Glade's nervous audience with Queen Merla
Jun 14, 2022 17:18:56 GMT
Queen Merla, the Sun-Blessed and Gerhard like this
Post by Glade on Jun 14, 2022 17:18:56 GMT
Co-written with Her Highness Queen Merla
This is a follow up to Fairweather Fashion - 10/05 - Glade
After an intense spectacle, Glade retreated to the back, behind the curtains to relax and get over the nervousness from being in the spotlight, even if the show was successful. She tended to her new, albeit temporary, companion, Skirt. He’s about as adorable as a chonky giant rat can be.
After speaking with the others, Queen Merla sees Glade sitting near the backstage area of the concert hall, close to where the large organ is. Softly coming over, the slight sound of music precedes her presence.
“Hello.”
Glade releases a sudden yelp, surprised by who greeted her more than anything, almost dropping Skrit but managing to catch him in time.
“Oh - Mer - Quee - urm- Your Highness…” She then takes a sharp bow holding Skrit tight. “I-I wasn’t expecting you t-to…” Before she could continue, a tail hit her face as she realizes she is holding Skrit upside down and quickly spins him right way up, sheer confusion written on his face.
Merla giggles a little but also empathizes about being suddenly flustered. “I didn’t mean to startle you. Forgive me. Would you sit with me, if that is not too much trouble? I wanted to make sure I spoke with each of you tonight…”
After a second of her trying to wrap her head around the request, Glade says, “Uh-O-okay, yes, of course, if you wish!” She follows Merla’s lead and sits while holding tight onto Skrit.
“I guess you already know my name,” the young Fey Queen starts, with a sly smile. “Your name is Glade, yes?”
“Y-yes, yes it is.”
“Where are you from?” Merla asks, eyes drifting to Glade’s branches.
“Oh, I come from a small forest, east of the Sword Coast. It’s the domain of my mentor, Fernen Stormhoof… although I doubt you’ve heard of it, it’s fairly far into the mainland and the forest is small and not well known. Come to think of it, I believe it doesn't even have a name.”
“I may not have heard of it, but would enjoy hearing you tell me a bit more about it. How long did you live there before you came to the Dawnlands?”
“My entire life, I guess… although I wasn’t born there. My mentor told me that I was a small infant wrapped in simple cloth when she found me in the middle of her glade,” Glade’s expression takes a little of a sad turn, clearly a bit homesick, “filled by summer flowers… the day after the Summer Solstice.”
“So you are a Child of Summer. I see…” Merla reaches out to Skrit to give them some scritches. Upon seeing Merla petting Skrit, Glade makes some goodberies for him to munch on and offers some to Merla. The berries are various forest fruits, but seem to be larger than normal ones.
“Perhaps that is why the Ceòlwyn an flùr chose to bless you with such a gift,” she continues, nodding to the singular unique branch in Glade’s hair.
Glade’s hand raises towards it, but stops midway through the gesture. “Yes, a blessing… that’s what it is.” She then gives a sigh of relief. “At least I don’t have to explain that I didn’t steal it.” She flushes, embarrassed. “I just fell asleep under the tree.”
“Were you worried that I thought you stole the branch?”
Glade’s cheeks blush deeper as she thinks that she may have insulted Merla by assuming such from her. “M-maybe… a bit… sort of… I was kind of freaked out when I saw it, this is the first time this kind of ‘blessing’ has happened to me. I have never had a tree willing give me one of its branches. And when I learned from a botanist from the Academy how rare it is… I felt a bit guilty.”
“A blessing is not meant to make you feel guilty, Glade,” the Queen says, resting a warm hand on her shoulder. “There is a reason it was given to you, it just might not become clear right away.”
Upon feeling Merla’s warm touch, Glade feels more relaxed, but then lifts her gaze as if a sudden realization dawned on her.
“You clearly know about the Ceòlwyn an flùr and,” she casts a gaze around the opera hall, “you clearly know a lot about music… is it much to ask if you could help me with some insight? I learned from the academy that the music may refer to the song of life and that the Fey have a specific notion about Life after Death and…” She stops as she arranges her thoughts. “I want to find out more about this, but I have no idea where to start.”
