An RP between Silmariel Quel'Silith, Lyrena Auberan and Rhea the Naiad.
:: Lyrena Auberan had started to make her way towards the Hollow after previously being in her part of the city again, briefly checking on things in the barracks. The somewhat grim look on the Blood elf's face began to fade as she spotted a familiar redhaired nymph by the bridge leading to the Hollow. "Rhea.", she called out, bearing a smile by the time she spoke. "I trust you are doing well.", she added. "It is you I came to see, even. It has… Been a while again.", she affirmed, reaching to rub at the bridge of her nose, sounding a bit stressed. "And I thought it wouldn't be right to expect you to visit my barracks two times in a row!"
:: Rhea watched the greater falls spill down, listening to the roar and waving to the ferryman when she first saw him pass. He always smiled at her. The sound of a familar voice had her spinning to meet the Dame Commander's gaze. As usual, she threw herself at the elf, snuggling against her unless prevented. Her attire was even skimpier than before. "Lyrena!" She sang out happily. "I am well, though not unburdened. There's a small but dangerous curse affecting the Moon Willow Forest. Coraline and I investigated it recently. We're to pass word along to Queen Etain and the good wizard Rhodan, but I wish there were more I could do…" She trailed off before admitting, "I was going to come to the barracks today."
:: Lyrena Auberan gladly extended her arms as Rhea lunged at her, snuggling against her and letting the soft fur on her arms and shoulders rub onto Rhea's almost bare frame. As usual, Lyrena didn't particularly shy from touching her armored cock against the Naiad's hip. "A curse?", she asked while looking into Rhea's eyes. The Dame Commander's lips momentarily pursed, and she huffed in light frustration. Another problem added to the list. "I wouldn't worry too much about it yourself.", she counseled softly, her hand reaching out to lay on Rhea's cheek reassuringly. "You and Coraline discovered this? While you were exploring the forest?"
:: Rhea rested her chin on Lyrena's chest, peering up at her face with her liquid eyes. "A winged fae named Ezran came to see the Queen, though I think he was quite happy to find Cora." A smile played about her lips as she voiced that suspicion, then she continued. "I overheard him speaking of something dark growing the wood. Cora and I agreed to investigate in Etain's stead. We were showed to a patch of dead and twisted briars. My sister noted the earth was poisoned, and I sensed a curse - one that would spread if not dispelled. Ezran said the spot was where a mage named Skolvor confronted someone named Silmariel. Surely that's the origin of the blight." She huffed a little sigh. "I don't like worrying, but I can't help it. I've seen the terrible power of curses. I don't want this kingdom to end up like the one I came from."
:: Lyrena Auberan continued to idly caress at Rhea's shapely form while they spoke. Occasionally, her tanned hands sooner groped, as they tended to sometimes do. A groping that did stop once Rhea got to the more serious parts of her message. "Skolvor? You are certain?", she asked, her lip lowering a bit as she thought on it. "It seems his presence brings trouble not only here, in the city…", she said, leaning her head back and closing her eyes, letting out a tired sigh. When she opened her eyes again, she looked back into Rhea's watery pools, and planted her hand on her old friend's cheek again. "You were noble to offer them help, but I do not want you near that Skolvor. He is an evil man. And we have certainly not seen the last of him." With that, Lyrena craned her head to the side as she caught sight of something in her periphery - a figure approaching them from the opposite hall. The longer she looked, the Blood elf realized it was the Lady Silmariel, who seemed to be approaching the pair with purpose in her gait. Lyrena softly let go of her Naiad friend and turned more properly towards the Highborne. She wasn't particularly happy to see her again so soon after yesterday's events, but she stood her ground, and tried to stay open-minded - and with a civil expression as the Lady approached them.
:: Rhea tilted her head inquisitively. "Yes, Skolvor." She affirmed. The little Naiad took Lyrena's command to stay away from the mysterious entity quietly, only nodding with a thoughtful air about her. She maintained that silence as her companion shifted her attention to the approaching woman. That didn't mean Silmariel went unacknowledged. Though she detected the tension in the air she did not understand its source. Her smile to the mage was warm, and she lifted one web-fingered hand to offer a genial wave.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith had just been wandering about the city, and spotted Lyrena on the bridge. She strode over this way, and managed to overhear at least the tail end of the conversation. "No, you've not seen the last of him. Fortunately the Dame Commander has it quite handled, I am sure, and it appears my assistance is not in any way required." She looked to Rhea, and returned the warm smile, her voice softening. "And I'm not sure we have met. Are you one of the nymphs of the Hollow, then?"
:: Lyrena Auberan tilted her head upon that initial, subtle taunt, but otherwise remained calm for now. "A recent inductee.", Lyrena nodded in regards to the Naiad beside her. "And an old friend of mine.", she added, passing a quick smile towards Rhea, letting her explain the rest. "It is not up to me anymore. But I have advised against it.", the Blood elf assured the Highborne, looking her in the eyes, trying to gage whether the Lady knew what she was talking about. "I decided I would have no part in the secrecy you brew.", she added, almost pausing near the end to furrow her brows, and add a little something. "…That is, I assume you have not in fact told His Grace of any of your plans either, have you? Of your deals with Skolvor?", she questioned. "I have.", she bluntly confirmed afterwards.
