Frigga
“Y’sure you’re gon’ be alrigh without me?” Razi asked as she finished tying Frigga’s boots. “I can come, Frigg.”
Frigga waited for Razi to stand and help her to her feet. “I’ll be fine. Besides, didn’t you say that Rosalind’s home creeped you out when we were there?”
“I was jus’ bein’ dramatic,” Razi answered as she began to help Frigga down the steps of Thorneheart Manor to the waiting carriage. “I don’ see why your meeting had to be today and why it had t’ be there.”
“Rosalind’s still too weak to move unnecessarily, so we’re meeting there. I want to check in on them, but I have to ask them and Theodore about Leland.” They made it to the car and Razi helped Frigga up the step into it. “Besides,” Frigga continued, “I need you to look after Leland while the authorities take Sapphire to the hospital.”
Razi sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I can do tha’.” She closed the car door and tilted her head up. “Jus’ get back ‘ere soon as you can, yeah?”
Frigga leaned out the window and met Razi’s lips with her own. “I will, I promise.”
“I’ll make some of those buns you like to go wit’ dinner, if you wan’.” Razi murmured
“With the honey and oats?”
“Yeah.”
“I’d like that, and I’ll thank you for them later.” Frigga kissed Razi on the cheek and winked.
Razi just grinned before stepping away from the carriage, finally allowing it to leave. Frigga leaned back into her seat and turned her thoughts to the errand ahead. The ride into town was easy enough, and the salted air lifted her spirit. As she crossed into town onto the cobblestone, Frigga watched the shops go by and noted any that might be of particular help when she and Razi left next week.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the Bloodswell home, and she carefully eased her way down the steps. One of Rosalind’s staff members, a young man with a standardly handsome face, escorted her inside to the library; the newly-appointed Head of Household had adopted it as their preferred office and place of business, and she walked in to find Rosalind and Theodore having a quiet discussion, a carefully polite expression on his face and a somewhat tense one on theirs. The two of them seemed to be doing their best to get along, but it was going to be an uphill road. Theodore was dressed in his usual white and purple suit, but Rosalind was comfortably dressed; a red camellia was tucked into their breast pocket and their broken arm peeked out from under an oversized indigo cardigan Frigga had a feeling belonged to Marcus. They were much brighter, having finally been medicated for their pain and rested properly in their own sanctuary, but were obviously going to be recovering for quite a while.
Frigga was embraced warmly by Theodore. “Thanks for coming all this way! Hope your ride in wasn’t too bad?”
She took her seat across from Rosalind, Theodore between the two. “It was fine. I saw they were doing some work on the town’s square road.”
“Very overdue, if you ask me, we’ve been needing that since New Year’s! Think the Crestfall’s carriage hit a hole, broke the wheel.”
They small talked until a servant brought in tea. Most of the conversing fell to Frigga and Theodore with Rosalind occasionally adding a word in. Once settled and refreshed, Theodore finally struck up their meeting’s topic. “I’m told you and your, em, friend?” he hesitated, waiting on Frigga to clarify.
“Fiancée,” Frigga supplied.
Theodore’s brows raised a bit, but he politely continued after a pause with, “Ah, fiancée, yes, you two are leaving Honeyshore?”
“Yes. As soon as I’ve tied up loose ends, Razi and I will be leaving.”
“And I take it that means you’re going to be giving up your spot in the coven?”
“Yes.”
Theodore sighed with a small frown tugging at his bushy moustache. “That’s unfortunate, I must say.”
Frigga looked down at her lap. Theodore had always treated Frigga like a daughter and she genuinely hated to grieve him. “I’m sorry, Sir. This… this life isn’t for me.”
Theodore nodded and crossed his arms thoughtfully. “From what Marcus told me, it sounds like you’ve been miserable.”
“I wish I was better suited. I feel terrible about leaving, but-“
“Nonsense, my girl,” he interrupted while waving off her anxiety. “If it makes you miserable, there’s no sense in forcing you to stay.”
She looked up from her hands shyly. “Sir?”
He took a sip of tea before looking back. “Marcus said your aunt was trying to force you into it, and that Master Bloodswell here-“
“Theodore,” Rosalind bristled from behind their own tea cup. A silent conversation occurred between the two of them until the patriarch coughed lightly, recovering from the interruption.
