I have plans for The Tree as well. I don't think it's going to be what either of them are expecting.
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The Tree prevents evil and it's hard to do real evil. You have to choose to so something bad for purely selfish reasons. Was what Ridahne did selfish.
How do you think The Tree will react to her?
Darin nodded, “Yeah. Apples.” She pointed out a few of the trees, “You can see the trees.” She pointed at a couple of other trees, “And that’s an oak. And that’s a pine.” Her brow furrowed, “This is actually a pretty good forest.” She pointed at a few more plants, “Witch hazel, chives, lavender.” She smiled slightly, “There’s a forest like this near my home.” She held out the makeshift bag, “You can have more if you want.”
This was sort of nostalgic. Darin spent many of her childhood in the forest neat her home gathering herbs and wild fruit. That had been a long time ago; before her father decided he had better places to be. She had lost the ability to just wander the forest without a care when she had to take over the farm. She had to do a lot of growing up in a short period of time. Remembering those times always brought a smile to her face. She tried to not let her father’s departure color those memories. That was a difficult thing to do. She wondered if that was the same way for everyone; having a bunch of good memories of a person be tainted by one unforgivable thing. That was sort of a depressing thing to think about.
Darin was jerked form that train of thought as she considered Ridahne’s next question. She had never really given The Tree much thought. There had never been a reason to. It simply was. The elders said The Tree prevented evil from entering Astra, but evil was such a vague concept that Darin didn’t think it counted for things. She was pretty positive that abusing animals counted as evil. Animals were never mean unless they had been taught that so hurting them just seemed wrong. Then again, killing an animal that had lived a full life for food and supplies never seemed wrong to her. She had done it countless times herself. However, war and slavery were not a thing except for in stories so The Tree must have done something. She just wasn’t sure what it was.
Darin spoke carefully, “I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s alive the way people or animals are. It’s certainly more alive than most plants. I don’t know what sort of powers it might have or what it actually does. I don’t think anybody knows. The Gardener probably did, but he died. So, now no one knows.”
Darin found herself feeling apprehensive. She wondered what The Tree would expect of her. A small part of her was concerned that The Tree would judge her and find her lacking. What would happen if The Tree did not approve of The Gardener’s choice? Though that seemed unlikely. Darin knew for a fact that she had a connection to The Seed. It made sense for The Gardener and The Tree to have a similar connection. Darin bit her lip. She was willing to bet that The Tree was dying faster then it had been dying thanks to The Gardener’s passing.
Darin continued her thoughts outloud, “I am hoping to find out why The Tree is dying. It would also be nice to discover where it came from. If I can find out, who planted The Tree, why it was planted, and how it was done, I might be able to figure out where to plant The Seed.” She smiled a shaky smile, “As bad as it seems I don’t really care about The Tree. I have to believe that The Gardener did everything he could to save The Tree. Since it is still dying it can’t be saved. So, I don’t really care to see it except to find out whatever I can that will help me do my job.”
Talbot snorted and shook his head in a fashion vaguely resembling a nod. Darin laughed slightly. It seemed that he agreed with her. She must be getting better at riding because she managed to feel relaxed enough to lean down to feed him another apple. He munched it happily. As far as Darin was concerned apples were a good breakfast anywhere.
This was sort of nostalgic. Darin spent many of her childhood in the forest neat her home gathering herbs and wild fruit. That had been a long time ago; before her father decided he had better places to be. She had lost the ability to just wander the forest without a care when she had to take over the farm. She had to do a lot of growing up in a short period of time. Remembering those times always brought a smile to her face. She tried to not let her father’s departure color those memories. That was a difficult thing to do. She wondered if that was the same way for everyone; having a bunch of good memories of a person be tainted by one unforgivable thing. That was sort of a depressing thing to think about.
Darin was jerked form that train of thought as she considered Ridahne’s next question. She had never really given The Tree much thought. There had never been a reason to. It simply was. The elders said The Tree prevented evil from entering Astra, but evil was such a vague concept that Darin didn’t think it counted for things. She was pretty positive that abusing animals counted as evil. Animals were never mean unless they had been taught that so hurting them just seemed wrong. Then again, killing an animal that had lived a full life for food and supplies never seemed wrong to her. She had done it countless times herself. However, war and slavery were not a thing except for in stories so The Tree must have done something. She just wasn’t sure what it was.
Darin spoke carefully, “I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s alive the way people or animals are. It’s certainly more alive than most plants. I don’t know what sort of powers it might have or what it actually does. I don’t think anybody knows. The Gardener probably did, but he died. So, now no one knows.”
