A New Outlook

[Igraine]

Igraine stepped through the doorway and stumbled around in the darkness. She felt her foot fall right into a wooden pail and she cussed loudly when she cracked her head on something hanging from the ceiling. She dropped her bag and rubbed her head but didn't let Thorin go.

"Watch your head! It's a mine field in here. I have to talk to the gardener." Igraine continued to say some rather colorful words as she sat down to pull the bucket off of her foot. She threw the bucket back through the doorway before it closed behind them.

"He better not ask where that gods-be damned bucket went." Igraine grumbled and got back to her feet and dusted her backside off. It was pitch black in the shed except for an outline around the door. She stumbled her way to it and threw it open, nearly falling over as rakes and shears tumbled out of the shed in front of her.

"Really?" Igraine almost shouted and took a deep breath and smoothed her hair back from her face. She tugged on her shirt and cleared her throat, trying to get a handle on her anger.

If Thorin even breathed a single word about pregnancy hormones...he would regret it.

"I'm seriously considering this gardener as your first human victim. He better have some good excuse as to why that shed is so out of order." Igraine smoothed her hair, now wild from stumbling around in the dark and walking through the portal, back again and she turned to look at Thorin.

"I'm sorry. I apparantly have anger issues." She motioned for him to stick to the shadows, she still had to figure out a way to explain his appearance. They would have to get him his armor and a cloak to keep him sheltered from prying eyes.

"The seamstress should have the clothes ready by now. It looks as if we were only gone one human day. I believe we were in the Faerie for a week." Igraine spoke as she walked toward the backdoor to the kitchens. She passed through the room with a few quick hellos and smiles, but she lost her smile when she got into the hallway, fully expecting Thorin to have the ability to adequately walk the shadows as he had shown her.

"You're still my acknowledged lover, despite your race or appearance. That won't change. I won't expect you to join me for petty things like dinners and things. You'll have to take the position of Elite Personal Guardian to the High Queen. Do you think you can handle that?" She spoke as she walked up the grand staircase, trying to make it to her office before news travelled around the castle that she was back.

She really didn't want to deal with everyone else until she had Thorin in a comfortable position. He could be very dangerous if he felt threatened.

[Thorin]

Thorin travelled through the shadows in a fluid, simple motion. Even in the light, there were hidden depths through which he could move. He heard her yelp in pain, finding the situation almost humorous. She was treating him as some affair to be hidden. He supposed he would be in the background, if he became her guardian here.

If it kept her safe, he could live with that.

“If I can handle becoming a Vuri and father in one night, then I think can handle taking on a new rank.” Thorin said, watching her face tense from his obvious sarcasm. He referred to human time, rather than Fae time- he knew that would irritate her.

They entered her spacious office, his voice would sound disembodied- as if coming from some void. When he stepped into the shadows, he saw creatures she wouldnt otherwise see. Naturally, they wouldn't be able to cross barriers, so it was fruitless to explain that new realm to her. Creatures in the shadow realm seemed to be beckoned by just his presence. It was a new experience he was still delving into, trying to grasp his place in her kingdom, with his new race and abilities.

When he materialized his body, he listened to her declare him as her lover- not that it would make much difference now. If she was going to protect her reputation and sanity of her people, he was best announced as her guardian. Even if Igraine expressed she wasn't worried about her reputation -most women with her degree of status had to at some point. Thorin didn't want any of it to backfire on her ability to rule her kingdom.

“I will only join you for dinner, if it's required to keep you satisfied.” Thorin was merely speaking about his duty to her, not as a lover who would gladly have her company. He remembered his mother mentioning that he could eat normal food, but mostly as a reassuring gesture for humans.

He was speaking too formally now and he was beginning to see that it bothered her emotionally. “You should rest, I can keep watch and see if anyone tries to disturb you.” Thorin looked at her, trying to explain himself. He felt awkward in this realm, as if it knew he didn't fit. “I am in your world now...you will have to show me how you run things here.” Thorin said, acknowledging that he couldn't run rampant, if a single individual upset him in any form.

