Vienna stopped counting the days and soon the roof was finally upon the small abode that they’d been building. Time passed and Vienna watched as Aelius began to court Eirlys. One day when they were in the woods searching for some mushrooms that Eirlys loved, Vienna couldn’t help but notice the excited thrum of activity surrounding them.
The forest seemed to be bursting with life that day; all the Elemširdis had come out to play among the leaves or hunt like them for little treasures hiding beside the visible roots. Vienna’s hand grasped a nearby tree branch tightly in hand gazing up at its boughs reaching towards the skies and gasped as her ache slammed itself within her chest causing her to lean upon the trunk. Her eyes closed as she took deep breaths, trying to calm her heart.
It had been so long since she had been home.
Her eyes drifted towards where the copse of trees grew denser; a feeling within seemed to almost tug her forward. Breathing deeply she began running through the trees swerving through them so as not to step on unsuspecting Elemširdis.
A branch would get in the way and she’d grab it swinging upwards only to find the surge of assurance growing stronger the more she moved forward.
She followed the tugging sensation at the depths of her soul until she reached a clearing at the heart of the forest.
Vienna let out a small cry.
The Old One stood before her in all its beautiful wise glory, its thick branches reaching up towards the skies. Vienna ran toward it and hugged the base, her hands not being able to reach around even the whole front but she let out a laugh as the tears overfilled her eyes. It had grown even bigger than when it had been at the estate, but she could feel it was the same.
The roots were so large that she could duck underneath, beneath them she found a whole ‘hiding space’ within the Old One. Perfect for a little getaway just for herself.
The Elem seemed to be gone from the area, not one glint upon a wing could be found. She was alone to talk to her old friend and hug the roots. Deep down she knew if she sent her emotions through sending through somehow they’d make it to her father. As the days passed the little hollow within the old one grew and soon she had her own home within the ‘old one’s’ embrace, her private nook.
Although she cared for her Aelius and Eirlys sometimes it felt like she had eyes watching her wherever she went. In her hollow, she was safe from prying eyes.
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As more of the odd timeless sort of days passed, she would find herself exploring the Secret Garden with Aelius and Eirlys along her side.
It would be when she was having a picnic of flatbread with jam and fresh persica juice that she’d see a different side to the two of them.
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It was while she explored the fields of wildflowers she met more of the Elemširdis she had helped set free.
“Be careful Bhelfl’ōr stay where we can see you!”
Vienna laughed and waved back at Eirlys. Eiryls had grown very protective since Vienna had disappeared for several days in her little sanctuary, or what she thought were days but for all she knew could have been years in the Secret Garden.
There were so many different varieties of plants and fauna she had never seen in both her lives in this place. Vienna sat gazing at the curious structure of a flower that was so very delicate and yet incredibly detailed. A spiral of petals that had a gradient descending and ascending in bright pinks in some buds and bright turquoise in others. Her hands stretched out to the terra beneath the flora and gasped at the surge of life she felt from the Terra, her eyes closed and she remembered Frey would teach her of how the Ôkren would nurture the terra. Occasionally the Ôkren would coax the terra to grow new seed quicker but it was dependent on what the land needed. Her lips lifted even as her heart ached and the land seemed to echo her sentiment, the ache was so strong she yanked her hands back pulling them back to her chest with a gasp.
A flickering light in her peripherals caused Vienna to sit back on her haunches to find the clearing no longer just belonging to herself and the blossoms. She was surrounded by Elemširdi. Some flew around her head peering down at her with curious eyes, some hiding behind the trees as if too shy to come near but still wishing to be nearby and others quite bold were sitting upon the ends of her round embroidered skirt.
The most daring, a small Elemširdis with pastel blue wings and long locks that matched her wings and eyes, gestured wildly between Vienna and herself.
“My name?”
The Elemširdis nodded.
Vienna glanced back towards her friends who had already started towards her with slightly worried expressions. To be safe she gave the name they called her, “Bhelfl’ōr.”
The little winged Elem flew happily around Vienna’s head before pointing excitedly at herself.
“A nickname for you, too?”
A nod happened enthusiastically.
“Well since you wished so fervently for a nickname how would you like the name Eleuia?”
Little Eleuia grew bright and tall, just as Aelius and Eiryls had once upon a time when she gave them ‘nicknames’, what seemed almost forever ago. Her wings unfurled in shimmering splendor and charming twinkling laughter came from Eleuia’s throat.
Eleuia’s sapphire eyes shone brilliantly, “Thank you, Bhelfl’ōr.”
As soon as the other Elemširdis saw their fellow shining bright they immediately swarmed Vienna all pointing at themselves in desperation. She swallowed nervously, her eyes tracing each of their small features, some completely void of eagerness and just plain desperate. Vienna’s eyes sought out her friends and found them standing on the outskirts of the group. She wasn’t sure quite what was going on but it felt suddenly unbearably important.
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Vienna sent her a smile that didn’t stop the Elemširdis from exuding an icy film across the meadow, all but her beau shivered slightly.
“I’ll let you know if I get too overwhelmed.”
Eiryls sharp nod was the only sign before the frost receded from the grasses of the clearing. Aelius shared a lopsided grin with Vienna.
Vienna would exchange her nickname ‘Bhelfl’ōr’ and then give a ‘nickname’ in return to each Elemširdis who came up to her that day. She would lose count of how many she named however something she noted is that they never failed to grow to the size of full-grown Terran each time they were bestowed a nickname.
Vienna would lay out on her hand-woven quilt in between Eirlys and Aelius at the end of that day her eyes closed in exhaustion. Occasionally she’d hear them ‘shoo’ off some more of their kind who came to be named.
After a while, Vienna would sit up and rest on her elbows gazing between them. Aelius was working on some sort of odd artifact, while Eiryls had laid back alongside Vienna.
Vienna flipped over, running her hands through the grass, “Why do the Elemširdis come to me to be named?”
She didn’t have to look up to know that her sunshine and wintery friends were giving each other side glances over her head.
Eiryls tucked a stray mahogani curl behind Vienna’s ear and an odd sort tilt upon her lips. “It is something very private for our people.”
Shimmering golden tan fingertips brushed Eirlys’s face, while she cupped Vienna’s.
Aelius continued where Eirlys left off, “It would be best that you ask the Mapmaker. He would know whether or not you have permission to know.”