CH 2
"Mother, I'm home!" I call throughout the house. Although, I could have said it in a normal voice and she would have heard; what with our house being so small. I look around at our tiny kitchen. We have a small fireplace set up in the corner, always with a blazing fire or hot coals. In front of the fireplace is my favorite chair and sitting beside it is my mother's.
"Rowena, you don't have to yell, I'm right here." I hear my mother say from the only other room in our house besides the cellar. I scowl at the use of my full name which I despise. When you live alone in the woods with a sick mother, magic powers, and a brilliant mind, who wants a name like Rowena? But, of course, my mother insists upon it. When I walk into the room where we both sleep, I see her propped up in her bed with some spell books and her always-by-her-side wand. My mother is always improving upon her magic and has me practice all the time too. She told me when I was little that I had real potential. And then, when I got older she told me I had some of the best talent she's ever seen. I don't really know if that's true though because I don't know any other trained witches but me and her. My magic skill is basically the only thing she ever compliments me on so I have to believe her. My mother is a very honest woman.
"Rowena pull that hair of yours back somehow, it's very unladylike to have it everywhere like that. You look like a lion." I sigh knowing full well she's never seen a lion before, just read about them.
"Mother, have you taken your potion today?" I ask, tucking stray blanket around her and straitening pillows. I've always felt like I have to do something like that since she has been sick and in bed. Eli tells me it's because I have the natural tendency to take care of people and I suppose he's right. It's strange, me having what Eli calls, "The Brain" but never really understanding myself.
"Rowena, look up while you're talking to me. And I'm not quite sure if I've taken my potion today, oh well." She shrugs. I roll my eyes as I go to get the potion. I know full well that my mother remembers everything, so she would know if she drank that potion. Mother just doesn't like to have to rely on a potion to stay alive. But I need her to take the potion because I need her.
"Rowena, why are you not summoning the potion dear, it's a simple accio spell. I thought you learned that ages ago."
"I left my wand on my chair because I was out with Eli and Leda, remember? I can't risk them seeing it, as you know. And I promise I'll practice my magic on the workdays, all right?" I recite. I have this argument with my mother basically every free day, the one day that Eli has off of working in the fields. Eli works long hours in the fields with his father all the other days, and so I always spend my whole free day with him and Leda. Leda wishes she could come and spend every workday with me too, but Eli and her father won't let her come alone. There are sometimes witch-hunters walking the wood's paths, and non-magic folk really shouldn't walk on them alone. It's alright if Leda comes to our cottage with Eli though because he's so big and strong from working in the fields. Everyone feels safe with him.
"Rowena darling, if you are getting the potion, which I wouldn't mind if you didn't, really, make haste, I feel the beginning of a headache." I push any other thought of Eli away and pick up my wand from my favorite chair. I silently summon the potion; I've only recently learned how to do a non-verbal spell and I'm quite proud of it. The little vial filled with my mother's potion comes zooming out from the chimney. Leave it to my mother to try to hide it while I'm gone. She's supposed to be on bed-rest but my mother is as stubborn as a Billy Goat. Not that I would ever compare my mother to a goat, she would kill me.
"Rowena!" my mother shrieks, "get your head out of the sky and move it!" I jump a little and rush into our room.
"I'm sorry mother, I was-"
"Off in your own world, I know. Rowena, if you're ever going to get a husband, let alone one with magic, you've got to start straightening up!" Another thing my mother talks about every day, marriage. I've always imagined my future without a husband; just a free girl with a thirst for knowledge. But of course, my mother has other plans.
"Mother, you know I can take care of myself, I have magic-"
"Which is exactly what's going to get you killed-"
"And a good head on my shoulders-"
"Rowena, dear, I know you're smart. So you must understand that I want what's going to make you happy." My mother smiles, like she knows she already won the argument. Usually I let her at this point because of her health. But suddenly, I just feel something snap.
