The Elders Blessing

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

The trip to her home village had been put off while things settled down after the King's birthday, but now it was finally time to receive their blessings. Nalaac was busy directing her women what gowns to pack, since they would be gone for three days. She knew that Blaine was busy trying to make sure that the kingdom would run smoothly while he was gone, and she'd spoken to the prime minister to make sure that all would be as they wanted. They could be reached in case of emergency, but for the most part would be unreachable. Nalaac was hoping that with the blessing, a few days alone with Blaine would mean that she would be able to woo him back to her.

Once her small trunk was packed, it was taken from her room and put onto the cart that would follow their horses. The guard was selected, and the finishing touches put together, and the entourage loaded up. Although it would only be Nalaac and her husband that passed through the barrier, they would need the guards on the way to and from the village.

The queen could feel the excitement welling up in her as the mounted her horse and settled into the saddle. Going back to the village was always enjoyable, and it gave her time to relax and recharge herself. There was no one watching her, no one judging her, it was just acceptance and love. And peace.

She looked over at Blaine as he walked from the castle and smiled. "Are you ready, Blaine?"

[King Blaine Manning]

Jamie and Jason had been loyally at his side following him around and doing exactly as he bit them for the last three days. Just as much as he like Jamie, he liked Jason, Sir James's younger brother and now Jamie's apprentice. The three men walked side by side toward the exit of the castle. Because Blaine trusted almost no one, he'd left Jamie in charge of watching the Prime Minister to make sure the man didn't pull any stunts. Jason on the other hand, was to accompany them and would be in charge of the guard base outside Nalaac's city.

He was still giving Jamie orders as he exited the castle and took the steps at a trot down to where his entourage waited. A servant held his and Jason's horse waiting for them to mount when his wife asked if he was ready beside his horse already mounted.
"Don't you know, love? I was born ready."
He gave her one of his most charming grins, those that made the court girls swoon for him though he doubted it would ever work on her, then he mounted his horse, settling into the saddle.

He reached down a gloved hand to take Jamie's.
"Be careful..."
Jamie half whispered looking up at Blaine then Nalaac and direction his warning at both of them.
"And you."
Blaine nodded down at Jamie before his eyes flashed to Jason, releasing Jamie's hand. He gave Jason a nod then flashed his eyes playfully to Nalaac.

"Here's how ready I am, My heart's desire. Can you keep up?"
He kicked his horse into a jolt then shot forward. Jason followed suite and the King's laughter could be heard as he exited the Castle grounds and entourage of hooves following behind to make sure the playful King was not rewarded by a horrid attack.

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

Blaine's grin was infectious. Nalaac returned it, patting her horse's neck while she waited for him to mount up and signal the start of their journey. She caught the whispered injunction from Jaime and nodded to him, casting her eyes over the rest of the party to make sure they were ready. The last of the guards were mounting up when Blaine spoke and took off, and a delighted laugh left the queen's throat without her thinking about it.

She spurred her horse forward, the fit animal stretching to quickly close the distance between herself and Blaine. A grin stretched her lips, and her hair streamed out behind her as the horse galloped over the land, laughter trailing to the guards struggling to catch up. His energy was exciting, and it had been a very long time since Nalaac had ridden hell for leather over the countryside. It always seemed like it was something a queen shouldn't do.

When they finally slowed, they'd covered far more ground than she'd expected them to. Nalaac eased her horse over to Blaine, then leaned over and kissed him softly. She was breathless and glowing from the exercise, a bright smile on her lips that was echoed in her eyes. "That was fantastic, love." At this point, Nalaac had decided to simply act as if they were already in her village, and she let all the worries of the kingdom slide from her shoulders, giving herself over to the joy of being in the outdoors.

[King Blaine Manning]

Blaine grinned sideways when he noticed the queen coming up beside him as he raced his horse forward. He hunkered in the saddle crouching down over it to try and make his voice race harder and faster. This was it! This was them racing for the finish line which was near the water's edge by the clearing. His horse began to grunt when he let it fly. It had always had a good gallop about the animal which was why he'd chosen the horse. Once they crossed the finish line he eased up and twisted his horse around, settling himself comfortable.

