[M/IC] Under an Iron Moon (Midori and Naming)

[Namingtoohard]

Celia Tekiel Bowden made for an unusual sight as she fled the borders of her father’s estate.

Dressed in a gown that was much too fine for a commoner, she might have seemed beautiful, once. Her flowing blonde hair, delicate features and petite figure had seen her become the envy of many other young women her age. The work of a professional stylist, alongside the liberal application of both jewellery and makeup, had left her with a public image that her parents and siblings had deemed ‘worthy of the family name’.

At the present moment in time, however, Celia seemed a far cry from the stunning daughter that her family presented to the rest of the world. Her hair was dishevelled and messy, with a noticeable number of tangles. Her dress, once the latest in fashion, was now both dirty and torn along the hem. The vast majority of her jewellery had been discarded prior to her flight, and her makeup bore the distinctive ruined streaks that could only have been caused by tears. There were a considerable number of bruises hidden beneath the folds of her dress, too, but those were not quite as recent of an occurrence, and much less immediately noticeable.

The distraught girl ran towards the outer limits of their family home as fast as she was able, eager to get away from the torment that lay within those walls.

The part of her torment that was so easily escaped, at the very least.

Only when she had pushed beyond, into the edges of the forest that bordered their estate, did the girl finally slow to a walk. Surrounded by the all-encompassing calm of the forest, she could finally feel something that vaguely resembled peace. A temporary respite from the abuse that flowed from the hands and mouths of her father, and her older siblings.

She lost herself there, for a time. Wandering through the undergrowth, circling around the trunks of trees that had stood for countless years, Celia marvelled at the changing of seasons. The late evening sun sneaking through the canopy above, illuminating the leaves as they began the slow change from a healthy green to a fading orange. Autumn had the forest in her grip now, well and truly.

Then, she caught sight of one.

A flicker of movement, a brief glimpse of living shadows, just on the edges of her vision. So quick, so sudden, that any other person might have dismissed it as their imagination. Not Celia, however.

For as long as she could remember, Celia had seen things. Things that other – ordinary – people couldn’t. Often they were vague and indistinct, like this one. Shadows that lingered on the very edges of her perception, fuzzing and fading away as soon as she tried to focus on them properly. Occasionally, she would see something a little more distinctive; a humanoid shape that lingered even under close scrutiny, or something more…unnatural. Animalistic, even.

The rest of her family forbade her from talking about them. They swore that the visions weren’t real; just the fabrications of an unhinged mind. Hers. That the things she saw weren’t truly there, and that normal people weren’t able to see them.

Fearful of the disgrace they would suffer if Celia’s affliction became known, they tried to suppress her visions through sheer force. Any time she mentioned one of them, or was caught staring at something that wasn’t really there, punishment was both swift and brutal. When she was younger, they had settled for things like confinement. Now, beatings and verbal degradation were simply a fact of life. All done in the name of helping Celia understand, pushing her towards becoming a ‘normal’ human being.

Oh, how she hated them for it.

This time, sequestered away in the depths of the forest as she was, Celia allowed herself to watch. Despite her family’s best efforts, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity towards the dancing shadows. As she watched them dance and play, Celia couldn’t help but wonder how something so pretty – so enticing – could be bad or wrong. Inwardly, she felt her resolve harden.

She would find a way to prove if they were real or not. To herself, at least, if not everyone else.

[Midori-Hime]

The sun was falling closer to the horizon, turning the sky an array of vibrant colors that played off the shades of the changing leaves. Twilight, eventide, the magic hour...

However, Rowan couldn't stop to find the beauty in it, as he might very soon be at death's door. He couldn't be sure if they were still after him, but he was not willing to wait and find out, trudging on through the forest and crossing over into the earthly realm. Eventually he would have to come to a stop, his wound starting to become too much for him to continue on. What had been a simple errand for his queen, quickly turned sour when he'd crossed onto Seelie territory. He had let himself become too distracted to notice the dire situation he was in before it was too late and he was easily overpowered by the enemy. And now he was paying for it...

Rowan grunted as he pitched himself up against a thick tree trunk, panting softly as he took a moment to compose himself and gather his strength. He looked down at the arrow protruding from the armor on his chest, his vision faltering for a moment. Perhaps this would be how he met his end, he thought grimly. Though it couldn't be seen beneath his armor, he could feel the stickiness of his blood soaking into the cloth at his thigh now. Turning to lean back against the elder tree, Rowan slowly slumped down to the ground, seated on the winding roots that were exposed among the surrounding moss.

Was he really going to perish like this, we wondered. He was once the Unseelie Queen's favored knight, and now he was a disgrace... Pathetic. Feeling a last surge of self-preservation, Rowan gripped the shaft of the arrow, sucking in a breath, before he yanked as hard as he could manage. A howl of agony echoed through the trees. The arrow budged, but it was much too deep to manage himself. With a shaky breath, Rowan resigned himself to his fate. His deep amber eyes looked out to the sunset then, watching the light shift through the trees as the glowing red sun sank below the horizon finally. His auburn hair, disheveled from the skirmish, fell to frame his face as he hung his head. Closing his eyes, Rowan simply waited to see what fate would bring, still as the tree he sat beneath.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia's moment of self-reflection was brought to a sudden and abrupt end as a howl split the air, cutting through the forest's tranquil silence. The young woman practically jumped out of her skin at the unexpected noise, and quickly started to glance around, searching for the source. For a few brief moments she feared that the noise might have come from a wild animal, which could potentially prove dangerous. After a few seconds, however, she dismissed the notion - the sound had been much too human to come from any wild beast that she had ever heard of.

Mustering up some small semblance of courage, Celia would slowly begin to creep forward. She moved through the forest as cautiously as she could manage, heading in the direction that she thought the sound had come from. She tried to move quietly, taking care as to where she placed her feet, but a healthy mix of undergrowth and fallen autumn leaves made total silence impossible. Regardless, she would continue to prowl towards the source of the sound, maintaining some semblance of stealth right up until she caught sight of them.

Even from a distance, there was no denying that he was astonishingly handsome. Those fine angular features were enough to make Celia's breath catch in her throat, and she had spent a fair amount of time around the highborn sons of other families. The sight of him laying there against the tree, eyes closed, basking in the evening sunlight, was nothing less than enchanting. When her gaze drifted over his ears, though, she froze. No human she knew had ears like that. Was this simply another one of her visions - one of the more vivid ones, clear enough for her to truly mistake it for reality?

"H-hello? Can you hear me?" she called out timidly, creeping forward a few more steps. If he truly was an apparition, then the girl fully intended to make good on her earlier promise to herself, and find a way to prove if he was real or not.

At this point, she had no idea if the strange man was conscious or not. He certainly looked peaceful enough, laying there. For a moment she wondered if he might simply be sleeping...but then, what of the cry she had heard before? She wasn't quite close enough yet to notice the growing pool of scarlet that hinted at his injuries, even now.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan could feel the cold seeping into him, to his core, and he welcomed it. It numbed him to the pain and at least he could go peacefully, he thought. Until the soft snap of branches brought him back to his senses. "Spoke too soon, it seems..." He breathed. They must have found him after all, he realized with a moment of dread. Perhaps he could muster just enough strength for a final strike... maybe take one of them down with him. He refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing the life leave him without making them pay for it. Warily, Rowan's hand moved to the hilt of his blade, hovering there. At least he still had the use of his good arm. However, as he listened more carefully, he could tell the foot falls were light and cautious, not what he'd expect of his pursuers.

Whoever they were, they were getting closer. And then finally they stopped at a distance. At the sound of the woman's voice, Rowan finally opened his eyes, warm, glowing amber lifting to meet her gaze. She was obviously human, that much he could tell, and yet she was looking right at him. Had he'd grown so weak that he couldn't even hide himself from mortal eyes any longer? His golden eyes wandered slightly, taking in her disheveled appearance. Despite her tangled hair, puffy eyes, and tear stained cheeks, the girl was lovelier than any he'd ever seen. Perhaps it was because of her flaws, her fragility, her mortality, that he found her so beautiful. Rowan regarded her with a long moment of silence.

"Have you come to put an end to my suffering?" He spoke finally, his voice like rich, dark molasses. His eyes seemed to constantly shift between shades of golden amber and dark cedar, almost glowing in the dimming light. The hand at his hilt relaxed, deeming this human to be harmless enough... unless she ran off to find others. Harmless, but maybe not useless.

"If you do not intend to put me out of my misery, can you pull this arrow from me?" His asked then, his hand moving to rest just beside the thick arrow still sticking out from the chest of his armor, which had the texture as though it were made from the bark of a tree, though it was much harder than that. It seemed to have struck quite close to his heart. Rowan then held out his hand to beckon her closer. "Be quick... pull it out straight and true, with all your might." He said, watching to see if she would do as he asked, or simply leave him here to slowly die.

[Namingtoohard]

Despite her attempts to draw his attention, Celia was almost shocked when the stranger finally did speak. His voice seemed a perfect match for his appearance, drawing her in with a considerable amount of otherworldly charm. It would take a few seconds for the woman's mind to even comprehend exactly what the man had said, given the almost supernatural quality of his voice. When the words finally seemed to register in her brain, Celia's attention was finally drawn to the arrow itself, and for the first time she was struck with the severity of the strange man's situation. Giving a wordless cry of surprise, she would immediately rush towards him - all pretense of caution suddenly forgotten beneath the urge to help someone in need.

"I'm not particularly strong, but I'll do what I can to help" Celia offered as soon as she had managed to find her voice. Planting both of her feet best as she was able, the human would bend down over her new friend, wrapping both of her hands around the protruding arrow's shaft. Meeting the man's eyes, Celia gave him a simple nod indicating that she was ready, before she would finally begin.

Muscles straining, Celia would practically throw her weight backwards as she tugged on the arrow, trying her hardest to pull it free. For a few moments nothing happened, and it almost seemed that her efforts would be in vain. Just as she felt her grip was about to slip, however, something would finally give. With a sickening squelch, the arrow finally came free. Celia would stumble backwards as it suddenly came free, and only barely managed to keep her feet. Once she had recovered, Celia would drop the arrow shaft without a second thought, stepping forward and dropping to her knees alongside Rowan.

"Need to stop the bleeding" Celia muttered softly, speaking to herself just as much as the stranger now. She glanced around quickly for a moment, before her gaze settled on the hem of her dress, and the sword at Rowan's side. Moving quickly, she reached out and grabbed the weapon's hilt without bothering to ask, tugging on it just enough to expose an inch of the blade. With its aid, Celia would cut a few strips of cloth from the hem of her dress, before immediately pressing them against the open wound that remained. Her makeshift bandages were a poor substitute for the real thing, but they had to be better than nothing, surely.