“Yes, right, Rosalind here was the one responsible for getting you out of that sticky situation.”
Frigga smiled, holding back a laugh at the awkward tension between her two friends. It felt like that had not been the first time Rosalind had corrected their future father-in-law, and it was only day two of the engagement. “Yes, I wouldn’t be able to… I wouldn’t be free without their help.”
“Right.” His eyes darted to Rosalind and back to Frigga, a momentary, uncomfortable shift in his composure. “Well, I want you to rest assured I’ll make sure Sapphire gets properly dealt with. I am disappointed that we won’t be seeing you lead our wonderful coven, of course, but what’s best for you is much more important. Such a shame Sapphire felt your well-being was secondary.”
Frigga inhaled to brace herself. “That’s what I needed… I wanted to consult you both about. With her being in custody, possibly imprisoned, and with me leaving, I’m not sure what will happen to Leland. I can’t take him, the road isn’t a place for an eight-year-old boy, and he needs a stable place to grow up. I… I’m sorry to ask.”
Theodore laughed in his jolly way. “Nonsense, my girl! Of course young Leland will be taken care of.”
Rosalind had a thoughtful look on their face as they took notes. “I can oversee his education, Frigga, that’s not a problem.” They sipped at their tea continuing with caution lacing their tone, “I’d offer him a place here, though, I’m unsure that’s what’s best for him.”
“The boy should stay with me!” Theodore offered, more enthusiastically than Frigga had expected, and she’d expected enthusiasm. “With Marcus being here so much, it’ll be nice to have a youngster around. Gods know I’ve got the room.”
A not insignificant weight was relieved from Frigga’s heart at the man’s eagerness. “Thank you. Thank you both for your generosity. Maybe I should ask Leland what he would prefer? I think, Theodore, he may prefer to live outside the city. Though,” she paused and looked to Rosalind, “if he is to take up the Thorneheart seat, if that’s where he ultimately ends up, it would be good for him to be around a magical family.”
Rosalind shrugged, as if they hadn’t just offered to help raise an eight-year-old. “As I said, I can figure that out. I agree that asking Leland what he’d prefer is ultimately the way to go. If he does end up with you, Theodore, I’ll make sure to visit with him often. I can also arrange for other coven members to do the same, if you’d like. I’m not as entertaining as some others.” They hid a wry look behind their cup.
Frigga’s stomach churned slightly. “And that was the other thing I needed to speak with you both about. Sapphire… she’ll likely be excommunicated, right?”
Rosalind nodded and their tone became grave. “I can’t see how she wouldn’t be. Even if she wasn’t, she can’t lead the coven from prison.”
The air in the room intensified, but Frigga plowed ahead. “Well… That would mean the coven will be in your hands, Rosalind.”
There was silence; Frigga gripped her hands, Theodore stiffened, and Rosalind placed their cup on the table quietly. “It would seem that way,” they replied slowly. A pained expression drifted across their face briefly before continuing, “But the coven will not like it. I can’t think of a single member who would stand with me and,” Rosalind looked at Theodore briefly before looking away from both their guests. “I’m unsure I’m right for the position.”
Frigga’s heart ached with a fresh wave of guilt squeezing it to bursting. “I know this wasn’t something you wanted, and I feel awful for putting you in this position.”
Rosalind shook their head softly. “You didn’t, Frigga. You made a choice about your own life. This is not your responsibility.”
“But how am I so different if I’m forcing you into-?”
“You haven’t.” Rosalind cut her off, their tone firm. They settled back into their armchair with a sigh. “I’m not thrilled about the situation, and there are ways I might,” they paused and their eyes narrowed very slightly. “It was never my ambition to become a leader, and I never thought I’d be called upon to do it.” Rosalind looked at a teary-eyed Frigga then to a grimly guarded Theodore. “But this is my home, the coven is my family, and if I am needed, if I can help, then I will. I could get out of this responsibility if I truly wanted.” Rosalind looked back to Frigga, and their expression was both confidently resolute and softly compassionate. “Frigga you need to know I am not trapped as you were and I won’t have you feeling responsible for my choices. As long as I am needed, I’ll do this.”