He was panting too and there was no one that had kept up with them. Blaine half pouted before Nalaac more her horse in beside him so she could kiss his cheek. He gave a chuckle before reaching out to take her hand.
"No one kept up, so we don't know who won."
With his free hand he patted the side of his horse's neck approvingly before lifting his eyes to see Jason racing toward them.

He slowed his horse in front of them and looked between them as if expecting one of them to tell him who won.
"So slow, Jason. Tsk Tsk. Let's rest here for a moment. Wait for the wagon to catch up."
He said softly and moved to dismount. He then handed the reigns to Jason who had dismounted to and moved to help Nalaac from her horse. It was so peaceful and quiet here. Immensely soothing.

The King took a deep breath and let it out slowly again easing into a more relaxed frame of mind. He settled Nalaac's hand on his arm and lead her toward a bush of wild flowers where he plucked one and stuck it gently into her hair.
"Can we stay like this?"
Blaine asked her gently now that Jason had lead the horses to a water stream to drink some water.

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

"I think you won. I was half a head behind you." Nalaac smiled at her husband, happy that things were so well between them at the moment. She clung to his hand, and then accepted his help dismounting from her horse. She kept close to Blaine while they walked, her skirts brushing his boots with each step.

"I wouldn't mind if we did, husband." She said, giggling slightly as he tucked the flower behind her ear. She liked when he was like this, and they were both so weighed down with the country's business that it was rare. She leaned her head against his shoulder, holding a bit tighter to his arm. Nalaac leaned up and kissed his cheek again, a giddy grin on her face.

"Is there anything you wish to know before we enter the village? It's just on the other side of that thicket." She pointed to a section just ahead of them. The thrum of the hidden magic echoed inside of her and she could feel the people waiting on the other side. "It's small, there are only about fourty families in the village itself. You'll have to close your eyes when you step through, but that's only to help with the disorientation." Excitement was evident in her tone, and she wanted to rush over and through the thicket, but she would need her clothing, so the wagon needed to be waited for.

[The Trouble of Extensions]

You have been visited by



Nymph are sweet little creatures who love playing and especially will appear to men. They will giggle, laugh and ensnare men with their sticky webs. They often tend to ignore women unless they interfere with they games.

---

There was a little giggle, brief, mysterious. Then silence. Behind the King, the bush where he'd plucked the flower, came to life and shot a couple of vines to wrap around his body and yank him roughly back into the bush again. The Queen was thoroughly ignored when four little nymphs started crowding around the King, stroking touching chattering and giggling at him playfully dressing him in flower petals and little flowers in his hair.

---

The next person to respond, Blaine, will be in control of the nymps. Goodluck and keep to character.

[King Blaine Manning]

She wasn't scared to admit that he had the faster horse and he smirked with an air of pride to his stance when she mention he'd won. He noticed how close she kept to him now. In fact, he'd become increasingly aware of how much she clung to him now a days. It wasn't that he wasn't grateful for it. He was delighted with the turn in events and the temperament he kept finding his queen in. He couldn't have asked for anything better right then. It was like they were finally finding each other.

It took them that long. Blaine was very careful not to tread on the edge of her skirt as he walked along with her. He closed his eyes as he felt her kiss upon his cheek and smiled at her soft giggle and sweet words. Blaine shrugged when she asked if he had questions but before he could answer he was yanked away from his Queen. He found himself in a hedge. Blaine blinked a bit at the hands moving all across his body and followed them to the nude women surround him.

They were beautiful. Petite and slender. More refined in features than even elves were and they were tinier. Blaine frowned and swatted at the hands very much aware that he would ruin Nalaac's good mood if he didn't.
"Stop that..."
He hissed but when he tried to get up the vines tightened around his wrists and pulled him down and apart for those pretty hands to explore.

"Oh God. Stop it. Get off. "
What were they!?

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

Nalaac shrieked in surprise when Blaine was pulled from her grasp, then she sighed, plucking the flower from her hair and looking at it more closely. She shook her head and rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. She could hear Blaine telling them to stop inside the bush and tried not to laugh to hard. Telling nymphs to stop was simply going to encourage them.

