The Last Flowers Ch. 12

"I guess it doesn't look as nice as you left it?" Kerensa said.

Rozenwild shook her head.

Behind them Dendelyn fell to her knees and burst into tears. Many of the nymphs rushed to console her, but half of them ended up crying as well. Rose wasn't one of them, but Kerensa could tell she was hurting. She put her arm around the nymph's narrow waist and pulled her close. Rose held her tight without saying anything.

"Angelonia's welcome arch," Dendelyn sobbed pointing to a twisted mess of scraggly wisteria vines.

Willow patted her hair. "Shh, little leaf, we'll build a new one in her honour."

"A few decades before I sprouted, a nymph made a floral arch to welcome future mates. Angelonia let Dendelyn add to it for Dianella's mother," Rose whispered in Kerensa's ear. She pulled away and stood straight. "We'll do it now, Den. Let's fix it for the elhuvens."

Dendelyn shook her head, but Rozenwild helped her up and held out a palm full of seeds. Kerensa sat on a log and watched them work. Together, the nymphs brought the wisteria archway back to health, weaving it into lacework, threading morning glories throughout and looping them to nearby trees like garlands. Beautiful flowers sprung from the ground in pinks, purples, yellow and white.

When they were finished Rozenwild nudged Dendelyn. "Go on, show the elhuvens around."

Despite her sadness, Dendelyn couldn't help but perk up at the thought. The youngest nymph darted around them, ushering everyone into the abandoned grove.

~

~*~:~*#E#*~:~*~

The garden was already the most beautiful thing Evadne had ever seen, even in its state of disarray. Plants were wild and unkempt, the garden overgrown in every direction. The nymphs fussed over it with devotion, each taming patches and sprouting new plants from their collection of seeds.

"This is one of our favourite meeting spots," Willow told them. Although, Evadne didn't know how she could tell. Everything looked the same. "And through there..." she gestured through a gap in the scraggly trees "...is where we plant our seedlings."

Ellowyn started tending to the bare earth. Dendelyn crouched beside her to help, followed by several of the other nymphs. Willow waved her hand and the bare branches exploded with white blossoms. The area was quickly transformed. They were surrounded by a circle of weeping cherries, each branch heavy with curtains of flowers. Grass sprung underfoot in the clearing and violets formed edges to gardens. Pathways emerged in the spaces in between, forming exits into other sections of the garden. Through one was the spot the nymphs were preparing for the seedling. Dendelyn fluttered past, tapping elhuvens to urge them to follow her.

"Come see!" Dendelyn pranced out of the circle and across to the waterfall. She leaped onto a rock by the water's edge and waited for them arrive before she jumped into the pool. Evadne watched her swim to the other side and climb out.

"Oh, look at the steps!" exclaimed Abelia.

A staircase of rock curved up the hill beside the cliff. Dendelyn noticed them looking for a way across the water and pointed downstream. They all ran, trying to beat each other to the stepping-stones further along. Kerensa shoved Abelia out of the way, beating her to the first step. She laughed triumphantly as she darted across. Abelia scrambled up and onto the stone at the same time as Aster. The two of them fought for the second and Aster lost her balance. She squealed as she fell into the water. Dendelyn laughed, but didn't help her. Aster paddled to the edge by herself. Evadne didn't know how to swim, so she was very careful about how she took to the stones. She followed everyone to the top of the stairs, where Dendelyn was lounging cradled in limbs of wisteria. The water below was now full of nymphs and waterlilies.

"Will you help me build a den?" Dendelyn asked Aster. "I can show you where mine used to be."

Aster must have said yes, because the nymph jumped down and took her by the hand. Evadne followed, curious to learn what a den was. Down the stairs and across the stream back into the wild part of the garden. Sarielle and Ellowyn emerged from the cherry trees and the other nymphs came to see what was going on.

"It was about here," Dendelyn said.

Willow wandered over, dripping wet. "Perhaps we should redesign the garden. We'll never be able to make it the same as it was and if we rebuild our dens where they used to be the spaces will be a constant reminder of who we've lost."

There were murmurs of agreement from the nymphs. A discussion broke out and they started on some basic landscaping. Evadne sat down next to Hevani to watch. Some nymphs were starting with gardens, while others had jumped straight to construction. Dendelyn was first to finish her shelter, a sweet little dome like an overturned basket. Less than three feet high, it was sculpted from lavender bushes and woven with gardenias. Aster was helping her plant orange and yellow lilies outside. The other nymphs were creating their own dens, aided by their elhuven partners. Hevani got up to help Sage clear leaves from a forming pathway. Evadne thought she should probably help too. But...where? She was used to following instructions and this path had no clear destination.