Darin found herself feeling apprehensive. She wondered what The Tree would expect of her. A small part of her was concerned that The Tree would judge her and find her lacking. What would happen if The Tree did not approve of The Gardener’s choice? Though that seemed unlikely. Darin knew for a fact that she had a connection to The Seed. It made sense for The Gardener and The Tree to have a similar connection. Darin bit her lip. She was willing to bet that The Tree was dying faster then it had been dying thanks to The Gardener’s passing.
Darin continued her thoughts outloud, “I am hoping to find out why The Tree is dying. It would also be nice to discover where it came from. If I can find out, who planted The Tree, why it was planted, and how it was done, I might be able to figure out where to plant The Seed.” She smiled a shaky smile, “As bad as it seems I don’t really care about The Tree. I have to believe that The Gardener did everything he could to save The Tree. Since it is still dying it can’t be saved. So, I don’t really care to see it except to find out whatever I can that will help me do my job.”
Talbot snorted and shook his head in a fashion vaguely resembling a nod. Darin laughed slightly. It seemed that he agreed with her. She must be getting better at riding because she managed to feel relaxed enough to lean down to feed him another apple. He munched it happily. As far as Darin was concerned apples were a good breakfast anywhere.
I am getting really strong vibes that what Ridahne did was illegal and dishonorable, but it still needed to be done. Is that right?I don't want to know what she did. I'm just trying to figure out how The Tree will react to her. If that makes sense.
Ridahne confused Darin. The human was pretty positive that the elf didn’t want to talk about what she had done before her exile. Now she seemed perfectly willing. Darin examined her posture. The warrior was tense. Darin had only seen people that tense when they were called before the elders and felt guilty. Darin knew she looked that tense right before harvest every year. The Elf’s words and actions didn’t match. Darin wasn’t sure she wanted to call Ridahne on it. They had just got done with a fight and she was disinclined to start another one so soon. She didn’t like the implication that she didn’t really want to hear what the Elf had to say, but for now she would let it go.
Darin shook her head and waved her hand at the Elf, “Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have snapped at you, and I shouldn’t have pressed you when you clearly aren’t ready.” She moved to look at Talbot, “Besides. We need to go. I want to get to The Tree as soon as possible.”
Talbot nodded in agreement and Darin smiled. She took the sickle and pack form the horse. The pack went on her back. The handle of her weapon went between her teeth as she moved to collect the fallen apples. She handed one to Talbot and tossed another one at Ridahne. She wasn’t going to try feeding the Elf’s horse without permission, but she would gladly share. Soon all the apples were safely in her cloak. She figured that now would be a good time to get mounted. She looked at the collection of apples and realized she wasn’t getting on the back of Talbot with her arms full. She sheepishly held the bundle out to the Elf.
She removed the sickle from her mouth, “I got breakfast. Can you hold them while I get on Talbot?” She mentioned, “Your horse can have one if they want. You can have more if you want. I got enough to share.”
It would be just her luck if the Elf said to in order to prove a point or something. Darin picked as many as she did as sort of a peace offering. If she had been at home, she would have used the apples to make pie. It was the one traditionally feminine thing that she was actually good at. That surprised everyone in the village, but Darin didn’t care. She liked making pie. She had made all the pies for the feast for The Gardener. She hadn’t even had to be asked. That really surprised the elders. That being said they weren’t at home so plain apples would have to do. Though, now that she had to think about it, she didn’t know if Elves even ate apples. Darin figured that at least horses ate apples. So, at least Darin hadn’t completely messed up. Talbot pressed his nose against her shoulder. Absently Darin grabbed another apple and passed it to him. She didn’t even need to look to do it either.
Darin shook her head and waved her hand at the Elf, “Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have snapped at you, and I shouldn’t have pressed you when you clearly aren’t ready.” She moved to look at Talbot, “Besides. We need to go. I want to get to The Tree as soon as possible.”
Talbot nodded in agreement and Darin smiled. She took the sickle and pack form the horse. The pack went on her back. The handle of her weapon went between her teeth as she moved to collect the fallen apples. She handed one to Talbot and tossed another one at Ridahne. She wasn’t going to try feeding the Elf’s horse without permission, but she would gladly share. Soon all the apples were safely in her cloak. She figured that now would be a good time to get mounted. She looked at the collection of apples and realized she wasn’t getting on the back of Talbot with her arms full. She sheepishly held the bundle out to the Elf.
She removed the sickle from her mouth, “I got breakfast. Can you hold them while I get on Talbot?” She mentioned, “Your horse can have one if they want. You can have more if you want. I got enough to share.”
