Author's Note: Oh Abilene: he has you right where he wants you.
"There is really not that much to do around here, is there?"
I glanced up from my needlework. I may have made up a dozen excuses in my head for why I needed to spend my mornings watching over a nearly-well rogue in the healing wing, but I could still pretend to get something done while I was here.
"Not that embroidery and prayer vigils aren't fascinating and noble work, of course."
His eyes sparkled at me through the fringe of his dark blue hair, his face half-hidden from me like usual. It occurred to me, that for how much he commented on my desire to be anonymous, I knew hardly more about him than his name and that he had made someone very powerful very angry. I set my stitching aside, and went directly to the linen closet across the room. Reyloran lifted both of his eyebrows in query when I handed him a folded piece of muslin.
"You'll have to wear a shirt, if I'm to take you outside to see the gardens." I paused, suddenly feeling unsure of myself. "That is, if you're feeling well enough to leave the healing ward for a bit."
I caught his grin briefly as he shrugged the shirt on over his bandages. "Of course, Love." His face was contrite when I saw it again. "Forgive me. Abilene."
I ducked my head, trying to not let him see the half-smile on my face. I tried to remember not to hurry as I led the way out of the healing ward. He kept up with me with only a slight limp, staying at my side as we passed through the stone corridor. He was not the tallest man I had ever met, and couldn't compare with some of the massive feral druids that were mostly asleep in the Dream. But he was tall enough that he had to stoop under branches that I passed by everyday without realizing it. Soon we were surrounded on all sides by cool, concealing foliage. I breathed in the smell of the garden, feeling its calm soothe away any apprehension I had about traveling the grounds with only the two of us. I watched his face as he took in the carefully tended flora, running a hand over the ivy vines that twisted in patterns along the edge of the path.
"This is my favorite part of the Temple."
"I can see why." He bent suddenly to scoop something off the ground, and I heard him groan as he straightened back up.
"I must stop doing that," he mumbled half to himself. He held out his hand, and with more than a little trepidation, I gave him mine. He put something inside of it, folding the fingers around it carefully.
He watched my face as I opened my hand. Inside was a dark purple peacebloom bud. It was just starting to open, the petals delicate and lovely.
"Beautiful, and full of mystery, just like you." His voice was very close to my ear, and I was afraid to move, caught in the magic web of his words. "This peacebloom is hidden from everyone, even itself. But even a blind man can tell that it is still a flower. It just hasn't bloomed yet."
I folded my fingers back around the peacebloom, feeling something raw inside of me as he stepped away, wandering further down the path. I watched him as he studied the decorations scattered throughout the garden, pausing now and then to examine one closely. I waited where I was, no longer interested in the quiet solitude of the plants. Presently he came back, and we returned to the healing ward, where I carefully tucked the peacebloom into my sewing basket.