The Queen's Garden Mage

I chuckled softly resting my cheek against hers, “We should go before Fletcher sends out a search party, we’ve been gone for some time

Renka stood pulling me easily to my feet, “Aren’t you going to heal yourself?” She questioned as I grimaced stretching my neck.

“Of such a simple wound?” I shook my head. “It’ll heal on its own no point in wasting the magic for something only skin deep.”

“You’re truly one of a kind.” Renka breathed following me along the vine bridge, shifting from side to side noticing how it didn’t sway. “How…”

“Is this possible…” I finished for her chuckling softly as we moved upward. She rolled her eyes which caused me to smile. “Why magic of course.” She groaned and resisted all urges to ask again knowing exactly the answer that she would receive.

We were about half way along the bridge when I heard my name, I paused in my tracks, head cocked listening carefully only to realize the voice was in my head, echoing through the green. I gripped Renka by the shoulder, “We have to head to the palace. Libeth is calling for me.”

“I haven’t heard anything…the palace…” She gazed at me brow furrowed. “This place has a palace?”

I nudged Renka forward jogging slowly making sure to keep hold as the world began to slide by in waves of shimmering green and brown, the green moving beneath us pushing us more quickly towards where we needed to go. “She spoke through the green,” Renka jogged steadily beside me brow beading with sweat. “And this place is the equivalent of Anear. A city hidden in the trees.”

“I couldn’t tell you which way of travel is faster, but I can easily tell you which I prefer…” Renka gasped quickly transforming from one breath to the next, I twinned my fingers in her mane and leapt onto her back as the world slowed and we thundered across tree limbs large enough for carriages to ride along.

My heart raced with trepidation, “Hurry Renka…we have to hurry.” I murmured as Libeth’s voice continuously echoed through my mind growing more urgent with each passing second. I did not know what we would find when we got there, but the twisting of my stomach assured it wouldn’t be good.

“The palace is inside of a tree?” Renka shook her head in disbelief.

I gazed at her curiously, “You’ve seen this place, why would you expect anything else and it’s inside several connecting trees actually and it would be more accurate to call them ancients as large and as old as they are. This is the oldest part of the forest, the very heart of the Last Garden. It makes sense for it to be here.”

“I didn’t even notice until we were practically standing right on top of it.” Renka murmured taking in the canopy of mixed leaves overhead shading us from the sun.

“That’s the point, completely hidden in plain sight.” I replied entering a wall formed of smoothed bark. Renka traced her fingers along it as we passed. As we walked through the corridors that smelled of apple, pine, cherries, oak…a mixture of scents that blended together to form something heavenly and calming. The walls held carvings, intricate designs from every nation a Gardener called home. Tapestries filled with fantastical creatures from legends you might have heard when you were a child. Giants raced down the corridors with pixies playing along the hills and valleys that made up their bodies, centaurs cavorted with the Marr and horses alike. There were shadow figures at every juncture we took with vines and leaves sprouting behind them and names carved skillfully into the wood beneath.

“There were trees…ancients…” Renka corrected herself as she leaned closed to read the name of one of my predecessors, “Outside the palace, at varying heights, without canopies. Are they pools as well?”

I stopped in front of two double doors gazing on the only two images that weren’t made of shadows. The Marr stared eyes wide with shock. I traced my fingers along my name heart aching slightly at what it took to get me here. “There are five in total…and they’re filled with soil. One for each of the gardens that we tend.”

“How…” Renka gazed at me and then the likeness of me, identical right down to the solemnness that now filled my eyes. “Is that possible?” Beside me stood the first Head Gardener Gal. We stood as guards to every room that would ever house the Queen. I knew from Rosen that if you held ill intent you could not enter…or you could. It would just be the most uncomfortable feeling of your life.

I laid my hands against cool wood pushing gently as I answered Renka’s question, separating the first Head Gardener from the current Head Gardener. “Why magic of course.” We entered the Council room to find everyone seated around the table, the centaurs stood of course and on the table, a literal map of the world lay a body. Libeth stood, having taken the seat of my Second, tears streaming down her face. There wasn’t a pair of dry eyes in the room.

“She’s gone Rhyme…the Princess is gone.” I stepped into the room heart lodge in my throat.

