The longer they walked, the odder the forest seemed. It was difficult to tell if this was simply a portion of the forest that was particularly affected by fae magics, or if they had, at some point, strayed into one of the very fae realms they had been tasked with trying to infiltrate.

They air seemed odd. A slight tingle on the skin of the assembled knights, though not a wholly unpleasant sensation. Rather, it almost evoked the feeling of the summer sunlight, on a particularly clear and fresh day. The foliage seemed greener, here, but also somewhat strange. It was as if it had grown in an arranged fashion, two rows of tall, white trees flanking their approach as they were lead by the fae hunter.

The trees were broken, now, by figures of equal height to the hunter. They were cloaked in black, standing out in sharp contrast against the white trees surrounding the path. What features they possessed were shrouded, but in their hands they gripped spears that appeared to be hewn from the same darkness as their cloaks.

It was difficult to tell how long the procession of armed fae was.

But at its end was a throne of wood. Not a throne carved from wood, but a throne grown from wood. It was a single, continuous piece, rooted to the spot and adorned with leaves that grew from it naturally.

Most striking was the figure seated upon it.

She had fair skin, and was nearly as tall as the hunter and the cloaked figures, herself. Her near-black hair was straight, pouring down her back, and she was possessed of fine, elegant facial features and blue eyes. Emerging from her forehead and parting her bangs, were a pair of horns that appeared almost as if they were grown from dark wood.

Her body was possessed of a generous figure, clad in flowing, shimmering robes of greens and blues, and she cocked her head lightly at the approach of the hunter, the knights, and the aessyr.

The hunter swiftly knelt.

"Faolan."

The female fae on the throne spoke in a clear, firm voice, addressing the hunter.

"You bring before me children of men. While I bear no ill will towards them, I do wonder what your intention is."

Dame Yael was the first to kneel. Sir Caulder followed quickly after, deferring respect to the fae lady in the throne.

"My lady," Faolan replied, "These children of men slew the Gannek that threatened to devour our little sisters."

A cry of "it's true!" could be heard, from Aithne as she continued to embrace the slowly-recovering Enfys.

"I thought it best to grant their desire to meet you, my lady, in light of their deed."

The fae lady cocked her head once more, bringing her hand to her chin.

"Is that so? How interesting," she commented, "Well then, why did you wish to meet me, children of men? If it is a frivolous desire, I may not appreciate it. Or perhaps, I shall be impressed by your boldness?"

A smirk crossed her lips.

[@HereComesTheSnow][@Eisenhorn]