"I can't get proper pressure on it with this...plate in the way" Celia would note as she worked. She was, of course, referring to the strange breastplate that the man wore. Its rigid strength made it virtually impossible for her to press down on the wound properly, much to her frustration.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan's eyes widened for just a moment, taken aback by the woman's sudden willingness to help him despite the fact that he was a strange being she had only just happened upon. She hadn't even given him an answer before she rushed to his aid. It seemed all wariness and fear was gone, replaced only by her desire to help.

His gaze shifted to her delicate hands as they wrapped around the arrow and Rowan quickly braced himself. He responded to her gesture with a curt nod himself before closing his eyes. However, once the human began to pull, his brows furrowed in an intense grimace. Rowan dropped his head, his teeth clenched tight as a low growl of pain escaped him. And then just as the arrow was finally pulled free, the fae let out a short cry. Slowly his golden eyes opened again, falling on the maiden's face as he panted softly. Strands of auburn hair clung to his brow and neck with a fine sheen of sweat. But the arrow was out and he had a chance.

As the woman mentioned his bleeding, he was suddenly aware of the fresh gush of warm blood running down his chest. However, she caught him by surprise once again when she reached for his sword. His first impulse was defensive, reaching to stop her from drawing his blade, even though he knew there was no sense in pulling the arrow from him if she intended to harm him. His hand froze, watching her curiously as he cut her gown into strips of cloth. It seemed she was quite resourceful for a human and he actually found her rather intriguing.

A soft hiss left his lips as she pressed the cloth to his wound, but hearing her complaint, Rowan shifted to sit up a little straighter. "Here..." He muttered, as his hand moved underneath the shoulder plates, loosening some ties so that the breast plate would fall away. The tunic underneath was soaked down the front with blood, clinging to the skin underneath with the wetness of it. Rowan slumped back to rest against the tree once again, his amber eyes watching her closely as she worked, flickering between her hands and the expression on her face. "What do they call you?" He asked quietly with his low voice.

[Namingtoohard]

Rowan's breastplate coming loose was met with the same sort of eagerness that Celia had shown throughout the rest of his treatment, such as it was. She would abandon her attempts to stifle the bleeding, just momentarily, pulling away both her hands and the makeshift bandages they contained. Once the armour had been hastily and unceremoniously dumped to the side she would examine the shirt briefly, a small frown creasing her lips. The woman briefly considered removing it, to avoid the cloth sticking to the wound as much as possible. Such a step seemed redundant when she was about to fervently press several strips of her own dress into it, though.

With much the same decisive speed that she had displayed before, Celia would lean over the fallen stranger and press the makeshift bandages to his chest with both hands. Pressing them down over the wound forcefully, the human woman would make full use of her weight, using it to help her apply enough pressure to stem the bleeding. Such an action was bound to cause Rowan some measure of discomfort, but it would probably be rather small compared to what he had already endured that day. That was what Celia told herself, at the very least.

"Ah...I'm Celia" she offered when the man finally requested her name, speaking in a soft tone again - one that was somewhat more timid, now that she wasn't merely speaking to herself. She knew better than to give out her full name to a stranger in the woods, at the very least, despite how harmless he seemed at the present moment in time.

"And what of yourself, good sir?" she questioned in return. Glancing away from the bandages now that she was content with their position, Celia would meet the man's gaze good and proper. Once he had responded, she would speak up yet again, giving voice to another question that had been building "Dare I ask how you ended up in this situation to begin with? I do hope that we don't need to worry about whoever did this to you tracking us down and...trying to finish the job" she would offer, resisting the urge to glance about and check their surroundings for any sign of another person approaching

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan watched her inspect the wound now that she could see it more clearly. For a moment he thought if he should remove his shirt, but that shoulder was already quite stiff and to move it would likely aggravate his wound further, causing even more bleeding. However, the girl seemed to abandon that notion as well as her hands then pressed firmly against his wound without warning. Rowan turned his head away sharply, unable to stifle a low groan. He grit his teeth, taking a few shallow breaths before he was able to bare it. She was stronger than he'd given her credit for.

Hearing her name, his eyes returned to her face. It seemed to suit her, he thought, even if it was a foreign name to him. As she turned her gaze to meet his, he stared deeply into the crystalline blue eyes, as if he could see through them into her very being. "Rowan..." He said simply, his voice low and soft. Though her next question pulled at the corner of his lips, forming a ghost of a smile that faded once he spoke. "It was nothing but a random encounter. I was careless in the territory of my enemies and I am paying for it now." He muttered, almost bitterly. His eyes parted from hers only for a moment to glance around their surroundings. "I would not worry. I doubt they would still be in pursuit, especially not in this realm. Or they likely would have found me by now."

"Since I have answered your question, it seems only fair that I can ask one of my own..." He said after a moment of silence. "What brings a woman such as yourself into the forest at nightfall?" He asked. "How did you end up in this situation?" He repeated her question, his hand tentatively raising to her cheek to brush his thumb just below her eye. Though just as quickly, he dropped his hand, looking at the smudged makeup now on his thumb curiously. Absently he rubbed it against his other finger, his gaze returning to her face as he waited for her answer.

[Namingtoohard]

This…realm?

In a strange twist on her original intentions, Rowan’s answer seemed to raise more questions then it answered. Just who were the enemies that had attacked him, and why was this considered a part of their territory? She had never heard of any gangs out here…especially ones that still resorted to wearing armour, or using a traditional bow and arrow. As for the comment about their realm, such a thing defies all logic, but….well, she had already decided that there was something otherworldly about the man. Unfortunately, the opportunity to question him further passed quickly, though, as he posed a question of his own.

Celia’s simple explanation came to an abrupt end as Rowan reached out to brush his thumb against her cheek. She would flinch slightly, shying away just a fraction – as if fearing some sort of physical reprimand. The action was borne more from reflex than fear of intent, and wasn’t enough to actually stop him, but she felt herself blushing all the same. When she did finally speak, her voice had resumed the same soft, almost timid tone that she had adopted before.

“My family…are not kind people” she offered by the way of explanation, a wry smile flickering across her features. “I came out here searching for some peace and quiet. A chance to get away and relax, just for a little while. Instead I heard a soft yell, and found you” she answered simply. In that instant, she felt the urge to open herself up to this man. If he was one of the strange creatures from her visions, then he would understand, right? She would finally have some sort of validation. But…no. Perhaps that was a little too eager for a first meeting, given the circumstances.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan listened with a slight tilt of his head, his eyes still fixed on her soft face. He noticed the faint smile, wondering the reasoning behind it. "I can understand that..." He replied quietly, though he didn't exactly go into further detail what he meant by that. A small smile pulled at his lips then. "I apologize for disturbing your peace." He said, looking down to where her hands pressed to his wound. The blood was no longer soaking through so quickly. He recognized the fact that if this human hadn't come across him when she did, he very likely wouldn't have lasted the night. "You have my sincerest gratitude, Celia." His golden eyes shifted back to hers once again.

He seemed to be mulling over a thought when finally he spoke up. "In return, I will offer you one favor. You need only call my name once you've decided." Even though he sounded sincere, there was still a wary edge to his voice. It could be dangerous to gift a mortal with such an open-ended favor. Most humans easily wasted thier gifts on foolish, poorly worded or petty favors. However, Rowan felt that he should not underestimate a woman like Celia. Yet she had very well saved his life, so it seemed like a fair exchange. He only hoped he would not come to regret it when she finally decided to call in her favor.

As he watched her, Rowan only grew more curious about this human. He couldn't yet tell if she had The Sight, but he had his suspicions. And yet she didn't seem to know what he was. Perhaps he would not have to worry so much if she didn't truly know the Fae, let alone what it meant to have their favor.

[Namingtoohard]

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. I dare say that an injury like this is a little more of a priority" Celia answered rather simply, a more genuine smile turning up the corners of her mouth now. At the mention of his wound again, the human quickly glanced down at the bandages where she was pressing her hands into his chest. The torn strips of her dress were more or less entirely soaked through with Rowan's blood now, and a fair amount had managed to get onto her hands. Thankfully it appeared that the vast majority of the bleeding had stopped, which was certainly a good sign. Her gaze quickly drifted up to meet his again when Rowan offered his thanks, and Celia quickly found herself blushing.

"Think nothing of it. I'm sure that anyone would have done the same, had they been in my shoes" she offered dismissively, trying to brush his thanks aside. Unfortunately, Rowan had assumed correctly; Celia's knowledge of the fae was limited at best, and she hadn't directly connected them with the 'visions' that plagued her. Despite that, she didn't go so far as to brush off his offer of a favour. To do so would have been incredibly rude, and...well, someone in her sort of situation needed whatever help they could get. She knew very little about this strange man, but if he really was something from one of her visions, then who knew just what exactly he was capable of?

"If anything, I wish that I could do more. Find something to patch you up properly, or prevent it from getting infected" Celia offered. This time she really would take a few moments to glance around, as if searching for something. Her efforts were fruitless, however, and she came up empty handed. "I can't do much more with what we have on hand, though, and I doubt we'll find anything else useful in a place like this"

[Midori-Hime]

"I'm not so sure..." He mused quietly, eyeing up the young woman once again. Truth be told, it was perhaps the first time he'd ever interacted with a human this close before. Judging by her style of dress, he assumed she was of high status, or at least higher than most. His eyes wandered over her golden hair, catching the scent of floral soap with her leaning in so close. Rowan then noticed the flush of her cheeks, curious about her reaction. Not to say that the Fae were emotionless, but human emotions were so much forthright and complex. Perhaps that's why the Fae enjoyed toying with them so much? Even Rowan found himself curious, wanting to see what other emotions Celia was capable of.

"There is no need... Now that the arrow is gone, it will heal quickly." He told her, shifting a little to sit up a little straighter. He grunted softly, tensing a little with the pain, but let out a sigh as his body relaxed again. However, he could feel his strength starting to return already, if only a little. After a few hours, he was confident he'd be on his feet again.

It still surprised Rowan that a human could be so kind and willing to help, especially a being such as himself. He saw the human race as selfish and needy, thinking only of themselves and what benefited them. He, himself, hated asking for help and as any other Fae, he especially hated the idea of being indebted to anyone. But here he found himself relying on a human woman. "Do you know the white willow tree?" He asked quietly, meeting her eyes again. The stars were starting to fill the darkening sky now, so there wasn't much time. However, the moon was nearly full and it's light was perhaps bright enough for even a human to see through the forest. "If you could bring me some bark of the white willow, it might help with the pain at least."

