[Log] A Midsummer Night's Shadow
Summary: Malachi, Dominic, and Addison investigate a shadow just off the path to Lyonesse. The wrong person pulls a sword out of a stone, and then things get strange.
The shadow lies right alongside the shadowpath to Lyonesse, the Clarissa having shifted the equivalent of a few broad paces as she slid off the path. High white cliffs glisten in the last rays of a picturesque sunset, below grass and forest so green it's nearly luminescent. A white stone castle stands at the top of the cliff, pendants flying from every conceivable point (and a few inconceivable ones). Down at the bottom of the cliffs, the Clarissa sends out a boat from where she's dropped anchor, towards the white sand beaches and dark forest beyond.
Addison is huddled in his pea coat against the chill in the air -- it is on the water in fall after all -- and spends the entire trip to the beach taking in the sights of the nice castle and the picturesque view. It's all very pretty and almost worth painting.
Dominic knows enough about sailing to stay out of the way of the crew, managing to place himself where nothing's happening on the deck.
Malachi spends the trip to the beach eyeing the pretty white sand and the prettier white castle for potential traps, assassins, or whatever else it is that he might imagine lurks there. When the boat slides onto the sand, it's a small group of marines that springs out first, to haul the boat ashore, help any less water-comfortable men out of the boat, and set up guard along the route of retreat.
Up in the sky, a falling star streaks across the sunset, leaving a glittering trail in its wake.
Addison makes a very Addison-like "oooh" sound as the falling star streaks across the sky. "So, er, what are we looking for here? What is the mission?"
Dominic hops out of the boat under his own power, boots thudding into the white sand and a hand stabilizing the hilt of his sword.
Malachi says shortly, "Power sources, current or historic. Recent changes. Traces of the Road." His gaze flicks up to the fading trail of the star. "Anything unusual."
Addison nods to that as he pulls himself out of the boat and goes squish into the white sand. The cowboy boots seem to be the right thing for this terrain. "The castle first? The surrounding area?"
Dominic looks around, his eyes scanning in a way totally unlike Malachi's paranoia. "Hm," he says. "This is a place of magic."
Malachi does not look any warier at Dominic's comment, possibly because this would be difficult to achieve without making faces. He strides forward towards the place where the dark green wood meets the beach. The trees stop abruptly where the sand begins, in a rippling, abrupt line.
Addison scampers off after Malachi, taking a few half-run half-walk steps and then catching up behind the other man.
Dominic walks a little slower, still taking in the sights, but he keeps up well enough.
The forest looms invitingly up ahead; for all the dark tangled branches, the ground is covered in smooth moss and open spaces, artistically arranged moss hangs about, and hundreds of fireflies have lit up the interior like a low-tech landing strip.
Dominic looks at the forest. "Oooh," he says, in academic fascination.
"Oooooooh it's very pretty," Addison says, proving to the entire group of Royals and Marines that he really is very young. "It reminds me of fairy tales. And by fairy tale logic something awful lurks in the forest. Let's go!"
Malachi looks briefly as if he might suggest everyone else go on ahead and he'll make scientific observations based on any screams that trail back his direction, but instead he leads the way into the fairy forest.
Back on the horizon, the sun continues to set very slowly, and very prettily.
"If we keep heading this way," Dominic notes with a tone that suggests it is each man's decision as to its importance, "we're reach a node of power."
"Oh really?" Addison says, sounding more than 'academically interested.' "Will we have time for me to study it a bit before we go and destroy whatever needs to be kicked over?"
Some of the fireflies in the trees are, upon a few more glimpses, not actually bugs with glowing bits but tiny human-shaped figures a few inches tall, carrying adorable tinier lanterns.
Malachi flicks a glance over his shoulder towards Dominic as he walks. "What kind?"
Addison stops as he walks along to peer at the fireflies. Then his entire face lights up and he says, "Oh wow. Fairies. Real tiny fairies. They're adorable."
Dominic says, "Really? Do you have a jar?"
Addison roots around in his satchel for a moment. "Mmmmm.... I have notebooks. I don't have anything for carrying fairies about. I bet the Clarissa has jars in her hold, but that means going back to the ship."
Dominic says, "Damn. I could use a few faeries. Anyway, the node is sorcerous - power moves in arterial patterns here."
A three-inch tall winged man carrying a flower nearly his own size is attempting to flutter up at Addison in a distinctly stealth-like manner. Unlike some of the other fairies pointed out, he's not carrying a lantern, and thus isn't glowing.
"Um, Addison?" Dominic says, possibly a moment too late.
"Ooh, really?" Addison says... "Dominic?"
Malachi stops while Addison is digging around. "Might relate to paths," he says.
A teeny tiny fairy carrying a flower sprays a drop of nectar from the flower into Addison's eyes, and begins flying away as quickly as its teeny tiny wings can carry it.
Addison waves one of his hands at the fairy and then rubs his eyes after the fairy sprays him in the eyes. Then he turns to look at Malachi and gives him a sort of soft, warm, friendly smile.
Malachi turns around just in time to see the fairy winging away, and makes a grab at it that doesn't even come close. He eyes Addison warily--which is to say, about the same as usual.
Dominic squints at Addison. "Can you see alright?"
Addison gets a great big warm smile and moves to give Malachi a great big hug. "I can see fine! I just feel sort of very up right now. You know, very... up."
Malachi backs up a pace as Addison advances, and says to Dominic somewhat hastily, "Power nodes?"
Dominic nods, watching Addison warily. "Yes. Where the arteries converge."
Addison stops advancing but he still has sort of the happy, vaguely, naggingly manic look on his face. Then he turns to Dominic and says, "I'd love to see this power node. I have my drawing kit with me to take a quick sketch for my notes before we go stomping on things."
Malachi backs up another step, just in case this is a lead-up to surprise hugging.
Dominic says, "Sketching! Excellent idea. Walk with me, Addison, and we'll go take a look."
Addison does this skip-run-trot thing to catch up with Dominic, the idea of hugging Malachi now forgotten, and walks along. He peers at fairies as he goes.
Fairies peer back. Some of them look distinctly disappointed that there is no hugging, kissing, or dramatic declarations of love going on. Their lanterns and the fireflies light up the forest from the inside into this dim green glow that's as cozy as it is mysterious.
Malachi falls back to the rear of the group, where he can keep an eye on Addison and other potential fairy attacks.
Addison is getting this little boy happy look on his face at all the dancing fairies. It is hard to concentrate with so much wonderfulness.
Dominic guides Addison with gentle touches on the shoulder, keeping him along some unseen trail and away from faerie frolics.
Addison manages to stay away from faerie frolics. But just.
The trail has a gentle, meandering curve to it that nonetheless opens up suddenly and dramatically into a clearing in the forest. Overhead, clouds have framed a full moon just so that a shaft of moonlight can fall across the center of the clearing, where there is a large rock with a sword sticking out of it and a woman sitting on top of it. She has long black hair, ivory skin, purple eyes, a flowing white gown, and fairies perched on her open palm. She also looks remarkably like a particular Contessa from Montevalno.
