"Where is mother going at this hour?"
"I had to send her away Henry."
"Father, how could you do that?"
"It pains me too Henry."
"I'll pain you old man."
"I had to send her away Henry."
"Father, how could you do that?"
"It pains me too Henry."
"I'll pain you old man."
"Where is she?"
"The Fools' Tower, that building in the distance."
His father stood and pointed. Henry took off, his father calling him back. He ignored him.
Henry had never took particular notice to this building at the far end of the kingdom. When he was close enough to see the building clearly his first thought was, 'There is only one floor and a tall roof. This is not a tower. Only a fool would think so.' It then struck him that perhaps this is part of the reason why this is called the Fools' Tower.
In front of the gate an old woman was talking to a peasant lady with leaves on her head. Henry walked quickly past.
"Henry?"
"Mother?"
"Excuse me." The old woman went inside, leaving the 2 of them alone.
"Here Mother, let me get those leaves for you."
She brushed his hand away.
"No Henry."
"But Mother -"
"Look closely my son."
Henry could see the leaves are growing from her head. But this is impossible!
"There is some kind of camouflage or magic or miracle that makes my hair show most of the time. I wasn't born this way...it happened a few years ago. Only your father knows. In my time of weakness my leaves show..."
"Will Alexander and I..."
"If your love of plants is strong and God wills it you could become nymphs like me."
Henry shook himself. This made no sense. Perhaps his mother is a fool. Surely the leaves only looked like they grew there.
"Mother...you must stop talking like this. Then father will let you come home. Don't you want to come home?" He spoke to her very gently.
"Do you think he would let me? After what happened? I am so sorry. I am so sorry Henry."
"Happened?"
"I didn't know he was going to kiss me like that Henry. Please believe me."
A wave of disgust went through him.
"Who?" he managed to choke out.
"Alexander, your brother....he had ale on his breath."
"Alexander can't hold his ale," Henry murmured.
"No, he can't."
His mother looked at him sadly.
"I'm sorry Henry..." she began again.
"I....I....I have to go. God be with you mother."
He hated to leave her like that. He had to go...he just had to.
Hmm. I was wondering what was up with all the Plantsims in Rosewood. Very interesting take on it. :)
ReplyDeleteYarrow seems to have regained much of her sanity already. She seems much less childlike too, which I think will also be a good thing long-term. Maybe the re-emergence of the leaves in times of stress triggers or is symptomatic of some sort of calming hormonal/physiological response?
Lady Yarrow is guessing here. Shortly after becoming a plantsim...nymph she reverted back to her regular hair...but she isn't sure why.
DeleteIt's when a nymph is not around other nymphs or is alone that they may go about with just the leaves...but even then maybe not, because who knows when someone may show up? But it's a subconcious reaction, almost like instinct.
I decided none of the plant sims in the Fool's Tower ought to wear their hair until they leave. In a way it's safe for them there, where going about with leaves on your head...well you fit right in. And if anyone gets well and tells on you? Well people will think they are crazy and should go back to the Fool's Tower.
There are too many plantsims in Rosewood because I haven't had anyone use the cure. Most think they are the only ones.