"Hmm the dragons haven't been involved for the most part. Though I am not supposed to talk about certain subjects. Still I would like to hear the story of a battle with a dragon. Honestly I think you are brave Haakon as is Tawna it's just not something it appears a were-weasel prefers to be advertised." She is amused and happy for the other newlyweds wondering how he will handle things when they are expecting their first child. Tawna didn't seem the type to lay down and do nothing. She might remain active against the Huns sneaking around and doing who knows what until her armor didn't fit any more!

She couldn't help but giggle for a moment smiling at Salen as he talks about her being queen and of course wearing his armor for safety. "See that you do! It wouldn't due for you to be resting and recuperating from cracked ribs. I am glad that you and Ayren were able to make it."

Laughing briefly she smiles at her brother again listening to rita as well before continuing softly. "Thank you Rita. You could always try winning Kyriel over Salen by offering her a griffon ride. Though that might cement your reputation as a flirt. Now where is my wand I think I can show you wildly throwing lightning bolts about. If I give you a five minute head start I think that's fair Salen." However she gives him a gentle affectionte hug as she would never really hurt him. With a merry twinkle in her green eyes she follows Lady Babette very curious to see what sort of things dinner has in store for them.

"I hope to see a lot more of you Ayren. It would be nice to meet your family some day!" Taking a seat gracefully when it's time Aelasuria happily nibbles taking her time and enjoying the meal. When Lady babette talks about watching the entertainment she moves to the balcony not wanting to miss Scolo's magical display. "Yes he does. I do  look forward to seeing him prosper he deserves a happy life. I think Melissa has made a change of heart and it is my hope she will get a chance to do good things."

Looking to Theo she nods slightly knowing most worthwhile things are not easy to accomplish. "We will find a way Theo! The easiest might be to distract whatever forces may be near tricking them into coming out. Then move in with overwhelming force if a battle is needed. If not then we simply have to find a way to escort them to a new safe home. IF we had a powerful transportation magic at our disposal that might be the fastest and possibly safest. Though it depends on just how many people we are talking about. I am curious Ayren are you a prietess, a ranger or following another such profession?"

"I meant were-weasels," Rita clarifies to Haakon apologetically, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. "I apologize; I did not mean any insult. The queen is right. You rescued slaves and fought monsters, in spite of this cowardice you claim. That's what being brave is. And from the way she took part in the effort against the Huns, your wife is brave and heroic just like you are." She smiles, hoping her comments are understood.

Thankfully, Aelasuria comes to the rescue with her humorous comments about taking out her wand and shooting lighting bolts at her brother.

"What do we mean by getting Scolo's village out? Are we talking about relocating the residents to another village or about taking control of the existing village back from the Huns?"

“When I was growing up, he wasn’t a king,” Riordeg says to Rita.  “In fact, he was barely a prince.  Oh, we all knew he was, be there was no palace, no.. nothing like a kingdom.  Just someone who managed to keep a few hundred horsemen a step or two ahead of the Huns, hiding in the forests.  He grew up spending half his time in the saddle, so did I.  So none of us know courtly ways.”

There is the music from the plaza outside.  Just the Dwarves, now, still playing.  They have stamina.

The glow of Scolo’s display shines into the palace, and they see it all from the balcony.

Theoderic starts trying to explain how Scolo had left the little village behind, but the village was practically in the shadow of the Emperor, and now the wizard was afraid that the Emperor might vent his frustration.. so he had told Scolo that he would help them leave.  But then, Babette interrupts, determined to stop all serious discussion.

"Another time," she says.  "Tonight is to enjoy."

Cirrus wanders in, having sung all she can sing, looking tired.

”Those Dwarves want everything loud!” she says, helping herself to a cup of wine.  “And they keep going!  I’m so tired!”

Mergyon escorts the chef in, and his apprentice, a young man.  They are both plump.  Mergyon knows that is how to tell a good cook.  He never trusts a chef who doesn’t really like his own cooking.  They are wheeling a rolling table set with crystal dishes.

”The dessert,” the chef says proudly.  “Tart with Apricot Mousse.”

