Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It was a misty gray morning on the eastern road, and Celine had only the birds for company.

They were foragers, like her. Her woven basket was already overflowing with dew-flecked lilacs and daffodils. Dandelion greens too, but those were for Reina. The flowers were for Juniper.

No, that wasn’t quite right. They were for the bathhouse, and by extension, for the whole town. But wasn’t that true of the greens, too? Celine would probably find them in her soup bowl that week.

She was overthinking things. Celine took a deep, steadying breath, and kept walking. The weather made it harder to spot bits of color amidst the grass, but she soon noticed something tall and purple in the distant green expanse.

Her heart fluttered like a moth drawn to candlelight. She found herself walking towards the old ruin of columns and stone work. Towards the witch.

The sorceress. Juniper corrected her once, and Celine didn’t like to misspeak. She didn’t like being scolded either, but it was hard to take it personally - no one in Mistria escaped that haughty, high-toned chortle. Celine had grown fond of the sound, even when it was at her expense. She waved in Juniper’s direction. Smiled, and meant it. “Good morning!”

Juniper had a basket too. She held it in the crook of her arm, and let it rest on the curve of her ample hip. Celine focused on the bounty of wildflowers and berries, all red and bruised and glistening. She tried not to let her gaze linger on the peephole in Juniper’s top - less a peephole than a floor-to-ceiling window, but Celine didn’t judge her for it. If anything, she admired Juniper’s total lack of modesty. It seemed liberating to care so little about the opinions of others.

Celine could only wonder at that sort of freedom. She swallowed the thought, and nodded towards Juniper’s basket. “Those look nice and ripe. Are you going to bake with them?”

Juniper rolled her eyes. They were the same shade of purple as the lilacs Celine carried - an eerie, beautiful coincidence. Celine almost told her so, but Juniper’s arched brow quieted her.

“I don’t bake, Celine. I brew. I’ll leave the pies and cobblers to your friend Reina.”

“What are you brewing, then?”

Juniper studied her, eyes narrowed. Lips pursed. Celine felt like one of Luc’s insect specimens, and half expected Juniper to grasp her wrist or neck for a closer inspection. Half wished it, too.

“A potion. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

Celine blushed from the condescension, and the compliment. She pressed on, eager to forget both. “Foraging is good in Mistria, isn’t it?”

“Preternaturally good.” Juniper plucked a sprig of lilac from Celine’s basket. “The way this land renews itself… there’s certainly something special about it.”

“There is! Errol leant me a book from the museum with all sorts of ancient flora. I’ve started to translate it, and-”

“-Yes, yes. Your beloved Codex. When are you going to let me take a look? I’m sure I could make short work of it.”

A tempting offer, but Celine had no intention of relinquishing her prize. Not without terms, anyway. “Maybe we can study it together sometime.”

“Hmph. Make sure to drop off the new bath oils by the end of the week. I’m nearly out, and I have more important concoctions to attend to.”

“I’ll bring them tomorrow.” Celine took pride in her new job. At first, she’d helped gather ingredients, but now she was making the oils and scrubs herself. Juniper had liked her samples that much. Celine held the end of her braid - a nervous habit, but it gave her courage. “You know, it’s nice to find someone else out here. This place is too lovely to have all to myself.”

She braced for another eye roll. Celine hadn’t prepared for a soft, wistful smile. Juniper’s lilac gaze settled on the columns as she spoke. "These ruins are part of what drew me to Mistria. There's not much left from the era of the Witch Queens... especially so intact.” She rested a slender hand against the stonework. “There's new power here, deep beneath us. The earthquake must have revealed it.”

Celine blinked in astonishment. Their conversations had always been mundane, and brief. She wasn’t ready for this one to end just yet. “Something magical, you mean?”

“Obviously. Now run along, you’re distracting me.”

“See you tomorrow, then.”

Juniper waved her off, already impatient. Not the ending she’d hoped for, but Celine didn’t lose heart. There was new power in Mistria - she felt it in the soil, and in the wind, and in those disarming violet eyes.

