The Queen's Garden Mage

“You know Princess,” I murmured softly as we lay spent after our love making. “I’m not altogether sure you haven’t done this before.

Adri chuckled softly tracing her fingers lightly over the swirling green stems traveling across the expanse of my skin. “What can I say Gardener, something about you motivates me to do my best.”

I moaned softly as her hand once more traveled south, catching it before it could reach my tender sex. “You’re insatiable.” I shivered voice growing huskier as she nibbled at a sensitive spot on my neck.

“And yet you’re the one that unwittingly used your magic to grow us this lovely cocoon of foliage hiding us away from the world.” She slipped inside me gently eyes sparkling with mirth as my breathing grew more erratic.

“What does that have to do with…” I arched against her hand, her pace slow and measured not wishing to make the tenderness worse. “Your appetite…?” I questioned once I remembered what we were talking about.

Adri gazed at the vines twining together over our heads growing thicker as we moved together, smiling softly as glowing flowers bloomed around us. “You’ve made a little alcove against the wall formed completely from plants and you’re asking about my appetite…”

I pulled her closer capturing her lips with mine as I grew closer to the edge, with a soft cry against her lips I came undone wrapped around her fingers the stars filling her eyes blinding me to anything else. I melted into the soft grass, that felt more like a bed the longer we lay on it. “If you touch me again, I’ll…”

“Enjoy every moment of it?” Adri questioned cheekily before snuggling against my side chuckling softly.

“Shut up…”

“Mmmm, you’re too tired to make me.” I grumbled softly at that assessment but didn’t argue.

We sat in silence for a while as she traced her fingers along my skin, “Where did you get these tattoos?” Adri questioned curiously propping her elbow on the ground cheek resting on her hand so that she could more easily look me in the eyes.

I raised my hand to brush her hair out of her face, curlier than it had been due to our love making. “I suppose… you could say I lost a bet.” I offered remembering the day I’d met the former Queen of Angileri, a stern woman for sure.

Adri chuckled softly, “Am I ever going to get a straight answer out of you concerning anything important?”

I pulled her down for a kiss tracing my hands soothingly along the warm expanse of her back, “Eventually,” I replied cheekily. She bit my lip a little harder than usual before soothing the small ache with her tongue.

“No games Rhyme.” I sighed softly.

“A bet I lost to an old woman once…she told me if I could use my gift to touch her that she would help me get home. Then she provided me with the seeds and stood absolutely still for me. I can’t tell you if she’d have kept her promise because I never got the chance to find out. Despite all my efforts I couldn’t touch her once…she gave me this tattoo the price for being unable to do as she asked and I’ve had it ever since. I’ve had it long before the Sol-Lea who never got to see me naked…”

“Her loss,” Adri countered softly causing me to laugh.

“So possessive.” I chuckled softly as she lay against me.

“There are quite a few women that wish to claim your heart, I have every right to feel as I do.” I did not argue; she spoke nothing but the truth after all.

I stroked my fingers lightly through her hair taking in the beauty of the spirits happy but subdued as they sat crowded around us sheltering us from prying eyes. I spoke not a word of it to the Princess, I doubt she would have appreciated the spectacle half as much as I.

“I wish that we could just cancel the Queen’s Tournament and get rid of all the foreign monarchs so I could have you to myself for a little while.” Adri sighed resting her hand over bundle of stems circling my heart easily drawing my attention away from the spirits.

“It’s almost over, two more political challenges and the then surprise challenge. Three more days, four at most.” I offered as I stroked her hair.

“Three more days if all goes well…” I gazed at the moon through the green no longer growing above our heads. “I hate the political portion, at least one of the challenges is more difficult than all the other challenges combined.”

I furrowed my brow. “More difficult than fighting or capturing guards?” I questioned curiously.

Adri placed a tender kiss upon my shoulder. “It’s politics, deception and intrigue go hand and hand. It’s often dangerous and tiring. I read the book of challenges and more than once a suitor has died in this portion of the Tournament.” I stilled my fingers in her hair.

“How? And why do we still hold this portion if it’s so dangerous?” I asked curiosity growing.