Addison takes a very deep breath indeed as he enters the dramatic clearing. He stops dead for a moment, the breath caught in his chest, and then it all comes out at once and he says, with a note of query in his voice, "Rose?"
Dominic tilts his head. "Well that's odd."
Addison takes a few more steps into the clearing and asks, very carefully: "Rosalynd?"
The woman looks up from the fairy in her palm, and then glides to her feet with this sort of pure, inhuman grace such that even sitting on rocks doesn't leave her robe wrinkled. "A rose by any name would smell as sweet," she says, and smiles warmly at the three men. "One of you has come to reclaim his birthright. One of you has come to support him. And one of you will betray the others, before the summer's end."
Malachi's hand falls to the hilt of his sword, but he keeps silent where he stands behind the other two men.
Dominic steps to the side, enough so that Malachi is not behind him. "And what is that birthright?"
Addison sags as he realizes that it isn't Rose at all, and she is still back at home in Montevalno fighting Pliny, among other things. Some of the pure joy drains out of his face but then he sort of gets it back again because it is hard to be truly upset in the face of fairies. "My friends are both of Royal Blood, so I guess the one would be birthright would be one of them."
The woman indicates the sword in the stone with a sweep of her hands not unlike that used by some women who point to things on television game shows in a shadow very far away. "The sword waits for the promised king, and his birthright lies at the top of this hill. Draw the sword from the stone, gather your knights, and bring peace and justice to this land." A fairy whispers into her ear. "Peace, justice, and new fields of flowers," she amends smoothly.
Dominic looks at Addison. "Feeling like a king?"
Addison looks at Dominic and says, "I'm really not the one with the Patternness, but I could give it a go."
The woman drifts back towards the stone to sit there, with her be-slippered feet laid one over the other. "Only the rightful king will draw the sword, and free the land from the tyrant cruel."
Dominic says, "I guess we each get a chance, then."
Addison looks at Malachi and then look at Dominic. Then he shrugs a bit, shifts his satchel to a more comfortable position on his back, and heads forward to pull the sword from the stone, giving a lingering look at Rose-not-Rose-who-he-wants-to-be-Rose-but-isn't. He wraps his hand around the hilt of the sword and gives it a tug.
Addison tugs and tugs and tugs and... well, that doesn't work very well, does it? The sword just sort of sits there. "I told you I'm not much of a king."
The woman laughs, like a bell. Bells do not laugh, and women usually don't sound like them anyway, but that's exactly what she sounds like right now. "A good try, young knight, but you are no waiting king."
Malachi looks disinclined to try yanking swords around, eyeing the woman and the fairies drifting around her.
Dominic looks at Malachi. "Well, I suppose if I'm the king, I'm not the betrayer, hm?" He steps up to the rock.
"See? Young Knight," Addison says, sounding a little disappointed. "That's what I get hung with all the time. Young Knight. Terrible because it's true."
Addison would be actively mopey as Rose turned out not to be Rose and he is validated by a stupid imaginary rock for all his little neurosis when hanging around with Royals but there's all these faeries and he is feeling a little bit UP and FAST and SPARKLY and it is hard to feel upset when there are faeries and he is feeling SPARKLY.
Fairies drift over to sit on Addison's shoulder. The one that isn't near Malachi.
Addison gets a great big happy smile and wiggles his fingers at the fairies.
Dominic grabs the sword, and does not try anything cunning. He merely grabs, and pulls.
The sword begins to scrape and grind and move out of the stone...
...and then siezes, immobile. "Damn," says Dominic, "almost a King."
Addison flashes his little boy happy smile at Dominic and says, "Nope. Curse of the red heads. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride."
The fairies wiggle their fingers back at Addison, and giggle, and one of them starts trying to sneak up on him with another flower. For a three-inch tall man, the fairy in question is dreadful at stealth.
Dominic steps back, and gives Malachi a flowery gesture. "Your potential Majesty," he offers.
"A prince, perhaps," says the dark-haired woman to Dominic, and laughs again like bells. She turns her smile on Malachi. "You must be the one we've been waiting for."
Addison tries to be very surprised and not paying attention to the flower although he can see the flower perfectly well.
Malachi stoics back at the woman and at Dominic, and gives them both a look that indicates he's just fine with his own sword and not big on handling unknown artifacts in strange shadows.
Addison shouts out, "Come on, Malachi! Play the game!" He dodges another squirt from another flower, but he gets just enough to make him feel even warmer and fuzzier about the universe.
Dominic looks at the woman. "So, does he /have/ to take the sword, or is the failure of the other two enough to narrow it down?"
The woman's smile has become rather less warm and welcoming. "The king arrives with his two companions, draws the sword from the stone, frees us all from the tyrant cruel. So says the prophecy, and so it will be." She looks at Malachi, then back to Dominic. "Would you like to give it another try, and see if it goes better on the next attempt?"
"What's the worst that could happen?" Dominic asks, perhaps foolishly, and addresses the sword again.
Thunder booms overhead at Dominic's question.
Addison yells out, feeling really warm and fuzzy, "Excellent Dominic! Excellent!"
Dominic works on becoming King, an inch at a time.
Addison is a one Feldane cheering section for Dominic.
The black-haired woman begins to look a trifle impatient, her slipper tap-tap-tapping on the stone as she watches the sword inch out.
Malachi explains to a fairy attempting to sit on his shoulder that this would be a very, very bad idea, by means of a look, and it promptly decides to go sit on Addison's shoulder instead.
Dominic says, "Addison? Care to give it another go?"
Addison is a safe haven for fairies everywhere. Especially on his woolen cap and shoulders. "Oh? Sure. I'll take another go." He walks forward, covered in fairies and all, and wraps his hands around the hilt of the sword in the stone. He pulls.
The sword comes schoooooooooooooop out of the sword like being pulled from a really noisy sheath and ends up in Addison's hands, much to Addison's complete and utter bafflement.
Dominic lowers himself into a bow that nearly scrapes his nose against the ground. "Your Majesty," he pronounces, portentiously.
The sword lights up the entire clearing with a brilliant blue glow, lightning cracks across the sky, and in the distance bells begin ringing from the castle at the top of the cliff. "Well done, your majesty!" cries the woman, all smiles after a brief look of bafflement. "Now you may slay the tyrant!"
Malachi claps, once.
Dominic looks over at Malachi. "So, which of us is support and which is betray?"
Addison watches the sword be AWESOME in his hands and his eyes are lit up. He is totally into this story. It is the greatest story /ever/. He asks the woman who is not Rose, "Which was to the Tyrant? Are there convenient signs?"
The woman slips off the rock so that she can gesture dramatically into the forest, which is looking darker and spookier and less fairy-lit now that the sword has been drawn. "You must slay the tyrant cruel, King Oberon of the Fairies. He holds all this land powerless in his silver grasp, and only the true king may stand against him."
Dominic loses a bit of his good humor. "Really."
Addison loses a little bit of his good humor, too. "Hunh. Well, okay then." He balances the sword on one shoulder, careful not to squish and fairies, ponders the direction and then, losing some joy at this story, starts heading off, following the dramatic gesture.
