Of Divinity and Distress: Beauty in the Eye of the Beheld

“I am very much surprised that your guard dog friends allowed you to accompany me here Lady Avalon.” Chrysus chuckles, the pair entering the start of the festival. 

“I appreciate it more that you offered this to me, My God, it was very kind of you.” Avalon smiles graciously, the pair walking alongside each other. A safe distance mind you, so Chrysus doesn’t bump into her. That would be horrible to lose yet another friend to his curse.
“I assume breaks from them are something that is required after lengthy adventures?” The God had his hands tucked behind his back, close to him and slipped under his cloak to avoid pain to anyone who passed. His eyes, though not on her, were attracted more to the bright colors of flowers decorating the entire market. With this much in bloom and these many vibrant colors, he felt at home amongst the beauties of flora. The Nymph giggles in agreement, nodding her head. 

“As much as I adore my… rag-tag group I find myself ostracized in their constant energy.” Her eyes are fighting between looking at the gorgeous market stalls decked in glorious flowers and the gold-laden God who thought he was blending in by wearing black and gold. It made him stick out like a sore thumb amidst the festival flowers. He was still trying to get accustomed to this new ‘adventurer’ lifestyle. 

“They do seem rather energetic. Though, that cowboy one seems to have… what’s the expression?” Snapping his fingers a few times he tries his hardest to think it out by himself. “His head screwed on straight? Did I get that right?” 

“You did. Well done.” She praises. 

“Thank you Nymph.” Chrysus stops at a stall of bright yellow sunflowers. After one small interaction with the shopkeeper, he purchases three of them. “If you would be so kind as to carry them for me?” He asks, after the fact. Avalon did not quarrel, there were worse things to carry. “You seem to have taken a liking to the cowboy.” Avalon flushes a pink that would match the Calla Lilies they just happened to pass. 

“He is a kind man. Despite what his past has tried to ruin.” She answers truthfully. “He first turned up at my stream, bloodied and scared. Vernon was gentle and respectful of me and my waters.” Chrysus seems to nod along with her kind words to the human. 

“He seems to give more respect than he’s ever personally received. It takes a good man to do that.” Yet again the pair stop at a stall to admire the flowers. This time the main event of this stall was tulips. Soft, fleshy pinks on gorgeously untainted petals. The shopkeeper was immensely proud to overshare how she grew them. To this, the God ignored and continued his conversations with Avalon. 

“He is a very gentle person. He cares deeply for our group.”

“He cares deeply for you, young Nymph.” The chuckle that falls from his lips is lighthearted at the blind love they both have for each other. Her blush burned brighter on her pale cheeks, they were now nearing a more rose-red color. 

“You speak out of turn Chrysus.” She desperately tries to rebut. 

“I speak words of the truth.” Chrysus nabs a tulip from the shopkeeper's stash when they’re paying no mind to the duo. Its bright green stem drinks up the gold, the flower now everlasting in its glittering beauty. “He calls you his ‘Lady Friend’, that is a man who is madly in love and unwilling to establish a relationship.” Very carefully the God hands off the flower to a passing child, who marvels at its shine. Avalon seems to stall for a moment. 

“Do you think he’s afraid?” The way she asks feigns hurt. Chrysus simply laughs again. 

“I think you both are.” If Chrysus was one thing it was honest, especially to a friend he was starting to care deeply for. “I think you’re scared to go out of your comfort zone with a human and I think he is scared he will hurt you in some way.” He thinks for a moment before letting off a small smile. “Your love for each other is like the flowers filling this festival.” Avalon seems confused at this, questioning whether or not the pollen has gotten to the God or not. 

“How so?”

“Each flower tells you something different. Take those dandelions for example. They’re small and plentiful. You can find them anywhere grass grows green, so why sell them? Why offer something that is so minute at a market as extravagant and bright as this? They mean faithfulness and happiness. Something none of these other flowers mean.” Despite his touch ruining the flowers he grabs hold of people around or the shopkeepers seem insistent that they get to keep the golden flower his touch produces.  

“How does that describe Vernon and me?” Avalon asks, pleased to see the people of the market not scared or offset by Chrysus’s ‘gift’. 

“To you, he is a bouquet consisting of garlic, red carnations, and orange blossoms. The garlic for his strength and courage… red carnations for how your heart and soul ache for him, and orange blossoms for eternal love and fruitfulness.” Avalon is surprised more by his knowledge of the flower code. Wasn’t he born thousands of years before its creation? 

“And his to me?” She presses on. 

“Orchids, primrose, and gloxinia. Orchids for all your beauty and grace as a woman, primrose because he cannot live without you, and gloxinia for the second he laid eyes on you he had fallen deeply in love. While they may seem strange once put all in one bouquet the meanings outshine the awkward clashes of color contrasts and smells.” Avalon had managed to look and find each of these flowers at the market in passing at some point or another. These new meanings and truths told to her mulling about in her mind. While she followed along in silence, sunflowers in hand, Chrysus was becoming a hit once wind of his ‘golden flowers’ had gotten out. Patrons and shopkeepers kindly asked him to create a flower or two for them to display. The perfectly captured moment of the life of a flower is encapsulated as a sculpture. Some liked it because of the shine, but the real people? They liked it because it lasted forever in such a beautiful state. In full bloom, at the peak of its life, it was now forever remembered there.

Avalon had much to think about now, maybe she could make a bouquet and bring it back to Vernon… let the flowers speak unspoken words. Chrysus, though physically occupied now, was thinking about how these flowers were about to help a young couple blossom into their full potential. What a simply marvelous day to partake in a Wildflower Festival.