[Igraine]

"I don't require much. I've been single my entire life and the only time I'll need you at dinner will be when we have visiting dignitaries. I'll need you during discussions as well. Things have been known to get...hostile at the best of times." Igraine settled into the chair behind her desk and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"You're more than capable of being my guardian. After the baby is born I'll ask you to watch over her more instead of me. It's only fair. I have powers and abilities that she won't have, not for several years. She will be largely defenseless for the first five or six years of her life." She knew she sounded more business-like with him but he seemed to respond to that better. She wanted him to be comfortable, and they wouldn't be here so long.

"We'll stay here for a few days and then return to the Faerie. I have to make appearances here, but my people are used to disappearances. My mother was gone a lot from the Castle. I have been no different during my reign." She pulled a stack of papers to her and began reading them. Blackburn was a good and orderly servant. He kept the incoming papers in order of dates and then by order of importance. She was looking at the most important papers first and that helped a lot.

Igraine went through the moderate stack of papers relatively quickly. She signed the ones that she wanted to and set aside the ones that were never going to get signed. Most of the petitioners knew that, and she was incredibly happy that her mother had put together this system of management instead of her having to sit every week and listen to the petitioners. Other kingdoms still did that. How incredibly boring, but she supposed the people felt like they were being heard. However, putting something in writing seemed to go over so much better because there was physical proof of an issue or request.

When she was done, Igraine looked up at Thorin and smiled. "I feel better. Getting that done feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I should probably get some rest before courtiers and council members start trampling down my doors."

Igraine got to her feet and motioned to a door set behind a curtain. She opened it and walked through a series of passageways until she reached her quarters. She slipped inside and left the door open for Thorin. Her eyes took in the room and she smiled, turning to look at Thorin.

"It's nice to be home again. The bedroom is off to the right, this is the sitting room, and the bathroom is to the left. I know you don't want to stay inside the castle, but I want you to at least get a look at the rooms." Igraine spoke as she shed her cloak and draped it over a chair and walked to the bedroom. She sat on the edge of the bed and tugged off her boots and wiggled her toes.

"We'll make this work, Thorin. We'll figure out how to live together, even if it takes a century or two. I have a long lifespan. Our daughter will too. We'll figure this out, I promise." She spoke low, but she knew he could hear her.

[Thorin]

Thorin followed her and listened to her words, keeping himself blanketed in the shadows. He was thankful he had fed on the blood and flesh, or he might not have had this much spare energy. Igraine was not some ignorant child to him, but she could be during their constant arguments. While she wanted things to work between them, he wondered what her formulated plan was. So far, they had only shown tolerance toward each other. They had lived through their lust and now it was turning into a necessity for her to have him near.

Since leaving the Fae realm, he felt distant from her. Igraine spoke freely of their future together, as if time had already mended their ego's. Thorin wanted to be there for her, but not if it meant risking her life. Lookng around her chambers, he knew he would be finding his own place of rest. He would be lucky if she invited him to her bed.

Defenseless....Igraine reminded him of their child's fragile life. This was the very reason why he had wanted her to stay in the Fae realm. Couldn't her mother have handled her political affairs? Why would they return to the Fae realm...the Unseelie King would already know her position. Shaking his head, he wondered if he hadn't really released her. The threat reminded him of how callous he could actually be and how much he silently enjoyed it. It was possible that he was becoming more like his father because of the Vuri ties. He hoped that wasn't true, but he was beginning to see that fate.

“This is why we needed to stay. You could have sent someone to do your work and kept the baby safe. I will find my own post and sleeping quarter's- not that I need that to survive like you and your humans.” Thorin put her in the category, as if she were a simple creature not understanding her place. His voice was remarkably calm and his face serene. His energy was faltering, slowly feeding off of his doubt of their journey.

“When she is born, she will have restricted grounds and I won't lose sight of her.” Thorin said, realizing that Morgana was the reason that he kept near Igraine. He wondered if he had love left for Igraine, blaming his exhaustion. “You will not tell her of me. If she is ever in my presence, you will treat me as a guard.” Thorin explained, knowing it was for the best of their daughter. He didn't want her to have ties with the Vuri, or learn of the shadow realm too soon. It was best if her mother kept her in her world for now.

