough, but the climb was always made harder by having separated from my friends and my love on the lower branches before making my way up.

Making my way past the market vendors, who were out in full force by this time of day was a challenge as always but I knew how to get past with enough ease that it was not as much of as a bother as it could have been.

Coming into my view was our small home, carved into the very end of the 55th Branch Left-Side, where some it curled up, creating its own walls leaving very little work to do for home-builders to construct to turn it into a living space. It was modest, but homely. Compared to some of the great structures and pieces upon our Great Oak, this may as well have been living in absolute poverty.

But it was home. That much was certain. It is true we were not well off, and we were often kept fed by 'secret' helpings from Gaius and his family. But we could still at least afford to live here as long as I hunted for Mother and Father. Sometimes I would sell some of the meat I returned with, in order to help everyone out with money. It would not be so much of a tragedy if I were to go without food for just a day or so. My body was young and healthy, I could handle it.

The days I would call out and get no response from my mother who was lying in bed were always the worst days. As luck would have it, today was one of those days. Sitting down on her bed after I walked in, I could feel the fear setting in. She looked tired, again. We did not know if there was an illness of some sort that we were unaware of, or if she was just a big fan of having a lazy day. But that did not stop my worry, although I had no doubt that she would be fine at the next morning as if nothing had happened. It was at least relieving to see her resting with a small sat upon her face.

It was a lonely afternoon until Lami invited herself in, about three hours after I had returned. I had always admired her free spirit, though I do not think I could ever dare enter someone else's home on my own without them being right there. Was that so strange to her?

"Hey, Lulu! Being back from wonderland got you down huh?"

Though her very presence had brightened my day, she clearly noticed that I was wearing my heart on my sleeve today was well. She knew I was confused and scared. Despite her quirky behaviour, Lami had a way of getting inside people's hearts and really understanding them.

"You can tell?"

"Of course I can, Lulu! It's written all over your face!"

"It is?"

I could feel my cheeks turn a rosy pink as I said that. I was truly not helping my own case. At that response though, Lami just pinched my cheeks instead and playfully stuck out her tongue at me.

"Well…it has, but not for what I believe you are alluding to."

"Yes, yes, I know Lulu. Everyone in Terra knows now. I bet even Ignis and Aqua might've got wind of it too! We all know good ol' Dahlia's deciding that the throne isn't her thing anymore."

I could not believe Lami just said all of this smiling, in that sing-song voice. I began to let my thoughts spill out.

"How can you be so…upbeat about something like this? Does it not scare you?"

"Well, it's kinda scary. But it's just gonna be different, that's all! I'm still gonna come visit you, we'll still all go to get the best tea from Gaius' mother. We just might have a few different rules and things, that's all."

"You truly believe that?"

"'Course I do. Have I lied to you before Lulu?"

"Well, no, not that I recall-"

A sudden embrace interrupted me. There was something calming about a hug from my best friend. Different to the embraces I would have with Gaius, where they were more intimate affairs. This was…a simple comfort. I felt safe, when Lami supported me like this. As if everything really would work out just the say she said it would. It was not like she had lied to me before, so why start now? Holding that same position for a few minutes, I slowly unwrapped myself from Lami and simply smiled at her. I did not need any words, my face told her exactly what I wanted to say.

"Glad that I could help, Lulu. Oh! By the way, totally saw your Father at the market earlier. Said something about not being home til late."

"Is that why you showed up here?"

"Well…yes, and no. I was always gonna turn up here, Lulu. After the bird everyone received last night, I had to see someone! Duh!"

"Right. That someone had to be me?"

"Who other than my very best friend?"

Lami always had that response to pull at every questioning of why she would talk to me, visit me or generally be helpful to me. It was a question that I had become so accustomed to hearing that I knew by now it was not just a simple question. It was a reassurance that she would still be here for me if I found myself in a dark place.

I had not expected Lami to spend all day at my home, but I truly could not complain. She brought me a great distraction. She was always great at bringing life and colour to wherever she found herself, from her vibrant red hair to the colourful wreath of flowers that always seemed to sit atop her head.

Much to my surprise, all day she was with me assisting in making sure the home was in order, everything was clean and preparing the food and water to make sure we had everything we would need.

All day I was expecting a barrage of questions on my thoughts of who the next ruler would be but managed to avoid it all. Lami seemed to understand how much stress it had put me under, I was grateful for that. Instead she would make conversation about what she saw in the market this morning, and how she had some of the woodland spirits visit her home last night. They did always seem to be drawn towards Lami whenever we encountered them as a group.

