I opened my eyes to see my reflection staring back. My vibrant red hair had been braided, and I was donned in white laces. The dress I had been wearing was rather flocky, and thankfully, I got to wear white slippers with the dress.

  “You’d look better with heels,” Melissa said, adjusting the dress. “Though, we tried to get you to walk in that already, and it didn’t work.”

  “I know, I know,” I said. “But could’ya imagine stumblin’ up the steps? Father Farrow would throw a gasket!”

  “He wouldn’t. Everyone knows a [Farmer] don’ wear things like these unless it’s for somethin’ right special, Ashy.”

  I let out a deep breath. “I reckon. Thankin’ ya again, Melly. I know we ain’t get along when we were kids an’ all, but it’s might fine of ya.”

  “Please. We were children, Ashy! Besides, if I didn’t, Jazzy wouldn’t let me hear the end of it. Tellin’ me off for lettin’ her sister down and all.”

  “But I can’t pay ya much, and you made this so wonderfully!” I cooed, spinning with the white dress.

  It was a dress made of simple, sun-bleached linen—the kind Ma used to hang on the line until it was soft enough to sleep in. It wasn’t stiff or heavy; it moved with the wind like the tall grass in the meadow, light and airy against my skin.

  The bodice was modest and comfortable, stitched with care but without a single bead or gem. Instead of jewels, tiny, hand-embroidered wildflowers climbed up the seams—bluebells and daisies stitched in threads that must have been saved from old scraps, their colors faded but vibrant with love. A sash of pale green ribbon, the color of a new leaf, tied simply at my waist, trailing down the back of the skirt.

  There were no petticoats or heavy layers to weigh me down. The skirt fell in soft, natural folds that brushed against my ankles, perfect for walking through a field without dragging in the dirt. It smelled of lavender water and fresh air, clean and wholesome.

  Melissa pulled on the sash again, tightening it against my waist. It was getting hard to breathe in, but for today, I’d bare with it. She then put her hand on my shoulder.

  “Jasmine and Ophelia said they were going to fix your hair and makeup, and then we would send you off to be walked by Madeleine and Noel.”

  “I wish they’d get along,” I muttered.

  “These two gettin’ along is like a silkworm and a leaf, Ashy…” she laughed, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her. I placed my hand atop of her shoulder in response, before pulling her in.

  “I’m so glad we’re going to be sisters, Melly,” I stuttered out, my hands wrapping around her back. I pulled her in close, and let my head rest on her shoulders. My eyes teared up, and I couldn’t stop the flow.

  Melissa began to tear up as well, before pushing me off. “We just did your hair! I know it has to be done better, but you’re going to ruin it before you even go on!” she tried to chide, wiping her own eyes with a napkin. “I’m going to get dressed. I’ll see you with the others, real soon.”

  I blinked.

  The next moments seemed fast, as Jasmine and Ophelia walked in and redid my hair. They fixed my makeup, and they both hugged me. Jasmine had worn a tan dress, and Ophelia, ignoring the dress code, had worn gray – black was too depressing for today.

  I wanted to talk to them more, but my heart was focused on something else.

  I blinked.

  I stood between Noel and Madeleine and their hushed argument faded away into genuine smiles. I hadn’t seen Madeleine in ages, so I rushed towards her first, wrapping my arms around her.

  “Chérie! You look so merveilleuse! And the dress, and the hair! Your mother would be so pleased. I know I am,” she gushed, her hand raising up to my cheek to stroke it. “You are missing your veil, if this sal– if Noel would allow me my role to don it upon our daughter?”

  Noel snorted, but looked away. “Veil away. And let’s be civil for tonight, Ms. La Croix. For her sake.”

  “That will highly depend on if you brought him with you.”

  “You brought her with you, did you not? Our ledger is balanced.”

  Madeleine glared at Noel, but wiped that expression off as soon as she turned to me. “Ah, chérie, I didn’t think I’d have the honor to see someone down the aisle. And you, of all people…” she said, raising to her tippy-toes and then kissing my cheek.

  She pulled out a white veil, with soft laces and the sweet scent of elderflowers. I had to lower my head, but she put it on me like a crown. I could see out of it, and both Noel and Madeleine smiled warmly. I offered my hand out, and Noel softly led me out.

  I blinked.

  The carpet was so brilliantly red, with gold trim. I stared at it so I didn’t have to look up, but Noel’s grasp against my hand led me forward. The pews were filled with people.

  Most of them were faceless, featureless, and unimportant. I knew he liked them, but I never put in the effort to learn who they were. But I could see who I wanted to see! Auntie Laura, Mary, Mark, The Marlows, all turning to face me. I stared at each of their eyes, and then raised my head to the altar.

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  Father Farrow stared at me, and to his left, my right, were my bridesmaids. Jasmine’s smiles had been drowned out in tears, and even Ophelia’s angry, neutral stance was noticeably softened. Melissa stood beside Jasmine, scanning me up and down. She motioned to her waist, and then made a tightening motion – it seemed my sash had loosened again.

  I had to do my best not to look to the other side, as much as I wanted too. It was a bad tradition until I was allowed, but I didn’t know who he had asked to be his groomsmen. He wasn’t that close to his family, but he had been telling me about some men he was spending more and more time with.

  Madeleine sat at the front pew, to Aywin’s right. There was a small amount of distance between the two, but I had asked both of them to come in place of my family. On the other end, I could see more faceless people. I struggled to recognize their faces, but it had seemed he had done the same.

  Noel tugged my hand again, as we began our walk down the aisle.

  I blinked.

