#fenixtj

" I still say we could play tag," says the satyr girl who could easily out race Eleanor

"Okay!" Not that Ellie cares!

Well, it's a hard game indeed then... but the fun is in the chasing... and Ellie chooses who gets to be it first.

This leads, either way, to racing past adults...running in the halls, which might get some warnings to be careful... but to Ellie's amazement, no one ORDERS her to behave and stop that at once.

"Be careful" Sure. "Might want to slow down" more than once. But no one, no one , tells her countesses or ladies do not act in this manner

She giggles at that, having a grand time. She might use Rosalita as a shield at least once.

"I have work to do" But Rosalita's protests are weak.

"Ack.. Rosa won't be it so I have to.. ack..." Ariel says with a laugh

"So you have to be It longer!"

"Sneaky" Ariel declares but she doesn't seem too offended, because well, she does have fast legs

"Sneakiest!" And then she takes a run for it!

"ACK!" and it's on again

And the girls end up in a tumble of tags in the hallway

And then as they debate over who is it when they've fallen over each other and thus mutliple tags achieved... Ariel stops and tilts her head "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" She listens!

Music, a voice singing behind a door... it's not a part of the hold they've been too often as it's a residence of someone...

She's got a lovely voice, like a Disney princess

and sings a song neither girl has heard before

"The stars are very beautiful above the palace walls
They shine with equal splendor still above far humbler halls
I watch them from my window, but their bright, entrancing glow
Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago"

"The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow
I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow
But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred
I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head"

Ariel sings lovely! And yet she seems wonderbound by this

And her a little modernist

Somehow the dark wood door does nothing to really dim the beauty of the voice behind it.

"Who is that?"

"Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least
The true Queen knows her people fed, before she sits to feast
The good Queen knows her people safe, before she takes her rest
Thinks twice and thrice and yet again, before she makes request" There's a growing tone of love.

"For they are all my children, all that I swore to defend
It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend—
And of my children high and low, from beggar to above
The dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love"

Ariel whispers "I thought you knew. I don't.. I mean..she's good."

"Let's look!" She tries the handle.

It appears locked, the music keeps coming, but one doesn't have to be an Eiluned to want to kNOW...

"The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command
Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand
That land and people first have needs that I may not deny—
So I must send my dearest friends to danger—and to die" One can almost feel the sadness of the song through the wood

"A friend, a love, a child—it matters not. I know indeed
That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need
They know, and they forgive me—doing more than I require
With willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire" Pride in the sorrow

"These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can't shed
The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead
O Gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry—
And if you have compassion—let me send no more to die!" It ends on a prayerful note.

A little pout and a stamp. "OPEN." She commands the lock.

And the lock Swings open!

The bedroom appears empty, but Beaumayn are perceptive... and she might notice the frills of the bed dressing in this room are wavering without wind.

"A ghost singer?" Ariel did not notice the signs of someone ducking under the bed

"I don't think so..."

Ellie heads boldly in, to check under the bedskirts.

There's a young woman there. Barely a wilder, and she's not a kithain, but an enchanted kinian. She's splotchy all over, how odd.

But then, Ellie has never likely heard of Vitiligo.

She peers back. "Hello."

"Hello" she says back

"I liked your song."

"thank you. I thought perhaps you were the Countess" She says

"Your voice is WONNNNDERFUL...." Ariel joins in

The pale parts of her blush more than the others.

"Well, I'm A countess..."

"Are you a prisoner?"

"Not exactly," She says "may I slide out?"

Ariel says "You have to tell us your name. I'm Ariel, this is Eleanor "

"Splotch" The woman says with embarrasment "They called me Splotch"

"You don't seem to like that name."

"Did the bad people take you? Jessica rescued me from them, and the mortal girls too."

"Bad people always had me," Splotch considers , "I... I thought i might beg a position here in court." Once one looks past the strange skin, she's really quite lovely, and , there are slight points to her ears.