Accompanied by a sweet dessert wine, of course, so they set out little crystal cups on the rolling table, so dessert can follow the party, instead of everyone having to go the table.

Cirrus grabs a little plate and a little cup, and it is love at first bite.. and sip.

”Will we be in Lucimburic a while?” she asks.  “I think I have to eat this again.”

"Courtly graces can be learned when the time comes. I honestly think the important things all of you learned while riding and dealing with the Huns are very valuable. Although court can have it's own more subtle dangers that you have to be aware of. However Lady Babette is working very hard to make tonight be relaxing and on more light hearted topics."

She smiles at the Duchess feeling a bit of sympathy for her as she works tirelessly to keep things from getting to serious on this joyous occasion. She takes Theo's hand giving it a affectionate squeeze. "Soon enough Theo I suspect we will get to discuss it in detail. Tonight just this once perhaps it will be all right to live in the moment as we will have precious little our time as it were."

When Cirrus arrives Aelasuria smiles warmly at her seeing that she's tired though obviously enjoying herself immensely. She speaks softly to Theo with a happy expression. It's soft enough to mostly be private though anyone that truly tries will likely overhear it is a dinner table after all. "See the theater is for her Theo! That or perhaps the path of the bard though I honestly hope that she will still stay with us."

"Your singing is truly lovely as usual Cirrus. I am glad that you were able to make it to dinner! Oh I see you like the desert! It really is delicious although I am afraid I don't know how long we will be able to stay in Lucimburic. Though I imagine we can make arrangements to make sure you can enjoy a bit more of the desert one way or another. I know I certainly would appreciate being able to enjoy it again!"

While Kyriel doesn't lose  her focus on keeping an eye on Aelasuria and King Theoderic, she certainly does't ignore the food. It's hard to ignore habits that have helped her survive, so she quickly loads a plate with plenty of food. Somehow she manages to pack it all away.

She's just about in heaven when she starts eating the tart, and goes back for thirds and fourths (if possible).

Hearing the talk about Scolo's village, she adds "It's hard to get there. They're pretty much isolated due to the huns and a fey forest. Then there are some really odd things there. Hoppers that eat magic and other things. Some of the people there are brain sick, too. That will make it much harder to get them out."

"Maybe that is for the best," Rita says quietly when Riordeg explains how Theoderic and he grew up. "It makes him more a man of the people, someone who understand firsthand what ordinary people's lives are like. Too many leaders, whether kings or priests, are out of touch with the lives of the people they rule."

She does not mention any names, but Riordeg knows her well enough to be reasonably certain she is referring to Bishop Garrax of Arras.

"Cirrus!" Rita exclaims when the exhausted girl walks in.

"Just because the dwarves keep going doesn't mean you have to!" she says in a motherly tone, genuinely concerned that the girl had been overworked and had missed the dinner's main courses.

"Queen Aelasuria is right. Your singing is wonderful, out of this world. But you are no dwarf, and you should always feel free to stop when your body and voice need rest.

These tarts are amazing, but Cirrus, you can't eat only dessert; that isn't enough. You need to regain your strength, and that means you should eat some of the main course as well." If the dinner food is still on the table, she will put together a plate for Cirrus. If not, she will ask the chef to bring a serving back out for the girl.

She listens intently to Kyriel's description of Scolo's village.

"What are hoppers? How did Scolo's village come to have magic eating creatures and people who are brain sick? Something had to have caused all of this, and we need to know what that is in order to face it without making ourselves vulnerable in this effort."

”A healer is like a cleric,” Ayren explains to Rita.  “We draw energy from the gods.. for me, Belenus and Sirona, the gods of healing.  But it is not exactly the same.  Our ways are more focused.  And we take certain vows- we cannot refuse a request for healing.”

Kyriel seems ravenous.. and Cirrus too.. which is ironic considering they are the two most petite people present.   Perhaps that will change.

Cirrus also has perhaps a little too much of the sweet dessert wine… maybe it’s just her unusual metabolism, because no one saw her drink more than one cup.  But it’s clear from the way she wobbles unsteadily when she stands, and from the way she leans up against the chef’s apprentice, telling him how wonderful his dessert is, in a sweet but slightly slurred voice.

