The Queen's Garden Mage

“Rhyme if your dress uniform did not fit you as it did you would be the spitting image of your brother from behind.” I smiled turning to find Rosen glaring at me in all her aging glory, even though she was well into her fiftieth sun cycle she could easily pass for thirty. She was the Head Gardener, the Queen instructed her in what she wanted done and she instructed us. Well she instructed the other Gardeners. Rosen had trouble locating me at the best of times, though she would never admit that to our Lady Queen, but then again nor would I.

“Why Rosen, you flatter me insinuating that I have a figure buried beneath all this fabric,” Her simmering glare settled into a look of bemusement and I smiled more brightly for getting her to break her steely resolve. Though Rosen could rarely find me dallying away in the gardens, she knew my work, she knew the taste of my magic. As well she knew that I could easily steal her position from beneath her, but we both knew that though my magic was strong I did not want a high position or the power that came with it. We had an understanding Rosen and I. So long as she left me be I would do my share of the work nothing more or less than that. After all, if I did everything where would that leave my fellow Gardeners. No, we rotated through the gardens littering the palace grounds. There were four gardens and five gardeners Rosen at the Head instructing us. Every one of us had some sort of plant magic after all the Queen had wanted the best.

“You clean up quite nicely when you choose to,” She stroked a streak of soil from my cheek that I had missed in my haste to be here on time. “I see your brother delivered my message.”

“Yes, he was quite adamant in my attendance.” I raised my glass smiling softly as I took another teasing sip, the taste of Fae grapes singing across my taste buds. I knew they were ready to harvest. My gentle smile turned into a full-blown grin, “You did threaten his manhood after all.”

“Yes, but I threatened your death, you’d think that would be of priority.” She countered wryly.

“I love my brother, he is a hard worker, a great stable hand and the best Horse Master in the entire history of Angileri…”

“Bragging much,” Rosen added though she raised her glass in full agreement of everything I’d said.

“He also finds himself in more trouble than a grown man has a right to,” Rosen choked on her drink in startled amusement, turning away to clean herself up and regain her composure. I waited patiently.

“Sometimes I forget how harshly honest you can be; after all you so rarely grace me with your presence.” She said by way of explanation tucking her handkerchief back into her pocket setting her empty glass on a passing tray.

“Yes, it’s quite unfortunate.” I set my half empty flute on another passing tray.

“Quite,” Rosen agreed lips curling slightly.

“All that aside at the end of the day my brother is a man, despite how much he loves me his manhood will always come first. As it does with every man it is often their down fall.” I waved my hand in my brother’s direction just in time for him to get a drink thrown in his face.

Rosen laughed heartily unable to contain her mirth at my choice words and perfect timing. Once she’d calmed and wiped the tears from her eyes she gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I know that celebrations of this nature make you feel right uncomfortable but stick around for this one Rhyme it’s important to the Queen and the Heir Apparent as well.”

I bowed my head slightly deciding to stick around longer than I’d first planned if only to appease her Majesty. Rosen left me as my brother had without so much as a backwards glance. I watched another tray pass me by before trying to find the buffet table littered with foods that would no doubt wet our appetites without sating them no matter how much we ate.

“Rhyme!” Slim fingers wrapped around my arm pulling me around and deterring me from the goal of filling my belly.

“Lady Dai,” I offered by way of politeness more than anything. Technically speaking when showing respect one would refer to me by my title followed by my last name if we were but strangers or my first if we were close friends. As my brother called me Gardener Rhyme in the company of nobles and I referred to him as Horse Master Reason. Lady Dai lacked such decorum honestly there were days I wondered if she was house broken, though that could just be my lack of social grace showing through as my brother often told me in good company. Usually he just told me not to speak at all when I wore a certain look on my face, a look I’m quite sure I was wearing in that moment as the Lady went on and on about one thing or another that had nothing to do with me, my brother or any garden spanning the entirety of the palace grounds.

“Rhyme can you believe that such a…such a pig might one day sit the throne?” Lady Dai questioned with an undignified snort that quickly drew me back to the conversation at hand.

“Whom do you mean Lady Dai?” I knew exactly who she meant but I wanted her to say it. If my brother were here he’d probably be ushering the good Lady away from the very volatile situation she found herself in.