If she wanted to save her daughters innocence, she would understand where he was coming from. Thorin stretched, watching Igraine think her words through. It was not easy explaining his motivation, so he didn't expect her to understand right away.

“Before she is five, I will probably leave a trail of bloodshed for her protection and yours. Do you want her to despise me before I have a chance?” Thorin had hated his father before he really knew who he was- he didn't want Morgana to have that same thought about him. He didn't mind being a phantom.

[Igraine]

"Our daughter is safe while she is within me, so long as nothing happens to me. If she can survive all the stress I've been through in the past few days, she can survive anything." Igraine sighed as she laid back on her bed and looked at the canopy above her head. She closed her eyes and yawned. She just felt so tired and she wasn't entirely sure it was from the baby, but more emotional in nature.

"I understand your request. She'll know when she's ready." Igraine reached out toward the shadows where she knew Thorin would be. If she concentrated she could almost see him where the shadows were darker. "Stay with me while I sleep? I can't seem to sleep well if you're not with me."

Thorin would notice that there were no mirrors in Igraine's room. They were all in the bathroom and that room was not connected in any way to the bedroom. It was obvious she had been aware of mirror magick before the Unseelie King had ever used it on her.

"Please? Just lay with me for a while. You don't have to touch me if you don't want to." Igraine never opened her eyes, and she looked so peaceful laying there in her huge bed all alone. She also looked small, like anything might be able to crush her. It was almost like a defense mechanism. She was built to attract strong tough men like Thorin, but she was more than capable of taking care of herself if she needed to.

She didn't need a man, but that didn't mean that she didn't want one very particular Vuri.

[Herald_of_Fate]

"Each drop of moisture, be it of the storm-grey sea to the thundering rain, is our brother. They show us how to live, to flow over, under, and around life's obstacles and only when warranted, to crash upon our enemies like the tireless waves. I will strive to be like water in all my doings.." he recited, his colorless eyes closed in meditation as he sat cross-legged, floating on the river's surface, his shark leather hooded cloak shrouding his face. His lithe figure slowly unfolded from its seated posture, his 5'9" form framed with wiry muscles, clad in a loose-fitting robe of midnight blue. Slyail blinked into the fading afternoon sun, then at his current surroundings, finding them entirely unfamiliar. He'd been the first to leave the Deep Kingdom, fathoms beneath the seas in nearly half a century, barely even remembered the navigation lessons he'd taken in the Great School, where all merrow mages came to master aquamancy and shapeshifting. It had been there that the prodigy had discovered a gift rare for any mage: natural chronomancy, a strange and inexplicable ability to slow, stop, advance, or rewind the flow of time. While Slyail's powers only allowed him to affect a time of an hour at a time, it placed him among the most powerful of the Merrow's Tides, the elite mages of the Water elf race. They were collectively of near human proportion, clawed hands, and webbed feet and colorless eyes. Elaborate and colorful fins sprouted from their backs and their skin though humanlike, ranged in color from Slyail's russet brown to vibrant orange and red. And besides, maps would not help his track what he sought today.
He'd only truly begun to 'hear' it a few hours ago, utilizing a sense few knew of the Water Elves might even be aware of. A being of immense power was near and in turmoil, its energies literally rattling the air around it. This quaking actually produced an extraordinarily high pitched sound, beyond the range capable of being sensed by all but the most sensitive of ears. The Merrow's fin, while not an ear per se, functioned like one, capable of feeling the vibration this disturbance caused for miles. To his mind, it was the equivalent of hearing a dial tone over and over in his head. The Merrow mage walked on the water's surface, a burst of high pitched clicking issuing over his shoulder. As he stepped onto the riverbed, a brief shimmering flicked through his form, his white fin retracting into his back, his pointed ears rounding, his clawed webbed feet forming toes. He turned and spoke to what seemed to be no one.

"Damn it...I can't stand it! I must find the source of all this blasted racket!!! C'mon, Alleste! Quit chasing trout and follow me. I don't want to use the collar but I will!"