Malachi slaps away a fairy that's gotten too close, and follows Addison, with a wary look to the woman as he moves past her.
The woman who is not Rose smiles at Addison, and at Malachi, and then at Dominic. "What is prophesied is what will be."
Dominic walks side-by-side with Malachi. Not behind him. Not in front of him. Not until their roles are settled a little better.
Addison trudge trudge trudge into the dark and scary forest in front of Malachi and Dominic. Because, hey, why the hell not.
Malachi walks beside Dominic and watches the forest on his side as if he expects Dominic to be keeping the other side under scrutiny.
The trees loom more darkly, and the thick moss hanging from the branches dangles down to head height in the middle of the trail. The fairies with their lanterns have disappeared, to be replaced by glowing yellow eyes from the bushes, but there's light enough to see the path clearly, from no particular source. Up ahead, there's a faint clanking.
Dominic says, "Almost a sign. What's the clanking?"
Addison slows down and grips the super duper sword with both hands on the hilt. He begins to creep forward slowly and tries not to make any immediate noise. He also tries to get a better look.
Up ahead an enormous black horse blocks the path, and upon the horse is a knight in black armor so polished it reflects their faces back to them in the metal.
Dominic says, "Clanking."
Addison is suddenly very aware that instead of coming well armored to this adventure, he came wearing his pea coat and a nice grey knit turtleneck. Which is quite good against the chill on a ship, but not so useful against a knight with black armor. He creeps back to Dominic and Malachi and says, "Armoured Knight."
Malachi draws his sword, but also gives the path, and the threatening trees that don't actually wall off the sides of the path, a considering look.
Addison offers: "I think we are supposed to be really heroic."
Dominic draws his sword as well. "I think you're supposed to be really heroic. We're supposed to give you room."
Malachi says blandly, "Supportively."
Dominic says, "Right."
Dominic says, "Not betraying you."
Addison sighs and says, "If I die, you have to take me back home so my mum can pop me into a pot. Okay?"
Malachi nods, and moves to the side so that Addison has a better shot at the Black Knight.
Dominic says, "Absolutely."
Addison goes creeping up toward the Black Knight, and then tries to get around him by dodging into the forest and getting a better look at whatever the Black Knight is guarding.
Addison creep creep creeps through the forest trying to be as sneaky as possible to get around the Black Knight.
It's very dark behind the knight, and hard to sneak without tripping over things, but not all that hard to find the path again on the other side. It leads to an enormous oak tree, and in the center of the tree a castle that mirrors the one up on the cliff has been carved out of wood. The whole place is utterly coated in fairies.
Malachi stands about with his sword drawn eyeing the knight.
The Black Knight sits on its horse not doing much of anything but looking threatening.
Addison sneaks through the darkness on the other side of the Black Knight and slowly approaches the enormous oak tree on the other side. He peers at the center of the tree and the castle there. He is also aware that he may be a giant fairy perch.
Dominic watches Addison sneak, head tilted. "Huh."
There's an entire tiny fairy court having a swinging, frolicking ball in the center of the carved castle, with a great deal of fairy tipsiness going on, and even a few fairies hurling daintily in discreet corners. Presiding over all of this is a fairy king who looks entirely unlike King Oberon in almost every way possible, including being three inches tall.
Addison involuntarily, as he bends down to peer into the dollhouse fairy court, makes this very fascinated and happy "Oooooooooh" noise and cannot help himself but be totally fascinated by the three inch tall frolicking ball in the center of the carved castle in the oak tree. Also, the great big sword against the three inch tall fairy suddenly seems very very silly.
Malachi draws a throwing knife, and considers the Black Knight some more.
Dominic says, "You're going to throw that knife, aren't you."
Malachi says, "Might."
Addison is totally and utterly in love with the frolicking, constantly moving fairy court.
Dominic says, "Going to bring him this way, so Addison can do whatever he needs to do?"
Malachi shrugs one shoulder to indicate that's exactly what he had in mind, unless he really just wanted to stab a knight in the eye.
The court continues to frolick around the castle in the heart of the oak tree, and around Addison. If anyone there is worried about the man with the enormous shining sword they're not showing it.
Dominic shrugs, and hefts his sword. "Alright."
Addison realizes that he is not going to get killed standing here watching the party, so he continues to stand there and watch the party.
Malachi snaps the knife forward, and it flies through the visor in the helmet, hitting the back of the helmet with a clang.
There's a shrill squeak from inside the armor. Then the knight begins to advance, the horse working its way up towards a gallop.
Malachi looks at Dominic, flicks a glance off towards wherever Addison has disappeared to, and backs up as the knight advances.
Dominic steps off to the side, leaving a clear path to Malachi. Of course, he has a long chopping sword, and horses have knees. He tries to make the two connect.
Addison stops trying to figure out how anyone can be terrorized and repressed by a three inch tall King to turn and watch the Black Knight suddenly get into it with Dominic and Malachi.
Dominic selects just the right point to deliver the his family's notorious strength, using the sword to sever the horse's foreleg just as the weight comes down on it.
Addison winces when he sees Dominic connect and starts walking a few paces away from the fairy party toward the fight with the Black Knight.
The horse crashes downward, and hits the ground with no sound: its body splits apart into a flock of crows that whip up into the air and disappear among the trees. The knight slams down with a horrendous clatter, as the armor bounces apart into its individual components. Fairies come pouring out of the gloves, chest piece, helmet, greaves, and every other piece of armor, swarming upward in dizzy, awkward loops.
Addison just goes, in Keanu Reeves fashion: "Woah."
Malachi's saber twitches a little, but he decides against trying to get into combat with anything that can be described as a swarm and isn't currently trying to kill him.
Dominic says, "Well then."
Addison suddenly says, in an explosion of boyish glee: "That was quite neat!"
Dominic says, "That was quite something. Is that the castle? Really?"
The ball going on in and about the castle carved into the enormous oak tree hasn't paused for so much as a wave of interest in their direction. Maybe horses explode into flocks of crows every night around here.
"Yes!" Addison says, way too full of happiness and pep. "It rather is. They're having a party. The King of the Fairies is only about yay big. I mean, I feel a little silly killing him."
Dominic says, "Hm. The party's over the node, though."
"It is?" Addison says. "Hmmm." He wanders back to the Fairy Party, now that he does not have to worry about the Fairy Black Knight. He studies it carefully and turns back. "Well, the castle is sort of carved into the oak tree. The node must be in the castle, not under it."
Malachi retrieves his throwing knife from the empty suit of armor, and makes it disappear again. "Or the tree itself."
Addison peers at the oak tree. "Or the tree itself. Is there any way we can find out?"
Dominic shakes his head. "It's hard to tell. Lot of magic around here, makes things fuzzy."
Addison knocks his knuckles against the tree. Then he peers at the fairy castle again. "I wonder if we have to play out the whole story to get where we need to be."
A few drunken fairies attempt to make lewd suggestions to Dominic, but they're too small to be heard distinctly or for their hand gestures to be clear.
