The Strange Alliance [Maya&Crazywolf] [M]

[Crazywolf]

Rated M to allow all things possible. Not saying it will happen but it might.

It was well past midday when Kaylee finally reached the town. Not that it was really much to be impressed about. Just another town along the road where she might stop the night and get a meal. Still one never knew where opportunity might arise. On entering the town gate she made a beeline straight for the nearest inn to buy a drink of ale and wet her dry throat. The inn in question turned out to be an establishment called the Dancing Rabbit. Goodness knows why it's called that she thought to herself when she saw the name outside the door. Nonetheless she made her way inside, there finding a common-room half full with local patrons, by the looks of them mostly common tradesmen and labourers. A few glanced up and stared at her rather heavily armed attire. Taking no notice of the looks she approached the bar and bought a drink.

Having downed half a tankard, and now feeling refreshed somewhat, she casually enquired of the barman whether he knew of any locals looking to hire a person of her obvious talents. As it turned out he did. Just a day and a half from the town there was a local village was being harassed by a posse of bandits and apparently the local village-folk had banded together to offer a reward to any warrior-for hire that would come and sort out their problem.

As he relayed the information Kaylee sat and listened. She was dubious about how much money these village farmers could actually offer. Besides facing an entire posse sounded like quite a big job for one person, no matter how well equipped. On the other hand her coin purse was almost empty at that moment and she needed to find work again rather quickly. No matter how much she earned the money never seemed to last quite as long as she wanted. She sat in thought and weighed up the options.

[Maya]

She didn't like taverns, couldn't stand the taste of alcohol and wouldn't eat meat. Was not habits she'd been taught growing up so much as what had been learned over the past many years. Her body did not like eating crap and worked more effectively following the ways of her 'true' people and what little she knew of her ancestry. Half the time, Tiri couldn't even stand the human element which wandered the streets clueless and useless. What were they here for except destruction? They chopped down the trees, slaughtered anything that moved and left a mess in their wake. So, why was she here? Because a debt was owed to those who'd given their life, love and time to protecting hers.

This was the reason why she forced herself to walk into that crappy, little Inn. Her village needed a warrior. Someone who would fight for those who could not fight for themselves. To be honest, Tiri was looking for a man to do the job. Word of the search had already been put out to the Inn keeper before her arrival. Now inside, her cloaked and hooded figure was already eyeing the crowd to see which faces she had to choose from. Most of them were filthy, overweight, slobbish, glutenous, pigs. Not one person seemed sober or able to wield anything but a turkey leg.

Arriving at the bar, a leather pouch of coins was placed in front of the bartender then yanked back as a dagger was slammed into the wooden counter in it's place. "Two weeks of searching and this what you bring me? I could best these men with one arm tied behind my back, Shamus. If I return with no swordsman, you get no money. That was our deal."

"Now, now..they'll look better in the morning after they sleep it off. I swear it!"

"I didn't give you til morning." Despite the seriousness of the conversation, the voice behind the hood was soft, sweet and almost melodic in nature. The figure beneath appear to be tall and slender. Most would not consider her a threat at all. The innkeeper did. He knew her well by now. "So, if what you're telling me is there's no one here who meets my requirements, then I'm telling you these coins are returning home with me tonight."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee glanced over as the hooded figure approached the bar and slammed the coins and dagger down on the counter. From her own position she had a perfect view of the entire exchange. From her angle she couldn't properly see the hooded woman' face but from her features she appeared quite young. Meanwhile the gesture with the dagger suggested that here was someone that could handle themselves. There was also something beguiling about her voice, a strange enchanting quality she couldn't quite describe. Perhaps it was the latter most of all that persuaded her to speak up.

"So miss I gather you're the one whose hiring" she said, entering into their conversation. "As it happens I was just considering the opportunity myself. Although I must admit that whether or not I offer my service it rather depends on the odds. If these bandits troubling your village are numerous then it will not be easy to face them single-handed."

[Maya]

Tiri didn't want people to see her. Not in a place like this. Humans had proven themselves to be untrustworthy even during the best of times. Add copious amounts of drink, they become completely unpredictable. Why was she searching for one to help her now if they were so bad? Because there was only one of her to go around. This was not a job to do alone.

Hearing the voice inquire about the job, her head wouldn't even turn to face the person yet. "Who's asking?" A name. Tiri wanted a name. She'd hear the other woman out, draw a long pause then, rather cheekily, state. "If you have only one working hand, you won't get the job anyway. I need someone who works two handedly." Sense of humor? Not really. Just the facts. At least someone was sober enough to talk lucidly with. Which is the only reason Tiri even turned to address them. "It will be one sided, we will be outnumbered and you could very well die. Those are the facts as I do not lie. If you've ever fought in battles and were told it would be easy and you would walk away unscathed, someone lied to you. What skills do you have? and what are your terms?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee bristled at the barbed remark about hands. Neither did she like much the questioning of her own experience. Inside she felt her temper rising. Seriously who did this slender waif of a girl think she was? How old was she anyway? She barely looked over eighteen.

"Listen miss I've been fighting battles since you were still sat on your daddy's knee" she replied curtly. "I don't do this work because I damn well think it's easy. I do it because I'm good at it. You don't need to lecture me about danger and death, I've seen plenty of both. As to my skills I can assure you I have plenty. I am curious though about this business of 'we'. If I take this little deal of yours who exactly am I to be fighting alongside?"

[Maya]

By now many patrons of the bar were all ears. Two ladies arguing was bound to draw interest. Tiri realized this was no place to do business. Since the potential partner was being obstinate, she'd up the ante by testing just how tenacious this woman was.

"I might have changed your daddy's diapers. Speak not of what you do not know." Drawing the hood down, all the while knowing said action would cast many eyes her way. Tiri was lithe, radiant and almost angelic in appearance with porcelain skin and an unmistakable aura ..not perceivable to humans, unless they'd dealt with 'magical folk' such as elves, fairies, nymphs and such. Even among these races, each was discernibly different from the other. The true Fae, even more so.

"Let's get something straight." Dangling the coin pouch in her hand. "I am the one paying. I will be the one asking. The one getting paid will be the one who answers the questions to my satisfaction I won't talk business here." Spinning on her heels, sweeping the pouch within the folds of her cloak and pulling the hood back over her head. All eyes seem to follow her towards the door. Some aiming to rob her no doubt. Tiri faced the crowd, pursed her lips, blew slowly and a cold chill filled the tavern. Once the magic faded, she was no longer there. Only Kaylee would remember she'd ever been.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee drew breath slightly at the other woman's appearance. A couple of times she had seen noble ladies with delicate features, but nothing quite like that. Even to a girl not interested in girls it was notably striking. She understood then the hood. Without it she would no doubt have the fevered attention of every man in the town.

Still, none of that mitigated the high-handed attitude. With an frown of annoyance Kaylee snatched up her tankard and down the remaining ale in one swallow. She then rose to her feet and strode out of the tavern after the other girl catching up to her just outside the door. "Hey miss, I think you need a lesson in manners" she said.

[Maya]

"You're not the only one." Was that a smile Tiri gave to the woman? Could be. Happened so fast, it was hard to tell. "When I have time for manners, perhaps I'll let you teach me. For now, I'm kind of busy." The hood was back over her head while eyeing the people walking back and forth down the street. "You never did tell me what skills you can bring to the table which would even give me reason to consider you over most of those so called men. You said that you have 'fought battles' and that you have..and I quote.. 'skills'." Using a few of her own air quotes symbols to make the point. "Is it with a bow? knife? sword? the strings of your shoes? do you whistle people into submission? Pardon my aggravation; but, I am looking for someone very specific. A fighter who masters at least two weapons and someone who I can trust to have my back as I will have theirs. One who can show great fortitude when all seems to be lost."

After taking a deep, calming breath to allow this woman to mull the challenge over, Tiri would softly and quietly ask. "Is that person you?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee bit her lip. The questions were one thing but she'd never met a patron before who was quite so exacting in their demands. However she also realised from the comment that the other woman was not merely seeking a warrior for the village but also someone she herself could work with and trust with her own life. Meanwhile the seriousness and exacting nature of the questions suggested that the other had a certain experience herself.

"Alright" she replied levelly. "I'm an expert with a sword. I've killed plenty of men with it and other things besides. I am also accomplished with the crossbow when I need it. I fought in the southern cities and the winter wars. I've survived against cold, hunger, arrows-storms, battles of blood and attrition and hopeless odds. I know what it means to put your life in the hands of others, the importance of trust. Oh and I don't fight fairly unless I really can't help it."

[Maya]

She had never met anyone quite like Tiri before. This was a woman who knew what she wanted and was determined to obtain it. Tiri didn't mince words very often. Wasn't part of her nature. Nor was she looking for someone to do the work for her while sitting back being the mousy, little female hoping for rescue. They were the rescuers. If Kaylee couldn't handle the mission or the course attitude of the woman in need of it, those facts need to be made known now.

There was an extremely long pause before another word was said. She'd really planned on having one of those strong male types to be at her back. One of those types who wouldn't flinch at any of the sharp barbs that often flew out of her mouth. Heaven forbid she say something to make the woman cry. God, she hated how human women tend to boohoo at every little thing. The girl did seem to have the skills and the mindset to get the job done.

"Very well. Know we are going into a situation where the attackers are like ghosts in the night. They kill, they steal and they've kidnapped some of the village children. These people, they're like my family. Human, yes; but they raised me as their own. I won't see them suffer further slaughter. We best get going or darkness will catch up with us."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee was going to comment on the missing children but then the next comment took her off guard. "Hey wait a second" she said "if they're human and you're not what does that make you?" As she spoke she stared once more at Tiri's striking appearance, beautiful but somehow strange and otherworldly. Could it be possible? Could this woman be one of the fey?

[Maya]

How many humans out there looked like her? Zero. Which is why Tiri just had to laugh. Even the nature of such held a musical quality. "That makes me not human. " Which Kaylee had already realized in the last few seconds. "My adopted mother claims I am one of the 'wee' folk. Though I'm not very wee now am I? As to my true lineage, it's hard to tell." That was that as far as she was concerned.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee found the laugh strangely melodic and the sound of it gave her a strange pleasure. Of course she had heard tales of the fey like everyone else though she had never actually imagined meeting one in person. It made her both curious and cautious at the same time. What strange powers might this woman have she wondered. In her mind she still found it hard to reconcile the other woman's angelic unblemished appearance with her claim to be a fighter. On the other hand when she spoke of such matters her words carried the air of experience and conviction. It was a strange alliance but somehow following this woman back to her village seemed the right thing to do.

"Well whatever you are I will grant my services to you and your village" she replied. "My name is Kaylee by the way. When I spoke of my experience before I made no exaggeration. I promise that your coins shall not be wasted."

[Maya]

While she may look young and harmless, time and necessity have trained her well. She just hoped the same had been provided to Kaylee. "I am just me. Regardless of what blood line I turn out to be from. And here.." Tossing the coin pouch her way. "Those who fight only for the money have proven to be worthless in the long run. Take it now. If you choose to leave, I will not have to worry about you demanding payment at the worst possible time." Perfect way to test how trustworthy someone was. Would the woman turn around and leave in a matter of minutes or hours?

"My people have taken to living in the trees as a means of finding some form of safe haven. Anything on the ground was constantly ransacked and destroyed. So long as the wood is green, it's proven to be safe..even from fire. But that changes quickly. It's only a half days walk if we move quickly."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee's face darkened slightly at the slant on her profession. Yes it was true some mercenaries took their pay and then betrayed their masters, but on the other hand there were those like her who fought hard and risked all to do the dirty work of others while knowing that deep down the person they worked for privately despised them. Taking the coins she stuffed them into a pouch.

"I am ready to go when you are" she replied. "But as to our agreement I have given you my word. I will not break it. I may fight for money but I am not without honour. You may not trust me just yet but I hope that may change. However I do like to know who I'm fighting alongside. I gave you my name just now so it's only fair that in return you give me yours."

[Maya]

There's always a high risk when someone took money for their services. You never know what you'll get. If you get anything at all. Trust was shown when that coin purse was handed over. Everything from here could be a crap shoot.

Kaylee was right. She didn't know of the person business was being done with. "Tiri.. Tiri Elen. Means bright star in my native tongue apparently. There was a note. Guess that means your parents love you when they leave a note before running away." Tiri couldn't be too harsh on them. Whoever they were. Must have been a desperate situation to justify abandoning a child. May as well share a few other tips as they started the journey. "I don't eat meat so do not kill for me. Tend to yourself. I will not imbibe alcohol. It impairs the senses and tastes foul. ..Oh, and I have very good hearing. So if you snore, be prepared to be nudged. And you? What are your preferences?"

[Crazywolf]

"My preferences" Kaylee mused as they walked. "Well I'm used to sleeping rough though I do prefer a warm feather bed. I also like the odd drink but not before battle. Fine wine when I can afford it. I like to have the occasional man as well."

Meanwhile Tiri's other comment made her think of her own parentage. The mother who died when she was young, the father she had never even known. It was not a topic she often thought about.

"So you said your village live in trees" she remarked. "I shall be interested to see that. I can see how it would be quite defensible. You mentioned though that the raiders had captured some of your children. If we are to defend the village then surely our first goal is to try and rescue them."

[Maya]

"That last part was too much information." Smirking slightly at the man comment. Did not need to know that. Could have assumed it already.

As for the village, she'd elaborate a touch. "Yes, over the years they've come up with rope and pulley systems, retractable pathways and built their homes in the treetops. They manage to embrace the natural camouflage so you can barely see them, unless one knows where to look. I've always been a climber so I enjoy it. Some of the elders long to walk on grass again. Guess I can't blame them."

They'd walk until just before dusk when the lightning bugs took flight. From there, it wasn't long before they crossed over into her families territory. They'd know when two sword and bow wielding guards blocked their path.

"Miss Tiri, we thought we'd lost you. Who is this? Where is the warrior?"

"I can always be found somewhere, Tomas." Casting him a cheeky grin. To the other, Arrowen, she'd give a hug. "She is the warrior. Comes highly praised. Kaylee..this is Tomas and Arrowen. The later is my brother." One of many with so many years passing. Was easier to refer to them as brothers and sisters anymore.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee gave Arrowen a cursory glance of acknowledgement then fixed Tomas with a hard stare. She might not perhaps have been quite so offended by the comment were it not for the fact her weapons were clearly visible about her person.

"Am I not quite what you expected?" she asked him. "It may surprise you to learnt it but your friend Tiri here is not the only woman in this kingdom who can weild a blade. If you wish for a demonstration of my abilities then I am happy to give one."

[Maya]

Tomas lifted his eyebrow high at Kaylee's words then outright laughed. "I don't think she likes me." Yes, he was talking about her to her face. "Well, pardon me..Miss Kaylee, warrior princess." Bowing deeply. "A demonstration will not be necessary for I've dealt with mean women before." To which Tiri then received a wide grin. "Twas a painful and humiliating exchange. But, then again.." Leaning in to whisper. "tis not so fair to go against her for she cheats."

"Ignore him. There's not a woman for miles he hasn't flirted with and yet he's still single." Tiri's brother chimed in much to Tom's displeasure. "The evening meal is just about ready. Hope you're both hungry. Better hurry though. They wait for no one."

Tiri strode along beside Kaylee. "You'll get used to them." Wouldn't make excuses for their normal behavior. Be apologizing the entire time. After they'd gone deep into the forest, there'd be a whistle from high above. Yet even looking, nothing out of the ordinary could be seen. Two ropes with loops tied at the end would lower down. "Hop on.." Hooking her foot through the loop while grabbing the rope. As soon as the tension was felt, they'd start the slow ascent skyward.

They'd find themselves at least 40 feet in the air before any signs of civilization would be seen. The village was in the treetops where the sun could reach through the windows from morning til dusk. Wooden homes had been built around the trunks of the mighty trees with rope and wooden walkways and spiral staircases connecting one home to the other as well as the lookout posts placed strategically throughout. Beautiful, yet simplistic.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/ceridawn/943203-treehousez_zps377309f7.jpg

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee's expression toward Tomas remained hard but she did not bite back. Instead she controlled her annoyance, remembering why she was there in the first place. Leaving the others she followed Tiri along quietly until they heard the whistle. Rather uncertainly she placed her foot inside the loop of rope and held on tightly. She had never been up off the ground before like this and the ascent made her feel rather uncomfortable. She did her best to hold tight but could feel the weight of the sword and crossbow on her shoulders trying to pull her backwards. She was painfully aware that if the rope snapped at that point or her fingers slipped she would plummet back to the ground like a stone and break her neck.

When they finally neared the top she stared in amazement at the houses and walkways. She tried to imagine the work and skill it would have taken to build it. She had once been to the lakelands of the east where people built houses on stilts but really she had never seen anything quite like this. She held tightly to the rope til they reached the nearest platform.

[Maya]

Building those homes so high aloft was an impressive feat. One perfected over time. To Tiri, it was one of the most beautiful places she'd ever seen. Whether sun or moon, rain or shine, the view was amazing. The design had also managed to reduce the number of attacks and deaths from would be invaders. "Pretty sweet, eh? You won't get a view like this down there. Come on up to the highest point.." Guiding Kaylee through a string of bridges and stairways to the tallest watchtower. From there, you could see the mountains, valleys and two rivers. "Would never had had a view like this if we weren't forced to move up. Funny, I was told my people..birth parents, were forced to move below ground. Don't know if it's true."

They would enjoy a few minutes of free time before heading down to the dining hall for dinner. It was the largest of the round buildings, lined with tables and chairs enough for all. This was the place where they had meetings and evening meals. Might relieve Kaylee to know they did serve meat. Venison stew to be exact, with fresh baked bread. For Tiri, she'd grab a bowl of mixed berries and nuts with a tankard of water instead of ale.

"She eats rabbit food." Tomas chimed in while grabbing a seat across from the girls. "So, where you from? Why did you pick this line of work?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee stared round once more at the network of houses and walkways. "It's truly amazing" she replied. She thought that have a place like this and call it home that must truly be wonderful.

She followed Tiri up to the watch-tower and stared out at the view. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen something quite so beautiful. "Thankyou" she said. "Thankyou for showing me this."

She then followed Tiri down to the dining hall and took her seat beside her. she glanced round at all the villagers in their rustic clothes and felt somewhat out of a place among them. She wondered if she seemed a disappointment to them, after all Tiri had gone to hire more warriors and found only one worth taking back. But at least they had plenty of food. She grabbed a bowl of stew and began to eat. As she did her mind began to fill with questions she would need to ask. She glanced across warily as Tomas joined them.

"Nowhere particularly special" she replied to his question about her place of origin. "Just a small mud and dirt town near the northern forests. As to the line of work where I came from it was the best opportunity for making money. It also helped that I had no family to speak of, no ties to ever keep me in one place." She paused to take a mouthful of stew. "Tell me though a little about your village. How many here are trained to fight?"

[Maya]

"No problem. Thought it might help you understand why we so desperately want to protect this place and everyone in it."

That dining hall was the main hub of activity for now. Babies bouncing on knees, kids running around playing tag and the elders quickly finishing the meal to go head to head at a game of dominoes. Tiri simply huffed at Tomas opinion on her dinner. "I will not be huffing and puffing when I run or needing to curl up and take a nap. Eat your deer carcass."

"Ugh, Tiri..why do you gotta say it like that? Make it sound so nasty." Didn't stop him from shoveling another spoonful down.

"Cause it's true." The meat was cut from the bones of a dead deer. Was no secret.

She'd sit back and listen as Tomas spoke to and answered Kaylee's questions. They'd need to learn to get along at some point. The better Kaylee fit in with all the villagers and earned their trust, the easier it would be for her to move about without unwarranted suspicion.

"No ties at all? Is that possible? Kind of sad." speaking with his mouth full. Finally, after licking the bowl clean, they could get to the nitty gritty. "Everyone of fighting age is trained to at least shoot a bow. Kind of the best defense up here. The aged and the young will seek shelter in here during attacks. All the lower ropes and bridges are removed. If need be, this building will be cut off to try and keep anyone from accessing it. We have buckets of water by every home to put out the fires. The invaders like to use flaming arrows. The biggest danger is when we must go aground to gather supplies, go hunting, find medicines..the children need to run and we need to farm our land. These people, they always hide their faces...they kill anything that moves. I've heard they've laid claim to this forest. They intend to cut down the trees for the wood. But it is OUR forest! We've been here for generations..we respect that the great Goddess will care for us if we care for her."

"Tomas, settle down. She's not the enemy; but, I believe Kaylee understands now."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee listened to the description of the village life and how the raiders would attack. "Yes I understand" she replied. "Now that I have seen this place I understand how much it must mean to you." Privately she had little time for the nature goddess he referred to, the goddess who had done nothing to stop the death of her own mother when she was an infant, the goddess who offered nothing to those who lived by the sword. But for these people who lived by hunting and foraging she could see how it made sense.

"Tiri said they capture your children" she remarked. "Do you know what becomes of them? Are they sold?" She realised it was probably a sensitive topic but the more she knew about these raiders the better.

[Maya]

It was comforting to believe there was something out there looking over someone even if that was not actually true. Betting than thinking they were alone. Tomas held on to that idea more so than others. He was also a talker so that helped Kaylee get any information she wanted.

"The kids just disappear. Don't know what happens to them. We search high and low; but, there's no signs..no nothing. Not even a footprint. Don't make no sense. It just don't. Some say they're trading them for favors. Maybe better weapons. If so, someone would hear of it." Shrugging. From the lines on his young face, he was clearly frustrated.

"They're keeping the innocents to barter." Tiri chimed in on her thoughts. "If they take enough children and threaten to harm them or sell them off, they know these families will break. They'll give everything they have to get the kids back. Everything. Tis a good plan. Right now, we can't prove it..we don't know who they are." Tapping her fingertips along the table.

Their after dinner talk would be interrupted by screams of "Fire!" Coming from outside. As in times past, flaming arrows were striking various homes and frightened villagers hurried to put out the flames with buckets. Others began shooting towards the ground below in hopes of running the attackers off.

"I'm going below." Talking to Kaylee while hurrying to lift the cover off one of the benches, which held a stash of weapons. "Come with or stay here and help them. Your choice." Tiri grabbed her bow, a quiver of arrows and two sheaths with daggers which were attached to a belt quickly attached to her waist. Kaylee would find she did not take the same way up as down. She'd lithely jump from tree branch to tree branch until taking cover in some bushes below.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee heard the shout of "fire" and was immediately on her feet following Tiri outside. She hadn't expect an attack quite this soon. The raiders were obviously quite persistent.

She watched Tiri descend like some sort of cat or squirrel, knowing that she herself couldn't do that in a hundred years. She contemplated staying up top with the archers. But deep down she knew she was hardly being paid to take the safe option. If she was going to prove her worth among these people there was really only one option and that was going down. She ran quickly to the other platform where they had come up and slipped her foot back into one of the ropes. She then called brusquely for one of the villagers on the platform to release the mechanism and lower her down.

Looking round as she descended she could see the building on fire with the villagers trying to put it out. Her main concern though was what lay below her. Reaching the bottom she let go the rope and moved forward into the bushes beside Tiri ready to draw either her crossbow or sword as needed. She looked round to see if any other villagers had joined them while also looking ahead through the trees to locate the enemy.

[Maya]

She hit the ground running and determined this time they'd get their hands on someone. Whoever was firing those arrows were not ghosts, as so many had come to believe. Ghosts do not need material things to intimidate. Ducking down into the bushes, Tiri sat silently listening for footsteps, breathing, anything which might shed light on who or, at least, where the onslaught was coming from. For the longest moment, nothing. Until..there was a soft swishing sound, like a rush of air, from an arrow leaving it's bow.

She chose to stay still. If Kaylee was near, she'd motion ..down..by pressing her palm towards the ground. Two more arrows took flight. This time in flames. Now they had a location.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee saw the hand motion and mutely complied. Though mostly accustomed to fighting in the open she had some experience of ambush warfare as well, the clashes between rival scouts and foraging parties, the ambushing of supply wagons, the surprise attacks on enemy encampments.

From the crouched position beside Tiri she saw the two arrows shoot up from the position up ahead. She glanced sideways at Tiri to confirm that the other had seen the same thing then silently motioned with her head suggesting to the other woman that they should both go forward. Inside she felt curious to get a closer look at these raiders, to see what kind of a people they were.

[Maya]

It didn't take long for whoever had been shooting upwards to suddenly focus on the downward area. Mainly towards the two of them. Apparently these attackers had exceptional hearing. Arrows were whizzing past both ladies heads, enough so to cause Tiri to hit the ground. Just a minute later, the forest went silent. No movement. No sounds. Not even the twig breaking under foot.

She wouldn't pop her head up just yet. The silence seemed too quiet.

Seconds passed like hours with everything at a standstill until there was the fervent rush of fast moving feet heading away from the village. Two?..no four? Then more steps were heard. Tiri was confused for it didn't seem so many people had been involved.

"Kaylee..can you see anything?" Rising in pursuit of what seemed heavy footed ghosts as darkness stole the last of the light.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee heard the retreating footsteps as well, like Tiri she tried to gauge the number. It was curious that they had arrived so quietly but now made more noise while they were leaving.

"Not yet but I hear them" she replied. "Over that way I believe."

Advancing forward through the trees she spied a group of silhouette figures moving ahead of them. In the dimming light they seemed to be a half-dozen or so men dressed in light leather armour with some wearing animal skins over the top. Their weaponry was a mix of bows and swords. They also seemed to be dragging a couple of captives along between them, a pair of young adult villagers they had taken. "Over there" she said softly. She stopped beside a tree indicating that Tiri should do likewise then loaded up her crossbow. Raising the weapon she carefully took aim and then fired a quarrel at the rearmost man in the group. The bolt struck him square in the back causing him to keel forward letting out a loud cry. As the other raiders turned round to react she drew her sword, then letting out a loud shout of her own she charged forwards.

[Maya]

Guess running away at a high rate of speed doesn't allow much time for being sneaky anymore.

Tiri raised her bow, studied the retreating group, then lowered it again, odd as that may seem. For a moment, she just watched Kaylee do her thing. The job the woman had been hired to do. Which she seemed to do very well after watching one guy fall. Then her focus moved to where the others were hurriedly retreating. While Tiri may not be able to see them, she could hear their footfalls in the growing darkness. Her vision needing little light to find the way.

One moved much slower than the others. Injured maybe? Or old? ..maybe even young? Without a word, she took off to the left in pursuit. Didn't plan to kill this one. Nope, Tiri wanted one alive. Without a live one, there'd be no answers. Only blood. At the fleeing man's slow pace, he was easy to catch, run in front of and surprise.

With a knife in hand, Tiri stood in front of a the figure, shrouded in animal skins. He instantly stopped, held up both hands and made no sudden moves. She could feel his eyes studying her. "You're the one."

"Remove your hood so that I may see who you are." Was a command, not a request. How often did Tiri ask politely? Didn't acknowledge his exclamation. Though his words were noted.

Amazingly, the man readily complied revealing someone of light complexion with a bald head covered in tattooed tribal designs. He had piercing blue eyes which were keen on taking the sight of her in. "You're the one he's looking for. The King of Aldair has offered a substantial reward for whoever brings you to him." Reaching slowly for something on his belt. "I aim to be that man." His left leg was bleeding badly which explained why this one had fallen behind.

Part of Tiri didn't understand it why a King would want her. Another part of her did. She was an anomaly here. A prize to be claimed, captured and displayed. She had no intentions of being taken.

"Do not try to run, my pretty.." He warned. Before he knew what happened, she was behind him with the knife at his throat..slicing it open.

