fourth arrow → VIDEO → both courts

[notyetlegend]

[Merida appears to be outside the manor when her locket flips open, brushing out some of the feathers in Angus' wings since he doesn't seem to know quite how to preen them himself just yet. She's wrapped up for the weather, a warm-looking cloak draped over her shoulders and fur trimmed dress, held together at her breast by a hand carved cloak clasp. She tugs the cloak around her a little more, depositing feathers into a bucket before she turns her attention to the locket.]

When I first got here, I was already familiar with th' terms Seelie an' Unseelie, an' Drabbish is close tae th' language of my people. Seelie means 'lucky' or 'blessed', while Unseelie means 'misfortunate' or 'unholy'. [She shakes her head.] I don't believe there's a difference, personally. In all th' stories I was told as a wee lass, Seelie were known tae tell just as many lies as Unseelie. Th' only difference was, Unseelie were more honest, believe it or not, while th' Seelie's words were like roses. Pretty, but not without their thorns.

[tl;dr - all fae were assholes.]

There's many a tale of both of them lurin' men from their path, or kidnappin' children in exchange for their own young, that sort of thing. There was a man who came into DunBroch claimin' he'd been down a sìth for th' last few hundred years. We even have a demon bear who used tae be a prince that roams th' lands.

[She brushes her hands off, then slips them further into the sleeves of her dress as Angus leans his head down towards his water trough, ear flicking as his wings fold back properly into place now that they've been groomed. Merida pats his neck, then tilts her head as she sits down on a bench in his stall, not caring about the hay or snow littering it. There's two saddlebags near her, both appearing to be carrying as much as she needs. Leaning back against a wall of the stable, she fidgets with her cloak clasp as Angus leans over the stall, nuzzling at another horse.]

I suppose what I'm tryin' tae say is, people are more alike than they care to admit, even those who are too prideful tae say so. [She gives a small sigh, lips twisting into a wry smile as her eyes shine with a bit of guilt.] I'm...a lot more like my mother than I'd ever have thought before I arrived. She'd be Seelie if she were here.

[Merida shakes her head, pushing her hair out from her cloak, the material falling down around her shoulders.]

I'd also like tae apologize tae those of you who I suggested come tae th' manor or those I was goin' tae do things with, but I'll be unavailable. I have some travelin' tae do.

[a.k.a she's getting the hell out of dodge. The redhead opens her mouth to say something else but she's interrupted when one of Angus' wings flick over her head, fluffing her hair up over her head and causing her to fumble and drop the locket, cutting the feed on her next cry.]

Angus!

Comments

video

[athousandcurses]

This is an excellent idea, Merida! Those not used to the fae's wills are more susceptible, I think.

[Grainne's a little unwilling to say she's been distrustful of the monarchs in a public place because of her background, but there's plenty of implication.

After a moment, Grainne manages to fiddle her locket into a private video]

Are you all right, my girl?

video, permaprivate

[notyetlegend]

Aye, I think those who don't know th' stories should, at the very least, be aware of them.

[Because even if she hadn't heeded her mother's words of being frank with fae and magical creatures when she'd made the deal with the witch for the spell, but she'd kept it in mind since arriving in the Drabwurld. Perhaps people would do well to learn they should take heed as well. Merida brushes her hair out of her eyes and back into it's usual mess, thankful Grainne flipped it to private before she did.]

I'm fine. I'm just...leavin' th' manor before things get serious.

Video, Permaprivate

[gordianknots]

Please check in when you can so that I know that you're still out of the way of this mess.

Video, Permaprivate

[notyetlegend]

Aye, I shall. I promised a couple of others that I would once I knew where I was headed.

[She bites her bottom lip.]

I'll try an' help where I can, but I can't promise much.

Video

[huntedby]

I hope your travels treat you well.

[She isn't sure how she feels about Merida leaving. Some might think of it as leaving the chess board to avoid the plays. It isn't something she would blame her, though; Vanessa can't fight herself. But she'll stay. She's never backed down in her life; but perhaps it is a gift she should learn.]

Video

[notyetlegend]

Thank ye, Vanessa.

[She purses her lips together, biting her bottom one softly.]

I know I must seem like a coward.

video

[getinthechariot]

Have a pleasant journey, Princess.

And if you need help, you need but call.

[Rider can't say he's not sad to see her go, but he also gets the feeling there'll be a lot more of this in the near future]

video

[notyetlegend]

Thank you, Iskander. I'll certainly keep it in mind.

[She smiles pleasantly, even if it does look a little like a worried.]

I wish ye safe travels as well, should th' need arise.

Private Video

[bythewaves]

Ah, alas - if only you had been here earlier to warn them. But I fear your warnings will fall on deaf ears.

May your road be smooth and the path clear.

permaprivate

[notyetlegend]

Thank ye, Maglor.

[She gives him a grateful smile.]

Then fall on deaf ears they shall. If they cannae see for themselves, then I'm afraid I cannae offer much more of a warnin'.

