15 April, 1369. Elleiser Valley, Islia.
Celia stretched her legs once she'd stepped down from her carriage. They were on the outskirts of another small town whose name she'd missed. The late afternoon sun would soon be dipping behind the mountain range in the distance.
The pewter coloured Elleiser Mountains with their snow capped peaks stood before her, jagged and majestic against the cloudless sky. She found herself unable to look away from their stark beauty.
She'd been too ill and exhausted from pregnancy to bother paying attention to the scenery a few weeks ago. She'd been mired in her own sullen thoughts as they'd journeyed towards Magdaline Castle, Sabine at her side within the carriage.
How different her world looked now, Celia marveled.
She'd lost so many things since that journey, hadn't she? Important, valuable things.
And yet, she somehow still managed to feel like she'd found more in return.
