(February 20, 2025)

“What to read, what to read?” Arwym thought as they stared at the towering stacks of books in the room.

The books aren’t organized in any kind of logical way. Sort of by genre, though there was significant overlap, and a little bit by size, but there were hardcovers mixed in with the paperbacks.

Years of building their collection, piling titles on top of titles, always promising to read them when there was time. And bit by bit, they made their way through—even as bit by bit, they added more.

Arwym’s gaze landed on one cover in particular—dragons!—and they reached for the book… when a noise among the stacks made them freeze.

(April 25, 2025)

With careful steps, Arwym made their way around the shelf to the next row of stacks. Empty. Yet the sound was continuing. Getting louder.

They clutched their book to their chest, the only defence they had against whoever—or whatever—might be in here with them.

When they rounded another row, a shadow reared up on the wall. A towering beast with long teeth and claws the length of Arwym’s arm. A squeak escaped their throat, but they swallowed the rest of the scream, not wanting to alert the creature that they were here.

On tiptoe, they approached the corner, but there was no beast.

Arwym dropped their gaze to the floor. Where a tiny dragon sat on top of a stack.

(May 29, 2025)

“Oh!”

Arwym hopped backwards and ducked behind the books.

Cautiously, they poked their head above the stack to eye the dragon. Its purple wings were tucked against a green-and-purple body, and large golden eyes stared at her with… annoyance?

Arwym frowned and stared back at it. What did it have to be annoyed about? It was in their home. On their books.

“Shoo,” they said.

The dragon huffed, and a tiny puff of smoke drifted from its nostrils. “I will not shoo. You have been summoned.”

A shiver ran down Arwym’s spine. “By whom?”

The dragon rolled its eyes. “The queen of course. So come along. And don’t you dare wear… that.”

(July 1, 2025)

Arwym rushed through getting ready, tidying their hair and replacing their comfortable at-home trousers with far more appropriate court attire. Within minutes, they were ready to go, leaving the dragon behind as they ran out the door and hurried to the waiting cart.

A quick incantation got the cart moving, and soon enough the palace came into view.

Arwym parked by the stables, brushed the dust off their clothes, and strode with grace and poise up the stairs into the grand foyer.

“Arywm,” the queen snapped from the top of the curving staircase. “What in magic’s name have you done to my garden?”

They swallowed. Oh crap.

(August 4, 2025)

“Your Majesty?” Arwym asked. “What do you mean? I haven’t been in your garden.”

The queen narrowed her eyes at them. “You dare lie to me?”

Arwym gulped. “Well, I mean, I didn’t do anything when I happened to be in your garden. I know I shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but it was a beautiful day and I needed this particular flower to test a spell and—”

“Follow me.”

The queen didn’t hesitate to descend the stairs and lead the way through the palace to the wide set of glass doors that led to her personal garden. Arwym followed behind her, because what other options was there? It wasn’t like they could deny the express command of the queen.

When they stepped outside, their jaw dropped at the state of the chaos awaiting them.

The garden was a disaster. Or maybe disaster was the wrong word. It wasn’t ruined it was simply... overrun. As though every plant in the space had decided it was tired of being small and well contained and had burst into lush vines and towering stalks. Petals dripping with colour sagged over the walking paths. Flowers that should have come up to Arwym’s ankles now loomed over their head.

Chaos.

“I—I--” they looked around, up, down, trying and failing to take in everything around them. “I have no idea what happened. This had nothing to do with me. I simply...”

Simply plucked a flower. One they’d had no permission to pluck.

“Why were you here?” the queen asked coldly. But there was no anger in her gaze. All Arwym could see was practicality. Logic. There was a problem, and the queen was determined to fix it. It was why she was such a good ruler. But that didn’t mean she would allow such an act to go unpunished.

“I wanted to try a working to preserve food past the point where it usually begins to rot. It seemed to me a worthwhile spell before we move into winter. A way people can stretch their stores without going hungry.”

“Worthwhile, indeed,” the queen said. “I might have even approved of such a goal if you’d deigned to ask me.”

Arwym swallowed, and the queen’s shoulders drooped. “Instead, we’re left dealing with this mess. And it is a mess, child. These plants haven’t stopped growing. If they continue, they might consume the entire palace. And who knows what else. It’s time to pull up your sleeves and put your mage’s cap on. We need to try to save the world from being consumed by foliage.”