#baronyofthesilverwolf

"Arthur, the baron and I would like to see you,' she says "And, of course, all of you" A proud look "I am overjoyed at your return"

she motions Arthur to follow her

He glances back at Thistle, but then straightens and nods. "Of course. Excuse me, please." He follows.

Thistle straightens and starts to follow.

And Gwen... does the same. She's not bailing now

Art glances back as he hears footsteps. "It's okay. I've got this."

"And you've got us."

He glances over at Nadeen, uncertain, questioning in his expression.

"The Baron wished to speak with Art and just art, however..." Nadeen says "We shall see if he is willing to have others partake."

"Maybe it is for the best." He glances back at the other two. "As he wishes."

"Baroness, Arthur ... he was amazing. Arthur isn't good at boasting of his deeds. He may not..." A look "He may need witnesses to his courage and cunning"

That was Gwen

"We did this together, right?"

"Then... if you would please ask, Baroness?"

A voice heard from within the chamber, they are after all just outside in the hallway. "See them all in, Nadeen." Not quite annoyed.

"Of course, Aiden" And she lets pride in her lover shine in her tone

The Baroness turns "All of you it is. we'll hear you now" And she goes in as well

Aiden is more rested now, but still looks a bit dark-eyed from days without sleep spent in care and worry. Though, to the newly returned three, it may just look a gloomy and ominous expression.

He sits with Nadeen on one side of the room - there are no other chairs, lending the feel of an audience chamber.

Thistle follows, face settled into a resting 'stubborn.'

Aiden reaches for Nadeen's hand, pressing it lightly, before speaking.

"Countess Elsinore charged you to with a quested Fior-Righ, to recover the child that was stolen. Have you succeeded in this task?"

Gladiola bows to her lieges

Nadeen squeezes Aiden's hand in turn

Thistle flashes a grin.

Art looks back to Thistle, and nods.

"We have. The child has been named for both land and sea, and will live with her family, yet know also the ocean and shore. Thistle gave challenge, of Courage, Wit, and Skill, and I helped as I could."

A bit of a raised brow at this from Aiden. "Thistle was not the one to be tested."

Gladiola steps forward "My liege, if I or Thistle may bear witness to Arthur's deeds in more detail that he seems to be providing?"

Aiden looks to Gladiola. "I would that you would give as much care to profess your own deeds." But, with a glance to Nadeen, he gestures for her to proceed.

A blush at THAT little point of truth

Gladiola takes a breath, looks to Thistle should she want to jump in as well, a nod, both need to support Art now, then says "There was a challenge in three parts. while each of us had to win our parts, my challenge was planned and prepared for by Arthur! Knowing that there would be a sea battle of sorts, on which i would be a disadvantage at, he arranged another fae there to legally transform me into a form that neturalized that advantage of the enemy. I trusted his jugdment, and it paid off very well indeed."

"Is it not a sign of leadership and sageness for a Fior? to help coach a victory? For Arthur aided in this and more before taking on his own DIRECT part"

"And though in the challenge for the child, I acted for 'skill,' Art had proven himself before that. The flickerflash dumped us in the middle of the sea, with no land in sight. We managed to find a boat, and it was Arthur who taught himself the magic to read the maps and then used the stars to navigate us to a safe harbor. We would have been dead before we began, if not for his skill and steadfastness there."

"As for wits, he served as my champion and bested a sage in a contest of riddles."

"We would have gone who knows where without him" A nod from Gwen "Lost in an ocean"

Nadeen looks intrigued "A contest of riddles? " A look to Arthur "Elaborate"

"We traded riddles, simple ones first, then harder. I threw in a trick - a riddle that she could not have known... and then a riddle that she was not, by oath or honor, allowed to answer. She graciously accepted my victory."

"It was very close." He admits. "Without cunning, she was more than my match."

"See? He beat someone who was a better riddlemaster than him by cunning. That's folktalke hero stuff right?" Gwen asks Aiden

Then she blushes "Pardon, my lord. I just.. he really has done some epic choices"

Lord Aiden nods slightly, and waits for them to continue. "And of Skill? What skill has he shown, what artistry, befitting a true scion of the Tuatha?"

Art looks introspective - he does not have an immediate answer, though his brow creases a bit in thought.

"I spoke of his skill in the sea, and his gift with words... " She frowns.

"Navigation and star reading" Gwen nods "That is more than cunning. It is a needed craft for those who wander so they do not become lost. You cannot 'outwit' the night sky, but you can read into it and make a map of it. He did"

That gives Art the prompt to go on. "I speak for the stars, and the beauty within them. Some look to the heavens and see only lights, or only atoms, swirling, colliding, neutron masses, broken down to equations. I see both- there is beauty in the science, and and art in the reading, whether they speak through visions, dreams, or just speak to one's own soul. It is not an artistry I have created - I don't have Thistle's skill there... but it is what I have, and what I see, and what I would share."

Aiden exchanges a look with his lady.

"Mm it does sound as if it's proven to have had practical purpose" Nadeen whispers into Aiden's ear

Thistle is rummaging in pockets!

There is a faint thunk, buzz, thunk against the door. Citrine is not pleased to have been excluded!

And... she produces a much-folded piece of paper! "If you want traditional art, here."

It's a rough sketch - Art's scribbles from that night on the rooftop, when he was taken by one of his first visions.

Art is startled! That paper, much folded, creased - dunked in the ocean, wind-blown, salt and sand stained...

"You kept that?"