"Speaking of growing up, when exactly did you realize you had magic?"

"Not long ago. Maybe a couple of years. I learned how to use the wind all on my own, but other things started to happen. Then I accidentally hurt one of our workers. She and her family ran our gardens and landscaping; I don't know how, but they made everything look amazing. Anyway, after it happened, a lot of people talked. Her family was sent away with some money in return for secrecy, but I don't even know where she is, or else I'd go and apologize."

-Dragon Age Wayfinder, chapter 17

. . .

Strelitzia did not know much about the young Ventus Guerrin. He was the son of Arl Tidus of Redcliffe, who was also the employer of her entire family. He might have been about 12 years old now? Oh yes, and one other thing, he tended to get in a lot of trouble with the supposed bastard son of King Hermod, Terra.

Of what she did know, the rumors tried to fill in the rest. There were also the things that Strelitzia could see for herself. But tending to the grounds around Redcliffe Castle led to very little time actually interacting with the future arl. In a way, Strelitzia did hold some admiration toward the 12 year old. He was curious and took every day in a particular stride. She was almost envious of him too; so lucky to have a kind family, and material wealth to never ask for anything in his life. Not that Strelitzia's family were hard off, by any means. If anything, Strelitzia's family were treated close to the middle of Thedas's social classes- not nobility, but working under them, and getting paid well to do so. But they were small aspects of a much larger picture. The Guerrins could almost do without them, and no one would ever notice.

But she digressed. Tending to the grounds that the Guerrins presided over was a family ordeal. Her parents, admittedly, did most of the work. However, they did allow her and her brother their own little areas to attend to- practice for when they would inherit their parents' positions. Lauriam, Strelitzia's brother, took to caring for the front gates. Strelitzia tended the garden inside the interior courtyard. This garden was almost her pride and joy. Flowers and plants from around Thedas made their homes in that garden, helped by the gifts of seeds some important dignitaries and nobles gave the Guerrins when they came for a visit.

"Strelitzia!" a voice called out to her as Strelitzia was pruning some roses. Out of habit, Strelitzia looked up without a second thought. A part of her jumped in surprise to see Ventus coming toward her. There was an expression on his face that gave away that he was trying to prove someone wrong. Strelitzia didn't need to guess that it was likely due to something Terra had told him. The Guerrins hardly let Ventus interact with anyone else as of late...

It was already evident that the boy would grow into a handsome young man. More than once, Strelitzia had over heard the other maids giggle about how much of a heartbreaker Ventus was going to be. The older ones even boasted that they'd marry one of their daughters off to him if given the opportunity. Strelitzia found it all ridiculous herself- why would you want to marry off children so early? She was almost 15 and the idea of getting married now sounded too intimidating. Why would she give up a life of tending to beautiful flowers only to be trapped indoors with fussy children?

"Strelitzia!" the boy said again, now slightly huffing from being out of breath. "I have a question for you!"

Strelitzia knew her surprise was easily readable on her face- she could feel her own face pale over in a sudden fear of what Ventus could want. She placed her gardening shears on a little loop that hung from her waist before giving her full attention to the future arl.

"What can I help you with, ser?" she politely asked. For a brief moment, Ventus grimaced.

"Is it true that flowers have special meanings to them?" he then asked with a sense of determination.

Today was just a day of surprises, apparently.

Strelitzia brushed a small strand of hair away from her face before agreeing, "Yes, it is."

"What meaning do daffodils have?"

The boy had been so eager to ask, Strelitzia found herself recoiling slightly. "Why daffodils, young ser?"

"Because…!" he started to say, but faltered. He thought about it for a moment before stomping his foot on the ground with determination. "Because I think they're beautiful and I want to know if they have any special meaning."

"Well," the young gardener mused. "They actually represent unrequited love and uncertainty. Some also say that they are associated with selfishness."

Ven's face immediately fell at this. "Why would they have that meaning? They're so pretty, and they always bloom in the spring."

"I do not know, young ser." Strelitzia offered. "I can only tell you what I know."

"What about those?" Ventus then asked, pointing to the lavender bushes. "What meaning do those flowers have? They smell really nice- I bet they mean happiness."

Strelitzia offered a small smile. "That is one of lavender's secret meanings." she agreed. "They are also associated with love, devotion, and peace."