She could offer to help Laceleaf, but that involved talking to Laceleaf. She'd tried not to get too close to her on the walk over in case it annoyed her. The only time Laceleaf had spoken to her was when she retrieved Evadne to help her across the river and most of that was telling her not to splash about so much. Besides, the elhuvens were working on the shelters they were going to sleep in and Miss Frosty Flower Face wasn't the most inviting bunk buddy.

Evadne sighed and picked her way through the undergrowth to Laceleaf. She had the suspicion the no-nonsense nymph had chosen the location because it was furthest away from the silliest of her neighbours. Her work was thoughtful and neat.

"Can I help you with anything?" Evadne asked tentatively.

Laceleaf glanced over her shoulder at her and contemplated her house for a moment. "Hmmm, I don't think so." She turned around, meeting her eyes before she took in what the other elhuvens were doing. "I suppose you could help with the leaves."

"Okay." Evadne backed away, a little humiliated. Looking for an authoritative figure, she approached Willow. "What would you like me to do?"

Willow also took a moment to think about it, then she smiled. "How about you help Laceleaf," she said in as if she were speaking to a child. It was obvious why she wanted the two of them working together.

Evadne felt her lips curve into a sneer. Willow needed to stay out of it.

"Mind your own business!" she snapped, making the nymph flinch.

"Evadne!" Sarielle scolded.

Now everyone was staring at her. Heat flushed her face. This was Willow's fault, but of course they were all going to blame her!

"Don't look down on me like I'm immoral, Sarielle. I'm not the one pregnant with a tree."

Evadne cringed on the inside. She'd meant to say something that would hurt, but she couldn't call her a slut without calling herself one and that was the best she could come up with on the spot. Sae just cocked her head with confusion.

Kerensa stared at her with a bored expression. "Evadne, could you stop being such a self-righteous bitch?"

Evadne sneered at her and stormed out of the garden. Worried she'd get lost, she stuck close to the stream. After the stepping-stones there was another little waterfall, swathed in overhanging willows. Evadne went further, hoping to find some privacy to sulk for a while. Sarielle always managed to make a fool of her, even when she wasn't trying. No one ever took Evadne's side, even when she was right about something. They all seemed so comfortable here. Evadne felt just as much an outsider as she had in the town. Did anyone even want her here?

~

~*~:~*#L#*~:~*~

Although she liked joint projects with her sisters, when it came to personal ventures, Laceleaf liked working alone. That way things were exactly how she wanted. She knew she should be making an effort to be nice to the elhuvens, but what could Evadne do to help? She had no powers. The others were clearing fallen twigs, but Evadne looked disappointed by that suggestion. Maybe that had something to do with her yelling at Willow. Laceleaf came over to see what all the fuss was about. It seemed she'd missed the important part.

Willow shook her head. "That was my mistake."

"Nonsense. Evadne's always lashing out," Sarielle said.

"It's one of her favourite pastimes," Kerensa added.

"It doesn't matter. I pushed her to do something she didn't want to, so she pushed back."

"But why is she so rude? She doesn't have to be like that," Abelia said.

"I think...she might. Her worth has been reduced to how moral she is. She needs to be less sinful than you. How else can she feel anything good about herself?" Flora shook her head in dismay.

"What did you say to her?" Sage asked.

Willow whispered something in her ear.

Sage looked sad. "I know you want everyone to be happy. But it's going to take a while for everyone to work through their trauma."

Laceleaf went back to finish her den and planning the garden she wanted behind it. As time passed, she thought more about what happened earlier. Evadne had yet to return and Willow was still upset. She'd stopped working on her den and gone for a walk with Sage. Laceleaf had never witnessed a guest be this problematic. Someone would have to talk to Evadne, surely?

She groaned. "I suppose that should be me."

Laceleaf couldn't help but feel responsible for the girl. Evadne wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. Leaving her for the other nymphs to deal with wasn't fair.

Laceleaf left her half-finished garden and went to find her. It wasn't hard. Evadne hadn't strayed from the stream and had only gone a short distance. She sat on the bank hugging her knees. Laceleaf stood behind her and folded her arms.

"You need to apologise to Willow."

