Of Laurels and Wreaths

4. Budding

But first, Allan had declared, they needed to borrow a kitchen - which can be found in an inn.

"There's an inn?" Someone not familiar with the desert might cry out. Alas, civilization is exactly what would exist, especially at an oasis. Water supply? Check. Relatively fertile land? Check. Strategic placement? Double check. What other reasons would people need to establish a settlement?

Thus, Allan marched over to the local inn - with Effie in tow - seeking for the kitchen. The owner, whom Effie recognized although never spoke to before, appeared to be well-acquainted with him. Better than her, at least. Considering it wasn't in use, and the current guests seemed to be occupied with their own affairs, the owner granted them permission.

Without a delay, he placed a pan of water on the stove and lit up the flames. While waiting for it to boil, he cut one of the lemons Effie had held onto and placed the slices into a moderately-sized teapot. A generous amount of honey was poured in afterwards.

Throughout all that, Effie remained silent, taking in the entirety of the process from afar. The book she had been holding, forgotten. She had made tea before, but witnessing the process for a classier variety was on a different level.

Just as the water boiled, Allan procured two small items, filling them with what looked like leaves. Then he placed them into teacups. The metallic glint of the objects caught her eye. They couldn't be larger than his hand. Apparently sensing her interest, he answered. "These are infusers. They hold the leaves in place while the tea steeps."

"Infusers?" Effie repeated, the word feeling foreign on her tongue. "Where did you find them?"

"Another neighbor of mine. He's a trader with a penchant for novelty, as exhibited by these uniquely-shaped infusers." Sure enough, he was right. Upon closer inspection, as he filled them with tea leaves, she realized they were in the shape of rose blooms.

Allan transferred the boiling water into the teapot, mixing with the lemon pieces and honey well. Then he poured them into the cups.

"Almost done here," he said, disrupting the silence. "Just giving it time to steep." Effie nodded wordlessly, not knowing what else to respond with. She simply observed him in action, before remembering the book's existence.

Once he decided it's time, the infuser was removed, placing it at the teacup's saucer.

The next thing Effie knew, a cup of tea and a plate of strawberry-spread toasts had been placed in front of her. She raised her eyebrows, but closed the book and put it away regardless.

"You didn't have to," the words came out in her usual firm tone, but her demeanor held a certain softness to it. Allan shook his head with a smile.

"By all means, help yourself," he assured. "Bon appétit."

She couldn't very well say no - not after having her meal served. So dined she did. She brought up the piece of bread to her mouth and took a bite, the flavour bursting on her taste buds.

"It's good," she said. "Not too sweet, and not too bland - striking a balance."

"That's a delight to hear."

They branched into other topics, too.

"Have you always traveled by the desert pathways?"

"Actually, I've gone through the forest and the plains before."

The chains continuously tugged at Effie's psyche.

"Throughout my experience..."

Effie paid no mind, fashioning them into a swing and acted as a pendulum - swinging back and forth with constant momentum.

The toasts and tea depleted, and sure enough, they finished their meal. They decided to move along - sandstorms don't last forever, and the wreath called for Effie's return.

Effie waited at the lounge, sitting by a coffee table with her book while Allan cleaned up in the kitchen. He insisted on handling it himself, and Effie couldn't say no.

As a new chapter was beginning, the entrance bell tinkled, signalling a potential guest. Her eyes followed the sound, a familiar figure greeting her.

(At this point, Effie had jumped from the swing, but overlooked one crucial matter - she didn't let go of the side chain; resulting in a crash and being dragged across the ground.)

Eyes meeting, Effie instinctively raised her hand to wave, lips forming a smile before parting to call her name.

"Noelle!"

She reciprocated the smile, approaching the table. Effie came across her during her long journey several times, and knew she was returning home on the same day. However, she did not expect to run into her at that very moment.

"What brings you here?" Noelle asked, taking note of Effie's belongings. "Staying for the night?"

"Oh, not at all. Just seeking shelter from the sun before heading home," she denied with a shake of her head.

As Allan emerged from the kitchen doorway, Effie's eyes flickered towards his direction. Noelle followed suit, putting a halt in their conversation.

Oh, it's you, both seemed to say. They traded glances, each tinged with suspicion.

Effie took a deep breath, inwardly sighing. Of all the possible people, why did it have to be this combination?

---

And so the three of them walked together under the shadier areas of the desert, heading for the path leading to Effie's wreaths. Effie sensed the slight friction between them, knowing of it even before travelling to the oasis. So she fell back a bit, favouring to walk with Noelle.

"If the sandstorm has cleared up, I can go straight back." Effie said, squinting her eyes into the distance. "I'm pretty sure it would, since I've been wandering here for a while now."

From where they stood, no tell-tale signs of sandstorms were visible. A mutual agreement of deeming it to be safe was achieved, and they prepared their parting scripts.

Effie expressed her gratitude towards Allan and Noelle for their time and company, from the bottom of her heart. "You didn't have to, but you did." A soft smile. "This is actually the first time I've had anyone accompany me this far. Hung out for a while." A pause. "For that, I thank you both."

Reaching the end of her script, she willed a goodbye, before taking the steps to depart.

"Take care, Effie!" The air carried Noelle's final words, clear voice reaching Effie's ears.

Looking back, she spared a wave and a smile, before the ringing of chains ushered her away.

Goodbyes are strange. Never had anyone sent me off like this, she mused. Or at least, not anyone within the vicinity of her wreath.

A few more glances were stolen while she walked. She half-expected them to disappear in the distance, in truth. But with every glance, Allan and Noelle were very much there, faithfully watching her shrink from their peripheral vision.

The metal links of her chains felt warmer, lacking the normally biting cold touch.

Notes:

There you go, roughly a thousand words to make up for a three-day period.
(Pray that I can write four times as much, for academic purposes, in the same time span.)

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