Dominic says, "It's possible. The node shifted when you drew the sword. I think you have to kill the king."
Addison takes a step back and brandishes the sword. He calls out: "OBERON, KING OF THE FAIRIES! I AM ADDISON, KING OF... er... what am I king of again?" He pauses. Then he says: "I AM ADDISON, KING OF FELDANE!"
Addison tries to look cool. Nothing goes with a magic sword of legends like a grey knit cap.
Dominic says, "That's good. I like that."
A crow perches on a low branch above the fairy castle, watching Addison with one beady black eye. It makes a very satisfied caw at his challenge.
The activity round about the castle freezes, and fairies dart down inside to find their tiny swords and spears. At the center of the stilled party, King Oberon of the Fairies draws himself upright, and walks forward to raise his own sword in response to Addison's challenge. He says something inaudible, but no doubt fierce.
Addison tries to look fierce, too. GRRR. FIERCE!
Addison makes a couple of threatening slashes with this sword, too. For effect.
The fairy king raises his sword up to the sky, and a lightning bolt crashes to the ground just behind Addison. Then he launches into the air for battle.
Addison nearly jumps out of his skin when the lightning bolt crashes to the ground behind him and then settles into a real actual combat stance with the sword and stops playing. Fine, then he will fight the tiny fairy.
As soon as the fairy king is in the sky, the crow drops down from the tree branch to land on the castle, and squeezes inside through a tower window.
Addison actually moves to fight the fairy. He spent hours and hours and hours mucking about with Benedict's stupid little sword-and-ball tricks trying to balance the ball and then wack really tiny things with his sword. Amazingly, it seems to have paid off, because he follows the little fairy king, sucking up a few pinpricks of hits, and then WHAMMO with the flat of his sword to Fairy King Noggin.
Dominic cringes, despite himself.
The fairy king drops to the ground like an overdressed rock. From the clouds above, another bolt of lightning slams into the ground near Malachi. Or possibly onto him.
Malachi looks vaguely annoyed. And slightly singed.
A black snake slides out of a tower window of the castle, clutching a blue stone in its mouth.
Addison walks over to the castle and peers at the black snake. He offers his open palm to catch the stone.
The snake slips down to the mossy ground, and begins slithering away into the trees, with the stone. There's a tiny laugh like bells trailing behind it.
Dominic starts to chase the snake. "Oh no you don't."
Addison also chases the snake. "Come back here you... you snake!"
Malachi draws his crossbow, trying to sight out a clear shot through the throngs of fairies buzzing around the clearing. Shooting a bolt through a half dozen of those would definitely affect his aim.
Addison, after waiting for the perfect moment, dives for the snake at an opportune time and GRABS IT! HUZZAH! VICTORY!
The snake turns into very angry wolverine in Addison's hands.
Addison screams! WOLVERINE! He tosses the very angry wolverine very far from his face!
Dominic catches an angry wolverine. Has no idea what to do with an angry wolverine!
Dominic says, "Augh!"
Addison yells: "Augh! Wolverine!"
The angry wolverine flails at Dominic's face with vicious claws and transforms into a thorn bush.
Addison says: "Augh! Bush?"
Dominic flings the thorn bush at Addison. "Bush!"
Malachi lowers his crossbow as he would be fine with shooting a wolverine but isn't really sure shooting a thorn bush is going to do any good at all.
Addison has gloves on so he catches the thorn bush. "Bush!"
Dominic says, "Does the bush have the stone?"
Addison shakes the bush vigorously.
A stone rattles around inside the bush. The thorn bush turns into an emu, promptly looks sheepish at its choice, and turns into a small, angry wyvern instead.
Addison goes: "Augh! Wyvern!" He holds it back away from his face and yells, "Search it for the stone, Dominic!"
Dominic says, "What, inside? Keep shaking, maybe it'll go back to the bush."
Addison holds the Wyvern back from his face and shakes it up and down vigorously.
The wyvern goes hiss-claw-claw at Addison's face as it's shaken around, and then transforms into a black-haired woman with violet eyes who looks very, very disappointed in Addison for shaking her.
Malachi stares, with his crossbow pointing roughly in the direction of what Addison is currently holding.
Dominic says, "Stone?"
Addison makes this sudden surprised eep noise. Especially as he may be holding the woman, ah, inappropriately.
Addison says, embarrassed, "Sorry?"
The woman looks indignantly at Addison's hands on her--well, it's only her arms, actually, which is not all that inappropriate as holding goes.
Addison says, "Er, I'm looking for a blue stone? Is it down your blouse, perhaps?" He sounds a little too interested in an expedition.
Malachi aims his crossbow at her, and for some reason does not actually shoot.
Addison is leaning forward with great amounts of hope to, er, look for the stone. Yes. That's it. The stone. The blue stone.
The woman leans in close to Addison. "Your Majesty, you seem to have reached some...false impression as to my aims. Should we retire to my--to your castle to discuss the matter?"
Dominic says, "That sounds suspiciously like a trap."
Addison is leaning closer in. "Oh hell yes."
Malachi says evenly, "Rose wouldn't approve."
Dominic says, "She's luring you with feminine wiles."
Addison settles back on his heels and says, "You're not Rose, so now, we can't go back to your castle, I'm afraid. I just need the stone. I... think."
The woman looks deeply into Addison's eyes with her big violet eyes and says, "Don't you trust me? Release me, and I'll give you the stone, if that's all you want."
Addison asks his companions, "Uh, Dominic? Malachi? Is that what we want?"
Dominic looks at Malachi. "Is that all we want?"
Malachi shrugs, in a 'This is just an investigation trip, really' sort of way.
Addison lets her go and says, "I've released you. Now give me the stone. I am King Addison of Addisonland, after all."
The woman scowls, but true to her word, opens her palm to reveal the blue stone to Addison. "You will rue the day you crossed Morgana le Fey," she mutters, and then repeats it again much more dramatically to make sure everyone can hear.
"Rue the day?" Addison says. "Rue the day? Who talks like that?"
Addison also takes the blue stone because, hey, he requested the blue stone and here it is.
The woman transforms into a flock of crows, which fly away looking distinctly peeved about the whole evening.
Malachi drops one with a crossbow bolt, on principle.
Dominic holds his hand out. "May I?"
Addison stands and announces: "KING ADDISON OF ADDISONLAND IS VICTORIOUS!" And he does a little dance to celebrate his own awesomeness.
Malachi reloads his crossbow.
Dominic says, "The stone?"
Addison holds the stone up between two fingers and then offers it to Dominic. He is done dancing, temporarily.
Dominic takes the stone, and rolls it in his fingers for a few moments, looking at it. He sticks his tongue out a bit, and leans in to lick the stone.
Addison watches Dominic lick the magic stone and goes: "Woah."
"I think," Dominic announces, "that this is the node itself. It tingles."
"Really?" Addison says sounding absolutely keen on the idea. "How utterly fantastic! Mission accomplished, then!"
Malachi sheathes his sword, hooks his crossbow back on his belt, and claps. Once.
"Hey..." Addison says sounding a bit disappointed. "I wasn't betrayed in any dramatic fashion."