“Mariel?” I questioned knowing the answer but not wanting to believe it.

Libeth shook her head beckoning me forward, I came on weakened legs resting my hands atop the table as she took hold of the white shroud covering her form. “We’ve been receiving infected and dead for the last two seven days and each person brings with them a message. The infected speak and the dead have written messages. We have been trying to find some way to free them, to cure them, anything that would help so that when we fight we aren’t fighting our friends.” She pulled back the shroud to reveal Adri’s pale face. “He’s tired of waiting…and so today he took our hope from us.”

My legs buckled as a sob tore through my chest, nothing in my life had prepared me for this, seeing the woman I loved wearing my crown woven of living green laid out before me. “No…” I murmured hoarsely unable to believe it. “No…no…no…no.” I cupped her face in my hands resting my brow against hers. “It wasn’t meant to end like this.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek. “We were supposed to be happy, I would have taken it, all the strife, the power, whatever it took I’d have taken it on my shoulders and bore it gladly if it meant I could hold you in my arms at night.” I pressed a kiss to her cold lips. “We were supposed to have children…two beautiful little girls…because you’re a girl and I love you remember. Wake up Princess…Adri. Please…” I begged fingers locked in the fabric of her shirt. “Please wake up…”

Libeth clutched at my shoulder trying to pull me away. “Don’t…” A chair reassembled itself into something closely resembling a knight standing between me and my friend. “Touch me.” I warned.

Libeth stepped back gazing at the green warrior with wide eyes, flowers bloomed atop his head and truly he did not appear dangerous, he would harm no one. That wasn’t his purpose, his purpose was to keep anyone from touching me. “Rhyme…she’s dead.” I shook my head unwilling to believe it.

Reason stood, “We should plan an attack before he comes with Rosen and the other Princess…once he’s defeated perhaps Mariel can take her trials.”

“We still haven’t found a cure, we don’t know how to stop this and he’s likely taken the whole city by now.” Tail countered from her seat further down the table more towards the center, half way between the centaurs and the Gardeners, Captain Sowin sat beside her.

“Without the Heir he’s already won.” Eden added dejectedly. “What are we fighting for.”

“Our people,” Libeth countered. “There are innocent people, dying day by day while we sit here twiddling our thumbs hoping to find answers. We need to do something…”

“But the answer is what,” Captain Sowin finally spoke up. “How can we fight innocent people? We can’t no one’s heart is in it. And so we must find a cure, some end to this infection that spreads for the sake of spreading with a mad man at its mantle and for that we need time. Time that we no longer have because, your future and I must say ours as well lies before us on this table dead. We find ourselves in a vicious cycle of indecision.”

I listened to their words gently tracing my fingers through Adri’s hair as tears streamed my face. My fingers tangled slightly and I pulled them free to find my fingers wrapped around a plant. One I found intimately familiar. I’d eaten it once, though Rosen hadn’t told me until much later. “How come she did not call on the dragons?” Dahni asked brow furrowed as she thought aloud.

I felt a small spark of hope, I answered her question leaning down as I did so listening for a heartbeat. “Would you really want a fire breathing dragon infected with the Void?” Her silence was answer enough. I might have been overly hopeful and so I beckoned Renka forward nudging my green knight aside. Emery traced his hands along a wooden arm slowly sprouting leaves. He was slowly going from dangerous to harmlessly adorable as we watched.

“Do you hear that?” I questioned holding my breath. She leaned close pressing a quivering ear against the Heir’s still chest. The Marr stood there for a long time, before pulling away brow furrowed.

“Her heart is beating…every now and again. She’s alive but not for long.” Renka offered eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

I pulled off my shirt and tossed it aside, before shedding my trousers, belt knife and all, nearly falling over as I struggled to kick off my boots. “Why are you getting naked?” Fletcher questioned arms crossed over her chest.

“Not that we mind,” Fawlin added. “Just seems a bit inappropriate.”

“When I was younger…I met the Queen’s mother…she was a stern woman. She told me that if I could touch her with my magic that she would send me home…she gave me everything I needed and still I could not touch her. I didn’t find out until later that she’d cheated.” I pulled the shroud from Adri’s body and tossed it on the floor before placing my hands on her chest. “She was a plant mage, not overly strong but skilled in deflection, the seeds she gave me, grown by her own hand, she could talk to them too and of course they obeyed her request. I lost our little wager and required I get this tattoo…except it’s not a tattoo.”

