Authors note: Hi all! So, I have moved into my college dorm, and will be resuming classes Tuesday. As a direct consequence, posting will slow down. I realize this isn't a high bar. But I will keep posting. Just. Slowly. Anyway, enjoy!
Snow paused, uncertain whether she should leave Blidarmd to his gardening in peace, or whether she should attempt to converse.
The choice was quickly taken from her, as Blidarmd seemed to feel the weight of her stare and turned to look at her over his shoulder, his humming trailing off quickly, his eyes questioning her presence.
"ah, hello."
Blidarmd nodded in reply.
After a moment in which it became clear that Blidarmd was not going to say anything, Snow cleared her throat. "I didn't mean to interrupt you, I was just looking for Grenarin, have you seen him?"
After a moment during which Blidarmd gave no indication that he had even heard her, let alone that he was going to answer, Snow decided that this silent fae was not going to help her. She turned to go, and stopped abruptly.
"Grenarin has shut himself in his study. I doubt he will be rejoining us anytime today."
Snow turned around to see Blidarmd now standing at the edge of the flower bed, and once again scrutinizing her with his piercing eyes.
"Am I supposed to join him then?" Snow said, confused.
Blidarmd flashed a smile. "At your own risk, your highness."
Snow blinked. She could not recall a moment when Grenarin could have told the others of her title, yet clearly he must have had one if Blidarmd already knew of it. "What then, am I supposed to do?"
Blidarmd once more stood in silence, considering her. As if reaching a decision, he beckoned and without further hesitation, turned and set off down the path they were on in the opposite direction they had come from, scooping up a small wicker basket she had not noticed previously in the process.
After a brief moment of confusion, Snow hurried after him. She caught up to him by several large potato plants, fully grown. As soon as she was in sight, he turned and knelt beside them, gesturing for her to do the same.
She watched as he pushed a wooden gardening spade into the ground, and carefully lifted the right side of the plant out of the ground, exposing the potatoes. After a moment of him holding the plant and watching her, she realized she was expected to do something.
"Should I pick some?" Snow asked. He nodded. So Snow reached out and tugged a tuber off and set it in the basket. He was still holding it, so Snow continued picked a few more. After she had picked four, he gestured her back, and set the plant back into the ground.
Then he shifted toward another plant, and lifted its roots. They went through all eight plants in complete silence, despite the questions that Snow had. His lack of verbal communication made Snow uncomfortable speaking. As he set the final plant down Snow gave in and asked, "what will you do when these plants run out?"