Olive Branch and Seaweed

Prologue

This is the tale of Olive Branch and Seaweed, a tale as old as time. But how pray tell, did these two become lovers divine?

For Olive Branch lived on a tree high above the sea.

And Seaweed lived down below floating in the tides.

Their two worlds could never meet, until one day they did.

This is the tale of Olive Branch and Seaweed

And it started in Athens, it did.

Chapter One

Seaweed

Olive Branch lived on a tree. She was not the tree but merely the carry-on. Olive Branch was an important branch, for every year, for the people of Athens, she produced the most olives. More than any other branch on the tree. "A gift from Athena!" the villagers would say, and Olive Branch would ruffle her leaves with pride. Olive Branch lived her life lavishly. The people adored her, and her leaves produced the most olives. Life was amazing for Olive Branch. Until he came.

"Please untangle yourself from my tree's roots." Olive Branch said, looking down at a piece of seaweed.

"I would if I could," the seaweed piece responded. "but I'm afraid I am lacking in appendages that would help."

"What is your name?" Olive Branch asked for he had yet to introduce himself.

"So sorry, how rude of me. My name is Seaweed."

"Seaweed," Olive Branch repeated.

"Correct!" Seaweed exclaimed. "And you, fair branch, what might yours be?"

"Olive Branch," Olive Branch said. "and I would like you to remove yourself from those roots and go." She said, indifferent after the introductions.

"Alas, Olive Branch, I cannot. I would if I could, for seaweed is meant to drift, but I cannot."

And lo and behold, he could not. Some conversation was made from time to time, a friendly hello from Seaweed with an icy response from Olive Branch, but Seaweed did not leave.

Olive Branch detested Seaweed. She thought him to be too full of himself and too stuck up. Seaweed himself could not for the life of him understand why Olive Branch hated him so. Even so, he made an effort to be kind to her, for floating in the sea had given him much wisdom. He knew should he be kind to her, her icy exterior would melt.

Olive Branch hoped that if she ignored Seaweed long enough, he would eventually cease to be. Unfortunately, she underestimated how resilient Seaweed would be. It seemed as if he could last forever without water! Even if it seemed to take too long, Olive Branch ignored Seaweed's plea for help. Even though he annoyed her with his constant pestering, she still would not speak.

It changed one day, however, when Seaweed did not say his usual greeting of the new morning to her. Not that Olive Branch would ever say so, but she rather had become fond of the greeting. No one had ever said as much to her before. The villagers had no time to talk to a tree of all things, and the other branches felt that Olive Branch felt herself to be above them. And they gossiped. Olive Branch despised gossiping.

It was unusually quiet, Olive Branch noticed. Seaweed hadn't spoken a word today. Olive Branch was getting antsy. Was he planning something to get back at her? For all those times she had disregarded him?

"Quiet today, aren't we?" Olive Branch asked Seaweed. He still did not talk. "I see you have given up," Olive Branch continued. "That is good." Still, Seaweed did not speak. This went on for days. Olive Branch would make barbs and insult Seaweed, but in his stubbornness, he still did not speak. A long while passed, and Olive branch began to wonder if he had died when Seaweed finally spoke.

"I apologize for my silence, but I had begun to lose hope." Seaweed said.

"Lost hope about what?" asked Olive Branch.

"I began to fear that I would never make it back home," Seaweed said. "I still do. And you're no help, always berating me, then speaking when I ignore you after all those times I tried for conversation. You even had the gall to be insulted! The hypocrisy of your actions amazes me."

Olive Branch was silent. She knew his words to be true, yet it still stung. Why was that?

"I will help you," Olive Branch said. "I will help you as best I can. But do not expect too much, for I am just a branch."

"And I am just a seaweed piece, yet I've traveled the world with the sea." Seaweed said, but the happiness in his voice was apparent.

"I am afraid," Olive Branch pushed on, destroying the small sliver of hope they had, "the only question, is how?"

Chapter Two

Bird

Olive Branch was not happy with the bird that had made its perch on her. She had shaken her leaves, but it only flew away until she stopped. She had tried asking the bird to leave, but it acted as if it hadn't heard her. The worst part of all of it was the howling laughter of Seaweed below.

"I am glad you find this so amusing." Olive Branch grumbled as Seaweed panted to catch his breath.

"I-I hope h-he poops on you!" Seaweed wheezed out. Olive Branch grumbled a few choice words at Seaweed, then turned her attention back at this bird.

"Excuse me," Olive Branch said, ruffling her branches to gain the bird's attention. "I would like for you to please get off me."

"So sorry," said the bird. "I didn't think you minded." He hopped off her. "My name is Bird."

"Olive Branch. And that hooligan down there is Seaweed."

"Hey!" Seaweed protested.

Bird nodded politely. "Very nice to meet you all, but I'm afraid I've overstayed my welcome. Well, I'll be off- "

"Wait!" Olive Branch cried. "Would you be so kind as to untangle Seaweed from those roots?"

