Kiko took the goblet back passed it under her nose and did no more than that. She sat it back upon the table untasted.
(Then forgive me, Wolf. For being inherently suspicious.)
She was watching her escort again, and had missed the entrance of the caterpillar. Of course, such a sight was only unnoticed for so long, it was that bizarre. To Kiko this was one of her grandfather's tales come to life. All it needed was some horrifying monster to come pouring up out of the floor.
But, nothing of the sort happened. The musicians were joined by tiny children and creatures she might have been able to hold in her hand and the sing-song tone of the tune they were singing was infectious. She felt the need to clap along.
She did not clap, but the smile was gaining strength and her lips were humming along.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Grayell looked from the performance and across to Kiko now with a grand smile. He fingered the goblet and smelled it as well, it was deliciously sweet. Their escorts were both drinking of their glasses of course.
The children scurried away now, as did the band and in came a pair of rabbits dressed in the finest clothes... but both faces were painted far too elaborately. They held hands and faced the table before bowing over-dramatically.
"Ladies and genetlemen, We ask of thee, To enjoy a performance, We have crafted for...
.... you."
Oh dear, not a good start. The male rabbit began gesticulating and ruminating and stomping about and quite abruptly, began his verse.
"A man in the wilderness, Asked this of me, How many strawberries, Grow in the sea? I answered him, As I thought good, As many red herrings, As swim in the wood!"
He laughed then but cleared his throat, very serious indeed. His female counterpart then began to prance about in an overly-exaggerated manner, a finger pressed to her cheek.
"A lady on the town, asked as they do, How many children, Live in the zoo? I answered her proper, As woman to woman, As many animals, Have suckled your bosom!"
She too laughed and then snorted in anything but a pleasant manner... to the less than excited response of the fae gathered.
Both regained their composure, cleared their throats... then bowed and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Grayell looked entirely baffled, one eyebrow raised and his face locked in a half smile.
Of course, the rabbits were just charming. Yes. If you could forget they were rabbits. If you could forget they were singing with human words. If you could forget they were painted up and wearing clothes. Otherwise it was just a tad bit disturbing.
Still, the verse was amusing and the Wolf was smiling on the other side of the room. He did not appear to be worried over much, and she was happy for that. He needed a little bit of laughter.
Kiko glanced around again. People were eating and drinking and doing all the things you would expect at a party. Harmless fun. She reached out for the goblet and let it run across her bottom lip. It smelled good. Sweet.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
The crowd suddenly became quite excited and each and every faery folk scurried about seeing to their business as swiftly as they might manage. They were done and scurried to each side of the opening, then bowed, forming two lines down either of the side sections of the tables. Trumpets rang out then, loud and elaborate fanfare and opposing the open space prior used for entertainment, the woods shifted and grew apart, revealing a large faery.
A female of impeccable and unmatched beauty in fact, every aspect of her majickal and beyond human comparison. There was nothing quite so lovely in the mundane world, though she was a wild thing of strange nature. Her beauty was inconceivable, undeniable and unexplainable.
"All hail Queen Mab!"
The fanfare struck up again as the queen was seated at the very centre of the table, smiled but as yet; said nothing.
Grayell smiled and his mouth squirmed.... but he spoke to Kiko.
Kiko, meanwhile, had become fascinated by the quiet demeanor of her escort. It was unreal. She was quiet by nature, but he had been absolutely silent.
But, like everybody else, when the trumpets blew she watched the procession that heralded Queen Mab's entrance with no little wonder. Her eyes were drawn to the Queen like a child to a iridescent butterfly.
(...she is... amazing...)
Her mind voice was entirely enraptured by Mab's presence.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
The crowd remained silent for a time... and then something else happened.
(Wolf is it not? Grayell as you are known? Perhaps you long to sit only with your... Kiko?)
Oh dear.
(Thank you my dear, I appreciate the compliment. It seems your mate here does not share your approval.)
The entire crowd looked to the queen and then to each of them as she addressed them in the same manner they had been communicating. The crowd started to snicker, stared at Grayell now...
... and he began to laugh. He pressed his hand to his head and laughed loud and proud, entirely amused.
You'll forgive me your highness, I only have eyes for my heart's desire.
That caused gasps from the crowd and all suddenly fell silent.
Kiko blinked and came back to where ever it was she had gone. She sat the goblet down carefully.
For several heartbeats she did nothing else. Only absorbed what had just happened. She had fallen into the trap of assumption. She should have known better. She did know better. But, well, all the clever misdirection had worked very well.
Obviously she couldn't speak to him without them hearing it, even mind to mind. So, there was no reason to do so any longer.
You've shocked them, Wolf. Why?
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Grayell shrugged with a sigh and then sat forward. He looked to the queen with a smile and nodded, then spoke out.
You queen, if I might be quite so bold.
Kiko, I have questioned her beauty. The queen is rumoured amongst all men to be the most beautiful creature in existence and I... have insulted her.
