Titania shifted ever so slightly in her seat, eyes glinting as she seemed to adjust to this new information. Finally, she seemed to relax, and the dangerous sharpness that had been poised in her body like a coiled spring gave way. "You are a compassionate creature, then." She said with a trace of something that sounded faintly like scorn. "What message was so important that you'd be willing to kill yourself to deliver it?"
Tala pretended to not notice the scorn in the queens voice. Bowing her head at the comment, just taking it. Her ears lowered at Titanias' next comment, keeping her head bowed respectively. "It was a simple message, I knew you guys weren't getting along, but I didn't realize one as great as you would kill me over a simple message." Her ears stayed lowered as she spoke again.
Still managing to stand and look like the princess she was. Her throb getting more pronounce, she ignored it the best she could. Her voice humble as she spoke, "his message was simply. He wants to speak to you and will be waiting at a fairy circle," bracing for whatever the queen might do.
Titania gave a quiet sigh. "Of course. How typical of my estranged husband to use such ill-conceived plots. I know what he wants. No doubt he wishes to usurp the crown of independence I won for myself, and steal my realm from me." Her eyes glinted in the sunlight that filtered in through the woven roof and then gave a slight nod. "Very well. Return to Oberon and tell him I will await his arrival in the Eire Circle. Perhaps it is time that we settled our differences... diplomatically." Her voice was difficult to read, and she gently ran her slender fingers across her jaw as she watched Tala. "Thank you for bearing me this message, your Highness. It is a pleasure to have such an esteemed guest within my court."
The elven magistrates that leered down at Tala like hungry owls watching a mouse seemed taken aback by this. They blinked back surprise and exchanged baffled glances. Titania spoke again, this time with a note of sharpness. "Courtiers! Are you so disrespectful and uncultured? This young woman is a princess. Treat her with the dignity she deserves." The other elves quickly amended their posture, and now looked at Tala with bewildered admiration.
The werewolf on the other hand, while glad to hear that maybe things could be settled diplomatically. She was more than a little taken back the queens' following statements.
So much so, that she didn't realize that she shifted. Blushing she asked, "you honor me with your words, your majesty. For give me for asking, but how did you know? I haven't told anyone," trying to remain as polite as she couls, but she just had to ask. Even as she moved am arm to hold the injured one.
For the moment ignoring the other elves' glances. A little glad she at least hadn't done anything to upset the queen too much by now. Maybe those delegate trainings and meetings had a use after all.
The queen smiled mysteriously and inclined her head. "I have my ways. What kind of a queen would I be if I could not determine fellow royalty when I saw it?" She leaned back into her chair, as if slightly bored. "Would you be so kind as to deliver my message, your Highness?"
She bowed for Titania, "of course your majesty." She said before remembering lamb. Standing back up, she asked. "You will look after lamb... Alessandro though? He is a sweet naive boy. I'd hate to see anything happen to him." She said earnestly, knowing she would likely soon have to like this forest.
"But of course." The queen said sweetly, her words earnest with truth. "My people will ensure that he is well taken care of." With a wave of her hand she gestured two of the slender elven guards who stood like grim shadows at the doors, and they moved toward Tala. "With these warriors as your escort, you will be able to leave Ales Elendra unhindered by my people. Once you reach my husband's realm, I am afraid you will be on your own."
She bowed her head, "i completeky undetstand and thank you for your hospitality and kindness, your greatness." She said before following the soldiers out her arm feeling like it was on fire.
As Tala walked from the Elven hall, Titania gave a slight brush of her hand - and Tala felt the arrow wound she had suffered close up. More blissfully, she felt the poison drain from her system, leaving her skin unblemished and relieving the pain completely. The guards that escorted her from the palace threw glances about the oaken cavalcade that now they walked across. "She is beautiful, is she not?" One of the guards asked Tala with wonder still fresh on his face from Titania's presence.
Tala smiled as the pain disappeared. As the door closed, he looked to the guard nodded. Offering him a smile too, "yes, she is supremely beautiful." She said, knowing beauty wasn't everything, but at least it was obvious that the queen was loved.