Celine moved into her cottage months ago, but the general store still felt like home. She’d spent most of her life there: stocking the shelves, cleaning the floors, counting the till. It was a nice enough childhood, but she didn’t share her mother’s passion for commerce. She used to sneak off to the garden whenever her parents weren’t looking, and spent most of her working hours daydreaming.

But she was an adult now, with a place of her own and bills to manage. She minded the store a few days a week, even though getting wages from her family felt like cheating. She knew how foolish that was - Reina worked for her folks, and was in no rush to move out. Adeline’s position was given to her by the Baron and Baroness, not to mention the manor house. By all rights, Celine should be running the shop alongside her parents.

She didn’t want it. She never had. She was secretly relieved when Dell was born - another heir to carry on the merchant tradition.

Celine had long since given up that delusion. Her little sister was an even worse store clerk than she’d been.

“Dell, I just mopped in here. What’s all this mud from?”

“Outside.”

“Well, can you leave it there next time?”

“You got it.” Dell pulled a snail out of her pocket, and affixed it to her own arm. “Hey, are you a witch?”

The word sent a chill up her spine. She’d been staring at a balance sheet, and thinking about her next order for the bathhouse. Middlemist was hard to find, but it smelled wonderful. Celine happened to know it was one of Juniper’s favorites. She spent days scouring Mistria, but she finally had enough for a big batch. She even saved the nicest blossom to tie around the bottleneck. A little present, that’s all. She loved giving people presents.

Dell didn’t know any of that, but it still made Celine nervy. “Dell!”

“Are you? You have to tell me.”

“Where’s this coming from? I wasn’t a witch this morning.”

Dell watched the snail trail slowly up her forearm. “We were at the bathhouse, but it got boring. Juniper kept asking us if you and Reina do magic.”

Celine blushed scarlet. “What?”

Dell didn’t take her eyes off the snail. “She thinks Reina’s cooking’s too good to be regular. Maple said she just practices a lot, but Juniper didn’t buy it.”

Celine grabbed the mop. She dimly registered the chime of the door opening. “But why would she say that about me?”

“Who said what about you? And where’d all this mud come from?”

It was their mother Nora, with an armful of paperwork and a steaming cup of coffee. Hair pinned back, clothing neatly pressed. She’d looked the same as long as Celine could remember. Celine hoped she’d age just as gracefully.

Dell looked at the muddy soles of her boots. Then at her mother.

Then at Celine. “Don’t hex me, I’ll be good! Or wait - turn me into a frog!”

Nora sighed. “Go pretend to help your father with dinner, before I turn you into a real employee.”

Dell scampered off, snail in tow. Celine started mopping.

Nora cleared her throat. “So, how’s your side gig going?”

Celine held the mop a little tighter. “It’s good.”

“We’re lucky to have the bathhouse, aren’t we? Good for business, but good for the body, too. I love getting to use your products when I’m there.”

Celine already knew where this was going. “Thanks. It’s been a nice excuse to try new recipes.”

She was nearly done with the mess when Nora spoke again. “Have you thought anymore about trying the Saturday market? I know you don’t want to organize the whole event, and I don’t blame you. But maybe just a stall, for bouquets or beauty products. Or both!”

“I don’t know yet. It’s been nice having so much time to garden…”

Celine trailed off helplessly. She knew how childish she sounded, but she liked her little life. More work meant less time foraging, and reading, and planting. More work was for people who wanted big houses and big families. Celine just wanted a garden, and someone to share it with. A pet might be nice, too.

Nora warmed her hands around her mug of coffee. “Why not make some money off all those beautiful flowers you grow?”

It was a well-worn conversation, circular and vaguely maddening. Celine played her usual part in it. “I do the landscaping for the manor house-”

“-and it’s lovely, but that only happens once a season. Maybe Elsie would buy some arrangements for the interior, if you asked her.”

“Maybe.” She wouldn’t, and they both knew it. Nora sighed. Surrendered.

“Alright, I’ll give it a rest for today. Are you staying for dinner?”

