The Spring Flowers
Darkness had come upon the land, a great darkness in the North. Evil was dominant. The affairs of Man and Elves were of war. Death was in the air.
Many creatures worked against this darkness. And many creatures were murdered because of it. However, there were those who hid from it. The Ents were some of these creatures. They were tranquil creatures who did not stir easily. This war did not concern them. Though they were friends of the Elves, beautiful immortal creatures of the light, they decided that this war was not their problem. They had their own world.
The Entwives, however, grew anxious. They were nervous. They decided that they must move. They felt unsafe where they were. So they crossed the Great River. They built new gardens. These gardens were more elaborate and beautiful than the last gardens. They built new and better homes.
It had been many years since the day of separation. The Ents, who only saw their Entwives every month or so, saw even less of them after the move. The Entwives grew angry with the Ents for not coming more often. The Ents did not spend enough time with them. They were like two different peoples. The Entwives hardened their hearts toward the Ents. So, the Entwives busied themselves by tilling fields. They grew long fields of corn. They became very skilled in their trade. They were so skilled that men came to learn their secrets. Men were a smaller race than the Ents. And more fragile too. They were a little like the Elves but not quite. They were not immortal and they seemed a darker race. However, the Entwives loved the little creatures and the men honored them greatly.
Wandlimb especially loved the children, the young ones. They were so fragile and so small, like little birds. They would come and visit her when she worked the fields. They were eager to learn and Wandlimb gladly taught them.
The darkness had passed now. The evil overthrown. The Ents fields flourished. Wandlimb was not working in the fields today, however. It was spring and she was sitting in her flower garden. Her garden was a legend among the Men. She had almost any flower one could think of. It pleased her to sit and name them all. She would often close her eyes and call out the names of flowers that she recognized from their perfume. Because it was spring, Wandlimb had her own flowers growing in her hair. The little peach flowers gave off a sweet sent. She remembered how much Treebeard loved that smell. Her thoughts wandered to him. I wonder what has become of him. I haven't seen him in so long… Wandlimb shook her had as if to throw the thoughts from her. The Ents were only legend now. A whisper lost in the forest. Only the older Entwives could remember much about them.
"What are you thinking about?" asked a little voice. Wandlimb looked down at her feet to see a child. It was Ezreal, a little girl that Wandlimb was very fond of.
"Just… the past," she smiled.
"How far into the past?" the curious girl asked as she gathered a small bouquet of flowers for her mother. Not many people were allowed into Wandlimb's garden, and even less were allowed to pick flowers freely. A bouquet from her garden was a real prize. This child was a favorite of Wandlimb's. She alone could come whenever she wanted. She alone could pick whatever she wanted. Wandlimb never had any Entings of her own and this child became like her own.
"Many, many years ago… the memories are almost like a dream now." She sighed as she picked a purple flower and handed it to the girl.
"I made you this." Said the girl as she handed up to Wandlimb a string full of hand made clay beads. The girl had painted the beads herself with sloppy strokes. "It's a necklace." She said. Wandlimb smiled.
"It is a little too small for a necklace on me." The girl frowned. "Do not worry. I shall wear it as a bracelet." Wandlimb laughed as she slipped it onto her wrist. The girl giggled. "Thank you my dear."
"Wandlimb? What are your flowers for. Why don't flowers grow in my hair?" the always curious girl asked. Wandlimb blushed. The flowers were a part of her reproductive system. When Entwives would make love to their Ents, their hair would intertwine. The Ents did not have flowers but they would still produce a pollen-like substance. If she told the girl this, she would ask more questions. Questions that the girls own mother should answer.
"The flowers are to… to make me look pretty. You do not have them because you are not an Entwife."
"Oh," was all that the girl said. Wandlimb sighed.
"Why do you ask so many questions?" chuckled Wandlimb as she tickled the girl. Ezreal squealed and began to laugh hysterically. Wandlimb stopped tickling her but the girl still kept on laughing. This only made Wandlimb laugh even harder. When the girl saw Wandlimb laughing she made another squeal and laughed even harder as well. The two laughed until their sides ached and tears ran down their cheeks. Finally Wandlimb regained her composure and wiped the tears from her face. "You're silly," she sighed and touched the girl's cheek. The girl reminded her of her little tree in the clearing back in the forest. The girl gave Wandlimb a hug around her leg.
"I better get home. I've been out too late already, but I had to come and see you before I left."
"Well thank you child but I hope you don't get into any trouble." Said Wandlimb.
"I won't" said the girl. Wandlimb gave the girl a look. "I won't!" Ezrael said again.
"You will come visit me on your birthday won't you? I have a special surprise for you."
"Of course."
"How old will you be?"
"Eight! I can't wait!" exclaimed the excited girl. "Also, mommy says that I can come visit whenever as long as my chores are done."
"Well that is good. Be sure to get your chores done then." The girl smiled and picked up her flowers. As she started to leave Wandlimb handed the girl her favorite little yellow flower. "This is for you." The girl took the flower and smiled again, then she left. Wandlimb sighed again. Her mind began to drift back to Treebeard…
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So what's going on with the Ents?