Tansies

Words by runi

The warm rays of the afternoon sun filters through the window, bathing the chamber with a soft orange light. A breeze rustles the trees outside and the falling leaves outside the glass create a swift dance of shadows on the wall.

The maid places the envelope down on the mahogany table in front of him, and curtsies before turning around to exit the room. The heavy wood thuds shut and he finally brings his eyes down on the letter sent to him, dread filling his veins.

To someone who is less knowledgeable, the envelope looks like it contained a letter filled to the brim with love and confessions. The stems of the tansies are trapped underneath the blue wax seal, its yellow petals vibrant against the black of the paper. The seal has a familiar crest embedded into it, a simple snowflake pattern with the north star within it. A frown pulls at his lips as he lifts the envelope up, the tansies shedding a few of its petals and floating down to the table.

He pulls the tansies out of the wax gently, the stems catching on the wax and almost tearing off. Deciding that it would ruin the flowers, he takes the seal off instead, the wax breaking slightly under the pressure of his fingers.

He flips the envelope open, pulling the letter out of it and unfolding it. His eyes scan through the words quickly, a bitter smile finding its way to his lips as he does. He drops his hands to the table as he tilts his head back to look at the ceiling. He feels a weight settle in his stomach and a lump stuck in his throat. He gulps, as if that would dislodge it and let him breathe easier.

To someone who is less knowledgeable, the envelope looks like it contained a letter filled to the brim with love and confessions.

It used to, he thinks, but no longer.

Just a simple glance at the envelope had let cold blood run through his veins. To him, he knew that the tansies carried a threat, a declaration. It’s no longer the periwinkles that showed their friendship, nor were they the lilacs that declared their infatuation.

No. He thinks as his eyes land on the tansies once more. These flowers declared war.