A Magical Gathering (Part One)

That evening, Ashlynn dressed simply, wearing her plain emerald green Traveling Hat along with a simple green and brown dress that would have been suitable to wear for a long day riding a horse or visiting Eldritch villages in the countryside. 

"Are you sure you this is the right tone, my lady?" Heila asked as she helped style Ashlynn's hair into a simple, thick braid that gathered her long, blond tresses at the base of her neck. "You are the Mother of Trees now. The others joining us will understand what that means better than most." 

"I know," Ashlynn said with a light smile. "But it's because they understand that this is so necessary. As witches, you and I may be powerful, but we are both still beginners in our craft. A few months of training, no matter how intense, can never take the place of years of study, and everyone else tonight will have studied their arts longer than you or I have been alive."