:: Rhea felt puzzled. She was a sensitive creature that quickly attuned herself to the emotions of others, but she was not exactly experienced with passive aggression or the games of cordial hostility that the titled set played. Her rippling irises flicked from the imperious Lady to the Dame Commander and back again. Ultimately she focused on what she did know. The welcoming demeanor did not change. "Yes, it's as Lyrena said. My name is Rhea. I've newly come to this place, and to the Moonflower Hollow. Well met!" She dipped her chin politely. One arm looped around the elf's fondly when she named her as an old friend.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith seemed to shrug. If she was concerned by Lyrena's confession she did not show it. "I'm confident His Grace understands that I act for the benefit of the Kingdom, and values my initiatives to those ends. I bring him solutions, Lyrena, not problems. As such I am likewise confident he will make the right decision on this matter." Then she smiled brightly at Rhea, and bowed her head ever so slightly. "Well, then, allow me the chance to bid you welcome to Ansa'fel, Rhea. I am Lady Silmariel Quel'silith. Can I ask where you have come here from?"
:: Lyrena Auberan reached down to softly clasp Rhea's webbed fingers within her own as she saw the Naiad leaning into her, giving her hand a soft squeeze. To the Highborne Councillor she hummed a single time. "What a fine job you have done.", the Blood elf said sarcastically. "Rhea here has just told me that the Moon Willow forest faces a mysterious corruption.", she said, before looking back at Silmariel. "Caused by Skolvor. On the very spot you two allegedly met. You couldn't have picked a different forest? Something besides the ancient home of the fae?"
:: Rhea was encouraged by the smile. She wasn't sure how to react to the rest of the conversation, so she continued focusing on the parts that involved her directly… At least for right then. "Thank you, Lady Silmariel." Her pronunciation was excellent, an echo of the noble's own. "Most recently I have traveled from the land of Sincadere." Her weight shifted somewhat uneasily at the mention of the curse and the connection of dots. Of course - THAT Silmariel, the one Ezran mentioned. She blushed from not having pieced that together sooner, and for being drawn somewhat into the duel of wills.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith frowned. "Your accusations and implications -tire- me, Lyrena, and they reflect extremely poorly on you, for one I thought so sensible. It was a chance meeting on the road. What do you think, that we planned ahead of time where to meet and have a little chat? Perhaps you should place blame where it lies, and consider your words before giving voice to them. Nonetheless, I will go to the woods and see to this matter; Skolvor cast no spell on that spot, per se, he was simply -there-; though he did activate his staff once. As such removing the curse should be a trivial task." To Rhea she pondered her answer. "Sincadere…. ah yes. Distant place," she mused. "I suppose I could find it on a map, but I've never been. Fairly dangerous I've heard, though, between the skirmishing of the realms and the creatures in the underdark…. I must say you're quite likely safer here. Still, quite a long journey to make."
:: Lyrena Auberan looked back at Rhea and nodded as the Naiad mentioned Sincadere. "A troubled land. They have their own quarrels with evil sorcerers, and the scourge of the Underdark. Not to mention two warring cities, right on each other's doorsteps…", she recalled. After that, she looked back at the Lady. "You say you always plan everything, don't you? That you consider every little thing?", she asked, her brows perking. "I annoy you because I call you out. Your plans are not as clever as you think they are. They have caused problems already. I imagine you think that so long as you ignore my accusations, I will stop bothering. Quite the opposite.", she sternly assured, her temper rising a bit again, though she tried to stifle her frustration. "The fact that you are not the least amount apologetic for the troubles you have caused the Guardians and I doesn't help me trust you to have better judgment in the future, either."
:: Rhea first said, "Oh yes, quite dangerous. I clung to the rivers and streams, and still I had to deal with some… Circumstances." She did not sound excited to elaborate. The nymph also chose her next words carefully, her musical voice so soft and gentle it was like a verbal caress. "I don't doubt your power, Lady. It surrounds you as light does a wisp. But this curse affects the soil and essence of the place. Even the fae attuned to the wood are stymied by it. It began small but is made to grow. I don't know this Skolvor's intent but even a tiny cut can be devastating with the right poison, and some poisons have but one antidote. If this man is as dangerous as everyone says, this blight might be more than an afterthought."
