The Peace Offering

Sindri: Chapter 11

I slammed the door in Kouen's face, and turned to look at my new room. It was nice, not overly decorated but not too simple. There was a small window that looked out into the courtyard. I looked out it, trying to see how the rest of the palace looked. All I could see was a fountain and some stone benches, what a boring place.

Giving up trying to see I plopped onto the bed. Closing my eyes I sighed. Then a smile broke out on my face, they were calling to me. I sat up with eyes still closed and listened. Their voices were weak, as if they were wilted. Scrunching my face I concentrated so I could follow their voices.  
"Where are you? Tell me." I asked out loud. Their reply was immediate.

I jumped up and rushed out of the room. I had one place to be, the place where I belonged. I rushed down the hall and went out into the courtyard. The closer I got the stronger their voices became. The voices led me to a statue of a general on a horse. Confused I looked around, why did they lead me here? Then I noticed a small opening in the wall mostly hidden by the statue and overgrown ivy. I climbed on the statue's pedestal and crawled through the horse's legs. Once I jumped down I pushed aside the curtain of ivy, revealing a small hallway. The voices were screaming, I had found them.

I walked through the hallway and found myself in a hidden garden. The plants were mostly wilted and dead, as it had probably been forgotten. In the middle was a small fountain and a single stone bench. The voices of the plants were excited, I had found them, they would no longer be forgotten. I walked over to the most wilted bush. I grabbed onto its black leaves.

"I was once a beautiful rose bush. My flowers had the most wonderful smell, but now I am shriveled and nearly dead. Won't you help me?"

"Flora verde." I whispered to the Rukh. Immediately they flooded into the bush and began to make it green again. A small frown was on my face, if I had been at my normal power I would be able to revive the entire garden with one command. My magoi now is one tenth of what it used to be. I would have to be satisfied with simply keeping the plants from dying. Going around the garden I repeated the command until all the plants were green again. Not a single one had bloomed a flower, but at least they weren't wilted anymore.

Blood trickled out of my mouth, I guess I used too much magoi. I sat on the bench to rest. The plants began to sing out their praises and thanks, a song of gratitude for saving them. Wiping away the blood I stood up, I had to get back. With one last look toward the garden I went through the tunnel and climbed through the statue. This garden would be my secret, a place only I knew of, and a place where I was needed.

My joyous mood was spoiled once I saw a servant running around. She spotted me and ran over. "My lady, finally I have found you. The royal family is has called for a special meeting. They would like to greet you. Come, you must get ready."

She rushed me back to my room. She tried to make me up in a Kou fashion, but I stopped her.

"No. I am not married yet, if the royal family wishes to see me I will meet them as a woman of Sindria, not of Kou."