Home, at last

[angell]

*It had been a quickly set trip, tickets bought and moving lined up and then she was off to Ireland. Having left New York, NY hours ago, or was it days now? She couldnt remember. She was exausted and glad when she finally collected the two bags she packed of things she would need until all of her belongings arrived via the moving company she hired to move the rest of her things from her tiny apartment out to the massive estate that was now hers. Grabbing up her things she went to the ladies room, tidied herself up a bit so she didnt look quite so travel weary and headed to get a taxi.

*she managed to get a plane to take her all the way to Galway, the biggest city near her uncles estate. Getting a smaller car, nothing fancy as she was running out of funds and didnt want to over spend until she found out what was left for her from Uncle Sebastian. Who knows, she might have nothing left and not have a choice but to go back to the states. That was somethign she was yet to find out. Tossing her two bags in the back of the little sports car she took off and drove north. She started to relax as the country started to look familiar.

*turning into the main gates, 2 hours later, she was glad to see the Woodland signs all over the place and was even happier at the 15 minutes driveway that was hers, for now. Hearing the horses and birds around her, she had a distinct feeling they were all welcoming her but she was sure it was just her imangination or even just her happiness to be there. she saw the edge of the lake as the drive wound up a little on the hills and tilted her head. Fish? where had that thought come from? shrugging she emagined a fish seeing her car and following her best he could along the shoreline.

*finally coming to the main house she pulled the car to a stop in the front like she remembered people doing and was a bit shocked when no one came out to greet her or get her bags.*

Oh well, Uncle more than likely let them all go anyway. *grabbing up her bags she went inside and headed straight up to the room that used to be hers and was floored when she went in the room and it was clean, fresh flowers and clean sheets and curtains making the room more welcoming than she remembered. Laughing a bit to herself she found the note on the bed and read it ~We are in the stables Miss. Ready for your return~

well who in the world.....~turning the card over she looked for a signature and shrugged, thinking things around here had changed since she had been gone but figured it was a good change. Taking only enough time to change into her jeans and boots, pull her long hair up in a ponytail and grabbing a bottle of water she hurried outside. She was no longer tired from the trip. It was almost like the lands here gave her life and she drank it all in as if she couldnt get enough.

[Akatala]

Krissteryn Rohwyn

Kriss had been roaming town for most of the day in his animal form as an adult buck foraging for the best fresh spring grasses. To the humans, he was just another wild animal that ventured into town. Those who lived here had seen such things for centuries, even before the big city started swallowing up the forest to plant homes for humans instead. To the faeries, he was a buck wearing jade dragon-scale mail armor, announcing him as one who walked in the service of the faery dominion's king. True, Cael D'Thurr was not a High King of one of the major courts. In fact, he still had occasional relations with the Spring Court that he had turned a cold shoulder to centuries ago to form the town of Whispering Spring and the Dominion known as NightGale for it's habit of spawning squalls without warning. The weather people just said it was likely storms spawned by the North Atlantic. The faeries knew better.

In any event, Kriss had been hunky dory in his patrol of the town, burning to memory things that might be of importance to relate later. It was at the brief meeting with his unit and the commanding Knight that directed them, that Kriss learned something that surely stopped his heart for a good long moment. Miss Hamilton had been seen pulling into her late Uncle's estate... as a grown woman. Reportedly extremely beautiful. Kriss could hardly wait out the meeting with his typical smile hiding his panic. Once it was over, he flew through the forest to the river which he followed out to where it passed the farm.

Once on old Sebastian's farm, Kriss leaped out of the river and over a fence to bounce through the pastures. All the while memories of pretending to be a little boy around that cute little girl swam through his head. He could feel it. It was the wrong time of day for it, but he could feel the call of the Hunt burning within him. He was thankful that he'd gotten here with enough daylight to say hello before popping out to the faery realm to find the coldest pond out there to cannonball.

Kriss reached the barn, ignoring the horses that gave him birth, but looked at him each in their own unique take at seeing one of them so close. The older horses in the pasture just moved away. The younger ones either spooked across the field or dared to creep closer to sniff at the odd creature that the human stable hands could only see as simply a very curious elk that might be interested in what kind of food he could find here.