"I did not plan to." Were the last words he heard whispered into his ear. Two other were dispatched in the exact same way, by surprise. To her, they clamored around like massive beasts. Once she was sure there were no others in her area, she'd go to to locate Kaylee and see how the woman had fared.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee didn't see where Tiri had gone, her only focus was on two raiders directly in front of her. The trail was narrow which she knew could work a little to her advantage. As she charged in the nearest man appeared to look at her in surprise, perhaps not expecting a warrior in chainmail, and a woman at that as well. He raised his blade to parry and their two swords clashed. In response to her initial attack he then tried a backswing but she stepped back away from it. Then before he could recover his guard she stepped lightly forward again and plunged her own blade squarely into his chest. The second man she faced was more prepared for her. He was also stronger and faster. In the face of her attacks he didn't flinch and managed to put up a decent hard fight before she finally split his defence and struck him down with a killing strike.

With the fight over she paused for a moment to draw breath and then turned her attention to two captives the raiders had been herding along seeing that they were a man and woman, both with their hands bound in front of them. The male also had blood on his forehead where he had evidently taken a hefty blow. Planting her sword in the ground she pulled out her dagger to cut through the cords on their wrists. Having freed them both she then glanced around looking for some sight or sound that might indicate the whereabouts of Tiri.

[Maya]

Tiri didn't hurry back. Not after realizing she was the reason for all this strife. All these years, they never knew why the raiders so fervently lay siege to the village. It was all for because of a king's desire to have that which no one else has. Whether to keep her in a gilded cage, as his prisoner or out of hope that Tiri could do things for him which he could not do for himself. So many people had been injured or died when this struggle could have ended years ago. How does she tell her family?

Tiri approached Kaylee silently and simply watched her with the other two for a minute. The guilt weighed heavy on her chest so much it seemed impossible to breathe. Of course she knew the man and woman for there was no one in the village she did not know. After a deep inhalation, Kaylee would feel her hand on one shoulder as she walked past to lean down by them. "Mia, Joseph..I'm so sorry." Hugging both at the same time. "We still stop this. I promise." Almost instinctively, her hand rose to Joseph's wound, hovering just shy of touching as her lips whispered words even she did not know. The man's bleeding stopped as Tiri jumped back as if struck by lightning, barely able to murmur. "Tell my brother we're leaving and no one is to follow us."

They'd waste no time in heading home. Who could blame them? After they were well out of earshot, Tiri told Kaylee only two things. "It's me they're after. How do you feel about killing royalty?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee stared with fascination as Tiri performed the healing on the man she'd rescued and the wound mended itself, though it unsettled her a bit the way Tiri jumped back. Magic was something she was not exactly very used to.

However there was no time afforded her to dwell on that. Tiri's comment after the others had gone took her aback somewhat. It didn't seem to make sense. She stared at the other woman, her face a mirror of the confusion inside her. "You? How do you know that?" she asked. "And where does royalty come into it?"

[Maya]

Kaylee wasn't the only one surprised. Tiri was beginning to wonder what was afoot in this forest. She'd never had such an ability before. For someone not easily shaken, the whole thing was a bit unnerving. The one thing known for sure was there'd be no going back.

"Because these raiders were looking for me. They just didn't know which one I would be until now. Assuming we killed all who attacked this place, no one else does either." If they'd never seen a Fae before, the hunters would have been nabbing villagers until they got lucky. And they did today..minus the luck. Kaylee would find those forest green eyes staring at her long and hard in silence. Did she know what Tiri truly was? Hell, Tiri barely understood herself. She'd internally debate if it would be better to go on the journey alone. But..money had exchanged hands. "I'll tell you more when I know more. Right now, we head west to the mountains." The hood was drawn back over her head as soft footed boots moved down a well worn path instead of through the brush. "You like to kill, don't you? Why? Just the money?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee frowned at the half answered questions. Furthermore the other woman also seemed to have a habit of abruptly and unexpectedly changing topic. The latter statement and question took her off balance slightly. The assumption that she liked to kill caused her to bridle a bit. It was not quite the way she herself would have expressed it herself. "Killing is often a part of my work" she replied guardedly, correcting the wording somewhat. "But if you are asking why I do it then yes I do it for the money."

Abruptly she caught Tiri by the arm and stopped her. "Look I don't know where you think we're going or how the two of us marching off there solves anything, but you hired me to guard a village not take on some whole fracking tribe single handed. As to you what makes you think that you can get anywhere near this king anyway? Or even that taking yourself out of the picture will guarantee that the village is spared?" As she said the words she wondered why she cared so much about this other woman's fate. Possibly it was the hospitality Tiri had shown her. Or possibly admiration at the way she risked herself to protect those people she cared about. "Look" she said "I know you probably feel guilt inside because it's you they most want. But getting yourself killed isn't the answer."

[Maya]

If she hadn't gotten used to Tiri being a straight talker, yet secretive, by now, Kaylee never would. Nothing of importance would be revealed until there was a true need for her to have it. "So.." bending a leaf between her fingers. "You sell your soul to the highest bidder whether their intentions are good or bad. Do you ever say no..regardless of the pay off?"

You know that job interview they really never had? They were having it now.

Their walk was abruptly stopped when that hand grabbed her arm. She'd hear the girl out as Kaylee had every right to ask questions. "I am the target they seek. This king demands it and he shall have what he wants. The village has withstood attacks for decades. They will be fine. Even better once it's known the prize is where it's meant to be. You will be the one who delivers me to him. For it, I'm sure there will be a grand reward which will be more than worth your time." Money was the driving force for this partnership after all.

As for the risk of Tiri dying, there'd be a simple shrug. "I've lived a long life. Longer than anyone else I know. If it takes my death for those I love to be safe and enjoy the remainder of their lives, it is a worthwhile sacrifice. Should my death come at your hands, then that is how it was meant to be. I will not hold you at fault."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee wondered why all the personal questions now. If all Tiri wanted was someone to hand her over what did it matter if that person had ethics and scruples. She gave a slight shrug of indifference. "In my experience the intentions of lords and kings are all much of a muchness, sometimes they play the part of the injured party or the protector of the land, but really they are all driven by the same self-interests. But at the end of the day it's not really my place to judge their actions for better or worse." Was all that true? Or did killing for gold and nothing else make her a bad person? To this point she'd never really had any other cause worth fighting for.

Meanwhile the prize money Tiri was now offering her sounded pretty easy and yet for all that she was not a person without empathy. The stated notion of Tiri sacrificing herself touched upon her sympathies.

"What happens when I hand you over?" she asked. "What happens when you are within his power? Have you magic to break through lock and key?" Her tone became softer. "Look I think it's admirable what you're trying to do. But think of those who'd miss you. What would Tomas say or your own brother? I know you say they can all live without you but does it really have to go that way?"

[Maya]

"Is it not your or my place to judge? If the many must bow down to the few who rule with an iron fist and no concern for those who keep them cushy and comfortable, it seems to me someone needs to knock them down a few notches." She wasn't one to easily accept the notion of being ruled over by anyone. Especially someone whom she viewed as a coward. "This so called King covets owning me. Yet, he still sits on his throne while sending others to do his bidding. They terrorized an entire village of innocent people to appease his greed. If he were a true leader and warrior, this man would come for me himself. Since he does not, I will go to him."

Tiri did not expect for her to do anything other than what would normally be done by someone expecting payment. The woman's choices from here on out were hers to make. She did find it odd that Kaylee seemed concerned over the outcome once she was in the king's hands. "You will be paid and should be free to go. I am not trained in the ways of my people, so I don't know what I should be able to do. Kaylee, my fate should not be your concern. It is the path of my choosing."

As for her family, well..they weren't really her family now were they? By now everyone in the village knew so. They had loved her just the same. "Time moves faster for them than I. They will miss me then move on as humans do. So will you."

[Crazywolf]

To Kaylee it seemed they were caught in two separate debates. "You are right there are certain limits of acceptability" she said. "These attacks on your village are something I do not condone. Neither do I condone taking someone as a slave. Those are both actions I would never get involved in."

She then moved on to the second point, one that left her conflicted with a heavy heart. "You are right that your fate should not be my particular concern" she replied "but nonetheless I would be sad to see you give up your own life. But since you seem set on this particular course and won't be dissuaded I will do what I can to help you reach him."

[Maya]

"Even if bound and caged, I will never be a slave to anyone." Was all a matter of perspective really. If she willingly went to the King, she was not a slave. As for what might happen after giving herself up, no one could predict the future. "Nor would I ask you to get involved beyond what you have been paid to do. I suppose, once we leave these lands, you are free to let me take this journey alone." There would be no fault in Kaylee taking what payment had been given and walking away.

To Tiri, the world was very much black and white. A decision made, whether right or wrong, leads to another decision and then another. Each building upon the other. All may lead to success or failure until the day we no longer cease to exist.

"I do appreciate your concern and would love to have your company for the journey. As for dying, well..I don't know.." Shrugging a little while toying with a loose thread on the cloak. "For some reason, I don't fear it. Even so, part of me feels that what I'm searching for is looking for me as well. My people. Sometimes, I hear them in my dreams. They know me..they're looking for me. Maybe I'll find them in death, not in life. Silly, isn't it? There's no reason for me to believe such a thing; but, I do. Anyway, I should get going. Again, if you care to join..." The door was always open for Kaylee to go with.

[Crazywolf]

"Well I said I'd accompany you" Kaylee replied. Inside she still felt reticent about supporting Tiri's course of action. On the other hand she knew that Tiri would do the same thing with or without her. As to the rest she didn't know a lot about the fey folk except though legends. Whether Tiri was right about finding them via death she had no idea. She wondered again how old Tiri really was. Meanwhile the other woman's comments about lost kin made her think of her own past, something she didn't usually care to dwell upon much. Occasionally she would wish that she could still remember her mother's face, but when the latter had died she had been extremely young. The only memories she had left at all were blurred fragments and half of those were probably just her own imagination filling in the pieces.

"I don't suppose I fear death either" she remarked as they set off. "Can't say I'm willing to throw myself at it, but as a warrior it's a possibility I've come to accept." She glanced ahead at the darkening forest. "I don't suppose we'll get all that far tonight" she observed. "But I do see that we are heading toward the mountains. I assume then that is the way they always come from."

[Maya]

Tiri was going to do what she was going to do. With or without assistance. It was nice that Kaylee would come along, even if begrudgingly. There was much to be said for having company on the journey. Someone to bounce thoughts off of if nothing else.

"We're not really sure where they come from. I do know this is the way we must go to find the money behind the raids. Without this King's purse strings, the whole issue would likely cease." Studying the road ahead for some time while thinking on what Kaylee had said.

"Do humans truly accept death?" Starting them down the trail which would wind through the last of the forest and into the open fields where all ears should be fixated on anything that moves. There would be only a few scant homes along the way. Perhaps one would be a good resting place. "It seems to me they do everything in their power to live another day. I've seen them drink odd potions, use every kind of cream or snake oil and even bury themselves in the stinkiest mud if only to lose a wrinkle or two." Laughing a bit at the memory of such. "I would think they should spend their time living life to fullest instead of the foolest. For it's nothing but trickery being cast their way for a few coins. Even I age..just much more slowly. Who knows, maybe I will also be lamenting each line on my forehead that my many foolish endeavors have placed there."

[Crazywolf]

"You foolish?" Kaylee replied with a slight smile and raising of the eyebrow. "Now you intrigue me."

"I guess the acceptance of death depends what you believe in" she replied to the rest. "I like to think that when we die we find our rightful place in the afterlife, perhaps even a place alongside the gods if we are worthy enough. They say certain gods give favour to those of us that die in battle, but I am sure you already know that. Me personally I've always looked to Andraste."

It felt strange to her for them to be talking like this, like two old friends going out for an evening walk. On the other hand she figured the conversation would stop them both dwelling too much on the situation that lay ahead.

"By the way how many guys did you kill back there?" she asked. "Not that it's a contest or anything, just curious. Actually just stop a second." Pulling out a piece of cloth she stood and wiped the fresh blood from her sword. The blade was her prized possession and she was rather fastidious about taking care of it. Job done she stuffed the bloodied rag back in a pouch. "Ok carry on."

[Maya]

"Oh, I was very much a handful. Got into all kinds of trouble." Was she willing to spill the beans on everything? Maybe. Maybe not.

Tiri listened to Kaylee's version of what happens after death. It was one she'd often heard before. Humans did tend to stick to the same story types of beliefs. Valhalla, Heaven or Hell, or some other grand theater with which they would forever reside. "I've heard talk about Gods and the beyond. Guess we'll all know when it's our time to test out the theory." She didn't completely buy into anything. Took more of a wait and see attitude.

There was a bit of a stutter step at her sudden question. "The blade killed them. Why is that important?" Halting long enough for Kaylee to clean her weapon. "Do you have a running tally of all your kills?" Tiri wasn't one to keep a count. In fact, she hated the idea of killing any living creature in the first place. If they gave you no choice, then so be it. "Is there some other hobby you have which has nothing to do with weapons? Dancing perhaps?"

[Crazywolf]

"Not important just curiosity" Kaylee replied to the first. "When you ran off on your own I was initially a bit surprised but you obviously know how to handle yourself." She mused a moment about her own kills. "Can't say I keep tally as such" she remarked "though I do tend to remember the faces, even though about half of them were killed from behind. When a line breaks that's when the most damage occurs." In her mind's eye she briefly recalled some of the more brutal things she'd seen, the carnage that occurred when men were routed from the field. Preferring not to dwell on it she brushed aside the memories and let out a light smile. "Can you seriously imagine me dancing? I don't think any man would even have the nerve to ask me. And if he did I'd soon set him straight."

Walking on a bit they came out of the forest into the fields where just in the distance could be seen a few isolated houses. The sun had now sank below the peaks on the horizon and the dark was closing about them fast.

"Well you probably know this area better than me" she remarked to Tiri. "Hopefully we can find somewhere to stay. I shouldn't fancy sleeping outside, this place is far too open."

[Maya]

"Had plenty of experience handling myself for years. Doesn't mean I can do everything alone." Hence why she'd paid someone else to hop on the band wagon. Tiri didn't dwell on what she'd done and to whom. If the moment had came to such a decision, it wasn't one done out of anything but necessity. There were plenty of people who liked to keep a count. She wasn't one of them. As already implied, the death of anything was not something she relished.

"I could see you dancing, once you took the stick out of your butt. I've danced. It's quite enjoyable. Seeing people happy is part of the reason I like it so. Perhaps, somewhere and some point, there will be someone out there for me. Maybe not. Honestly, I don't know. I do know that we were not meant to roam this world alone. We are meant to be among our own and, when we're not, it's quite lonely." Letting out a low, heavy exhale..sadness perhaps? Would be hard to tell as Tiri rarely showed what was going on inside her head.

The sun set quickly. Luckily there was a bit of moonlight to help guide the way as they neared the homes. One she was somewhat familiar with. "If the same family still lives here, we should be able to stay in their barn." Guiding Kaylee along the rock paved path to the door, giving it a soft rap. An old woman opened the peep hole, gave a gasp then flung open the door with a less than toothy smile. "My word, it's been years..come in, come in. Both of ye.."

"Beth.." Tiri seemed a bit surprised for once. "You've...barely..aged..a bit." and proved just what a poor liar she was.

Beth just laughed, shaking her head of snow white curls. "Bah, it's been thirty years since you last came this way. I've aged a plenty." Aged eyes turned to the new face. Extending a wrinkled hand. "Beth Abernathy at your service. Are you hungry lass? I've some roast chicken. She won't eat it. Barely eats a thing that one. You like real food I hope."

[Crazywolf]

To Kaylee it sounded strange to hear Tiri speak of being alone. This was after all the most drop dead beautiful woman she'd ever met. The perfect looks even made her slightly envious. Frankly she'd have imagined Tiri having the pick of any man she wanted. As to herself there had been a fair few men, she just wasn't that keen on long-term commitments, in particular the idea of ever taking a husband and being forced to settle down seemed wholly undesirable. There were once people she'd been close with, people who'd been like family to her, but that was something different and those people were now gone.

The darkness and unfamiliarity of her surroundings led her to fall silent a while, up until they reached the house and the old woman opened the door to them.

"I like to think so yes" she replied to Beth's question with a smile. "Roast chicken sounds delightful. It's very kind of you to offer us such hospitality. I hope that our sudden arrival is not too inconvenient."

[Maya]

Beauty does not mean happiness. And she didn't view herself as beautiful. This was the shell Tiri had been born into. Not too unlike everyone else; but, there were inherent differences. She had figured out very quickly that dating a human would only lead to heartache because they tend to have a short shelf life in comparison to her own. Before ever hitting adulthood, Tiri knew dating and/or marrying one would be a poor decision on her part. They were family or very close friends; but, nothing more. Losing them to death was still hard. Imagine if one had been allowed too close? Became too important? Such was never to be allowed to take place. Again, a very black and white decision.

She simple stayed out of the way, sitting in a chair by the fire, while Beth began to smother Kaylee with an overabundance of motherly affection.

"Go wash your hands dear. Don't want germs to tag along. Wash basin is right over there by the stove. Do you prefer ale or perhaps a nice herbal tea? Oh, I do love tea. I'll put you a nice, hot plate of chicken down at the table. White or dark meat, darling? ..I've got some home grown greens..tomatoes too. Came out real nice this year."

As Beth was talking Kaylee's head off, Tiri actually began to giggle at the whole scene. "Might want to give her a chance to answer."

"Oh shush you, she's hungry. I can tell. I've fresh honey and some biscuits if you're interested, Tiri. Unless a single walnut is all you need." Shaking her head disapprovingly while carrying a massive amount of chicken with butter beans, boiled potatoes and salad for the new face. "Here you go. Eat up. Since the kids have grown and left, you'll both have your own beds tonight. Been awfully lonely since they left. Calvin and Jessica..he got married an all you know, they have three kids of their own and even a grandchild now. Their oldest boy joined the King's guard in Aldair. Doesn't pay much; but, for a young man, it's a good start."

Tiri's eyes widened. She'd glance over to Kaylee and shake her head no. Hoping the subtle sign would be hint for her not to say anything about what was going on. "You're family has grown by leaps and bounds in my absence. I'm sure you're very proud."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee had found herself warming to Beth straight away from the moment they'd entered the house. There were just some people you couldn't help liking. Meanwhile being fussed over in such a way was quite a new experience for her. In the orphanage where she'd been raised some of the priestesses that ran it were kindly but they'd never had time to give out much individual attention.

Once she could finally get a word in she requested the ale. She then washed her hands in the basin and took her seat. The food Beth served up looked fine and appetising. Everything was comfortable up until the mention of the grandchild in the king's guard. She drew breath slightly then caught Tiri's warning. Not that she'd have let their purpose slip out anyway, clearly Beth was just an innocent who had no idea of the king's true nature. Once more she felt a pang of regret and sadness on Tiri's behalf, over the fate she'd been driven to, though at the same time she couldn't help but admire her for the choice she'd made to protect others. As to the king's reward she had no wish to touch it. Her one reason for accepting this deal was so that the other woman would not need to make the journey alone.

"Yes please do tell us more about your family" she said to Beth. "What of the other members, what do they all do for a living?"

[Maya]

There were very few people who didn't take to Beth straight away. She was everyone's friend or mother figure. The woman would feed you until near to bursting and was very rarely found without a smile on her face. To top that off, she had a bit of a awnry streak.

"Ale it is and a nice, hot plate of the best chicken you'll ever eat. Grown right from me own coop. Don't worry, it didn't suffer." Speaking more to Tiri by this time. The sickened grimace on the girl's face wasn't missed. "Here, have some berry's then. Open wide." Beth would reach into a bowl and begin to chunk the blueberries one by one at Tiri's head.

Any worry over what may come later didn't seem to affect Tiri right then. She'd rather enjoy the little moments than worry over what was around the corner. "Eh, eh, hey! Hey! Now! ...that's not right.." The first two bounced off her forehead. One made it into her mouth and two found the floor.

Beth simply chuckled, teasing. "Come now, you've always had a big mouth. Use it." Sitting down for a cup of tea herself. It was clear she relished the company. "Oh my family is not different from any other. 'Cept Tiri's got them pointed ears. Now I got me three grand kids, Elijah, Peter and Caitlyn. Then Caitlyn and her husband, Sage, they had a little girl last winter, Jewel they call her. When Tiri showed up today, I half thought she might be bringing a husband with her and another little one to cuddle. Guess not." Tutting in disappointment. "My goal is to find her a good man and get her happily married before I die. Beginning to think we're running out of time."

"I'm happy now, Beth. A man should not be the catalyst that makes someone happy."

"Sometimes you don't grasp what you don't know." Looking from one young lady to the other. Beth was no dummy. "I think your eyes will be opened one day. Both of you. Figure you don't have a man either, eh Kaylee? The day you fall in love, you will understand. Anyone for pie?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee tore straight into the chicken which looked and tasted delicious. In her mouth she savored the juicy tenderness. She also sat and watched the blueberry throwing spectacle with amusement. She still found it quite weird how Tiri wouldn't touch meat, to her it seemed obvious that the gods or rather the earth mother had created certain animals specifically for humans to feed on. With an inward shrug she took a drink then started on the vegetables.

She listened politely to the description of Beth's family. It wasn't a topic she could particularly really relate to herself but she had known it was thing other people liked to talk about. Just sat there listening she felt a strange sense of contentment she'd not felt in a long while.

"I've known a few men in the past" she said in reply. "But I'm afraid the notion of settling down with one just doesn't appeal to me at all. Pie on the other hand sounds lovely. Though please just a small piece, I feel like I've had so much food already and you've already been so generous."


***

By the time the pie had been served and eaten the fire in the hearth had burned down low to just a faint glow. Beth took out and lit three oil lamps then showed the two women to their rooms. Each room had a single bed with a small lamp-stand beside it. Kaylee was first to enter her bedroom. She thanked Beth once again for the supper then bid the other two goodnight.

After Beth had shut the door she placed her lamp down on the stand and then un-slung both her weapons to place them beside the bed. She then pulled of her mail-shirt and then the padded jerkin underneath, leaving her in just a simple white shirt. That done she finally put out the lamp and slipped into bed under the blanket. The mattress was stuffed with straw but felt reasonably comfy.

For a few minutes she lay awake in the darkness waiting for her mind to empty itself and go still. She wished there was some further way she could help Tiri but the two of them going it alone against someone like the king just seemed like a hopeless cause. For a while she lay awake with various thoughts weighing her down then finally tiredness overcame her and she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

[Maya]

During the entire evening, Tiri was content to sit and listen as the conversation passed between them. Occasionally nodding or dodging inquiries from Beth as to what type of man she was waiting for.

"Come on, Tiri. Surely this dream man has a look? air about him? attitude? Perhaps he is but a ghost. But, if your mind's eye can not see him, then how can he ever be?"

From her stoic silence, Tiri did not want to talk about it. Nor did she partake of the pie. Too late in the evening to be eating. She really did eat like a bird. However, she did notice the way Beth lit up for Kaylee and seemed to relish having someone to tell stories to and take care of. It was sweet.

Beth would get a peck on the cheek as they went off to bed. A real bed..always a perk. "I'll see you both in the morning." said before shutting the door. Sleep wasn't on her mind. She spent most of the evening staring out the window at the stars. Maybe they could offer some advice as to how to handle these next few, dangerous days.

[Crazywolf]

On the edge of the forest the fur-clad tracker crouched down, torch in hand, studying the ground. "They headed that way" he pronounced gesturing out across the fields toward the distant buildings.

Behind him the group leader, a tall well-built figure with scarred and hardened features, gave a brief nod. As one the group of raiders moved forward resuming their advance.

Silently they crossed over the fields until eventually they came close to the nearest house. Once more the tracker stooped to examine the ground. He then nodded towards the cottage.

"You're sure?" the leader asked.

"Aye" the tracker replied.

The men closed in on the cottage. Reaching forward the leader gently pushed at the door with his hand, finding it locked as expected. However for a man of his size locks were not really much of a problem. Raising a booted foot he kicked hard against the door. The latch broke off and the door swung open with a loud crash. Blade in one hand and torch in the other he strode forward through the open portal with several others following close behind him.

OOC : ok the men are half inside the house half outside. do what you want with them but please leave some alive for Kaylee. XD

[Maya]

Tiri had only cat napped. Which was nothing unusual for her. During that cat nap, she had this odd foreboding feeling. As if someone was trying to tell her something. It resonated in the back of her mind, trying to claw it's way to the front. They're coming. They're coming.. She sat up in bed, listened for a moment and quickly jumped up as the front door came crashing open.

Beth's voice could be heard boldly asking the men. "What's the meaning of this?" As she stood with frying pan in hand ready to fix breakfast.

For Tiri, it came down to a choice. Did she run out the window and try to escape them while leaving Beth and Kaylee to the wolves? or did she go choose the road less followed by giving them what they wanted. In the end, it made no sense to run away from that which she was heading towards. Nor did she want anyone else to suffer.

"There's no need to hurt anyone." emerging from the bedroom with no weapons in sight. "If it's me you're looking for, I'll go willingly so long as you'll be taking me to the King."

She could tell they were surprised and a wee bit afraid of her at the same time. Why not use their fear in her favor? For they knew so little of her kind. "If you dare lay a hand on me for illicit reason, I promise you will regret it." Could she make good on this promise? Maybe. To Kaylee, she'd give a wee smile. "You've been a great companion. I thank you for that. This is how it must be."

[Crazywolf]

When the door crashed open Kaylee woke with a start and immediately grabbed the sword beside her bed. She inwardly cursed herself for not sleeping in her armor, mistakenly allowing herself to be complacent. She swung open her door and sprang through it bringing her face to face with the intruders. But before anyone could make any attack Tiri made the offer to give herself up.

On hearing the words Kaylee was immediately conflicted. That had been the plan but it was one she had never liked. She also felt torn between Tiri and Beth wishing she had some way to save them both.

The leader of the raiders looked at Tiri. "You... you're the one" he said. Looking her up and down he saw a slender young woman nearly half his size with no weapons and his fear of her subsided. Some of the others remained wary but he did not. At the same time he was a man who didn't like to leave loose ends behind him. "Bind the fey, kill the others" he stated bluntly.

[Maya]

She smiled. Oddly timed considering the circumstances. Tiri knew Kaylee's abilities. She knew Beth's as well. The woman may be old; but, she was not frail and did not back down from a fight. As for Tiri, she was not without her weapons either. See, this is why she didn't date. Men were so damn stupid!

"I'm the one." Stating matter of factly.

The command to kill everyone else didn't come as a surprise. What would be was the small package which was tossed at their feet. "Cover your eyes Kaylee..Beth!.." A mild explosion would send up a blindingly, bright flash of light.

Gave Beth enough time to crack their leader right smack in the face with her iron skillet. "Take that you ..you..well I don't curse!" Smacked him again, breaking his nose. "Don't bleed on my floor!"

Tiri pulled out her dagger. "How many are there?" Did Beth or Kaylee know? "I want the leader alive!" As for the others, she didn't care. Especially the one waving a machete at her head. A man of his sheer stature could not beat a Fae in speed. He swung that blade with gusto, she'd duck causing the man's blade to lodge itself into the wall. With one quick dip, she sliced both of his Achille's heels. Another captive who wasn't going anywhere soon. Left to scream in agony while bleeding all over Beth's floor. "Sorry Beth!"

"It's alright, darling.." Waging her own battle with that skillet.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee wondered why she ought to be covering her eyes but the forewarning that something might happen allowed her to turn and shield them just before it did. When the light subsided she lunged forward to attack the nearest man, knocking aside his blade then taking him in the stomach.