"Mother, I'm never going to be happy with a husband who I have to be a perfect little wife for, and never get to do anything!" I spread my arms wide and I can feel my eyes pop, trying to make her understand. "I want adventure! I want to travel! I want to see the world!" I clasp my hands tightly and get down on my knees so I'm much closer to her. "I love you mother." I whisper, "But… I don't- can't have your future. I can't do that. I can't stay here." I finally relax and lower my shoulders which I didn't know were tense.
My mother sits absolutely still with a look of shock on her face. Slowly, her face relaxes too until she just looks tired and old. Because of her inner strength, I never really notice how her small frame just gets smaller. I instantly feel bad when I think of how sick and weak she looks. Finally, after a long pause where we both sigh a lot, my mother speaks.
"Rowena, I always knew you were not quite like all the other little girls." My shoulders slump even lower as a large lump forms in my throat. I can't believe I've just driven away the only family I have left. "But," my mother slowly continues as a small smile forms on her face. "I've always loved you for it. You're brilliant, special, beautiful, and that's not even counting the magic you have." My mother laughs and I laugh along as a startled tear falls down my face. "I need to give you a chance to be young. You need a chance to go, 'on an adventure' as you call it." I grab my mother's hand and try to smile through my tears. "I'm nearing the end of my life-" I quickly shake my head and start to contradict her but she gives me a stern look. "Yes, I am. You don't need to hide it from me, I'm a big girl like you. I'm nearing the end of my life," she continues, "And lately all I've done is scold you and make you take care of me. I don't want your memories of me tainted by that. That's why," My mother gets a mischievous glint in her eye and starts to reach under her pillow. I go to help her but she swats my hand away so she can do it herself. She pulls out a cloth potato bag filled with parchment. "I've made you an adventure!" my mother finishes. She looks extremely excited and I feel a rush of excitement as well. I realize when I look into the bag with parchment filled with her handwriting, that she must has been working on this project for a while. I feel a rush of love and admiration towards my mother and I give her a large hug.
"Now, don't get mushy on me." She pretends to frown but I can tell she has to try hard. Though I've been speechless for awhile, I finally find words,
"What kind of adventure is this?"
"Well of course a good one!" My mother scoffs though I can tell she's fighting a smile again. "I've been working on this every free day while you were gone!" My mother's eyes are alive with excitement as she quickly explains the adventure. "You are to go to the big town. I've written a map for you and any instructions for along the way. Then, when you get there I have all the places you should go, thing to see, and of course, people to meet." She wiggles her eyebrows and I laugh. Of course my mother would try to set me up with some eligible bachelors. "I still don't feel entirely comfortable with you traveling alone, it's completely improper, so you should invite Eli to come." I feel a leap of happiness at the thought of travelling with my best friend. "Leda will most likely join and that will take away the improperness of travelling with Eli alone." I feel a flash of confusion until I realize that Eli and I are both of age to marry and we should not be travelling together if we are not married to each other. The rule doesn't really matter with me and Eli since we're not, 'like that,' but my mother is very proper. "Then since you will be by Ollivanders, I thought you might get Leda a wand." I squeal as my mother beams. I have been dying to be able to tell Leda about her magic since I knew she had it. Eli always tells me about the strange things Leda seems to do and I confirmed my suspicions, she is a wizard, with my mother. Just today Eli whispered to me about how another large branch fell down right where they were walking. I of course made up some lie about how it was probably some animal to calm Eli down. I suddenly remember Eli. I can't help but feel pain when I think about how he does not have magic. I always hoped that he would have it, like Leda, so I could tell my best friend the only thing he doesn't know about me. I then realize that there is no way I can get Leda to Ollivanders without Eli knowing.
My mother seems to read my face. "You're a smart girl; you will be able to hide it from him when the time comes." I realize that she's right, but it doesn't make me feel better. I don't want to keep more secrets form Eli, and I can't imagine how Leda is going to feel. My mother's face drops form the grin. "Do you not like my present?"
"Mother!" I scold, "I absolutely love it, how could I not?" I hug her again and give her a kiss as she wipes away my tears.
"All I ever want is for you to be happy," mother sighs and lays back, content, on her pillows. "Now go practice your spells and leave me to rest."
I start to walk away with a spring in my step, already planning on scouring over my new adventure and the endless possibilities it will bring.