The trio made good progress through the golden woods of Ales Elendra, a trek that could not help but be rather refrshing and lovely. Wildflowers blanketed the ground, and fragrant fruits hung low from huge, generous trees. After several hours, the elves halted - and Tala became aware of the now-familiar transition from eteranal daylight to eternal dusk. The trees were no longer vibrant and beautiful, but up ahead were twisted and gnarled - ancient and primal and not altogether welcoming.
Tala enjoyed the walk while she could. When the forest started to transform, she turned to the guards and thanked them for walking with her so far. Before, turning back around and headed into Oberons' forest.
The woods were just as dark and ominous as Tala remembered, but there was a difference. Whereas before the shadows had a sense of corruption to them, as if the forest was a place of evil and dread - now it seemed only to bear a sense of enormous age. As if the trees were far older than she could ever imagine. To them, she could only imagine how insignificant she was. As she traveled, her instincts kicked in. She felt the earth shake slightly, giving her a chance to react just before a huge tree branch slammed toward her as one of the trees uprooted itself, forming thick, gnarled legs.
Tala jumped back, freely allowing herself to change and growled.she was still wearing Oberons' pin that he had given her. She didn't know what had just tried to attack her, but her body was coiled as she waited for the... trees' next move. Ready to react, her ears flattened against her skull.
Shaking loose earth from its gnarled legs, the
tree creature stood erect, eyeless face following Tala's movements. With a ponderous step forward that caused the ground to tremble, the treant slammed an arm down toward her followed by another quick smash. The creature was also stepping closer. If she was not careful, it might be able to stomp on her with its foot. Fortunately its movements were somewhat ponderous and easily predictable.
While she was being attacked she didn't sense any malice behind. So at least for now, she just stick with dodging and watching. Never relaxing, but at least she could see what the thing wanted to do.
The creature seemed frustrated by Tala's quick movements, weaving away from its attacks. Still, it was pushing her back the way she had come. It seemed intent on either killing her, or driving her as far away as possible.
Tala growled and snarled in frustration. She didn't want to be pushed back and barked, "I need to see Oberon!" Hoping the creature understood and tried finding a way past the creature without getting hurt.
If the creature could even understand her, it showed no sign of it. Tala was beginning to realise that she'd either need to fight her way through it, or move around it. If she was quick enough... maybe she'd be able to dash out of its way. As she was considering her options, two thick roots erupted from the ground and tried to grasp at her legs and pull her to the earth.
Tala yiped and struggled against the roots. Suddenly everything within 10 feet of her suddenly took on a golden crimson color, as fire seemed to blast out of no where. Before wrapped tightly around Tala like a protective suit.
As the bright golden flame erupted around her, Tala was almost taken aback by its intensity. It seemed as if its power, its heat and its brilliance had somehow magnified since the last time she had called upon it. The roots recoiled and withered away to ash before the burst of flame, and the treant, that had just stepped into the radius of the blast staggered back wobbily, charred and singed from the heat. The flame now wrapped around her like a protective cacoon. Staring at her blankly, for a moment it looked like the tree would give up... but then it stepped forward again, and once more attempted to crush her, sweeping its long arm toward her legs in an attempt to trip her even despite the fiery aura that surrounded her.
Tala jumped high and landed on the arm, before just running as fast as she could. Trying to get past the tree beast. Wondering why the fire now looked that way. Though, she didn't have much time to wonder or debate. You know, since her life could literally be on the line. So she focused most of her efforts on trynig to move past the tree or at least not getting slammed or stepped on.
With her agility, Tala was able to leap onto the tree's arm before it could come back for another swing. As she did, the heat from her protective fire armour burned away the bark and sap from the creature's limb, and a rumbling of pain came from somewhere within its oaken frame. Another arm attempted to swipe her from its body, but she was quick enough to dodge and jump past it, landing clear on the other side and sprinting past, finally leaving it behind. It grumbled and turned to follow her, but was far too slow. Her fire seemed to have weakened it, as well as her speed being naturally higher.