From the corner of her eye she saw Beth simultaneously attacking the leader with the skillet. She heard Tiri's question but she didn't really have time to do a precise count, though including the one she'd just felled there seemed to be about seven. Neither did she have time to worry too much about making a mess on the floor. Any pools of blood she'd help clean up later.

Stepping forwards she tried to shield Beth as much as possible even though it put her in a position of fending off attacks from two raiders at once. In that moment protecting the older woman took clear precedence over her own life. "Beth stay back, get behind us" she called out. As she spoke the two raiders surged forward trying to corner her. Blocking the thrust of one attacker she used her counter-stroke to push him back. She then twisted her body back to avoid the lunge of the second man before stabbing him in the gut causing him to drop his weapon and fall to his hands and knees. As he fell the other attacker then came at her once again. He was somewhat middle-aged with rather ugly flat-nosed features and a missing finger on the left hand. As she raised her weapon to block she stumbled slightly over one of Beth's chairs, it was only years of experience that allowed her to stay upright and recover her footing. Swearing slightly at the near mishap she drove forward again driving her enemy back. Though he could match her easily on strength her blows were swifter than his and more precise. Her eyes burned bright with anger toward these raiders who had attacked the village, hunted Tiri and now invaded Beth's cottage. In no mood for mercy she plunged her blade deep into the man's chest. Wrenching the blade free she then looked round to see if there was anyone else left for her to kill.

[Maya]

"Behind you? I don't think so." Beth was one of those people who didn't take orders easily. At all was more accurate. She'd been around, fought many a time and wasn't afraid of nobody. "Don't let my age fool ya!" Swinging to the fences at another man who tried to attack her with a blade. Once he was down, she jabbed the man hard right in his Adam's apple, collapsing his airway..death would come soon. "These young 'uns think they're the only ones who can fight...well..not so."

Two had cornered Tiri with broad swords, a dagger in her hand, as they backed her down the hallway. Her speed would not make it past the two of them. But, they didn't seem eager to engage, nor damage, the King's prize. "Surrender..we'll take you and leave the others be." One offered.

"As if we can trust you now." she pointed out.

The other man was not so patient, he lunged to strike with his blade as she countered by tossing the dagger right for his heart. Another one down. But one remained. His weapon fell to the ground. Both hands went up to show no harm. "I took this job for the reward. Got two kids..I don't have any desire to hurt you." Suddenly the softened expression on his face turned to a look of shock and fear as he yelled "No! Don't!"

For Tiri, there was no time to react to the man who had managed to sneak in a bedroom window and ambush her from behind in the hallway. His sword now impaled through her stomach then slowly removed as the Fae crumpled to the ground. She was more than a little shocked. Yet, for some reason, noticed the genuine look of concern on the man who spoke of his children. He wasn't evil. She sensed that as his arms gathered her up, trying desperately to undo what was done.

"She won't fight back now." Came the smug reply of the other. By this time, the rest of the fighting would be over. Most of the attackers meeting quick ends by Kaylee or Beth.

"What the hell is wrong with you! We weren't suppose to hurt her! We weren't suppose to hurt anyone! She could die..then what do you get?" The girl wasn't dead. Not yet. "I'm sorry..I'm sorry..stay awake..you stay awake."

"Bah, let her die. The King's wants her. Didn't say in what condition."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee turned around to see Beth standing over a dead raider and miraculously still alive herself. Clearly the older woman was more capable than she had first thought. Then looking down the hallway she saw the two raiders, one holding Tiri in his arms. She saw the blood on Tiri's stomach and immediately she felt her heart leap into her mouth. She didn't know if Tiri was dead but immediately she feared the worst. The mere thought these men might have killed her filled her with fury. She advanced foward holding her blooded sword, her face was hard and grim. "Put her down now" she demanded. "Or I promise by the gods I will make both your deaths as unpleasant as possible."

The man with blood on his sword looked at the various bodies strewn on the floor behind Kaylee, hearing the moans of the wounded and dying. It was a scene he couldn't really explain. How had one woman with a blade and a toothless old crone with a skillet overcome so many? Still he was not about to surrender the prize, not when he was this close. Stepping forward he made a lunge at Kaylee but she read the blow and parried easily. Making a light feint she then struck beneath his guard impaling him in the abdomen. As he dropped to his knees in agony she pulled the blade free and then brought it down upon his skull with a shattering crunch.

As she turned toward the other man holding Tiri she saw fear in his eyes. She did nothing to hide the anger on her own face. "Put her down now" she spat. "Or I will make good the promise."

[Maya]

"I've no weapons. I don't mean any harm..I swear it on my life." Which was really at risk right now from the looks of it. The man slowly began to release Tiri. Doing so very gently so as not to injure her further. He had jet black hair and sky blue eyes with skin much paler than the others though dressed in the same garb as the raiders had been. The man's face was not one of great age. Perhaps not so much older than Tiri herself.

Instead of pushing the man away, she held firm to his hands. "Kaylee, do not harm him. His heart is not evil. He's.." She couldn't put her finger on it; but, this man was not like the others. "Different." She let her hand slide down to the gaping wound. Fascinated by the sight of her own blood on her palm. "It does not hurt. Not like I thought it would. Feeling a bit tired."

The man chanced to look at the two ladies. Knowing he was in a very precarious position and for good reason considering all the bodies strewn about the place. "I can help her. But, you will have to trust me as she does. My name is Aiden. I mean her no harm. Keep your blade at my neck if you must; but, decide quickly."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee's eyes widened as Tiri moved her head and spoke. She'd half feared the other woman already dead.

As to Aiden she remained uncertain. Had he not come with the others? On the other hand Tiri had directly asked her to spare him, so there must be some reason behind that.

For a second she wavered then abruptly she sheathed her blade. "Alright carry her through to the table" she ordered brusquely. "Beth we need something to pressurize the wound." She had seen many stomach injuries in the past and knew they could easily prove fatal. She knew they needed to act quickly.

[Maya]

Aiden had arrived with the others. Didn't mean he was in cahoots with them. Though he found it only natural for everyone in the home to make such an assumption. Once the blade was put away, he managed to breathe a sigh of relief. Not so much for his own safety as knowing they were giving him a chance. He easily lifted her up and, stepping over the downed bodies, carefully placed her on the table.


He allowed the other two women to tend to the wound as he leaned down, brushing the hair from Tiri's face so they could be eye to eye. Softly whispering. "Lle rangwa amin? Amin hiraetha, arwen en amin ten awra. Amin merna a'tua. Amin naa tualle. " Can you understand me? I'm sorry, my lady for your pain. I want to help you. I am your servant. The pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Somehow, she understood every word as if the language was one she'd been speaking her entire life. She'd give a nod to let Aiden, and everyone else know, whatever he did would be OK.

"If you would allow me." speaking directly to Kaylee, as she was very plainly a warrior and protective of her friend. "You have done your job, belegohtar. Please, let me do mine." If she was agreeable, Aiden would place his hand over the wound on Tiri's stomach. His lips began to move, whispering silent words in the language of his people as a golden light emanated from his palm. The glow localized to the injury at first, then grew brighter until her whole body was encompassed. As his hand lifted, that glow shrunk back into his palm.

As time quickly passed, Tiri did not move, did not seem to breathe, for all intents and purposes, she seemed to be dead. His effort failed. Then there was a loud gasp as the life flowed back.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee heard the strange whispers which puzzled her as she didn't understand the tongue but she permitted Aiden to do his work. She had barely known Tiri but nonetheless come to like her somewhat as well as admire her. An image flashed in her mind. A field of dead warriors. She'd seen too many companions she'd liked die already and didn't want to see another.

When the light came from Aiden's palm her eyes widened. She was initially wary, suspicious even. When Tiri didn't move and seemed lifeless she felt her heart up in her mouth. When the other woman suddenly gasped and breathed again she let out a huge breath of her own feeling an incredible wave of relief wash over her.

She leaned forward to clasp the other woman by the arm. "Tiri" she said. "Can you you hear me?"

[Maya]

"I hear you loud and clear, Kaylee." Even managed a little grin while squeezing her hand and trying to figure out what just happened. She'd test out all the body parts to make sure everything worked. Fingers, toes, elbows. Sitting up was last since that area was most affected by the sword. Tiri glanced around Beth's house, feeling sorry for what had happened to it during the last hour or so. Two of the attackers still lived. Though one would be a liability since his heels were sliced. Yes, she was still thinking of meeting with this King. "Mamma Beth, I've brought this carnage to your door and, for that, I am sorry."

Beth dismissed it with the brushing of her hand in the air. "If not here, then elsewhere. They were on the hunt. Rather it happen here. I took two of them out me' self. Most fun I've had in years." Still holding that iron skillet with pride.

"Were you injured in any way, Kaylee?" She seemed fine at first blush; but, was she? Tiri also noticed the man whose bell was rung by Beth. He was still out cold. "Should get him tied up. He'll be our prisoner. See how he likes that." As for Aiden, they had much to talk about. Kaylee and Beth had the right to be part of the discussion as well.

With a quick hop, both feet were on the ground as if nothing had happened. "We should clean up this mess before people start asking questions. Don't want to leave you house in disarray and I'm not sure what side the neighbors will be on."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee barely heard the question. "I.. yes I'm fine" she managed to stammer in reply. She couldn't quite believe the extent of Tiri's recovery. Her eyes opened even wider as Tiri hopped off the table onto her feet. In the context of such miracles the talk of taking prisoners and cleaning the floor seemed almost incidental.

She gazed across at Aiden. "You're a fey as well" she stated. She could scarcely believe it but what other explanation could there be?

Behind her one of the men on the floor, the one she'd stabbed in the gut, let out a long low moan. He was slowly bleeding out his life the way Tiri would have done had they not saved her. Unless someone put him out of his misery then the death would be long slow and agonising. Kaylee knew it well but studiously ignored him, her attention focused entirely on Aiden.

[Maya]

"Are you sure? You look a little pale." Beth was a wee bit confused as well; but, she'd been around the 'wee ones' off and on over time. Though Aiden and Tiri were not nearly as tiny as those who often steal shiny things from her cupboards. Ornery little sprites they were. Always into things. "Kaylee dear, there's a whole world out there, the likes of which you've probably never seen. I wish I were young enough to go along as your eyes learn to see from a new angle."

Kaylee's eyes were not the only ones being opened. Tiri was new to it as well. But, she was not bogged down by old notions of how the world should be. In fact, part of her had always felt so very different from those around her. They spoke of her not being human at the village on a regular basis. Now she may be able to learn why. "Should we ..?" pointing at the man slowly bleeding out on the floor.

Was Beth who offered the solution. She took her butcher knife and stabbed him in the heart. "Hope you weren't going to say save him after trying to kill us all. We'll keep that one." pointing to the apparent leader of robbers she'd sent to lala land. "If he can't make himself useful for your cause, Tiri..kill him."

"What cause? To sate the King's quest for more power? or lust?" Aiden asked with great curiosity. "Tiri, you can come home. We've been looking for you. We've found you. Now you can come home with your true family where you've always belonged."

[Crazywolf]

When Beth told Kaylee there was a whole new world out there she gave a slight nod. It felt like she was seeing it already.

She didn't show any objection when Beth stabbed the dying man. She saw no cause in saving him, as Beth said for questioning they only really needed one. Not that she thought questions would yeild much, to her the arrangement seemed simple: the raiders had taken the king's money to try and capture an innocent person. And yes Tiri was very much a person regardless of her particular race and heritage.

"Tiri was only doing it to save her own village" she stated to Aiden. What he said about taking Tiri back to her own people was of course wonderful. She knew that was the thing Tiri most wanted and it made her feel happy on the other woman's behalf. She tried to imagine how hard it had been with all those years of longing and separation and not knowing her own people. Meanwhile there was one other thing with Aiden she was still curious about. "How did you end up with them?" she said gesturing to the raiders.

[Maya]

Well wasn't this interesting? A 'family' member had finally shown up after all of these years. Tiri was just suppose to pack up head off to who knows where with him. Didn't have anything to say to him now. Even after Aiden's efforts to sell her on the idea. In fact, she didn't have anything to say to anybody while sitting in that same comfy chair so desired yesterday. She just listened as Kaylee explained what was going on and asked a very good question. How had he joined the raiders?

Beth, being Beth, started cleaning up the mess. Even dragging a body or two outside which earned a few glances from some neighbors who'd gotten curious about all the hub bub at her house. To them she'd politely ask, "Would you be so kind as to assist in yanking this yokels out? Thought they'd raid my house and kill me so easy, they did. Well I showed them. Had some help; but, I showed two of them. Someone send word to the local magistrate this band of hooligans won't be terrorizing the countryside again." That was called weaving a story which had nothing to do with Tiri and everything to do with a persistent issue of robbers.

Even Aiden seemed surprised by the old woman's spunk. Had the misgiving of smiling to Tiri which did not earn the same in kind. So a bit of explaining was in order. "Well, you were stolen from your homeland as a wee babe at the request of the Unseelie King, Magnus and hidden among the normal folk. The Unseelie, they are bitter over being cast out of the Kingdom of Laith..where the Seelie Queen, Alanna resides. She's good, he's bad. They don't get along at all and it causes a lot of strife. Even here, in this world." He had a habit of talking with his hands to punctuate his point. "You are her granddaughter. She's been searching for you for a very, very long time. At first, we were told you'd been imprisoned, then killed. No one could find the truth. Now, you finally came of age. Which means your aura has strengthened enough for you to use 'magic' as the human's call it. In truth, it's just who we are and what we can do. When that happened, your Watcher..which is me..could finally feel your presence. Doesn't mean I can instantly know where you are. So, I came upon these guys in my search. They were boasting of finding this 'special one' for the King and getting a ton of money in the process. I could sense you were somewhere in the area, put two and two together and hoped for this outcome." clear as mud wasn't it?

[Crazywolf]

"My goodness Beth you're lucky to be alive" said a man called Trayton who was clasping a pitch-fork. He lived on the neighboring farm nearest to Beth with a wife, mother-in-law and five children. "I guess it's just lucky you had guests with you and weren't alone." He turned to a young lad beside him. "Reese go back to the farm and fetch the cart, bring some shovels as well. Don't worry" he smiled at Beth "we'll help you shift these bodies, and yes of course we will tell the magistrate."

Inside the house Kaylee listened to the tale of strife among the fey. It was all part of a strange other world she knew little to nothing about. The biggest revelation was the fact Tiri was in fact a princess. It did strike her curious though that the Unseelie king would opt to hide her among humans. But surely the main thing was that Aiden had now found her. Having heard the speech she waited for Tiri to reply.

[Maya]

Tiri was feeling a little bit overwhelmed to say the least. It was a lot to take in. Even so, being the great granddaughter of a Fae queen really didn't mean she was a princess. The woman was going to live forever, she had plenty of children, who had children, who had children..so, like Prince Harry, there was little chance of succession. Tiri was one of many.

"Well.." Sighing, still processing. "It's an interesting story, Aiden. I appreciate knowing the truth. However, this is my home. This place, these people. It's what I know. It's where I'm comfortable. You are no more than a stranger to me. The same for this Queen and King." Hopping up from the seat to give a lock of Kaylee's hair a tug. "Beth, Kaylee..all the villagers who raised me, they're more family than anyone you've spoken of. If I disappear with you, they'll still search for me. They'll still rampage across the land to find that which is coveted. I'm sorry; but, I won't leave them to the wolves. I plan to meet this other King face to face."

He looked stunned. No one turned down the queen. "She will not be happy with your decision."

"Not the first time that's happened." Unphased by his words. "Tell her I'm sorry; but, I have things to do here. Maybe she and I could meet and get to know each other before this talk of moving. Now you can 'watch' me lead you out the door."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee was caught by surprise when Tiri turned down Aiden's request. She was also genuinely touched that Tiri would mention her among those she considered like family, however at the same time she couldn't help thinking she was slightly undeserving of it. Well from now on things would be different.

She looked Tiri in the eye. "If you are certain this is the course you wish to take then I will stand beside you" she stated. "Before I was unwilling to face this king but now that is changed. It seems there are many reasons why this king should die. If there is the smallest chance of defeating him I shall help you do it."

Reaching into the pouch on her belt she pulled out the coin purse Tiri had given her the previous day, all the wealth her village could spare and scrape together. She then called to Beth. "Beth I have a small favor to ask" she said to the older woman. "Please take these coins and after we are gone arrange for them to be returned to Tiri's village. If they have good sense they will use them to buy additional weapons. For me this task is no longer about money."

[Maya]

Funny, they didn't seem to get along that well to begin with. She'd grown to like Kaylee. Aiden..not so much yet. He still had work to do to earn her trust. Tiri noticed he looked more than a little deflated right then. "You're not going to get in trouble with this queen when you go back are you?"

He was already at the door. Gave a little shrug. "Depends on her mood. Should be fine."

Great! Now there was someone else who was going to get their ass beat because of her. "Well, since you're my watcher, whatever that means, maybe you need to hang around and do your job. Kaylee and I will do ours."

She'd then look to Kaylee. "You do whatever makes you happy, Kay. Though, I'd feel better if you joined since we've no idea what may lay ahead. Not sure killing this king would be the best idea. Then who'll be in charge? Kingdoms fall into chaos without a leader. Let's see what we find. Honestly, it's only natural for people to want a trophy. They want a pet..they want to kill a deer and keep the horns for the mantle or lay claim to something no one else has ever had. To him, that's what I am. Not saying he'll change his mind; but, maybe."

The money going back to her people was a huge gesture of kindness and generosity. "Thank you for that. I'm sure they'll use it wisely."

[Crazywolf]

"If I were in your position I don't think that I'd be so understanding" Kaylee replied. "I admit I knew little of your folk before I met you. The myths had you down as wild capricious beings. However so far as I can tell this king was willing to hurt a lot of people to lay hands on you. But since you are the one who is the aggrieved party I shall follow your lead. Whatever you choose you shall have my support, though at the same time I would urge caution."

As for the money she simply gave a nod.

Her eyes drifted around the room to the bodies on the floor including the two survivors, the one with cut tendons who was now slowly trying to drag himself into a corner and the one that was unconscious.

"Well I quess the next question is what we do with these" she commented. "Really I don't know how much information we will get from them." She turned and spat at the floor. "I'd sooner just kill them both and be done."

[Maya]

This was simply another time they differed in opinion. "It's not so much my understanding as lack of understanding, Kaylee. We don't know why this man has such a need to acquire someone he's never even met, right? So..is it greed or need? Does he believe I'm the key to something which will help him or his people? We don't know yet. Do not worry though, I know we should not trust him."

As for the men, Beth dispatched the injured one. Neighbors were now helping to bury the dead and sleeping beauty would find himself being studied closely by Tiri for some time. In fact, when he did come to, she scared the shit out of him.

"Back away witches! You'll not steal my soul!"

Witches? That was a new one. "I assure you, I do not want it. She might." inclining her head towards Kaylee.

"I am Captain of the Royal Guard..kill me and you shall suffer the same."

She always chose such an untimely moment to smile. "Tell him what we think of that, Kaylee. ..Are we scared of him? ..or his King?" Tiri wasn't. Maybe coercing her partner to feel the same was a bit hasty.

[Crazywolf]

On hearing the assertion of witchcraft Kaylee rolled her eyes slightly. She didn't know if Tiri's little package had been fey magic or human alchemy, but either way the witch statement seemed rather presumptuous. And of course that assumption had absolutely nothing to do with gender.

Captain of the royal guard though. This man was obviously more important than she'd first thought. A sign perhaps of how badly the king wanted Tiri.

"Hmm scared of him? I don't think so" she replied. Picking up her sword from the wall she planted the point down on the floor right between the captain's legs about two inches below his crotch. "So if I'm right this man directed the attacks on the village" she said. "And that makes him responsible for every person killed or injured, every stolen child." She stared down at the captive with a hard look in her eye. "Perhaps you had better tell us why the king is so keen to capture my dear comrade here" she said to him. "And I suggest you speak quickly."

[Maya]

This was kind of fun in a way. Maybe it was wrong for her to take pleasure in the poor smuck's discomfort. The Captain did deserve it in every way, shape or form that Kaylee could dish out while leaving him alive. He could be useful later.
"I'd say she's right. You did hurt a lot of people and you are the reason your own men died. I wonder." Tapping her chin in contemplation. "How would the king feel knowing three women were able to kill your men and capture you? Doesn't speak highly of your skills." Tutting a little.

Beth had to add insult to injury. "Be sure to tell them it was a 70 plus year old woman who took his Captain out with pan. Bet he'll end up in the dungeon..IF they let him live."

"That is true. Very true. Aren't you ashamed? So.." Kneeling down to his level since Kaylee would make sure to de-jewel him should a wrong move be made. "Sounds to me like we're the only hope you have of living. Might behoove you to help us in order to help yourself. Why does your King want with me?"

"The reason doesn't matter. He wants what he wants. If we want to feed our families, we do his bidding. If we do not, then we'll rot in a dungeon or worse. He takes our wives and children to make sure of it. These men you three killed..their wives and kids will never see light again." He'd drop his head into his hands. "Do with me what you will. Go ahead and kill me now for if I go back without you, I'm still a dead man."

Tiri was torn. Seemed this was getting even more complicated. So she'd ask Kaylee. "Do you believe him?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee shook her head. "He changes his story too quickly. One minute the king loves him, next minute he's just a helpless pawn. From my experience king's and princes are very selective when choosing their own personal guard, they only take men they can trust." Her sword moved up a couple of inches so that the edge of the blade was now pressing against his manhood. "Perhaps we should remove a piece of you and send it back as a message."

"It's his druid priestess that wants her" the captain blurted out. "I swear that's all I know."

Kaylee glanced at Tiri then back at the captain. She frowned suspiciously. "What priestess" she demanded. "Explain."

The captain seemed reluctant to speak further but the sword pressed against his manhood was rather uncomfortable and Kaylee's expression displayed no sign of mercy. "He has a tame priestess of Morib* who weaves spells and curses against his enemies. She is the one that wants your friend, or at least that's the rumour I heard."

Kaylee eased the pressure slightly with her sword then looked back at Tiri. "I don't think we will get much more out of him. With the things he has done I do not feel inclined to spare him. However I will leave the choice in your hands."

*A goddess associated with fear, fury and strife.

[Maya]

Tiri was not so inclined to kill as Kaylee. Each death by their hands made them no better than those considered enemies. Every soul lost felt like another heavy weight laid upon her shoulders. She didn't eat meat for a reason; but, would not argue the point.

"Do what you think is best." Whispered softly while walking outside.

Beth soon followed behind. "What ails you so, Tiri? Those men, they were evil souls at heart. Deserve what they got. Us or them you know."

"I know." raking fingers through her hair. "seems I've seen more death in the last few months than I have my entire life. It is only getting worse. A priestess now. What are we to do with her? And why me? I am no one special nor unique. People do not deserve to be tortured or die because of someone else's lust for whatever it is they think I can give them. I need to go the rest of the way alone. It's me they want. I can't risk Kaylee dying due to being drawn into this by me. Distract her for me.."

"I do not think so. If you want to go alone, that's on you. And you'll be doing the telling to her, not I. She deserves to hear it face to face and decide for herself."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee was not unsympathetic when Tiri walked away and left her with the prisoner. Killing in cold blood was not exactly something she was used to herself. The fact the other woman felt unable to do it did not make her think any less of her.

For a moment she just stood there and silently studied the captive. If she let him live there was nothing to stop him coming after them again to regain his master's favour. But the thing that hardened her heart most was the thought of the stolen children.

The man raised his head back up from his hands and watched her intently awaiting his fate. As he sat there she paced round slowly till she stood almost directly behind him. Then with a sudden swift swing of her blade she sliced off his head.

Turning away she walked outside to where Tiri and Beth were waiting. The neighbours now had the last of the bodies piled up on the back of the cart, ready to take away and bury. "One more inside for you she called out." She then turned towards Tiri and Beth and there was a certain weariness about her expression. "Beth I hope you still have some of that ale. Right now I could really use a drink."

[Maya]

Word that the Captain had been killed as well left Tiri feeling as if there were heavy, lead weights in her feet. Her stomach churned to the point of wanting to wretch. His death..all the others, for want of one person, it was all so pointless. Since she was the one, it made no sense to keep dragging this out.

"I will tell her. Just give me a moment." Hugging Beth before strolling towards where the men were busy burying the dead. One was pulled aside. "Do you have a horse? ..Can you ride?" When he shook his head yes, she'd ask a favor. "I will give you a letter and I need it delivered to King Aldair personally." Another nod and she'd head inside, skirt around everyone and everything else in the main room, enter her own. There, Tiri put pencil to paper.

I am the one you seek. In ten days time, you will find me in the town of Killarn at the Wolf's Bane Inn where I willingly surrender myself. In exchange, you will no longer torment the local villagers or my people. All children will be returned to their parents. The messenger will confirm my identity. He is to be left unharmed. If you breach the terms of this agreement, the consequences will not be pleasant for you nor your so called priestess. Tiri

Without a single word to Beth or Kaylee, she'd exit the cottage to deliver said letter to the man, as well as a few more coins for payment of his time. "Be swift, stay safe..say nothing to anyone of this. Even when you return here." With that, they parted ways. She back inside the house as if nothing was amiss. He to his own home to prepare for the journey.

[Crazywolf]

Beth pulled out the ale cask and poured a drink for Kaylee and then herself. The two women sat for a moment at the table. In certain spots below their feet the floor was still stained with blood. As for the swords of the fallen men she had already collected them up and piled them up in the corner. Good steel was highly valuable so no doubt Beth would get a good price for them. She considered taking half of them to trade herself but figured she and Tiri already had enough matters to worry about.

She was curious that Tiri did not immediately join them but instead seemed to converse with the men outside then disappear to her room then slip outside again. When the fey woman did finally come to join them Kaylee glanced up at her with a quizzical expression. She wondered what Tiri had been doing but did not want to seem overly inquisitive.

"So what's the plan now?" she asked instead.

[Maya]

Tiri rejoined, poured herself a glass of water and seemed to not hear Kaylee for a moment. Too lost in thought. Seconds passed before the question seeped in past all the other issues racing around for attention in her mind. "Oh..well.." Shrugs. Wasn't often no decision was made on her end. She really didn't know what to tell her.

Which is when Beth stepped in. "She plans to leave under cover of darkness while ye' sleep. That's what. Ain't got the guts to say it a'loud. Givin' herself up to the devils in exchange for your life and those of the village. Martyr they call it right? Bullshit..that's what I say."

"Thought you were not going to say anything." Tiri said with an eye-roll. "Knew you would."

"Well o'course I would. Everybody knows pacts with crazy folk is crazy! They won't hold to no contracts and their word is worth nothin' but hot air. So, not only will they have you, they slaughter the rest of us for sport." Withered hands reached out in two directions. Grabbing both. "Tiri, I know you grow tired of death and sorrow. Killin' is not part of who you are or your true culture." Pausing upon realizing too much fact just fell right out of her mouth. "I've met your true people. Those for whom death rarely calls. It's why you despise our ways..the sights fester inside you because you can not save us. Giving yourself up to an eternity of slavery will not change a thing either. Death comes to all mortals in time." Inhaling deeply while looking to Kaylee. "When she speaks crazy talk, do not listen. She needs you, Kay..you need each other."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee sat and listened to the revelation. In some ways it did not surprise her. She could not imagine how Tiri must feel to know that all the suffering had happened because someone wanted her. She understood the reluctance to put herself above so many others.

She wondered a little what Beth had meant by the last comment about her needing Tiri. But the one thing she knew for sure was that she couldn't walk away.