“I… don’t know what to say.”
Rosalind’s softness faded and they grimaced instead, “But telling the coven won’t go over well.”
They were right. With everything that had happened regarding Victoria, there would likely be several members of the coven who would be resistant if not outright hostile to the concept of a Bloodswell leading the group. “I’ll vouch for you, of course. Marcus will too, I’m sure.”
“It is not going to be enough.”
They were right, “But it might-“
Theodore cut her off. “I will too.”
Both Rosalind and Frigga’s eyes blew wide as they looked to the man who’d surprised them, though Rosalind was the more surprised of the two. “Theodore?”
The man crossed his arms again and grimaced. “Honestly, Rosalind, I wasn’t enthusiastic when you told me Marcus asked you to marry him, mostly for the same reasons our coven members will be suspicious of you. We worry you’re following in your mother’s footsteps, you see.”
Rosalind looked away from Theodore to the table. “Yes.”
Theodore exhaled through his nose, an air of resignation settling around him. “However, I think it’s obvious you’re rather more like your father. Not sure how those two ever got together, to be honest.”
Frigga quietly giggled at his recollection. Jun and Victoria Bloodswell had been, by any measure, a strange couple. She had always been ambitious, cut-throat, and an active member of the coven’s social society. If there was ever a meeting, casual get-together, or party, she was the one you could rely on to be there dragging her long-suffering Heir along with her. In contrast, Jun couldn’t be bothered. He was a great academic and historian, a vital resource to the coven’s research and archives, but he was rarely seen. The only reason he’d show up to anything was if Rosalind was being spotlit somehow as in dance recitals or if his wife dragged him out by the ear. He was pleasant enough if you managed to catch him in conversation, but it was a complete mystery as to why he’d married Victoria because the man avoided conversing as a rule. Rosalind resembled their mother for the most part in appearance with their sharp features, black straight hair, heavy dark eyes, and slim stature, but were almost the exact reincarnation of their father in all other respects.
They smiled wistfully. “I try.”
Theodore nodded. “If things do get out of hand, I will vouch for you as well.”
Rosalind took a deep breath in and let it out, their tight shoulders easing visibly. “Thank you, Theodore.”
The man broke the tension with a large grin. “Hopefully then we can all move on from this unpleasant business and get some real work done. We’ve got a wedding to plan after all!”
Rosalind groaned and Frigga beamed. Maybe there was some hope Theodore might warm up to them after all? She had been so worried about how this meeting could have devolved, but it had gone well in the end. With the worst of the meeting over, the details about the emergency coven meet were nailed down and it would be held in five days at Thorneheart Manor, the day Frigga would leave home.
///
The coven’s meeting room was set up the same way it had been for Victoria’s trial, a large table in the centre of the room with enough space for the Head of Household and their Heir to be seated. Frigga would sit at the head, Marcus and Theodore at her right side, the Rynaulds on her left, with Rosalind directly across the table in their family’s place. Though the coven members had been informed that something fundamentally disruptive to the coven had taken place and that they’d be having a formal discussion on the events, the details of the events had been left vague.
As the families arrived at the manor, a strained politeness manifested. Everyone remained civil but it was clear the witches were worried about the future of the group. Though nobody outside herself and her close friends knew it, this would be Frigga’s last meeting and she’d be leaving immediately after so she did her best to briefly mingle with everyone. She was relieved she would finally be free of these niceties and was starting to see what Razi meant when she said rich people were assholes.
They weren’t unpleasant people, not at all. Frigga was fond of most of the coven members. Indeed, everyone was perfectly polite and that was the problem. Frigga felt no connection to these people and the conversations only went so long before they began to revolve around themselves. Their concerns were insular, their perspective isolated from concerns of the world. Some of them barely seemed to recognize that a world outside of their social circles existed so it was no wonder Razi was harsh on them.
As the families took their places, Frigga’s heart began to pound. She was nervous, for herself naturally, but also for Rosalind. She saw them try to socialize somewhat, though they’d ducked out of the interaction at their first opportunity. Frigga was proud of them for trying.