Tala was glad to leave the tree behind, She kept running and tried to find any sight or scent of Oberon. Curious about the forest, but if things were going to start randomly attacking her. When they hadn't before, maybe she wouldn't go around and try to see the forest. She did need to find Oberon though, she wasn't exactly sure where he was.
There was no question, the forest had certainly changed. And yet the feeling of darkness and blight that had consumed it on her last visit seemed to have faded. Points of starlight illuminated the woods - bathing Valon Elendra in a silvery twilight glow. Soon, her nose picked something up. Not the distinctive, overtly masculine scent of Oberon - but the smell of elves, mixed and mingled somewhat with the familiar scent of wolf. A howl not far off, alerted her more acutely to the nearby presence of whatever these new creatures were. The howl struck a distinctive note, sent a clear message.
"Why do you enter our territory, lone wolf?"
Tala slowed at the scent, but stopped at the howl. She disliked being called lone wolf, but at the same time she couldn't deny that, at least for now, that is what she was. So she sat down, wondering how long this had been their territory, before taking a deep breathe and letting out a loud howl. It wasn't a challenge, it wasn't a threat, it wasn't even a greeting; because that last one would be weird to dp for strangers. The howl simply conveyed that she had to deliver a message.
A few minutes past, before nine shapes slipped through the trees and moved to circle her. They were werewolves, but their furred skin was tattooed with swirling runic designs. Their ears were elongated, and their eyes keen with the spark of independent intelligence. One of them moved forward and let out a soft snarl. She was sleek and clearly very agile. A lithe silver-furred werewolf. "A message to who?" She growled in what was unmistakably a human voice. She sniffed the air and her eyes blazed for a moment. "You stink of the traitor elves. Are you a spy? Has the faerie queen learned to enslave proud werewolves now?"
Tala was shocked by their look and admittedly a little jealius they got the cool and beautiful markings. She continued to sit there, not looking threatening, but her body was tense ready to move if something happened. She didn't like how much she was out numbered by.
Her ear twitched a little when they asked if she was a spy. It was a little annoying, but really got to her was the enslavement comment. Immediately, her ears pinned back and she snarled. "I AM NO ONES' SLAVE!" Her voice ringing with indignant anger and an alphas' power. Barely fighting back an insulting comment and continued another way. "Of course I smell like them," she nodded the way she came. I just came from that forest, Oberon wanted me to deliver Titania a message." She gestured Oberons' iron pin, "Now Titania as one on responce for him." She explained, purposely not saying what either message was.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and tilted her head, "how come i couldn't smell or sense any sign of your pack last time I was here?" Her rage gone or at least died down and oit of her voice and face, instead replaced by honest curiosity that has plagued her, her whole life.
The werewolves looked slightly taken aback by her sudden fierceness, and the conviction with which she expressed herself. The female who seemed to be the alpha of the back did not flinch, but the others all stepped back slightly. The silver-haired alpha nodded, her eyes softening. "If you wear Oberon's token, then what you say is true. In fact... it must have been you who lifted him from his accursed slumber." She let out a sharp bark and the other werewolves began to disperse. "My pack has been dormant. Powerless. In hiding from the terrors of the night... until our master woke from the sleep that kept him dormant. With his return, this forest has been freed from the encroaching shadows." She grinned toothily. "And I suppose we have you to thank for that. If you bear a message from Titania, then I fear she intends a trap. Come with me, I will take you to the Antlered King of Valon Elendra."
Tala nodded and stood up, walking over to the alpha. "I appreciate the help," she said. Wanting to make a comment about fighting the darkness, but remembered the rouge she fought and wondered if they hid. Not out of fear of a fight, but because because they darkness would make them like the rouge. If that is the case then this alpha waa smart to keep her pack safe, over risking them in fights and insanity to keep the forest the same.
Tala looked at the way the wolves left and then to the alpha following her. "Its good to see other wolves again," she softly admitted. She had nothing against the people she had met up until now, but she missed home. She missed her firends, she missed being with other wolves amd being able to talk with other wolves. Even if she didn't really show it much.
