{Sister Petal? You are the delegation leader?}

Their hug was heartwarming, if I had a heart… Wait I am in Ava, so right now I have one.

{Our Brethren thought you had died! After the scouts saw our Sisters and Brothers come from the Tunnel to become trees we thought you were already dead. The whole City will be joyous to know you are alive!}

{No Sister, you got it wrong. Tell everyone of lower rank I am dead. You can tell the high Mothers and Queen Mother but not anyone else.}

That took the wind out of her Sister called Petal. Seems she has something in mind with this.

{But… Sister! The saplings mourn your passing and would break out of their shaded state with this message. Why?}

Well my question in more flowery words.

{It was their fault.}

{What?}

{The whole thing became this severe, because the saplings started to feel complacent. They thought everyone non Root was beneath them. Because of Eastern Redwind Null got the wrong impression about us Roots. Dancing Wind not only wanted to raid this place, she killed a Wolf of Null and let Foreigners trample our Forest and in fact have created themselves the dead Trees around the tunnel… LET ME SPEAK! It all came to it, because we were too tender with them. If this happens again, we might have truly war with something, we can not beat. It is better for them to feel the consequences.}

Wow, she had a rather long monologue as explanation. Petal wanted to interject multiple times and when she wanted to protest she even got scolded by Leafy. I do not understand why she thinks of me so highly right now. I am rather powerful, yes, but not some kind of God.

{Leaf… What happened?}

{You should have heard everything from the Soldiers. I am not allowed to speak too much about what was spoken. All lucky Soldiers who did not know common got back. The ones who did not sacrificed them as a symbol of protection. There were three who wanted to kill Null… We stopped them luckily… Their fate might be worse than death…}

Well she scrapes on by at the things she is allowed to say. No bending of the rules right now, but better not say a word about…

{What about the mentioned black sphere? What is it? Demonic powers?}

...my Portal.

{I can not and will not speak about it. I promised on my Ancestors Roots to not tell anything. Please accept this as my answer.}

{Are you… really my precious Sister Leaf?}

{Please Shimmering Petal. Do not try to break my heart, as I hold with me more than just a small secret. What they told you was real. Everything they saw, I saw too. Whatever wants to invade must be more dangerous.}

{And you believe that?}

{We had a truth seeker with us. Everything was under her oath of truth laid bare.}

Ah yes, that truth seeker. It even saw through my disguise as weak and injured and said it was a lie. Luckily it was not understood, so the three imbeciles tried to kill me.

{By the way Leaf, our Tree Mother set her new leafs to the east…}

{Stop it, please. I will not speak in code with you about it. I really swore on my Ancestors Roots. It will not only tarnish my own soil, we might lose a precious ally.}

Wait, right. There are ways to tell things in code, I totally forgot many siblings have their own secret language. Damn, I nearly thought it was just smalltalk, I have to be careful… Or not, as Falling Leaf seems to really think about this Alliance as something precious.

{...as you wish. I just hope you are still my beloved Tree Sister.}

{I… I am, but now we are on two different sides of a river. The closer the gap between us, the more we will touch each other with our branches and roots dear Sister. Please understand and help us come to the best solution to our problems.}

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

{I… I will try.}

Another hug. More gentle this time and way longer. They seem to have missed each other rather much. I should feel sorry taking her sister away… Should, but sadly there is nothing. Well just as there is nothing doesn’t mean I can not act like I am feeling things.

Let them just hug each other. The two Guards seem to think the same, as they did not even say one word the whole time being in the background. Playing tough, but having wet eyes, I see you elf on the left!

…

Leafy brought them to the Mansion. To be honest they walked right past it as they saw someone working in the fields looking familiar. I will just keep a closed eye to the small disrespect, as it was Family they met.

Sitting them in the Study they are rather standing than sitting down. Yeah forgot, elves do not like processed wood. And sitting on a Rock bench would be bad too. Maybe I should create a kind of negotiation place? Later…

knock knock “Master Null? We have guests from the Forest. They bring Message about the Propositions.”

“Huh? Oh yeah, I am right there. If you want you can make some tea for our guests.”

“As you wish.”