It was just before we had prepared a dinner for my family that I was caught unawares. Not thinking, I had gone to wash my face and make sure I was clean in order to make sure everything was safe to eat. Clearly, I had not been thinking. As I stared into the bowl of water, I could see my own reflection. My hair looked…different, too. It was becoming a lighter colour. Certainly, the brown hue had been darker before. What stood out of course, were the markings upon my face. A pair of straight green lines upon each cheek, reaching from my ear, up to the tip of my forehead, almost glowing.

That was not something I had been wanting to see, though I cannot say it was something I did not expect. There would be no hiding this with what I had around me. I had no way out. If I were to leave, Lami would surely chase me and question me before discovering it anyway.

Shock filled her eyes as Lami's mouth hung open as she stared at my face. A heavy silence filled the air as she brought her hands to cover her mouth. By now, we both knew what this would mean. Lami was the first to break the silence.

"You know what that means, don't you Lulu?"

I had never wanted to act ignorant as much as I did in that moment. There was simply no use. Without speaking, I slowly nodded my head.

We did not speak on the matter again all evening. Lami silently assisted me in covering it up again just for one last calm and peaceful night.

My father was home late that night. He had spent all day trying to get good deals on the venison I had brought home the other night. As luck would have it, he did manage that, but it had clearly tired him out. His long hair now unkempt and falling in front of his face.

"Father..."

My quiet call was not enough for him to hear me as he entered our small abode. Hastily, I made my way to his side and helped him carry the earnings back. Physically, many would have called my father the weakest man they had come across. But I knew none with mental fortitude of the likes he possessed. With the body he has always causing him tremendous problems, pushing on through awful measures of pain just to come home with enough to provide for his family.

That mental fortitude was clear to see in his eyes as he stepped in. Though he looked ragged and run-down, you could always see the determination within his eyes. The sturdy spirit within. Helping him set everything down, I called for Mother as well.

As luck would have it, I would be able to have one last peaceful family dinner after all, despite what I knew was coming. Though she needed my help to be led to her seat, she looked as content as she could be. I worried for her; I must confess. Worried more than I would like to admit. Ever since she lost her sight, she had become less active. It must have been so lonely. That was why whenever I was home and she was not asleep I would attempt to talk to her as much as I could. I could not bear to lose what I had here. As their daughter it must sound arrogant, but I do wonder how they would get on without me in these days.

It was a simple meal, as always that we shared. Just an ordinary stew, using meats I had acquired from my recent hunts as well as some of the vegetables and fruits that Gaius' mother had been so kind to share with us thrown in. Usually I would not use so much as to not 'waste' it, but this was a special occasion. I was not sure when I would be eating like this with them again, after all.

Luck was on my side in this matter as there were little to no suspicions coming from Mother and Father during the meal. I assumed both must have been aware of the news, but none of us made any mention of such things. Conversation instead became about how my trip had been with Gaius and how father had to haggle all day with the butcher for the cost of the meat he brought to him. Hearing that came as no surprise, I had my own run-ins with that man for similar experiences and it was always a challenge.

I did not want this meal to end. It could not.

It did.

As I cleaned and made sure everything around our home was tidy and in order once again, I could feel the guilt and dread set in. I could not keep up this façade forever, could I? There was no way I could hide living this far up The Great Oak. This was the simply the price I paid.

Once again, my night was restless. I had an idea of what may end up happening, so I found our spare parchment and wrote out a letter addressing both of my parents. Setting it down on my bed, I finally found myself drifting away.

A loud knocking sound was what awoke me. I could hear the conversations taking place outside my home though.

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

That voice sounded young. It sounded feminine, and I could hear the confidence in her as she spoke.

I almost tripped over myself as I hurried about my room to make sure everything was in order, to become properly dressed. There was no point hiding the markings today, so I washed off my disguise of it.

"It has to be, you heard the reports. They saw her with divination. Doesn't get clearer than that."

The second voice was a gruff male. The man sounded tired, as if he wanted to be anywhere other than here right now.

Steeling myself as I gently pulled the door open, the sight of a dozen or so soldiers greeted me. I could tell why they were here from the insignia of on their oaken armour.

The woman stepped forward.

Her long black hair was pulled into a ponytail, and her face bore scars that looked grossly out of place upon someone so young. Towering above me, it felt as if her voice boomed though she only spoke in a matter-of-fact manner judging from those around her. How I was the only one awoken by this was a mystery to me, but I had not been a heavy sleeper like my mother and father.

"Lutum Sylvari?"

"Yes?"

I knew what was coming next. I wanted to run. But I could not run. I already knew what I had to do, and it was not my choice.

"You have been summoned to the Earthen Palace, upon the top of The Great Oak. You shall accompany us back."

I had no objections. How could I? You did not simply reject orders from the Earthen Knights. The only relief in my heart as we began the climb up, was that I had left at least some kind of notice for my parents. That was where the positive thoughts ended.

I was about to visit the Earthen Palace, just one day after Dahlia had stepped down.