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 Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:28 pm
Lori sighed again. "Me too. I don't know what'll happen if it doesn't."
The next day, Lori and Toby held aloft beach towels so Maia could get changed. Going off into the city and wandering the plains in traditional garb really wasn't in the best interest of the exploration party. It had rained the night before, but the sky now was clear and dew still sat on some blades of grass.
All of the men were dressed traditionally. It had taken a lot of time and resources to acquire the garments, even though Lori had been assured that without them he and his companions may not be so well-received, so there they were, in tunics and pants and a gown for Maia, little slippers embroidered and festooned and lord knew what they would do with them once they were finished.
"Need help tying that?" Lori asked of Maia regarding the sash that met at her back. He hadn't been looking until he was sure she was clothed, just for Maia and Toby's sake, in the same way Dari did.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:36 pm
Maia decided traditional clothes meant uncomfortable clothes. She was glad for Lori's offer. "Yeah," She admitted. "I can't reach." She turned her back to him and looked to Dari. "Do we have to wear these often?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:42 pm
Dari shrugged. He looked nervous in that he had no expression at all.
Lori went around Maia's back and began to tie her sash in the way he had seen the women wandering in. s**t, no, that wasn't right... okay, try again. "Hopefully just for today," he answered finally. "Maybe one more time when we come back to get the ring? Anyway. Be very delicate, polite, quiet, reverent. If the rumors are true this woman lived to see the dark ages. I haven't met her yet. Hopefully she exists." Oh, erk. "I mean, of course she exists, I just have no idea what to expect."
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:51 pm
Maia nodded in understanding. Quiet, delicate and polite. Once he'd tied her sash She turned to hug him. "It'll be fine, Lori," She assured him. It'd be fine, they'd meet this woman and hopefully she'd be willing to help. She stepped back, looking to Toby's outfit. She smirked.
"You guys look ridiculous."
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:55 pm
Lori returned the hug and nodded. He definitely hoped she was right.
Toby and Maia made eye contact, but she spoke first. He smiled and put his hands on his hips. "Well I was just about to say you look beautiful, but forget that now."
No cursing. That had been another rule. You never knew when an easily-offended fae ear lurked nearby.
"Alright. We have to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way. It's... a bit of a walk but not too bad. It's just very out-of-the-way." Lori began walking then as if he didn't look ridiculous at all.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 2:08 pm
Maia kissed Toby's cheek. "You're always handsome. It's the clothes." Walking? She took Toby's hand. She wasn't sure how fast they'd move in outfits like these. She followed Lori. "What do you think she'll be like?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 2:11 pm
Toby took Maia's hand and followed Lori who definitely seemed to know where he was going. If not, he was faking it well.
"I have no idea," Lori replied. "I kept talking to her assistants and apprentices. Apparently she's the queen bee of the hive, so to speak, but if you're a thousand years old you get that credit. I think the oldest humanoid entity I've met was...six-hundred years old? I legitimately have no idea what we're getting ourselves into, only that she agreed to help if she found us to be the proper candidates." Actually if she found Dari to be a proper candidate, but he didn't want to worry the guy.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 2:42 pm
Toby wasn't responding, had she hurt his feelings? She gave his hand a squeeze. "Proper candidates?" that concerned her. How would they prove they were proper candidates?
It was a long walk, but Maia enjoyed it. Walking along looking at trees and the dew on the grass--and being with Toby, it was nice. Lori stopped at an unextradordinary tree, and she paused. Huh. Was Lori lost?
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 2:48 pm
Toby squeezed Maia's hand back and smiled. He was nervous, mostly for Dari. What would they do if it didn't work out? Try again?
Lori shrugged. "I have no idea. That was all he said."
It was quite some time later when Lori found the tree he was certain was the right one. Yes, they'd had to go in a brief circle, but it had brought him back to just this one. It was old with tangled roots and a perfect umbrella of green leaves. He crouched low to the ground, careful not to dirty his clothes, and whispered something into an ancient knot.
There was a creaking, like wood straining against pressure, and suddenly the roots began to rise. Up and up they went until a grown man could pass beneath them. Worms wriggled in annoyance, but Lori just smiled and ducked in. He had high hopes. There was so much magic here.