Ven looked at the gardener and noticed that she was holding something back.

"And?" he questioned.

"And distrust."

Just like that, Ven's smile fell once more. It was almost amusing in a rather awful way. After a few moments of silence, the young boy looked back up at Strelitzia with a new sense of determination.

"Let me help!" the boy eagerly said to her.

For a moment, Strelitzia blinked. "Help with… giving the flowers meaning?"

"No." Ven smiled, shaking his head adamantly. "Help you plant them! They may have bad things associated with them, but that doesn't mean that they still aren't beautiful in their own way. I want to help you plant them so everyone can see them!"

"Well, I..." Strelitzia feebly tried to argue, "I was just going to prune today..." But in looking at Ventus's still eager face, she let out a small sigh before adding, "But I think there are some flowers that need to be transplanted at the moment."

The smile on the future arl's face was so wide and genuine that Strelitzia could not help but smile back at him.

. . .

Turns out, Strelitzia had a lot more flowers that needed to be transplanted than what she thought. Having Ventus to help was not much of a hassle. If anything, it would have gone by a lot faster if he would stop asking her about what flowers were what.

"What's this one?" Ventus curiously asked.

"Snowdrop." Strelitzia informed him with a patient smile. "There's a rumor that if you crush the bulbs into a poultice, and rub it against your forehead, you'll have an easier time remembering things."

"Oh!" the boy marveled- his eyes expanding at the idea. He then looked up at the young gardener with a wide grin. "I don't need to do that." he boasted. "My memory's already really good!"

"Oh really?" the gardener entertained. Ven gave her an even bigger grin and an eager nod.

"You were named Strelitzia because Lady Valentina really loved birds of paradise flowers around the time you were born." he happily told her.

Strelitzia looked like Ventus had instead decided to slap her. "Ser Ventus, how…?"

"I overheard it a few weeks back." the future arl told her- his grin still unwavering. "I think it was your birthday, because Lady Valentina was talking to one of the scullery maids, Asher, about how you were born with a full head of red hair that surprised everyone!"

"That's… really impressive, young ser..."

"You know it!" he continued to boast. "Terra always makes sure I know the password to stuff hidden in the cellars so we can steal it later! Just… don't tell him I told you that. Or my mom..."

"My lips are sealed." she agreed with a gentle smile. Ventus looked back at her curiously, as if to test to see if she was actually lying to him, before a wide smile also appeared on his face.

The duo continued to work well into the day. It was when they were tending to the last few flowers that Strelitzia noticed that Ventus was taking extra care of the flowers he was working with. For a brief moment, there seemed to be a soft glow from the boy's hands as he planted the last flower. The smile on his face indicated that nothing was amiss, so Strelitzia dismissed the glow as a momentary trick of light.

"There!" he happily declared, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his dirty knuckles. Strelitzia took one look at him and tried her best not to laugh.

"Um… Ser Ventus..."

"Uh?"

"You have a little… something, on your forehead now."

For a moment, he gave her a quizzical look before trying to wipe the dirt off his forehead. Since his hands were still dirty, he only succeeded in making it worse.

"Did I get it off?" he asked- as if he couldn't feel the dirt caked onto his face by now.

Strelitzia chuckled. "Not exactly." she mused as she started to raise her apron a little, "Here, I'll clean it off for you."

The boy whined as Strelitzia did her best to wipe the dirt off his face. She even tried to clean up his hands a bit- but without water it was a mild success, at best.

As she replaced her apron, Strelitzia looked over the future arl and laughed again. "You could do with a bath before dinner, young ser." she grinned. "Least the arl and arlessa will suspect you and Terra were wrestling hogs again."

For a moment, a look of disappointment crossed the boy's features. But he gave her an agreeing nod regardless. "Thank you for letting me plant some flowers today, Strelitzia." he even told her. A bright smile stretched onto his face before adding, "It was super fun!"

Strelitzia gave him a smile of her own, giving him a small curtsey out of habit. "Any time, ser." she quite genuinely told him. She was given another brilliant grin before the future arl spun on his heel to head back inside. A small flicker of thought reminded her of that trick of light she saw, but by the time she gathered her courage to ask Ventus about it, he was already gone.