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Peering in through the corner of the golden-rimmed door, Lilia stood in what felt like a phase of in-between while she watched her mother Fluora, Goddess of Flowers, nearing death. Wrapped in a shawl made from the finest of looms and fully covered she lay with dignity. The posters carved to the four corners of her bed were mahogany swirls of marbled wood. Even in death, she was beautiful. Their kingdom had suffered and was no longer the haven Lilia had known to be home. Her mother had done her best against sickness that only grows in a body overcome with sadness. When a time may have come that she could have been healed, she opted to go to her husband waiting for her in the Realms of the Living Onward. Lilia still questioned this decision, wondering if she could have done something to change her mother's mind. She would be Queen now.
They were a vanquished kingdom once of peace and this was the cause of their downfall. Though her mother had been only half-Goddess (Fluora's father was an Earth-walker) she had followed her mother to the Higher Realms upon his mortal death. There she was born mostly Goddess herself and could cross the worlds as she pleased. Other Beings could do the same, and any Earth-Walker with a hint of Godly blood had crept into the cities. It was a dark time in Earth's history as well, working themselves to extinction as they lost their people to terrible weather ? and worse yet, were losing their insects. It was a terrible fate not unlike her mother's. When they descended upon the High Realm to reap wealth they had made it a mission to take not only the Kingdom's forces but their plant life. What once had grown in abundance as a source of Higher Realm power, fluora of all colors and germinations was beginning to fall for the loss of its beauty.
"Lilia," her mother beckoned to her from the bed. "Come."
"Yes, mother?" she whispered.
"Do not despair on my passing. You will be a Great Queen. I can see it before you," she smiled weakly.
"I didn't want this, but you know how I feel. I will serve," she responded.
"For now, you will serve. But someday, you will give and receive ? and your love will grow bounty," Fluora said. She sat up slowly in her bed and tenderly reached for her daughter's hand. "Your first mission, as Queen Lilia, though you will not like it." She grew stern.
With curiosity, Lilia waited while her mother's coughing shook frail shoulders.
"I need you to do something for me. I will not pass without the beauty of our lands between my fingers and the smell filling my dreams. You must go to Earth and find me a sprig of lilac. Without it, I cannot rest," she hung her finger in the direction of her daughter and sadly returned to lie on her back.
"Mother? I can't go to Earth? I have never been. I wouldn't even know where to look! They came here and took our power because they did not have their own." She paced the room with this new challenge and was terrified she would never be able to meet it.
"You can do this, Lilia. Remove your shielding and dress as a woman would on their planet. I have walked among them with your father in recent years and I know some of them will meet you with welcome. You will not have your guard or your kinsmen. You must do this alone."
"But I'll never make it in time Mother, you're failing!" Realizing the attempt to thwart this plan was in vain she felt it bordered on a request of a lost mind.
"Lilia, with my dying breaths I will breathe lilac. Like a warm night on a quiet field wandering with your father, like the name for which you were given, for the land I fought for with my last energies. You will do this for me, and I will be forever grateful."
Resigned, Lilia said "I love you, mother." Without abandon or a sense of her correct course, she turned from the room and ran.
As she rounded the docks on which she had stood and waved her father goodbye so many times, and even dreamed of leaving with him, she worked to keep her mind centered upon her task. She remembered her capabilities ? she was the first woman to throw joust, entrusted with decisions regarding policy, and would soon be the second female in Goddess history to grace the throne. Surely, she could make a common trip to the planet past the High Realms.
"Queen Lilia!" the boatsman stated finding her standing behind him and staring at the sails of his rig. "Can I help you?"
"I am not Queen," she responded. "Not yet. My mother is alive."
"Forgive me, yes. Can I be of assistance?"
"I wish to board and aim your stern Earthward," she responded. The man removed his hat and stared at his feet.
"May I ask your reasoning? You have never made this request before, not even as a younger woman," he raised his hands in question.
"An errand for my mother," she said solemnly.
"Of course. At once," he venerably agreed. He lifted his right arm high above his shoulder and began to spin his wrist in circular turns. Slowly, she felt the wind build around her until it was nearly lifting her from the ground. Her hair began to cross into her face. With a tilt and stumble she threw her force over the railing as he busily untied the rig from its post. Throwing the rope upon the deck and heaving the anchor they felt the shift of weight as they began to move. He closed his eyes as the traveling boatmen were gifted to do and settled his mind upon the eastern coast of the Carolinas.