Dominic says, "It's autumn. Got almost a year."
The shadow lies right alongside the shadowpath to Lyonesse, the Clarissa having shifted the equivalent of a few broad paces as she slid off the path. High white cliffs glisten in the last rays of a picturesque sunset, below grass and forest so green it's nearly luminescent. A white stone castle stands at the top of the cliff, pendants flying from every conceivable point (and a few inconceivable ones). Down at the bottom of the cliffs, the Clarissa sends out a boat from where she's dropped anchor, towards the white sand beaches and dark forest beyond.
Addison is huddled in his pea coat against the chill in the air -- it is on the water in fall after all -- and spends the entire trip to the beach taking in the sights of the nice castle and the picturesque view. It's all very pretty and almost worth painting.
Dominic knows enough about sailing to stay out of the way of the crew, managing to place himself where nothing's happening on the deck.
Malachi spends the trip to the beach eyeing the pretty white sand and the prettier white castle for potential traps, assassins, or whatever else it is that he might imagine lurks there. When the boat slides onto the sand, it's a small group of marines that springs out first, to haul the boat ashore, help any less water-comfortable men out of the boat, and set up guard along the route of retreat.
Up in the sky, a falling star streaks across the sunset, leaving a glittering trail in its wake.
Addison makes a very Addison-like "oooh" sound as the falling star streaks across the sky. "So, er, what are we looking for here? What is the mission?"
Dominic hops out of the boat under his own power, boots thudding into the white sand and a hand stabilizing the hilt of his sword.
Malachi says shortly, "Power sources, current or historic. Recent changes. Traces of the Road." His gaze flicks up to the fading trail of the star. "Anything unusual."
Addison nods to that as he pulls himself out of the boat and goes squish into the white sand. The cowboy boots seem to be the right thing for this terrain. "The castle first? The surrounding area?"
Dominic looks around, his eyes scanning in a way totally unlike Malachi's paranoia. "Hm," he says. "This is a place of magic."
Malachi does not look any warier at Dominic's comment, possibly because this would be difficult to achieve without making faces. He strides forward towards the place where the dark green wood meets the beach. The trees stop abruptly where the sand begins, in a rippling, abrupt line.
Addison scampers off after Malachi, taking a few half-run half-walk steps and then catching up behind the other man.
Dominic walks a little slower, still taking in the sights, but he keeps up well enough.
The forest looms invitingly up ahead; for all the dark tangled branches, the ground is covered in smooth moss and open spaces, artistically arranged moss hangs about, and hundreds of fireflies have lit up the interior like a low-tech landing strip.
Dominic looks at the forest. "Oooh," he says, in academic fascination.
"Oooooooh it's very pretty," Addison says, proving to the entire group of Royals and Marines that he really is very young. "It reminds me of fairy tales. And by fairy tale logic something awful lurks in the forest. Let's go!"
Malachi looks briefly as if he might suggest everyone else go on ahead and he'll make scientific observations based on any screams that trail back his direction, but instead he leads the way into the fairy forest.
Back on the horizon, the sun continues to set very slowly, and very prettily.
"If we keep heading this way," Dominic notes with a tone that suggests it is each man's decision as to its importance, "we're reach a node of power."
"Oh really?" Addison says, sounding more than 'academically interested.' "Will we have time for me to study it a bit before we go and destroy whatever needs to be kicked over?"
Some of the fireflies in the trees are, upon a few more glimpses, not actually bugs with glowing bits but tiny human-shaped figures a few inches tall, carrying adorable tinier lanterns.
Malachi flicks a glance over his shoulder towards Dominic as he walks. "What kind?"
Addison stops as he walks along to peer at the fireflies. Then his entire face lights up and he says, "Oh wow. Fairies. Real tiny fairies. They're adorable."
Dominic says, "Really? Do you have a jar?"
Addison roots around in his satchel for a moment. "Mmmmm.... I have notebooks. I don't have anything for carrying fairies about. I bet the Clarissa has jars in her hold, but that means going back to the ship."
Dominic says, "Damn. I could use a few faeries. Anyway, the node is sorcerous - power moves in arterial patterns here."
A three-inch tall winged man carrying a flower nearly his own size is attempting to flutter up at Addison in a distinctly stealth-like manner. Unlike some of the other fairies pointed out, he's not carrying a lantern, and thus isn't glowing.
"Um, Addison?" Dominic says, possibly a moment too late.
"Ooh, really?" Addison says... "Dominic?"
Malachi stops while Addison is digging around. "Might relate to paths," he says.
A teeny tiny fairy carrying a flower sprays a drop of nectar from the flower into Addison's eyes, and begins flying away as quickly as its teeny tiny wings can carry it.
Addison waves one of his hands at the fairy and then rubs his eyes after the fairy sprays him in the eyes. Then he turns to look at Malachi and gives him a sort of soft, warm, friendly smile.
Malachi turns around just in time to see the fairy winging away, and makes a grab at it that doesn't even come close. He eyes Addison warily--which is to say, about the same as usual.
Dominic squints at Addison. "Can you see alright?"
Addison gets a great big warm smile and moves to give Malachi a great big hug. "I can see fine! I just feel sort of very up right now. You know, very... up."
Malachi backs up a pace as Addison advances, and says to Dominic somewhat hastily, "Power nodes?"
Dominic nods, watching Addison warily. "Yes. Where the arteries converge."
Addison stops advancing but he still has sort of the happy, vaguely, naggingly manic look on his face. Then he turns to Dominic and says, "I'd love to see this power node. I have my drawing kit with me to take a quick sketch for my notes before we go stomping on things."
Malachi backs up another step, just in case this is a lead-up to surprise hugging.
Dominic says, "Sketching! Excellent idea. Walk with me, Addison, and we'll go take a look."
Addison does this skip-run-trot thing to catch up with Dominic, the idea of hugging Malachi now forgotten, and walks along. He peers at fairies as he goes.
Fairies peer back. Some of them look distinctly disappointed that there is no hugging, kissing, or dramatic declarations of love going on. Their lanterns and the fireflies light up the forest from the inside into this dim green glow that's as cozy as it is mysterious.
Malachi falls back to the rear of the group, where he can keep an eye on Addison and other potential fairy attacks.
Addison is getting this little boy happy look on his face at all the dancing fairies. It is hard to concentrate with so much wonderfulness.
Dominic guides Addison with gentle touches on the shoulder, keeping him along some unseen trail and away from faerie frolics.
Addison manages to stay away from faerie frolics. But just.
The trail has a gentle, meandering curve to it that nonetheless opens up suddenly and dramatically into a clearing in the forest. Overhead, clouds have framed a full moon just so that a shaft of moonlight can fall across the center of the clearing, where there is a large rock with a sword sticking out of it and a woman sitting on top of it. She has long black hair, ivory skin, purple eyes, a flowing white gown, and fairies perched on her open palm. She also looks remarkably like a particular Contessa from Montevalno.
Addison takes a very deep breath indeed as he enters the dramatic clearing. He stops dead for a moment, the breath caught in his chest, and then it all comes out at once and he says, with a note of query in his voice, "Rose?"
