22 If trees could talk

Not that much later I heard a stir from Leafia. I looked over to her and saw her sitting up and stretching. "I must have been more tired than I thought. I don't normally sleep this late," I heard her mumble. As she turned to face me I felt a shimmer of power from my other side. "Good morning Laurel," she said with a yawn. The yawn was quickly replaced with a confused face. She was looking at the small tree that was standing a few feet away from where I was.

"Why did you grow a tree? You have always been growing some kind of food. But this maple tree is still a long way from being ready to tap for its sap."

The tree noticeably shuddered. Had it heard Leafia's words? It seemed to, which led to even more confusion on Leafia's face.

I let out a nice hearty laugh seeing this play out. My laughter must have roused Istan from his sleep. "You grew a tree? Let us dedicate this tree. Once it becomes of age we will tap this tree and make what will surely be known as the best sweets in the world."

The tree again started to shake much more than the wind called for. I once again could not contain my laughter upon hearing that Istan's thoughts so closely mirrored Leafia's. And why did any maple tree I made have to be used for food? There were lots of other maples around. After I calmed down again from my laughter, I said, "I suggest that we do not tap this tree. I think it might get angry at you if you did." A confused look fell over Istan's face. That same look was back in full force on Leafia's face.

"I think it is too late to keep up your disguise. At this point you might as well show yourself."

"I don't want to! What if they try to hurt me like the humans did?" I heard the tree say. Leafia's mouth opened so wide it looked like you could fit a whole apple in it.

"I really think it is too late at this point. I have lived a long time, and even I have never met a talking tree before. It is only a matter of time before they figure it out. Also, you can't run away in this form. You would be better off in your original shape," I said while suppressing laughter. It really is good to get out every few centuries. I get to see so many things I never would have if I stayed home. After countless years I have finally found a talking tree!

I have wondered from time to time what it would be like if trees could really talk. But every time I have thought this, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be very entertaining. The only thing they would have to talk about is the weather, neighbors taking up too much space, pest problems, and the occasional nest where they did not want it. That would get old very quickly. Maybe they would have a sense of humor and prove me wrong. But at least with their limited ability to communicate right now, what I hear about is just those things. Actually not even that much. Just pests, neighbors and the weather. And 'hearing' is much too nice of a word. They just send out pheromones like they are shouting it to the world. I would not want that turned into sound.

It would get a little more interesting when the trees were flowering. They would likely be talking about pollen concentration and ways to attract pollinators then. We might get into conversations about the benefits of butterflies over wasps. So maybe it would not be so bad. But there would be so many individual trees to keep track of. They usually only live a few hundred years at most, often only fifty or sixty years. With the size of my forest, I would not have time for anything besides greeting trees. Then they might start asking me for things. How would I ever keep up? It would be worse than the elves. The elves at least don't expect me to remember all their names. Who would name all those trees in the first place. Don't tell me that they would expect me to name them. Also the trees are always competing with each other. There is no way I would want to have to weigh in on the day-to-day disputes. It's part of life in the forest: you have to find a way to survive or you will die.

Some may think that this is severe coming from the one who governs the forest. But that is just the thing, I govern the forest not the trees themselves. Does a human king (I think they still have kings) care about the daily life of each subject? No. They care about how their people as a whole are doing. So back on subject. In the end I think it is a good thing that trees don't talk.

Wait…. That was not on subject, that whole thing was just me getting off track! It looks like Ivy was still trying to decide if she would trust the elves and they were still processing the talking tree. So I did not miss too much.

"Another Dryad?" Istan asked. Well I assume he was asking, that is kind of what it sounded like.

I gave him a small nod, at which he fell to his knees. "This surely is holy ground! At this place have two dryads spent the night in council. Oh the grand things that must have been discussed. This could one day reshape the whole world. Their meeting place must be recorded for all time!" He hastily looked around for stones and began piling them. I couldn't believe he was actually trying to build a monument. Or actually, was it more of an alter? Either way I could only roll my eyes as he began saying that they would need to dedicate this spot.

"See,"I said, turning to Ivy, "you do not need to be afraid that they are going to hurt you."