I took a deep breath closing my eyes as the green stems making swirling paths along my skin began to glow and dance beneath my skin. “Gods…” Renka breathed as the plants broke through skin bringing with it beads of blood leaving instant scars in their wake. “Their plants.”

“A spell actually…” I breathed through the pain sharp but brief, as they moved from me to the Princess glowing brighter as they twinned around her form. “It can’t heal death…only the Goddess or a God can do that, but it can help you cheat it by pulling you back from the brink. It was meant to save my life…but she said I could use it on another at the risk of dying myself.”

“Only you would tell us that after it’s too late to stop you.” My brother said in exasperated alarm. Blood dripped onto the table as the green crawled across my body parting my skin neatly as it broke free.

I smiled softly, “Death’s door is a dangerous poison and completely incurable…but if you’re already dead people have been known to be revived with it. In theory.” I added with a shrug.

“You’re about to die and you’re telling us something that might save you…in theory?!” Tailaan exclaimed, when I had nearly forgotten he was there.

“Does she do stuff like this all the time?” Captain Sowin asked when everyone else appeared to be far more calm than they should be in such a situation.

“She’s quite reckless.” Libeth replied.

“It would serve you right to die for your recklessness.” Reason countered nostrils flaring.

“You don’t mean that.” He turned away tears in his eyes.

“You better not leave me. Goddess I just got you back and I just can’t handle you being taken from me again.” He said accent stronger due to emotion.

“I’m not ready to say goodbye.” Reason bowed his head unwilling to look at me die before his eyes.

“When I…” I didn’t want to say die. “When I pass out, someone anyone shove this plant,” I tipped my head to the leaves lying on the table. “Down my throat by any means necessary. It should work…in theory.” I could almost hear Adri calling me an idiot, I chuckled softly at the thought.

The last flower parted from my skin and I shuddered at the emptiness that overtook me, I thought death would be painful, I thought it would be endless…but it was peaceful. I took in the people rushing towards me, my friends, my family. My legs buckled, Adri took a deep breath face flushed with health and vitality. In that moment I saw all the struggles of my childhood, first in Kantari and then here in Angileri…I saw my life now another struggle, that I was currently losing and I think for a brief moment I glimpsed the future. Darkness stole me away from my happiness and I forgot all that I saw, but I’d heard two songs, that I hope to one day hear again…

Pain sang along the nerves in my cheek and I woke with a groan to find Adri glaring down at me, “Ouch…” I murmured softly instantly finding myself lost in the twilight of her eyes. “Not even a thank you Princess?” I questioned pushing myself to a sitting position to find myself sitting on a bed, the sheets were green, the comforter covered in a pattern of leaves. From the window, nearly taking up an entire wall, hung raptor vines, I smiled softly. The curtains were drawn letting in sunlight, the spirit lay along the window sill gazing out at the world. I had yet to figure out if it were the same one, or if they all just looked so similar it was impossible to tell, I mean it was the same mother plant after all.

“I’m angry with you for being reckless…but grateful that you figured out whatever it is that Rosen sent with me. I didn’t think I’d ever wake up.”

“I don’t mind your anger…it means you’re alive to feel angry.” I raised my hand to stroke her cheek. She smiled reluctantly leaning into the touch. “You found my room, I slept here for two seven days as a child and of course I could not help but dub it mine. I even brought my raptor vines.”

Adri chuckled, “Actually Fletcher…the centaur. An awe inspiring thing to wake up to by the way. Guided me here, I wanted you to rest and I didn’t know where any of the bedrooms were. Though I figured it was yours when I saw the vines. They look exactly like the vines growing from your windowsill in Anear…though there’s definitely more here. They’re more vibrant and thicker too.” She narrowed her eyes, “I even think they’re growing up the wall. I haven’t examined them that closely.”

“Who saved me?” I asked curiously.

“Renka, she chewed that plant up so thoroughly I would have thought it were always a liquid if I hadn’t seen Rosen tuck it into my hair.” She chuckled slightly at that. “And then she kissed you…” Adri gave me a look. “Kinda like she’d done it before.”

