Ordinary Miracle
By Laura Schiller
Based on: Wings
Copyright: Aprilynne Pike; song lyrics by Sarah McLachlan
It was a moment straight from the old tales: he peered around an old ash tree and there she was.
Laurel, here at the cabin, after having disappeared for months. Laurel, a blue blossom growing from her back, her hair shimmering like strands of golden honey as she sat by the brook and strummed a stringed instrument he didn't recognize. Laurel, wearing that absentminded smile he remembered as she sang.
"The sky knows when it's time to snow;
don't need to teach a seed to grow.
Just another ordinary miracle today … "
He didn't know it, but it could have been a faerie song. Her voice was beautiful, soft and low, blending into the sighing of the wind and the rustle of the leaves in perfect harmony. Tamani could have stood and listened for hours.
He didn't hear Shar's approach until the other boy clapped him on the shoulder. He jumped.
"Enjoying the view?" Shar smirked.
"Oh, be quiet!"
"I could see your hands sparkling from a mile away. Remember: look, don't touch."
"Not appropriate, Shar." Tamani could feel the sap rising to his cheeks, making him blush furiously and tuck his pollen-covered hands into his pockets. "Now could you please shut up so I can listen to the song?"
"Why don't you go talk to her?" Shar prodded his friend with one finger.
"Are you mad?" Tamani hissed, glancing through the bushes at Laurel.
"Why?"
"She won't recognize me!"
Just the thought of that made him feel sick. He remembered the first time Laurel had looked at him with no recognition in her light green eyes, a few weeks after he'd begun his job as a sentry. No smile, no squeal of welcome, no running up to him for a hug. Just that empty stare. He'd had to give her another memory elixir to make her forget that one glimpse. He couldn't bear to go through that again.
Shar patted Tamani's shoulder and sighed. "I know. But someone has to tell her, now that she's blossomed. Someone has to explain. It might as well be you; surely she'll have some sort of subconscious connection to you, even if she doesn't remember?"
That idea warmed him slightly, but he still felt nervous.
"What do I say to her? How do I start? 'Hello, don't be alarmed, but you're a plant and your family is in danger from big, ugly trolls'? Yeah, that should go down well!"
Shar laughed, shook his head, and put his hand on Tamani's shoulder.
"Improvise, my friend," he said, pushing Tamani right out into the sunlight.
He stumbled forward, caught his balance, and found himself staring into the terrified eyes of the girl he'd loved as long as he could remember. She leaped up, struggling to tug her shirt down over her blossom, like a human female caught without clothes.
"Hello, Laurel," said Tamani.