A idea seized Celine - an impulse, more like. She smiled sweetly. “Actually, I’m starting my first shift at the bathhouse tonight.”

“Oh! Why didn’t you say so? I didn’t realize Juniper was hiring.”

Neither did Juniper, but Celine believed in setting intentions. Or, whatever Reina called it - manifesting? “It’s sort of a… trial basis. I don’t want to be late.”

Nora’s relief was obvious. “That’s great. I’m sure you’ll be helpful - we already know you’re good with a mop.”

“Mom!”

She laughed. A rich, comforting sound. “Say hi to Juniper for me. Ask her if she wants to start a potion stall for the market! Oh, and don’t forget to eat!”

Celine hurried out before Nora could think of any other instructions. She rushed home to finish off the middlemist oil, and nearly dropped the bottle in her excitement to get back out the door.

Juniper was filing her nails at the front desk when Celine arrived. She gave the barest nod in greeting, but Dozy was far more gracious. He bounded up to Celine, a stick between his teeth.

“Your sister gave him that. He told me he’s never seen a nicer one.”

Celine still couldn’t decide if Juniper was teasing her about talking to Dozy. Maybe it was a sorceress thing. “She’ll be thrilled. Can I come in?”

“Well, you’re here, aren’t you? At least you brought my oil.”

Celine approached with the bottle, the blossom facing towards Juniper. She put down the nail file. Raised her brows. “I guess this one was too pretty to use, is that it?”

“Something like that. I thought you might want it.”

Juniper smirked. “A tribute? For me? You shouldn’t have.” She twirled the middlemist between her fingers. “Well, yes. You should have. But thanks all the same, Celine.”

Dozy settled at Juniper’s feet, his tail gently thumping against the bathhouse floor. Something about the friendly, rhythmic sound gave Celine the push she needed. “It’s been fun helping you with your stock. I know you’re busy with potions and experiments-”

“-Very busy. Get to the point, quickly.”

Celine put on a brave face. Set the intention, manifest it. “I want to work here. You don’t have to pay me much. Or anything, really.”

Juniper looked ready to scoff, but Celine held her hands up. “I don’t care about the tesserae, but in exchange, I want help translating the Codex. And…”

She faltered. Juniper gazed at her over the deep red petals. “Go on. Ask it.”

Celine swallowed. “I want to learn why the soil here is special. I want to make things grow. With magic, I mean. Can you teach me?”

“Hmph. I guess you’re not just a bumpkin after all. I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever wake up to it.”

Celine took that as a compliment. “Is it a deal, then?”

Juniper idly pet Dozy’s head. “Come back in the morning. Not too early, though. I need my beauty sleep.”

The walk home was a jittery blur. Celine burned dinner and left her tea until it was cold, but she hardly noticed. She fell asleep with the Codex on her lap, her fingers threaded through the pages.

The last of the daffodils and tulips soon gave way to daisies and marigolds. Celine still hadn’t learned much in the way of magic, but she knew how to clean cauldrons and floor drains. Juniper occasionally let her help with potions, and sometimes they muddled through the Codex together. Those days were Celine’s favorite. Not that she really minded the cleaning - her mind could wander freely, whether into her book or down the hall, towards the sound of cackling.

Dozy took to following her around the bathhouse whenever Juniper managed the front desk. A playful competition ensued, with lots of bribery on both sides. Dozy came to expect a hard boiled egg from Celine every time he saw her.

He saw her more and more these days. Celine was at the bathhouse half the week, but she still made time for her garden, and her friends. She usually spent her free afternoons at the beach with Reina and Adeline.

They often had the shoreline to themselves, but not today.

Reina shoved Celine playfully. “Girl, pick your chin up off the sand.”

Juniper was at the opposite end of the beach, her long violet hair in a high ponytail and her body in an impossibly small, strappy bikini. Celine didn’t usually stare so openly, but the swimsuit was made to turn heads.

And slacken jaws, apparently. Celine snapped to attention. “Was it that obvious?”

