#fenixtj

"He doesn't say he's a Dougal, but likes to let people think he is? He wears red and gold and so nobody ever says it..."

"Anyways, he's the Count, but the County seat was, like, an hour away so I didn't see him much."

Jessica nods grimly.

"Home, oh, Caer Springdale? It's in the woods and its ever so nice."

"And the Baroness there, she's an Eiluned. She showed me how to do magic."

"So, anyways, Gerald found me when I chrysalized and took me there and I had to learn ever so much about being a proper noble and I almost never got to play with anybody..."

"The Baroness only ever wanted to talk about my dreams, and Gerald says I have to be very careful about sharing those because of the rules."

"Anyways, when I was sained and got my whole name everyone was really upset..."

Another nod.

"Then Gerald was all "we have to go now" and I didn't even get to take the leftover cake..."

"We left in the middle of the night and then kept going different places and then we couldn't stay in hotels anymore because all the mortals got sick and then there were scary chimera popping up..."

"And then the Thallian found us and we had to just keep running..."

Jessica's expression is gently concerned

"But we couldn't run fast enough. And Sir Gerald... he... they..."

"He made me go on the trod, he wouldn't let me fight them too..."

"There were SO MANY of them..."

"When I came through, I waited for him. But he didn't come."

Jessica nods; Ellie can take her large blue hand if she wishes, but the troll doesn't insist.

"I dreamed they ate him." She does take the hand. "But I waited anyways."

"Then, I fell asleep and when I woke up I was in a car, in the trunk... I mean, I didn't know it at first, but I figured it out and it smelled bad..."

"They took me to a room full of all these other girls, and I... I knew they were gonna do bad things so I tried to fight them..."

"....I didn't win. They..." She frowns. "I didn't win..."

"Maybe not. But they didn't beat you' they didn't win either. You're still here. And they aren't."

"Things are really blurry after that. Until I woke up here. I remember hurting and it being dark and hot and..."

"I want to go home."

"Can you tell me where Caer Springdale is? Where, in Concordia? Or elsewhere? I will contact the Baroness there." Gently.

A voice calls out "Jessica, he's awake!"

A glance behind her, towards the voices.

It's Diego... "It worked... our guest has arrived"

"Well, awakeneed"

"Thank you, Diego. Can you find Dame Ash and ask her to join Ellie and I in the Balefire room where our guest is?"

Ellie listens, clinging to Jessica's hand.

"Si si..." And he moves to do so.

Ariel comes into view, "Oh my throat and hooves are tired... " But she smiles "We did it... Ellie, we did it! "

"You fixed him?"

"Thank you, Ariel. Nancy?" She checks on the other satyr, and calls for kitchen staff to come help.

Nancy comes out, her brow with sweat "I'm good, Jessica. Thanks"

Ariel BEAMS "YUP"

"Yay!"

Dame Ash comes out with Diego

"Dame, can you come be with Ellie for a moment? Diego, Nancy, Ariel.... I appreciate what you've done. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Of course, " Dame Ash bows then moves to Ellie "I see you've made friends"

"Yes, this is Ariel and she's got red hair like the mermaid! And look, she fixed MY hair!"

Ariel says "I was happy too" Then blushes and says to Jessica "No ma'am, Maybe a drink and then I just want to show Ellie I kept my word and was with her after."

Another chocolate milk is prepared and put in Ariel's hands

Diego says "My own requests you would ssay no to, Jessica so it's all right."

Nancy says "Nope, I'm good. Maybe when all this lifts you and I can go shopping"

Ash , on her side, focuses on Ellie's hair "And braided it. VERY impressive."

"It's extra long now." Approving.

Jessica acknowledges Diego's non-request with a nod, and Nancy with a small smile. "Sure. That'd be great."