[Namingtoohard]

Celia's eyes narrowed as her new friend insisted that the chest wound would heal quickly, now that the arrow had been removed. Just what was he, to claim such a thing? For any regular human, an arrow to the chest was hardly something that could be shrugged off. Even she knew that such a thing could prove fatal hours or even days after the injury itself was inflicted, without proper medical care, due to the internal trauma that it had likely caused. There was little doubt that there was something supernatural about Rowan at this point, but such resilience was impressive regardless. If there was any doubt in her mind about the truth behind his words, Celia would have insisted on proper medical attention. As it was, his confidence just...didn't make it seem necessary.

"White willow tree. Yes, I know it. I'll be back as fast as I can" she answered hastily. Reaching out, she grabbed his wrist gently, before pressing his hand into the same lump of bandages that she had spent the last few moments putting pressure on. "Just press down on this as much as you can until I get back" she offered rather simply. It was probably pointless to tell the man - there was no way he didn't know that much himself. Still, telling him that made her feel better about having to leave.

Celia beat a hasty retreat then, quickly pushing herself to her feet before moving off. She moved in the opposite direction to her home, stumbling further into the forest. It was well and truly dark now, but the moonlight was enough to provide some level of illumination. The muted colours meant that she had to get rather close to most trees to judge their colour, however. After a few minutes of fruitless wandering, spent picking directions mostly at random, it finally occurred to her that she needed to be concerned about getting lost. Almost immediately she turned back the way she had come - or thought she had come - and found that she didn't recognise any of the scenery. Panic immediately flared to life in her chest, concern for both herself and Rowan building. What would happen if she found herself stuck out here alone, and couldn't assist him any further.

"H...hello?" she called out, hoping to attract some sort of attention. Her voice felt soft and inconsequential when compared with the vast empty darkness of the empty forest, which seemed to press much closer now that she was alone.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan nodded a thanks, though the young woman caught him off guard as she grabbed him suddenly. Though he quickly caught on and simply nodded once more. For a moment he wondered if she would actually return, or perhaps she might take her chance to run off. But everything he'd seen of her thus far told him that she would keep her word. Rowan closed his eyes then, having nothing to do but wait for her return.

Silence met her call, and yet it still caught the attention of one. A few moments later, a ball of glowing, white light danced in the distance. It moved unlike any natural creature, darting warily between the trees, before it moved to circle her curiously. "Pretty girl..." A high, airy voice echoed. However, as the light neared, hovering around her, Celia could see that the being actually had form.

Up close, it resembled a wiry little person, with the soft powdery wings of a white moth. It appeared to be female, with a little tuft of white hair, puffed out like the seeds of a dandelion from her head. Her entirety of her eyes were a deep, slate blue, with no pupil or sclera that could be seen. "Pretty girl... is lost?" The tiny creature said aloud, fluttering around her.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia bit on her lower lip gently as she looked around the darkened forest, quickly turning her head back and forth. Her eyes darted from side to side rapidly, seeking anything that looked even remotely familiar. Of course, all her efforts quickly proved to be in vain, both the darkness and the repetitive landscape conspiring to thwart her attempts. Able to feel worry rising in her chest, she tried to force herself to breathe deeply, whilst considering her options. Was it better to try and find her way herself, and hope that she was lucky, or wait until her father sent one of their wait staff out to try and find her?

She practically jumped out of her skin at the unfamiliar voice that suddenly reached her ears, both higher and closer than it had any right to be. A quick glance around revealed the source almost immediately, and Celia's eyes bulged when she saw it. She had known that there was something strange about Rowan, but this was something else entirely. For a second she couldn't help but wonder - were these things actually real, or had her visions grown so realistic that she could no longer distinguish them from reality? Frankly, she wasn't certain which answer would be more concerning.

"You're...a fairy?" Celia muttered softly, disbelief clear in both her tone and her expression. She was lost in the forest at night, had just spent a good deal of time tending to a stranger with an arrow wound, and was now conversing with a fairy that apparently thought she was pretty. Under any other circumstances, she might have found the compliment extremely pleasing. As it was, the woman made an effort to push thoughts of insanity aside, in favour of an attempt at escaping her current predicament. "Ah...yes, I'm afraid so. I need to find a white willow tree, but I lost my friend while looking around. Have you seen anyone else out here, by any chance?"

[Midori-Hime]

The small pixie seemed to be just as surprised as she did, shying back from her just for a moment. "Ah! You can see me, can you?!" She said in surprise, though her expression changed to one of excitement. The creature giggle with glee, showing off a set of rather sharp looking teeth. "How wonderful! You can see me!" The pixie danced around her for a quick moment. Finally she seemed to catch Celia's question and paused to land on her shoulder, enticed by her golden hair. Her touch was so light, it was barely noticable. "Yes... that is one of our many names." She confirmed.

"A willow tree?" The little creature tilted her head, her tuft of hair flopping with the movement. "Yes, yes, I know it... This way~" She sang, quickly abandoning the braid she'd been weaving in Celia's hair to take to the air again. She started off, weaving through the trees, though not so fast that Celia couldn't follow. "No, I have not seen anyone, except for a pretty girl with the Sight."

The pixie continued to lead her through the forest for a short distance until they came to a grand white willow tree. One might wonder if this tree had always been here, or if it had just had appeared here after sundown. Or perhaps it was just that everything looked so different at night. "Do you plan to meet your friend here?" The pixie asked before she grinned, sitting on one of the lower branches. "Or is this 'friend' really your lover?" She giggled gleefully, the sound like bells ringing softly. "Many lovers seek refuge in the forest. Some have even promised to meet under this very tree. So romantic~" The pixie sighed, putting a hand to her cheek wistfully.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia watched the pixie with an expression akin to awe as she watched the little pixie dart this way and that, before finally landing atop her shoulder. She was incredibly light, her size fully indicative of her weight. That, however, was far from the point. She could feel the pixie's touch, just as certainly as she had felt Rowan's flesh and blood beneath her hands. A possible sign that she wasn't merely hallucinating, perhaps? It was a slim hope, but one that she clung to nonetheless. Knowledge that creatures such as these truly existed seemed preferable to acknowledging her own lunacy, acknowledging that everything her family had done to her was justified.

She followed eagerly as the pixie took off, choosing to take the hint and lead Celia towards the very tree that she had been seeking. Celia followed at a decent speed, grateful for the pixie's thoughtfulness. Throughout the trip, however, she largely remained silent, mind playing over what the pixie had just said to her. Two words in particular seemed to stick out, drawing her attention like a moth was drawn to flame.

The sight

What was it about those words that seemed to strike a chord within her?

Once they arrived, she stepped up to the large tree standing before her immediately. The white willow was easily distinguishable, the unique shape of its leaves a dead giveaway. Even as she listened to the pixie speak, Celia reached up to the trunk, fingernails digging at its bark. The first few chunks she managed to pull away were small and crumbly, meaning they would be of little use. After several attempts, however, she managed to pry free a strip that seemed large enough to be of some legitimate use.


"No, no. We're much too new to one another for that" she answered her little fairy friend, a wry smile flickering across her features even as a subtle redness crept into her cheeks. "He asked him that I bring some bark to him when the two of us meet. Now that night has fallen, though, I fear that tracking him down will prove somewhat difficult. I don't want to get lost out here, in the dark" she offered, turning her gaze back to the pixie again. Could this little winged being perhaps be coaxed into aiding her yet again?

[Midori-Hime]

"That hardly matters~" The little pixie cooed. "Haven't you heard of love at first sight?" The little creature floated up onto her feet, walking nimbly along the thinnest of branches, making only a slight bend in the fragile limb with her weight. The pixie seemed all too aware of the warm tint on the fair lady's cheeks. Suddenly the pixie leap down, dangling from a leaf and swinging playfully before she looked over at Celia again, grinning again with her sharp teeth. "Oh no, you don't want to get lost in the Wylds at night. No, that's for certain."

Hearing the promise of a bargain on the young woman's lips, the pixie would take to the air and hover over to her, landing lightly on Celia's shoulder once again. "Perhaps I could be so inclined to help the lovely lady to find her gentleman? If the lady... has something offer, of course?" The pixie cocked her head curiously, her little fluff of hair swaying with the movement. "After all, you can't get something for nothing~"

[Namingtoohard]

Celia said nothing when the pixie continued to coo about love at first sight. Judging by the heat she could feel radiating from her cheeks, she didn't need to. There was no denying that Rowan was an attractive man - she had scarcely failed to notice that, whilst tending to the wound on his chest. Even beyond his physical stature, both his voice and eyes seemed...otherworldly, drawing her in in a way that she hadn't really experienced before. Of course, she wasn't so shallow as to fall for someone based on looks alone, and there were other obstacles to that sort of thing. However, that wasn't something the woman wished to dwell on now.

She perked up slightly at the mention of aid, with a cost. What could the pixie possibly ask of her? Just about anything would be preferable to leaving Rowan out there alone, in her mind at the very least.

"I'm...not sure. What sort of thing would you like? I could give you some of my jewellery" she offered, twisting her head a fraction to try and watch the pixie out of the corner of her eye. She toyed with the strip of bark she had managed to gather whilst she waited for an answer, whilst pondering other potential ideas should that one not be to the pixie's taste. She couldn't afford to waste time now.

[Midori-Hime]

"Jewelry~" The little pixie repeated with enthusiasm. However, after a moment of thought, the pixie's mind seemed fixed on the previous conversation. Tapping a finger to her delicate lips, they suddenly curved into a wicked smile. "I know what will bring me great joy..." The pixie cooed suddenly, taking to the air to float before Celia at eye level. The little creature gazed down at the maiden's lovely pink lips and her devlish grin only widened. "A kiss! That will be good enough..." She said, flying ahead slightly. "I will take you to the one you seek, in exchange for a kiss! Though not for my lips... " She corrected before the mortal could jump to that conclusion. "Is it a deal?" She asked eagerly, her hands clasped together while she waited for Celia's answer.

