A Walk in the Woods...

[monique_minx]

Winter was a little surprised as Ember shielded them but said nothing as she watched the Queen take back control of the whole situation, the others walked to the Dining Hall but Winter stayed put. She clasped one hand in Rose's and one in Ember's, she knew Rose was frightened because she was very young and Winter herself had to keep her fear at bay but she set a stony expression as the Erlking ordered his guards to seize the human.

Winter almost stepped forward but quickly caught herself and released Rose and Ember for a moment as the Erlking regarded the trio. She stepped into sight from behind Ember's shield and spread her own wings, folding her arms. Winter felt quite strong at the moment, this was her season and everything gave her strength, the cold gusts, the icy dirt and even the temperature in general.

"Don't you learn to bow to your betters, sunfolk?"

Winter near snorted at this, her chin tipped upward slightly and her gaze was one of menace which looked rather strange on her usually soft expression. She did step forward this time and spread her wispy white wings to keep Rose from view as she moved, she knew her cousin was very frightened whereas Ember's show of strength gave her courage.

"I wouldn't consider you my better your Majesty however..." She dipped in a low curtsy, her wings still spread to keep Rose from view and her movement and tone held sarcasm in spades.

She straightened and regarded him again, her expression read of only one question - satisfied?

 

[slippedhalo]

Embers nodded to her sister as she finished her's and then she began a curtsy of her own, her eyes cast upon the Erlking's many weapons and then up to his eyes as she smiled in false cheer knowing all the while that when her turn had come to bow her twin had taken over the duty of protection of young, frightened Rose. "Your Highness, my apologies if we've offended." she said, her voice full of warmth but clearly a feat of acting and not true contriteness nor was she at all hoping he felt any more welcome than he had a minute ago. "Erlking, since you were the last to have seen them, could you tell us...are the brownies alright?" she asked, knowing there were many who still hungered for an anser to the earlier asked and unanswered question.

 

[ShireWolfe]

As the words of the Erlking flowed from over Ember and Winter's wings, Rose swallowed hard, glad that her cousins' wings still shielded her from the lord of the Muryan from view. She shuddered at the thought of the Erlking showing an interest in her, but after a few deep breaths, she steadied herself, trying to be brave.

Was her mother not of the Sidhé folk, a part of the illustrous trouping fay, respected by both Courts for their neutrality, and bringing their arts to both? Was she not half Sidhé herself? Would she show fear towards something as lowly and despicable as the lord of the unblessed? Streching her own exotic wings, Rose took another steady breath, trying to ready herself if the vile Erlking was to order her cousins to part. If the old pig were to try anything, she would show him what the earth truly thought of the Muryan.

(OOC: A slight clarification: Seelie = Old english for blessed/holy, so Unseelie = Unblessed/Unholy)

 

[Tarakin]

The Erlking

The Erlking looked long and hard at the white Faerie, even as the red fae did her own bow, still shielding the Frightened One behind her. Spirited, those two. He didn't like that in the sunburned fae. Worst of all, even the sweet scent of fear from behind those two - were they sisters? - had somehow dampened. So she was taking courage of her friends? Not for long.

His gaze turned toward the red fey and stayed there, considering the answer to her question.

"I guess most brownies are well. They did run very fast, after all. Crucification does that sometimes to those who watch. Slay a few, and the rest behave a lot better or runs." The Erlking shrugged. "Either way, I guess you won't see them for a while after all. They have been really fast. And now they know I am their better."

The Lord of the Unseelie looked intensly into the eyes of the white fey, his own cold not quiet reaching the coldness he found there, but being far more cruel. The gentle cold that let the flower sleep was met by that sudden harshness that let them freeze before their time.

"A lesson that you still have to learn, White One."

Two Muryan stepped forward, but a wave from that neddleclaws let them step back again. His gaze never left Winter.

"I've considered to spend my time on your Festival with the one you hide from me, but if she wants to sacrifice you two for her own safety I'll promise to consider it. It's her decision. She comes to me - or I'll take you two."

The Erlking bowed mockingly, then turned around and went toward the tables. Of course he had no intention to honor the spirit of his words, and he had promised only to consider alternatives. The queen and the princess had been on his list, but now that list had expanded with three more names, if but two more faces. The unholy seed had been planted, and the hidden fey would know fear again - much more fear. What would her decision be? Wait and watch it grow, he told himself smilingly.