Adeline poured her some more lemonade. “Don’t worry, she wasn’t looking over here.”

She was too busy talking to Valen to even notice them. Celine sighed, and adjusted the pink flower in her hair.

Her friends smiled in sympathy. Reina shook her head. “You have a type, that’s for sure.”

Celine felt a flash of indignance. “What do you mean?”

“Celine. Your first girlfriend?”

A dark haired beauty who pulled her pigtails. She moved away years ago, but Celine remembered her fondly. “She was assertive.”

Reina laughed. “‘Assertive,’ okay. Yeah, and a total smokeshow. Just like that Capital girl who used to summer here, the one who pushed you off the dock. Face it, you like ‘em pretty and mean.”

Waves lapped at the shore, threatening to soak their towels. Celine dug her fingers into the wet sand. “Juniper isn’t mean. Not really.”

Adeline swirled her drink. “You have a big heart, Celine.”

Another way of saying “Sure, babe.” They just didn’t know Juniper like she did. They’d never heard her try to explain a potion recipe, or watched her lovingly prepare Dozy’s dinner. They’d never seen the way her lilac eyes glimmered when a spell went just right.

Reina looked down the beach. “I guess Valen’s getting in your way again.”

The town doctor was Celine’s constant - and unwitting - romantic rival. Any girl she’d ever mooned over was already gazing Valen’s way. She was cooler, older, more experienced. Usually out of reach, but that didn’t stop them from doodling hearts around her name.

In truth, it was more of an inside joke with Reina and Adeline. She’d never actually competed with Valen for anyone’s affection. Not until now.

Celine saw the way they quipped at each other on Friday nights. It was going to take more than bouquets and bath oils to meet the challenge. She had her suspicions about their little flirtation, though. “It’s a game, that’s all. They don’t even know each other.”

Reina didn’t seem convinced. “Well, they’re heading this way. Whew, that bathing suit. It’s like the sun, don’t look directly at it.”

Hard not to, when Juniper was towering over them. “And what’s this little coven up to?” The town doctor wasn’t far behind.

Adeline giggled nervously. “Oh, just enjoying the day.”

Valen slipped her sunglasses into the front of her black halter top. “I hope you ladies remembered to wear your sunscreen.” She looked at Celine. Smiled. “I like that suit.”

“Thank you.” Celine instinctively touched the ruffle that circled her bare shoulders.

Juniper was frowning, hands on her naked hips. “Funny. You didn’t say anything about my swimwear.”

Valen’s smirk was enough to sour the compliment. Celine knew it was just a setup for their banter, and witnessing that was enough. She didn’t need to be a part of it.

The sun was suddenly too hot to bear. Celine stood with a languid stretch. “I’m going for a dip. Any takers?”

Reina and Adeline rose to join her, but the other women demurred. “We’ve having dinner at Hayden’s. Maybe that chicken of his will finally apologize to Dozy. Oh, that reminds me - Celine, can you finish up that potion tonight? You don’t mind, do you?”

They were going to finish it together. This was better, though - it meant Juniper finally trusted her alchemical skills. Letting her mind the bathhouse alone was no small feat either.

She smiled. “Sure thing. Say hi to Henrietta for me.”

Juniper wrinkled her nose. “I will not.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll pass along the greeting.” Valen winked at Celine, and set off for Sweetwater. Juniper was close behind, her ponytail swinging with every step.

The ocean did little to clear Celine’s head. Her friends floated beside her, uncharacteristically quiet.

Reina was the first to break the silence. “It’s not really about Valen, you know? I don’t like the way she treats you. There, I said it.”

Celine sunk deeper into the water. “She’s different when it’s just the two of us.”

“That doesn’t make it better! Right, Adeline?”

“It might be worse, actually.”

They weren’t being fair. “I’m learning a lot. I like working with her.”

Reina splashed her gently. “But why isn’t she teaching you spells and stuff? I thought that was part of the deal.”

“It takes time, that’s all. And don’t talk about magic in front of my family. Dell won’t stop asking me to turn her into a hermit crab, and as far as my parents know, I’m making spa products.”

