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Stories of a Forest Elf

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jellykans

Playful Guildswoman

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:20 am


Stories of a Forest Elf

Day 1

jelly curled into a small ball in sleep, thinking of her tiny cottage with love. This new large one was lovely, but...it held onto her, keeping her busy looking after such a barn. Still, the stars beneath her glass floor remained and her cast iron stove which kept the whole house warm as well as cooking her food and keeping soup and water for tea warm for unexpected guests. She still dreamed of adding a chiminea to warm the back half of the house, but all in good time. jelly snuggled deeper into the covers, enjoying the dreams that flooded her sleep. Tomorrow would be welcome, but so was the gentle night.

The piping of a bird entered her dream, perhaps it was morning? But it stilled and jelly slept on. Perhaps some fresh hot donuts for breakfast, or biscuits and gravy, or even gingerbread and chai? jelly smiled in her sleep as she planned a menu. Later, she would pick fresh forest greens for dinner, for stewing and for aalad, the forest provided so generously for her needs! A bit of quilting and working on a stuffed animal or patchwork doll while dinner cooked, yes, she would do that.

A chirping pulled her attention to the space before her forehead - yes, morning had come! jelly sat, stretched as she exhaled, and breathed in a new morning. Time to get up from her warm pallet on the floor, roll it up, and sweep!

Several hours later, jelly leaned back, bracing herself with a hand to stretch her back. Floors fully swept, everything fresh, breakfast hot on the stove, eggs gathered and sitting in a basket, greens gently rinsed and laid by....this has been a successful morning! Even did some mending while she had tea and rocked. Hmmm....that rocking chair really looked good. No, she needs to sell some eggs to buy needles and thread, best do that now. She washes her hands, unties her apron, grabs a shawl and the basket of eggs, scooting out the door.

The stones of the path are slate, and she loves the clatter as she walks down the path, decides to pick flowers and sell those as well. Luckily, she carries her knife at her belt and keeps it sharp. The flowers are so fresh and lovely this morning! Birdsong near and far provides music and the humming of insects. Dew still rests on freshly opening petals.

Jelly sees a pair of winged folk above the trees, fledging their offspring with coos of encouragement. Their companion raptors circle to protect the fledging youth. Such a lovely family portrait. Jelly moves on along the now packed dirt-only with occasional cobbles - this needs attention before the winter rains. A bunny peeks out among the trees, then darts away. Sounds of soft scampering indicate other small forest citizens. Jelly hums to herself as she goes, unaware the song within has found voice.

"Oh!" jelly kneels, astonished at the fertile patch of herbs. Carefully and gently, asking permission and thanking the devas, she select a few of each variety, asking that she also be allowed to transplant a few plants later to her own herb garden. After a bit, she restrains herself and thanks the devas again, then goes along her way.

A chipmunk scampers along a branch, chittering at her, pauses and sits, flapping its tail, then streaks on.

The sun is higher now, and it is a bit warm, jelly loosens her shawl and shifts her basket. The town isn't far away now, soon she will arrive at the fountain for a welcome and cool drink. Then she will be on to the market, to visit and buy and sell. The village is healthy and prosperous, the market is a joy for all.

"Hai, jelly, going to market, are you? Wait up, I'll walk along with you. I have fresh stollen today!" Her old friend the bunny-girl walks up beside her.

"Stollen sounds lovely, and I have fresh eggs and a few select herbs. I found feverfew this morning, how are your headaches?'

"Oh, lovely, they aren't so bad since the children grew up and left, but I could dry a few for the occasional emergency. Would you care to trade a goodly amount for a loaf of stollen, or a few and several eggs?"

"I think a few and eggs would be best, later on I will have feverfew in my own garden to share, but for now the devas offered me a select few," jelly smiled as she passed over the eggs and then gently laid the precious herb atop, accepting back the fragrant sweet stollen.

"Ah, jelly, you meander, will see you later in the square!" Her friend hopped off, wriggling her ears in farewell as jelly continued on.