Evadne startled, but hid it well. She looked at her, then back to the water.

"She's thinks it's her fault." Laceleaf slowly walked over.

"It is her fault."

"I know her, Evadne. There's not a cruel leaf upon her branches. She doesn't say mean things." She sat beside her. "But she will tell you things you need to hear. And if you—"

Evadne turned her head towards her and narrowed her eyes. "She meddles."

Laceleaf paused. "Actually, I won't disagree with you there."

That was the only thing that made Laceleaf lose her cool with Willow. She was a lovely, caring nymph, but that meant she sometimes got too involved in your problems. That wasn't appreciated by people like her or Rozenwild, and apparently Evadne.

"But yelling at her wasn't the right way to handle it," she went on. "Your friends weren't impressed."

"Why does it matter? They hate me anyway."

"When you act like that it's no wonder! No one likes people who act superior. And I know it's an act or you wouldn't be lamenting having no friends." Laceleaf saw the fragility in Evadne's expression and decided she better ease up. "I heard some of them weren't on speaking terms when they came here. Yet, they're all friends now. Don't you want to help them take down the tree that caused you so much pain?"

Evadne nodded.

"You're definitely not anyone's favourite, but I don't think any of them hate you. Apparently Sarielle was rather worried when you ran away. Willow told me about you two getting punished. Was she your girlfriend?"

"No."

"But she was special to you."

Evadne picked at her fingernail. "It's not allowed."

"It is now. We only like women. Is it that way for you, or do you also like men?"

Evadne pressed her lips together and nervously shook her head. "I prayed to the gods to let me be an old maid. I was so scared of having to marry someone. To be forced to let him touch me. It sounded revolting." She sniffled, on the verge of tears. "A couple of the boys our age are nice. But I couldn't understand how anyone could want to have sex with them. Having to dance with them was too much for me. It didn't feel that way with Sae. It wasn't gross."

Willow had told Laceleaf in detail just what life was like for the elhuvens. It wasn't surprising that some of them were a bit odd. Evadne was volatile and spiteful, but could she blame her?

"She's so infuriating sometimes." Evadne huffed out a breath. "Sarielle," she clarified. "She just fills me with spite." The elhuven turned to Laceleaf. "Sometimes I wish I could be like her though. She's strong and brave and tries to fix things. She got everyone here like some sort of leader." She frowned. "I only know how to follow."

Laceleaf patted her hand. "We can't all be leaders. All we'd do is argue."

Evadne was quiet for a moment. Her eyes wandered up Laceleaf's arm and settled on the blemish near her shoulder. She lifted a hand and traced the skin there. "Is this a scar?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

Laceleaf looked out at the water. "It wasn't long after Ellowyn came along. We'd already planted Amaranth earlier that year. Both of their mothers came from beyond the forest. My sisters told stories of how they met them, of what they'd glimpsed of the world out there. The older nymphs had stories too, from times they'd left the forest. It was very alluring to a curious, and naïve little me. Willow and Flora were much the same. So, one day we followed Ellowyn's mother Fern when she went to visit her mate, Aelis. Of course, she sensed us and gave us a lecture. But she knew we'd try again if she didn't sate our curiosity, so she let us spy from the tree line. I heard the trees don't go that far anymore, but back then there were a couple of farms and a mill at the edge of the forest."

"There's a group of houses before you get to Aroxville."

Laceleaf nodded. "Aelis's family worked the mill. I found it fascinating and it wasn't that many days before I returned on my own. I thought I'd be safe in the trees. I wasn't expecting to run into any of them, so it took me by surprise when they came out of the shrubs. Two adolescent elves, a boy and a girl, with cut logs in a basket. I darted behind an oak and turned into a tree out of sight, but they saw movement and came to investigate. The girl must have sensed me because she told him I didn't look right and they should leave me alone. He laughed and teased her severely, enough that she ripped something from his hand and hit me with it. I didn't know what an axe looked like. If I had I wouldn't have been standing there. I would have stayed in this form, tried to introduce myself...been prepared to fight."

Evadne sucked in a breath, her eyes wide in horror. "Oh no."

