Worry Not, Enjoy The Flowers

Featuring Rilien & Scarlet
Early Spring, Year 759 of the New Age
Glenmore, Glenwood

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Rilien
The silver bay stood in a clearing, nose down amongst the flowers at his feet. The little glen was a distance off from the main herd, very quiet but in an easy run’s reach if needed. He’d wanted some quiet time away from the gossip, and also to practice his magic. And so...he’d found this little place.

The snow had recently all melted away, but the trees had not yet really begun to leaf out, nor had flowers bloomed. They were still little sprouts, peeking above the damp earth...all except the ones in a circle about Rilien’s hooves. They were tall, with blooms spreading a colorful joy about him, and the true scent of spring. His nose was down among a bunch of purple flowers, inhaling slowly and enjoying himself.

With that patch greened, he took several steps to the side, lone mane nearly trailing upon the grass, and the fawnling looking very much...like a doe. He had no rack to clearly separate himself from the females of the herd, and his delicate, light appearance caused him to blend right in. In the new location the stag closed his eyes, focusing down into the earth and plants to awaken them to the new season. He wanted spring and to see all the new growth, to chase away the browns and deadness of autumn and winter. He needed to see life taking hold once more.

Scarlet
Spring finally seemed to have truly arrived in Glenmore. The snow had melted away, leaving only the Ridgeback Range filled with the white cover, while the rest of the land seemed to be healed despite the autumns horrors and chaos. Here and there green sprouts were showing, but it would take a bit more time before the glades would be colourful and filled with flowers’ aromas.

It was another day alone for Scarlet, although this one was one she had made herself. Iso was still out on the Needle, but she could’ve spent the day with Midget. She had chosen not to for reasons she rather keep to herself for now; really there was no other reason than her wanting some time to think, to reflect on things, but it was more than enough for her.

The familiar feeling of Glenmore magic in use made her rethink the idea of being alone though; it was rare to find someone who used their magic, let alone could do more than green the grass, and whoever was using magic this time, seemed to be among those few. And whoever it was had to be close, so without much thought behind it, the red doe set out to find whomever it was.

Her search brought her to a glen and what she first assumed was another doe.Quickly she realized that it was not one though, nor was it a buck. It was a stag; a very delicate stag. Delicate or not, he seemed very capable of magic, for around him flowers and other children of nature had grown tall and lively.

For a moment Scarlet merely observed him, before she flicked her tail and started finding her way down into the glen. She might be walking in on someone who did not want to be disturbed, but she would never know, unless she asked, now would she?

Rilien
The silver bay had been very preoccupied talking the latest set of greenery into bloom, and hadn’t even registered the presence of the newcomer. He had just pulled the latest set of flowers into full bloom, before he the faint presence of another walking upon the growing grass, through the plants he was still connected with.

Eyes fluttered open, head lifting and ears swiveling forward, toward the red doe. He observed her for a moment, as she picked her way down into the glen. He had seen this doe before, he knew he had, there was no denying the redness of that coat. However...he did not know her name. With the exeption of some royals, he was rather a stranger to most of the herd, commoners especially, from his days of wandering.

“Greetings,” he called, tone quiet, but friendly. He had truly not been expecting anyone to stumble upon him here.

Scarlet
The last part of the trip was taken in one, easy glide, before the does hooves started leading her over the grass. The stag lifted his head and for a short moment she felt slightly apologetic for interrupting him, but the thought was swiftly tossed to the back of her mind and forgotten. Being enthralled by another glenmorian’s magic had never been a sin.

“Hello,” she greeted back, her ears perked towards him, but her eyes settled upon a sky blue flower. She stopped by it and for a short moment, she examined it. It was a beautiful one. The magic was still tingling around it; it was freshly bloomed and thus it had to be his magic. With a friendly smile settled upon her white muzzle she turned her eyes to him, before continuing to walk the last short distance to him. “Quite some magic you got here.”

