Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was probably not a surprise that, despite exhaustion, nobody had a proper, uninterrupted sleep that night. Eda woke up a few times, about once per hour, really and each time she’d notice at least one other person’s eyes were open. She saw Darius, Camila, Eber, their eyes glowing in the dark, Hooty, felt Raine stir next to her. At least the kids seemed to be sleeping better than the adults, even if at one point, she did notice Hunter’s eyes, strangely reflective like a cat’s.

It was not for the lack of comfort either. They may have all gathered in her empty, dusty living room like they were at a very depressing sleepover, but Darius, to everyone’s gratitude, used the last of his energy to summon a few soft, comfy, abomination mattresses before he collapsed on top of the one right next to Hunter's.

Eda and Raine stayed in their little nest though, Eda was used to that way of sleeping and Raine looked utterly unwilling to move even a muscle. The nest was soft enough, made from straw rather than twigs like the one in her room.

Which was why, when she woke up for the third time that night, she was surprised to find their side of the nest empty, only King curled up into their blanket. Panic started to settle into her stomach before she reminded herself that they were probably just using the bathroom.

She could not fall back asleep, so she kept stroking King’s back, waiting for Raine to return.

When they didn’t come back for about five minutes, she got properly worried and decided to look for them. Maybe they fainted or slipped and fell somewhere in the house.

Cursing her throbbing joints and sore muscles under her breath, she climbed out of the nest with zero grace, basically falling out of it. King stirred in his sleep, probably noticing the lack of warmth, so she picked him up, blanket and all and carried him over to one of the improvised beds that Luz and Camila were sleeping on.

Camila stirred as Eda placed King next to her and Luz, peaking one eye, half-open, “Ea-h…?”

“Don’t worry, I’m just placing this little one here so he can curl up with someone while I look for Raine,” she said, though she had a feeling Camila was way too groggy to understand any of her words.

“Umm…lindo….,” the human muttered, as King buried himself closer to Luz.

Owlbert hooted on her shoulder, Not hear word said, Camila.

“Eh, I know. How about you stay here to warn King where I went if the little guy wakes up, huh?”

Hoot!, Owlbert replied and flew next to the sleeping humans and a titan.

She smiled at the sight of all of them, her kid, no her kids, plural, one of their mum who she was terrified of meeting, but it went fine. Though she feared Camila might, deservedly, rip into her later over how she treated Luz early on. Not to mention that Luz die-

Nope. Nope. Not going there, she stopped herself before tears could start spilling and before she’d be a sobbing mess on the dirty floor. That particular piece of trauma was something she'd unpack later. Maybe it was the night making her do it, but she was heavily considering that Steve may have been onto something with that therapy business.

She took a few deep breaths, calming herself. Right, she wanted to check where Raine was. Kitchen? Bathroom? Maybe they went outside for a midnight (was it midnight?) stroll, though she doubted they’d want to expand whatever bits of energy they had left. Her throat was dry so she limped over to the kitchen first, to have a glass of water. The cold liquid helped calm her nerves too, though she would kill for a glass of apple blood even the kid-friendly kind, when she heard the faintest of sounds upstairs.

“Seriously, Whispers?” she muttered. How were they, in their state, even able to climb upstairs was a mystery, but she decided to go find them. She had a feeling they didn’t climb up just to enjoy the view from the balcony.

A dozen stairs and about every curse she knew later she was on the upper story and noticed a few light orbs illuminating the hallway from her room. For a moment she thought that maybe a miracle happened, and the power of the glyphs returned. Then she remembered that every witch, even coven members, can do light spells. She followed the trail down the hall and to the door of her bedroom, which she hated seeing so bare, stripped of everything but her nest and a few items scattered around, left behind by the EC in their raid. She half expected to find Raine in it, but the nest was empty.

Instead, she noticed them when she peeked through the window. They sat on the floor of the balcony, leaning against the balcony wall, a dusty blanket rolled up under their neck as a pillow. They looked smaller in Darius’ oversized sweater and the trousers way too long for them as if the fabric would swallow them.

She took a blanket crumpled at the bottom of her nest and climbed over the nest and the windowsill, letting out another string of curses that would make the most rugged sailor blush.

“Why the fuck would you come all the way up here, I know for a fact you’re in worse shape than I am!”

Raine peeked one eye open, chuckled hoarsely, and closed it again, “Hello to you too, Calamity!”

“Sorry. But seriously, how did you climb here? And why?”

“Shere power of will? As for why,” they shrugged, “your kitchen is not the most inspiring at the moment.”

“And my empty room is, huh?” she asked, lowering herself next to them, cursing some more. Her spine and hips hurt in all sorts of old and new ways.

“Are you sure I’m in worse shape?” They asked cheekily.

“My joints are screaming at me enough to make me doubt it! How is your shoulder?”

“Despite being dislocated in the fight, better than the rest of me,” They chuckled again, before they returned their sight to the sky, “Your room may not be in the nicest state, but the balcony is pretty as always.”

They say it so casually, so off-handedly. Did they know that, out of everyone she ever dated, they were the only one who got to see it?

“Welp, you, and everyone else will have to wait for me to get the rest of the house into a more inspiring state. Gotta get some furniture again and I have a feeling we’ll have to deal with more pressing matters than my house furnishing!”

“It will be a few trips to the storage if we get enough people involved. Enough people and an airship. And Alador owes me a solid!”

“The storage…right! You kept all my stuff, you sneaky bastard!”

