#baronyofthesilverwolf

Gwen smiles at Chuck as their swan shaped boat drifts pleasantly through the lagoon. He reaches out and takes her hands, then daringly leans forward. His lips part, and he whispers to her...

"What's that, Chuck?" Gwen asks, her heart racing, and leans in closer.

Chuck murmurs, "I said, wake up. Wake up. Wake up?"

The boat, the lagoon, and the boy all fade, and when Gwen opens her eyes, it's dark, and her bed is warm and cozy. She may suspect that the heart-tipped arrow under her pillow may be giving her interesting dreams... but not, perhaps, unwelcome? So why is she stirring? A soft touch again at her shoulder, and the whisper comes once more. "Awakened?" The pooka's silhouette in the moonlight that trickles through her window casts a rabbit-eared shadow puppet onto the wall.

The horrifying thought that she might have been making smooch face while she slept hits Gwen "I wasn't doing anything bad" She says then blinks as more comes to focus "Bluebell?"

"The sun is risen and the songbirds tweet, what a joy to hear the songs so sweet...." She gives Gwen's hand a soft tug, away from the bed. Oh, the most comfortable and welcoming bed. Her fire is long since banked, and Gwen knows that the room will have a nip if she ventures out from under the soft quilts made by Marigold's loving hands.

Gwen ..sighs and gets up. Cold or not, Bluebell is a friend and on the off chance this isn't some prank...

well, she's got to go

She's glad she's in her PJs.

Bluebell hurries to the window, peering out. "Strong bluejays fly at the hawks cry, where a doe may fear to tread. Fledgling birds of a feather may brave the weather and peep what is tweeted instead..."

At that she starts to get dressed in warmer clothes "Hawks cry? Calanthe?" Realization "She's not here or not watching." She hurries then readies to follow trusting the pooka's stealth more than hers

Gesturing for Gwen to join her, Bluebell shifts the curtain just a touch so that Gwen can peep out as well. Two tall figures stand in the cold out on the front walk, lit by moonlight. A third, shorter and slender figure strides past imperiously, and the trolls - for it is the twin thanes - move to follow after her, down a trail that heads towards the outbuildings.

"To the aerie they fly... who dares follow? Not I... Hunters above bear a 'coney' small love." Bluebell's ears droop, her nose twitching.

"Shit. I wish I were smarter. I don't know if you want me to try to follow them and see what htey're up to or nose around here. If it's the former, give my back a hard push and I'll go after them. Otherwise, lead on to what you'd have me do here. "

A soft hand presses on her back.

"A sparrow may be brave when flocked... to brave the hawk alone, though, t'would surely be - in trouble." A tiny smile, despite her serious expression, and then the hand slips into hers, slender and small and fragile as glass in Gwen's grasp.

At that, the pooka leads Gwen, moving as swiftly as she may, deftly avoiding boards that may creak, until they are outside and she indicates that they should follow down the same path. A silent twirl, and the ballerina steps in one of the footprints, then a delicate hop to the next, and the next, leaving no trace of her passage, though Gwen is free to follow along as she may.

At this, Gwen grabs her spear. Following and so glad her heavy feet are following the wise rabbit's lead and.. and she follows, slower, cumbersome at times, but she will follow. Whatever Bluebell is doing she's afraid of being alone it seems and Gwen's urge to protect is fierce.

They follow the trail over to the mews - Calanthe's domain. A finger touched to her lips, Bluebell calls for silence... and with achingly slow care, turns a knob and cracks the door just a touch. She taps one of her long, velvety ears, and then lays her head against the wall, listening. And points to one of her eyes, and to the crack...

Voices heard from within.

And the troll peeks through the crack, straining to hear

And hear she does.

"Of course I do not begrudge him the fire. The right of rescue is sacred. No. That is not who I called you here to discuss. Though... to have him awaken so precipitously is curious to say the least. Danica, you will check his mortal background and see that he is who he claims to be, on the mortal end at least." The voice of the Sidhe Chancellor is unmistakable, even though she is not visible through the crack. A glimpse of a tall blue form in uniform blocks that view.

"Aye." The troll sergeant rumbles.

"The true concern is that snip of a sidhe, 'baroness' - pah. She's scarce more than a fledgling child herself."

Linnea now speaks. "Lady, I do not think you need to be concerned. Nadeen is a sweet girl-"

She is cut off with a response as sharp and cold as a blade in the night. "Did I ASK your opinion, Thane?"

Brow knit. But she stays quiet. Her thoughts are, despite her calm demeanor, racing. She's glad Tibs isn't seen as a problem is good. She likes the Eshu. But Calanthe is targeting the Baroness Nadeen? Gwen likes Nadeen well enough, though she doesn't fool herself the woman might not want the balefire, but she's also seen her baron light up around her. He's happy to have her around and that's good, right?

Linnea quietly responds, "No, Lady."

"As I was saying. The Baroness has her eye on the bale and as such, should be treated as a potential threat. You will both watch her when you find she is on premises, and report back to me. Do I make myself clear?"

Bluebell has her hands over her mouth to muffle a small gasp.

