Although it was later in the day, Helena too would find a gift at her doorstep; wrapped in paper adorned with leaf-like patterns all over it. Inside was a flat box, and when she lifted the lid, would find the very same scarf MelinoΓ« had leant to her on the night of the Wintertide Ball. Though sitting on top of it was also a silver necklace, with a crescent moon for a pendant; sitting with the curve facing upwards, much like MelinoΓ«'s own headdress did.
Neatly folded inside also sat a note, which read:
We do not celebrate this day where I come from, but I would take any chance given to me to show how truly dear you've become to me. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend. I hope we have many days together still in this world-- whether that be spent sparring, dancing, or simply enjoying each other's company.
That darn scarf again. It was a sweet gesture before, but now it meant something to her. What surprised her, though, was the shape of the necklace. Sheβd seen Melinoe decorated in all kinds of moon imagery, from her tiara to the various trim and adornments on her outfit. It was almost impossible to separate her from it, and seemed almost ritualistic in nature.
Wherever she came from, the moon was clearly important, so the fact she gave her something with that same symbol on itβ¦ It warmed her heart in a way she couldnβt really put into words.
She almost feels bad having this many things adorning her neck, with how often her line of work usually had things grabbing at it, she feared theyβd be ruinedβ¦ But life was slow enough here, she can easily pick and choose.
The thoughts are pushed aside, and she reaches up to add the necklace to the proverbial pile, gently touching the pendant with a soft hum, laughing a bit at how it seemed to curve perfectly around that emerald medallion she usually wore, framing it such that it brought her pause- reframing its meaning.
Deborah had given her that piece, and nowβ¦
It takes everything in her not to fall into grief again, spending another christmas and new year without her. She clutches the medallion in her fist for a moment, steeling herself- We canβt keep walking this path, the cycle has to break.
She had to go thank Melinoe in person for this.