eachdraidh | ☙ 001; video

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☙ 001; video

[Mary is on a horse, riding as though she's in a steeplechase that will cost her her life if she loses. She's not riding sidesaddle, because damn ladylike manners at the moment. She needed to escape Glaem as fast as possible and it's much easier to ride a horse astride. Trying to use the locket while doing so is proving difficult, partially due to the fact that Mary still hasn't quite gotten the hang of it. Whoever's viewing this video will notice her head bobbing up and down, wisps of hair flying about her face and a long braid bobbing at her shoulder.]

Please.. if anyone should hear this.. where might people from Caer Glaem take refuge?

[She's headed south, mostly because that seems as good a direction as any, so long as it's away from the monstrosity that had attacked the castle. She's sure that it was the Devil himself. Her horse barrels through the snow, the night frigid and her body shaking through the thin nightgown she's wearing. The only thought in her mind is to get away.

She wonders briefly if this is how women in the French countryside felt during the war.]

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What happened?

[ oh, no, oh no, rizhao and hermione are at caer glaem. the jabberwock —? ]

What direction are you headed — there's three, as long as you're not going north.

A dreadful beast has attacked the castle. I've never seen the likes of it before in my life.

[She probably should have gone into the tunnels with everyone else, but she was terrified and she just wanted out. The creature could have caused a cave-in and they all could have died.]

I believe I'm headed south, but I'm unfamiliar with this land.

[It's also nighttime, she has only the moon as light to guide her and it's freezing cold. She's faintly sure that she's going to at least get frostbite before this is all over.]

Stick to the road — the castle's supported by a bunch of outlying villages who'll be ready to help you because you're a Shardbearer. [ a brief pause, and he considers what he can tell about her current outfitting, and starts directing. he's not at the battlefield, but he does know he's got a civic responsibility with this damn marquis thing. it's rude now, but he hasn't really gotten organized enough to integrate himself with rescue activities yet

and he's got to get to rizhao, he has to make sure she's safe. ] Get warmer clothes, warn them that the Jabberwock's back, and if you can, get them to evacuate. It might target more than just the castle, and it'll be stupid to just leave you all out there like a sitting turtleduck. You're probably a bigger target, though, since you've got a shard.

It might not hurt to ask the White Hart for help and leave him offerings after, either.

[Ok, a lot of that sounded like Chinese to her, honestly. She'd like to say it's because she's disoriented, but she doesn't understand a lot of this because she's so new here.]

I'm sorry - is "Jabberwock" what that thing is called? And who is the White Hart?

[And it will try to kill her simply because of this thing that is supposedly inside of her? She's even more terrified.]

Yeah.

The White Hart is the patron spirit of the Seelies, kind of. Spirit of life and rebirth, stuff like that. The Greenwood's his main stomping ground.

Is he.. wait, are you referring to a stag?

[It finally hits her that a 'hart' is not a person. And would it really be out of the realm of possibility that in this land there could be a magical stag.]

Big horse thing with antlers? Yeah.

Yes. It talks-? [She shakes her head because it honestly doesn't surprise her at this point.] Never mind. I'll look for a village. Thank you for your help.

I would offer safety behind my city's gates, only...[ sadness suffuses itself through her words. ] I fear it may not be far enough from the catastrophe to offer any safety at all.

Thank you for the offer, though I do not know where your city is. Are you remaining there, even though there's a chance of attack?

The Cothromach is a fortnight's ride from the castle. And yet -- [ gods. where else does she have where she might flee? for better or worse, the mountain city is where she remains. ]

I think I must stay.

[Two weeks? She'd be an icicle by then. Actually, she'll probably be an icicle in little under two hours if she doesn't get somewhere warm soon.]

I wish you luck in defending your home. Do you perhaps know what I might be riding towards? What is south of Caer Glaem?

The Elven Home. King Thranduil's land.

Elves.

[Mary's conception of Elves is little people that help Father Christmas make toys.]

Do you believe I would find respite there?

It is possible. If the supplicant is graceful and comports herself with courtesy.

We've not met, Madame.

[Which is her way of saying that she is always grateful and courteous - or at least can put on a show of it if her life depends on it.]

I will be nothing but, if not also a bit desperate.

I think elven courtesy is a little different than that of humankind. But -- [ sansa wavers. ] -- as you say, you will be yourself.

[ she doesn't know this woman. not even her name. so sansa offers her own: ] I am Sansa. Of House Stark. Lady and Keeper of the Cothromach.

Lady Mary Crawley. I hope we're able to meet again in person under more fortunate circumstances.

[Like a time other than when she's fleeing for her life on horseback through the frozen wilderness.]

I pray we will. Ride safe, my lady.

( So Caer Glaem has not been spared, either. Elizabeth can only guess that the poor beast has been maddened by what has been done to its former home in the north. As this message has not been locked to the Seelie court only, Elizabeth takes the opportunity to speak to Mary: )

Lady Crawley, please take care. I imagine there will be as many among your court whom will need assistance as there are in mine. If you can, please help them.

I shall do what I am able to here, in the meantime. The beast.. ( She pauses, releasing a sad sigh. ) I am sad for it.

It knows not what it does. I shall pray for its soul, and for your safety.

[Mary didn't lock the message, partly because she does not know how and partly because she's riding like a madwoman as far away from Glaem as she can and didn't have time.]

Your Highness, I believe that many have been sent to underground tunnels in order to wait out the attack.

[Mary wasn't particularly fond of the tunnel idea, thus she grabbed a horse and fled.]

How very noble it is for you to feel sorry for the beast, however, I've never seen anything that looked so much like the Devil himself.

( Elizabeth doesn't think being underground is a very sound idea, either. )

Apparently the creature is heading east, so you would do better to ride hard toward the west. I imagine you will come across some manner of settlement where you may seek shelter until this is over.

A need we both share in this hour. I am in the midst of doing much the same.

( Seeking shelter because some assholes led by a knight who will pay dearly laid waste to the castle. Then didn't even take it for themselves as what would have occurred at the end of a proper siege back home. )

I can only attempt to reassure you that it is not a demon nor the Devil, my lady. He or she knows not what they do. Their magic is wild and uncontrolled. I do not believe it was meant to come into this world yet. Please, when you discover a village far enough away, stay there a while. And let me know that you arrive safely.

I would know you are well.

Thank you, Ma'am. It pains me that you are on the opposing side of this war. Please know that I wish you no harm.

[She's not sure she quite agrees about the monster though. Mary saw mens bodies fall and decay around it. If it's magic, it's surely a form of black magic.]

I believe that I am heading south away from the castle.

As much as it pains me, Lady Crawley. Please be rest-assured of that. You are a subject of my realm, and thus I am honour-bound to protect and provide for you.

( No matter where they are, or which court has claimed them. She will not be one of the Plantagenets who shirked their honour nor their responsibility. )

Good. Please remain there, and contact me to tell me that you are safe when this is over. I would know you are well.

Thank you. You have my allegiance as well, Your Majesty. [Her words make Mary feel a bit warmer and more at ease, despite everything going on right now.] I will send you a message when I am able to.

You do me a great honour, Lady Crawley. I owe you my eternal gratitude. ( Considering she's likely long-dead by Mary's time. )

My thanks. Stay safe and should circumstances change, run once more. One day, I shall be able to offer you my protection properly. But until that day, I hope that my prayers will do for the time being.

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