[center][color=f26522]Grexx[/color][/center] It all happened so quickly. Grexx had been taken to a room and, once rested, had ventured out into the Spring Court to wander and inspect the land that was so different from his own. Suddenly blackness filled the air as screams of the dying echoed through the land. Grexx had to dart right and left to avoid being trampled by the creatures of Spring who came to the court to seek the protection of their king. The little goblin was terrified. Black creatures appeared, twisting and killing everything in their path. He fumbled with his bag, searching for the crystal within. He nearly wept in relief as his tiny hand closed around it. He held it up in triumph and then screamed in terror moments later when one of the black creatures headed right for him. In his panic he dropped the crystal, which shattered. A gust of winter wind and snow blasted from the shattered pieces and enveloped the goblin, whisking him away just as the creature pounced... ~~~~~~~~~ Grexx reappeared in a whirlwind of icy air at the entrance of the Winter Court. It took several moments for him to move from the huddled trembling ball he had curled himself into. Once he realized he was safe, for the moment, he took off like a shot. "My Queen! My Queen! My Queeeeeeeeeeeen!!" his panicked screams echoed along the corridors. [center]~~~~~~~~~~~ [color=00aeef]Arys[/color][/center] Arys felt it. Something was wrong. Horribly wrong. The faint crackles and snaps in the distance raised her hackles even more. [color=f26522]"My Queeeeeeeeeen!!"[/color] the echoed panicked voice got louder as a small figure suddenly burst into the chamber. [color=00aeef]"Grexx, I thought I sent you to Spring,"[/color] Arys snapped, her irritation at the tiny incompetent creature plain to see. [color=f26522]"Spring is destroyed![/color]" Grexx gasped out, wringing his hands as his eye bugged in terror. [color=f26522]"Black creatures of twisted smoke and shadows descended like a swarm of locusts! They devoured and destroyed everything! The Lord Nyx of Spring is dead! Spring is dead! It is dead!"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Calm yourself Grexx and slow down,"[/color] Arys said sharply. [color=00aeef]"What are you talking about?"[/color] [color=f26522]"Horrible creatures milady! Pure evil! So many... Spring was overrun before anything could be done! I don't know if anyone could have escaped other than myself!"[/color] [color=00aeef]"And you say Nyx is dead?"[/color] Grexx nodded vigorously. [color=f26522]"Devoured before my eyes! They had no chance! My Queen something must be done! What if they come here! What if Winter is next?! Please milady you must-!"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Silence Grexx!"[/color] Arys ordered harshly before turning away from both the sniveling goblin and the knight. Creatures of darkness? Spring destroyed so quickly? Nyx dead? It had to be the work of Falk. There was no other explanation. If he had conjured these creatures than he must be far more powerful than any of them had ever known... Would he turn them on her next? After he had offered marriage to her? But she had not accepted. She had issued a challenge. Was this his response to the challenge? But then why had he sent his human pet here? Surely he would not have sent her to die. Of course that was practically what she had done to Grexx... Something was not adding up. Yes Fall hated Spring, but what advantage could he have to completely destroy the land of Spring? Rather kill Nyx and take the land than destroy it. No. It was not logical. And Falk was anything if not logical. [color=f26522]"M-my Queen,"[/color] Grexx ventured, more calm but still clearly terrified. [color=f26522]"Should we perhaps contact Lord Falk. The Lord of Fall sent you the human girl as an offer of friendship yes? Then perhaps he can be called upon to-"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Are you saying I am incapable of defending my realm Grexx?"[/color] Arys asked in a dangerous tone. [color=f26522]N-n-no milady! Of course n-n-not milady![/color] Grexx stammered. [color=f26522]"B-b-but the creatures! There are too many to face alone! Spring was wiped out in such a short time and-"[/color] [color=00aeef]"I said silence!"[/color] Arys snapped and waved a hand, sending a gust of icy wind that sent Grexx sailing backwards and into the wall. He crumpled to the floor and whimpered. She could not run to Falk now. She had given him a challenge and he had to complete it before she could marry him. Marriage to Falk was her only hope in the long run, but presently something had to be done. [color=00aeef]"One of you go to the human girl. Find out what she might know about this, then bring her here to my chambers,"[/color] she ordered to both Grexx and Dagon, whoever would do it first didn't matter to her. [color=00aeef]"The other will go to the mines and bring back any Blood Pearls that have been found. Do it quickly."[/color] When both were gone Arys waved a hand to created an icy stand with a deep bowl in the center. Once the handful of Blood Pearls were brought to her she placed them in the bowl. A dagger made from the scale of the last Ice Dragon appeared in her hand. Closing her eyes, Arys began to chant in an ancient Fae tongue. It was a spell that was risky and would only work if one had the blood of the Ancient Ice Fae Royalty in their veins. Once the chanting was finished her eyes opened to reveal they had turned completely white. Dragging the dagger across her wrist, Arys' blood poured into the bowl over the Blood Pearls. The gems glowed with an eerie light and seemed to drink in her blood. A light so bright it nearly blinded anyone in the room streamed from the bowl. Outside of the Court a large protective shield of ice began to form. Any who touched it would be instantly frozen solid. Arys eyes returned to normal as the glow from the bowl faded. The Blood Pearls had joined together to form a rather large pool of red pearl-ized liquid that glowed. As long as she fed her blood to it regularly, the protecting spell would hold. But it was not perfect. The longer the spell lasted the more blood it required. They would have to find another solution before she bled herself dry. And that was not the only problem : anyone outside of the barrier, which was the rest of her realm, was open to attack and there was nothing she could do to save any who happened to be outside. Most of her subjects were inside the icy caves that made up the court but not all. Gritting her teeth, Arys placed a hand over the wound on her wrist to freeze it shut. Falk would either have to hurry and finish her challenge or both her kingdom and his pet would be lost should the dark creatures move to attack Winter.