- Norrix -

Norrix spit at the ground, growling towards the male in front of her. She smiled, near feral as she ground out, "Sir Mort. I thought we were friends, yet you lock me away like some foul beast? Petty humans and your inconsistent emotions."

Raising herself into a more relaxed pose, she lazily leaned against the wall before huffing a sigh and drawling slowly, "What would you like to discuss, Sir? I'd hate to assume you've had a change of heart and decided to let me go, so I'm sure Ygraine wants something from me." She grinned devilishly at the mention of the human queen, putting emphasis on her name - rather, on the lack of an official title.

"Very smart, Norrix. I'm glad your time hasn't dimmed your wit."

Snarling, Norrix sent a flare of power towards the guard, warning him of her lack of patience. "Speak and then let me out, human. This dungeon smells of decay and filth."

Her nose wrinkled in response to her words, and she withdrew her power entirely into her. The Zanair would deter her, but if this guard decided to attack her, she would still best him - anything to escape this wretched place.

- Adrys -

Direct mentions: Arkadewi, Queen Ygraine

Indirect Mentions: Norrix

Upon hearing the queen's introduction, Adrys stepped out of the shadow of a pillar. Passing through the crowd, he made his way to the queen before dipping his head to her in acknowledgement. Turning to the crowd, Adrys gave a sweeping bow, a placid grin upon his face.

He turned back to the queen, finally noting the female that stood beside her. Arkadewi, he remembered. The Heroine this ball was being thrown for.

He tossed the female a chaste smile, before returning once more to the queen. "My lady, you must learn to inform the people of where I come from, or they'll have no choice but to assume me a fraud. Grate Brie is your friend, not an enemy. You'd do best to get along well."

He feigned another smile to displace the near-threat he had just made. Upsetting the queen in her own Kingdom would do him no good.

"And you!" Adrys bowed to the heroine mockingly. "Great savior of the land, just returned from slaying a mighty beast, I must assume?"

A pensive pause left the trio in awkward slince.

"Although, I could have sworn you were in the queen's throne room just today with a Fae female... Norrix, I believe? Quite a powerful female, I've never quite felt anything like that before."

Shrugging, he turned from the females. "Oh well. I suppose she's somewhere in the dungeons, since she must have terribly upset you, Queen Ygraine. My deepest condolences."

Laughing, Adrys sauntered into the crowd, grabbing a drink from a nearby table before inviting himself into a circle of women.

- Arthur -

Indirect mentions: Adrys, Queen Ygraine, Arkadewi

Behind a tapestry, Arthur listened to the bargain Mort lay out for Norrix. He knew she would have to agree - it was either that, or suffer in the dungeons until her mind changed.

He couldn't hear much, but mentions of long-forgotten law swam through his thoughts as he pieced the information together. A door slammed, and footsteps hurried past his hiding place, heading back up the stairs towards the banquet.

Defeated, Arthur followed the guard back into the celebration, sitting at a table in the back while he waited for Adrys.

Watching the male from afar, Arthur began to wonder of his next adventure outside of the palace walls. The Queen didn't know he had infiltrated the castle, and the secrecy left him with little to do other than prepare for their departure.

Arthur quirked a brow at the questionable female at the head of the banquet. She had clearly been drinking for some time, but he watched as she continued to drink beverage after beverage without faltering. An interesting choice for a heroine.

His mouth tilted upward slightly as he watched the female, and he wondered how she had impressed the queen enough for such an intricate party, when he had never even seen her before today.

Sir Mort

Direct: Norrix | Indirect: Adrys, Arthur, Arkadewi

Sir Mort rubbed his greying temples. "Step further away, this is not a conversation you should be listening in on," he reprimanded the guard sternly. "And mind your manners towards the Lady. She has done more for this Queendom than you ever could."

"You blame me for something you have directly brought upon yourself now? Have shame, Lady Norrix!" Sir Mort shook his head. "I regret to find your years of extensive experience has not made you wiser of the proper ways to deal with the Queen."

Leaning closer to the bars, his next words were spoken in a low whisper. He glanced at Norrix's pointed ears, assuring himself that she could hear him no matter how low his voice gets.

"And shame on Queen Ygraine, for treating a powerful woman as yourself this way." There was a brief glimpse of uncharacteristic fiery passion in his eyes, looking straight at Norrix's eyes. It died down quickly, back to his gruff look. "When it's the matter of her child, she loses her wit and prudence. I suppose the same can be said about you, seeing how you're here for that heathe- heroine." Sir Mort sighed, swallowing his protests.

"You know full well how the Queen has feared her own aging. Not because she is afraid of dying, Lady Norrix - she wants Prince Arthur as heir. Instead King Uthyr sends his other son here." Sir Mort shifted his weight uncomfortably and looked around once, his voice dropped even lower at the mention of Adrys.

"She shall not rest in peace if the Queendom falls to the hands of a... child born out of wedlock."

The word bastard echoed after his tone, even unspoken, pressing them with gravity.

"She will restore your honor, allow you to remain, if you'll clip the thorn on her throne - far away from prying eyes, at your lands. I beg you, Lady Norrix, do not deprive this Queendom of your presence. Not this way." He glanced mournfully at the cell Norrix was in, looking almost ashamed himself to see her there. "A path will open for your escape today, should you agree. And I shall pray for your safe return, with honour that befits yourself."

∘₊✧────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘

Queen Ygraine, Arkadewi

Direct: Adrys

The crowd's expression grew hostile. The pain of war that went on for decades with the Kingdom was much too raw, too close. The memories of suffering in the battlefields flashed in the guests' eyes - death of loved ones, the famine brought to the land over the war. The interest in their eyes turned into hatred. The Queen worked herself to a charming smile when she continued.

"Indeed, the esteemed Lord Adrys of the Grate Brie Kingdom. I have tried to spare you from the mention of your kingdom for you to enjoy the festivities - alas, a brave man is proud of his heritage."

Arkadewi was less subtle. She chased him with swaggering motion as the crowd made a wide berth when he walked towards their direction. The circle of women, even though they were entertainers paid for this party, looked at him indignant and dispersed swiftly.

"What is a Brie doing here in our Queendom? I don't want you in my banquet!" She demanded straight at him in a loud outside voice usually meant to scare wild beast, not ever returning his bow. Instead she put her hands sassily on top of the curve of her hips, made even more pronounced by the shape of her dress. There was fire on those light brown eyes, seeming gold under the flickering chandelier. Her cheeks were even redder than usual, lips plump and red after the feast. "Ye here to start another war, Adrys?" Forgoing his title, she made a loud throaty sound to gather her spit and spat nastily at his face. The crowd was roused by her outward hostility, agreeing noises were heard, some even began to take a step towards Adrys with impolite intentions.

Queen Ygraine blissfully let it happen from a few seconds before making a performative scolding.

"We have entered a truce with the Kingdom," her voice was loud and resonant, sweeping across the room with authority. "We are honorable people and we will treat our guest accordingly."