The elk ignored the humans, instead, he bound over another fence to hide in a different pasture to take human form before walking over to the driveway side of the stable where one 5'8 lanky boy in jeans and a simple shirt climbed up to sit on the fence, watching as a woman he barely recognized anymore walked toward the barn. He idly wondered if she would remember the blond haired boy she use to play with. That kid with strange green eyes that turn brilliant blue when the sun hit them right. The one that once upon a time some how always knew how to make her laugh. As it seemed to be slightly doing now with him facing the western afternoon sun. He squinted through it to watch her approach, hoping that her simple human ears couldn't hear how fast his heart raced seeing her again. Especially looking like that!

ooc: I had to bring it the old childhood best friend type dude first. Kriss insisted. And.. I think my characters have somehow, in the course of my profiling Kriss, conspired to create a rather interesting twist that I never expected. I'll yack with you more about it on YIM.

[angell]

~after a happy greeting with a few of the stable hands, girls and boys alike, their families and the girls who worked in the garden she had one of the guys saddle up the young 3 your old stallion who was the offspring of her old mare that died shortly after this guy was born. She was told his name was Flame, after the white blaze down his otherwise black face and the way he ran. She was warned of how he is still young and full of spirit but she only laughed, the sound bringing smiles from everyone as she led the trotting animal out of the stables, as if he couldnt wait to go either. putting one foot up in the stirup she stopped and tilted her head, seeing the blond setting on the fence, wondering why he looked so.......familiar and normal there.

Come on Flame. ~hopping once she easily lighted on the stallions back and could feel the power held so tightly as if he knew it had been a long time for her to ride. hardly brushing her legs along his powerful sides Flame pranced towards the man on the fence. Her jeans pulled tight across her slender thighs, her shirt tucked in her tiny waist and without even trying it only enhanced her delicate frame and the ancestry she holds running through her veins but has no clue about. looking at Kriss she frowned a bit, looking ever so tiny on the stallion's back but totally in control and relaxed as a cat sleeping in the sun~

Hello. Can I help you? ~her voice was all business, welcoming a bit, but business none the less. She was ready to deal with creditors and even fortune hunting men who wanted to wed the new Duchess.....if the title still even existed.~

[Akatala]

Krisstaerynn Rohwyn

Kriss frowned at Lydia, noticing that she seemed to have no clue who he was. He couldn't decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Up in a tree, a song bird twittered. Kriss glanced up at the bird, then he looked back to Lyida.

"It would seem that I am in need of a mount. I have to say it's been quite a while since I rode the equines here. Those that still remember no longer trust me as they once did when they were young. And, I hadn't expected little Lydia to make her return today. Especially not as such a bonny grown lass," said while seeming to give a slight nod tot he bird. The little brightly colored yellow and black song bird twittered some more before flying off across the fields toward the forest. He slid off the fence, slowly as possible to not spook the young stallion that didn't know what to think of this guy.

Kriss bent to pluck a strand of purple clover, popping it into his mouth before using the same hand to reach into his pocket for a sugar lump. In actuality, he had simply stolen the sugar from the flower which he pretended to munch while using a mix of glamour and slight of hand to make it look like he had the sugar in his pocket all along. He then held out his hand, palm splayed, toward the stallion. Faerie-style sugar won just about any young critter over. Slowly he place the palm beneath the nervous stallion's nostrils, coaxing him into taking it and understanding that this fae wouldn't harm him.

Kriss then glanced up to Flame's rider with his mossy eyes that seemed to glow blue where the sunlight struck and illuminated the irises. His smile was warm, yet held some hidden unnameable element, "America seems to have done well with you. Growing you into such a successful young woman. Ya might be careful with the other farmers around here. They still aren't quite savvy with a lady running a property all on her own, even if it is the twenty-first century where woman have far more rights than in years past."

[angell]

~her mouth about dropped at this man's talk as if he knew her but she held her back straight and listened to him, taking in all the details very carefully down to the nod to the beautiful bird with coloring she had never seen before. Something in her mind clicked, she had seen this done, many times, in the past when she still lived in Ireland but who was it?~

It seems you have the advantage Sir. ~the slight irish twang in her voice was gone, with voice lessons and speech lessons at her parents insistence.~ It has been near on 7 years since I even stepped foot out of the states or was allowed to call anyone here so forgive me if I do not remember you.

~watching this boy who seemed to be much younger than herself there was something that tugged at her deepest and most cherished memories of her time here, her childhood and all the friends she swore she would never forget. The way he slipped from the fence, went for the purple clover, nothing less than the sweetest. His gentleness with the young stallion who was almost wild from neglect of being ridden.