“I might be able to help you,” Merla says, her head tilting slightly, gold and pink hair falling over her shoulder. “What are you looking to find?”
“This may sound a bit… clichè… and vague, but… urm… the meaning of life?” She gives a half smile clearly indicating she has no idea how to explain it. But she tries anyway. “I’m a druid of Chauntea,” Glade points towards an amulet made of a red oval gem encased in two golden sheaves of wheat, “and part of my ‘responsibilities’ is to promote the natural life and to also understand it. As I have been blessed with this flower, I feel that it is now my responsibility to also understand this part of life as well.” She then gives a small chuckle. “It’s funny. In my attempt to spread joy and appease one goddess, I ended up receiving the blessing of another.”
“All things are connected, whether we realize it or not,” the Fey Queen says softly smiling. “Sometimes the threads are easy to see, other times the tapestry remains a mystery no matter how much you try to understand it.”
A strange look passes over Merla’s face but it is gone before Glade can understand it.
“So you wish to find the meaning of life. Is this a holy calling? Or a personal journey? Or something else?”
“It’s personal… I guess?” Her face darkens a little. “Me and my mentor had an ‘argument’. She’s a druid of Silvanus and thus she doesn’t really agree with the ideals of those who follow Chauntea. So, we agreed that it’s best I find my own place in the world. My goal is to help spread life to others… but most importantly for them to keep their life. I traveled for about a year westward and when I heard about a new continent, I decided that said continent may be a good place to start. And thus I came here… to help…” she says softly before taking a deep breath and straightening up. “My goal is ‘I, to the best of my abilities, to heal the wounds of others, no matter their shape.’” She then looks down at Skrit, petting him as he has fallen asleep in her lap. “I hope that whatever I may learn from this may help me in my goal.”
“That is a noble goal, and one I can tell borne from a good heart.”
The Queen of Virtue and Virtuosity closes her eyes and seems to listen to something for a moment.
“Mmm,” she nods, opening her eyes. “I begin to see why the tree chose to bless you. In your research what all did you find?”
Glade’s eyes turn upward as she thinks about what she found in her research.
“Mmm… that it is called the flower of music… that music may refer to the song of life… something about ‘Life after Death’... that, when they die, the fey believe they return to the Faen Realms they lived and walked in during their lifetime…” Her eyes then go back down to Skrit and then towards Merla. “That’s… kind of all that I found, for the moment at least. I’ll have to go back and see what more I can find.”
Merla studies Glade for a moment. “The Academy has much, I spent many a long day in its halls finding out all I could on all manner of topics. But some things aren’t found in tomes. What you seek may need to be sought out there.” She gestures with her hand to the nearly empty concert hall, and beyond. “Especially when the Ceòlwyn an flùr has not been seen in the Feywild for many many centuries. I was not expecting to find a bare root sapling in my lands.”
Glade’s look at Merla with curiosity. “How did you come across it? Did you search for it, or did you just stumble upon it?”
“By pure happenstance,” Merla says, with a secret smile. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the Feywild but there have been numerous changes recently, one of them being my transformation from mortal halfling to Fey Queen. There are stories beyond measure hidden everywhere in our lands. In times of great change some things that once were lost are found once more.”
“I see…” she says, thinking over Merla’s words. “It sounds like a lovely place considering you’re its queen. I mean, a queen is supposed to represent the nation it reigns over, right?” she says with a hint of nervousness. “I mean, you’re… beautiful… so the place must be beautiful as well.” She realizes by the heat in her cheeks that they are pink once again, so she quickly corrects herself. “B-but first, I will want to talk to a friend before I try to continue to… a different realm.”
Merla’s smile is warm and kind as she nods in understanding. “Your words I accept, with happiness into my heart, Glade,” she says, resting her hand on her bosom, a semi-formal gesture that takes the young druid off guard a little. Then she winks at Glade and adds, “The Court of Harmony will be ready to welcome you whenever you’re ready to visit us.”
She stands.
“I shall leave you for now. Summer’s warmth and blessings be upon you Glade,” the Queen of Virtue and Virtuosity says. Then, softly, like a warm summer breeze, the fey queen departs, leaving Glade with her thoughts.