A dark brown furred head with intelligent black eyes peeked up from beneath the surface, chittering angrily as it approached the shore. The head belonged to a huge otter, stretching to its full four foot length before shaking itself. Though it was one of Alleste's most familiar forms and one Slyail loved most, the constant droning had made the young mage quite irritable. Still he could not help but crack a smile. The otter muttered sullenly as it dropped a rather large rainbow trout and ran to Slyail's side, its ears lowered.

"You might want to think about shifting. I would look mad if I saw an actual otter your size and wasn't in the act of skinning it." Slyail mused to the creature. "You know, appearances and all. There could be humans about."

A half-hearted huff of protest was all the otter offered before it was no longer an otter. The otter form writhed, seeming like boiling quicksilver for a moment, expanding and twisting. Finally with a sound like tearing cloth, a sleek golden labrador stood where an otter had moments before, stretching his front legs, tongue lolling from his open mouth. Such were the familiars, bound guardian spirits give form and substance by the mage's subconscious mind. To master his power, a Merrow mage had to first master his familiar. And Alleste could occassionally be a handful, she was loyal, obedient, and gifted with powers that stemmed from Slyail's own.

Following the ringing in his ears for another hour, Slyail was shocked by the sheer size of the estate whose grounds he'd apparently stumbled upon. Merrows were largely nomadic, the few cities in the Deep Kingdom reserved mainly for trade and places of worship. A simple cave, carved into the coral bed was a typical dwelling. This place was excessive. But the drone came from within. And so towards the fortress he walked, the dog who was not a dog trotting at his heels.

[Thorin]

Thorin watched her invite him to her bed. She was always good at reading his emotions, even if he thought he was brilliant at masking them. He began to step forward, when he felt the intrusion of an unusual presence on their grounds. Before she could respond, he left her alone with her desire- he was tunneling his way through the shadows, the presence not something he could ignore. In all of his years, even as a half demon, he had never encountered such a powerful being before.

Thankful for the sword, he put his hand near the hilt, while he watched the creature move in a purposeful path. The creature was moving toward their home, but with the power emanating from him, Thorin didn't know how to approach him. Even though Thorin was unfamiliar with war, he knew when he should back down against such powerful beings. He would rather make friends, before enemies. It would be the first time he put Igraine's safety first, before dealing with his own ego.

“State your business...” Thorin wouldn't announce where his presence was materialized, but he was within a few feet of the creature. The creature could probably sense him anyway, which made Thorin even more cautious of his moves. The creatures pet didn't seem natural, its essence derived from something else- they were obviously masking something.

If they were here on call from the Unseelie King, he didn't know how he would handle an actual fight. Since using his new power, he was getting weaker and would need to feast again soon. He was considered a young Vuri and not yet aware of all of his abilities. The creature could probably sense his nervousness and unwillingness to formally introduce himself.

The mass of shadows, kept him well hidden from common folk, but he wondered if this man could easily see him in the night. It wouldn't have surprised him at all, if this creature had sensed his arrival. He knew Igraine would worry about him leaving so suddenly, but that was the price she paid for returning to her homeland.

[Igraine]

Igraine snorted when she heard him disappear. It wasn't so much "hearing" as it was a sense that he and his power were distant from her suddenly. She really hoped that he would get a firmer control over his instincts, he couldn't rush off to every brush of power that ran beneath his nose.

She had felt the power too, like the cool caress of water across a parched face. It was the signature of a creature of water. The creatures that bore the mark of such an element were not always...stable. He was right to check out the source of such a surge of power -- though the creatures were not strictly hostile. Children of water were often a lot like their element, quick to anger, but also quick to soothe. Many healers were descendants from water elementals at some point in their family line, and Igraine had a healthy respect for any water mage.

Igraine sighed and turned onto her right side and kept her eyes closed, searching within herself for that core of calm she needed in order to fall asleep. It wouldn't take long, and she would be in a deep sleep long before Thorin returned with their guest.