She looked long and hard at Tiri. "Beth is right these people cannot be trusted" she said. "Nor can I watch you just give yourself up. I know you are doing it because of the others but if you will trust me I will make a suggestion. We offer an exchange: yourself for the children. You will be taken captive but it will only be for a short moment, only as long as it takes to move the children out of harm's way. After that I shall go with you on whatever path you choose."

[Maya]

Tiri was in a mood. Might even call it a foul mood. Really didn't feel like having a discussion over the decision she'd already made. "I'm pretty sure there are ways to destroy me if one is so inclined to do so. Maybe only in spirit." She already felt pretty broken. "Regardless, my decision is made. If you want to go.." referring now to Kaylee. "I won't stop you. All I ask is that you do the same when I turn myself in to this sorceress or whoever is sent to claim me. Take the children back to safety. That's all I ask. Live your lives."

Beth was wringing her hands, shaking her head and terribly upset. "They will torture you."

"Probably." Nodding in agreement. "I can withstand pain if the family is safe."

The old woman's fisted hands slammed against the table top. Jostling the glasses about. "Damn you, Tiri! You are family and family is to be protected. Stop acting like an outsider!" Her face red with anger, Beth shoved her chair back, went to the cupboard, withdrew a box, removed three silver coins and stalked towards the door. "I'm no magician; but, I'm no fool. There are ways..always ways." Mumbling as the front door closed behind her.

Tiri's brow arched while tapping her fingertips against the water glass. "That did not go well." For once, instead of telling Kaylee what they were going to do, she posed a question. "The letter has already been sent. So I have to go. What do you suggest we do to ensure success?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee wondered slightly at Beth's actions but turned her attention back to Tiri. If she had learnt anything about Tiri in their short time together it was the fact that the other woman was stubborn-minded, also the fact she would not knowingly place others in danger on her own behalf. On the other hand she could not bring herself to stand idly by and watch the other woman give herself up. Whatever this priestess wanted with her she was sure it could not be pleasant. The only option left on the table was deception. She just hoped Tiri would not come to hate her for it and that she herself would not come to regret it.

"Well for a start the letter was only sent five minutes ago" she replied "so we can intercept the messenger and change the arrangements. I do not trust them to keep their end so we need to do this on ground of our own choosing." She turned in her seat and pointed out the window at the fields. "Out there in the fields between the farms and the forest, that is where the exchange will happen. The children will go back to their families and you will be the one that saved them. Now if that is settled and satisfactory perhaps we can locate Beth and have some breakfast. Sorting all this business out on an empty stomach just isn't natural."

As soon as she got the chance to talk to Beth alone she'd tell the older woman her real plan. Assuming of course Tiri was content with the suggested arrangements.

[Maya]

Tiri couldn't stand to hurt anyone nor kill an animal for food. Did Kaylee truly think she had the capacity to stay mad at her forever? There was only one issue Tiri was having trouble accepting. "I don't want to be the hero. I don't want to be the one people will give accolades to when I've done nothing but harm them thus far. Let Beth save them." That's how she felt it would best go down. Beth was old. Her life was nearing it's end. She'd always done so much for everyone. May as well let her be the golden girl for awhile. Tiri truly just wanted to slink into the sunset and disappear.

"Everything else is fine by me. Have your breakfast. I'm not hungry." Was she ever? Not really. "I'll be in my room." And so she went, quietly closing the door.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee sat at the table and let out a regretful sigh. She'd thought the point about saving the children would make Tiri feel better but instead it had made her feel worse. She wished this whole unhappy situation could be over right there and then and that Tiri could go back to her village to live in peace. Then in time perhaps she would choose to visit her birth-people as well and connect with her own heritage.

Emptying her cup of ale down her throat she rose and went outside to find Beth and fill her in on the situation. Standing outside the door she glanced around for a sign of where the older woman had gone.

[Maya]

Beth came flying back inside fit to be tied. "She's left. Snuck out the window, borrowed a horse and left. Sneaky little, pointy eared brat..I tell ya, I could strangle her myself if the King doesn't do it before me." Surely Kaylee could figure out who she was raving about. "Smart as a whip; but, no sense at all." Throwing apples and two loafs of bread into a leather bag. "Come on, girl. We've got to get going. Don't tell me I'm too old to go or you'll be on my crap list next. Got two horses waiting for us. Tiri can only be a few minutes ahead."

A young man came inside.."Horses are ready, Beth. Need anything else?"

"Yes, get a few of those swords, cover them, pack em up and put them on the horses as well. Gonna need all the help we can get." If Kaylee wasn't moving by now, the old lady would likely swat her.

Two ladies going alone. Sure didn't seem like the best idea to him. "I can gather some more men and we'll be glad to help you."

"I don't need a posse. We'll send for reinforcements if we need to. Right now, we need to catch up with Tiri before anyone else does. Ready Kaylee?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee swore loudly and cursed herself for being complacent. Clearly Tiri had seen straight though her deception.

"Shit, just give me a moment" she replied to Beth. She ran into the bedroom and grabbed her sword-belt slinging it over her shoulder then pulled on her boots. She gave a longing glance towards her armour but if this was going to be a race to catch-up it would only slow her down. Hurrying back into the kitchen she snatched up her sword which she'd left leaning against the wall and without breaking stride slung it into the sheath over her shoulder. "Ok let's go" she said.

Following Beth outside she swung herself rather awkwardly onto the saddle of the nearest horse. It had been a long time since she'd last ridden one and her riding abilities were fairly amateur, however right now didn't seem the best time to mention that. She waited for Beth to mount up as well then kicked her heels to set off.

[Maya]

Tiri was predictably unpredictable. As well as stubborn. Didn't take her but a few seconds to sneak out that window and make her way to the waiting horse. However many seconds it took them to figure it out was how long she had to spur her mount into putting the distance between them. At one point, she'd leave the well trodden road and utilize the fields to hide the hoof prints as best she could. By night fall, she'd find a safe place to make camp and rest til morning.

It took Beth three tries..and one guy offering a leg up..to get up on the horse. "I coulda done my self you know." Just in cast anyone thought she wasn't aging well. "Thanks all the same. Mind my house while I'm gone will ya?" Of course they would. All the neighbors were good as gold. "Alright Miss Kaylee, we should move fast or there'll be no chance of catching that crazy kid." Spurring her horse to flight, they'd be off heading for the distant mountains or Tiri, whichever was found first.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee rode along beside Beth. Riding at full flight was not the most comfortable experience. After a mile or so they had to slow down a little. They pushed the horses on as hard as they could alternating between a brisk trot and slow canter. Before long Kaylee's thighs were starting to feel sore.

They rode on several hours with no sign of Tiri. It passed from morning to afternoon and then eventually the sun began to fall. By that point her thighs were aching like crazy. "If we don't catch up to her soon we will have to stop" she sighed to Beth. "It's no use riding on in the dark, we may ride straight past her and miss here completely. By the gods I do hope we find her before she reaches the king."

[Maya]

She didn't want to push the horse too hard. Wasn't it hers and should be returned healthy. Before nightfall, she'd found an outcropping of trees by a lake. Perfect to build a fire and camp for the night. Tiri took the horse down for a drink then tied it to a tree. "I think I'll call you Bumpy because that was the roughest ride ever." Giving the mare a pat while grateful for some company to talk to..or at.

About an hour passed when she heard the sound of riders in the distance and coming closer. Not knowing who might be approaching, the fire was smothered..though the smoke smell still lingered...Tiri dove behind a group of bushes until they passed.

[Crazywolf]

Soon the sun had gone and the sky had turned to grey dusk and was rapidly growing darker with very little light left. "We shall have to stop here" Kaylee said. "I don't like camping out here alone so near the mountains but what else can we do? Lets stop over there by the trees."

She led her horse over toward the clump of trees and then slid herself from the saddle. Her thighs were so stiff that when she touched the ground she nearly fell over. She was amazed by how well Beth had coped. If she was still half as fit at that age herself she would be delighted.

They tied the horses then scraped together a few pieces of brushwood and made a small fire. Kaylee felt horribly exposed being out in such a remote place without her armour and felt like an fool for not bringing it with her. On the other hand Beth was twice her age and had nothing but a shawl. After a weary supper she suggested they get some sleep and laid herself down on the ground to sleep.


***

Some time passed, perhaps an hour or two, then abruptly Kaylee was woken by a loud whinnying sound from the horses. From the noise it was clear something had unsettled them. "Beth wake up" she said. Sitting herself upright she reached out for the blade beside her and glanced around at the shadows. For a while she saw nothing, then she saw dark shapes moving beyond the fire and the glint of yellow eyes. As the shapes come closer she could make out more of their appearance. She had never seen such creatures before but she could tell from the size and shape what they were. Direwolves.

Immediately she rose to her feet trusting Beth to do the same and planted her back against the nearest tree. Beside them the horses were now going mad with terror. All that remained of the tiny campfire in front of them was a few smouldering branches, not enough to cause the wolves any fear. She gripped her sword firmly and eyed the creatures warily, ready to lunge at the first one that came close.

[Maya]

The riders never did pass her area, so the night went relatively smoothly. Tiri now had the inward debate of going onward to the rendezvous point with the King or go back to investigate just who was so near her. Curiosity won out, she'd pack up the supplies and follow the well beaten path towards it's ending. Just as the small camp site was noticed, her horse balked at moving any further. Flaring it's nostrils and dancing about in fear.

"Steady..steady..Bumpy" Patting the mare's shoulder then slowly sliding down to the ground, pulling a sword from it's sheath. Creeping a few steps further, Tiri caught her first glimpse of the wolves. Huge creatures. Much bigger than any she'd seen before. Her gaze went from the pack to it's prey. "Kaylee..? Beth?" ..Groaning inwardly. Should have known they'd follow. They were all cut from the same stubborn cloth.

To offer a bit of distraction, she placed two fingers to her lips and let out a high pitched whistle while diving at the closest wolf to her, slicing at it with the sword.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee had been starting to feel they were in real trouble when suddenly she heard the whistle and saw Tiri leap out of the dark. Taking advantage of the pack's distraction she let out a loud yell and charged forward at the nearest wolf. As the surprised animal tipped back onto it's haunches she swung her blade and lopped off it's head.

She then pulled the sword back ready for another blow but before she could recover her poise a second wolf sprang at her, the weight of it's body knocking her flat. She could feel the sharp claws tearing through her short and digging into her breast. With the animal now on top of her instinctively raised her left arm to guard her throat. She felt a sudden surge of wild pain as it's teeth sank into her forearm just inches above her face. Using her other arm she drove her sword up into it's belly. Blood immediately poured down the blade onto her hand and wrist. Gritting her teeth she worked the blade back and forth to hasten it's demise. Locked in her own private struggle with the slavering beast on top of her she had no awareness of what else was going on around her, no awareness of whether Tiri and Beth were still alive.

[Maya]

She'd stab into the heart of the first one, slash her way through a second while trying to get closer to Beth, who was doing some swinging of her own.

"I got this! ..Go help Kaylee.." Never let anyone say she was too old to take care of herself! She'd lob off the wolf's front leg then drive that swords right into it's head.

Even Bumpy got some action. One of the wolves thought the mare would be an easy dinner until it met two back hooves right in the face. With a wobbly walk, the wolf wobbled it's way off. Likely to die.

From Tiri's point of view, she couldn't tell if Kaylee was alive or dead. Only that the beast was on top of her and it didn't look good. Another wolf stood in the way of her rush to find out. Somewhere in the melee, she heard Beth yelling 'Tiri, behind you!' just in time to crouch low while twirling the sword about so it was now beneath her arm, facing upward from her back so the direwolf impaled himself during the lunge. It also partially buried her upon landing. Took a little heavy lifting to get out from under it's front paws.

Both Tiri and Beth would get to Kaylee at the same time. Beth took the job of making sure the beast was dead and both would shove the animal from the poor woman's body. "Kaylee..can you talk? ..She's covered in blood, Beth!" Didn't know who it belonged to.

[Crazywolf]

By the time the other women reached her the wolf had finally stopped moving, which had caused it's jaws to slacken somewhat so that Kaylee was able to extract her torn and bloodied arm from it's teeth. She gazed up as the other women shoved the weight of the corpse off her body. She could feel her breathing slowly returning to normal.

"Don't worry I'm fine" she replied. "Most of it is his not mine. He just got me on the arm a little but really it's nothing." As she spoke she could feeling the stinging pain where her forearm was torn and lacerated. She saw that the arm was also wet with blood. Hauling herself up on her good arm she sat herself up a little. In doing so the left arm moved a bit causing her to give a slight wince of pain but immediately she brushed it off. "Really don't worry, it's just a bite, I've had much worse so I'm sure I'll be fine."

[Maya]

"Mhmm, how many times have I heard that." The elder woman reached down to gingerly help Kaylee rise. Tutting the whole time. "You'll be takin' a seat so we can see just how bad it is. Won't do you a lick of good to pretend all is well whilst your arm rots completely off. I've seen it happen so there'll be no more discussion about it. Tiri, bring me some water and let's get rid of all this blood."

She already knew never to cross Beth once her mind was set. So that pouch of water showed up quickly and she'd start to clean off the wound and any residual blood from the wolf.

"Somebody was fibbing." Now able to see what the Direwolf had done, the woman was again clucking her tongue. "It got you damn good. Let's hope it's not diseased. I brought some medical supplies. Should be a needle. We can sew it up."

Tiri looked from Beth to Kaylee and back again. Seems someone had forgotten there were other options. "Maybe we could do this without more additional pain? If you're alright with me trying?" Asking Kaylee. May not work on a human. It's not like she fully understand what was happening around her.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee sat still while Beth attended to her. At that point she knew better than to argue.

She looked up at Tiri and frowned slightly. She recalled the wounded man in the forest and how Tiri had seemed to suffer pain when she touched him. "Well you can try if you want" she replied. "But please don't do it if you think you might cause yourself any harm."

[Maya]

"If you don't want her to try, I can always tend to it myself. I'm good with a needle and thread. Would you like it cross-stitched or what?" Being a woman of little patience, Beth didn't care how the fixing went about, so long as it did. "Got some strong whiskey in my bag. Don't judge me..it's for medicinal purposes. Like this." Or colds, coughs, headaches, times when sleep doesn't come or just plain because! Did an old woman truly need a reason?

Kaylee didn't come across as wanting Tiri's particular kind of help. Which was why she hesitated. Only, the thought of Beth using a needle and thread to sew that arm back together sounded awfully painful. "Maybe I could give it a try? Just to see. Before she starts stabbing you."

"STITCHIN'..it's stitchin' not stabbin'. Make me sound like an axe murderer. Which I've only done once. Self defense. Don't you judge me.." Shaking a finger at the both of them. "Swords are cleaner."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee was starting to feel a little self-conscious what with both women arguing over how to treat her. She also couldn't help feel a little self-conscious to be the one that got hurt when Beth was twice her own age.

"You really need to fill me in on your past sometime" she replied to Beth with a smile. "Clearly you have plenty of past experience as a fighter. If I can fight even half as well as you when I get to your age I will be hugely grateful."

She then turned her attention to Tiri. "You may try it if you wish. My only concern is that you don't harm yourself in the process of using it, but otherwise I trust you completely."

[Maya]

"Will take weeks and weeks to do that. Let me know when you have the time." Beth grinned while still studying the girl's poor arm. "Seems to me you're well on your way to being a formidable fighter on your own. I'll think you'll be just fine when ancient like me." Of course, Tiri was the eldest one. No one would know it from her looks. She didn't know the world as well as Beth did because of there'd been a lot of youthful years to get through. More so than most children. Without warning, poor Kaylee would find a nice splash of whiskey poured into that wound. "Ahh..had to sterilize it, my dear. Better if you didn't know it was coming."


Tiri winced in sympathy pain. That had to sting like hell. "I don't think it'll hurt any more than that did. Makes me cringe."

"If I'd have warned her, she might have ran. Or cried. Heaven forbid she cry. I can't stand it when people cry. If you're going to help her, help her. Otherwise, I'll start sewing while it's still somewhat numb." snapping her fingers at the pair.

"Alright, alright." Walking over to Kaylee. "Hold out your arm and think happy thoughts." Why? Why not. Once sure it was OK, Tir would hover her hands over the injured arm. That golden light would grow from her fingertips to encompass both hands then slowly creep over to Kaylee's arm as well. Tiri's lips moved softly. Again speaking a language no one else would understand. As to whether the magic worked or not, that was for Kaylee to find out.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee winced aloud as the whiskey was poured on her arm. She glowered slightly at Beth but took a breath and held her tongue. She knew that protesting at that point would only make her sound silly.

She obediently held out the arm to Tiri. She watched intently as the golden glow spread out from Tiri's fingertips while listening to her chant in the strange tongue. As the glow touched her arm she felt a gentle warmth and tingling sensation that was not unpleasant. Slowly before her eyes the toothmarks in her arm began to knit themselves closed. Soon there tear was completely gone with not even a scar to show they had ever been there. The change was truly remarkable. She looked the fey woman in the eye. "Thankyou" she said "it feels good as new. Your people have a truly wonderful gift."

Looking away for a second she gazed around at the scene of carnage. "I'm also glad you showed up. Otherwise things could have gone a whole lot worse."

[Maya]

The old woman would have a good laugh at Kaylee if she made too much of a fuss about it. "It's good for the humors..and your arm." going about the business of breakfast now that the melee was over.

Tiri knew better than say a word. She'd dealt with Miss Beth before and her patience could fit on the head of a needle. "Good as new." Mumbling softly. How sad was it to be amazed by ones own ability? As for the idea of it being a wonderful gift, she wasn't so sure. Seemed to be causing a lot of trouble in her mind. Wouldn't dwell on it long. "We're just lucky for camping so close together."

"If you hadn't snuck away, Miss I Know Everything, we wouldn't have had to follow you." Tossing a biscuit at Tiri's head..which she caught. "Next time, you'll be tellin' your plans and you'll stick to them. Eat. There's no meat in that so don't whine." and for the moment, Beth was in a very foul mood.

Was a bad time to argue; but, in her own defense Tiri muttered. "I told you not to." Which earned a veritable death glare. "I'm sorry! Geesh. But, I'm not the only one who doesn't listen now am I?" thus earning a handful of dried raisins to be tossed at her as well. Guess this might be called breakfast on the fly. Those hit their mark. "OK, OK! ..Calm down. It's over now. We're all fine." Shoving the very, dry biscuit in her mouth before something heavier was tossed her way. Became pretty clear Beth considered her part of the family. Perhaps the unruliest part. There'd be no talking after that because of the choking factor which came with a biscuit and no jam or water to help soften it up. Much chewing ensued.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee sat and listened while Beth chastised the other woman. She herself felt a natural sense of deference toward Beth, even through Tiri was in fact the oldest of all three of them. She also felt reluctant to speak too much because she was still really an outsider to their relationship, she wasn't a part of their shared history.

"Tiri's right" she eventually ventured. "No real harm done. Except the soreness in my darn thighs. After breakfast I suggest we just head back to the farm and put this little adventure behind us."

[Maya]

"I think that's a bad idea." Tiri stared matter factly and didn't wait for the sure to be argument to start. "Hear me out." Swigging a drink of water to get that biscuit residue to finally go down. "Direwolves are not native to this area. So why are they here? Why come after you two? I look at it like this. I have a watcher..watching me or us. He's on our side. The good Fae side or whatever. Who's to say this King's witch, sorceress..crazy woman, doesn't have the ability to watch us as well? If she's trying to kill you two to keep you from stopping me from turning myself in, or just to get to me, it's not going to matter where you go. Back to Beth's home, the village or with me..they will find you. They will find us. We're stronger together than apart. Look what we just did together?" The proof was in the dead wolves around them." Why draw these loonies back to populated areas where more harm can be done?"

She'd let them chew on that for a bit before adding. "I'm not going back. If you both want to, go ahead."

[Crazywolf]

Keylee listened patiently. "I hear what you are saying" she replied. "My only concern was the children of your village. Even if you agree to turn yourself in I don't trust him to hand them back. That is why I suggested to make the trade in the fields near to the forest. If they think you are giving yourself up then they have no reason to attack anyone. And if surrendering yourself is what you want I won't try to stop them." Of course the last part wasn't really true, she knew in her heart she couldn't just stand by if there were some way that Tiri might be saved, she only said it in the hope of making Tiri agree.

She gave a shrug. "The choice is yours though. I have offered you my help so I will help you in whatever plan you decide."

[Maya]

"I appreciate your concern for the children. If you go with me and all goes as planned, you and Beth will be their way back home. As for me, whatever happens shall happen. Seems I'm worried about my fate much less than both of you." Tiri could understand why Beth would be so upset over the thought of her being imprisoned; but, Kaylee hadn't known her long enough to care had she?

"It's because you've got the head of a boulder. Nothing can get through to you. We can do this without giving you up to them for who knows what." By now, Beth had cooked up some hash to go with the biscuits. Nothing special. Even made a pot of tea. A plate would be shoved Kaylees way since the girl appreciated her cooking more than hard head. "Eat...please." Trying to turn her own attitude around.

"Then follow far enough behind not to get caught." Tiri chimed in. They were within a stones throw of each other all night and didn't know it.

Beth snapped for a second, grabbed up a switch to wave in the air. "I'll take this to your backside like I did when you was young. Try me and see."

Oddly enough, Tiri smiled, walked over despite the switch and gave Beth a bear hug. "I love you too. Now how about we lay down our differences and come up with a plan we can all agree with. Kaylee?" Join the hug! Gotta join the hug! "It's going to be alright."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee took the plate and cup of tea with gratitude though she wasn't comfortable to eat until matters were settled. She felt a little concerned that Tiri had rejected her suggestion. Secretly she had hoped to contact Tomas and the other men of the forest to tell them of the situation. With their help it might have been possible to both get the children back and save Tiri. Now she would need to figure out a way of doing it without them. Through the time spent together she had allowed herself to become attached to both other women, on top of that she couldn't comfortably watch an innocent person taken captive if it was in her power to stop it.

She couldn't help smiling as Tiri hugged Beth. However she hesitated slightly when Tiri invited her to join them, her eyes slightly widening. As a rule she was used to more masculine forms of emotional-bonding which typically tended to involve a lot of ale. But then she just thought ah frack it and let herself go with the moment. Standing up she stepped forward to join the embrace. Suddenly, sharing that hug, the world seemed just a little bit less ugly and just a little bit more beautiful.

Finally she pulled her arms away and now feeling slightly self-conscious again she eased herself back. She turned and looked at Tiri. "Okay then so tell me the plan" she said. "What do we do next."

[Maya]

What do we do next? What a loaded question. Neither had liked any of the plans Tiri had come up with so far. "I don't know." There was an honest answer.

Beth cleaned up from the breakfast, eyeing both girls for a moment. At some point, she couldn't take it anymore. "We get your people involved, Tiri. Not the villagers. Your people. It can be done. You and Kaylee need to visit with the Seelie Queen. Inform her of the dangers to innocent people because you were hidden here. Surely, her conscience can be swayed."

Of all the options, that one wasn't even on Tiri's radar. "Now I feel much better." sighing softly. "All this time, I have been the problem."

"No, nono.." The woman eyed Kaylee as if to ask for some assistance. "I'm saying they've already made contact with you. They want you to come home. Perhaps the two of you can work something out with her. Surely she wouldn't want you to be a prisoner to some human King? That would be a black eye to the entire realm."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee nodded as she listened to the plan. Finally it was a plan with some hope. Meanwhile her own eyes widened at the thought that she herself would visit the hidden realm of the fey.

"Beth is right" she said to Tiri. "There is no dishonour in asking for help from your own kin. The forest villagers took you in as a baby and raised you so by rights your birth-people should lend them aid. Besides the worst they can do is say no." She hesitated slightly. "I assume you have a means to contact them again?"

[Maya]

"Don't assume." Beth said with an almost nervous chuckle. "The Fae can be very fickle and dangerous. They may welcome you with open arms or they may trap you there for a hundred years. Tis a risk. But, one that must be taken if we are to have the support we need."

"A hundred years?" The sound of Tiri's surprise was almost a surprise in itself. "That's just great."

"You have to earn their trust. Just like anyone anywhere else. If they know of you and this watcher can vouch for both of you, all should go well." Trying to mask the uncertainty in her voice. "Call for the watcher when you're ready. I know he can take you there."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee frowned slightly at the prospect of getting stuck for a hundred years. She knew they fey were unpredictable but surely with Tiri there they would both be alright.

"I think you're forgetting that she's a princess" she replied with a smile. "And a long-lost one at that. She's the great grand-daughter of the queen herself." She was about to mention Tiri's parents too but stopped herself. No-one had yet mentioned if they were still alive.

"As I see it the only potential problem is with me" she remarked. Til now she was mostly addressing Beth but now she turned towards Tiri. "I will go with you if you so wish but if you think that having a stranger with you would make things a bit awkward then I can always just wait here with Beth."

[Maya]

"I'm not a princess." said flatly. "Please don't ever equate me to something so ...spoiled." Tiri had never been spoiled. If anything, she was likely a stronger person for living among the humans for so long. Even if her parents were still around, they'd made no attempt to contact her over all these years. Which meant they could not be considered parents in her mind. She already had those.

When it came to the decision of who was going, that was easy. "I need you to go with me, Kaylee. I need someone who will truly watch my back since I don't know who I can trust there."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee could see that Tiri was still not comfortable with the matter of her own birth-people. It was understandable really after all that time of separation. But Kaylee knew it was a matter she'd have to face up to eventually. And when she did Kaylee would try her best to be there as a friend.

Meanwhile she gave Tiri a soft smile. "Well it's nice to know that you trust me" she said. "To me that means a lot."

Briefly she recollected her own fantasies as a child of meeting a fey prince to drag her away from her hardships. But immediately she brushed such memories away, she knew they were going to the other realm on serious business.

"Well then if that is settled I suppose we should get going" she added. "I'm ready when you are. Call up your watcher or whatever you need to do." she glanced ruefully down at her blood spattered shirt. "By the gods I look a mess don't I. I hope they won't mind."

[Maya]

"I should think you've proven yourself by now. Since I have very little coin left, there's no worry you're only hanging around for payment." Her analytic brain at work. Kaylee was right. They should go and get this over with. She took a long look at Beth, who'd be left there on her own. "I don't feel right about us both leaving you."

The woman waved a hand dismissively. "Bah, to you it may seem months; but, often to us your absence is barely a blink. Or they keep you forever. All depends on their mood. If I get bored enough, I'll move on. You need to do this. and here..give the queen this." Handing over a carefully wrapped box just bigger than her hand. Tiri would unwrap it to find a wooden jewelry box ornately carved of a tree with pink blooms. "She loves new trinkets."

She would have loved to find out just how Beth knew all of this; but, time was of the essence now. "I'll make sure she gets it." Now, how do they get this Watcher back? "Aiden..are you there? We need you."

For a long moment, nothing happened. Then suddenly a voice would appear from behind them. "I know. I was watching." There was the dark haired Fae leaning against a tree. "You want to go home. See if they'll help you. That can be arranged. Be interesting to see what kind of mood the Queen is in today. Come, come..Kaylee..you as well."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee watched the box being handed over. It seemed the more time she spent with Beth the more the other woman intrigued her.

She was taken aback slightly by how quickly Aiden appeared. But she tried her best to hide it. "So you were there watching us when I nearly got mauled to death by a direwolf" she commented drily. She then held up a hand to forestall any protest. "Don't worry I understand it. You're her angel not mine."