In great pushes and pulls of the sea, they toppled down waterfalls and into tidal waves at no risk. As gods, they respected the Ocean, but it still lay in their service. The great God of Poseidon had deemed it so long ago during his great-grandfather's reign for acts of Kingly Honor. The ocean could suffer in the other Earth and may someday fall, but never within Poseidon's reach in their Realms. They would know its glory if they could survive.
She fell asleep waiting and watching the stars. When she awoke, she was set upon the land as the man promised to return within a week.
"No, sir. You've but less than a day. Return here tomorrow as the sun rises."
"As you wish, Lilia. Do you need my help?" He questioned, removing his hat again in a customary manner. She saw a hint of concern for her as he awaited her response.
"No, I must do this alone. But thank you for the offer. I will see you tomorrow with the sunrise," she said.
"Understood," with that he again swept his finger to summon the winds and mounted his rig, to be taken back from whence they came.
She had slept aboard but had not eaten in some time. She suddenly realized that in her rush to make true her promise she had not brought any form of currency for this world. Looking about her gravely she saw what had come of this place compared to the telling's of her childhood. It seemed vastly different. There was no green to be seen anywhere, and a haze of darkness lay upon the city. She knew her abilities were not to be used here but she could not imagine how she would ever meet the mission within time before her mother's passing. She also saw why they had come to them and spread their need further. Great black smoke drove into the air some miles from the coast. Awkwardly, she removed her shielding and golden footwear and left it there upon the beach. She wrapped the shift she had taken from her mother's dresser about herself and again remembering the courage she knew she still had, she set one foot in front of the other and walked up the hillside.
It was difficult as she felt heavy as if the air itself was pressing her downward. She tried to imagine where she would find such a thing as lilac in a place like this. The Carolinas had once been known to harbor color. She could see now that this was no longer true. She found a sidewalk leading into a small street and glanced over the fence lines without stepping within owned properties. She walked along for hours and began to worry she may not be able to find her sails to return home at this rate. Early evening was coming on. People did not stop to ask her why she was wandering alone on bare feet. Instead, they were stopping her to see what she might have to give.
Just when she had nearly lost hope, she saw a porch light turn on as the sky turned darker a few houses up. She heard a creaking sound, so she ventured nearer. Peering from behind a bush in the front yard of a small home she saw an old woman sitting upon a porch swing. She was alone. She was lifting her feet off the porch and swaying backward and forward as she hummed to herself. Upon the porch was a very small and discreet pot of delphinium in its early stages of growth. It was the first growing thing she had seen since she landed. She did not want to scare the old woman, but she knew they needed to talk. If she could not help her, perhaps she knew someone who could? Slowly and prepared for anything, she set herself to round the bush. Just before she could make that move the woman cried out to her.
"Come on, now, you can't stand there all night, can you? We don't have many insects left but the ones that remain are fierce little buggers."
She had seen her? Surprised, she came upon the yard and waited for an invitation.
"Don't you seem like you've come a long way and carried a great burden, dear. Come and sit awhile," she said as she waved her onto the porch and patted the seat beside her.
"How did you know that?" Lilia asked, still unsure of what was happening.
"I know a lot of things, darling. Perhaps too much some would say," she bowed her head and paused. "I can see you're here for something you are desperate to reach but I must warn you, I live modestly and have nothing. No one. You won't find a hidden wallet here."
Ashamed and a bit offended, Lilia couldn't accept that she appeared as a thief. It was not her intent.
"That upset you," the woman said. "Well, it seems true that you are desperate. Tell me your problems, dear. It's a lonely life and people stopped coming 'round a long time ago."
"I don't have much time, so I have to ask you pointedly for what I am searching for. It is a type of flower grown upon a bush. I know this land has limited growth, but I must have this flower and return home."
The old woman regarded her slowly.
"You strike me as an out-Realmer. That true?" she peered over to her.
"Yes, it's true. I am a lowly servant in the Heavenly Realm. My master has requested this gift and I must return with it," she stretched the truth. But why could she not be more honest to this woman who appeared to be so kind? Why must she lie? Perhaps because she wasn't sure enough of who she was right now to hear it said out loud ? or that she didn't want to raise inquiring minds around the topic. Most likely, however, she knew she just couldn't stand to hear herself share out loud that her beloved Queen mother was dying. Everyone back home knew the truth of it. This would bring it all up again.
