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Perhaps this was a waste of time. Perhaps this effort could be best pointed elsewhere. But Amity could not live in a world where she did not at least try. Emery deserved more.
The sun is still rising over Rivington. Hardly anyone stirs, but Amity could not wait. Traveling all the way from Elfsong, she now climbs grassy hills covered in wildflowers, searching for a dead woman. Although, hopefully, Emery lives. Unfortunately, Amity lives in a world where that is highly unlikely. Still, imagining a poor, sickly woman wasting away atop a hill with no one to even bury her, felt cruel to ignore. Therefore, instead of remaining cozy under silken sheets, she surveys the Rivington woodlands where Yenna said her mother went.
If a corpse should be on this hill, it might be sustenance for wildlife now. The thought only motivated Amity further. Amity leaves a cluster of trees having not found any sign of Emery. She walks towards the very edge of the hill, and stops.
Overlooking Rivington's refugee camp, cradled by wildflowers, a woman lays on her back. Her spine is twisted to show she went from standing to the ground. A basket full of herbs and flowers spills around her left side. Ill-fitted peasant garb hangs on her thin body. Rust red hair tangled and matted around her head, her eyes wide open to watch the sunrise, her mouth agape, dark dried blood running down her chin. She must have coughed it up.
The resemblance to Yenna is unmistakable. This is Emery.
Amity kneels to the woman's side. She's encountered many corpses before, so right away she recognizes Emery died only recently. However she has no way to tell when exactly. Gently she moves hair away from Emery's face. Her eyes are glassy, could have once been blue or green or hazel, skin turning a pale jaundice, when it must have been a warm tan. Sliding her hand, Amity closes Emery's eyes, then her mouth. No one ever looks like they're sleeping when they die, at least not to Amity. More like dolls; soulless, an uncanny imitation of a person.
Carefully and respectfully, Amity searches for anything on Emery's person, thinking of anything to produce to young Yenna. She only has a rusted locket, and a wrinkled letter folded many times. She smoothes out the parchment, and reads Emery's final words:
To my dear, sweet Yenna, I'm sorry I lied to you.
The healer said my illness is too advanced, I have no chance to live. I'm sorry I lied that day, and lied every day after that, and I will lie one last time. When you read this, go to the Fist. They are sworn to help you.
You shouldn’t watch me die. It's a horrible thing, my dear. I watched my mother die before me, from her own sickness. That's why I’ll leave when I feel the illness take over, to be away from your innocent eyes. Don't worry. I will be on the hill where we had our picnic, our memories close to my heart.
Remember, dear? Our picnic that day? When we went to market with a full coin purse and made that delicious soup and sweet rolls and cheeses and skewers. And you gave Grub a leftover carrot. You showed me how to make a flower crown. Even as this illness ravages my mind and body, I won't let it take that day from me.
[Her handwriting gradually becomes shaky, more akin to etchings. The illness must have taken its toll]
I won't let it take your beautiful face from me. Or your sweet laugh. Or Grub's soft fur.
You're my joy, my sun, and my last wish.
Stay in Rivington. Ask a Fist for help. They have armor and travel in groups, dear. Of course you know that. Smart girl, smarter than I. I love you, Yenna. I love you and Grub, and our picnic. And I'll always be watching, from atop our hill.
-Mum
On the back of the parchment is a detailed recipe for vegetable soup. Her last attempt to care for Yenna.
Life is cruel. Which God deemed it necessary to separate daughter and mother between life and death? To leave a girl alone in the midst of a crisis, with only her cat? Amity might have seen many horrors, before and during her adventures, but recalling Yenna sleeping in the Elfsong, dreaming of better days, brings a heavy sob from her throat.
It's not fair. It's not fair those Tieflings were apprehended by Absolute cultists after evading Goblins. Unfair how her own friends have been wronged so deeply. And unfair is the illness that made Emery forget to give her final words to Yenna.
"Amity?"
She whips her head around. Gale stands there. Slightly winded, slightly disheveled, mostly curious. Amity lets him come closer, and understanding washes over him.
"I read your note," his eyes linger on Emery. "I'm...glad it wasn't fruitless."
"Worried about me, dear?" Amity wipes away tears.
"You don't have to be a mercenary today, you know," his voice turns gentle. Like a sip of warm coffee that soothes the soul. He kneels down beside her, touching her shoulder. "You can be Amity."
Atop the hill, Amity lets herself cry, and mourn a woman she never formally met. Her heart is too big for a warrior, her friend Lae'zel would say. Gale's comfort lets Amity recover faster than she would have alone. He holds her close, and she’s thankful to not have worn armor. It’s a moment where they both feel remarkably mortal, but strive to be mortal together.
Together, they create Emery's final resting place. In a hole overlooking Rivington, surrounded by the wildflowers she loved, she is laid to rest. Pieces of wood created to mark her grave.
Long after the city is saved, the Absolute threat eliminated, Amity and Gale take Yenna to that hill. They'd given her the letter far before, to prepare her, and she suggested a recreation of her mother’s precious memory.