And here are the cobblestones leading to the town!
PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:22 am


jelly skipped across the pebbles onto the cobblestones, eased her basket, and began looking into the wares in the square. She found an open spot and spread out her offerings for the weekly fair, using the shade of the basket and fountain to protect her tender shoots of herbs. Several housewives crowded up to examine them and rapidly bought. The eggs sat in the basket, as yet undisturbed, and jelly wondered if she had arrived too late for them to be purchased.

"jelly, how are you," called out Mrs. Raine, the keeper of the gossip of the towns. "I've just seen Ariella, and she tells me you have been working long and hard on a new herb garden!"

"Oh, no, Mrs. Raine, I am only making a small addition to the one I have that won't really be available for sharing until this season next year. It is nice to have a variety of useful herbs, don't you think? And would you be wanting some nice fresh eggs? These were only gathered this morning, and I gathered yesterday, so these are quite fresh."

Mrs. Raine's bright eyes darted to the eggs. "Yes, they do appear to be fine, fat eggs, and I know your produce is always fresh, but you know I don't cook so much anymore, I eat very little, now that it is only myself and my Blackstockings, such a good cat, so thoughtful and such a good mouser! But, you know, Mrs. Grainger is planning a baking, you might want to try her."

Mrs. Raine looked longingly and artfully at the eggs. jelly handed her two and said, "Now you just accept these as a neighbor gift and let me have some of your leeks when they come full in, okay?"

"Oh, are you quite sure?" Mrs. Raine snatched at the eggs and secretted them in her basket, gloating yet truly smiling as she rushed. She took off down the row with a backward word, "Keep me in mind if you find any lilies, I am needing bulbs for my path!" jelly laughed. Vera Raine was a good neighbor and generously helpful, the little kindnesses easily paid for the tips she expected in return for tips given. This was how the market worked, after all. jelly strolled on down the way after repacking her things, found Mrs. Grainger, traded the eggs for a selection of her baking goods.

Well, it seems it is time to go and prepare for my meal. Oh! Potatoes! I would love to have some! jelly quietly approached the seller, wondering what she had to offer in trade.

"Welcome! Oh, aren't you jelly, the one who raises chickens and an herb garden? Would you have any feverfew? My Lena has been having fierce headaches and really needs help!" jelly nodded and reached into her basket. She had only a bit left, but it would be adequate to dry for tea. The trade was made, and the potatoes had no place in the basket, so the seller offered her a tattered bag. How nice - as long as it got her home, that was fine!

jelly wandered out the path to reach the one home and began to trudge along in the now-warming sun.

The Fiber Bag

"On noes!" jelly's bag ripped at the seam and potatoes spilled all over the path. Being potatoes, they didn't break and could easily be washed off, but jelly wore pants, so she couldn't gather them into her skirt - what was she to do? Must she leave some on or by the path, or was there some way to get them home?

Then she noticed a colorful word against a tree - it was one of those new-fangled fiber bags made in the depths of Durem and given as gifts to visitors to the Colisseum, with the words "Go Barton!" on either side. Could it be relatively clean and minus any holes? Whoever had owned it had lost it to the wind...

Yes! The bag was fully intact and appeared to be clean, it must not have been blown here long ago! jelly gathered up her precious supply of food into the welcome gift of the errant winds. The sun was warm and welcome, the wind a very gentle breeze. It had only been strong enough to hold the lightweight bag against the tree.

Jelly wandered on down the path, returning from her shopping trip to the town. She'd saved the old worn cloth bag to use as patches or cleaning rags. One needn't waste good resources, she firmly believed. A rabbit popped up on its hind legs, then sprang away into the deep weeds to one side. Jelly was as surprised as the rabbit, then giggled at the surprise. Every walk to town brought some unexpected and welcome joy. The bag slipped a bit, so she shifted the strap on her shoulder and strode on. There was work to do before the hot mid-day sun made a noon-time meal and nap the rule. The days were long, so this was no problem. She hummed to herself and smiled to herself as she smelled the freshness of late spring flowers.