Dominic tilts his head. "Well that's odd."
Addison takes a few more steps into the clearing and asks, very carefully: "Rosalynd?"
The woman looks up from the fairy in her palm, and then glides to her feet with this sort of pure, inhuman grace such that even sitting on rocks doesn't leave her robe wrinkled. "A rose by any name would smell as sweet," she says, and smiles warmly at the three men. "One of you has come to reclaim his birthright. One of you has come to support him. And one of you will betray the others, before the summer's end."
Malachi's hand falls to the hilt of his sword, but he keeps silent where he stands behind the other two men.
Dominic steps to the side, enough so that Malachi is not behind him. "And what is that birthright?"
Addison sags as he realizes that it isn't Rose at all, and she is still back at home in Montevalno fighting Pliny, among other things. Some of the pure joy drains out of his face but then he sort of gets it back again because it is hard to be truly upset in the face of fairies. "My friends are both of Royal Blood, so I guess the one would be birthright would be one of them."
The woman indicates the sword in the stone with a sweep of her hands not unlike that used by some women who point to things on television game shows in a shadow very far away. "The sword waits for the promised king, and his birthright lies at the top of this hill. Draw the sword from the stone, gather your knights, and bring peace and justice to this land." A fairy whispers into her ear. "Peace, justice, and new fields of flowers," she amends smoothly.
Dominic looks at Addison. "Feeling like a king?"
Addison looks at Dominic and says, "I'm really not the one with the Patternness, but I could give it a go."
The woman drifts back towards the stone to sit there, with her be-slippered feet laid one over the other. "Only the rightful king will draw the sword, and free the land from the tyrant cruel."
Dominic says, "I guess we each get a chance, then."
Addison looks at Malachi and then look at Dominic. Then he shrugs a bit, shifts his satchel to a more comfortable position on his back, and heads forward to pull the sword from the stone, giving a lingering look at Rose-not-Rose-who-he-wants-to-be-Rose-but-isn't. He wraps his hand around the hilt of the sword and gives it a tug.
Addison tugs and tugs and tugs and... well, that doesn't work very well, does it? The sword just sort of sits there. "I told you I'm not much of a king."
The woman laughs, like a bell. Bells do not laugh, and women usually don't sound like them anyway, but that's exactly what she sounds like right now. "A good try, young knight, but you are no waiting king."
Malachi looks disinclined to try yanking swords around, eyeing the woman and the fairies drifting around her.
Dominic looks at Malachi. "Well, I suppose if I'm the king, I'm not the betrayer, hm?" He steps up to the rock.
"See? Young Knight," Addison says, sounding a little disappointed. "That's what I get hung with all the time. Young Knight. Terrible because it's true."
Addison would be actively mopey as Rose turned out not to be Rose and he is validated by a stupid imaginary rock for all his little neurosis when hanging around with Royals but there's all these faeries and he is feeling a little bit UP and FAST and SPARKLY and it is hard to feel upset when there are faeries and he is feeling SPARKLY.
Fairies drift over to sit on Addison's shoulder. The one that isn't near Malachi.
Addison gets a great big happy smile and wiggles his fingers at the fairies.
Dominic grabs the sword, and does not try anything cunning. He merely grabs, and pulls.
The sword begins to scrape and grind and move out of the stone...
...and then siezes, immobile. "Damn," says Dominic, "almost a King."
Addison flashes his little boy happy smile at Dominic and says, "Nope. Curse of the red heads. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride."
The fairies wiggle their fingers back at Addison, and giggle, and one of them starts trying to sneak up on him with another flower. For a three-inch tall man, the fairy in question is dreadful at stealth.
Dominic steps back, and gives Malachi a flowery gesture. "Your potential Majesty," he offers.
"A prince, perhaps," says the dark-haired woman to Dominic, and laughs again like bells. She turns her smile on Malachi. "You must be the one we've been waiting for."
Addison tries to be very surprised and not paying attention to the flower although he can see the flower perfectly well.
Malachi stoics back at the woman and at Dominic, and gives them both a look that indicates he's just fine with his own sword and not big on handling unknown artifacts in strange shadows.
Addison shouts out, "Come on, Malachi! Play the game!" He dodges another squirt from another flower, but he gets just enough to make him feel even warmer and fuzzier about the universe.
Dominic looks at the woman. "So, does he /have/ to take the sword, or is the failure of the other two enough to narrow it down?"
The woman's smile has become rather less warm and welcoming. "The king arrives with his two companions, draws the sword from the stone, frees us all from the tyrant cruel. So says the prophecy, and so it will be." She looks at Malachi, then back to Dominic. "Would you like to give it another try, and see if it goes better on the next attempt?"
"What's the worst that could happen?" Dominic asks, perhaps foolishly, and addresses the sword again.
Thunder booms overhead at Dominic's question.
Addison yells out, feeling really warm and fuzzy, "Excellent Dominic! Excellent!"
Dominic works on becoming King, an inch at a time.
Addison is a one Feldane cheering section for Dominic.
The black-haired woman begins to look a trifle impatient, her slipper tap-tap-tapping on the stone as she watches the sword inch out.
Malachi explains to a fairy attempting to sit on his shoulder that this would be a very, very bad idea, by means of a look, and it promptly decides to go sit on Addison's shoulder instead.
Dominic says, "Addison? Care to give it another go?"
Addison is a safe haven for fairies everywhere. Especially on his woolen cap and shoulders. "Oh? Sure. I'll take another go." He walks forward, covered in fairies and all, and wraps his hands around the hilt of the sword in the stone. He pulls.
The sword comes schoooooooooooooop out of the sword like being pulled from a really noisy sheath and ends up in Addison's hands, much to Addison's complete and utter bafflement.
Dominic lowers himself into a bow that nearly scrapes his nose against the ground. "Your Majesty," he pronounces, portentiously.
The sword lights up the entire clearing with a brilliant blue glow, lightning cracks across the sky, and in the distance bells begin ringing from the castle at the top of the cliff. "Well done, your majesty!" cries the woman, all smiles after a brief look of bafflement. "Now you may slay the tyrant!"
Malachi claps, once.
Dominic looks over at Malachi. "So, which of us is support and which is betray?"
Addison watches the sword be AWESOME in his hands and his eyes are lit up. He is totally into this story. It is the greatest story /ever/. He asks the woman who is not Rose, "Which was to the Tyrant? Are there convenient signs?"
The woman slips off the rock so that she can gesture dramatically into the forest, which is looking darker and spookier and less fairy-lit now that the sword has been drawn. "You must slay the tyrant cruel, King Oberon of the Fairies. He holds all this land powerless in his silver grasp, and only the true king may stand against him."
Dominic loses a bit of his good humor. "Really."
Addison loses a little bit of his good humor, too. "Hunh. Well, okay then." He balances the sword on one shoulder, careful not to squish and fairies, ponders the direction and then, losing some joy at this story, starts heading off, following the dramatic gesture.
