Ferendolia

The Fairy Garden

   Ivy was decent with a bow and arrow.

   Better with a bow than with magic, though, that she could guarantee. She had learned how to shoot at a very young age, even for an elf, but still no one could best Meredith, her highness, who probably shot bullseyes before she could walk. Ivy scowled at her as the princess shot another round of arrows into the targets, exactly where Kandice had marked. She went to gather her arrows as Ivy prepared her bow. Last round, Ivy had been remarkably close.

    Meredith finished gathering her arrows quickly, and Ivy lined up her shot.

   This was going to be it. Her second attempt had close; frustratingly so. But this time...this time, she could see her line of perfect shots in her mind's eye. She could hear the cheers of the crowds gathered for the assessments.

   Twang. The familiar melody of her bowstring.

   The arrow whistled by, hitting the target in the middle with a thwack. Heart fluttering with hope, Ivy began to pace to the right, keeping herself steady.

    Twang.

    Thwack.

   Again, the arrow hit the center. She copied the motion twice more, each arrow hitting its mark. She could feel the anticipation rolling in waves from the rest of the Ringlet. Someone began to murmur something, but Wren hushed them.

   Last shot. Ivy held her breath, drew back the string, lined up the shot. The arrow whistled past her ear. She watched as the arrow flew across the field and buried itself into the red that marked the center.

   Ivy didn't allow her shoulders to slack. She didn't even allow a sigh of relief. All she did was smile, like she knew she would make it all along. She was immediately greeted by rounds of applause. Wren rushed up to her.

   "Ivy, that was fantastic!" He grinned.

   Ivy nodded, then lifted her chin proudly. "You doubted I could?"

   "Of course not." Wren sighed. "I doubt anyone else can."

   "Don't be thick." Ivy chided, making her way over to the targets to gather her arrows. "They've been training forty-five years, it'd be embarrassing if they couldn't."


   Despite Wren's doubts, by the end of the day, everyone had succeeded in shooting at least one perfect round, even Felice.

   "I can't believe we all did it." Wren said as they packed up their things to leave.

   "Mm," Lynn nodded. "You two aren't doing anything now, though, are you?"

   "No..." Wren slung his quiver and bow over his shoulder. His mind flashed briefly to the burrow under the hill. He wondered if his father was there now. 

   "Usually I would practice a bit more once I've gotten home, but my arms are so sore I don't think I'll be able to." Ivy said, lifting her arms and dropping them limply to her sides.

   "You want to come over to my house, then?" Lynn asked, getting to her feet. "I could show you the garden. We think we've got a few fairies this year. Mind you, my sister might be there, so...vistior's discretion is advised."

   "Oh! Yes!" Ivy brightened. 

   Lynn led the way out the gates of the training grounds and through the market, Ivy and Wren close behind her. All around them, Ferandheim bustled with life. Sweet smells of bread and herbs drifted from the shoppes around them. They branched off from the shoppes after some time, and they turned onto a road. The trees were knit in a loose semicircle around the path, allowing warm golden rays to illuminate the ground and the crowns of the trees. It was a refreshing difference from the rest of Ferandheim, where the light was misty and grey-green from being filtered through the leaves.