Meanwhile, Rowan opened his eyes. He wondered if perhaps he was wrong, and the young woman had made a run for it. He sighed. If that were the case, he at least felt confident that he would be well enough by sunrise to make it home. However, a dark thought crossed his mind and he wondered if something could have happened to the girl. But then, why should he care? Mortals were so fragile... But she had helped him, saved his life even. And she had wandered off only to aid him further. He owed her once again. With a soft grunt he moved to sit upright, cringing slightly. At least the blood had stopped flowing. Blood..., He thought suddenly. There was no scent of blood on the wind which gave him hope that the girl was in no real peril.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia pursed her lips briefly when the pixie she had run into put forth her request, begging a kiss in exchange for her assistance. One destined not for her lips, either, but someone else. She hadn't said it outright, but the implication behind her suggestion was crystal clear. Celia mulled it over for a few brief moments, but in the end the decision was a simple one. What was the embarrassment of a little forwardness compared to someone potentially losing their life? Gathering her courage, she gave the pixie a resolute nod.

"Very well, then. A kiss for your help." Celia answered. Seemingly unaware of the exact weight words like those held when dealing with the fae, and the binding nature of their promises, she once again cast her gaze out towards the forest that surrounded them. The silhouettes of grouped trees proved as impenetrable as before, not that she could really have expected anything else. "Just hurry, please. He's been hurt, and I need to get back to him as quickly as possible. If anything happens to him then neither of us will be able to get what we want" she goaded, hoping to spur the pixie into immediate action.

[Midori-Hime]

"Wonderful! Yes, Wonderful!" The little pixie sang, giving an excited twirl in the air. The was a mischeivous glint in her beady little eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "Yes, we'll hurry. Quickly, follow me~" The pixie took off for the trees. At first she swayed left and right, seemingly trying to pick up on a 'scent'. Then, for a quick moment, she stopped in front of a lone tree. There was a brief pause as the pixie laid her hand on the tree's windy trunk, her tiny lips moving. But if she spoke out loud, it was much too soft to be heard by a mortal.

Then just a moment later, the pixie took off again, this time her movement was much more direct. "This way, pretty girl!" She called, weaving through the trees just slow enough so that Celia could manage to keep up. It was only a few minutes of the quick pace until they would return to the spot where Celia had left Rowan waiting.

He sat as still as the tree he was beneath, trying to keep his focus off the pain. It wasn't until he heard the woman's light foot steps that he opened his eyes again. Rowan could see her then, a faint smiling tugging at the corner of his lips. "I was beginning to think you would not return..." He spoke quietly. However, upon seeing the little pixie leading her, his small smile quickly turned into a frown. "Ugh, how unfortunate. What are you doing here, you little imp..." He grumbled. The pixie suddenly darted away to plop down on a branch. "... A knight of Autumn." The little creature squeaked out in surprise. Clearly that was not what she had been expecting, and yet it made her deal with Celia all the more interesting. The pixie was nearly beside herself in glee.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia followed along urgently as her new pixie friend took off in search of Rowan, hurrying through the dark forest as quickly as she was able. The human remained totally ignorant to the methods that her guide was using to track the wounded knight down, inexperienced in the ways of fae magic as she was. Truth be told, Celia was simply happy to be moving again. Now that her initial objective was completed, she was eager to be reunited with the wounded Rowan as quickly as possible.

When the pixie succeeded in finding the wounded Autumn knight, Celia quickly rushed to his side, quickly dropping to her knees alongside his prone form. She quickly pressed the strip of bark that Rowan had requested into one of his hands, before turning her attention to his wound once more. She spared a brief glance for the man's face as he spoke, and another for the pixie when he mentioned her.

"I got a little bit lost trying to find my way through the forest. She helped me find you again" she offered as she examined the makeshift bandages, which were now largely soaked through with blood. "Do the two of you know each other or something?" she asked. A seemingly innocent question, from a person who didn't know the significance of the term 'Autumn knight'. Whilst she waited for an answer, Celia hesitantly lifted the corner of her bandages, seeking a glimpse at the wound beneath. Hopefully it had not worsened in her time away, and she had no idea if a wound this big would clot or anything of the sort, given how limited her medical knowledge really was. Hopefully a brief glimpse would provide her with some level of insight, without making things considerably worse.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan's attention was pulled away from the intruding pixie when Celia came rushing over to him. He looked at the bark in his hand, pleased to find that it was what he'd been looking for. She was quite the resourceful human after all. With a grimace, Rowan bit down on the piece of bark, struggling for a moment to rip off a piece, and then began to grind on it with his teeth. It was about as pleasant as it appeared, but it was the fastest way for the medicine of the tree to get into his system.

"Is that so? Out of the goodness of her heart, I'm sure." He muttered between his chewing, peeking up at the little pixie was studying them with great interest. "No, we don't-" He said bluntly before he sucked in a breath, turning his gaze to Celia's hands as she peeled up the bandages. But no sound left him and there was nothing on his face to give away if he was still in pain or not. Surprisingly though, there was very little blood flow now compared to what it was just before she'd left him.

Rowan looked to her face then, studying her expression curiously. Before he was suddenly aware once again of the little faery's presense. "Well you've done your task... You'd do well to be on your way now." The little pixie giggled, shaking her head tauntingly before floating over to a branch near Celia. "Not until I've gotten my payment, Knight..." The pixie then flashed as smirk at Celia. "But I am a patient one. I can wait." The little creature said before humming a gleeful tune to herself that sounded like little bells ringing. Hearing that Rowan's eyes widened and he looked to Celia sharply, with a stern yet almost concerned look in his golden gaze. "What have you bargained?" He asked stiffly, an edge to his low voice.

[Namingtoohard]

A small glimpse at the edges of Rowan’s wound proved more than enough for Celia. Relief flooded across her features, plain as day, when it quickly became evident that the wound was doing well. Better than it had any right to be, if she was any judge of such things. Still, it was early in the healing process yet, and there were plenty of other things that could potentially go wrong. For the time being she was content to simply thank their lucky stars, not look a gift horse in the mouth, and push the thought aside - all without stopping to question why exactly that might be the case.

She threw a pointed glance in the direction of the pixie when the topic of her repayment came up, followed by another look at Rowan when he spoke. The firm tone of his voice made her hesitate, just for a moment. She had only done what she deemed necessary to help him. What could possibly be wrong with that? If anything, he should have been grateful.

“A kiss, to be planted on the lips of someone other than herself” Celia answered, doing her best to maintain some level of composure. Turning her attention back to the bandages, she lowered them back into place again, before turning her attention to Rowan himself good and proper. “She didn’t specify a time, or who it was meant to be for. Only...implied” the girl hastily added after a moment, able to feel the colour creeping back into her cheeks again. Not for the first time, the girl cursed herself for always blushing so easily.

“It seemed a small enough price to pay, given the circumstances. And like she said, she’s patient. There’s no rush”

[Midori-Hime]

He was tense as the girl hesitated to answer his question. Perhaps he should have considered what other sorts of creatures she might run into... that might try to lure her to her demise. He wasn't sure why the thought bothered him so much. She was just a mortal woman, like any other that had been lured by his kin countless times before. But then he remembered the way she'd come running to his aid, not once, but twice this evening. But she was also naive...

His eyes widened for a moment at her reply, before his body suddenly relaxed again, slumping back against the tree trunk. He seemed almost relieved to hear it. "I see. Of course... A simple request for such a simple creature." He sighed, his golden eyes dropping back down to watch Celia's hands reapply the cloth to his wound. The pixie seemed to take offense to that with the way she suddenly hissed at him, her sharp teeth bared. Rowan ignored her as if she were nothing more than an irritating insect buzzing in his ear. Instead he looked to her face again, lifting a hand to lightly cup her chin and draw her in to meet his gaze. He noted the color warming her fair cheeks but didn't comment on what it might mean. "You must be more cautious when making bargains with the fae. Your words will bind you... so choose them wisely. Or you might regret it dearly." He warned her, his voice stern once again.

"The pixie might be harmless enough... but others might not be so kind with their demands. They are masters at manipulating words and they are determined to trap you with them. Don't ever forget that." Rowan held her gaze for a moment longer before he dropped his hand away from her face. He was sure more questions would follow, now that he'd confirmed that the girl had the Sight, but for now he returned to chewing on the bitter bark. It was working to ease his pain, thankfully. The pixie on the other hand, pouted as it seemed the girl was not going to give in to her desires so easily. But like she said, she would gladly wait with baited breath until Celia finally fulfilled her end of the bargain. Her intuition told her there would be more entertainment to come if she hung around this human girl with the Sight.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia froze on the spot when Rowan reached up to cup her cheek gently, and flinched when his fingers brushed against her skin. Her muscles were tensed, like an animal on the verge of fleeing. After a few seconds the human woman took a deep, shaky breath, forcing herself to relax. She wasn't with her family here - there was no need to be so jumpy, so afraid. Almost immediately, she scolded herself for acting so foolishly. Her demeanour changed quickly when Rowan began to talk of the fae, however, her eyes widening just a little. If what he said was true, then...

"The fae...that's what you are. That's what she is" the girl answered, her words punctuated with a brief glance towards the pixie. If the two of them were really here, and not just another delusion, then Celia finally had the proof she had spent her whole life searching for. She brought a hand up and laid it over his own, letting her eyes drift closed. Finally, a moment of peace, not plagued by constant self-doubt.

"I'm not crazy"

A few whispered words that brought with them an immense amount of relief. Celia was almost surprised to feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill forth. After a few seconds spent exalting in this information, she finally seemed to compose herself, dropping her hand and opening her eyes.

"Thank you. I don't think I can properly express how much this means to me"

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan sat still as the woman called him by one of their many names, wondering what she would do now that she knew. He recalled the way she had shied at his touch, her breaths trembling. "Are you afraid-" He spoke, but suddenly he broke off, his breath leaving him as the girl placed her hand over his. His golden eyes widened just slightly, once more taken aback by her actions. Rowan's expression then changed from surprise to a mixture of perplexed curiosity. She thought she was crazy... or had thought so, at least.

But then it suddenly all made sense to him. Mortals didn't easily accept those with the Sight, and from what little she had told him about her family and the sight of her tear stained face, she'd likely suffered for her ability to see the other realm. They thought she was crazy, and had likely told her so, because of their own inability to see that there was more to the world around them.

"No, you are not." He spoke even more softly than she had. He watched the way her demeanor suddenly shifted, reflecting the now peaceful expression on her lovely face. Her soft blue eyes were glassy as she opened them, filled with tears, and for a moment Rowan hoped they would spill so that he might get to witness it. As Celia dropped her hand away, Rowan's followed, resting it at his side.

"Perhaps. Though I can venture a guess." He said simply. Would she leave it at that, or would there be a sudden onslaught of questions? Rowan simply couldn't know with this woman, and that stirred a deep curiosity inside him. Most mortals bored him with their shallowness and predictability. But not Celia...