It would be just her luck if the Elf said to in order to prove a point or something. Darin picked as many as she did as sort of a peace offering. If she had been at home, she would have used the apples to make pie. It was the one traditionally feminine thing that she was actually good at. That surprised everyone in the village, but Darin didn’t care. She liked making pie. She had made all the pies for the feast for The Gardener. She hadn’t even had to be asked. That really surprised the elders. That being said they weren’t at home so plain apples would have to do. Though, now that she had to think about it, she didn’t know if Elves even ate apples. Darin figured that at least horses ate apples. So, at least Darin hadn’t completely messed up. Talbot pressed his nose against her shoulder. Absently Darin grabbed another apple and passed it to him. She didn’t even need to look to do it either.
Darin woke up miserable. She was cold and wet. At least the rain had stopped. She automatically searched for the sun. It wasn’t too late but it wasn’t early either. Darin stretched out. She was very careful not to fall out of the tree. She had forgotten to strap herself in. So, it was a good thing she hadn’t fallen out already. She carefully moved out of the tree. She hadn’t realized that she had picked an apple tree to climb last night. So, on the way down she picked several of the almost ripe ones to have for breakfast. Eating while working was something she mastered via practice. Even climbing could be done either one handed or while she held the apple between her teeth. She took of her cloak and tied it into a makeshift bag. It would be bad manners to return to the group empty handed. She felt a little better now that she had slept and eaten. She felt stiff from spending the night in the tree; or maybe it was the horseback riding. She wasn’t sure.
Darin dropped to the ground. She was holding the core from the apple she had just finished. She was about to just toss it when she had a thought. She carefully knelt down and using her hands dug a hole about six inches deep. Darin dropped the core down the hole and recovered it. She supposed she could consider it practice. She wasn’t sure it counted or was the same thing, but it was close enough. Darin would take it. Then she started back to the cave.
Only to stop about halfway though her second apple. She had no idea where she was in relationship to the cave. That hadn’t been her primary concern last night. She was more concerned with getting away as quickly as physical possible. That meant she now had no idea how to get back to Talbot and Ridahne. The odds of the Elf finding her completely by chance were slim to none. At least the warrior would know who she was looking for this time. The question was; would she look. Darin wasn’t so sure. They hadn’t been very happy with each other last night. Would Talbot look for her? Darin just didn’t know. She spent a lot of time not knowing. Maybe that was part of where her frustration last night had come from; not knowing things she felt she ought to know. She wasn’t sure how to address those feeling though.
She decided to call out, “Hello! I’m lost! Talbot! Ridahne! I’m sorry! I’ve got breakfast! Please come find me.”
The odds of it working were slim to none. However, back at the cave, Talbot’s ears picked up. He would reach out to grab at Ridahne’s shirt, but he would only tug once. It was supposed to be an invitation. The horse would not force the Elf to come. Then he would start walking at a brisk trot in a seemingly random direction. Still, he moved with a purpose. He knew that he was going somewhere. He would only pause for a minute to make sure he got his new person’s pack and weapon between his teeth. He didn’t want to leave behind anything important after all.
Darin started walking in the direction she hoped the cave was in. Occasionally she would let out another shout of “Hello!” She really was a mess. She could get lost going from her farm to Lively, and she had done that countless times. Why a girl who couldn’t keep a map or a compass in her head had been picked to do this seemingly impossible task was beyond her. Maybe that was one of the reasons Ridahne was sent to her by whoever sent her. Darin knew that she wouldn’t get this job done without the Elf. By The Tree! Darin had been hanging from a cliff the first time they meet. Was that really only three days ago? It might have only been two depending on how you counted. Darin had only slept twice since she meet the warrior. Was counting sleeps a good way to keep time? Next thing she knew would be falling over a gorge and there would be no vines to catch her.
Of course, that would be what promptly happened. Thankfully it wasn’t a deep gorge, but the apples went tumbling and Darin bruised her shin pretty badly. She let out a his of pain as her had cam up to her injured shoulder. She had hit it with the ground as she went head over heals on her way down. She hoped she didn’t tear the stitching. Darin looked up at the clear sky only for it to be blocked by what looked like her pack and sickle. Both fell. The sickle hit the ground, but Darin let out a groan of pain as the pack hit her face.
Then she saw who it was, and leapt up, “Talbot!” She wrapped her hands around his neck, “I’m so glad you found me!”
Darin dropped to the ground. She was holding the core from the apple she had just finished. She was about to just toss it when she had a thought. She carefully knelt down and using her hands dug a hole about six inches deep. Darin dropped the core down the hole and recovered it. She supposed she could consider it practice. She wasn’t sure it counted or was the same thing, but it was close enough. Darin would take it. Then she started back to the cave.