Raine turned their head to her slightly, a weak, tired version of their characteristic sly grin on their face, “Had to pull some strings but, yeah, of course I did! It was all supposed to be done within a week, I was not planning on leaving you with that!” They pointed to the empty room. “Assuming it was not looted, most of your furniture and valuables should be there!”

“Well, I doubt anyone would want a couch older than Luz and I put all my valuables in boxes marked Eda’s longest nails #2, or Hooty’s nastiest pellets. You would have pretty desperate for loot to touch those.”

Raine’s grin turned into a confused grimace, “Does he have pellets?”

“Not sure, actually…”

They sat silently for a bit, Raine leaned slightly on her shoulder and, despite their warmth pressed against her, she wrapped her blanket tighter around her shoulders.

“Snail for your thoughts. Or rather,” she dug into the pocket of Darius’ jumper she was wearing, “a crumpled chocolate wrap.”

Raine gazed upwards, towards the sky, their face a mix of emotions, but mostly longing, worry and regret, “I’m thinking about them.”

“Collector?” Eda asked as they were the only person that directly connected to the stars.

“No. I mean, they can’t not be on my mind after the last few months, but no. I’m thinking about Fiddle,” the last word was choked out as if something was pressing on their chest.

“Fiddle…? Fiddlestick! You palisman?!”

“Yes,” they muttered solemnly, barely a whisper, their face contorted in guilt and pain. She didn’t know what to say. Raine sacrificed a lot for the cause, and she wondered whether Fiddle was one of those things. She doubted they had in them to hand her over to Belos, as ruthless as Raine could be in some moments, but maybe they chased them away to evade suspicion.

Or maybe…

Maybe they started buying into the whole “Palismen are evil” spiel and chased them away then. Maybe Fiddle was taken from them, after all, Lilith was the only highly positioned member and coven head with a palisman she knew. And even she stood by as Belos consumed palisman.

Was Fiddlestick…?

Whatever happened, it seemed to be plaguing them with guilt.

“They’re not gone,” Raine said as if reading her mind, “they were with me. The whole time.”

“How?”

Their lips quivered as if they attempted a wry smile, “Hidden in plain sight.”

“Hidden in plain…?” Eda’s mind raced. Or rather, it ran with a limp, how groggy her thoughts were. What did they mean by that? Did Fiddle act as a still statue in their office? Did they pretend to be a regular fox pet?

Raine…

Foxes…

A flash of them playing passed through her mind and there was something very foxy (and not just in a hot way) about that image.

“Raine…” she paused for a second, “was your violin a palisman this whole time!?!” Fiddlestick. Unlike Eda and Lilith, Raine didn’t carve their palisman. She remembered the day when they found him.

A few months after they met, she sat with her dad in his workshop when Raine frantically ran in, holding what at first glance looked like a damaged wood figurine.

“Mr. Clawthorne! Mr. Clawthorne! I need your help!”

Raine looked like they just lost a fight with a cat, their face scratched up and hair ruffled, and Eda realized why when they placed the “wood figurine” on the desk. It was a palisman, one quite badly hurt and not in the cuddliest mood.

“My, my, who do we have here,” Dell muttered and gently took the palisman from Raine. The small fox was still feisty, but unlike Raine, Dell knew how to properly hold an injured palisman and how to calm them down, so he didn’t suffer the same fate as they did, only earning a few bites on his fingers.

“Witchlet, can you handle the customer coming in with this one?” He pointed to a new palisman he just finished from the town baker, “You know the drill.”

“Yup, I’ll do it,” Eda said, slightly disappointed. She was proud her dad trusted her with the important task, and delighted she would get to give the “and if you don’t treat your palisman well, we’ll come for you” speech, but also wanted to see what would happen to the palisman Raine brought. 

She gave one last glance to Raine and her dad and the shivering, injured palisman, offering her friend an encouraging smile.

“I can fix them with some resin,” she heard Dell say to Raine, “she’s badly damaged, the leg almost fell off, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Please try,” Raine asked, “they seemed so, so frightened when I found them.”

Raine got attached to the fox quickly and, strangely, she to them. Eda returned to the workshop quite quickly after finishing handing the order and found Raine helping Dell wrap the worst injuries and the palisman seemed oddly comfortable around them now.

“It’s rare for injured palismen to like witches like this,” Dell said to them as the palisman fell asleep in Raine arms, “There must be something about you, child, something they really like!”

“Well of course there is! Raine is the coolest and they found them and brought them here to be helped even if it seems like they tried to bite Raine’s face off!” Eda noted and that last comment earned a hiss from the palisman, “Come on,” she took Raine’s hand, “you fixed the palisman, now we gotta fix your face!”

“Are you saying something is wrong with my face?” Raine asked slyly, but Eda was having none of that.

“Yes, there’s blood all over it, come on!”

The fox palisman didn’t stay with Raine immediately, leaving after a day of recovery, but he kept coming back for weeks and months, after the curse happened and after Eda and Lilith carved their palismen, sometime before the incident with Dell, they stuck around Raine permanently, and they were a good pair. Their name was, fittingly enough for Raine, a pun. They seemed to like Raine’s bow, or, as some people called it, Fiddlestick, and the sound of the latter word so much, it stuck.

“Yes. And I…I can’t believe what I did today…” Raine’s voice snapped Eda from her musings.

She turned to them, not daring to poke too much, but she still softly prompted them, “Raine?”

“Guess you deserve the truth…” their voice was pained, avoidant as if they feared Eda might hate them. An anxious knot formed in her belly, because, while she could never hate them, she dreaded whatever they did to make them fear she might.

