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[nottame]

[Hushed and softly husky young male voice over faint nocturnal insect noises and fainter Samhain music; swaying view of lights and shapes of buildings. The broadcaster hasn't taken their locket off - absentminded ponderation that warrants a question. Pardon the ponderation coming first.]

I wonder if there's anything I could do for the King and Queen... Uh --

Like -- the way we do things for them anyway, now and again -- not, like, for the war -- but I wonder if there's something really important someone could help 'em with in the castle, or somewhere I could go for them -- somewhere they've gotta explore, or something! Something you could do for a favor - or, uhh, not exactly a "favor" I guess, but... Something from home.

-- It probably sounds kind of terrible... -- But I was kind of just thinking about something and now I kind of want to...! [Which - distinctly trails and retraces its own tracks; he hasn't set up this questiong well at all! Cracks back in with a bit of an affected "heh...!"] Uh -- sorry...!

[Stumbles up to re-start stronger. ] It's Toboe! Um. -- I'm a wolf -- the King and Queen introduced me to this girl; she was supposed to be some kind of a nature spirit. [By now winding through airiness. Thoughtful, nosing again as he goes at introductions all-around, what he's "learning" his way around. Refocuses for the next bit.] -- A "dryad", I think that's what she was called. -- And she led me out to meet some other wolves. I, uh -- still haven't really gotten to know them, but they seem great...

[This particular injection of huskiness is genuine forward-looking excitement, but he'll try to spare the digression as much as possible for the moment...!]

Anyway...! Uh - they said they'd never heard of, or -- smelled, or seen Lunar Flowers...! So I wanted to ask the King and Queen if we could grow them here, and if it'd be possible to get some! Maybe there could be a whole field of them someday... [A vision of Paradise!] -- I know the other wolves would love 'em -- and I bet everybody else would like them, too!

Uhh... So, um -- ! Has anybody... ever asked for something like that before...? -- To earn a chance to ask for something from the Kings and Queens, when there's not one already? I-I can always wait! But I'm just wondering...

...And come to think of it! [Conversationally intent cutting-back-in!] Did they have Lunar Flowers where any of you guys came from? And the story of Paradise? Though I guess that one's less important...

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[bythewaves]

Hello Toboe. [ Maglor smiles a little, tired and gentle - he likes the pup ] Well met.

[ instead of answering he shrugs and asks a question ]

Tell me, Toboe, if someone said that they loved you and that they were kind and gentle, and then they refused to hand over a treasure that might have stopped a war that caused you to kill someone and slaughtered many of their people, would you still think them good?

[nottame]

[He's dead quiet for it.

Pang of graveness. Another moment to run things through, and he can't answer that. It doesn't take acuteness to take that as an example, and... is Maglor speaking for himself? Why did they keep it, and why was it a thing to war over, why did he need to kill someone...]

Why'd they do it?

Why didn't they hand it over, did -- did they tell?

[He's not trying to imply that excuses anything on anyone's end - this is enough for him to wonder, sincerely, on multiple points.]

[bythewaves]

[ a bitter bitter smile ]

I do not know. But I sent and I begged and the Seelie refused me - the Queen did not even deign to reply! And my brother died for our father's jewel because we could not stop until our Oath was fulfilled, but none would heed us, nay, not even the pleading of my kin on their side.

Tell me Toboe, is that the actions of a Queen who loves her people?

Celegorm would have turned aside if they had yielded us the jewel. Even the Elvenking said so, and he has more cause than most to hate us. But instead your pretty gentle Queen let her toy soldiers go to war.