Then the Erlking reached the tables, followed by those Muryans not guarding the meadow or the human. He pointed them toward the free places, which were unsurprisingly the farest removed from the rest. He himself and his personal retainer went toward the queen of course. Royalty had to preside the minors after all.

 

[slippedhalo]

Queen Waterdancer sat and the royal court followed suite, as well as their uninvited guests. The Erlking sat beside her and one of his males joined her daughter, White-Lightly, on her left. Even in their own surroundings they felt somewhat trapped by the presence of these unseelie males. She was proud of the grace her daughter was showing, though, in refusing to appear at all put off by or afraid of these bullies.

Waterdancer took a glance around the dining hall and took in the overall appearance of the ladies in the room. She could feel the fear ringing through her female compatriots at the news that their brownie friends were not exactly left so well after the visit from the Muryan. Some feared for the fate of Greatknottree's fae, some feared for bad news of their loved ones there. She agreed with their sentiments to a certain degree but only feared the most for the future of all fae, knowing more than the general population did about the fear of becoming an extinct species...therefore, she did all any leader could do in such a situation. She held her poise and dignity and remained polite. It was a time for politics and later could always come time for anger and different actions but firstly, she had her females to keep calm.

She rose in her seat and addressed all the faces around her, "Shall we bring out the dancers and musicians then? Ladies of the kitchens, please bring the appetizers and the blossoms for nectar. Let the festival of Winter Solstice begin!" she announced, and a mixture of cheers and murmurs followed as she sat once more, then the music began and the dancers began to move and the atmosphere felt almost as normal as any other feast, at least for the time being. She turned to The Erlking and as a blossom was placed in her hand and his, they raised their blossoms to the winter's moon and drank to a short winter. Her eyes held his as she wondered what his thoughts were.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Wyndee

The previous few minutes seemed like days as light and dark fought, a war of quiet words and traditions. Wyndee had been shocked by the small human's appearance but she didn't feel the draw to him that other's might. She had lost family to his type...gone forever because a human's cruelty and caprice. It would be a very long, cold day before she would consent to speak with such as him, no matter how tall he was.

She gave an inward grimace when she noted the Erlking's newest game. Obviously, someone stayed hidden behind the twins. She knew that the dark fey fed on fear and loathing. She watched as he played with the emotions of the other's before setting a trap for the young one behind them. Thank Goddess he had paid her no more mind than a glance.

Of course, eventually everyone was seated and the dancers and entertainers made merry. Wyndee couldn't help but think that THIS was not going to be a good feast, no matter what the traditions said.

 

[monique_minx]

Winter went rigid as the two Muryan soldiers stepped forward, she watched him wave them back and only relaxed slightly as he continued to speak to her about learning a lesson. She almost retorted sourly about the fact that he was not one to teach her anything but she kept her head and only glared angrily. Her eyes flickered to Ember as he referred to taking them both and once again she pressed her lips shut though the need to respond was great, the need to defend her sister; greater still.

She then smirked at the emotional blackmail the Erlking stooped to employ on Rose and watched him walk away before she stepped aside and turned to the pair that stood with her. She tossed her blue locks angrily and placed her hands on her hips, she stood by her name - Winter and cold as ice. She considered his words about the brownies and decided to ignore it, the Muryan were not to be trusted, she supposed he was trying to scare them in some way. Besides, Winter had no children in Watersedge and she was one of few that hadn't yet conceived in spite of a few lousy attempts.

"I hope you're not going to let that get to you Rose...he should not be your first! Not ever!"

She took a deep breath, fighting to control her anger as she led her cousin and sister into the dining hall and settled beside Wyndee as far from the royal table as they could manage. Winter was no longer hungry or interested in enjoying the festivities, instead she crossed her arms and glared at the room before she turned to Ember.

"I refuse to be pleasant this evening, the Queen is out of her mind for letting them stay...this can't end well!"

She looked across the table, at the royal table where the human sat and her eyes ran over him studiously for a moment before she looked away again. She had no words for him, Winter had almost been crushed by a boy on a sledding contraption the previous season and she had no desire to make contact with this rogue.