~watching silently for a moment she absently reached a hand out and rubbed the stallion's neck, calming his quivering nerves with her simple touch. One of the few things left from the watered down fae in her blood that was so near human it was only the skilled who could see what was in her. Laughing softly she shook her head at his comment about farming~

Thank you for that, but at this point, I am not even sure what will happen. I just got here and there is much to be done but it will wait one more evening. As for the farmers, I am more worried of the men after a woman who appears to have money, instead of perhaps liking her for who she is. Just a foolish old fashioned wi....~her words stop as she looks into his eyes. She knew those eyes and they had haunted her dreams for the last 7 years. Oh, they belonged to her dear friend, the one she flirted with recklessly the summer before she left, praying they would let her stay and they would do more than ride horses and talk and.....omg it was him! the smile, the eyes, the pull they had to her soul and her heart~

Kriss!!!! ~in one smooth motion she slipped from Flame's back to the ground and flew into his arms, her own wrapping around his neck in a death grip~ oh my god! I thought I would never see you again! ~tears of joy and so many emotions she never let herself feel since her uncle's death slipped down her cheeks as she sobbed on his shoulder, making a wet mess of his shirt~

[Akatala]

Kriss Rohwyn

Kriss smiled when Flame finally decided to accept the treat with happy relish. He gently let the horse take in his scent before daring to caresss the stallion's neck, reaching up to scratch that spot behind the ears that every beast seemed to favor. His grin grew brighter as teh horse became putty to him, even so much as reaching over to nip at him when he happened to stop for a moment. Laughing, Kriss used his other hand to push the horse's nose away, only to give that nose a gentle affectionate rub.

Then Kriss returned his attention to Lydia. Sure enough she didn't remember him. It was a self-inflicted knife twisted in his heart as he recalled being the one to start the push to drive Lydia away from Ireland and keep it that way. That last summer had been frightening to this young fae who still didn't trust himself with a human girl in that way. It was because of that lack of trust in himself that the pain of her lack of memory was every bit as sweet as it was painfully bitter.

"That's all right, Ms. Hamilton," he said, returning to formalities as he smiled to her denial of remembering him. He never had and hoped he never would let her see the painful war inside this cheerful boy that seemed to have not a worry in the world. "People change with time. I hope life treats you well. And have not a worry about harassment around here. You are, and always have been protected," he said with a wink.

Kriss then blinked as her face seemed distant, as though not hearing a word he'd said. Then, to his complete surprise she flew off the horse as recognition registered on her face and his name burst from her mouth. He was so shocked by the sudden switch in attitude that he allowed her to plow him over straight to the ground. He landed with a winded, "oomph!" as the female landing atop him succeeded in knocking the air from his lungs. A coughing fit to recover the air turned into a fit of hysterical laughter at the completely absurd scenario that was so like their horseplay in the past it was nearly uncanny.

Once he had finally calmed enough to speak, Kriss replied, "Dear Danu, the only thing that's changed in you is the ability to wear a better mask!" He crowed in laughter at his well-meant little verbal jab.

[angell]

~Flame was so relaxed and already trusted Claudia so much that he hardly jumped, simply stepped over to the clover and started eating, not even attempting to run away from them as they landed on the ground and Kriss started laughing~

~stiffening up a bit she pushes herself away from him, her hands planted on his chest and almost growls at him, her eyes narrow, turning to a deep green~ dont you dare laugh at me! I come back after all these years, not even ONE letter from you and you had my address! dont you dare laugh at me! I thought you hated me and thats why you never......~shaking her head she rolls off of him, her eyes fading to hazel again and she rubbed at her face, wiping off the tears and brushing her wild reddish curls off her face, regaining her composure as quickly as possible and actually caring. Not something she ever did before~

I am sorry. ~standing up she reached down to help him up~ I just didnt think I would find anyone still here that used to be here. ~smiling softly she licked her lips and took a deep breath, she looked just like the woman she did before she realized who he was. Her back straight, her eyes distant and full of business intentions, no longer the young girl willing to dream and eager for fun. She was a woman now and had responsibilities.~

Come inside the house and we can talk for a bit. The kitchen is well stocked so there will be plenty of food, or at least the guys at the stable said anyway. ~watching him she reached for Flame's bridle, linking a finger around one of the straps that went down his cheek and he came to her without a thought or a tug. It was as if her mind was talking to Flame and she didnt realize it, it was so natural to her. now that she was a bit older her telepathy was a bit stronger but not near what it could be if she worked on it.

~waiting for him to stand up and say something she felt denial boiling inside of her. She couldnt still care after seven years, it was not possible. She was in a serious relationship and he was going to come out in a few weeks after he was done with the current court hearings and had it all cleared up for his client. Her eyes flashed as she looked to Flame, not wanting Kriss to see the worry, fear, anger, frusteration and confusion in her eyes. Clearing her throat she threw on a smile, forced her eyes to clear and almost sparkle and teased him a bit~

Coming, or have you lost your appetite?

