Frances swallowed nervously as she took a seat beside her mentor. Her cream silk dress could not unfortunately be rescued from the knife cuts, blood and battering it’d taken.

Thankfully, Edana had brought some of Frances’s new wardrobe as part of their trip to Erlenberg and they only had to modify the sky blue dress she now wore.

Edana herself looked resplendent in her gold-trimmed White Order mage robes that were part of her office. In her left hand she held Poker. With her right, she reached across Frances’s lap.

Frances took her mentor—her mother’s hand and squeezed the long fingers tightly. In her other hand she held her faithful companion Ivy’s Sting. The wand was humming with joy, and felt warm against her fingers.

“You ladies look beautiful,” said the painter. His name was Daniel and according to Edana, he was a painter who specialized in using magic in his artwork to create almost photographic like portraits. Frances had seen a few examples and had been astounded to see oil paintings reflect the realism of photographs.

“Thank you, Daniel. Anything else you want us to adjust?” Edana asked.

“Oh no. I like that you are holding hands actually. Just keep your wand across your chest, Lady Frances. I will begin… now.” Daniel took a deep breath, raised his brush and as he drew on the canvas, he began to sing.

As the song, a truly beautiful aria wafted through the air. Frances thought back to when she’d arrived. A scared, starving, aching girl. Someone who was lost, and who hated herself. Someone broken.

Thanks to Edana, who now sat beside her, beaming, that had begun to change—that had changed. She’d provided her with love, guidance, home, a role model, and now a mother.

In Elizabeth, who now watched the artist’s hands fly over the canvas with curious awe, she’d found a peer, someone she could talk to honestly, and who understood her.

With Martin, who leant against a column, watching the artist with admiration, she found a loyal defender who respected her and gave her space.

There were others. Earl Forowena, Baroness Igraine, and Prince Timur, who she couldn’t help but wish she could meet again… they’d all welcomed her to Erisdale and Durannon.

Part of her missed Earth, would always miss her old home. Yet, as Frances sat next to her mother, watching as the artist drew her visage on the canvas, she realized that when this portrait was finished, it would hang in the home she and her mother would share.

As for that home, it was in Durannon. By the side of her friends and new family.

It took a while, but finally, the portrait was done, and Frances could see herself and her mother reflected back towards them in the oil paint.

The painting showed Edana was smiling so wide Frances knew that her mother’s face was probably aching slightly. Some tea would take her mind off of that. What struck Frances the most, though, was herself.

For smiling back at her was a smiling girl of fifteen going on sixteen. She had short brown hair cut where it touched her chin. Her olive-brown skin had a slight blush to it but seemed to glow with health. She was still quite slender, but lean muscles were barely hidden underneath the gorgeous blue silk dress she wore. In one hand, she gripped her yew wand, Ivy’s Sting. In the other she held her mother’s hand.

The girl in the painting looked absolutely overjoyed, which was how she felt. There were going to be challenges in the future, but Frances suddenly realized that no matter how bad they might get, the girl in that painting would never forget the joy of this day.

That girl in the painting looked as if she could feel happy for a long time, and seemed ready to look forward to the next adventure. Could Frances see that girl being scared? Terrified even? Haunted by past hurt? Yes, she could. But something told Frances that those occurrences would become far less frequent.

“So, what do you think?” Daniel asked eagerly.

Frances felt her cheeks warm. “I look really pretty.”

Edana laughed, a merry almost musical sound. “You are pretty, Frances.”

“I know, mom.” Frances giggled and gestured for Martin and Elizabeth to come over. She was going to ask Daniel if they could do a portrait for the three of them. They all had some time before their next journey, quest, or battle.

Whatever it was, Frances knew she was ready to face it. And if she wasn’t, she had her friends and her family to help her.