“Why the Heir Apparent, Princess Adri her own self,” She spoke as if I were a few plants short of a full garden.

“I believe that Princess Adri will make a fine Queen, she is beautiful, just and kind. Certainly, not a pig, unlike others I know.” I gave a dismissive once over to show her exactly who the comment was meant for, “and Lady Dai.” I waited until she looked me in the eyes. “My name is Gardener Denarii to you, try to remember it this time.” With those words, I walked away once more in search of the buffet table completely forgetting Lady Dai in my quest to find food.

I came across two servants I recognized, as servants they had given up the rights to a title for a life off the streets, though it wasn’t unheard of to give servants you associated with often titles of their own. “Maidservant Resli, Maidservant Kiyen,” I addressed them each respectfully drawing their attention.

“Do either of you happen to know where I can find the buffet table I am quite hungry,” I said rubbing my aching belly to prove a point.

Kiyen smiled at me ever the exuberant one of the two, “Forgot to eat again in your dalliance with the Queen’s Garden?” she asked overly suggestive.

Resli blushed on my behalf, “Excuse her Gardener Rhyme, her parents were heathens.”

Kiyen rolled her eyes, “My parents are farmers, and still very much alive Resli. Gardener Rhyme knows what I meant.”

“I did, just the way she went about saying it was quite amusing. Now the buffet table,” I prompted before they could start bickering as they were wont to do when paired together.

“It’ll be towards the back of the ballroom closer to the doors leading into the heart of the Pleasure Garden and without a doubt where the Queen has the foreign dignitaries enthralled with one tale or another.” Resli supplied before Kiyen could open her mouth shoving her away before she could think to say another word.

I watched them go, smiling softly as they bickered like siblings do, though they weren’t at all related they’d found family in the most unlikely of places and were all the better for it. I turned and made my way to the buffet table. I lamented the fact that they did not have bigger plates, I could not pile a small one high with food knowing how poorly it would reflect on her Majesty. I sighed resigning myself to feeling hungry until dinner later in the evening.

I reviewed the selection of fruit and grabbed two of each before I decided I was pushing the limitations of how much I could fit within the confines of such a small circumference. I popped a grape into my mouth enjoying it far more than I had enjoyed the wine. Fae grapes were tarnished when someone decided they would make a lovely wine.

“Gardener Denarii?” It was a question more than a statement spoken by a voice I’d heard only at a distance for my entire life here. Save that first time, still a bittersweet memory of loss and freedom.

“Your Majesty,” I turned to face the Queen bowing but slightly to acknowledge her station above me, I would give her that respect because she had saved me from poverty, she had given me a chance I would not otherwise have. She had educated me and fed me and allowed me to perfect my gift in a place meant specifically for those like me and so I bowed to her, but she had taken me from my people. From a life of poverty that I would have struggled in yes but I’d have made it out of on my own. My gifts ensured it. She had taken me from a loving family, from a place where I was not the dark haired tanned skin foreigner. She had taken me against my will to give me a better life and though I could appreciate all that her decision had wrought me I could not forgive her. I bowed just low enough to acknowledge that she was my ruling sovereign, but no lower unwilling to bow my head past the point where I could no longer look her in the eyes the true respect you showed a Queen.

She acknowledged my bow with a head tilt of her own, a question shinning in her eyes. Prince Sorel choked on his drink, Princess Mariel having her head turned missed the entire affair and Princess Adri as composed as her mother simply looked at the Queen curiously. The foreign dignitaries did not understand our customs and so were lost as to what had caused such an extreme reaction in the Prince now slowly growing red with embarrassment.

“I do not think I’ve seen head nor tale of you since you arrived here all those sun cycles ago,” The Queen said after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“I have been very busy your Majesty,” I offered taking in whom I believed to be a foreign King and his son both were quite dashing though neither appealed to me.

“As you should be, Head Gardener Rosen often tells me I am a hard task master.” Everyone laughed softly as she meant them to, I simply smiled down at my plate.

“Not everyone is equipped to make the hard decisions your Majesty, you do what you must for the good of all,” Everyone raised their glass in acknowledgement of that stated truth, save your Majesty and me. I held a plate and the Queen stood observing me with intelligent eyes smiling softly.

