You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you. ~ Eric Hoffer Saturday, September 23rd ~ Fall Equinox
Whatever the mortals had used to block the portal, it was formidable. But not entirely perfect. To one such as Finvar, the tiny, almost impossible to detect flaws shouted their presence. It didn't make them any easier to enlarge, but it did enable him to locate the minuscule points. He'd worked almost daily on the task he'd set himself and was pleased that this day - the day the Winter Court's powers started their ascension, he'd made a difference. Not large enough yet to do what he wanted, but it was a beginning.
Returning to the palace, he looked for his Queen. Finvar was pleased and wanted to share the news with someone who would appreciate it properly.
Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future Sunday afternoon
The newscaster wrapped up the report on a minor river troll rampage and moved to a tiny bit of business news before the segue back into music:
"Enterprising mums are getting the hop on the back-to-school season by doing their shopping a bit ahead of the crowds soon to be swamping Diagon Alley. Shopkeepers report their early August sales receipts are up 5 percentile points from last year."
"And the perfect soundtrack to accompany all your summer fun is just around the corner — a little birdie has slipped the WWN the latest from the Weird Sisters! We'll be bringing it to you before it hits the shops, right after these messages."
She had an horror of rooms she was tired you can't hide beat When I looked in her eyes they were blue but nobody home Friday, August 11 || Night
The biggest change was all the commotion.
There was always something happening, even in what should have been the dead of night. Singing, dancing, partying — the nymphs pranced, trollwights bellowed with laughter and demanded more food from the kitchens.
Though in truth disinclined to join in, nevertheless she did attend the festivities each night. It would be rude not to, and besides, she did enjoy sitting and listening — even if her reticence to do much more than smile did spawn whispers that one of the new Court members was as cold as the wind whipping around the palace spires.
It's only forever It's not long at all Lost and lonely That's underground Monday, August 7 to Tuesday, August 8 .::. In the dark of night
The Queen stepped unseen from the shadows at the border of the camp when the werewolf left. His frustration and anger was almost palpable; it truly was a shame she'd not get to tame it following this trip.
But there will be other harvests, Maev thought with a philosophical smile.
This one would have to be cut short — dislodging the fae would be a simple thing, if only the castle dwellers knew, and now that the wizards were roused it was no longer prudent to rely upon their ignorance.
But the fae could afford patience, though it chafed her.
The decision was made. They would leave tonight, with such prizes as they'd gleaned from these fields.
The man that won you Has gone off and undone you The great beginning Has seen it's final inning Don't know what happened It's all a crazy game Saturday, August 5 .::. Morning
The Stigg's gamboling was ever amusing, but at last Maev had sent her Fool away, to vex the poltergeist at the castle or be coddled by the maternal women in town or prank the mortals at will, the Queen cared not.
A report from the palace seneschal had come through the well that morning. Maev read his estimation of Summer's doings in their absence and lost herself in thought.
Even if all goes awry, still we profit.
A sprite announcing a visitor ended her reverie.
What new morsel comes forth to place itself in our trap?
To be matter of fact about the world is to blunder into fantasy and dull fantasy at that--as the real world is strange and wonderful. ~ Robert A. Heinlein Thursday, July 20th ~ Evening
Leaving Glen Hollow early left them time to visit Vera and possibly Roger before broaching the Fae camp. Izabel knew that they had already met them and was therefore a little anxious to find out firsthand what to expect. Looking up at Remus while they walked toward Vera's quarters, she smiled.
"Thank you for agreeing to this. I don't mind admitting I'm rather nervous and to be forewarned is forearmed, right?"
Facts versus romance you go and call yourself the boss but we're not robots inside a grid Tuesday, July 18 • Morning
The second time Vera went to the faerie's camp, she came alone.
When Roger had said he was spending the day visiting his sister, and asked if she'd like to come along, something had moved Vera to tell him no.
Too much work to do, she'd said. Several figures had needed readjusting to match what the Queen had explained in their first meeting — and still nothing fit right.
There was something she wasn't seeing.
Not long after Vector had sat down at her desk, she was up again, gathering old charts and new to take down to the Queen.
Dark lady laughed and danced And lit the candles one by one Sunday, July 16 ~*~ Evening
One hardly knew what a dining establishment meant in a world such as this. Maev knew the mortals had progressed past mud-splattered hovels at last, but other than that, her expectations were moderate.
Rather than the excessively quaint or laughably pretentious restaurant she'd half expected — had she thought on the matter at length at all — Un Peu de Ciel was ... Near worthy of those it is serving tonight, the Queen noted as she entered on Finvar's arm.
She wrote this message for me upon the sands — the sands of vision — "Be careful, and do not seek to know too much about us." Wednesday, July 12 • Afternoon
Invisible guides had led them to the largest tent in the encampment, an elaborate arrangement of silks and goldcloth.
Vector vaguely wished she could remember more of the thousand little etiquette rules that had been so important to her Auntie Miriam, who had tried to get all of her sister's children to attend deportment classes in the summer with a special tutor. She always had been a bit of a social climber.
Vera had always had a ready-made excuse in maths and science camps, and if she had also used "summer study for Hogwarts" as a back-up plan as needed ... well, they were Muggles. They didn't know any different.
Still. It might have been useful after all to know when exactly to curtsey or exactly how low or ... whatever foolish rules they had about such things. Auntie would be so ashamed of me.
On the other hand, all those rules were dealing for mortal royalty, and the faeries had been rude to them first, and Auntie Miriam could go stick it in her ear.
Be the best, prove them wrong A winner's work is never done Tuesday, July 11 ~ Morning
The Queen had listened with interest to the reports of all her people from the garden party and their other outings. Finvar and Vasily had such fascinating details to impart — and Stigg and Aeval did not disappoint, either.
Sprites readied themselves to deliver on a moment's notice; Maev was ready to dictate a few notes.
