"Don't worry, I've got this," Thalassa said, straining to help her pull up the zipper, which was proving to be quite the challenge.

"Have you been indulging a bit too much lately?" Thalassa asked as she gave it her all.

The zipper got stuck halfway up her back, refusing to budge any further.

Clearly, Hertha had put on a bit of weight.

"Ah, well, I might have let myself go a bit after marrying Alaric," Hertha admitted sheepishly.

"It's alright, it still fits," Thalassa reassured her, gripping the fabric on either side of the zipper and with a final yank, the zipper slid into place. "There we go."

"Phew, finally done. Glad it still fits," Hertha sighed in relief, her anxiety melting away.

taking you guys so long?" a youthful

pulled the door open. The moment the door swung

boys were already reaching five feet, while the girls weren't far behind at around

were her four

brimming in her eyes, calling out each of their

little ones had grown so much,

from one to the next, each hug brief but filled with all the strength of her love, wishing she could pour all of it

a while since she last saw her children, and the longer she went without seeing them,

no tears," Elowen consoled her as she was embraced,

grown up, not just

come visit you more often,"

them, just as they loved her in return. During their three years at military school, the children often

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