Even Elves have tea. They do not like processed materials but processed Food and beverages are somehow different. Who can understand their priorities. Right now Leafy is holding a iron pot at the glowing plant in a flower pot and the water inside the pot starts boiling. One of the first achievements of having Leafy with me. She knew which plant can at best handle which Miasma and had one transform into that Pyroflower. You touch it, it sears your flesh. Best way to fight a food predator by cooking it while it tries to eat you.

Also Leafy made bark cups. The whole bending the bark and taking it off from the tree without hurting them is rather strange, but she said she made them often in her sapling years. Right now she had made the whole kitchen I created her Domain. Although I just can disassemble and reassemble my bodies or give them nutrient mixtures, hand made food is different.

Eating delicious made food and tea echoes inside my hollow self a bit. It seems as it searches for… happiness. Maybe I can grow new emotions like happy if I try to indulge, so I accept her hospitality and eat at least once a day her food and tea at least twice a day.

As I make myself ready to meet those Root, Leafy gives them their Tea. The atmosphere is a bit strained, as Petal tries to compose herself seeing her precious sister working like a lowly Servant.

To not over stress the situation I open the door and greet the party.

“Welcome Ambassadors of Root. I apologize for having you in a room with dead wood, would you like to wander the town while we discuss, or would you rather stay inside?”

“Thank you for your hospitality. My Name is Shimmering Petal and with me are Dark Bark and Guarding Crown. And ...I would like to walk around outside. Having stone roof over my head is rather claustrophobic.”

Petal seems to be in diplomatic mode, she is polite, accommodating and all in all cold. No emotion can be read from her gestures.

…

“Our Queen Mother has read your proposition of the Alliance. We are rather shocked about what our Soldiers have brought back and many whispers are still in opposition of this proposition.”

Like I thought. The whole thing will be delayed and we will be back at the start. Maybe another ‘accidental Misunderstanding’ disguised as ‘disgruntled saplings’ will be happening. After that will be another try to cease fire, when they notice I did not lie.

“So there are complications. To be honest I discussed those already with Falling Leaf. When should I expect the answer of acceptance or denial?”

“I am Sorry, you misunderstood me. The oppositions are right now being put on the south side of the Forest to not hinder any negotiations between Lord Null and our Queen Mother.”

That is surprising! So the Alliance will be made? I do not really understand the inclinations but Leafy seems to be exhaling the whole stress she is holding in. Wait, are we one person more all of a sudden? Oh, Snow walks beside me on two feet. She seems to want to be included.

“So about the Propositions. Which one will be accepted and which will be rewritten to suit the Roots better?”

Well rather a loaded question, but I am really curious how they will bend this into their own little scheme.

“All will be accepted. Nothing will be changed for now, with one caveat as our southern Forest is right now filled with opposing voices, it will be better for now not to visit the south as not to visit the vicinity of our City without telling us beforehand and an escort, as we Root are not completely unified like we look.”

Am I dreaming? Suddenly the Root are coy as little puppies! Did I really misinterpret them that much?

“Our Queen Mother is in full support of your endeavor to cleanse the Crater from any evil. The legend of the fallen Star is older than the recent Forest. Most think of it as a fairytale, but our Queen Mother believes the reasoning seen by the Soldiers and written by my Sis… by Falling Leaf.”

“And I am able to go out… when?”

“When your Lordship made a sign for your People to freely pass the Forest. If you have nothing against it, my People would like to rest for a few days here.”

“...your true reason?”

“...I… I want to be with my Sister I thought dead for a while. I hope you will accommodate my wish.”

“Falling Leaf?”

“Yes Lord?”

They are a bit strained right now. Whatever, they need their time and I do not wish them unhappy. They brought rather good news anyway.

“Please remember your promise while Shimmering Petal is in your domicile. I can not give your Guards an appropriate accommodation as I did not thought about Roots staying on their own accord in my Domain. They can either rest in one of the Houses or sleep near the Gardens.”

“Thank you Lord!” {I am sorry Bark and Crown. I have asked for a stay to talk with Leaf without asking you. I hope you forgive me.}

{We will survive.} {Family first, Petal. Keep connected with your Sister.}

Rather soft hearted those two. Bark is short for words, but starts bawling when seeing Sisters reunite. Should I say tough bark sweet core? Nah, too cheesy.