Only to stop about halfway though her second apple. She had no idea where she was in relationship to the cave. That hadn’t been her primary concern last night. She was more concerned with getting away as quickly as physical possible. That meant she now had no idea how to get back to Talbot and Ridahne. The odds of the Elf finding her completely by chance were slim to none. At least the warrior would know who she was looking for this time. The question was; would she look. Darin wasn’t so sure. They hadn’t been very happy with each other last night. Would Talbot look for her? Darin just didn’t know. She spent a lot of time not knowing. Maybe that was part of where her frustration last night had come from; not knowing things she felt she ought to know. She wasn’t sure how to address those feeling though.
She decided to call out, “Hello! I’m lost! Talbot! Ridahne! I’m sorry! I’ve got breakfast! Please come find me.”
The odds of it working were slim to none. However, back at the cave, Talbot’s ears picked up. He would reach out to grab at Ridahne’s shirt, but he would only tug once. It was supposed to be an invitation. The horse would not force the Elf to come. Then he would start walking at a brisk trot in a seemingly random direction. Still, he moved with a purpose. He knew that he was going somewhere. He would only pause for a minute to make sure he got his new person’s pack and weapon between his teeth. He didn’t want to leave behind anything important after all.
Darin started walking in the direction she hoped the cave was in. Occasionally she would let out another shout of “Hello!” She really was a mess. She could get lost going from her farm to Lively, and she had done that countless times. Why a girl who couldn’t keep a map or a compass in her head had been picked to do this seemingly impossible task was beyond her. Maybe that was one of the reasons Ridahne was sent to her by whoever sent her. Darin knew that she wouldn’t get this job done without the Elf. By The Tree! Darin had been hanging from a cliff the first time they meet. Was that really only three days ago? It might have only been two depending on how you counted. Darin had only slept twice since she meet the warrior. Was counting sleeps a good way to keep time? Next thing she knew would be falling over a gorge and there would be no vines to catch her.
Of course, that would be what promptly happened. Thankfully it wasn’t a deep gorge, but the apples went tumbling and Darin bruised her shin pretty badly. She let out a his of pain as her had cam up to her injured shoulder. She had hit it with the ground as she went head over heals on her way down. She hoped she didn’t tear the stitching. Darin looked up at the clear sky only for it to be blocked by what looked like her pack and sickle. Both fell. The sickle hit the ground, but Darin let out a groan of pain as the pack hit her face.
Then she saw who it was, and leapt up, “Talbot!” She wrapped her hands around his neck, “I’m so glad you found me!”
Darin wasn’t sure how far she had walked from the little cave. She wasn’t sure she cared. She wanted to be mad, so she was going to be mad. She knew that it wasn’t fair to be mad, but she wasn’t sure she cared. She knew she hadn’t been fair to yell at the Elf either. Darin tried to be fair. She really did. She tried to see things from other people’s points of view. She just didn’t always succeed. It was harder than it sounded; being fair to others. Darin wasn’t sure it was even worth it.
Right now, she was trying to convince herself that Ridahne had a choice to come on this journey while she didn’t. The only problem with that was it simply wasn’t true. They both had a choice. Ridahne could choose to die or come on this impossible journey. Darin could choose to let Astra fall to ruin or come on this impossible journey. Those weren’t amazing choices. It wasn’t like there was much of a choice, but it was still a choice. So, Darin couldn’t even say that she had been fore to come on this journey while Ridahne had not been. The Elf probably thought she had been forced to go as well. It was a terrible situation all around.
Then there was the fact that Ridahne was right. Darin had led her to believe that she was an outcast back home. How was the Elf supposed to know that anyone had been kind to her? The human had certainly given no indication of it. For all Darin knew Ridahne thought she was coming to Darin’s defense. Then the Elf had a good reason for leaving details out of her stories. Darin hadn’t asked for those details. In fact, the human had tried to avoid those details all together. So, it wasn’t fair of the human to expect those details. Darin cursed and muttered under her breath. She wanted to be mad at the warrior. It was hard to do that when she was trying to find good reasons for what she had done and said or not said.
Darin let out a wordless screech to the sky. The sky responded not at all. Darin cursed her own stupidity for leaving the cave. She was cold and wet, and the rain didn’t appear to be stopping any time soon. Darin returned to muttering. She couldn’t go back now. She could go back when she was ready to apologize for not being fair. Darin scoffed at that thought. Why did she have to be the bigger person? Oh right, she was Ri'atal, hope of many.
Okay, Darin could be mad about that one. If she was being fair to Ridahne she should be fair to herself too. The human had told the Elf not to treat her any different, and yet here she was using names that probably had no real meaning. Alright, that wasn’t fair. Ridahne wasn’t treating her any different. If she did, she wouldn’t have yelled at her. Okay, Darin couldn’t use that against the Elf. The human paused to let her head make contact with the nearest tree. May The Tree save her from her own stupidity. She had messed this up big time.