Babette looks worried.  Too much fun can be as bad as not enough.  Outside, the band is finally running out of songs and is falling back on the old Dwarven tavern song “Gold!”, which has as many verses as one is able to make up spontaneously, and has sometimes been known to run all night, or at least, until the last Dwarf singing has passed out.

”Come, Cirrus, you look as if you need some rest,” she says.

”Oh, everyone’s alweesh worried about me,” Cirrus says.  Cirrus heard herself, and is suddenly embarrassed.  She blushes, and it’s evident in her eyes… as if she’s thinking:  am I really?  She looks at her wine cup, but it’s only half empty.  “I dimp even drink a full cup,” she says, sounding surprised.

"I could give her something for that," Ayren whispers.

It is a cue, the long day of festivities is finally winding down.

”Well, there is much to do in the days ahead,” Theoderic says.  “But we’ll get a very late start tomorrow.”

He extends a hand to Aelasuria.  Any day before this… he would have just said goodnight.   “My beautiful wife,” he says quietly, as if trying to convince himself it is true.

"But you drank it without eating dinner first," Rita says, not accusingly but protectively. "Before you go to sleep, you need to eat some food other than dessert. It will help you better absorb the wine."

From Ayren's explanation, it sound like elven healers are not like clerics, but are clerics, just of different deities.

"I believe Belenus is a sun god, a counterpart of Apollo. Is that correct? I admit I haven't heard of Sirona, but I would love to learn more about her. As for the healing powers of plants and herbs, are you permitted to teach that to others--to non-elves, such as myself?"

As far as Rita knows, Roman clerics do not take vows to never refuse requests for healing. Yet as an individual cleric, she has never refused healing to anyone and cannot imagine doing so. Her thoughts drift back to the healing she cast that saved Melissa's life.

"Please do give whatever medicine you can to Cirrus," she urges Ayren. In Rita's mind, Cirrus is still one of the fourteen children for whom she took responsibility back in Lutetia Parisiorum. That sense of responsibility, the instinct to protect the girl, has not wavered or lessened.

Most everyone that has been around Kyriel very much knows that she normally doesn't eat too much, it's just the festive environment and large amount of good food available gives her the rare opportunity to eat a lot. So she takes it while she can.

She takes a moment to answer Rita's questions. "Hoppers are some strange creatures that Rory and I encountered near Scolo's village. We had a wizard with us, and it ate the spell he was about to cast. It seemed very interested in the people with arcane spells, and it exploded when it was killed. I think it was something that Scolo let out from somewhere else. I don't know if it was intentional or not.

As for the people who are brain sick? I know of at least 2 or 3 people in the village that aren't all there in the head. This is in a population of maybe 200 people. In my opinion that's too high to be a co-incidence, especially since Scolo's magic is 'unsane' and doesn't seem to follow any logical rules."

She's glad that things seem to be winding down, but that means that the assassin is still out there. . . .

OOC: Ben Post number 127 indicates that Cirrus like Kyriel seems ravenous which indicates she ate a substantial amount of food if she's keeping up with Kyriel.

Listening to Rita she knows that Cirrus has little to worry about as long as she is around although she hopes that her friend won't overdo it. "Rita she did eat it's her sylph nature I think that is the problem. We all learn as we grow Cirrus just chalk it up to experiance. Hopefully Ayrens magic will spare you the headache in the morning. Drink water before you go to bed and again when you get up. That should help to prevent the problem."

Rising gracefully from her seat with a smile Aelasuria takes Theo's hand noting how strong it was and that he likely had rough spots from wielding a sword as well as years of riding. She gives Lady Babette and Duke Bastow a lovely smile.   "Thank you very much for hosting our wedding Lady Babette , Duke Bastow. Perhaps someday you can share the story of your wedding! We really should have talked about that during dinner! Were-bear celebrations no doubt are something to remember!"