She stooped down to pick up her sword-belt and then slung it over her shoulder. Then stepping forward she gave Beth an embrace. "It was wonderful to meet you" she said. "I just had to say that in case anything untoward should happen to us, even though I'm sure it won't."

She then stepped away and looked back at Aiden a bit warily. "So umm how do we get there?"

[Maya]

"To be honest, Miss Kaylee..if Tiri were to get mauled, I'd have to watch that as well. It's my job. Just as when she was stabbed. Would I have helped you after the attack? Yes.." Though he'd pay a cost for said action on a human. "In a way I did because Tiri did find you." Much like anyone else, Aiden grew attached to those he spent endless hours documenting. "And I'm no angel. In fact, Angels and Fae should never cross paths." Deciding the tension was too high to dare move a muscle. He could understand her apprehension and distrust. After all they'd been through, it was warranted.

Tiri and Beth watched Aiden and Kaylee, exchanged a puzzled look then shook their heads at the same time. After Kaylee's hug, Beth started pushing the girls along. "Alright, get going already. All this chit chat will get us nowhere."

How did they get there? "Tis easy." Aiden extended an open palmed hand to both. Tiri hesitated. "Trust me. I've been with you since the day you were born. I've no desire to lose you now." Waiting for each to take their respective hand.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee rather self-consciously reached out and took Aiden's hand. She had half-expected to feel some kind of otherworldly aura just by touching him but no the hand felt normal. "Just so you know I don't normally hold hands with boys" she said. "This is strictly a one-time exception."

In her mind she recalled all the legends she had ever heard about the fey and tried to imagine what the otherworld would be like. Well it seemed that she would find out soon enough.

[Maya]

"Well, since I'm not a boy, I think you'll be fine." Boys were barely more than children. Aiden had been around way too long to be considered a young pup. "Is she always so..stuffy?" Grinning slightly while posing the question to Tiri.

The other Fae shook her head. "I think she'd say I was the stuffy one." Which was probably more accurate. "We going or what? I'd like to get this over with." Squeezing his hand hard enough to make a point.

"Hey, easy there! ..geesh, I'd think you'd be at least curious about visiting the place of your birth. Fine, fine..close your eyes or you might get a wee bit of motion sickness." It was a fast ride. If anyone dare open their eyes, it would seem as if the world was whizzing past at Mach 1.

Once they stopped, their surroundings look no different from the world they'd just left. There was a reason for that. Gave them time to adjust. As the minutes passed, barely perceptible to the eye, the grass and trees were changing from green to a more golden hue.

[Crazywolf]

Feeling a little wary Kaylee closed her eyes as Aiden had said. When she felt the three of them start to move she kept them firmly shut. She also found herself sub-consciously holding onto Aiden's hand rather tightly.

When she finally felt them stop she opened up her eyes and stared at the surroundings. She watched and marvelled as the grass and trees slowly turned a golden hue. She raised her head and gazed up at the warm sunlit sky. Somehow everything seemed brighter here and more radiant. Nearby she could hear the babbling of a brook and just ahead were what appeared to be apple trees with golden fruits.

Very carefully she let go of Aiden's hand, slightly embarrassed by how firmly she'd been squeezing it.

"Frack" she said "if I lived in a place like this I'd never want to leave it." Turning she looked around in all directions. "So which way to the court of this queen of yours?"

[Maya]

"All roads lead to the Queen." Aiden explained ss the scene continued to change, the spire of a tall tower would appear in the distance. Whispering to both ladies lest he be heard. "She's a bit of a narcissist."

As far as Tiri was concerned, this was just getting better and better..but not in a good way. The longer she stayed here, the less she wanted to be here. "Doesn't sound like the type of person who'll help us much."

"I think she will. I do. You'll be a bit of a surprise at first. Not that she didn't know of your existence so much as, with all the time that's passed, she's likely forgotten" Which didn't make this whole thing sound any better. "I'll help you both. It will be fine." Was that a slight quiver in his voice? Surely not.

[Crazywolf]

"Well it sounds like this will be an interesting encounter" Kaylee replied drily. She could see full well that Aiden seemed apprehensive. "Well" she added "there no point standing around we'd best go and see her then."


***

They passed through groves of beautiful trees where golden dappled light shone down through the coloured leaves. It all had the same radiant feel, the scents of leaves and flowers were richer than usual and even the air seemed fresher.

It transpired that they did not have far to go. Before long they came upon a large glade within which stood a row of tall columns and archways of stone with one or two low steps either side. The purpose seemed as much to do with artistry as any other function. For one thing there was no roof above them. Through the nearest openings could be seen an open space beyond, some form of courtyard. Several fey folk were lolling about beside the near archways. As one they all turned to stare at the new arrivals. As they approached Kaylee eyed them cautiously, they didn't seem hostile but she knew that fey could be fickle or mischievous.

Passing through one of the arches they found themselves now in a sort of sunken courtyard half enclosed on all three sides by the same architecture. Yet that in turn was just an entrance portal for a far greater courtyard that beyond it from which came the soft sound of otherworldly music. Passing into that second courtyard they saw a great assemblage of the fey folk resting, conversing or listening to music created by hornpipes and lyres.

And there directly facing them on a dais backed by a wall of flowers sat the seelie queen herself. She was a slender graceful woman with long honey coloured hair and a crown of white flowered sprigs than complemented the white and gold leaf upon her dress. Her eyes immediately noticed the new arrivals. To Kaylee it felt the queen was staring right through her which made her feel a bit unsettled.

"Aiden" the queen spoke. "Who are these new arrivals you bring to my court?"

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/24/f0/ff/24f0ff18d31a18d491c68be4d7acbcf6.jpg

[Maya]

She wasn't impressed. Tiri felt all kinds of out of place in this strange realm. She was definitely dragging her heals. Aiden even tugged her along a few times. "I'll break your face if you do that again." He backed off pretty quick. When they went into the courtyard..which led to another courtyard where many of her 'people' lounging and being lazy asses, Tiri started to turn around and leave. "These aren't my people."

Again, Aiden rounded her back up even though she pinched the shit out of his arm. "Give it a chance. Kaylee's not whining."

Tiri would look to Kaylee, who seemed nervous but not ready to bolt, then gave in. Good thing, since the Queen had noticed them.

Aiden stepped up to answer the question posed his way. "My Queen.." Bowing lowly to her. "I present to you Miss Kaylee.." extending his hand her way. "Of the lower realm and Miss Tiri Elen Einneynn'ah. Your long, lost great granddaughter." As was evident to everyone by the last name alone.

[Crazywolf]

At the mention of Tiri's name a murmur went around the court. The music had now ceased. All eyes were now fixed firmly on the newcomers.

"Well Tiri" said the queen airily, addressing her directly, "you finally decided to come back to us. What may I ask led to this sudden change of mind? And why have you brought a human with you?"

[Maya]

Tiri's left eyebrow arched at the Queen's words. Finally decided to come back? It had not been her decision to leave. "Had I the choice, this would be the last place I'd be." Hostile much? A little. From the look on her face, she was angry. "And this human, Kaylee, is like a sister and more family than anyone of my own Kin have ever tried to be in all these years. I was abandoned to the human realm. Luckily, they took me as their own." Which was sure to make some tongues wag. "Now, they must be repaid for their years of kindness which has caused them great loss of life and suffering."

Poor Aiden, he had hoped for a softer approach; but, that had never been Tiri's style. She'd lay it out in black and white. "My Queen.." stepping forward to lay a hand on Tiri's shoulder signaling for a ceasefire. "I've watched this woman all my life. While her words are harsh, your great granddaughter had never met another Fae until I stepped in. Her confusion and anger is a result of feeling abandoned and unwanted."

With a roll of her eyes, Tiri retorted. "I can speak for myself. And myself says I've had a Watcher my whole life, yet, you can pretend to not know why I've never came home. I call bullshit. You didn't care. You won't care if the Unseelie King captures me..you won't care what he does to me. Not that I care either; but, those humans who stepped in when my own people turned a blind eye do not deserve to die for the sins of my people. You owe them .."

[Crazywolf]

The queen fixed Tiri with a firm stare. "You were not abandoned Tiri Elen" she retorted. "You were stolen from your parents by the Unseelie king. Aiden should have told you that. At first we did not know what he had done with you and so we have searched for you for a long time." For a brief moment there was a glimmer of softness in her eyes but her expression soon hardened again. "I must say though I was most displeased when you refused our first invitation to come home. And now you come here telling me what I must and must not do."

Standing beside Tiri Kaylee could see that things were not going terribly well. It was just as Beth had warned them. She gave Tiri a slight nudge with her elbow. "Give her the darn box" she murmured under her breath.

On hearing her mutter something the queen's eyes immediately locked themselves onto Kaylee. "Did you have something to say human?" she asked her.

"I umm no your majesty" Kaylee replied, flinching slightly under the scrutiny. "I was just reminding my friend here that she had brought you a gift."

[Maya]

"Oh, he did mention it." Said nonchalantly. Tiri was mad. She had every right to be. "250 years, that's a long time for a child to be lost. Especially considering I was living in the open. Kaylee's a great tracker. Maybe you guys could get some training from her on how to find people quickly."

Poor Aiden was about ready to pull his hair out or hide underneath a big boulder. Was Tiri purposely being as ass so they'd get tossed out? From what he knew of her, probably so. She was technically in her teenage years after all. Being sullen and obstinate were part of the deal.

Even when Kaylee prodded her to give that gift, Tiri hesitated. Hell, maybe she wanted to keep it for herself! Eventually, she'd walk over to the Queen, hold it out like no more than a bag of potatoes and walk back once it was taken.

[Crazywolf]

The queen did not take the box but rather sat unmoving. "It was two hundred and fifty years for you maybe" she replied. "But in our world time is different. Here such numbers mean nothing." Her eyes glowered as she started down at Tiri. "I reject your so-called gift based upon the manner in which it is given. You seem to forget just who you are addressing. I am a spirit of no common rate and it is not wise for anyone to incur my displeasure. Furthermore you walk into my court demanding our help yet show no concern nor interest about your own family and kin. Instead you stand and parade this mortal in front of us saying she is worth more."

Meanwhile Kaylee for her own part felt somewhat overawed by the queen's indomitable presence. She would have felt a bit overawed conversing with any queen let alone the queen of the fey. Nonetheless she did not lose her senses completely nor forget their purpose in being there. She raised a hand and touched Tiri on the arm. "Don't forget why we came" she said. "We need her to help us."

[Maya]

Tiri and the Queen were very much alike. Stubborn to a fault. If that woman thought Tiri should bow down or beg for help, well she had another think coming. "Fine. I wanted to keep it. It's a lovely box." Offering it to Aiden for now. "With all of your golden bobbles, you don't need it anyway." as for the Queen's beratement of her behavior, she wouldn't take that lying down either. "I can't forget someone I've never known. As for being concerned about my kin, from the way everyone is lounging about here without a care; I doubt you all hurt for much."

Again, Aiden tried to intervene before she went too far. As soon as he started to open his mouth, she shut him down. "I don't care, Aiden! Why don't you go back to watching. Watching me get ran through with a sword, watching Kaylee nearly get her arm bitten off..watching Beth beat raiders trying to capture me..watching children be stolen from their families..watching as arrows impale people trying to defend their homes because they were kind enough to raise me among them. I would rather turn myself over to the Unseelie King and be tortured daily than sit here watching you" pointing to the Queen. "posture about how great you are and how wronged you feel while sitting on a comfy cushion." Her true family meant that much to her. "Coming here was mistake. It's a waste of time. I have nothing in common with any of you. Nothing. Unlike you, I won't sit by and wait for someone to kiss my ass before I'll help them."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee was pained by her friend's anger and the fact she felt such a sense of abandonment. Standing there watching she felt quite helpless. She knew what is was to feel a sense of displacement and not quite belonging.

Throughout Tiri's outburst the queen sat stock still on her throne with a face like thunder. "So Tiri" she replied "I see that living among mortals has taught you nothing of manners. You say you have nothing in common with any of us. I take it then that you do not even wish to meet your own mother?"




OOC Plot notes: I had the idea that her father had been captured by the Unseelie king. That after Tiri disappeared he went alone to confront him and demand to know what had been done with her. I am saying it now since Aiden would know it.

[Maya]

"When you have to physically fight for your very life every, single day because of the bulls-eye on your head, then we'll talk about proper manners." If all the Queen had to complain about was Tiri's lack of saying please and thank you, then she had a very good life.

The mention of meeting her mother clearly struck a chord. She finally quieted down; but, didn't jump at the opportunity. The 'mother' who came to her mind was a blonde haired, green eyed, fair skinned woman named Martha. Tiri wasn't sure if there was any reason to bastardize the woman's memory in favor of a stranger.

Again, Aiden stepped up to try and offer some explanation that might help ease the poor girl's seething emotions. "They tried to find you. Your parents..they did. Until you come of age, you're no more than a human yourself. We couldn't detect you. Not until your abilities began to blossom." He'd say no more yet. Baby steps..Tiri was already overwhelmed.

[Crazywolf]

"Tiri I trust him I believe he is telling the truth and so is she" Kaylee said quietly. "I think they all tried their best." Right then she just wanted to give the other woman an embrace. She wanted to take half the other woman's pain and carry it herself. Tiri had said she was like a sister and she herself had felt that same sense about Tiri. It was a type of attachment she had never really felt before. Perhaps it came from the shared sense of loss and not quite fitting in.

Meanwhile the queen sat impassively with her arms folded waiting to see how Tiri would respond to Aiden's words.

[Maya]

Tiri could be viewed as one of two things at that moment. The first was a ticking time bomb. An untrained Fae who could be capable of imploding. Or, a woman who looked so utterly confused and hurt right then. Heartbroken and unable to know who to trust.

"Where's my mother?"

Spoken without the bite and venom of before. She needed to see this person. Maybe then, she could start to accept the truth.

[Crazywolf]

"Your mother has withdrawn herself from court" the queen replied, her tone was neutral and she appearing to choose her words carefully. "She has taken residence in a small place by the edge of the forest. Aiden can guide you there." Then her tone became firm again. "There is however one condition that I must insist upon" she said. "I cannot allow human strangers to wander freely about my realm. Your friend, or whatever she is, must wait here at court until you return."

[Maya]

"Why? Why did she withdraw?" Tiri was a very factual creature. She wanted to know things upfront. Didn't like surprises. This whole deal was nothing but one big surprise. As for Kaylee, Tiri glanced her way then to Aiden. "How do I know she'll be safe?"

[Crazywolf]

"I'm afraid your father was captured and imprisoned by the Unseelie king" the queen replied. "Suffice to say your mother did not take this misfortune well, not after already losing her new-born child. But I will let Aiden fill you in further. As to your friend she will be resting here under the protection of my court. So long as she respects our rules here no harm will come upon her."

Kaylee turned to Tiri. "It's ok" she said. "If you want to see her then go. And take what time you need. I'll be just fine."

[Maya]

Her father was captured? Why? There were more questions than answers. Aiden was holding back information. She didn't like that at all. "I do want to see her."

When it came to Kaylee, Tiri didn't trust these people enough to feel good about leaving her. So they'd share a hug and whispered. "Trust that I will not leave you here. I will be back for you." If anything, she always stood by her word. Then it was time to leave. Aiden stepped over almost warily as she made things very clear to him. "I'm not going to bite you. But, I do expect your honesty. The time is over for secrets."

[Crazywolf]

"I know you will" Kaylee replied. "And please don't worry for me, I'll be fine. I just hope things will work out ok for you."

Aiden nodded. "I understand. I simply did not want to overwhelm you with too much at once. I knew that meeting your own people for the first time would be a big thing. If you come with me I promise to tell you all I know."

He turned momentarily to the queen and bowed a farewell before turning back toward Tiri waiting for her to follow him.

Once they were back in the forest he would turn to face her again and draw a heavy breath. "Shortly after you were stolen your father rode off alone to confront the Unseelie King and demanded that he reveal what he had done with you. Instead the Unseelie king took him captive. We think he is still alive but I am afraid that is all we know." As he spoke his expression was a mixture of sympathy and regret.

"I am sorry to have to tell you such things" he added. "Now if you are ready I will lead you to your mother."

[Maya]

Nothing was OK for her right now. Tiri wanted to go back to when things were simpler and much less confusing. Poor Aiden earned a glare and mumbled. "You should have told me before now." As she saw it, waiting for the opportune time meant dumping all of these things on her at once.

Once in the forest, she was all ears. Listening then questioning. "So..I get stolen, then this King takes my dad. Why didn't anyone try to find him? Why not invade the Unseelie kingdom? Why let my family languish? Do you not believe in fighting for each other? I'll bash down the damn doors. I'll die for my family. It wouldn't take me three lifetimes to do it. Or are there just so many of us, the Queen doesn't give a damn? That's what it seems like to me."

In this mood, she was ready to meet her mother yet.

[Crazywolf]

Aiden listened patiently. "The queen cares in her own way" he replied. "I don't deny that she has certain flaws, she is not always easy to serve, but when you were stolen she instructed us to search. As to your father I am sure she would save him if she could. Unfortunately the Unseelie kingdom is closed to us by magic. One cannot get in there unless taken or allowed in." He heaved a sigh of regret. "If there is a way to get your father back we have not yet found it."


***

Kaylee was left standing alone in the centre of the courtyard still feeling slightly in awe of her surroundings but also a bit out of place.

"Human" the queen remarked critically "I cannot help noticing that you are spattered in blood."

"Yes your majesty" she replied, now even more self-conscious. "I'm afraid there was a fight just before we came here and this was the only shirt I had with me."

In response the queen heaved her chest and let out a sigh. "Here at my court I like things to look beautiful" she said. "Since your friend may be a while you may as well make yourself look a bit more presentable." She turned to one of her hand-maidens. "Seren please take this human with you and find her something clean to wear."

[Maya]

"Let's get this straight. I don't serve anyone. That implies I am just a servant. A peon in your world. Up to this point, my life has been so much more than that." He'd see Tiri shaking her head while deep in thought. "Human's put a lot of faith in fate. Things happen for a reason. My heart says I don't belong here. It feels wrong. Not that I don't want to help my parents. I do. I want to fix this curse on my head. But, I don't want to live with the Fae."

He may not like hearing it. The Queen may disagree; but, Tiri loved growing up with her 'family'. The ones who raised her from birth. They made her who she was. Seemed wrong to toss them away in favor of a new one.

[Crazywolf]

Aiden gave a sigh. "Tiri you misunderstand, it is I who must serve her" he replied. "I do not ask that you do likewise. Your own future is yours to choose. I brought you here because you asked for it. Before you turn your back on us completely at let me at least take you to your mother. The effect of losing you was very hard upon her. She was initially happy to hear that you had been found yet deeply sad that you did not wish to return. I told her though to be patient and give you time."

***

Leaving the courtyard Seren guided Kaylee to a sort of thatched lodge that seemed to be the resting quarters of the queen and her handmaidens, the inside being divided into two parts one for the queen and one for the latter. Seren was fairly tallish as fey went and had long flowing red hair. Inside they also encountered a second serving girl called Lunette with a slightly more petite frame and a head of dark brown curls. Unsuprisingly she was much surprised when Seren walked in with Kaylee beside her. Between them the two fey maidens pulled out several fey dresses to offer Kaylee which she flatly refused to try on as the thought of wearing one made her too self-conscious, though in any case the sizes were all too slim. In the end they found a plain vest belonging to a male servant that seemed about the right size for her. Leaving her with the garment they then stepped outside to give her a bit of privacy while she got changed.

Finally alone for a moment Kaylee immediately found her thoughts turning to Tiri. She hoped that Tiri's meeting with her mother would go well. She tried to imagine how such a meeting might feel but really it was beyond her own experience. She wondered if perhaps after that when Tiri returned the pair of them might approach the queen again to get the help they needed.

[Maya]

Was she ready for this? Could anyone ever be ready for meeting a person they never even knew still existed after so long? Tiri found herself worrying this could all be just a trick or deception to part her from Kaylee so the Fae could trap one or both of them here. She'd heard Beth speak of their trickery. "Fine, I'll go. But, Aiden..if this turns out to be a trap or trick, believe me when I say that nothing short of my own death will keep me from killing you and anyone else involved."

[Crazywolf]

"I promise there is no trap" Aiden replied. "And believe me if the queen wished to try and imprison you she would have done so already."

He led her away through the trees in a different direction to the one they had come from. As they travelled along the forest around them remaining largely unchanging in it's beauty. Here and there they caught glimpses of birds and other small creatures of identical nature to those in the mortal world, while quite often they would come across the footprints of deer that had crossed their path.

The walk lasted perhaps a couple of hours then eventually the trees began to thin and they came toward the edge of the forest. There in front of them was a lake whose far shore was beyond sight and shrouded by a bank of mist. Not far from the lake, just a little way along the shore, stood a single wooden home on a raised platform perhaps three feet high. At the front was an open veranda reached by a set of wooden steps on the side.

Aiden led Tiri onwards towards the dwelling. As they came closer they could now see that on the veranda there sat a young-looking dark haired woman in a flowing cream dress. Perched on the veranda railing not far from her was what appeared to be a small kestrel with red and white markings. They were now perhaps only a dozen metres away from the foot of the steps. "That is her" Aiden murmured softly.

[Maya]

Tiri still wasn't sure about all this, as was demonstrated by her sheer hesitation. What's the right thing to say to a mother you've never met? How could there be any bond at all? Upon first impressions of the woman, they did look alike. Their hair and skin tone was the same.

"She won't know me." As if that were a good enough reason to turn back now. Tiri didn't feel like this door needed to be open after all these years. She felt awkward, shy and ..scared. Which is not a feeling she was used to at all. What if the woman rejected her?

[Crazywolf]

"You will have time for that" Aiden replied. Before Tiri had time to back off or change her mind he took her by the arm and led her forwards towards the front of the house.

On seeing or sensing their approach the woman on the veranda rose up from her seat and turned to look directly at them. Her features and Tiri's were certainly alike, furthermore she didn't seem all that much older.

Aiden led Tiri up the handful of steps onto the platform. The other woman was now staring directly at Tiri. "Alana this is Tiri" Aiden said. "She has come back to us."

On hearing the name spoken a faint gasp escaped the other woman's lips. She took a couple of paces forward. With her arm trembling she reached out and took Tiri by the hand. Then abruptly she leant forward and embraced her both arms wrapped fully round Tiri's body. "I'm sorry please forgive me" she said, audibly choking on her own emotion. "It's just that I've yearned for this moment so long. Ever since you were taken there has been barely a day go by when I haven't thought of you."


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[Maya]

She wanted to argue that there wasn't time. People were in danger and meeting a potential mother wasn't a prerogative right now. That was just the fear talking in her mind. Tiri wanted to bolt like a rabbit with a wolf on it's heels. Before there was any chance to get away, Aiden took control. The next thing she knew, the woman was coming towards her..then hugging her...Tiri just stood completely still, afraid to breathe.

Of all the first words to say in return to the woman, she'd softly whisper. "How do you know?" So many years had passed. Tiri didn't remember a single thing. How did her mother know for sure Tiri was truly her child?

A small part of her wanted this to be true. Part of her didn't. She had a mother already. The one associated with every big event in her life. Thinking of Mom brought only the other face and the other family. A person can't have two mothers, can they? While difficult to do at first, Tiri would manage to return a hug as well.

[Crazywolf]

Slowly self-consciously Tiri's mother released the embrace. "Of course I know" she replied softly. "I know Aiden wouldn't bring me the wrong child. Age apart do we not seem alike to you? And those eyes, just as I remember them."

Aiden was stood a little off to one side. "Perhaps I should give you both a bit of space" he said. "I'll be close by if anyone should need me."

"Thankyou Aiden" Alana replied. She glanced at him for a brief second, barely able to take her eyes away from Tiri. With a nod Aiden turned away, he walked down the steps then off a little way from the house.

Alana watched him leave then turned her eyes back to Tiri. "I'm sorry about just before" she said lowering her gaze slightly. "I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I know to you I'm just a stranger. But just the fact you came here at all means so much to me."

[Maya]

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful, it's just all so.." Trying to find the right words; but, nothing came easily. "strange." There was no denying they did look alike. Yet, her mother didn't even look old enough to have a child. "I need time..time I don't have." People were waiting back home. Every minute lost here could be a death sentence there.

Home, where was home now anyway? Who did she hold allegiance to? Raking her fingers through those dark locks while mumbling. "I'm so confused. ..the people who raised me need my help. Aiden said my own Father was captured; but, could be alive. I want to help him too. But, I'm only one person and I don't even know my own capabilities." With the weight of the world on her shoulders, it was nice to have a mother to talk to.

[Crazywolf]

Her mother seemed to compose herself a little. "Yes I understand it must all seem strange" she replied. "I'm sure you must have so many questions. I know I have about a thousand. Also there are so many things I want to teach you, your own abilities are certainly something I can help you with. But perhaps first we should both go inside and sit."

She gestured to the open entranceway to the house behind her through which could be seen a table, chairs and other furnishings. Leading Tiri in she seated herself by the table. The interior walls of the house and the furnishings within both seemed to twist and grow in organic fashion as if the house were not so much built as grown from the ground. The whole space was incredibly light and airy with windows on all sides. Among various commonplace features a fine bow and quiver hung from one of the walls. She waited for Tiri to take a seat close by.

"As to the business with your father you are correct he was captured" she remarked sadly with a sigh. "Rumours are that the king has petrified him with magic, quite literally made him a living statue. We have not yet conceived any way to rescue him. I admit though my own priority was to find you first. I wandered many years in the other world to search for you, as did others like Aiden. Even here I called out to you every day hoping some day you might answer. If it is not too much I'd like to hear about these people who raised you and what they are like. Also you must tell me of these troubles they are facing."

[Maya]

Funny, at those first initial moments, Tiri didn't have a lot of questions. She didn't even know for sure what questions to ask. There was still that time clock ticking in the back of her mind as well. How long had she been here compared to the lower land? Seemed like seconds; but, each second could be an hours. There may be no one left to save. Yet, she'd follow the woman anyway, despite those internal worries. Casually looking about at her mother's home before taking a seat.

"My father was turned to stone? If we find him, can the spell be undone? I know the King who's determined to capture me has some type of sorceress with powers as well." Dwelling on this a second. "What if they're one and the same? That may be why I'm being led to King Adair's castle.." Adair might be the Unseelie King. He'd lost her too. "Sorry, my thoughts wonder. There's not much to tell about my family really. I was raised by two humans who've long since died. They children continued to raise me..as have all that's followed for well over these two hundred plus years. Beth, she's my latest mother, is now very old as well. She had three kids before her husband died young and never remarried. Now there's great grandchildren..some who even work for the King."

Briefly continuing. "I went out on my own, as most adults do. But, no boyfriends or anything. Guess I never felt like I belonged. Last time I went back to the village, children were being stolen, their homes burned down and so many had died. Their attackers were looking for me. I've caused all of this. Now, my friend Kaylee and I are trying to fix it. Even if that means turning myself in."

[Crazywolf]

Alana sat and listened attentively. There was a lot for her take in and process. At the same time she could see her daughter's anxiety and sense of concern.

"Yes the spell on your father can be undone" she replied. "However I do not believe the king of Aldair and the Unseelie king can be the same, if the Unseelie king wanted you back he would simply have sent his fey minions and I'm afraid your village would have been quite helpless against them." Here her expression suddenly became firm and resolute. "But as for this king of Aldair speak no more about turning yourself in. These villagers who took you in and nurtured you are owed a debt. If the queen does not aid them I shall certainly do myself and so will others. I shall help you to rescue the children and this man who has tried to enslave my daughter she receive the punishment he rightfully deserves."