She picked up a blossom and drank deeply of it's nectar, swallowing all of it quickly as though the liquid would calm her somehow.

She placed her hand over Wyndee's, she could tell that the proximity to the human was getting under the faerie's skin and Winter cared for her own, no matter how cold she came off to others.

 

[Ravenloft]

After a moment of tense silence and a deep drink from one of the fae's delicate drinking vessels, which almost instantly seemed to loosen him up, Camdon leaned forward, resting his elbows upon the table at which he sat. Ignoring the two Muryan's who were sitting awfully near to him on eather side with quiet menace in their eyes, Camdon spoke, boldly adressing both the Queen and Erlking themselves.

"Ya know, I've done a bit o studying on your kind, an accordin' to the old lores, you lot's outwardly appearances are s'posed to be an expression of your inner beings, yer soul's as it were... An' I must say, the majority of ye are quite the beauties." Camdon said with a grin as he rocked back and forth in the petal-chair he sat upon. It was an act of course, a test, to see if he could bait the Erlking, as he fixed his eyes upon the fey 'king', faking a hiccup.

"Cept you, course, yer kinda ugly, wif yer clawey fingers an yer pointy yeller teef. 'Muryan', they call ya? D'ya know what that means to us humans? Is Cornish for ANT! Yeah, a right black bug eyed ant! Hah! And ya know what else? We don even beleive yer a proper fey, no, yer kind's jus ol heathens too good for hell, and too bad for heaven, so ye jus keep gettin smaller an smaller, till yer no bigger n' the ants yer named after... But y'know wha else? Ta look at yer, I wouldn't guess that yer were no ant. No, yer look a bit more like a... Mangy... Ol... Alley... Cat!"

 

[slippedhalo]

Embers couldn't help but smirk at the human's behavior and his teasing off the Erlking. She liked him more by the second and hoped her sister wouldn't chastize her in public for her ease with the strange creature.

Queen Waterdancer was incredibly tense even despite her second blossomful of nectar. These males would have to go after the meal.There was no way they should stay if they were going to continue to make everyone so uncomfortable and she was inwardly starting to wonder if their story about having crucified brownies was indeed true. If so, she had to worry about them as well. How could she peacefully get the Muryan to leave?

 

[ShireWolfe]

"I won't. And he won't. No filthy Unseelie is going to touch me." Rose whispered in return to her cousins as she followed them to the table, taking a seat between them as she breathed slowly, doing her best to ignore the earlier taunts and jibes of the vile 'king' of their distant and cursed kin. At least there was comfort to be found in the nectar of the beautiful blossoms before her, the very same she had helped grow.

As for the Human... Rose couldn't make up her mind about it. She respected how he stood up and mocked the Erlking, but she knew how they cut and burnt forests, to be replaced by their dead cities or vast fields of wheat and corn, to violate nature in it's own right. The young, blonde, Faery just shook her head at the confusion of it all. A normally tense and nervous night had become a veritable living nightmare.

Sipping her own nectar, Rose slowly began to think on what she would do if any of the Muryan tried to assault her. She didn't have the amazing powers of Ember, Winter, or Wyndee, but... she still had to do something, right?

 

[Tarakin]

The Erlking

The Erlking sat beneath the Queen and surveyed his surroundings, pondering over his next steps when the human dared to raise his voice. Not only this, but he also proceeded to insult him, if clumsily. The Erlking stopped his men with a sign, then listened until the human was finished. Finally he smiled, though that smiled never reached his cold eyes, and deigned to answer.

"First of all, I'm not a Muryan. My warriors are Muryan, and your reference to ants, obviously meant as an insult, is a bit beside the point. The ants are mighty warriors, the only animals that go to war on their own will - or better, the will of their Queen. Nonetheless I like your linking of me to an alleycat very much. A silent and big predator, strong and fast, streetwise. Yes, that fits much better. Though you will seldom hear me purr."

The Erlking stood up now and went slowly toward the human, passing one of the female fey after the other, most of them being very nervous when he stood behind them and very relieved when he continued his slow walk toward the insulter. But finally the Erlking stopped behind one of the fey, laying his hands on her delicate and slightly shivering shoulders.

