As what was meant to be a day or two of refuge in the Boarding house in Trestlebridge expanded into more than a week, the landlady’s annoyance and vigilance had to be relaxed by a handful of coins from Xandilif. Once that was managed, Catalinna’s slow recovery became the focus of the group.
As night descended and the evening meal was brought in, Gwyndolith sat on the bench in the corner of the common room of the Boarding House with the doll in her hands as her only company, still seemingly unable to process the conversation in which she had regained it, even after a day or two passed.
Catalinna slowly wandered into the room. The landlady had given her a change of clothes (for a few more coins slipped to her secretly by the elf), but she had still chosen to walk around barefoot. Her stomach growled loudly as she made her way toward the smell of food and once there, she reached down to take a handful of berries, ignoring the roast meats and bread.
Gwyndolith glanced up at the sound of walking "Oh... Cat." She didn’t bother moving the doll.
Catalinna glanced toward Gwyn at the sound of her name and she started to grin, but then noticed the doll and her brow furrowed. With her gaze still on the doll, she popped a few of the berries into her mouth and greeted the woman. "Ey there.""
Gwyndolith raised a brow at Cat's reaction to the doll "Alive and well then?" she asked with an odd look.
“Yeah to the first one.. the second I still ain't sure about.” Cat shrugged.
Gwyndolith nodded, 'Hm... I can imagine...'
Catalinna shrugged again and reached down her other hand to take more berries, now having both hands full. "It could be worse, hm?" With food obtained, she moved to sit down on the bench beside Gwyn.
Gwyndolith let her eyes follow Cat "Yeah... It's still you in there." she said gesturing to Cat's head with the hand the doll is in.
Catalinna quirked a brow at Gwyn. "Huh?"
Gwyndolith let out a sigh. "For a bit... It wasn't... Actually... Do you feel like you aren't the only person in your head right now?" Gwyn moves her eyes to the doll in her hand "Both your Mother, my real Mother... For all I care... And Moyna spoke through you."
The corners of Cat’s lips twitched slightly, but her expression didn’t give much away otherwise. "Hm... What are you talkin' about?"
Gwyndolith narrowed her eyes "You really don't know anything? This doll... I thought it was gone forever after what we saw in the Halls of Night... And yet... It's here now."
Catalinna's expression contorted to one of pain for a moment, but that quickly subsided. Her gaze appeared to be distant as though she might be reliving some events in her mind. "Halls of Night..."
Gwyndolith grimaced slightly "I guess the elf was right about something... Dying really does shake up the memories..."
Catalinna's eyes narrowed now. "Yeah.. well..."
Gwyndolith shuddered "I wonder where this came from... Something so small... And yet it means more than I could ever describe." she said staring at the doll intently.
As Cat shoved more berries into her mouth, she plainly stated in a voice not entirely as she had sounded before, "It was made, simple as that. The leather came from an auroch, the dress was hand-stitched, and the hair was once part of a warg's tail."
Gwyndolith blinked and snaped her gaze back to Cat "H-How?" She narrowed her eyes and seemed utterly surprised "You shouldn't... You wouldn't have known that..."
Catalinna just continued to eat the berries, seemingly unfazed by Gwyn’s reaction.
Gwyn was restraining the instinct to take her by the shoulders and shake her. "How do you know?"
Catalinna shrugged yet again. "How do you not?"
Gwyndolith nearly shouted, 'I do! But you /shouldn't/ Cat... You didn't remember anything from our childhood before."'
A half smile crept onto Cat’s face. “How could I not, hm? I had one just like it.”
Gwyndolith blinked a little "Then... What else can you remember?"
Catalinna reached up and scratched at her head with her knuckles so that she didn’t get berry juice in her hair. "I don't know... Why?"
"Because this is huge... You didn't remember anything prior to this... Makes me think... Perhaps you could... Or already have regained your memories of me... And that I'm not so alone.". Gwyn looked at the other woman hopefully…but clearly afraid.
Catalinna's brows raised and she hummed to herself, seeming to lose the thread of the conversation. Her expression then went through many phases: confused, pain, some recognition, fatigue. "How was I before, hm?"
Gwyndolith thought for a moment before responding very carefully, 'Well... I can't imagine you've changed all that much... Others would see you...us I suppose, as rude, perhaps selfish or greedy... Maybe they were right but that doesn't really matter."'
Finchley stepped in from outside suddenly and tossed her scarf on the coat rack, the heavy door banging open as if she were a child rushing home from school. She stood there a moment and then having realized that she was interrupting something, sort of awkwardly waved at Gwyn and Cat before moving to get herself something to eat at the table. Within a few moments, half of the food available was on two plates, one balanced on each of her thighs after the girl had sat down.
Catalinna chuckled at Gwyn’s comment and just popped some more of the berries into her mouth.