[Akatala]

Kriss Rohwyn

Kriss was totally blown away by her sudden turn to argument. However, the emotions he let shows on his face and his attitude, were a simple sigh and a faintly shadowed expression that really said nothing more than the fact that he was good hiding negative emotions. He laid there limply, letting her rail at him. When she was done, he replied softly, "You are right about one thing, I did not write. However, it was only to help you try to forget what you left behind here when you were forced to leave. Besides that, there was nothing I could have said that would have made to feel anything positive. Soon after you left, I went through some changes to that left little time for writing letters anyway."

Kriss took her turn-around in easy stride. He was use to severe mood swings from Cael. If he could remain calm during those, he could certainly do so with her as well. Right? He allowed her to help him up then listened while dusting himself off.

To her comment of coming in, he replied, "I entirely intend to bother you until dusk. Then I must leave to report back to work." He bowed politely just as he use to do as though the old chivalry court customs still applied to him, then he said, "I travel in your wake, m'lady."

Though his archaic words were also a part of his personality from the past, they seemed odd now that they were both older. He seemed to realize this as he followed her and the horse back toward the house, however he did nothing to correct it. He would simply have to let things play out as they would. Even if Lydia was still the over-observant girl she was in her youth. He knew long ago she was special. Every fae in the dominion did. He was sure to attract all sorts of unwanted attention and controversy from this, but for the moment, he didn't give a basilisk's arse what anyone else thought. For all his mettle, he had still missed her greatly.

[angell]

~she listened to his reasons for not righting and she felt a dagger stick her in the back and her eyes flashed to brown, almost lifeless as they got the day she left, unhappy and hurt. She was sure he had found a beautiful woman by now and was happy in that aspect. After all, she was dating someone too wasnt she? She refused to get physically involved before marriage but she loved him....she thought. Now that she saw Kriss she truely wondered if she loved Jason at all. He was always upset that she wouldnt sleep with him and always tried to get more than what a teenager would get at a movie theater. But he was kind, sent her flowers, bought her all sorts of trinkets and jewelry....Looking down she noticed the black hills gold ring he bought her just because she liked the style of the rose set in heart shaped stem. Taking a deep breath she headed to the stable, not waiting for him to be able to ask any questions.~

Once they were in the stables she handed Flame over to one of the younger boys with a smile that nearly sent the boy to his knees and he turned so red his hair looked like it could turn red too. Once they were out of the stables and headed to the main house she stopped and grabbed at Kriss's arm with a very calm, controlled look on her face and so much pain in her eyes they nearly glowed with it, yet another thing from the fae in her blood~

Kriss, first off, dont ever follow me again. I am not a queen, lady of court or anything special. I am Lydia, the girl who used to dance in the rain with you and go fishing in our underwear at the pond. Please, dont treat me as anyone different. ~her voice was soft, to soft and to calm, something she learned in the states with her time in the attorneys office~

Second....~taking a deep breath she tilted her head, looked into his eyes, pain flowed in her voice, heartache and a search for an answer~ Why would you think I would ever want to forget this place, you, and all the memories that made me who I am? I dreamed about it every night and it kept me going. I hoped one day I could come back.

~swollowing hard she closed her eyes and let her head fall so when she opened her eyes she was looking at the ground and her tiny feet~ I just wish I had managed to get back sooner. To see Uncle Seb one last time. ~a few tears slipped silently down her cheek, no mascera marks going down her face, there never were any as her beauty was so pure she didnt need makeup~ I am sorry......I shouldnt take this all out on you.

[Akatala]

Kriss Rohwyn

Inside, Kriss flinched with every word she said. His cowardice had obviously hurt her far worse than had he been smart and taken the initiative to leave himself. Anger boiled silently inside him at what he had done to this girl. She may not know it consciously, but her soul knew it. Her soul knew exactly who was the true mastermind in sending her away. For her own safety, his behind. Then her insult upon herself echoed back through his head once more.

"Nothing special?" he parroted back with a strange heated look in his eyes that she had never seen before. Suddenly, he wasn't the laughing little boy she once knew, but some stranger staring at her with bold blue eyes and stern face. That admission of hers had sparked a different kind of anger within him. One that he couldn't hide, so he channeled it. It may leave him damned, but for the moment he didn't care.

In a swift, bold move, he used the hand still gripping his arm to yank her into his arms which wrapped firmly around her like tendrils of some iron snake. Then, he laid a firm full kiss upon her with angry passion. The moment he felt himself slipping, he released her in a manner that flung the both of them away from each other.