The celebration is under way. Salen, for once, spends the early part of the dinner listening, for there is much about Ayren he simply does not know - they have only just met, after all. For all his bravado and mirth and extrovert nature, he has certain traits that mark him as a Soulwater, or at least his father's son: he is cool-headed in a crisis, always maintaining his calm when others around him are losing theirs; he is practical, always doing what it takes to get the job done; and he is patient, always willing to view matters in the long term. And yet, as his own (relatively young) Elf, there are times when he acts on impulse - as he did when he met Ayren. Where it all might go, he had not the slightest idea, but it would certainly be fun to find out.

Now is as good a time as any to discover how a healer works, their ethos and vows, and the ways of Belenus and Sirona. At the wedding dinner he eats comfortably but lightly, not over-indulging in any of the courses or the wines, for he has both an appreciation for the finer things in life and more pressing matters to attend: he has left this poor girl hanging too long already, and it is time to make his intentions plain. When opportunity allows he will take time, either sat during the meal or alone just the two of them on a balcony later.

"Forgive me, Ayren, for leaving this so long, but time and fate have simply denied me the opportunity, until now. These last weeks have been a dizzying storm for all of us, and only now can we take time to rest and relax. I can only guess at what you have had to endure, captured and kidnapped by Orcs, and now dragged off here by me amidst weddings and werecreatures and who knows what!

But, let me state that I admire you, greatly, and would welcome the opportunity to become further acquainted. I have no plans, no preconceptions, just an honest...desire, to become...close to you. I may be many things, or rumoured to be so, but I am an Elf of my word above all else. Whatever pleases you, it shall be so."

If Ayren so wishes, he will take her for a walk under the starlight, wherever they are allowed to pass within the grounds of the Palace.

The Fireworks come, and a dizzying light emenates from above the crowd - the 30 foot tickling mass of tentacles that was suspended in the air crackles away and the light fades until a hundred crossbow bolts fire into the air in rhythmic succession, they explode into patterns and images of little cuspids firing arrows into specific people in the crowd. Then as more and more appear to be struck the illusiory image in the sky shows a little puppet show of the king riding into battle to be pierced by scores of arrows from an army of cuspids. As he falls off his horse the king sees Aelessuri floating in the air surrounded by magic fields and he gets up still riddled with arrows and the illusory pair bow and dance away with the last several chords of diamond hammer playing quietly in the illusion. Scolo maintains concentration through all of this and he is exhausted in the end. He will probably sleep in the plaza.

Duke Barstow gives a big grin.  "Our wedding was not quite so public!  Off in the woods, with guests and honeycakes, no big fireworks.  Until the evening, that is.  But different fireworks."

"Oh, Barstow, please!"  Babette says.  Then she grins also, and whispers in her husband's ear.

Theoderic thanks the Duke and Duchess, and the others for attending, and gives Cirrus a pat on her shoulder, telling her to take it easy and listen to Rita.

The others begin to drift away, the music dies down.  Theoderic walks with Aelasuria across the ancient halls of the Lucimburic palace, passing the gardens, which are dark and still in the night, toward the suite the Duke and Duchess picked out for them.

It is a different kind of adventure.

* * * * * * * * *

And they are not the only ones with that adventure in mind.. though Riordeg decides… Rita’s still too young.. there is proper decorum to observe.. she’s a priestess and not some peasant girl so stop thinking like that… he yawsn and turns in for the night, giving Rita one little polite kiss.

Ayren gives a small dose of an herbal extract to Cirrus, telling her that it will help purge poisons of all kind from her system.  Then Salen and Ayren depart the hall for a walk in the evening air.  There is a popular route that follows the parapet of the terrace overlooking the Alzette river.

Very quickly, they learn that away from the palace and the lit, heated Clear Fountain Plaza, it is very cold.  There is no reason it shouldn’t be- it’s an Ardennes winter evening, after all.

Ayren, like Salen, has “been up and down a few trees”, as the Elves say.  By the time an Elf hits a hundred years, they generally have plenty of past behind them, and see relationships differently.  Most have some kind of attachment at that age, those that don’t have been through enough to the point where formal courtship is no longer a concern.

