(Content warning for: Grief: Loss of a parent and loss of a partner, as well as mild suicidal ideation)

Gloom was, frankly, a mess. But could you really blame her? She'd only just started to process that her mother was dying, had said her last goodbyes and had only barely returned to The Hallows when- Gloom was tired of grief. She was tired of the yawning hole in her chest and the pain she felt as everyday the scent of Audra in this room grew weaker and weaker. Gloom sometimes, all the time really, wished she'd go to sleep and not wake up in the morning. What was she supposed to do now? Did she go back to Ashen to be with her brother but be constantly reminded of the life she'd only just started dreaming of every time she saw her nieces and nephews? Did she stay here, connected to Audra but utterly alone with the only support system she'd had here gone? Mercilessly Gloom still woke every morning, feeling cold without the warmth that had so quickly become familiar and comforting. As Gloom blinked already sore, tired and dry eyes she felt her stomach twist. When was the last time she'd eaten? Probably longer than would be advised but she could barely get through anything, it only took a few bites before she felt sick and had to stop lest her body lose what few nutrients she had already ingested. Slowly the woman dragged herself, bedraggled and red-eyed out of the room she had shared with Audra and down to the courtyard. More on autopilot as her body finally took over if only to keep her moving and alive a little longer. Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

Gwyn tucked away the last of the poultices she had been working on in her cabinet of supplies that she liked to keep on hand within the infirmary and closed the doors with a soft sigh. Sometimes it felt as if she was simply repeating the same tasks day in and day out. She knew there were far worse problems to have and she was blessed to be around so much of her family and to be doing something she was good at and enjoyed every day, but... she couldn't shake this feeling that she was simply running in place, waiting for something to happen. She had tried to make a bit of headway on getting her wedding to Ysmir planned, still hoping that maybe they might start a family and yet... Shaking her head, she walked across the room and picked up her traveling cloak, tossing it around her shoulders and pinning together the leaf-shaped broach over her shoulder. Perhaps a bit of air would do her some good.

As she walked through the large double doors of the castle, she saw another woman in the courtyard ahead of her. She hadn't gotten far so she must have just walked outside as well. Normally Gwyn didn't socialize all that much, mostly just keeping to herself and her family, but her gaze lingered on the other woman for a moment, making her pause mid step from her path toward the wisteria grove. She knew the woman's name at least–she always made it a point to know everyone's names as their main healer, just in case–but their paths had never really crossed. Still, just from a glance she could see that something was wrong. Call it a healer's intuition, but she was still pulled toward her regardless.

With her brow creasing slightly with concern, Gwyn turned her path toward the charcoal and cream woman, stepping up along side of her. "It's Gloom, isn't it?" she asked just with a soft smile to make sure her memory wasn't failing her. "I'm Gwynevere... Just Gwyn is good too. I'd like to keep you company if that's alright." Now that she was closer to her she could see the redness and heaviness in her eyes and the gauntness of her features. She knew that if someone didn't want her help it was nearly impossible to give it so she didn't press the matter right away and instead just tried to introduce herself first to see where to go from here.

"Gwynevere Carpathius"