Second Task: The Tea Party

 “As part of the event, I am asking each of you to create a flower arrangement to be the centerpiece of one table. All of the royal gardens are at your disposal, as well as the greenhouses, which contain some of the more tropical of flowers. Your arrangement must be beautiful and unique, but it must be something else as well. It must be meaningful. I will be asking each of you why you made the arrangement you made, and I will expect an intelligent response. You have until noon to complete your arrangements. Begin.” 

A flower arrangement? Cora thought, Of all the stupid things! I can’t make anything look pretty. She looked out across the vast expanse that was the palace garden and wished she was not there. The morning sun was warm on her pale skin and she had to shield her eyes from its glaring reflection from the pond at the centre of the garden. The other girls seemed to have a clear vision of what they wished to create. Cora felt the slight twinge of jealousy towards the girl from Elgra, Archina, who has busy with sunflowers and roses, arranging them into a beautiful piece so elegantly and effortlessly.  Cora picked up her basket and sheers and headed into the gardens. The garden were filled with the most exquisite and exotic flowers Cora had ever seen. Being a trader she had travelled the entire empire and seen many of the flowers and trees in their indigenous land, but never all together, never like this. The scent was intoxicating. Clearly the royal gardeners knew exactly which flowers complimented each other. The perfume calmed Cora’s anxiety about the task and she set to work.

The roslilia, the flower of Kretrin, that grew exclusively in her home region would be tricky to find, if it was here at all. The roslilia was a flower that enjoyed dark and damp growing conditions. Cora looked around to see if there was anywhere within this ornate garden that might allow such a beautiful, but lonely flower to grow.

Cora came across one of the royal gardeners, a small, white haired man in blue uniform, “Excuse me,” she began, “I wonder if you could help me. I am looking for a flower, the roslilia flower, that is native to the Kretrin region. Does it grow here in the palace garden?” The old man smiled at Cora and motioned her to follow him. They moved further into the gardens, the sing-song voices of the other girls became fainter and the foliage became thicker. The gardener encouraged her onwards. The ground was becoming softer under her step and the air was feeling more damp. They stopped in front of a large weeping willow tree and the gardener pulled back the hanging ( )anches like he might a curtain to a new and mysterious room. Cora stepped in. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could see the faint glow of a roslilia flower.

“It is a very special flower,” the voice of the gardener made Cora jump, she had not realised he had stepped in behind her. “We have only three growing in the whole of Bascalin. The Emperor is particularly fond of this flower.” He paused, “take this one and,” another pause, “good luck.”

Once her flower arrangement was complete, Cora took it to where Madam Issera was standing. Cora noticed that the woman was watching the girls closely. Their every word and action was being observed and judged.“Madam Issera,” Cora began. She paused until the head of the royal household turned to face her.  “Yes, Cora of Kretrin.”<( ) /> “I have completed the arrangement I have made for the garden party,” Cora replied holding up the peculiar looking arrangement. <( ) /> “The flower  looks dead girl!” the woman retorted. Cora’s eyes fell onto the drooping roslilia flower. The merciless heat of midday sun was indeed causing it to wilt. “It..it.. it isn’t meant to do that!” Cora whispered sadly looking at the flower that was only moments ago shining with health and beauty.<( ) /> “Excuse me Madam Issera, if I may as be so bold as to suggest something to the lady of Kretrin?” It was the old gardener again. He did not wait for a reply. Turning to Cora he said, “Keep the oasis soaked and request the flower be put on a table beneath the tree, the flower will flourish again.”<( ) />“Oh thank you,” Cora said, a smile spreading across her face. “ Please excuse me, Madam Issera, I must go and save the roslilia flower,” as she hurried away she did not see the exchange of knowing look between the head of house and gardener.

Cora quickly returned to Madam Issera. “This is the roslinia flower,” Cora explained. “It is the flower of Kretrin and is very rare. The palace gardens is the only other place in the whole Empire that has managed to grow the flower into full bloom.” Madam Issera looked at the flower with great interest. It certainly had perked itself up since she last saw it. In fact, it was one of the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. “I have chosen it because of its rarity and beauty.”  For this reason, I hope that the Emperor and his sons will appreciate it. As the evening draws in, it will release a perfume like no other, and when the daylight plants begin to close, the roslilia will blossom into a radiant glow. A flower fit for a royal occasion.”<( ) /> “It is certainly a pretty flower,” Madam Issera said, still regarding the flower. “Possibly one of the only beautiful things of the Kretrin region.” Cora didn’t take this last remark to heart. It was true, the Kretrin region was not known for its areas of natural beauty, in fact it had nothing going for it. That’s why her people were traders,  but this flower was one of a kind and would outshine all others.

