The Orchards

The orchards of Avalbane are a beautiful place full of apple trees. Perfect for a peaceful, quiet place to rest and admire the beauty of creation, grab a quick, juicy snack, or warm up on your arrows using the apples as targets! But yea, as well, at the edge of the grove of trees, and behind the citadel, but for all to see should they wish, rests a statue so lifelike that, just maybe, the woman of stone gazes at you with her soft, sad smile. She sits by a river, knees tucked under, a light gown spread about her on the lush grass that--does it move with the wind?--grows by the stream's edge. Her fingertips trail in the water, leaving ripples as they go. She is lifesize, and lifelike, of beautifully coloured stone with no specific design or pattern, but that pale, fleshlike pink quartz, and hints of blue strewn throughout, carefully selected sections especially at the azure sky-coloured eyes, which hold a joy, and yet, the same sadness that the smile holds as she gazes at the water through long lashes, head tilted in perfect reminiscence of the woman she once was.