Flower Gathering

[Cora]

Furrowing her brow, Cora repeated, "Wysteria Cojocaru . . ." Smiling briefly at the woman, she bowed her head slightly, "Of course, I will ask them -" Cora's sentence was cut off as she heard the sound of someone calling her name. Turning her head to the direction from which the sound came, she listened carefully, waiting for the person to call again.

Indeed, a few moments later her name rang out again, and as she heard whose voice spoke, a smile broke out onto her face. Forgetting to be lady-like, Cora burst out with a reply of her own, calling out happily, "Lenwë, you're back!!!"

Remembering her manners, Cora turned back to Wysteria and Flora and added, barely able to contain her happiness, "That is my friend, Lenwë Palladium; he was visiting a friend in another realm and has been gone for two weeks and now he's back a day earlier than I expected. Imagine that!"

[Demeter]

: "It's a pleasure to meet you," Wysteria said quietly.

Flora blinked her grass green eyes and looked up at the male elf. "Hello," she said, her voice even quieter then her mother's.

[Palladium]

Palladium smiled nervously at the pair in front of him; he had only expected to see Cora, and now that he was thrust into this situation, his confidence suddenly dwindled away. Sighing to himself, he wished he wasn't this way; he wished that for once in his life he could meet new people without feeling faint and nauseous. Maybe someday.

Awkwardly, Palladium cleared his throat and bowed his head, "Good may, madam." Seeing that she clearly wasn't Athryellian, he added, relieved that he wouldn't have to fumble for a subject for polite conversation, "Has your visit to Athryell been pleasant?"

[Demeter]

: "With the exception of my little one running off, it was fine," Wysteria said quietly. "I just love coming here, the flowers are simply heavenly."

Flora eyed the male elf. There was something special about him - she just didn't know what.

[Palladium]

"Yes, they are heavenly," Palladium replied, trying to hide his shaking hands from the woman. "Did you know that Athryellian soil has the perfect balance between rock and organic matter for the growing of roses?" Palladium asked nervously, echoing Cora's earlier words to Flora.

Turning his gaze toward the woman's daughter, he smiled, wishing that he could talk to the little girl instead of her mother. He always interacted so much better with children than with people his own age or older; perhaps it was because children weren't judgmental, Palladium thought to himself.

[Demeter]

: Wysteria mentally chuckled. "I own a shop back home that specializes in herbal remedies. I came here because the roses are just what I needed for one of my sleeping aids."

Flora looked up at the male elf, and took the rather tattered wildflower from her hair and shyly offered it up to him.

[Palladium]

Palladium blushed and then added sheepishly, "Ah, well then, I suppose you already know all about soil content." Biting his lip, feeling awkward at simply standing there without saying anything, Palladium breathed a sigh of relief when the little girl held up a flower to him. Taking it in his hand carefully, he crouched down so that he was closer to her height, and smiled, feeling at ease at once, "Thank you, little miss, for this gift; it's very lovely."

[Demeter]

: "I apologize for not introducing ourselve before. I'm Wysteria Gallowglass, and this," she said, stroking her daughter's long hair, "is my little flower princess, Flora. And this is her first time in Athryell."

Flora blushed a rich shade of crimson and cuddled close to her mother.

[Palladium]

Palladium held out his hand to the little girl to encourage her not to be so shy; the last thing he wanted was for this sweet little girl to end up like him. Smiling warmly, he asked pleasantly, "Hello, Flora; I am Lenwë. How do you do?"

[Demeter]

Flora shyly took the male elf's hand, her small hand being dwarfed by his larger one. "I am well," she said quietly. "Thank you for asking."

[Palladium]

"You're very welcome," Palladium replied with a twinkle in his eye. Something about this girl intrigued him, even though he couldn't quite place what exactly it was. She was special, that was for sure.

Standing up, Palladium bowed again to Wysteria. "You have a lovely daughter, madam. You should be very proud."

[Demeter]

: "Thank you," Wysteria said. "I'd be even prouder if this little munchkin didn't wander off and get lost. She can get into a mess of trouble if I don't keep my eye on her."

Flora blushed embarrassedly. "Mama..."

[Palladium]

Palladium smiled, beginning to feel at ease with both Flora and Wysteria, "Wandering around, you say? Ah, in my opinion, your daughter simply has a curious spirit. No harm in that - actually, I know for a fact that such a spirit can be good. After all," Palladium gestured to Cora, "this one here is the most curious being I have ever known." Sending Cora a warm smile, he added, "And she has turned out quite all right."

[Demeter]

: "Normally I have no problems with her wandering off, but when she's never been to a realm before, I would hope that she'd stay close as possible."

Flora looked embarrassed.

[Palladium]

"True, true," Palladium replied affably.

After a moment, Palladium laughed, "Where are my manners? It is getting close to dinner time, and my parents, as well as Cora's, will probably worry if we are delayed much longer; however, if you and your daughter would care to accompany us, I am certain that you both will be welcome to dine with our families."