"And regarding the Seelie... Quiete the beauties, you said? Quiete? You have no clue whatsoever. Did you ever see something remotely like this in your lands of Giants?"

With some swift moves the Erlking's hands moved, tearing at the soft fabric, ruining delicate spidersilk-feywork in mere moments, without spilling even a single drip of blood. Before anyone could more than gasp, his hands were on the shapely female shoulders again - and a most beautiful set of soft breasts was revealed for everyone to admire.

"Quiete the beauties?" the Erlking asked rhetorically, then sneered.

"Despite your cluelessness and your intention on insult I would have let all that slide, since you won't live long enough to see another day after having seen our lands. I would have let it slide if but for one thing. You mentioned we are too good to go to hell? Now that's a real insult, and one I can't let pass. Not enough that your folk drives mine away with your thrice damned churchbells and monksongs, but to deny us our beloved fiery homelands is more than enough. There would have been only one insult worse than that, the one that is the worst of them all."

The Erlking paused, waiting to maximize the effect of his next words.

"You could have called us - humans."

The Erlking kept watching the human, but addressed the Queen now.

"The insult to your guest was given in your realm, Queen Waterdancer. Do you want to direct the punishment or shall I do it?"

The Muryan's looked toward the Queen now, eagerly awaiting her decision to let them to have a long fun with the human. Meanwhile, the pointed nails of the Erlking's fingers absentmindly played with the soft breasts of the fey girl, rolling her delicate nipples between the neddles.



[OOC: Since the Erlking is evil, but I'm not, I left the name of the female fey open for volunteers. If no player wants his character to have more contact with the Erlking I'll pick someone not played by any of us. If someone wants to step in I'll modify the description of the torn dress and so on accordingly]

 

[Ravenloft]

Camdon noted the sign that the Erlking made to stop his men from gutting him storing that bit of knowledge away. He hiccuped again as the Erlking smiled like a cold fish. His men WERE Muryan, but he was not, this he noted as well. Camdon gave Queen Wavedancer a glance, wondering if she showed enough will, weather or not the Muryan would bow to her will over the Erlking's obvious deception. Cat was right, this 'king' had no doubt convinced these men to follow his command with his guile.

Camdon rose just as the Erlking did, swaying as he did, only bracing himself by his hands upon the banquet table when the Erlking placed a hand on one of those sweet, delicate shoulders, drawing a shiver from the poor thing.

Camdon turned his head, closing his eyes, for dramatic effect as he let the image of those perfect, round breasts burn into his heart and soul, knowing that no other would ever touch him as deeply as her's ever again.

"Quite." Camdon replied, opening his eyes and fixing them upon the Erlking with an unabashed grin.

Camdon could only smile from ear to ear as he waited for the Erlking to reveal what he considered a worse insult then being barred from hell. Holding his breath as he paused, for effect.

But when the Erlking revealed that it was to be called human, Camdon barely stifled a 'drunken' laugh. Camdon shook his head, sniggering as he held up a hand to stall the procession of events.

"For... Forgibe me, good queen... Is jus... HAH! Is jus thas the Erlkin taked such offence ta me worss... Hehehehe! I woner... I woner how he wool feel if I tol im eee remin'd me o' me own..." Camdon faltered as he watched the Erlking roll the fey girl's delicate nipple between his clawed fingers. "Bruder, th' mos' uman pers'n I knowed."

 

[slippedhalo]

A collective gasp rang out in the hall, the musicians stopped playing, the dancers froze in their movements, and with a slight wave of her hand the enraged Queen Waterdancer sent the nans out of the room with all of the children. For their physical and psychological safety it was better that they forego the pleasantries of the feast this celebration. Never had elderly or young moved so quickly but then again, fear is a terribly great motivation.

It was obvious to her now these males were not going to follow tradition or the usual schedule and it was also quite obvious to her that Greatknottree was in a great deal more trouble than she'd first surmised. The young and old removed from the situation, she felt free-er to breathe, but barely able to control her fear and rage combined. "Take your hands off of that girl. You know as well as any fae that mating and any mating related touch is a consentual undertaking. To touch her intimately without her permission is a sin and illegal." she stated, her voice still keeping to conversational pitch but the undertones of her anger made it carry throughout the now silent hall.

