Petal—A Drabble Series
by Armariel
I. Fairy Lady
Her wavy hair, cascading nearly to her ankles, was three different colors. Bronze-brown underneath, overlaid with coppery red-gold, and on top, streaks of flaming gold that could appear silver at times. Beneath it shone a face of pure delicate beauty, like the lilies-of-the-valley she liked to tuck behind one sharply pointed ear. And her eyes could go from green to blue to lavender to silver to gold and back again.
Her wings, whenever they appeared, seemed made of lace and starlight. Usually, however, she looked merely to be a tiny bubble of twinkling light in the dusk.
~O~O~
II. Omen
Frodo had arisen to answer nature's call, but once that was accomplished, he heard a soft chiming music outside his window, and saw a flickering brightness. His ten-year-old heart fluttered and he climbed out for a better look.
There in the starry darkness of the midsummer night, danced a radiant little lady about one foot tall amongst the garden flowers. Her hair appeared a candle flame whirling out about her as she moved with quicksilver grace and lightness. Her gown seemed made of a moonbeam.
Am I dreaming? he thought, with a rush of both fear and joy.
~O~
A/N: In "Light from the West" Frodo speaks of having seen a fairy dance on his lawn when he was a child.
~O~O~
II. Secret
"Those who have seen Petal, say my mother was very similar when she was young," Primula Baggins said as she set the breakfast table. "Of course, the Bagginses scoff at such nonsense."
"Have you ever seen her, Mum?" Frodo asked.
"No, I think not. Although...I may have heard her voice. It was just before you were born. She whispered, 'I will let no harm befall him.' I often thought I dreamt it...but now...Best we not tell your father what you saw. He will not understand, and may be impatient."
"It will be our little secret," Frodo said with a wink
~O~O~
IV. Tattoo
She could make a flower appear on her face just by looking at it and then thinking about it. This morning she had seen a blue morning-glory in the Baggins garden. And she thought of the lad who had watched her that night, how his eyes were near the same shade.
She bent over the forest pool sparkling greenly and silverly in the noonday sunlight, carelessly ordering her long hair to stay back. And an imprint of the morning-glory showed beneath her left eye, looking pleased to be upon such a lovely background.
I've a mortal tattoo, she thought laughing.
~O~O~
V. Morning Dew
He was beautiful.
Even she could not have told why. She only knew he was beautiful and she wanted him.
She held her fingers out to the full moon. Strands of moonshine soon found their way to her fingertips, and she wove them into a simple white gown. And washed her hair in morning dew and honeysuckle nectar. Lastly, she put a tiny red rose on her face.
I'm on my way to get myself a mortal mate, she told the other Fairies.
Bloodroot would not be happy about it. But he would have to learn to do without her.
~O~O~
VI. Wondering
Why would you mate a mortal? Vervain asked from the little hammock of milkweed-down she had woven for herself.
Why indeed? He was different. He did not sit with the others drinking hobbit-nectar, shouting songs and tossing pony-shoes about. He wandered in the wild, wondering. What turned an ugly grub into a many-colored flower-kisser, or what made a maidenhair fern look silver when one dipped it in the stream. Climbing trees to look into nests. Wondering what made things fit together, becoming more and more. He was beautiful.
Because I am the piece that fits against him, Petal said smiling.
~O~O~
VII. Legendary
So, Petal, what lovespell will you use? Vervain asked.
I shan't use one. They do not last, and can be used but once.
You think it enough to look big and beautiful, and smell good, and put flowers on your face?
And to sing and dance upon his lawn. I shall make use of my voice.
What of your feet? Will you put hair on them?
Only if he wishes it.
I cannot understand. Hobbits are so dull. Why do you trouble with them?
Petal's smile lit the entire dell.
After he is mine, they will be legendary, she said.
=====To Be Continued====