Finally, everyone sat in their places and Frigga sat in Sapphire’s seat at the table’s head. “Welcome, friends,” she took up her chalice in greeting, sipped at it, and replaced it on the table as the coven members followed suit. The room went silent and Sapphire’s absence stung. She’d led this coven for thirty years and this was the first coven meet in more than that time she was absent.
Frigga cleared her throat and put on her most authoritative demeanour; it felt like trying to don armour built for a six-foot man. “As some of you know, there has been a grave happening within my family, the ramifications of which will profoundly affect this coven going forward. Sapphire Thorneheart has been arrested for assault and the attempted murder of Rosalind Bloodswell. She did so because they assisted with breaking a curse she’d cast to control me.” The other witches’ reactions were varied. Some stole quick glances at Rosalind, many Head of Households whispering to their Heirs. “I was a witness to these actions but there are two others who have given statements on the matter who were present as well. Marcus Magnus-Monroe and a member of staff who was also assaulted.”
Frigga handed out copies of the statements given by Marcus, Razi, and herself to the rest of the families and the coven members read through the statements in short-lived silence. Mildred Crestfall stood to her feet, anger clear on her face. “These are grave accusations, and obviously not something we can abide if they are true. I notice Master Bloodswell’s witness is missing from the evidence.” All eyes turned to Rosalind who was strangely calm about it. “Why might that be?”
They took a deep breath, and responded with a practiced, bored answer, “I have opted out, at this time, and I don’t believe my own testimony is necessary when these,” they gestured towards their own injuries, “speak well enough for me. I have nothing to add the testimonies have not already made clear.”
Mildred’s eyes narrowed, unsatisfied. “I would have thought you might be eager to put your attacker away, Master Bloodswell?”
Rosalind did not take the bait and, judging by their small eye roll and fractional wince, Frigga figured they’d already tired of the accusation they’d heard a dozen times already. “As I said, I feel it unnecessary Lady Crestfall. I feel my injuries speak sufficiently on my behalf. You might imagine how traumatic the event was for me.”
The woman nodded, defeated for now, and sat back down. Frigga moved the meet along and moved to excommunicate the coven’s leader immediately, a motion that was unanimous with a few abstaining from the vote, Rosalind included. Paperwork was dealt with and kept track of by Ophelia Rynauld, and the second item on the agenda arose.
Marceline Cromwell spoke as the last of the paperwork was finished, “That means we must have Miss Thorneheart officially made part of the coven as soon as possible, then?”
A general murmur of agreement echoed but Frigga sat up as straight as possible, digging deep within herself to find her courage. “No.” The room fell silent and Frigga tensed, holding her breath. They looked to Frigga with apprehensive faces, and she looked to Marcus, who nodded encouragingly. She then glanced over to an attentive Rosalind before looking around. “I will not be taking up the Thorneheart family’s place at this table. I’m leaving town today.”
The silence shattered all at once.
“Miss Thorneheart, you won’t be taking up your role?”
“How could you?”
“This isn’t like you!”
“Why?”
“How can this be?"
“Who does that leave?”
“Obviously Leland isn’t eligible yet!”
“That leaves…”
Another silence fell on the room as the realization began to settle on the group. Eyes turned to the opposite end of the table. Frigga’s did too and saw Rosalind’s eyes flashing between herself and Marcus. She stood once more. “So until such a time as Leland can accept his place as Thorneheart Head of Household, Master Rosalind Bloodswell, our second family’s Head of Household, has agreed to take up intermittent leadership.”
Chaos erupted with shocked protests coming from various families, confused questions from others, and some witches began begging Frigga to change her mind until Morgan Blackwood stood to his full height. “Miss Thorneheart, is there no way we can persuade you to reconsider?”
Frigga shook her head and took her seat with finality, surrendering her claim to lead the meeting. “No, there isn’t Sir Blackwood, but I have complete confidence in Master Bloodswell.”
Edna Downspire protested, her voice shrill, “But the Thorneheart’s have led this coven for one hundred and fifty years!”
Aurora Morgansons argued, “We have contingencies in place for this sort of situation. Master Bloodswell is the next eligible party!”