[Namingtoohard]

Unsurprisingly, the knowledge that she wasn't actually insane proved a great comfort to Celia. Knowing for certain that everything she had seen this day - and every other day before - was a great weight off her shoulders. That the retribution her family inflicted upon her was undue, and the scorn she felt towards them was, conversely, entirely justified. The human woman allowed herself a few moments to simply enjoy her new peace of mind, before finally taking a deep breath and forcing herself to calm. She withdrew her hand from Rowan's own, only to reach for her eyes, and rub away the tears that were still threatening to spill over.

"I suppose that explains a great deal. How you can stay so calm when injured so badly. Why you'd be dressed in armour in a place like this. Why you look so..." she trailed off, a wry smile flickering across her features. Celia paused for a moment then, sniffling idly and glancing about the clearing as she tried to organise her thoughts.

Alas, it seems that fate was against Celia ever getting the chance. For it was at that moment that a loud cry split the air; still somewhat distant, but near enough to prove properly audible.

"Lady Bowden! Celia! Can you hear me?"

The girl hesitated when the unfamiliar voice reached her ears, before slowly rising to her full height. Her gaze was set in the direction that the sound was coming from, searching out the source. The woman recognised the owner, of course. It wasn't a member of her immediate family, but one of her father's servants. After a moment Celia glanced back down at the injured knight, caught in a moment of indecision. There would be hell to pay when she eventually did return to her family's estate, especially considering what she had done to her dress. She had to go back sooner or later, though. Celia had not the knowledge or practical skills to survive on her own, and there was nowhere else for her to go.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan watched the girl wipe away her tears, almost disappointed that he would not get to see them. However, when she spoke again, Rowan's gaze focused on the soft blue of her eyes. He listened, suddenly curious of what Celia was about to say. He wondered how he looked in her eyes, what that little smile tugging at her lips meant. Though as he opened his mouth to ask her to continue that thought, a voice rang out, surprising them both.

His golden eyes searched the trees before they returned to the girl, watching her rise. "Do you know this person?" He asked warily, sensing her hesitation. His hand moved to the hilt of the blade at his hip. But they knew her name so she must know them on some level, he thought. Celia then met his gaze and the expression he saw in them was the urge to flee. Rowan grunted as he moved to stand.

"Tell me, is it friend or foe?" He asked in a hushed tone, gritting his teeth as he got up to feet to take a stance. A human would be easily dealt with, even in his state. But only if Celia wished him to. He supposed he owed her that much at least. Or perhaps she was hesitant for another reason... "They will not be able to see me, if that is what worries you." He told her, leaning up against the large tree trunk as he waited.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia's gaze flickered back across to the injured knight as he spoke, and a wry smile flickered across her features, despite her current situation. Oh, if only things were half as simple as Rowan's simple question made them sound. The approaching servant had been responsible for several beatings she had received at the hands of her family, but had never raised a hand against her himself. He was hardly evil himself - just loyal, albeit to someone who frequently put him at odds with Celia. She opened her mouth to say as such, only to cry out softly when the knight forced himself to his feet.

"What are you doing?" she cried out at first, only to remember herself. When she spoke again her voice was softer, but no less aggravated. "I pulled an arrow out of you just this very evening. You have no business being up and walking at the moment" she practically hissed, expression a mixture of frustration and concern. Perhaps scolding the faen knight wasn't the best idea for a human out in the woods, but that didn't seem to stop her.

"Celia?"

That voice again, and much closer this time. Celia practically jumped out of her skin upon hearing it, and turned just in time to watch a middle-aged man step out of the treeline. He was dressed in traditional servant's garb, and cut a lean figure besides, his age clearly evident in the lines on his face. The man didn't glance at Rowan or the pixie at all as he stepped forward to confront the princess. Just as Rowan had suggested, he wasn't able to see either of them.

"I heard you speaking. You weren't off chasing another one of those...delusions, were you?" he scowled, eyes narrowing. Celia immediately lowered her gaze, saying nothing. All the spirit she had shown quickly vanished, just like that.

"And just what have you done to your dress? Your father is going to throw a fit when he hears about this"

The man seized the princess by the upper arm and quickly started shoving her along ahead of him, back towards her father's estate. Celia stumbled a little at first, before regaining her balance and marching along. She threw a glance back over her shoulder, but failed to catch a glimpse of the wounded knight before she was forced to turn her attention forward again to avoid tripping over.

[Midori-Hime]

"The willow has helped to ease my pain." He assured her, finding himself amused by her concern and perhaps even a bit intrigued by it. He couldn't recall a time where anyone fussed over him the way Celia did. A human, of all creatures, was so worried about his well being?

His amber gaze quickly flickered away from the anxious young woman, to the source of the voice that was now much closer than before. Rowan eyed the man, his hand rested on his sword, ready to defend himself and the lady should be have to. Even in his current state, he could make quick work of this human. But for now he stayed as still as the tree behind him, simply observing.

Rowan felt a frown pull at his lips, watching how easily Celia was dispirited by the servant's words. Though the moment the man grabbed her arm, the knight immeditately stiffened behind her, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. And yet Celia had not called for him, nor given him permission... So he stayed put, simply watching as the golden beauty was dragged through the trees, eventually disappearing from sight.


"Won't you go after her?" The pixie chimed in suddenly, chiding him. He groaned, his hand dropping away from his sword to swatch at the annoying little creature. "It is none of my affair... She had the chance to call on my favor and yet she did not." He grumbled before slowly sinking back down to sit on the ground. Though he would not admit it, especially not to the pixie, Rowan was disappointed to see the girl go so soon. But perhaps this would not be the last time they met, when and if the girl ever called upon him. For now he would simply rest and wait for his wound to heal enough.

[Namingtoohard]

The walk back to her father's estate proved much shorter than Celia remembered. Within moments, the large multi-story mansion was looming over daughter and servant both. The man who escorted her seemed to feel none of Celia's apprehension, however, and quickly marched her into the building's foyer through the front doors. Up the stairs they went, before the man hastily manoeuvred Celia through the door leading to her father's study. Only then did he deign to release her, shoving her forward before retreating for the door.

Celia turned her eyes towards the fine mahogany desk that dominated the far end of the room, and the man seated at it. With a lean build and sharp features, her father cut an impressive figure, dressed in his finery as he was. Their eyes met, and his expression immediately darkened into a scowl as he took in the sight of her. He rose from his chair with slow and deliberate movements, before stepping around the desk and striding towards her.

"Father, I-" Celia started, quickly intending to try and defend herself. Before she managed so much as half a sentence, however, the man struck her. A stinging backhand that sent his daughter reeling, executed as casually as if he were swatting a fly. His daughter fell to her knees then, one hand coming up to cover her sore cheek, whilst tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

"How many times have I told you? You will speak only when spoken to, girl"

The man's voice was deep and rich, but he sounded nothing short of annoyed. Contemptuous. Celia glared daggers at him, but held her tongue.

"Just look at what you've done to your dress. Do you never spare a thought for the gifts I have given you? All I have done for you?" the man tutted, shaking his head. "At least tell me you weren't out there chasing those delusions of yours again." Not trusting herself to speak without crying, Celia simply shook her head. Her father watched her for a moment longer, and for a few brief moments she feared that he might lash out at her again, and accuse her of lying. After a tense few seconds, however, he turned his gaze back to the servant who had brought her here.

"Escort my daughter to her rooms. We will deal with this matter tomorrow"

The man moved back towards his desk as the servant stepped forward, seizing Celia's arm again. He allowed her the liberty of rising to her feet, at the very least, before walking the girl to her room. She was pushed into her bedroom in much the same manner as before, before the servant closed it behind her. Celia heard the definitive sound of the latch sliding home as the man locked it from the outside, trapping Celia inside alone.

[Midori-Hime]

After Celia was gone from sight, Rowan sat in silence with nothing more to do than to rest and wait for his wounds to heal. However, thanks to the human's help, he would recover even more quickly. The pixie, on the other hand, was not satisfied with how things were left. While she hadn't been very specific on her demands, this definitely put a kink in her plot. Which shouldn't have been much of a mystery.

At least Rowan knew what the pesky pixie had in mind and he didn't want any part in it. The little creature stomped her feet on a branch in irritation before Rowan sent a rock flying in her direction. It barely missed, making the pixie even more irritated. "There is nothing more to see here... Leave already." He growled, knowing he wasn't going to get any rest so long as she continued to pester him.

With a huff, the pixie would fly off, leaving the knight to sit in peace. By the time the sky began to lighten with dawn approaching, Rowan would stir, checking his wound. What had been a deep wound was now nothing more than a angry red mark on his otherwise flawless skin. And as soon as he was home, it would disappear completely in no time at all. Without any more stalling, the faery knight would put on his armor and gather his things to make his leave. However, the nosy pixie hadn't actually gone far and seeing the knight on the move only made her more disappointed that she would not get her way.

Or wouldn't she? Her little pout slowly curved into a sly grin. She might still get her payment yet. "Leaving already?" The pixie piped up, making Rowan groan in irritation. "What of it?"

"The Lady... You promised her a favor, didn't you." That gave Rowan a pause. Reaching into his belt, he took out a single leaf from the mountain-ash. "Then give her this... All she needs to do is whistle and I will come to fulfill my favor." He said before continuing on his way. With a quick bob of her head, the pixie took off to follow the path that Celia had taken, until she came across the mansion. It took a few minutes, flying from window to window until she came across Celia's bedroom. The pixie then proceeded to bang at the glass, which would only come across as a sharp tapping to the girl. She had to be quick, or her plans might be foiled again.

[Namingtoohard]

Now confined to her room, the rest of Celia's night proved rather uneventful. She was an old hand at pulling herself together after the abuse heaped upon her by the rest of her family, and only spent part of the evening coming to terms with the new blossom of pain on her face. Once she had cried herSself out, the girl rose on unsteady feet. Quickly stripping away her dirty ruined dress, she tossed it aside with careless abandon, before taking a few careful steps towards her dresser. After quickly changing into some lighter nightclothes, she quickly made her way to her bed, looking forward to a few hours of blissful unconsciousness. She was so familiar with the process that she didn't even bother double checking if her door was locked, or trying to get out via the balcony.

After spending the night tossing and turning, Celia had managed only a few fitful hours of sleep by the time that dawn came. Such was the state she was in when the first few rays of golden morning light began to creep over the horizon, reaching in through the balcony windows to gently caress her cheek. It was only when the pixie had begun to knock on her balcony window that she finally began to stir.

