ELDER MIRIAM'S COTTAGE, AFTERNOON
Aria's POV
The difference between Grandfather Ragnar's cold mansion and Elder Miriam's warm cottage was like night and day. The moment I walked through her door, I was hit with the smell of lavender and honey, those same comforting scents that had wrapped around me like a blanket when I was a child visiting with my grandmother.
Elder Miriam pulled me into a hug the second she saw me and her small arms were surprisingly strong for someone her age. "Oh child, I'm so glad you finally chose yourself because I've been watching you suffer for years and it was breaking my old heart."
"You knew?" I asked as we pulled apart and I followed her into the cozy living room where she had tea already prepared like she'd been expecting me.