“Thank you for such high praise,” I tipped my head respectfully her words were sincere. “Sir Zeron, Prince Eris,” Queen Servasli turned to her guests. “This is one of my Gardeners. I think of them all very highly and treat them with the respect of any well favored noble.” Prince Eris raised his brow slightly at that but did not question the respect shown to one he no doubt considered quite low as he shook my hand. I clasped arms with Sir Zeron one warrior to another, I saw a glimmer of respect spark in his eyes I tipped my head and he hesitantly did the same the gesture far more awkward in someone who only half understood our customs no doubt.

The fact that the Prince knew nothing of them brought him lower in my eyes, I decided that he’d be perfect for Princess Mariel who seemed quite bored with what was going on before her. I ate another piece of my fruit while the Queen explained the workings of her four gardens talking about how if one knew the workings of each they were all connected. Of course, she did not explain how but it kept the Prince and Knight absorbed nonetheless.

“Do you enjoy your work?” I blinked at the delicate voice I’d never held the pleasure of hearing so close, it was like sunlight peeking through the clouds on a rainy day a small but pleasant shock you weren’t the least bit expecting.

“I am a plant mage, the gardens are my life,” I replied turning my attention to the Heir for whom everyone had an opinion nary a one of them good.

She smiled a smile that did not at all reach her eyes. A practiced smile, one for courtly affairs and polite conversation. It did not fit her face, oh not to say it wasn’t a lovely smile it was but it wasn’t real, I could see in her eyes that she wanted to be anywhere but where she was during a party where everyone had something to say about her. Of course, they wouldn’t say the half of it to her face, she was a Princess after all but all you need do was watch out of the corner of your eye at how they pointed, how they stared and laughed at the most unlikely Heir that could be chosen. I’m sure more than half the room hoped she would decline, step down and move to some distant land out of sight and out of mind.

My brother often said that I was horrible at social niceties, until I wasn’t that is. “Your Highness gossip tells me that congratulations are in order for passing your Trials.” The Princess started slightly at the word gossip. I smiled softly. “I know that none truly know the news on whether you’ve chosen to succeed your mother despite passing your Trials but I hope your answer is a resounding yes.”

The smile stealing across her features shone brightly in the blue violet that was her eyes, Prince Sorel of course had to ruin the moment. “Gardener Denderi was it?”

“Denarii,” I enunciated with the accent of my homeland.

The expression on his face resembled more of a grimace than a smile, I decided that Prince Sorel was more suited to Prince Eris at least his sister had the social grace to be embarrassed at his purposeful insult. “Of course, my apologies,” he didn’t sound in the least apologetic. “I was just wondering if you would show us a bit of what a plant mage does?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, “There are no plants in the room fair Prince,” insulting his masculinity subtly. Princess Mariel stepped closer to her sister suddenly fascinated with the conversation. The Queen watched us over the shoulder of her company keeping them engaged and out of the fray, no need to make this bigger than it was. I could almost hear Reason arguing about how I was meant to be the cool headed one as I was always getting him out of trouble.

“There is fruit on your plate and a wilting flower in Princess Mariel’s hair, surely one or the other is something you can work with.” He sniffed, a sneer of disdain plastered across his features.

“Brother,” Princess Mariel warned, my estimation of the Queen’s third child rose in that moment, “You over step your bounds.”

“I am a Prince,” he shot back smartly.

“Yes,” Princess Adri replied calmly, “But she is the ‘Queen’s’ Gardener” she emphasized the word Queen’s.

“No one asked you to speak,” the Prince snarled, the Heir closed her mouth turning her face away.

“She has every right to say as she pleases.” I countered as Princess Mariel opened her mouth to admonish him. “More right to command me than you ever will, after all she passed her Trials, she bonded with the dragons and she will one day be your Queen if she so chooses. You will do well to remember that.” I finished sharply wanting nothing more than to smash my plate into his face.

Princess Mariel covered her mouth a look of approval shinning in her eyes as she hid the smile spreading across her features at her brother’s speechlessness. I offered my plate to the Heir, “Hold this please your Highness,” Princess Adri took my plate a look of amused shock bringing out bright specks of lavender in the violet blue of her eyes.