They started to talk. How, when they just joined the coven and started to take responsibility, Fiddlestick was there, the loyal palisman that she was, right by their side. There was pressure to rely on palismen less and less, for young witches not to have them made but the adults unless they were joining the EC, were mostly left alone. It was why people like the Parks or even Eda’s parents themselves, were allowed to keep theirs.

But then Raine started teaching for the bard coven, rising through the ranks and getting side-eyes for having a familiar carved in wild magic. Still, side-eyes, they could handle. Belos’ grip on the populous was not hard enough to fully get rid of the centuries-long tradition, wild magic or not. And everything changed as their eyes opened to the faults in the system, and they started to plan their rebellion.

“I knew I had to do something, work undercover, undermine the covens, I just had no idea how initially, or what to do or anything and, were I caught…I could live with that. I’d be imprisoned at best, petrified at worst but I could live with that. But Fiddle, dragging them into it…” They shook their head. Apparently, Eda was not the first person they cared for that they wanted to shield in that way, “I tried to get them to leave, I could not bring myself to chase them away, but I begged, and pleaded and even yelled some but they decided to stay by my side. Stubborn little thing, he always was. I knew then…I had to be ready to lose them or maybe even be forced to leave them behind or sacrif-” their voice broke, and they took a few shaky breaths, clutching the purple fabric of the cardigan Darius borrowed them, “…so I did what I could to avoid it. They wanted to stay by me, but I knew that I could not parade around with the staff if I was to do what I wanted. My loyalty had to be unquestionable. So, I had to hide them somehow, but in a way, they’d always be by my side, and I could not exactly stuff them in my pocket. I first wanted to contact your father,” Eda was trying to keep a neutral face for the most part but at this, her eyes widened in disbelief.

Raine caught this, because they let out a snort, “Yes, yes, I know,” they chuckled humourlessly, “contacting the father of my ex that I dumped to help me hide my palisman from the emperor who was chasing her while working for that same emperor...not a great plan!”

“Honestly, pops would’ve loved it…but, you know,” regret settled heavy in her chest, “he wasn’t carving anymore.”

“I remembered that too. I thought, maybe he started again but…anyways, I went to old Markus, he had a business still, at the Night Market.”

Old Markus was her dad’s old friend, who passed away a few years earlier, but was a carver like Clawthornes. She didn’t have contact with the old witch, avoiding as many connections to her childhood as possible, but she heard rumours that he’d still carve an occasional palisman secretly. He kept it discreet because of the Emperor, sticking his business at the Night Market. He was almost as opposed to the system as Eda was. Raine clearly did their research If they went to him.

“I told him what I wanted. Instead of a staff, an instrument, or part of it, at least the neck of the violin, with an interlock. And he’d told me he’d manage. Two weeks later, I had the instrument with me, and Fiddle was hidden.”

“So, the violin you had this whole time…”

“Was the same as your staff, yes. The bow, or fiddlestick, if you will, was palistorm too. I had a spare one made at some point, it was useful after the fight with Darius, during which the original violin was damaged. Fiddle was fine, though. It was almost funny how worried, even apologetic, Darius was when he realized what he had broken. I didn’t expect him to be after…you know…”

“We almost killed him?” Eda said bluntly.

“Yes.”

Now that was an emotional can of worms she didn’t want to open, though, she assumed, Raine had to, having worked with Darius and Eber for weeks before she and the others joined the rebellion last minute.

What did that look like? Sorry Eda and I almost murder-suiceded all of us, we thought you were evil! Anyways, it’s cool that we’re actually both rebels, can we join teams?

On the surface, one would assume that Darius would understand fully. On the other, the way they dropped everything when Eber was threatened… Would he judge someone willing to kill a former friend who was, presumably, now their enemy?

Granted, Raine and Eda were not on friendly terms with Darius when they encountered him that time. In fact, Eda didn't see the witch for years except on CB.

She tried to imagine hurting any of the CATTS now. Or letting them be hurt. Just the thought made her shiver, and she knew she’d drop the fight as quickly as Darius did.

Would Raine? On the surface, they were softer than Darius and she were, but inside, there was a hardness about them the other two did not actually possess, as much as they tried to act as they did.

On the other hand, they were horrified by Darius’ we’ll just let little people be eaten joke. And, when the abomatons attacked them, Lilith and Hooty in their hiding spot, they dropped the fight when Lilith was threatened, even if it was partially at Hooty’s urging. Lilith told her how Alador’s hunks of metal and abominations got an upper hand on Raine and Hooty of all people. They grabbed her while she was fiddling with a glyph and threatened to kill her. Hooty dropped the fight immediately and, even if for a moment it seemed Raine would go on, and she urged them to, they dropped their violin, letting it dissolve into the ether, a moment later.

Yup, some awkward, heavy talks they did not want to have but that were necessary were waiting for them in the future.

“Welp, on that cheery note, what happened after?”

“Fiddle still refused to leave. They knew there might come a moment when we would be in the same situation as we were that day when we’d both have to choose the cause instead of each other but I always…I always assumed that would mean we go down together, however…” The first actual sob during that entire conversation broke through their lips.

“Oh, Raine I’m so sorry…did they…”

“I don’t know. I was fighting Belos. I got him to…leave my body, willed him out of me but he was in that goo form, sticking to me like some sort of a mutated octopus, he overwhelmed me and I was too weak, too tired to properly fight him off and then he was crawling to the Titan’s heard and I summoned the violin and…my hand was trapped, I could not play, do anything and I broke it. I wasn’t even thinking.”

“But…you said the violin broke before and they were fine, right?”