"Never let such an insult to yourself come out of your mouth again. You may not be a queen. You may not be a member of court. But half this town knew years ago that you were indeed someone special! Did you never notice how many people here watch you from the sidelines?"

His blurted words left him panting somehow, "Remember what you like, but above all, remember that you are important here. You always were. That's why lengths were taken to protect you. However, I apparently can no longer do so."

He started walking backwards toward the rear of the barn, careless of who watched, "You were right to be angry with me. Please do not take it out on my mother, however. She will be anxious to see you at her forest cottage again. You wish me to never follow, so be it. I was foolish to dare approach you again. Thinking what harm could come from one little visit? Apparently plenty. I am too old for those old games it would seem."

In the next moment, he was dashing to hop out the back of the barn and turn a corner, vanishing from sight.

[angell]

~she sniffled a bit but at the way the words came from his mouth, so cold, so hard, she blinked and looked up. What she saw was a nightmare. He was something more powerful than she could have even emagined or dreamed up in one of her many weird dreams involving fairies and talking animal. Her eyes went wide and she whimpered as he yanked her against him and raped her mouth for that short moment. Her body was tense and she trembled with a loss for what had just happened she found she was speechless and couldnt do more than stare at him.~

As the words flew from his lips she raised her hand to her lips, shocked at the way she nearly wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him there. But he had moved to fast and she felt a softness in him just before he pushed away that she was sure there was more to this than she had ever thought there could be.

Kriss, please thats not what I ment ~she started to speak but he continued, mentioned his mother and her heart nearly broke. Oh how she loved that woman and the way he shoved it at her like that was almost enough to send this tiny beauty to her knees, begging. For what she was unsure, so she stood, knees trembling and heart pounding so loud in her ears she didnt hear the last of what he said.~

~watching him leave once again her heart felt like it stopped beating in a suddenness that made her gasp for breath and she had to move to the wall of the stable and lean on it to remain standing. For a long moment her mind went over what he said and she managed to calm down then looked up, seeing everyone that still remained at the estate looking at her, having come from no where it seemed.~

what? ~a few of the girls hurried off and all but the oldest of the stable hands went back about their duties, knowing well not to upset the tiny woman.~ My horse please.....he needs a good run. ~frowning a bit, her face going to a more concerned expression~ and so do I.

~waiting only long enough for the stallion to be brought to her she gracefully jumped to the huge animals back and with little more than her hands loosening the reigns Flame took off at top speed, headed straight to the forest cottage. She needed to talk to Kriss's mom badly. Answers needed to be found and they had to be found now. Something wasnt right in all this. Nothing that happened had really surprised her so much as left so many questions that she didnt know where to start.

~was she special? why was she being protected? Was it Kriss who sent her away and if so why? Why had Kriss kissed her only to toss her aside so easily like yesterday's paper? her head started to pound and her vision blurred a bit so it was hard to see where she was going. Tears stung at her eyes and she nearly called out to Kriss, knowing somehow he would hear her. Last thing she remembered was blinking the tears away and seeing the branch, feeling it strike her head and she went limp~

[Akatala]

NightGale Castle

Hickory dickory dock!
The mouse ran up the clock!
The clock struck twelve.
The mouse ran down.
Hickory dickory dock!

The talking black cat with glowing green eyes yowled his protesting frustration at losing the mouse he had been toying with to a daring leap of faith off the edge of the second floor balcony across the walk from the giant broken grandfather clock. Despite the odds, the mouse managed to bounce over a couple of giant slim draconic gargoyle statues, a lamp, a love seat, and finally to the floor where it slipped under a giant cabinet to a hole in a floorboard. Instantly bored of the chase, the cat scampered over to a windowsill to glare at the world beyond the glass pane.

“The simple fact that humans procreated such an absurd limerick to the point of everlasting proves my point that had it not been for the help of divine favor and intervention, though one such as I continues to ponder the point of that move, these loathsome, idiotic, hideous, hypocritical overgrown apes that call themselves mankind would never have survived, let alone managed to take over the bloody planet!” griped a deep, smooth, masculine voice that could easily have been hypnotic had it not been filled with sharp malice. Odder than the strange preternatural quality of the voice was the fact that it seemed to somehow flow directly from the cat. Then again, there was something about the cat that wasn’t exactly normal either.

A blackbird flew across the foyer and up over the first flight of the grand staircase to the landing window in which the cat sat. This creature spoke in an aged cracking voice of one who had long since given up arguing with the mighty Wall, “However right you may be about such things will not change the fact that the world is what it is. Even one as powerful and cunning at yourself, Master, can not put sway to that fact. All that mind-numbing carrying on aside, I bring news.”

