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Imogen softly shuts the door behind her. It takes her a moment to take her eyes away from the door, every time she sees her it sends a pang of sorrow through her every being. Yet, she looks anyway at the still form of Laudna on the bed, hands folded over her chest, decorated with Spider lilies Orym gave as a gift. She's still ethereal even when she's like this. Almost like she’s just sleeping and not far away from here.
Imogen takes timid steps closer to the bed and strokes a few loose hairs from Laudna’s face, she takes one of the Spider lilies and places it behind her ear. She let's her hand linger at her cheek before pulling away. She lowers herself next to the bed, knees meeting rough floorboards. "You know, we've had some progress.” Imogen takes one of Laudna'd hands and holds it with both her scarred ones. "We got through to Orym's leader and she might have a way to get you home, It's a long shot but she said she can try. She's trying her best to find a way over here. Never tried to find trees before but here we are... Hunting for trees” she lets out a dry laugh expecting an echo of Laudna’s in return.
Her thumb rubs soothing circles on her cold hand. "And we have been taking great care of Pate for you, Fearne even made him a nest to sleep in, big enough for Sashimi too, can't let them be separated. We know he gets lonely at night with you not here.” Imogen stares at her side profile for a while searching for anything, that spark that made Laudna so Laudna. "Ashton has even been trying to take care of him and I know you wouldn't want him handled in rough hand but they've been real careful with their strength”.
She waits for a response but it's only her own heart beat filling the room, "and I um- when I went to the market, I found some fabrics you would absolutely love, here I'll show you” She pulls a long roll of red fabric with an ombre of black along the bottom, shimmering with gold flecks out of her bag, "A real good price too and couldn't let anyone else have em in case they ruined it”. She sets the fabric on the bed next to her and runs her hand over it. "Just thinking of all the things you'll make”.
Again, no response. "I uh also been practicing sewing so when you come back you'll be real impressed, I can hardly stitch but I’m trying, I have to be the mender while you're away” a sob escapes her before she can tame it, "everyone been getting cuts in their clothes so thought I might try a hand at it, you know...”. Tears fall on Laudna’s hand, Imogen brings her hand to her forehead, "I miss you so much, Laud..." She chokes slightly on her sob as she grasps Laudna'a hand tighter. "I can't do this alone. It's so lonely without your music, every time I hear a snip of scissors and think its you, when I see a shadow in the corner, I think it's you. When I hear the soft playing of violin, I run to it thinking it's you. When I see a blade, I think of you there. With Otahan, it hurts so much”.
Imogen tries to retreat into Laudna’s mind but she finds nothing, only the dark. "How am I supposed to be here when you aren't. I'd give anything for you to be here. Everyone else keeps telling me we will find a way but I can't help this sinking feeling you're gone... And if you're gone, what am I without you.”
She rests her eyes on Laudna’s face again, "I wanna hear you laugh, I wanna see you smile and I just cant, memories aren't enough”. Imogen rises to her feet not letting go of Laudna’s hand, tears painting her face. "What I wouldn't give to see the real thing, one last time”. She places Laudna’s hand back over her Spider lilies and leans down and gives a delicate kiss to her forehead. Imogen briskly wipes her tears and begins to leave the room, once again trying to grasp onto the taller women’s mind. The scars on her arms glow a brilliant scarlet before fading back to lilac.
“I'll find a way, whatever it takes, I owe you that much”.