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"Thou improves't the world by doing just so," Eilonwy stated, squeezing Jasper's hand before letting go with a half-smile. She stepped back and away, light and quick as a sunbeam. "I'll leave thee to thine," she nodded in the direction Jasper was headed, "with the knowledge I am but a call away should thou'st require me." She hesitated. Internally, part of her wanted to ask if he remembered her yet. Why would he? He'd been but a babe--well. She shook her head, turning to go. "Till our next."

The answer would only disappoint. What few memories Jasper did have of that time were far and few between. Cold, endless cold, a brief pain of fear before nothing else...until warmth. A strange warmth, cool in its own way. Little else did he know. He waved to her as she left. “I look forward to such a time.”

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Turning to more directly look at the dryad holding onto her with his little fronds that passed as fingers, Eilonwy smiled to herself. He'd changed much since his quiet end--his new beginning--in the forest long ago. And yet, not at all. The infinite gentleness she had seen in him then, even as a seedling in another shape, waiting to blossom frailly in colder, older times, grew more beautiful each day. As did he. Reverently, she kissed his hands, and murmured, "thou needst only keep on."

Her answer both built him up and wounded him, something he had been learning was common in more humanistic creatures. The mixing of emotions, something new indeed. He bowed his head then, and murmured softly with sincerity in every fiber of his being, “Then I shall.”

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"Felt it," Eilonwy responded, tapping a few fingers to her breast before glancing back at Jasper with a rueful expression. "The earth shifts. Prepares. Something old is coming," she brushed her hands down her gossamer dress absently, frowning. "But I would not fear," she soothed, quickly settling a hand on Jasper's arm once again. "Thou art under my care; my protection. And thou art more resilient than thine allows thyself to believe," she added, lifting both brows with a fond smile.

Jasper put his hand over hers, giving her what he hoped would be an affectionate sign of encouragement. He’d seen it before. At least, he’d assumed he’d seen it from the humans. “I see. And as always, I am appreciative of both your care and your protection. If I can help you in any way...” He trailed off, unsure exactly of how he would help but wanting so very much to be useful to someone.

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"There is much to be surprised about," replied Eilonwy sagaciously. "Especially when we as individuals are such a small part of a greater whole." Her lips curved with amusement and appreciation at his inquiry. "I have fared fairly," she said, sliding one of her arms through his as they strolled. "And I thank thee for asking. My missions of late have been few and far between, although--" her gaze shifted to the East; vague and brief, before returning to Jasper. "Who knows how the world turns?"

“I am glad to hear of it,” he replied solemnly. But when she looked to the horizon, he looked inward, to the grove and how it groaned. “Have you seen something?” he asked curiously. Though his curiosity was tinged with a hint of fear. He’d seen much of the human world, or much of what he had assumed was the human world, and there was danger almost constantly. At least, that was what he had come to know.

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Sensing his hesitation, Eilonwy smiled to herself and looked around--before murmuring delicately, "thou hast no expiration date for thine questions. Ask at your leisure, I remain forever." Her expression sobered as she watched him, then tenderly fixed his hair again, saying, "thou from me to thee; I ask--thou art otherwise well? Replenished by rain and fed by the sun? No rot; no ruin I could repair?"

He smiled in relief. “I appreciate the time given. I will use it wisely.” He sighed after that, looking out into the forest, the nature he’d come from. The nature he should probably return to. “I am otherwise well.” A hand rose to his chest where he dug his heel into his human chest. “Just surprised at the world, I suppose. How are you? I hope you have been well.”

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Taking one of Jasper's hands, Eilonwy motioned for him to continue walking with her as they talked. He had places to be; people who, despite what Jasper might think, likely missed him. As they would back whence he came, and would rejoice in his return. To the grove and back again, then. She waited with an expression of serene focus, eyes twinkling a little. "Thou paints the world in hues of Northern Lights with thine flattering words," she said brightly. "Take your time."

He shook his head, “I mean every word.” He looked about them, at the fresh life that the winter had left behind. Everywhere, his brothers and sisters and woken to stretch their limbs to the sun. Soon, they would dance around the fires again and sing their songs. “I--will have to take my time, indeed, to consider this. Three questions.” He hummed. 

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"It is likely why thou hasn't grown past sapling height," Eilonwy added jokingly, twisting her fingers a bit to twine her digits through his; pale sunshine through reaching limbs. Her smile softened as she looked at him again, resting back on the soles of her bare feet. "What is it thou wish't to know most?" she inquired kindly; patiently herself. "Perhaps ask of me what thine would ask of them; three questions." She held up three fingers soberly. "This I give to thee three answers. Ask wisely."

