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 Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:54 pm
 Kelebek had grimaced when the little messenger brought her the word. Seek refuge in Alu Spring. She'd chuckled bitterly and sent the messenger on her way.
"No, I don't think so," says Kelebek to herself once the Queen's messenger had gone. She runs a hand through her soft pink hair. She'd be able to weather the storm just fine here in her little grotto.
That was, until she began to think about it. Queen Tariel wouldn't send a messenger out to gather all the Naiad unless she were legitimately worried about losing some of her subjects to the storm. Kelebek grimaces again. What an awful thought, and here she was, out here all alone....
Kelebek shivers and begins to pack away her valuables so they wouldn't float away. Her grotto could survive on its own. She'd head to the palace, just to be safe. And who knows? It's a big palace...perhaps she could avoid Queen Tariel. And Turin. And pretty much everyone else.
It's a fair distance from her home to Alu Spring, but Kelebek reaches the palace without incident. She decides to keep to side-halls and the outer parts of the palace. No way would she venture into the throne room.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:13 pm
 Today was turning out to be quite busy for the normally bored queen. Well, she'd not been too bored since she last held Court in any case. She was glad for this activity though, because it meant Naiad were coming home to the palace and seeking safety. And with so many new faces swimming about, there was increased need for supplies. Tariel was doing her part to help out because everyone was busy.
The queen had been searching for shells in every supply room she knew of in the palace. Normally this was not a job she'd do, or want to do, but it was keeping her busy and focused, and helped her feel at ease knowing she was lending a hand. She had been digging for shells for the refugees to use while they stayed in the palace. They served many purposes to the Naiad, ranging from cups, plates, combs, toys, you name it. Right now, they were needing some for plates so they could accommodate the large crowd for tonight's feast.
Tariel was backing out of one of the supply rooms, her arms filled with stacks of large, round shells, unaware the hall was not empty.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:28 pm
The palace brings back...somewhat haunting memories for Kelebek. The chaos of the court last time she was here. How her son had gotten sent to be a Hunter and her daughter made into a courtier. And then there was the dull ache in her chest and a void in her heart where Turin belonged.
And so Kelebek doesn't notice the Naiad backing out of a room until she'd full-on crashed into her. "Oh!" she exclaims, realizing the other Naiad was carrying a stack of shells and reaching to catch some of them, "I'm so sorry!" Her attempts to help were only making things work, and she knows it. She peeks up at the Naiad's face to see who she was.
"Queen Tariel! Gods and little fishes, I'm so sorry!" she apologizes again, bowing her head and backing off.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:43 pm
The shells flew up into the water, scattering only to float gently to the floor. Tariel tried to grab as many as she could to keep any from breaking if they hit the floor too hard. "It's ok--" Wait, that voice....
She turned to see who had bumped in to her. Good thing for Kelebek the queen did not incite to rage and anger at simple mistakes like this. Bad thing though, Tariel did not care much for Kelebek, despite the tremendous amount of guilt she carried around because of her. Tariel and Turin's last talk ended with her feeling horrible about her actions and meaning to send word to the pink Naiad so she could formally apologize. But Tariel dragged her fins on it, not wanting to see her face to face just yet.
Now she realized why. Just seeing her again made her hackles rise.
"Don't worry about it." She said, keeping her tone free from any thought she may have been wanting to entertain. "Can you help me gather them back up?" she didn't try to sound bossy or stern, but it may have come out that way.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:49 pm
"Of course!" stammers Kelebek, and immediately starts to gather the shells, stacking them carefully so she wouldn't drop them again.
Gods and little fishes...I need to get out of here... Kelebek tries to maintain a properly demure and non-emotional appearance, but it's difficult, knowing that this woman--the Queen, of all Naiads--was the one who held her Turin's heart. Turin's heart, she mentally corrects herself. He isn't yours, Kelebek, she tells herself.
Her being Queen didn't help either. Kelebek sighs gently. No wonder Turin loved her so--she was beautiful,and regal, and so much more graceful than Kelebek herself was.
Kelebek offers her stack of shells back to Tariel. "I could help you bring these to where they need to go, my Queen," she offers contritely.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 3:06 pm
Tariel realized that she wants to be mad at Kelebek, and to hate her, but there's no justifiable reason for it. Kelebek did nothing wrong, and things have been mostly resolved between her and Turin. At least mutual understandings were achieved and their friendship repaired. Still, there were some unresolved feelings and thoughts that Tariel couldn't shake nor make heads or tails of.
She took a brief moment to compose herself, clear her mind, and behave as she should, as she is. She's not a hateful naiad, never has been. This was not the time to start.
"That would be helpful, thank you." she said politely with a small smile towards Kelebek. She could see why Turin could be attached to her, even if the initial hookup was not supposed to happen. This naiad, despite being clumsy, had a kind and protective nature. Just like Turin.
"The kitchen needs them. There's more naiads in the palace than usual, so more places to set at the table for the evenings feast." Tariel picked up a stack of the shells and turns towards the direction of the palace kitchen.
"Which you are invited, by the way. There will be plenty to eat. And I'm glad you made it here safely." The queen added as she looked over shoulder towards Kelebek.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 3:15 pm
Kelebek nods her understanding. "Thank you for sending a messenger after me, my Queen," she says, holding her stack of shell-plates close to her body. Less likely to trip and drop them, or something.
A feast? Hm...perhaps she'd go. On the other hand, Turin might be around, and she'd resolved to not see him again for a while. It would be...better for her sanity. And probably his. Her heart breaks thinking about how much better he probably feels without her around. "I appreciate the offer, my Queen," says Kelebek, wincing at the tremor in her own voice. "But I might rather be on my own tonight."