  "We stand under the Great Weaver’s gaze to witness the joining of two threads. Separate, they are but strands in the wind. Together, they form the tapestry of life. Do you come to be knotted?" Father Farrow recited.

  I looked away from the priest and at Adrian’s face. His hand reached forward and lifted my veil, though he did have to lean upwards.

  For once, I didn’t mind.

  We both began to speak in union, with words we practised with our friends. We never practised together, as was tradition. If Elora willed it, it would sound right.

  "In the sight of Elora, who spins the fate of all things, I offer myself to be bound to thee. As the warp supports the weft, I promise to be your strength. As the lace holds its shape, I promise to be your constancy. I tie my life to yours, a knot that no mortal hand may sever, nor time unravel. I am the thread; you are the anchor. From this breath until the final cut, we are woven as one."

  While we weren’t perfectly intune, it was close enough – and that was better than most! I smiled, wanting to lunge forward, but it wasn’t the time just yet.

  "What Elora has woven, let nothing tear asunder." Father Farrow said, as Melissa walked forward. She had taken my sash off my waist, and the sash off Adrian’s, and tied our hands and wrists together.

  I leaned in before he could. My hand wrapped around his head, and pulled him in. His boyish face came closer to mine, but I stared at his lips.

  I blinked.

  I walked down the Samaine River, holding a basket in my hand. Amelia had only learned to walk, and Jonathon was still with his father. Ophelia however took care of him, who knew she was such a good nursemaid!

  We had already purchased the Anderson Farm after we combined the Hart Farm with the Skye Lodge.

  I didn’t want to hyphenate my name, like the girls in the Academy did. Ashley Skye sounded so much better, but Adrian offered to call himself Adrian Hart.

  I forbade that.

  Amelia reached up to a low-hanging branch, plucking a peach. It was soft and fresh, and she placed it in the basket. She was still a [Child], and I might need to ask Dalliance now if he would be able to teach her to be a [Scamp], though, if she wanted to be a [Scholar] or [Squire] like her pa or ma wanted to be, I reckoned that’d be alright too.

  I leaned down to take the peach from her hands, and took my knife to slice it out. Ophelia had taught me to cut fruits so quickly. I sliced the peach, and accidentally nicked my finger!

  Black, rotting blood began to spill out. The sunny day and calm winds picked up, blackening instantly. I stared at my bleeding fingers. I could hear screams again. I smelled rotting fleshing. Four young faces stared at me in the distance.

  “Ma?” Amelia asked, tugging on my arm. She looked up at me, and the blackness and coldness surrounding us faded into nothing. I smiled down at her.

  “Sorry, baby. Ma just nicked her finger,” I gently explained, wiping my red blood off. I sucked on my finger for a second, before slicing a new, non-bloodied slice of peach for her.

  My finger still stung. Something bubbled inside. I leaned down and kissed Amelia’s forehead, and rubbed her bright red hair.

  I blinked.

  I awoke in bed, my eyes closed and my body fighting me. My stomach twisted, my heart rapidly beat, and any food that entered my mouth was violently expelled out. Adrian wiped more sweat off my cheek, as Amelia and Jonathon waited outside.

  Ophelia and Jasmine said they’d attend to them, and Madeleine and Noel had gone to find some natural cure.

  I coughed, black blood expelling from my mouth. Adrian wiped my forehead once more, and sliced some oranges and peaches.

  “You need to eat something, Ashy,” he begged, putting the orange slice to my mouth. His favourite fruit was oranges, and while I had tried to convince him of the benefits of peaches…

  …I was alright with him convincing me otherwise.

  He placed it into my mouth and I tried to chew. The sweet juice poured into my throat, but by the time it reached my stomach, I already upheaved it out.

  I groaned, and Adrian caressed my cheek.

  I closed my eyes.

  This time, I just saw blackness. I struggled to open it again.

  KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

  Adrian immediately shot up, but there was an oddness of the action. He jutted and flashed, like if certain motions were skipped entirely. His mouth opened, but the voice came a moment later.

  The door opened, and an unfamiliar face walked through the door. Behind him darkness bled out.

  The man looked old. His face was wrinkled, and his white hair was like a lion’s mane. His hair was tall, and his beard and moustache coated his face. Unlike Noel, this was clean. He had black eyes that looked around the room.

  “Doctor!” Adrian immediately said, but his voice didn’t seem to go with his lips. It was off or too quick, and I couldn’t tell.

  The doctor looked at Adrian, and moved past him. “Good Fellow, I must request you leave this room. What I practise here is between myself, and my patient.”

  Adrian opened his mouth, but the Doctor raised his hand. He touched Adrian’s form who disappeared into nothing but smoke.

  I forced my eyes shut. They slowly opened.

  The doctor was still staring at me.

  “Lady Hart, you are dying. Our Dark Mother was worried about you, so I intervened in her place. I imagine her meeting you at death’s door would have pushed you over the edge.”

  I coughed again, my stomach twisting. Black blood poured out of my mouth, pooling atop of my lips. “W-Who? Who are you?”

  His hand reached out to touch my head. It felt more static, and more solid. “Do you not recognize your teacher? I do understand I looked different in the waking world… but you must realize that not eating for a week, not drinking, and scraping at your skin is bad for your health, Ashley.”

  “Who?”

  Levan sat beside me. “I’ll attempt to mend your body and soul while you’re at Torrent’s Door. The Necropolis will always welcome you, but coming in this way is a permanent welcome.”

  I stared up at him, looking at his white beard and black eyes.

  “You are dying, Lady Hart. Mother wished to apologize to you personally, but in your state? A doctor’s visit was in order.”