Even now she didn't dwell on it much, the princess looked around as they walked and the beauty of the forest. "So this is what the forest is supppsed to really look like?" She asked simply.
As they moved through the twilight woods, a series of howls kept Tala and the silver-haired female informed that they were safe, and unpursued. She looked at the ground in response to Tala's question, and a sad smile crossed her face, fleeting like a shadow. "Yes. This, and more. The woods follow a cycle of night, from pitch darkness to bathed in the silver of the moon. In Oberon's absence... that cycle was thrown off-balance. The darkness reigned alone, and some foul entity corrupted the essence of the land. Now that he has returned, it has gone into hiding. Perhaps it still lurks, somewhere." She mused. "My name is Keira. I am one of Oberon's subjects. An elf hunter gifted with the form of the wolf. Might I ask for yours?"
Tala saw the sad smile and her heart went out to the wolf. Wondering what all she had been through and seen, but asked neither. Instead she just listened looking around at the forest imagining everything that she was talking about. It sounded wonderful.
Her ear twitched when Keira asked for hers, turning back to look at the fellow Alpha. She offered a smile, "my name or my story?" She asked curiously, before giving out a small chuckle. "You can call me Tala," she added. Not saying how good it felt to hear so many howls, even if they were from strangers. They have been one of the closest thing to something familar, something comforting that she has experienced since arriving.
"Mmm. It's good to meet you, Tala. It's your name I was asking for, but your story... well, that would be interesting too." Something played on Tala's nose. A familiar, masculine scent. Oberon. Somewhere fairly near. Keira noticed it too. "We're almost there." She said quietly. "If there's anything you want to tell me about yourself, this would be the best time. Otherwise, let us meet the Antlered King."
Tala debated it, a small smile formed on her lips. "Well, I have a younger brother. He didn't become a wolf like I did, but he did become the king of our small kingdom." She said, not mentioning how she was technically still the crowne princess. "I think I have played close to every social role that exists, from a simply farmer that everyone looked down upon to an Alpha that everyone looks up to and trusts... It has given me quite the look on life and all it offers." She said honestly, before sighing and offered a sad smiled. "Interesting, isn't the word I would use for my life, but I suppose it certainly would fit. If you have anything you are curious about or want to ask, I don't mind answering." She said, the last part being almost hesitant to say. Then looked in the direction that she could smell Oberon.
Keira listened attentively to Tala's words, and gave a grunt of understanding as she mentioned her role as an alpha. The other wolf's eyes narrowed in respect. "You must understand the burden of leadership, then. How an alpha must be willing to lay down her life for her pack. How she would die a thousand deaths to keep her family safe." She fell silent for a moment. "Should you survive this faerie conflict, I would be honoured to accept you into my pack."
At that moment, a large figure strode through the trees. Boughs and branches made way for him as he approached, shifting to allow him ease of access. His forest-hued skin and piercing yellow eyes offset the ochre mantle of autumn leaves he wore about his shoulders. Two long antlers rose from his head like a regal crown. He strode with power and purpose. The slumbering king that she had last seen was an echo of this mighty being, who came to a halt and gazed at her sombrely. "What news from the faerie queen?"
Tala chuckled slightly to herself at the death comment. Trying to keep it from being noticeable, knowing the alpha would not get the irony in her words. She did give Keira a smile at the offer, but said nothing for now. Only partially because Oberon walked up. She bowed, managing to keep her face straight, despite how different he looked. "The queen said, she would meet you in Circle Eire... Sir, this maybe out of place, but how exactly did all of this happen? I mean you two are certainly very different, but I'm just confused as to how things would have gotten so bad?" For both sides she mentally added, remembering what this forest had been before. As well as, remembering both the kind of greeting the elves gave her and how the queen talked about... well everyone else it seemed.
She couldn't help her curiosity.