The queen only studied Grayell for a moment with a blank expression and then turned to Kiko. She managed a smile and somehow it was entirely warm and yet so very cold, both things and neither.
"Kiko answer me this riddle. Your mate, forced to duel before us. Were he to win, he could choose whether your or he were to bed me this night.
Which of you would he choose?"
Grayell suddenly seemed very interested, seems the queen had some trickery in store for his love. He only chuckled though and eyed that glass once more. The crowd listened, whispered in anticipation of her answer.
Kiko stood up. She pushed her chair back and faced the faery Queen.
“That is not a riddle Queen. But, it does require thought to answer. Am I allowed time to ponder?”
She did not need time. Such a statement was guaranteed to have no correct answer to it. She remained polite though, and steady on her feet. She was not at all sure of Mab’s reply.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
The queen studied her, golden eyes piercing and seeing through Kiko. Grayell was still paying the utmost attention... but was still smiling ever so slightly. The crowd remained in whispered anticipation until Mab spoke.
"You know him as he knows himself do you not? Answer my sweet, it hardly matters what I think."
The queen smiled then and sipped from her own glass but still, she was very hard to read. Malicious or benevolent, both and neither. Kiko was now put on the spot.
Kiko's fingers found the edge of the table and slid off it. She took a step away, though did not take her eyes off Mab.
"Then he would choose himself. For he would wish to spare me grief."
Her voice was soft, as always, but resolute. She didn't dare run the possible answers through her mind. Instead she walled off inner thoughts. If they could hear her when speaking to him. Mab, their Queen, could quite probably take such things straight from her brain.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
The queen glared then, her eyes wild with an alien power. She seemed to grow almost and the crowd now fell eerily silent.
"GRIEF?"
Utoh. Perhaps not the proper answer....
No. She is mistaken my queen.
Grayell spoke now and rose from his seat, still smiling. He rounded the end of his table now and wandered into the open before the queen, turned and bowed before Mab with a wild flourish.
Nay, your highness. Bring forth your best and your mightiest for I know the outcome.
I would refuse to fight such a battle. Had I no such choice, then I would forfeit it.
And as your guest I only ask that your bestow us with your grace and good nature.
The queen studied them then, Grayell and then Kiko... before clapping but once. Kiko's escort rose from his chair and scurried to Grayell's seat and the queen indicated that Grayell now be seated by his beloved.
"You are perhaps wise Eoin, your people have honoured mine since our parting."
Grayell smiled and ran his hand across Kiko's shoulders before he sat now. He pulled his chair in and rested his hands upon the table before he spoke.
My people are gone dear Mab, but I alone honour our past.
Her shoulders fell. The tension running beneath the surface of her body hit an apex with Mab's louder voice. She was not prepared for the Wolf to defuse her, though.
She wanted to goad her. Perhaps not the brightest decision, but well, she was would rather battle her way out of here than deal with strange faery creatures and their beautiful Queen.
The Wolf was more adept here, obviously. He knew them. He knew their customs. What had the Queen called him? She sighed and shook her head. She was grateful enough for the Wolf's touch when he ran his hands along her shoulders, but she still felt foolish.
Maybe even, just a little bit, enraptured still.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
The Queen smiled then and clapped her hands again and in short order, all manner of creatures both strange and exotic hurried about and although awkward and odd, delivered dinner with proper grace an poise.
None touched their food though, not until the Queen herself did of course. She drank again from her cup and then looked to Kiko and Grayell. Again, cold and hot, both and neither.
"Tell me you two, why is it your refuse our drink? I can assure you it is quite delicious, best your drink it before it spoils."
Grayell looked at the glass before and then to Kiko... and turned to the queen with a smiled. He settled his hand in Kiko's lap, found her hand and squeezed it. His words rolled from his tongue and his voice held humour, a warmth.
Ná glac pioc comhairle gan comhairle ban, Medbh.
He chuckled then, his hand warm in Kiko's grasp.
The queen studied him and her and then smiled herself. She nodded as she began to eat and when done with her mouthful, wiped her lips.
"Please, enjoy the food and drink. I mean you no harm for you are my guest. In return you can both perform for me, I would consider it a kindness."
Kiko didn't say a word. But, her fingers found Grayell's hip, and ran across it. She felt better for touching him, but was still angry at herself. It was the first time since coming to this side of the world she had felt out of her depth.
Give her a battle, give her a forest, give a town on the edge of nowhere and she was confident enough in her ability. But, here, in a gathering that held as much ceremony as one in her homeland...
She returned the squeeze of Grayell's hand, listened as the strange words rolled melodically from his lips. That was, or should have been a surprise, but it was not; they sounded like his voice when he was pleased.
She had been rude. It made no different it was all in her head, that she had been outwardly polite. It was a false face. She leaned forward and picked up the goblet of wine and tasted it. Perhaps it would sooth both Queen and her court, not to mention the Wolf.