Embers stood still and endured the molestation of her nipple but her face was turned away from her assailant and because she couldn't bear to see her sister's face during this humiliation she looked to the floor, trying to push past her fear and feed off of her resentment of this male's actions in order to utilize her gift...It wasn't long before her skin was glowing red, giving off more heat than the hottest fire in the hearth. She smirked with triumph as he pulled his hand away quickly and she could see she'd burned his fingers.

 

[monique_minx]

Winter watched the Erlking and the human with interest, she rolled her eyes as he wandered down the length of their table and her hand slid from Wyndee's and rested flat on the table. He stopped just behind Ember and right before her eyes, she looked on as he shredded through her sister's dress!

The room was silent, no one dared to move even as the Erlking continued to speak. Winter couldn't hear anyone at all, she might have been in shock but she knew for certain she was horrified. Ember couldn't look at her and Winter suspected her sister was in just as much shock but the thought never crossed her mind as Winter's fury rose within her veins and her skin turned blue.

Her hands were flat against the wood of the table, ice suddenly spread from her fingertips and flowed over the entire length of the wood; in effect turning it into one huge ice brick. Gusts of cold wind whipped up through the room and ice started to pour out onto the floor; emanating from Winter's bare feet, making the dirt something like an ice rink instead.

Winter felt her sister's warm glow of power which snapped her from her haze, she blinked in rapid succession and stood up from the table. Her wings were still, there was little movement inside the hall and Winter was mighty pissed! Her hands balled into fists and even now she was struggling to get her power under control as the ice spread from the floor and started to travel up the walls, creeping ever closer to the ceiling.

"Don't....touch....my....sister....again....ever." She said quietly, firmly and dangerously. Her eyes were usually a clear blue and now they were opaque and something akin to deep ocean water as she glared at the Erlking.

 

[ShireWolfe]

At the Erlking's despicable act, abusing and violating everything the festival stood for, Rose gasped, planting her hands over her mouth to in shocked horror. How dared he violate her Cousin like this, to violate their hospitality, and abuse everything the all the sacred gatherings of the Fay kind!

Her wings fluttering, Rose's earlier horror and shock turned into pure outrage and disgust for the Erlking. She despised him more than the Unseelie or the Muryan gathered here. They had followed the rules, obeyed the customs, sacred to both Seelie and Unseelie. But the Erlking... the Erlking had broken the laws of all creatures of a Fay nature. He had broken the laws that were as old as time itself.

Without knowing it, Rose had reached for her own powers, reaching into the ground, making the roots and veins underneath squirm and shift as they shared her outrage. Indeed, the Erlking's actions was a crime against nature itself.

 

[slippedhalo]

Embers looked up to see her sister and cousin had reacted, actually, the room took on a strange scene as others started to use their own gifts as well. The walls changed shapes and colors, odd noises issued, shadows came to life and loomed above the males... Even the princess, White-Lightly, was calling on the spirits of the ancestors to join them. The air between all the living electrified with the presence of the dead, spirits surrounded the Erlking now, an air of menace about their presence. She watched Rose's vines climbing his legs and binding his arms and those of his soldiers in their tight, grasp, even as his burned fingers now froze from the ice Winter gave off in her own outrage.

Queen Waterdancer stood and floated up to face him, nose-to-nose. "You forget how our faerie gifts can get very dangerous when we're feeling threatened, my dear 'friend'. I suggest you be much more careful around our sort in future." she warned. She then rose her arms in a placating gesture to keep them from getting any further out of control and said, "Ladies...shall we let them stay and try to be nice or should we escort these unwanted guests to the bogs?"

 

[Ravenloft]

Camdon looked about the feast hall in complete astonishment as he sank back into his seat, grinning despite himself. "Parently, th' ladies don take kinly ta yer avantaces." He slurred, lifting a cup to the Erlking mockingly. "Too hot fer ya ta hanel?"

 

[slippedhalo]

ooc: I hope we haven't scared off our fellow writer...