Oberon frowned, his brow furrowing. "If she agreed to meet with me, knowing the circumstances of the meeting... I don't doubt she plans a trap of some kind." He gave a heavy sigh. "I never wanted it to come to this, but I couldn't stand by. Many years ago, our forest was one. United. I was the aspect of winter, she the aspect of summer. Together, we brought balance to nature. But Titania was cruel. She believed that humans were inferior beings, and sent her warriors out on a crusade to torture and eliminate those who she perceived as bereft of beauty. When I challenged her blood sport, she meekly agreed to change her ways, and came back to my side. However... this was simply a deceit. After lulling me into false security, she tricked me during a ceremony, and placed me under an enchanted slumber. The spell could never be broken by a native of the woods, and no human had ever dared enter the forests before. To her, I was as good as dead. But in my absence, balance was thrown out. First, Evaless, the name for the united forests split into Valon and Ales Elendra. Both were stark opposites of each other. Summer and winter could no longer co-exist, so instead they split - even as Titania and I split. For awhile... my subjects survived without me. But then another force rose in this wood, taking advantage of my absence to twist the land to a deeper shadow. Corrupting its essence. I still feel it somewhere, but it dares not show its face while I walk this land. My elven warriors, my lupine hunters did their best to ward off the evil - but could only do so much." He gave a bitter smile. "So, there you have it young one. This is the story of the place you walk today."
Talas' ears hung low, suddenly feeling bad for asking. "I'm so sorry," she whined. Glancing at the other alpha, she couldn't imagine how hard this had been for either of them. "I hope this time it turns out better," she offered. Not really sure what else she could say.
The elf king reached toward Tala and gave her shoulder a gentle pat. "You've given us a chance. For that I can only thank you. I will gather my hunters and prepare to confront Titania at the circle of Eire. Titania thinks I am foolish, and dim-witted. But I have learned. I will be ready for whatever trap she has laid." Keira had looked solemn throughout this exchange, and gave Tala a grateful smile, although chose not to speak before her king. Oberon rose to his full height and pulled a mighty banded hunting horn from his belt. He blew a powerful note that echoed across the woods and gave a nod of satisfaction. "I have called my hunters. Tala, you have already been greatly useful. If you wish to help further, perhaps you might join my force in challenging the elf queen. Otherwise... perhaps you might fare better at tracking the insiduous shadow that has been corrupting this forest."
Tala was always glad to help, but she didn't want to fight the elf queen. She the maybe reasons as to why it would probably be smart, but at the moment she was on somewhat friendly terms with Titania. Which Tala had a feeling is more than most could say. At the very least, she may not die at first sight, but she also had a bad feeling what would happen if she found what was corrupting the forest. She wasn't sure what to do, glancing at Keira, whom she has not known long, but she also has no one else to talk to right now. What she wouldn't do to have the former captain of the guard here with her, she could talk to him about anything.
Taking a deep breath, she bowed and said. "I... I think I may need a moment to decide what to do." She answered the king, knowing there was likely no time to lose. Glancing at Keira, she asked, "may i steal some of your council?" Unintentionally, reverting to a more form manner of speaking then she typically liked.
Keira looked back and gave a solemn nod. "Of course you may. While I admit, I'd be grateful for your help... I would not wish to expect so much of a stranger. You may yet still walk away if you wish. I know Oberon does not expect utter devotion. It's one of the differences between him and his queen." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Of course, neither option would be easy for you. I just want you to know that I'll do what I can to help you, before Oberon requests my presence against the elves of Ales Elendra."
A series of howls was sounding across the forest as if in answer to the king's horn. They were howls of acknowledgement. Howls of war. Howls of hunting and of preparation for bloodshed. Dozens, perhaps even scores of werewolves were rallying across the woods to join their king's pack.
Tala nodded, "hopefully it will not be neccessary this time. Titania sounded like she wanted to try and end things diplomatically this time. If something does happen though, as much as I'd be honored to help Oberon on your pack. I'm also wondering of it wouldn't be better to stay neutral and be of use delivering messages between kingdoms to try and end things before bloodshed got too bad... as for the shadow.." Tala grabbed her necklace and messed with it some. "This form wasn't a gift... not at first anyway," she amended.