Mildred railed against the suggestion and the meeting began devolving into an argument, just as Frigga had feared. She tried to recenter herself and looked away from the chaos to where Marcus was sitting next to her. He was softly giggling and his father was shaking his head in exhaustion. She silently looked for support from either of them and Theodore stood to his feet.
“Compatriots!” He rose his voice, capturing everyone’s attention. Once the volume lowered enough and he’d gained the floor, he continued. “I hear your concerns for the future of this esteemed group, and, if I might be afforded the privilege, might I suggest we hear Master Bloodswell out?”
Slowly, hesitantly, every member of the coven turned their attention back to Rosalind who hadn’t moved. As the coven yielded the floor to let them speak, they stood to their feet and looked to their fiancé and his father. “Thank you, Theodore.” Their face remained neutral, though Frigga saw them toying with a ring they wore absently. Their voice was calm, as always, but some of the artifice of disinterest had disappeared from it. “I see the reluctance many of you are experiencing, and I fully comprehend why. It has not been kept from me how my family’s past currently reflects on myself and it is not lost on me that my past actions might be misinterpreted as evidence of my disinterest in our coven.” Rosalind paused to look around the table, and Frigga followed their eyes to find a completely mixed reaction to their speech. There were many thoughtful, receptive faces, but just as many or more embittered or unresponsive expressions.“I care for everyone of you at this table, this coven is important to me, Honeyshore is my home. I don’t share the ambition for leadership some in my family had, but if I am called upon to serve this coven in such a capacity I will do so for as long as I am needed and no longer.”
They took their seat and the room remained silent. This was unprecedented in many ways, the witches around the table looked to each other but nobody stood to respond to Rosalind’s appeal. Frigga held her breath. It was out of her hands. She wasn’t even technically a member of the coven so her opinion held little weight. She said a silent prayer that someone might back them up, Rosalind couldn’t act until they’d been officially acknowledged.
Finally Ophelia Rynauld, the timekeeper and historian of the coven, slowly stood to her feet. She rarely contributed her own thoughts, but her opinion was highly respected when she did. She’d been silent through the entire exchange, and Frigga’s hands twisted with uncertainty.
“Friends,” she said in her deep, warmed tenor, her dark hands gesturing vaguely to everyone, tinkling with the brightly coloured bangles she wore on her wrists “our coven’s traditions and statutes are clear in these matters. In our one hundred and fifty year history, our ordinances have not failed us. As there is nobody willing nor eligible for Head of Household in the First Family’s home, the role of leader will fall to the Head of Household of our second family, the Bloodswell family, until there is.” She looked to Rosalind, her expression respectful. “Master Rosalind Bloodswell has yet to act in anyway to shame our company, nor have they given us any reason to expect less competency than their predecessor which is, more than I can vouch for regarding others at this table.” She slyly smiled, her eye passing over specific coven members and coven patron’s sons. “I recognize their leadership until such time as there is an eligible member of the Thorneheart family to take up that office.” She took up her chalice and raised it in Rosalind’s direction before taking a sip and retaking her seat.
The group digested her words for a few moments in poignant quiet as the air shifted. Slowly, eyes shifted from Ophelia to Frigga and then, finally, to Rosalind. One by one, chalices were taken up and raised in their direction in acknowledgement, mirroring Ophelia. The weight on Frigga’s shoulders finally dissolved. It was done, Rosalind had been acknowledged, and she was free of her obligation.
Once the last chalice was lowered, Rosalind stood and took up their role with their usual, confident stature. “Thank you, Ophelia, and thank you everyone for your trust in me. Now, is there any other business to be resolved?”
There wasn’t and Rosalind dismissed the group shortly afterwards. Frigga saw them take out their date-book and start writing in it before making their way to Ophelia Rynauld. For not wanting to lead the coven, Rosalind seemed very well-equipped to do it, like they’d already been doing it for years.
She caught a few words of their conversation with Ophelia before Theodore joined them and Marcus pulled her into a conversation with Marceline and Luna Cromwell, Wade Morgansons, and Moira Blackwood. Frigga could barely catch a word, distracted until she heard him turn the conversation in a specific direction.
“Luna, who was your wedding planner? I don’t even know where to start and yours was so nice.”
