Persephone was nervous and she had been pacing for some time. Today, she was going to grow the flowers for her and Lairion's children. She had never done this before, but it was a tradition that ran in her family and she was proud to finally be able to pass it along. The flowers she grew today would represent the fortune in store for her children. Though she could influence the outcome using her angeni powers, it was forbidden and to do so may bring misfortune regardless of what the flowers predicted. She was to leave it up to fate and let whatever came to be as it came. The only thing she could use her angeni powers for was to grow the flowers in a speedier way than they normally would.
Lairion had spent quite some time clearing the area for the flowers to bloom. He carefully weeded, destoned and worked at the soil until it was ready. None of this needed to be done, Persephone could make anything grow no matter how rough the soil was in but she was grateful all the same.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing and breathing deep. Then, she took a step forward and willed new life to bloom. That was the only use of her powers she made, though her mother's instinct screamed at her to do otherwise. She felt shoots and then leaves brush her ankle, the soft brush of petals unfurling. The smell of flowers wafted in the air, different enough to her own that she knew it was done. She opened her eyes slowly, peeking at the flowers before fully taking them in. Roses, both red and yellow. Her son would know romantic love but more importantly he would know the love of friendship. Her eyes crinkled as she beamed and she inspected the rest of the flowers. She smelt the jasmine before she spotted it and she breathed it in deep; her favourite scent. She had no doubt her son would inherit is father's charm; she only hoped he would be more sensible with it. A small bush with a single flower that would definitely grow out of control if she did not prune it often, a beautiful pink camellia opened up to the sky. Good fortune, then.
There were other sprouts and shoots that had appeared, but Persephone could only take the meaning of those that bloomed and she tried not to look at them too carefully as she moved away from this blooming to perform the next.
This time, she did not close her eyes and she watched the flowers come up in anticipation. Many shoots broke through the soil but only two bloomed. A lily, orange and fiery; her daughter would be pure but not without bite. A good trait to have, certainly. Golden daisies, bright and hopeful; new beginnings. Perhaps her daughter would go on many adventures. Persephone only hoped she would always find her way home.
She was already so proud of her children though they had not yet left their baskets. She could not wait to meet them and encourage them and shape them into the adults they would become. She was certain that between herself and Lairion, as well as his family, their children would be so fortunate and loved.
Now that it was finally done, she wondered why she had been so nervous in the first place and smiled softly to herself. She had just been ready to call Lairion over to see and hear their meanings when she spotted a new bloom amongst her son's blossoms. Her blood went cold and she knew that if she were to see her reflection, she'd be pale. Hidden among the blossoms was a single blossom of lily-of-the-valley but where they were normally the purest white, this was black.
Her heartbeat quickened and she mentally searched all knowledge that been passed down to her for an alternative meaning - something to explain this away or give it hope. But there was none and Persephone dropped to the dirt, carelessly but managing not to crush any of the flowers. She had been so looking forward to the arrival of her children and now she wished they could stay in their baskets forever, safe from harm.
The mare sat there long after the sun set, still trying to twist meanings she had known her whole life. Eventually, Lairion found her but she was in no state to explain and so he simply sat with her in silence until she was ready. When she spoke, her voice was a hoarse whisper and tears were streaming down her face.
"This flower could mean only one thing. Death."