Ayren points out how cold it is, and figures Salen will take it from there.

* * * * * *

Miriam Soulwater and Raude Parisi split the last of the dessert wine between themselves.

”Our work here for the night is done,” one of them says.  It’s not clear which.

Kyriel sees the pairings off, and this makes her miss Terrance all the more. Granted that they wouldn't do anything, but seeing that so many people here have someone makes her miss him. She says her goodnights to everyone.

She finds a place to rest in the ducal palace for a couple of hours before slipping into her normal clothes and poking around. Since there wasn't an attempt at the ceremony, in her mind one of the next most likely times will be tonight. Late, when most of the guards are sleepy and bored. Even if there isn't an attempt, there may be a subtle probe to see just how good Aelasuria's and Theoderic's defenses are.

She gets up around 1 in the morning and keeps watch until 5.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Mon 29 Apr 2013.

Between 1 and 5 am snoring can be heard in the plaza square occasionally, as a figure naps in a tree the warm glow of magic whisping around his naked knees. A purple balloon hovers over him, close to his chest.

Aelasuria smiles listening to the discussion regarding Duke Barstow's and Lady Babette's wedding. Then blushes when he mentions the different sort of fireworks. She quietly bids Cirrus and Rita good night knowing that Cirrus will be in good hands. Kyriel she thought was on the same page about possible trouble.  Though she wishes she could speak to her without being obvious to be sure!

Being a elf her needs for rest are different then Theo's. Up rather early in the morning she just snuggles for a while. Then slips out to take advantage of the baths, Brush her hair, and of course fetch breakfast. Which she likely wakes up Theo serving it to him in bed while smiling at him. "Breakfast is ready! Or did you want to eat with everyone else at the table?"

A bit later she visits Marisol Brushing her mane, tail, and of course looking after her as she always has. She also Grooms Spica lovingly then gives both of them hugs when she is done. "If I know Theo he is going to have a very busy day. So I thought it wise to visit you to early on before I get whisked off to do other things!"

Crisp winter nights held something magical to Salen. Clear, starry skies, with a bright moon illuminating the landscape, a sharpness in the air that made you glad to feel alive. Provided you had somewhere warm to retire, of course. It was slightly different here compared to Geneva, but it was still nice. A walk along the parapet overlooking the river at this time of night, what could be better? He walked with Ayren's arm in his, each holding the other close. Why, on a night such as this he could walk...

What did she say now? Cold? Well, the heck with this then!

"Yes, yes it is. Come, I am sure the Duke and Duchess have provided us with a room, so let's go find it."

Salen takes it from there. He doesn't have to say any more.

"Even a sylph needs to eat a proper dinner," Rita says, since Cirrus showed up after the main course was served, in time for dessert.

Given the sheer number of people staying in the palace, chances are Rita is sharing a room with several other women; Cirrus is likely to be one of them. Rita thanks Ayren for giving Cirrus the herbal extract and makes a mental note to keep a close watch on the girl, just to make sure she is okay, and there are no lasting ill effects from the wine.

She smiles, her eyes twinkling, when Riordeg kisses her. "It's been a perfect day, a wonderful day," she says. It's not as if she expected anything further "adventures" tonight. She and Riordeg are not married, and it would not be proper...Besides, she has promised to keep an eye on Cirrus, and she still has to have that conversation with Raude Parisi about the news from Arras.

"I did promise to look out for Cirrus, and to meet Mater Raude Parisi, the priestess of Venus from Arras. She said she has something important to tell me, but it wasn't urgent, so I hope that means the news is not bad.

Perhaps some time tomorrow, Cirrus and Kyriel and I could take baths downstairs," she adds. "I hope we don't have to leave yet. Does Lucimburic have any special customs to greet the New Year? If they do, I hope we can stay for those festivities."

She bids Riordeg good night and heads off to find Raude.

In the morning, Theoderic wakes to find Aelasuria at his side.  Somehow, despite the newness, it seems perfectly right.  But then.. she has slipped away.

But later, Aelauria has another surprise.

