[IC] Fae Courtis: The Wylde Hunt

[Krinos Solstice]

@BlackPanther

Songstress followed him, deciding she would call him by the name Phyre once he presented the name as a choice, as Summer was...well, plain and reminded her of the season. Of course, given where she was, it appeared summer was the permanent season. She didn't mind that at all, to be honest, the scenery was beautiful to look at. As they entered the kitchen and he explained she would need to work to remain in the castle, she immediately thought he was implying she work in the kitchen. This irritated her, he was sounding like a typical chauvinistic male from her world; she wasn't going to stand for this sort of treatment, even if she did owe her life to him. After he explained what he had meant, her mood changed; he had meant she would need to work for her meals. The kitchen was just one option, only a suggestion he had offered as an example, nothing more. When he stopped and asked her what she would like to see, she had to think for a moment. Back when she was a little girl, she read that castles usually held armories, typically containing weapons of all sorts. She looked up at him, "If it isn't too much trouble, Lord Phyre, I would very much like to see the armory, and perhaps whatever you have in terms of a training area. I...wish to show you the...type of...um...work I would be interested in doing for you..." she replied, trying not to directly tell him what she used to do back in her world. She wasn't sure exactly how he'd take it if she just came forward with it, so instead, she would simply show him what she was capable of.

[BlackPanther]

@Krinos Solstice
Feoras raises an eyebrow, but a slight quick color change to blue shows he found that answer interested him and amused him. He also noted her choice in nick name and seemed to be pleased with the one she chose. He nods and motions to lead her that way. The walk seems fairly long as he navigates the hallways.
"Considering the weapons I have... I must tell you that I am capable of defending myself with fatal force if necessary." He pushes large solid wooden doors open as he speaks.

Inside is a round armory with what looks like closets with no doors. Each 'room' has several different weapons of different metals (except iron), sizes, and shapes. He stands in the center, an unreadable look on his face. "There is a larger training room i can take you to after you choose." He nods to closed double doors, as if gesturing to the room he speaks of. It is obvious that he is highly interested in what she picks along with what she shows him.

[Lady Seraphina]

Raven Silverlight

@Belle

Raven continued to watch from the sidelines, her back pressed against a tree. The girl had good instincts, that much was plain. In spite of her blindness, or perhaps because of it she was able to keep a grip on herself. Most mortals that Raven had known would fall over themselves when offered the chance to dance with a Nymph, even the ones that knew it would mean there death. It was possible that there was something special about this particular one after all.

The Nymph however didn't seem to care that her invitation was rejected. She dropped Jessalyn's hands and took two steps back. An unearthly malicious grin lit her face. "Pity." she murmured to herself before she raised her hands open in front of her. The other six nymphs grabbed them reforming the circle around Jessalyn. The storm gren color of the leaders eyes seemed to flow and shift like actual storm clouds. The Nymphs started to sing again and though the melody was sweet and the lyrics charming the effect they had was anything but harmless.

"Spinning and fluttering, dodging drops,
on flower petals they skip and hop.
A magical display of playful grace,
Smiles lighted on every face.
Their beautiful, shiny wings twinkled.
As they moved, their dresses wrinkled.
Delighted with glee none seem to care,
not even when water dampened their hair.

As they sung the wind in the clearing picked up, whistling through Raven's hair and tossing the clothes of the Nymphs about. The sky which a moment before had been clear and beautiful was now overcast with ominous looking storm clouds. Thunder rolled through the heavens even as the Nymphs danced around Jessalyn to the sound of the chaos. Light flashed through the clouds and very suddenly it began to rain. Buckets of water came raining down. The kind of downpour that made you think someone in the skies had switched the shower on the whole world.

The Nymphs reveled in the havoc the storm worked as leaves and branches were blown everywhere. Through the din Raven heard her own name shouted by the mortal girl at the center of the wild nature spirits. With that one sound it was like something in the clearing died. The Nymphs stopped dancing and stood stock still. The storm continued to rage while they sun two final lines.

"The sun broke through the clouds overhead,
and light shown down on the flower bed."

With those words the storm vanished just as quickly as it had come leaving no lasting damage. Raven wrung the water out of her hair as the Nymphs turned on her. The one that had begged Jessalyn to dance approached the Tuatha starring into her violet eyes. Nymphs were considered insane even by fae standards. Satyrs tended to enjoy their company for precisely that reason, they had a certain saying about crazy girls.

The Nymphs formed a line in front of Raven with their leader in the center. The blond nature spirit said one word. "Silverlight." Before all seven again began to sing. This melody was different. It had neither the haunting beauty of there first song nor the childish innocence of their rhyme. It lacked too the wild laughter of there storm summons. This song seemed to be made of needles and daggers, the Nymphs let each word go almost lovingly in a way that made you think they were drawing blood.

"The Raven’s song is short, but strong,
Like the will of a mortal man
In her violet gaze there is anger and rage
Enough to raise the sword of her kinsman."

Raven's heart started to pound in her chest. She'd heard this song not long after she returned to the world of the fae. Jeering voices hummed it on the streets of whatever court she deemed to walk. The words had clawed at her then but she'd buried her pain, so far and deep that no one could see it. Eventually the song had gone away. Sung with Nymph magic though it had a very different effect.

"As the harsh sun sank low we all heard her woe
Wept on the winds of the dead lands.
Even in Spring the winds cried out her hymn
That she'd fly her heartless homelands."

Raven's breath caught in her throat as the melody washed over it. The words spelled the song as a lament but the way the Nymphs sang it you might have thought it was a love song with a beautiful ending.

"The Raven returned, lithe beauty was hers..."

"Enough." Raven said. Though her voice was not more than a dull whisper the Nymphs song went out like a candle flame snuffed. Raven had drawn the diamond sword from her hip and with one clean swing had severed a lock of the lead Nymphs golden hair. With a moment so fast that it could barely be seen Raven snatched up the lock of hair and placed it in a pouch on her belt. "I think it is time you were on your way. There are many leagues of forest that would greatly enjoy the beauty of your melodies." Though her tone was pleasant and jovial there was a certain hidden danger in her voice that said this wasn't a suggestion.

The Nymphs smiled again, nodded and vanished into the trees, an echo of laughter following there departure.

Raven looked to where Jessalyn was standing. "Too much time had been wasted here, we must move on."

If anyone is interested the full ballad is bellow. I wrote the entire thing before realizing I only needed the first two verses.

Song of the Raven

The Raven’s song is short, but strong,
Like the will of a mortal man
In her violet gaze there is anger and rage
Enough to raise the sword of her kinsman.

As the harsh sun sank low we all heard her woe
Wept on the winds of the dead lands.
Even in Spring the winds cried out her hymn
That she'd fly her heartless homelands."

The Raven returned, lithe beauty was hers
A hatchling no more was she
She stood before kings, with a wanderer's grin
Proclaimed to each she was free

As proof of her claim she called Wayland's sword by name
Stricken in silence were they
Reckless at heart she cared not for her part
Only that her eyes were seen by the fae

Would I know my friends?
Could my eyes turn within?
Would I be on my own?
Would I be strong?
Could I be wrong?
Would I seem to you as stone?
If the Raven’s song were my own?

The Raven’s song is short, but strong,
Like the soul of a mortal man
There are few who discern the pain that she's learned
The hole in the heart of her clan