Still looking at Tiri her expression softened once more. In her eyes and in her heart was a powerful sense of longing, a desire for closeness, a desire for that unique intimacy between a mother and her daughter. "There is so much more I would like to know about your life" she sighed, "all the things I missed while you were growing up. However I accept that right now helping your foster-family is the more pressing issue. When these matters are settled I would certainly like it if we could spend a bit more time together so that I might get to know you a bit more, though on the other hand merely seeing you this one time has already brought me untold happiness."

"Anyhow right now though I can at least teach you the basics of how to control your power" she added. "But as for the Unseelie King please think no more of him, you are still young and have barely begun to discover your own abilities, for you he is an enemy far to dangerous."

[Maya]

"I'm not sure the queen likes me very much. Which is fine with me. To be honest, I don't do well with authority figures. They've proven time and time again to be selfish." Tiri may need an attitude adjustment; but, accomplishing such a feat would be hard. "This needs to be fixed. Whoever is responsible needs to be made to pay. If I can set everything right, I would be able to sit here and visit with you without so many distractions."

Her other family was in danger because of Tiri's decisions and that had to be remedied. "Thank you for understanding." When it came these abilities, she would find Tiri was all ears. "I've healed myself and Kaylee. So I know that's possible."

[Crazywolf]

"If we can set everything right" Alana corrected gently. "I promised I'd help you. I can also tell you that none of this situation you describe is your own fault."

Here she paused and gave a smile. Just looking at Tiri and hearing her talk with such concern about protecting her own people filled her with pride. Til this moment she had had no way of knowing what Tiri would be like as a person. On first impression she certainly did not feel disappointed. As to the stubborn streak with authority she herself had once been exactly the same.

"As to the healing power if you have already discovered how to use that then you have already discovered our most precious gift of all" she added. "My only warning to you is that it is not a thing to be used lightly, we only share this gift with those who are deserving of our aid. We have many other gifts also but probably the one that will be useful to our present purpose is the gift to make yourself invisible to mortals. To use it you must focus on the natural energy within yourself only this time imagine it as a desire to be unseen. The same gift will also allow you to move in total silence. With a little practice it will become almost effortless. I would say practice now but unfortunately it does not work against other fey, nor indeed any with person with witch-sight."

[Maya]

There were probably quite a few things that were her fault since Tiri liked to poke the sleeping bear now and then. "I'd love your help. But, I don't want you to feel the need to put yourself in danger as well. Many of Beth's family live in Aldair's kingdom and even work for the King himself. We'll need to be careful if the fight ends up at his gate."

That whole invisibility thing was the most freakishly, exciting ability she'd ever heard. "Really? I can do that?" The warning was filed away. Until Tiri could disappear effectively, there wasn't much need to worry about it. "I'm already silent when I walk. Beth could tell you that since I've scared her many a time." She'd get a big grin on her face. "I can try it out on Kaylee." And might get a bloody nose in the process. It would be so worth it!

"What can you tell me about Aiden?" Here was this guy who's been watching her night and day for awhile now. She was curious about the man behind the position. "He's assigned to watch me forever, I take it. Doesn't he have his own life?"

[Crazywolf]

"Not quite forever" Alanna replied. "When a Fey is born the parents name someone close to them, usually a relative, as the child's Watcher. That person then becomes an extra guardian until the fey reaches adulthood, they also take a primary role in teaching the fey how to use their abilities. Aiden is actually one of your father's cousins. I don't know if he mentioned that."

As to the earlier matter of helping you I am your mother" she added firmly. "I know we have been kept apart but for me that changes nothing. I would face the three furies themselves if it meant I could keep you from harm. I failed to protect you once already, I swear I shall not fail you again. As to the other point about your foster-relatives in the king's service it is duly noted. We shall try to avoid any unnecessary killings."

She leant back slightly in her seat. In her heart she again wished she and Tiri could just stay there in that house by the lake and that the two of them might just be alone for a while free from other cares. But she realised that for the moment such desires had to be put aside.

"Before we leave here there is something personal I would like to give you" she said. As she spoke her eyes were full of seriousness. Reaching into a compartment draw below the table she pulled out a large gold-leaf hair-pin broach. The broach was carved in the form a soaring bird of prey inside an oval surround. The craftsmanship of it was exquisite. She held it out to Tiri. "Here, this one came to me from my own mother, it is a thing I always wanted to pass it on to you, now it is yours."

[Maya]

"He hasn't mentioned much of anything; but, that's mainly my fault. I've been just as contrite with him as everyone else. So he's a cousin?" Good to know for future reference. If ever she should date, a cousin was likely not a good choice. When it came to family, Tiri was really out of sorts with all of this. There was high turn over in the human world; so, being with the same faces for a long period of time would be a nice change of pace. After losing so many people over the years, she'd grown weary of mourning and pulled back from people quite a bit. "I need you to be patient with me. My world has been nothing like yours. I'm eager to learn once I know those who protected me will be OK."

When her mother offered the broach, Tiri seemed hesitant to touch it at first. "Wow, it's beautiful. Are you sure?" Were there no other siblings who might be better suited to have such an heirloom? Likely not, since her father had gone missing so soon after her own disappearance. The Fae seemed to have such large families..yet her mother never had that chance. "Thank you. How do I put it in?" She wasn't exactly a girly girl.

[Crazywolf]

"Of course" Alana replied. "I understand that coming back to us is a big thing for you. Fortunately though the one thing we have in this place is time."

She felt a swell of emotion when Tiri offered to wear the brooch. She gave the younger fey a light smile. "Here let me show you" she said. She took back the broach and reaching up behind Tiri's ears she lightly pulled back her long black hair. "See just pulled back your hair and fix it like so." Releasing her fingers she sat back.

"Well" she said "I suppose we had better go and collect your friend and also see what other help we can find. But don't worry about your great-grandmother, I know how to speak to her."

[Maya]

Alright, so now she was wearing a fancy hair thing which felt kind of weird. Did that mean she was becoming a girly girl? Nah, was never going to happen. Now Tiri did own a piece of her true family which meant the world.

"I hope Kaylee's alright. My intention was not to leave her among strangers. Though, she's a smart girl. I'm sure she'll handle the Queen much better than I did. Words are not always my best gift." She'd wait for her mother to be ready to leave. This time she'd take the trip with her eyes open instead of fuming in anger over everything. There was some hope of saving the villagers and protecting Beth's family. "So what do people do up here? You've all the time in the world; but, don't you get bored?"

[Crazywolf]

"Well often we hunt" Alana replied. "That is something we are rather good at. And if one attends the court there is always feasting, dancing and music, every night here is like mid-summer in the mortal place. And some talk to the birds or even the trees. Though I do admit the younger fey here sometimes get a bit restless. Then of course we are all required to serve the queen in one form or other, I suppose that is just something you get used to here."

As they went back along the edge of the lake they caught sight of Aiden sat by the water. He immediately glanced up as they approached and rose lightly to his feet. "I had not expected you both so soon" he remarked.

"Well we have pressing matters to deal with" Alana replied. "Tiri has explained to me the full situation."

Aiden gave her a look of slight concern. "Alana are you sure you are up to this? If you are not I am sure we can find others to assist us."

"I'll be fine" she replied. "Though thankyou for your concern. Besides if I were to stay behind I should only go mad again with fretting and worry."

"Very well" Aiden nodded "let's get back to the court then."

With that he fell into step beside them.

[Maya]

"So, I didn't get the not eating meat thing from you guys either. Hmmm, oh well. It's my preference." Shrugging as they moved along. Tiri didn't resemble her own family. She wasn't one to feast or hunt or dance. It's better to be different from everyone else in the long run. Listening to the ways of the Fae didn't help her opinion any. Everyday seemed to be the same. Twas if they did not have a real purpose. Was something a person like Tiri would never simply get used to. But, she held her tongue. Until having experienced this world, she should not pass judgement.

Aiden was another ever present truth she had to get used to. Knowing there was someone always watching no matter where she was or what she did was a little unnerving. Explained why there was never much to say to him. He already knew it all.

"So, when we get to the human realms, what type of weapons will be used? Kaylee is very good with a sword and bow. As am I. Even Beth is incredible. She can hold her own very well for one of such advanced age." Tiri was all business now. If Alana was going with them, the should all be on the same page in how to go about this.

[Crazywolf]

The mere fact Kayle had arrived at the Fey Court with Tiri had made her a centre of attention. Of course all the fey knew that Tiri had been stolen as a baby, now they all wanted to know about where she had been and how Kaylee knew her. Kaylee did her best to answer them while also admitting the fact she hadn't really known Tiri for very long. It occurred to her then that if Tiri got support from the other fey she might not need her help anymore. She wondered also if Tiri got accustomed to the other fey and decided to stay with them this would mean that the two of them would no longer be able to remain close, that people like herself and Beth would gradually be forgotten. She would not have been surprised if that happened, everything here in the fey kingdom seemed so beautiful and idyllic compared to the normal world.

Such thoughts lowered her mood somewhat. Usually she did not relate that well to that many other women and yet within just a couple of days herself and Tiri seemed to have formed an incredibly strong connection. She did not particularly want to lose that. Though on the other hand maybe Tiri would be better and happier among her own kind. The competing thoughts left her feeling conflicted.

While she awaited her companion's return the queen's handmaidens offered her various food for nourishment including cheeses, sweet meats, fruits and berries. They also offered her cups of mead. Everything she tasted was remarkably delicious. If there was one thing she definitely could not fault here it was the food and drink.


***

"Our main weapon has always been stealth and our ability to attack our foes unseen" replied Alana. "To that extent we often use bows. Though like you many of us are also trained with the blade. Personally I have no fear about facing the king's men. It seems to me the main challenge will be finding the children and then getting them safely home."

As she spoke they continued on their way though the woods. Eventually they would once more come close to the court.

[Maya]

"Kaylee and I have had much success on our own, even when outnumbered. Imagine what could be done unseen." There might be perks to learning a new lifestyle. "and with more help, we could find these kids and stop the deaths of the villagers. Seems this fight has gone on for so long..but the King offers money and more bounty hunters pour in."

Tiri couldn't get over this place. The scenery, the colors, it was almost unreal. As the drew closer to where all of the other Fae were assembled, her feet slowed. "I don't know what to say to her. The Queen.."

Aiden had remained quiet all this time; but, now jumped in to offer his opinion. "Just apologize for starting on the wrong foot and ask if you try again. Alana will help you. The Queen is not evil. Maybe a wee bit cranky from time to time." Winking as he smiled at them both. "All will be fine."

[Crazywolf]

Alana nodded. "Aiden is right. I will help you speak with her." She gave a light smile of reassurance. "Just show her the due deference she expects and everything will work out."

The courtyard when they approached was slightly less full now though a number of fey were still about. All of them turned to stare at Alana who had not been seen at court in a long time. In fact she had been seen by hardly anyone, save the few close family who occasionally brought her things to her secluded home. In her absence many other fey had speculated whether she might die of her grief as could sometimes happen. And yet now here she was alongside her long-lost daughter with a new look of resolve and purpose.

On the throne opposite them the queen seemed to be discussing business with a couple of her courtiers but as soon as she noticed that Alana and Tiri were present she brushed them to one side. As Alana, Aiden and Tiri approached the dais a great hush fell over the other fey. Standing before her grandmother Alana made a formal curtsey and gestured that Tiri should do the same. All eyes now turned to the queen.

"Well" said the queen in a tone slightly less frosty than usual "it is good to see you again Alana. It also warms me to see you and your daughter at long last reunited. I myself have felt much pain in my heart just knowing of your suffering and grief."

"Thankyou grandmother for your words" Alana replied politely. "I can tell you Tiri's return has truly given me great happiness and revived my soul. But now I come with her on her behalf to ask for your help. I believe you already know her situation."

In response the queen's face remained firm and impassive. "Yes I know the situation" she replied "though I am afraid your daughter's first request to me was not very gracious."

[Maya]

"I have to be honest." speaking her mind now so as to not to do so in front of the queen. "I have a real problem with this deference thing with people I don't know. People have to prove to me they're worth my time. I put Kaylee through the ringer." Apparently she passed Tiri's strict friend test. "You might have to hold my mouth shut if she gets all uppity with me. Because I will tell her to get her ass out of that chair and do something worthwhile." Couldn't be more honest than that. Alana's daughter as a do'er. She didn't put up with a lot of nonsense, could not stand laziness and rarely stayed still for a moment. All this fluffy stuff happening in the Fae realm went against everything she stood for. "That being said, I'll try to be polite."

Safe to say, Aiden was a wee bit worried now. Maybe he should be prepared to silence that mouth should it start to say too much too rudely.

Tiri followed Alana's lead. Though the curtsy was lacking the right polish. She'd never curtsied before in her life. At least she tried. Poor girl had to bite her tongue as the queen spoke of her own pain felt over Alana and Tiri being separated. Somehow, a smile was faked in the most genuine of ways. Then came the strong hint to apologize for her previous behavior. One that was followed up by Aiden's subtle eyebrow bouncing.

"I must apologize for my behavior earlier. It was highly inappropriate." Which was the same as a peace offering.

[Crazywolf]

The queen gave a curt nod of approval. "Very well Tiri Elen you are forgiven" she said. "You are still young and the young can sometimes be over-impetuous. As to your request you may take as many fey as you need to help you release the children. As for the king himself I shall send one of my strongest messengers to lay a curse upon him, when the deed is done he will be no more threat to you nor anyone else."

Satisfied with her own decisions she then leant back on her throne. "Now perhaps I can offer you both a cup of nectar?" she added graciously.

[Maya]

Ah good, all was forgiven! The Queen believed she could easily dispatch this king and his magical, sorceress lady. Was looking pretty good in Tiri's mind. Now they could go gather up a mini army, get back to the human realm and start saving those kids and helping the villagers. She was already turning to go when the Queen put that quick escape to a screeching halt in favor of having a drink. Could anyone be more lazy and out of sync with reality?

Tiri's brow furrowed, her lips parted, there was a smart assed zinger hanging on the tip of her tongue. Out of sheer desperation and realization there was so little time to stop her, Aiden ..who was only a few steps away, reached over, grabbed her in his arms and kissed her right smack on the lips. Yep, yes he did. Her cousin..many times removed; but, still a cousin. At least she didn't get the chance to sour the festive mood.

Both of her hands were pressed against his chest, trying to push him away. The sheer shock of it, combined with his strength, kept Tiri from ridding herself of him in a timely manner. One second was too long. He managed to hold that lip lock for a good 30 or more before she could finally pry him away. "What?..what the?..what are you doing, Aiden?" There was giggling from the background as everyone else watched with much amusement. Especially as Tiri started wiping her mouth incessantly. "Why would you? ...eeeeeew...I can't believe..I really do need a drink now." Nectar didn't sound so bad anymore.

Aiden smiled at Alana, inwardly patting himself on the back for that major save.

[Crazywolf]

Alana gave a slight of relief though she couldn't help wonder a little at the way Aiden had held onto her daughter quite so long. "Thankyou your majesty" she said. "Some light refreshment before we depart would be good."

The queen gave a nod then gestured to one of her handmaidens who poured some liquid into three cups and then offered it to Tiri and the others. She then gave a fourth cup to the queen who took a light sip. "Well now if that concludes our business I shall leave you to make any further arrangements with my master-at-arms" she said.

Alana nodded. "Thankyou your majesty" she said.

"Very well then you are dismissed" the queen replied. Having thus given them permission to leave she turned and called to another of her courtiers whom she wished to converse with on another matter.

"Tiri" a voice called out to their left. Kaylee pushed her way forward through the gathering. She stepped forward towards Tiri then stopped and stared at the strange woman beside her friend noticing her similar features. She could almost guess without being told that this elegant fey woman was Tiri's mother.

[Maya]

OK, well, One..Tiri wasn't thirsty, though she took the drink anyway. They had better things to do than sip on some fruity concoction. Two...she had better things to do than make nice here. Three, dismissed? Did she just get dismissed? Kissed AND dismissed all in the same small period of time. Poor girl wanted to hit something right then. Aiden was very lucky it wasn't him. However, he would hear her whisper through gritted teeth.."I still don't like her." She was not used to living under some empirical rule or hierarchical state. The village she'd grown up in was communal. Nobody had time to sit on a throne and point fingers expecting the others to obey. This may be normal for everyone else here; but, it wasn't Tiri's normal. If she had to stay too long, there may just be a coup.

Thank goodness for Kaylee! Unless she'd fallen under the hypnotic powers of this freaking place. "Hey, did they treat you alright?" She didn't look too worse for wear. Motioning towards Alana to make introductions. "Kaylee, this is my mother..Alana. And ..Alana..this is my good friend, Kaylee that I told you about.. Now, we need to find an army." All work, no play. Makes Tiri not much fun to be around.

[Crazywolf]

"Don't worry I can take care of that part" Alana replied. She then looked and smiled at Kaylee. "It's a pleasure to meet you she said.

"And you my lady" Kaylee replied. "And yes they treated me fine" she replied to Tiri. "The queen appointed a handmaiden to look after me. She was really nice and showed me around a bit. But really though I'm just happy for you." Speaking the last part she glanced at Alana.

"Before I gather our support the four of us should discuss our plan" said Alana.

Kaylee nodded. "Well we already made an arrangement to meet them at a town to exchange Tiri for the children, or rather Tiri made the arrangement herself. Maybe we could work off that?"

"Yes perhaps" Alana said. "Tiri what are your thoughts?"

[Maya]

From the way Kaylee looked at Alana, she seemed to have a sense of yearning for a mother. Tiri didn't mind sharing. She'd have several 'mom's in her lifetime. "Kaylee is like a sister to me. We've been through a lot together. And, she puts up with my attitude." Which might be the most important part of their friendship. Yes, it was a friendship now. No money was being exchanged anymore.

Just took a quick glance around to notice that Aiden had simply vanished to give the girls their space. Man, she had to learn how to do that! "I've already bargained to turn myself in for return of the children. I do not expect the King or his representatives to honor their word. I'm not even sure why this man wants me so badly; but, his persistence has proven to be deadly. I need to show up at the inn as expected. There was no promise I'd come alone. So long as those who chose to fight with us stay hidden, we could have the element of surprise."

[Crazywolf]

Alana thought a moment. "Our advantage is invisibility" she said. "An inn may not be the best environment to confront them because it is too crowded. Better I think to sit outside the town and waylay them on the road. About a dozen warriors perhaps?" She glanced around slightly. "Hmm we seem to have misplaced your watcher but no matter."

At that moment two other male fey approached them, both of them with flowing dark hair that came down to the length of their shoulders. They were both well dressed though not excessively. Seeing their approach Alana immediately turned and gave them both a smile. "Tiri, Kaylee, these are my two brothers Reece and Gwayne" she said. "Reece, Gwayne this Tiri and Kaylee." As she said Tiri's name her eyes shone with happiness.

"A pleasure to meet you both" said Reece "but you especially Tiri since your return here means so much to all of us. We wanted to be the first to offer you our support."

[Maya]

Watchers can't watch well if people know they're watching. Aiden was still around. Waiting for the next moment when Tiri would use her 'not so nice mouth' instead of being polite. The girl was a work in progress. In just a short amount of time, he knew enough about her habits to know she wouldn't stay on the straight and narrow path for very long. She seemed to have a penchant for trouble. In the mean time, he'd be nibbling on some dessert while leaning on a column in the shade.

"So.." Thinking on Alana's suggestion. "We're to stay unseen? A sneak attack?" Again, she was not so sure about this change of plans. "I'd prefer them to look me in the eye. Beth says it's the warrior's way. I understand subterfuge would be easier, it's just.." Biting her tongue before hurting anyone's feelings.

Then Aiden was back, licking the sugar off his fingers. "What she's hesitant to say if that's not how she was raised. Let me tell you, Beth is a real beast with an iron skillet though. That woman can do some maaaaajor damage." Turning his attention towards Tiri again. "you don't think the human's would go invisible if they could? Especially if it meant less death for them?"

"What about Kaylee? She can't vanish into thin air. I can't vanish either. Not yet." Making a valid point.

Before anything could be fully hashed out, Tiri found herself meeting her..uncles? Why were they all so damn good looking? Boggled the mind. "Uh..hi...nice to meet you both." Do they shake hands or hug? She didn't have a clue. "Thank you. I appreciate the help. We were just discussing the best way to go about it."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee nodded at the new arrivals. One of the definite positives about this place was the fact that the fey men were all so hansom and all so young looking as well. Shame they were probably all out of her league. She had heard occasional folk-tales of fey princes taking mortal women as their consorts but in those tales the women in question had all been stunningly beautiful.

"The warrior's way is to take any advantage she can get and not get herself killed" she said in reply to Tiri. "I may not be able to turn invisible but give me a spot of cover and I can hide myself pretty well."

[Maya]

Both hands flew up in surrender. "Fine..we'll do it the other way." If it appeared she was still unhappy with the decision, that's because Tiri was. Then again, she was also used to making all of her own decisions. Relegating power to other people was difficult. Especially when so much was at stake.

"So, one question, how are we going to draw out who the King sent to capture me if I stay unseen? They'll have no reason to make themselves known."

[Crazywolf]

"Well I was hoping you would recognise the children" Alana said. "Though of course if they don't actually bring the children along we shall have to think up something else." She gave Tiri a gentle smile. "I don't want to take control away from you Tiri. I just want to offer you as much help as I possibly can. I know that to you these villagers feel like your own people."

"Tiri you have my complete loyalty as well" added Kaylee. "I just wish now I hadn't been such an idiot and left my mail-armour behind when we chased after you."

"Don't worry I am sure we can lend you something" said Alana.

[Maya]

"I think having a gaggle of kids with them might draw some undue attention. The King's goal is to get his hands on me. It's not about the kids. I'm pretty sure the idea is to draw me into his domain. Why, I don't know yet. Looking at all of you, I'm not special in the least." The reasoning for all this had her pause a minute in silent thought. "Is there something about us that can be harnessed? or maybe used against us? I know no one thinks a minor King in the human realm like Aldair is a threat; but, how do we know he's not been offered something in exchange for drawing us out?"

As for the villagers, they didn't feel like her own people. They were her own people. Tiri didn't expect her mother, nor anyone else to understand the bond between them. It wasn't something that just went away because a new puzzle piece was introduced.

[Crazywolf]

Alana thought for a moment. "Ok if you don't believe they will bring the children to trade I guess we just have to find where they are holding them" she said. "As to his motive didn't you say he had a priestess that wanted you? I'm guessing she targeted you in particular because you were the only fey living in the lower-realm, the fey kingdom here is not accessible to humans unless we ourselves bring someone as a guest. Why she should want a fey I don't know, but I admit all your suggestions are possible. All I know for certain is that we shall not let them take you."

"I have not been to Aldair but I know it has a keep on the border" remarked Kaylee. "In terms of finding the children perhaps that is the first place to look?"

[Maya]

"Just know that I do not fear being taken if that ends up what must happen to accomplish our goals." No one may like her response; but, if one thing leads to another, that option should not be removed from the table simply to protect her. "Perhaps it's possible they wish to use one of us to access our realm. I still suspect the Unseelie King could be pulling some strings. The humans may not have a chance in our realm; but, if they open a portal allowing the Unseelie fighters in, we could have a war on our hands much greater than any seen in the human world and it will filter down to them. Imagine the slaughter."

Enough chit chat. It was time to start moving the pieces into place. "Have we the warriors needed to make the journey?"

[Crazywolf]

Alana frowned slightly. All of Tiri's theories about the Unseelie's filled her with concern. Whatever happened though she would not let Tiri be taken even if it cost her own life. Of course she wanted to help her daughter rescue the children but she had no wish to sacrifice Tiri nor anyone else.

"I will go and gather our forces" she replied.


***

They ended up with around ten fey who were in some way related to Tiri and Alana. Plus another another ten warriors supplied by the queen. The relatives had a mis-match of light armour and woodland clothing while those supplied by the queen all had silver mail. Alana herself had now changed into a light green tunic and black leggings, though since everything in the fey world had a golden hue the colors of her attire would not be evident until they crossed over to the lower realm. Kaylee meanwhile had been lent a spare mail-shirt.

"Aiden you know the point in the lower-realm you came in from so you had better guide us back" Alana said.

[Maya]

Tiri was being a pain in the ass; but, she was kind of used to running her own one man band. So, having all of these people with their one ideas, preferences and agenda's meant bumping with more than a few heads. Of course, she didn't like the idea of putting her mother into harm's way either.

Once all of the volunteer warriors were assembled, she eyed the miss matched team; but, said nothing off the obvious differences in armor. Why would they be so different? As for her, Tiri declined armor. Hadn't had any yet and didn't plan to start now. See..pain in the ass.

They'd follow Aiden through the veil of separation between worlds and land not to far from the little house where Beth lived. There'd be no going back for a visit, if the woman had even made the trek back home yet. They'd head on to the outskirts of the city and that tavern where the meeting was scheduled. A place which just happened to be within eyesight of the Keep.

[Crazywolf]

Alana stood and stared at the town. She did not mind letting Tiri have command but she fretted that Tiri was putting herself at risk. It was incredibly difficult for her to curb her protective instincts.

Kaylee stood beside her staring in the same direction. It felt strange to her being back in the mortal world where everything looked less radiant and rather more ordinary. It was almost like the otherworld hadn't ever been real, except of course for the fey they had brought back with them. Buried in her heart she felt a longing to go back and spend more time there.

Alana turned her deep thoughtful eyes toward Tiri. Much in that way that all mothers think about their own daughters she regarded Tiri as exceptionally beautiful. "So my daughter what is the plan once you meet them in the tavern?" she asked. "Where should the rest of us position ourselves and what should we do?"

[Maya]

Alana's worries may hold merit; but, when compared to the life Tiri had already led, the danger was nothing to be feared more than any other day. She had put plenty of thought into this before the Fae ever got involved. If nothing else, having back up would be a bonus.

"Kaylee and I will go in. Separately. If something happens and I run into trouble, she will come out to signal for more help. No one may even show up as they may be suspicious of who else may be around to help us. I would ask that two of you break off to see if the children can be located. The Keep would be a likely place, as Alana suggested. If not there, we'll need to look more critically at what type of hiding places this King may have."

[Crazywolf]

It was Reece who replied first. "We shall do as you ask" he said. He glanced at Alana who nodded her assent. "Gwayne maybe you can take someone to investigate the keep" he added.

"Sure" Gwayne replied. He inclined his head to a fey maiden. "Rhianne perhaps you will come with me." The fey woman he had spoken to gave a nod in reply and the pair of them set off.

"So that just leaves the rest of us" said Reece. "We shall follow on behind you both though if you should look back then only Tiri will see us."

Kaylee stared at him with a slightly confused expression. "I don't understand why would only Tiri see you?" she asked.

"Because we shall use our magic to conceal ourselves" Reece replied with a smile.

"Oh I see" she replied. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she realized that the answer to her question had been pretty obvious. "Well if we are going to do this thing I guess we'd better get moving then" she said. She glanced sideways at Tiri. "If you head in first I'll follow along."

[Maya]

Being back in the human realm, Tiri felt more at ease and in her comfort zone again. She didn't mind letting the Fae work out their own logistics of who, what, where and when since her own was already made up. She'd head to the inn and see what shakes loose. Once all seemed settled, it was time to put the plan into motion.

"You ready, Kaylee?" With an affirmation of yes, she'd take off for the meeting location first, letting Kay decide how far behind her arrival should be. As was her style, once Tiri got to the Inn, she'd walk in the door just like she owned the place, went right up to the bar and ordered a flagon on ale. Her race was not hidden beneath a hood. Which explained all the eyebrow raised looks from many in the crowd. Two didn't seem surprised by her appearance. One flanked her left, the other her right. Both had signet rings with a lion symbol on the middle finger of their left hands. "I assume you're here for me?"