When she finally did rise, dragged unwillingly back into consciousness by the pixie's constant banging, it took her a few moments to locate the source of the noise. Who would expect someone to be knocking on the outside of their balcony, after all? She took a few steps towards the door, before finally realising her mistake. Rushing over to the balcony, she pulled the large double doors open. When she saw the little pixie, her eyes went wide in something akin to disbelief.

"What are you doing here?" she asked hastily, before quickly glancing towards either side. She peered out over the balcony's railing, searching for any of her father's servants who might be close enough to listen. Only once she was satisfied did she turn her attention back to the fae floating before her.

"What happened last night? Is Rowan hurt? Is he still out there?"

The questions tumbled from her mouth one after another, Celia forgetting her manners and dishevelled appearance in her hunger to know more.

[Midori-Hime]

While Celia was busy looking out for any servants that might overhear them, the pixie was busy fluttering around her room. She was obviously curious about the human's possessions, checking out the strange decor and finally flopping down on the lady's plush pillows with an excited huff. However, as Celia turned back to her, blurting out one question after another, the pixie sat up.

She seemed rather pleased by Celia's reaction for some reason, though by the little smile on her face, it was probably safe to assume that it was nothing that dire. "The knight is quite alright. His wounds have healed enough... that he is returning to Faery." She said before hopping up and then floating over.

"He asked me to give this to you. For his favor." The pixie explained, presenting Celia with a single leaf from the Rowan tree. "Just blow on it like this... to whistle. And he will come to grant you your favor as you wish." The pixie gestured with her tiny hands, then waited until Celia took the leaf from her before floating over to the balcony doors. "Such a shame." She said then. "He will have crossed over by the time the sun rises." She said before looking back over at her shoulder, studying Celia's expression. "I suppose you'll just have to wait until you decide to call on him... If you wish to see him again..."

[Namingtoohard]

Finally satisfied that none of her father’s servants were close enough to overhear, Celia quickly pulled the patio doors closed, ensconcing the both of them within the relative privacy of her room. Only then did she turn to face her unexpected guest good and proper, to eagerly await the news she had to share. Word of his returning health was good, but the news he was leaving so soon left her inexplicably torn. Relief and disappointment flickered across her features in equal measure, and lingered even as she reached for the leaf that was offered to her.

“This...it just seems like a normal leaf” she pointed out. That did not, however, stop her from cupping it in her hands as if it were something much more precious. She lifted the leaf to her lips for a moment, as if intending to blow, before thinking better of it. Instead she gently tucked it away into one of her pockets, sequestering it away within the lining of her clothes. The action was gentle, almost tender - as if she feared damaging the leaf and rendering its power null and void.

She was silent as the pixie continued to speak, pontificating over the fact that he would be gone by the time the sun rises. Despair seemed to well up inside Celia’s chest at her words, as if bemoaning some sort of loss. Rowan was her link to the fae world, the truth behind her visions, and reassurance against her family’s claims of insanity. She couldn’t just let him slip away like that...could she?

“...I need to see him again. Even if only to say goodbye”

Her resolve, which had evaporated in the face of her family, seemed to return now. She briefly considered asking the pixie if she could lead her to him again, but Rowan’s words from earlier echoed in her mind, and Celia promptly decided against it. Still, she quickly made her way back over to the balcony, pushing the doors open and stepping up to the railing. After a deep breath, taken to calm her shaky nerves, she slipped over the handrail and dropped down into the garden below. Her landing was awkward and painful. After stumbling a little, though, the girl managed to regain her footing. After glancing around quickly to see if her fall had been noticed, she headed towards the outer boundary of her father’s estates, and slipped into the forest beyond.

There would be hell to pay when she returned if her family discovered her flight, but in the heat of the moment it seemed a worthy price to pay. She simply had to hope that she managed to find Rowan again before he slipped out of her world and back into theirs.

[Midori-Hime]

The pixie's eyes glittered with excitement as she watched the girl handle the leaf tenderly. "It might seem normal, yes... But a favor from a Faery knight is no trivial thing." She corrected.

The little being stood on the handle of her balcony doors, waiting for Celia to decide, though to her pleasant surprise, it didn't not take the maiden long to make up her mind. Suddenly the pixie floated up into the air. "Follow me... I can take you to him. If we are not too late." She said urgently, following Celia out of the doors and waiting for her to descend from the balcony, though she hadn't expected the girl to take such a abrupt route. As the girl stumbled, the pixie giggled. "Come... hurry!" She urged again, leading Celia once they entered the woods.

They would soon reach the tree where Celia had found Rowan, but now in the morning light, it seemed much less than before. With all traces of Rowan gone, the spot seemed like any other ordinary tree in the forest. "Quickly now... Dawn's approaching!" The pixie zoomed ahead, making the girl work to keep up. Though soon she would stop, waving for Celia to catch up. "There... See him there?" She whispered, pointing ahead where Rowan's dark figure stood before two trees. There didn't appear to be anything special about these trees, but their shadows. As the morning light moved across the landscape, the shadows of the trees bending trunks shifting and coming together to form an archway.

Once it was the opportune moment, Rowan stepped forward between the two trees and then suddenly disappeared from sight, as if he had wandered through some invisible doorway. "Oh no, we were too late! He's crossed over into the other realm." The pixie lamented. "Though... the path will still be open for a few minutes longer."

[Namingtoohard]

Celia pushed herself to move even faster at the pixie's urging, doing her best to ignore the mild pain in her left ankle. Still, by the time they had reached the place where she had found the knight lying the previous evening, Celia was breathing hard. She stopped in the clearing momentarily, head swivelling back and forth as she searched for any sign of Rowan. She found nothing, of course - the pixie had already told her that the knight was moving on. Within moments, she had been urged into the a run again as her little companion zipped ahead once more.

Truth be told, Celia wasn't sure why the pixie was still helping her. She would've expected any more assistance to come in the form of another promise, just like the first. Or was all this dedicated towards making sure she was able to fulfil the first with Rowan, and not somebody else? For a few brief moments, she found herself wondering what the pixie's stake in this was, before pushing the thought to the back of her mind as her attention was dragged back to the task at hand.

She came to a halt again as the two caught sight of the knight, before her eyes invariably widened as he semingly vanished from sight. The trees alone didn't look like much of a portal, but there was no doubting what she had just seen. No, she was quite finished second-guessing everything she saw with her own eyes.

When the pixie remarked that the gateway would be open for just a few moments longer, Celia hesitated, biting on her lower lip gently. After a few seconds of silent thought, though, she made the second monumental decision of the evening.
Celia began to walk towards the portal, eyeing it dubiously as she approached. She had no idea what to expect on the other side, or what the transition would even feel like. She paused to take a deep breath, doing her best to steel herself.

"Okay. Just a brief look around to find Rowan, a quick goodbye, and back again before it closes" she muttered, more to herself than the pixie. Oh, if only she knew. Finally, the girl stepped forward, moving through the portal, and making the transition from the human world to the world of fae.

Nothing seemed to change physically as she moved from one side to the other. At least, not at a glance. The forest was...still a forest. Still, some instinctual little voice in the back of her head told her - without words- that things were different now, somehow. Still, she quickly found herself focusing on searching for Rowan, checking if he was in the immediate vicinity. He couldn't have gotten too far in the time between when he had stepped through and when she had, right?

[Midori-Hime]

At first glance it might seem as those the forest was the same as any other, but the longer Celia lingered, it quickly became apparent that these woods were unlike anything she'd ever seen before. The colors of the leaves seemed to shift hues right before her very eyes, becoming brilliant shades of blue and purple, with splashes of blood red. Fruits and berries hung heavy from some branches, glistening like jewels. Everything suddenly seemed so vibrant... and alive. More than anything this landscape felt aware, sentient even, and ever changing.

The surrounding area seemed especially silent as Celia searched for her knight. Though she was correct in thinking he hadn't gone far. The knight had felt as though someone were near, which urged him to cross over quickly. Feeling that same presence continue to follow him into the other realm, Rowan hid himself, watching and waiting cautiously. However, the faery knight had not been expecting that presence to be the same human girl who had saved his life.

Celia would not have to wander far before a hand shot out, seemingly out of no where, grasping her wrists in a gentle but firm hold. "What are you doing here?" Rowan hissed lowly, dragging him with her as he immediately turned back the way they'd come. "Leave now" He ordered. Rowan seemed angry, his dark brows furrowed when he came to a stop. There was no obvious pathway back to the human realm. There were no longer two trees that had created an archway in the light of the rising run. Just more endless forest.

[Namingtoohard]

It was almost as if the more she moved away from the portal, the more things changed. That, or the plant life here was subtly shifting and changing before Celia's eyes. Whatever the case may be, the world around her seemed to become more and more phantasmal as she moved away from the portal, under the prelude of searching for her knight. Still, she found herself becoming more and more distracted by the changing scenery as she moved, until all thoughts of her search - and a time constraint - had been pushed to the back of her mind.

Even if she had been totally focused, Celia likely wouldn't have seen the knight, now that he had dedicated himself to hiding. When he lunged out and caught her by the wrist, the girl practically jumped out of her skin, letting out a soft cry of alarm. Memories of her family and their punishments immediately ran through her mind, and the knight's grip suddenly felt like a ring of fire around her wrist. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, and Celia could feel her pulse racing, pounding in her ears and chest both. Almost on reflex, she reached out and grabbed his arm with her free hand, before tugging and pulling desperately, trying to get away. Her efforts quickly proved to be fruitless, though, given Rowan's strength.

After a few seconds Celia seemed to realise where she actually was, and calmed a little. She stopped fighting back against Rowan so much, and instead glanced up at him. She didn't expect the sheer anger in his eyes, the force with which he spoke, and flinched slightly. With her gaze fixated upon his face, she remained unaware of the fact that the gateway had already vanished.

"I'm sorry! I just...wanted to see you again. One last time, before you had to go. To see for myself that you were okay, after the state I found you in yesterday, and to thank you for the gifts" she muttered softly. When had she started crying? Celia wasn't quite sure. Not the ugly, heaving sobs one might expect, though. Just a few solitary tears, rolling down her cheeks. When she spoke again, her voice was softer still, barely more than a whisper.

