This story was inspired by this incongrous line from the entry for “Gladden Fields” in Robert Foster’s The Complete Guide to Middle Earth:

“Many irises grew in the Gladden Fields.”

If I ever knew this I’d forgot it, but remembered instead that the more ‘common’ name for Iris is ‘Flag’.

Where I live, they are in bloom as I write this; a peacenik drabble.

PS:  The A/N has more words than the drabble!