Bird paused, wings raised, just about to take off. Bird lowered his wings. "And why would I do that?"

Seaweed sniffed. "I'm afraid there is no answer to your question coming from us. But we'd be ever so grateful."

Bird lowered his wings. "While I'd love to help, really, I would," Bird snapped his beak. "I fear I might rip you in half."

"Ah," said Seaweed. "So I will be stuck here forever?"

"Forever?" asked Bird. "Oh no, just until the next storm."

"When is the next storm?" Olive Branch inquired.

"That," said Bird. "I do not know. But I can find out." Bird pushed off the ground and hovered in the air. "I can fly 'round the village, gathering information."

"Most appreciated." Seaweed said. "Thank you, Bird."

Bird nodded then flew away towards the village below.

When Bird returned the following evening, he bore no news as to information regarding the storm. He did, however, gain wind of a coup. It was not a coup of the other-throwing the government, but to cut down a tree. Olive Branch's tree. Some villagers felt that Olive Branch didn't produce enough olives. They felt she was growing old, and needed to be replaced with a newer tree, one that made the village more money than Olive Branch ever did.

"I thought you said that the village loves you. That they called you 'a gift from Athena'." Seaweed sounded hurt. "You lied to me."

"I didn't know!" Olive Branch protested. "How could I? I am a branch attached to a tree, doomed to stay rooted in the same place."

"But you must have known that you weren't producing as much fruit as before." continued Seaweed.

"I thought..maybe I have been...but-"

"There's no use pressing her, Seaweed." Bird said, settling on a branch just above Olive Branch. "She wouldn't have known. She's only ever known happiness. She's not prepared for the cruelness of the world."

Seaweed was silent. Olive Branch wondered if he was angry with her.

"Okay." he finally said. "Okay. Fine."

Seaweed was quiet for the rest of the night. Even as Bird bid them goodbye, he was silent. Even when Olive Branch wished him goodnight, he was quiet.

It would be morning the next day before he spoke again.

Chapter Three

Winter

"The basic elements for growing are sunlight and water."

"I know."

"To grow better, you'll also need fertilized soil. Animal poop works best."

"Bird, that's revolting."

Bird tweeted indignantly. "I am merely telling you the elements of good plant growth habits."

"Water, we have, thank Poseidon. Sunlight, we have, bless Apollo. But animal poop? I'm afraid we're fresh out." Seaweed drawled.

"You're a plant too. This lesson could help you as well." Bird said, ignoring Seaweed's sarcastic remark.

"I do not grow like an olive tree. I float in the sea, soaking in the sunlight. I do not need soil." Seaweed said, but he kept quiet after that. No doubt, he wasn't in the mood to be pecked to death by Bird.

"This winter will be the best one yet." Bird continued as if there had not been any interruption. "You will stock up on nutrients, and by spring come, you will produce so many olives the villagers will regret even thinking about wanting to cut you down."

Olive Branch was then reminded of that horrible day. It had been when they had first met Bird, which now felt like many moons ago, but it had only been three, and Bird had come back with the news that Olive Branch's tree was to be cut down because of her. Olive Branch had always thought that the villagers loved her, for she had been told as much by the kind couple that tended to her from time to time. Remembering all those times made Olive Branch remember the disappointed looks on their faces when they came to harvest her olives, or the whispers and glances at the sky as if they expected lightning to strike. Maybe they had been. Athena surely would have struck them down if she had even the slightest inkling that they might cut her down. Olive Branch had reasoned that they had not wanted to invoke the wrath of a goddess, especially their patron one. They seemed to hold no such fear now.

"Olive," Seaweed called from below. Olive Branch looked down at him. He had started calling her 'Olive' rather than the full name of 'Olive Branch' claiming it was too long. Olive Branch felt as though she preferred the shortened version of her name, especially when it came from Seaweed.

"I know I was harsh with you before," Seaweed continued. "and I'm sorry. I should not have been so upset with you. It wasn't your fault that you did not know. But now, you have a chance to prove the villagers to be wrong about you. I believe that you can do this." He paused. "Even if you are 'just a branch'." Olive Branch smiled at the reminder of their previous conversation.

"And you are 'just a Seaweed piece'."

"If the two of you are done with your lovers' quarrel-"

"We are not lovers!"

"We are not quarreling!"

Both Seaweed and Olive Branch protested with Bird's statement, but Bird flapped down to land on Olive Branch (maybe out of spite) and continued.

"-We really must finish our lesson."

"What is there to finish, Bird?" Seaweed asked. "Sunlight, water, and fertile soil are what you said we needed. How do you propose we get that?"

"I have friends in high places." Bird said.

"I wouldn't expect anything less. You are a bird, are you not?"

"Very amusing." Bird said. "But what I meant to say is that I have contacts. Fertile soil will not be hard to come by. As for water…Seaweed, perhaps you could pray to your patron?"