 

[Tarakin]

The Erlking

[Sorry for the delay]


The Erlking was taken back by the sudden fire in the girl he had touched. While he loved a hot girl in his grips, this one maybe was a hint to warmblooded for his liking. Taking a step backward, he watched the room explode in Seelie Magic. It was an impressive show, he had to admit it. Nonetheless he smiled.

"Ladies, Ladies. Calm down a bit, please," he laughed. "And thanks for showing what skills we have to count on while staying here. As usual, you aren't able to ignore a good bait, myladies, are you?"

He still smiled when he watched the room getting a bit quieter now.

"I hate to remind you, but the human scum did break The Rule of Hosts first. I responded. Do you want to take the next step, Queen Waterdancer? And then what? Look around, dear Ladies. You were all focused on me. I grant you that I'm adorable, but if you threaten force, know that I play the game a lot better than you do, and out of experience."

Indeed the Muryan, for the moment having been ignored by most of the guests, had moved like silence itself. Every two of them had posted themselves behind one of the female fey, but they had not approached the royal seats at the top of the table, nor, lacking numbers, the immediate surroundings of their king or the rows further away. Neither had they drawn weapons, except for the two guardians of the Human. They had their thorns but inches away from his back. The Erlking let his cruel smile play at his lips once more.

"So what will it be, Queen Waterdancer? You have the superior numbers, and even a drunken human to 'aid' you. Another breach of The Rule of Hosts, this time commited by the Seelie fey themself, not just by their guest? The shedding of blood? It's your decision what kind of dance we'll have tonight. I like them both."

 

[slippedhalo]

Her shoulders still squared, Waterdancer faced The Erlking, "We just want a simple ceremony. A traditional Winter Solstice Festival. We've only ever wanted our usual customary feast, displays and dances. We're not naturally violent and not prone to acts of temper but we WILL NOT BE PUSHED." she emphasized, her sapphire colored eyes widening as she looked into his.

She turned and regarded the human once more then addressed the Erlking "The strange human will be an interesting object of study and as he is alone and not his normal size I think he is of very little threat to us for now. He will be kept on hand to observe and later we can always decide what to do with him when he's no longer useful and perhaps poses more of a threat. As for you and your males...I don't believe my ladies like any of you very much. No one here is to be forced into bridesdom, they must want to participate in the fertility rites... and no more uninvited advances or else I think we may end up in quite the battle, numbers or nee, even humans know that 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'."

(OOC: has the Erlking a name or something familiar she can call him?)

 

[monique_minx]

Winter withdrew her powers, the ice began to recede from the walls as she realized two Muryan had come up behind her, she scowled and blinked; her eyes returning to their usual pristine blue colour. Her skin began to warm again and finally the ice disappeared from the table as well, the cold gusts stilled immediately and she fell into her seat.

She picked up a blossom and drank it rather quickly, it appeared as though she took no notice of the tense situation within the hall for a moment. She stood up again slowly to be sure no one made a sudden move on her and ripped the outer skirt from her dress. Winter took it and draped it over her sister's shoulders to hide her shredded top half from view, she glared at the Erlking as she resumed her seat once more and wrapped her arm around Ember's waist to calm her frayed nerves.

Winter spent a few moments in silence listening to the Queen and the Erlking speak to each other while she attempted to calm her breathing. Until finally the Queen had stopped and Winter knew this was either going to end in battle or submission from the Seelies because the Muryan would never bow to them. The Fey were peace lovers just as the Queen suggested, Winter had hardly ever had to use her powers in anger before though she was known for her short amount of patience and quick tongue.

Finally Winter spoke, "Would you call what you just did to my sister, bait your Majesty?" Her words were spiked with poisonous anger and softly but firmly uttered though everyone heard her quite clearly.

 

[slippedhalo]

Embers Red calmed the thundering of her heartbeat and took solace in the comfort her sister offered. She leaned against her twin as she listened to the tense debate. She did not want fighting. She knew she would fight unto her last breath if it meant saving her fellow fae from harm but she would much rather just be done with all of this, even if it meant submission to one as odious as The Erlking, if it meant peace would be held and no other faeries would be harmed. Too afraid to put voice to her thoughts just yet, she wearily rested against her twin and saved her strength for the moment thinking somehow she might be needing it soon.