“It’s always been an accident, it’s not often enough for it to be common knowledge and we hold it because, if you’re no good at politics you won’t last long as consort…” Like her father went unsaid between us.

“The challenge is about fear Rhyme, if you’re afraid you won’t make it, it makes you vulnerable, gifts are useless. The challenge is about over coming vulnerability and making it to the end despite your fear…” Adri gazed down at me expression somber. “Rhyme if this challenge comes tomorrow I want you to skip it?”

“How will I know?” I questioned unwilling to argue with the fear I saw lurking in her eyes.

“A feeling I suppose, there are many choices and this challenge is chosen at random. I won’t be there to tell you, my mother is holding Council trying to find replacements for the members lost and I must be there.” Adri stroked her fingers lightly over my cheek. “I know all the challenges are supposed to be a secret but I’d hate for something to happen to you if I could help you avoid it.”

“I’ll do as you ask.” I replied without hesitation.

“Thank you.” She relaxed visibly before once more snuggling against my side, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I’d hate to lose you after just truly finding you...”

I rolled us over causing Adri to squeal is surprise laughing softly as I pinned her beneath me. “I plan to stick around for a long…” I leaned down to kiss her savoring the taste of her before pulling away, “long…” she pulled me back to her flicking her tongue against my lips requesting entrance. I allowed it growing lost in the feeling of her body pressed against mine while her tongue gently explored my mouth. A small eternity later I pulled away to catch my breath finally able to finish my sentence. “Time…”

Adri smiled softly once she realized what I’d said, “Is that a promise?”

I nuzzled my cheek against hers breathing in her scent, “Undoubtedly.”

“Good,” Adri breathed tracing her hands up and down my back while I lay resting on top of her each of us gazing into each other’s eyes. I stroked my fingers lightly over her stomach watching the muscles dance beneath my fingertips. Slowly I began tracing my fingers lower smiling as I felt her reacting to me. She caught my hand and held it against her abdomen. We sat there for a while with her holding my hand close against her, taking in the peaceful silence that filled the night broken by the burbling of the fountain and all the nightly creatures that always seemed to find their way into the Queen’s Garden. “Is it possible…” Adri hesitated for a moment. “Is it possible for us to have children together?” Her words were so soft I had to fight to hear her.

I twitched my fingers and she released my hand, once more I traced my fingers along her abdomen more purposeful now. I closed my eyes and felt inside of her with my magic, waiting for a response…I laughed softly opening my eyes at the ticklish sensation touching her induced. I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. “Is that a yes…?” Adri questioned breathlessly once she pulled away.

“Yes…” I traced my fingers along her skin chuckling softly in delight upon hearing all the new voices. “Goddess…” I breathed as we watched my fingers glowing softly against her skin.

“What is it?” Adri asked tracing her fingers lightly over my smiling lips, amused by the mirth she no doubt saw shinning in my eyes. “What do you feel…what do you hear?”

I gently traced my fingers lightly over her skin above where I knew each ovary to rest, another breathy laugh escaping me, before I could answer. “It’s like I’m holding my pouch of seeds and they’re clamoring to be chosen bumping and prodding against my magic. It tickles…As well I can hear them, all together and yet at the same time separately unique. Some are louder than others…but all of them are beautiful. All of them holding their own potential.” I settled my hands more firmly against her skin, letting my magic fade away. “I imagine if every mother felt what I’d felt they’d either have many children or none at all…because how can you choose…”

“You have so many gifts Rhyme…what some Healers study sun cycles to be able to accomplish you do by an accident. Those Healers are rare and scattered far and wide. Not even my mother has one in her care…though I’m sure several reside in Angileri they are valuable. And it’s easy to understand why. The world is a dangerous place for a woman of your many talents. The Queen’s Gardener, Second to her Head Gardener, an amazing Healer, strong enough to heal yourself even, with the ability to fertilize an egg with your magic and aid in conception of those who can’t conceive on their own… many would kill for a mage of your caliber. I see more clearly why you wished to hide the power that you possess.” I smiled softly as she cupped my face in her hands.