"You're the first sign I've ever received that I'm not crazy. I couldn't just let you walk away"

[Midori-Hime]

Celia's words made the anger in his eyes faulter for a brief moment. She wanted to see him again? He supposed he shouldn't be too surprised. While most humans shied away from the supernatural, it wasn't every night that someone had a run in with the Fae. But still, the earnest tone in her voice made him pause and wonder if it was something more. His grip softened slightly and suddenly Rowan sucked in a breath at the sight of the girl's tears.

Slowly Rowan released his grip from her wrist completely and instead brought his hand near her cheek. Tentatively, he brushed one glistening tear from her warm cheek, catching it on his knuckle with a look of wonder. Rowan examined the tiny droplet on the edge of his finger for a moment, before lifting his gaze to meet Celia's glassy blue eyes. In that moment he wondered if he'd ever seen anything as stunning. But the reality of thier predicament drew him back to his senses and he dropped his hand away, which slowly curled into a fist.

"You don't know what you've done. You humans... blindly waltzing into Faery, like a moth becoming ensnared in a spider's web. You don't even know you're trapped until it's too late." He said darkly with a deep frown. Perhaps some humans could find thier way out on thier own, but the chances of doing so unharmed were slim. But then so were the chances of finding a way out at all. And a mortal like Celia... Well, she should count her blessings that it was he who found her first. "You have to leave here... right away." He said, though he had no idea how she would do that. Rowan turned sharply, noticing the pixie was still there and quickly realizing that this was likely her doing. "You... You brought her here, now you take her back. Immediately!" The pixie flinched and ducked behind a young tree with powder pink blossoms. "I couldn't possibly~" The pixie said sheepishly. "And besides, the girl came all this way to see you, and you send her off so soon?"

[Namingtoohard]

Celia withdrew her wrist when the knight finally released it, using her free hand to massage where his fingers had dug into her skin gently. She tensed up briefly when he brushed her cheek, turning her attention back to Rowan good and proper. Totally oblivious to the scrutiny she was under - or the exact nature of it, at the very least - she met the knight's eye, trying to discern something of his thoughts. The scowl on his face seemed as illegible to Celia as any fae text might have been, however, providing her with virtually no insight. As soon as he spoke, however, his words made his opinion of the situation abundantly clear.

"...trapped?"

She spoke softy, but the word was heavy on her tongue, and Celia's expression quickly darkened as the implications of what he suggested sunk in. Whilst her life was hardly the most pleasant and enjoyable, the idea of being trapped in a foreign world with no way to return was hardly a comforting one. Whilst Rowan suggested that she was stuck here, however, the words he spoke to the pixie seemed to suggest otherwise. Despite the argument, some part of her mind registered just how eager Rowan seemed to be to get rid of her, too. Did he really see her presence here as such a bad thing? A thought for another time, when there were wasn't another, more urgent topic hanging over her head.

"What do you mean, trapped? I'll be able to get back, won't I?" she questioned, her voice soft. A hint of concern had started to creep into her voice, betraying the worry building beneath the surface. She glanced back and forth between the pixie and the knight both, as if waiting for either one to help her. To confirm or deny this new, dreadful suspicion. "I know where the gate is, and the way back home from there. So what's to stop me from just walking back?"

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan closed his eyes, in an attempt to compose himself it seemed, before he looked up at the lady slowly. His expression was a bit grim as she suggested just going back the way they'd come. But of course she wouldn't understand. So he stepped back and guestured to the 'portal' they'd just come through. "Go on then... See for yourself." He said simple, watching the mortal girl.

The two trees were still there, however, in the short time that she'd been in Faery, the shadows had moved and were no longer connected. And if Celia were to walk between them again, she would see nothing except more unfamiliar woods stretching out before her. Rowan watched her with a stoic expression, studying her face when she would discover the truth of her situation.

"There are other ways of returning to the mortal realm, but they are few and far between. And time works differently here... What might seem like hours here could be days or even weeks in your world." He explained. "The pixie brought you here, she will bring you back." Rowan added sternly, staring down the little faery until she cowered. He then turned, starting to walk away, his steps almost silent.

[Namingtoohard]

The girl was silent for a moment as the knight gestured back towards said gate, quite content to let her simply walk away now. She hesitated for just a moment, put off slightly by his casual nonchalance. Was Rowan really so confident that she was trapped here now? Or was he simply eager to put this discussion behind him and be on his way? Either way, this was really not at all how she had pictured their final goodbyes playing out. Squaring her shoulders, she decided that she was better off simply testing it out for herself either way. If he was so eager to be rid of her, then fine.

Without another word, she turned and strode back the way she had come, towards the archway. She stepped through it in much the same manner as she had before, fully expecting the forest to transform back into the more mundane version she knew. After a quick glance around, however, it quickly became apparent that wasn't the case. The shifting colours were just as entrancing as before, but now their continuing show hinted at a much more sinister truth. Panic started to build in Celia's chest, and she quickly spun to face the way she had just come. She could still see both Rowan and the pixie, and whilst her knowledge of these things was limited, that seemed like a very bad sign.

"I..."

The girl started to speak, before cutting herself off. Did that mean she might return that years had passed? For the third time in less than two days, Celia wanted to try. Still, didn't that make it all the more important that she get back as soon as possible? Doing her best to keep her voice from cracking, she threw a glance over at the pixie.

"You can do it, right? Find another way to take me home?" she asked, almost pleading with the small, winged creature.

[Midori-Hime]

"Ooh... Perhaps, but it is quite trecherous for a mortal to travel across Faery alone, and I'm but a wee pixie." The little creature fluttered around almost nervously between words. Though Rowan wasn't at all surprised by the pixie's answer. But he wouldn't be held responsible for this mortal woman... He couldn't. Even if she had saved his life, he had already offered her a fair payment. If she was foolish enough to follow him here, then she could figure her own way out.

Though even if that's what he'd decided, there was still something nagging in the back of his mind. He ignored it however, turning away from the girl and the pixie, starting on his own path. There was the chance the girl would simply try to follow him, but losing her here would be easy.

That nagging thought came back again, telling him that the girl would never make it on her own. She was far too naive of the way of Faery despite having the Sight. But that was none of his concern, he reminded himself, never slowing his steps.

[Namingtoohard]

The pixie's answer was considerably less encouraging than Celia had been hoping for, and did little for her confidence in Rowan's plan to get her back home, which had seemed somewhat lacklustre to begin with. Distressed, Celia's emotions were little more than a volatile mixture of anger and fear. She wanted to demand if the pixie had known this was going to happen, or try and berate her. It would make her feel better, perhaps, but beyond that, such action felt rather...well, pointless. It wouldn't change the facts of her situation. Celia took a deep breath, tried to get control of herself the same way she did after her father's beatings, and forced herself to settle down and actually think about her situation.

Rowan seemed glad to be rid of her. But Celia still had the favour that he owed her, and the token that could supposedly summon him. She didn't want to use that here and now, if possible, but it did suggest that the strange knight had felt some sort of debt towards her. Besides, Rowan could have just walked off without demanding anything of the pixie, but had felt compelled to try regardless. Did he feel some sort of lingering responsibility? Perhaps she could use that.

After a few moments of thought, Celia glanced in the direction that Rowan had gone. After just a brief hesitation, she set out after him - moving at a jog as she tried to catch up as quickly as possible. Once she had done so, Celia quickly fell into step beside him, trying her best to match Rowan's pace, and threw a glance at his face.

"Are you totally certain that little pixie can be trusted to get me home? She's the one who got me into this mess, and has already tricked me into a...into a deal once" she asked, her voice more than a little apprehensive. Her eyes remained fixated on his face, searching for any sort of sympathy. "She certainly doesn't think she can do it. What if we run into whatever it was that injured you to begin with?"

[Midori-Hime]

He could hear her footsteps suddenly following behind him, racing to catch up, and he closed his eyes with a heavy breath. It seemed that she wasn't about to give up so easily. But of course... This woman was strong willed, more so than any other mortal he'd met.

He ignored Celia's gaze, amber eyes fixed ahead on the path he was headed. "That's no concern of mine. Perhaps next time you'll learn not to allow yourself to be tricked so easily... And by a pixie no less." He said indifferently, though there seemed to be a glimmer of something in those golden hued eyes of his. However, her next comment seemed to capture his attention.

Without warning, Rowan stopped dead in his tracks, turning to look at the young woman. "They were after me..." He said simply, though it seemed he was still considering what she'd said. She should be more afraid of him and the other Unseelie, and yet the idea of Celia being taken in by the Seelie court did not sit well with him at all. "What would I get out it? Dragging a human through Faery when you know nothing of this realm nor the Fair Folk. You're liable to slow me down... endanger us both." He challenged.

It was true that he owed her his life, but he'd already made a deal to repay her for her compassion. It was up to Celia if she wished to use his favor at this time or not. The pixie hovered nearby, waiting with baited breath.

[Namingtoohard]

Celia did her best to keep pace with the taller knight while he spoke, doing her best to keep up despite his longer stride. She had to power walk to manage it, but that wasn't going to stop the stubborn human woman from trying her hardest. Whilst the knight kept his gaze focused on the road ahead, Celia's attention was fixated almost entirely on Rowan's face, instead of where she was walking. On any other day she would likely have realised how striking he looked in profile, but Celia had other priorities at the moment.

When the knight finally stopped and turned to face her properly, Celia tipped her head back just enough to meet his gaze, her mouth set in a determined line. After how her day had gone so far, there was no way she was giving up easily. Her only hope was convincing Rowan to escort her, and she wasn't going to give up and let him walk away without a fight.

"You speak of the pixie with such contempt. If she was able to trick me, then what hope do I have against your kin, even if I'm aware of the threat they pose?" she questioned, tilting her head to the side a little. She was belittling herself a tad, perhaps, but that was an afterthought at a time like this. She was well used to being thought little of, and perhaps here that could work to her advantage. Still, when he asked what he would gain from such a partnership, she fell silent for a moment. She finally turned her gaze away from his, allowing her eyes to roam the forest for a moment, as if she might find the answer written amongst the leaves.

Her first instinct was to offer him a favour in return, but his earlier warning was still fresh in her mind. Similarly, she knew she could call in her favour from him, but...well, why waste such a valuable thing, if there was still a chance she could convince him the old-fashioned way? Still, she had no idea what she was willing to give that he could possibly want.

"If you do run into trouble again, wouldn't it be better to have an ally by your side? I might not be much of a fighter, I admit, but you know full well that I need your expertise. There's no doubting that I have a vested interest in keeping you alive" she answered, finally turning her attention back towards him good and proper. Her expression was just as determined as before, but there was something else now, too. A tiny glimmer of hope had crept into her gaze. "And if I do start to slow you down, then you can simply leave me behind. You lose nothing by simply letting me try"

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan stared down at Celia, though it was impossible to tell if he was considering her words or ignoring them and simply waiting for her to finish. He tensed a little, wondering if she would call on his favor after all and he would be left with no choice but to see it through. However, Celia surprised him yet again.