It was getting darker. The sun must be setting behind the rain clouds. Darin wasn’t sure she was ready to go back. Even though she was fairly positive she had no right to be mad she still wanted to be angry. Darin found a good-looking tree and started to climb. She wasn’t the best at climbing, but she was okay at it. She climbed until the branches could no longer take her weight. Than she sat with her back to the trunk and closed her eyes. It wouldn’t be the first night she spent in the rain. Darin didn’t think it would be her last either. She would head back in the morning. Maybe, she would be ready to apologize then. She would at least have to go get Talbot.
Right now, she was trying to convince herself that Ridahne had a choice to come on this journey while she didn’t. The only problem with that was it simply wasn’t true. They both had a choice. Ridahne could choose to die or come on this impossible journey. Darin could choose to let Astra fall to ruin or come on this impossible journey. Those weren’t amazing choices. It wasn’t like there was much of a choice, but it was still a choice. So, Darin couldn’t even say that she had been fore to come on this journey while Ridahne had not been. The Elf probably thought she had been forced to go as well. It was a terrible situation all around.
Then there was the fact that Ridahne was right. Darin had led her to believe that she was an outcast back home. How was the Elf supposed to know that anyone had been kind to her? The human had certainly given no indication of it. For all Darin knew Ridahne thought she was coming to Darin’s defense. Then the Elf had a good reason for leaving details out of her stories. Darin hadn’t asked for those details. In fact, the human had tried to avoid those details all together. So, it wasn’t fair of the human to expect those details. Darin cursed and muttered under her breath. She wanted to be mad at the warrior. It was hard to do that when she was trying to find good reasons for what she had done and said or not said.
Darin let out a wordless screech to the sky. The sky responded not at all. Darin cursed her own stupidity for leaving the cave. She was cold and wet, and the rain didn’t appear to be stopping any time soon. Darin returned to muttering. She couldn’t go back now. She could go back when she was ready to apologize for not being fair. Darin scoffed at that thought. Why did she have to be the bigger person? Oh right, she was Ri'atal, hope of many.
Okay, Darin could be mad about that one. If she was being fair to Ridahne she should be fair to herself too. The human had told the Elf not to treat her any different, and yet here she was using names that probably had no real meaning. Alright, that wasn’t fair. Ridahne wasn’t treating her any different. If she did, she wouldn’t have yelled at her. Okay, Darin couldn’t use that against the Elf. The human paused to let her head make contact with the nearest tree. May The Tree save her from her own stupidity. She had messed this up big time.
It was getting darker. The sun must be setting behind the rain clouds. Darin wasn’t sure she was ready to go back. Even though she was fairly positive she had no right to be mad she still wanted to be angry. Darin found a good-looking tree and started to climb. She wasn’t the best at climbing, but she was okay at it. She climbed until the branches could no longer take her weight. Than she sat with her back to the trunk and closed her eyes. It wouldn’t be the first night she spent in the rain. Darin didn’t think it would be her last either. She would head back in the morning. Maybe, she would be ready to apologize then. She would at least have to go get Talbot.
Darin stood abruptly. She didn’t like this game. She didn’t like it all. For one thing Ridahne wasn’t playing right. Darin was more than willing to answer the questions the Elf posed as best she could. Ridahne seemed less inclined to return the favor. Darin already knew that her exile and the reasons for it were taboo. She had messed up when asking about the Elf’s culture, and now Ridahne didn’t even want to talk about what she had done with her life. Darin was starting to wonder if there were any safe questions to ask the Elf. Darin was starting to wonder if she even liked the Elf warrior at all.
Especially since she had said the one thought Darin had been purposely avoiding. Darin didn’t want to be The Gardener. She was still holding on to the hope that she would get to go back home after this; home to her mother, home to her farm, home to her normal, ordinary, boring life. Darin new it was a foolish hope. She knew it would never happen. She still held on to it with all she had. Astra was too big for Darin to try and understand. She wasn’t doing this for Astra. She had been truthful when she told Ridahne that she was on a mission for her mother. She was looking to plant The Seed for her, and she wanted to go back home to her. Maybe that made Darin a child. Maybe it made her a fool. Darin didn’t care. She didn’t want to think about being The Gardener, and now a woman she barely knew, and couldn’t seem to get to know, was thoughtlessly throwing it in her face while claiming that withholding information from her was disrespectful. The irony, or possibly hypocrisy, left a bad taste in the human’s mouth.
Without thinking, and in a colder tone that Darin hadn’t used since the last time the elders chided her, Darin spoke, “You know, humans have a saying. Trust is a two-way street.” Darin didn’t bother to explain what it meant, “Thomas and Milla told me they couldn’t tell me. I’m trusting there is a reason for that, and they are trusting me to plant The Seed.” She turned to flash an almost dangerous look at the Elf, “I will not have you disrespect the only two people in my life who have ever supported me no matter what I did!” Her volume increased with a shout, “Especially when you do not know them!”