A bigger splash. “Yeah, with a witch.”

“A sorceress, you foolish peasant.” Celine’s imitation startled her friends into hysterics. They stayed in the ocean ‘til sunset, gossiping to their hearts’ content.

Celine was still brushing sand and salt off her skin when she got to the bathhouse. It was eerily quiet without Dozy to greet her - she hoped Henrietta wasn’t bullying him too badly. He dodged her pecks without complaint, even seemed to treat them as play. Celine couldn’t decide if the misunderstanding was sweet, or sad.

She put that aside for now. Potions required a clear, agile mind. This one was for inducing sleep in the restless or ailing - deep, dreamless sleep. The mixture was already hissing and simmering happily in Juniper’s cauldron, but it needed a finishing touch or two. Celine gathered her ingredients and set to work. Lavender, chamomile, mugwort. Calm. Blank. Serene. Stir, stir, stir.

The steam was heady, and thick. Soothing. Celine tried not to breathe too deep, lest she doze right into the pot.

Was this magic? Or medicine? Celine only knew that it made the tips of her fingers zing with energy. She rubbed them together to test the sensation, and make it spark.

It passed. The steam cleared, revealing a wine-dark, gently bubbling brew. Just as the recipe called for. A small triumph - Celine wanted to celebrate it. Wanted to banish the cold, lonely feeling the empty bathhouse gave her.

A bath seemed like the nearest thing, and she could use one for the last of the sand and salt. It should’ve been easier to undress, but Celine was almost more self conscious with the place to herself. It felt wrong, somehow. She held her breath as she stripped - a strange impulse, but it made the task possible. When she could finally exhale, Celine stepped into the hot water. She submerged up to her neck, and watched her long, golden hair spread like seaweed across the surface.

She thought of Juniper’s high swinging ponytail, shining and perfect. Was that magic? Surely some higher power kept her bikini in place, just barely covering her breasts. Celine rested her arms on the edge of the bath, and pressed her body against the curved stone. Her own chest was modest in comparison, but almost anyone’s would be. Celine was happy enough with her figure - it wasn’t envy that animated her thoughts.

She sighed. It’d been weeks since she started helping Juniper, but there was still a barrier between them. Celine didn’t wonder at its properties. She knew Juniper still saw her as a curiosity, at best. A clever village girl, not a true colleague.

Maybe this potion would do the trick. It clearly worked - Celine was clinging to consciousness, but it slowly ebbed away from her. Time slipped through her pruney fingers like sands through an hourglass.

Then, something cold and damp touched the tip of her nose. Celine blinked awake, still bleary-eyed and dazed. “Dozy?”

He wagged, and touched his nose to hers again. She groggily scratched his ears, and listened to the soft murmur of voices in the next room. She couldn’t make out the words, but she knew the tones well enough. It was Juniper and Valen.

Celine’s blood ran cold. If she stirred, they might realize she was still there. If she didn’t, they might find her anyway… either option sounded humiliating, even more humiliating than pleading with a dog. She whispered to Dozy, suddenly desperate. “Please, don’t tell her I’m here. Make sure they go elsewhere. And please, come back when the coast is clear. Okay?”

Dozy licked her nose affirmatively, and padded back to the front room.

Minutes passed. Achingly, impossibly slow. Celine waited in the water, not wanting to risk a splash or slip. She wondered what they were talking about - hadn’t they already spent the whole evening together? Other worries found her, like whether Dozy was half as good a listener as Juniper claimed. But the murmur of voices faded at last, and Dozy returned to her rescue.

Celine dried and dressed as quietly as she could manage. She didn’t want to leave too quickly and run into Valen on the walk home. Dozy kept a respectful distance while she readied herself, and guided her through the dark to the front room.

She was nearly out the door when she heard laughter upstairs. A high cackle, and a low, smooth chuckle.

At least Celine wouldn’t have to worry about Valen spotting her. She raced home, blinking until her tears disappeared. Like magic.