#fenixtj

"He worries. It's a troll thing."

"No.I.. was thinking of a quest..and now you are thinking of one very simliar" he explains "I was going to quest for snow. To see Santa Clous... and ask him for a day's wroth. He has so much. But I was going to do this alone... because well. I do not do much. And it would make Salma happy. But I cannot guardyou while I am on a quest, and you must be guarded while questing"

"Oh! Oh, that's the sweetest quest!" Holger gets an impulsive hug.

He blushes purple "De nada" He assures

Vaeltilde cannot help but admire "Magnificent valor"

Salma blushes and pats him on the arm. “You are like Tonto, making a joke. You must not quest for us. You must quest WITH us.”

He looks sheepish "But Salma, you ask for so little. Books..Churros, Lemon Bars, more books, a kitten for your own, books about kittens, a yellow dress... a book in a yellow book cover to match, and a few more books.. So little"

He seems utterly serious

"Sometimes, caballeros need to quest on their own. To be heroes."

"Si" Holger says "But I cannot go and quest while you are adventuring. I will fail you"

She stamps a foot, stubborn. “Known your place! Princesca will lead us, Cabracita will cheer us, and I will follow the instructions because I am the only one who knows how to read. You need to be there to guard while we do. Tonto, tonto, tonto!”

She is not calling for the Troubador though, but scolding Holger softly.

An uncertain look. "Please don't fight."

Tonto the jester comes up "Si?"

Holger looks stubborn to, then then hangshis head "Si but.Salma..."

"This is a fiesta. Si?"

She bows her head a bit, to Ellie, and then to Holger. “Lo siento mi amigo. pero no podemos ir sin ti a nuestro lado. Es... is un peligro.”

Then to Tonto, she asks, “Princesca does not think you can juggle churros and eat them at the same time.”

Tonto gasps! "My magic powers? Drained. NO, it cannot be. For I am.. El Tonto! Luchador and Churro Juggler!"

"Salma, do you think that that adventure might need grown-ups?" She whispers to the pooka.

Holgar hugs Salma "Lamento haberte hecho enojar."

She whispers, “if there was one that would understand...” unsure. “And not try to take it away. If you saw it even through the Dama trying to block things? It was meant for you, which means us.” She hugs Holger back, including him in that us.

Holger nods to them.

"I don't... I don't know how to do it."

Vaeltilde says "Be brave, with that, you can take a step to greatness whatever that step maybe"

“Those with hooves may be the most reasonable.” She reasons, thinking of Sir Buce as well. “The caballero caballo spoke for me when I had no voice. He may for others the same?”

Meanwhile, clapping at Tonto antics even as they make hushed whispered plans.

Yes, Tonto is chucking CHurros high, and catching them low

"I know I saw it. I just.. it... " She trails off, ashamed.

Her hand reaches Ellie’s and squeezes. “I will be not afraid enough for all of us together.”

"But maybe we should tell Jessica?"

BROW. “We could leave a note. So she will not worry.”

"Everything okay girls? " Ash calls over

A wave. “We are running out of churros!”

"You're KIDDING?"

She gestures at Tonto the mighty and his juggling act and giggles.

"oh dear. I'll get more" And she departs .. they are grump free once more

Ellie watches, but her hands twist the hem of her pretty overskirt into knots.

“Princesca? It is yours” she points to her eyes, and her forehead. “We will not make you go?if you think it is better, we tell the Condesa. But perhaps, Santa does not listen to her. She might be too tall.”

She drops her eyes, ashamed.

“It is a fiesta!” She gives Ellie a sudden fierce hug. “Will you dance with me?”

Salma doesn’t dance. But she tugs the sidhe over towards where the music is playing, and curtsey to Vaeltilde as well. Not quite bold enough to grab THAT girls hand as she would Ariel, but she starts to Clap softly to the music.

And Ellie... can put on the smile, and clap, and dance and play the part, yes.

(End Scene)