 

[Ravenloft]

Camdon found he could not tear his eyes off of the fae woman the Erlking had assaulted. The image of her perfect breasts would forever be seared upon his mind, of course, but that was not the only reason he could not look away. When she'd unleashed her fire upon the Erlking, Camdon felt it too. Not like the 'king' did, but like a warm summer breaze which seemed to carry just a hint of her scent. He'd breathed it in as he sat, quietly, listening to the Queen and 'king' debate, while trying to draw Ember's attention without words.

 

[Tarakin]

The sapphire eyes of the Queen were as fascinating as they had been described to him, and the Erlking liked them flaring as they were right now. He knew he was walking a thin line in provoking the feys as he did, but his method was finally showing some success. There was definitly weakness nearby, he could smell it, but where did it come from? It was very near. The icy fey?

That moment Winter spoke, and he could feel her anger clearly, the coldness of ice worked into the accusation of hers. No, she was not scared by him, at least not yet. Maybe that would change soon. Her emotions were strong indeed, so strong her mind was almost fully open to him to read. As open as the other mind, the one full of fear next to the icy one. He could almost taste that sweet scent, the scent of submission, coming from - that hot fey. Very good!

A victorious smile appeared around the Erlking's needleteeth when he adressed Winter.

"Don't be so accusing, my shiny white one. Are you sure your ... sister ... twin sister! Mmm, delightful! Were was I? Oh yes. Don't you think she may have liked it a tiny bit? By the way, you look nicer also with less cloth hiding your fair skin, my dear."

He chuckled at the sight of Winter's face after his words, then turned toward the warmer twin.

"My hot lady, you smell beautifully. Oh, don't have fear. I think I'll accept what you are thinking about. We'll have a great time."

Still smiling the Erlking finally turned toward the Queen.

"I think we already have a solution to our problem, Queen Waterdancer," he said, then waved his Muryan away to their places. As one they went, with the exception of the human guardists, but they at least put their thorns away for now.

"There's no need for blood with so much understanding presented. May we proceed with the feats now? I'm almost burning with desire to taste your food..."




[I don't know if the Erlking has another name - someone knows that part of mythology? I but know he can read minds when the emotions are strong enough]

 

[slippedhalo]

...
As open as the other mind, the one full of fear next to the icy one. He could almost taste that sweet scent, the scent of submission, coming from - that hot fey. Very good!

...

"My hot lady, you smell beautifully. Oh, don't have fear. I think I'll accept what you are thinking about. We'll have a great time."

Still smiling the Erlking finally turned toward the Queen.

"I think we already have a solution to our problem, Queen Waterdancer," he said, then waved his Muryan away to their places. As one they went, with the exception of the human guardists, but they at least put their thorns away for now.

"There's no need for blood with so much understanding presented. May we proceed with the feast now? I'm almost burning with desire to taste your food..."

Embers flinched as he spoke to her, Shit! He read my thoughts! she realized. Now, knowing she'd unwittingly entered into a tenuous agreement with this horrible male. She had just silently offered herself in exchange for the safety and free choice of the others. But, being a female of honor, Embers Red would not back down now. The safety of Greatknottree and her inhabitants was far too important for Embers to let her own inhibitions and fear stand in the way of peacefulness.

Shivering a little she forced a mechanical nod in his direction, even moving slightly closer to him and out of her sister's protective grasp as a sign she knew what he meant and had indeed made a deal.

Queen Waterdancer was speechless as she watched and suspected something silent and powerful had just occurred between The Erlking and young Embers Red. She watched the girl's slight nod and hesitant movements and her heart ached for her. "Oh, please be gentle with our dearest Embers Red, Highness, she is a jewel in this families crown and all her dear twin has left since the recent death of their aunt, my own cousin, Goldenrod, who raised them from birth when their own mother, Birdsong, had not been strong enough to survive...(Both the burns and the frostbite from the unusually powerful foetii did nothing to help in their premature labor and her internal bleeding after they were born) ...She is a good girl and one who takes her duties very seriously but I will never forgive you if you hurt her."

That said, she did motion for the drinks to be replenished and the food to come out to start the meal. The musicians and dancers resumed and the hall seemed much more like a typical festival was on again.