A roleplay transcript by Etain and Coraline in Moonflower Hollow.
Etain Moonflower hugged her sister Coraline tightly before she motioned for the other sisters to join them. “Sisters,” she called to them. “A moment of your time, please,” she softly requested and waited for the chatter to die down as they all stood around them. “It has been brought to my attention that there are many rumors floating about as of today. Some of them are true and many are simply that - rumors.” She swept a sorrowful but courageous gaze over the beautiful faces of her most trusted sisters. “Firstly, it is true, King Malekith of Sa’Viir-Arin and I have ended our engagement,” she spoke clearly and with feeling, linking her hands at her tummy as she stood before them with a graceful poise. “He broke things off with me this morning.”
She held up her hand to soothe their murmuring. “Please, do not feel saddened. Things happen the way they are meant to happen.” Etain Moonflower smiled, causing the watery pools of her eyes to shimmer and overflow. She caught a tear with her finger. Her smile spread as she wiped it away. “We have parted on good terms and please know it is for the best. I am much happier, and I know he will be as well. And secondly,” she said as she placed her hands over Cora’s as the nymph wrapped her arms about her. She turned to each of their concerned faces as they watched her and smiled, “I do still have the beautiful engagement ring.” She heard them gasp and she turned to Coraline, squeezing her hand gently for she had taken it into her own again. “I think we should all take turns wearing it, starting with my dear Cora. Each week, after you have worn it, you may pass it on to the sister of your choosing.”
Squeals were heard in the Hollow from the excitement. Etain Moonflower turned Cora’s hand over and placed the dazzling diamond ring in her palm. “That is all I have to say on that matter," she said lightly. "Enjoy the rest of your evening.” After a few brief hugs, they parted, leaving just Coraline and Etain behind. “Care to take a stroll around the gardens, sister?”
Coraline jumped up from her favorite perch on the rock ledge when she saw Etain enter the sanctum of the hollow. She ran over the slippery rocks towards her and glided hurriedly through the flowers. She flung her arms around Etain and as she embraced her tightly, she kissed her cheek. She sat down in the grass and leaned her head against Etain's leg when she called for the attention of the hollow and listened with the rest of the nymphs to Etain's words. Some of what was spoken, she knew of already. Some, she did not. But, as she saw the glimmer in Etain's green, hazel flecked, eyes begin to pool, she stood and embraced her from behind as she continued speaking to the other nymphs. As Etain took her hand and placed the beautiful ring there, the tears began to pool in Coraline's eyes. She found herself unable to speak for several moments while Etain dismissed the other nymphs and they began to walk slowly around the garden together. Finally, her voice returned and even though it was cracking slightly, she spoke. "My dearest sister, I must tell you that I was at the Wayward King and heard some rumors there. One was that you left the palace afoot. Which we all knew to be untrue. The other was that you left without this ring. Which is also, obviously, untrue." Her voice quieted as she squeezed Etain's hand.
Etain Moonflower was quiet as she listened to Coraline share with her the rumors she had heard. Posy had shared with her the very same earlier. She breathed in thoughtfully before approaching the rumors. “Yes, I simply warped to the Hollow using the poppy as I have done daily over the past few months. Why walk when you can warp?” Her teeth tugged at her lower lip. “The atrium is no more though. As soon as I left the palace the flowers withered behind me and disappeared. Now all that is left is marble.” She gave Coraline a look. A bit of mischievousness gleamed in Etain’s soft green eyes. She turned back to watch the grass give way beneath their feet as they walked down to the next pool of water. “Oh, I worked hard for that ring. Of course I would not give it back,” she laughed lightly, but the expression on her face hardened. “I will say that my head is cleared. It is as if the fogginess in my brain has been lifted.” She inhaled deeply, lifting her shoulders as she stood still and turned to Cora. “I am not sad we are no longer together. I am sad that I make such poor choices in men.”
Coraline walked slowly and quietly, hand in hand with Etain towards the waterfall. They sat down together on the ledge, and after a few moments of silence, Coraline turned to Etain and said softly. "Dearest one, you once warned me about the dangers of meddling in the affairs of men." She reached over and tenderly stroked Etain's cheek. "You are our Queen. You always have been and ever shall be. You are the Moonflower and your essence makes this hollow. We all love you dearly." She paused, her eyes tenderly blinking at Etain until a bright glimmer began growing in them. "But, if you ever get that deep in men's affairs again, I might have to smack you." she giggled softly.
They sat so close to one another, and Etain needed that closeness just then. “Yes, I know you speak the truth, my sweet sister,” the nymph said as she rested her head on Coraline’s bare shoulder. She giggled as well at Cora’s playful threat. “Please do, I would certainly deserve it if I repeat that mistake,” she said and grew quiet. Only her sisters truly made her feel safe, loved. She would do well to remember that in the future. And Etain knew she had made a mistake getting in so deep with Malekith, but it still smarted all the same. She had the control and she gave it up because… well, the only way to explain things if she had to, was that it had to do with the workings of that fucking goddess. The rage, the punishment - these were what she sought but rarely found. She sought punishment because it dulled the deep ache from the loss of her sisters. Whatever that witch had cast on her had rewired her brain. So Etain would go back to punishing herself with the whip. It wasn’t as satisfying, but it was what she needed to do to cope. “You know what I think,” the nymph queen said as she reached for Cora’s hand, “I think this ring looks better on your hand than it did on mine.”
Coraline smiled tenderly at Etain as she listened to her explain and reached up to stroke her hair as she rested her head on her shoulder. As Etain took her hand and made her comment on the ring, Coraline reached up again to stroke her cheek. "Dearest, it has been said that it is necessary to have wisdom to conceive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all well governed institutions. That the palace has wisdom, is debatable. That is has strength, most probable. But, the most beautiful adornment ever to grace the palace, or that will ever grace it, was you. And, it can only be considered an empty shell without your beauty to adorn it." She sighed audibly as she finished speaking, sitting side by side with her dearest one, gazing into the pool below them, and listening to the singing of the falling waters.
“Cora, you always know just what to say,” she whispered and closed her eyes. “I really do not care to venture out of the Hollow again. I fear it was a mistake to take interest in the city,” she said dreamily. “I think I will rest now. Do you mind?” Etain Moonflower sat up, removing her shoes and tossed them to the soft grass. “Perhaps I will rest beneath the water here,” she pondered as she stood and began disrobing. “Do you need anything before I take rest?”
Coraline smiled and shook her head. "No my dearest. Take your rest in the waters. Let them restore you."
Etain Moonflower leaned down to place a kiss on Coraline’s cheek. “I will see you in a few hours then,” she said and made her way down the rocks to dive into the restorative waters below.