Malachi slaps away a fairy that's gotten too close, and follows Addison, with a wary look to the woman as he moves past her.
The woman who is not Rose smiles at Addison, and at Malachi, and then at Dominic. "What is prophesied is what will be."
Dominic walks side-by-side with Malachi. Not behind him. Not in front of him. Not until their roles are settled a little better.
Addison trudge trudge trudge into the dark and scary forest in front of Malachi and Dominic. Because, hey, why the hell not.
Malachi walks beside Dominic and watches the forest on his side as if he expects Dominic to be keeping the other side under scrutiny.
The trees loom more darkly, and the thick moss hanging from the branches dangles down to head height in the middle of the trail. The fairies with their lanterns have disappeared, to be replaced by glowing yellow eyes from the bushes, but there's light enough to see the path clearly, from no particular source. Up ahead, there's a faint clanking.
Dominic says, "Almost a sign. What's the clanking?"
Addison slows down and grips the super duper sword with both hands on the hilt. He begins to creep forward slowly and tries not to make any immediate noise. He also tries to get a better look.
Up ahead an enormous black horse blocks the path, and upon the horse is a knight in black armor so polished it reflects their faces back to them in the metal.
Dominic says, "Clanking."
Addison is suddenly very aware that instead of coming well armored to this adventure, he came wearing his pea coat and a nice grey knit turtleneck. Which is quite good against the chill on a ship, but not so useful against a knight with black armor. He creeps back to Dominic and Malachi and says, "Armoured Knight."
Malachi draws his sword, but also gives the path, and the threatening trees that don't actually wall off the sides of the path, a considering look.
Addison offers: "I think we are supposed to be really heroic."
Dominic draws his sword as well. "I think you're supposed to be really heroic. We're supposed to give you room."
Malachi says blandly, "Supportively."
Dominic says, "Right."
Dominic says, "Not betraying you."
Addison sighs and says, "If I die, you have to take me back home so my mum can pop me into a pot. Okay?"
Malachi nods, and moves to the side so that Addison has a better shot at the Black Knight.
Dominic says, "Absolutely."
Addison goes creeping up toward the Black Knight, and then tries to get around him by dodging into the forest and getting a better look at whatever the Black Knight is guarding.
Addison creep creep creeps through the forest trying to be as sneaky as possible to get around the Black Knight.
It's very dark behind the knight, and hard to sneak without tripping over things, but not all that hard to find the path again on the other side. It leads to an enormous oak tree, and in the center of the tree a castle that mirrors the one up on the cliff has been carved out of wood. The whole place is utterly coated in fairies.
Malachi stands about with his sword drawn eyeing the knight.
The Black Knight sits on its horse not doing much of anything but looking threatening.
Addison sneaks through the darkness on the other side of the Black Knight and slowly approaches the enormous oak tree on the other side. He peers at the center of the tree and the castle there. He is also aware that he may be a giant fairy perch.
Dominic watches Addison sneak, head tilted. "Huh."
There's an entire tiny fairy court having a swinging, frolicking ball in the center of the carved castle, with a great deal of fairy tipsiness going on, and even a few fairies hurling daintily in discreet corners. Presiding over all of this is a fairy king who looks entirely unlike King Oberon in almost every way possible, including being three inches tall.
Addison involuntarily, as he bends down to peer into the dollhouse fairy court, makes this very fascinated and happy "Oooooooooh" noise and cannot help himself but be totally fascinated by the three inch tall frolicking ball in the center of the carved castle in the oak tree. Also, the great big sword against the three inch tall fairy suddenly seems very very silly.
Malachi draws a throwing knife, and considers the Black Knight some more.
Dominic says, "You're going to throw that knife, aren't you."
Malachi says, "Might."
Addison is totally and utterly in love with the frolicking, constantly moving fairy court.
Dominic says, "Going to bring him this way, so Addison can do whatever he needs to do?"
Malachi shrugs one shoulder to indicate that's exactly what he had in mind, unless he really just wanted to stab a knight in the eye.
The court continues to frolick around the castle in the heart of the oak tree, and around Addison. If anyone there is worried about the man with the enormous shining sword they're not showing it.
Dominic shrugs, and hefts his sword. "Alright."
Addison realizes that he is not going to get killed standing here watching the party, so he continues to stand there and watch the party.
Malachi snaps the knife forward, and it flies through the visor in the helmet, hitting the back of the helmet with a clang.
There's a shrill squeak from inside the armor. Then the knight begins to advance, the horse working its way up towards a gallop.
Malachi looks at Dominic, flicks a glance off towards wherever Addison has disappeared to, and backs up as the knight advances.
Dominic steps off to the side, leaving a clear path to Malachi. Of course, he has a long chopping sword, and horses have knees. He tries to make the two connect.
Addison stops trying to figure out how anyone can be terrorized and repressed by a three inch tall King to turn and watch the Black Knight suddenly get into it with Dominic and Malachi.
Dominic selects just the right point to deliver the his family's notorious strength, using the sword to sever the horse's foreleg just as the weight comes down on it.
Addison winces when he sees Dominic connect and starts walking a few paces away from the fairy party toward the fight with the Black Knight.
The horse crashes downward, and hits the ground with no sound: its body splits apart into a flock of crows that whip up into the air and disappear among the trees. The knight slams down with a horrendous clatter, as the armor bounces apart into its individual components. Fairies come pouring out of the gloves, chest piece, helmet, greaves, and every other piece of armor, swarming upward in dizzy, awkward loops.
Addison just goes, in Keanu Reeves fashion: "Woah."
Malachi's saber twitches a little, but he decides against trying to get into combat with anything that can be described as a swarm and isn't currently trying to kill him.
Dominic says, "Well then."
Addison suddenly says, in an explosion of boyish glee: "That was quite neat!"
Dominic says, "That was quite something. Is that the castle? Really?"
The ball going on in and about the castle carved into the enormous oak tree hasn't paused for so much as a wave of interest in their direction. Maybe horses explode into flocks of crows every night around here.
"Yes!" Addison says, way too full of happiness and pep. "It rather is. They're having a party. The King of the Fairies is only about yay big. I mean, I feel a little silly killing him."
Dominic says, "Hm. The party's over the node, though."
"It is?" Addison says. "Hmmm." He wanders back to the Fairy Party, now that he does not have to worry about the Fairy Black Knight. He studies it carefully and turns back. "Well, the castle is sort of carved into the oak tree. The node must be in the castle, not under it."
Malachi retrieves his throwing knife from the empty suit of armor, and makes it disappear again. "Or the tree itself."
Addison peers at the oak tree. "Or the tree itself. Is there any way we can find out?"
Dominic shakes his head. "It's hard to tell. Lot of magic around here, makes things fuzzy."
Addison knocks his knuckles against the tree. Then he peers at the fairy castle again. "I wonder if we have to play out the whole story to get where we need to be."
A few drunken fairies attempt to make lewd suggestions to Dominic, but they're too small to be heard distinctly or for their hand gestures to be clear.
Dominic says, "It's possible. The node shifted when you drew the sword. I think you have to kill the king."