[theywhowait]

It would not be the first time fair face has hid foul intent. [ Faramir looks thoughtful ]

Thank you for the warning, Lady!

[notyetlegend]

You're welcome, lad, though I don't know how many will heed it.

[She purses her lips together.]

It's fine if nobody does though. I simply thought it would be fair tae share somethin' I've heeded since I was a wee lass.

Video

[starspangled]

Have a safe trip. I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to catch up.

[Since they were both you-know-where around the same time.]

Video

[notyetlegend]

As am I. I still need tae teach ye how tae toss cabers.

[She smiles cheekily, though the whole situation is kind of stupid in her opinion.]

Action;

[red_branch]

[Lancer, seated on the back of a gigantic eagle as it scarfed down a raccoon, was in the middle of reading a map while Merida got herself ready.]

Well, I think I know where I wanna put it.

[WAIT. PUT WHAT WHERE]

[notyetlegend]

Put what?

[She looked over from where she was fixing Angus' saddle bags in place as his wing ruffles back to his side, snuffling at a piece of vegetable she handed him, placing her locket back around her neck. Merida raises an eyebrow at him, leading her horse out of his stall by his reins.]

[Video]

[oathshackledbird]

You liked my gift?

[Diarmuid means the cloak clasp, of course. He is still wearing the hand carved necklace she sent him and it warms his heart to see her wearing his gift to her. There might be more serious things to worry about at the moment, but for now, he would rather talk about this. He has been worrying about things non-stop lately...]

[Video]

[notyetlegend]

I love it.

[Though truthfully she still didn't get the whole gift giving thing over Yule, but she would have done it either way. She gives him a warm smile, even if her own face is graced with worry.]

Are you recovered now?

( video )

[disheartening]

I think the lesson to learn from this is simple.

[ said in a drawl but there is more truth there than in anything else she told anyone since she got here. ]

Storybooks are simply just that, they're storybooks. And children's tale are always much too simple to be true. It is always good or evil, heroes or villains.

[ who would know better than the women who was a villain and is trying to become a hero for a lost son? ]

It is never quite that obvious and never necessarily true.

( video )

[notyetlegend]

I don't believe there's such a thing as good or evil.

[Merida purses her lips together, nibbling softly on the bottom one.]

Just bad decisions. War always comes, whether it's over land or somethin' petty, or kingdoms someone simply decides they want. Children's tales fae might be, but here we are.

[She smiles slightly.]

There's always some truth behind tales after all.

video;

[digophelia]

I'm certain my parents would qualify as Seelie if they were here and alive, too.

[ Misfortunate. Haha. That's a good way of looking at it. ]

In England, these stories were found more on the countryside. Mama would tell us never to step in fairy rings, lest we rouse them. Most of these things were in storybooks, not as profound as they are possibly in your world. Usually accompanied with stories of princesses and mystical swords.

video;

[notyetlegend]

Aye, it's probably somethin' most parents have that makes them Seelie.

[She smiles gently, showing that she holds no ill will towards anyone who would qualify, then purses her lips in thought, nodding.]

Mother thought it'd be best to tell me such stories in preparations for my future as Queen. There's a few lessons that can be taken from them, though I'm afraid I didn't heed them at home. [Merida's smile turns a little wry. You're the one that said about princesses, Alice.] I should have taken her tales about the ancient kingdom more seriously myself.

[baseborne]

My brother, they recruited him. [Clearly it was a mistake but he's looking past that for the moment because it's Merida and he's going to be nice. Jon really likes her and Hiccup and Jack too, against his better judgement, but they're all a little queer and a lot wild, unreserved and irreverent: he can't picture Robb fitting in there at all. Still...] Separating families and asking them to fight one another is fool's work, it's no wonder there are so many who won't take part.

[notyetlegend]

Aye, I met him briefly, over locket.

[Her expression changes as her brow furrows, lips pursing together. If this wasn't a serious conversation she'd tease him over not telling her he had a brother. Or a sister for that matter. That can come later. Merida manages to smile softly, drawing her cloak inward a little more.]

I may not like my mother sometimes, but I wouldn't hurt her. Not for anyone, High-Queen or otherwise.

video.

[duodecimal]

Selectively honest.

[ But he has to agree with her, even if he hasn't properly heard old legends like these from someone who believes them these in a very long long time. He shakes his head before saying anything else. ]

It's the subtle differences between the people we're alike that separate us. And a bit of monarch meddling because who wouldn't want good players on their side of the board. [ A pause and— ] Unplanned travel?

video.

[notyetlegend]

You'd think with a group of people under their flag, they'd be more interested in being truthfully honest.

[She knew that wasn't possible though. Some might catch on and question, but others would remain ignorant. Still, that was what her message was for, for them to figure things out. She smiles at his question though.]

Aye, a bit. [She glances off to the side, then switches the locket to private.] Seelie forces are comin' for th' Caer, an' my home is between them an' th' castle.