Thankfully the spot remained untouched. Only the view has changed; instead of a disorganized camp, a joint effort to rebuild Rivington carries on below.
Laying a blanket next to Emery's grave marker, setting down an extra plate, Amity, Gale and Yenna with Grub enjoy a meal made together under morning light.
"I know it would have been ugly...seeing Mum die," Yenna swallows a bit of water. She gazes at the grave. "But I wish...it's sad she died alone. You know?"
"Ah, but she did not pass alone, did she?" Gale hands Yenna a sweet roll. "You might not have been here physically, but she held you in her heart, and I'm sure that brought her great comfort."
Yenna nods thoughtfully, accepting the roll. "I hope so," as she chews, her blue and green eyes light up. "Say, Mister Gale, Miss Amity, do either of you know how to make flower crowns?"
"Mm, can't say I do. What about you, Miss Amity?"
Amity grins. "Mm no, Mister Gale, I don't believe I do."
"Excellent--let me show you!"
Gathering beautiful wildflowers, Yenna demonstrates how to weave them together. Then, all together, they create one to drape across Emery's grave. White and purple and dark blue petals adorn the marker. None here are practically religious, so instead of praying to Gods, they send a message to a mortal woman's soul.
Yenna sits back on the blanket, gazing up. "Maybe I'll go with Mister Halsin, instead of the Fist," she thinks aloud. Halsin is departing Baldur's Gate soon, and plans on returning to the healed Shadowlands with wagons full of refugees and orphans. He offered Yenna to join the caravan as well. "Though I'm not sure if I can appreciate 'nature's gifts' properly."
Amity and Gale share a look. They no longer share a tadpole to exchange thoughts, but they each recall a conversation they’ve had over the course of several days. Amity let's Gale take initiative, clears his throat.
"You know, Yenna, my arcane tower in Waterdeep has plenty of room for one more person and another cat," Gale smiles as Yenna sits up. "You would be more than welcome to come with us."
"Waterdeep!" Yenna's eyes go wide. "Mum always wanted to go there. Is it like Baldur's Gate?"
"Ah better, my dear, much better," Gale brightens talking about his beloved city. Amity playfully rolls her eyes. "A wide marketplace, parades, and the best schools! You'd have the freedom to pursue whatever you desire, I assure you."
"Now you don't have to decide right now," Amity adds. "You can go with Halsin, go to the Fist, and at any point you can reach out to us and you will have a place ready."
Yenna looks between the two, wonder and warmth over her face. Without warning, she throws her arms around Gale. "Thank you!" She sobs. "Thank you I–I like Mister Halsin but I love you both!"
Amity and Gale were the first to help Yenna, to make a place for her at camp, and the first kind faces she saw after being rescued from Orin's clutches. Gale taught her to read, let her be his 'sous chef', and Amity got her gifts and taught her self defense. And it seems Yenna sees them both as her home.
"Oh, child, no need for tears," Gale blinks away pesky tears of his own. He rubs Yenna's back comfortingly. "There's still dessert to get to, after all."
Yenna laughs, and wraps Amity in another hug. Amity squeezes and lifts the child off the ground, earning a series of happy squeals, and goofs around while Gale divides up pie slices.
"Oh, one more gift, Yenna," he says once Yenna is brought back down. "Would you like to learn how to write runes?"
"You mean like magic? Can I do that?"
"Don't worry, Yen, Mister Gale is a wonderful teacher," Amity beams at her beloved wizard.
After dessert, Gale instructs Yenna how to draw runes, carving them around the picnic blanket. Amity lights up incense and prepares the spell components Gale brought. Once complete, Gale closes his eyes, sweeping his hands around the runes, uttering ancient words. Yenna mimics him, albeit clumsily.
The runes glow a pale blue, the incense giving the hair a scent of lavender and rosemary. Gale completes the incantation, and the magic dies down. He smiles and rubs Yenna's head.
"Can you guess what we did, child?"
"Mmm...sounds like...well I understood the word for Waterdeep."
"Haha, clever indeed. Well, here is your gift; whenever you like, you may travel from my– our tower–to visit your dear mother."
Yenna gasps softly, tears brimming again, but she wipes them away. Her smile is wide and joyful. "Thank you! Thank you so much, Mister Gale!"
"Please, simply Gale is fine."
Yenna scrunches her nose, thinking it over. "Sorry...it doesn't feel right. Like your name is naked or something."
"Oh...alright?"
Amity laughs, startling Grub in her arms. "It's alright, call us whatever you want, Yen," Amity waves her hand. "Now, let's get back to the Elfsong. When we're ready for Waterdeep, we'll head back here."
Gathering their things, and bidding Emery farewell for now, they travel down the hill. Yenna peppers them with questions about Waterdeep along the way. Gale is more than happy to answer. Amity listens and smiles. Her new life looks bright.
They may not be Flaming Fist members, but she hopes Emery is smiling from atop the hill.