“In the words of a very stubborn Princess I know…I can protect myself.” Adri chuckled pulling me close for a brief but tender kiss.

“And in the words of a very wise mysterious Gardener I know…you shouldn’t have to.” We shared another kiss, which lead to several others…which of course lead to other more amorous things. “We have to stop,” Adri moaned softly. “Otherwise I’ll have to explain why I’m overly tired and walking funny tomorrow…” She gasped softly as I traced my thumb firmly over her little bud.

“As I recall I said that several sun slithers ago and your response was and I quote… I’ll stop when you scream my name.” Adri moaned softly chuckling against my lips as she held me close and enjoyed everything I had to give. I had the pleasure of hearing her scream my name several times.

We stood before the second challenge in the second phase of the Queen’s Tournament, a maze made entirely of plants. “I know some of you might think this challenge a bit unfair considering half of the suitors are plant mages.” Her Highness Mariel said from her place by the entrance. The Shade Princess looked as if she would commit murder with her eyes whenever I so much as glanced in her direction…I would not be surprised if she knew exactly what had kept her sister so busy the previous night. “You would be wrong.” I tried to pay very close attention, but continuously found my mind wandering…

Libeth nudged me gently drawing my attention. “Are you alright?” I traced my fingers over my neck where Adri had marked me, I could not seem to get the woman out of my head. “Rhyme…” I met her concerned gaze smiling softly to show I was well.

I caught the tail end of the Mariel’s explanation… “Depending on how many make it through the maze this will be the final challenge of phase two. You may choose to step out of this challenge if you’ve won the right or continue. You’ll have five minutes to decide. After those five minutes you will enter in groups of three or four and from there I must say good fortune to you all.”

I gazed on the maze wondering how they’d managed to hide this from me, I’d been through every part of Griffin Forest…or so I’d thought until this moment gazing on the leafy walls parted before us. I wished that I’d been paying attention when the Princess had spoken about this challenge truly I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I traced my hands over the beacon orb I now held assured at least that if anything were to go wrong I need only toss it into the air and aid would come for me.

“The goal is to try to stick together yeah?” Libeth questioned drawing Emery and Eden closer to us.

Emery gazed towards the entrance to the labyrinth made entirely of green. “The Princess said we have no advantage here…am I the only one wondering why?” We all shared a look none of us holding an answer. I wondered briefly if this was the challenge that Adri had warned me about. My stomach felt twisted but I could not discern the reason why.

“The time to enter is now!” Her Majesty shouted drawing our attention.

“Whatever you do…” Libeth said standing close to me. “Make sure you stick close together.” Eden squeezed my shoulder in reassurance, while Emery tossed me a wink. I bowed my head in a silent promise as we all surged forward as one.

We walked through the arching wall of greenery and suddenly everything went silent, I stopped in my tracks head cocked in confusion. I turned to ask Libeth a question to find myself suddenly standing alone. “Where did…” I turned around to find a wall of plant life where once the entrance had been. “How did…”

I reached out with my gift to find an impenetrable wall, I touched the hedge with my hand only to pull back sharply hissing in pain gazing down at my hand now scorched and bleeding. I now understood Adri’s warning, why the Shade Princess said that no plant mage would have an advantage here.

The maze was alive, and it would not allow me to communicate with it. I clenched my hand, flinching at a sudden snapping sound to my left. I turned to see several vines stretched taunt between two leafy walls. As I watched more snapped into place slowly advancing towards me stabbing through the hedge before growing out from there. I stepped back seeing how sharp each tip was. I turned as the vines seemed to snap faster and faster quickly advancing towards me. I ran having no choice but to let the maze guide me wherever it wished…

I stopped to take a breath making sure that I wasn’t in danger, the corner I’d just turned had faded as if it had never been and I found myself given only two options. Once more I reached for my gift feeling nothing, the voices in my head gone as if they had never been. The silence they left behind deafening in itself, so used to hearing the voices of the green as I was. I could go forward or back, my options a straight line. After catching my breath, I slowly began to jog forward hoping against hope to find an end to this hell.