Wasn’t that the truth? Even her own mother questioned why she couldn’t act more like a traditional girl? The elders were fond of chiding her for her actions. The grown men outright scorned her while the woman gossiped behind her back. Children her age and younger mocked her when she succeeded and laughed at her when she failed. Thomas, who was two years her senior, and Milla, three months her junior, had never once tried to make her fail. They never discouraged her. In fact, the first time Milla had seen her badly inflicted hair cut she had sat Darin down to fix it. Darin’s pants had all once been Thomas’s that he had snuck to her. They were the ones to convince Rolland to let Darin borrow Heath to plow her field that second planting season after her father had left. They traded just as much with as they did with others in their village. They had been the ones to promise to take care of her mother. They were the closest things to friends she had. The Seed-Bearer would not let them be slandered by a woman who wouldn’t even tell Darin what she had done for a living!
Darin’s next words were still cold, but were at a reasonable volume, “And I am not The Gardener, at least not yet, perhaps not ever. At most I am the Seed-Bearer.”
With those words Darin dropped her pack and walked straight out into the rain. It was childish and Darin would admit that she was running away. She didn’t care that she was soaked in a matter of moments. She just couldn’t stand to be in that enclosed space with Ridahne for any longer. She was done with the stupid game. She was done with trying to skirt around the things the Elf didn’t want to talk about. Darin had things she didn’t like to talk about, yet she still mentioned her father. The human supposed it wasn’t fair to expect Ridahne to talk about things she didn’t want to talk about, but the Elf was trying to get the human to trust her. She was doing a horrible job of it. There had been no two-way street in that stupid little game. To the human it felt that she was walking down a road until she ran into a brick wall that broken her nose. Well Darin was going to go nurse her metaphorically broken nose somewhere else. She was hoping Ridahne wouldn’t follow her. She was surprised that Talbot didn’t. What she didn’t know was that if the Elf had tried to go after her Talbot would stand in the way. He would not hesitate to kick the warrior or her animals if he needed to.
Especially since she had said the one thought Darin had been purposely avoiding. Darin didn’t want to be The Gardener. She was still holding on to the hope that she would get to go back home after this; home to her mother, home to her farm, home to her normal, ordinary, boring life. Darin new it was a foolish hope. She knew it would never happen. She still held on to it with all she had. Astra was too big for Darin to try and understand. She wasn’t doing this for Astra. She had been truthful when she told Ridahne that she was on a mission for her mother. She was looking to plant The Seed for her, and she wanted to go back home to her. Maybe that made Darin a child. Maybe it made her a fool. Darin didn’t care. She didn’t want to think about being The Gardener, and now a woman she barely knew, and couldn’t seem to get to know, was thoughtlessly throwing it in her face while claiming that withholding information from her was disrespectful. The irony, or possibly hypocrisy, left a bad taste in the human’s mouth.
Without thinking, and in a colder tone that Darin hadn’t used since the last time the elders chided her, Darin spoke, “You know, humans have a saying. Trust is a two-way street.” Darin didn’t bother to explain what it meant, “Thomas and Milla told me they couldn’t tell me. I’m trusting there is a reason for that, and they are trusting me to plant The Seed.” She turned to flash an almost dangerous look at the Elf, “I will not have you disrespect the only two people in my life who have ever supported me no matter what I did!” Her volume increased with a shout, “Especially when you do not know them!”
Wasn’t that the truth? Even her own mother questioned why she couldn’t act more like a traditional girl? The elders were fond of chiding her for her actions. The grown men outright scorned her while the woman gossiped behind her back. Children her age and younger mocked her when she succeeded and laughed at her when she failed. Thomas, who was two years her senior, and Milla, three months her junior, had never once tried to make her fail. They never discouraged her. In fact, the first time Milla had seen her badly inflicted hair cut she had sat Darin down to fix it. Darin’s pants had all once been Thomas’s that he had snuck to her. They were the ones to convince Rolland to let Darin borrow Heath to plow her field that second planting season after her father had left. They traded just as much with as they did with others in their village. They had been the ones to promise to take care of her mother. They were the closest things to friends she had. The Seed-Bearer would not let them be slandered by a woman who wouldn’t even tell Darin what she had done for a living!
Darin’s next words were still cold, but were at a reasonable volume, “And I am not The Gardener, at least not yet, perhaps not ever. At most I am the Seed-Bearer.”
