Strong Body, Fragile Hearts

Her Gardener, thoughtful

Ellie's POV

After Finni left I sat there for maybe another few minutes, regaining my composure. I fingered the rose he gave me, sliding my hands along its soft petals. I decided against my better judgment to keep it. I could feel my resolve to resist Finni weakening. I hated to say he was right but he had a point, what had Joker been doing in Finni's shed? That troubled me more than I care to admit. What had the ring master and my friend, practically brother, been doing in Finni's shed? I had to allow that it was rather suspicious. I stood and hid the rose behind my back as Suit, the tall man with black hair, and the boy walked into the tent. "We have three new recruits Bells, Smile, Black, and of course Suit." He said pointing at each of them in turn. The boy was Smile, the black haired man was Black, and I knew who Suit was. "Pleased to meet you all I think I will be going now Joker."

I turned and walked out of the tent, I just wanted to have a little bit of time all to myself, when I crashed into someone, I fell to the ground. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, just because I was upset didn't mean I was rude. "It's quite all right." The red haired, man? Woman? I really couldn't figure out. I curtsied and asked, 'Are you a new second stringer also? What is your name?" The person smiled and bowed, saying "I am a new second stringer, my name is Red." I smiled at him, "Pleased to make your acquaintance. I must be going through. Joker is in there, He will show you your room."

Leaving Red, I hurried along to my tent, to find Doll packing her things. "What- Doll why are you leaving?" I stammer out beginning to become upset. I loved sharing with Doll and while I can sleep on my own I don't like to. Doll gives me a comforting smile, and says while continuing to pack, "No, not permanently but we have an influx of new second stringers so I'm sharing with the boy, Smile, I'm going to be Freckles!" Doll grinned and kept packing while I sat on the bed next to her. "But, but I don't want to be all by myself, especially because... Because Finni came to see me!" I let it out, that somehow so terrible confession, to Doll and start crying, again. That's all I seemed to do these days, is cry and mope.

"Hush, don't cry." Doll pulls me into a hug and cry, clutching that rose, that stupid rose, but I can't seem to let it go. Maybe I wasn't being honest with myself. I didn't want to let Finni go, just as I didn't want to let go of his rose. "He- he said he still liked me and looked just-just awful!" I wailed. That cut to the core of the issue, he looked so awful, it hurt my heart that he looked so horrible. "Sh sh sh, you just need to relax and decide whether you still like him or not, you cannot be rushed into making that decision and don't have to decide right now." Doll reassured me and I sniffled. Smoothing my hair back Doll stood and closed her pack and moved to leave the tent.

"Don't worry about it Bells, if it helps at all I'm sure he will love you no matter what you do." and then she was gone leaving me stunned, alone, and confused. I fell back onto my bed and fell asleep.

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I awoke several hours later, more tired than when I fell asleep. It hadn't helped my muddled brain make a decision or a come to a conclusion. But when I realized what was all around me I sat bolt upright, certain my troubles had taken a toll on me and I was hallucinating. I was mistaken. Flowers all my favorites, narcissuses and pear blossoms, irises and phlox bunches. They were everywhere, on my floor, hanging form my ceiling! And in the middle lay a note, written in beautiful abstract hand writing. It was labeled, Ellie, Finni had done this. He had snuck in, or had someone else sneak in and decorate my room.

I felt my eyes fill with tears, not from sorrow but from the sheer sweetness and thoughtfulness of the gesture. I let out a loud laugh then clapped my hands over my mouth. I hoped I hadn't been too loud. I felt footsteps move then stop outside my tent and then I heard hissing and I relaxed. It was Snake, the snake charmer. Many were unsettled around him especially with his scaly skin and way of speaking but I had always liked the quiet charmer. "Can I come in...?Says Emily." Snake whispered through the curtain. "Of course Snake." He stepped in then gaze around my tent, appearing disinterested, but I caught the glimmer of surprise and even maybe wistfulness in his eyes. "Where did they all come from? Says Oscar." Snake asked. "I don't actually know, I think Finni, that boy that came in the other day did it, or had someone do it." I replied smiling slightly at the gesture. It had melted my hurt slightly, looking at all the flowers that he had no doubt painstakingly picked for me.

Snake nodded and I pulled my legs up onto the bed and asked, "Snake, what do you say?" I had never heard Snake speak without one of his snakes before. I was curious to see if he would for me. "They're so... bright." Snake said. I waited for the additional statement but there never was one. I smiled and said, "Would you like some? I have plenty to spare." Snake turned to me and looked do bewildered. "Yes, thank you." He seemed at a loss for words. I grinned and scooped up an assortment and walked over and placed them in Snake's hands, smiling at him. Snake turned his head and hesitantly smiled back.

I remembered Joker and Snake were close and I bit my lip, thinking about I could ask Snake. "What is it?" Snake asked looking concerned. "Well, I have a question for you if you could answer it please." I said. Snake cocked his head and nodded for me to continue. "Well, Joker and you seem close. I wanted to know, do you- do you know why Joker was in Finni's shed the other night." Snake shook his head, then shifted his gaze away, telling me he knew something though.

"What Snake, what do you know?" I asked. "I saw Joker, that night. He had a folder with him. He was leaving the doctor's tent. He left in the direction you had left in earlier." I was floored. I sat back onto my bed, hard. Finni hadn't had the pictures? Joker had, Lied?