Finchley casually began to shovel food into her mouth. Stress eating.
Gwyndolith grinned for the first time since before they had gone to Fornost as a memory came to her. "Do you remember the small waterfall we found as kids? In the mountains."
Catalinna 's eyes narrowed for a moment as though she was trying to remember something long in the past, and then she nodded. "Yeah, you were too scared to jump from the ledge and so I had to show you that it was safe."
Gwyndolith blinked a little and let out a long breath "Then... Do you remember my name?" She set the doll aside for the moment and stared at Cat with a mix of emotions.
Catalinna stared hard back at Gwyn, but then shook her head, unable to recall it.
Gwyndolith covered her eyes for a moment before nodding "Well... I should be happy you remember anything..." she paused for a moment "It’s Gwyn…try not to forget it this time hm?" she said with a grin masking her sadness.
Finchley listened in on the conversation and frowned, her own guilt multiplying.
Catalinna smiled at the woman and then leaned forward to get another handful of berries. "How could I forget a name as simple as Gwyn, hm?"
Gwyndolith snorted softly "You tell me... You've done it once before."
Finchley sucked in a breath and, having cleaned both plates, reached for more food but paused as she remembered her upbringing. "Umm... Was anyone wantin' any more of this or...?"
Gwyn paused in thought before being distracted by Finch and noticing her stomach rumbling "Ah... Yeah... I do." she said standing up, looking happier than Finch had ever seen her before following her talk with Cat.
Catalinna looked over when Finch spoke up and motioned for her to bring the food over. "So... you're not just the drink wench, but... the server of this place in general?"
Finchley nods and sort of piles up all the remaining food on a platter to take over to the other table, trying not to look disappointed. "Ah.. no. I'm Finchley." She smiled just a bit. "If I were a servin' wench, I'd be very bad at the job. Too many tasty things-..."
Catalinna's eyes narrowed at the name. "Finchley?"
She paused and looked back at Cat, smile disappearing. "Aye, that's me."
Gwyndolith lightly punched Cat in the way she used to as a child when Cat was speaking out a bit too much.
Catalinna reached up and held her arm. "What?"
Gwyndolith grinned again. "Hah... Trying to see how much you remember."
Catalinna slowly nodded, but didn’t say anything more, though her gaze remained on Finch.
Finchley sat the food on the table and stood there, looking to her toes. "... I'm sorry."
“For what? Not eatin' all of it before it got to the table?” Cat starts to picks some of the food off of the platter while waiting for the response.
Finchley shook her head, remembering all that had gone on in Fornost. "Nah. Just for... everything else." She gestured vaguely with her hand.
Gwyndolith glanced between the two losing her smile and hesitantly reached out to pat Finch's shoulder. "I guess it's not your fault... We who are forced into terrible situations have a habit of blaming ourselves wrongly hm?" she said softly in an almost motherly tone.
Finchley glanced at Gwyn, surprised. "Maybe... It weren't the situation that was my fault. But I made a promise to Miss Cat here and I didn't keep it as well as I wanted and now she's-..." She gestured vaguely again.
“'I'm what?... What promise, hm?” Cat’s expression was impossible to read.
Gwyndolith shrugged a little "She's alright... Given what happened... In fact... We've done surprisingly well considering just where we went."
Cat sighed as they ignored her and spoke about her as though she wasn’t there, “I'm still in the room ya know...”
Finchley looked back at Cat. "... You told me afore we went to Fornost that I should fight hard for myself. I promised to. And I promised to pull for you... I fought but it wasn't enough. And you ended up pullin' for me instead, even though you didn't have a choice."
As she listened to Finch's words, Cat’s eyes showed that she was working to remember.
Finchley nodded a little, still looking at Cat and tried to help. "I promised you thaon t that day in Knotwood after I accidentally scared Rue. And uh... your dog pushed me off a bridge."
Gwyndolith raised a brow "That... Sounds like a story..."
Cat’s lips pursed, 'Hm.. Why does that all sound familiar? Knotwood.. Rue.. Dog? What dog?'
Gwyndolith glanced at Cat. "Biscuit-Eater... Where is that dog actually...?"
Finchley nodded eagerly, 'Aye, Biscuit-Eater. Knotwood is where the Soothery was. You worked for a doctor named Elias Dimheim. And there was another lass named Rue and you two... fought more often than not, to be honest.'
Gwyndolith nodded along with that "Had to patch you up after one of those fights..."
Cat nodded as well, “Ah.. right... ok. Someone's been feedin' that dog?”
Finchley's eyes looked like they were about to pop out. "... Oh, no, I sure hope so. I'm not sure where you left him. If you'd like, I know Rue doesn't very much like me. But, even though you two fought, you seemed to be around each other a lot. Maybe I could write to her and see if she knows where the dog is? And anythin' else?'