“She tastes like apples…” I offered honestly. Adri shook her head tracing her fingers lightly along the collar circling my neck.

“I want to be angry, but she told me why you did it.” I felt her trace her fingers over the healing mark on my neck. “Hmm, she said she got you good. Punishment for being a smart…” I gave her a look and she chuckled. “I was gonna say aleck.”

“Sure you were.” I countered wryly.

“Shut up and kiss me.” She demanded pulling me close.

I wrapped my arms around her waist leaning forward to kiss her tenderly, though it didn’t stay that way for long. Adri twinned her fingers in my hair devouring my lips almost desperately. Her breath hitched between kisses and I could taste salt on her tongue, she may not have said it but I could feel how much she had feared for my life. She had almost lost me and if it had broken me to see her near death on the table I can imagine that she’d have felt the same. “If you ever do something so reckless again…without me there. I’ll never forgive you.” She murmured against my lips as we lay catching our breath.

“So long as you’re there?” She traced her fingers along my naked torso, where there were once green stems, lay pale scars.

“I know that you will continue to be an idiot, it’s something that I love about you. Your pursuit of answers, of the green’s song as you call it, of justice…whatever you set your mind to, your drive and determination. It sometimes leads you to do reckless, brave, inventive things and to stop you would be taking a piece of who you are. I love all of you and that means that I’m going to have to let you be yourself, but if you’re going to be an idiot I want to be there to help if things go wrong. If I’m not and I find out what you did…” She traced her fingers down along my torso playing along the band of my underwear. “I’ll have to punish you.”

My heart raced in my chest as my skin jumped beneath her fingertips, “How exactly would you do that?”

“Perhaps I should show you?” Her voice sent shivers of delight racing along my spine.

I bit my lip gently, “Perhaps you should.” I croaked now aching for her to touch me.

Adri pulled her hand away kissing me tenderly on the cheek, “Later…now you need your rest because tomorrow, a war begins.”

I watched her stand from the bed and walk to the door leaving me hot and bothered. “That’s not fair.”

The Princess winked at me, “The very definition of life.” She countered before closing the door behind her. I groaned as I laid back on the bed wishing that she would come back and touch me, though of course she never did.

“Did she punish you?” I glanced up to see Renka peeking beyond the edge of the door.

“Yes. Yes, she did.” I grumbled as she slipped into the room.

“How are you feeling?” She asked, coming to sit on the edge of the bed pressing her brow gently against mine.

“Like I just took a nap.” I offered smiling softly as she nuzzled my cheek.

“How long have I been out?” I wondered aloud hoping that it wasn’t another two seven days.

“The rest of yesterday’s sun’s span and a bit of today’s…it’s about midmorning now.” I laid my head on her shoulder as she climbed onto the bed resting beside me.

“I hear we go to war tomorrow and we still haven’t found a cure for the people infected with the Void.” I commented feeling torn about it all.

“The Dangilere soldiers have finally arrived, and with them more food than we can possibly eat and a small band of famous Healers. They came through for us, as for the war we don’t have much of a choice. Prince Eris isn’t giving us one, we either take it to him or he brings it to us and I don’t want to see this place destroyed.” I chuckled softly.

“They’d never make it passed the Ancients…”

“Perhaps that’s true but the soldiers adapt at fighting in the forest are of Angileri, few though they maybe I know they’re far more skilled than any others…even the recruits. You’re Queen assured it, a woman of power in a world ruled mostly by men she had no choice.” I agreed wholeheartedly. “Besides if anyone can find some way to stop this thing you can…even so we won’t be able to save them all. I believe there are innocents, maybe even most of them are. But some of these people are traitors you have to remember that.”

I stroked my fingers lightly along her neck while she traced her fingers over the pale scars on my back. “Did it hurt?” She asked after a moment of silence where I lay absorbing her words.

“Yes…but less than you’d expect it would be considering the magic leaving my body literally parting my skin along the way. It was as gentle as it could be and if I died it was the most peaceful death I ever could have felt.” Renka butted her head gently against mine.

“Don’t go getting any ideas, that plant I chewed up was no sweet grass let me tell you and I’d rather not have to do it again if I can help it.” I chuckled at her wry tone resting my head on her chest.