Madam Issera looked like she was trying to keep from smiling too broadly at the lovely flower. “It is truly beautiful. And apparently it thrives under only very specific conditions. Yet it manages to live here in Bascalin just as well as in Ketrin. I think you have found more symbolism in your piece than even you may have realized? I hope your flower lasts the night.” She nodded at Cora in dismissal, but gave one last smile before she left. (GypsyMoth's response)

***

When you reemerge, the garden has been transformed. Tables dot the landscape, covered in rich clothes in light colors, each one with a beautiful floral centerpiece. Pale ribbons flutter in the wind. Many of you have never been at anything so fancy as a tea party, but those of you who have are still surprised. This is nothing as simple as a tea party. It is much too lavish.<( ) />You are assigned a seat at a table with many courtiers of the city. Each contestant has become the centerpiece of her own table. You are expected to make polite small talk while maintaining impeccable etiquette. Part way through the meal the lord next to you leans over to ask, “And how do you find our city so far?”

The garden had been transformed. Cora stepped out with some of the other girls. She hadn’t spoken much to any of them. She suffered from social anxiety and dreaded events like this. One of the other girls, Ismene, the girl who had arrived after her the night before, put her hand on Cora’s arm. “It’ll be fine,” she said gently noticing Cora’s unease. “Just smile, laugh and smile some more. Don’t talk too much and enjoy the company. Who knows, if you don’t get one of the princes, there are plenty of other fine, rich men here!” Ismene giggled at her last words and moved out into the garden.

When Cora arrived at her table (under the largest tree, she noticed with relief) the men who were sat down stood up to greet her. She smiled as Ismene had advised, although she felt anything but happy. She was introduced by the servant who had shown her the way to where she was to be sat. The servant then went on to introduce her to all of the other guests sat on her table. He left and Cora, no standing alone, remembered none of the names. She was stayed in place  a little too long. <( ) /> “Don’t just stand there,” laughed one of the men. A tall, dark haired man with deep set eyes and a cruel glint in his eyes. He motioned to the only seat left. The one next to him. Pulling it out and her smiled as Cora sat down. The other men could now sit down too as etiquette demanded. <( ) />“So Cora of Kretrin.”  The dark haired man, Lord Lindtfilk started loudly, “I am glad we have the pleasure of such beautiful company. How are you finding the city so far?” He asked her, “I can’t imagine you have ever seen anything like this before, coming from Kretrin.” He laughed at his own joke. No one else on the table was paying much attention to them. Lord Lindtfilk wasn’t liked by many of the people of the court. Cora caught the eye of one other lady, who looked at Cora with pity in her eyes before she was distracted by the man on her right.<( ) />“It is beautiful, bu--” Cora started.<( ) /> “Too right it is,” the man scoffed and moved a little closer to Cora. She could feel his warm ( )eath on her cheek as he spoke. It repulsed her.<( ) />“It is the most beautiful place in the whole of the Empire. Gods only know why anyone would want to live anywhere else. Hah, and gods only know why the Emperor wants to marry off his sons to girls from the lesser regions.” He stopped, suddenly remembering his manner and the fact he was talking to one of these ‘lesser’ region girls. He laughed again and took a bite from the cake on his plate. Crumbs spilled from his mouth onto his shirt and trousers. Cora wished this was over. She looked across to her flower arrangement and smiled. Currently it was just a plain pink flower, but soon, as the sun got lower in the sky, the flower would come into its own and Kretrin won’t be just some region only fit for jokes.  Other members of the table began speaking to Cora and she relaxed. Beginning to enjoy the food and most surprisingly, enjoying the conversation.<( ) />“Oh goodness!” proclaimed a female voice from across the table from Cora. “The flower... it is ... beautiful. Why had I not noticed it before?” From the centre of the table the roslilia had  caught everyone’s attention. <( ) /> “I have never seen such a flower before, where is it from?” another woman turned to Cora.<( ) /> “The flower is the roslilia,” Cora said proudly, “and it is from the region of Kretrin.”

As the entire table stared at the beautiful flower, one of the ladies turned to Cora. “Am I right to assume you have travelled extensively? I long to see other regions, but I fear I love the comforts of home too much.” She gave a nervous laugh and looked back at the roslilia longingly. “But to see such treasures in the world… It must be wonderful.” (GypsyMoth's response)