She lifted her head her eyes full of grief and regret. "At first, it was meant as a curse, not to me, but to a group that had been trapped in an isolated mountain path. They had no control and were little more than dangerous animals. However, the part of the path keeping them isolated... it broke and they started to ravange the whole country. When they got to my home, i refused to leave with making sure everyone thay could get out or somewhere safe, was... The result? I turned into a mindless monster," she admitted still ashamed of that part of her life.
She didn't stop though, "but I was lucky, i still had enough people willing to trust me and believe in me. That, I got a second chance, that I could become the wolf before you." She said, proud, not of herself but of her pack, her people and all they acommplished. Before deflating a little, "even so, I can still hear that monster in the back of my head. Growling, pacing, waiting for a chance to take over and start the choas again... if the shadow is so corrupting..." Her head fell and her ears were pinned against her head. "I want to help.. I do... but I'm not sure where i could be useful right now... Thats' why i wanted to ask your thoughts Keira." She ended honestly with an almost pain knot in her thought.
Keira caught her gaze seriously. "Do you fear that whatever corrupts the land might force you to lose control, and rob your will from you? If so, that is a noble reason to abstain - and I understand completely."
Oberon folded his arms and stared up at the starry sky. "The time for diplomacy, Tala, has all but faded. Titania has no doubt prepared a trap for me. If she has, I will be ready. If not... then perhaps we truly can solve things peacefully. But I know her well. I know her cunning, and I fear she will not listen to you any further, now that she has used you to deliver her message."
"If you wanted to just... leave all of this madness behind..." Keira began, "nobody would blame you" she finished softly.
Talas' ears flattened again, this time not in sadness or regret. "Now who said anything about that? Like I said, I want to help, just not very sure how too." She said, clearly determined to stay, looking back up to Oberon she said, "you really don't think Titania will listen to me?" Sighing, she had hoped staying neutral would at least allow her to deliver messages between the two.
Oberon tilted his head slightly, and when he spoke he was firm but gentle. "Whatever Titania said to you... whatever she promised you, whatever she claimed - I do not doubt that if you returned to her she would torture you for sport before killing you. I know her better than any. Truth be told, the only reason she let you walk out of Ales Elendra was likely because she wanted to use you to help trap me. But I've grown wise to her schemes. I don't want you to have to suffer from them as well. Neutrality to Titania is like a pacifistic mouse to a hungry cat. If you aren't an elf, she feels nothing but scorn for you - I can assure you. That's simply the type of person she is."
Keira put an arm on Tala's gravely. "My king speaks truthfully. I lived through the hunts and the genocides. The faerie queen exterminated several races from these forests simply because they were not elven. Without a reason to keep you, I fear she'd do the same to you."
Tala looked between the two, before nodding solemnly, remembering how the queen and elves acted the first time she met them. She'd definitely buy that the queen could and would kill her without a second thought. As well as feel no remorse for doing so. After a moment of thought, she looked up to the king. "Would it be rude if I asked to listen to yours and Titanias' discussion?" Feeling the answer would be yes, but had to at least ask.
Glancing at Keira and giving her a half smile for the warning and for being so kind to her.
Oberon let out a "hmmm" and pondered that for a few moments. "Should you wish to listen to our conversation, I would not be opposed. However... I would warn you to prepare for combat. Our talks often digress to violence. In light of her last betrayal, I'm expecting a fight."
Tala ears lowered, she hoped there wouldn't be fighting, but simply nodded. Understanding how high the tension was.
Oberon folded his arms and looked across the woods. "My pack is gathering. You should use this time to get some rest. It's been a busy day for you, no doubt. Tomorrow, we meet the traitor queen."
Tala nodded and she was exhausted, sleep sounded pretty good. She just hoped that Oberon didn't call Titania, traitor queen to her face. In the short time that she had spoken amd seen the queen, she felt pretty sure that would make matters worse.
For now though, she would sleep where ever Oberon offered and sleep like a rock.
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