“I hadn’t planned on it…” I murmured softly finding it harder to string words together.

“I leave you alone for several slithers of the sun’s span and I come back to find you cuddled up with the Marr,” I opened my eyes to find Adri standing in the doorway smiling softly eyes sparkling with mirth.

“I thought about making her our third,” I mumbled softly closing my eyes. I felt Renka’s fingers pause slightly before she continued to stroke my hair.

“I’m a Princess, of just about the most well known Queendom in the world, I’ve studied every one of the big seven in detail growing up, so if you think I don’t know what that means you’re mistaken.” Adri said climbing into bed behind me and pressing me snuggly between the two. “Makes me wonder how surprised you’d be if I actually considered it and said yes. It’s happened in the history of Angileri before.”

“Mmmm, nothing surprises me anymore…” I slurred out once more drifting towards sleep no longer truly paying attention to her words.

You say that now…” Was the last thing I heard before slumber drug me away again.

I woke in the night to find myself still curled between the Princess and the Marr now fast asleep. I pushed up into a sitting position rubbing my eyes softly before climbing over Renka to much grumbling. I smiled softly at her protest as she snuggled back against the Princess, they looked adorable together. I glanced around the room, now glowing softly due to the eternal fireflies standing in each corner of the room, I found a bundle of fresh clothes in the arms of my little green knight I took them with a gentle thank you surprised he still existed. He definitely looked harmless now completely covered in small green shoots and flowers.

I pulled on my trousers and tunic quickly noting the softness of the fabric, both of them a dark green. It was softer than anything I owned in my closet and I knew that it must have been Adri’s doing. I smiled softly at the thought before leaving the room on bare feet, not wishing to wake my bedmates looking for my pouch or my blade.

I found myself walking down an empty corridor smelling of apples stomach grumbling with hunger. I paused watching as a branch sprouted from dormant wood, an apple grew quickly before dropping into my hand. I paused in my first bite sensing the whispers of awe through the green and turned to find my little green knight trailing silently behind me.

“You can talk…” I murmured curiously tracing my fingers lightly over the soft leaves sprouting from his head shaped like an old fashioned knight helmet with the visor hiding his appearance. All I could see was his eyes two glowing orbs of burnt orange. They were soft, kind eyes.

He gazed at the wall, eyes flickering slightly in a blink? At the branch still easily visible. I felt the beginning of a question more a feeling than actual words. Another apple sprouted exactly like the first though smaller in size. I plucked it gently taking his wooden hand far more complex then I’d first realized setting it their gently. “It’s my magic…” I explained. “How I created you. The green growing things, they understand me.” I tapped my mind, “Without words.” He gazed curiously at the apple before raising it to his mouth pressing it lightly against the visor. “Huh…can you actually eat that…” I watched with wide eyes as the apple grew into the visor where his mouth should be before disappearing. I heard a crunching sound for a few moments before I felt a humming in my mind and sensed happiness.

I took a bite of my apple while his eyes smiled up at me, “I have a feeling you aren’t going anywhere any time soon.” I murmured softly deciding that he needed a name. “I suppose I’ll call you Leaf…how does that sound?” I felt that hum of happiness before smiling softly. “Yeah sounds good to me too, let’s go I think I figured something out.”

I proceeded on my search listening to the voices of the green as we moved through the palace. I topped the stairs leading down to the dungeons, made as a formality more than anything considering no one ever thought this place would see use. They were very cozy. “I honestly don’t know why I didn’t check here first, considering that it’s probably the only place to properly contain those infected with the Void.” I murmured as Leaf stood beside me gazing down into the darkness of the stairwell.

I felt a spark of curiosity, “How are we gonna see in the dark? We aren’t…” I started walking down the stairs tracing my fingers along the walls waking the moss that grew their now glowing softly. Leaf raced down the rest of the stairs tracing his hand along the opposite wall completely fascinated by the magic his touch caused. I chuckled softly as I followed more slowly finding him waiting for me patiently at the bottom of the stairs.