I found nothing of the sort, I jogged and jogged and then I walked but I never seemed to grow closer to any end, nor despite all my trying did I grow closer to my gift. As requested I’d left my blade and my pouch back in my rooms, for this challenge you came without any form of aid or weapons. Goddess I wished I’d kept them both. I would not feel quite so vulnerable as I did in that moment wandering around lost in a place where I should have thrived. I stood still for a moment, just taking a few deep breathes to calm myself. When I opened my eyes I found myself at an intersection that had literally appeared out of nowhere. I had three choices. Left right or straight.

I went right and found myself immersed in a dizzying array of twists and turns thereafter. All the while the walls grew closer and closer until they closed in on me, sparking against my skin as I fought to escape. I ran as fast as I could, hissing in pain every time bare skin seared against a wall that by all rights should not have burned and just when I thought I would be another statistic in Adri’s suitors’ challenge book an opening appeared and I burst forth falling to my knees in a small little clearing.

I sat there breathing heavily as I took in my wounds, I had several tears in my tunic, where I’d rolled up my sleeves, I could see streaks of blood where I’d lost skin to the walls. I leaned back on my hands one aching from earlier, how long had I been lost here trying to find my way… I gazed at the position of the sun unsure if it had moved at all. I reached into my pocket searching for the orb I’d been given for if I found myself in distress…My brow furrowed in confusion as I searched my other pocket. I turned each inside out finding nothing even though I remembered placing the orb in my pocket. I flopped down on the hard-packed earth and closed my eyes for a moment of rest, not only was I unable to use my gift but as well I’d lost the only thing that could save me if I found myself in dire need of attention. I prayed to the Goddess that I’d make it through this in one piece, otherwise Adri would never forgive me…

I flipped to my feet at the sound of footsteps approaching. When I opened my eyes to find Prince Eris strolling towards me I was justly suspicious. “The old woman wasn’t lying when she told me I’d find you here. All the more reason to keep her around I suppose.”

He stopped several feet away out of striking distance, “You know when I first arrived I tried for a brief time to take this little forest nation the old fashion way…”

“Drugging and then raping the future heir is the old fashioned way?” I questioned skeptically.

He tipped his head back and forth thoughtfully a smirk slowly spreading across his face. “I suppose not but I’ve never been all that conventional.”

“Why are you here?” I was tired of seeing his face already.

“To gloat…after all despite your many gifts you never once saw this coming. You never saw me as a threat after you beat me up in the Princess fake rooms, never even contemplated I could do more. Oh you bested the Shades that weren’t really Shades but never discovered where they came from despite the fact that the Sol-Lea is back…seemingly from the dead I might add. You are so unpredictable and at every turn that I tried to subdue you, you chose a different path and I’m just quite tired of your face Gardener.” His smirk vanished as if it had never been.

“I’ve come to break you Denarii… to destroy everything you hold dear and make you question all the things you thought you knew. Though before I do that I’ll give you one more chance to come to my side. How about it?”

I glared at him stomach twisting into knots, I reached for my gift and once more found nothing. “I don’t know what game you’re playing but I wouldn’t join your side even if my life depended on it…”

“Funny that you should say that,” Eris countered raising his hand. “Because it kinda does…” I cried out as a vine sharper than any blade I’ve ever felt pierced through my left shoulder. I stared at the blood glistening on the sharpened tip struggling to stay conscious. Pain spiked through my thigh as my knees sagged and I found myself gazing down to realize that another had pierced my right thigh simultaneously.

“Now that I don’t have to worry about you trying to hurt me, let me take a little time to destroy your world.” I watched him wave a very familiar blade in front of my face while I breathed heavily sweat beading on my skin as I tried to fight through the shock.

“The Sol-Lea you know and love…is dead. She died when she ran head long into the Void thinking she could destroy it. Which is probably why our plot to get you to fall in love with her again didn’t work too well. Though I’m sure the fact that a small piece of the old her still lurks in the heart of the new also played a part. She really did love you.” Eris traced the blade lightly under my chin while I struggled to stay up right on one quivering leg.