“Yes. Rattled, but fine. But we knew before, before the two of us started that spell, I didn’t speak to them but…we knew we were both in, like…you know.”

She nodded. She and Owlbert had that too, “Like you share one brain, yeah, I get it.”

“I didn’t this time. I didn’t know what to do, I just summoned the violin and smashed it! I could feel their shock and terror and hurt and fear, so, so much fear and then I could only focus on Belos and…” they broke down into sobs, pressing their face to her right shoulder, and she reached over with her left hand, caressing their hair.

“But you felt them still, right?” She asked softly.

“Yes. No. I don’t know, I can’t feel them now…though that may be because they are not close to me…”

“Do you think they made it?”

They nodded, “If they ran off. Which I would not fault them for. If they ran off from me forever even. I’d be glad, in fact, because only if they ran out of the castle and hid in some hole would they have a chance against what Belos became then,” Raine spat, their fate for the former, dead emperor, palpable.

“Then not all is lost, Rainstorm,” she said, realising that was the first time in the conversation that she used the nickname.

“But…”

“Hey, hey, listen to me,” she cupped their face, making them meet her eyes, “If they made it out of the castle, and I remember Fiddle, how fast they could be, they could outrun Owlbert in flight, they may be safe. And if they were spooked, terrified, or hurt, or all three, there is one place all palismen seem to know where they go.”

Raine nodded, “Bat Queens Grove. Welp, if I go there after what I did, I’m as good as dead.”

Eda pulled them a bit closer, “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Those were desperate situations, both your fight against Belos and the one against Darius. There are plenty of witches who did far worse things to their palismen while not fighting for their lives, all the while trying to stop Belos. She holds no fondness for him either, you know, BQ. In fact, she might just hate him more than two of us combined.”

“And I worked under him for years,” Raine lamented.

“You were a double agent for a good chunk of those years! You didn’t actually support his cause!”

“I still had to do things….to…keep cover,” guilt weighed their words and there was nothing comforting Eda could think of to say, she just pulled her nubbin slightly under their shoulder and pulled them into sort of a hug.

“Don’t only pals who don’t want nothing to do with their witches go there?” Raine asked quietly.

“Not necessarily. Owlbert did once. After Luz accidentally hurt him. And look at them now, thick as thieves. Palismen get scared in the moment but do come back once they calm down and are reassured that accidents are accidents.”

“This was not an accident, Eda. I mean, I hope Fiddle is there, even if she wants nothing to do with me, at least she’d be alive.”

“That’s the spirit…I guess.”

“Still, Bat Queen will probably kill me on sight.”

“Hey, if she didn’t come here to murk Lilith once she came to live here, she won’t hurt you either. BQ softened slightly, still terrifying, still stern, but a bit more open to witches. Thanks to Luz and yours truly!”

“Since when do you call the Bat Queen BQ?”

“Since a few months ago. Long story, includes babysitting and adoption. Palisman adoption,” she cleared up, “but she likes me. And, more importantly, she trusts me. So, if I take you there, she’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Besides, she feels things about people, and you radiate guilt, worry and care right now. She’ll hear you out.”

“Tomorrow then.”

“Raine, I don’t think that’s wise.”

They pulled away a bit, staring at her, their eyes desperate, “Eda, please. I need to see how they are. I’ll go myself if I have to!”

She looked at them, that determined glare about them that she loved and hated at the same time. Mostly because they were one of the few people, she knew, who could match her in stubbornness and were not related to her. They would do it. Which would be, she could admit, risky in the first place, as BQ was softer but not soft. And in the state, Raine was in-tired, beaten, bruised, not to mention their psychological state after all they’ve been trough-they would not stand a chance against her trials, as clever and strong of a witch they were. BQ wouldn’t kill them, she probably wouldn’t even seriously maim them, but there was less chance Raine would get Fiddle back.

“Ok, I’ll take you there.

“Really? Thank you!”

“I don’t like the idea of leaving the kids, but they will have others here, so I like the idea of leaving you to go look for BQ alone even less!”

A flash of guilt appeared on Raine’s face, “You don’t have to come, you don’t have to leave Luz and King, I’ll manag-”

“Not a word! You’re not going there by yourself! You are one of the strongest people I know, but you’re in no state to go there alone! I’m only taking you if you sleep a bit more tonight, ok!” She said sternly, poking them in the chest.

“Ok, ok! I’ll rest, and I’m not going alone!” They said, raising their hands in surrender, though there was a hint of laughter in their voice.

“Good!”

“Eda? Thank you, for everything.”

How dare they be so sweet, how could she act stern as she was melting, feeling a lopsided smile creep up on her face? “Hey, come on! I can’t let you stumble through the woods and face BQ alone, or let you simmer in worry here. Come on now, let’s go downstairs. I would most love to just curl up here in the nest, but I don’t want the kids freaking out in the morning.”

She got up, her joints stiff and aching. She took her blanket with her, draping it over her shoulders like a cape. She helped Raine and they winced as she tugged on their injured shoulder. She only got more confused as to how they got upstairs as they were barely standing straight, limping and leaning heavily on her. She half carried them over the windowsill and down the stairs, and they plopped into their nest in the living room.

As she pulled their blanket over them, they already dozed off. She curled up next to them, leaving King where he was, with Luz. She noticed Darius peek his eye open and gave him a thumbs up, mouthing it’s all ok.

She wondered if she should stay up a bit longer, in case Darius also needed someone to talk to, but before she knew it, sleep started catching up to her and she drifted off.

