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[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

[notyetlegend]

[She gives her own wry smile.]

I never said ye were, m'lord.

[gordianknots]

If you run into any locals trying to get out of dodge, can you send them my way? I'm trying to get people who want out somewhere safe.

[notyetlegend]

[She's never heard the expression before, but she gets the general gist of it.]

I will. Angus isn't quite th' competent flyer yet, so I have no doubt some of our journey will take place on foot.

[gordianknots]

Thank you. And if you need any sort of spot to rest in yourself, I think head west or south.

[notyetlegend]

I'll keep that in mind. [She purses her lips together.] Th' Station might fill up quicker than people think.

[gordianknots]

I had that thought too. Plus, depending on the direction of the march, it could well come under fire by accident. [Or intention, he doesn't say, because the idea of it would throw Waver into a rage.] Better to go where it's unlikely to hit.

[notyetlegend]

Aye. Th' Station ring is closest tae th' Caer by process of elimination. Even a fool not taught th' art of war could see that.

[Merida chews on her bottom lip.]

[gordianknots]

Precisely so. And while non-shardbeaers can't use the rings, any elite teams made of shardbearers alone--

[He isn't finishing that thought. That thought can just stop right now.]

It'll be a problem no matter what.

[notyetlegend]

[And her best friends are there...she lets out a curse in Gaelic as she bites her thumb.]

I made Jack promise me he wouldn't do anythin' stupid or let Hiccup do anythin' stupid...

[gordianknots]

I'm heading over to the Station in a few days. If you want, I can try and catch them.

[notyetlegend]

If I don't talk tae them before ye do, please. Even if it's just givin' them message deliveries tae do.

[Rubbing the bridge of her nose now.]

Knowin' Hiccup he'll try an' diffuse th' situation, but be enough of an idiot tae throw himself between both armies.

[gordianknots]

I'll try and talk him down from it. I have a feeling that his skills will be more needed in the future, once everyone's seen what the fighting here is like.

[notyetlegend]

Thank ye, m'lord. I'm afraid if I tried tae talk him down I'd just end up yellin' at him.

[gordianknots]

I know the feeling. Sometimes the concern just flares into an argument.

[notyetlegend]

[She gives a mirthless laugh.]

I know that all too well. Only I can't change him into a bear in this world.

[gordianknots]

I think Toothless would just be deeply confused.

[notyetlegend]

Now that would stop th' war, at least for a bit. A bear ridin' a dragon.

[gordianknots]

[Waver takes a moment to imagine that, and bursts out laughing.]

And Hiccup could be quite proud!

[notyetlegend]

[She giggles herself. She's been too tense these last few days.]

Aye, he would be! Just don't give him th' idea.

[gordianknots]

Zero promises.

[notyetlegend]

[Eyeroll.]

Och, leave it up tae boys an' they'll do whatever they wish.

[gordianknots]

Hey, at least everyone will have gotten a little humour before everything goes to shit.