It was cooler down here but no less welcoming than the rest of the palace, he tried that trick on the walls down here and found that it worked just the same. Where once we stood in darkness we now stood casting shadows in soft glowing green light. I gazed into each cell looking for familiar faces finding Kiyen and the Princess side by side towards the end. “We probably got both Princesses on the same day, one broken and infected, the other so close to death it shouldn’t have mattered. I mean how can you fight when they’re nothing to fight for…” Leaf traced his hands lightly along the cold steel, some of the small bit of metal that existed in this place.

“It’s harder to break than wood, on that I suppose the Gardeners agreed though there are woods that exist that are impossible to break…they’re just as impossible to form though. These locks are much like the locks that exist to the ballroom back at the palace in Anear. Impossible…unless you’re a plant mage.” I traced my hand lightly over the keyhole hand glowing softly with my magic. “This is so you can see it. Otherwise my requests I call them are voiceless and without effects.” I felt a sense of gratitude for the display. “You’re welcome.”

I opened the cell and stepped inside. “I know you’re awake…if anyone’s aware of all the damage they’ve done it would be you. You’re too stubborn to give up in my opinion.” I spoke to the form lying comfortably on the bed beneath a large window that let the light of the moon into the spacious room. I could see the Void moving around inside her and once more I heard the familiar seductive whispering.

Mariel pushed herself into a sitting position leaning back against the wall with a heartfelt sigh. “What do you want Gardener…if you come any closer I’ll attack. I won’t be able to pass up the chance.” She warned through gritted teeth.

I stood where I was, “Thanks for the warning.”

“I try where I can.” She huffed, “Not like it’s worth anything.”

“What does it feel like?” I asked curiously needing to know. “Is it like a slow spread, is it a complete change…what does it feel like to be taken over?”

“It’s like…a seed. It begins with a seed that you can feel, though some people can see it. I couldn’t. I thought it was just a bad feeling, but it grew and I felt unsure of my actions as if perhaps that weren’t completely my own… The Prince came to me, told me what he planned to do…what I would do and I knew instantly that I should go to my mother but I couldn’t. Something in me thought it was a great plan.” I could see the glimmer of tears streaming her face and for the first time I thought she appeared exactly as she was. A young woman completely out of her depth. “I conspired against my mother…my sister. All this time I thought it was Sorel my mother had to worry about…I never for a moment that it would be me that betrayed them. I feel death would be a small mercy at this point for all that I’ve done.”

“You might be more aware of your actions than most but it’s still not you Princess…”

“I don’t deserve that title.” She countered bowing her head.

“You do. More than most actually.” I stepped forward slowly. “I was going to try this with Kiyen. I didn’t think Prince Eris would give us both Princesses at the same time, but he’s angry and I guess baiting us to act. It worked we go to war tomorrow. As Renka said there are people not completely innocent…but I would like to be able to save as many as I can.” I glanced at the position of the moon. “I have some time before my bed mates realize I’ve been gone for quite some time. I know if I get any closer you’ll attack…but what if I give you permission to touch me.”

Mariel glanced up at me with the glimmer of the Void in her eyes, “That works just as well…why are you doing this. Risking your sanity and freewill?”

“You said it’s like a seed right, that it grows and just spreads, up until this point no one had truly gotten hurt. It was Prince Eris that changed the game. The Void is covered in vipers’ wrath, a near indestructible bramble that grows in excess. The blade I have has no voice…no spirit, no purpose. Perhaps the spirit found a way to escape…to plant itself in people, to grow and spread?” The Princess gazed at me with a thoughtful expression. “What does a weed do?” I asked softly.

“It starts off small, but grows profusely, where once there was one you suddenly find yourself with ten. It spreads until it destroys a garden if you don’t pull it, choking the life out of everything…” Mariel finished voice trailing off as she started to see my point.

“Perhaps it’s just the way I see the world, in metaphors of green growing things and that which destroys them, maybe I’m wrong.” I crouched on the floor just a few feet away, “But I can hear the voices Princess and if I can hear them than perhaps they can hear me…perhaps I can plant a little seed of my own and change its purpose?”

“I have nothing to lose if you’re wrong.” Mariel murmured softly sliding to the floor.

“But you have everything to gain if I’m right…” I offered my hands she took them without speaking face grim. I shuddered softly watching as the Void slowly began to spread trying to plant a seed inside me. I closed my eyes and listened to the voices.