It wasn’t until then that she realised she did not recognize the stag from anywhere. Usually she had seen everyone she met at least once, which for a moment gave life to the idea that the stag might be from Blackwood. Before it could become anything more than a thought though, her mind seemed to remember that Blackwoods did not make flowers bloom, nor did they roam Glenmore during the early spring.

She had no reason to worry. There wouldn’t be any kind of chase. He was friendly… right?

Rilien
Dark eyes watched as the doe stopped beside a flower, inspecting it. It was a pretty one, light blue with wide petals, and he spotted a smile upon her muzzle when she glanced back to him. She seemed friendly, and yet uncertain at the same time. Perhaps a little skittish? Rilien couldn’t decide exactly what vibe he observed about this red doe, however manners were manners and she had given him a compliment.

“Thank you, lady. It is something I have given much time to grow,” he replied easily, though his tone conveyed something different than the typical royal title of the second word. It was simply said with courtesy, a politeness. Not many stags would have used it as one, but then, Rilien was not like most of the other stags. He viewed does a little differently, for personal reasons, though he knew full well the views he was raised with.

“I have seen you before, your coat is quite distinctive, though I do not believe I have had the pleasure of learning your name. I am Rilien,” the silver bay announced, an introduction for himself included. Perhaps she had heard of him...though he doubted it. He wandered rather too much about Glenmore’s territory for most to have heard of him. Especially those who were not Royals, which he doubted of this doe. He couldn’t remember seeing anyone with such a red pelt in that circle from the past few years.

Scarlet
The red doe gave a friendly huff of air at his use of lady. If there was someone portraying the exact opposite of a lady, she would be the one; he of course couldn’t possibly know that… or could he? Maybe he was simply being polite, which seemed like the most obvious reason for his manners. She said nothing against it, but merely send him a smile.

“Rilien… I sadly cannot say the same about you,” she said, nothing in her tone giving away that she felt slightly… well… it was sort of strange that he had seen her, when she had not seen him, now wasn’t it? In the back of her mind she settled on it simply being from her not paying attention or simply not remembering him. He wasn’t the most outstanding stag colourwise, yet she felt sure she would have remembered his delicate build. Although… maybe she didn’t remember him simply because he had not been of interest before? Maybe.

“Name’s Scarlet,” she then added, giving a flick of her tail, before she inclined her head slightly. As usual she didn’t hold back on any questions and her introduction was followed by a simple one. “But… who are you, since you recognize me, but I don’t believe I’ve seen you before?” She didn’t expect a long answer; perhaps he was simply a wanderer? Or maybe… maybe he was another Slider?

Rilien
“I am not very remarkable,” the silver bay replied easily, flicking one ear back in a dismissive manner. It did not surprise him. He was not one to try and be noticed, never the type to speak loudly unless it was needed. He had also become a wanderer after deciding becoming a member of the Royal Guard was not for him. Those things did make him very popular, or keep him about the herd much. And if he was not scrutinized or constantly amongst others, particularly gossipy royals, they couldn’t spread rumors about his life’s choices or shun him for them.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Scarlet,” Rilien replied, dipping his head in greeting. “I am a wanderer by choice for the last many years, and am not surprised you have not recognized me. I never stood out very much amongst the royals,” he explained easily and simply, though not entirely sure how she would take the response. She was most certainly a commoner doe, he would guess now.

Scarlet
Again he was polite and the red doe had every reason to feel positive about him, which she also did until that little, always annoyance-inducing word: royals. He did not stand out among royals, meaning he spent time with them. Spent time with the royals. She could not keep her first reaction from happening, as her ears flicked back for a moment, but she forced herself to not take it further. She had forced herself to think differently during the winter, forced herself to at least try and forgive the royals she hated so bitterly, but it had obviously not been completely successful.

“Well… you should stand out with your magic; it’s quite remarkable actually,” she replied, keeping her voice friendly as before, yet the bitterness stung slightly in the end.