“Go on ask me what I’m talking about I know you’re curious…” I tipped my head away from the blade I knew to be mine ignoring the blood now dripping from my chin.

“What…do you mean?” I growled out as pain sparked through my body whenever I so much as twitched.

“The Void, the horrible thing spawned from some war centuries before our ancestors were even a thought in their parents’ eyes, is growing…” I shook my head.

“No…it stopped. It’s grown no further than its current borders.” I countered knowing this for fact.

“It’s growing not across the land, tired of being pushed back by plant mages, but inside of people and it is magnificent.” He laughed gleefully as he traced his finger along the vine sticking out of my body gently tweaking the bloody tip.

“The Sol-Lea is a prime example of that...and your Princess. Who better to be taken by darkness than one who lives in the shadows. How else do you think I set this up…getting you to come to a place where your gift did not work, getting you to give up your weapons without question. All this time you thought Prince Sorel was the threat, but he was just a pawn used to distract you from the bigger picture. Mariel has always been the real danger…what piece on the board holds more power than the Queen...” He waited for an answer that I had no strength or willingness to give. I flinched as he traced my blade down my cheek causing pain and numbing flesh in an instant. “None but the hand that wields the Queen…is strongest of all and who among her children is closest to the Queen Denarii? Who is her right hand, who goes to every meeting ever held, who stands behind her shoulder…who guides the Queen.”

“You’re lying.” I choked out blood dripping from the cut on my face. “Mariel would never betray her mother.”

“No…she wouldn’t I give you that. The Princess is so loyal it hurts…but I’ve been here for little over a moon cycle and the Sol-Lea has spent much time with the Queen’s youngest daughter and that little piece of the Void within her has been slowly growing to fruition. As I stand here regaling on and on about how much you’ve truly failed the Queen is being murdered and cold blood by her daughter who just can’t seem to stop herself. Tragic really.”

“The beauty of it being that no one will ever know it was her with so many foreign monarchs’ gathered in one place… It could be anyone. The Heir of course has died with her mother and the Prince is no longer a Prince. I’ll slither my way into Mariel’s heart and we’ll stop all those plant mages from attacking the Void so that it can spread as it wishes while I gain power and riches beyond my imagining. A win all around for me. I have to say the best part about it all is that I could have done nothing without the Head Gardener. What was her name….” He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

“Rosen…” He glanced over his shoulder while I fought to look up. I felt my heart shattering into a million pieces.

“Ahh, yes here she is. The woman to whom I owe all my success.” She came forward and all the fight drained from me as she cupped my face in her hands.

“Tell me…tell me he’s lying?” I begged tears warming my eyes. “Please…”

“I did what I had to do…” she pressed a gentle kiss to my brow before stepping aside.

“It hurts doesn’t it?” He breathed deeply. “I knew I would love this moment, the broken look on your face I will cherish it truly I will, but like all memories it will fade in time.” He stroked his fingers through my hair wrapping it gently around his arm while I gazed at the ground slowly growing numb. “You know what doesn’t fade…souvenirs.” I shuddered as he slashed the blade through my hair sagging against the vines as I lost everything that had ever meant anything to me. A lock of hair fell across my face…short like the healers of my people.

Eris held my long locks in his hands grinning gleefully, “So long and beautiful and now it’s all mine. It really does feel amazing…better than I ever thought it would.” He sighed. “I must be going Gardener…I do hope the rest of your short existence is as horrible as I could have hoped to make it.” He left me then handing my blade to Rosen murmuring a few quiet words before exiting where he’d appeared.

Rosen stepped close tracing her fingers through the now much shorter strands of my hair. Her face was impassive, a mask as she held me close for a brief moment. “I love you.” Were the last words she spoke to me before plunging my blade straight through my chest and just missing my heart. I shuddered gently in pain grimacing slightly. Goddess it hurt…but nothing hurt more than her betrayal. Not even, I found, my own approaching death. “Just remember that I love you…” were the last words I heard uttered as she stroked her fingers across my eyes and warm darkness swallowed me whole.