He gave an exasperated sigh, abruptly turning away from those crystal blue eyes, looking for anything else to focus his gaze on while he thought. She wanted to be his ally? Yet she wanted nothing in return... As she said, he had nothing to lose. Not that it was as simple as walking towards another doorway.

Rowan glanced back over his shoulder at the golden-haired woman once more, his hand tightening into a fist at his side. Was he really considering this? As she had said, if it became too much of a burden, he could simply leave her behind... But why couldn't he just bring himself to do so now, save himself the time and the hassle in the first place? That was really the thing that troubled him.

Finally his hand released and he turned to her with a reluctant sigh. "Very well... I will lead you as far as I am able... to find a pathway back into the human realm. Otherwise, you are on your own. And for as long as you are in my company, you will do as I tell you. Do you understand?"

[Namingtoohard]

The anticipation only seemed to build as the two of them stared at each other in determined silence. Celica would have sworn that she could almost feel it, a palpable thickness in the air. For all she knew, there really was – perhaps that was simply the way of things in this world. Even so, she waited patiently, her resolve unwavering. There was nothing more for her to say or do until the knight finally made up his mind and answered her, one way or the other.

When Rowan finally looked away, she couldn’t help but take that as a sign that he was considering her words, and her heart leapt at the thought. Maybe she wouldn’t end up abandoned and left for dead in this strange, foreign place after all. The sigh that followed seemed equally promising, and a modicum of hope wormed its way into Celia’s chest. When he finally agreed, she had to resist the urge to cheer.

“As you say. I understand” Celia answered hastily, sounding a touch too enthusiastic. She was eager to keep the knight happy, at least until they set off, lest he get annoyed at her disobedience and change his mind. Thankfully, that simple agreement didn’t seem to carry the same binding weight as the promise she had made earlier. She’d be certain to try and heed his advice, of course – he was her guide, after all. Just…within reason.

When the knight finally began to walk again, Celia would fall into step beside him. She’d do her very best to keep pace with Rowan, despite the fact she needed multiple strides to match just one of his. Once they had began walking, she could no longer keep quiet, and finally asked the first question currently sitting at the forefront of her mind.

“So, which way are we going? Uh, that is, where are we actually headed?”

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan met Celia's enthusiasm with a blank stare, simply continuing through the forest. He heard her foot steps beside his, still less than thrilled at the idea of having a companion on his travels. Or at least that's what he told himself. Rowan finally spared her a glance just as she turned to him and asked him a question. He supposed it was a fair question, and unfortunately one he didn't exactly have an answer for.

"To find another place or time when the veil between the worlds is thin." He answered, knowing it would likely spark even more questions. "If we can simply come across one on our own. Or we will have to look for someone who knows where to go." He said cryptically.

As they walked, their footsteps began to crunch on fallen leaves beneath their feet, the leaves of the trees gradually changing to brilliant colors of gold, crimson, copper, and violet. Some branches hung heavy with ripe, glistening fruit that were unlike anything Celia had seen before. It looked like they had walked into perpetual Autumn in a matter of minutes, the breeze suddenly having just the slightest chill to it. But Rowan seemed completely unphased. In fact, he was just the tiniest bit relieved to finally be in his element again.

[Namingtoohard]

“Ah. I see”

Celia’s tone of voice was enough to make it clear that she didn’t entirely understand Rowan’s answer. Even so, she refrained from dumping an unseemly number of questions onto her new travelling partner – in part because she wanted to avoid annoying, lest he change his mind. She spent the time turning over what she did know about this strange new place, and it quickly became clear to Celia just how ignorant she really was. Regardless, the girl was feeling optimistic. She had already passed the first hurdle, and could worry about the rest as it came.

Her eyes were drawn to the trees as the forest began to change around them, shifting from cooler hues to warmer ones. There were familiar colours in there, this time, but that wasn’t to say they were the same. The reds and oranges seemed brighter, somehow. More vibrant than she was used to. The fruit was a totally unique touch, too, well beyond anything she had seen in the human world. Celia stepped away from the knight when she saw them, jogging over to one of the nearby trees.

“Oh, such pretty colours!” she sighed, her tone dreamlike. She grabbed a hold of one of the smaller branches, closer to the ground, and bent it towards her, so that she might get a better view. When she released the branch, it quickly sprung back into its natural place, and her gaze was drawn higher. After a moment of contemplation, Celia leapt for one of the lower-hanging fruit, hoping to pull it from the tree. Even with her hands outstretched, though, the girl fell short – both figuratively and metaphorically. She glared at the thing as if the fruit was somehow at fault, before turning her gaze back towards the knight.

“I don’t suppose I could convince you to help me” she asked, a clear question hidden in her statement. She had, of course, totally neglected to consider whether the fruits were even safe for humans to eat.

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan looked alarmed for a brief moment as she rushed towards the trees, but he calmed and seemed almost... amused as she admired the leaves. Rowan came to a stop, watching her reach out to get a closer look, and realized he had the sudden urge to do the same. In the warm light of dawn, Celia almost looked like she belonged here among the jewel like leaves; Her golden hair was lovely among the colors and he mused that she could have been mistaken for a dryad.

The pixie giggled at Celia's failed attempt at reaching the fruit, to which Rowan shot her a cool look from the corner of his eyes. Even so, the little creature still seemed quite smug. Celia quickly caught his attention once again with her request, and Rowan obliged, stepping over to the tree. With his height, it was easy for Rowan to simply reach up and pluck the fruit from the branch.

He held the glistening, pear-shaped fruit out to Celia, though there was a stern look in his eyes. Just before she could take it from him, Rowan drew back slightly. "Remember, never accept food nor drink from the Fae. Not unless you are sure you can trust them." He warned, looking into her eyes as he held out the fruit once again, curious to see what she would do.

[Namingtoohard]

Caught somewhere between excitement and curiosity, Celia couldn’t help but grin as Rowan took a few measured steps towards the tree, supposedly willing to comply with her request. She took a small step back, her gaze climbing upwards again, towards the brilliant leaves and the fruit hanging amongst them. The human watched as her knight reached up and plucked the lowest hanging fruit as casually as one of her kind might pluck an apple, and she had to resist the urge to clap.

Being in this world was a strange experience for Celia, even beyond the obvious weirdness of the environment. This world presented her with so much newness, so many strange and wonderful things that she could investigate and learn about...and all without the threat of her family’s heavy-handed beatings hanging over her head like a cloud. In that moment, Celia felt like a child who had just stepped into a candy store for the first time, and she wore a smile to match. It was like the dark hand that was gripping her heart had relaxed its grip, even if only a little, buoying her with a lightness that she hadn’t felt in years.

She reached out to take the pear from Rowan when he offered it to her, only to hesitate when he drew it away at the last moment. Celia met his gaze, and listened to his warning in silence for a moment, her lips pressed together into a thoughtful line. After he was done speaking, she reached out to take the strange fruit again, before hesitating once more as she mulled over his words.

“Is that supposed to include you?” she asked, tilting her head to one side slightly as she spoke. Despite the seriousness of what he was trying to impress on her, Celia’s lips curled upwards into a small smile briefly, despite a fighting attempt to try and keep her expression straight. “I’ll be rather upset if you’re teasing me, tangling the fruit in front of me like this, with no intention of actually letting me have it.”

[Midori-Hime]

There was an unreadable expression in his golden gaze. He didn't answer that first question, instead he marveled at the small smile on her lips. What a perplexing woman. "I'm not teasing you... I'm only asking that you heed my words," He explained, but as he did, he held out the fruit once more, handing it over to her.

Once she took it, Rowan almost wanted to watch her take a bite. It was likely to be different than anything she'd tasted before. But instead he turned forward, continuining on his way while Celia followed him. His eyes wandered thier surroundings, trying to determine which route would be the best to take. He glanced back over his shoulder once. It would probably be best to avoid the winter court at all costs, nor did he want to run into the Seelie's territory again. That didn't leave him very many options, or resources for that matter.

[Namingtoohard]

The small grin that Celia wore blossomed into something closer to a full-blown smile when the knight finally relented, handing over the fruit that she so greatly desired. She quickly took it from his hands, and Rowan was momentarily forgotten as she quickly turned her attention to it. The human almost felt like a young child with a new toy as she turned the thing over in her hands, feeling out the strange texture of its skin, and getting a feel for its firmness. After just a brief moment of consideration, she dug her nails into the surface of the strangely coloured fruit, intent on peeling it apart to see what was inside. A part of her even wanted to try taking a bite, just to see what it tasted like. Rowan wouldn’t have allowed her to have the fruit in the first place if it was poisonous, right?

The strange fruit offered a little bit of resistance, but quickly cracked under the pressure she was able to apply. The skin split, letting out a small wisp of something that almost looked like steam. Celia’s eyes widened a little at the sight, and it took all her self-control not to let out a little squeal at the strange colours of the thing’s interior. Celia briefly considered taking a bite, but a quick glance at Rowan was enough to make her pause. Another question sprang to the forefront of her mind, the thought briefly pushed to the side as another drew her attention.

“Don’t tell me that you’re lost” she asked, lips pursed as she eyed the knight gently. The girl stepped up beside him once more, looking up at Rowan. “I really don’t think it bodes well for either of us if the person who is supposed to be playing guide doesn’t know where they are going.”

[Midori-Hime]

Rowan heard the faint cracking of the fruit's skin, the sound of it being pulled apart, and he couldn't help but glance back at Celia. He could seem the look of glee on her face, feeling the urge to squeal practically brimming out of her. It was all very fascinating and he quickly found himself nearly holding his breath while he waited for her to take a bite.

However, she never did, instead lifting her gaze to meet his. He quickly looked away, pretending as if he hadn't just been staring. Though hearing her accusations, he sharply looked back at her with narrowed eyes, not that there was truly any hostility in them... yet. "Excuse me? I'm not lost..." He corrected stiffly, turning to stare straight ahead as she moved to walk beside him.

"I know exactly where I'm going, but this isn't just a simple matter of walking to an entrance to the mortal realm. Faery shifts and changes on a whim. You saw it for yourself... I need to find another portal to bring you back." He explained, a little irritated by her assumptions. A mortal woman of all things, tell him that he didn't know where he was going...