[color=f49ac2][i][b][center]Lyra[/center][/b][/i][/color] Lyra looked unsure but took the tart Raven offered. After a tiny bite her eyes lit up. [color=f49ac2]"It makes my mouth all tickle-y!"[/color] she giggled and took a bigger bite. She tried not to drop crumbs but she was four so that was nearly impossible. Still she managed to a reasonably good job at eating neatly, even sneaking a few crumbs to her bunny. [color=f49ac2]"His name is gonna be Peanut,"[/color] she announced, [color=f49ac2]"cuz he looks like the color of a peanut and he's small like a peanut." When Raven spoke to her again her eyes widened. She'd gotten two presents today! The butterfly mesmerized the child, making her stare fully enraptured by it's fluttering wings. She was quiet for a few moments and stayed very still as Raven clipped it into her fair. The child slowly got down from Arethusa's lap, leaving her bunny in the safety of the fae's lap, and went to Raven, hugging her legs tightly. [color=f49ac2]"Thank you,"[/color] Lyra whispered reverently, touching the butterfly gently. She couldn't wait to show Ba-Ba! [color=f49ac2]"Now I like three peoples,"[/color] she said, stepping back after a moment and counting them on her fingers. [color=f49ac2]"Ba-ba, Are and now Raven,"[/color] she recited before reaching up and lightly tugging on Raven's hand. [color=f49ac2]"Are you going to stay here now? I want you to stay forever. We can play and I'll be good I promise. Please stay?"[/color] [@Prince of Seraphs][@SunsetRoses] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [i][b][color=6ecff6][center]Arys[/center][/color][/b][/i] Arys watched the human's reactions closely as she told her tale of meeting the Fall King. She was rather disappointed in her words. It made the Fall King seem too good to be true. Often when something was too good to be true, it was. And the ones who had believed in such a thing were left gravely disappointed, if not dead. [color=6ecff6]"You mistake me little one," [/color]she said, waving a hand. [color=6ecff6]"I do not seek gossip on how Falk behaves in bed. I seek to know what I should expect in dealings with him. You have spoken honestly, or as honestly as you are allowed to speak, so I will be honest with you in return. I do not trust Lord Falk in the slightest. But on the other hand I cannot turn a blind eye to what marriage to him would provide for me."[/color] Rising, she went to the mirror above her dressing table, the glass freezing as she touched it. [color=6ecff6]"Everyone assumes I am like the other rulers, wanting power and land and to rule over everything and everyone. But that is not true. All I want is to be left alone, to have no worries or fears, to enjoy my solitude without troubles."[/color] It was the first time she had spoken the desire aloud. What magic did this human posses to make her reveal such a thing? Well it wasn't the full truth. Arys did want more than what she had spoken, but what Arys truly wanted was not something she wanted to admit even to herself. A few kelpies, the only ones allowed into the Queen's private chambers and only when summoned, appeared carrying warm clothing for the human. It was a gown made of soft grey fleece and trimmed with white fur, Arys' signature colors. A grey cloak was also brought along with warm shoes. Arys dismissed the kelpies and waved a hand towards the privacy screen that led to the room with the large stone and crystal pool she used for bathing.[color=6ecff6] "Change your attire before you freeze. Then you will play for me. I am interested in hearing what music you can make with your harp." [/color] [@LadyRunic] ~~~~~~~ [color=f26522][i][b][center]Grexx[/center][/b][/i][/color] The little goblin trudged miserably through the borders. At least the Spring King had seemed to open the border between Spring and Winter for a time, likely for trade purposes. Why had the queen done this to him?! Sure he had made a few mistakes... okay a LOT of mistakes, but surely that didn't justify sending him to Spring of all places! Grexx kicked at rocks as he walked, pouting. The sun was too bright. It was too hot. The birds sang too much and too loudly. It smelled. The list continued in his mind as he grumbled under his breath. There must have been someone else she could have sent, someone better than him. Grexx?! The representative of the Winter Court?! He'd just screw everything up! He suddenly came to a standstill, shocked at his own thoughts. This was an important job! Was he looking at this the wrong way? Did the queen actually have such confidence in him that she had chosen HIM for this important mission? Feeling a sudden burst of confidence the goblin smiled broadly and stood straighter, puffing his chest out proudly. He'd prove that her belief in him was not in vain! He'd serve the queen well! He'd stand up proudly amongst all of the haughty vultures of Spring and show them what the Winter Court was made of! A rustle in the bushes made Grexx scream in terror and take off running. Some kind of large creature with teeth appeared, chasing him. If he hadn't been running for his life Grexx might have been fascinated and started classifying the creature based on books he had studied, but he would do that when there was less of a chance of him being the beast's lunch! Grexx shimmied up a tree trunk, holding on for dear life as the creature jumped and snarled at him. [color=f26522]"Go away foul beast! Don't you know who I am?! I am the servant of her majesty the Queen of Winter!"[/color] The beast either did not know or did not care as he simply renewed his efforts of trying to sink his teeth into the goblin's nether regions. Grexx yelped and tried to scoot higher only to start sliding downward. [color=f26522]"You don't want to eat me! I'm small and hardly worth the effort! I taste terrible! I'll give you indegestion! I'm too skinny! I'm all bone!"[/color] Grexx shouted at the creature, trying to convince the thing to leave him alone. [color=f26522]"HELP!"[/color] Grexx called, praying someone with less of an appetite would hear.