Glade stares as Merla leaves, cheeks pink again.
This is a follow up to Fairweather Fashion - 10/05 - Glade
After an intense spectacle, Glade retreated to the back, behind the curtains to relax and get over the nervousness from being in the spotlight, even if the show was successful. She tended to her new, albeit temporary, companion, Skirt. He’s about as adorable as a chonky giant rat can be.
After speaking with the others, Queen Merla sees Glade sitting near the backstage area of the concert hall, close to where the large organ is. Softly coming over, the slight sound of music precedes her presence.
“Hello.”
Glade releases a sudden yelp, surprised by who greeted her more than anything, almost dropping Skrit but managing to catch him in time.
“Oh - Mer - Quee - urm- Your Highness…” She then takes a sharp bow holding Skrit tight. “I-I wasn’t expecting you t-to…” Before she could continue, a tail hit her face as she realizes she is holding Skrit upside down and quickly spins him right way up, sheer confusion written on his face.
Merla giggles a little but also empathizes about being suddenly flustered. “I didn’t mean to startle you. Forgive me. Would you sit with me, if that is not too much trouble? I wanted to make sure I spoke with each of you tonight…”
After a second of her trying to wrap her head around the request, Glade says, “Uh-O-okay, yes, of course, if you wish!” She follows Merla’s lead and sits while holding tight onto Skrit.
“I guess you already know my name,” the young Fey Queen starts, with a sly smile. “Your name is Glade, yes?”
“Y-yes, yes it is.”
“Where are you from?” Merla asks, eyes drifting to Glade’s branches.
“Oh, I come from a small forest, east of the Sword Coast. It’s the domain of my mentor, Fernen Stormhoof… although I doubt you’ve heard of it, it’s fairly far into the mainland and the forest is small and not well known. Come to think of it, I believe it doesn't even have a name.”
“I may not have heard of it, but would enjoy hearing you tell me a bit more about it. How long did you live there before you came to the Dawnlands?”
“My entire life, I guess… although I wasn’t born there. My mentor told me that I was a small infant wrapped in simple cloth when she found me in the middle of her glade,” Glade’s expression takes a little of a sad turn, clearly a bit homesick, “filled by summer flowers… the day after the Summer Solstice.”
“So you are a Child of Summer. I see…” Merla reaches out to Skrit to give them some scritches. Upon seeing Merla petting Skrit, Glade makes some goodberies for him to munch on and offers some to Merla. The berries are various forest fruits, but seem to be larger than normal ones.
“Perhaps that is why the Ceòlwyn an flùr chose to bless you with such a gift,” she continues, nodding to the singular unique branch in Glade’s hair.
Glade’s hand raises towards it, but stops midway through the gesture. “Yes, a blessing… that’s what it is.” She then gives a sigh of relief. “At least I don’t have to explain that I didn’t steal it.” She flushes, embarrassed. “I just fell asleep under the tree.”
“Were you worried that I thought you stole the branch?”
Glade’s cheeks blush deeper as she thinks that she may have insulted Merla by assuming such from her. “M-maybe… a bit… sort of… I was kind of freaked out when I saw it, this is the first time this kind of ‘blessing’ has happened to me. I have never had a tree willing give me one of its branches. And when I learned from a botanist from the Academy how rare it is… I felt a bit guilty.”
“A blessing is not meant to make you feel guilty, Glade,” the Queen says, resting a warm hand on her shoulder. “There is a reason it was given to you, it just might not become clear right away.”
Upon feeling Merla’s warm touch, Glade feels more relaxed, but then lifts her gaze as if a sudden realization dawned on her.
“You clearly know about the Ceòlwyn an flùr and,” she casts a gaze around the opera hall, “you clearly know a lot about music… is it much to ask if you could help me with some insight? I learned from the academy that the music may refer to the song of life and that the Fey have a specific notion about Life after Death and…” She stops as she arranges her thoughts. “I want to find out more about this, but I have no idea where to start.”
“I might be able to help you,” Merla says, her head tilting slightly, gold and pink hair falling over her shoulder. “What are you looking to find?”
