‘That’s an odd little plant, Jack.’
‘Do you think? They all look the same to me.’
Merideth leant down for a closer look, stroking the leaves. While the small herb looked similar to the cobblers peg weeds nearby, it had a cluster of bright white, bell-shaped flowers instead. She broke off a leaf, crushed it and held it to her nose. A beautiful, sweet fragrance rose from the herb, and a tingly euphoria rocked her head back.
‘Wow, Jack! Come and smell this.’

‘Omigod, Merideth! What just happened?!’
‘Nothing happened, you…’ Her voice died, as she looked through her now invisible body.

A small throat was cleared behind her, belonging to a waist-high fairy. ‘Sorry about this, but you weren’t meant to see that flower.’
‘Sorry about what?’
‘This.’
The bushes rustled and a rain of arrows thudded home.

#

Jack was confused. Why had he come into the woods today?

© 2008 Damian Herde