"Poseidon? Even if he listens to the pleas of a mere seaweed, who is to say that he will even answer them? Is Athena not his enemy? Maybe he will smite me down for even suggesting that he help an olive tree, the very thing that made him lose the contest for Athens."

"Try." Bird told him. Seaweed grunted but said nothing else.

"Bird," Olive Branch spoke up. "Who are your friends in high places?"

"Oh, a wolf, bears, lions."

"How are you planning to get them here without anyone panicking?" Olive Branch said.

"I have my ways." Bird said. "And don't you worry. From now on, everything will be fine."

Chapter Four

Fire

In the distance, an angry fire roared. The origins of the fire were unknown, whether or not it had been started by the people of the village or if lightning and struck the grass, but the fire still roared. It set its sights on an olive tree on the high hill, and in its path lay the village. Good thought the fire. More destruction.

Olive Branch was already looking healthier. She had confidence that this would be the best harvest yet. Bird had indeed called down his friends of bears and lions and wolves. While the means were...less than sanitary, Olive Branch was still grateful that Bird at least tried, and even more so when it worked. As it seemed, sending animals away from Olive Branch's tree denied her tree, and her, the nutrients it needed.

"Thank you, Bird." Olive Branch had said. Bird had nodded modestly, but Olive Branch saw the gloating gleaming in his eyes.

Poseidon had, much to the astonishment of Seaweed, answered his prayers for water. For the past week, a small storm, not nearly powerful enough to untangle Seaweed from the roots of her tree (even if she knew she no longer wanted him to go), rained down on Olive Branch. She soaked in the water, feeling its power course through her. Maybe a gift from Poseidon.

The sun shone even more radiantly than ever. Perhaps Apollo too wanted the thanks Athena and Poseidon were receiving from Olive Branch, Seaweed, and Bird, as the Gods could not let any single person have all the glory.

"Hm," Bird said, inspecting Olive Branch's leaves. "Olives are growing here already."

"That...that's good, right?" asked Olive Branch nervously.

"Good? Good?" asked Bird, flapping his wings hysterically. "It's better than good! It's...i-it's excellent, admirable, splendid, stupendous-"

"We get it Bird!" interrupting Seaweed, but a smile showed on his face. Bird huffed.

"Thank you, thank you very much." Olive Branch said, pretending to bow (if she could, which she can't, because she is a plant).

"I must go." Bird said suddenly. He frowned as he flapped skywards.

"Whatever for? Were we not just celebrating?" Seaweed asked.

"Something feels wrong." Bird said. "A disturbance. Déjà vu, if you will."

"What's that?" Olive Branch asked. Bird waved her off.

"No need for you to worry." though Olive Branch could swear she heard him mumble a 'yet' he thought she couldn't hear. Bird flew away, down towards the village. Olive Branch wasn't expecting him to come back so soon, but when he did, fear was etched onto his face. He was shouting something Olive Branch couldn't hear.

"Seaweed, what is he saying?"

"I think he's screaming…" Seaweed peered into the distance (with what eyes, I do not now. I am merely the narrator). "Fire." He shivered. "There's a fire."

Now that Bird was closer, Olive Branch could hear him screaming all sorts of words. Seaweed winced. "Bird, there is no need to have such a sailor's mouth."

"No need?" Bird shrieked. "A fire is coming this way, about to burn Olive Branch to a crisp, and you're telling me 'no need'!"

"What?" Olive Branch asked. "It's coming this way? Towards me?"

"Oh, finally, someone realizes the gravity of the situation." Bird was still flapping wildly in the air. Seaweed, however, appeared calm.

"Now, screaming and panicking isn't going to stop the fire, now is it? What we need is water."

"WATER FROM WHERE? ALL I SEE IS FIRE!" Bird screamed.

"Bird, if all you're going to do is yell, you can shut up and fly away." barked Seaweed. Bird clamped his beak closed.

"Pray to my patron. He has helped us all this time. Maybe he will come now?"

"Why would he? Why should we expect him to help us?" Bird asked.

"Try."

Olive Branch was shocked at how different Seaweed seemed now than when she had first met him. Not ready to believe in anything, to stay in any one place, determined only to help himself.

If only you could see how far you've come, Olive Branch thought. You'd be proud.

And pray they did. She prayed that she would live. That she would produce more olives than ever, that the villagers would not get rid of her or her tree…

The fire raged as he neared the olive tree. Finally, the fire thought. It had destroyed half the village and laughed at the pitiful attempts of the villagers as they tried to quench its flames. A single olive branch, already blooming with olive flowers, sat on the tree. The other branches hung limp as if they had already accepted defeat.

A fighter, the fire thought. It will be fun to burn her. He touched the branch, barely grazing her, when it began to rain. The rain fell heavy on the fire, seeping out its power. Poseidon. He was helping this olive branch. But why? What did this olive branch have that would cause a god to take special notice?

"Agh!" the fire screaming, its cries garbled by the rain. The olive branch was at least scorched a bit, thought the flames as it became nothingness. At least the olive branch was burned.