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The sun in the village was bright and warm. It was glowing down on them as it settled itself over the ledge of the horizon in the distance. The tree leaves glowed like embers of a dying flame. Painted in a glittering gold that looked as if Midas himself had touched it. The villagers mingled around the center of their home. Walking and talking and trading. Farmers walked by with carts filled with wheat and beets, carrots and potatoes. Fishermen strapped barrels filled with fresh catch down so they wouldn’t roll away. Cartographers rolled their maps and scrolls with delicate lace ribbons so they would be pristine for the morning opens.
Sam watched it all with a smile on his face. He was happy for the peace. Punz and Dream were playing by the fountain in the center of the square. They’d gotten away from hunters and poachers for long enough now that they hadn’t so much as heard a whisper of a hunt for them in the last three villages they stopped at. It was enough that Sam had agreed to let them stay there until they heard rumors again. A little home for the three of them.
It was the anniversary of a week in one place. The longest they’d been settled in one area since Dream was added to their little family. Punz had taken to entertaining Dream when Sam went out to try to find work. He’d found himself with a job with one of the village’s masons. He was very impressed by his knowledge of redstone and had given him a very nice job. Turns out the people here had been wanting to automate their village but didn’t have anyone with the expertise to do it.
It was good. When you had two hungry mouths to feed back at home. They’d built their home a little bit aways from the rest of the village but it wasn’t far. A two or three minute walk. A minute run if they decided to race. Sam thought the villagers took pity on him with all the deals they gave him for trades. Three brothers stranded out alone when one of them looked about the size of a seven year old. Punz had cackled the first time Dream got referenced as such. Teased their little brother over and over while Sam had tried to explain to his pouting youngest that it was just because he hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet.
Sam had needed to fight the urge to tell him it was also because he still acted with the innocent goodness of a child. It didn’t matter that he was ten. He was still a child. He was still good and hopeful and everything Sam wanted to keep safe. Dream wasn’t old enough to work. And Sam would be damned before he ever let Punz do mercenary work again.
His younger brothers were his responsibility. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to them.
He watched them play around the fountain a little longer. Fondness filling his heart as he saw Punz splash Dream and Dream lift a little wooden sword that Punz had carved for him a few months back. Both of them were laughing. Happy and safe and everything that Sam had wanted for them for so long.
He watched as one of the clerics smiled and watched them play from the other side of the square. She had been the one that helped them to make their house. She even offered to watch out for Punz and Dream while Sam was working since she was still technically an apprentice. She’d given them all a check up when they came here. Punz had been a little sick but it hadn’t been anything serious and they were paranoid enough to move to the next village regardless.
The medicine she’d given him had cured him overnight. It was like magic. Sam had thanked her and promised her he’d pay her back but she’d told him no. That it was just kindness. That interaction on its own made him believe that this village was a good place for them to settle down when Punz and Dream tried to convince him. Everyone was kind here. They took the saying of “it takes a village” to heart. Everyone looked out for each other. They were all kind. It was peaceful. A stark difference to what they’d experienced and exactly what they needed.
He watched her as she watched his little brothers. Saw her stifle a laugh when Dream and Punz began pulling and throwing grass back and forth. Screaming and shouting at each other trying to win whatever made up battle they’d invented for themselves.
She turned towards the cleric tower and vanished within the cobblestone walls only to emerge a few moments later with a bundle in her arms. By that point he was starting to make his way over towards his siblings. She was heading towards them and as much as he trusted the people of this village and he lived for the peace that was here, years and years of paranoia and mistrust didn’t just vanish after a week.
She smiled fondly at him and Sam returned it immediately. Dream shouted his name and sprinted towards him. He launched into his side like a small flesh torpedo. Punz was laughing while Sam glared daggers at him. Dream was wet from the splashing and had grass blades sticking to his skin, hair, and clothes. He was just about to scold his younger brother for laughing so much when Punz slipped on the fountain ledge and fell into the water.
That time all of them but Punz were laughing. The dusk sky filled with the sounds of their joy as they enjoyed the domesticity of the scene around them. Punz pulled himself from the fountain and shook himself out like a dog. Freezing as soon as the cleric came towards him.
“I have presents for all of you.”