She hoped he returned anyway, he might feel slightly out of his element rushing out to meet what felt like a pretty powerful water mage. Hopefully he wouldn't let his ego get the better of him and get himself in a fight. He might not die from it, but he would lick his wounds for a long time. Then she'd have to hear about it until he won his next fight...

Igraine sighed dramatically at that thought, as if she were already his wife, and slowly allowed her body to relax and fall into a deep sleep.

[Herald_of_Fate]

The disembodied voice seemed to echo all around the aquamancer as he came to an abrupt halt. The steady drone in his mind intensified with the stranger's proximity, a fact Slyail was quick to notice. So this was the source of the disturbance. Obviously one used to being hunted, to acts of prejudice and scorn. Slyail was not without empathy for such a creature; he knew only too well the pain of such animousity. The dog at his side lifted its lips in a low snarl of warning before the Merrow cut her off with a gesture of his hand. This creature, choosing to confront him in this way, was most likely not hostile. An enemy would have tried to take him down before announcing themselves, if they knew anything of what an angered aquamancer was capable of. The earth might quake, the fires might burn,and the wind might tear, but no force destroy quite as utterly as water. Holding his hands up, he'd turn slowly toward Thorin, to wear the drone was the most intense. It was only then he noticed the nearly transparent tendrils of shadow energy shrouding something from view. Intrigued, Slyail fought the urge to step forward and examine them in closer detail.

"So you're the one making that gods-awful sound, eh? You may want to tone that down a wee bit. I could hear you from miles off, mate," he replied with a smile. "You needn't hide yourself. I'm but a simple wanderer, seeking knowledge of the world outside his humble hovel. Slyail Undertow, 33rd High Tide Mage of the Deep Kingdom at your service. In case, you're not aware, friend, you're rattling the air around you like a tuning fork. Are you in some sort of distress?"

While most Merrow were far too secretive to offer such aid to a stranger, Slyail saw that there was far more here than met the eye. This was no Fae magic he'd ever been exposed to. This was distinctly different, far more chaotic, lacking the blending present in more natural magic. Something was very, very wrong with this being. Slyail fought inwardly the urge to fall into a more defensive stance, to bring his powers to surface. Alleste sat by his side, no longer growing but barking in Thorin's direction.

"Don't mind Alleste, she's a bit tempermental even for an Ouphe. I promise she won't bite."

[Thorin]

Slyail Undertow...Thorin played the name in his head a few times. The man was strange and his companion even stranger. Thorin naturally stepped back, when the man acted as though he would step closer. It was natural that he had his defenses up, so he didn't blame Slyail for immediately explaining himself. The title he gave Thorin meant nothing to him, but it might mean something to Igraine. Even though Igraine was more than likely asleep, he would be forcing her to address this anyway.

Thorin let the shadows disperse from his form, showing himself to be a thirty-something year old man. His skin tone and eyes might put Slyail off, but those were the only odd features about him. Thorin was not intimidating with his form, but he was with his essence.

When Slyail questioned his emotional state, Thorin failed to grasp what the man was asking again. Igraine will be amused by this one...I have no idea what he's talking about. Thorin thought idly to himself, motioning for Slyail to follow him up the pathway. His form would be visible, but there would be a crest of shade around his body. It wasn't threatening, but a habit and a defense mechanism with Thorin.

“You will follow me to speak with the Queen...that's not a request.” Thorin didn't raise his voice, but his tone wasn't patient with their new guest. He was worried for the safety of Igraine, but at least they would be in their own stronghold if anything happened.

Thorin moved on ahead, not expecting him to go against his demand. He wasn't there to chat, but to watch the grounds and make sure that Igraine was secure.

Igraine had been the only being he had really communicated with- aside from her guards. If he came off as abrupt, he blamed his years in solitude. Igraine was still teaching him a thing or two with controlling his temper- something he constantly had to tone down in front of others. Since becoming Vuri, he found it more and more difficult. The sudden appearance of Slyail made Thorin edgy. It was the thought of Slyail, entering their lands so easily, that made him rethink their entire plan. He would be having a serious discussion with Igraine in the morning- if their guest proved to be peaceful.

