From: alden@coos.dartmouth.edu (Laurie F. Alden)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [L] Luthor and Serene, Part 2
Date: 8 Oct 92 16:53:41 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

"Where are we going now?" Luthor asked after they had finished eating.

  "I thought I would suprise you.  It's one of my favorite parts of the city,"
  Serene said with a mischevious look on her face.

  A few minutes later, the couple passed through a gate and into the
Generican Public Gardens.  Luthor was amazed that such a splendid
garden could exist inside a city as large as Generica.  It was
incredible.  Different kinds of plants from all over this world and
many others were represented here.  He saw many species from the
Forgotten Realms that he recognised immediately.  Some of which he had
thought to be extinct.

  Serene laughed.

  "What is so funny my dear?" he asked suddenly feeling self conscious.

  "You should see the look on your face.  You look like a Low City child on
  Mid-Summer's Day looking at all of the regal costumes and festivities for
  the first time," she smiled.  "I am glad to have made you happy."

  "Serene, I love this place.  My family's villa was in the midst of our farm
  lands.  We were surrounded by beds of flowers on all sides, including the
  winter rose.  At any time of the year, our estate was blanketed with the
  sweet smell of blossoms.  What a wonderful life that was."  Luthor said as
  if he was in a trance.

  "What was your family's trade?" she asked.

  "We had the largest apple orchard in all of the Realms.  Artists and mages
  also ran in our family, adding to the fortune, but most of us were farmers."

  "Farmers eh?" said an old bent human who seemed to be in his late 90's.  His
  sudden appearance startled Luthor and Serene, but they were immediately at
  ease by the old gentleman's manner.

  "Yes sir.  We grew golden apples of the greatest beauty and sweetest taste.
  Unfortunately, the orchard has been ruined by the treachery of my enemies."

  "Don't call me 'sir' half-elf.  By the looks of you, you are older than I am
  by at least a half century.  Might you have some seeds from your wonderful
  apples?" he grumbled in the way that old men do.

  "Well, I think I still have some apples in here somewhere," Luthor said while
  reaching inside his BLACK cloak.  After a few seconds, he pulled out a shiny
  golden apple.

  "Even better," the old man said as Luthor passed him the apple.  He slpit
  it into two even halves and handed them to Serene after removing the seeds
  carefully.  He then waved a hand over the seeds and they glowed faintly.

  "Yes, they are still good.  You eat that apple miss.  Too many city folk don't
  eat enough fruit," said the old man laughing to himself.  He turned to leave.

  "Wait, what are you called?" Luthor called after him.

  "I am Vitor the Life-Giver, Custodian of the Generican Public Gardens, High
  Arch-Druid of the Known Lands, Master of the Forces of Nature," he said
  mocking his own title, "but I'm really just an old gardener."

  With a wink, the old man disappeared behind a tree without a sound or trace.

   Serene happily munched her apple-half, offering the other to Luthor, richly
enjoying the flavors of that foreign orchard.


--
Ecclesiastes 3:8.5:  There is a time to fish and a time to cut bait.
lfa@dartmouth.edu