"Blaine, it's nymphs. You are only going to encourage them if you keep thrashing about. They simply want to play. I'd rescue you, but they don't like people interfering. I'll go find a guard to take your place, unless you want to stay there." There was a wealth of laughter in her voice. Nymphs and Elves were pretty familiar with each other, and she'd even been caught a few times by the male version. Mostly, they were harmless. Mostly.

[King Blaine Manning]

The joyous laughter coming from the nymps as they began to stroke through Blaine's hair and started shoving flowers to make an artwork of the man could be heard and Blaine stopped struggling when Nalaac told him to, growling a little in annoyance.
"Yes! Tell someone else to be their dress up doll!"
He called to Nalaac before crying out when one of the slender creatures began pulling up his shirt only to start undoing his breaches.

"No hey! We wear clothes for a reason. Nalaac... hurry..... they're gonna stick flowers places I don't want flowers to be stuck... hurry!"
Blaine called desperately. Jason came running to the clearing having heard the King's cries before widening his eyes when he saw what was going on and turned to run back the horses. Blaine gave a growl scowling in Jason's wake.
"Your brother wouldn't have run!"

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

Nalaac moved towards the Eleven village, uttering the syllables to gain access to her old home. There were several elders standing on the other side, waiting for their entrance, and she quickly explained the situation amid much laughter. Finally, an elven male was found that would be delighted to take the King's place, and they reentered the woods, and made their way to the bush that he was trapped in.

"Little nymphs! I've brought you a better playtoy! His name is Aftan, and he likes flowers!" Nalaac pushed him into the busy with Blaine, hoping it would be enough to get the creatures to release her husband. The situation was still highly amusing, and it was all she could do to contain her amusement at Blaine's predicament.

[King Blaine Manning]

The Nymphs did indeed notice the elven male and the white hair, similar to the King's, on Aftan was enough to make all the nymphs giggle and leave Blaine's side to dance around the elven male attempting to get him to reach for him before they started running into the woods to play hide and seek. Blaine struggled against the vines. The wagon pulled up and immediately a few guards rushed forward to set him free.

"So what? When they're done playing, they leave their toys lying around to die?"
Blaine grumbled in annoyance pulling flowers from his hair as his party began setting up camp and getting the trunks ready for the king and queen's horses to pull through the boundary. Once they had their horses ready Blaine said his fair wells telling them all to give Jason a hard time till he returned. He then took both horses and nodded for Nalaac to lead the way.

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

"Ah, Blaine, don't be greedy." Nalaac spoke laughingly as she helped him pull the flowers from his person. She leaned in to kiss his cheek, then pulled away to help supervise the disposition of their trunks. Several brawny elves emerged from a thicket and took the trunks with them, while Nalaac waited for Blaine to say his goodbyes.

Once he was done, she took his arm, and walked with him towards the thicket the other elves had disappeared into. "There will be several moments where you feel like the world is spinning, just keep your eyes closed, and keep walking forward until I stop." Excitement colored her tone, and she took the reins of the horses and gave them to a disembodied arm that reached through, the horses quietly going through the portal.

"You'll need to say the words to go through the portal." She coached him through it, then waited for him to say the words and stepped through. It took about six steps, and they were through and she stopped, whispering that he could open his eyes. In front of them were a delegation of the elders, and they bowed low before the King.

"Welcome to our village, Your Grace. We hope that you enjoy your stay." The man spoke and then gestured towards an obviously newly built hut behind him. "We have arranged for you and the Queen to share the hut yonder, we do hope this is acceptable."

[King Blaine Manning]

Blaine rolled his eyes at Nalaac's words and gave her a playfully annoyed expression before fixing his eyes on the men that had just stepped from the invisible wall to take their trunks. Oh God. He so hated weird people and yet he'd married one. He preferred being around humans and not even Jason was a human. Basically he only had Jamie who was human and he wanted to cling to Jamie for dear life.. At some point though, Jamie would disappear just like all the other travelers. It would not come as a surprise to him when Jamie did disappear and he made sure he was well prepared for the loss.

