The feels!
Confidence and Control: Chapter 22
The Godmother Question
Mildred turned in her bed to face the cold-stone wall, before realising it didn't exist. She felt wobbly, everything aching painfully.
"Oh good, you're awake," Miss Hardbroom said simply.
She was on the plump sofa in Hecate's quarters, wrapped too tightly in far too many blankets. Miss Hardboom was sitting on the arm-chair, any hints of dishevelment long gone as she drank a tea with her pinky outstretched.
Mildred tried to sit up, finding it more difficult than she thought, her head groggy and feeling like cotton-wool. "Urghh," she groaned and rubbed at her eyes.
Hecate came back with the far-too memorable dandelion tasting potion, which she dished out onto a spoon and pushed quickly into Mildred's mouth. Mildred swallowed with her usual grimace, but felt the annoyingly pleasant effects of the potion almost immediately.
"Is it... gone?" Mildred eventually got out.
"The masikim?" Hecate raised a brow, "Yes. If you hadn't fainted, you would have seen for yourself. I might have even allowed you to banish it," Hecate's words felt like a accusation for a moment, before a small jesting smile appeared on her face.
"But Imanaged it?" Mildred asked in a small voice. Hecate had to suppress the urge to both shout and hug the girl in turn for her extraordinarily humble attitude.
"You controlled a transfer. Yes. You even had baggage."
Mildred smiled at that, but then a thousand thoughts clouded her tired mind.
Miss Hardbroom sucked at her dark lips," In answer to your unspoken questions Mildred - no you will not need to face him again. Once you have experienced it once, muscle memory will allow you to transfer again at will...Not now!" she warned, "You need rest."
It was strange, now that she thought of it - just how calm she felt - how calm her magic felt. Mildred pondered for a moment, "So we won't really know what I am afraid of..." She queried.
"I am relieved Mildred. It certainly felt like a betrayal of my role to be subjecting you to such things," Hecate's stare became piercing for a moment before they lost all power and became wide for moment before she looked down uncomfortably and starting wiping invisible dust from her dress, "I am glad my fears sufficed..."
"Why didn't you transfer away?" Mildred asked curiously, knowing her form-mistress could have easily have got away from the masikim without needing her.
"And not letyou have the chance?" Hecate said self-righteously. "It was hardly planned, but in the end it worked out better. Ratherme facemy own fears than subject you to yours."
Mildred played with her own hands awkwardly, feeling like Miss Hardbroom had made it all sound too simple, making it seem like it was an okay that it had happened, when it really didn't sit right with her. Miss Hardbroom was doing her best to look nonchalant, and Mildred resigned to the fact that it was never going to be an argument she would win.
"Is Ethel ok?" She finally asked levelly.
"For now," Miss Hardbroom gritted her teeth formidably. "I got the whole story. Cloning potion and a simple door lock spell. She is paying the price, although she certainly punished herself with some pretty hard masikim-induced thoughts," she said darkly.
Mildred nodded, wonderingly. Her brain hurt trying to fuse together thoughts of what on earth Ethel Hallow could be afraid of.
"Sleep Mildred," Hecate suddenly commanded softly, seeing the girls eyes flitter. "We have plenty of time for more discussion later."
Mildred nodded, feeling like she could cry and not really sure why. She closed her eyes tightly, but felt Miss Hardbroom shifting uncertainly and she wished she had some energy, any amount of energy left to grasp the woman and comfort her after seeing first-hand her deepest fears played out.
Eyes still shut she tried her best to put her thoughts into words.
"Miss Hardbroom I'm really sorry you had to go through that for me... It's not fair. You're always doing so much for me..." She could hear Miss Hardbroom open her mouth to protest but continued bravely:
" I.. I.. I wish you had told me about my mum asking you to be my Godmother. I would never say no..I'd love you to be... That's if you want me still..." She felt her eyeballs squeeze as she waited with bated breath for any response.
When it came it was in a rather small voice that she would never associate with the great Hecate Hardbroom. "Of course..." She coughed and found her abrupt tone again, "- you silly girl- who could not want you?"
Hot tears began to release through Mildred's tightly closed eyes, pooling on her cheeks as she blinked them open. This truly amazing woman, her teacher, mentor, role-model, wanted her as much as she needed her. Mildred stretched her hand in the direction of her and felt a cold bony fingers attached to a hand recently warmed by tea entwine itself around it.
"You, Mildred Hubble, make me prouder everyday," Hecate's eyes warmed to the colour of cocoa as she shook her head disbelievingly.
"Now sleep - I will not tell you again!" With a smile on her face, Mildred finally succumbed to sleep.
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Hecate watched the girl sleep for longer than she would ever dare to admit, even to herself.
She was a dragon, fiercely protecting her treasure.
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