Chapter 25 — The Queens' Comfort Objects

"There are wars we forget, memories we bury, but a well-sewn plush toy brings peace back to our arms."

Tonight, Saphira asked to be alone in a pavilion of the palace a low table, a cushion, a blue silence. Beside her, Élya gently hands her an ancient box. Inside, lunar silver threads, soft lightning cotton, and a few pieces of silky shadow, for Chang'e and for Hera "two mothers from two different worlds, but who held me when I was scared."

The Comfort Object for Chang'e

The doll is slender, delicate. Her dress is made of nebular fabric, her face embroidered with a gentle smile, and in her arms, a tiny miniature rabbit, lovingly sewn for calm nights, for sacred silences, so she never forgets that she, too, has the right to be cherished.

The Comfort Object for Hera

The comfort object is rounder, protective, with a small golden shield sewn on its chest. Its hair is made of golden foliage strands, and on its cape, Saphira embroiders a small, discreet blue lightning bolt, hidden in the lining. This is for the one who seems strong but carries centuries on her shoulders, so she too has someone watching over her.

  Saphira wraps the two comfort objects in satin fabric and places them at the doors of the queens' rooms, without a word she just writes a note.

—"Sometimes, we protect the world sometimes, we just need a comfort object with all my blue love, Saphira Noctielle."

Chang'e finds hers in the morning she holds it gently against her heart she doesn't speak she smiles. Hera discovers hers after dreaming of her childhood she places it on her vanity and looks at it for a long time, with quiet tears.

End of chapter 25 — The Queens' Comfort Objects