“I am of a good height for a sapling...more or less...” He blushed at that, putting a hand on top of his head to mimic how humans measured their height. He sobered, however, at her offer. And ducked his head as he thought about it, one hand reaching to his chin. 

“....This is an immense blessing. I am humbled by how much you would offer me.”

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"Does one Winter make anyone an expert?" Eilonwy asked idly, reaching up to fix Jasper's foliage with a soft rustling of his fringe. Her fingers smoothed across his face despite their earthen grime, brushing over the curves of his cheeks. Her eyes, wide and watchful, bore into Jasper's. "You have a remarkably small amount of patience," she teased gently, "for a tree." Hopping up on her toes (for she was a good half a head shorter than he at least), she kissed him on the nose.

“I was hoping it would illuminate some,” he admitted sheepishly. Although some was an understatement perhaps. He thought it would be so easy, be among the humans, look and observe. But everything had changed too much in such a short amount of time. There was so little he fully understood. He let out a laugh and lifted his hands to brush across her fingers in thanks for her attention, reverence. “I have been told that many times.”

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There was a moment where Eilonwy seemed inclined to engulf Jasper in her arms. Her dirty fingers twitched, then settled for resting on his arms. Her eyes met his and the Lady of the Lake (among other titles) sighed, cocking her head. There was an avian poise in her, then--a heron posed to strike. An emulation of her acquaintance Jackie. She always seemed so direct, after all. Not water, like her--shaping itself to the world around it. "What understand we," asked Eilonwy, "fully of anything?"

Jasper dropped his head to study the earth again. The atoms he couldn’t see, the molecules he could no more feel than he could smell. There was a distance between him and the earth now, a distance he hadn’t quite surmounted in some time. He smiled at it, though, fondly; though never fully knowing its secrets, knowing more than most, he supposed. “We never understand fully, perhaps, but then...but then I wonder why I understand so little. I have spent a full winter with them.”

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Wordless, Eilonwy stooped away from Jasper, and, without any hesitation, dug her hand into the rich, damp earth underfoot--pulling up a fistful of soil through which small seedlings of green began to sprout, curling between her alabaster fingers as she squeezed the clod of dirt. She then daintily pressed the gift of this odd talisman into Jasper's hand, looking back up at him with fond reverence in her deep blue eyes. "The earth likewise has missed thee," she said patiently. "What troubles you?"

Jasper took it without question, holding the earth between his hands and aching to grow roots once more. Forest eyes looked down at the forest floor clutched in his palm. “I wonder whether or not one can understand humans. They seem to not understand themselves. So is it possible that beings like you or I could ever fully fathom humanity?” His eyes sought answers in hers, pulling the fist clenched around dirt to his chest.

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eilonwy-tow said: Eilonwy: …-kisses forehead and gives a gown of cobwebs to-  Perf. ;^; 

milena-tow said: oh same. just wear pretty dresses and traipse around through nature. *v*

Best job ever or best job ever? * V *

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tbh, I want to wear clothes like Eilonwy’s. 

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There was a moment of silence wherein Eilonwy regarded her personal charge like an owl from her perch behind the tree. Then, stepping out smoothly into the open with soundless ease, she reached him in a gliding flicker, peering up into the lanky sapling's face much more closely. "It has been a long, difficult season of cold," she agreed off-handedly, lifting a hand to tenderly cradle either side of Jasper's face. "Thou hast been without them long in these dark nights. Quiet is a single grove."

He didn’t move beneath her hands, though welcome as they were. The winter had been long, indeed, and like a stubborn child trying to stay up all night until Christmas, he was drooping at the edges for it. Still, his face remained friendly and he nodded. “I have learned much during this time. There is so much humans know. But...I miss the earth.”

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Bare feet walked with care between stones on the forest floor. The green canopy of leaves overhead bowed up and away in her presence. The petite figure trailed a shadow trimmed in gold, her banner of gilded hair fluttering behind her, confined barely by the nets of gypsy moth caterpillars and dewdrops made diamond. Her gossamer gown flickered after her, more light and suggestion than tangible cloth. She peeked around a tree, watching another tree walk. "Thou leaves't?"

The tree in question moved slowly across Mother Nature’s provisions, so careful not to disturb with human feet what she had provided for trees and plants. He breathed deeply to connect in the best way he could and turned with such quiet grace that the noise was no more distinguishable from a faint breeze. “Only for a short while,” he said. The smile he usually carried with him was less today, a brightening of the cheeks and eyes more than the lips. “I miss my family.”

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That looks so good though. D8

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