#rivervale_lodge

Frank is reading.

She grabs one of her favorite concotions, the rice krispy treats with the M&Ms embedded. Perhaps its okay if it's DARK Chocolate M&Ms.

Frank looks over. "You have mastered Wayfare." He agrees.

She nearly drops her prize "I... yeaaaaahh" A gulp "You know, at this age, I'm going through a lot of changes, hormonal ones. " Yes, Hormones! That's why I flickerflashed him!

He nods. "I know." Matter of fact calmly. He's raised two daughters.....

"..at the time it seemed funny" she says lamely.

He nods. "I can see your Uncle's influence."

"oh yeah..he's.. he's definitely.. you know, nature, nurture, hormones... "

"Mmmmmm...."

A look at her shoes "I'm sorry. I'm really not sure why I did that, but I don't think I can honestly blame Uncle Vali OR hormones"

"Why do you think you did it?"

"I really don't know" she says and shrugs "I ..it's just... it's the one thing I am good at now and ...I was keeping it kind of secret, and now it was out and I thought... okay here goes."

"It was like... I guess maybe i just wanted to be powerful, and not just some little girl on the run and having everyone protect her"

"But that doesn't make sense on why I did it to YOU and.. I'm sorry"

Frank chuckles, then laughs. "I forgive you, if that's needed." He says. "Gerd.... for what it's worth... I've never thought of you as a little girl on the run."

"No?" She says "But Uncle Vali... he brought me here to be safe and that's what he told everyone."

She seems startled at his laugh but increasingly relieved.

"It's deeper than that, Gerd, and we all know it." Frank admits.

"There's a destiny or vision involved I bet,I mean, he doesn't tell ME but... he's Beaumayn and that means sometimes he's guided." She sighs "I wish he trusted me enough to tell more."

"It's not that he doesn't trust you, Gerd. You aren't Housed. There are..... rules."

"Their rules suck" She crosses her arms.

"Well. I cannot say so. But.... I'm sorry you think so."

"I just... what if I mess things up? if I knew what to do, what was coming, I could be ready"

"So could we all." Frank says seriously.

"So Beaumayn rules suck" She goes back to that.

"Maybe. But knowing what was coming would help.... well, anyone."

"RIight?" Curious as to what his point is

"Just that. Beaumayn are... well, with my House I can't talk but.... I know Vali does everything he can."

"I know, I should be grateful and all and I .. you know he's family but sometimes I feel like I'm holding him back. Did you know Countess Akanthea has asked him to join her in Maryland, like twice? And he's tempted, but he stays here for me."

BOW your heads, Peasants!

A very careful pause. "Who was that?"

"I think sometimes the lodge echoes weird" She says

"Anyway, Countess Thea offered, and he says no... even though Tiffany is there. And I KNOW he's saying no partly, maybe mostly because he thinks I need to be 'here'."

Frank exhales. "Well. Thank you Gerd. I should speak with the Chieftess about some of that."

"I..yeah. He doesn't know I know that." She shrugs "Oh, uhm.. Kourtney will be able to moake it tomorrow night. She warns me I'm going to get lame gifts with so little warning, but I don't care"

"It isn't really about gifts, is it?"

"No" She agrees "it's not. IT's about the wheel and the turning and how we honor the balance of it"

Frank nods. "Is that how you feel? Or what you have learned?

"Both I guess.. more the latter than the former, but I know trying to fight it , to stop it would be wrong and unnatural and.. even kind of offensive."

"Well then... you might think about it." Frank offers. "As time allows."

"Okay. I ..I Should go make another text or two. Thanks, Mountain"

"My thanks to you, Gerd." Formally, but with sincere care.

"And uhm.. when you tell the Chieftain about this.. could... could you tell me if she smiles jUST a little bit about you going into the lake?"

He nods. "I think I can do that."

"Thanks" And she heads off.

Frank takes a deep breath, and finds some very -specific- references about Togails....

(End scene)