The bag slipped again, bumping down her arm and letting the potatoes nearly hit the ground. This wasn't working! She stopped, set the bag down, and tied a knot in the middle of the strap. This should make it stay on her shoulder! She took a deep breath, stooped and lifted the now-heavier potatoes, then took off again, looking forward to the soup she'd left over a low fire with a heavy lid. Oh, noes! She'd forgotten to keep a good hold, and the potatoes dropped. Well. "Pack them up again, jelly, and this time don't let go of the strap!" she barked at herself, temper beginning to fray. Waddling along lopsided, holding onto the bag to protect her potatoes, jelly was beginning to feel distinctly grumpy.

Ah! Home at last! She sighed with a deep heave, and only recalled the danged bag at the last minute. She happily set the bag down on the porch and removed the potatoes, examining them one by one for bruises. They all looked fine, what a relief! A small gust of wind lifted the fiber bag, and jelly calmly watched it go its way. Well, that's good enough. It wasn't the best bag, but it got me home with my potatoes! jelly smiled and decided to add a few of the potatoes to her soup pot after she had lunch and before her nap. Or, more likely, after. She smiled.

jellykans

Playful Guildswoman


jellykans

Playful Guildswoman

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:23 am


Day 2

jelly wakened slowly to the soft chirring of birdsong and the peeping and chittering of hungry chicks and feeding. She curled and cuddled, then stretched. Slowly and deliberately, she got up, admiring the sight of stars falling away into space under her feet. She pattered over to her lovely old iron stove, knowing it was warm from embers of last night, made a cup of tea from the teakettle sitting on the burner, and smelled the ever-present pot of soup on the other.

She took the cup of tea and pattered to the door, opened it and welcomed the dawning new day, the added volume of the morning birdsong, and sat on the stool on her step to enjoy the sense of anticipation that fell over her with the gentle breeze. She must visit the tree today. It has been present in her dreams, and she has neglected it.

The world tree has roots that go deeply into the ground, even into rock. It is the strongest living being she knows, and certainly is the wisest. jelly has been remiss, and feels the lack of groundedness and peace that she gains from being in the presence of the world tree. It must certainly miss her presence as well, it thrives on the company of beings with compassionate understanding, those who instinctively know that it is life-affirming to hug a tree with their arms and their imagination.

She must go and picnic among its roots, then nap and dream deep dreams, this is how the world tree communicates and interacts with others. jelly stretches, takes her empty cup inside to make a second cup of tea and a special baking of scones. When they come out of the oven, she comes to the windowsill by the door to let them cool and notices a lovely long-haired gray cat, very sedate and stately, who softly mews.

"Would you like a bowl of cream?" jelly politely asks. The cat purrs and mews, which jelly takes for a 'yes.' She brings the pitcher and a saucer, after placing the scones to cool, and pours cream into the saucer for the lovely gray cat, who dips her head to drink after dipping it under jelly's free hand, petting herself.

"Such soft fur, m'dear, you must be one of the fabled Angora I have heard so much about. They said I would know when I met one, by the dignity, the long hair so soft to the touch, and the ability for it to fluff or lie flat. They were right: you are regal. What to call you? M'dear, I do not know." The cat looked up into jelly's eyes on the word m'dear and purred, then dipped her head to lap more cream.

