Chapter Text
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
Kyrieleison.
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging,
Der hat in sieben Jahren kein Laub getragen!
Jesus und Maria!
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The Forest of Torment has been desolate since its inception, but ever since Lucifer’s return, the barren branches seem to sag a little bit lower, the roots are a little more gnarled.
He always had a way of sucking the life out of things, Lillith thinks as she wanders the forest path, a minion seven steps behind her.
He is to make sure that this daily walk does not extend beyond the narrow boundaries Lucifer has drawn for her.
And indeed, just as her next step crunches leaves beneath her heel, leaves that have never lived and now crumble to dust, the voice behind her calls out.
Lilith turns slowly and retraces her steps, crushes more dead leaves. Maybe if she doesn’t wait for him to order her back, she can have another moment to feel free.
But her hem catches on a thorny branch, and while the minion frees her, Lilith thinks longingly of the verdant trees around Mary Wardwell’s cottage.
Every step after that feels weighed down, and Lilith is sure she is shrivelling up inside, just like the forest around her.
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Mary walked through a forest of thorns,
Kyrieleison.
Mary walked through a forest of thorns
that had not borne leaves for seven years.
Jesus and Mary.