He walked normally up the stairs to their chambers, making sure that Slyail was able to keep up with the pace. Igraine wouldn't appreciate being disturbed, so he motioned for Slyail to remain outside in the hallway. He shut the door, making sure that he had some privacy with Igraine.

Walking to her bedside, he tried to gently wake her up. When she acted as though she were waking, he immediately explained the situation.

“We have a guest and I suggest you speak with him. I have no idea what the hell he is, but I don't like how he speaks, or the odd vibe he's giving me....” Thorin said, waving toward the door, where their guest was rudely being kept.

[Igraine]

Igraine groaned and rolled over to look at Thorin. She cast a glance out of the nearby window and saw that the sun was almost completely hidden by the horizon. She smelled Thorin more than she saw him in her relaxed state, and she felt him, his strong hands still incessantly rocking her hip like a child. She couldn't be angry with him though, he was just being himself with her.

"He's a Water Mage. You're disturbed because he seems to be relatively powerful and all creatures born of earth, that don't have a water affinity, are disturbed by them." Igraine swung her legs over the side of her bed and pushed her fingers through her wavy hair.

"Water Mages are very curious by nature, and they are attracted by power they don't completely understand. Think of them as scientists or scholars, they're usually not so curious that they wander right up to a source of power. Then again, you did go find the mage yourself." Igraine rubbed her eyes briefly and slipped off the bed and patted Thorin's chest gently.

"The Water clans have a long standing relationship with Ulster and the Faerie Realm. They are technically Fae creatures, but they opted to remain behind, not wanting to be confined by the limited boundaries of the Faerie Realm. It makes sense with their vast curiosity and thirst for knowledge." Igraine tucked her shirt into her pants and tugged her boots on over her pants. She was briefing Thorin on his newest captive audience. He needed to understand why he was so disgruntled by this new creature.

"You might have heard of stories of Mermaids? They do exist, though I wager that our friend in the hallway is not of the Mer-folk, so much as he is part of another Water clan. The Mer-folk do not usually sprout legs and walk anywhere, though they are typically mistaken for Selkies whom are also Water-folk." Igraine glanced in her looking glass, finally deciding to pull her unruly hair back into a ponytail and tie it off.

"I'm telling you this so that you will understand that the Water folk are not unlike Vuri in their temperament. They are like the tides of the sea, or the current of a river. If left to their own devices they are helpful and curious and worth every ounce of energy they give to others. If disturbed, or hurt, or threatened they are likely to work such vicious magic that only a Fire Elemental might be capable of getting out of. Water is a devastating element, and that is no different when considering a denizen of the element."

Igraine walked to the door that lead to the hallway and opened it. She smiled at the Water Mage and stepped back to offer him entrance into her sitting room.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Ulster. I do apologize for the unorthodox way in which you were brought to me. I am High Queen Igraine Lothair, daughter of Kahlan Lothair. I formally welcome you into my home and my lands. Please, have a seat. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Slyail would immediately notice that she had Fae magic about her, but he would also notice that she had something other about her -- though he would not know that it was angel magic.

[Herald_of_Fate]

Slyail followed the strange creatur with little hesistation, though Thorin seemed a bit rude. The Merrow held his tongue, seeing it a wiser course to observe and examine before he risked provoking his host. Slyail and his familiar kept the pace easily enough, his colorless eyes taking in the well-kept grounds of the estate. The drone in his mind faded slightly as he took in his surroundings but did not cease, much to his chagrin. Slyail surmised that it was a question of either age or inexperince; Thorin must be either too young to fully understand the full potential of his volitile powers or the powers themselves were a new development.

The water mage stood in place in the hallway as instructed, though the vibrations he felt from the room told him that another, more structured, calmer being resided within. Igraine's entrance would find him bowing deeply with Alleste lying prostate by his left side. "A pleasure, m'lady. I am Slyail Undertow, 33rd Grand Tide Mage of the Deep Kingdom. Your family name is not unfamiliar to me and is spoken with some reknown in my homeland," he intoned with a smile. Ah, he thought to himself, now here is proper Fae magic, though it is sprinkled with something else, something light and airy but firm. "Please forgive any intrusion but I sensed your companion from quite a ways off and thought him to be in some sort of distress. A guess that I don't think is far off the mark."

