(continued from "A Delicious Reunion - Part 1")
Addiela watched the two depart and sighed. "So... each time we visit Bree, one returns with a mate."
--
"Ha, I'd rather her take her happiness where she can find it,” said Finchley, wiping away the last of her tears. “And anyhow, we're gonna try to fix all this. Grams said there's a way.”
Addiela turned and took two trays of food from the table. "Perhaps we should sit down to finish this conversation; there seems to be much to tell."
The two of them made their way toward the Hall of Memories and seated themselves; Addiela in the chair and Finchley upon a bench next to where Addie had conveniently placed the trays of food.
"One, we'll need to go treasure huntin' for that chalice, Lif mentioned. Then... well, that's where Miss Catalinna comes in," explained Finchley as she continued her eating, pausing in between to say more. "Grams was a witch of Angmar. The last one. So, there are no more witches in Angmar. But Miss Catalinna is her granddaughter by blood. And Moyna said we'd need a witch... But Catalinna ran away. I don't blame her for it. I feel bad."
Addiela 's brows furrowed at the mention of there being a need for a witch. "I am assuming that this witch must be of Moyna's blood or else just being cursed with certain powers and abilities wouldn't be effective... And why do you feel bad? You did not place this curse on her, and it was probably best that she was warned."
Finchley shook her head. "I doubt she wanted any of this... And here I was bein' loved and cared for by Moyna while Miss Cat, her real granddaughter, never knew her and, from what she said, never knew her own mother. It's sad innit? I never knew mine but Grams more than made up for it. But it sounds like Miss Catalinna had no one."
"Having a mother doesn't ensure a good upbringing, Finchley,” remarked Addie, smiling wryly. “Or that you won't feel alone even in your own household... Moyna chose her path and you cannot blame yourself for that. You deserved to be raised properly and loved."
Finchley nodded though she still seemed troubled by the matter. "Aye, I understand. Still, I hate the thought of her havin' to deal with all this alone. Her sister ran back to Angmar and I'm not sure where she and Mister Gregwald went. I have you all and I can barely keep a solid grasp on it all. How much worse is it for her?"
Addiela shook her head, confusion showing in her expression as she puzzled all of this over herself. "I thought Moyna was said to be the last witch?"
“Aye, Moyna was the last one. As for Catalinna, even Moyna said she was no witch... Yet. But, that's why they want her as well, I suppose; because she is Grams' granddaughter by blood. I'm not sure the specifics. It goes beyond me. Lif knows more about the witches and I figure Xan does as well. I have lots of questions for them, about all this and other things.”
Addiela nodded slowly, "I wish to be there when you ask these questions... If there's any way of saving this Catalinna from having to awaken some hidden power and still be able to free you from this burden, I would lend my aid. I am already cursed and would not wish any of this on another."
Finchley paused mid-bite. "Okay. But, for what it’s worth, Addie, I don't think you're cursed." She laughs a little. "Cause if you were cursed, then what does that make me? A right mess, that's what."
“You do not set fields and corpses on fire unwillingly, Finchley. I'd say that was cursed. I almost roasted Eduwiges as well...”
“But you didn’t,” said Finchley, giving her a small smile. "You don't have an ancient, evil sorceress inside you waitin' to pop out at the right moment. And, Mister Leon seems to think you're not cursed. He called it a gift, I think."
"Perhaps not one inside me that is named and labeled... And I am not sure the being bound to a being or power called 'Cinder' is such a gift. If I choose not to use my powers and wish to live a normal life, I get consumed. If I do use my powers... Well… You have seen Leon’s hand, have you not?" remarked Addie, shaking her head.
"Aye, I did. But, I think maybe Mister Leon could help. He is awfully kind. And honest,” replied Finchley, letting out a weak laugh. “Ha, more honest than I was expectin'. Near scared me to death when he sat by me and casually said he was sent to kill me but wasn't goin' to." She sighed and polished off yet another tart.
Silence followed for a while after as Finchley consumed more pies and tarts. Once one tray was completely empty she finally spoke again, clearly having been thinking over Addie’s problems just as hard as Addie had thought over hers.
"... Hey, Addie. Do you like yourself?"
Addiela raised a brow. "Do you ask for me, Finchley, or do you find some commonality that the two of us must cope with harboring something out of our control that seeks to make us into what it wishes?"
Finchley shook her head. "It ain't so much that. But, it’s always it's a good thing, I think, to like yourself, even if there's some things you don't like about yourself. And I had a thought that maybe, if you don't like yourself, you could learn to and that might help. Maybe likin' yourself, even with your powers that you don't much like right now... Perhaps acceptin' them as they are would... Ah-- never mind. I know nothin' of magic things. But I know of likin' oneself. I like myself very much."
Addiela offered a smile at the words. "I live with who I am, Finchley. That's all I can do for now."
Finchley smiled back. "Well, for what it's worth, I hope one day you won't have to 'live with' who you are. I hope one day you can learn to like yourself. Not in spite of your powers, but with them." She reached for another pastry on the second tray and sighed. "Now, if only I could get Lif to like herself too... Linhir scared me, I ain't gonna lie."
Addiela 's crystal blues locked onto Finch's face to study her expression at the next statement. "You seemed to know what was occurring and who the child was."
Finchley nodded, green gaze going very sad for a moment. "I do... But it ain't my story to tell. But what I can say was that it was someone Lif loved a lot a long time ago. She was killed by slavers from Angmar... Lif still feels guilty for it, as if it were her fault." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small locket, which she opens to peer at two pictures of two familar faces, though the portraits of two familiar elves were certainly painted when they were younger. "But I don't think that's all of the reason why she doesn't like herself. I think, it's similar to how Xan feels, just different." She looked to Addie and put on a smile. "But please don’t press Lif about it. Not yet. I don't want her poked in all the vulnerable places she pretends not to have."
Addiela nodded in understanding. "People speak when they wish and if they wish, I would not have to betray her trust... It is good that she has you to help her."
Finchley gigglesnorted and scarfed down another mushroom pie. "I dunno about help. I think she does more of the work while I run along after. She ends up helpin' me more than I do her. But, I suppose that's fine. So long as she stays, I won't feel too badly for it. I just wish she could be happy. I wish we could all be happy. But, for now, I suppose we'll have to make do with what we've got and cherish the happier moments in between, aye?"
"She will never admit how much you help her, Finchley, but the fact that she speaks her secrets to you is proof enough – she needs you as much as you need her… And, aye, take every moment you can get..."