Chapter Text

It was already early afternoon by the time Eda felt like she and Raine were ready for the trip to the BQ’s grove. Having slept as much as their racing minds would allow them and gorged up on what Darius managed to bring over from the town. She felt like she could eat a whole roasted ratworm and was very happy to hear Eber was planning to go on a hunt later that day.

Luz and Hunter were chatting with their friends via scrolls the whole morning, calling everyone from Boots, Tweedledee and Goops, to that pipsqueak Goops hung out with who, turned out to be Steve’s baby brother.

Finally, Raine seemed to be as rested as one could hope for with the limited time. Still, she was happy when Eber rushed to her backyard and returned with a long, sturdy branch, offering it to Raine as a walking stick.

“Thank you, all of you,” Raine smiled.

“I hope you find them,” Luz said to them, “I’m sure it will all be cleared up,” she smiled and exchanged a glance with Owlbert.

“I hope you get them back too,” Hunter’s voice was weak, and there was a mask of sadness on his face, but his words were genuine.

But, out of all people, Darius strangely helped the most, “Hey, come on. That fox didn’t hate me after our fight, and they never cared much for me. They’ll surely understand you and forgive you.”

This even got a small chuckle from Raine, “I seem to remember Fiddle biting you on the nose.”

Darius huffed a bit, and pointedly ignored the kids’ glances that ran between him and Raine, demanding a story later, “Well, yes. But this one,” he pointed his thumb to Eber, “bites me at least once a week so I stopped seeing that as an expression of hatred. You’ll be fine.”

“In case of trials, just be careful of the spider’s back legs when you’re milking it. You’d think that the pincers are the worst thing, but nope!” Luz offered a piece of advice, earning a slightly horrified look from her mother.

“Milking a…dios mio...nevermind…”

“You two sure you’ll be fine?” Eda checked with her kids again.

“Yeah, Amity will come in a bit, and maybe Gus and Willow if their dads let them,” Luz smiled. “And we have each other to keep ourselves company!

“But come back soon!” King demanded, clinging to Eda’s leg suddenly, his claws almost digging into her skin, “You promise, right?”

“Yes, yes, King, of course,” she started to say, but before she could bend down to properly comfort him, he jumped off her calf and launched himself to Raine’s chest, making them stumble.

“And you! You better not put Eda at risk, ok?” King clung to Raine’s shirt as he poked them in their chest, “You get me?”

“King…” Eda tried to calm him down.

“I won’t, I promise I won’t,” Raine said, their eyes wide in worry, “I mean, I can go there myself and-”

“That won’t do either!” King ordered, “You are tired, and Bat Queen can be mean, and you’ll get in trouble and then we’ll all have to come save you! And Eda will be worried! And…” his voice grew quieter, more concerned than angry, “I don’t want to see you hurt either.”

Eda exchanged a glance with Raine and in their eyes she saw just how touched they were by this. Eda knew her son well enough to know that this wasn’t genuine anger, it was just how King sometimes expressed concern. It also wasn’t just ‘Eda likes you, so I don’t want to see you hurt because she’ll be sad’ situation, at least not entirely. King was personally worried for Raine. And it was as gutting as it was adorable to see.

“Hey, buddy, I won’t get hurt, ok,” Raine said, apparently unbothered by the fact King was digging his claws into their chest, as they scratched his back lightly, “and I won’t get Eda hurt either,” they smiled at her, “We’ll look after each other,” then turned their gaze back to King, “I promise.”

“You better!” King poked them in the chest once more, “because you’ll both hear from me if you don’t!”

 “Yeah, if you’re not back in two or three hours max, we’re all storming the grove together! I fought Bat Queen once I can do it again!” Luz threatened and, while Eda was pretty certain this was not something the group discussed, by the looks on everyone’s faces, all shared her sentiment.

“Don’t worry, there will be no need for that. Also, please, and I can’t believe I’m saying it, try negotiating first, ok? Diplomacy over fisticuffs and all that jazz.”

“Don’t worry, if it comes to that, I’ll make sure nobody goes in, spells a blazing,” Darius promised.

“Good!”

Eda exchanged one last hug with Luz and King, reassuring them it would all be ok and that this time they wouldn’t stay separated. This was BQ after all, worst case scenario, she’ll be mad at Raine.

“Besides, you can call me any time,” she patted her pocket, which housed her scroll and a crow phone, “Or Raine.”

“You won’t get mad if it’s in like, five minutes?” Luz wondered.

She chuckled, “No, no I won’t,” she turned to Raine. “Ready for this?”

“As ready as I’ll be today,” they took their improvised stick and it seemed to vastly improve their balance. Still, Eda insisted they flew together on Owlbert instead of walking there, and Raine didn’t complain much. They winced a bit at some movements and Eda’s back hurts something fierce, “Maybe we should stop by Morton’s, and see If he salvaged anything from the rubble. Some pain relief potions and sleep potions would serve everyone well.”

“And your elixir?”

“I’ll be fine getting by on Lilith’s concoction,” she picked at the few tiny feathers on her neck, “Besides, OB has the luxury of sleeping inside my brain and is smart enough to use it.”

…..

The forest surrounding Bat Queen’s grove felt strange, stranger than usual. Raine could feel Eda becoming tense even though they knew she was in the grove much more often than they were.

“Can’t place a finger on it,” she muttered, “it feels…different. Unsettling almost,” she answered their unspoken question. It scared them sometimes, how they still knew each other so well. As if they were reading each other’s mind.

“To be fair, everything is unsettling now,” they shrugged, taking careful steps over the ground covered in roots.  “Seems like the Collector was not that interested in this part of the Isles, look, that’s the first broken star spy I noticed!” They gestured to a blue star laying in the bushes, one of its points broken off and horrific claw marks all over it.