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith sighed. "Yes, I suppose I owe an apology. I apologize, Rhea, that you have found yourself in the middle of this matter. Please forgive me. Nonetheless I will do what I can." Her golden gaze turned upon Lyrena. "You annoy me because you appear to have no comprehension of cause and effect. An Än'vakorite mage comes to this city because -someone else- sent a sword to -someone else- and this is somehow my fault. He passes through the forest and corrupts the land on which he slithers and this is somehow my fault. I am not apologetic because there is literally nothing I have done to -cause- any of this. I make plans because I'm trying to -solve the problem-. Meanwhile you, the person charged with keeping the city safe, left that accursed blade, the nexus of all this strife, vulnerable on two separate occasions yesterday alone, and solely because you have convinced yourself that literally the one person qualified to handle this matter can't be trusted with it. Do you think I would have made such pedestrian errors? What on Elune's green earth do you want -me- to apologize for?"
:: Lyrena Auberan closed her eyes and huffed, her head shaking. "You know very well how your clandestine deals with this wretched wizard, and your secrecy, made me get caught off-guard at the Tavern. At the barracks, with Skolvor. You left Iskrin to get tainted by this blade for weeks. I will not be repeating myself again. If you do not understand it by now, you never will." Upon the latter conviction, she raised a single finger. "Once. And it is now safely in the custody of the King. The risks I take do not result in blunders, like yours do. But as I said. It is no longer up to me. I assume His Grace will summon you in the coming days, to explain your side of the story. I have said mine already. If King Malekith decides to trust you with Ke'ntor, so be it. I will not defy him.", she said, just about ready to depart into the Hollow by now. She briefly dipped her head towards Rhea, inviting the Naiad to join her if she wished. Though before she stepped too far, she had one more thing to say to the Lady. "If nothing else, I hope your recklessness here drives you to be more honest in the future. With me - and the King. Instead of waiting to explain your plans only after they have caused problems for others." She likely stayed for long enough to hear the Highborne's response, but had nothing more to say to the Lady herself, for now.
:: Silmariel Quel'silith corrected. "Twice. You did not personally accompany the blade to the palace. You left it in the hands of your underlings, who could easily have been either ambushed, or corrupted themselves."
:: Rhea lowered her eyes. "You owe me no apology, Lady. I tend to involve myself." A little smile touched the corners of her lips. "It's just my nature." She squeezed Lyrena's hand in silent support when the mage spat back the faults she found with the blood elf's own behavior. The cheek nuzzled against her friend's fuzzy shoulder indicated she was ready to follow wherever she was led. A last finger-wiggling wave was offered to the mage… The quarrel between the two seemed complex but she bore no personal ill-will toward the woman she just met.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith waved and smiled back to Rhea, whom she found quite lovely. Then, looking to Lyrena, she sighed. "You really do not understand, do you?" she asked, just sounding tired now. "Iskrin hasn't been corrupted by the sword for weeks. He's been corrupted by it for decades. It only came into the High King's hands because his compatriots had to forcefully take it from him. It would not surprise me if the entire reason Iskrin -joined- the AmranKai to begin with was to maneuver himself into a position where he could retrieve the Sword of Askamran. No, he had to come to me, and he was told by many people he trusts that he should come to me. He himself knew that he should come to me. And he would have done so sooner, I suspect, if he'd not made your mistake, and failed to trust me. And, truth be told, I suspect that you already know this. -Don't you-?"
:: Lyrena Auberan took Rhea's hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze, leaning into her friend for a moment as the Naiad tried to comfort her. "You were relying on the good judgment of a man you say has been corrupted by this same sword for decades?", she asked with perked brows. "Perhaps you are an idiot after all.", she bluntly called out. "He did mention you, only after I disarmed him - when he came to his senses. You were waiting on him to do so while Ke'ntor manipulated him?", she asked, again. "And I was going to give it to you too. Until Skolvor told me of your deals with him. A disfigured, darkness-worshiping naga is more honest than you." She had nothing more to say. She gave Rhea's hand a gentle tug, and walked them both inside the Hollow.
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith literally facepalmed. She'd suspected of course, but now it was confirmed. "So… let me get this straight. you're taking your advice from an evil wizard who has been my rival for centuries, has a vested interest in this problem not being solved, and, let me remind you, came within a hair's breadth of murdering half a dozen of your men."
:: Lady Silmariel Quel'silith continued, "Yet you're unable to trust someone who has the trust of the King, who endorsed your elevation, who has had a large part in buliding this entire city from the ground up, and, I will remind you, had two opportunities to steal the sword yesterday and did not."
:: Lyrena Auberan shrugged as she walked. "There is nothing to 'trust'. He was right. You yourself confirmed his claims.", she said while walking. "And I congratulate you for not committing a crime.", she said to the latter bit. "Lady Silmariel.", the Blood elf nodded her head as she departed. There wasn't any malice in the nod, but it was clear the frustrated Dame Commander didn't want to continue this talk any longer.
:: Rhea said nothing more herself. Her expression was contemplative and a little sad, but she held her tongue and drifted with the elf toward the serenity of the Moonflower Hollow. She suspected her companion needed it. Her steps hesitated when the mage continued, clarifying or seeking clarity, both women clearly frustrated by the interpretations of the other. She watched, and she listened, and then she followed.