The roots closed just as carefully behind the group and they were bathed in darkness save a few glowing mushroom along the way. A whisper from down the hall illuminated long rows of crystals jutting sideways from the earth like torches to lead the way. There was only a silhouette at the end, tall and lithe, but it appeared to be waiting for them.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:07 pm
Maia was startled by the tree's movement, but didn't flinch. Her eyes were wide. Wow. Whatever had that much magic, enough to make an entrance out of a tree while keeping the tree alive surely had enough power to help Dari.
She followed Lori inside, looking around. Glowing mushrooms, and then crystals lit up. She looked to Toby. "Ready?" she asked.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:39 pm
Toby shrugged and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Dari walked beside Lori, eager to continue in whatever this whole event might bring them. At the end of the hall stood an odd-looking man with eyes that glowed softly in the dark. His ears were pointed and his hair was shaved into a long, limp mohawk and braided. He smiled to Lori and said something in a fae language the others wouldn't be able to understand, even Dari. Lori smiled back and shared a greeting, crossing his arm over his chest and pounding his left upper chest twice. The odd-looking man motioned for the others to follow and so they began through the rath.
There was an incredible complex of tunnels and rooms down here, and the further one went the more it became apparent that there was real architecture down here. Stone and wood that seemed to grow from the earth around them was molded or carved into various living shapes and supports throughout. They passed several others of these people, some just chatting idly or eating, even one nursing a child in a small alcove, but every one they passed turned to watch them go. Foreigners were not often welcome here, that much was clear.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:06 pm
So these fae didn't speak Gaelic? Maia found that interesting. Old fae, but that was to be expected, she supposed, with the age of their 'queen-bee'. She looked to some of the people watching them, curious.
Visitors were definitely rare, there was no question. It made her a bit nervous; not being able to communicate would make this harder.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:17 pm
They came finally to a chamber with an elaborate door in one wall. The odd-looking man turned and said something to Lori, then patted him on the back and offered him a reassuring nod and smile. Lori returned the nod and smile.
Lori turned to his group. "Alright. This is it. If she talks to you, I've got you covered."
The odd-looking man arched a brow and turned his head slightly. "Oh, we speak English too." With deep accents, apparently.
Lori gave the man a Look like he had been pranked, and the man laughed.
"Go. See her." He turned to Dari then and touched his shoulder. "Good luck."
Lori pushed the heavy door open and saw at the back of a large room a throne that seemed to be made of white stone, though a cushion sat at its seat. The room was not the best-lit compared to overworld standards, but the woman in the throne was well-lit enough to see her long white hair, which draped over the sides of the throne and to the floor. How long had it been growing? She didn't look old. In fact, she looked the youngest and most pale and untouched of all, and her eyes glowed vibrantly.
Lori approached first and dropped to his knees, putting his forehead to the backs of his hands with his elbows out, and pressed his hands into the floor. His heart was pounding.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:34 pm
Maia smiled. Oh, good! They spoke English. But it seemed like Lori didn't know that. She was hopeful. This would help Dari live a full and happy life! Then they entered a more dimly lit room, but the woman sitting on the throne seemed to be illuminating it herself. She followed Lori's example and bowed.
Now, how did they prove they were worthy candidates?
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:39 pm
The woman said something and Lori rose to his knees. He spoke back. Toby rose to his knees. Dari did as well. Toby glanced to Maia. Did she have any idea what was going on? Then, all of a sudden:
"Which of you is the one?" the woman asked. Her voice was simultaneously silk and smoke and honey and youth. Lori turned to Dari who raised a hand.
"It is I," Dari said.
"Rise."
Dari stood.
"Have you the gem?"
Dari nodded.
"Show me," she said without moving. Dari pulled the aventurine hunk from the pouch he had with him and held it up.
"Closer, child."
Dari's brow furrowed and he approached the woman, this queen, with as much reverence as he could muster, and knelt before her throne while offering the crystal up. She took it and looked it over.
"It's been cleansed?"
"Yes," Dari replied.
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