“BQ must’ve put in quite a fight here.”

Raine gulped. They imagined the claws that did such damage to the terrifying star spies on their skin. It was not a nice mental image.

“Don’t worry, she won’t be that hard on you. And if she tries, remember, she’s not the only one with claws and talons,” Eda tried to put a reassuring hand on their shoulder, only to realize she was reaching with her phantom limb and chuckled awkwardly.

Raine felt a stab of guilt. Her losing an arm, them being the one to rip it off, was the result of a plan they came up with. Though, since Eda was laughing at the mistake, they allowed themselves a chuckle along with her which seemed to make her smile even more.

“Hm, it may be that this is the only place that’s mostly unchanged,” Eda said.

“The only place unchanged in what can only be described as an apocalypse, Bat Queen’s grove,” Raine muttered.

“Makes sense to me,” Eda shrugged. “Still weird after seeing my own house empty, the castle ruined and hearing about Darius’ place.”

“Well, lead the way,” Raine said, their voice trembling a bit, but they were determined to get to Fiddle, even if they feared what would happen.

What if their palisman screamed at them that she hated them?

What if she was so badly injured, the Bat Queen kills them on the spot, friendship with Eda or not?

What if there is no Fiddle at all, what if he’s dead?

They shook those feelings away. Fiddle was alive, they had to be. They may hate them, but they would be alive and safe here in the grove which, while dark and somewhat gloomy, with twisted branches and the floor covered in bones of small animals, presumably Bat Queens meals, seemed safe and cosy in a strange way. Protected.

They closed in on an opening to a clearing, and Raine very much felf observed even before Bat Queen came into the view. They never actually met her, only heard about her from stories. And she was even more impressive-and terryfing-in person.

 “Ah, Owl Lady. Good to see you,” Bat Queen said, her voice genuinely warm, “alive even if not in one piece. I’m assuming that,” she pointed to Eda’s arm, “is not a trick of the curse. Seems permanent, and I feel the effects of that awful spell that Belos did the effects of which are still lingering. I am sorry.

“Eh, it is, and it isn’t. I’m fine, I’m figuring it out! The curse ended up being the thing to save my life! The curse and this bard over here,” Eda smiled toothily at them, and Raine once a gain felt a stab of guilt but it lessened somewhat. They did save her life, didn’t they?

“Ah, yes. The bard,” The Bat Queen said with the warmth of the cold season on the Knee. “Why you come?”

“Bat Queen,” Raine said, their back straight, gripping their staff like a vice. They tried to keep their voice firm, but could not suppress a tremble and felt like even a performance in front of the whole population of the isles would be easier to pull of than this at that point, “I come to look for my palisman, Fiddlestick, I…erm..we have suspicion they may be here,”

“Ah, you come to look for them after so callously breaking their vessel!” Bat Queen scoffed, raising her wings a bit more.

“I didn’t…it was not…I…I know what I did was bad and…” all of Raine’s eloquence disappeared at the sight of the formidable palisman who looked like she could, and would tear them to shreds.

“Then why do it, head bard?”

Raine flinched at the mention of their former title used in an accusatory tone against them.

“BQ, please…” Eda tried but her protest was struck down.

“Don’t, Owl Lady, I hold respect for you, but I cannot for this one! This would be one thing if it was an accident, like what happen to your palisman, or if it was just an act of desperation but I can feel the souls of palismen, their taxes still on them,” she roared. Raine felt as if they were punched in their gut with a metal mallet, could Belos….presence…still be felt on them?, “they linger and-” her eyes landed on Raine’s scars, their faced, their exposed forearms, the one on their hand. Then she looked at the trees around her, as if recalling something, “Oh…oh…” it was as if she deflated.

“BQ…they didn’t…they’d never…” Raine heard Eda’s soft voice.

“Oh, of course. Of course, he would do such a thing and then he would…,” she paused, eying Raine, mild shock in her eyes, “he did to you the same he did to the isles, didn’t he.”

Raine gulped, steadying themselves, but managed a firm nod. They were relieved but could not manage more, the memory of possession still way too fresh in their mind.

Bat Queen’s ire dissipated, and her gaze turned oddly soft, “I am sorry. I can empathise, as it almost happened to this place, my home, even almost got a few of my little ones. Or should I say to a few more of them. I apologise for my assumptions, when I give myself time, I sense no such cruelty within you, ruthlessness yes, but no malice. Besides, no palisman would stay by your side for that long if they saw you treating others cruelly. Which brings us to why you are here.”

She folded her wings, revealing the back of her grove, with palismen perching on branches or sitting on the ground. The one closest to them, only a few inches behind her, was a fox palisman.

They were there, with quite a few scratches on them, but alive.

“Fiddlestick!” Raine cried out. Relief hit them like a tidal wave. They slumped and, were it not for Eda catching them, they’d have fallen on the ground in spite of their walking stick. Their eyes pooled with tears, and for a few moments, they could not rip their eyes away from Fiddle. “You’re ok. You’re alive.”

Fiddle made a few hesitant steps towards Raine but stayed close to the bat Queen. Raine felt their hesitation and it broke their heart. The palisman still looked a bit scared, all scratched up, and it was thanks to them. They felt a confusing mess of emotions radiating from her. They wanted to tell her that it was ok, that they understood, they would not be mad if Fiddle was mad, how could they? They were just glad to see them in one piece and somewhere safe.