With a flick of her tail, she turned her attention towards another one of his creations, to keep her feelings as far away as possible. Better change the subject if possible. “It’s quite rare to see someone with your abilities,” the doe continued, her eyes still turned towards a flower. “Why do you wander when your magic is as strong as it is?” It just seemed slightly strange to her, since strong users were usually very well liked. Emphasis on usually.

Rilien
He didn’t miss the fact that her ears flickered back, a clear indication something he had said bothered her. And he wasn’t naive enough to not know what that was. She was a commoner, and he had been a royal. It was rather clear to him what the irritation was from. It was also something he wasn’t surprised to see.

“That is quite true. I might, if I were around more often,” he agreed easily, pleased that she still had a friendly tone after her previous reaction. There was still something off about her tone now, but civil was certainly something he could work with.

The feminine stag watched as she turned toward more of the flowers he had grown, curious as to what she might be thinking. “I wander because I wish to see more of the world. Learn more about my own magic and the magic of other kingdoms. There are not many here who can teach me anymore,” Rilien replied, lowering his own head a moment to brush the grass with a faint sigh.
“I do not quite fit in amongst the royals as when I was a fawn, nor do I fit in with the commoners. Regardless, I am back to stay for a while in Glenmore. Since the Great Oak….I will not leave the herd if I can help,” he finally explained, tone soft. It was an adequate explanation, even if it did not truly explain everything about him. The rest was mostly useless information, especially if this red doe wasn’t interested in hearing it. He wouldn’t subject her to needless wind.

Scarlet
“Yearh… being around usually is needed in order to stand out,“ she said, her voice more friendly than before, though the words weren’t for him. It was more of a simple note, a thought, for her own mind and interest. Being around definitely was needed in order to be seen and remembered, although time had taught her that sometimes, just sometimes, a single glance was all that was needed until you were etched into someones mind. It was quite annoying actually… quite annoying…

He wandered because he wished to see the world. It seemed like a good reason to wander, but Scarlet herself no longer felt such a need. She was young, indeed she was, but… no… she felt no need to wander, to search for knowledge of magic and herbs. She didn’t answer him until his words about staying had left him.

“I don’t know if anyone can do anything, but I highly doubt your help will be dismissed,” she said, her voice slightly low as she continued to study the flower. It was quite pretty actually. No Scarlet Mosmer, but beautiful none the less. Having felt a slight nudge in his tone, telling her that whatever more he could tell was perhaps not for this conversation, she added in a comment for his earlier words. “I think Huisha might be able to teach you a thing or two; he could teach me at least and…” save my life. “...he’s quite good. Very good actually.” She wasn’t sure if he had caught the short pause, but really she didn’t feel like flinging around with that experience; as a matter of fact she rather just forget about it.

Rilien
Eyes simply observed the doe before him, curiously. She didn’t appear to be one for very many words, though he supposed that was understandable. Not many stags would stay around to hear what a doe had to say anyway. Especially not a royal to a commoner. Then again...there seemed to be something else on her mind when she spoke, with the way she seemed to stare off into space for a moment. The silver bay was tempted to ask about it, but held his tongue. It would neither be polite nor proper to ask about someone’s inner thoughts when they weren’t being shared.

“Huisha….yes, I do believe he could,” Rilien agreed, pulling up a name to the face. A commoner, and one who stood out more for being weak looking than the dashing sort. Gifted with magic if everything he had heard was true though. Then again, Rilien wasn’t one to judge about weak appearances, he himself was part of that group.

It didn’t slip past him that she’d said she was being taught magic though, and that caught his interest more than the slight pause he noted. “You have been learning magic? I find that rather intriguing given your position. May I inquire as to what you can do?” While tone was polite, words could possibly be taken the wrong way. Rilien meant well, didn’t disrespect does, but he was a product of royal lines and raised that way. He really was just honestly curious.