She moved to untie the bundle in her arms at the same time Sam went to turn her down. He hated to reject her kindness but he refused to take advantage of the village’s soft spot for all of them. He only stopped when Dream was scrambling from his arms and he could finally see the items she had.
Delicately weaved flower crowns wrapped in a cloth. Sam marveled at the beauty of them while Punz raised an eyebrow. Dream on the other hand bounced on his feet as he stared at the carefully crafted crowns in her hands. She turned towards Sam first. Lifting one of the crowns out that was weaved gently with flowers he knows he’s seen but he couldn’t name. Setting the rest of them on the ground she lifted the crown up and the sign was clear enough for Sam to bend for her to place it on his head for him.
“Oxeye daisies. They’re signs of patience. Patience that you’ll need as these two grow up. As you all do. It’ll give it to you when you find yourself running out on your own.”
He muttered a quiet thank you. A hand reaching up to feel the petals and relish in the softness of each of them. She turned towards Punz next. Sam had to stop himself from laughing when his younger brother straightened almost ramrod straight under her gaze. She plucked the next crown from the cloth and lifted it so he could see it. Pretty blue flowers weaved around cords of long grass.
“Cornflowers. To match your eyes and also your heart. They mean a positive hope for the future. A wish for good things.” She saw Punz scoff and took the chance to place the crown over his head. “You’re a hopeful man, whether you think so or not. Your crown matches you.”
Punz was thankful for the low lighting as he blushed at the words. Backing away from her and tucking himself behind Dream. He didn’t reach for the petals like Sam did but he would certainly be looking at the crown the moment they got back to their house.
Dream who’d been watching the interactions stilled himself but watched with bright anticipation as she knelt down to his height. Pulling the final crown from the cloth and holding it up towards Dream.
“Dandelions?”
His voice held the sound of a frown but the cleric only smiled at him.
“Very good.”
“But they’re weeds?”
He sounded hurt. Sad that his brothers would get such pretty flowers with pretty meanings and he would get a weed. But she shook her head and looked him in the eye as she spoke.
“Weed is a perspective. Dandelions mean hope, like your brother, but they also mean love and happiness. Things that you are full of. Things you should never let go of.”
She placed the crown over his head but kept her fingers cupped around his cheeks.
“You love something, you find happiness, you keep the hope in your heart that it will come back if you ever find yourself without it. Dandelions are the most resilient flower. Just like you.”
He beamed at her as she stood up again. Punz tapped him on the shoulder and took his hand before sharing a meaningful look with Sam.
“Come on Dre, let’s go home. Get dinner ready for Sammy.”
Sam only had time to give a thankful look to his brothers before they were headed off on the path home. Sam alone with the cleric. He sighed lightly and turned back to her. Intent to thank her for all the kindness she’d shared with them but she had another flower in her hand. Small and white with little bell like buds. He raised an eyebrow at her slightly sad expression.
“It’s lily of the valley.”
He reached out to take the flower. Their hands resting together as he did so.
“They mean a return to happiness.”
He understood her meaning the second she said it. A return to peace. To normality. A life where they wouldn’t need to be on the run. She’d seen all the marks on their bodies when she gave them their checks. She knew their life had been a hard one. And while Sam didn’t believe that flowers could really hold that much power. Not yet at least. He did believe that she was doing what she thought she could to make things better for them.
It warmed his heart.
“Thank you.”
His voice came out quieter than he meant it to. She’d been fond of flowers from the first day he met her. If she read into them as much as it seemed she did then he was curious to return the favor to her.
“What do yours mean?”
She blinked at him for a second. Sadness washing away with amused joy when she looked at him.
“Roses?”
“Yeah.”
They both looked towards the cleric tower. The building that was lined on the outside by beautifully kept rose bushes.
“They mean different things depending on their colors. But mine mean love. Beauty, courage. The life that I want.”
He nodded. Carefully stepping away towards the direction his brothers had taken. If he was gone too long Dream would worry and Punz would tease him.
“It’s a good life. You’ll have it.”
“Thank you. You’re a good man, Sam. Just remember you can have happiness too.”
He hesitated for a second. Another smile in her direction as he settled himself to relax in their new home and the new friendship he’d formed.
“Thank you, Hannah.”
When he got back home Dream asked him about the new flower. Sam had dodged the questions and Punz had snickered at his face as he put it in a vase.
Return to happiness.
He could do that.
They all could.