“News? Of what kind? Have a care, Crookfeather, I am in no mood for frivolities. If it is indeed anything of importance, speak it, else be off with you before I decide to change my current menu from mouse to bird,” the cat spoke with a calm and chilly cadence before facing the blackbird to slide a pink tongue across its ebony whiskered maw.

The blackbird gave an obvious twitch of fear before recovering with a deep, seemingly meditative breath, “Noble Sire, as your humble servant it is within my great list of duties to take to consideration your mood before uttering words of which may bring upset. None-the-less, it is also within my duties to do within all capabilities that which you, my Lord and Master, have instructed. Therefore, as you were the one who gave order for me to bring news from the posted Watchers, I am doing as thus. Please be merciful with your temper, Noble Sire.”

“Oh very well, Crookfeather, bane of my monarchy. Have at it already, before I grow weary and decide to hunt blackbird anyway,” sighed the noble beast, irritated at having been outwitted at words by his very own chief retainer.

“Noble Sire, it has been brought to my attention that the dominion has a new mortal resident. I should have liked to have informed you of this development sooner, however the Watcher of that particular district claimed to have been dubious of reporting the matter on grounds of conflicting evidence. Regardless of the Watcher’s opinion, he is being properly reprimanded and moved to a more…”

Deep within the recesses of his mind, the monarch let out a hidden groan a the banter coming from his aide. The retainer was right in the fact that he would surely have been placed on the royal menu had he not told of the human moving into the neighborhood, however the incessant babble over personnel problems and such matters of minor bureaucracy was ever a thorn in his side. If only he could remove it, yet he knew better. Only a fool would ignore anything of the sort as the tiniest detail tossed out as immaterial could prove to be the worm that would lead to the ruler’s downfall. He was not immortal for nothing after all.

“The replacement Watcher has just sent in his first surveillance report confirming the prior of a returning prior resident to the dominion. The report speaks of a grown mortal woman in her twenties of the mixed blood yet plain jane as far as that goes. There is quite a bit of debate, however there are claims that she may be niece of the late Mr. Sebastian Quinn. Additionally, His Young Sir, Krisstaeryn Rohywn was spotted intercepting her by the second Watcher. We are still trying to gather details of the meeting, however any who might have witnessed it are not speaking of what they saw. Moving on from that heresay conjecture, it is not known whether the woman plans to stay or simply remain long enough to see the Quinn Farm sold. We will inform on her intended length of stay as soon as we gain little more information,” the bird finally finished with a proud ruffle of feathers toward his perceived job well done.

“So what you are essentially telling me is that Ms. Claudia Hamilton has returned from America underneath one of your noses at Quinn Farms to oversee proceedings involving her late uncle's affairs in the stead of her idiot elder relatives to Mr. Quinn. Furthermore, Squire Krisstaerynn Rohwyn, as an old friend of the child, has seen to welcoming her back. Am I correct?” the cat replied tersely as he turned to stare flatly at the bird.

The bird swallowed hard before nodding, “Aye, Noble Sire. You, of such grace and talent, of course put the matter to far better wording than I could ever utter. A thousand pardons, Noble Sire.”

“Very well. Find out what she plans and get her return entered in the logs as soon as possible. Maintain watch, as with all the others. In the meantime, you are free to go personally deal with the kink in the infrastructure that you uncovered after you inform the dinner planners that I shall be late or absent from tonight's festivities,” the cat said as he withdrew to the landing.

“Yes, Noble Sire. Your wish to be granted,” the bird said with a splay of feathers in his sweeping low bow. In the next moment, the blackbird was taking to air to carry on about his orders elsewhere about the enormous withering Victorian mansion that served as the Faery King of NightGale.

The cat watched the bird flutter off before allowing his form to effortlessly slide from feline to falcon which soared up through the castle to exit through a window in the aviary tower. Then he flew out into the evening, headed towards the nearby Quinn farms.

Quinn Farms

Meanwhile, one of the other squires, another buck responded to a watch bird's distress call, bounding over to check on the young woman that had been knocked from her horse. He had heard word that Ms. Hamilton had possibly returned, but he could see how the rumors could be mixed with skepticism. This young woman, though she did seem to have fae blood, had certainly filled out nicely, making her seem nearly a completely different person than the little girl he had remembered.

None the less the buck gave a stern command to the horse to calm down and stay put. The buck then nosed the unconscious girl before raising his head to sound his own call of alarm. His brown eyes panned to scan the surroundings for fellow responders. However the one that followed his call a minute later was the absolute last person he had expected to see entering the scene. One black raptor descended from the sky to take fae form upon reaching the ground.

