The Bee Dungeon

The circle of leaves and petals began to accelerate, spinning faster and faster. A gust of wind picked up even more leaves and petals and began spinning around the original circle. It picked up more and more leaves, until the entire circle was hidden from view in a whirlwind of green with streaks of color.

Then, in a single moment, a gust of wind dispersed the shield of leaves. Belissar shielded his eyes from the sudden gust, blocking his own view for moment. When he opened his eyes and lowered his arms, he found that the fairy circle was no longer vacant. In the center now stood a flower. A flower that came up to Belissar’s thighs…and standing on its roots. Its roots and branches were arranged like the limbs of a person and its stem bulged in the center…and held a pair of big eyes blinking curiously. Its “head” was topped with a giant flower with bright red leaves, giving it the appearance of a tiny person with a wide-brimmed hat.

It glanced around every which way before noticing the bees hovering all around it. It smiled, with its eyes since it appeared to lack a mouth, and waved at the bees, then jumped back into the center of the circle. The leaves picked up around it once more before anyone could respond and then it was gone.

Belissar blinked as the bees danced around him.

“King! What that? What do?”

Belissar was about to respond with his signature “um” when the leaves began to pick up once more. He swallowed his words and focused on the circle.

“Looks like it’s coming back. It didn’t seem hostile, but everyone get ready, just in case.”

The bees performed their salute dance and assembled back into formation as the leaves sped up once again. This time, Belissar was ready as they dispersed, and so kept his eyes on the center.

And then his jaw fell as low as it could go. In the center of the circle now stood the most beautiful woman Belissar had ever seen. Her skin was tanned as one who spent most of their time outdoors, yet had not a single blemish Belissar could find. Her hair was a shining blond that glimmered in the sun with some sort of silvery highlights. It was woven into braids with dozens of colorful flowers all along it, and her head was topped by a small crown of flowers. She wore a simple green gardener’s dress and a brown apron, yet wore it with all the grace of a queen in her finest robes. Every movement she made was as smooth and graceful as flowing water. She seemed light and ephemeral, as if a sudden breeze would blow her away, yet at the same time had a presence that commanded his attention, like a mountain looming overhead.