Scarlet
The stag agreed with her words. Not that anyone who knew just little of the scrawny, old stag could really disagree; Huisha was the greatest master of the earth Glenmore had seen in a long time and time would only reveal more of his greatness. This however was unknown to both of them.

For a moment the red doe eyed the stag, her ears flicked slightly back. Was it really that weird with her position within the herd? Hm? Was it not because she really did not wish to be mad, she would probably have latched onto the words and turned bitter like most other times. Instead though she simply sighed silently, before lifting her head slightly. “I can’t do wonders, far from the flowers like yours-” Gently she gestured to his colourful creatures. “-but vines and other crawlers seem to like me. I can make them grow whenever I wish to.” With those words a little Scarlet Mosmer left the earth, using one of her frontlegs as support. It wasn’t a great flower, but one she adored none the less. Halfway up her legs small bulbs formed and bloomed into the vibrant, scarlet flower that had given the plant its name.

“Can’t make anything else grow besides them though; anything that doesn’t require some sort of support is beyond my abilities,” she finished. Maybe it wasn’t the information he had wanted, but it was really all she could give. There were her green steps too, true, but she hardly saw that as something she did rather than something her hooves just sort of seemed to do unless she forced it not to happen. How she did that was actually beyond her, she just did it.

Rilien
“I think those are just as much of a wonder as flowers,” the silver bay remarked, watching curiously as he caught sight of a plant beginning to spring from the earth. It was beginning to wrap about the doe’s leg, using her to climb higher, and when it bloomed...well it was scarlet.

“That one suits you very well, I can see why it likes you,” Rilien remarked, giving a low chuckle. “We are rather opposites in our talents you and I. Flowers are easier for me to reach and grow than vines,” he explained, before tilting his head slightly. “Though if you think about it, everything is something that needs support in order to grow. Even fawnlings,” words became almost philosophical, though that hadn’t actually been his intention.

“You have quite the gift as well, and I am glad earth magic is not as lost as I once thought it to be.”

Scarlet
“Well, it better suit me, I was named after it,” she said, returning his chuckle, albeit it was slightly shorter lived than his. It was very true; her parents had named her after the plant they both loved. While Scarlet knew that, she had never come to know just how much it had meant to her parents, for it was far more than she could ever imagine.

She thought about his words for a moment and concluded that he was very right. While many did not see it, she herself used a lot of support to get through and had used it in the past. Her group, even though it had lost it’s strongest member, was her support and help. Without those does, without their care and friendship… she wasn’t sure she’d ever had made it out of the darkness her parents demise had given her. She said nothing though, but merely nodded, sending him a light smile to ensure that he knew she understood what he meant.

“I… Thank you.” It had been a compliment after all. “But… I doubt my abilities tell much about how lost our magic is. I’m merely one doe, barely even a doe, and I can’t really do that much.” Her smile turned slightly apologetic before she shook her head. This matter was one she rather steer clear of and she hoped he might pick that up and change subject; if not she would do it herself.

Rilien
“I see,” the silver bay replied, a smile curving muzzle. He didn’t know why he hadn’t seen that, or thought of it. Of course she might have been named after the flower, and that was why she had such a connection with growing them. Regardless, it wasn’t something that really needed dwelling on.

“You are welcome,” words were quiet, quick, as it seemed the doe was going to continue speaking. “I think you underestimate yourself, dear. You can do more than many commoners can, even royals, it is sad to say. That is something that is a gift, and hopefully one day you shall pass on,” he remarked, trying to put it in the politest way possible, though the fact remained that she would be expected to breed one day, to increase the magic pool. Even if she were a commoner. However, she didn’t appear to like that line of conversation, given the shake of her head and faint uneasiness.

“Do you practice magic? Or do you simply have an innate talent for your vines?” Rilien asked, attempting to the change the subject slightly, though remaining on the topic of magic. He was very curious still.