"Ah, I see." She took a deep breath and stood, suggesting Lilia come with her. "Come on in and get some food," she offered. They had much to share over dinner, mainly the extent of the trip and how the Kingdom fared following the conflicts. Before long, it was becoming quite late. As she washed her dishes in the sink the old woman turned to Lilia and offered her a place to sleep for the night.
"I can't refer you to anyone else who can meet your need, dear, but I will have you stay the night and see you again very early in the morning. I need to do some thinking and that happens best on my own. If you head upstairs and to the left, you will find an empty guest room. No one comes, so you may use it. I'll wake you early."
That night, Lilia dreamt of returning to her mother and her Kingdom though this time it was filled with flowers unlike she had seen in years. They wrapped up to the palace banisters and would back on themselves. Children played and men worked in their upkeep. Her mother had passed, and she couldn't know if she had been successful, but she was pleased to see again the power of the land's gifts upon their Realm.
"But if you could, would you? Would you cross the Ocean Realm with me?" Lilia asked.
"Your return is granted, Susan of Earth. For I am Queen. But we must leave now."
They took one another's hands and found their sailboat waiting.
"Lilia," her mother beckoned to her from the bed. "Come."
"I didn't want this, but you know how I feel. I will serve," she responded.
With curiosity, Lilia waited while her mother's coughing shook frail shoulders.
As she rounded the docks on which she had stood and waved her father goodbye so many times, and even dreamed of leaving with him, she worked to keep her mind centered upon her task. She remembered her capabilities ? she was the first woman to throw joust, entrusted with decisions regarding policy, and would soon be the second female in Goddess history to grace the throne. Surely, she could make a common trip to the planet past the High Realms.
"Queen Lilia!" the boatsman stated finding her standing behind him and staring at the sails of his rig. "Can I help you?"
"I am not Queen," she responded. "Not yet. My mother is alive."
"Forgive me, yes. Can I be of assistance?"
"I wish to board and aim your stern Earthward," she responded. The man removed his hat and stared at his feet.
"May I ask your reasoning? You have never made this request before, not even as a younger woman," he raised his hands in question.
"An errand for my mother," she said solemnly.
"Of course. At once," he venerably agreed. He lifted his right arm high above his shoulder and began to spin his wrist in circular turns. Slowly, she felt the wind build around her until it was nearly lifting her from the ground. Her hair began to cross into her face. With a tilt and stumble she threw her force over the railing as he busily untied the rig from its post. Throwing the rope upon the deck and heaving the anchor they felt the shift of weight as they began to move. He closed his eyes as the traveling boatmen were gifted to do and settled his mind upon the eastern coast of the Carolinas.
In great pushes and pulls of the sea, they toppled down waterfalls and into tidal waves at no risk. As gods, they respected the Ocean, but it still lay in their service. The great God of Poseidon had deemed it so long ago during his great-grandfather's reign for acts of Kingly Honor. The ocean could suffer in the other Earth and may someday fall, but never within Poseidon's reach in their Realms. They would know its glory if they could survive.
She fell asleep waiting and watching the stars. When she awoke, she was set upon the land as the man promised to return within a week.
"No, sir. You've but less than a day. Return here tomorrow as the sun rises."
"As you wish, Lilia. Do you need my help?" He questioned, removing his hat again in a customary manner. She saw a hint of concern for her as he awaited her response.
"No, I must do this alone. But thank you for the offer. I will see you tomorrow with the sunrise," she said.
"Understood," with that he again swept his finger to summon the winds and mounted his rig, to be taken back from whence they came.
It was difficult as she felt heavy as if the air itself was pressing her downward. She tried to imagine where she would find such a thing as lilac in a place like this. The Carolinas had once been known to harbor color. She could see now that this was no longer true. She found a sidewalk leading into a small street and glanced over the fence lines without stepping within owned properties. She walked along for hours and began to worry she may not be able to find her sails to return home at this rate. Early evening was coming on. People did not stop to ask her why she was wandering alone on bare feet. Instead, they were stopping her to see what she might have to give.
