Page 14 of A Winter Admire
Perhaps it was only a coincidence. Perhaps it was not the same flower.
But it was called a wrin flower! And it was just as Wrin described in the journal. It was pale blue. Its petals were surprisingly hardy. It had a sweet scent, and it only bloomed in winter! Surely it had to be the same flower.
Unable to stay sitting, he stood. He paced back and forth. Meanwhile, Snowflake remained loafing, asleep on the ottoman, undisturbed by her owner’s agitation.
A gift for lovers.
He wracked his brain. He couldn’t think of anyone in Ores who might admire him. And who in the village would even know its true meaning? Perhaps only oreads did. If that was the case, his admirer would have to be an oread. If it was oread, then wouldn’t it have to be Sinoe? Edwin didn’t really know any other oreads.
He walked to the window, staring out into the darkness. His chest felt tight. He had too many questions. Why couldn’t he have seen Sinoe today? If he had, then maybe he would know. He continued staring out into the darkness, but he found no answers there.
Yet for the first time, he let himself think that perhaps Sinoe really cared for him as he wished. That Sinoe admired him.
ChapterTwelve
Edwin opened the door, and once again, a blue wrin flower lay on his doorstep.
A gift from an admirer. A gift for lovers.
He smiled. And this time, he took the flower inside and placed it in the vase with the other one. Tonight he would sketch them. He wondered if Loran had ever heard of the wrin flower. For several moments, he stayed, just staring at the flowers.
Finally, he tore himself away and headed out into the cold. He couldn’t stop thinking about what he had learned the previous night. He walked quickly through the forest and towards the river, his footsteps light.
Please let him be there today.
Edwin let out a breath. Sinoe stood ahead, gazing at the flowing water. The flower gave Edwin courage. He stepped forward. Sinoe turned towards him.
“Morning, Sinoe,” Edwin said. “How are you today?”
A look of surprise crossed Sinoe’s face.
Edwin realised that in all the times they’d met, Sinoe always spoke first and always asked the questions. Meanwhile, Edwin always became flustered, blushing and stammering out responses. But today, he had two Solstice gifts, and perhaps they were from Sinoe. He felt like he could do anything.
“I am well, Edwin.” Sinoe’s gaze travelled up and down Edwin. “You look well. Are you warm enough?”
Edwin nodded.
“What plant are you studying today? Or are you collecting more berries for your friend in the city?” Sinoe seemed pleased to see him. Perhaps he truly could be Edwin’s admirer!
“Ummm…” Edwin tried to remember what he was doing. “I probably have enough berries. So maybe I’ll walk along the river.” He swallowed. “Would you like to walk with me?” he asked in a rush, remembering how Sinoe had asked the same of him before.
The smile that Sinoe gifted him was radiant. “I would enjoy that. Very much.”
Edwin felt jittery as they walked together. He kept thinking about the Solstice gifts. The wrin flowers.
The path between the river and trees narrowed as it wound upwards into the mountains. Sinoe stepped one foot into the icy water of the river. Edwin gasped.
“Don’t worry.” Sinoe chuckled. “We’re not bothered by the cold.”
Edwin laughed, a thin, weak sound. “Yes, of course. How foolish of me. You’re walking barefoot in the snow.” His face heated, and he laughed again. “Of course you’d be fine with some cold water.” They continued, and Edwin tried to think of something else to ask. “Have you always lived in these mountains?”
“Yes. In the valley with the oreads. Do you know it?”
Edwin nodded. It was where Wrin and the travellers had first stayed with the oreads. The humans had left to set up their village, but the oreads had remained.
“For a while, I lived further up the mountains, near the peaks,” Sinoe said. “I moved there for love.”
Edwin’s stomach sank at the words. Of course Sinoe was in love with someone else.