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 3:49 pm
"Messengers were sent to all Naiads. The waters surrounding the palace at the deeper levels will remain calm, so I wanted everyone to be comfortable and safe." She purposely neglected to add that the Element in the throne room is what will protect them, because she feared the storm was actually the Water and Air spirit's wrath, and if Water was involved, the storm would be felt in the deepest parts of the lake, too.
"Suit yourself. There will be food in the kitchen too." She didn't know why Kelebek declined, she assumed she'd want to see Turin. Tariel assumed, because she did not know how Kelebek really felt.
Tariel was quiet for a bit while she headed towards the kitchen with the shells. She was going over in her head how to approach what she wanted to say. She couldn't avoid it, and really, this was the perfect time.
Once the plates were deposited where they were needed, Tariel stops and looks to Kelebek, biting her lip before speaking. "Can we talk?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:00 pm
Kelebek blushes. What would the Queen need to talk to her about?
Oh.
"Of course," she stammers again, biting her lip and wringing her hands in front of her. Nervously she tucks her hair behind her ear-fin, not that it does much good. Her long pink hair swirls around her like a little fog, always in her way. Not graceful like Queen Tariel's hair. Kelebek sighs gently.
Best get this over with.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:16 pm
Tariel led the way back to the hallway so the two could swim the hallways as they talked. These back halls were mostly private, so no better place to talk, she supposed. She didn't want to intimidate Kelebek by leading her to a closed room. It was important to her that the pink naiad knew she was sincere.
Why this mattered to the queen was prodding at her jealousy, but she tried hard to suppress that. That and this poor girl looked so incredibly nervous. So nervous it was almost heartbreaking.
"I'd like to apologize, and offer an explanation. Kelebek, I'm sorry for using you to bait Turin. It was immature, and wrong."
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:24 pm
"Oh," says Kelebek, her relief visible. She relaxes somewhat, well, as much as she ever does. The Queen wanted to apologize? Well, at least that was better than to interrogate her about Turin. She must be horribly jealous to find about Turin's "other woman". And suddenly Kelebek feels absolutely awful for being that "other woman".
"Honestly, I hadn't even realized...." says Kelebek. She blushes a little. That was rather stupid to say, wasn't it? Well, it was the truth, and perhaps more truthfulness would help everyone.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:44 pm
That was interesting. Tariel wondered what this girl knew, or was aware of then, if she didn't notice the terrible things she'd done at Court. Turin sure noticed them. So did Sadron. Then again, they did know her.
She wondered what she really needed to explain to this girl now that she thought about it. Might as well just put everything out there, in the open. "I wasn't going to send you with Sadron. Turin thought that I purposely was going to send your --- and his --- kids to war out of spite. And it might have looked like that, it wasn't my intention. Sadron simply needs to train others in surveillance and required aid to find out more about the situation we're in. I wasn't picking on your kids." She felt lil stings when she mentioned the yours and his kids thing out loud, but she suppressed it.
She stopped and hung her head slightly. "I really feel bad for using you. But even worse when his reaction led me to believe I'd lost him to you." She spoke of losing him as her bodyguard, because she had entertained the thought of letting him go, during that whole fiasco, before they'd smoothed things over. "He's been with us since we were young, I just couldn't bare the thought of him leaving."
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:52 pm
Kelebek blinks back tears. She isn't sure whether they're tears of guilt or shame or heartbreak or all three. "I...." she begins. "I doubt I would have made an asset to Commander Sadron, but I would have willingly gone," she offers.
And then she'd brought up Turin again. "I never meant to steal him away, my Queen," she says. "I just....well, I suppose we just...." She sighs and the whole thing comes tumbling out of her mouth. Her words pick up speed and she stutters over some syllables, as if the speech were racing to get through her lips and tripping.
"It was just that strange land-dweller party and that strange land-dweller drink...it made me say things I probably should've kept to myself and I guess made Turin agree to things he shouldn't have and I should have stopped everything but I'd loved him since forever and I couldn't make myself tell him to stop because I was so afraid he'd remember who I was and he'd reconsider and...and...and..." She sniffles.
The truth was, she hadn't regretted that night for even a moment. Not that she'd say that, especially not to the Queen.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:14 pm
Tariel suddenly felt bad for what she'd said. "Nono, I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean that you wouldn't have been hold your own if you went, because I don't doubt that you would have done well. Your ability would likely have you better at it than Sadron, if I am to be truthful. It's just, I don't like sending females out, because we're better here strategizing." She put a hand on Kelebek's shoulder, unsure if a hug would have been appropriate.
However, at Kelebek's pouring her heart out, Tariel moved backwards. She'd only let a few words sink in. "loved," "Turin," & "since forever". Turin had convinced her it was just one-time fling. He cared about her as his babymamma, but that was the extent of their relationship. But Kelebek seen it differently.
The jealousy beast inside was just itching to surface, but Tariel knew not to let that happen, not now. She had to trust Turin's words first, if they were to remain friends.
"Kelebek, does he love you, too?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 8:43 pm
Kelebek is a little bit taken aback by this question. She'd never really thought of it in such words before. All the hurt she'd been trying to suppress comes bubbling to the surface. She shakes her head miserably.
"I...I guess I tried to fool myself into thinking he was for a while, how he didn't just abandon me, swear me to secrecy to protect his reputation and all. I would've done it, I would've done anything. But no, he even came around fairly often, played with the little ones, sometimes he'd help me make dinner... But...." Kelebek sniffles again and tries in vain to push her hair out of her face. When she speaks again her voice is strained and thin. "I don't think he's ever...ever...." She can't make herself say the words. Kelebek shakes her head and looks up at the Queen, surprised she's let herself say this much.
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