"Oh, is that it? You like to be called M'dear? Very well, then, that is now your name. Enjoy your breakfast, M'dear, while I take out the next batch of scones. I just might have a bit of bacon for you and a bit of egg, I hear it is very good for your coat." M'dear just lapped, purred, and lapped again.

jelly toddled back into the cottage, set the pitcher down in the cooler, under the stone laid over two others, which held an ice block atop and a runnel to a small hole in the wall, where a stone trough carried the ice melt outside. There was a small flap of wood with leather which rotated closed for winter, to cover the outlet when it was not needed.

jelly pulled a pan from the oven and popped another in, went to the window and took in the cooled scones, putting them inside a napkin in her basket. Then she set the new batch to cool, admiring M'dear while the third batch finished baking. Her gaze went to the yard and the herb garden. The garden needed watering, but could wait a day; the world tree had waited far too long.

jelly settled a cushion in the base of the chair, with a soft laprobe behind, for M'dear to enjoy while she was gone. There was no issue in leaving her door open, no one would bother the cottage. While it was quiet, the forest and its denizens protected her. Any of ill will would find it impossible to even find the cottage, they would instead find a path of impassable brambles and no sign of human habitation at all. Such was never seen by jelly but once and only briefly, as the intruders rapidly made their way away.

jelly wrapped the cooled scones, which now included the third batch, that one she kept for her own kitchen. "I am off to the World Tree and will sell my other scones on my return. Then we will have our meal when I get back. Enjoy your bed while I am out." M'dear just purred, and then she jumped up into the chair with a single spring, made a half-turn, and laid down, curling and uncurling her paws in pleasure.

jelly trotted out the door and down the path, anxious to see the World Tree and tell it of M'dear, the loveliest creature to visit her cottage in many a day, and who looked likely to stay.
PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:24 am


jelly trotted down the path, her basket of scones under her arm. The soft rustling sounds came to her of animals in the brush. An overhanging branch bore blossoms and lovely mossy vines, and she picked a flower to share with the World Tree. Her herb garden would be fine for another day. Today she had business, long delayed. The World Tree mustn't think she neglected it, and yet she so nearly had done so.

She stopped to admire a mother rabbit and her kits, nodded and went on. Unfamiliar birdsong rang out, the forest always had new beauties to admire. Berry bushes were nearly ready to pick, she would come and ask their permission soon.

A robin was scrabbling after a worm and succeeded; that was lunch for the bird, or a large portion thereof, it was a very large and long worm. jelly smiled. The worm most likely came from a large colony, these patches of earth were fertile and teeming with life.

jelly heard a whistle and saw a spotted dog come to heel by a man who bore a walking stick, a jaunty manner and a smile. "Good day, to you, Master Robinton, we've heard your music often in the village square, what brings you to the woods?

"Ah, there are times, despite the good wine and companions, when a song master must simply go into the woods to be restored and inspired. I heard a new birdsong today and will be returning to the inn to write a new song."

"And that is lovely news indeed! Success to you, sir!"

The tall, spare, gray-bearded man waved and walked on.

jelly turned to the left branch of the trail. Today, she did not go to town, but to the World Tree. Well, best laid plans... She found an enchanted garden, and that story you will see in the Enchanted Garden thread. It is a most amazing place. She assumed it was a garden and she was attending a picnic, she shared some of her scones. But the garden is an entity of itself and creates its own picnic. Amazing! She only learned the nature of the garden when she went on and found herself returned to the picnic, where she learned that the food appears of itself when thought of, and the garden has a very kind personality when approached with the same. On her second leave-taking, she asked its help to find the World Tree, and found herself arriving with no difficulty whatsoever!

jelly approached the World Tree with a sense of awe and a sense of homecoming. She turned her hands towards its leaves and felt the life breathing through them. Carefully and rewspectfully she seated herself next to its hearty venerable trunk and reverently touched one hand to it in a shared blessing. A tear of relief and joy slid down one cheek. She turned and rested against the tree in complete safety. Nothing and no one could enter here that did not belong.

Several hours later, jelly roused, aware of the passage of time only by the descent of the sun towards the horizon. She rose, and turned, and bowed to the tree in thanks, then quietly walked back down the path through the woods. The trip home was easily made, now that she understood the way.

jellykans

Playful Guildswoman


Nights-Rune
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Hilarious Bear

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PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2013 4:11 am


I like the story so far! and mmmmmm stollen!
PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:15 pm


Day 3

To be continued...(previous post competed today).

jellykans

Playful Guildswoman

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