Cael had only come out to take a peek for himself to verify what he'd been told. He had not expected to be a responder to a problem. Tall and dressed in a silk surcoat of black and green, with raven hair that cascaded down his back and piercing lime-emerald eyes, Cael seemed a fine example of what a fey king should look like. Potent, powerful, seductive, with a fair dose of predatory darkness to him warning anyone who dared to mettle that he could dish as well as he could take, if not far more so.

Cael nodded to the squire who bowed as he shifted to fey form of an ordinary looking woodland male fey. He moved to give the stallion a stern warning to obey before mounting the beast. Then he looked to the squire, "Gather her and pass her to me. I shall take her to Rhynna's myself."

"Yes My Liege," the young squire responded with a nod as he rose to carrry out his orders. With as much gentleness as he could produce, he scooped the incapacitated woman up from the ground. Suddenly he could understand why this one caused such a ruckus about town. He found himself not wanting to give her up. However, the squire locked away those thoughts as he forced himself to place the girl sidesaddle into his king's protective custody. "May luck be with you both," he said with a nod.

"Remain in the area and inform the estate crew that their mistress has gone to visit Lady Rhynna for the night. Tell them that she simply did not want to stay in that house by herself. Do not tell them of her injury. There is no need to have them worry over something so easily fixable by the River Countess," Cael instructed before tightening his grip on the woman as he spurred the stallion into a gallop towards the river that he then followed to the forest cottage of the well known town alternative healer.

ooc: Sorry about the length. lol Got carried away.

[angell]

Claudia Hamilton:

~out cold from the large tree branch whacking her in the head with Flame going full tilt down the narrow path she is like a rag doll being passed between the two. Only difference was she was light and delicate as silk with the scent of heather and jasmine hinting the air around her.~


Rhynna:

~having heard whispers on the wind from other fae she couldnt help but smile and be eager to see young Lydia again. She had already prepared a bed for the girl, sure she would be spending a night or two here over the big estate house that used to be so full of life but was now so empty and cold, almost dead of the life it used to hold. ~

~with a sigh she hoped that young Lydia would sort everything out and stay, bring life back to the place and return it to its past position in the fae world. Only thing that bothered her is that there was so much mortal blood in Lydia's veins, it might be hard to bring her around, if it even happened at all. That small strain of fae in her had to be cultivated and hopefully brought out and the power the girl carried seen to its fullest, instead of forgotten and let die away with this generation. ~

~hearing the horse and feeling Cael close by she was brought out of her thoughts, wondering why Cael would ride a horse instead of fly to see her. Brushing long ebon strands of silk from her face and tucking one side behind her sharply pointed ear she went to the door and opened it. what she saw shocked her as well as saddened her. Lydia was limp, obviously injured and for that to happen, someone had to hurt her or startle her.~

Bring her inside Cael. ~being familiar with him only when no others are present she held her door open wide and motioned to the bed on the off side of the room where Lydia slept many times in her youth. Noticing a spot on her temple, under the soft strawberry blond curls that was stuck to her with dried blood she sighed.~

Do you know what happened? ~not waiting for him to answer she went to the little jars and bowls she always had ready for such an incident or a visitor who might want healing, and started mixing water with a few other hers and powders while she got what story there was to tell.~

[Akatala]

Cael slowed the spirited young stallion as he neared the cottage, using the reigns and body language to command the steed as though he were just another soul serving in his dominion. Which was true for the most part, the horse was just not of the faery population. He nodded to Rhynna the moment she opened the door, "Good evening, Rhynna. I am sorry to visit on such a sour note, but I happened to be checking up on the latest rumors when one of the squires watching Quinn Farms bellowed for assistance."

He swung off the stallion who danced lightly as though he'd wanted to run more. Cael looped the reigns around a tree just to make sure the horse was secure for the time being. Then he lifted the feather-weight girl off the saddle to carry her inside. He wasted no time and placing her upon the patient bed so that she could be treated.

He moved out of the way to give Rhynna room to work her wonders while answering her question in a calm friendly tone he used around few others, "The scene seemed to confirm a watcher report that she came just a wee bit too close to a branch while out riding her lands."

Hearing the horse make sounds of unhappiness being tethered outside, he bowed his head, "Pardon, I'll be a moment to tend the horse." Cael then stepped outside to remove the tack from the horse save for the halter, the he slapped the steed's rump. "Go on, have fun. Don't stray to far as your mistress will need you when she is better," he told the horse in the same stern commanding tone he'd used earlier that held strict expectation of obedience. Flame didn't give him a chance to say anymore, favoring that wild call to roam. No doubt some filly or mare would be expecting after this evening with so many faeries leading wild hunts. He shook his head slowly then stepped back inside.

