#rivervale_lodge

Vali is rocking on a chair at a slow easy pace at the front of the lodge.

He stops, looks at it, "I'm not sure I'm going to get the hang of this grump thing"

SHould he see Sylvi, he raises a brow "OK. Am I imagining things are you looking pleased with yourself?"

She looks like she by-passed pleased and went straight on to smug. "I just shot a killer video with Dagmar."

"Congrats on that" He says "Wait, a make up thing for Dagmar? How did it go? And ..ah, how did Jaymes take it?"

"It went great! She let me do everything from easy day to glamourous night!" Then a smirk. "Jaymes is still recovering. Tove approves, though."

"Ah, Sylvi, you do my soon to be poor old heart good. Someone has to shake things up now and then" Vali says "Jaymes is a nice guy, but so stoic it's almost a idealistic priority to shake him a bit."

"Um...Vali, you know both my folks are grumps, and they haven't quite started shriveling up, yet. Don't you think you're overdoing it just a bit?"

"you think I should start yelling at clouds?" he asks then smiles "I suppose, but it's still a bit step. Hard not to dwell on it"

She settles cross-legged on the ground near the rocker. "Yeah, I get that. The summer before my togail, it was on my mind a lot."

Worldly wise.

He smiles but does not mock that "Been through that one myself. Almost wasn't but... a choice had to made. This time? It's got to happen. " A shrug "I just hope I don't lose what I love about myself- which sounds vain I guess"

"Well, I don't know about vain, but...yeah. I'm different from childling me." A pause. "What do you mean, a choice had to be made? How was it different from now?"

"Because, Sylvi... my adventure was for a hold for chldlings... a magic land for the spring dream. " He closes his eyes "And... we did it. It's out there. Shielded by magics and mist from the eyes of non chldlings. Those who linger forever children...for centuries if need be and I? I chose to come back, to grow up. I helped make a Neverland, and then... I left it."

Sylvi listens and is silent a moment before she whispers, "Why? Why did you choose to come back?"

"I had to close the way so it could never be found, to seal the ward... and ..because my grandpa and Aunt Thea would hurt if I didn't. Well, hurt more in one case. " He says "I had a choice though, a choice not to go on.. a choice only a handful any have ever had." A sigh "Small Anne and I would never see each other again."

"I'm sorry," Sylvi says. "So...you kind of had to sacrifice your chance to stay with your friend in order to seal it off, to protect her?"

"Yes." He says simply, "I think that's when I developed my quirky sense of humor. Between that, and the Beaumayn visions that came later? Well... if I didn't laugh I'd cry. So.." A smile "I choose to laugh. I know it annoys, but it's kept me sane." A pause "Well, sane enough"

"Well, you're corny, but I don't mind that." A long silence.

"Thanks. " He smiles at her, "I can live with that. Anyway.. it's soon. We'll see what comes of it, but whatever happens I DO know one thing. The WIlder Crew Next Gen is looking very impressive . You rotten little punks are all right" a chuckle

A half-grin. "Thanks." She looks out past the yard to the treeline. "You heard about the dragon." A statement, not a question.

"Oh yes." he nods.

"Do you think....do you think it's like what happened with you? Does a lodge have to fall to protect the other lodges?" She looks at him, and he can see the question weighs heavily on her.

A look at her, "I see dark things all the time. I see horrors that must be , or else greater horrors will rise. I cannot tell you no lodge will fall, or that it will. I cannot share with you the deaths coming I have seen. But I can tell you this... the Giant Bane is afraid of trolls. And there must be a reason for that. For all his boasting, he fears us...and that means that no, destiny is not on his side for eternity. If it were? He'd not be afraid at all."

"He fears us? I thought he just thinks we're delicious."

A chuckle, "That too. I myself am particularly sweet and savory. But... look at the lore, he comes racing towards lodges, screaming death and seemingly indefeatable. Why does he stop at one?"

"I...I don't know." A frown. "I guess the Lodges are going to gather to plan, huh? As many as can?"

"Skallstryke lives on death , destruction, he feeds on us... he is cruel.... yet he stops after one, each time. He wants us to think he is toying with us. Yet why would it matter what we think if he is inevitable? Yes, there maybe a gather... " He says "Siv is sending out word. And when they gather, well, we shall see how it goes, but it is possible an emmisary might be useful for the purpose of diplomacy, doesnt' it? As long as she doesn't let her elders shut her out completely out of concern for her."

A frown. "Emissary," she echoes, then she looks at him. "I'm not letting them send me away if I can help better by staying."

"huh?" he says "oh..I was just speculating. I can't help what folks do with that" He rises slowly "See you around, Sylvi. I have a patrol"

Sylvi watches him rise. "You're loving the fact I'm not Gwydion right now, aren't you?"

"No more than you enjoyed rattling Jaymes' cage" he crosses his heart , eyes sparkling

That gets a smile. Well...now she knows one thing not to let happen to her. She gathers up her things and brings them up to her room, then heads off for a quick visit to the Farm. Commiseration, maybe...but also some time with Lanark before the summer break comes to an end.

*end scene*