However, Fiddle’s hesitation filled them with dread. What if they did choose to stay with the Bat Queen. Raine would not blame them, they’d have no right to, but it would hurt nonetheless.

“Well, now you feel sorry?” The Bat Queen said, “After you broke them?”

Raine flinched, and they noticed Fiddle do the same, though the palisman shot the Bat Queen a look that almost seemed disapproving.

“I know,” Raine said, standing up, their knees wobbling as if they ran the Cross-Isles marathon, “and I’m sorry,” they looked at Fiddle more than at the Bat Queen.

“I can’t say that I feel regret from you in a way to say you would not do it again if push came to shove,” Bat Queen said coldly. And that stung. Because Raine really couldn't disagree.

It’s not like they purposefully used their palisman to hurt them. But they still used a violin, and crashed it against the floor knowing it could hurt Fiddle, but stopping Belos at that moment was more important. Just like they agreed to the plan that would put Eda in danger. Just like they were willing to kill Darius and Eber, who they have been amicable with, if not friendly, even when working under Belos. Just like they were more hesitant to stop fighting when that Abomaton threatened Lilith’s life than Hooty was.

It’s what allowed them to be a rebel, but did it make them a bad person? Eda claimed it didn’t, but they found themselves wondering about it sometimes. And they wondered if the ancient palisman shared Eda’s sentiment.

It terrified them to say the truth, but they had a feeling nothing else would go here, so they swallowed and, not tearing their gaze away from Fiddle, the started, “I can’t say you are wrong. I…don’t know what I would’ve done if I ever had to repeat it. I didn’t know what to do, and while it was a last resort, I know it hurt Fiddle. And I am sorry for that. But…saying that I know I would never do it again, knowing all that came next would be a lie. And neither of you deserves to be lied to. So, I know my apology may ring hollow because of that, but know that I am sorry for the hurt I cause. And even if it’s not thanks to me, I am glad Fiddle is safe now.”

Bat Queen studied them for a few long moments, “Well, I can’t blame you for dishonesty nor insincerity, that is certain,” she finally said, “and I can’t fault you for doing everything in your power to stop Belos, even if I may not entirely agree with your actions. If you didn’t stop that monster, we’d all be dead now,” she looked into the branches peppered with palismen whose eyes gleamed curiously towards  what was happening on the ground. “And I can feel that this weighs on you.”

At this point Fiddle moved towards Raine but BQ stopped them.

“But that still leaves us with the question of your trials…”

“BQ, come on,” Eda sighed.

“You know my rules.”

“Yes, I do. But I also know I have a favour and I ask you to-“

“NO!” Raine stopped her.

“Raine…”

They turned to her and looked her firmly in the eyes, “Eda, I’m not letting you waste a favour over something I did!”

“It would not be a waste!” Eda insisted.

“I know,” they said, a bit calmer, “But I have to do this, ok?” They needed her to understand. They appreciated the help, the fact she was willing to do that for them warmed their heard. But this was their battle. Eda didn’t seem particularly happy about it, but she nodded.

“You would fight me in a trial even when given an alternative?” Bat Queen wondered.

“Yes. Call me stubborn but this is my mess to fix. Would you even agree to Eda’s suggestion?” They asked, doubting that any number of favours owed would make her give a palisman to someone she didn’t approve of.

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. But your willingness is impressive.”

“If Fiddle is willing to give me another chance, I’ll fight for it. Literally and figuratively.”

“I’m not sure you can win in your current state,” Bat Queen stated.

Raine Felt the blood drain from their face, “And if Fiddle wants to come despite my loss?”

“Depends,” Bat Queen said, face unreadable.

Raine gulped. They were not too prideful to try and fail, but losing and Fiddle being banned from returning to them even if they wanted to, terrified them, “If I lose, can I fight again?”

“There won’t be second trials.”

“Oh…” their heart sank. So, that would be it? Whatever performance they pulled off today would be the last. Their whole body hurt, especially their sprained elbow and the shoulder they dislocated the previous day, and what didn’t hurt felt rubbery. Still, they had to try so they steeled themselves. They took a deep breath, tensing their body to take a fighting stance,  “Well, then I have to try my best-”

“Let me finish, bard. There won’t be second trials because there will be no trials at all.”

“What?”

“This little one seems willing to come back. I learned thanks to Luz the human that I can’t stop palismen from returning to their witches, even if I think it’s a mistake. And I don’t think it is in this case,” The Bat Queen smiled at Raine warmly, “It’s rare that I don’t entirely understand a bond between a palisman and a witch, and your case is one like that, but I can still respect it. Your resolve to get them back while respecting their wishes is strong, I can’t say unique, but still not as common as it should be. And I don’t feel like you blame Fiddle for anything, which was my concern considering their worry,”

“What worry?” Raine asked. alarmed. Was Fiddle scared Raine would not want them around? Did they fear that Raine no longer cared? That the violin-breaking thing would become something common?

At that moment, Fiddlestick finally, hesitantly, approached Raine, who tried to crouch down but ended up landing on their butt, “Hey, buddy,” they said, unsure what to say next, “It’s ok, it’s ok if you’re mad.”

You not mad?

“No, no! How could I be? If you were hurt and scared and if you’re angry at me for it, I’m not mad at you. I understand-”

Not that! Not mad about…left you?

“What?”

Left alone. With Belos. Fight alone, hurt! Bad palisman… Fiddle kept their head down, pulling in on themselves, ashamed.

“What? No, no,” Raine’s heart broke as their palisman hesitated to approach them, not because she was mad at them, but was mad at herself and expected the same reaction from Raine. As if they could be mad at her for anything after their own actions! “Hey, Fiddle, come here,” they summoned her gently and placed their hand on her head, mindful of the few scratches. “I’m not mad, ok?”

