#fenixtj

"But.." Ariel looks at Ellie"You haven't got to see all the critters or Miss Evergreen or the wishing well.. or ... why don't you want to go?"

"I'm not wanted there."

Ariel bites her lip, then looks "I.. no I guess..." Then she looks at Clem and glares "THIS IS YOUR Fault! You.. and your STUPID farm... " She stomps her hoof "Ellie's not a bad person, and it's wrong to treat her liike she is just because she's a noble sidhe... I hate DeBukes! I'm glad I'm not really one of you at ALL!" And she storms off, satyr speed

Clem winces as if she just got cut through the belly

Ellie shrinks.

"You're not a bad person." Jessica confirms quietly. "But I'm not happy with what you've done, Ellie. I think, though, that you know that. And maybe in hindsight you aren't happy either."

Clem sighs

She's breathing in deeply, trying very hard not to melt down into tears.

"Come here, Ellie."

She robotically approaches the dais.

Clem says "I think I better track down Ariel"

Jessica beckons her close and looks into her eyes.

"You look upset."

Ellie is reluctant to meet Jessica's eyes up close.

She makes a little sound in response to the statement, disarticulate.

She offers her much larger hand, if Ellie wants to take it.

She takes it, uncertain.

Jess just holds it loosely.

"Why don't you take care of your friends for now, and later you and I will talk together privately."

She nods.

Jessica opens her hand, but does not remove it; Ellie can do that.

Meek and formal. "Thank you, Countess."

"Jessica." She corrects gently.

A sniffle and she nods.

"Ok." Softly.

"I didn't mean to mess everything up. I'm very sorry."

"Well." Jessica thinks. "-I- forgive you. But you have to fix things, now."

A miserable nod.

"Ok." Soft again. "When we talk, maybe you'll have some ideas on how." Their hands still connected.

(Unless Ellie pulled away)

"Maybe." Now she pulls her hand away, and drops into a curtsy.

And Eleanor retreats from the dais, breaking into a run to get away from the throne room.

Jessica sighs, sits back, and rubs her horns......

(fin)

Ellie may or may not see the pooka when she leaves the throne room.

Salma, despite being told not to, sinks back into a curtsy, almost touching the floor. Her voice a whisper. "Countess." And she retreats as well.

Ellie doesn't head for the trio's bedroom - she goes, instead, to the atrium.

It waits for her.

Salma retreats to the library, and finds a corner to curl into where she can be unseen. Under a desk, perhaps.

And that's where she can cry. Finally.

Salma doesn't cry... or not much. She sniffles, and pulls out a book for the semblence of it, but mostly rests her head on her knees and thinks... mulls... broods...

The kittens might show themselves.. ready to make things just a bit okay

"Not right now, donquito. Go bother Holger." She softly shoos away her grey.

"Mrow?"

A soft push, and she turns away.

Well, it doesn't take much energy to be contrary really. Gray head leaningagainst the little girl

A donkey can be just as stubborn, and she ignores him. And finally lets him into her lap. "You're not helping though." She tells him. and resumes brooding. Somehow this can be fixed. She just has to think.

And Holger ..does not go into the Atrium. He hears something that sounds like tears, but the Condessa would not want him to know. So he will guard the entry way and send others away. he will DIE before someone pushes past him

well..hopefully it won't come tothat

Eventually, cried out, Ellie sneaks from the atrium to Dame Ash's room.