With those words Darin dropped her pack and walked straight out into the rain. It was childish and Darin would admit that she was running away. She didn’t care that she was soaked in a matter of moments. She just couldn’t stand to be in that enclosed space with Ridahne for any longer. She was done with the stupid game. She was done with trying to skirt around the things the Elf didn’t want to talk about. Darin had things she didn’t like to talk about, yet she still mentioned her father. The human supposed it wasn’t fair to expect Ridahne to talk about things she didn’t want to talk about, but the Elf was trying to get the human to trust her. She was doing a horrible job of it. There had been no two-way street in that stupid little game. To the human it felt that she was walking down a road until she ran into a brick wall that broken her nose. Well Darin was going to go nurse her metaphorically broken nose somewhere else. She was hoping Ridahne wouldn’t follow her. She was surprised that Talbot didn’t. What she didn’t know was that if the Elf had tried to go after her Talbot would stand in the way. He would not hesitate to kick the warrior or her animals if he needed to.
Darin looked up at the setting sun. Soon it would be too dark to work. She finished just in time. She was worried that she wouldn’t since she had to pause to go to the feast honoring The Gardener. She wasn’t upset about that. She understood why it had to happen. She just wished it hadn’t needed to take so long. Regardless, it was done, so were her chores, and she would get a good night sleep tonight. There wasn’t much more that the young girl to ask for. She moved to the water spigot to duck her head under it.
The sudden voice caused her to hit her head on the metal, “I like your farm.” Darin rubbed the back of her head as she turned to see The Gardner, “It’s clear you put a lot of work and effort into it, Darin, daughter of Martin, by Talia.” He was looking straight at her, “I am very impress.”
Darin quickly ducked in to the closest thing she could do to a bow, “You honor me Gardener.” She was at a complete lost, “You honor our village.”
The Gardener quickly cut her off, “Enough of that. I’ve had enough of that polite honor nonsense the entirety of my journey.”
Darin rose from her frankly terribly bow to look at The Gardener. Something didn’t look right about him, but she couldn’t put her finger on what looked wrong. He looked almost like an old grandfatherly elder that couldn’t help but love everyone. He had kind eyes and a kinder smile. Darin felt herself wanting to trust him, but shoe couldn’t quite bring herself to do so. After all, she had no idea how he had known her name. It was off putting to say the least.
He walked towards her, “I have a job for you to do Darin.”
She took a step back as she warily asked, “How can I help you?”
He shook his head, “Not me. All of Astra. You know The Tree is dying.”
All of Astra knew that, “Yes I do?”
He continued, “And you must be smart. You know it can’t be fixed.”
Darin was locked in place, “If it was fixable you wouldn’t be traveling around Astra. No.” She stopped herself.
The Gardener continued the thought, “No farmer leaves their fields if they can do something to stop it.” Darin nodded in understanding and the man smiled, “So I have A job for you.” He then commanded, “Hold out your hand.”
Darin followed the command slowly, “What’s the job?”
She felt something drop into her hand, “Plant this. To protect Astra. I can’t tell you where. I can just tell you that The Seed knows where home is. It will know. I know it seems like a big job, but there is good. You will not be alone.”
Darin looked down at her hand. It looked like an ordinary apple seed. She knew it was much more. She felt herself lose her breath when she finally put the pieces together. She had a Seed from The Tree in her hand. She was carrying The Seed in her had. She was carrying the future of all of Astra in her hand. Why had The Gardener given this to her? She looked up at him in confusion.
He was smiling at her. Slowly he nodded. Before Sarin could ask for clarification, he swayed forwards. Darin’s hand automatically clenched The Seed tight as she held out her arms to possibly catch him. Then he pitched backwards. Darin let out a shout as she leapt forward to catch him. They went tumbling to the ground. Darin wound up with her knees on the ground and The Gardener’s head in her lap. She quickly felt for a pulse. There was none.
She screamed out, “HELP! Somebody help! HELP!!!”
--
Darin shook her head, “He just died. I never found out what he said to the elders or to Thomas and Milla. They refused to tell me.”
She didn’t know why they didn’t tell her. It wasn’t surprising. The whole village, not just the elders, thought that Darin was a problem. She didn’t fell in line. She was tolerated because she didn’t cause trouble. She was slightly surprised that they had believed her when she told them what The Gardener told her. She supposed it was because the fate of The Tree and now The Seed wasn’t something you claimed to be able to help unless you actually could. Maybe it was because she didn’t actually lie to anyone. The village’s main problem with her was that she was a girl running a farm on her own. Then again, maybe the Gardener had said something to the elders or Thomas and Milla. Maybe they were just glad to be rid of her. Maybe it was because all you had to do was just look at The Seed to know what it was. It was probably a combination of all those things.
It was Darin’s turn to ask a question, “What did you do? Before you did whatever you did that got you exiled. What was your job? Can you talk about it?”