The High Queen of the Fae?! Not as surprising given the fact she shared quarters with a a lightning rod of chaotic magical energy. He removed the hood of his cloak, revealing a mop of black dreadlocks with kelp and shells woven throughout. He patted Alleste's side for a moment before.

"And this scamp is my familiar, Alleste. She's an Ouphe, sort of a cross between a brownie and an imp..with the worst parts of both!" he chuckled as the Ouphe in dog form growled at him. "Oh, relax...I'm only joking. In any case, you may want to find help for him, my Queen. If an old salt like myself could track him from the vibrations, others could as well. I know well enough from my travels that Unseelie Fae are still about. My apologies, your majesty, but may I make a small request? "

Slyail talked fast, a habit of the Merrow whose primary language was, in fact, a form of sonar that none but the Merrow and a few other Fae were capable of producing. Some of the words in it even formed a fighting art, pitching sound to the resonant frequencies of flesh and bone to shatter it.

"Keeping up these glamours was mainly a precaution against human discovery. Might I shed them? I ask so as not to frighten your companion or offend your sensabilities. I have been told that many don't find us to be as pleasing to the eye as you are."

Alleste trotted toward Thorin, sniffing at him curiously before sneezing and pulling back. Ouphe smelled the natures of magic, almost like bloodhounds. The chaotic nature of Thorin's power was roughly like a noseful of paprika, not entirely unpleasant but strong enough to warrant a good berth.

[Thorin]

Thorin listened to Igraine, only observing the two with paranoid curiosity. Maybe he had gotten interested in the wrong woman- she knew what this creature was and even hailed him. Thorin had never felt so out of place, and the dog investigating him didn't calm his nerves. Looking a little disturbed, he chuckled at Slyail's words and her explanation. They acted so casual about each other and their world, that it was surreal to Thorin. He had lived in a realm made up of humans. Even though he had been demonic then, he was able to blend in naturally. With these two, he stuck out miserably.

“Distressed is an understatement...” Thorin chuckled again, finding amusement with Slyail. He was polite enough and even regarded his power. Slyail's power was something to be observed closely, since it set off Thorin's nerve like a wild fire. He didn't understand how the man could be so calm and content.

This world would take some time to get used to and to adjust his own powers to its will. When Igraine explained, that the man could have felt him out, he felt a sickness in his stomach. He would never forgive himself, if his power invited the Unseelie King to their court. Their rules of magic and authority with power seemed frayed. In a demon's world, it was all competition and kill, or be killed. You hardly respected someone who flaunted more potential.

He left the two to talk amongst themselves, sitting in a nearby chair. Thorin didn't like being told how to control himself- Igraine always lecturing him on that logic. Maybe it was true that he was out of control, if he brought someone unusual like Slyail. He found himself staring at the man, once in awhile catching an awkward glare from Igraine. Slyail was obviously well respected- even by her.

Keeping quiet, was his best defense at not making an enemy out of Slyail. Thorin didn't know of their behavior, or what they would consider offensive. Igraine seemed to have him handled...she looked perfectly content. Thorin began to envy Slyail's ability to create a calm in her- he seemed to only upset her.

When Slyail mentioned the Unseelie, he snickered too loudly. “I told her to stay in her realm, where it is safe. She's expecting...but she seems to think we'll be safe. Yet...here you are, unannounced.” Thorin said, only pointing out the observation, not making a threat about his arrival.

[Igraine]

"I have no issue with you relaxing your glamour. Your Ouphe may as well if she desires it." Igraine smiled at the labrador and inclined her head as she seated herself and motioned for Slyail to seat himself as well.

"Thorin is new to his powers. He is only two days old." Igraine glanced over at Thorin and hid a smile. He looked so brooding and envious of the easy companionship that she had with Slyail. His emotion was written all over his face and it was part of the reason she loved him. He had gone so long without companionship that he didn't put on airs about what he felt, he simply showed it.

