Short stories

The Magic Messages

I sit up from bed to the sound of rustling in my garden. It had been a pleasant morning beforehand, but someone just had to come around to mess it all up. I heave myself out of bed, sigh, and jump from the window, landing in the garden right next to the thief. He seemed very startled. "H-how did you do that without breaking your legs?" He stammered, eyes wide, and trying to hide the flowers behind his back. I roll my eyes and reply. " I was able to jump from the window and not break my legs, because I am a witch who knows the spell to do so," I explain patiently. "Why are you in my garden, Fidem?" He turned pale and feigned for a lie. "Oh, this is your garden? Wow, my bad! I thought it was mine! Sorry about that!!" I raised my eyebrow and crossed my arms. "Okay fine. I'm sorry for- wait, how did you know my name?" I'm starting to get a little irritated by now. Sure, I have to deal with this almost on a daily basis, but usually not this early in the morning. " Do I really have to say it again? I know the spell for it. So drop the flowers from your pockets and maybe I'll let you go." "How did-" "Shut up."

He looked me over and sighed; giving up on the idea of running. "...Is there any way I could buy these from you, then?" Huh, maybe it's not a bad morning after all. "It will cost something; but not necessarily money. Is that alright?" He was hesitant at first but agreed nonetheless. "Great!" I beamed." We'll get started right away."

"Let's see now..." I turn to my flowers "what did you take?" After looking around for a while, I figure it out. " Zinnia, Ivy, Purple Hyacinth, Peppermint, Petunia, Stock, Rhododendrons, and some Phlox. Hmm...Let's head back inside to figure this out." I grin, gesturing for Fidem to follow.

I'm on my third cup of Rue tea and Fidem seems more comfortable around me; I've got a basic message layed out. "So." I slump onto the couch " The mourning of someone's absence, fidelity, a sincere and saddening apology, the warmth of feeling, a soothing presence, unrivaled aliterous appreciation, a warning of escape, and the acknowledgment of soulmates. Put all of that together and you get..." Thinking hard as I took a sip of tea. "Fidem? Do you mind telling me what you wanted the message to say?" He flinched, almost dropping his teacup "Sorry... You startled me." I scoot closer to him on the couch and motion for him to start. "Are you sure you want to know? It's kind of a long story." he stammered. I make some biscuits and sandwiches appear on the coffee table in front of us, along with a fresh pot of tea. "Okay..." Fidem took a deep breath to calm himself down and began the story.

There was once a small village, in which lived the tailor's son, Fidem. Fidem was content in the village, aiding his father in his work, until one day he became quite saddened. When his father noticed he had confessed it was due to lack of friendship in his life. Luckily, the next day a shepherd moved into the small village, along with his son, Sermo. They became immediate friends, and when their chores were done for the day, they would spend hours with each other, playing in the forest and through the town. There was no time that they were apart and grew closer by the minute. As they grew older, they grew closer. Holding hands and sharing secrets. The people of the village then realized that the two boys had grown closer than friends, and would have none of it. When the boys started to notice malice in the stares they earned in public, they went to their fathers to ask of the troubles in town. The tailor and shepherd were unaware of the trouble in the village but vowed to return to them with information.

They returned with news of the village's distaste for the relationship between Fidem and Sermo, and how they were in preparations to harm the newfound couple. The parents shared that they had told the village that Fidem and Sermo would no longer be seeing each other with the supervision of said parents, from which tears sprouted. As the boys grew into men, they rarely saw each other in the village and were finding it harder and harder to relay messages between one another until one-day Fidem thought of a solution. He passed along a hastily made message to his father with the intention of the message being relayed to Sermo. With an idea in mind, Fidem worked for months on end with no rest to gain the money necessary for his newfound project. After three years had passed, he returned to the village with the deed to a faraway farm that he would share with this love, Sermo. He alerted his father who released his message of a return to the village, at which Sermo was overjoyed. He'd heard of a magic garden a few towns away, that's messages always strike true and find the receiver in good health. He wished to find his way to the said gardens in order to send word to Sermo, so they might escape to their new sanctuary at the farm.

"So..." I picked up the last biscuit. "The flowers are for Sermo." Fidem nodded shakily, tears beginning to fall; caused by distant memories. glancing out the window, I found the moon to be at its highest. I get up from the couch to stretch, then grab a blanket and pillow for Fidem. "Here, you need some sleep." He began to protest weakly, but after insisting he stay the night, Fidem nodded weakly and fell into an immediate sleep. While cleaning up I thought tirelessly of what price I would ask of him in the morning, until an idea had passed through my head. Content with my price of choice, I head to bed and sleep until morning.

I shuffle into the living room with a smile on my face and two cups of freshly brewed coffee. I handed one to Fidem who was currently sitting on the couch fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, then sat down with mine on the opposite end of the couch. "So. I've figured out your bill." "R-really?" "Really." I put my coffee down, stood up straight, and tried to look as professional as I could muster this early in the morning. "Your price will be the intensification of your priority for strong relationships bonded through communication." I boom. "Also," I add "the approval of me coming to your farm to say hello every now and then. Is that okay?" Then, he turns his head towards me, eyes full of hope and determination. "Of course that's alright."

After getting the paperwork and binding spells out of the way, it was time for Fidem to head back home. He gave me one last smile before heading towards the road and back home. I watched him through the second-floor window until he escaped my sight.