Addison takes a step back and brandishes the sword. He calls out: "OBERON, KING OF THE FAIRIES! I AM ADDISON, KING OF... er... what am I king of again?" He pauses. Then he says: "I AM ADDISON, KING OF FELDANE!"
Addison tries to look cool. Nothing goes with a magic sword of legends like a grey knit cap.
Dominic says, "That's good. I like that."
A crow perches on a low branch above the fairy castle, watching Addison with one beady black eye. It makes a very satisfied caw at his challenge.
The activity round about the castle freezes, and fairies dart down inside to find their tiny swords and spears. At the center of the stilled party, King Oberon of the Fairies draws himself upright, and walks forward to raise his own sword in response to Addison's challenge. He says something inaudible, but no doubt fierce.
Addison tries to look fierce, too. GRRR. FIERCE!
Addison makes a couple of threatening slashes with this sword, too. For effect.
The fairy king raises his sword up to the sky, and a lightning bolt crashes to the ground just behind Addison. Then he launches into the air for battle.
Addison nearly jumps out of his skin when the lightning bolt crashes to the ground behind him and then settles into a real actual combat stance with the sword and stops playing. Fine, then he will fight the tiny fairy.
As soon as the fairy king is in the sky, the crow drops down from the tree branch to land on the castle, and squeezes inside through a tower window.
Addison actually moves to fight the fairy. He spent hours and hours and hours mucking about with Benedict's stupid little sword-and-ball tricks trying to balance the ball and then wack really tiny things with his sword. Amazingly, it seems to have paid off, because he follows the little fairy king, sucking up a few pinpricks of hits, and then WHAMMO with the flat of his sword to Fairy King Noggin.
Dominic cringes, despite himself.
The fairy king drops to the ground like an overdressed rock. From the clouds above, another bolt of lightning slams into the ground near Malachi. Or possibly onto him.
Malachi looks vaguely annoyed. And slightly singed.
A black snake slides out of a tower window of the castle, clutching a blue stone in its mouth.
Addison walks over to the castle and peers at the black snake. He offers his open palm to catch the stone.
The snake slips down to the mossy ground, and begins slithering away into the trees, with the stone. There's a tiny laugh like bells trailing behind it.
Dominic starts to chase the snake. "Oh no you don't."
Addison also chases the snake. "Come back here you... you snake!"
Malachi draws his crossbow, trying to sight out a clear shot through the throngs of fairies buzzing around the clearing. Shooting a bolt through a half dozen of those would definitely affect his aim.
Addison, after waiting for the perfect moment, dives for the snake at an opportune time and GRABS IT! HUZZAH! VICTORY!
The snake turns into very angry wolverine in Addison's hands.
Addison screams! WOLVERINE! He tosses the very angry wolverine very far from his face!
Dominic catches an angry wolverine. Has no idea what to do with an angry wolverine!
Dominic says, "Augh!"
Addison yells: "Augh! Wolverine!"
The angry wolverine flails at Dominic's face with vicious claws and transforms into a thorn bush.
Addison says: "Augh! Bush?"
Dominic flings the thorn bush at Addison. "Bush!"
Malachi lowers his crossbow as he would be fine with shooting a wolverine but isn't really sure shooting a thorn bush is going to do any good at all.
Addison has gloves on so he catches the thorn bush. "Bush!"
Dominic says, "Does the bush have the stone?"
Addison shakes the bush vigorously.
A stone rattles around inside the bush. The thorn bush turns into an emu, promptly looks sheepish at its choice, and turns into a small, angry wyvern instead.
Addison goes: "Augh! Wyvern!" He holds it back away from his face and yells, "Search it for the stone, Dominic!"
Dominic says, "What, inside? Keep shaking, maybe it'll go back to the bush."
Addison holds the Wyvern back from his face and shakes it up and down vigorously.
The wyvern goes hiss-claw-claw at Addison's face as it's shaken around, and then transforms into a black-haired woman with violet eyes who looks very, very disappointed in Addison for shaking her.
Malachi stares, with his crossbow pointing roughly in the direction of what Addison is currently holding.
Dominic says, "Stone?"
Addison makes this sudden surprised eep noise. Especially as he may be holding the woman, ah, inappropriately.
Addison says, embarrassed, "Sorry?"
The woman looks indignantly at Addison's hands on her--well, it's only her arms, actually, which is not all that inappropriate as holding goes.
Addison says, "Er, I'm looking for a blue stone? Is it down your blouse, perhaps?" He sounds a little too interested in an expedition.
Malachi aims his crossbow at her, and for some reason does not actually shoot.
Addison is leaning forward with great amounts of hope to, er, look for the stone. Yes. That's it. The stone. The blue stone.
The woman leans in close to Addison. "Your Majesty, you seem to have reached some...false impression as to my aims. Should we retire to my--to your castle to discuss the matter?"
Dominic says, "That sounds suspiciously like a trap."
Addison is leaning closer in. "Oh hell yes."
Malachi says evenly, "Rose wouldn't approve."
Dominic says, "She's luring you with feminine wiles."
Addison settles back on his heels and says, "You're not Rose, so now, we can't go back to your castle, I'm afraid. I just need the stone. I... think."
The woman looks deeply into Addison's eyes with her big violet eyes and says, "Don't you trust me? Release me, and I'll give you the stone, if that's all you want."
Addison asks his companions, "Uh, Dominic? Malachi? Is that what we want?"
Dominic looks at Malachi. "Is that all we want?"
Malachi shrugs, in a 'This is just an investigation trip, really' sort of way.
Addison lets her go and says, "I've released you. Now give me the stone. I am King Addison of Addisonland, after all."
The woman scowls, but true to her word, opens her palm to reveal the blue stone to Addison. "You will rue the day you crossed Morgana le Fey," she mutters, and then repeats it again much more dramatically to make sure everyone can hear.
"Rue the day?" Addison says. "Rue the day? Who talks like that?"
Addison also takes the blue stone because, hey, he requested the blue stone and here it is.
The woman transforms into a flock of crows, which fly away looking distinctly peeved about the whole evening.
Malachi drops one with a crossbow bolt, on principle.
Dominic holds his hand out. "May I?"
Addison stands and announces: "KING ADDISON OF ADDISONLAND IS VICTORIOUS!" And he does a little dance to celebrate his own awesomeness.
Malachi reloads his crossbow.
Dominic says, "The stone?"
Addison holds the stone up between two fingers and then offers it to Dominic. He is done dancing, temporarily.
Dominic takes the stone, and rolls it in his fingers for a few moments, looking at it. He sticks his tongue out a bit, and leans in to lick the stone.
Addison watches Dominic lick the magic stone and goes: "Woah."
"I think," Dominic announces, "that this is the node itself. It tingles."
"Really?" Addison says sounding absolutely keen on the idea. "How utterly fantastic! Mission accomplished, then!"
Malachi sheathes his sword, hooks his crossbow back on his belt, and claps. Once.
"Hey..." Addison says sounding a bit disappointed. "I wasn't betrayed in any dramatic fashion."
Dominic says, "It's autumn. Got almost a year."