A Florist's Heart

Elowen meandered through her garden, the hem of her dress brushing against the lush greenery as she tended to her plants. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, and the hum of nature surrounded her. Suddenly, a soft rustling disturbed the peaceful atmosphere. A petite bird darted from the foliage, alighting gracefully onto her left shoulder. "What brings you here?" Elowen asked softly, tilting her head to regard her feathered visitor. The bird puffed out its chest, delivering its message with a clarity that belied its small size. "I come on behalf of Anaheri. She bade me tell you that your first task awaits. You must not delay, though she knows you will not. She also mentioned that she has already provided you with assistance." Elowen smiled, gently stroking the bird's delicate head with her index finger. "I understand. It's time for me to help a couple find their path to one another." She moved to a nearby fountain, allowing her magic to manifest like a gentle mist. The water's surface began to swirl, revealing images like a crystal ball. The scenes shifted until they settled on a woman with warm brown eyes and chestnut waves cascading down her back. She was watching a man with wavy black hair and piercing blue eyes marrying another woman in the town's church. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she observed the ceremony from afar. "Who is this?" Elowen murmured, her heart aching for the weeping woman. "Why does she cry for this man?" Clear that she did not know the story unless given some sort of background. Yet, she was going to have to do this herself. The bird hopped lightly on Elowen's shoulder. "Her name is Amelia. Are you just going to watch her?" "Not exactly." Elowen smiled, an idea forming in her mind. She waved her hand, and in an instant, she was seated beside Amelia in the church. Amelia started, turning to Elowen with wide, tear-filled eyes. "W-Who are you?" she stammered, hastily wiping her cheeks. Elowen offered her a soft, reassuring smile. "I'm Elowen. I think we need to talk, Amelia." She glanced towards the altar, then back to the young woman at her side. "Let's take a walk. There's much to discuss." Elowen didn't take long to persuade Amelia to follow her. Smiling warmly, she led Amelia by the hand to a nearby tavern, where they could share a meal and talk in peace. They settled down at a cozy table in the corner, the hum of the patrons' chatter surrounding them. Amelia, still uncertain, looked at Elowen with a mix of curiosity and caution. "I'm Amelia," she began, her voice had sadness in it. "I'm sorry if you just happened to come across me. I just... lost someone that I loved." She took a sip from the mug of beer the tavern owner had placed in front of her, her eyes reflecting the pain she felt. Elowen reached out, gently patting Amelia's hand. "You don't need to worry about that. It's hard, I know. Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen. So, let's talk. I'll be happy to offer some advice if you'd like. I've just arrived in town, and I'm here to help." She raised her own mug and took a drink, her eyes never leaving Amelia's face. As they talked, Amelia's story poured out, fueled by the beer and Elowen's patient listening. "So, the man you cried for is someone you've always liked, but he chose to marry another for his family's business," Elowen summarized, her voice gentle. "I think perhaps you two were just not meant to be." Amelia hiccuped, her words slurring slightly as she leaned over the table, clutching her mug. "We were! He... he is just doing it for his family. He has to," she insisted, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Elowen shook her head, her expression sympathetic but resolute. "No man truly in love would simply do what his family expects if it meant losing you. If he loved you enough, he would have found a way to support his family's business without marrying another." She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze drifting to the side. “Why do you want to cry yourself for someone like that? It is definitely something that hurts you more than him.” There, she noticed a man sitting alone, his eyes locked onto Amelia. There was a sense of wonder and curiosity in his gaze, but Elowen could detect no ill intent. She filed his presence away in her mind, focusing her attention back on Amelia. "You don't have to rub it in," Amelia slurred, her words tinged with sadness rather than anger. She took another sip of her beer, her eyes reflecting the pain she felt. Elowen saw an opportunity in Amelia's inebriated state. Drunken honesty, she figured, might provide some insight. "Amelia, do you happen to know who that man is?" She asked, subtly pointing towards the man who had been watching Amelia with curiosity. Amelia turned to look, her eyes landing on the man with golden brown hair and green eyes. A soft "Hm" escaped her lips before she suddenly stood up, her chair scraping against the tavern floor. "Theodore!" She exclaimed, weaving her way towards him. The man's eyes widened in surprise as Amelia enveloped him in a tight hug. "Why are you here?!" She asked, her voice filled with joy and disbelief. Yet, she pressed her bosoms right up and against the poor man’s arm. “Amelia! Y-You… why are you drinking?” Theodore did not understand why Amelia had gone out to drink since she never drink. At the same time, he did know why she would since he heard of the news about the man that she loved. Elowen followed Amelia, her eyes taking in the scene with a smile. The man, Theodore, blushed deeply as Amelia clung to him, his surprise slowly giving way to warmth. Elowen could see it clearly now—the way Theodore looked at Amelia, the genuine happiness in Amelia's voice. This was the connection she had been seeking, the piece of the puzzle that fit perfectly. "It seems you two know each other," Elowen observed, signaling the tavern owner to serve them more beer. "Why don't you join us for a drink, Theodore?" "No, I don't think—" Theodore began to protest, but Amelia interjected enthusiastically. "Yes! Drink with us!" She insisted, taking a sip from her mug before pushing it towards him. "Come on! This is a great chance for us to catch up! We haven't spent time like this in... ever!" Theodore hesitated, taken aback by this unfamiliar side of Amelia. He had known her for years, but this spontaneous, carefree attitude was new to him. Despite his reservations, he found himself accepting the mug and taking a drink. Elowen watched the pair with a smile, playing the role of chaperone was what it was like. As the night wore on, Amelia and Theodore's laughter filled the tavern, their cheeks flushed with drink and merriment. Elowen sighed contentedly. "This might not have been the most conventional way to bring them together, but it seems to be working." Eventually, Amelia and Theodore succumbed to the effects of the alcohol, their heads resting on the table, faces flushed. Elowen raised her hand, a soft glow emanating from her palm. A reddish thread, shimmering with magic, wound its way around the pair, binding them together. She smiled, satisfied with her work. Turning to the tavern owner, she asked, "Excuse me, would you be able to help me get these two to a room? They need to sleep it off." The owner nodded, used to such requests in his line of work. "Of course. It seems like they would need the sleep now. Everyone already left, you three are the only ones left. Did you just want one room for the two of them?" "One room will do. Thank you for that." Elowen assisted Amelia while the owner had Theodore. Elowen assumed that there was nothing for her to be concerned about as the two people knew each other and she already connected their fates. With the owner's assistance, Elowen managed to get Amelia and Theodore to a cozy room upstairs. Once Elowen had done that, she would slip out of the room, giving the owner some gold coins as she smiled. That same bird, it flew and landed on her shoulder once she disappeared outside.