“This may sound a bit… clichè… and vague, but… urm… the meaning of life?” She gives a half smile clearly indicating she has no idea how to explain it. But she tries anyway. “I’m a druid of Chauntea,” Glade points towards an amulet made of a red oval gem encased in two golden sheaves of wheat, “and part of my ‘responsibilities’ is to promote the natural life and to also understand it. As I have been blessed with this flower, I feel that it is now my responsibility to also understand this part of life as well.” She then gives a small chuckle. “It’s funny. In my attempt to spread joy and appease one goddess, I ended up receiving the blessing of another.”
“All things are connected, whether we realize it or not,” the Fey Queen says softly smiling. “Sometimes the threads are easy to see, other times the tapestry remains a mystery no matter how much you try to understand it.”
A strange look passes over Merla’s face but it is gone before Glade can understand it.
“So you wish to find the meaning of life. Is this a holy calling? Or a personal journey? Or something else?”
“It’s personal… I guess?” Her face darkens a little. “Me and my mentor had an ‘argument’. She’s a druid of Silvanus and thus she doesn’t really agree with the ideals of those who follow Chauntea. So, we agreed that it’s best I find my own place in the world. My goal is to help spread life to others… but most importantly for them to keep their life. I traveled for about a year westward and when I heard about a new continent, I decided that said continent may be a good place to start. And thus I came here… to help…” she says softly before taking a deep breath and straightening up. “My goal is ‘I, to the best of my abilities, to heal the wounds of others, no matter their shape.’” She then looks down at Skrit, petting him as he has fallen asleep in her lap. “I hope that whatever I may learn from this may help me in my goal.”
“That is a noble goal, and one I can tell borne from a good heart.”
The Queen of Virtue and Virtuosity closes her eyes and seems to listen to something for a moment.
“Mmm,” she nods, opening her eyes. “I begin to see why the tree chose to bless you. In your research what all did you find?”
Glade’s eyes turn upward as she thinks about what she found in her research.
“Mmm… that it is called the flower of music… that music may refer to the song of life… something about ‘Life after Death’... that, when they die, the fey believe they return to the Faen Realms they lived and walked in during their lifetime…” Her eyes then go back down to Skrit and then towards Merla. “That’s… kind of all that I found, for the moment at least. I’ll have to go back and see what more I can find.”
Merla studies Glade for a moment. “The Academy has much, I spent many a long day in its halls finding out all I could on all manner of topics. But some things aren’t found in tomes. What you seek may need to be sought out there.” She gestures with her hand to the nearly empty concert hall, and beyond. “Especially when the Ceòlwyn an flùr has not been seen in the Feywild for many many centuries. I was not expecting to find a bare root sapling in my lands.”
Glade’s look at Merla with curiosity. “How did you come across it? Did you search for it, or did you just stumble upon it?”
“By pure happenstance,” Merla says, with a secret smile. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the Feywild but there have been numerous changes recently, one of them being my transformation from mortal halfling to Fey Queen. There are stories beyond measure hidden everywhere in our lands. In times of great change some things that once were lost are found once more.”
“I see…” she says, thinking over Merla’s words. “It sounds like a lovely place considering you’re its queen. I mean, a queen is supposed to represent the nation it reigns over, right?” she says with a hint of nervousness. “I mean, you’re… beautiful… so the place must be beautiful as well.” She realizes by the heat in her cheeks that they are pink once again, so she quickly corrects herself. “B-but first, I will want to talk to a friend before I try to continue to… a different realm.”
Merla’s smile is warm and kind as she nods in understanding. “Your words I accept, with happiness into my heart, Glade,” she says, resting her hand on her bosom, a semi-formal gesture that takes the young druid off guard a little. Then she winks at Glade and adds, “The Court of Harmony will be ready to welcome you whenever you’re ready to visit us.”
She stands.
“I shall leave you for now. Summer’s warmth and blessings be upon you Glade,” the Queen of Virtue and Virtuosity says. Then, softly, like a warm summer breeze, the fey queen departs, leaving Glade with her thoughts.
Glade stares as Merla leaves, cheeks pink again.