"So, um," Rosethorn started and Lark suspected she was trying to change the subject, "Anything new around here? It looks just the same as it did when I left."
"I have a student," Lark said, "She has plant magic. Wondered why your garden looked so nice? Briar is helping teach her."
"Plant magic?" Rosethorn sounded interested.
"Her name is Kalyca," Lark said and saw Rosethorn freeze.
"Kalyca?" she squeaked.
Lark nodded confused, "You know her?"
"Maybe," Rosethorn said softly, "Can, can I see her?"
Lark had never in her life seen Rosethorn like this. Utterly confused Lark nodded and stood up to lead Rosethorn to Kali. By now Kali must have been finished with her lesson, which meant she was probably in Rosethorn's garden.
Rosethorn followed Lark into the garden to the rock where Kali could often be found. They rounded a corner to see Kali sitting in the dirt with Peter. Kali looked up at Rosethorn. Her eyes widened.
Then before Lark knew what was going on Kali had jumped up yelling, "Mama!" and was in Rosethorn's arms. Rosethorn was crying with happiness saying over and over, "Kalyca, my little Kalyca. I thought I'd never see you again."
Lark waited until Rosethorn stopped crying then asked, "Rosethorn?"
Rosethorn smiled and picked up Kali then sat down on the rock with Kali on her lap, "She's my daughter."
"Your daughter?" Lark echoed. If Rosethorn had a daughter, then who was the father?
At that moment Crane walked down the path and stopped dead in his tracks seeing Rosethorn and Kalyca.
"Kalyca?" he asked looking as though he hardly believed what he saw.
Rosethorn nodded and once again before Lark knew what was happening Crane had gone over to them both and was hugging them, laughing and crying all at once. And Kalyca? Kalyca had never looked happier.
Lark watched dumbfounded she waited until all the laughing and crying had stopped then spoke up, "Um, Rosethorn?"
"I kind have left out some parts of my story," Rosethorn said with a sheepish grin. Lark noticed a change in Rosethorn, when she had first gotten back to Winding Circle; she had looked weary and sad, but happy to be back. Now though, she seemed like her normal self and full of energy.
Lark suddenly noticed something on Rosethorn's left hand, on her ring finger, a ring. Rosethorn had definitely left out something.
"We, Crane and I, we fell in love," Rosethorn explained.
"And you married?" Lark asked astonished, this was something she hadn't expected, but then again, she had had suspicions.
"Yes," Crane said and smiled, "the village priest married us, their marriage rituals are surprisingly similar to ours."
"This is a surprise," Lark said, "You two… together. I must admit I did suspect something though. Your arguing wasn't quite hateful towards each other."
Rosethorn grinned up at Crane.
"This is your garden then Mama?" Kalyca asked and Rosethorn nodded.
"See that greenhouse over there?" Crane asked pointing at the green roof of a building just visible.
Kalyca nodded.
"That's my greenhouse," Crane told her.
"I love you Papa and Mama!" Kalyca said joyfully then added, "I was living where you lived!"
Crane smiled and nodded.
"I'm just glad she was put in your care Lark," Rosethorn said.
Lark nodded a bit uncomfortable so she sat down on the other large rock across from them, "Just like a fairy tale. They all get separated then they find each other again and they live happily ever after."
Rosethorn grinned and nodded, "Or so we hope."
"May I hear the full un-shortened story?" Lark asked.
Rosethorn nodded smiling, "It'll take a while."
"I have time," Lark replied.