Luna blinked and looked between Marcus and Frigga. “Tsunade I think was her surname. I thought your wedding had been cancelled?”
Marcus shrugged. “Yeah, that one was, but it’s not like I’m going to use any of those plans again. That kind of affair wouldn’t really suit Ros, you know?”
The others all stared at him. Frigga grinned as little as she could, though she couldn’t contain it fully as she added, “No, and I don’t think they’d really like all that blue.”
“Right?” Marcus chirped.
“Wait, what?” Luna stammered, her brow deeply furrowed, “what are you saying?”
Wade cast a glance in Rosalind’s direction. “Marcus, you’re going to have to elaborate.”
“Oh, Rosalind and I are engaged,” he explained as though it were the most well-known fact in the world. “You didn’t know?”
Frigga chuckled as Moira and Marceline gawked, Luna’s jaw dropped, and Wade burst out laughing, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “No! How long has that been going on? You didn’t say a word!”
Marcus giggled as he received congratulations from everyone, and Frigga glanced over at Rosalind who was watching the distraction for a half-second with a fond smirk before they resumed their discussion with Ophelia and Theodore. Frigga couldn’t believe things turned out this way and her heart was bursting with relief and joy. As soon as she walked down those stairs she and Razi would be leaving, and she was confident that she’d left the coven in good hands. There was just one thing left for her to do.
She excused herself, letting Marcus know where to go after everything was completed, and exited the room heading towards the private chambers. She grabbed the bag she’d packed the night before with Razi’s help, slung it over her shoulders, and left to find Leland in his room. As Frigga had expected, Leland had chosen to live away from the city with the familiar family. Most of his belongings had already been moved to the Magnus-Monroe estate, but there were still a few items he’d had to pack up before leaving today. His packed bags sat next to the door and the boy was on the floor surrounded by a few toys he’d kept handy. He was pouting and sulking, his face tightly wound to keep himself from crying and refused to look at his sister when she knocked on the door and walked over. “You ready?”
He shook his head, his pout twisting into anger. “I don’t want to go. Why do I have to?”
She sat beside him taking up a small, hand-whittled deer from the floor. “I’m leaving and Auntie isn’t here. You said you were excited to go to Marcus’ house, right?”
Leland sadly nodded. “But why do you have to go? Don’t you like it here? Where are you going?”
Frigga sighed. Even with her impaired memory she knew they’d already had this conversation a few times. “I’m going on an adventure, remember?”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know, Lee. A long time.”
The boy sniffled and threw the small toy he was holding across the room. It fell harmlessly but the visual still had Frigga scrambling to reign in a swell of complicated emotions; she didn’t want to make her brother so angry, so scared. He was losing his sister, his aunt, and now the only home he’d ever known. It was such a big change for such a little boy. “Leland, I see you’re angry. I know this isn’t what you would like, but Theodore will take good care of you. Marcus and Rosalind will too, I promise.”
He crossed his arms and looked angrily away from his sister, refusing to reply.
“I know it’s scary. It’s understandable to be afraid.” She placed a hand on his shoulder gently and the boy began sobbing. She threw her arms around her brother, holding him closely as he cried.
It took a while, but eventually he calmed down. “I’m gonna miss you,” he finally admitted through his sniffles. “You just got back!”
With a delicate flick of her wrist, Frigga conjured a tissue and gave it to him. “I’ll miss you too, but I promise to write and visit when we can. And this is just a new chapter in your own adventure.”
He wiped his tears with the tissue, his shoulders still sunken. “Yeah.”
Frigga put her hands on his shoulders. “You can be brave too, right?”
He nodded, still sniffling, but finally cracked the smallest smile. “I can be brave.”
The siblings picked up the last of Leland’s things off the floor and Marcus came by to pick up the last of his bags. “Need any help, bud?” Leland crashed into him and the two laughed. Marcus was even more excited than his father that Leland had chosen to stay with them and had shared his plans to help the boy feel welcome with Frigga before meet. The man grabbed Leland’s bag with a laugh. “I think I know what we’ll do when we get home! I invented this sport and Jenkins absolutely hates it.” As the two of them plotted the downfall of the servant’s sanity, Marcus escorted the siblings to the staircase.
It was time to go.
