~My best friend gave me the best advice He said each day's a gift and not a given right Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind And try to take the path less traveled by That first step you take is the longest stride~

A Miniature Retreat

Elessaria removed the thin gardening gloves and gently touched the bases of the wisteria vines which she imbued with a hint of her magic and a healthy dose of love. As she sat back upon her knees, she watched the white and purple flowers bloom, releasing their sweet scent as they began to wend their way along the wooden trellis from which an ornately carved wooden swing hung. A wink of silver, entwined on a slender finger, caught the fading rays of the afternoon sun when the empath wiped her palms on her jean clad knees and settled on the swing to survey the last of her work.

She had spent the last few weeks creating a miniature garden in the courtyard behind Heart Notes Parfumerie as a refuge from the hectic pace of RhyDin and as a home for new peacock - a gift from some foreign prince with whom she had begun to trade with Alain's assistance. The brilliantly plumed bird strolled along the cobblestone paths that were lined with flower beds overflowing with a riot of English shrub roses in almost every color imaginable. White and blue clematis vines covered the iron gates that were at the entrance to the courtyard, their roots shaded as is their preference with a proliferation of single and double freesia that ranged from white to the darkest of blues. In the shaded corners calla lilles glowed in large terracotta pots, their cupped flowers blushing in peaches, pinks and corals. A pair of tall topiaries, intricately shaped by her own hand into the form of peacocks, flanked the back door to the building where there was also a small plot set aside for herbs, both medicinal and culinary.

Weeping almond and cherry trees also decorated the courtyard while small, formal hedges edged other beds filled with casablanca lilies, trumpet lilies, tiger lilies and daylilies. Mandevilla and bouganvilla vines cascaded along the iron fencing on both sides, providing a bit of privacy from passersby. From her perch on the swing, she could both see and hear the melody of the waterfall with its matching pond that were miniature replicas of her favorite swimming spot back in Evandar. Eless had purchased a trio of exotic fish with sweeping, long fins and bright colors to live in it and hoped the presence of the peacock would deter any heron from making a meal out of them. As the sun continued its descent, the moonflowers that were planted at the base of either side of the swing, began to open. Each flower lived for one night alone to share its enchanting fragrance before it closed and died by the next morning.

The diminutive elf rose smoothly from the swing, dusky circles of fatigue beneath her eyes, but a pleased smile graced her soft, pink lips. She headed inside to wash and change for the evening, only pausing to check on a dwarf peach tree's progress before entering the back door to her work room.

~Against the grain should be a way of life What's worth the prize is always worth the fight Every second counts ?cause there's no second try So live like you'll never live it twice Don't take the free ride in your own life~

—— Lyrics from If Today Was Your Last Day, Nickleback

"It is really unbecoming for a young lady to live by herself."

"She works too hard, I think. She looks tired of late."

"There is a male visitor sometimes. I saw so myself."

"I did too. A few nights ago he carried her home. "Yes, and one night the brazen fellow took a bow! "Shameless!"

"You all act as if she is carrying on with a line of men trailing in and out of her apartment. The one thing all of you have seen is a gentleman escorting her to her door. Have any of you seen him enter?"

Mistress Thomas had the decency to blush and admit, "No, I cannot say that I have."

"What about exit?" defended Madame d'Orleans.

"No, but that does not mean their escapades take place during the hours when normal people do," grudgingly replied Signorina Ortolani, the eldest in the blue-haired coven of widows and spinsters who inhabited the neighboring buildings surrounding Elessaria's parfumerie.

These ladies regularly descended upon the elven empath's shop a few times a week to gossip and dine on the delectable desserts and tea that were kept on hand for the customers. With Miss Lilianne's move to her nephew's place outside of RhyDin, that left Madame d'Orleans — the only widow amongst the three remaining friends— as Eless' staunch supporter. She tolerated them on the worst days and on the best, she did enjoy their company when they weren't being too petty. Their endorsement had really helped ~Heart Notes~ become the success it had.

Mistress Thomas, drummed her fingers impatiently upon one of the marble counters in the shop. "The tea is cold. I wonder where the lass is." "So, who is this man that escorts our dear parfumeuse home safely at night?"

"I do not know, but she does wear a plain silver-colored ring. Do you think it is from him' Maybe we should ask her."

"We should wait until she is ready to tell us. Elessaria" Elessaria" Where are you?" The three elderly women looked at each other and without another word, bustled into the backroom of the shop (they secretly wanted to see where she crafted her creations anyhow) with the excuse to check upon the proprietress' well-being. As they clamored at the back door, King John, the extremely pretentious and proud peacock, squawked his alarm.

"Infernal bird!" "B?te bruyante!"

"Io odio quella creatura!" The sudden commotion roused Elessaria who had fallen asleep in a late fall sunbeam with an ancient elven tome upon her lap. As she rose from her swing, mischief returned to her gaze at the utterings of her nosy neighbors. Some days she really appreciated this unusual sentry.

"Good day, Mesdames. Let me make some fresh tea and then thou canst tell me what news thou dost have to share."