Just when she had nearly lost hope, she saw a porch light turn on as the sky turned darker a few houses up. She heard a creaking sound, so she ventured nearer. Peering from behind a bush in the front yard of a small home she saw an old woman sitting upon a porch swing. She was alone. She was lifting her feet off the porch and swaying backward and forward as she hummed to herself. Upon the porch was a very small and discreet pot of delphinium in its early stages of growth. It was the first growing thing she had seen since she landed. She did not want to scare the old woman, but she knew they needed to talk. If she could not help her, perhaps she knew someone who could? Slowly and prepared for anything, she set herself to round the bush. Just before she could make that move the woman cried out to her.
She had seen her? Surprised, she came upon the yard and waited for an invitation.
"How did you know that?" Lilia asked, still unsure of what was happening.
"I know a lot of things, darling. Perhaps too much some would say," she bowed her head and paused. "I can see you're here for something you are desperate to reach but I must warn you, I live modestly and have nothing. No one. You won't find a hidden wallet here."
Ashamed and a bit offended, Lilia couldn't accept that she appeared as a thief. It was not her intent.
The old woman regarded her slowly.
"You strike me as an out-Realmer. That true?" she peered over to her.
"Yes, it's true. I am a lowly servant in the Heavenly Realm. My master has requested this gift and I must return with it," she stretched the truth. But why could she not be more honest to this woman who appeared to be so kind? Why must she lie? Perhaps because she wasn't sure enough of who she was right now to hear it said out loud ? or that she didn't want to raise inquiring minds around the topic. Most likely, however, she knew she just couldn't stand to hear herself share out loud that her beloved Queen mother was dying. Everyone back home knew the truth of it. This would bring it all up again.
"Ah, I see." She took a deep breath and stood, suggesting Lilia come with her. "Come on in and get some food," she offered. They had much to share over dinner, mainly the extent of the trip and how the Kingdom fared following the conflicts. Before long, it was becoming quite late. As she washed her dishes in the sink the old woman turned to Lilia and offered her a place to sleep for the night.
"I can't refer you to anyone else who can meet your need, dear, but I will have you stay the night and see you again very early in the morning. I need to do some thinking and that happens best on my own. If you head upstairs and to the left, you will find an empty guest room. No one comes, so you may use it. I'll wake you early."
Lilia was caught completely off guard. Blooms and blooms everywhere. The flowers hung low below the fence lines and were kept close to the home in a protected fashion, but they were wonderfully tended. Triumphantly, she could see a well-pruned lilac bush in the nearest right corner. Her heart skipped a beat.
"I have decided to share these precious sprigs with you, dear. I am wrong to harbor their beauty for myself all these years without them doing some good in the world. They're not "mine" you see, but they come from nature and are certainly gifts. The wars proved we were not right to have them. They have grown here and have been loved," a tear fell upon her cheek as she faced the window and looked upon her most sincere possession.
Lilia could not speak. She had been so unsure of the ability to succeed and had considered returning home without it only to see her mother one last time. She had no idea how much time was left. She was amazed by this wonderful gift. Together they snipped three fresh sprigs to assure their arrival at their destination. "I can never repay you," she said. Instead, she held the old woman and thanked her repeatedly. The time was nearing for the sun to rise, and she could not leave without speaking the truth. She told Susan the precious reason behind her quest and the purpose of her rush. Susan nodded her head and held her, understanding.
"I must leave now. The boat is waiting, and I have some roads to traverse to find my way." Lilacs in hand she turned to the door, waved goodbye again, and lightly ran across the yard. She had only stepped onto the road when she realized that perhaps there was a second mission? one that she was about to miss. Her second act as Queen became clear to her. She ran back to the old woman, still standing waving in her doorway.
"Come back with me, Susan. Come back and join the Heavenly Realms," she nearly shouted. She knew it to be destiny, and she knew she now felt she truly had the power to make such a decision.
Susan stood in shock. "But I am of Earth, I must have permission from the Queen to do such a thing," she sputtered.
"But if you could, would you? Would you cross the Ocean Realm with me?" Lilia asked.
"Your return is granted, Susan of Earth. For I am Queen. But we must leave now."
They took one another's hands and found their sailboat waiting.
Lilia was able to place those fragrant lilac stems in her mother's hands. She ushered in Susan and offered her mother the story of how she had come to the Realm. The Queen was weak but showed love and gratitude to its fullest extent. She kissed her daughter.
The Queen passed away that evening, knowing that she had saved herself, her Kingdom, and her daughter. She breathed in the fragrance of her favorite flower, the old-fashioned lilac, and as she once was in life she bravely moved on.
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