When Nalaac placed her hand through his arm he moved his hand to coven her hand and smiled down at her allowing her to lead him through the ... wall. It was weird walking through the wall and ending up somewhere completely different. Blaine listened to his wives advice. The unpleasant feeling made him want to turn right back. That was it was for, he expected. To keep people out. He growled the words under his breath as his wife told him before entering but even that didn't keep the sickness at bay. The king gritted his teeth and his grip on Nalaac's hand grew tighter.

"This is horrible..."
He murmured through gritted teeth allowing himself to be lead through blindly. Once she had stopped he stopped though he didn't open his eyes at all. He felt like he was about to throw up if he did. He was shaky and swaying as well. Not good. Not good at all. Even Nalaac's whisper that he could open his eyes made him hesitate a long time then slowly he peeked out of one eye when he heard the words from a smooth, elven accented voice.

Blaine swallowed down the feeling of nausea and opened the other eye then pulled from Nalaac and straightened up, taking on his Kingly manner so ingrained in him once more. Blaine glanced to the hut then to Nalaac a frown crossing his features. They were... sleeping... in a hut? Together? Blaine took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"Right... a hut... It's err... Lovely thank you. I'd like some wine if you may."
Blaine whispered softly and started toward the hut among the beautiful elven people around him.

All he wanted to do now was lay down. Nymphs and bloody dizzy invisible walls.

[Queen Nalaac Bravenrest]

It was easier for people that didn't have all their facilities to get through the border. Blaine's muttering brought a smile to Nalaac's face, and she kept a tight grip on his hand as she walked through the swirling bits of color. Even with the Elder's permission, this wasn't going to be easy on the King, and she could tell that it bothered him. A few steps, and they were through the border, and Nalaac took a deep breath of the somehow fresher air. She smiled to the gathered Elders, and then dipped into a slight curtsey to show her respect. It was about that time that Blaine pulled himself upright and it took everything she had not to giggle at his obvious discomfort.

Nalaac nodded slightly to the grouped Elders and they handed her a slip of paper. She flashed a smile and then moved to follow her husband towards their hut. The building looked humble and unassuming on the outside, but filled with luxury inside. It was neatly divided into several rooms, and although simple, had very fine furnishings and finishes. Although it was small, Blaine should be comfortable. Nalaac caught up with her husband and slipped her hand in his.

"You can survive this for a few days, right?" There was a slight pleading quality to her voice. Nalaac missed being here, and she hoped that Blaine would not want to leave so immediately after arriving. She knew that it was very different from what he was used to, but she was convinced that it would be perfect once he adjusted.

She peeked at the paper they had given her, and then moved towards the door when someone knocked on the portal. It was a slight elven boy with a wine carafe and a couple of glasses. She took them from him, and brought them to the table near the sofa. "They have brought wine, as you asked, and they'd like to see us in a hour at the main building in the square."

[King Blaine Manning]

Blaine offered her a meek smile when she caught up with him and allowed her hand to slip into his. He gave her a light little squeeze. When the door was open, he blinked in surprise at the beauty before him. They certainly knew how to hide diamonds didn't they? He looked around delighted at everything before he stepped through the doorway. His eyes flashed to her when she asked the question of whether he could handle this. Blaine wrinkled his nose for a moment before shrugging and nodding.

"Of course I can. I just... I'm just uncomfortable being around all this magic... You know how I feel about it."
Blaine whined a little before moving to take a seat in the closest chair at a nicely woven table. Blaine smiled delightedly when he heard the news of the wine having arrived. One thing elven people were good for was their wine. It sold expensively when it could be taken from this place. He eagerly moved to pour them both a glass.

In seconds of bringing the glass to his lips it was empty again. Blaine made a soft 'ah' sound and moved to lay down across the sofa, not saying anything about the meeting. Whatever, he was under their orders now. He had little say anyway. He was one human against a village of elven people...Wait... what if they planned to end his life? Blaine gulped and stared at the wine before him. But he had something else on his mind right then.

"This is where he fucked you isn't it? Sir Brandon? He brought you here..."
Blaine said suddenly and just as instantly, he regretted what he'd said.