"Aye.." Said the largest of the two replied.

"I'll come with you once I see the children. Where are they?" Pouring two smaller glasses of ale from the flagon for each man.

"Around..tis all you need to know for now. Once the King sees you, they will be freed. Drink up.." Lifting his glass as if to toast her.

She'd smile that sweet, bewitching grin only the Fae could pull off. "I would; but, I don't drink alcohol nor eat meat. You go right ahead, I'll have water." Nodding to the bartender who served up a glass. "Cheers.." Clinking the cups together with her two captors then sipping with them in unison. For a moment, those eyes would find Kaylee and give a little head shake of No. The kids aren't there. "Well, I guess we should go then. Hate to keep the King waiting or the children in suspense much longer."

Both turned to escort her out, following a few steps behind; but, suddenly dropped to the floor. Not dead..just really sleepy. "Time to go.." Pushing Kaylee towards the door at a high rate of speed.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee watched the scene unfold from across the tavern. She'd been in places like this her whole life and yet now after seeing the otherworld it just seemed foul and tainted. When Tiri shook her head she started to move forward. It then came as rather a surprise when the two men behind her dropped to the floor.

"Hey you could have told me about that part" she remarked as Tiri shoved her towards the door.

Leaving the tavern the two women stepped out into the street. Kaylee blinked slightly as the sun caught her eye. At that moment a group of six men armed with swords stepped out of the alleyway opposite and fanned-out in front of them.

"Alright ladies there's nowhere to run" one of them said bluntly. "If you want to live then give yourselves up."

Kaylee mentally counted their assailants. Three men to each of them. Not ideal odds but then it could have been worse. "Fuck you" she replied.

The leaders face turned to a scowl and the men advanced forwards. However as they did so Kaylee heard the sudden twang of bow-strings. Four men instantly went down with arrows in their chests. The other two turned to run but were shot down from behind.

Kaylee glanced around for sight of their rescuers but the fey had kept hidden. She almost jumped out of her skin when Alana suddenly appeared at their side. "Come" the fey woman said urgently. "We must withdraw from here before someone summons the town-watch. The others will meet us outside the town."

[Maya]

"I would have; but, we've been surrounded by family and I didn't want one of them telling me no." Like they had for most of the time she'd been among them. Tiri didn't take well to be second guessed as much as the Fae seemed to feel the need of doing. They were both running out of the tavern and down the road when that 'roadblock' happened.

If you want to live, then give yourselves up.

Really? That's their approach. "I don't like that idea. Why don't you give yourselves up instead?" Tiri stated without a hint of fear at the wall of men around them. When Kaylee added her opinion, she earned a little chuckle. Both were ready for a fight when those arrows hit their marks. "Well, that was easy."

Alana's appearance was no surprise to Tiri since she saw them all in the first place. There was no chance to make fun of Kaylee's reaction since they were on the move again. "One day you won't be able to see me, Kaylee..and I'll scare the piss out you in the middle of the night. Won't that be funny?" Seems someone was having way too much fun running away from danger and chaos. Simply because it had become the norm for both of them.

[Crazywolf]

"Funny til I kick your sorry ass for it" Kaylee replied as they ran. Inwardly she was pleased to see her friend in a boyant mood.

As they ran through the streets several people stopped to look at them. They gawped in particular at Tiri with her pointed ears, wondering if this was truly a fey among them or whether they were simply imagining her.

Leaving the town behind Alana led them to a small grove of trees where the fey were regrouping and once more visible. Also there awaiting them were Gwayne and Rhianne.

Gwayne hailed them as they arrived. "Miss Kaylee guessed right" he said. "The children are inside the keep. According to a young maiden whom we questioned they are being held in an upstairs room."

Alana gave a slight nod. "Ok good work. So now all we need is a plan to get them out."

[Maya]

"You'll have to catch my ass before you can kick it." Part of of her must thrive on danger. Could be why the idea of lounging around in a perfect place where everything seemed ideal wasn't very appealing.

When the people of the town stared them down, particularly Tiri, she'd pause just long enough to explain. "Yes, I'm an elf. Saint Nicholas says hello and he'll see you soon." Who knew she had such a silly sense of humor? She didn't.

As the other members of the group rejoined each other, Tiri stood back and simply listened for now. The children had been found. Which was good. They were on a different floor which was a rather large complication. "Well, they know I'm here. Let me distract the guards since this invisibility thing must plan to skip a generation. It will give you guys times to gather up the kids."

[Crazywolf]

"You have the power to use it Tiri all you need is a little practice" Alana replied. "But if you and Kaylee can divert the guards at the entrance we will slip inside and do the rest. Half the group will stay outside to cover you."

"Alana why don't you let me and Reese go in" said Gwayne. "You can cover us from outside."

"Alright" Alana gave a slight nod. She knew the plan would keep her close to Tiri so she could be sure her daughter was not harmed.

With that the fey split themselves into two parties. They advanced unseen until they were close to the keep and then waited for Tiri and kaylee to create the distraction to pull the guards away from the entrance. The keep itself was a rather grim-looking structure with dark grey stone almost black in appearance. It had three floors and narrow-slit windows and was built to keep watch on the surrounding land.

Watching the fey move out ahead of them Kaylee found the constant disappearing act a little disconcerting. She was glad they were friends and not enemies. Meanwhile she kept wondering about Alana and what the other woman had been through. Of course in the mortal world it was not uncommon for mothers to lose children to illness, but to have a baby actually stolen from you and not even know it's fate was something else. She wondered how it was that people could survive such things at all.

[Maya]

Practice..bleh! She knew the old saying of practice makes perfect; but, until she had some inkling of how to vanish into thin air, no amount of practice would make much difference. Diversions, on the other hand, that Tiri could do.

Once the search party was close enough to enter the keep, Tiri picked up a rock and signaled for Kaylee to do the same. On the count of three, she threw hers and smacked the closest guard right square in the chest. Followed by sticking out her tongue. They'd certainly get the guard's attention. "Run!" Second time today they'd make fast tracks to get out of trouble. She may have a wee bit of sprite in her since the impish grin on her face showed way too much enjoyment.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee shook her head slightly at Tiri's impish behaviour. Sometimes she felt Tiri was the wiser one out of them, but at other times she seemed more like a wayward adolescent. Perhaps that was just the nature of all fey. She hurried along as the guards came after them. The guards only pursued a short distance but it was enough for the party of fey to slip inside.

Now some distance from the keep Kaylee turned and gazed back wondering what else they could do when abruptly she caught the blur of an arrow fired from the ramparts. Without time to give a warning she pushed Tiri down to the ground then winced out loud as the arrow meant for her friend caught her on the shoulder. Her one saving grace was that the mail-shirt she wore prevented the point of the arrow from going all the way in.

Cursing slightly she dropped down into cover beside Tiri and pulled the arrow free. "Damn lucky shot" she remarked. "A few metres further back and it wouldn't even have reached us. Still I guess we should move back a bit and find a safer place to wait."

[Maya]

In the human world, Tiri was considered old. In her own realm, she was but a baby still learning the ways. Not doing a very good job of it, apparently. Was hard to be stuck between worlds and people. Life was getting more complicated by the minute. She couldn't favor one over the other..so there was a fine line drawn over which Tiri could not waver.

Not realizing Kaylee had been shot, the sudden crash to the ground was thought to be a joke at first. "Kaylee! ..geesh, what was that all about?" Nobody likes to eat dirt. It was only seconds later she saw the arrow sticking out. Before she could say.. "Don't pull it out.." she already had. A wound like that could result in huge blood loss. "Where's Alana? .." Yelling for her would only draw attention. Tiri did know that trying to heal the wound would leave her vulnerable during the process. "Let's get you behind these trees. I'll try to help you."

[Crazywolf]

"Thanks" Kaylee replied as they scurried under the trees. "But really it's not too bad." With a slight wince of pain she raised her arms and lifted her mail-shirt off over her head. On the white linen shirt underneath was a small patch of red. "There" she remarked "it ain't too bad. The mail mostly did it's job. A friend of mine was once shot in the leg. The arrowhead went right in as far as the bone. We had to cut a wider hole to pull it out. Then of course we had to cauterize the wound." She looked at Tiri and gave the other woman a wry smile. "Those were happy times."

At that moment her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hooves. A party of horsemen rode out of the gate towards their position. The horsemen advanced warily perhaps suspecting some trick or ambush. Unfortunately they were oblivious to the group of fey encircling them until it was too late. Alana and the other fey suddenly appeared around them with bows drawn and pointed.

"Drop your weapons please" Alana ordered.

Having no choice the men complied. They also seemed rather afraid.

"Now each of you dismount and walk forward into the trees" she stated.

While two of the fey gathered up the horses the rest herded the captives into the trees where Tiri and Kaylee were hidden. Alana pulled several lengths of cord from her pouch and passed them out among the fey so they could bind the prisoners. She then glanced down at Kaylee. "I'm sorry you got hit" she said.

Kaylee looked up with an awkward smile. "Really it's just a scratch" she replied.

Alana gave a nod. "Well I'd better keep watch for the others" she said. "I'm sure Gwayne and Reese will have those kids out of there quite quickly."

[Maya]

"Good, glad you're alright." Not sure that cauterizing a wound would be happy times. Sounds all kinds of painful in her opinion. Still tucked up in the bushes, she's hear the sound of horses approaching. Tiri did something she'd rarely ever done. "Shit! Really?" Curse. It just wasn't normal to hear a lot expletives coming out of her mouth. Sometimes, with the never ending rounds of people after them, it seemed warranted. "These men are like ants scurrying from their mounds."

With the Fae as backup, everything turned out alright. Tiri took great pleasure in tying up one of the men to a tree for safe keeping. That's when she reminded Alana. "Some of the men at the Keep are Beth's family. If you don't work for the King, you can't raise a family. We should kill someone only if they give us no other choice." Ruffling the hair on her prisoner's head. "Your lucky day..lucky, lucky day."

[Crazywolf]

"I promise you there will be no unnecessary bloodshed" Alana replied. She turned her eyes back toward the keep. Inside she felt so proud of her daughter she could almost cry. In the long years of searching and separation she'd had no means of knowing what kind of person Tiri would actually be. What she'd found was better than anything she could have hoped for. However she knew she had to control her emotions until the job at hand was complete.

Meanwhile Kaylee gave a slight chuckle as Tiri toyed with her prisoner. "I thought you weren't interested in men" she joked. "Anyhow I thought you were going to fix me up with your powers." Turning away from the male prisoners she lifted up her under-shirt so that Tiri could properly inspect the wound.

[Maya]

She was probably complicating things for Alana and the others by having so many rules about not killing people; but, losing one of Beth's grandchildren or great grandchildren would be a devastating blow for someone Tiri cared very deeply about. "Thank you.." Whether that mother/daughter bond Alana wanted to form would ever come to pass was impossible to know for sure. There would be no rushing Tiri. She didn't work that way. Maybe when life wasn't so complicated and people weren't trying to kill or capture them anymore..

Dealing with Kaylee was much easier. "I don't mean that literally. I mean there's yet to be one I'd bother be interested in." Who had time for such nonsense? "Wait..now you want healed? I thought it 'wasn't too bad'. Is it or isn't it?" Said jokingly while placing her hand over the injury. "What are you going to do when I'm not around to patch you up?" She may not be able to go invisible but healing came easily. Especially since no one had taught her the skill.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee gave a slight smile. "Just struggle on I guess" she replied. "But since right now you are around I may as well make use of you." Under Tiri's touch she felt the wound fade and heal. Inwardly however she wondered slightly at the thought of what Tiri would do once the children were safe and the business with Aldair was settled. If Tiri chose to go back to the otherworld it seemed likely they would have to part ways. Much as she felt drawn by that other place she knew deep down that the idea of herself living there was just a dream, surely it was something that could never happen.

At that moment the pair of them were interrupted by a soft call from Alana. Covering up her chest once more Kaylee turned and glanced round to see the other fey emerging from the keep leading about half a dozen children of mixed ages, the oldest being perhaps twelve or thirteen and the youngest a girl of about four or five, the latter being carried along by one of the fey women. Alana's group kept watch for any sign of pursuit until they safely reached the trees. Initially the children seemed quite nervous about what was happening but the moment they saw Tiri was there their expressions brightened up and they swarmed happily around her.

[Maya]

"Wear more armor." that was her suggestion for when they would not be around each other. Funny, they hadn't been together all that long, yet, it seemed so at times. The two were more like sisters than mere allies working towards a goal. To be honest, Tiri hadn't even spent a moment's thought one what she'd do when her people were safe again. There hadn't been time to think ahead that far.

When Alana called, she'd silently walk over to see what was going on. Part of her ready for another fight. So much so, Tiri wasn't expecting to see those children being led back. Once certain they were all safe, she'd step out for them to see her not expecting to be knocked off her feet by the deluge of excited kiddos all clamoring for a hug. She put the littlest ones on her lap and made sure everyone, even the 'almost an adult' teenagers got a welcome back hug as well.

It was a boy of around eight, named Sam, who announced to the group. "I told you Tiri didn't forget us!"

By now, the five year old, Nici, was wrapped around her neck like a scarf. Tiri didn't mind a bit. "Never. I will always protect you." Which was an easy promise to keep since she'd outlive them all. "What did I tell you every night at story time? One petal does not make a flower, one leaf is not a tree, without each one of you, there could not be one of me." Clearly she loved these kids as much as they loved her. Yet, she claimed to not want one of her own. Could be there were already so many there was no need. That and the missing love interest. "Now, why don't you go visit Kaylee. She was wounded trying to save you. Nothing heals like a hug." Sending them her way, except for Nici, who refused to be parted until her real mother showed up.

With kid in tow, Tiri went to speak with Alana. "Do you think it's over? Or should we prepare for war with this King?"

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee blushed slightly as the kids came towards her. She wasn't particularly used to be thanked for her services. It was usually nice work, now take your money and go. The girls hugged her without hesitation, while the boys were a bit more stand-offish about such things and merely hovered around her. The boy called Sam however looked her straight in the eye and fixed her with a very serious expression. "Thankyou miss for helping to rescue us" he said. "When we get home you are welcome to visit my house any time you like."

"Thankyou" she replied. "That's very kind of you." Inside the gratitude from the kids made her gave her a warm feeling. "Really though I didn't do all that much" she said to him. "It was Tiri that made everything happen."

Alana observed standing slightly to one side. In the past being around children had always given pain to her but now she just felt happy, most of all she felt happy for their mothers waiting back home. "The queen will send her agent to deal with the king of Aldair" she replied to Tiri. "I imagine his fate will be rather unpleasant... But anyway we ought to get moving from here and get these children back to their home."

[Maya]

Hate to be that King right now. He was going to be in trouble. She wouldn't want to be in his shoes. It took some time to get the kids rounded up. Make sure those with small legs could piggyback with someone who had a larger pair. Looked funny seeing the Fae with kids clinging to their backs. Somehow Tiri ended up with two rugrats. One on her back, the other being carried in her arms. "You're choking me, Dahlia.." This was going to be a long hike. Once they made it home, you could bet there'd be a big party. The likes of which they've never seen before.

"Hey, where did Aiden go?" Hadn't seen him in quite awhile. Must be just watching.

[Crazywolf]

Alana looked around. "I can never really tell with Aiden" she admitted. "He seems to do things in his own way."

Kaylee meanwhile noticed Tiri had ended up with two kids. "Here let me help you" she offered with a chuckle. Taking the smaller child from Tiri's arms she placed the girl on her own back. "We should have brought some horses" she muttered "or at least a pony."


***

The group walked along until dusk then finally stopped to rest in a small wood. Several of the fey went out with bows to shoot some food while others collected some nuts and berries. Kaylee played her own part by building the fire. "Should make it back to your village tomorrow I think" she remarked to Tiri.

Meanwhile Alana sat slightly apart from them keeping watch. She didn't want to crowd her daughter to much, she knew the situation was still new for both of them. As she gazed out at the gathering dusk she wondered what would happen with her and Tiri after the children were safely delivered home. Inside she felt conflicted. Part of her wanted to spend time with her daughter but another part couldn't help thinking about her husband who remained a captive of the unseelies. Dealing with mortals was simple, but the unseelies were another matter entirely.

[Maya]

"He is most unpredictable." Probably watching them now from wherever it is he lurks. "If I should ever find my match, I hope Aiden doesn't feel the need to 'watch' my every move then." The whole thing was just creepy. She liked the guy enough; but, it was better when he was visible.

After walking so long, the child Tiri was piggy backing felt like she weighed a ton. But, it'd wrong to complain after finally getting them back and growing ever nearer to a families that couldn't wait to see them. That thought drew an inward pause. These kids had only been gone weeks, not years. She'd seen how distraught their parents were after losing them to some unknown fate. Yet here was Alana, who'd lost her daughter for many more years and Tiri had yet to put much effort into making a connection the woman must be craving to have. At that time, she just wasn't ready. She didn't know what to say or how to even start bridging the gap.

As they sat around the fire, the excitement of the day had already taken it's toll on most of the kids who were sound asleep on make shift pallets of leaves. The night was warm and stars shown brightly above. Despite all the positive's of the day, Tiri was very quiet. There would be decisions to be made when this all came to end. "The fight's not over yet is it?" Speaking to whoever would answer.

[Crazywolf]

"For us no it isn't" Gwayne replied gravely from where he sat across the campfire. "We still have the unseelie king to deal with. We have been at odds with the unseelies for longer than most of us can even remember. We thought at least our own realm was safe from them, until Magnus found a way in and stole you. The queen knows it was done to spite her own honour and she means to avenge it. Then of course there is the matter of what they did to your father." He gave a sigh and shook his head. "Still you should not trouble yourself with those things. After so long away no-one would expect you to fight in our battles."

"He's right" added Reese. "You and your mother should just take some time out to be happy. You both deserve that."

[Maya]

Here was the moment was her allegiance was tested. The children, Beth and all the others have been her family for as long as she could remember. There'd never been anyone else. But..the fae were her blood family. They came here to offer assistance when doing so was hardly warranted. "Have you not fought for me in my battles? Are we not of the same blood? If you're going to try and save my father, I am most certainly going with you. I can not speak for my mother; but for me, there can be no happiness knowing he's a prisoner." That was the first time she'd not called Alana by her and opted for mother instead.

[Crazywolf]

Gwayne gave a slight nod. "I understand your sentiment but it will not be easy to save him" he said. "Their realm is protected by magic much the same as ours. Til now we have not successfully found a way in."

Kaylee sat and listened to the exchange. "I wish I could help you" she said. "But when it comes to magic I'm afraid I'm not much use."

"Well perhaps for now we should all sleep on it" replied Gwayne. "Once the children are safely delivered back home we can consider these things further. Perhaps then we will find a way forward. Meanwhile though the pair of you should get some rest. Myself and Alana will organise the watches."

[Maya]

"There's always a way. May not be the easiest way; but, there's always one." You can bet Tiri would be straining her brain to figure out just what that way was. She still had that lingering feeling it had something to do with her. Yet, with so many smarter, higher ranking Fae at their disposal, there was no reason to want the one who knew so little and caused so much trouble.

Sleep seemed like a great idea. For all of an hour, she'd manage to do just that. Then her brain engaged and the wheels started turning..trying so hard to figure out the secret to crossing through the realms. Alana would soon find her taking a seat by the watch party. "What is one thing the Unseelie King covets most? Surely there are stories."

[Crazywolf]

Most of the fey had laid down to rest under the cover of the trees and not far from the children. Kaylee had done likewise and as usual she slept with her sword close by.

Alana was crouched by the edge of the trees. She glanced up in surprise as Tiri joined her. In her heart she wished she could prohibit Tiri from getting involved in any schemes to rescue her father she knew this was not possible. Under fey laws Tiri had reached her maturity, she was a grown woman free to make her own choices.

"He wants revenge" she replied. "The queen cast him out long ago and he has not forgotten it. Aside from that he wants to destroy her court so that all of faerie-land will belong to him... But if you mean material things then perhaps his sword which the queen broke as punishment and now keeps in two halves."

For a moment her expression became distant then almost abruptly she turned to face Tiri full on and look directly into her daughter's eyes. Once more her mind went back to that fateful day Tiri had been stolen. "I am truly sorry for what happened to you" she said. "I trusted in the safety of the court to protect both of us. I have wished so many times that I could go back and change the things that happened. I am sorry too for how long it took to find you. At first we thought the unseelies had kept you, it was only later we realised otherwise."

[Maya]

"Well, we don't get everything we want..and this King probably won't either." But that left the question. "What did he do to be banished?" There was clearly a rift between the two factions. Tiri had often found that the cause of those rifts could often be something to minuscule that it bordered ridiculous. The tiny sore just grows and festers from nothing to a foreboding wall that stretches completely out of sight and seemingly unattainable to overcome. Could be something so simple as the King didn't compliment the Queen's hair that day.

Tiri watched her mother for a moment as Alana apologized then reached out to take her hand. "You've nothing to apologize for. It wasn't your fault. The people who found me raised me as their own. I was never without love and attention. I was never treated badly even though, eventually, everyone realized I was different. I've had a good life. Maybe because your heart was always reaching out to protect me from afar."

[Crazywolf]

Alana had never been able to avoid feeling guilt over what had happened even though deep down she knew it had not really been her fault. But now she could feel the weight lifted from her soul.

"Well I'm glad you had a happy life" she replied. "And I can see that these people have raised you in the right way."

Relaxing slightly she sat herself back a little. Once they got the children safely home it would give the two of them more time to properly explore their relationship.

"As to your earlier question you must understand that the difference between us and the unseelies is honor" she said. "We harm only those that have offended us in some way, and if the offense was unintentional we first give them a chance to make amends. The unseelies by contrast are wild and capricious. Magnus was expelled because the queen discovered that he and his followers were hunting humans for sport. That was long ago of course..."

She broke off slightly and glanced around them. While she was speaking the wind had suddenly picked up and begun to blow fiercely tugging at their sleeves and shaking the tops of the trees above them. At that moment a blinding tide of hailstones began falling from the sky, swept about in all directions. There was suddenly visible concern and apprehension on Alana's face. "Tiri this is no natural storm. Go and rouse the others at once. And make sure all the children keep under cover."

[Maya]

Alana was a good woman, she could tell that. It was sad that life had dealt her such a bad hand for so long. Losing her child, then her husband and spending all those years alone. Maybe it was just sheer luck that sent Tiri to live among those who treated her with the same love and care that her mother would have.

"We should strive to make your life much happier than it has been." It was the only way Tiri could show her gratitude for all that had been done throughout the course of her life. Finding her father would be the first step.

There would be no time to find out more about the unseelie and their ways as the wind whipped into a frenzy and hail began to fall. She'd quickly follow Alana's instructions, waking up Kaylee alone with the others, pulling the children together and instructing them to keep shelter among a circle of trees.

"How do we fight this thing?" Yelling towards the others over the howling of the wind. Was this the so called King? Did he not dare to show his face?

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee and stirred slightly due to the sound of the wind and hail pattering through the trees. When Tiri roused her she was awake in an instant and snatched up the sword beside her. Looking up she saw dark clouds had blotted out the moon and stars, in fact it was hard to see much at all. The other fey were awake too and reaching for their weapons.

"We can't fight it at all" Alana called back. "Our magic is too weak. Just stay alert and keep the children in shelter."

Kaylee stared out towards the edge of the trees but in the dark with the sleet blowing in her face it was impossible to see more than a few feet.

Just then there was a cry from one of the sentries as he fell back with a black-feathered arrow planted in his chest. There was then a similar cry from the sentry over on the other side. At that moment further arrows rained down among the trees with a couple finding their mark on unprotected fey.

"Find cover and hold your positions" Alana called.

Then abruptly the wind seemed to abate and quieten a little. It was then that Kaylee spied the band of shadowy black-clad fey warriors who suddenly appeared out of the dark storm. "Over there" she called out. At that moment the band of dark-clad fey saw Kaylee and Alana's group as well. Letting out fierce yells they rushed forward to attack.

[Maya]

Can't fight it at all? Maybe not the hail and wind; but, the main source can be fought. Whoever that was. Right now was not the time to dwell on this because it was too damn cold and the children were all crying, screaming and terrified. "Shhhhh..I know you're scared; but, all this noise tells the bad people where you are." Gathering them together tightly. "Crouch low. Pretend you are bunnies hiding in the grass. They don't move. They stay ever still and low." Somehow, the suggestion began to work.

Tiri grabbed her bow, looking out past the trees to discover the strange storm had ceased. "..be bunnies.." whispering one last time while using the trees to keep hidden and moving closer to Alana to see what was happening. She saw the dark fae emerge just as all hell seemed to break lose. Arrows began to fly in all directions. Including several of her own. It took some doing to make her way to Kaylee. "You watch my back, I'll watch.." pausing to take down an unseelie who'd appeared out of nowhere. "..yours. Aiden! So help me, if you're just watching, I'll cut you in half!"

"You rang my lady?" ...appearing out of thin air with a crossbow. "and no, I've not been just watching." firing into the fray. "Is it just me or did they send a whole army after us?"

[Crazywolf]

"Agreed" Kaylee replied. Owing to the fact she was fending off an unseelie swordsman there wasn't much time for her to say anything else. Her opponent was fast and agile and in his face was a look of cruelty. She had grown up on tales of the unseelie court and knew that the dark fey had a fearsome reputation as warriors. This one however was a little too self-confident. Seeing an opening between his attacks she lunged forward and speared him in the chest with the point of her blade.

Meanwhile all around her the seelies were fighting back with fierce determination. In the face of their resistance the attackers were pushed back out of the trees leaving behind a number of dead. A couple more where shot down from behind as the fled, the rest escaping into the dark.

Several of the younger seelies started to pursue them but Gwayne called them back. So long as they stayed in the trees they had the advantage of cover and a good defensive position. "Hold your ground" he ordered. "We don't know how many are out there and they may try something else."

[Maya]

For those long moments, it seemed like sheer chaos had taken over. Tiri worried she'd run out of arrows and have to start hitting people with the bow. "They are like ants!" Cursing as a foul mouthed unseelie got way too close to comfort only to be shot in the throat with her last arrow. Thankfully, they'd managed to beat the onslaught back for now. Luckily, she'd narrowly missed a return shot in the neck by the unseelie's blade. However, while it looked to be just a small cut, that blade was coated with some sort of poison which was turning her skin a sickening, gray color and spreading by the minute.

"Alana!" ..Aiden yelled to gain her attention. "Tiri's been poisoned. We've no cure for this..you know that."

Tiri looked at him as if he were crazy. "I feel fine. It's barely a mark. Not even bleeding. See.." Since she couldn't see her own reflection, there was no way for her to know that her face was turning ashen as well.

"An unseelie is the only one who can cure this. There is nothing I, nor any of us can do. We have three days or she dies."

[Crazywolf]

Alana turned and stared at her daughter whose face was rapidly turning pale. In that moment she felt as though her heart had stopped. She knew with certainty that if she were to lose Tiri again so soon then she would no longer have the will to continue living and would take her own life.

Kaylee felt almost as bad. She had seen so many good people die already, she did not want to lose Tiri as well, not when they had already got so incredibly close. She looked at Tiri's ashen features. "I-I think I can get some of it out" she said. "It may buy us more time. First though I really think you should sit down."

Reaching down into her boot she pulled out a dagger. "Sorry if this hurts." If Tiri allowed it she would push the tip of the blade against the side of Tiri's neck to widen the cut then press her lips over the wound to suck out as much poison as possible.

