Nora the fairy of war and healing

Nora’s adventures

part 12

At Elham’s gentle nudge, Nora slowly made her way toward the house. Despite its name, “The Quiet Noon Cottage” was far from a modest cabin—it was a spacious duplex with four master bedrooms. Still, the name felt fitting, like a secret spell cast to soothe the soul.

Elham gently suggested she take a shower, and Nora, exhausted and grimy, didn’t resist.
As the warm water poured over her, she felt some of the tension melt away. The strange, lingering toxins from the Forbidden Forest seemed to drain from her hair, down into the pipes, and away from her mind.

She slid into the tub and let out a soft sigh.
Turning toward Madam Fang, she asked, “So… what do we do now?”

Fang answered calmly, “We never really looked at that wand, did we? Let’s take a proper look.”

Nora reached for it, realizing with a wince that she hadn’t actually examined it at all. Typical.

“It looks like a shepherd’s flute,” said Fang.
Nora peered closer. “But it’s not made of reed…”
“I said it looks like one. Didn’t say it was,” Fang replied dryly. “Put it to your lips.”

Nora obeyed.

The moment she blew into it, a celestial tone echoed through the room. In her mind’s eye, Nora saw her grandmother Catherine—arguing with the unicorn.

“If you weren’t my inner animal,” Catherine barked at the creature, “I’d punish you for suggesting this.”
Then the unicorn turned and walked away.

The vision was too much. Nora couldn’t continue playing.

She stayed in the water until it went cold. Eventually, feeling numb, she dragged herself out of the tub and put on the clothes Elham had left for her.
Thank goodness Elham’s fashion sense was nothing like Catherine’s.

When she walked into the kitchen, the scent of grilled chicken filled the air. Only then did she realize—she hadn’t eaten since yesterday. Just two glasses of sour cherry juice. That was it.

She picked up a piece of warm, freshly baked bread from the counter and headed outside.

There, by the grill, stood Vaila—turning skewers of golden chicken. Nora froze.
Her first instinct was to run.
But Elham gently caught her by the arm and said, “You’ve done enough running for one day. Come. Eat.”

Vaila added, “Come on, Nora. I made yours extra juicy.”

Nora hesitated… then took a few careful steps forward.
As soon as she reached her mother, Vaila handed her a skewer of saffron-marinated chicken.

“The chef may have played favorites tonight,” she said with a smile.

Nora looked at the skewer and thought, Is this what peace tastes like? Saffron and smoke?
She took a bite—and it was, without question, the most delicious chicken she had ever eaten.

With a trembling voice, she said, “Mom… I don’t know what happened. But I’ll answer every question you have.”
Tears slipped down her face before she could stop them. “I’m sorry, Mom. I never meant to hurt Grandma. I didn’t mean to worry you either. Everything just kept spiraling. Punish me if you want—but not like this. Please.”

Vaila set down her fan and looked at her daughter.

“My sweet Nora, this isn’t punishment.
When you played the Flute of Truth, it showed me something:
You’re completely innocent.

The Tree of Truth chose you years ago for this mission—
To be the keeper of that flute.

And now… I couldn’t be prouder of you.
You’re extraordinary.”