“Princess Mariel if I may?” I raised my hand slowly to her hair, she ducked slightly allowing me to take the dying flower. “A peony,” I smiled softly at the slowly dying flower as it sung softly about a life of sunlight and camaraderie. “Fitting for you Princess,” she smiled softly at the compliment. I cupped the peony in my hands while the three royal children watched with varying looks of curiosity. I released a trickle of my magic and the peony began to wither and die.

“You’re killing it,” Princess Mariel murmured face saddened at the display.

“Yes,” I glanced up at her briefly. “All flowers die, all the flowers at the palace bloom again. Such is the point of our magic. Any plant mage can make a flower grow given enough time, it’s nature’s way.” They gazed at the shriveled husk now laying in my hand. “Peonies bloom in nearly every color except blue.” Slowly the pods that remained began to crack open revealing their seeds, “Growing the flowers from seed can sometimes take up to five sun cycles, but it is rewarding because the blooms from these seeds will be new, a completely different variety of peony than their mother plant. Rosen has tried for sun cycles to grow blue peonies; she has told me it is nigh impossible despite cross breeding.”

Once the husk of the old plant became nearly nothing in my palms and all that remained were the seeds I murmured a request only the shivering seeds could hear, they heard but could not yet speak. All I felt was a glimmer of excitement at the opportunity to be more than they ever thought they would be. I smiled softly blowing the seeds from my hands and watching them float on a perfectly timed breeze that had nothing to do with my magic and everything to do with luck. “Is that it?” Prince Sorel asked expecting something more.

Princess Mariel was becoming my new favorite royal with her utter disdain for her brother’s incompetence, though I could see the disappoint in her eyes that there wasn’t anything more. “I am not the Head Gardener, no two gifts are the same and so I may never know how she coaxes the sprouts from the soil, how she convinces the trees to bloom different blossoms every sun cycle or if she convinces them at all. Perhaps she demands it and her power is so great that the flowers bow before her and the trees listen without question. I do not know how she went about getting blue peonies to grow save the fact that she has tried for many sun cycles.” I grinned letting my magic touch upon every seed still floating in the air. Slowly but surely gasps of startled delight filled the room as violet blue peonies bloomed in the air drifting about on a breeze that came from the large open doors leading out into the Pleasure Garden. One slowly fell into my up raised hand.

A second one bloomed beside it and I gazed down into the perfect imitation of Princess Adri’s eyes, violet blue, twilight with hints of lavender specks in the mix. “If I may?” I leaned towards Princess Mariel whose eyes shown with untold delight in seeing something so magical. She bent forward allowing me to place the flower in her hair. I offered the second more vibrant flower to the Heir, “A gift Highness to the future Queen of Angileri.” Princess Adri took it gently while I stole back my plate, she raised the flower to her nose taking in the scent of the delicate bloom. All around us the ballroom was in an uproar as others reached their hands into the sky taking hold of the floating blooms.

Rosen stood on a cleared section of the buffet table to the horror of many a maid servant and quickly calmed the crowd with a speech about beauty, honor and the blessing of the Gods that allowed her to finally have her sun cycles of research and cross breeding come to fruition on the eve of the Princesses feast for which she would hopefully announce that she would be succeeding her mother the Queen. Rosen went on to describe all the hard work that had gone into such a display stressing how it had taken every Gardener in the Queen’s arsenal to set it up in time. Tears of joy shown in the Head Gardener’s eyes at the beautiful display that many no doubt would remember for the rest of their lives. Rosen raised her glass dubbing the blooms Twilight Peonies in honor of the Heir’s unique eyes and even though not everyone supported the succession everyone cheered filling the large room as they applauded Rosen’s perfectly timed speech raising their glasses in shared respect of the woman who had managed such a phenomenal feat with only four plant mages and none the wiser besides.

“She took credit for your work?” Were the first words spoken as the three siblings slowly collected themselves still reeling from the display and the perfectly timed speech.

I gazed at Princess Mariel smiling softly, “Who’s to say it was me at all?” I countered.

“We saw…” Princess Adri paused in her words unable to complete her sentence.

“You saw me help a flower die and then blow the seeds away,” I finished for her.