[Maya]

Before Aiden realized what Kaylee was doing, she'd already made the cut. "Don't..it won't change anything." Parting the two as quickly as possible. "By death, I meant change. In three days, she will be an unseelie. Once we were all the same. Then the Queen kicked the King out of the kingdom and something about them changed. Whether it was leaving the world they've always known or the altering of their magic from being banned from a golden kingdom of light to one of darkness, we do not know. Their bitterness, anger and hatred altered them physically, mentally. They became the cold, heartless creatures you see now. As time passes...she will become a danger to us all. An unseelie is the only one who can release her from this. In the past, I've had no luck finding one whose heart is not completely blackened..they will not help. Three days is the longest I've ever seen an infected maintain any sense of clarity to who they once were. Some even kill themselves first."

He'd cup Tiri's face her skin continued to slowly fade from a vibrant, life filled color to the grays and blackened shades where the 'infection' as they called it, was taking hold. "Her father has been with the unseelie all this time. For all we know, he's been turned as well. ..regardless, there may be hope. No matter how cold a heart, it never forgets those they've loved the deepest."

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee was filled with dismay. The idea that Tiri would change and become one of the other fey seemed even worse than losing her to death. She swore to herself that she would do whatever it took to stop it. Quite willing she would even have traded places.

"You were her watcher" Alana said bitterly to Aiden. "You should never have let them get so close to her. I see now I made a mistake in naming you."

At that moment they were interrupted by a moan from one of the fallen unseelie warriors who twitched slightly on the floor. It was the same one Kaylee had stabbed in the chest earlier.

Noting that he was alive and conscious Alana stepped over him and held her sword above his throat. "I'd say your wound looks pretty fatal" she remarked coldly. "My daughter has been poisoned by one of your friends. If you agree to save her then I will spare your unworthy life."

The wounded fey head turned his head slightly to look at Tiri, for a moment he was silent then he gave a helpless sigh of defeat. "I'm afraid I can't help you" he said. "You need one with stronger magic."

"Well then" Alana replied "I guess there is no point keeping you alive."

"Wait" Gwayne suddenly interjected. "Don't kill him just yet. We need a way to reach the other kingdom. He could be the key we need."

Alana hesitated then glanced down at the wounded fey. Suddenly it seemed there was a faint glimmer of hope. "Will you agree to that? Will you show us the way in exchange for your own life?"

The other fey moaned slightly then spat on the grass. "Doesn't seem like I have any choice does it" he said sarcastically.

Alana stepped back slightly and looked across at Aiden. "Aiden your magic is the strongest here" she said. "See if you can save this wretch's life."

[Maya]

"Aiden is not to blame. He fought beside me..things happen." Tiri understood why Alana would be angry; but, even with the warriors fighting on their side, arrows were bound to make it through.

He took the error hard all the same and gave the women their space. After Alana's displeasure, the other warriors would give him no berth among them.

All the while, Tiri seemed to be turning faster. Her skin felt like it was literally alive and crawling as the dark color kept spreading. The whites of her eyes were taking on the shade of pale yellow. One hand rose to rest upon the wound and try to heal herself; but, Aiden stopped the effort. "No..will only speed up the process. Rest. Sleep. Don't struggle.." Leaning down to whisper in her ear. "On my life, I will save you." She was more than just his charge to watch over, Tiri provided him the pleasure of watching what having a life was like. One of freedom, exploration and adventure. She was his muse since he was named a Watcher and no longer had a normal life of his own choosing. Upon Alana's request to save the darkling, he'd readily comply by using his healing ability to return the man to health. "Cross us and your death will be slow and painful. Now show us the gate to your realm."

[Crazywolf]

"Wait. Not yet" Gwayne said. "It isn't safe to leave the children here. We must wait until the dawn."

Alana grimaced slightly at the delay but she knew that her brother was right. She knelt down beside Tiri and gently placed a hand on her arm. Seeing her daughter that way was simply unbearable. But she knew that for Tiri's sake she had to be strong. "I promise we will find one to save you" she said. "When dawn comes we will take the children somewhere safe and then we will go settle this matter once and for all. Right now though you should do what Aiden said and rest."

Kaylee watched quietly from one side not wanting to break up the moment between Alana and her daughter. She just hoped that between they would find the one to cure her as they had promised and that Tiri would be saved.

[Maya]

"Every moment we wait brings her another step closer to the other side. When Tiri goes more dark than light, she will be more like him." Aiden would point to the unseelie they were forced to get aid from. "Can we not leave half the warriors to protect the children and take the other with us? Time is of the essence here. I can not stress it enough. No on among us now may remember the last time one of us was changed; but, I do. She will suffer incredible pain before the process is completed. When it is, the woman we once knew will be gone and a cold, blooded animal will be left in her place."

As they debate raged on, Tiri was nodding in and out of consciousness. The exposed skin of her face and neck now fully turned to a dirty ashen gray.

[Crazywolf]

Kneeling beside Tiri Alana say the transformation gathering pace, far faster than she had known was possible. Watching Tiri change like that felt like her own self being torn in half. Her face betrayed the anguish within her. "Aiden is right" she stated "we don't have any time. We must go now." Seeing her face there were none that would argue.

At that moment however they were interrupted by a call came from one of the young fey on watch to warn the group that someone was approaching them.

Approaching the trees was a lone unseelie warrior.

"Don't shoot unless I order it" said Gwayne. "Let's see first what he wants."

As the unseelie came closer he held his hands out slightly to the sides to show he was unarmed. In the pale light not much could be made of his features save that he wore a back mail-coat and had light brown hair that was tied back.

"Don't come any closer or we will fill you with arrows" Gwayne called out harshly.

"My master would like a parley with you" the other stated.

"And why should we agree to that" Gwayne asked.

The other responded with a slight shrug. "I really have no idea. Though since our scouts now have you surrounded I'd say it's in your own interest."

"I will speak with him" Alana interjected. Her tone of voice had a dark and cold edge to it yet inside she was wondering fervently if there was some way she could use this encounter to bargain for her daughter's life. "Gwayne you may accompany me if you so wish. Aiden you will stay put with Tiri."

As soon as Alana had left Tiri's side Kaylee knelt down to take her place. "Tiri it's going to be ok" she said earnestly. "Your family are the most remarkable people I ever met. If anyone can stop this thing it's them." She grasped the other woman firmly by the arm. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this close to someone. "Tiri please stay with us" she begged.

[Maya]

To Aiden, it seemed like their situation was getting more dire with each passing moment. He could heal Tiri, no one among their people could. The ones who didn't must be the ones to undo it. Getting them unseelie to cooperate seemed an impossible task. "I won't leave her side, M'lady." Sadly, he full well knew the more Tiri's situation progressed, the more likely it was he'd be having to restrain her.

"Kaylee...." Before he could say anything further to her, Aiden found himself being pushed by an aggravated Tiri.

"Don't...touch..." Her voice more of a growl than the melodic tone of the lovely voice they all knew. The pain was starting to set in. As she grew more and more uncomfortable, the more violent she would become despite her own effort to resist.

"Back away, Kaylee. Do as she asks as it will do no one any good to see you harmed as well." He hoped Alana could work something out with the unseelie. Unless their plan had been to make her one of them.

[Crazywolf]

Kaylee backed off as instructed. She had seen people dying before but this was worse. She had never felt so helpless.

"So where are we supposed to meet him?" Alana asked the messenger.

The other pointed. "Out there in the field. If you wish to meet him present yourselves within five minutes." With a mocking bow he turned and left.

Alana stared out at the field. At least it was open ground with no room for tricks and their own archers would cover them. She could feel anger burning inside her as she thought of all the things that the unseelie king had done to her. And all just to spite the queen who had cast him out. "Come Gwayne let us not keep them waiting."


***

The pair of them set off toward the middle of the field. As they came to the spot they saw three male fey approaching from the other direction. All three were dressed in their customary black. The male on the left was the messenger, however Alana's eye was drawn to the male in the centre. He was dressed in ornate black armour marked with curious sigils, over which he work a dark flowing cloak. His hair was dark like her own. As they came closer she saw that he had a face that might once have been beautiful. On his brow he wore a circlet of silver. She had heard tales of the king but never seen him in person since she was very young.

The two groups halted just yards apart. The dark king looked upon Alana and Gwayne with an air of superiority. When he spoke his voice had a mocking quality. "Whom may I ask am I speaking to?" he said.

"I am lady Alana and this is my brother Gwayne" Alana replied curtly. "And might we ask who you are?" she added mockingly. Each word she spoke dripping with bitterness. She tried her best to hold her composure and not get riled by him.

"I think you know that already" the king replied. "I am Magnus, son of Dreysus, lord of the darkling realm. Allow me to explain your position. We know you are escorting human children. If you surrender to us those children will be spared and allowed to go free."

"You think we are that stupid?" Gwayne said. "You tried to beat us once already and failed."

The king gave a shrug. "I under-estimated you a little I admit. But that will not happen twice. I would caution you not to make the same mistake yourselves."

"We will not surrender" Alana replied. "However I can offer you another bargain, one that I think may satisfy your own pride and avoid further needless bloodshed."

The king narrowed his eyes slightly and frowned. "Tell me what this thing you offer."


***

Alana and Gwayne returned to the trees accompanied by the unseelie messenger. "We have agreed a truce" Alana said to the others. "As part of the bargain this unseelie will use his power to heal Tiri." She glanced sideways at the other. "If you make any attempt to trick us or harm her in any way the consequence for you will not be pleasant."

"I am simply here to follow orders and heal her as instructed" the unseelie replied. He approached where Tiri sat.

Alana gave a slight nod and turned toward Tiri. "Don't worry Tiri, everything will be fine."

[Maya]

She literally growled at the unseelie coming her way, baring newly found fangs to go with those golden eyes. "What was the bargain?" If no one told her fast enough, Tiri would grow more aggravated by the second. "The bargain! ..what did it entail?" If anyone was to go in trade to this King, it was suppose to be her. That was always the plan she'd held fast to. The children would be freed, her father would be found and everyone would be safe in the village. Even now, enduring the relentless pain of the metamorphosis, she'd not stop fighting.

He drew closer still as if she'd be no threat, only to find her fingers now digging into his throat. "Even if I change, I will never forget your face. Betray them and you will see just how heartless I can be."

[Crazywolf]

The unseelie struggled to throw her off forcing Alana to intervene directly. She forced herself between them restraining her daughter.

"Please Tiri" she said. "The bargain is simple. We hand back their wounded in return for healing yourself. They will then cease their attacks and let us go our own way. Now please let him do his work."

[Maya]

Oh the dirty look she cut that man was priceless. If daggers could have shot out of her eyes they would. The corner of her lip twitched as that glare went from the unseelie to Alana then to Kaylee. Reasoning wasn't one of her best attributes at the moment. Rather kill him to be honest. Kill something anyway.

"Fine.." sending daggers from those sickening, yellow eyes on last time before backing away. As the seconds ticked away, it seemed the poison had finally managed to overcome her bravado. Tiri went limp as a quick moving Aiden dropped down to catch her.

"Do it now! It has to be now!"

[Crazywolf]

"This whelp of yours clearly needs taming" the unseelie remarked caustically. With that he bent down over Tiri's body and placed both hands on her forehead. His eyes became locked with concentration. An eerie white light surrounded both of them as he used his magic to draw out and remove the poison that was changing her form.

No doubt Tiri would initially feel some pain, but that would subside as the poison diminished and her features returned to normal. Finally the unseelie drew back. "It is done" he breathed heavily.

Observing the change Alana and Kylee each felt an immense relief wash over them. Alana dropped to one knee and leant forward over her daughter. "Tiri are you okay? Can you hear me?" she asked.

[Maya]

Aiden continued to hold her as the unseelie worked his magic. Though the remark the man so nonchalantly made about Tiri didn't sit well him, especially considering her current condition. The girl had spirit and a thirst for life. Not something easily said about the dark ones. What took only a few moments seemed to be an hour while waiting for her to move.

The first signs of the treatment worked was the dark stains across her skin started receding..with it came violent shuddering as if she were freezing to death in a nice storm. He'd seen this before and knew it was uncomfortable to endure. Even holding her closer would offer no refuge from the process. "Easy Arwenamin..this shall pass." Poor little things teeth were chattering. As Aiden promised, the chill faded as the healthy glow returned to her face. She shuddered to life, those eyes, now a deep blue again, opened to the world. The lingering affects on the body caused fatigue which left her feeling like putty in his arms. In answer to Alana's question, only a small nod was given.

[Crazywolf]

Alana saw the small nod and let out a sigh. "Thank the gods" she said. What she might have done to the messenger if Tiri hadn't been saved really did not bear thinking about. Her gaze lingered on her daughter as she waited for Tiri to recover. In her eyes there was a look of deep longing.

The unseelie stood back a little observing. "Come" he said. "I have done my part now you must keep to yours. The king does not like to be kept waiting."

"Do not presume to command me" Alana replied. "I will come as soon as I know she is properly recovered."

[Maya]

Aiden glanced over to the unseelie then Alana. "You're meeting the King? Why?..what type of bargain did you make?"

If he didn't understand what was going on here, there was no way Tiri, who was becoming alert and very aware, could fully comprehend it either. "Where are you going? ..wait and I'll go with you." Struggling to get to her feet. "Where's my bow. Kaylee..where are my things? .." To say she wasn't combat ready would be an understatement.

[Crazywolf]

"I'm sorry Tiri but I'm afraid you can't come with me" Alana replied. She felt bad that she'd had to lie a bit but it had been the only way. "You see the bargain I made was for your healing my own freedom. He knows I am close family of the queen and that makes me a worthy prize for him, more-so than you who the queen barely even knows, though no doubt he'd have taken us both if he could. He made me swear a binding oath that cannot be broken so now I must go to him."

Slowly she raised her hand to place it on Tiri's arm and looked her directly in the eyes. "I feel honoured to have finally met you" she said. "Do not do anything foolish to try and save me. Trust Aiden to guide you and trust in those around you. My only regret in all this is that I could not be with you a little longer."

Gwayne stood silent with a grim expression on his face that masked whatever he might be feeling.

"You can't just go to him" Reese interjected.

"I'm afraid I must" Alana replied.

From the corner of her eye she could see the unseelie waiting impatiently. Well let him wait this was her daughter and she would take as long as she needed.

[Maya]

This all had to be some sort of horrible dream from eating bad food. Had to be. There's no way this could be real. Kaylee needed to pinch her awake. Alana felt honored to have finally met her? That was to be it? Just a so long, farewell, have a nice life. To say Tiri was angry would be an understatement. She was livid.

"If he's going to take you, the least he can do is come here to claim you himself. He's a King right? All powerful being..yet he's not man enough to look me in the eye as he takes my mother away..just as he took my father."

[Crazywolf]

"I'm sorry Tiri" Alana replied. "But this is the deal I made and this is how it must be." Apart from that she had really run out of things to say that might make things better. She knew this was painful for her daughter as it was for her but she had no way to avoid it.

She leaned forward to give Tiri a gentle embrace then pulled back to look her once more in the eyes. "It took me several hundred years to find you again Tiri" she smiled softly. "Sometimes I doubted I ever would, but in the end the wait was worth it."

Knowing that to pull this out any further would only hurt both of them she gave a sigh and turned away. "Let's go" she said curtly to the unseelie.

Watching the scene Kaylee felty conflicted, she understood the value of honor but didn't want Tiri to lose her mother. "Surely there is some other way" she protested.

"Unfortunately this time there is not" Alana replied. "I did what had to be done."

"We will do all we can to save you" Gwayne said.

"Just keep Tiri safe from him" she replied.

With a final glance at Tiri she turned away and headed off to meet her fate. A fate that now lay at the mercy of the man in all creation whom she most loathed.

[Maya]

These Fae, they were all so prim and proper. Lived their lives by some sort of glowing etiquette which made no sense in the real world. The place Tiri was from. Who just turns themselves over to the enemy for the rest of their lives? Who accepts that? Well, she sure as hell didn't. While it might have been easier to go back to her world, return to Beth and those who live in the forest while pretending the other worldly beings did not exist, Tiri was not raised that way. They would die before they stopped trying to save those of their village in trouble.

She went to Gwayne, got right in his face and laid out her thoughts. "I want to know everything there is to know about this...so called King. No creature..not one..is too powerful to bring down. There is always a way. And for the Queen to sit idle while another is gaining a foothold, taking her people and those who live below is beyond irresponsible."

[Crazywolf]

Gwayne did not react towards her anger. His face bore a look of sympathy and when he replied his tone was measured. "The queen has been at war with him since before you were conceived" he said. "As to Magnus himself what can I say, he is driven by power and spite and he does as he pleases. I promise you though we shall do all in our power to stop him. Remember we now have a captive to show us the way to their hidden realm. I know you find it strange your mother would keep her promise to such a man but for us these oaths are more than words, they have power in themselves for good or ill, and she swore by the gods on your own life." His eyes became firm and resolute. "We shall deposit these children somewhere safe then do what is needed."

Kaylee had stood listening. "I will help you" she said. "I don't know if one extra swordswoman will really make much difference here but I offer that help nonetheless." Her words were to both of them but most of all to Tiri. She might have made a career fighting for money but she also had a strong sense of loyalty toward those people whom she cared about. She wasn't terribly good expressing her inner feelings but with Tiri she felt a close connection. She would not desert her now.

[Maya]

She'd mutter hotly under her breath.."String him up by his toes. That's what's needed." This life Tiri had been introduced to was not fair in the least. The complete and total lack of control was something she was not used to at all. It made her feel quite helpless. When she got helpless, Tiri got angry.

"Ooooo, what's all this stomping and tromping about for. T'ain't no reason to be sour like my old mule, Homer, always was..Tiri." There was Beth plopping herself right smack dab in the middle of it all and already had a child hanging from her hip. Eyeing the man left in charge. "Gwayne." Smacking the man square in the butt. "Good to see you again. You've grown a bit since last we met. Don't you dare say a thing about me growing. I know darn well my belly has gotten rounder." shaking a motherly finger his way. There were few of the Fae she did not know somehow or another. "Come by my place. I've got dinner cooking. Enough for all." Eyeing Kaylee in the mix, the girl earned a huge smile. "Glad to see you're still hanging in there, girly."

[Crazywolf]

Despite his heavy mood Gwayne tried to muster a friendly smile. "Nice to see you Beth" he replied. "The offer of hospitality is welcome. For one thing it gives us a safe place to leave the children. I'm afraid things have not gone so well for us but I'll fill you in as we go along."

He turned to Reese who was standing nearby. "Reese could you go directly to the queen and tell her all that has happened" he asked. "Hopefully she will agree the need for action."

Reese gave a slight nod of agreement. "Of course" he replied. Taking a breath to compose himself he then turned into a hawk. With a flutter of wings he rose from the ground and flew off into the dark, heading for the nearest portal between the worlds.

Kaylee smiled at the sight of Beth then stared in surprise as the fey prince transformed into a bird of prey and flew off.

Gwayne watched the hawk depart then turned back towards the others. "Come let us all get moving" he said. "Beth please lead us on."

The assembled group of fey gathered their wounded, their prisoner and the children and prepared to set off.

[Maya]

"Just how many kids have we got?" Oh my goodness, how long has it been since Beth had wee ones in the house? A long, long time. Hopefully, she could handle it. "Bring em along. I'll have the neighbors help me keep them nice and comfy."

Tiri hadn't quit gnawing on that bone yet. So, once Reese left ..turning into a bird no less, which no one had told her was possible..she'd walk in step with Gwayne whether he liked it or not. "So, the Queen. What does she do all day? I'm just curious. What's it like up there? I've only had a small taste of it so.." Maybe he could enlighten her.

[Crazywolf]

"I suppose the same as mortal queens" Gwayne replied. "She has her bards and musicians to entertain her, she enjoys the spectacle of dancing and likes to put on banquets. Most of all she likes to surround herself with things of beauty. She upholds the law of course and judges the quarrels between faeries, and upholds the code of honor. She also has her favourites whom she likes to spend time with. As to the rest of us we do much as mortals do, we hunt and gather food, we train ourselves to fight, and of course we raise our children."


***

As they spoke the rest of the fey trooped along behind. Kaylee walked at the front with Beth, Tiri and Gwayne carrying the youngest child up on her shoulders. She felt concerned about Tiri losing her mother and hoped desperately for Tiri's sake they would be able to get her back.

"I'm lost round here Beth how far is it?" she asked.

[Maya]

"Has she ever fought in battles? Like you or I would if our family were in danger? ..I guess what I'm asking would be is there even a chance she will wage war with the king? If I were the queen, I would ride out in front and take him on..face to face..so that he knows this treachery against my people is not acceptable. Where I was raised, leaders are at the helm of their armies. If they will not risk their own lives for their lands and people, why should anyone else?" Tiri clearly had issues with an absentee queen sitting on a cushion while her people fought the battles for her. To Tiri, such a thing was unheard of. Her mind was already made up. Whether her parents were saved or not, she would never live in the Fae realm. The belief system she was raised with was far too different from that of the 'golden ones.'

Beth was as calm as a cucumber, though she could tell Tiri was getting hot under the collar. "Not far really. Just a quick stretch of the legs. Should be seeing the first set of houses in the next mile or so. Why don't you go pull Tiri off of Gwayne before he loses his patience." The old woman could plainly see the reintegration was not going as well as they'd like. With her hatred for the queen, it was easy to assume there was no chance of the girl ever living in their presence. Likely be mutual on both sides. "Kaylee, have you ever made bread pudding? I think the kids would love it. Be easy to cook enough for a crowd."

[Crazywolf]

"The queen leads us in her own way" Gwayne replied. "I would urge you though as the child of my sister to be careful what you say about her, especially if you wish to live amongst us. At the end of the day she is our queen and she does not like to be criticised openly, in fact to do such may even be considered as treason."

Kaylee was about to do as Beth suggested and divert Tiri when she herself was diverted by the question about bread pudding. "Umm no I'm afraid I've never really learnt any home-cooking" she replied. "Til now I've never had much need of it. I can do basic stuff over a camp-fire but that's about it."

[Maya]

"No worries. I don't plan to ever set foot there again." She had every intention of keeping her word on that. Hoity toity, royal, pains in the asses...every single one of them. Except maybe Aiden. Though he had been one for the longest time. Tiri could not fathom the idea that people with so much power and magic residing in their pinky fingers would not get off their pampered duffs when they full well knew what was going in in the other realms. As for the dangled accusation of being treasonous, how could one commit treason to a person they didn't even know much less have allegiance to? After all the threats, why the hell would she want to associate with 'her people'. That was a laugh. Gwayne was no relation to her.

If he was mad when she left him, Tiri was twice as angry. Poor Beth saw the storm brewing in her dark eyes as she joined them, just as the village was coming into view. She'd look to Kaylee with a worried expression. "Tiri, you didn't insult Gwayne did you? Figure we might need him again at some point."

"I'd say he alienated me. Well, they've looked down their perky, little noses at me long enough. If I had a choice, I'd slice my wrist and drain all of their precious Fae blood out of my body. I don't like them, Beth. I can not stand them. They have no sense of urgency, they care for no one but themselves and they are nothing like me! I'd rather die fighting for my family tonight than live a thousand years in opulence with them." By this point, she was waving her hands while fuming at the mouth.

Beth rubbed her chin thoughtfully, always being the calm one in the chaos. Her own home was in sight now, thank goodness. "Gwayne, darling..why don't you visit with some of the neighbors, see who has room to board your men and some of the children. I doubt they'll say no. Kaylee, we'll go learn how to make bread pudding. And Tiri.." grinning because she knew the girl wasn't going to like her assignment. "You go chop some wood for the fires. We've a lot of food to cook. Aiden." Looking up at the sky, since one never knows where he'll turn up. "Do not help her. She needs the exercise."

[Crazywolf]

Gwayne frowned at Tiri's comment then shook his head slightly at Beth. "I think all of us inside thse human cottages would get a bit crowded. And truth be told sleeping so close among humans would feel strange, present company excepted. We shall make our own camp out in the field."

On receiving her duties Kaylee glanced at Tiri slightly enviously. Chopping up firewood was something she herself would have been comfortable with. This business of making pudding for children sounded a lot more complicated and didn't seem like her thing at all. Visualising Beth's kitchen she couldn't imagine anywhere she'd feel more out of place but nonetheless she obediently followed Beth inside the house herding the children along at the same time.

Once inside she helped guide the children to their seats round the table then turned to Beth. "Ok what shall I do first?" she said.

[Maya]

He could frown to his little heart's content. Tiri didn't give a flying flip. Clearly they were all brainwashed and couldn't think for themselves. That was her theory anyway. After spending all afternoon chopping the never ending pile of wood, her opinion might alter a bit. Doubtful. When it came to Beth, even she didn't argue. Just went right over, rolled up her sleeves and started swinging that ax. It was therapeutic to hit something. Proving Beth was the wisest woman in the whole world.

"First, we need to gather some eggs. Should be plenty in the hen house. You're not afraid of chickens are you? We'll be needing at least fifteen or so to make enough. Crack em and beat up nice, let's see...add ten cups of milk. Have to milk the cows for that..what else, I've got enough brown sugar in my storage crock..about 8 slices of bread, all crumbled nicely and some butter. That's all we need." Smiling sweetly. Was easy to achieve right? Plucking eggs from under the hens and squeezing out enough milk for this massive pudding..easy. "If you need some help, yell for Aiden. I know he's hiding right under our noses."

[Crazywolf]

Kayleee did her best to process the instructions. "Fetch the eggs and milk, right." She had never milked a cow before in her entire life. "Umm right I'll go and do that" she added sounding a little uncertain about it. During her earlier career the band of mercenaries she was in had been attended by camp followers, mostly women, who did most of the cooking. In her latter days working alone all her meals had come from tavern kitchens or those that employed her.

She picked up a basket for the eggs then wandered outside and headed for the hen house. She then lifted off the roof and reached inside to collect the eggs. After facing dire-wolves and unseelies a few chickens were not going to unsettle her. Milking cows on the other hand...

She wandered up to the cow-shed and lifted a milk pail. "Aiden" she called out feeling a bit self-conscious. "If you're there I could do with some assistance."

[Maya]

Aiden could be fairly rotten sometimes. Just because he liked to be a bit of a joker. So he'd watch Kaylee snag those eggs then sit chuckling while the girl tried to figure out how to milk old Ester. She'd hear his voice behind her, yet see nothing as he was still in invisible mode. "You just got to be nice to her. Sit on the little stole, gently grab hold of her teets and give them an easy squeeze. Nothing to it." Looking over his shoulder to see Tiri still splitting logs with a fervor. "Might need to get her some more logs."

Beth would bring Tiri a cool glass of water and test the moody things attitude. "You tired yet? Looking a bit sweaty. Have a drink." Offering the cup.

"Nope, not yet. I don't get tired. I don't sit on my butt being useless." She would take the water though.

"I don't see anyone around here being useless, Tiri. I do see someone being a real pain in the ass and I'm not talking about Gwayne. I know you're angry. I feel your pain after all that's transpired; but, lashing out at everyone will not help. You can split every tree in the forest..won't make you feel better. The fae, they aren't your enemies. Though, you are correct in noticing the differences. They have their ways. You were raised in ours. I think we did a damn good job with you too." Tugging a lock of her hair. "You've got a good heart. Faithful, kind..most days. However, I want you to embrace your birth family. Learn all you can about yourself..those abilities. They will come out. They have to be controlled. Don't push Gwayne away." Patting her on the back while turning to go. "Think on that. I got a pudding to make and hungry mouths to feed."