The Green Ribbon Novels & Stories

Closing the space with my beloved, I intwined my hand in his, but there were no sparks, no electricities, or chills. "We will begin with the handfasting ritual." Grey, the lead council elder, mumbled as he picked up two colors of ribbons from the mating tray. "The blue ribbon signifies harmony and patience. While the green ribbon signifies fertility and abundance of health. May your marriage be filled with these two magical colors and always blossom." He declared, his voice echoing through the hall of people as he intwined my hands to Asher with the two magical ribbons. I felt my heart skip a beat. I was finally getting married to Asher, and everything still s

It was a simple gesture, but it felt significant, a small offering to the stories that surrounded him. Jo found it the next morning, the studio quiet and still. She didn’t know who had left it, but she felt an immediate connection to the ribbon, its color and texture speaking to her in a way she couldn’t quite articulate. She placed a drawing beside it: two hands exchanging a ribbon, neither holding it fully, capturing the essence of the moment. Franc added one spiral above it—drawn in gold dust, a touch of magic that seemed to dance in the morning light. They labeled it quietly: “Carried Without Question.” It was a title that resonated with them, a reminder of the unspoken connections that

he whispered to her again, and it took a lot of strength to not crack up and laugh aloud. “Okay! You may rise, my king,” she said, and he rose to his feet with the silly smile on his face that she had missed for so long. “What are these ribbons for?” “It’s nice of you to ask, my queen. These ribbons are a sign from the king of Klean that he would always stand beside us. The green signifies his agreement and the gold, his readiness.” “Oh wow, you’ve done so well, my king.” she reached out and stroked his face and he pulled her closer so her body pressed against him like she belonged to him. She did. She didn’t complain about it.

Before going down, I found two red ribbons among the things in the blue box. One had belonged to my mother, the other was new. I held them and Nathan frowned. "What are you doing?" he asked carefully. "A promise." Nina stayed alert. I took one ribbon and tied it around my wrist, not tight, just a simple knot. I held the other out to Nathan. "It isn't a mark," I said carefully. His face changed. "No." "It doesn't mean you're mine." "Or that you're mine." "It means we go down together and come back together."

I recognized several officers from the capital garrison and two men I had last seen inspecting the western gate before the campaign. Someone had planned the security properly. Good. The first ribbon came toward me near the market square. I caught it because it would otherwise have struck Taren between the eyes. Red silk. A stitched border. Competent work. I passed it to the attendant riding behind us with the rest of the public offerings. Another followed. Then flowers. A narrow embroidered strip carrying Caereth wings. Two more ribbons. Something made of braided cord that I did not inspect closely enough to identify.

"I am! Thank you so much for asking me to come." She leans in, conscious that Tristan is on my other side.? "Gosh, I'm so happy that you and him are working together." "Thank you, I'm glad you think so." "Do you know who his new girl is? He won't tell me, and I've tried everything. And I'll have you know that I am the queen when it comes to guilt-tripping." My eyes widen with surprise and I take a sip of my aojiru. The green juice, made from kale leaves, barley grass, and green tea leaves, is deliciously refreshing. "Umm, I don't have a clue. He hasn't mentioned anything"

“Not at your throat. At your wrists. It will remind you of the door you chose to open. It will remind you who closes it.” He crouched and wrapped the ribbon around her wrists with calm precision. The silk secured with a small knot that she could not see. He slid a fingertip under the binding to test the give. There was room for blood and breath. Not much else. “Color,” he asked. “Green.” “Stand,” he said. She rose. He adjusted her posture with light taps. Shoulders back. Chin level. Hands low. The ribbon made her hands feel heavier than they were.

Even if my eyes were open, I could still see her vividly. I arranged my pallet until everything was set, the only thing left to do is to get the brush and strike it in different ways to present her perfectly. White, Yellow Ochre, and Cadmium Red were inviting me, just by looking at them I knew I'd get her complexion seamlessly. Her skin is fair and glossy, like white sand radiating under the heat of the afternoon sun, or almonds blanched and then peeled. I'll add Cerulean for her blush.

His training and skills were far beyond her own experience. She reached out and grabbed her staff from its corner spot in her room. She examined it quickly; its braided threads of different colors wrapped the top, with a small, vibrant red ribbon chain with a brilliant, blue feather, given to her by a Ribon. The Ribons were beautiful birds of vibrant reds, blues and greens. Their songs were of even tones and lovely tunes to the ears. Laylan had spent many days in the forest listening and watching the Ribons. She took her staff, and then turned out of her room.

Granted, I couldn’t see much – and what I saw wasn’t exactly groundbreaking – but still, it was something more than I’d ever experienced since the first day I had waddled from my crib, taking to my knees as though they were hawk’s wings and soaring across the marble floors, or at least it was told to me that way. There were fields of green and gold waiting beyond the railing of that balcony. Servants worked in those fields, harvesting fruits and wheat and spices like torf; and beyond that, most of the activity was reserved for birds and a few lazy patrols of guards, along with the occasional opportunistic rabbit, or a squirrel.