"I was told your son had stopped by to visit her earlier, but he wasn't there when I arrived. I am guessing he has fled to the Faery realm to run from himself again. The lad has far better a conscience than is good for him. I only hope that the upcoming series of tournaments will bring some peace in letting him vent," Cael said in a causal manner laced with the worry of one who was pretty much an uncle to the young buck.

It was truly odd for Cael to show worry for anything other than how close someone was to making him lose his temper. However, Rhynna was one of the few people to ever win the right to see him without his many layers of masks and shielding. Here, he was simply an old friend who enjoyed spending time in her company when she would allow it. Here, there were no secrets save those she wished to keep to herself. It was a strange and yet comfortable bond. He knew she was a good woman with a true heart that would never betray her friends or family. He knew he could trust her alone with things that no other could be allowed to know for the sake of his own safety. She was also the only one whom he ever allowed to command him however she liked as he could never grow angry with this one no matter how much he sometimes wanted to. But then again, that was the power of one who controlled a river. A mere single fey was nothing compared to the power of rushing white waters.

He tore his emerald gaze away from Rhynna to watch their ward, "How fairs she? I put a gag order on news of the accident thus far. I didn't want a panic to sweep through following so closely after the rumors of her arrival, but you know how much the trees love to spread gossip in the wind."

He paused to tilt his head to one side, "They are right about one thing. She is certainly not the same little tomgirl that left Ireland years ago. It never ceases to amaze me how fast these mortals grow. Not to long ago she was learning to walk. Now, she has everything she needs to drive the male folk in town mad with improper thoughts, let alone start her own race for stags to try their lot at catching this Golden Hind."

Perhaps it was only the fact that he was standing in the same room as Rhynna that he wasn't dropping his tongue himself. He made a mental note to be careful in approaching this maiden. If he wasn't, he might feel the need to join the fray. And when a panther hunted, it let nothing save death stop it from seizing what it wanted.

[angell]

I see. ~moving to Lydia she sat on a chair and frowned, something was wrong, this girl knew how to ride as if she was born it. With a touch as light as a feather she took a soft rag and wiped the dried blood away, not minding that it started oozing again, it was expected to. Then taking her hand she dipped fingers into the watery paste she created and covered the large gash in the side of the girls head~ would have been a bad thing should a human have found her. They would have shaved her head and put stitches in, creating a scar and ruining her hair.

~having finished putting the poltice on she took up a swatch of clean cotton and wrapped it around the girls head. Checking her quickly for other injuires she nearly growled at what she figured had happened but kept it inside as best she could and put a thin layer of the poltice over Lydia's swollen, cracked lip. with a sigh she stood up and leaned over, brushing the hair from the girls face she smiled in a motherly fashion, kissed her forhead and turned to Cael with a soft sigh~

She will be fine, no worries in that, though she will need protection. But I think perhaps you should stay away from Lydia unless I am around to protect you. ~laughing a bit she walked to him, patted his chest with her hand, long fingers curling a bit into his clothes and she pulled him outside to talk~ She isnt for you Cael, even you know that.

She is a beauty of a girl. I have known she was going to be like her mother since the day she was born. Tis her father's blood I worry about. That bastard took our Natalie away from us and I will never forgive him that. ~fire flashed in her eyes and the river waters started to bubble along the shores a bit more violently than the normal calm chatter~

~setting on a chair outside the door she relaxed a bit, as she always did when they talked outside together~ Aye, she has grown into a very fine young woman with a talent and a skill with animals. That young stallion you rode here is already returning to check his mistress. ~she motions with her eyes to down the river where the stallion walks along the banks towards them~

There is just something about the way ol' Sebastian did things with the mortals that isnt right in my head. I worry that something that was done will prevent her from staying here with us. Someone has to, somehow find out what the finances are and if one of us needs to intercede somehow.

~her eyes went distant for a moment then she looked up with her eyes sparkling and a thoughtful smile on her lips~ Silver......you will understand her once you meet her and she can appear mortal without a thought. I can call for her and have her spend time here under some story or some such. You know her dont you? after all, she is goddess of the feline world. Even more powerful than I and just as sweet, or so I am told.

~reaching out to take his hand her smile softened to more of a relaxed, almost sad if one looked close enough, expression. She was lonely but had a very hard time with the thought of being with anyone else since her husband died. The years did not matter to her, her heart was true to him and as she saw it, it was replacing him or even cheating on him. But, she could enjoy the company of an old friend with no harm coming from it. Couldnt she?~