Theoderic does not have a large family, and they didn't have resources to spend on lavish wedding gifts (and they wouldn't, not with Rita and her fund, and knowing how everyone felt about that.)  But they know Aelasuria by now, and they figured out the right gift for her (with a bit direction from Theoderic.)

It is on a chair near the table when they arrive for (late) breakfast.  A large box.

The box meows.

Elfin cats are native to the great magical forests of Europa, especially the Fey Forest of Brittany, and the Ardennes.  They are highly sensitive, intelligent beings, but tend to have very strange senses of "how things should be" and obey rules only they understand.

They quickly pick up the languages around them- they can't speak at birth, but are very talkative by 3 or 4.  They learn what they hear around them, and in addition, elven cats have a language of their own, which they speak fluently amongst themselves. It consists mainly of cat-like purrs, yowls, hisses, and meows, and uses body language (particularly the positioning of the tail and the erecting of the fur) to add emphasis to the spoken word. Occasionally, an elven or similar word will be added if there is no equivalent in the elven cat language.

 Elven cats, although magical in nature and possessing extraordinary powers (which vary unpredictably from cat to cat) nonetheless have many traits similar to those of the standard house cat. They are fastidious, licking themselves clean after every meal, and therefore also prone to hairballs. They like to be hugged and petted, but only sometimes. They like to think they are in charge, and look down on all non-felines as inferior beings. On the other hand, they can be close companions, well-loved pets, and even occasionally serve as wizards' familiars (but only to elven wizards, and then usually only if the find familiar spell is cast by an elven wizard of high enough level to suitably impress the elven cat - they wouldn't serve just anybody, after all).

Aelasuria has met a few Elven cats before, in her travels- Noctore and Elsinore.  This one is just a kitten, in need of a home.

Theoderic has a few things to attend to- he sends messages to Gellas by courier.

They have hundreds of soldiers at their disposal- but keeping them in the field is costly.  Most aren’t here for the money, but still, they need to be fed, equipment gets used and abused and needs upkeep or replacement, and every day they are in the field, they are not working their farms or their herds or doing all the other things that makes people prosperous.

So he has dismisses them- sends them back, to their homes and farms and herds, scattered around his small domain.  Most of them, at least.  There a few he wants to keep in service.  Some have no home to go back to.  Some adamantly refuse, until the Huns are destroyed.  And he still needs some.

Theoderic organizes a road patrol, and road construction crew, to work the road between Hiricio and Lucimburic.  This forest trail will now become a key artery in his kingdom, linking his lands in the Ardennes with Belgica.  It needs to be more than a forest trail- it needs to improvements, to handle the traffic he expects.

In the days following the wedding winter at last set in with a vengeance, blanketing Lucimburic- and the entire Ardennes- with thick snow.

He has meetings with various people concerning plans and strategy, and he has good news for Scolo.

"We will keep our promise to rescue the people of your village," he says.  "We have the support of the Academy of Aurelianorum in this.  They will send Kyriel, and at least one wizard, I expect.  I will send Byron... and others.  I need you to be as clear as you can, and tell them as honestly as you can, what to expect."

And that is in a different thread, for those going on this quest.  A meeting with Scolo.

Needless to say Aelasuria is attracted to the box the moment she hears the Meow! Gently gathering up the bundle of love she cuddles and caresses the kitten lovingly. Her fingers play over fur looking for the places the adorable little kitten would love most. "Thank you! Thank you so much! Mmm Theo do I have your grandmother to thank for this?"

She looks thoughtful for a few moments trying to figure out what to name the elfin cat. "If you don't already have a name then I need to name you. Perhaps Felicia for a female or Aristotle for a male. I also like Nicademos and Ariel has a nice sound to it." She is already planning on stocking up on proper foods for a elfin cat. Plus she needed a little bed with blankets for the tiny kitten. Safe was definitely a must for the precious little life she had been given to perhaps be a lifelong companion. She would hope that the Elfin cat would never leave though they were very independent and you never could tell where life would lead.

She needless to say spends a fair amount of time learning her new companions personality and needs. "Hmmm I could try to cast the Familiar spell though I think the kitten is a bit young for that. I probably should ask father before he goes back home what he thinks."