Laceleaf drove a twig into the dirt. "Our reactions are sluggish in tree form. I couldn't get out of the way. She moved too fast. The shock must have forced me to shift because I remember falling to my knees screaming, blood sap pouring down my arm. The elves panicked. The girl was distraught and wanted to get help. I stumbled away while they argued, and changed form to slow the bleeding. Aelis found me, hours later, after hearing about the encounter. She ran off into the dying light to get help from the tribe. They were already out looking for me. We heal better as trees, so they put me in the garden with the saplings for a few weeks. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best idea to have someone bleeding profusely in front of the children."

"That's so horrible! I can't imagine..." Evadne's usually austere face exuded sympathy, her scornful eyes turned glassy and innocent.

"The outside world lost its allure after that. I know the elves didn't mean to hurt me, but it made me resentful of everything beyond the trees."

"Is that why you don't like us?"

The question threw Laceleaf. "I never said..." She pouted. "I'm happy for my sisters. You elhuvens are nice folk. I don't mind that you're here."

"You just don't want anything to do with me. It's okay. I know I'm not nice."

"I never said that."

She didn't know how Evadne had found her that night in the forest. They were so miss-matched that Flora's aura idea sounded absurd. Given how little they had in common, Laceleaf assumed it was by sheer chance. If the forest helped, it wasn't with that purpose. The forest was a presence, not a being. It had the power to appear differently to guide or repel intruders, but it wasn't capable of thought like that. Otherwise it would have sent fairies from the south to come help them long ago.

Laceleaf didn't mean to be unfriendly. The axe incident might have made her worse, but she'd always been distant. It didn't help that the elhuvens were more used to the new tribe than she was. She wanted to get back to her garden, but she knew she should do something with this elhuven.

She squeezed Evadne's shoulder. "I appreciate what you've given me and I want us to get along. Come back with me. I'll help you and Hevani build somewhere to sleep." Evadne rose with her and they walked back towards the garden. "What's your favourite flower?"

"Bluebells."

Laceleaf thought of the bluebells in front of her den. "Ah, so we do have something in common."

~

~*~:~*#S#*~:~*~

Sarielle was growing uneasy. The day had started full of anticipation. She'd woken up in the new den Ellowyn had built for them the day before, rabidly horny and leaking translucent green slime. Ellowyn sucked on her clit until she came and fed her nectar while Sae gazed up at the dainty white flowers covering the ceiling. Everyone smiled knowingly at her when they saw her. Now it was late afternoon and her seedling still hadn't budged. Whenever she came back from anywhere there were questioning glances that Ellowyn answered with a shake of her head.

"Seedling day!" Dendelyn sang at her as she danced over.

Sarielle caught her hands. "Please don't remind me. Everyone keeps giving me funny looks."

"That's because they're waiting."

"So am I."

Ellowyn and Dendelyn both comforted her and stayed close, but Sarielle grew tenser as the sun disappeared. The nymphs had made a new sitting area, away from everything else, so the fire didn't tarnish their favourite parts of the garden. Sarielle sat against Ellowyn, watching the flames. Several nymphs and elhuvens came to join them, many of them damp from a night swim. They all eyed her off as they arrived.

Rozenwild wrung the water from her hair. "You still holding onto that seedling, Sae?"

Sarielle's throat tightened and she couldn't stop the worry showing on her face.

Rozenwild jogged over, looking apologetic. "It's okay, blossom. Sometimes they don't come during the day."

Flora floated over. "Would you like me to check on her?"

Sarielle nodded.

Flora parted Sarielle's legs and spread her labia. Her finger gently entered and coaxed out several roots. "Don't worry. She's alive and still growing. See, watch her pull her roots back inside."

The white roots curled up and disappeared. "It's cosy in there. She's savouring it before she has to go in the cold ground." Flora patted Sarielle's hair. "Go to sleep. She'll wake you when she's ready."

"What if she doesn't come?"

"She won't cause you any harm being late."

Sarielle held onto her wrist. "Are you sure?"

Something clicked in Ellowyn's expression. "You're worried about what happened to your mother."

Compassion shone in Flora's eyes. "You really don't have to be afraid, leaflet. You're not having a baby. There's no risk to your health. If the seedling hasn't come out after a few days, we'll remove it."

"How?"

She pressed her lips together. "Wrap a vine around the seed and pull. It might hurt for a second, but that's all."

"Wouldn't that damage her roots?"

"Possibly." Flora patted her hand. "But, Sarielle, if a seedling fails to sprout properly there's usually a reason. She might have died or simply not developed as she should." She smiled. "But let us not worry about what has yet to transpire, for that is a sure way to waste your imagination." Flora kissed her forehead and left.