Chapter Text
From the town of Wickwood if you go down a dirt path beyond the farmer’s fields, into the woods of leaves and roots, where the trees have moss.
You will find an old single-story cottage made of stones, wood and vines with an overgrown but truly healthy and well-loved garden, filled with flora that do not fit the land.
That is where you will find Thistle.
Working alone in her home, Thistle is doing nothing more than what she typically does.
Living in her woodland home with all ingredients and items needed for potions making, there was scarcely any room for her with how much there was.
Thistle, who wasn’t very big herself, had eyes of lavender, white hair down to her chin with small bangs to match and an old work dress that was getting on in its years with an apron to suit that has a large pocket.
A knock came from the door.
"Knock knock"
It's nothing new, people come to buy potions and things from her shop all the time. She just forgot to put the open sign on the door today, so on auto pilot Thistle said.
"Welcome to Kitchen Witch, the doors unlocked, how can I help you today?"
"I must speak with you"
The voice replied stoically, the light jingle of the small bells hanging on the door can be heard From it being pushed open.
Getting up and going to the door, the Witch came face to face with a tall and strong looking woman with rubies for eyes, almost taller than the doorway with a sword strapped to her side, they appeared to be a knight.
“I require your help, A particular potion I desire from you.”
A solemn face with a voice of stone, odd for the place they are standing in.
A hello not even given.
Thistle tries to not roll her eyes with the message stated while the woman looked around for a moment.
"Well I am a witch, that's what I do best. So what potion? You're going to need to be more specific.
What particular effect do you want it to have?"
The Witch replied, needing to stay professional as can be but now curious as to what they needed so desperately that they couldn't remember manners, for most are a lot kinder when in need of something.
"A love potion."
The stranger stated more like a demand than anything, locking their eyes onto hers, the Witch felt her blood boil.
"NO, you have no business coming to me for such nonsense!
Those are outlawed and I would hope you know why!!"
She cried with a voice laced with hurt, terrified that someone would come to her for such an immoral act…or that the stranger had access to information she didn't want them to have.
“NO!
Never come back here again, for I will not help the likes of you!”
The Witch snarled and took a step back, attempting to slam the door shut, but a hand stopped her,the lady showing her strength by flinging the door back to open, grasping the frame with a frustrated expression.
“I know you have one witch, and you best give it to me.”
The lady said more like a slur, she loomed over her somehow looking more imposing then beforehand.
“If you don’t I will tell the royal guard and we both know what happens”
The knights gaze piercing Thistle’s eyes like arrows, the witch felt smaller than a bug.
“And I know what it's like for little witches.
Don’t you”
said in a threatening whisper.
Her flight or fight response kicked in and chose the first option.
Just when she was about to flee the lady verbalised once more.
"Just give it to me so there will be no need to report you."
She smirked, having the nerve to seem a little proud of herself.
"Do we have a deal?”
Thistle knew by the look of her garments she was someone who was important and their voice would carry further than hers.
Her new acquaintance presumably had a plethora of power, more than just the muscles in her arms.
"Deal?"
She voices once more.
Thinking fast and needing to save her head, with the stigma of magic Thistle knew there was no way out of this, Clenching and unclenching her fist for comfort.
"......deal….."
She almost muttered in a quick breath, defeatedly glancing at the lady's shoes, before speaking again.
"Wait here.
I'll have a look inside-but you must stay out here."
Trying to close the door on the stranger, the woman doesn’t let her close it fully, walking into her home with shaking hands and wide eyes the Witch was flooded with the memories of the ONE potion she had hidden away.
She took her time uncovering its hiding spot while staying out of sight of the door.
A box no smaller than her palm cramped beneath one of the wooden floor boards.
She discovered the love potion, which was no longer pale pink but a crimson blood red, and poured a few drops into a vial for the lady with nothing but shame in her heart.
When Thistle opened the door with a feeling of fear, the stranger was pleased to see her back out, a hand outstretched for her forbidden prize, the Witch clutched the potion to her chest.
“I must tell you that I have no idea what will happen when this is taken, no clue how it works and no means of knowing just how powerful it has become.
once it’s been taken, there’s no going back.”
With a brief break for show
“What will be done cannot be undone!
Nerve return here or look me in the eyes”
Quickly and carefully she passes the vial over and rushes back inside Twisting around so as not to face the stranger and is about to shove the door shut, the lady pipes up from behind her.
"How long till the effects start?"
Slowly looking around aggravation pouring out of Thistle hissed, "IF YOU'D HAVE LIS-!?"
All sound dies as her throat closes up, the Witch's eyes focused on the empty vail, and she raises her eyes to greet the strangers who stare into her gaze,
then collapses.