The Prince stood speechless, “You’re good,” Princess Mariel said after a long moment of silence in which no one could think of anything to say. Respect shown in the oceans of blue that made up her eyes. “You abided my brother’s request, you showed him your magic by speeding along the peony’s death. You gave a gift to the Head Gardener who has, as you said been trying for sun cycles to produce blue peonies. I’m sure those were tears of joy shinning in her eyes. Her speech though not planned was inspiring, anyone would be quite hard pressed to question my sister’s succession for the remainder of the night after such a display of devotion from the Queen’s Gardeners. The Head Garden basically said you all support her and near about see her as Queen. You have also given my sister a flower that no doubt will be just a renowned as the Alia rose, though it doesn’t carry her name no one can mistake the fact that it resembles the quite memorable violet blue of her eyes. You have showed us magic, more magic than we have ever seen in a plant mage and we cannot in good conscious prove it was you. As you said you blew away the seeds, we saw no murmured incantations no hand motions, nothing save that final bit where you took a peony from the air and caused a second to bloom from nothing. That is all we can claim you have done and so I tip my head to you Gardener Denarii,” She did so then as well raising her glass high along with her sister. Her brother grimaced but did the same all while the Queen looked on curiously questions sparkling in her eyes.

“Everyone is quite wrong about you Princess Mariel,” I said as they dropped their glasses while several guests murmured curiously around us wondering what had caused such high regard. “You are as beautiful as your mother, the spitting image in fact but you are just as intelligent and people fail to realize you are more than your face. If I had a glass I would raise it to you,” I raised my plate instead and the Princess blushed prettily while Princess Adri raised her glass in her honor.

“Thank you,” I tipped my head in respect.

“Have a blessed evening,” I bowed to Princess Mariel as low as I bowed to the Queen, I gave the Heir the respect I should have given her mother and bowed low enough that I could no longer see her eyes and I stared at the Prince bowing not at all before turning and taking my leave.

“Gardener Denarii,” I glanced over my shoulder at the red-faced Prince, while his sisters gazed on once more shocked at my very deliberate display of respect. “I am still a Prince; you’ll do well to show me the proper respects.”

I grabbed a passing glass of wine, raising it mockingly in his honor. “For you fair Prince.” I tipped the glass spilling it all on the pristine wooden floorboards. His face grew even more red while the Heir and her sister raised their hands to their mouths in startled disbelief. “To you and all the men like you.” I finished setting my glass down on the buffet table before strolling away.

I disappeared before the Prince could think of a form of retaliation deciding to wander in the Pleasure Garden until the feasting began, least I get myself hung at the next opportune moment for speaking too honestly. I knew if I found myself with the noose around my neck, despite the solemn occasion my brother would somehow find a way to mock me for always teasing him about getting into trouble.

I shook my head as I pulled myself up onto a low hanging branch slowly climbing into the canopy as I listened to the ancient oak tell me of the kingdom that had once flourished where Angileri now sat. I listened to the slow drawl that made up its speech as it encompassed centuries in the passing of slithers of the sun’s span feeding me images of all that came before. I sighed resting my cheek against rough bark cradled in its delicate branches as I took in its story all the while gazing out onto a night filled with the brightest stars I’d ever seen.

This is what I lived for, not the power or prestige my gift could bring me, but the peace, the calm before the inevitable storm. The stories of time long past, the secrets that make you laugh with untold joy for those involved. I lived to experience the happiness every bloom felt at the touch of the sun, a simple happiness, unfiltered and raw. As innocent as children for all eternity and just as heartwarmingly beautiful. Forever changing, forever striving to grow, sprouting, budding, blooming, dying only to start the process all over again. The voices were many and despite the death of all things the voices returned, again and again they found their way back to me. A similar flower, but different, individually unique from the one before it. Perhaps they held the same spirits, perhaps not. I did not question it. I never had, I just knew that regardless of how they faded and died with the seasons in time my flowers would come back to me. A cycle that soothed my soul more than I was willing to admit. The ancient oak finished its life story ending with me climbing into its branches, I placed my hand soothingly against its bark sending out some of my magic, in thanks healing old scars and causing new leaves to grow before climbing down and heading back to the party hoping that the Prince had calmed a little in my absence. At least enough to not want my head on a silver platter. I would hate to give my brother the satisfaction of proving me wrong.