Scarlet
She kept herself from making some kind of remark to his mentioning of passing her magic on some day. Yes… someday she would be expected to take part in it all, but as long as she could keep herself out of it she would. Carrying around a thing, even if it was a fawn, within her… the thought could make her ill and she never could quite get over the fact that she felt slightly annoyed by how easy bucks and stags had it. You all just come when the fun begins.

Mentally shaking herself out of it, she managed just to catch onto the silver bays words. “I practise once in a while and as said I once did it with Huisha, but I… it just doesn’t seem right to practise it.” She sent him a slightly apologetic smile before starting an explanation, since it was surely needed.

“It’s not that I mind practising and I do like bringing new life, but…” She sighed for a moment, trying to find the right words for once. Hopefully he would understand, even if she did not find them. “... it just doesn’t feel right to me to walk around and make things grow. Each thing has their time and I just… it feels wrong to make things grow at times when they should not. Like some of those who ‘help’ trees sprout leaves in the winter… the trees lose their leaves for a reason, so why make new ones grow when it’s not spring?” Flicking her tail, she could not help but grin at herself for a moment. Her talking about not sprouting things out of season. Tsh.. She had done that fairly often, now hadn’t she?

Rilien
It didn’t seem right to practice it? The stag remained quiet, but confusion and curiosity were revealed on his features. Was it because she was a doe, and a commoner? He saw her smile, and gave a slight one back, before realizing she was going to speak again, and perhaps even explain.

“I think I might understand...at least the part about bringing things out of season. I agree that that is not normal for the plants, they certainly do go dormant for a reason,” Rilien replied, tone thoughtful. “Although, that is not all that our magic can do. It can do many more things, though I think you know that,” he added, giving a little nod of her own. He thought he could understand where she was coming from, at least a little bit. But then an odd grin appeared upon her visage, and he felt confused again. What might that be for?

Scarlet
He might not completely understand her, but at least he understood a bit and that was good; she could work with partial understandings in this matter. Her grin seemed to confuse him though, but she decided not to dwell on it or react to it, by answering his former words. “I do, “ she said with a small nod. Their magic might not burn forest down like Silverthorne’s or make the dead walk like those from Blackwood, but it could do much more than grow grass and flowers, no doubt. There were stories of earthmovers after all.

“But what about you? Inborn abilities or have you just used a lot of time training?” Tilting her head slightly, she perked her ears in curiosity. He might just be lucky like her or he might actually have spent years learning their magic; either way he was good in her eyes and really it shouldn’t matter why one could do what it could; what was the only part that mattered.

Rilien
“A mixture of both, I would say,” the silver bay replied, flicking his tail. “I suppose that I was born with an innate grasp of magic, but I have worked quite hard to refine it and see how much I can learn and do,” Rilien explained. “I believe whether one is lucky enough to be gifted by Óganach does not truly matter, just what you do with it. Everyone has some work with magic they could do, I think. If they can find someone willing or appropriate to teach them…” words trailed off when he realized whom he was speaking with, and he shook his head.

“Regardless, I suppose it might be time to start back toward the Glen. The sun is beginning to set already,” Rilien announced, sounding surprised as he gazed upward through the trees. The days were beginning to lengthen marginally, but it was still spring, and night was not the best time to be away from the herd, not for anyone. “Would you care to walk back with me?” he inquired, as he turned to begin back toward the main gathering of Glenmorians. Perhaps they could continue to speak as they moved, which the stag was hopeful would be the case.

Scarlet
Scarlet listened and she thoroughly agreed with him. One’s actions with their magic definitely spoke higher than whatever they could potentially do with it; after all it didn’t matter if you could grow anything, if you grew nothing, and reversely you might only be able to make small things come to life, but if one did it to help others, they were more than worthy.

As he gazed upwards, she followed with her own set of eyes. He was right; funny how quickly time could run. “Of course I would,” she said before following the gifted stag. This walk would not be silent, she felt sure of that.