But me, coward!

“You’re not a coward Fiddle. I don’t think you’re one at least. I’m glad you left. If you didn't ...I hate to think what would've happened. I’m the one who's sorry, I hurt you.”

Fiddle shook her head, Not mad. Hurt, but not mad. No a lot. Understand, Belos stop. Glad to help. And then…left…

“Don’t beat yourself about that. I can’t even imagine how scary it must’ve been for you. Were you…were you even aware while I…we? Were puppeted?”

Not remember. Nothing. Then Belos. Fear. Crash. Run. Sorry.

“It’s ok,” Raine gently nudged them until they were on their lap, “I’m sorry you had to go through that. And I’m sorry I contributed to that fear and-“

No! Not be sorry! Stop Belos important. A must. Glad did it! Not be sorry! Agreed to risk!

Their face was so determined and fierce and proud and Raine could not help themselves but pull them in a hug. They felt him nuzzling against their neck and could not stop their tears from falling, the relief they felt was almost greater to the level of relief they felt when they realised that Belos was finally gone forever.

They didn’t know how long they stayed like that, but when they released Fiddle from their grip, they looked up to see Eda and Bat Queen smiling softly at them. Fiddle looked at Eda quizzically, almost suspiciously, Eda here? Still?

Fiddle was a bit on the fence about Raine rekindling their relationship, whatever it would end up turning into, with Eda. He was protective of Raine and still a bit angry at Eda for the past.

Give her a chance, Fid, Raine thought, she changed.

Fiddle gave a mental equivalent of a light, slightly disbelieving snort.

We changed, didn’t we? And she was open about the curse when we ran into one another that day on the square. She insisted on coming here with me, you know. Wouldn’t let me come alone. And willing to give her favour with the Bat Queen so we could stay together. Come on, trust me on this.

Fine. They looked at Eda and managed a small, affirming nod. Maybe like Eda.

You will, trust me. Raine ruffled the fur on their head lightly and Fiddle gave a like to a scar on Raine's hand.

Hurt?

“No, not anymore,” Raine said out loud, “They sing a bit and feel stiff. Itchy. Everything else hurts,” they tried getting up but their knees creaked and hurt a bit too much for that, “Um, Eda? Help?”

“Eh, let’s get you up and then back home,” Eda took their hand and pulled them up, helping them steady themselves and handing them their walking stick. They still felt as if they were walking on a ship, “And it’s good to see you again, Fiddlestick.”

Eda extended her hand to Fiddle, a small, almost apologetic smile on her face. As if she sensed that they would not be the fondest of her. Raine suspected she may be going off from experience. After all, they doubted Owlbert had the nicest things to say about them after they dumped Eda.

Fiddle studied her for a moment before she relaxed and gave her a small nip on the finger, just a tad too hard to be purely friendly and then they let her scratch their head. Fine. Good see Eda. Then she retired into the front pocket of the oversized sweater Raine wore and, given how fond of it she seemed, they had a feeling it would be a battle to return the thing to Darius.

“They are glad to see you too,” Raine said, then turned to the Bat Queen, suddenly beyond tired and lost for words, slumping against Eda with their full weight, “I…thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Take care of Fiddlestick. They will need a new staff. Eda, do you think you and your father will figure something out despite…”

“...the situation at hand?” Eda finished. Raine chuckled. Was she really that ok with her lack of a limb to already joke about it? “Don’t worry, BQ, we’ll figure something out.”

“Good. But first, both of you, rest. I’m not sure when was the last time I saw two witches so exhausted. You’re all welcome to visit any time too.”

“Don’t worry, I intend to lie down as soon as I get back to the Owl House,” Raine yawned.

“Same here. And thank you BQ. See you,” Eda said as she took her staff and she and Raine climbed on it. Raine kept their arms wrapped around her waist, resting their cheek against her shoulder.

“Rainstorm, don’t you dare fall asleep while we’re flying, ok?”

“Mh-mm…”

“Raine,” she nudged them slightly, “I’m serious, I'm not sure if I’d be able to catch you, even if I tranformed, ok?”

Raine yawned again, and tried to shake the sleepiness away, at least a little bit, “Ok, ok, I won’t. I’ll sleep when we get to the Owl house.”

“Good, the last thing we need is you breaking something!”

Agree! Fiddlestick chimed in from Raine’s pocket.

“Ok, ok, you two, I won’t fall asleep,” they said, tightening their grip on Eda still. “Ow! Fiddle!” They winces as they felt a not-so-gentle kick of a small foot into their stomach.

Not fall asleep!

“I won’t! No need to kick me!” They heard Eda snickering in front and then felt Fiddle move around.

“Ow!” Eda exclaimed, “She kicked me in back!”

Not snicker! Only me!

“Well, apparently only Fiddle is allowed to snicker at my misery, not you,” Raine explained.

“Ok, ok, fair point. Now, please, enough of kicking because I’m tired and I need to keep us on this staff, ok? You can kick me at home as much as you want, just not now.”

Fiddle settled in Raine’s pocket, apparently satisfied with that logic. It was funny, but to think this was only the beginning of their post-Belos era struggles made Raine’s head spin. So they decided to ignore that for a bit. They already did so much, sacrifice so much, they were tired and exhausted but were also finally happy. They decided they were entitled to ignoring the issue for once, just for a bit.

So, they placed their hand oved the hump Fiddle made in the sweater, the other arm still tight around Eda’s waist and rested.