The Stables

A beautiful rising sun greeted Evelyn and Peggy as they met Geoffrey at the stables for their morning ride.

"Good morning, ladies," Geoffrey greeted them as he dismounted his large black horse.

"Good morning," Evelyn beamed back. 

"Your horses are saddled and ready; follow me."

Peggy and Evelyn trailed behind Geoffrey as he led the way to the small corral where their horses were waiting for them. Evelyn cooed at her large white mare and began inspecting the saddle. Once everything was to her satisfaction, she gracefully mounted the purple-tanned leather saddle and stroked his broad neck. Peggy followed behind on her smaller tan horse. Evelyn took great pride in their leather saddles, it was a product of her magic that she enchanted them with a small spell she had found in her mother's journals that kept them cool to the touch and helped with keeping some of the weight off the horses' backs so that they could carry more in their saddlebags for longer journeys or for some of her crystals she took with her when practicing magics. Today she secured two small bags that she had filled with her and Peggy's cloaks, some crystals, two journals, a hand mirror, and some small snacks. She couldn't hide her excitement to be heading out with Peggy this morning, even if they were to be monitored by Geoffrey. She was surprised that his presence wasn't as threatening as it had felt the night before during their talk, and that left her feeling more positive, even if she was not going to be able to practice any bigger magics this morning. It still felt nice for her to be out with Peggy.

"Are you ready?" She asked Peggy.

"Yes; do you have everything?" Peggy asked nervously. She did not understand why Geoffrey was with them this morning, but her father had assured her that it was simply for their protection, so she tried not to let his presence bother her, but she couldn't hide her nervousness from Evelyn.

"It's about a twenty-minute ride to the clearing. Stay close to me," Geoffrey instructed the sisters after he mounted his large black horse and began heading East into the morning sun. 

Peggy and Evelyn trailed closely behind Geoffrey, the sun shining on their faces and Evelyn couldn't hide her joy. Something about the morning sun always left her feeling more connected with nature. Whether that was her fae blood, or simply a product of her positive manifestations, she couldn't be sure, but she never doubted the way it left her feeling. 

The ride was beautiful and Evelyn took note of all the different plants they passed that she recognized from the small illustrations in her mother's journals and the small book of medicinal plants her father had acquired for her. She pointed them out to Peggy as they passed them by.

"That's comfrey," Evelyn pointed out a small fuzzy plant with small purple blossoms. "You can make a poultice out of it for burns, aches, and sprains."

"I didn't know that you were versed in the healing herbs," Geoffrey commented after hearing what the sisters were discussing. "There is a small medicinal facility on the other side of the estate with a small garden. If you'd like, we can take a look at it sometime while you are here. We also have a healer from the coven that comes her when needed. She has left behind quite a large collection of books if you are interested in looking at them."

Evelyn beamed. This was turning out to be much better than she had envisioned. "I'd love to! Do you know if she has left behind any prepared medicines in the small treehouse?"

"No," Geoffrey stiffened. "Those are not for you to touch. They are very old. Maybe some other time you will be able to see what has been left behind there, but not now." 

"That's too bad," she lamented. "But, I'd love to take a look at the medicinal wing. I think it would be good for Peggy to also become more familiar with the healing arts since that is what her coven mostly uses their magics for."

"You don't need to go to all that trouble," Peggy interjected.

"It's no trouble at all," Geoffrey reassured her. "Duke Arthur asked me to see that you are well taken care of while you are here and if that is something you are interested in, it can be arranged quite easily."

"Well, thank you," Peggy blushed. "I'd love to see it. Learning some healing arts outside of my magics is something that I'd love to learn."

"See, I told you we would have fun here," Evelyn laughed.

"It's just through these trees," Geoffrey pointed out as they came to a small break in the forest trees. "I'll go an scout the perimeter, but feel free to set up whatever it is you'll be doing," he veered to the South and left the girls to themselves.

Evelyn gasped as she saw the beautiful clearing and the small pond that was ahead of them. She gently guided her mare forward past the canopy of the trees and came to halt. She gracefully dismounted and began undoing the bags from the saddle.

"This is so beautiful!" She exclaimed.

"It is very open," Peggy commented. "Are you sure it's safe here?" She asked as she scanned their surroundings.

"Yes, you heard him, no one will be here and he will keep an eye out. Help me lay these out," she tossed a small bag to Peggy.

"What are these?" Peggy asked as she opened the small satchel.

"They are crystals. Just lay them out in a circle."

"But what do they do?" Peggy asked.

"You don't know what crystals are for?" Evelyn asked incredulously. 

"No, why are you asking me like I should know?" 

"Because they are extremely important for a number of reasons and have a bunch of uses. You're telling me that you've never used crystals before? What are they even teaching you?" Evelyn was exasperated. Crystals were one of the most basic tools for a witch and it made no sense to her that her sister had no idea what they were or used for. "Well, I guess we have to start somewhere," she proclaimed as she laid out two small blankets on the lush grass. 

"How do you know all this?" Peggy exclaimed. "It makes no sense!"

"I already told you, I know all these things from mother's journals. What more do you want me to say?"

"I'm sorry. I just can't help feeling like this whenever you show off your knowledge to me. I don't get how you know all these things when I'm the one that is supposed to be learning from the coven," Peggy apologized. She realized how it must sound to constantly question Evelyn, but she couldn't help it. Her sister was never involved with the coven and all she had learned so far was some basic healing magics, but mostly about how to set bones, apply poultices, and bring down fevers. The coven didn't teach her more powerful magics and she knew it was because they feared a second coming of dark magic, but here was Evelyn learning how to do things she had never heard of. "Please, teach me about these crystals," she pleaded.

"I said I would," Evelyn smiled as she adjusted the crystals circling them.