Of course when it snows she's out in it eagerly making a few snow balls. Which if she finds a game with Lucimburic children she happily joins in on a snowball fight. She might build a fey snowman or snownymp as it were depending on her artistic taste of the moment. Then perhaps enlists a bit of aid in a effort to make a snow Unicorn in honor of Marisol and spica!

The group stuck to Lucimburic through the heart of the winter.  There wasn't much reason to go anywhere else.  The pace of life slowed, the days were short, and the nights long.

Those who had arrived in Lucimburic by magic, the family of Salen and Aelasuria, were the first to leave- the snows didn't hinder travel by magic.

Before they left, Aristhandel shared some advice about the kitten- let it get to a year old before trying to make it a full Familiar.

Aelasuria's sisters and friends pressed her tell all she could about her Human husband.  They are immensely curious.  They've heard stories, some of which might even be true, that they want confirmed.  But regardless of whether they can get anything out of Aelasuria, who is usually shy about such things, they do have to leave.  Teleport spells are tiring and not done lightly- and it's the only way home other than a long, long walk.

Ayren is much closer to home, but she's in no rush to go home, even though Chara and Entherin are planning to go in that direction.  Her experiences in Namaco and Bruxzella were hard, and she is no adventurer- she does not bounce back easily from this.  She is somewhere in her eighties... a few months away from home, that's just a short sabbatical.  And she needs her time with Salen, as a form of healing.

Eventually, Salen and Aelasuria both attend the Northern Front meeting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:14, Fri 03 May 2013.

Rita spends what time she can with the children. It is nice to have everyone in one place. She would like to brew some potions and scribe some scrolls, but not at the expense of spending time with the children. To the extent that she is permitted, she enjoys exploring the palace.

Is the palace kept magically warm all winter, or was that just for the wedding?

She takes the time to see her family off with lots of hugs and fond goodbyes. To be honest she wished they could stay longer although she understands if they have to go.

With her kitten she soon has a name for her Felicia. She definitely would wait until her friend was at least a year old knowing her fathers advice was something to heed in most if not all situations. With her sisters and friends she blushes a bit... possibly a lot depending on what they ask. Perhaps they do talk a little bit depending on certain questions.

She spends a good bit of time with Felicia loving the kitten very much. She tries not to over cuddle her knowing she will need respect as well as love. Aelasuria makes a point of introducing her to Spica, Marisol and Procyon. After all they are family and two out of the three have their own child whom she looks forward to meeting. Before they leave she tries to let Felicia spend just a little time with each of her family members.

Eventually she introduces her to Cirrus, Rita, possibly Kyriel before she leaves, and of course Apple blossom as well as Eadoin whom she considers friends. Unless they move Apple blossom and Eadoin would be neighbors once the war is over. Salen of course would meet Felicia in due time after all they would be traveling together.

Rita is excited to meet Felicia.

"I remember Noctore. He helped us back in Bableni. Will Felicia be able to talk like he does? Are you going to take her on adventures with you? At least while she is a kitten, it might be better to leave her in a safe place, at least when you're fighting demons," she says, confident that Aelasuria will know exactly what to do when the time came to go off to battle again.

"Would you let the children meet her? I can bring them in small groups so as not to overwhelm Felicia. If she would prefer not to be petted, I will make sure the children know. I do know they would love to meet her!"

"Yes Rita she will likely start talking between two and three years old. Honestly I am not sure I can leave her behind Rita. I agree I don't plan on bringing her into battle with me. I will have to ask Theo about it and see if we can make arrangements for her care anytime a battle is coming up. Cirrus for example could look after her so long as she's not engaging in battle. Once the fighting is over Felicia can be returned to me. If all else fails I probably could make arrangements with Theo's mother to care for her although I want to raise her myself so that is a last resort."

She nods thinking about Rita's request. "I will be happy to introduce her to them. I am sure with both of us present we will keep things under control. It's best to warn them ahead of time that Elfin cats are not always tolerant of being touched. Though if she wants the attention and affection by all means. They just have to know when to let go or stop."