"The Unseelie King has already...expressed interest in me. Thorin's powers might become a beacon for him but he is too sly to barge into this Human world and take me." She explained, pushing a lock of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear as she spoke. Her eyes were brilliant emerald green and she had power, enough power and in a mix that was tantalizing, that Slyail would be able to judge for himself why the Unseelie King would want her.

Igraine glared at Thorin when he spoke of her pregnancy and she pinched the bridge of her nose. She let out a soft laugh and looked at Slyail and shrugged her shoulders.

"It's true. I am expecting a daughter. Thorin is the father and has warned me plenty of the dangers that this world has to offer. He suggests that I take refuge in the Faerie Realm until the end of the pregnancy, for the safety of our offspring. I'm just glad that you were attracted to the cacaphony of his power, and not someone else. We can rest assured that the Unseelie King won't strike here yet, but we have to plan for the worst when it arrives. I don't foresee him waiting much longer after the birth of my daughter."

Slyail would notice that Igraine's belly was still flat, and thus the news must be new to the budding parents. He might question her taste in mates, but she was used to that surprised and almost sympathetic glance by now. She only smiled at Slyail and relaxed back in her chair.

"Thorin, we will need a good perimeter check soon. I have ways of keeping the Unseelie King out of the castle, but that only protects people within the castle and not outside of it." She spoke softly, her head resting on her hand as she looked at her uncomfortable lover.

[Herald_of_Fate]

Slyail smiled back at the Seelie Queen. She held a quiet strength, a sense of control and balance that the Water Mage found himself instantly liking. The people of the Deep Kingdom had claimed neutrality in the conflict between the two warring Fae factions, but Slyail knew well his own ruler's deep disdain for the Unseelie and their unnatural ways, as he saw it. Perhaps it was fate that brought him before her, for he believed there to be much she needed to know.

His form shimmered briefly, as if ripples ran beneath his skin as the glamour dissipated. The russet brown skinned Merrow, the stark white fin on his back protruding from a slit in his robes, sighed, blinking colorless eyes that reflected back at whatever his gaze fell upon. He stretched, his lithe figure a lean string of wiry muscle.

"I see. I must say respectfully that, despite the reasons for your return to the Mortal realm, you have chosen an exceedingly bad time to do so. Even the Deep Kingdom whispers of them and then there is this..." Slyail intoned, rubbing his chin as he produce a small clear vial. Within it, a viscious ebony fluid writhed and boiled, seemingly alive as he held it in their view. "It's Unseelie to be sure, but I've no idea of its purpose. From what I've been able to gather from the site where it was obtained, it has some similarities to ichorwyck, the substance used to give life to golems. I know only that it is alive and drove one of the most powerful mages I know completely mad. I've journeyed to find him a cure and the nature of this. And everywhere I've journeyed, I've heard whispers and rumors of Unseelie movements. I fear that the danger your consort has told you about is indeed real and possibly coming. However, given that they are your enemies and, through their actions, mine, I offer my services most humbly to the Seelie crown. Though I must admit, my first order of business is most certainly to discover a method of masking your Thorin."

He looked to Thorin with a smile. "It isn't your fault. All new to power have their growing pains. But we would be wise to act quickly. If your enemies can sense you as I have, there is little telling how long we have. Having never met a power like yours before, I can only offer suggestions. The best place for you to remain would be here, at the Queen's side, where your power can most be brought to bear should the Unseelie draw close. If you are amendable to it, I am more than capable of handling security until you've developed a better hold on yourself."

The Ouphe, Alleste, meanwhile, shed its glamour as well, revealing a a perfectly proportionate female figure of perhaps 2 feet in height, with shockingly red hair and black eyes. Her hand and feet were hooked claws, rather avian in appearance. She chittered incessantly, gesturing back and forth between Thorin and Igraine. After a span of a few minutes, Slyail held up a hand to silence her.

"She sees your true nature, Thorin. She would, being far more blessed in years than I. She says as long as you own your power, few could stand against you...and that you're rather dashing for a whatever-it-is you are. I apologize. Ouphe aren't exactly known for holding their tongues, though few are left with the patience to learn their language."