A Blanket of Flower and Ice

A roleplay transcript by Malekith and Etain:

Etain Moonflower flitted amongst the nymphs as they worked with their heads bent, deft fingers threading a beautifully dense weave of flowers and vines with moss backing together to form a floral covering for the Hollow. There was much merriment and laughter, but seriousness too given the nature of their project. Singing and chatter continued as they fashioned a growing blanket that would, with any luck, protect them from intense heat. "Beautifully done," Etain praised as she knelt down to grab a couple long stemmed flowers, and twisted knots into each end before attaching them to the ever spreading cover.

Malekith Helerodis finished up with his guest at the Palace and he headed off towards the Hollow. He was relaxed somewhat, feeling a little chipper this evening than in the past. Ontop of all that, he was going to see her again... Rounding the corner to head into the hollow he was immediately greeted by the scents of the garden, his eyes closed for a moment and he let the aromas fill him up, feeling a tingling sensation inside him as he had. Exhaling Malekith entered deeper into the Hollow and looked for Queen Etain. "Hello..." he called for her and as he had he produced a couple gold coins from his pocket. A nymph approached him and he smiled to her, leaning down and offering the coins. "Here... where is your Queen?" he straightened his back up and would wait.

Etain Moonflower tilted her head, giving Yarrow her ear as the other nymph quietly knelt down to announce that the king had returned. She had seen him twice this week already, and for that she was happy. She felt a flutter start deep in her belly and ripple then spread as a tiny smile played on her lips while she excused herself from the group. Etain rose and made her way over to the high elf. She waved to him, her footsteps quickening. He looked more dashing that ever. "Malekith. Thank you for coming," she said and wrapped her arms about his neck, drawing him in for a sweet kiss. "There is no need to bring gifts. You are and forever will be our honored guest."

Malekith Helerodis smiled when he saw the lovely Etain. When she embraced him in her arms and pressed her sweet lips to his, he returned the gesture and held her by her shapely hips, pulling her tightly into him and kissing her back. As she drew back and explained he needed not bring them offerings, he shook his head. " Gifts, for the little ones then." he smiled at her, the same way he always did when she was around. "Now tell me. What is it that's going on?" he looked around them at the busy job that was being done to the Hollow. "What do you need of me?"

His kiss took her breath away. The King of Ansa`fel had that effect on her. Etain's heart thundered in her chest from just that brief encounter. "Well, I'm glad you asked," she said, beaming a smile at him before turning back to follow his gaze. "We are preparing for what we hope is the worst of it. If my visions come true, and visions are seldom what they seem, this facet of the hollow could perish." She kept her voice low enough so that only he could hear, her expression now matter-of-fact. "Imagine what an immense heat and blazing sun does to flowers and to rivers and streams, to the honey bees and butterflies which pollinate and provide food. She didn't mention that the nymphs too could perish. To mention such a thing again would break her heart. She looked up at him, "so the sisters and I met last eve and formed a plan. We would create this floral canvas and place it over the entire structure here. It will provide some shade should we need it. But," she started again and turned to fully face him, though she never moved out of his reach. Something seemed to subconsciously, and continually, pull her to him when they were near one another. "We need more than simply that." She smiled again, apprehensively, and continued, "one of my nymphs told me you wielded ice magick. Can you help protect the blanket of flowers? Keep them moistened and cooled against extreme heat if we find it necessary to do so?" (Etain Moonflower)

Malekith Helerodis kept her held tightly while she spoke of her concerns, these dark events that she foretold that evening they first met. He frowned while he thought about her words and he felt his heart sink with the mention of the Hollow perishing, he did not know exactly what it would mean for her, but he had an idea it was not good. He swallowed and nodded his head. "I do..." he raised his hand up and she would see a layer of Black Ice form around his hand, crawling over it as though it were alive. And just as it came, it disappeared. " I can do it now... I wont see anything happen to you, or your sisters... "

She reached her hand up to touch the ice, but it quickly vanished. "Do you think it will be enough? How much heat and light can it withstand?" Her eyes softened as she continued to gaze up at him. She felt there was hope. She felt, for the first time in days, that there was promise. "Tell me how it works. Tell me what you need me to do." (Etain Moonflower)

Malekith Helerodis shook his head. "I cannot say I have ever stress tested it. It is stronger than normal ice... colder. It can withstand much punishment but how much... I am not certain. I can build a barrier of sorts around your garden... hopefully it will be enough. If not I will return here to reapply it as needed. But its all I can think of doing.. " he raised his hand up and as he did the air around him grew colder and suddenly the ice would begin to form, starting at the base of the walls that surrounded the garden and it would build its way upwards. It would form a thick wall of Ice. The black ice would actually shield the garden from the sun very well, better than normal ice would. Malekith strained to form the wall, it was obvious it was taking a lot out of him but he would not stop, his skin would become lighter and black veins began to show through till he suddenly dropped to a knee just as he finished. The garden would be surrounded then by what looked like a globe of black ice, with only a small exit for people to come and go.

Etain watched him and bit back a plea for him to stop. She needed this. Her nymphs, their sanctuary, needed this. It took much out of him, but she let him do what must be done. Her brows furrowed as she watched him fall to his knee, and she knelt next to him. "Thank you, Malekith," she softly said and placed a hand on his sleeve. It did pain her to see him nearly drained. "Come, let me take you to the water and replenish you." (Etain Moonflower)

The nymphs murmured in confusion, excitement and awe, "What is this? It is ice but not cold? We can see the sunlight but feel no heat?"

"King Malekith, you are amazing," said some in glee, others exclaiming, "Malekith, he is as powerful as he is handsome," and others whispering, "he's so dreamy. I hope he stays with us a while longer."

Etain Moonflower stood and held out her hand, "Can you stand? Or we can lie here if you wish?"

Malekith Helerodis took a deep breath as his body recovered from over extending his magic, he had never used it to create such a large obstacle before. He looked up to her and nodded, standing up from the ground, already the color was returning to his face and the black veins were disappearing, fading back under his skin and away from view. The excitement of the wild Nymphs around him did make him smile, forcefully, he only hoped it would be enough. He would move with the Nymph towards the pool, his clothes being removed by the smaller Nymphs as he had until all his clothes were off. He slipped into the water with the beautiful Etain.