Amalia
the shield of safrin
Amalia returns to the shrine alone, settling onto her knees before it, barefoot in the snow. She has spent the last days (weeks, months, years) doing her best to fulfill Vi's teachings, planting and defending roses, praying and hoping, baking and living, trying to solve problems she does not understand.It does not feel like enough. Each rose she sees is a reminder of Ronin, of Jigano and Kiada, of Remi's scars. Of Safrin, crying tears of black, hissing icy condemnation on her attempts to help. How can she call herself a Shield when she has failed to defend anyone? A foolish child is all she is - mortal, minute, weak. For a brief moment she had believed herself worthy, had managed to convince herself she might be more, that goodness was truly in her grasp-
At least she managed to plant the roses. At least she has not failed in that.
"Vi," Amalia whispers softly, her head bowed as she runs a finger along one of the stems. "I planted three roses - at the Mathair, the Spire, and... and at Safrin's shrine. She... she isn't well, and she asked me..." A shuddering exhale; she bows her head further, tears behind the lids of her eyes. "I... I know that the roses will help. They helped her, for a minute. But... she's suffering so much, and I don't... I don't want to have to..."
A sob pushes through her, but she bites it down, sniffing in the silent woods, her tears melting rivulets in the snow. She could fall apart here; Gods know her seams are frayed enough. But that would imply she has a right to make this about her. With a sigh, the baker composes herself, biting her lip, hands in her lap as she settles into the snow. There is more work to do here, yet.
Sitting cross legged on the frozen ground, Amalia begins to sing.
"Roses red with the blood of Vi
"Ruby white on snow,
"Planted into frozen soil,
"Blessed by Rae to grow.
"Long we've waited, long we've prayed,
"For our world to be saved.
"Rae, we know you heard our call,
"Let love and nature save us all,
"Rae, your children are at war,
"Let balance reign forever more."
Post in {SWE} Deliverance and collect three of Vi's Roses
- Done
Complete three threads planting the roses:
- Two Sides of the Same Coin (Mathair)
- {PQ} hope as fragile as a rose (Spire)
- {SE} your stardust soul (Safrin's Shrine)
Try to convince a blighted individual to prick their finger on one of Vi's Roses
- took the stars from our eyes (Safrin)
Once all of the above is complete return to the Deliverance thread and pray to Rae
- Done
someday we'll find what we're looking for
or maybe not
maybe we'll find something much greater