Darin knew nothing about Ridahne. She knew that she was some wort of Elf warrior exile. She didn’t’ know much more than that. She didn’t know if it was true of not, but Darin felt like the Elf knew more about her than she knew about the warrior. It made her uncomfortable. Darin wasn’t sure she trusted the warrior. She didn’t know how to know if she could trust anybody. For all she knew Ridahne could just be waiting to see The Seed. It probably wouldn’t actually help, but Darin felt if she could get to know a little bit more about the Elf, she would feel better about traveling with her. Darin looked at the rain. It was getting heavier. At this rate they would be stuck until morning. Darin pulled her pack towards her. If they were going to be stuck she might as well see if she had anything to eat.
The sudden voice caused her to hit her head on the metal, “I like your farm.” Darin rubbed the back of her head as she turned to see The Gardner, “It’s clear you put a lot of work and effort into it, Darin, daughter of Martin, by Talia.” He was looking straight at her, “I am very impress.”
Darin quickly ducked in to the closest thing she could do to a bow, “You honor me Gardener.” She was at a complete lost, “You honor our village.”
The Gardener quickly cut her off, “Enough of that. I’ve had enough of that polite honor nonsense the entirety of my journey.”
Darin rose from her frankly terribly bow to look at The Gardener. Something didn’t look right about him, but she couldn’t put her finger on what looked wrong. He looked almost like an old grandfatherly elder that couldn’t help but love everyone. He had kind eyes and a kinder smile. Darin felt herself wanting to trust him, but shoe couldn’t quite bring herself to do so. After all, she had no idea how he had known her name. It was off putting to say the least.
He walked towards her, “I have a job for you to do Darin.”
She took a step back as she warily asked, “How can I help you?”
He shook his head, “Not me. All of Astra. You know The Tree is dying.”
All of Astra knew that, “Yes I do?”
He continued, “And you must be smart. You know it can’t be fixed.”
Darin was locked in place, “If it was fixable you wouldn’t be traveling around Astra. No.” She stopped herself.
The Gardener continued the thought, “No farmer leaves their fields if they can do something to stop it.” Darin nodded in understanding and the man smiled, “So I have A job for you.” He then commanded, “Hold out your hand.”
Darin followed the command slowly, “What’s the job?”
She felt something drop into her hand, “Plant this. To protect Astra. I can’t tell you where. I can just tell you that The Seed knows where home is. It will know. I know it seems like a big job, but there is good. You will not be alone.”
Darin looked down at her hand. It looked like an ordinary apple seed. She knew it was much more. She felt herself lose her breath when she finally put the pieces together. She had a Seed from The Tree in her hand. She was carrying The Seed in her had. She was carrying the future of all of Astra in her hand. Why had The Gardener given this to her? She looked up at him in confusion.
He was smiling at her. Slowly he nodded. Before Sarin could ask for clarification, he swayed forwards. Darin’s hand automatically clenched The Seed tight as she held out her arms to possibly catch him. Then he pitched backwards. Darin let out a shout as she leapt forward to catch him. They went tumbling to the ground. Darin wound up with her knees on the ground and The Gardener’s head in her lap. She quickly felt for a pulse. There was none.
She screamed out, “HELP! Somebody help! HELP!!!”
--
Darin shook her head, “He just died. I never found out what he said to the elders or to Thomas and Milla. They refused to tell me.”
She didn’t know why they didn’t tell her. It wasn’t surprising. The whole village, not just the elders, thought that Darin was a problem. She didn’t fell in line. She was tolerated because she didn’t cause trouble. She was slightly surprised that they had believed her when she told them what The Gardener told her. She supposed it was because the fate of The Tree and now The Seed wasn’t something you claimed to be able to help unless you actually could. Maybe it was because she didn’t actually lie to anyone. The village’s main problem with her was that she was a girl running a farm on her own. Then again, maybe the Gardener had said something to the elders or Thomas and Milla. Maybe they were just glad to be rid of her. Maybe it was because all you had to do was just look at The Seed to know what it was. It was probably a combination of all those things.
It was Darin’s turn to ask a question, “What did you do? Before you did whatever you did that got you exiled. What was your job? Can you talk about it?”
Darin knew nothing about Ridahne. She knew that she was some wort of Elf warrior exile. She didn’t’ know much more than that. She didn’t know if it was true of not, but Darin felt like the Elf knew more about her than she knew about the warrior. It made her uncomfortable. Darin wasn’t sure she trusted the warrior. She didn’t know how to know if she could trust anybody. For all she knew Ridahne could just be waiting to see The Seed. It probably wouldn’t actually help, but Darin felt if she could get to know a little bit more about the Elf, she would feel better about traveling with her. Darin looked at the rain. It was getting heavier. At this rate they would be stuck until morning. Darin pulled her pack towards her. If they were going to be stuck she might as well see if she had anything to eat.
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