“Tree-Shapers”....

That was the name given to those of her kind who could speed the growth of plantlife and shape it to their needs. Entire cities could be built within the forest and remain completely hidden from unfriendly eyes, because every structure was composed almost entirely of the trees themselves. Their skill could bend branches into arches for great halls and frame windows of colored glass, form trunks into columns that held up leafy ceilings, and guide roots carefully inlaid into floors of polished stone, creating intricate patterns reminiscent of the designs found in nature.

Her people were the Laiquendi, the Green Elves, and of all their Eldar kin they were known best for their close communion with all things that grew from the soil. They lived unseen in a network of tribes spread through the forests that lined the coasts of northwest Middle Earth. Their knowledge of herbology and the beauty of their hidden gardens was unsurpassed by anything else in Arda. Though all Elves were known to worship Varda above all other Valar, it was often said that Yavanna might in fact be the Laiquendi elves' favored goddess. For it was she who created the green and leafy things of the world, and shrines honoring her could be found in the deepest parts of their homeland.

Though all Laiquendi elves had the predisposition to a close kinship with the forest, only a few had the ability to shape plantlife. They possessed a special kind of magic that ran deep in their blood, a gift from Yavanna that many believed was bestowed upon them to aid her in rebuilding forests that had been destroyed by those who served evil. When called upon, they would be able to cover empty fields with towering trees in a matter of minutes, undoing the terrible deeds of the enemy. Food and medicine could be quickly obtained simply by raising whichever plant was needed, and brought to the soldiers who fought in their defense.

This kind of magic was powerful, and very taxing when used. It took immense amounts of energy to pull forth, and often left the one wielding it drained for at least a few hours. Thus it was used sparingly, larger tasks being carried out only in times of greatest need, and done as a cooperative effort. This had been their way for many thousands of years, and when it was discovered that she had the gift, Luthien had been trained, as many others before her, to temper her abilities and use them for the greater good. She knew when the time was appropriate to use magic, and when it was best to let nature do as it would, at it's own pace. As with all things, there was a balance.

Now that she was residing away from other elves in the southern forests of Valinor, Luthien had only her own magic to call upon, and she had used it to make a dwelling for herself that she now shared with Pachua. Their home was situated safely in the middle of a ring of massive trees, with many floors, walkways and balconies. She had a rose garden so lovely it rivaled the gardens of Lorien, surrounding their home with a wall of thorns and colorful sweet-smelling flowers, ever in full bloom due to Valinor's fair climate.

He had watched her sometimes, when she would work her magic on the smaller flowers and fruit trees, each time with utter fascination. It was always from a respectful distance though, for he did not wish to disturb her concentration. If she was aware of such an audience, she said nothing...until today. His curiosity had again brought him to her and as quiet and careful as he'd been, she had sensed him and called him out of hiding. She did not seem upset, and as he approached her, she smiled softly, a look of calm understanding on her face. She stood with her back against him, nestled safely in his arms, and took his hands in her own. As she held them, he felt a tingling sensation in his fingers, his palms growing warmer, as though a flame was suspended between them. He watched as a green glow covered their hands and felt Luthien breathing deeply.

She did not speak or make a sound, so Pachua simply waited to see what would happen. After a few seconds a green vine climbed up out of the ground, twisting and turning as it reached skyward. It forked here and there, growing thicker in some places and growing thorns in others. Leaves began to appear as tiny bursts of bright green emerging from the dark wood. Soon, deep pink flowers popped from among the leaves, explosions of color and scent so strong it could dizzy the senses. It was a rose bush, her favorite among all flowers, and he watched as it grew ever higher, it's topmost branches passing even the tips of his horns. By the time it stopped growing, it was the largest rose bush he'd ever seen, and it covered them both with it's shade.

It was only when he began to feel faint that he realized the energy that made this rose bush had not simply come from Luthien, but had been pulled from him as well. She had chosen this moment to share her gift with him by making him a participant, giving him a brief glimpse into her mysterious world. Wondrous it was, and he knew he would be forever seeking another taste of it.

Ah, finally got this one out of my head. >u<

This is what I've been working on this week - my mate has been getting into gardening and I'm absolutely thrilled that he shares in something that's so important to me now. :3 I wanted to do a picture of our characters in celebration of that, and this is what I came up with. :> I wanted to show Luthien sharing a bit of her green magic with Pachua, with them growing something together the same way we tend our garden and grow things together in real life. Plus, it was a great excuse to draw some knotwork. :3

I used a couple lens flares in PS to bring out the sparkly magic bits. The story blurb was something I came up with this morning, hopefully it makes sense. lol

And now that this is done and my vacation is almost up, it's time to slip back into commission mode. I'll be opening soon, stay tuned! >u>

Pachua is ©
Luthien and artwork are ©
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