The Green Sister has finally begun to wake from her long winter’s sleep, and so too Greenwood begins to rustle and stir, eagerly awaiting the bright coming of spring. The birds have returned and are busily gathering their bits of twine and twig to furnish their nests, the village has begun preparations for the Spreenin faire, and goodness, everything feels a bustle, even me.
These past few days I’ve been working hard to get ahead on my remedies, for next month Auntie Ember, Peter, and Lettie are coming to visit! How wonderful it will be to see them all again. I do worry about Lettie traveling this late into her pregnancy, but she is so stubborn, and in truth I want to be with them all so badly. Thus in the meantime, I have been preparing fresh supplies for the Hume’s shop. That way I will not have to work while my family is here.
I stopped by the store this morning and gave Mrs. Hume the new bottles of Joy and Hope for the shelf. Mary and Elise were there too. They asked if I was looking forward to the faire, and if I had got any new ribbons for my hair, but when Elise asked if I knew what kind of flowers Lorenz was going to give me, goodness, I blushed so deeply I think I must have turned emerald! They all laughed, and even I couldn’t hold back a nervous giggle as I hid behind my hands. Of course, despite telling no one, everyone in the village knows that Lorenz and I have started a courtship. Someone must have seen us holding hands, and well, once one person knows a secret in Greenwood, it’s safe to assume everyone does. Though I was extremely bashful about the whole subject, it was sweet to hear my friends reminisce about their own courting days. It made me smile to listen to their stories, and it made me wonder how my own would turn out…
After we said our farewells and Elise kindly offered to help me with my hair for the faire, I took my leave and made my way down the lane towards the manor house. Dear reader, I have been going more these days, but in my defense, it isn’t just to see Lorenz. He’s actually quite busy as Alexander’s exam is fast approaching! He must pass tests of knowledge on history, geography, mathematics, politic, law… He also has to give a speech before the King and the Council of Barons, goodness, and the lad is beginning to feel the pressure! I know I’m anxious just thinking about it, but Lorenz is a diligent tutor. He’s confident that Alexander will excel.
They do their lessons in the library almost every day, and I go as often as I can and sit in the corner, quietly studying with a few great tomes beside me. It is nice to be close to Lorenz, but mainly I’ve been trying to study Old Olkarian. You see, when Lorenz returned from the capital, Alexander and I wanted to show him the old bottles of Impressional magic we found, and while we were at the Well of the Green Sister we found something else: a box with three small stones. I know that hardly seems extraordinary; they looked quite plain, just gray round rocks. They did have white rings around them, like stripes, but even that is not so unique. No, it was when we actually touched them that we felt it. They hummed! Each one seemed to buzz with a quiet magic. Alexander was instantly reminded of the memory stone and thought perhaps they might hold messages. But I had my doubts —they did not quite feel the same— and when we placed them beneath the unicorn horn in the magic mirror nothing happened. I held on to one a bit longer, feeling it and thinking out loud. “It… it seems to have the possibility for magic,” I said, “but they feel… empty to me. They don’t have any feelings like the other stone.” Alexander looked disappointed, but Lorenz held his chin as he pondered, “Maybe they just don’t hold anything yet.” “Do you think they could? Could we put a memory into them?!” Alexander asked. Lorenz smiled “Maybe so.” Dear reader, if they are related to the memory stone, I think we will only know by learning more from all the old scrolls in the chamber, and to do that we must be able to read them. Old Olkarian is the closest we have come to the ancient language with its written similarities, and since Alexander and Lorenz have little time to spare at the moment, I have applied myself to studying with the free time I do have.
After today’s lesson, and I shared the few similar words I thought might match things we’d seen in the scrolls, Lorenz suddenly asked Alexander if he wished to spend the remainder of the afternoon riding. Alexander looked surprised, but then gave a knowing grin. It took me a moment to realize that Lorenz was trying to get the opportunity to speak with me alone. And for the second time today, I blushed emerald. The young man said he would go on ahead and departed from the room in an overly courteous fashion that did not go unnoticed. Of course he knew too. Goodness, why was I so embarrassed?
Lorenz turned to me and apologized for being so busy. I told him that I completely understood; I was proud of him for being such a good teacher. This made him blush. “Sonya,” he said taking my hand, “I asked the baron if I might have a free day from my duties for the Spreenin faire, and he has agreed. He thinks Alexander will want to enjoy the festivities as well. But I’d like to spend the day with you, if you would accept my company.” My heart skipped a little beat. Lorenz and I have spent so much time together as friends, walking in the forest, exploring the Well of the Green Sister… but to have him request to be in my presence… with all his gentlemanly eloquence, well goodness, suddenly things feel so different. I looked down at my scuffed boots and whispered that I would be honored to have his company. He grinned and kissed my hand.
Dear reader, I think I will accept Elise’s offer to help me with my hair for the Spreenin faire. While I’ve been so busy with remedies and studying, I hadn’t much thought about the faire. Now I feel I must make preparations, for I think it shall be a very special day.