Gwyndolith thought for a long moment and looked at Finch "I doubt we'll be staying much if at all longer than you and your elf, since she has plans for some kind of “vacation”... I know I'd like to leave."
Finchley nodded to Gwyn. "Aye. But still, I think maybe it'd be good to make sure Miss Cat's... friends? Aye, her friends know she's comin' back. I think Neth'll be takin' you all to our home near Bree..."
Cat looked at Finch, “Wait.. who's that? And takin' us where?”
Gwyndolith narrowed her eyes. "Nethrida, the one you called a cleaning lady..."
“Oh.. the cleanin' lady also drives the wagon?” Cay smiled brightly.
Gwyndolith pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated. "There is no wagon... Though it would make things easier."
Finchley nodded. "Aye, you'll likely be goin' on Slingshot..."
Cat’s brows raised, “On what?”
Gwyndolith rubbed her left arm idly at the mention of that horse. "Your horse... That we borrowed."
Cat still looked confused. “Oh... Why on earth would anyone name a horse that?”
Gwyndolith sighs quietly. "Because it threw us off..."
Finchley tried not to smile or laugh, she honestly tried... but failed and giggled uncontrollably thinking of the scene.
Cat tapped her chin with her finger, seeming not to hear Finch’s laughter. “Hm... then, the name seems appropriate. Why would I ride a horse like that though?”
Finchley was still laughing, 'Cause he likes the same drinks as you.'
Gwyndolith nodded a little at that "Yes…He broke my arm then stole our drinks."
Catalinna laughed as well. "I remember now..." Her laughter then faded and a look of anger flashed in her eyes. "Yeah, I remember…that horse stole my moonshine." Cat glanced toward the window now and her lips pursed in thought. "What'll be happenin' after we leave?"
Gwyndolith seemed unsure "I... I'm not sure... Yet... We'll do more planning back in Bree."
Cat looked back at her, eyes suddenly serious. 'Plannin' for what?'
Gwyndolith glanced at Finch and sighed quietly while deciding whether she should say anything further with the younger woman around. Finally she nodded. "My children... Still need to be found, you promised that you would help with that." For a moment she thought of the version of her children she had met in that horrible future. Her desire to avoid that fate hardened her resolve. "And this is why you need to regain what memories you can...I need your help, now more than ever."
Catalinna just shrugged and reached for more of the food that Finch brought over.
Gwyndolith looked hurt at the reaction, or lack thereof, to her plea, but then decided another topic would be better "Is there anything else you can remember from our childhood?"
Catalinna replied with her mouth full, "Not sure..."
Gwyndolith raises a brow "Hm... Not sure?"
Cat shrugged. 'Yeah, It means I don't know.' Finchley seemed to be lost to thought as Cat looked at her. "What's wrong with you, hm?"
Finchley looked up and smiled weakly. "Ah... lots of things. But it's okay. You don't have to worry 'bout 'em. Just... promise me that when you do remember, you'll let me know if there's anythin' I can do to make up for it all."
Gwyndolith blinked a little and gave Finch a sympathetic look as Catalinna quirked a brow at the woman. "Make up for what?"
Finchley bit her lip, 'For puttin' you through this. And then some. Even if i didn't make the plans, in the end, looks like I'm the one that benefitted from it.'
Catalinna shook her head, eyes warm and wise as she looks at Finchley. "If you didn't make the plans, then, why are you the one feelin' guilty, hm? Doesn't make sense."
Gwyndolith sighed quietly but remained quiet otherwise "Probably because the people who did make the plans never would."
Finchley looked between the two and then smiles a little. "... Grams always did say I were soft hearted."
Gwyndolith looked conflicted at the mention of Moyna "Perhaps... Don't speak of her right now..."
The front door opened gently and Dartanius entered the room. With a pleasant smile, he walked over to the women, “Good evening.”
Catalinna grinned at Finch as was about to say something when Dar entered the room. "Ey there." She then whispered to the other two. "Who's that?"
Finchley waved to Dar. "Mister Dar. He's your friend." Her smile fell a bit. "And was with Miss Gwyn here when they were sent to /that/ place, aye?" She looked to Gwyn for confirmation.
However Cat interrupted, 'So will someone tell me what exactly happened?'
Finchley looked awkwardly at Gywn and Dar. '... Should I say or...?'
“Say it.. put it in song or dance... either way, I need to know, hm?” Cat nodded encouragingly at Finchley
Gwyndolith sighed quietly "It's best you tell it Finch... Dart and I got separated from you."
Dartanius nodded his head in agreement. "What happened to us is different than what happened to your group Finch."
Finchley rubbed her hands together nervously. "Aye... Where do I begin?"
TO BE CONTINUED