A scowl crosses her features. Isn't this overstepping her authority. The Baron should be told then the baron decides if someone is a threat. And using trolls for spies? what a stupid... She realizes SHE is spying Oh

Danica's eyes flick alertly around as Calanthe speaks, but then returns to the Sidhe.

"Yes, Lady." Both trolls rumble in unison.

"Good. See to it that you remember your oaths, and to whom you must answer."

Silence - but she did not ask a question that required an answer. After waiting a moment, Calanthe snaps in annoyance, "You are dismissed. Leave me."

Bows, and they move towards the exit.

A squeak of surprise from Bluebell, and she fades back from the door!

And a gulp.. and Gwen back tracks trying to follow footsteps she already so not to leave new ones and find a place a girl her size can be out of the way

Bluebell is suddenly nowhere to be seen! She has vanished into the night.

And Gwen tries to hide, or, if need be, duck into a room/building she knows to be empty or maybe with Briar in it or...

CRUNCH

As they exit the door, Danica is suddenly on high alert. She exchanges a look with her sister, and they spread out. Linnea moves towards the sound, and Danica crouches, checking the path.

Calanthe's voice comes from within. "What is it?" Sharp, questioning.

Linnea moves over and... her gaze lands on Gwen. A long moment, and then she calls back... "Just us trolls out here." Danica adds, "And the wildlife."

Gwen mouths 'thank you'

A sharp CLICK as the door closes - Calanthe shutting the others out.

Linnea gives the slightest nod, though her brow promises that they will speak later. She releases the branch that she had shifted, and it falls back in place to hide Gwen in the brush. The two thanes return to their patrol.

And something.... FUZZY touches Gwen's hand.

She looks down to see what Fuzzy thing touched her hand

Even huddled against her foot in the snow, it's obvious that this isn't the same as the wild rabbits - er 'conies' that are in the cold storage or smokehouse.

"Oh blue bell, this is the first I've seen you like this I think. You're lovely" She picks her up quietly and when she thinks it's safe, carries her into the hold whispering "I think I maybe in trouble but not as much trouble as I could have been. Don't worry, I won't mention you. Thank you for letting me know"

The chocolatey brown nose twitches and liquid eyes blink. Once inside, she thumps a leg a few times softly, and then darts off! She might not look like the wild rabbits that disappear into brush, but she does do well in the manor's shadows.

She wipes her brow and looks to see what time it is. Who might be up?

About 2am, too early even for Marigold to be starting the morning loaves.

She goes to her room, changes into her PJs, and sits down on her bed wondering if one of the Thanes will be coming into talk to her. She's tempted to talk to Tibs and warn him he'll be checked out but.. well, no that's actually sensible despite her being a fan. A sigh.

Some time passes, and she may be verging on drifting off, when the soft rap comes at her door. It cannot be Calanthe, at least - no one comes barging in.

"Come in?" She says careful not to be TOO loud but be heard

The door opens, and Linnea comes in. Her boots removed, she moves surprisingly quietly for a troll. The woolen socks may help. And may also help detract a bit from her solemn expression.

"Gwen. I would speak with you candidly." She says, phrasing it politely as a request, even if it may be more of a statement.

"You've always been straight with me, Thane. Please, have a seat " Envying the thane's quiet steps, and NOT looking at the penguin socks. "Close the door?"

She doesn't have a lot of furniture in her room, not from stinginness on the baron's part, but more to give her room to move inn. There's the bed, there's a desk and chair, and another chair plenty comfy in a corner. Most of it oversized but not by troll standards

She moves the desk chair over and settles in - standing, she was looming over the younger girl, but now they are more or less on the same level.

A few moments, and a thoughtful frown. "Danica is the one used to interrogating suspects." She mutters, and then shoots a quick glance to Gwen. "Not that you are a suspect. Nor being interrogated. Rather... " Clearing her throat. "Would you like to tell me what went on this evening?"

"Noises woke me up" She says "Seemed like there might be trouble. I got curious and grabbed my spear" True.. the noise was a pooka

"I mean, I'm a fledge, but I can fight. If there's a danger to the hold.. maybe I can help?"

A searching look, and then Linnea nods. She thinks for a bit before speaking. "Once you have been sained, you will realize one of the truest strengths of being Troll is in our oathkeeping. Other kiths may sometimes see oaths as a chain binding one to service. Trolls know them to be an inner reservoir of strength to call upon in duty."

"And I'm not sworn yet, so I'm not.. trusted?"

It's not a fair question, she knows that. But she's still a teenage girl and sometimes it feels like everyone's trying to protect her from herself even when she's NOT Screwing up. Then again, Bluebell turned to her tonight, and that's a sign of trust. She regrets she said it "Sorry I just..." A bit of frustration

Linnea shakes her head! "No, that isn't..." A frown. "I meant to say." She sighs. "Once you have had a chance to swear an oath, you will understand better, why we may do things that are...." her lips twist. "Not what we may otherwise choose."

"Are.. you sworn to the Baron, or to the lodge or.. is that a question I'm allowed to ask?"