4 ❧ dictated

[woodking]

Spring has truly arrived at last, and it seems likely we shall have at least some little quiet time. It seems, therefore, as good a time as any to celebrate the changing of the seasons.

Those who wish to feast with us would be welcome to join in the celebration tonight. It will be outside the castle, near the trees.

[Private to Legolas

Have you still your wine, leaf, or need I find another way to procure more?]

Comments

[woodking]

Yes, I believe we do. Thankfully there is more to life, even here, and the flowers still bloom in the gardens and fields.

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh most assuredly. And I always enjoy the warmer seasons better than the cool besides. And spring is such a more hopeful season.

_{[ Winter is his sworn enemy! ]}

I should plant some fire-flowers soon, from my own world. They bloom near the end of this season.

[woodking]

Winter is fair enough, and there are reasons enough that it is both lovely and necessary, even useful, though there are many who consider it to be the dead time of year and a waste when compared to the other seasons. Still, it is understandable that those who are less resistant to the cold than an elf might look forward to warmer times. Spring is a good time of year.

What are fire-flowers? Are they magical in nature, or is the name simply that, a name?

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh, I understand the necessity of it. But I am a creature of warmth you see, Fire. Myself and cold are not friends, and never have been. It has its beauty, but I prefer to see it from the warmth of my room and out the window. It affects Svitana badly too. The poor thing is so lethargic in such cold weather. I can keep myself warm well enough when I do go outside, but it is a drain on my Talent I would prefer to avoid.

A name, only. They are said to originate from the phoenix who protected my people, long, long ago. They bloom in spring in red, yellows, and oranges, and at night their centers glow. When the wind moves them, it looks like a flickering flame at the center of each flower, hence their name.

[woodking]

An elf is not so easily affected by season or temperature as some, which some would say makes us the lucky few. To my mind there is enough still of both advantage and disadvantage to every race, but it is true that it is not so for all.

Svitana?

One may say that they are magical in nature as well, then, although they do not truly burn.

[Honestly, anything beyond the ordinary seems a decent definition of magic to him. He's a little fuzzy on the specifics.]

[wishmadeinfire]

Well, for mine, there was no need to be resistant to cold. It does not get cold enough for things like snow in my kingdom.

Ah, yes, Svitana - my dragon horse. He stays out in the stables.

And yes, I suppose that is true. As a child I always thought they were filled with magic. Maybe in some ways I still do.